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

[whiterosefoes]

[which she's just discerned by waving her hand in front of them. Hmm. She'll feel his chest just to be completely certain that he's breathing, and after about ten seconds of that she'll at least try rolling him into the recovery position.

Why is she doing this? God knows.]

[obeytherod]

[From a few feet away, the eye on the Rod glows, and Malik suddenly snaps back into consciousness.]

Ghh... [Ignoring Harriet entirely, he rolls over and pushes himself up onto his hands and knees. Having such a small fragment of a soul control his empty vessel of a body like this wasn't any easier the second time, but it was a necessity.

He lifts his head, spotting the Rod just a few feet away.

...Okay, he's just got to get to that.]

[whiterosefoes]

[She gasps as he comes back to life, and - what the heck...? He just collapsed, and he's immediately going for the rod? It can't be more important than his health. What does he intend to do with it? This is so pathetic that it swings back around and kind of pisses her off. She's just going to get up and grab it before he can get it, then look at him with disgust.]

This damn rod... Is it really so important that you'll crawl like a worm for it?

[obeytherod]

...I wasn't crawling.

[Maybe he took a slight step towards it, but Malik was working on getting to his feet at the same time. He finally manages to pull himself to his feet, but not before she's grabbed the Rod herself. With her holding it like that...it would be easy to just possess her and force her to give it to him, but that would also expose the fact it was now a soul-container.

He steps over to her and holds out a hand, eyes narrowed, but also seeming to struggle to keep focused.]

Hand it over.

[whiterosefoes]

[that's what it looked like to her, but she shrugs when he manages to pull himself up.]

You look rather dizzy, you know.

[But she'll hand it over, just like that. She doesn't want this stupid thing anyway.]

[obeytherod]

[As soon as the Rod is back in his hand, Malik looks as if he'd never collapsed as all. He quickly hooks the thing onto his belt and then turns to glower at her. There's a real anger in his eyes...before it fades out. He still needs her for other things, and at the very least it seemed she hadn't been about to just pick-pocket his comatose body and run, so there was that.]

...You know...hitting me like that could easily spark something much worse. You're lucky I'm not the vengeful type.

[As if that weren't the biggest load of bullshit he'd ever said. Even Malik can't say it with a straight face.]

Keh keh...well, okay, you're just lucky I find you interesting.

[whiterosefoes]

[Well that was weird. It was like he got a second wind just now...]

That's ... a strange kind of fortune. [His interest in her... she has a hard time seeing the positives in that.]

And why are you acting like you didn't just fall over like a sack of bricks?

[obeytherod]

Fortune is fortune, right? Kehkeh...

[His hand rests back on his Rod unconsciously, the grip around it oddly protective.]

...I think I'm coming down with something. [That was as good an excuse as any.]

[whiterosefoes]

Yeah, something like a blood clot. Your pulse was WEAK.

[Her tone makes it sound like a diss, but... technically...

Of course, it's just shock. She couldn't really be concerned for him.]

[obeytherod]

...You checked my pulse?

[Malik just...stares at her now. She checked his pulse. That was shocking. Once the shock wears off, though...he has to fight with all his strength to not smile.

Perfect. Things were working out for him, at this rate...he really would be able to use her!]

[whiterosefoes]

[Harriet sees him fighting back that smile. And she thinks, if he smiled, she would seriously have to punch him. She pokes her finger at him]

Oy! You stop reading into that! I really didn't even have time to think about it.

[obeytherod]

[Malik holds his hands up, tilting his head away in a mocking gesture of surrender.]

Of course not...your first instinct was simply to make sure I wasn't dead. That's kind of you.

[He watchers her with a knowing look, waiting for some sort of burst of fury on her end.]

[whiterosefoes]

[when he calls her "kind" she practically cuts him off]

That! That right there is you reading into it! Assuming you're somehow getting special treatment or that this means perhaps I don't actually hate you - what planet do you come from?

[obeytherod]

I wasn't assuming anything. I know a lot about hate...I know it's not dissipated so easily, and you have every reason to hate me.

[Malik places a hand at his hip, smirking openly now.] But your feelings towards me doesn't change the kindness of your actions.

[whiterosefoes]

[...he's got her there. That is why that statement is getting pointedly ignored.]

If you understand, then stop smiling, you asshole.

[She's crossing her arms. It's seriously disgusting...]

[obeytherod]

Kehkeh! No...I don't think I will. This is really too amusing. [He strokes the head of his Rod idly.]

You're so mad...over what? The fact I can read you like a book even without the Rod?

[whiterosefoes]

[she grinds her teeth at that, her hands actually clenching into fists again.]

... If you can, it's only because you were in my head, right?

And to have it made light of, as if you deserve to know me personally... It's disgusting to even think about.

[obeytherod]

I won't say that didn't help, but that's hardly the only reason. Your temper makes you predictable.

[Even his seemingly apologetic words hold amusement in them.] You know...I didn't want to argue with you. Do you think I would have driven you all the way out here just for that?

[whiterosefoes]

Does it? You seemed pretty surprised, at first. [...though she'll keep that in mind. Harriet taps her fingers against her folded arms, trying to regain her cool.]

That's right... before you fell unconscious, I was letting you know you were wasting my time. I suppose we're finished here, then.

[obeytherod]

At first, sure. [...You really were too easy, Harriet. Cooling down was exactly what he wanted her to do right now; he wanted to get them back on topic. The reason why they came here in the first place.

He lets out a sigh as he crosses his arms.] Is there really nothing you'll consider in exchange?

[whiterosefoes]

That is correct.

[Hot or cold, she'll still think the same things. It's a minor victory at best.]

[obeytherod]

[Malik tilts his head a bit, humming in thought.]

That's a shame...I was going to offer you some time with the Rod. You said you were working hard to stabilize your friends after what happened, right...? Kehkeh, the Rod would make that job much easier.

[That was only a half-truth. The effects weren't permanent, especially when the Item changed hands. That and they'd still be reduced to nothing more than puppets.

With that hanging offer, Malik makes his way over to his bike and hops on, as if willing to let the negotiations end.]

[whiterosefoes]

[He really was a sickening boy. Making an offer like that when it was all his fault in the first place! Using the Rod on her friends? The very idea... They were doing a lot better now that Rosenkreuz was back, anyway. What would be the point... The scars of killing could never heal. Could they?

... Jack had been brought back from before he had ever been killed. For him, it was like it never happened. If Harriet could forget about having killed him ... would she? If Eleanor could forget about killing Malik... would she be like Jack? Back to her old self... If there was such magic...

She stays stony faced, and does not follow him to the bike.]

... I said, we're finished.

[There's no reason to accept his deal. He should know how much she hates that demonic power. She's certainly in no hurry to accept it as a solution.

...But she may be asking Rosenkreuz for the results of his experiments.]

[obeytherod]

Fine.

[The idea had been planted. Now it was just a matter of letting it sprout into a suffocating weed within her mind. He'd use her good will towards her friends to his advantage, and he wouldn't even need the Rod to do it.

At least not directly.]

I assume you can take yourself back, then! [Malik straps on his helmet and starts the engine. He doesn't even give her a chance to respond before veering the bike around and speeding out down the same path they'd come in on.]