Video: Backdated to last day of Fiddlesticks

[runs_on_batteries]

[Tony's image appears, but he looks more tired than usual. He has a small stack of coffee mugs he hadn't yet returned to the kitchen in the background, along with a whole mess of tubes and beakers of liquid. Clearly, he's been busy working on something obsessively again.]

After much deliberation and weighing our options we have available to us on this train, the council has reached a decision regarding A-Qing's murder at the hand of Yang Xue. In addition to the punishment already rendered, Yang Xue will be sequestered in a quiet room with a guard on duty for five days. Though each night, he will return to his room, he will be ushered back into custody every morning. This will start when Yang Xue is lucid.

That being said, the passenger known as 'Wester', also known as Anzu Mazaki, is also being charged for vigilante justice and terrorizing the train. They will also be in solitary confinement for five days.

We're asking both to issue a formal apology as well.

[ooc: If other council members would like to threadjack, you're welcome to it.]

Comments

[blue_ice]

You clearly weren't in any mood to talk to me. Probably still aren't.

But I wanted to tell you first that I'm angry, but not with you. Yugi and I have been trying to work out what happened, and...we think we might have a better idea.

[bloomingdespite]

...fine.

You... can go ahead and come in, then.

[Since frankly, Wester has no idea what their own deal is, and any input would be helpful at this point.]

action

[blue_ice]

[ Kaiba knocks before entering, because he is trying here. He waits until the door is closed and he's seated on the empty bench before continuing. ]

For the record, if I'm angry, it's the general headache of the situation, not at you. I understand your choice, and I don't understand the over the top horror at it...to a degree, yes, but it almost seemed as if people forgot who the murderer was.

But that's not what I came to discuss. What...do you want me to call you?

[bloomingdespite]

I...

...

Mazaki is. Fine.

[There is so much being unsaid here.]

[blue_ice]

All right.

[ He takes a breath and rocks forward, planting his chin on his hands. ]

It's clear to us that you're not from the same world as Yugi and I. You're someone different. When we met at the dance, you said I wouldn't accept who you were if I knew the truth.

What if I could guess at it?

sorry for short responses brain is. bad. right now

[bloomingdespite]

...you know what, sure.

Take a shot.

it's ok take your time. seriously. <3

[blue_ice]

Putting together the pieces of what I've learned from you, and what Yugi learned from you...he mentioned a concept called the butterfly effect. A small change in a series of events usually results in much larger changes later in the timeline.

You're clearly from a timeline similar enough to ours that you recognize us. Yugi is still your friend from school, and I'm still the asshole who gets in your way---who was still mind crushed as a consequence of my evil. After that, I 'got better' to some degree. And there's still the vengeful spirit of an ancient pharaoh lurking in the darkness who did the mind crushing, among other things.

[ He stops to look at them, really look at them. ]

You look like Anzu Mazaki. You gave that name to the train. You have her ability in dance and her lack of tolerance for bullshit, particularly my bullshit. Yet you also have the Pharaoh's powers, pieces of his duelist persona, and that same ability to see through me. But you're neither of them: most of the time you carry yourself entirely differently, and your personality isn't really either of theirs.

I can't take the credit for it, Yugi made this guess first, but he believes Anzu solved the puzzle that 'destiny' meant for him. Somehow...your existence is the result. And you believe we'll reject you. You said I'd hate you for taking him away, and you likely believe the same about Yugi, because he was close to both Anzu and the pharaoh.

How close am I?

Re: it's ok take your time. seriously. <3

[bloomingdespite]

[Wester looks down, refusing to meet him in the eye, but the tension in their shoulders show that he's on the mark.]

....if you know all this, why do you still want to be my friend?

I took them both away. I'm- I'm some kind of monster!

[blue_ice]

You didn't choose this. As someone who willingly became a real monster, I have to dispute that. Yugi would never abandon you, and as his boyfriend, I'm obligated to at least try to tolerate the people he loves. Even Jonouchi, should he show up here.

But you're interesting to me even without taking Yugi's feelings into consideration...a powerful duelist and strong teacher, a force to be reckoned with.

[bloomingdespite]

[Wester nods along with Kaiba's words, slumping in their chair and looking on the verge of tears. Maybe, just maybe, they could-

-then a word slips out of Kaiba's mouth, and all of that burgeoning hope flies out the window, replaced by blind panic and rage.

"What an interesting specimen-"

"How interesting. Perhaps you would make a better-suited cocoon for the gods..."

"You're an interesting science experiment. Nothing more."

They snap upright, glaring at Kaiba with all the force of Atem at his most righteously furious.]

"Interesting?" Is that all I am to you? Some- some science fair project for you to dissect on the table so you can see how I work?!

[blue_ice]

What---no! What kind of sick freak do you take me for?

[ And he makes a frustrated noise, his own resignation slipping into place. There's no pleading his case now. He rises to go. ]

But I'll always be the same heartless bastard, huh.

[bloomingdespite]

Just-

Get out of my room, Kaiba.

[Wester looks away, arms crossed and sullen.]

[blue_ice]

Later.

[ He looks back, bites his lip...and sulks off. ]