Ortho and Idia (pt4)

Much like how he does not acquiesce to Ortho’s every invitation to spend time together, Idia also refuses to provide Ortho with the ability to walk, even upon request.

Ortho explains that he wants to join the other students playing soccer in the school yard and running on the ground, which he cannot do with his anti-gravity legs.

Idia refuses because “Floating around is every guy’s dream!…Walking is so analogue. Total NPC stuff. Flying is for heroes.”

(A conversation with his brother about becoming heroes was the catalyst behind the incident that killed original-Ortho.)

Ortho is not convinced, however, and goes to the library to look up sneakers in a fashion magazine. Ortho is visited by Jade and Floyd and explains how he wants to try walking on the ground, but Idia has forbidden it.

Floyd and Jade agree that they “cannot let this slide” and they “gotta teach him just how wrong he is,” with Jade saying that he seems “to recall a rather fascinating snippet of information about Idia.”

Three days later Ortho has been equipped with legs without an anti-gravity unit, enabling him to jump on the ground and “do everything I’ve ever wanted to do.”

Ortho is delighted, and Jade and Floyd assure Idia that his secret is safe. In a voice line Ortho says that he received a pair of limited edition sneakers from Floyd for his birthday.

There is an interesting parallel to this situation during Tsumsted: the tsum shows interest in being able to fly like Ortho, and Idia agrees to craft an external attachment for it.

With a control system of Ortho’s design (and his help with identifying multilayer board misprints) Idia crafts an antigravity unit for the tsum that operates at 96% energy efficiency, but tries to excuse himself from testing.

Ortho offers to carry him and Idia relents, despite having not gotten any sleep the night before.

They follows the tsum’s lead, flying above the clouds, and while the tsum is delighted Idia falls asleep mid-flight. Ortho is happy that the tsum gave him the chance to go flying with his brother.

Ortho has additional overlap with Jade and Floyd during Playfulland, joining them in a group with Vil. After the spending part of the day with them Ortho talks about inviting them out again to go bowling and play ping-pong.

In a voice line Ortho talks about Jade telling him stories based on the exhibits in a museum.