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penancememes2021-08-25 12:50 am
penancemods) wrote in penancememes2021-08-25 12:50 am
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TEST DRIVE MEME #27
Arrival
"Judgement has come upon you. God has deemed you worthy of Hell. But don't worry, it can still be undone," comes a soothing voice that echoes all around you. The voice promises comfort, hope even.
It may seem like a nightmare at first, despite all of that. Full of hellfire nipping at your skin and a sensation of being pulled down no matter how much you struggle or cry for help. Wretched, unseen hands pull at you, grip tight at your body, tighten on your throat, skeletal fingers grab at your face, slide in your mouth and jab at your eyes as they struggle for purchase. It feels like for a moment, they may snap your neck as they tug and pull. The more you resist, the more phantom hands are added to your struggling body.
It feels like they could tear you apart if you let them. The only thing to do is to let go and stop fighting.
And so you do.
Darkness and nothingness consumes you for a second, but only a second.
Initially, everyone opens their eyes to a long, dark corridor made of stone. They find themselves in what appears to be a long queue with other sinners, palm bloody.
Characters find their bodies feel heavy and stiff, bruised with odd hand prints here and there that they received during their journey down below. A massive headache throbs behind their temples. They are urged forward to take a numbered ticket and wait their turn in the long line. As they're ushered forward through the corridor, their first stop will be to see Lilith, standing outside her office.
The woman in a smart suit and a friendly smile steps forward to greet sinners one by one. "I'm sorry for your rough landing. We've never gotten it quite as smooth as it was in the past. Please, let me see your hand--"
Once she has the sinner's hand, there's the warm, almost electric touch of magic that soothes away the aches and pains, heals the wound left behind on each sinner's palm. Lilith looks satisfied with her work and gives a nod. "There, all better. Please continue on until you reach Death's office. He'll have your contracts ready for you."
There's a slightly wicked twist to her lips. "Please do feel free to ask him about any of those sins listed..."
And so on, sinners travel until they finally arrived at another office where Death sits waiting. Here is where you'll receive a contract detailing all sins committed. If they look at the list closely enough they'll notice it's written on with their blood. That explains the wound then. It's an old piece of parchment despite the freshly written letters upon it. Death will also provide slightly more modern smart phone. Think early generation Android.
Seems as though Hell has moved on up from the very old Blackberry type phone.
Once characters have their device and their contracts, they're ushered further down the hall. It seems to go on and wind forever, but eventually, they come upon the lobby of Penance hotel. Once there, they will notice several shops and other areas around the front desk.
The demon at the front desk looks rather bored, but when sinners approach? He seems to snap to attention to offer whatever help they might need of him. He will at least direct to food or rooms to rest their wary bodies, or recommend sights to see around the hotel.
Stand Your Ground While the Mares have gone, as per Death's bargain with God, and reconstructing Penance is coming along fairly well, the air is carrying with it a cold crispness that sends a chill down one's spine. Lucifer is still nowhere to be found, and if pressured, staff will say he's having talks with the other Lords of Hell, as well as God himself. Things need to be worked out, no matter how difficult it is for Lucifer to accept and swallow his pride. He won't be around to offer warmth to the Penance community and it may, in fact, be mirroring his current mood.
Or it may be the creeping sense of doom that's following so many around now that The Veiled Order has been able to nearly complete their next spell. Local demons will plainly say that God won't help them against this threat, that he doesn't care if Hell is destroyed, and others will be very hush about the situation entirely. No need to scare the local sinners, new or old!
Instead just enjoy the reopening businesses around the local area! Nothing is off-limits. Hellburbia seems to have suffered some extensive damage recently, but not to worry! There's talk of building back better than ever.
Other than that, Helluva Cup has a new spiced drink... and spiced everything. That's right! Pumpkin spice has apparently come early this year... and it may be a bit overpowering and in everything in the coffee shop, regardless of what you order. Even Bean, the 'friendly' hell rat the owner keeps in the shop seems to be feasting on pumpkin flavored meat. That's probably okay. Right?
Penance Library is offering a special reading of Leviathan-specific reads. The local goblins will be doing readings every afternoon for all who care to listen or to stick around and discuss it. These will all be fictional in nature, not historic texts.
Strangely enough, there seems to be a sort of curfew happening. While everyone will not be expected to be in the hotel necessarily, they must take shelter in the newly opened Club Penance, Casino Styx, Hella Shorty's, or other establishments. They must either stay the night in these establishments or be escorted to the hotel by demonic guards. These guards will be doing rounds around the Penance community to ensure no one is out alone. Do not fight them or they may surprise you with how strong they can be.
Additionally, anyone caught defying curfew knowingly or fighting back will be locked in their rooms for up to three days as a potential danger to the community as a whole. There are all sorts of dangers lurking out there and the demons are absolutely trying to keep everyone as safe as they can!
Otherwise, it's business as usual around Penance, so go on an exploration! Bundle up against the cold! Have fun!
Reach Up High WARNINGS: cutting, blood, torture
Whether you've been here for months or you're freshly arrived, your demonic overlord unfortunately expects some participation despite the current state of things. You can try and shirk the responsibility, of course. You can bargain your way out of it for a while. But eventually, you may find yourself trapped in a room just off the gym that's been fondly dubbed The Torture Room. It has all manner of equipment in there, along with an iron maiden even.
But don't worry about any of that right now. It probably won't be used.
You can try the door, but even with super human strength or every lock picking skill in the book, you won't be able to open it.
It soon becomes apparent what you're supposed to do when someone else is eventually shoved in with you. Both of your lists of sins will appear on a table that's been placed in the center of the room with two handy knives. You can choose to guard these or not care at all that they're on display.
"Unfortunately, due to Father coming back into the picture, I know that He will demand punishment be delivered despite our circumstances. I have chosen a rather easy one, focused on honesty and acceptance of your sins. Please pick up a knife and choose a sin from each of your lists to carve upon your skin. Aid each other in your journey, carve the words to help your fellow penitent be candid with everyone around them!"
The voice rings out within the sinners' heads as it always does, although Lucifer seems agitated at the moment, hesitant in some way that he usually isn't.
"I do apologize for this. If it was up to me, you would have been free of additional torment this month. However, there will be additional incentive for anyone who should try to resist the task I've appointed them."
It isn't a lie nor an idle threat either. The longer you wait to do what's been requested of you, the more shallow cuts that will appear on both of your bodies. Are you really prepared to endure this pain when giving in would be so much easier?
And more than that, are you willing to let another suffer along with you?
Eventually, the cuts will stop if you suffer them long enough, but you'll have failed this challenge and sustained more damage than if you'd just gone along with it. Satan will also be very disappointed in you.
Follow Me Down
Prompt I: Reopening WARNINGS: sex, drugs, alcohol, aphrodisiacs, body changes, potential kinks, violence, potential non-con or dub-con.
Club Penance is finally back! And with themed nights to start off all the fun. This night's theme is: Anything But Clothes. Guests who enter the adult oriented side of the club will notice the incubi and succubi who serve in it are entirely without clothes (and any ounce of shame!). They're eager to get right back to business. They're very encouraging of others to do the same whether it be immediately or in sexy strip shows.
On their trays, they offer drinks and drugs of all sorts. Shows are being put on on the stage as usual, the offer of sex demos with guest participation are still on the table.
As usual, these demons play under respectable rules in the club, safe words and all. They will also gladly exit the stage and let guests entirely run the show. They're on their best behavior tonight, even if the natural aphrodisiacs they give off seem to be amped up
Guests who refused to undress may also find their clothes randomly disappearing, or being torn off by some eager patron or demon who is a bit too into the theme! Ah, well, no need to worry too much. There will be costumes and lingerie to slip on to go home in. There's absolutely nothing wrong with a walk of shame back to the hotel in nothing but a thong, they'll assure. It's just another night in Hell.
For those who are really adventurous, there are also special concoctions that the club offers. These include:
For the dance oriented portion of the club, the theme is a little more lax. Instead of outright nakedness, patrons may be offered revealing clubwear instead. Things that will look mesmerizing in the lights of the club ranging from neon colors to clothes that seem to flash on the dance floor. The music will be thrumming in the air, pumping down to your very bones as you dance the night away, and all patrons will feel good. It will feel as if they could actually dance all night if they so wanted, even without the aid of any drugs.
It will be an all night rave with all the party drugs and drinks one could want! Live music plays all night. The band also loves to receive requests, so knock yourself out! They seem to strangely know any song they're asked to play.
Knock yourself out, give up any care in the world and have fun. You're already in Hell, so don't you deserve to feel good for a while?
Prompt II: Your Average Hotel Night WARNINGS: Alcohol and drug abuse, potential non-con/dub-con
With all the sinners, new and old, the hotel bar will be lit up with activity. Drinks will be readily available, there's food in the kitchens if anyone wants to bother serving it, music will be blaring whenever there's electricity, and overall, there will be an energy to the atmosphere that's absolutely contagious. Even if you aren't typically inclined to linger at these sorts of events there may be be a certain pull to stay and have a bit of fun.
You might not get much of a chance to have that in Hell, after all. One drink won't hurt, right? Nor will one more after that, and after that. Ah, sweet gluttony. Why not have a pastry next? There's some delectable sweets available just a few steps away. More of a meat person? Like things salty? Fear not, it looks like someone graciously brought all sorts of snacks and foodstuffs from the kitchens to the bar as the night progresses. Indulge! You deserve it.
Similar to Club Penance, the bar also has every sort of drug available that might tickle your fancy and some you've never heard of. There's no harm in experimenting, is there? You're already in Hell. The staff will offer to show anyone how to use the drugs or give advice for what to try if you tell them what you want to experience. Shockingly, they won't lie! Their advice is good word its just you might not have been exactly prepared for it.
There's a stage and a karaoke machine for those feeling brave or just wanting to torture people with some sweet, sweet renditions of The Devil Went Down to Georgia.
There are tables set up for all sorts of gambling and various bar games to entertain yourself with. Since currency as most are familiar with it doesn't quite exist down here, most of the demons seem to be accepting bits of your soul or offers to do chores around the hotel. You may also get pulled into a fun game of strip poker against one of your fellow guests for a few succubi that are having a night out.
Relax and enjoy your night. Coming here and facing your sins is the hard part, so surely you deserve to have a little fun.
Wildcard/Misc. Don't see something you love but still want to get a feel for the game? Check out our extensive list of LOCATIONS and write up your very own prompt however you'd like to! You can also add a "NETWORK" post option to your TL for quick, easy, and fun interactions.
And without further ado: Welcome to our new TDM for the September 1st app round! As always, potential appers and characters already in game are welcomed to jump right in! This TDM counts as an additional game event as well as game canon for those coming into the game. If you app and are accepted, TDM tags become game canon and can be used for AC! Please have fun and don't hesitate to ask any questions you might have down below.
If you have questions, comments, suggestions, etc., go here.
Navigation
| Premise
| Arrival
| FAQ
Rules | Taken | Reserves | Applications
Network | Logs | OOC | Memes
It may seem like a nightmare at first, despite all of that. Full of hellfire nipping at your skin and a sensation of being pulled down no matter how much you struggle or cry for help. Wretched, unseen hands pull at you, grip tight at your body, tighten on your throat, skeletal fingers grab at your face, slide in your mouth and jab at your eyes as they struggle for purchase. It feels like for a moment, they may snap your neck as they tug and pull. The more you resist, the more phantom hands are added to your struggling body.
It feels like they could tear you apart if you let them. The only thing to do is to let go and stop fighting.
And so you do.
Darkness and nothingness consumes you for a second, but only a second.
Initially, everyone opens their eyes to a long, dark corridor made of stone. They find themselves in what appears to be a long queue with other sinners, palm bloody.
Characters find their bodies feel heavy and stiff, bruised with odd hand prints here and there that they received during their journey down below. A massive headache throbs behind their temples. They are urged forward to take a numbered ticket and wait their turn in the long line. As they're ushered forward through the corridor, their first stop will be to see Lilith, standing outside her office.
The woman in a smart suit and a friendly smile steps forward to greet sinners one by one. "I'm sorry for your rough landing. We've never gotten it quite as smooth as it was in the past. Please, let me see your hand--"
Once she has the sinner's hand, there's the warm, almost electric touch of magic that soothes away the aches and pains, heals the wound left behind on each sinner's palm. Lilith looks satisfied with her work and gives a nod. "There, all better. Please continue on until you reach Death's office. He'll have your contracts ready for you."
There's a slightly wicked twist to her lips. "Please do feel free to ask him about any of those sins listed..."
And so on, sinners travel until they finally arrived at another office where Death sits waiting. Here is where you'll receive a contract detailing all sins committed. If they look at the list closely enough they'll notice it's written on with their blood. That explains the wound then. It's an old piece of parchment despite the freshly written letters upon it. Death will also provide slightly more modern smart phone. Think early generation Android.
Seems as though Hell has moved on up from the very old Blackberry type phone.
Once characters have their device and their contracts, they're ushered further down the hall. It seems to go on and wind forever, but eventually, they come upon the lobby of Penance hotel. Once there, they will notice several shops and other areas around the front desk.
The demon at the front desk looks rather bored, but when sinners approach? He seems to snap to attention to offer whatever help they might need of him. He will at least direct to food or rooms to rest their wary bodies, or recommend sights to see around the hotel.
Stand Your Ground While the Mares have gone, as per Death's bargain with God, and reconstructing Penance is coming along fairly well, the air is carrying with it a cold crispness that sends a chill down one's spine. Lucifer is still nowhere to be found, and if pressured, staff will say he's having talks with the other Lords of Hell, as well as God himself. Things need to be worked out, no matter how difficult it is for Lucifer to accept and swallow his pride. He won't be around to offer warmth to the Penance community and it may, in fact, be mirroring his current mood.
Or it may be the creeping sense of doom that's following so many around now that The Veiled Order has been able to nearly complete their next spell. Local demons will plainly say that God won't help them against this threat, that he doesn't care if Hell is destroyed, and others will be very hush about the situation entirely. No need to scare the local sinners, new or old!
Instead just enjoy the reopening businesses around the local area! Nothing is off-limits. Hellburbia seems to have suffered some extensive damage recently, but not to worry! There's talk of building back better than ever.
Other than that, Helluva Cup has a new spiced drink... and spiced everything. That's right! Pumpkin spice has apparently come early this year... and it may be a bit overpowering and in everything in the coffee shop, regardless of what you order. Even Bean, the 'friendly' hell rat the owner keeps in the shop seems to be feasting on pumpkin flavored meat. That's probably okay. Right?
Penance Library is offering a special reading of Leviathan-specific reads. The local goblins will be doing readings every afternoon for all who care to listen or to stick around and discuss it. These will all be fictional in nature, not historic texts.
Strangely enough, there seems to be a sort of curfew happening. While everyone will not be expected to be in the hotel necessarily, they must take shelter in the newly opened Club Penance, Casino Styx, Hella Shorty's, or other establishments. They must either stay the night in these establishments or be escorted to the hotel by demonic guards. These guards will be doing rounds around the Penance community to ensure no one is out alone. Do not fight them or they may surprise you with how strong they can be.
Additionally, anyone caught defying curfew knowingly or fighting back will be locked in their rooms for up to three days as a potential danger to the community as a whole. There are all sorts of dangers lurking out there and the demons are absolutely trying to keep everyone as safe as they can!
Otherwise, it's business as usual around Penance, so go on an exploration! Bundle up against the cold! Have fun!
Reach Up High WARNINGS: cutting, blood, torture
Whether you've been here for months or you're freshly arrived, your demonic overlord unfortunately expects some participation despite the current state of things. You can try and shirk the responsibility, of course. You can bargain your way out of it for a while. But eventually, you may find yourself trapped in a room just off the gym that's been fondly dubbed The Torture Room. It has all manner of equipment in there, along with an iron maiden even.
But don't worry about any of that right now. It probably won't be used.
You can try the door, but even with super human strength or every lock picking skill in the book, you won't be able to open it.
It soon becomes apparent what you're supposed to do when someone else is eventually shoved in with you. Both of your lists of sins will appear on a table that's been placed in the center of the room with two handy knives. You can choose to guard these or not care at all that they're on display.
"Unfortunately, due to Father coming back into the picture, I know that He will demand punishment be delivered despite our circumstances. I have chosen a rather easy one, focused on honesty and acceptance of your sins. Please pick up a knife and choose a sin from each of your lists to carve upon your skin. Aid each other in your journey, carve the words to help your fellow penitent be candid with everyone around them!"
The voice rings out within the sinners' heads as it always does, although Lucifer seems agitated at the moment, hesitant in some way that he usually isn't.
"I do apologize for this. If it was up to me, you would have been free of additional torment this month. However, there will be additional incentive for anyone who should try to resist the task I've appointed them."
It isn't a lie nor an idle threat either. The longer you wait to do what's been requested of you, the more shallow cuts that will appear on both of your bodies. Are you really prepared to endure this pain when giving in would be so much easier?
And more than that, are you willing to let another suffer along with you?
Eventually, the cuts will stop if you suffer them long enough, but you'll have failed this challenge and sustained more damage than if you'd just gone along with it. Satan will also be very disappointed in you.
Follow Me Down
Prompt I: Reopening WARNINGS: sex, drugs, alcohol, aphrodisiacs, body changes, potential kinks, violence, potential non-con or dub-con.
Club Penance is finally back! And with themed nights to start off all the fun. This night's theme is: Anything But Clothes. Guests who enter the adult oriented side of the club will notice the incubi and succubi who serve in it are entirely without clothes (and any ounce of shame!). They're eager to get right back to business. They're very encouraging of others to do the same whether it be immediately or in sexy strip shows.
On their trays, they offer drinks and drugs of all sorts. Shows are being put on on the stage as usual, the offer of sex demos with guest participation are still on the table.
As usual, these demons play under respectable rules in the club, safe words and all. They will also gladly exit the stage and let guests entirely run the show. They're on their best behavior tonight, even if the natural aphrodisiacs they give off seem to be amped up
Guests who refused to undress may also find their clothes randomly disappearing, or being torn off by some eager patron or demon who is a bit too into the theme! Ah, well, no need to worry too much. There will be costumes and lingerie to slip on to go home in. There's absolutely nothing wrong with a walk of shame back to the hotel in nothing but a thong, they'll assure. It's just another night in Hell.
For those who are really adventurous, there are also special concoctions that the club offers. These include:
Frenzy ○ The drug will be given to anyone anyone who asks for it. It can be snorted, injected, taken in pill form, or smoked given user preference.
Despite the questionable name, guests who partake really will feel the best they've possibly ever felt. They won't need sleep or to rest, but they won't necessarily feel the strain on their bodies either. They'll be full of energy and their mood will be amazing with no hint of nightmares or dreams anywhere.
The demons won't let anyone come down either, not once they've started and not until they're told a guest doesn't want any more.
Even then, they may still try to convince them otherwise. It's a party for as long as you can go, or until you completely burn out, it seems.
But with all good things come bad. It seems a side-effect of the drug is an actual frenzy as well. A frenzy for sex or violence or anything a character might want that they deny themselves on the regular. They'll feel this growing hunger, this ravenous need to have and to claim everything they think is theirs.
Some may even fade away into an almost animalistic sort of state.
The more the guest takes, the more they'll experience this sensation. Fighting it won't help either. Though they did sort of bring that one on themselves, didn't they?
Other symptoms of coming down won't be too different to those of other drugs. Fatigue, depression. Guests will begin to feel the effects of staying up for so long without rest or stopping to take care of themselves. They may also feel a certain longing for more, but it can be fought off with enough strength of will.
The drug isn't free either. The succubi expect to be paid in energy or through actual work in the club.
Bond ○ A potion that will bond guests together the minute one speaks to the other. The encouragement is that this should be done consensually, but the demons won't necessarily be checking. Once bonded, guests will feel what the one who took the potion feels. This includes pain and pleasure both with effects lasting a full night. Give someone the most intense pleasure of their lives or torture them until they beg for mercy!
For a really intense experience, both participants can consume the potion with mutual effects.
For the dance oriented portion of the club, the theme is a little more lax. Instead of outright nakedness, patrons may be offered revealing clubwear instead. Things that will look mesmerizing in the lights of the club ranging from neon colors to clothes that seem to flash on the dance floor. The music will be thrumming in the air, pumping down to your very bones as you dance the night away, and all patrons will feel good. It will feel as if they could actually dance all night if they so wanted, even without the aid of any drugs.
It will be an all night rave with all the party drugs and drinks one could want! Live music plays all night. The band also loves to receive requests, so knock yourself out! They seem to strangely know any song they're asked to play.
Knock yourself out, give up any care in the world and have fun. You're already in Hell, so don't you deserve to feel good for a while?
Prompt II: Your Average Hotel Night WARNINGS: Alcohol and drug abuse, potential non-con/dub-con
With all the sinners, new and old, the hotel bar will be lit up with activity. Drinks will be readily available, there's food in the kitchens if anyone wants to bother serving it, music will be blaring whenever there's electricity, and overall, there will be an energy to the atmosphere that's absolutely contagious. Even if you aren't typically inclined to linger at these sorts of events there may be be a certain pull to stay and have a bit of fun.
You might not get much of a chance to have that in Hell, after all. One drink won't hurt, right? Nor will one more after that, and after that. Ah, sweet gluttony. Why not have a pastry next? There's some delectable sweets available just a few steps away. More of a meat person? Like things salty? Fear not, it looks like someone graciously brought all sorts of snacks and foodstuffs from the kitchens to the bar as the night progresses. Indulge! You deserve it.
Similar to Club Penance, the bar also has every sort of drug available that might tickle your fancy and some you've never heard of. There's no harm in experimenting, is there? You're already in Hell. The staff will offer to show anyone how to use the drugs or give advice for what to try if you tell them what you want to experience. Shockingly, they won't lie! Their advice is good word its just you might not have been exactly prepared for it.
There's a stage and a karaoke machine for those feeling brave or just wanting to torture people with some sweet, sweet renditions of The Devil Went Down to Georgia.
There are tables set up for all sorts of gambling and various bar games to entertain yourself with. Since currency as most are familiar with it doesn't quite exist down here, most of the demons seem to be accepting bits of your soul or offers to do chores around the hotel. You may also get pulled into a fun game of strip poker against one of your fellow guests for a few succubi that are having a night out.
Relax and enjoy your night. Coming here and facing your sins is the hard part, so surely you deserve to have a little fun.
Wildcard/Misc. Don't see something you love but still want to get a feel for the game? Check out our extensive list of LOCATIONS and write up your very own prompt however you'd like to! You can also add a "NETWORK" post option to your TL for quick, easy, and fun interactions.
And without further ado: Welcome to our new TDM for the September 1st app round! As always, potential appers and characters already in game are welcomed to jump right in! This TDM counts as an additional game event as well as game canon for those coming into the game. If you app and are accepted, TDM tags become game canon and can be used for AC! Please have fun and don't hesitate to ask any questions you might have down below.
If you have questions, comments, suggestions, etc., go here.
Rules | Taken | Reserves | Applications
Network | Logs | OOC | Memes
no subject
once all the pieces are in their proper places, kaiba sinks to the floor. kisara chooses to stay with yugi, curling up against his side as she coos softly, bidding for more of that soft attention. even without being ordered to do so, she seems to understand: yugi could definitely use a friend right now.]
Not surprising. It takes a lot of will to take care of a dragon.
[but it's pretty gentle teasing, all things considered. they both knew damn well how willful yugi could be -- hence his punishment.]
I'll play with half the pieces. That should be a suitable handicap.
no subject
[Murmured, half-distracted as a little dragon makes herself comfy beside him and he pets lightly along her back. Otherwise, Yugi hms at the comment and doesn't take any offense to the ribbing at all. No harm, no foul. It's true, after all. He can barely take care of himself. How fair would it be to try to take care of another living creature?
But the second comment? Kind of offensive. His eyes narrow.]
No. I don't want you to have one.
no subject
You won't last more than a few minutes otherwise.
[...though he's starting to learn that yugi had his own way of getting his way. maybe they really were a stubborn match in hell.]
no subject
I don't care about winning. You're playing with a full hand, or we're not playing at all.
[Or, full set of pieces. Whatever. He's been too entrenched with card games the last few years.]
no subject
Okay, okay. Man, if someone could see you right now...
[by which he means atem. and he realizes only after he says it that maybe he shouldn't be bringing him up, but it's hard not to notice how emboldened yugi has grown in comparison. how brave he had become. brave enough to tell him off in his own stadium and brave enough to face demons and nightmares alike way down in hell.
not that he'd ever admit it, of course. at the very least, though, he gestures to yugi's side of the board -- affording the first move to white.]
Then may the best man win. That being me.
no subject
Game start.
There was never a chance he would win at chess, not with Kaiba as an opponent. He's no titled chess master, after all. He doesn't win, but he certainly lasts longer than a few minutes, and if nothing else his attention is on the game. Even as Kaiba takes more and more of his pieces, Yugi keeps managing to last just a little bit longer than he should, his play style a little more aggressive than normal.
He can't last forever though. Eventually the white king is cornered, with no subjects to defend him. There's only one move left, and one word for his opponent to say.]
Your move, Kaiba.
no subject
not enough to lose, of course. yugi wanted him to give it his all, so he did. but ever since they shared a bed, his thoughts kept drifting back to it. what if he hadn't turned away? what if he just watched yugi drift to sleep, what if he had drawn him closer? it occurs to him now that he really was hurting and he had just dug that blade all the deeper.
this aggression was unusual. yugi could be relentless, but his moves reflected something else: the pain of loss. so his hand hovers over the final piece, then he takes it back.]
I'm sorry.
[he apologizes. for what he said. for getting caught. and for that loss.]
I know you want to go home. I know you can't take much more.
[feel better, he had said. even as he made him feel so much worse.]
I know you deserved better. And so did he.
no subject
It's awful for someone who almost always understands his own feelings. Deflating, he swallows and tries to dislodge whatever is making him feel so incandescent.]
Thanks.
[Kaiba doesn't say sorry to anyone or anything, so he must mean it, and Yugi doesn't try to undermine it by denying anything was wrong this time.]
I'm sorry too - for dragging you out there. You shouldn't have to be stuck here.
[It was a reckless idea with no opportunity for a reward. Selfish. Maybe he's right. Maybe he's almost running on empty.
He eyes the physical toll this place has taken on the CEO - the horns, the claws, the marks he can and can't see. No, Kaiba must be wrong about that. Neither of them can afford Yugi being unable to take on more. They've barely started, and Yugi's hardly had to deal with anything at all in comparison. He has to keep up. There's no excuse not to at this juncture.]
I'm tired, but I'm not out.
no subject
[and the fact that he failed to recognize it really was a sign of his emotional stumbling.
there's no real use playing anymore; his victory was a forgone conclusion. but he does yugi the courtesy of tipping his king over, signaling defeat. he hesitates for a moment, something he also never does, before reaching out to yugi. kisara places her paw on yugi's arm, giving it a nudge -- go on, go ahead.]
C'mere. And don't say you're sorry.
[even though he just did. hell had made him no less of a hypocrite.]
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Yugi sighs, giving the dragon a soft pat at the attention and staring at the proffered hand. He shouldn't-- he doesn't get it-- they keep winding up in the same position over and over again-- maybe he shouldn't take it. He's tired in a way that has nothing to do with lacking sleep. It's good the king went down. Every hard fought game needs an end.]
Then I'll say I told you so. You really should have saved it for another day.
[As he shifts beside the nearly empty board, closer, close enough to hold Kaiba's offered wrist and feel the pulse beneath. It's warm.]
Good thing I owe you more than one.
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he's warm. they both are. and much as he might complain, it's not the worst feeling in the world.]
I really shouldn't be doing this, you know. That's your job.
[by which he means compassion, kindness, that companionable solidarity. but he doesn't sound too pressed about that either.]
You're the one who should be saying things like, "It's just fine."
[his arm hangs loose about his hip. it's not the slightest bit suggestive; just close.]
When did you stop believing that it would be?
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[The lilt in his voice suggests it's an attempt at light teasing, but... man, it's hard to do even that right now, straddling the line between humour and seriousness; wanting to keep up while also wanting to rest.
Kaiba manhandles him to his side, and it's... strange, leaning along his side, draped over one of those impossibly long legs. But not as strange as it could be given that it's Kaiba. Companionable, almost, except it isn't quite that either. And that's strange too, though not as strange as it could be.]
I... I do believe that it will be, Kaiba. It has to be. Everything will be okay. I just want to figure out how we get to that point.
[And how to make it until then. It's been days and weeks and months, and it feels like they're no closer now than they were when they stepped onto that boat. There's so many answers available for Kaiba's questions, all of them sounding more bitter than the last. Yugi's the hopeful one, always will be, but that hope did him no favours back on the island, did nothing for everyone who was stuck behind to deal with hot flames and sharp knives and terrible waking dreams and--]
Sorry, you're right. Just an off day. I'll be back to normal tomorrow.
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It's not just an off day. It's off an day, an off week, an off month...
[someday an off year, if they got unlucky. and considering their track record so far, that unfortunate trend seemed likely to continue.
the point was that you can't bullshit a bullshitter and this was starting to sound an awful lot like bullshit. not the mean kind, the malicious kind, just the sort of convenient lie you told yourself just to get by. and he was more than familiar with those. it's why he sees right through it, because even if yugi didn't mean anything by it, he can't subsist on it.
he can't survive that way. it was death by a thousand cuts, turned inward rather than out.]
And it's not normal. It hasn't been normal since the day you picked up that dusty old deck and blasted me with Exodia.
[his arm tightens around yugi. less aggressive, more protective.]
"It's okay not to be okay." Shouldn't you say something stupid like that too?
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Impossible to know, but if nothing else he knows he wants to be himself for as long as possible, and how to balance that with survival.
He nearly says it, "It's okay not to be okay." It sounds like something he would think, something he would say. It sounds like something he would offer to someone else.
Instead, he mulls over his thoughts quietly for a moment before looking up at Kaiba, head tilted up so they can make eye contact.]
Is that what you'd like me to say?
[He sounds genuinely curious.]
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What do you want to say?
[not what he needs to say. or what he feels he needs to say. what he wants, what yugi wants -- not atem. not kaiba. yugi.]
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I'm not sure. That this is strange, I guess.
[With a vague nonsense gesture of his hand in front of them. Something he has been contemplating this whole encounter that seems both unimportant and monumental.]
But I also want to say thank you. For saying those "stupid" things to me. I think I needed to hear them.
[More than being strange, it feels comfortable, and so he doesn't delve into it further. Simply makes himself comfy along his side, which conveys just as much as his words.]
I still have time to figure out the rest. "It's okay not to be sure right away," right?
[That sounds a little more like himself, he thinks.]
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[kaiba leans an elbow on a teeny-tiny shoulder and cracks a good-natured grin at the littlest king that could.]
Or strange being with here with me...?
[okay. maybe that was slightly suggestive. flirtatious, more like, but only if one strains to hear it.]
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He's still in that mood, but that snort before he responds is a good indicator that the... teasing (?) is probably working.]
Neither, actually.
[And he doesn't elaborate further on that point, given he isn't exactly sure how just yet. Something else to rattle around in his head tonight.]
Well, maybe a bit of the latter. We weren't exactly on a casual gaming basis back home.
[Nor a casual leaning-on-eachother basis, but that went without saying.]
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...yeah. Guess not.
[and this would probably be a bad time to confess he kind of left his brother behind in a misplaced effort to travel to the afterlife and duel their former roommate to the death. or maybe not to the death, because he was already dead, but at least to the point of righteous humiliation. he hums as he gives the matter more thought.]
I think we need a new hobby. Like knitting. Knitting seems good.
[he'd like to say it's less dramatic, but who knows. old ladies could get nasty with their crocheting.]
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You'd be good at it.
[Actually, he thinks he could be good at it too, except that sounds awfully boring.]
Not sure how I feel about you carrying knitting needles around though. You're lethal enough with cards. What about pottery?
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[oh yeah. he caught you looking, little king. and he absolutely will tease about that too. relentlessly.]
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Assuming we're going to be casually throwing pottery together now?
[Who caught who? Sure looks like Kaiba's been caught thinking they're going to be enjoying more hobbies together. Scandalous.]
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But I'm so good at it...
[and he's having way, way too much fun with this. maybe needling yugi could be his new hobby. at least it's fun for one of them.]
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[Got it in one. And yet, whichever answer is correct doesn't seem to matter. Yugi lightly elbows Kaiba in his side since he's taken up residence leaning on his shoulder, frowning all the while. It won't hurt, but it could have.]
See? We're already going back to the status quo. Things will be better by tomorrow.
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Glad you're feeling better, Yugi.
[and he means it. he's getting scarily good at gauging his moods.
but seto kaiba was still seto kaiba, which meant he still had to win at everything, so he pecks yugi on the cheek in one swift move. clearly the best way to claim advantage.]
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