the_campus | EGYPTIAN WHEELIES

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EGYPTIAN WHEELIES

[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?

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...

[actually she barely remembers anything about that night. Oops.]

Whatever it was, I'm not going to reconsider it just because you have a motorcycle now!

[Wording Harriet, wording; it tips Malik off fairly easily.]

...You forgot? And after you told me to give you a few days to think about it, too! Keh keh... [The lie slips out easily. If Harriet didn't remember, there was no harm in trying.]

Do I really have to explain myself all over again?

[She was so brain dead at the time. At least she does remember talking to Malik for quite some time, and a few key tidbits (like him poking her head while insulting her religion and letting slip some rod deets), but an offer? ...She does not want to admit that she was too sleepy to remember. She scratches her cheek, staring at him blankly.]

I dunno. It can't have mattered much to me if I forgot about it. You could just take it as a no.

[She can't imagine a deal with him that she would have agreed to in the first place. But she expects he'll explain anyway. He's simply not the type to take no for an answer.]

Edited 2013-09-22 23:08 (UTC)

[Casually, Malik pulls off his helmet and sets it in his lap, but he still doesn't bother to move from the bike.]

You seemed pretty interested in it, actually... [An interest born from concern for her friends, but he technically wasn't lying.]

We should talk in private. [He pulls the Rod out from his belt, pointing it at her with an pointed little grin.] And since I think you'll object to me using this to communicate...we'll just have to move!

I beg your pardon?

[Is he telling her to get on the bike. Is that what's happening?! he really was trying to pick her up, WHY THIS]

You shouldn't even be able to use that on me while I'm in my armor, you know!

Yes, I know. [Malik says with ah int of frustration as he jams the Rod back onto his belt.]

That's why we need to move. I don't want just anybody overhearing us.

Yes but...

[Every fiber of her being is telling her not to get on the bike. But she's already at a disadvantage from not remembering their conversation. She could tell him to fuck off, but it'll just bother her later. Curse her habit of dwelling on everything! She sighs loudly and steps up to the bike.]

This had better be good!

[Well, that went better than expected! She wasn't terribly hard to convince, was she? But he knew that already.

Harriet would be useful to him yet.

Malik pulls his own helmet back on and then starts the engine back up, allowing the bike to start in a slow-speed roll as he briefly adjusts to the weight of having two people on his bike.]

Keh keh...hold on.

[Malik mercilessly steps on the gas!]

Edited 2013-09-23 00:16 (UTC)

[Oh yeah, having to hold on was part of riding a motorcycle wasn't it? This is still a terrible idea.

She kinda just... folds her hands hovering a little over him without actually touching him at first, but that goes right out when he tears off like that - she instinctively latches on, yelling] WHOA-!! [out of habit, from riding horses around England. She gets used to it pretty quickly though. High speeds are not something she's scared of. It's actually kind of fun, though she tries not to let it show.]

[Despite that initial burst of speed, Malik slows down soon after as they approach the front doors.

But he's still going fast enough to cause damage if they were to ram into them.]

...Maybe you should summon something to open that door.

[Hint, hint. You're running out of time, Harriet!]

What, now you're too weak for that too!?

[She thinks he's just having fun making her do what he wants. Those doors sure are approaching fast though.]

Ugh, lunatic! [None of her fairies are really bulky enough to straight up ram the door. She lets go with one hand and summons her Hourglass of Courage, which hurriedly flutters ahead of them and blasts the door open with a great burst of wind and glittering sand.]

... [Not at all; Harriet was right. He's just having fun making her do what he wants, but there was more to it than that. Malik was testing the waters.

But with the doors open, Malik is able to make it outside, almost immediately kicking up sand when he hits the beach shore.

This still wasn't an ATV, so when he steered right and headed for the jungle, he kept near the edge to avoid running into anything that might send the two of them flying headlong.]

[Of course she didn't really think he'd somehow gotten weaker. It was sarcasm, as usual. Seemed he had nothing to say to it though, and that was fine. The hourglass swings back behind the motorcycle and follows - she could dispel it, but why waste a perfectly good summon? She could flip it over and inform Malik he's got this amount of time to impress her. That'd be pretty funny, she thinks.

As they begin to ride towards a secluded area, she looks down - staring into space, but technically his back. She's trying hard to remember what happened so she can catch him in a lie if he should try one.]

[Malik doesn't take them too far. It's a few minutes drive away, but more than far enough from the school to ensure they aren't found.

Stopping the motorbike next to some rocks he kicks out the kickstand and waits for Harriet to get off first. ...Since her arms are kind of around his chest and he can't move with them in the way.]

This should do.

Hm.

[Harriet's glad it wasn't that long of a ride- the fun had sort of worn off once she'd started going back inside her head to consider the situation. And she certainly didn't find hanging onto him pleasant. Releasing him, she hops off and rests her arm on the hourglass, watching him get off before walking towards the trees for some shade.]

Well, out with it. What sort of scandalous offer do you have for me? We've certainly gone far enough out of the way.

[Malik tosses his helmet over the handlebars and leans back against the dormant machine, his arms crossed. He spoke thoughtfully, almost reminiscent of his Namu act, but not nearly as obtuse.]

Oh, it's nothing like that. I was just thinking about how you and the others duel. It's interesting...

[She had said "no" to teaching him to summon Ra directly, but Malik had another idea now...and a better one, at that!]

I was wondering if you could teach me.

[the problem with omitting Ra is the 'escape' ticket was the only part of the plan that made any sense to her. Plus, why would that need to be asked so in private, if there was no catch? So he'll be getting a blank look.]

Interesting and dangerous. Why would I want to give you that kind of skill?

There's not much else to do in this place. [Malik raises a hand, idly flicking the strap to his helmet.]

It could be a way to pass the time...and I could offer you something in return. [His lips pull into the slightest smirk, and although Malik wasn't exactly sure what he could offer her...he was sure there was something.]

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.]

Edited 2013-09-24 21:46 (UTC)

[Malik uses every ounce of his being to not roll his eyes at that "Legendary Duelist" spiel, even if the fact itself meant that Harriet was, indeed, the right person for the job. He couldn't lose this opportunity, not here...

Mind control wouldn't work either, because he needed hands-on practice more than mere knowledge.]

Something equal or greater in power... [He quietly parrots her words back to himself, thinking... He had Ra, and the Rod...and neither of those were options.

But he had one more thing.] I can offer you...information.

[As lackluster as that sounded, he remained confident, raising his Rod to glance down at it knowingly.] You crave power after all...don't you? And with knowledge comes power.

Edited 2013-09-24 21:53 (UTC)

Nice try. [Her response is immediate. He's the one coming to her for knowledge. That response is not just lackluster, she thinks it's total bullshit.

Though, she wouldn't have blamed him for rolling his eyes at the "legendary duelist" spiel. Everything she said was the truth, but it sounds a bit heavy-handed even without embellishing it. Which she did.]

[It was a nice try! He shrugs casually, as if being blown off hadn't bothered him at all.] Okay, Harriet, what do you want?

Edited 2013-09-24 22:58 (UTC)

[She expected him to go a tier up after blowing him off, rather than outright asking her. Despite his confidence, it comes off rather desperate... then again, she set her bar pretty high, so she can hardly blame him. She could ask him for his God Card or his Rod, but what was the point - he'd never agree to those terms. So she taps her chin thoughtfully]

What do I want... [she muses aloud, crossing back over to stand across from Malik at his bike] ... Indeed, what, from the young boy who brought harm to my friends one by one? You certainly have power that I'd crave, if only to take it away from you. I would do anything for that...

[She leans in a bit, her eyes glittering as though she's seriously asking.]

[...and then her face turns dark.]

But I know you'd never give that up, so this is really a waste of my time. How 'bout you just drop dead!? [she exclaims as she snaps her arm out to whack the Millenium Rod out of his hand. Harriet doesn't intend to take it from him, but he's had it out this whole time even though he knows what he did to her with that, and she's just damn sick of looking at it. After she's made her point, she intends to head back.]

[Even before her face gave away her true intentions, Malik had a feeling she wasn't going to bite. He still held out hope though, tried to guess ahead at what she might say and formulate a response ahead of time...

But all that thinking ahead hadn't prepared him for the Rod being slapped out of his hand. It was so sudden, the feeling of his soul being sucked back into the dark, free-floating space of the Rod that he hadn't even had time to try and utilize the soul fragment in his own body.

Malik's expression wipes itself of any sentience, his eyes shifting to a dull, vacant ten-yard gaze as his body gracelessly crumples against his bike and then slips to the ground below.

The Rod had landed a few feet away, coming to a rest near the edge of one of the many trees.]

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