mysteries | i haven't posted in my musebox for so long the layout just broke

i haven't posted in my musebox for so long the layout just broke

[ Why were these boys out in a snowstorm? Was it a mission? Something else? Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? Caught in a snowslide, no escape from this random cabin because they're literally snowed in.

And it's dark. And cold. Clearly these are the ideal circumstances for three boys to be stuck together in a cabin, right? There are some blankets and there is a hearth though, although there's no fire started in there yet. And you'd think that starting a fire would be the logical thing to do here, considering the three of them might just freeze to death if they don't.

But is that the first thing Inigo suggests? Of course not. Instead he just flops down onto the floor like he's an oversized pouty toddler. ]

Why is it so cooold? [ I don't know, Inigo. Maybe it's all that snow outside.

Please keep him from freezing... ]

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[A dream, a remnant of a future that had been changed and the hornless kirin of a doomed kingdom. This was the trio that sat curled around each other this night. Taiki held onto them both as tight as he could, as if it could all be over in seconds, as if they could both disappear.

They could. That was the way of the train, people just left. Walked away. But even before... Taiki was used to things changing suddenly. All the hope in the world wouldn't stop them from vanishing. Wishing would not change Tidus' fate, or make Inigo's kinder.

It's enough to make him cry more, enough to make his hands curl where they touched the two of them, clinging tightly too them.

But wishes never changed things. The only thing that could change things was the will of those who fought for things to be better. He's seen people striving in impossibly terrible circumstances, he's seen people beaten, starving, freezing, still going on because they would not let their kingdom die without a fight.

He's seen people risking their very lives to stay loyal to a king who might have been dead. He's seen a frigid, broken kingdom rise up with hope and defiance against those that would destroy it.

He's also seen all of that crumble beneath the cruelty of one man in power but he tries to cling onto that hope, that will.

After all he is the embodiment of an entire kingdom's hope in a peaceful land. If he can hold the dreams of the people of Tai on his shoulders, then he can hold the hope of his two friends as well.]

Inigo is right. Friends are there to help each other. This is not a burden you need to bear alone. You are not alone.

[Tears have made his vision hazy, but he makes sure he is looking Tidus in the eyes.] You are normal. As normal as me and Inigo are.

[ Inigo deeply exhales after his own worked up words finally are done for a moment, the well they were pulled from running empty. Instead he listens. He watches Tidus verbally struggle, then Taiki speak.. But somewhere in those last words, he can see hope. Even as Taiki cries, he's being strong. Just as strong as Inigo knows he can be when the moment calls for it.. and this is quite possibly the strongest he's seen Taiki so far. A weird kind of pride blossoms in his heart at seeing the other be able to say those words even during a moment as heavy as this.

And then there's Tidus. Admitting something so vulnerable, struggling to smile and failing.

They're all a mess, but now Inigo can see there is hope. There is light. Just like how they all dragged each other here to stay warm together and survive this cold night, they can survive beyond that. Even if this problem may be a bit harder to solve than just the problem of being too cold, it can't be impossible. Things only turn impossible when you give up.

He smiles, the arm around Taiki squeezing a bit when Taiki says those last few words. He's just so glad for them. Taiki really is a bringer of hope, isn't he. ]

Taiki is right. What has changed between now and a few moments ago, huh? You're still Tidus. We're still friends.

[ Tidus just is a friend with a special new problem. ]

The only difference is that we're now going to make damn sure you're staying with us, one way or another. Or at least that you get to decide that on your own terms, rather than anything else dictating whether you can exist or not. We're going to figure this out together.

[ His face hurts, the muscles of it aching. His throat sore without properly crying, every inch of him tense, strained. Tidus finds it difficult to meet either's eye, yet he gives his best attempt; though it often goes aside, shame striking at him too deep.

But-- but they're trying. Not only trying, they believe. It's a confidence that-- that's so familiar to him. Him being on the other side, living with that hope and pushing forward. When Yuna moved ever closer to Zanarkand, every step taking her towards the Final Aeon. When everything seemed hopeless, but he and Rikku refused to give up.

Friends are there to help each other.

We're going to figure this out together.

It's impossible for him to deny that. To challenge them, to disbelieve them. That hopeless position he had been ready to sink into, the regret. Tidus looks at the both of them, sniffling, swallowing. Not caring for the mess that his features have become, his face hotter than the fire blazing could ever make it.

He nods to them, weakly; but it's an agreement, a sign of belief, that he carries as his head then drops, when he can't stop the sob that comes out. ]

[Taiki nods back, seeing that agreement, Tidus accepting the hope. Even if he found it hard, he still believed them. That was enough for now. With some hope... They could continue. Just like even a small fire could fight back the cold.

He just held them both tighter, gripping onto Tidus, letting him cry, crying himself.]

[ It's ironic. Now both of them are crying, Inigo feels that his own tears have dried up. Maybe it's just since he got a headstart on the crying to begin with, but it's also partially exactly because they are crying. It kickstarts an instinct within Inigo, the desire to be strong when others can't be.

He releases his hold on Tidus's arm to instead hold onto him properly, an arm sneaking around his back, pulling the three of them even closer together, rubbing both of the other boys' backs.

Inigo is quiet, letting them cry as much as they need to. He glances between the two of them for a moment, but then smiles and closes his eyes. He knows he can't reach Naga out there, but he can't help but offer up a silent prayer anyway for them to somehow be able to stay the way they are now. For Tidus to not have to disappear. For Taiki to be able to live without suffering.

By the time he opens his eyes again, a few long moments have passed, and Inigo finally speaks up again. ]

.. You know, we probably do ought to sleep at some point. [ If not just so they can cuddle up in comfort. They have to keep each other warm anyway - it's warmer in here now, between the fire, the blanket and their close proximity - so it's a good excuse to cuddle. ] It's getting late, and I think we can all use it.

[ Considering how much they've cried. ]

[ To Tidus, it feels like forever that they're sitting like that. That he cries for too long, some shame there he can't dispel, but not as strong as it might be. He should be stronger than that, a part of him can't help but think, that he's being silly, dumb-- even knowing neither of them would judge him. Even though he knows it's okay.

...and that helps him not to pull back or stop so quickly. Taking that comfort and warmth from the pair of them until he feels empty, drained. Until Inigo finally speaks up, Tidus lifting his head to them both. His cheeks wet, and he rubs at them and his eyes with the balls of his hands. ]

...M-mm. [ It's an agreement, if tiny, feeling strangely meek after such a display, a confession. He blinks, and still feels tears trapped in his lashes, lowers his head for a moment. ]

...Thank you. Both of you.

[ Because he needs to say it before anything else. ]

[He judges neither of them and he just sits quietly, still crying but mostly just being there, leaning on them as if he could take away their pain with touch alone.

He shook his head at the thanks.] No thank you... for telling us. You too Inigo...

[Because now they knew, they could help even if it was in a small way, a tiny spark to light the darkness that surrounded them.]

[ All Inigo can do is smile. Despite the situation. Because something about his affirmation combined with Taiki's own and Tidus's acceptance of it in turn is giving him hope. The situation may be big, and way over their heads, but they will somehow make it through together. There's no doubt about that.

He just hopes he can pass on that hope to them too - especially Tidus, with how oddly broken the other had looked before. This meek expression on his face is new too, but much more welcome, and it keeps Inigo softly smiling. ]

Well.. in that case I have to thank both of you too for becoming my friends in the first place. I never thought things would end up like this when I first showed up on the platform, but.. it ended up pretty great.

[ He leans over, daring to even press a very light kiss to the crown of Taiki's head before gently ruffling Tidus's hair, letting his hand slide down the other's back until it can pat him there lightly too. ]

Let's try our best to stay like this.

[ Not here necessarily. Even if it's not on the train, but in one of their worlds.. that's fine too. As long as they're together. As long as Tidus exists. As long as Taiki has something to feel grateful for. As long as Inigo has a place to belong as himself. ]

First one caught slacking will have to deal with me.

Then we will try extra hard, to not slack.

[As if Inigo's wrath was the worst thing in the world, and it was in a way. Taiki would hate to hurt or disappoint his friends.

So they can only try, as Inigo says, to stay like this.]

[ It's been a secret he never felt--not exactly unable to trust to anyone, but feared. He feared it back in Spira, the reaction of everyone else. As heavy and as painful as it was to keep to himself, to have at all, it was horrible to imagine everyone else knowing it. The indecision they might experience, the same acceptance of the trade that would have to take place to get rid of Sin, for good. He knew he should be happy enough to have a second chance. More time, to know more people. To live life with people he--cared for. Cared for so much, like Taiki and Inigo.

A scoff leaves him for the ruffling hair, a light knock returned on Inigo's leg for the gesture, affection in the reprimand. And gradually, he's starting to feel easier: in his own skin, with his own state of mind. ]

You'll have to keep me in line for a change, Inigo.

[ As if, he's usually the one keeping the other in charge instead. ]

[ There's a smile at Taiki's agreement, and then it evolves into a laugh when he feels Tidus against his leg. Things are starting to feel a bit more normal again already. And sure, they might always be slightly different now, as they live with the knowledge they have, but it only confirms that they're just them when it comes down to it. Regardless of what they know about the other two. ]

Wow, for a change? I'm always keeping you in line!

[ He leans closer, pressing himself against the other guy's side, an arm sneaking over Tidus's shoulders - though careful to still give Taiki plenty of space.

And while the content of the next words may seem whiny, there's no whiny tone in his voice. Inigo just seems happy. Hopeful. He's smiling. ]

Can you believe what he's saying to me, Taiki? You have more faith in me than that, right?

[He is happy to be held here, glad to hear them both sounding brighter, their familiar bickering soothing after all that happened. Things have changed, but also there are some things that will never change.]

I have faith in you both, you will keep each other in line.

[Stable and as happy they can be. To hold each others hope. He might only have a tiny handful of friends but that's what friends should do. Support each other.

And that hasn't changed, not at all.]

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i haven't posted in my musebox for so long the layout just broke

I want a refund

sorry this angst is nonrefundable

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turns out that despite the tears this was the Good Reveal AU