ᴘᴜᴍᴘᴋɪɴ ʜᴏʟʟᴏᴡ﹕ ɪɴʙᴏx

[drharvey]

ota — action, deliveries, visits to the mental health clinic, sending stone, etc. 🍂

Comments

[drharvey]

Sounds like a lot of pressure on someone your age, ( James smiles into his words, though he's definitely worried now. What could that be? What could constitute the poor kid feeling as though he needs to change who he's become, what he wants? )

If you ever need help figuring all that out, I've— I've got your back. I think that's how my daughter would say it. ( A soft chuckle. )

[thetombkeeper]

[If he needs help...

What would James even think about everything? The tomb keeper chews on his bottom lip, debating what to say, what to do.

But if he's to return home, he needs to... better himself. Even if that's not what he wants. He wants the power of the Pharaoh, to get back at him for making his family suffer for millennia, for causing his father's death, and to become Pharaoh himself.

Maybe he doesn't deserve that though.

James is the closest thing he's got to a friend here besides Sephiroth, but he's barely opened up to the latter. James on the other hand... There's something... safe about him. Similar to how he felt towards his adopted brother when he was a child, before everything happened.

Marik looks down at his stone for a few moments in silence before finally speaking:]

... I could use your help. I'd rather speak in person though, if... that's alright with you.

[drharvey]

Sure! That's just fine. Anytime that's best for you, I'll make it happen.

( It's said earnestly; there's no question about it. )

You're always welcome to come by my place. Or I can meet you somewhere in town if that's better.

[thetombkeeper]

[He takes a moment to consider when the best time would be.

Perhaps his birthday. A year older, a new life? It seems symbolic enough.]

... The 23rd. The Sun's Rebirth. After Givingstide. I'll stop by your place in the morning and we can talk before I set out to pay my respects to Ra.

[drharvey]

Hey, that works perfect. I'll make it on my calendar, make sure I've got some snacks around the place.

( Someone'll definitely be making a run to the winter market to grab some goodies to have for Marik by the time he comes over. Actually on that note— )

Is there anything special you like to eat for this Sun's Rebirth? I know there's probably nothing much from your world around, but maybe I can find something similar.

[thetombkeeper]

Koshari.

[... He blurbs that out almost automatically. Odion always makes it for him for his birthday. It'll be his first birthday without that.]

... If you can find it, that is. Otherwise there aren't any particular dishes I can think of off the top of my head. I'm not a huge fan of red meat or fish though.

[drharvey]

( James Harvey is not a cook. He can barely pour cereal without some kind of clumsy incident. What he says next is very dangerous.

...But earnest. He will try this, if he's able to find the ingredients! )

Koshari... If you send me the recipe for it, I'll see what I can do.

[thetombkeeper]

[That gets a small chuckle out of Marik.]

I would but... I doubt they have the correct spices for it. I never cooked it myself either so I don't know the exact recipe.

I'd be fine with some baklava, if that's easier.

[drharvey]

Ahhh, baklava, I have heard of. I'll see what I can do.

It seems like a pretty special day where you come from, so it'd be nice to have some kind of special treat to go along with it.

[thetombkeeper]

Yeah...

[A special day, indeed.]

... I'd be happy with just the baklava though. With some warm tea.

[drharvey]

Warm tea I can definitely do. I've been meaning to pick up a new teapot somewhere. The one I have here is uh........

....kinda haunted.

( This is fine. )

[thetombkeeper]

[There's a pause.]

... Kind of haunted.

How?

[drharvey]

There's a sort of little.... well, I think it's a ghost, living in it. Some kind of little purple guy? He's really gooey.

[thetombkeeper]

[You said the magic word, James.]

... Is it... a slime?

[drharvey]

( James casts a cautious, sideways look at the possessed teapot in question, where it sits on the kitchen countertop for now, the entity inside seemingly sleeping. ...Or lurking. )

It does look like something that could be called a slime, yeah. Is that some kind of species, where you're from?

[thetombkeeper]

No. But it's an archetype I use in the trading card game I play. Jam Tokens, God Slime, Metal Slime, Slime Breeding Machine...

[Yeah that last one is. Uh. The name is weirder than the actual concept.]

If you're alright with it, I'd like to try and interact with it. I never thought slime would actually exist.

[drharvey]

( James understands hardly any of this! But that's how his life goes. )

Sure! It can be kind of... er... mischievous, but I don't think it'd actually hurt anyone.

( He does not 100% know this )

I'll introduce you when you come over here. I've been calling the little guy Casper, after someone I know back home.

[thetombkeeper]

[Alas, if he had his deck with him, he could should James.

Marik sounds a lot more chipper than he did at the beginning of the "call."]

I look forward to meeting him and getting to see your new place then.