Malachi, who had been speaking in lowered tones with Vaedus, turned at the expletive and tilted his head to one side. He made sure that his expression showed only his interest in the situation, and no signs of his veiled concern. The fact that giant of a man was currently crouched over the truck was disconcerting at best, and the Archai found himself hoping that yet another obstacle hadn't reared its head at this most inopportune of times. If they were to get this thing moving again, they would need to head out soon, and take advantage of the daylight that lay ahead of them.
For the moment, however, he left Ward to his work, as he needed to make sure that their newest member was properly informed. With a shake of his head, he turned back to his conversation with the alien, filling him in on the established plan and ensuring that he would be able to keep up. With Binadorm's help, they viewed the holomap and tweaked the route to allow for easier terrain for the cat after the crossing of the Plains.
Bemused concern played across his features as they finalized the changes and he excused himself from the Treinis' and Cycron's presence for a moment, making his way over to the massive truck. His ambling gait took him in loping strides to where the massive man peered at the hole, devising a way to fix it.
"Karma's a beast to deal with, friend. The lilting voice broke the silence, and when Ward turned, he found the boyish figure standing nearby leaning against the side of the truck, arms crossed, a small smirk playing across his features. Despite that infuriating grin, his face radiated a sort of compassion as he moved closer and leaned over, taking his own turn at examining the damage. That was all that he said in reproach to Ward on the matter- they would find as the trip progressed that Malachi preferred to be constructive in his approach to these situations. In his experience, getting mad and shouting usually only made the other person angry, and then they got absolutely nowhere.
Two steps from the area, however, he deftly removed the sleek leather duster from his form, tossing it into the cab of the truck to prevent any oil or heat damage. When he turned, he noticed that a couple in the group gazed at him with interested expressions, their eyes locked on the runic scars that crisscrossed his slender arms- he hadn't considered the muscle shirt that he wore beneath the jacket...
However, the Archai coolly played it off and just shook his head with a small chuckle. "You guys act like you've never seen scars before."
"The hell happened to you?"
"Not ones that look... deliberate...
"What happened there boy? Things get a little to kinky one night? You forget the safe-word or something?"
Malachi didn't have to see the speaker to know who it was, and when he turned back to the group, he grinned at Law. "Ha! You oughta know, man, you were there!"
Law laughed. "Not with you, kid. Not in a million years."
"Yeah... keep up that story, see how long it lasts. But in all seriousness, these are standard rite of passage for all Archai to reach adulthood. As young adults, we're led before the elders and scarred with-"
"So what you're saying is that you were part of an entire society of-
Speak no ill of the dead- its bad luck. Malachi gently reminded him, his grin riding on a darker, slightly threatening undertone.
Law finished his statement under his breath, his grin as broad as ever as he looked into the Archai's indigo eyes.
With the small shake of the head, Malachi turned back to the truck, and Ward's situation. He quietly asked Ward what the damage was, crouching low to see it for himself, and they began discussing a means of fixing it. He also queried the group for suggestions on a plan of action, because while he knew plenty about his bike, the mechanics of something this massive were a little outside his area of expertise.
As a leader, he was proving to be most... democratic in nature- something that could work very well for him, for very badly against him.
"Well, guys, in the event that the truck is a dud..." He didn't finish the sentence, because, quite frankly, he was sure they all knew the suckage of continuing on without it.
Last edited by Ciarda on Wed Dec 15, 2010 2:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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