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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[Help him bear it, he will. He supports Henry both physically and mentally, arranging everything he can to ease the toll on Henry. Seeing the noticable weakness in his body at the end, he offers his arm as support for his King.

The tiredness, the suffering... Henry doesn't deserve any of it. Right now... he would do pretty much anything to ease this pain for him. But all he can do is to be here. It feels pretty paltry.

He may not have liked Rosenkreuz, but for Henry to lose someone else was just cruel.]

[The king steadies himself on Jack, breathing softly to try to regain his bearing. His everything hurts, his head is swimming, but there's a pressing matter that must be seen to.

The dead are honored. Now it was time to attend to the living.

Henry goes over to where Malik is, removing his cloak. A look at Bakura is all he gives, then he gently lays it over the young Egyptian's body, rising to his feet again and managing to avoid swaying.]

Bakura. There's one thing we must see to... then we can separate.

[By now, Bakura had finally released the liveless corpse of his only friend, letting it sink to the ground. He didn't so much as blink at Henry's gesture, though it confused him. Why honor your enemies so much? It didn't make sense.]

What is it?

[His voice is more curt than usual.]

First, we should move this to inside.

[Over his shoulder, without turning his head:]

Jack, take Malik's body. Wrap my cloak around it if necessary.

[He speaks again, before Bakura can interrupt.]

I know you do not want me touching the body of your partner, and so I won't. You do not have the strength to carry him, either. So unless you wish to conduct what's left out here in our current states where we can be easily ambushed again, then one with your face should be acceptable enough for now.

[It's kind of a question, though it's phrased like a statement.]

Edited 2013-09-17 11:27 (UTC)

[...

He nods slowly, stepping back and letting Jack gather the body. To his credit, the man with his face handles Malik with a surprising gentleness, wrapping him in the cloak before picking him up.

...it's like looking at a mirror. Only far more troubling. He doesn't even want to watch, though he forces himself to. This is his fault, after all.

But, inside? He's injured, exhausted, and emotionally drained.]

Fine. I don't care.

[Giving a soft look and nod to Harriet, Henry leads the way inside, saying nothing.

Their dorm is not a place for their enemies, however dead. And there has been enough tonight that Henry wants all of this out of the way so he can bathe the smell of woodfire and blood off him then collapse for a good half a day. As such, he picks a random dorm, indicating for Jack to lay the body on the couch before turning to Bakura.

When his hand comes away from his armor, the Millennium Eye is between two fingers, while Ra is held between two others.

Henry says nothing, waiting to let Bakura get out whatever curses or snaps he wants before he begins.]

[It's too bad he can't find the energy even to swear right now. The shock of his injuries, coupled with this strange emotional turmoil, is starting to kick in.]

What do you plan to do with those?

Enough is enough, Bakura. Surely you must see that too.

For the sake of this blood feud -- this feud with our descendants, not us! -- for the sake of this hatred, now we both have lost someone we cared for, even if far from dear friends.

Enough is enough. There does not need to be any more fighting, any more bloodshed, any more hatred.

[Henry takes a slow breath, closing his eyes briefly. He feels so drained, he can't even be bothered to keep his exhaustion out of his voice.]

No more fighting. No more hatred. No more bloodshed, no more controlling, no more feud with us. Nothing. Everything that has happened since this began is wiped away, left by the roadside, and this entire war is stopped here and now for good.

I return these to you, and all of this is wiped clean.

Can we come to that agreement?

[Bakura listens in silence.

Truthfully, he had never cared about them. It was entertaining, even if it had poor consequences, but he had never borne them hatred. Even at the start... the hatred had all been on Malik's side.

He had borne it with his usual careless opportunism, relishing in the entertainment of it all. And now it had ended like this.

It was one of them that had killed Malik... wasn't that worthy of hatred? But it was an act of fear and anger... and he had expected Malik to die from the start of this, from the moment the other Malik first appeared. No, the only one he bears anger togethers in this is himself.

In the end, it worked out better for him, didn't it?]

...the Rod too. Malik promised it to me. If you can agree to that... Then I'll agree to your terms.

[He can't hold back the tiredness in his own voice.]

The Rod is on his person, or outside if it was dropped. I did not take it, nor would I want to keep it. These things have only brought suffering to us, and good riddance to them.

[He places Ra and the Eye on the table, holding his arms out for Bakura to see. There's no possible place he could hide it.]

Consider it done, then. This war is over... though I mourn the cost it took to bring it that way.

[And without a further word he strides out, pushing open the door to disappear into the hallway.]

[And just like that, everyone was gone. He reaches out to take the Items, feeling their familiarity. The Eye... and then the Rod, from Malik's person.

...He had what he wanted.

The Eye's weight rested comfortably in his pocket. The Rod's heaviness was held in his aching hand. Even Ra resided in his pocket once more, though it was a pocket that was barely intact thanks to the same creature.

Three of seven Items were on his person. One of three God Cards. He was alive, despite the pain.

So why didn't it feel good?

After three thousand years, he was well on the way to the victory he'd been searching for.

So why did it hurt?

He didn't understand it at all. What was this odd pain in his chest? There was only questions now. Questions and should-haves and self-loathing.

And endless, endless time.]

Edited 2013-09-17 11:56 (UTC)

[Jack knew enough not to interfere. He simply followed his King to the dorm, keeping up with his pace as best he could. His arm was there if he needed it. If not... he was still there too. Though he was quiet, his mind was racing over the events of the day.

Once they were inside the dorm safely, only then did he turn to Henry and speak.]

...You should rest.

I want to bathe, first. I'm going to have enough trouble without the stink of blood and smoke.

[Even now, Henry's strides are much less certain, almost to the point of swaying, but he stubbornly goes for the bathroom, leaving a trail of bloody handprints along the wall as he occasionally holds his hand out to steady himself.]

[Henry's temper rarely snapped out like that, but Jack understood it better than others would. Henry was exhausted, drained physically and emotionally, trapped in another world, had his sleep cut short and finally had to cremate his... well. Not friend.

Still, the trail of handprints makes him frown, as does Henry's condition. Without a word about Henry's mood, he strides over to gather Henry in his arms, picking him up and carrying him towards the bathroom to spare both Henry and the walls.]

Forgive my rudeness, Majesty.

[Henry gives a surprised grunt as he's suddenly hauled off his feet, but he seems too tired to argue, just dropping his hand onto his chest and half-closing his eyes.

Though it certainly has been a while since Jack's done this, Henry's weight has increased somewhat, though not significantly. With how lanky the king tends to be, that may not entirely be a bad thing.]

Thank you...

Edited 2013-09-17 12:05 (UTC)

[He notes that increase, but doesn't mind it. It's healthy, at least. Perhaps it's the effect of this modern food he likes? At any rate, he's not as heavy as Bakura was, leather armor or no. Setting him down in the bathroom, he looks him over thoughtfully.]

Do you need help?

No. I will... be all right, I think.

[He rubs his eyes, exhaling. He's not so muddled that he can't recognize the truth behind the question: all of them felt helpless after that, but at least Henry was able to manage last rites and the real truce.

Jack had always cared about his health, so it must be frustrating, like this...]

Just... find something for us to sleep in, for now.

[It's the first order he can think of, because for a moment he just wants silence. It will likely be the last thing on his mind soon enough, but right now as he fumbles with the knobs, it's all he wants. Just a moment of silence and hot water.]

Edited 2013-09-17 12:16 (UTC)

[He bows his head obediently, leaving Henry to his thoughts. It's odd, seeing Henry like this. It leaves a dull ache inside of him, like a bruise that kept being pressed on by armor.

Taking off his armor, he checks through the dresser and closet for something suitable and clean. Still, the thoughts of today won't leave his mind. Rosenkreuz. Henry. The girls, looking so wrecked that they might even snap.

There was nothing he could do but act as support for Henry. It made him feel pretty helpless.

Ah, here they were. Comfortable sleepwear.]

[By the time Jack returns, Henry has washed everything off, leaving just the smell of soap and the towel around his waist. He rubs the other along his hair, dropping his hands and turning to look at the other man.]

...Did I do what was right, Jack? [He rubs his eyes, then softer.] Did I?

If you mean Rosenkreuz... If you had interfered, you would have been caught up in the attack too.

But, if you mean the agreement... It was well done. The kindness you showed to your enemy, also. I can see little fault in it, save that it may be foolish to trust that creature to hold to that.

[He moves to Henry, reaching out to put a hand on his shoulder and grasp it firmly.]

But... that's what I'm here for. I failed you today, but... I won't let such cruelties happen to anyone else within our group again.

[Henry manages a weak smile at that, nodding softly before almost falling forward onto him, one hand going to Jack's shoulder while his head rests on the other.]

I'm tired.

[It's soft and weak, more in line with a sick child than a strong king, but nothing about the past few hours have made Henry feel like he could be strong.]

Please... sleep beside me tonight, Jack. I don't know if I can rest otherwise.

[He's gotten too used to it, really... having someone resting in the same room to protect him. He can feel it at the back of the mind, the knawing nightmares just waiting to come, and right now, he wants more than anything to not be alone when they do.]

Edited 2013-09-17 12:33 (UTC)

[Jack's hands come up to hold him, surprisingly gentle despite their strength. Henry sounds almost like a broken child. Poor soul... this must have weighed heavier on him than he was willing to admit. One hand gently rubs Henry's back, trying to ease the tension he feels there. He forgoes the formalities, since nobody else is around, and Henry needs it. Right now...

Henry isn't his king.

He's his friend.

That's all he can be right now, right?]

I will, Henry. If that is your wish... I will be glad to sleep by your side.

Thank you...

[He shifts his grip on Jack a little, but it almost seems like he's about to fall asleep right here.]

I'm... more than anything, glad that you're back...

[...this is going to be a little strange, highness, but he's just going to scoop you up in his arms like a child (or a bride) and carry you through to set you on the bed. ...it looks a little small for both of them.]

Here. You wanted something comfortable, I assume?

[If Henry's too tired, he'll dress him in his nightclothes himself.]

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Joint Post! Like an Old Married Couple

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