Joint Post! Like an Old Married Couple

[fluffydeathdealer]

[From just outside the jungle's trees, near the mountainside, some bickering can be heard:]

Here. It's probably fresher than you'd like, but it's all we have.
...I can't eat that, Bakura.
You don't have the option to be picky, Malik!
No...I really can't, you fool!
Tch... I can cook it a bit more, but we have to be careful, or the smoke from the fire will give us away!
Ughh...can't you find some fruit? Just look up.
Do you want to die? If someone finds you while I'm out looking for fruit, you'll have worse problems than having to eat meat.
But Bakura... [Malik sounds a bit like he might be ill.] My stomach...
O-oy! Hold on a little longer, okay? I'll see if I can find something close by. I'll stay within earshot, so if someone approaches, scream.
Just get a couple...I don't need that much.
Be quiet, you idiot. You need to eat something. [He chomps down on the meat Malik refused to eat.]
Well? I can't eat anything if you don't go get something!

((ooc: So! Tags will come from both Bakura and Malik. If we're going to tag you with both on a turn we'll put a "1/2" in the subject line, otherwise it's just one at a time. Also since the two of them are injured, we just ask that nobody with magic healing powers comes along to heal them up and stuff. Thanks!

Warnings for adult content in some threads.))

Comments

[obeytherod]

What work? [He asks dubiously. It's not as if Bakura had told him about the girl beforehand, if his work was so important.]

...Better yet, why are you doing work without telling me? We're partners, Bakura. We work together.

[He manages to keep a stiff upper-lip about that last comment.] ...Jealous? Of what?

[fluffydeathdealer]

I told you, Malik. She's a dragon. I've been getting her on my side little by little since she first crashlanded here. As to the second part... it never seemed relevant.

[He smirks a little.] I don't know. Of her looks... of her getting attention...

[obeytherod]

How is that not relevant? [He hisses, leaning in closer to the other man.] Are you an idiot? Do you even know--

[Malik's eyes widen, and he pulls back again, furious and flustered.] What?! Why would I be jealous of her looks? She's as white as a corpse--with hair to match!

[fluffydeathdealer]

I met her right before this entire mess went down. It didn't seem important in all of the fuss. Especially since she's not stronger than Rosenkreuz's.

[A laugh rose up in his throat at that.] So am I.

[obeytherod]

When I have the Rod back she may be of use, but that girl would never do our dirty work otherwise. You're just wasting your time, Bakura, and mine.

[...And now Malik's been completely sidetracked by the other side of their conversation.]

What's your point? I'm not interested in you because of your looks. [Yes, that came out wrong. No, he didn't notice.]

[fluffydeathdealer]

Malik... Are you calling me ugly?

[His smile is like that of a feral dog, waiting for a chance to bite. The first part, he ignores entirely. But that part... oh, the opportunity is too good.]

[obeytherod]

Do you seriously care? [He says skeptically, but then a thought occurs to him...and for once, he actually realizes something.

...As opposed to all the times he doesn't realize these things.

Bakura was either fishing for compliments, trying to make him say something stupid, or trying to bait him into saying the wrong thing. That, or any combination of the three.

Malik shoots for the stars and goes for all three!

He lifts his hands in a shrug, returning his own pointed grin.]

Bakura-kun...are you finally falling for my charisma?

[fluffydeathdealer]

[Okay, the last thing he expected was for Malik to make that sort of joke. Lifting his hands in an idle gesture of dismissal, he lay back on the grass to stare up in the sky. Despite both that and the surprise on his face, he doesn't seem unhappy at all.]

Keep making jokes like that and one day I might say yes.

[obeytherod]

[Malik stayed where he was, back against a nearby tree as he considered those words.]

...As a joke, right? [He glances over.

Aughh...what was he saying? Was he really jealous of that stupid woman?! No...it wasn't that. He just couldn't lose Bakura, especially not right now. But now that he knew the girl was nothing more than a pawn...he shouldn't still feel angry over it.

The last few days, he'd practically had Bakura at his every beck and whim. But Bakura...had saved his life. He could have taken what he wanted--the Millennium Rod--and left with Ra as well.

Malk still didn't understand why the other man had gone so far out of his way to save him. It wasn't his charisma. They were only using each other. Right?]

Keh heh... [Is he supposed to do something right now? Malik had spent so long with the Rod, manipulating others...he had forgotten how to really deal with other people.

He didn't have to deal with Bakura though. He just needed to make him do what he wanted...]

[fluffydeathdealer]

Do you seriously care?

[He threw Malik's words back at him lightly, glancing over at him. What an annoying person. Interfering in his plans like that, as if it was impossible for them to be partners while he still carried out his own plans. Not to mention how naive Malik seemed to be. Had he really not noticed his own reactions.]

Oy, Malik? Why do you hate her so much?

[obeytherod]

... [He should had seen that one coming, but it still irritates him.]

Why? Because she gets in the way. [His words are dark. They really are filled with hate.]

[fluffydeathdealer]

...In the way of what? The most she did was spend some time talking to me and make a joke about being a nudist.

[He stares over at Malik in complete and utter confusion]

[obeytherod]

[Malik opens his mouth to respond, but finds that he doesn't really have an answer. It had just...been a feeling.]

Why the hell does it matter, Bakura? She's nothing but a disposable pawn, anyway!

[fluffydeathdealer]

That's true. But that doesn't make it any less confusing. Besides, it was just a little fun. You don't like me getting too close to you, after all, so why shouldn't I get close to other people?

[obeytherod]

[A look of shock and realization flashes across Malik's features.

...So was that it? No...he couldn't let that happen. What if Bakura found somebody who could offer him a greater reward?]

Hmph. I... [The words catch in his throat. He was supposed to be good at manipulating other people, why was he so speechless right now?!] ...Don't remember saying that.

[fluffydeathdealer]

Heheh. You don't remember telling me you'd stab me with your scalpel if I didn't stop touching you?

[Bakura rolls over onto his stomach in order to shoot him a bemused look. Malik being speechless was a once-in-a-blue-moon experience, after all. Was he finally starting to figure things out? Maybe he could learn after all.]

[obeytherod]

[Oh yeah. He did do that, didn't he?

Whoops.]

You were sitting on me! It was aggravating my stitches. [Malik certainly sounds indignant about it, but he's lying through his teeth.]

[fluffydeathdealer]

Hoh? Was that so? I guess that one gets a pass, then.

And the point where you pressed it to my throat?

[obeytherod]

[Well, this time he just smirks. There really wasn't a way to favorably lie around that one. So he tells a half-truth.]

I just always wanted to do that to somebody...keh heh heh.

[fluffydeathdealer]

Oh? I guess I won't have to leave you here for the wolves after all.

[His tone is entirely joking, but considering it's Bakura we're talking about... it's hard to tell.]

[obeytherod]

... [Malik bites his lip at that, annoyed...but he realizes it's a joke. At least, he hopes it is.]

Very funny. [He reaches back, pulling out that scalpel and bouncing it lightly between his thumb and forefinger.]

And don't forget...you stabbed yourself with it. That wasn't me.

[fluffydeathdealer]

True enough.

[Bakura thinks for a moment before continuing carelessly. There's an endlessly amused note to his voice.]

Though you know, her body is actually very soft and very warm. Considering the way you tend to shove me off, it might be easier on you if I keep her around... after all, I am far more fond of touching than you.

[obeytherod]

... [Malik grows livid once more.] Keep her around? Kyah hah! In your dreams, partner. You do what I say!

[Then, Malik blurts out the rest, not really thinking through the implications.] You can't have that girl around, the sight of her makes me sick! We're a partnership of two, and two only, Bakura!

[fluffydeathdealer]

...

[His own temper rises in turn, though Malik's wording surprises him. Did he really think of him... like 'that'?]

Since when does 'partner' mean you 'own' me?!

[obeytherod]

[He backs down slightly, lifting his hands up to try and casually dismiss the matter.

But his hands are shaking.]

...I got a little carried away. But the fact still stands...if we can't agree on it together, it's not happening.