dreamcrystals | The Bahummiest of Humbugs

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.

I learned a few things myself, but I'm not sure that any of it makes sense.

[It might have, even though he wasn't in much of a laughing mood. At least their conversation was acting as a distraction, something he sorely needed and wouldn't admit to.]

You said it, not me.

That sounds... like the best offer I'm going to get. Deal. If you don't remember any of the rules, I'll try to refresh your memory.

I don't understand the whole 'different' timelines situation. You also encountered that at one point in the other place, right? With Yugi.

[ Something about the future... even if it's a little different, it's still timey-wimey shenanigans. ]

I was just saying what we both know you were thinking, let's be real.

I'm definitely gonna need a refresher. Also, if we have regular cards, we could probably try to play something like 21 later, too. I'm actually getting better a poker, too... except we don't have chips, which sucks. I guess we could use cookies.

Mm, I did. I haven't forgotten that. Some of the things he explained to me were to absurd to disregard.

[.. and also contributed to some of Kaiba's new plans/ side-projects.]

Akechi plays chess, right?

[Not that the prospect of playing a round with him was anymore appealing...]

I'll make it simple. It'll be like playing with two starter decks. It shouldn't be hard to find a deck of playing cards. Surely, that's something that could be procured here. By 21, you mean... Blackjack?

Kinda crazy how it works like that, huh? To be fair, that time I went home, I couldn't recall anything that had happened in that other place. When I came back, it was like it all hit me at once. It felt really weird.

[ Not a fun experience, to say the least...

...that next bit has her arching a brow. ]

He does! He's very good at it, too, from what Ren has told me. Would you like me to ask him if he'd be interested in a match?

[ Because she will. Also, killing two birds with one stone here: keeping her competitive boyfriend busy, and also mmmmaybe a chance for Akechi to meet someone new, too. ]

I'd appreciate that! Sorry you're stuck dueling me, though. I'll do my best! [ Even though they both know she's going to lose MISERABLY-- ] Yeah, Blackjack. Sorry, I guess it's called so many things all over the world and yet somehow '21' is what stuck. Also--

[ Hear that? That's the sound of the door opening and shutting. ]

--honey, I'm home~

Yeah well... I'm still working on making a counter to that.

[The last thing he wanted to do was permanently lose all his memories of his experiences over the last few years. ~~Or of her~~]

It might not be the best method to obtain your aims.

[Not that he was completely ruling out the idea. This was one of those situations he could reference prior experience. This Akechi was likely still fairly competitive but perhaps not receptive to the sort of banter that Kaiba engaged in. He could just keep his mouth shut... and focus on the game more than gaining a psychological advantage.]

Keep talking and I might change my mind. We'll... just see how it goes, alright? No apologies necessary.

Calling it that likely helps you remember the rules.

[At the sound of the door clicking open, he sat back and leaned in his chair to get a view of the threshold. Sure enough, Ann was back already. He placed the journal aside, and stood up only standing there briefly as he straightened his attire.]

That... didn't take you very long at all. [And why should it have..? She said it would be just a few minutes.]

I'm very unsurprised, and I have all the faith in the world that you'll be successful.

[ So, he's already caught onto her plan, huh... ]

Maybe, maybe not. Guess we'll have to wait and see, hm?

[ She has a feeling that the two of them, while they might not get along, they're not going to full blown hate each other, either. Especially if they can focus on nerd things like chess and whatever else intellects like them enjoy doing. ]

Sounds good to me, and yep, you're absolutely right.

[ She's glad to be home, the chicken was delicious and she's always going to love every second spent with her friends, and while his little rant about Christmas had been super annoying (this is NOT HER FIRST TIME HEARING IT THANKS--), it was also a little worrisome. So it's good to see him as she rounds the corner, and she flashes him a bright smile as she makes her way over to him, happily wrapping her arms around him and leaning up to press a kiss against his cheek in her usual greeting. ]

I power walked! I wanted to get home to you as soon as possible. [ Also, power walking burns off calories... ] I'm gonna get settled, why don't you start putting our decks together and I'll start prepping stuff for cookies? If that sounds okay to you, that is.

It would be a lot simpler if there were the necessary tools and equipment available here... but I'll adapt something.

[Kaiba almost started to go into more detail but then.. he remembered who he was talking to.

The more intellectual subjects might manage to yield some common ground between the two. It wasn't the worst angle for Ann to try and exploit. There wasn't much time for him to dwell on that scheme as Ann entered their shared domicile. To him it looked as if she was quite pleased with herself. As she drew near, he unconsciously leaned a little lower to make it easier on her to hit her target. Then he straightened back up as if it had never happened.]

I told you.. that wasn't really necessary. I found ways to amuse myself. [.. By being a nuisance to everyone else on over the journals! That would be another added benefit to her being here, he would have to stow that away for a later time.] You could have taken your time.

Mm, sound fair enough to me. [Giving a bit of a shrug, as he went to collect his cards. The decks would have to be fairly balanced, or he'd just steamroll her immediately... and there would go his distraction.] Did you think about what kind of shapes you were going to make or did you decide against sugar cookies? [Not that it was the most fascinating subject for conversation.. he should express some interest.]

The Bahummiest of Humbugs

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