This started as a comment on a video but turned into a small essay so I'm posting it here.
The appeal of Idia and Malleus is their contrast and similarities.
Both are super neurodivergent coded
Both have predetermined destinies
Both have magic that works differently from usual (Malleus is fey and Idia is cursed)
Both are distinctly strange looking
Both don't have a lot of friends
Both grew up in fairly isolated areas
But they have different motivations
Different viewpoints on their predetermined destinies
Different levels of modern exposure (especially technology)
Malleus desperately wants friends while Idia thinks he's better off alone
And there is also something to be said on Idia kinda being the only one with the any chance of being capable of fighting back against Malleus in any way; he's one of the only people Malleus would (and did) have a feesably difficult time completely subduing because he's that damn smart, he has the power of STYX, and he is the gatekeeper of the underworld. We literally see all of this in book seven.
They're so complexly connected.
Not to mention as Briar Valley sorta starts opening back up to the rest of the world, it's kinda inevitable that the two of them are going to be seeing each other in their professional capacities because STYX is a worldwide organization that is gonna probably become active in the valley somehow, I mean malleus is even planning to intern FOR STYX!
Also there is the much more simple appeal of "Hehe silly Victorian boi Γ Internet gremlin" makes for tons of cute shenanigans.
For other parts of Malleus and Idias ship, it's good to remember that both are very intelligent but also very dumb and there respective dumbness really works well off one another. Malleus is no stranger to grumpy people, he's always around Sebek whoβ while very reverent of Malleus himselfβ is very bratty and grumpy and childish towards others even while Malleus is around. It's also important to remember that while Idia is shy and hates doing things, he's NOT a doormat; if he ACTUALLY needs to set a boundary, he'll do it in a heartbeat, he doesn't just go along and suffer quietly, he complains A LOT.
Malleus is blunt enough and oblivious enough that I feel like he's the perfect vestle with which to drag Idia out of his cave and make him exist outside while also not putting a lot of pressure on Idia to have conversation or be particularly social because Malleus also appreciates quiet and has himself been known to just sort of loom. But if Idia really put his foot down and said no, which he can do, I think Malleus is able to respect that (at least post book seven).
Malleus should be treated nicely, yes, but he does need someone willing to just tell him "no, that's not acceptable" and actually criticize him and I feel like Idia is a decent choice for that because he doesn't give a flying fuck about social conventions. So he'll just tell malleus like "I want to leave" "I need quiet time" "I really can't handle going outside today" "I'm overstimulated" "I'm angry" etc; he's the foil to Malleus's autistic tendencies because Idia is so not subtle always.
They also socialize similarly when they're finally comfortable: quipping, teasing, watching "normal" people be silly, nerding out, etc.
I can see them info dumping about their respective special interests for like two hours and I can also see them walking around maybe holding hands~, Idia listening to something on his headphones kinda just in his own thoughts while getting the outside time he desperately needs and Malleus just quietly admiring the scenery not making Idia carry any conversation.
Also it's good because yeah Idia is super out of touch but he knows VERY WELL that he's mentally not great and he is actually pretty decent at reading people (if a bit pessimistically) which, with time to mature and become less cagey, I can see as being very good for Malleus who has not been exposed to a lot of psychological analysis concepts. Like if Malleus ever gets an actual Autism diagnosis I can see the best chance of that being with Idias involvement.
There's also lots of sweetness potential!
Touch starved Γ touch starved where I can see Idia sitting in Malleus's lap, playing a game on his phone while Malleus either watches curiously or reads a book. Just comfy coexistence and non-sensual touch where they both enjoy their own things while still being together.
Them painting their nails black together and sharing other cosmetics like eyeshadow pallets and lipsticks because both of them use blues, greens, blacks and grays in their makeup routine. (I know Idias eyeshadow and blue lip are actually part of his natural appearance but like he could maybe accentuate it?)
Malleus playing with Idias hair because it's flamey nature doesn't spook him especially because he has his own heatless flames.
Both of them liking dark and cooler temperatures.
Idia maybe making Malleus an extra tough phone that won't break as easy and has a long battery life.
Malleus helping Idia move heavy machinery for personal projects with his dragon strength.
Malleus being Idias "excuse me, he asked for no pickles" so Ortho doesn't always have to do it.
Malleus having no sense of things like "cringe culture" so he becomes a safe person for Idia to talk about anime and cosplay and glowing and everything else Idia expects to be made fun of for.
Idiaβ while not really getting why gargoyles specificallyβ understanding being a super fan and getting frustrated when people say things that are ignorant about something you're passionate on (like in Glorious Masquerade) as well as the desperate need to fanboy or info dump.
Idia being an internet native so he's probably been exposed to thirsting over strange looking individuals so he's not as weirded out by Malleus's appearance.
Both of them understanding the fear of loss.
