[Event] It couldn't last forever.

[helpusduelist]

[The lights going out had certainly surprised Henry, but he had been prepared for such a thing. He didn't fully understand the "electricity" that this place seemed to have, and thus, lacking that understanding, he had decided to prepare in case it disappeared.

Just like it had now.

Candles in that old-style holder and lit, Henry at least had some visibility despite the pressing darkness. Making sure to store away the others (at least after making sure Eleanor and Jack had ones themselves) he's started off into the Campus, looking for anyone lost in this darkness to help them find their way back to their dorms, or wherever else it was they wanted to go.]

Comments

[fluffydeathdealer]

[Why...? How-?

What is this guy?! he thinks to himself, staring at Henry as if he's looking at a particularly dangerous ghost.]

Don't bullshit me! You can't possibly have that kind of power!

[helpusduelist]

...?

[Henry sits up fully, shifting one leg up to drape his arm over his knee.]

I assure you, that is how I was taught and how all of the duelists of my time operate. It does take time and effort to bring the spirits of the monsters you need to your cards, but it's hardly impossible.

....

Bakura... you didn't really think my Charmers were manifesting from their home, did you?

[fluffydeathdealer]

Of course I did! That's how every duelist does it! You can't manifest a creature from the other world into the human world for that long a time! It's not possible! It's absurd! Even developing the power to summon them for a short time should have wrecked your bodies to the point of needing massive amounts of time to recover!

[His voice is honestly rather freaked out. To manifest spirits like that... what the hell kind of magic do these people use?!]

[helpusduelist]

[In response to Bakura's freaking out, Henry just simply looks utterly confused and lost. He shakes his head a little, trying to figure out how to explain this.]

We don't manifest them here constantly. You saw it yourself; Eria and Hiita were just in spiritual forms and could not affect anything at all, only create illusions. That's because, without tapping into my energy, that's the most they can manifest themselves, and in order to use my energy I have to be in Deck Leader form; there's no way to summon them without that fusion.

I truly have no idea what you want me to say. That is how it is. If you're really certain that it's impossible, I can lend you one of my cards to examine to prove it yourself?

[fluffydeathdealer]

Even manifesting the spirit forms shouldn't be doable... the gate between worlds has been closed! The only way Malik and I were able to do it was because we are already contaminated by darkness from that world.

[Could there be a leak in the barriers where Henry was from? He shakes his head, reaching into his pockets to retrieve the card Henry lent to him as part of their deal. Closing his eyes, he focuses on it, feeling it out. There's something like distress from the card, but he lets it go after a moment.]

Incredible...

[His hand is shaking.]

This power... Where could it have come from? Even I can't pull the souls of my monsters into this world for long periods without pulling the world itself with it.

[helpusduelist]

It's how things have been for as long as I can remember. My mother was taught by her father, her father by his, and it likely stretches back even further to some degree.

It's not a "common" talent, so to speak -- not just anyone can learn to do it. Only those with strong enough magical talent, but there's no needed taint or contamination in order to be taught it. If you have the potential, it's a matter of discipline, training, knowledge, and willpower.

When you first begin, of course you need long periods of time to recover. Even seasoned duelists can have their bodies suffer if they try too much at once; with the threat you two had made, I had pushed myself to summon the Charmers too quickly and fell ill for a few days as a result.

[fluffydeathdealer]

[He waves the card briefly, as if trying to make the spirit inside dizzy, before putting it back in his pocket.]

I wondered why your summons before seemed so intangible... and why you didn't need to be holding the card to do it.

I can't think of an explaination that makes sense to me. I thought you people were powerful before, but now I see I've been underestimating you on a massive level.

[This time the shiver has nothing to do with cold.]

[helpusduelist]

[There's a yelped squeak from the card when he shakes it, along with Lyna's unhappiness. She'll kick you in the soul-shins, dammit!

Henry himself is... perked. The idea that it's strange -- even terrifying -- to Bakura is interesting. He hadn't even thought that it was done differently, though now that he thinks about it, Rosenkreuz never mentioned Deck Leader armor on the two when the monsters were present. Were they really stuck only temporarily summoning the spirits?

...it's given them a leg up, and a desperately needed one considering how helpless they were against the Rod and Ring. Part of Henry's disgust from those things is out of fear. They were powerful, clearly, and they had already brought horrific misfortune to the group.

Suddenly, he's feeling a little bit better.]

And we underestimated you at first as well. At least this time, it didn't end in a death.

[fluffydeathdealer]

[As if to tease her, he mockingly presses a kiss to the card before he tucks it away.

It doesn't please him, knowing they have this sort of power... but it does make it more of a challenge if it comes to pass. He's going to need to work on backup plans for if they turn enemy once more.]

Yeah. I suppose that's something. I'd rather find it out like this than have you try to kill me and discover it then.

[helpusduelist]

You told me about your Parasite Mind and Soul-Body Transfer. I've told you about our decks. That makes us even on the front of trying to keep the peace, doesn't it?

1/2

[fluffydeathdealer]

I'd agree to that. Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to go to sleep.

Later.

[He gives an almost insolent wave. Lot to think of here.]

[fluffydeathdealer]

Ah...?

[It's warm... For the first time that afternoon, he feels warm. Why is he sitting in front of a fire, wrapped up so warmly?

Not that he minds.]

[helpusduelist]

[Henry notes the change and stands up, walking over to settle down next to Ryou.]

Good... well, I doubt it's morning, but it's hard to tell.

[fluffydeathdealer]

Hello, Henry! I'm not sure either... I found a watch earlier, but I don't know if it's accurate.

[Wait a minute. This warm thing...]

This is... your cape, right? Is it big enough to wrap around both of us, do you think?

[helpusduelist]

It definitely is. If you don't want to rest your head on the ground, we could roll your jacket up and rest our heads on that, then let the fire and cloak warm us up.

[He adjusts the leather bracelets on his wrists for a moment, gently brushing some of Ryou's hair aside. It's already becoming a habit, but he can't help it. It feels comforting to Henry too.]

How are you feeling?

[fluffydeathdealer]

Surprisingly good. It's really warm like this! I haven't felt this good for a while.

[His other self must have been sitting in front of the fire for a while... For once, he's grateful. The chill that would have wracked his body with pain in this condition has been driven back by the fire and the warmth of the cape and coat combo.

He smiles brightly at the touch, already becoming familiar. Carefully, he takes the jacket off. It's thick and long enough that it's at least a fitting pillow, if not the most comfortable.]

Here!

[helpusduelist]

I'm glad to hear that! I've been worried about you, especially with the nature of those wounds.

[Henry nods, taking it and rolling it up with practiced ease, setting it down against the ground. He shifts to be next to Ryou, pulling some of the cape out from under him and laying down. He's sure to make sure that the side over by him has the large brooch as to spare Ryou the cold of the metal ring.

Henry's skin is actually chilled some, even the fire not fully enough to chase away the cold that had been sinking into the king's skin.]

[fluffydeathdealer]

[Ryou frowns a little at the chill, carefully rearranging the cape so Henry is covered more. It means he has to press a little closer, but it's not like he minds. If his warmth can help Henry, he'd glad to do it.]

There... That's better.

[Truthfully, he doesn't know if he'd be able to handle it if this cold goes on much longer. His own body is delightfully warm, for the most part, and he's careful to keep the Ring away from Henry's body, to prevent him getting too cold.]

[helpusduelist]

[Henry turns a little, lacing his arms around Ryou to pull them a bit closer still. It's a very gentle tug, but it's two-fold: both to warm himself up a little, and to ensure that his notson stays warmed up so his injuries don't get much worse.]

That is a bit better. It's cold to stay out here for so long... not an experience I had hoped to repeat.

[fluffydeathdealer]

It'd be worse inside. Even though there's some heat retention within there, the darkness would just make everyone go crazy.

[He relaxes, cuddling up against his notfather. It doesn't feel so bad like this. Hard to believe he's only known this guy for a couple of days. It's like Henry's a family member or something.]

[helpusduelist]

[He certainly acts like it... and to be honest, Henry is thinking of damning everything else and openly accepting it like that. It's strange, to have someone have gotten their way into his heart so quickly when it was only his family, Christopher and Jack who had ever held spots like that...

But not in a bad way. A bit more solemn expression crosses Henry's face and he suddenly places a light kiss on Ryou's head, as if lost in his own thoughts.]

Mmm...

[He does manage to register enough to respond.]

It's a matter of which is worse. Suffering of the body and possible illness, or suffering of the mind and lasting scars.

[fluffydeathdealer]

[Ryou starts at that, surprised. It's strange to him too, if not really uncomfortable. Part of him has always been a lonely child, desperate for friends, for family, for anything resembling affetion. Without his sister, or his mother... with his father gone so often... with the self-enforced isolation due to the suffering of those around him... it was only natural. Part of him has always been crying out for something like a parental figure in his life.

He didn't expect to find it here, and especially not so suddenly. But then, nobody really did expect things like this, right?]

The body can heal much easier... but I think it comes down to the individual. Some people would find it easier to handle the dark than the cold, and vice versa.

[helpusduelist]

And then you have us, cuddled warmly out here by a fire under the moonlight.

[He felt that start, frowning a little and shifting to try to meet Ryou's eyes proper.]

I'm sorry. Was that a bit too far?

[fluffydeathdealer]

[He makes a little noise of disagreement, shaking his head slightly.]

It surprised me... that's all. I didn't mind, though.

[helpusduelist]

I see...

[...Ryou did deserve an answer, didn't he? If Henry was going to keep acting like this... certainly so.]

Forgive me. It's just... simply enough, for most of my life, there were only three people that I held dear to me. My mother, my grandfather, and my friend, Christopher. When I started actively acting as a prince, I met Jack, and after some time, I grew fond of him as well. But besides those people... there were none others I felt a connection to.

...Until I came here.

[He shifts his arms around Ryou a little, closing his eyes and petting his hair softly, almost like one would pet a cat to think.]

I don't know how or why... but you've already become a dear presence to me. ...Hah, quite frankly... you feel like a child to me. [He remembers Ryou's reaction before, and quickly clarifies.] A son, not a young child, I mean. I'm again not sure why that's the feeling that resonates with me, but it does, and... well, stronger than I had thought it could.

Perhaps... I'm projecting a distant want of my own upon you.

[His hand stops petting, resting where it is as Henry breathes softly and quietly.]