[Event Post]

[magmaheart]

It's the day after Yuya's been sent to the hospital. Geo's not even supposed to be working today and should be out dueling, but he's sitting at Flamvell, with a drink he hasn't even touched, scrolling through his phone and looking like he's trying to glare hard enough it'll catch on fire.

Comments

[memoryistime]

*Shian is there too at one of the tables, head down in their arms, glass of water in front of them.

Needless to say, the general mood between both Shian and Geo is about a negative 50.*

[magmaheart]

... He finally pours himself a glass of water and comes to join you.

"Guess ya watched the match last night too."

[memoryistime]

Of course. *lifting their head a bit so at least they're not talking into the table.*

I made my thoughts very known to Desdemona.

*... clearly went about as well as your attempt did.*

[magmaheart]

"Yeah? Me too. I, uh."

He laughs a little.

"I kinda quit in fury."

[memoryistime]

Oh. You too? I thought I might've been over-reacting.

[magmaheart]

He snorts. Then breaks out into howling laughter.

"Thought I was over-reacting too!"

He eventually calms down, taking a few quick breaths.

"Man, I bet we're just water down a duck's back though, huh?"

[memoryistime]

Boy, you can tell? *Shian gives a bit of a derisive laugh*

"Done much more than complain and stand on the sidelines", what does she expect me to do? I'm not the one who's running the joint. She is. Or at least whoever is sponsoring the thing is-- but she's the one who should be able to make judgments about what's going on, along with that Andersen guy.

Would she have taken me more seriously if I had thrown myself out there to get hurt, too?

[remarkablerain]

*Sitting down next to Geo.*

So. Wanna talk?

[magmaheart]

Yes, absolutely. Deep breath.

"Quit the league last night. Not... anything super big."

[remarkablerain]

I think it's bigger than just you quitting the league. All you've been doing today has involved glaring and ignoring everything else, so.

[magmaheart]

"It's...

That's not what any of us signed up for. Even when we were stupid teenagers. There's a difference between some asshole declaring a dark duel and when you're dueling for an audience. And it reminds me of that, when shit was around every corner, when you couldn't feel safe."

He runs a hand through his hair and lets out a breath to gather his thoughts.

"Is the world really so screwed up we're letting teenagers break each other's arms in the name of entertainment now? We can televise some huge Russian guy sending people to the hospital?"

[remarkablerain]

*she lets out a sigh*

I agree with you, you know. This... All of this is just nonsense. But it's even worse that it's being simply allowed, you know? But too many people subscribe to the idea that the one who is "stronger" is right. The one who wins is the one who decides how things go.

And because those kids from Ryozanpaku and the Duelist Crusher are "stronger", they get to decide what goes and what doesn't.

It doesn't mean we need to just simply accept it... But I guess it makes it hard for people more invested in this to not go along with it.

*she stretches her arms up*

Though I'm definitely getting bothered by the fact that a lot of kids are starting to try to imitate.

[magmaheart]

"I mean, I ain't accepting it. What else can I do though? Kiko's hanging her hopes on using this to slingshot her to the pros, and I'm not sure Trena understands anything besides games and friendship. I got the luxury of quitting, 'cause we got this place. Who else in there does?

And, just... I thought Desdemona'd be more reasonable, too. Say 'this is too much' after that kid whupped the other two. And if these kids, all of 'em, not just Ryozanpaku think that they can just scrap ta get up ta the top and the world keeps proving 'em right..."

He grunts in annoyance and pours himself a soda to sip on before setting his head on your shoulder.

[windsbygone]

*is doing his homework like a good studious person at one of the tables.

... though Geo's glaring does keep kinda distracting him from it, even though he knows it's not at him. tap tapping his pen on the notebook.*

[magmaheart]

"... Sorry Garum. I can go and look like I'm gonna murder something in the back and see if making the staff nervous is better than making the customers nervous."

[windsbygone]

*c-clearing his throat*

No, it's... fine. It's your restaurant. You can glare if you want to.

[magmaheart]

"Yeah, but you're trying ta study. Doesn't help I'm sitting over here looking like I could snap any second.

...need any refills or anything? While I'm here, should at least try to help out."

[windsbygone]

... You can... get me a refill of my soda, I guess. If it'll give you something to do? *it's half-gone. that's good enough.*

[magmaheart]

"Talking is also something to do. If ya don't mind me bothering ya for a hot minute."

He just leans over the bar to start another soda.

[ogrewarrior]

Kaz grabs the drink out from in front of Geo and drains it, before collapsing next to him with a disgruntled sigh.

"Just heard about what happened in your league. That's... ridiculous. That's why you're up here, yeah?"

[magmaheart]

"...Yeah.

... might've quit. The hell's it ta ya, pops?"

[ogrewarrior]

"I mean, I teach some of those kids now. I ain't... They don't deserve that meat grinder. That's all."

He hoos.

"Just... came ta check up on ya two, that's all."

[magmaheart]

"I figured.

We're fine. I'm pissed, but I'm fine. Kiko's probably still swimming her rage off, wherever she went for that.

... Sakaki's not though. And no one's listening ta me or Shian when we quit. Ya've got a knack for pissing people off and sticking your nose where it doesn't belong. So..."

[ogrewarrior]

"... Shian quit too? Hell. Must've been worse than the news is making it out ta be."

He rolls a cigarette through his fingers.

"I'm more of the... Weird supernatural stuff guy. I'm not sure how I feel about confronting greed and corporations. That sounds actually dangerous."

[magmaheart]

"Yeah? Or is it because one of those corporations is lining your pockets?

Or two, if we're gonna count whichever Wakahisa's paying ya. If you're so dead-set on 'playing for the right team' now, why don't you just fucking sack up and actually put that god damn brain and body ta good use? People're being put in hospitals in the league where the two kids ya actually give a shit about are and in the pros.

Or is this 'growing a moral compass' shit for show too? Why the fuck wasn't it around when I was, huh? When mom was? PTSD attack I'll barely excuse, but you were a sack of shit even before ya had that 'little breakdown' at dinner."

Geo hasn't realized it, but he's dug his hands through the wood of his bar and looks like he's about to tear out the whole thing and beat his father to death with it.