008 ≠ ( VIDEO )

[denyamenti]

[ The video feed opens with not one Bakura but two, the first standing central to the screen and the other offset to the side and whose nervous posture indicates he's still trying to slide even farther away. Separately it would be easy to call them identical but side by side, there are differences; slight but present. The voice is the biggest giveaway though, as Bakura's bears almost nothing of Ryou's accent. ]

Pay attention:

There are, as you can see, actually two of us. I'm the one who thinks you're all expendable idiots and treats you accordingly, not him. So taking your anger at me out on the new arrival here without listening to him merely proves my point.

For those of you whom I so easily fooled by calling myself "Ryou"? This is the real one, so go... make friends or something.

[ At that, Ryou offers an awkward wave at the console screen. ]

---

[ OOC: Takes place following this post. Replies will come from both/either of them, unless specifically marked private to one or the other. If anyone wishes to query Emily-Helen about this via their hatchling, she will confirm there are indeed two! If a little confused about why they're very similar. ]

Comments

video; /starbucks what

[alphatar]

[Korra looks from one to other, obviously unhappy. Though it's much easier for her to tell which one's Ryou and which one's Bakura.]

Why are you even helping him? Assuming this isn't another of your lies.

Re: video;

[onethirdthesoul]

It's the truth. [Ryou is firm in his defense, but he'll let the other Bakura take care of the question of why. That's not really his place to answer, and he's not sure if he should be revealing the details of their deal at all. Or if he even wants to.]

video;

[alphatar]

That you're not some kind of magic clone that says and does whatever he wants in order to get what he wants? [Which she isn't putting past Bakura at all. She was deceived and Korra can hold a grudge.]

Re: video;

[onethirdthesoul]

Uhh... [He makes a bit of a face, somewhat concerned.]

Yup. He's the one who looks like me, and was pretending to be me... it's not the other way around. I don't listen to him at all.

video;

[alphatar]

So, you're actually Ryou?

[Even though Bakura told her that Ryou was a real person, she's thinking of everything he says as a lie that needs to be proven honest first.]

From Japan?

Re: video;

[onethirdthesoul]

That's me, born and raised. [He rubs the back of his head, smiling out of habit. He really wishes the spirit hadn't cause so much trouble before he came here, because now he was doing all the clean-up. Or at least part of it.]

I understand your hesitation, so...if there's some other way I can prove it, I'll try my best.

video;

[alphatar]

If you can not lie and actually be a decent person unlike that jerk, [Her lip curls in a sneer.] that’s a good start.

[Beat.]

So is not threatening to kill someone.

Re: video;

[onethirdthesoul]

[Ryou's awkward smile cracks a bit at the reminder of Bakura's habit of killing people, but otherwise... This was the easiest test to prove himself ever.]

Well, I'm happy to let you know that I do all of those things, and without even needing to be asked.

video;

[alphatar]

It's a start.

[She repeats it, giving Ryou a cautious look over.]

How can you even stand to be in the same room as that guy?

Re: video;

[onethirdthesoul]

[He looks a little relieved at that. It seems she's starting to believe him, and he knows he's telling the truth...so it's only a matter of time!

As for her question, he cants his head and shrugs with knitted brow.]

It's...complicated, but getting the word out here is more important than being a little uncomfortable. Besides, there's a lot I have to ask him.

video;

[alphatar]

Yeah, good luck getting any answers out of him.

Re: video;

[onethirdthesoul]

Thanks, I'll probably need it.

[It's...not clear if he sensed any sarcasm there at all.]

Re: video;

[alphatar]

[And here she thought Bakura was just hamming up the innocence.]

Yeah, you will. Let me know if he's giving you any problems.

[Because she's certainly looking for a reason.]

( not here )

[denyamenti]

[ EXCUSE U KORRA he'll have you know that his portrayal is 100% spot on ]

Re: ( not here )

[alphatar]

[don't you DARE open up an acting school!]

Re: video;

[onethirdthesoul]

I will, thank you. [So that's like the 3rd or 4th person who wants him to "let them know" if Bakura is giving him any trouble. Before long he can start a Bakura Help Line.]

But, ah...could I have your name? I think we skipped the introductions.

video;

[alphatar]

Korra. [Her mouth turns into a line, and it has nothing to do with Ryou.] We haven't met.

[Bakura’s robbed her of that.]

Re: video; yesssssa

[denyamenti]

The same reason I do everything else. You can figure that one out, can't you Miss Korra? Haven't we practiced this before?

Re: video; it had to happen

[alphatar]

What are you getting out of this, what do you want this time?

Re: video; it did and it's beautiful

[denyamenti]

Riling you up is its own reward.

Re: video;

[alphatar]

[Next thing she's going to ask Tony is to make it so she can reach out and strangle someone through her console.]

Ahaha. [She can't get any flatter than that.] Now give me the real answer.

Re: video;

[denyamenti]

Let me think, hm, no.

Re: video;

[alphatar]

You aren't going to help a nice person like Ryou just because you don't want him to get beaten up for the things you did.

[Mainly by her.]

But trust me, you don't want me to find out the answer another way.

Re: video;

[denyamenti]

Of course not, but I certainly am not going to tell you of all people what I'm getting from it.

It's almost poetic, isn't it? You, who care the most about it, are the one getting the least information.

Re: video;

[alphatar]

Don't think I won't figure it out, and if you [She points at him with a scowl.] end up hurting someone-

I'll find you.

[And she curls the finger back into a fist, using it to smack off her feed.]