expressions [closed]

[blue_ice]

Who: Wester "Anzu" & Kaiba
What: Discussions, being dweebs
When: After the event
Where: The rock garden
Why: To be a good friend teammate
Warnings: None anticipated

Settling into a new life had been a strange process for Kaiba. Just a few months ago, he'd never picture himself as a leader to a ragtag group of misfits, an explorer of the deep seas or deep space, or his rival's boyfriend. Yet here he was, doing all of those things, and forging a truce with Yugi's band of friends too.

He was in the rock garden car to reflect on all of this, among other things, when he spotted someone he recognized immediately.

"Mazaki," he jogged over. "You've been elusive lately. You weren't even at the dance, and I was under the impression that was your favorite activity..."

Not that he was concerned or anything.

Comments

[bloomingdespite]

Oh. Right.

This was inevitable, in retrospect. After all, Anzu loved dancing just as much as they did, of course her friends would be concerned when she didn't show up to the dance!

Thankfully, they have an excuse prepared.

"Yeah, it's... really embarrassing, actually." Wester chuckles, rubbing their neck. "I got absorbed in working on some new tech for my deck and completely lost track of time and by the time I remembered there was a dance it was basically over and I didn't even have a costume and I just. Didn't go."

They didn't say it was a good excuse, but it was an excuse.

[blue_ice]

"That's supposed to be my line," Kaiba snorts. "I can't believe you're more focused on dueling than me."

But he has other responsibilities now, he supposes...the team, the council...and the people who've started worming their way into his heart, if that's even possible. The person standing before him might be one of them.

"I would've checked with you sooner, but the translator breaking threw everything into chaos. That could've ended so much worse, it's a relief it didn't..."

But he stops and looks at his companion. "What brings you out here, anyway?"

[bloomingdespite]

"...I don't know, really." Wester spins, gesturing at the rocks carefully laid into patterns throughout the car. "This place helps calm me down, I guess. Isn't that enough of a reason?"

The fact that they need calming down in the first place may be a clue that something's wrong.

[blue_ice]

"I see the appeal. Quiet, solitude...."

But those are things he enjoys. Not the things he suspects Mazaki enjoys. He gives her a searching look.

"This is chaotic and stressful for anyone, and the events of the last few days haven't helped. I'm concerned about what the train is doing to us. If there's any time to let off steam, this is it."

He shakes his head. "Anything I can...help with?"

[bloomingdespite]

"...did you see that broadcast? With...

"The Pharaoh?"

Ah. So that's what's bothering Mazaki.

[blue_ice]

[ Kaiba's demeanor changes in an instant, rigid. He nods stiffly. ]

I don't know how he's here. He isn't with Yugi anymore, I'd know if he was. But he isn't on the roster either.

But it wasn't entirely surprising, because I thought, once...

I hate to believe in ghosts, but maybe the train's haunted.

[ He says that last bit flippantly, aware of how absurd it is. ]

[bloomingdespite]

It's just...

It reminded me of way back when, the early early days, when t- he... when he practically wasn't a human being.

It scared me, seeing him go down that path again, after everything we've all been through.

[Well, at least they've found some way to event, even if it's excessively roundabout.]

[blue_ice]

I know...it's tough, to see someone regress.

[ He takes a sad breath. ]

But I can almost understand. Xue Yang murdered an innocent child. We can't allow that to go unpunished...but any decision the council makes will be simultaneously judged as too far and not far enough.

[bloomingdespite]

That bastard sure as hell deserved what he got! I'm not disputing that. [There's an uncharacteristic amount of venom in their voice as they spit it out, but they rein themself in, taking deep breaths.]

I just... I know this sounds sick of me, but I'm worried that people are so horrified over what was done to that twisted murderer that they're going to forget to punish him and keep looking for... whoever that was.

If it was even him.

[blue_ice]

I won't let that happen.

[ He balls a fist. ]

Look, I'm the only other person on this train who went through what Xue Yang is going through. I know how much it hurts, I know how effective it was, but I also know for a hardened murderer it can't be the only punishment. Remember how consumed with revenge I was? It took being beaten down over and over, then being rescued, and all of you dweebs standing up to me...and Yugi offering me friendship despite everything...for me to even start to recover.

I'm not saying we're all gonna be buddy buddies with the child murderer. But we have to watch him, he'll be unstable when he wakes.

[bloomingdespite]

I... that helps. Thank you.

[There's a small pause, then:]

Kaiba, I-

[They cut themself short, biting their lip.]

[blue_ice]

[ He sighs. ]

...what is it?

Ugh. Sorry. I come here to try to cheer you up and we get on this path.