Nerves of Steel

It’s gonna be a mixed bag. Go with caution!

Numbers: 1 - 50

Ohboy. Miscommunication. Or maybe his own lack of knowledge in this case.

"Apologies." Julius carefully avoided making eye contact because wow, was this embarrassing. He’d long since trained himself to be free of nervous ticks, but this was probably the kind of situation that would make most people unconsciously tuck hair behind their ears.

"The only rule of tag is to not be it!" A smug announcement--confidence seeping from each syllable. Well, he usually found himself speaking confidently, seeing as he was a Champion. That's not important, though. What IS important is tag.

The passerby had whispered for help since the male was doing far too much, using them as a shield! She also had plans so she couldn’t have this! Lightly playing around, the female went past the girl acting as if she didn’t see Steven at all. “I wonder where he could be?” It didn’t take long until Ayano turned her back and then slightly sat on the other as he was crouching.

When he felt the light pressure on his back, however, he was confused. Did this....did this count as a tag...? She hadn't said anything, so, maybe...maybe, it was only an official tag if you SAID it. Yes, of course. He was still safe. God...she'd never ever think to look right beneath her. I mean, really! Who sits on the opponent without knowing they're there! Haha! Hahaha! What a pro he was, he thought to himself, stifling his own chuckle with his palm. It was only a matter of time until victory now. Staying as still as stone, the steel specialist bode his time until the right moment.

Lithe arms folding across his chest, he eyes the elder man with surprisingly patronising distaste - especially for one of his age and demeanour - before turning his head, the perfect image of a child in a huff. Which, of course, is precisely what he is.

"Old enough to see the futility in your actions," he says sourly. "If this is a ruse to make friends in this place, it strikes more as an act of immature desperation. But I’ll humour you."

Yet he strides towards the man, little heels click-clacking against the tarmac, and jabs one little finger right into his lower arm.

"What? Why would I want to make friends with a fake pirate? That's preposterous." He wasn't even talking like a pirate. Where were the 'Arrgh's or the 'Ayeee, matey's?

He was so caught up in this train of thought that it hadn't even occurred to him to step away from the sudden approach of the short male. And now he was tagged. And...no...tag-backs.

This kid was going down.

Now, some innocent passerby were likely going to have their lifespan reduced by about twenty years considering the appearance of a 7 foot tall metal monster in the middle of the walkway, but Steven seemed unfazed. 

The blond watched as the steel-haired man reached out for the businessman, making no moves to stop him nor apologize to the concerned man. Steven had one shot, one opportunity, to seize everything he ever wanted in one moment. And he didn’t let it slip…no. He captured it.

Truly inspiring…wipes a tear…

Roxas refrained from commenting on the man’s sudden burst of energy. The handshake startled him a bit, but he let him shake nonetheless.

“Eh?”

Oh. Right. This guy was a stranger.

"It's wonderful to meet you, Rock's ass! My name is Steven. Steven Stone!" 

Ah, how wonderful. He'd already made a new friend here! One who had even played tag with him...and allowed him to include a third person who was now doomed with the title of being 'it' instead of him. What could he do now? How could he truly forge a solid bond between them?

It wasn’t like Julius had never heard of tag, but it was certainly something he had little personal experience in, though by certain definitions, chasing a target through a city might qualify as a form of tag. Maybe.

"Well...I chose you to be it because I wanted to play the game. Would there be any other reason? You reacted quite distastefully, however, and now I'm not really in the mood to play anymore..." Heartbroken. Positively shattered. That's what he was.