Duel 002: Peaceful Days! The Fluffiest Training Montage Commences

[fluffydeathdealer]

[It's a bit of a pain, being in a school with no teachers.

Ryou Bakura isn't the type of kid who really likes being too active; he's about on the level of most ordinary teenagers. But after being laid up for so long with the burns to his arms and leg, not only is he extremely restless, but he's sure even his metabolism won't hold up much longer, with the amount he eats. That's why, after checking to see that Henry isn't home to take him up on that training offer, he's decided to try treating this like school and taking an hour or so to do his very own gym class, all by himself. It'd be easier with teachers, but... he doesn't have a choice right now.

Most kids probably would just take the break and be lazy, but right now, Ryou's working hard. Apart from the occasional break, he can be found pretty easily in the east wing, dressed in gym clothes and doing everything from running laps on the track field to climbing ropes.

...though that last one is more like 'falling off ropes'. Stupid mats... they don't cushion that fall at all. Hopefully nobody's dumb enough to stand below him.]

Ow...

[Time for a banana and some water, he thinks.]

Ah, I'm so tired...

Comments

[fluffydeathdealer]

[Suicide only applies to the living. Henry has less knowledge of just how easily Bakura sacrifices even himself, let alone others.]

Hold on.

[Brb stealing Malik's Duel Disk.]

Here. Try to get that on your arm. [A slight pause.]

I'm not asking you to duel me. I don't have my duel disk anymore, so it'd be a pain if you were using that.

[helpusduelist]

[...What the hell is this thing? Henry stares at it a bit blankly, taking it gingerly like he's not sure how sturdy it is.]

What... exactly, is this?

[fluffydeathdealer]

This is a Duel Disk. It's a little piece of the future that's only recently become a thing in my time. It allows for entirely non-fatal, non-harmful duels. Heh... as long as you're using it normally, anyway.

Slip it on your arm and fix it on. I'll show you how it works. You might find it interesting.

...the jutting bit goes outwards. Like a bladed gauntlet.

[helpusduelist]

[Hm... Henry fidgets with it some, almost putting it on backwards, before he finally manages to put the thing on properly.]

Like this?

[fluffydeathdealer]

That's right. Hold on. And stand still.

[A little effort, and the holographic projectors detach, their glow lighting up the room as he fiddles with it and...

LP: 4000]

There. It's on 'dueling mode' now. Any cards you place on the disk will be projected by those devices there. It isn't an actual summon... the disk simply 'reads' the card and recreates the original monster behind it in a harmless illusionary form. So there's no threat... and no energy drain.

Dueling as you know it disappeared from history some time ago, until one very odd man discovered it... and decided to turn it into a game. Heh heh... Because of that, once those 'life points' go down to zero, or you can no longer play, you've lost. Try it out.

[helpusduelist]

[It's... an interesting concept that takes a moment for him to wrap his head around. A "projection" to make this completely harmless? He's had or overseen War Duels before where the idea was to entertain or blow off steam, but those had always been so tightly controlled out of necessity. To create it into something totally recreational, at least intentional...?

How strange. But he'll try it. His hand goes down to his deck, mentally asking permission about which of them to test this with. Eria responds, and so he takes out her card, frowning at the spots on the disk before guessing and placing her in one of the open card zones.

At least he picked the right one, it seems, since she manifests right there. ...it's strange, though.]

You said these were just... "projections"?

[fluffydeathdealer]

...

[Oh, that's right...]

In your case, it's probably a little different. You said your cards have the souls of your monsters sealed in permanently, right? So the holograms probably at least have traces of them in.

But normal cards just get scanned and recreated. Usually, the projections will have something of a personality, but won't talk or act without command. They're simple creations, after all. Here.

[Drawing a card from his pocket, he tosses the Earthbound Spirit onto the slot, watching as the glow around it forms. With no soul in it, it's clearly a pure projection... just an image that rises up out of the 'ground' to hover there above the floating card image.]

It doesn't recognize an opponent, so it's not going to do much of anything.

[helpusduelist]

I see... but --

[Henry's warning comes a little too late, as there's suddenly a flood of holo-water all over Bakura. Eria's projection cracks up in a giggle fit, curled in on herself and floating there while her little familiar pet floats around her, equally laughing.]

-- it seems she's rather fond of that form too.

[fluffydeathdealer]

You bitch!

[He bares his teeth at her, fangs and all.]

If you belonged to anyone else, I'd rip your soul right out of the card and feed it to some of my monsters!

[helpusduelist]

[Eria sticks her tongue out, eyelid down and all, as Henry shakes his head.]

Now you see why it was Dharc I chose?

[fluffydeathdealer]

I won't hold my hopes up that you understand how badly it would go if you sent the others. I'm not used to being teased!

[helpusduelist]

Considering you threatened to feed her soul to your monsters, I have a guess as to what would happen. This is, simply, how they are, at least the four of them. I had told them to stop harassing you... but I suppose this was just too good for her to pass up.

[fluffydeathdealer]

...you misunderstand.

[He scoffs, looking away as he sits back on the table.]

I make idle threats all the time. Even to people I like. They tend to get used to it.

[helpusduelist]

You'll forgive me if I tend to treat them as possible regardless. It's a habit of mine to do so.

[In response, Hiita appears behind Henry, her arms laced around his neck playfully as she peers over to Bakura, but otherwise behaves.]

Though they do seem to recognize it as an idle threat, with how fearless they are. That does remind me, though... may I see Lyna a moment?

[fluffydeathdealer]

Ah, here.

[He draws her out, offering her to him.]

I don't hold grudges easily. You may have his face, but I've got no reason to consider such a reasonable thought worthy of needing forgiveness.

I'm capable of anything, after all.

Though I suspect 'spirits' like those would probably recognise the difference... I bet they can sense hostile intent.

[helpusduelist]

Heh... you're surprisingly not what I had expected.

[Lyna's joy is almost manifest on its own once Henry's hand touches her card and she latches onto him, burying her face in his neck like a child welcoming back her father. Henry chuckles a little softly, "patting" her head.]

It seems she wants to come home... so what say you? I don't fully trust you and I can assure you I never will, but you are clearly keeping your end of the bargain, and I'm certain your monster can attest to mine. Shall we let them return to our proper hands?

[fluffydeathdealer]

...? What were you expecting?

[It's a heavenly relief, the idea of getting rid of that card. He'll never be comfortable with such a being of light there. But oddly enough, part of him feels a little... jealous. How odd...]

I don't mind. Neither she nor I fit well together. It's possible that manifesting so close to me within that card could consume her if you don't take her back.

Besides, the trade was your idea, after all.

[helpusduelist]

Pettiness and anger, with all your threats of death and destruction being true. Not such a human, if still sadistic and hellish, sort of attitude.

[Lyna remains firmly snuggled even despite the other Charmers attempting to gently coax her down; they stop once Henry lifts his hand, not minding providing that comfort for her. He reaches into one of his pockets, drawing out the Earl and handing it over.

He's been very careful with that card. Leaving it with his deck to make it seem like he wanted a bit of space, or just "forgetting" it with other cards or important objects sometimes. Always, he ensured it wasn't around whenever he spoke to Ryou about important things, but at the same time, around when Ryou was without the Ring too to make sure there was no suspicion there.]

Perhaps, but it's hardly polite to end a trade without permission of the other person, is it?

[fluffydeathdealer]

Keh... I've spent a long time around humans. Is it so odd to believe I picked up some of their tendencies?

I don't care for random death or destruction. I like fear. I like struggle. People become boring when they die.

[The card rests against his fingers, drawn back in one swift movement. Truthfully, since Henry knows now that his cards aren't permanently sealed, it's useless to be so cautious around it. But caution like that is still wise. He doesn't even look at the card as he returns it to his deck.]

I can agree with that. It's more comfortable for me to be away from her, though.

[helpusduelist]

Not at all odd. Just surprising, in a few ways. And not at all with others.

[Lyna finally seems to calm down, hiccuping a little. Henry gives her a gentle smile that she returns, disappearing into her card along with the vanishing of the other spirits. The king presses a soft, chaste kiss to the card to reassure the little girl more, then replaces it in his deck.]

I hadn't heard any cursing... I take it she was well behaved?

[fluffydeathdealer]

Yeah. For the most part, I just ignored her anyway. I'm guessing she preferred it that way.

...what, are you telling me you heard what she did?

[If she did... that bastard! He probably heard some uncomfortable things.]

[helpusduelist]

No. I can't hear through my creatures at all; they can telepathically speak with me, but only if their souls are still in my possession, or at least connected to be via being summoned. I only know what she just told me.

Some of which was... interesting.

[Amused.]

[fluffydeathdealer]

...

What the hell is she telling you?

[helpusduelist]

Let's leave it at "everything you ever did while she was in the room," shall we?

[fluffydeathdealer]

...

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You gossiping bitch!