June Event and Intro Log

[magicademymods]

June Event and Intro Log Diatu and The Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Sundering Midterm Results It turns out that inadvertently summoning a horrible demon of immense and terrible power is still worth a passing grade: minus a lot of points for summoning the entirely wrong thing, but enough extra credit for successfully doing something so incredibly over-the-top to make up for it just a little. Meanwhile, something something power of running water, there's a demon imprisoned in the fountain, locked behind a massive magic circle of protection. Its flames neither evaporate the water nor are quenched by it, its lashing pointy tail stabs futilely at the stone in an attempt at petty vandalism, and otherwise it squats with otherworldly patience, claws drumming on its thighs. Till someone comes close, and then it calls out. "Come! It is in my power to grant a wish to those who ask! Speak your desire and I shall grant it!" Of course, the demon's ability to interpret wishes in an extremely jerkass manner is unparalleled by mortal malice. Still, this doesn't stop those students who think they're clever, can outwit a demon, have a background in legal jargon, or just want a turkey sandwich on rye bread with lettuce and mustard and-and they don’t want any zombie turkeys, they don’t want to turn into a turkey themselves, and they don’t want any other weird surprises. Needless to say, it has gone well for none of them -- but will you be the one to break the streak? As for the circle, it is specifically warded against meddling, so no freeing the demon (accidentally or otherwise). Those who try to touch it or cross through it are promptly hurled with pinpoint accuracy into a nearby pond that has been put there explicitly for this purpose. (Except for Minamimoto -- if HE messes with it, his pants rip themselves off his body, wrap around his head, and haul him away while shouting the multiplication tables incorrectly.) Potent Potables Students work hard, and they play hard. Around midterms, this often takes the form of picnics with unreserved and unrestricted access to not just copious amounts of barbecue and potato salad, but also alcohol. From fine wines to barrels of beer to Liverpunch Whiskey, all sorts of offerings pop up at the parties that occupy space along the Walk or outside the Towers and Keep. Anastara, you see, has no legal drinking age; like most of the Tenscore Kingdoms, children grow up with alcohol, and generally its consumption is seen as no major event and no special treat. And it simply hasn't occurred to anyone that other cultures on other worlds might not function the same. So enjoy a picnic, but also enjoy your free access to the wonders of intoxication. Physical Challenge (aka the Prompt Least Likely To Cause Suffering) Healthy body, healthy mind, the saying goes. Professors Trammel and Kith, adherents to this philosophy, have begun holding extracurricular exercise groups during the off hours. Students can learn proper weightlifting techniques for endurance as well as strength, jog around the campus in groups, play impromptu games that get the body moving, or even just practice slow stretches and what other worlds might call 'yoga'. Captain Lominia aggressively prowls the area, looking for people to scoop into bala-inlota exercises -- far more grueling and dangerous to succeed at if you don't want to be badgered onto the student team, but amazing workouts either way. And Headmaster Birony has set up a fairly extreme obstacle course straight out of a ninja challenge, overseen by Professor Porfsin from behind a cannon which magically flings beanbags at the participants. Those who make it through receive a pie from the Headmaster, who it turns out apparently can make a really darn tasty pie. Research On the Sundered With the arrival of the Sundered come those wizards engaged in research on their presence here, now set to investigate what brought them here and how to get them home. All newly-arrived Sundered students are asked to meet with representatives of the research team, to introduce themselves and relate what they will of their homes. In addition, the team requests samples of blood, hair, and skin -- carefully magically collected, and the researchers will sign in the presence of the Sundered a Glyphed contract that forbids them from using the samples for a purpose they know will be harmful. (They quite understand your reasons to be suspicious of this collection! And they will not compel anyone who refuses even given these conditions.) This month, the researchers wish for you to engage in some sort of conflict, clash, or battle with your fellow Sundered. Spars with blunted weapons are the obvious choice, but games of strategy like go, shogi, or Fantastic Foils are also an option. A rousing debate will do as well -- anything that raises passion and energy. The team explains that they've found many of the Sundered who they interviewed have recently been through some sort of conflict or trouble on their world, and they wish to see if there's any magically-measurable aspect they share when challenged. Wonders Await Diatu Magicademy is open to you in all its glory. Except for the fountain. You can't swim in the fountain till they figure out how to banish the demon.

Comments

[blue_ice]

Rarely. More often since I started spending more time with you, but I'm almost always focused on the curriculum---that and anything I might learn that could help us.

[ Kaiba looks a little surprised, even if Yugi's intention should have been obvious. He looks at Yugi a moment longer and nods, propping his head up on his arms. ]

Ha. I shouldn't be surprised that a master puzzler is good with his hands. All right, if you dare.

{ His back is indeed a mess of tension, and he sucks in a sharp breath as he adjusts to the unfamiliar feeling...but Kaiba trusts his boyfriend, and given a few moments more he'll start to melt under his hands with a pleased sigh. ]

Where'd you learn to do this?

[puzzlers]

...I'm glad, Kaiba. If you don't find some time to rest and relax, then you're going to hurt yourself. [ yugi studies hard too, but he doesn't think he should study himself into an early grave. ] Heh. [ he snorts at that, rolling his eyes as he moves to take a seat on top of kaiba's butt. he leans over him, running his hands along his shoulders and starting to work the knots there. they're just as bad as he suspected, but with the proper handling he's able to loosen them up some. maybe not get rid of them completely, but this is certainly a start. he moves lower after that, smiling fondly down at kaiba until his hands reach his waist. ] There.

[ he leans down once more to press a kiss to the middle of his back. ] Done. Feel a bit better?

[blue_ice]

[ There's a strangled sort of noise from his throat when Yugi chooses his perch, but it passes quickly enough when he feels the warm hands through his thin shirt. It's still strange to leave his back exposed like this, but the familiar touch quickly quiets his nerves.

He's eventually so relaxed that he's dozing lightly, stirring only at the sound of Yugi's voice. He yawns a little, a grin stretching his lips.]

Mm. Much better. Now I know you're enjoying the best seat in the house...but we should save that for when we're truly alone, shouldn't we?

[ He stretches his arms in front of him. ]

Up for some more exercise, or were you thinking of something quieter?

[puzzlers]

[ he's glad to have been able to help kaiba. maybe they can make this a weekly thing, since getting the knots out and keeping them out is pretty important. the working out too, since yugi would like to get in better shape. he's obviously not in the worst, but there's always room for improvement, and if he's looking to catch up to kaiba, then he's got a ways to go. ]

Heh. [ he snorts at the joke, giving his back another kiss as he moves off him to take a seat at his side. ] How about we take it easy for a bit? [ he's going to reach into the deck box strapped to his belt and remove a deck of fantastic foil cards. ] I know you're more into the war games these days, but I have something I want to try, so would you mind helping me?

[blue_ice]

A duel? That's our idea of relaxing?

[ He snorts, but a quick click on his belt and it's clear that Kaiba carries his deck too. ]

Anything you need me to do? Other than crush you?

[puzzlers]

Just a friendly game, Kaiba.

[ he wiggles his deck back and forth. ]

And crush me, ha, that's cute. Fantastic Foils is my game, and there's no beating me. Not now~ [ kaiba would probably trounce him in the war games, which he should probably start playing more, but he's kind of fallen hard for the foils. ]

I'm trying to learn more about the Deathtoll card and there's something I need to do with it. [ he shuffles his deck and draws his hand. hm~ how lucky. ] Just play as you would normally and we'll see what happens.

[ he's just going to summon a monster to the field and lay a card face down. nothing too unusual. yet. ]

[blue_ice]

We'll see.

[ He calls his own pair of monsters to the field with a sacrifice spell. He still prefers a rush strategy. ]

I end my turn.

[puzzlers]

[ he's just going to use a combination of magic cards to fill his field with monsters. none are particularly powerful, but they don't have to be, not when they're going to be used for something much greater. ]

[ it's at this time that yugi flips over the card he'd been waiting to play: deathtoll. the properties of all of the monsters he has on the field changes, and he can't help but smirk. ]

Your move, Kaiba. [ go ahead, destroy them all, that's what he needs him to do. ] If you want to beat my, then you'll have to go through my little army first.

[blue_ice]

[ It's a trap. It has to be. But it's the only way forward. ]

Gladly.

[ And foilclash initiate. Welp. ]

[puzzlers]

[ hm. well it doesn't really seem like it's a trap. the monsters lose their special status, but instead of going to the graveyard their souls are placed on the deathtoll card. he's got two on there now, but he needed five. hm. time to keep goading kaiba. ]

[ he acts mildly disappointed, but, surprise, he's not. when it's his turn he willfully sends his monsters to do battle, even through they're significantly weaker, adding two more souls to the card. ]

[ one more. he does set a card face down to protect himself when kaiba inevitably destroys his last line of defense, but hopefully deathtoll has something in store for him. ]

[blue_ice]

[ Welp. He charges ahead, that familiar gleam in his eye. That card...he squints at it. ]

Well?

[puzzlers]

I'm not sure what happens when it's got five souls on it, but I think we're about to find out.

[blue_ice]

Well, this was quite possibly the stupidest thing I've ever done, given our history.

But yeah. Let's see.

[ He laughs, trying to pass it off as a joke, but he reaches for his wand just in case they summoned a helldemon. ]

[puzzlers]

[ ... ]

[ not helping kaiba. ]

[ as soon as the fifth soul is placed on the card an obnoxious chime sounds, one that seems to immediately coax yugi into shattering the souls he just collected. that's what he wanted, right, to find out what the card did, so he does so with little hesitation. ]

[ kaiba's soul is immediately drawn into the card, sealed, the game coming to an abrupt end, since he's no longer got an opponent. yugi blinks, staring down the lifeless husk of his boyfriend and immediately freaking out!!! ]

Kaiba! [ he grabs the card, releasing his soul, his hands shaking as he quickly gathers up everything that's his and shoves it back into his box. he wants to see if he's alright, but now he's terrified of making it worse. ] K- Kaiba?

[blue_ice]

[ And he's proven right, as the light fades from his eyes and he collapses. The body's still breathing, but there's no longer a Kaiba there.

This is a distressingly familiar situation. He hardly has time to process the existential terror, though it swells up quickly (again, familiar). This sucks.

Then he's abruptly thrown back into his body, eyes wide open as he clutches at his chest. He's trying and probably failing to keep his voice steady. ]

...damnit. Probably should've expected that.

[puzzlers]

[ yugi is on the verge of losing his damn mind. he can't believe that's what this card does, though he should have probably expected it with a name like deathtoll. ]

[ he throws himself at kaiba, wrapping his arms around him tightly. why the hell did he think it was a good idea to try using this card for the first time on his boyfriend. he squeezes him, tighter and tighter still, tears running down his face. ] I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.

[blue_ice]

Yugi...

[ And there's Yugi. There's Yugi trying to squeeze his soul right back out of his body, it seems like. Kaiba's still a little shaken himself, so he curls around Yugi, running his knuckles up and down his back. ]

Look. It didn't kill me, and with that name it could have.

[ Okay, probably the wrong tactic here. He sighs and drops a kiss to Yugi's forehead. ]

I'm still here, Yugi. I'm not going anywhere.

[puzzlers]

But it could have. I'm sorry, Kaiba, this was stupid and reckless and... I should have been more careful, especially because we were playing. I don't want to lose you. [ he holds him tighter, as if he's the only thing keeping kaiba tethered to this world right now. ] I'm so sorry, Kaiba. [ please forgive him. ]

[ he's going to go back to that tower and demand ask politely for some answers about this card and its origin. ]

Are you sure you're okay?

[blue_ice]

Yugi...Yugi, you were never going to lose me. It wasn't the most pleasant experience, no, but I didn't have a reason to be afraid this time. You wouldn't abandon me.

[ It's a powerful thing to admit, after years of abandonment and trust issues, but it's true. He clings a little tighter. ]

Though I fully endorse healthy skepticism of any unknown magic. Those cards are apparently just as full of ridiculous surprises as ours.

[puzzlers]

H- How do you know! We didn't know! I should have never done that, Kaiba! [ he's borderline hysterical. he really can't believe he thought something good would come of this. he clings to kaiba tightly, trying to convince himself of the same that kaiba believes. ] It seemed like it might have been the opposite from what we discovered in the tower, but this is... they... [ he's going to have to do more research. ]

[blue_ice]

I should have stopped it too. It's not all on you, Yugi. You're forgiven, all right?

[ Kaiba can't argue that it wasn't stupid, but he can at least share the burden of guilt. He takes a small breath and curls around him, leaning down to kiss him again. ]

I remember finding Mokuba in that cell...I know you would stop at nothing, because I've felt it too. You saved your grandfather. All your friends. And me, more than once. I'm sorry I scared you.

[ He sighs. ]

We should all go together.

[puzzlers]

[ he can't forgive himself for this. especially for only having told kaiba halfway through about what it was he wanted to do. he trembles, circling his arms around kaiba and squeezing him like his life depends on it, because it kind of feels like it does at this point. ]

I- I know. I wouldn't have let you stay there for long. I don't want anything bad to happen to you, Kaiba, not now- not ever- and definitely not beacuse of me. [ he sniffles. ] I think you should head back to the dorm and rest... especially after having to deal with something like that.

[ he needs to go alone. this isn't something he's dragging anybody in to anymore. ]

[blue_ice]

Yugi...

[ He breathes him in and holds tight for a little while longer. ]

I'm fine. I've been through this more than once and it hasn't broken me yet.

[ But he's going to get up and start heading back anyway, taking Yugi's hand and squeezing it gently. ]

[puzzlers]

... [ but he's never been the cause of it and this is... he just... fuck. he's so stupid. he's just going to nod though, because he doesn't want kaiba worrying about him when he should be worrying about himself. yugi keeps a firm hold on kaiba's hand as they head back to the dorm. ] Maybe we can just take it easy for the remainder of the night...

[blue_ice]

[ He solves the lock and brings Yugi over to his bed. He'd been exercising before all of this, so...]

Let me get cleaned up, then we can relax.

[ And he'll take his usual too-busy-for-this quick shower, emerging in his standard blue pajamas. He sits next to Yugi and takes his hand once more. ]

I'll take your sleeping draught again just in case, but I'm not using it until I spend some time with you, all right?

[ He runs his thumb over the back of Yugi's hand. ]

What can I do to help you?