[OPEN] Lately I am in over my head...

[denyamenti]

Characters: Bakura, Antarcticite, Pepper + open starters to be added
Date: Month of October
Location: Various
Situation: Catchall of Bakura's return to Aifaran after being lost in the Dreaming for the last two months.
Warnings/Rating: TBD


A. CLOSED TO ANTARCTICITE; Oct 5

The docks of Aifaran are always busy, as any major city's port is wont to be, but there were still many tucked away places where it wasn't uncommon for things to get passed over unless they were specifically being looked for. Thus it was at least a few hours before someone noticed that a formerly empty stack of crates had been disturbed and was now "occupied" by a sprawled form. The dock workers that found him had a good laugh at the Dreamfolk that they originally thought had simply had too much to drink and stumbled into the warehouse to sleep it off. But when they were unsuccessful in rousing him, only getting heavily disoriented reactions from the thief, the dock workers finally decided they'd better call someone.

"Hey," the Castian worker said, approaching Antarcticite upon noticing them nearby. "We found one of your lot in a state, inside the warehouse there. You know if there's a Dreamfolk-specific site we should take him, or just any medical clinic will work?"

B. CLOSED TO PEPPER

After Bakura's discharge from the medical center, it's easy enough to find a ride back to their townhouse. Although overall he's quiet during the trip, he seems relatively alert, a vast improvement from when Antarcticite. He's enjoying the tang of cooler temperature in the air, looking around at all the decorations that have sprung up around the city. "Some things never change..."

C. OPEN - WANDERING ► Around Aifaran; Oct 8th and onward

It takes a few days after his return before Bakura's reliably back on his feet, before the disorientation quells enough that he doesn't feel like he's walking around in a fog. The cool air is good for him in any case, and he's not sorry he missed the drizzle of rains from the month prior. The harvest-themed festivities are an amusement, though he seems to have a more adverse reaction to the Night Fisher plushes than mere disdain for stuffed animals would imply.

"I said no, you dim-witted walking boulder," Bakura snarled out, annoyed at the repeated wheedling of a shopkeeper to get him to buy one. The Ring glows, magically shoving the Sinayg back, heavy bulk and all, against the wall. Unnoticed by him, a thin stream of black mist followed the words out of his mouth as he spoke, and disappeared.

D. OPEN - AUTUMN FRIGHTS ► Around Aifaran; Oct 10th and onward

His temper does seem to improve the longer he's back in Aifaran, and even a few days makes a marked difference. Enough so that when he overhears a small group of youths arguing about which monsters are scariest, he knows just how to settle the debate: with a demonstration.

"If monsters are what you want..." he says leadingly, and calls up a corporeal Mad Reloader in all its beastly glory. The youths are alternately frightened and impressed, and the previous argument is immediately taken over with dares of who is going to be brave enough to run back up and touch the creature.

E. WILDCARD

Ping me at sojourney if you'd like something else for a starter, or jump in with your own.

Comments

[acicular]

"...one of your lot..."

Is it any wonder that, given the short amount of time Antarcticite has spent in Aifaran, that their first thought is not of another newly arrived Dreamer, but of another gem? They stare back at the Castian worker in dumbstruck silence for a moment before squaring their shoulders and giving a firm nod towards the warehouse.

"Let me see them," they reply--not exactly imperiously, but with an air of surety that suggests they are comfortable taking control when the situation calls for it. Then, more seriously, "Have they broken any piece of themselves?"

[denyamenti]

Antarcticite's surety assures the Castian worker that fetching another Dreamfolk was the right call, although their phrasing of the question throws him a little. "Broken? Uhh... no, he didn't seem injured at all. Really out of it though, we thought he was drunk at first."

[acicular]

"Drunk?" Antarcticite blinks. Well that is unusual--had the Dreaming somehow granted gems the ability to drink, or eat food? (More to the point, why hadn't Rutile or Padparadscha told them about this yet?)

They give their head a little shake and then motion to the warehouse, already walking in that direction. "I may not be able to help them better than Rutile or the medical staff--but I will try."

[denyamenti]

The other dock workers have gotten the person in question sitting up by the time Antarcticite arrives, and he does seem groggy enough that their assumption of his being inebriated isn't much of a stretch. Bakura's trying to wave them off hovering though, albeit not very effectively since he's terribly disoriented and looking as though he's seeing double the number of Castians standing in front of him than the are in reality.

Antarcticite gets a similarly hazy stare as Bakura tries to place them. "Who're you?"

[acicular]

"Who're you?"

That makes two of them.

Antarcticite stares back at Bakura blankly for a moment or two more, heedless of any strange looks or comments the Castians may be directing their way. No, they realize with a sinking sensation, this person is not a gem. A moment later and they swiftly chastise themselves for their disappointment; what are they thinking? They're with the Sentry now!

They square their shoulders and take a step forward. "I'm Antarcticite," they reply. "Do you know where you are?"

[denyamenti]

"Antarcticite," Bakura echoes, staring at the gem blearily. "Somewhere on the docks I'd guess, if the smell is anything to go by."

Some of the Castians snort in amusement at that, but seeing the situation in hand, have begun to wander back toward their duties before their foreman catches them lollygagging.

Bakura tries to get to his feet, but overbalanced and dizzy, doesn't quite make it.

[acicular]

The snickering Castians receive a sharply reproving look from Antarcticite, but the expression doesn’t seem to hold much sway with them. Already they’ve turned their back on the two Dreamfolk to return to their work.

Whatever muttered rebuke may be on their lips, they forget it as soon as Bakura struggles to his feet and wobbles, nearly tipping back over. “Ah--hey! Careful,” they say, and step over to him in two easy strides. They hesitate for only a moment before offering a gloved hand down towards him. (If any cracks or fissures appear in their structure, well, that’s why they brought the glue along.)

[denyamenti]

There's a minute hesitation before Bakura accepts the offered hand, though Antarcticite could hardly know it had nothing to do with them. Using the new leverage, he does get to his feet this time, giving a slow exhale as if that will make the warehouse around him stop spinning.

"How long have I been gone," he asked.

B

[lasergrenades]

Pepper is trying very, very hard not to ask Bakura how he's feeling every five minutes, to not hover or fret too much. She's probably going to have to restrain herself for a little while yet, and hopefully Bakura won't mind if she's a bit clingy. Having him return uninjured and with all of his memories was almost too much to hope for, and accounts for her broad grin as much as the urge to cry (again, there had definitely been crying at the medical center) as they head home.

And it's properly home now that he's back. "Yep. Including the candy - there's a bunch of specialty kinds they only make this time of year." Bakura is much steadier, but all the same Pepper is right at his side when they traverse the short walk between the coach and the door. "We should get some to celebrate, but later, when you've had a chance to rest. And I can catch you up on what's happened while you were gone."

Oh dear. So many words want to happen. Inside, the townhouse is relatively tidy. Everything is the same as Bakura will remember, save the blankets and pillows to indicate Pepper has been sleeping on the couch rather then the bed. "Are you hungry? I can make something."

[denyamenti]

Convincing the medical staff to discharge him hadn't been as difficult as he'd feared, since he wasn't injured and the worst of the disorientation symptoms had receded by the time Pepper had arrived to claim him.

"That sounds good," he agreed. "They had spicy ones over the winter, perhaps they've made similar ones this time."

His eyes sweep across the room once they're inside, noting everything, settling on the couch for a moment longer than the other areas. Bakura puts his arm around her and tugs her closer. "You know I wouldn't have minded," is all he says, but the rebuke is so mild it can hardly be called such.

[lasergrenades]

For a moment Pepper is quiet, resting her head on his shoulder and savoring the closeness. She already knew what she had to lose before Bakura disappeared, but it's a bit more poignant now.

"Yeah, I know. It was just easier to sleep down here," she explained. "Bed's kinda big for one person."

Eventually, Pepper would have probably started sleeping upstairs again, assuming she didn't decide a townhouse was too big for one person and found a smaller place. But neither of those things are on the table any longer. Mental notes are made about a candy shopping list that includes all of Bakura's favorite flavors.

Her determined lean turns into a proper hug. She's trying not to be too clingy, promise. "Welcome home."

[denyamenti]

"Well, we did get a purposely spacious one," he teases gently, and he returns the hug when she gives him one. A little bit of clingy is appreciated, no matter how he might huff about it when in public.

"Thank you, biahbenat," he replied quietly, wrapping his arms around her. "I am glad to be back." To Aifaran, to being alive, and to Pepper herself.

[lasergrenades]

Pepper will be more than happy to utilize all that space again in short order. The fact that he doesn't even blink at this being home helps most of the heartache of missing him go away.

After a moment or five, she shifted far enough back to kiss him, because she can and because she will never pass up an opportunity to show him simple affection. Eventually, one of them will not return and Pepper is enormously grateful that it isn't today. "Well," she begins at length, "should we go upstairs and take advantage of that? Pretty sure the doctor said something about making sure you rest."

Whatever definition of 'rest' they choose to interpret; Pepper just wants the closeness.

D

[squidiot]

Kai's getting ready to join the group to argue (it's totally Maws...she'd been splatted by that thing popping out of the ground more often than she'd like to admit) when an actual monster suddenly appears! She yelps and draws her Dualies, training them on the creature.

And shoots it with some viscous green ink.

As you do.

[denyamenti]

The Mad Reloader was clearly not expecting to be attacked without there being another Duel Monster in sight, and it's bony wings flick in all directions as it tries to dislodge the gunk it just got covered in. Its long tongue trying to swipe it off its face, looking so out of depth that the assembled youths start cracking up, and even Bakura looks amused.

"I suppose that it one way to distract it."

[squidiot]

"Why is-- why is there a monster?!" Kai yelps. It didn't splat! It doesn't even seem too bothered, either! "Even for this place, that's weird!"

She's still tense, Dualies at the ready. Dualies for a Duel-ie? If that thing makes one false move, she'll spray it with as much ink as she can.

[denyamenti]

"Because I called it up, obviously," Bakura answered, amused at her reaction. Seeing people reacting to living Duel Monsters never gets old - and he's been known to summon them specifically for that reason. "This one is called the Mad Reloader. Why is it any more strange than anything else here?"

[squidiot]

"'Cause monsters don't usually pop out of nothing!" she said huffily. "And it's not like I'm new to big scary stuff that wants to splat you!" The Octarians were weird, but not too scary. DJ Octavio's creations, though...especially that flying showerhead. That thing had almost splatted her more than she cared to think about.