dualislogs | [closed]

Well -- if we’re heading for the junk, I’ll see what they’ve got. [ A pause, and his voice grows lighter. ] But if they've got any kinda sweet bun on sale in the bakery section? That's me done for. Doughnuts too. Don’t care about the cream ones, but anything with too much chocolate or caramel over the top?

[ Uh huh. ] What about you?

[ It took him a second, but once he starts talking, Tidus figures how to keep going, help to fill in that empty air. Helps that it’s not a complete lie. ]

I've never been one for the pastry style sweets.

[But he leads them out through the lobby and front door. Advantages to living on the first floor he supposed. Then he hands over a helmet to Tidus.]

I'm thinking savory. Pretzels. Jerky. Things that last.

[Things that can be on shelves for a long time.]

[ Tidus takes it, turning it to face the opening, ready to put on once they approach the bike. ]

Not planning to finish them all in one go?

[ Drown a shitty situation in the comfort of food. ]

Nope. I like thinking ahead.

[Speaking of, Nida slips his helmet on and mounts the bike, putting the key in and then looking pointedly at the helmet in Tidus' hands. And the moment the blonde has it on and mounts behind him he gives a sigh of relief.]

Super hort range radio. Try and keep your head close to mine, okay? It's the most secure sort of communication I can be sure of in the city proper. Oh, and we're still going to the store. I didn't want to, but I can't abandon the excuse.

Got it. [ The motorcycle isn't too unfamiliar a vehicle; not enough to make him wary about getting on, securing himself with his hands on Nida. ]

I know this isn't the best time, but I needed someone to talk about the Head with. There's stuff that doesn't make sense to me. The way it -- operates, and the people it takes. From other worlds and later.

[ Later. For cloning, he means, but he doesn't want to say that now. It's already going to get uncomfortable. ]

I wanna know if I'm gettin' crazy paranoid, or it this mess inside my head makes any sense.

[ For maybe the stupid reason that Nida is just experienced in a world that's unfamiliar to Tidus, and does that really include understanding the motives of a crazy AI? But people like Nida were sure to have a better idea than him. ]

Not the best time.

[Nida laughs as he turns on the bike and kicks up the stand. His hand reaches for Tidus's around himself and makes sure they are tight. Then he moves on to kicking the bike forward. BUt he listens to Tidus as he gets them going, and nods along.]

Yeah, today's been pretty bad. A woman who is like a sister to me that I swore to protect has been lost to me, and one of my brothers doesn't even remember me anymore. The Head is definitely trying to fuck with us.

[ And that starts them off with the worst part of all the shit in his head, doesn't it? It pains him to hear the trouble Nida's going through, more than he'd known. Frustrating. The fact that the Head can just do this to them. ]

Isn't it? [ Fucking with us. ] Yuna -- she was three years from the future from me, but she came in at the same time. The Head has our memories from the start. You know how often someone has someone important to them here? You, Squall -- it can't be a coincidence.

[ Can it? ]

It's been... hard. I lost my lover days before I was going to propose, as well as his brother who was a friend. I lost a friend in their mother as well, who had decided to treat me as a son. I have now lost Rinoa and Jason. I believe, in time, losing Seifer and Squall is inevitable.

[But yes, there is a connection to loving someone and losing them it seems.]

DOn't forget Zack. He had his girlfriend here. Apparently she's gone too.

Nida...

[ What can you say to a loss like that? ]

I hope that doesn't happen. There's gotta be a way of stopping this. [ He's desperate to believe it himself, voice tinged by that hope. ]

The Head... it brings people back from the dead, right? If we can shut down the bastard and get access to everything it has, they don't have to be lost. There's still a chance.

[Loss is an old familiar friend of Nida's. So he doesn't figure he should let it get him down so much anymore. But he almost wants to laugh at the suggestion of the Head bringing people back.]

Never trust the Head's tech. Ever. Fight for the people still here at your side, Tidus. Not for the hope that we can snatch back our loved ones. Thinking like that is going to get you hurt.

Then what do you think? That we're stuck here for good?

[ Because if they couldn't trust the Head's tech, then what was their way out? It's a possibility he's never wanted to consider before, however. Except with his death. ]

No. I believe that tech may be genuine. Unless, of course, it's an instance of cloning like in the Village.

[Which he supposes isn't as likely. Because if the Head could just CLONE people from other worlds willy-nilly, then what was the purpose to bringing them in at all? No, it wanted to study genuine things. Or so Nida thought.]

The Village? What're you talking about?

[ The who what now? Was this something back in Nida's world? ]

The place I was before here. This isn't my first kidnapping. After all, I had to meet my guy somewhere, right?

Oh... right. [ Huh, it... yeah, it clicks now, doesn't it? Something he's either never paid close enough attention to, or it just went right by his head at the time. There's a clarity, and the more he thinks about it-- ]

A girl talked about that too. A Village, and about being a clone. [ ...wait. ] Are half of the other planets out there dedicated to cloning people from other worlds or something?

[ There just multiple cloning factories out there??? ]

[Nida brings them to a stop at last in the lot of a store. He tilts his head and considers the comment though.]

A girl? Stephanie perhaps?

Yeah yeah, that's her. We were talking about some things. [ Things. ] I guess a bunch of you came out of one weird situation and got thrown into another, huh?

[ Tidus will takes himself off the bike now that he sees they're at their stop. All that, and he didn't really bring up what he wanted, but the ride's helped to take his mind some off what's been on it. He waits to remove the helmet, until Nida does, considering the radios in them. ]

Edited 2020-02-24 17:36 (UTC)

[Nida chuckles and spares a soft smile.]

My little bird is full of strange topics. But yeah, you're right. Hell, this is Jason's third or fourth I think.

[That being said, they can't justify helmets inside, so Nida takes it off and tucks it under his arm. Better to pretend the radios aren't there.]

So, snacks. Lots of them. I'm thinking little sausages too.

[ He might never get used to the way they need to shift from conversations, but it's not so bad this time, helmet under his own arm, a half-humoured tug of his lips. ]

If you're going little sausages, you might as well go the full meal. Sausages, rice, whatever vegetables you like here, some spices... maybe beans? Get everything cooked up, boil the rice, then fry it all together -- now that's what I'd do!

Or go ahead and make yourself a burrito!

[ He's heading for the shop as he spouts off about cooking. Junk food totally includes just making dinner, right? ]

No, I mean the pre-cooked sausages. You use them for snacks. Besides, I'm a horrid cook. I don't wanna trust myself with that.

[Even with a burrito. But he goes inside and grabs a basket. Can't get TOO much, even with the cases on the bike. Some he'll just have delivered to his room.]

Well then? Trust me! I'm a great cook. Grew up with nothing better to do than learn blitzball and every recipe in every cookbook in the boathouse I lived in.

[ He turns to face Nida, smiling confidently, his arms coming out some as he continues to backwards walk. ]

Try me. What's something both you and Squall like? He can have it tomorrow if he doesn't want it today. I have leftover containers.

I might have to make use of you then, Blitzballer. Because I'm hungry and my brother isn't around to cook as often as I'm used to.

[But he considers thoughtfully. He doesn't really KNOW what Tidus likes. Perhaps... perhaps everything? Perhaps nothing? He doesn't really know.]

Let's just go with burritos.

Burritos it is, Dancing Man. [ Since they're going for nicknames! Can't leave Nida out. ] Finally my time to sweep you off your feet.

[ Which isn't really how that night happened, but regardless, Tidus's grin is cocky, and he's long since stopped his walking backwards so he can properly find himself towards the vegetable aisle. ]

Treat yourself. Let's buy fresh. [ As dumb as the prices are. He lifts a green pepper. ] Yay or nah?

[Really? How silly, to call him that. But he'll shake his head.]

Not sure you have the moves for that, kid. But yeah, green pepper works for me. Would rather have red, better flavor.

Both work. Just seeing if you like 'em in the first place.

[ And so he bags two of each, red and green. Yellow can stay where it is. ]

I'm thinking, comfort food? Skips beans, go for scrambled egg. You can pick if you want hot sauce or something else in it.

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Oh no, Nida's translator receiver just went weird.

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