001; video

[onethirdthesoul]

Hello! [The video opens up to a nice shot of Ryou's smiling face, and he's even waving. He seems a little nervous, but it's not enough to deter him from pressing on. After all, if he's going to be stuck here long term he might as well get to know people.]

My name's Bakura Ryou, and I've been here fooor...about a week and a half. This only my second time using the network though, so it's nice to meet you all! I don't usually use things like this, but it's kind of convenient, huh?

[He's quite now, looking thoughtful and worried again. It's a few seconds before he starts up again.]

I enjoy playing games with my friends and cooking... I'm not sure why I was brought here though, because I don't think I'll be much help. The only wars I've fought in were imaginary.

[Ryou nervously fidgets, rubbing the back of his head. There's another awkward silence.]

Speaking of, I bought some tabletop games at the market, but I can't read the directions... Would anybody be able to translate them for me? I wouldn't mind paying for the trouble, since I know it's a lot to ask. [And a lot in general. The directions were quite a few pages long.]

Comments

[Video]

[raavashing]

Bakura?

[Wan had met Bakura when he first arrived and he was pretty sure the guy had never left. But then, he also hadn't been in contact with him. Also, he was a lot more cheery now than he had been at the park.]

Are you feeling okay?

[Video]

[onethirdthesoul]

I'm feeling quite well, all things considered. [Like being kidnapped and whatnot.]

...Why? [The smallest hint of concern shows on his face.]

[Video]

[raavashing]

Because you've been here for longer than I have. And you're talking like you just showed up.

[Video]

[onethirdthesoul]

[Ryou pales, bringing his hand to cover his mouth. The last thing he really wanted was more evidence to back up what Sol had told him. He'd almost convinced himself it had been a prank.]

I did just show up...

[Video]

[raavashing]

But you-

[This was really confusing. Wan sent a mental thought to Rio'era to ask Emily-Helen if Bakura had left at all. The confirmation came back that he hadn't. Which meant... what? Bakura had lost his memory?]

But you didn't leave. You've been here the whole time. I think... you might have lost your memory.

video;

[iwannabeadragon]

[Ryou you get a long hard stare from Hawke.]

Bullshit. How stupid do you think we are?

video;

[onethirdthesoul]

[His surprise here looks genuine enough.]

Ahh... Excuse me? [Ryou hasn't forgotten what Sol had said about somebody who shared his name and face, and that's the first thing that comes to mind. Maybe this guy was calling him out on something else, but he can't imagine what.]

I don't know what you're talking about...

video;

[iwannabeadragon]

[Now Hawke's just looking at him like he's stupid.]

So the voices in your head have finally driven you completely insane then?

video;

[onethirdthesoul]

[Ryou shrinks under that stare. That pretty much confirms it, then.]

No... You're thinking of someone else. I've never even met you before.

video;

[iwannabeadragon]

No, I tend to remember people who try to kill me.

audio only; quite a while after the post goes up

[denyamenti]

[ It's the same voice but not; without the need to mimic the teen anymore, Bakura's tone and inflections, even the cadence at which he speaks, are markedly different. ]

The mistaken identity is to be expected, I suppose.

audio;

[onethirdthesoul]

[There's no response from Ryou's end for a few minutes. When he finally does he sounds anxious, but firm.]

Who is this?

Re: audio;

[denyamenti]

Don't play stupid, landlord, it doesn't suit.

Though it seems I have little necessity to call you that now, doesn't it?

Re: audio;

[onethirdthesoul]

[More silence follows...

All illusions Ryou might have had were just swiftly shattered. He's at a complete loss, and somehow the lack of video just makes it worse.]

How...? This doesn't make any sense! You're supposed to be inside the Ring...

Re: audio;

[denyamenti]

[ Ironically, Bakura had left the video feed off as a means of not upsetting Ryou unduly. ]

This place makes a habit of breaking expectations. It was no more disconcerting than arriving in what I thought was your body without you in it.

video

[unetrustworthy]

[Having yet seen Bakura's response, Midii's expression and tone are both far duller than one would expect from a girl her age.]

What are you up to now?

Re: video

[onethirdthesoul]

[Ryou's already grown used to these doubtful responses, so her's it met with a tired sight. Here all he wanted was to make a friend, maybe translate his game, and then actually play it.]

Hello... I'm not up to anything.

video

[unetrustworthy]

[If anything, the tired look ironically validated her assumption. That Bakura wasn't getting his way with his ploy and it frustrated him.]

I don't believe you.

Although you're usually more subtle than this. You couldn't think we'd all just forget you.

video

[onethirdthesoul]

[Ryou just looks distraught by the accusations, but too tired to adamantly defend them like he'd been.]

That's not it. I'm not the person you're thinking of.

video

[unetrustworthy]

[That face...]

[She was still suspicious, but things weren't adding up. Why not simply switch to a private feed and let her verbally have it? Why continue...this?]

What do you mean?

audio; // please accept my forever-late tag now that I'm back from hiatus

[lostundercover]

Fuck me. [Costigan mutters before raising his voice to actually address the kid.]

You have any voices in your head or are you your own person?

Re: audio; // forever-late tag accepted~

[onethirdthesoul]

[...That question really depends on if he has the Ring or not, but since he doesn't have it right now.]

I'm my own person.

audio; // <3

[lostundercover]

Good. No offense, but one of him is enough.

Re: audio;

[onethirdthesoul]

...Wait, so you believe me? [Because he's used to having to fight his case at this point.]

audio;

[lostundercover]

I know the asshole. You aren't him.