flameinthedarkness

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.

He wants Ortho. He wants Ortho. He wants Ortho. He wants Ortho. He wants Ortho! This was a mistake! He shouldn't had done this. It's too much. So stuck in his own head, spiraling with his thoughts... until Cater's voice cuts through it, Idia going still as he spoke. Right, he wasn't alone in this, as much as he was fighting that need to just run back and hide in his room, that shaking slowing but still holding on to himself.

Until that hand if offered. A look to it... before reaching out hesitantly to catch a couple of Cater's fingers with his own, hooking them around them. "S-S-Sorry..." His tone light, even for Idia, his head still down as he spoke, struggling to get anything out... but trying. "I-I never been anywhere... other than school... or my house." Saying that was rather misleading though, as Idia's 'house' is anything but normal. It was far larger than any true house, and filled with people, but... he had a very different role in it than most would have too. It wasn't just home, it was work. Work had to be done, no matter what. There was no time for break downs or freaking out. You had to get work done.

It's such a hesitant touch, Cater's nearly expecting Idia to withdraw immediately. But he doesn't, those long fingers coiling into his. "It's okay," he promises. "It's going to be okay."

Slowly, like approaching a frightened animal, he slides his hand deeper into Idia's, cupping their palms together and squeezing. "I don't mind going at your pace, so if you need to stop, we'll stop."

Right... right, it was, wasn't it? It was ok... this is... normal. It's normal. People do this everyday. And new isn't scary... right? Just... different, Idia's fingers tightening against Cater's hand as he nods slightly... then a bit more of a real nod. "Y-Yeah... yeah, ok." Ok, deep breath, lets just... get through this. "Ah, you said... a block away?"

Still, "I suck..." Seriously, Cater's going to regret ever asking him to do this, isn't he?

Once Idia seems to have steadied himself, Cater starts walking, keeping their bodies close in an easy stride as he leads the two of them forward. "Yeah, around there. It'll feel like nothing--talk to me about something. What are you looking forward most to playing, once we get there?"

But before giving Idia a chance to answer, Cater tells him, "You don't suck--I happen to like you just fine."

"You have horrible taste then..." Idia mutters out, not quite able to look at Cater during this, but also not down at his feet either, instead off to the side and... at stuff as they pass by. He's heard others talk about the town, but never really felt the need or drive to go himself, even if asked to before. Idia knew it would just end up like this... and he also feels bad the first time he did he didn't go with Ortho... Ortho always wanted them to do stuff but... he never does. Maybe... next time he comes out... they can do this.

Not like he could had this time, who brings their little brother on a date?

Oh gods this was a date! And he was ruining it! Idia letting out a groan as he covers his face with his hand, realizing how much he was fucking this up already. "You have horrible taste... I totally ruined this already." But... trying, ok, try, don't fully ruin this. "Um... I donno... I guess Star Rogue? But... I wanna see you dance... as well."

"Can't call it horrible if I like the taste," Cater counters with a somewhat coy tone, trying to keep things light and not draw too much attention to the way that Idia's feeling. Still, he doesn't want to dismiss or invalidate him, either. It's a fine line to walk, especially with someone like Idia who has so many obvious reasons to be self-conscious. "How about we dance together? Dancing is a pretty good way to forget about everything going on in your head."

Ehhhh, he can't do that! Especially with Cater saying he was confident in his skills at it! Idia doesn't want to show him up! If he even can. Cater's been so carefree with their gaming sessions so far, but they also really haven't competed against each other, bar some of the party games during stream. Going head to head... Idia's worried about that. What if he does win against Cater and he doesn't like that?

"A-A-Ah, ah, um, lets... see, ok?" Though... thinking back to what Cater had asked him before the bus. "Um, s-should we go to the arcade first? I think my nerves ruined any chance of me wanting to eat right now... unless you want to, that is!"

Cater nods. "Sure! We'll see how you feel when we get there."

He's hoping the arcade will help Idia relax, but this is definitely a bit more of an extreme case of nervousness than Cater was expecting. It does give him an idea, something that he's hoping might help, but...well, kind of flying by the seat of his pants, here.

"I can wait to eat. Oh, but wanna stop for coffee first?"

"Oh?" Oh, ah, "Ah, yeah, yeah, ok." Caffeine was good. True, Idia normally got it via energy drinks, but yeah, he could go for that. "That sounds good." Oh, gods, is Cater one of those 'black coffee only' people? Idia has no clue. He can guess he is, since he doesn't like sweets. While Idia is the total opposite.

Also still not questioning the hand holding at all, as if it's just part of this all.

“Great! I know just the place!” With Idia’s agreement, Cater leads him forward, turning down into a street that seems to be filled with little boutiques and storefronts. He was thinking this might be a good place to end their date or maybe follow up with some other time, assuming things went well, but…Idia clearly needed something to help stabilize him.

That’s how they end up in front of a cafe that has cutesy, cat-themed art on the window. Stepping inside, though, it seems that the feline motif is more than a simple theme: meowing can be heard coming from past the front counter.

Yes. Cater has brought Idia to a small cat cafe.

It's as Cater starts leading him around that Idia realizes that hand hold again, a blush flushing up as his hand stiffened in Cater's... then relaxing again. Yeah... it's not bad... a glance to Cater as he thinks this, Idia tugging at his hood again, trying to hide that pink as it blushes over his face and hair, unable to stop himself from thinking of all those romance visual novels he has played.

Luckily for him it's mostly faded by the time they stop, he too scared to look to see if Cater had spied it at all during that walk, and any blushing is well forgotten with their stop.

"A-A-A c-cat cafe?! I thought you meant, like, just grabbing something and going!" Really?! A real one?! Idia's voice dropping to a whisper. "I always wanted to go to one..."

Cater responds with a mischievous laugh. "I told you I had things up my sleeve."

He didn't expect to reveal his trump card so soon, but if it helps Idia forget his fears a bit faster...well, it's worth it. The hostess leads them back behind the counter, past a door that keeps the cats from running straight out the front, and hands them a menu to look through.

Even better for them, it looks like they're the only customers, giving them completely free reign to pick a table and admire the many cats that roam freely in the area. The tables are low to the ground with cushions for seats, a perfect height to be able to maximize cat interaction. Already, a particularly curious tabby is padding toward them.

"It looks like the cats here all have different bios in the menu, as well." Cater flips it open. "This iiiiis...Michi!"

He's so nervous! But in a different way to everything else so far, playing with his sleeve edges once he and Cater move far enough Idia has to let go of his hand, looking this way and that as the cats move around them. Oh, they all look so soft and amazing! But Idia's also not worried about if they don't come near, that's ok too.

He's comfortable enough sitting at the low seating, fiddling with his sleeves and fingers, letting Cater look over the options for this place, when they get that 'staff' member come up to them. Oh, look at it! Adorable! Idia quiet and not moving too much as the tabby approaches, cats were fickle after all, even if used to people being around. "Michi." He echoing Cater quietly, interlock his fingers together to keep himself for reaching out for the cat. Though... he may draw a few more with time, just from his hair being a constant moving target, it spilling down onto the floor behind him since they were seated so low.

"Michi's a friendly feline who's always ready to play," Cater reads as the cat in question sniffs Idia before butting its head into his leg, rubbing up against his side--all but asking for pets! Ugh, Cater wants to take so many pictures...

But first, he really does want coffee. He flips through the menu while Idia's got his eyes on the prize, figuring he might as well just order for the both of them so the spell doesn't get broken. When a (human) staff member approaches, Cater puts in for a snack and two coffees--one highly sweetened and one lightly sweetened. They're left alone again, being told it'll be just a few minutes.

Meanwhile, as Michi eats up Idia's attention, another cat, this one a big and graceful angora, strides over and promptly lays down into a solid loaf position right beneath the table.

Sorry Cater, he's not listening once Michi starts rubbing against him, Idia slowly raising a hand to brush the back of two fingers over the cat's head, checking that was ok before continuing to pet the cat more, long fingers gently brushing over the cat's fur. So a good call on Cater's part to order for them with Idia totally distracted. But maybe bad on his part, Idia really should focus on Cater instead, but right now? Yeah, this was a good move, a soft smile on Idia's face at this all.

That's all fine, because Cater can't look away from the scene, either. It's so precious, and not just because of the clear fondness that Idia has for the animal in general but the clear care in his movements. By now, Cater's started experiencing unexpected sides to the mysterious Ignihyde housewarden, but this is a whole new level of gentle. He looks so soft and content...

Okay, so, maybe his heart is doing a bit of a flip-flop watching those dedicated fingers make that pussy purr--oh thank Seven, the coffee saves him from his thoughts.

"Ah! OMFG! Totes adorbz!"

Yeah, okay, he's taking ten million pics of the order that just arrived: two coffees and a set of pastries.

It's both a good and bad thing Cater reacts like that; good because Idia was not paying attention to this at all and would had missed food coming, and bad because he jumps as Cater does, causing Michi to jump and dash off a few steps before checking to make sure everything was fine, slowly coming back to Idia's side.

Looking to what arrived and, "Oh. Oh! They're so cute!" Look at them! "I didn't realize you ordered." Oh... "I... didn't realized you ordered... sorry." Whoops, he should be paying attention to Cater, not the cats. Or... more towards Cater than the cats.

It may surprise Cater but Idia's phone also appears to take his own photos of the food. He has to, they're too cute! He has to record these and show them to Ortho later. Hmmm... also, a few pictures of Michi and the other cat loafing next to them... then, "Ah... can I... take your photo? Is that ok?"

"Right?" Echoing his excitement, Cater stops with the photo op when Idia apologizes, shaking his head. "NBD! I didn't want to interrupt. This one is yours, it should be nice and sweet."

And then he asks if he can take Cater's picture and his eyes widen. It's hard not to be shocked--he never thought that Idia would want something like that. "Yeah--I mean, of course!"

"T-Thanks." The fact Cater made sure to keep it to his tastes too, Idia's expression softening for a moment as he slips the drink closer to him... and a few more photos since he has a different angle to do so.

"Ah... ok then. Um... Pose?" Cater's good at that, right? Though... that's more Cay-Cay, right? "Oh, only if you want, it's cool if you don't want to. With," Nope, Idia correcting himself. "A date with Cater after all, not Cay-Cay."

Cater chuckles. "Okay, you got it."

Cay-Cay would certainly throw up a double V or a diamond sign and a wink, maybe stick his tongue out...but what would the real Cater Diamond do? As if the many cats that roam about the café are waiting for the perfect chance to assist, a white cat bounds up from somewhere behind Cater and starts to crawl up his back.

Laughing, he takes the cat by its middle and scoops it carefully to his front, posing them cheek-to-cheek. "Cheese!"

...oh, that's cute, and perfect to match the other photos so far, Idia pausing a moment to just look at Cater... then realizing, ah, yes, photo. Raising his phone and making sure it was set up right with several quick quick taps before... a few shutter sounds, taking a couple to make sure before lowering it again and turning the phone around for Cater to check he was happy with them. It seemed right to, since it was his photo and all.

"I'll restrain adding cat features to you." Idia jokes.

"Too cute! DM me those pics?" Letting the cat he's holding down before it gets too squirmy, he laughs. "You can do whatever you want! I think I'd make a pretty kitty, don't you?"

Picking up the coffee that he ordered to be less sweet, he sips carefully to avoid disturbing the foam too badly--wanting to admire the artwork as long as he can. He sighs, glad for the caffeine, and licks the foam off of his upper lip. The white cat is pouncing over to Idia now, and climbing seems to be her MO. She definitely seems taken by his hair, jumping and batting at the flickering ends.

"Has anyone ever told you you're a total pussy magnet?"

He had to.

"I could make cat ear assets for your model..." Idia muttered as he taps away on his phone again, sending through the raws to Cater so he can edit them how he wants. Maybe Idia would do a joke one later with those neon edits of Cater with ears and whiskers, but good enough for now.

Luckily Idia's used to stooping forward, so he curves his shoulders a bit more to allow that cat an easier platform to sit on, trying not to move too much and silently rather pleased. He may hate his hair but... well, this one time, yeah, it's not bad.

He's looking now to handle his own drink when Cater makes that joke, letting out a laugh, "N-No," The stutter caused by laughing this time rather than nerves. "Funnily enough, never heard that before."

Idia's laughter is infectious, and Cater can't help laughing more in return. Despite his shaking hands, though, he manages to snap another picture without thinking to ask first--a candid shot of Idia laughing as he's sat there with a cat on his back and coffee in his hands.

"Title unlocked," he says as he looks at the image, torn between sending it and keeping it for himself. It feels wrong, though, so as he makes a singy-song sound of an in-game achievement, shoots the photo back to Idia in return for the ones sent his way.

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