House of Cards

[Gundam]

The Sun hung high above the well lavish, populated city of Honshoku. It was the city of wealth and brilliance, built by most of the greatest minds in the world. The buildings’ architecture held its beauty in both night and day. The sun’s light would illuminate the glass panels on every building, while at night the buildings themselves would light the flawless marble stone streets and sidewalks. However, the most scenic views of the city, were reserved for those who held property and work positions up above on the high rises. From elevated top floors of the buildings, displayed the complete view of the high class city, this was where one lone duelist stood from, looking out from the glass balcony. Roman, the man who leaned against the railing, thought of how he was going to proceed on further with his set of plans he complied up last night. In his hands, out pass the railing was a black and blue touch screen phone he had been scrolling up and down with his fingers. His search engine on his phone revealed information about the new duelist tournament, however, most of this was already known to Roman simply because the company, for which.., he ran, funded the whole operation.  

Closing the app on his phone, now standing up straight, he decided to give a few people a call. Well, a text really, since he was contacting a bunch of people. The text was sent out as a group text. he needed to know if everyone was up to speed on the tournament, especially Jason and Ash.

[“Yo wak up u two, come by the office we all need to talk. O ya, bring your decks too, in case we get bored too…lol”]
[Sent]

After he did so, sliding the phone in his pocket, he walked over to the sliding glass doors which lead into his roomy office. It was nothing special really, since he was really in there. His position required him to be mobile mostly, meeting up with board members, attending meeting, regular Q/A assemblies, the usual. He only opens it to grab the remote off his desk, after which he turns on the Tv, revealing  more news about how relentless the Rare Hunter have been lately.

He just couldn’t stand them, bunch of rats that didn’t know there place in the world. A confused bunch really. This was the reason why Keiritsu was so divided, in his opinion. He sighs while going back outside and waiting for a reply, or something to let him know if they were coming. If not, he would probably just go back to his desk, and watch funny videos on his smart phone.

[Ash]

Business as usual it seemed. Ash had been hoping to just spend the day lounging around. Unfortunately for him, the moment he had set himself down on his favourite spot in the city he felt something vibrating against his ribs. A sigh escaped him, there was only one person who would bother to text him at such a time. Not bothering to check the message, he would hop down from the small wall he had been laying on. It was a nice quiet spot, a surprise considering how the city was usually bustling with a large amount of residents and tourists alike. That is why he had grown rather fond of the spot, he'd have to come back it later though. As he walked the route towards the UDC headquarters, one that he had travelled many times before, he knew that he stuck out even with the crowd. It wasn't hard to spot him, what with his blue hair and colourful clothing. He wasn't sure if it was a good or bad thing to be so easily spotted, it's not as if he needed to be sneaking around or anything.

The minutes ticked by, Ash's favourite spot was located on the outskirts of the city. With the UDC being located towards the centre it was a good hour or so walk. He could have got their quicker if he wanted too, but it wasn't his style to rush. It would have taken him far longer actually, considering Ash usually liked to take in the sights when he walked. However he was in a bad mood now, his nap time having been cut into because the boss man wanted to see him for whatever reason. Probably because he couldn't open a packet of crisps or something like that. The idea brought a smile to his face. The rest of the time it would take for him to get to his destination filled up by Ash thinking of what amusing predicaments the head honcho had gotten himself into.

Five minutes later, and Ash was waltzing on into Roman's office. From the corner of his eye he would spot the TV, some news report about recent events. It was true that activity had gotten worse recently, but still the media were going out of hand with it all in his opinion. Ash walked on into the office, taking the lollipop stick he had been chewing from his mouth and giving a short wave. "Yo, what's up?" He questioned, making his way over towards one of the free seats in the room. Taking the time to look over Roman's appearance he smirked, the guy certainly knew how to dress, his fashion sense was almost similar to Ash's a way. That being completely over the top.

[Jason D. Grace]

Jason was just waking up, wiping drool from his face with one hand as he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes with the other. The sun was shining bright through his window and onto his face which was making Jason squint to see straight. He had been working late the night before, all night really, and so had still been asleep when the text was sent from Roman. Without checking his phone Jason would get up from where he was sitting on his bed and stumble his way through the piles of clothes and paperwork strewn across his floor to the bedroom door which was wide open. His destination would be the bathroom just outside of his room and down the hall. See Jason now lived in a lavish three bedroom apartment with his mother. The UDC had generously provided Jason with this place when he accepted their offer to join them a few years back. Now he lived here with his mother who no longer had to work thanks to Jason's job. He was glad that he was able to provide for himself and his mother at least even though he hadn't been able to do the same for his sister and father just yet. He was still saving up trying to earn enough to move them both to Honshoku from there place in the slums of North Keiritsu.

Now that he had made it to the bathroom making minimal noise so as not to disturb his mother if she was still sleeping he hastily brushed his teeth and took a quick shower before going back to his room and finding his outfit for the day. Simple black jeans with a snug fit v-neck black t-shirt and a metal studded black belt with a pair of high top black sneakers lined with red along the bottom. His deck was tucked safely in his deck box that hung from his belt on the left side of his waist. Finally Jason would pick up his phone and notice the text message from Roman. It was one of the newest touch screen models that everyone was talking about. Just one of the perks of his job. The text said to meet Roman and bring his deck. As if Jason went anywhere without it. It was one of his main tools for his work at the UDC. Putting on his black cloak and pulling the hood over his face, Jason would make his way through the house grabbing an apple on his way out the door to meet with his boss. Once outside t was easy for Jason to flag down a cab to take him to Roman's.

It only took a few minutes before the cab stopped and Jason paid the man before getting out and making his way to the elevator in the building. Roman was up on one of the highest floors so he could look down on the city from above. Of course he was. What a fitting place for the leader of the UDC. Finally the elevator came to a stop on the twenty second floor and Jason got out. Making a left out of the elevator Jason made his way down the hall to the second to last door on his right which he knocked on and waited to be told to enter.

[Gundam]

Moments later, Roman still wondering around the office listing to the news while standing outside, his friend ash finally made it to the office. He returns back into the office, closing the sliding glass door effortlessly without a care. Eyeing him, he greets him back just after he was greeted himself. To be honest, the two did look like they belonged in the “Jet Set Radio Future” game. Their bright colored clothes were brighter than the sun itself. “Hello Ash, thanks for coming. Now, where Is Jason? He should be here too…”, he reaches for his phone once more, as like everyone else in the modern world, the cell phone was practically a part of himself. Roman wouldn’t leave the house, or office without it. Hell, he even takes it in the shower in some cases. While he checked the phone to see if he sent the text, while standing behind his desk, a knock was heard, he looks up as usual. “It’s Open!”, he yelled, allowing however it was to come in. Most likely it was Jason, which indeed he was. The only one who dressed normal in the group, Jason Grace. From another point of view, many people might even believe that he was the leader of the group…nah.

Once everyone was settle, he would begin, however, his attention was grabbed by the TV once more, about how Rare Hunters have gone so far as too even breaking into to people homes, this short of carp really pissed Roman off. “You see this BS, this is exactly why we need to enter the Duelist tournament, I hope you guys signed up…”, he slams both his hands on top of his desk, as he leaned over slightly. His eyes both of them one after the other, back to back waiting for an answer, “Because once were in, we can finally give these thieving ass rats the beat down they really deserve, in a duel! All they do is jack people rarest cards, and sometimes even beat people up for it, even if they lose… from what I heard…”, his tone was filled with unmitigated pride. He truly saw these lower level scums as a menace to society that had to be swept away. They were disrupting the natural order of things.  

As he pointed towards the TV, ready to bash the rare hunters verbally again, he noticed that he still had his phone in his hand. However, what he noticed after that was that faint little shimmery line what just wouldn’t go away, he shook his head after he realized that he broke his phone yet again. He signs after standing up straight once more, “Any know a good phone brand, this is my 3rd phone this month….”, he shakes his phone in his right hand, eyeing it for any more damage .

[Ash]

As Roman made his way back into the office to greet him, Ash rummaged through the bag in his hands. He pulled out some random chew he had found, popping it into his mouth while waiting. When the boss man questioned about the other person who was supposed to be here, he replied with a shrug. "Didn't see him on my way here." Admittedly he had not been paying attention to the people he passed, so he most likely missed him at some point. Oh well, Ash was positive he would arrive soon enough. Sure enough, there was a knock on the door. Assuming the one who knocked entered the room, because it would be silly if they didn't, he would give them a slight wave. Ash would shift about in his seat, reaching into the bag and grabbing another sweet for himself while waiting for Roman to begin with whatever sort of meeting this was supposed to be. Sure enough, the man would start. Though with the TV still on, it was only a matter of time before the Rare Hunter coverage would set him off. In his head he would count down, five, four, three, two, one. Sure enough, the man would voice his displeasure. Thankfully, even when in the middle of an outburst he got to what was probably the point of the meeting.

Ignoring the sound as another of Roman's phones would be broken by him being careless, Ash would nod in reply. "Yeah, I signed up." He assumed it was this Duellist Kingdom thing that everyone was going on about. Most likely the best of the best would end up attending. Whether it be to steal rare cards, or for fame and fortune. "Sounds like a pain in the ass though." He would comment. Though Roman would continue on, his 'grand' plan being revealed. "Ain't going to be easy though. Especially considering we'l be isolated away from any sort of back up." Leaning back in his chair, his gaze would move towards the ceiling. "You should just be more careful when it comes to your phone." Ash's hand would sink into his pocket, his own phone being pulled out for a brief moment. "If you take care of it, it ain't going to break." With that he would put it back into the safe confines of his pocket.

As per usual, meetings with Roman were both straight to the point and yet at the same time very erratic in nature. How he had managed to get a leadership position in anything at all would forever be a mystery to Ash.

[Jason D. Grace]

Jason would pull out his phone to check the time as Roman yelled that the door was open. Still holding his phone in his left hand Jason would open the door with his right and walk into the office. The other person in the group text that Roman had sent was already waiting inside. Jason noticed the tv on a news channel, coverage of the newest updates on the rare hunters was playing. 'Here we go again' Jason thought, rolling his eyes as he plopped down in a comfortable chair facing the door. He liked to see who was coming and going wherever he was and the best place to do that was in a seat facing the door. Jason would nod at Ash as he took his seat.

He sat there waiting for the inevitable screaming, down talking or whatever it would be today that the coverage of the rare hunters would insight in Roman. He really hated those guys. Jason wasn't their biggest fan either but he didn't necessarily hate them. Almost as if on que Roman would start ranting about the rare hunters and the latest rumors about them. Some point in between his ranting he managed to get to the point of the meeting, or at least what Jason assumed was the point. The Duelist Kingdom tournament. Jason had signed up the first day he could. Even if Roman hadn't wanted Jason to do so he would have any way. It was a good chance to get his hands on some decent rare cards and perhaps, if he was lucky, even come across one of the Egyptian God cards. "Was there really any doubt I hadn't signed up already. You know this is a good chance for me to possibly run into the card I'm after." Jason would say looking down at his phone as he checked the latest social media app. He had a habit of just making himself at home wherever he went, even in Roman's office. So he sat there in the nice comfortable chair messing with his phone as he waited for the conversation to continue.

[Gundam]

After examining his once working phone, he turns towards Ash, simply staring towards him after his blunt yet truthful remark. He was right, but he could have chosen a better set of words. Then again, knowing him for quite a while, he was never the one to beat around the bush so to speak, it was just his nature to be blunt. But aside from that, it was good that everyone was on point, this was our chance to finally crack down on the rare hunters, and no Rare Hunter could resist a tournament this big. He looks more so over towards Jason, figuring out why he would sit facing towards the door. “What rare card? We all need to focus on the Rare Hunter issue at hand!!” He yelled while slamming his left fist into his other hand. He sighs, while noticing the mistake he made yet again. He tossed the remains in the trash, with a slight nod afterwards. He just couldn’t control himself whenever those rare hunters came to mind. He attempts to calm down some, to communicate with his team.

“Yeah…, but that’s good Jason, I’m glad we are all on point with the sign ups, Operation Tag and Bag will be help us build our database on all the rare hunters in this tournament. We have to identify as much RH suspects as possible, to help strengthen our Intel on them. As for the backup issue, your right, we will be cut off from any sort as long as we are on the island. Apparently even though the UDC funded the whole gig, that cornball Maximillian Pegasus has forbidden any UDC authority on the island. I mean, we can go on the island; it’s just that our badges won’t mean shit. And…, we would have to answer to their security.”

He gives a pause for everyone to speak their mind and to soak everything in. “Also, we all need to boost our dueling skills as well. You know, make sure we have our A game when we reach the island.” Roman, reaching into his front shirt pocket with both hands, pulls out his duel deck, incased in a glass case. “So who wants to go first?”, he says while shuffling his deck. He rather them duel on top of his desk, the usual way. He didn’t mind all the special holograms and such, the classic way just had a bit more homey feeling to it.

((Doesn't matter who goes fist, just as long as we can get some duels in lol.))

[Jason D. Grace]

Jason was smiled, looking up from his phone at the mention of a duel with Roman. Putting his phone away Jason would get up from his comfy chair and take a seat on one side of the desk while he waited for Roman to sit on the other. He would pull out his deck, shuffling it before handing it to Roman to be cut. It wasn't long before the duel was over and Jason had won.

"You should have known you couldn't beat my Blue-Eyes White Dragon. Just be glad you were dueling me and not a rare hunter or you'd have lost a card or two on top of the duel." Jason said to Roman with a smirk on his face. That duel was way too easy for him. Maybe Roman was holding back. Either that or Jason had gotten better at dueling than he had thought over the past few years. He hoped it was enough to find and take possession of Slifer the Sky Dragon but he wasn't sure. The Egyptian God Cards were extremely powerful after all.

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