route_1065 | forward dating for the birthday boy

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?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

....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.

[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.]

[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.]

[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.

[Well, now they at least have a "map" of sorts. Malik considers, which doesn't take very long.]

It's better than trying to make our own path and burying ourselves. Here.

[He recalls Vulpix and Jynx, swapping them for Rhyhorn - who takes up a good bit of the hall but can fit with a little bit of wiggle room.]

He's been wanting to run anyway, I think. Let's give him a chance to show off.

[-does this face read "Oh Fudge" loudly enough?]

You think he can run through here without hitting the walls?

[That sounds like it might bring things falling. And oddly enough- Hasn't he done this before some point? No? Odd...]

[It feels kind of uncanny to him, as well. He's trying not to let that bother him - that, or figure out why.]

If I tell him to.

[Climbing on, he lays a hand on the rocky pelt. His Pokémon all know better than to disobey, right?

But today, he's giving Rhyhorn a friendly pat.]

Unless you prefer hours of walking to letting me steer?

[-that doesn't even require answer. He gives maybe a second's consideration before turning to his remaining team.]

Come on guys, I'll call you out when the ride's over.

[And so some recalls and Paku's the only one left, flitting over his head all eager to see what happens as his breeder goes to the Rhyhorn.]

Will your newest member be able to keep the light going while he runs?

[That - is an issue, since Solrock is kind of incredibly heavy. But it levitates in front of Rhyhorn, apparently willing to give it a go.

Malik nods and climbs aboard his Pokémon, offering Yuugi a hand.]

We'll make it work. Once yours have recharged, they can sit up front with me.

-let's hope Ichiro recovers fast, then.

[And he likely will, but the thought of Niko having a fit upfront and trying to shock the Rhyhorn and just hit them-

But either way. Here's hoping Malik doesn't ride a Rhyhorn as fast as a bike. Yuugi's iffy enough as it is hanging on to him back there.]

[Not quite as fast as a bike, not in these close quarters.

But probably faster than Yuugi would like: Malik wants out of here.

Rhyhorn hasn't hit anything - yet - but you still might want to hold on tight. And feel sorry for the poor Solrock attempting to keep pace.]

[-do remember, Malik. Even if you're okay with this pace, it's your ribs that will suffer the cost of a Yuugi hanging on for dear life.

And moreover- the fact Solrock is falling behind means a little Woobat will be making a whiny noise at trailing, too. And try to solve this problem by dropping right down to join the ride. Right in Yuugi's face, and the back of Malik's neck.]

Gft-! Pak-!

forward dating for the birthday boy

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

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

the best casting. /hands you your internet

/re-dedicates whole internet to noisy sheep.

maaaaaaa

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hurhur have fun with those statues, rhyshid!

he'll do his best for master malik

of course he will, sweet giant block of stampede he is!

-///-

:D