flameinthedarkness

After checking the basics on the surface and the cord itself, and, well, turning it off and on again... because that's normally the issue... but finding that it was not working, Idia's pulling the main panel off it to look inside, searching around in one of the pockets of his oversize coat to pull out a slim tool set he always carried on him. How did they even do this? Eh, it was an easy enough fix, but it's such bad gear! He could so improve this! Hell, he could do it now, but if he could get his hands on a list of parts that started running through his head... he could make it amazing. Right now he could only increase it's efficiency by about four times. Far too low for his standards.

Searching out the tools he needed, he did note he was being talked to but tried to ignore it. Only to drop the tool at that question, his eyes going wide in panic as he stumbled over his words, "W-w-w-what?!" NO! Why would he want that?! He tries to avoid them! Why would he want to sit down and eat snacks with them!?! Kalim was pure torture for Idia! Cater was a bit better, but still snapping pictures with that camera all over the place. And Lilia... ughhhh. He tired his best to look innocent, but he really, really wasn't.

He can't do this! Wait! Wait! He actually has an excuse, "I-I-I got my own club, you know! Azul's going to be angry enough I'm late doing this!" He 100% is going to use Azul to get out of this!

For a second, Cater's face falls as Idia provides what's actually a pretty legitimate excuse. "Ah, yeah, guess it can't be helped," he starts as he smiles again as if unaffected. "Maybe some other time--"

Except that Kalim cuts in, proclaiming that they can just invite Azul, too. Lilia agrees that it's a great idea (looking particularly mischievous about it), and before any additional protests can be voiced...Kalim straight up bolts out the door to go and find Azul. Well, that's Kalim for you. Once he gets an idea in his head, nothing short of Jamil's ire is going to stop him.

"Guess that settles it!" Even though Cater seems cheerful enough about the turn of events, he rubs a hand on the back of his neck and shoots a slightly apologetic glance at Idia. He's getting what he wanted, but especially what with how friendly they've been online lately (however one-sided) he can't help the slight guilt at this turning into a whole production.

Oh thank gods... he's safe.

...until that. Until that. Idia would like to think he could count on Azul to take the hint, to realize what is going on and to stop this from happening... and he would understand, he would get what is going on. But would allow it to happen. Partly out of spite just to Idia because he could, but mostly to try and make better connections to Kalim. It's times like these Idia wished Azul knew who he was... he could so easily bribe him to get out of this... Azul ran on money, and Idia had plenty of that.

Idia's shoulders slumped as Kalim catapulted himself out of the door, turning back to continue his work, a rather soft 'ffffuuuucckkkk' under his breath at this all. How did it turn out like this?! He's still fiddling away with the fixes when Azul is brought back with Kalim, that well practiced smile in place and that happy, over the top tone that spoke of Azul knowing he could benefit from something. As well as a game in hand which Idia recognized as one they were planning to try out today. And which could handle five players, Idia shooting an annoyed look to Azul for going along with this all, only to get that smile back that told him Azul knew exactly what he was doing.

Idia's done with the amp by the time the others set everything up, having debated over taking his time and really drawing out the repairs... then worried that Kalim or Lilia or one of them would come over and check what was taking him so long. Placing his tools back away and checking the amp over to make sure it was operating, Idia shuffled over to where they were seated, not looking at all thrilled at this. Ughh, where was the least annoying place to sit? After a few moments of silent debate, he drops himself down somewhere between Azul and Cater, tugging on the edges of his sleeves to partly cover his hands out of nervousness. He wants to be as far way from Kalim and Lilia as possible.

Cater doesn't have a lot of experience dealing with Azul. He knows about his tendency to make deals, knows his grades are just a notch below Riddle's, knows...generally that it's best to keep off his radar. Anyone that sharp has a better likelihood of being able to read him, and that's not something that Cater appreciates. The only thing to be done is to go full ham, he thinks, and once Idia sits between him and Azul and the board gets set up, he gushes over it.

"Ahhh, so cute! Look at all the pieces. #NRCgamenight #popclubftboardgameclub #whatatwist about to go viral with this setup!" But just as fast, he's whining playfully over the instructions, claiming that it seems "totes hard to keep track of."

Anyone paying attention though will find that despite his behavior and claims of struggling, Cater doesn't have any actual problems following the game's rules. Where Kalim is clearly getting confused and overwhelmed but not seeming to be bothered by it and Lilia overall taking a backseat and laughing...Cater's doing remarkably well. He flashes Vs and cute exclamations of surprise when he's set himself up in good positions--

--until he abruptly makes a poor choice, all but tanking his standing on the board. "Aw," he complains, "looks like an L for me. And I was doing so well! Fs in the chat, fam."

For how annoyed Idia looks and is feeling as this starts, as it goes on he does relax a bit as the attention turns more towards the game play itself. It doesn't take him too long to work out how to play, though it would take multiple sessions to find the most successful way to play, but that's not important right now. Plus Idia's never been one to be really concerned about winning a game, unless it's against someone like Azul and his ego inflating with each win. Got to keep putting Azul in his place and not get too much self-importance over it all. He even tries to help out Kalim as the game continues, reminding him of the rules and how to set up his side of it, but also not holding his hand enough and allowing him to lose pieces for his own choices.

And maybe a rant or two about game theory, how games should be easy to learn but difficult to master, getting a sigh and argument going between he and Azul for a few minutes over their different preferences in games. And maybe throwing Azul's dice cheating back at him, Idia not planning to ever let him live that down. Other times he'll sit quietly as others chat, moving his pieces and playing his turn silently and the occasional snack chomping as he feels like it.

The use of gamer lingo at Cater's lose gets a 'pffft' from him between his teeth and even a bit of a smile, "Sucks to suck." Studying the board to see the changes to it with another player out, still, "GG though, for first time playing."

"What can I say? I'm no match for a top-tier gamer, you know?" He laughs, feeling Lilia's eyes on him and just beaming wider in response. Whether or not he's being fake, Cater's hardly a sore loser or a spoilsport, so he continues to take pictures as the game progresses. It's not much of a surprise that the actual members of the board game club are the ones that seem to be going hardest.

Though some of that certainly seems to be sheer stubbornness on Azul's part. And Lilia seems to mostly just be enjoying the show.

Kalim, of course, is a constant cheerleader, not seeming to mind that he didn't stand a chance...and when the victor is finally determined, Cater joins in on the cheering. "Yeah! Awesome W!"

And in the end... Azul did end up winning as it came down to him and Idia, Idia accepting it with a shrug and a 'GG' to Azul too, even if he got that smug smile back at him, but able to return it with one of his own. This was about normal for them when one of them won. With a comment from Azul on the time and a check of his own phone to confirm it, Idia helped with the clean up of the board, before realizing, "Oh, hey, someone check to make sure the amp is fine for you." He doesn't want to be dragged back here if it isn't up to the Club's standards.

Then adding, "Don't put it up as loud as you normally do." Having not heard how the amp was before Idia really can't compare his mini upgrades to know how much it's improved, he would need one of them to tell him. "I upgraded it a bit."

Lilia offers immediately to be the one to check, but Cater steps in quickly, knowing how Lilia can tend to wail on his bass...sometimes in a way too literal fashion. Wouldn't want Idia's hard work to immediately turn into someone's eardrums getting blown out. "Really went above and beyond, huh?" He grins as he plugs in his guitar, slinging it over his shoulder and turning the amp to a low volume.

When he strums a few idle chords, the sound that comes through is clear, enough for him to let out a low whistle. "Dude, it sounds incredible! You really did work some Ignihyde magic on it!"

For all he grumbles, Idia really is amazing, isn't he? It's hard for Cater not to appreciate his talents when he's seeing them up close and personal. He's about to thank Idia a final time so the loner can finally make his escape when Kalim asks for a song. You know, the one you've been practicing from that band you've been really into lately. What were they called?

"Oh, uh," Cater starts, feeling an edge of panic at the question what with Idia still being in the room. There's an excuse already on his tongue when Lilia, damn it, chimes in with a blissfully innocent: I believe Cater's been referring to them as Premo.

And Cater's face goes red.

"Ehhh," Idia lets out in dry and lackluster tone, not really one to take compliment at all. He doesn't believe them, sees them only as mocking, and even if he did believe they were real he has no way to actually process praise put on him. Other than Ortho. Ortho always tells him how amazing he is. "Not really. I only used what was there. If I had parts I could improve it even more." If anything, Idia's disappointed by not being able to do more. It's such a waste. "Why is your gear so crap?"

Idia really doesn't care what song they pick, just as long as he can confirm everything is working right, and won't blow out again if pushed too far. So he's mostly ignoring the group trying to pick a song, until a very specific name pops up. Premo... Precipice Moirai, really?! Oh, he loves them so much! His eyes lighting up at the mention of them, but for them to mention it, for Cater to know it...

He lets out a scoff, "I didn't think normies like you would know them." Yeah, better to assume they just heard it in passing and are not real fans. No reason to get excited over the idea others have discovered how amazing they were, to be able to get their lyrics and the depth to them... all while Azul is shaking his head at this, Please don't get him started on them..., Azul having heard Idia's rantings and ravings on them in the past.

Kalim, bless his heart, makes things worse in the most cheerful way possible. Oh, yeah, it's all Cater wants to play lately! and Lilia laughing with a, They're quite the popular band, aren't they? This isn't the first time I've heard of them, lately.

Azul is giving him such an easy out, and it would be so, so smart of him to take it. Or, hell, he could just start belting out anything else and Idia would probably leave none the wiser to his secret. But everyone seems to be looking at him, and it was actually really nice seeing Idia having so much fun playing games. He'd all but shut back down as soon as things were packed up, but his interest is clearly piqued.

Of course it would be. Gloomurai is the one who introduced Cinder to Precipice Moirai.

"Pick a song of theirs, then," he decides on a dangerous impulse, adjusting his guitar. "You fixed the amp, so you get a request."

It's Azul's turn to look like he wants to be anywhere but here, his own flat look to this all, before that fake smile was plastered on his face once again, As much as I am sure this will be a marvelous performance, I have to head back to the Lounge to prepare for tomorrow. Thank you for your offer to join today. Packing up the game and moving to leave the room, and while Idia may had lost his main ally in the room, he's more amused at Azul's way of getting himself out of the situation as fast as he could.

As for that request... he kind of wants to test them out with that claim. No way, Cater has to be just a fake fan, someone who browsed past them and would move on quickly, so... his suggestion is a rather obscure song of Premo's, something from their very early days that only the most dedicated fans would know. And no doubt one Gloomurai would had talked about and shared with Cinder in the past when they geeked out over music, using it to show the development of the idol group over the years and how they had changed and improved.

Let's see if you know this one, Mister Fake Fan.

Cater has to stop himself from smirking. Chose a tough one, didn't you? he thinks. How very Gloomurai, or how very Idia, he supposes, really trying to test him. "All right," he agrees. "Never played this one on guitar so give me a sec here."

He hums to himself as he tests a few chords, nods, and then takes a breath. It's a good thing he doesn't have stage fright--he's never really had a non-virtual audience. Kalim and Lilia didn't count, what with them always playing and singing along with him. Still, as he sings, Cater mentally goes to a different place, closing his eyes as the song forms on his tongue and fingertips. Maybe it isn't just that--maybe it's the song itself.

That special, obscure Premo song that he shouldn't know, but does, because it meant so much to Gloomurai and he wanted to share that with him. It's so melancholic and full of heart. The guitar's tune, of course, is a simplified version, but it works well enough to back up Cater's all-too-familiar singing voice.

Even with Cater's confidence, Idia's just as equally confident that he's got a 'win' on this. There's no way someone like Cater would know this song, Idia already smug with triumph over this as Cater finds his footing.

And then he starts singing, and with those first few bars Idia's expression changes and any arrogance that he had gotten one up on Cater... vanished. Completely. Totally gone. It's not the first time Idia's heard covers of his favorite idols, not all good, some pretty good, none never as good as Premo. But this... wow. Like... Idia didn't know Cater had it in him for this kind of song. Premo tends to be more on the darker side, embracing the depth of the world and showcasing the despair in it, not hiding it away. Of how temporary everything was, before it was gone. And... it didn't suit Cater's super happy personality at all!

Then why was it so good?!

Maybe it's being so caught up in the shock of it all that it's not until Cater's within the second half of the song that Idia is able to think beyond the now, a voice in his head wishing he could hear Cinder's take on the song. And then realizing that... this voice did sound familiar. As it had when he had entered the room. It was more evident now than then, the change in song tones pushing it along but...

...what?

Sitting there stunned during this all, Idia seems lost in thought, very still and quiet even as the song ends, then realizing he was being met with still air and, "A-ah, I, ah... guess you do know it." That early enthusiasm for another knowing his group gone, reverting back more to his normal attitude most in NRC saw. "Ah, and, ah, um..." Just what is going on?! "The, ah, a-amp works..."

He's so confused.

The song comes to an end and Cater is very aware, abruptly, at the silence. Well, Kalim starts to cheer and Lilia gives a smiling and polite compliment about how it was a nice performance, but Cater doesn't really hear them over the sound of his own heart hammering irregularly in his ribcage. Where did this knot in his throat come from? The way Idia's clammed up so fast when he should be geeking out...

Fuck. He really went too far this time, didn't he?

Cater lets out an abrupt bubble of high-pitched laughter and goes to turn off the amp.

"I know, I know, like, it's totes not my style!" He winks as he hurries to exchange his guitar for his cell phone. "I like to mix it up sometimes. Hey, let's get a picture! This was really fun!"

Oh gods. Oh gods! Idia has no clue how to deal with this. At all! What does he do?!

"A-a-ah, um, yeah, ah, but, ah, you did well at it..." He almost running on autopilot as his brain starts to freak out, seeking answers to a lot of questions that just popped into it. Lots of asking, self doubting what he had just heard, questioning if he's just imposing Cinder on top of Cater just because they sing. His mind is completely jumbled.

In a way it's Cater who helps him to resurface enough to speak again, his hands coming up in front of him as that shield, "Y-y-you all can." Yeah, that's the last thing he wants. He knows Cater was already snapping pictures during the gaming session, and Idia had tried to ignore it, even if when he did notice he had tried to angle away to not be in the photo so much. But now... he just needs to get out of here and hide and... get his head clear. "T-Thanks for the snacks."

Ok! Good! Yes! Done! Out of here! He needs to leave! Now! Already skittering off to the door.

"Oh, uh--" But Idia's already out the door before Cater can really say anything. "No problem," he murmurs, more to himself. Lilia says something teasing and far too perceptive to be comfortable but Cater's too busy worrying over what just happened to process it. The nervousness really was just typical Idia...so he was thinking too hard, right?

The guy'd just thoroughly depleted his social battery. He definitely wasn't making some kind of connection between two singers that have a very similar voice because they are in fact the same person with the same voice.

Ugh, it's gonna be a long night.

Panic, panic, panic, panic, panic, panic! Idia racing back to Ignihyde and then straight to his room, his brain not able to even start processing what is going on and just screaming at him. What just happened?! It doesn't make sense! ...did it?

He doesn't know!

It's not until Idia's back safely in his room, door slammed behind him, and face in hands and letting out a wail at this all... that he starts to calm down. And think. Actually think. Ok so... so... Cater sounds like Cinder... a bit at least... Idia hadn't been able to tell fully with that first song, but the second, slower, sadder one... he sounded too much like Cinder for Idia to just ignore it. He needs answers, needs to find a way to confirm this. After all, maybe it was just all in his head, he's been listening to a lot of Cinder's stuff of late, and they been chatting at night so... maybe it was that, right? Just his brain shoving one person onto another.

Sighing into his hands, Idia dropped them as he wandered over to his chair, flopping down into it and letting the momentum of it to spin the chair around. Ok... he can do this, but of course not in any sensible way a person with common sense would do. No, he can do it the Idia Shroud way; with tech. If he can compare their voices he can confirm it, right? And if he's wrong, then it's fine! Just go back to normal.

If it's the same...

...lets deal with that if it happens.

It's not like this plan would be difficult, he already has voice based tech due to creating his own voice as a voice simulator, he would just need enough information then he could easily replicate both Cater's and Cinder's voices, then compare them. Cinder would be easy, his streams meant Idia could access that any time he wanted. Cater's... is more difficult, but... Idia knows how he could... he would just have to go to class. Cater always approached him after it. He would just... have to talk to him.

Ok, plan sorted, working on programming, and it would all depend which came first; a stream or tomorrow's class for Idia to start putting this into action...

Once their club officially disbands for the day, Cater's more than happy to make his way back to his dorm and completely shut off. He feels like his social battery is drained, and it's a relief that he doesn't have any plans to stream that night. Notably, Cinder never messages that night as Idia works, doesn't even sign on. As soon as Cater's made a dent in his studying he curls up beneath his blankets and worries himself to sleep.

The next day, it's tempting to send a split card to class for him--he doesn't feel rested in the slightest, and is a little sluggish getting himself an iced coffee before homeroom. At least it'll probably be a pretty stress free day, and there's no way Idia'll be coming to class after getting dragged into extrovert city the previous night.

Well, that's what Cater assumes. He's chatting with a random third year up to the door to the classroom and stops in his tracks when he spies Idia sitting in his gloomy corner. Shocked, he openly stares at him for a second or two before the professor gives him a snappy To your seat, Mr. Diamond, unless you'd like to be marked tardy. Cater rushes to an open seat, struggling to keep himself unaffected.

Why is Idia here today?! It didn't make any sense. He hated coming to class! Cater's legs are restless under his desk for the entirety of a lecture as he wonders, sneaking the occasional glance in the direction of the classmate in question when he thinks he can afford one. And why am I so freaked out?

That, too, baffled him. Friendships didn't last anyway, so if Idia figured out who he was and stopped supporting him...well, better to just let it happen before he got anymore invested.

Cater tells himself that, but as soon as they're dismissed he scoops up his things and is all but flying to the door in an all-out role reversal of his usual dynamic with Idia.

He has a plan! And every problem needs a plan to help solve it. Getting to a solution via steps. And Idia's got that first step done, he now just needs to gather data to put towards a conclusion. It's simple! Really! Sure, it's more subjective at first, but that's why he will be comparing the voices after putting them into his simulator, and that way he can simulate the same words and lines between the two samples even if they don't end up saying the same words. Idia just needs enough of a sample size to do so. And that meant talking to Cater.

Somehow...

It shouldn't be that difficult, right? Cater tries to annoy him all the time! But he's got to play it cool too, can't be too obvious about it, thus staying in his seat and tapping away at his screens, doing his best to hide the need to try and find Cater as he entered the room and nervously make his way through class. It's a different type of nerves than Idia normally had. Not that energy that he needs to shake off or fidget with his hands or clothing. This was more... like putting Cater under a microscope and trying to find out what secrets he may be hiding. Idia's never had a need to compare voices like this before, and that's kind of exciting and interesting, to try and present an argument if two people were really one. It's basically an experiment.

Ok, wait, chill, get through class, Cater will come after him, like always, and Idia can start gathering recordings. It may take a few sessions, but he can do this!

...until Cater is no longer there. Idia doesn't bring much to class, but he still has to put stuff away, and he was taking his time so to try and be one of the last in the room with Cater, but... did he run out?! What the hell?! Idia's left stunned at this, stuck in his seat and...

WHAT?!

No. No! He needs data! Idia out of his seat and out the door, looking this way and that to try and spot Cater in the crowd, even straightening up to his full height to catch sight of him and... ah ha! There. Don't you fucking run! Idia quickening his step to try and catch up. He's got no real plan in mind once he gets to Cater, but... well... he'll deal with that when he does.

Once he's out of the classroom, he's pretty sure he's off the hook. It's not like Idia would be following him or anything, so he can loosen up his pace and chill out. Cater takes a breath, stretching his arms up over his head with his study materials clutched in his hands...and then he glances over his shoulder.

And Idia Shroud is absolutely following him.

No, no, that can't be right. They're just going in the same direction. It's just a coincidence! Stop overthinking it!

Determined to prove this thread of logic, he abruptly turns down a hallway and stops at a vending machine. He'll take a second to compose himself and Idia will just keep walking by and all will be well.

Is... is Cater actively trying to avoid him?! WHY? WTF?! This is not helping Idia's suspicions on this all! Though still not enough for a conclusion, maybe Cater was... he doesn't know... something? Maybe Riddle. Yeah, lets blame Riddle. Somehow.

Sorry Cater, Idia does have the height advantage on you to spot you dodging away, which only continues to confuse Idia. Cater's normally so cool and collected, it's kind of weird to see him like this. Like, super weird. Like, super super weird. But Idia has a quest to complete, shoving his hands into the pockets of his coat as he turned to follow, trying to spy where Cater was and... oh, was it just he was super hungry or something? Hmmm, still suspicious... but again, not enough data.

Instead, "Cater?" It's in a rather controlled tone for Idia, though still soft, but not as quiet as normally since he's had to call out. But it's lacking that edge of nerves his words normally had when talking to someone, at least face to face.

It takes all of Cater's self-control not to flinch when he hears his name in Idia's voice. Idia...really did follow him. He wanted to talk to him? This is, like, so unreal. On any other day he'd be thrilled, but today? His heart hammers. He's been completely found out, hasn't he? And Idia's here to tell him off because he's gotta think it's all some big elaborate bullying campaign which of course is super not the case at all but will Idia even believe him if he tries to explain and aauughhh...!

"Whoa, hey, Idia!" Thank the Great Seven for years of practice handling himself in situations that make him want to scream. He manages to pull up a smile as he looks over, punching in the option for a spicy snack option. "Did I trip and fall into backwards land? Dude, this is two days in a row of getting to see you!"

Just smile through it. Just smile and it'll all be okay.

"What's up?"

Part of the steps of mission 'find out wtf is happening' was Idia trying his best to practice and prepare what he would even talk to Cater about after class. Cater running away had put a hitch in that, but... he can make this work, right? Idia's really not great at improv, of thinking on the spot for talking to another, and he really doesn't have a poker face to him at all. But he does have a side to him no one at school knows about, and is well practiced in. And right now that's what's saving him, falling into his Director role to be able to get through this. The thing was... it was making him come off a bit more still, and maybe even colder, than anyone at school would know him for.

So it may be easy for Cater to assume Idia is mad at him.

"Ah, no, though I did want to talk to you." Idia's plan ticking off boxes in his head as he went, making sure to carry out the right process and the goal of getting Cater to talk as much as possible. And the plan for that: "I, ah, kinda freaked out yesterday 'cause I didn't expect you to get that song. Like, at all. It's super niche and I totally thought you were a fake fan or something so... yeah." Good. Good! It wasn't totally a lie either, it had shocked Idia that Cater had managed to know that song.

...unless he is Cinder, and he would know, because Idia told him about that song. But no, step by step, this was a process.

Whoa. What happened to the stuttering, grumbling, fast-talking Idia who could barely look anyone in the eye? And this isn't even the emoji-typing wwww Idia from online, either. Well, he guesses he's never actually heard that Idia, but the vibe is totally off. Cater brings one of his feet around to scratch at the opposite ankle.

"I guess?" He shrugs as he reaches down to grab his snack from the bottom of the machine. "I like a lot of different music. Remember, I told you I like listening to darker vibes when I'm studying. BTW, I never got those recs."

Even though this all feels...weird, Cater keeps smiling. So far, so good. Maybe Idia really just wanted someone to talk to about the band he's such a big fan of. If that's the case, he can definitely swing it.

"Oh, hey, want anything?" He points the thumb toward the vending machine. "My treat!"

Ugh, he needs more! What happened to the normal chatter-box who won't shut up? Though as Cater brings up that day about wanting those recommendations, a hint of the normal Idia shows back up, a roll of his eye and lip pulling back to show his teeth, clearly not pleased. "I didn't say I would, you assumed." Hm, come to think about it, that was the day that he asked to hear that Cinder song.

...which if he is Cinder... that must had so freaked him out, Idia quiet as he considers that, only to come back to it all as Cater makes that offer. "Oh, um... the skull candy." Idia loves those lollipops.

Wait! No! Focus! He needs more data. "How did you even find out about them? Premo, I mean. And that song in particular."

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coin flipped to find winner XD

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