FOR MALIK

[duranduel]

Comments

[godcards]

[ he has to cover his mouth to stop the giggling. also he's only the second person to ask so he's a little embarrassed by it?? ]

I don't know, it's been happening all week. I thought it was a curse, but nobody else is doing it, and unlike all the other times I was cursed, I'm aware of it...

[duranduel]

[He doesn't seem to notice the embarrassment, just letting out a snort.]

A weird curse to give you a weird laugh? Maybe your laugh has changed. You have to live with that now. Sorry for you.

[He's....joking(?)]

[godcards]

[ frowning again. ] No, that's not right. These are never permanent-- so, I just have to wait for it to... wear off...

[ god what if it IS permanent tho. he trails off as the thought overtakes him. ]

[duranduel]

[Squinting at his face for a moment.]

You look...mad? Or worried. Don't be. If that's your laugh, then, well. It's funny. And may make other people laugh with you. So that's good, right?

[godcards]

I think you mean laugh at me. This isn't something I want to be remembered for.

[duranduel]

[He tilts his head.]

What do you want to be remembered for?

[godcards]

...That's not something I ever considered. It was never relevant.

[duranduel]

It's relevant now. You're the one who wrote memories on my arm to stick around.

[godcards]

I don't know. There's not really anything.

[ they were having a cute moment and now he's withdrawing :c sorry mandi ]

[duranduel]

...

[Mandricardo just seems to be vibing, though he's looking at the other's face, focused.]

Either way, I won't laugh at you. I'll laugh with you. Regardless of what your laugh is.

[godcards]

[ the vibes might be weird any other time (really, they should be this time considering what has happened today), but malik doesn't seem to mind it. ]

That's-- You're promising a lot.

[ STOP BEING NICE TO HIM!!! STOP IT ]

[duranduel]

I think that's the best I can do for everyone else, since...I don't know what else I can do. So if it helps you, that's good.

[He would say "he's glad" but does he even know what that is? Haha.]

[godcards]

I have a feeling that even if I didn't accept it, you'd do it anyway.

[ A HUFF but he's not that serious about it. maybe. ]

[duranduel]

[He huffs, smirking slightly.]

Yeah. I think I'm stubborn like that?

[godcards]

I don't see why you're having such issues with your confidence when you're like this.

[duranduel]

Like...what?

[????]

[godcards]

Stubborn and helpful. People like that.

[duranduel]

Do they...?

[He seems surprised?]

[godcards]

Have you seen this place? Of course they do. And these people are willing to forgive the gravest mistakes if they like you.

[ like otome....................... ]

[duranduel]

...

[He just...nods like. That makes sense somehow? Yeah.]

I think...people will go against what they don't like, and go for what they do like. People are weird. They're kind of...hypocritical that way?

[godcards]

They are. Convenience is what matters most... you've seen how people react during trials, when the truth is right in front of them but they make a scene because they personally like the killer. The facts are the same regardless of personal feelings. That's another downside to getting emotionally involved... it makes it harder to look at the truth.

[duranduel]

...

[Hm.]

A while back, when Catra was alive...I remember when in the trial, she was...worried, I think, about me checking her whip. Because she didn't want to be judged if something was off.

[...]

People jump at the sound of a gun to find something that...makes them stop feeling emotional? It's confusing to me, but...emotions really just...get in the way of everything. It blinds people.

[godcards]

Now you see why I keep my distance.

[ although malik's emotions don't behave like normal, but the idea is still the same. ]

I don't know much about Catra, but it sounds like she had her own emotions to deal with... Otherwise she'd let you check the whip. Manwol was trying to convince during the last trial to try and seem less suspicious, but I didn't do anything wrong, so I don't see why it was worth getting upset about either. I told her that if anyone was going to accuse me because I wasn't going along with their stupid little plans, then the problem lies with them, not me. It's the same-- jumping to conclusions or to blame someone because of their own feelings they have no control over.

[duranduel]

Well, she let me check the whip, but only when I promised her I wouldn't judge her. And I didn't.

[He seems to mull over that for a moment.]

...Hm. Wouldn't it be nice if it were a world where we could make logical decisions without that kind of mess involved?

[godcards]

Logical decisions... At least being able to get people to see reason. Emotions matter less in that case.