20 To Lounge (1/2)
Several hours later, the Vanguard members had unpacked, ate dinner and settled into the lounge, which was incredibly chic and modern. Ryan's interior designers were top tier.
The couch especially, as one could argue that it was actually softer than Tedi. Unreal. It only makes sense then, that Yami found comfort on it, as he sat upon it and napped peacefully. Naturally, Aloe had found herself napping right next to him, leaning on him as she too entered mild slumber. Lowkey cute.
Gale and Hikari rested in their own recliners, each almost as soft, but made up for the flufferino discrepency with built in alcohol dispensers. Gale drank a Soda x Vodka concoction, whilst Hikari settled for a Strawberry \u0026 Lime Cider. They observed Ryan and Xero on the couch across the room, playing co-op on the Kingdom's hottest First Person Shooter ”Call of Judy 3”.
”Pew pew pew” Ryan voiced, intricately mashing the buttons on his controller.
”Hey, you're actually pretty good” Xero said, playing alongside him.
Amber and Elektra walked up with their bubble tea (courtesy of Rojë) and observed their triumph visibly marked across the huge 100 inch flat screen.
”Mind if we join?” Amber asked politely, though ”threat” seeped through her teeth. Quite scary.
Xero and Ryan looked at each other wide-eyed, before choosing play over death.
”Sure thing!” Ryan said gladly, welcoming them onto the sofa. ”So you guys wanna 2v2? You and Xero vs me and Elektra?”
Xero smiled cheekily at Amber, handing her Ryan's player 1 controller. ”It's only fair.”
Amber snatched the player 3 controller instead, and Elektra player 4. ”Don't patronize us.”
Their same auras from their encounter with the Yakuza earlier that day immediately surrounded them, burning rage for Amber and lightning sparks for Elektra.
”We'll take you on.”
The girls logged into their accounts, and Ryan and Xero's faces displayed their legitimate shock.
Tier: 2 (1 is the highest tier, 100 is the lowest)
Rank: 10
Tier: 2
Rank: 7
They weren't scrubs.
”How the heck are you guys so good?” said Ryan, genuinely perplexed by their ranks.
Elektra smiled, but her lightning aura remained.”Well, my speed allows for quick reflexes, and I'm guessing AmberChan is just really good with guns c:”
”Oh... okay. Lets do this.” Xero said nervously.
.....
”How the heck did you guys beat us?!?!” Amber exclaimed.
Ryan and Xero's faces could not be more smug, as they pulled up their own profiles.
Tier: 1
Rank: 28
Tier: 1
Rank: 17
Turns out Xero was a slightly better virtual marksman than Amber, whilst Ryan could overcome Elektra's (controversially unfair) super speed with his own hand skills (courtesy of his mastery over [Cotton] sOr).
Whilst they continued to banter, Gale and Hikari sat quietly behind them, for other things were on their mind. Gale chose to break the silence.
”The Air Force messed up today. Big time.”
”How so?”
”AF17 is supposed to be assigned to this airspace. They should have intercepted the Yakuza fleet before they got anywhere near this island.”