fluffydeathdealer | [CAMPUS/IC] II

Not anything?

[It's weird, maybe he's just getting used to him, but sometimes Kai almost forgets about the body thing. Not that he's stealing Ryou's, but that before him he would've used other people. Could still use them now.

Such a creepy thought. Kai makes a face from where he's still flopped, then turns his head to look at Bakura.]

I guess. Does the mage thing only apply to your cards?

I was totally blank in terms of the memories of my life until a few months ago... and the only thing I've managed to find since then are what my goals are. Nothing else. Even hearing the thief king speak of them doesn't trigger anything. It must be part of the seal.

[He speaks of the seal as if he's speaking of the sun coming out; as if it's something entirely ordinary.]

Who knows? Magic users still make me feel a little odd, but that's probably a holdover from the past I don't remember. I'd have to be pretty fucking stupid to hate magic when I use it myself. Power is power.

[Items and Doors. He could always try and bug him for more than what he learned from bitty Bakura, but he's pretty sure it wouldn't be a good idea, even with how well they're tolerating each other right now.]

Seal?

[Okay, he can ask about that.]

...It is, isn't it.

[But he's still never making that mistake again. Okay, maybe Bakura's right and he's not a hero anymore. Thing is, Kai never considered himself one in the first place, so that doesn't sting too much. It's the thought he could be considered a villain in any sense of the word that really bites.]

Heheh... The spell that binds me to this thing.

[He picks up the Ring and jingles it leisurely, a strangely amused look on his face.]

It's ancient magic... There's only one other like me out there. I won't be able to break it until I break the seal on him. While the seal's in place, it cuts off our memories. We're playing a game without knowing the rules or the stakes or even the reason we started... it's quite fun~!

[He sounds almost childish. But at least it's distracting him from his low mood.]

[The jingling gets Surge's attention pretty quick, so say hi to at least one dog panting happily in your face, Bakura. Kai makes a half-hearted attempt at trying to shoo him away before giving up to tuck both arms under his head.]

The Pharaoh, right? [Lucky guess, probably.] How's that fun, I'd at least want to know the rules!

[Wait, remember who you're talking to, Kai.]

[Woah, hi there, Surge.]

Oi, oi, don't be so hasty~... This isn't a toy.

[Despite his chiding tone, he reaches out to pet the dog casually, since he's not going away too easily.]

Now go play with Anubis-chan... He's going to feel neglected if you keep rushing over!

[Sitting back, he looks over at Kai.]

That's right, the Nameless Pharaoh. As to that... hahah, you're not much of a gamer, are you? The tenseness of the situation makes it all the more interesting! The risk, the knowledge that your very soul is on the line... heheh, it's a thrill that can't be beaten!

...though it's really a pretty slow-moving game right now! It took three thousand years for my opponent to even wake up and start playing properly, after all.

[Surge doesn't care much about the shiny jingly toy anymore, he's just happy to be getting petted. He lets out a whine as Bakura turns his attention to the dork-in-charge, but almost immediately dashes back to playfully jump on Anubis.

Geeze, that dog. Kai guesses Surge liking Bakura more will make things easier for Ryou, but he's going to miss the Creeper alarm.]

Board games and video games, sure. Normal stuff. I don't mind the thrill of things like that. But what you're talking about...Back home, fighting monsters where my Heart's at stake is bad enough. Not like I could enjoy this like you.

Not like I'd want to, either.

[Kai grunts as he pushes himself back into a sitting position. He's still bothered by the fact he was enjoying siccing Heartless on Bakura. It's just not him.]

...Maybe he's not all that worried about your chances.

He doesn't even know we're playing, so I wouldn't be surprised.

[Yes, he just said he was playing a three millennia long game with deadly stakes against someone who didn't know he was playing.

Drawing his legs up, he gets more comfortable on the grass.]

After three thousand years, I get bored pretty easily. I like normal games too, but the types with risks like that... they're the ones that I really look forward to the most.

Of course, I don't ever intend to lose.

[And that statement leads to Kai simply staring at him for a few moments before rubbing the bridge of his nose. Seriously, what.]

You give me headaches, be proud of yourself. Not much really does.

[Besides overdoing healing spells and warping Barrier into odd shapes, anyway.]

So boredom turned you into a Creeper? [It's not really meant to be a smart ass comment, he's just asking it without thinking. Once he realizes it slipped out, Kai laughs sharply, holding up a hand.] Yeah, forget that. What do you get if you win, besides memories?

[Bakura grins a little at him in response to that expression. Ah, he loves it when people get thrown off by him. It's so fun~!

Though the question turns that grin into a frown. Even if Kai said to forget it... he might as well answer.]

No, not exactly. I don't know the details... but when I woke up in it, I was essentially reborn from the Darkness of the other world. I'm me... but not me.

Boredom just riles me up.

[The other part, though, he's not saying fully. He'll say the obvious part, the part he's open with... but the other part isn't something he's willing to say. To Harriet, he'd told it. Malik knew already, but they hadn't discussed it. That Seal on the gate to the Other World... it was pretty much going to fuck up the world when it got broken.]

What I'll get is power. Isn't that enough?

[They've got that in common, though Kai's mostly just happy when he can throw the Creeper for a loop.]

Reborn from the Darkness... [Oddly enough, Kai has to repress a shiver at that. Ordinarily the phrasing wouldn't have bothered him, but... Maybe it was because Bakura was the one that said it.

He ends up cracking a grin at the boredom comment though. Oh, that was obvious.]

I hope I've been helping with relieving that, at least.

[Kai runs a hand through his hair, shifting to get a little more comfortable. Ugh, that was a fun question. How many times had he asked himself that in the last couple months leading to his epic screw-up?]

Depends on what kind it is, I guess. What're you going to do with it?

[Sunshine and roses and puppies for all, Kai, what do you think?]

I told you once before. I'm the one that's gone furthest along the road to the dark world. Being called a 'Creeper' doesn't offend me... despite your intentions.

[His lips twitch into a twisted smirk.]

It's almost a compliment!

[Too bad, Kai... Your long-term insult really wasn't all that insulting at all! His grin only widens at the rest.]

You've been entertaining! If you hadn't, I wouldn't have bothered playing with you at all.

[And isn't that a little unpleasant wording? True though it might be. Boring people are tolerated, not sought out.

The aftermath of that game is never far from his mind. That goal never leaves. Never disappears. It's a reality he can't forget. Power is power, and power is everything. Being weak like this is distasteful. He may have powers beyond humans, but that's nothing. He wants to have power beyond anything. Gods or demons... mages or warriors. But part of him is aware that if he wins... it's almost a death sentence for him. Winning that game means that everything entertaining will disappear. All challenge... all opponents. Ultimate power is boring, after all. When that time comes... maybe he'll just sleep. Destroy everything that he doesn't like, watch the Pharaoh disappear, his hopes shattered... and then finally rest.

...thinking about things like that is also distasteful. He doesn't want to think of the aftermath of his victory. A hedonistic nature like his isn't one that thinks too far ahead. Enjoyment is everything... and thinking of that... is almost enough to shatter that enjoyment.]

Who knows? The fun part's getting there. The future can take care of itself.

Well, maybe it started out that way. Now it's just habit. [It really is. Even if they ended up friends someday (Never going to happen, ever), he'd still be calling him that.]

Eh, it gives me something to do besides study magic and draw. [Playing with...the image of a cat 'playing' with a mouse comes to mind, but this cat has fangs and batwings. Kai scowls a little at that, then nearly snickers as he imagines the mouse with a teeny Keyblade.]

...I almost wish I could look at things like that.

[He can't believe he actually said that out loud. And to Bakura, for Light's sake.]

Weren't you learning to duel? That's a fun way to pass the time too.

[He stares at Kai. Despite his own tendency to seemingly random mad laughter, the amused look on Kai's face as he holds back a snicker confuses him. What's so amusing? Oh well, it probably doesn't matter. Though being told anything he thinks is somewhat valuable in its own right... surprises him. Kai really does seem to be trying to be nice.

...how weird.]

Worrying about the future? It's a uniquely human trait. Most other creatures don't think farther than they have to. It's too easy for life to be cut short, and won't all that time spent worrying and planning be wasted if that happens?

It's like DMing. You can have the best laid out plan and have it thrown off by a decision your players make. If that happens, you can whine and cry all you want, but you'll still have to change your plans. Better to just roll with it.

[...Bakura has a surprisingly chill philosophy.]

...

[Learning to duel. Thank you very much Bakura, because now Kai's amusement has just given way to him looking like he was punched in the chest. Even despite the earlier mention of cards, Kai'd managed to avoid thinking about his own. That's just been blown to pieces. Almost without thinking about it, he draws himself back into his position from earlier, hugging his knees.]

Yeah, well. It's kind of on hold, considering.

['Kind of on hold' means the deck is carefully wrapped and tucked into the bottom of his backpack where it's safe, but he doesn't have to see it. They might be his cards, but there's too much of Karasu associated with them too. He's not up to dealing with it right now.]

Roll with it...maybe I should try that.

[A faint smile crosses his face before he shakes his head. Today's been pretty weird so far, why not.]

...what's with that look? You're not giving up, are you?

[There's a slightly disparaging note to his voice at that. No matter what happens, or the risk to him, he doesn't back down. Why should anyone else? But humans were so very fragile... in every sense of the world. Perhaps it is tied to Karasu's similar state. The two were close, after all. Close enough for that event to have scarred their moods severely.]

Yeah, it's a good way to do it. You get hurt sometimes, pick the wrong option, but it's not like it's going to kill you. You just have to think fast enough to avoid the worst outcome. And you're pretty good at doing that regardless.

Most humans are.

[Kai's eyebrows raise slightly. Giving up? Ha. He's too stubborn for his own good. Sure, he has his moments where he'd like to toss the world into a pit and light it on fire (especially lately), but...]

What, would you be disappointed? Should I carry on to make you proud of me? Careful, you might end up a father-figure. Papa Creeper!

[And there's his need to be a pest resurfacing. He manages a smirk before dropping his chin onto his knees.]

Depending on the situation, the wrong option might kill you pretty literally. Maybe not so much around here, though.

[Or maybe very much so, now that there's a Creeper!Malik wandering around. Kai wisely keeps his mouth shut on that, deciding to go the annoying route instead.]

You're seeming pretty human yourself these days. Should I be worried?

Oi... I know I'm old, but like hell I'm the fatherly type! I just detest quitters.

[He scoffs, pouting a little. "Papa Creeper"? Seriously... what the hell was with this kid?]

If it kills you, you won't be around to regret it.

[...

Pretty human? Bullshit... He may be getting better at acting the role, but he knows he's not. Even if he picked up some annoying traits. Maybe the other Malik was right... being too human just led to trouble. It was weakness, pure and simple. Attachments like this, that caused him pain... he should sever them, right?

...tch. The most he can do is get used to loss, which isn't the same. But in that regard, the other Malik might have helped him. By separating him forcibly from Harriet and Malik, even if he could enter Harriet's soul room if he needed to, he'd forced him to confront that fear brought on by this irrational fondness. Most likely... he'd be able to recover from it if it did become permanent. That was good.

But still... calling him human...]

I'm not human. Mistaking me for that will only lead to your doom eventually.

I never said you were! [Aw, but Bakura, if you're going to annoy him with 'Dark Kai', it's only fair to return the favor, right? Kai snickers at the pout, barely resisting the urge to reach over and muss his hair. It might've flown with bitty Creeper (barely), but he'd lose his whole arm for it now.]

Unless I end up haunting the place. [Or just certain people. A 3,000 year old spirit with his own poltergeist!]

I'm not mistaking you for it, I know better. [He grins, rocking slightly with his arms still loosely wrapped around his knees. Ah, familiar ground.]

[Eh, chopping off arms was such a hassle. He'd probably just make it an illusion.]

I don't think much of your chances! I met the actual embodiment of Death around here a while back. That explains why there's no spirits here.

[...actually he might like Kai better as a poltergeist, even if he'd be annoying. He does like spirits.]

Heheh. That's good to know! Calling me human's an insult, after all.

[Illusion or not, that would suck. Avoiding the hair mussing at all costs! Though the next time he sees him, yelling out 'Hey Papa!' will be hilarious no matter what.]

Yeah, so did I, at Christmas. It was weird getting asked if I'd been a good boy by a skeleton pretending to be Santa. [Though it actually hadn't clicked in his head what he'd been dealing with until after. Hey, he was distracted by the ring!] He gave me this back. [Kai unwraps his left arm to briefly flash the dragon ring at Bakura before absently tugging at the grass.]

So if I start calling you that on a regular basis, I'm going to get my ass kicked?

[Well, Bakura could try.]

It was easier for me. I confused the hell out of him.

[By sitting on his lap and pretending to hit on him. It had been fun!]

...well, I do owe you one, so you might get away with it once or twice. After that, who knows? I might decide to take your soul and stick it in a Marionette I made!

Weigh your options careful, Kai-kun.

What, was he trying to figure out how you got away?

[That's just...somehow a really amusing thought right now. Something along the lines of 'Who the hell let you out?']

Wow, twice is kind of generous. Sorry, my soul's staying put- speaking of, you want a voodoo doll of the Thief King?

[He has no idea what prompted that. Okay, maybe the mention of the marionette. Probably. Yeah, that was it. Not like he has any intention of giving him the one he made.]

I'll be sure to.

[And end up choosing the opposite of the sane one, most likely.]

No, I just sat on his lap and hit on him. He had no idea I was a spirit.

Death as a person doesn't exist in my world, so I didn't really figure it out at the time either.

[If he had existed there, he'd have known. Death truly was a pitiful being.]

It is generous, isn't it? I guess I'm in a good mood!

[Grin. A voodoo doll? Really? Oh, how charming. He really misses occult stuff. It was always so very hilarious...]

Absolutely. That guy's the one who broke my hand. I'm not very happy with him right now.

[Cue the staring. And then the giggles. Kai coughs suddenly, turning his attention to the dogs long enough that he doesn't outright start cackling. Geeze, he's beginning to be easily amused. Oh, wait.]

Mine either, but I used to read a lot of weird stuff when I was a kid, so it's not a foreign concept. ['Stole creepy books out of the trunk under his mom's bed when she wasn't home', he means.]

I think I like you better when-

[Wait wait what. The end of the sentence disappears into oblivion at that, and Kai's expression goes from mild shock to anger. Son of-]

I knew I should've ki-

[Smacking himself in the forehead, he lets himself sprawl back onto the grass. No, no, no more insane villain funtimes, no. That doll's going to have a lot of pins in it tonight.]

...I'll make you one like mine, I'm going to be mutilating the one I've got.

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