[The sharp jolt, the unmistakable feeling of the panic of a person who feels they are about to die wrongfully (or perhaps suffer a fate worse than death) causes Johan to drop the Hitomi with a yelp at first. When the dream finishes and he collects himself, he sends a voice message after a few minutes of thought pass, hesitating a little at first.]
[It's a little while later that Malik responds. After he's managed to wake himself and find his voice, himself, rather, once more. And he has pressed his face into the crook of his elbow, cradling it against the aching in his head.
Thus when he answers his voice is tired and weak]
If you know whats good for you, you'll forget anything you just saw. [Its a whisper, and possibly rather pathetic, but its clear he means it.]
Then you're a fool [Voice getting stronger the more he snaps out of it.] and you're going to get yourself killed if you keep running into things you know nothing about.
[Not a threat. But a warning. He doesn't know you. You are not his friend nor his enemy so the scale doesn't tip for or against him if you live or die, but things have already gotten messed up enough...perhaps he is getting a little tired or things going wrong.]
[ Juudai makes sure to watch this without touching the Hitomi, this time. Even without feeling what Malik is feeling, he has an inkling of what might be going through this dream.
And then -
the other one.
"Knew it," Juudai murmurs to himself, through a mixture of triumph and disquiet. He'd known - there was something. There was someone else besides the two of them in that conversation. ]
[ In the tone of voice someone might use to invite someone to coffee: ]
[What a funny little thing to see, the visual manifestation of all his other half's petty anxieties. Who knew he dreamt in such literal terms? This is why it is so easy sometimes to wedge between the crevices of their shared mind - there are cracks within his psyche that are so obvious they are only asking to be exploited. He knows better than anyone else, that prickling sensation that runs up the spine to send shivers down one's back. Some would call it fear - it's his drug of choice. Though unlike with other poisons, this is one that will make him stronger. He thrives upon it, the thicker the better.
He traverses the dreamscape, gaining strength every step as the fear reverberates back at him in waves. He crouches at the edge of the pier and looks down into the murky waters where his other half is drowning under his own guilt and incompetence. Perhaps it would be better to let him go down into the deep, since he seems so bent upon destroying himself.]
Taking a swim so late at night? Are you sure that's a good idea?
[Malik kicks rather pathetically at the water making his legs heavy and his muscles weary, and doesn't even realize that he's clinging onto this monster's arms for dear life.
anything not to fall into that black water, thick like ink.
[There's something just a little infuriating about that helplessness in his other half's eyes. That look of futility that seems to say he's already given up before he's even tried. It's the side of him that yields under the knife of their father, even if it would kill him a little inside. And even still.
He reaches into the water and grabs him by the shirt, yanking him up until his face is above the surface.]
You're asking me to help you? I thought you didn't trust me. [He smiles darkly.]
[He is helpless. Or at least he feels that way. Isn't that why you were born in the first place? That darker part of him that stirred when there was nothing to protect him in the darkness?
Yes. You're born from the helplessness he has convinced himself of. Should you ridicule what has given birth to you?
Coughing he doubles his grip above Yami Malik's elbows, wet locks of hair sticking to his face]
Well, Alice isn’t sure just what the feeling is, exactly, but it’s vaguely familiar. And maybe it’s because there is a second one - a second him, just as she has a second her. It’s just a guess, really, but she knows that unlike that one’s other, there would be no pale hand reaching for her in such an instance.
If anything, that stupid thing would dance and laugh as the Chains bit deep into flesh, and smile sweetly as they ate her alive.
So maybe that’s the reason she finds herself responding, the arrogance from before gone, replaced by an almost flat understanding.]
…so you’re connected to your Abyss too, aren’t you? Would he really save you?
[Malik doesn't understand her use of the word 'Abyss', but the rest is enough to give him a clue as to what she's talking about. And for a moment he has to consider if he should even bother answering. His last conversation with this girl was less than pleasant.
Yes this time she seems...understanding?
If that is something that Malik can even recognize, after all. Its questionable if he remembers what 'understanding' even feels like.]
I don't know. [He answers honestly] He usually just teases me, or hurts people, so I don't know if he really cares if I live or die.
[She makes a bit of a face at that and wraps her arms around her knees, unmindful of the near indecent slip of her nightdress with them move. Instead she rests her cheek on bent knees and nods a bit.]
I hate her. She's stupid...always taunting me and sending her stupid toys after me. She's senselessly cruel... but she is still me. Know what I mean?
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...You okay there?
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Thus when he answers his voice is tired and weak]
If you know whats good for you, you'll forget anything you just saw. [Its a whisper, and possibly rather pathetic, but its clear he means it.]
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...Sorry. Don't think I can do that.
I guess I'll take that as a no, then, huh?
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[Not a threat. But a warning. He doesn't know you. You are not his friend nor his enemy so the scale doesn't tip for or against him if you live or die, but things have already gotten messed up enough...perhaps he is getting a little tired or things going wrong.]
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And then -
the other one.
"Knew it," Juudai murmurs to himself, through a mixture of triumph and disquiet. He'd known - there was something. There was someone else besides the two of them in that conversation. ]
[ In the tone of voice someone might use to invite someone to coffee: ]
Offer's still open, you know.
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Do you two come as a package deal of foolish idealism or something? [Yes he's also referring to Johan]
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[ So what do you plan to do about it, Malik? ]
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[He'll shove you away. Thats what he plans to do.
Hate him. Don't help him.]
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He traverses the dreamscape, gaining strength every step as the fear reverberates back at him in waves. He crouches at the edge of the pier and looks down into the murky waters where his other half is drowning under his own guilt and incompetence. Perhaps it would be better to let him go down into the deep, since he seems so bent upon destroying himself.]
Taking a swim so late at night? Are you sure that's a good idea?
[He
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anything not to fall into that black water, thick like ink.
He'll disappear if he falls in]
...J-just pull me out [He manages to plead]
...please....
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He reaches into the water and grabs him by the shirt, yanking him up until his face is above the surface.]
You're asking me to help you? I thought you didn't trust me. [He smiles darkly.]
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Yes. You're born from the helplessness he has convinced himself of. Should you ridicule what has given birth to you?
Coughing he doubles his grip above Yami Malik's elbows, wet locks of hair sticking to his face]
Well you're the only one here, aren't you?
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Well, Alice isn’t sure just what the feeling is, exactly, but it’s vaguely familiar. And maybe it’s because there is a second one - a second him, just as she has a second her. It’s just a guess, really, but she knows that unlike that one’s other, there would be no pale hand reaching for her in such an instance.
If anything, that stupid thing would dance and laugh as the Chains bit deep into flesh, and smile sweetly as they ate her alive.
So maybe that’s the reason she finds herself responding, the arrogance from before gone, replaced by an almost flat understanding.]
…so you’re connected to your Abyss too, aren’t you? Would he really save you?
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Yes this time she seems...understanding?
If that is something that Malik can even recognize, after all. Its questionable if he remembers what 'understanding' even feels like.]
I don't know. [He answers honestly] He usually just teases me, or hurts people, so I don't know if he really cares if I live or die.
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I hate her. She's stupid...always taunting me and sending her stupid toys after me. She's senselessly cruel... but she is still me. Know what I mean?
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Yes. [He nods] Yes I know.
Does she speak to you in your head?
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