flameinthedarkness

All in all, it's a pretty normal day, save for the fact that Idia Shroud has actually come to class instead of a flying tablet. Probably got totally chewed out by Trein, Cater figures. Well, even if he was dragged in, it's always kind of nice to see him--even if they're not going to have a chance to talk until after class and Idia will very definitely try and run off before Cater can try and strike up a conversation. Good for you, he thinks. You're doing it!

Ortho's gotta be proud, too.

The day's test is pretty tough, so he's not able to sneak any glances to social media, which is why when the bell rings and the class is over for the day, he lingers behind, distracted with catching up on his feed. Someone passing by invites him along for something and he waves them off with an apology. Dinner with Heartslabyul, he says, lying easily. Actually, he's got a livestream scheduled for a bit later in the evening, so he wants to make sure he leaves enough time to prepare. It's hard enough keeping his dormmates out of his room when he has a performance.

Cater stretches, thinking about what the plan actually is for the night when a familiar song reaches him. There's a second where he thinks it's in his own head but then he realizes no, it's coming from a row below him and off to the side...sure enough, leaning forward he catches a glimpse of Idia shroud hunched over and fiddling with something, headphones on the desk in front of him.

"Huh--Idia, you're still here?" Cater would've thought he'd be long gone. And more importantly. "What're you listening to?"

He definitely knows that song, but there's no way, right?

Why can't the tests be online? It would be so much easier. There would even be a way to get around the 'make sure they aren't cheating' thing. Well, not Idia if he didn't want to, but he still see no point in cheating, in studies or in games. All it does is hurt yourself. But NNNNnnooooo! He had to be forced into class to take it. UGhhhh. And worse... using a pen. He couldn't even type it. Which... fine, not like he can't use one, even if he would always pick typing over writing outside of quick notes.

Trein won't even let him wear his headphones during it! Even just for the noise cancelling! UGGGHHHH!

But... Idia gets through it, it really wasn't that tough a test. But it doesn't mean he doesn't have to destress from it afterwards, of having to come in to do it in person, of having to sit around others during it. He hates this so much. So while he's normally first out of the room if he can manage it, since it's a test most were rushing out ahead of him, leaving him time to poke away at his computer and sort out some stuff rather than get caught up in the stampede out of the door. You know what would help him unwind? Music.

And there's this great indie music maker he's been obsessed with of late. They were so good to work to! That's just what he needs. Hell, he even has limited edition tracks that only he got! It's so sweet, Idia chuckling to himself as he brought up the song selection, starting it up and going to grab his headphones to put them on and...

Oh... Cater.

SIIIGGGGHHH. Please don't try and drag him along to anything after this, Idia just wants to retreat back to his room. Maybe stop a vending machine. Then room.

Oh, um... how to answer this? "A-a-ah, just, ah, just... some indie musician I found..." Ahhhh, that was the wrong thing to say, wasn't it?! He should had said it was anime music or something! Idia knows Cater is part of the Light Music Club, he doesn't want to hang around answering question about this all with him!

"Yeah? I'm always on the lookout for new artists, do you mind if I listen really quick?" Fortunately, for how brash he can be when it comes to forcing Idia along with him on outings, it's not like he's going to jump over and swipe the headphones off the desk. Anyway, he just wants a closer listen to that voice--it's not like it's for sure the cover artist that came to mind. Sure, it's kind of an obscure song, but...

Gathering up his things, he stands to make his way over to Idia's desk, smiling his usual unaffected smile.

"I-I-I-I!" Please hold while Idia's brain reloads. It's not just a case of someone touching his stuff, it's the fact of what track is playing.

"H-H-Hold on! I gotta change tracks!" He made a promise not to put that out anywhere, so it couldn't be copied or burnt! He's got to respect the artist's choice! "N-Not that song!"

Cater stops mid-step, hesitating. Watching Idia frantically go to change tracks, a weird feeling settles in his stomach. It couldn't be, right? That song, how hurriedly he's trying to hide it...it's just Idia being Idia, it's gotta be. This is a weird coincidence. "Okay, sure! Whatever works," he agrees, tucking his notebook underneath his arm and shifting on his feet.

Cater's free hand messes with his hair. "JSYK, I don't judge anyone for their music prefs. Like, Lils is super into screamo death metal, and sometimes I listen to technopop..."

Eeeeehhhhh. Sigh... a huff out as Idia deflates a bit. "I-It's a commissioned track I got, ok? I can't just... share it with others." Not a complete lie, but enough that he thinks its believable. It's not totally a lie either, technically he did pay for it, just... hadn't asked for it. It had been an amazing reward for wanting to support someone.

Hmmm, lets see, Idia scrolling through his list on his holoscreen. "I donno... what you into? I got options..." Maybe it would be good for more people to find this person. Still... Idia not sure he and Cater share tastes. Why would they? Though, "Technopop is cool..." It muttered out under his breath, almost hoping Cater didn't hear it.

"Hm, well..."

Screw it. He doesn't have enough excuses to talk to Idia. He can kill a little bit of time before he has to get back to his dorm. Cater puts his notebook down on the desk and slips into the spot next to his fiery classmate. "I'm kinda into a little bit of everything depending on how I'm feeling."

His smile widens--yeah, he can totally see how Idia would be in to technopop, virtual idols...which of course doesn't do anything to stop the questions forming in his head.

"How about something that gets you feeling really pumped?"

Edited 2022-12-17 07:59 (UTC)

Idia can't help but jump a little as Cater moved in beside him, but really, he would have that reaction with anyone getting near him. Let alone someone so bright and cheerful as Cater.

"Hmmm, ok..." Yeah, Idia gets that. Sure, Premo is his fav and will forever be, but it depends on his mood; if he's gaming, what project he's working on, that kind of thing. And sometimes it's just nice to fully embrace a horrible mood with music that suited it. In fact a lot of his choice tended to have what most might consider a sadder tone to them, even if they were upbeat in tempo. Got to keep those blot levels up after all...

Scrolling through and... "This one will do." Selecting a song from the list... and after a moment of hesitation, handing over his headphones. "Here..." He's not worried about Cater breaking them, if that happened he could easily repair them.

Cater waits as Idia makes his selection, feeling a touch anxious despite himself. Just a really weird coincidence, he tells himself. You're thinking way too hard about this and making yourself paranoid. Well: moment of truth. At last, Idia offers him the headphones and Cater's actually a little surprised at that, him being so fidgety and all.

"Thanks!" Accepting the headphones, he slips them on...and then the music starts to play, and it's his voice. Well, he recognizes it immediately, but he can understand why others wouldn't. His voice is a little different when he's singing for real and not throwing it in an upbeat, careless attitude--the one that embodies "Cay-Cay". And he has a whole different face when he sings, being that he'd designed and commissioned a virtual persona. If someone had a look attached to the voice already, why would they compare it to anyone else?

It's a good thing he never performs club concerts using songs he sings online in his double life.

Without realizing it, his smile falls as he listens to the first minute of the song, not really listening to it at all as much as he is to the sound of his own internal voice screaming no way no way no way. Cater glances over at Idia, realizes he's still wearing the other boy's headphones, and quickly takes them off to hand them back.

"Sorry, I got a little caught up in the lyrics," he lies, pulling his smile back on as fast as he can. "What was the name of this artist?"

He... does not look like he's enjoying it... ehhh, whatever, as Cater said, not everyone has the same tastes in music.

And clearly Cater's tastes suck if he doesn't like this.

It's not like Idia can just leave him to it, it's his gear after all. Would... would it be rude to take his phone out and do gaming stuff while he waited? Maybe... hmm, though his indecision over it is cut short as Cater takes off the headphones and speaks.

"Ah? Oh, um, Cinder Suit. Or, ah, Cinder, I guess, for short." Idia answers as he takes back his headphones, moving to slip them into their normal place around his neck, pausing the music for now... and scrolling back to his last place on the list for himself. "It's one of his more upbeat ones, but... ah, I, ah, like his darker stuff." Ehh, why is he even going on about this? Cater wouldn't care what a shut-in like him likes.

"Oh yeah?"

It's him. It's Idia. Idia Shroud is basically his biggest, most dedicated fan. Him, Cater Diamond, AKA Cinder Suit. And there's absolutely no way he can tell him--and what is he even supposed to do with this information, himself?

"Cool--thanks for sharing," he says, knowing he should leave. This'll be better to figure out for himself when he's back in his dorm. Still, somehow, he feels reluctant. Immediately, he's thinking about some of the direct messages they shared behind usernames, where Cater wasn't as scared of being a bit more honest. How can he not look at Idia differently?

It's frustrating, because it changes things--disturbs the cemented foundation of the barrier he's built between himself and others. Frustrating because it shouldn't change anything, because in real life, like here? Idia clearly doesn't want much of anything to do with him (a fact that Cater often chooses to ignore).

"Hey, uh...I gotta get going." He stands, hesitant. "Maybe you can send me some more recs sometime? I like listening to darker songs when I'm studying."

...look, Idia is the worst person to pick up social cues, and even he can feel how forced this all is. And the fact Cater is leaving before him... that's super weird. But Idia will take it. "Ah... yeah... sure." He won't. He really won't.

Yeah, time to go, he's got stuff to do rather than waste time here, moving to grab his items and stuff them into his pockets as he slid out of the seating. "Um..." Yeah, nah, no clue what to add to this, he's just going, pulling his headphones up and on as he activated his music, heading out of the room. That was all super weird...

Though later into the day and after he's forgotten about this all, Idia, or 'Gloomurai' will be waiting in the chat for the stream to start, working away on some project or class assignment during it.

About ten minutes before the scheduled start of the stream and the channel goes live with the "STARTING SOON!" screen. As Cater double-checks his equipment (it's gotten a few upgrades thanks to donations, but all in all it's a pretty meager setup thanks to his dorm limitations), he can't help watching the chatroom, where his eyes go almost directly to the Gloomurai username and its VIP sticker. Yeah, he hasn't been able to stop fixating on this revelation, and doesn't like the way he now has to feel a bit more "on" for his audience than usual.

Being any kind of public figure, even one like this that has a relatively small following with an unknown real life identity, comes with having to hide a certain amount of himself, of course. It's not like he's going to go around broadcasting all of his issues. Normally, though, it's a nice way to talk more casually--he doesn't have to be over-the-top chipper or silly as Cinder Suit. This isn't going to be nearly as much of an escape for him if he's being more self-conscious of his behavior.

So as his alarm signals the official beginning of the stream, Cater takes a breath. Don't worry about it, he tells himself. Clearly Idia doesn't recognize your voice, so it's fine. He switches the stream settings, greeting the audience with his digital model and running through the plan for the day. Chatting and catching up, some online party games, plenty of music. Overall, it's a low-key stream with fun vibes. Someone does point out early on that Cinder seems a little distracted and he explains he just had a bit of an off day--but that being here is helping him take his mind off of things.

Due to Heartslabyul's (Riddle's) strict curfew, his streams always have to end around the same time, but it isn't uncommon for his username to pop up afterward in other streams as Cater browses with his phone from bed. This time, Cater's looking at the direct message history he has with Gloomurai--not like they've shared long, expensive conversations, but due to his fan's support, Cater had at least spoken with him on occasion in regards to music requests, tech advice, and of course expressing his gratitude. Messaging out of the blue is a little different for him, and Cater isn't even really sure what he's hoping to get out of it, but he finds he can't stop himself.

👋

Okay, so it's just an emoji. Cater doesn't know how else to start. Maybe Idia'll be too busy doing something else to respond, anyway.

Pre stream Idia's around in chat with those also waiting, chatting casually with a few, going along with some of the in-jokes for the chat, nothing too major, just some basic greetings as he's setting up his desk with what he's planning to work on during the stream. And as Cinder comes on he will join others in greeting him, saying it's good to see him and looking forward to the stream.

Which instantly derails any plans he had, having to get in on those games. But also not be too try-hard or hog the time, happy to change out for others to play as well. Between any games he gets in on and during the chatting and music he'll be working away quietly, popping up in chat now and then to 'www' over something or reply to others. Maybe even throwing out a few gifted memberships during high parts of the stream; during a game win by chat or at the end of a popular song. And when Cinder mentions his bad day, he does respond;

It all good, you're doing great!

As things wind down Idia will still be working away. Hell, his day doesn't really start until around 10PM, his desk covered in open books as he was going through ideas for both designs and papers he has for classes, a program rendering some stuff for his own blogging site about the MMORPG he plays, and a project generating processes to help with issues some in his dorm were having right now. While he knows most of the dorm leaders thinks he does nothing as a dorm leader, it's mostly just never leaves Ignihyde. His responsibility is to his dorm, not the others.

It's during a stretch and fresh energy drink break that he hears the message chime go off, surprised by it since it wasn't the normal one for Crimson Muscle, and they didn't have anything planned for tonight, so Idia is surprised to see who it is. Oh, Cinder.

(^_^)/ hey great stream tonight

In a way, it's nerve wracking now to see his message get a response. But in another, the casual response puts him more at ease. Yeah, Idia definitely doesn't know. So...it's fine, right? It's not like he did anything to hide from his classmate--Gloomurai found him totally on his own. Cater hadn't been really advertising his online persona, just kind of letting it develop as it would naturally.

thx :) I know I had a shaky start but I didn't want to let anyone down ;;;
I had a lot of fun playing games w/ you and the others

It really is easier to talk to people when they can't see your face. Smiling all the time is so exhausting.

It really is! Having a screen in between was always better, you could really let loose more without having to worry about how to act and had time to actually think how to answer rather than be forced into the moment to answer like irl. That was so tiring. And in a contrast to Cater, it allowed Idia to show a bit more joy than he normally did in person.

You picked up pace real fast, it was all good!
If some hater has issues thats their issue

Hey, it's the net, that was always an issue no matter how good you were.

Me too! Totes distracted me from work XDD I gotta catch up now

I'm not distracting you even more am I? Is it OK if I ask what you're working on?

He doesn't really feel like winding down--maybe this is a chance to actually get to know Idia for real, ask him some of the things that he generally doesn't get a chance to around campus. Cater wonders how private he'll be now when talking about himself instead of about Cinder's work or other stream-related things.

Nah, I was taking a break anyways

Idia's less concerned about sharing with people online in a way since... those contacts come and go, and no one really cares too much. Online friends up and vanish all the time. You enjoy the time with them, they leave, then you move on. It was much easier to disconnect with them than in personal relationships. Plus, lets face it, no one has any clue who he was online... as far as he's aware.

'Idia Shroud' didn't exist online. Gloomurai did.

Couple of papers gotta get done. I got a new build project I'm researching. Got some dorm members I'm helping stuff with. And rendering stuff for my blog. Gotta get it all done so I got tomorrow free for my raid.

It was still weird to be talking to someone whose content he consumes. Never suppose to get too close to creators, better to just admire from afar. Though Cinder seemed cool with how much he interacted with others. It was nice, but if he got too much bigger Idia would have to take a step back. He doesn't want to hog the attention. Let others enjoy it all too.

You chilling for the rest of the night? Gotta be late or super early or something for you.

Who knows what timezone Cinder was in after all.

Reading all that, Cater's eyebrows raise in surprise. He can really do all that in one night to make time for his gaming schedule? Guess that's an Ignihyde genius for you. Having that knowledge gives it all a bit more clarity, otherwise his head would be spinning.

You must be a big time multitasker--I have trouble doing more than one project at once lol

Well, unless he literally splits himself into multiple people, but he usually doesn't resort to using his unique magic to get schoolwork done. Usually.

Yea it's still p early for me but I'm in a rly strict household so I go to bed early and wake up early. Not tired yet tho so I thought maybe it would be nice to chat :)

Cater starts to type another question but stops. Is he being too pushy? For his own sake, he shouldn't try to get to know Idia too much further, fan or not. Gloomurai should just stay that awesome supporter who apparently has a lot of money to spend. But...it's not really a big deal, right? It's just curiosity.

cool if no but can I see your blog?

pfft lots of practice since I was a kid. I got bored easy, always had lots of stuff going on.

A bored Idia Shroud tends to just... create. Or hack. Gods, his childhood hacking days is so cringe now... he got into so much stuff he shouldn't had. Good thing he was never caught.

OMG I couldn't do that. I'm totally nocturnal. Early mornings are torture to me.

Huh... hmmm,

You good with that? Isn't it weird to chat to a fan? I mean, I'm good with it but... dont want it to be weird, yaknow?

It would be a shame to lose such a good music source, but... ehh, worse case Idia would move on if things got weird. He doubts him leaving would impact too much. Well, maybe a little, he has thrown a bit of money in Cinder's direction. Not that he felt he was owed anything, as honestly, what he spent really isn't that much compared to what he has access to. Plus it's fun to support smaller creators.

I mean, it's a gamer blog about in game fashion... but sure?

A link being added to that last message, the site itself modern and stylish but also themed to the game, showing a range of in game sets and special items and detailed information on how to get them. And quite a few comments too. It seems Gloomurai had his own circle he was very popular in.

Cater starts to write about how he gets that because of how often his family had to move around...but backtracks, deleting the message and starting over. Too much, he decides. Just asking more about Idia's interests is enough. He realizes that other than the obvious, what with all the gamer speak that Idia utilizes, he doesn't actually know the specifics about what his loner classmate is into.

I don't think it's weird. You've done a lot for me so I guess I think of you a bit differently, like someone I can come to for advice. Just lmk if I'm overstepping, K?

What is weird is knowing that he's telling the truth...while also knowing who he's talking to. If Idia realized who his real identity was, would he think that this was some kind of elaborate prank? The thought makes Cater frown, but he distracts himself from his own discomfort by checking out the blog.

this is p sweet Gloom! I like games but I usually only play on mobile. Is this one your fave?

That... did feel a little weird. A little. If this was IRL Idia would be freaking out. But over the net? Eh, less so. In a way he and Crimson Muscle has a similar relationship; Idia shared a lot with him more than he does with anyone irl. But they had also known each other a bit longer than Idia had been interacting with Cinder. Still,

It a bit weird, but yeah, it good. I'll let you know if so.

Why not? There was no real string attached here, and Idia had no intent on messing with Cinder if things went poorly. Provided Cinder didn't try to badmouth him. He would regret it if he did. Idia would be near impossible to track down online, but he doubted Cinder had the same security. In fact there is a moment of temptation to go hunting, hands moving to his keyboard to do so... then stopping himself. Nah, no need for that. Better just to enjoy this while it lasted.

TY. Yup, you have no idea how many hours I got in it XDD gotta make most of it while I can, wont be able to in a year or so. Mobile games are good too, easier to consume than MMORPGs. Those take so much time.

lol sorry

Seven, why does he feel so...awkward? Is it that it's Idia? Is it that he's realizing that honestly, who else would he ever ask anyone for any kind of advice from? Can't put that on anyone he knows in person, and online...well, he's kept those connections pretty shallow. Gloomurai's the only user that's ever really had more of a stake in him past what kind of felt like a fleeting interest.

you won't be able to keep playing games at all???? wtf why?

Huh. What's in a year or so? Graduation? But why would Idia have to stop playing a game he's invested this much time and energy into just because he's graduating?

...why was it so much easier to just let this out to a faceless being online? Idia's not an idiot, he knows there's a real person behind that model on stream, but the face was the animation they used, not the person controlling it. It would be so much harder to say it to a person who's face he knew. Or even to the model itself versus the text in front of him.

And... well, he wishes he could tell someone this all. To maybe prove he's not crazy for... all of it. But... he can't, even to a faceless being on the other side of the keyboard.

It takes awhile for him to answer... but eventually,

I gotta take over the family business. Will be too busy to dedicate the time to an MMORPG, at least at the level I play it now. And once you fall out of it and become casual it loses most of it's appeal.

There, that worked. It wasn't a lie, but it was a major understatement. Hell, even his fourth year will be an 'internship' back home. It would be pointless to go anywhere else since... it wasn't an option to Idia.

So making the most of it while I can.

There's a period where Cater wonders if he pressed too hard. He has to put his phone down while he waits for a notification, pulling his blankets up around him farther. Idia must be one of those people that has their whole life figured out--unlike him. Their internship year is looming ever closer and Cater still has absolutely no clue what he's doing or where he's going. Questions about it fill him with anxiety, and he generally just finds a way to avoid answering.

When the phone does chime, he's mostly expecting some sort of explanation on why he doesn't feel comfortable answering...so Cater's all the more surprised when he reads the text on the screen. He reads it a few more times, really taking the facts in, before figuring out what to say in response.

That's rough...it must be a crazy job if you're not going to have enough free time to dedicate to your hobbies.

There's an argument to be made about how "casual" gaming is just part of what being an adult means, but...that's not really what strikes home with Cater. It's just how hopeless the sentiment feels, like there's not really a point to any of it. Like such a big part of what makes him happy has such a short shelf life. He wishes he had something uplifting he could say but...he doesn't. In his own experience, what you personally want out of life rarely matters.

That's just the way the world is.

Is it hard to get started? I've never played an MMO.

they say to never meet your heroes

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