03 - Just One More Level? Please?

[imjustpicky]

[Action A - 7132 Brooks Lane, Morning]

[Having heard in passing that people were getting stuff back in the mail, Picky was anxious to check his own mail to see what he'd be getting. Monday morning he volunteered to bring in the mail, and atop the usual bills and flyers was a box with "Picky Minch" written on it.

...the town didn't seem to care that he had been going by a different name. Huh.

But never mind that. A box! A box for him! He scooted back inside, set all of the mail down on the table by the front door, and hastily tore his package open.]

Hey! My Game Boy!

[And it was his, not just any dumb Game Boy plucked off a shelf. It had a scuff and dent on the bottom from when he dropped it, and it had the sticker over the battery cover that he had put there himself. And it was real, because when he flicked it on, the little red light lit up and the green-yellow screen powered on, and the "ding!" of a proper start-up sounded. Followed immediately by the first few strains of the Tetris title screen music.

...he shook the box out to see if any other games were included, but alas, none were. Still, Tetris was pretty good. And he really should play a little, to make sure that it worked properly... Someone's probably going to have to shoo him out the door to get him to go to school.]

[Action B - Mayfield Elementary School]

[Class has gotten dull, and Picky is no longer paying attention. He has his Game Boy on, volume turned down, tucked partway beneath his desk. He won't get caught, right? No one's paying attention, right?]

---

[Lunchtime isn't much different. Rather than concern himself with peanut butter sandwiches and classmates, he's off at a table by himself, not eating, determined to get past level 4. That's where he's been stuck at this past while. It just gets so fast...]

[Action C - The Park, Afternoon]

[You know what happens when you play with your Game Boy all day? The one that had the same batteries in it from the before, that you haven't replaced in a while? The batteries run out.

Picky is on a bench in the park, manipulating those Tetris blocks, just about to get to level 6 when the dim red light finally flickers out. He starts, lifts his head, holds the Game Boy out in front of him, and then gets upset.]

Drat!

[Phone - Early Evening]

So, uh... hey. Does anyone know if you can get double-A batteries in this place? Or, or even better, does someone have a charger for a Game Boy?

It, uh, might be easier to get the batteries, but... but I've gotta ask.

Comments

[imjustpicky]

[He had been making a big show of paying attention and having his notebook open and pencil poised to take some notes, so her message comes as a little bit of a surprise. But he can be subtle. He tips his textbook upwards, unfolds the note, and reads it quickly.

...oh.

He scribbles something on the reverse, re-folds it, and slips it to her when he's sure no one is paying attention.]

I shouldn't be playing in class annyway. Its okay.

[imoutos]

[ Oh god, is she actually exchanging notes with someone she doesn't really know? This makes her nervous - even moreso than usual, really - because of her shyness, but still she musters up all her courage. Even with as pessimistic as she usually is, maybe this is the chance to get to know more people at school too.. fight on, Nadeko.. ]

It's okay to play if you want to.. I mean, whatever game you were playing must have been pretty fun, right?

[ It takes quite some moments for her to make sure the coast is absolutely clear before slipping it back to him. ]

[imjustpicky]

[Even though Picky is trying to look studious, he keeps stealing glances at the girl. Oh... oh man, she's writing another note...

So even though he has his eyes facing forward when it's passed over this time, he's ready to swiftly, carefully receive it. And to scribble a message back.]

It was fun! Funner than class!

[...he has also drawn some Tetris blocks, and a little picture of himself making an "ugh, boring" face. He's a little more sloppy in handing it back, this time.]

[imoutos]

[ Oh, those drawings are.. well, sort of cute. Nadeko likes them, at least, even though she's known to like odd things all the time as well. It's almost fun to make a note back this time, like a fun distraction from class. ]

I haven't played videogames a lot, but I always thought it seemed like a lot of fun when other people played them and I watched. I never dared to ask to join in, though..

[ She's also a lot less shy through notes, since it doesn't involve direct communication. Also, as a thanks of sort for his drawings, she scribbled a few people sitting at a tv playing a game with herself a little distance away from them on her own. ]

[imjustpicky]

[Writing and passing notes is a lot more entertaining than listening to the drone teacher go on about badly-biased history. When he receives the note this time, he gives a little smile.]

Video games are really fun! You should play after class. I'll let you borow my Game Boy for a bit. Do you like Tetris?

[And it was folded back up. He waited this time to be sure that the teacher's back was turned, and then slipped it back.]

[imoutos]

Tetris is the one with those blocks falling down, right..? I'd really, really like it play it, if you really wouldn't mind me borrowing it for a bit.. I promise to be really careful though!

[ There's a happy smiley face drawn next to it. Nadeko admires said face for a moment before she makes sure it's safe again and passes the note back. ]

Should we skip to after class? :D

[imjustpicky]

[The next note is taken and unfolded, and there's visible, obvious happiness on his face as he crams an answer onto the rest of the free space on the page.]

Yeah, Tetris has lots of blocks! I don't mind, but I want it back before I go home.

[He has added a smiley face of his own, in what space is left. It's folded, the classroom is quickly scanned from behind those obscuring bangs of his, then... note! Passed!]

sure, feel free to do so now!

[imoutos]

[ oh, this is too uguu, she starts smiling a little too when she sees the smiley face and happily pens back a note before handing it over. ]

Alright then..! Of course you can get it back before then, please don't worry!

[imjustpicky]

[Thank goodness there wasn't much class left. Picky took a few lines of notes as the teacher marked out highly inaccurate information on the board, just to make a token effort at proper behavior. But when the bell rung and class was done, he was up like a bolt grabbing his books and papers and things.

He gave Nadeko a mischievous grin, then gave his head a toss that indicated that she should follow him. He trotted out into the hall, and then to a row of lockers where there was a bit of shelter from prying eyes.]

Hey! That took forever. Uh... here! Here.

[He pulled the Game Boy out of his book bag, and offered it to her.]

[imoutos]

[ Oh, following people is pretty much all Nadeko does in life, so when he gives that slight gesture she quickly nods back and trots after him out of class after picking up her stuff. When he pulls out the game boy though, her eyes go a little bit wide in admiration of the device. ]

W.. wow, I have never held one of these before.. [ She takes it very carefully, as if touching it would cause it to break already. ]

It looks so cool..

[imjustpicky]

[Her awe makes perfect sense to him. Game Boys are pretty awesome. Especially if you've never held one before!]

Yeah! It's really cool!

Do you know how to play Tetris?

[imoutos]

I've seen it before, b-but.. [ she looks a bit embarassed to admit this part, mind you ] I don't know how to use the buttons exactly, i-if that's okay..

[imjustpicky]

It's easy! Really easy! Tetris is the easiest. You just use the buttons to flip the pieces. And the control pad to move the pieces back and forth... and you press down to make the piece drop faster, and you press Start to pause it!

[He knows all about video games! To the point where he is, perhaps, not the best person to explain it all to a newbie....]

[imoutos]

[ Yes, it's quite a lot of instructions all at once, but it's okay. Nadeko is determined to get all of this right, so she'll do her best!! She nods to him, turning on the game. ]

O-okay.. Here I go..! [ another nod to encourage herself, and then the game starts.

... She starts to look more and more panicked pretty easily as the blocks pile up - she's not too good with the controls either, so that's just making it more difficult. ]

[imjustpicky]

[Picky wants to help, so he's behind her watching what she does, offering advice.]

Slide it in! Slide it in! Oh no, more z-blocks! Stack them on top of each other! Wait for a long block!

[No one ever said that his advice would be helpful.]

[imoutos]

A.. ah, b-but the long block isn't coming!

[ It's okay, Nadeko is sort of a hopeless case either way, especially with how much she just starts panicking at just a video game. She's having fun though, in her own way. ]

[imjustpicky]

You can hold out! Just keep moving it to the side! Aaaah!

[Okay, now he's REALLY not helping. The shouting cannot possibly aid in Nadeko's concentration.

It's all really very exciting, though.]

[imoutos]

[ THE MOST INTENSE GAME OF TETRIS EVER. ]

Aaah! There's so many now! If one doesn't appear soon, it'll reach the top! [ Yes, her nervousness is still increasing, but she's still trying!! Not giving up this soon, no siree! ]

[imjustpicky]

[Video games are so much more epic when you're little.]

Maybe you'll get one! Maybe you'll get one! ...AAH! THERE IT IS, THERE IT IS!

[He is jumping up and down with excitement, now.]

[imoutos]

It's here, i-it's here!

[ THIS IS THE CRUCIAL MOMENT. She focuses as much as she can, directing it to the side so it can complete the row of blocks and.. yes, it falls right in there, clearing four rows at the same time!! VICTORY. ]

... I did it..! [ She sounds a bit surprised over that fact. ]

[imjustpicky]

Yes! YES!

[Picky laughs, punching a fist in the air. How great! How awesome!

But oh wait, that was enough to get her to the next level. IT'S GETTING FASTER!!!]

You can keep going! There's more, there's more!

[imoutos]

N-no, wait!! [ OH GOD NOW SHE'S SERIOUSLY FREAKING OUT. This speed, this speed!! ]

Why is it suddenly g-g-going so fast..?!

[imjustpicky]

It gets harder when you go up in level! That's why!

Oh no! Aaah! Move it more, move it faster, you can do it! [It's almost SCARY when it gets this fast!]

[imoutos]

I-I don't know if I'm ready for this, ah..!

[ IT IS ALREADY SCARY. The scariest and most intense game ever, but Nadeko doesn't want to give up just yet.. ]

I'm trying.. a-ah, this is so hard, it's going to fast now..

[imjustpicky]

You're ready! You can do it! It's... it's... aaah! It's ALMOST TO THE TOP!!!

[TETRIS: SURVIVAL HORROR perhaps. But can they survive?!]