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.))

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Hmph.

[So, he admits they took the Rod. Well, luckily for Bakura, Rosenkreuz cares enough about that to listen. Of course, he doesn't trust him as far as he could throw him, but he has his own idea of how to deal with that. And it starts with reaching out and dragging him inside the barrier.]

I'll take it back and stop him. But you will be coming with me. You've tried to deceive me before - I won't allow you that chance.

[he looks down at him in disgust.]

But in this state, you'll only be a hindrance...

[So, Rosenkreuz is just going to set him down firmly and immediately get to work keeping him from dying. There's bandages just lying around from all the injuries he's had to nurse lately, so he grabs them up, roughly pulls aside the burnt clothes and starts bandaging him rather aggressively. He doesn't care about making him comfortable, he's an enemy and they're in a damn hurry.]

[He scowls at Rosenkreuz, gritting his teeth against the pain. Those clothes were seared into his skin, starting to fuse - Rosenkreuz had simply torn the agonizing wounds open further.]

Gah-! Ngh... Bastard.

[If he hadn't promised Malik he wouldn't even let blood pass his lips, he might have bitten his hand just to try to stop himself from reacting too much. Being manhandled like this was humiliating, and he felt rather exposed, but he was in no fit condition to stop him. Nor to argue. Even if that man took the Rod... he'd get it back. He wouldn't allow anyone else but Yugi to have it, in the end. Everyone else was just borrowing it.

It was a mark of just how messed up he was that he submitted as lightly as he did, though he guardedly protected the Ring from Rosenkreuz's stupid fingers.

...he really wasn't relishing the thought of seeing Malik again so soon. At least now he was pretty sure he wasn't going to die.]

I wouldn't expe- ow-! ...expect any less of you.

[And he sure as hell isn't offering any reassurances.]

Edited 2013-09-13 06:02 (UTC)

[Too bad, they're IN THE WAY. He'll just have to bandage that along with everything else. The Ring does catch his eye, but he'll willfully ignore it for now with how much Bakura is guarding it. He'll tuck that away for a later time. If only he still had his books for research on this stuff... for now he has bigger fish to fry. He may not be reassuring him, but he doesn't need to. Rosenkreuz will kill him if this is another trap.

After what feels like forever, Rosenkreuz finally stops and looks over his work.]

... That will have to do. Rest a moment.

[He idly holds a hand out to the barrier, making it shine for a moment - it'll keep him trapped in, now, to ensure he doesn't just crawl off while he goes to rouse the others]

Edited 2013-09-13 07:07 (UTC)

[Speaking of the others...

Jack has been listening for a little while, though he couldn't make out the words. At last his curiosity overtakes him. He simply steps out of their room, sees the scene, takes one look at Rosenkreuz's face and walks back inside.]

Your Majesty, I think it's for you.

[His voice is deadpan.]

[Henry is roused fairly easily from Jack's movement, swinging off the bed and pulling his cloak on over the loose pajamas he'd rifled.]

Who is it?

[But as he asks, he's already going out...

...annnnd that is a specific person he never wanted to see again.]

You.

[...Why is he bandaged?]

Why are you here?

[Oh great, this guy. Not someone he wanted to see right now, but it'll do. He's still in pain, bandages or no, after all. Distractions are welcomed.]

Tch...! I wouldn't be here if I had the option! Malik's gone off the deep end. He tried to burn me alive, but I managed to get away.

[Despite his words, it's obvious he's not seeking pity. Not that he'd receive any if he did.]

Your friend decided the fact he has the Rod back is enough reason to go after him.

The Rod's missing? [Oh Henry, if you had slept as shallowly as you do without Jack, you could've heard Rosenkreuz's bitching.

As it is, he narrows his eyes at Bakura, a heavy sense of "well you did deserve it" coming off him.]

So you came here to ask for our help in stopping him?

[Ignoring the crack about Rosenkreuz for now.]

You didn't think this barrier would keep it from us, did you?

If Malik isn't stopped... he's going to destroy this island and everyone on it. I asked my monster to take me somewhere I could find a way to stop him. He brought me here.

[His shoulders shake with pained laughter. Malik? No, that's not Malik any more.]

Irony, or twisted fate? I can't tell.

Edited 2013-09-13 07:29 (UTC)

[Not forever, but longer than this.]

Where is he?

[Because destroying the island is kind of a Bad Thing™.]

...Beats me. Last I saw of him, we were at the northern edge of the island. He could have moved by now... he's not hurt in the slightest.

I couldn't lay a scratch on him.

Rosenkreuz is taking me with you, to make sure it isn't a trap... He doesn't believe me, heh.

[His shoulders shake again. Small surprise.]

And a good thing he doesn't.

[Henry turns his back at that, nodding to Jack and going back into their shared room. If there's a fight going, he's not going to meet it dressed for bed.]

[Jack follows him out, hiding his curiosity until they're back in their room.]

So that's the kid you spoke of? What is Rosenkreuz thinking, letting him in here?

[That guy... talk about defeating the purpose of this barrier.]

Yes, it is. And I'm not certain, but if he did, then he must have been given a compelling reason. Assuming he's telling the truth... I can agree with Rosenkreuz on this. Malik was dangerous enough before, but if he's truly been driven insane enough to drive even Bakura to us, then it's a problem we cannot afford to ignore.

[The armor's familiar weight settles easily, alongside the weight of the sword and card holder on his belt. He's got a very sickening feeling about this.]

[Having never met either of them before, Jack simply accepts his King's word. He's not exactly prone to just accepting things without proof, but looks can be deceiving. He knows that well. Even if that kid looks harmless, if Henry is concerned, that's good enough for him.

It's like getting suited up for war. Even though there is no war, the atmosphere in the room is tense.]

I see... Rosenkreuz and yourself must have reached a truer understanding of one another while you were here.

Something to that degree. [Henry's hand lingers on his sword's hilt.] I won't lie that it's strange... and the fact that he was never interested in who sat on the throne makes it more so. He had only been using the Yorkists for his own means, and that ended far from well from what the duelists told me.

[He taps his fingers against the card holder, then decides to leave off the Deck Leader armor for now. He can put it up once they're searching, but for now, this is fine.]

Strange situations make for strange relationships. Perhaps the connection to 'home' is enough for him. Perhaps the failures of the past have hit him harder than he thinks. Or perhaps he is hoping to gain something he can't obtain otherwise. I can't hope to comprehend what's going through that man's mind.

[Yesterday's enemies are today's friends. Today's friends are tomorrow's enemies. That is how he's used to seeing it. It's strange, yes, but he supposes it's not exactly bad.]

Heheh. You two getting along is strange even from this angle.

We do intend to return someday... and Rosenkreuz is a man of opportunity. Perhaps it's something as simple as taking advantage of our current entrapment to gain at least some favor with me. Having the king not exactly fond of you can make one's life a bit difficult.

[When one has their king in the same situation as them, it makes sense to try to get him on your side. And admittedly, Henry is already somewhat fond of Rosenkreuz, in a way.]

For now, if nothing else, we all fight under the same banner. I certainly won't look down on any help in this situation.

It feels a little strange... But, it wouldn't be the first time I'd fought alongside someone I perceived as an enemy.

[He doesn't need to say it. If Henry believes Rosenkreuz won't betray them just yet, he will accept it... though he won't simply trust him needlessly. The nature of the sly is to distrust others, after all. It's the curse of those who are willing to use underhanded methods that they can see the potential in all that they meet to do the same.

Speaking of which...]

Majesty, you said that this Bakura has the same powers that rest in my family line. If that's the case... how dangerous is this Malik?

Dangerous enough to be a threat.

[His voice is grim.]

While it was Bakura who seemed to summon the creatures and actively resist Rosenkreuz -- and the one who drove Rosenkreuz off in the end by threatening the Rose Cards -- we don't truly know what creatures he possesses, or what that Rod can fully do. Certainly, Rosenkreuz had been experimenting with it, but one does not learn the intricacies of sword fighting by swinging the sword around blindly.

We should proceed with the utmost caution. Unknown is perhaps the most dangerous an enemy can be.

[An unknown enemy. An unknown threat. An unknown level of risk. It's a pure sense of danger.

He rather likes it - not that he says it outright.]

I understand. The most dangerous snakes are those that hide their fangs, after all.

[His hand rests on his sword hilt thoughtfully.]

The most simple of blades can oft hide the most toxic venom.

[It was like that in any aspect of life, really. Sometimes, the most valuable -- or dangerous -- things could look no better than a dirty stone or commoner.

And with their unfamiliarity to this time...

Now properly dressed and noticing Jack the same, Henry steps back into the common room.]

Explain what happened.

[No politeness, buddy. You don't deserve it.]

...

[Leaning back against the wall, he stares up at Henry, a little calmer now than he was. At least he can breathe easier now. The little rest did him good.]

We were going to take the Rod and try to go home. But the barriers in this place are stronger than I expected.

You've probably guessed that Malik isn't the most stable of people. His mind is torn apart inside... being consumed by darkness steadily. When his escape plan failed... He finally snapped.

I've been teaching him how to summon, but his abilities are weak. He was never able to summon anything strong without help... until now. Maybe it was the stress on his mind. He was probably restraining himself without knowing it.

I wasn't expecting him to lose it like that. It was easy for him to take me by surprise. Luckily, my monsters protected me and got me away from him.

I was a little too much in pain to think straight, so I just asked it to take me somewhere safe. Somewhere I could find someone to stop Malik.

Apparently they misunderstood "safe".

Edited 2013-09-13 17:39 (UTC)

[Something so dangerous as to put this man in danger... the very man the Dark Magician was still tense just from the presence of.]

What, precisely, did he summon to cause such damage to you?

Edited 2013-09-13 17:43 (UTC)

[Bakura manages a smile, though it's twisted.]

He summoned a God.

[Hersey is the first thought in Henry's head and it shows on his face, Bakura getting somewhat of a skeptical look.]

God isn't something anyone can summon.

[But he said "a" God. Perhaps it was something strong enough that others could mistake it as a God? That's possible... and almost immensely worrying, all things considered.

He'll play along, for now.]

What "God" is this, then?

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