_{hehehhehhehehhhh what the flimflam is goin’ on here}

castitatli

       the manor walls no longer feel unfamiliar to her, having gotten used to being around. she feels more at ease, more comfortable– even to the point where she spends more time here than within her own small home. there’s a comfort in having someone else to wake up to in the morning, sharing breakfast and having casual conversations. for someone so outgoing in her affection to the world, she’s admittedly lonely, though not something she’d admit aloud. she doesn’t need to now. 

           he’s slept well, as noted by his nod, taking pride in the fact that she was able to get him to listen for once. he works so hard, takes very little time to recharge, and old habits die hard. it’s admittedly been challenging to get him to open up, despite her being so readily able to bare her soul to him, whether he likes it or not. a breakthrough, such as moments like these, make it more than worth it. 

              a gentle squeeze is given to his finger, slowly letting go as slipper-clad feet shuffle against the tile floor at the sudden ding! of the oven. upon opening the door, she’s greeted with the subtle smell of cinnamon that promptly spreads throughout the room.  ❝ Baked french toast! I thought we could try something on the sweeter side today. I’ve got fresh fruit cut up to put on top of it, whipped cream.. ❞ hands, now covered in mitts, take out the hot pan as she places it on the hot pad. by the time she’s finished setting everything up, a big grin is on her face as she settles by his side once more, green eyes gazing up at him. 

                 ❝ And, of course, limitless amounts of coffee. I hope you’re hungry, because I made quite a bit. ❞

_{lowering his fuming cup after indulging himself heartily, he is pleasantly surprised by the sweet scent of her baking. cinnamon—— he loves it so. a looming uneasiness haunts him as he tenses subtly, and he knows how his mind still struggles with the amiable feeling of a mundane morning such as this one. knuckles turn slightly paler as he grasps his mug tighter; and does the same with this fleeting feeling of relief he finds amidst his confusion.}

_{forging a company and ruling without mercy is far easier than meticulously build this warm thing called home. there was no control at the end of the road; only a newfound sense of comfort. after so many years, seto dares to revisit the ruins of a past he willingly destroyed; not to remember his suffering, but to retrieve the good parts that he sacrificed in an attempt to liberate himself from a hatred that shackled him. dear brother was right—— there were things worth keeping among all the hurting that wouldn’t heal.}

_{.  .  .  hungry. seto almost reaches for his empty belly in response, knowing well how laei is aware of his starving self like every morning. instead, his nose scrunches slightly in disapproval; she also knew he wasn’t fond of raw fruits. lips were about to part for he was concocting a childish protest, but he decides against it and settles for nothing but wearing his usual scowl. he helps her moving the necessities to the nearby island, taking place upon his stool, armed with a fork.}

     _{❛ now, to put your cooking to the test, ❜ he states almost ominously, eyeing her sideways with defiant chin. he could fool no one, and the small amount of weight he gained was enough proof of his adoration for her cooking. that—— and laei’s constant spoiling with a copious amount of sweets he could not refuse  .  .  .  ❛ it’s delicious, ❜ comes his gruff voice in a tactful praise after a lingering silence, eagerly taking another bite.}

_{boop! miscellaneous thoughts on kaiba part two, since i can’t focus on homework  .  .  .  it went all over the place again, so i apologize if it’s all wonky!}

_{i. his biological parents were wealthy, but by no mean near gozaburo’s infinite fortune. seto’s clothes and pursue of getting strong parents to adopt him and his brother can vouch for this. already with a brilliant mind, seto could have without any doubt manipulate and force loving and kind parents to adopt them. i assert he sabotaged many good occasions and that sort of thinking is far from childish and innocent - like. even in his youth, seto refused to replace what he has lost. his parents were dead and there was no way he would try to find substitute. he was aiming at the highest; to live in luxury and by the same occasion both him and his brother protected by a powerful, influential parent. he couldn’t care less about love. however the plan backfired quickly as gozaburo forced him into an accelerated school program and abuse.}

_{ii. seto’s lack of response and barely moving when receiving direct damage when dueling comes from a naturally very resilient physique, unfortunately strengthened by years of corporal punishment by his step - father. as testimony, he bears long scars upon his back that did not heal nor aged well, though he no longer feels any pain from them.}

_{iii. it goes without saying that his private tutoring wasn’t legally recognized—— from the education’s system point of view, kaiba’s at the very same level as his peers, and must attend classes at high - school regularly to graduate. however practically owning domino city has its own perks; he barely presents himself since he needs to tend to his company—— and the academic level is far too low for him to require his attention to successfully pass his classes.}

_{iv. upon returning from his very last duel with atem, reality bounced back on him and suffered minor health complications as everything caught up to him. it was all worth it though, and he regrets nothing. i prefer letting the outcome of this duel ambiguous; in fact, it matters very little in my mind as kaiba sought a test against himself and to reach a tangible parting with his friend, not victory per say. ultimately, i think seto finally made his peace and returned to his post battle - city dream; to flourish kaiba corporation further and cater to deprived children’s needs. kaiba is ambitious and constantly works to better the world he lives in for the greater good. from someone who was so much characterized by war and its cruel and unforgiving ideals, kaiba became quite the philanthropist.}

_{v. it’s not too much of a stretch for me to assume seto would slowly begin to distance himself from duel monsters; not out of any negative feelings, but because he has lost his challenging arch - rival and isn’t no longer interested in shallow victories. he wouldn’t distance from the game scene though; he’d continue to develop and revolutionize the industry, like always, and present himself at any duel monsters’ events. his passion for dueling will never diminish.}