the_campus | Joint Post! Like an Old Married Couple

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Joint Post! Like an Old Married Couple

[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.))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[It was part of the curse - and blessing - of the sly that they found it difficult to have faith in others. Suspicion was a part of nature by now. If it hadn't been for Malik, Bakura would just have come right out and fought the damn assholes. All at once, if he had to. He didn't trust them even half as much as Malik did. But instead, Malik's injuries and fear had forced caution on them.

After a little arguing, he'd agreed to go in first - though he knew that was less about Malik being afraid and more about Malik being a domineering bitch. So, dressed as casually as if he were just going to go smoke in an alleyway, Yami Bakura stepped into the area and waited, hands resting loosely by his sides. He at least looked unarmed.

Looks could be deceiving.]

Edited 2013-09-06 04:00 (UTC)

[Malik walks in after his partner, his own arms folded across his chest as he kept a straight face, refusing to let the enemy know that simply standing was painful for him. Likewise, he was wearing a jacket today, zipped up to the very bottom of his chin.

...Yes, he was trying to look steely-eyed and dauntless.]

[Rosenkreuz enters the hall with the girls behind him, all of them clad in their deck leader armor. He stands tall before them, letting his gaze pass between the two boys- an ice cold glare at Malik, then a smirk tugging his lips at Bakura's gross facial injury.]

Well, shall we begin?

[The King is notably absent, but he won't bring it up unless asked.]

[As if in response to the look, Bakura lifts his hand in an uncaring wave.]

Yo~, Leader-kun.

[It's clear that he views Rosenkreuz as the one in charge, no matter who actually is. Rosenkreuz may be strong enough to make his warning signals go completely mad, but that doesn't mean he won't be a sarcastic bitch. That smirk of the dragon-clad man's is practically inviting it.

His gaze pans the room in front of him.]

What's this? Don't tell me your friend is too angry to show up. That's too bad. I was hoping to meet the great Pharaoh-lookalike for myself.

[Rosenkreuz rubs under his nose, putting on an abashed look and speaking regretfully.]

Aah, he's been having trouble walking ever since he used the last of his strength healing dear Harriet. Our King gets so carried away. I advised him to stay and rest.

[subtly hanging her head in guilt when Rosenkreuz looks over at her. It's as though it was a deliberate jab. Of course, they're both just playing it up, though there's still a little truth to it.]

Edited 2013-09-06 21:37 (UTC)

... [Malik smirks at that, glad to see that the Pharaoh was suffering as much as he was. If not more. At least he had the strength toe show up.]

Rosenkreuz. [He lifts his hand, holding seven of the Rose Cards out, splayed out in it.]

These are what you want, right? Unfortunately, it would be rather foolish of my partner and I to simply hand them all over to you. If we did...you'd have everything you wanted. Your King didn't even have the nerve to show up, how can we know he'll even agree?

...So, for that reason, we'll be keeping one card each to ensure you don't try to break our deal. If you kill one of us, the other will rip up the last card, making the other fifteen nothing more than scraps of paper! [He collapses the cards into a pile. That was a lie; he planned to add that stipulation regardless, but the Pharaoh not being around only validated his suspicions.]

Hmhmhm... Oh, and we're only giving you seven for the truce. [He continues casual at first, as if it were a minor thing to forget...before his words begin to drip with venom again.] The other seven are for my Millennium Rod that you stole.

Edited 2013-09-07 00:32 (UTC)

[Seven rose cards. It seems these two have not done their research on old Rosenkreuz. Insolence on this level just fuels his annoyance with them. His face twists, and he chuckles, shaking his head.]

Stole? You are quite mistaken. I claimed this Rod as the family heirloom of my ancestor, High Priest Seth. Too bad for you, because I've already unlocked its great power! I no longer have need of quaint little trinkets like Rose Cards. Though it's cute that you think you still have leverage.

You see, they were really only necessary for sending us back to our time. And that's IF they will work once we've undone the sorcery that brought us here! But with this... once found, I shall just control that sorceror and take the power for myself!!

[This is an outright bluff. Rosenkreuz hasn't nearly mastered the rod enough to be confident in this plan, but it's better if the enemy think he knows everything there is to know about his ancestor and the millenium item, and for the cards to be devalued enough to make them sweat over it. Still, he's a skilled liar and manipulator, so his face is straight as he makes his claims.]

As for the Rose Cards, if I were you, I would think twice before threatening them again. You mongrels have already dared to damage that which belongs to me...

[He lays a hand on Eleanor's shoulder and pulls her slightly closer to him. She may protest the implication that she 'belongs' to him, but to Rosenkreuz, it's all psychology. Malik already thinks this group is composed of sentimental people; If he plays the part of protective lover, they'll have every reason to believe he will make things brutally personal when he continues speaking. He stares into Malik's eyes, but the crooked smile does not leave his face.]

I am an avaricious man, and the cards still have value despite their lack of necessity. If you so much as scratch them, I will become very angry indeed. But so that your insect-like brain can comprehend, I'll explain to you exactly what will happen should that come to pass....

[he raises his hand off of Eleanor's shoulder and clenches it into a fist]

Your death will be slow, and you will beg for its coming! But I will deny you it until I am satisfied. Only then will your body become food for my Blue Eyes.... Not that she needs to eat, but who cares where it'll go after that?! I will erase your existence completely!! Do you understand?!

[His voice started out quiet, but crescendoed until he was literally roaring mad, and he's still going, intending to scare the hell out of him.]

AND AS FOR THE KING'S PERMISSION, you blithering idiot...!

[Whatever warning signals Bakura's Ring might be giving off, it's far, far too late. There's the soft snck of a sword being drawn from it sheath directly behind the two, and then the sudden press of cold, sharp metal against the side of Malik's throat, pressed just hard enough to draw a small line of blood.]

I have such a habit of ignoring advice from my doctors. Drives my advisers quite... insane.

[There is absolutely no compassion there. Henry's voice is as cold as ice, the unspoken threat hanging in that even tone.]

Hahaha! Indeed! I only said I advised him. I NEVER SAID HE LISTENED!

[he throws his head back and cackles maniacally.]

THE CARDS FOR YOUR PATHETIC LIVES!! THAT IS THE ONLY DEAL YOU'LL GET!!!!

[...Still think they're hero types, Malik?]

[Fear was what Malik was feeling right now--unabashed, human fear.

If the Rose Cards lost their initial value, then they lost their only bargaining chip. He didn't doubt that Rosenkreuz could have learned to use the Rod; he knew that Kaiba was a reincarnation of Priest Seth, and the fact that this man would even call his ancestor by name solidified their relation.

Malik could feel himself struggle to keep a straight face, but the anxiety and fear was obvious in his eyes at the very real threats he's receiving.

Then, just like that, there's a cold blade pressing to his neck and any ability to hide his fear shatters.]

Haah--?! [Malik sucks in a sharp gasp, unfolding his arms and tilting his head away from the sword. Suddenly, it feels much harder for him to stand and ignore the pain in his side now that he could hear his heartbeat pounding in his ears. The bloodloss he'd suffered from earlier attacked him now in his adrenaline rush, causing him to stumble back against Henry and almost lose his balance entirely.]

[His eyes flash to Bakura, remembering what he had said about trying to draw a truce with these...

Hahaha...what had he called them? "Hero types"? What a foolish mistake. As much as he hates to admit it, maybe he should have listened to his partner.]

Y-you... [It's practically a hiss, and it takes every inch of Malik's will to keep his voice from shaking. Hew could hear it in Henry's voice--he wouldn't hesitate to kill him, and unlike the wound to his side...a sword cut to his throat wouldn't be survivable.

Without finishing his own sentence, Malik reaches back into his pocket to pull out the last Rose Card, holding it out for Henry. His hand was visibly shaking, the lively color trained from his knuckles.

It seems even more foolish to believe they would keep their word now, once he hands the cards over...but what else could he do?]

Malik-!

[If Malik was terrified, Bakura seemed almost the opposite. Surprised? Definitely. The surprise on his face was evident even to a complete fool. But frightened? It was more like a thrill than anything else. It wasn't that he didn't think them capable of fulfilling their threats. The subtle shift in his attitude shows that; his body, frail as it looks, is tensed. But the fear in him is for Malik, not himself. That fact surprises him even more than the trap, and he dismisses it sharply.

What's wrong? You useless thing! You could have warned me earlier, he chided the Ring silently inside of his head. But it was too late for warnings. It was too late for weapons.

It was simply too late.

Now he saw the flaw in the rest of the plan. While Rosenkreuz had been quite clearly dangerous, he had been the only one the Ring had sensed trouble from. Underestimating the rest of them had been a poor move. It was only natural to assume that the others were the 'stable influences' of the group, keeping Rosenkreuz in check. It looked as though that couldn't have been more wrong.]

Look at this, Malik...! Your plans have gotten us into another mess, it seems! Don't look so pitiful. They're giving you the option of life, after all.

[Still, to take the Rod... That's unacceptable! If it remains in their hands when we leave this place... Yes, the power of the Rod would be lost. Everything he'd been working towards would be gone. And all because of these fools... No, there has to be a way to get it back. One way or another. High Priest or no High Priest, Rosenkreuz or not...

He had to move slowly.

Bakura raised his hands, palms open, as if in surrender. Keeping them in sight at all times. It wouldn't do to have them think he was going for a weapon or something similar. Nope, he was going for something a little more silly.

Clap! Clap! Clap!]

I wouldn't have expected such underhanded methods...! I'm actually impressed! It's really wonderful! You really are prime examples of the bourgeoisie.

[Dropping his hands to his waist, he fumbles in his pockets to retrieve the eight cards he himself was carrying. It wasn't a total lie. He really was rather impressed. Rosenkreuz's rant alone would have impressed him, without the trap that had been sprung on them. Now if only the Yugi he knew was ruthless enough to keep his goddamn hands on his goddamn items, things would have been much easier.]

Hostages have no value after all, right? Because if you fulfil your threats, you're going to die anyway.

[Rather than Henry, he holds them out to Rosenkreuz.]

Here.

[When Malik had stumbled against him, Henry had held his free hand out to steady the smaller teen, though it was from no sense of affection or even kindness; it was simply to make sure his throat stayed in full range of that blade.

Giving the Egyptian a little push to get him back to his feet, he uses the now-free hand to take all the cards, fanning them out in front of him. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven... and eight. And he could easily feel the magic within them.]

They're real, Rosenkreuz. And all of them are here.

[Rosenkreuz raises an eyebrow at Bakura's applause. He certainly won't be buttered up by backhanded compliments like those, and he's a bit suspicious of the way he's handing the cards to him when Henry is right there. Still, it feels like it's been ages since he held the White Rose Cards, ever since he dispersed them to the Crusaders and Eleanor took them. So he'll bite. When Henry confirms that the cards are real, he goes to take them from Bakura. He smirks slightly when he holds the cards in his hands and feels that familiar power.]

Excellent, lads. You've chosen well.

Now get out of my sight.

Bakura... [The name comes out in a quite breathe, appalled by the fact Bakura would take now to insult him...in front of the enemy!

But he was in no condition to protest. Malik was barely in any condition to stand with the way he treated his injury today, and how it gave way to a cold sweat even now.]

Y-you have your stupid cards...let me go! [He hisses to the man behind him.]

Calm down, Malik.

[Stepping over to him, entirely disregarding the sword to Malik's throat, he reaches out to try and steady him. His hand rose to rest on Malik's neck, pushing between the blade and his skin to shield it. The sharpened blade cut into his hand as he did, but he was hardly going to wait even a second for Henry to move. Why waste time?

Leaning over, he whispered in his ear, so low that even a person right beside Malik wouldn't have heard him clearly.]

Calm down. The less they think of us, the better.

[Henry quirks an eyebrow when Bakura pushes his sword, but he moves with the shove and pulls it away, wiping the blood on his cape (he can wash that later) and sheathing it carefully.

That done, he simply walks past the two, firmly but slowly, as to hide the limp in his leg. It hurts like hell to do this, but he isn't going to let them know the full extent of the injury if he can help it.]

[Eleanor finally shows her feelings on everything by flipping both Malik and Bakura off.]

[Harriet's been standing with her arms crossed, but the next time they look over, she'll make a backwards V with her fingers and point it at her eyes, then at their's. "I'm watching you."]

[As soon as the sword is gone from his neck and Henry's backed off, Malik lets out a sigh of relief, slumping forward and reaching out to shakily grab Bakura's arm in much needed support.

His hangs his head, but watches as the two girls make their foreign gestures to him and Bakura. The meaning of Eleanor's goes clear over his head, but he guesses at Harriet's.]

[Malik swallows, leering over at the two women. He whispers low under his breath to Bakura, inaudible to even the most skilled eavesdropper.] They'll regret keeping my Rod...

Edited (wrong icon TWICE...oops) 2013-09-07 21:32 (UTC)

[Bakura waits for them to leave before he speaks. What annoying people. Fascinating, but annoying. Even so, his voice is kept low, lips murmuring against Malik's ear.]

That's right. This time it's my turn.

[At least this is an opportunity to prove Malik's insults of earlier wrong.]

[...And once the Rose Duelists are gone, Malik loses all incentive to keep to hiding his pain.

He grips his injured side, leaning heavier on that foot as he sinks against Bakura.]

...But first, take me back to the doctor. [Sighing, almost...relieved.] I finally have time to rest...

[Malik's weight against his body isn't unexpected. The boy looks like he's going to pass out, either from the loss of blood or the shock.

Gathering him up in his arms without protest, he heads down the hallway towards the infirmary. At least this time Malik will be safely able to recover there, he supposes.]

Even if it was risky, you made a good decision...

[For now. Though he doubts they'll adhere to it. Tricky, tricky...]

[It's a relief to finally be off his feet, and Malik can only imagine how much better he's going to feel after proper treatment. He never thought he'd be looking forward to something like this...]

Of course. [He wasn't exactly modest.]

Things didn't go exactly to plan, but...well...

[Malik lowers his voice knowingly.] Like you said. It's your turn.

[Rosenkreuz and the others have gotten a ways away from them at this point. He's been thinking as they walk.]

That went far better than expected. They didn't even question the claim about my ancestor...

[Even though it was the truth, he thought the two couldn't have known. It was the weakest part of his bluff, but Malik even had a look of recognition on his face. What do they know, he wonders. He supposes he'll find out later. For now, he'll just nod over at Eleanor.]

It seems your recklessness was a boon to us today.

LATER...

ALLIGAT--oh wait

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