ironchef | Victory Road Inbox

[Hunk wouldn't be wrong in his comparison. Marik did go mad. He'd always had darker tendencies deep in his heart but they didn't fully manifest until that fateful day Odion snuck his siblings out to the surface. Thinking their father had killed his older sibling, his other personality finally came out and only made the situation worse.

Thankfully that part of his soul has been locked away in the Shadow Realm never to return but Marik is far from innocent. Despite what his sister says about this being the "good" Marik, he's far from that. The thoughts are still there, just muted. Instead of jumping from 0 to 11, he never gets over an 8 in his emotions intensity and in the rare chance it does, it always fizzles out quickly as it came.

Which is what Hunk gets to see right now. At the mention of Allura his expression immediately softens and he looks up with a bit of hope in his eyes.]

... Although I'm not happy someone else had to go through something similar, it... helps knowing I'm not alone. I've... I've never had that before. I mean, my siblings stuck with me through it all but... it isn't the same. I should try and find an opportunity to speak with Allura...

[He shifts a bit.]

... I'm sorry to have unloaded on you like that. I've never told anyone about my past. I wasn't allowed. Technically I don't think I'm allowed to still but... the unnamed Pharaoh arrived here and he's regained his memories so... in his time, my duty has been fulfilled.

The fact that I now know that but haven't experienced it for myself is... stressful.

[Hunk just smiles at him about it though.]

Hey man, I asked, and you trusted me to hold something big! I guess after seeing what people go through, I started looking at it more like I was being trusted with something big. Just- I don't know, if the baggage metaphor was right, and someone asked me to help with their load, I'd assume they had something valuable inside and be careful with it.

[And sure, someone could take advantage of that, but he has good friends he hopes would call out the shadiness. The same as he did for them.]

Back home, my best friend was totally in love with Allura. Here he was married to my best teck friend, Pidge. Allura and Keith are together here and they were just good friends back home. I think I'm coming around to the idea that we need to treat this space as it's own life separate from that one. We have memories of our past and no affect on our future. Kind of like a pocket of reincarnation- but duty free.

I really appreciate it, Hunk. I've had to live in secrecy my entire life... I never thought... telling someone about it could feel... relieving in a way?

[And that's why Hunk's a good person. Although he doesn't actively do it, Marik still holds on to information like that... just in case.]

That's a good way of looking at it, I think.

[He listens as the other speaks, taking a few moments to think over the situation he's outlined, frowning.]

Hn. I... had originally thought that when I first arrived but... it became more difficult when people started showing up from my world. Before it was just me and Chen, getting a new chance at life. I was able to enjoy myself and sort things out at my own pace. Now it's like... a constant reminder of the things I've done and my unfulfilled duties...

It's really hard when the only thing you can change is how people feel here. But I guess from what you said, you've got a lot of experience in how remembering past lives in a whole new world. Seems like you've seen what bad can come from it. You can figure out what's right about it.

[He wants to keep that support behind him. And he's sure that Fluttershy would help him get away from that life. He's sure she'd give it a try- after all, from what he's seen he'd date someone like Marik and he thinks their emotional standards might be similar.]

I guess it's good we made friends outside of our regular world group, huh? [Even if it's a little hard for him still.]

[Marik looks down at his empty plate for a bit, thinking things over. He knows Hunk's trying to show his support and give him words of wisdom as best he can even if he doesn't know the full situation of the teen's past.

He eventually looks back up, his expression one of apprehension.]

It's one of the things that keeps me going, honestly. I never had friends back in my world. It was just my siblings and me...

[He pauses, deciding against discussing what his darker thoughts are at the moment. The guy's already heard enough for one sitting. He has his own issues to deal with... So Marik decides to voice something else.]

... I don't really know how to deal with people actually... caring about me.

You know, that? Sounds a lot like my buddy Kieth. He's great. Also looks like a rockstar but, you know, the grunge rocker type of rockstar.

[Hey, he's really come around to adoring Kieth over the years.]

Don't worry, dude. You're cool, you're in great company, and there are a lot of people like you here. Honestly, I feel like I'm the odd one out most of the time.

[He just misses his family. All his space trauma is... well, pretty subtle. He vented all his fears while they were happening, and they didn't build up as much. But nearly losing his family? And not having them now? That's incredibly hard on him.]

[Marik stares for a moment before letting out a snicker, his expression softening. Yes, this is a much better topic.]

Like... ah... what was his name... Kurt Cobain? ... What type of rockstar do I fall under?

[The blonde tilts his head slightly.]

Really? Why's that? If you... don't mind me asking.

[Hunk makes a thoughtful noise, like he's actually trying to work out how to phrase it exactly.]

Like the type where you'd take their music and put over a montage of boxing clips. [Like that's a description?] A power ballad guy.

[But as for the other thing....]

Well... I know I mentioned I kinda just came from a space war. But the hardest thing about being in that space war wasn't even the fighting, it was missing my family. And I'd just got back to them. So everyone else is getting relief from their hectic lives.

[Ooh, power ballads. Marik's eyes light up. He'll gladly take being a Dio or a Steve Perry type and nods in agreement.]

I'll take it.

[His smile fades a bit.]

Ah... Yeah... I know I wasn't in a war but... I get what you mean... I haven't seen my sister in almost 4 years. And my treatment of my brother wasn't... great. We'd just all gotten back together as a family and were on our way back to Egypt when I woke up here.

Yeah, it's like that. And man, I'd do anything to sit down to a few normal family dinners.

[But it still feels kind of selfish to dwell. His life's been okay, not so bad. He just misses good people. It's hard for him to associate it with grief.]

What are your sister and bro like?

[Marik stares down at table for a moment before sheepishly admitting:]

... I'd like to experience that too.

[Normal and his family go together like oil and water. What one would consider a traditional normal dinner is something he's never had.]

Ahh- Well, Odion, my brother, is loyal to a fault. He's been with me my entire life even though I... stole his purpose. Which relegated him to a subservient position in our family because he was adopted. He never complained and while he was bitter about it, he always has treated me with respect and devotion... He's...

[He huffs and drums his fingers on the table.]

He deserves so much more from life.

My sister, Ishizu, has always been destined for great things. She's beyond intelligent, cunning, and elegant. I was shocked to find out she'd risen to the rank of Secretary General of the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities considering her age...

Oh! Oh wow. That's a lot for someone close to- well I'm assuming she's close to our age.

[He's seen a lot of strangely young rulers, but also a lot of older rulers that were young at heart.]

But... oh man, yeah. I mean, who knows if he'll show up but if he does, you can always be there to help him. Make sure he knows you guys are even. Or... well, I hope something like that would be doable.

She's... ah... 20 now. I don't actually know when she was appointed the position but I'm sure it wasn't recent.

[Marik shifts in his seat.]

I don't know about even. I don't think I'll ever be able to... make up all the things I put him through but... I hope he can at least forgive me for some of them...

[He feels bad but doesn't regret it in the normal sense. It's more of a case of "that was dumb that I put his life in danger but my plan should have worked."]

I think you two would get along though. I'd love to see him become his own man, you know?

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