tushanshu_logs | Won't you follow me into the jungle

Characters: Pepper Potts, Yami no Bakura, Gene Khan and you!
Date: Throughout August
Location: Keeliai
Situation: Pepper is working on the Police Force, running into a Thief King, and getting ready for cast-off!
Warnings/Rating: None yet, will add as needed

A. Sky Sector | Backdated to late July | Thief King Bakura

Pepper is nothing if not curious about Bakura's split to his older self, but she's also a little worried about how volatile he might be. As anticipated, the Thief King isn't particularly difficult to find. She'd know that red coat anywhere. Her ka is hovering invisibly at the edge of her senses, wary. While Pepper has her deck and Duelist gauntlet in her bag, she's really hoping that they won't come anywhere near to being used.

"I hear you beat yourself up," she says by way of introduction, trying for a smile.

B. Jade Dojo | Early August | Bakura

Meeting the Thief King had been interesting, to put it mildly. It really was remarkable, getting some idea of what Bakura had been like three millennia ago. Perhaps a little unnerving, too. And although Bakura had refused to answer whether he was okay or not after their altercation (and subsequent loss of the Ring and the way his ghosts behaved), Pepper can't help but continue to wonder about his state of mind. That, and she's just curious about the Thief King in general; questions were her specialty, after all.

C. Hatal | August 1-16 | Open

Being anchored for as long as they have has been pretty awesome, in some ways. Pepper was starting to get used to what Hatal was like, learning it's streets and spending her fair share of time oohing and aahing and not doing as much shopping as the business owners probably would have hoped. Once they learn that Tu Vishan is both awake and leaving soon, Pepper makes the most of their remaining time and when she isn't busy (which isn't all that often, actually) she's taking in the last of the sights.

D. Around Keeliai | Open

Although Pepper was expecting to have some difficulties with the new government and the police force, she's really not enjoying having to deal with it. Still, she was and is central to both efforts going forward. She just has to buckle down and deal with the protests devolving into violence and the various other troubles the same way she always does: with a fierce smile and a ton of determination.

She can be found all over the city, sometimes alone and sometimes on patrol with other police force members, usually without the armor. At least a few nights a week Pepper gets in the armor and keeps an eye on Keeliai from above. Once they figure out that the turtle is about to leave Tavimbi, Pepper can also be found helping with preparations for casting off - removing anchors, shoring up structures, and so on. General, she's all positivity, but sometimes when Pepper is alone she looks a little tired or distracted.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Did you now?" the Thief King replies, surveying her. He knows her, because Bakura knows her, and he's not from the past per se. It's complicated. He's always been complicated.

"You might have heard incorrectly, since all I did was put a willful piece of myself back in its place. Have you come to scold me for it?"

Pepper's eyebrows rise a little. This was going to be interesting. Hopefully not the dangerous sort of interesting.

"Not exactly. You - the whole you - happen to be a friend of mine, and I don't like it when my friends get hurt," she replies, shrugging lightly. "I hope it won't turn into a pattern, while you're separated."

The Thief King laughed, like Pepper had told a joke. "Did all your questions get you turned around in your own head? He's not whole, certainly not more than I am. Did he really whine about being hurt? Pathetic."

He gives an offhand wave. "Either way, I've set some things right once more." He touches the gold of the Ring against his bare chest. "You like when things are orderly, don't you. 'Biahbenat'."

So, this is what Bakura was like once upon a time. Sort of.

Wow.

"I like it when things are how they should be; that's not the same thing. And there was no whining involved, he actually refused to answer me about it but as it turns out I'm not blind," Pepper returns, crossing her arms. "And by whole all I meant was the two of you put back together. Not the things you've lost."

Pepper is under no illusions that she's aware of everything that Bakura's lost or gone through, but she's certainly got a decent picture.

The tomb robber seems unconcerned by her correction, and equally unbothered by Pepper's sternness. In fact, he resumes walking, leaving it to her to catch and keep up if she wants to maintain the conversation.

"No, you aren't blind."

They pass a market stall, and he takes one of the fruits from the display without slowing, causing the shopkeeper to shout angrily at them.

Pepper is nothing if not persistent, and so she follows at a brisk pace. When he lifts a piece of fruit like it's completely normal to just take it because it's there, she's not surprised, exactly, but she is a little annoyed.

Rather than try to argue with the Thief King about it - she's certain it wouldn't result in him paying for anything - Pepper hands the shopkeeper a juulan and catches up with him.

"Should've guessed you'd go the blatant route," she remarks, mentally adding petty theft to the growing list of charges she hopes she doesn't have to declare because trying to arrest him seems like a very poor idea. "I know you're a fan of stealing things, but you could just ask if you want something. Or even do something crazy and buy it yourself instead of upsetting people just trying to make a living."

Pepper's reaction to his theft tells him more about her than she might realize, and half the reason he did it in such plain view was to see what she'd do. "Why shouldn't I? There's nothing here that I fear, no repercussion that I'd respect. Besides, isn't that why you're here?"

"I'm mostly here because I'm curious, but I'd also like to keep you out of completely unnecessary trouble." Or, really, to keep people out of his way, since the thief was unlikely to be lenient if someone crossed him, based on that comment. May as well try to keep things as genial as possible. "Plus, you might remember I'm a fan of red on you. Aren't you cold at all?"

It's not frigid out, but Bakura has never much liked the cold, and in his more 'true-to-Egyptian' state she can't imagine that's improved at all.

"I do recall that, and it seems that it's not a phase you grew out of," he replied, motioning to her aged up state. Against his chest, the Ring swung and chimed with the gesture. "And... yes, a little."

Then his expression grew roguish. "Are you offering to warm me up?"

"What makes you think it's a phase?" she inquired, and then caught up with the rest of what he had just said. Her first reaction was, of course, to be flustered. "I-- that's-- um."

Which, on reflection, is probably what he's after, but Pepper couldn't help looking briefly stunned, nor could she prevent her cheeks from turning a little pink.

"By getting you a different coat or something, sure. Not by-- you know what, I'm not even going to go there," she finished, holding her hands up.

Her reaction is indeed what he was angling for -- some things, it seems, never change. But he'll fold the red coat across his chest, the beige lining rustling with the movement. "Maybe not aloud," he smirked. "But you've clearly thought it. Perhaps we could start with a warmer place to talk? Unless you prefer the dojo, in which case I can go back and kick my sheut out on the street instead."

"There will be no kicking yourself out," Pepper replied, pointedly refusing to speak to the first comment. That he's essentially correct doesn't help things much on the blushing front. "We can go to a tea shop I like around the corner," she suggested. Her house wasn't too far from here but she's not entirely certain that bringing him home like this is a good idea.

(What is she talking about, that's an excellent idea.)

"A tea shop."

There was a long, skeptical pause, like he's waiting for the punchline of a joke.

"... do they serve anything stronger than tea?"

Edited 2016-10-09 22:37 (UTC)

The pause gave Pepper a little time to collect herself, including a private reminder that the thief was probably going to do everything possible to mess with her and she may as well roll with it when she could.

"Yes, a tea shop, and only if you ask nicely," she said, quirking an eyebrow at him, and leaving it ambiguous as to whether or not something stronger could actually be had. "C'mon. Maybe you'll stop implying things if your brain isn't freezing."

Unlikely.

It was a measure of character, after all, to be able to take punches both physical and verbal as they came.

"You're awfully concerned about the state of my well-being," he remarked, following her to the tea house. "And you seem very intent on making sure I don't go back to the dojo."

"I told you already. You're my friend - technically only a part of him, or you, but whatever. And I like the other part of him, too, so I don't want you back at the dojo beating him up again. It's rude," Pepper replied.

She paused before pushing open the door to the tea house, turning to look at him. Then she sighed, set her shoulders and decided to take a gamble.

"I care about about Bakura - well-spotted, go ahead and snark and tease and whatever it is you want to do. I care about him, which means I care about you," she said with a prod to his shoulder, "even if you're making trouble. Because you don't get to pick and choose a person's past when you want to be close to them. It's all or nothing. Now," Pepper continued, and opened the door, gesturing for the thief to enter. "Let me buy you a drink before you try to steal it."

Won't you follow me into the jungle

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