Nazne Request Thread: Mari's Request: Between Light and Dark

[Nazne]

I've been hit by writer's block, so I need ideas-and I wanted to see if I can actually write well when I have a 'duty' to commissioners. << Plus it isn't healthy to always write only one pairing. So, requesting.

Rules:
-I reserve the right to refuse a request if I feel that it is unacceptable to my standards. Pr0n falls in this category.

-I will not write a pairing involving Wily or Gauss. :P

-Will (hopefully) turn out one request per (WEEK) :P, or two weeks if it involves a character whose personality and motives I am not totally familiar with. In which case I shall have to research it. <_<;;

-You may request one fic every week. If I refuse your request on any grounds, you can change it and it'll still keep its place on the "waiting list".

-If you want something specific included, say so. You should also give me a bit of a general guideline on what sort of plot you want in your request, but if you don't, please don't complain to me when I write it out and it isn't what you wanted.

-Will not accept requests dealing with fan characters.

-Will only accept fics set in a normal EXE universe. It's hell hard to write a oneshot when you start in an alternative universe.

-Will only write oneshots.

-Will not kill characters for the hell of it. Unless you have a good reason for requesting a character death (angst, etc.)

-EDIT: Requesting songfics: You must be able to send me the song, or if not that, the lyrics and a MIDI of the song's tune. I like getting into the mood of whatever I might be writing. Also, specify if you want the song to be purely ornamental-displayed at the top of the fic-or interspersed in the fic itself.

Please do request. I need all the writing practice I can get. XD

Waiting List:
Darth Osiris: Songfic (bear in mind, you will have to find some way of getting me the song, or at least lyrics and a tune. >>;;) Enzan and Blues?
Elementalman: Enzan x Anetta? Cheesy? <_<;

-BMA

[Midnight]

As Neko would probably kill me if I added something to her line, I'll request it here. I hope you don't mind.

As per minor characters, and how they are not focused on much, I'd like it if you based a fic on Nanako and her relationship with Higsby. The setting--how about....Nanako's first day in the chip shop? If you decide to make it a more romantic pairing I have no qualms with that.

The rest I leave to you.
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Today, these three players are after Big Bucks! But they'll have to avoid the Whammy, as they play the most exciting game of their lives! From Television City in Hollywood! It's time to 'Press Your Luck!'--Rod Roddy

The Kingdom of Loathing: An Adventurer is You! // I ♣ Seals

Avatar by Spork. I very much appreciate it! <3

[Nazne]

Nanako is Higure's assistant in the EXE games, right? ^^;; Which game did she first appear in again?

-BMA

[Neko]

Actually, I think her name is Shuuko. I don't remember there being a Nanako with Higure.
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[Nazne]

Shuuko didn't work for Higure in the games, though. oO; There was a female person standing behind the counter taking chip orders in EXE 4 or 5...I'm assuming that's who Midnight was talking about.

Or are we talking about Shuuko? Confuzzling. >_>

-BMA

[Sai-kun]

:O She's from the 4th game. You help her....with something. I'm not sure what. but she runs the shop for awhile.
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all i ever wanted was the world

[Nazne]

So it was the Numberman scenario-something about Higure owing money to people and the chipshop getting turned into a 'scrub brush' shop? oO; Then please forgive me if I don't include too much storyline nuances in this request. I'm hoping Nanako didn't arrive for work on that day. XD

Going right to it, but you might have to wait until tonight for it to be up. Tennis calls. /o/

-BMA

[Midnight]

Oh. Sorry.

Nanako is the woman who works for Higsby in the fourth and fifth games. In the fifth game, she is the sole person behind the counter and the one that runs the chip order system.

And Shuko? According to Axess, she began to assist Higsby, but that was only implied by the end of the episode that she appears.

I hope that clears things up.

Edit: You would be correct in your assumption. She asks you to hand out flyers for the shop in his scenario in the Eagle Tournament.
_________________
Today, these three players are after Big Bucks! But they'll have to avoid the Whammy, as they play the most exciting game of their lives! From Television City in Hollywood! It's time to 'Press Your Luck!'--Rod Roddy

The Kingdom of Loathing: An Adventurer is You! // I ♣ Seals

Avatar by Spork. I very much appreciate it! <3

[Mari]

Nazne, woman, whenever you have time.

Dr. Regal, his eyepatch thing, anime storyline (and yes, I am well aware of the spoilers within), how did the eyepatch get there on first place and what's it's purpose? Can it be removed or not?

Thanks in advance.
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Currently fangirling Edgy Eft and mplayer1.0RC1 -- firefox 2 is just okay, those are pure awesome.

[Mari]

Nazne, woman, whenever you have time.

Dr. Regal, his eyepatch thing, anime storyline (and yes, I am well aware of the spoilers within), how did the eyepatch get there on first place and what's it's purpose? Can it be removed or not?

Thanks in advance.
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Currently fangirling Edgy Eft and mplayer1.0RC1 -- firefox 2 is just okay, those are pure awesome.

[Kitty-Chan]

Ano sa...would it be possible for you to do a Blues/Netto; I have a few possible scenarios:

Netto is upset that no one will go to the amusement park with him; Blues offers to take him (I got that idea from Trouble with Insolent Nekos ^_^ ).
Netto & Blues get locked in a dimensional area together by a bad guy plot or mischievious friends playing matchmaker (for some reason, I keep seeing Enzan & Yaito, as a couple, doing this; I'm not really sure why -_-; ).

If you can't or don't feel like doing it, that's fine; it's still an odd pairing. I was just hoping for a little Blues/Netto to brighten the net.
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Need more Zero/X, Netto/Rock, Rock/Netto, Forte/Netto, & Blues/Netto. PLEASE!
Ano sa...could someone please make me a Zero/X, Blues/Netto, or Forte/Netto avatar/banner? I would greatly appreciate it...
Thanks for the avatar, Mandi!
People! We need more Blues/Netto & Forte/Netto on the net. Come on; help me out here! *gives everyone her Super-Adorable Irrisistable Sad Kitty Eyes(TM)*

[Nazne]

Midnight's Request - An Organic Lunch

“We have arrived at Akihara. Miss, isn’t this your stop?”

Yawning, Nanako looked groggily out the bus window at a few houses and lawns, a subway entrance located slightly to the left of the bus stop-“Leaving Akihara? Go Underground!”-and what appeared to be a yellow mansion on a hill in the distance.

“Yes, it is…thank you.” She told the driver, stifling another yawn and grabbing her bags.

A few moments later, the brunette stood on the sidewalk with a couple of duffel bags, blinking bemusedly in the sunlight. Akihara didn’t seem much different from the rest of the towns the bus had passed through, save for a squirrel-shaped sculpture in the fountain located in the middle of the park, and that huge…mansion. Nanako blinked at it and wondered who would have a mansion here, of all places. Its main entrance appeared to be guarded by bushes trimmed into the shapes of giraffes.

“Well, musing won’t help me find Higure-ya.” Nanako reminded herself sternly, and set off towards the park, where several children in their early teens were kicking a soccer ball around. Hoping that this wasn’t one of the famed “outsiders-not-welcome” towns, Nanako steeled herself and called, “Excuse me!”

One of the kids, with messy brown hair tied back by a blue headband, turned from the game. “Yes! Uh, can I help you?”

“I’m looking for Higure-ya.” Nanako explained, walking closer and beginning to feel a bit more confident. “Do any of you know where it is? It’s a chip shop…”

The boy grinned. “Right over there, miss.”

He pointed at the small building near the other side of the park, from which, at this distance, the word “Higure-ya Chip Shop” could be clearly seen.

Nanako felt decidedly foolish. “Oh. Well, thank you.”

“Don’t worry.” A girl spoke up cheerfully. “You’re not from around here, are you?”

“Where you from?” Another boy, rather wider than the first, demanded.

“Densan city.” Nanako explained. It felt like she was facing down interrogators. “I’ve got a summer job here as an assistant at the chip shop-”

“Oh, so you’re Higure-san’s new assistant!” The first boy exclaimed.

And then, quite to the brunette’s surprise, she found herself being tugged along as the group turned and headed for the chip shop-“You’ll like Higure-san, he’s friendly-” The girl explained-but then the two boys had pushed open the door, and Nanako, having been pulled inside, was too astonished to respond.

Shelves of battle chips filled the walls from floor to ceiling. Brightly-colored signs and posters were everywhere, ranging from “Bargain chips here!” to “Get your mega-rare chips here!” to the odd “Let Numberman welcome you to Higure-ya!” A digital blackboard on the far wall displayed names of high-scorers in some sort of tournament, and next to it, a large posterboard cut-out of a Navi stood in battle ready position. Nanako suddenly wished she had a Navi.

Her companions seemed completely oblivious to the absolute wealth of battlechips the store owner had amassed. “Higure-san!” The blue-headbanded boy called, looking around. “Where are you?”

“Back room, de masu.” A muffled voice came from a door near the opposite wall. “Is that you, Netto-kun de masu? Give me a hand here, de masu…”

“What…?” Netto asked, striding to the door and pulling it open. “Higure-sa…whoa!”

Wondering what had caused that “whoa!”, Nanako followed him to the door and was greeted by an odd sight. The contents of what seemed like an entire shelf full of chips was piled upon the ground, and from the deepest part of the pile, a white-sleeved hand was waving desperately.

“Oh my goodness!” Nanako exclaimed, hurrying forward and kneeling next to the pile. “Don’t worry, sir, we’ll have you out of there in a jiffy!”

“Thank you de masu…”

It took a while to extract Higure from his chips, and it was made longer by the fact that the man kept demanding for them to reshelf the boxes, instead of just heaping them on the floor. But finally Higure stood before them, looking slightly battered but very cheerful. Nanako wondered whether his tousled, flyaway brown hair was natural, or a result of having a shelf of chips dropped on him-either way, there was an absentminded, bespectacled-professor air about the man which made him easy to like.

“I finally found that platinum-coated Poltergeist chip from two years ago de masu!” Higure exclaimed jubilantly to his rescuers, looking for all the world like a child with a piece of candy and not someone who had been buried under boxes moments before. Netto laughed. His friends merely grinned. Not at all put off by the lack of response, Higure turned to Nanako, beaming from ear to ear. “I’m sorry, but I forgot your name, de masu…”

“Mitsunaga Nanako,” The brunette replied, and bowed. “your new assistant.” She added firmly, hoping the man hadn’t forgotten.

“Assis…oh, that’s right, de masu!” Higure exclaimed, returning the bow. “Yamitarou Higure-call me Higure-at your service, de masu. You’re right on time, de masu. I was sorting these chips, but then I pulled a box out from the bottom of the pile…and, well, you know what happened de masu.”

The children had disappeared outside. Nanako glanced over the rather messily-stocked shelves and smiled. “Yes, I do. Would you like me to help you with these, Higure-san?”

“Let’s get right to it, de masu!...and, use the standard Chip ID list, de masu.”

As she pulled boxes off the shelves and examined their contents, Nanako was amazed by the sheer variety of battle chips Higure had collected. She had seen chips like Hero Sword and Bubble Wrap at least three times, and once even found the rare Muramasa Blade hidden in a box of Long Swords. Higure had practically leapt with excitement when she showed it to him, though he quickly calmed down enough to warn her not to put any of the super-rares on display.

“The Net Battlers around here are mostly your everyday virus-busters, de masu.” Higure explained, gently placing the Muramasa into a plastic case and setting it aside with a few other chips. “They don’t have the skill to handle chips like this one, so it wouldn’t be any good tempting them with it de masu. Now, that Hikari Netto, he’s something else de masu…”

“That’s the Hikari Netto?” Nanako asked, startled.

“The kid who defeated the World-Three and Gospel, de masu. Did it all on skill, too. de masu…” Higure sighed. “Chipdata from the most powerful of all viruses, de masu! What I’d give to have something like the famed Delta Ray Edge in my collection de masu…”

They returned to sorting. Nanako, however, had began to realize how Higure could have collected such an enormous amount of chips. “Higure-san…?”

“Yes, de masu?”

“You travel a lot, don’t you?”

And then Higure was off again, talking excitedly about all the places he had visited-“Wasn’t going to let Gospel stop me from adventuring, de masu.”-and all the battle chips he had collected, thanks to those travels. Nanako smiled attentively and nodded, but her mind was elsewhere.

She watched, as Higure kept talking--but all the time his hands were moving, sorting the chips into their respective boxes and dexterously reshelving them. It was plainly obvious, in the gentle way he handled and looked at his stock, that the man was utterly dedicated to anything resembling a battle chip—but his scruples are honest, Nanako realized with a small surprise. Otherwise he wouldn’t have cared about whether his customers could handle chips like the Muramasa, he’d have sold it instantly and used the zenny to purchase more chips…

“Higure-san!” Someone called from outside the room, breaking her concentration. Seeing that Higure was fully occupied with his battle chips, Nanako quickly got off the floor. “I’ll go attend to them. Don’t worry, sir, I know how to use a register.”

“Thank you, de masu.” Higure mumbled, barely looking up.

The customer was a portly woman who merely wanted a few basic Sword-type chips to keep out Swordy viruses from her kitchen networks. Nanako handled the purchase easily, bid her a farewell-“Visit again soon!”-and was about to return to the back room when a gaggle of schoolchildren crowded into the shop and dispersed among the various shelves. A quick glance at her PET told Nanako that school had released for lunch break.

“Which reminds me.” She muttered, glancing at the closed door of the back room one last time before rushing off to watch over the children.

Higure was right, the brunette thought, smiling slightly as she watched a group with their noses pressed to the glass of a cabinet. “Rare” chips wouldn’t last a minute in this crowd. Even so, she had her hands full with requests for High Cannons and whatnot for quite a while. When the youthful crowd had finally left for school again, Nanako headed for the back room.

“Higure-san?” She called. “It’s lunch time, sir.”

“Just a moment, de masu…”

Nanako sighed. “Sir, technically it’s long past lunch time, and you’ve been in there for half the day. I would hate to see you collapse from hunger.”

Silence. She waited for a while, but no further response came. Nanako felt her own stomach grumbling, waited for a further moment, then turned towards the door, calling after her, “I’ll be back in half an hour after lunch!”

“Come back soon, de masu…”

Apparently Higure had forgotten that she now worked there. Nanako shook her head, marveling at the man’s obsession. Maybe this was why he was so thin…too engrossed in his business to even eat lunch.

“Then I’ll have to look after him. Make sure he doesn’t starve himself.” She told herself resolutely. “Which means I’ll have to buy him lunch…oh well. It can’t cost that much.”

Luckily, there was a rather cheap food-and-flowers stand located near the park. Nanako bought two box lunches—“Completely organic.” The green-haired girl behind the stand told her, smiling—and ate one on the bench next to the squirrel fountain. It was very good, she thought, for organic food.

Upon returning to the chip shop, Nanako found it empty. Apparently Higure was still in the back room. She knocked on the door, was greeted by a “I’ll be right there, de masu…”, and opened it, revealing Higure still sitting among boxes of chips in apparently the exact same position she had left him in.

“Higure-san, I’ve brought you food.” Nanako told him, setting the box lunch firmly in his lap. Higure looked up at her, blinking owlishly. “It’s completely organic. You’ll like it.”

“…you brought lunch, de masu?”

Nanako watched Higure eating for a moment, then, remembering that it was impolite to do so, hastily resumed her task of sorting out chips. Though, by watching him eat, she thought, pulling a Guard out of a box of Cannons, you wouldn’t think he had refused lunch moments ago…

“Thank you, de masu.”

She looked up, and was startled to see Higure smiling at her. The man indicated the lunch box in his lap, which was now empty. “That was one of Saloma’s, wasn’t it de masu? Distinctive flowery flavor, de masu.”

“Yes.” Nanako replied, and grinned tentatively. “Did you like it…?”

“Of course, de masu. Saloma makes the best box lunches de masu.” Higure shook his head, closed the box with a snap, and sat back, looking at the ceiling. “Did you know, that was the first lunch I think I’ve had in…ages, de masu.”

“Really?” Nanako asked, and before she could stop herself, added, “So that’s why you’re so thin. You should really eat more.”

Higure stared at her for a moment, then chuckled. “And the first time I’ve actually had someone force me to eat—I did a good day’s work when I hired you, de masu. You will stay, won’t you de masu?”

Oddly enough, Nanako found her cheeks turning warm. She was sure they were now bright red, but—hopefully—they wouldn’t be noticeable in the rather dark room. “Well, if I didn’t, who’d make sure you didn’t starve yourself?”

“She’s right, Higure-san.” A digital-sounding voice came from somewhere around Higure’s waist. Nanako started, then realized that it was a Navi talking. “You never listen to me when I tell you, besides.”

“You too, Numberman de masu?” Higure asked in mock gloom. “I am misunderstood de masu…”

“But at least you’ll be well-fed.” Nanako replied, unmoved.

“How true de masu. Well, let’s get back to these chips…Numberman, how did the deal go, de masu?”

And the Operator and Navi were off, chatting. Nanako merely smiled. It would definitely be a challenge, looking after someone besides herself for a change--especially someone so dedicated to his work that he could forget to eat.

But she liked challenges, de masu.

- - - - - - - - - - -

Critiques welcome even if you're not Midnight. XD Mari, I'll try and get to that fic as soon as I can, but I doubt I'll have time tomorrer. Kitty-Chan, I'll be thinking about your request for a while. Most likely I'll be able to do it. ^^;;

-BMA

[Blue Bommer]

That was a unique story. I liked when Nanako forced Higure to eat. Great job on the detail on his dedacation to chips.
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[Darth Osiris]

I would like a songfic to "Wake Me Up When September Ends" by Green Day. I'm good with Blues x Anyone, just as long as it's angsty. The main premise is a year after Enzan uses the Dark Chip.

[Nazne]

When you say 'songfic', do you mean having lyrics dispersed throughout the fic, or have the song at the top and then the story? Or just something resembling the song? >>

-BMA

[Darth Osiris]

Just put the lyrics where they seem to fit.

[Midnight]

*raucous applause*

I absolutely adored this story. Nothing about it detracted from the overall flavor of the fic, and I found that it was richly detailed--which only served to make the story that much more effective. Somehow, though, I imagined Nanako to be a bit more insecure--as her dialogue in EXE4 made her out to be a bit panicky--but then again, there is a LOT of maneuvering room for the persona of a minor character, no?

Many thanks again, and I look forward to seeing your future works. Cheers!
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Today, these three players are after Big Bucks! But they'll have to avoid the Whammy, as they play the most exciting game of their lives! From Television City in Hollywood! It's time to 'Press Your Luck!'--Rod Roddy

The Kingdom of Loathing: An Adventurer is You! // I ♣ Seals

Avatar by Spork. I very much appreciate it! <3

[Nazne]

To be honest, I was getting very tired of Shuuko's constant depression in the Anime, and I wanted to make Nanako out to be someone with a bit more force and hard-hitting personality. XD I should probably go play the games again on things like these, though.

Thanks for the comment ~/o/ Mari, your Regal fic might be slightly late--I hafta read deeper into Regal's story first. ^^;;

EDIT: And Darth Osiris, I would appreciate it if you could provide me with a source where I may obtain this song, or if not that, then a MIDI of the song's tune and its lyrics.

-BMA

[Plantman]

Ahh, Nazne. I love this fanfic. It is quite long and substancia and I personally like the way you portrayed Nanako. I take it you mixed her up a bit between her EXE4 developement to her slightly more confident attitude in EXE5.

I think you did very well portraying Higure as well. Excelent job with the characterization and I personally enjoyed the fanfic very much. I honestly didn't find any typos but I'm the last person to find typos to begin with XD
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Hecha en MÉXICO - Avatar by Me.
"Logic is the Ultimate Weapon."

[Plantman]

Ahh, Nazne. I love this fanfic. It is quite long and substancia and I personally like the way you portrayed Nanako. I take it you mixed her up a bit between her EXE4 developement to her slightly more confident attitude in EXE5.

I think you did very well portraying Higure as well. Excelent job with the characterization and I personally enjoyed the fanfic very much. I honestly didn't find any typos but I'm the last person to find typos to begin with XD
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Hecha en MÉXICO - Avatar by Me.
"Logic is the Ultimate Weapon."

[Kitty-Chan]

I really liked your story; I haven't played EXE4 yet, but I still like this. I'm glad someone is helping Numberman look after Higure; we obsessive people need that. ^_^
Yay! :D BluNett shall rule the net!
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Need more Zero/X, Netto/Rock, Rock/Netto, Forte/Netto, & Blues/Netto. PLEASE!
Ano sa...could someone please make me a Zero/X, Blues/Netto, or Forte/Netto avatar/banner? I would greatly appreciate it...
Thanks for the avatar, Mandi!
People! We need more Blues/Netto & Forte/Netto on the net. Come on; help me out here! *gives everyone her Super-Adorable Irrisistable Sad Kitty Eyes(TM)*

[Wackoman.EXE]

Wow. This really makes you realize how obessive Higure really is! Excellent Nazne. I've only read a few of your works, but this one was excellent! Keep up the good work.
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