duel 6. ( video. )

[puzzlingly]

「He's been stalling on this for a while now, not sure of how to address it any longer, back then, when he first had learned about it, he was angry, frustrated, but now, not so much, he just wants answers. Might as well do this before there is more people coming into the city.

He looks thoughtful, mostly, as he stares idly at the camera not caring to hide the Millennium Eye stuck in his left socket as he did when they took pictures at Delmar's home. If everything went right, this would be the last time he would be seen wearing that creepy eye.」

Since everyone seems to be on the topic lately, I might as well remind you that there is a murderer among us. One that remains unpunished.

「Or so he thinks. He cannot keep wondering any longer, he needs to know. He needs to make sure there isn't someone running around killing people just because they think it's right. If that's the case.」

You, the one who killed Yukari, he might have deserved what you did to him, you made him pay for what he did, but you don't have my gratitude for it. Don't think you can hide forever. I will find you, no matter what it takes. And I will make you pay on his behalf.

「The tiredness in his voice, the aloofness in the way he speaks, the passion lacking in his usually prideful speech, doesn't quite make up for a good threat, maybe it's is not intended that way, but, it doesn't mean he's less determined about it. He will find them, he will read every person's mind in this city with the Millenium Eye if he has to. He can, why not simply do it?」

Comments

Voice

[fracturedbeauty]

[First sign that something's off: This isn't video. And the fact that he's trying so hard (and failing) to suppress his frustration is very evident in his voice. He's thoroughly flustered and has no idea what to do with this. Why are you like this, Atem?]

Atem-sama, I am quite thoroughly capable of exacting my own revenge, if I so see fit. This course of action truly isn't necessary.

Voice

[puzzlingly]

「Because, shut up.」

Revenge? Is this what you think it is, Yukari?

Voice

[fracturedbeauty]

If you are making someone pay on another's behalf, what other path could it be? If I wish for punishment to be meted out for my death, I will do so myself. I'm certainly not so defenseless, do not mistake my former folly for being incapable.

[This isn't really about his appearing as an unnecessary damsel in distress. This is about the fact that you're going out of your way for him. Not that he'll admit that ever.]

Don't you think I would have done so by now if I so willed it? I had time and opportunity to do so before I made you my King.

video;

[hotspurred]

[Henry frowns at what he sees and hears, since thus far he's only encountered Atem's kindness. He speaks sharply.]

Do not kill or torment anyone.

video;

[puzzlingly]

I will not. Death is useless here, and I would never land a finger on anyone.

「Haven't you seen him? He's smol. It is subjective, though, he only chose the medium, it was people who always ended up deciding their own torment.」

[hotspurred]

Useless.

[Henry echoes flatly with disapproval; just because Hope resurrects others it does not make death something to treat lightly.]

Swear that you will not. Too many present here are willing to consider torture, and such evils leave a stain on one's soul.

( text )

[ghoulaid]

soooo you wanna make somebody pay
but you aint gonna dust em
and you aint gonna beat em up
what are you gonna do then? make em write Im Real Sorry x100? is that how ppl are punished around here

( text )

[puzzlingly]

what is it to you?

[ghoulaid]

wonderin
mosta you are soft & there aint police

video; private

[aroundthecoroner]

[Right. This is exactly what he needs right now. For a moment, he considers just saying he did it to the whole network. Let them kill him or whatever, he doesn't care. But he's not quite that far gone. He has the wherewithal to hit the private filter before he starts talking.]

I'm not hiding from you, I'm right here. And I didn't do it for your gratitude.

[He looks maybe a little worse for wear, like he's been in a fight or hasn't slept in days or both. His eyes still have an unnatural blue glow to them, more visible in the gloom of his apartment.]

video; private

[puzzlingly]

「For the briefest moment, Atem doesn't recognize Michael in the screen. It takes him but a second, because of the gloomy environment, because of the state he is in — and those eyes, what's up with those eyes? — but that voice, remembers it well.

He freezes and pales, his eyes wide open from when realization when his words hit. He talked to him, he told him who had attacked him! He... Had it been his fault?!」

Mi... Michael?

「No, no, it must be a joke. The guy couldn't even talk to him directly! He was there with Delmar and the rest! This is not... this is not what he expected.

What was he expecting, though? A monster? Someone easier to judge?」

[aroundthecoroner]

[The surprise kind of hurts, actually, but in one of the more vile corners of himself, Michael feels weirdly smug about it. Yeah, murderers aren't just psychos with axes, kid. Sorry to break it to you.

... He really is sorry about it, actually, breaking that (admittedly thin) trust. It takes some of the spite out of him.]

You were probably expecting someone else, but I'm not making this up. And I'm not making excuses for it, either.

[action]

[whip_poor_will]

[Ravine doesn't even bother engaging in banter over these phones. It's not really her style, anyway.

[Instead she manifests in the room, out the corner of Atem's real eye, her weightless posture allowing her to sit over a table without so much as a creak. She's not afraid of the Item lodged into his other, as she has nothing to hide anyway.]

Don't you think you have been doing more than your fair share of work around here?

[Expression composed and tones level, one might wonder if she was witness at all to Atem's display of Liam Neeson-esque threats.]

[puzzlingly]

「Any other day he wouldn't have minded having her suddenly appear, but right now? After he just found out who murdered Yukari? He is more than a little pale, maybe her appearance was just in the right moment. Still, he jumps from the sofa he was sitting at, as if he had seen a ghost.

Duh.

It takes him but a moment to recover, her words finally making sense.」

It's... necessary.

「Oh, he had said that before, hadn't he?」

[whip_poor_will]

[For someone who has seen that sort of reaction many times, you'd think Ravine would be more conscious of her unexpected entrances. But nah.

[Her eyes narrow, but remain soft. As if she can see him just as he can with that Eye of his.]

Is it? Necessary for who, though?

video

[am_i_a_monster]

[Abigail stares at the video for a moment. He looks different without the gold and the crown from the dream. But one thing seems the same.

You play the part of judge and jury when you're awake too.

video

[puzzlingly]

「Oh, hello. He remember her, very much so. Can't help but feel a itty bitty guity he never got around to apologize about that dream. But here we are again.」

What can I say, I like playing.

video

[am_i_a_monster]

[There's another pause as she studies his face. He doesn't have the look of Hannibal when judging someone as rude, the enjoyment of the power to take a life. Or the intensity of Jack Crawford when he judged her for her father's crimes. No, if anything he looks tired.]

Yeah, you look like you're having so much fun. [She says with sarcasm.]

How many others are you going to play with?

video

[so_dark_a_road]

You care enough to kill Yukari's killer?

[ There is surprise in Curufin's voice. And yet, should he be surprised? Atem went out of his way to try to help Yukari, even accepted him as a vassal, when he might simply have left him to flounder, or to go his way until he encompassed his own destruction. And he took action to help Yukari reconcile with Curufin. That was not an uncaring action. ]

video

[puzzlingly]

I never said I would kill them.

「Meanwhile, Atem's is, calm (tired). But it's true, he doesn't hate Yukari, he... he doesn't know what to make out of him anymore. But it is not all about him, it is about a murdered on the loose. Or so it seems.」

video

[so_dark_a_road]

You said you would make them pay on Yukari's behalf?

[ Yes, he notices the fatigue. ]

Are you all right, Atem?

[imhisaunt]

That isn't right, Atem

[Delmar hates disagreeing with a friend, but this whole thing doesn't sit right with him]

[puzzlingly]

「Hmm? This is different.」

What part exactly?

(Voice)

[handofsilver]

Justice will be served, but I don't think endangering yourself in pursuit of it helps anyone. (You're sounding like his family, Atem. Quit it.)

(Voice)

[puzzlingly]

Sacrifices must be made... Besides, it has to start somewhere.

「No worries, he's reminding himself of his long deceased (and kind of crazy) uncle right now.」