ANNOUNCEMENT 005

[intercom_voice]

[The buzzing of an intercom coming to life that you've all undoubtedly have come to know and love can be heard throughout the entire campus again.]

For the record, 'property damage' includes smashing the intercoms I've so graciously provided you all with as a means to communicate with me. In case you hadn't realized.

[She clears her throat.]

Now then, I hope that little blackout didn't keep you all from being productive. Sharpen those minds!

[And then the feed ends.]

Speak to the Voice
General Mingle

Have fun guys, and don't forget to tag the post with your series name!

Comments

[obeytherod]

What makes you think I have any interest in confiding in you, of all people?

[His words are less bitter and more irritated. Who the hell did she think she was?

And another thing...] What did Bakura tell you?

[whiterosefoes]

Only that you snapped when you were unable to escape. It made it sound as though there were certain emotional triggers that brought him out, though I'm also assuming that because of psychology.

You didn't have to tell me why you were brooding in the first place, did you? Of course I would ask after that.

[obeytherod]

Ohh, is that it? [He supposes he's glad Bakura didn't say more, but that was hardly the whole of it. Bakura's berating and cruel words had been the final nail in the coffin...but even then, Malik didn't blame him. That other half was still him. He should have been able to control it.

Sinking further back into the water, he lets out a grumbling sigh.]

Maybe if you didn't make snide comments when I've asked to be alone, I wouldn't have to.

[whiterosefoes]

I always make snide comments. It's sort of my thing, if you hadn't noticed. [she shrugs. That isn't about to change.] Anyway, that is really all Bakura said. Anything else about your "dark side", I only know from his own words.

[She'll resume toward the waves if he has nothing else to say to her.]

[obeytherod]

I really haven't paid that much attention to you. [He dismisses her with that and resumes his, yes, teenaged brooding.

There was, however, one thing she said that had him thinking: "certain emotional triggers that brought him out." Was it really that simple? How was he supposed to deal with something like that...?

The last time his other half had come out was when that "God" looked him in the eyes. Back there, he'd willingly given himself up to his darker side. He felt pathetic for doing so, in retrospect.

Ugh...he didn't even know what to do with himself right now, so he just laid back and allowed himself to float near the surface, partially submerged. That feeling of weightlessness almost mimicked how his soul felt within the Rod.

He didn't even notice his motorcycle keys had slipped out of his pocket and into the sea.]

[whiterosefoes]

[Rude, Malik. She'll just keep on walking then, and paddle out with her board... though, it's not long before she feels something link around her ankle. At first she thinks it's seaweed, but lifting her foot to kick it off, it falls down and clunks against her board. She swipes it up and sees that it is keys.

They look familiar. Well, she's got no use for them, so she'll just call back toward the shore]

... Oy, Malik!

[and dangle them in sight]

[obeytherod]

[Malik snaps out of his sleep-like state, sitting up and looking around until he spots Harriet.

And his keys.]

...Hey! What are you doing with those?!

[whiterosefoes]

They just hit me. Were these in your pocket?

[obeytherod]

... [Malik reaches down the double-check his pocket. She was a bit aways, so maybe--

No. Those were definitely his keys.]

Uh...yeah.

[whiterosefoes]

Well, I don't want your keys, so come and get them.

[obeytherod]

...Can't you just bring them over here? You're on that plank already.

[whiterosefoes]

["Plank?"]

Yeah but it's a pain to lug it back, and if I waited for a wave I might drop them. It's only a little.

[obeytherod]

It'll be faster if you just come here, you know...

[He's just going to stare and...continue not moving.]

[whiterosefoes]

Why?

[just gonna prop her elbows on the board, put her chin in her hand and stare back. Didn't she just explain why it wouldn't be? And then she blinks.]

... Wait, can you swim?

[obeytherod]

... [Malik just stares over at her like a deer in headlights.]

We didn't really...in Egypt...

[whiterosefoes]

Why not? It's fucking hot isn't it?

[kicking her feet in the water. It's idle. She's not actually swimming back. (Okay, she is a little.)]

[obeytherod]

[He groans, bringing a hand up to run it down his face.]

Actually, it was quite cool where I lived. Underground.

[whiterosefoes]

That's not normal. [He obviously knows that, though, since he sounded so pissy about it. She's almost curious about what the deal is with that. Almost. Not enough to ask.

Still, Harriet now makes an actual effort to swim back with the keys. And to hand them over.]

[obeytherod]

... [Malik takes the keys, stuffing them into his back pocket this time, since it buttons over.

All snarkiness he may have had aside, he really was grateful that she found them, and that she hadn't made him try and swim over.]

Thanks. My bike would be useless without these.

[...Still kind of awkward having to thank her, though.]

[whiterosefoes]

[Kind of awkward being thanked, too. To say "You're welcome" does not feel right, semantically, but that bike must give him some kind of happiness, for him to actually show her some manners. She doesn't even manage to fully snark at him.]

Err, yes, I'm ... familiar with the concept. [...but it was a valiant effort, anyway.]

[obeytherod]

[The "snark" was so flat that he didn't even comment on it.

He was feeling a little better now...]

What was it you wanted to talk about earlier?

[whiterosefoes]

Ah, that?

[She suddenly frowns. Harriet had wanted to talk about the Rod... Rosenkreuz made using it sound very appealing (though he was certainly biased.) But with this new information that his 'dark side' was still a concern, there is no way she can negotiate to teach him war duels in exchange.]

You were quite right - best not to talk about it now.

[obeytherod]

Huh? [He stares ahead a moment, not quite getting her sudden aversion. It doesn't take long for annoyance to flash across his features.]

What? But I feel fine now. Come on.

[whiterosefoes]

[She shakes her head.]

It's not that. Frankly... After what I've learned just now, I'll have to reconsider what I was going to say. Your dark side is more of a risk than I had anticipated.

[obeytherod]

... [Shit. He knew he should have kept his mouth shut. Now he went and jeopardized his entire plan! Or at the very least, put a very big postpone notice on it.

Unless he could fix this, somehow...] What? It's not like anything's happened since the first time.