ohmyarceus | Test Drive Meme - January & February edition

[Joey might not think that if he realized just who Chazz idolized the most... I mean he has run a XYZ-Dragon Cannon Deck before.]

Course I do! Any duelist that knows anything about the game knows who you are.

[.. And Kaiba, and the King of Games himself: Yugi. If it had been anyone else the pose might have been cheesy but as a legendary duelist you can act however you like.]

You know it. I'm Chazz Princeton, maybe you've heard of me too?

[He can try, even if it was unlikely that Joey would have been following the school-based Genex tournament there was a chance that he had.]

Huh? You think we're all like trapped inside a computer game or something?

[That would be a first, for Chazz. He does relinquish his position in line at the dock to accompany the blond elsewhere.]

I mean- I guess it could be something like that. [.. but he sounded very uncertain] Do you think it's like a rival corporation or something that Industrial Illusions and Kaiba Corp came up with? [Actually, now that Joey put the idea out there it started to make total sense to him. When he'd had to duel his brothers to save the school from being bought out, Kaiba was aware of his selection... then with his winning the tournament recently.... he was finally getting the recognition he deserved!] Well you can keep on shooting for it but I'll be waving at you from the top spot. [It was said with a smile despite the competitive edge to it]

I mean... sure. What have I got to lose? [LIKE HE WAS GOING TO SAY NO]

[HA! Now it's his turn to be the main character. ~~no it's not~~]

Dead? How could that have happened without my knowing about it... or you meant that as a figure of speech?

[Unless Duel Academy island's volcano erupted in the middle of the night and took the whole dorm out with poison gases... it's not likely]

Oh, I'm going to return. This is all just some misunderstanding.

I'll keep that in mind. [Maybe Alexis might be among them. Imagine getting all that extra alone time with her... then maybe she'd really learn to appreciate him!] Hope there's enough to actually hold a tournament..

[That's sure not true in the reverse. That's the last thing he'd want to talk about concerning his own mom.

When he gets himself under control, he has to wipe a tear from one eye.] Course it is! Especially in some random place like this. [Hey, he'll just keep playing along and keep the peace] You're a lot younger than I expected.

( she's not bothered by much when it comes to her mom, apart from her being dead and all -- or rather she should be dead. things are complicated with ~~gods~~ kamis. )

That's fair... It is pretty random, hmm? ( it's best that he placate her -- especially because it's really her and all. she shrugs lightly. ) Bah! Amaterasu is much older than Amaterasu looks. It's hard to really put an age on the sun. ( not really, it's about 4.6 billion years. )

[After a minute Joey lifts himself from the embrace, doing his best to keep his face turned down so it's not as obvious that he'd been welling-up. As he does so he inevitably ends up sniffing and curses himself internally for being so obvious.]

I, uh, think I got something in my eye... or allergies or sumthin'.

[Dammit. Way to make it obvious Joey.]

I guess I'll need ta make sure you've da new numbah now dat you're in here eh?

[He wipes his eyes and sniffs again. Time to get some semblance of composure back before he loses it again.]

Didja just get here? If ya did, I've been here a while so I can show ya around n' stuff. Ya know, if dat's ok with you of course.

[ when he pulls back from her arms, she lowers hers and arches a brow lightly. his attempts to misguide her from what's going on really doesn't work but she's willing to let it slide— this time. ]

Probably dust.

[ there's a light teasing tone in her words. ]

That'll definitely help me with trying to contact you when I need you.

[ erp. did she say she might need him. as he wipes his eyes, she shifts and clears her throat, looking away from him. ]

I mean, uh— if I want to talk to you.

[ she attempts to get back into the conversation about being here and what it all entails, nodding. ]

Yeah, just showed up and spoke to "mom." That was a trip.

[ that woman is still definitely not her mom. mai nods, a smile tugging her lips. ]

Actually, you know, I'd appreciate that. This isn't quite Duel Monsters, after all. I hate to admit it, especially to you, but I'm very lost with this stuff.

A pleasure ta meetcha Chazz. I'm sorry ta say I don't recognize da name, but dat's not ta say you won't make one helluva name for yaself bud.

[He gives him a reassuring pat on the shoulder.]

You got pretty doggone close to my own idea about what's goin' on here, so bullseye on dat front!

[Joey gives an enthusiastic thumbs-up. For as many people as have taken the piss out of him over the years, having someone come to largely the same conclusion as him was reassuring.]

See before I got brought in here I was in dis big Kaiba Corp. game called Duel Links dat's all in virtual reality and, before dat, I'd been in a couple'a otha virtual worlds made by Kaiba Corp. as well so dis fits the bill for dat pretty much right on da money. Dis place we're in now has monstahs you can collect who've got different attacks n' levels, and all da people who weren't brought in here from otha worlds are basically NPCs. You can talk to 'em and dey'll start repeatin' dialogue in no time flat... dat's why I scooted over here instead of talkin' in front of da attendant.

[He gestures over towards the Ferry counter in a surreptitious manner.]

My thinkin is dat, with Kaiba himself here and him sayin' he's got no paht'a dis thing, it must be a virtual world cooked-up by some other big company. Whether it's someone aftah da top spot on da gamin' circuit or not doe, der's a heckuva lot ta see here.

[OOC: I accidentally hit submit before I was done with the comment, so I apologize if there's duplicate notifications.]

[Joey nods in agreement. Boy oh boy does he know what she means. Learning duel monsters was hard enough but having to learn a whole new combat system, let alone the intricacies necessary to go for the proverbial gold, was an undertaking singularly not up the alley of Joey's skillbook.]

Ah'course! Getting whisked into a whole otha world is one heckuva turn. I'm pretty sure dis place is anotha virtual world like da one we got pulled-into by da Big 5 all dat time ago, and it's got a lot in common with dis game called "Duel Links" dat I've been playin' in for Kaiba Corp's lab guys. Der's all dese different monstahs you can get in here, and some'a dem are real close to some Duel Monstahs. Pretty much everything in dis place comes down to trainin' or breedin' dose' little guys, much like how so much of da stuff back home comes back ta duelin', but that's all stuff to tackle down da road.

[Joey hopes he isn't rambling. God he's bad at this kind of thing. Does she hate him for rambling yet? He'd hate him for rambling. Get the lead out Joey!]

Ya can't drive cars n' stuff in dis place by da way. I don't know why, but it's just bikes or ridin' on da back of a Pokémon. I've got a couple'a boys you can use ta get around if you want or, if ya prefer, I've got a bike I can throw a back seat on and I can take ya wherever ya wanna go.

[He scratches at the back of his head awkwardly.]

Dis time'a year is real cold so it can be a doozy ta get around, but der's a few different ways to get from place-ta-place dat ain't too bad. I just got done gettin' da fast travel points for everything here so I'm totally free ta go with ya wherever you wanna go if ya want.

[Without realizing it, Joey is absolutely beaming at the prospect. Outside of his Pokémon team and the short gettogether with people at Christmas he's been largely by himself here. Having someone to travel with, let alone someone he feels as strongly about as Mai, was a complete about face for how he'd been living the past six months.]

[It could be!]

No, I meant literally. You woke up here, yes? We all did. It's like some bizarre social experiment via the afterlife. Why, they're even Gods here!

I do wish you luck in trying to return to your home. I've yet to find out if there is a way. Not that it matters for me.

Hmm~ You could always put out a call for Duelists. See who's all out there.

[He tries not to look too crestfallen at the dose of reality, but someone pats you on the shoulder it's hard not to feel pathetic. ~~WAIT~~. Joey Wheeler patted him on the shoulder, not just... someone. This is the most bizarre situation he's ever found himself in, and that's saying a lot, but it was paying off now.

Joey sounds so sure of himself that it's hard not to get swept into the theory.]

Duel Links? I wonder why I've never heard of it. [Maybe it was still in beta testing. You'd want the best of the best onboard to help you ensure that the system was ready to release to the public.] No way, they do? [Shooting a glance over his shoulder to the dock and back.] .. and that's why all this elevator music is playing on loop! I just thought their were hidden speakers everywhere.

[Hold the phone.] Seto Kaiba is here too?! [How much he wanted to try and play it cool but he'd already blown that 100 times over by now.] I just... I don't believe this. This is the most incredible thing that's ever happened. [Sure, Kaiba footed the bill for Duel Academy, and Chazz had seen him in a video chat once.. but the possibility that they could be sharing the same space was almost too much excitement to handle]

Edited (rewording) 2023-03-02 04:14 (UTC)

Well, yeah. I still don't think that means I'm dead. What type of Gods are we talking about here... Egyptian ones? [Again, he had to ask]

Right, because you're dead. [No sugar coating here]

Guess that's better than standing around and waiting for them to just show up.

[It's a good thing she didn't say any of that out loud. Especially the dead part. Only the dead part. If there was one thing that creeped Reki out it was ghosts, spirits, and dead people walking around like it's natural to do so.]

Definitely. [Maybe the longer he was here, he would come to believe that but right now... she's just cute girl with big delusions. There's no harm in letting her have this] I guess it's like this, you're a deity so you an look however you want.

Edited 2023-03-02 04:36 (UTC)

[Why'd he want to do that when such a cute thing is right in front of his nose. IV coos and gently touches Mai's pokemon, treating it much like a pet and an awesome toy combined.]

Someone only has himself to blame, since that someone stole my breakfast today. What's the name of this beauty?

[ harsh. good thing that wasn't voiced. ]

Funny, but something a pet would do, I suppose. Oh. Hmm? She keeps saying "Gothita," so, I suppose that's her name.

Gothita!

[ the small creature quips and gives a trill at the pet! ]

[ ooc; no big! ]

duel monsters is so ingrained into her now that it's incredibly difficult to even think of trying a whole new, different sort of battling system. she's going to try though. she'll be damned if she doesn't conquer it, too.

she raises her brows because, wow, he sure is talking, isn't he? as he rambles, she shifts from one foot to the other, setting palms to her hips. ]

Boy, Joey, you know you haven't changed much at all. Still a bit of a mess when it comes to keeping things brief, hm?

[ it's a friendly jape, really. ]

No cars, huh? That's the real bummer.

[ she does like her swag car, after all. that isn't all she takes from the information he's laid out for her though. she taps her finger against her hip before glancing away. ]

Hmm, ride with you? You trying to be my date for all traveling occasions, Wheeler? How very bold of you.

[ she can help herself but to get that in there. c'mon, we all know the gal likes to flirt! ]

( oops! good thing indeed. gods are weird, anyway. it's like one day they're alive, the next they've died and the one after that, back again! )

Speaking about being in a random place, we should look into what we're even supposed to do! ( she doesn't mind the small talk because it's nice but she's still not sure what the hey-diddle-diddle-heck is going on here. ) Oh! Yes, that too. Although really Amaterasu just mostly looks like Amaterasu's sister, Tsukuyomi! ( twins, eh? )

You can be my mom, if you want...

[Ignore him, he was star struck the moment he laid eyes on the legendary duelist that just manifested out of no where. A moment later he realizes his own stupidity, shakes his head and tries to recover from the obvious fan-worshipping stare he'd been giving her.]

I mean... yeah.... it's like a duel monster, sure. As far as I can tell we're supposed to duel with them too. A couple of duelists like us should be miles above the competition already.

Edited 2023-03-02 06:10 (UTC)

[ excuse the fuck out of her? how old does she look to you, bub!? she veers her body towards him and sets her hands onto her hips as if she's about to deliver a stern lecture but he mentions duel monsters and she relaxes-- a little. ]

So they are like Duel Monsters, just without cards. Well that's just bad form, how am I supposed to know what to attack something with? She doesn't look like she can claw something like my harpies could!

[ the gothita looks at her with a huff. ]

[Older than him? Look- he's not Bastion, he hasn't run the numbers to see if that would even be possible. Besides, he just wants to hobnob with the best of the best ok?]

Wasn't there a game like that in the past...? Capsule Monsters or something? I don't know, I didn't play it but it used the same monsters as the card game as miniatures and wasn't as popular.

[Reaching for his singular pokéball he was ready to show off his acquisition]

Get a load of the monster I got!

[Pressing down the button he let the ball fly and soon his druddigon popped out into view]

[ hobnob with the best, hmm? okay, forgiven. she is the damned best after all. ]

What are you on about, kid? I'm far too mature for that children's game.

[ she gives a flick of her hair at the word "mature" as though making a point. ]

Hmm? Oh wow, that's an interesting looking one.

[ she decides to release hers, too, having finally figured out at least a little bit about the tiny thing. she tosses her pokeball and the adorable form of gothita steps onto the scene with just enough sass to prove she belongs to mai valentine. ]

This is Gothita, she's adorable in all the best ways, isn't she?

[Just wait until Chazz realizes that this means he's going to have to compete against soooo many legendary duelists. His anxiety will go through the roof.]

Oh yeah- me too. Totally. Kid's stuff.

[He swiftly tried to distance himself from the aforementioned game in the smoothest way possible.]

Looks powerful too.

[Just the way he likes his monsters. ~~Sorry Ojama~~. When she releases her creature from it's orbed prison, he looks it over but doesn't want to be insulting so...]

I've seen worse. [Ok, that didn't come out right] I mean, she's perfect! [for you]

[Joey awkdwardly scratches at the back of his head again at being called-out. He really is bad at explaining technical stuff, especially when so much is running through his head. He's sure he can make it sensible in time, provided he gets the chance, but for now it's just a deluge.]

Y-yeah. I'm no good at explainin' it, but I swear I've gotten da hang of da actual battles! I've even gone and read different strategies n' such! Yugi's Gramps taught me better'n ta slack-off when coming-ta-grips with somethin' new.

[God he hopes he isn't coming off as too much of mess. He really has put a lot of work into getting good at this whole Pokemon thing, but he can't really say that without fear of coming off pompous.

Lost trying to sort out the jumbled knot that is his thoughts, Mai's quip about a date catches Joey completely off-guard. As it dawns on him what he'd walked himkself into his face goes beet red.]

I, uh ah, I wasn't tryin' to say a date or nuthin!

[Joey turns his face away from Mai, hoping to conceal the red-hot condition of his face.]

I just, y'know... I don't wantcha to have to go it alone.

[Realizing that might also have been too on-the-nose he quickly continues.]

Dis is a big place n' all, and der's all kinds'a hazahds n' such too. I've pretty much a solo act since comin' here, and dat was six months ago. I don't want ya to have ta do the same thing I did.

[Joey knows all-too-well how long Mai has had to be alone, and having to go it largely alone himself coming in here has him dead-set on making sure she doesn't have to do the same. Though he's not just going to come out and say it, he wants to make sure she's got someone to lean on in this crazy new world they've been sucked into.]

[ she can't help but snicker at him attempting to save face. it's cute, really. actually, why not tell him that? something tells her that the kiddo might at least blush at a compliment of sorts. ]

You're definitely not immature like those other children, hm? I'd even go as far to say you're adorable, though. And I dig the torn coat look.

[ actually the bit about the coat isn't a lie. she does, in fact, dig it. ]

It does look like it's a pretty good creature to have with you in case something happens, at least.

[ the remark does make her scoff. on the defensive, she sets a hand to her hip and points at him bitterly. ]

Excuse me, you've seen worse? How dare you insult my best girl here.

[ now she has regrets for even having complimented him at all. or his fashion sense! ]

Oh heck yeah! You noticed da music too!

[Joey gives him another triumphant thumbs-up.]

You're sure ta ge' used'ta it due to it playin' nonstop, but make sure ya never go numb ta whatcha hear playin'. Dat's anotha big thing dat makes me think dis is a game world, ya see, since da music tells ya exactly what's goin' down.

[Joey points towards the exit to town.]

See, da minute you go outside'a one'a da cities here you're gonna staht seein' wild Pokemon and even otha trainahs lookin' ta battle. Any time one'a dem trainahs sets their sights on ya, or a wild Pokemon draws near, da music will change to reflect dat.

[Doing his best to imitate the sounds of the given songs, Joey gives a quick sample of the trainer and battle themes.]

Even if you don't even see da enemy dat's comin' atcha, hearing da music change will let you know it's comin'. It's wacky, but pretty friggin' cool. Let's ya practically have eyes in da back of ya head!

[He pumps his fist enthusiastically as he finishes his sentence, clearly excited about the game mechanic he's explaining.]

Der's tons of othah cool stuff here too. It's a friggin goldmine!

Edited (Spelling errors) 2023-03-02 20:22 (UTC)

Actually, any information you can give me will be a real help. I'm definitely a queen when it comes to my harpies and dueling but this is a whole new bag of tricks to learn. I know I'm supposed to basically duel with her but I don't even know her attack, you know? No card with details on it.

[ she taps her chin. ]

Think you can at least lead me in the right direction for learning her attacks?

[ he's coming off as a bit of a mess however that's how she's always seen him, well, in his personal life at least. which is endearing, really. as a duelist, though, even mai has to admit that joey has become a pretty formidable opponent. of course, she wouldn't tell him that.

aaand now she's giving him a faux look of being hurt. she sets her palm over her heart and turns her head from him. ]

You don't want to go on a date with me? Man, I've been turned down by worse, I suppose.

[ she gives him a smile, though. it's really sweet of him to want to be there for her. mai's had... a tough time being on her own and the offer is kind of him. she buries her hands into the pockets of her skirt and half-shrugs to him. ]

Nice blush, honey.

[ alright, she can't let that one go unnoticed. sorry joey! ]

But that's sweet of you and I suppose I'll accept. It's better than being lost on my own without at least a friend around to help out.

Edited (subject line jdklfsjdls.) 2023-03-02 15:27 (UTC)

Test Drive Meme - January & February edition

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Re:

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I'm having so much fun with this. Please tell me you're considering apping. ^v^

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Just breathe, Chazz

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i miiight be. :3c

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I'M SORRY MAI

but are you really...

Calling me out like that...

always. ♡

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Re: Oooooh!

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Re: Just breathe, Chazz

seems i have an app to write up!