[Video]

[infernofireblast]

[[Art courtesy of my fantastic missus, so many thanks to her for all her work!]]

[The feed opens on Joey and a Bisharp standing in front of a slot machine. Both wear ecstatic expressions as the machine dispenses coin-after-coin, and Joey holds a confused looking Dratini above his head as he cheers. Noise from the other machines and patrons occasionally cuts through the pair's exultation, but the majority of sound pouring through the feed comes from their cheers.]

Yo we did it! We made out like bandits!

[Joey thrusts the Dratini forward for the camera to see.]

Me and Hermos here have been killin' it on da slots, so dis lil' jackpot here marks twelve and a half grand we've managed to carve out! We got ourselves a big ol' chunk'a change and scored dis' heckin' baloon animal-lookin' Pokémon too! There's no stoppin' da wheels on da Joey Train!

Comments

[thetombkeeper]

[Eh, given the shit he pulled in Battle City, it's enough of a synopsis to make sense to him. Mostly. Kind of.

Okay, maybe not really. Life threatening event, yes. Dragons or something. Dahts... Dartz?

Yada yada, saved the earth with transforming knights. Atem saves the day again. Tch... Joey can see Marik chewing on his bottom lip as he processes all of this, not because it doesn't make sense but. Atem's a sensitive subject again. Thanks, Bakura.

Hmm. But Yugi's soul got taken away for a bit? Now that's an interesting nugget of information he's going to hold on to.]

Hnn. I see. Sounds like you three were up to... a lot.

[Wanting to drop the subject for the time being, Marik repeats his earlier question.]

You didn't answer me. Again. How much did you blow through getting your Dratini?

[infernofireblast]

Oh yeah.

[He starts thinking, counting on his fingers while he does so.]

Let's see... each game is three coins........ 6 hours....

[He continues to mumble to himself while trying to do mental math.]

Eh I'd say we blew through maybe a thousand coins. Der's lotsa free plays when you keep winnin' doe' so it's hard to know exactly. When we cash-out I'll know betta, but it wasn't all dat much honestly.

[thetombkeeper]

[That tells him nothing because he doesn't know how much the coins cost so he'll just assume it was a lot.]

Huh. Seems like it paid off then. Your luck in life is... impeccable.

... Congrats.

[Don't sound so happy, Marik.]

[infernofireblast]

I dunno. I've had more than my fair share'a bad with da good, so I'd say I break even.

[He rubs his chin in kind of a "ehhh it ain't been that good kind of way.]

[thetombkeeper]

[A rare moment! An actual compliment from Marik.]

You always manage to bounce back, stronger and better than ever. ... I suppose that's adaptability rather than luck though...

[infernofireblast]

Dat's just cuz I've come across too many bullies to get knocked down and not get back up. When I was younga' I hadn't grown enough to understand dat' so I fell down a bad path and ended up a bully myself, but Yuug showed me how wrong I'd been. Since den' I've been livin' to da fullest, takin' life by da horns and nevah backin' down from a challenge.

[He rubs his finger under his nose.]

Means I get knocked on my butt sure, but dat also means I get up strongah every time.

[thetombkeeper]

[He very vaguely remembers seeing Joey's home life through his eyes. Marik didn't think much of it at the time but... hnn. That explains why he started off as a bully.

Food for thought later. If he doesn't just forget about it.]

I see. Littl-

[ahem]

... Yugi certainly seems to inspire others into betterment, doesn't he?

[Something he should be doing.]

[infernofireblast]

He really does. Yuug's da heart and soul of da gang, so it's only right dat he'd be da truest of us too. It's always impressive dat he manages to make allies outta enemies everywhere he goes too.

[Joey gives a knowing smile.]

Didja know dat Tristan and I used ta bully him? I know right...

[He gives a guilty look.]

I even stole a piece of da Millennium Puzzle once and threw it in a friggin' canal. Even through all dat doe, he still stood up for us when we managed to piss off an even bigger bully, and took a beatin' right alongside us. We knew he was one of da real ones after dat, and he's helped us find bettah versions of ourselves ever since.

[thetombkeeper]

[An awkward smile in response to Joey's knowing one. Yes. Friends out of enemies.

But... jeez. Yugi's always been like that? Selfless to a fault, willing to give second chances. It's admirable and frustrating, really. Why do some people have to be so damn good? He remembers the first time he met Yugi through puppeting Keith. He'd been so willing to sacrifice himself to save the Puzzle - not just for the Puzzle but for Atem.

Marik lets out a quiet exhale of a huff through his nose. What a fool... The entire lot of them. He's not jealous of that level of friendship.]

I'm a little surprised you two were that nasty to him at first.

[Huh. What would have happened if Yugi hadn't of found the missing piece Joey threw though? An interesting scenario to be sure.]

When did you all meet anyways?

[infernofireblast]

Eh, we were pieces of work if I'm bein' honest.

[Joey shrugs awkwardly.]

We did a lotta stupid stuff, but most of it was just from da' crowd I'd fallen into at my previous school. While I still did some nasty crap when I first got to Domino High it was way tamer den da kinda stuff I'd been up to before. Dat was where I met Yuug doe'. We all stahted da same year and, crappy as it is to say, he was just easy pickins'.

[thetombkeeper]

[He's honestly surprised Joey's being so open with him. Sure, it's not like this information will do him any good as far as blackmail is concerned.]

He does give off that vibe, yeah.

[Subject change. This is getting too "familiar" as Bakura put it and he's not ready to cross that line just yet.]

... So what are your plans now that you've gotten the dratini?

[infernofireblast]

Dis guy Falco hit me up and said he might be able ta get me eggs for Alligator Sword and Red-Eyes, so I'm gonna kick it here for a couple more days and den' hit da road again. If everythin' comes up good I'll have all'a Johto and my entire team togetha before Christmas!

1/2

[thetombkeeper]

Oh? That's... convenient. Everything seems to be working out for you rather well, isn't it?

[Said with absolutely no snark. He's totally not jealous of what seems to be the start of an unusual lucky streak for Joey. Marik, you're rich. Calm your tits.]

[thetombkeeper]

[Wait a minute.]

... Hold on. Did you just say... all of Johto?

[infernofireblast]

Uh... yeah. Unless der's more put der I somehow managed ta miss. Aftah da New Year it'll be on ta Kanto doe', and dat place seems a lot bettah for bikes.

[thetombkeeper]

How in oblivion have you covered so much ground already?! I know you're fast on a bike but the math of the travel time doesn't add up!

[infernofireblast]

Da heck are ya talkin' about?

[Wearing a slightly indignant expression, Joey mumbles to himself while counting on his fingers at a rapid pace. After a moment he looks back up at Marik, looking fully indignant now.]

Da hell kinda pace are you settin'? Der's been plenty ah time ta hit all da places, and dat's with stopping a few weeks in Goldenrod!

[thetombkeeper]

[Marik rolls his eyes in an exaggerated manner.]

My pace doesn't matter. It should take you about 2 or 3 months to cover all of Johto. You mean to tell me you've already traveled to Olivine and Cianwood? You took the ferry there?

[infernofireblast]

[Joey stares for a moment.]

Yeah. By da time I'm done it'll have been two months. I stahted on da 23rd of Octobah, and a I'll be done right before Christmas. Only places I got left ah Mahogany n' Blackthorn and dat's a wrap.

[He sighs in exasperation.]

Means I actually get'ta relax for da holidays doe', and that's gonna be real' nice.

[thetombkeeper]

[... Hhfff. There's no way this adds up! He has to have cheated somehow. Marik chews on his bottom lip. Didn't answer his question about the ferry either. WHY DO YOU IGNORE HIS QUESTIONS, WHEELER.]

I... Tchh.

... Good luck then, I guess. Dress warm. Be careful. Whatever.

[infernofireblast]

I gotta go through a place called da Ive Cavern or sumthin' like dat so I'm not lookin' forward to it.

[Joey grimaces.]

Should be an easy ride until den doe', even cold as it's been, but der's no way to take a bike in a place like dat' without eatin' it so I'll have to beat it on foot.

[thetombkeeper]

[Okay, as much as he is a petty brat, Ice Caverns sound terrible and no one should have to suffer through that.]

I don't know if it will help in the cave but it's good to have in general: buy a stove-pipe tent for warmth if you haven't already.

[infernofireblast]

I got a bunch ah cold weatha' stuff back before I went into dat big forest, and boy was dat da perfect timing. Dat big friggin' snowstorm blew through right afta' I went in der' so I been ready for wintah crap for weeks now. What I'm not lookin' forward to doe', is walkin' on all dat ice.

[Joey grimaces.]

I'm tryin' ta go fast, so havin' to worry about clobberin' myself every step ain't exactly great. Doubly so cuz it means I won't be able ta use my new bike!

[thetombkeeper]

Hnn. Can you ride on any of your pokémon? But I suppose that raises the issue of whether they can handle the ice...

Is there something you can wear on your shoes to make it easier to traverse?

[infernofireblast]

Eh, only Hermos is evolved right now so I gotta hoof it. I'm gonna have a couple'a eggs with me too so I gotta make sure I'm travelling careful like or it could be trouble.

[Joey shrugs.]

I just gotta hike troo da old-fashioned way and finish out da last couple warp pads. Den it's Christmas Chicken n' good times!