CAMPUS WIDE EVENT: EVERYTHING AND THE KITCHEN SINK

[intercom_voice]

[Hopefully everybody likes waking up outside.

Because as it were, in the middle of the night when everybody had been asleep or lulled into a sudden one by the sheer weight of the air around them...the Campus disappeared in its entirety. Left behind was only the cool surface of the concrete foundation.

For now it seems the residents were left to fend for themselves in the wilderness of the island. Not even the voice from over the intercom would comfort them.]

((ooc: the school has disappeared, along with all the NPCs and everything that was inside! no opt-out areas this time around. The temperature is cool during the day, and colder at night.

The event will last until October 20th, and I'll post a closer to signify it. Everything will be returned to its rightful place then.))

Comments

[obeytherod]

You know as well as I that I don't have or want to spend years on that. And if you aren't going to set up something "nice and proper", then what do you propose to do?

[Malik's patience is wearing a bit thin, because even with all he's accomplished today, the only person he can tolerate giving roundabout spiels is himself.]

[whiterosefoes]

Let's see... You are already able to summon Twin-Headed Behemoth in your own way and you're confident that it has chosen you. So why not a trial by fire to see if you're right? If you are, this should be fairly quick. I propose that you steel yourself!

[She mutters an incantation. A golden circle starts to form under their feet, just like the one that appeared in her duel with Henry, though it's not yet formed and more are starting to materialize in the air as well. While they're still incomplete, nothing happens, but magic power seems to radiate from them as their faces spin. She speaks as this happens]

These mysterious circles are the embodiment of a duel... when the eyes fall on your Behemoth, it should be compelled to act. You must open your mind and will it to come inside. Make its strength a part of your own - in mind and then in body, your armor will be like a second skin, existing as only is natural. Of course, if you reject it at all, it will hurt quite a lot... are you ready?

[The circles are formed, but the eyes in the middle of each one are closed. Harriet's focusing on keeping them shut.]

[obeytherod]

[Steel himself...?! This doesn't sound good. Malik's side-eying those golden circles when they appear, and although he's unsettled, he does a good job of not showing to what extent.

His turns his head back to Harriet at a moment, a hint of nervousness in his eyes. As she goes on to explain the consequences, he's not looking quite as confident as he had a few minutes ago.]

...How much is a lot?

[whiterosefoes]

[She gives him a flat look. Are you sure you want to ask?]

...You'll feel like dying. And really, you might.

[obeytherod]

...I see. [Malik shoots those circles another wary glance, and offers a similar look to Twin-Headed Behemoth. What was he thinking? Of course he could do this! He could dive into people's minds with the Rod, surely he could let a monster into his own!

He wasn't going to make a fool of himself in front of Harriet either. Then again if he failed, he'd look like an even bigger fool...

Malik feigns confidence amidst his real irritation.] Feh, with dangers like that, is this really the best method?

[whiterosefoes]

That's only if you fail. What happened to that confidence from before?

[obeytherod]

... [Is she teasing him?! She's teasing him!!!

Malik raises his voice a bit, barely holding back his agitation now.] Just get on with it!

[He'll never get through it if he keeps thinking about it.]

[whiterosefoes]

Focus, now.

[She gives him a moment to breathe and think, curling her hands in to absently look at her nails.

And then she flicks her wrist and spreads her fingers outward, opening the eyes at the same time. Their influence should stir something within the Behemoth...]

[obeytherod]

[Malik flinches as the eyes suddenly open up, the monster beside him tenses, its heads raised and alert. It all happens in an instant, but it feels much longer than that for Malik.

The door to the card--he was familiar with that--and the darkness beyond it. But this time he couldn't just reach in with his head turned away in childish fear, groping blindly for the power and monsters within. Right now it was as if his whole body was thrust forward into that darkness, suffocating him in a way not unfamiliar, and far too reminiscent of when his other half had been in control.

There's a faint glint and shift of mass as the Behemoth tries to bond with Malik and form his armor, but it's swiftly rejected as the Egyptian's mind cries out in fear. The half-formed armor rips away from him and causes him to cry out, shocking him to his core as he drops down to his knees and trembles.

Malik reaches up to grips his arms, but just as quickly pulls his hands away to notice he's covered in cuts, blood dripping down the exposed skin of his arms and midriff, as well as soaking through a few spots of his clothing.

One particular cut above his eyebrow had blood to pooling against his brow and eye, forcing him to shut it.

Shit...! What kind of magic was this?!]

[whiterosefoes]

Oh, balls!

[Harriet dispels the circles as the monster rips away, unsummoning itself while Malik shudders on the ground. Well, at least she was prepared for this. She hurries over to his side - An angelic figure shines above her as she heals Malik's wounds with Soul of the Pure. She leans over him, slightly fussing.]

You were so close! What happened? Are you all right?

[obeytherod]

[Malik blinks with shock as the sting of his wounds suddenly dissipate, the blood left behind and a faint line above his brow the only hint that he had ever been hurt at all.]

What...? [He looks down at his hands and then pulls his arms up to get a look at where he knows he saw a cut just a moment before. While his hands were still shaking, it was from more than just the shock of his failed bonding.] What happened?!

[whiterosefoes]

Huh? I healed you. [NO BIG DEAL THOUGH]

[obeytherod]

[Malik wipes some of the blood off his arm, as if to see if it were really there at all.]

You can...heal? Just like that...? [He mumbles the words, eyes wide.]

[whiterosefoes]

Well... It's card magic like anything else. I only have two of them.

[please do not ask her to heal your papercuts]

[obeytherod]

...Can you heal Bakura's burns? [Even Malik can do little to hide the hopeful tone of his voice. If those burns were gone...he could let go of that awful guilt!]

[whiterosefoes]

[That's the first thing he thinks to ask? Malik really does care for Bakura... it's shocking how innocently hopeful he sounds. Harriet wishes she didn't have to disappoint him.]

Well... it doesn't do much for scarring, I'm afraid.

[That line above his brow is still there, for example.]

Anyway, I'm sure Henry would have already tried it. Sorry.

[obeytherod]

... [Malik lowers his gaze again, trying not to look too disappointed.]

Anyway. [He shakes his head, getting to his feet and ignoring the slight trembling of his knees.] If you have another healing card, then I can try again.

[Firmly, despite himself.] I know what went wrong.

[whiterosefoes]

[Goes from looking down to looking up at him as he stands upright...]

Are you sure? You'll need to summon him again.

[She's not sure how much energy it takes out of him to summon that way. He kinda looks like he could use a breather, even if she did heal him physically.]

[obeytherod]

[Without bothering to answer, Malik pulls out his Twin-Headed Behemoth card and summons the monster into their world. He seems a bit more perturbed than usual by the summoning, mentally trying to peer behind that door for once instead of just pulling blindly with his will.]

...I'm fine, see? [If it hurt him again, so be it, but he was going to summon this armor today. He'd waited too long to fail now.]

[whiterosefoes]

[his face is different now than before - that determination mixed with anxiousness. It's not a bad look, but it does seem somewhat impatient.

Harriet gives a slight nod, but doesn't immediately bring the circles back.]

Yes. Could you tell me what had gone wrong though? I'd prefer to save this other heal if I can... Maybe I can reccomend an adjustment or two.

[obeytherod]

It startled me.

[Malik leaves it at that, looking at Harriet expectantly.]

[whiterosefoes]

... Hm. If that's all, then I'll just give you more warning when I open the eyes, I guess.

[The circles are forming again. Get ready.]

[obeytherod]

That should be enough.

[Malik curls his hands into fists, bracing himself for the inevitable. He could stand as steadfast as he wanted, and it wouldn't do a thing.

This wasn't a battle he fought outside, it was one of the mind.]

[whiterosefoes]

[Soon they're all up and spinning again, that feeling of magic thick in the air once more. The eyes are closed. Harriet counts down.]

Three...

Two...

One.

[They open!]

[obeytherod]

... [Guh, counting down almost made it worse. Malik stood with his head raised, staring sternly at one of the many eyes in front of him.

The moment they open, he's flung back into darkness. This time he manages to keep himself composed, and through that darkness the silhouettes of mountains form. He doesn't quite land, but instead hovers above the ground as he meets the Twin-Headed Behemoth within his soul.

Something catches in his peripheral, another figure with pale hair and bronze skin. Malik's own face contorts into an expression of horror both in his soul and out in the physical as he recognizes that man.

The Twin-Headed Behemoth steps forward, one head reaching for Malik and the other for his darker half, who turns his head with a playful cant, grinning drunkenly.

Malik's eyes snap open, and the armor is ripped from him again, much more violently than before. The red-eyed head suddenly snaps at him, clamping it's jaws around Malik's arm and tugging hard enough to yank him completely off his feet. The teal-eyed head, meanwhile, slams its jaws against its brother to try and knock him off.]

A-aaaaaahhghh!