Judgement of the World
Written By: Lady Lunar Phoenix
A/N: This wasn't 'bad' but I realized some issues here and there that needed tweaking soo.
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Jack sat at a small table at Cafe la Green, out in the open so that he could take in the sights around him. The small cafe was set among several high end clothing boutiques and served the walking traffic of shoppers. Which was the validation they had for serving their Blue Eyes White Coffee at 3000 yen. Not that Jack cared really, for him it was about the coffee and the constant reminder to those around him of his elevated status as a top tier duelist.
He sat at his usual table with his legs stretched out under the table and visually taking in the sight of the horizon in the distance. Or at least that was what it looked like from the 'outside' while mentally he was in the middle of replaying a very anger inducing conversation with Yusei.
"A shipment of supplies arrived for the orphanage and other groups on the island a few minutes ago. Once they're done being processed by Security, I'm going to be helping deliver supplies to Martha today with Crow." Yusei recited what little itinerary as he had, yet the fact that 'he' actually made the phone call seemed out of sorts.
"Well that's good, its nice to know you and Crow aren't lazing about there on Satellite while the rest of us have to work!" Jack retorted. Having lost the title of 'Turbo Duel King' to Yusei meant that he no longer had the ability to just wait for the best of the best in a tournament to deal with. Which was the only place a King 'should' have to wait in a tournament, not clamoring up the mountain with the rest of the rabble.
He had to be seeded into competitions and work his way from the ground up again. Otherwise how was he going to survive, as Carly didn't make enough to validate his condo. And if he was going to have her move in he 'needed' for there to be a better source of income. But there was a serious doubt regarding his ability to stay in Neo Domino, since not all profitable duels happened there. Before Kajuku became the first Duel Queen of the game, she had to travel around to support herself. A King could stay in his own town and the dueling world came to 'him'. Anyone else?
Dueling was a financial commitment.
"Crow and I are both going to be getting jobs when the bridge is built, what are 'you' doing while you're there now?" Yusei asked calmly, though perhaps in hindsight, the fact that he went on an 'offense' with a question should have warned Jack what was about to happen.
"Dueling! Its the only thing worth my time, or would be if the rest of the duelists here weren't all new to the game. I won't say that its a bad thing, people have to start 'somewhere', but they should have 'some' clue as to what they are doing! They should still be on the novice circuit and develop more experience before trying to go to higher ones! A waste of time I say!"
"Is that what you told Aki? That telling me about Rua is a waste of my time?" Yusei didn't even bother to humor Jack with something deadpan, he just went for that question. His voice was as steady as to be expected from the duelist, but the fact he 'knew' upset Jack immensely. Just what he expected from a woman, overly chatty with Yusei now that she was no longer under Divines' thumb.
"What does it matter? He fell and bumped his head, it's nothing to get worked up over. I can't believe you put that slip of a girl over my opinion on a situation!" Jack growled at Yusei's cold challenge to Jacks' ability to look after the twins. "Just because you finally figured out what girls are for doesn't mean you should let one panic you over nothing!"
"Enlighten me, what 'are' girls for." Yusei replied, he didn't 'ask' for clarification rather he just sat there with this stony look in his eyes. It wasn't in a virginal sense that he didn't know, there was a subtext to the words that fleshed out the sentence. Because Aki wasn't a 'girl' she was the Crimson Dragons' foot, she was meant to provide them with stability, ground them. Yusei, just by his nature of fixing and restoring things, wasn't going to tolerate any member of the team being treated as negligible.
And Jack could see it in the guys' eyes making him realize he needed to choose his next words carefully. Sometimes, just sometimes, he forgot what Yusei was like, the time apart had dimmed most of Yusei's personality traits save his skill at dueling. It was in moments like this, feeling the temperature drop in those blue eyes that it would come back to him. That Jack would remember how Yusei saw the world, how he would rationalize things. But this was Jack, "You know what I mean, she had no business telling you about what happened! Just cuz you two like each other doesn't mean you should let her wild flights of fancy be the foundation of what you think is going on here!"
"And if he had snapped his neck when he fell? Or if this 'had' turned out to be something that is medically wrong with him? Were you just going to sit there and leave me in the dark?" Yusei countered as gravely.
Jack felt his eyes narrow in growing anger at the accusation, not expecting to be put on a type of trial just by accepting a call from Yusei this early in the morning. "What are you? His mother? Do you think I would treat something that serious like it was a joke? What type of person do you take me for?" He roared, slamming his hands down on the side of his telescreen and leaning into the monitor.
"The type of person who throws kids into the ocean with no concern if they 'die' so that he can get his hands on the tickets to a better life. But turn around and lose his absolute mind over the idea of his girlfriend ending up in the self same waters. 'Have' you spoken to Riley since then?" Yusei riposted, reminding Jack instantly that Yusei 'could' fight dirty when motivated.
Bringing back to mind the fact that Jack had put the boys' life in danger for his own personal gain. "That was before, and I'm not like that anymore!"
"Have you talked to Riley." Yusei repeated his eyes narrowed. "Because from where I'm sitting, it sounds like you've replaced Riley with Rua. And I don't have enough proof that if someone doesn't wave something enticing in your face, you won't abandon Rua to his possible death as well. I'm not your maid, I'm not here to clean up all your messes. Just because you think its not your responsibility to face the people you hurt for your own self gratification."
Dueling was great, it taught people how to have a poker face and not show when something scored a hit. So it was pretty easy not to show Yusei how Jack just wasn't strong enough to face Riley again after what he had done. How he didn't want to ever fail Rua in the same way as he failed the other child. Jack wanted to be stronger, he didn't just lose the Turbo Duel King Crown to Yusei, but he had lost a lot of his own self respect in that defeat. The truth of Godwin had made him realize how selfish he was, but damn it if changing for the better wasn't hard!
"The hell you want from me, Yusei? Build a time machine and go back to stop myself?!" He shot back frustrated at his own guilt. "I'm not going to let something happen to the two of them! No matter what that stupid woman of yours tells you!"
"First, let's make that clear right now, she's part of the group, you don't like it? Give your mark to someone less stuck on themselves like you are. Because anyone in this group has every right to talk to me about issues as they arise. Secondly, Rua confessed when he called me last night when he was caught by Aki's maid bouncing around as we talked. And lastly, you make one more crack at Akis' 'flights of fancy', one more insult towards her. And the next time we see each other in person, I won't bother with my deck. We'll settle things with fists, is that understood Jack." Yusei's voice was harsh and filled with a suppressed emotion that was trying to burst forth.
While Jack sat there internally horrified that he had allowed himself to assume it was Aki and to not even get clarification. Allowing his pride to get to him, yet again, and now to have groundlessly insult her to defend himself. He stumbled out an acknowledgment to Yusei's harsh statement and hung up without a good bye.
He dragged himself back to his couch and laid himself out in response as he tried to deal with what he had thoughtlessly just done. The guilt was there, something he normally could just push away and distract with some novelty of Neo Domino. It was how he had managed to forget about Riley for all this time, but now the memories came back. Coupled with the shame that he had tried to turn Aki into a scapegoat for him. Trying to play it that if something 'did' eventually turn out wrong with Rua, he could just blame Aki on the low. Of using her issues to validate his own lack of faith on her opinions. He looked down at his arm that held his Wing mark and wondered why the Dragon chose him.
Carly's call became his new distraction, allowing him to drag himself out of his place and to the cafe to meet up with her. Well, not a complete distraction since he ended up being reminded that he should have been more considerate of the of the clear fact that Yusei fancied Aki. He had been disrespectful towards her because of her relationship to Divine, then dismissed her towards Yusei. While willing to warn Yusei to be respectful of Carly because 'he' was dating her.
Damn women, they always complicated life.
Even this brown haired waitress, he always ended up with her and she never spoke beyond the basics to get his order. He could feel her eyes on him the whole time like some type of determined paparazzi. Yet she never spoke a blasted word to him so he figured that she was a fan who fancied him. But he just really couldn't be bothered with women who just didn't speak their intentions out, duels were fun out thinking an opponent. Women? Not fun at all. You could leave a duel and go home, women had a tendency to follow you.
Out of the corner of his eye he could see Carly park her happy sunlit yellow car, and he adjusted his posture so that he was facing her. She shut the door, locked it and after paying the spot she made her way to the cafe with a cheerful bounce in her step. The reporter seemed in high spirits, a beaming smile on her face, her head held up in pride and her free hand was swinging to a beat while the other held her purse strap tight. It was enough to make him wonder what she had done now.
Carly walked towards the small opening of the roped off area and began making her way towards him.
"Uh, excuse me miss!" Jacks' waitress moved to intercept Carly.
"Huh? Oh hi," Carly blinked behind her bottle thick glasses at the light blue dressed waitress making her way from inside the cafe.
"You can't just go over there, Mr. Atlas is having his coffee right now," the brunette reprimanded Carly as she moved to block Carly with her own presence.
"Sure I can! We have a date!" Carly beamed proudly, which just being able to say 'Jack Atlas Himself' was waiting for her made her all the more gleeful. Also oblivious as the waitress gave her a disbelieving look and proceeded to look her over as though the very notion that someone of Jack's level would ever be this common.
Stephanie raised an eyebrow and took in this girl, unable to equate that this sub class type of girl could 'ever' claim to be with Jack. Not that Carly looked 'bad' or dirty, she was clearly a well groomed and taken care of girl. But she dressed like tomboy, loud and boisterous while Jack 'clearly' needed a proper lady to be by his side.
"I'm sure you think so, but he honestly doesn't need to be bothered, we here at the Cafe la Green pride ourselves on making a guest's experience relaxing." Stephanie replied, evoking the name of the Cafe to back up her right to shoo away the tomboy.
"Hey! Stop gossiping, I'm not going to wait all day for you Carly!" Jacks' voice boomed out over the empty air shaking the pair of girls from any further talk as they both turned towards him.
Stephanie, trying to hide her shocked feeling that Jack 'would' pick such a tomboy for his girl, while a voice in the back of her mind whispered about her own silence. She should have spoken up when she had the chance! Instead of allowing her nerves to have free play, and now it seemed she might have blown her chance to be with Jack.
While Carly was just pleased to have her moment of distraction rolled out of the way so she could continue on her path towards Jacks' table. She was eager to pull out her phone and show him the latest rare miniature that she got for her 'Original Duelists' collection. She waved at Jack happily and began pulling out said phone as she wove her way through the tables and chairs. "I got the rare Dark Magician miniature finally! The one with the Dark Magician in more armor less robes!" She crowed out cheerfully, telling everyone in ear shot that fact.
Jack, supposedly, begrudgingly pushed the seat next to his feet out so she had a spot to sit on. While noticing the waitress in the back look heart broken before turning away, while he disguised his curiosity with disdain as he accepted the phone to see. The expression on her face being the only reason he didn't yell at her to demand why she wasn't offering any coffee to Carly.
More proof that women were an aggravation and a burden.
"Is this the only thing you wanted to show me?" He grumbled as he admired the craftmanship of the cast iron figure of the Dark Magician. Knowing that Carly would take the piece home and proceed to spend hours laboring over painting each piece. The phone did a great justice at showing the details of the last Dark Magician that the original Duel King used. Granted magicians weren't Jack's 'thing', however; after Yugi stopped 'officially' dueling, and was noted to be traveling with the original model of the Dark Magician. It was almost a right of passage for a fan to obtain one of the collections based off the two when they couldn't just become professional duelists.
"Yep! I even got a card thanking me for my level of devotion!" Carly beamed as she spoke, digging through her purse past her wallet, various lens wipes for her camera. Before she produced a small white envelop and held it out to Jack. "Its one thing to get the miniature, but its a whole new level to paint them by hand!"
The envelope had already been opened, and he slipped out the white card. The card was of a high quality stock and the words looked to be written by a brush rather instead of typed. As though it was written by hand, despite the numerous reasons it was impossible.
"Thank you for your loyal dedication to collect this piece. With it in your hands, now you can start collecting the Gods Collection! From here on in you can collect the Three Egyptian Gods that I won in Battle City, as well as the higher forms of the Dark Magician and the Blue Eyes White Dragon! Signed, Yugi!"
Jack read the words aloud, while mentally going over the numerous types of monsters that Carly collected already. The realization that she was going to be getting more... kinda made him want to groan at the childishness. But also grow excited at the prospect of seeing this Gods Collection. There were images of the Three Egyptian Gods, but there was two 'other' Gods that were rumors. Where the Winged Dragon of Ra would be 'merged' as it were with Yugi himself. Where the God would turn into Yugi with either the draconic aspects of the Dragon form, or a magician aspect with the Phoenix.
ANY duelist worth their salt wanted to see these forms of the Gods.
"I'm so excited to have the Dark Magician! But oh yeah, Aki mentioned the twins were crashing at her place yesterday. That was odd. Was something wrong with them?" Carly asked, shifting gears from her excitement of her new acquisition, even as she retrieved her phone to stare longingly at said magician. Causing her to miss the dark clouds that drifted over Jack's expression as he put the card back into its envelop and handed it back next to Carly.
"Rua blacked out and fell off the platform yesterday." He barked out, wanting to be over and done with the thing that had resulted in his verbal fight with Yusei that morning.
Carly blinked as she looked up at Jack at that, since the twins were, well, 'kids'. She didn't really recall them beyond her association with Aki either. But what he described sounded serious and she looked down at her purse as she slipped her card into it again. "Oh, blacking out sounds dangerous. But if they're with Aki and not at the hospital, it means everything was ok in the end."
"Humph, he was taken to the doctors, and the tests came back fine. But there was a worry that maybe he blacked out as an advance warning about his sister." Jack elaborated begrudgingly before taking a sip of coffee. While setting his gaze on Carly and enjoying the sight of her long hair sweeping past her face as she fussed about.
"Why?" Carly asked as she took off her glasses and began cleaning them, giving him a chance to enjoy her eyes since she couldn't see without them. Grateful that she couldn't afford corrective surgery making her vision clear enough that she could see him gazing into them. In fact, Carly's antics were easing him quickly out of his soured mood, allowing him to relax finally and enjoy the time with her.