Kaiba knew all about controlling the narrative. He desperately wanted to this time---it was just a matter of finding a believable excuse. And that was the part he was still working on.

He was content to lapse into a comfortable-ish silence, but then another voice pierced it. What the---

Kaiba turned to look over his shoulder. His jaw went slack, he lifted a finger from the water to object...and overall it was bewildering. But he stopped to look before speaking, and realized the new visitor had had his brushes with mortality too.

"Not how I would---phrase it---," he finally managed to whisper, sounding faintly pained. "But. Good evening?"