[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]

[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?]

[fluffydeathdealer]

Heh heh... Good work! I won't even prevent it with my trap card! But there's a consequence... That's why.

By killing Zoma, you activate the trap's effect! Half of Wildheart's attack points are removed from your life points!

[hyperhero]

[AND SUDDENLY, ZOMA RIGHT IN HIS FACE. Judai yelps, throwing his arms over as the spirit inflicts the damage, cringing and shifting his stance a little. Phoo...]

Heh... you got me with that!

[LP: 2400.]

I'll set a reverse card. Your turn!

[fluffydeathdealer]

[Could it be a trap...? He's not sure. But why else would he leave it facing downwards? Hm. It's good to have a card in his hand, at least.

Let's see...]

I'll switch Headless Knight back into defense position.

[The knight sinks to one knee before him, sword pressed to the ground. Despite his words of before, he knows Wildheart's effect; the trap won't work to defend him. He'll have to rely on the luck of the draw. ...and right now it's not on him.]

Turn end!

[hyperhero]

[Ug... the card he drew is useless to him. What a world. And the Knight's defense is too much for Wildheart to punch through right now... no way Clayman could get it. Or his other monster.]

Not much I can do now... so I'll set another reverse card and end it with that.

[fluffydeathdealer]

My turn! Draw! [Hm... this is something. But it'll be risky...]

I set a reverse card!

[Dark Spirit of the Silent should be a good way to give some damage until he can summon something better.]

Turn end!

[hyperhero]

Draw!

[...Bingo! Just what he needed. He just needs one more turn to set it up...]

Alright! I'll summon Elemental HERO Sparkman, then equip him with Spark Blaster!

[The lightning HERO appears, snagging the Blaster and twirling it much like an old-style gunman.]

And I'll use Spark Blaster's effect to swap the Knight into attack position!

[Taking aim, Sparkman fires a shot at the Headless Knight, intent on forcing him to his feet.]

[fluffydeathdealer]

...?

[The knight rises, half-turning to 'look' back at Bakura.]

So you're going to attack him?

[hyperhero]

You bet! Wildheart's enough to take him down!

Go get 'em!

[Wildheart gladly charges to do just that.]

[fluffydeathdealer]

[Kh... with that weak thing, he can't do anything to hurt either of the other two. And it's not like his defensive trap will work on that card. But without a monster as a target, the next attack will be unstoppable for sure...]

Kh...

[LP: 1600 -> 1550 -> 1750.]

[hyperhero]

Alright, Sparkman! Show him that Static Shockwave of yours!

[The HERO casually tosses the gun up high, then gathers electricity in his hands to send a wave at Bakura.]

[fluffydeathdealer]

GHK-!

[His body trembles under the assault of the electricity, eyes wide as it courses through him, a feeling of burning inside and out.

LP: 100

He drops to one knee instinctively, gasping for breath.]

[hyperhero]

That'll be it for my turn. Your go, Bakura!

[Sparkman casually holds his hand out, catching the gun and leaning it on his shoulder, watching the other duelist.]

[fluffydeathdealer]

Just a minute, here!

[Kh... His hand trembles as he reaches to draw his last card.]

I'll set this card in defense position!

[If he uses Wildheart first, he's fucked... But he found something interesting out today. That makes it worth it.]