magmaheart | [Event Post]

[Event Post]

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.

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

"Guess ya watched the match last night too."

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.*

"Yeah? Me too. I, uh."

He laughs a little.

"I kinda quit in fury."

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

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?"

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?

"Ha! I doubt it. Dodged the question when I asked what the difference between violence looking to push someone away from an action card and me just pummeling someone to a pulp as the duel starts was. Couldn't even say if this was fair here or if Marias gets her spine crushed by the, well. Crusher.

And in that League they're just... Shit, I'm glad I know better now. At sixteen, I'd have eaten this up."

That's a problem too, huh.

A lot of the kids in it are sixteen and impressionable. Which just... I dunno. *sitting up properly now.*

It feels like the expectation's mounting now to just do like they're doing, if you want to get anywhere. I kept out of the top rankings on purpose. I stayed out of Action Duels. But that's what's gonna be expected more and more, at this rate. Not just duels, but fights.

"Yeah. Action duels? I love it. But if you're not wired that way, it's... Gonna be hard for people who prefer the standin' duels.

Also, like I pointed out ta my wife earlier, I was able ta quit 'cause I knew I could fall back on this place. Ya've got SAI ya can fall back on, yeah? How many of those impressionable kids have their entire future riding on the hope that they'll make it inta the pros from here? What's the risk of a few bones at that? Or punching a few other teens in the face?"

Yeah, I have SAI and... other things to fall back on, but... *... ugggh...*

I had... really wanted to get back into dueling. Professionally. I did the WRGP, but that was when I didn't have to worry about getting hurt. But now... I can't risk that kinda thing. I already put myself in enough danger being a Signer. Why would I want to risk myself for just something I want to have fun with? To do with myself?

"...Yeah, I was kinda hoping I'd... have a shot myself. And I could probably break most of those kids over my knee, but I don't want to win like that. That ain't what I learned here at Duel Academy."

He takes a long drink of his water.

"Ya shouldn't have ta. Anyone in your shoes shouldn't have ta. We ain't here to bust skulls, we're here ta duel and have fun and say 'good game' at the end. Not worry about hospital bills or if they take it a little too far and..."

A pause.

"...Holy shit, I'd forgotten you're a signer. And Desdemona just fucking brushed ya off?!"

Of course she did. After all, things like any level of personal connection might just get in the way, here. *che. finally drinking the water.*

Red stays out of my personal problems. And you know what? It's better that way. But... I thought at least if I said something, there might've been at least a moment's pause. But clearly not, if the only thing she can make clear is that if there is a line-- wherever the hell that is, since she kept dodging defining it-- it hasn't been crossed yet.

At this point though I'm pretty much gonna assume there is no line. If there is, they'll just keep moving where it is.

"Personal connection is LITERALLY WHAT I WAS TAUGHT THIS WAS ABOU-" Deep breath.

"The line's just gonna be murder. Clint's duel might have even disproved that, though."

You mean the Duelist Crusher's last victim, right? Didn't he basically end up having a heart attack because of that?

"Yup! Best thing to come outta America's scene, nearly killed by an asshole with more muscle than morality."

You sure he's got any morality to even measure up again?

"... No, actually, I don't think so. Not after that last duel. Reminded me of... Shit, I don't know. A rabid animal?"

Yeah that... that seems about appropriate enough.

Just... ugh. How did things even get to this point? *rubbing their head a bit* I thought it was bad enough when we had the present risk of Riding Duels, but at least in that, you were very much discouraged from, say, ramming into your opponent.

"... I dunno. It definitely kinda seems like it cropped up outta nowhere. I guess as soon as ya introduce movement, it's a simple step ta think that we can now hit each other."

Hnmng...

Y'know, I wouldn't have even minded this so much if there was at least... an expected boundary about this. I could've at least expected... pushing. Shoving. Maybe tackling.

But punches? Kicks? Locks? Knocking someone off of their monster? *siiiiighs, resting back in their arms again.*

I dunno what to do about this. I don't think anyone knows what to do about this. I don't think even Desdemona knows what to do about this, so she just defaults to dodging the problem.

"Yeah, I don't think she does either. Or her hands are seriously tied by whoever's sponsoring it."

She did say "several parties".

So it's just a question of who those parties are, that they're gonna think this is all fine and still "following the rules".

"Oh, great.

... Kaiba, Akaba, maybe? Worried they're gonna be upended by Ryozanpaku?"

I doubt it's that. I looked up Ryozanpaku after they showed up. It's... a pretty small school, all things considered. I'm pretty sure KaibaCorp alone could step on them like one would an ant.

No. I think there's something else here.

"Ugh. Is it worth siccing the weird detective folks who use my bar like it's some sorta noir thriller on?"

[Event Post]

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