whiterosefoes | Blank State - let's get crafty

... [Side eying the door and doing just that, Malik walks over to take a seat across from the girl.]

What's up?

Nothing, it's just... you and I haven't been the focus in a trial yet. Don't you think it's coming up soon? We should talk about what to do if that happens.

[There's more to it than that, though, and so Harriet looks stressed. The fact that she's hiding out in the sewing room at all is a testament to that.]

What's to talk about? [Malik averts his gaze and reaches across the table to pick up a needle and thread.]

Besides Youmu, the group has yet to get the wrong person. Even if they know more about me...

Edited 2014-04-22 04:46 (UTC)

You're right, they don't tend to get the person wrong at all.

So what if that person is one of us? [her face is dark, her voice sour with fear and determination.] We're on the edge of a knife here.

[Malik visibly tenses, his eyes growing wide with fear. Of course he'd been worrying about the same thing... Even before they were on that list.]

It won't be. I don't have any regrets, and you... You're too strong for that.

[Harriet smiles a bit at that reason, although it's shaky.]

Thank you. We both know that's not true though... you've seen all the cracks in my mind for yourself. Maybe it was a long time ago, and you forgot, [at least, he said he did.] But I'm far from perfect. I'm not even that good of a person.

[That's why she really hoped they could save Naho. Because neither was she.]

I don't think it's me, and I don't want those guys to know anything about us. But it's hard to keep up the act.

Strength has nothing to do with how many "cracks" you have. It's your ability to keep moving forward despite them.

[Malik draws his fingers into a fist, his jaw tightening.]

Every one who's died before us was weak. That's all there is to it. We just have to keep moving forward--we're almost through this.

Move forward... right. That's what they speculated the ones with rot can't do.

But, Malik, Naho's guilt was something she didn't even remember. It may not be that simple... [she stares fixated on a random spot on the table.]

We already know there are gaps in my memory. I couldn't remember what happened with the other you before we came here...

...That might be unrelated. I don't even remember losing control to him in the first place. [Not that it was something easily remembered.]

Maybe we were pulled here before anything happened. [Of course, that was wishful thinking. Malik really wasn't that optimistic, but he had to try.]

[Her eyes suddenly raise to lock with his.] Maybe, but we can't count on that! What can we do if it's something we don't remember? It can't end up like Naho... we need to know how to move forward from that too.

[He meets her eyes with a serious look.] How can we know how to move past something we don't even know?

[Harriet looks back, and finally sighs. Even if they ask each other that, it's impossible to know.]

... I guess we would just have to prepare for the worst ... [she picks up her project again and starts threading a needle to sew while they talk.]

If we can't know what's coming, then ... no matter what's in our cabinets, we have to be strong. Just like you said.

Right... We just have to be strong. [He repeats the mantra to himself, hoping it'll make things easier.

For him to prepare for the worst...what could that be? His other half had taken over before he came here. What if he hurt Harriet or Bakura? Was that it? Or maybe he was forgetting was something that happened before he even came to the Campus.]

[The worst for her? If it was something to do with Malik's other half, then it could be something incredibly bad. But Malik's right there and he doesn't appear to have any new scars, so maybe that doesn't make sense. She tries to think further back - she remembers vividly all the people she had failed at Campus, so it couldn't be that. Even further would be Jack's demise... come to think of it, Jack had come from an earlier time to the Campus and joined with them, but she had always seen him as the enemy. Something else could have happened with him. Then maybe she had hurt Henry... but it would have to be something devastating, for it to be worse than the other things. It doesn't seem right. That's vexing... it makes her nervous.]

...But, if it's strength... We also don't have to carry the burden alone. We could go together, unlocking the cabinets. If you want.

Unlocking them together... [He takes in a deep breath and slowly releases it.] Yeah. I think that would be for the best.

[He has no idea what his could be, but he's starting to fear it--the unknown--stronger by the day.]

[Harriet smiles slightly.]

Good, then it's settled. If nothing else, that makes me feel a little better...

[even if the comfort is small compared to the fear she also feels.]

[He nods, and finally brings his arms up to the table so he can rest his head in them.]

I don't really want to share anything, but there's not much of a choice. I'll feel better knowing you're there too, because otherwise...

It's just this group of strangers, seeing something. I don't know what. But I hate it. What if it's...

[Malik's arms curl up further, one brushing over his head as if meaning to hid himself entirely.]

What if it's my Dad? Harriet...

Your dad?

[Harriet looks a bit surprised, and then frowns. She doesn't know anything about his dad, other than he was a crazy bastard that carved up Malik's back, and that the Pharaoh allegedly killed him.]

What could they show with him? Something to do with those carvings of yours?

[She wouldn't be surprised if Malik had regrets about his relationship with his dad. The entire thing seemed regrettable. But if it can potentially save his life later, she is willing to talk it out.]

I don't know... I'm not sure. Maybe it's because I haven't gotten revenge for his death yet?

[Malik drops his hand, staring distantly at it as he talks.]

I've just been wasting time on that island, [His voice grows harsh.] while the damn Pharaoh goes on living!

[she pauses sewing]

....

That would make such a shitty case. Maybe we don't have to worry about you.

[too evil for rot: malik ishtar]

[He huffs, looking dryly over at her now.]

I'm being serious, Harriet...

Well, if that was it, then you'd be no different from Bandou. Wanting revenge, but not being able to take it. You couldn't carry the blame, could you?

I guess not... [And finally, he has to admit it:] There's plenty of other things I've done that could, but as long as I don't feel guilty...I should be safe, right?

Edited 2014-04-23 23:41 (UTC)

[she doesn't need to ask for the details on the other things. She's sure they're perfectly rotten, just like his actions in Campus.]

So basically, you're still thinking there's no chance in hell that you're possessed.

[sigh... it would be difficult to go over at this rate. But if he's right about that, then at least there are plenty of benefits to befriending remorseless bastards.]

Edited 2014-04-24 18:27 (UTC)

...That's right. [But his voice doesn't have his usual confidence. Malik just hopes that it's true.]

[noticing that, Harriet leans across the table]

Well, I believe you aren't, too.

...Good. We need to have confidence in each other. [Even if his own is faltering.]

[he still looks a bit uncertain. She frowns thoughtfully after a moment. Harriet wasn't going to ask, but maybe there is something she can do to help.]

We do, don't we?

...But out of those things... the ones you could be blamed for. Is there anything you think we ought to talk about?

Edited 2014-04-28 22:59 (UTC)

Of course we do.

[But as for talking... He seems to think on it, his expression wary.]

I don't know. What is there to say? I haven't gotten my revenge yet.

.... [she thinks she's going to regret this, but...]

Maybe you could tell me more about why you want revenge. If not being able to do it yet is your regret... what does it mean to you? I have a general idea, but you've never actually talked to me about it.

[Malik's lips twist at the question, but he answers. It's nothing he hasn't shared before.]

I want revenge because the Pharaoh killed my father...and the Pharaoh is the reason we were living underground in the first place! If I can get rid of him, then I can take us all out of the darkness...

... is that really a matter of sooner or later, though? I mean, it's been that way your whole life. Things aren't getting worse because you haven't had your revenge, are they?

There's hardly any worse to get, Harriet. My tribe has fallen to pieces because of what happened, and if I sit back and do nothing, it's not going to get any better either!

[At the very least, Malik is dedicated to make a change, however misguided it may be. He won't sit idly by and let fate dictate what happens to him. Not anymore.]

Blank State - let's get crafty

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