----
"Quarters"
a YuGiOh Short
by The Mad Fangirl
----
Duncan and Methos walked down a Japanese street, the Scotsman looking for a noodle vendor, the ancient one lost in thought. Duncan stopped suddenly before an interesting storefront, and his elder plowed into his back.
"All right, old man, out with it," MacLeod said, turning. "You've been preoccupied all day. What's on your mind?"
Methos sighed. "If you must know, MacLeod, it was that spiky-haired kid this morning."
"The one you said reminded you of someone? Still can't figure out who, eh?"
"MacLeod, you may have overlooked the fact that I've met an awful lot of people."
Mac ignored the sarcasm with the practice of years. "Well, any vague feelings? Any associations?"
"Off the top of my head, just two. Beer and pain. Could be we got drunk together and I somehow managed to down enough to get hung over."
"Probably," Mac allowed. "Oh well. It'll come to you."
. . .~flashback~. . .
Putting his back into it, Methos lugged the container up the steps to the Pharaoh's throne, passing his highness' collection of musical instruments that included a flute, lyre, and gong. The Pharaoh Yami turned from his councilor and grinned.
"Hail, Brewmaster! First of the season?"
"As is your due, my lord," Methos replied, dropping the vessel on his toe in his haste to prostrate himself before the throne. The beer, thank all the gods, was unharmed.
"Then let us sample it together, you and I, as is custom." Slaves raced to find a vessel worthy of their lord, and something not too dusty for the man that made their beer.
Not too long thereafter, Methos knelt by the throne, mug in hand. The pharaoh looked over and down at him, and said, "You know what would make this even better? A game!"
"You and your games, my lord!" The brewmaster knew his liege well enough to speak familiarly when they were alone. "You're obsessed! Beer is a great and wondrous thing by itself."
"Well, a game would make it even better," the Pharaoh insisted, and Methos did not argue - he was valued, but there were limits. "I know!" He grasped a bag of tribute coins minted in a far off land. "We'll set our mugs upon my throne and toss these coins at them. With each miss, the player drinks half a mug!"
Methos sighed. His sire's proficiency with games was legendary- there were even rumors of dark magic. But how hard could it be? And if he lost, he'd only have to drink more beer.
Several hours later, even his Immortal metabolism was having difficulty fighting all the alcohol in his system. The Pharaoh's mug was two-thirds filled with gold. His boasted an impressive complement of coins as well, but many more littered the throne and surrounding steps.
"Hmm," his lord said, considering him. "Maybe I should let you retire and sleep this off."
"Nonsense, great one! I'm fine!" Methos gestured emphatically, but he spun, his body following his hand. He took a step, overcompensated, and fell face-first into the gong with a resounding tone.
. . .~end flashback~. . .
Yugi sat on his bed, turning his Millennium Puzzle and watching the light refract off its polished surface. //You've been very quiet today,// he thought to his soul's companion.
//It was that man we saw today,// Yami Yugi, his dark half, replied. The former Pharaoh's thought-voice was pensive. //I told you he looked familiar, like someone from my past, but I still can't place it.//
//Someone you ruled?// Yugi asked.
//Probably. But it was long ago, and I ruled a great many people.//
//Well, it'll come to you,// Yugi replied.
//Yes. It's just so frustrating,// Yami thought back. //Because I'm sure his face rings a bell.//
"Quarters"
a YuGiOh Short
by The Mad Fangirl
----
Duncan and Methos walked down a Japanese street, the Scotsman looking for a noodle vendor, the ancient one lost in thought. Duncan stopped suddenly before an interesting storefront, and his elder plowed into his back.
"All right, old man, out with it," MacLeod said, turning. "You've been preoccupied all day. What's on your mind?"
Methos sighed. "If you must know, MacLeod, it was that spiky-haired kid this morning."
"The one you said reminded you of someone? Still can't figure out who, eh?"
"MacLeod, you may have overlooked the fact that I've met an awful lot of people."
Mac ignored the sarcasm with the practice of years. "Well, any vague feelings? Any associations?"
"Off the top of my head, just two. Beer and pain. Could be we got drunk together and I somehow managed to down enough to get hung over."
"Probably," Mac allowed. "Oh well. It'll come to you."
. . .~flashback~. . .
Putting his back into it, Methos lugged the container up the steps to the Pharaoh's throne, passing his highness' collection of musical instruments that included a flute, lyre, and gong. The Pharaoh Yami turned from his councilor and grinned.
"Hail, Brewmaster! First of the season?"
"As is your due, my lord," Methos replied, dropping the vessel on his toe in his haste to prostrate himself before the throne. The beer, thank all the gods, was unharmed.
"Then let us sample it together, you and I, as is custom." Slaves raced to find a vessel worthy of their lord, and something not too dusty for the man that made their beer.
Not too long thereafter, Methos knelt by the throne, mug in hand. The pharaoh looked over and down at him, and said, "You know what would make this even better? A game!"
"You and your games, my lord!" The brewmaster knew his liege well enough to speak familiarly when they were alone. "You're obsessed! Beer is a great and wondrous thing by itself."
"Well, a game would make it even better," the Pharaoh insisted, and Methos did not argue - he was valued, but there were limits. "I know!" He grasped a bag of tribute coins minted in a far off land. "We'll set our mugs upon my throne and toss these coins at them. With each miss, the player drinks half a mug!"
Methos sighed. His sire's proficiency with games was legendary- there were even rumors of dark magic. But how hard could it be? And if he lost, he'd only have to drink more beer.
Several hours later, even his Immortal metabolism was having difficulty fighting all the alcohol in his system. The Pharaoh's mug was two-thirds filled with gold. His boasted an impressive complement of coins as well, but many more littered the throne and surrounding steps.
"Hmm," his lord said, considering him. "Maybe I should let you retire and sleep this off."
"Nonsense, great one! I'm fine!" Methos gestured emphatically, but he spun, his body following his hand. He took a step, overcompensated, and fell face-first into the gong with a resounding tone.
. . .~end flashback~. . .
Yugi sat on his bed, turning his Millennium Puzzle and watching the light refract off its polished surface. //You've been very quiet today,// he thought to his soul's companion.
//It was that man we saw today,// Yami Yugi, his dark half, replied. The former Pharaoh's thought-voice was pensive. //I told you he looked familiar, like someone from my past, but I still can't place it.//
//Someone you ruled?// Yugi asked.
//Probably. But it was long ago, and I ruled a great many people.//
//Well, it'll come to you,// Yugi replied.
//Yes. It's just so frustrating,// Yami thought back. //Because I'm sure his face rings a bell.//