There's a ring at the door, and Aster Phoenix is the one to open it. He's greeted by three faces: one grinning and carefree, the other a little more awkward, and the third questioning his existence. It's definitely two Rhodes, and a Truesdale. No surprises are to be found.

"Hey man!" Atticus gives him a friendly tap on the shoulder. "I brought some company!"
"Well, that was the idea. Wasn't it?"

Aster had been expecting them. He's notified the desk at the entrance to his apartment building that he would be receiving three guests, and that they could be allowed up, and had ensured that his little home was tidy enough to welcome them. There were some snacks, and drinks ready, but he'd tried to make an effort not to do anything too fussy. This isn't one of the big social events planned by his agent where he's got to impress his sponsors after all.

As always, Alexis' older brother is confident as he swaggers inside, leading the way. It leaves his sister, and Zane standing there uncomfortably. They exchange a few looks, Zane especially questioning just how he'd managed to get himself roped into all of this. Another day, Aster might have actually laughed. As it is, he makes the effort not to. He knows that his old rival can be a bit temperamental. It won't take much for him to call it a day.

Honestly, he considers it a small miracle that the Rhodes had managed to convince their friend to make it this far.

Eventually, the pair manage to agree on whose turn it is to go first. At least Zane's enough of a gentleman to remember to let a lady go before him. It's a positive point as far as Aster is concerned, at least he's thinking of others.

It's a first for Alexis, and only a second for Zane. The pro-duelist didn't like big fancy pads. Aster knew that much because his old friend had told him as much, to his face no less – although granted, not with those exact words, and it had been after indulging in a little more alcohol than was probably wise. So at least their host knows better than to try and impress one of them. The other, although he doesn't know her so well, he doubts is the sort to be taken aback by expensive TV sets, and designer clothes.

"Good to see you." He greets the two.

He offers to take Alexis' jacket. She accepts, taking the opportunity to look around his apartment in as discreet a manner as possible. Aster doesn't know her quite as well as he's come to know her brother over the past few years, but unless she's changed drastically since school, something tells him that she'll be the more easily predictable, and manageable of the Rhodes siblings.

"This is a nice place you've got." She tells him.
"Thanks." He answers. "Had a busy day?"
"The kids are always a bit crazy on a Friday. It's the weekend that gets them all worked up."
"I can imagine."

Aster can't help but think back to the orphanages he visits whenever he has the time. The children there could be excited to say the least from time to time. There's a sort of innocent joy to them however, that never ceased to earn a smile. Learning that Alexis had ended up working in a school hadn't come as a great surprise to the pro-duelist. From what he'd heard, and seen on Duel Academy, it seemed to match with her character well-enough.

If she can put up with Zane and her brother, then he reasons that most school children must be a walk in the park.

He's set things out as best as he can – or as best as he thinks he can. Truth be told, this isn't something that he does often. Hardly ever at all, in fact. Actually… When Aster thinks about it, he isn't sure that he's ever had friends round. Friends of his age, and not some rivals or a potential sponsor he's trying to impress. There isn't any end goal here, other than to relax a little bit. That makes things all the more complicated. He'd asked his assistant. She'd suggested drinks, and some snacky things were a good place to start.

Atticus is certainly wasting no time getting tucked into them. Alexis is more patient, and half the time Zane eats less than a sparrow. He seems a little bit lost, which honestly the host has been expecting. He's not too sure how anyone had managed to drag him along like this, but Aster certainly isn't about to complain. Every now and then, his old friend/rival still manages to surprise him.

"I thought you had a duel." It's the first words to make it past Zane's lips.
"That's next week." Aster reminds him. "They've got me flying out to New Guinea!"
"At least you're seeing the world." Atticus retorts. "When's it the world championships anyhow?"

"For traditional duels? Four months."

Aster's already preparing. He can't afford not to. The pro-circuit is pitiless, and as his agent is very keen to remind him, one bad duel could spell the end of his career. For tonight, he pushes those doubts from his mind. As much as he can at least. Of course, he's going to end up scoping out the competition.

Zane settles down on the couch without much hesitation. Although he isn't quite as out of breath as his old friend had feared. In fact, by his standards, he doesn't look all that bad at all. Aster might be imagining it, but it seems to him that he's put on a little weight. The pro-duelist knows better than to ask his old travel companion about it. The best thing were the often grumpy man is concerned, is to just leave him be. He tends to take anyone doing so little as inquiring about his health as being them assuming he was at death's door. That usually never fails to make him snappy.

They've got a good half-hour until the match kicks off. So everyone just takes their seats. There's a bit of a silence. Aster briefly wonders what to say to fill it. Thankfully, Atticus isn't one to allow peace, and quiet to linger for too long:

"You know-" He declares, taking a handful of crisps. "It still feels weird all this chilling out stuff. I mean- Think about the things the four of us have seen."
"Yeah. Can't say that I miss it." Alexis answers.
"Really? None of the heroics?" Her brother raises an eyebrow.
"Oh yeah. Almost dying, or getting our souls sucked out was so much fun." Aster almost shudders at the memory.
"Here's a test, then." The elder of the siblings suggests. "Who still has their deck with them?"

There's a moment's silence, and hesitation. All of the guests exchange glances. So Atticus goes first, he pulls his own deck out of his pocket, and shows it for all to see. Zane follows suit a moment after, only deigning to flash it for a second. Aster has his in his pocket. Alexis is the last to confess, very timidly reaching into her handbag in order to fetch it from its case. To her brother, it's a victory.

"Old habits die hard."

It's one part of their lives that Aster is very much relieved to have left behind him. He'll duel any day of the week, but preferably not when his life and/or soul are on the line. Those shadow duels had cost all of them dearly throughout their three years at Duel Academy. In some respects, Zane is still paying the price for the dark side of their sport. One by one, all of the decks are returned to their owners' pockets. Aster wonders how often the Rhodes' actually see the light of day. He can't imagine that they have much use for them. Perhaps, they might stare at them fondly from time to time, remembering the occasions where they had saved their lives.

Aster offers his guests some drinks. Alcohol is on the table, but when it comes to the most sullen member of their group, he raises a hand in protest.

"Just water is fine."

Aster looks towards Atticus, struggling to believe his ears. Zane has been drinking for a while. Not heavily, but certainly more than he should be. His old friends had all but given up trying to convince him not to. It was his life, and it was ending, as he so often pointed out. At the end of the day, there was very little that they could do. Now, he seems content enough to do what they've been begging him to for years, and without any prompting. Honestly, his former rival wouldn't have dismissed the notion that he could have been doing it just to make some sort of a point.

They don't make a big deal out of it, and give the man what he'd requested. Zane drinks a few sips, before putting it back down. With a single push of a button, Aster brings up the duel. It hasn't started yet. Instead, they're being treated to a recap.

"Do you guys follow this?" He asked his non-pro duelist friends.
"As much as I can." Alexis answers. "Especially when it's an old friend."
"Never thought I'd hear you call Chazz that." Her brother teases.
"Well, it's what he is." Her face falls slightly. "It's been forever since I last saw him."
"That's the life of a pro-duelist for you, always on the move."

Chazz moves around so much, even Aster isn't entirely sure where it is that he calls his home. Perhaps next time he bumps into him at a competition, or event, he'll take the time to actually ask.

Their former classmate has been rattling round the pro-circuit since graduating from the island. He does alright. Aster knows him to be a formidable opponent, and he's certainly not someone to underestimate. They've clashed twice, and on both occasions he's been given a run for his money by the man. It's strange, the pro-duelist can't help but think, that they've all drifted so far apart. When he thinks about Jaden Yuki's little gang – as he still thinks of them – they had all seemed so inseparable back then. The passage of life, and adult life evidently has a lot to blame.

"Do you think he'll win this?" Alexis asks.
"He should." Zane answers, from his spot on the couch. "His opponent isn't quite in the same league. Just graduated from Duel Academy."
"Well, it's Chazz. He isn't going to pull his punches." Atticus replies, as he edges back in his seat. "So this should be a good one."

They have to sit through a good half-hour of game commentary. Much of it is provided by Atticus. Aster is sure that the other man has an "off switch", they're just yet to find it, that's all. Even the occasional eye roll from his sister, or shake of the head from Zane don't seem to be enough to silence him.

They're on their second round before the match has even started. Aster settles down. He takes a few sips of his drink. They help him relax a little bit. There really isn't any reason to be tense right now. As Atticus has already pointed out, at the very least nobody's soul is hanging in the balance. From time to time, the pro-duelist risks a glance towards Zane to check how he's doing. He seems oddly relaxed. He's settled down in the couch, but doesn't appear to be as utterly drained as Aster has sometimes seen him. He actually looks pretty comfortable. Good.

"Good move." Alexis can't help but comment, as Chazz' opponent summons a monster. "He's got some talent."
"He wouldn't be there if he didn't." Zane responds.
"Never stopped you." Atticus can't help but jab at his old friend.
"Remind me. How many times did you ever beat me?" The former pro-duelist raises an eyebrow.
"Play nice you two." Alexis requests.

It's all good-natured, and both men back down quickly. The duel rages. There's a fair amount of banter between the two. Aster knows how it all goes down. Although he knows neither of the two men's agents, but can imagine what goes on behind the scenes.

"The crowd loves it." Aster tells them. "The more trash talk, the better."
"Do you actually mean it though?" Alexis questions.
"Really depends on the guy." Aster answers with an unapologetic shrug of the shoulders, before looking over to Zane. "I seem to remember you giving a few people a chewing over back in the day."
"Only if they rubbed me the wrong way."
"Which is like 95% of the people on the planet."

Zane grumbles, but doesn't actually bother to contradict them. Instead, it's towards Alexis that he turns. Aster watches curiously. The woman gives her old friend a gentle smile, but an innocent one. The former pro-duelist is quick to look away, turning his gaze back towards the duel. As soon as he's certain that she's not looking in his direction any longer however, his gaze travels back towards her. It rests there for a little while. Until he noticed that he's being looked at that is. Then, all of a sudden, the screen becomes far more interesting.

Aster pours out some more drinks. He looses count after a while. They get through another couple of turns, and Armed dragon is out on the field. It's hard not to cheer for such a familiar old foe.

"That's got to be checkmate!" Atticus declares.
"I wouldn't be so sure. There's still a trap down." Aster can't help but note.
"Five bucks says Chazz wins this next turn!"
"You're on!"

Aster is aware that their two companions are a mixture of rolling their eyes, and chuckling bemused by the bet. The group grows quiet in the last few seconds. Chazz has called out an attack. The hologram of the dragon roars, as it prepares to unleash hell. There's a cry from the other trainer. The facedown card pops up, and the attack is canceled.

Aster smirks, taunting the older duelist. What's another five bucks?!

The speaker system offers them a surround sound experience. It blasts them from all directions. As the crowd erupts with surprised shouts, and cheers, seem to come from all sides. It's almost like they were there in the stadium watching with those present. Aster's been here many times before. His agents won't let him skip a duel, not that he would anyhow. With others to enjoy it with, he finds himself watching, rather than strategizing, trying to put himself into the shoes of both of the other duelists, imagining how he would counter their opponent.

Finally, on his next turn, Chazz ends it. His opponent is defeated. There's an applause, and the group watching from so many miles away, let out a collective breath that none of them had been aware that they were holding to begin with. A victory for an old friend… And the promise of advancing further. The championships are on the horizon after all. There's a post-game analysis. Two in fact: the first is on the screen, and quickly muted, the second comes from Atticus, and Aster.

"You owe me five bucks!" The silver haired man reminds his guest.
"Huh?" Atticus blinks a couple of times. "But he won!"
"You said 'next turn'!"
"He should have played it that turn!"

Atticus isn't backing down, and neither is his host. Aster finds his head to be a little bit foggy. Not much, but that coupled with the company is enough to loosen some of his inhibitions. So he doesn't mind smiling, and meeting his guest's challenge. It's a game that he's content enough to play for a little while. They're still arguing, debating. Their companions watch bemused from the couch. Of course, it isn't long until Alexis' brother tries challenging the pro-leaguer next to him. He's no push over, or so he claims.

With a roll of the eyes, Alexis slips away from her couch. She isn't the only one. A few minutes ago, Zane has decided that there's only so much arguing that he can tolerate. He finds refuge outside on the terrace.