Adventure On: Finale and Conclusion

[voidtreckermods]

Blue

The Mountain

Once they get close enough everything is storm, ice swirls around them, stabbing them like knives. Winds seem to be actively pushing them away, no matter what direction they approach from. Still the crystal wolves walk on, heads down, paws silent, climbing upwards.

The higher they climb the colder it becomes. So cold that ice forms on eyelashes, that air seems to freeze as it leaves their mouths. So cold their chests hurt. They would not be wrong to assume that the only reason they can withstand this at all is because of the SCA around their wrist.

Ice tumbles down around them often, shaking the ground. The crystal wolves know the way and they keep going, steady on the path. They have spaced themselves out, to be in sight of all those who follow.

The Summit

As they finally reach the top of the mountain they reach a calm space, outside of the swirling storm. Domed across the summit is a fire cage, larger by far than any they have seen before. In the middle of the giant fire cage sits a dragon. White and blue, scales that look as if they were made of ice themselves. Their head was bowed, eyes closed but they are breathing, breath escaping in clouds of freezing mist that evaporated in the heat of the cage.

Around the cage itself are ice elementals, outside the storm these can be seen by the snow they whirl around inside them, each is about three feet tall but fly in a whirlwind as they attack. Like those in the storm they try and push people around and attack with shards of ice. These corrupted spirits seem to have no reason to their attacks, they are just as likely to push a combatant closer to the cage then they are towards the raging storm.

They can be fought, fire works well against them just as ice and cold magic works well against the fire cage itself.

A Sovereign Freed

Eventually the cage stops fighting, fading away into the snow before them. The crystal wolves spring forth, nuzzling at the dragon until they raise their head. Piercing blue eyes look over the group and the dragon bows their head once. They take a deep breath and breathe out over those assembled, cold fire washes over them, healing any hurts that they have, easing their fatigue som

The crystal wolves bow their heads too, a thank you. Aerlie flaps their wings, rising high into the air. Another breath of cold fire flies out around the area, clashing with the storm for a moment before overtaking it. Around the mountain the storm calms, the ice elementals stop and seem to sink into the snow or fade into the air. The mountain descends into a calmness.

The crystal wolves will approach all those who helped free them, nuzzling into their hands, a personal thank you before a shimmering gate opens for the adventurers to step through.

Red

Final Siege

It’s been a tiring three days of protecting the crystals from the creatures that sought their power. But now, as their power is fully recharged it is time to return them to the border. That is going to be a tougher job than getting them to the volcano’s heart in the first place!

They thrum with power and that power is a siren call to the creatures of the area, fire dogs, lizards, fire sprites. Just as the mountain attacked inside the heart, here the spirtes join with the rivers of lava to flood pathways, block routes, making it harder to cross already treacherous territory, or even driving them into traps of waiting fire dogs.

The heat is oppressive, heat from around them, heat from the crystals seems to sap the energy from those carrying them and so the duty is best shared.

Eventually though they arrive at the border, a mess of melted ice and frozen lava. Each of the crystals need to be replaced.

Restoring the Border

Replacing the crystals is a little more complicated than taking them was. Each one needs to fuse with the holder it sits in. It doesn’t take any skill, just someone to hold it in place for a moment whilst the two fuse together and the magic is channelled into the ground.

Holding a crystal in place is a little more difficult when being attacked by the creatures. The fire creatures keep up the attack until all of the crystals have been replaced.

The Land Repaired

When the last crystal is in place there is a ripple across the land. An invisible line, an ancient magic, connects the crystals, seperating the two lands. Ice recedes from lava and the melted snow refreezes. The borderlands of slush undergo transformation as the two elements separate from each other once more. A land of fire and a land of ice, with a pulsing magic separating the two.

The firedogs and lizards retreat, fire elementals calm and join with the lava streams once more. A shimmering gate opens.

Orange

An Important Message

The Huma birds have been carrying crystals and helping the harvesters, protecting them from the blighted birds and encouraging them to work hard.

But those returning to the floating islands on the afternoon of the eleventh day of Horseshoe come bearing black cloth bags in their talons, each has a scroll attached. The Huma birds will make it very clear they are to read the scroll first.

DO NOT OPEN THE BAG UNTIL NIGHT FALLS

Inside this bag are rare crystals. When they are exposed to the light of the sun they will cause the islands to sink back to the ground. After the sun has set tonight please distribute these evenly around the islands and then depart back down to the land below before sunrise. The lands natural magic will do the rest but we do not recommend being on the islands when they fall.

Thank you for your hard work.

The Adventurers Guild

With a long night ahead they may wish to rest for the remainder of the day.

Distributing the Crystals

If they do as they are asked then it will be a long night, there are many chunks of islands and a lot of crystals to distribute. The darkness makes it harder and the blighted birds seem even grumpier in the cover of darkness.

The wind sprites also are not resting and indeed seem delighted that playtime has been extended into the hours of night. Placing crystals is difficult when the Voidtreckers find themselves swept up into the air to dance around the trees.

Getting down by sunrise may be a little trickier than placing the crystals, especially if they have used up their flight potions, but hopefully there are enough people to help everyone get to safety.

Islands Fall

The sun rises, as the first rays of light hit the island they begin to vibrate, shudder. Then one by one they begin to fall, rapidly and chaotically. It is perhaps wise to not be anywhere near the crater as they do so.

They land in a crash of dust, which obscures the area. When the dust clears however they will see a perfect undamaged land. The pieces have fit back together, exactly where they should be, despite the chaos. The land is repaired and whole once more. Huma birds call excitedly as they dart through the air, their land restored.

A gate opens, for them to step through if they wish.

Purple

A Cure

It is day ten of Horseshoe when the first Huma birds fly into the village, they carry crystals either in bags in their talons or in their beaks.

The villagers clearly know what is going on for they welcome the birds and take the crystals thankfully. Anyone not currently fighting or purifying crystals is brought in to help distribute cures.

Actually curing someone is easy, it just requires the crystal to be touch an affected person or creature. The crystals are only good for one cure so those curing the blighted will be required to carry a few and run them to the villages.

Others can take crystals out into the woodland, looking for blighted animals to help.

A Final Fight

All but one of the golems have been found, defeated and restored. The final one has been elusive, not approaching the village or even the nearby woodlands.

The restored golems are back to standing vigil in each village, ready to deal with any attack that may occur.

But when an attack comes, it is not on a village, but on the shrine in the centre. A golem, three trolls and a host of animals, some blighted, some just angry. They attack in the early morning, the villages awoken by shouts and sounds of battle.

Luckily the blighted creatures can be healed, angry animals can perhaps be soothed. The trolls cannot be soothed though and will indeed try to rile up the animals again, to cause as much chaos as they can.

Peace Once More

Once the final golem is taken down, the crystal restored and the trolls defeated there is a quiet comes across the villages. Those who were blighted are cured, the golems are back in their place as guardians of the village and thanks to the adventurers the villages have gotten through this time with minimal damage.

The villagers thank the adventurers, tell them to come and visit whenever they are in the area. A gate opens, for any voidtreckers who wish to return to Royal Lake Hill.

Royal Lake Hill: All Teams!

They return to the tavern, each to the inn that they set off from. The town is a little busier now, more areas have recovered from the blight and it has brought more trade into the town. Everyone is still relatively elderly or young, non fighters. But the market is bustling, there is even a puppet show going on in the square.

Around midday a beeping of their SCA will show a dot on their map where the Voidtrecker Express has landed, not far out of town, and a message. You may remain here until sunset.

It is up to them whether they wish to return to the train or spend the rest of the day in the town. For those staying in town they will find word of their deeds have preceded them and they will find no end of young, wide eyed, budding adventurers ready to buy them a drink or two in exchange for stories.

Comments

[blitzcheer]

"I'm coming."

There's nothing more to say than that, Tidus only speaking in the first place to assure Inigo before he drops the call, searching out for the exact stall. It's hard, next to the rows that block out the sight of either end of the public square. He has to search around the sides until he finds it: large rolls of fabric cluttered together on makeshift shelving and baskets. People gossiping as much as they're shopping.

He hurries along, searching for the right route from there. The sun blotted as the dark washes over him, and the figure further in. Tidus slows his steps, the tightened feeling like a fist clenching his heart not deteriorating. Searching the sight of him for any apparent wounds, a face to read, a mood to comprehend.

"Inigo."

He speaks, this time to make himself known. Like he needs to, and--he wants to hear him. He wants to hear how he sounds, to know how to approach. If he should be worried, or-- or if Inigo's okay.

He wants to know.

[flatteries]

Inigo waits.

His heart pounds in his chest. In anxiety, in anticipation, in worry, in-- so many emotions at once. A voice whispers at him from the back of his mind, telling him that he could still leave. It's not too late. He could easily stand up and get out of here, find some other spot to hide. To not face Tidus.

But he can't listen to that. It's cowardice. He's been hiding from people for days now, and continuing to do so, especially at this very moment, would just make things worse. He has to face Tidus, no matter how scared it makes him.

At least apologize, he tells himself, but then he hears that voice and all other thoughts are blown straight out of his mind.

Inigo scrambles to his feet, hurried.

But then he just.. stands there. He's looking at Tidus, not turned away from him. But he doesn't say anything at first. At least - thankfully? - Inigo looks very much the same as always. No major injuries, at least.

But the one thing that is noticable, even in the relative darkness here, is that his eyes are very, very red. Like he's been crying without end, even though there are no tears present on his face right now.

"Tidus.." He starts. His legs feel wobbly. Just apologize. Just apologize. It's like a mantra in his head. "I.."

And yet the words don't come so easily. His voice starts to shake more and more.

"I-.. I'm so incredibly sorry.."

[blitzcheer]

"No-" It rushes out from his throat when he hears it. I'm so incredibly sorry. He doesn't want to see it, to hear it, to know where it'll go--blaming himself, pinning everything on him.

He won't have it. No. And it's like a floodgate, for words spilling out from his mouth.

"I didn't know what to say. I heard you, and I didn't know-- I didn't know what I wanted. I couldn't do anything, I was scared. I just wanted to disappear. I--"

His voice trembles, becoming more raw and emotional, stopped by the implication that his last words could have, the other meaning they could have. Though it isn't untrue. It's the way things should be, but also, right now...

Tidus stares at the concrete between them, hands balled into fists at his side. A pain in his throat to breathe against, but he does.

"...You're still my friend, to me... you're still a great guy, whatever you want. I'm sorry, that I never said anything... I didn't know how..."

An apology, spoken softly. Bordering on a rambling that he isn't sure he wants to keep going.

[flatteries]

This is so incredibly confusing. Something about it just doesn't feel right. Why is Tidus the one standing in front of him and apologizing when he's the one who hurt Tidus in the first place?

As if he doesn't even realise what an awkward mirror it is of Tidus telling him 'no' only a moment ago, Inigo's mouth kicks in before his brain does, floating by entirely on emotions alone.

"Why.. are you apologizing..?" He doesn't sound angry. More just confused, lost. Like Inigo genuinely has no idea why Tidus would. What Tidus has to apologize for in the first place. For not saying anything in that moment when Tidus was just in the right? "You didn't do anything wrong. You were-- You were hurt."

If there's anything Tidus's words confirm, it's that fact. Hearing them now, spilled across his lips so easily and quickly, makes Inigo's heart feel like it's caught in a vice. It's Tidus's pain made so clear, so visible, that it hurts even Inigo.

He thinks of what Della told him. Tidus tried to go after Yuna. He had been that desperate, that upset.

It's too overwhelming. Rather than Inigo's own hurt, it's the thought that Tidus was scared, that he wanted to disappear that finally gets the tears to fill up Inigo's eyes again.

"You were upset.. You didn't do anything wrong." And Inigo would rather fight Reno about ten more times than let Tidus take the blame for being unsure of what to do when his brain and heart were a mess.

Never.

"I was the one who-- who kept bothering you. I know I shouldn't have. Roland told me that you needed space, and-- he was right, of course he was right, but I kept thinking of how you came to me and did so much to help me when Yuki was gone, and I.. I didn't want you to have to deal with it alone either.." The words spill just as quickly for Inigo, also just rambling, letting everything pour out of his heart as the tears start spilling out of his eyes, rolling down his cheeks. "But that was just me selfishly projecting, huh..? Because I'm a selfish idiot who can't think beyond himself, and I.. I only made your hurt worse rather than better, and I can't forgive myself for that!"

[blitzcheer]

"You didn't do anything!" Tidus steps forward with those words, hands beginning to reach out. But they hesitate, stop with that step; unsure of how to continue with his lost mind as to where to go, what to say first. All this blame--he doesn't want to hear it. Why is Inigo blaming himself so much?

Because he always does. Because he's so hard on himself. Tidus drags the hesitation out of his feet and continues forward, taking Inigo by the shoulders and squeezing into them. Firm. There.

"You wanted to be there for me, Inigo, there's nothing wrong with that. You're my friend. You think I'd blame you for reaching out? I... You didn't do anything wrong." Will Inigo believe him if he says that? Can he make him believe it when he's like this? It hurts to see him crying, 'cause of him. Maybe not all him, but he hasn't helped Inigo at all.

"I wasn't any better on my own. I was miserable. I was...stuck. I just laid there, not doing anything. But I didn't know what else to do." His fingers curl, loosening some in their grip. "I didn't...think there was anything I should do. I still...don't."

His head dips, voice wavering. "I did something terrible, Inigo...I'm..."

But he doesn't want to say it. There's no way to explain just what he did. What he's been carrying this entire time.

[flatteries]

Inigo is trying to believe. Really, he knows that there's no way Tidus would be lying about what he's saying. There's not even a reason for him to lie to begin with. But it's just so hard for him to believe anything like that on himself when he just spent days and days tearing himself down into the ground over it. Especially when it just lead to more and more awful examples of him being a terrible friend to just about everyone he knows.

So he just stares at Tidus. And keeps crying, even as he listens.

But at least the words that follow do one thing. It makes Inigo realise that, right, this isn't about his issues. It's about Tidus's pain. If there's anything he has to do now, if there's anything he should have been doing all this time, it's just that. Focus on Tidus's pain. Try to help him with it. Force down every single bit of hurt and insecurity and blame deep down for now, leave it to deal with some other time by himself, when he won't be bothering anyone else with it. When he isn't being faced with something so, so much more important.

"Like.. Like I said, Tidus.. you were hurt."

He kind of wants to reach out. Inigo wants to hug Tidus so badly right now, but he knows hugs are his thing, not Tidus's. He can't be selfish enough to force one upon him right now. So even though Inigo's hands momentarily raise a bit, he seems to think better of it, and after awkwardly hovering in mid-air they just awkwardly drop back to his sides.

"People do dumb things when they're hurt.. So even if you think it's terrible, it's not your fault." It's hard to force out the words when the tears roll down his cheeks so heavily that it feels like he could choke on them any second now. But between each heaving breath, Inigo tries his best to talk. "You had to watch Yuna leave.. Even after all you told me. T-That you guys couldn't be together back home. That you were going to try here."

He shakes his head, sniffing.

"How could anyone blame you for going to extremes then..? Y-- You're being too hard on yourself. You're still grieving."

[blitzcheer]

"But it's not just that, Inigo."

His voice stays soft, words spoken uncertainly. Should he tell him the truth of what he means? What he did, when some part of him knows he had no other choice. But it's still hard to deal with when he looks at himself, see that he's here, hundreds of thousands of other lives aren't.

It's not right. It's not fair. Is he supposed to just live with that?

And if Yuna knew what he did too. His eyes sting to think about her, his view kept low on Inigo as he tries to figure out what it is he wants. A part of him wants to speak, to reach out for help, but the rest of him doesn't want to make Inigo more sad. He doesn't want to see him keep crying, or be burdened any more than he has. Not after losing Gerome.

It just makes everything harder.

"I... There's a lot I need to make up for...but I don't know how." He goes quiet. "I thought...'least if I tried it, nobody else would have to, right?"

He offers it like a joke, a dumb test that isn't at all about vanishing, or dying. Because it's easier that way, isn't it? Easier, anyway, to acknowledge.

[flatteries]

If it's not just that, then what is it..? Inigo has no idea what exactly Tidus wants to say, and it feels even harder to figure out when his own mind very much feels like mush after dealing with all of the awful things that have been happening lately. It's so hard to think between the tears that still spill in multitudes even right now, as he stares at Tidus, as he tries to figure out what to do for the other.

Maybe nothing has changed in that respect in a week. Or since the platform day, really. He's still so unsure of what to do for Tidus.

There are especially so many things he could say to that last part. That Tidus shouldn't have to be the one to try it, because he's too important. Because so many people would miss him if something bad happened to him - or even just be sad, even if the worst case scenario happened and the train had to bring him back after that. But that feels too much like guilting him, adding more onto Tidus's shoulders that already seem so heavy now.

"I.. I'll help you." Inigo reaches up with a hand to wipe at his cheeks, trying to get rid of the tears, but it doesn't do much when they're replaced with new ones a moment later, making his voice sound tight. "I mean, with.. with whatever you need. If there's anything you need to make up for, I'll help you do it, or help you figure out a way.."

After all, Tidus has nothing to make up for to him. So then Inigo might as well be the one to help him, right?

"Or if you want to talk about something, I'll listen.. O-- Or even if you end up needing anything else, the moment you think of it, just.. just tell me. I'd do anything for you, Tidus."

Because Inigo, too, has a lot to make up for. And he feels so much like he's teethering on the tightrope of his own mind, about to plunge into an abyss he can't come back from, that it's so much easier to focus on any and all of Tidus's needs rather than his own.

"Y-- You don't have to do anything by yourself. Or try anything by yourself, or.." Nobody else would have to. Inigo tries to think of how bad things might have gone on that platform, and he feels sick to his stomach. "There's so many people who care about you and want to help you, Tidus.."

[blitzcheer]

Inigo speaks, and Tidus knows how much he's trying. How much he wants to help him, be there for him; it rings through by every word that he says, by how he strains to speak over the tears that won't stop leaving his face.

And what Tidus knows is, despite everything else he doesn't have answers for-- right now, he doesn't want to make his friends worry like this. He doesn't want to make them cry, and that means more to him in this moment than the past, the future. Tidus slips his hands from Inigo's shoulders and tugs him towards in, as he steps in, hugging him without reserve. Arms wrapped around his back, head pressed to the side of his.

"I know," he says, the words thick. "I'm lucky... I'm really lucky. Inigo..."

He doesn't have anything he want to say, to try and express himself when he's struggling, to even know himself. But he knows he wants this. He wants to be able to hold Inigo, to reassure him; that he misses to be able to hold someone, even if in his heart, the one he wants and misses to hold much is Yuna. The reason he squeezes his embrace a little tighter, though the shape of Inigo is all wrong.

It stings, deeper, and he swallows against the painful lump in his throat threatening to choke him.

[flatteries]

Maybe this hug is a good idea.

Partially because they both probably need one at this point, yes, but also since Inigo has always been so much better at expressing himself this way. He fumbles over his own words so often, saying the wrong thing, just letting himself ramble.. but it's hard to do that with hugs. Especially when Inigo gives them so often.

So he stops holding back his desire to just hug Tidus already when the other initiates the embrace. Tidus wouldn't do this if he didn't want it. So Inigo's arms move up until they wrap around the other guy in turn, hands landing on his back, digging into the fabric of his shirt. Inigo's hold is rather on the tight side - like he's worried Tidus may just leave if Inigo doesn't keep him rooted right here to the spot.

But that desperation isn't all there is in the hug. There's something about it that's so naturally loving. It's hard for him to express how much Tidus's friendship means to him or how worried he was about losing it into words. But it's all there in the hug, as Inigo lets his head lean against Tidus's shoulder, crying against him now since the tears still refuse to stop.

"I missed you.." It's said so softly that even if others would have been nearer to them, it only would have been audible to the two of them. Because it's a little scary to say. It feels too selfish, considering everything.

But it's just true. Somewhere along the line Inigo got so used to Tidus's presence. To them hanging out. Being so far apart from each other, not talking for days and days.. it felt wrong.

[blitzcheer]

There's something telling, already, that both of them know. About the other, at their basics: That they're hurting, worried about the other, worried about more; trying to do right by each other and in this moment right now. But words are difficult, the the right string of them and the right time to speak them.

Neither of them want to screw up. And this way, it's easier to see it, to feel it. To know it. Tidus breathes out at the soft-spoken confession, and he has to wait for the second to pass like he might cry. The well of emotion that comes and goes in threat.

"I missed you too, pal," he says as softly back, a hitch of fondness in how it ends. The market and stalls and the noise of life is far behind his back, and it can all stay back there. Tidus doesn't rush, soaking in this comfort. A simpler but effective form of expression.

"Promise you don't think you did anything wrong...? I mean it... I don't like making you and Taiki feel bad..."

[flatteries]

"I.." He starts, his words momentarily trailing off, instead replaced with the murmurs of the crowds passing by in the distance. It's tempting to lie and just promise, but it'd feel wrong. It's not like Tidus doesn't know him well enough to know when he lies. If they're really this important to each other, then he owes Tidus the truth right now, even though it's harder than a lie.

"I'm.. trying." It's hard, when he's blamed himself so much with every waking minute. It's hard when Inigo knows that Reno's needling especially got to him since it reminded him so, so much of the mistakes he felt he made with Tidus. ".. I'm sorry, I really have been feeling bad for a while now, but I'll try to get better."

He lets out a breath, not pulling away, out of the hug. Instead he just keeps leaning against Tidus. It's more comfortable. Somehow it makes it feel easier to speak, especially when it's just the two of them.

"We can both try to get better. Together." Usually he'd hesitate more to compare his own mood or situation to Tidus's. But.. they both lost someone. Sure, Inigo thinks his own loss isn't as big or cutting as Tidus's, but they're both losses all the same. Especially if Gerome ends up walking away on the platform in.. what, only a week from now, maybe? Less? "Maybe we should both just.. get a little better at letting people close even when we feel so bad that we don't know what to do. I think we-- or.. well, I.. really hurt Taiki by shutting him out."

Which is something Inigo will have to make up for, but he can figure that out. He'll do it. Somehow.

"We can just quietly sit together or something for comfort next time, if nothing else.. Taiki's good at that, right? Us.. slightly less, I guess, but.. you know."

[blitzcheer]

Trying is all Tidus can ask for. Or letting the knowledge wash over Inigo more, let it have time to sink in when Tidus has only just been able to assuage that fear and belief any. He hopes. He really, really hopes.

So he answers Inigo's idea with a "Sure," to sit together quietly. But even so, Tidus knows right away that wouldn't have been possible. Not before, and now, he isn't so sure; what he wants, and what he'll be able to give. How will be like once he returns on the train? The mission didn't give him answers, though it helped in its own terrible, awful way.

"...I...didn't think I deserved to be around anyone. To be honest, I hurt Taiki too," he admits, and that makes the lump in his throat harder. Tidus breathes out, nosily, really not wanting to fall apart; shifting his arms to hold around Inigo just in the way he needs to, right then.

"I know I have a lot I need to say," to explain, to be honest about, "but I... I need more time. Just to think."

And there's more he wants to say, but he holds his tongue from the rambling, too uncertain of where it'll lead.

[flatteries]

Inigo lets out a quiet breath. It's eerie, how that feeling mirrored his own, though maybe for entirely different reasons. Isn't that the same thing he told Taiki before hanging up on him? It's better that I'm here. Alone. Where I can't hurt anyone.

It makes him debate saying that he wants Tidus around. That, of course, Tidus deserves to be around him. But it feels like such an obvious thing, something that goes unspoken, especially with the way they're holding each other right now.

So instead he first replies to the other thing Tidus says, sniffing lightly.

"You don't have to say anything to me." Especially not since Inigo thought for the longest thing - and even now still kind of feels like - he is the one who owes Tidus so much, rather than the other way around. "But.. if there is anything you want to say, you can. Once you're ready for it."

He tries to steady his voice as he says it. It's important that Tidus knows he means that. He'll wait. Without anticipation or pressure. Just giving Tidus the time he needs.

"Whether that's now, or in five months. I'll listen all the same."

[blitzcheer]

It would be nice to stay like this. Nicer than the past few weeks have been, better than the cramped sleeping and the cold weather that found ways to trap itself inside his clothes. If only they could sleep, and this would be it. No more having to think about the next day, or anything. He's tired, thinks about telling Inigo, I came to see you--but that's not a subject for now.

Nor is that urge, small as it is, to let Inigo know - I didn't wanna die. But that's a weight to that that he doesn't want to burden either of them with. As positive as it might be, it's no less bitter.

Dad...

He looses his side of the embrace some, but only some; drawing his arms so to loosen his shoulders, to move his head. Nice as it would be to hug on and on, Inigo really would be okay with them doing that, wouldn't he? But this heavy mood that comes with it...he doesn't want to keep in it. While he's at least like this, for however long it'll last...

"Do you have anything you wanted to do? Anyone...you wanted to see?"

[flatteries]

"I.."

He starts, but his voice trails off. "I kind of wanted to see you," he almost says, but it doesn't feel right. Because that would just spiral right back down into "But I didn't think you'd want to see me," or "I didn't deserve to see you though," and that's not something they can use right now. Not when they're hugging each other, obviously more than alright with the other's presence, wanting so badly for the other to be okay.

So he shakes off the thought, though he still opts to be honest here. Even if it's about something else entirely.

"I.. was kind of planning on just staying here, honestly.." He didn't want to face anyone. He thought he only would mess up more. Or that people would just tell him how much he hurt them, how terrible of a friend he was.

Since Tidus moved a bit already, Inigo does too. But he doesn't let go of Tidus at all. Instead he just pulls his head back enough so Tidus can actually see his expression. The tears are still flowing, but less than before - nothing more than a light trinkle across the ugly stains his earlier tears had already drawn on his cheeks.

"Actually, I've-- A.. A lot has happened with me too." Gerome, foremost. Reno, secondmost. And then him screwing up with just about every single one of his friends... "So I.. I felt the same. I also didn't know what to do. I kind of thought it'd be better if I just stayed hidden away here, so I wouldn't bother anyone.." He smiles, though it's wry. But it's an attempt. Him trying to keep his words from dragging down the conversation and mood a bit too much.

"So I haven't thought much about it yet.." About what he'd even do if he'd step out of these shadows and back into the light. Into the marketplace, the crowds, the celebrations. "But if you'd let me go with you, I'd like to try."

[blitzcheer]

Does he have anything he can give Inigo, for his blotchy face? But trying to think through his inventory for anything useful leads Tidus to ponder 'scarfs?', and he probably shouldn't go offering Inigo one of those while he's talking. Stiill, it's a distracting sight, and Tidus hopes that nothing marks his own cheeks; his eyes just a little too wet, but managing to keep from breaking out into anything more.

The knot in him eases some too; that rock in his throat, the restraints around his ribcage and tightening in. Even while the wry joke pains him to hear, and the idea of Inigo hiding himself away in this dinky little passage, too.

But they don't have to do that. They don't have to hide.

"I wanna...," he starts, slow and thoughtfully, then begins again following a pause, "I don't wanna think about the train. I don't wanna think about anything." So- "Let's pretend we're travellers. Real travellers. Let's just stop thinking about everything and look around, and--just forget it for a while. Until we have to go back. Let's be happy," he says on a lower note, after an inspired fervency taking over his voice for the first time in a while. Hopeful. Yearning.

To not be them for a time, or not the them they are now. Instead--just people. Just normal living, breathing people. Not thinking about the last week or the future, or anything else. Nothing else but them.

[flatteries]

Inigo nods. And not in that way where he's just nodding because he wants to go along with something, or because he doesn't want to be disagreeable. No, it's a genuine nod. Because everything that Tidus is saying.. that's exactly what he wants too. For today, or maybe just a few hours, or even just one hour, he doesn't want to think about it all. About all the friendships he's most likely going to have to carefully patch together. About Gerome, and whether or not Inigo will see him again on this train. About so much more.

So only now does he dare to slowly remove his arms from Tidus. And even then it's happening very slowly, reluctantly, but it's not exactly like they can walk around the place hugging.

At least it frees up Inigo's hands to do other things - like furiously scrubbing at his cheeks for a moment in an attempt to make himself look more presentable, even as he speaks.

".. Yes. I want that too."

At least he's no longer crying now. Finally. His eyes are still red, and his face a mess, but there's no new tears to further mess it up. He sniffs a last time, and it's over.

"It seems--" He rubs his hand past a particularly sticky part of his cheek and lets out a half-sob, half-groan. "If I cry again today, I'm going to scream, I swear to Naga."

Enough! Dumb! Tears!

It's time to let it all go for a bit. To just be normal with Tidus, even though they're not normal in the slightest. Even though nothing about their situation is normal.

"Yes, let's just be happy. That's all I want right now. Just.. being happy together with you."

[blitzcheer]

The near outburst surprises Tidus, then gets him to choke on a laugh too, brightening his features the same way a sun slipping through the clouds do. He shouldn't laugh, he knows, but- he can't help it! Inigo shouldn't make it sound so funny.

But without even trying, Inigo makes his mouth tug wider on his face. He wasn't planning to smile this fondly so quickly, but that wsh -- 'That's all I want right now. Just.. being happy together with you' -- touches some tender part of him. He thinks he even feels his cheeks warm, though they're already slightly hot from the stress of emotions in their previous conversation.

Tidus raises his hands from Inigo's back, resting briefly where his neck curves down into his shoulders, some small desire to give one last -- hug, maybe, something more; but dropping his hands away, if not his smile.

"Then what do you wanna do first!" The cheer comes easy, surprisingly easy, the the pleasant demand for them to get started. "Something to eat? Look around the stalls?" Oh- "You get any money?"

He's so ready for this.

[flatteries]

It's dumb. It's not even like all the pain and hurt and worries suddenly disappear. They're still there, just deep down, waiting for their turn.

But that turn isn't right now. Because somehow, in the light of Tidus smiling like that, talking like usually - Inigo feels better so suddenly. Even if it might be temporary. The speed at which it happens really is dumb, considering how long of a time he's spent feeling crappy now, but of course it's something Inigo readily embraces. It's just one more thing to be Tidus thankful for, how easy the other makes it to slip into something else, seperated from all their pain.

"Of course you'd start about food," Inigo says, finding his voice suddenly a lot lighter, a lot easier to fall into the usual teasing. "And I don't really have anything to spend at the moment, but.. I guess I am kind of hungry. Let's go take a look."

He stands there for a second. The logical thing to do right now would be to turn around and walk out of his dark alley. And Inigo will. Even though his face still doesn't look great, he feels he may be able to not worry about that at Tidus's side as long as they don't run into anyone they know from the train.

But it doesn't feel complete. So before Inigo starts moving, he first reaches out to grab a hold of Tidus's hand. Only then, after lightly tugging on it and not letting go, does he start to move out of the alley.

[blitzcheer]

It's lifting. There's worries and concerns, like they'll see someone, someone will see them, and will they be able to pretend anymore? And Tidus wishes they had a better way of disguising each other, but that's a thought he can't do anything about. It's not like he can change their appearances, or make them invisible, or anything.

Plus, being invisible won't get them a hot meal.

He feels led though, for a moment, in that decision that Inigo seems to take himself in this, grasping Tidus's hand and walking out. Questioning for a second what he feels about it, but you know--whatever, right? So Tidus doesn't argue the hands once they walk out into the light, the fabric stall still sat surrounded by its multiple fabrics, the makeshift shelving to display them all.

"You'd think about food if you were out in the cold all day," Tidus finally says, now that they're stopped for a second to figure which direction to go. "I want, like... a stew! And a shower. Look, my clothes are still wet, y'know?"

He holds out his free arm, shows off his cloak, the rest of him. Not so battle-tattered as he'd been on Terra, and a lot better after the final fighting to even be walking around like this.

"All the places to eat around here are bars too." You know, in case Inigo wouldn't know.

[flatteries]

The moment Tidus shows himself off like that, Inigo does take a moment to take in the other's appearance. It's not like it was as easy to see back there in that alley, where it was darker - but out here in the light it's easy to see Tidus's state. Thankfully the other doesn't look like he's doing too bad, physically speaking.

But Inigo can imagine that he must have been pretty cold if he was with the blue team, so..

"I think I saw a place near here before that usually has a fire going. We could get you some stew there, and then sit near the fire so you can properly warm up." He doesn't quite tug on Tidus's hand yet to take him along though - he likes this plan, just thinking about the new, as if they're travellers who have been through a lot and just want to have a nice restful but fun day here.. but he's a little uncertain still, just a tad insecure about doing or saying the wrong thing. Not wanting to ruin the atmosphere, now they've both seem to have grasped onto something lighter. "Does that sound good to you?"

[blitzcheer]

"Take me!" There's no hesitation in Tidus's voice or demeanour at the idea presented. "You're already holding my hand-" and he lifts them up, both their hand, in gesture, in case Inigo forgot he was holding another guy's hand here, "-so shouldn't you be taking me around the place? And you're getting some too," he remarks. Since it's not fun if they're just getting him stew.

"Unless you wanna see what they've got first. But I'm not eating alone."

He might be pushing more on purpose, being bossy and wanting, but maybe that's the persona of this traveller Tidus. Plus the quicker they get indoors, the quicker they can warm up, be somewhere relatively private. Some place by the fire--it's a nice imagery.

[flatteries]

"Geez, geez, alright already."

But despite the way he says that and sighs, Inigo doesn't seem genuinely bothered by the pushiness. If anything, it's a good thing right now. No matter what kind of front he may put up - sometimes more convincingly, sometimes less convincingly - Inigo needs this sort of thing. Being bossed around a bit, having it that heavily confirmed that it's fine, that he needs to stop listening to his worries and just go for it.

So he does. A small smile appears on his face as he starts tugging Tidus along through the crowds. His steps may be a tad more hurried than usually, since he really doesn't want to run into anyone they know, but thankfully the place Inigo was thinking of is nearby enough that it's not a real problem.

And inside it's fairly busy too, but as Inigo quickly scans the room he can't find anyone they know from the train. Good.

That makes all hesitation disappear for the moment as he still tugs Tidus along through their held hands towards a table that's very close by the fire that's burning in the hearth.

"You go sit here," he gestures at the seat closest to the fire, and finally - slowly - lets go of Tidus's hand. "Then you can completely warm up. And I better not hear any complaints lately over me not treating you like a prince! Look at all I'm doing for you!" Inigo takes the seat next to it - slightly further away from the fire, but still close enough to also feel its warmth. "You still want that stew? I was thinking something with a bit more meat.."

[blitzcheer]

That's more like it. More life. He's dragged and he lets himself be dragged, though Tidus walks with enough speed to not be done so literally, their arms loose at the elbows as Inigo leads him. For a moment he wonders if to let go once they enter, the business not cramped but still busy, except-

Inigo gives him no choice, taking him over to his seat, and then doing it himself. And for a moment again, in an utter contradiction, he finds it bizarre that Inigo would. Nevertheless, his brows raise at being treated like a prince-- a point he'll be sure to comment on later.

For now, he waves his hand.

"Get what you want! I'm fine with stew, I want some soup too. Get a whole--troll if you want."

Yeah he took a second to think of an animal(???) there.