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

[kingofgamecorner]

[Hey now, Mr. Lilac Vest. ...right. That's not spelling out what's wrong, but he's connected that Malik won't likely relax until they're topside.

And, indeed, bedtime must be coming up for numerous members. The Mareep pair only shuffle around this much in their urge to fight sleep. Even Paku is drooping more, making wobbly swoops overhead. (Even more than usual.)

Yuugi actually reaches out and catches him on a low pass, holding him as he talks to the furry brood.]

Come on guys, the faster we move, the faster we get out.

[Forward march AND HOURS LATER HURHUR]

[best_laid_plans]

[Forward march! .....and forward, and forward.

Smoochum has to keep blowing cold air on Vulpix's back to keep him moving. Malik's focused ahead, however, peering into the darkness as best he can (and failing at not looking antsy).

Finally, he holds up a hand.]

Something's out there.

[Faintly, down the corridor, there comes a glow.]

[kingofgamecorner]

[-that's not nice, Smoochum. Yuugi's not so sure he approves.

And would have likely said so- Had Malik not called for a stop.

What could that be? He squints for a second, but abandons that when he has to call out-]

Ichiro, Niko! Isami, you better stop them...

Paku, can you tell what that is?

[Or will Paku - and Lucario as "translator" - get a chance to share?]

[best_laid_plans]

[Paku is welcome to try - if he can sense and dodge the rocks being chucked out of nowhere at him.

The wild ??? used Rock Throw! And Vulpix's hackles go up. He growls, ready to pounce.]

Hold off -

Yuugi, what's out there?

[kingofgamecorner]

[Then it's lucky Paku's still in Yuugi's arms, so he can clutch him close and his Lucario can get in the way, guarding them both.

Isami's happy to jump in, too- But the Mareep are scurrying about, so he needs to do some corralling first.]

-Paku? Shin?

[A quick scan, "wooing" from Paku, and translation from Shin, and Yuugi's giving a stumbling.]

A... rock sun? I don't know!

[But, if it's a 'rock' anything...]

Shin, aim Water Pulse passed Niko and Ichiro!

[best_laid_plans]

[A /what/?!

But Malik can see it soon enough - it's begun to spin in hopes of deflecting the attack, lighting up as it whirls. So that's -

It fires Confusion at Shin, and Malik's expression sets. He's not letting another thing with Psychic attacks escape.]

Smoochum, knock it out of the air!

[She leaps into the fray with a mighty "smoo".]

[kingofgamecorner]

[The Confusion hits, but even so Shin is leveled enough that it's more grazing than anything, and for the same reason his water move helps slow the Psychic before Smoochum even knocks it over.

And as soon as it's down Yuugi's stepping forward to pull the Mareeps back.]

Did it faint?

and then fetchie was a huge melodramatic sap

[best_laid_plans]

[Malik moves forward to check it out, Vulpix growling into the darkness.

He lifts his Poké Ball.]

It better not.

[There is a rustling, and a faint glow; an upset "smoo", and then something launching itself at Malik.

React if you can, Yuugi! But someone else - somebody little and glowing - is rushing the opponent too.]

stack that pokedrama, fetchie!!

[kingofgamecorner]

[Yuugi really doesn't mind the opponent at all at this point. Leave that to Shin's watch!

He'd rather jolt at Malik's ambush.]

-Isami! Help him!

[Too bad Yuugi wasn't specific. Tackling Malik from the side to get him out of the way- That counts, right?]

do not tempt me, frodo!

[best_laid_plans]

[It counts all right. Sure. It counts. Ouch.

Malik winces and looks up just as the levitating rock comes crashing down, partially drenched and partially dizzy from being smacked across the face by an angry....

Malik blinks, barely remembering to throw his PokéBall. He must have hit his head harder than he thought, because -]

Jynx!

you can not take this r...regimen of drama?

[kingofgamecorner]

[If it helps, Malik, Yuugi's coming over to help you stand up.

Then he's happy to properly gawk at the newest shift in the situation.]

It- She evolved!

[Thank you, Mr. Obvious.]

[best_laid_plans]

[Vulpix, helpful as always, trots forward to take the new PokéBall in his mouth, for when anyone will see fit to notice the Pokémon was captured.

Malik, however, manages not to smack Yuugi's helping hand away just in time, and instead lets himself lean a little on the other boy's support. This indignity will help, he tells himself. The more helpless, the more "normal", he can appear before Yuugi....

Another pair of arms helps on the other side.]

Jynx!

....so she did.

[He might, for half a moment, actually look proud. (He's holding back an It's About Time evil smirk.)]

[kingofgamecorner]

[A quick congratulatory smile Jynx's way is about all Yuugi can manage, since he's trying to help keep a much taller person up.

And from there, it's kind of hard to miss his reaction to said help, even if it's not acted on.

But there's not really much he can say about that, without the usual topic breach risks, so.]

Are you going to have any problem walking? Because - even if you don't?

[He looks off down the path they meant to take, all the darker now that his Mareeps' lights are dimming.]

I don't think we're getting out anytime soon. That door down there doesn't even lead out, does it, Paku?

[...his "woo!" in answer is far too perky a dissent, even without Shin coming back over to explain.]

[best_laid_plans]

I'm fine. [Jynx tries to get him to lean more of his weight on her. She's too tall to hop onto his shoulder now!

He takes a deep breath and thinks, tapping a finger against his new PokéBall. Spending a full Mareep-nap with Yuugi in the dark isn't high on his agenda, particularly not while achy like this.]

This thing lights up, but we just about did it in. I'm out of Potions; how are you....no point in worrying about the exit till we've got our light source.

[kingofgamecorner]

[Sure you are, Malik.. That's why Yuugi is reluctant to leave keeping you up all to Jynx. Right.

But he does, if only to dig through his bag, hearing more than seeing what's inside.]

I have a few waters left, if it might help your uh, new catch... But it won't help the kids. They don't need to heal, just "recharge".

[And no, he's not sure what causes that, except maybe sticking together. But lo and behold, a few hours of no discharge = extra fluffy night light!]

[best_laid_plans]

[Malik nods.]

If you don't mind. I'd hate for us to be caught off-guard because we stayed down here too long.

Besides....it's not right, for us to be cut off from the light like this.

[kingofgamecorner]

[...how good is Malik's sixth sense for awkward reactions? Because Yuugi's stalled in the middle of unsealing a bottle, with a look of

Oh.

And Yuugi's giving a reevaluating glance to his Mareeps, and then hands over the water.

Or tries, at least.]

Here. If it comes to it, I can bring out Bakuto, too. That's kind of, ah, a gamble, but we definitely wouldn't be in the dark with her.

[For a while.]

[best_laid_plans]

We'll see.

[He accepts the water and lets out the Solrock, which sort of lies on the ground in an impression of an actual rock. It's not easy to give water to something he's not sure even has a mouth, but he'll do his best, and bit by bit the rock begins to rotate and glow.

It's a faint glow, but it's better than nothing. In the dim light, he lets his face look vulnerable for a moment. There's no getting around what just happened.]

I'm not someone you have to pity, by the way.

[kingofgamecorner]

[Being mouth-less or near faceless doesn't seem to stop potions, so yay game logic.

Once the Solrock is in the air, Yuugi quietly talks to his Mareep and calls them back to their PokéBalls. It's only then he hears the comment, and turns to look at Malik again. There's a beat of him trying read that look, but.]

I'm not pitying you.

[And no, he's not offering much counter there, other than point blank counter. Saying he just comprehended and realized what's up, that would be walking right into no man's land. Instead he pockets the PokéBalls and lets Paku fly loose.]

I'm just trying to make this work. If you don't like the dark, and I can help with that.

[Catching the "clearly I should do something" tone yet?]

[best_laid_plans]

[Malik nods, letting the Solrock levitate a little. It spins and glows. He thinks for a long moment, then closes his eyes.]

....you're really something. Now let's get out of here.

[He's going to make this work too, Yuugi. Even if he's chalking this time up to a practical streak he didn't think someone as otherwise baffling as you could possess.]

and in related news, BOTH MAREEPS EVOLVED WHAT IS THIS

[kingofgamecorner]

[-well that's a little low, sir, giving Yuugi a comment like that and then calling the march. It's a recipe for delayed reaction.

But follow he does, Shin at his heels and Isami coming back with nothing to herd.

And Paku swooping playfully around the Solrock, making a light flickering effect that draws Yuugi's notice.]

Will he even notice if there's something coming up... Hey, Malik. Do you want to ask the Solrock anything, too?

[Your newbie night light.]

who's evolving? mareep are evolving! HOW CAN THIS BE

[best_laid_plans]

....hm?

[Oh, yes. Through the Lucario. Malik glances over at it.]

Clever thinking. This is its natural habitat, after all.

[He looks down at Shin.]

Do you think it could find a way out for us? Once we've reached the surface we can get to know each other better.

Apparently everstones are not genetically passed down. Dx Why did no one tell me?!

[kingofgamecorner]

[Huh? Well he knows you better than you might think, Malik, but thankfully you must mean Shin...

And Shin has a much better poker face than his breeder, and stares right on back at Malik. WATCH OUT, HE CAN SEE YOUR SOUL.

But he can indeed see through other things, as Yuugi is now considering.]

Maybe. Can you use Aura Sphere to see the way out, Shin?

[Enjoy one I will try. comment voiced by Dan Green invading all minds, before stepping forward to kneel in the dark.]

the best casting. /hands you your internet

[best_laid_plans]

[Okay, that rattles Malik a little - not that he'll let it show. Vulpix barks and scratches at his ear, however, while Jynx pats Malik on the back. (Lovely. She can reach all of him at once now.)

He'll wait in silence, however, trying very pointedly not to think about all the things he doesn't want Lucario to know about him - not, in retrospect, that any of it would surprise you. He won't break this truce until he's good and ready, if you won't. It's the next best thing to actual trust.

In the short-term, however, his patience could use some work.]

How is it?

[Vulpix loses his balance and flops over, still bothered by the fact something apparently went in his ear - at least, far as he can tell.]

/re-dedicates whole internet to noisy sheep.

[kingofgamecorner]

[Pff, why so flustered, pokeys? Okay, so Paku gave a wide loop sweep in jolt, but jumpy Isami's all used to his mind-reading hatch-brother, and just yips an answer! And- oh pah, if he has to he'll come over to nose the Vulpix back on his feet.

Grant it, it helps to have a mind used to it with little to hide. It frees Yuugi up, for instance, for side-eying Malik through Shin's scan. Aside from his general hesitance in sharing Shin's skills, maybe it was one shock too many.

But Malik asked, and Shin's turning back their way to share.

There's another hall just up ahead, past a stature. It's just as long as this one, and it opens up to a third hall on the other end. There's a path out halfway through that one.

And Yuugi's trying to think, even if they walked the whole length of this hall-]

That has to be hours away.