flameinthedarkness

"Sounds good!" Without missing another beat, without really even thinking about it at all, Cater reaches over and grabs right back onto Idia's hand again, beaming up at him. "I think the retro games are over this way--come on!"

There's a total bounce to his step as he leads the way. Where Idia is hyper aware of all the moving bodies around them, it's as if, to Cater, there's nobody else in the whole arcade but just the two of them.

Oh. Oh! Oh, yeah, Idia's glad he hadn't tried to hide his hands away, finding himself pleased as Cater took his hand again and led him further into the arcade. Idia even managing a squeeze to that hand, like Cater had done to him earlier. He... he did really like this. If holding hands was this nice, what was-

Idia slapping his other hand over his mouth, trying to hide a blush that was coloring his cheeks... and trying to ignore his hair betraying him, desperate to shove those thoughts away before Cater noticed. "O-o-okay..." He managed to get out past his hand.

Luckily for Idia, the overall volume of the arcade keeps Cater from noticing anything odd-sounding about the response. Even if there weren't any other teenagers roaming around, so many of the machines made noise on a continuous basis. Definitely not the kind of place you could really hold a full conversation in--but that was fine. The two had had plenty of time to talk at the café, and would have more time later over ramen.

It isn't too long before the newer, bigger, and more popular games make way to the retro section: rows of mostly single-player machines lined up side-by-side with super recognizable logos and artworks. One aisle even sports pinball machines!

"It's gotta be here," he proclaims over the noise of the competing game themes. "Shout if you see it before I do!"

It certainly gives Idia time to recover, a mental slap to himself to get his head straight and focused, leaning in a little to catch what Cater said. "O-ok, ok." Yeah, yeah, ok, a goal, focus on that.

And Idia did know what he was looking for. Of course he did. Even if he never seen one of the Star Rogue arcade machines in person before, he's seen plenty of pictures of them online. Always dreamed that one day he might be able to get his hands on one... not that it would do much good. What would he even do with it? Just leave it somewhere to collect dust? Better for others to have it and take care of them. To be appreciated in a way he wouldn't be able to once home.

Getting his hair and blush back under control, Idia starts to look around again until, "Ah, there." Idia's hold on Cater's hand tightening as he digs in a heel to slow Cater's gleeful pace they were moving at.

Idia's so quiet on an average day, but thankfully their proximity helps Cater hear him well enough. He follows his date's gaze to the machine in question. "I see it!"

He gives a bashful laugh, then, as Idia slows their pace down a little. "Sorry, am I getting too excited?" Making a conscious effort to slow down so he's not pulling Idia along like he's a rambunctious kid, he channels his energy instead into swinging their joined hands between them in a merry fashion.

It's hard not to get hyped. Sure, Idia's expressed worry at being able to perform well under the pressure of an audience, but Cater's certain that he's gonna rock it. This area of the arcade is definitely not nearly as popular as some of the trendier games and shooters.

"A-ah, no no! You're not. Just... thought you might keep pulling me along... even after I said something..." Idia hadn't actually minded. Since it was Cater. And while excited, it wasn't being forced on him. He was part of it.

It's Idia's turn to tug at Cater's hand, "Come on." He taking over to lead the way to the arcade game. Which... ok, it's really cool to see one up close. A used one, but in a way that's got it's own charm. It shows it's been used and enjoyed. That had just a much importance as a vintage, mint, item. A glance to Cater to ask, "Did you wanna have a go first?"

Somehow, Cater hadn't even really thought about playing it himself. "Hmmm...okay. Don't judge me if I'm rotten at it, k? I've never actually played it myself before."

Not that he'd actually mind some light roasting--maybe it'll make Idia feel better about showing off his own skills. "My sisters really aren't a fan of arcades or video games much at all, so I never really got a chance to do much more than see second-hand gameplay in passing."

Always getting dragged elsewhere. The newest, cutest stores. Charming cafes. Ah, well. He can make up for it now.

Once he's plopped in a token, they have to break their handhold once again as the game's intro starts on the screen. Cater flexes his fingers as he sets his hands in the appropriate places: one at the joystick and the other at the colored buttons.

"Here goes nothing!"

"Heh, I won't, promise." There's no fun in making fun of people learning. Making fun of 'noobs' was different as that was normally people being toxic, but actual people learning? Yeah, that was fine. As Cater offered that little snippet of his past, Idia replies, "Get a chance to now at least?" Idia not thinking too much behind the fact that also applies to him right now. And how he hasn't done anything like this so far, had been too scared to.

Moving to the side of the cabinet to give Cater room but so Idia can still see it all clearly, he can't stop from mumbling to himself, "Aim for the glory beyond, run like a meteor shooting through the sky." Quoting the line even before it pops up on screen and shouted out by the game.

Okay, so even though they're having a really great time and this is just a video game and all, as the first level starts on its standard mode, Cater feels a creeping edge of nerves. It's stupid, right? Idia even promised he wouldn't rain on his parade or anything, but...

Well, this game is clearly more than just something fun and nostalgic for Idia. It's important to him--and what if he really makes a total ass of himself? If he plays it off the wrong way, would it be offensive? He takes a deep breath, hands tense as he guides the MC, avoiding obstacles and shooting down the low-level enemies.

"First big enemy coming up soon, right?"

He's taken a bit of damage but still has plenty of life to tide him over.

Oh... oh, no, no. Idia gets it, those nerves, he was feeling it too earlier, though they had slipped away once they had gotten into the arcade and getting to the game, but he can see it in Cater. Idia knows Cater is a better gamer than this, but how he's using the controls and the simple mistakes he's making... yeah, that screams nerves. Not that Idia points it out, content to let Cater work this out himself, yet as that first boss was due up and Idia noted the condition Cater's ship was in... it wasn't looking good. "Yeah, it is."

A moment of pause to think... before Idia shifted from the side to stand behind Cater, hands coming around to rest over Cater's on the controls, face over Cater's shoulder so he can see. "You got this." Idia's tone soft against Cater's ear as he directs Cater's movement. Not fully forcing them, slight nudges, to indicate how Cater should move the ship through the space, able to grab a few more upgrades before going into that boss fight. "The different color bullets from the boss will show you how fast they're moving. Don't worry too much burning it down, keep alive first and chip away at it."

So focused on trying not to screw up his run so fast--to somehow make a mockery of this game that means so much to Idia and from there ruining whatever this is. Not just the date but the connection they've been building, which is its own can of worms that he's been trying so hard not to think about--Cater doesn't notice Idia move behind him.

It's not until his hands are on him that he registers what's happening. He doesn't flinch or jolt, but there's a slight freeze to his body before he relaxes, letting Idia guide him. There's a distinct urge to apologize that he swallows, unable to find his voice with Idia's right in his ear, so close and gentle.

He plays the game, listening, heart beating faster and feeling warmth rising to his face. It's almost like being embraced--he can feel the lanky curve of Idia's body along his back, glow of his hair lighting up Cater's peripheral. He can feel the tickle of his breath against his skin...

Yeah, he's barely thinking about Star Rogue at all right now. His eyes are glued forward to the screen, fingers responding to each gentle twitch of the one's over his, but as he progresses forward, Cater hardly registers the boss' life bar depleting.

"See? Got it." Well done Cater. Ok, so he helped... but hey, it wasn't really cheating. It was helping. He hopes. Cater didn't seem to complain about it, so all good, right? Idia stepping back with a grin, oblivious to Cater's situation. "You're on your own for the next round though."

When Idia steps back to his original spot, it's like a spell has been broken. Thank goodness there's a brief pause between levels so Cater can get his jitters out. A little too awkwardly, he barks out a laugh. "Ha! Haha! Y-Yeah! Right! Noooo problem!"

He's completely flustered, full of nervous energy, but at least he's not overthinking the game anymore. Normal behavior, probably? Just excited that he's on the next level? Cater performs much better this time, now focused on using the game to distract himself from how worked up he'd made himself.

Compared to unpacking what just happened? Level two is easy.

See? Much better! Maybe it was that first level nerves. Idia gets it, he was worried he would screw up too, especially with his gaming reputation Cater is expecting from him, but getting Cater to play first helped out. A lot. This felt... good. Like them gaming together online but... with a different type of connection to it.

Idia points out a few more tips as Cater goes along, as well as a few hidden areas to sneak into for special power ups or story bits, but it all comes to an end eventually as Cater's last ship goes down. Still, "GG, well done. You got your pace as you went along."

Guess it's his turn, and, well... he should show off a little, right? Idia feeling more confident as the game had played out for Cater, he moving to take place in front of the game instead and back to the start menu but... "Oh, the arcade version doesn't have Meteor mode unlocked right away." No problem, Idia's fingers flicking over those buttons and joystick this way and that and a moment later... the debug option pops up on the screen, he heading down to that and, "There we go." Starting up the game via that.

Ok, it's a little different, Idia flicking his ship around here and there to get the feel of the controls. It was different to the handheld controller he was used to playing Star Rogue with, though the response is good still, it would take him a few moments to get it but... yeah, this feels ok to him. He can do this. The game once it picks up is slightly different to Cater's run... in the case that there's ten times the amount of bullets on screen, Idia having put it into full bullet hell mode.

Even though Cater definitely calms down and hits a nice stride after a bit--getting hyped from Idia's commentary and the rush that comes with getting past difficult spots--he's ultimately a little relieved when his run ends and Idia takes over. He's a bit more comfortable on the sidelines, and besides: now he gets to see the pro at work.

Blink and you miss it, though, as he's finding out--he practically didn't even notice how Idia changed the settings. Then the gameplay actually begins, and all thoughts that Cater might've had about trying not to put too much pressure on his date to give some kind of impressive display? Totally out the window.

"W-Whoa!" How can he keep up with all of that?! His eyes are wide, darting over the screen and feeling stressed as all get out, and Idia flies the ship through it all like it's a breeze. "T-This is the first level on Meteor?!"

"Yeah, plus in Meteor Mode you only got one life. Once you're hit it's game over." When Idia answers it's clear by his tone he's focused, it's the tone of someone concentrating on what they're doing. "I'd be better if it was on a handheld controller, not used to the arcade set up. Getting the feel of it still." Not that most could tell watching this...

"No way..."

One hit? Boom, done? Idia really wasn't kidding--how many times has he played this game?! He's coasting through it like it's nothing! He can't even fully process all of the bullets flying around--even if he had a game mastered, he doubts he could pull off the reflexes necessary to play like this.

"If this is you getting used to it, I definitely gotta see how you do the console version!"

Idia actually glances away from the screen as Cater says that, seeming to snap out of his concentration long enough to process Cater's reaction... his hands moving the entire time to keep himself safe. And smiles a little. "I can do it holding the controller upside down. I've been tempted to try a blindfold run of it, but not got around to that yet." Then back to the screen, confident he was fine, but still, to blow it now after all that talk would be so shameful.

"I donno, you never had one thing you loved so much you just repeated it over and over again? Like a song you know back to front or could tell it from only a few notes?"

"Seriously?! How would that even work? Would you just focus on the sound cues? Muscle memory?" The screen is so busy with lights and colors that he finds himself looking instead at Idia's hands. He watches the way they fly across the buttons, manipulate the joystick...and he definitely starts to think certain thoughts about what he could do with those hands and long objects...

...when Idia asks his question. He blanks out, realizing that no, he's never had anything like that before. Nothing at all comes to mind. Sure, he's memorized things before, but not really for any kind of attachment. Performances take practice, and Cater's almost always putting on some kind of performance.

But it's a good thing he's learned to smile through those kind of intrusive thoughts. Means that the good energy can keep going.

"When you put it that way, I think I get it!" We all have those things, he hopes to imply without outright lying. "I can see how much you love this game, even now!"

Maybe one day Cater will feel at ease to answer stuff like that honestly. Because Idia wouldn't judge him on it. Different people, different paths. It's fine. And maybe he was a bit more obsessed about this game than most would, but it's just so very special to him... to them...

And maybe later Idia would note that Cater didn't really answer him, that he deflected it... but right now, nope, it passes him by. "Pretty much, yeah. The different bullets have slightly different sounds when they fire, and the enemies all follow a set path, so yeah, muscle memory of how to move around them. But even still, the issue is I would have to fully rework how I would play this. I would need to use the edges of the game to reset myself, but this game doesn't have sound cues linked up to that happening, unlike some other blindfold games I've seen played which rely on the sound when the player character hits a wall or something. Not sure it's even possible, but could be fun," Then a chuckle. "And really fucking frustrating to try."

Whew! Idia keeps talking and Cater relaxes again, smile widening as the passion he has for the topic gets to him, too. "Ha! I'd love to see how neon your hair turns when you're that fired up. When you do your first blind run attempt, count me in!"

Yes, he totally just invited himself to the very theoretical event. Even if it means breaking into Ignihyde, Cater's absolutely about seeing Idia work himself up over something like this in real time.

"Though, it does lack the distinct appeal of watching you work a joystick."

Idia lets out a laugh at that, it resulting in him closing his eyes to do so, then quickly snapping them back open once he realizes, an 'oh fuck!' going along with it as he quickly corrects his error. "OMFG! You almost killed me with that!" Yet still grinning away despite the complaint. "STFU! No way after that!" He totally would let Cater join in. Even if he would 100% be a distraction during it.

Then spluttering over the next bit, Idia's shock jerking the ship nearly into an enemy before Idia slams the joystick back the other way. "WTF?! You really trying to get me killed! WTF was that?!" Tone and expression half way between amusement and shocked surprised, so caught off guard by that. But unable to stop himself chuckling away afterwards, body shaking with humor as he really tries to stay focused on the game, but was quickly losing his normal pace at it.

Just like his smile, Idia's laughter catches and Cater can't help joining in. It's a different kind of happiness than what he saw at the café, but it's just as appealing. A spontaneous giggle fit that puts you into stitches. "It's your first prototype run! Consider me your makeshift blindfold!"

Yeah, he is a total distraction and he won't apologize for it. Not that he is trying to get Idia killed...but seeing him laugh like that is definitely even more entrancing than the gameplay.

And it was working, stuff that Idia would normally have no issue dodging or dealing with... gets him. A bullet that he normally would be able to dodge taking his one life as the game flashes 'GAME OVER' a moment later. Idia dropping his head as his hands moved to the edges of the cabinet at the defeat, almost as if he's upset by this all...

Before lifting his head just enough to try and glare at Cater... but failing since he's fighting a need to smile as well. "You fucking asshole." Those words shaking with laughter he was forcing down, trying to act angry at what just happened. He actually lost. Idia can't remember the last time he lost at this game.

"Ahhhh." Idia pushing himself back off the sides of the cabinet, tilting head back a moment to let out a sigh of a breath as he ran a hand through his hair, pushing his hoodie back in the process to do so. "Ah well. Guess I failed." Hmmm, he moving to the controls again to undo what he had done, hiding the debug menu again. "So no one can find it." Don't want someone to come along and break the game.

"Guess you got further on it than I did."

Cater can't stop laughing as Idia curses him out--it's clear there's absolutely no malice behind it, after all. And when his hood comes back, he feels even happier, glad that Idia's getting so in the zone. "Just cause I had an amazing backseat gamer."

Without further pause, he's reaching for Idia's hands to pull him to the next machine. "Hey, how about a racing game? That way we can both play!"

There's a big game where they both control a wheel and pedals to emulate steering a real magical racing wheel against one another on an obstacle course. It's always pretty popular, but it's empty right now and Cater hurries to snag it for the two of them.

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