flameinthedarkness

As the banter and teasing cools off, Cater picks something simple but fun for them to kill time with as they finish off their treats. Complete weirdness of the whole situation aside, there's a giddy bubble in his stomach now that he knows this is a precursor to an actual, certified date. Strange, anxiety-inducing, but...exciting. Before long classes are out and it's time for them to wrap up their fun, getting back to their respective NRC daily lives.

It's only a few days before they'll be heading into town together, and Cater finds himself extra jumpy throughout the rest of the school week. To most people, he doesn't seem particularly different from usual. Maybe a little extra upbeat and flighty, but that's just Cay-Cay for you. There's one more Cinder stream scheduled before the weekend, and he keeps things pretty low-key. The fact that Idia actually comes into class make things feel even more surreal, but he still tries not to completely overwhelm the loner with attention because of it.

He still logs in to game before bed, wanting to get the rest of that event gear for peak clown branding, of course, still sends Idia messages about this-and-that. It's all...normal, really. The fact that they're going on a date both changes nothing and somehow changes everything. For no reason at all, Cater thinks and rethinks his game plan. Should he be flirty? Should he dress a certain way since they don't need to be in uniform? Should he plan some sort of Idia-appropriate surprise? Every morning, he wakes up expecting a text waiting for him where Idia's changed his mind. When that doesn't happen, he kind of wonders if he's just going to get ghosted completely.

It would be fitting. He's always ghosting people, himself.

And then, finally, it's Saturday. Cater takes his time getting ready in the morning, knowing Idia won't be up early anyway, and finally makes his way out toward the front gates once it's about the time they agreed on.

o/ status update?

It'll take until Idia got back to his room after hanging out with Cater that it starts to sink in. And having his first panic attack over this. What the hell was happening?! How was this happening?! What was going on?! He had tried to weasel his way out of that promise to Ortho, to just hide in his room and escape and freak out about this until the day, but Ortho wouldn't allow it, insisting his brother followed through on his promise between a mix of guilting and blackmail. So the rest of Idia's week is spent half as normal as possible, then remembering what is happening and freaking out all over again.

He has no clue what to do! What does he do?! Does he do something... special?! And if so, what?! He hasn't really hung out with someone before in the first place, so going out into town with Cater was going to be all new already, but having it as a date added so much more onto it! Between he and Ortho looking into ideas, Idia dismissed a bunch of them, feeling they were too cheesy, or not 'him' enough, or not Cater enough. Feeling so very lost in just what to do with this all! Ortho encouraged him to be himself, that Cater asked him because he was him, which Idia instantly dismisses...

But with no other better options, well... all he can really do, right? ...right?

Funnily enough when Idia answers that text... he's already waiting.

all good. waiting.

He couldn't just stay in his room and wait! He would just panic more! Needed to get out and do something and... well... Idia found himself at the gates sooner than he had planned to be, playing around on his phone as he waited. Unusual for Idia... he didn't have his skull computer with him. It was too obvious to have it floating around after him, he'll already stand out due to his hair, he doesn't need that with him as well...

He's already waiting at the gates?! Getting that text, Cater literally breaks out into a sprint, stashing his phone without answering. Way to go, dumbass, asking someone on a date and then making them wait.

"Idia, hey!" He calls out when he sees him, slowing down into a jog. "OMG, I didn't think you'd get here early. I didn't keep you waiting too long, did I?"

He's already blowing this and it hasn't even started. Awesome, cool.

A blink from Idia as Cater races up to him, Idia having changed up what he normally wears to feel a bit more cleaned up. But also able to feel semi safe with a hood still.

"A-Ah, it's, ah, it's fine." Idia stuffing his phone and hands into the pockets of his hoodie. "I just... got nervous waiting so... walked out but... got here faster than planned... It's fine." Really, it was, Idia didn't think anything of it.

Once his brain catches back up to his body, Cater's usual smile comes back. Like Idia, he's dressed comfortably, a bit on the trendy side. Also like Idia, he's left behind a couple of his own trademarks. His hair's down and his usual diamond marking is absent from his cheek. Today, he isn't a card soldier.

"You look good--I don't think I've ever seen you outside of the usual NRC getups." Not knowing where to put his own hands, he slides them into his pants pockets, nodding toward the path to the shuttle. "Guess we should get going. Are you feeling lunch or arcade first?"

Right, they really only saw each other in uniforms at school. Well, Idia slightly less so, but still pretty much the same thing everyday. Certainly not casual like this, with their own style and... Cater with his hair down, Idia staring for a moment before catching up to being spoken to, "Ah, I, ah, I, ah, um, ah, thanks? Um," Right, right, this is normal stuff to say, right? "Ah, you do too? I-I ah... your hair looks good... with it down..." Eeehhhh! Was that weird?!

"Oh, ha, yeah, yeah, right." Right, focus! Focus on something! Not just staring. "Um... donno, guess see once we arrive?" Because right now his nerves are killing his appetite. Not that Idia really ever has much of one. "Ah, I didn't really look into, ah, much of this so... trusting you to know 'bout stuff around?"

"You think so?" Cater laughs, a bit bashful, and runs a hand through his loose hair, twisting it in his fingers the way he always does--only this time, it falls freely in his face as he does. "Maybe I'll keep it down more often, then..."

As they start walking, he has this abrupt urge to see if Idia wants to hold hands...but talks himself out of it. Maybe once they're in town. He holds onto his phone in his pocket to keep the impulse at bay. "Yeah--I'm pretty familiar with what's around at this point, but I'm always keeping tabs on new businesses, sales, events...I have some ideas up my sleeve. Way too much for one day, though."

Not that he should assume they'll go on another date, or anything...

Honestly, good move. Right now Idia's nerves are too highly strung. Give him some time to deal with just being outside, away from school, before trying that. Plus Cater would have to try dig Idia's hand out of his own pocket to even attempt that...

"You do keep up to date on stuff." Idia comments softly, this all areas of interest he really doesn't pay attention to at all. A light huff of a 'pfft' to follow, "Oh yeah? Planning ahead already?"

There's something so charming about Idia's shit-eating, barely-laugh that makes Cater's smile widen. The taller boy may be stressed to high heaven, but the levity is helping him deal with his own sense of doubt about the whole situation. "Of course! I gotta keep up with the NRC elites somehow."

He knows he's not a genius, not a powerhouse of magic, not an outstanding athlete...but he's clever. So long as he stays even just one step ahead, Cater can be a force to be reckoned with in his own right. Something like this, even though it isn't a battle, still requires a certain level of calculation. Besides, it keeps his nerves at bay to have a game plan.

"Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications: you're not gonna wanna miss what's coming up next."

Cater was good at getting those smiles and laughs out of him, much more than Idia would had ever guessed... anyone really doing so, another brief laugh from between his teeth, "I already have, right? How this all started." A... very weird start to this all, Idia thinking a few times now how glad he was to had stumbled across a random VTubers and his music, his face soften a little at that thought.

"Oh," On that topic. "Ah, donno how long the ride normally is, but brought ear buds if want music during it." Even if he didn't bring his computer he had enough stuff on his phone to pass the time.

Just like the other day when they were walking together up the tower, a bounce forms in Cater's step as he keeps in time to Idia's leggy stride. Since they were freshmen, Cater's always been interested in trying to crack through Idia's shell, but even he couldn't have predicted that this would ever be the result. Now that they're here, though, his nerves are definitely leaning more now toward excitement.

"Sweet! It'll definitely make the ride over faster. Probably have enough time to get through a handful of songs--I'd say it's usually about 20 minutes." And fortunately, the shuttle pulls up shortly after they arrive at the stop, so they can hop right in and find a spot. A total gentleman, Cater offers Idia the window seat.

If Idia notices he doesn't comment on it, both not wanting to call Cater out on it or not caring too much... or not wanting to think of why he would be so happy. This is all still too weird for him. He does look a little annoyed by the length of the trip though, "That's so long." Ugh, traditional transport, it's so limited. This is why flight is better, just take the direct route.

As they got on the bus Idia is hunting in his pockets for his earbud case, looking up in time to see that offer and... "What? Um... ok?" Sliding into the seat after a moment of hesitation, really not expecting it at all, or really knowing the etiquette for bus travel. In a way it feels a little trapped... in another way it's almost like shielding for any others who may get on, here or at later stops. "Here." He offering one of the buds as he puts the other in his ear, flicking through his phone for song options.

Cater figured he'd appreciate being able to sink into the corner, away from prying eyes. Accepting the earbud with a thanks, he leans a little closer to spy the different choices as Idia scrolls. It's silly, he knows, but more than a small part of him enjoys seeing those spindly fingers tapping. "What mood're you thinking?" Clearly teasing, he adds:

"No pressure, but your choice could absolutely make or break the entire day."

Idia shoots a look to Cater, as if to say 'really?' then a sigh and shake of his head, "Fuck me..." Not taking that serious at all, but playing along with the bit, thinking as he scrolled through. Hmmm, something chill maybe, to calm his nerves compared to something super upbeat. "This." Tapping it to start playing, some chill lo-fi that he's been using lately to try and calm down at night. It's still maybe a touch more upbeat compared to some 'sleeping music', but for Idia it's chill.

"How's that?" A glance over to Cater as he asks.

"I like it," he answers, grinning. "The date can commence."

He settles back into the seat, stretching his legs out in front of him. It goes without saying that he wouldn't call off the date because he didn't like a choice of music, but Cater's also pretty sure he'd be happy with anything that Idia picked.

Twenty minutes won't be so bad with such chill tunes to keep them company, but Cater's pretty sure sitting silently together and listening isn't going to help either of them with their nerves.

"So, I know some of the specific games you're into, but if you had to pick any overall type of game, do you have a favorite? Retro games, shooter games, rhythm games...?"

"Retro." Idia answers right away, then takes a moment to consider it better. "I mean, my favorite is a retro, vertical scroller, bullet hell. But I guess not all retro games, since a lot of quality of life changes been made to games over the years that really improve them." A moment of thinking more. "I donno, I like... a bit of everything? No real one favorite genre, just games from within them." It's a good move on Cater's part, giving Idia something to think about during this all, and on a topic that's easy for him to talk about.

"What about you?" A pause, then a hint of a smile to tease Cater with, "And don't say those that are in that folder of yours."

Cater raises his eyebrows at the answer. "That was suspiciously fast and specific. Do you have a title in mind?" As for his own, though, he laughs. "Uh, duh, why would I play anything that doesn't come with a payoff? Okay, but seriously..."

He thinks. "It's definitely hard to pick...but I think my favorite ones are the kind where you can build your own world. A good way to de-stress, and it's so rewarding to get everything the way you want it."

Idia lets out a brief bark of a laughter at that, "OMG!" Oh no, 'payoff'... unless that's just how his brain is taking it and Cater didn't mean it that way... whoops. Switching tracks! "Oh, world builders are great, gotta put a lot of time into getting those just right." Because of course Idia plays them that way. Unless there's a 'chaos' ending or requirement to hundred percent the game.

"And yeah, Star Rogue! It's my fav game ever." Idia grinning away as he speaks. "Ortho and I played it so much when we were younger. I swear I could play it blindfolded on Meteor mode." Idia knew that game back to front, more than any other game he's played. It was a really special one for him.

What the Hell? Idia looks so cute talking about his favorite game. The joy he has for it is infectious, and Cater's soon grinning from ear-to-ear. "Oh! Yeah, I know that game! It's a total classic. The movie they made based on it is great, too!" Pausing, his eyes light up further. "I think there might be a machine for it in the arcade we're going to, actually. Too bad I didn't bring a blindfold--but if you're up for playing a round, I'd love to see that prowess for myself."

"Y-You know it?" It always does surprise Idia when people do, assuming most wouldn't remember such an old game now days, having moved on to newer stuff. "Ah, yeah, yeah, it did. It was pretty good, you know, for a game adapted movie." Oh! This is too easy to rant about! Idia holding himself back in case it's too much for Cater right now. Plus there's always a touch of sadness linked to this game for him, both from the fact there will never be a sequel to it, and that... he and Ortho loved it so much, Idia's smile turning a little sad at that thought...

Before moving on, "Oh yeah? Ah, let's, ah, let's see, ok? Never really played it in front of others before..." Gods, don't let his nerves get in the way of all his talk about it!

"Don't get all bashful on me, now!" Cater elbows him playfully, laughter still in his voice. "Look, I can play a round first, really boost your ego with how sub-par my skills are. Then you'll be raring to show me how it's done."

It's fun being able to talk about this kind of thing. Not that he ever acts like he's not into video games or anything, but with everyone else he's all about cutesy things. After all, it's all his sisters ever wanted to talk about. If it was a different topic, he was never able to get anyone interested. With Idia, he can really get into his interests. From music to games to anime...nobody else has so many good recommendations.

"But then I'll have to make myself feel better by showing you how fast I am on my feet on the dance games."

A light 'tss' from Idia, his nerves starting to fire up again, but glad for Cater's joking. "W-We'll see..." Honestly, he should be fine but... it's in front of someone else, gods let alone he just remembered this whole 'date' thing too! Ehhh, he's going to make a fool of himself isn't he?

However his brows raise at Cater's claim about dance games. "Oh yeah?" ...should Idia admit that... he's not too bad at those either? He's not one to 'hold back' when playing against others, though sometimes will handicap himself if too big a difference. But... he does, well... like dancing, just a certain type... that no one knows about... well, Jamil does... still. "I'll have to see that."

"Yeah! I wanna try a little bit of everything. Racing, the game with the drums, maybe some table hockey?" Gotta get the most out of their time--and he figures the more they're busy enjoying the arcade, the less either of them can focus too much on what they should-or-shouldn't be doing now that it's an official "date" and not just "two guys hanging out".

Fortunately, their conversation helped speed things along, and it's only another song's length before they're pulling into town. Cater gives Idia back the borrowed earbud and waits for the rest of the bus to clear out before standing to exit. "We just have to walk about a block from here. You can't miss it once you get close enough."

Oh. Oh. "I-I haven't done the table hockey ones before." Hadn't had a chance to. That would be new for him... and not sure he will be good at it, seems too athletic... but guess Idia will find out.

Getting to the stop was fine, and Idia is glad that Cater waits for them to be last off, giving him time to put everything away and make sure his hood is pulled up. However it's once he steps off the bus that... it really kicks in. He's somewhere else. Other than school. Or home. And... Idia's really not sure how to feel about that. He's curious but also... can feel that raising panic, clutching his hand to his opposite wrist, fingers tight against it as his other hand forms a fist, a slight shake to both hands as his head drops, but Idia knows. "Y-Y-Yeah, o-ok..."

Cater's nearly getting away from himself with his excitement, but the tremor in Idia's voice stops him short. He understands being introverted--for all his showings of extroversion, it exhausts him deeply. So many days he doesn't want to bother. Just wants to stay inside, in his room, under his blankets. But no matter how tired he is, the prospect of dealing with the public has never made Cater particularly nervous. He and Idia had been hitting such a stride with one another that he'd nearly forgotten how out of his element he's really taken the other boy.

"Hey," he says in a soft voice. "I won't let you drown, okay?"

He watches Idia, the way he's slouched and tucked into himself and looking down. For the second time, he wants to take his hand--but this time to act as an anchor. There's no actual opening for him to do it, though, so all he can do is offer. Cater extends a hand, letting Idia decide whether or not to take it.

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