knifemonopoly | IC inbox

im going to live in my ball pit foreverrrrrrrrrr

[She'll message again don't worry Atem.]

Umn, yeah there's not lots you can fix after :/

UM!! BUT!

that's probably a bad idea i might have to stop you because??? I'm supposed to do that?? :/

A lot of people try different things to make the Fog rank them up but a big one is targeting Elias and I definitely can't just let you do that one B|

It's better to just not tell me if you do that one, then we just fight and see what happens.

um

For things to really not do though

You already scared everyone right? But more importantly, you only killed people who really deserved it this time. You didn't even do that part, technically...

But sometimes when people do stuff to get powers with the gods, they get a LOT of people hurt.

A lot.

So.

Even though whatever you do has to be big, probably...

Please try not to do something like that :[

I know. I don't want to create the kind of problems Javert did...that hurt a lot of people, including ones I care about. And, because I know he's your friend...whatever I do, I won't try to kill Elias. But I understand...if we have to fight, we'll fight! And I won't try to level anyone else up with me...so, the offering won't have to be as big, or have as many kinds of horror as the broadcast did.

Yeah................

Oh! Yay though! :D

It's a promise then! What happens will happen and we'll do our best if we have to :0

um

I'll tell you when the playroom is done though!!

Of course, as if you even have to wonder!

[Ryou sounds a little overexcited, perhaps...but for the past few days, he knows they've been distant from each other. Being stuck in his own mind, catastrophizing, even the contact they shared in service of comforting one another...it wasn't the same and regular affection.

Being close just to be close, not because you feel alone in the world...that's a little different.

It's why Ryou's fingers curl a little more tightly into Atem's grip, though not tight enough to push out his claws. That'd be a downer, wouldn't it?

Ryou doesn't take note of Tybolt quite yet, although his sense of smell is sending a very insistent message to his brain to acknowledge the Other Cat In The Room. He and Atem are having a conversation! And related to that conversation, Ryou leans in close and presses his nose to Atem's for a brief moment, before smirking and pulling back. Blue eyes lock onto red, and there's a subtle widening of Ryou's pupils as he extends an invitation.]

Go on then. Don't you want to touch my ears?

[It's as much a tease as an offer, and said ears twitch slightly. They're here for you, Atem.]

[He would never do it without permission.

But, now that he has it...]

...okay!

[His free hand comes up first, to stroke through Ryou's hair, and then up to his ear. His other hand only comes up after he's realized the ears are soft, and he needs both his hands on them, right now. Fingertips with carefully-cut-back blunted nails stroke through Ryou's hair, to the base of the ears, and then up along the way the fur grows, scritching. If Ryou's amenable, their foreheads might end up pulled together, especially if Atem hears a purr.

Very dangerous tier 3 Fog follower, humans scatter before him, reviled and despised for selfish actions done in the name of personal power, here.]

[Absolute terror incarnate, with his loyal attack dog (or cat in this case). This is truly what the peninsula's population should shudder at.

Especially when the attack cat leans in and starts purring. Very loudly at that, and to someone else it might sound vicious, like a warning, but the way Ryou's tail lazily swipes against the carpet, from side to side as his pupils widen out a little more...it's very clear that he's far from aggressive.

When Atem's fingers start to trace along the base of his ears, Ryou is the one who initiates a gentle headbutt, pushing a little harder than he needs to. His eyes slowly slip closed as he continues to purr.

Yes. Pet. Pet more.]

[It doesn't stop. The petting, the scritching, rubbing their faces together, that's going to go on until one of them gets tired. They might wind up on the floor -- Atem will sink down and pull as much of Ryou into his lap as he can manage, and pet not just his ears, but under his chin, and the sides of his face, and the back of his head behind the ears. He's been petting cats for a while now, and while they don't all like the same things, he can figure out how Ryou likes to be touched. He murmurs:]

That's it, that's right...

[He's very serious, very focused on what he's doing. But as he pets, a buzz comes out of his own chest: yes, he wants this to go on, don't go. All the reward-chemical pathways in his brain are lighting up, he's relaxing much more than he has in weeks, and he feels very nearly at peace.

Cat. Big cat. Big cat big. Also boyfriend, love very much. His boyfriend makes big, calming sounds now, and touching him is pulling all of the tension out of Atem's body. It's easy to forget that anything else exists.]

[Ryou lets it all happen. Because of his wings, he has to be careful about how he positions himself on the floor, but he finds that half-laying on his bat wing is much easier, which is how he ends up curled up with his head on Atem's lap, purring contentedly.

It's just as much about the affection as it is the instinctual relaxation of a cat with its owner.

When Atem starts purring, one of Ryou's ears twitches, and he smiles. Good. This is what he wants, for both of them to relax. It's nice, very nice, to have his chin scratched as well. Honestly, everywhere on his face is quite sensitive to touch so Atem's doing a great job.

Ryou feels as if he could just doze off right here. He doesn't...but the way his eyes stay closed and his body relaxes, he could give off that impression. Except for the purring, and the curling of his tail tip in a patternless cadence. Up...down. Tense...uncurl. Over and over.

Too busy purring, no time for words. Sorry Atem.]

[The peaceful scene is inrerrupted with a "Wrrrrow?" and a thunk.

Tybolt's awake.

He's awake, and he bounds over to Ryou, all clumsy paws and skidding to a halt, to sloooowly extend his head, low to the ground, and sniff.

"Wrrrrrrreh!" he complains, looking up at Atem. He doesn't understand! What is happening? Why is his other dad a cat, like the other cat that comes in here sometimes and feeds him so much?

....

Is this the other cat? Tybolt is very confused about how they're related, but frankly, it's not his fault, everyone else is too.]

[An ear rotates towards the source of the thunk, then Ryou's head immediately flies up from Atem's lap, eyes alert. Who dares? Who is interrupting very necessary pets?!

...Oh. It's Tybolt. That's...actually fine and kind of cute. When Tybolt moves in to sniff, Ryou reaches a pawlike hand out and places it firmly on the little lion's head. Not to pet, just...to do it. It feels like the right thing to do.]

I think he might be confused about why there's another cat here. Admittedly, I don't blame him.

[The paw on his head makes Tybolt flop over. Is he defeated?? No, he's just rolling onto his side and back so that he can wrap his own paws around the attacking hand! Wrestling it! He bites at it! ....but his claws stay retracted, and his teeth never quite catch Ryou's skin. He just kind of mouths at it. Tybolt is letting you know he COULD bite you, but is much too well-behaved to actually do it. Fierce. Fearsome. Definitely responding appropriately to being treated like a baby cat by bigger cat.]

He seems to be getting used to it...

[Does he need to give the "be gentle" command? ...no, it doesn't look like it...]

Okay! I'll follow you.

[And he'll follow the route she's showing him, in travel form -- starting from the airspace around Hill House, in the direction of La Forteresse....he only catches up to her when she's approaching the actual door, and if there are any trees he can perch in, he'll land on one of the branches, clutching it in his feet and one hand-claw, watching curiously out of his real eye and his mind's-eye...

[Beat tries to commit the drawing to memory. It's an eye, it should be easy enough. An eye with a tail that looks like it's on a stick. He stares at the image hard, trying to burn it into his brain. Eye. Tail. Stick.

He observes the way Atem's eyes glow and the third eye shows on his forehead. Any size. Drawn on anything. Ten minutes. Beat nods.]

I'll try an' keep that in mind, yo. Might have to draw it on somethin' a few times, jus' to keep it fresh. Uh, won't draw it all the way so I ain't like, ringin' you constantly. I'll try an' ask Mana fer somethin' similar. So you can call me to ya.

[Beats reply takes a bit to come in as he digests everything Atem told him.]

christ as if this place werent bad nuff

gettin javert was an accident was jus trying to defend an get away hopefully he knows that but he seems pretty hard in fog land

will try an keep low an stuff

[he says right before antagonizing the fuck out of javert]

these fuckin vacs a lot more dangerous than the dudes in haftesal showed

[Ryou doesn't mind it. Actually, he has to stop himself from engaging Tybolt further, and instead lets his arm drop onto the little lion's body. Yes, yes. You're a good boy for not biting.

Even if he did, Ryou has a lot of fur as a damper. Tybolt's claws stay in though, and he's not biting to injure. It's fine. Let the boy play!]

I suppose he might get jealous if you pet me more than him, but I like to think I'm your favorite.

[So saying, he glances up at Atem with what is a god's honest :3 face and that is probably exceedingly unfair.]

That's okay! I can turn it off whenever I like...

[He rips the page with the sketch out of the notebook, folds it up quickly and deftly, and sticks it in one of Beat's jacket pockets.]

...so, if you're clearly just practicing, I'll just look away!

...

[Atem's clearly thinking about something, something specific. His eyes have lit up, there's a spark in them when they look at Beat, and the corners of his mouth are pulling up. Just what does he have in mind...?]

There's one thing I do want to test, though. After what we talked about, I'm sure you're a suitable candidate...are you up for it?

[Tybolt huffs and snuffs over the hand. He's mighty! He's fighting! He's wrestling! He could DEFINITELY bring down a gazelle!

....it's baby play fights without even any teeth.]

Of course you are.

[He runs his fingers through Ryou's hair, up his forehead and down between his ears.]

But, don't tell him that...

No kidding...I don't like it. Usually, becoming mist is a safe retreat...I can't hurt anyone, but no one can hurt me! It's unsettling, knowing that's not the case. Usually, all I have to worry about is silver... Anyway, if you do end up in La Forteresse, give me a call. I'll help you, whatever it takes. But try not to. The Punitive Director's a formidable enemy!

[Again, Ryou purrs lowly, pressing up into the touch. This is nice. It's perfect. He feels relaxed for the first time in a while, and it's enough to make him laugh breathlessly.]

No. Never. H-heh...hahaha...

[The laughter tapers into a weak sob, but...he's still smiling. He's happy, but he also wants to cry. Ryou wonders why he's like this, why any person could cry when they're happy.]

I'm glad...to be here with you and Tybolt. To be here with the ones I love. This is...it's my home, and you're my heart, and this is...something I haven't been able to enjoy for so long.

[Ryou knows it's only a matter of time before the other shoe drops. They're very close to the start of the month, when trouble usually starts brewing. But right now, after everything, it's enough that he has this simplicity, without the hum of negativity which constantly lives in the back of his mind lately--it's still there, but quieted, not stoked by the true monster he is.]

[That makes Beat snort a little but he's glad for the image. Hopefully he can practice it without making Atem regret giving it to him. The look away thing makes him grin.]

He'll try not to practice durin' day hours.

[Nothing like waking up cause someone's ringing your proverbial bell. The gleam in the vampires eyes makes Beat tilt his head, eyebrows raising a little. Oh, that's a gremlin look. The Pooka feels the urge to respond in kind so!]

Hell yeah, brotha, whatchu need?

im hopin it only cause he tried to fog that he got sucked up like maybe it aint gonna do anythin to anyone else

[Still that means vampires might be vulnerable. Beat doesn't want to destroy the vacuums, but he definitely is going to have to get someone to create a cut off or something...]

ill keep you in the loop wid it

we'll see what what can be done wid em i don wanna destroy em but if they hurt monsters if thats what they was really built fer theyre gettin ripped apart

ill try yo i aint up on the idea of bein tortured

Stay there.

[Ah, if Atem really wanted to be a shit about this, he'd go high in the air, and let Beat figure out what to do on the way down. Instead, Atem turns himself into a bat, then flutters up to the top branches of the nearest tree.

Once there, he touches his cheek, lightly. Beat struck him. Which means...

...that a strange vertical box, divided into sections like a magician's, closes around Beat. When it opens again, Beat will be at the top of the tree -- and he'll see Atem, on the ground, step out of a similar one.

Any remaining grime from the sticky hand is transferred to Beat. Otherwise, he's unharmed.

Atem waves from the ground. It worked!!]

What're you doing all the way up there?

[Curiously he watches Atem flutter off to the tree, tail twitching a little as he prepares himself for whatever mischief Atem is about to pull. What he's not expecting is the box to suddenly come up around him, Beat's surprised sound cut off in his throat as he... finds himself in the tree Atem was just at. Quickly he shifts himself down to a squirrel to not break any branches and go careening downwards.]

YO!

[He barks a little before scrambling his way down the tree, bringing little bits of bark and twigs with him until he's back to the ground, shifting back at the base of the tree. It doesn't seem like he's upset, however, grinning widely as he shakes his tail to get leaves and stuff out, fingers combing through his hair and fur around his chest.]

Aight, yo, that's fuckin' cool. That part a' yer mana gift stuff?

[The bright grin on Atem's face -- doesn't dull, exactly, nor fade, but its character shifts. It turns smaller, softer -- resigned, but honest.]

No. That was what I traded the Fog God for.

[His tone is solemn, even, as he explains. His expression does grow more serious now.]

So that anyone who strikes out at me...can't trap me. I can reverse where I am, and where they are...

There's nothing that can be done to me that I can't escape. Not ever again.

Edited 2022-04-12 23:44 (UTC)

I don't want to see it happen, either. So, I'll do everything I can to prevent it.

[Up to and including passing (as much as he feels isn't dishonorable) information to Javert, whoops.]

Tell me what you find out... The thing is, if this gets out, there's some Fog followers who might assume they were built purposefully to kill monsters. A lot of Fog followers and even some neutrals really have it in for that city, and if they have an excuse to go in guns blazing, they'll take it...and the ordinary people living there will get caught in that. So, the sooner we can find out what happened with the vacuum, and why it was fatal, the better.

Edited 2022-04-13 03:04 (UTC)

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<Player1>

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.