Event Log: A Hope for the Future

[hadrielmods]

Who: All characters participating in the event
What: The event log for the A Hope for the Future event
Where: All over the city!
When: April 15th-April 19th
Warnings: Stealth Rock

It's finally time to reap the rewards you've earned from all that hard work collecting and returning the Hope orbs! Be careful walking the streets during the small earthquakes, but feel free to admire the scenery as your beautiful city reassembles its way back into its former glory.

There are new houses where the destroyed buildings once were, and they're perfect for a single person or pair of lovebirds. In addition, you'll find that the electricity to these new houses, and all other homes and shops in the city is restored. The food is better, the monsters are gone- hey, this city might be livable again!

To cap it all off, we've got a feast waiting for you on the 19th! Come one, come all, and enjoy all of your favorite foods, drinks, and party games. It's been awhile since we've all gotten together to celebrate something good, so get your party on and toss all your troubles away!

► This log covers April 14th-April 19th.
► Feel free to make your own logs as well!
► Please tag headers of threads with content warnings where they apply
► Please put your character's name and open/closed in the subject line of your starters!
► If you get hit by levitating rubble or eat a food that wasn't meant for you, please let us know here.

Comments

[allthecards]

[First "weak" and now "inferior". He knew that's what Atem had always actually thought, no matter what he might have said of there being more to life than winning.
Winners were at the top, everyone else was nothing. Atem kept making him forget that.

Everything was a game and everything had a winner; including this conversation. He'd given his opponent too much ammunition to use against him. Fortunately he had his own supply. ]

What about you, Yugi? Afraid you can't face me on your own? You already sent a new mutt after me. Who else have you replaced?

[puzzlingly]

「That makes this one laugh. It's not a gentle one.」

Why do you feel so threatened by my friends, Seto? Is that jealously?

[allthecards]

[The laugh is met with the smirk reserved for activating a trap card]

Threatened? Try annoyed that they were always in my way when I tried to challenge you.

Here I thought now that you'd finally abandoned them I'd have a chance to face you without anyone howling in the background.

[puzzlingly]

「What kind of trap card is that, buddy? He meets that smirk with one of his own, a far less gentle one than the one he's always given him.」

Hah... You keep making it about yourself. I have news for you, Kaiba. The world does not gravitate around you. Correct me if I'm wrong but... It's you who were looking to settle that score, weren't you?

「You're but another little planet.」

So... Why are you still standing there?

[allthecards]

[He stands there, meeting his stare. this wasn't a duel, so why did it feel like his life points had just hit zero. There was nothing he could say to that. No more trap cards. No more attacks. Just the need to leave with the scraps of his dignity so he could battle another day.]

Hmpf. There is nothing for me here.

[His coat flares out dramatically behind him as he turns around to leave. ]

Don't contact me again if you're not in a fit state to duel. There's nothing else I need from you.

[puzzlingly]

「There is a hot second in which Atem's smirk intensifies into something more cruel, a brief glimpse of ghost of his past taking over before Kaiba speaks again. And then, hopefully the CEO will not see the hurt in those eyes as he turns.

He doesn't need him, he hates him...
Only Seto Kaiba could send him into this disarray of mixed feelings of self doubt, pity and anger.

He sees him turning, leaving... He goes for a desperate attempt of just making him stay」

Haha... Aren't you tired, Kaiba? Always running away form your past, from who you are! And for what?! Just tell me, how has that worked for you so far?!

「Hmm, sharing a living space for a few months with the Spirit of the Ring might have rubbed on him in the end, or maybe he's always been like this... Bakura was onto him from the beginning, we are not so different, you and I. There he goes again, grabbing another glass of wine. What's the absolute worst that it could happen now anyway? He hates him... Why not give him a real reason to do so?」

[allthecards]

[He stops mid step at those words. He stared straight ahead, but stood taller so his words could easily be heard behind his back.]

Only you could think that running towards the future is the same thing as running from the past.

The past doesn't change. Instead of worrying about me, ask how standing still is working for you.

[puzzlingly]

Is that so? And what future is that? Enlighten me. You cannot even let go of me being gone.

「That's what bothered him so much, wasn't it? He said it himself.」

Is it that stupid title you are still after? Only when you have it you would truly get what you wanted, wasn't it? Well, you're in luck today! You can have it! I never cared about it anyway.

「He ignores the rest, why would Kaiba even care about how he was handling things anyway.」

[allthecards]

What the hell would you know?! You have no idea what I have and have not been able to accomplish because you chose the past over the future!

[Now he turns around to shout directly at him. There was some truth to his words which just made it worse. He'd blown up his last anchor to the past at Battle City, only to be tied to another without even realizing it.

There was no way he was going to admit to any of that.]

I reject your challenge. I'm not going to disrespect my deck by dueling with someone who won't even remember this tomorrow.

[puzzlingly]

「In which universe did he think this would be better than letting him just go? It hurts, his words hurt, and yet, he keeps at it.」

I could say the same, Kaiba. You don't have any idea of who I am and you never cared. All you wanted was to satisfy your wounded ego.

「He laughs.」

What challenge?! I am just giving you back what you've only ever wanted from me, just take it, it is the only way you will have it anyway! You're never going to beat me.

「Kaiba is probably right, he will not remember this, but it doesn't change the fact he will feel terrible about it.」

[allthecards]

[Kaiba is surprised to realize that what he's feeling towards Atem right now is disappointment. The realization deflates him entirely. If he could be disappointing that meant he still expected something from him. Why did this disappointment hurt?

As always, he doesn't know how to deal with it. He just knew he had to leave. If he stayed another second he was going to punch him in the face.]

I accept. The title doesn't belong with a drunken fool.

[He locks eyes with Atem for a moment before turning away again for the final time. He calls back over his shoulder.]

I'll hold on to it until you're worthy of it again.

[puzzlingly]

「Drunken fool... It takes him aback for a moment, just to disregard it with a scoff. He expected more fire than that, but all he gets is this hurt face looking at him. He doesn't like it, but at least he doesn't have to hold that stare for long.」

You do that, rich scrub.

「The mocking tone wavers as he raises his glass at him. Not that Kaiba can see it anymore.

This is so not what he wanted... he didn't want to hurt him, and yet, his heart pounds furiously. He had to give it to him, only the CEO could do that to him. He doesn't dare to look up and see him leave.」