fluffydeathdealer | [CAMPUS/IC] II

[Harriet eyes her tape, then back at Bakura. She thinks being completely immobilized is real damage. He's probably saying that to make Malik feel better, but for him to say that makes her wonder.]

Um. What were you expecting?

[He gives her a surprisingly honest response, looking over at her with a serious expression.]

...Remember that the soul room reflects your state of being. I wasn't expecting to be able to speak to you at all, let alone to have you be aware and not in pain, or suffering beyond indignation.

I half-expected you to be suffocating in an ocean of darkness. The other Malik did that to me, once. If my soul wasn't bound to the Ring, it'd probably have died.

I see - 'Ocean of darkness' does sound more in-character for the other Malik.

In that case, maybe this was the best he could do. There must be a reason... wait.

[Thinking about this, she's remembering something.]

[scrambling for the memories, they're not quite there, but there is one thing that she's suddenly sure of. Whatever it is, it makes a sly grin appear on her face.]

.... I know what it was. I won.

[Had he really thrown away that much of himself? He'd only been doing what he needed to do. For his family, for Rishid and Ishizu... He'd let them all down, and now he might never get his body back, let alone see them again.

Malik was too lost in his own thoughts to even bother listening to them. His chest was tight and his breath--as unreal as it may be--felt cold.]

...you won, and yet you still ended up in a coma?

[Bakura sounds surprised... and slightly offended. Talk about breaking the rules, Malik! Your other half is a bit of a dick!]

Yeah - real load of shit, that. I guess he's a sore loser.

[it's not that surprising though... except one thing.]

Still, I'm not sure how he managed it. By that point the game would be over... something's wrong with this.

[thinking...]

Have you seen my deck leaders?

Their cards are in the pavilion... but I haven't seen the actual spirits.

[It's surprising to him. Talk about a fucking cheater.]

Hmm... [she doesn't really know if that's out of the ordinary or not, having no experience with soul rooms. And Bakura had never met any war duelists before this, so he wouldn't know either.]

Well, at least they aren't in boxes. But maybe I should try to chat with em'...

I get the hint, already.

[Oh fine. He gets up in a lazy manner, reaching out to pick her up again. He doesn't actually mind it, it being better than the recent solitude that happens otherwise, but it's still tedious.]

Malik, come on if you're coming.

... [Malik slowly rises to his feet and trails behind the two of them.]

Oh!

[Harriet blinks as she's lifted again - she never asked him to do it right the fuck now! Is he sure he doesn't just like carrying her around!?

But anyway, they're up now so they might as well go. There wasn't any point in not leaving immediately anyway. And it was kind of nice of him to just intuit that.]

Err, thank you.

[But having to be carried is still humiliating, especially with Malik around.

... Not that he's even paying attention. He's wallowing in self pity ever since she called him out.]

Oy, Malik. How long are you going to mope about that? It was only a theory. I just meant for you to take better care of your soul, not regret every life choice you've ever made about it.

[though if she knew exactly how many fragments were out there she might think he should regret his choices.]

Edited 2014-04-05 02:04 (UTC)

...

[He doesn't even feel up to answering her. What was he supposed to say? It was too late now to change how he felt.]

...

[Bakura frowns, shifting her in his arms to carry her easier.]

Tch. Maybe it was less depressing outside.

[It's partly joking, but enough of a hint as to how downcast he'd been feeling. Not that he expected anything else, but this atmosphere is depressing even to him.]

It's no good asking him to be careful of his soul. He's frustratingly reckless. Like a kid who keeps playing with a toy even after it's put his eye out.

Shut up! [He shouts suddenly, locking in place as he stares at the other two, a mixture of fear and fury on his face.]

I did what I had to do--and I don't regret it!

...

[He pauses, a few steps ahead of Malik. That came out harsher than he meant it to, didn't it? He supposes even a fragment still has the intense feelings of its' original... Being this callous probably isn't good even to a mere fragment of a soul.

Not that he usually cares what's good but... Malik gets exceptions. Since he is one already. Not that it usually stops them biting at one another, but this isn't the time. Tch...]

Oi, oi... I guess that was a little harsh. I'm just worried.

[Like hell he's apologizing to a fragment.]

I should check on your actual soul next time I run into the other you. See what state it's in.

[Sigh. Well, Harriet's almost kind of glad that he's yelling at them - it's a step up from wallowing, at least.]

That's a good idea. I'm worried too.

[Huffing loudly, Malik begins to move again. He doesn't slip back into his previous despair just yet; his blood's still boiling, his stomach twisting harshly inside of him.]

How can you tell? I mean... How can you tell how much is "left"?

I won't be able to tell precisely. I never knew you with your soul intact. The Ankh would be better suited to it. But I'll at least be able to tell if it's in danger. I've seen enough souls to recognize one that's falling apart.

But, Malik... if your soul was weakened to that point, it'd probably show. You noticed it when your soul wasn't in your body, right? When the fragment had control over it, it was struggling to operate.

[That was before this fragment separated from the main, so it should still remember...]

... Wait, what.

[guess who never knew about that]

Right... I remember. Then you should be able to tell me how close my soul is to that point, right?

[He totally ignored Harriet just now--or he plain didn't notice.]

Hopefully, when this is all over... I can rejoin my main soul. It's not like I'm needed in here anymore.

Yeah. I can do that. I'll be sure to make note of it.

[He glances down at Harriet.]

That's right... you were around, but you weren't involved back then. Long story short, I tried to make him immortal by separating his soul and his body, but he wasn't too happy with it because he kept passing out when his soul container got detached. We tried to anchor him a little by using soul fragments, but they can't really control a body on their own without help. It got to be too frustrating!

[There's a note of amusement in his voice.]

It might be helpful, Malik. If you recall any other little fragments lying around, retrieving them might be useful.

Edited 2014-04-06 04:21 (UTC)

[welp. What can she even say to that.]

You guys are so weird.

[He shoots Bakura an incredulous look.] Somehow, I remember that all happening a little differently. Like the part where you put me in the Rod against my will.

[Getting a little side-tracked here.]

Hoh... If we're digging up unfortunate misrememberings from that time, do I need to bring up what happened right before that in front of your girlfriend?

[Namely, the part where you attacked an injured teenager, took advantage of their wounds and pretended you were being nice by patching them up afterwards?]

Besides, that only lasted a few minutes. You went in willingly enough the second time.

[He grins down at Harriet.]

Don't look like that. You'd think you'd never wanted to be with someone forever~.

[Slight echoes of a certain joke he won't let die there.]

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