#MARIKS CONCERNED LOOK

[multifandoms27-blog]

i would LOVE some nsfw headcanons with marik/yami marik!!! preferably transmasc/gender neutral afab reader but im cool with whatever, as long as you are!

Did someone say NSFW of my favorite boy? Don't mind if I do~

Content: Marik/Yami Marik (separately) x GN!Reader

Warnings: 18+, minors DNI. Yami Marik, choking in the pillow, degradation, Yami Marik treats you like an object

Notes: This is a little short, couldn't think of many headcanons. Reader's gender isn't specified, but has a brief mention of AFAB anatomy

He's a little fucking flirt when he's horny.

He'd put his warm hands on your hips and mumbles some sweet nothings in your ear to get you all hot and bothered.

When your face gets red, he teases you about it, all while his hot breath is on your ear. He then begins to gently tug at your hips, trying to get you to leave the room with him

Now alone with him in the room, he's loud about what he wants to do to you

Finds it really hot if you strip him and he strips you, instead of stripping yourselves

He loves using foreplay against you

He's teasing you with his tongue and his fingers until you're quivering beneath him, and even then he doesn't let up

He fucking LOVES being praised for how he treats you in bed. He eats any and all compliments up. Even outside the bedroom it gives him the biggest ego boost

Regular Marik wouldn't be into degredation, but Yami Marik would be calling you all sorts of things and insulting you as he carried on with foreplay. "Oh? You must like this, you slut. You're so wet for me..."

Both Marik's would honestly hate being tied down in any way, or choked. Being hurt in general is a turn off for him. But Yami Marik finds it hot when he hurts you.

Regular Marik treats you like an actual person during sex, giving you the same pleasure that he's getting from you, and allowing you both to finish fairly

Yami Marik however, treats you like an object. You might be able to cum from the friction, but Yami Marik is much more concerned with his own climax than yours. He's very rough and leaves bruises, and won't really care if you're in pain afterwards.

Regular Marik's favorite positions would be ones he could see your face in. Missionary, mating press, cowgirl, etc.

Yami Marik's favorite positions would be ones where you're facing away. Doggy, reverse cowgirl, etc. He loves shoving your head into the pillow during doggy. You can't breathe well and it causes you to become tighter which he loves.

Regular Marik can be rough if you asked, but would never ever get to whatever the hell Yami Marik is on. He finds that kind of treatment horrible, and he believes sex is supposed to be an act of trust and love between two people

• ───────────────── •

Here is my Masterlist in case you want to request, or look for more of your favorite character!

[dark-pharaoh-atem]

“Are you sure?” Atem said, looking up at Marik with concern, “I can see it in your eyes that something is bothering you.”

@marikslittleangel

[bluewavesofchange]

The guardians of the Pharaoh

The rise of a new darkness

I don't own Yugioh or it's characters

Mentions of gore.

Epilogue.

 

Yugi had woken up in his soul room. He sat up in his bed and looked around the space. He was glad to be here rather than having a nightmare…it was a common occurrence whenever anybody experienced something traumatic. And that seemed to be happening frequently lately. Yugi pulled his legs up to his chest and rested his chin on his knees. How did everything end up this way? It wasn’t supposed to be so bad…he and Yami were supposed to face their destiny together…to face this evil force and recover the spirits memories…no one was meant to get hurt, much less nearly die…

 

He and Joey nearly drowned and his sister had nearly bled to death. Mai and Ryou and Odion had ended up in coma’s…this was all getting so much. This was nothing like Duellist Kingdom. Pegasus just wanted to take their souls and his puzzle…Marik wanted them to suffer and for them to die…and he had gotten really close.

 

He reached down and traced his fingers over one of the Kuriboh pictures on his comforter. He missed the days when things were still normal…when he was still building his Millennium Puzzle, when his sister didn’t have weird powers and his dad was still around. They hadn’t parted on good terms…he had yelled at him the night Lillian had ran away and refused to speak to him after that…and now it had been a year and his father was still comatose. They had always been close growing up and he could always talk to the man about basically anything…

 

Yugi sighs softly before hearing something coming from his door…a soft giggle. He stands up and goes to the barrier between his room and the hallway separating his soul room and Yami’s. He leans against the door and presses his ear against the wood…he hears it again…the giggling of what sounds like a small child. He slowly opens the door and peers into the hallway…noticing that Yami’s room was open. And standing in the door way was a small boy…the spitting image of a young version of Yugi…only he was dressed in a soft brown tunic, sandals and had brown eyes. Yugi looked at him confused as the boy smiles at him before running off into Yami’s room…

 

The teen heads over and enters the spirits domain, “Wait!” he calls after the child. What the heck was going on? He looks around the bazar maze of stairs and doorways. He looked around looking for the boy he had seen, not noticing Yami appearing behind him, “Did you sleep walk into my soul room Aibou?” the short teen nearly jumped as he turned around and glared at the spirit, “Don’t sneak up on people like that!” a dark blush covers his cheeks.

 

Yami simply smile as he took a step closer to the other boy, “I’m sorry little one. I was just surprised to find you here, not that I’m complaining but I thought you would be resting after everything that happened.” he reached over and rested his hand on the Yugi’s cheek, running his thumb over his skin softly. He had been concerned for the boy; he couldn’t help but feel guilty for all that had happened. After all it they were here because of him, because some maniac wanted his powers (whatever that was) and the god cards. And their friends and family had been caught in the cross fire.

 

Yugi leaned into the spirits touch, feeling the warmth coming off him, completely forgetting the reason he had come in here in the first place. “Could we walk around for a bit? I need a distraction for a while…” the spirit nodded as he took his counterpart’s hand and leads them through the endless halls.

 

The boys walked in a comfortable silence, looking around the strange space. However they stopped when they came across a darkened hallway. Yugi peered into it, feeling a familiar aura coming from it…Yami didn’t like the feeling he was getting from this place. He wanted to lead Yugi away but the shorter teen seemed to be pulled towards the darkness by curiosity. He let’s go of Yami’s hand and heads down the hallway, the spirit following closely. The air seemed almost thick here and dim, the boys reaching a set of broken open stone doors, Yugi’s eyes widening. You couldn’t see what was going on inside the room as there seemed to be no light in there but a horrible smell was wafting from the space, almost like death and rot.

 

Despite this Yugi stepped closer as he stared at the doors, seeing the large claw marks and gashes in the old stone, specks of splattered blood everywhere. He reached out and ran his fingers over the marks before turning to the pharaoh, “What is this Yami?” the spirit stepped forward and examined the space, he could feel the evil that was leaking out of this room, “I don’t…know Yugi. I think something was trapped in here…”

 

“I wonder what’s inside. If only we could see…” a moment later an old timey lamp appears before the boys. Yugi raises a brow before looking at the Pharaoh who just shrugged, “Don’t look at me. I’m the last person that knows how this place works.” He says as he picks up the lamp, the wicker inside lights up. He takes Yugi’s hand and holds it firmly, “If something scares you, remember this was your idea little one.” he leads the shorter teen into the dark room, not liking this one bit and not understanding why he was even doing this.

 

The lamp lights up the space, revealing the blood stained walls, finding even more scratches and even cracks, like something had tried to break through it. Yugi stood closer to Yami as the unsettling feeling in the pit of his stomach growing worse. He let go of the pharaoh’s hand and instead wrapped his arms around Yami’s bicep instead. The spirit couldn’t help the small grin forming on his face as his little Aibou was clinging to him for protection. Maybe this little expedition of theirs wasn’t a bad thing.

 

Yugi’s nose scrunched up as the smell was getting worse, it was like soggy meat that had been left in the sun for 5 days, and it burned his nose and stung his sinus, “How does a place that doesn’t technically exist have a smell?”

 

“Again I couldn’t tell you…that’s magic for you.” He raised the lamp to light up more of the nearby wall, noticing something odd, “Hey look over here.” He took a step towards the wall, the surface covered in tally marks that seemed to cover the entire space. Thousands upon thousands of marks…almost like someone was counting the days…Yugi’s eyes widened as a thought came to mind and turns to the taller boy, “Yami were you trapped inside here?!” the spirit shook his head as he kept examining the marks, “No Aibou…I may not remember who I was or how I got here, I was floating in a world of darkness…like a bad dream…nothing like this.”

 

There’s a soft crashing sound that comes from deeper in the room, like something falling over. The boys look at each other before looking at the dark hole where the noise came from. Yami narrowed his eyes, “Stay behind me.” Yugi nodded as he clung to the others shirt as they moved deeper inside the room, stepping cautiously until the pharaoh’s foot bumped into something. He glanced down and his eyes widened in horror…on the ground was a decapitated head…the right side of the face was missing, the skull exposed with bits of flesh hanging off it like someone had gnawed on it and eaten the skin…it’s one eye socket was hollow, the oculus obviously missing but the other half of his face was still intact and Yami recognised it…it was Panic or rather what was left of him.

 

Yugi tried to peer over the spirits shoulder to see what he had seen but Yami grabbed the smaller teen, turning back as he dropped the lamp, wrapping an arm around Yugi’s waist and covering the others eyes with his hand, not wanting him to see what he had seen. He glanced down and a shudder ran up his spine as the lamp on the ground had lit up the ground, exposing the mass of bones and pieces of flesh strewn across the floor. He could feel the remnants of the souls that use to reside in these remains. This didn’t making sense…his soul was meant to be in the shadow realm, how did it end up here?? And who else was here? What had been locked up in here and where was the beast now??

 

Yugi was taken aback by Yami’s quick action, what was he keeping Yugi from seeing? He could feel the fear and shock radiating of the spirit that was pressed up against his back…his strong arm wrapped around his waist…his hand over his eyes and his hot heavy breath against Yugi’s ear. This was an unexpected situation and he had to say that he didn’t mind it…Yami’s body felt warm against his own…but he still wanted to know what was going on, “Um Yami…is everything ok?” the spirit was pulled out of his shock and looked at the teen in his arms. He needed to get him out of here.

 

“We’ve seen enough. Let’s get out of here and return to your room.” He spoke softly, his deep baritone voice floating through Yugi’s ear and touching his very soul. He couldn’t help but shiver. This wasn’t exactly the ideal situation to be feeling such things towards the spirit he shared his body with…both of them in a dark ominous room, Yami holding him protectively against his body (well metaphorical body since they were both occupying this other worldly space).

 

Yugi needed to stop his mind from running away from him, “Let’s go Yami…lead the way.” He spoke softly as the spirit nodded, taking the smaller boy out of the room, only removing his hand from the boys eyes once he was far away from the remains and dark hallway, keeping his arm around the others waist. They walked in silence until they were out of Yami’s room and back in Yugi’s, the taller teen setting the other boy down on the bed before sitting beside him. They sat in silence for a while, Yugi hugging his knees to his chest as Yami lay back on the bed, his hands resting behind his head as he stares up at the spiralling mass of starts and planets that was the ceiling to Yugi’s soul room.

 

The spirit turned his gaze to the other boy, knowing that there was a lot on the boys mind. He had been through so much just in the past few hours. He had wished he could have prevented any of this pain and protected the people in Yugi’s life…he felt so useless and believed he was to blame for all this. Yugi was the last person he wanted to see in pain and to suffer because of him. He had to admit that since he had felt Yugi’s pure and innocent soul he had grown to care for the boy…a feeling of something more had developed in his heart…what was admiration and adoration had turned into something deeper…into something that could only be described as love…

 

He reached over and rested his hand on Yugi’s back, running his fingers alone his spine, trying to ease some of the tension he was feeling. Yugi slowly closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh, his body slowly relaxing as he let the warmth from Yami fill his spirit and soul. Yami took notice of this and slowly took hold of the others arm and pulled him down, wrapping his arm around the boy as he lays over him, Yugi’s head resting on Yami’s chest while the pharaoh drew his fingers over his back.

 

Yugi opened his eyes and looked up at Yami, amethyst eyes meeting red. the spirit moving his hand to caress the others cheek, admiring his sweet little angel, his thumb gently running over the boy’s bottom lip, a blush growing on the younger teens cheeks. This was…different. Sure the two of them were always touchy towards each other…but this was very intimate and Yami was always flirty towards Yugi and had spoken such beautiful words to him and had this loving gaze for the short boy…if Yugi didn’t know any better he would say that Yami had feelings for him.

 

And If Yugi was honest with himself he would admit that he felt the same…he had grown close to the spirit and couldn’t imagine his life without him…plus those weird visions he kept having of ancient Egyptian versions of themselves that clearly had a deep connection…he could see himself and the Pharaoh being together…he wanted to be with him…however now wasn’t the time. There was an impending danger and a mad man that wanted to kill them both and their loved ones. He didn’t want to give Marik more leverage to use against Yami and himself.

 

But that didn’t mean that they couldn’t still be close to each other…”Yami?”

 

“Hm?” the pharaoh smiled softly at the boy. Yugi fiddled with his fingers for a bit as he nibbled on his lower lip, “Will you stay with me tonight?” Yami raised a brow before chuckling causing the other to frown, “What’s so funny?” Yami ruffled his hair, “Nothing Aibou. It’s just that I stay with you every night. You need not ask my little one.” he leaned up and pressed his lips against Yugi’s forehead, whispering softly “I will always be here for you my little angel…always.”

 

Yugi blushed again and buried his face in Yami’s chest, gripping his shirt a little. Th spirit kept his arms wrapped around the boy, enjoying having the other in his arms. He went back to drawing images on his back as he starts to hum a soft lullaby, burying his face in Yugi’s hair and inhaling softly, letting the scent of a fresh field of sunflowers and a cool breeze fill his senses. Yugi felt himself relax once again in Yami’s arms, his body slowly going numb as his eyes close, listening to the tune Yami was humming. It sounded familiar…this all felt familiar…it felt like home…

[sesshy380-rp]

(continued from here)

Kat had taken to sitting beside Bakura, leaning on them beneath one arm like a harem girl on a king.

She took a moment to think about the questions Marik had asked. She then removed herself from Bakura’s side and went to her sewing box, returning with a measuring tape that had lines and symbols at select points.

“I still haven’t learned the current unit of measurement, but I am able to keep track of my own measurements with the lines I’ve marked on here,” she said while pointing at one of the lines. “This one is my height.”

Marik looked at the number beside her marking, then let out an amused chuckle.

“I didn’t think anyone could be shorter than Yugi, but you proved me wrong.”

Kat scowled.

“Have you forgotten how tall I actually am, or should I drop you from a roof again?”

Marik’s amusement quickly vanished as he cleared his throat and focused on typing the information into his phone.

“Okay then, let’s see…and where do you come from?” he asked without looking up.

“The kingdom of Kemet in the city of Wo’se,” Kat stated proudly.

Marik looked up and blinked a few times.

Kat rolled her eyes and sighed.

“Thebes,” she said boredly. “Stupid Greeks with their stupid different names for everything,” she grumbled. “Can’t believe the names they gave everything are still remembered…”

Marik returned to focusing on his phone.

“Congrats, you’re now from Luxor in Egypt.”

He continued to stare at his phone for a moment after he’d finished typing. Kat noticed that he’d become (more) uncomfortable (compared to the moments prior).

“I wanted to run the name I came up with for your documents. If you don’t like any of it, it can be changed.”

Kat perked up a bit.

“Oh?”

Marik glanced up and hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“The full name in order of first, middle, and last, would be ‘Sanura Katrina Anu’. You seemed concerned about having a name that didn’t match your ethnic appearance, so I thought this would be a bit of a middle ground. Like I said, if you don’t like it, we can still change it. You could still go by Kat, with most people assuming that you choose to go by your middle name.”

Kat took the time to think. While it did have a nice ring to it, after what Ryou had mentioned in regards to her mother’s name, she was now second-guessing if she wanted to have that association…though she didn’t know how to voice it. The fact that she was now having doubts made her feel a bit guilty. As though the doubts alone were tarnishing the memory of her mother.

Instead she turned to Bakura.

“You said you wanted us to have the same last name, but ‘Bakura Anu’ sounds a bit strange. Maybe you have a better suggestion?”

((@nb-lesbian-tkb))

[antaresr]

A post-canon omegaverse, Slowburn boundshipping, past blindshipping and citronshipping.

⚠️ Implicit non-con, mention of blood

After a few years Atem and Bakhure return as a second chance given by the gods.

Everyone is older and Atem and Yugi decide to bond without anyone knowing except Ryou, Yugi told him because he is the most discreet than his other friends, Bakhure and Marik resume their "whatever they had during Battle city", to Isis' discontent, Marik doesn't want to bond because he loves his freedom and Bakhure understands this so he just swears loyalty to him and marks him with his scent.

Sometimes Atem goes on a trip to Egypt to support the Ishtar in the Cairo museum, Marik and Atem were able to reconcile, Atem apologized for causing him so much trouble and Marik apologizes for everything he did, Bakhure and Atem no longer actively hate each other but prefer not to see each other, if under any circumstances they have to see each other they try not to cross more words than necessary.

However Isis has a plan, a bad plan, to make Marik and Bakhure broke up.

By chance a visiting trip by Atem coincides with Bakhure's trip to see Ryou (because they are sort of "close", Bakhure won't use the word friends).

Isis, who has her brother's heat cycle figured out, invites Atem to stay at her house since "Bakhure is not around to bother him", Atem believing it to be in good faith accepts the offer. A big mistake.

The room Isis gave Atem is exactly next to Marik's, of course the smell of Marik's heat reaches Atem, and Marik being an unbound omega is easy prey.

Meanwhile in Japan, Ryou and Bakhure catch up on their lives, play Monster world, and Bakhure helps him to test scripts for KC games (they are the horror game dream team).

Bakhure is reading a script and jotting things down in the margins when he gets a call from Marik, crying, hysterical and guilty.

Bakhure screams in fury when he understands Marik's babbling, Ryou who was making food comes out of the kitchen when he hears it, Bakhure spews words of hatred at Atem and the gods, Ryou picks up Bakhure's mangled phone and tries to figure out what's going on, when Bakhure explains in a small moment of lucidity, Ryou gasps in horror.

Ryou starts pushing Bakhure towards the door, they have to get to Kame Game, Bakhure doesn't understand but follows him.

When they enter the house they hear Yugi's shrieks, they find him lying on the floor crying and scratching his mating mark, Yugi's neck and hands are full of blood, the mark looks like a deformed burn and Bakhure understands Ryou's concern.

Yugi is dying.

Ryou who is the only one who can think, orders Bakhure to mark Yugi, it is the only solution to save an abandoned omega, Bakhure of course doesn't want to do it, firstly because he loves Marik, secondly because although he is a thief he would never force anyone to do anything.

"It's the only way, Atem can't re-mark him, if you don't do it he will die" Ryou looks at him with pleading eyes, he doesn't want to lose one of his best friends.

Bakhure takes Yugi in his arms and carries him to another room, Ryou leaves the house and waits outside.

After a few moments Bakhure lets Ryou in, who runs to see Yugi, Yugi is on his bed, dressed in a soft quilted robe and the blatant new mark over Atem's.

But Yugi just cries and cries non-stop, maybe he is not dying anymore but his heart is broken, Bakhure in the living room wants to murder someone, Atem preferably, but now he can't leave because he has to stay with his new omega until their bond is well.

[s-soulwriter]

Burning House -A story by me

Since I talk a lot about writing tipps,here is something I wrote !

TW: mentioning of death ,grief ,mental health and absuive childhood

"It's been four days now - four infinitely long days. Everything feels unreal, hardly graspable, and I still can't quite comprehend it. Sleep eludes me, eating has become a challenge. Every bite seems like an insurmountable hurdle. Marik is deeply worried about me. I know he's doing his best. In these moments, I feel like a teenager again. Tears keep flowing down my cheeks.

Yesterday, I cried because I couldn't handle the grocery shopping, The day before that too. My boss told me to take as much time as I need. My response was , 'I don't need time. My father and I were not close,' After her long, hesitant look, I apologized to her without really knowing why. Most people probably expect that you grieve the way they do, but that doesn't work for me. Of course, I feel tired and exhausted, but that doesn't mean I can't continue working. Marik advised me to wait a bit longer. 'I don't want you to rush into anything,' he said concerned, as if I were an impulsive person. To me, my father has been dead longer than four days , and with him, all the moments in which we could have talked about my childhood and all his mistakes have died.

When I learned of his death, I had just come home from work. I had placed my keys in a small, shell-shaped dish in the hallway that my mother had given me last Christmas, and then listened to the message on landline phone. I heard my mother's voice, who still uses the landline phone because she claims she can't handle smartphones. At first, I could hardly understand her words; she was sobbing and whimpering. It wasn't until I listened to the message a second time that I understood it: 'Father. The stairs. Fell. Died in the hospital.'

Since then, I've spoken with my mother a few times. My aunt Brigitte and uncle Steven have also reached out to offer their condolences. But I haven't managed to visit my mother. I moved out of home at eighteen, completed my high school in a different city, and went to university right after, where I met Marik. I haven't seen my parents since.

I still remember my father's last words vividly: 'If you just want to run away, then do it, but we won't take you back, you spoiled brat.' He never understood that I didn't feel comfortable with him.Not save, and that there were moments I wanted to talk about. This realization has set within me. He never tried to understand me, and now he never will.

The relationship between a child and their parents is hard to explain in simple words. I always tried to get understanding and acceptance from my father, knowing full well I would never receive it. I still hoped to prove myself wrong someday. There's a quote: 'If you were born in a burning house, you think the whole world is on fire, but it's not.' It never really burned for us. There were no broken noses and no thrown objects. My father never hit me, and my mother always wanted the best for me. Yet, it often felt so confined in the house that you could barely breathe. The fire simmered beneath the surface, invisible but palpable. Not a burning house, but a house full of smoke, where an explosion threatened every second and could sweep everything away. A house where T-shirts stuck to you due to the heat, and you had to hold your breath. A house where anger was swallowed to be able to smile and call it home. As a child, I always hoped that my father would set me free from this confinement, but by now, I've understood that he was the cause of it. Violence doesn't only start physically; it begins with small words.

Right now, I'm alone in the car. Marik is at work. He offered to take time off and accompany me, but I declined. 'My boss will understand. I'd like to support you,' he said concerned. 'I don't need it. I'll hurry and then be back quickly.' Marik wants to be there for me and protect me. He told me that after just a few dates. He even offered to set up an appointment with Dr. Marsch, his therapist, because he believes that sometimes you need someone specialized to talk to. I appreciate that a lot. I need his support, but ultimately, I promised him: 'I'll go in the morning and be back in the evening. It would be nice if you could cook something in the meantime.' My parents' house is only three hours away, and they never visited me during that time. My mother occasionally sent me messages, showing me what she can afford now that she no longer has to provide for me. 'Since we no longer have to support you, so many things are possible,' she said once, as if I had taken every dollar away from her. I've come to terms with it now and try to focus on the road and not the past.

Today is the funeral. The opportunity to ever talk to my father again is gone, and that's just the way it is. I'm trying to tell myself that everything will be okay if I just believe strongly enough.

I arrive at the cemetery. Most of the guests are already there, standing in front of the large church in solemn black attire, bidding farewell. I'm wearing a black jacket and a hoodie. As I step into the cemetery, a woman rushes toward me. She's elderly, with red hair, and as she hugs me, she begins to cry. 'Oh, Vanessa, it's you. I'm so sorry, poor child.' 'Hello, Nora,' I greet her. Nora was our neighbor. She had a little dog and used to inform my mother about every little mistake I made. She missed nothing except my father's angry words. She lets go of me. 'Your father was such a good man. Truly good,' she sobs. I nod, although he wasn't. 'I know he was. You're right, Nora.' She sniffs again. They didn't really know each other that well. 'He was always so great. Such a hardworking man.' I nod again. 'Have you seen my mother?'

Nora points in the direction of the church entrance. 'She's talking to a colleague of your father's. She's quite distraught.' I pass by her. On my way to my mother, seven people tell me how sorry they are. Four of them say how nice it is to see me, even though it's under these sad circumstances, even though they haven't made the effort to visit me in recent years. Five more people stop me, hug me, and swear it's such a tragedy because my father was such a good man. 'God always picks his favorite flowers from the field of people,' says a man who used to play golf with my father.

It sounds like something a thirteen-year-old teenager would post in their story. I don't believe in God, but I still reply to the man, 'Now he's in heaven. He has a better life there.' When I reach my mother, I'm so exhausted that I wish I could immediately get back in the car and return to Marik. My mother looks at me silently.

She's pale, with dark circles under her eyes, and I know she misses my father more than anything else. They were made for each other, just not really to be parents. Sometimes that happens. Some parents aren't good at being parents; they never learn . Some children aren't good at being children; they can't enjoy their childhood, or even have the opportunity to do so.

My mother gives me a brief hug. It feels formal. 'It's good that you came,' she says. 'Good to see you,' I reply. She doesn't ask me how I'm doing. She asks if my speech is prepared. 'I specifically asked you for it,' I nod, like a sheep. Always saying yes and amen. I've written a few words on index cards, which are in my pocket. Actually, I didn't write them myself. After my mother asked me to give a short speech, I had an AI write a brief eulogy for my father last night. The generated speech also describes what a good man my father was, a good father. I just want to get it over with.

The service goes by quickly. I hardly know how to behave. How do you feel at your father's funeral? It's my first time, and I can barely make out a word. As we stand outside by the grave, my mother weeps. The golfing man holds her tightly. Nora is crying too, endlessly. 'You can let it out,' a friend standing on the other side says. I say nothing. In my head, I repeat the words of the speech. Before my trip, I read them a few times. When the casket is lowered into the grave, there is even more crying. In the church, everyone had the opportunity to say their goodbyes at the open grave. I just stayed seated, didn't want to see him, didn't want to say goodbye.

I wish I could follow my friend's advice; I wish I could cry, maybe as much as I have in the last few days, but I can't let go here. I feel all the eyes on me, and it feels foreign. My mother says something. She talks about her great love, how they met when she was twelve, and he teased her in school. He pulled her hair, but she already knew back then in school that beneath the teasing was affection. Now, I want to cry even more. What an absolute lie. 'Life with him was the most beautiful thing in the world. Together, we had a daughter and a few damn happy decades. Whoever finds love has completed half the journey in life, and I thank Tom for walking this path with me. You were a good man. A good father, a good husband.' People nod and clap. Now it's my turn.

I go over to my mother. She hands me the microphone. A cold wind swirls around me, and I wish my jacket were thicker. I think of my warm office, or my bed, preferably the time from four days ago. I take out the index cards.

'Hello, I'm Vanessa, and my father is dead. That's why we're all here.' The words sound wrong, strange, peculiar. I read the next line with my eyes, but I don't say it out loud. I look at all the people who are waiting so hopefully, all with the same opinion: my father was a good man and a good father, they all say. They all claim. Suddenly, I become very angry. I look at my mother. I make my decision. 'I was asked to say a few kind words about my father, but the truth is, I can't think of many. I'll never be able to talk to him again, never be able to hope that he damn well apologizes for everything he accused me of, for never being good enough. But honestly, he would never have done that anyway.

All these years, he had the opportunity to reach out to me, and he didn't.' I hold my breath. The silence is almost unbearable. 'You're all right, my father was a good colleague, a good friend, a good neighbor, a good husband, but he was not a good father.' I hand the microphone back to my mother. Her eyes are wide open. She says nothing. No one says anything. People make way for me. I leave.

On the way to the parking lot, I feel like the whole world is watching me, and I imagine my father rolling his eyes one last time because of my words. On the drive back, I think of Marik and then of the burning house. The further I am from the cemetery, the more relieved I feel. Maybe I can eat something now, and maybe I should give Dr. Marsch a chance. The burning house and the world that's not on fire, that's really true. The world is not on fire. I have Marik and a safe home. I've built it myself."

[liberationwasboundtohappen]

Aaaand the last part of the question asked by @kira-quartz!

23: Has your favorite ship changed over time? -- Oh gods, has it. When I first entered this fandom...years ago, I was a very dedicated Revolutionshipper (Atem x Anzu) and Peachshipper (Yuugi x Anzu), but over time I grew cold on those ships. I'm still a fan of Atem x Miho (which doesn't have a ship name?), and I wrote an AU about them more than a decade ago. I may have to revisit it and fix it up because I absolutely love that ship and you will pry it from my cold dead hands. After a while I became an ardent Wishshipper (Joey x Yuugi) and I still love that ship to death. But upon rewatching the series and revisiting it in earnest, I started growing much more fond of YB, Marik, and TKB. Currently, my favorite ship is Boundshipping (TKB x Yuugi) and... A crossover ship that I'm tentatively calling Emeraldshipping (TKB x Inko Midoriya). Yes, we are talking about Izuku's mom from MHA. This is under the prerequisite that TKB and Inko are both consenting adults (I have always headcanoned TKB as around 25, Millennium Book be damned). Emeraldshipping has a similar vibe to Boundshipping, especially with the redemption romance dynamics. Inko is such a gentle person, and TKB needs someone who will worry for and care for him while teaching him what love actually is. Meanwhile I think TKB would practically worship the ground she walks on once the two of them actually fall in love and get comfortable with one another. Also, her insecurities concerning their age gap is an interesting thing to explore, especially since if we're going with post-series TKB who has been around 3,000 years, it's just her body that's older (not her soul). If we're going with YB x Inko, I think there would be much more emphasis on the fact that YB is not used to kindness, but here's this woman mothering him and even being firm with him like he's being an unruly child rather than an ancient spirit. Unless YB is a separate entity and not currently possessing Ryou, I feel like this would be one-sided on YB's end. Unless / until he gets an adult body in which case Inko will have a strange white-haired man that looks suspiciously like the sour kid she'd been helping and feeding declaring that she is 'his woman' and....hhhhhhhhhhhh. I HAVE A LOT OF FEELINGS ABOUT THESE TWO.

[kidmoddo]

YOUR LATEST COMIC WAS INCREDIBLE I was literally laughing so hard, I adore Marik's antics taking advantage of poor Ryou and how concerned Yugi looks at the end as Ryou just melted into a flustered blob 🤣🤣 also question, what is Marik holding thst he swiped from Ryou in the hand holding the white wallet? it looks like a piece of chalk wrapped in red?👀 just curious~ I can't wait for your next comic of Yugioh antics though, would love for Bakura to make an appearance of Marik really does push it too far hehehe >>>:3 thank you for making this absolutely beautiful and hilarious art 😆❤️❤️❤️

hehehe YOU’RE SO SWEET!!! <3 you people make me so happy. WHAT INDEED!!! most people pick watches but I don’t take Ryou as a gold watch wear-er lol. we got a wallet, cash, Chapstick (aka chalk wrapped in red) and a cringe friendship bracelet, the kind you made with twine and beads : P seems more his style 

[ofthepuzzle]

I’ve been wanting to write down my own perspective of Atem and Kaiba’s relationship. More so in a way that I’ve noticed how much Atem needs and benefits from Kaiba’s presence.

 A lot of times I notice their relationship is depicted as constantly clashing, mostly consisting of conflicts, and being cantered on their rivalry. While that is quite a big aspect of their bond, some other significant parts are often overlooked. I imagine that Atem and Kaiba balance each other out. Rather than— being a bad influence on each other.

Again, since I’m used to playing Atem, I will point out a few significant parts where Seto pulled him out at one of his most desperate moments. Something like Atem’s POV.

The first duel with Osiris, Atem was on the verge of giving up, kneeling on the ground and calling it impossible to defeat a God. But Kaiba was there to knock some sense into him. Atem was able to see his own worth and that giving up is not an option. Before the duel with Yami Marik, Kaiba tosses Atem a card. Atem draws that said card without even taking a glimpse at it before setting it. (“When I touched that card I felt the pulse of your soul, Kaiba”). Fiend’s Sanctuary essentially saves him from Ra’s powerful attack that likely would’ve been fatal for him had he not found a way to turn things around. The duel with Dartz Atem refuses to attack the knights, blinded by the idea that if he does it will kill off his friends. Kaiba’s different approach opens his eyes for a way out and that not everything might be what it seems. And not to forget, after being tossed into the Orichalcos’ forcefield which looked like it’d forced the air out of his lungs and definitely hurt, Kaiba still managed to use his last card and give Atem a boost. Also a little bit of extra angst the look of concern on Kaiba’s face prior when all the knights one by one directly attacked Atem. And then Atem screaming when Kaiba’s soul gets taken.

With Seto Kaiba there is no time for hesitation but to aim right ahead. I can see how this can be both a problem and a benefit for Atem. Atem tends to overanalyze, even catastrophize. To him it’s fine to take a cautious approach but sometimes when he hesitates too much it slows him down way too much (e.g. the duels I mentioned). And sometimes it’s better to take a different approach, like Kaiba’s. This is what I mean that they balance each other out. In turn, Atem’s careful and observant approach can help him understand things better, understand Seto’s way of performance. (Reminds me of their other duel with those masked guys and Atem trying to be on the same wavelength with Kaiba. It’s amazing how things change and they get to work in union after trust has been established.)

Anyways, I wrote a fair bit on here. Might add more later if something else comes to mind.

To add, writing with Kaiba rpers has also helped me have a better insight into their relationship. A lot of times it’s called ‘toxic’ but it doesn’t have to be that way. That’s why I like to list the healthy aspects. They challenge each other's limits but also aid one another when needed. 

[iilahalzili]

Anonymous ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ ☼ What do you think of the Pharaoh, Medjay?

"You must refer to Pharaoh Aknamkanon," there is an undertone to Marik's voice, the Medjay running his hand across the scarf nestled on his shoulders--a way to distract himself from that ick, "It would be not advised to speak ill of the Pharaoh, considering he is one that I protect." "Every living being under Ra's light has their choices, even if some are looked upon as concerning or confusing. I do hope that every decision made takes into account the lives of those under his rule, not just the advancement of his power. . ." Bright eyes glance to the sky, letting slip a frown, "I do question his teachings to the prince sometimes. . . a leader is born from teachings of self-control and love." Everyone thrives more when they are loved, something he had learned personally with his mother, "But it is not my place to critique the Pharaoh's methods."

[queeriboh]

pretty sure last I left off with Darkest musings was right after Kaiba got Marik's counterfeit operation shut down and connected him to both the museum bombing and Kame arson, using his connections to quickly elevate Marik to one of Japan's most wanted criminals.

so naturally, Marik's next target is going to be that bastard.

( cw for violence, general descriptions of torture though nothing detailed, and major and minor character death on this one )

he's not just going to storm in and attack though, Kaiba's too smart for that. he's going to spend a few weeks making mind puppets of as many Kaiba Corp employees as possible, including one of their beloved body guards. during this time he learns about Kaiba's surveillance network keeping real-time data on nearly every resident of the city, as well as gaining access to the private paramilitary squad he keeps on call and oh, he thinks that's going to be fun.

he has to catch them both off guard. Kaiba is a crafty son of a bitch, and through his reconnaissance at Kaiba Corp he's well aware of the policy regarding executive handgun training. it's entirely possible that, even at the presumed safety of home, the CEO could be armed. he was able to mind control one of their body guards, but Roland would be a concern as well.

Marik knows damn well how slippery the kid is, Mokuba's already escaped from his capture once (yeah thats anime only but shh), so he has to be careful. It's hard to catch him at the right moment. He has to be alone, unaware and off guard. Fuguta has to be the only guard in the mansion that night, with Seto working late at the office, long after their live in maid has gone to bed. it takes weeks of patience, but finally the stars align as the possessed Fuguta finds Mokuba sneaking a late night snack from the massive kitchen.

Mokuba puts up a hell of a fight when he's grabbed from behind, kicking and throwing elbows and fists wildly at the massive man holding him. Fuguta's hand covers his mouth to keep him from waking the maid, and Mokuba's teeth dig in, grinding and baring down until his mouth fills with blood. but his fighting is useless, the pain blocked by the Millennium Rod and Marik's control, and eventually Fuguta gets the kid in a sleeper hold. From there it's only a few seconds before Mokuba goes limp and Marik makes his way to the mansion for phase 2.

when Seto Kaiba finally returns home it's well after midnight, yet the massive mansion feels unusually quiet. Mokuba isn't one to usually go to bed early, but he's tired and sore and Seto decides not to think too much of it. He takes the bottle of his usual liquor, pours himself a nightcap, and heads to his own chambers with the glass in hand. for a little bit he'll try to relax in bed, reading a book as he sips, winding down to pull a few hours sleep before his early morning workout. but the sound of the handle turning on his bedroom door draws his attention, putting him on alert as his eyes snap up from the pages and words.

"I didn't hear you get home," Mokuba says as he slips into the massive bedroom. It isn't the master, though. Even long after Gouzaburou's death, Seto can't stand to be in that room. "whatcha reading??" he flops onto the bed--and Seto's legs-- with all his weight, the way he always does. but as the two chat idly, it quickly becomes clear that there's something off about the way Mokuba is speaking and acting. Seto looks down at the book in his hands again, and the letters swim around the pages, swirling, illegible. He glances at the glass on his nightstand just before his vision goes black.

When he comes to, he's on the floor, propped against the footboard of his oversized bed. Slowly the details start to come to focus. Like the handcuffs restraining both of his hands to the solid wood posts. His bodyguard Fuguta standing over him, his little brother sat cross legged on the floor beside him, elbows propped on his knees, chin in both hands with a sweet smile on his lips and a far away look in his stormy purple eyes.

"wakey wakey, big brother~"

there's definitely something wrong with Mokuba's voice, but Seto's head is still swimming too much to understand the situation.

"you know, it took me a while to decide what to do with you. you really ruined my plans, you know. so I had to think, how can I ruin Seto Kaiba? you took away something important to me, but what's important to a megalomaniac like you? and how can I even get close to you? and then it hit me when I saw your cute little brother here."

Mokuba's big, toothy grin is sickening.

"Marik--" Kaiba hisses, the details finally connecting. He jerks suddenly, lashing and pulling at the handcuffs with all of his strength like a wild animal, but the chains hold strong.

"Relax, relax, big brother~"

"Don't! You dare call me that! Leave my little brother alone and face me yourself, you coward." Seto spits

"No thanks. This will be much more satisfying, I think." As he speaks, the possessed Mokuba reaches into the pocket of his hoodie, producing a large black stun gun. The room crackles with the sound of electricity as he presses the button, showing off the impressive sparks for a moment before driving the end into Seto's stomach.

Seto writhes and grunts in agony, but shock after shock and the man still never screams. Disappointing, but Marik had expected as much. Still, the look of betrayal in his deep blue eyes, the agony of being tortured by his own beloved brother is exciting. And it's only the opening act anyway.

Seto curses and spits insults at Marik between shocks, but his body twitches and convulses even after they stop. "Snap out of it, Mokuba," he urges, towing the line of pleading but never quite crossing into that level of desperation. "You're stronger than this!!" Another shock and Seto spazzes and grunts in pain, and Marik feels his control of the boy start to waver. That's fine. He's ready for the main event anyway.

The moment that he relinquishes Mokuba, Marik turns his focus to his other puppet. Before the boy can register what's going on, why he's holding the stun gun, why his brother is twitching on the floor and bound, Fuguta grabs him by a fistful of his long hair, dragging him to his feet to wrap large hands around his tiny throat and lift him from his feet.

"You know that was only the start of your punishment, Seto Kaiba," Marik speaks through their bodyguard now. "Sit back and get comfortable, you might as well enjoy the show. Since there's nothing you can do now to stop it." Fuguta's grin is wicked as Mokuba claws and chokes and kicks. Just as his fighting starts to slow, his eyes start to roll back, he's slammed back into the ground.

now. as much as I love angst and violence and misery, actually trying to muse on the torture while at work only made me. very very sad. and I think trying to write that out would be too much even for me. but Marik is a wicked, truly deranged person, and his sadism has only gotten worse since wearing the Millennium Ring. so I'll leave details up to the reader's own discretion and comfort levels (short of sexual violence because Mokuba is just a poor kid wrapped up in something he never should have been and I can't possibly put my son through that even as a hypothetical).

but Marik will be cruel. and unlike his brother, Mokuba screams. Mokuba cries. Mokuba begs and pleads for it to stop. and it crushes Seto, it makes his blood boil and bile rise up in his stomach. at some point, he swears that Marik's killed him, as Mokuba's cries and fighting stop and Fuguta leaves him in an unmoving puddle on the floor. But then a heavy kick to his gut has the boy coughing and spitting up blood.

at some point, Marik will walk in, still wiping blood from the dagger of the Millennium Rod after dealing with the sleeping maid. Wouldn't want her waking up to her employers' screaming. For a while, he leans in the doorway of the bedroom, watching the puppet show he commands.

"You know, Kaiba," he purrs during the moment of calm as Mokuba sobs on the floor. Seto turns quickly, glaring daggers at the puppeteer. "I've been lurking around your office for a while. I'm no good with computers you know, but your little brother here was oh so helpful, accessing the Duelist Databse for me. But there is one access code even he doesn't know, isn't there? The one for that satellite defense system, that asset of the old company you never actually shut down, did you?"

Fuguta steps aside as Marik approaches to kneel beside Mokuba, lifting his head by his hair again.

"Tell me how to access it, and maybe I'll let your poor little brother here go."

"D-don't... Seto, please he-- he'll kill so many p--"

Mokuba's pleading is cut short as his face is smashed back into the floor. Marik will take over the torture himself, only for Kaiba to shout a string of letters and numbers after only moments.

Marik's lips curl back in a viscious grin. Sends Fuguta to go test it and report back. but he doesn't keep his word. well, he did say maybe. he doesn't stop. not until Mokuba is too utterly broken to respond anymore, lost somewhere between consciousness and death.

and that's about when he feels a tug on his puppets' strings, looks through Fuguta's eyes to see the results of the code he was given.

Marik curses, quickly turning his attention to Seto, who laughs a single, cold laugh. "I'd rather destroy everything I've ever worked for, ever created, ever done, than ever hand you a weapon like that."

Scorched Earth Protocol Initiated: All Files Deleted - Satellite Self Destruct in 5 Minutes.

And just like that, Marik snaps. He turns his wrath on Seto, relentlessly beating him with the bulbous end of the Millennium Rod, completely overcome with wild, reckless rage. He doesn't stop when Seto's head splits with a sickening crack. When his blood paints the carpet and footboard. When his face is no longer recognizable.

Marik stands shakily, breath heavy, bloodied Rod in hand. Curses when he realizes he's gone too far this time. His blood boils in his veins and he storms off to try and salvage something from this operation.

But in his haste, blinded by anger, he'd forgotten the other brother.

It takes all of his strength, but Mokuba manages to drag himself across the bedroom floor. The sight of his brother in such a state is almost overwhelming, the only thing keeping him from wretching is the lack of energy to even vomit now. He wants to wail, to cry and scream, but there's nothing left inside him anymore. Mokuba simply curls up, his head on his brother's chest, desperately listening for a heartbeat, finding only the burbling and hissing of a death rattle. He sobs quietly and pathetically until his little body can't stay conscious any longer.

----

When Mokuba wakes, he's still wrapped in his brother's corpse, now cold and stiff beside him. He wants to beg him to wake up, to shake him, but it's too obviously too late. He wants to curl up again, to stay by Seto's side until he dies too. Just to be with his big brother again. To never leave him.

But another realization creeps in, and he knows he can't waste any time. When Marik left, he did nothing to restrain the living brother. How long will it be until he realizes and returns? Mokuba knows that every second matters.

He presses his forehead to Seto's chest, apologizing over and over and over for not saving him somehow. Tears leak down his cheeks as he clings to Seto's bloody pajama shirt. As he says goodbye to his brother.

[dark-pharaoh-atem]

Shinobu checked Atem over as Marik was rubbing his hand on his back. She gasped and look concerned. She asked to see Marik in the hall.

@marikslittleangel

[bluewavesofchange]

The guardians of the Pharaoh

The rise of a new darkness

I don't own Yugioh or it's characters

Warning for violence and blood.

Chapter 14

 

Seto was standing in front of the med bay doors, listening to the doctors and nurses rushing about inside…the world felt like it had slowed down…looking down at the blood coating his hands…the thick red liquid staining his trembling fingers…he didn’t hear the people approaching him as all he could hear was his heart beat in his ears…someone speaks up…”Kaiba?”…he looks up seeing Yugi and his group of friends…the short teens face expressing nothing but fear and confusion, his body shaking as there were tears forming in his eyes…

 

“Wh…where’s Lillian?”

 

He didn’t respond and simply stared blankly at the short teen…the only thing running through his mind was the events that had unfolded just a few moments ago…

 

After Odion and Joey’s duel, Joey was declared the winner and it was revealed that Namu was indeed Marik…and with Odion falling into a coma, Marik’s darker side came to the surface and took over the wielder of the Millennium rod. Unlike Marik, this being desired much more than power, he was out of blood, wanting to make the pharaoh suffer for what Marik had to go through on behalf of the tomb keepers. And he was just plain bat shit crazy. He didn’t wish to rule the world but to rather watch as it burns to the ground, to hear the screams of a thousand innocent fill his ears, to watch the flames of rage and damnation lick and melt away their flesh. He wanted chaos and no one was going to stand in his way…

 

Rozu watched as the light haired Egyptian teen lose himself to his darker side and she had to say his aura was absolutely delectable. His pain, his anger, the insanity that was infecting his very mind was exquisite. His spirit would taste so good on her tongue and would definitely restore a large portion of her strength. He would be perfect…however she needed to ensure that he stayed around long enough for her to have a chance to feast upon him…and there were already several people on the aircraft that wanted him gone…

 

She followed him as a shadow, watching him easily take over the minds of some of the guards and the medical professional who was attending to a comatose Odion. Seems he could handle himself fairly well so there was no concerns of someone throwing him from the zeppelin. Now all she needed to do was to wait for the right moment. She watched as he was about to kill the scar faced man, unsheathing the hidden blade of the Millennium rod and hold it over the man’s face, preparing to stab him through the eye when an announcement rings through the room, calling for Marik to head to the upper deck for his duel with Mai...

 

This would be interesting Rozu thought to herself as she returned to Lillian’s body…

 

The duel didn’t go well between Mai and Marik, the maniac turning it into a shadow game that slowly removed Mai’s memories of her friends and made her feel the pain her monsters felt when they got destroyed. Yami tried to intervene as best he could but Marik was ruthless…and even when Mai managed to get her hands on the Winged Dragon of Ra card, she was unable to control it, some BS about a sacred text being written on the card to activate the beast that could only be read by people who knew the ancient scriptures…and the beast was indeed something to behold…

 

The psycho had somehow chained Mai up, leaving her unable to defend herself from the oncoming attack…Lillian turned to Seto and begged him to end the duel…she had felt ill when the shadow game had begun and didn’t want the blond girl to get hurt or end up dead. On any other day the CEO would’ve let the duel continue but after everything that had happened the past few hours he wasn’t going to risk another injury (not that it would help since Marik had invoked a shadow game). He signalled Roland to end the duel but the possessed man used his Millennium Item to incapacitate the personal assistant, and commanded the Winged Dragon to continue it’s attack…

 

Joey couldn’t stand to let Mai get hurt and got onto the platform, rushing to her aid to try and free but it was no use. He was prepared to sacrifice himself for his friend…it seemed like they both were going to get hit by the beasts attack…

 

Lillian was about to get onto the platform herself only to watch in horror as Yami beats her to it…her eyes widening as the spirit possessing her brothers body takes the hit from Ra, standing in between the beam of devastating energy and his friends…Marik laughing as he taunts the pharaoh. Lillian felt anger and fear starting to grow inside her as she tries to get to her brother but Seto grabs her arm and holds her back. She was already injured enough as it is and he would not risk her health any further…not even for her brother.

 

As Mai’s life points hit zero, the holograms slowly disappear as the duel is over and Yami’s eyes fall shut and he collapses to the floor unconscious…all Yugi could do during this whole ordeal was watch from within the puzzle as his partner takes on the attack of an Egyptian god to protect Joey and Mai…he quickly heads over to Yami’s room to search for the pharaoh…he searches the endless hallways until he finds a passed out Yami laying in the middle of the floor. Yugi rushes to his friend’s side and knees down beside him, pulling him into his arms and tries to shake the spirit awake…yelling at him to wake up…

 

Meanwhile outside Joey was making sure Mai was alright before checking his other knocked out friend, kneeling beside him and trying to wake him up…Marik has a nasty smirk on his face as he unsheathes his Millennium robs blade and walks over to Joey and Yami…the blond stands up and puts himself between the maniac and his the shorter teen but the Egyptian psycho easily stuns the Brooklyn teen. He states that he could easily end the pharaoh and Yugi’s like right there and now, leaning over him as he raises his blade, laughing as he said that he would end him using a shadow game but that didn’t mean he couldn’t maim Yami’s vessel and leave him with his own special scar.

 

But before he could do anything someone grab his robe and tosses him off the duelling platform before he is punched in the face, disorientating him for a split second before he snarls at his attacker…

 

Lillian snapped when she saw Marik was going to harm her brother, breaking free from Seto’s grip and leaping onto the platform, running on instincts as she grabs hold of the teens cloak and yanks him away from Yami. Her rage was boiling over as Rozu was heading her anger…(the spirit had been watching the entire time of course, finding herself purring at the display of dark power and control this person had over the Egyptian god. Not to mention the chance for the pharaoh to get some well-deserved pain. Oh how she loved to see it…she no longer cared for him. He had thrown her aside like she was nothing, after everything she had done for him, all the power she had bestowed upon him and he locked her away to be tormented and torn apart by the shadows she had given him. he deserved every bit of pain he was getting…and she couldn’t wait for the day she could make him suffer too).

 

Dark clouds started to roll in as thunder and lightning starts to fill the sky as Lillian just goes at Marik…just punching or kicking or doing anything she can to let out her pent up anger and aggression…he was responsible for her torture…for trying to repeated kill her brother…he had kidnapped her friends and Mokuba and he had brainwashed Joey and Téa…he was the cause of so much pain and suffering and she wasn’t going to let him continue with his evil agendas…Marik tried to block her rapid attacks, blood running from his nose and from his busted lip. He tried to use his mystical item to stop her but it was of no use. So he used the blade to defend himself, getting a few cuts in but Lillian didn’t care as blood seeps from the wounds and soaking the long sleeved shirt she had on…

 

The storm grows worse as it starts to rain…the wind blowing harder causing turbulence for zeppelin…Seto grabs hold of Mokuba as the aircraft sways, grabbing the railing to steady himself and his brother. Téa had grabbed hold of Serenity while Duke and Tristian were trying to get to the fighting teens to stop them before things got any worse but the wind nearly knocks them over.

 

Lillian grabbed hold of the mad teens throat and holds him over the edge of the railing, her eyes glowing bright as well as her tattoos, her face and body went with rain…she was either going to squeeze the life out of him or drop him to his death…However someone shouts over the howling wind and thundering rain…it’s Joey, trying to get the girls attention, shouting that she was going to cause the whole zeppelin to get blown out of the sky…

 

She hears his words as she looks at her friend…distracting her long enough for Marik to flip around his blade and thrusts it forward…piercing deeply into Lillian’s abdomen…

 

Everything seemed to slow down as the teens could only watch as Marik smirked, pulling out the dagger, the golden metal blade stained with blood…Lillian’s eyes looking down as her body shook…the mad man laughing as he thrusted the blade back into her again…and again…and again…over and over again until her fingers uncurled from his throat and she slowly fell to her knees…her hands going to her stomach which was gushing blood, the thick red liquid seeping through her fingers…Marik only grinned as he licked his Millennium rod clean as the rain had turned to a drizzle…the thunder and lightning fading away…he laughs as he kicks her, sending her sprawling across the floor…taunting her and stating that he shouldn’t have split her focus.

 

Seto had been watching this all unfold while trying to keep his brother from flying of the aircraft…his eyes growing with horror…he had watched the fight and had hoped she would end the mad man’s life right then and there, solving all of their problems…sure the Winged Dragon of Ra would be temporarily lost but he could easily hire a search team to go find it…

 

But thanks to damn Wheeler Lillian got distracted and Marik got the upper hand on her…several injuring her…

 

The world around him went silent, he could see people’s mouths moving but couldn’t hear what was being said as he moved as fast as he could to the girl that was bleeding out on the floor…reaching her side, he screams at Mokuba to alert the medical staff for an emergency as he carefully but quickly rolled Lillian on her back, pressing his hands to the girls stab wounds, applying pressure to try and stop the bleeding…his eyes focused on her face that was growing paler and paler as her eyes were going dim…she reaches up with a trembling hand and rested her palm on his cheek, painting it red without even thinking as her vision was going blurry…

 

The brunet had never felt this panicked before, his heart race as he can do nothing but watch the life slowly bleeding from the woman he loved. He felt her hand on his face, seeing the weak smile on her face…she didn’t know what was going on but she knew she was scared…terrified…she knew she was dying…however she was glad that Seto was here…that she wasn’t alone…she saw the tears forming in his eyes as she let out in a strained voice…“I-I l-love you…” her vision slowly goes dark as her hand falls from Seto face as her eyes closed…

 

Without even thinking about it, Seto hooked his arm under her the girls knees and under her shoulders, speedily making his way to the elevator and heading down, not caring about anything else that was going on on the deck…

 

Mokuba couldn’t believe what he had witnessed and was frozen with shock but his big brothers screams had broken him from his state and he quickly contacted the medical staff in the med bay, explaining the situating as he watches his big brother trying to save their childhood friend…he followed Seto to the elevator and remained silent as they made their way down…rushing down the hallway and reaching the medical facility where the doctors and nurse were waiting with a gurney. The tall brunet lays her down quickly before he is shoved away, the staff members rolling her into the med bay, the doors closing behind them as they get to work on trying to save the girl…

 

Back on deck…everyone had been too shocked to move or do anything…Téa had tried to shield Serenity from the violence, turning the girl away from the scene…Tristian and Duke had no idea what to do either…Marik had returned to the platform and sent Mai’s soul to the shadow realm, imprisoning it to slowly be devoured by the shadows…he then left to go clean himself up…

 

By now Yami had started to come to, groaning as he sat up and looked around at his friends…the shocked and bleak look on their faces was a tell-tale sign that something had happened…Joey helped him stand as the platform lowered, giving the spirit a horrifying scene on the lower level…blood splattered around and the large pool of it…Yami looked at his friends but they didn’t say anything…

 

Yugi was relieved when the pharaoh had woken up but was confused when he noticed that no one was talking to them…a sense of dread filling both teens when they caught sight of carnage…and realizing that 3 members from before was no longer there…where was the Kaiba’s and his sister?

 

Seto just kept staring at the door trying to listen to what was going on inside as he heard the doctors yelling at the nurses…a heart monitor being turned on…

 

Inside his mind he was slowly shutting down…trying to come to terms about what had happened…Mokuba stood beside his brother, looking up at him before gripping his white coat to try and grab his attention but got nothing. He could see the turmoil that was raging inside his brothers mind but the younger Kaiba didn’t have time to help his brother any further as he heard his friends approaching…Yugi asking where his sister was…

 

Seto didn’t answer, turning his gaze to his hand that were covered in blood…Lillian’s blood…the girl he loved…the woman was probably fighting for her life inside the room before him. He wasn’t even aware of the people that were talking to him. The only thing he kept hearing was Lillian’s last words to him before she slipped into unconsciousness. He turned and slowly headed to his room, needing to wash the blood off. Joey tried to yell at him for ignore them but Mokuba stops him and shakes his head at the blond teen, Wheeler can see the sorrow in the boy’s eyes…

 

Yugi looks at Mokuba for answers as a tear runs down his cheek, Yami standing beside transparently, a wave of guilt slowly to creep inside him…

 

Mokuba was trying his best to keep his emotions in check, his voice strained as he explained to Yugi what had happened after he had taken the blast from Ra, “Marik was going to try and hurt you but…Lillian stopped him…she was going to throw him over the railing but…she lost focus and he…” his lower lip quivered as Yugi listened, a shudder running through him, “…I’m sorry Yugi but…” he couldn’t finish his sentence as the flood gates broke, grief and worry for his friend taking over as he started to sob.

 

The realization was like a punch to the gut as he covers his mouth with his hand, “N…no…no…” he looked at his friends, hoping that what Mokuba was saying wasn’t true but all their expressions said the same thing, Marik had tried to kill his sister after she tried to protect him and Yami…and there was a chance that he had succeeded in ending her for good.

 

Yugi slowly broke down, the flood gates bursting as tears streamed down his cheeks, wrapping his arms around Mokuba, holding the younger boy as they both cried…Joey and Serenity is the next to join the embrace, followed by Duke and Tristian and finally Téa…the group of friends holding the two smallest members.

 

Seto reached his room and stepped inside, not bothering to turn on the lights as he removed his coat and tossed it aside without a care. He stepped into the bathroom and turned the hot water on in the sick, scrubbing the blood from his hands till his skin was red and raw…the images of Lillian playing over and over again in his mind…her words ringing in his ears. He looked at his reflection in the mirror, noting the bloody hand print on his cheek…he raised his hand to his skin…the picture of her pale face and weak smile before her eyes closed…he slowly closed his hand into a fist…

 

“I-I l-love you…”

 

He punches the mirror as he lets out a yell, shattering the glass and cutting his knuckles, his reflection distorting as he shakes…he sinks to his knees and holds his head, letting himself cry in his solitude…letting his emotions overwhelm him for a moment as he tries to come to grips with the fact that he was going to lose Lillian.

 

The doctors had set up the room as an operating room when they got the word from Mokuba that someone had been fatally wounded…they had started working immediately, knowing they would need to open her up to start repairing the damage but…they had run into a problem…

 

Rozu watches from the shadows…how pathetic that the once mighty queen of the sea was reduced to this…the wicked woman knew she would probably need to look for a new host soon…

 

Seto soon returned, Yugi and his friends were sitting in the area waiting for any news from the doctor. Mokuba looked up at his brother and ran over to him, wrapping his arms around his waist and hugging him tightly. The brunet rested his hand on top of his brother’s head and shoulders, trying to sooth him as he looks at the others. He wanted to ask how they were holding up when the doctor steps out of the room, “Mr. Kaiba…”

 

Everyone stood up as the tall teen looked at the doctor, “How is she?” the doctor signs softy, “We’ve stopped the bleeding and can fix most of the damage but…there’s a problem.” Yugi steps forward, “What is it? What’s wrong with my sister?” the man looks at the teen before clearing his throat, “She’s lost a lot of blood…even if we can repair everything, she won’t make it if we can’t get her a blood transfusion…even if we try and return to Domino city we are hours away and she won’t last that long…I’m sorry sir.”

 

Seto, Mokuba and Yugi’s hearts dropped…this couldn’t be happening…there was no way to help her…Mokuba clung to his brother tightly as Yugi’s friends approached the short teen to try and comfort him, Yami resting his hand on his partners shoulder, ~I’m sorry Aibou…~ Yugi looked at him and wished for nothing more than to cling to the spirit and ask him to take the pain away…to make this day go away…to turn back time and to stop any of this from happening.

 

Seto was just silent as he held Mokuba, completely shut off from reality at this point…

 

“I’m sorry for your lose…we’ll patch her up as best we can and then…you can come say your goodbyes…” the doctor turns to leave but Serenity speaks up, “Doctor wait.” He stops and turns to the young girl, “If she needs blood…can’t one of us donate some? Just enough to ensure she survives…”

 

Everyone looks at the girl, her brother shocked that she would suggest something like that before turning his attention back to the doctor. The man thinks it over before nodding, “It is possible…but we would need to find a match…” Serenity then steps forward and holds out her arm, “Then test mine…” Joey rests his hand on her shoulder, “Are ya serious?” she nods, “I’m sure…you said that she saved you from drowning…this is the least I can do to say thank you for saving my brother.” She says with a smile.

 

The other teens look at each other before Joey holds out his arm too, “Den test me too.”

 

“And me.” Téa says as she holds out her arm, “Us too.” Duke and Tristian say together as they held out their arms. Yugi looks at his friends in shock and starts to tear up for a whole other reason, “You guys…” they looked at him with smiles on their face, “She’s our friend too and she’s your sister…that’s what friends are for.” He sobs softly at their words.

 

Seto turns to the doctor, “Get them tested as fast as you can, we don’t have time to waste. Mokuba and I are both 0 positive.” The doctor nods and is about to leave when he sees Roland and his other assistant approaching, having over heard the conversation. The two men holding out their arms too.

 

Kaiba looks at them confused before Roland speaks up, “Ms Muto and Mr. Muto saved my life sir…this is the least we can do.” The brunet nods as a few nurses arrive to start taking blood samples.

 

While everyone was getting blood drawn Seto left for his duel. There was nothing he could do now as they needed to wait for the tests to be done. He needed to keep his mind off of what happened and needed to focus on what he would do once he gets his hands on Marik…he was going to hang him with his own intestines while cutting out his heart and feeding it to him while he chokes on his own blood.

 

Téa sees the older Kaiba leaving; his little brother staying with the others…the girl felt a little bad for the guy. Sure he has been a jerk to them in the past and is still technically being jerk still but he was still hurting, he had suffered just as much as they all had…and now he was going off alone…

 

She turned to Joey and Tristian, telling them that they should go support Seto. When asked why, Téa said that he doesn’t have anyone to support him and he shouldn’t be alone during a time like this…and that she would burn Joey’s deck if he didn’t go. The boys took her threat to heart (well Joey did). They headed up to the top deck once they were done getting their blood drawn.

 

The deck had been quickly cleaned after what happened but Seto could still see the blood and his beloved there in his mind. He got onto the platform and waited for his opponent to arrive…who turned out to be Ishizu which was just making Seto’s anger even worse. How dare she take part in this after she was the one that had suggested this stupid tournament to begin with…(even though Seto was internally blaming himself for everything that had happened.) But he couldn’t focus on that now, he needed to defeat her so that he could face Marik and absolutely obliterate him…

 

He was surprised when Joey and Tristan arrived and started cheering him on. He didn’t need them there, he didn’t need anyone right now he needed to focus…but as he was duelling he kept seeing Lillian standing before him, blood everywhere…her dead eyes staring into his soul as she asked him why he let her die…he couldn’t focus on the duel and was making stupid mistakes, not seeing Ishizu’s trap…and things only got worse when Marik arrived and started throwing insults…

 

Something happened to him that never happened before…he started getting a panic attack…breathing heavily as his mind became overwhelmed by emotions and grief…everything that had happened in the past few weeks were just too much and behind it all he could hear his step-father laughing at him…

 

However…something strange occurred…the Millennium Rob activated and Seto felt his mind being pulled away…images flashing before his eyes…images of the past…images of the present…and then…

 

He found himself in his home office but it looked…different. He had kept it the same as his step-father had kept it, all though he had gotten rid of many of the things since moving in. But this…the walls were painted a blue colour, the dark wood bookshelves where replaced with white wood ones as well as his desk…the old books were replaced with figurines, awards and even photo frames…one of them looked like from a wedding…

 

But before he could get a closer look, the door opened and a little girl with brown hair, blue eyes and pale skin enters the room. She had to be around 4 or 5 and was dressed in a blue flower dress, hugging a Blue Eyes White Dragon plush. Her hair was tied in pigtails with blue ribbons…she had the sweetest little face with a few freckles on her upper cheeks and nose…

 

She looked so…familiar…he watches as the little girl giggles and runs over to the desk, hiding underneath. The tall brunet is confused for a moment before an older version of himself enters the room…he is wearing slacks and a white turtle neck sweater. He has a…smile on his face?

 

He looked around the office before noticing the child under his desk, playing dumb he starts to search the room, “I know where are you little spit fire?” the little girl tries to muffle a giggle as the other Seto approaches the desk, walking behind it before quickly kneeling down and grabbing the girl, the child squealing as he lifts her up and tickles her sides making her laugh, “Gotcha!” he smirks as she squirms and giggles happily, “Stop dada!” she kicks her little legs as the other Seto keeps playing with her before holding the child to his chest, smiling down at her.

 

‘What was going on? Who was the child? Was she…’ Seto thought to himself as he watched his other self and the girl…a moment later someone else steps into the room that takes Kaiba’s breath away…it was Lillian. her hair looked different, it was turquoise with purple tips, she was dressed in a long blue dress…her Blue eyes necklace around her neck and a matching ring on her finger…and her belly was rounded…she was pregnant??

 

She smiled as she walked over to the other Seto and kissed his cheek, “So is this where you two ran off to?” she smiled as she fixed the little girls dress before the child jumped into her arms, “Mama!” she giggles as she snuggles into Lilian’s arms. The other Seto shrugs and smiles as he wraps his arms around them both, “She wanted to play. What can I say? I can never say no to our little princess.” He ruffled the girls hair before resting his hand on Lillian’s pregnant belly, “And I’m sure this one will had us wrapped around his finger too.” Lillian shook her head and smiled as she looked at her husband lovingly, “I love you.”

 

The little girl looked at Seto, the resemblance now very clear…whatever this hallucination or vision was…one thing was clear…this was his daughter…this was his family…this was his future…

 

Seto found himself back on the platform with Ishizu…he reached into his pocket and pulled out Lillian’s necklace…starting at the pendant and thinking about her and the little girl he had seen in his vision…

 

He closed his fingers around the pendant…his fight returned and his determination restored, knowing that this was his future and he needed to fight for it…

[sesshy380-rp]

(continued from here)

Once their orders had been taken by the waiter (and a bit of a raised eyebrow from Ryou’s father when Ryou asked for Kat’s steak to be cooked rare), the conversation went pretty much as Marik had said it would. Ryou’s father inquired as to what made her decide to study in Domino, how the two met, and the like. Thankfully Marik had filled Ryou in on the story so there wouldn’t be any inconsistencies.

The story was that when searching for a place to study, her ‘cousin’ had suggested Domino since he had been thoroughly impressed with how nice the people in the area were when he first ‘visited’. Marik had introduced her to Ryou, and Ryou offered to help her get acquainted with the city. It was during that time they got to know one another, and eventually the two started dating.

Ryou’s father smiled and commented that the best finds are always the ones you weren’t looking for in the first place.

Then the topic moved on to one none of them had thought to prepare for.

“So what do your parents do for a living?”

Marik had prepared her for the man to try getting more information about the cult of Tomb Keepers, not what to say if this question came up. She wasn’t familiar enough with the professions of this era to just throw one out there, and she couldn’t very well just say ‘My father is a God of Death’.

“I decide who is in need of my guidance and help them face the challenges before them.”

Kat’s eyes grew large and the hairs on the back of her neck raised as she slowly turned her face towards the man that casually approached.

Ryou’s father eyeballed the unexpected guest.

“And you are?”

Piercing blue eyes that stood as a stark contrast to nearly ebony skin stared down.

“Apologies. I am Sanura’s father. I don’t mean to intrude on your meal, I only need a moment of my daughter’s time.”

Ryou’s father quickly stood and offered his hand to shake.

“Oh, no intrusion! I’m Ryou’s father. It’s a pleasure to meet you-...”

The blue eyes shifted down to the hand offered, then back up to the older man's face.

“Anubis.”

Ryou’s father blinked a few times, then laughed.

“Like the God! How interesting!”

Anubis smirked in amusement.

Ryou’s father still stood with his hand outstretched, but when it became obvious that the man in the finely tailored suit had no intention of shaking it, he awkwardly withdrew it.

“My apologies for not shaking your hand. Where I am from it is not a greeting, but a way to bind a contract between individuals.”

Ryou’s father seemed a bit perplexed, but smiled as though he hadn’t just been affronted.

“Please join us. I can call for someone to take your order,” he said, obviously trying to get on Anubis’ good side.

“I’m afraid I am only here to speak to my daughter, then I must be on my way. My line of work keeps me very busy.”

“...when was the last time you actually did your job?” Kat muttered bitterly.

Anubis’ gaze shifted over to her.

“Can we speak privately?”

Kat glanced around and found a spot not far away that they could talk, but still kept them in plain view of everyone. She’d gotten lucky with Set because she knew his temper was even quicker than hers. Anubis was far more patient, and making him leave alone would require a different approach.

She smiled politely and excused herself, pretending to ignore Ryou’s concerned expression.

((@nb-lesbian-tkb))

[thryth-gaming]

Modern Monsters for Modern Problems

In the last 10-15 years we've seen the rise of what has been called the gig economy. This came along with the promise of being a new way to fix your financial problems by just doing some small gigs on the side now and again. Or, hey, if you worked at it you might even be able to replace your full time job.

In truth, while I'm sure a few of the gig-based companies were founded by people that at least believed they had good intentions, in truth this has created a host of new problems. The people doing the job are classed as independent contractors and thus are responsible for handling their own taxes and insurance. They often use this to avoid workman's comp as well. The freelancers are not well vetted and the company does not take responsibility for crimes performed by the freelancers. Likewise, they will not take responsibility when crimes are committed against their freelancers.

I'm not the first person to make a game out of this new brand of faceless corporate abuse of the population. iHunt is already a TTRPG that handles this subject and one I've been meaning to pick up. Likewise, Phasmophobia and a small host of games based on its model have also used the gig-economy as a framing device for how they do things.

For Swipe-to-Slay, I decided to actually make the App itself part of the mystery. Perhaps it is well-intentioned, but it's definitely out-of-touch and there's some reason why the people running it don't want to meet their freelancers face-to-face.

Toward this end, I decided to have a mix of common people that have felt a bit forced into the monster hunting life due to the daily pressures of bills and survival alongside a professional monster-hunter who's a bit down on their luck and is monetizing their normal hunting. Alongside an oblivious fool and thinks this is all awesome.

MON$TER APP - Swipe to Slay

Style: Can't Escape

The App

Where did each hunter learn about the app?

Courtney Mendez and her grandfather received a spam email and were desperate.

Grady Simmons thought it was an ARG.

Mariketh's heard rumors about the app from other hunters.

Willy Siegrich had it recommended by his husband and sister-in-law.

Why did they start?

Courtney and her grandfather need the money.

Grady thinks it's amazing fun and is a way to protect his neighborhood.

Mariketh was asked to investigate by her sect.

Willy Siegrich hasn't been able to get the app to stop sending jobs.

What are the clients like?

Skeptical and Disbelieving

Often Dead

Grateful and Appreciative

Two Good things about the App:

Good Pay

Strong Communication

Two Bad things about the App:

Intrusive job requests

Uncaring "support" staff

Who do you suspect is behind the app?

Greedy tech-bro

Odin

Core Traits

Team Enemy: Saunders Enterprises, a corporation seeking to collect and control the supernatural.

Team Ally: Frank Keep, a computer security specialist who has been digging into the app and has concerns.

Team Move: Thanks for the Rating

Team Assets

Never Offline: Smartphones or other devices can always connect to the app even when your phone has no bars or internet. This includes the community forum and support line.

Inventory: A big stockpile of mundane gear that might come in handy during a hunt.

Courtney Mendez - The Covenant

Look: A professionally dressed hispanic woman with green-highlights in her hair and mild gothic make-up. She's often seen working along side her grandfather Thomas Raleigh, a bald white man who dresses in rural work-clothes.

Charm -1

Cool +1

Sharp +2

Tough +1

Weird +0

Covenant

Watson

Her grandfather, a 65 year old farmer named Thomas Raleigh

Moves

Basic Weird Move: Tradecraft

Moves: Smash Cut, Who said I was alone?

Gear

Smartphone

Plentiful wardrobe of socially appropriate clothes

Shotgun (3-harm close messy loud)

History

Grady was there the first time Courtney encountered a monster. Neither of them were veterans at the time and they only barely survived the job.

She and her grandfather are related to Mariketh by blood, being his grand-niece and her second cousin.

When Willy approached her about the App, she reluctantly took him on a job with her and Grady.

Courtney was never a wildly successful lawyer. She lacked the charisma and social confidence to be an effective litigator and thus mostly worked in contract law. Among other things, she could get away with some goth-touches to her look here and there. She found herself disbarred recently over an apparent mistake with on of Grady's problems. She honestly doesn't remember making the mistake she was accused of. Courtney and her grandfather have taken to the app to try to keep his farm going against the creditors.

Grady Simmons - The Crooked

Look: A flashy young-man with too-blonde hair and rippling muscles. He dresses with an eye for looking impressive and doesn't think much about whether his look is practical or not.

Charm +2

Cool +2

Sharp +1

Tough +1

Weird -1

Heat

Grady pissed off a well-connected chop-shop owner by robbing his shop and taking one of the cars on a joyride that got it tracked down by the police.

He discovered the supernatural when he clicked through on the spam email that informed him about the App.

Moves

Basic Weird Move: Trust Your Gut

Background: Pickpocket

Moves: Driver, Deal with the Devil: Skill (1 year countdown)

Gear

9mm (2-harm close loud)

Baseball Bat (1-harm hand)

Submachine Gun (2-harm close area reload)

History

Mariketh is Grady's moral compass. She's never been afraid to call him out when he steps over the line. He deliberately sabotaged the relationship with her due to his issue with the devil deal. He suspects that if he comes clean about why he pushed her away, he'll ruin the remains of their friendship as well. Especially since she's a professional mystic.

Courtney used to help Grady with some legal advice, including recommending a litigator for his frequent court cases. He blames himself for her getting dis-barred. He tries to get her anything she and her grandfather need within his skills ability to grab.

Grady is finding himself repeating mistakes with regards to Willy. He's powerfully attracted to the man and like Mariketh, Willy is a deeply moral and kind person. Instead of going through the bother of sabotaging the relationship, he's just trying to keep it from getting started.

Grady is a trouble-maker that has a long history of ruining relationships and stirring up trouble with the cops and local criminals. It's amazing that he's not dead yet. This might have something to do with the deal he made that he's given up on solving. He didn't know what he was getting the problem fixed and instead just is doing what he can to be a problem for the worst people while keeping the best people at arms length.

Willy Seigrich - The Wronged

Look: A burly looking, bearded man who looks perpetually tired. He is generally calm and soft-spoken which makes his capacity for violence that much more disturbing.

Charm +1

Cool +0

Sharp +1

Tough +2

Weird -1

Loss

My Prey: Rilligan, a demon that his husband and sister-in-law took on a job to deal with.

At fault because he was in denial. He didn't think the app was serious.

Moves

Basic Weird Move: Warding

Moves: I Know My Prey, NEVER AGAIN, Safety First

Gear

Protective Gear (2-armour due to Safety First)

Rune enscribed Shovel (4-harm hand against Demons, 1-harm hand against other enemies, innocuous, useful)

Hunting Rifle (2-harm far loud)

9mm (2-harm close loud)

Birthday cards from his dead husband and sister-in-law.

History

He saved Grady's life when Grady was first getting into monster-hunting on the MON$TER App. A necromancer had set a trap and one of Grady's wards blocked the spell from taking hold.

Mariketh is younger than him, but helped him get started learning the ropes on fighting and magic. He's surpassed her in battle but is still lagging as a beginner on magic. The fact that she's partially not-human was surprising, but he's dealt with that.

Courtney used to handle his and his husband's legal issues until she got dis-barred. He respects her knowledge and expertise.

When he originally heard about the app, it sounded like a goofy video game thing. So, when his husband went off to try it out with his sister-in-law, he didn't really have any interest in the whole thing. It was the last time he saw them alive... or in a single piece. He's now looking into the app in hopes of figuring out who's putting this in the hands of unwitting people and maybe find the demon that killed his family along the way.

Mariketh - The Initiate

Look: A pale young woman with a serious expression often concealed behind a jet-black badger mask. She carries several talismans and golden spear.

Charm -1

Cool +1

Sharp +0

Tough +1

Weird +2

The Sect

Those Who Seek Peace

Good Traditions: Non-Human Integration, Like Family

Bad Traditions: Poor

Those Who Seek Peace are a group of inter-related humans and various spirits who make an effort to address the root causes of conflict between the human and inhuman. They've found that many of the root causes are down to socio-economic issues leaving them handling the symptoms and having difficulty gaining the traction they need to actually solve anything. They're a collection of old families, sure, but none of them have much money.

Moves

Basic Weird Move: Use Magic

Moves: Sect Move, That Old Black Magic, Ancient Fighting Arts, Mystic

Gear

Old-Fashioned Armour (1-armour)

Spear (2-harm hand close)

Silver Knife (1-harm hand silver)

Sniper Rifle (3-harm far)

History

Courtney Mendez is a lay member of her sect. Her mother has retired from hunting due to health reasons, but did pass on the information to the Sect. Courtney and Mariketh view each other as cousins.

Mariketh and Willy met while Willy was looking into magic. She helped him with the runes to permanently enchant his shovel for killing demons.

Grady is her ex-boyfriend. His recklessness and obliviousness eventually ruined the relationship. They still care about each other's well-being but the romance is truly dead. She is still mystified about how much he changed so suddenly. Like he just decided to be a jerk one day.

Mariketh is a mystic warrior from a long line of mystic warriors. There's never really many of them in any particular place, most of the family tends to go off to live mild and normal lives. But she's one of the set that sees it as a duty to try and protect good people, mortal and supernatural both, from the evils of the world. She was the last to join the app of the group, but after hearing about the others getting involved, she was already thinking about it. Being officially told by her sect to investigate the matter finished the matter.

Back the new books here:

[sesshy380]

Crackfic part 5

This is it people. All caught up until I decide to add to it. Usually created at random during moments of longfic writing insanity. I guess you can call it a coping mechanism for a coping mechanism.

Title: Talking with Myself...Attack of the Kudosbot https://archiveofourown.org/works/44136519

Summary: ♪ Come with me...and you will see...a world of depression and anxi-ety...

[Yami Bakura is doing what he does best: Creating vivid scenes on paper in various shades of red]

[Yami Bakura suddenly senses something disturbing: Silence]

[Yami Bakura slowly makes his way over to Author's desk. Strangely, there is no Author]

Y.Bakura: Weird…

[Yami Bakura shrugs]

Y.Bakura: I guess that explains the lack of sound. So odd not hearing those little keys tapping.

[Yami Bakura makes his way over to Ryou’s space. Ryou is flying around gleefully with the wings Author gave him. No Author though]

[Yami Bakura hesitantly makes his way over to where Marik and Yami Marik are. They are rehearsing their lines for an upcoming chapter. Still no Author]

[Yami Bakura grumbles as he looks in on Atem and Yugi. They are playing a friendly game of Duel Monsters. No Author in sight]

[Yami Bakura wanders over to the background characters. He ignores whatever they are doing. He starts to become concerned at the lack of Author]

[Yami Bakura looks over towards ‘Them’...the OC’s. He shudders. He quickly scans through them and heaves a sigh of relief at finding no Author among them]

Y.Bakura: Okay, this is a long shot, but has anyone seen the Author?

[Yami Bakura quickly points at the group of OC’s]

Y.Bakura: Except you guys. Please don’t say anything. Better yet, don’t even look this way. You creep me out.

[The group of unloved OC’s hang their heads and wander away]

[Yami Marik approaches]

Y.Marik: I saw Author in her room. You might want to check there.

[Yami Bakura has to look up to see Yami Marik’s face because Author made Yami Marik 6’3”]

Y.Bakura: What’s she doing in there? She’ll never finish her stupid longfic lounging around in bed all day.

Y.Marik: Drowning in anxiety and depression.

[Yami Bakura snickers and grins]

Y.Bakura: Let me guess: Someone finally told her that her longfic sucks and she should delete it? Oh! Better yet! They told her Hateshipping sucks and that she should let me kill the Pharaoh!

[Yami Marik stares boredly down at Yami Bakura]

Y.Marik: Nope. Her longfic got hit by the Kudosbot for a third time. She did the math. Out of the 126 Kudos she’s received, less than 20 are from actual readers…out of 270 hits.

[Yami Bakura is visibly confused]

Y.Bakura: So…what I’m hearing is that there are approximately 20 nutjobs that actually like what she’s writing…right?

[Yami Marik uses the god-like strength Author gave him to pick up Yami Bakura by the scruff of the neck like a kitten. He carries Yami Bakura to Author’s room, where she has become a human burrito]

[Author is wrapped in her favorite blanket and staring depressingly at her phone]

[Yami Bakura feels something in his chest that people keep referring to as his ‘Heart’. He suddenly clutches his chest]

Y.Bakura: Oh no! I’m having a ‘Feelings’ attack! Quick! Fetch me the Pharaoh so I can focus on wanting to kill him!

[Author lifts her head and spots the two Yami’s. A lightbulb appears over her head as she begins to grin in a maddening way]

[Yami Bakura notices the creepy look on Author’s face. He is suddenly more terrified than when he saw her writing smut between him and Atem]

[Author casts aside her burrito shell/blanket and rushes over to squeeze the life out of Yami Bakura]

Author: You! Why didn’t I think of it sooner!?! You can get rid of the Kudosbot!

[Yami Bakura is somewhat worried]

Y.Bakura: Uh…Author? You’re doing that thing where you’re spewing out nonsense.

[Author grabs Yami Bakura by the face and appears very serious all of the sudden]

Author: Murder Fluff, I have a very important mission for you. I need you to track down a rogue webcrawler called Kudosbot…and I need you to KILL IT.

[Yami Bakura stares blankly]

Y.Bakura: Webcrawler? You mean like Spider-Man?

[Author scowls in irritation]

Author: Not that kind of web you moron! I’m referring to the internet! I need you to travel through the internet and find this thing and kill it!

[Yami Bakura is a bit worried for Author’s mental state]

Y.Bakura: I like the line of thinking you’ve obviously got going here, but there’s one problem: I don’t have the ability to actually travel through digital space and kill rogue programs.

[Author melts into an amorphous blob of anxiety and depression]

Author: Then there’s no hope…and it means my stats will probably keep getting messed up…and I know I’m writing for ‘Me’, but sometimes I just want validation…

[Yami Bakura groans as he feels to the compulsion to be ‘Nice’]

Y.Bakura: Your story isn’t…‘bad’…

[Yami Bakura tries not to vomit]

Author: It’s not ‘good’ either…

[Yami Bakura is irritated]

Y.Bakura: Screw what the internet thinks! If they think they can do better, then THEY should try writing! They have no idea the level of insanity it takes to do what you do! I bet THEY wouldn’t be able to put me and the Pharaoh in the same room and make it where I somehow want to kiss him instead of kill him!

[Yami Bakura stops to take a quick breath before continuing]

Y.Bakura: Do you think THEY could think of making an entity created from pure hatred into a 6 foot 3 asexual that is the equivalent of the Cowardly Lion with massive amounts of PTSD? Or make me into someone that can be ‘nice’? Or think up that mentally unstable and bipolar OC that just wants to be loved?

[Author blob is on the verge of tears]

Author: I know…everything I come up with sucks…

[Yami Bakura glances boredly at the reader for a moment, then returns his focus to Author]

Y.Bakura: If everything you write ‘sucks’, then why is there some weirdo reading this?

Author:...macabre curiosity?...masochism?...they clicked on the wrong link?

[Yami Bakura throws his hands up in exasperation]

Y.Bakura: I give up! I tried!

[Yami Bakura storms off to go back to creating vivid crayon depictions of him killing Atem]

[Yami Marik stares down at Author and smiles]

Y.Marik: I like your stuff. You’ve given me some great lines. I really liked the ‘Burgers are salad’ bit. I agree with the argument that if it has lettuce, it counts as a salad.

[Author blob’s tears aren’t sad anymore, they are happy]

Author: Really? You like my writing?

Y.Marik: Yup! Your writing started out a bit rough, but I can see how much you’ve improved. Your story doesn’t look nearly as ‘pantsed’, as you put it. I can see a lot of the plot points, and I enjoy all the subtle details and hidden meanings you’ve been including.

[Author has reformed and is no longer and amorphous blob]

[Author gives Yami Marik a hug]

Author: Awww…thank you Psycho Fluff! I will make you super psychotic in my Eldritch AU!

Y.Marik: Really?! That would be awesome! Can I talk in that weird Eldritch text?

Author: Sure! That sounds fun!

[Author and Yami Marik walk out of Author’s room, excitedly discussing Eldritch AU]