[Ryou nods absently, his snake body surreptitiously moving forward a little and spilling forward. A bit of it gently settles over Atem's toes as the instinct to wrap and hold makes his body move. He can't though. He won't.
He just wants to be closer...that's all.]
I spoke with Horatio about it once...I didn't understand it then, but I think I get why he did nothing, now.
[Because of what the manticore meant to him. He, like Ryou, was willing to try and stay out of something that wasn't his business, especially if it was someone he'd forged a bond with, somehow. It still stung, but he'd done more than enough to make sure that the both Atem and Ryou felt supported. Ryou can't be angry at him anymore.]
I can depend on him. And on the rest of my friends, like Mukuro...Nanami, Altair...and Beat too. He helped me a lot, while you were gone. I wish I could have done more for him, than just make that cake and give him a small gift...
...It's been so long, Atem.
[It might almost seem like a backslide, like he's fixating on Atem again, because he looks up and he looks so melancholy. One clawed hand comes up, pushing his hair back because the snake on that side is reaching out for Atem, to try and inspect his cheek. Not the time, little guy.]
So long...since I could feel safe around other people. I went to the mall, I went to Beat's party, I had people over...
[He trails off, and although he doesn't smile, his expression slowly falls back into something more neutral and less distressed. Plus, with his hair pushed back, Atem will be able to see what the weird nub really was.
Not the intention, but. You know. Surprise. Free subject change, if he chooses to take it.]
...You know though, you can still lean on me, when you need to. I want to be there for you, even if we have friends who can help too. You're most important to me, after all.
no subject
He just wants to be closer...that's all.]
I spoke with Horatio about it once...I didn't understand it then, but I think I get why he did nothing, now.
[Because of what the manticore meant to him. He, like Ryou, was willing to try and stay out of something that wasn't his business, especially if it was someone he'd forged a bond with, somehow. It still stung, but he'd done more than enough to make sure that the both Atem and Ryou felt supported. Ryou can't be angry at him anymore.]
I can depend on him. And on the rest of my friends, like Mukuro...Nanami, Altair...and Beat too. He helped me a lot, while you were gone. I wish I could have done more for him, than just make that cake and give him a small gift...
...It's been so long, Atem.
[It might almost seem like a backslide, like he's fixating on Atem again, because he looks up and he looks so melancholy. One clawed hand comes up, pushing his hair back because the snake on that side is reaching out for Atem, to try and inspect his cheek. Not the time, little guy.]
So long...since I could feel safe around other people. I went to the mall, I went to Beat's party, I had people over...
[He trails off, and although he doesn't smile, his expression slowly falls back into something more neutral and less distressed. Plus, with his hair pushed back, Atem will be able to see what the weird nub really was.
Not the intention, but. You know. Surprise. Free subject change, if he chooses to take it.]
...You know though, you can still lean on me, when you need to. I want to be there for you, even if we have friends who can help too. You're most important to me, after all.