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

[wantsnudes]

Yes, it's been quite exhausting. I'm sure your brother will be glad to see you returned safely.

[blueeyeswaifudragon]

...I'll be glad to see him.

[ever-so-slightly hesitant]

Someone must be waiting for you as well.

[wantsnudes]

Of course. I'm sure my friends will have been worried about Haru and I.

[blueeyeswaifudragon]

...

[kind of awkwardly pats him on the shoulder]

[wantsnudes]

[Places his hand on Kaiba's.]

I'll be all right, so please don't worry about me.

[blueeyeswaifudragon]

[he'll, uh, leave it there, then]

I'm sure you'll be fine. Still, I'll worry about what I like. Deal with it.

[wantsnudes]

A-all right then...?

[Why is Kaiba so aggressive about everything, even when he's being considerate... Yusuke lets him have his hand back, at least.]

[blueeyeswaifudragon]

[Hesitates--why is everything about not actively being an ass so difficult--then nods]

Good.

[Is it actually "good"? Either way, he'll squeeze reassuringly(?) before retrieving his hand, that's a thing normal humans do, right?]

[wantsnudes]

[Yusuke's not a normal human by any stretch of the imagination, so don't ask him??? He doesn't seem to mind the contact either way, though.]

What did you mean earlier, when you said you would arrange a proper visit...? We're all from such disparate times and places, there's no guarantee such a thing would be possible.

[blueeyeswaifudragon]

[he brightens, better at actions than feelings and feeling-adjacent actions, surprising absolutely no one]

Of course it's possible. Tokyo is a real city; it's easy enough for me to visit. And even if you aren't in my Tokyo... We all got here, didn't we? So "dimension hopping," or whatever you want to call it, has to be possible. If some idiot food vendors can figure it out, I can certainly figure it out.

Hey, you have a phone, don't you?

[wantsnudes]

There's really no challenge that fazes you, is there...?

[He sounds more impressed than anything. He nods and searches his pockets, producing a smartphone.]

I've scarcely used it these past few days, so there's still battery left. Shall we exchange numbers?

[blueeyeswaifudragon]

All challenges can be made into triumphs eventually.

[except beating yuugi]

That was the plan. Even if it shows up as out of network, I'll figure something out.

[he hands over a surprisingly normal-looking (aka dragonless--the lock screen is a selfie of Mokuba and the home screen background is plain) smartphone so he can enter his deets]

[wantsnudes]

My leader's attitude isn't so dissimilar from yours. I can see how you manage to lead your own corporation.

[Takes the phone, taking a moment to peer at the lock screen. Then he adds his number to Kaiba's contacts, and Kaiba's number to his own.]

That boy -- I assume he's your brother?

[blueeyeswaifudragon]

Yes... Mokuba took the picture and set it before I could stop him. He said it'll help keep me from losing my phone, but I think he just wanted to annoy me.

[wantsnudes]

[Yusuke chuckles, handing Kaiba's phone back.] He looks very happy. It seems like you've taken good care of one another.

[blueeyeswaifudragon]

...I don't know where he learned it, but he does a good job. Don't tell him I said that, I'll never hear the end of it.

[he takes the phone back...three personal contacts, this is a new record]

[wantsnudes]

Perhaps he simply learned from your example? Your secret's safe with me, in any case.

[blueeyeswaifudragon]

What not to do, sure. But I appreciate it. Having a secret to share is...new.

[wantsnudes]

And you know my greatest secret. [He smiles wryly.] This should go without saying, but once we leave here, please don't tell anyone I am a Phantom Thief.

[blueeyeswaifudragon]

[nods]

If they can't figure it out on their own, I am certainly not going to give them any clues.

Though I am curious. Is that something you two do often?

[wantsnudes]

Yes. I was active with the Phantom Thieves for close to a year, until we achieved our goal just recently. I never expected I would need to fight again so soon...

As for Akechi, he is something of a special case in relation to the Phantom Thieves. But that in itself is a long story. [And not really his to tell, when Akechi is here himself.] I suppose the simplest way to explain is that he is an ally, even if he never formally joined us.

[blueeyeswaifudragon]

[nods]

So, with your goal achieved...what? You just go back to school? Pick back up a "normal" life?

[wantsnudes]

I always had to keep up the facade of a normal life, even during my thief activities. But yes, now that's all over and done with, I've resumed simply being a student of art.

... With all that's happened here, however, I would like to do what I can to bring these people to justice. Either in my capacity as a Phantom Thief, or through ordinary means... I can't let a teammate go unavenged.

[blueeyeswaifudragon]

That's true. I was wondering if it would be difficult to go back to more mundane pursuits. But you're right, you don't have to. You've still something worth fighting for.

[wantsnudes]

Yes. Even with my original goal accomplished, that doesn't mean I'll ever stand idly by, so long as there are wicked adults willing to hurt and destroy the lives of others.

All I can do for now is return home. But eventually, they will rue the day they made an enemy of me.