the_campus | [Event] It couldn't last forever.

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?

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?

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!

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.]

[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.]

[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.

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.]

[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.

Edited 2013-09-22 11:00 (UTC)

[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.

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?

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

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

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.]

I... can understand that a little.

[He looks thoughtful, cuddling close again with little hesitation. How much to say? No, he can tell him. He has a feeling Henry won't mind. He begins a little hesitantly, voice growing stronger as he voices thoughts he's never spoken to anyone before.]

When I was young, my little sister died in a traffic accident that also took my mother from me. Father was always kind, but even then, he was rarely at home. Because of his job, he left me alone for long times, and was rarely at home for long when he returned. That's why I was always so capable of looking after myself. Because my family wasn't there to do it.

I love my father... but I don't feel close to him. He might as well be a stranger to me. I think he regrets that. Even though I worry about him, he'd probably be better off without having to bear the guilt of knowing our relationship is so strange.

On top of that... When I was at school, I was always bullied and tormented because of my looks. I could never seem to make friends, no matter how much I wanted to. All I wanted for so long was for people to be kind to me. People I could talk to or play games with or just enjoy being with. Until I met Yugi and the others, I never could claim to even have friends, let alone family.

[His voice is painfully soft now. Isolating himself despite that desire had been hard.]

I... might be projecting too. Because I wanted more than anything for someone to treat me like family.

[Henry listens silently, but the moment Ryou starts he picks up the gentle petting again, closing his eyes. Yes... this was a strong young man, with such a burden of loneliness...]

Ryou...

[He still intends to get rid of the Ring. He intends to never stop. But until he does, in a place like this, there's so much he can't say...

...or perhaps, he can. They did agree. And Bakura knew he was a man of his word.

Henry pulls back some, slowly breathing before taking the risk and grabbing the Ring with his bare hand. He isn't sure how this thing works, but he makes sure his thoughts are clear -- Speaking at length about family, the Ring goes nowhere -- before he tries to pull it up and over Ryou's head to take it off.]

[A voice echoes in Henry's head suddenly. It sounds different than Bakura usually does, as if there's layers to it that weren't there before. But there's nothing but amusement in it.

Fine then... I'll trust you. Feel free to throw this Ring as far as you like. I'll come back later... when you two have stopped being sappy. If you ever do.

The Ring doesn't resist the pull, easily slipping from Ryou's neck.]

Eh...?

Remember, Ryou? The spirit and I have a deal... you're getting a little of your freedom now.

[Henry shifts his position, tossing the Ring as hard as he can into the forest. It's probably not too far with the current way he's laying, but it's far enough.

That done, he turns back around to Ryou, petting his hair again.]

I'm sorry that you had to suffer that. Even if I had never met Christopher, I would never have been that lonely...

You really are a strong boy.

[Without the Spirit to worry about, he feels a lot more comfortable talking. But this suggestion in his head...]

...Ryou. Please, don't take this as an insult or an obligation, because I don't mean it to be. But if we find a way to control our way of going home... I'd like to take you with me.

[The Ring hits the ground on its side and rolls out of sight to rest there. A curious fox sniffs at it hungrily and flees a second later as a feeling of danger comes from it. And then there is simply peace.]

Me...?

[Though Henry had joked about it before, he hadn't thought he was serious.]

I'm not insulted, but... It's something I've never even thought of before.

Yes, you. I understand why you wouldn't want to -- friends, your father, even just familiarity and comfort -- which is why I said to please not feel this is an obligation. It's simply an option, because... I would be happy to take you back with me as my son.

Jack is clever... there won't be any problem giving the proper look of it there. It's true that I'll always be busy as a king... possibly moreso than your father. But I will act mostly from the castle, the same place you'll live as well. I'll always be there if you need to come speak with me, and I will find a way to make time, somehow.

...If you do come... I can't promise to be so present to you as I am now. But I would be there, as much as I could manage.

[He rests his head on Ryou's again, closing his eyes. The feeling of this boy's warmth... it's soothing.]

...and even if you don't wish to... I'd like to be able to count you as my son here, if nothing else.

[The idea is dizzying.

Leave Domino City behind? Leave Yugi and the others? Father?

Truthfully, he doesn't have as many ties as Henry seems to think. Even Yugi and the others... would probably get along just fine without him. Though he doesn't doubt their friendship, he knows the truth of it.

Just like with his father... His disappearance would mean little in the end.

Closing his eyes, he relaxes against Henry as he thinks. It's a foolish thing to be considering after only know Henry and Jack for a couple of days. But even if they find a way out, it'll take some time. He knows that. Maybe...

He opens his mouth to speak, slowly. His words are almost halting]

I... can't promise. But that doesn't mean I'm rejecting the idea. The idea really appeals to me. More than it should. I'd like more time to decide on it. I... don't think rash decisions would serve either of us well.

If you're okay with it, I'd be willing to put in the effort to learn whatever I'd need to in - in order to get by in your time, in exchange for being able to think on it a little longer.

But... I wouldn't mind taking on the role of your son. Truthfully... you're already like family.

Rash decisions rarely end well, but you have a lot of time to think, Ryou. I sincerely doubt we're going to find a way out of here in enough time for whatever decision you make to be considered "rash."

[He laughs gently at it, both truthful and a playful tease. He does fall silent at that, shaking his head a little and gently ruffling Ryou's hair.]

You don't need to bargain with me for time to think. You never do. You can have as long as you want, but if you do want to learn what I can teach you, then I'll be happy to teach you everything I know. I can't promise it'll be the most interesting thing ever.

[The smile that the teen can feel is... definitely a wide one at that least part, Henry's grip tightening a little in glee.]

That's wonderful...

[...and then, something occurs to him. Those teachings... the spirit didn't seem to know about the test memories that he helped Ryou to hide. Is it possible that...]

...Ryou.

That could -- would -- include... how to War Duel.

[There's a sudden tenseness to his voice, a heavy tone.]

However... that's information that can't get to the Spirit. From what I can see, the trick I taught you is still working, but I'm not sure to what degree. So until you can both fully shield and hide the shield of certain memories... that part will have to be put off.

It's an important thing to learn... because through it, you can use your monsters to protect yourself. And monsters can do it in ways that, if you prefer, do very little damage to the ones hurting you.

Do you understand?

Ah-! I didn't mean it like that! I just meant that, if you wanted an answer right away, I wouldn't be able to give you one!

[Okay, okay. Calming down.]

I'm not afraid of hard work, or learning. Even if it's boring... I'd like to learn it.

[The other part... A way of defense that won't hurt others... He understands. That thought definitely appeals to him. He nods firmly.]

I think I get it. There are ways to fight without killing, or being killed... that's important. In your time, it'd be dangerous to be defenseless, right?

Then there's plenty we have to teach you. You just have to come ask. I warn you, though... I'm a firm teacher.

[He nods in reply to Ryou some, shifting to meet his eyes.]

Especially if I'm the one you want as your father. That makes you a prince, and even if you give up all designs on the throne to any blood child I have, there will be cruel people who don't want you around for whatever reason. You will have someone who tries to protect you, but you must be able to take care of yourself, just in case.

Edited 2013-09-22 12:49 (UTC)

[His expression softens into a smile.]

But at the same time... there are a lot of ways you can protect yourself without having to kill whoever it is attacking you. Even moreso when you have a properly charged deck. Your spells and traps will be just as useful as your monsters, and even good sword work can disable an enemy without hurting them.

[Ah, on that, too...]

We will, of course, have to wait until you heal before we do any physical training, but the royal training can start whenever you please.

['A prince'? The thought is honestly terrifying. Henry's talks with him so far have already made it quite clear just how hard Henry had it. And he's not exactly sure he's prince material. He stays silent for a moment or two, mulling it over rather than blurting out his thoughts. It really will be hard, what Henry's suggesting. There'll be a lot of things he has to learn, and it really won't all be pleasant.

But...]

Even from just what you've said in the past, it sounds like it'll be a lot to learn, and it'll be difficult. It's scary, but... I'm not going to back out just because it'll be hard. I promise! I'll work my hardest to learn anything you can or need to teach me!

Truthfully, I don't want the throne. I don't have it in me to take on the sort of pressure you have. But I know... just by existing in the role of 'family' to you would be difficult. While I don't know a lot about royalty, I know that it's hard. I know there's a lot of rules, and a lot of important things to consider, even if you never come near your level. That's why... I'm willing to learn it even if I don't end up going there. It's important to know what I'd be in for... Even if it's harder than anything I've ever done.

[He fidgets a little, the last bit harder than the rest despite the simplicity of it.]

Also... I have a question. What do you want me to call you?

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