TNDG 4 - ENDGAME

[the_macdonald]

[So you're at the Halloween dance, and maybe you're fighting robots or each other, or maybe you were just hanging out and eating pizza? Either way, there's a new door in the building... or maybe one you simply didn't notice before? It opens, and inside there is a well-lit TV stage, upon which there are several freestanding doors with names of all the surviving participants. A monitor in the corner displays the face of Ronald McDonald.]

All right, kids! Game's over! Thanks to all your tomfoolery, our sponsors pulled out, and we can't even afford prizes. Get on out of here, you little shits!

((Here's your endgame post! The doors will drop off each person where they were kidnapped (or will drop someone else where the person whose name is listed was kidnapped). Say goodbye, yell at the hosts, go back and bob for apples?))

Comments

[you_like_ike]

...You think so? Hm...

[Lowers his sword so the point rests on the ground.]

Ah... I just thought leaving you alone in one of those rooms seemed cruel. They didn't have a good effect on you...

[blueeyeswaifudragon]

It would have been a better effect for you. You--

[begins again, gruffer]

No lasting damage, I trust?

[you_like_ike]

[No one has even told Ike that he actually died for a little while HE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW.]

...I'm fine. I believe the soreness will wear off with training and rest.

How is your hand?

[Reaches for Kaiba's hand to examine for himself.]

[blueeyeswaifudragon]

[Well, if Kaiba doesn't have to talk about any Big Mistakes That Were Possibly Kinda His Fault And Might Have Triggered A Feeling, then great]

[His hand is busted up like someone punched it through a CRT monitor; incidentally exactly what happened. He is fairly certain most of the glass is out of it, though he should probably wrap it at least...whatevs. He doesn't resist Ike from doing whatever]

It still works, so it's fine.

--I know it's probably spitting into the wind, but don't push yourself. For a while, anyway.

[okay NOW he's done talking about it]

[you_like_ike]

[Holds his hand carefully and picks out a missed bit of glass.]

I'll try not to. You do the same.

[Well, "try" is the best he can promise.]

[blueeyeswaifudragon]

[ridges his eyebrows but doesn't flinch. quiet]

Pushing through at my job is pretty different from pushing through at yours. Generally the assassins I encounter are only after your livelihood, not your actual life. And you're playing the long game, gotta get buff, yes?

[but he acknowledges a "try" as better than nothing, as a stubborn workaholic himself]

[you_like_ike]

...Yes. Maybe I'll be even stronger next time you see me. I don't intend to give up on improving.

[Softly probing his fingertips on Kaiba's hand for more glass. Perhaps Ike does have finesse after all?]

[blueeyeswaifudragon]

I'd be disappointed if you did. You've got to take care of your people so you can go on your trip.

[i knew you could earn a dex bonus]

[You don't think you see anything? But then his hand stiffens abruptly and he can't help making a little noise. Maybe you found something?]

[you_like_ike]

[Awe did you whimper.]

Am I hurting you? Sorry. Wait a moment.

[Pinches out another piece of glass.]

I don't think I'll be able to help much more if you broke any bones... you'd better get a healer back home to look at this.

[blueeyeswaifudragon]

[no comment]

[he lets out a breath]

Yyyes, I'll set up an appointment.

[...he should probably use words and say something else]

Please,

[...that was not the right word]

[you_like_ike]

"Please"?

[Pauses the movements of his fingers.]

...What's wrong?

[blueeyeswaifudragon]

[dies]

[(nah, he's not so lucky)]

--I meant. Thank you. I'm not used to being around hero-types.

[you_like_ike]

I don't know what you mean. You're the one who's helped with most of my wounds. This is the least I could do.

[blueeyeswaifudragon]

See? That's exactly what I mean. "It's the least I could do," to repay someone berating you with actual kindness. It's--just--rrgh!

[you_like_ike]

I don't care about any of that. I just don't like seeing you hurt.

[blueeyeswaifudragon]

You're--infuriating. You think I want to see you hurt? Even though you'd deserve it, rushing in all the time.

[even while fussing like somebody's gossipy aunt, he does an increasingly poor job of not looking embarrassed]

Anyway, I, I thought you should know...

[you_like_ike]

......I think all the glass is out.

[Let's go of his hand, after lingering a little too long.]

I'm sorry... for my carelessness. I'm not sure exactly what happened down there, but I've made people worry.

[blueeyeswaifudragon]

...

[grabs his hand back, grip clammy but firm, taking a few beats just to feel the pulse in his fingers.]

You did. I couldn't--

[he grips his hand tighter, looking down, taking a breath]

...For future reference, don't stick metal things into boxes full of electricity. It's a bad idea.

[you_like_ike]

...

[Leaves Ragnell sticking in the ground so he can put his other hand around Kaiba's.]

...Kaiba. It's over now. I don't have to do anything like that again. And neither do you.

[Drops his hold. Then pulls him closer and wraps his arms snugly around him.]

[blueeyeswaifudragon]

[fuck]






[but also fuck it hugging back kinda awkwardly yet firmly, like someone unfamiliar with what he's doing but damned game to try to work it out. (hhhow does this even work when one of you isn't super tiny. hand placement?? and where is your head supposed to go, shit)]

[you_like_ike]

[Well Ike's going all in with a tight squeeze around his back and pressing his face to his shoulder.]

[blueeyeswaifudragon]

[hhhuuuffffff doing the same, mostly? His hands end up at the small of Ike's back and the back of Ike's head, same as with Mokuba. But then he found himself kind of burrowing into the crook of Ike's neck, definitely not like with Mokuba and hopefully not like too much of a creeper (unless he's into that) but you know, sometimes you just have to live as your true self.]

...

[you_like_ike]

[Puts a hand at the back of Kaiba's head as well when he feels his face on his neck, messing up his dumb haircut as he rubs fingers through it. And he sighs and shuts his eyes, relaxing.]

[blueeyeswaifudragon]

[um

it's a great fuckin haircut???

which he does not protest about, not only because he is not a mind reader and thus was technically unaware of the comment, but also because very shortly after all of the air in his body left him in a very long and shuddery sigh. maybe a death rattle? he hadn't expected to end up in heaven, but probably the other shoe will drop soon, tell Mokuba he loved him]

[...also he gives Ike a ninja-quick peck on the mouth since he's tired of overthinking it! plus, no matter what, it still won't be the worst idea he's had today]

[you_like_ike]

[Well Kaiba doesn't have a blue mullet so he's one point ahead at least.]

[Ike stops relaxing into the hug because that little gesture startles him. He brings the tips of his fingers to his lips like he's trying to comprehend what just happened so fast while he had his eyes closed, and by the goddesses, he's actually blushing a little red.]