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Post by ParamountKeymaster on Jan 29, 2016 10:37:59 GMT -5
Toby chuckled a little, eyes still trained on his screen. He easily cleared another level, and by the time the next one had loaded, his audience of one decided to speak up.
"Wow, you're good at that!" Based on the voice, it was obviously a girl watching him play.
"Heheh... Thanks! I used to play this all the time when I was younger."
"I've always been curious how the little monster guys are programed to move. It just seems so random."
"Oh! Well, actually..." Toby's excitement increased. He was doing a remarkable job playing and talking at the same time. "The red one chases Pac-Man, the pink and blue ones position themselves in front of him, and while the orange one is kinda random, it mostly chases and moves towards the bottom left corner."
"Interesting..."
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Post by DMis on Jan 29, 2016 11:59:24 GMT -5
Chrys smiled as she played. "Patterns aren't that hard to notice," she offered as another level was cleared.
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Post by ParamountKeymaster on Jan 29, 2016 12:12:02 GMT -5
"Heh... Yeah..." Toby mused.
"Still, even when you know what's coming, it's knowing how to avoid it that's the real trick..." the girl commented.
Toby didn't respond to that. All of a sudden, something seemed... familiar about these events. As if he recognized the ghost's patterns from something else.
A relentless pursuer...
A strategist one step ahead...
A wanderer who goes with the flow...
And one whose movements seem random... and yet he could always tell there was some kind of tact to them...
Toby looked over his shoulder to catch a glimpse of his guest... and sure enough, he found a familiar redheaded teen at his side.
"Aw, no!" He angrily turned back around and resumed playing, refusing to give her the attention she so wanted. "HECK no! GO AWAY!"
"Toby, relax. I can see you're busy," Enlightenment giggled, dropping the American accent she had been using in favor of her natural German. "I just vanted to see how you vere doing."
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Post by DMis on Jan 29, 2016 12:33:11 GMT -5
"Toby.... you okay?" Chrys asked after Toby's exclamation startled her into getting defeated.
She looked over to the pair. "May we help you miss?" She asked as she leaned against the cabinet.
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Post by ParamountKeymaster on Jan 29, 2016 12:53:46 GMT -5
"No, zat's alright," Enlightenment cheerfully responded. "Just vanted to catch back up with Herr Toby."
"Well, if you must know, I was having fun until you showed up!" Toby spat, eyes still trained on the screen. "Now leave me alone!"
"Toby, calm down. Vhy do you automatically assume I'm here to bother you?"
"Because you ARE!"
Enlightenment giggled. "Fast out the gate only vhen he vants to be, isn't he?"
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Post by DMis on Jan 29, 2016 16:02:43 GMT -5
"Who are you? And why are you putting him on edge so badly?" Chrys asked as she watched Enlightenment's movements
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Post by ParamountKeymaster on Jan 29, 2016 16:18:53 GMT -5
"Mein name is Enlightenment!" she chimed. "Und I'm just trying to be friendly with Herr Toby. It's not mein fault he's so stubborn."
"I seriously doubt someone of your nature would be following me with the intention of being friendly," Toby grumbled.
"Who says? Collective consciousness and ultimate regime aside, I am quite capable of individual action."
"Doesn't make you capable of going against that collective consciousness to befriend an enem- DANG IT!" It wasn't long before Toby's frustration with Enlightenment cost Pac-Man a life.
"Enemy?" Enlightenment had to laugh. "Vhat makes you so certain you are our enemy?"
"Gee! Maybe it's the fact that you freaks are always hounding me and my friends!"
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Post by DMis on Jan 29, 2016 16:35:16 GMT -5
Chrys' eyes narrowed as she listened. "This wouldn't have to do with a shadow thing named Meloncholic? Would it?"
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Post by ParamountKeymaster on Jan 29, 2016 16:39:46 GMT -5
"Vell, same species, yes." Enlightenment beamed and nodded. "Different general, zhough. Mein leader is Sanguine."
"Different battle tactics, but they all want the same thing," Toby muttered.
Enlightenment smiled at the back of Toby's head, pausing as if waiting for him to continue. "You are really focused on zhat silly game, aren't you?"
"Shut up. Get lost. I'll deal with you later."
"If you insist..."
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Post by DMis on Jan 29, 2016 17:12:08 GMT -5
Chrys quietly watched Enlightenment. She kept a protective posture as she watched the red-headed German girl. Don't trust her any further than I can throw her, Chrys muttered mentally.
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Post by ParamountKeymaster on Jan 29, 2016 17:33:16 GMT -5
Enlightenment giggled. "You two are having fun. Don't let me spoil it. Ve can alvays talk later!"
"Let's not and say we didn't," Toby growled, his focus continuing to slip.
"I vas going to swing by zhe karaoke bar anyvay, so I'll leave you to it!" She quickly hugged Toby from behind, startling him and causing Pac-Man to collide with another ghost. Then she let go and scampered off. "Bis später, Toby!"
Once she was gone, Toby kicked the game's cabinet and angrily resumed playing.
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Post by DMis on Jan 29, 2016 17:41:19 GMT -5
Chrys turned back to her cabinet and started playing again. "So.... movie or treat after this?"
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Post by ParamountKeymaster on Jan 29, 2016 17:49:21 GMT -5
It took Toby a moment to calm down and take full control of the game again. The fact that Enlightenment had left without much trouble was relieving at the very least, but her presence was no less aggravating. Of course, after their first encounter, it was all too easy for him to have a knee-jerk reaction to seeing her again. She was up to something, and though he was fearful of what it might be, that was the last thing he wanted to think about at this given moment.
"Um..." He took a deep breath, having finally regained his composure. "Yeah, that... sounds great, actually. I've... I've been wanting to see Creed, to be honest. Evan really liked it..."
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Post by DMis on Jan 29, 2016 17:54:54 GMT -5
"I'll pay for popcorn and snacks, if you cover tickets?" Chrys offered. "And Toby. We've seen each other in our darkest hours." Mentally she could recall the fog when Patrick and Beth met.
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Post by ParamountKeymaster on Jan 29, 2016 18:05:51 GMT -5
"...Sounds good." Had he been in better spirits, he would've teasingly brought up their Skee-Ball bet. Not now, though. It wouldn't have been fair of him to act out like that and not try to make up for his behavior.
After clearing the level and during the animated interlude, Toby leaned against the cabinet and sighed. Most of his life consisted of darkest hours... not that Chrys would know that. Or needed to know.
It wasn't too much to ask for a shred of happiness in this labyrinth of shadows and demons, was it?
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