[EFFECT ROOM] The Red Thread of Not-Quite-Fate

[hyperhero]

[This room is definitely one that you wouldn't expect to find in a school, considering that it appears to be a gigantic cafe. Plush carpets, cushioned chairs, a whole bunch of fancy drinks and snacks...

Someone put a dating cafe in the school!]

((OOC: Here's how it works! The room is based off the idea of the red string of fate from Japanese/Chinese legend. On stepping into the room, your character will find a thin but completely unbreakable red string tied to their pinkie, with the other end tied to someone else who's come into the room. The red string persists even if you try to leave, and won't disappear until a full day later. The thread itself will lengthen or shorten depending on the proximity of the two characters, but it won't let you get more than a room's length away from each other.

Here's the complication: the Gods are kind of sort of drunk off their asses, which means that the red string could tie you to literally anyone. Your worst enemy, your brother, your father, Old Man Jenkins... it's one of those things where you're lucky if you get your soulmate! Furthermore, the strings can (by player choice) actually swap around repeatedly, so your character could end up tied to one person all day or have to deal with being tied to five different ones through it!

For characters who don't know about the legend, there's a paper pinned to the wall by the door that explains it (at least, the actual legend, not the drunk-gods part). While the paper can be ripped up, it'll just regenerate a minute or two later.

And yes I purposefully picked the most inappropriate journal for this))

Comments

[fluffydeathdealer]

Skyscraper, huh... heh. Nice move, Judai! But that isn't going to be enough.

[LP: 3600]

[hyperhero]

Maybe not, but that's not the only card I count on!

[Winged Kuriboh makes a little sound at Bakura as if confirming his presence, hopping onto the Duel Disk to make his point. Judai doubletakes a bit, then laughs, using his hand to scratch the little furball.]

Whoa, hey! You're solid, partner!

[fluffydeathdealer]

...

It took you three turns to realize that...?

[hyperhero]

Ah-heh, well, I'm just used to him hanging around! Even if he gave me a hand last time, I didn't think he actually stayed real the entire time.

[fluffydeathdealer]

...That was likely not the same kind of dark game... Even if it was similar.

Look around, Judai-kun. This darkness is what exists in the world that your monsters reside in. As long as it exists, they'll remain solid.

[hyperhero]

Huh... Pretty neat!

[Yes, Bakura, Judai just called the Darkness Game "neat." You didn't hear incorrectly.

WK hops back onto Judai's shoulder and he glances down to his hand again.]

I'll end my turn there!

1/2

[fluffydeathdealer]

. . .

[Does this kid really exist? Is this all just a reality TV show?]

2/2

[fluffydeathdealer]

My turn! Draw!

[...damn. Not what he needs. But...]

I activate my reverse card! Zoma the Spirit!

[A monster appears in defense position on the field... "Zoma the Spirit [1800/500]". Now he has two monsters in defense position. One that Judai doesn't see... and the other...

This one.]

While still counting as a trap, this card creates a new wall monster to defend me.

[And if Judai kills it... Skyscraper's boosting will mean the damage done to him in return is a little higher. After all, Zoma the Spirit inflicts damage to the opponent equal to half of the atk of the monster that kills it.]

And...

[No point in wasting life points. Judai won't hold back on attacking him even if he thinks it's a trap. Heh. Less pain for him.]

I summon Doomcalibur Knight! [1900 ATK.] Since Skyscraper's effect only occurs during your attack, I'll take down Burstinatrix! Doomcalibur Knight, attack!

[hyperhero]

[Zoma... that's another one Judai hasn't seen. Why would Bakura play that face up? Hm...

Oh well. He'll figure it out later.]

I don't think so! I'll trigger my facedown card -- Negate Attack!

[The attack is stopped just short of Burstinatrix and she flashes a smile to Bakura, making an audible "tsk tsk tsk!" noise at him.]

[fluffydeathdealer]

[Hm. That woman... She's going to be trouble. But this isn't a serious game. He'll bite back his irritation for now.

The Knight tenses, looking back at Bakura before stepping back into place as the man nods.]

Too bad... Then I'll end my turn.

[hyperhero]

[Draw! And Judai's face splits into a wide grin as he sees just what he's got.]

Alright! I'll activate Polymerization and fuse Avian and Burstinatrix together!

[The winged man appears next to the woman, giving Bakura an equally venomous glare as the two are merged together by the magic.]

Say hello to Elemental HERO Flame Wingman!

[The one-winged Hero appears with a flourish, Judai grinning widely and pointing.]

Okay! Take out Doomcalibur Knight!

[2100 vs 1900 ATK. Shouldn't be too painful this go around...]

[fluffydeathdealer]

[And Avian and Burstinatrix appear floating around Judai like spirits.

The 300 damage from the difference isn't too much, but-]

GHK-!

[...the 1900 extra damage from Wingman's effect definitely hurts. Bakura doubles over in pain, the 200 life points gain only slightly easing it.

LP: 3600 -> 1600]

[hyperhero]

All right... I'll set a reverse card, and that'll be it for this turn.

[Avian and Burstinatrix move to hover closely behind Judai, almost protectively, as he grins at Bakura.]

Flame Wingman's effect hits you with damage equal to the attack of any monster he takes down, but it only works if that monster goes to the graveyard from his attack! Since I picked the black box, I'm the one without a graveyard... so here's my right cards to use it!

[fluffydeathdealer]

[Interesting... The kid really is a savant of sorts. What sort of person is this kid? That oddness to his mind. The ease here. The protectiveness of his monsters. He draws his card thoughtfully as he straightens up, body still shaking in pain. Not good... he'll lose next turn if this guy attacks again. He can't summon Necrofear like this... He's one card short for that. And his new card won't do anything but delay the inevitable.

But...]

Reverse card set! Your turn!

[Spirit Shield... he can hold out for at least two attacks with this. Long enough to feel him out. Judai Yuki-kun... Why do you seem at home here?]

But, Judai... I'm impressed. Even the atmosphere here isn't throwing you off.

[hyperhero]

[Judai draws, then glances over at Bakura curiously. Atmosphere...?]

Well, it's kinda creepy, but it doesn't really feel strange or anything! Should it?

[fluffydeathdealer]

Of course it should! This is a game of darkness, after all. I'm at home in it, but most people feel at least uncomfortable.

[The Ring jingles slightly as he takes it in his hand, looking down at it. What do you feel from this boy...? For once, tell me when I ask...]

[hyperhero]

Really? Maybe they just don't like creepy places?

[Judai laughs a little, the two duel monster ghosts narrowing their eyes at the Ring a bit. Of course, the answer to his odd comfort is simple enough... Judai feels at home in the darkness because, even quietly pushed down and "hiding" as it is, there's a noticeable feeling of that darkness itself coming from him.]

[fluffydeathdealer]

[This feeling-! It's definitely there. He can barely find it, but it's there.

     Darkness... Who are you, Judai Yuki?!

He can barely believe it. A boy such as this? Why would he have such an odd feeling of darkness within him?]

Maybe... Or maybe you're just too relaxed for even this to get to you.

[hyperhero]

Maybe! You panic in a duel and it's over!

[He gives a curiosity examination of his hand, then looks back to the field. Well, then!]

Okay, Flame Wingman! Take out Zoma!

[fluffydeathdealer]

Heh... Not so fast!

[The trap activates.]

My Spirit Shield activates! I remove my fallen Zure from play to negate your attack! Until I run out of dead fiends, I can halt any of your attacks.

[...though he only has one other.]

[hyperhero]

[Flame Wingman's attack is repelled and Judai laughs a little, grinning at the idea of the duel extended out.]

Good move! Alright, I'll just end, then.

[fluffydeathdealer]

My turn! Draw!

[A smile teases his lips.]

Then I'll switch my facedown monster to attack mode! My Headless Knight, arise! And...

[The knight uncurls from seemingly nowhere to stand in front of him, sword swung in the air as if in preparation for an attack. But it only has 1450 ATK...]

I'll play this! Spiritualistic Medium! With this, I have to discard my hand... but, Headless Knight gains 500 Attack Points for each card I discard!

[With the card played, that left three. 1450 + 1500 Attack was 2950.]

Headless Knight! Take down his Flame Wingman!

[hyperhero]

Ah-!

[Oh, crap. Flame Wingman swings his arm up, desperately trying to stop the Headless Knight's charge, but his attack isn't anywhere enough to even make a dent. Judai yells out in pain as the HERO is shredded, reeling back a little at the 850 in damage. Thaaaaat smarted some!

The fused spirit appears behind him as Winged Kuriboh flits up around him, Judai exhaling a little. Phew.]

Well, there went Wingman...

[It's a bit of a worried tone, but his expression betrays excitement. Good... this was getting interesting!

LP: 3150]

[fluffydeathdealer]

[If the Knight had eyes, it would be glaring at Wingman right now.]

Heheh. I have no more cards to hand right now, so I guess that's my turn ended. Your turn!

[hyperhero]

[Judai draws, a bit of a brief frown flashing his face. Hrm... Not quite what he wanted, but it'll do.]

Come on out, Wildheart! Take out Zoma!

[He's sure it's a trap of some sort, at least... so what better than to get rid of it now?]