FOR MALIK

[duranduel]

Comments

[duranduel]

[Matter-of-factly:]

This. Holding hands. Doing this with you.

[godcards]

[ VERY QUICKLY: ] You don't mean that.

[ still holding hands tho. ]

[duranduel]

Why...wouldn't I mean that?

[are you gonna call out his Vibes, Malik]

[godcards]

I think you're just placating me. People lie all the time. You've been hanging around me a lot, but that doesn't really... mean anything.

[ he fucking hates this. ]

[duranduel]

I'm not lying. I would have no need to.

[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?

[godcards]

I don't know. You're the one who's doing the placating.

[ despite his feelings, he's been relatively austere up until now. but his face is starting to turn red. ]

[duranduel]

Is it placating? Is that the same thing as "making you feel better"?

[Just! Shrugging!]

...Are you sick, Malik?

[The red cheeks...]

[godcards]

..........Yes.

[ to all of that. sure. ]

[duranduel]

Then we need to get you something hot, I think.

[Swinging their hands a little! Back to going to the cafeteria.]

Tea will be good.

[godcards]

Yeah...... Tea.

[ He's not going to say anything else can we please get to the cafeteria PLEASE he is DYING ]

[duranduel]

[mandi: what is dying i only know vibes]

[But they're here! Time to get some tea! He'll just drag Malik over to the selection.]

Do you have a preference?

[godcards]

[ my friend just reminded me there is a ygo game with dating sim-style sprites hello. ]

Just black tea is fine. Or... uh, black tea and mint.

[duranduel]

[WHY WOULD YOU CURSE ME WITH THIS]

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.

[godcards]

[ because it's funny. ]

...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? ]

[duranduel]

[submits a murder proposal for you. not malik just you]

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.

[godcards]

[ i didn't even send the bad one???? ]

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.

[duranduel]

[THERE'S A BAD ONE???]

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.

[godcards]

[ yeah. now you can kill me. ]

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.

[duranduel]

[why]

Oh, I'm not. I was just remembering when I used to drink when I was alive. Honestly, this place has introduced me to all sorts of things, tea too.

[godcards]

[ tag force is a mystery ]

I'm not so sure I appreciate this place doing so... Of course, anyone else would consider it a good thing, but being in a strange new environment... I prefer the familiar things.

[duranduel]

What are familiar things to you? Things that remind you of Egypt?

[godcards]

I like the food, but I can leave the rest.

[duranduel]

What sort of food do they have?

[godcards]

A lot of grain-based meals. Things with vegetables? I wouldn't say it's very exciting or complex either, but it tastes good. Koshari is my favorite... It's a pasta and rice dish with spices and vegetables.

[duranduel]

Oh, that sounds tasty. Do you know how to make it?