dreamcrystals | The Bahummiest of Humbugs

And this is why I'm spending the holiday with my friends this year.

Merry Christmas, babe!

[Don't think he didn't notice that you bailed on him!]

I appreciate not being invited. Saved me the trouble of saying no.

[ Oh, come on, you would have said-- ]

Exactly, you would have said no. Anyways, I'll be home in a few hours and we can do something then, although something tells me you're less than heartbroken to have me out of your hair for a while.

[Even fussy people like to be asked. What, are you embarrassed by him?]

Says the person that couldn't wait to run off to spend time with her friends...

It's fine. I can find ways to entertain myself.

[ Do you want an honest opinion on that? ]

Sorry I'm excited to have my friends here, hon.

Do you WANT to come over? I'm sure they wouldn't mind. I can ask them. But you know the second you start talking shit, we're going to fight about it. Just putting that out there right now.

I'm glad to hear that. What are you plans, then?

[Depends on whether you want to be sleeping on the couch or not]

I didn't say there was anything wrong with that.

Oh gee, I could spend a fakey made up holiday with a bunch of los...people I've never really gotten a long with. Sounds like the best time ever.

[Can you feel the sarcasm in those words? At least he left out the part about one of her friends being a suspected murderer]

Don't concern yourself with my plans.

[He's probably going to brood in their empty apartment, thinking about everything he should have been doing but couldn't because he was here... and totally trying to not think about his brother...]

Edited 2022-12-26 22:55 (UTC)

[ The couch is sounding a little cozy right now anyways... ]

It'd be better than hanging out by yourself, but to each their own. I can remember a time a few years ago that I felt the same way.

[ Yeah, and she's about done with it, thanks. ]

Okay. Happy belated anniversary, by the way.

[ WHY CAN'T YOU JUST BE MORE OPEN WITH HER ABOUT YOUR FEELINGS SETO??? You and your stupid 'made up holiday' crap.... ]

[Osnap]

In reality, you're relieved... aren't you?

[There, he said it]

Are... you trying to guilt trip me?

[BECAUSE THE BEST WAY TO SHOW YOUR FEELINGS IS BY ACTING AGGITATED AND UNAPPROACHABLE]

Whatever, have a good evening.

[Genuine of more sarcasm? Hard to tell. In reality he might have thought he overstepped a little because guilt trip or no... he hadn't done anything special for their anniversary this year. That was true]

Edited 2022-12-26 23:28 (UTC)

Yes and no. I want you to get along with my friends, I want you to all like each other. But after knowing each other as long as we have now, I know that's not anything that's ever going to happen, so I've given up on that. Which is a shame, because I'd like to be spending the holiday with all of us together, but we don't always get what we want.

[ There, she said it too, dammit. ]

No, not at all. I just remembered that our anniversary was a few days ago. It's easy to lose track of time when you're tossed around from place to place, as I'm sure you've felt yourself.

[ STOP BEING THE WAY YOU ARE ]

I mean it, I'm coming home in a few hours. Is there anything you'd like to do this evening? And please don't start with the 'blah blah commercial holiday', because I'm not talking about exchanging gifts.

[ Listen, it's not like she made any attempt at making anything special happen this year, either. This year has been more than crazy for both of them and she's not even mad about that. She's just... glad they ended up together. Again. ]

Hey! Don't act like it's all my fault. You know the animosity hasn't been entirely one-sided.

[In another dimension.. far, far, away. Kaiba hadn't really given the phantom thieves much of a chance this round. At least, not yet.]

Hmm. That's... plausible. I guess.

[Still feeling a little uncertain on that due to his foul mood more than anything]

You'll be tired after your outing. I wouldn't make any arrangements you might have to change.

[Salt. He's loaded with it. Normally, he could appreciate the significance of them both ending up in the same place yet again, but some nights... he was just ornery and unable to please.]

100% agreed, but you know that these aren't the same people, right? I'd be the first to tell you that the ones we dealt with in that place weren't... right. At all.

[ At. All. ]

I'm serious. Anyways, we can celebrate it later, right? After all of the general merry making partying crap is done here, what with what I can only assume is New Year coming up too.

[ She stares wearily at her journal... and heaves a sigh. ]

I think you know it takes a little more than hanging out with friends and harassing Goro with fried chicken for a few hours to tire me out. I mean it, if you think of something you want to do, or a place you want to spend time, let's do it. I literally have nothing to do after this, and even this was super impromptu. It's Christmas, and you're my favorite person so I'd kinda like to get a little bit of time with you, too, y'know.

They... look similar.

[Kaiba added weakly, knowing that it was a poor argument. He knew enough about the multiverse now to accept what she said to be true. They might look like the people he met before, but they were different from the ones he knew personally. ~~That still didn't erase the image of Akechi covered in someone else's blood however...~~]

Mm. It can be whenever we decide, there's no need to be harnessed by convention.

[It's not hard to tell, even through text that he's irritating her]

We'll see. It's not like you won't know where to find me. I'll be... at home.

[Doing absolutely nothing because he lied about having plans. This was pathetic.]

Edited 2022-12-27 01:06 (UTC)

They look identical. But I promise you, this particular version is nothing like his counterpart. He's... normal. Like what I can remember at home, and I'm really grateful for that.

[ The always-there-for-his-friends-and-strangers-alike-without-having-to-be-over-the-top-and-the-center-of-attention...... like the last one. ]

Exactly. Besides, isn't there a phrase for that? Something along the lines of 'fashionably late'?

[ Aha, of course he's going to brood at home. That's okay, though. That'll make it easier to find him, at least. ]

I think I'll leave early, then. Give me ten minutes and I'll be home. Figure out something for us to do, because if I find something, you might not like it. As a matter of fact, ideas are already starting to pop into my head.

[ He's going to hate baking cookies....... ]

Why do I get the feeling that we're specifically only talking about Amamiya?

[~~You know why Kaiba~~]

I can't promise anything.. but if I run into him I'll try not to hold the alternate dimension against him.

[He added those words with some reluctance]

That phrase is more in reference to being late to a party or pre-organized function. In this case.. we're only late if we deem it so.

[There are no decent places to brood here.. like an office high rise]

You really... don't have to do that.

[How is it going to look if she bails on her friends early because it looks like her boyfriend is checking up on her? It's not good]

Because you haven't met Futaba yet that I'm aware of, and also, because we are. I can vouch for Goro too, though. He isn't quite the same as you last recall him.

[ He literally let her drag him onto a janky ass ride during the carnival. They also had a detailed discussion about the Wizard of Oz. Crazy. ]

I really appreciate that, babe. That's all I can ask for, and considering he has no clue who you are currently, I'm certain he'll extend that same courtesy.

[ And more, because... well, he's Ren. But she's not going to go on about that, because she doesn't want to irritate her dearly beloved any further. ]

I want to. Unless you legit don't want me to come home, then I'll hang out a little longer I guess.

I have met Akechi here but the circumstances were... unusual.

[There was also that Kasumi/Sumire girl...]

He doesn't? That reminds me. Have you told anyone about us yet?

[It was just something he needed to know. It could alter his initial conversations with them by some small margin. Truthfully he wasn't sure what would be more awkward so no matter how she answered it wouldn't make much difference. If only there was some kind of manual for this...]

I just don't want you to feel like you have to.

Uh-oh, unusual how?

[ Inquiring minds would like to know... ]

I told Futaba! I dunno if I've mentioned it to the boys yet, though. They haven't said anything, and I don't think tonight is probably the best time either. I feel like introducing you to them would be the best course of action, because I know I have mentioned you to them.

[ Just not as her boyfriend. Details.]

I don't feel like I have to. I want to. I love you, genius.

[ Because she does, even if he royally pisses her off sometimes... you know. Like complaining about the holidays ~~and spitting truths about them that she doesn't want to hear right now dammit~~. ]

Probably shouldn't discuss it over these... not sure how secure they are.

[That might give her some indication about how unusual it was however]

Perhaps that would be for the best. Taking the prior introductions into account, should give me an advantage in ensuring that things will be different here.

[Not that he really wanted to try and impress Ann's friends but... even he had to admit that his approach could use some tweaking. Was is strange to feel a little nervous about this? Why did relationships have to be so complicated?]

.. Fried chicken shouldn't put anyone in such an affectionate mood. Is that really all you're having?

[Not that she didn't often tell him similar.]

I'm.. not much company tonight. I'm giving you fair warning if you want to reconsider.

Agreed. Still, I had no idea you bumped into him.

[ Hoo boy... does it ever. ]

I think Futaba will want to try and interrogate you, to be honest, but she's pretty harmless. Actually, the two of you should get along well. She's a hacker. Was? She's super tech savvy. Goro is who he is, and Ren... well. Ren is definitely not who you remember, I promise.

[ Okay, that line about the fried chicken actually makes her snort, and she ducks down a little in her seat to hide it. ]

Unless this place has laced it with something, yeah, I'm pretty sure that's all I'm ingesting. Maybe I can crush it up and try to smoke it later.

[ She won't really. Probably. ]

That's okay, I don't mind. As long as I get to spend time with you, that's all I care about.

Didn't I mention it before..? Eh, guess I forgot.

[Or omitted. Either way.]

Just because we have similar interests, doesn't mean we'll hit it off. You realize that, right? I wouldn't place your expectations too high. I'm sure I can take any question she fires at me. Is there anything I need to know about them so I don't commit any unintentional faux pas? Are Akechi and Amamiya..... you know.... a thing?

[Not that it should come up, but it's something that could always slip out]

I'm just going to assume that you're kidding. It's hard to tell sometimes.

I'll try to think of something we can do that won't drive either of us nuts... but it's not going to be easy in this backwater town.

Edited 2022-12-28 01:45 (UTC)

You did not, in fact. This is the first I'm hearing of it. I can't wait to hear the rest of it when I get home.

[ Considering she hasn't heard Akechi say shit about the encounter... maybe it's not too terrible. ]

I do, but I have high hopes. She's also a little shy around new people, so, try and cut her a little slack maybe. She'll open up. As for Goro and Ren, no I don't think so. I haven't noticed anything of the sort, at least. So for now, I'm gonna say no.

[ There is chemistry between the two, though. It's always been undeniable... ]

:)

I can teach you how to bake cookies if you want. Something tells me you've never done it yourself.

[CONVENIENTLY NEGLECTS TO REPLY TO THE FIRST PART. She could still forget on the way home... or he could just come out with it. It was just one of those bizarre immersive dreams, there was probably no harm in mentioning it. It had been long enough now that it would be easier to discuss as well..]

It's not as if I go out of my way to make people uneasy.

[~~Don't let lightning strike him down for sending that one~~]

Got it. That's certainly worth noting. So you've met Akechi, Ren, and Futaba here.... was there anyone else?

[Maybe that other girl wasn't a phantom thief afterall, but that get up.... looked like she'd fit right in.]

I said something that won't drive us both nuts.

[Turning his nose up to the idea of baking such a thing himself. Cookies weren't exactly nutritious and they would be high on the messy scale. If there was one thing he didn't appreciate..... it was a mess.]

Why haven't video games been invented yet here... a dream world should be filled with them. We could play some duel monsters.

[The most seasonal of games]

[ AN ELEPHANT NEVER FORGETS SETO ]

Of course you don't, hon.

[ Of course.... you don't. ]

Yeah, there's another girl from my world too. Sumire Yoshizawa. She seems to know me, but I've never met her before at home. The others know her, too, so I'm the odd man out. Our memories of events don't exactly match up.

[ Which is a damn shame, because she'd like to know the things everyone else knows too. Alas, she does not, and she's at least over the confusion it caused.]

Oh, it wouldn't make you nuts. What if I did all the prepping and cleaning myself? I could even bake you a blue eyes white sugar cookie. Then again, I wouldn't mind making an attempt at duel monsters, but only if you promise not to rage quit on me for sucking.

[~~I thought Ann was supposed to be a cat~~]

That's what I thought. I have actually met her as well... also under unusual circumstances. It's peculiar but something about her seemed familiar.

Ugh, I get so tired of these mind games.

[The hazards of interdimensional travel.]

......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

I can't make that promise. So.. cookies it is. You're not any good at chess are you?

[Still trying to slip games in there]

[ ~~She is a shape shifter~~ ]

I know a little about her just from things she herself has told me, along with Futaba. Things I'll talk further about once I'm home. Which, by the way, I've already started walking.

[ The look on her face right now when he agrees to cookies would probably make even him laugh a little because, wow. She wasn't expecting that. At least he's being honest. ]

Babe, you know I'm not smart enough for chess. Okay, let's make a compromise: let's start the cookies, and while they're baking, start a game of duel monsters. Even if you rage quit and flip the table, I won't be mad, I promise.

The Bahummiest of Humbugs

Sender: Ann Takamaki

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