endless romantic stories

[vroomkeeper]

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[ Marik Ishtar has been emailing Ryou Bakura.

This is, admittedly, a strange occurrence, given the nature of their first meeting. They'd been awkward with each other when Ryou arrived in Egypt for the duel, Marik trying too hard to smile but also focusing far more on Yugi and the Pharaoh, who had saved his life and possibly his soul. He desperately wants to be friends with them, and he supposes, by extension, their friends.

He also desperately wants, it turns out, to not think about what they're all there for, despite having to face it. He puts his head together with everyone, imparts upon them what they need to know to send the Pharaoh to the next life - he's thought it all out, he has a plan, and they agree with the plan, because of course they do. But sleep doesn't come, that night. The enormity is hitting him, and though the darkness doesn't suffocate like it once did, it bears down until he has to get out for some fresh air.

His shirt is sticky from sweat, his palms slick as he grips the boat railing, and as he gulps in river air - the life-giving Nile! a ship!! human ingenuity! - he realizes something about himself. This is rare for Marik. It hits him like a truck.

He's scared.

He's never known anything but oppression and he is about to be fully free. He cannot wait, like a child on Christmas morning, but he also - what then? The Pharaoh, hating him or serving him, has been the axis around which his entire existence has always turned. To the point that he still can't conceive of considering himself "free" unless the Pharaoh no longer exists. For years he'd wished for it.

Now he realizes this is the unknown, this is a world without a plan, without a scheme, and he's terrified.

He shucks the shirt, grips the railing, ashamed of himself. This is the POINT! He is going to fulfill the destiny of his people, and what's more, he's going to receive final proof his family is permitted to live out of the dark. This is everything he's ever wanted, and it's not fair that he should have to breathe through his mouth, that his heart should have to thump like this! It's NOT FAIR, and in this brave new world, he doesn't even have his long-standing comfort, of thinking AND THEREFORE, SOMEONE WILL PAY.

It's then that he realizes someone's watching, and he turns to see who before he realizes tears have spilled over onto his cheeks, mussing his kohl. The intruder leaves quickly, but not before Marik catches a flash of white. Oh.

....Oh.

Doesn't matter. Not as bad as being found like this by Jounouchi, or, gods forbid, his Pharaoh Himself. Marik puts his shirt back on anyway, wanders back into the boat, debates joining Rishid but lies down next to his sister instead. She's so sure of their path, and when he wakes up - later than she does - he's been tucked in, his hair smoothed and his cheek cleaned.

Then she scolds him and they return to the normal bickering. But he remembers. And he remembers Ryou, who does nothing about it, says nothing about it. What a pathetic, passive person.

Yet it sticks with him.

And one day, idly, he emails Yugi, asking for Ryou's email address.

And one day, on a whim, he messages the boy. Shows him photos of arcane secrets now on display for tourists at countries around the world. He vaguely remembers Ryou supposedly likes things like this, and figures if he starts off by acting the part of a friend, perhaps the part where he was a foe can just...disappear.

Ryou replies.

Months pass. Messages are exchanged.

And today, Marik opens the laptop again. ]

WHAT

THE HELL

gonna keep this short i'm @ the airport, which is not where i WANTED to be but apparently my sister is COMPLETELY INCAPABLE of doing her job! you saw that, right? seto kaiba? the puzzle AND the ring? according to yugi the Pharaoh showed up too, which, way to not move on after all we did for him!!!! after ALL we have been through the man has the gall to return

but he saved the world so i will cut him a break. he is good at saving the world and the world is p cool. whats the furthest from japan youve been? i have now been to egypt (ofc), america (land of the free and HOME OF THE ROADTRIP), canada (eh and not just because they say that), mexico (foooddddd!!!), japan (you knew that), the phillippines (everyone could learn from their use of color), georgia (country not the state), france (bread), germany (too much meat but trees!!! ryou the TREES), a bunch of those other little countries in europe (nice to drive through), china (air quality terrible dear gods), india

india was SO COOL the architecture. amazing. my ancestors dreamed big but there is no flair to a pyramid right

but i SUPPOSE i am no longer allowed to go EXPERIENCE COOL THINGS because my sister insists on sucking at keeping people from digging up things that aren't supposed to be dug up, which i was under the impression was the whole point of her position, certainly of her position as occupied by a tombkeeper

they really broke the mold when they made me, i am the last tombkeeper and i am the best tombkeeper, look at what i do for family

anyway youve gotta do something about your possession and kidnapping problem that is no way to live!! i have thought a lot about this and i have devised seven easy steps to keep yourself from becoming a supernatural punching bag, drawing on myself as an example. i would send them to you but i think they're calling for my

yeah its my flight

i'm having the bike shipped on my sister's expense. this will likely tip her off i have access to her credit acct but, worth it, her own fault

anyway i have to go wait in line. looks like a good crop of people to fly with this time, should get some a+ peoplewatching in. people are just. wow, ryou. everywhere i go. people. so interesting

tell everyone i say hi. also tell jou that rishid says hi

Hello.

that was rishid

g2g

Comments

and accidentally stroking marik's rod

[vroomkeeper]

[ "I like talking with you. :)"

Something about that sentence makes Marik stop and want to reread it, gives him a little thrill, brings a smile to his own lips. The power of mirroring? Seeing a smile, even as symbols on a screen, makes the other person want to smile back? He can even picture what it would look like if Ryou were smiling, dippy and innocent and...sweet and...

Is Ryou going to be this precious in person? This delightfully easy to excite? Marik loves being able to affect people, and Ryou's reactions never fail to entertain. Just look how much Marik is grinning at having gotten a cute moment out of the other boy! Clearly this is proof that Marik Ishtar is a MASTER PUPPETEER, OBTAINING PRECISELY THE DESIRED REACTION, EVEN IF HE DID NOT REALIZE HOW DEEPLY HE HAD DESIRED IT!

Anyway, he has an, uh. Email. To write. ]

When you put it that way, I guess the shabti are kind of sad. That noble had better have been worth all this, right? We get first-person depictions of ancient history and they're incredibly biased sources. Figures.

The internet's a good choice. I like going and seeing things in person but it's also neat to have just so much KNOWLEDGE right there, ready to answer anything you could ever want to know. Plus you don't know how much you don't know until you're exposed to it. I've added some countries to my must-see list from hearing about things I could experience or do there via the Internet, so you do have a point. I approve! Be pleased.

You can't just do internet things all the time, though. But with your hobbies I'm not sure you should go experience anything until you read that document I gave you.

Rishid just came in and said we got the go-ahead to ship you a special present in the next few days. I won't tell you what it is only that you are going to absolutely ADORE it. It is the most incredible gift anyone could ever be given. Sister's letting me ship it with government funds so I'll have it delivered to the museum.

No need to thank me. This is me thanking you since I like talking to you too.

[ Hmm. ]

>;)