( 001 ) ≠ video;

[denyamenti]

I'm starting to think these World Turtles have a fascination with using people's souls as cosmic currency in some way or another.

[ Someone's grouchier than usual today. And apparently uncaring about the hypocrisy of him presenting this particular argument. ]

That's the only reason I can think of for why they're continually attaching ours to some kind of tangible reminder: first lanterns, then jewels, now being marked like a gods-damned heifer at market.

At least no one should be able to swallow these tattoos, unlike the gems-- and before anyone asks, yes, that's a thing someone tried once.

Comments

[corundrum]

Very. All of my people are born of gems. [Not that there's a lot of Padparadscha's people, but...there were enough. It's strange to think there's so many more in this city, when there's probably at least as many people as there were Gems in this single building.]

Ah, that's true enough. It's certainly a side-track to get dragged here, and there were plenty of people yelling about it on these devices after we arrived, huh? Sounds like a recipe for trouble.

[prana]

As did I. (Truth be told, she thought she was the only person until he made that call.

Sera busies herself with looking around with tiny steps, taking in what little features there are to the room.)

You were with the others so I thought... (She shrugs, the vague remark left without any further context as she pauses.)

You have it with you, don't you?

[afoolsgold]

"Seems harder to screw up, in any case."

A wry smile answers that, and a laugh. "I have a friend from my world who might disagree," he says, thinking of the bitter tang of elfbark tea so often described to him by Fitz. The thought leaves a longing in him that he can't tolerate, and so he puts it aside.

Instead he looks back to Bakura and considers him with gentle friendliness that, somehow, manages not to be too invasive at the same time. But he's curious by nature. "Would you enjoy speaking of your world," he invites, "or would you prefer to discuss something else?"

Re: Audio;

[meds4sale]

Gems do seem fairly tame. Considering.

[Considering what? You probably don't want to know.]

[denyamenti]

[ There's not much; he hasn't bothered to put much of a personal mark on the room given that he doesn't intend to stay, and like most of them, he doesn't have much in the way of possessions at the moment anyway. He fixes her with a flat stare. ]

Did your master not teach you how to speak in complete sentences, or are you just being annoying on purpose?

[denyamenti]

... that part was entertaining, though.

[ He's got no shame in being amused by other people's misfortune. ]

[denyamenti]

Not that I know of, just the side effects I mentioned before.

Although I suppose if I wanted to be less charitable about it, they did function as leashes of a sort.

Re: Audio;

[denyamenti]

Nicer to look at, I'll grant.

[ Thieves + shiny things... ]

[denyamenti]

"Perhaps, but consider that some people just like to complain for the sake of complaining," Bakura pointed out. Whether this applied to the Fool's friend or not, who knew.

The inquiry is oddly consideration, something he's sure he hasn't hardly earned yet from a complete stranger, but the thief shrugs. "Nothing wrong with explaining some general things," he answered. It was, after all, only the more personal side of things he preferred to keep closer to the vest.

The coffee press was done, steaming, and once he'd poured some for himself (black, preferred as always) he lifted it in mute inquiry to see if the Fool wanted a cup as well.

[corundrum]

Well, it was a little funny to watch some of them, you're right. [Padparadscha laughs low in their throat, a deep, resonant sound.] But it seems like most of them have calmed down in the blink of an eye, so I wonder what the point of making all that noise was in the first place.

[annihilist]

[The answer is probably that Bakura is both, which is fine.]

I'd have insisted on room anyway. I can do close-quarter combat, but it's much messier. [A beat.] I may take you up on that, depending on how things go here.

video;

[lasergrenades]

You're on that list, too, you know. [She resists the urge to stick her tongue out at him.]

He really would, wouldn't he? I bet he could get a paying job as a fashion statement if he wanted. [And Bakura would make a nice model, too, in her opinion. Pepper was at least 70% certain that wasn't just her being biased.] We have to find ways to pay for all the new food we have to try, after all.

[afoolsgold]

A pause at the offered carafe, but then the Fool nods and, finding a mug, offers it out to be filled. After a murmured 'thank you,' he brings it up to his lips to sip it; however he feels about its flavour, he masks it well.

(Could use some cream, perhaps.)

"Is Aifaran very different from your home?" With one slender hand, the Fool gestures for them to sit someplace more comfortable than simply lingering near the coffee maker.

[driverslicense]

Leash...? They restricted your movements?

["Can't be separated from it" is one, he supposes, but it seems to him that having a soul...detached, kind of, like that would only be a personal threat if there were someone threatening the soul to begin with.]

[prana]

(She's a kid. Hasn't he had his fill of speaking with them by now?)

It wasn't important commentary to conclude, but since you insist: you were spending time with the ones my brother was watching over. The high school students.

(That's still vague, so she'll just go ahead and say it:) Yugi.

[denyamenti]

[ That's interesting phrasing; anyone watching over Yuugi and his cadre should have attracted the thief's attention, but it hadn't. ]

None of them are here.

[ and then, coldly: ]

Why do you have a piece of the Puzzle?

[denyamenti]

This may come as a shock to you, but most people do not actually think before they open their mouths.

[denyamenti]

It lost power if removed too far from the turtle's landmass.. I wonder, if that is still the same.

[denyamenti]

I shouldn't be hard to find.

[denyamenti]

"It is quite different than the place I was in before this world," Bakura answered, moving to one of the seating tables. Thankfully the area isn't busy, and there seem to be few other Dreamfolk around at this time of day (presumably most have jobs, or something suitably responsible to be doing). The choice of wording to reframe the Fool's question is not unintentional.

"Prior to this, I was in a country called Japan, in the world of Earth. It was... more advanced, in a lot of ways, than things in Aifaran. Additionally, magic is largely unknown there to most, although it exists nonetheless."

Re: video;

[denyamenti]

I didn't say it was a flawless list.

[ he's teasing. ]

Good, I can put him to work instead of doing it myself.

[ He makes a disgruntled noise at the thought. ]

There are other ways.

[corundrum]

I suppose humans don't have a lot of time to do it, do they? I can understand a little bit why they'd want to say as much as they can.

[Even if it's unproductive. Maybe they just want to leave some kind of mark in their short time here.]

[prana]

(That's a distinct change in tone. Sera shifts a bit in place, having took note of it almost immediately. She doesn't reach for the piece or anything, though she's intrigued that he knows it's with her and that it's only a fragment.)

It's to keep the Pharaoh from returning. (Can't return if the Puzzle is incomplete... or so her brother is betting on.

Though she did want to give it to Yugi, though she decides that's information not worth surrendering just yet.)

[denyamenti]

Some of us have more time than others.

[denyamenti]

[ It had taken him a bit to figure out what the Ring was picking up on, and like Sera, he knew better than to tip his hand too early. But he doesn't make any effort to hide the suspicion and confusion at her remark. ]

What do you mean, from returning?