#macabre-shackles

[mahoushoujoumonster-x]

@macabre-shackles said:

"Come now, I think it'll be entertaining."

“Maybe for you, Mac.. But no one warned the kid.”

[sennenpharaoh]

macabre-shackles replied to your post “Are you an angel or demon? Atem is a ruler of Hell, powerful and...”

"Sounds like the wrong Atem."

“I’ve seen from afar how you are, but I still wouldn’t call you a demon. Not like this...”

[thepharaohinleather]

Mac was there in an instant, practically tackling him. "Namir!"

Yami grunted as he was taken down by his love, laughing happily as he hugged the other. “Mac, my darling, I’ve missed you!” He gave Mac’s head a kiss and ran his fingers through the man’s hair. “How are you, are you well?”

[thief-of-shadows]

macabre-shackles replied to your post: “Remember when I had like ten boyfriends,...

“Life. Life happened.”

“Yeah... Well, I’m glad that you’re still around.”

[thief-of-shadows]

macabre-shackles replied to your post: Atem!!! You’re so cute.

I’m fierce god damn it

You sure are... It’s good to see you.

[game-weaver]

"Personally I wouldn't try picking a fight with that Atem but... To each their own I guess."

[sennenpharaoh]

Macs hand grasped Atems shoulder, helping to steady him. "You know the answers, they're somewhere in that pretty little head of yours." He tapped the middle of Atems forehead. "I'm going to be keeping a closer eye on you, Qita. And when you dig deep, when you're ready to accept and walk hand in hand with your darkness again, you let me know." He smirked, patting Atems head before backing into the shadows and simply.... Vanishing.

Atem just blinked at Mac's words, turning a bit red at the little teasing touches. Ah, just like Mac. Though still...

The answers are in his head already? Dig deep? Accept? Walk hand in hand with... Just what was he talking about? And why did this sound a little too familiar? Didn't he hear something like that from Yugi? And he swore he heard something vaguely familiar from his Colonel? It wasn't... exact, but the gist of it was the same. They all had that one thing in common. A darkness, a part of him. A part of himself.

What darkness were they talking about? What darkness that was inside of him did they know about that somehow he didn't?

...

Wait a minute.

And now... your true darkness is finally starting to reemerge. Look at it, the smallest of flames, a tiny spark. It's almost pretty. Hmm. It seems... bigger than before, doesn't it? Have you noticed every time you seemingly black out from your little angry hissy fit that flame grows a little more? You should see your eyes when you get the chance. While everyone does compliment your purple shade, I do find this crimson hue much more... genuine, don't you think? You got too close to the stone's power, and we both know what the stone does, don't we? Reveals a person's true nature. Reveals the darkness inside someone.

The flame. The one on his chest!

"I was right! He did do something to me, and somehow the others have seen it! He did... something to me, whatever it was, and I have to figure out what!"

He grabbed the cards and placed them back in his deckbox.

"The true problem wasn't that my magic was limited, it was the existence of that creature! Tainting me or... cursing me or... whatever he's doing. It all comes back to him! He has always been there, waiting for an opportune moment to come out and... what has he done? And how long have the others known about him? Has he taken over more times than I remember...?"

He had so many question, and the outskirts of the city was not a place to have them.

As fast as his body would allow, he briskly walked home. He needed to have a talk with someone.

[sennenpharaoh]

"So simple and complicated all at once. But if you are like any mirror, you're smart. Resourceful. Use that. You may have changed and moved on from your past but parts of that still linger in you. Whether you like it or not. Use those instincts. Hone them. There are many resources, many kinds of magic. My Dzabi taught himself magic and is now a strong witch. Yours may be born with his, but he still might be able to teach you some tricks. Should you be brave enough to seek my path, I'm just a call away. Broaden your mind, and hopefully you'll figure it out faster than I did and with less deaths in your wake." Mac said it so lightly but the truth was, he paid his own price for this forced second life. And slaughtered many in the process.

"On your feet, Qita." He rolled his shoulders.

Does he... want to know... or even ask about that casual hint that was dropped? Less deaths than... you know what? Best not to ask.

Though... the option of possible new teachers is a start. Suppose Aibou would be a start, though he wasn't sure if he was capable of Dream Magic, and if he wasn't... what then?

And dare he wonder what kind of Magics Mac wanted to teach him, if that darkness coming from his hand earlier was any indication.

Of course there was one locked away in his Soul Room, if you wish to call him that. And if you did he'd laugh at you. Off the table, no matter how many "truths" that creature wanted him to "accept".

"You've... um... given me a lot to think about." He found himself able to stand well enough; guess that conversation gave him enough time for his body to recover. Who knew?

Focus on the parts that still linger, though... what did he mean by that? His Shadow Magic? Perhaps... a new way to utilize his Shadow Magic? Up until now he had only used them on Magic Cards, so... ugh... his head...

He definitely had a lot to think about.