[Open]

[note_atem]

Who: Atem and Open
What: Atem is silently reflecting on some things while walking around the island. You're welcome (and encouraged) to come bug him.
When: Late afternoon\early evening Saturday Night
Where: The mall, around the park, just walking about
Warnings: None yet? Depends on who shows I guess. Will update if necessary

Comments

/break from paper writing, woo

[shutupandduelme]

As soon as his voice had returned to him, Kaiba was out in the woods edging the park trying to catch up on his work. He had been planning to spend all night out there, shouting his voice hoarse if he had to, just to get back on schedule with fine tuning the Duel Disk voice commands. The Island wasn't going to dictate what he did and did not accomplish, if he had anything to say about it.

It was the light that caught his attention. As familiar as it was, Kaiba couldn't help but notice it. Still, as it could be the Mutt, or Yuugi, or possibly one of a multitude of people he had no interest in seeing, he approached carefully. At least until he caught a quick glimpse of what monster it was.

"I didn't think they let you out alone anymore," the brunet called, pausing at the edge of the trees, his Duel Disk lying dormant on his arm and his laptop safely secured in a case slung from his shoulder.

YOU SHOW THAT PAPER

[note_atem]

The card was immediately slid back onto the top of his deck. He might have been looking at its frame, instead of staring into the eyes of a long lost friend. Painted picture was much easier to deal with than real life hologram. The voice was easy to pick out, easy to know whom it belonged to.

He turned slightly, giving Kaiba a tired and distant look over. But still, he managed a smile. "I can still find time for myself when I need to." Miraculously or not. He did love his friends. He needed them around.

"It's good to hear you again." A soft, understated statement out of nowhere.

/STABS IT

[shutupandduelme]

Brown eyebrows rose briefly, before Kaiba responded with a smirk. "And I expected you to think of it as a much needed reprieve," he remarked.

He looked the other man over, his eyes settling on the Duel Disk on his arm. "I can upload the new programming now, since you're here. It will only take a minute," he said, all business. "The voice commands seem to be working as they should."

YEAH VIOLENCE.

[note_atem]

His arm raised on instinct when the Duel Disk was brought into question, his own eyes glancing over Kaiba's own. Though he did nod, coming forward slowly enough, approaching the other man. The release button was pressed, though he did slide his deck out of the holder and back into his box.

"Here." Another soft murmur as he pulled the machine from his arm and held it up for Kaiba.

FUCK YEAH. \o/

[shutupandduelme]

Kaiba took the Duel Disk without comment. He dropped down to one knee so he could get at his computer, laying it out on the grass to let it start up again. His attention then turned to the Duel Disk, giving it a quick inspection while he had it in his hands.

"At least it's still in good condition.." he murmured, running his hands over the bottom of the plate to find the port he needed to connect it to his computer.

/sets fire to everything

[note_atem]

Once the Duel Disk was taken from him and Kaiba dropped, he moved back to lean against a nearby tree, arms tucking across his chest. Though he did watch the other man intently. He could never understand the intricate detailing of the technology Seto put up with, though at certain moments he thought if he applied his puzzle solving and strategical mind to things like that, he could probably figure them out.

Still, having them left as mysteries made what Kaiba did all the more special. A soft laugh fell from him as he look upwards to the treetops. "Of course it is. You made it for me. I wouldn't be throwing it around carelessly." He cared for the Duel Disk just the same as he did his deck. It was special, one of a kind. His.

/adds gasoline

[shutupandduelme]

Kaiba quickly connected a cable between the Disk and his computer, typing in a few commands on the laptop before the Duel Disk hummed to life.

Everything seemed to be transferring smoothly enough, so Kaiba was able to glance back up at the other. "It's a weapon designed for battle," he countered, "so I would not hold it against you if you had."

He certainly swung his around quite often, by comparison. "So what are you doing out here without cheerleaders or child following in your shadow?"

/sits back, roasts weenie WOOD U LYKE ONE?

[note_atem]

A weapon. Atem closed his eyes, leaning his head back. They used to be. Much more so than this. "Mm, still.. I don't think you'd appreciate it if I went around abusing it. I'd only be in the arcade every other week asking you to fix it. It's too much. I use it for what it's designed for." Less often than he'd like, maybe. Sometimes dueling was relaxing, sometimes not as much.

There was a slight shrug in his shoulders, even if Kaiba wasn't looking up at him. "I thought I'd enjoy the air before it turned chilly again." Certainly relevant. His latest post had been about the weather. So it would fit. And maybe it was partially true. He'd not be out as much once the temperature started dropping.

YES PLZ ILU.

[shutupandduelme]

The brunet snorted.

"The beach is more suited to that than here," he commented, before typing in a few more commands on his computer. "And if you are so paranoid about the cold, buy a coat like the rest of us do. Not that this place changes temperature in any normal pattern."

He shook his head and disconnected the Duel Disk, holding it up to Atem. "I don't think I've ever felt it so warm on my birthday before, and that was last year. Knowing her, it will be even warmer this year."

/HANDS STEEK WIV WEENIE ILU2

[note_atem]

"I'm not paranoid," He said quickly, perhaps a little gruffly. "I just don't like it. And I have a jacket." Not just the flimsy school jacket that he was currently wearing, either. He had his things from the last winter he had to live out here. Even those sweaters Lelouch had made for him.

He reached out to take the Duel Disk again, easily sliding it back onto his arm. It was the proper place for it, after all. It felt right there. The weight was familiar. Though the topic of the current conversation however, was not. Kaiba's birthday.

He shouldn't have known when it was. There was no reason for him to in the scope of their usual dealings. But that ... occurrence. When the school had him celebrating his own birthday. He'd seen on the staff notes for the upcoming ones. Kaiba's... he still remembered. "I can't imagine you want to do anything for your birthday." Not a question, but open to be fixed if he was wrong. He didn't think he was.

WHARS MY SHRAMP?

[shutupandduelme]

Kaiba stiffened, the subject always quite sore with him, this year's especially.

"There was quite a bit I wanted to do for this birthday," he said, a hint of bitterness in his voice. "I won't be an emancipated minor anymore. I could get the courts to stop pestering me about Mokuba's care."

Even with the tension in his shoulders and his arms, Kaiba still rose gracefully to his feet. He was scowling by the time he looked Atem straight in the eyes again.

"But here? Having people actually get the hint and not to insist on the commemorating the occasion would be fantastic."

OH SRRY /HANDS SUM SHRAMP

[note_atem]

Atem was very determined not let that bitterness and sour attitude get to him. It wasn't directed at him. He knew this. This wasn't his fault and he didn't have to feel like it was. Even if he secretly did. Because he still felt like he wasn't doing enough. He wasn't even able to help Seto when it counted. Those wounds were still open. But he kept it all to himself.

His gaze was dead on, not even blinking. "Mm. I understand how you feel." Sort of. If his own birthday had rolled around in a usual fashion he certainly wouldn't have asked 'everyone' out for drinks. He still smarted acting out of line like that. That whole world was wrong and he hadn't even realized it until it was too late. It still shook him.

"So you probably want me to stay away." His tone was level and blank. While their arrangements had him placed at a different level than anyone else, he wasn't sure it was enough for something so personal. Not yet. Maybe he wasn't worthy of everything yet. He sure as hell didn't feel like it.

YEA SHRAMP. <3

[shutupandduelme]

"It's just like any other day," Kaiba said coolly. "There is nothing different about it, save that I will be removing myself from easy access to reduce the temptation for the idiots in this place."

He slid his computer in its case easily. "I am going to be finishing up my dragons while I have the time to do so, if everything remains on schedule. You will do as you will." Like any other day. That's all it was.

<3<3

[note_atem]

His arms tucked back across his chest, perhaps a little tighter than he meant to. It was that subconscious closed protective stance he took at times, otherwise his hand might be resting on his hip. Though he did nod at the other man.

"Of course." He had to respect Kaiba's wishes. In the end, that's all he really could do. He at least owed it to the other to do so.

Atem pushed away lightly from the tree, regaining his footing after leaning. "I guess I'll leave you to your work then." They still had a duel to attend to, but he had said a few days after everything wore off. And Seto looked busy. He himself was busy, just lost in his thoughts. He didn't want to bother the other man or take him away from anything important.

[shutupandduelme]

"It's not something worth acknowledging anyway," he added quietly. Of course Kaiba tolerated Mokuba's childish attempts to get his brother to socialize, or at least get him to feel good about something. It was a valiant effort, and Kaiba respected his brother for that, though not necessarily enough to play along with things like parties. Gozaburo's poison had penetrated too deep for him to do so. He could only ever see that pile of stock certificates, and the burden that came with them. Any other gift would carry the same weight of return, no matter what the giver intended.

But he had more than a month to deal with that. It wasn't worth dwelling on now. "Perhaps two days from now," he said. "I should be back on schedule if I stay out here tonight and tomorrow. I'll be ready then."

[note_atem]

"Just one day out of so many." The just as quiet return came. It meant nothing to him. Not his own, anyway. And if Kaiba didn't care about his, then he would only have to nod and appreciate why. He could understand it. Though his was more than three thousand years ago an important day. But it must have felt like that long for Seto, too.

He turned, his back towards Seto. Though he did raise one hand in the air, just a small little gesture of a wave. Kaiba had work to get to. He needed to disappear. Bring his thoughts elsewhere. "Call me whenever you're ready, Kaiba." The name change wouldn't have been so significant if there were people around. But maybe lately he was feeling like he didn't deserve much from the brunet. Not even the honor of using his first name. But he'd already started walking away.