Since I was already late I really tried to get this out by Christmas day but the theme of this past year is that nothing will ever go as planned, oh well.
The whole nightclub event was meant to be finished in one chapter but since it became too long I decided to split it into two parts, so don't worry, next chapter will continue to be all about fanservice and it shall be even spicier than this one. 7u7
Disclaimer:
I do not condone underage drinking under any circumstance, these are characters in a story, what they do and how they act shouldn't be imitated in real life.
It is not ok to pressure your friends into consuming any substance if they are unsure about it or don't want to do so. Sadly many people do it with "good" intentions but people's boundaries should always be respected.
Warning:
Description of alcohol consumption and underage drinking.
Skip ahead if these subjects trigger you.
They snacked on crispy noodles and store-bought mochi while they waited for everyone to arrive. Even within the glass walls of the convenience store Tesem could still feel the vibrations of bass and drums from the locale across the street, they reached into her very core and produced a constant feeling of exhilaration that never let the smile fall from her lips.
By her side the spirit offered a gloomier visage, silent and sporting a scowl so deep it looked like it may leave a permanent crease on his skin.
She was surprised by his apprehension, coming right after he had just taken the time to inspire bravery in her to overcome a different kind of challenge. A night out with friends ought to look minuscule next to the occult mess that was their quest for his lost memories but maybe that wasn't it, perhaps the severity of their reality had finally caught up with him and maybe unlike her he wasn't so keen on the escapism a party entailed. He seemed more the brooding type anyways.
"Hey, you know… if you wanted I could distract Mai long enough for you to go. I am sure she and Anzu would be a little bummed out but they will understand that we had a pretty tiring day today."
"Are you trying to get rid of me again?"
The reply caught her by surprise and she turned to see if the hostility between them had made a surprise comeback. His smirk was like a dagger dressed with laughter, friendly but dangerous at the same time. Could it be that he too was a connoisseur of dark humour? Or maybe he was still testing her. Whatever it may be she had her honesty at the ready like a weapon of her own.
"If that were the case I'd be trying to get you to switch places." She pointedly looked at the puzzle and then back at him. "But as a matter of fact I have been enjoying your company so far, so I'd hate for you to feel forced to come with us if you don't really want to." She lifted her chin and eyed him stubbornly, nearly daring him to doubt her openness.
"Touching." He commented with a low chuckle before leaning forward to reach for a paper napkin which he then used to meticulously wipe away the grease and residual flavoring from his long fingers. Tesem found the motion distracting. "I think I'll manage. This will be a good chance to scout the competition for next week-"
"Oh, that just won't do!" Mai barged into the store with Anzu and Jonouchi in tow, the volume and pitch of her voice nearly causing the aged shop keeper to have a heart attack.
"Nice, you made it." Tesem stood to greet Jonouchi and a somewhat distressed looking Anzu while the older female stormed past them with long strides, heading toward the beverage aisle.
The brunette regarded her foreign friend with pleading eyes and gestured toward Mai. "Tesem-chan, please help me convince her that purchasing alcohol is a bad idea. We are minors for goodness sake."
"I am not, Jonouchi doesn't look like one and the rest of you all look like you really need to loosen up. Trust me, momma knows best."
Mai proceeded to browse through the rows of alcoholic beverages until she had effectively dumped enough to take out a small army on the counter. All the while she lectured the youngsters on how the night was all about fun and nothing else, they could be responsible young adults on the morrow.
Anzu gravitated to the spirit's side as soon as she had the chance. Defeated and unheard by their superior it seemed that she still had a plan to make the most out of their nightly escapade. Her optimism was something to be admired.
Tesem granted them some space but not without tossing him a suggestive smile first. He lightly shook his head and turned away with just the ghost of a smile gracing his lips.
The tan girl didn't fail to notice how her female friend had clearly made an effort to impress by exchanging her pink shorts from earlier for a black pleated skirt and her light pink jacket for a more luxurious white leather one. Her face also sported a light dusting of makeup that accentuated her bright eyes and features in the way that best complimented them while a touch of gloss brought a bit of sexy into what was a mostly cute look.
"Damn girl." She whispered under her breath, feeling admiration for the aspiring dancer but also a touch of remorse that started to creep in due to her own feeling of inadequacy. Turning to glance at Jonouchi she confirmed that even he had polished his looks for the occasion with a nice vibrant green shirt framed by a badass biker jacket, black denim jeans and a thin silver chain hanging loosely from his neck.
Revisiting Mai and Yami's appearance was just rubbing salt in the open wound. Mai sported the same glam and risque style she always favored which always looked like a million dollars. Yami. well as sweet Yugi he had already got her thirsting earlier but now after the change of persona he was looking properly edible with leather pants and sleeveless black shirt grown tighter around his more toned physique.
In comparison Tesem had dressed pretty plainly with black shorts and a white t-shirt that were meant to do the trick for a day hauling merchandise and attending kids in a store rather than slaying on the dance floor.
She twisted her mouth and started picking at her shirt, there had to be something she could do with herself to better fit in with her good-looking crew. In her bag she had some basic makeup supplies and a matching pair of fake-gold long earrings and a double chain necklace which she had discarded earlier as she usually did when working at the Kame shop since a game store run by an elderly man didn't seem like the best place to express her love for all things golden and shiny. She also had a comb and a thick hair tie to do something about her unruly mop of hair if she so desired. But what could she do about her filthy sneakers?
"Don't worry I got you." A dainty hand landed on her shoulder and promptly led her outside where the music seemed to have grown louder as if in invitation.
Outside the older female started fussing over her at such speed that the egyptian girl felt as if she were caught in the middle of a tornado.
Her prediction about the gorgeous duellist appeared to be accurate, Mai Valentine had the makings of a wonderful friend and a perfect partner in mischief, there were no questions about it. Her energy was just too contagious and it ran high just like her own did but with a peculiar brand of carefree philosophy that made up for the many times Tesem could succumb to the pressures of the world. She felt glad to have found someone like that now that the trials in her life seemed to be about to become even more daunting than before.
"Girl I have made models out of way worse. What are you sporting beneath the shirt?"
The tan girl cocked an eyebrow in confusion. "A sports bra?"
"Is it a nice one?"
"I guess? It is black and practically new." She bit back a comment about how comfortable and supportive it was, unsure of how in-detail her friend wanted her to go in such a subject. Underwear was typically a private and intimate subject, right?
"Then it is a top now" That was the only warning before pink-tipped fingers curled around the white fabric hem and started yanking the garment off her body. More startled than compliant, Tesem lifted her arms only to be momentarily blinded by the cascade of dark locks that fell over her face after being released from the boring-looking t-shirt.
"Mai san, you can't just-" Anzu protested as she stood in front of them partially blocking the view for the boys who were effectively rendered speechless by the unfolding scene.
"Come on Anzu chan, we are both wearing tops, this is very much the same. Sometimes showing a little skin is all it takes-"
Dazed by the suddenness of the assault Tesem took a moment to brush her hair out of her eyes and take a look down. If it were any other girl she would have probably felt ashamed after being basically stripped on the sidewalk but the girl had never felt bothered by nudity, not even after months of being lectured about propriety in three different countries. No she didn't care to show a little extra skin, after all Mai and Anzu were already showing quite a bit themselves. What had her wishing to hide herself was the way four pairs of eyes (and perhaps even more) fell on her stomach where although faded by age the remnant traces of wounds such as long slashes and more prominently what looked like actual claw marks going down from her waist to her hip stood account of the still present mystery and potential brutality of her past.
"What next?" She was ready to drag attention back to something else if need be and thus she made a display out of gathering her hair in her hands and stretching muscles that were already bare to the world. Scars or not she knew that she must be quite a sight, after all being the restless soul she was she had taken good care of her fitness leading to curves that weren't carved of only fat but also a healthy amount of muscle.
Tesem knew she was pretty, just like her female friends were beautiful in their own unique way, but there was a definite difference between knowing it and feeling it. She often used her allure to her advantage almost to the point of weaponizing it but beyond utility it didn't feel like it amounted much to her sense of self worth. It was hard to cherish something that felt so empty and tarnished, a body with a story she didn't know, scars that while they couldn't cause her to feel ashamed anymore sometimes felt so foreign she couldn't continue to take pride in them, as if somehow they belonged to somebody else.
The night promised a step in the right direction toward conciliation, the possibility of new cherishable memories and gods, the way the boys were looking at her… she could get used to it.
Makeup and a new hairdo followed. Mai recruited Anzu for the task and it was only within a couple of minutes that Tesem had gold eyeshadow and mascara on and a high-ponytail so slick it would make any hair-product model jealous. The jewelry she had in her bag was also added to the mix for some extra bling, the earrings twinkling with every turn of her head and the chain necklace being added rather creatively to her bra-top instead of her neck to make it appear like a proper designer's garment instead of a piece of underwear.
When she gazed into a window's reflection to assess the new look she found that she no longer cared about her dirty ass sneakers.
"Oh I have outdone myself." The blonde duellist said, eliciting a giggle from Tesem who was being made to twirl in the spot by the taller female. Dressed in all black, accented with gold and with her skin bared enough to show her flat stomach and the colorful Isis wings tattooed on her back, Tesem looked very much ready to slay.
"Are we going in now?" The tan girl practically glowed with glee when she received a nod in response.
Beyond the double door and the mean looking security guard outside there was an incredibly dark corridor lined by rows of tiny color-shifting lights and large neon rendition of the establishment's name at the end, WOMB.
"That is a very weird name."
"Oh shush Jonouchi." Anzu chided her blonde male friend, lifting her voice to be heard above the growing roar of unseen speakers.
"What? It is!" He defended.
"You are a child." Mai's intrinsically sinuous voice interjected with no real heat or mockery behind the statement.
Tesem could swear that she heard a tinge of fondness in the woman's voice and even in the dim light everyone could tell that Jonouchi grew as red as a brick.
The night's surprises didn't seem to have an end, she would have to keep an eye on those two.
Reaching the end of the hallway they met a bubbly girl who instantly recognized Yugi and Mai as duellists and welcomed them into the establishment, taking a moment to mark all underage members of their group with a drawn star on their right hands. She explained that it was meant to signal to the bar that they couldn't be sold any alcohol before sending them through the opaque crystal double doors at their left.
It was as if they stepped into a whole new dimension. Green laser lights shifted in rows about their heads creating grids and patterns as they moved to the rhythm of the music. Party lights beamed down at a spacious dance floor framed by tall circular tables with metallic stools ideal for those who wanted to drink and dance the night away. A little further back lounge style low-tables with various types of seating such as couches and ottomans offered comfortable perches for those who only wished to drink and socialize with friends. High above with an advantageous view over the whole place was the VIP lounge, its U shaped balcony lined with led lights that shifted through all the colors of the rainbow.
The atmosphere felt electric, deafening music shook them to their very core and the perfume of dozens of young bodies seeking a nightly thrill filled the air leaving the taste of something sweet in Tesem's tongue.
Many eyes fell on them and some familiar faces even turned to greet the renowned duellists and their friends as they passed in the direction of a vacant table.
Mai picked a spot far from the dance floor, tucked into a corner which allowed some semblance of privacy even in the concurred establishment, likely a kindness for her less experienced companions. The tall blonde dropped somehow both graceful and nonchalant into a couch meant for two while the rest hovered awkwardly as if picking a seat was somehow going to seal their fate for the evening.
Tesem gladly took on the role of destiny's trigger. With a soft shove she sent Jonouchi ahead, leaving him no choice but to settle with feigned confidence next to their gorgeous elder. She followed suit, giving him an unapologetically mischievous smile as she claimed the white ottoman to his left for herself. Two of the four sides of the square table were then occupied, leaving a spot next to Mai and another next to herself as the remaining choices. She looked up at Anzu and Yami expectantly.
It shouldn't have mattered but as the red-eyed spirit swiftly slipped into the leather lined arm chair to her left she felt a smidge of satisfaction warm up her chest, and when everyone had settled and their conversations (half-shouted due to the ruckus) split every-which way she found that she started leaning his way, seeking his company which in just a day had changed from something she would rather avoid to something quite welcome.
Within minutes they had all gotten relatively used to the lights and the ruckus. Anzu may have still been a little tense in her spot, warily eyeing any stranger who ventured close to their table lured in by the visage of three beautiful women or perhaps even by the pair of equally attractive men, however she sure as hell wasn't wasting the chance to glue her mouth to Yami's ear whenever she had something to share. He didn't seem to enjoy such closeness but he wasn't pushing her away either.
It was then that Tesem noticed that a bit of the jealousy she had felt when she thought the brunette was going out with Yugi had somehow spread onto his other persona as well. It was ridiculous but maybe a little warranted in a sense. They weren't the same person, Yugi and the spirit from his puzzle, she knew this better than anyone else but it was still the same body and in some twisted corner of her mind that she would never admit partly belonged to her the word mine echoed with poisonous zeal.
No, not now. She violently snapped her head to the side, as if suddenly the sight of those two hurt her eyes like a blinding light. She forced her focus to instead lay solely on Mai and Jonouchi, the unlikely pair that minute after minute looked more perfect together in their shared seat. The two blondes were easier to handle than her own concerning thoughts but there was still something missing to truly get the wheel of escapism rolling.
"So what are we having first Mai-san?"
A mischievous glint crossed over the duellist's face as she pulled up her backpack and placed it on the table, the tell-tale clinking of cans and bottles catching the attention of their whole crew. "Let's start with beer to warm you all up." Golden cans were produced and Tesem was the first to receive hers.
"Oh I love you." Mouthed over the top of her foaming can it was unclear whether she meant it for Mai or the bittersweet beverage gathering beneath her upper lip but the older female laughed nonetheless. It was a bit sour and a bit bitter but with delectable sweet undertones that got her tongue tingling. It wasn't nearly strong enough nor flavorful enough to compare to what she thought she remembered of the same beverage produced in her homeland (although her explicit memory of it seemed to belong with the many things lost to her amnesia) but it was still nice.
Jonouchi showed similar eagerness and enjoyment which suggested that this wasn't his first drink either. She made a mental note to ask about it later, for all his goofiness he sometimes gave signs of being more experienced than the rest of them and it intrigued her to no end.
Anzu and Yami stalled a few seconds longer but seemingly for different reasons. The spirit considered the can after opening it for a few seconds, looking curious and a little suspicious of its content before his eyes slid to the right, spied her enjoyment and then with an unreadable expression took the first sip. He seemed to consider the taste for a moment before taking a deeper gulp that lit up his eyes with some strange emotion that looked like a confused version of nostalgia.
Tesem's curious tilt of the head was missed when Anzu's exclamation of disgust rang above the music, eliciting smiles and dragging in everyone's gaze as she very clearly expressed her distaste for the boozy drink.
"It is so bitter. Is it supposed to be this bitter?"
"Yes dear, you will grow to love it." Mai's voice was amused but tender at the same time as she produced a small glass bottle from her backpack, the label pink and adorned with strawberries. "But I did bring something sweeter that you may prefer."
Within minutes the subtle buzz of alcohol in her veins cast the world in a pleasant filter. The music wasn't as loud in her ears and the lights became less assaulting to the senses although somehow they looked even more vibrant than before.
She started tapping her feet to the rhythm of guitar and drums, her inhibitions growing even more puny as more beer cans stacked on her side of the table.
The previous tension and apprehension of her group started to crumble away as the vibe of the place infected their moods but some appeared more reluctant to let go, namely the two who had been last to take a seat.
Tesem and Mai had expected as much but while the egyptian girl was fine with letting them be it appeared like the blonde would be having none of that. A couple drinking games ought to loosen them right up. Like a veteran of this sort of situation Kujaku Mai had come prepared.
Usually frosty eyes colored pink and then golden by the shifting low lights narrowed on a box of treats whose label she couldn't distinguish, a pack of playing cards of some sort and a couple sets of items she simply didn't identify as they belonged to games she had never played before.
Not a heartbeat after a slender hand was reaching forth to snatch the deck, the silver accessories adorning Yami's wrist swinging with the motion. His crimson gaze came alive as he eyed the items and his smile made a reappearance, the white glint of his teeth catching her eye.
"Oh these are for later. I don't believe a round of drink poker would be anything close to fair until I have gotten you to down a beer or two." .
Jonouchi and Tesem nodded their agreement and the leather clad teen laughed, a rich and deep sound comparable to the bass that had every surface within sight vibrate to its sultry rhythm.
"What are we playing then?" Tesem's voice conveyed a similar level of enthusiasm, her eyes going back to the mysterious packet of edibles.
"Oh, no, those are for later too."
The tan teenager didn't understand but only a glance in Anzu's direction spoke volumes about what the eldest amongst them had in store for the night. The brunette was almost glowing red from a furious blush that invaded her cheeks as her eyes darted frantically from the box to Mai's face. The blonde duellist only winked and shrugged as if nothing was amiss. Everyone else was utterly clueless.
"What about these?" She gathered what looked like a bunch of regular chopsticks, just like those that came with packs of instant noodles. Upon closer inspection she noticed small numbers written on the ends, from 1 to 4 and an extra one with the word 'king' in japanese written onto it.
"I will assume that none of you have ever played the King game?." Mai glanced over them to confirm this and proceeded to explain the game after they all nodded.
It was simple enough, everyone must pick a chopstick at random and whoever got the one with the King label gained the power to call one of the numbers to do a challenge. Mai added an extra rule to make things more interesting. Instead of being able to force someone to drink via direct order the King must instead assign as embarassing a task as they could come up with while giving the victim the option to cop-out by drinking. The possibilities for fun shenanigans were endless.
"Oh Mai-san, you are just evil!" The accusation rang harmless as her lips betrayed her real sentiment. Tesem's amusement however couldn't blind her to the diverse reactions of her peers.
Ever fond of his brave upfront Jonouchi had a 'go get it' attitude on full display but the sweat gathering at his brow betrayed the nervousness he was trying so hard to conceal. Whether it was the game or the very alluring creature that sat by his side what made him anxious it remained unclear.
Anzu appeared very much immersed in a mental debate with herself. Tesem could almost read her thoughts as she evaluated the pros and cons of such an adventurous activity. On one hand her friends could ask her to do something totally ridiculous and embarrassing but on the other she could get the role of King and pick Yami by chance… her furtive glances toward the dark teen were a death giveaway.
Finally Yami by her side appeared somewhat apprehensive, not afraid or anything but just looking like he would rather grab the playing cards to go find himself a worthy opponent somewhere else.
She could take a wild guess as to why. The King's game didn't sound the least bit competitive, there were no winners and no clear losers, it seemed like little more than a pretext to get really drunk and have some fun. In a way it was just that, but perhaps the King of games needed a little perspective to find its true appeal.
With a familiarity that wouldn't have been possible without their interactions from earlier she touched his shoulder to steal a moment of his attention, just a glide of her fingertips that didn't linger in case the contact was unwelcome.
His crimson gaze turned to her and his eyebrow shifted up in that way she had learned was so typical of him. Too cool to voice a question. She had to contain her snicker. His mannerisms were definitively arrogant at times but Tesem had finally decided it no longer bothered her, she too was prideful to a fault and quite frankly it suited him.
"Not convinced by the King's game? I thought you would enjoy the idea, your majesty." The last word felt weird coming out of her mouth, as if she wasn't meant to be joking with it.
His eyes widened a fraction and as the lights flickered and changed they appeared to become darker, just like blood does as it coagulates, turning from vibrant crimson to almost black.
"Very funny." The side of his mouth twisted into a smirk. "You know I enjoy a challenge and this…" He trailed off, lacking the words to describe their silly game or just mindful of Mai's proximity. Even if he wasn't so keen on her suggested activity he wouldn't want to offend her.
"Hardly counts as one?" She finished, leaning a little closer so she didn't need to elevate her voice as much for him to hear. "You can look at it that way, just random people getting the role of King to get their buddies drunk. Harmless fun I'd say but if you need a proper goal think of it this way. This isn't the game you will be playing tonight." She presented the chopsticks still within her grasp. "What everyone is here to play is the night itself. Whoever can get the evening to go their way, that will be the winner."
He quirked an eyebrow again, only this time his expression came painted with skepticism. 'Are you for real?' his eyes seemed to ask but she shook her head and didn't let her smile falter. "Everyone here wants something to happen. Mai-san's goal is likely to get us all totally wasted, that guy over there-" A brown haired teen stalking the edges of the dance floor with little grace about it. His name had something to do with dragons or perhaps dinosaurs, she couldn't recall. "-is likely trying to get laid, Jonouchi seems set on proving he can outdrink me which is totally not going to happen..."
She considered adding that Anzu was likely also aiming for something that may or may not imply a red-eyed child of her own in the future, but she refrained, Yami was already smiling and the notion produced a wave of bitterness from the tenant of her subconscious.
"So you see, if you have an ultimate goal for how this whole mess is going to go then that is your ticket to victory right there, everything else is just moves on the board." Satisfied with the load of bullshit she had just come up with on the spot she leaned back, wordlessly daring him to continue pouting even after her masterful speech.
"Then what is your goal, Tesem?"
"To get your grumpy arse to have some fun today." Intended as a joke the words came out more honest than she expected but the hearty laugh they elicited from him was worth it. Inwardly she had to recognize that at some point she had slowly started to care about his well-being but another more sober side of her knew that focusing on him was an easy way out of dealing with her own demons. Escapism within escapism, she was becoming tremendously good at evading her problems and it should really frighten her but alas her beer tasted so good.
"Are you ready guys? Tesem, the chopsticks please."
Mai gathered the labelled items in a hand, shuffled them inside her palms in a way that kept the numbers hidden from view and then offered the bundle to each one of them starting on her left so they could all pick one at random.
"Alright now. Who is King?"
"Bow before your royal highness!" Jonouchi said, proudly presenting the stick that said 'Otome' with a triumphant smile.
.oOoOoOo.
Five rounds into the game and things remained tamer than she had expected, or at least in Tesem's opinion they were.
On the first round Jonouchi had called Anzu's number and seemingly lacking any good ideas from the get-go ordered her to recite the english alphabet backwards, which the girl did without missing a beat, clearly not nearly drunk enough to find the task really daunting.
Then it was Anzu's turn to be King and the number she called was Mai's. Similar to the previous round she seemed to struggle with her request and finally settled on asking the older duellist how many boys she had kissed so far during her lifetime to which the answer was. "Boys? My dear, I don't settle for boys but men and so should you, however how many is a lady's secret." And so they got their first cop-out by drinking.
Next it was Mai who pulled the King stick and she cranked the dares up a notch by instructing Tesem to remove her shoes for the rest of the night which she agreed to gladly, tucking the dirty snickers beneath the table before casually settling on a lotus sitting position above her ottoman.
Jonouchi went again and Tesem's number was up once more. Perhaps due to the four beer cans hanging on the floor by his side or his natural air-headedness he asked her to give them a good look at her tattoo and almost as an after-thought asked where she had gotten such a rad design. Anzu was quick to chide him but Tesem smiled and said it was fine even as she felt her stomach sink just a little. She gave them a little twirl with her hair out of the way and then took a small swig for not being able to answer the question.
The fifth round was finally her turn to rule and even the mighty Pharaoh seemed nervous on his seat. It may have been a random draw but her evil smile promised hell for the unlucky person that got chosen. It was about time things got rolling for real.
"Number 2."
"Ugh, that is me." Anzu practically whimpered as she lifted the chopstick with the condemning digit.
"I demand that you give one of the boys at our table a peck, you can choose who and where."
"Tesem-chan, that is-"
"Ah-ah, pucker up or drink up girl, you know the rules."
And to everyone's surprise Anzu chose to drink, gulping a decent amount of the flavored soju she had barely touched up until then.
"Bummer." Jonouchi was suddenly more animated by the direction their game had taken but Anzu's refusal dampened his zest, Tesem however felt victorios because when her blue-eyed friend turned to her it was with a full-on glare that promised retribution.
Things were bound to get out of hand from that point onward, and Tesem loved every second of it.
Within a few turns Jonouchi had been forced to smell her foot which to be fair was a little sweaty but otherwise not as bad as he made it sound. Mai finally got her chance to torture the Pharaoh so she tried to get him to sit on one of the girl's lap to which he responded with a massive gulp to his drink, leaving everyone to wonder who he might have chosen if he hadn't found the challenge too undignified for his pride. Then after a few other ridiculous challenges Anzu was ordered to dance for them, which she instantly wanted to refuse but it was also clear that she really didn't want to drink either.
Even though the whisper of a rivalry had started to make itself present between the two of them throughout the night, Tesem wasn't keen on letting the girl die alone. "I could do it with you if you really don't want to drink."
"Yeah, 2x1!"
"Oh, shut up. this isn't for you." The tan girl flung her stick Jonouchi's way, smirking mischievously when it caught him in the middle of the forehead. "Us girls must stick together."
"Oh, what the hell, alright." With that the blue eyed brunette stood and circled the table to practically drag Tesem up by the arm. The egyptian girl laughed and let herself be taken, more than enjoying the slight tint in the girl's cheeks and the subtle slur of her speech which gave away her moderately intoxicated state. She had been right to assume that Anzu was lightweight, a glance in Mai's direction was enough to confirm that their train of thought followed a similar direction. They ought to slow down and pace themselves now in order to avoid cutting the evening short with disaster.
Anzu sauntered a couple of steps back to an open spot between tables and released Tesem from her grasp. Almost as if in cue the music changed to something different, with jazzy notes from a wind instrument and an energetic electrical beat that easily settled on their hips.
They started to sway and circle each other and for the first time in a while Tesem made a discovery involving her past that was actually enjoyable. Dancing had been an activity she had once loved, remembrance still eluded her but muscle memory couldn't lie. Everyone watching was in for a treat with the clash of two passionate dancers, all for a dumb game.
.oOoOoOo.
As outrageous as the notion had seemed earlier in the night he was actually starting to have a good time.
The scene was still unfamiliar and he would be lying if he didn't admit that he would much rather be at home preparing his deck for the upcoming tournament in peace, but it was still better than what he had expected mostly thanks to a very enthusiastic girl who seemed hellbent in making sure he enjoyed their escapade.
That was a mystery all on its own, intriguing enough to give him the so-called 'goal' she had rambled about earlier. At least it was a worthwhile riddle to keep himself entertained throughout the night.
Their attitude toward one another had started to change after their visit to the museum —No, actually way before that. They had started to be somewhat civil with each-other during their late-night kitchen encounter and some time after at the hospital they had appeared to reach some sort of consensus, a truce even, albeit only for Yugi's sake.
It was true that he had stopped considering her a threat for a while now. How could he after she had risked her hide for his aibou's life twice already? Then there was her disclosure to Yugi, which he had been able to listen to from within the boy's subconscious (with his permission of course). As much as he had been loath to admit it once he got to know her plight it made it easy to understand why she had acted the way she had. Confusion and fear could easily turn to suspicion and anger, he knew this firsthand.
All of that explained why he no longer felt like hexing her into a mental institution but when it came to why she was acting so nice toward him… well he was clueless, and he really didn't like not knowing.
The discoveries from earlier that day could have planted the seed of empathy between them but the lingering mysteries were enough for her to come to doubt or even resent him due to the unknown nature of her involvement in his affairs. Then there was also Yugi, didn't she know that they both wanted— nevermind. Something had made her suddenly decide to be his friend and while he didn't mind the change it was only his nature to want to know the reason.
Nursing his beer he continued to watch her and their friends with divided interest while his focus strayed from time to time to the other competitors he could identify throughout the room. Something in his gut told him to stay vigilant, even as the bittersweet beverage insisted on relaxing the usual tension of his frame.
He had gotten used to somehow always knowing if someone in the vicinity was full of ill intent, on the streets and even at school there was always a rotten apple roaming about, the night club was no different but so far he hadn't been able to identify the possible threat. He wasn't even sure if they were in any real danger but he continued to passively search anyways.
Their silly game went on and he only really paid attention when the dares involved him or when something truly outrageous happened that had him smiling involuntarily. This time for some reason the two females sat next to him stood which made him turn back to look. Judging by Jonouchi's excitement and Mai's glee either something really good or really bad was about to happen, so he turned in his seat to have a proper look, leaning forward so his elbows rested on his knees and his prized puzzle hung in-between.
A heartbeat passed, femenine bodies started to move and every coherent line of thought vacated his mindspace in an instant.
He jolted upright, gaining a few extra centimeters of space from the spectacle that suddenly had him feeling a little hot under the collar. Anzu had been challenged to dance but for some reason Tesem had decided to join in too.
He had seen Anzu dance earlier, so he shouldn't really be surprised or stirred by seeing it again but this time it was different. Both Anzu and Tesem were channeling the sinuous tune of sax and bass, their styles of dance vastly different from one another but both meant to attract a certain kind of attention he couldn't help but provide, it was engraved in his very DNA to do so.
They were really good. He couldn't think of a better word that didn't reach into dangerous territory so he settled on it as he mentally admired the way both women displayed their expertise in that particular form of art. His brunette friend, with a more juvenile and fun style, reminded him of the idols most teenagers in Japan enjoyed. Meanwhile Tesem evoked a place and era which he now knew he belonged to. It was exotic but also very familiar in a way that got him feeling nostalgic the same way the exhibit at the museum had, only this time rather than feeling pride and belonging her visage birthed in him a growing desire that he wasn't nearly ready to acknowledge, much less act upon.
People around them had started watching so he allowed his eyes to linger, mesmerized like most males in the room by the way the egyptian girl's stomach undulated and her hips shook to the rhythm with a vigor and precision that would make any bellydancer proud.
Meanwhile Tesem was blissfully oblivious to the eyes that followed her and her friend's movements. Lost in her enjoyment of music she was transported to her very own universe where there was only herself and the next flow of motion, a very simple kind of freedom that had her feeling lighter than ever before.
"Let's put this game on pause boys, I believe it is high time we all moved to the dancefloor." Mai said and the level of authority her voice carried felt like it could rival a ruler in their own kingdom.
She stood gracefully and the perfect arch of her eyebrows seemed to question 'will you comply or face the consequences?'. Both boys still at the table looked at her, one doubtful and the other challenging. Neither was nearly drunk enough for the suggested activity but thankfully Yami's presence gave his blonde friend courage.
"We still have to finish our drinks, why don't ya go right ahead and we will catch up later."
"Mmm, you better." With that the tall duellist moved right ahead and swiftly began to herd the other two girls toward the sea of dancing bodies.
"That was really something, right Yug?" Jonouchi commented while he dragged a hand through his mop of hair, looking a little flustered but otherwise pretty composed all things considered.
"Yeah." The spirit admitted perhaps already drunk enough to not care about dissimulating his reactions as much. He glanced over at where the girls had disappeared amidst the party goers, catching brief glimpses of something gold or a bit of purple leather that gave away their position.
Crimson orbs drifted upwards, his attention abruptly ensnared by a familiar tall figure. He blinked and then narrowed his eyes on who was undoubtedly Seto Kaiba himself. What in the heavens name was he doing there? He didn't seem to be even trying to mingle as he hung on the VIP balcony, looking down on the peasants below with his usual stern scowl. He looked like he was searching for the very meaning of life, so great was his focus. Well, at least until something had him do a double-take.
Following the blue-eyed rich man's gaze was easy, it led him right back to the trio they had come in with, now effectively having claimed a corner of the dance floor where a small crowd had begun to gather. He felt his upper lip twitch which had him swiftly lift his beer to cover his mouth, mumbling something to himself before he took a deep drink.
"This was an awful idea." He said but the bitterness of his speech didn't quite reach his expression.