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| | Seaside Stories | |
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JemGryphonkin
Posts : 35 Join date : 2016-01-03
| Subject: Seaside Stories Sat Jun 24, 2017 10:48 pm | |
| So, Starting with me a few players of Seaside Rumble decided to write up some short stories of what their characters are up to during the midwinter break of Seaside Rumble (while Seaside Ride is going.)
This thread is a place for people to post said side stories. Enjoy! | |
| | | JemGryphonkin
Posts : 35 Join date : 2016-01-03
| Subject: Re: Seaside Stories Sat Jun 24, 2017 10:49 pm | |
| - Azure:
[This is nice. Brings back the good memories.] There were clouds in the sky; not a surprise given it was midwinter break. Thankfully, there was no rain. Where Azure grew up, there was never snow; too low of elevation for that. She sat on a rock formation near her childhood home, wearing a long sleeved black shirt and blue jeans. She skipped her school coat this time, she wore it when she had gone home for a bit during a holiday earlier in the year, but didn’t feel the need to show it off this time. Plus, the wheels had been turning when she left and she fully expected to return to school to find a blue jacket waiting for her, at long last. “Well, no time like the present,” she said as she stood, gazing over the ocean. “School or here, though, the view is always amazing.” Sighing, she made her way up the coast to where her parents lived. Her parents; Troy, and Diane, were a decently well off family. Troy had tried to become a pro duelist in his day, but it wasn’t in the cards, so to speak, and he found himself as a teacher instead. Diane was a nurse, working in the local emergency clinic; she had wacky hours, but was home enough that Azure and her brother never felt a lack of her presence. She went up to the front door, and it opened without effort; this was a pretty damn small town, and the Talons were a respected enough family that they didn’t feel the need to lock the doors unless everyone was asleep. “Helllooooooo?” she called out as she walked in the door. “Azure!” she heard quickly, as her mother came up to her from the kitchen, wrapping her in a quick hug. “Midwinter break already, huh? How has it been going?” “Good,” Azure said. “Where are dad and Grif?” “Your father is at a conference, and should be back tomorrow, and Griffin actually moved out a couple of months ago. He’s got an apartment and working a job or two, and last I heard trying to learn a new card game,” she added, rolling her eyes. “Guess in the end he didn’t feel like trying to compete with his little sister going to Duel Academy.” Azure laughed. “Who knows. Maybe he just figured out he sucks at it, and moved on,” she said with a smirk. Time passed as they chatted about little things. Diane had made a bunch of Azure’s favorite snacks for her return home; Azure was a bit disappointed her annoying brother wouldn’t be there to pick on, and that her dad was out of town; but Troy’s career helped pay her card shop habits, so she had no room to complain. “So, how’s school going?” Diane asked her. She shook her head with a grin. “You would not believe how many people issues you run into in a school about card games,” she said. “That being said… it isn’t 100% yet, but I think I’ve finally convinced them to promote me to Blue.” “The highest rank dorm?!” Diane asked in surprise. “Don’t most people only get in there by sizable donations?” Azure nodded. “You remember when dad was trying out the pro circuit, the duelist named Mist?” At Diane’s nod, she smiled. “She came by the school. She was a champion for a while too; and for whatever reason, I was picked to duel her to represent the school. And against all odds, I managed to win. That, and I’ve been doing small favors and side work for the Headmaster, so I’ve gotten a lot of good will gathered up. My grades are excellent, so it was only a matter of time. I was expecting to have to wait til Mid-term exams, but I think beating a champion in front of the entire student body finished the job.” “Congratulations, Azure! I’m so proud of you!” Diane was glowing with pride. “Dueling against the Mist and winning? Amazing…” Azure smiled. “Her daughters go to the school, too. One of them was actually my roommate.” She schooled her expression to not show sadness at the assumption that Smoke never made it out of the sea. “Also, while we’re on the subject of former pros… do you remember the Windrider, Vincent Shadowstar?” Diane nodded again in surprise. “His son is a second year blue student that goes to the school, too. Sort of a friend of mine, too.” “Wow… lots of big names end up there. Hopefully, I’ll be able to proudly say my pro duelist daughter went there too!” Diane said. “Also… here.” She put a deckbox on the table between them. One with star-patterns; the box containing Troy’s Galaxy-Eyes deck. “I’m returning this to dad. I’ve made a few alterations, but… I wasn’t very successful with them. In the end, my magnets are what I come back to.” Her mother nodded, not surprised. “Oh, I’ll be glad for a bit of relaxation though. School life is stressful.” [Of course, even here I don’t want to look into the sky…] Diane nodded… before a sly grin crossed her lips. “So, seeing anybody?” “MOTHER!” Azure protested in somewhat-mock outrage… but couldn’t hide the pink tinge from her cheeks. “HA! I knew a pretty girl like you would find someone worth dating in a Duel Monsters school, one who wouldn’t judge you like that idiot friend of your brother’s.” “You know I didn’t go to school for that,” Azure said sullenly, trying hard to come up with ways to dodge the questions sure to come. [She won’t understand. My parents are very not approving of the kind of thing I’ve gotten into…] “Do tell do tell!” her mother pressured, as any good mother would; especially given Azure’s history of not-so-great choices. Azure on the other hand was being demure about the situation. “…. We’ve only been seeing each other for like a month. We’re still both kind of figuring out how we stand in things. I am being careful and not rushing into anything, I promise.” “Well, maybe next break you can bring him home to visit?” Diane asked hopefully. Azure managed the facial control not to wince at the word ‘him’ – of course, her mother would have 0 reason to assume otherwise. “Maybe. It really depends on a lot of things,” she said quietly. “Is he at least better than the last one?” Diane asked, a serious expression of worry on the way Azure was reacting. Azure did smile then, picturing Nao in her mind. “It’s like I’m dating a prince,” she said. [I won’t lie to you, but I’m not telling you the whole truth, either.] Diane chuckled. “You always did aim high for yourself. Well, I wish you luck, and let me know when we get to meet him, okay? I’m excited for you.” “Me too, mom. Me too. So, I’ll be here for a day or two; anything going on in town…?” Azure asked, desperate to change the subject…
- Maya:
A church, with a light dusting of snow stood before Celeste’s eyes. She wore her red jacket, primarily to hide the scar across her back, and carried the satchel of deckboxes she had when she had first arrived to duel academy; though her main deck, the one that carried the Sovereign’s power, was at her side. She sighed, her breath showing in the air before her. It was cold in her home town, standing before her parent’s home in the back of the church they ran. She didn’t expect to stay long, she had other plans this break… but she needed to do this, at least. She walked around the main building of the church, and entered their humble home in the back of it. “Maya!” her father said, a warm and comforting smile on his face. [Such a fake expression. Just like what I always put on, the more I realize.] “Father,” she said, with a curtsey. “How goes the quest to spread the word through dueling?” he asked. He had tried once, and failed, and had gone on to attempt to groom his daughter to do the same. He knew how best to preach to the masses, but duelists as a whole rejected the word of God. It had always been his plan for her to spread the word to a whole new audience. His goal, not hers. She sighed, and shook her head. Even now, her face was carefully controlled and serene. “Poorly. I have done very poorly, so far; my losses far outweigh my victories.” She placed the satchel on a table, and took out deck after deck. Egyptian God, Wicked God, Timelord, Sacred Beasts, Earthbound Gods. “None of these decks can spread the word of anything, except how weak a God who relies on these as avatars truly is.” The words were a crack in Celeste’s armor, and Maya’s voice reaching out. Just as Kerath suggested she needed to do; speaking to her father as Celeste wouldn’t get anyone anywhere. She had to be her true self. He shook his head. “A pity, but the cards aren’t as important as the message,” he said. “It would have been preferable if Divine cards could push the Divine will, but… they are what they are.” He looked at her with high expectation, as he always did. “As for the Word?” She put the satchel down, taking a look around the room. Plainly adorned, nothing between her and the door. She already had her return ticket ready, she knew what she came here to do and knew she wasn’t going to be staying. “I’ve chosen not to. I won’t lie to the people of my school about a God that doesn’t exist.” The simple words caught her father completely off guard. He looked at her in shock, as she continued to defiantly smile. Then his face went red. “You… what.” Fists clenched. “You dare call the Heavenly Father a lie?” She shrugged. “I hate to sound arrogant, but what proof do you have he’s not?” “It’s called Faith, Maya. That’s something you’ve always understood. Obviously letting you go to this school was a foolish idea. I can fix that problem…” “Good luck. I’ve already got my tuition paid for the next two years. You don’t have to pay a dime for me, since I’m no longer going on your terms, sir.” The emphasis on the last word was an attempt to take a dig at him, but he was already pissed enough to not notice. “Please do not attempt to do anything foolish, sir. I am more than prepared to file the proper paperwork to ensure you cannot force me to do your will.” “You’ve turned into a damned heathen, girl. Don’t you understand what that means? Your eternal soul…” “Is not your concern. That is between me and God.” Of course, she didn’t mean his God, but mentioning the High Ba’al wasn’t what she came here to do. She didn’t want to break the man, just break his influence on her. “I will continue my path as I see fit, and I do not intend to let you or anyone else stand before me, unless they are actually offering me a hand to aid me.” With those words, she turned on her heels and walked out the door into the snow dusted yard. “MAYA!” he bellowed from the doorway. She paused, turning somewhat so she could see him, huffing in the cold winter air. “Yes?” “If you walk away right now, you can consider yourself excommunicated from this family and this church. You will not be welcome here again if you choose this path of rebellion.” His voice was stern… yet pleading. “You will do as you must, Father. I serve what is the Greater Good; and being under your thumb is not Good. For either of us. In time, perhaps you will understand what I am doing… what I must do. It is… undeniable to me,” she said. “I wish you and your business luck.” She dropped the word business, that he had forbidden her before to call the church, in a way to complete the burning of the bridge between them. “Business?!” her father had said, red and puffed up like he is now. “It’s not a business to try to help people salvage their eternal souls. It is not business to guide people to God. It’s a church, Maya; Never call what we do something as simplistic as a business…” His face turned as cold as the air around them. “Then you’re no daughter of mine. You cannot serve the Greater Good without God.” The words were punctuated by the closing of the door. She continued on her path back to the airport. “I have God. Unlike your God, mine is real,” she whispered. The fact that her father’s reaction… didn’t even hurt was a bit numbing to her, though. [Am I so jaded by my experiences that losing a man such as that doesn’t even affect me anymore?] she thought. [He can only see what is most positive for him. He can only see what he’s deluded himself into seeing. This isn’t good for me. I cannot allow myself such toxicity. Being under his thumb is not what is right for me. It’s easier for both of us to part ways like this… in ways that won’t leave me or him with any regret…] Her school phone buzzed in her pocket. It, as well as her duel disk and now single deck and wallet are all she carried with her, after dropping off the God decks she had left home with. She took it out, and read the message; surprisingly enough, it was from Tabooru, a fellow red student she hadn’t really interacted with much on a serious level, aside from his aid in reaching the infirmary after Azure’s so-called Talon had struck her down. When she read what he wrote, what he had been asked, her face went pale. [Does this mean Smoke yet lives? Or is it just Vii now, I wonder… Either way, once we return, I must inform the rest of the Raiders of this. If her plan is still to wipe out the Lesser Ba’al despite all we’ve done, she is my foe. Destroying the Ba’al is NOT the Greater Good, and neither Ec Tisia nor I will stand for it. Beware, Vii; the Sovereign may yet show you why you were scared of His presence in our school…] she thought, as she showed the ticket for her next destination. One that would hopefully end in a much better way than her trip home did….
- Kerath:
[For fuck’s sake. They're finally finished talking.] Going to his father's wake wasn't exactly his idea of a good time, but it was something he needed to do. While he had appreciated the gift of the old ghost's deck, aside from the one duel with the snarky red asshole that Kerath sort of liked, it had never been anything close to good for him. Luckily, he had contacted the person in charge of setting up the man's tombstone, and set it up in such a way that he could place the 4 ace cards, the "Wind's Four Quarters" in the headstone itself, in such a way that it would take waaaay too much effort for a person to try to steal, especially in a cemetary for the rich and quasi-famous. The Windrider's Crystal Wing, Stardust Dragon, Goyo King, and Scarlight now laid with their true master for eternity. "Mr. Shadowstar?" He heard from behind him. Turning, it was the arbiter of the estate. "What." She didn't seem distressed by his callous tone, she was pretty used to dealing with all sorts of reactions from people at these sort of events. "Sir, there is one other thing we found. It was a short video that Vincent recorded, a month before he passed. It was marked with just your name on it," the woman said, handing him a flash drive. "Why. It's not like I give a fuck what the old ghost had to say," Kerath scoffed. That did get an expression from the woman, but of sympathy. "Keep it anyway, Kerath. When the time is right, you'll be glad you did." "Whatever," he said, pocketing the flash drive. He turned away, he had made his appearance as the "grieving" son, returned the cards, and now he could... "I'd like to see it. I think you should, as well." There was that voice, the one person he couldn't say no to. It wouldn't be uncalled of to refer to her as an angel, considering the healing and the closeness to what actually seemed to legitimately be a god. "Maya..." He started to say... then sighed. "Fine. Let's get this over with," he added, taking a sip from the flask her carried on him even to a wake. The arbiter nodded, and after Kerath introduced the two, she directed them towards a side room with a monitor that could be used to view it. As they walked that way, he glanced over. She seemed calm still, but not that serene mask of calm he was used to seeing from her in public. "Don't have the mask on today?" Maya shook her head. "It's gone. I don't have a need for it anymore. I'm just me, you know?" "I take it then that your folks didn't appreciate the news." A slight chuckle as they entered the room. "No, as I expected my dad excommunicated me for my heretical rantings. I gave them back their terrible God cards, though." She shrugged. "The girl named Celeste never really existed in the end. It was a persona, much like the Windrider was for your father. It was created by my father as an attempt to convert people, because converting people with a heated voice doesn't work. I built the mask over years of coaching, in preperation for going to Duel Academy, to try to get duelists to see God." She laughed aloud then. "Boy, I think I got that part right at least." "Glad I missed it," Kerath said dryly as he put the flash drive into the monitor, and using its controls to select the one file on the drive. Shortly, Vincent's face appeared on the screen. "Kerath. It may sound cliché, but if you are reading this than I am likely no longer alive. I have made arrangements to pass the word on to you unobtrusively while you are at school, so as to not interrupt your studies. I want you to know I am proud of what you've achieved; and also that your placement in blue is not due to donations on my part, as many blues are placed. You are there only of your own merit. I also intend to pass down my deck to you, should you choose to use it. I know as a child, you admired it greatly. "I..." Vincent's voice trailed off as he glanced off to the side. "All of that could be communicated, and will be, in writing. The reason for this is..." A sigh. "I'm sorry. In life, people have many things they choose to do. Business, Pleasure, relaxation and duty. But, amongst everything that a person can do, one thing should remain constant. When you choose to have children, there are two duties that come before all other things you should wish to do. Your first is to the lives you've chosen to bring into the world, and the second is to the person you've chosen as your partner to raise them. And despite all my success in my career, when it comes to that, I'm an abject failure." "I'll say..." Kerath muttered, prompting Maya to elbow him in the ribs. "When the accident happened, it felt like my world fell out from underneath me. My beautiful Aramina was gone too soon. It felt like you would be gone to me as well, for so long. I wasn't there, but it hurt me badly... and I've honestly never recovered. I'm a selfish fool, my boy. I refused to look beyond my own pain and sorrow and realize you were just as hurt, if not more hurt. Because even after you woke up, all I saw was your mother's eyes in you, and it broke me even more. "I leave you this message because I am aware of what you're doing, even while not actively parenting you. I have gotten word from the school of your delinquent activities in your first year; while nothing enough to get your position in school in danger, you have to be aware these actions will follow you. Just because you're angry at life, please don't let it jeapordize your future, Kerath. "When you were a child, you loved going to the shows I put on. I remember you buying all of my posters and having them in your room. You were so proud of me. And then I failed you, and you drifted away. I can't fault you for that. But remember your own path. You are Kerath Shadowstar; don't let anyone's actions or lack of actions... even mine... change your path. You know in your heart what you want to do, what you want to become. Do it. Charge forward, and don't let anyone slow you. "I love you, Kerath. I'm sorry you had such a worthless excuse for a father these last few years. I wish I could have gone on long enough to see what kind of show you'd choose to put on for the masses, but even in this I'm a failure. I don't have much longer..." Vincent sighed. "I hope you become a stronger man than I ever was, even in my prime. In the end, what else can I hope for but that?" The video cut out after those words. Maya turned quietly to look at Kerath, who was just staring at the standby screen on the monitor. After several silent moments passed, he shook his head. "He's right, you know. I admired the hell out of the man. He was never the best duelist on the circuit, even amongst the entertainment duelists who choose to be second rate to put on a show anyway. But he was my idol. That's what made it hurt more when he gave up." He stood, looked around the room. It was in Vincent's estate; Kerath turned the lights on, remembering just what this room was. It was where several of the old ghost's trophies and awards were held. Maya looked around in wonder, as Kerath went up to the highest award he had ever won, when he had completely won a terrifyingly difficult tournament, a year before the accident. "I always wanted to follow in his footsteps. Maybe I still do." "If you want to, then make it happen. You know you'll always have support." Kerath shook his head vehemently. "Don't say that." Maya looked confused, when Kerath turned towards her. "That's what he thought too. Don't get me wrong, I'm not rejecting your support, Maya. But don't say I'll always have it, as who knows when a random accident... or given our situation, the Ba'al... will end that? I'll take your support, but I'll be strong on my own. Otherwise if something does happen, I'll just be like him. And if it's his last wish that I be a stronger, better man than he ever was? Why should I deny him that... I owe him that much." She smiled then in happiness. "Very well. Let me rephrase that then; if you want to, make it happen. Believe in yourself, as I believe in you." He nodded then. "This has... actually been helpful, to me.." He said quietly, looking back at the monitor. "I want to make something of myself. I want to fulfill your wish, old ghost. And if I keep on like I am now, I'm just going to end up as terrible a person as you were," he muttered. "Let's go back, Maya. We each have a fresh start after break; you as yourself, and me as who I should have always been." "Yes. And we still have a lot of work ahead of us," she said, telling him of Tabooru's message. "Lovely. Well, it's not like we didn't know she was a genocidal maniac. Just looks like our Anti-villain is dropping the anti. Well, let's see how the anti-hero fights her tune, eh?" He said with a familiar smirk as they left the room. The last sound in the room was the sound of a metal flask, tossed haphazardly into a trash can at the exit. [A new start.]
- Azure, Part 2:
"Tsk. Well, I'll destroy Delta, anyway," Troy said. No duel disks, they were just playing cards on a table. Troy had Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Blade Dragon out, and Azure had just dodged an attack by tributing Alpha to summon Delta in its place. "My move, then; bad luck on you, old man," Azure said with a smile. "First, I summon Gamma, and by extension Alpha, and with that I'll search out Valkyrion. Then... Polymerization," she said, putting it on the table, and putting Berserkion and Valkyrion from her hand into her Graveyard. "Looks like its time for my ace," she added, picking up Imperion from her extra deck and putting it on the table. She then stacked the two magnets, and put Phantom Knights of Break Sword on top of them. "That's game." Troy frowned, looking at the field. "Hmm. Yeah, you're right. You can destroy my monster, and negate its ability to bring back Cipher." He chuckled and laughed, as they both picked up their cards. "I never dreamed I'd see a day where you got enough support for Magnets that you could beat my Galaxy-Eyes deck with them." She nodded. He had gotten back a couple days into her stay at home, and they had spent most of the time catching up. She was going to head back towards Uminari City later today, but before she had left he had wanted to see with his own eyes that it wasn't a mistake for her to leave the Galaxy cards here. So after she had repacked her stuff, he had asked her to show her parents the dueling that could even overcome a pro. "Yep. Everyone has to follow their own path, you know? And I believe in the path these magnets show me." [And I believe in the path that Nao is trying to show me. A path that won't have me end up like Midori, hopefully. After spending a bit of time to truly relax... I need this. I won't back down if I'm challenged, but if I go seeking out trouble like I had before, I will truly spiral out of control eventually. It wasn't Talon that made me so dissatisfied dueling those last few months. I was bored with dueling without danger long before she was given to me. Nao's right. The Gorgon was created as part of me. And I can easily find myself as her fully if I give in to the desire to seek danger. And now... I don't need to do that. I can find fulfillment in other parts of life. I have someone who loves me. My life is more than trying to save the world.] Troy nodded. Diane stood by the door as well as she put her bag back over her shoulder, and gave them both hugs. [I can only hope you two can understand part of my path I'm choosing to take. I know you won't like it, but... I have to do what I have to do. Because love is never wrong and never needs a reason.] "Good luck, Azure. Send us a picture when you get that Blue Jacket." "Of course, I'll give you something to brag about," she said with a wink. "Besides, it's been fate I ended up in Blue. After all, why else did you name me this?" That earned her some laughs as she left the front door. [I hope they are as happy next time I come here. Then, I will tell them. But if they don't accept my path...] She smiled sadly as she looked off. [I know my choice. I'd happily pick the family I choose over that I was born into. They'll understand... in time.] "Love you guys, and I'll see you next time!" "Love you too!" They both called out, as Azure left to return to her new home.
Last edited by JemGryphonkin on Thu Jun 29, 2017 3:02 pm; edited 1 time in total | |
| | | Ace of Aces RP Storyteller
Posts : 27 Join date : 2017-03-07 Age : 33 Location : Australia
| Subject: Re: Seaside Stories Wed Jun 28, 2017 6:37 pm | |
| - Asuka:
Asuka wakes up in the infirmary and promptly sits bolt upright, looking around in a blind panic until her eyes land on the person at her bedside. Her expression softens as she relaxes, leaning back on her hand. "J." The E-Hero User has turned a chair around and is leaning on the back of it, arms folded. "Hey, sleepyhead. You remember anything good from before the prince knocked you out?" "... no." She purses her lips obviously frustrated. "What happened?" "Oh, it was great, really. You played Odd-Eyes-dot-deck against her and got rolled by those Link cards." J runs a hand through his hair. "Man, my Heroes are gonna cry... I'll just have to play Masks more." Asuka smacks her hand against his forearm. "Can you be serious for a minute?" "Thirty seconds is my limit."
The blonde exhales slowly through her nose, resisting the urge to throttle her friend. "... I think someone was talking to me before that. But it wasn't like other times. I felt... wanted, and fulfilled. That's probably why I did what they wanted." "Hm. That's different from Monochrome. So something new." J rests his chin on his crossed arms. "Sorry. I should have been keeping a closer eye on you." Asuka shakes her head. "... no, you've done enough already. You did enough long ago." "... yeah, maybe. You gonna be okay? They said you're not injured, you were just exhausted."
She nods and settles back down. "Yeah... I'll just rest for a bit." J stands up and makes to leave, but Asuka catches his hand. "... just for a bit." He smiles and sits down with his back against the bed frame, resting there like a guard dog. "Alright. Just for a bit."
- Suenami:
"This is the place?" "Yes." Midori and Aoi stand at the sheer cliff that's been left in the wake of Smoke's duel with the Gorgon, each bearing a boquet of dark flowers. Midori lets out a low whistle. "Looks like she went out swinging. That's my girl." "... you aren't sad?" Aoi asks her, although there are no tears in her eyes, either. Midori looks out at the dark water, her red eyes hard like rubies. "I used up all my tears a long time ago. I know you two don't always agree with how we've raised you, but I don't know anything else. More than anything, that's what makes me... well, makes us -" "- monsters," Aoi finishes. "... her body might still be alive. Vii has withdrawn from my head, so it's possible she's completely inhabiting Ryuko now." "Don't count on any favors. It won't be like when your mother was possessed." Midori apparently isn't talking about herself. "I got lucky and she was able to help me from the inside, but I doubt Ryuko is that strong-willed, especially since her personality was probably suppressed at the moment of her death. If you have to fight her..." "... yeah. Killing her will be a mercy."
The two raise their flowers and let the wind take them into the ocean.
- JoJo:
"Mmm, ah, Maya, Mayahh~!"
... after all her chasing, she'd been pent up, so when the image of Celeste - uh, Maya - rose in her mind, it had been unexpected, but not unwelcome, and so JoJo went with it, taking a running leap off the edge and leaving herself buzzing from the top of her head to the tips of her toes. Then the guilt sets in - not for what she's just done, but because she did it when she should be out there looking for Sora. Logically, she knows, the last time she fought Sora, she'd just barely got away - the other girl's Heroes were way too strong when they couldn't be easily destroyed. She'll have to tweak her deck even further if she wants to to beat Sora, or, well, YuushaOu as she was calling herself. Still coming down from her high, JoJo lets her thoughts drift from her body. The deck she'd played had worked - she just hadn't had the time to finish up. Even if she did win, it's possible that she wouldn't exorcise Sora's demon.
And even if she managed that, that was only one demon. JoJo could cheerfully kill that girl right about now, with the way she'd disappeared and left Sora hanging with a broken heart. She wouldn't be having anywhere near as much trouble if that girl had provided some closure, but nooooo, and now JoJo was all the way at Uminari Academy to make sure Sora didn't kill herself, and she was barely managing that. She absentmindedly licks off her fingers. "If I find her I'm going to break her nose and make her plead for forgiveness."
It's not that JoJo doesn't care about her too - but she cares about Sora more, and as far as she's concerned, that girl is responsible for all of the trouble Sora is in right now. But Sora comes first. "... I'll wait it out over the break and see what happens. That's the best move," she lectures herself, done more easily with her drifting mind separated from her trembling flesh. "No crazy moves until then. Just be a good girl and wait it out until you get an opportunity."
JoJo hates waiting.
| |
| | | Verloren Forum Assistant Moderator
Posts : 21 Join date : 2017-03-19
| Subject: Re: Seaside Stories Wed Jul 05, 2017 12:58 pm | |
| - ???:
She was shivering. Was it from the cold? The pain? The fear? Everything ran together, as if her senses themselves had left her, the only thing remaining as scattered pieces of sensation spread across what could only feel like an endless sea.
Was she dead? If she was dead, that would explain much. But she was conscious. She could still feel. So it didn’t seem likely, unless she was in the afterlife. But nothing was coming for her… nothing was happening to her… something about this bothered the girl. Though she might have thought it was something primal that drove her into this fear, she didn’t have anything like that. After all, she… she had already, and never was…
No, it didn’t do much good to dwell on that now. She had to get out of here. To move… to do something. To reach someone. Extending what remains of her senses, she tries to move her arm, and feels a twitch of her fingers… somewhere out there. She tries to make out where exactly, and… well. The distance is a lot more than an armspan. Oh god, that’s not good.
She’d never been the type to beg to anyone, let alone a god she knew didn’t exist. More than anything, she had taken pleasure in things she shouldn’t, and didn’t care how anyone thought about it. But now… now she was weaker than ever, vulnerable, and broken. With the senses of her body slowly returning, the pain does as well as she starts picking up on the location of her parts.
...parts is definitely the correct word for her now, and it brings tears to her remaining eye. Her jaw was somewhere over near her right hand. Her left forearm scattered somewhere closer by, but on a different side. Not much remained of her torso or legs, if anything, though she thinks she can feel a toe or two somewhere. All the rest of what she had used to make ‘her body’ was now gone, having been torn from her by that… that thing.
Still, if any bright side at all could be found... she wasn't drifting apart… so this wasn't really water. But that just made it all the more unlikely she’d ever be found. Where was she? What was she, now? It was hard to imagine, now, in this fragmented and broken state that no living being should be able to endure, that slightly over a week ago she’d have called herself human. So she did the only thing she could do. She cried and pleaded for anyone – anything – to hear her. To save her. Even if it was hopeless, it made her feel like something might happen.
Please…! Anyone…! Save me! I’m here! I need help! I don’t care who, I don’t care what… I don’t want it to end like this…! I’m alive! I exist! …Please… Azure!
| |
| | | Nótt Night
Posts : 6 Join date : 2017-03-01 Location : Under your bed
| Subject: Re: Seaside Stories Fri Jul 07, 2017 5:52 pm | |
| You might notice the "PoV" notes above some paragraphs. Everything is written in third-person narration but some paragraphs focus more on certain characters in the story so I also did my best to show their thoughts and feelings in those paragraphs while excluding the thoughts of the other characters. With that being said, I hope you enjoy my little story. - Mezah:
PoV: Boy A The crunching of gravel was the only sound that reached their ears. With every step the boy took, the wheels turned and another pebble got under it. Like that, he walked in silence until the girl let out a sneeze and boy’s feet stopped moving; with them, so did the girl. “Are you cold?” He asked. She replied with a simple shake of the head. That was enough for the boy and he continued walking. “How is your health? You seem to be doing better lately.” The girl turned around facing the boy with a beaming smile. She nodded. “Yup. Something like this won’t stop me.” Her amber colored irises stared into his gray ones. With her light-brown hair on the foreground, and the orange and brown leaves on the background, the appearance of the girl in front of him was nothing short of beautiful. In her hair was a single ornament; a golden three-leaf clover. “Soon I’ll be out of this chair and we can all play like old times.” Her optimism made the boy laugh. It was completely like her. No matter the odds, she always believed that she could beat them. It was even like that when they started playing Duel Monsters. No matter how far behind she was, she always thought she could win. Reminiscing the past, the boy’s steps slowed down and at the sight of their destination, they came to a complete stop. They could already see it behind the trees; a giant mansion hidden in a forest. “We’re almost there. Are you nervous?” The girl asked without looking at him. It was his turn to shake his head now. However, with her back turned to him, he still had to give a response. “No. I’m looking forward to seeing him again. I don’t think it’s mutual though.” He chuckled. The girl too showed a smile. “I’m sure that isn’t true. You’re his only son.” The boy’s lips turned into a smile although the rest of his face showed a sad expression. “Yeah…”
PoV: Boy B “They should be here any minute now.” The man said calmly before taking another sip; the sound of ice clattering against the glass could be heard. The air in the room was filled with tension. The two were in the parlor. Each sitting on a sofa with single table between them. Without a television the only thing to look at was a painting of a young gentleman hanging above the fireplace. The man in the painting was dressed in a stylish white suit. On his hand, he wore a gold ring shaped like a three-leaf clover matching his amber eyes. Everything about the painting could be said to be beautifully done, yet the boy staring at it couldn’t stand to be in the same room as that painting for a moment longer. Once again his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of ice clattering against the inside of the man’s glass. The boy welcomed it. It was the only thing breaking the silence in the room. “Uhm…” He started his desperate attempt to start a conversation and kill the dreadful silence. “That painting. I don’t remember seeing it the last time I was here.” Without a topic to talk about, the boy started about the painting he detested so much. The man in front of him most likely noticed that the topic was forced. After taking another sip of his glass, he let out a sigh as if to say that the boy’s question was bothersome. The boy in turn could only smile wryly at this. “You’re correct.” The man started. “I had it made to make your sister feel more at ease here; a familiar face so to say.” The man stood up from his seat and walked over to the painting. As he stood next to the painting, the similarities between the two men was obvious. A similar face, the same auburn colored hair and the same eyes. The man reached out for the painting but stopped just before touching it and stayed like that for a few seconds. “That’s very nice of you sir, to have a painting made just for her.” Seemingly lost in thought, the man quickly lowered his arm after the boy spoke those words. “Of course. This too falls under the terms of our contract.” The boy’s expression turned sour at the mention of their contract. It was true, he and the man in front of him had made a deal. One he wished he didn’t have to make but had no choice but to make. “So now it is the question whether or not you will be able to keep your end of the deal.” Turning around, the man faced the boy. Two amber colored eyes seemed to glow in the dim light of the fireplace. At that moment the boy was once again reminded of his position. He had certainly made a deal with a demon.
PoV: Mezah, Maacah, Boy A At that moment the bell rang. The boy quickly took this chance and stood up from his seat. “Don’t worry. I’ll open it.” Without waiting for any sort of reaction from the man, he walked out of the room. As soon as he left, it felt like a giant weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Letting out a sigh, the boy walked to the door. When he opened it, there were two people in front of the door. A boy in his twenties and a girl in a wheelchair. At the sight of the girl, a smile appeared on his face. “Welcome home Maacah.” The girl nodded. “I’m home brother.” The boy behind Maacah’s wheelchair smiled at the sight of the two siblings being reunited. “It’s been a while Mezah.” The older boy said before entering the mansion while pushing Maacah’s wheelchair. “Hmph. Not long enough.” Mezah responded. This only got a laugh from the boy. “Don’t say that. We hardly see each other even though we both live at the academia.” Maacah looked up at the boy after hearing his words. “Hm? How so? Are you that busy supervising other students?” “That’s not it. Honestly it feels like Mezah is avoiding me. Every time I see him in the hallway, he turns around and dashes away. But that can’t be right? After all, we used to play together so much when we were younger. Right Mezah?” The boy said turning to Mezah. “Of course I’ve been avoiding you! You’re way too clingy all the damn time!” Mezah yelled at the boy in front of him. “Jeez.” He said, looking away. The boy laughed at Mezah’s tantrum as if the words weren’t directed at him. “Don’t say that. A few weeks ago you came looking for me to tutor you in dueling history, right?” “Kuh!” “Brother, don’t curse like that or I’ll get mad!” Mezah looked up at the ceiling. “Jeez! It’s only been a few minutes and I already have enough of you guys!” This made the other two laugh. It had really been a while since the three of them had been together like this. Although a lot had changed, the bond between them was still the same. “So you have finally arrived.” Standing at the entrance of the parlor was the older man. Everyone’s eyes fell on the gentleman. “Father…” The boy muttered loud enough for the man to hear him. “It’s good to see you uncle.” Maacah said with a bow. Ignoring his son, the man looked at Maacah. “You must be hungry from the long trip. I’ve already told one of the maids to prepare lunch. It should be ready soon.” With that he started walking towards the dining room but stopped midway to turn around. “Thank you for accompanying Maacah. Are you staying for lunch and dinner?” The man’s words were formed into a question but all three children knew that the boy could only answer with one thing. “Sorry. I can’t.” After hearing his son’s answer, the man quickly turned around. “I see. That’s regrettable.” He said before walking away. Although the man said those words, he put no effort into hiding the fact that the boy was unwanted in the house. At this awkward exchange, the two siblings could do nothing but stay silent and accept the relationship between the father and his son. After they couldn’t see the man anymore, the boy started speaking. “Well, I guess I’ll be going then.” He said with a melancholic smile. Maacah quickly turned around, facing the boy. “You really don’t have to go. I’m sure uncle won’t mind it if you-“ “It’s fine Maacah.” The boy interrupted her. “Although I’d love to stay, I have some business to finish in the city.” He bowed over, giving the girl a kiss on her forehead. “I’ll come to visit somewhere this week, okay?” Maacah nodded in response. “Un” The boy started walking to the front door; Mezah seeing him out. As he stood in the door opening, he turned to face Mezah. “Hey, watch over her okay? And I’m sure you know but even though my father is acting nice…” Mezah closed his eyes. He knew all too well what the boy was talking about. Not once had he trusted his uncle but being on friendly terms with him was necessary so Maacah could live a normal life. “Hmph. Like I need your advice.” Hearing Mezah’s answer, the boy grinned. “Heh. I guess not.”
PoV: Mezah Unlike earlier, there was hardly any silence during the lunch. The only moment it was quiet in the room was the odd occasion where everyone had food in their mouth. An uncle and his two cousins having a happy lunch. That was what it appeared to be to an outsider. The conversation was incredibly strained, but both Mezah did his best not to show it. Although Mezah had proper etiquette, it was hard for him to eat ‘the right way’ under these circumstances. He had to talk about topics that hardly interested him while his uncle’s eyes followed every mistake he made. When Mezah stole a glance at Maacah, it seemed that she had gotten a bit used to eating with their uncle but she probably didn’t like the topic either. “So. How are your grades Mezah?” There it was. The main topic of this lunch dinner. The whole time, his uncle had skillfully guided the conversation to Mezah’s grades. Starting with the economy, followed by politics, going to pro dueling and ending with duel academy. Luckily Mezah’s grades were almost perfect. How could they not be, the man in front of him was the main reason why Mezah had to get high grades after all. Mezah smiled politely. “Unfortunately my grades for the practical exams aren’t as high as I had hoped them to be. As for the other classes, I have a hard time with dueling history so I asked your son for help. He is very knowledgeable sir. You must be proud.” Maacah looked in Mezah’s direction with a shocked expression. It was bait. Mezah knew the relationship between the two all too well but this was his own childish revenge against the man who was stringing everyone along as he liked. With a calm smile on his face, Mezah awaited the man’s reaction. “I see. And how are your other grades? I think there was something called Dueling Theory?” But the man had ignored the mention of his son as if it didn’t exist. He was simply looking at his lunch trying to cut the next piece of meat on his plate. “All my grades are around 80 to 90 points except for my practical exam. That was 70 points.” “I see. And why is that? Isn’t real dueling not the most important for those who want to become a pro duelist? How is it that you who is aiming for the top of the dueling world, got 70 points on his exam?” The man’s tone of voice was calm but Mezah could feel the man’s eyes piercing him. “That is… My instructor was very biased and-“ “No matter. We can talk about that later.” The man quickly dismissed Mezah and turned to Maacah. “Maacah, to celebrate your release from the hospital, I had the gardener plant some flowers for you. Why don’t you go take a look at them after lunch?” Maacah seemed to hesitate to give a response. Of course it seemed like a nice gesture of their uncle but everyone who had spent more than a few days with the man would know that he did not do anything without reason. The reason for this was most likely the fact that he wanted to have a private conversation with Mezah. She turned around to look at her brother. However, Mezah only responded with a friendly smile, hoping this was enough for Maacah to make a decision. “Of course I’d be happy to look at the flowers. Thank you uncle.” She said before giving the man a friendly smile.
PoV: Mezah Watching over the girl happily playing in the garden, the man started speaking. “She seems to quite enjoy the garden. She has also gotten used to the house.” Like usual his uncle started off with a topic as much away from the main topic as possible and gradually made his way to his goal. It was fine with Mezah however, he wanted this to be over with. “Yes. Thank you again for taking us in after…” “It’s only natural is it not?” The man interrupted him. “You two are my niece and nephew after all. Is it not logical for me to help you two after that woman ran away?” Mezah’s eyes twitched at the mention of his mother. “Still. Thank you.” Mezah said before showing a deep bow to the man who still had his back turned to him. The man finally turned around. “There is no need for you to lower your head.” He responded coldly. “You do remember the conditions after all, do you not?” Mezah raised his head but his eyes were still turned to the ground. “I do.” The man walked past Mezah to the a table in the corner of the room. On it was ice, a few glasses and bottles on it. He picked up a glass and started filling it with ice, afterwards he grabbed a bottle and started filling the glass until half full. “I shall be honest. After my idiotic son gave up on becoming a pro duelist, I was troubled. Him chasing a teaching career was not something I had expected. But then…” The man turned around. “Then you showed up on my doorstep.” Mezeh’s eyes narrowed. He remembered that day well. It was a the same day Maacah’s condition worsened drastically and he had heard about an experimental surgery that could potentially cure her disease completely and save her life. But with his father’s insurance money barely covering the costs of the hospital fees, Mezah had no way of paying for the surgery. “So you came to me.” The man said before taking a sip from his glass. “I’ll become a pro duelist so please adopt me and my sister.’ You said something along those lines. And since my only son had decided to throw away all hard work to become a teacher, I agreed. I would adopt Maacah as my own daughter, let her live in this mansion, pay for all her medical costs and in return you would graduate from Duel Academy as the top of your class and become a pro duelist.” The man took another sip from his drink before walking to the sofa and taking a seat. “I immediately had you sent to dueling prep school. Had you get tutored. Made you learn the proper etiquettes and manners. So once you graduated, I could adopt you and you would carry the name Taylor as my son. And after you became a pro duelist worthy of mentioning, I would help finance your sister’s surgery.” Mezah stood there in silence while listening to the man’s words. “Even though we had a different father, I had great love for my brother.” The man suddenly changed the topic and Mezah’s attention was immediately drawn to the painting on the wall. “He was a man who would do anything for his family and would shoulder everything alone so others did not have to. Truly a fool.” The man said before drinking the last bit of alcohol in his glass. With a sigh, he stood up from his seat and walked over to Mezah. “But you’d best remember. No matter the love I had for my brother, I have no interest for useless people. If you do not graduate at the top of your class, I will stop paying for your sister’s medical bills and you two will live on the streets.” The man stared down on Mezah with a cold look in his eyes. It was clear that unless Mezah had any value in the man’s eyes, he would be kicked out and so would Maacah. “I know sir. I won’t disappoint you.” Having heard the boy’s response, the man turned around and walked away. Leaving Mezah with a few words. “For your sister’s sake, I hope you’re right.” Watching the man walk out of the room, Mezah let out a deep sigh. “Truly a demon.”
PoV: Maacah The flowers were a beautiful blue. Their scent was enough to make anyone’s nose tickle. Maacah sat on the grass in front of them admiring the newly planted flowers. “Angelique. What is the name of this flower?” She asked the woman behind her but her eyes stayed fixed on the flowers in front of her. The maid had been watching over the girl in silence, only saying something when spoken to. But Maacah was used to it by now. She had been living in this mansion for almost five years and not once did any of the employees of the mansion speak to her of their own free will. Maybe they were not allowed to or maybe they didn’t want to bother getting to know her, Maacah didn’t know. “I believe the gardener called them Anchusa capensis. They are more commonly known as Cape Forget-Me-Not.” The maid said solemnly. “Forget-Me-Not huh…” She gave a half-smile. “How fitting…” “What is your favorite flower in the garden Angelique?” She turned around and asked the maid behind her. At that moment her eyes widened for a moment. “I do not have a favorite miss.” The maid however did not seem to have noticed it and answered as usual. “I- I see.” Maacah stuttered. “Angelique, could you help me back into my wheelchair?” “Of course.” The maid placed the wheelchair so it was easier for Maacah to get into it. She then supported Maacah to get her into the chair. “Thank you. I also feel a bit thirsty. Would you mind getting me a glass of water?” She asked with a smile. “As you wish. I will be back in a moment.” The maid said before giving a quick bow and walking away. Maacah waited until Angelique was out of sight and started sneaking inside the mansion. It wasn’t all too hard. All attendants were either in the kitchen, or on the second floor so Maacah could easily reach the parlor unnoticed. “’I’ll become a pro duelist so please adopt me and my sister.’ You had said something along those lines. And since my only son had decided to throw away all hard work to become a teacher, I agreed. I would adopt Maacah as my own daughter, let her live in this mansion, pay for all her medical costs and in return you would graduate from Duel Academy as the top of your class and become a pro duelist. I immediately had you sent to dueling prep school. Had you get tutored. Made you learn the proper etiquettes and manners. So once you graduated, I could adopt you and you would carry the name Taylor as my son. And after you became a pro duelist worthy of mentioning, I would help finance your sister’s surgery.” Maacah’s eyes widened upon hearing those words. “No way…” She whispered quietly. Of course she had suspected something. It was strange for her uncle to suddenly invite her to come and live with him but she would have never guessed that her brother made such a deal. “Is that the only reason why he entered Dueling Academy? Why he had to spend all his time studying and couldn’t live with us? Because of me?” A feeling of hopelessness overwhelmed her and tears started rolling down her cheeks. “Miss? What are you doing there?” A voice came from behind her and when Maacah turned around, Angelique stood there. “Angelique… I…” The words wouldn’t come out. At that moment, footsteps approached the door. Angelique quickly grabbed Maacah’s wheelchair and dashed around the corner. “Angelique what are you-“ “Ssh.” She interrupted her. Maacah could hear the sound of a door opening behind them. The maid entered a room and closed the door shut. They held their breath and waited in silence for what felt like hours. Eventually the footsteps got further and further away and the tension lifted. When the two couldn’t hear the footsteps anymore, Angelique let out a sigh. “What were you doi-“ But the maid quickly stopped when she noticed the girl’s tears. Angelique quickly got in front of Maacah and kneeled down. “Angelique. It’s- It’s all my fault.” Like that, Maacah cried for hours on end and Angelique sat by her until the girl fell asleep.
| |
| | | JemGryphonkin
Posts : 35 Join date : 2016-01-03
| Subject: Re: Seaside Stories Fri Jul 28, 2017 9:03 am | |
| - Celeste:
[It’s time. It’s been needed to be said.] Celeste stood where the rock formation used to be; the one that fell into the sea at the epic finale of Smoke/Vii and the Gorgon’s duel. She somehow felt an attachment to the place, despite the terrible events that occurred before her eyes. She heard footfalls behind her. Given that a lot of people were still out of town, there could only be one person approaching. The person she called here. She turned towards Kerath with a smile; his expression was more neutral, though. “Maya. What’s up?” he said. “This isn’t right, you know?” Celeste started. A half grin from the blue duelist. “It never has been.” She nodded. “I’ve been thinking about it. A lot. We’ve helped each other so much. You helped me break the shell of my persona, helped me find myself as a person.” Kerath shrugged. “Tried to help you break free from Celeste altogether, but…” She shook her head. “But, that’s not right either. The girl named Celeste used to be just a persona, created by me and my parents to spread the word of God. But that’s not the case anymore. I’m as much Celeste as Maya, now; I realize that now. Perhaps the Spirit of Benevolence helped cement that part of me, perhaps not; but either way, who I truly am, I’ve found, is both of those things. And I’d have never found that if you hadn’t stubbornly kept chipping away at the outer layer, to find me within. I thank you for that.” “Yeah. And, to be fair; you helped me through my darkest days,” Kerath said, pacing back and forth, hands in his pockets and looking up at the sky. Ignoring the eye above. “When my old ghost died, as I had thought I wished. When Sai and Rei were corrupted, and I was left all alone… the only bonds I had to people was my mutually antagonistic friendship with Issy, and a bit of friendship with Azure and Akahito. You helped me re-center myself. You encouraged me to face the last words of my old man. But, as much as I want to think it’s all right…” he frowned. “You’re too… I don’t know how to put it.” “We’re too different, for one,” Celeste said. “You and I are on complete opposite ends of the personality spectrum.” “And,” Kerath said slowly, as he actually looked at her, “I think I was drawn to that… motherly niceness of yours that you show everyone. Which is another thing I need to work through; I’ve come to accept my old ghost, but I still need to work through my issues around mom’s death. That's part of the issue on my end." She nodded. “I think… I think it’s time. I think we both know this has been needed for a while.” There had been fights, quiet ones, out of the public eye. Not the least of which came after Kerath got himself banned from Card Capital. Her return to the dorm last night, and just the feeling of… well, relief of being back in her own space cemented her feelings; that’s why she called Kerath out this morning. It was time. “Yeah.” “I still intend to follow through on what I told you. I still want to support you in your goals. Just as I want to help all of my friends,” she added. “I still want to be your friend.” “I know. And I’m glad for that. We’re still in a war, after all,” Kerath muttered. “But… you’re right. You usually are, Maya. This isn’t good for us, so it’s best to put an…amicable end to it, before it’s too late for that.” She smiled brightly, and took a step towards him. Gave him a big hug, laying her head on the front of his shoulder. “Thank you, Kerath. You helped me be the person I was meant to be.” “Same to you, Maya. Call me if you need anything, alright?” he said after a moment, when they separated again. For good. “And good luck in this tournament.” “So humble. You should take that humility and go apologize to the manager,” she said teasingly. To her surprise, he nodded. “I might just do that.” [Even now the changes in you surprise me, Kerath. We were helpful for one another, but emotional crutches need to be discarded, once one can walk on their own again,] she thought. After a brief moment, she laughed. “You definitely should. Being banned made you miss Akahito get punched in the face.” “Whaaaaaaaaat?!” Kerath said with a laugh. He stood quietly as she told him the story of the night before, of JoJo and Akahito’s spat. “Fuckin’ Red Mage. I swear, that kid doesn’t know when to stop.” He was silent for a moment, before turning away, back towards the Maglev. “Thanks. For everything.” “Goodbye, my friend.”
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| | | thiviscar
Posts : 9 Join date : 2017-02-28
| Subject: Re: Seaside Stories Mon Jul 31, 2017 4:50 pm | |
| Well, here's my little side story, I divided it in 3 parts, because some of Seaside Ride's ic events happen in between them, though the most important part is Isao and Azure's conversation between Part I and II. - Part I:
On a very windy and cloudy day, a boy placed his flowers on a grave. [Nobody called me until now... it has been a week...], that boy thought. The graveyard was mostly empty, with just the boy and a young man approaching him. "Ah, you are here Isao", the young man placed his hands on Isao's shoulders. "I knew you were visiting your mother's grave" "Leo...", Isao said. "Yeah, I had to visit her, I knew she was ill, but... wasn't expecting her to die now". "Sorry for not calling you earlier, I thought you were busy with exams", Leo said. Isao nodded. [Though I was more busy with other stuff too...] As Isao stands up, Leo noticed his clothes. "Oh, that brings me some memories...". Isao wasn't wearing his usual blue student uniform, he was wearing an opened black jacket, a dark blue shirt and black jeans, with a customized black and blue Duel Disk on his left arm. "And that Duel Disk...". "Yeah, I felt like I needed to use those clothes today", Isao said. [Using Mr. Fudo Mikoto's pro outfit to visit your mother's grave... not bad], Leo thought. "So... let's go then?", Leo said, with Isao nodding. Both of them were talking as they left the graveyard and arrived at a coffee shop. [Not as good as Blue Dorm's Blue Mountain Coffee, but something to relax, I guess...], Isao thought. "Even though the doctor said she still had some months left..." "I hear you, life is full of surprises, I wasn't expecting your father to die like that either", Leo said as they sit at a table, with Isao wincing. "Ah, sorry for talking about that again...". "No problem...", Isao said. "I'm surprised you are not returning to Japan after you graduate...", Leo said as he got interrupted by Isao coughing. "You already know the circumstances, I have nowhere to go there anymore", Isao said. "Sorry...". [Those incidents really changed him...]. "Ah, that reminds me... did you know Shinju Corporation also has a subsidiary in this city?", Leo asked. "I heard they work with games development now" "Hm? I thought they went bankrupt 8 years ago...", Isao said raising an eyebrow. "Well, it's less of a subsidiary and more like their own thing here, their previous CEO died, you know", Leo said. "Well, that's interesting. Do you know where their HQ is?", Isao asked. "Unfortunately not yet. Must be on the other side of the city", Leo responded with a wryly smile. Isao finished drinking his coffee. "Well, gonna find them eventually... see you later", he said with a wave and leaving the shop. [Shinju Corporation... do they know I'm here?], he thought as he walked along the streets of the city. That evening, Isao was about to take the maglev to return to his dorm, when he received a text from Azure. [Well, wasn't expecting a message from Azure...]
- Part II:
Next day, Isao returned to the city, he had received a Vanguard card shop's address from Azure yesterday, which apparently Taiyou frequents. [Well, time to finally talk with him, since that day...], he thought as he walked, looking around to see if he could notice the shop. A half hour later, he found it. [Card Capital, I guess this is it. And it's really close to my house], he was pretty anxious. He enters the shop looking around for Taiyou. Taiyou was on his team's usual spot checking his cards, still thinking about Azure's message yesterday. [Geez, what does she know...], his thoughts were interrupted by Isao's voice. "So, you are here, after all...", Isao said. Taiyou clicked his tongue upon noticing Isao. "Tsc, apparently she gave you my location", he sighed. "So... what do you want?", he said avoiding eye contact. "I thought you were better than that, apparently 8 years weren't enough for you to realize the truth", Isao said. "Oh? And what that truth would be?", Taiyou said. "This is not the best place to explain that, if you wish to know, meet me tomorrow in this park at this time", Isao said before showing Taiyou a piece of paper. "Don't run away, I also have something to give back". "Right, right...", Taiyou said after picking the piece of paper. [Geez, want to kill me where nobody can see you, then?]. "See you tomorrow then". With that, Isao left the shop, breathing a sigh of relief. [Went better than I expected, hopefully he doesn't avoid me. Now I just need one thing...], he thought as he walked towards his house. Took him half a hour of walking. He enters his house, only to see the mess inside. [...it's been a long time since anyone has entered this house, I guess....], he thought with a sigh. [Oh well, no use crying over spilt milk, let's fix this].
- Part III:
Next morning, at the meeting point, Isao is waiting for Taiyou with a yellow and blue bag, leaned on a tree. At that time, there was nobody at the park, so they could talk freely. He was a bit lost in his memories, on how much time they have spent together in their childhood, Taiyou's uncle was a good friend of Isao's father and CEO of the original Shinju Corporation in Japan, who disappeared 8 years ago. After some minutes, Taiyou appeared. "Oh? Didn't run away this time?", Isao said with a smirk. Taiyou ignored his question with a sigh. "Might as well let end this. You already know where I usually stay, and I can't exactly run away anyway". Isao threw the bag he was holding to Taiyou. "What is this now?", Taiyou asked. "Forgot about it already? Open it", Isao said. Upon opening it, Taiyou noticed a blue and yellow Duel Disk with a deck box. "Ah, I see", he said. Isao nodded. "Rin's bag, Duel Disk and deck. Managed to get that before they got destroyed, shame I didn't get an opportunity to give that back before". "And why are you giving me this? You are just a murderer, and killed her just to get her possessions", Taiyou said. "Still with that? You know what happened, you just don't want to admit it, is your pride that strong? The reason why I invited you to this place... was to make sure you would not run away. And indeed, you are here, that means you know what really happened and are here to hear me out", Isao said. "...I still don't know what you are trying to say", Taiyou said. "It's simple, let's play Devil's Advocate for a bit. What if I was really a murderer? Why am I still here? Your prideful uncle would surely call the cops instead of killing himself. Also, why would you be here? You know the truth and recognize your mistake, but don't want to admit it, deep down in your heart you want to reconcile our friendship", Isao said. "What do you know?!", Taiyou yelled, with his head down. "You are not the only one to lose an important person, it's more than just Rin for me, it's my father and mother as well...", Isao said, with his head down as well, and with some tears. "Tsc", Taiyou clicked his tongue after raising his head. "Annoying, you know?" "So you don't want to admit it... let's duel", Isao said. "Duel? I don't play Duel Monsters anymore, I forgot the rules too, and there's no reason for me to learn and play it again", Taiyou said. "There is, I'll show you", Isao said activating his customized Duel Disk, which makes Taiyou reminds of Isao's father. [That guy...], Taiyou thought, activating his Duel Disk. "There's no need to worry, I know that you still knows how to duel and Rin's deck is pretty simple to understand", Isao said. Not too long after, the duel ended in Isao's victory. "You were better than I expected, in fact you still plays Duel Monsters and very well...", Isao said. [Pathetic...]. "I don't know how an one-sided duel proves you right", Taiyou said, incredibly annoyed. "It's simple. A duel mirrors both duelists' feelings and soul. A deck is the duelist's soul. Your cards did your speaking for you. My cards did mine, guess who won", Isao said. "I never heard so much nonsense before... cards talking? That's ridiculous", Taiyou said, before finally running with the bag and the Duel Disk. Isao stood there, watching Taiyou running, with a sigh. Some hours later, it's night and Taiyou left Card Capital, but not before meeting Isao again, this time near a street corner leaned on a wall. "Was waiting for you", Isao said. Taiyou didn't say anything, but Isao gave him another piece of paper, this time with his phone number. "See you later", Isao said, turning around and walking towards the other direction. "Wait", Taiyou said. Isao turned to face Taiyou, but the latter was avoiding eye contact. "Here's mine", he gave a piece of paper to Isao. "Finally, then?", Isao said with a sigh of relief. "...it also has my father's company's address... show up later", Taiyou said, turning around and leaving Isao behind with a smile. [That's ridiculous... indeed...], Taiyou thought with a smirk.
| |
| | | JemGryphonkin
Posts : 35 Join date : 2016-01-03
| Subject: Re: Seaside Stories Mon Aug 14, 2017 9:10 am | |
| During the Rumble Season 2 Preseason, after the events that occurred at the tournament where the world broke... - Griffin:
It was the middle of the night, about 4am, when Griffin’s phone started ringing. [The hell?] he thought, rolling over on the air mattress to where it was. [Why is… mom calling in the middle of the night?] Taking note of his roommates, he quickly left before answering it.
“Griffin, oh my god are you okay?” came the breathless voice on the other end of the line.
“Mom, I’m fine, it’s 4am, what’s going on.”
“I just heard about that tournament you were in! How the stadium is just… gone! Thousands are missing! I hadn’t heard from you.”
Griffin sighed. He probably should have called her sooner; he knew they didn’t watch CGTV often, so they probably weren’t actually watching it live. Otherwise this call would have come much, much sooner. “Yeah, me and Z are both fine. We made it out.”
“Wait, Azure was there too?!” his mother’s voice was still somewhat panicked.
“Yeah, she was there to cheer on her…” he hesitated for a brief second, realizing he had almost said ‘girlfriend’ – that was Azure’s problem, not his. “...classmates. A bunch of them were in the tournament, actually the Team Raiders that was in the finals had a couple of her friends in it.”
“What actually happened, Griffin? They haven’t even given an official story yet, just that the entire place is gone without a trace, and an estimated nearly 50 thousand people are just gone. This isn’t normal,” Diane asked.
[How the hell should I answer that? They’ll never believe what actually happened.] “Honestly, mom, I have no idea. Me and my team and some of Z’s classmates I’ve met had already left by the time whatever happened happened. We were outside, thankfully. I don’t have an answer for you.”
“…okay,” Diane said. Anyone familiar with Azure’s normal inflections would be able to tell in a heartbeat that their mother didn’t believe a word of it. “Well, I’m glad you’re safe, anyway. Sorry you didn’t make it all the way.”
“I’ve only been playing for a bit, I’m honestly a bit surprised I made it to the top 16,” Griffin said with a chuckle. As a thought occurred to him, he added, “And at least let Z sleep til you get off of work, I know you’re calling me on your lunch, but she needs her beauty sleep.”
A chuckle on the other end of the line. “We both know I wouldn’t get a straight answer from her if she’s not awake first. But yes, I’ll wait to call her until later. Be careful out there, Griffin; I don’t like the sound of all of this happening in a city both my kids are in.”
[Oh, I’m always careful mom, except for the time a time traveling prepubescent girl locked me in time.] “I will. Love you.”
“Love you too, Grif.” A clicking sound, as Diane turned her phone off. “Whew,” Griffin said, shaking his head. “Sorry mom, but I don’t think you’d buy the Giant vs. Snake battle that ended up in the Giant displacing everyone into a different dimension, somehow.”
- Azure:
When Azure’s phone rang the next morning, she was in fact already awake and dressed. Seeing who it was, she gave a sigh; she had honestly been expecting this. And grateful it wasn’t yesterday, when she was busy helping Nao. “I’ll be back, I have to take this.” Slipping out of Nao’s room quietly, she answered the phone while heading down the hall and around the corner to where her own, scarcely used room was, which she entered. “Hi, Mom. How was work?” she said casually, as she sat down on the edge of the pristinely made bed.
“It was fine, Azure. I talked to Griffin during my lunch break…”
“I’m sure he was happy to get woken up in the middle of the night,” Azure said in a flat but amused voice.
“Well, it’s either that or you, but you can’t even string two words together at that stage,” Diane said, equally amused.
“Right.”
“Anyway, we finally heard the news about that tournament a couple days ago. Griffin said you were there too, I know he was playing in it but I didn’t expect you to be there as well. Do you play Vanguard too?”
“Actually, yes. I picked it up during break. I was actually originally going to be in Team Shining Armor, I was subbed out as a last minute sort of thing. I wasn’t ready for that big of a stage in that game. So, I went to cheer on Griffin and my classmates; Ruby Angels, Raiders, 1-3, Lily Garden, and Shining Armor all had Duel Academy players in it.”
“Do you know what actually happened there? Griffin said he didn’t know, but a stadium and tens of thousands of people just vanishing makes no logical sense. If it was an explosion it’d be getting hyped as a terrorist attack or something, but… right now there’s no official word. I’m just concerned about the thought of a place and that many people just… not being there.”
“I’m not sure,” Azure lied. “I haven’t really tried to investigate it… a lost quite a few friends there, mom. One really close one, and several I hang around with. It’s been… really hard.”
“I see… I’m sorry for your losses, Azure,” Diane said with real sympathy in her voice. Azure heard some pages fluttering on the other end of the line. It’s just like Mrs. Talon to be having an actual newspaper she’s reading. “Team Shining Armor?” her mom said after a moment. “Let’s see… wow, that’s the one who’s led by the girl who dresses like a boy, huh? Why were you going to team up with such a ridiculous looking person anyway.”
Azure’s face had gone pale. “You can stop insulting Nao, Mother.”
A pause; Azure usually never broke out the full term of ‘Mother’ unless she was mad. Usually it was only heard when punishments were being handed down when Azure was a child. “What?” Diane said in surprise.
“Nao is the reason I pushed so hard to get to Blue. She’s an amazing person, and you who don’t know her at all have no place to judge her because of how she dresses. So, knock it off.” Azure was livid at the words.
“I just think it’s silly to go trying to look like a fairy tale prince in this day and age, especially for a young woman. You don’t need to snap at me, Azure,” came Diane’s answer, sounding defensive.
“Yes. She dresses like a prince,” Azure said. She couldn’t stop herself now. “Just. Like. A. Prince.”
There was a long pause on the other end of the line, as Diane put the pieces together, based on her conversations with her at the start of break. “You’re kidding, right?”
“No, Mother. I am not.”
“You’re dating that girl?”
“Yes.” It was a simple word, with no regrets or hesitation.
“….. I… I’m not sure how to react to that. You know that’s a sin, right?”
“Says who. God? If God has a problem with it, he can start actually existing and bitch at me then.”
“Azure Talon!” her mother’s voice was outraged. “I didn’t raise my daughter to be spouting out blasphemies..”
“No,” Azure said, “You raised me to be a strong, independent young woman who can make her own decisions based on what she feels, not what’s in a book that none of us are particularly devout about! I have made my decision, mom; and Nao is an amazing person, her gender is completely irrelevant! And before you say anything, no, it’s NOT just me overreacting because of that idiot Kendar! This is my choice, my life, and you can deal with it or not!” This is why Azure had moved to her own room. She had a bad feeling it was going to end up a bit of a shouting match with her mother, but this had to be done. The groundwork had to be laid now, if she wanted any chance of being accepted in the future.
“Why didn’t you tell us during break?” Diane asked quietly.
“Because you wouldn’t accept it, and we both know it. Just like you don’t want to now.”
“….I’m going to have to talk to your father about this.”
“Tell him. I don’t care. Tell the whole town. I’m in love with a woman, and that’s just how it is. All of your outrage won’t change a thing. Take some time, try to work it through, and ask yourself whether it really affects you at all. I think you’ll find it doesn’t, and I really hope you decide that MY happiness takes precedence over what the church you play lipservice to says is right and wrong.”
Another long pause. “I love you, Azure.”
“I love you too, mom. Don’t hate me. Please.”
“I can’t hate you, darling. I just… I’m worried.”
“Don’t be. My mind and heart are safe. I promise you, there’s no place in this entire city safer than where I am now.”
“…I’ll talk to you later.” A click, as Diane hung up her phone. Azure sighed, dropping her phone on the bed, and laying back for a moment. “Well, that could have gone worse…”
| |
| | | JemGryphonkin
Posts : 35 Join date : 2016-01-03
| Subject: Re: Seaside Stories Mon Sep 11, 2017 8:52 pm | |
| - Azure and Nao:
Verloren: Eventually, the message finally reaches Azure. /Do you have anywhere you want her to go? I'm about to ask her now./
JemGryphonkin: /...just any classroom. Somewhere that I can dramatically barge in. ...I have a plan. And it's just crazy enough that it might work./ she sent, taking a breath to steady her nerves. She had went back to the dorm after class; truth be told, cutting out just early enough she could get back to the main building before Kay could have a chance to get Nao alone. She had wanted to change and... pick up her secret weapon. [...Well, I won't kidnap her. That won't be seen well by school officials, and is counterproductive to rebuilding a relationship of trust and love. But, perhaps given how she was acting when last I saw her... something else I've learned from my time with Talon could be helpful. She has changed, and I'll show her I'll accept who she is now just as much as I did who she was before. I'll try my best to make her mine.... No. That's not enough, that shows hesitation. I will make her mine, once again.]
Verloren: The response doesn't come for a while, but eventually what she's waiting for comes. /I'm heading towards the XYZ rooms, they should be empty about now. She should be there eventually, but I'm going to hide. You should get going./
JemGryphonkin: /...alright. Thank you./ Taking care to not go too quickly; she didn't want to end up there before Nao, after all... nor did she want her love to leave, she made her way to the mentioned room, subtly glancing through the window in the door to see if she was inside.
Verloren: By the time she arrives, Nao's inside, looking a little confused and texting on her phone, probably asking Kay where she is.
JemGryphonkin: Azure stepped into the room. She was wearing a tight blue tank top, the same shade as her eyes, and her uniform short skirt (honestly, these had to be designed by either a man or Lord). Her black hair was loosely gathered behind her in a long ponytail, and had explicit instructions to pretend to be normal hair and stay silent until she told it otherwise. Her eyes had a look of determination, with only a very slight pink tinge to her cheeks while her gaze was locked straight on Nao.
Most noticeably, she was tapping a hairbrush into an empty hand. That hairbrush. The one that made the tournament impossible to sit at.
"Nao. I love you. I've missed you. I want you to come home to me. And I'm willing to prove that to you, that I will accept you as you are, no matter how that is." She stepped in without hesitation and she had her prey in her sights. Her beautiful, lovely prey. Her heart ached with fear she wouldn't give voice to, nor allow to show on her face. She kept the only expression on her face sheer desire. "All I want is for you to be mine. Forever."
Verloren: Nao can't really even try to hide it - her voice catches in her throat, and she doesn't move to stand up from her seat, the phone making a noise as a message is recieved - but entirely ignored. A nervous swallow of air is easily seen from the older girl, and a shiver goes through her as she attempts and fails to voice a reaction. JemGryphonkin: Azure doesn't slow down, reaching Nao's side... and wrapping her arms around Nao, pulling her face into Azure's chest; Nao was a bit taller while standing, but while in a chair this was certainly not the case. "I can't stand you not being with me. I will do whatever I have to in order to keep you. I've come too far and lived through too much chaos for this to end in silence between us. Don't leave me. We both deserve better than that." Most noticibly perhaps, is the fact that there's no special scent from Azure. Nothing but her own natural self.
Verloren: Nao shudders at the contact - something that seems worrying, at first, but betrays a surge of emotion that threatens to come forth. After a moment of keeping herself, at least, from dissolving, a few words come out. "...Azure... I'm so sorry... Everything... it just..."
JemGryphonkin: "Shhhh..." Azure said, stroking Nao's hair while holding her tight; just as Nao had to do for her so many times. "None of it matters. All that matters is you and I. The only thing I care about is you coming home. I'm not mad, I'm not disappointed, I'm not anything but worried for you. All you have to do is talk, and I'll listen." A smirk; she knew Nao couldn't exactly see her face, but Nao knew the tone of Azure's voice enough she could hear the playfulness in her tone. "And if you don't want to talk, I can always encourage you to~" she added.... yes, that's certainly the hairbrush tapping her lightly on the hip. Since she was sitting, that was as close as Azure could get to its normal target. "Don't apologize. Fix it."
Verloren: Nao's fingers sink slightly into Azure's back, her face lighting up a bit more. "...Y-Yes. I... I lost control. I'd done so much... so much to make myself more like what everyone wanted... more like what my mother wanted, too... I did my best, for so long... but it wasn't enough this time, and everything got... upset. Everything changed, and... and things were like middle school all over again, but, but more..." Nao breathes deeply. "...I don't know what to do. Chyva, she..."
JemGryphonkin: "If my friends are to be believed, she's using pheromone laced perfume of some sort."
Verloren: "...I know. I couldn't not. But that's... it's just to draw you in. ...She knows me, now. Probably better than I do."
JemGryphonkin: She reached down, while moving just enough so that Nao's face wasn't nestled quite as closely between Azure's breasts, putting a finger on the bottom on Nao's chin to look her in the eyes. "Chyva doesn't matter. What she knows or thinks she knows doesn't matter. You are the person I love. I don't care about princes or money or fame or fortune. I want you for you. If you're happier not having the prince facade on, then I'll be happy to just be girls together with you. Instead of just teaching me how to value myself and be pretty... we can value ourselves together, and be beautiful together. Because you are beautiful to me. More beautiful than anyone I've ever seen." And she smiled with her heart leaping in joy; this is what she needed, this is what she wanted. "And if you'd rather put the facade back on, that's fine too. You can rock both; you are amazing at everything you do." A sly grin. "And I mean everything," she added with a giggle. "You've done yourself a disservice, though, I think; hiding behind the prince's mask so long that it became who you were. Even I, who was closest to you could only sort of see through it. Now you need to find yourself, and find who you are. And I want to walk that path with you every step of the way. To hell with what that woman thinks she knows. We will find the real you together." And then she gently pushed up further on Nao's chin to angle her face up just a bit more, and just like on that first night when Azure was the broken one, she kissed Nao. Unlike that time, it wasn't the shy, almost chaste kiss of a girl who is just realizing her feelings, though. It's the passionate kiss of a woman who is reclaiming what she feels is her own.
Verloren: Nao leans forward a little, accepting and returning the kiss, content to just be like that with her, for now... but, eventually, it breaks, and Nao leans back into her seat, pulling Azure forward with her, unwilling to break the embrace in the same way. "...God, I really do love you. You're more than I had ever thought... more than I could bring myself to hope for. ...But I'm not deserving of you." Nao's near elated voice sinks back down to her weaker sound. "...I can't hate her like you do. I..."
JemGryphonkin: "You do deserve me. ...and I don't hate her." Azure's own voice was quiet in the empty room. "The first point first." She maintained eye contact as she spoke. "I would be literally dead if not for you." Her voice held no sarcasm, no exaggeration; cold, hard, facts. "You saved my life. I can never repay you enough for that. But, I intend to try, and I'll start with that by never letting you go, and trying to never let you feel alone or ashamed or anything else, because with you by my side everything is right." She took a... very slightly shaky... breath. "As for Chyva... She is what she is. I truly believe in my heart, after speaking to many people... friends, legendary duelists, people around her... she probably truly thought she was helping you. Because she saw what you were acting as, and how it wasn't truly you. I knew it as well, but I was weak before; I didn't have the will to try to tell you that you didn't have to be the facade. I tried to get you to let it go when we were alone, but it wasn't enough. She probably wanted to save you from yourself. I think she was succesful in that. I don't approve of some of her methods. I don't appreciate her trying to taunt me over what happened... I don't know if you were aware when I was watching the other night. But I'm not jealous of her. I don't hate her. I simply don't care about her; she's not important in my life. As long as you are by my side, she's literally nothing to me. Hate implies I care. You're the only one I care about. Don't hate her. Be thankful for her for showing you that you really need to find out who you truly are. But walk that path with me."
Verloren: "...I care, though..." The words that leave Nao's mouth undoubtedly are what's shaking her so much as to feel unworthy.
JemGryphonkin: Azure smiled. "And that's fine. No one faults you for caring. You have a loving heart, my beautiful Nao. You can care, you can be thankful. Just... remember that just as I'm yours, you belong to me. I don't want to have to call her out with sabers at noon to fight for your hand. But I will if I have to go that far for you. I'll go to the ends of the earth for you. I'll fight gods and demons for you. ...and I'll make it so you are the one who can't sit if I need to prove a point." The brush taps against her hip twice to reinforce the point. "I don't fault you," she added after a moment. "Remember, I'm the first one to have admitted feeling attraction to her... And that was after a minute long run in. And she's a genuine person. Everyone I've talked to has agreed that she's simply an amazing leader, and she honestly cares about everyone. She's worth admiring and caring about." Azure shook her head, though. "But I love you. And I want you back. That's all there is to it. I will quite enthusiastically insist. And if she's as good a person as everyone thinks she is, she'll accept that."
Verloren: Nao blushes deeply and fidgets with the ring on her finger. "...I-I, y-you know... I'm the first... I'm special to her, just like I'm special to you..."
JemGryphonkin: Part of her was afraid to ask the question that threatened to escape her lips. After a brief moment, she sighed. It had to be said, she couldn't let Nao flounder in confusion. "This is in a lot of ways your decision, my love. I won't take you away against your will. I want you. I want all of you, given willingly. And I intend to make her know that. But I can't steal you. You aren't a bauble to parade on my arm. You're my beautiful lady who taught me how to love myself. ... If you would rather go to her, I'll not bother you again. And I can hope that should you truly want me, she'd respect you enough to let you make your decision, just as I will." Azure was further convinced by this exchange an earlier suspicion; Chyva was almost doubtless a seed like they were.
Verloren: "...I just... I don't know how I'm supposed to just choose." She looks rather defeated at the mere concept. "The two of you have both been... very different, a-and yet, I love both... I want to walk beside you... but I want to follow beside her. I want to hold you, and I want to be held by her... I just..." Admitting all this finally breaks what she's been holding back, and tears start welling up in her eyes. "...I don't deserve your forgiveness... cheating like this... falling for someone like this..."
JemGryphonkin: "It is what it is. It's no excuse, but I almost promise you she's a seed like we are," she said, invoking the ba'al problems for the first time. "There's a inherent attraction between seeds. Pretty sure Akahito still loves me, too." She pulled Nao back against her chest. "You may not feel you deserve my forgiveness. But you have it. I can never hate you, Nao. I can never be anything but in love with you. Let me make you mine once more." A playful smile crossed her lips. "Or I might have to go and make her mine too, and have both of you."
Verloren: "...w-well, it would certainly make this a lot easier on me..." Nao attempts to joke... but, well, it has a lot more truth in it than she wants to admit.
JemGryphonkin: Azure giggled. "How about I steal you away for a bit. I know you know what she uses, but it's power is undeniable. Give it some time to clear your system, then see if you can decide? If not, I might just have to fight her for you. And I might just cheat to win you back... Because I'll do literally anything for you. If I have to try to claim both of you... I might be convinced. It was pointed out to me not long ago how comparatively short in history the concept of monogamy is. If I have to do that to have you, I will." there's no hesitation or deception in her voice. "I prefer not sharing because I'm crazy and selfish, but I will not back down."
Verloren: "...It, it's not your fault or anything..." Nao speaks in a soft whimper. "I wouldn't... I didn't want to ever have to... and yet, now..."
JemGryphonkin: "And I didn't want to end up how I am. But I am, and you have, and just like in Duel monsters, we have to deal with the hands we are given."
Verloren: "...Speaking of that, something has felt... off. And your hair is all..."
JemGryphonkin: "Yeah, I went through a brief goth period," Azure deadpanned. In a quick move, she changed their positions; where Nao had been sitting and embracing a standing Azure, Azure moved; not so much sitting on Nao's lap in a submissive way as they'd done so many times before, but straddling Nao's legs. "I've never lied to you in my life, Nao," she said; One arm was still over Nao's shoulder, hand resting at the back of her neck. The other very conspicuously put the hairbrush in Nao's lap... leaning against one of Azure's thighs. "And I don't instead to start now or ever. There is a time and a place to discuss what's happened to me in the last week or so... but I don't think that time is now." Even with their difference in height standing, sitting on top of Nao like this put her a half head above Nao in eye level. "...it sticks in my pride as a woman a bit, that she's managed to find a place in your heart. Part of me wants to take you and run away with you, and never look back... but that would make me no better, would it? Either way, you might come to resent me, for leaving you without someone who is precious to you..." she whispered.
Verloren: Nao can't help but shift a little underneath her, intimiately aware of how their bodies press together; the soft feeling of the girl she loves against her... in her arms... where they always should have been. Together. "I... I'm sorry." She tells her once again, nuzzling against Azure's neck as her hands once again knead just a little into her back. "Maybe you were right. Maybe I do need some time... and either way, I don't know how much I could ever apologize for what I've done. But... as much as I want to be yours... right now, I still... I lost." Her body quivers a little, under the statement.
JemGryphonkin: "Tell me honestly. Without the influence of what she uses, take a moment to think clearly. Do you want us both? Is that the desire of your heart, my love?"
Verloren: "I... I'm not sure how much of it as deep... I mean... I know I want to be with you." She starts, her eyes turning away at the rather shameful admission she's about to make. "...But it feels so incredibly good to be with her, a-and the way she treats me is..." The sentence just kind of trails off there - Nao can't even bring herself to say it.
JemGryphonkin: "Better."
Verloren: "...I, it's not like that..."
JemGryphonkin: Azure smiles gently. "I told you at the start I would accept you as you are, didn't I? If this is your desire, I'll accept it too. I'll try to make peace with Chyva. ...perhaps her and my dynamic need to get ironed out, but it wouldn't be fair to you for either of the people you love to be taken from you, would it? And I can't deny at least some level of attraction to her myself. ...and given all of our natures, I believe that feeling is mutual... or can be."
Verloren: "...maybe... I, I mean, maybe if you were a bit more..." Nao shakes her head, cutting herself off.
JemGryphonkin: "...what, assertive?" Azure said, as her hand at the back of Nao's neck moved into a grip, pulling Nao's face to hers for another kiss. After it broke, she smiled again. "... I can be, but I don't know if I can to the degree you desire."
Verloren: They part with a blush from Nao, and she shivers a little. "...nhh... I-I didn't tell you about... about before I came here, did I...?"
JemGryphonkin: "You told me you hadn't worn the prince's persona til your second year, but you didn't elaborate."
Verloren: "B, before I came here, I had a friend I went to school with... we weren't really, like... a thing like this, but... she always was going shopping with me and having me dress up in all sorts of things... she's where I started dressing a bit more boyish, because she enjoyed that kind of thing..." Nao's voice sinks a bit quieter. "...s-so when Chyva dressed me up... brought me along like that, tied to her... I-I... it reminded me of my old friend... and was kind of really hot."
JemGryphonkin: She nodded. "...my own admission time. Because Chyva knows this, thanks to one of my friends, and before we move any further, and before I talk to Chyva, you need to know after all. I can't be selfish." A brief pause. "One of your fears about me has come true. Perhaps in a more... literal sense than you expected." Her hands moved back from Nao, and undid the hairtie. And with a sigh of dread... she willed a few strands into a snake, for just a moment. "But my promise to you still holds. I am still me, even as I've been given back that which I once cast off."
Verloren: Nao freezes up, her breath catching in her throat. "T, that... that..." The words come with more labored breaths, as if on the verge of hyperventilating.
JemGryphonkin: "Shhh," she whispered, stroking Nao's hair gently. "...I don't want to frighten you. That's why it's better you hear it from me. This actually happened the very night you left. It was a hard few days for me... The seal is weakening. The fight isn't over. I won't stop fighting on the front lines. Perhaps that's another reason I can consider that which I never have... and share you with the "prince". Because that way if I don't make it back one day, you'll still have someone to keep you safe," she said, her own voice catching at the admission.
Verloren: Nao pulls her into a very tight hug. "...Don't do that to me, please... Not again, not after..."
JemGryphonkin: "I'll do my best not to. But I'm not going to lie. The Devourer wants me personally. I don't intend to lose, and I can cheat like they can in duels now... That's... why I'm going to send you back to Chyva. I will talk to the both of you later today. And I'll work something out with Chyva. I want you, that will never change. But you want us both, and I respect that," she added. "And you'll need her if I fail. I won't take you from her and then destroy you myself. ...because I do love you. And if what you want is both of us, how can I say no?" Her voice did have a bit of a forlorn note to it, though.
Verloren: Nao bites back words - there's so much she wants to say, so much about this that is wrong... but this is what Azure's decided. All she can do is support her, so long as she feels that way... and maybe, maybe when they talk about this with Chyva, things will work out better than this... depressing feel. "...R, right..."
JemGryphonkin: "... this isn't what I want though," she added. "...I want what's mine. I want to be a selfish child. But I don't know if you can forgive me for it if I am. ...I'm a mess of contradictions, aren't I? I want you to myself, but I want to protect you from myself. I'm human... and not. The only thing that isn't contradictory is how I want to strip you right here in this classroom and have my way with you."
Verloren: Of course, Nao can't help but turn as red as her dress. "...I, I don't mind... I don't want to be selfish, either. I don't want to hurt you because of my own mistakes, either. So... if you want something... press forward. Just... make sure to come back to me."
JemGryphonkin: "Can you forgive me if I try to steal you from the prince?" she said, as calmly as she could as she slid her hands under Nao's shirt. "As long as I promise to come home?"
Verloren: The older blue's back arches a little under the touch. "Nnnh... try, if you want...~ I won't hold it against you... if you can replace her entirely... I wouldn't mind that at all."
JemGryphonkin: "Well then..." Azure said, lust in her eyes. "Then we'll finish up here, and then I'll have to go have a chat with Chyva."
Last edited by JemGryphonkin on Fri Sep 22, 2017 9:59 am; edited 1 time in total | |
| | | JemGryphonkin
Posts : 35 Join date : 2016-01-03
| Subject: Re: Seaside Stories Fri Sep 22, 2017 9:58 am | |
| - Azure's Confession:
Today wasn't a day Azure was feeling anxious. She was just resigned. The gentle reminders from Chyva, the annoyed texts from Griffin, all of this was leading to the same result. It was time to tell all.
She set up the phone linked to her TV in her dorm room. She was alone; she had even specifically asked Nimi not to be present, and asked Talon to keep her thoughts and words to herself. This was a case where Azure had to be Azure, and deal with the problem she had been dodging for quite some time now.
And so, she started the video call.
When the streams connected, Diane's sitting on her couch... and her jaw drops at the sight of Azure. "Your.... hair..." She whispered.
Azure nervously chuckled. "Yeah. This isn't what I was dodging you about, it's just a symptom."
Diane's eyes focused then on Azure fully. "You said you wanted to tell me "everything"? What does that even mean?"
Azure sighed, sitting on the edge of her bed. "...this is going to be hard to believe. But with the real news of what happened at the Vanguard tournament being public knowledge now..."
"What, that it was allegedly some sort of alien gods fighting?" Diane said.
"That's literally exactly what it was."
"….what."
"Well, let me start from the actual start. It was like my second or third week here when this kid from the Red Dorm had a card printed by a company called "RD" that could cause actual damage..."
And so, over the span of the next two hours with very little interruption, she told her mom everything. From Akahito and his pendulums explaining away her broken rib from earlier in the year... to finding out about the Ba'al... to the plan to eliminate Monochrome the Corrupter, and the subsequent introduction of the force she named Talon... The discovery of the Sovereign, and the plan to help the Lesser Ba'al... cleansing her dark half and the Gorgon's birth... the reason behind her duel with Midori... Being held out of the Vanguard tournament by Nao... The existence of the Flowers from the future... The pieces of her Talon zombifying people... Kendar's Hard Light Duel Disks... and finally, being fused with Talon once again. About the only things she left out where the details of her getting loyalty from some of the Lesser Ba'al, as well as... the whole Chyva thing. Her mom, in text, had sounded hesitantly accepting of her choice of love life, she didn't want to throw the addition of a third woman into it to make her mom freak out of non-important matters.
Diane sighed as she looked at her daughter. "...this is really hard to actually believe."
"I know. Which is why I'm going to prove to you the most impossible to believe part. Once that's fact, the rest should just fall into place. That's why I've made this a video call." Azure took a breath... and her hair formed into multiple snakes, which all moved into position to gaze at the screen as well.
...and her mother's scream froze in her throat as she saw her beautiful daughter, turned into a raven-haired Medusa before her.
"It is what it is, mom. I'm done hiding the truth, and I want you to believe in me and trust me. I'm sorry I've been avoiding your calls, but since this happened," she added, as she let the snakes drop back down into normal hair, "...I haven't known what to say. How do you tell someone not involved in this that you've become what is essentially a demigoddess of pain from another world?"
"...by just doing this." Diane said. She looked almost in tears, but not in fear or pain, but in worry. "I know you have your... your girlfriend... but you don't have to deal with this without support. It's hard to believe, but with or without your proof, I do believe you Azure. And I love you, no matter what. I'm always going to support you."
"….Mom..."
"Any time you need someone to talk to, no matter how crazy it sounds, we're here for you, okay?"
"...yeah." Azure was crying now, lightly, but with a smile on her face. Pure relief. "I was so worried you wouldn't accept it or wouldn't believe..."
"Well, you surprised me with the thing about Nao before, and I didn't react well, I'll admit. But... you're my beautiful daughter, and no matter what I accept you. Now, go kick some evil alien butt like the Talon you are." Diane paused, then she laughed quietly. "Literally, I guess."
Azure wiped away her tears, looking at her mother's face with confidence. "We will. I love you, mom."
"Love you too, sweetie."
| |
| | | MonsterMashMC
Posts : 11 Join date : 2017-03-07
| Subject: Re: Seaside Stories Sun Sep 24, 2017 6:57 pm | |
| - Tilia's Recovery:
Roughly a week after her accident, Tilia awakens to the room around her.... Where was she? This wasn't anywhere she recognized.... Clothes were on a chair near her bed, a chair? Why was there a chair in her room? It made no sense to her, what had happened... She was drawing a blank, it hurt her to think. In fact it hurt her to keep her eyes open, therefore she slept.
Time passed and she woke up again, everything was certainly hurting less, and the world continued to be a muted grey, it was certainly still bright but everything was almost the same shade. she could tell the shapes of everything, and the distinct shades of the objects around her let her know where one ended and another began. She tried to stand up to get out of bed only to hear alarms going off as soon as she touched the floor. People come running in and ease her back into the bed as a fluid is injected into her IV, she passes out fairly quickly afterwards. The memory was a blur, but she could recognize that they had worried tones even if they seemed slightly angry.
The next day, Tilia awakens again. She tries to move around only to find that she's changed rooms. Nothing in here looks the same, and the walls seem to be padded with some kind of soft material. Obviously she had been moved to a Psychiatric ward, and this was going to be her room from now on. Everything is different and the one thing she is permitted is her old set of clothes along with the cards she had when she came in... She began to play, she seemed to instinctively remember how the cards worked together even though she couldn't recall ever seeing this deck before. Predaplant was a common word amongst most of the cards.
As of now, she is stuck in the mental ward, the others seem to shy away from her for some reason she can't explain whenever she's among the others. Perhaps it's because she's been so quiet, but as of yet she's found no reason to talk. She doesn't see these people as someone she should know. However one name kept popping into her head throughout this experience. Tabooru. She heard that someone with that name had visited her, but it seemed she couldn't put a face to the name... In fact that seemed to be more common than ever as she saw people move around. Red Dorm, Tabooru, Ba'al, Duel Monsters. These were the few words she could piece together right now, but she seemed to recall events related to all these things. The ba'al and Duel Monsters being two of the most common. People had taught her how to play the game, She had been going to a school for it apparently. Memories were pieced together, and events became a cohesive timeline. The only things that were lacking were faces and names. She had a set goal, she needed to reclaim the memory of who she had known in the duel academy. The problem with that would be figuring out where she was first.
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