cyberse heart

isola affiliated Yusaku Fujiki from Yu-Gi-Oh: VRAINS | rank: dwarf | housing: HOUSE 106 | retained: link sense, toy duel disk, cyberse deck

[perpetualquestions]

( @decodetalking )

Perhaps staying out at the soiree this late hadn’t been her best idea. Curiousity had gotten sidetracked in exploring the castle, and had ignored the warning signs of her battery life slowly dwindling down. After all, it was a castle; it wasn’t like there weren’t beds she could crash in if she stayed up too late to go home.

Only, now she was having a hard time finding said bedrooms. The door she had just opened lead to yet another hall. Was it worth it to try and find her way home instead? If she could figure her way outside, she could call up a taxi instead of walking home; she was sure she had a little bit of money remaining from her last paycheque. It could definitely get her to at least one of her safe hidey holes. 

As Curiousity stood there debating her options, she noticed someone else enter the hallway from the other side. Someone she knew, too!

“Why are you here?” And why did she feel more relaxed about the situation after seeing him?

[decodetalking]

“Curi?” His ‘mask’ hadn’t changed anything about himself, he was fairly certain. Although perhaps the fact that he had spoken to readily to her, instead of looking at her like she was a curiousity herself, and simply blinking at her meant something different.

“I was looking for Ai, but I got turned around a bit.” He walked up to her, tilting his head. She looked a bit...Tired, maybe? “Are you lost?” Looking around for a bit, he closed his eyes and concentrated.

“...I think I can get us out of here. My Link Sense feels even more keen today.”

[perpetualquestions]

( @decodetalking )

Curi wasn’t exactly the best at tracking people. She knew she was supposed to be finding her clone, but, well, things were distracting! Trying to focus on one quest with a readily available answer such as ‘where is she’ was less interesting than the dozen other questions she came up with along the way.

Of course, less interesting didn’t mean less important. So while it had taken some general trekking, she found herself in the right area of the city. Now to do some more precise tracking…

Or not. There was Yusaku! And while he wasn’t as ideal a person to find as even Ai, he surely couldn’t be far from the other her.

“Where are you going?”

[decodetalking]

“Huh, Kuri?” He looked at her, blinking owlishly. There was something a bit different, but this Yusaku had no Link Sense, and thus wouldn’t be able to tell that thus Curi wasn’t human.

Still, he knew Ai’s little sister well enough that this might not be Kuri.

“I’m actually trying to find Ai, or...An Ai, or even my other self.” He tilts his head slightly, frowning. “You are...Kuri, right? The Kuri I know? Ai’s sister?”

[decodetalking]

darknessfoundlove​:

Ai puffed his cheeks out. “You say that like it’s all our fault!” Suddenly he released the breath he’d been holding in a giant sigh. “He get’s on my case about stretching myself too thin – such a hypocrite! I know for a fact there’s at least two others he’s looking out for. Tomorrow I’m going to ask if there’s anything I can do to help him prep for class. As for today…”

Ai tried to give Yusaku a coy look, but his courage failed him when he turned to see his boyfriend holding out his hand. Ai stared at it blankly for a few seconds before slowly reaching out and taking it, as gently as he’d seen Yusaku care for his patients. Lacing their fingers together, Ai could feel even more color rise to his face. As he was, it took him a moment to process what Yusaku was saying.

“Eh?! I can pay for myself!” He wasn’t ‘well-off’ by any means, but he wasn’t cheap enough to let his boyfriend pay for dinner. It was the principal of things! He turned to Yusaku head-on, earnestly and seriously.

“What kind of Prince Charming would I be if I let you pay the check?”

“I mean, you’re sixteen, and he’s an adult. It makes sense for him to be stretched thin.” Although he had no room to talk about that himself. Entering a medical program early and still working at the family clinic caused him to be stretched relatively thin. Luckily Aki and Crow were working today, so he could hang out with Ai. “You know he’ll probably yell at you about trying to trick him into extra credit or something, right?”

Who, yeah, became extremely flustered, apparently, as soon as they held hands. After staring blankly for a second. Yusaku blinked at Ai, slightly confused at how flustered he was before continuing to walk. “I don’t think it’s necessarily about being Prince Charming, or paying for yourself. It’s more like...I invited you, so I’ll pay this time, and then you invite me next time?” At least, he was pretty sure that was how it worked.

Crow gave consistently confusing instructions, something about motorcycle races as a date. His adoptive mother on the other hand was just as awkward as he was.

“It’s kind of nice to be pampered, right? But I suppose if it bothers you, then we can pay for each other’s food? Or share, and pay each other’s half?”

[decodetalking]

Maybe this hadn’t been the best place to bring Curi, in retrospect, because if he had a million questions, then Curi would have at least eight million questions, and now here they both were as some strange creatures started approaching them.

A three-eyed duck in particular looks up at them, blinking all three eyes at slightly different times as Yusaku, at least, blinks back. It quacks expectantly at them, and he looks to Curi.

“Do you think...It wants food?“ They should have gone to go do some crafts. Or beat up people with foam swords.

@perpetualquestions​

[decodetalking]

darknessfoundlove​:

Ai began to pout as Yusaku slipped out of his arms, but his expression was soon replaced with one of glee as Yusaku handed him his present. “Aaww~ you shouldn’t have!” But it was clear by the Ignis’ sparkling eyes he was overjoyed.

Though he can process images in a fraction of a second, Ai still isn’t really sure what happened between that moment and the next. One second he’s holding the chip Yusaku oh-so-sweetly handed to him… and the next, his instincts have compelled him to toss the chip into his mouth and bite down on it much like a human would a potato chip. Without a second though, the microchip is crunched in between his synthetic molars with a resounding crack.

As he opens his mouth in surprise, he can hear the broken metal circuitry shift. Ai’s eyes find Yusaku’s and a blush spreads over a face already painted by what could best be described as ‘baffled embarrassment.’

“Umm…” he says, intelligently.

“Well it’s our-” He’s interrupted by the crack of the chip.

He lapses into complete silence, staring at Ai.

Slowly, he blinks. Ai is looking at him in complete (and earned) embarrassment. He has no idea how to react. He blinks again, owlish green eyes just looking at Ai in complete and utter astonishment. The thing was, thinking back, the amount of socialization that Yusaku has had over his life is relatively low. In fact, most of his conversations occurred in digital space in some way another. To be completely frank, he has not only never been in a social situation such as this, he has also simply not been in enough social situations to compute what to do. So he can only sit and stare, stunned.

“...

... ...”

After a while, whatever comprises his mind started to function once more, he puts a hand up to his mouth, something escaping like a...Cross between a snort and a cough, and a pffbt noise, and then he starts to laugh. A full belly laugh. Which was probably...Really weird for even Ai to see, as he turned around to go back to his computer, booting it on.

“...I didn’t...Expect to have to explain that you’re not supposed to eat it.” His shoulders still shake with the residual laughter as he shakes his head, pulling up the code on his computer.

[flyingspinkicks]

“You know? I miss the thrill of adventure and the dangers that come with it.“

[decodetalking]

“I suppose it is a bit weird just...Being here. But the fact that every few months something...odd happens makes it feel a bit more like home.”

[decodetalking]

The teacup pig snorts happily as it runs along ahead of them, letting out little noises at it goes along, to indicate to himself and Sumire that it...hasn’t found anything yet? He’s pretty sure.

“I don’t think being a fox kit is so bad - it happened to Ai last year.” He noted, turning to Sumire and shrugging. The pig continued trotting along.

“There wasn’t much in the way of instruction, but I’m pretty sure it would indicate if it-” As if on cue, the pig started to snort loudly, and running toward a corner. “Oh-”

@faithmasque​

[minimeteor]

“Is it summer already? The seasons pass by so quickly…”

[decodetalking]

“Is it? It’s still cold at night, at least.” Not that his home wasn’t temperature controlled. “I thought spring lasted until something called the summer solstice, but honestly where I come from we hardly worry about weather in the same way.”

[princesselmelloi]

( @decodetalking )

Reines had expected to team up with her Brother for this fight. The two of them naturally gravitated towards eachother, and he was fully equipped to fight nowadays. It made logical sense.

Yusaku? He wasn’t an expected battle partner. He didn’t even make the list of top twenty. But with no other allies in sight, she was making due with what she had.

“We may want to move somewhere with more cover.” They were making no headway here. It was hard to gain the upper hand with infinitely more enemies and the constant risk of being swarmed. Having something against their backs would allow them to narrow their focus.

[decodetalking]

Of course he were there to help Reines as needed - she was his boss, and maybe a friend? He wasn’t entirely sure, given the number of people he was certain he was friends with could number on one hand.

Still - either way, she was right. They were going to get nowhere like this. Looking at the duel monsters already on the field, he nodded. “I have an easy way to get us there.” Obeying the laws of this place certainly meant a complicated arrangement of his own world’s rules and this world’s, at the very least they had provided him with a key card for solving this problem.

Closing his eyes, his Link Sense confirmed its pulse.

“Appear! Circuit that leads to the future!” If this were Reines’ first time seeing a Link monster summoned, she would see two of the monsters already on the field disappear into light and light up a circuit that had formed in the sky. “Appear! Firewall Dragon!”

And from that circuit burst forth a dragon with a mechanical roar.

Running over, he climbed onto its back, holding out a hand for Reines.

“Let’s go, Reines. We can find a better vantage point this way.”

[decodetalking]

He tested the weight in his hands again, frowning at the edge of the safe zone. He and Ai had never had any need for weaponry - although after the CPNs initial attack, there was no telling what else may go wrong.

An anti-virus weapon...

He turned to his husband’s double, looking at him - who was distinctly weaponless - incredulously. “Would you rather use this?”

The weapon - which looked like a handgun, was held out to the younger version of Ai.

“I know both of you have had a much more difficult time than we’ve had here, recently events notwithstanding.” The doctor tried to offer a sympathetic smile before taking the weapon back, looking down at it. “Ah, well, honestly, that was pretty silly of me. Ai takes care of himself to such a degree it’s weird to think you’re just a kid. No, I’ll hang onto this for now.”

The doctor looks up toward the people he had bandaged up.

“I hope you have some abilities like that younger version of me, because otherwise we’ll have a hard time getting more supplies to this safe zone.”

@darknessfoundlove

[darknessfoundlove]

@decodetalking​

Feeling the telltale stirrings of a human slowly waking up from sleep, Ai gently wrapped his arms a little tighter around Yusaku.

“Nooo…” He protested quietly, even putting on that adorably dopey voice humans get when they’re half asleep. Scrunching his face, he hid it in Yusaku’s bedhead. Normally, Ai would jump out of bed on this very important day - dragging Yusaku along with him - but, just last year they’d had a big, energetic party more suited to Ai’s taste. Ai wanted to show Yusaku that he was more than happy to stay home and celebrate their birthday in the way that Yusaku would no doubt prefer. He was such a good and mature partner! …Even if his preferred form of “compromise” was him hugging onto Yusaku like a clingy octopus.

Still… he was worried he wouldn’t be able to stop Yusaku workaholic nature completely, but maybe he’d be able to poke at the Ai-shaped weak spot in Yusaku’s cranky armor long enough to convince him to take the day off even though Ai didn’t have any big plans for them to go anywhere.

“You wouldn’t deny your boyfriend a hug on his birthday, would you?”

[decodetalking]

There was not much better than sleeping in. Well, okay, he never slept much, if he was being completely honest, but today he had to get up early to finish his preparations.

He was, admittedly, relieved they were staying in for the day - the events of the past few months had been draining, to say the least, but if Ai was going to do him the kindness of not throwing a big bash with how drained he was at the idea of leaving the house, the least he could do was make sure it was still enjoyable to Ai.

Turning the best he can, he sighed and looped one arm around Ai. “Even if I did, it’s my birthday too, you know.” Implying, of course, they had an even say in this - although they, of course, would, on any other day as well.

Still eventually he had to wriggle out of Ai’s grasp and out of bed. Pulling on his hoodie instead of actually getting dressed, he ran to his computer, turning it on and pulling up some code. Double-checking it, he nods and pulls out a small card from his computer. Running back over, he sits on the bed.

“I made you ‘breakfast’. For your birthday.” Handing it over, he gives a small smile. “Using the code from that candy from Halloween - it should be what pancakes taste like.”

[decodetalking]

While he had his double’s memories - nothing recent, but plenty to go on with his own (not his own, his double’s) family - but also Curi and Ai’s relationship still being sibling-like. Which, of course, meant he was close with Curi as well - in fact, he had seen many pictures of a redhead who looked very much like Curi, but older. She wasn’t as young or as short, and both Ai and himself had aged as well.

So while he was looking for his double, he couldn’t help but notice the girl who looked just like Curi, and give a wave.

Noting the duel disk on his arm, he gesture to it awkward, fumbling a bit more than usual with a greeting:

“Well, it’s not - I’m not your Yusaku. I’m the other Yusaku - but I look younger, so you can probably tell.”

His double’s life made him...Awkward. While he was fine with his own life, the mixture of memories left it...Uncomfortable. It was as though he had found out what it would have been like to have a family.

@perpetualquestions​

[decodetalking]

darknessfoundlove​:

Hearing Yusaku’s voice, Ai and his copy both snap their heads up.

“In the kitchen!” They both call out at the same time and Ai’s copy pales in a way his own SOLtis body wasn’t able to quite mimic. The copy gives a disbelieving chuckle, as if the fact that his Yusaku must also have a copy just hit him. 

“I-I… don’t think I can do this today…” the copy says as he sinks to the ground. Ai watches as a human version of himself sits on the floor of the kitchen with his knees pulled up to his chest. The ‘original Ai’ - as he likes to think of himself but he’s not even sure about that anymore - gives his copy and Yusaku an exasperated look, bordering on hysterical.

“Today? I don’t think I can deal with this ever.” Ai turns to face Yusaku, “it’s not– they’re– I thought they would be like simulation data– but he’s not a digital being at all!” Ai flails his arms in a way he hopes portray his frustration. “He’s a bonafide human!”

“How does that even happen? Maybe this is a simulation… an important part of the scenario is always that the participants don’t know it’s a simulation after all…” Ai suddenly feels the need the indulge in his petulant desire to sit on the floor along side his copy and lowers himself to the ground. Soon both Ais are looking up at Yusaku with nearly identical expressions of helplessness.

There was two of them.

Logically, yes, there would be two of them. But there was two of them (two of them).

He looks down at both of his incredibly helpless Ai’s - well, one was his Ai. The other one was his other self’s Ai - and sighed. Looking around, he didn’t see his own distinctive hair anywhere, and so it fell to him to handle both the human and non-human Ai’s - both Ai’s, extremely similar despite their distinctly different pasts.

“...“

A sigh. “At the moment, we can’t assume it’s a simulation in any full or reasonable matter - while we wouldn’t know, that also means we currently can’t distinguish it. That, and, reasonably, there are other consciousnesses from ‘different worlds’ already, so it’s irresponsible to completely disregard theoretical astrophysics as well.” Walking over to the window, he squinted, trying to see if maybe his other self was approaching....

But it was hard to disregard that voice message. He turned to both Ai’s.

“I think it would be reasonable not to make this Ai leave without the other Yusaku, but it seems we’re on a time limit.” Placing his phone on the table, he plays the recorded voice memo on a speaker, looking to the other two.

“A ‘virus’, or something else, that will make you and the other Yusaku and-...” The other Yusaku’s family. “‘Unstable’, unless we work with Ofiuco-chan to get you back to your own...Home, I guess.”

It was awkward having to take the information lead on this.

“Whoever is ‘real’, and whatever is ‘real’, that’s our situation. But, we should probably find...Your Yusaku and his family.”

[decodetalking]

YUSAKU FUJIKI IZAYOI | SUBVERSION AU

No longer traumatized, a perfectly functional member of society. Wow!

Adopted from a young age by a doctor who runs a free clinic.

Currently training to be a doctor - yes, at 16! I mean if you’re canonically a cyber vigilante who only uses school as part of a cover identity and outsmarts every other tech-savvy anybody, then you’re probably some kind of prodigy.

Actually really friendly and well-adjusted. Still on the quiet side.

Works part-time as an assistant in his mom’s free clinic.

Dating his dramatic pathetic classmate.

TIMESKIP

After the events of Subversion concluded with him living, his mother disappeared in the years after. Despite these setbacks, Yusaku endeavored to finish his schooling and become a doctor to follow in his adoptive mother’s footsteps.

A few years after she disappeared, he was able to take over his mother’s clinic officially, and is now running things smoothly.

Married to that dramatic pathetic classmate with multiple adopted kids running around, especially being an adopted parent himself.

Very close with his sister-in-law, who is a bundle of chaotic energy and works at his clinic.

[zackpyo-deactivated20230420]

[decodetalking]

“Huh...”

“Why...Are these duel monster cards so old...?” He was into retro tech himself (retro for his own time and world, at least), but...These duel monster cards were, extremely dated. Although he was sure he could build a deck out of them, and knew he wouldn’t be able to find his own aces in here, it was a bit odd to see them displayed so prominently.

“I wonder if they have link support.”

[decodetalking]

This wasn’t new.

In fact, it had happened in a very similar way, except instead of feeling Ai’s presence on...Well, an extension of himself, he simply felt...Ai’s feelings. Not as some sort of extension, but some sort of...Constant awareness.

...

.....

Ah.

He shouldn’t be seeing himself. With his normal hair. Not just some sort of transformation, but...

No, yes, this was...Definitely Ai’s body - his memories were accessible and swiftly put aside. “Ai? Wake up.” He remembered this, at least, and popped out of his own phone.

“Did...We eat any weird food this time?”

@darknessfoundlove​