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]

Of course! How could I have ever questioned it?

[helpusduelist]

[Henry laughs again, ruffling Ryou's hair affectionately.]

Because you're not used to it, I bet.

[fluffydeathdealer]

[Hee.]

Un. I never really got close to people before. Even my dearest friends have other people they like more, so I always felt like an intruder.

[helpusduelist]

I doubt they want you to feel like that, Ryou. Though I equally doubt you've talked to them about it, with how you are. [He smiles again, gently.] But you don't ever have to worry about that around us. You're my family and Jack's as well, so you're never an intruder.

[fluffydeathdealer]

I don't think they do either. It's just a flaw in how my mind works. I've been working through it bit by bit.

[He returns that smile, feeling a flutter of happiness inside of him. Family...]

I'm grateful.

[helpusduelist]

I'm glad. If there's anything I can do to help with that, let me know.

[Henry peers a bit through what's left, placing out some new ones. Looks like they're starting to get through it.]

[fluffydeathdealer]

Not too much left! It feels sort of sad, somehow. Like a story reaching its' climax.

[helpusduelist]

Ah, but we haven't even reached that point yet! This is just the first chapter, Ryou. After this, you go to the realm of these creatures to speak with them personally and ask for their help.

[fluffydeathdealer]

Ehhh, really? That's kind of amazing, in a way.

[Ryou sounds both surprised and serious.]

[helpusduelist]

Yes, really. How do you think the souls of my servants got in their cards? You have to go to their world and speak with them one on one to convince them that you're worth serving.

It doesn't cause any harm to your actual body, but it is very draining to call even one for someone untrained for it. We'll have to move slowly, but we can start once your deck is finished, if you wish.

[fluffydeathdealer]

I didn't have any idea. But I'd like that.

[...if he doesn't feel like he's worth serving, why would anyone else? This is going to be a slow process, he's sure.]

[helpusduelist]

[Henry notices that look, gently reaching over to pet Ryou's hair.]

You're more worthy than you think you are, Ryou.

[fluffydeathdealer]

Ah-! [He grins a little sheepishly.] I guess I'm really not good at hiding what I'm feeling, am I?

[helpusduelist]

Not to me, at least. I need to watch for various tells, after all!

[fluffydeathdealer]

...eh? Like what?

[Did Henry mean that he was just that good at reading people?]

[helpusduelist]

Tells for when people lie, or if they're hiding something. Some scratch or rub their arm nervously, some twitch, others raise the tone of their voice or avert their eyes to look at anyone but who they're talking to...

There's all sorts of various ticks that people have when they don't want to show what they're saying or thinking.

[fluffydeathdealer]

I see! So that's it.

[He rubs the back of his head awkwardly, then pauses, lowering his hand. That's right, that was a 'tell' too.]

Eheh... I guess I have a lot of tells.

[helpusduelist]

You're fairly easy to read, but I don't think that's a bad thing for you. Being easy to read makes it so people are more comfortable around you a lot of the time.

[fluffydeathdealer]

[A soft laugh.]

That's right... I like it better that way, anyway.

[helpusduelist]

Don't worry too much about it, then.

[Hmm...]

It looks like you have most everything, now.

[fluffydeathdealer]

Un. Truthfully... it's easy for me to withdraw from people. So I like that people can feel comfortable enough to come to me.

[Scanning over the cards...]

Yes, I think so too.

[helpusduelist]

That's a good trait to have.

[Henry nods, putting away the excess cards.]

Then, if you'd like, I can set things up to call on one of the spirits now. I won't allow you to do more than one a day at present, not until we know how the drain affects you. Their world can be... trying.

[fluffydeathdealer]

[...he's a little terrified, but he nods. What sort of place is their world, he wonders? What sort of place could house creatures like that?

Could he really handle it?]

Un. I'd like to try. Even if it's difficult.

[helpusduelist]

Don't worry; I'll be with you the entire time we're in that world. I won't let anything happen to you.

All you need to focus on is what to say to them to ask them to stay with you.

[fluffydeathdealer]

R-right. [He mulls it over, wondering what's good to say.] I'll give it a try, then.