Ashes and Ages

[domaintandem-blog]

ooc; status update

Hey guys, Sorry I’ve been gone. This blog has fallen to the wayside and I’m not sure if I’ll pick it up again. It was a bit of an experiment and at the moment I’m still looking for the right character and the right voice I want to play going forward. Life’s hard right now and I don’t know if Dartz is the character for me but everyone who interacted with me here was phenomenal and the plot based interactions were amazing. I haven’t had so much fun in ages. The orichalcos series roleplayers are some of the best in the business and it was an honour to receive your time and your efforts. I only hope I served you back something of quality that you enjoyed too. Thank you for that experience you gave me. I’m not deleting this blog, I might come back to it, but I need to go back to the drawing board again. Question remains; should I go back to my old blog? Or not? Or try someone new again? I don’t know. It’s hard to know what to do at the moment.  

((If any of you want to know where to find me if/when I make a new blog let me know.))

[domaintandem-blog]

ooc

not dead, working on drafts, just lost my mojo a little. I’ll be back soon! 

[blackincantation]

He wasn’t the only one surprised as to where this conversation was headed, but he kept his expression blank. Seker was sure that by now, his fingers would have been wrapped around the others’ throat or at least blood would have been shed. But no, instead, they seemed to be having a conversation. They were exchanging words in such a way that alluded to them being jaded, ancient, and perhaps even tired. Nothing changed the fact that Seker understood him more than he cared to. 

The magician let out an abrupt laugh - truly, who was he but an old soul trapped here? Of course, he would gladly serve his Master until the end of his existence, but what else was there? Nothing. Seker shook his head, amused more than he was sad. There was nothing to be sad about, truly, as he accepted his fate long before he trapped himself in his ka’s stone tablet.

But the irony, the absolute amusement he found in this situation, left him as soon Dartz uttered his next words. 

“I doubt it,” he shook his head, “I – no, learning a new skill is not impossible for me. I am a quick study,” he shifted his weight from one foot to the other, uncomfortable, “there are not many friends I have that reside in this world. The other? Yes. But I cannot see them. Regardless…I do not think I can be anything I decide upon. I am very…behind.” 

[domaintandem-blog]

Jaded, ancient and tired was exactly the way to put it. Dartz was… the laugh startled him but he read something in it, something subtle under the amusement that he couldn’t exactly name but which stirred him.

“I’m sorry to hear you feel that way and that your current situation finds you in that position.” Dartz sighed. It was one thing to feel behind, to feel lost, and another to truly be stuck in an impossible situation. He wasn’t sure how much of the magician’s feelings were or weren’t grounded in reality but if that was how the other felt that sensation was valid and worth respecting.

“Well then…” He offered his hand to shake. “Why don’t we start over? I think we could both use another friend or at least an acquaintance and I like to think I’m not the man I was before. Do you go by a new name while you walk this world?”

[domaintandem-blog]

Tiny had seen plenty of colourful faces around Domino, but seafoam green hair down to the waist was certainly new. Not to mention there was something off about the guy, magical and otherwise. Something he needed to be concerned about? No doubt Tiny would be concerned about it anyways.

Now Dartz had only seen one Yugi Mutou thus far and was not overjoyed to see another lingering close by and glancing over him in that mildly concerned manner. Was he going to have to apologize again? Had he, or some version of himself, torn up this child’s life as well? Only one way to find out.

“Can I help you young man?”

[domaintandem-blog]

“Satisfaction is hard to find, I hope it stays with you,” he offered by way of a blessing. Lord knew life was hard enough without trying to find contentment in all the wrong places. “I…I guess I was a villain in that particular story.” He murmured. “I thought I was working towards a good goal, a brighter future, and if I had to do some rough things to get there then that was just tit for tat, you know? Seems I’m the only one who felt that way. I hurt some people I cared about and a lot I didn’t. I don’t know what I’m going to do now but hopefully I won’t make the same mistake again.”

[tiny-but-fierce-yugi-blog]

Tiny listened with rapt interest as Dartz spoke. It was… Always a little interesting to hear about the different pieces of a whole story. “W-well… as long a-as you’re trying to improve yourself n-now. Domino i-is pretty colourful these d-days… I think you’ll f-find some bit of happiness here, even i-if it’s just a little.”

[domaintandem-blog]

“I don’t have much of a choice; sink or swim, you know?” He answered with a sigh. “Thank you though. I do appreciate the kind thought.” Especially coming from a Yugi and given how little they respectively knew of each other. “So what’s your world like? Does it have magic?” 

[tiny-but-fierce-yugi-blog]

“D-does it have magic?” Tiny blew out a breath. “What d-doesn’t it have, m-more like… yeah, I-I come from a w-world of a lot of magic g-gobbledygook. Y-you name it, it probably e-exists.” He shrugged a shoulder. “I-it’s crazy, b-but… I’m q-quite fond of it.”

[domaintandem-blog]

“Sometimes I think I belong in a universe without magic. Maybe I’d cause less trouble there?” He snorted with weak amusement. “I’m trying to think of something to ask, pondering what you might or might not have in your world, but I’m at a loss.” He confessed. Not that he minded, it wasn’t a bad thing to sometimes be stumped in conversation. “What’s your favourite sort of magic and how does it work I guess is my next question?” He was curious. 

[domaintandem-blog]

“No,” he consented, “I probably shouldn’t be.” His existences was something of a worry even to himself. He could imagine, in his own way, how distressing it would be to the swordsmen.

“Again, no, you don’t have to take anything I say for a satisfactory answer but I’m afraid I don’t have any better ones for you. I’d like to tell you, Amelda, that I’ll never hurt anyone again but we both know I can’t promise that. All I can provide you with are good intentions and a well documented history of bad behaviour.”

[xheister]

“As if anything you’ve done for all the years I’ve known you have been on ‘good intentions’, Dartz. You killed my damn brother just to get me over to your side.” That was the one thing he would forever in his life hold against the man and never forgive him for. He lost his only family and was alone forever because of this man. While he had relatively ‘moved on’ and kept Miruko in his heart, he still always had this person to blame.

“Do you even know what it’s like to have to watch someone you care about die right in front of you?”

[domaintandem-blog]

“Oh come on Amelda, you think I orchestrated a whole war? I was powerful but not that powerful,” not in this century anyway. The world was rigged now so that strange sideliners couldn’t orchestrate large conflicts without running through a lot of trouble first. “I did… I organized accidents, I waited for people to escape, and I waited to see what my net would catch. I didn’t target you so much as I targeted children in your region. A whole swathe of refugees were on my list. I doubt that helps but if you think I had some personal vendetta to ruin your life…”

“Do I--? Of course I do.” He hissed. “I’ve watched more than you I reckon’. I’ve watched people I loved succumb to illness, to injury, to violence… I haven’t lived ten thousand years in a bunker.” Why was he angry? It couldn’t help to get angry! Still… here they were and here was his fury.

[domaintandem-blog]

“Well we’ll see what happens.” Dartz was sure they were both invested in it working now anyway. After all who wanted such great company on a regular basis?

“Powerful.” He repeated. “Yes, a fair point…” Still powerful was an interesting choice of words. Dartz might’ve gone with ‘violent’ but he was not throwing stones in that glass castle. Not today. “Well I… I hope the pair of you are enjoying your new life here.” They were adults now after all, what greater adventure was there?  As for his tone: he tried for sincere but he only seemed to manage cautious and curious. “Yes…” he wondered if he shouldn’t be so honest but here he was. “Is that unusual?”

[arcanelight]

“It isn’t unheard of for people to feel it. Most people just write off the feeling as nothing. Its more surprising is all.” Yugi brushed his bangs from his face. The shop hadn’t been open long at all, a week or so at most. Yet it was already drenched in his energy? It was almost concerning since witch hunters seemed to be skulking about.

[domaintandem-blog]

“Can’t write anything off in this city, I’m learning that much,” he murmured. “Anyway, thank you again, how much do I owe you?”

[domaintandem-blog]

“Remember. DON’T kill anyone. …I can’t believe this is a REAL thing I have to remind you.” //compassionatedestiny (I'm sorry for the crack)

“DON’T? I thought your text specifically said— Well shit.. Uh…Look about that DON’T kill anyone thing…” He pawed the back of his neck.

(CRACK~ is marvellous)  

[compassionatedestiny]

“What the hell did you do, Old Man?!” Isabel snapped. “Do I even WANT to know who you killed??”

[domaintandem-blog]

“Look it was essentially an accident! Call it self defence!” Yes, and then let them forget it and never speak of it again.

[compassionatedestiny]

“What do you mean by “essentially an accident?”“ she asked, crossing her arms, irritated green eyes glaring at him. Never mind the fact hat she was both younger and significantly outmatched, in the sense of magic anyways, the teenager was not having any of this.

[domaintandem-blog]

“I read your text wrong, okay?” He confessed. Here he was, ten-thousand years old, getting scolded by a teenager girl. “It- Well- I- shit happens! Its two Russians, no one will miss them. I’m sure they didn’t have families or friends or beloved Scottish terriers.....”

[beautyofillusixn-blog]

Domaintandem

[beautyofillusixn-blog]

“Atem is the kind of man that will get done what he says he will do. The only thing that could stop him is death, and even then, I’m sure he would try to fight his way out of the Field of Reeds to try and come back to help.”

She grimaced. “Some vagabond with a vengeance. He had murdered and pillaged… But he has followers. Many of whom are those who feel the injustice of the world and blame the Pharaoh…. But he is appealing to the Lost Children too. It worries me that he could use them and discard them. His trail of corpses is none too pretty.”

[domaintandem-blog]

“Sounds like a good man to be friends with and a worse one to make enemies of,” he murmured, impressed that such a young king could inspire such faith in his subjects. He had come to the throne during a time of peace and even then his people had had doubts and fears he had a hard time assuaging.

“A scoundrel riling up a civil war then?” Dartz concluded. “Never a good thing. I would not like to be the man preparing for the eventuality of suppressing my own people. Let alone children. Is there anything—“ He paused. “You know, maybe, we can help each other…?”

[kingofinsxcts-archived]

Of Gods and Kings

@domaintandem

High-pitched laughter emerged from the gigantic, overgrown tree that seemed to consume the center of Domino city.

Swarms of insects, large and small in size, covered both the sky and the ground in patches, as inhabitants of the city ran in terror; some keeping shelter in moss and plant-covered buildings while others tried to escape in cars and trucks.

“Ehye-hye-hye-hye-hye! Subarashii~!! I never knew this could be so damn easy!” Haga mused from his throne room, blue eyes closed in glee as the screams from both humans and cicada entered his ears.

“Ah~, it almost makes me tremble in excitement! I hope my darlings are having as much fun as I am~!”

[domaintandem-blog]

Now Dartz had seen a myriad of things in his time and wandering this shifting wasteland had only made him privy to more disasters but this… Okay, take a step back. Dartz had been roaming, suit on, trying to perform some errands when his ring had begun to burn and his head had started to split open with pain. It was the Leviathan, it had to be, and he knew instantaneously it was making another ill fated escape attempt which might lodge Dartz across the universe. One of its escape attempts had sent him to the Dominion of the Beast, another back in time, where would he wind up now he wondered? 

He didn’t have to wonder long. When he came too he was crouching behind a mossy car as civilians fled around him and over him. Knowing laying prone was a great way to get trampled he pulled himself together and peaked down both ends of the clusterfuck’d city street. 

To his right civilians were running hard and fast, to his left? To his left their was a large tree taking root in the city churning, alive, with a multitude of singing insects. Okay, so, fuck whatever this was. This did not look good. That said with his healing abilities…. No, no, this still didn’t look good. Still, what would running away achieve? No, he had to investigate. So, pulling himself up, he headed for the tree. What was this apocalypse he’d fallen into? 

[kingofinsxcts-archived]

Many of the insects, who kept to the tree, spotted the long-haired individual almost immediately. They buzzed in anger, taking to the air and surrounding Dartz to keep him from going any further. Mantises, bees, beetles, millipedes… a multitude of different insects defended the tree and the young king inside. Whoever this human was, they were not going to enter.

[domaintandem-blog]

“Alright,” he paused, grumbling; “this just keeps getting more and more amusing…” He had two options: walk through the swarm or… well, really, walk through the storm was the prime option here and he didn’t like it. Yes it was unlikely the bugs, even with their combined might, could kill him but that still didn’t make it a promising prospect in his eyes. Okay, plan B; “I want to speak with whoever’s in charge.” Did bugs have a sentient leader? Well if they didn’t he wouldn’t embarrass himself in the long run by talking to air for a little while.

[kingofinsxcts-archived]

The crowd of insects hesitated, and they seemed to shift slightly at Dartz’s words.

They eventually parted, allowing the male to enter the giant tree. However, two large soldier ants stayed by Dartz’s side, incase the man decided to do anything funny.

[domaintandem-blog]

Holy shit that actually worked.

Dartz was mystified but there was no time for that now. Right now he had to gather his nerve and prepare himself for whatever strange creature lurked unbridled inside this tree. For all he knew the earth was being invaded by bug-like aliens or the bugs themselves were rising up because of some sentient super bug or—Point was there were many options and few answers as of yet. So he readied himself to face just about anything.

Well, anything excepting a child in a chair.

[nexusinpacem]

"Well look who it is," he grinned, "how are you today my friend?"

He blinked but smiled his little smile as he settled his feet on the ground. He was doing okay, not overwhelmed at least. Then he looked at Dartz and tilted his head. He hoped the other man had been having a good day.

[domaintandem-blog]

Dartz set the kettle down, watching it glisten for a moment in the fluorescent light of the store, before turning his full attention back to Maha. In a moment, with a little consideration, the mage plucked up the item himself and Dartz was glad to see his hands appreciating all the little spots of wear and tear.

“People let things go to waste,” Dartz murmured, “but then you have to remember people go to waste too. Lots of people love their things but they reach a point where even they can’t take care of them anymore or… sometimes the bruises have greater meaning than the polished original?” He shook his head, rambling again. Maha seemed to draw his voice out of him whether by some magic or just through his eyes Dartz wasn’t sure.

Taking a step from the shelf Dartz let them trail deeper into the belly of the store.

[nexusinpacem]

Maha had to agree with Dartz, that happened all too often didn’t it. Time…Wore down even the strongest of people. And bruises, scars, they were stories of such lives. Where you had been, what stories you had to tell. For a moment he touched a hand to his shoulder, thinking of his own markings but unable to remember what stories put them there. 

Turning he went to follow him, distracting himself with whatever other artifacts they came across. It wasn’t until they came upon a rack that he chose to touch something again. How could he not? With the way Dartz went on about his own hat, he hummed and picked up the large wide brimmed hat that had many feathers coming off it. 

With his little smile, he turned and plopped it upon Dartz’s head. There, now they both had a hat.

[domaintandem-blog]

In a way Maha was lucky he had scars. It was a damn shame he couldn’t remember all the stories to go with them but the scars promised that there was a story out there just waiting to be found! “One day we’ll map your scars,” he whispered, “one day we’ll know which childhood fall broke your ankle and which midnight rendezvous earned you a broken nose. One day.” Until then they’d just cope with what they had, that was enough for now, right? He was turning over some handmade dice, lost entirely in the thick dusty air of the place, when Maha dropped a silly wide brimmed hat atop his head. “Did you just--?” He laughed, perhaps a little too loud for the store clerk. “What? Should I hide all my hair too?”

[domaintandem-blog]

☼ //compassionatedestiny

Duel disks were always a bad sign. It was like carrying a sword around in this post-Atlantis world. It said; “here, for good or bad, I am a warrior”. So when the Leviathan churned inside his head at the sight of this young woman he knew he was going to be in for a long day. There was no walking away either because chances were if he could sense her then it was likely she could sense him just as keenly. 

“Young lady,” he greeted, “might I cut right to the chase? You don’t happen to be a friend of Yugi Motou do you?” 

[compassionatedestiny]

“It’s alright. I say these things but I rarely expect a real answer. I think it just helps to air what’s circulating in my head.” He hunched a little, elbows on his knees as they sat. He didn’t really expect much of her but as she spoke he reckoned she was a rather insightful creature. “You’re an old soul,” he grinned softly. “You should ramble like that more often.” He sighed, pushing his hair back from his face. “I hope destiny treats you kindly.” It was a warning as much as it was a blessing. 

A smile crossed her features for a moment, though it failed to reach her eyes. At the mention of destiny, she let out a empty chuckle, a hand motioning to her shoulder, but stopped midway.

“Destiny is indifferent for it is only a road,” she answered softly. “Whether preordained or not, everyone walks down it’s path.” She thought of the scars that marred her entire back, the scars that serve as a reminder of the journey she now takes on this “destiny.” “But we make choices that can change where we go on the journey.”

[domaintandem-blog]

He noted how her expression bloomed and changed. He glanced to her shoulder, curious. “Did something happen to you to make you feel that way?” He asked, not really expecting much of an answer. Why would she want to share intimate details of something painful with him after all?

[domaintandem-blog]

@lil-kissy

[domaintandem-blog]

“A dragon? I love dragons.” He smiled though just under the surface he was turbulent. Was the child talking about a Ka? It was possible. Furthermore it sounded like that legendary beast Kaiba wielded. Her manner of speech however told him she was all but ignorant of the similarities so they were likely unintentional or coincidental or… his head spun. “Kisara, kiddo, does Blue ever stick up for you and protect you?” 

[lil-kissy]

“Me too.” She smiled “I guessth,” She’d never really thought about it before but Blue was rather protective of her even if no one else could see her and she always seemed to know who she should trust.

[domaintandem-blog]

“How long have you know Blue?” Dartz asked. “I only met the Leviathan when I was all grown up. You’re lucky to have made a friend so young.”

[lil-kissy]

Kisara shrugged, “She’sth alwaysth been my friend.” she had known Blue for as long as she could remember but when she thought about it had only started seeing her more after the loss of her parents

[domaintandem-blog]

“Hmm…” He weighed the options. “Listen, Kisara, you seem like a very nice young lady and I’d like to help you but I need to ask you some tough questions now if I’m going to do that. Kiddo, where are your parents?”

[marikslittleangel]

+domaintandem

[domaintandem-blog]

“And why exactly do you want to murder this young lady?” Crap, had Dartz even gotten her name in all this kafuffle?

[marikslittleangel]

“My name is Irisi Sennen.” Irisi whispered in his ear.

[domaintandem-blog]

“Right, thank you,” he hushed her. “Question still stands for your ex here,” he continued, “what has she done that makes her worth killing?” 

[marikslittleangel]

“She dumped me.” He said. “I had a good reason why I dumped you, you raped me.” Irisi said.

[domaintandem-blog]

“She dumped you?” Dartz repeated. “You’d kill a woman because she dumped you? How pathetic are you?” Gods he needed to learn when to keep his mouth shut but the point remained,

[marikslittleangel]

“Yes.” He said as he pulled out a gun.

[domaintandem-blog]

Oh joy, weaponry. “Oh put it down,” he ordered, stepping between the young lady and the lad. “Don’t be an idiot right now.”

[paprika]

maybe i should send you a bill for all my time you wasted 

[compassionatedestiny]

@domaintandem I had to draw it.

[domaintandem-blog]

“Remember. DON’T kill anyone. …I can’t believe this is a REAL thing I have to remind you.” //compassionatedestiny (I'm sorry for the crack)

“DON’T? I thought your text specifically said— Well shit.. Uh…Look about that DON’T kill anyone thing…” He pawed the back of his neck.

(CRACK~ is marvellous)  

[compassionatedestiny]

“What the hell did you do, Old Man?!” Isabel snapped. “Do I even WANT to know who you killed??”

[domaintandem-blog]

“Look it was essentially an accident! Call it self defence!” Yes, and then let them forget it and never speak of it again.

[domaintandem-blog]

“I… I’ve changed my mind about all this. This isn’t a good idea anymore.”

“Oh come on,” he teased, “it’s just some water and some fish. None of them are going to bite you.” He sank down into the tank. How’d he’d bribed the aquarium to let him in after hours was a trade secret. Floating then he held his hands out to Maha. “Swimming’s not that hard. Come on, give it a try.” The water was everything to Dartz. If he couldn’t be submerged in a real ocean he’d take this tank and it was an experience he wanted to share with the other. He could already feel the fish settling and nibbling at his ankles.