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[menaretrash]

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Backdated July 10

[wyldghost]

[ooc: Backdated so it's before the event.]

This new living arrangement was.. interesting to say the least. The boy had no concept of modern living. It became apparent pretty quickly that he couldn't read too. He also.. swiped things. Not expensive things and not likely even things anyone would miss, but he did end up with a t-shirt that clearly belonged to a very large adult and wore it like a giant baggy tunic. On the plus side, he was very eager to please, so as long as he understood what they wanted, he tried very hard to do it.

Perhaps the only exception would be if they told him to stay in the apartment. He kept sneaking out and would be gone for long periods of times. He was getting better at answering if they called on the 'box' though. (Thank goodness for the text-to-speech features that read everything to him). Either way, he'd always come home completely filthy, with several new souvenirs, and very happy to see them.

Anyway, on this particular day, he'd been gone for almost two days when he was found in the kitchen with plastic box on the counter and no less than fifteen plates of raw eggs from the replicator around the floor where he was sitting. (Someone had clearly taught him how to use it). About two-thirds of the plates had been eaten and he was working on the next one now- shell and all. When he spotted Ann, he gave her a big smile and waved a dirty hand.

[menaretrash]

To be fair, as a thief herself, Ann can appreciate the whole swiping thing. He's good, she thinks, even if he's making himself obvious. If normal items were the things she went out of her way to steal, she may have even given him some pointers, but something tells her that Seto would not have appreciated that sentiment and also, it wasn't the right thing to do. At some point, they're going have to try and dissuade him from that habit, but she's not too worried about it right now. Once he settles in properly and gets used to technology, they can have a discussion about his sticky fingers. Maybe.

Ann has no idea where Tiriaq goes off to, and it's a little amusing when he does come home. He's a good kid and he's doing his best, so she can't even be mad.

She's headed into the kitchen because she can hear a little noise, when she sees her son Tiriaq, and a brow arches. This is. This is different. She blinks, and then makes her way over to him, crouching down next to him and flashing him a smile in return. "Hey, kiddo. Whatcha doing?"

[wyldghost]

He shifts closer to her once she was crouching and picked up an egg to offer it to her. For someone who stole on a fairly regular basis, he was also very good at sharing, particularly with food. After one meal they had leftovers, he tried to take it to all their neighbors to find someone who might be hungry. It would've worked a whole lot better if most of their neighbors weren't.. you know, natives.

"I'm making eggs! Did you know all these eggs could appear without any birds? Where do they come from?" He asks, amazed. "There's also a button on the food box that you can push and it'll talk to you like my phone does."

Text to start

[blue_eyed_obsession]

Whatever you're doing, stop doing it, and come to this location.

[There are some coordinates displayed on the screen but it's far from descriptive. It should be easy to follow however]

It's urgent

[menaretrash]

[ She's just finishing cleaning up another eggy mess via Tiriaq in the kitchen when she gets the text message. She blinks, staring down at the screen, squinting. ]

I'm on my way. Are you okay? Should I bring anything?

[ Because it's not like him to go all... urgent on her, so she's already grabbing her stuff, getting ready to walk out the door. ]

[blue_eyed_obsession]

[Kaiba was blissfully unaware of the egg-pocalypse, which was for the best. At least none of these eggs had sprouted legs and tried to stage a coup to take over the house which though uncommon could happen here.]

Nothing, just hurry.

[He offered up a smirk she couldn't see, then he looked over his preparations and was thoroughly pleased with himself. The directions would lead her to the botanical garden which was mercifully nearly abandoned at this time of day. He'd already paid the admission fee for both of them, and informed the attendants as to her name and appearance so they would see her right through the gates.

The place he had selected had a bench, and was near a manmade waterfall feature, with plenty of fronds of various species to offer both privacy and seclusion. It was a little too naturey for his liking... but he figured they could both use some time out of the house. If they happened to get a little snuggling in then.... cough.. no harm done. There were some other surprises waiting for her but Ann would have to get here first before they became known]

[menaretrash]

[ It's true, the last thing she wants is for the poor man to walk into an eggy house. Also, Tiriaq hasn't contracted salmonella yet so that's a plus, no harm, no foul! ....Fowl? ]

Okay, I'm on my way. See you in a few minutes.

[ This doesn't really sound good, but she's not about to waste any time, either. She'd like to think that if he was in a whole lot of danger, he'd have called her instead of texting. Then again, what if he's having to hide? All of the worst case scenarios are playing out in her head as she hurries out of the house, following his directions every step of the way.

The botanical gardens, though? That's strange. There's no way he's getting attacked in here, especially when the attendants smile and wave her in and point her in the right direction. This is definitely somewhat of a relief, but she wants to make sure he's okay so there's still quite a bit of urgency to her pace. When she happens upon the area he's directed her to, she has to blink because it's beautiful, and not really what she'd anticipated walking in on.

It's so quiet and peaceful and 100% not the high scale epic battle she'd been building up in her head that she allows herself to relax just a little bit as she finally makes her way towards him. ]

Wow, I didn't expect that you'd be here! [ Not a lie, either. But more importantly: ] Are you alright? You're not hurt or anything, are you?

[blue_eyed_obsession]

[Oh... the puns. They huuuuuurt.]

[With the last message received, Kaiba slides the tablet into an inside coat pocket and waits. At first he tries sitting but ultimately the nerves get to him and he stands up. There's no reason to be, but he had given a false impression that he was in danger. Besides, with his height he's more comfortable looming over his territory anyway, which this section of the park currently is.

Minutes seem like hours, but when she finally appears in the clearing he almost smiles. As beautiful as she thinks the scenery is she's missing the real view. Even having just run out of the house to check up on him she's gorgeous. If only he would say such things outloud]

I was hoping it would be a surprise. [Motioning her to the bench to take a load off] You can see for yourself, there's nothing wrong with me.

[menaretrash]

[ Just wait, they'll get better. They'll be so good, you won't have an egg to stand on. ]

I'm super surprised! It's so nice out here. [ She'd argue that the best view is the one right in front of her, her sweet, handsome boyfriend surrounded by pretty plumage and nothing but nature as far as the eye can see. Once she's close enough, she can't help it -- she does glance over him out of habitual concern, before she leans up to greet him with her usual smooch to the cheek. ]

I'm so glad that you're okay. [ And not getting tossed to and fro. As he gestures to the bench, she takes a seat and pats the space next to her, smiling brightly. It's obvious just how happy she is right now to just be back in his presence, but the fact that he's being sweet enough to take time out of his day to spend a little time with her in such a pretty setting? It means a lot. ] You're way too good to me, you know that, right?

[blue_eyed_obsession]

[Just this gif, in response to that.]

It's not somewhere I ever saw myself frequenting, no. [The VR Cafe would be more his style, but it's crowded and noisy and not one bit suitable for a surprise date. As for what her response would have been to his sentiment- well his ego wouldn't permit him to argue with it too much, he does think highly of himself. He catches the look and frowns] I mean it, I'm fine. [The kiss softens him up though]

I wasn't sure how else to get you out here without spoiling the whole thing. [In one fluid motion he floofed out the end of his jacket so he could sit primly down beside her. Then he took the liberty of circling one arm around her shoulders to pull her in closer sparing a weary glance around to make sure they were still alone, which they were. This was as close as they had come to pda but what else could they do with a kid at home...?] I know, I'm perfect in every way. [This time, for once, he's kidding]

This isn't the only surprise you know... but if you want to know what it is, you'll have to play a game.

[menaretrash]

[ BABY COME BACK. When you're like this, I don't want to walk on shells all the time! ]

It's really pretty though, right? I've actually never been here myself, so it's a first for us both! [ It's definitely a surprising location, but she adores it, and she adores him. He puts up with a whole lot, from Void shenanigans, to Havenwell ridiculousness, to her own and she can drama that would have probably chased most people off pretty quickly. But here he is, and here they are, months and months later, honestly say that there's no where else she'd rather be than at his side. He makes her genuinely happy, and she really does count her blessings every single day that she gets to spend this time with him.

Her cheeks turn a bright pink at his admission, and she giggles, happily leaning into him and nestling close against his side as he wraps an arm around her. ]

You are perfect. How did I get so lucky? There's not a single thing about you that I don't love and appreciate. [ Humming, she rests her head against his shoulder and relaxes, enjoying the peace and tranquility of the moment. How long has it been since they've had this sort of alone time, let alone a proper date, anyways?

She blinks, a brow arching, and she's really hoping he's not going to make her duel him for this next surprise, because while she's slowly starting to sorta... understand the game, she's not that good and she's going to lose, and that is definitely not a surprise to anyone period. ]

Wow, you really went all out, huh? You're sweet... what game did you have in mind?

[blue_eyed_obsession]

[If you don't knock it off soon I'm going to eggsplode! Oh- gawd... now I'm doing it.]

It's alright. [That's as much of a compliment as the gardens were going to get out of the brunette. Internally he was thinking about how he could have designed it better, because of course he was, the perfectionist that he is. If the water drained in this way they could use it to water x, y, and z. If they put an exit to either side it would be easier to evacuate in a disaster... all of it. Sometimes, as an engineer he couldn't turn off his brain entirely. You know, unless he'd just lost a duel and was going to blow up the duel arena with everyone still inside. That he could turn his brain off for.

They both had put up with a lot, quite honestly. Kaiba could be moody and cantankerous, and he did tend to stir up more trouble than he defused. Still, she loved him anyway. The warmth of her form against his was comforting, and he wasn't planning on letting go anytime soon.]

I don't know, but you should have played the lottery that day. [Just going along with it while still managing to sound smug. It had been months at least since their last official date, since Kaiba didn't count Stark's birthday. She would have gone to that regardless of whether he had attended or not since she helped with the preparations.

Don't think he wouldn't.. but no, this time it was not a duel.]

Don't I always? [Go big or go home] Word Association. Are you familiar with it, or do I need to explain the rules? [He had wisely picked something non-competitive for this (He knows how he is!). There was really no winning or losing this game.]

[menaretrash]

[ ....Eggzodia?! Impossible-- ]

I really appreciate this, you know. [ Because yes, she's very well well aware that he'd rather have done this in an arcade or the VR cafe. Tech will forever be his jam, and she can't fault him for that; he's done very well with technology after all, and technology has been good to him, too. It's strange, seeing her powerful boyfriend surrounded by beautiful flowers and nature, and for a split second, she wonders if she'll ever get the chance to drag him to Finland, her home country full of nothing but nature. And steam bath houses, but those are mostly out in nature, too, so, whatever. She's not sure he could handle quite that much peace and quiet.

This is definitely a nice change of pace, and she does appreciate the alone time. Things have been a little crazy lately, adjusting to a very small, adorable third party in their home, and she's really glad for this surprise. It's almost hilarious how far they've come, really -- from flailing at one another and fighting and spewing threats, to snuggling on a bench in a romantic setting. Despite their differences, they just work really well together. She's become a much better person since meeting him, she thinks. Now if only she could just get a little bit of his intelligence to rub off on her, too. ]

Yeah! That probably would have been a good idea... then again, if the Void had a lottery, it'd probably be something like. Winning a million twigs. [ Or leaves or screaming strawberries. A lifetime supply of misery. ] Pretty sure I already won the lottery, anyways.

[ With him being the prize, okay. ]

You sure do, I wish I could be half as organized as you are. [ Spoiler: she's not, and likely he's already painfully aware of that every morning when he walks into their bathroom and she's got various hair care items strewn about the sink area. ] Ooo, I haven't played Word Association in a long time! No need to explain the rules, it's been a while but I definitely remember.

[menaretrash]

She thinks that raw eggs cause salmonella. That's a thing, isn't it? She's pretty sure it is but she'll have to confer to her walking dictionary, Seto Kaiba, to be sure. Something she'll do in a bit, but right now, he's offering her an egg so she takes it with a bright smile. "Thanks!" The sharing is sweet, and something she can definitely get behind. The more people they can help, the better, as far as she's concerned, even if he's right: these particular neighbors don't exactly need the nourishment.

"The replicator is crazy, huh? I don't have anything like this back at home, so I'm gonna assume that you don't, either." Nothing this technologically advanced, at least -- and if they DID have something like this at home, she's not so sure she'd trust it enough to use it. Here, they don't have much of a choice, so she's grateful for the device. "Hm... I'm not sure where they actually come from, though. Maybe it's magic~?"

[blue_eyed_obsession]

[This & That]

You can show me just how much later... [Leaving the rest up to her imagination on that one, not that he was really expecting anything in return. There was a high likelihood that he would go crazy from boredom in Finland, unless they have solid internet amid all this nature's bounty. Who knows, maybe if he ever super overworked himself, Mokuba would even insist on his going with Ann for the break.

Nothing about their relationship had been predictable to him. Initially he'd tried to convince himself it was an experiment that he could control and pull the plug on if he ever felt like it. It was meant to benefit him exclusively without having to contribute anything he didn't wish to offer up. Now, however Kaiba did find himself caring about what might please Ann, and about her own safety and wellbeing. What he feels for her was not something you could manufacture, and it couldn't have been manipulation by the void since his affection persisted even here.]

You have a point. There was no concept of value there... [That would have been awful] ... As if I would allow myself to be raffled off, but... I appreciate the sentiment.

[He got it]

... Some days, I wish you could too. [Gently teasing her as he gave her shoulder a squeeze] I'm not sure that I've ever played it.. maybe with Mokuba, but good. Then we can begin. The first word will be: Dragon. [He couldn't resist]

[menaretrash]

[ The trauma never ceases, does it? ]

Is that a promise? [ Watch it, Seto. If you're not careful, you may get a little more than you bargained for tonight. One that you may really like cough. If he did ever decide to join her on a trip to Finland, she'd make it worth his while one way or another. There are plenty of things to do that have nothing to do with tech and she's pretty sure she can find at least one thing he'd like. Maybe.

Nothing about their relationship is conventional or predictable in the slightest. That's what's so amazing; despite how unlikely their union is and opposite they truly are, somehow they make it work and are absolutely crushing it. Living with Seto has been an absolute pleasure and a dream -- yes they've had a few arguments but they'd been over stupid things and so far, they've managed to push past all of that. They're going strong, and Ann's got no intention of letting that flounder any time soon. ]

I wouldn't let you get raffled off, either. You're mine and I'm never sharing.

[ She's not, either. She trusts Seto more than she trusts most anyone else, and his attitude seems to generally shove other potential romantic threats away. But she doesn't trust anyone else not to try and take him away from her. Hmph. ]

Don't worry. One day, your good habits will rub off on me, too. [ She smiles and kisses his cheek again, enjoying the closeness and light mood. ] I'll bet you'll be super good at it regardless! [ Ah, the first word has been issued, and of course it's dragon. It's hard not to counter with SETO!, but that's too easy. ] ....Scales.

[blue_eyed_obsession]

[It really doesn't. There's someone who might be glad that Weevil yeeted that thing off a boat, other than Weevil]

You know how I feel about promises.. but how about a guarantee? [He was playing a dangerous game here by leaving the conditions so open. Cough, that is a tempting offer for certain. Are you sure you could tolerate that trip Ann? We're taking the jet by the way, he's not going to fly commercial even if it was first class. It would be amusing to see her try to get him interested in something, if anyone could pull it off it would be her and he could use more experiences in his life.

It was all down to a series of events. If anything had happened in a different order, or out of sequence it all could have fallen apart before it ever started. Kaiba doesn't believe in destiny, but he does believe on capitalizing on every opportunity when it's presented. He could only imagine if Ann had received his memories of kidnapping Solomon Muto, instead of his sordid childhood. Back when he was willing to resort to anything even if it meant endangering an old man's life? Would she have been able to open up to him then?]

I'll hold you to that if anything ever comes up.

[You never know in these alternate dimensions. He was more dubious that she would have any competition out here, his prickly nature deterred many. Proof positive that a lot of his fans were interested in the fame and fortune more than him personally. Or so he assumed]

Or you could acquire more bad ones. [Over-caffeinating, staying up all hours.. The kiss prompts him to glance around the garden once more but seriously, it's fine. They are alone. Mentally he chides himself not to do it again. They weren't doing anything wrong, so it was no one's business if they wandered by at an inopportune time.] It's not a difficult game, you'd have to be an idiot to struggle with it.

Weight.

[Wait. Maybe he should have picked something else...]

[menaretrash]

[ ........poor Yugi. ]

You really want me to guarantee you a good time? Fine by me. [ A few months ago, she would have laughed nervously or flailed or both at such flirtations. Now? She's very comfortable with both him and where they stand in their relationship. She's also very confident that Mr. Romance is all talk right now, too, which makes it more amusing. ...You know, she's forgotten that you own a jet, despite having seen it while in the Void. Either way, at least she won't fight him on that. Commercial flights DO suck. She's pretty sure she can find at least... one thing he'll enjoy. Who knows, maybe a little peace and quiet would be good for him...

Back then she'd had a really frustrating crush on him, one she'd desperately tried to stomp on and squash. Seeing his childhood and the hardships he'd had to endure had certainly only added fuel to the proverbial fire because she'd gained respect for him. It had also been part of the reason why she'd stopped trying so hard to fight her feelings for him, too -- but the same could be said in reverse. What if he hadn't seen Kamoshida? What if he'd gotten dome generic memory of her American girlfriends laughing and playing instead? She's confident that they'd come around eventually, it just would have taken a LOT longer. Probably. ]

I'm not afraid to go to jail.

[ She'll fight anyone who even looks at him in a way that she doesn't like, okay. But he probably already knows that. ]

You have far, far more good habits than bad ones. [ Brains, brawn, organization, intelligence.... a good attention span... need she go on? She hums and nods in acquiesce at that last bit, at least. She can see Ryuji struggling. ]

...Lift.

[ You know, that thing that no one will ever be able to do to her again if she keeps eating the way she does! ]

[blue_eyed_obsession]

[Poor Yugi, nothing! He never had Exodia dropped on him]

... [To that, Kaiba faltered, falling speechless for a few moments. Yes that was the inference, however hearing it said out loud even made someone like him feel a bit sheepish. As if she needed further evidence that in this instance he could talk a good game, but his follow through might be lacking. A committed relationship of this nature was uncharted ground for him, and Kaiba didn't like to be operating quite so blindly. It wasn't exactly the sort of subject one could pick up from pouring over textbooks. Ann you forgot the jet? How dare. As if a Blue Eyes White Jet came along everyday.

That was something else they had shared in common. Kaiba would have said he was intrigued by Ann then, not admitting to a crush. Others saw what was unfolding long before he could accept it. Girlfriends were .. complicated and life tended to be complicated enough without the distraction. Whatever. Now Ann was his distraction, and one that he allowed. Who says he couldn't be a gaming mogul in the fortune 500 with and juggle a relationship on the side? If anyone could it had to be him. [Insert more talk about his gigantic ego here]]

Right, that's why you keep that whole... [Flipping a hand through the air as not to fill in the blanks verbally] side venture a secret. [Still he appreciated her moxie]

Then the odds are in your favor. [Yes, only do it outloud so he can puff up accordingly. ]

Elevator.

[to space. At least they didn't linger on exercise long.]

[menaretrash]

[ Didn't you kinda deserve that though?! ]

Hm~? What's the matter, worried you might actually enjoy it? [ She's teasing, mostly -- it's amusing because they go around in these flirtatious circles quite frequently, and yet, nothing ever seems to come of it, not that Ann particularly cares. She's confident enough that someday she'll get him to come around; if anything it's somewhat endearing? Most guys trip over the sight of her, and in some instances, despite her shitty acting skills, it'd been so easy to seduce guys to get what she wanted. Seto... isn't quite that easy. She thinks if he let his anxieties go, he probably could be, but he's not quite ready for that and that's okay, too. Whenever he decides he's ready, she'll be here, after all. And yes, she forgot about the jet, okay. Jeez, man, you sure are extra, now that she thinks about it...

Their courtship has been an entire rollercoaster ride, complete with their ups and downs. But she's glad for the way it turned out. The one thing she'll be forever grateful for is that day on the beach, when he'd been exercising and she'd been stretching and they'd decided on a race. If it hadn't been for that foot race, cheating or not, they may not have been together like this. Or maybe they would have, but it wouldn't have been the same. Things worked out the way they were meant to, and she's so glad for that. She can't imagine life without him now. And the year or so she'd gone home, she'd forgotten about him... that's a frightening thought, really. She doesn't want to go through that again. She hopes, the next time she leaves, he leaves with her and they end up back in his world. Together. ]

I keep that a secret because I'm also not afraid to keep my friends and you safe. Also, I said I'm not afraid to go to jail, but my crimes are punishable by death, just FYI. According to the Japanese government, at least.

[ Snorting, she nudges him lightly with her shoulder. ] I mean it. You've got really good habits, and I wouldn't change a thing about you. You're perfect the way you are. And you're definitely my favorite person in the world! [ Even if she would like him to be maybe a little less snippy towards people for his own sake, but... he is who he is, and it's like she said: she loves him for who he is. ]

Office building. [ Oh sweetheart, don't worry. They'll go back to that in a bit, she promises. Don't you owe her a rematch anyways... ]

[blue_eyed_obsession]

[WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON?!.. (but yes)]

That's not it. [Somehow he had no doubts about whether it would be enjoyable or not but it was the commitment to opening himself up to the activity that was holding him back. There was a level of vulnerability involved in allowing someone else into one's personal sphere. Cuddling like this, on a park bench was one thing- a few exchanged lip locks here and there.. but once you crossed a certain line you could never uncross it. Kaiba was frustrated both by the fact that they had found something he couldn't immediately master, and the fact that there were times when certain desires had to remain unquenched. Cough. So to speak. He didn't like appearing weak, not in anything so there was some self-inflicted pressure on himself to get over it. She was a lot more patient than she was given credit for.

If someone hadn't altered their bet, maybe ... the creative victory wouldn't have been necessary.]

I'm still surprised that they take such an active role... [From his experience, law enforcement and what have you just took a backseat to everything else. There were perks to being a powerful business owner that apparently most organizations didn't want to cross but did want to curry favor. It was likely why his experiences wildly differed from her own] Just do whatever you have to. [To not get captured or worse]

[The slight bump was something he would only tolerate from her.] You really know how to lay it on thick. [His gentle way of saying he didn't need more reinforcement on this particular concept, still he would be lying if it wasn't flattering to hear.]

That's actually two words.. [Shaking his head at that.] I'm afraid you'll have to take a penalty for that. [Though he tried to make it sound more ominous his tone was too lighthearted. Reaching over with his free hand, he tilted her chin upwards so he could steal a chaste kiss]

[menaretrash]

[ YOURS BUT ALSO.... (see?!) ]

You worry too much. [ He knows what she's talking about, after all. So he's got one thing that he's unsure of, everyone's allowed at least one thing. This is his, and that's okay. She's not about to push him into doing anything that he might regret later, enjoyable or not. She's happy so long as he is, after all, and just being with him is enough for her. Someday they'll cross that bridge together, whenever he's ready and whenever the timing is right. She certainly doesn't see anything wrong with that... he's too hard on himself sometimes.

Hey! She felt awkward, come on... ]

Yeah, it's unfortunate. Mostly, they like to do shady shit and pin it on us. [ She glances off to the side. ] Even civilians made an attempt to kill us in our sleep during our trip 'cause we were getting blamed for a guy getting murdered. They were being controlled, but... still a little jarring, y'know? [ She shrugs it off, regardless. ] No promises, kinda hard when ominous black cars follow you to school and to work, but, I'll do my best~

[ Well. Assuming she goes home again and not, y'know, with him. ]

Not laying it on thick when it's the truth. [ It's the truth to her at least. She knows she's lucky to have him, because really, he should have probably looked over her and kept on going, but here he is. Stuck with her, for better or worse. And she's grateful for that every single day. ]

Oh! I mean... anything is one word if you believe it is. [ Okay, okay, so office-building is LEGIT two words, but come on, let her have this! ] Penalty, huh...? [ Looks like there's not a whole lot to worry about, though, because she's quick to melt into that chaste kiss, smiling as she places a hand to his cheek. Once they part, she giggles. ] Maybe I should screw up more often if penalties are that nice.

[blue_eyed_obsession]

[Sounds highly sus to me]

You don't worry enough. [Saying the first thing that came to mind more than anything sincere. Personally, Kaiba thought he should have no flaws or hangups and these intimacy issues slotted perfectly into that. It definitely bothers him a lot more than it her since it was one thing that forced him to accept that his past had scarred him more than he wanted to admit even if it was all in his mind. It was like giving the past control over a portion of his life, and he couldn't stand it.

.. but that forced him to admit that MAYBE... in SOME way.. he MIGHT HAVE BEEN INTERESTED]

I recall you saying so before, and I don't doubt it. Everyone has their own agendas. [No one on this park bench hasn't had some kind of death threat lobbed at them.. but it was a little different for Ann. She got drug into something she never intended to involve herself in until it happened so he could appreciate that it must be more jarring for her. He ticked off competitors/former employees on a regular basis. A part of him wanted to empathize but he found it difficult to express] I can see how.. that might be unsettling. [There he tried] They're not continuing the trend here at least.

[We're going to Domino. Sorry, you didn't get a vote and Kaiba decided for you]

Now look whose trying to alter the rules to suit her. [Smirking at that as he calls her out] Mm, 'fraid so. It wouldn't look good if I just let you get away with something like this. [Not sounding convincing in the slightest. Although he feels like a sappy dork, he can't help but enjoy this private moment together just wrapped up in one another's affections. When the kiss breaks he still holds her close.] ... If you throw it on purpose, I'll know and I'll switch tactics with penalties. [LOOK... there's one thing he doesn't care for and it's intentionally losing a game]

Paperwork. [Continuing the theme but wishing he could change it. It was making him feel remiss in his duties that he couldn't perform here for his company]

[menaretrash]

[You know what's highly sus? You. Kidnapping old people... ]

Worrying causes wrinkles, no thanks. [ And no one wants that, okay. She knows that his past... is definitely an issue, but he's a strong person and honestly? Considering that he used to get stiff and weird out when she'd hold his hand or hug him, he's come a long way. Just sitting close on the bench together, cuddling close willingly and of his own accord should be proof enough of that. She's proud of him and how far he's come. He's allowed to map out his feelings and come to terms with things at his own pace, and she'll do everything she can to help with that however he wants.

HE SURE DID...... which was shocking and flattering. Boy she'd been nervous during their first date...]

You can say that again. Assholes. I hate cops. [ Except for Zenkichi but does he even count at this point considering he's one of them and also Dad of The Group™? ] It was. The whole thing was stupid and I'm glad it's over with. S...orta. It'd be a lie to say it wasn't nice to be back in action for a while. [ If only there was someone to kick around here, but. It's all hugs and sunshine for now. ] Nope, and fortunately there's only two people here who know about all of this, so, no worries about any of that stuff here.

[ For now. ]

See? See all of the habits I'm learning from you? [ Screw the rules! She hums and nods sagely. ] Yes, agreed. Definitely need a whole lot of penalties. For good measure. [ His next statement makes her laugh, though, and she leans in to kiss him again. ] As if I'd throw anything on purpose! [ ESPECIALLY against Seto... despite her unending love and affection for him, somehow he still manages to bring out her competitive side. ]

R...reports. [ Except she's not talking about office reports or power point presentations. She's talking about school work. Is she pale? She's definitely pale. Ugh. School. ]

[blue_eyed_obsession]

[.... Thankfully, you didn't have to see that. COUGH]

How nice it must be. [Shaking his head disapprovingly, but really he could appreciate how lowkey she was being about everything. Ann had her own concerns and things she felt passionate about but this lighthearted side of her balanced him and his drier generally more biting commentary. Thankfully, she was smart enough not to broach this conversation out loud for while it was true that he had made great strides he would have felt like such a loser to really have to discuss any of this. Map out his ... feelings. Really? Even though it was true that he needed to.

Kaiba definitely tried to appear unflappable on that date, but he had some qualms too. It's not like he wanted to be the worst date she ever had...]

Eh, I don't feel that strongly about them either way. [The cops in her dimension were something else however] There's something about the adrenaline rush? [Now, that, he would understand. Why do you think he jumps off moving vehicles, and sometimes employs the use of jet packs, etc? Or why he tried to make his fav game have a method to simulate death if you lose?] If anyone ever does give you trouble... [Tell him about it.]

All the bad ones... [It's only bad unless he's doing it] I'll keep thinking of new ones to increase the risk... [and escalate things. COUGH. Sure he could have prevented the follow up kiss, but he doesn't drinking it in with pleasure.] Right answer. [No throwing matches ever.]

Grades. [Huh. Now they shifted it into uncomfortable territory for her instead of him] How many exams did you say you passed last time you were in your own dimension...?

[menaretrash]

[ YEAH YEAH.... ]

It really is. You should try it sometime. [ She grins at him, kissing his cheek again. Oh, she knows better than to ever say anything like this out loud and proud, alone or not, because she knows his reaction would not be a good one. He'd roll his eyes and probably loudly declare it stupid and... no one needs that. Especially right now. Right now all he needs to worry about and focus on is just living in the moment and being happy. As happy as he can be until they map out their feelings straight back to Domino while trapped here, at least.

They were definitely struggling to navigate the date waters, that's for sure. If it helps, she didn't want to be the worst date HE'D ever had, either. He's the only guy she's ever been on a date with anyways... ]

I'm glad they don't bother you too much, at least. Let's keep it that way. [ She h a t e s. Them. ] Something like that. Also, getting things done and not... sitting around while bad shit happens. If that makes sense. [ It probably makes sense. Of course he'd understand, though... he'd probably enjoy being a Phantom Thief himself. Then again, he may not entirely agree with their shenanigans, either. STOP MAKING DEATH SIMULATORS SETO. ] You're so sweet, but you don't need to worry about me. Especially here! [ No enemies y...et! ]

All of the good ones... [ She'll learn a l l of your cheating ways. ] Will you~? Care to give me an example? [ She's on cloud nine right now. This is probably the best surprise anyone's ever given her, and it's so nice to finally have some alone time. ]

Homework. [ Oh. She blinks, and then suddenly beams brightly, as if what she's about to tell him is something to truly be proud of. ] I passed all of them except for one! A lot better than I thought I'd do! Just had to re-take the failed exam and I was set to graduate.

Text

[blue_eyed_obsession]

You know... this whole pretending I forgot your birthday thing... isn't going to work if you never openly admonish me for it.

[It had been almost two weeks ago, and she hadn't said a thing to him about it. With all the reconstruction going on he'd been content to wait but this was getting ridiculous. For someone who had placed so much emphasis on his own birthday you would think she would have complained by now]

Text

[menaretrash]

[ Ann blinks a few times, staring down at her device. She has to read the text several times over, because really, she'd honestly thought he'd forgotten and who is she to try and force that sort of thing on him? ]

Why would I admonish you for something like that? I don't really care about my birthday, and besides, you're the best present a girl could ask for, right~?

Re: Text

[blue_eyed_obsession]

[Please. Did she honestly thing he was capable of forgetting something as simple as a date? Especially in the electronic age when you can literally program in reminders?]

Kind of surprising to hear you say this after what you did last month.
Counterintuitive, really.
Don't think you're getting out of this Ann.
Not after you made me celebrate mine.
... no matter how much you try to flatter me.

Text

[menaretrash]

[ GOD What is even happening right now? ]

But I'm not trying to get out of anything, I'm being serious. I'm fine, really, and it's not flattery when it's the truth~

Text

[blue_eyed_obsession]

[As if he just ignored her previous text he proceeded]

Meet me near the Rawna temple.

Text

[menaretrash]

Okie dokie, see you in a bit.

[ Is she in trouble? 'Cause this feels like she's in trouble... ]

Text

[blue_eyed_obsession]

Okie Dokie?
Whatever, as long as you'll be there.
See you then.

action;

[vamptired]

[The snow's piled up again. Mina's got her work cut out for her. At this rate, she'll have to dedicate more than three hours a day at the arena.

Mina isn't here, though. Instead, Louis moves to a corner where he clears out enough snow with manual labor to maneuver himself. Then he takes his sword in hand, gives it an experimental swing, and nods in muted satisfaction before launching into a series of wide swings accompanied by the appropriate footwork.

Doing so quashes some of his concerns. The sword carries a bit of bulk, so he knows now that he hasn't lost his strength. He takes a step back to try again when he glimpses movement out of his periphery.

Ann?]

[menaretrash]

[ Ann's glad for a little break from being cooped up in the apartment. As much as she begs Seto to come and 'fight her', for some reason he refuses. Kind of like how he refuses to give her a rematch to their race because he CHEATS. But the lack of boyfriend doesn't stop her from coming to at least do a little practice, because after the worm incident the last thing she needs is to get rusty. Besides, it's been a little while, and she's pretty sure Carmen would like to come out and play, too.

Well. Maybe not. It's freezing, and despite her humble Finnish origins, she's not entirely about this cold. Carmen's probably not, either.

She sighs, stretching her arms high above her head, before she blinks as movement catches her attention. Glancing over, she smiles and lifts a hand in greeting. ]

Oh, hey there, Louis! What's up? Here to get a little training in too?

[vamptired]

[Louis is dressed as he would be on any other day. His body does a fair job of weathering lesser extremes in temperature, so, while he registers that it's cold, it's not cold enough for him to stay indoors. Moving around helps, too.

Lowering his sword, he raises his free hand to return her greeting.]

I didn't want to grow complacent. What about you?

[menaretrash]

[ Unlike her poor companion, she's all bundled up as if it's the ice age all over again. She doesn't plan on staying so cold, of course, but right now... well. It'll pass. Probably. ]

Same! We had a little scare a few months back, and I don't really wanna be unprepared if it happens again, you know? Or something similar.

[vamptired]

[It'll definitely pass once she makes herself active. Sensing this, Louis wastes no time.]

I did hear something about that. Do you need someone to spot you?

[menaretrash]

[ Boy... will it ever.

His offer has her blinking, but flashing him a bright smile none the less. ]

It was pretty weird. I wouldn't mind! So long as you don't mind having a partner for a while, too.

[vamptired]

[Nodding, he walks toward her.]

Not at all. How can I help?

[menaretrash]

Well, if I'm honest, I'm not used to really sparring with anyone else. Mostly, I don't want to hurt you, although looking at you carrying that sword around like it's nothing, it's probably very unlikely I could.

[ Is he fire proof, though... well. She doesn't have to use Carmen. Hand to hand combat is just as important. ]

[vamptired]

[He looks down at the sword. It's got some weight, to be sure, but there's more to fighting than raw strength.

And he's definitely not fireproof.]

I wouldn't say that. What do you wield in battle?