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Player Information

Name: Zoki
Age: 29
Contact details: Journal PM, kharamagic or discord zokiblu #5949
Other characters: N/A

Character Information

Name: Seto Kaiba
Canon: Yu-Gi-Oh Duel Monsters (anime, 4kids version)
Canon Point: Dark Side of Dimensions, post afterlife trip at the end

One point here: in the original Japanese version, the film was intended to take place after the manga continuity, not the anime continuity. The manga and anime had some differences. But the manga wasn't as widely known in English territories, so the 4kids dub sets the movie after the much more widely known anime.

It mostly works with one key retcon: in the anime, Kaiba witnessed Yugi and Atem's final duel and saw the pharaoh leave for the afterlife. In the manga and Dark Side of Dimensions, he did not---and the pharaoh leaving Kaiba without a last duel or even saying goodbye is what fuels his desperate actions. So I'm following the anime, with the exception that Kaiba missed the ceremonial duel.

OU/AU/CRAU/OC: OU
Age: 18

World Information: The main action of Yu-Gi-Oh takes place in a fictional Japan of the early 2000s (despite the English dub's best attempts to hide this), in a fictional city called Domino that is fairly similar to Tokyo.

One key difference is that the youth are swept up in a collectible card game craze called Duel Monsters, a game that is fairly similar in structure to Magic the Gathering. Players assemble a deck of monster cards, trap cards, and spell cards, combining them in various ways. Players begin a match with a set amount of Life Points, and the goal is to bring your opponent's life points to zero through superior monster firepower, traps, or spells.

Our story begins when a lonely boy named Yugi with a real talent for gaming assembles an ancient Egyptian puzzle and is possessed by the lost and vengeful spirit of a pharaoh, with no name and no memory. From there, the story is about the boy and the pharaoh (Atem) becoming friends, making new friends, dealing with the chaos caused by other ancient Egyptian artifacts, and restoring the pharaoh's memories. And all of the conflicts are resolved by playing Duel Monsters, of course, because the characters' souls are tied to their cards. Literally, sometimes.

Personal History:
Here

Personality:

Kaiba's initial appearance is rather straightforward. He's cold, cynical, competitive, with a clear air of belief in his own superiority and snarky quips prepared for the unworthy. This is the face he presents in business and to most of his dueling opponents. He is the best and he will prove to the world that he is just fine on his own. He's not one for social niceties and sugar-coating in the midst of competition, and will usually cut to the chase in an effort to get what he wants. He believes that anything can be achieved through hard work and determination.

Unfortunately for him, he doesn't live up to his ideals all of the time. Despite all the airs he puts on, he's still at his core an insecure teenager looking to assure himself that he's safe in his bubble of wealth, power, and respect. He easily gets flustered when his efforts fail and will throw himself at the problem even harder. He boggles openly at magic and attempts to explain it away through science. Or shared delusion. And he's utterly baffled by the idea that other people rely on their friends---sentiment is a weakness, isn't it?

He knows that too well, because Mokuba is his biggest weakness. Deep inside, he has a caring heart. His fondness for his little brother extends outward into a general sympathy for all lost children: the theme park his company built was conceived in his childhood as an escape for other lonely kids, and he snaps when he finds he isn't able to save a child.

There's also a burning fire of passion within him beneath the wall of ice. Feeling truly challenged, for example in a duel with Atem, makes him feel alive in a way that nothing else can. He's passionate about a well played game, but it takes a true challenger to break through his shell of disinterest. Once you have him hooked, though, he'll stubbornly throw himself at a challenge again and again until he wins.

Most people and their whining and friendship speeches get scorn from Kaiba, yet it's difficult but possible, to earn his respect. The chief way is to impress him with strategic prowess and grit. He can recognize when someone else is brilliant and reluctantly work with them, as he has with Pegasus, Atem, and most recently Yugi. Stupidity irritates him, but brilliance excites him.

Overall he's a mess of contradictions: deeply cynical with a cold outer shell that formed through childhood hardships and tough life lessons, but inwardly insecure and desiring connections with others. Even if that connection is a little warped. His passion and determination to win will...well, win the day in the end.

CRAU developments: N/A

Key themes:

Rebuilding yourself: At the time Atem used the mind crush on Kaiba, the angry young man had become an inhumanly cruel monster with no feeling for anyone, not even Mokuba. The burning desire of revenge was Kaiba's fuel to pull himself together at first, but his love for Mokuba (and eventual faith in Atem) kept him going beyond that.

Inner turmoil: Kaiba constantly proclaims that friendship is ridiculous and he doesn't need it, yet he's so desperate for validation from Atem that he pierces the veil of death to get it. He's too proud to admit he was wrong and doesn't have a clue how to deal with his emotions. He resists and rejects the hands of friendship offered to him over and over again, yet over time he grows closer to the dweebs.

Defying fate: He hates the concept of 'destiny' and will rebel against it at every turn. He believes deep down that we all make our own paths in this world, and repeatedly claims this despite being drawn into the ancient battles.

Main Motivation:

Kaiba has three primary motivations, and which one leads him at the moment varies according to circumstance.

Protect Mokuba. This is Kaiba's main motivation much of the time. His little brother is everything to him. Almost everything Kaiba has pushed himself to do and to become is to give Mokuba the childhood Seto himself never had, to see him safe and happy, and to make sure the future is bright for him. Their bond was broken by Gozaburo once, but after piecing his soul back together, Seto's determined to make sure it won't happen again.

In a world (or on a train) without Mokuba, this priority shifts to finding a way back to him.

Defeat Atem. That pesky pharaoh Atem really did a number on Kaiba's ego by taking his title and forcing him into a coma. Throughout the series, Kaiba has been driven by the goal of regaining his lost title and pride.

Despite that they developed a shaky bond, teaming up at times to defeat a bigger threat. Kaiba was willing to throw himself on the sword to get Atem through to the big bad, knowing his rival would have a better chance of winning. Things seemed to be looking up for them...and then Atem departed for the afterlife without giving Kaiba a second glance.

This slight sent Kaiba into a downward spiral. He went back to his old obsessive ways, setting aside all else, even Mokuba. He's driven by the grief of suddenly losing the one person who might have been a real friend to him, but Kaiba's too emotionally stunted to realize it.

Be the best. Kaiba has always been proud of his work, determined to stand tall and never show weakness to the world. He doesn't always succeed at it, but when he does win at something, you'll definitely hear about it. On the train he'll learn everything he can, become as impressive as he can, and try to regain the respect he craves.

Skills:

Mentally, Kaiba has a talent for games of skill and strategy. He's also a talented programmer, demonstrating hacking skills on several occasions and designing his company's virtual reality tech.

Physically, he's fairly athletic, able to throw cards like metal stars and jump from high heights. But he's completely human, there's nothing supernatural about it.

Item: The locket. Kaiba wears a small locket shaped like a Duel Monsters card, containing a picture of young Mokuba at the orphanage.

Sample: Here

Notes: n/a