[ New week, new tasks! It's not like Malik is invested or anything, but. Look. He does have a vested interest in... other things. Otome has proven that she's trustworthy insofar, and given the sensitive nature of some of these task options, well. It only makes sense to seek her out. So that's what he is doing. Where are they? No idea, but he's gonna find her. ]
If you aren't too busy, I'd like to speak with you for a moment.
...I spent a lot of last week avoiding people, because of the memories. I didn't want anyone to see something I had no control over. But if I tell someone, I think... that will be different?
[ He's really, really uncertain about this, but he also feels like he should do it...? It takes him a moment to gather his thoughts. ]
Some years ago, I asked my sister and... family associate... to help me break the law. I had a strict upbringing, and my family is very traditional, so there were a lot of things I was not allowed to do. I wanted to go into town, but my sister had to escort me. I finally was able to see a market for the first time... I was overwhelmed by it, but excited. But after being there a short while, a man appeared and said that my family was going to experience some sort of tragedy. My sister and I went back home, only to find that we had tripped an alarm when we were leaving... so my father knew the whole time we were gone. The man that has been serving my family since before I was born, who had helped conceal our whereabouts, had been punished by my father. Scarred his back with a hot blade. And he was going to--
[ up until this point, he recites this story smoothly, albeit somberly. now he's finding it hard to articulate. he feels so distant. numb. ]
-- He was going to, um... punish me as well. I don't know what happened. I can't remember. But my father was murdered shortly after that, and the man that appeared to my sister and I in the marketplace appeared again, saying that this was the will of the Pharaoh.
Otome blinks at him, simply processing this with her emotions growing steadily concerned and a little morose. A strict upbringing? He couldn't even go out to the market? Some weird guy with a prophecy and a dead father? Some family associate (that she's going to beat up later) who got badly injured as a punishment?
[ He can totally dodge this if he wants to and she is definitely much shorter than he is, but all the same, she's going to step closer and pull him into a hug. ]
[ he lets her. he doesn't return it, but he stands there and lets it happen. he can't decide if he's sad or mad or both. or neither. his emotions are warped, and he's trying to pretend they don't exist. ]
[ look. this child has had very little positive support in his life. he's like that mangy stray cat that likes you by virtue of receiving kibbles and a respectful distance. ]
I just wanted to get the task done.
[ he's not really tsundere but he's kinda tsun right now. ]
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w4, monday
If you aren't too busy, I'd like to speak with you for a moment.
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[ She just feels curious, not necessarily concerned. ]
What can I do for you, Malik?
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I'd like to get a task completed. I hope you don't mind, but I don't like that Spring has fallen behind...
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[ Her poor dorm. ]
But no, I don't mind lending a hand.
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...I spent a lot of last week avoiding people, because of the memories. I didn't want anyone to see something I had no control over. But if I tell someone, I think... that will be different?
[ or at least, he sure hopes so. ]
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Some years ago, I asked my sister and... family associate... to help me break the law. I had a strict upbringing, and my family is very traditional, so there were a lot of things I was not allowed to do. I wanted to go into town, but my sister had to escort me. I finally was able to see a market for the first time... I was overwhelmed by it, but excited. But after being there a short while, a man appeared and said that my family was going to experience some sort of tragedy. My sister and I went back home, only to find that we had tripped an alarm when we were leaving... so my father knew the whole time we were gone. The man that has been serving my family since before I was born, who had helped conceal our whereabouts, had been punished by my father. Scarred his back with a hot blade. And he was going to--
[ up until this point, he recites this story smoothly, albeit somberly. now he's finding it hard to articulate. he feels so distant. numb. ]
-- He was going to, um... punish me as well. I don't know what happened. I can't remember. But my father was murdered shortly after that, and the man that appeared to my sister and I in the marketplace appeared again, saying that this was the will of the Pharaoh.
no subject
Otome blinks at him, simply processing this with her emotions growing steadily concerned and a little morose. A strict upbringing? He couldn't even go out to the market? Some weird guy with a prophecy and a dead father? Some family associate (that she's going to beat up later) who got badly injured as a punishment?
That's... ]
Malik...
You've been through so much...
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It was the will of the Pharaoh.
[ he's mad. bitter. ]
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[ He can totally dodge this if he wants to and she is definitely much shorter than he is, but all the same, she's going to step closer and pull him into a hug. ]
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Thank you for telling me.
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[ IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING but look. he doesn't know how else to deflect. ]
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[ just drops lore and leaves ig??? except he isn't leaving yet, he's not that rude-- not to otome, anyway. ]
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... I appreciate it, really. That you trusted me enough to come to me about it.
Thank you, Malik.
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I just wanted to get the task done.
[ he's not really tsundere but he's kinda tsun right now. ]
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I'd say you did it with aplomb. I'll get out of your hair now, okay? [ Let him recharge from Past-sharing. ]