Chapter Text
He never really understood extroverts. Like why would you willingly place yourself in a social situation where everything about you is being scrutinized? From your appearance to your interests, to even the simple way of how you stand can make people decide to make a rude comment.
“You talk too much about your interests “ They'd remark or
“You’re so quiet stop mumbling”
All horrible and terrifying comments. The most annoying ones were about his stance
“Stop slouching you look like a banana”
Those comments always made him wanna retreat back to his room. Save to say socializing is hard.
It did not help that Idia, despite his family's eternal curse of being tied to STYX and the Underworld, had a very large and outgoing extended family. Aunts and uncles, cousins, and grandparents when it came to family, it was never a quiet event. Ortho adored having such a large family despite the lack of visits from them. The most annoying part about his stupidly large family were the events.
When Idia was younger and Ortho was … young and still alive.
His family would host vivacious celebrations and yearly gatherings. holidays were always packed and there was always something happening. Idia despite his shyness even at that age still has fond memories of Galaktoboureko and Baklava lovingly baked by his aunt Hestia, picking fresh pomegranates and splitting the delicious seeds with Ortho, learning horseback riding from his uncle Poseidon. He always loved being inventive with his aunt Athena and uncle Hephaestus. They would always be impressed with his affinity for tech and mechanics. Looking back on those memories are like a warm hug from a time long gone.
Everything changed after the accident.
His father and mother grieved for many years unable to bring themselves to be with family in their time of loss. And when Idia had committed an atrocity against nature in his own grief his family had looked upon his creation in horror. They didn't understand. They never could. Idia was just a child, and Orthro was even younger. As the years went by, Idia began to distance himself more and more from the family he once cared so deeply for. His actions a thing of the past he hadn't seen his aunts and uncles in at least 7 years. Ortho had met with them a few times accompanied by his father and Ortho would bring back a slice of cake from the event but it was never as sweet as he remembered.
Now he was at Night Raven College his third year of school seeming to be annoyingly eventful. Overblots were rare and despite being a “ mandated reporter “ of blot incidents he hadn't actually witnessed them so he decided to let them be. Besides wasn't Crowley supposed to report these incidents, he was one of very few who knew of the orginizations existence. But, Idia couldn't say he was surprised when he had checked over winter break and Crowly had not, in fact, reported anything. He didnt really care though, it would be a whole pain in the ass to deal with not only Styx invading his school but invading multiple times. Not to mention the amount of paperwork and people who would require memory erasure. By the time winter break happened, there were 3 cases of overblotting and when he returned there were rumors of a fourth in Scarabia. Idia decided that it was too much to deal with. After vdc, his life only got more strange when he had passed by Vil and recognized the distinct smell of post overblot ink on his person.
Then his own overblot happened
Suddenly all eyes were on him now. Everyone at styx knew Idia was not dealing with the loss of his brother in a healthy manner. they had been one of the first to lay eyes upon the new ortho and witness his breakdown. his parents had tried to have him go to therapy for years but to even think about the incident only made things worse. His declining mental state did not go unnoticed especially amongst the researchers that he spent his time with at home. Everyone knew how overblots start but there was a safety net for Idia. His flames. The unique properties of his hair to fuel itself using blot made the idea of a member of the shroud family overblotting laughable. Until it actually happened and suddenly it was as if the world had been turned upsidedown.
It was no secret that the shrouds were incredibly powerful magicians and Idia was no different. Even at a young age he showed signs of a large magic pool and strong control over his magic. If it werent for the combined efforts of the former overblotter’s ancient super weapons and the tech of the research labs there wouldve been no doubt that the world would have been swallowed up by phantoms.
After coming out of his overblot, Idia felt as if there were bricks of shame weighing him down. He lost himself in his own grief and chose to give up his life and the lives of anyone who stood in his way to fulfill the wishes of his deceased brother's phantom. After running many tests to make sure that Idia was doing well after his overblot and to study the causes and effects of the excess blot in his system, he was told that he must go back to school and that he would be going to therapy again. He had agreed on the condition that ortho be enrolled officially as a student.
Now he had to deal with the repercussions of his actions, AGAIN
His cousin Eurydice was getting married to her long-time partner Orpheus.
It had been years since the last time there was a wedding in the family so everyone was invited.
Including him .
He REALLY didn't want to go. He loved his cousin and wanted to be there for her but having to face his extended family after his overblot and 7 years of no contact he wasnt sure he could do it. Of course, when Ortho ( who had graciously received his own personal invitation) heard about it he was SO exited, for the past 4 days, ever since receiving his invite he hasn't stopped talking about how he cant wait to go and how excited he is to go to a wedding and how desperately he wants Idia to attend alongside him in a matching outfit.
Despite his little brother's pleas, he was still EXTREMELY nervous. He couldn't just GO to a wedding and face his family again. they might make a comment about how slouched he is or be snippy with him about never seeing them anymore. AND THE GUILTRIPPING . he didn't think he could face them without feeling sorry. He didn't know what would be worse tho the guilting or the pitying about his overblot. There was no doubt the whole family had heard about it. Some had even tried calling but he ignored their calls out of fear.
His only solace about the event was that Ortho would be with him and Eurydice and Orpheus had recently adopted a cat that Idia could play with .
The celebration was scheduled for an entire week, everyone was expected to show up for the whole week ready to celebrate before the wedding.
Now with only 4 days before he was supposed to leave he could feel the anxiety bubbling up inside him.
Its only for a week, he had tried to reason with himself by saying but who knows whats gonna happen in this crazy family.