IMEEJI INBOX

[rollplayinghouse]

Comments

[rollplayinghouse]

[She takes his hand, with only a slight flicker of hesitation (she'll get blood on him), and up they go. She hits a bracket with a foot to get them over the last hop to the roof.]

[puzzlekeeper]

[ He notices the hesitation but doesn't comment - most likely misconstruing the reasons for it.

Either way, when their feet land on the roof this time, he drops her hand. ]

I've heard some of what happened, as I'm sure you can imagine.

[rollplayinghouse]

[After another hesitation, she folds both of her hands behind her back.]

Mm. I was looking for Corona after the game, but Intensity said he'd left with you already.

[puzzlekeeper]

Yes. He was - distressed. He just wanted to leave as quickly as possible.

[rollplayinghouse]

Understandably.

[puzzlekeeper]

Yeah.

[ . . .

Taking a slow breath. ]

I know you probably don't want to talk about it, but - there's something I want to know.

[rollplayinghouse]

[Shakes her head briefly, just one movement.]

I'll tell you whatever you want. What is it?

[puzzlekeeper]

What did she make you do, after Yugi died?

[rollplayinghouse]

[...]

[voice very flat and even]

She ordered me to kill myself.

[puzzlekeeper]

. . .

That's what I was afraid of.

[ Voice also flat, but expression screaming impending murder. ]

[rollplayinghouse]

[Maki's a bit surprised at his expression, but not in a bad way. She may have promised to be more reasonable herself, but she's not going to judge anyone else's impending murder. In fact she's a tiny bit charmed to see that reaction on her behalf.]

...It was the most efficient way for her to win. Maybe I should even be grateful she decided to do that, instead of having a bleeding doll to play with for the rest of the game.

[She doesn't sound grateful, though.]

[puzzlekeeper]

[ Ugh.

UGH! ]

And she should be grateful no one was there to split her throat open right then and there.

[ Not that that's going to help her now. ]

[rollplayinghouse]

[snorts, almost a laugh]

She should be grateful for a lot of things.

[puzzlekeeper]

[ He takes a deep breath and runs a hand through his hair, clearly trying to get his temper in check. It mostly works, the fury settling into a low simmer, but no less there.

After a pause; ]

... I'm sorry.

[rollplayinghouse]

...Thanks. I really wish this hadn't happened.

Though, that seems obvious to say, I guess.

[puzzlekeeper]

I know. But you were already dealing with so much, and then -

[ And then compelled murder-suicide.

After a moment's hesitation, he holds his hand out to her again. ]

[rollplayinghouse]

[She blinks, but then reaches out to take his hand more smoothly this time. Though her eyes still don't linger.]

[puzzlekeeper]

[ Cool. He's going to wordlessly pull her into a hug, then. ]

[rollplayinghouse]

[That also comes as a surprise, but she wraps her arms around him gratefully and tucks her head against his shoulder with a slow exhale.]

[puzzlekeeper]

[ King is still tense, though clearly not because of her. But he holds her like that for a long while, only pulling back a little when he finally does. ]

I intend to deal with her.

[rollplayinghouse]

[Maki is clearly not eager to pull away either.]

How?

[puzzlekeeper]

That depends entirely on what answers she gives me.

Yugi will remember this for a long time to come. If nothing else, I'm going to make sure she does too.

[rollplayinghouse]

[She considers that for a moment, but then she just nods.]

I told her she'd answer for it, and I don't intend to let her off either. But... I can't act rashly, so... I need to decide what I want to do. You can handle her first, and we'll see where we are.

[puzzlekeeper]

I'll let you know what she has to say for herself.

[rollplayinghouse]

...Thanks.