the_campus | Effect Room: Amnesia

...I wasn't planning on letting you. [He grumbles, more offended that this guy thought he would be able to take advantage of him in the first place than anything. The sexual connotations, however, were lost on him. He thought more in terms of violence and manhandling than anything.

One thing did stick out to him though. "I care too much about you," he had said, and with it Malik had felt something familiar burn in his chest. He ignores it and goes on to humour Bakura, lifting his hand to look at the scar that stretched across it. Seeing that drew a faint gasp out of him.

The memories of his body...rather, of his appearance, were innately intact, but that didn't include the scars he'd gathered here.]

This...? How did I get this?

[A feeling... It did evoke one. A slight, nervous twist of his gut.] I mean--ah. It does. But why?

[Bakura smirks a little at the offended reaction, amused. Of course he could. Like this, Malik wouldn't even remember his own training.

In answer, he lifts his own hand, the darkened scar striking against the pale skin.]

It was our promise.

[Deadpan. But he won't leave it at that.]

You did it yourself. So we'd be 'family'... After all, your real family is back in Japan right now. Ishizu and Rishid... are waiting for you. While we're here, we needed to make sure we wouldn't abandon one another. Because we... heh, we're not exactly the most serene partners.

[Really, their relationship was an affront to God.]

[He did something like this to himself? Malik looks down at that cut again after taking a look at Bakura's one to match, his eyes studying it and somehow knowing the other man's words were true.

He did this...so they'd be "family"? That's something else that sparks a feeling in him, but the memories associated with it refuse to follow. His expression turns melancholy, softens as he asks his next question.]

...I have a family? In Japan? But...I'm not Japanese.

[Not quite sure what he is, he just has a feeling that Japanese isn't it. It felt wrong somehow, while the claim about his family didn't No, no he definitely knew that was true. Those names resonated with him, somehow, their impression on him too longstanding to be so easily forgotten.

Maybe this man was telling the truth after all.]

You're right. You're Egyptian. But all three of you were in Japan before you came here.

Because you...

[It's probably foolish to tell him. If his memory doesn't come back, if he's lost Malik because of it and their relationship can't be repaired, it's worthless to let him go wild with regards to the Pharaoh. But...]

Because you wanted to bring them out of the darkness.

[He owes Malik at least that much. Even if it's risky.]

Edited 2013-12-14 06:26 (UTC)

[At those words, Malik's eyes grow wide, but it's not with realization. There's a hint of panic and frustration in his voice.]

...What? What darkness? Don't be so vague...you know I don't remember, so tell me!

[Dammit, he thought those keywords would work. He doesn't know the exact details, after all.]

I'm being vague because you never went into details, dammit! You've seriously forgotten even the place you grew up in?!

[...]

[Okay, he can do this.]

You came to Domino City to kill the man who made it so that your family had to live underground for the last three thousand years. Your brother went with you to help you. I don't know what the hell your sister was doing there. I didn't even know she was there until you warned me away from her.

Underground...

[This time, his look of shock is from realization. That's right. He lived underground...he hated it, he loathed every minute of it! His whole life, he'd wanted nothing more than to be free.

Sometime during this revelation Malik stared off into space, his eyes losing focus briefly before the life returned to them.]

I...remember now. [A little louder now.] I remember the tombs!

[Great. Malik doesn't remember him, but he remembers the damned shithole he grew up in. Whoop-de-fucking-do.]

That's good. Do you remember your goal? You wanted to free your family from the duties that kept them there.

[Malik does his best to try and dig into what little memories he's regained, searching for any clue he can get, but there's nothing.]

No... I only remember one other thing. [And it doesn't seem to be pleasant, based on the look he wore.]

[Ah well. It's not like he can expect total recovery this fast. Once he's taken a moment to think about it, his grumpiness fades. But this means there's a chance, at least.

Still, that look is worrying.]

...if it's about the marks on your back, I advise not looking too deeply into your memories.

But those scars--! [He starts, but a sudden sensation, a split within his own mind stops him. With that memory reawakened, his other half is allowed to awaken with it. Malik grips his head, and the shadow at his feet seems to distort and stretch before him.

But something was amiss. The shadow held its arm's out in what could either be a display of offered comfort, or malicious casual amusement; the hair was wild and spiked, and a wedjat sat right at its forehead.]

[The eerily supernatural effect is gone in an instant as if had never happened at all, and Malik's shadow is simply that again; a shadow. He calms with a few breathes, lowering his hands.]

...!!!

[Oh, that's never a good sign. Not even close to one. The sight of that eye in the shadow fills him with trepidation. With Malik being so distressed, there's no telling if that man is going to come out.]

Malik. You need to stay calm.

Why did I have to remember that...? [He mutters, head hanging low as he gazes down at the ground. It was crushing now that the only memories he had were of an unsatisfying and oppressed existence. The dull fury that didn't quite have all its fuel just yet was starting to spark back to life, but at the same time he felt so small and alone.

In this place...this scary, unfamiliar place, and the unfamiliarity of his own thoughts and mind. It was enough to drive anybody to collapse. Worst of all, this desperation somehow felt familiar. Was he always this way? It was a haunting thought.]

It's not fair... I want to remember something else! [Looking up again, he appears desperate.] Please help me remember Ishizu and Rishid--and you! If you're telling the truth, Bakura, then help me remember something good.

[Irritation surges beneath the surface at that request. How the hell is he meant to do that? His talent is with temporarily hiding memories, not bringing them out. And he doesn't know anything about Ishizu, and very little about Rishid.

Seeing the desperation of his younger partner, his gaze softens a little. It's pitiful, in a way. Seeing him like this. It's tiresome. And that inhuman part of him takes the chance to casually bring the fact that he could just take the Rod and walk away. It would hurt, but he could easily return to that power-hungry state. Why waste energy trying to repair his fractured mind?

But those thoughts are easily dismissed.]

I only saw Rishid once or twice. And I didn't see Ishizu at all, personally. But I made you figures of them, recently. It might bring the memory of them back.

Come on back to the dorm. I'll make you some tea and koshary, and we can see if anything there triggers your memory a little.

...Okay. [It's all he can do right now. Malik has no idea where to start, and so against some niggling paranoia he'll follow this man that claims to be his "partner". He has to wonder about those figures. Even if he can't remember them being made, it proves something, right?

Malik can't imagine himself being creative like that, can he? He has to look down at his hands at this thought and wonder as they walk, quietly speaking up as they near the dorm.]

Bakura...what kind of person am I?

...

What kind of question is that?

[Heading down the hall, he tucks his hands into his pockets as he walks. Tch... well, he can try to answer it anyway.]

A personality can't be boiled down to just a few words. But if I had to pick just a few to describe you...

You're stubborn, bossy, rude, intelligent and kinda naive. You don't tend to think much about what others want or need unless they're close to you... and sometimes not even then. And you don't get attached easily.

You don't have a lot of hobbies, either. Going to the gym and riding your bike sums up most of it.

...Kaha. [He laughs a little sadly as he hears that.] Is that all? I don't know what I expected to hear. Something better, maybe? Is that really the sort of person I am...?

[It sounds like the kind of person he'd hate. Actually, hearing that...draws up a memory. It's fuzzy at first, but the more he concentrates on it the clearer it becomes. That fragment is less of a scene and more of a summary. The idea and image of a man.

The words come out without him meaning for them to.] ...It sounds like my father.

...

[Malik doesn't talk about his father much, but he knows Malik isn't fond of him. Especially after what he heard about the scars on the boy's back. His lip curls in irritation at the thought.]

You're better than him. [Pausing in his footsteps, he looks back at Malik. It wasn't right for him to be so direct. He should have cushioned the blow a little of what type of person Malik was. Of all the times for him to be honest... Malik really did bring out the worst in him.]

You're not a bad person, Malik. Even if it sounds like it. Those are just excerpts of who you are... and you're young. Most young people have traits like those. You'll grow out of them.

The only reason you're so isolated is because you focus too hard on things and shut out everything else. You could do with learning to relax, sometimes.

But you love your family and you'll always do what's best for them, even if it's painful. And once you've set your mind on something, you'll not stop, no matter what. It's kind of admirable, in a way.

Edited 2013-12-15 11:55 (UTC)

[The words seem to calm Malik, at least enough to pull him back from the verge of depression, but he's far from relaxed. He was anxious, if anything.

He can only nod at Bakura, trying to accept his words.]

...I'll just have to keep trying to remember the truth behind those words.

[From what little he remembers, and what he's being told, Malik has a feeling this uneasiness isn't something that will ever go away. Would he be a better person if he didn't remember who he was? Maybe. But if there's anything he hasn't forgotten how to do, it's as Bakura just told him, that once he's set his mind on something, he won't stop until he has it. He doesn't want to be anybody but himself, good and bad.]

But every time you tell me something, I feel like I gain back small part of myself. It doesn't mean anything yet...but they're like puzzle pieces. Maybe if I get enough, I'll start to see the picture of myself.

Edited 2013-12-15 13:33 (UTC)

...I'll tell you things, if it'll help.

[Bakura nods, resuming his leisurely walk back towards the apartment.]

Just try to keep calm. You getting upset is dangerous... for both of us.

[Putting together the puzzle of his memories... it was almost fitting, in a way. He sighs, not looking around. He hopes it'll work.]

There's another you within your mind. Another Malik... The last thing we need is for 'him' to wake up.

[Trying to keep calm he can do. Although he doesn't see how being a little upset is dangerous. At least, not until Bakura goes on.]

...What? [The word is quiet, but even in that one utterance his skepticism can be heard.]

It's fine if you don't believe it. I kept it from you for a long time before he resurfaced last time, for the same reason. It's difficult to believe.

This way. [He beckons him over to the door, shouldering it open carelessly. As always, the room is painfully neat, save for what little mess he left that morning.]

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