things that go bump

[blue_ice]

who: Seto Kaiba and you
what: Spooky late night sneaking around!
where: Purifeul tower or the hallways of the Magicademy
when: After good students have gone to bed
warnings: none anticipated. Maybe some spoopy ghosts later.



Of the many things Kaiba dislikes about life at Diatu Magicademy, the dormitory arrangement nears the top of the list. He usually makes himself scarce in the Purifeul tower, retreating to back corners to study or holding the pillow over his head. After spending most of his life cherishing solitude, enjoying giving others a wide berth, to be so crowded in is a real pain.

((prompt a: for purifeul))

Fellow students in Purifeul tower will find him in the common room long after he's supposed to be in bed, drawing circles in front of him with a wand. There's sort of a hazy barrier around his chair, and it's intended to keep the sound out, but in practice it's creating a weird reverb effect in the common room, along with the slight chime of bells. Have fun with that, late night snack seekers!

((prompt b: for all late night wanderers))

As far as anyone else who walks the castle at night? They'll find Kaiba hiding at the base of a staircase, sitting at the edge of a moonlit patch on the ground. He's trying a different spell here, one that results in a cloud of golden glitter coating him and the entire patch of ground.

He huffs, brushing it from his hair. That is not the intended effect...but he does suddenly feel a little more relaxed. That part, at least, is intended. And should anyone approach, he'll lift a hand to attempt to dismiss them. "Despite appearances, it's under control."

Comments

B

[king_of_egypt]

Finding himself unable to sleep either Atem decided to go for a brief walk along the corridors. There wasn't really anything weighing heavily on his mind, although losing a game of cards to a cat would have been a good enough reason to question your life decisions, cough but he was enjoying the quiet of the night. It was hard to believe how these halls could be so crowded during the day and vacant at night.

At first he failed to notice the figure ahead of him, but when he heard who it was and saw what had happened he couldn't help but chuckle at the other's expense.

"I never realized that you wanted to be immortalized in gold glitter, Kaiba. Most people would commission a statue or a painting."

[blue_ice]

And there's the pharaoh, amused at his misfortune again. Kaiba's bristling might have been genuine once, but there's enough gladness in seeing him regularly again that the grumbling no longer has a bite to it.

"I'd choose glass for my memorial. Gold isn't my style."

It just wouldn't feel right, and as he looks up at his once-lost friend, there's a glimmer in his mind about why. But he sets that aside to brush the mess off of himself as best he can.

"Looking for something out here? Other than my magical...errors?"

[king_of_egypt]

At least there isn't anything malicious behind the amusement.

"Why do I have the feeling you're questioning my own aesthetic."

Again, he's not being serious but they both knew that out of the two of them, Atem was more likely to be donning the glistening metallic substance.

"No," Said with a shake of the head. "Not a thing." Although, at some point he should like to explore the grounds more thoroughly. There might be much to be gained through further knowledge of it. "I was just going for a walk." The thought that Kaiba was practicing magic outside of class and so late at night had Atem thinking that he needed to up his game. Sure, this wasn't a race but he still felt a slight competitive edge, even when it came to magic.

[blue_ice]

"Maybe I am." Kaiba laughs, but it's gentle, softened by his exhaustion and this changing bond between them.

He looks up at Atem, considering this. "So...you're just walking," he confirms. "Is this a nightly thing?"

[king_of_egypt]

Atem can't help but to smile at that, amused that for once they're sharing in a lighthearted moment. It's a welcome and endearing change that he feels privileged to experience.

"Sorry to disappoint, but yes... just walking." With that he steps closer and kneels down, pinching a cluster of golden dust between his thumb and index finger and holding it up to look at it. "No- not at present but maybe it should be. You never know what interesting things you may come across when presumably everyone else should be asleep."

"If you don't mind my asking, what was the intent behind this spell?"

[blue_ice]

Kaiba shifts a little when Atem approaches. What? Did he count as one of those interesting things? He rakes a hand through his hair, frowning when glitter comes away with his hand.

"It was intended to be a calming powder. I'm trying a few different solutions in an attempt to get to sleep, since sustaining myself during the day with coffee isn't an option anymore."

[king_of_egypt]

That was certainly the implication, Kaiba. Catching sight of the others displeasure at having found yet more glitter upon his person, Atem fights the urge to snicker. Once was enough, laughing again would be a little cruel.

That admission was enough to help wipe the amusement from Atem's features.

"Sleep has never been something that's come easily to you, has it Kaiba?" He assumes, since beyond being a known workaholic the brunette always had a lot on his mind. Years of terrible habits were preventing this from being a smooth transition for him. "Have you ever thought of trying a more natural method first?" Unsure whether magic was really the only solution Kaiba could avail himself of.

[blue_ice]

Kaiba sat back, his features slipping into the darkness as his face left the moonlight.

"It's always been an inconvenience, let's put it that way. And I haven't...do you happen to know any?"

[king_of_egypt]

Maybe he was reading too much into it, but Atem had a feeling there might be more to this than he previously assumed.

Leave it to Kaiba to call a basic function of the human body an inconvenience. "Several, the problem is I'm not sure that any of them will be right for you." He let the glitter slide from his fingertips and collect back into the pile on the floor. Righting himself, he looked down at the other and proceeded to list a few. "In Egypt, some of the remedies range from chamomile, lavender,.... or poppy seeds..." Letting that last one sink in a little, since he wasn't really suggesting Kaiba resort to something else he could get hooked on that would be far worse than coffee.

"The problem is, I'm not familiar with the herbs here so you might try exercising before bed...." Tapping his chin with a finger. "Reading I think would be a detriment for you...... it would get you thinking too much, when you need a way to turn off your mind."

[blue_ice]

Kaiba listened attentively. Huh. He hadn't thought along those lines before, but those could be useful.

"Tea is probably the best solution, taken after a walk. It's likely the most readily available, so...I'll try it when I get the chance."

For now, though, a gentle walk is likely to be his best solution. He rises, dusting himself off with another crinkle of his nose. "How about we finish your walk, then?"

[king_of_egypt]

Honestly, Atem was afraid he had been treading old ground. Some of those ancient remedies had remained in popularity into modern times.

"Mm, as long as you can find a blend that acts less like a stimulant and more as a relaxant." It all depended on the variety. It pleased him that Kaiba was willing to at least try something a little less drastic. Yes, magic could be useful for something like this, but it could take weeks to master the right spell. It was clear that Kaiba would need rest long before then.

"I would be glad for the company."

[blue_ice]

"I'll look into it," he nodded, and that was about as much gratitude as he was likely to show at the moment.

He flashed a small smirk as he joined his rival. "Have you been getting into any more trouble lately?"

[king_of_egypt]

That was fine, Atem was looking for a viable solution to Kaiba's problem not thanks.

It was at this moment when the question was posed that Atem felt the need for some discretion. Recalling how Kaiba had reacted the last time he had lost a game to someone else, it was best not to share some of his misadventures. Raising a hand to his lips he gave a light cough. "Me? Getting into trouble?"

Without really answering it he continued his walk. Well- there was that one incident he could mention. "I apparently gave someone the impression that I must be some sort of tyrant that wishes to use my fellow students for some nefarious plot." No names. He saw no need to reveal who it was since it was all a misunderstanding he felt sure he could sort out.

[blue_ice]

Well, that. That was something. Kaiba gaped over at him.

"How did they reach that conclusion? You're regal, yes, and sometimes bossy...but usually for good reason," he reluctantly conceded.

[king_of_egypt]

It certainly was. Apparently, it wasn't that difficult for the pharaoh to get into trouble, not even here.

"Normally I might take exception to the term, but in hindsight I suppose.... bossy was accurate in this instance." Explaining it proved difficult, since it had spiraled out of control so swiftly even Atem wasn't sure how. "The person in question was being unreasonable so... I..." With a sheepish shrug of the shoulders," Might have overstepped my bounds..."

"I certainly wasn't going to leave them to freeze to death as they desired..." Muttered as a bit of an afterthought. Then with a sigh, since he started this he might as well tell it. "I just ensured that they made it to shelter from the elements- albeit against their will."

"I'm not exactly proud of it but they left me no choice...."

[blue_ice]

Kaiba listens to the explanation with a skeptical raise of his brow, but his expression darkens as he pays closer attention. His face pales, and he has to be sure he heard correctly.

"They wanted to freeze to death?"

[king_of_egypt]

It wasn't exactly the best sort of subject to share, no- but it was one that had been bothering Atem for a while. At least he could rest a little easier now that the girl in question was no longer alone. She had a friend here whom she trusted and could look out for her. "Yes..." Atem answered plainly looking forward as he proceeded to walk. "It is actually more complicated than it seems-" Not that it improves the situation much either way. "I suppose... in a way I'm a bit of a hypocrite as well." Said a bit distantly and more to himself. Xion wanted to die so that someone else could live and in turn rescue others. Atem also had to make choices that were not so dissimilar. Had he not made the initial sacrifice Egypt would have been in dire straights and that danger would have fanned out to encompass the world. He drew quiet and didn't add much for a while, obviously lost in some contemplation. Perhaps he should change the subject entirely.

[blue_ice]

Kaiba, of course, was never exactly the best at reading social cues. This was a subject he was uncomfortably familiar with too. They'd been on opposite ends of it once, after all.

"Don't call it hypocrisy. Things change. They have for me too."

It's not something he's the most comfortable discussing, but it's the truth.

"But I'd trust you and your convictions by now."

[king_of_egypt]

"I wouldn't have altered my actions, so there really is no point in thinking of it that way either." Plus there were some notable differences in the situations in question too. Maybe he had oversimplified it in his reassessment of it. "Thank you, Kaiba."

[blue_ice]

That's still weird. All of this is still weird. How did they get this far, again?

His heart feels a little lighter when he risks answering back, eyes seeking Atem in the dark.

"...hm. You're welcome, I guess."

This wasnt so bad after all.

[king_of_egypt]

That hadn't been the only weird thing that had transpired either. Atem still opted to omit the other situations. They were harmless and one of them was mildly embarrassing. Apparently the school needed to invest in window coverings for the upper floors, you know.... just in case.

The way in which Kaiba accepted his thanks had Atem faintly smiling again.

"We.... still haven't sorted out your problem though." This inability to sleep.