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]

[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.]

[obeytherod]

How the hell do you expect me to get under there? I can't bend over!

[Malik glances down at the floor, lips pursed impatiently. He just takes his jacket and shirt off in the meantime.]

Darkness...? [His goals were for the greater good, for his family--why would his heart be filled with darkness?!] Have you seen your host lately? That's not hard to do, Bakura.

And who gave you the title of "great"?

["Practice"...did his wearing the Ring really effect Bakura that much?]

[fluffydeathdealer]

[Striding over with a stormy attitude, he slides his foot under the couch and kicks the first aid kit out, crouching down to pick it up.]

That's true... but the Ring accepted him despite that lack of darkness. He may be a pushover and a fool, but there's more depths to him than you'd expect. This body is the most comfortable one I've had for a long time. Heh... Perhaps it accepted me too... even if Ryou didn't.

[He hands the first aid kit brusquely to Malik. His mood isn't lightening much. Though he does smirk slightly at the question.]

I did, of course.

As it stands, the darkness within me and the darkness within you didn't agree with one another.

[obeytherod]

[Even if Ryou did have some depth, he doubted he would be of any interest to him.]

It fits you. [It was an off-handed compliment. Although considering how rare those tended to be from Malik, who knows.]

That doesn't make any sense, the piece of my soul I left within you never caused any--

--Wait! You can't just title yourself!

[fluffydeathdealer]

...heh. Thanks for the compliment. I assume you meant it like one anyway.

[Well, this is lifting his mood a little, at least He takes the rest of it in stride, Malik's annoyance as well as his confusion.]

Let me put it into simple terms, Malik. Your soul itself is pure. Most souls are; they're born pure and grow corrupted throughout life. The weight of a soul at death is due to the weight of that impurity.

Your heart, however, is filled with darkness. Why, I'm not sure... perhaps it's simply a representation of your anger. In that case, it's something that will go away when you kill the Pharaoh. As to that last part... yes. Yes, I can.

[obeytherod]

Partially.

[Malik finally opens the first aid kit now, getting out the few supplies he needs to care for the small bleeding puncture wounds on his chest. They were shallow, but it was better to care for them than to risk infection.]

I see. Then that makes sense. [After all, his hate and want for revenge against the Pharaoh was his main drive in life right now. It was the means to his future goals.]

I still don't understand why it would bother you, though. We're after the same thing.

[He pulls out some disinfectant, smoothing it over the spots on his chest before placing a small circular band-aid over each.]

...And if you can title yourself, Bakura, then I can do. From now on, you should call me "Master Malik". Keheheh!

[fluffydeathdealer]

['Same thing'? No, he was sure that wasn't true. The other Malik had tried to kill him, after all. But all of his questions and answers go out of his head at that last part.]

Shut up, idiot! I wouldn't call you that if you were the ruler of this world!

[obeytherod]

[Malik can't resist now. The temptation is too great.]

Ohh...do you prefer Japanese? You could call me Malik-sama.

[fluffydeathdealer]

I told you to shut up! I'll never refer to you by such a high title!

[obeytherod]

Kehehe...! That's only for yourself, right? "Ore-sama" this, "ore-sama", that!

[fluffydeathdealer]

Keh-! That's right! I'm far beyond any of those people, so I'm the only one that deserves that level of respect!

[obeytherod]

But Bakura-kun~ I thought you said we were equals. Right?

So by that logic...you should be calling me Malik-sama!

[fluffydeathdealer]

Tch-!

[He steps back, looking flustered and irritated. Not only was Malik using that stupid childish honorific to refer to him, but turning his own words against him-!]

That's in terms of the partnership! And if that were the case, you'd be calling me 'Bakura-sama' too!

[obeytherod]

Hardly. [He chuckles, brimming with confidence. He had Bakura backed into a corner now...!

Malik just wanted to see how far he could push things.]

I don't call myself "ore-sama". I use "boku". So for you to be my equal...I merely need to call you Bakura.

But for me to be your equal...you need to call me Malik-sama!

[fluffydeathdealer]

Keh-! [He tosses his head, looking away to try to hide his embarassment.]

Why would I have to call you something like that? When I called you equal, that was in terms of control, not respect. I don't need to show you that level of respect.