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]

...I'm still grateful for what you tried to do for me. [Malik holds his arms out, welcoming.]

[fluffydeathdealer]

...

Idiot.

[He offers the insult almost affectionately, taking advantage of the offered arms to embrace him. Having Malik's warmth against him makes the last day feel almost like it didn't happen. But those residual feelings won't go away. How can Malik just dismiss that as a dream? His voice softens. Just this once... he'll be honest.]

You're the only human that matters to me. Being forgotten by you... was like a nightmare.

[obeytherod]

[Malik sighs against Bakura, lifting a hand to gently run through his hair.]

...Don't worry, it was only that.

[...A nightmare. His thoughts race and his hand stills.

That's why they slept together. That's why their beds were together. It's why Malik couldn't sleep alone, and wandered back into the living room. Bakura had offered to stay with him. He refused and slept on the couch. For the first time in months--

--He woke up on the couch!]

[fluffydeathdealer]

[The gesture surprises him and he relaxes against Malik, murmuring contentedly. Just a nightmare, huh? Maybe Malik really couldn't be convinced otherwise. Stubborn brat. But he can't help but smile, even so.]

Heh. I feel like a kid being comforted after a bad dream when you say things like that.

[obeytherod]

[The shock of his realization comes and goes, leaving behind a racing heartbeat. Malik decides it best to not tell Bakura--partially to comfort him, but mostly because he doesn't want to admit he was wrong--and goes back to stroking his hair.]

Well...it's about time I returned the favour, right?

[fluffydeathdealer]

Heh... [What was with that hesitation? Closing his eyes, he relaxes utterly. Malik's fingers are soothing, and he doesn't really want to move. It's rather odd. Even though he slept all night, he didn't feel rested. But just like that... Malik's able to calm his mind.

He isn't a child. He isn't even the teenager he appears. Yet somehow... even though he should be embarrassed, he only feels warmth right now. Heh. Maybe it was alright to act as needy as this sometimes.]

Don't stop. That feels good, Malik...

[obeytherod]

Whatever you want, Bakura.

[He can hardly imagine the pain and worry he must have felt. It was a rare thing for Malik to try and empathize with others, but Bakura earned a lot of exceptions out of him.]

[fluffydeathdealer]

You were right, you know.

[Bakura smiles a little, speaking almost distantly.]

I lied... I prefer you as you are.

[obeytherod]

Keheh...do you think I couldn't figure that out for myself? That's why I called you out on it in the first place.

[Teasing aside, Malik's hand keeps softly petting that fluffy head of hair. His voice softens as he continues.]

And if that wasn't enough, I think the way you're leaning against me now says it all.

[fluffydeathdealer]

[Bakura's smile grows wider and he laughs aloud at last. At least he manages to keep it to a low volume, so he doesn't break Malik's eardrums.]

H-hahahaha-! That's right... it's pretty obvious.

[Like a spider caught in a web... he never really had a chance, did he? For all his thoughts about what to do if Malik didn't return to normal... there was no way he could have abandoned him now.]

I've never had much self-restraint, but with you, it's somehow harder.

[obeytherod]

Don't feel too bad. [He lightly teases again as his hand drops, both arms looping loosely over the pale shoulders in front of him.]

As you know, most find my charisma irresistible~ Usually I still need to use the Rod as an aid...

[Malik tilts his head, kissing Bakura on the cheek.] ...But I won you all on my own.

[fluffydeathdealer]

[Bakura laughs softly, honestly amused. How utterly sappy... Not that he really minded it too much. It was cute, and for whatever reason, his heart felt warmed by it.]

Your charisma, huh...? I'm not so sure that's got anything to do with it.

[obeytherod]

Ohh? Then what is it?

[At least the sap is brief. Malik had it in him, but he tended not to linger on it too long, even if he was prone to dramatics and embellishments at times.

He really is curious of the answer, though.]

[fluffydeathdealer]

Even though I get frustrated with you easily, I never considered abandoning you seriously. Didn't you ever wonder why? It couldn't be considered charisma, because you annoyed the hell out of me. And then when I started to care about you, I could never understand why. In three thousand years, I've never felt any attachments to anyone. Since then, I've spent a lot of time wondering about it myself.

[Closing his eyes, he rests his head on Malik's shoulder, speaking openly. It's not often he does show his serious side, but right now... he feels like being honest is best.]

At first, it was just fun. You were interesting, and things were always interesting around you. Even if it put my plans at risk, I was fascinated by the battle that was begun when you came to Battle City. I wanted to see it to the end.

[Malik probably won't even notice that slip, he's sure.]

But after coming here... Things changed. Bit by bit, I started to see you as more than just entertainment. Little by little, you opened up to me, and little by little, I became caught in your trap. In a way, I've come to think of you as being on my level.

[obeytherod]

Is that so...

[Malik didn't notice that slip-up, just as Bakura expected. He was too busy hinging on other words to think of the implications there.]

Keh keh keh...caught in my "trap", huh? And you say it isn't charisma.

[He tilts his head, letting his cheek rest against that cool hair, and then he continues, a little less cocky this time.] I was always on your level, Bakura. It just took you some time to realize it. We're both stubborn...we won't let anybody get in our way.

And I found you annoying too, at first.

...Actually, I still kind of do, sometimes. [He pets Bakura affectionately as he says it.]

[fluffydeathdealer]

Oi, oi... being considered on my level is a privilege offered to nobody else.

[Bakura's voice is filled with amusement. Really, as if any human was on his level... Malik alone came close enough to be considered so.]

I don't consider it charisma. If it was, I'd have liked you from the start, instead of being irritated by your constant bossiness.

Hell, you still annoy the hell out of me sometimes.

[...that comment loses its impact when he leans into that petting hand, smiling.]

I doubt that'll change... for either of us.

[obeytherod]

That's fine by me. [Malik tugs Bakura closer with one arm and pulls him with him as he flops back against the couch, awkwardly laying across it with Bakura half tugged over him.

He and Bakura on the same level...equals. It was still something had had trouble accepting. Malik had a stubborn need to be above those around him, to be in control somehow. Maybe he just didn't like to feel as if lacked control, and that was his natural and easiest way to vent it.

Oh, and he still says it's charisma. It just took some time to set in!]

I wouldn't have it any other way.

[fluffydeathdealer]

Eh-?!

[Being pulled over like that startles him and he stares at Malik in surprise for a moment. Only a moment, before he shifts to get more comfortable on top of him. His voice regains its usual teasing sarcasm as he does.]

I wouldn't either. It'd be kind of pitiful if you couldn't keep up with my level of asshole anymore. After all, I'm stretching the limits of how nice I can be already when it comes to you!

[obeytherod]

Feh, I don't go out of my way to be an asshole, you know...

You're the one who does that. [Except Malik really, really does. He punishes people far harsher than necessary, and he's been spiteful just for the sake of being spiteful. But then again, he doesn't consider it being an asshole--it's deserved!]

[fluffydeathdealer]

Go out of my way? What's this, Malik? You know it comes naturally to me!

[He laughs softly, honestly amused by the conversation. Really, anyone who mistook him for someone who needed to try to be a dick didn't know him that well at all.]

[obeytherod]

That doesn't mean you don't go to great lengths just to do it. You know what I meant.

[He lets out a sigh, chuckling into it. Malik was beginning to feel too relaxed to even bother talking. Bakura was nice and warm on top of him...]

[fluffydeathdealer]

Heh. Of course. If I've got interesting people to play with, I might as well go the extra distance, right?

[Bakura grins down at him, a little wickedly.]

[obeytherod]

Sure, why not... As long as you don't forget who really matters, I don't really care what you do.

[He smirks in return, although it's not quite as devious as usual. He seems far too relaxed for that.]

[fluffydeathdealer]

Hoh? Of course I won't forget myself!

[Bakura's teasing voice is shaking with laughter as he makes that joke.]

[obeytherod]

Oh, so that's how it's going to be... Well then.

[He shoves Bakura clean off the couch.]