savethecitydesu | (no subject)

Entry tags:

aya,
daisuke

(no subject)

Who: Aya+Daisuke.
Where: Cinema
What: Movie Night~
When: Early Evening

It was Tuesday which meant that it was Reel Deal night at the cinema. This week's special: old classics.

The crowds weren't as busy as the weekend but it was still higher than the weekdays usually were. Considering most people had things to do and times to get up for, that wasn't unusual. Even Aya couldn't help but think of that looming math test first thing in the morning. However...

She looked up at one of the posters she had a ticket and a cheap, promo card the cinema made for the show. It featured a young mahou shoujo girl with a knight theme to her, her rabbit-like mascot mentor by her feet (wearing a knight's helmet), a crescent moon in the sky, and the words 'SAVE THE UNIVERSE, SAYA. BECOME A MAGIC GIRL' in both Japanese and English. The animation was from the '90s and a bit unpolished but the art style made up for it.

She's REALLY wanted to see this on the big screen in all it's glory for once.

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"Briefly," said Daisuke. "But I'm not too fond of admitting it."

He shuffled lightly on his feet. Nearby, hovering over his shoulder, was a crowd of people. He heard them eating, talking. The air smelled of popcorn. Though this made him slightly hungry, he decided not to approve the impact on his wallet. He put his hands in his pockets instead, and looked around.

"Have you ever tried MMOs?"

"Why not?" Aya asked. "It's not that bad a game, is it? It's supposed to be popular, right?

"A few, I think. I couldn't get into World of War or Eva but there's a few I've liked. I think one was called, Trial of the Dragon Online and another was something like True Heroes."

"People don't expect it of me."

Now he shrugged. So he revealed something about himself, he thought, and felt a little closer to someone. He hoped she would understand him a little better. He had talked to her before, but not as much outside school as within.

"That's the American one? I've played that before." A thoughtful stare. "What about something more traditional?"

"Ah. Right, I guess they wouldn't," Aya admitted with a nod. "I'd say on type alone people would assume something more old fashioned or mature or barely any games at all.

"Traditional? If you're counting traditional series I played Salamander Quest X when it came out. There's not really much in the way of Japanese MMOs," Aya sighed. "Importing's really the only way to get the better ones."

"Ah no," said Daisuke quickly, "I mean board games. Go, Shogi and suchlike."

Truly, he enjoyed traditional games as much as electronic ones.

"Ah, sorry," Aya said, face coloring slightly from embarrassment. "And no. I think the last time I played something like that was at my grandparents. I was told that I am unteachable.

"They seem like something you'd be good at, though."

Somehow, his confidence was rising quick. He stood there looking every part like he was comfortable in his clothes. For the opposite of being told you were unteachable was that you had everything to learn.

"No, not really. They're just things I enjoy time to time." A pause, then a curious look. "You really think you're that bad? I mean, everybody's started somewhere."

"Still better than me I'd bet," Aya said. She sighed. "That's true but I'm just not sure I can even get a grasp on it. I understand the basics and I get the rules easy enough but I just can't get into the groove easily. I do okay for awhile but when it comes to long term strategy it never quite works out for me. I guess if I practiced more or had more people to play it with I could improve but it still isn't something that comes as easily, at least to me."

Daisuke shut his eyes. One thing first. A single game for the two of them would build some understanding, which had simply been lacking ever since she had stepped down from the committee. He was pursuing the line of thought with quick ideas. To play a game, but do not force an unenjoyable one. To help someone who struggled to learn.

"Well," he said with a hesitant tongue, "I've got some time free, occasionally. Usually at lunchtime. If you're willing..."

"Really?" Aya's eyes lit up, tongue having none of the hesitance Oubai had. "And yes, I would, if you are and my lunchtimes are usually free.

"But, ah, I do warn you right away. I'm not kidding when I say I'm pretty terrible." She looked a bit more hesitant than, as if silently asking if that was alright.

"I don't mind," Daisuke said. "But the film's starting. I'm pretty certain we don't want to wait another half hour. Surely you should be buying a ticket right around now?"

"Ah, right, I wouldn't want to hold you up from your flick either," Aya said, straightening as she seemed to remember. She took a few leading steps to the shortening line at the counter. "So which one are you going to? The card game one?"

At speed Daisuke removed and cleaned the glasses perched on his nose. "That's a distinct possibility," he said, as he wiped them on his sleeve. "I've got my eye on the free gift for attending and a lot of time on my hands, at least today. Figured I might as well use it."

He returned his glasses and wrestled with the silence their talk had created. "And you're going to see that animation or?"

"That makes sense." Aya nodded. "I'm not sure it has much value collector-wise but they look cool, right?

"Well, yeah," despite herself she still worried at the sleeve of her shirt. "I'm here. There's a free card they're giving out that looks really cool. It's a classic. And watching Saya use her Noble Fantasma on the big screen beats watching it on MiTube and you can't really appreciate all the colours in the Warlock's attacks or Yuka Majira's soundtracks with poor speakers. So if I was going to watch it I might as well take advantage of it while it's hear. And it's brain candy."

"And a comfort?" Daisuke asked.

The question was a little personal. There had been a moment or two of hesitating. He had waited to talk, because he had never really decided on a direction for what he was thinking of saying. That barrier had broken, however, when Aya had begun talking about her motivations.

"Sorry. Well, it's a powerful card and quite limited. Things like that are like gold, so I'm thinking of selling it. I've just got to decide what I should do with it, really. But yes, it's sort of a comfort."

"Really? And it's just a hand out a theater like this?" Aya asked. She seemed to consider it for a moment before continuing, "Comfort's a reasonable reason, I'm surprised more people wouldn't take advantage of it then. But it seems a bit of waste to get something just so you can sell it off later. There's nothing wrong with it I guess - everyone's got a different take on things. And it's something to do with it if you don't know what else to.

"Chances are I'll be holding onto my card, though. Unless I suddenly dislike the series or really need the money, if the card's worth anything."

A pleasant talk! Daisuke thought thoughtfully. "Yes, it should be," he said. "I have quite a collection at home. Prices do vary a lot. Lists of what's allowed, what's not - those sorts of things. You should keep hold of it - it's likely going to be limited, and the price'll increase."

He groaned. "But that could take months."

"Do you need the value or money that quickly?" Aya asked. Aya had heard about some people selling a card with 10, 000 or even 100, 000 yen when they were originally worth less than 1000 way even a few years after the original release, which sounded good except for the person who'd always wanted to get one but instead had to pay through the nose to have it now.

"Is there really a big difference between months and just several years from now? Either way, it just means you get to hold onto it a bit longer and that's not too bad, right?" Aya responded. "Money's money. It'll disappear eventually. The card itself's just a card too but it tends to have a bit more meaning. I can least say I actually have this cool limited card instead of saying I used to have one."

Edited 2013-04-26 00:11 (UTC)

Daisuke stared at Aya for a while. His nose wrinkled, and he sniffed, as if she had just said something distasteful.

"I'm one of the lucky ones. I don't have to struggle or need to worry. If I'm lucky enough to be able to make a little money, I might as well use it," he said. "There's plenty of things I can do with it."

Did she say something wrong? There was a brief inner panic as she thought that before she recovered,

"That's a fair plan. What would you do with the money then?"

Daisuke closed his eyes thoughtfully, and he cursed himself for letting some of his thoughts out to her.

"Well, I've always been told it's important to act within and give something back to a group. I'd just use it to help some others who aren't as fortunate."

"The group..." Aya seemed to think on that for a moment. Then she nodded again with a smile, "It is important. And that's actually pretty nice of you to think like that.

"What about yourself? Isn't there something you'd want for the money you're getting?"

Daisuke laughed. "Well, of course, but good things will happen eventually. I've got plenty of time to wait, and other things to worry about." For as far as he was concerned, his sister and other people were a huge problem that took up lots of his energy.

"Waiting is good," Aya said. "If you want something I'm sure you'll go for it. Just don't let other things chew up too much of your time - you should have things for yourself."

She blinked then, shifting. "I think. It seems like common sense." Aya's turn came up in the line and she paid for her ticket and, when she got the promo card along with her ticket, a sort of childish like smile crossed her face.

Daisuke again had no difficulty in saying, "That's certainly some advice."

He was now near enough the front that his time came to pay. He said his thanks politely, took everything he was offered, and looked around to find Aya waiting outside the queue. Since her advice had made her sound like his father, he wanted to change the subject. "Can I look?"

"Sure!" Aya nodded enthusiastically, passing the hologram card over to him. "It's pretty cool, right?"

It was of Saya but her magical armor was different. Instead of her trademark red armor it was a white and red theme and a flowing mantle, her sword now seemed to be made of pure light, and she no longer wore her mask or had her hair tied back. She cradled a miniature version of world in her hands with a serene expression on her face. A banner below read 'THE WORLD KNIGHT' and the stats at the bottom were almost all straight S-rank.

Edited 2013-04-27 04:51 (UTC)

Daisuke kept his fingers pressed down on the hologram, but was light with his touch. He had a blurred glimpse of flashes of change on Saya's hair and parts of her costume, which seemed filled with reflective material. "Oh. It catches the light."

He turned the card over and looked at the other side; there was a classical pattern on a brown background, over which was superimposed the logo of the character's show. He handed it back gently.

"Thanks. But you should probably take one of these."

While he was saying that, a hand had slipped into his bag and was bringing out a clear plastic sleeve, hard and firm, inside of which was another card sleeve. "Please. It doesn't cost me anything."

"Oh, probably. Thanks!" Aya took it, carefully slipping the card into it. "What's your card look like?"

The other hand went into his bag; out came a green-faced card with the representation of a horn of plenty. It shone dully old in the light, though its foil was gold. Text written underneath said the owner could draw five cards from their deck. He handed it over in its plastic case.

"Not a character card or anything, but probably way more powerful."

"If you say so," Aya said, carefully studying it. "It doesn't look like much art-wise but it sounds it'd be useful in gameplay if you knew how to use it right. I doubt they'd advertise it as a special promo otherwise."

She handed it back. "Do you actually play with them? Or do they just get store until their values up?"

There, in the middle of the cinema hall, Daisuke began acting so cautiously that it seemed he thought the place bugged. He looked so awkward as he swept his hair behind his ear, and hoped they would soon be going.

"I play a little."

"That's more than me." She nodded, then pushed with that inquisitiveness again. "If you're a collector and player you probably know a fair bit. How good are you?"

Edited 2013-05-02 07:44 (UTC)

Daisuke kept silent; instead of seeming awkward, he now appeared worried. "I've won some tournaments. I think... Local ones. I'm good enough, but not perfect. What about you? Do you collect?"

"That's still impressive," Aya said. "I think there's a big enough fanbase here that coming out on top in a few things says something about how good you are.

"Cards? Not really, outside of things like this." She turned her card in the light, reflecting a small bright beam. "They look cool but I'm not a big enough fan to play the games or a big enough collector to save them for later."

A blink, some time to think, and then a smile. His bag was opened and the card safely put away within an eye-blink. "The film's about to start." He thought it kind to gently remind her of why she was here. "Shouldn't you be heading to the screen?"

"Ah, right, I should," she replied, looking at the nearby clock "There might be just enough time to grab some popcorn too."

She looked to Oubai and smiled. "It was nice talking to you, Oubai-kun. I hope you enjoy your flick."

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