Getting back to my roots after all that high-concept nonsense. Which amounts to: answering questions about the Kaibas. I've gotten some flak before for using OCs too much, but the thing is, this is my playground. The "Good Intentions" verse is kinda built around the people I've worked into the mix.

One of the main ideas I had, when I first started the main story, was: what do regular people in Domino think of all the weird shit that happens all the time? What do they make of these wacky kids who seem to always end up in the thick of it?

So. I mean. My own characters kinda end up hanging around as a matter of course.

Sometimes they're the only one's who'd realistically ask the questions I want to answer.


.


"Why does your brother have such a . . . weird reputation?"

Mokuba looked up, confused and unthinking, like he'd just broken water after swimming while holding his breath for entirely too long. "Huh? What?"

Connor glanced at Rebecca, unsure if he'd said something wrong, then said: "How come so many business people. Y'know. Finance people. Whatever. How come they hate him so much? Your brother."

Mokuba stared owlishly at his friend for a moment before cracking a wicked little grin. "Aha," he said. "Um? Well. It's . . . I mean. There's a whole mess of reasons, I guess. Mostly, I think, it's 'cuz he's young."

Rebecca nodded sagely; as one of the youngest Magic & Wizards players in the professional circuit, she was well-acquainted with this concept. "Oh, yeah," she put in. "I'm sure that's a big part of it. But more than that, he proves them wrong all the time. Not only is he some upstart with no idea what he's doing, or so they think to themselves, but he keeps beating them."

"Niisama has a reputation for 'stealing talent,'" Mokuba said, as it was clear that Connor had no real basis from which to understand. "Old hands in his—our?—industry don't like dealing with him 'cuz they're convinced he's just gonna grab all their best people and take them for himself."

"Why do they think he's gonna do that?"

"'Cuz he does," Rebecca said. Connor looked mildly scandalized. "I get the vibe that a lot of older folks think Kaiba-Corp is some tourist trap. All they know is it's the place where their kids' favorite videogames get made."

It was Mokuba's turn to nod with a solemn look on his face, like Rebecca had just uttered an immutable truth of the universe.

"I mean, aren't there tours and stuff?" Connor asked. "Isn't that . . . kinda true?"

"Yes," Rebecca said, favoring Connor with a look that was halfway between fondness and pity, "but there's more to it than that. The Kaiba Corporation is one of the single best places to work in modern memory." She eyed Mokuba. "I do expect sponsorship money for saying that."

"I'll buy lunch on Saturday," Mokuba said.

"Good enough." Rebecca clapped a hand onto the table between them, as though this sealed the deal. "Anyway. The truth is, when Seto Kaiba wants somebody, he gets them. Nobody turns down an offer to work at Kaiba-Corp. Nobody."

"Isn't that just part of the problem, then?" Connor still looked confused. "People think Mister Kaiba owns the city. Like he can do whatever he wants and nobody can stand up to him. Doesn't that just feed into the rumor?"

"He doesn't threaten anybody," Mokuba said. "He just doesn't mess around when he wants someone on-board. He doesn't try to maximize profits, he doesn't cut corners, he doesn't make people dance on strings. When he wants somebody to work at Kaiba-Corp, he makes an offer. A serious offer. And it's almost always better than whatever the person already has going on at their current work. So. They sign on." Mokuba frowned. "I think there's only been two times where somebody turned down Niisama's pitch."

"Wait." Connor looked confused again. "All these people say Mister Kaiba is stealing talent when all he's doing is offering people more money? If these other places want to keep their employees, shouldn't they, like. Match his offer? Do better? Isn't that everybody keeps saying you should do? Take the best offer you get. Know your worth. All that jazz."

"You'd think." Mokuba shrugged. "They'd rather act like it's Niisama's fault."

"How many people work there? At Kaiba-Corp, I mean."

"Um . . ." Mokuba tapped at his chin. "Five thousand, sixty-seven. I think? No. Sixty-eight."

"You always forget Big Wally," Rebecca said.

"I do not forget Big Wally!" Mokuba shot back. "Big Wally is a treasure and I will not stand for that kind of talk!"

"I dunno." Rebecca turned away. "That sounds just like what somebody who forgot Big Wally would say."

"Who's Big Wally?" Connor wondered.

"He's in charge of the cafeteria," Mokuba said stiffly.

"Anyway," Rebecca said, pointing a finger at Connor. "If you're smart, you'll keep an eye out for internships come high school. You've already got an in. Impress the big man, and you'll be set for life as soon as you graduate."

"How do you impress Mister Kaiba? I get the feeling that's hard."

"Be passionate," Mokuba said, ticking at his fingers, "be confident, and don't accept the first offer."

"Huh?"

Mokuba winked. "Know your worth."