fall out boy intensifies

[shegypt]

Who: Thief King Bakura & you
Where: Your bedroom. Yes, yours.
When: Llama 20
What: Bakura has decided she's waited long enough to get the heat off of her. She wastes no time doing the things she do.
Warnings: She has broken into your cabin. So don't tag in unless you're okay with that.

[ Bakura has been lurking.

She has been lurking so well she basically missed the whole platform. The whole mission, too - whatever. But her secret explorations have her thinking stealing the Voidtrecker Express isn't going to be something she can actively plan for. (Something she can someday absolutely do, sure! When she sees an opening!)

What's more, it's now been enough time that she bets nobody is gonna care what she's up to anyway. She doesn't see a guard....

It would be smart to keep lying low.

But it would also be dull.

In short, when next you open your still-completely-locked cabin door, there is a woman standing there. Holding your stuff.

She turns, and, without looking too upset, raises a hand. ]

Yo!

Comments

[almukhtar]

( Atem never loses control, excuse yourself. But as the picture slowly starts to fall into place, the ground continues to crumble until only the pillars they stand on remain. Up from the abyss crawls several pikes that surely would skewer someone were they to lose their balance. There's a short distance between them, which means Bakura could technically reach the Pharaoh but she might fall. He's always known the thief to be crafty in footwork, but again -- the space they stand on is so small that risk would bring them both down. Was it worth it?

He's not troubled by the laughter. Stands tall, arms crossed. Silent and watching. He can turn this around; he can make this productive. A long inhale. Bakura had seen his struggle, but he emerged from that cave stronger and more resolute. ) The pillar beneath acts as a scale and cracks as the heart experiences weakness. Find a way to make mine crack, as I attempt the same.

[shegypt]

A death game....my favorite. You shouldn't have.

[ She can totally make that leap. Not an issue. The lack of Diabound in this space is more so, as is the fact this is happening in the first place. Just cause she's been lazy about getting her anti-illusion crystals pendantified......Asshole.

Bakura stashes the scalpel again, in the interests of apparent fairness. ]

When I win, you hand over the Item. Yourself.

[ She grins. Game's already started, bucko. ] There's no way you could do this without it, after all!

[almukhtar]

( This is what you get for goading while others take the trials and not making use of its rewards yourself. Really, Bakura. And here he thought you liked gems. Doesn't have the same kind of appeal when its given rather than stolen, he supposed. A smile finds his lips regardless. ) I thought that you might enjoy it, but if you win -- very well.

( He had hoped, and foolishly at that. The smallest crack forms along the surface beneath him, but he's quick to accept it. Besides. ) You always were intelligent, and brazen too. ( Oh, and this tone is far from scolding. No, it sounds almost admiring. ) I think, beyond all the destruction you so artfully craft, I may actually become bored without it.

[shegypt]

[ First blood. Nice. Bakura assesses her options, what she does know about the Pharaoh. He has an advantage in that he's met a version of herself, but she also knows: there is no weakness in her heart. There is only hatred.

He's an idiot, though, challenging her to a war of words. Bakura hunches, grinning, waiting for the blow she's sure she wouldn't even feel -

Huh. Well, that sure is a way to play this game. Weirdo. ]

What a charmer. [ Quick recovery, no cracks: "what the fuck" is not weakness of the heart! ] So I can do whatever I want to your subjects, as long as you're entertained? What a beacon of justice!

[ She's got some incredibly effective moves but she's going to stash those away for a special occasion. She loves nothing more than making her enemies dig their own graves.

And oh, is this one the enemy. ]

[almukhtar]

( That gets a laugh from him. And, again perhaps surprisingly, it's cheerful. Though the words that follow are clear, they carry a similar warmth to the ones before. Very different from the usual authoritative bite. ) Gods, no. Don't mistake me. You've brought me an impressive amount of pain I'm sure you'll be flattered to know but I think none of it is unwarranted.

( He pauses a moment, observing. ) I learned more about your community, Kul Elna. Its people helped build the tombs they then robbed, did they not? So I wondered why, and then I saw it. So far from the Nile, from any resources. Given work then cast away. And we dared to call them evil for it.

[shegypt]

[ Okay, this sets her soul squirming, and not in the "sometimes I like to think I can feel Diabound coiling within me ready to strike the corrupt monarchy and eat the rich (so I can take their stuff)" way. Bakura hunches over as if that'll protect her. Deliberately does not look down. It won't crack. It won't.

Because she sees what he's up to and she will not fall for it. ]

.....It's one of your talents.

[ Is this the timing for unloading her secret weapon? No. Not yet. Let him play the guilty party. Let him make a show of feeling so sorry, while remaining safe behind his walls. While keeping the secret from all of Kemet. Let him play the penitent so it'll be all the more validating when she rips that mask away. ]

Why not let me off you, then? If you're a convert to my cause.

[almukhtar]

Would it be as satisfying? ( He chuckles. ) I'll die in time. And that besides, there's more to consider when staging an entire upheaval of the existing system.

( Atem watches, considering the next move. ) Why not join me instead? You're smart, you're driven, you're battle ready. You know first hand the needs of our people. If you really want to make change, then help us. Let's build something better.

[shegypt]

You think I want change?

[ Bakura laughs, barking it extra-loud so no one can hear the hairline fractures she just felt creep beneath her feet. ] Oh, splendiferous sovereign, you are a fool! There is no "better". The darkness in people's souls will always be there, ready to grab them.....the moment they seize power.

[ She squares off against him, pointing at him for emphasis. ] The "change" I want is the Millennium Items around my neck and my foot on yours! If I'm a King too, that makes me just as corrupt as you!!

[ Destroying the monarchy is justice. But what is justice?

It's a word. And all words are lies. There is only one's skill.

What one can take.

The only way to win is to not care. About anything. Except claiming what. She wants. ]

I just don't pretend.

[almukhtar]

( He listens. Arms crossed over his chest and allowing her to speak fully, freely. Not saying anything in return until it seems she's done. And there it was in that bark and bite. That realization. He wonders if she's thought on this before; if she's ever had those moments of wondering: ) Who would the great King of Thieves be if not this? Angry, bitter thing.

( His smile does not depart. No, Atem is steadfast in that warmth. That understanding. No sign of irritation, or anger, or any of the more common emotions when engaging with one such as she. ) I think you believe you want justice but in the end, you're hurting. I think the idea of healing is terrifying because you have no idea who you are without all this pain.

This hatred, it is a weakness Bakura. As you so kindly pointed out. The ease of corruption when even a lick of power is received. It is a weakness. ( Bakura points, but Atem reaches out in emphasis. ) But there is a better. ( And its said with such a power; with such certainty. ) And you can choose it. You have that control. I did. It is not easy. It takes bravery to change; though perhaps you're not as brave as I once thought you to be.

cw: fond reminiscence of death by strangling

[shegypt]

SHUT UP.

[ A piece cracks off her pillar, falls, smashes against a spike; that same hatred he disdains in her flares up at the sound. What is this?! This is not how it's supposed to go. She doesn't care that he's acting like he cares about her - okay, that's creepy, but it's not the point. The point is that she's supposed to be the provoker! She's supposed to strip him of that finery and reveal the King for the sniveling wretch all humans are - or, failing that, at least revel in seeing that nobility crushed.

This is not what she's clung to for fifteen years....but it's all right, she's still fine, she has that. He can act however he pleases, but in the end -

Hatred's a weakness? Fine. She will make him hate.

Bakura yanks back her hand. ] You haven't changed at all, Mister High-and-Mighty! You think being patient and kind will get you the victory - but you don't know.

[ That's right. He doesn't know. There is something he doesn't know. And she's going to tell him. The smile lurches onto her face, and she's giddy with it.

That hand raises. Flexes. She can feel flesh beneath it, again, how easily everything had given way beneath her. In the moment it'd been a letdown, but now?

Now it feels so good. ] Can Your Grace clasp the hand that shattered your vessel????

[ She clenches her fist. ]

kawaii -- also this thread has been retconned to after caves

[almukhtar]

( It's tempting to feel that satisfaction when a chunk of her pillar crumbles away, and some piece of him does but there's a genuineness to his concern for her as there was for his concern for his own. Difficult as they made it.

Atem knows he's right, though. Can feel that swell of darkness no doubt her only comfort. Eyes watch, critical. Knowing at least in some small margin the unpredictability of one such King of Thieves. Though prepared as he might have thought himself, those words. Well. He was not prepared for that.

Anger flared deep in his belly, opening a dangerous crack in his pillar. Blood begets blood. Replying in anger only rewards more anger, he knows this. And so, and so the Pharaoh breathes through it, swallows, and reaches out again. It's hard, it's hard, it's so -- so difficult. )

I can. ( And he repeats, with even more certainty. ) And I will. As many times as it takes me to. To show you that this is not your only option, Bakura. You can change.

[shegypt]

[ This can't be. That wasn't enough?! It's shattering him, but he's holding it....holding it together.....

Bakura shudders, and it might be because a horizontal fault just started snaking through her pillar. Diabound - where's Diabound?! She doesn't want to use her ka, but just, to have it there, the reminder of her power, the strength of her soul, her unbeatable soul....

He took her ka. He took her ka he took her victory he took her village there is nothing he will not take if she doesn't take it first.

Something cracks. She laughs. He's so skilled! This is fun! How incredible it's going to feel to defeat him! ]

LIAR! You paved this path with my family's bones! I could choose not to walk it, but I do. I am the one in control, Almighty Astoundinger, and now that I've seen your lies I can steal - them - too - I can crush them like his windpipe, ask Mister Priest, ask him how good I am at making rubble -

[ why is

why is the ground

sort of shifting to the side

oh who gives a fuck

Bakura begins to topple, but instead of looking scared or ashamed of her loss, she's howling with laughter. Because this proves nothing! Nothing!!

She's going to win!!! ]

[almukhtar]

( He remembers his father's words, well. As King, you bear the responsibility of everyone's actions beneath you. It was not his father who made this path; it was not him who made it either, but it was his responsibility nonetheless. Another deep breath in. )

You're right. I did. ( No excuses. No buts, no attempts to stave off the responsibility. No long-winded story of how he wants to make it right or how much he understands the effects it had on Bakura, on the world. Though he might to some degree. He doesn't, his childhood on Earth was good. He had everything that she did not. And he mournes this. He truly does.

But as her pillar begins to crumble, he sees no need to retort to her tauntings. Her gloating, her attempt at regaining control. All these words merely trying to soothe the soul of the wounded. Was she trying to alert him to that which he is well aware of or merely reassure herself?

He looks, for a moment, sad. And at the moment that pillar gives way, those spikes are not what is in store for her. Because he catches her. Grip tight, a mournful smile subtle over his lips. ) You do not need to shoulder this pain alone, Bakura. You deserve peace. And love, and happiness.

( His breath was thin. Heart racing. Gods if he didn't want to let go, he wanted to let go so desperately. But he won't. )

[shegypt]

[ She can hear the crumbling behind her, her pillar now so much dust, dust and ash, like the leftovers from a fire, from when bodies have burned leaving only gold behind. But it seems so far away from her, so detached - it doesn't matter, does it? No. Funny king, thinking it mattered whether he won or lost a game when the spoils only go to the victor of the war. ]

H-hahahhaaha. H-hahahhahaa ha ha ha ha......

[ Scalpel. Where's the. Shit, had it fallen out? Oh well. Bakura raises a hand, like she's going to choke the Pharaoh. Like she's going to make a nice matched set out of him and his favorite container. They'll like that, she bets.

But then she twists her hand. Makes the most obscene ancient Egyptian hand gesture possible. ]

Fuck......you.

[ And lolls in his hold, still laughing. He hasn't beaten her till she says he has, and she will....

she will never....

lose..................... ]

[almukhtar]

( It's heavy. That darkness, that -- that rage, and the pain, the sorrow. Emptiness. Emotions so deep, so thick with anguish he can't quite describe them. They almost burn, they almost weigh him down with her. It does, for a moment. Falling to one knee. She's so heavy. He feels torn, but two things of opposite value can be true at the same time. Gods, if she doesn't deserve the desolation that would await her should he let go. At the same time, she deserves all the things he spoke of as well and he does believe it. He does. Difficult as it was to say.

But if nothing alerted him to it before, the gesture certainly did: she's still just a child. Locked in that space when everything she had known was shattered. Stuck there. He can't let her go. More than just because he would lose if he did. And Atem could fill this silence with any number of speeches on belief, and change, and this and that. He doesn't.

Words aren't useful right now. Instead, the God-King rises. Wordlessly. Pulling her up from that darkness she hung so close to. )

[shegypt]

[ She doesn't want to let go. She likes the dark, it's comfortable, the only...only proper place for a....thief....

But her limbs are all so heavy, and Diabound won't come; how she managed to expend ba without her ka, she doesn't know. So she just laughs, laughs weakly, until the breath won't come either, until the last tether snaps and she gasps

and goes still. Relaxes. Exhales.

Nothing matters anymore. Let her lie here. Do whatever. She's tired, and a King does whatever they want, whenever they feel like it, at the expense of everyone else!

She is the King of....something. She's going to....something...the world?

Bakura smiles, dreamily, picturing a victory she can no longer imagine. It's okay. It's her. It doesn't hurt. Nothing hurts. She's going to be fine.

Everyone at home is going to be so...proud...of her..... ]

[almukhtar]

( He continues to pull her out. Not just physically, either. How long this separation will last is unknown to him but for now, for now, he tears her away from those greedy tendrils wrapped around her heart. That hatred. That pain.

He sighs. For him, he's back on the train but for her. Well, she's lost right now. Wandering that tomb looking for herself. He can see it in her vacancy. The last person he'd done this to, Gods... it had to have been Kaiba, wasn't it? To this extent at least. )

I hope you find her. ( The person she could have been; the person she still can be. Whenever she slowly comes to, he won't be there. He has... other things he needs to do. Like scream. A lot. )