FOR MALIK

[duranduel]

Comments

[duranduel]

Thank goodness.

[I came back from that field trip feeling weird...I would bet it would be the same for others...]

Um. Want some water?

[godcards]

I don't need any.

[ you know those horrible ambient industrial sounds in like every nine inch nails song? that's basically all that's going through is head right now. ]

[duranduel]

Okay...

[He'll just awkwardly stand here. Also he's definitely taken a shower and changed after that puke. Thanks Malik!!]

So. Um. Want to talk about something distracting? Like...not about what you went through. Like. Stuff. Your motorcycle, maybe.

[godcards]

My what?

[ hm. ]

[duranduel]

[Oh boy.]

Your motorcycle. That you have at home. The one you like to ride? That one.

[godcards]

I don't...

[ his thoughts are chaotic, mixed-- like he's trying to remember it. but nothing is appearing. ]

I don't think I have one? Are you sure we didn't get one at the school?

[duranduel]

[He shakes his head.]

Malik, do you remember what you did before coming to school?

[godcards]

[ he thinks about it! there's some images of the tomb he grew up in. ]

I... I was living in Egypt. And I left... um... I...

[ more images of places he's been but there's no real common thread between them. ]

I think I was looking for something.

[duranduel]

...

[He looks at Malik for a moment.]

[And then pulls up his sleeve. On his arm, he points to a blank cartouche, drawn over in pen.]

Look at this, Malik. You were looking for...the Pharaoh.

[godcards]

Oh.

[ he looks at it and there's a click of realization. ]

That's right, I was looking for the Pharaoh... Because I could leave if he came back. But I already left on my own...?

[ ah fuck. now he's distressed again because he can't reconcile what he remembers with what he apparently ended up doing. ]

[duranduel]

H-Hey. Deep breathes. One. Two. Three. In and out.

[Just reaching over to gently touch his shoulder.]

It'll come back in time. The fact that you remembered that guy is a good sign.

[godcards]

[ he breathes! ok. this is ok. we'll be ok. ]

I guess.

[ a beat. ]

...I gave up a lot of my memory so we could get through the game. I don't remember... what I gave up, just that it was memories.

[duranduel]

....

[I really hate this place.]

I...see. For a game? The hell? Ugh. No matter. I'm sure it'll start to come back. If not...well, I have some memories I've kept for you, okay?

[godcards]

Right... I remember that.

Can I see them?

[duranduel]

Sure.

[He reveals more of them as he pulls back his sleeves.]

Here. Isis, and Rishid. [Two cartouches.] And....you said this was the "moon". [Just hieroglyphics.]

[godcards]

[ Aw, fuck. ]

...I don't remember these two. [ isis and rishid. ]

[ I've given up everything. ]

[duranduel]

[You haven't.]

Rishid was someone who you said worked for your family. He was very loyal to you. I...don't know who Isis was, for you. But you said she was family.

[godcards]

[ he shakes his head. ]

I don't remember them.

[ not having sad icons is killing me rn ]

[duranduel]

...It's okay.

[It's going to be okay. Has to be. It'll come back with time. If not, I have vouchers, I can do something, maybe...]

Like I said, I'll still keep these memories for you. Until they come back for you.

[godcards]

And if they don't?

[ I can live without them. I won't have a choice. ]

[duranduel]

...Then I'll keep them anyways, and we'll find a way for you to see your family again.

[godcards]

[ he's upset but his feelings are doing that weird thing again. ]

Even if I say not to, I know you're going to do it anyway.

[duranduel]

[He nods.]

Of course I will. I wouldn't let someone write on me with no reason.

[godcards]

It's just a pen, you can wash it off. If you do... I won't be upset about it.

[ you don't even need to read his thoughts to know he's lying. ]

[duranduel]

No.

[I even drew them over this week.]

I wouldn't.