flameinthedarkness

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?"

Huh. Is Idia starting to get a better opinion of him? Cater guesses that might go without saying but there's something about the way he says that, nearly smiling, that causes him to pause. He's never seen Idia look like that before. Just as Idia seeks to snap himself out of it, Cater does as well, gluing his eyes back down to his textbook.

Don't read too hard into things, he tells himself with a bit of scorn.

The questioning that comes after doesn't feel too surprising, at least. Not after what led up to them getting here. It was all about music. All Idia really knows about him is that he's in a music club and that he's always taking pictures and is obsessed with Magicam. With his hand that isn't writing, he plays with a lock of his hair.

"Yeah, I guess. I'm pretty into music." As much as he is into anything, he guesses. "Anything in the realm of film. Video and voice tech, cameras...some motor-based equipment. I'm pretty interested in stuff with wheels but less speed-based and more trick based. I like shredding--sometimes I see Ortho zooming around and think that's pretty boss."

Ok, he could had guessed that, Cater lived through his phone, which Idia gets. Less all the taking photos, though he himself records a lot of things, just not the same stuff Cater does. Mostly ideas and designs, media he's interested in, stuff he's created for said media. The motor-based equipment is more surprising though.

Idia actually sits back in his seat to think this over, brain instantly trying to consider the 'trick based' vehicle. Not that he really builds them, manufacturing the parts was mostly not worth it. Yet it was instantly derailed as Cater talks about Ortho, a wide grin spreading across Idia's face. "Of course it is, flying is superior to walking. There's no way I would had limited him like that." Then, "Other than his sports body, because he asked me to." And the Leech twins had threatened him... Idia still has no clue how they found out that about him.

Watching Idia's face spread out in a grin, Cater can't help but smile as well. "Are you just saying that because having rockets for feet takes out the necessity of physical exertion?" Clearly, he doesn't mean it scornfully. It just totally sounds like something he can imagine Idia saying, and he kind of laughs to himself with the thought.

"That's really cool of you, though, taking your brother's wants into consideration." His face softens. Seeing how much the two of them clearly care for each other...well, Cater doesn't know the complexity of their relationship, and he knows Ortho's a robot and all, but...it's hard not to admire it. He wishes he had that kind of relationship with his sisters. "It must've made him really happy."

"Nahh, it's just cooler." Hmm, well ok, "Ok, maybe a bit. But it's mostly 'cause it's cool. Flying is for heroes." There's almost a childish tone to that, certainly more joy than Idia normally shows, and even different to that bragging a moment ago about his work.

Though it shifts as the topic goes back to Ortho, that smile leaving his face as Idia fiddles with the pen in his hand, that nervous energy returning. "Ah, anything he wants. Really." He really doesn't want to go further into that. Idia, and Ortho, are well aware of the talk about them around school, they just choose to ignore it. It wasn't worth it.

"Most people only think of themselves," Cater says as he looks down at his notebook. It's a weirdly dark, out-of-character statement that almost seems to come out of nowhere. He goes quiet as he works on his homework, then, a far away look on his face. Now more than ever, it hardly seems like he's the same person at all.

Green eyes flicking back toward Idia again, he snaps his smile back on, gesturing toward one of the botany books. "Can I borrow that real fast? Just want to look something up."

"Of course they do." There's not judgement to Idia's tone with that, just stating like it's a fact, "Even if it's beyond self preservation. It's not surprising at all. Especially in this school." Almost as if he's reading from a book rather than voicing his own thoughts, moving to spin his pen around in his hand as he talks, his other hand propping up his chin in it, more staring off into space than at Cater.

"Hm? Sure. Not like it's mine." Then a sigh, yeah, he should keep working too, dropping his pen long enough to grab one of the other books he was using and flipping a few pages to find what he was looking for.

"Thanks, fam!"

Reaching over to grab the book, Cater goes quiet. It's easy to forget where he is or who he's with when he pours himself into his studies. Cater's never been top of his class, but especially since Riddle came into power he's been diligent enough to keep out of trouble. Slacking off isn't worth the frustrating consequences. He's in an odd mood now, though, his thoughts directing toward thoughts of pointlessness.

When he's finished with the segment he's working on, he puts the book back where it was. Cater's gaze wanders over to Idia again as his pen taps idly on his notebook. Not for the first time, but maybe with the most clarity, he asks himself: what are we doing here?

Idia Shroud and Cater Diamond, studying quietly together in the library. It defies all reason. There's no cat and mouse antics, no jumping around trying to get the best photo...

Before he realizes it, he's totally staring.

In a way Idia's surprised Cater doesn't keep talking but... huh, guess he really is here to study instead. That's fine, that's good, since Idia was too. He's not sure he can manage a full conversation afterwards, but he's sure he's got enough voice pattern to start with, even if he's missing a few keywords he would like to have if they were talking about music.

And maybe Idia would be questioning this all more, yet once he gets his head into study, or studies, he's fully into it, even slipping his headphones up at one point to let music drown out everything else and help him concentrate. Book after book, typing one document and into another, a few quick sketches to get down ideas or just taking pictures of the book contents themselves with his computer. It would be so much easier if the library had digital copies of all the books... but Idia can tolerate having to go through page after page.

He's so engrossed in his work that it's not until he's moving a book up onto the pile he's made and happens to glance up to see... well, Cater staring back at him, his lip pulled up and eyes a little wide. "What? What? What is it?" Slipping his headphones down so he could hear, whatever music he was listening to bleeding out to tell it's something a little heavier, no doubt some sort of anime open song by the sounds of it.

Cater snaps out of it when Idia's eyes meet his own. "Huh?" He stammers in surprise, blinking a few times. Oh, Seven, completely caught staring--so totally cringe!

"Oh--er--" thinking fast, Cater grabs his phone. "Totes lost track of time! I should get going, Riddle's really strict about us getting back inside." Maybe thinking too fast for his own good, he doesn't think about yet another similarity he's pointed out between himself and Cinder: that very specific window in which he's generally able to stream.

Laughing sharply, he pulls together his things and darts up out of his chair. "Sorry! This has been great, though. We should do it again, yeah? It's nice studying with company."

...aren't those his normal lines? Well, not with those specific details, but the same feel behind them, that panic to rush off with whatever excuse he could throw out.

Is... is Cater seriously running away, again? SRSLY?

WTF is even happening? It's like Idia's world has totally been turned upside down. And maybe, for a moment, there's that voice in the back of his head. That Cater was just being nice, or curious, and didn't want to be around him. It would make sense, right? Cater's always trying to drag Idia off to do something, and now it finally happened and... that was it. He got what he wanted, didn't like it, return to store.

Those thoughts lingering in his head, Idia just lets out a bit of a muffled, "Ah, yeah, sure... whatever." A wave of his finger to turn off the recording on this all, not quite sure what he's feeling or how to process it, but that extra slump to his shoulders and drop of his head, that slouch of his kicking in more. This had all been a stupid idea...

It's impossible for him to totally miss the way that Idia deflates as he hesitates before turning and leaving the library. What was he supposed to do? Sit back down? He'd already said he had to go and...ugh. As he stomps his way back to Heartslabyul he feels a mixture of guilt and frustration. Stupid, stupid, stupid...

Being able to fully remove his mask once he's alone in his room is only a slight relief. Hair down, pajamas on, leaking self-loathing, Cater falls into bed and logs into the messenger he uses to talk to Gloomurai.

Cinder is now online.

He stares at the username that belongs to Idia Shroud, knowing that he shouldn't message him, wanting to, wondering what the hell he's even doing and how things got so complicated so fast. If this was anyone else on campus, would he still be so shady about his online identity?

Even if he wasn't finished with his studies, Idia really didn't feel like sticking around, not after that. He shouldn't be that surprised by this all, but... well, ouch, still, a bit? Maybe because he's never made connections in the first place that Idia's not used to them just... leaving. Eh! What is he saying?! It's Cater! And this is like the first time they hung out, and it wasn't really a thing! They were just using the same table! Forget it, he needs to get out, putting all those books back and clearing up his space before heading back to his room at the dorm.

Shrugging off his hoodie and kicking off his shoes Idia flops face down on his bed, lying there for awhile and just letting his head go blank. Or trying to at least. It giving him maybe a minute at the most before it starts up again, trying to figure out what had just happened. He really doesn't know how to explain it. It's got to be him, right? Cater is normally so bubbly and energetic, but the instant he actually spends time with Idia and... he wants to bolt away. Twice now. Yeah, it has to be him, he's the common factor in this all.

And in a way... that means Idia doesn't want Cinder to be Cater. If he was, and after all that, then... they would have to stop, right? Eh, who is he kidding? He could drop offline from Cinder's streams and it would be fine. Sure, Idia put in a bit of madol to Cinder, but he would pick it up elsewhere. And their chats... people vanished from IM and PMs all the time. No one would bat an eye at Gloomurai vanishing. Hmm, maybe Crimson Muscle, but nah, even then. Despite being Idia's closest online friend, even then Idia's put barriers up between them, kept stuff separate in game, been tempted to talk more, but stopped himself. Even online connections would have to stop one day, and it was easier to do that than having a real face to face connection.

Letting out a long, aggravated sigh into his pillow, Idia lies there for a moment longer, before pulling his screen from above his head in front of him, tapping away. Oh. Huh. Cinder. He's hesitant to say anything with what happened, but... he doesn't know for sure now, right? What... what if he goes fishing, in a sense. Hey, if it's not Cater and just Cinder, maybe he would get some insight to this all. Or make a fool of himself, log off, and never back on again. Arrghhh! Why is his life so complicated?!

Still... maybe it might make him feel better? After all, he's just here playing pretend, and this was still pretend. A fun dream while it lasted. So...

yo

Sitting there staring at their last chat log, Cater's trying to come to terms with his bizarre feelings over this strange sort of double-life he's leading when Gloomurai--Idia--messages first. He's so startled he nearly throws his phone. WTF! This is it, isn't it? He's totally going to call him out!

Okay, stop, rewind. He didn't know that for sure.

hey gloom
how've u been?

Just...take it easy and see what happens.

A thumbs down emote gets sent back, then a few moments of typing, though Idia's pretty speedy at it.

blegh. Stuff don't make sense right now.

I think I made someone angry. Didn't mean to.

...why was it so easy to type this out when it shouldn't be? Hell, it shouldn't be to Cinder either! They didn't have this kind of relationship. They kept it real casual. But... was... was it almost easier since it may be Cater? Well, not, not normal Cater, the one who always got in his face. But the one today that just... sat there quietly, and chatted a bit, and talked about interests. Interests Idia had no clue he had. Didn't care to know. But... hmmm.

And if this is Cater... is this being mean? To try and catch him out? Then again... if it is Cater, isn't he doing the same to Idia? Which... Idia also has no clue how to process, he... doesn't really feel anything about that, just... confused. Maybe once he gets an answer for sure.

...though if he wanted to be really mean Idia would just pull both of their IP addresses and find out in an instant... he's resisting in doing that. Doesn't want to invade Cinder's privacy if he's not Cater. Clearly the voice program is less invasive in Idia's eyes.

Cater gulps.

I know how that feels.

Knows how it feels right now, but keeps the time qualifier to himself. He furrows his brow, chews his lip. It makes him nervous, talking on a personal level like this. It's one thing to talk about things he enjoys but...feelings? If they were just Cinder and Gloomurai, it would be a little easier. But the more he starts to view Gloomurai as Idia Shroud, the harder it is to be honest.

Why do you think that?

I tried to hang around them twice today, they ran away both times. They don't with others, so must be me.

...this was mean. It was very mean. But only if it is Cater. And maybe... that's a little enjoyable to Idia. If it is Cater and he's freaking out over something, then yeah, rubbing it in a bit to make him feel bad. Some payback. But still...

Guess was a mistake for trying

Still, if it's not, it'll be nice to get another POV. If Idia asked Ortho he would just encourage him to try again. To try and make friends. And there is no way Idia would mention this to Azul, he would get so mocked about it.

The guilt comes back in another wave and Cater immediately types an apology, taking a breath to expand on it so it isn't an immediate concession that it was his fault.

I'm sorry that happened to you.

There's more he has to say, wants to say, but it's hard to know how to respond appropriately. How does he express himself without being obvious? What's the right thing or the wrong thing to say? Ugh, why is it so hard to talk to Idia when he's so good at talking to everyone else. Most people are so easy to read...but Idia's never been most people.

idk why anyone would run away just b/c of you
Maybe they're going through something rn too
If they're having a hard time, it might just have been overwhelming if they aren't used to hanging out with you

Is that too much? Too insightful? Uncertain, he adds:

how well do you know them?

That...

That was super mature and so cool. Like, seriously cool, more than Idia was expecting, it leaving him blinking his eyes at the response and... a sigh of a laugh.

You're super mature.
Yeah, I hadn't thought of that.

Not to say Idia still doesn't think it's partly him. After all, that's his default, assume the worse and the worse is normally related to him. In his view at all. Sinking his chin back down into his pillow, Idia's huff was more tired this time, he fiddling with his feet behind him. What is he going to do with this all? If Cater was going through shit then he should let him deal. If Cinder was Cater does that mean he was telling Idia to give him room?

This would be so much easier if Idia just knew! And he could, slowly, with time...

Fuck that. Seriously, fuck that. He has to know. The problem solver in him has to know. He has the tools, he could do it within a minute or two. Hell, he knows NRC's IP, he could even track it to a dorm, it wouldn't confirm it is Cater but it would narrow it down to a dorm. Like he had done to the little shits in Ignihyde who took down Premo's site to have a go at him after he became dorm leader. And Idia had dealt with that.

When it came to the net, you don't mess with Idia Shroud.

But with Cinder... well... he'll make it up to him if he's not Cater. A big donation. Maybe even help him get some gear. It would be the least he could do as an apology.

With a plan in mind Idia pushes himself from his bed, a flick of his finger taking the conversation from his bed device over to his computer as he drops down into his chair, screens coming up and tapping away.

Then...

Hey. If you could do a thing but is bit of an asshole move but it would solve a question for you, would you do it?

That person. I think I know something. I don't know for sure, but your question?

If I'm right, then yeah, I don't know them well at all. But if I'm right, I want to.

lol you think so? thanks--I've never really given advice to anyone before.

Not seriously, anyway. Most people didn't trust him to give a serious answer and he liked it that way. When they did ask, he could only give them advice that would make sense for him as the character he plays. But Cinder, the character, isn't a character at all in actuality...so it's easier. And then, of course, he's more appraised of the situation than he can let on.

The next bit is what makes Cater's heart start to race. What was he going to do? Idia Shroud is a genius--he's the Ignihyde Housewarden, so the possibilities were honestly endless. His hands feel clammy and shaken, his throat dry.

I think it depends on if it'll hurt someone or not.

Cinder is typing for awhile, because Cater has no idea what he's saying, how to say it. Should he just...tell Idia not to bother? Should he tell him he's making a mistake? Overthinking, overthinking, overthinking until all he can hear in his head is static. So Cater's heart takes over.

If you want to get to know them better, I think it's okay.
I think if you're willing to give them another chance, you should do it.

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