Chapter Text
Getting Idia to take a vacation is harder than pulling teeth. It's something that Jamil thinks, privately, is somewhat funny given Idia's reputation at school was a slacker who never went to class; the kind of guy who would prefer to play video games than go to lectures. While the second was true, the first wasn't and also apparently Idia scored near perfect on every single test in school as well. That fact had left Jamil staring out of the window for a full minute when he found out. Jamil had considered himself fairly academically talented but he had put in a good amount of work to maintain perfectly average grades and there had been Idia out there skipping over half his classes and acing exams without trying. ("Fuhihi, it's just one of the many benefits of being a genius~" Idia had teased when they spoke about it, but neither wanted to really get into it either. Jamil, who hadn't been able to flaunt his talents for years and Idia who's shut-in status was simple escapism from a cruel world. Really, it was best that they bantered about it and that was all.)
"With mom and dad working on third level projects they don't really have time to manage things, so I have to." Idia protests on the group video call.
Jamil raises an eyebrow. "You know there's only a few days left in summer." Jamil works half the year at the Asim estate and half at STYX an agreement that had been far more emotionally fraught than it should have been. It had also been the last time Idia had left the Island of Woe, traveling to the Scalding Sands to officially petition for the allowance. Kalim is kind and over the years has learned a lot more about what 'Asim' means to Jamil's family but his parents still ultimately hold the purse and the power. However, even they had to agree that one of their servants being employed by the incredibly important and impressive STYX looked good for them.
"I know, I know, I know! It's, like, the only time you can really travel but you could go alone — ?"
"You're the one who wanted to visit Hydra Valley." And Jamil had traveled. In late summer and late winter he made sure to take a week or two for himself and just travel. It's his break between two worlds, the bright sunny Scalding Sands and the gloomy Underworld of the Island of Woe. But recently he had been thinking it wouldn't be so bad to travel with company.
"When I was in school! It just seemed fun and I do really like that movie, but someone has to watch over things here. We're close to a breakthrough and — "
"Nii-san," Ortho, who had been quietly watching, cuts in. "I can look after STYX for a week."
"O-ortho for your first time really I should be here too. . ."
"We've basically done it together so many times already. You need a break! And Jamil-san wants company." Ortho, who hasn't changed his height or general build over the years but has become fond of putting a faceplate that allows for emoticon mouths literally makes a ':3' face.
Jamil tries to not let his cheeks redden by that implication and clears his throat. "It's the 30th anniversary of that movie also, isn't it?"
"Yeah! Retro-celebration!" Ortho cheers.
"I believe this is where I say, 'Limited Time Event with no Re-runs.' " Jamil smirks.
Idia slides down in his chair, hands over his face, with a groan. "You are double-teaming me."
"Yeah and it's working." Ortho chirps.
Jamil just looks into the camera until Idia sits up again, slamming both his hands down on his desk.
"All right! Let's do it! We'll duo the travel quest and our loot will be the best souvenirs!"
Despite Idia's agreement to go, the day of he's a wreck. Jamil had not seen Idia when he visited the Asim's and Ortho assures him 'this is really not that bad'. But Idia has four word documents full of information for Ortho. He has extra keys. He has extra instructions. He wants to check every single monitor and system and quadruple checks security. Ortho lets him flit around while 'sitting' in the air, helpfully answering questions Idia asks. What surprises Jamil, however, is the person who came with Ortho. Leona Kingscholar leans in the doorway like some kind of foreshadowed movie villain (Idia's descriptions are rubbing off on him) looking far too amused. While Idia starts another loop of preparation checklists, Jamil decides to approach Leona.
"Leona-san." It wouldn't be appropriate to call him 'senpai' anymore and while some part of Jamil wants to just try 'Leona' he figures he should at least start off on a polite foot.
"Ah? Oh, it's you. Hey, Viper." Leona is as nonchalant as Jamil remembers.
"I'm surprised to see you here."
"Hm? Why?"
To be honest, Jamil has to give pause at that. It seems absolutely ridiculous that Leona would be at the Island of Woe. Jamil himself just got here earlier to pick Idia up for their trip.
"Well. . . you don't work here, right?" Jamil tries, suddenly feeling like he's missed something important.
"I don't." Leona agrees.
Jamil waits.
Leona smirks.
"Are you having fun?" Jamil asks.
"Yeah, a little. Look, don't think too hard on it. Radish sprout's little brother's really more like acacia than a radish."
Somehow Leona says things even more incomprehensible than gamer speak sometimes.
"Uh."
"I'm here to help, relax. Kid's got a good head on his shoulders and if anything goes wrong 's not like I can't handle it."
Jamil really has no idea how to take this interaction at all but he doesn't have time to dwell on it as Idia is finally done with preparations and ready to go. They head for the amphibious vehicles, not arm in arm but occasionally shoulders or fingers bumping as Idia has switched modes to showing Jamil screencaps from the movie and Jamil is telling him the locations he picked out from the travel guide to visit.
"Odd pair." Leona says.
"You think so?" Ortho asks. "They seem like a perfect fit to me."
Leona laughs. "Sure, sure. I think your opinion is a little biased though."
"Eh! No way! I'm a totally unbiased observer!"
"That so."
"Definitely!"
They split up on the first day of activities. Jamil has a free-climb site he wants to try and Idia finds it too nerve-racking to watch and he's pretty certain Jamil will find the practical effects seminar the movie company does once a week will bore him. Jamil takes a series of pictures from the clifftop, including one of himself which he sends to Idia on his climb down. He's rewarded with a series of emoji and a 14 text ramble about how special effects have come a long way over the years and also how any remake of older movies is just not as good if they use CGI.
The next day Idia spends at the hotel, recharging his social batteries and Jamil goes to another free-climb site. He comes back, takes a shower and starts the 'let's go out to eat' process.
First, he searches around their luggage until he finds the bag of ration bars (STYX branded, perfect nutrition but also flavorless and horrible) and locks them in the hotel room safe putting the key in his pocket. Idia watches from where he's sprawled out on the bed, phone in hand. They lock eyes. It is an agreement between them that Idia will try things and Jamil will let him fall back on comfort picks if he doesn't like what he tries but they both know if given the opportunity Idia has a bad habit of picking the path of least resistance when it comes to food.
". . .Jamil. . ." Idia starts.
"Yes?"
"Well. . . I did look at the restaurants you suggested. . ." Idia puts down his phone and rolls over to look at the ceiling before sitting up. "Ambrosia Halls. . . seemed all right."
Ambrosia Halls is one of the more expensive ones, but it also has the most private atmosphere. From the menu Jamil assumes it will be somewhat overdone visually but the reviews say the food is some of the best around. He had put it on the list since the tables all had their own high booths for privacy but also because the is a dessert special they can get that involves a bunch of odd chocolate miniatures and breaking sugar spheres he thinks Idia will like. He is making Idia make the decision but since he provided the short list it's just another of their compromises.
"You'll have to dress up." The only negative on the list, but Jamil had prepared for it. While Idia was not as shy as he once was neither of them were fans of being too flashy. It always takes Jamil a few weeks to switch gears from working under Kalim to working at STYX. And then after a few months he always has to work on tucking parts of his louder personality back in, becoming prim and proper as needed and expected of an Asim servant. "Just a little, though." What he means is the hooded jacket or baggy sweatshirt and baseball cap Idia had been sporting for two days were not appropriate to go out to a nice restaurant.
"But my hair. . ." Idia sighs. He's still somewhat self-conscious of his hair since it's such a loud thing that sets him apart.
"I'll braid it, come on." Jamil walks over and gestures for Idia to move over. The other complies after swinging an arm under the bed for their suitcase to grab Jamil's toiletries bag. While Idia's toiletries are the bare essentials Jamil's is actually properly (in his opinion) packed. He gets a brush and comb, a few ties and some accent barrettes.
"Shouldn't you do your own hair first?" Idia mumbles, but he settles in, picking his phone up again probably to log into a different game.
"Mine won't take very long at all." Which is true. Idia's flame hair always takes a little extra effort to tame but is always worth it, too.
"Ortho's doing well." Idia says off-handedly as Jamil works.
"Were you worried?"
". . . just a little. I know he can handle it but when doing something selfish doesn't it always feel riskier?"
Jamil hums affirmation, first, before verbally responding. "It'll feel worse if it goes badly while you're having fun. Stop that." He has to admonish as Idia nods his head in response. "You got on my back for not taking enough time for myself."
"That's different! This is Ortho we're talking about!"
"I do look out for Najma, you know."
And Idia does know. The year after Jamil got offered a STYX job the sign-on bonus was large enough to buy Najma out of the Asim service. Jamil did it without a moment of hesitation and since then she's been living on her own in Silk City. Once a month he gets a picture from her small apartment along with an update of the different foods she's selling. She specializes in cute breads that have either sweet or savory stuffing and local landmark designs. The tourists love them and she continues to lord it over him that her food looks appealing and also tastes appealing. It's a long-running joke now, between them, and he'll always bluster appropriately but it no longer makes his blood boil like it used to.
". . . and with that guy there too. . ."
"Huh?"
"Nothing. Anyway, I'd just . . ."
"If something happened while you were on vacation you'd never get over it, I know."
"He told me to 'stop checking in on him' and 'go bother Jamil Viper-san' and — " Idia complains.
Jamil tugs on the braid he's making a little. "I have to agree with him."
"I thought you'd be on my side! Jamil-shi understands preparation and caution!" Idia slips back into 'Jamil-shi' which is a sign his mood has gone from worried to teasing. It's been a few years since they've dropped honorifics with each other and overall Idia's speech has become peppered with fewer and fewer anachronisms though just as much gamer lingo as ever.
"Absolutely not."
"Ahhhhh, this is mutiny."
"It can't be mutiny you're not even captain. And before you say 'I'm the boss' that doesn't apply on vacation."
"Fine, fine! Dinner tonight and tomorrow I'll 'go bother Jamil' and make you come to the set tour with me." Idia proclaims.
"Oh no, how dare you." Jamil deadpans.
Dinner is uneventful. Idia tries a bit of everything they get but mostly sticks with the baked pasta. Jamil thrives in the variety of dips and cheeses and little wraps. They both have fun with dessert and even though it doesn't taste nearly as good as the dinner in Jamil's opinion. Idia breaks all of the sugar balls with an open glee that always makes Jamil wondered what kind of people they would be in a different universes. He can't help but think of the clean up or the amount of effort that went into the perfectly thin sugar only for it to be cracked immediately. The chocolate domes come next and instead of taking the chance to pour the hot caramel to melt them Idia grabs Jamil's elbow.
"Your turn."
Jamil stares at the caramel pitcher and the three domes lined up in front of him. Idia grins at him from across the table, even leaning in a little with expectant eyes.
"We'll leave a big tip for the mess." Idia adds, since he knows Jamil well enough to guess what he's thinking. And Jamil has to self-scold a little, this is a normal dessert lots of people get at the restaurant, they won't be leaving any more of a mess than anyone else. So he picks up the pitcher and drizzles it over the domes. They melt, revealing gold leaf and gem-like jellies.
"It's fun, right?" Idia asks and Jamil has to admit he's right.
"It's going to be way too sweet." Jamil says.
Idia rolls his eyes and sticks his spoon in. "Don't get so caught up in that, aesthetics and experience are a 10/10!"
"Hmph. And the company." Jamil smugly watches Idia drop his spoon.
"You can't just compliment me like that!"
"Oh? Why not?"
"Because — because!" Idia flounders a little. "I wasn't ready. Well. Gloat while you can, Idia Shroud doesn't lose even when it comes to surprise compliments."
NRC students are competitive by nature and graduating didn't remove that from either of them. Jamil's grown into his own competitive spirit over the years and Idia brings it out of him in funny ways sometimes. They've had apple peeling contests before (Jamil's hands and a knife versus Idia's new Apple Wrap MAX 2.0 machine), choreography memorization (it's a draw over ten rounds so far), best birthday gifts to each other (Idia is currently leading but Jamil stands by that only being the case because Ortho and Najma were in on the bit) and many other things. Jamil has started a new battle and Idia is definitely not going to back down.
Jamil welcomes any revenge though.
Despite being the 30th anniversary the movie set tour is kept immaculate. Idia points out every single thing he can and babbles out any number of trivia points. Jamil has to admit that he knows nothing about the movie and despite having seen it four times since they got together officially it still doesn't really leave an impression on him. But he's memorized a good number of facts just because watching Idia engage with it is a lot of fun. Camaraderie isn't something Jamil had a lot of, even at school there was so much backstabbing and, well, Kalim pressure that Jamil had never really relaxed to just, as Idia would say, 'vibe' with someone. It is funny because Idia had been worried Jamil would get annoyed with his many passions especially in the variety of media forms Jamil is somewhat ambivalent but they found doing things together to be rewarding. Idia doesn't do most of Jamil's physical hobbies but he will tag along if he can and they've had day trips to the coast nearest to the Island of Woe where Idia sits in the shade and Jamil shows off. He can't even deny he isn't showing off but in the same breath he can't deny that he likes showing off. Idia is always blunt with his praise which is refreshing even though he's just as blunt with his critique.
"Okay! Okay! This is it!" Idia proclaims as they enter the part of the tour where the public can wander around and take photos.
"This is what?" Jamil asks but finds himself being literally dragged towards a particular set piece. Idia is back under his full anxiety gear, hair tucked up into the baseball cap and his sweatshirt is so big Jamil is pretty sure he could fit inside it with Idia if he wanted, but his enthusiasm is infectious.
"You stand here, and hold this. . ." Idia directs him to a platform. The set piece is some kind of amphitheater and the ground is splattered in cartoonish bright purple blood. There's arrows and armor scattered about. The set for the final battle, as Jamil remembers. He takes the prop sword Idia gives him and holds it gingerly. It's lighter than it looks but still awkward and he's never held any kind of sword actually. "Square up! And give me your most heroic pose."
"Uh." Jamil widens his stance slightly but isn't sure what else to do.
"Fuhihi, not quite. More. . ." Idia strikes pose while holding his phone like a sword. "Like this!"
"Like this?" Jamil changes his pose to match.
"Perfect!" And there's the snap of the phone camera, just once. Neither of them is a big fan of photos but Jamil knows no photo Idia ever takes will see the light of day to anyone but his family. That does unfortunately include Najma now but since Ortho is her friend she'd probably see it anyway. There's an entire 'secret' collection of Shroud photos that include Jamil and Najma.
Jamil is surprised when Idia crowds in next to him, adjusting for their height difference and taking another photograph — Jamil can tell it's going to be the 'awkward couple selfie' level that makes him itch to tell Idia to take another one properly but he knows too that when he looks back at the trip something about the messiness of the photograph is going to be appealing.
"All right, gift store time!" Idia pockets his phone and takes the sword prop from Jamil.
They buy more souvenirs than they should including an incredibly expensive guard dog figurine that Idia insists is a necessity. Jamil gets some Hydra Valley themed picture frames for his climb photographs and they both agree to stay in the next day. They have an entire week of vacation, after all, and can do what they want how they want to.