forward dating for the birthday boy

[best_laid_plans]

Who: Malik Ishtar & Yuugi Mutou
Where: Ruins of Alph
When: June 4 (forward dated) - ????
Summary: The King of Games takes on yet another ancient puzzle.
Rating: D for d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-duelists
Log:

[It wasn't possible to grow unused to underground tunnels, Malik had discovered. In many ways, stepping into yet another cool, dimly-lit chamber felt like slipping back into an old habit, into a different way of life. Something about his surroundings felt oddly comforting.

That feeling of comfort made him chafe all the more.

Walls. He hated walls, and being blocked away from the sunlight. The skin along the back of his neck prickled; the raised marks of his scars grew somehow cold. He should act today, he thought. He should trap Yuugi Mutou in these absurd little chambers, see how he liked it for a change, mere vessel or no. Yes, Malik's Cofagrigus was back in Goldenrod, busily creating his collateral for the deal with Archer (or so he hoped) - but what was Malik Ishtar if not a master of impromptu planning? Couldn't he handle this much? Why, he'd all but been given the perfect stage!

--Yet if it went wrong, then what? He had too much at stake to risk everything now. It was only a small leap from failing to defeat Yuugi to being publicly denounced as a villain and a criminal across that network - an even smaller leap from there to discovering his Rocket involvement. And should that be uncovered, the Game Corner might be outed, too....

No, Malik had to sit, and wait, and plot, until there was no possible way Yuugi Mutou could defeat him. The day would come. He just had to prepare.]

Well, how's the puzzles? Worth the trip?

Comments

[best_laid_plans]

[Malik jolts a little too.]

Do you?

[He wanders over to take a look, peering over your head.]

What's it form.....

[kingofgamecorner]

I don't know, it's some kind of shelled bug.

[He looks around, and then up (sorry for any hair in the face) to catch a look at Malik, before fidgeting to the side. To give him room.]

Maybe it's not around any- Uh-

[Is the ground shaking or the floor moving?]

[best_laid_plans]

...

[Something's very, very wrong here.

Malik draws a PokéBall on practiced instinct (it helps he keeps them where the Rod used to be) and throws a glance at the wall, then around at their surroundings. What's moving? Are they about to --]

--I won't say I told you so.

[If you fall to an untimely death, he will at least have gotten in the last word.]

[kingofgamecorner]

[-would taking a moment out of his panicked scramble to give Malik a look for that be too much? Probably... But Isami grabbing his leg (and biting him some) in a failed try to keep him up slows his own fall, buying the time.

And then he's tumbling a blessedly short distance in the dark after Malik... And Malik's likely going to take the brunt of Yuugi's fall as a result. And his little dog, too.

So, somewhere among pitch black soon after.]

...no, I don't remember a warning, about this...

[That said, he's going to be reaching for PokéBalls himself, as soon as he can get an arm free.]

-are you okay?

[best_laid_plans]

[Double oof, then. Before he can even let that Pokémon out.

He switches PokéBalls after some squirming around: it's dark. It's too dark. He can't....

He calls out Vulpix.]

--I'll be fine. You, make a flame.

[He sounds tense, almost worried.

Vulpix spits a little tongue of flame - then jumps up onto Malik too, shivering (and probably bumping against Yuugi as it curls into a foxball). It doesn't like being underground.

Doesn't that just figure.]

[kingofgamecorner]

[First order of business? Scooch for some room. But there is a wall there and a Growlithe sniffing all over him worried as a mother hen, so he's not so far he misses the second little hot house coming out.

Or Malik's tension.

And he's getting some blind blinks for it. Did he know or notice something he didn't? Or was he that rattled? It was hard to imagine...

But, he's not helpful mulling. So he pulls his own PokéBalls, first three- And then two, when he imagines the mother of the trio out in this place.]

Ichiro. Niko.

[No orders needed. The second they're out? Two fairly useful flashlights. But they are flickering quite a lot, until Isami barks them into line.

And now, current order of business? Eye Malik in the light.]

[best_laid_plans]

[So the sheep are useful. How about that. Malik tries to free himself from the pile of adventurers (both fuzzy and otherwise), eyes adjusting quickly but no less uneasy. He'd expect traps in Egypt, but Johto?

So, Yuugi. Malik looks troubled, mostly. Lost in thought. But there's a strain on his face that looks like it could be frustration.

Since it can't. You know. Possibly be fear.]

[kingofgamecorner]

[-Yeah, he's noticed. And Yuugi doesn't remember him looking this bad with even towering Muks and "Rockets" attacking him. And this seems more... Something. Real.

Come here, mareeps. He needs to point Ichiro... to Malik?]

Stick with him, okay? We'll both need your lights.

[And as another fluffy scurries over (leaving his sister futilely headbutting Yuugi's leg for not picking her for random task) Yuugi finally gives Malik a look again. With all the uncertain.]

Can you move? We need to see where we are.

[best_laid_plans]

I'm fine.

[He climbs to his feet, wincing slightly: landing hurt, and he's not accustomed to going on adventures. But he's been through worse. And right now, he needs to push everything else aside in favor of getting them out of this.]

Have them focus the lights on the walls. There won't be more inscriptions if this is just a trap. If anything's written, there might be an alternate way out.

[Looking up, he tries to gauge how far they've fallen, and their chances of exiting the way they came.....not good, huh.]

here's your tag giftbag from the birthday kid.

[kingofgamecorner]

[Nope, not good at all. And after grimacing at the obvious fact, Yuugi looks down at his prodding Mareep and pats her to get her attention.]

Did you hear that, Niko? We need you and Ichiro to walk along the walls with us.

[There's a pause of, will she do it or not, before she scampers to the closest wall with a "maaa!" to her brother, telling him to light up his tail more too, from by Malik.

And then the light spreads more.

And Yuugi stares.]

...that... Are those Pokémon? Or, letters...?

why did i have to work all day on yuugiday ;a; i feel like i missed it!

[best_laid_plans]

[......Okay, now the hair's standing up on the back of his neck.

And he's fishing for empty PokéBalls, besides.]

Why can't they be both?

[A tiny smirk.]

This explains the alphabet around here.

me tooo. D: I didn't play a single game in honor!

[kingofgamecorner]

So it's built for them...

[B-but, something is off, the more he looks. The light flickering makes them some to be moving, but when he picks up Niko, it's clear they're just reliefs on the wall. yay mun-be-vague!

He slowly scratches at one, before taking a second look around.]

I think the whole place is covered with them! Look- Isami, use Flame Thrower that way.

[He blows in the way he points, lighting up a looooong hall of strange carvings. (Going on and on and on....)]

noooo yuuugi! ;a; did you at least save the world? that'd work too

[best_laid_plans]

[Oh, good, for a second - wow, note to self, walk around at night more often if the phobia's making him imagine things. No matter how uncomfortable he gets, or whatever memories it conjures.

Right now, he's in his element. The heir and head of the Tombkeepers can't be caught off-guard by secrets in a ruin. It's in his blood.

The hall also seems familiar. Hooray, it's just like home.]

If they're actually Pokémon too, that does make worship a possibility. Doesn't explain "escape" or the symbol on the puzzle....

Let's go.

[Vulpix actually sticks close to him - before catching himself and running to rub up against Yuugi's legs instead. J-just because he's warming up to his trainer a little doesn't mean he'll cooperate!]

only if keeping the staff from drowning in books and dvds counts.

[kingofgamecorner]

No... I thought it might be about some secret path out or something, but it looks like, this might be it. And these don't look anything like the puzzle Pokémon, huh...

[Excuse him, he's more into studying the symbols than moving his little fluffy gathering on. And Malik's Vulpix joining in just reminds Yuugi of him and his reaction.

Time to be free, Niko. Follow with brother and Isami as Yuugi pats a few tails and trails behind. With all the "is he really fine" faces.]

When I asked people about the ruins, I never heard about this. Did you hear anything that might help?

[best_laid_plans]

Not a thing.

[Though, no wonder Bakura had wanted to explore these. Malik stops and just glares at the wall for a bit, tracing the shapes with his fingertips. He's not fine, Yuugi. He's lost in thought, but clearly also not fine.

And that's not all. Something in the shadows begins to move.]

[[ooc: your call which pokémon!]]

Hmmm, well Natu's not good yet since handy Teleport, soooo.

[kingofgamecorner]

...then. Anything else come to mind?

[Like, why he's acting so odd? This is an ironic turn, but-

But Yuugi is thankfully not so engrossed in knowing, he misses the sight behind Malik. It's too dark to see quite what it is, but Yuugi does know that purple light.]

-Malik, move!

[Guess which mortal enemy is jumping in to help, yelling for Isami to aim some flames at the Bronzor overhead, and chancing getting caught in that Confuse Ray along with him?]

[best_laid_plans]

[Malik's spared the need to come up with a theory (or a lie) by that yell; whipping his head around, he jumps backwards just in time to avoid the attack himself. Yuugi --

That idiot!]

Two can play that game!

[Vulpix shoots a Confuse Ray right back at the Bronzor as Malik checks up on Yuugi.]

You all right?!

[kingofgamecorner]

[Gah- That- ugh.

Someone hit his head on the wall from the impact, and be it that or the Ray, he's more than stumbling. Enjoy the "maaaaaa-! maaa-!" circling around and Isami barking up a storm as he tackles the stumbling Bronzor right out of the air.]

I- think so. Where are-

[Better stop him before he hits a wall again.]

[best_laid_plans]

[Vulpix runs over to try and help fight while Malik, snorting to himself, reaches out to steady his companion. Where's that fighting spirit now, Mutou Yuugi?]

Right, you look it....

Never mind. Your steadfast guard dog's doing his job.

[He'll support you whether you need it or not, Yuugi. And is still holding a PokéBall in his free hand.]

[kingofgamecorner]

[Tossed somewhere over with his ability to see straight- Seeing how Malik doesn't sound like he was hit.

He still blinks and tries to nod through the swimming view.]

Good- K-keep it from hitting us again, Isami!

[Not necessary. The thing falls after one fiery attack, and then the Growlithe's joining the mareeps in hovering around his legs.

Will their breeder be okay, Malik?!]

[best_laid_plans]

[Gh, out of his way, fuzzy legions, he was going to capture -

Oh well. There'll be another chance, he supposes, now that they know they aren't alone down here.

Malik keeps supporting Yuugi, easing him down into a seated position.]

It should wear off fairly quickly. If you can't walk, I'll find an exit and come back.

[kingofgamecorner]

[oh SO SORRY MALIK did Team Yuugi disrupt you again?

Yuugi shakes his head, grimaces, and tries looking up at Malik from the ground. He's at least turning into one person again, and the triple fluff in his lap is not too jarring.]

-no. Thanks, but I'll shake it off in a second, and who knows what else is in here.

We should stick together.

[best_laid_plans]

[CURSES, FOILED AGAIN

Malik nods, crossing his arms and leaning on the wall in the meantime. He glances down the hall.]

See that you do. If a puzzle got us into this, it's likely that there's more than one.

I'd hate for you to miss the best part of your vacation.

[Was that - amusement? A small smile? That isn't the sort of smirk that might accompany the words "as you breathe your last"?]

[kingofgamecorner]

Well, it's your vacation, too... That didn't hit you at all, right?

[-did his side glance read wrong because of his vision and the dim light? Or did he really see...

There's a Yuugi staring up, head in hand, looking more tired than anything, until he pats pokeys away enough to try boosting up.]

We should keep going, if it will take a while, or there might be puzzles. Niko and Ichiro need to sleep soon, and their lights will go out.

Then we'd have to stay put a while.

[best_laid_plans]

[Malik misses a beat before taking Yuugi's arm to support him.]

Then let's escape before that's an issue.

[Escape...heh.

Something's bugging him about that word. But in the meantime he'll try to lead Yuugi down the corridor.]