Blankstate // Private (Day 5)

[obeytherod]

[Sometime after the case has wound down to its finish and the votes have been tallied, and the keys to the bedrooms have been discovered, Malik pulls Harriet off to a secluded corner and whispers in her ear.]

I want to talk in private. Come on.

[Without another word he takes her hand and begins to lead her off down the hall.]

Comments

[whiterosefoes]

All right-

[And she's lead off. Harriet's still a bit shaken up over Kuzuryuu's death, but she's managed to pull it together (or at least bottle it in) while they were discovering the new setting additions. She ends up holding his hand pretty tightly as they walk.]

Where are we going? [she talks in a normal voice when there's no one else around.]

[obeytherod]

The infirmary had locking doors. We can talk there.

[It's not too long of a walk, but Malik doesn't bother to say much more. He simply leads them to one of the small rooms in the back and locks it behind them--but not before making sure they weren't followed.]

[whiterosefoes]

[Harriet turns on the lamp while Malik locks the door. Once that's done, she looks over at him, then sits down on the bed.

She heaves a big sigh. It's a relief being away from the others right now.]

[obeytherod]

[He leans back against the door, his hands pressed against it. With his brow pinched and his lips pulled into a frown, it was only Malik's eyes that managed to betray just how shaken up he was.]

...That was too close. Who did you vote for?

[whiterosefoes]

Erm. [awkward...] ...I voted for Bandou. I was wrong.

It wasn't actually close, though. [it was kind of a landslide really]

[obeytherod]

...We should make sure we're always voting for the same person.

[It's more of a statement than a suggestion.]

[whiterosefoes]

... I'm fine with that. Really, I should have done that from the beginning. We're allies, after all.

[And then she wouldn't have been the only one. That's scary.]

[obeytherod]

Right. Because if it comes down to one vote and we're not working together, then what?

[He brings his hands up, running them through his coarse hair.]

If I have to open up my cabinet, Harriet... Whatever's in there, I'm sure they'll vote for me. Even if I'm not guilty.

[whiterosefoes]

[...yeah, no kidding. Maybe he should have tried being less of an evil bastard.]

Your crimes could certainly catch up to you here.

... We need to keep them from going that far. Maybe we should expand our alliance.

[obeytherod]

I had my reasons... [Malik mutters the words before straightening up and eying Harriet.]

Expand our alliance? How the hell can we trust these people? They'll accuse anybody else if it'll save themselves! Besides, we might end up allying with one of those spirits if we're not careful.

[whiterosefoes]

Didn't Sir Meowington imply that the ones that weren't guilty were spirit-free? That would mean Mai, Bandou and Kouha are clean.

... Well, you don't like Mai and Bandou surely won't like me, but we could try to work on Kouha.

[this isn't because he's a fairy]

[obeytherod]

...Wait, you're calling the cat that now too? [Talk about being instantly side-tracked.]

[whiterosefoes]

[defensively]

It's fun to say!

[obeytherod]

[irritably]

It's stupid!

[whiterosefoes]

[smugly]

That's the point.

[obeytherod]

[incredulously]

...!!

[whiterosefoes]

[speechless, is he. Harriet looks satisfied.]

I'm not afraid of the pussycat. I'll call him whatever dumb shit I like.

[obeytherod]

W-whatever--that doesn't matter! [He sweeps his hand out dismissively.]

We need allies, and you said Kouha, right? Well?

[whiterosefoes]

Well what? Are you asking me to come up with the whole plan?

[not that she couldn't, but what's with the pushiness!!]

[obeytherod]

I meant have you talked to him? Because the only time I have was during the trial.

[whiterosefoes]

I did talk to him on the first day. And sort of during Sayaka's trial too... he's also the one that requested the pictures of our families. He seems like someone we'd get along with.

[obeytherod]

[He nods, finalizing it in a way.] Then he'll be our first target. Next time you or I see him, we should take him aside.

[whiterosefoes]

All right. I'll keep an eye out.

[She's a bit nervous, even if it was her idea. Malik was right - they can't trust anyone. But isolating themselves wasn't the way to stay alive, either. It's a risk they'll have to take.]

[obeytherod]

No matter what, we'll get out of here. I just hope Bakura doesn't think I've abandoned him in the meantime...

[He balls his scared hand into a fist, the gesture thoughtless but meaningful nonetheless. His head hangs low, and his words are gloomy.]

It'd be easy to go home... If that cat can really send us back. Going back to that insufferable campus might leave us trapped there indefinitely. If I would really lose my chance of ever going home again by doing that for him...

[Malik opens his palm to look down at it, his hand trembling. Weather it's anger or other repressed emotions bubbling up, it's hard to tell.]

I can't just throw away everything when I finally have a chance to finish what I started!

[He looks nothing short of miserable.]

[whiterosefoes]

[Harriet's listening to this and ... her nerves start to twist into irritation. You weren't so concerned about this when it was her problem, Malik. She has very little sympathy for him right now, but she holds her tongue on that.]

You shouldn't focus on that right now. The cat never said he would send us where we wanted, anyway. In fact, he said just the opposite. He'll probably just dump us back there regardless.

[obeytherod]

Right. That's right.

[He runs his hand over his face and through his hair, letting out a heavy sigh as he tilts his head back.]

For now, we just have to do whatever it takes to even get the chance to leave.