flameinthedarkness

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."

Of course he'd ask where he found out about Premo, especially if he thought he was a fake fan. "They're all over Magicam," he replies as he purchases a skull candy and retrieves it for Idia. It's not a lie, but also has nothing to do with how he got into them. "I follow a lot of people so, like, I get all kinds of content, you know?"

That doesn't address the song itself, though. As he offers Idia the lollipop he gives him one of his signature winks. "Don't underestimate my ability to dig up all kinds of deep lore online!"

Idia pauses as he reaches out to take the candy, considering then, "Yeah, you're right." Cater did have a point, it was the case again that Idia didn't expect someone like Cater to really even go in that area of Magicam. "I guess you're all over the place for music, huh?" An actual genuine question, outside of Idia's attempts to pry more talking out of him.

He gives a shake of his head and a 'pfftt' from between his teeth at Cater's cheerfulness. Ok, that feels more like Cater, Idia unwrapping and moving to pop the lollipop in his mouth, holding it in place with his teeth. "Yeah, yeah, I get it." Though... if Cater really did like Premo, whether he is really Cinder or not... "I, ah, I guess you know enough of them to not need recommendations on them then." Because more really should know how amazing Precipice Moirai are. They deserve all the praise on them.

Somehow, some of the tension feels like it’s eased. Cater’s grin brightens a bit. “Proooobably not,” he agrees. Idia was the one who already gave him all the songs, after all. “But you know, if you wanna talk about them, I won’t stop you.”

He opens his spicy chips, popping one into his mouth. Even if he’d heard it all before online, it would be kinda cool getting to hear Gloomurai’s IRL geek flag fly.

Hmmm, tempting, and in a way it would help to confirm if this is Cinder but... Idia's also aware he will quickly get to his limit talking face to face if this keeps going for too much longer, however...

"Not right now." Idia needs his own time to process all of this. Hmm, how long to delay this. "You got club today or are you free after classes? I need to do stuff in the library anyway." Plus it means Cater would have to cool it on the over the top tones, make him speak softer, closer to what Cinder does.

“Awwww,” comes the whine in response as Cater pauses between chips. Still, when Idia follows up with a suggestion to meet up after classes, his playful protesting makes way for raised eyebrows. “Really? You wanna hang out with me?”

Idia Shroud asking Cater Diamond to sit around and talk about music after class. Seriously, nobody would believe it. “I’m totally free, so no taking back the offer!”

Ok, that breaks Idia, that mask slipping off to show the normal him. Or maybe it's putting an expected mask on, he's really not sure himself. "OMG, stop, seriously, I'm already regretting this." He takes it back, go back to being quiet, trying to run away, Cater!

At least for now, Cater's relaxed. He has no real idea what Idia's thinking, but with an excuse to hang with him on a more down-to-earth level, how can his spirits not be a little higher? His panic from earlier seems a little silly now, like he'd totally misread the whole situation. Guess Idia really was just that scared by his extroverted tendencies...but maybe after they get to hang out at the library, they can build a less awkward sort of report.

That's what Cater's always kind of tried for, anyway. Idia just never seemed to go for it much, or really feel any less overwhelmed.

"Wa ha ha ha!" He gives his best fake evil laugh. "Am I trapped in the library with you or are you trapped in the library with me? LOL! JK, I'll def be there!"

A heavy sigh but, no, no, this is what is needed. And once it's done he doesn't have to do this again, right? Though... even if Cater isn't Cinder... ehhh, Idia doesn't know. It is nice to geek out about music but... Cater's just so much! He's far too full on and totally draining for an extreme introvert like Idia. "I'm not sure yet..." Yeah, this could be torture...

Still, to be done, so Idia can get those questions circling around in his head answered. "I, ah... guess see you after classes?" Though even as he's saying it Idia's making an expression as if it's painful for him to say it. He's going to have to prep for this. A few energy drinks maybe. And plenty of sugar. And with no clue how to end this, he just... wanders off towards his next class.

With his worries about the Cater/Cinder situation temporarily behind him, the ginger is much more like his exuberant self for the rest of the day's classes. At least he leaves Idia alone during the breaks--after all, they'll have plenty of time to chat once they're together in the library. Admittedly, Cater would be lying if he wasn't halfway expecting Idia to not actually show up after all. If he ended up alone in the library, though...ah, well, he wouldn't hold it against the guy.

It was a pretty big thing for Idia to even ask in the first place.

Phone in hand and poking around on Magicam, Cater makes his way toward the library. A few people stop to chat with him on the way but he isn't in too much of a rush--figures Idia would probably appreciate the time to mentally fortify himself, anyway.

Once inside, he looks around for the trademark flaming hair and waves once he spots him, approaching with a mindfully quieter, "yo" than usual.

Several classes, cans of energy drink, and snacks later, Idia wasn't lying about actually needing the library today, as when Cater finds him he will find Idia having covered the table with many books, half of them already open and flipped to the pages he needs; holoscreens up around him as he types away on them or even sketching out a few drawings as he goes. Hearing that call he still jumps, that too ingrained into him, and looking up to spot that it was in fact Cater.

And maybe a subtle wave of a finger to trigger the recording software he had on his computer, a flash on one of the screens to confirm it was running for him before he waves half the screens away. And shifts a few of those books out the way, piling them on top of each other.

"Hey..."

Honestly, Idia could've probably been unsubtle as all get out and Cater wouldn't have known the difference. He might be great at navigating the Internet (social media in particular) but all of Idia's super advanced tech? Way different league.

Smiling, he takes the seat opposite, laying out his own much more simple study materials--might as well do a bit of work himself while he's here. Always a pain staying up late to study when Riddle's sure they're all up with plenty of time to spare for breakfast in the morning.

"You didn't back out," he observes with a bit of a teasing tone, though as Idia expected, he's already talking in a much more subdued voice. Never know when Crowley will pop up and scream for them to be quiet. Or someone else more terrifying, for that matter. "Guess whatever you're working on totally stomps the idea of socializing. What's the project of the day?"

"I wanted to..." Idia admits, it also not a lie. It had taken a bit of cheering himself on to do this, even with The Plan he has. Today had been far too much for him, far too many people, too much interacting. Though he guesses it gets the teachers off his back for a bit, the fact he actually went to class.

Then a sigh and answer, "Ah, a few, I guess." He really doesn't talk to people outside Ignihyde about the work he does. It was for Ignihyde, no one else, and it's not like he's doing it for cool points or whatever, just to keep his dorm from failing and embarrassing the dorm. Eh, would Cater take that for an answer? Or should he do more to get more talking out of him? "Working on Crewel's latest one too." A wave of a finger towards one of the alchemy books and a few botany books beside it.

"Multitasking king, huh?" He chuckles and then sighs as he goes through his things, flipping open his notes, pulling out some clean paper, and finding a specific page in his textbook. "Ugh, potions. Deffo not one of my best subjects. Actually, might have to try and persuade you to help me out a little with that one so I don't get chewed out."

Cater's definitely not the worst off in their class. For how often he seems to not pay attention in class, his grades are more than decent. In practical magic like that, though? There are always some tricks that Crewel likes to throw in that stump him. And Crewel is the last one who'll ever pull his punches when it comes to disciplining his "puppies". Cringe.

"If you ever feel like talking about your tech work, though, I'd be down to hear about it. I'm, like, super into the stuff I see come out of Ignihyde during the school festivals."

"Something like that..." Idia grumbles out, not liking what could be praise, it's too weird. Then a shrug at Cater's comment. "I'd be better for you to ask Vil or Azul. Not that they would do it." Well, "Azul would. For a price." Even if he was a second year he was a hard worker, no doubt he could aid even a third year if they were struggling. Alchemy wasn't Idia's best class, he got good enough grades in it, but he didn't care about it. But that may also have something to do with the constant 'cat back' he gets from Crewel towards his slouching...

"What... really?" Idia does not look convinced. Then again... "...you did surprise me with the Premo song..."

"Pff! Funny joke." Cater shakes his head with a half-grin as he starts to write a few things out with his magical pen. "I know all about Azul's dealings. Second hand, obvi." And Vil, yeah, he'd just give Cater a lecture of some kind. He purses his lips at the thought, but figures ah, well, it was worth a try to rope Idia in to being his study buddy.

Trey's in the science club, so he'll just beg him for help if he really does need it. In the mean time, he's happy to continue talking about the things that Idia likes. "Yeah, totes! I mean, I'm, like, baby-tier in terms of tech know-how but that doesn't mean I can't like it." Then, with a sly wink, "I'm full of surprises."

And oh, boy, is his biggest one way closer to getting found out than he could possibly imagine. Shouldn't have underestimated just how hard Idia can go with his projects.

Yup, who didn't know about the risk of making a deal with Azul now days? Idia has made sure to stay very far way from letting Azul think Idia could be worth anything to him, so to keep himself from being a target.

"...yeah, I'm noticing that about you." Idia answering with a ghost of a smile, then catching himself with a bit of a shake. What?! No, don't go assuming without proof! Though... it was easier to talk to Cater without his over the top, overly loud, tone. He seems a lot more... normal right now. Well, maybe normal to Idia, which in itself is not what is normal for Idia.

Moving on! Quickly! "Ah, um, so... what type? I assume music tech?"

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

for once this icon works thanks to that candy XD

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject