[IC] Megaman: The EM Battle Network

[Demon Shinobi]

"Yeah i know what you mean." Hiro said calmly as he walked out of the school going on his way with jake to the shop.

[Zarkun]

As the pair walked to the chip shop, DenTech City was alive and busy with people going about their every day business. Jake still had a hard time sleeping at night sometimes with all the noise in the background. "Oh? What chip are you hoping for on this fine day?"

[Demon Shinobi]

"I'm not looking for anything in particular to be honest. But if there was one chip I'd like, it'd be the RedSun battle chip. Summons a redsun meteor that fires a bunch of meteors down on the target. Awesome right? A real unnatural disaster." Hiro explained with a grin.

[Zarkun]

Jake nods and puts some thought into some of those rarer chips he'd like. "BlueMoon isn't all that bad. I mean, who isn't afraid of having a giant laser from above strike you? Still, those are some REALLY rare chips that our shop already said they'd be lucky to get their hands on."

[Demon Shinobi]

"Yeah i know that. But a guy can hope after all." Hiro said calmly as they finally reached the shop. It had opened and there was a slightly large crowd, mostly battlers stocking up for the tournament. "Right right right." He said before nodding at Jake and pushing forward. He began to make his way through the crowd. To his surprise most of them weren't by. Rather the crowd was huddled around to watch two particular people. Whispers could be heard. The currently hot and famous gemini twins. Two girls who were rumored to be good shots at winning the tournament. Of course, that was mostly because Hiro liked to Fly under the radar. But these two were quite impressive.

[Zarkun]

Jake followed and hmphed at the sight of the two girls as he and Hiro made their way over to the counter. "Please, just cause they've actually got some skill. They wouldn't be the first to show up and cause a fuss." He looks at Hiro. "What do ya think of 'em?" Blade appears on Jake's shoulder and appraises the duo. "I'll see what I can find out about them on the Net. Two battlers of their caliber MUST have videos taken of them and their battles."

[Demon Shinobi]

Hiro chuckled slightly as he and Jake passed them by. "Let it be Jake. It's not like it's a big deal." He said calmly. "If I didn't know you better I'd think you're jealous." He chuckled. "I think they could be a lot of fun to battle if their skill is forreal." Xero replied to Blade as he appeared on Hiro's shoulder. Hiro looked over the new chips. There wasn't much, but more were apparently going to be brought in. All the while pictures and autographed were being taken and signed. Most of the crowd was comprised by guy. "Well, they are cute and all too." Hiro added with a small laugh somewhat referencing all of the love struck guys.

[Zarkun]

Jake shrugs and looks through a few of the ranged chips. "Let 'em get all googly eyed over them. Just means they'll throw matches to let the two girls win." Blade sighs and mentally wishes he could smack Jake upside the head. Of course he'd immediately point out the most obvious strategy but miss the important part of it in the same stride. "Jake, they will throw matches, but they'll also try to sabotage anyone taking it seriously and actually trying to win. AE, you and Hiro." Jake stands up with a retort but stops midsentence. Of course his PET had to make him look the idiot. Oh well, least it was Blade this time. Going back to reviewing the chips, he shrugs. "Let 'em try. Hiro and I 'ill rough 'em up."

[Demon Shinobi]

"I think I'll leave my battling on the net. You can have fun beating them up though." Hiro chuckled somewhat nervously. "And Blade, I'm sure he would have realized that point... Eventually... Maybe..." He gradually trailed off at the attempt to defend his partner. Honestly, Jake made it a little hard to defend him sometimes. "Well... We'll win..." "Uh Hiro? Maybe you shouldn't..." "What? I'm just saying me and Jake are definitely gonna win." Hero interrupted Xero mid sentence. "Oh yeah? Well maybe you'd like to put your money where your mouth is." One of the girls said as they came up behind the two boys, a small mob of young men and women glaring from behind giving a somewhat murderous aura. "Hm? Why would I do that? I mean It should be in my wallet. So I can pay for stuff or get it easily... And you know... be able to talk." Hiro said obviously playing dumb and teasing the girls. Jake would likely get a kick out of that.

[Zarkun]

"Well, he'd like to do all that, plus money doesn't taste all that great." Jake said, still looking at the ranged chips. He ignored the murderous glares and the two girls as he looked. At least until one of them grabbed his shoulder. Spinning away from the hand, he raises an eyebrow. "You mind? There's this thing called personal space I don't like strangers invading." The girls giggled. "We heard the two of you talking just now. Why don't we make a bet about who's gonna win?" Jake laughed real hard at this while Blade shook his head. "I'm sorry, ladies, but what my partner is trying to say is that we don't make bets. For one you're underage and therefore illegal and for another thing, it's an unhealthy habit to get into." After laughing for a little longer, Jake finally stood and nodded. He also turned back to the chips. "Blade hit the nail on the head. I don't bet. Period."

[Demon Shinobi]

The other girl huffed. "Sounds like you're just too chicken to..." Before the girl could finish Hiro let out a loud cheer. "YES!!!!" He shouted as he snatched up a chip. "RED SUN!" He was ecstatic. "Jake check it out." He said happily. "Hey... Don't ignore..." "It's awesome isn't it. I think I even saw Blue Moon over there." He said as he shuffled through a little pile. The girls were quickly getting more upset by the treatment. Xero looked around. "S-sorry about them everyone." He said trying to give off a more mature demeanor as he glanced at Blade for help. He was a little unsure things would turn out so well.

[Zarkun]

Blade looked back at Xero and shrugged in defeat. He knew how Jake was about betting things, chips, money or personal belongings. He didn't do it, so he turned to the girls in Jake's stead while he helped Hiro look for Blue Moon after having a geek moment over Red Sun. "Look ladies, it's nothing personal to you. Jake doesn't bet, it's against his moral compass. If the two of you can't respect that, I must seriously question your right to call yourself NET battlers." Both girls gasp in shock and one steps forward. "How dare you accuse us of-" She didn't get to finish, Jake whipping around in an uncharacteristic bout of anger. "And how dare you try to muscle in on your competition, something you only have the courage to do with a pack of adoring and murderous fans at your back, and try to get them to conform to your twisted ideals. Don't push us because we are NOT interested." Taking a calming breath, he goes back to searching for Blue Moon with Hiro. With a sigh, Blade looks at the crowd. "I suggest you leave before he really lets it loose. You've managed to make him angry by refusing to respect his and Hiro's wishes."

[Demon Shinobi]

The girls left in a huff after that. "You could have let them deliver some form of terms. Or at least have let them explain the mob. It's possible the people followed without their permission." He said calmly. Blue Moon wasn't there. "Dammit..." He said with a sigh. "Still it's uncommon for you to get so upset." Hiro patted Jake on the back. We'll have to try for your's another time." He said before paying for Red Sun. "For now. You should hold onto mine. I think in our current strategy It'll best be used for Blade until we do get Blue moon." He suggested holding out the battle chip. "Sound good?" Xero was quiet. He didn't have much to contribute and overall he was thinking.

[Zarkun]

Jake didn't answer right away and Blade sighed. "His father used to have a really bad gambling habit when Jake was younger, something he was actively trying to get rid of, but it wasn't as easy as he'd thought it would be. It was only four years before he was asked to be on the team studying EM wave technology that he kicked the habit for good. Ever since then-" Jake cut Blade off as he took the chip. "Ever since then, I don't make bets, not money, not chip, not anything. Dad told me that it starts innocent but turns serial really easy. Hmmmm...speaking of cereal, want to get some food?"

[Demon Shinobi]

"Never knew that." Hiro said calmly as he slipped the chip into his chip pouch. "But I guess I understand. I mean even I've never made a bet I wasn't sure I could win." He explained his own mind set. "Anyway. Let's go get food. I'll treat you today." He added with a small laugh.

[Zarkun]

Sticking Red Sun in his case and making sure he wouldn't loose it, Jake heads for the front door. "Sounds good, though I can pay for myself if necessary. You know how I feel about you paying for everything." Ignoring Blade's rolled eyes, he stops to think about what they should eat. "You know, I don't know what I want to eat. You got any ideas?"

[Demon Shinobi]

"We'll pick up some burgers, fries, shakes and other crap to eat at my place while we game and work up some strategies." Hiro grinned happily. "And hey. This isn't a pity party or anything. "I'm expecting you to take care of the bill next time alright bud?" He spoke with a small laugh.

[Zarkun]

"And hey. This isn't a pity party or anything. I'm expecting you to take care of the bill next time alright bud?" Jake chuckled and nodded, heading for the nearest burger joint. As they walked, he thought over the different ways that Red Sun could be put to use during a NET battle and realized that he may want to buy some paralyzers just for that extra assurance he'd land that crucial hit. "May need to head back to the chip shop afterwords, need a couple chips after all."

[Demon Shinobi]

Hiro shook his head. "I'm sure I have one or two you might need back at my place. If not, we have a few hours. Don't stress about it." He said calmly as he entered and began to order.

[Zarkun]

Following Hiro inside after a brief and quiet discussion with Blade outside, he shrugs. "Not a big rush, Hiro. Just a couple paralyzer effects to help ensure a few extra hits from Red Sun." Stepping up with Hiro, Jake order's when Hiro's done and goes to sit while they wait for it to be done. "The more the merrier, right?"