[Benjamin gave the minutest of nods. They were far past the days of the Pharoah's, though maybe a return to rulers such as them would have been an improvement on the current day. And perhaps Benjamin was merely nostalgic for the bygone era.]
I can't be sure that it will work. [He finally admitted out loud, his eyes lowered from his usual stare as he thought to explain it.] I'll drink from you, drain nearly all you have to offer and then you'll drink from me. It's not an easy transition but I will take care of you. [It felt like warmth emanated from the other and a part of him didn't want to pull that away from him. One could dream that his warmth would remain but that would be foolish.]
... I'm not sure it will, either. I'm not even sure I still have blood. [That was the sort of wry comment the others in the museum would look at him strangely for making, a bit too stark and blunt even for those from much deadlier periods in history, but he knew Benjamin would understand. He'd definitely had his organs removed, given that he was fully mummified, and a magical tablet that could bring wax and stuffed pelts to realistic life didn't leave room for any assumptions about what it did to him. He was real, he knew that much, but what did that mean beyond flesh?]
My father never had the chance to explain the full working of the tablet before I was - died. [There was a telling slip and correction of the tongue. Did Benjamin know his story, he wondered? Were many stories told of him at all?] I'm not always of much help.
[There was the pressing question. Was he sure. Was he sure?] Do people often know for certain when they make this change? [Again, his tone was making light of it in a sardonic sort of way, but he also hadn't answered.]
Edited (MISSED A LINE IN HIS TAG SORRY) Date: 2016-09-19 07:35 pm (UTC)
[Benjamin's eyes shifted back to Ahkmenrah's at the statement, the shift of words that was all too noticeable. He shook his head. It was one of the rare moments -- more often since he'd met Akhmenrah -- that he felt speechless. It wasn't a choice not to speak but the utter lack of what words to say.
Instead he shook his head minutely at the comment about not being helpful.]
We will see what happens.
[Perhaps, if Ahkmenrah was truly serious about this, part of Benjamin worried it might be a whim that would change and that was part of why he questioned.]
Many, if not most, have little choice in the matter.
[Lips pursed thoughtfully, Ahkmenrah nodded. That was about what he'd expected to hear.]
My father wanted me to have eternal life. But he also wanted all of us to be together, and we were separated when our tomb was found, so they've never returned. There may be no way for things to be as he wished. The best thing I can do now is live, isn't it, something more like a real life?
[Even though this was Benjamin's idea, and he was encouraging it at almost every step, Ahkmenrah still trusted the man to give him an honest answer rather than steer him in the most personally favourable direction. One could see the sort of leader he was in that moment: caring and earnest but much too trusting and dangerously naive, viewed as benevolent by some and spineless by many more, all too easily overthrown.
Quite suddenly, forgetting the distance he always tended to respect, he reached out and took both of Benjamin's hands in his. Oh, his skin was so cold.]
Well, I'm taking the choice. I leave the rest in your hands.
[That was a weighty thing to advise on. There was always a subjective sort of feeling to what 'real life' even was. There were many that would have scorned the life Benjamin had lived and even himself at times had grown wary of it.]
I would say yes, if it were me, but only you can really answer that for yourself.
[His words were soft, tender and he wished he could give a definitive answer but that wouldn't have been fair.
Benjamin's eyes widened again when Ahkmenrah took his hands, staring down at them. The warmth that didn't really sink in but that he couldn't help but enjoy just a little. They were talking about taking it away but there was still plenty to gain.
The Pharaoh was touching him, his lips parted to speak but no words came out. Honestly, if he was to turn him he'd have to have touched him at some point so perhaps it was best to get this shock out of the way.]
[He'd gotten a little too excited there, and hadn't even realized it until Benjamin looked so startled; embarrassed, he withdrew his hands and wondered if the chill was why Benjamin never wanted to touch him. It certainly didn't bother him, given that people made of wax tended to feel a bit unusual when brought to life as well.
Now he wasn't quite sure what to do with himself - he'd made the choice, but there were still questions in his mind, he just felt a bit childish spilling nothing but questions while Benjamin answered so patiently.]
[Benjamin explained quickly at the apology that had followed Ahkmenrah letting go of him. His eyes searched the other's face again. Was this the right thing to do or would Ahkmenrah come to hate him for doing this to him? He was so kind and happy in Benjamin's mind.
What if the realities of the life they would share weighed on him? Changed him? Of course it would change him, rarely does anyone not change at all when they're altered in such a fundamental way. But he trusted Ahkmenrah's judgement and his decision -- who was he to argue, truly. And selfishly he wanted him to so they could see the world together.]
[Oh, oh no, was that it? Was that why Benjamin kept his distance? Ahkmenrah couldn't help but laugh, even though it probably wasn't the kindest response, because it was just so strange to have someone point out his title with such awe in this day and age. Benjamin himself was still millennia ahead of his family and the culture he'd known. What incredible respect for history, which is what Ahkmenrah is now.]
I was the Pharaoh. I was a Pharaoh. You needn't show me special treatment for that, Benjamin, just knowing the depth of your respect is enough.
[The smile stayed on his face even as he considered whether or not he was truly ready for this. He couldn't seem to shake it off. You're just... the Pharaoh. The words felt as though they were caught inside him and glowing, like fireflies in a net.]
I - [No. He wasn't ready.] - I must speak to Larry first. I know he'll guard the tablet well in my absence, there's no doubt in my mind, but... [He just gave Benjamin a pleading look, hoping he'd understand why Ahkmenrah still needed reassurance before he could say a true goodbye.]
I can make no promises. [Benjamin highly doubted that he could stop giving the other special treatment even at his request. He'd grown up to stories of Pharaohs and had a deep respect for the history of his culture and home country. Ahkmenrah was an embodiment of all that and much closer to the ways he was used to in his early life than many he had known since.]
You should settle everything that you need to. [He said, bowing his head slightly.] I would not have this any other way.
no subject
Date: 2016-09-19 07:16 pm (UTC)I can't be sure that it will work. [He finally admitted out loud, his eyes lowered from his usual stare as he thought to explain it.] I'll drink from you, drain nearly all you have to offer and then you'll drink from me. It's not an easy transition but I will take care of you. [It felt like warmth emanated from the other and a part of him didn't want to pull that away from him. One could dream that his warmth would remain but that would be foolish.]
You truly want this? It cannot be undone.
no subject
Date: 2016-09-19 07:30 pm (UTC)My father never had the chance to explain the full working of the tablet before I was - died. [There was a telling slip and correction of the tongue. Did Benjamin know his story, he wondered? Were many stories told of him at all?] I'm not always of much help.
[There was the pressing question. Was he sure. Was he sure?] Do people often know for certain when they make this change? [Again, his tone was making light of it in a sardonic sort of way, but he also hadn't answered.]
no subject
Date: 2016-09-19 08:37 pm (UTC)Instead he shook his head minutely at the comment about not being helpful.]
We will see what happens.
[Perhaps, if Ahkmenrah was truly serious about this, part of Benjamin worried it might be a whim that would change and that was part of why he questioned.]
Many, if not most, have little choice in the matter.
no subject
Date: 2016-09-19 08:54 pm (UTC)My father wanted me to have eternal life. But he also wanted all of us to be together, and we were separated when our tomb was found, so they've never returned. There may be no way for things to be as he wished. The best thing I can do now is live, isn't it, something more like a real life?
[Even though this was Benjamin's idea, and he was encouraging it at almost every step, Ahkmenrah still trusted the man to give him an honest answer rather than steer him in the most personally favourable direction. One could see the sort of leader he was in that moment: caring and earnest but much too trusting and dangerously naive, viewed as benevolent by some and spineless by many more, all too easily overthrown.
Quite suddenly, forgetting the distance he always tended to respect, he reached out and took both of Benjamin's hands in his. Oh, his skin was so cold.]
Well, I'm taking the choice. I leave the rest in your hands.
no subject
Date: 2016-09-20 02:40 am (UTC)I would say yes, if it were me, but only you can really answer that for yourself.
[His words were soft, tender and he wished he could give a definitive answer but that wouldn't have been fair.
Benjamin's eyes widened again when Ahkmenrah took his hands, staring down at them. The warmth that didn't really sink in but that he couldn't help but enjoy just a little. They were talking about taking it away but there was still plenty to gain.
The Pharaoh was touching him, his lips parted to speak but no words came out. Honestly, if he was to turn him he'd have to have touched him at some point so perhaps it was best to get this shock out of the way.]
no subject
Date: 2016-09-20 05:59 pm (UTC)[He'd gotten a little too excited there, and hadn't even realized it until Benjamin looked so startled; embarrassed, he withdrew his hands and wondered if the chill was why Benjamin never wanted to touch him. It certainly didn't bother him, given that people made of wax tended to feel a bit unusual when brought to life as well.
Now he wasn't quite sure what to do with himself - he'd made the choice, but there were still questions in his mind, he just felt a bit childish spilling nothing but questions while Benjamin answered so patiently.]
Should we... right away, do you think?
no subject
Date: 2016-09-21 04:01 am (UTC)[Benjamin explained quickly at the apology that had followed Ahkmenrah letting go of him. His eyes searched the other's face again. Was this the right thing to do or would Ahkmenrah come to hate him for doing this to him? He was so kind and happy in Benjamin's mind.
What if the realities of the life they would share weighed on him? Changed him? Of course it would change him, rarely does anyone not change at all when they're altered in such a fundamental way. But he trusted Ahkmenrah's judgement and his decision -- who was he to argue, truly. And selfishly he wanted him to so they could see the world together.]
Are you ready?
no subject
Date: 2016-09-21 04:18 am (UTC)I was the Pharaoh. I was a Pharaoh. You needn't show me special treatment for that, Benjamin, just knowing the depth of your respect is enough.
[The smile stayed on his face even as he considered whether or not he was truly ready for this. He couldn't seem to shake it off. You're just... the Pharaoh. The words felt as though they were caught inside him and glowing, like fireflies in a net.]
I - [No. He wasn't ready.] - I must speak to Larry first. I know he'll guard the tablet well in my absence, there's no doubt in my mind, but... [He just gave Benjamin a pleading look, hoping he'd understand why Ahkmenrah still needed reassurance before he could say a true goodbye.]
no subject
Date: 2016-09-22 09:38 am (UTC)You should settle everything that you need to. [He said, bowing his head slightly.] I would not have this any other way.