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[After spending a solid week in this new city, Atem feels as though he’s exhausted his options for exploring the area so it’s time to turn to the network. The image that appears on screen is that of the decorated pharaoh, his head cradled in his hand that’s glinting with gold rings. He wears an impassive expression, not quite intimidating, neither is it particularly friendly but it carries an air of superiority.]

While everyone else appears to be getting settled, I have found it rather dull here. I wonder if anyone knows of any good games?

[He holds up a card, the back facing the camera. Anyone familiar with it would understand his next statement completely]

If you consider yourself a duelist, that would be of particular interest.

[Straight and to the point, there’s a flash of a smirk as a parting gesture.]

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Football.

[Helpful.]

I have heard of that one, yes, though I believe it requires more than a couple people to play?

Six people on each side of the field.

If we could organize something of that scale, I would not be opposed but I doubt it could be arranged all that quickly. [He was looking for something a little more immediate you see.]

There's plenty of people here for that.

Say, you don't happen to be that card game kid's dad or something, are you? You look just like him.

Certainly, but it still requires organization

[It's the second comment that earns him a rather strange look.]

I have no children...

Sometime maybe.

[He gives atem a strange look over the screen.]

That's odd then. [Oh. Well. If dealing with Praetorians has taught him anything, anyone can have a mirror verse duplicate.

This man must be that Japanese kid only from another dimension maybe?]

You said card game didn't you? Are you talking about duel monsters? [If that were the case, there was a possibility... but he didn't want to jump to conclusions.]

[Kaiba's just going to stay with what the hell in his eyes at you Yami because obvoius difference before that look disappearing.]

I believe you know I do.

[Returning the favor of holding up a Duel Monster card of the Blue Eyes White Dragon]

I am not sure I do.

[The looks is somewhat mutual and the addition of that card doesn't help matters. Though he's heard whispers of his future, of his continued existence with a boy named Yuugi, Juudai and Yuusei and their friends were only privy to rumors of that time period and while Kaiba was familiar in name, he was completely unaware of their connection.]

Are you sure you deserve to be waving around a card like that? [Because the resemblance was uncanny but Set he was not; Atem was certain.]

[Kaiba gives a piercing look into Atem's eyes. What was going on? At least on who this was. How could Yuugi not know who Kaiba is? Even if Yuugi for the moment is slightly different, however Kaiba's grown use to Yuugi 'changing'.]

How could you question your biggest rival, Yuugi?

[Before a beat]

The Blue Eyes White Dragon has never let me down.

All I know is the man who controls that spirit was my adviser and greatest friend.

[His eyes narrow. Sorry Kaiba, resemblances aren't going to get you a free pass. There's too much at stake where that card is concerned, and as a friend Atem feels all the more responsible for ensuring it isn't misused.]

You must have me mistaken for a ghost of the future.

Yuugi, please. Don't drag me more into your mystical mumbo jumbo.

(Cue sudden heartbeat, at least one Yugi feels deep inside.)

Other Me...!

(Yugi in turn holds up a card of his own, that card being the ~~Black~~ Dark Magician.)

[It’s hard not to be taken back by that particular message as it appears on screen. It’s one thing to be told about his future, another matter entirely to meet it face to face. And what was with that greeting?

Atem takes a moment to run through everything he knows again, eyes straying to the card, then back again, trying to keep a straight face.]

You must be Yuugi.

(Yugi nods, realizing almost immediately that this is the Pharaoh, possibly before he sealed the evil away in the 7 Sennen items. If that was the case, he wouldn't know about any of the adventures they would share.)

You're the Pharaoh, aren't you...?

[Oh he knows a bit. But a lot of it is hearsay. The rumors that persist about them in the future are vague and altogether exaggerated at the same time. Discussion never lingered for long and Atem never bothered to delve too deeply into the topic of his future. It didn’t seem right.]

I have heard about you. [He admits carefully, confirming the other’s suspicions with a nod.]

I've met a few other duelists so far, and considering how many people are here, I'm actually surprised at the numbers.

[ And there's a hint of a smile on Yuusei's lips as he thinks of a few others he's met. ]

There are also a few people I've met that are interested in learning the game.

At this point I am inclined to believe anything. [There was a time when thoughts of their world and their future instilled much more apprehension within him but that was long since past. Now he could appreciate much more like Yuusei as well.]

I would but nice to have even more duelists around who understand, but how would you propose deal with the limited number of decks we have? That was a problem we ran into before.

[ ... Well, yes that is a problem, and Yuusei's expression turns into a thoughtful one. It wasn't likely that there would be any store that would have the cards for those interested, and even if there was, where would it even be? For those interested in Riding Duels, there was at least the option of Yuusei building them a D-Wheel to use, but even then... Yuusei had no Speed Spells to spare for their decks. ]

Mm. I'm not sure. I'll try to think of something. Until then, I don't think it'd hurt to introduce a few to the game, at least. Let them watch a duel or two to get a better understanding of how it works.

[ ... What. What kind of self-respecting duelist dresses like that? Granted, it's not quite Shark's fashion sense, but if this guy is looking to get attention, he certainly has it from Kaito, though not because of his wardrobe. ]

The better way to phrase that is, "If you're a good duelist." Unless you want to go against mediocre opponents, then by all means, attract them all.

[ Is he cranky because he can't find his brother? Maybe. ]

So long as the duel is interesting, that matters little to me.

[He gives a small shrug. Only a few words out of his mouth and this guy already reminds him of a certain priest he knew back in Egypt.]

If you are implying that you yourself are a good duelist, well, I suppose we will have to see.

Duels aren't interesting unless you're going against someone that's worth your time.

[ Then again, some people can be full of surprises. Yuuma, for instance, but this guy isn't Yuuma. At all. Either way, his typical expression is broken by a confident smirk. ]

I'm better than 'good'.

And I am not going to say it when I can prove it.

[Atem takes that confidence and returns it in spades. Comes with the whole king of games territory after all.]

They set me up in Crystalden, what about you?

What a coincidence. I'm in Crystalden, too.

[ And maybe it's not the brightest to be challenging someone he knows nothing about, but it wouldn't be the first time either. This guy's no duelist he's ever heard of (or at least, any likenesses, he wouldn't have paid attention to) or seen, so who knows what kind of tricks he's got up his sleeves. Especially for someone so confident.

But that'll just make it entertaining (--no, fun, because that's what Yuuma's taught him, though he'll never admit to learning anything from a kid like him), won't it? ]

I'll find you if you tell me where you are, and then we can get this duel started.

[ ... Anything to keep him distracted from the issue with his brother, right? ]

[Atem, on the other hand, is getting exactly what he came for. Duels could be dangerous, with sometimes terrible consequences. He knew that all too well, probably better than anyone, but in the past number of months he had also been reminded of all the good that could come of them as well. If there was a chance to reclaim some of that then it was worth the risk.

For a reply, Atem passes on a location, not where he was staying but a spacious area of the city he had encountered in his wandering. He figured there was a chance they would need it.]

I will be waiting.

[With nothing else to add, the pharaoh ends the transmission and grabs his deck on the way out to meet this mysterious opponent.]

I'm a duelist, but uh ...

[He tries to wipe the confusion from his face, crossing his arms over his chest in guarded discomfort.]

Who the hell are you?

[He figured that summed up his questions nicely. Yes.]

Edited 2013-03-24 05:17 (UTC)

[What the. Didn't he just talk to you? Get back in your thread.]

What, did you have a sudden case of amnesia or something?

[If only he knew.]

Um, what? How did you know that? Who told you?

[How the hell did he know that? There was NO WAY this guy could know that.]

And you still didn't answer my question. Which is rude.

You were hardly the paragon of courtesy when you asked. I was merely returning the gesture.

[It’s only fair you see, and he is all about being fair. Unfortunately, that’s not the bigger issue here...]

But you can’t be serious?

What did you expect me to do? You hold yourself like ...

[Like what? Like me? No way was he going to admit it to this ... What ever the hell he was.]

And yes, I am serious. I have no memories. I ... am a spirit who lives inside a pendant.

[Or he was.]

[No. Really. He can't be serious.

The somber shift in Atem's expression is unmistakable as he ponders the figure he's now faced with. He can't believe it. He won't.]

...You mean this? [Slowly, he lifts the item into view.]

[At first his mouth formed a subtle, surprised "o" that soon morphed into a deep frown.]

How ... ?

[His brow furrowed in frustration.]

How do you have that ... ?

[Unless ... No. It was impossible. He refused to believe it.]

Edited 2013-03-26 04:47 (UTC)

[That was all he needed to hear to know he wasn’t going to do this over the network. He fixes the other man with a firm glare.]

Where are you?

[Dark Yuugi started at him for a long moment before responding.]

It's called Crystalden.

[Perfect, they wouldn't have far to go. He inputs some directions into the communicator and passes them along.]

Meet me there.

[He doesn't wait for a reply before heading out, somehow knowing the other would follow. If it were him, he would do the same and wasn't that the point after all.

Still it no surprise that he arrives first and is left to wait with only the mounting apprehension for company.]

[He arrives only a moment later, hands jammed into his pockets, shoes scuffing the ground as he walks, but when he sees the other he straightens, suddenly walking with a pointed authority.]

Okay so ...

[He shifts his weight, trying to have the same affect on this person as he does on others, but knowing somehow that it will not work.]

So now what?

[Atem doesn't answer for a time. He's scrutinizing the other meticulously. The hair is a given but it's more than that. It's in his eyes, in the way he carries himself, and that that hefty ben shaped pendant reflecting from his waist. They're not a perfect match by any stretch. His face was too soft and he lacked the same build as the pharaoh but in spite of those imperfections, Atem couldn't help feeling like he was looking into a mirror.]

The nameless pharaoh... was it? [Yes, he's heard.]

... Yeah.

[He stared back, arms crossed over his chest, scrutinizing the other. The hair was so obvious it was stupid, even the way the other was looking at him right now as familiar (so much so that it pissed him off). But it was more than that. His eyes more than anything reminded Yuugi of himself, which made him more angry than anything else, even if this person's features were different than his own.]

And I suppose you're just "The Pharaoh" then, huh?

[He was determined not to believe it.]

[Just pharaoh, huh. It’s been a long time since anyone called him that but it gives him cause to smirk.]

Hardly. I have a name.

[Although he still doesn’t want to believe it himself, Atem can’t help feeling equal parts intrigued and put off. This nameless pharaoh was supposed to be him and somehow not. The airs are all right, the surly superiority is almost offensive yet indisputable. But he’s guarded and it gives the pharaoh the impression of a petulant child rather than an aloof king.]

Oh?

[Of COURSE he does.]

Of COURSE you do.

[He sighs and shifts again. What is this guy's problem? Is this really what he's like? This condescending? This ... Imperial? It bothers him to think that he comes off this way. Mostly he just ignores everyone, but ... But ...]

[He sighs.]

Well I don't want to hear it.

[If there is any chance at all of returning home, he doesn't want to know. Even if ... even if his name is one of the things he's been looking for for so long now that the longing in his heart is as familiar as the weight of the Millennium Puzzle.]

It wouldn't mean anything without the memories.

[And yet here his memories stand before him, staring at him as if he is a piece of meat.]

Assuming I was going to tell you anyway.

[He shrugs. He could. It was not big secret here after all. He just had to trust that the memories of this world would fade, the same as the last one. But if this guy was going to be like that why shouldn't he have a little fun.]

Tch-!!

[He stares at the other for a long moment, tempted to say something, anything, to provoke anger.]

Just who the hell do you think you are anyway?

[It really bothered him that someone could have this much power over him! He needed leverage.]

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