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]

[Around Bakura, the air gets thicker, almost like a smog as it signals his wrong answer.]

Too bad...can you still breathe? Try again.

[fluffydeathdealer]

Gh-!

[He's enjoying this, isn't he?! Bastard-!

The air is painful to breathe in this situation. It clouds his mind almost as much as it clogs his throat. He can't think-!

His anger isn't even directed at the game so much as it is his own reaction to it. As the heaviness of the air had swelled into such a disgusting state, he'd felt an instinctive fear.

Unforgiveable-! To make him feel something like that... Luckily that answer was what he needed. If he wasn't a spirit... that could only leave one option. No, two, in a way. Either this was the 'real Malik'... or this was some sort of absurd aberration in his mind that had risen to awareness. But which one? Or were they both the same thing?

He had to focus. If he didn't answer, that bastard would surely just take it as his surrendering the 'game', as it was]

You... aren't Malik. Malik isn't capable of this level of darkness. But if- [Haa. He's already finding it difficult to talk.] -if you're not the Malik I know... but you're not a spirit... then you have to be a different Malik!

[Even if he got it right, would this guy loosen up on the suffocation? He really doubts it.]

[obeytherod]

[The "real Malik", an aberration...a doctor might debate them, but he wouldn't.

He knew what he was. A dark Malik, stemmed from the pain of his dominate half.]

...That's right.

Too bad, really. I was hoping to watch you writhe and gasp on the floor, struggling to conjure up the words for your next guess...!

[He lets out a dark chuckle. And no, the air's density doesn't lesson. Why should it? Bakura still guessed wrong.

And he liked to see him struggle.]

[fluffydeathdealer]

H-heh heh... I'm surprised... you didn't just lie and say I'd made a mistake anyway...

[He'd have expected that from someone like this. Malik was dishonorable on his own. With someone this twisted, he's surprised to find that level of honor. Or is it honor? Maybe he's just planning something new.]

How is that even possible? I've never seen a mind damaged like that!

[obeytherod]

I thought about it. But I haven't had anybody to talk to in a long time.

Huhuhuh...it gets so lonely~ [The mocking in his voice was abhorrent.] ...You don't know my precious dominate half very well, do you?

[fluffydeathdealer]

It's only natural. He's full of lies...

[Just. Going to sit down for a moment. It might be easier to breathe lower down. What an insulting joke. He spared him just out of some desire to talk?]

I doubt he even knows himself.

[obeytherod]

[Do you hear those footsteps in the distance, Bakura? He's only doing it to psych you out.]

No...he doesn't know anything. Huhu...he's been far too distracted lately to notice.

Tell me, Parasite. What did you expect to find when you peered into his heart?

[fluffydeathdealer]

[His head whipped around once more, looking for the source.]

Why should I tell you anything?

[obeytherod]

[The sudden crushing atmosphere around Bakura was his answer.]

[fluffydeathdealer]

Ghk-!

[Right. Right. Don't antagonise the bastard-!

Still, being honest isn't in his nature. Will that guy notice if he lies? He can't tell. Right now it doesn't matter, either. What matters is that he's in a dangerous position.

The other Malik had said that he only spared him out of that desire to talk. Denying him that was a guaranteed way to suffering. But he can't breathe enough to speak for a moment.]

B-bas...tard-!

[Yes, that's right, Bakura. Antagonize the guy in control right now.]

[obeytherod]

What was that? I didn't catch it. [He lets out a low, mocking laugh.

This Bakura was close to his dominate half, wasn't he? And without Rishid, he was the only thing keeping him together.

If he could get rid of him...Malik might break enough for him to tear his way through his consciousness and trap him within the darkness he held in his heart.]

Hehe...hahAHAHA! Forget talking--drown in darkness, Parasite! [The atmosphere increases again, growing dark and humid...almost sickly. He was trying to consume Bakura's soul by crushing him in the darkness.]

1/3

[fluffydeathdealer]

D-don't bullshit me-! I... won't disappear...!

[He couldn't breathe. He couldn't breathe-! Unbidden, an unnatural panic rose up. He had to do something!

One hand pressed at his mouth, torn between the need to breathe and the disgust at the taste of this sickening air. The chilling darkness within Malik's mind was trying to destroy him. He was sure of that.]

[fluffydeathdealer]

Hnh... he...heh...eh...

[Despite the pressure building in his chest, Bakura's lips twitched into a sarcastic smile. His shoulders shook with laughter, though it was painful to force out.

Part of him felt like it didn't want to breathe that air anyway.]

[fluffydeathdealer]

[The pressure forced him to the ground, gasping and trembling with the need for air. But despite that, he manages the occasional short burst of laughter.

What did this fool take him for?

No matter how much darkness he had within him, Bakura had more than enough of his own to match. No matter how much this hurt, he wasn't going to disappear from this-!]

Dr...own?

[It hurt like hell. His chest felt like it was going to burst.]

I...diot... You... don't know... anything-!

[An idea came to mind suddenly. Malik. If he could just focus long enough to tell him to take off the Ring-!]

[obeytherod]

[He arches his brow, surprised that this Parasite could survive the crushing effects of his darkness for even this long.

But it was just a matter of time. He would crush this soul...and with it, crush Malik's hope! He would take over this body and drown Malik next, just like the Spirit of the Ring!]

You still have the will to talk? ...You're much stronger than my dominate half, but let's see how long you can last. Huhuhu...

[He was already putting nearly everything he had into it, but with a little extra effort, this dark Malik manages to make things even worse. The air was so sickly now, so ghastly that it left an oozing slime on everything around it touched.

It was truly hellish.]

[fluffydeathdealer]

Gh-!

[What little air he could take in seemed to fill his soul from the inside. An unpleasant fluid seemed to be running down his throat to pool in his stomach. It seemed never-ending. A constant stream of a slime that felt and tasted like something even he wouldn't have touched. His hads clawed at his throat, fumbling their way back to his mouth. Unconsciously, he dug his fingers into his mouth to try to claw it out. He didn't want that stuff inside of him-!]

Kh... ill... yo... Aghk...

[The threat was barely understandable. The disgusting substance in his throat felt thick as tar. He coughed and struggled, trying to get rid of it even as he knew it was futile. Was he going to disappear here? Like this? Buried within Malik's mind like an unwanted memory?! He didn't know. He'd never encountered anything like this before. But if he didn't, that might even be worse. He'd be trapped like this until Malik was done with the Ring - and with the added resource of the Ring's power to his own, that could be some time.

No - he couldn't allow that! He'd go insane before that time came. Part of him wanted to scream. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to focus.

Malik. He needed to contact Malik-!

It was like he could hear something tearing inside of his mind just trying. Everything within him was devoted to resisting this sickening curse. Without the ability to form words even in his head, he did the first thing that came to mind.

He threw everything he had left at the Ring, willing it to respond.]

1/2

[obeytherod]

What wonderful sounds you're making, Parasite...

[Dark Malik's eyes were wide, red-veined with excitement as he watched the other soul suffer before him, writhe in agony as his darkness consumed him. Yes...it shouldn't be long now before his soul submitted, drowning in the sludge of Malik's pain and guilt.]

But you're taking far too long! [He laughs, and then kicks Bakura harshly in the side. He's not done there though, lifting his foot soon after to stomp down on his neck.] Die!

[Suddenly, there's a shift. The darkness lurches forward, and then pulls back of its own accord, like the shadows cast on a wall by a swinging lamp.] What?! No, not yet--!

[Dark Malik lurches for Bakura, his hands outstretched to claw at his neck, to draw the finishing blow, but it's too late. The other soul is pulled back and dissipates before him, leaving the alter ego to screech and throw a fit by himself in the recesses of Malik's mind.]

[obeytherod]

[Back in the apartment, Malik is holding one hand over his chest, a few spots of blood beading up on his shirt as he places the Millennium Ring back around the neck of its rightful owner.]

Dammit, Bakura... [He mutters the curse, eyes narrowed with a newly soured mood. He'd made him pay for this...!]

1/2

[fluffydeathdealer]

[The mocking voice of his tormentor broke through the clouds of chaos within his mind. If he'd been able to, he would have sworn a blue streak at him. But even if it hadn't been for the loss of air, the feeling of the rough kick would have knocked the wind out of him.

The sudden pain of the kick made him choke on the fluid in his mouth, spitting it out across the floor. He stared up at the other Malik, realizing his intent even before he spoke.

Don't-! he thought desperately, trying to will himself to move, to dodge, to do anything. Why wasn't he waking up in his body yet?!

But then the signs of being pulled away hit him and the hatefully angry face of the darker Malik disappeared.]

2/3

[fluffydeathdealer]

[He stayed unmoving for a time as the connection between them reformed. Curled up inside the Ring, his thoughts racing through his mind. He could still taste the disgusting mess of Malik's darkness. It felt like it had tainted his already ruined soul just by crawling inside of him.

Then he was in Ryou's body once more, to his unending relief. He gasped for air unconsciously. It made no sense to do so. The air was normal here. It wouldn't go away. But it was reflexive to. It felt good to be able to breathe again at all.

It was unforgiveable. Making him feel afraid, even for a short time, was completely unforgiveable! And to have felt that sort of terror, that fear of death, once more... It had been a long time since he'd felt anything close to it. It was just too much.

Malik. Where was Malik? His mind was having trouble focusing on his exact location.]

[fluffydeathdealer]

[Then everything came back into focus. His hand shot out to grab Malik by the shirt, tugging him down so he could stare at him closely.

And there he stayed.

Just staring.]

[obeytherod]

[Malik couldn't figure out why Bakura was gasping like that. He didn't normally do that when taking over for Ryou...so why now? And it's not as if Ryou could have just been...not breathing. If that were the case he'd be dead at least five times over by now.]

[When Bakura yanks him forward, Malik stares back with a stare briefly crossed between confusion and annoyance. But there was no hate in his eyes, or at least none directed towards the teen in front of him.]

...Bakura. Your stupid ring stabbed me.

[fluffydeathdealer]

...

[Bakura just stared in silence for a moment longer before letting him go. Absurd. Could this really be the same person? This person was the same as the one who'd just caused him such terror?

Even though it was impossible for it to be there, he could still feel that slime, and taste the sickliness of Malik's darkness. He mentally cursed his mind for retaining those mental images. Getting up, he strode over to the kitchen sink and turned the tap on in order to drink from it thirstily. For some reason his throat felt dry. It wasn't until he had calmed down from the cold water that he spoke.]

It shouldn't happen again.

[obeytherod]

... [Bakura was definitely acting strangely. It wasn't unlike the time he got all clingy after being defeated in a game by the other Yugi.

But that didn't make any sense. All Malik had done was wear the Ring for a few minutes, summon a four-star monster, and then been forced to put it back.

If he wasn't so livid at having a few puncture wounds in his chest, he might be more concerned.]

..Tch! It shouldn't have happened in the first place! Where's the first aid kit?

[Livid or not, he still needs to ask, suspicion in his voice.] And why are you acting so strange?

[fluffydeathdealer]

Under the couch.

[Just why it was under there, he wasn't going to say.

That swell of anger rising up inside of him seemed unending. As he looked back, he noticed it. His hands ware shaking. He clenched them into fists. He had to say something. There was no way he'd let Malik see how afraid he'd been. He can barely admit it to himself.]

Your heart is filled with far more darkness than that of my landlord. Because of that, you could consider it a battle between the great Bakura and the nature of Malik Ishtar.

[And one he lost.]

It looks like I'm going to need to practice some as well.

[But not in Malik's mind. No. Not at all. That just won't do. He doesn't want to face that again.]