Toto, I don't think we're in Egypt any more...

[Felix Falora]

"I see. So I must have that presence. As for your inquiry, Tomoya and I were headed for the mall, but... he wanted a break," Minato said.

"I thought I saw Nagisa," Tomoya replied. "Sorry."

"If you want, you're welcome to join us," Minato offered.

[mugenginga]

Atem nodded, and waited for the pair to advance. Minato did seem more trustworthy than he had first guessed. From what he had said about his world he would watch out for the members of a group. He still didn't want to take the front. He wasn't sure how or even if the cards could express themselves in this reality. His only other options were risky and more than a little dangerous to those that lost the game.

As for Yuugi, Atem chose to let him continue to rest. If he could pull away from Minato and Tomoya he would have a conversation with him about what Minato had said. Just the realization of that information had effected things, and since things were already different than what Minato knew, it was possible it wasn't their home reality that they saw on the television wasn't the one he and his partner had come from.

Atem would fall in step beside Minato on the opposite side of Tomoya. His concern had shifted, Tomoya seemed more likely to mishandle a combat situation than Minato was probably capable.

[Felix Falora]

Seeing that Atem moved to join them, Minato and Tomoya began to walk. "So Atem... Your world's dangerous too, isn't it?" This was Tomoya who asked that. "I've seen lots of tough looking people here and you look like another one."

[mugenginga]

Atem tried to figure out how exactly to answer Tomoya's question, "It depends on where you are at, more than anything. The events of my past and the world of my time effected the now. To most its no more dangerous than living day to day. My partner and I have encountered far more than what would be considered normal thanks to Duel Monsters and their true origins. The place I grew up was harsher in many ways than where my partner grew up, especially as the Pharoah expected to lead my people."

Atem paused at that. He expected Tomoya to stumble over the "Pharoah" part. It was evident by his uniform and comments that Tomoya came from a modern world like the one Yuugi was born in. Pharoahs were not a thing of that modern world.

[Felix Falora]

"Pharoah, huh... Not sure what that is..." A crash suddenly came and Tomoya stopped to see that Minato had faceplanted, probably at the severe idiocy in what Tomoya was admitting. "Minato... are you ok?"

Minato looked back up with a sweatdrop and then looked back. Tomoya also looked back... turned out Minato had tripped over a cat. It meowed and bound off as Minato picked himself up, dusting his clothing off. "You don't study much, do you?"

"Not at all," Tomoya answered with no hesitation. This made Minato sweatdrop and sigh.

"A Pharoah is an ancient Egyptian ruler," Minato said. "You're in High School for god's sake, you should know this."

"Ahhh, I see," Tomoya said, still unsurprised.

[mugenginga]

(OOC: Minato's reaction to Tomoya was made of win right there. XD)

Atem stopped, seemingly unsurprised at the situation. He watched the cat run off, hoping it was a sign of good fortune. The mere fact it had caused Minato to trip was worrying on many levels. One, Minato seemed to be more aware of his surroundings than that. Two, cats were more aware of their surroundings than even most warriors. Had it been trying to tell them something? With many realities merging it would not be out of the question for Bast to try and get their attention.

It didn't hinder Atem's awareness of the situation and he was ready to fall in step if the two began walking again.

[Felix Falora]

"I'm not too surprised. I've seen vampires, aliens, monsters, gay angels, and Minato... An egyptian king locked away in a puzzle is one of the more normal things this world has to offer," Tomoya replied.

"And I'm not?" Minato muttered to himself as they began to walk again.

"You put what looks like a gun to your head and pull the trigger to summon monsters. Normal this is not. In fact, I think most would say it is a screwed up, psychotic form of fighting evil."

[mugenginga]

(OOC: Is Minato original? I can find his information in any of the lists. >_>)

Atem remained quiet. Yuugi seemed to be settling down and he was considering switching places with his partner. The thought of the reality known by Tomoya and Minato not being the exact reality Atem and he were in had finally occured to Yuugi.

Atem felt his hand go to the stiff pouch at his belt when Tomoya mentioned "summoning monsters". He didn't have a duel disk with him and while it was possible there was a set up for Duel Monsters in the area, it didn't seem likely. And even with all the advances Kaiba Corporation and Pegasus had set up for the Duel Monsters systems, at the end of the day they were still holograms. Even the little bit of autonomy presented by Black Magician and Black Magician Girl due to events in his past wouldn't be of any help if he couldn't summon them.

(OOC: Japanese to English names - Black Magician and Black Magicial Girl are known as Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl in the dub/American card game.

The reference to autonomy relates the the fact that Atem's cards by those names carry the "souls" more or less of one of his priests and said priest's apprentice - Mahad and Mana. It's complicated if you haven't seen the anime, and I'm sure 4Kids royally screwed it up in the dub. Anyhow, those two cards, especially Black Magician, seem to be able to act of their "own will" if the situation truly requires it.)

[Felix Falora]

(4Kids raped Yu-Gi-Oh. The end.

Minato is not original, but his original design is nameless, much like the Doomguy I play from Doom 3, whose name is now Jack Cruiser by my will. Minato Arisato, however, is the name given to him by those who came up with the manga based on his game, Persona 3. Other then that, however, the hero of Persona 3 is nameless and it's up to you to give him a name. That's probably why it's hard to find information on him.)

"Something tells me the magic here may effect those cards of yours, Atem," Minato said. "This place is known for its chaotic oddities and that could very well be one of them." He chuckled softly. "I appologize. I don't know what I'm saying."

[mugenginga]

Atem did his equivalent of "jumping", which basically amounted to an almost invisible twitch. He hadn't realized he had been that obvious about reaching for his deck. He composed himself quickly and nodded.

"I don't want to be caught in a situation without knowing for sure... is there anyplace a little more private for me to check some things?"

As for Minato's attempt to excuse his comment, Atem chose not to acknowledge it. It was not uncommon for people to try and take back what they really felt with comments of "I'm joking" or the like. He hoped Minato was right about the situation. His thoughts returned to his other options, and whatever way he looked at it, the cards were safer for all involved parties.

[Felix Falora]

"People here don't tend to panic, but if you really need a place to practice, we should get to the mall first. There's a back room. It's supposed to be forbidden, but no one goes inside of it anymore." Minato smiled softly. "We can use it."

[mugenginga]

"Practice doesn't seem the right word, but I understand what you mean. Since you are going there anyways, it sounds like it would be the best choice."

(OOC: Should we move onto the mall now? I've seen plots "move" boards before.)

[Felix Falora]

"Of course... Ahh, there's the mall right now," Minato replied, seeing the building come into view.

"Alright then," Tomoya replied. "Maybe I'll finally meet someone familiar."

[mugenginga]

(OOC: I'll move there now. Here's the new thread: mrsaturn123.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=aginormousmall&thread=1964)

[Felix Falora]

(That was fast)