diatu | (no subject)

(no subject)

Who: Yugi & anybody looking for a Fantastic Foils clash***.
What: It's a very bad day.
Where: Anywhere & everywhere.
When: Immediately following his Discovery of what the Deathtoll card does.
Warnings: ~~Yugi slowly but surely losing his mind~~.

[ yugi had stayed overnight in purifuel, but at the crack of dawn decided to head back to his own dorm, because one, he didn't want to get caught and two, he needed some time to himself. that's part of the reason he hadn't planned on going to class, but the distraction might be welcome. maybe. he's not really sure he's going to be able to focus on anything but how terrible a person he is for using that stupid card. he smothers his face with his hands, trying to keep it together, which is difficult when he's exhausted and guilt ridden. ]

[ could today get any worse? ]

( ooc; for the people that need to challenge him just pop in whenever and wherever and let's throw down! )

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See you soon.

[ Kaiba waits, and in any other situation he'd really take the time to enjoy the flight. But he knows Yugi needs him now (and there's a wild-eyed person rushing at them with a deck), so he holds on a little tighter than strictly necessary as they fly to a quieter spot. ]

...in other words, everyone's turned into me from three years ago? Wow. I know you've been working on making the game more popular, but how could that happen overnight?

[ he makes a face back at kaiba. ] No. [ kaiba. ] But I think it might have to do with Deathtoll. We played the other night, remember, and then this happens. It can't be a coincidence. [ he shakes his head, looking down below to see a bunch of people readying their wands. yugi's quick to cast a protection spell, urging peregrin to fly faster. ]

[ they eventually reach the spot, tucked away behind a bunch of shrubs and trees. yugi gets off peregrin and drops to his knees, taking a much needed breath. ] I think this is all my fault. [ he shuts his eyes. ] Everybody's lost their minds and I just... I don't know what to do. I think the remainder of the text on the card might help, but I... I'm also afraid that it's going to make it worse. [ his gaze drops to the ground as tears well in his eyes. ]

Hell. Is it...is it to do with lingering darkness in me? Or a curse on the card itself?

[ He remembers something like that from long ago. Kaiba sighs and drops beside Yugi, taking the card in hand. ]

It could be the key to solving the crisis, or it could make it worse. I wonder...

[ He squints at the text for a long time, but it's still illegible. ]

Have you used the card at all since?

[ kaiba, wtf, no!!! he's going to snatch the card back and stash it back into his deck, which is immediately returned to the box on his belt. ] I doubt it has anything to do with you. I think playing the card opened up some otherworldly gate or something, because everybody seems possessed by some craziness. I can't tell you how many times I've been approached by people demanding a foil clash and I swear I've tried to turn them down a hundred different ways, but nothing deters them.

I'm not even sure why certain people are affected and other people aren't. None of it makes any... sense... [ he trails off, frowning. ] I... have... it seems the only way to, ah, help these people is to use the card... [ he doesn't really get it, but it seems to relieve them of the lunacy plaguing them. ] I can't keep this up though. I'm exhausted and I just... I can't believe this is happening... [ he shuts his eyes and shakes his head. ] I considered playing a game against myself to see if I couldn't activate the remainder of the text, but I don't know if it'd count. And I... I don't want to have to play you again, Kaiba. [ he moves closer, wrapping his arms around him. ] I can't lose you.

Yugi...

[ Kaiba holds him protectively, sighing into his hair. He's so clearly exhausted from this madness, and he needs a hand...one that Kaiba can provide.

He bows his head. ]

I can help you. If you can't play them anymore, I will...after all, if this was a proper ranked dueling tournament, they'd have to go through me to get to you.

I don’t think they’re going to want to play you and if you get in their way... [ who knows what’ll happen. he stays pressed closely to kaiba, heaving a sigh as he tries to think of an alternative. ] But we can certainly see if they’ll foil clash against you. It’d certainly help. There are just so many of them.

I can buy you some time to rest and prepare. Maybe I can even cure one of them. There are brick walls less stubborn than me.

[ He gives Yugi a fond squeeze and another kiss. ]

And...I'm used to these kinds of things on my conscience.

If you think you’ll be able to...

[ though he’s seriously doubtful that kaiba’s going to be able to make any headway.. ]

But you shouldn’t have to be when it’s my problem. Kaiba, what if... you use Deathtoll on me?

Yugi...

[ His expression is pained. He tips his boyfriend's head up. ]

We both know it's a risk. I'm not losing you either.

...

[ he bows his head, or tries, kaiba tilting it back so their eyes meet. ]

What do we do then? [ he reaches for his neck and tugs him down so their foreheads meet. ] it would be one thing if we knew what it did, but... [ he removes the card and holds it so they can both see, the text at the bottom blurred. ]

I'm not letting anything else take you from me, Yugi.

[ He gives Yugi a tight squeeze. ]

I'll be watching. From a distance, researching as much as I can. I know it's not enough, but...I hate all of this.

[ he's just going to make a sound in response. he can't ask kaiba to help. not play with this card. not again. he'll have to... figure something out. m- maybe atem. though that's equally unfair. if not more so. he shuts his eyes and just leans into kaiba, a sigh tumbling from his lips. ]

Yeah... me too... [ at least he's gotten more than a few minutes to himself, so so there's that. ] I should... go... I need to figure out what I'm going to do about Deathtoll. How I want to proceed...

I'm right here. Don't hesitate to call me if you need me.

[ He gives Yugi another protective kiss to the forehead. Screw the risks. He's going nowhere. ]

... [ he stares at the card and frowns, a bunch of terrible thoughts about all of this terrible luck filling his head. kaiba would be better off, wouldn’t he, if Yugi just... ] We need to play one more match, Kaiba.

...ugh. All right.

[ Kaiba hunches over, his posture terribly unnatural. He hates this idea with every fiber of his being, but he knows this hell needs to stop. ]

Hit me with your worst.

I- It'll be... alright...
I hope.

[ he sucks in a sharp breath and takes out his deck, giving it a shuffle. ]

I need to get Deathtoll into the banished pile, which shouldn't take your soul...

All right. A few hands should do it.

[ Luckily, after a hand or few he has a trap card that has a handy banishment effect. He flips the card and nods, reaching over to take Yugi's hand as he plays it.

It has to be all right. ]

[ the game had gone on like it had at least a dozen times before, but yugi had to keep from getting the fifth soul onto the card, because then he would have had to seal kaiba's soul into it again. he's not sure if getting something onto it is going to help or hurt them in the end, but he'd decided to go all out besides. ]

[ and that's when he tells kaiba to play the card to banish it, which opens up a whole other can of worms. the field changes and becomes a large ornate door, one that already has four of six keys on it, which has yugi both relieved and anxious at the same time, which can't be good for his poor heart. they need two more keys to open this door and... he's honestly kind of scared. but he planned for this, w- well, kind of. not in the best way, but he absolutely refused to let kaiba get hurt anymore... or worse. ]

It's my turn... [ he assumes the rules for getting keys is similar if not the same as before, since they have four. first, he plays two cards face down, and then he summons a monster while his lava dragon is in play, which is something you general can't do unless it's a special kind of monster. why. because only certain types of monsters can exist within the lava chasm. bone monsters, for one, and this little guy certainly doesn't fit the bill. it's destroyed instantly, perishing to the fire and the flames, which puts another key on the door. ]

Kaiba, [ he takes a deep breath. ] I have to know what this card does and I want to see this through to the end, because why me. [ why did he get this terrible card??? ] But I'm not going to let it hurt you anymore and it seems like only your opponent suffers the consequences. [ he reveals one of his other face downs, one that reverses everything but their hands and decks. so the field, the graveyard, and the banished piles all switch. ] It's your move.

Edited 2019-06-22 14:05 (UTC)

[ The heat has to be a trick of his mind, but he's so tense that he feels like he's burning up himself. His monsters haven't fared too well...but it's all part of the plan in the end.

He takes a deep breath when Yugi announces his plan, looking at Yugi with a desperate expression. ]

And that makes it all right for you to suffer? We don't have to do this.

[ He places a face down card on the field, desperately trying to stall. He should really concede the duel, anyting to make this stop...but he knows Yugi needs to see this through.

Bad move, Kaiba. ]

I don't get it, Kaiba. You got this fantastic coat and Atem gets a new familiar, and what do I get? I get this. [ he makes a motion to the field as kaiba sets a card face down. ] Why did I get this? Why couldn't I get something else? There has to be a reason, right? A- And maybe the answer lies at the end of all this. [ his own voice has started to waver, because he's really just so done. ]

[ it doesn't help that the tower is gone and... and... ]

[ as soon as kaiba ends his turn he draws a card and his wrist is immediately seized. a pair of snakes that were originally just a part of the damn thing have come alive to grab it. ] W- What?! [ he tries to yank it back, but the two of them bite into his hand, drawing blood, their bodies turning a sickly red as it flows through them and onto the door, filling in the last keyhole. ]

[ he feels sick, the color having drained from his face as they finally release his hand and returning to their spots. w- what the fuck? what just happened!! ]

[ well there are five souls and one blood offering totally six. is it too late to back out now? ]

I've never liked these shadow games. Screw it all.

[ He's just about to forfeit the match when the snakes latch onto Yugi, drawing his blood. Kaiba immediately pales to match and drops his cards, rushing over to grab Yugi and try to pull him away. No. No! He can't let this happen. ]

I surrender! Stop this, take me instead!

[ But everything's already set in motion. He clutches Yugi close, trembling...he's about to jump up and run back to Peregrin when the fabric of reality shifts around them. He curls tighter around Yugi, silently upending all his own beliefs and praying for a miracle when the gates of hell open, and...

They're thrust into a shimmering golden hall, with angelic-looking beings and the scents of fine cooking surrounding them. Clearly it's a trap. Kaiba continues to clutch Yugi close, eying the alleged angels with suspicion. ]

...what is this place?

[ He's still shaking from the adrenaline a little. One angel seems to take pity on him and reaches to take his arm, speaking in a melodious voice. ]

'Tis but a simple brunch buffet, my boy. Why don't you two sit and have your fill? You look like you've had a trying day, and I daresay our dishes are...a little slice of heaven!

[ That's not even the half of it. He looks down to check on Yugi, bewildered. ]

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