Tacey's expression didn't betray even mild interest at the racket going on somewhere behind her. It was peasant business, after all, and thus something for people like...well, like Achan to deal with. Conveniently, the boy proceeded to do just that, at least if that inquiry at the edge of her hearing was anything to go by, and so Tacey saw no need to bother herself with it, instead focusing on finding a suitable opponent. 'Worthy' was obviously a word which couldn't be applied to most people in this crowd - if any of them - but she would at least demand something in the way of fashion sense and personal hygiene. Something like...
"ROMEO! I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU SINCE OUR ACADEMY DAYS! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!"
Tacey turned sharply on her heel at Raymond's exclamation, ready to give him an earful, but before she could open her mouth, the suit in question had already rushed over to another, this one bald and even more sizable than Raymond, both men briefly hugging each other.
The other suit nodded, "Work." his voice was almost a whisper in comparison to Raymond's, but the smile on his face was just as wide, "The henchman business is a demanding mistress."
"THAT IT IS!" Raymond boomed, "BUT NOT QUITE AS DEMANDING AS-!"
"Ahem!" Tacey gave a dignified but also clearly audible little cough as she walked over to the two, fixing both with her trademark deathstare, "As much as I hate to disrupt your little family reunion, Raymond, I would like to remind you that you are still on duty. And for goodness' sake, stop shouting like that. Oh, I swear you delight in vexing me. Why if I wasn't a lady I would-"
"Ahh...miss Edgeworth, I presume?"
Tacey blinked, turning towards the new source of interruption. It was a boy, and far better dressed than the ones she had had the misfortune of meeting thus far. His hair seemed well cared for too and...well, he seemed a bit above middle class at least. Still, Tacey wasn't going to fully forgive the rude interruption.
"You presume correctly." she remarked in her usual haughty way, holding herself up with her full regal pride, "And whom do I have the pleasure of addressing?"
"Kevin Donovan, at your service." the stranger replied, smoothly grasping her hand and - much to Tacey's amazement - performing a flourishing little bow and kissing it lightly, "And the pleasure is all mine. I certainly hope that Romeo is not bothering you too much? It's so hard to find competent help, alas."
Had she not been so well trained, the girl would probably have stared in amazement. This Kevin, she had to admit, knew his stuff. Even that bow had been perfectly co-ordinated, and his manner was certainly well refined, indicating some form of formal training. Come to think of it, the boy seemed familiar somehow, but she just couldn't place him. Oh well, it probably wasn't anything important. And, well...seeing as how this was the first well-mannered person around she didn't feel like digging too hard for flaws.
"Oh, not to worry." she replied, "Raymond is always causing trouble, some people just are like that." she shot a brief glare at the guard, "But certainly you didn't come here just to discuss incompetent employees?"
For the briefest of moments, Kevin's expression seemed to distort oddly, but he quickly regained his usual polite smile, "Ah, I'm sorry for rambling." he replied, "You see, I've always been a huge fan of yours so..." his glance traveled to the duel disc on his arm, "...would you do me the honor of facing me in a duel?"
Tacey's smile widened further as she heard the word 'fan', but she retained her usual dignified manner as she spoke up, "Well, Mr. Donovan." she replied calmly, "I just so happened to be searching for an opponent, so you're in luck." she raised her duel disc, "I accept, but remember: I don't plan on holding back just because you are an admirer."
Kevin's smile seemed to gain a slightly vicious edge as the boy mirrored her action, "I wouldn't have it any other way." he replied calmly.
For a few moments, the two stood there sizing each other up - as was the custom with such things - before both sprung into action, activating their discs in perfect unison.
"It's time to duel!"
Let's face it: that was the one, true classic start.
Duelist: Tacey
Hand: Royal Bodyguard, Judgment of the Princesses, Trap Jammer, Ebon Magician Curran, Coronation of the Princesses
"I'll let you go first." Tacey remarked oh-so graciously, "It's only fair."
"You're too kind." Kevin replied, taking his first draw before turning to consult the card in his hand, "And I'll start with the Field Spell, Chorus of Sanctuary!" a small side-slot opened on the side of the duel disc, and the boy slipped a card into it. Immediately, the air between the duelists began shimmering, red roses seeming to spring out from the ground, accompanied by a brown-haired cherub who fluttered around the field, chanting in surprisingly high sound quality.
"Of course I'm not done yet." Kevin continued enthusiastically, as if he had just made dueling history with that move, "Next, I summon Stone Statue of the Aztecs!"
The air shimmered once again, a sizable block of green and blue stone fashioned in the shape of a male face with two hands held up in defense materializing on the boy's field, but...Tacey couldn't help giggling at this.
"First lesson, Mr. Donovan." she interrupted, "You can't summon in Defense Position anymore; nice try, though."
"Really?" Kevin looked crestfallen as he watched the rock monster stand there with its feeble three-hundred attack points, "I-I...didn't know." he mumbled in an embarrassed tone, his eyes downcast, "Well, I'll set a card and end my turn."
"My turn." Tacey remarked, "Now sit back and watch how a pro does it. I draw."
Draw Phase->>>> Royal Bodyguard
"Looks like you're in for a rough start." the girl commented, "I summon Ebon Magician Curran, in Attack Position!" the air shimmered once more as the familiar black-robed spellcaster made her entry, a reddish-colored whip in her hands, "But of course it wouldn't do to leave a lady out on her own." she continued conversationally, "Whenever Curran is on my field, I can call any of her trusted bodyguards out as well; and I've got two." she demonstratively held up the monsters, placing one on each of the empty slots surrounding Curran, "I Special Summon two copies of Royal Bodyguard!"
Accompanied by another moment of shimmering, a pair of buff knights donning shining white armor accompanied by a pair of black-plumed helmets and matching black cloaks bearing some form of royal insignia materialized on the field, their demeanor bearing quite a striking resemblance to that of Tacey's suits.
"Now, Curran, sweetie." the girl turned to her duel spirit's hologram, "Reduce that silly statue to rubble."
"Hold it!" Kevin interrupted, "I've got a face-down!"
"Doesn't matter." Tacey remarked haughtily, "Thanks to Royal Bodyguard none of your spell or trap cards can touch Curran."
"I don't plan to." the boy retorted, a smug little grin spreading across his face, "My face-down card is Desert Sunlight!" his grin widened as the holographic sunlight briefly mingled with the real, the stone monster assuming a defensive stance and raising both hands in protection, effortlessly snatching Curran's whip in mid-strike and tossing the sorceress back.
"Oh, and don't forget..." Kevin continued, his previous manner all but gone, "Any damage you take from attacking my Stone Statue is doubled. Adding in my Chorus of Sanctuary Field Spell, I'd say that adds up to a grand total of 2600. Isn't that right, ms. professional?"
Tacey didn't dignify the remark with an answer, merely glaring at the boy as over a quarter of the points on her counter were sapped away in one go, "I set a card and end my turn."
"Aww...what's the matter?" the boy taunted, drawing his next card, "No more words of wisdom for the rookie?"
Surprisingly, Tacey didn't answer, seemingly lost in thought.
"Fine by me." Kevin scoffed, "I summon Gear Golem the Moving Fortress!" the holographic projectors sprung to life yet again, this time resulting in the appearance of a sizable robot of some kind, its thick body - bronze colored, save for the steel-colored parts at its feet and arms - looking vaguely humanoid, save for the multitude of sharp edge and the clumsily large torso, just barely supported by the stumpy feet and hand-like appendages, "Then I switch Stone Statute of the Aztecs into Attack Mode." he followed this action by giving the card on his disc a quarter-turn.
"And now..." his grin grew even more malicious as he held up a green-colored card, "I activate Shield & Sword!"
A decidedly unimaginative blue shimmer briefly enveloped all monsters on the field, "Now of course I could just destroy all monsters on your Field. However...I have a much more amusing idea. I pay 800 Life Points. And now...Gear Golem, attack her directly!"
Accompanied by the noise of creaking machinery, the creature charged forward, darting straight past the other monsters and slamming its holographic body into Tacey's side in a high-speed elbow charge, knocking off another good quarter of her Life Points, "And next, Stone Statue; attack the first Royal Bodyguard!" with a brief rumbling sound, the stone creature set into motion, raising its hands on both sides of one of the armored knights and unceremoniously clamping them together, the creature shattering into yellow particles of of light and vanishing as another 400 was deducted from Tacey.
"So where's your dueling birthright now?" Kevin taunted, "I set a card and-"
"I remember you."
The boy scoffed, "Is that so?"
"You're no fan." the girl replied calmly, still standing proud - as if she'd buckle under some hologram's assault - "You're 'Crash' Davis, former favorite for the Domino City regionals!" she pointed an accusing finger at him.
"Well that took you long enough." Kevin sneered, "But then again, you don't really care who you harm, do you?"
"Harm?" the girl retorted, "Please...all I did was beat you at a card game. Well..." she conceded, "...more like I utterly crushed you, but you're still overreacting."
"Overreacting?!" the boy growled, "I was humiliated at my own home turf! You took my fans! You treated me like dirt! You destroyed me! And now I'm going to return the favor!" his previous smirk slowly returned, "I'll see the famous Tacey Edgeworth disqualified on her first tournament round. Then maybe you'll understand what it feels like to have everything taken from you! Now make your move!"
Tacey rolled her eyes, "Let me see if I got this straight." she said, "You went through the trouble of disguising yourself as someone way beyond your own social class, entered this tournament under a false name, and tracked me down just so you could have a rematch at a children's card game?" she shook her head, "You seriously need a new hobby. My move!"
Draw Phase->>>> Court of Nobles
"Alright..." Tacey began, seemingly unbothered by her less-than-favorable position, "As my first order of business, Curran's effect costs you 300 points for each monster on your field." at this point, dark energy coiled itself around the whip in Curran's hands, lashing out at her opponent, "Next, I think I'll rid the field of that tacky cherub." she pointed her index finger at the sanctuary illustration at this point, "I activate Court of Nobles!"
With a crashing sound, the roses and cherub vanished, soon to be replaced by a neatly trimmed lawn, occupied by equally well cared-for trees cut into various ornate shapes, sturdy castle walls bearing a multitude of colorful banners spouting from all sides and shutting in the battlefield.
"Now isn't that much better?" Tacey remarked pleasantly, "Thanks to my court, all royalty on the field gain a little power boost. But that's not all; I discard Trap Jammer to activate my last spell card for this duel: Coronation of the Princesses. So goodbye Ebon Magician Curran..." A stylish crown suddenly appeared on Curran's head, an intense glow enveloping her before dying down.
"And hello Princess Curran." As the glow died down, Curran seemed to have gone through a change of clothes, her robe now replaced by a frilly black dress, complete with a sizable hat, and the whip replaced by a golden scepter with a light blue stone set at the top, a peculiar rabbit in a black suit standing submissively behind her and holding up the hem of her skirt to keep it from connecting with the dirt.
"Now let's try this again, shall we?" she asked sweetly, "Curran, destroy Gear Golem the Moving Fortress!"
"With pleasure." Curran replied, a grin spreading across her face as she raised the wand and pointed it towards its target, dark energy gathering around the orb and lunging towards the creature.
"I activate Desert Sunlight!" Crash spat out.
"You really are a one-trick pony, aren't you, Davis?" Tacey remarked, shaking her head as the golem switched into a defensive position, a few seconds before shattering into light particles as the energy made contact, "Royal Bodyguard, destroy his Stone Statue!"
The remaining knight nodded, lunging into the air and cutting the statue in half with a diving slash down the middle.
"I end my turn." Tacey remarked, smiling casually.
"Don't act so smug, witch!" Davis retorted as he drew his card, "I've got just the card to put you in your place. I summon another Gear Golem!" another automaton, identical to the one recently destroyed, materialized on the field, "This is it, Edgeworth! I pay 800 life points, then activate Shield & Sword!" the familiar aura once again enveloped all monsters on the field, "Gear Golem, direct attack!"
Tacey merely shook her head, "Please..." she remarked, distaste evident in voice, "Try to make an original move at least once in your life. Something like this: reveal face-down, Judgment of the Princesses!"
Suddenly, chains sprang out, capturing the golem in mid-attack as two buff men - one a knight in standard steel armor and the other an executioner, complete with a menacing axe - appeared on both sides of the creature.
"What's all of this?!" Davis inquired.
"Oh, didn't you know?" Tacey asked in an ominously sweet voice, "In my court, assaulting royalty is a capital crime. I'm afraid that your monster is gone, as are 500 of your Life Points. Curran, if you would be so kind as to pass the judgment?"
The princess nodded, grinning wickedly again as she raised a dainty little hand, pointing the thumb down. On queue, the executioner raised his axe and swung, Davis' monster disappearing in a familiar dispersion of yellow particles.
"No!" the boy growled, "It's not over! I didn't go through all of this to be humiliated again! I won't allow it!"
"You don't seem to have much of a choice." Tacey remarked, "My turn, I believe."
Draw Phase->>>> Royal Emissary
A triumphant little smile spread across her face, "It's over, Davis. I summon Royal Emissary!"
Accompanied by a final blur of air, a new knight appeared on the field, this one bearing a far more decorative suit of armor and carrying himself more proudly than his comrade, a jeweled greatsword in his hands.
"Royal Bodyguard, Royal Emissary, direct attack."
On command, the two knights sprang into action, each striking their target from their respective sides.
"Now Curran, let's send this washout back to the hobby league."
The magician nodded, once again raising her scepter, but this time pointing it straight at the boy on the other side, "Direct attack!"
"Nooo!" Davis shielded his head with both hands, seemingly oblivious to the fact that a hologram couldn't possibly hurt him, "It's NOT FAIR!!"
Tacey harrumphed at the sight, returning her duel disc to stationary as the holograms vanished, "Pitiful..." she muttered with quite considerable distaste before turning to the others, "I'm getting bored." she remarked to no-one in particular, "Come on, let's find someone who actually knows how to play this game."
OOC: Okay, freakin' enormous...on second thought maybe I should have split it up into two parts. xD Anyways, there you have it.
Featured Theme: Patchouli Knowledge (Touhou Project)
Provided by and jointed with: Phani
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Scandalous Maido Love Affair and Pair: Phani
Estranged Ex: The RP Section Rules
Sworn Rival For All Eternity and about five minutes beyond: Chibi
Illegitimate Lovechild: Mika
Card-gaming Beta on a Leash: Scarlet