EGYPTIAN WHEELIES

[obeytherod]

[Malik had found something while looking through the East Wing. Just what that "something" was becomes apparent when an engine roars to life, and the skid of tires on tiled flooring echoes through the halls.

Sure...sure, he could just walk his new bike outside...but where was the fun in that?! This wasn't an ATV, and it likely wasn't going to fair well in the spotty terrain outdoors...

So he's just going to take a few smooth-riding laps in the halls before he goes to test it outside.

When somebody gets in his way, he rears the bike back onto one wheel, skidding a few feet on the floor before the front tire slams back down and he comes to a stop.]

What, are you trying to get yourself killed?

Comments

[obeytherod]

Hardly. [Malik coolly picks his card back up, satisfied to see that Bakura isn't an ace every turn. That's good, because if he was...he'd lose.

Bracing his card again, Malik attempts to flip Bakura's card by slapping his own against the hard floor. A small gust of wind causes the card to flutter in place before inevitable skidding backwards to hit Bakura's knee.]

...Your turn. [He tosses his card down again.]

[fluffydeathdealer]

[How weak... He could have done that with much more force, Bakura's sure. After all, he's at a disadvantage here. Though his fingers are mostly healed, his arms still hurt. Throwing the cards like this requires finding a balance between his own tolerance and his desire to win.

He had to win, after all. There was much more at stake if he lost-!]

Here-!

[The card lifts, looking for a moment like it's going to flop down again - and falls over, revealing its face to him.]

Heheh...! Your turn, Malik! Hurry, hurry! You need to catch up, after all!

[Reverse card set.]

[whiterosefoes]

Are you kidding? This type of dueling isn't for fun. It's for war, [She's annoyed at the insinuation that she'd teach him powerful magic just because she's bored. Who does he think she is? Bakura?

An "offer", however, is different. Just like with Rosenkreuz long ago, she'll make a deal with the devil if it's for the right reason. However, he has to know that her price is steep. She smiles pleasantly.]

I'm actually kind of a big deal, you know? "The Legendary Duelist", foretold in prophecy. I once decided the fate of an empire with this magic. You'd have to offer me something equal or greater in power before I might consider teaching it.

[But those things, she can count on her hand, and she doubts he'd be willing. Still, what happened with his Yami was unforgivable - and Harriet had not been strong enough. Because of that, Elly had to kill... it makes her want to seek more, something to ensure that could never happen again.]

[obeytherod]

[Malik's lips twist as his card is taken. That's two now...meaning he only had thirteen left. If he didn't flip a card over soon, it was going to get harder and harder to catch up.]

I'm just getting warmed up.

[Trying his second method again, Malik slaps his card down from an angle this time. Hopefully if the bottom hit the ground first with the top snapping down afterwards, that will create enough pick-up to flip Bakura's card.

His hopes are answered.] Yes!

[He swipes the card and then tosses his own carelessly to the floor.] Looks like your bragging ends here, Partner.

[fluffydeathdealer]

That's one.

[His voice is taunting even so. So Malik figured out one of the tricks of the throws... he'll have to calculate a little harder to offset that.

This time, he puts all of his force into the throw, hard enough that the card is thrown aside... and continues to lie face down where it lands.]

...tch.

[obeytherod]

Kehehe...too bad~ I guess luck has left your side in favour of mine.

[Malik picks his card back up, eying Bakura's. Now that he knew the trick...he saw no reason to change methods.

Just like the turn before, Malik makes sure the bottom touches the floor first and that the top flicks down.

Another victory for him, and he is smug about it.]

Fifteen and fifteen. It looks like we're back to square-one.

[fluffydeathdealer]

Heheh...

[His lips twitch into a cruel smirk. If Malik thinks he's won just because of a couple of lucky plays, he's wrong...]

The game's not over yet!

[This time, the card overturns easily and he adds it to his collection, setting his next card down coolly.]

[obeytherod]

I enjoy your confidence, Bakura...I can't wait to shatter it!

[Malik plays his card, but this time Bakura's only toys with the idea of flipping over before settling back down.]

Tch...!

[fluffydeathdealer]

Hehehehhahahahaha! You couldn't shatter my confidence if you had a sledgehammer designed specifically to do so!

[Yes! Lady luck is holding her end of the bargain. Seventeen cards in his hand again... this time he wants to try to keep them.]

[obeytherod]

Hmhmhm...I wouldn't need something that brutish. I just need to nick the right spot...

[Malik flips over Bakura's card and gathers it into his hand, his own confident brimming.] ...And the rest of you will slowly crack until your confidence shatters all on its own.

[fluffydeathdealer]

[...that card again. Well, then. If Malik could cheat to get the drop on him, he could trust in this card. And his trust is not misplaced; Diabound seems to sense his wish, easily flipping the other card.

He doesn't even need to summon it, it seems... unless this is all just coincidence.]

Hehe... Of course! You don't have it in you to hit it hard enough, right?

[soldier_from_surface]

Unless you have some proof of that, there is no reason for me to believe you. [Quote gives an almost uncaring shrug.] Perhaps he has, or perhaps he has not, but until I know he's done something or is continuing to do it, I have no reason to turn against him. Not just because of the repairs but because of the fact that he offered them to me with only a small condition. I'm sorry. Perhaps someone else can help you recover whatever item he stole from you?

[As emotional as Quote is under the mask, he doesn't buy the guilt trip. It's so very easy for people to try to sway with words... actions are what speaks louder, and the sword in his storage is proof of that.]

If there is something else you need, then I can offer that. Otherwise, you should refrain from riding the motorcycle inside, so you don't harm someone.

[obeytherod]

Tch, it's nothing like that. I just want to enjoy myself. It would be over too soon if I did that.

[Even again...this game was going to take forever at this rate. Luckily, Malik wins back his card on his next turn, setting him back to fourteen.]

Your turn~

[fluffydeathdealer]

Heh. Maybe we should drop the ante a little. Shall we say... the first person to hit twenty cards in their hand? That is, the initial fifteen, plus five won?

[It was going to take too long. There'd be more risk with a lower ante, but less wasted time...

He loses this one. How annoying!]

[obeytherod]

That's easy for you to suggest when you're ahead!

[A lower ante was risky, even if he'd gotten the hang of a solid technique...]

[fluffydeathdealer]

Oh? Are you afraid you're going to lose? How pitiful! I thought you had more confidence than that.

[obeytherod]

...Tch, of course not. I'm just not a fool.

[Malik narrows his eyes at his next card, tossing it to the floor.]

But fine, I'll humour you and agree--if only because it'll make my victory that much more satisfying.

[fluffydeathdealer]

Don't you mean 'mine'? You're going to lose, after all!

[He has confidence in himself more than anything. After all... he has to win.]

[obeytherod]

Hmhmhm, no, I meant what I said. Now throw your damn card down.

[He enjoyed this...the stakes weren't high, but the tension was. It was invigorating!]

[fluffydeathdealer]

Fine, then!

[One more card to the call-! It overturned slowly, teetering on the verge of flipping, before finally revealing its face. He heaves a barely audible sigh of relief, setting down his next card.]

Just try it! You'll never defeat me.

[obeytherod]

I guess I can't convince you, then.

[Malik seems to give up rather easily, considering how adamant he was a moment ago.]

But before I leave...I need to ask you something... [He whips out his Rod, pointing the all-seeing eye at Quote. Channeling his energy into it...he tries to use its powers on the robot.]

[obeytherod]

Your overconfidence will be your downfall. [Malik coolly retorts, easily flipping over Bakura's next card. Internally, he was relieved. Bakura only had sixteen cards now.

What he really needed was the other man to miss so he had a chance to try and jump ahead, instead of just staving himself off from falling any farther behind.]

[soldier_from_surface]

[Interesting that he gave up so easy. Quote isn't sure what to make of that, but then he's being... pointed at... with the golden thing.

...Um.

Not sure what it is Malik wants or going to ask, he simply reaches out to poke the Rod, while a whole lot of nothing goes on at Malik's end.]

What is it?

[fluffydeathdealer]

You should just surrender right now, Malik! Maybe I'll take pity on you if you do~!

[His next throw is a little off, barely making the flip.]

[obeytherod]

Surrender? Over this? Kehkeh...who do you take me for?

[Malik tosses his card again, but this time the card teeters on edge before falling face down again.]

... [If Bakura made his next flip, he was in trouble.]