Wandering the streets of Domino.

Bakura's house

lostinhishead​:

shadowgodling​:

lostinhishead​:

shadowgodling​:

Godling narrowed his eyes and folded his arms, looking like his glare could eat a hole right through Ryoh.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m not going to torture you. You’re not mine to make that decision for, and even if you were I don’t really like doing that to hosts anyway. We were made to work together, not to fight each other.”

“When I offered to be your friend I meant it. I’m a God, I can do a lot of things to help you and make you happy. But I’ll only do it if you man up and come to grips with the purpose you were made for. You’re not like other humans. You’re special. You’re above them.”

“To claim that would be a betrayal of my players,” Ryoh protested. “I don’t want to have been made for a purpose. I want to have been made because I’m me. You - you’re talking like Zorc again.” He shook his head, throat tight. “You can’t make me happy by hurting people. That’s my ‘purpose,’ right? To be taken over by someone else and to hurt people. I don’t want that and I’ll never agree to that!”

“There’s that entitlement again. You think you get to choose how and why you were made? Do you think you’re better than doing your duty like everyone else is?” He scoffed and smoothed his scarf. “Well, I am his creation.”

“And no, your mission is to help people. Different people. For someone who likes making game stories and lore so much you don’t seem to know any of your own.”

Again, something plainly false that Ryoh stood no chance of arguing against.

“I’m not going to ‘help someone’ hurt someone,” he said tightly. “You’re not going to convince me. So what else are you going to do to me?”

He wasn’t looking for punishment. If they had a confrontation now, Ryoh wouldn’t have to worry about it lurking around every corner.

“Right. Because that’s exactly what I meant.” Godling glared, the room darkening as his anger drew out shadows. Maybe he was foolish to have hope, every time he tried to reach out it was thrown back in his face

“You’re the eternal victim in everything and everyone else is a bunch of evil dark monsters who only exist to hurt people, is that it? How predictable. You’re more like my host than I thought, and that’s not a good thing. How many times have I ever done anything other than talk to you?”

“If I were a victim, why would I bother trying to protect anyone?” Ryoh bit back. “You’re talking by threatening to stalk me! You’re demanding I act like a servant! I have never, ever, taken up space in someone’s life without regretting it. I have never made anyone responsible for me!” He left anyone the moment he thought he was a danger. He’d lived on the streets because he didn’t want to impose. Ryoh had refused to play that role no matter how much people tried to thrust it on him.

He would be jumping at shadows for a while after this, only discovering the theft of his tea later in the day as he cleaned up behind them.

lostinhishead​:

Ryoh took in a breath to steady himself. 

He hadn’t abandoned anyone. He knew that. But Godling had just mentioned helping the Voice. If Godling was stating this as fact, Ryoh wasn’t going to be able to convince him otherwise. He didn’t try.

“I think,” he said, still not turning around, “You and I have very different ideas about friendship.”

“I can see that.” Ugh. Why was every host associated with Cagey so frustrating? Maybe he found it funny, Godling found it annoying.

“Believe it or not I understand your position. Being in service to a higher power can be daunting. Denying it won’t make it better for you. Call me when you’ve thought it over. I’ll hear you. I’ll be watching.”

So much toxicity around that single word friend as Godling used it. So much of a threat. That was certainly familiar.

“You’re threatening me.” He tried to tread lightly, as if somehow they could actually part without hurting the other, but his voice rose without meaning to. “When I talk about my friends, you say that I’m torturing them - treating them like pets. Then you ask if I’d be your friend, implying that I’d be tortured too. All so we could together serve the person who made them like this in the first place! Yes, they’re being tortured, but not by me!” He shook his head, eyes pinched shut. “It’s not unreasonable for me to say ‘no’ to that! 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m not going to torture you. You’re not mine to make that decision for, and even if you were I don’t really like doing that to hosts anyway. We were made to work together, not to fight each other.”

“I’m not going to ‘help someone’ hurt someone,” he said tightly. “You’re not going to convince me. So what else are you going to do to me?”

lostinhishead​:

Ryoh took in a breath to steady himself. 

He hadn’t abandoned anyone. He knew that. But Godling had just mentioned helping the Voice. If Godling was stating this as fact, Ryoh wasn’t going to be able to convince him otherwise. He didn’t try.

“I think,” he said, still not turning around, “You and I have very different ideas about friendship.”

“I can see that.” Ugh. Why was every host associated with Cagey so frustrating? Maybe he found it funny, Godling found it annoying.

“Believe it or not I understand your position. Being in service to a higher power can be daunting. Denying it won’t make it better for you. Call me when you’ve thought it over. I’ll hear you. I’ll be watching.”

So much toxicity around that single word friend as Godling used it. So much of a threat. That was certainly familiar.

“You’re threatening me.” He tried to tread lightly, as if somehow they could actually part without hurting the other, but his voice rose without meaning to. “When I talk about my friends, you say that I’m torturing them - treating them like pets. Then you ask if I’d be your friend, implying that I’d be tortured too. All so we could together serve the person who made them like this in the first place! Yes, they’re being tortured, but not by me!” He shook his head, eyes pinched shut. “It’s not unreasonable for me to say ‘no’ to that! 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m not going to torture you. You’re not mine to make that decision for, and even if you were I don’t really like doing that to hosts anyway. We were made to work together, not to fight each other.”

lostinhishead​:

Ryoh took in a breath to steady himself. 

He hadn’t abandoned anyone. He knew that. But Godling had just mentioned helping the Voice. If Godling was stating this as fact, Ryoh wasn’t going to be able to convince him otherwise. He didn’t try.

“I think,” he said, still not turning around, “You and I have very different ideas about friendship.”

“I can see that.” Ugh. Why was every host associated with Cagey so frustrating? Maybe he found it funny, Godling found it annoying.

“Believe it or not I understand your position. Being in service to a higher power can be daunting. Denying it won’t make it better for you. Call me when you’ve thought it over. I’ll hear you. I’ll be watching.”

So much toxicity around that single word friend as Godling used it. So much of a threat. That was certainly familiar.

“You’re threatening me.” He tried to tread lightly, as if somehow they could actually part without hurting the other, but his voice rose without meaning to. “When I talk about my friends, you say that I’m torturing them - treating them like pets. Then you ask if I’d be your friend, implying that I’d be tortured too. All so we could together serve the person who made them like this in the first place! Yes, they’re being tortured, but not by me!” He shook his head, eyes pinched shut. “It’s not unreasonable for me to say ‘no’ to that! 

lostinhishead​:

shadowgodling​:

“I .. can understand that. Zorc is very complicated. Even when you were made from him.” He said, the most he’d let himself speak down to his creator in front of a host. Particularly a host he was just getting to know better.

“You likely won’t have to see him again anyway. But you will see me again. .. Maybe you should make a me piece for your game.”

Ryoh hesitated. 

“…I’m not confident that you wouldn’t break my pieces.” The only reason to put Godling in a game was, of course, if he were a player. “Or that you would be willing to submit to me as a Game Master. If any of my friends were harmed by you taking a game too seriously, that would be my fault. It’s a collaborative game where you would play alongside humans as equals. I doubt you’d be interested.”

“I don’t mean as a player. Is Zorc sitting at your table too? No, I’d be a boss piece. Or just an npc. I’d be much more handsome than most of your bosses probably.” He pictured it with a small smile.

“I don’t play games with humans like that. I’m an observer, not a participant.”

“Ah. I thought not.” Ryoh shook his head. 

“Please leave my home,” he said as quietly as he dared. Each word was said slowly and precisely. “I didn’t invite you in.”

“I don’t need to be invited in. Darkness is the natural state of all places.” He took every shadow as a permanent invitation, a warm welcome to him.

He hadn’t abandoned anyone. He knew that. But Godling had just mentioned helping the Voice. If Godling was stating this as fact, Ryoh wasn’t going to be able to convince him otherwise. He didn’t try.

lostinhishead​:

shadowgodling​:

“I .. can understand that. Zorc is very complicated. Even when you were made from him.” He said, the most he’d let himself speak down to his creator in front of a host. Particularly a host he was just getting to know better.

“You likely won’t have to see him again anyway. But you will see me again. .. Maybe you should make a me piece for your game.”

Ryoh hesitated. 

“…I’m not confident that you wouldn’t break my pieces.” The only reason to put Godling in a game was, of course, if he were a player. “Or that you would be willing to submit to me as a Game Master. If any of my friends were harmed by you taking a game too seriously, that would be my fault. It’s a collaborative game where you would play alongside humans as equals. I doubt you’d be interested.”

“I don’t mean as a player. Is Zorc sitting at your table too? No, I’d be a boss piece. Or just an npc. I’d be much more handsome than most of your bosses probably.” He pictured it with a small smile.

“I don’t play games with humans like that. I’m an observer, not a participant.”

“Ah. I thought not.” Ryoh shook his head. 

“Please leave my home,” he said as quietly as he dared. Each word was said slowly and precisely. “I didn’t invite you in.”

lostinhishead​:

shadowgodling​:

“I .. can understand that. Zorc is very complicated. Even when you were made from him.” He said, the most he’d let himself speak down to his creator in front of a host. Particularly a host he was just getting to know better.

“You likely won’t have to see him again anyway. But you will see me again. .. Maybe you should make a me piece for your game.”

Ryoh hesitated. 

“…I’m not confident that you wouldn’t break my pieces.” The only reason to put Godling in a game was, of course, if he were a player. “Or that you would be willing to submit to me as a Game Master. If any of my friends were harmed by you taking a game too seriously, that would be my fault. It’s a collaborative game where you would play alongside humans as equals. I doubt you’d be interested.”

“I don’t mean as a player. Is Zorc sitting at your table too? No, I’d be a boss piece. Or just an npc. I’d be much more handsome than most of your bosses probably.” He pictured it with a small smile.

“I don’t play games with humans like that. I’m an observer, not a participant.”

“Ah. I thought not.” Ryoh shook his head. 

lostinhishead​:

shadowgodling​:

“I .. can understand that. Zorc is very complicated. Even when you were made from him.” He said, the most he’d let himself speak down to his creator in front of a host. Particularly a host he was just getting to know better.

“You likely won’t have to see him again anyway. But you will see me again. .. Maybe you should make a me piece for your game.”

Ryoh hesitated. 

“…I’m not confident that you wouldn’t break my pieces.” The only reason to put Godling in a game was, of course, if he were a player. “Or that you would be willing to submit to me as a Game Master. If any of my friends were harmed by you taking a game too seriously, that would be my fault. It’s a collaborative game where you would play alongside humans as equals. I doubt you’d be interested.”

“I don’t mean as a player. Is Zorc sitting at your table too? No, I’d be a boss piece. Or just an npc. I’d be much more handsome than most of your bosses probably.” He pictured it with a small smile.

“I don’t play games with humans like that. I’m an observer, not a participant.”

“Ah. I thought not.” Ryoh shook his head. 

shadowgodling​:

It was like a switch hap been flipped and everything burst forward into bright colour. Good. Hosts should be happy and excited, while doing what they were meant for. Though he couldn’t quite figure out if this was insulting to Zorc or not.

“It’s not that unusual. A lot of people who wield darkness use games to do it. It’s in the nature of shadows.” He pointed out, though there wasn’t really much point. It didn’t seem like his input was necessary. He didn’t make a move to get up, he just let Ryoh do as he pleased to fetch his figurine, keeping half an eye on him through the shadows.

“You still have it? Yes, get it.”

Ryoh returned with a couple of Zorc’s figurines. He didn’t slam it on the table - he was always careful with his figures no matter what they were - but it had the mood of a slam.

“Here. This is Zorc.”

Ryoh then put down a much larger game piece, about a third of a metre. It had the same basic design but larger and more grotesque, with Zorc on his hands and knees. His chest had an odd cavity with an eye inside. “And this is his final form.”

“Do you see what I mean?” Ryoh continued. “This eye opens up after he attacks. Now guess what his weak point is.” 

Godling gently touched the first figurine on its head. He supposed it looked like Zorc, in a cartoonish way, missing several of his key appendages. For a moment he entertained the terrible notion of Zorc having his soul caught in this figurine, if it could contain him, what he would say. Then he let it pass and he frowned at the next one.

It wasn’t like Ryoh was supposed to, right? If the Voice was still around, he could replace the figures easily. And he wasn’t around, so it didn’t matter.

He rocked the base model Zorc thoughtfully, then picked up the larger, more frightful one.

shadowgodling​:

It was like a switch hap been flipped and everything burst forward into bright colour. Good. Hosts should be happy and excited, while doing what they were meant for. Though he couldn’t quite figure out if this was insulting to Zorc or not.

“It’s not that unusual. A lot of people who wield darkness use games to do it. It’s in the nature of shadows.” He pointed out, though there wasn’t really much point. It didn’t seem like his input was necessary. He didn’t make a move to get up, he just let Ryoh do as he pleased to fetch his figurine, keeping half an eye on him through the shadows.

“You still have it? Yes, get it.”

Ryoh returned with a couple of Zorc’s figurines. He didn’t slam it on the table - he was always careful with his figures no matter what they were - but it had the mood of a slam.

“Here. This is Zorc.”

Ryoh then put down a much larger game piece, about a third of a metre. It had the same basic design but larger and more grotesque, with Zorc on his hands and knees. His chest had an odd cavity with an eye inside. “And this is his final form.”

“Do you see what I mean?” Ryoh continued. “This eye opens up after he attacks. Now guess what his weak point is.” 

Godling gently touched the first figurine on its head. He supposed it looked like Zorc, in a cartoonish way, missing several of his key appendages. For a moment he entertained the terrible notion of Zorc having his soul caught in this figurine, if it could contain him, what he would say. Then he let it pass and he frowned at the next one.

It wasn’t like Ryoh was supposed to, right? If the Voice was still around, he could replace the figures easily. And he wasn’t around, so it didn’t matter.

He rocked the base model Zorc thoughtfully, then picked up the larger, more frightful one.

shadowgodling​:

It was like a switch hap been flipped and everything burst forward into bright colour. Good. Hosts should be happy and excited, while doing what they were meant for. Though he couldn’t quite figure out if this was insulting to Zorc or not.

“It’s not that unusual. A lot of people who wield darkness use games to do it. It’s in the nature of shadows.” He pointed out, though there wasn’t really much point. It didn’t seem like his input was necessary. He didn’t make a move to get up, he just let Ryoh do as he pleased to fetch his figurine, keeping half an eye on him through the shadows.

“You still have it? Yes, get it.”

Ryoh returned with a couple of Zorc’s figurines. He didn’t slam it on the table - he was always careful with his figures no matter what they were - but it had the mood of a slam.

“Here. This is Zorc.”

Ryoh then put down a much larger game piece, about a third of a metre. It had the same basic design but larger and more grotesque, with Zorc on his hands and knees. His chest had an odd cavity with an eye inside. “And this is his final form.”

“Do you see what I mean?” Ryoh continued. “This eye opens up after he attacks. Now guess what his weak point is.” 

Godling gently touched the first figurine on its head. He supposed it looked like Zorc, in a cartoonish way, missing several of his key appendages. For a moment he entertained the terrible notion of Zorc having his soul caught in this figurine, if it could contain him, what he would say. Then he let it pass and he frowned at the next one.

It wasn’t like Ryoh was supposed to, right? If the Voice was still around, he could replace the figures easily. And he wasn’t around, so it didn’t matter.