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[His face lights up. Smile and optimism-- returned!]
Nice!!
[Fuck the main course, Idia always goes for the sides and the dessert first and foremost. He's commandeering the sweet and sour sauce for himself because rangoons can be a dessert if you're brave enough. Excuse him that he's grabbing one of those bad boys already.
Idia pauses as he's about to go in for it.]
Wait, seriously? [Information loads in. Fearless backstory Get.] Oh, right. Well, at least we're starting you right. This is Peak.
Nice!!
[Fuck the main course, Idia always goes for the sides and the dessert first and foremost. He's commandeering the sweet and sour sauce for himself because rangoons can be a dessert if you're brave enough. Excuse him that he's grabbing one of those bad boys already.
Idia pauses as he's about to go in for it.]
Wait, seriously? [Information loads in. Fearless backstory Get.] Oh, right. Well, at least we're starting you right. This is Peak.
[Fearless is used to, by now, the fact Idia doesn't eat food like most people do. he's got... kind of his own little order to things. which like, alright. it's kind of entertaining, too, like watching a little creature at the zoo.]
Myeah.
[as he goes back to slorping on his noodles, he comments;]
Do like skipping all the shit ones. Not gonna let you live it down if it sucks, though.
Myeah.
[as he goes back to slorping on his noodles, he comments;]
Do like skipping all the shit ones. Not gonna let you live it down if it sucks, though.
[an attractive snort in response.]
Alright, Flawless.
[Fearless can poke fun all he wants, but he's actually enjoying himself. he knocks Idia's knee with a shove of his foot.
he does also, however, start to pay attention to the movie, slurping his noodles all the while. movies always seemed like a waste of time when he was a kid, and he could neither afford that time to waste nor any means to watch many, but actually having plenty of safe free time to spend is an incredible new luxury Fearless has on account of being dead. and while for the most part what Fearless really benefits from is the companionship, there have been movies here and there Fearless has found quite compelling.
stories really can change something within you, can't they? just like the people around you. the Fearless who can sit down with Idia and watch Street Fighter II isn't the same one who wouldn't bother with movies before. just like this Idia isn't the exact same one Fearless met before, either. and maybe that's why things have shifted between them, why they can actually sit and eat and enjoy this movie not just in each other's presences, but together, even without Seras.]
Alright, Flawless.
[Fearless can poke fun all he wants, but he's actually enjoying himself. he knocks Idia's knee with a shove of his foot.
he does also, however, start to pay attention to the movie, slurping his noodles all the while. movies always seemed like a waste of time when he was a kid, and he could neither afford that time to waste nor any means to watch many, but actually having plenty of safe free time to spend is an incredible new luxury Fearless has on account of being dead. and while for the most part what Fearless really benefits from is the companionship, there have been movies here and there Fearless has found quite compelling.
stories really can change something within you, can't they? just like the people around you. the Fearless who can sit down with Idia and watch Street Fighter II isn't the same one who wouldn't bother with movies before. just like this Idia isn't the exact same one Fearless met before, either. and maybe that's why things have shifted between them, why they can actually sit and eat and enjoy this movie not just in each other's presences, but together, even without Seras.]
That's no problem, that's no problem! Just gimme the basics and I'm sure I can pick up the rest.
[The "basics" may very well trigger a gigantic tl;dr...but that was okay. Cater liked it when Idia got excited. It was fun hearing him go all out about something he was into--much preferrable to all that cryptic grumbling.]
I'm all ears--floor's yours!
[And he'll plop down next to Maya. Now he's part of the captive audience, too!]
[The "basics" may very well trigger a gigantic tl;dr...but that was okay. Cater liked it when Idia got excited. It was fun hearing him go all out about something he was into--much preferrable to all that cryptic grumbling.]
I'm all ears--floor's yours!
[And he'll plop down next to Maya. Now he's part of the captive audience, too!]
[There's no way to escape his reality, so media has always been a necessary reprieve for Idia. Being able to pretend that he could possibly be a hero, or see a long-buried feeling expressed in someone else's words-- when things were hardest, that's what he needed. Sad as it might seem (and he'd never admit this), in the time it took to bring Ortho back, it felt like some pixels on a screen were his only friends. Even at school Idia didn't really believe he had any. The fact that he has that now, for real, sitting right beside him is surreal.
Idia zones out for a moment and notices that their legs are nearly touching. Fearless has never minded this sort of thing, but contact is something Idia struggles with. Still does, even if Seras has opened that previously sealed-up door a little wider. There are rules to these things that he doesn't know, never had much practical experience with. Shrouds aren't touchy people. Idia least among them.
When did they become like this? When did Fearless go from a dreaded presence to someone he looks forward to seeing? He's reacting to all the right parts, walking with him in this space that he doesn't think many people can inhabit. And here he's...
Idia returns his attention to the movie. Man, whatever's going on in his brain is totally dissonant from animated violence. He fiddles with the string of his hoodie, not sure how to hold himself.]
... He moves like you do.
[Fei Long, that is. He's about to get his ass kicked by Ryu, so Idia corrects;]
In the game, I mean. Same style. Ryu's the protag here so he has to come out on top, but you get it.
Idia zones out for a moment and notices that their legs are nearly touching. Fearless has never minded this sort of thing, but contact is something Idia struggles with. Still does, even if Seras has opened that previously sealed-up door a little wider. There are rules to these things that he doesn't know, never had much practical experience with. Shrouds aren't touchy people. Idia least among them.
When did they become like this? When did Fearless go from a dreaded presence to someone he looks forward to seeing? He's reacting to all the right parts, walking with him in this space that he doesn't think many people can inhabit. And here he's...
Idia returns his attention to the movie. Man, whatever's going on in his brain is totally dissonant from animated violence. He fiddles with the string of his hoodie, not sure how to hold himself.]
... He moves like you do.
[Fei Long, that is. He's about to get his ass kicked by Ryu, so Idia corrects;]
In the game, I mean. Same style. Ryu's the protag here so he has to come out on top, but you get it.
[with Cater sat down beside her, Maya works even harder to use her own force of will to break down Idia's.
she puts her hand to her mouth, half covering it, and pitches her fairly low voice even deeper into something more rigid and like an announcer or interviewer.]
And now, bringing us the life, the history, the legacy of the Steel Samurai, Heaven's new Steelverse Lore Prodigy, Idia Shroud!
[and then she imitates the sound of a crowd cheering by making a rushing noise into her cupped hand, accenting the crowd with tiny pitched-up cheers as though made by far away voices;]
You're the greatest, Idia! Show us how it's done!
she puts her hand to her mouth, half covering it, and pitches her fairly low voice even deeper into something more rigid and like an announcer or interviewer.]
And now, bringing us the life, the history, the legacy of the Steel Samurai, Heaven's new Steelverse Lore Prodigy, Idia Shroud!
[and then she imitates the sound of a crowd cheering by making a rushing noise into her cupped hand, accenting the crowd with tiny pitched-up cheers as though made by far away voices;]
You're the greatest, Idia! Show us how it's done!
Oh, yeah. Jeet kun do.
You were playing him the other night, right? When Seras was playing, uh, Cammy.
[he points with his chopsticks at Fei Long, though;]
That guy looks like the guy who put that fighting style on the map back in the day. Bruce Lee. Total legend of a martial artist.
Vicious'd talk your ears off about his movies, if he were here.
[it's the same reason he doesn't really mind listening to Idia do it. yeah, they were weird. yeah, they were talking too much. but they knew what they were talking about. they knew more than anyone else about what they were talking about, sometimes. and Fearless had learned more from either of them than most anyone else.]
You were playing him the other night, right? When Seras was playing, uh, Cammy.
[he points with his chopsticks at Fei Long, though;]
That guy looks like the guy who put that fighting style on the map back in the day. Bruce Lee. Total legend of a martial artist.
Vicious'd talk your ears off about his movies, if he were here.
[it's the same reason he doesn't really mind listening to Idia do it. yeah, they were weird. yeah, they were talking too much. but they knew what they were talking about. they knew more than anyone else about what they were talking about, sometimes. and Fearless had learned more from either of them than most anyone else.]
Oh. Yeah, we were.
[ ... He remembers both of their picks. People don't usually make it a habit of remembering the games he plays, let alone the details. Pair that with the fact that all these months he's low-key thought Fearless was making fun of him for his interests, couldn't really get on that level. It's... hm!
Idia's quiet for a second, feeling through the questions that are piling up. When did he start caring about that? Is this Vicious guy, like, his only friend? Does it matter?]
Are those the movies you've seen? Or did you just get the infodump?
[ ... He remembers both of their picks. People don't usually make it a habit of remembering the games he plays, let alone the details. Pair that with the fact that all these months he's low-key thought Fearless was making fun of him for his interests, couldn't really get on that level. It's... hm!
Idia's quiet for a second, feeling through the questions that are piling up. When did he start caring about that? Is this Vicious guy, like, his only friend? Does it matter?]
Are those the movies you've seen? Or did you just get the infodump?
Edited 2025-06-09 03:37 (UTC)
Ehn, I got a couple in here and there.
[after things had changed.
once they'd joined the syndicate, they'd suddenly found themselves with more money. a little bit more time. or rather, time they'd suddenly rather spend doing anything but thinking about work. until, eventually, work was the only thing Vicious really did think about.]
But, uh, y'know. I'm sure they've got 'em here, somewhere, if you wanna catch 'em.
Enter the Dragon, Game of Death... easy pulls.
[after things had changed.
once they'd joined the syndicate, they'd suddenly found themselves with more money. a little bit more time. or rather, time they'd suddenly rather spend doing anything but thinking about work. until, eventually, work was the only thing Vicious really did think about.]
But, uh, y'know. I'm sure they've got 'em here, somewhere, if you wanna catch 'em.
Enter the Dragon, Game of Death... easy pulls.
Oh, yeah. Let's do it.
[Idia retrieves his phone to commit that to a running notes*pp list. All of the things that he and Seras have talked about watching or playing together are here; the list with him and Fearless is increasing day by day.]
You can be the one to talk my ear off now! Uh, not like you asked for that from me.
[That comes free with the territory. Like a bonus that sucks!]
[Idia retrieves his phone to commit that to a running notes*pp list. All of the things that he and Seras have talked about watching or playing together are here; the list with him and Fearless is increasing day by day.]
You can be the one to talk my ear off now! Uh, not like you asked for that from me.
[That comes free with the territory. Like a bonus that sucks!]
[but that gets a laugh out of him. Fearless grins, stirring his noodles around with his chopsticks as he digs for a piece of meat.]
No, no, I'm used to it.
Free commentary on every flick.
Part of the selling point, if you ask me.
[it's fine if he flirts with Seras's boyfriend. he flirts with everyone, practically.]
No, no, I'm used to it.
Free commentary on every flick.
Part of the selling point, if you ask me.
[it's fine if he flirts with Seras's boyfriend. he flirts with everyone, practically.]
[a snicker, and Fearless smiles around his noodles for a second before shaking his head. Slorp.]
No, it's, uh.
[he gestures with his chopsticks, but the motion seems to mean absolutely fucking nothing.]
I'm into it.
No, it's, uh.
[he gestures with his chopsticks, but the motion seems to mean absolutely fucking nothing.]
I'm into it.
What? I'm allowed to have bad taste.
[that was a dig, judging by how hard Fearless is grinning]
[that was a dig, judging by how hard Fearless is grinning]
S-stop, that's so embarrassing for you. What's with that voice? What are you even-- ugh. Never mind.
[It's like a mom standing up in a crowd to cheer on her kid in the middle of a play. At least, he imagines it does. He's seen movies.
Speaking of, he sighs, maneuvering over to their cozy little TV set-up, backlit with a blue LED glow. Ofc he's already got the 4K version pulled up and ready to go (Maya had been concerned about finding a physical copy but forgot that the Internet always provides to those most loyal), so it's not a big deal that he can just get it started. Snacks are already there and none of them are good for your body or your teeth. He's just that generous of a host.
If only someone could be so generous as a guest!! Whatever. Idia slumps back, separate yet close to the others.]
Okay, so... TLDR: This guy called the Evil Magistrate fights The Steel Samurai for control over this poor township. [Flatly:] Boom, pow, wha-pah-- the fights are most of the episode. And they're pretty cool, idk if it's your thing tho. Kind of serious for a toku but the Evil Magistrate always loses. Well... until he doesn't. Like, okay [his bored affect starts to pick up, gaining some enthusiasm;] he loses and loses and Steel Samurai goes in for what you think is gonna be the kill, but of course it's not because he has a noble heart and fighting spirit. That's when we learn that The Evil Magistrate has actually been holding back his true power because-- get this-- The Steel Samurai is actually his separated-at-birth twin brother. Jaw. Dropped. It sounds like a cliche but the lead-up to the reveal elevates the early series. The foreshadowing is subtle, real prestige for syndicated primetime. It's like.... Uh...
[Idia realizes that he's talking a lot, running his stupid motor mouth, sitting up straight and gesturing at the screen, that he's not just ranting to Maya. So he... sits back a little, tries to pretend that that didn't just happen. He clears his throat.]
Yeah, it's cool.
[It's like a mom standing up in a crowd to cheer on her kid in the middle of a play. At least, he imagines it does. He's seen movies.
Speaking of, he sighs, maneuvering over to their cozy little TV set-up, backlit with a blue LED glow. Ofc he's already got the 4K version pulled up and ready to go (Maya had been concerned about finding a physical copy but forgot that the Internet always provides to those most loyal), so it's not a big deal that he can just get it started. Snacks are already there and none of them are good for your body or your teeth. He's just that generous of a host.
If only someone could be so generous as a guest!! Whatever. Idia slumps back, separate yet close to the others.]
Okay, so... TLDR: This guy called the Evil Magistrate fights The Steel Samurai for control over this poor township. [Flatly:] Boom, pow, wha-pah-- the fights are most of the episode. And they're pretty cool, idk if it's your thing tho. Kind of serious for a toku but the Evil Magistrate always loses. Well... until he doesn't. Like, okay [his bored affect starts to pick up, gaining some enthusiasm;] he loses and loses and Steel Samurai goes in for what you think is gonna be the kill, but of course it's not because he has a noble heart and fighting spirit. That's when we learn that The Evil Magistrate has actually been holding back his true power because-- get this-- The Steel Samurai is actually his separated-at-birth twin brother. Jaw. Dropped. It sounds like a cliche but the lead-up to the reveal elevates the early series. The foreshadowing is subtle, real prestige for syndicated primetime. It's like.... Uh...
[Idia realizes that he's talking a lot, running his stupid motor mouth, sitting up straight and gesturing at the screen, that he's not just ranting to Maya. So he... sits back a little, tries to pretend that that didn't just happen. He clears his throat.]
Yeah, it's cool.
[Cater laughs at the combination of Maya's encouragement and Idia's embarrassed reaction--but as entertained as he is, the catterbox goes quiet to give his full attention to the following explanation. Even if he's sitting a little closer to Maya, his eyes are all but glued to Idia, and his smile gets brighter the more into the explanation that he gets. Yeah, when he got super into something, Idia was really so much fun to listen to. Cater's almost disappointed when he cuts himself off.]
Wow...that sounds cool, alright! I can't wait to dive in--is that where we're picking up in the story? Post-reveal?
Wow...that sounds cool, alright! I can't wait to dive in--is that where we're picking up in the story? Post-reveal?
[but Maya doesn't mind being the joke, isn't embarrassed in the slightest. this is her favorite part! listening to Idia go on about things he likes is the whole appeal, and when she looks over at Cater, she can tell he sees the same thing.
...what a look, really. it makes Maya smile a little harder herself, a knowing smile like a too-pleased cat, before she looks back Idia's way.]
Yeah, Idia, is that where we're picking up today?
...what a look, really. it makes Maya smile a little harder herself, a knowing smile like a too-pleased cat, before she looks back Idia's way.]
Yeah, Idia, is that where we're picking up today?
[Fearless wants to feel like he missed this.
but he's learning, whether he wants to or not, that while this might feel familiar, it's not the same. it's something new, unique, and it's fine to be that way. a new melody with a similar, but different, leitmotif.
but he does like the song.]
Shut up.
[he shoves Idia's shoulder, gentler than he would with Nanami or Greed, of course.]
That's Seras's taste you're calling bad, too, y'know.
but he's learning, whether he wants to or not, that while this might feel familiar, it's not the same. it's something new, unique, and it's fine to be that way. a new melody with a similar, but different, leitmotif.
but he does like the song.]
Shut up.
[he shoves Idia's shoulder, gentler than he would with Nanami or Greed, of course.]
That's Seras's taste you're calling bad, too, y'know.
[This feels like something he's missed all his life, some familiar phantom figure that's playful and teasing. Warm. It's something he doesn't think consciously about as it happens, just feels a strange pang at the back of his chest, the negative space around a larger feeling. It makes him laugh, actually. It makes him nudge Fearless back.]
She's allowed!
[An honor and a privilege that she has such poor taste. Some might call that lucky.]
She's allowed!
[An honor and a privilege that she has such poor taste. Some might call that lucky.]
[oh, things are getting serious now, huh? Fearless leans away to put his noodles down, which at first he makes a big show out of being definitely just so that he can grab a napkin and wipe his hands and mouth for.]
Oh, yeah, cos the rules don't apply to her, yeah.
I gotcha.
[fair and valid. Fearless reaches over to grab his drink, takes a sip, and—]
but, uh, the thing is—
[he scrunches up his face—]
I don't really care about rules.
[this is Idia's only warning that something is about to go down.]
Oh, yeah, cos the rules don't apply to her, yeah.
I gotcha.
[fair and valid. Fearless reaches over to grab his drink, takes a sip, and—]
but, uh, the thing is—
[he scrunches up his face—]
I don't really care about rules.
[this is Idia's only warning that something is about to go down.]
[As you can imagine, this is all going over Idia's head. Sailing so far over that these cues might as well be in a different room. If something feels off, different, it's because something always feels abnormal when you live in this body.
Idia rolls his eyes.]
I don't make the rules, I just call it like I see it. Maybe if you--
[And so he blabs. Would be a shame (?) if something were to stop him.]
Idia rolls his eyes.]
I don't make the rules, I just call it like I see it. Maybe if you--
[And so he blabs. Would be a shame (?) if something were to stop him.]
[maybe if he what? the world may never know, because Fearless doesn't let Idia finish. he leans over, takes Idia's cheek in his palm like it's as simple as reaching over to fix Idia's shirt, and leans in to kiss his stupid blue lips, gentle but insistent. just to see what all the hype is about.]
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