zero to zero

following English naming/terminology though i'm caught up to the JPN storyline

your stereotypical shut-in otaku character in an anime game

the lipstick and eyeshadow are not lipstick and eyeshadow. his face literally just looks like that

you know hades? from hercules? idia thinks he is the fucking coolest. they've both got blue fire hair and pointy teeth but that's as close as idia will ever get to his level

probably more scared of you than you are of him

from a super rich family of magical researchers and slated to follow in their footsteps

literally cursed, though he isn't feeling the effects of it right now (thanks, mysterious masked figures!)

  In the simplest terms, he wasn’t expecting to be dealing with an over blotting enemy anytime soon.. Even while his time here had felt like he was fast forwarding through an action movie, he still knew that this place was his new home for the time being, and he’d do whatever he had to in order to keep it safe. Which was unfortunate considering he was no action hero.. Thankfully plenty of others were taking the mantel to become the heroic types, and he could stay back and handle whatever. 

Hah even his alternate self had gone off to assist… at least he has his powers again for the time being.

 Hearing his own name called he’d turn his head to the source and smile. “hey hey~ What’s up?”

     "Come on, look at us for two seconds,” Idia replies with a judgmental look. The skull spins a bit faster in his magical grip. “What do you think is up?”

     Helpfully, the Other Idia offers: “We’re going to farm Ofiuclones.”

     Cater is smiling and waving. Is he actually this disinterested in doing anything, Idia wonders, or is he just like that no matter what happens? He doesn’t know the other student well enough to tell. Cater’s outer shell of chattiness and Magicam trends was always enough to keep Idia well, well away. But now they have an actual reason to recruit him... eugh. Is he going to have to pretend to make conversation? Is that how to get Cater to say yes? Shit.

     “Where’s, uh... the other one?”

     The minute the party (consisting of two blue haired shut-ins and two ginger menaces) pass through the barrier into the Archimedes residential ward, Idia simply gasps and flops to the ground. It’s not super clear if his legs actually gave out or he just decided that walking is overrated -- but he scuttles over to sit against a marble pillar, lolls his head back, and starts trying to catch his breath. A big gash on his back starts to burn anew as he presses it against the stone.

     “I’m a... fool,” he groans. “Going out there... hhh... was a mistake.”

     “So much for all that bravado from before,” the Other Idia responds, kicking him lightly with his foot. Unlike his younger self, this one is being vewy bwave and continuing to stand, even though he also feels like curling into the fetal position. “You were so ready to OHKO everything you saw, and then...”

     “Magic is hard!” Idia whines. “I’m... nn... out of practice...”

     Some people say that this world is just a really shitty game. A story with a beginning you can’t remember, no good end, no choices, and no point. Idia can see the logical throughline in that, and to a degree believes it’s true.

     Things have changed now that the robotic waifu from the Eternal Tree has started blotting out the sky. Or rather, now that there’s a path to defeat her. A clearly defined good ending; kill the clones, weaken the original, and either burn away her impurities or eliminate her outright. This is something Idia, the eighteen-year-old one, can clearly understand. It took him about a week of running for his life, but he’s here now.

     Both Idias are walking through the residential areas of Cotes. One has a floating skull brushing against his fingertips; the other has at least three different kinds of firearm.

     “If we have to have backup, I’d rather it be one of my classmates,” Idia offers. At least he knows, kind of, what they can do.

     “One?” The Other Idia scoffs. “We’ll need more than that.”

     There’s no shortage of strong people who go to that school, but someone in Heartslabyul can duplicate themselves, right? Who was it... Idia pouts a bit, trying to recall. So many people have so many weird brands of unique magic.

     Fortunately, providence offers an answer, just now coming into their line of sight.

alright gamers no more fucking around! it’s 2.5 time. like this post for a starter, capped at 3, including castmates. you’ll receive both idias as a unit, though OU idia will be taking the lead.

a cliffsnotes of what has happened while i was busy with family obligations, job interviews, and the IRS:

IM SO SORRY IM LATE FOLKS

i hope you all are well. i thought i would have an easy irl week after Easter and I was completely wrong. the entire span of this event just became so busy ghdfgjkhl. 

          well , shit . so … they were both lost . together . he didn’t even really know this dude . he was a gamer and uh … yeah ? whatever !  it’s fine . he could get them through this ! probably . more than likely . he sighs a bit , his hand reaching up to scratch the back of his head .

               “ oh . so you’re just as lost as me – craaaap . ”

               his arms cross , looking around to see if anything was familiar . which of fucking course it wasn’t ! he didn’t know shit about this place !! 

                “ well . we can be lost together , i guess . do you live in this ward too or ? ”

     “...Yup. Lost.”

     Idia could apologise, but that would seem even more pathetic, he thinks. Stuck with a stranger, but one who knew enough about him that it was unsettling, in this nightmare labyrinth with the sun setting behind them. At least if he played his cards right, he wouldn’t have to answer any questions about why he’s here—

     Shit!

     “No,” Idia admits, sure to look at the cracked road beneath them instead of making eye contact. “I just... come here sometimes. But... not usually this far in...”

     Literally just following this like a TV drama now. The deception! The intrigue! The film noir elements! Four people are dead and it’s about to be higher! 

     TV on, set to play music from an extensive list of game soundtracks, and eventually segue into the Imogen Heap discography. LED strips and projector globe casting a comforting blue glow over the living room. Card table set up, with snacks and drinks available, and a single ominous-looking playing card deck situated in the middle. Off to the side, boxes for Isola Codenames and chess. Lights low enough to be fun, but not low enough that you can’t see your hand. Cats fed (not that this will stop them from becoming a problem, but that’s part of the appeal). Neurotic eighteen-year-old safely shut in the bedroom with chips, soda, and a PSP (PlaySpirale Portable) for enrichment.

     Yes, Idia’s ready for game night.

     It’s a small one this week, with only himself and Ace being able to attend. Not a problem. With enough alcohol and an endless list of stupid card games to try, not to mention video game systems if they get bored of that, this should be a nice bastion of normalcy in the truly abnormal week they’ve all had.

     Idia pulls out his phone, and fires off a quick text to Ace.

     “I love Imogen Heap.”

     Idia starts whistling along to Hide and Seek. Meanwhile, Jamil Viper and Ace Trappola are fucking dead.

𓏲 ❛ “ It’s ok I can show you what to do, it’ll be totes fun. Okay? ” He’ll gently nudge Idia with his elbow. “ and we can work on that self confidence~ ”

     Ah, that’s what you think, Cater...

𓏲 ❛ “ Aw ok. I get you. tbh even if the photo’s a little blurry you look totes good.” He’ll unhook his arm around the other’s shoulders.  “ We should totally take another one though, I haven’t looked through all the filters yet and it’d be fun to try them out. ”