Please Leave a Message
oOoOo
:Chapter Fourteen:
Had Joey been part of a typical cartoon, or perhaps the Tales game series, a light bulb would have appeared over his head (or a lighted candle... although it would be more likely that the candle had actually burned out but… anyway…)
Obviously, Joey had come up with his equivalent of a brilliant plan. It wasn't much, but it…worked…sorta.
In order to contact all the people who might have the ability to contact Serenity, and therefore the capability to aid Tristan in his evil endeavors, Joey needed help. Ergo, his 'brilliant' plan.
He was going to enlist Mai as his partner in crime. And possibly ask her out on a date at the same time. Originally he had planned on getting Yugi's help, but his eyes had fallen on his picture of Mai…and he had started day-dreaming… which led to him finding her number in the phonebook.
Speaking of the phonebook, it was currently located on Joey's bed, next to said mutt…er…Joey…
Joey hoped that this time, he might actually be accident-safe. It wasn't like anything could happen to him on the bed…Well, any unpleasant stuff anyways…
Swallowing, Joey busied himself with dialing Mai's number, desperately trying to not think of other stuff…more pleasant…stuff…
Unfortunately, he started coughing just as someone on the other end picked up.
"Hey, Hon."
"Cough, Cough, Cough"
There was a sigh on the other end. "Is that you, Joey?"
Joey managed to pull himself together. This was important…very much so…and in so many different ways.
"Ummm…yeah."
There was another sigh. "What do you want, Joey?"
Joey let out an indignant squawk. "Why does everyone think I want something?"
"Cause you do, hon. Besides, you always use the phone when you want something. Otherwise, you just show up…uninvited."
Joey was at a loss for words. Fortunately (or unfortunately) for him, he recalled the words of wisdom of a certain monk from a certain cartoon…Miroku, if he remembered correctly.
"Why I am deeply wounded by your unfounded accusations, my dear. How could you possibly think that of me?"
"Joey, are you quoting Miroku? He may have been a good talker, but he was a pervert…I really don't think that works very well in this situation. Especially if that line was used right after he groped a girl and was accused of perversion…"
"Oh yeah…" Joey shrugged. "I'm still offended. Though…I could use a favor… if you don't mind, of course."
"Joey, don't dissemble, it sounds funny coming from you."
"I wasn't dissembling!"
"Do you even know what that means?"
"…"
"It basically means that you are dancing around the topic of the favor in an attempt to get me to agree before I hear what it is I may or may not be agreeing to. Now, Joey, hun, what do you want?"
"Weeell…" Joey began. There came an exasperated sigh from the other end. Even Joey knew when not to push it, and everything poured out in a rush. "You see, today's Serenity's birthday, and so Tristan's trying to get her number so that he can ask her out on a date. I was hoping you and I could, you know, get together and you could help me discuss ways to stop him."
There was a pause. A very long pause.
"Joey Wheeler, are you asking me out on a date?"
Joey spent a few seconds deciding whether Mai's tone of voice called for the truth or lying.
He opted for option number three.
"Well…I uh…" he stammered.
"Alright hun, don't worry about it. 5 tonight, at Maggiano's." This time, it was Joey's turn to pause. "You know, the Italian restaurant down the street from where I live?"
"Why can't it be closer to my house?"
"Because you're the one asking for the favor. And because if it's not closer to where I live, I can just say forget it."
"Alright, alright."
"K Joey, see you at five then." Just as Joey was about to hang up, Mai spoke again. "Oh. By the way, you're paying, Joey."
"WHAT?" Joey demanded to the dial tone. It buzzed at him unhelpfully.
Joey hung up the phone with decidedly mixed feelings. A lot could be said about a girl who was…dominant. Wait, that was't quite the word he was looking for. At least, not in the context he was now thinking of it in…
Bother.
He supposed Serenity and Tristan could wait. He had some problems of his own to deal with.
Joey looked forlornly down at his wallet and for good measure, turned it upside down, hoping some coins would happen to shake loose. It didn't happen.
Where was he gonna get the money to pay for dinner?
OoOoO
:Marik's Answering Maching, the fourth:
"This would be Marik speaking, except I am busy defeating the Tomb Robber and the Reaper of Cards in a most dire game of life and death...Lucky Bastard. It is a card game, not an insult...yet. Now, I will flip my final card. Destiny awaits...crap! A three! The pile...so large...do Ihave to pick it up? Darn you Bakura. Hurry and play your card already...an ace? What unfairness is this! Ugh. Alright... Bakura has one card left... the Reaper is still trying to get rid of thelast pile he picked up...poor guy. At least I didn't pick up the pile with two threes and three fours...ouch. I play a King and Bakura has a... a ten! He dares assassinate the King? NOOOO! I LOST! Stop laughing Bakura, you probably rigged the deck. Even though I shuffled...and dealt...and tried to rig it in my favor. Um...Reaper? That was a joke? Put down the scythe...breathe in, breathe out. Hey, listen. Gotta run!"
There comes the distant sound of girlish screams, similar to the time when the Reaper saw Bakura dressed as the Magician of Faith. (The Reaper screamed, not the other way around. If you saw, you'd scream too.)
:End Marik's answering machine, the fourth:
oOoOo
So what happens next? Does Joey get his date? Does Tristan? And how many answering machines does Marik have, anyhow?
Stay tuned.