Chapter Text
The first thing Idia noticed when leaving Ignihyde and walking about campus was the whispers, there seemed to be an unusual level of excitability and tension, and for once, maybe in his entire life, he could confidently say the whispers had nothing to do with him. If Idia had been anyone else, he may have wondered what they were whispering about, but all he cared about was that the whispers were not about him.
Idia disliked going outside, his pasty complexion and childhood growing up in a bubble under the sea with only artificial light, made him especially weak to the real sun. Talking to normies who didn't get him was both a hassle and caused him to look even more like a freak than he actually was. Touching grass was irritating not just because of his seasonal allergies, but there were bugs in the grass, and why touch real grass when his characters could touch grass whilst frolicking in an open world exploration RPG.
Today, however was not a day where he could simply sit inside his room, because he had board game club meeting with Azul. Crowley had made it clear that everyone had to join a club for extra-curricular enrichment, and Crowley had also made it clear that he had to attend club meets in person. He honestly didn't mind leaving his room to play games though. Azul was also not a normie by any means. He may not be a shut-in otaku like Idia, but he certainly wasn't normal by anyone's standards.
Idia could really admire Azul's dedication to the things he’s passionate about. Even if his passions included creating shady business deals and getting 16, 17 and 18 year olds to sign contracts, essentially signing themselves into modern day slavery. Eh, Idia wasn't really in any place to judge anyways, doxxing, hacking into devices and networks to retrieve personal information and digital stalking amongst other things, wasn't exactly morally perfect. But Azul's ability to go all out on the things he cared about and his ability to ramble on about his passions was something Idia could relate to. The only downside to Azul, was that he was always trying to rope Idia into some sketchy contract and get him into his debt, not as much as he did with others, so maybe that was a special bonus he gave to those who played games with him. He guessed the same courtesy was probably applied to the evil twins as well. Azul may thing he’s smart and he may actually be smart, but Idia isn't a chump or a newbie, and if the contracts signed at STYX were anything to go by, he always read the fine print. If Azul think’s he’s a dummy to fall for his schemes, then Azul thought wrong.
Also Azul got even pettier when he lost, but Idia could acknowledge that he wasn't that sore of loser because he continued to play with Idia even after facing crushing, humiliating defeat. Maybe he had some misguided idea that he would one day best Idia once and for all. What an amateur. What is it that Azul always says? That poor unfortunate soul. Fwhihihi.
Idia's inner monologue was unfortunately rudely interrupted as he rounded a corner and none other than Rook Hunt jumped out at him with a smile that sent a shiver down his spine.
"Ah, Roi de sa chambre, I was not expecting to see you." Rook said, the smile not disappearing.
"So, he enjoys lunging at people for fun. What a weirdo." Idia muttered under his breath.
"Non, Roi de sa chambre! I am no weirdo, but le Chasseur d'amour."
Eek. Rook had heard him. Idia tried to avoid Rook’s intense stare, whilst awkwardly trying to scoot around the weirdo blocking his path, but one side step from Rook and his path was once again blocked.
"Speaking of love," Rook began with a sparkle in his eye. Eugh normies, can’t he see I don’t want to chit chat. Actually Rook is not normal either, there is something definitely wrong with him.
"H-hey Rook, I actually have somewhere to be right now. Whatever you're talking about, it-it-it sounds great. I would stick around to hear what you've got to say, but I'm ki-kinda busy so I can't. Love t-to but can't." Damn it, why didn't he bring his tablet, rookie mistake, now he was forced to talk in person, to Rook Hunt of all people.
"You are going to the board game club, yes?" Was that even really a question?
"H-how did you know."
Rook just smirked knowingly. "I am going to the science club, it isn't far for the board game club, let me walk you."
"Uh n-no that's fine, I can walk myself."
"Mais non, pas de problème. We go together."
Idia tried to protest, but Rook simply ignored him. "So Roi de sa chambre, have you heard love is in the air."
"Love?"
"Oui. Love. A soulmark was discovered on Roi de roses the other day."
A soul mark? Idia scrunched up his face in disgust. On Riddle no less. Idia didn’t get why everyone cared. Soulmark or not. Soulmate or not. It wasn’t the end of the world. Idia also kind of pitied the poor guy/ gal who would end up subjected to Riddle, his rules and the fact he was permanently in party pooper mode.
A sense of self-loathing then rose up within Idia, he remembered that he shouldn’t be feeling bad for the soulmates of others, when some soon to be miserable person would discover that they are his soulmate. If he even had one.
“Why do you even care, it doesn’t matter.” Idia muttered, mainly talking to himself.
Rook with his freakishly good hearing seemed to hear what Idia had said. “Mon Dieu, le Roi de sa chambre wishes to know why I, le chasseur d’amour cares about soulmates?” Idia had gone and done it now. “I am on an endless journey to seek all things beautiful, of course I care about something as magnifique as soulmates. The thought of two souls fighting the odds to find each other. Oh là là! The thought brings a tear to my eye!” To his surprise and horror, Rook actually flicked away a budding tear.
Idia really needed to work on his muttering aloud as it had gotten him locked into an unskippable cutscene. Just his luck. He was now even unluckier as Rook began to monologue. “According to Monsieur Pommette,” Rook smirked, “It’s lot like I needed Monsieur Pommette to tell me anyways, I already knew.” The guy was a real creep. “I digress, a Heartslabyul first year and a Savanaclaw first year have discovered that they are each other’s soulmates.” He sighed dreamily. “Young love, one of the purest and most beautiful types. Très magnifique.”
Idia huffed. He really did not care either way, but Rook insisted on sticking close to him and went on and on about how beautiful love was and how great soulmates are.
If having to listen to Rook yap wasn’t bad enough. Rook seemed to notice his sour expression. “What’s wrong Roi de sa chambre, what is with the down trodden look?” Rook probably thought he was helping and put a hand on Idia’s shoulder to try and comfort him.
“Do not fret Roi de sa chambre, your other half is out there, I imagine you’ll be finding your other 2 legs, 2 arms and face soon enough, like that great tale from the Kingdom of heroes. In fact I am confident that you will find your soulmate very, very soon.” Rook said.
Idia frowned further beginning to feel anger rising up within him. He shook Rook’s hand off his shoulder with a shrug. “You know nothing about it.” He glared at Rook and began to speed walk away. Rook seemed to get the hint that he was no longer in the mood and backed off.
Rook had pissed Idia off, but what pissed him off more was remembering that story that had originated in the Kingdom of Heroes, it reminded him of him mother, a time when life was simpler and better, when the curse didn’t weigh as heavy. A time when the real Ortho had still been alive. A time where he still believed he deserved to be loved by a soulmate.
Idia sighed with relief as he reached the door to the club room, and pushed it open.
“What took you so long?”