Children's Card Games Are Serious Business

[screws_rules]

(You go into the lounge to find Seymour and Shoutaro with a hand full of cards and staring at each other. The air is tense and the world seems silent. What in the world caused this? What seems to be minutes pass before Seymour reaches out to Shoutaro's cards. He moves his hands along the cards while looking at Shoutaro's face for any sort of tell. Finally he draws one and looks at it before smiling ever so slightly. He then proceeds to lay down a pair of cards. What game are they playing you might ask? Shoutaro's old rival...Old Maid.)

Your move.

(OOC: This is a joint post between me and Camiu. If you want to talk to one of the characters, just list their name.)

Comments

[turningyaponese]

[[This is Gainer trying to be "social" about playing video games, ideally, by himself.

But, he can't seem to set up with these "Old Men" playing cards. But, he'll peek over and pray to Gawd that's not Uu-Ji-Oh.]]


Oh thank god... I thought I walked in on you two playing something childish.

[screws_rules]

(Seymour gives a small dry laugh at that.)

It is a bit of an old game but it has its' advantages. It is a good way to learn a persons tells. The detective insisted it be this game. Truthfully I would have preferred a betting game like Texas Hold 'Em or Five Card Draw but what can you do.

[turningyaponese]

Well, I'm glad to see it's not one of those lame kids card games with all the cutesey monsters and junk.


So, what are you playing then? [[Gainer doesn't know card games, but, Werter once mentioned getting a hobby. Maaaaaybe... ...?]]

[screws_rules]

You're talking about that one game...What was it again? Oo-Di-Uh? Or was it Pekoman? Whatever. I am surprised it has lasted so long. I suppose children will play anything.

Old Maid. Seems the detective here has fond memories of the game and wanted to improve his abilities as his skills at card games are quite horrible.

(Seymour turns to Shoutaro.)

By the way, the next card you take will be the Joker.

(Shoutaro looks at Seymour for a beat as he reaches out and fans the cards, watching Seymour's face. He watches carefully before taking one of Seymour's cards...Sure enough it is the Joker. Seymour smirks.)

[turningyaponese]

Put enough marketing and flashing colors on anything and kids will eat it up. I'll admit, I was sold for a while.

And then I grew up.

[[Gainer watches closely and picks up on what Seymour probably did.]] Oh... I get it... You trick them into taking the Joker. You just need to not keep using the same trick over and over.

[screws_rules]

I will admit that it is a clever marketing move if you really look into it. I have to kind of admire things like that.

Exactly. Truthfully, that was showboating on my end but it does wonders for psyching out an opponent. But that is fundamentally needed in all forms of confrontation. The battle begins in the mind after all.

(Now that Shoutaro has the Joker, Seymour seems to be paying close attention to were that card goes as he immediately takes one of Shoutaro's cards and forms a pair.)

[turningyaponese]

[[Gainer watches. He didn't have to psych out his opponent... he had a reputation already. His 'title' did that psychological warfare for him...


...in games.]]

Too bad I'm not very good at that on the real battlefield. [[Gainer starts setting up his game anyway.]]

[screws_rules]

It just takes time to perfect. The best way to do it is if you have knowledge about your opponent's personality. Say they are prideful, showboat enough and it will make them mad that their skills aren't enough to easily crush you. When an opponent gets angry, they will get reckless. I believe mind games on the battlefield are the same as they are in games, it just takes a little bit of adjusting.

[turningyaponese]

You don't always get that convienece on the battle field, or in a game. You don't always fight the same person, and you may never fight them again.

You've got a point, but the odds that it'll be productive are pretty slim... at least as far as I can figure.

[screws_rules]

Hmm, think of it like a game then. When you fight someone you've never fought before you try to play mind games through mix ups, feints, and pressure strings, correct? That is a simple way to get into an opponent's mind as it frustrates or scares them making them either turn more defensive or offensive. And you pray off of their reaction to it all.

But it is true that it is a difficult art to master. As with many things in life, it is easier said than done. However, I think you understand the basics of it through your games so I'm sure you could learn to do it.

[turningyaponese]

I think I've already led most of the online players into that false sense of hope when I let a low ranking player beat me so I could reset my score.

Everyone aleady seems to think if one person beat me, maybe they finally have a chance.

They mostly don't.

[locked: 20 minutes ago]

[leftjoker]

[A knock on your office door, Seymour.]

[screws_rules]

(A butler opens the door and shows Shoutaro in. Seymour turns to Shoutaro.)

Ah, detective. I hope you are here to make an update about the search for my property.

[leftjoker]

[Nods]

With that stunt that Eternal pulled at the Sonozaki manor, Gaia Memories all over the world have gone defunct except for the T2s, as I'm sure you're already aware. [To illustrate, He pressed the button on the Queen memory, which resounded with its title, but when he did so to his Joker Memory, it came up negative.] With only 26 active memories left and all other memories more or less useless, it should have become easier for the ones that remain to show up. In fact, the opposite has happened. Those memories have swarmed the markets to the point where it's safe to say that no one outside of Fuuto knows what's what.

As such, I'll be going to Fuuto myself next week, touch base with my irregulars and Philip and try to narrow the search from there.

[screws_rules]

I see. It seems Eternal wants the old Gaia Memories out of his way to limit the amount of threats that he would run into. And with his stunt he has put you out of commission as a Kamen Rider unless I lend you my T2s...Infuriating. I suppose I have no choice but to be a little less strict with you about my T2s as you won't be able to force my T2s away from Eternal without...Though truthfully I don't want them even near Eternal.

Do you have any idea why he wants all of them? As far as I am aware, outside of you as Kamen Rider Double people can only use one Gaia Memory at a time. Outside of just having them the only thing I can think of that he would want them all is to build an army but that doesn't feel right to me as he already has his group of NEVERs.

[leftjoker]

That's the thing though, I'm not entirely comfortable bringing the T2s to Fuuto with me when NEVER has based his operations out there. I run the risk of getting my ass handed to me since I can't transform into the Double, and that would mean losing the T2s to NEVER. I'll be leaving them with you for now until I come back.

Perhaps he doesn't intend to use them on people then. These items are the crystalized form of the Planet's Memories, after all. The amount of power within just one is substantial. He could probably use all twenty six as a power source for some sort of weapon. Of course, all of this is speculation, so it's hard to be certain. It's another reason why I need to go back to Fuuto, so I can learn more about Eternal's plans.

[screws_rules]

(Seymour's eyes narrow slightly.)

A weapon using the powers of all 26 T2s...That is a horrifying idea...And it makes sense sadly. That kind of weapon could cause untold amounts of damage and he may be able to threaten entire governments with it. I agree that you should go without the T2s. No offense, but I'd rather you be beaten up than have the T2s in Eternal's hands with that possibility. I will have the security around the T2s brought up a few levels on that note. Let me know if you find anything out as soon as you get back.

Now, is there any other business you wish to speak to me about, detective?

[leftjoker]

None taken, Katsuragi-san. I understand completely.

There was one thing I wanted to ask you. [Wordlessly, he takes out a deck of cards. As he grins, the scene fades to black]