Effect Room: Amnesia

[stealshinies]

[Today, quite a few of the rooms seem to have taken a liking to inflicting some stupefying amnesia. One might still remember bits and pieces of the past, their name, their family, and common knowledge...or one might forget everything. Either way, the effect only takes place once the room has been exited, and then its poor victims are left to wander the halls in their confusion.]

((ooc: so basically, at some point when walking out of a room, your character is inflicted with amnesia! mingle, tag around, etc.~ Characters who tag into other threads don't have to be affected by the amnesia, only the ones making the thread starters do. Effects last as long as you want.))

Comments

[fluffydeathdealer]

...hoh? What is it?

[Bakura stares at him curiously. Folding his arms over his chest, he leans back against the wall, outwardly at ease. Inwardly, he was a tempest of questions and concerns.

Malik was his anchor, that much was true. A link to a world he felt only tangentially attached to, and cared little for. And only now was he realizing just how unstable he felt without the boy being his usual self.]

[obeytherod]

...Even though I can't remember you, I feel comfortable around you. More than I should. I feel...

[He hesitates a moment. Bakura had called them "partners", right? Maybe that's why. It was strange to imagine himself in that position, though, especially with someone who fell so stray of what he felt were his innate tastes.] ...really comfortable around you.

[And when he looked at Bakura's face, he felt a sense of ease. He knew this man, somehow.]

[fluffydeathdealer]

[Bakura is silent for a moment. It's not what he expected, but he's grateful for it. He can't help but smile in response. Malik felt comfortable with him, even now... that thought made his heart ease somewhat.]

It's good... hearing that. I was worried.

[Remembering something, he disappears into the bedroom for a moment, seeking out - where did Malik leave those damn things? - the figures he'd made and returning with them.]

Here.

[He sets them on the table.]

[obeytherod]

[Malik smiles faintly in return before Bakura turns towards the bedroom. When he comes back with the miniatures in tow the Egyptian leans in to inspect them. There's a slight, confused recognition written on his face as he looks, but it's not from what Bakura might think.]

You made these. [It's not a question, but a statement of which he's not entirely sure how he knows it.]

[fluffydeathdealer]

That's right! [That realization makes him smile wider. They're not the best things he's ever done - how the hell Ryou avoided cutting his fingers to pieces, he'll never know - but he's still pleased with them. And if they mean enough to Malik to be recognized, that's even more happening to make him happy.]

You were kind of depressed, so I made you these to cheer you up.

[obeytherod]

[Bakura made these to cheer him up? What a weird thought, that this man cared for him that much.

Malik looks the miniatures over awhile longer, feeling like he should recognize them but unable to draw up the memory. Finally he looks back up at Bakura, eyes searching for answers.]

Who are they supposed to be? Or are they just a gift?

[fluffydeathdealer]

This one is Ishizu. Your elder sister. [He taps it on the top of its head, before glancing at the other one. Those marks on his face were tiresome to replicate...]

This- [Tap.] -is your brother, Rishid.

[obeytherod]

Ah...! [Malik picks them up again, holding them close so he can inspect what little features there are to then.]

How could I forget? [His voice wavers, as the slight familiarity came back to them. He couldn't see their faces clearly, but an image was coming back to him now.]

[fluffydeathdealer]

[He could answer that, but there's no sense in bringing up the whole magic thing just yet. Instead, he sits on the sofa beside him, crossing one leg over the other almost boredly. Resting his head on his hand, he watches Malik study the figures and chimes in a little.]

That Rishid... he's really tall and intimidating. And he doesn't talk a whole lot, from what I saw.

[obeytherod]

[Malik nods, muttering more to himself than Bakura.] He's the quiet type... He listens to me.

[He glances towards Ishizu's doll.] Unlike my sister.

[fluffydeathdealer]

[Piece by piece. Repairing little by little, the man before him puts together his memories. One key after another clicks into place. It's slow work, so far. But until that puzzle of memories is complete, he's sure Malik won't stop seeking.]

I never met your sister. Like I said, I didn't even know she was there until you told me, a couple of months ago. But you were protective of her, even if she's disobedient. In the end, I guess everything you do is really for them. You don't really think of yourself much at all, any more.

[obeytherod]

... [He closes his eyes, shaking his head a little.]

No, I'm sure I do. I have to... I don't feel like the selfless type.

[fluffydeathdealer]

You're not. I never claimed you were selfless. You're probably the most selfish person I know.

But lately, it's been worrying. You keep acting like nothing matters except getting back to them, not even your own body. I advise not looking at your arm.

[obeytherod]

[At least they can agree on that, although Malik would argue that he's not that selfish. Based on his current knowledge, anyway...

And now he has to look at his arm. Malik glances at both his leather sleeves, debating that warning.]

If I'm stuck here without them... I can believe it. What happened to my arm?

[fluffydeathdealer]

...

Beats me. I think you stuck your arm into a monster's mouth or something.

[obeytherod]

... [That's it, in a flurry the jacket is coming off so Malik can see just what the damage is. When he sees the condition of his arm, however, it's worse than he imagines. The boy sucks in a sharp gasp, staring in horror at the dark, keloid scars that ran down his arm. It really did look like he'd stuck his arm into the jaws of some monstrosity.]

W...why? I didn't tell you?

[fluffydeathdealer]

[The mark isn't any more tasteful to him than it was before, but he doesn't react to the sight of it.]

You were training with Harriet when you were bitten. It's better to ask her for the details on that one.

[Because like hell he's explaining it.]

[obeytherod]

[Malik makes a note to do that, reluctantly pulling his jacket back on so he can hide that wound. For now, he'd rather not see it.]

Right, okay. [Realizing he still hasn't touched his koshary, Malik picks the bowl up and starts to do just that. It's kind of rude to eat at the couch like this, but Bakura had put the bowl there...so maybe it was okay.]

[fluffydeathdealer]

[Like Bakura cared about politeness. It was true that Malik rarely sat on the couch to eat, but he'd put it there for convenience's sake.]

If it's not enough, just let me know.

[Half-jokingly:]

After all, I have to look after what's mine.

[obeytherod]

It's fine.

[Malik continues to eat, but he stops at Bakura's next works, shooting him an irritated look.]

...Just because we're "partners", doesn't mean you own me.

[fluffydeathdealer]

Hoh? [He looks amused. Right, Malik doesn't remember.]

But I'm yours. It's your own words. So by that reasoning, you're mine as well.

[obeytherod]

[Malik blinks, staring over at Bakura for a moment in disbelief.]

...By what reasoning? I don't see why it has to go both ways. Possession only works one way.

[fluffydeathdealer]

[He wags a finger at him, languidly.]

"Partners" denotes equality. It wouldn't be fair otherwise!

[obeytherod]

...Right. [He still seems a bit unsure, but Malik will let it slide for now. He's sure it'll make sense one he's remembered more.]

Why don't you tell me more about that?

[fluffydeathdealer]

...eh? The partners thing?

[He blinks in surprise, but nods.]

The reason we use that term is because we used it before we got together. I told you how we met in Domino City. We decided to team up together. I agreed to help you kill your enemy, and in exchange, you'd give me that - [He points at the Rod.] - once it was all done.

Once we ended up here and we found out it was practically impossible to leave, you decided to renew our agreement, so we would end up looking out for one another. Heheh... You didn't have anyone else to rely on, and I was at least familiar.

So we kept using the term. After all, we weren't friends. Our relationship was strictly business. And once it began changing, we kept the term going because it sounds less... personal.