Zane has managed to beat her there. She isn't terribly surprised. For as long as she's known him, her old friend has been punctual, and then some. She gives her watch a brief glance, and finds that at the very least, she isn't late. So, she doesn't feel any shame at the very least.

He's made an effort. She takes note of that much: a nice shirt, and he's cleaned himself up a fair bit. Right now, it's the closest that she's seen him to being the man that she had once known. It brings a strange feeling of nostalgia, as she remembers those hours spent by the lighthouse together, a lifetime ago. Given the mystery surrounding whatever event they were going to, and the little Zane had given her to work with, she'd had to guess when it had come to picking out her own clothes. She'd opted for something nice, smart, but casual. A blouse, and some jewelry to match, but nothing too fancy.

He spots her quickly enough, coming towards him. He doesn't smile, but then she hadn't been expecting him to. There are small signs with Zane. There always have been. He doesn't wear his heart on his sleeves, other than during the passion of a duel. Over the years though, she'd learned to pick up on the little ticks. Most of which is in his eyes. It's a skill she's having to brush up on, and rediscover. She feels as if she's making some progress though.

There's a softness about his eyes. It isn't much, but just a little gleam. It lets her know that he's happy to see her. For a few moments, she thinks that there might be something else. Something that she can't quite place. It vanishes too quickly for her to be able to guess what it might be though. So she flashes him a smile, enough to give them both some confidence.

"Hey..." Zane greets her. "You look nice."
"Thanks. So do you."

The woman looks around for some sort of an explanation as to just what he might have invited her here for. It's a decent part of town. She actually studied not all that far away from here. She's perplexed, but forces herself not to be worried. Instead, Alexis tries to guess just what could be so special. There are lots of possibilities, but it's always so difficult to guess with Zane.

"So… You've got me guessing, where are we going?" She asks playfully.
"You'll see when we get there."

The pair begin walking. Zane knows exactly where he's going, or at least seems to. So she follows. The streets are busy, and narrow. It's a trendy part of town, one that's popular with the youth, students, and artistic types. Honestly, it's not really somewhere she would have thought her old friend would spend any time.

She looks for something to say, but doesn't want to ask him how he's feeling. She tells herself that he's practical enough to not risk venturing outside if he thought that he might not be up for it. A brief glance soothes any worries that she might have had. There's color on his cheeks, and he seems to be continuing the trend of putting on weight. It suits him. He no longer looks to be quite so gaunt, and has even managed to develop some more muscle mass. For the first time in a while, Alexis finds herself having to speed up to keep pace with his long strides.

They walk for about a quarter of an hour, and make their way down a few streets. They chat a little. Mostly, it's just a few innocuous questions, and comments about the weather to fill in the pauses, and ensure that the whole time isn't spent in silence. Eventually, he finds a bar – or what looks like a bar – it's moderately warm out, and yet she can't help, but notice that there aren't any tables, or chairs outside. Zane doesn't hesitate, he goes straight for the door. He holds it open for her, gesturing for her not to be concerned. She isn't, and follows her friend/guide obligingly, and without any complaint.

The inside seems bigger than out. It's clean, and tidy, and there are a lot of voices to be heard. Most of the people were young. She struggled to find a face which looked as if it could have been much over the age of forty. As they enter into the main room, they find lots of tables, most of which are occupied. There's a stage too, Alexis doesn't miss that much.

"You said no duels." She reminds her companion, weary.
"I'm not dueling."

He gestures for her to sit down at a nearby table. She obliges, and tucks her handbag underneath the table. The woman looks around, she's still trying to get a feeling for just where it is that she is right now. There are duels, and it looks like there's one due to start soon enough judging by how people periodically glance towards the nearby stage. At the same time, there are drinks, and snacks being served, and most of the patrons are laughing, and chatting amicably among themselves.

After a few moments of trying to make some sense of just why her "date", might have chosen this specific place, she gives up, and decides just to simply ask:

"So… What's so special about this place?"
"This is where a lot of the new talent comes." Zane answers, as if it explains everything.
"New talent?" She repeats, blinking a few times.

Zane only nods once in response. She looks back around the room, and takes note of those who surround them. She notices all of a sudden the presence of cards, and decks. Some sit next to their apparent owners. Others were chatting, and comparing their decks. She picks up on the posters on the wall: some of the up-and-coming duelists, and some of the big matches scheduled. Alexis catches on, and can't help but smile:

"Is this where you used to come?"
"Once, or twice… A very long time ago."

She treads carefully around his past in the pro-leagues. It hadn't ended terribly well. Although, she reasons that if it were entirely bad, then he would probably have kept everything to do with Duel Monsters a good deal further away from him, and likely wouldn't have taken her here. His eyes trail around the room, before he adds a bit more quietly:

"I still come here from time to time. It reminds me of why I used to like dueling so much."
"Used to?" She repeats quietly, a little bit concerned.
"For a while..." Zane confesses. "It was difficult for me to like anything. I couldn't see the point."
"We talking recently?"
"Up until recently, yes."

She fixes him a little bit surprised. It isn't often that Zane opens up about such things. Even now, he can't quite bring himself to look at her. Instead, his gaze is focused on the stage nearby. The lights had just turned on, no doubt a duel would be beginning shortly.

Alexis decides against pushing the matter any further. She doesn't want to risk ruining this evening by touching on something a little bit too sensitive. Thankfully, the waiter turns up, and asks them for their order. Again, she's impressed by the fact that her companion doesn't order anything with any alcohol in it. It's almost enough to make her feel a little bit guilty for ordering herself some wine – she tells herself that she'll pick up the bill.

"I sort of miss Duel Academy – you know, outside all of the shadow duels, maniacs, and madness..." A lot of those particular memories fill her with dread more than anything else. "But the excitement? Seeing everyone give their own in a duel. That was really something…"
"You get it in the pro-leagues." Zane comments.
"You'd know more about it than me-" She concedes after a moment. "But it doesn't quite look like the same thing. At least not as a spectator… I mean, there's all those sponsors, and points, and rankings… It isn't just one person against another."

Opposite her, Zane hums thoughtfully. It will mean more to him than it will do to her. The most that she actually knows about the pro-leagues comes from the few acquaintances she has who work there. Chazz, whom she hears from on occasion, always makes it sound intense, but then he was never going to do otherwise. No, it isn't a world that she would ever feel terribly comfortable in. She knows that without ever having to put it to the test.

"I miss bits of it." Zane admits after a few moments. "But you're right… There wasn't quite the same thrill. Maybe that's why people like Jaden, and Jesse gave it the skip."
"Do you ever hear from Jaden?"
"Not once." The man answers with a shake of his head. "He's moved on to other things, I'll bet. This world always was a bit too small for him."
"You, think?"

Their drinks arrive, leading to another pause in the conversation. It gives Alexis a few seconds to think. She wonders if she'd even recognize Jaden now. Would he recognize her? She'd expected him to pop up on the pro-circuit, always looking for that next challenge. After the first few years, when he'd failed to show up. She'd reasoned that he must have found something else to challenge himself. One thing was sure in her mind, he was still out there somewhere, just as crazy, and brave as ever.

"Oh yeah. He's out there." A strange smile graces Zane's lips. "I wouldn't pass on the chance to duel him again."
"Some people never change." She can't help but remark.
"You're saying you'd be different?"
"Well..."

She admits that it sounds like a thrill. Even although she knows they're not in the same league. It would be nice to duel her old friend, just one more time.

There's some noise: an announcement. A woman is standing on the stage. She calls out a couple of names. Two young, clearly recently graduated duelists step up: one man, and one woman. Alexis turns her head curiously, as they briefly introduce themselves. One, the woman, is from West Academy, and the other studied on the Academy island. They take their positions, and draw their cards. Alexis looks around to try, and get a feel for the atmosphere. Whilst most of those present are watching, she sees more than a few who continue to chatter whilst giving the occasional glance. It gives her the confidence to dare to speak:

"Have you been watching the championship recently?"
"Of course."

She tiptoes round the issue. On a nearby television, some duel reviews are advertising the evening's match. A familiar face flashes across the screen. For a few seconds, she considers bringing him up, but decides against it. Perhaps later on, for the time being, she decides to avoid anything which could lead to conflict.

Instead, she focuses on the duel. The two are gifted. Although obviously they are not quite at a pro level, not just yet anyhow, she imagines that both could easily have been Obelisks, or the equivalent. She wonders briefly if there might be some talent scouts in the room. A brief glance around, and decides that even if they were, she likely wouldn't be able to identify them. She takes a sip of her drink, and leans her chin against the palm of her hand as she leans on the table. This sort of thing takes her back to the island that they'd once both called him.

"Does your brother know about this?" Zane asks after a little while.
"About me, coming out with you?" He nods in response. "God no! I'd never hear the end of it! He'd probably be hiding in a bush somewhere, ghosting us."
"Yeah… That sounds like your brother. He means well though."
"Usually."
"Usually." Zane concedes.

He's smiling. Her heart flutters in a way that it hasn't done in quite a while. It's enough for her to mimic him. Alexis doesn't look away. She can only imagine just what Atticus would say if he knew that the two of them were out together like this. It would be all the more complicated because she herself wonders just what this is. She doesn't question it. There are some things which should just be enjoyed for what they are.

"Thank you for this." She lets out in a sigh.
"Hm?" Zane raises an eyebrow.
"For taking me out like this." She clarifies.
"Well… I was hoping you'd come." He pauses for a few moments, his gaze focuses on the duel. "I like spending time with you Lexi."

She finds herself staring at him. It wasn't a confession that she'd been expecting to hear. For a few moments, she doesn't quite know how to respond. Zane isn't usually one to say such things so openly. She finds his dark eyes resting upon her. They're unusually soft, and gentle. It's enough to bring the heat to her cheeks. She doesn't look away though. Instead, she focuses on trying to gather her thoughts, and put them in some order.

She brushes a lock of her hair behind her ear. Mindlessly, she traces some of the condensation around her glass. Finally, after probably only a few seconds, but that feels like a lot longer, she answers:

"I like spending time with you too..."

He smiles again, and she returns it.

They're quiet after that, and focus on the duel instead. Alexis isn't terribly invested in it in many respects. She's certainly not rooting for either of the sides. They're both skillful, and their decks match one another well enough. So it makes for an entertaining enough show. She watches it though more as a movie, than actually trying to put herself in the shoes of one of the duelists. It's nice just to lose herself in the moment more than anything else. She takes the opportunity to relax: she forgets about her job, about those papers that need grading, about Zane's ailing heath. It's just the two of them together, watching something they'd been passionate about.

It's a well fought duel. Alexis will give them both that much. They're both taking it seriously, and they certainly give it their all. All the while, they manage to keep smiles on her face. She likes that. It's how dueling should be. Of course, she joins in with the applause. To her surprise, the man who sits next to her does the same. She wonders if either of the two on the stage – or anyone else here know who he is. There was a time, when he'd been famous after all. That was a long time ago though.

They don't leave immediately after the duel ends. Instead, they chat. They talk about nothing. Those little things that don't mean anything, but that ordinary people spoke about anyhow: old friends, and places, projects, and dreams, remember whens… They order some more drinks, and watch two more duels.

Time marches on, and before Alexis really knows where they are, the place is shutting its doors. Time to go home apparently. She checks her watch. Her eyes widen as she realizes that almost three hours have galloped past in what seems like ten minutes. Oh well… There are certainly worse ways to spend time.

She notices that Zane is a little stiff as he gets to his feet. His attention becomes distracted, and focused on something else. She's able to follow his gaze easily enough. He's found a nearby poster. A familiar man with spiky blue hair is in center stage, facing off against his opponent for the evening. Alexis gives the man space, and time. She can guess what's going through his mind, but knows it's still best not to intrude. Eventually, his gaze drifts down to rest upon her. She half expects him to try to pretend that everything's fine, and just move on as if nothing had happened. He lingers however, before eventually letting out in a sigh:

"It's a big match. He makes this… It's the championship in the summer."
"Are you going to watch?" She asks him softly.
"I always watch…" He replies in a hushed tone. "It's just- There's a lot riding on this one."

She understands what he means, what he's thinking of. One loss had sent him spiraling out of control, into a nightmare which he'd scarcely escaped from, and was still paying for. He won't say it, but it's a fear that he shares for his younger brother. Alexis almost assures him that, even if he loses, Syrus will be fine. He's not the same little brother who had chased after Zane as a child, always to be in his shadow. She stops herself though, and remembers that she's on thin ice right now.

The elder of the brothers lets out a sigh. His shoulders sag, and he seems to age a decade in the space of a few instants. The mood sours a little. Alexis hesitates a moment. She knows it's a touchy subject, and hasn't forgotten her old friend's request never to speak about his younger brother in his presence. Yet, something makes her chose to push her luck just a little bit:

"Would you like me to watch it with you?"

Her offer is enough to drag Zane's gaze away from the face of his brother. It's impossible to make out what he might be thinking. She doesn't back down though. Silently, Alexis makes it clear that she's serious. He hesitates, which at the very least isn't a "no". That makes her think that he might need a little bit more convincing.

"It might be easier than being alone. We can cheer him on together."
"I… Thank you, Alexis."

She smiles. As she looks back towards the poster, and the promise of the match to come, Alexis hides her concern. If ever there was a time for Syrus to pull out all of the stocks. This would most certainly be it.

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