¶ ៷៰ gá៳ë ៷៰ Łıfë

[Light]

Matty-o-Matt only,

Dōmo arigatōgozaimashita!

---

There was an online myth among all gamers, no matter the game, no matter the platform. If it involved a contest between players, HUMANITY was a part of it, and the lead player. No one could beat HUMANITY, and no one knew who they were, or if they were cheaters, or just a computer virus. And because of their fame, HUMANITY was challenged daily, and time and time again, they won. They were wanted on every team, every raid, but HUMANITY would decline every time. People thought they were stuck up, and after awhile, invites stopped; but, of course, the challenges continued...

Tap tap tap!

... A window was covered by a bookcase, its contents mainly dictionaries or comic books. Papers stuck out crookedly from the cracks, and occasionally one would fall to the floor. The floor; a neutral brown color, was colored in food and drinks stains, the colors varying from age and brand. Bags of trash were shoved up against another wall, but there was still litter on the floor, the filth mainly chip bags and empty cans of pop. A large game manual was covered in coke, and a stack of manga nearby was used like a side table near a desk. The desk had a large, leather chair in front of it, the area around its legs clear of any filth. The desk itself had three monitors set on it, each screen on to show a different game. In front of them was a keyboard, a game controller and joystick accompanying it.

click CLACK click!

In the chair was a small figure, hair hiding it from anyone peeking in from the side. The front though, was clear of any of the long threads so that the girl could see what she was doing. Her legs were up on the desk, toying with the game controller. In her lap was the keyboard, recently moved there so that she could lay back, balancing a soda can in her mouth as she tilted her head back and gulped down the sugary chemicals. She was in a local school uniform although it was summer, but telling from the state of the room... she probably hadn't left since summer break started. She leans back as a 'YOU WIN!' screeches from the speakers, and takes the can out of her mouth. With a flick of her wrist, she tosses it over her shoulder, and it hits the game manual, adding more damage to the already ruined pages.

[mationix]

A loud pounding noise added the the loud screech, the door quivering with every pound. "I know you're in there," A voice called from outside, sounding irritated. "Come on, it's been forever since I saw you. Hell, it's like you're not even at school anymore." The person quieted for a moment, before continuing, sounding calmer, almost remorseful, "Can we talk? Please?"

Tomás Aiken stood outside his friend's door, his school books under his arm, a frown on his face. He knocked on the door again, lighter than before. "You seem to be in your room for most of the day, what happened to seeing your friends?" He asked, trying to keep his voice light. It was exhausting seeing his friend cooped up in her room for hours upon hours; it seemed like no matter what he did, she always withdrew back into that God-forsaken place.

[Light]

Turning her head from the screen, she wriggles to the side and picks up an iPad from the floor, "The doors unlocked, Tommie," her small voice reaches outside the door just barely, and there's a small crash following her words. A weak groan follows, and the sound of books falling comes from deep inside the room.

She had fallen out of her chair, her foot having kicked the tall pile of manga that had been beside her. Sitting up, the girl rubs her forehead. "That hurt..." her name was May; and she had, for weeks, been skipping school.

[mationix]

Tomás grimaced from the nickname, though said nothing about it. If this is what he had to do to drag her butt out of this room, then so be it. He opened the door and let out a sigh, closing his eyes. "Please tell me you haven't been living in this room for a good week or so," he pleaded, setting his books on the floor and holding his nose. "Seriously, have you taken a bath recently?" He crouched down and flicked her head with his finger, frowning at her. "Sitting in front of the computer for hours is not good for you." Tomás got to his feet and put his hands on his hips, glancing around the room. "You really need to clean up around here," he commented, his mouth turning into a thin line when he saw the large pile of trash.

[Light]

May glances at several bowls, and begins counting them, "Lets see... Twelve days; It's been that long since I've been out," she answers, her big blue eyes staring at him from underneath her white bangs. They had been clipped to the side, the familiar pink bunnies looking ready to pop open and let her hair fall into her face. She pushes herself up, rubbing they spot he had flicked with a small frown, "that's not fair, Tommy, I messaged you a few times... When was it?" she wonders aloud, scrolling through the retrieved iPad.

[mationix]

His shoulder slumped, letting out a sigh. "Geez, what am I going to do with you?" He asked, mainly to himself, as he pushed back his black hair, shaking his head, "it was a couple days ago, around eight p.m. if I remember correctly. You've been worrying everyone, being cooped up in here, my parents have been worrying about you." Tomás had recently transferred from Spain and when he got here, he had been a quiet kid, mainly keeping to himself. Though when he finally started talking to May, his parents were ecstatic, treating her as if she was part of the family.

"You need to go outside and get some vitamin D in your system," he said, shoving his hands into his pockets, "come on, it's no fun cooped up here, is it?"

[Light]

"That long...?" she frowns and sets the iPad down, "Oh yeah--I had asked you to pick up some chocolate." she bends down and pulls her socks off, the white material stained with some kind of sauce. "I'm sorry, Tommy," she gives him her best kicked puppy look; something she had mastered long before she met him it seemed. May, contrary to Thomás, lived by herself most of the time. Her mother was rarely home, and had divorced her husband when the girl was only five. He continued to send his daughter games though, like the ones she was currently playing.

"I was just playing something, and forgot, you know?" she rubs her eyes with her wrists, yawning.

[mationix]

He glanced away from her, not wanting to fall under her look, putting a hand up to block his view from her. "Doesn't matter now, mk? We need to get you out of here," he muttered. He pointed at her and continued sternly, "And I'm here to yank you away from that stupid thing, no matter what, got it?" Tomás gestured her to go out the door, his expression gentling. "Come on, it's not that scary outside"

[Light]

May looks at the open door, and wriggles her nose, "... I... I guess just a little while won't make me miss anything," she glances back at the blinking screens. Swaying on her bare feet, she steps over an empty cup and starts towards the door, "Did school just finish for the day?"

In the light, she looked like just as much of a mess as her carpet. She seemed to notice that, and glances back at him, "I'm gonna change real quick,"

[mationix]

Tomás grinned, winking at her. "Atta girl! That's the spirit." At the mention of school, he rubbed the back of his neck, his grin turning weak. "Ah...well, that's the hitch here; school isn't supposed to end for another hour or two." He grimaced and clasped his fingers together, begging her, "Please, please, please don't tell my parents, they'd kill me if they found out I skipped school." He nodded, grabbing his things and opening the door. "Alright, I'll be outside. Don't join any new game, got it?" He closed the door quietly, before she could answer.

[Light]

She smiles, "Tommy, they're going to find out anyways... But I won't say anything--cause I've missed more than you," she watches him close the door, and walks over to the computers, signing off of the three.

It takes her barely ten minutes before she comes to the front of the house, in a clean uniform.

[mationix]

Tomás tapped his foot against the ground, getting fidgety. He never was good with waiting for things to happen. "You almost ready?" He called, his eyes flickering around the area, "I heard there was an amusement park that opened today. We could head there, if you wanted."

[Light]

Small fingers poke him in the back, "I'm ready," she half yawns, "Amusement park...? As long as you don't make me get on the scary ones," she shivers a bit at her own mentioning of the large rides, "... I'm probably too short anyways..."

She walks over to the door and slips on her shoes, "a-muse-ment paaaark," she softly sings, the off tune melody like a childs attempt, "where the food and the tea cup rides are,"

[mationix]

Tomás nodded, spinning on his heel and folding his arms over his chest. "Shall we head out now, or...." He left the sentence hanging, waiting for her to suggest something, if anything at all.

[Light]

"Now," she agrees excitedly, "I thought you would be glad to get me out of the house and away from the computer and temptations my house provide for an addict like myself,"

[mationix]

He managed a small smile, though there was a bit of sadness that flashed in his eyes for a moment. "Then let us leave then," Tomás replied, holding out his arm for her and giving her a mock bow, "my lady."

[Light]

"Okay, Tommy," she swings her arm into his, her hip hitting his gently as she huffs, "Let's do this thing called reality then,"

[mationix]

He smirked. "Ah, though I warn you, the graphics aren't the best," he teased, leading her away from her house.

[Light]

"Nor is the story line," she chimes in time with him as he finishes, "The person who made it should take a note from someone better,"

[mationix]

He raised an eyebrow. "Oh and I'm guessing you're that person?" He asked, smiling down at her, "you could do a re-release of it, giving it a new makeover."