middleofsomewhere | The Will to Fight: Conclusion

The Will to Fight: Conclusion

The battles rage loud and ferocious at the gates of the city and off in the ruined wastelands of Erda, and on the walls a struggle of a different kind occurs. The team who stayed behind at the towers are small but determined as they move stoically across the walls to right the stones that have become misaligned, even as their friends battle not too far away.

The city begins to hum. It's a quiet hum, not loud enough to be heard out where the others are fighting but it vibrates even through stone. The recovering monks assure them that it is done, the wards are back up and no demon will be able to enter the city.

Eventually the battle is won, all three battles. The demons fought back and killed, a major blow to their gate system that will keep them back for hopefully a long time. Those waiting in the caverns return to the city and by the time they get there the illusions are gone. Everyone can see the world for what it really is.

But despite the ruins of their world the people are relieved, the adrenaline of the fight coursing through their veins and the mood is one of hope. They will build again, their people will survive.

All Voidtreckers please return to the Voidtrecker Express. Departure will be in a few hours

It has landed not too far from the city, cloaked to make it unnoticeable to the citizens, for all the good that does. No one has been particularly subtle this last week. People can begin regrouping, packing up the camp and getting any wounded not already healed to the train.

However roughly half an hour later another message appears on their SCA.

Passenger Persephone has requested we remain on system System #86525656412355 for an additional day to further assist the people of Erda. The Voidtrecker Express will depart on the morning of Day Fifteen of the month of Kazoo.

The train remains where it is, so the voidtreckers can use its facilities. There is definitely a lot that can be done to assist those of this world and the citizens will welcome any helping hands.

After an extra day they finally depart, returning to the void once more.

(OOC Note: Once the wards are up any characters who are demonic in nature will not be able to enter the city either!)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It's been a bit of a strange journey over to the train. It was a bit of a rush to try and be there for Taiki as quickly as possible, even rushing to shower and get clean so they could actually hang around him without making a potentially bad state even worse - but then there's also the fact that Inigo definitely asked people about Olivia on the way over to the train, and no one had seen her.

And now here, on the train, Inigo recognizes his mother's name in gold, unable to not at least even check for a second. He tries to shove any and all feelings down about it though, instead doing his best to smile as he enters the quiet room with Tidus, having brought along some water and something light to eat for their friend.

Inigo decided to carry the things, so he's leaving it up to Tidus to actually check up on Taiki first.

It was easy to get the food, Persephone on the train herself to make pasta, tomato and basil, hot and safe for Taiki to eat. Actually getting washed up and changed, not fretting about being clean enough, about how Taiki will be when they find him -- it leaves Tidus anxious, exhausted mentally after the fighting despite the healing, but refusing it acknowledgement.

He grabs magazines and books along the way from the library, art supplies, whatever that might off-set boredom, not leave Taiki to just his own thoughts. All pocketed away inside his arms for now, leaving his hands free as he quietly opens the door - not wanting to startle Taiki with a knock, but even with the attempt at silence, it doesn't work very well. There's the squeak of two higgledies, one blue and white, down by the side of the seating that Taiki's taken for a bed.

He brings out his cabin blanket swiped out, the only one he's sure to be clean, and folds it up, setting it on the floor as he sits close to the farthest wall to give Inigo room. And if he sees Taiki stirring as he brings out more bits and pieces - an artbook, his folded art case that he shares with others, a book on animals - Tidus will slow and look at him, offering a small smile.

"Hey."

He's not so deeply asleep that the arrival of his two friends and the higgledies don't make him stir, it takes him a moment to turn that awakening into actual movement though, eyes sticky as he opened them.

"Hello."

He saw Tidus first, there with a bunch of things, very much like Tidus, always making sure there were things to do, things to help people stave off boredom and dread. His head twists until he can see Inigo, though he pauses a moment to great the two higgledies as he does so.

"Did... Did you find her?" It's the first question, Inigo is so good at hiding what he feels that he can't tell just from looking.

This so isn't the first topic he wants to talk about during their reunion with Taiki after that entire mission.

But Inigo knows better than to try and avoid answering that question right now. Taiki will know if he tries to do so, and there's not really a subtle way to try and do it in this situation to begin with. Which leaves him with the realisation that he has to answer - even though knowing lying to Taiki would be awful, and telling the truth may only make him feel guilty.

Putting down the things he brought along, Inigo just does his best to smile. What else can he do? They have - he has - to be strong for Taiki right now.

"Her name is gold on the roster," he simply says, still with that same smile on his face. Inigo shakes his head. "So don't worry, she didn't get lost there or anything."

It's not Taiki's fault.

Tidus slows, awkwardly. It's that question that's been up in the air, avoided, but not maliciously. Him unsure if he should ask when Inigo didn't tell him the results of his trip to the terminal when they joined back up, and now- there's that uncertain factor, of what Inigo wants right now. How should he react?

But it's not been so far gone since Gyousou disappeared, the unsteady drop in his chest for Inigo regardless. His mouth pinches tightly, brows meeting.

"She's safe," he decides, optimism to his tone. A paused moment before he frees a hand holding onto a magazine, squeezes above Inigo's knee. "You've got us! Let's do something special for her if she comes back! We can all do with something to look forward to after this mission, right?"

Her name was gold? A surge of sadness flooded him, sadness for Inigo. That he should lose his mother when she had barely been here long at all... But he's also... Not relieved. But it's better that she merely vanished because of the train and she hadn't gotten caught up in the fighting, wasn't lost, injured or scared. Hadn't died.

But still she was gone. And that was heartbreaking. He sits up, stands, fighting dizziness to stagger over to Inigo and throw his arms around him. "Tidus is right. You have us."

Inigo is fully ready to move on from the topic. And what Tidus says is thankfully only helping that along, so Inigo shoots the other a grateful smile when he can feel that squeeze on his leg. It is a lot like Tidus, right? Especially in front of Taiki. Moving on, trying to find the positive in this. That's what Inigo wants to do right now too, leaving all his worrying thoughts for later, when he can deal with them by himself.

But then Taiki is already moving before Inigo can tell him to just stay down and take it easy, and he clumsily slowly wraps his arms back around Taiki too while the other clings to him - clearly caught a bit by surprise by the sudden affection.

The surprise soon fades though, leaving Inigo to exhale as he almost laughs a little.

"Hey, no need to make it such a big deal, Taiki. I'm fine!" Well, maybe not fine, but.. it's not like she's entirely gone yet. He can deal. He can hope. Especially in front of others.

He rubs a hand down Taiki's back.

"Besides, right now it's not about me. It's about you! Haven't you seen all the fun stuff Tidus brought along for you? What do you want to do first, huh?" Because these two boys are totally at Taiki's beck and call.

Tidus watches the two quietly, the differences in his and Taiki's responses. How the other rises despite his condition, that will of Taiki's that forces him to put his friends before himself. Giving Inigo what Tidus didn't think of, though deep down probably knows the other guy would appreciate.

But it doesn't make him think any less of the apprehension that now hangs between them, the uncertainty that comes with a gold name. Tidus lets out a soft breath, keeping his tone normal, trying not to let how weird and awkward this felt come across.

"Hey, don't you want to rest first? It's been a long mission - this is for later. But, how about you eat first? Inigo-" Tidus looks at him, head nodding to the door. "You want some too? There's a lot."

It's an offer, bro.

He looked around to Tidus, nodding gratefully at him. "I am a bit hungry.." He looked at Inigo, "It's always better to share food, we can eat together?"

He has never liked eating alone. It always feels either like punishment or just awkward, if there are others there who are not eating.

And they had both been fighting, they were bound to be hungry.

"Sure, sure."

His voice is a bit soft, but he's being really careful to not even let a hint of sadness slip into it as he speaks.

"Let's all eat together." If that's what Taiki wants, then that's what Taiki gets. Besides, Taiki's line of thought is true - even if they've been eating during the mission, there hasn't really been a moment since those final battles and them rushing to get to Taiki to sit down and eat.

"Come on, Taiki. Let me help you sit back down, okay?" Since the other is still attached to him.. Bro, can you please help move the food a bit closer in the meantime? They don't want Taiki to walk even more until he feels better, right?

Has Tidus got to be on food holding duty? He'll take the bowl if it's mentioned or motioned to, letting the pair of them sort each other out - or mainly, sort out Taiki. Tidus can't do anything of much until they're cleared the way, which he can pass the food over to Inigo, standing up himself.

"I'll go get us two bowls then - and I'll get the bigger one!" he announces cheerily, a cheeky grin flashed mainly at Inigo. nyeh nyeh, he gets more than yooou.

"Don't have too much fun without me, okay? I'll be back."

It shouldn't take him too long after all - the kitchen was only a car away, and he'll close the door on his way out.

be back after a tag round or two

"Oh..." He hadn't realised they hadn't brought bowls for everyone and now he feels guilty that Tidus has left to go and find more bowls when they've already done so much.

But he's also exhausted so he lets Inigo move him back towards the bench and slumps down, watching Tidus go sadly.

"Thank you..." He smiles at Inigo. "Sorry... I should be better soon... I didn't get any blood on me."

Inigo almost interrupts to say that it's fine, that they can just find some way to eat out of the same bowl--

But Tidus is quick to leave, and besides, even Inigo is slowly starting to realise just how terribly unpractical that idea would be. So he just watches Tidus leave for a moment too, knowing he really will be right back. (And with a bigger bowl for himself. Wow, bro. Dude.)

So instead he turns to focus on Taiki for a moment. Gently guiding him back over to the bench, first making sure the other sits down before Inigo slots himself on the spot next to him - scooting over so closely that he's almost letting Taiki just sit straight up on his lap.

"I'm glad to hear that," he says, smiling. Their shoulders pressed together, but with a very light pressure, not wanting to make Taiki feels worse at a weak moment. "You've been so careful. That means you did great out there."

He leans on Ingio, it's a good thing knowing his friend doesn't mind close contact like this. It makes him less guilty for wanting to be close. He closes his eyes as a wave of dizziness passes over him.

"I tried... I'm glad... We were able to help them."

It did seem like this world had been in dire need of help after all.

"Me too."

Sure, Inigo is always happy to help out the people they meet on missions, but this one hit particularly close to home. A total wasteland, what felt like the last remainders of humanity driven further and further into a corner by a horde of aggressive beings.. It was very much like his future in Ylisse. Though, unlike that future, they managed to save it.

Slowly he wraps his hands around Taiki's while the other leans against him.

"And that's all thanks to what everyone did. We couldn't have missed even one person, you know? Who knows how differently things would've ended then."

"It could have easily gone so wrong."

In the towers, on the battle field. He hadn't spoken to anyone who had ventured into the catacombs yet but he was certain it would be a similar story there.

He kept his eyes closed. "I'm glad you are safe. Everyone. But you and Tidus..."

He doesn't know what he would do if they got hurt.

He lets a small, low laugh escape his throat.

"Hey, you know both of us make sure to be careful, right?" Or.. well, they mostly do, anyway. Tidus may have been naturally better at taking care of himself, but Inigo is slowly getting there too. It helps to have Taiki back there waiting for them - because Inigo would hate himself if he didn't manage to get back to the other safe, if he caused Taiki any kind of hurt.

"Or.." Inigo's tone takes on a bit of a mischievous edge, indicating he's getting less serious here. "Maybe you should scold Tidus when he comes back. That guy! Going with the red team, going into those demon portals.. Geez, isn't he way too much of a reckless hero? Look how good I've been in comparison."

"He is very brave..." But very reckless. He doesn't want to scold him, it's not his place to scold either of them truthfully but sometimes he cannot help it with Inigo...

Still it was worrying, he doesn't want either of his friends to be hurt, but it is not his place really to tell them what to do.

"I hope he was careful though... It sounds like it... It was bad out there."

"Of course." Despite his joke, Inigo wouldn't Taiki want to get the idea that Tidus was in real danger.. or, well, more real danger than anyone else was exposed to out there. Even if Inigo didn't actually see their friend head into any of the portals, or what he did in there, he's sure Tidus wouldn't have done anything too reckless. Even that guy has a sense of responsibility, after all.

"He came back just fine after all, right? Maybe since he couldn't bear the thought of making you sad."

"Maybe..."

He half hopes it is not that. He shouldn't be the reason for anyone being careful. They should be careful because they are precious and their lives matter.

But it's fine. Tidus came back. Inigo came back. They are both well and soon Tidus will be back with bowls so that they can all eat together.

YEAH STOP TALKING BEHIND HIS BACK, HE'S HERE!!

That is, he's coming outside the door, and then--stopping right in front of it, each hand holding a bowl and his eyes looking down at the handle, then Taiki, but it's at Inigo that he makes the 'bro!! bro, the door!!!' eyes at.

Which isn't stopping him from immediately getting impatient and trying to open it up with an elbow...!!!

Maybe Tidus shouldn't take so long if he doesn't want the boys to start gossiping about him!

Thankfully Inigo does look up during his conversation with Taiki, and so he realises that Tidus is there, caught on the other side with his useless bowl hands. There's already three different kinds of disasters playing out in his mind involving Tidus and the glass door and the bowls when he starts trying to elbow it open, so Inigo gives Taiki a quick smile before letting go of his hands and standing up.

He knows he has to rush, not just because Tidus may drop these bowls in a terrible accident, but also since Inigo just knows Taiki will try to get up and help if he's too late. And they need to prevent that at all costs.

"Look, Taiki, we're just about ready to eat!"

So Inigo pulls open the door. Quickly. Perhaps a bit too quickly. Sure hope you weren't still trying to lean against it with that elbow, bro.

Not only does Tidus buckle as the handle cocks under his elbow, but then he gets shoved by the door. Shoved!!! Misfortunes for Inigo and this door for a thousand years!!

Tidus is rather disgruntled to be both knocked and forced back when's he's delicately balancing two bowls of pasta, but fortunately, the actual food comes out of this awkward event without being thrown from his hands. As for Tidus, the knock does hit a funny bone, an 'oww' that he (exaggerates) grumbles to let Inigo know the damage, if the dirty look he throws him isn't enough. But then he's pushing his way through, loud complaints to accompany him.

"Can you believe this? Inigo's beating me up with the door! You want his pasta, Taiki? You can have both."

But for that miniature huff, he puts on a smile for Taiki, showing that he's just messing around, sitting down with a sigh on the other side.

Oh no... Was this going to end in some pasta based disaster? He hopes not... But he is ready... He's not sure what he will do if it looks like it will. He's not sure he can get to the rescue fast enough.

But then Tidus is inside and grumbling but it is just the way they always grumble at each other. He leans towards Tidus as he sits down.

"Thank you Tidus. It was kind of you to go and get that."

Wow. You say a few nice things about your bro to your mutual friend while he's gone, and then the moment he's back and you help him, he's giving you dirty looks.

Not that Inigo is going to throw some whole stink about it. He figures they've already done enough of that in front of Taiki today, and he certainly doesn't want to worry or exhaust the other with it when Taiki is in this state. So Inigo just glances from Tidus's back as the other is approaching Taiki over to the door, letting out a small sigh too before wandering back over to sit down again without a word.

Fine, feed Taiki his pasta!! See if he cares!! Tidus is getting all the compliments here anyway while he's only getting dirty looks, and Inigo isn't quite strong enough to stop his inner baby from sulking about it. Especially when he's in a bad enough mood to begin with, knowing that his mother may just be walking off the next platform.

Edited 2021-04-11 06:59 (UTC)

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