11.) [audio.]

[ijustlivehere]

Okay, yeah, this sucks. I'll admit it, okay? I hate that nobody ever wants to... no, y'know what? Forget people not ever wanting to do anything, people don't even hardly know I'm there unless I say something. It blows and I hate it and I'm... lonely. Okay? I said it, are you all happy now?

Comments

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

Uh huh, one of those. And there might be money involved.

[4llth3just1c3.livejournal.com]

[She crosses her arms, looking rather suspicious.]

What is this law?

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

Well, y'know that thing they do in the movies sometimes, where someone will pretend to be really bad at something, say... pool, or something like that, and then they get people to bet a whole bunch of money, and then they start playing good instead because they're actually awesome and the whole thing was a set-up?

The law is that you're not supposed to do that, basically.

[4llth3just1c3.livejournal.com]

[She narrows her eyes and reaches out to poke him in the ribs. That sounds like Vriska, and it leaves a bad taste in her mouth.]

Sounds like cheating to me!

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

[He pouts, because that's a good point. And now he has to try to justify this.] Well, yeah. But see, people are jerks 'cause they think you suck at something, and then you take their money to get back at 'em.

[4llth3just1c3.livejournal.com]

[Your adorable pout will not sway her, Neil!]

But they believe you suck at it because you make them believe it. Right?

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

No, because-- Well, they... [SIGH.] Fine. I'll just beat everyone's asses the normal way.

[4llth3just1c3.livejournal.com]

Good! I am saving you from a life of crime!

[She grabs his hand and tugs. Someone should have warned this kid that Terezi has no sense of personal space.]

You are so slow!

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

[Neil almost trips at the sudden change of pace, but manages to keep his feet. And presently they have arrived. The arcade is dim and noisy, but thankfully not too crowded tonight.]

So, fighting games are sorta my thing. I mean, I'm awesome at pretty much everything, but mostly fighting games. What're you into?

[4llth3just1c3.livejournal.com]

[She rocks back on her heels, considering this.]

Before my accident, I played RPGs and RTSs. Now they are pretty hard to play, though!

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

Hardcore. You have good taste. Places like this aren't big with story-based stuff, 'cause people'd probably stick around too long or whatever, but... here. Looks like they have this thing, I think it's called Audissey or something. It's one of those music games. [He drags her over to one of the machines-- which he wouldn't normally do, but since the personal space barrier has already been broken, why the hell not.] This one. It's pretty much all sound cues, so it might be a good place to start.

[4llth3just1c3.livejournal.com]

[She grins, allowing herself to be dragged.]

Sound cues, huh? Are you ready to be destroyed, would-be evil-doer?

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

[Competitive spirit! Neil likes that. He knuckles down on one side of the machine, taking the Player 2 controls.]

Nope. But you should be.

[4llth3just1c3.livejournal.com]

[Terezi takes up her own controls, turning her head towards him in what might have been a glance if she could see.]

No cheating! I can smell deceit!

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

Nah, I'll be honourable, swear it. No fun cheating against you, anyway-- you're, like, actually... nice, or something.

[Okay, and that almost sounded sentimental, so:] Doesn't mean I'm not gonna crush you, though.

[4llth3just1c3.livejournal.com]

Jeeez, if you think I am nice, I have been doing everything wrong! [She giggles.] And that "crushing" thing is still up for debate!

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

Let's debate it, then. Allow me to present exhibit A. [He jams coins into the slot and hits start.] Left and right buttons are tempo, up and down's pitch. Joystick's to switch between beat and melody. Try to follow what you hear, basically, and it gets harder as you go. [This explanation takes all of five seconds, which is how long the game takes to count them in. And it's underway.]

[4llth3just1c3.livejournal.com]

[It's actually harder than Terezi thought to keep up. It's relatively easy for her to pick out pitch and volume, but beat and tempo are harder. He might actually win after all!]

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

[She could still stand a fighting chance yet-- music games are not at all Neil's forté (with the possible exception of DDR). He gets almost everything perfect at first, but when the game's difficulty picks up, he gets confused and starts hitting the wrong buttons for the wrong functions, and the quality of his gameplay declines drastically.]

Frak. I'm kind of out of practice at this one. Usually I'm like a million times better. [Fun fact: No, he's not actually all that much better normally.]