whiterosefoes | ☄ ATTACK OF THE FILLER

[After all that searching, he may be dismayed to approach the building - it's a college dorm. Nicer than the one they met near, perhaps, but on the other hand the location seems to mitigate that, and especially the weather. At the very least, if he was fighting monsters all across England, he may find that this one spot is strangely peaceful.

Then again, considering who calls it home, it might not be strange at all. But Harriet's blade is clean for now, as her barrier seems to have worked.

At least, she thought it did, but those frantic knocks have her second-guessing. He needn't be too impatient. She assumes anyone knocking on her door in this time is a friend in need, and so she hurries to answer. Though, once she's opened the door, she's incredibly shocked by which.

Shocked speechless, in fact. Yes, she's happy to see him so soon, when at first it seemed impossible to tell if they were even from the same universe - but on the other hand. There are monsters everywhere, and Bakura is the only one she knew apart from herself to be able to summon them naturally in the modern age. If he's here.... if he's come all the way here, does that mean he knows something? (He better not have called them!!) And that's just on top of all the other questions she could usually ask about him finding where she lives, showing up unannounced, and god how would she introduce him to her normal friends?

But finally, she figures out how to express the sum of her feelings on this.]

........

Hullo, Bakura. Exactly how concerned should I be that you're here?

I can't believe you went from one crappy dorm to another one.

[Bakura's answer is... less than satisfactory, to say the least. His appearance probably isn't very reassuring to her either. His clothes are a mess, he's carrying a bulky-looking backpack slung over one shoulder, and thanks to his trekking, his shoes are stained red in places. Well, what was he going to do, go around the weakling idiots who'd gotten themselves killed? They didn't deserve to put him out of his way.]

Besides, is that any way to greet an old friend? And after I came all this way just to see you...

Edited 2016-04-22 15:50 (UTC)

[That lack of an answer gets him a bit of rolled eyes - come on, man, it's not that easy to rebuild your life in reality! The important thing was living with her friends, anyway. But she won't bother defending it - someone like him would find it boring regardless. She shrugs.]

I said hullo, didn't I? [That's friendly enough!!]

Besides... it's the first time meeting you outside the cage, and there's blood in the air. You can hardly blame me.

[There are still monsters overhead, that she can't help but watch cautiously to see if they'll take aim at the dorms. This had always been Rosenkreuz's job... that she would have to do it in her own city stirs the bitterness in her heart just once.

If he does have something to do with it though, everything she'd want to deal with it would be inside. She'll invite him in wordlessly by opening the door wider.]

How suspicious! You're supposed to invite me in for tea and biscuits, aren't you? Not assume I have something to do with this!

[Well, someone's stereotyping. Though really, knowing him, it's sarcasm. At any rate, he doesn't seem too concerned about the monsters. The Ring isn't giving him any danger signals right now... though that doesn't mean anything. It doesn't mean a threat isn't there, just that it isn't a threat right now.

He strolls in past her, taking a look around. Hm. It's good enough. He sets his bag down on the floor and flops down on her couch. Phew... It's a relief to be done with that journey. Safe at last. She hasn't agreed to help him yet, but that's only a minor concern. He has no doubt he can persuade her.]

I swear I didn't do this.

[That's probably a good place to start.]

[She does take it for sarcasm, since she didn't assume, she asked - and also, she's never given him biscuits, per se. But he does look tired and ragged. If he had been behind this, one would think he'd give himself a more advantageous position.

She shuts the door and crosses back, perching on the couch's arm to look over at him while he takes up all the room.]

Don't get me wrong. I believe you. But, you and Malik were supposed to be the only other ones who knew how to summon them....

[She leaves out Eleanor because she isn't here; she can only hope that means she went back to her other home in the dark ages. Harriet, as she'd resolved, must continue to live in the present.]

What the hell is going on?

Beats me.

[Bakura sounds positively grouchy. This entire situation is a pain. Other than the entertainment value, it's nothing but an inconvenience. He stretches out, feeling the tension already starting to fade from his body. He's not surprised that Harriet was suspicious. Anyone would assume it was his fault. Malik was an ass when he wanted to be, but his interests had been purely selfish. Bakura was the one that had clouded motives and hidden desires, the one who hinted and teased but never really revealed what he was out for. Mostly it was because he didn't know, but... well, he was willing to do some pretty awful things in the name of something he didn't even remember. He doesn't really feel offended by it at all.

After a moment, he tilts his head to look over at her.]

Ryou was busy in the museum when it started. I didn't even notice until we had to go outside to get food. It was pretty annoying - though it was quite hilarious to see him running away from a dragon on those skinny little legs. Heheh.

You didn't notice.... a huge monster attack!?

[Yeah, he's getting a look. These things shook the earth, screamed through the air. It's not something a mere wall would suffice to hide, she thinks?]

What exactly were you doing in that museum?

[It must have been pretty intense, to take up that much attention. Museums aren't exactly loud places, though.]

We were in the basement. It's quite hard to hear anything down there.

[That isn't an answer, he knows. What might be a better one is the fact that he lazily points towards his bag. It's practically permission to go look, though all she'll find inside are a bunch of tools and a whole lot of bits of wood. Ryou's tools, in fact, if she's ever paid attention to his little modelling habit.]

We needed somewhere quiet to work. So I thought I'd come root you out.

"Quiet"... well, so far they haven't disturbed my barrier. I presume that's what you mean, I couldn't guarantee any actual silence.

[She's actually gathered quite a few people to the dorms. None have needed to take space in her own yet, but... there's still some outsiders that she's worried about. The thought that this place might be the safest in the world right now doesn't do much to calm her anxiousness.

Still, after a moments hesitance, she decides she might as well see what they are working on. Off the arm, down to unzip it. .... Aren't these craft supplies? If so, that's kind of absurd.]

Er... models? Is this really the time?

[No, Harriet, you're supposed to buy them time.]

Safety's all I want. Ryou needs time to get his work done, and I can't defend him without interrupting him.

[How the hell is he going to explain this one to her? He can't tell her the truth. There's no way she'll approve of it. Their deadline is probably going to be extended if he knows the Pharaoh and his little pet humans, but that doesn't mean they can afford any massive delays. The game will start whether he's ready or not. If he isn't... he'll lose by default.]

Why wouldn't it be the time? I'm not going off to try to save the world. That's the Pharaoh's job.

...Because of what you just said. You could be defending him instead of doing that, but you came to me. That means this.... game is for you.

[She gives him a long look, remembering a conversation long ago as she lets the bag's strap fall from her hand and straightens, standing.]

You told me quite a lot about the games you play, you know?

It doesn't matter who it's for.

[His retort is swift and irritable. Honestly, woman, why do you have to get so sharp-witted all of a sudden? No, actually, she was always somewhat sharp-witted... but of course, just like a woman, she has to get sharp-witted when he doesn't want her to.]

Tch. What harm can I do with a diorama, anyway?

[ Struck a nerve, huh? Looks like her assumption was right.

But, she'll think about that. ...Dioramas aren't like duel monsters, though. She has to admit, she can't really think of anything. All they are is 'escapism', right...]

Nothing really, I suppose. But any game can be a "dark game...."

[At least, from her understanding, but she still trails off a bit uncertainly. That's what they call it when a game is played betting their lives. Unaware of the supernatural aspects though, she sort of assumed it was some really fucked up gambling when he told her about it, or equated it with the kind of things the two of them did to her and Elly at worst. He should know she doesn't quite know what she's talking about.

But on the other hand, if it's just murdering someone she doesn't know or care about, the days where she cared about that sort of thing on principle seem rather far away. It's limited to her circle now. Ryou is the only participant she's actively concerned for, since Bakura can't die.]

In the end, I'm going to get it done one way or the other. Isn't it better if I work on it under your watchful eye, Miss Suspicion?

[He props his head up on his hand, looking her over with a smug expression. He's got her there, he's sure. After all, she can't stop him. All she can do is to do her best to make sure Ryou doesn't get his face flayed off because of the game.

Not that Ryou was remotely in danger. Save for that one time with the other Malik, and that one time Malik had ordered him to withdraw control, and that one time he'd knifed him for Malik... okay, so, Ryou wasn't in danger as long as Malik wasn't around. His smile flickers briefly, then reasserts itself. There's no use in showing weakness to her. Even if she probably knows it's there, beneath the surface. There's a lot of things beneath the surface.]

Besides, all you'll be doing is giving me a safe place to stay. It's no different than if I'd never come, except that you'll need more food.

[He does have her there. Have a sigh as your reward.]

I don't actually care, you know. I've certainly helped you lot with much worse - I'm surprised that Pharaoh is still alive for you to make joking comments about, actually.

[Still, she leans over to look him in the smug face.]

But you're being so much more dodgy about it this time, it just makes me want to watch you....

[Even if she doesn't know why. But... no, seriously, she's indirectly thrown their enemies under the bus a lot of times through the course of their alliance, shelter really isn't as big of a deal as her needling might have made it sound.]

... Ah well. You wanted biscuits, right? I don't have much, since I just got in.

[He stiffens as she leans over, making that vaguely threatening comment. It gives him the chills in an unpleasant way. Her guess about the Pharaoh makes him start though. How did she- oh, right. Malik's little childish game of vengeance. Of course she was involved in that, hadn't she been the one to train him?]

Unfortunately, Malik's plans didn't quite work out... You can probably guess why. But I don't have any crazy alter egos to destroy my plans, so I should be able to finish what he started just fine.

[It should be fine if he plays it off as just a revenge thing. He's telling her enough of the truth anyway. Confusion flickers across his face at her comment about the biscuits. He'd already forgotten that little joke.]

You're actually offering me biscuits? I guess I should start thinking of you as a gracious host after all!

[...So that's what this is.... she supposes she's not surprised. He's talked to her about that like it was some kind of destiny, but she didn't really understand it at the time. She'll just focus on the topic she changed it to.]

Well, you dropped another line about food just now. It sounded like you want me to feed you. Besides, my mates left me a bunch of jammie dodgers earlier, I may just let them be your diet while you're here.

[He just stares at her blankly for a long moment. Really?]

...I'm not sure what bothers me the most, the fact that your 'mates' apparently supplied you with cookies in the middle of what humans must be viewing as the apocalypse, the fact that the name doesn't make any sense, or the fact that you think even I can survive solely on cookies.

[Actually, now that he thinks it over-]

No, actually, what bothers me the most is that you're apparently more aware of my body's needs than I am.

[He really needs to start paying attention whenever Ryou needs food or sleep or medical attention. Oh well.]

They, er... might have been high when they did that... Apocalypses, well, never know what you'll be doing when they hit - but anyway, that is actually pretty concerning, how long did it take you to get here again?

[When was Ryou's last meal? No wonder you're half dead on her couch.]

Close to a day and a half, if you count how long I spent on the plane.

[Twelve hours flying, plus all the time he spent wandering blindly across the country? That's some dedication to this evil plan of his, whatever it may be.]

I ran out of snacks about... [He checks his watch.] ...fifteen hours ago.

[He did manage to catch a nap amidst all of that, at least.]

You have stoners for friends? You seem too straight-laced to hang out with them.

Edited 2016-04-22 21:54 (UTC)

[Bakura please. She is just putting the jammie dodgers in your hand, eat them, eat them now.]

Well, yeah, I look straight laced, I'm obviously the epitome of class. But I did get Malik to start drinking and such. I don't really know what you expected.

Edited 2016-04-22 22:09 (UTC)

[He eyes them warily, mostly due to the weird little heart-shape cut out of the center of them, then takes one and bites into it viciously. It's gone in about two bites, and he promptly moves onto the next biscuit, chomping them down violently as he responds.]

Well- [Chomp!] You just seem like- [Hold on, he has to swallow. He has absolutely no manners at all.] The sort of person who looks down on that sort of thing.

I'd avoid people who're on drugs though. Your hair looks like candyfloss. They might get ideas.

Well.... okay, maybe I do a little, but it's hardly my business anyway. Um. Most of the time.

[She would probably have advised them to put the bowl down had she known.]

My hair is a respectable shade, thanks.... though, actually, there was this guy in Campus who looked like you and had rather strange ideas about my hair... do you have like, a tall stoner brother?

...

[Oh no. What the hell did his idiot past life disaster do?]

What did that guy do that was so strange?

He mostly just screamed. And tried to touch it. ... I didn't stick around for much, to be frank.

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