I sipped my wine, taking small nibbles of the delicious pastry between drinks. Though I had intended not to linger long, and to actively seek out duelists, I was quite content not to move. Returning to the cold did not sound appealing, and though I knew I was currently part of a tournament, my disposition had never been one prone to action. My attention was caught briefly then, by a man - no, a boy - causing a minor scene in the cafe. I cared not for the details, merely raising an eyebrow in disapproval as he made his way into a booth and settled his head on the table. He looked even younger than Saleen, most likely a student. Hmph, didn't he know this was an up market place? Perhaps he ought to return to the playground, or game shop, or wherever children like him hung out. Why, at his age I was attending the opera, and designing clothes for performers!

I returned my gaze to the window, raising my glass to my lips. I supposed it wouldn't do to underestimate younger people though, there were many who were incredibly proficient at dueling, and I would likely go up against a great number during this tournament. In fact... I turned to look at him once more, and caught him looking back.
"Aha! Then you shall be my first!" I announced, rising dramatically to my feet, pointing across the cafe at him with the tip of my closed parasol. It was simply perfect! Had I not been dwelling on the issue of finding a duelist? He was so out of place here, it was nothing short of providence that brought him to me! The majority of the customers looking at me with concerned eyes, I merely drained my glass of wine, before setting it down and tottering over to him.

"You're a duelist, non? Then you accept my challenge, of course?" I had always been very presumptuous, or so my tutors told me. But one did not get what one wanted in life without making a few demands!
"Come along darling, let us put on a beautiful performance!" With those last, haughty parting words, I made for the door, opening my parasol with a flourish and stepping outside.

I smiled at the brisk cold, stepping delicately into the street and slipping a hand into my dress to grasp my dueling deck. Oh, it was time for my lovely ladies to bloom!


Not that I stopped to consider that my challenge would be turned down, or worse, ignored. Why, one simply didn't treat Coco Valentine like that!

Perhaps I'd misjudged him as merely another teenager, he was proving himself surprisingly endearing. I couldn't help a small chortle at him stumbling over his words. He darted out of the door, and as I left, his manners were not lost on me.
"My, such a gentleman!" I cooed, smiling sweetly at him as I passed into the street. Parasol now open on my shoulder, with a flurry of pink fabric I attached my duel disk, now accentuated to match my outfit. We stood in the middle of the street, holographic snow falling gently around us, and a few patrons of the cafe and nearby shoppers had paused to watch one of the first duels of Domino City's tournament. It wouldn't do to let them down, the people demanded a spectacle!

"Oh how sweet. Very well, allow me to plant the seeds of your defeat!" I proclaimed, raising my arm dramatically. My talent for theatrics perhaps outweighed even my talent for dueling itself. But it wouldn't do to underestimate this boy, as charming as he seemed. He had warned me of such in the cafe, and I was eager to see his skill for myself. With our duel disks on, standing opposite each other, the holographic technology seemed to spring to life, and our stage was set.
"Now darling, duel!" And we began.

I drew my starting hand, and found myself at something of a loss. As much as I adored my princesses, their presence in my hand was typically unhelpful, and as I ended my turn, my winning smile had wilted slightly. As he called up a few familiar faces, the Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl, to be precise, and attacked my empty field, I tried to stifle the nerves. His direct attacks made me cringe, a frown now furrowing my perfectly made up face.
"Oooh, how could you!" I called across the field, glaring at the two magicians who had decimated my life points.

Still, my luck scarcely changed, only a few face downs and Dandylion tokens saving me from further damage. Things were not looking too fabulous! A niggling thought was taking up residence in my mind, however, as I remained in the game. Was he drawing equally unhelpful cards, or was he holding back...? His magicians were a constant presence, but they seemed to refrain from dealing damage. I wasn't sure if I was defending adequately with my meager resources, or if the boy was holding back intentionally... but for what?

"This is far from over dear!"

It became apparent when my dear Meliae of the Trees was left on the field, my opponent choosing to attack tokens in its place, that he was in no hurry to finish me off. As prideful as I was, such a show of mercy was intolerable, and I was determined to make him regret it! Though my first princess emerged, rising beautifully from amidst cherry blossoms, he was prepared, and disposed of her with a strange, magician oriented trap, calling up another on his field at the same time. However he was soon left with just one card, his Dark Magician, while I had drawn into a few resources of my own.
"Mmm, I fear you may have underestimated me, darling!" I called, as Meliae worked her magic to call upon, yet again, my Lonefire Blossom.

"Plants grow very quickly, you see, and if you don't destroy the root..." Lonefire Blossom was quickly replaced by Gigaplant, tangled vines spilling from the street.
"They will bloom once more!" And Gigaplant summoned a brand new Talaya, Princess of Cherry Blossoms, flooding the snowy street with pink petals. Finally, my garden was taking shape! They took some work, as well as sunshine and water, but once my flowers blossomed, they were difficult to dispose of.
"Now go, my darlings!" And I launched a counterattack, taking out that foul Dark Magician, alongside a portion of his life points.

My turn over, my smile had returned, and I allowed myself a small laugh. This match was very much in my favour, now! But I would not forget this, his small show of lenience. Had he thought me so weak mercy was required? Had he stayed his hand for another reason? Whatever the case, I could not rest easy knowing some child had looked down on me! Didn't he know who I was? Such disrespect could not go unanswered!