Thirteenth Curse - Forward dated to the 13th

[bondsofsuffering]

Who: Hizumi and you!
Where: Cancer, Virgo, and Capricorn Wards. Take your pick!
Summary: Hizumi’s decided to celebrate his birthday by… Being a friendless loser. Give him some company?
Warnings: Sad Devils who are sad and acting anything but.
He’d slipped out early in the morning, quietly exiting before any of his housemates woke up. Thankfully, after living with them for a while, he’d had ample time to more or less figure out their sleeping habits. Although they were by no means 100% predictable, he knew enough to make picking a time to leave simple enough.

And after that… he took to the streets. He's wrapped up quite snugly in his winter clothes for the weather, but he does get a few stares what with being a student who's out and about despite it being a school day. He’d already made sure to get the day off from work some time before, so he was free to do whatever he wanted. So with that in mind, he might as well enjoy his day off, right?

Cancer Ward

Earlier in the day he can be found in one of the arcades that actually has power, playing his way through a variety of games as if it were his God given duty to destroy the high score rankings on every single machine. He won’t hit up all of them, but he’s definitely not picky about which games to play, either. Shooters, fighting, rhythm, racing, simulators, even classic arcade – they’re all fair game!

“C’mooooon… Almost, almost-!”

It's a good thing the owner doesn't appear to care about delinquent students skipping class to play video games.

Virgo Ward

After a morning of gaming and a quick lunch, he’ll be in and out of the many stores of the Virgo Ward, gradually accumulating bags of clothing and games in particular. And yet… Even if he spots your character, he’s more likely to avert his gaze and continue on as if he hadn’t seen them at all. Rather odd behavior, considering how friendly he normally is. Maybe it would be good to go and see what’s up?

Capricorn Ward

In the early evening after school hours, he can be found relaxing on a bench in the park. A box of donuts are at his side along with all of the bags from earlier in the day, and he’s testing out a new handheld with an equally new game. He’s not totally oblivious to his surroundings, but he’s definitely acting like it – his eyes never leave the screen, even as he plucks a donut out with one hand while he balances the handheld on his lap. If you’re lucky, maybe he’ll deign to share some with you!

Comments

[tyrantball]

When it becomes obvious that Hizumi is not planning on opening his present, Desco will pout for a few seconds before activating her COMP and making a call.

"Seduction Queen! Desco is with the Ultra Gigolo at the Capricorn park, and he won't open his birthday present! Please come and make him open it!"

[bondsofsuffering]

She's trying to drag that Hiyono girl into this, huh? Hizumi glances up briefly from his game, although with the way his eyes constantly dart back to the screen, it's clear he's fairly occupied with it.

Or... appearing to be occupied with it, at any rate.

"Sorry, was there something else you wanted?"

[tyrantball]

Narrowed eyes.

"Desco is going to follow you until you open your present, Ultra Gigolo! EVEN IF YOU DO SECRET ADULT THINGS!"

[bondsofsuffering]

Innocently:

"That's it? Actually, I was planning to open it at home, but this game's really entertaining..."

[tyrantball]

Wide eyes.

"Ah! As expected of the Ultra Gigolo! Nonchalantly playing eroge in public!"

Slight pause.

"...you realize if it's a little sister-type eroge Desco will break your legs, right?"

[bondsofsuffering]

"Heeeh... I'm not that bold. Besides, action/adventure is way more interesting than trying to woo some girls, isn't it? They're way too predictable!"

Hizumi, when did you become a VN connoisseur?

[tyrantball]

"Ohh! A good answer, as expected of a Midboss class succubus!"

Desco is nodding very seriously.

"But you know, aren't action games kind of boring sometimes? It's always just a bunch of weak guys thinking that a rise of two or three levels is something to be excited about, you know?"

With that, Desco begins rolling around in midair while continuing to talk.

"Back when Desco was seriously training on the top of Mount Ordeals it wasn't weird for her to gain two thousand levels at a time, you know?"

[bondsofsuffering]

Hey now, he should be at least the second to last boss!

"Just what kind of a place do you come from? Two thousand levels is usually past the level cap, isn't it?"

[tyrantball]

Desco beams from her current, upside-down position.

"Hmhmhm! The level cap of the Netherworld is 9999!"

[bondsofsuffering]

...She's absolutely serious, isn't she. There's a small pause - totally because he just got in a gunfight with someone in the game, no big.

"And what level are you? Did you hit the cap?"

[tyrantball]

"Of course! And then Desco reincarnated and returned to level one with bigger stats and hit the cap again!"

Beaming.

"If you count all of Desco's reincarnations, her total level is 59994!"

[bondsofsuffering]

"Reincarnated, huh..."

Okay, now he really is focusing on the game over her. As a result, his words come out somewhat distracted:

"Isn't that cheating?"

[tyrantball]

"But if you're not cheating than you're not trying, are you?"

[bondsofsuffering]

"Looking at it the other way, if you're cheating you're just taking the easy way out, right?"

And once again, a donut makes its way to his mouth without his ever looking up.

[tyrantball]

"...why would you look at it that way? It sounds like something a human would say."

[bondsofsuffering]

Chew, chew, chew. Swallow.

"Why not? It's true, isn't it? If you cheat, that implies that you can't do it properly. You have to take extra measures to ensure that you'll win."

[tyrantball]

"...for a demon, you're really weird, Ultra Gigolo."

[bondsofsuffering]

Normally he'd have more patience for this type of a conversation, but given the day, he's finding he'd really rather not. Even though the majority of his attention is still on playing, the words manage to sting.

"Weird, huh... Would you say it's because it's almost like I might be human instead?"

[tyrantball]

Desco will just pat Hizumi on the head now.

"You shouldn't try to be something you're not, you know! But don't worry, this Final Boss will gladly listen to you pour out your complaints!"

[bondsofsuffering]

"You know, genetically speaking, I am a human."

[tyrantball]

Desco's head tilts to one side as the golden eye on her forehead narrows.

"...Desco notices you didn't say 'culturally'."

[bondsofsuffering]

"...I kind of figured that would be implied."

[tyrantball]

"Wow, you're like a tiny baby that doesn't know anything!"

Desco: an existence that never possessed a brain-to-mouth filter in the first place.

[bondsofsuffering]

"Coming from you, I'm almost insulted."

Isn't she, like, four or something?

[tyrantball]

She is in fact four.

"So are you going to share your burden with Desco or not?"