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 Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 2:02 pm
I am so glad I'm getting paid for this. At least I'll have an excuse if anyone saw me here.
It was early afternoon, a bit past the usual lunch hours. The pleasantly warm sun shone done and its heat sank deep into Yue-Long's skin. He felt alive, tingling with energy. Dressed in a hunter green tee - which emphasized the hue of his eyes - and khaki shorts and a pair of man-flops, he was nevertheless a sight to behold. The dashing youth did not look pleased as the corners of his lips threatend to pull down into a scowl.
"'Descending Layers', I can't believe that you wanted to come here." He remarked and looked at Deuce, his employer as well as his sorta-kinda friend. "I thought it was a thing for girls... My sisters been bugging my mum about this for days, and they are thirteen, Deuce. Do you remember when you were thirteen? That was ages ago! The gap between our ages and maturity levels cannot be measured!"
Of course, he did previous agree to come here with Deuce - that when he was still trying to feed himself. You see, when a man was feeding, he didn't think much. Now that he saw the hordes of girls crowded in and out of the shop, he was having second thoughts. He realized that the look on his face was mirrored by that of many other boy friends present - but hey, at least they had female escorts. This was just him, and a man in a wheelchair.
"I mean, look at the colors!" He gestured frantically at the shop's banners - frilly things of pink and blue. It was like cotton candy, though hardly as pleasant. "I can't believe you are interested in this."
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 2:09 pm
Deuce laughed quietly, and shook his head, as he turned into the shop, headed over to the display to look. He did not seem perturbed by the massive gaggle of the female gender all around him. He simply spoke to Yue in a calm, collected manner.
"I am not here, as they are, to dress up pretty dolls. I am here to seek a challenge."
He studied the stats on different cards, picking and choosing between them.
"I see Angelic Layer as a game of wit, skill, and sheer strength. These girls..." he motioned around him, "... don't know anything of strategy, of intimidation, or of power."
He plucked one of the male angel-eggs off the shelf, and studied the back of it, reading procedure and such.
"This game is about power. The transfer, acquisition, and measuring of power. Pure and simple. I intend to crush any and all competition that comes my way. Be they women, children, or men."
He smiled, and something about it was fairly sinister.
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 2:19 pm
"Of course," Yue-Long spoke with a wry smile, giving up rather quickly, "but you can't say that they think the same." He glanced at a trio of girls that walked past them, giggling and whispering behind their hands. One of them glanced his way and smiled, and the boy walked faster to catch up with Deuce - not difficult, considering that the other was in a wheelchair. Nevertheless, he would prefere to not become lost within the massive throng of girls roaming about int he shop.
He was aware that how quickly Deuce had shoved aside his protests and laughed to himself rather bitterly. It was hopeless... he'll never win in an argument against him.
"Aren't there other ways to do those things - testing your wit and skill and whatever against others? Mass multi-player online games, maybe?" Yue-Long casually suggested, his hands in his pockets as he looked at the rows of eggs lining the shelf. "I mean... that's what most boys do. Ever heard of World of Warcraft? You'd probably be a master at it. Women, children, and men - they all play it. I'm sure you'd be able to derive some sort of pleasure in seeing your name at the number one spot on any sort of 'legendary player' charts." He caught Deuce's smile, and looked again.
Sometimes Deuce could really act rather strange.
Nevertheless, he wasn't here exactly to get an egg. For one thing... despite the insane amount of money that Deuce was paying him, he was still saving up. Maybe eventually, he won't need a job at all. Alas, wouldn't that be a happy day indeed.
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 2:30 pm
The boy put back the egg he was holding, and took down another. It seemed as though he wouldn't answer - but then he did. And with such carelessness that it was almost frightening.
"I've beaten all those games. I've tried my hand at every online game there is. World of Warcraft was one of them. I found them boring. Too easy. No change in environment or level. Nothing fresh, nothing new. It gets tiring after a while."
He smiled again, softly, and put back the egg he was holding, taking down yet another, and studying it. He was hard-put to make a decision, but he knew he wanted a speed and offense based doll, so he was looking for one with high stats in those areas. He could train the rest as needed.
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 2:57 pm
Yue-Long shuffled his feet nervously as he waited for an answer from Deuce. Oh, he was going to answer - the youth knew that much. Sometimes he despised Deuce for making him wait for an answer… but at least it was better than not giving an answer at all.
I wish I could understand him better, Yue-Long thought as looked around the aisle, checking out girls [what else was he supposed to do?!] and trying to enjoy himself. “Wait,” suddenly a hit struck him. “Are you P0w3rTr1P?!?!?! My brother’s been playing MMORPG’s for years, and it’s always that one game at the top of every single chart – in almost all of the classic games, at least.” A spark of interest suddenly leapt into the young man’s eyes, “The God player with the unbeatable record… It’s not you, is it?”
“Well, just what sort of dolls are you looking for? Maybe if I helped you’d find it more quickly.”
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 3:02 pm
Deuce's smile said it all, even before he said anything.
"Yes. That would be me."
At the offer, he rested the fingers of his left hand against his chin, and tapped the fingers of his other hand on the wheelchair's arms.
"I am looking for a speed-based, offensive-type Angel. I can't seem to find one."
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 3:16 pm
"God, Thomas is going to flip." Yue-Long laughed softly. He figured as much, even before Deuce had replied, that 'yes' would be the answer - he had read it in the youth's smile. "And he was so sure that it was the company's conspiracy too, to make sure that no one would ever really be at the top. You should see all the rumors' about you floating around in the online chatroom. Some of them... are pretty colorful."
"Ah no wonder," he said sympathetically as his eyes roamed up and down the shelves. Figured, the one that Deuce wanted would be on the top shelf - where he wouldn't be able to reach. A smirk crossed Yuelong's face as he reached and grabbed one of the eggs - he was tall enough, at least - and scanned the stats. "Like this one, you mean?"
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 3:32 pm
Deuce laughed, and nodded quietly.
"Oh, believe me... believe me, I know of the rumors. I started some of them, just to keep things interesting. However, a majority of them are created by others, and it makes me somewhat of a celebrity, doesn't it?"
He looked up at the offered egg, and read the back. He smiled.
"Yes. Exactly like this."
He started off towards the enhancements and clothing.
"Oh, and Yue. I've noticed your comments covering for your true feelings. Buy yourself whatever you like. Consider it part of your payment."
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 5:28 pm
"You are evil," replied Yue-Long with a soft chuckle, the corners of his eyes wrinkled with amusement. He dragged a hand through his messy hair and then considered yes. "I suppose... I'm sure P0w3rTr1P's known by all WoW players... so that at least makes you known by half of the population, if not more. It's an honor," he mock bowed, his face set. His green eyes were laughing, nevertheless, as they looked into Deuce's gray ones and he said, "to serve you, oh Master of games."
At Deuce's next words, Yue-Long started. His lips twitched as he glanced at the dolls. It's just that some how he imagined by owning one of these things... he would be less manly. It distored that mental image of his... His eyes, fringed by long, thick lashes, blinked a few times and lowered in thought. To be honest, he was a video-game obsessed geek. His brother's PS2 was actually passed down from him, and many of the games in Thomas's arsenal was originally Yue-Long's as well. It wasn't until that he got into highschool and seriously into soccer that he had been forced to give them up. That hesistance...
Why, this was the chance to play the game. It was to be the game himself.
Don't fall to the temptation.
The long dormant desire and lust for gaming reawakened. It was a thirst of the soul. It was his fatal mistake, really, to have lingered there for so long. Okay, I give up. So if Deuce got this one... it's probably the best one. He grabbed the egg that was right next to Deuce's on the shelf, and quickly followed him.
"My dad's going to kill me if he ever finds out about this, but -" Yue-Long paused mid-groan, "thanks a lot. I mean it."
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 5:47 pm
The wheelchair wheels squeaked slightly as they rolled over to the shelf with the clothing. He peered at all of it, and shook his head.
"Impressive craftsmanship - but I do believe I'll make my own costume for this doll, thank you."
He was talking half to himself, and half to Yue, trying to make up his mind between various things.
"I think this one would do nicely. Down the line a little."
He picked up a pair of cat-ears, and studied them, before putting them back.
"Yes, I think I will pick up some of those later. Do you have what you wanted, Yue?"
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 6:43 pm
"You make clothes, too?" Now Yue-Long was really impressed. Admiration was in his eyes as he looked at Deuce as if in a new light. "Is there anything that you can't do, well... other than, you know." Yue-Long gulped and gestured at Deuce's legs feebly.
What he had meant to be sort of a praise turned awkward. I swear, I need to think more when I speak. He thought, mentally berating himself. He shook his head to clear it of thoughts, and realized that Deuce had asked him another question. He smiled, not a little shyly, "sorry... but I don't really know what I'm supposed to get."
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 7:24 pm
He tastefully chose to ignore the slipup, and studied the doll in Yue's hands.
"First, you need a setup device. Those are over there on that shelf."
He pointed to a computer-looking thing sitting on the shelf above them.
"That. Go and get it. Choose a blue one if it offends your manly nature to have pink."
He laughed.
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 7:52 pm
"Set-up device," Yue-Long repeated after Deuce, sounding just a little confused. His eyes followed the point of Deuce's fingers and his lips formed the shape of a grand 'o'.
"Oh, haha, very funny." He turned around in time to scowl playfully at Deuce before walking to the shelf, picking a - wouldn't you believe it - blue one, and then trotted back to Deuce faithfully like a little puppy.
"You may laugh now, but oh, someday..." His tone was threatening, though the grin on his face robbed all gravity his words might've held. "What next?"
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 7:59 pm
"An outfit, if you don't want me to make you one, or you don't want to make one yourself."
He shrugged, and gestured to the counter with the outfits.
"I would suggest holding off, though - I am. I'm going to create the doll first. OH. That reminds me - I almost forgot. The wig."
He wheeled back over, and looked at the selections they had, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, before picking a LIME GREEN one.
"This will do nicely."
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 8:11 pm
"Sorry, Deuce, not to disappoint you, but I don't have any sort of hidden talents as ... convinient, as being able to make clothes." Then his eyes briefly flicked over to the costumes and his spirit sank.
“There are… so many.” He breathed out in disbelief, not a little shocked. “I haven’t even thought about what mine was supposed to look like. I suppose I’ll hold it off too, as you suggested.” He nodded, and then a second thought struck him. Deuce was already being nice enough to pay for the doll… he shouldn’t have to pay for anything extra. Since he chose to take up the offer… at least he should pay for the other stuff himself – with that exorbitant amount of money that Deuce was paying him.
So wouldn’t it be like using his money, anyways? He wondered, twiddling his thumbs. But at least I’ll feel like I earned it.
Then his gaze rose and he followed Deuce again, stepping in wake of the tracks of the wheelchair. He looked through the selection and sputtered as Deuce chose a lime green one. “Nice and bright, eh?” One elegant brow rose as he reached and plucked the one that he had chosen. It was white and lined with black streaks.
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