Chocolate Games

[Shaxel]

Whammy's House was abnormally quiet this morning, the usual sounds of intelligent young orphans playing or studying or taking a break from being geniuses to cause childish chaos were completely absent. This was likely due to the majority of the children being crammed into a large study room to take placement tests, to determine where they would all stand in the race to become the next great one, the heir.

There was one youth that seemed rather unconcerned with all the frenzied typing and mental gear grinding. Mail Jeevas, or Matt as he chose to go by, sat idly in his chair, yellow tinted goggles slid down over his bright blue eyes which were focused not on the questions before him (which he did know the answers to, he just hadn't typed them in yet), but on two other students, two whose rivalry throughout the house was unprecedented and almost legendary in its own right.

Matt ran a hand through his hair, ruffling the layered red strands a bit before finally starting to type. He wondered when the other two would be finished, if they weren't all ready.

[Haruka]

The blonde boy with the Buster Brown haircut that belied his sardonic nature was bored. The test was long done, and once Mihael Keehl had established that Near was also finished (and probably before him, damn it), he'd begun observing the others out of the corner of his eye. They were all smart kids -- that's why they were there, after all -- but some didn't have as much confidence in their abilities as others. His ice-blue eyes kept coming back to Matt, who had apparently taken his sweet time getting started. Mello liked the self-assurance inherent in that lack of urgency. He'd have been like that himself if being done before Near wasn't so important to him.

"Eyes on your own work, Mello," cautioned Roger, the manager of Wammy's House in Watari's absence. The blonde scowled up at him disdainfully. Why did Roger always single HIM out?

"I finished a long time ago, Roger," he snapped, glancing in Near's direction, hoping he'd heard that.

[Shaxel]

It didn't take Matt very long to work through the test, even starting as late as he did he was nearly finished when his ears distinctly picked up Mello's self-confident tone of voice announcing his test was completed. A wry smirk twitched up the corners of his mouth as he listened to the second best in Whammy's. It would figure really, it only made sense Mello and Near too most likely, were finished.

Matt considered the fact that if he applied himself just a little more he might be more of a challenge to them both rather than simply being third best, but then, he really didn't mind not being number one.

His fingers danced across the keyboard, snapping out a few last answers before he leaned back in his chair and dug into his pants pocket. In a moment he had an old GameBoy color out, a red one to be specific, and was deeply engrossed in saving the land of Hyrule. The game made a few, very faint beeps and blips and to one straining their ears the sounds of Zelda music might be picked out in the room.

The student nearest to Matt made a slight grimace and shot him an annoyed look but Matt had a purpose right now and nothing short of a nuclear bomb was going to distract him from that purpose...kicking Ganon's butt.

[Haruka]

Mello wasn't surprised to see that Matt had brought out a video game -- the redhead seemed as addicted to those games as he himself was to chocolate. He found himself studying Matt closely as he watched him play. Matt's focus was such that he didn't seem to notice the dirty looks he was being given by a select few for either disturbing their concentration or having the audacity to be finished the testing already, and feel confident enough to play games, too.

Mello had no doubts that Matt's intelligence almost rivaled his own, and in the world of electronics, actually surpassed it. He figured that would make them a great team someday, should they ever decide to join forces.

Funny how the idea of collaborating with Matt on investigations didn't have the same distaste to it that working with Near did. He'd have to think on that one for a bit.

[Shaxel]

Time passed rather quickly when one was lost to the world of digital fantasy and before long Roger's voice was rudely interrupting the ending scene to his game to make an announcement in his usual tone, one that signified he knew how this whole test thing would work out anyway and he was very likely as bored as the students.

"Children you may all be excused now. If you have not finished the test then you must stop where you are and save. Close out your computers and leave the room. You may have the remainder of the day to do as you please." There was obviously an encrypted 'and do not do anything to destroy the house.' tucked away in the hawk like expression Roger shot toward a few students, Mello being one of them Matt noted.

He couldn't help but snicker faintly to himself as he shut off his computer and stood up to stretch. Mello always seemed to earn Roger's ire in one form or another. Tucking away his game boy, the red head sauntered from the room with his hands tucked into the pockets of his slightly baggy jeans, once he hit the carpet he let his sock covered feet scoot across the flooring, building up static electricity. He could almost feel the little pulses running through his body, now..to pick a target.

[Haruka]

As he left the room, Mello unwrapped a fresh chocolate bar and bit off a corner with a healthy crunch. The test had been boring and the rest of the day probably would be, too, unless he could find a way to liven it up.

Matt was just ahead of him, for once not playing one of his games. Instead, he seemed to have found a new means of amusement, and a mischievous grin widened on Mello's face as he realized what the other boy's next move would be. Stepping up his pace a bit, he came up alongside the redhead and caught his eye, pointing silently in Near's direction.

[Shaxel]

Blue eyes glinted with impish amusement behind yellow lenses as Matt gave Mello a silent nod of approval. Silently, he crept through the hall toward the unsuspecting Near.

Matt couldn't really help mentally comparing the younger boy to a small sheep. There was just..something..slightly off about his hair, and he was always so sullen looking and quiet. It would be fun to see him jump for a change.

Carefully, Matt inched closer, he was within range now, just to reach out and poke..!

[Haruka]

Mello watched with undisguised glee as Matt crept up on Near. How would his always-composed rival react to the sudden shock? He couldn't wait to find out!

Just as Matt was within poking distance, Roger came out of a side room and walked into the boy's outstretched hand.

"OUCH!" the man exclaimed.

Mello didn't think twice; he put on a burst of speed, grabbing Matt's arm as he passed, half-dragging him along until they had made their way to the safety of the backyard.

"Sorry about that," he told Matt, peeking back through the door they'd just exited. "I don't think he saw it was you, though."

[Shaxel]

Matt didn't seem to register what Mello was saying or even that the other boy was holding onto his arm or that the grass was gently soaking his socks. He had a classic disturbed expression complete with gawking open mouth and glazed eyes, but with the sun reflecting off his goggles those were harder to see.

The only thought floating through his head was that he had zapped Roger and consequently was going to be in trouble..and some how..it was Mello's fault. It was almost always Mello's fault really. Aside from being scolded for playing his games with the volume on too high Matt stayed out of trouble when he was alone.

But if one chocolate loving blond was added to the mix an explosion of cataclysmic proportions was inevitable. Matt still remembered the last time he and Mello had been in trouble, he had been grounded from his games for an entire day. It had been hellish to say the least.

[Haruka]

When Matt didn't answer him, Mello glanced at him and saw the look on his face. He rolled his eyes and grabbed the other boy by the shoulders. "Matt, chill, okay? There's no way you're going to get nailed for this one. Even if Roger DID know it was you who shocked him, he can't prove you were trying to do it on purpose. Just tell him you were reaching out to tap Near on the shoulder. He can't punish you for an accident." He took a step back and realized that his feet were wet. He looked down at them with a wry grin. "Of course, finding an excuse for running out into the muck in our socks might be tougher."