Will you come to my cottage this summer? (Iykyk •͈ᴗ⁃͈⊹)
Riddle and Idia are in Idia's room. Idia's trying to game on his bed while Riddle works on some technomancy at the desk. It's become more of a habit ever since Riddle managed to convince Idia to give him lessons. Not that Idia needed to do much aside from supervise and answer a few questions, since Riddle was a quick learner.
Nonetheless, they'd spend at least an hour like this on most days. Maybe even pushing past a couple minutes if Riddle got lost in the flow. Though the last time that happened, the taskmaster practically demanded that Idia take their schedule more seriously. Which Idia begrudgingly agreed to, not that he minded the extra minutes- ironically enough.
He wonders if his past self would look at this scene in horror knowing that there was realistically no way for someone like Riddle to willingly go to his room and study technomancy from him. Much less accept playing video games with him.
Back to the present, it's pretty quiet as the two move about in silence. Idia's trying to focus on his game, honest. But each time he glances up, he catches sight of Riddle's focused expression and suddenly there's a glaring 'gameover' sign by the time he turns his attention to the screen. Frustrated by the disorienting cycle of unexplainable failed battle matches, he can't help the sigh that escapes. Riddle asks if something's wrong which catches Idia off guard before he's asking why anything would be wrong in retort.
"Nothing was wrong, in fact everything's just great! He internally cringed at how awkward that sounded. Especially because it wasn't like Riddle bought it either. Riddle then swivels the chair to face him and much to Idia's sham, recounted that it was the 7th time he'd sighed in the last ten minutes. But Riddle brings up the question and asks if he's truly fine. Idia insists that he's great, though that voice fades by the end of the sentence. Riddle stares without judgement- just quiet expectation which eventually wears Idia down as he quickly ran out of excuses.
But Idia pauses to wonder whether this was truly the best decision. Maybe he should just stop and play it off like some kind of joke but Riddle cuts in with such an earnest gaze that Idia finds himself unable to look away.
"Idia." Riddle calls his name partly out of concern, though mostly confused as to why it was so difficult for him to spit out what he wanted to say. What could Idia possibly ask to warrant such hesitancy in the first place?
"Willyoucomewithmetotheislethissummer?" Idia vomits out the slew of words so quickly that he thinks Riddle doesn't catch it. Which is good-maybe he still had a chance to salvage this humiliating one-manned comedy act. Except Riddle does hear, because he's been exposed to similar scenarios although orchestrated in a more controlled environment by his mother.
A promising magic doctor needed the ability to handle even the most absurd scenarios. Recognizing speech patterns and interpreting them were merely one aspect of his diverse skillset. Though he somehow doubts his mother anticipated the card soldiers who tested his patience every so often. Adding insult to injury for lack of a better analogy.
"You want me to go..to the isle?" By the gods there was no turning back now. Fine. Idia tried to save them both from the impending doom of a cringe fest but Riddle was making it virtually impossible to back out. Not when he seemed intent in hearing Idia out to the bitter end. Though the growing realization on the taskmaster's face was making his stomach twist by the millisecond.
"Don't go to Crimson City." He said quietly this time, though he knew Riddle heard this as well if the silence that followed meant anything. So he continued despite the lurch in his heart telling him that he was about to ruin everything. If he was doing this, then he might as well make the most of it huh?
"Come to my place..we'll have so much fun.." Idia spoke once more with a firmer tone, feeling a familiar confidence seep through sooner than he'd ever realized. He didn't want to be alone. He wanted someone to be there with him in ways that his family couldn't. In ways MuscleRed could just barely do from the other side of a screen connected by a mutual interest in MMORPGs. It was so much more than that but not so different either. What he wanted was for someone to finally stay. Not just anyone though. Idia wanted Riddle to stay.
Idia wanted Riddle to stay.
"It's so private, no one will know." This time his voice grew softer, lost in the hazy illusion of possibilities that could just as quickly be reality if only Riddle would just tell him-
"Idia, you know I can't do that." Oh. He really should've known, and yet a small part of him kept hoping. Hope was a dangerous thing, but right now that was all he needed to win. It was the glint of want just barely masked by that achingly familiar sense of responsibility following the housewarden like a loyal shadow.
It was the way his voice toed the line of composure ordinarily held so firmly in place, that it left little to no room for doubt. It was the little things that gave Riddle away. Little things most would hardly ever take note of, but Idia was hardly someone you could just group up with other 'like-minded' individuals. Not to question how if such a feat could even be possible.
No, he was much more observant than he let on. More so than others cared to recognize, or if they did then rarely was it ever acknowledged. Recognizing the little things came just about as easily as picking out the tiny bugs in code. Miniscule infractions that would otherwise be overlooked by anyone besides himself. So if there was one thing he knew, it was the fact that this match was far from over.
"Mm..We could have a week or even two.." Failing to hide his pout as he put the gaming device to the side and shifted closer to the edge of the bed. Shifting closer to Riddle who'd unconsciously leaned against the gaming chair's backrest. Whether it was to brace himself for Idia's next move or an invitation to get closer was anyone's guess. But Idia wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth just this once. Not when he was this close to victory only a few inches away. Not when victory stared back at him with hesitancy slowly wearing itself down to reveal undeniable attraction.
"Be completely alone...together" Leaning closer, his hands braced on the arms of the chair with Riddle bracketed between them. A shuddering hitch of breath could be heard once he whispered the idea of being alone together just inches away from Riddle's ear before pulling away.
Looking back at him now was probably the best reward he could've ever received even if this turned out to be a total flop. Idia doubts he'd ever forget how flushed Riddle looked in that moment. Like a buffering loading screen, his lips parted by just a sliver of space quivering in the air conditioned bedroom.
But his eyes, they were like none other. A pair so intricate looking directly into his own, that he literally needed to stop himself from taking a picture right there. Though if he ever did forget, the security cameras would no doubt immortalize this scene for decades to come. Not that Riddle needed to know.
"..maybe.." Riddle's tone was considering. Not quite agreeing but it wasn't an immediate rejection either.
"Wipe that ridiculous grin off your face, it wasn't a yes." Riddle huffed but even he failed to hide the way his lips curled at the sight of Idia's grin turning slightly manic as soft tufts of laughter tittered out into the opaque room.
"Maybe." The second instance landed far more deliberate than the first as he made sure the other held his gaze. That was the moment Idia knew the game was just getting started.
