Chapter Text
You're Gonna Go Far, Kid - The Offspring
***
While sorting the groceries on the kitchen counter Joey listened to the quiet noises from the living room currently occupied by Serenity. He smiled to himself. It turned out to be a pleasant experience to have someone to return home to. More than that, it's family. After so many years spent separated Serenity decided to pay a visit to her brother, though he wished the circumstances were different.
"Hey sis what are you up to?" he approached the sofa from behind, leaning over the back of it, put his elbows on it and tapped Serenity's shoulder softly to catch her attention. Grudgingly, she peeled her eyes away from whatever was playing on her laptop.
"You're gonna ruin those pretty eyes we just fixed if you keep on spending so much time in front of the screen," Joey teased, easily snatching the laptop from her hands, closing it, holding it high out of his sister's reach. Though, it wasn't long before he fell for those puppy eyes, she made a habit of making, and returned her the thing.
"You're merciless," she tried, in vain, to sound offended. Instead, her defence cracked, lips twitching in a light smile that soon after developed in a wide one, from ear to ear. Serenity's eyes once again filled with such a tenderness she was always looking at Joey with, even though he was the elder one among two of them and should've been the one to give his little sister the look. Or, as Joey believed, he was not worthy to receive that much love from such a sweet person Serenity was.
"I did my eye muscles exercise, thanks, mom. And it wouldn't hurt to watch an episode of The Circle once a day."
"The Circle? And that would be..?"
Serenity's eyes grew even wider just when Joey thought that it's not humanly possible. She blinked a few times, then typed something on her laptop, fingers moving carefully above the keyboard, every movement nearly calculated - despite that, she was recovering pretty quickly for a man who spent that much time blindfolded - and a minute or so later she turned the screen to Joey, supporting the visuals with her own explanation.
"It's a reality show! And a very popular recently, by the way, cuz the topic is fresh. There are people in an apartment building that are communicating with each other only via a messenger . The task is to be the most popular and likable, even if it means catfishing," seeing the utter confusion on Joey's face she clarified with a sigh. "Catfish is a person who pretends to be who he isn't on social media. This term mostly refers to ones who seek romantic relationships online."
"OK, that much I can get. What I still do not understand why would people wanna watch it ? Or even more, why participate?"
"Uhm, to win that juicy 100 grand, obviously?"
That got Joey baffled and he turned to take a better look at the man with a money suitcase at the picture. In the end of the day, there's no such thing as a free lunch.
"Second thought," Serenity didn't give her brother the luxury to dwell on it for much longer, instantly hopping into action. "You definitely should give it a try".
Now was Joey's turn to widen his eyes, jaw going slack. He let out a sharp breath.
"What."
"Yeah, you definitely should," when that girl latched onto the idea, she would never let it go. "You won that lottery ticket, you, lucky bastard! How difficult can a game like that get?"
Actually, that statement needed a clarification. Yeah, Joey had used money he couldn't even dream of a month ago to pay for Serenity's eye operation. But he wasn't lucky enough to exactly win that lottery, but to have been an acquaintance of the said winner who kind-heartedly lent the money to Joey, who was on the black list of each and every bank or credit organization. Yes, Joey did indeed use the money he couldn't earn on his own. But it wasn't a lottery win. It was a debt, a massive one. And so here Joey was. And who was he to break the news to Serenity, who was literally shining with happiness once she managed her fear and took the bandage off her eyes. Her beautiful eyes — the ones Joey had saved, despite the price he now had to pay.
"Hey, the lightning doesn't hit the same spot twice, remember? I won't push my luck, I'm gonna need it," now he wished he had some kind of a lucky charm because the financial problem is threatening to come banging on his door.
"And Joey Wheeler's just gonna let a chance at easy money pass. Easy as that," Joey shook his head trying to get rid of the intrusive thought that this idea might actually be not as bad as he had thought at first. "so..." Serenity trailed, her eyes sparking wickedly. "You turn down the challenge" .
It was a cheap trick. A kid trick. Absolutely stupid. However, much to Joey's dismay and Serenity's cheer, her brother was, is and always will be falling for it.
"Where do I sign?"
***
"What's up everyone, it's Joey Wheeler, d'ya hear me?"
He looked to another cameraman standing beside him, uncertain of how he should be doing this. It was a temptation of his will to try and stay calm and not to punch something while storming out of the filming stage. And now they wanted him to smile at the camera and pretend the barrage of colorful props and lights wasn't making him sick. But here Jonouchi was. In all the glory, sweating and panting and regretting this decision since the day one he decided to listen to his sister's "brilliant" idea.
"Now..." the director didn't pay Joey any attention at all, as if he wasn't even there. And Joey was sure that nothing really would have changed if the man left the voice tape with the instructions because all he was saying was just basics and would fit any other participant standing here.
"Now that you're finished introducing your real self please introduce who you will be playing as. You stated that it will be Serenity, right? Go on, tell us about that chick."
These words made Joey cringe as he thought about Serenity receiving a comment like this. Swallowing a spiteful reply, he once again thought about pros and cons of catfishing as his sister. His sister was awesome. She is cute and smart and kind and likable and everything he is not. It's only natural for him to just try and pretend to be like her, to be her, if he really wants to win that game. But then there were the cons. Well, one con. This does not sit right with him. It feels so wrong to wear Serenity's face and to participate using her image, her personality. Even trying to fake those good characteristics that she has.
"I will be not."
For the first time on set Joey saw the director's eyes, which were looking at Joey for the first time ever, too. He frowned, furrowing his brow, but Joey didn't even blink.
"I must've heard you wrong."
"Don't think so. I changed my mind, chief. All me now."
A slight hint of interest that Joey thought he saw on director's face was gone immediately and replaced by total indifference and irritation. He walked a few steps and slumped down on a chair stretching his legs and folding hands on his chest.
"Glad you're so confident in yourself now, kid. But I'm doubting if the show really needs you, gotcha? Gimme at least one good reason not to kick you out?"
Joey didn't have one. It was so stupid of him to even apply to participate here, let alone thinking that he could actually win. As his true self or catfish all alike. But he drew in a breath anyway and slowly looked around at everyone.
" 'Cuz I'm gonna win."
The director's head dropped and his shoulders started trembling as everyone around him giggled. Then he threw back his head and laughed.
"You're gonna go far, kid!" he exclaimed in between and Joey counted this as his first little win.