September Catch-All | OPEN

[onethirdthesoul]

Characters: Ryou and YOU!
Date: September 10th~30th (after he and Yami Bakura clear things up)
Location: Around Keeliai, Mu-Hao
Situation: Many
Warnings/Rating: None yet.

[part a]
[In spite of some warnings from the Spirit himself, Ryou didn't wait to see if everyone heard their message. It's possible someone might still mistake them, but he decided to simply tie his hair up and tuck it into a hat instead of worrying himself sick. It doesn't do much, but it's a start.

Properly "disguised", he can be seen around the less shady looking parts of Keeliai, a sketchpad and colored pencils in hand. Even with the maps Solomon provided him, making a diorama of the turtle was going to need some personal experience. The map gave him layouts, but it didn't really provide that glimmer of insight that distinguished each sector. Even if he didn't have to toll away on the details like he would a game of Monster World, he feels the context of color, at the very least, will help.]

[part b]
He also stops at several food stands along the way, so passersby might notice him snacking as he diligently colors in little sketches of the more fantastical parts of each Sector. Is he still researching, or is he just gathering ideas for his next tabletop at this point?]

This would make a really cool final boss arena...! [Well, that answers that.]

((ooc: Prose or brackets is fine! If you want to do anything specific and would like to set something up outside of these prompts, feel free to PP/PM me! I'll add it to the top-level prompts.))

Comments

[denyamenti]

What makes you think I want you to go anywhere with it? I told you it can find things, that shouldn't be difficult to believe. It returned to you after it was thrown away on Pegasus' island, didn't it?

[onethirdthesoul]

[It may not be polite to stare, but Ryou finds it hard to do anything but as he realizes that something isn't adding up. He has no idea what the spirit is talking about.]

...I...don't know? I don't remember anything like that...

[denyamenti]

[ Bakura returned Ryou's state with an odd look of his own, but then... it wasn't the first thing the teen had blocked things out. After a moment, the thief shrugged. ]

Either way, I'm not just going to loan it out to you.

[onethirdthesoul]

[He wouldn't just forget something like that, he's sure of it! Unless the spirit took over his body a lot longer than he thought after he put the Ring back on...]

I understand. [He's not happy about it, but he understands.] Can I ask some questions instead?

[denyamenti]

[ That was always a possibility, but it will have to come up another time...

Bakura purses his lips at the question, as if he'd rather just order Ryou to leave, but instead he takes out the kettle and sets it on the stove. Taking a container of coffee down (there was always a substantial supply, given both he and Costigan drank it) and then held up a packet of tea as if to ask, are you having any? ]

You may.

[onethirdthesoul]

[Ryou stares at the tea packet for a moment, the question not really sinking in right away. As soon as it does he nods his head a few times, still looking surprised by the offer.

...After the shock passes, he quietly clears his throat.] You're probably not going to answer these, but I might as well get the big questions out of the way first.

I want to know who made the Millennium items and why.

[denyamenti]

[ So of course Ryou's first question was one that made Bakura think tossing him out of the suite would have been the correct choice after all. He scowled, the sharp and precise movements as he set out two cups belied an anger that ran deep, but tightly controlled. ]

Akhenamkhanen ordered it, and Akhenaden carried it out-- the Pharaoh and High Priest at the time, respectively.

[ A cold smile, devoid of humor. ]

They were also the Other Yuugi's father and uncle.

[onethirdthesoul]

... [Ryou can sense that anger, so he'll press on a little more delicately after this. He won't be able to get any answers if Bakura decides to just kick him out or worse.]

The other Yugi-kun... You mean, he's a spirit from that time too? Yugi-kun was never totally clear on it, but I had a feeling.

[denyamenti]

[ The thief's brow creased a little; Ryou shouldn't seem so unsure about that part. But the kettle beginning to whistle gave him something else to direction his attention to, and in short order a cup of coffee and a cup of tea were poured. ]

As for why... because they desired power and were willing to do anything to get it.

[onethirdthesoul]

...You said Akhenaden carried it out. [Ryou pauses for a bit, waiting to see if the spirit reacts badly or not.]

What exactly was "it"?

[denyamenti]

[ Bakura stared hard at the teen, unflinching. ]

A massacre.

[onethirdthesoul]

...Ah... I'm sorry... [He wasn't sure what he was expecting, but it wasn't that. It takes some time for Ryou to gather the courage to keep asking, his face pale and his gaze a bit more unsteady than before. He knows he's prying, and he's not sure he even wants to hear more. All he can do is apologize.]

Since you're in the Ring, does that mean...?

[denyamenti]

[ Bakura uses the time to bring his coffee over to the ledge by the window, leaving the mug of tea for Ryou to prepare even though the thief knows how he takes it. (How many times had he drank it himself, mask perfect, mimicking every aspect of his host?) The ghosts are a steady hum in his mind, active, listening. ]

In simplest terms? Yes. The Items belong to me by blood, moreso than they have ever belonged to the Pharaoh or his Court.

[onethirdthesoul]

[Then Bakura was killed in that massacre too...a long with a lot of other people he probably knew. That's what he gathers from this, and he can't bring himself to ask for elaboration or details because he feels sick to his stomach.

Even though he's pulled the tea cup over with a nod of thanks he hasn't added anything to it, nor has he taken a sip, which was rare given his appetite. Ryou just stares down on it, feeling the pressure of the atmosphere weighting down on his shoulders.]

I'm sorry. [The last thing he wanted was to feel sympathetic for the guy who hurt his friends, and took over his body!] Um, for prying, and everything else. I didn't realize.

I just have one more question about the Ring. After everything you've said... [The few things he was nosy enough to read on the network before feeling guilty, the things he said when he heard him for the first time...]

Why me? I don't understand... Aren't there better people to use as hosts? Even if it was Yugi-kun's Puzzle you wanted, someone else could take it from him easily.

B-but then again... Even if I had to give it to someone else, I don't think I could. [Not just because he was attached, but this was his burden.] Even with all the terrible things that happened to make it, I always really liked it.

[denyamenti]

[ It was close enough to the truth, and an intentional obfuscation, that Bakura merely shrugged as though to affirm Ryou's statement. Close enough because, cliche implications aside, the child he had been had died with Kul Elna... certainly little remained of him after that. ]

I didn't choose you, if that's what you're asking.

[ Then, as if realizing that sounded more of an insult than an explanation, clarified: ]

I didn't make you look -- somewhat -- like me or intend for you to share the same name. I don't know why you do. From a practical standpoint, neither of those things gain me anything, they just... are.

[onethirdthesoul]

[Ryou was so used to subtle insults at this point that he hardly batted an eyelash at it. The corrections, however, did little to help. Once again there was something that didn't quite line-up, and it left a pit of dread in his stomach.

Maybe he shouldn't ask. He's beginning to fear what he might learn.]

...What do you mean by that? I know you said we have the same name, but I look like you too now? Th-that's my body... I don't think that counts, you know.

[If it turns out they're distant relatives, he thinks he's going to be sick. It didn't sound like Bakura actually knew the answer though, and that was probably for the best.]

[denyamenti]

Somewhat, I said. I'm hardly so pale as you are... same colour hair.

[ Bakura shrugged, downplaying the rest of the resemblances and crossing his arms over his chest.]

I realize that must be such an inconvenience to you but given that I was dead and thus didn't have any control over it, perhaps you could ease up on the dismay?

[onethirdthesoul]

[Ryou reaches up to touch his cheek, wondering if he really is that pale that it needs to be pointed out. Surely his hair color just washes out his skintone! All the blue he wears probably doesn't help...

Shaking those thoughts from his head, guilt flashes across his features and he's quick to bow his head in apology.]

S-sorry... It's just kind of a shock. [He didn't really get the answer he wanted, but Ryou thinks that's enough for today. Bakura's getting testy and he doesn't want to push it. One he straightens up he finally starts to add sugar--and lots of it--to his tea.]

Thank you for answering. I know you didn't have to. I really don't understand why you humour me at all, but I'm not complaining.

[denyamenti]

[ Uncrossing his arms and picking up his own mug, lacing his fingers around the outer surface, Bakura waited a moment before replying. ]

Perhaps I'm tired of having to keep taking control from you by force, and getting written off as a hallucination. Make no mistake, I will if it's necessary... but perhaps it doesn't have to be.

[onethirdthesoul]

[He's...not entirely sure if he likes the sound of this. Ryou manages to swallow some of his tea down to stall for time.]

...What...what do you mean by that? [He has no plans to let Bakura control him like that again if that's where this is going, but the question was worth asking.]

[denyamenti]

Just thinking aloud. Nothing that's relevant here, in any case.

Was the Ring the only thing you came here to ask about?

[onethirdthesoul]

Oh... [Don't just think aloud and leave him hanging! Ryou looks to have half a mind to ask for clarification again, but decides against it. He sips his tea again instead.]

Mostly, yes. I feel like I have more questions than answers now, but I guess I didn't expect it to be that simple either... [He turns the cup in his hands, looking down at it. Bakura's probably implying that he should leave.] I was in the area already, doing research for my diorama of the city...so I just dropped by.

[denyamenti]

You're building one here?

[onethirdthesoul]

Wreath-san asked me to do it, for planning. He's taking care of the supplies, so I was more than happy to tackle it. Especially if it'll help; I don't really know what else I could do.

[denyamenti]

[ snorts, because he should have known ]

The waheh-maw has his fingers in everything lately. Though you'll probably find his calling more interesting than many do.