voidtreckernet | backdated to fiddlesticks 24, morning

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backdated to fiddlesticks 24, morning

I need to address what happened last night. If you're tired of hearing about it, I promise I'll be fast and avoid detail.

[ He looks like he hasn't slept much. He's giving the crew a very somber expression. ]

First, Xue Yang isn't dead. The spirit going by the name of Wester put him in a penalty coma, where he's being forced to karmically experience the sensation of death. I know this because an incarnation of the same spirit dealt me the same punishment for a somewhat lesser crime, and I'm still standing.

Wester's spirit has certain abilities to uncover the past. The image they conjured was likely the truth, but it shouldn't have been shown to you all with such little warning. And I promise we're working on tracking them down to be dealt with, because however well-intentioned, it wasn't their place to be sole judge, jury, and executioner. You all shouldn't have to be afraid that every minor sin will bring wrath on your heads.

I'll try to answer any questions you have.

And...Wester, if you're listening, I still believe in you. We're both sinners, for better or worse, and you won't turn me away that easily. But we have to deal with this, delaying will only make it worse.

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I don't think it's completely true that it's not him. I think...it's a different incarnation, somehow.

[ He leans forward, mindlessly lacing his fingers. ]

That night at the masquerade...it was different, but I got the same feeling I always did when I was around him. That my soul was being weighed, but this time I passed the test.

And even stranger...immediately after the broadcast, I was just outside the car trying to get in, but they stopped to talk to me. It was absolutely the same person from the dance. We talked, and I tried to calm them, but what they said was something like...

'I'm not your friend. I'm not the one who helped you up, I'm the one who destroyed you, don't you get it? I don't deserve your kindness.'

Did Atem's soul have...different entities within it?

Do you mean something like what is it called... [It's going to give Yugi a few moments to think of what he wanted to say.]

Butterfly effect? So that some choice that was made changed something. In this instance probably the case of I somehow didn't end up with the puzzle? [Which was a very strange thing to say out loud. But he sits there and listened before even thinking about the question, which he went as far as to scratch his cheek slightly.]

Well... there were apparently two souls that were sealed away in the puzzle if I remember correctly.

That's it. It's similar enough for us to recognize, and the spirit clearly recognizes us...but not the same.

[ Yugi's kind of cute when he does that. Bad time for that thought, though. Kaiba frowns in response.]

Was there a...particular dark side?

So where they are from we still have roles in that world, so that means they would know us in some way... Maybe a reverse role on my end and being on the sidelines. Though that now really makes me wonder if I am still as awkward as I was that then...

[That was not the point of the talk just now. For now, he stopped to moved his hands so that they were together, looking at them.]

A particular dark side? I assume you mean is the other soul dark in some way? If so, yes.

That would explain a lot...but I don't think this person is entirely malicious. They claim they are, but that's not what I sense.

That's because they probably aren't. I mean 3000 years with two souls is a long time especially with one that's dark. Their form of justice is probably skewed for that exact reason.

[He soon started to rub the back of his neck.]

But we have to take a look at the whole picture. We are talking like it's someone from our world. That much is obvious. It doesn't seem like anyone can just sneak on board either, so where does that leave us?

You're not suggesting...

[ He shakes his head in disbelief. ]

Mazaki? Don't be ridiculous.

Wester has always hidden their face, but what I saw in the shadows doesn't look like her. Yet they dance on a professional level...

[ He gives Yugi a pleading look. Please, please tell him he's being ridiculous. ]

It's a thought. But unless you've done something you haven't told me about then it would either be me or her, but I would have no reason to use a different name.

[Because Kaiba would have honestly just figured him out, he was sure about that.]

I mean for all we know someone somehow managed to sneak on board without any of us knowing, but what do you think are the odds of that?

Not high. Didn't we check everyone on the roster?

[ He takes a breath and looks down for a moment. ]

Mazaki also...trounced me in a duel. Using a deck full of ghost monsters I'd never seen.

I mean all names are at least on the cabins.

[Yugi clapped his hands together for a moment.]

You mean those cards that are part of this...what was it called XYZ summons? Yeah... she beat me as well using those, but really that was expected when it's a whole new style of dueling I knew nothing about.

...new cards. I should've known.

[ He just looks...tired. ]

Every time Wester talked to me, it was as if there was some big gulf between us. They wanted to be closer to me, but couldn't let me be close to them.

Edited 2020-06-26 20:46 (UTC)

Maybe there is something we don't know. Like I mentioned with the butterfly effect thing, it means things would be different. We have no way of knowing what to even try and understand fully.

[He sighed slightly,]

I want to understand and help because I can understand if it's something they are afraid of. But the problem will be when they are found, I doubt they would let anyone near even when they are punished for me to even try, even if I put the idea forward that just talking might help.

[ Kaiba just looks tired. There's something terribly sad in his expression as he scoots forward, grabbing both of Yugi's hands and holding on. ]

I'll push for that. They might be afraid of disappointing us, but they need someone who empathizes. And I can't think of anyone better at that than you.

[Yugi paused for a moment, he hadn't honestly expected the other to grab his hands of all things.]

They might be... but we won't know until we actually talk. Or find out what will happen.

We'll do this together.

[ He squeezes once and reluctantly lets go. ]

My head's still spinning. I can't believe all this. After everything we went through, to have those memories thrown back in our faces.

I...don't really have memories to have thrown back at me. I mean before...Death-T and all...

[It was a reminder that it was a thing that happened and he always felt a bit awful for the stuff he could never remember, but yet the ones that happened after he still let happen as well. What would happen to them afterward?]

But I guess this was a reminder of the way things would have been before then and I couldn't prevent.

You blacked out back then?

[ That...makes a worrying amount of sense. He'd been used to the two as a team of best friends, but. ]

I can imagine that took some working through. I wonder if Wester has to do the same...or if things are worse for them.

They need you.

Yeah... Until I actually admitted it to my friends anyway. The moment I did anything that happened afterward I would also remember. But before that, I have no memories.

[Nothing beyond whatever he might have been told if he was told.]

I mean talking about whatever it is can be useful. Maybe not a q100% solution, but it helped me. So it might work even a tiny bit for them.

I hope they'll listen. They seem...really afraid of what we'll think of them for not being who we expected.

It's our job to convince them otherwise.

Yeah and that is where talking will be a good thing.

[he knew there would be another factor, but he thinks honestly just being there to talk would still be enough if it's face to face.]

That and proving they have nothing to be scared of.

Right. Whatever happened...they're our friend.

Or isn't that supposed to be your line?

[ He laughs quietly at himself. ]

I really have lost my edge.

They are. I am actually glad you said it.

[Because you said, friend. He was used to him doing it, so it was nice and a good change of pace.]

But is losing your edge a bad thing?

[ He sighs. ]

Only if going soft puts you all in danger. And I'm not a uniquely high profile target anymore, so I doubt it will. But now you'll really think I've gone soft.

[ He reaches into his rucksack and pulls out a crudely wrapped round package about the size of a beach ball. It's soft and squishy. ]

Happy belated birthday, Yugi.

I don't think it will. It's okay to be softer when not on missions, but yes. I think you have and that really isn't a bad thing.

[He paused for a moment looking at the package.]

You know...the date would have been enough for me... But thank you.

Open it.

[ There's that gentle smile still on his face. ]

I've been thinking about where we started recently, and...you'll see what I mean.

[ There's a silvery-blue bowtie pinned to the Kuriboh. It's rather silly looking. ]

backdated to fiddlesticks 24, morning

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