mysteries | (no subject)

(no subject)

Weird things happen on the train. They're probably kind of used to it by now. Sometimes you wake up in the morning (as far as there are 'mornings' on the train, anyway) and suddenly everything is different.

Today is one of those mornings, apparently. Because while Roland may be waking up to find himself very much his usual self, there's obviously something wrong as he makes his way across the train. There are plenty of people who seem the same as ever, but there are some exceptions - some people looking older than before, or younger than before. And not just a little bit either, no, noticably so.

.. that may be slightly worrying, huh? If it's worrying enough for him to start looking for certain people, then Roland may end up in luck.

Or not, depending on how you view it. Because while Inigo is not hard to find at all - he's right there in one of the corridors of the sleeper carriages - it's.. very obviously not Inigo the way he usually is.

Because this Inigo looks like he can't be much older than three, maybe four years old at best. Thankfully it seems that his train outfit has shrug down to still fit him, now wearing a very tiny purple hoodie, but that's definitely a small, small child. Only the unique dark blue hair and the Brand still visible in one of his eyes make it obvious that it's Inigo, waddling around by himself.

And after a moment, he seems to realise that there's someone there, like a much taller shadow looming over him. The tiny boy looks up, staring blankly. It seems at first like he has nothing to say, won't even react.

But then he holds out his tiny arms. Upwards, in Roland's direction. "Daddy!"

.. well, at least it seems that not all of his memories are gone if he does remember that much.

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The train has a long history of doing things to its passengers that neither make sense nor have any real purpose other than to disturb their daily lives. Roland has grown complacent enough such that he takes them as they come without much fuss, unless it warrants a more violent reaction. The age curse afflicting almost half the passengers, doesn't really bother Roland as one might expect. Between the shifting physical appearances and sudden cries lending a sense of chaos in the air, Roland in fact, finds everything quite amusing. It's almost ironic, given who he is, what chance he's been granted. It's like he's been prepared for this one; the thought pleasant enough to make him smile as he walks back to his sleeper cabin.

Roland will one day learn to never take the train lightly, no matter how irrelevant their games or how silly their curses. For he is now face to face with Inigo - and there could be no doubt about his train son even in his current state, small like an actual pup newly born, arms up asking to be held. The tuft of soft hair, the chub in his cheeks. The glow of the tattoo in his glossy eye, the coo!

Oh. Oh no. Not him. Not Inigo.

Roland freezes, his feet hinged in an angle as if stopping himself from taking even a single step forward. His own chocolate brown eyes are wide, time seeming to have stopped though Inigo's toddler state is clenching and unclenching his fists in an effort to get up!

This...this too, made sense. Of course the train would find some way to make it personal.

When the tiny little version of his adopted grows impatient at the lull Roland finds himself in, he shakes his thoughts free of hesitation and moves fast, bending down and lifting this baby boy - literally now - in the comfort of his arms, hooked under Inigo's armpits so he can take a closer look. This is him, all right. There's no doubt about it at all.

"I-Inigo...? Can you...Do you understand what I'm saying? Do you know who I am?" He called him daddy and that could mean a plethora of things - either in this form, he mistakes him for his birth father, or, or he actually remembers. And he doesn't know which answer he'd prefer more, which one will hurt or please his heart the way it does when he's called father. Either way...Roland shakes his head and holds Inigo, not really expecting an answer, tucking his head by the space between his shoulder and his head, a hand to support him from behind.

He even smells like a baby?! What in the world!

Edited 2020-12-13 11:27 (UTC)

It is really hard to see just how much of this Inigo understands. Because all his mind seems occupied with is just how long it takes before Roland picks him up, a faint frustration or poutiness about him, which immediately fades the moment the other man lifts him like that. Inigo doesn't even seem to mind or think much about being examined like that, instead content that he is now getting the physical affection the tiny boy was asking for.

And the moment Roland holds him closer, Inigo quickly leans into it, just letting his tiny body practically go limp as he's being held against the older man. Like he just landed on a comfortable pillow or something. The only thing that's still moving are his tiny hands, gently pressing against Roland's shoulders, then lightly patting them like he's playing.

"'Course!" His voice then finally resounds, much higher pitched than usually, but still holding some similarity to Inigo's usual voice. "You're daddy!"

That prompts the tiny thing to just giggle.

"Daddy Rolan'!" (Look.. he's still a baby, really, names are hard.)

But at the very least it seems to confirm that Inigo, despite having grown much younger and his brain having changed along with it, does remember some things. He's most definitely not mistaking the man for his biological father, despite their similarities. No, he's fully recognizing him as his adoptive father instead, even when Inigo's thought process may be much simpler now.

Instinctively, no matter how sudden and swift events have unfolded between him and his pup, Roland still knows what to do. Though he became absent for majority of William's development into a growing pre-teen, Roland was at least a father to him for the time that he was much younger, just like Inigo now, holding on to him and speaking his name. Remembering that he had promised him so long ago to be this man to him; to live this role and protect him no matter what. That, coupled with just how naturally he seems to fall into such a state of paternal warmth, allows him the chance to tighten his arms around Inigo now. Cradles him closer, feels his heart expand like it's been inflated from the inside.

What a conflicting set of emotions. On one hand, Roland is worried about this curse and its side effects. If it lasts for a week, he'll need supplies. Diapers, carriers, veggies to mash for his food! On the other hand...he's softening up, he's tender like hearing Inigo call him daddy Rolan isn't just destroying him from within. He wants to keep him here, in his arms, forever.

"Okay. Okay. This is progress. This is good." He says to himself again, while giving the back of baby Inigo's head some soft scratches, soothing to the touch. Roland remembers his own thoughts; and it's enough to get him to move again, bending down by the knees, carefully, to grab the clothes Inigo leaves behind as his older self, slung against his other free shoulder. It hasn't been thirty minutes and he's already looking the part of a single father.

"Regardless, I'll need to get things for you. Better clothes. Warmer. The train gets cold, you know? Ah, puppy?" Roland amends his nickname, appropriate now given the wider eyes that stare back at him as he tries to look his son. If he can understand him, and can talk at least a couple of sentences, then he should keep going. Communicate. Plus, if he really isn't just the sweetest looking puppy boy he ever did lay his eyes on, with Will being the only contender, who looked exactly like his beautiful mother...

"Do you want to walk? Can you walk?" Roland asks. One arm is now supporting his legs so he can stay upright, his other arm around Inigo's back. "Do you know how old you are right now?"

As he speaks, he's already on the move to the nearest ICP terminal.

Of course Inigo, being as small and young as he is right now, is letting half of this go over his head. Some of the things Roland says to himself completely lost on the little boy, and his actions - like picking up the clothes - even moreso. Inigo seems content enough with the fact that he's found his father and is now being held by him. Is there anything more than that he needs in the world? He sure doesn't think so.

In fact, he's just playing. Contently. Tiny hands are reaching out, trying to grab onto the man's ponytail, when he's suddenly pulled back to be held straight up, the hairs now tantalizingly right out of reach. But he'll get them. One day. Maybe even soon.

At least the nickname seems to get through to Inigo. He doesn't verbally reply to it, but his head tilts slightly in that way that just tells you a small child is paying attention to you. Puppy, yes, that's him! He's the puppy!

.. though the question makes said puppy frown.

"Dunno." How old he is, that is. Maybe since he's too young to know, or maybe it's a holdover from the fact that the older Inigo would also have no idea what his age was if Laurent hadn't insisted on keeping track of it back home. "But.. also dunno if I wanna walk."

He shakes his head, his plump little cheeks, bouncing back and forth.

"Just wanna stay with you, daddy."

What if he has to walk and Roland walks away from him! That'd be unacceptable. He has to be by his dad's side at all times. If you thought regular Inigo was clingy, then welcome to a whole new world of extra clinginess, Roland. Because this tiny Inigo isn't planning on leaving his father's side anytime soon.

Roland blinks, and his brow furrows. But what seems to be an expression cast from worry, turns out to be one that he makes because he's not sure how to process the feeling of holding a child again. A small, warm little thing, snug against him, his arms supporting such a fragile weight. How long ago was it? When was his last memory of William at this age, at this size, fitting against the curve of his shoulder like he belongs there? And now, now his second son, one he found and took in without hesitation, mimicking the memory, creating a new one of out of the mold that's distinctly Inigo. The way his tiny hands move, pat, and grab at his attention - it's the same thing he does on the train when he's all grown up too. Always clinging when he finds him walking about, running up to him, trying to grasp at Roland's arms, his hand to hold.

The only difference right now is the age but everything else was the same. This was his train son and the urge to protect him until the curse wears off hits Roland much stronger than he anticipated.

"Okay. Then I'll keep holding you. You'll stay here, nice and easy." Roland nods and like a magnet, touches his nose against his forehead, a light nuzzle before he holds him as he did before, except this time with just one arm to support from underneath. The ICP terminal awaits him, and he's praying something will come instantly. If not...

...but Inigo is moving about, trying to grasp at something from behind so it feels like the weight is tilting towards his back and not forward where his palm rests. It's hard to type down and scroll through a list of possible things for a newly toddler'd out Inigo when the said kid is making some sort of grab that Roland can't see!

"H-Hey, puppy. Slow down there. Can - Can daddy just do something real quick?"

Little did he know tiny hands had the ends of his long ponytail as they're unsuspecting target. If anyone were to walk up to this scene right now, it would look like Roland's trying a balancing act, with one of his legs already bracing as the other lifts for a counterweight.

Inigo has absolutely no idea of how unhelpful he's being here. Even after Roland speaks up, the little thing is just too young to be able to process the man's words as him being a hindrance in any way right now. He doesn't even verbally answer - just giggles, as if that's enough of an answer in and of itself.

Yeah, sure, daddy, you go and handle whatever you're doing, and he'll have his own fun here! No problem at all!

Which means that even as Roland is stuck in the middle of his precarious balancing act, Inigo just keeps on going. Moving bit by bit, trying to caaarefully reach out. He's getting closer, and closer...

Until he's finally caught onto the strands of hair. He yanks on the ponytail with an excitement devoid of any real malice, giggling once more. Aren't we having fun here!

"Y-Yeowch!"

That was enough of a tug that might have teetered him a little too far back, if he lacked even a small bit of his current presence of mind. It definitely hurt enough to warrant a verbal reaction, the top of his scalp already starting to sting as the toddler tries to play jungle man swinging through vines using his poor, abused strands. Alas, the fun has to end for Inigo at some point, his hands reaching in a strange backwards, elbows-bent angle to carefully pry him off of his shoulders as if he was about to go upside-down. Which is definitely what happens. Inigo is lifted by his stomach with two hands, but his head is now facing down and his hands still grip at the ponytail, now resting in a mess of ebony against the curve of his shoulder.

But this wasn't a position that would do either. Roland hugs him close to his chest in a very slow and careful attempt to get Inigo to first; let go of his hair, and second; to stay carried upright. Blood would rush to his head and he would get dizzy and a dizzy toddler meant a potentially vomiting toddler, regardless if this version of his train son probably hasn't eaten anything yet since the curse began. Details!

ICP? What ICP? Please, please coordinate puppy!

"Just - don't move okay? Daddy's gonna hug you tight, give him a second -! "

At first he sure isn't making Roland's attempt to stop him a whole lot easier. Sure, Inigo is still desperately clinging onto the ponytail, since Roland moving him around hasn't quite gotten him to let go just yet, but he's already whining as if Roland took his favourite toy away from him all the same. The whining - thankfully - isn't too overly loud, but since this is Inigo, it still comes with a curled pouty lower lip and the first hint of water starting to flow to his eyes.

But before the tears can actually start to flow and the whole circus will be complete, Inigo stops moving all of a sudden.

Despite being held upside down. It can't exactly be comfortable, but the tiny child doesn't seem to mind, instead hanging there, completely unmoving. Still. Slowly letting go of the ponytail.

It's only a moment later, maybe once Roland has already praised his luck and started moving the baby around, that Inigo speaks up, betraying what exactly has managed to tame the wild child.

".. Hug?"

Yes, of course it's that magical word that stops Inigo from doing pretty much anything, his whole attention now focused on it. Eyes growing wider, the whining quickly turning into laughter, as if he wasn't just about to cry. Tears? No way, sounds fake!

"Daddy, I want a hug!"

Just as he is able to get him upright at last, finally carrying him properly with the right amount of support, Inigo's little voice grabs his attention. "Huh?" Roland holds him up, stares into his wide eyes with a tilt of his own head in careful study of the toddler.

Daddy, I want a hug!

Ah. But of course! This was a flashback to his time trying to figure out what made Will tick and cry and laugh, just to get him to eat new kinds of vegetables. Or to stay in the bath without thrashing around, getting soap in his eyes. Oh yes, with Inigo it wasn't making jokes or funny faces. It was the physical affection. How could he be so blind? This was integral to Inigo, and he almost forgot! Roland's lips slowly break out into a smile, the discovery all too pleasing and warm. He nods eagerly.

"Okay. Let's hug. But!" His pointer finger instinctively rises up in emphasis, even if in this position, Inigo won't be able to tell a thing. There's a way to hit two birds with one stone here. He still needs to check something on the terminal, after all. "We'll make a contest out of it. A hug contest. The tightest hug wins. Are you ready to play?"

Now where was this plan going? Roland has high hopes though. And his expression is heightened, matching the enthusiasm on Inigo's own face. He's hitting three birds with one stone, really; not only is this going to calm his son while allowing him to type with both hands on the terminal, it's also going to get him toddler cuddles that maybe, he just really misses. William was affectionate in his own way back then, after all.

He won't cuddle anyone else so readily, but Roland is weak to his children. Call him a sappy dad, okay!

"Uh-huh!"

Roland doesn't have to tell him twice. Inigo was born ready for this sort of thing. Even in this tinier form, he is very much ready to cuddle with anyone at anytime. Just tell him that he can.

He's not even deterred by the fact that it's suddenly a contest. It's not the kind of thing Inigo particularly cares for, but hey, if he's getting hugs out of it, then anything is fine with him. Even before waiting for Roland to reply or say anything else, the man will already find tiny toddler arms latching onto him, clinging tightly onto his neck (but, fortunately enough, not tightly enough to be uncomfortable or choke him or anything).

Which leaves Roland's hands free to interact with the terminal. Inigo is even small enough that he's not really getting in the way, or being directly in Roland's line of sight. If anything, he's felt much more than anything else - a tiny warm toddler body against Roland, shifting a little as he tries to make himself comfortable, but not enough to throw the other off balance this time.

He's not even talking anymore, so that's yet another distraction down! Instead he just seems to be making little sounds to himself, like he's trying to hum or sing happily.

"That's my boy. The best hugger this side of the void. You're doing great."

Though he had more practical intentions for offering a hug contest, Roland can't help but wrap his arms around him for just a tad longer, squeezing twice, before the ICP calls, his ticket smoothly slotted in place as soon as he can free one hand. Now that Inigo's hold on Roland's body is strong and secure, of Inigo's own doing without any prompting from Roland whatsoever, he can type with both hands. But his arms don't forget they're holding a literal child by his chest, so they're still tensed by Inigo's sides anyway. He rests his chin on the top of Inigo's head, peering at the screen and knowing precisely where to swipe to get what he needs.

But it doesn't take him long to realize that anything the shop offers is either useless, or will come too late. It's two weeks away to platform, and Roland can't wait that long. He clicks his tongue against the back of his teeth quietly, heaving out a breath. The ticket is removed and put back into his back pocket. Inigo may have his hugging dad back now, Roland automatically returning the embrace with another set of strokes to Inigo's back without even thinking of it. Though he is preoccupied, looking around, wondering who else might be afflicted with this, and if the opposite happened to them; older when they're young -

- "Wait."

The ideas connect in rapid fire, one thought leading to the next. A curse from the train meant more people had it. If more people had the age curse, then there's a distinct possibility that the train might have provided for this instance, the same way it provides them the tools they need as the train parks on missions or breaks off planets. He's fired up, determined to his next destination: the dressing carriage.

"Your daddy is pretty silly sometimes, pup." He chuckles, walking in long strides to the tail-end of the train. "That should have been the first place I checked. Are you still holding on the tightest you can, Inigo? Won't be long now, I promise."

Not realising anything of what's going on here, Inigo isn't too sure why he's only getting his father's hold sometimes. Maybe Roland just isn't as good at hugging contests as he is? That must be it, right? Maybe he has some big hugging talent that he's putting to use here!

But then, thankfully, Roland's arms do return to hold him. Which is much better. Not that Inigo doesn't like clinging to Roland in general, but it's just extra special when he's getting held in return by his dad. Even as they're starting to wander off to.. who knows where.

Inigo certainly doesn't. He lets out a tiny, curious noise because of it, but then Roland is speaking up already.

"Daddy.." At least it's not a sad daddy, but it's definitely a half-curious, half-confused daddy. Inigo has no idea what's going on anymore!

And while he's still hugging Roland, he's pulling his head back a little.. to try and stare up at him.. It's hard when you're a toddler and don't have a whole lot of height to work with.

"Where are we going?" It's hard to tell just how much Inigo knows about the train layout in this form. Probably not much, it's pretty complicated for someone that young. "No cuddles?"

This is an important question, Roland!! Are there going to be cuddles where they're going!! This is a national emergency!

"Daddy just needs to get your things, okay? We'll cuddle after. I promise."

Oh boy. Roland expertly dodges that with a calming expression as he looks down at the little one he's holding close. 'I think I'm underestimating just how...affectionate Inigo is as a baby.' Not that he's complaining; but it adds a layer of challenge when half of his head is hyperfocused on making sure he gets enough supplies to make this curse comfortable for Inigo. Thankfully, the journey to the dressing car is not a long one. Passing the last sleeper cabin, he makes his way to the corridor connecting to the literal spider's den, webs clinging to the corners and some empty suitcases strewn about...and he's so lost in looking for toddler goods that it might not occur to him that the dimmer light and the presence of Spider Seamstress's silk weave could alarm Inigo.

At least his arms are still around the toddler, though that's a short-lived warmth when sharp eyes spot exactly what he needs, glad that intuition proved right this time around. In an organized pile lay bags and bags of infant-care, from bottles for the smallest ones affected by the curse, to kid-friendly snacks and even kangaroo care swaddles for just Inigo's height and size.

"Bingo. We've got it." Now to carefully maneuver such that he always has one arm over Inigo while bending down to grab what he can in the other hand! This was a lot of stuff he needs to take with him back to the cabins!

There's a semi-resigned sound coming from the toddler at what Roland is saying, but at least there's no demands for cuddles right that moment. Inigo may be a clingy toddler, but apparently he is - at the very least - not an overly demanding one. If his daddy says there will be cuddles later, then surely he wouldn't lie about that..

But as their journey continues, Inigo is slowly getting more and more unsure of that fact. He feels like a dog who's been led out by false promises of the dog park, only to drive by the dog park and learn it's going to the vet.. He shifts uncomfortably as they enter the slightly darker car. Even if he's with the person he trusts the most in this world, a kid as small as Inigo is right now can't help but feel uncomfortable in these surroundings.

And at first it's just a bit of discomfort. But the longer they're there, and the longer Roland looks around, the more it builds up.

To a point where - once Inigo has the opportunity, right as Roland is bending over and doesn't have as good of a grip on him anymore while reaching for the stuff he wants to grab - Inigo takes his chance to try and get out of here.

He lets go of Roland's neck, thankfully not dropping too far to the ground with how far bent over the man was, and he starts running (or, well, running at toddler speed, so more like waddling) off to try and find a way out, letting out a small "waaah!"

And while usually it wouldn't be difficult to find a relatively slow-moving toddler, this carriage is pretty dark.

And there's a lot of things lying all over the place that a toddler could easily disappear behind. So if Roland looks around, trying to find Inigo, he may find it's not as much of an easy task to spot the toddler again.

"Inigo, hey!"

It happens too fast. It's the sudden shift of weight that almost topples him over, suddenly empty of a little toddler clinging to him for life. Roland tries to balance himself as fast as he can, but before he can catch even a glimpse of Inigo, he's already gone. Immediately, he flies into a state of heightened awareness, bending the rest of the way down to take precisely all the supplies he can reach for, taking only a moment to know what they are before they disappear into his arms band. The only thing he keeps with him is the kangaroo sling, attaching its clasps and belts around his person so that he's already Inigo-proof.

"Right. Now where could he be...?"

And that was going to be the challenge from hereon out; he underestimated just how scary a big, dark place like the dressing car is for a kid as young as Inigo, and maybe the curse messed with memories more than he expected? If he didn't know where they were going with the promise of cuddles failing to reassure him that it'll all be okay eventually...Roland hums to himself, a picture of steady calm as his eyes adjust to the dim light and his hands place themselves on his hips. Indeed, it would be the perfect place for a toddler to tuck themselves in, corners more hospitable than the garish distortion of artificial lamps littered overhead, with spider webs decorating walls no less. (Yet another reminder that even if he looks like he knows what he's doing, maybe, just maybe he doesn't quite have that instinct for reading his kids yet.)

"Puppy?" He calls out with a gentle voice, with a bit more diaphragm behind his bellow so he knows he can be heard across the space. "Puppy, are we playing hide and seek? It's okay, daddy's here! I'll find you!" But where to even begin? His worry mounts further when he realizes there's a chance Inigo might have gotten himself stuck inside an empty luggage case, or worse, a stray web. But if that were the case, he would have started crying, right? He shakes his head and takes careful steps around the floor, his eyes craning from left to right in an attempt to map everything out to a tee. He had to find him now.

...

"Inigo, don't be scared." If he still hears nothing, Roland attempts the big guns as he crouches, knees bent touching his chest, eyes squinting as nothing escapes his gaze. Nothing. He's looking absolutely everywhere, no matter how silly he might seem from the outside. "Look, I've got something for cuddles! Wanna come see?"

There is no hide and seek being played here. Only hide. Or rather, trying to find a way out of this carriage, only to realise that you're way too horribly small to find your way here in the dark among all these empty cases and slowly start to get lost.

It's why there's no answer at first. Not because Inigo is ignoring Roland, but since he's so busy trying to find either the way out or the way back that he doesn't even notice the other is looking for him in the first place, doesn't hear a word of what the other is saying.

But after a while even a toddler has to realise that he's horribly lost and doesn't know what to do. It's only then that his father's voice registers with him, making him follow a path that heads in the direction of the voice. So even though it took a while, after that final question from Roland, there's finally a head of blue hair poking around the side of a suitcase.

"Daddy..?"

There's some relief in seeing Roland right there, because if anyone knows where the exit is, it's his father. His daddy knows everything, obviously, because that's what fathers are like.

And yet Inigo still looks a little apprehensive about leaving his behind-the-suitcase hiding place here. Thankfully the reason for that becomes apparent very quickly as the toddler continues: "There's.. There's no big bug, is there..?"

He saw those webs, after all! And Inigo knows that sometimes those webs have spiders, and spiders are terrifying.

"I wanna go away from here, daddy..." No tears just yet (I know, a small miracle when we're talking about Inigo!), but there's definitely a pouty curled lower lip. And no attention for the mention of cuddling, which means the sudden fear really must have seized a direct hold of the child's brain, for him to not even think of cuddling of all things.

There.

He's homed-in as soon as that small voice rings out, tuft of hair that might have blended into the darkness if he had poorer vision. But he doesn't jolt towards him, in case it shocks him further and deeper into the dark car. He'll make his way slowly but surely, almost to a crawl, until more of Inigo's profile is revealed from his hiding spot behind the suitcase that could have landed on top of him had there been any sudden movements. There's a sense of relief that passes Roland, but until that toddler is back in his embrace, there's no comfort to be had just yet.

Oh, please don't make a surprise appearance today, Spider Seamstress...Any day but today!

"I know, puppy. I know." Roland hushes reassuringly, his arms already carefully extending to make room for Inigo's inevitable return. "I'm gonna get you out of here. There are no big bugs, none. I'll protect you." That seemed like two conflicting accounts, but right now, he's ready to say just about anything to convince Inigo to make a dash towards him. With a careful glance up above, empty spider webs but no arachnid ladies presents (thankfully - later, Spider Wife!), the hand closest to the suitcase gently pushes the offending item aside revealing his grand prize: one train son in baby form, ready to be extracted so they can both get the hell out of the dressing carriage.

"There he is." Roland smiles immediately, offering him another layer of security. Fingers curl up towards his palm, beckoning him into the contraption by his chest.

Thankfully the contradiction in Roland's words doesn't stand out to a simple-minded toddler like Inigo. All he can hear is his father reassuring him - and that's all he needs to hear, isn't it? As long as his dad says that everything is okay, then it must mean everything is okay. Especially when Roland is standing right in front of him now, like he's ready to protect Inigo from even the most terrifying of bugs.

So Inigo chooses to trust him. Even though he has absolutely no idea what that thing Roland is wearing is - how would a medieval child ever have seen anything like it, or even regular Inigo on the train? - Inigo doesn't seem scared of that. He just lets himself be lured over and put into the contraption without resistance or protest.

Though he is quiet for a moment more as Inigo seems to test it out a little. Trying to see what this thing he's found himself in now is. He wiggles, like he's trying to see how much room he has to do so. The baby is experimenting!

"Welcome back, puppy. Here, I'll adjust it."

The kangaroo sling against his chest may not be a branded one, certainly not one that he's ever used when he played such a paternal role back home, but the straps, the adjustments, they're all the same. And he still remembers how to work it, thank Lofty. As Inigo the toddler moves about, Roland watches carefully how he shifts in his new space. Sure, it's a bit of a tighter hold on him, the device making sure he doesn't quite get the same opportunity as before to run off the way he did. But Roland's pretty sure he's got a good read of younger Inigo regardless; he's certain he likes the proximity, lending him warmth and Roland's sense of protection as he's swaddled close.

In the process of making sure Inigo isn't at least suffocating or constricted too much, Roland is already heading out of the dimmer car while the baby is preoccupied. It doesn't take long to return to the outside world, the hallway lights looking even brighter than they did before compared to the shadows of the Spider's den. He heaves a quiet sigh of relief, and as soon as the final strap is secured, Roland's hands-free and ready to go about with One Happy (?) Toddler by his chest.

As promised, the kangaroo sling does indeed serve the purpose of providing cuddles forever! Until he has to let him down, of course.

A hand of his goes to fix Inigo's hair, while the other reaches for the tinier hand that grips and tries to hold on to him.

"Are you okay? Don't do that again, okay Inigo? I want you to always stay with daddy, all right?"

It's true! Inigo doesn't seem to mind the contraption, despite the fact that it's becoming increasingly obvious even to a small toddler that he's trapped like this. Not that he's trying to wiggle too hard, but even just from some wiggling it's obvious that all escape routes are blocked now, that he's just stuck in this position, close to Roland's chest.

.. but really, there are a whole lot of other worse places to be stuck in than this, right? It's exactly the close physical proximity to his father that makes Inigo not mind it, since that proximity is enough to make anything feel better. Or less scary. With how close the two of them are right now, it's almost as if Inigo can feel Roland's heartbeat against his own little chest - and while he may not be smart enough at this age to consciously realise that, it's having a calming effect on the baby all the same.

And hey, if that didn't do the job, then that hand in his hair or the finger Roland generously allows Inigo to latch onto would do the job. Don't mind him over here, just shaking Roland's finger experimentally.

"But.. it was scary, daddy."

There's no real pout. It's not a defense, just an explanation, since apparently Roland doesn't understand how terrifying that dark spider car was! There were bugs, daddy!!

"I wanted out. Didn't want to see the big scary bug." Even though - thankfully - the spider hadn't been present. But maybe a part of Inigo's memories retained the fact that there was something big and scary in there, and just didn't have the full picture readily available anymore.

"Hm. It was, huh?" Roland reassures him easily. There's a hint of amusement in his tone too, privy to his own inside joke. Inigo would have understood it had he been in his regular state of mind, but just the same, a part of Roland wants to tell him how harmless the 'big scary bug' living in that car actually is. (Well, at least, to them. Goodness knows what Spider was capable of if she's pushed to her limits too.)

"But you know, if you're with daddy, then you'll always be safe." It bears repeating, his hands resuming their play, entertaining the little one with gentle pokes and tickles where he can reach. His smile is warm as he bears down on Inigo, landing an affectionate pinch of his cheek with a light grip of his fingers. How long has it been since I've actually had a chance to hold a kid this young...? And was he even in the right state of mind to appreciate it for what it was?

"So if something scares you again, daddy will help you. If I'm not there, look for me. I'll always come to you."

His promise bears repeating. Doesn't matter if toddler Inigo remembers this as a young adult either; Roland may have thought that whole thing was slightly cute, but his feelings have not changed regardless. In whatever age Inigo is or becomes, his vow is tattooed in his heart forever - to stay by his side until he is no longer needed.

The walk continues as he removes his hands from Inigo, though his palm rests behind the sling, rubbing the material as if he was touching the back of the kid's shirt. There is a destination to be decided on now, with long strides that feel natural even when a toddler rests against the breadth of Roland's body. There's the obvious Sleeper cabins to get Inigo reacquainted - and he has to check if he's even potty trained at this point, Inigo's actual age as much of a guessing game as the mysteries of the void can be. There's also the matter of what's inside the bags he grabbed in a hurry, seeking and retrieving Inigo more of his priority than anything else at the time. He crosses to the midpoint of the sleeper cabins and stays there, lingers by the lining of the hallway and signages. He may or may not be bouncing the toddler up and down to play with him despite his busying thoughts.

Finally, Roland looks down at Inigo, his head in a slight tilt. It couldn't hurt to ask. Children usually know what they want more than adults seem to realize.

"Are you hungry, my puppy? Do you want a snack? Or do you want to find some toys? What do you wanna do?"

Apparently Inigo believes those words, since there's no further clarification or any protests as he's taken right along by Roland. Instead the kid just sits quietly in the sling, maybe even partially soothed by the way it's being bounced up and down lightly by Roland. If he wasn't as awake as he is right now, it would've been enough to soothe him into sleep.

But for now Inigo is still wide awake enough to be aware of everything happening around them. Or - at the very least - of Roland talking to him. The small child immediately turns his face to look at Roland at that familiar way of being called, patiently listening.

"Um.."

Though the answer seems to be a little harder to think of. Especially when you're still so young and not quite attuned to what feeling inside of you means what.

"I wanna snack.." He thinks? A snack doesn't sound bad right about now! Though he may not be super hungry.

But as the toddler is thinking, it seems something else occurs to Inigo. Something important enough to ask, reaching out with his tiny arms.

"Daddy.. Will you really always come? Always?"

Roland nods and starts making their way to kitchen and dining, hoping there are more kid-friendly snacks in the cupboards than his memory attests to. If not, there's always good 'ol warm milk - perfect to fill up tummies no matter what age! Though he doesn't stay wordless for long, his reassurances flying in as quick as Inigo asks.

"Always." He affirms, meeting those wide eyes with his own gaze that speaks volumes of his affections. Despite every uncertainty thrown his way in this journey of his thus far, he knows for sure that his promises will always ring true; that those he's pledged to protect will remain under his wing, no questions asked. And regardless of age. "Call out my name, and I'll be there before you can count to ten. I promise."

They arrive by the hallways connecting Library to Music Car by the time his hands return to a little Inigo, one ruffling and playing with hair, while the other tries to tickles his neck and sides lightly, if only to distract and keep him busy. He lingers a bit longer by the Music Car, in case there's something here to borrow for Inigo's amusement.

Maybe those shakers...?

"Ah.."

Inigo takes in the answer, still staring right at Roland as he's thinking about it. His dad always coming to help him when he calls, no matter when or why.. It's nice. It's a thought Inigo likes very much, because it means he'll never have to be alone. Apparently it's a comforting thought to the boy regardless of age.

But he does speak up again after a moment, adding: "Just like mommy!"

Apparently another thing Inigo does remember, despite being younger. And being here on the train. His mother is just imprinted far too deeply in his mind for Inigo to suddenly forget about her.

(Though that makes the question whether or not he realises that no matter how much he'll call for said mommy here, she won't just show up at his side.)

Still, the thought of his mother seems to make a very tiny Inigo very content. He giggles at the thought, wiggling a little with happiness. Or maybe it's just since Roland's finger poking at him is making him ticklish, who knows.

Oh, he dearly hopes this version of Inigo remembers enough that he doesn't assume Roland is Chrom...That's not something he's ready to explain to a toddler quite yet. Nevertheless, he settles into the cute little display, grabbing some shakers and putting them in his free pocket before returning to Inigo suddenly smiling and cheerful. Coos and giggles that wrack his tiny body, demolishing whatever apprehensions Roland might have in favor of meeting these halfway.

He's stuck on that spot again, and if Inigo continues to be a toddler this engaging, Roland would never make it to snacks! Can he help himself, though? He leans his forehead towards him, nuzzles what he can of his nose making sniffing motions against hair and face and cheek, his hands still tickling.

"And your mommy does love you very much." He pinches his cheeks again, affectionately as always. "I do too."

Whatever that might gather for the time that he indulges the baby in his sling, Roland does have enough sense to start walking out of the music car, his gait now slower so he can prioritize Inigo's comfort. The shaker makes noises with every step, muffled by his pants. "Right. Gotta get a move on. A puppy I know needs snacks."