(no subject)

[puzzlers]

Who: pep!pep!
Where: pep!pep!
When: Day 66, afternoon

[ there's a new kid on the block. ]

Comments

[puzzlekeeper]

No - I'd rather call you what you want. Your name is your own, after all.

[puzzlers]

Thank you, King.

But you know me and I- I don't know you.

[ all he knows is that they look eerily similar and he's finding it hard, re: impossible!, to keep the space in between them. ]

[puzzlekeeper]

Ah... well...

That's to be expected, under these circumstances.

[ And because he's still REALLY not clear on the nature of their relationship, maybe that's... for the best right now. He might just be bodysnatching you against your will??? ]

If you choose to buy memories, I'm sure you'll remember soon enough.

[puzzlers]

... [ he doesn't like this, especially when he's clearly hurting somebody he probably cares about. ]

If. [ he gives a laugh. ] If there's a chance I can learn some more about the two of us, then that's reason enough to dump all my points into memories. [ he shoots him a smile. ] I might not remember anything, but I just know you were and, quite frankly, still are somebody special to me.

[puzzlekeeper]

[ oh nooooooo

fuck ]

Heh, well... you may want to invest in some abilities as well. But I don't disagree with your outlook - I feel the same.

[puzzlers]

[ right in the feels. ]

I'll have to take another look into those... [ but more importantly. ] this plague, is it really that bad?

[puzzlekeeper]

[ There's a brief pause where he considers if he should spare Yugi the reality of the situation, but seems to quickly decide... no. ]

Yes, it is. We only have theories as to where it's coming from and how it's spreading, and... the worse it gets, the more likely it is to have fatal consequences.

[puzzlers]

[ he appreciates king's decision not to sugar coat the situation. it's bad and he knows it's bad. ]

And those are? [ fatal... consequences... ] W- We have to hurry then! [ right now he couldn't be more thankful that king's not showing any of the signs. ]

[puzzlekeeper]

It seems that after someone becomes fully monochrome, the stage after that is slowly disappearing. I don't- I don't know what we would do it retrieve someone if they were to fully disappear.

[ Which is why he's not dwelling on that possibility too hard, whew!!! ]

For right now, the best thing we can do is stick close to our units. Memorize your unit's traits and image and get to know your teammates. They're all good people - I trust them.

[puzzlers]

... [ he falls silent. disappearing? forever? king might not be dwelling on it, but corona's sure going to. ]

I... I will. [ but that also means: ] We won't be seeing much of each other for some time, huh? [ he gives king a weak willed smile. ]

[puzzlekeeper]

Hopefully not too long. [ If he gets his way, at least. ] That phone you woke up with - you can message me any time and I'll respond.

And I think... meeting in common spaces during the day should still be fine.

[puzzlers]

[ he's going to message him every. single. night. ] I hope you know what you've gotten yourself into.

King, if there's anything I can do to help... [ he clenches and unclenches his fists. ] I haven't been here long and there probably isn't a whole lot I'm capable of doing, but... I don't want to do nothing.

[puzzlekeeper]

I know. Truthfully, I feel just as frustrated as you do right now.

I think the best thing any of us can do is stay safe.

[puzzlers]

[ he's afraid to ask... ] Is anybody in your unit affected?

I understand. We can't let this thing beat us, we can't let it win, ... [ whatever it is. but that's probably easier said than done. ]

[puzzlekeeper]

[ And he hates having to give this answer, but... ]

... Two of my teammates are affected. I've been keeping a close eye on the others.

[puzzlers]

[ it's like he can feel his heart stop. ]

K- King. [ no. nonononononono. ]

[ he feels his composure start to slip as he imagines king succumbing to the plague. ] You... you can't...

[puzzlekeeper]

[ It's fine it's fine it's fine it's fine it's fine it's fine it's fi ]

Don't worry about me. If it hasn't affected me yet, I'm sure I'll be alright.

And... we'll find a way to help the others before it gets too serious.

[puzzlers]

[ this seems like the opposite of fine! ]

Easier said than done. [ his worry levels have already broken the charts. ] I hope so. [ he hesitantly reaches out for king. ] I don't want to lose you.

[ this isn't too serious?! ]

[puzzlekeeper]

[ He's just going to keep projecting unfounded confidence until morale improves. ]

You won't. It will take more than this to get rid of me - or any of us.

[puzzlers]

[ if he wasn't the slightest bit aware of what a hellscape imeeji was slowly becoming king's profound sense of confidence might have very well done something to tilt the scales towards the positive, but right now yugi is letting his worry and concern chip away at his usual chipper attitude. this being the first hour he's been here hasn't helped either. ]

When [ not if. ] this is all over promise you'll stop by again, so we... can... [ do something. anything. ]

[puzzlekeeper]

I will. There are... some things we should probably discuss.

[ Like how he's a ghost who may be possessing you against your will




Yeah, that especially......... ]

[puzzlers]

Now's probably not the time, but... but if they're weighing heavy on your heart [ which it kind of sort of seems like they are. ] we can discuss them now.

But maybe... somewhere else. [ somewhere a bit more private. ]

1/2

[puzzlekeeper]

[ On the one hand, it's probably terrible to leave Yugi hanging. On the other, this conversation might suck, and also he's on a ticking time limit right now.

But what if he goes off and gets himself killed? Will it be better or worse if Yugi doesn't know? And then remembers it himself later anyway?

??

?????? ]

......

[puzzlekeeper]

[ ........ well,

There is literally no time like the present. ]

I don't have long. I should get back to my team. [ Not that he's actually going back to his team, buuuut... ] We can find somewhere in the city to talk - just for a bit.

[puzzlers]

[ he gets the sinking feeling that the conversation they’re about to have is going to be some sort of beautiful disaster. call it a hunch. it doesn’t help that king’s been considering this for what feels like forever. ] I- I know, and we have to be extra careful because of the plague, but- [ a smile. ] Just for a bit. That’s fine. It’s all we need right now. [ he takes king’s hand, because what is giving a shit, and he tugs him towards the elevator. he doesn’t know where he’s going, but it doesn’t matter… secluded is secluded. ]

[ aaaand here. he finally releases his hand, an awkward laugh following as he hadn’t really even realized he’d taken it and dragged him halfway across the city. ] So what’s on your mind, King?