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

[He may be King Obvious, but that doesn't mean it was a useless thing to say. Rosenkreuz already agreed to the challenge, but Harriet, for one, is taking heed of his warning.

As Henry steps backward, she subtly moves herself closer to the front, standing a bit protectively. Her sword is also drawn, but that's not the important part. Her eyes trained on the enemy, she moves the Red Rose cards into her hand... She'll just have to be careful for them. Of course, Malik doesn't know about this little trump card of theirs, so she'll stay completely silent as she waits with bated breath for their game to begin.]

Edited (unnecessary ellipses) 2013-09-16 04:40 (UTC)

[Malik is no longer paying attention to the others, his eyes set on Rosenkreuz with an opened-mouth grin.]

Be honored, Rosenkreuz...this will be your greatest challenge yet! And it'll also be your last.

[He pulls out his deck, but doesn't draw from it just yet. There's another low, shaking chuckle before he speaks again.]

Now, let me explain the rules... We each choose four monsters from our deck and summon them to the field. The last man standing wins...and the other is eaten alive! It's as simple as that.

Edited 2013-09-16 04:56 (UTC)

[Rosenkreuz takes out his deck as well, listening carefully. Four monsters? Why not five, the maximum amount that can be summoned? It's a simple detail that could have been easily overlooked, but not by Rosenkreuz. Arbitrary rules, Bakura's look of shock, and the claim that he'll be "eaten alive" in his "greatest challenge"... if he didn't know anything about the God Cards, it would merely be unsettling, but with everything he's learned so far, he finds Malik to be incredibly transparent.]

Interesting rules...

[By Rosenkreuz's count, it would be three tributes, plus one final ritual summon - that's what it takes to summon the Ultimate Dragon. He assumes Malik is planning something similar - the fifth monster is simply unnecessary. He can agree to that, but it seems they're too late to do this the easy way.]

I see! You still have the energy to summon Ra, don't you?!

[This was not according to plan, so his mind is racing. He'll just have to hope calling Malik out will get him some more last-minute information. The man does seem eager to brag - maybe something will slip out.]

Don't be fooled!

[Bakura snaps out at last, voice sharp. This Malik is nothing if not blatant in his intentions, but his own mind is racing. It's like his head is pounding, suddenly. Ignoring the others around him, he speaks directly to Rosenkreuz.

He could just let this go, and truthfully, he didn't care if Rosenkreuz burnt in holy flame... but there was something else to this. Something he hadn't calculated on. If this guy has the sense to listen, he could potentially defeat Malik right here.]

The Blue-Eyes White Dragon has the potential to challenge God!

[The words are almost snapped out in their harshness, but there's a seriousness to his voice that is rarely heard.

The monster that even Shadi was wary of.
The signature of the Priest who held the Sennen Rod.
The true rival to the Pharaoh's Gods...

Yes. If anyone could defeat Ra, it would have to be a Kaiba. Even a strange and foolish one like this!]

Ohh? Huhuhu...so you know about Ra? I had a feeling he would have told you. He just wants to save himself! [Malik shoots Bakura a look at his vague advice. Individually...the Blue-Eyes were nothing! He would summon Ra before Rosenkreuz had a chance to realize he could just attack his tributes.]

You're nothing, Rosenkreuz...huhuhu...you're just a fool who's gotten in the way.

My real prey here is the Parasite! After all... [His eyes widen, veins crawling up the side of his face.] If I sever my dominate half's ties to this world, one by one...it'll be like cutting the limbs from the body of a lamb! I'll immobilize him with his own despair! HuhuhAHAHAHAA!

[Cutting his laugh short, Malik hunches over, pulling the top four cards from his deck. He'd been prepared for this.]

Enough talk...let's play! [He sticks his tongue out.]

[Meep. If Rosenkreuz dies...

...yeah, he's screwed.]

Mheh heh. If that's all you wanted, it's little to me. I could easily hand him over...

[He wouldn't dare.

He wouldn't dare.

...he would totally dare.]

Shut up, bastard! I'll tear your throat out if you even try!

[In your condition, Bakura? Not bloody likely. Rosenkreuz ignores him, completing his sentence.]

... But do you really expect me to believe that you'll stop there? Malik was already a pestilent little wretch, and you're supposed to be his dark side! Your every word is poison!! I will...

[he pulls his four cards. The Blue Eyes, Bakura said! As if he had a mind to use anything else.]

... PURGE you from this world, along with your false God!

[They'll begin the game. He'll summon his three Blue Eyes, and when the time is right, he'll perform the Ritual for the Blue Eyes Ultimate. That Ra is going down.]

Keep talking... Huhuhuuu...

I want to hear what your voice sounds like, so I can compare it to the shrieks you make before your death.

[Malik wastes no more time, separating three of his cards from the rest. He was going to make this fast; the three monsters he was going to summon for Ra would be weak, but their combined powers would still decimate the Blue-Eyes.

So in an instance, he's pulling those three monsters onto the field from the darkness held within his cards.

Goblin Attack Force 2300 / 0
Dark Jeroid 1200 / 1500
Revival Jam 1500 / 500

It certainly didn't look like a winning hand.]

[Maybe not, but Rosenkreuz expects them to be gone soon. Although he hasn't guessed at the significance of their attack points, since they're just small fry. None of them can scratch his Blue Eyes, anyway. He'll go for more power to meet the challenge head on.]

Now... Ultimate Ritual!

[The three Blue Eyes combine into one three-headed beast, the Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon. With a whopping 4500 attack points, it towers over everything around. The dragon's heads let out an angry roar.]

Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon! Break everything that stands before you!!

[The dragons begin charging their attack. If Malik doesn't want those tributes destroyed, he'd better cut the theatrics.]

[While Rosenkreuz summons his own three-headed beast, Malik was already chanting the ritual to summon Ra, his hands crossed over his chest and his brow twisted in concentration.

In front of him, an invisible force started to tear into his monsters, like giant claws raking against soft flesh. It certainly wasn't the Ultimate Dragon, whose bright attack was now bursting forth, heading straight for them.

No...it was Ra, devouring his sacrifices from the Shadow Realm. And then it was Ra, causing the ground to rumble and the sky to darken as he rose up from the black depths at Malik's feet.

With the sky dusk, and the trees blocking out what little light was left, Ra shone like a golden tyrant, letting out a bird-like screech that sent wildlife sprinting in the other direction. The Ultimate Dragon's attack connected then, and there was a blinding flash of light from the impact, causing Malik to flinch and shield his eyes.

When the sky finally cleared and the spotty-daze of that blinding attack had subsided...Ra was still standing, but the Ultimate Dragon was nothing but a corpse.]

Huhuhu...HUHUAHAHAAHAHAHAHAAA!

RA...BURN HIM TO A CRISP! Show him what it means to stand up to a God!

[The God rears its head back, and blows for a river of molten fire at the crusader in front of it.] Drown...huhuhu....drown in the darkness of death, Rosenkreuz...!

Edited 2013-09-17 06:49 (UTC)

[When the skies darken and the light disappears, the darkness that settles is uncomfortable and hostile, far from the one that Henry resides and cloaks himself in. His monsters are screaming in his mind and soul, all terrified and frantic. The only steady among the sea is the Dark Magician, his plea to run drowned out by the screeches of the other Spellcasters.

And when the dust clears and there's only one left, a choked voice escapes Henry's throat.]

Holy Mary, Mother of God... pray for us sinners and deliver us...

[Rosenkreuz growled as the monsters he was attacking were clawed from his dragon's grasp - so, he didn't make it in time. Then it would truly be a test - his dragon against the God. He can't even remotely hide his awe when appears to shine in the sky, but he sees that his dragon is valiantly fighting on. He raises his sword then, up toward her, letting out a battle cry to goad her on. Fight... so they can kill Malik!

He can't see what's going on in the flash of light, so he just stands there, covering his eyes and continuing to will the dragon forward. But then... he sees it fall a great distance, to crumple on the ground. And not even the light of the Perfect Rule Eye to dissolve it peacefully... it's simply a corpse.]

It cannot be...

[it's almost a whisper. Suddenly his eyes shoot up to Ra, and his teeth grind in a mix of anger and terror. His eyes dilate in the light and sweat rolls down the side of his face - all of his dragons are gone, and he is completely exposed. A sitting duck. He's never been more powerless in his life. A slow unhinged laugh creeps out as he begins to hyperventilate, utterly frozen in place. He can't even believe his eyes.

Malik gives the order. He's going to die - is everyone else going to go with him? No ... he can't let that happen. It would dishonor his name, the one thing he strove so hard for. But he's failed again. For the last time, it seems...

Very well, then. He raises his arms out to take as much of the attack as he can. But when the magma flies toward him, it's so bright that he can't bring himself to look at it. He screams in agony as it sears right through his armor; a bloodcurdling, endless roar. At least when it burns his flesh soon after, he's in too much pain to stay conscious. The light disappears from his eyes and he finally falls to the ground - his face, flame licked, his chest a black-and-red mess of gore. It's a wonder his limbs even stayed on.]

[The moment Ra's attack finishes, the great monster twists back into the darkness, leaving Malik so drained that he all but collapses to one knee. Two summonings of God in one day...he could feel the sweat beading at his temples and running down the side of his face.

This was a bad position to be in. The rest of them still had swords, and now he was nearly defenseless.

Malik fakes confidence as he pulls himself back to his feet, dragging himself over towards Rosenkreuz's charred corpse.]

Haah...hahuhuhu... [His breathing is labored, and his body is barely obeying his command to stand without trembling, but he still has the audacity to jam his foot against the dead man's bloody chest.]

This...! This is what happens when you do things for the sake of others! [Grinding his foot against him, he could hear the squelching sound of flesh and blood.]

Now...maybe if you run fast enough...I'll let the rest of you live.

[Everything from the light fading feels like it's in slow motion to Eleanor. The fire, Rosenkreuz's scream... and what's left.

For a moment, she feels numb. It's as if everything is disconnected, like she's watching it through a screen.

Then Malik speaks and his voice breaks the spell. Immediately, her blood begins to boil, rage streaking through every thought and feeling. Rosenkreuz's death twists her heart like a knife and Eleanor becomes unaware of everything except him.

That smug murderer.]

AUUUUGGEEEYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!

[She lets out a screech that can only be described as unholy, a howl meant for the throat of wild, rabid beasts.

Without even thinking, Eleanor charges straight at him, drawing her sword in one fluid motion. There's nothing human in her eyes; all that's left is unbridled, burning, consuming rage.]

DIE!!

[Her sword is thrust forward, the blade piercing through Malik's stomach easily; in her addled state, the adrenaline pumping through her body makes it trivial to completely run him through, blood-soaked metal cracking out the back of his body.]

Edited 2013-09-17 08:21 (UTC)

[Harriet has been standing completely dumbstruck ever since the appearance of Ra. In its face, it was like she was no longer even significant - she didn't even remember she had the Red Rose Cards in her hand. She might as well have not been there at all. And she might have stayed motionless for hours, if it weren't for the sight of her friend rushing out with her sword. Even that was a blur. Elly, her best friend who went so far out of her way to avoid even the possibility of killing, had just murdered a man in cold blood. For a moment, it's so surreal it's like a dream. The blade going into the man did not seem real. It wasn't until that crack that the harsh reality hit, that it really was her with the blade in his body, and she exclaimed out in shock.]

ELEANOR!

[She finally lost her innocence, the way Harriet had. Even though Harriet had taken it upon herself to become the sole villain, to protect her from that fate. Why didn't she stop time? She was supposed to protect everyone this time... Why?

Harriet runs over and puts her hand on the other woman's shoulder, trying to even pull her back a little. Eleanor really looks like she's going to keep stabbing him. It's terrifying - but she has to be there for her now, or who knows what will happen? Though for a moment, she's at a loss for words, and being next to the fleshy blob that was once her former boss is overwhelming to say the least. Two people just died in front of her, and it wasn't even the war. It isn't fair.]

... This has to end here!

[Hands. What are those hands? Those aren't Malik's hands. Who's getting in her way?!

Eleanor whips her head around, her eyes showing nothing but bloodlust for that moment before they lock on Harriet's. The sight of the smaller girl restarts the intelligent part of Eleanor's brain, forcing actual thought sluggishly through her.]

Harriet?

[Her hands feel... strange. Eleanor looks... and feels bile burn in her throat. Without thinking, she rips the sword backwards, dropping it to the ground and backing away as quickly as she can.

At least until she trips over her own feet and goes to the ground... then she rolls over and starts retching onto the grass.]

[The sword pierced him effortlessly, ripping any remnants of confidence from his face. He couldn't speak, a low croak of pain bubbling up from his throat as his mind screamed out. Malik just stands there as he watches the scene unfold before him, limply perched on that blade until it's suddenly drawn out with a sickening spurt of blood. He falls backwards over Rosenkreuz's body as soon as that sadistic support is gone.

He was going to die.

...But if he was going to die, then he'd make Bakura, and his other half, suffer with him.]

Edited 2013-09-17 09:05 (UTC)

[Malik's darker half relinquishes his control over the body, the third eye fading from his forehead as his hair settles back down. He begins to tremble now, a whimper bubbling out from his throat amidst the blood. There was so much blood...in his mouth, on his hands...soaking the fabric of his shirt. He felt drenched and hot in this bath of blood...but also...cold.

Malik knew what had happened. He'd seen everything play through in sickening slow-motion, and for once...he begged his other half not to let him go. He didn't want to feel pain like that again, but the other him had no mercy.

Bakura was nearby. Maybe he could still help him...] ...ku...

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

Mal...ik?

[It wasn't possible.

Malik was gone. That other him... Had he been inside there that entire time? Had there been a way to pull him out of the darkness?

No... it was too late to think of that. His mind had gone blank. Barely noticing the nod from Henry that caused Jack to let him go, Bakura moved without thinking. It felt like he'd blinked and was there, unable to even feel the pain of walking like this. He could tell just by looking that it was too late. No, even before that, he'd known.

The only reason the other Malik would have let Malik out would be if there was nothing left for him to stay in control for. For once in his life, the sight of blood was making him feel sick.

His arm slipped around Malik's back, trying to lift him despite the agony of it. One hand pressed against the wound despite the uselessness of it, trying to stem the blood thoughtlessly.

Everything had simply gone numb.]

What do you think you're doing, Malik Ishtar? I didn't give you permission to go anywhere!

[Henry hadn't realized he'd been shaking until Jack had steadied him with a hand. For that brief, deadly moment, everything had been lost to him and he could do nothing but watch. Watch, as the horrible events unfolded.

He had barely been in enough of a mind to let Jack know to let Bakura go, but once he's managed to recover his footing, he slowly goes over.

...Malik. It's the one before... and he can see the expression on the boy's face. To suffer like this... even grown soldiers would feel some sense of fear.

He moves softly over to the other side, kneeling on the grass and lacing his arm behind Malik to help Bakura lift him some. He briefly lets his gaze rest on the boy proper, then lowers his head in respect.]

[He couldn't move. Malik felt like a ragdoll as Bakura tried to heft him up, and then Henry came in to help.

...What was that man doing here?

They weren't moving him...why weren't they moving him?

Malik knew the answer, and he knew that he didn't have a lot of time left to come to terms with it. But how was he supposed to accept something like that?

He was only 16-years-old...was he really going to die here?

His gaze, hazy and losing its light, turns towards Bakura. Malik's not really sure what he expects from the other man...just that he wants him to say something.

His chest hurts almost as bad as his wound. And his eyes...they hurt too, the tears welling up in them making it hard to see.]

[Lifting his hand, he cupped Malik's cheek, his thumb stroking the tears that were starting to spill out.

He didn't know what to say.

Death is commonplace. Everyday. Ordinary. Why was this one special? Why was this one painful? His chest felt oddly tight. His body was tense. It was like every muscle in his body had seized up at once, leaving him struggling to move. His hand moved to stroke through Malik's hair slowly, trying to be soothing. His fingers weren't working properly, but he didn't care.

This was all his fault.

He'd lost his temper, and this time it had cost him a whole lot of skin tissue, dignity, and one stupid idiot partner. One stupid, sarcastic, interesting partner.

One irritating

frustrating

exceptionally fun

partner.

Just a few days ago they'd been talking about Malik teaching him to drive. Malik had gone crazy over motorcycles, and they'd messed around a little to try to cheer him up.

One snapped nerve.

One moment of temper.

Humans were so fragile. Like moths fluttering in the light, burnt out in a blink of the eye of the universe. And then they were gone.

Why did it hurt so much?]

I...

[He should say something comforting. Something nice. Something.]

Don't bullshit me...!

[Nope. He's just going to bury his face in Malik's hair to try to hide the way he feels right now.]

You idiot! You shouldn't be dying here!

Edited 2013-09-17 10:09 (UTC)

[Hah... sometimes, Henry still forgot that those opposite them were people. They had their own feelings, their own connections, their own lines that could be severed as violently as the ones on his side. Whether enemy or friend, humans always made connections with each other.

Seeing Bakura's reaction causes Henry's eyes to soften, and he begins to murmur. At first, it's too soft to be heard, but as he continues, his voice rises in volume.]

...Oh God, divine that watches over this child, let thy name be spoken hallowed on his lips. Thy will be done here as thy does it in heaven. Forgive thy son of his trespasses, and as we forgive our trespassers. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver from the Evil One. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, now and ever, unto the ages of ages...

Edited 2013-09-17 10:14 (UTC)

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