knifemonopoly | IC inbox

[Another delay as Beat composes himself.]

i dunno if those were the same vacuums we got

[now atem knows who stole the vacuums]

but it

yo i dunno if it broke i dunno if they changed them or we stole somethin else or we just dont know how to eject right but it didnt just catch him an launch him it sucked him up an killed him turned him to vampire fuckin dust i dunno if its cause he tried to mist to get away or

i dont fuckin know

[Turning to mist to get away...doesn't work?

It doesn't work. Not on the vacuuums.

Oh god. Oh, god, everything Beat's saying keeps getting worse.

He has to ask. He has to ask what happened.]

Him? Him who?

[He suspects he already knows. Not Sparkling, not Reverie, surely, but maybe he'll be lucky and find out Beat ran afoul of Danny, who...was wandering around outside, for some reason, and pissed off a bunch of Fourth followers...

He's seeing Aunamee. Aunamee's a Fog priest. It could happen.]

javert

it was javert yo

he attacked us a vacuum got turned on thought maybe it would jus suck up the fog depower him

it sucked the fog out of him it sucked him in the fuck

[Cairo blinks. Her first thought is yes. Yes, she wants it. Fog benefit without actually having to join the fog? Sign her up. But at the same time...]

Why me? Feels like something you keep in reserve for someone who needs it.

[Well. Not "needs it," but... she doesn't want to imply that Atem doesn't care about her. They're really good friends, and she's getting the vibe that she's one of the only people who came by to check on him, which feels wrong. Then again, they're kind of the same like that: big social circle, friendly with a lot of folks, but very small and almost miniscule inner circles.

At the same time, it feels like he's trying to repay her for that, but she would do it anyway and that... Cairo's mom always said that you take from people who can afford it and you give to those who can't. She's just not sure which category Atem falls into.]

oh, no. not Javert.

[Shit, fuck, goddamn. Does Beat have any idea what he's done? Javert comes off as an old man using new slang on the network, he's full of banter and easy to make fun of, but Javert is the gatekeeper for the prison. The one where AM's the punitive director.

Atem's mind starts to race. How does he play this, how does he help the two people in this situation he really, sincerely does care about....]

Okay. Javert doesn't attack monsters without a reason. What was it you were doing? I might be able to help, but only if you tell me the truth.

We had a plan yo... The vacuums, we stole em from Haftesal an decided to test em out today on the fog in the park 'round our place. Swhy I toldchu to keep you an yers away. We knew they could suck the Fog up but we wanted to make sure no one else got in the crossfire.

I dunno how Javert found out where we was, though I guess those vacuums make a shit ton of noise. Suddenly he was there an' threatenin' us

[He wont say who the other is he can't.]

And it turned into a fight...

I'm a little more okay, yes. What I went for...it worked, for me and Ryou. It didn't work for Maya, or the Ring-Spirit...but maybe it'll help them along. And what's this about a play spot? I'm not a danger to the people in Hill House, but I understand if my presence is upsetting, so of course I'll follow those rules, but I'm not sure I understand what you're doing...

[He murmurs his reassurance into the soft skin near Ryou's ear.]

I won't hurt you any more. I promise.

[It's not being asked for. It's not something Ryou feels he needs. So, only good feelings, now -- only tendrils trailing up the sides of Ryou's legs, and a third running through his hair, as Atem's arms stay around Ryou's shoulders.]

I know. I know you won't.

[Ryou exhales softly. It takes a few seconds longer than normal, but he does eventually start to relax, letting out a quiet, wordless murmur as Atem holds him, as his tendrils map pathways along Ryou's legs.

He's glad...he's happy he won't be hurt again.]

Mmnh...I...want you to hold me...forever.

[He says it quietly, the emotion still thick in his voice. But it's not tears and anguish anymore, it's a familiar needy tone, the one he takes when he craves Atem's full attention. He'll make it up to him...he'll do what he needs to, but afterwards. Now he selfishly takes Atem's attentions, tilts his head back into the tendril working through his hair.]

[The almost pout makes Beat grin, though it fades a little into a softer look as Atem questions him. He tilts his head back, studying the sky as he thinks; thinks about the three years he spent searching for his best friend. Thinks about giving up his power to make a game fair. With a little heh, he tilts his head back down and shrugs, his grin turning lopsided.]

I've been doin' it fer years, yo. It's just... me. I don't think I could stop, even if I tried, ya know? I get it leaves me open to hurt, but fer me...

[He pauses as he tries to think of the way to phrase it.]

The feelin' I get from bein' there for someone [from being useful] outweighs the hurt I might suffer later. It's worth it, in my opinion. But I'll make sure to try an' think 'bout who I reach out to, how far I stretch myself. I ain't useful if I'm spread too thin to do any good.

:/ I dunno she sounded kind of nervous but okay

(Maya's the one that wasn't on camera but still said something right??)

Oh!

Well, even though I know you're not dangerous, and Ray knows, Giorno is still really upset :/ Which is fair because you kind of did a lot to make people upset? On purpose. So um....I guess you did a good job of that but now he's really upset, and so's a bunch of others in the house, and I don't really like making things worse by saying 'well I don't care what you think I'm gonna let anyone I want inside', so.

So I decided I'd make a secret playhouse instead!

And that way you and Ray can still play together! I have a lot of coins so it's not that hard. :0

Don't worry. Like I said, I understand! I won't disturb the peace in your home.

[It was absolutely made to upset people. But not upsetting people wasn't protecting Atem's mind and memories. So, he doesn't mind shouldering the consequences.]

I told Ray the same thing. She wants me to be able to visit her wherever she is...but I knew going into this what the cost would be. I wouldn't have gone this far if I weren't willing to pay it. But a visiting room sounds nice...

[He decides not to confirm Maya. Not if Reira's not certain.]

Of course!

And well :[ Yeah it's good that you knew what was going to happen I guess, even if

[well she's not going to start an argument over something she can't do anything about but]

I just wish it didn't have to do stuff like this to your friends I guess :[

Friendship isn't just in one direction. When you make things happen that make it hard for your friends to see you, it affects them too.

Um!

I'll tell you when it's built ok?

[Why her...?

The answer's pretty simple. Part of it is, she's inner-circle now in a way she wasn't before January, before now. Part of it is, she came back from the dead and wouldn't talk about anything but pizza controversy. And part of it, is...]

I can only give the perk to someone who's neutral. Fog followers already have the benefit, and a Fourth follower won't be eligible. Most of the people who are still talking to me are on one side or the other...I don't have many neutral friends now, and there are even fewer who I think would accept it.

[If she turns it down, he'll ask Altair. But Atem didn't see Altair make a public post to distract himself from his own death...Cairo's the one he wants to offer it to first. And, if Cairo dies again...it'll mean Riley spends fewer days alone in her apartment.]

[...Atem isn't thrilled about that, but I'll think about how far I stretch myself, and I ain't useful if I'm spread too thin to do any good...that'll do.

He's heard himself say, If I can offer help, I should. If I'm able to make things easier for my friends at all...I have to. And Atem knows where that got him. It led to here. His eyes go a little distant, a little unseeing, as he thinks about how he got here...]

That's good enough.

I...have a power. Not a Fog one, one from Mana. There's a symbol you can draw, that will let me see and hear what's going on around it. If you need help, you can use it to call me.

Atem, I'm not going to be going out much for a while, especially with the fog like this...but that means I'll be spending a lot of time in the new playroom Reira and Miss Mana got me! You should come play with me. I'll get too bored and lonely otherwise.

Ryou can come too, if he wants. You two just can't be gross. I know it's what good couples do, but the way everyone acts on the network, I'm so tired of it.

Ah, it's finished? Reira told me you were planning to make it...so, of course I'll come! We can't have you being bored and lonely.

[He means this completely.]

As for Ryou, you have my word that I won't do anything grosser than hold his hand. It's your playroom, so you make the rules!

Heh...are you saying I should regret what I did because it makes it harder for my friends to spend time with me? That's one I haven't heard yet!

What you need to watch out for is being arrested. If Javert catches you, he's the one with the keys to La Forteresse, and its Punitive Director's playground. How much do you know about AM, and the prison?

Um, only sort of?

If you planned everything a different way, then you could've still done what you did without your friends getting sad about it right? Even if everyone else (that includes the ones that aren't your friends) was scared and mad, your friends would know for sure it was gonna happen, all the details, and be able to say 'it's okay because we PREPARED! >:0'

Like the playroom, but earlier or something.

Thinking ahead about everything is hard though. :[

That's acceptable. I wouldn't blame you for more, because it's really pretty there...mostly. But I'm glad you don't mind not doing those things.

We need Reira's help to let you in, since both keys need to be there... It's a little annoying, but it's safer that way.

No matter how pretty it is, I promise I'm quite capable of keeping my affections to myself when they'd make someone else I care about uncomfortable in a place that's theirs. And usually, Ryou's a shy type, too. I'd like to see this place! Can I meet you?

If you'd known what I was planning, Reira, would you have tried to stop me? Not talk me out of it, but really stop me.

[Hmmm. She has to think about that. Eventually she asks-]

Would you have explained why you were doing it?

It's not really right to just ask if someone would stop someone, when that question isn't answered. There's a lot that can change what someone will do when you explain things.

Even with things like brain network, most people can't understand what someone means just by looking at them. Even that doesn't work all the time.

It's really hard to understand without explaining, so of course if no one explains why, people will try and stop them. It's when you explain why that the answer can change.

Ray's pretty sure it was to scare other monsters, not just people. And the best way to make someone watch TV is to make a post on the network, I guess. I think, maybe I would have told you to cut into the network instead though at least. That way, you wouldn't even have to make the newscasters do it.

I don't like that it got aired for a lot of normal people. There's lots of that already, so adding more just feels mean. But, it's pretty hard to get monsters to know you're scary I think. And if that was important, then that was important.

[Another month, another Mana purchase digging into his coin stores. Thankfully, this one was of Ryou's own will, and it has functionality.

Ryou knows he's been worrisome. The past few days he'd been scattered, like a bowl of candy that had broken and sent it's contents flying in all directions. It had taken time and help from other people to figure out what was the candy and what was the glass, because he'd been fumbling blind.

If not for Cairo, he might have continued trying to pick up the glass and cut his fingers.

Even once he'd put the pieces back together and became aware of his mind attempting to stifle itself...he couldn't find a way to deal with it that satisfied his shade sensibilities. So...a change was in order.

There's a bit of a clatter coming from his room, as if something's been knocked over, and he makes an exasperated sound loud enough to be heard through the apartment.

...Within a few minutes, his door opens, but he doesn't exit his room. Instead, he calls out:]

Atem...? Can you help me?

[Listen he doesn't know where his boyfriend is, just that he's home. And he does need help. His wings won't pull in tight enough and he's stuck in his doorway.

:( maybe this was a mistake.

But at least he looks cute. Evidently he took Atem's admission during their date at the Cube at face value, because he's now very much a manticore. As usual, his tail is massive, held tightly to his chest so as to keep this SUDDEN STINGER??? from causing problems.

...Please help him.]

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<CCC-REDHORSE> laughs bc maya sends reira a present soon after this

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Backdated to 3/28, it's kitty time

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, PLAYER1. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 10.11.0.0.01 * PLAYER1 has joined 10.11.0.0.01 <PLAYER1>** If you're looking for someone you knew as Yugi before June, you've found him! It's Atem, leave a message.