Disclaimer: I do not own 1/2 Prince, I do not have any rights to 1/2 Prince and I do not make any money from writing these fics.
Written for: The One Million Words Added, the Anime and Manga Diversity Writing Challenge and Snakes and Ladders Challenge, the As Much As You Can challenge, the If you dare continued challenge.
Prompt: Write a pre-cannon fic. Random Setting: Kitchen/Kitchenette. Fighter.
Emotions and Games
Xiao Lan bit her lower lip nervously as she walked into the kitchen, without even thinking about it she grabbed her apron and began to gather the needed ingredients that she would need to make the breakfast. Her mind filled with various thoughts and multiple conclusions as she thought over her online gaming experience.
'Why is it that I always end up freezing for whenever there is an attack?' Xiao Lan wondered with a bitter expression on her face. 'It is not like I am at a big disadvantage compared to the attacking enemy...I have trained lots and I have prepared myself for big battles like that one so...why can I not seem to just rush in and attack like everyone else for?'
Letting out a heavy sigh Xiao Lan harshly pulled open the fridge door and gazed inside with a frown. It looked like she would have to go shopping soon. Reaching in she grabbed the last dozen eggs and placed them on the counter side besides the fridge before reaching in and grabbing the carton of orange juice that she had somehow gotten her twin brother to make by squeezing fresh oranges the other day.
'I go through everything that the rest of my team has gone through, it is not like I have not done just as much work as they have' Xiao Lan thought as she closed the fridge door and scanned over the various breakfast ingredients that she had gotten out. 'I pull my own weight, I face monsters and enemy's on my own. Why do I always freeze for through in important fights? Maybe nerves?'
Allowing her mind to wander Xiao Lan walked over to the ingredients and began to prepare them. The words of her brother echoed in her mind loudly as she chopped, each chop becoming more and more harsher than the last.
"Is it because I am a girl?" Xiao Lan muttered to herself as she paused in her chopping to grab a bowl from the shelf above her.
A frown appeared on her face as Xiao Lan placed the chopped breakfast ingredient into the small white ceramic bowl. Her mind played over several different situations only for her to let out a low groan as it finally hit her. Compared to how all of the males levelled up, played the game and went about things for her, the only female in the whole group, there was a large difference.
'Is that the reason why I am so weak for? Because I am female? Is it the reason why I always seem to freeze and put everyone in danger?' Xiao Lan thought with a frown as she placed the bowl next to the bread board and picked up the measuring cup. 'I do end up with a lot of gifts and even though I do take part in the fighting I am always at the back of the group being protected by the others...'
Letting out a heavy sigh Xiao Lan stopped what she was doing and stared down at the half prepared breakfast in front of her. Her mind ran a mile a minute as she allowed the sudden realisation to sink in. Her brother's earlier words and the argument with her game-husband rang loudly in her mind. Unable to help herself Xiao Lan turned away from the breakfast and walked towards the kitchen table, mind numb.
"Would things be different if I was a male?" Xiao Lan asked as she slowly pulled out one of the kitchen chairs while staring blankly ahead. "If I was a male in the games I would have to go through everything that everyone goes through but at the front lines...I would not be able to stay at the back and have all of the benefits and rewards like normal females do..."
Letting out a heavy sigh Xiao Lan sat down in the kitchen chair and put her head into her hands. Her mind whirled and buzzed with different thoughts and ideas as her original question was answered by a million more questions through there was one question that would answer all of her questions and her original question.
'Would things be different if I played as a male?' Xiao Lan wondered as she stared blankly ahead at the table top, luckily through nothing was cooking. 'I wonder if I could play as a male...would I be allowed to?'
With her mind buzzing full of unanswered questions Xiao Lan only looked up when she felt a sudden rough poke on her right shoulder. Frowning Xiao Lan turned to face her brother only to glare at the look that was written on his face.
"What is wrong? I heard that you and your game-husband had a fight," Yang Ming said with a smug look on his face. "Are you upset that you could lose the love of your game-life or the fact that it will be harder to get good weapons and level up?"
Xiao Lan's hands balled into fists as she shot her twin brother a dark look. "For your information that is not what I was thinking about! I have another problem and I-"
"How can a girl have a problem? You all have it so easy," Yang Ming said with a snort of disbelief as he cut his twin off. "All you have to do is bat your eyes at the nearest man and he is under your power. You can level up easily, get cool items and amazing weapons without even trying to do anything. Man, you girls sure have it easy."
"That's not true!" Xiao Lan shouted out, slamming her fist down on the table. "I have worked and trained as much as the others on my team and my game-husband have! I have put in the same amount of hours and-"
"I have seen you fight you know, remember that tournament last week?" Yang Ming said as he pulled out the kitchen chair in front of him. "All you do is stand at the back casting supporting and healing spells. Unlike the men in your team who go to the front line and put themselves in the middle of the danger zone just so you females can level up easily and have amazing weapons!"
"That is not true! I play a part in the team! I make sure that in a fight everyone is healed and supported!" Xiao Lan replied angrily as anger bubbled in her. "Without my help several people on my team would of died during our last battle! I am just as important as everyone else!"
"Yeah right, I bet that whoever told you that was lying. I have said it before and I will say it again, females get an easy ride, you are too weak to play as a warrior. I bet that if you had to play a game as a male and be a warrior you would be stuck at level one because you would keep getting killed all of the time!" Yang Ming said as he rolled his eyes and slumped lazily in his chair. "If you were a male than you would not be able to survive past the first few minutes."
"I would not!" Xiao Lan shouted out angrily, her face going bright red and her cheeks puffed out. "I am such as capable as you and all of those male players out of there! My problems in the game has nothing to do with me being female!"
"I saw what happened to you yesterday, I saw how you froze and someone on your team had to save you," Yang Ming said suddenly causing the anger to quickly drain from Xiao Lan and her face to suddenly become deathly pale. "If you were a male player you would not of froze up like you did. You would of gone through that situation many times before and be used to it."
Xiao Lan stayed deadly silently as her twin brother gave her a silent pointed look. Even through Xiao Lan did not say anything it was clear for both of them to see the thoughts and effects of Yang Ming's words running through Xiao Lan's mind.
'Was I right before? Is all of this trouble because I am female?' Xiao Lan thought as she stared unseeingly at her brother. 'Am I really causing so much trouble for those on my team? That fight earlier...with my game-husband was because of my role in the game because I am female.'
"You just realised it huh?" Yang Ming asked with a knowing yet smug expression on his face. "For me it was really easy to see this and I bet that several other people have seen and think this too but you do not have to worry. I bet that most people will just think that your reaction was normal for a female, especially one who is not strong enough to be a warrior, so you do not have to worry about embarrassing yourself."
Xiao Lan clenched her hands several times as she shot her brother a dirty look. Her hands itched for something to throw at him, she knew that on some level that he was right. Even through Xiao Lan hated to admit it this was one of the very few and very rare times that her twin brother had a good point.
"I saw your game-husband glaring at you and dragging you away at the end of the battle too," Yang Ming said suddenly, a teasing expression appeared on his face. "I bet that he told you off for getting in harm's way like you did. Does not want his precious princess getting hurt, I bet he could not stand the thought of having a single scratch on you!"
Xiao Lan could not hate her brother and his big mouth more right at that moment. How Yang Ming had somehow managed to hit the nail on the head two times in a row in one conversation Xiao Lan had no idea. What she did know was that at that moment he was very close to being punched in the face by her and left to make his own breakfast.
"Be careful or else you will suddenly find yourself with a swollen check and having to make your own breakfast," Xiao Lan said darkly as she threatened her brother only for him to give her a blank look.
"You see? This just goes towards backing up my whole point!" Yang Ming said as he folded his arms across his chest. "It is always the same with females."
"Really now," Xiao Lan said with false sweetness, she tilted her head downwards slightly so her fringe shadow was over her eyes giving her a dark look. "Females are nothing but weak huh? I am weak because I am female?"
"I..I...I did not mean it like that sis!" Yang Ming said quickly, sweat poured down him and a nervous smile came to his face as he realised just how much danger he was in with his sister. "I was just saying that there is a very large difference between male game players and female game players that I have seen happen over my years of playing video games. I just thought that it-"
"Might be the reason why I froze for? Why my game-husband and I had a fight for?" Xiao Lan asked darkly causing Yang Ming to gulp nervously. "I know I am not the strongest person and I am not the best fighter but do you really think I am that weak?"
"Xiao Lan..." Yang Ming said slowly, his emotions conflicting.
"When does that new game come out?" Xiao Lan asked causing Yang Ming to look at her in surprise and shock at the sudden change of topic. "The one that you have been going on none stop about for the last few months."
"Second Life? It comes out today, I am going to pop out after breakfast to pick up the game as I reserved a copy when it was first announced and I wanted to pick it up before the crowds and fights start," Yang Ming answered as he eyed his twin sister carefully, unsure of where she was going. "Why?"
"You should go out and get it now because I am going back to bed," Xiao Lan said blankly as she stood up from the table. "I was going to make what we normally had for breakfast, everything is all ready cut up and sorted out so you should be able to make breakfast for yourself if you want it when you get back."
Yang Ming watched nervously as Xiao Lan walked around the kitchen table and out of the kitchen. He gulped as Xiao Lan slammed the kitchen door shut behind her without a backwards glance.
'Well I really messed up' Yang Ming thought as he stood up and glanced at the kitchen clock. 'I think I will do as sis suggested, hopefully it will give her enough time to cool down...maybe I should buy a second headset so she can play too...maybe that will cheer her up.'
Not knowing what his decision had just set in motion Yang Ming followed his angry sister's earlier path out of the kitchen. He would not realise until much later just what his decision to buy a second head set for the new Second Life game had put into motion.
End Of Prompt.