shawty w/big personality

Mizael rarely attended riding duel events in the first place. He preferred standing duels, specifically ones centered around XYZ summoning. Or rather, it was just that riding duels didn’t interest him enough to make him participate. Truth be told, Mizael didn’t even know how to ride a D-wheel. That was another thing that never particularly compelled him. One day maybe he’d learn, but not anytime soon.

He’s about to open his phone when he spots an expensive looking SUV pull up on the other side of the parking lot. Shiny charcoal and heavily tinted windows, someone famous is what he assumes. A woman gets out from the driver's side, nobody else, and she begins heading toward the duel stadium. He can’t make out her person very well given the distance, however, he can clearly make out a large sunhat in her hand and long black hair that cascades down her back, almost past the hip, nearly as long as Chris Arclights. 

She doesn't enter through the main entrance but instead heads towards the western one. It appears that she’s trying to get to the other side of the stadium. He concludes that she isn’t from the area, that or it was her first time attending the weekly tournament, either way she must not have gotten the memo that north side seating was closed off during weeklies. Reason being, the turnout was much smaller than the monthly tournaments, especially since the stadium itself was gigantic. 

Mizael watches as she disappears around the corner of the stadium. Though he wasn't really the type of person to go out of his way to help someone, he contemplates on whether he should get out and tell her. His phone tells him that he’s nearly a half an hour early and it's not like he had anything better to do, Mizael doesn't even remember why he was even opening his phone in the first place. But the more he thinks about it, the more he feels like he should, so he does. 

Durbe is still in the washroom so Mizael shoots him a quick text saying that he’d be back, offering no explanation as to why. He proceeds to follow in the direction the woman went until he finds himself climbing the final step leading to the stadium's middle-most seating. 

As it turns out she’s sitting at the top row, on her phone with shades on. Mizael pauses thinking that he could shout to her, but ultimately decides against it and climbs the rest of the stairs leisurely, so as to not appear out of breath. 

She’s wearing a turquoise sundress splashed with pastel colors of a floral pattern. It’s an off the shoulder fit and exposes her large bust along with a generous amount of cleavage. Because he does in fact, have self control and self respect, he refuses to let his eyes stray from her face. Mizael is a couple steps away when she finally looks over at him from above her sunglasses, which have simultaneously slid down the bridge of her nose. Stunning blue ocean eyes capture his gaze. 

“Yes?”

Although the woman before him is the paragon of beauty, and any man would likely die at the chance to chat her up, Mizael doesn’t share the sentiment. He was here to watch a duel that was all. That being said, he doesn’t feel that talk is necessary and jumps straight to the point, “are you here for the riding duel tournament?” 

“Yes.” 

“This area is going to be closed off once more people start to arrive.” Mizael informs and gestures towards the opposite side of the stadium, “everyone has to sit on that side.”

“Oh, I see… And you followed me all the way here just to tell me that?” Her tone isn’t truly accusatory, but Mizael automatically becomes defensive, a scowl beginning to form on his face. “A ‘thank you’ would have been-“

He isn’t able to finish his sentence before she cuts him off. “You misunderstood.” The woman removes her sunglasses fully and peers at him with sincerity. “I was going to say, if you did, then it was very sweet of you.” 

Mizael had always been hot headed, he’s self aware of the fact, but when in the heat of the moment, he has a hard time controlling his emotions. A lot of times he ends up with his foot in his mouth and now happens to be one of those times. 

“I…” between her calling him ‘sweet’ and trying to find the right words to say after the apology, Mizael finds himself at a momentary loss of words. “Sorry. I thought you were going to accuse me of stalking or something.” It’s an honest response and he can only hope that this complete stranger isn’t totally pissed at him for jumping to conclusions.

“It’s alright.” The woman replies lightly, then moves to stand up, “lead the way?” She’s taller than Mizael, by… more than a couple inches, and he finds himself looking down at her feet wondering if she was wearing heels. 

She’s not.

“No heels today, too many steps.” 

Mizael scoffs softly, ignoring the fact that he was just caught looking, “not like you need them anyway.” 

She just laughs at him. 

Mizael leads the way to the other side of the stadium as the woman who introduces herself as ‘Misty’ attempts a conversation with him. “I’m from Neo Domino, I’ve been to Heartland a few times but never to any of the tournaments.”

A Domino resident? They may have something in common after all. “I was born in Domino but moved to Heartland when I was young. And I’m Mizael.”

The recognition on her face is evident when he mentions Domino, the were neighboring cities after all. “What made you move to Heartland?” 

Mizael doesn’t particularly want to engage in a discussion behind the reasoning of his move. It’s much too private to be shared with a stranger and he says as much. “Personal reasons.” He finds no reason to further explain himself.

Thankfully Misty gets the hint and changes the subject swiftly, and to a much more favorable topic, dueling. 

“Are you a duelist?”

“Yeah, what gave it away?” Mizael asks, full snark. 

“I don’t know, just a feeling.” 

His sarcasm is ignored. “Are you good?” She asks. 

Mizael doesn’t miss a beat with this question, his answer is immediate. “Yes.”

The lack of hesitation from him amuses Misty who grins at him. But Mizael looks away, suddenly feeling flustered at her for looking at him <i>that way</i>. Like he was a child who just said that they wanted to be the world's best duelist… and that he was cute.

“Have you been in any tournaments?” 

Mizael clears his throat, composing himself. “Yes a few, only XYZ tournaments though. I won two in the standards and in the tag teams I won five. Well, I guess I should say, ‘we’ since I partnered with my cousin. We both use galaxy decks.” 

Stating that he uses a galaxy deck is pretty vague so he decides to show his ace monster. In the baggy pocket of his shorts, he retrieves his deck and his most prized possession which is placed topdeck facedown, Number 107: Galaxy-Eyes Tachyon Dragon. When he reveals it to Misty, she comments on its beauty and how it was fitting to be his ace to which Mizael wholeheartedly agrees.  

“I haven’t entered a tournament recently, it’s only when I have the time. I’m a university student, I’ll be graduating in less than two months.”

Misty nods in understanding, surely she could remember her younger days as a hardworking student. (Assuming she was a student, and was hardworking.) 

“I see, well, I’ll have to watch a replay of your dueling later, since you’re so good.”

Either Misty was making fun of him for boasting about his victories or she just knew how to play up to a man’s ego. He couldn’t tell so he chooses not to comment on it.

“Oh and early congratulations, on your graduation.” Misty adds, “It’s a big achievement no matter what you’re studying.” 

Mizael thanks her then returns the question to her. It was something he had wondered as soon as they began conversing. “What about you? Are you a duelist too?” 

She’s momentarily silent, it’s not that thought provoking of a question but Mizael can imagine there’s a story behind her silence. “No… I wouldn't consider myself a duelist, these days I don’t really have a reason to duel anyway.”

Her response isn't what he was expecting. Reading between the lines and by the wistful tone, he surmises that she was a duelist in the past but something happened causing her to quit.

If Mizael was the optimistic type like Yuma, that tomato haired kid, even Haruto, he would have gone off the deep end about dueling. How dueling unites people, how fun it should be for both parties no matter winning or losing, and how every duel should put a smile on its audience's face… If dueling had the potential to cure world hunger, he knows those three would find a way. 

“You don’t always need a reason to duel. Unless it’s your career, obviously.”

Misty doesn’t argue with, even though it’s clear she doesn’t agree with him. 

“I guess you’re right.”

The conversation ends there.

Soon the pair are looking back at where they stood minutes ago. Mizael steps aside and lets her go ahead, expecting her to climb to the top row again, but she ends up choosing the first seat next to the entrance hall. Probably didn’t want to go up the stairs again. 

A text ringtone chimes from the phone she’d been carrying. Misty apologizes to him before opening her phone, scanning the message, and typing out a response. 

He notices that she doesn’t type quickly. It’s clear that she’s not within his own age range, if not based on how she texted, then on her looks and sound of her voice. If Mizael had to guess, she couldn’t have been older than thirty two. The style of her clothing was mature. Her voice too had a deeper tone to it, mature and womanly. 

Her message is sent and her attention quickly falls back on Mizael who has full intentions of saying goodbye and returning to Durbe. However, the way she’s looking at him tells him that she had more to say. The woman is now regarding him with an intense curiosity whilst playing with the ends of her hair, was she wanting to continue a conversation with him? 

He supposes he wouldn’t mind if she did. 

And she does.

“What are you studying?” Misty pats the seat next to herself, urging Mizael to sit next to her.

“Astronomy.” He answers, accepting the seat. 

“Studying astronomy and dueling with a galaxy deck, is it a coincidence?” 

Mizael shrugs, he never thought too much into that. “No. It’s always been an interest of mine-“

He’s unable to finish the rest of his sentence, suddenly interrupted by a third party. A third party who he immediately recognizes as, ‘The King’, and second best riding duelist in the world, Jack Atlas. 

Mizael has seen a number of duels starring Jack Atlas and he had to admit, the man was an outstanding duelist. But Jack Atlas? Here? At a standard riding duel tournament in Heartland? 

Mizael can only stare in disbelief. 

He’s much taller in person...

‘The King’ upon his sudden arrival doesn’t even say hello, but it’s clear that he was there for Misty. 

He looks back and forth between Misty and Mizael, “who’s the chump?” 

What the hell? This prick was insulting him and didn’t even know who he was. It takes all of his self restraint not to jump up and get confrontational, a well deserved, ‘excuse me?’ is at the tip of his tongue. Even with his elevating anger, Mizael bites it back for Misty’s sake and opts to direct a poisonous glare at Jack instead. He was hot headed, but he wasn’t a caveman. 

Thankfully Misty speaks up. 

“He’s not a chump Jack, he was actually nice enough to tell me that I wasn’t supposed to sit on the other side of the stadium. You should have told me.”

“Looks like a chump to me,” Jack replies, crossing his arms in a judgmental manner. “Whatever, also I did tell you.” 

“Did you?” 

“Yes I did!” Voice rising with insistence, Jack clenches his fist at his side.

And people thought Mizael got mad easily, this guy was giving him a run for their money. 

“No, you didn’t.” Misty says, and she’s downright challenging him now.

There’s no place for Mizael in this interaction so he sits back and observes the two as they sort things out. Getting back to Durbe is all but forgotten, he finds himself curious of the relationship between Misty and this prick. 

Jack takes a calming breath in, then, “I have proof.” Ever so aggressively, and so much for the calming breather, the riding duelist whips out his phone and proceeds to scroll through his messages. Up, down, up, then down again. 

There was no proof. 

“…Hmph. Well, I could have sworn I did.” 

Though he is ignorant of it, Misty rolls her eyes at him, then shoots Mizael a discreet look of pure exasperation. 

“Anyway, Carly should be here soon, so tell her where you’re at. I have to go get ready.”

He says this as if he didn’t just have his phone in his hand seconds ago, it gives Mizael an overwhelming urge to call him out, but he once again stops himself. Misty doesn’t appear to be mad though, rather she is the epitome of peacefulness, mixed with mild amusement. 

“Alright.” Is all she answers.

Before leaving, Jack gives Mizael a second look over which is just as judgemental as the first. “You look familiar, I’ve definitely seen you somewhere.” It’s an almost comical moment as Mizael and Misty remain quiet as Jack ponders where he recognizes Mizael from. He’s got the, ‘hand under the chin’ thinking pose and all. 

“Are you a duelist?” He finally inquires.

“I’m-”

Mizael is once again interrupted, but this time he isn’t even able to get two words out. “Asshole.” Mizael mutters under his breath. It’s loud enough for Misty to hear, and she nudges him gently. 

Jack’s eyes light up suddenly, “I’ve got it, you’re whats-his-face, the Galaxy eyes one. Kaito. Kaito Tenjo.”

Mizael is the one with his fists clenched now. Was he being serious right now? Or was he trying to provoke him? One thing Mizael hated was being belittled, even if the person was doing so unintentionally. He’s a breath away from going off, and actually doing it this time, but Jack is already walking away. 

“Let’s have a duel sometime, yeah?” He calls over his shoulder.

Once Jack is away from hearing range, Mizael lets out a growl. “What a dick. How are people like that famous? It makes no damn sense.”

Misty ends up apologizing on Jack’s behalf, not that Mizael thinks it’s necessary. “That’s just how he is.” And that part, he thinks, is the truth. 

“I’ve seen a lot of his duels, I always thought his skill was admirable but it looks like the ‘King‘ persona is his true self.” He shakes his head disapprovingly. 

“He’s not all bad, it’s more that he just doesn’t like me much.” 

This is something he’s genuinely intrigued by. He asks, “why’s that?” 

Misty sighs deeply, she’s still fiddling with her hair, but this time it looks like it’s out of nervousness. It was obviously a sore topic for her, and he’s about to change the subject as Misty had done for him previously, but she begins speaking before he can. 

“It’s a long story. A while back Jack’s girlfriend, a reporter, as well as a friend of mine, was investigating something dangerous. She asked me what I knew, since my brother was involved and I told her.” It doesn’t go unnoticed by Mizael, the way her expression hardens when she mentions her brother. The story probably didn’t have a happy ending.

“I never thought she would put herself into danger willingly, alone no less. But she’s a reporter, it’s her job to be nosy. To push and push until she gets what she wants.” There’s a brief pause, she no longer is looking at Mizael, but straight ahead with a glassy eyed stare. 

“She was missing for six months, abducted.”

The statement is painful for her to utter, and she releases a soft breath once it’s out. She continues, her attention fixed back to Mizael. “She’s safe now, but Jack blames me for what happened. I was the last person she saw before she went missing. Even so, I’m not mad about it, I understand why.” 

Distant voices and echoed footsteps can be heard from afar, people were starting to arrive for the tournament. Misty takes it as a sign to make her final point. “It was hard for him during that time and he’s still dealing with things. they both are. I know you won’t believe me, after your experience with him just now, but in all, he’s really not a horrible person.” 

Mizael had expected something petty between them. Maybe she had beaten him in a duel in the past, or that she thought his ace monster was ugly. Something harmless like that, not an abduction and missing person. But Jack’s attitude based on his personal disposition, it makes sense. And if he were being completely honest, he’s not sure if he’d feel any differently than Jack when it came to his grudge against Misty. He wasn’t in love, didn’t know what it felt like to love either, not since his parents. But he thinks that if Durbe, or even Kaito suddenly went missing, he’d be upset. Well, upset was an understatement, he surely wouldn’t be in his right mind and would likely be looking for someone to blame, other than himself. 

“You probably agree with him.”

Mizael shakes his head. He was putting more thought into her story than he should have, but thinks it best to keep a neutral standpoint. “I… Yes, I’d be mad too, but there’s probably more to the story than that.”

A quiet laugh comes from Misty. “Well, you’re definitely right about that. Oh, and by the way, you didn’t hear that story from me.” She makes a cheeky shushing gesture at him and Mizael proceeds to swear secrecy. 

The somber atmosphere is gone and Misty is back to smiles and warmth.

“I forgot to ask, were you here with someone? If you were, I’m sorry for keeping you.”

“Yes—I mean, it's fine.” And Mizael truly means it. He didn’t mind one bit. “I was with a friend, we were waiting on more people. Whether I wait here or in the lot, it won’t matter, they’ll eventually make their way up here.”

“Okay, well if you have to go, then feel free to.”

“I will.”

Misty is staring at him again. Her intensity is the same as when she asked what he was studying. 

Mizael was attractive, he knew it. He prioritized self care and was quite fashionable, if he did say so himself. Apparently he was an anomaly among men because of it. That being said, he was no stranger to ogling and compliments, most being about how pretty he was, especially for a man. (Whatever the fuck that meant.) Such praise was part of the reason why his confidence flourished. 

On the other hand, he was also told that he was arrogant, temperamental, and vain. Among other things… 

But right now, what was this woman thinking as she studied him? What were her intentions? 

“I like fortune telling, will you allow me to tell your fortune?”

Her question is completely out of the blue. Fortune telling, right here and now just when the tournament is about to begin? It’s quite random.

Mizael checks the time on his phone, Durbe and the gang would be here any minute, but he supposes a quick fortune telling couldn’t hurt, even if it was a fake. 

“How are you going to do it?”

Misty gives a pleased smile, then tells him, “I look at faces. Your face, it interests me.”

Mizael isn’t sure how to respond to that, so he doesn’t. 

She scoots closer to him and reaches out, her fingertips a hair’s breadth away from his cheek, before stopping to ask, “may I touch you?”

He nods, appreciative of her consideration and a moment later he can feel her hand on his cheek. She is delicate upon him, and her fingertips trace down to his chin, the motion borderline sensual, where she then takes him in a gentle hold, so as to tilt his head to her desired angle.

Misty observes him thoroughly, all the while his mind is a blank slate. He’s not thinking about anything, but he feels. He can’t quite pinpoint what the feeling is though, he’s not uncomfortable, nor is he embarrassed or nervous by their closeness. But his heart rate has increased and he feels a sort of… fluttering excitement in his chest. He also feels anticipation. She’s supposedly telling his fortune, but with their proximity and the tender way that she strokes his face, Mizael is almost expecting her to lean in for a kiss. 

A small breeze pushes past them, causing a few strands of hair to fall over his face unceremoniously. Misty is quick to attend to it, she pushes his hair back and away from his face using such delicacy to do so, that he additionally feels as if he’s a vintage artifact that's being assessed for its worth. 

Her hand returns to Mizael, to cup his cheek. Her gaze is no longer exploring his features, and they now look deep into each other eyes, ocean blues meeting icy blues. Misty’s words are nearly a whisper when she tells him that he’s beautiful. 

Mizael’s fortune is naught until she speaks again. “You have been burdened by something at a young age, but that burden will soon be lifted.” The woman then releases her hold on him and leans back to her seat, expectant of his response.

A rasped ‘what?’, is all he can manage as he effortfully snaps himself out of the daze that Misty has inadvertently put him in. 

Burden? What burden? The only burdens he had were from his studies. It would make the most sense, he recalls that he had told her about his soon approaching graduation. Surely that's what she was foretelling, but with more cryptic wording. 

Once again, he was reading too much into her words. Fortune tellers were never right, they just wanted people to think something good was going to happen to them. And if it ever did,  they would say that their fortune came true. It was a self fulfilling prophecy. That or they just wanted to get a rise out of people, say something completely outrageous and be entertained by their reaction.

With that thought in mind, Mizael raises a brow at her. “Is that it?”

Misty nods and proceeds to answer the question he was going to ask next. (It’s all coincidental, of course.) 

“I read your face. That’s what it told me.”

“I see…” Mizael says slowly, and it finally clicks. The reason she had been staring at him like that earlier was because she had wanted to read his fortune all along. Truth be told, he is a little let down knowing that, but it is what it is. 

People had begun to trickle in slowly but surely during the impromptu fortune telling session, and familiar voices can be heard from above, one Mizael recognizes as Ryouga, who sounds annoyed at something. He definitely didn’t see them enter, they must have come in through the east entrance.  

His name is being called now. 

Mizael spins around and Durbe waves at him. A quick scan over everyone tells him that most of the gang and their friends were there, looking like they just got seated. A double take is needed when he catches Ryouga’s girlfriend looking at him and whispering into his ear, causing him to look at Mizael too. It’s obviously something to do with him and he has a good idea what it’s about. Seriously though, whispering about people who were in the immediate vicinity as you and making eye contact? It pissed him off. Mizael scowls at them both, simultaneously thanking the gods that Vector is not among them.

“Your friends are here, you should go.” 

“Yeah.” 

“Maybe I’ll see you at another tournament?” 

“Uh huh.” He says, his mind still half preoccupied about the whispering. 

Misty reaches out and places her hand over his which rests on his thigh. “Will I get to see you duel?” She has his complete and utter attention now. Heat begins to crawl under and above his neckline again. This woman had him blushing like a damn teenager again. 

“I don’t know.” Mizael answers, he doesn’t offer any other possibilities of them seeing each other again, and the conversation dies once again. 

Misty’s hand is still touching his, though she removes it as they bid each other goodbye, “It was nice meeting you, Mizael.” 

Mizael climbs up to where his friend is at. A couple rows behind them he can see Shun, Pinkie, the nerd, and the lunalight girl. Shun is glaring at him. Mizael knows it's because of the face he had made at his sister a few minutes ago. Not that he cares much. Squeezing past the others Mizael settles himself beside Durbe, Ryouga and Ruri are still looking at him, like he’s grown a third eye, they receive the privilege of being ignored too.

His friend, and roommate, is on his phone doing some complex looking crossword type puzzle game. He’s very engrossed in it and doesn’t even lift his head to greet Mizael. It leaves him feeling… ignored.

“Hello?”

Durbe is responsive, but still won’t take his eyes off the screen, “who was that?” 

“She went to the wrong side of the stadium. I told her it was going to be closed off. She just started talking to me after. I didn’t want to be rude.” The last bit is more of an afterthought, to which Durbe doesn't miss the opportunity to call him out for. “That would be a first for you.” Is the comment Mizael gets. 

“Give me that.” The blond snatches his friend’s phone away. 

“I was about to finish it.” Durbe protests, but sounds almost bored. 

Mizael glances at the phone in his hand, indeed the puzzle was about to be finished, in fact he only needed to fill in two more words. Too bad for him. “You know I hate being ignored.” 

Durbe feigns offense at him, “ignored? I was talking to you.”

“Yeah but you're not looking at me.” 

“We can have a conversation without looking at each other.”

“I thought you're supposed to be the polite one. Why are you arguing against basic common decency?” Durbe chuckles, a mischievous smile playing across his face. How telling. Mizael groans out loud. Of course, Durbe found humor in offending him and being obstinate towards him. Now he was just milking it for shits and giggles. 

Durbe sits up in his seat appearing more proper and turns to Mizael, addressing him seriously this time, “so what did you talk about?” 

The way the word comes out of his mouth is confirmation that he had seen. “She told my fortune. She claimed to read faces.”

Durbe nods along at the explanation, “that makes sense. What’s her name?” He’s looking in her direction, at the back of her head, a thoughtful expression on his face.

“Misty.”

“You know she looks familiar, I just can't quite figure out where I’ve seen her…”

Mizael shakes his head, “no, I thought so too. Maybe she’s a model—“

“Search her name and let’s see.”

“—she is very beautiful after all.”

Durbe turns quizzical, “so you say.” 

“Shut up.”

His friend does his best to hide a laugh. “What did your fortune say? You still have my phone by the way.”

“It will be mine a while longer.” Mizael says, and continues on, “she said… A burden that I have will be lifted.” Shrugging, he attempts to make light of it, “I don’t know what the hell it means, but I’m sure whatever it is, it won't happen.” 

Durbe seems to feel the exact opposite as Mizael. He comments on how interesting he thinks fortune telling is and somehow believes that his fortune may come true. 

Mizael openly scoffs at the notion. “It’s not that interesting. Fortune telling is a scam.” 

“Maybe not fortune telling in itself, but the different methods of fortune telling are interesting. ” 

Upon Durbe's suggestion, Mizael did have his phone out and had typed in the first three letters of Misty’s name, however, the fortune telling discussion was preventing him from finishing the search. He ends up deleting it and looking up information on fortune telling instead. 

“According to science, no method of fortune telling is more accurate than another. And, considering most methods are, ‘interpretations of random phenomena’, there is little to no evidence to support any claims that fortune telling is reliable. Therefore fortune telling is highly unreliable.”

Durbe doesn’t look impressed. 

“I just said it was interesting and that your fortune could come true. Not that it would or that it’s scientifically correct. But, as Rio would say, go off I guess.”

Mizael rolls his eyes. 

Whoever Misty was waiting for arrives late. Her friend, he assumes, is a girl about Kaito’s size. She has long black hair, but not nearly as long as Misty’s, that’s clearly unbrushed. It’s bad enough that Mizael can see the frizz from where he’s at. She’s wearing a blue and white striped romper that looks a size too big for her, and the nerdy looking glasses certainly aren’t helping things. 

Not only is she late, but she’s a total klutz. The girl nearly falls on top of Misty after she trips on a step, letting out a loud ‘eep’. She makes sure to let everyone know that she’s okay and sits down hastily, proceeding to slump all the way down in her seat until only the top of her head is visible. The scene earns a fair number of giggles but is soon forgotten about when the MC comes on to introduce the event.

Mizael doesn’t see Misty again for the rest of the event, even when it’s time to leave.