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Entry tags:
[open] August catch-all
WHO: Bakhura Farouk ("Dark Bakura") and you
WHERE: Around Recolle
WHEN: Throughout August
WHAT: Dream hallucinations.
WARNINGS: "Bakura" and "Yu-Gi-Oh!" are kind of a warning on their own - violence, death and murder come with the territory.
i. the boy who lived.
[ A band of men roams the streets of what was once the modern city of Recolle, now a vast desert dotted with decrepit mud-brick houses watched over by the light of the moon as it hangs in the night sky, never mind that it had been daylight only minutes before Bakhura Farouk had set out to begin his daily trek to the game shop for work. They each carry on their person spears taller than themselves, their bodies adorned in a white, kilt-like garment and their heads covered by the white khat headdress of stereotype.
A closer look, however, will reveal that their garments are less white than they seem, the blood of the people they've killed along the way staining the fabric as they march onwards in search of more victims.
Unfortunately for them, though, they will find none are left - save for the boy who had escaped them three thousand years prior, now hiding away once again in some structure within the town, and, if you're unlucky enough to be in their path, you.
Yet no matter whose presence they sense first, they will be sure to announce the purpose of theirs: ]
You thieves… as punishment for robbing graves, you bastards will become a part of the treasure!
ii. it's a ghost town.
[ A woman embraces Bakhura from behind, nearly prompting him into yelping with surprise. She is beautiful, her long, dark hair reaching mid-back and her eyes lined with the traditional kohl makeup.
The boy she had so startled is quick to clap his hands to his mouth, in part because he fears that any noise will give his location in the village's underground temple away to the soldiers above and in part because she looks just like the mother he had had in the city that had vanished from his view.
Before long, though, her hair turns stark white, becoming choppy until it looks much like his own, albeit shortened to her shoulders, an equally familiar sight and not solely because of its resemblance to him when all of a sudden - she's gone, transformed into nothing but a wisp of air, translucent but somehow also still visible to the naked eye, that whips through the temple and right through you, regardless of where in the village you are.
It's as if she wants the living souls in the village to be aware that she is not alone, alerting them to the uneasy presence of the 98 others just like her, all whispering things in Bakhura's ears as they make their way into the temple one-by-one, reminding him of a promise he had supposedly made to them long ago.
The only problem is that Bakhura doesn't remember making it, and he's just as perplexed as you are should you choose to ask him what they mean after your own encounters with these spirits. Still, they seem to follow his lead, and will back off of you if you can convince him to tell them so, to his surprise as well as yours. ]
iii. the temple of lost memories.
[ A tablet of stone becomes visible the moment the apparition dissipates from the temple, any acknowledgement of its existence having been shifted to the ghostly distraction instead. It is a surprisingly imposing object, not only because of its size and apparent age but also because of its aura, exuding an even more unsettling ambiance than did the woman. It's been crafted to look like an ancient Egyptian pharaoh, the well-known nemes headdress gracing its top as the pharaonic figure depicted clutches at something for dear life. Without context, however, whatever the carvings where those something ought to be might be are anybody's guess.
Bakhura, though, does have context, and enough to know that his Millennium Ring fits in one of the center's pieces, at that. His other self - or one of three, anyway - had talked about it plenty of times in his memories, claiming that it was the key to unlocking some great and terrible power.
That power had turned out to be none other than Zorc Necrophades, of course, a "great evil god" that was born to return the world to the primordial darkness from which it had first been forged, and that should have been the knowledge that Bakhura needed to recognize that he should resist the urge to place the Ring where it has apparently been waiting to be laid to rest for the last three thousand years.
It's too bad Bakhura's need to resist that urge is an entirely different thing from recognizing the need to resist that urge.
But then again, it's as if something about the tablet is egging him on as he draws near, calling out to him and pinging the prongs of his Ring, all five of which are aggressively pointing in its direction, their jingling echoing throughout the room. ]
Tsk, tsk.
[ A voice rings through the otherwise empty chamber, alarmingly similar to Bakhura's own, though how that could be, he's not sure. He wheels around, coming face to face with a floating figure, one that looks almost exactly like him. Is this the Spirit of the Ring from his memories? His other self? His true self? ]
How far the mighty have fallen. Did you really think that you could get away with playing house forever, Bakura? Don't tell me you've seriously forgotten your mission… not when someone else has been reminding you of it for me all this time.
iv. wildcard
[ You do you. My PMs are always open if you want to plot something specific, too! ]
WHERE: Around Recolle
WHEN: Throughout August
WHAT: Dream hallucinations.
WARNINGS: "Bakura" and "Yu-Gi-Oh!" are kind of a warning on their own - violence, death and murder come with the territory.
i. the boy who lived.
[ A band of men roams the streets of what was once the modern city of Recolle, now a vast desert dotted with decrepit mud-brick houses watched over by the light of the moon as it hangs in the night sky, never mind that it had been daylight only minutes before Bakhura Farouk had set out to begin his daily trek to the game shop for work. They each carry on their person spears taller than themselves, their bodies adorned in a white, kilt-like garment and their heads covered by the white khat headdress of stereotype.
A closer look, however, will reveal that their garments are less white than they seem, the blood of the people they've killed along the way staining the fabric as they march onwards in search of more victims.
Unfortunately for them, though, they will find none are left - save for the boy who had escaped them three thousand years prior, now hiding away once again in some structure within the town, and, if you're unlucky enough to be in their path, you.
Yet no matter whose presence they sense first, they will be sure to announce the purpose of theirs: ]
You thieves… as punishment for robbing graves, you bastards will become a part of the treasure!
ii. it's a ghost town.
[ A woman embraces Bakhura from behind, nearly prompting him into yelping with surprise. She is beautiful, her long, dark hair reaching mid-back and her eyes lined with the traditional kohl makeup.
The boy she had so startled is quick to clap his hands to his mouth, in part because he fears that any noise will give his location in the village's underground temple away to the soldiers above and in part because she looks just like the mother he had had in the city that had vanished from his view.
Before long, though, her hair turns stark white, becoming choppy until it looks much like his own, albeit shortened to her shoulders, an equally familiar sight and not solely because of its resemblance to him when all of a sudden - she's gone, transformed into nothing but a wisp of air, translucent but somehow also still visible to the naked eye, that whips through the temple and right through you, regardless of where in the village you are.
It's as if she wants the living souls in the village to be aware that she is not alone, alerting them to the uneasy presence of the 98 others just like her, all whispering things in Bakhura's ears as they make their way into the temple one-by-one, reminding him of a promise he had supposedly made to them long ago.
The only problem is that Bakhura doesn't remember making it, and he's just as perplexed as you are should you choose to ask him what they mean after your own encounters with these spirits. Still, they seem to follow his lead, and will back off of you if you can convince him to tell them so, to his surprise as well as yours. ]
iii. the temple of lost memories.
[ A tablet of stone becomes visible the moment the apparition dissipates from the temple, any acknowledgement of its existence having been shifted to the ghostly distraction instead. It is a surprisingly imposing object, not only because of its size and apparent age but also because of its aura, exuding an even more unsettling ambiance than did the woman. It's been crafted to look like an ancient Egyptian pharaoh, the well-known nemes headdress gracing its top as the pharaonic figure depicted clutches at something for dear life. Without context, however, whatever the carvings where those something ought to be might be are anybody's guess.
Bakhura, though, does have context, and enough to know that his Millennium Ring fits in one of the center's pieces, at that. His other self - or one of three, anyway - had talked about it plenty of times in his memories, claiming that it was the key to unlocking some great and terrible power.
That power had turned out to be none other than Zorc Necrophades, of course, a "great evil god" that was born to return the world to the primordial darkness from which it had first been forged, and that should have been the knowledge that Bakhura needed to recognize that he should resist the urge to place the Ring where it has apparently been waiting to be laid to rest for the last three thousand years.
It's too bad Bakhura's need to resist that urge is an entirely different thing from recognizing the need to resist that urge.
But then again, it's as if something about the tablet is egging him on as he draws near, calling out to him and pinging the prongs of his Ring, all five of which are aggressively pointing in its direction, their jingling echoing throughout the room. ]
Tsk, tsk.
[ A voice rings through the otherwise empty chamber, alarmingly similar to Bakhura's own, though how that could be, he's not sure. He wheels around, coming face to face with a floating figure, one that looks almost exactly like him. Is this the Spirit of the Ring from his memories? His other self? His true self? ]
How far the mighty have fallen. Did you really think that you could get away with playing house forever, Bakura? Don't tell me you've seriously forgotten your mission… not when someone else has been reminding you of it for me all this time.
iv. wildcard
[ You do you. My PMs are always open if you want to plot something specific, too! ]
iii.
[ So this is all pretty strange. Before, it was just people stepping into his dreams, or maybe seeing a weird thing or two that other people didn't. Malik is fairly certain that he's awake and that he was on his way to hang with his best partner in crime - the only one, but still the best.
How the setting changed so quickly around him - around them, Malik isn't sure, and he does consider for a brief moment that maybe he's hallucinating again, but just as quickly brushes that thought aside. This isn't like the usual fare that plagues his thoughts and dreams. It couldn't be him. So that only left one other option.
He's standing behind Bakhura(?) #2, confused and quite frankly, a little alarmed, just because this is so out of left field for the both of them. Maybe he should have listened more. Maybe this would be less of a shock then. ]
Are you doing this?
[ The question is vague and hangs in the air, not really directed at either of the two. ]
no subject
Him? [ He jabs a long finger into Bakhura's chest. ] Don't be an idiot. He's had the Millennium Ring for nearly a year and he hasn't even begun to scratch the surface of what it can actually do. Isn't that right, Bakura?
[ It's subtle, but something about the pronunciation is different.
In the meantime, Bakhura will shove the spirit, somehow corporeal, away from him. ]
Don't touch m -
Malik?! How did you... what are you -?
[ He's seen Malik in his dreams before, but rarely in dreams about his past life. Those were largely confined to the spirit in front of him, the thief, or the demon god. ]
no subject
What do you mean 'play house?'
[ Yeah he's skipping right past all the bullshit to the thing that's bothering him most. He'll come back to the other topics later. ]
no subject
Long time, no see, Malik. Always turning up in places you're not expected, aren't you? But since you're here, then I suppose I can include you in the conversation, too.
Shut up, you -
[ Dark Bakura tuts at his other self, smothering his mouth with his hand. Bakhura bites down, but to no avail. Dark Bakura is a dream, for one thing - and an actual ghost, for another. ]
Don't be so rude, Bakura. It's bad enough that you've fooled the both of you into thinking that you could actually be happy in this life... but to not even inform him of the 99 souls waiting for you to finish my crusade against the Pharaoh on their behalf... it's rather cruel, don't you think?
I said shut up! That might have been your destiny once upon a time, but it sure as hell isn't going to be mine, especially when I don't - no, can't - even remember a single one of those people's faces!
no subject
No. He's not going to let himself get distracted. His facade is still intact, although his discomfort is growing with more information being divulged. It's an understatement to say that something is very wrong here, but that's the thought that Malik keeps circling. ]
Bakhura... What does he mean? What's going--
[ No, he can't ignore this- The nagging thought in the back of his head. ]
You. [ Bakura. ] I remember you. Is that why you wanted my Millennium Rod...? Some sort of crusade?
no subject
[ Dark Bakura holds both hands up dramatically as if to tell Malik and Bakhura both to stop, his expression shocked and offended.
Or is it?
Something about it seems unsettlingly inauthentic. ]
Whoa, whoa, whoa! Don't go laying all the blame on me. We're the same person, remember? Just because you don't remember doing those things doesn't absolve you of your crimes, you know. You're just as guilty as me. Or do you seriously think that that boy will see you as being any different from myself just because you have a slightly different look and a slightly different name? Don't make me laugh, Bakura.
And yes, it was... and a just crusade, too. One that I'm sure you would understand, Malik Ishtar... one that I thought you did understand. That's why we were partners, right? We both hated the Pharaoh, wanted to exact revenge on him for the misfortune he and his family had brought down on our own. Well?
no subject
He looks from Bakura to Bakhura, trying to keep a lid on his distress. He has to stay calm. He has to stay in control of the situation. This is just another Bakhura, right? Past Malik dealt with him, so surely Malik could deal with him now. ]
That doesn't mean anything here. There is no Pharaoh and no mission to carry out... You seem to be confused. Don't try to lump me in with you. Just as you shouldn't be trying to consider yourself the same as Bakhura... if you were, you'd already know this isn't going to work. You have no objective to complete... trying to convince Bakhura of that isn't going to change the facts. Isn't that right?
no subject
[ Bakhura stares right back at Malik, wanting to run to him, to tell him how grateful he is for his support, but he's too unsure of how Dark Bakura will react. He'll have to thank him later, and even then, he's assuming there even will be a later. What if he's stuck in this dream forever? Stranger things have happened since he'd become part of that cursed network. ]
We already told you, didn't we? None of that matters here. Not when those 99 souls, along with countless others, would have been gone as soon as our worlds were supposedly destroyed. The only proof of their existence in this world would be a user account on this network... and if being guided to the afterlife is what they wanted, then surely that would have drawn them to me a long time ago.
[ Bakhura takes a deep breath and wipes his eyes with his elbow. He's trying to keep thoughts of never seeing his family from his past life in the city at bay, but then he remembers that Malik has been on the network even longer and has yet to see the man and the woman that had been his brother and his sister in his last life, and Malik actually remembers their faces. Bakhura doesn't even have that much and, indeed, has started to doubt that he ever will, knowing now that he'd had amnesia before too. ]
It could still happen, of course, but I think that after a year of being on this app and having no one claiming to have memories of being related to me show up on it as well, it most likely won't.
no subject
[ Of course Malik doesn't know the intricacies of Bakura's motives, or the details of his past - or of Bakhura's memories. That doesn't stop his confidence from swelling, however, and he smirks. ]
Seems to me that you're trying to convince yourself of that goal, which is why you keep repeating it... Are you sure you aren't the one who's lost? The more you talk, the more your plan doesn't add up, Bakura.
no subject
Awfully cocky for someone who doesn't even remember all of the details from that time, aren't we, Malik Ishtar?
What if I told you that I had struck that deal with your past self precisely because it was one of the seven keys to the salvation of those 99 souls, hm? Of course, that much should have been obvious to a former gravekeeper such as yourself, who had entered a partnership with me claiming to know even more of the Millennium Items' secrets than I, their very first victim, did, regardless of whether I had thought it necessary to tell you the full details of my plan at the time... but as I've said before, it's clear that not enough of your memory has been restored for either of you to really understand what I'm talking about.
Still, it's only a matter of time, isn't it?
[ Bolstered by Malik's support of his separate identity from the spirit in front of him, Bakhura joins Malik with a smirk of his own. ]
Even if Malik and I did know all of that, it's just like he was saying earlier: none of that matters in this life. He's not a gravekeeper, just as I'm not the wandering spirit of an ancient Egyptian thief or a demonic god. No, Bakura, he and I - we're just two ordinary guys trying to get by in our shitty lives. Try haunting my dreams when one of those villagers' souls appears in this world and then we'll talk.
no subject
[ He tries taking a step. Two steps - trying to slowly circle around Bakura to get around to the other side, where Bakhura is. ]
no subject
And who exactly died and made you king? Oh, that's right - the Pharaoh did, and there was no need for me to justify myself to him then, either, because he's the one who wronged me. And that, Malik Ishtar, is precisely why power has everything to do with the cause I'm claiming now. With power - Zorc's power, to be precise - I can cleanse this world of the Pharaoh and his damned priests and be the king all at once. That's a pretty good deal, don't you think? In fact, with the exception of the Millennium Items' power, it's almost exactly the same as what you were after. That's why we teamed up, isn't it? Our goals were similar enough to be mutually beneficial.
It's just too bad some of the smaller details seem to have escaped your notice... such as the part where I told you that I simply didn't feel the need to tell you that part of my plan at the time, because I didn't have to answer to you back then, just like I don't now.
no subject
Just like I didn't tell you all my plans, Bakura! Like I'd be able to put my trust in someone such as yourself. No, I made that deal to benefit myself and to give you the barest scraps of what you wanted. You never would have been able to succeed without cooperating and without me. And now that's all meaningless. There's no Pharaoh and there's no plan anymore! You're a desperate, growling animal that's flailing around to justify your existence. I'm not going to say it again: There is nothing for you here. There is no reason for you to exist!
no subject
Unwilling to wait to see just what might happen once Dark Bakura's laughter subsides, Bakhura snatches the Ring from the tablet, praying that Dark Bakura will be too wrapped up in his own madness to notice. Fortunately for Bakhura, he's right: he's not only able to sneak past his other self successfully and grab Malik by the hand, but he'll also pull them both up the stairs just as Dark Bakura is dissolving into a heap of shadows, that then starts to take the shape of something much bigger. He gulps as the night air hits his face, dreading that his other other self - Zorc Necrophades - will take Dark Bakura's place in the chamber and continue to pursue them, but much to his surprise, the entire temple collapses instead. He wheels around for a few seconds, watching the rubble carefully for any disturbances, but the collapse seems to have taken the Spirit of the Ring with it, and he sighs with relief, collapsing to the ground without letting go of Malik's hand.
His face somehow brighter under the moonlight as it bounces off his stark white hair, Bakhura stares at Malik, breathing hard. ]
...I'm sorry and... thank you.
[ They're phrases that he feels like he's said more than usual lately, but they're the only ones that seem suitable for everything Malik's been doing for him in the last few months with the onslaught of difficult memories. He knows that this has been hard on Malik, who's already dealing with plenty of issues of his own, and no matter how hard those words are for him to say, he thinks that Malik deserves to hear them, because the effort does mean a lot. ]
no subject
He plops himself next to Bakhura, his back to the moon and his gaze focused upon Bakhura's face. ]
What was that all about?
[ He doesn't mean to seem dismissive or unappreciative, but he wants to understand. He can't very well accept these thanks or apologies if he can't really parse why Bakhura would bother in the first place. The context, the gravity of it all - he wants to know, first. ]
no subject
That all depends on where you want me to start... it's... complicated.
no subject
[ 'Aggressive' isn't the right word, although he was. It was more the self-abuse that Bakura seemed to hurl towards Bakhura, uncomfortable and familiar, that really got Malik's attention. ]
no subject
For now, however, it seems content to leave them be, instead prompting to turn back around to meet Malik's gaze. ]
It all started when I went to bed a few hours ago... since you and I were both able to interact with him, it's clear that this is a dream and not another memory, but... as soon as my head hit the pillow, this village seemed to engulf my bedroom until it was just me, him, and the other spirits, and, well - here we are.
[ Bakhura's still not entirely sure what's going on himself. His first instinct is to, of course, blame Retrospec. But then again, nightmares like this are par the course for him. It's just the first time he's had to reveal that fact to Malik, whose nightly presence is just as normal as the nightmares themselves. However, Malik's questioning is enough to convince Bakhura that this time, at least, Malik is real, and has somehow entered his dreams, leading him to believe that this is Retrospec's doing all the more. ]
no subject
...I guess it can't be a memory, since I'm here. I think... this is real, or realer than a memory... We shouldn't be able to interact with a memory, that defeats the purpose.
[ He's clearly trying to work through this in his head, his expression betraying his perplexed state. ]
If it's a dream, I wouldn't be here. I don't think it's my dream. I don't have these kinds of dreams.
no subject
[ Bakhura closes his eyes and trails off as the gears in his brain set to work, piecing together the timeline of the events in October that had eventually culminated in his boyfriend's arrest and the subsequent long hospitalization that had threatened to destroy their relationship, only to make it stronger in the end.
He takes a deep breath, treading over his next words carefully to avoid delving too much into that especially painful period of Malik's young life. Yes, avoiding all discussion of it for the rest of their lives was probably just going to worsen Malik's ability (or lack thereof) to cope with it, but far be it from Bakhura to jeopardize the relationship they had repaired only a few months before by shoving it under Malik's nose again.
Besides, it wasn't his place to. ]
No, you wouldn't, which means that you're probably going to need me to explain that this isn't the first time people on the network have been able to enter each other's dreams like this. You see, Malik, around this time last year, there was this fog that settled in on the city. However, like everything else that happens in this city, it wasn't a normal fog... it didn't just go away after a couple of hours or even a day.
That wasn't the strangest part about this fog, though... no, Malik, the strangest part about this fog were the visions that accompanied it. Enter it, and visions from your memories and your dreams would appear before not only you, the origin of the visions, but also to the people on the streets surrounding you... it was pretty weird.
But the fog wasn't the only way those people could enter your dreams, Malik... oh, no. They could enter your dreams while you were dreaming, too. Fortunately, no one ever had the misfortune of having to stumble upon my subconscious, but they talked about it enough on the network that it was impossible to miss what was going on.
That's why, even though this is a dream, and even though this wouldn't be the first time that either you or any of my other selves have appeared in my dreams, it's very probable that Retrospec is somehow pulling us from the waking world and into the dreams of others yet again this year... because it's already happened once before.
no subject
[ His face is unreadable, his answer curt. How can he not think about what happened last October? He doesn't dwell too much on those dark recollections, but just the mere mention of that hellish month is enough to make Malik emotionally withdraw. Habit. Conditioning. Uncomfortable familiarity.
But that's not Bakhura's fault. They aren't going over that again. Bakhura is just explaining, Malik is just listening. Everything is okay. It's fine. ]
So... let's say that's what's happening here. I am in your dream. That other you... it's kind of like my other me, would you agree? All of those... bad things. Bad memory stuff. Taking form in your dreams.
[ He can't help his words from getting clipped. This is hard. He still doesn't know how to connect with anyone, even his boyfriend, without projecting his own issues too.
He's quiet when he speaks again: ]
What did he mean about, 'play house?'
no subject
[ Bakhura gives pause again because unlike most people on the network, "my other me" could mean one of two things: the boy he was before he was born into this life, or the other boy that dwells deep within his mind - the one that had gone on the now infamous rampage around this time last year. In his head, Bakhura likes to separate them, because as terrible as Malik can be - or rather, could be, because a lot has changed in his boyfriend since last year even if he still had a lot left to work on - Bakhura still has trouble imagining that Malik would go so far as to kidnap and torture his peers, especially Bakhura, even if they weren't exactly dating at the time. Still, however Bakhura wants to see this other other Malik, the fact of the matter is that he was there, a reality that still affects Malik to this very day, and that alone is enough for him to decide that Malik must be talking about the boy in his memories, because Malik has never really talked with Bakhura about his other self since. ]
Yeah, that's exactly what that other me is like for me. Similar in name and appearance and possibly even personality, yet different in everything else, including his actions, his goals, his social circle, his upbringing, his origins... enough that when he comes to haunt me in my dreams, all of those things are there to remind me that I don't deserve happiness in this lifetime because of who I used to be, but...
[ Bakhura is shuddering, suggesting that he's been having dreams like this ever since he had first gotten the app and is only just now finding the opportunity to share them with Malik . ]
...however much my subconscious fears that I'll become that person again, I've learned that his crimes, and whatever sense of guilt had driven him to commit those crimes in the first place, are not my burden to bear, and so should you, because that's all that comment was: my fear that everything I'm doing to differentiate myself from him will be for nothing in the end and I'm going to be just like him no matter how hard I try to "pretend" that I won't by actually letting myself enjoy this life.
That's why I was thanking you before... because by doing and saying the things you did, you've shown me that I'm not just "pretending" to not be Bakura and I really am... just Bakhura.
[ He throws his arms around Malik and buries his face in his shoulder in a gesture meant to reassure Malik as much as himself. ]
no subject
You are just Bakhura, though. Who else would you be? I... can't abide by the fact that we were other people in another life. That doesn't make you who you are now. If it was, we wouldn't be stuck here at the bottom... It would've made a bigger impact than just in the last year. That person isn't you, just like... any other version of me isn't me, either.
[ It's still hard to say those words too, and Malik refuses to reconcile his thoughts and memories and identities for the sake of someone else. Let alone some super sketchy tech company that is trying to force him to be something, someone, he isn't. ]