bakurasheadpastedtothings sent: because I want to.

Good answer. 

bakurasheadpastedtothings sent: I'm well

And you’re still talking to me why? 

jesse-andersen:

“I reckon this is goin’ to be a real hoot, don’t you think, Zane?” He smiled continuing to push the other boy down the cement path, “Kaibaman is a really cool card. I heard Kaiba made it himself !”

“Yeah, after himself. Guy’s got an ego bigger than this theme park,” Zane muttered. He wasn’t sure if Jesse heard him or not and it didn’t really matter. He was bad mouthing Kaiba, what was new? A lot of people had issues with Kaiba and Zane was among them. 

jesse-andersen:

“Kaibaman, isn’t that a duel monsters card?” Jesse questioned towards the other. That one seemed interesting, “Lets go see the Kaibaman show !” Jesse grabbed onto the handles of the wheel chair and pushed Zane in that direction.

Of course Jesse would go to the one show Zane did not want to go see. It was a children’s show with over dramatic acting and people dressed in bad costumes. Jesse would probably love it. Zane groaned as they started to head off in that direction. 

jesse-andersen:

Jesse opened the map and began reading the locations out loud, but to himself, “Hm… Everything looks so awesome ! I can’t decide where I want to start !” He figured asking Zane where he wanted to go first was pointless, the other seemed fairly apathetic to the whole situation, “Lets go see one of the shows, Zane ! That looks fun ! Don’t you think?”

“Which one? There’s two theaters and then the Kaibaman show,” Zane pointed out. He really didn’t care where they decided to go. He was fine watching Battle City again, even Death-T sounded alright. The Kaibaman show on the other hand….he really hoped that’s not what Jesse wanted to see.

jesse-andersen:

“Ahaha ! That’s the spirit !” He said, “Do you still have that map? I didn’t quite see where I wanted to go.” Jesse was having a good time. Helping the boy made him happy. He really hoped that Zane was having a good time too. He couldn’t tell, it was kinda hard. 

Zane grabbed the map and handed it back to Jesse. “Here,” he said and then looked away from Jesse again. He started to people watch as Jesse was picking out a place to go to. There were all sorts of people around. Nobody else pointed him out. If they recognized him they didn’t say anything. Which was fine by him. He didn’t want their hatred, nor their pity, for his situation and his choices. 

jesse-andersen:

Jesse rubbed the back of his head again, “Well, I reckon I’m just a lil’ bit star struck is all. I mean, I never thought I’d be hangin’ out with someone as famous as you.” Jesse smiled, “I knew you were famous, but I guess it never really occurred to me how famous you were, Zane. It’s really kinda cool, isn’t it?”

“Depends on your definition of ‘cool,’” Zane responded. He didn’t find it very cool when people scowled at him because of his choices. He didn’t find it very cool when he had a falling out with his family. He didn’t find it very cool when nobody understood his reasons behind his decisions. Zane sighed. Though it wasn’t all bad. He glanced off in the direction Jesse had taken the lost boy. If he could inspire at least one child to continue dueling then, no it wasn’t all bad. 

jesse-andersen:

It was about a half an hour before Jesse returned, a goofy grin plastered across his face, “Well, I reckon I’m glad I could help those folks,” He rubbed the back of his head, “Ever since I introduced you to that boy, all he could talk about how was excited he was to meet you. Zane, you’re a real celebrity, aren’t you? It’s so cool to see how many people recognize you !”

Zane looked sideways at Jesse, giving him an exasperated look. “Do you really not know or you just that much of an idiot?” He asked Jesse. Did the bluenette really not know who he was or was he just playing dumb? Zane figured everybody who knew anything about dueling knew who the pro duelists were, even if he was not a duelist anymore. Hell Kaiser had been one of the most famous duelists in the circuit before the Dark World incident. Did Jesse even pay attention to the pros? Or was he just some dumb southern kid who just happened to find a deck? 

jesse-andersen:

Jesse laughed, waving his hand, “I know, I know. I just thought it’d be awesome for him to meet his idol.” He gave Zane a thumbs up before turning back around, “Come on… lets go find your family.” Jesse dragged the little boy away. The boy kept turning around to look at Zane, his eyes wide and innocent, his cheeks pink. He turned back to Jesse and began blabbering about how awesome Zane was and how cool of a duelist he is. Jesse merely laughed, taking the boy to a security stand.

Zane watched the two of them walk away. The boy was so young, so innocent. He had yet to meet all the hardships of life. To him everything was about dueling and school. There was no pain, no envy, no greed. Just what he can and can not do. As Zane watched the boy walk away with a smile on his face, he thought back to his own childhood. Was he ever like that? Sure he had had his idol, until his idol had  spat in his face. Sure he had dueled, he had loved dueling. But was he ever that innocent? That carefree? He had his brother to think about. He had to take care of Syrus at every turn. Syrus was so vulnerable, so little, that Zane had to watch out for him. Did he ever get a childhood? 

jesse-andersen:

Jesse walked back over to Zane, holding the little boy’s hand. The little boy now had an ice cream cone in his free hand. Jesse smiled, “This is my friend, my friend Zane Truesdale.” He introduced Zane to the little boy, who’s face suddenly lit up with excitement.

“Zane Truesdale, The Zane Truesdale? I know you ! You’re a duelist like me ! I saw you on TV with your dragons ! You’re so cool !” The little boy gushed as he saw Zane, his eyes lit up. Jesse laughed, “I thought I’d introduce you. He said he thought he saw you come in through the entrance when he lost his parents,” 

Zane looked down at the boy. He was so young. Zane could only assume that Jesse had bought the boy the ice cream. It was something the other bluenette would do. He had too much kindness in his heart for his own good. “I’m not a duelist anymore,” Zane stated. His voice wasn’t rough but it wasn’t all happy and bubbly like Jesse’s was. For some reason this encounter was reminded Zane of when he was boy and how he met Kaiba by accident. The look of fury on Kaiba’s face had scared him as a child. That memory made Zane consciously relax his face as he looked down at the boy. He didn’t want to give the child the same memories that he had. No, this boy should not have that burden. Zane looked back up at Jesse, his expression still softer than usual, and said, “You should find security.” They needed to get the boy back to his parents before there was a problem.