I am Malik Ish-- I MEAN MY NAME IS NAMU.

[obeytherod]

[Malik had humoured the nurse, listened to her explanation until it made him burn with fury and he knocked her back with a telekinetic blast of his Millennium Rod. He storms out of the office mere moments later, letting out a frustrated cry.]

Rruhh! This cannot be! [Why this, in the middle of the Battle City tournament?! He was so close, so close to his revenge on the Pharaoh he could practically taste it, and now he was here. It made him so furious, and--]

[The teenager suddenly winces, bringing a hand to his head as an intense headache pounds at the forefront of his skull. He takes a moment then to calm himself, shaking for a bit before he finally straightens back up.]

[The Egyptian looks either way down the hall, silently hooking his Millennium Rod to his belt. Now was the worst possible time to be caught off guard like this. But for now he would just have to hope he could find a way out of here...and that he wouldn't bump into anybody who might recognize the Rod for what it really is. Then again, even if he did, he could always use the Rod to warp their mind into thinking it was nothing more than a decoration.

Still, he better play it safe and put on a nice face. After all, he was supposed to be Namu, not Malik.]

Ah...I really am lost! [He calls out innocently.]

((ooc: Here's his Permissions Post for anybody that missed it. I'll default to "no" on everything otherwise, and ask on a case-by-case basis.))

Comments

[obeytherod]

[Bakura had a point, and it was one Malik had realized himself even as he made the suggestion. In fact, it was the very reason why he had decided to speak up in the first place.]

Collateral. Heh. And I suppose the promise of my Millennium Rod is not enough for you, just as your promise of helping me defeat the Pharaoh is not enough for me.

Well... [Malik hums thoughtfully.] Tell me, Bakura, can you still take over your host without the Millennium Ring?

[fluffydeathdealer]

No.

[His expression darkens at the suggestion. As if he would give that up! If Malik could even get him to part with the Eye, that'd be an accomplishment.]

The Ring is the conduit that carries my soul. I need both the Ring and the host to be connected to control him.

[obeytherod]

No? Too bad.

[He crosses his arms, trying to think of something else he could ask for.] You don't have anything else?

[fluffydeathdealer]

[Bakura languidly draws the Eye out of his pocket, tossing it in his hand carelessly.]

I have this... but I doubt you have anything of equal value to offer.

[Holding it in front of his eye, he smirks at Malik.]

[obeytherod]

The Millennium Eye...

[Bakura was after the Millennium Items, so that would certainly do. As for what he had to offer...Malik simply smirks. He reaches back, pulling out from his pocket a counterfeit Winged God of Ra card he had in his possession. He shows the card to Bakura.]

I'm afraid all I have to offer is God. I'll give this to you...but you can't use it, understand?

[fluffydeathdealer]

.

.

.

[That was unexpected.

For Malik to offer that... he hadn't expected that at all. He'd expected the man to flounder and come up with another suggestion, not to offer something as precious as that.

The Ring seems to sense something about that card that makes him uneasy. An ill omen.

Was the man truly that desperate not to be left on his own? No, something isn't right here. That card was offered too easily... and the requirement makes little sense. What would be the harm in using it?]

Why?

[obeytherod]

[He narrows his eyes. Was Bakura suspicious...?]

Because it's still my card. The power of God was not meant to be used by just anybody. Besides... [He runs a finger over the ancient text.] Unless you can read Ancient Egyptian, it's as good as useless in your hands.

[fluffydeathdealer]

Is that so?

[That's right... Malik doesn't know who he is, not truly. There's still many secrets he has hidden. Still, something about this doesn't settle with him.]

Do me a favour then, Malik. Before I'll accept that card... I want you to summon it for me.

[obeytherod]

[Malik blinks, his brief look of shock betraying his intentions. No...he couldn't summon it. The wrath of God would smite him for it...!

Eventually, he scowls.]

Is that really necessary?

[fluffydeathdealer]

[Suspicions confirmed. He sighs, shaking his head slowly, and smirks.]

And now you see why we need collateral. I simply can't trust you not to deceive me.

[obeytherod]

... [And so Malik's own plan blows up in his face. The Egyptian admits defeat, putting away his counterfeit and retrieving the real card from his deck.]

How befitting...

[fluffydeathdealer]

Heheh. Here's a tip, free of charge! When you're trying to offer a false copy of something, don't seem too eager. You should act as if it were as valuable as the original. Bargain, offer alternatives. Make it seem like your last resort!

[Leaning forwards, he sets the Eye on the table between them.]

[obeytherod]

[Malik can only seethe at Bakura now as he holds the card diligently between his fingertips, peering over at the Millennium Eye on the table.

Now he'd driven himself into a corner. He had nothing else to offer besides the God card and his Millennium Rod, the later of which he trusted even less in Bakura's possession given its powers.]

[fluffydeathdealer]

Well then? Are we going to make a deal?

[His smile only grows wider. Oh, yes, this is working out just perfectly. Malik, you have much to learn. Even if you do get the better of him sometimes.

...most of the time.]

[obeytherod]

[Guh...it pains him to do so, but Malik forces his hand out to set the God card down on the table. His fury is almost palpable, his hand shaking.

He locks eyes with Bakura and shoots him the nastiest leer he can muster. This hatred and loathing, the exchange of collateral damage...being outsmarted. Was this really what it took to establish a mutual trust?]

...It's a deal.

[fluffydeathdealer]

[For people like them, it was the only option. Despite his own cruelty and hatred, the spirit of the Ring was at least honorable enough to play by the rules. Malik, on the other hand, had already tried to cheat him once, and had also had the nerve to force part of his soul into him. While Bakura's threat to abandon him had been a hollow one, it was none-the-less quite pleasant to see him in this state. And after all, he's a thief. If he ever did want to back out, he could easily just steal the Eye back.

This guy... really is amusing, he thinks, carelessly. A joke comes to mind and he leans over, flashing Malik a sarcastic smile.]

Should I start calling you 'partner'?

[obeytherod]

[Malik narrows his eyes further at that comment. He ignores the "joke" and replies harshly.]

In the presence of others, I am still "Namu", understand?

[He leans forward, grabbing the Millennium Eye in his hand and bringing it up to his face for an inspection.]

I can't risk my identity being revealed while I'm here.

[fluffydeathdealer]

Understood.

[Malik could probably still see dried specks of red on the Eye if he looked carefully enough.

...he wondered vaguely how Malik would react to realizing Bakura once licked that. Ah, well, time for trolling later.]

My host still doesn't know you even exist, so it's up to you how you act around him.

[obeytherod]

[Seeing the red, Malik realizes that Bakura probably never washed this thing after plucking it from its host. He made a note to wash his hands later.]

... [But that reminds him.] And what of your host? He's not bound to our agreement. How should I handle him?

[fluffydeathdealer]

Heheh. That's your problem.

[Please, it was just blood. Over the years it'd probably been covered in all kinda of dirt before it was shoved into Pegasus' eyesocket.]

Bakura is... troublesome. The hosts of the Sennen Ring need a particular level of strength all of their own, if they're to survive it. This one might be weak compared to some, but his tenacity is infuriating.

You don't need to act super nice to him, just don't let him realize you've got any sort of murderous tendencies towards his friends.

[obeytherod]

Hm...that should be easy enough. Yugi and his friends took to my Namu act readily enough.

[He smirks, leaning back to cross his arms. There's a certain glint in his eyes.]

But perhaps it'll be a good idea to solidify your host as my "friend" regardless. [He points the Millennium Rod at Bakura.] You're still going into the jungle to find us a way out, Bakura. If you fail, on your way back I want you to get injured and relinquish control to your host.

Then I'll come to his rescue.

[fluffydeathdealer]

Hoh? For once, you have a decent plan in mind, it seems.

[This is a good plan. He knows his host's heart, and how easily touched it is. As long as Malik doesn't act entirely transparent, Ryou should be fooled with ease. Well. He hopes Malik's capable of that.

His mood is definitely higher than it was, so he doesn't even mind the order. Rising to his feet, he slips the holy card into his pocket with such a lack of reverence that he might as well have been daring Ra to smite him.]

Will your soul-fragment let you know? I don't exactly have a phone.

[obeytherod]

[Malik is certain that he always has decent plans. They just don't end up working sometimes...]

Be careful with that. [Malik snaps with the way Bakura casually just shoves the God card in his pocket.]

But yes, I'll know. Just make sure to injure yourself far enough away that nobody else stumbles across him first.

[fluffydeathdealer]

Do you think I'd tempt fate that badly?

[Yes.

But since it's Malik's card, he'll be kind to it. If nothing else, him holding it for collateral means it can't be used against him. However, there's nowhere he can put it other than on his person. If he puts it anywhere else, Malik could just swap it for a false card later anyway.]

I hope you enjoy long walks, Malik.

[Oh, Malik, you've tempted fate too. You just know that when he does injure himself, Malik will have to walk a long, long way through mud and bugs and all sorts of tangling vines...

The door swings shut behind him with a bang before Malik can ask what he means.]

[obeytherod]

... [Malik had a feeling he knew what that meant as Bakura left.

That bastard was going to make him trek halfway through the jungle, wasn't he? That's not what he meant when he said far enough away!]