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

[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.

[obeytherod]

[He had to wonder who this "enemy" of his was, but one thing at a time. Bakura said something else that stroke him as odd.]

...But if we're a "few steps beyond dating" like you say, isn't it too late to sound less personal?

[Malik's question is purely analytical, lacking the usual reservedness--or even shyness--he had about the matter. It really was amazing how different a few lacking memories could make one act.

Maybe it was just easier to detach himself from the situation and view it objectively when he lacked the memories to ground him to it. Even if he felt comfortable with Bakura...he didn't feel like he was falling for him.]

[fluffydeathdealer]

You get embarrassed pretty easily. It's easier this way. Besides, if it's less personal, fewer people know about it.

[Bakura sounds completely calm about the idea of being Malik's dirty little secret. This newfound coolness of Malik's is what's throwing him off. He doesn't like it.

...that attitude reminds him. Malik said more than once that he wasn't his usual type. That must make this even more annoying for the boy.]

You can be honest, you know. I won't be insulted if you have a problem with it.

[obeytherod]

...Seriously? I don't feel embarrassed.

[He folds his arms and shrugs. If Bakura wants honesty, he'll get it.]

I find it kind of weird. You're not really my type...but I do feel comfortable with you. I think I just need some time. If we were really that close, I'm sure it'll come back to me. I really do want to remember everything, the good and the bad.

There must have been a reason for our closeness...I just haven't found it yet.

[fluffydeathdealer]

Only because you don't feel connected to what we're talking about, right? It's like you're talking about a stranger.

[Bakura knows the feeling. Any knowledge of the self imparted by others... felt like a story being told about a stranger. It could be anyone.

That's why he hasn't looked into the memories of his past self. They won't feel real to him without the experience of them.

Knowing that Malik doesn't remember his feelings for him hurts like hell, but it's easily repressed. After all, Malik didn't remember a lot of things. It would come back... he hoped.]

I'm not offended. You've told me before that you tend to prefer women, and not ones with my type of appearance. If it takes time for you to remember those reasons, that's fine. I've got endless time.

[obeytherod]

...Right.

[That's exactly what it felt like. Malik didn't need to say anything else when it was so clear that Bakura understood.]

That's right, I grew up around Egyptians. It makes sense that I'd prefer that kind of appearance. And liking girls is only natural, right?

But I'm not opposed to the idea of men either. Or white skin. I can see the charm in it.

[Malik reaches out to touch the Ring with a finger.] Too bad it doesn't wear gold as well.

[fluffydeathdealer]

[Bakura doesn't stop him. If he wants to touch it, he can. Despite his possessive attitude, little of his is truly off-limits. At least not to his partner. The Ring resonates at the touch, chiming slowly.]

Of course it's natural.

[The Ring's chimes echo.]

Even so, you were always awkward about that sort of thing.

[It feels warm to the touch; like it's been left out in the sun. A side-effect of the energy churning within it right now.]

And... heh. You've said that before. Believe me, I know. But this body is confortable, even if it's lacking in other charms.

[obeytherod]

[Malike goes quiet as he touches the Ring, something stirring within him. Another memory... Although it was unclear, more of a relation than an actual event.

Bakura...is the Millennium Ring. Or rather, he was inside it.

What kind of thought was that? Surely he has to be misremembering, but he was so sure. His eyes trail back up to Bakura, staring at him like a deer caught in headlights.]

[fluffydeathdealer]

...hm? What is it?

[Bakura looks surprised. Just what is Malik remembering right now? If it's related to the Ring, it's probably something troublesome to explain.]

[obeytherod]

[He draws his hand back, looking down at it as if he'd just touched something untouchable.]

You're...a spirit?

[fluffydeathdealer]

[His hand lifts to rest against the Ring.]

Heh... I guess it had to come out some time.

[obeytherod]

... [Clearly unsure of how he feels about that, Malik turns back to his koshary.]

I wish I would just...remember already.