[ haha oh wow there's a lot of feelings all of a sudden.
any other time he'd fight back, push away, and honestly? he really wants to. he doesn't deserve this, no matter what mandricardo says. but after this weekend? after everything he's been through?
fuck it. he's allowing himself this. he can't fight back with words, so he doesn't say anything at all. ]
Oh, I know that. In my kingdom, there was a version of tea we would brew called suutei tsai. It was made from milk steeped in green tea and toasted millet. Jasmine can be just as soothing, I feel.
I didn't realize you were a tea connoisseur. I've only had black tea before coming here... I don't mind complicated flavors, but simple tea is what I'm used to.
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[ he's like one step removed from a ptsd flashback ]
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[Hm.]
Do you...still hear the voice?
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[ he glances down to another eye that's on the back of his hand. ]
...I think about it. Remember it.
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[Something...flickers in his expression?]
[He reaches out, and just. Holds Malik's hand.]
I don't know what that voice wanted to punish you for, but...I don't think you deserved it.
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any other time he'd fight back, push away, and honestly? he really wants to. he doesn't deserve this, no matter what mandricardo says. but after this weekend? after everything he's been through?
fuck it. he's allowing himself this. he can't fight back with words, so he doesn't say anything at all. ]
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[He swings their hands a little.]
This is good.
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What is?
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This. Holding hands. Doing this with you.
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[ still holding hands tho. ]
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[are you gonna call out his Vibes, Malik]
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[ he fucking hates this. ]
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[He's vibing! Malik is nice to talk to!]
Placating assumes I would have something to get out of you. What do I get out of you besides you?
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[ despite his feelings, he's been relatively austere up until now. but his face is starting to turn red. ]
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[Just! Shrugging!]
...Are you sick, Malik?
[The red cheeks...]
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[ to all of that. sure. ]
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[Swinging their hands a little! Back to going to the cafeteria.]
Tea will be good.
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[ He's not going to say anything else can we please get to the cafeteria PLEASE he is DYING ]
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[But they're here! Time to get some tea! He'll just drag Malik over to the selection.]
Do you have a preference?
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Just black tea is fine. Or... uh, black tea and mint.
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Mint? You like the flavor?
[But as he reaches for it...his hand is still weak. Its fine. It takes him a moment.]
Let's get a mug.
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...Yes?
[ mandi your HAND but that's ok malik is also preoccupied but for other reasons. mostly wtf is wrong with his preferences??? IT'S JUST MINT? ]
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Mm. It's something that...wakes you up. A sharp taste.
[also me crying because i can't write that mandi likes or doesn't like something]
I think I'll take jasmine.
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It's a plant.
[ look. he has some peripheral knowledge of the power of plants, given his upbringing, but like. it's a flavor, it isn't medicine? ]
Jasmine is a plant too, you know.
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Oh, I know that. In my kingdom, there was a version of tea we would brew called suutei tsai. It was made from milk steeped in green tea and toasted millet. Jasmine can be just as soothing, I feel.
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I didn't realize you were a tea connoisseur. I've only had black tea before coming here... I don't mind complicated flavors, but simple tea is what I'm used to.
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