[In all likelihood I can repair it, it'll be fine. You're paying me compliments at CRITICAL MOMENTS. I'm suspicious of why they're being doled out at these times. .. But if my vision is hindered I can't keep a constant vigil over my surroundings.]
The clutter would get to me eventually... [The original purpose of this segment was clearly lost several turns prior. Neither party seemed all that concerned by it.] .. Which likely will be none, so your safe on that score.
[It could have been a combination of things really, that was making this more difficult. Kaiba personally liked being more difficult to read, generally he kept a tight hold on any thoughts and feelings he didn't think anyone had a right to pry into. Coupled with the fact that this was a highly irregular experience and essentially uncharted territory for him made it more difficult to know how to handle it. The signals were mixed because they were a reflection on his own indecision]
... [That admission has him growing silent for a moment. There's something about the delivery and the shy behavior she was projecting that made this seem less like reality and more like one of those dating sim games. Not that he paid those much mind- but there were sickos out there some of whom pitched video game concepts to him, one of which was designed to allow duel monsters fans to live out their fantasies by courting their favorite card crushes. Imagine Kaiba's revulsion during that meeting. As such he had three options available to him: Heartfelt, Casual, Boastful.] .. Meeting me is a rare opportunity, you shouldn't take that lightly. [Boastful. It was just ... easier. Still, his lips parted, then closed, before they parted again and he added a little more.] I doubt we ever would have traveled in the same circles, no. [A tiny pang of regret was encapsulated in there.]
[For once, Kaiba's not fixated on the future and for him that's rare. He's living in the present. If thoughts turned to Domino, he knew he would have plenty of elements to occupy his mind from running his business, to plotting his successful reclamation of the duel monsters title, to seeing to the raising of his younger brother. His schedule was usually tight, the hours long, when would there have been time to explore.. whatever this is?
For him, he wasn't sure how this started or how to stop it.. or embrace it. Feelings of a softer nature had always felt like more of a hindrance than an asset, however they kept nagging him when he was in her presence. How she'd managed to stand up to him, the great and powerful Seto Kaiba, on their first meeting had intrigued him, her bravery in face of insurmountable odds on more than one occasion was impressive, and let's face it- on some level she sort of got him. That was actually one of the rarest traits. To find a level of understanding was refreshing. Granted, she had help- the void showed her memories she was never meant to see, and vice versa still when most discarded the experience or moved past it this familiarity with each other's origins seemed to linger between them. Seto spent a lot of time trying to convince himself he didn't need that sort of connection. From anyone. Somehow things just clicked here and another part of him wanted to reach out and grasp it, never letting it go.]
Agreed. [Kaiba essentially tested out of Domino High.] Plaid. [That was his short response to say that he had, it was also a way to convey just how much he detested the pattern. Giving her another once over when she talked about alterations] .. You could likely pull something off. There's at least some variation in the colors if not the patterns. [Then about the monsters] It's not on my agenda, no.
[When she isn't able to form sentences either, Kaiba isn't sure that is a positive thing or a negative one. At least he's not the only one feeling out of his element however it's still difficult to watch her unease. Between them they are one complicated mess, a twist of metaphorical electrical cords sparking with energy but without proper utilization for it nor a way to easily disentangle. At first, he thinks he can get himself together, then he'll just ignore the last few moments but she has to ask THAT. How can he answer that?! Honestly? Truthfully? Dismissively?] I don't have to like it- it's your bet! [Honestly- whoever heard of making a bet with your opponent's comfort level in mind? That's not how bets work. Still, he feels like the answer might have been a misstep]
[Would it have been that hard to say 'ye...'.. probably? Apparently it would have. Sure, he often found himself drawn to Ann but admitting that this happened was not currently on the table.]
[With the tensions unabated the race commenced. The additional toaster-incident has him chiding himself further. What is wrong with you? If any of his enemies could see him now- how they would relish delighting in his agitation and his inability to cope. Then one of them would inevitably misinterpret the situation and kidnap Takamaki to use as a bargaining chip in trying to extort his cooperation in a shady deal- then he would have to drop everything, and go and rescue her in the most over the top dramatic way possible...
.. and.. overthinking this?
Yes.
When she came sailing into his peripheral vision, it at least shook him out of the labyrinth of his own 'what-if' scenarios.] Not bad, but not good enough... [Lips curling up as they reached the void section. His shoes skidded against the patch of nothingness as he had to momentarily slow his momentum, then he took off back towards the finish line. She wasn't lying about being able to actually run in those heels, and on sand no less. Still- this was a competition, and not one he was planning on losing. Now that she felt more like an active threat to his claims it was easier to let the competitive side take the wheel.]
no subject
You're paying me compliments at CRITICAL MOMENTS. I'm suspicious of why they're being doled out at these times. .. But if my vision is hindered I can't keep a constant vigil over my surroundings.]The clutter would get to me eventually... [The original purpose of this segment was clearly lost several turns prior. Neither party seemed all that concerned by it.] .. Which likely will be none, so your safe on that score.
[It could have been a combination of things really, that was making this more difficult. Kaiba personally liked being more difficult to read, generally he kept a tight hold on any thoughts and feelings he didn't think anyone had a right to pry into. Coupled with the fact that this was a highly irregular experience and essentially uncharted territory for him made it more difficult to know how to handle it. The signals were mixed because they were a reflection on his own indecision]
... [That admission has him growing silent for a moment. There's something about the delivery and the shy behavior she was projecting that made this seem less like reality and more like one of those dating sim games.
Not that he paid those much mind- but there were sickos out there some of whom pitched video game concepts to him, one of which was designed to allow duel monsters fans to live out their fantasies by courting their favorite card crushes. Imagine Kaiba's revulsion during that meeting. As such he had three options available to him: Heartfelt, Casual, Boastful.] .. Meeting me is a rare opportunity, you shouldn't take that lightly. [Boastful. It was just ... easier. Still, his lips parted, then closed, before they parted again and he added a little more.] I doubt we ever would have traveled in the same circles, no. [A tiny pang of regret was encapsulated in there.][For once, Kaiba's not fixated on the future and for him that's rare. He's living in the present. If thoughts turned to Domino, he knew he would have plenty of elements to occupy his mind from running his business, to plotting his successful reclamation of the duel monsters title, to seeing to the raising of his younger brother. His schedule was usually tight, the hours long, when would there have been time to explore.. whatever this is?
For him, he wasn't sure how this started or how to stop it..
or embrace it. Feelings of a softer nature had always felt like more of a hindrance than an asset, however they kept nagging him when he was in her presence. How she'd managed to stand up to him, the great and powerful Seto Kaiba, on their first meeting had intrigued him, her bravery in face of insurmountable odds on more than one occasion was impressive, and let's face it- on some level she sort of got him. That was actually one of the rarest traits. To find a level of understanding was refreshing. Granted, she had help- the void showed her memories she was never meant to see, and vice versa still when most discarded the experience or moved past it this familiarity with each other's origins seemed to linger between them. Seto spent a lot of time trying to convince himself he didn't need that sort of connection. From anyone. Somehow things just clicked here and another part of him wanted to reach out and grasp it, never letting it go.]Agreed. [Kaiba essentially tested out of Domino High.] Plaid. [That was his short response to say that he had, it was also a way to convey just how much he detested the pattern. Giving her another once over when she talked about alterations] .. You could likely pull something off. There's at least some variation in the colors if not the patterns. [Then about the monsters] It's not on my agenda, no.
[When she isn't able to form sentences either, Kaiba isn't sure that is a positive thing or a negative one. At least he's not the only one feeling out of his element however it's still difficult to watch her unease. Between them they are one complicated mess, a twist of metaphorical electrical cords sparking with energy but without proper utilization for it nor a way to easily disentangle. At first, he thinks he can get himself together, then he'll just ignore the last few moments but she has to ask THAT. How can he answer that?! Honestly? Truthfully? Dismissively?] I don't have to like it- it's your bet! [Honestly- whoever heard of making a bet with your opponent's comfort level in mind? That's not how bets work. Still, he feels like the answer might have been a misstep]
[Would it have been that hard to say 'ye...'.. probably? Apparently it would have. Sure, he often found himself drawn to Ann but admitting that this happened was not currently on the table.]
[With the tensions unabated the race commenced. The additional toaster-incident has him chiding himself further. What is wrong with you? If any of his enemies could see him now- how they would relish delighting in his agitation and his inability to cope. Then one of them would inevitably misinterpret the situation and kidnap Takamaki to use as a bargaining chip in trying to extort his cooperation in a shady deal- then he would have to drop everything, and go and rescue her in the most over the top dramatic way possible...
.. and.. overthinking this?
Yes.
When she came sailing into his peripheral vision, it at least shook him out of the labyrinth of his own 'what-if' scenarios.] Not bad, but not good enough... [Lips curling up as they reached the void section. His shoes skidded against the patch of nothingness as he had to momentarily slow his momentum, then he took off back towards the finish line. She wasn't lying about being able to actually run in those heels, and on sand no less. Still- this was a competition, and not one he was planning on losing. Now that she felt more like an active threat to his claims it was easier to let the competitive side take the wheel.]