[drabble] Two Birthday Drabbles
A/N: So I wrote Azhdarcho and Ryou VeRua each a drabble for their birthday this past week. Might as well post them here so I don't lose them! I was inspired by prompts found at the non_fandom_100 index.
Title: Screw the Rules, I Have a Library Card
Written for: Azhdarcho
Pairing: Prideshipping
Prompt: #152, Library, and #35, Brave New World
Notes: Clearly an AU
Screw the Rules, I Have a Library Card
Behind the counter, a book open on the shelf before him, Yami flipped through the pages as his previous customer walked away, a thin stack of books tucked under her arm. On Wednesday mornings the library traffic was the slowest of the week, and he'd only had to help a few people find books or check them out. Between customers, however, he helped himself to a book, making his way through the classics. He'd always preferred the older novels to the more recent publications, and the summer was practically made to read.
He'd just started a new chapter when someone approached the desk, setting down a tall stack of books with a thud. Yami bookmarked the spot with his elbow, looking up at the stranger, finding himself thoroughly displeased with what he saw. The man was clearly not a morning person by the way his mouth seemed permanently set in a frown, and his brown hair was mussed and long around his face. He brushed it out of the way with a hand, extending the other towards Yami, presenting his library card.
"I'd like all of these," he said. Yami glanced down at the titles; there were a half-dozen books in the stack, all dystopian novels and philosophy. He often based his regard of his customers on their choices of reading material, and from this interesting combination, Yami's esteem of the discourteous stranger went up a few notches. He scanned the library card, and he was a stranger no more. Seto Kaiba's name blinked back at him on the computer, next to a single word in red. DENIED.
"It seems you've reached your limit, Mr. Kaiba," Yami told him. "You can only check out so many books at a time, and it says here you've already got ten outstanding books!"
If his expression hadn't been a frown before, it became one now. "So? I want these books."
Yami arched an eyebrow, aware of just how much intimidation he held as a library assistant, and using every ounce of it. "I'm sorry, but you're not going to get them. Bring back the ones you checked out last time"-he glanced at the screen again-"you still have two weeks before those are overdue, and then you can check these out."
"I'll just read them here, then." Kaiba gathered the books back into his arms, and before he left he turned snidely back towards Yami. "There was one book I wanted, by Huxley. Wasn't on the shelves, but the computer said it was in stock. Might want to find it."
Alone again, Yami glanced down at the open book before him. There was no way Kaiba could have known from the simple type and the chapter heading, but he tilted the cover forward, curling his arm around the spine. Of course, the one book he happened to want was the one book Yami himself was reading. At least he couldn't complain about Kaiba's taste in books.
He flipped the page, and continued reading.
Title: The Demon's Keeper
Written for: Ryou VeRua
Pairing: Tendershipping
Prompt: #42, Strong
Notes: Clearly an AU
The Demon's Keeper
"Hah!" Ryou had never felt as comfortable as when he held a sword in his hands, fighting alongside the other adepts housed in the training temple, but even a bokken felt at home in his grip as he trained.
His hair lightly stuck to his forehead and the back of his neck from sweat, but he accepted his teacher's approving words with satisfaction. They were taught to abandon such emotions, to focus on only the pure or positive and shun gratification, but a part of Ryou secretly boasted his success and enjoyed his achievements. He was fortunate that his teacher was the temple's master, and whenever they faced a particularly strong demon he was always the one who led the charge. Ryou himself had handled a few smaller demons entirely on his own, and it was thrilling to realize such power.
He knew why they did what they did, however-he'd heard stories of demons so fierce their very existence threatened the world's safety. Such creatures had to be contained, and their temple stood for nothing less than this.
"Ryou, you are progressing well," his master told him. "Soon you will be among the top of our pupils."
"I am already the strongest," he said, confident his words were true. "I am the strongest of anyone here!"
If his master was taken back by the claim, he didn't show it, limiting his reaction to slightly widened eyes. "Do you truly believe that?"
"I do," he said, nodding furiously.
At his training the following day, his master was late. Ryou waited patiently, beginning to practice his kata while he waited. The movements grew more elaborate, and as he spun he caught sight of his master standing against the wall, his hands clasped behind his back.
Curious, Ryou asked about his overly-solemn mood, and received a cryptic answer in return.
"If there is ever a day to be solemn, it is today, Ryou. Walk with me."
They did, heading to the oldest building in the complex, set away from the central temple. According to legend, this was the original building, but was deemed unsafe after a battle with a powerful demon nearly a hundred years ago. The students were convinced it was haunted, so no one approached the site out of fear or respect.
Through the trees the old edifice came into view, and Ryou was shocked to see that it seemed in fairly decent condition. There was a distinct slope to the roof, and much of the paint was worn away, but he could sense the latent power in the area. He struggled to find its source-was it the ground? The building itself? Or even something within it?
"Ryou, before we progress any further, I must ask you something." The two stood before the building, and as the wind picked up a few yellowed leaves dropped from the trees around them to land at their feet. "Our organization exists for one purpose. Yet there is a deeper mission, which has traditionally been trusted to our strongest warrior and none other. I would like to offer this to you."
He glanced once at the building, the decision made the instant the sentence had been completed. How could he refuse such a promise? The smallest of doubts lingered in his mind, telling him that if he had not made that boast, perhaps he would not have been chosen for such a task, but he knew he had it within him to handle whatever it was. He was the strongest, after all, so he believed-he could handle anything.
"Yes," he said. "I would be honored."
He led Ryou inside, where they paused in a small antechamber. There were a few lights scattered around the room, yet it still seemed so dark. "Some demons are too powerful for us to kill. The most we can do is seal them, bind them to a single person to be their guardian and to control them and their power. We house the strongest demon of them all-and now, he shall be your responsibility."
Ryou paled, but his master's hand was at his back, pushing him inside the central room. Inside, the demon was chained to a series of posts in the middle of the room, and as he walked inside the light seemed to be sucked from the room. The demon looked so familiar, his white hair and pale skin standing out in the darkness. Ryou knew that demons often impersonated humans, and this one was apparently interested enough to have formed his own likeness.
"My name is Ryou," he said. "Who are you?"
"Bakura." The syllables were elongated in his speech, the word hissed into the silence. Ryou filled it further as he walked, each footstep creaking over the wooden floor.
"I am your new keeper," Ryou said, finding himself completely enthralled and repelled by the demon before him. If he had any sense, he would be worried, knowing what the demon was capable of.
"Are you ready to let me out?" the demon said, his grin seeming to make use of every one of his sharp teeth. "I would like to greet you properly."
The last one I might continue into a multi-chapter, I've grown rather fond of the idea and it reminds me so much of a conversation with Mahayana ("writing terrible cliche-concept fanfic and seeing how far you can take it quality-wise") and I love the idea of showing my take on a "Bakura's a demon!" fic. I just need a title with a bit less fail and more than two plot ideas to carry it forward. xD
Title: Screw the Rules, I Have a Library Card
Written for: Azhdarcho
Pairing: Prideshipping
Prompt: #152, Library, and #35, Brave New World
Notes: Clearly an AU
Screw the Rules, I Have a Library Card
Behind the counter, a book open on the shelf before him, Yami flipped through the pages as his previous customer walked away, a thin stack of books tucked under her arm. On Wednesday mornings the library traffic was the slowest of the week, and he'd only had to help a few people find books or check them out. Between customers, however, he helped himself to a book, making his way through the classics. He'd always preferred the older novels to the more recent publications, and the summer was practically made to read.
He'd just started a new chapter when someone approached the desk, setting down a tall stack of books with a thud. Yami bookmarked the spot with his elbow, looking up at the stranger, finding himself thoroughly displeased with what he saw. The man was clearly not a morning person by the way his mouth seemed permanently set in a frown, and his brown hair was mussed and long around his face. He brushed it out of the way with a hand, extending the other towards Yami, presenting his library card.
"I'd like all of these," he said. Yami glanced down at the titles; there were a half-dozen books in the stack, all dystopian novels and philosophy. He often based his regard of his customers on their choices of reading material, and from this interesting combination, Yami's esteem of the discourteous stranger went up a few notches. He scanned the library card, and he was a stranger no more. Seto Kaiba's name blinked back at him on the computer, next to a single word in red. DENIED.
"It seems you've reached your limit, Mr. Kaiba," Yami told him. "You can only check out so many books at a time, and it says here you've already got ten outstanding books!"
If his expression hadn't been a frown before, it became one now. "So? I want these books."
Yami arched an eyebrow, aware of just how much intimidation he held as a library assistant, and using every ounce of it. "I'm sorry, but you're not going to get them. Bring back the ones you checked out last time"-he glanced at the screen again-"you still have two weeks before those are overdue, and then you can check these out."
"I'll just read them here, then." Kaiba gathered the books back into his arms, and before he left he turned snidely back towards Yami. "There was one book I wanted, by Huxley. Wasn't on the shelves, but the computer said it was in stock. Might want to find it."
Alone again, Yami glanced down at the open book before him. There was no way Kaiba could have known from the simple type and the chapter heading, but he tilted the cover forward, curling his arm around the spine. Of course, the one book he happened to want was the one book Yami himself was reading. At least he couldn't complain about Kaiba's taste in books.
He flipped the page, and continued reading.
Title: The Demon's Keeper
Written for: Ryou VeRua
Pairing: Tendershipping
Prompt: #42, Strong
Notes: Clearly an AU
The Demon's Keeper
"Hah!" Ryou had never felt as comfortable as when he held a sword in his hands, fighting alongside the other adepts housed in the training temple, but even a bokken felt at home in his grip as he trained.
His hair lightly stuck to his forehead and the back of his neck from sweat, but he accepted his teacher's approving words with satisfaction. They were taught to abandon such emotions, to focus on only the pure or positive and shun gratification, but a part of Ryou secretly boasted his success and enjoyed his achievements. He was fortunate that his teacher was the temple's master, and whenever they faced a particularly strong demon he was always the one who led the charge. Ryou himself had handled a few smaller demons entirely on his own, and it was thrilling to realize such power.
He knew why they did what they did, however-he'd heard stories of demons so fierce their very existence threatened the world's safety. Such creatures had to be contained, and their temple stood for nothing less than this.
"Ryou, you are progressing well," his master told him. "Soon you will be among the top of our pupils."
"I am already the strongest," he said, confident his words were true. "I am the strongest of anyone here!"
If his master was taken back by the claim, he didn't show it, limiting his reaction to slightly widened eyes. "Do you truly believe that?"
"I do," he said, nodding furiously.
At his training the following day, his master was late. Ryou waited patiently, beginning to practice his kata while he waited. The movements grew more elaborate, and as he spun he caught sight of his master standing against the wall, his hands clasped behind his back.
Curious, Ryou asked about his overly-solemn mood, and received a cryptic answer in return.
"If there is ever a day to be solemn, it is today, Ryou. Walk with me."
They did, heading to the oldest building in the complex, set away from the central temple. According to legend, this was the original building, but was deemed unsafe after a battle with a powerful demon nearly a hundred years ago. The students were convinced it was haunted, so no one approached the site out of fear or respect.
Through the trees the old edifice came into view, and Ryou was shocked to see that it seemed in fairly decent condition. There was a distinct slope to the roof, and much of the paint was worn away, but he could sense the latent power in the area. He struggled to find its source-was it the ground? The building itself? Or even something within it?
"Ryou, before we progress any further, I must ask you something." The two stood before the building, and as the wind picked up a few yellowed leaves dropped from the trees around them to land at their feet. "Our organization exists for one purpose. Yet there is a deeper mission, which has traditionally been trusted to our strongest warrior and none other. I would like to offer this to you."
He glanced once at the building, the decision made the instant the sentence had been completed. How could he refuse such a promise? The smallest of doubts lingered in his mind, telling him that if he had not made that boast, perhaps he would not have been chosen for such a task, but he knew he had it within him to handle whatever it was. He was the strongest, after all, so he believed-he could handle anything.
"Yes," he said. "I would be honored."
He led Ryou inside, where they paused in a small antechamber. There were a few lights scattered around the room, yet it still seemed so dark. "Some demons are too powerful for us to kill. The most we can do is seal them, bind them to a single person to be their guardian and to control them and their power. We house the strongest demon of them all-and now, he shall be your responsibility."
Ryou paled, but his master's hand was at his back, pushing him inside the central room. Inside, the demon was chained to a series of posts in the middle of the room, and as he walked inside the light seemed to be sucked from the room. The demon looked so familiar, his white hair and pale skin standing out in the darkness. Ryou knew that demons often impersonated humans, and this one was apparently interested enough to have formed his own likeness.
"My name is Ryou," he said. "Who are you?"
"Bakura." The syllables were elongated in his speech, the word hissed into the silence. Ryou filled it further as he walked, each footstep creaking over the wooden floor.
"I am your new keeper," Ryou said, finding himself completely enthralled and repelled by the demon before him. If he had any sense, he would be worried, knowing what the demon was capable of.
"Are you ready to let me out?" the demon said, his grin seeming to make use of every one of his sharp teeth. "I would like to greet you properly."
The last one I might continue into a multi-chapter, I've grown rather fond of the idea and it reminds me so much of a conversation with Mahayana ("writing terrible cliche-concept fanfic and seeing how far you can take it quality-wise") and I love the idea of showing my take on a "Bakura's a demon!" fic. I just need a title with a bit less fail and more than two plot ideas to carry it forward. xD