The Bahummiest of Humbugs

[blue_eyed_obsession]

Sender: Seto Kaiba
Subject: Regarding Christmas

I'll never understand what all the fascination is with one day that was arbitrarily chosen to be significant.

Don't hand me those lines about it being a time to show "good will" and "appreciation" for your fellow man. If people truly believed those ideals were important they wouldn't need to adhere to a schedule to be reminded to extend that gratitude, nor would it lead to the near-riots at limited time sales. Nothing says "Peace on Earth" quite like elbowing someone else out of the way so you can grab the last product off the shelf for yourself.

It's all a marketing ploy.

Believe me, I should know... I wonder what the sales figures look like this year.

Comments

[blue_eyed_obsession]

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.

[menaretrash]

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.

[blue_eyed_obsession]

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?

[menaretrash]

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~

[blue_eyed_obsession]

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.]

[menaretrash]

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.

[blue_eyed_obsession]

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.]