[He hugs her back -- of course he does, with a surge of relief of his own. It is all Atem can do not to let the tendrils out of his back and hug her with those, too...it's tempting, he's an inch away, and he fails his saving throw.
The shadow tendrils come out and wrap around her shoulders and waist, bark or no bark, and squeeze back.
The relief is tempered, however, by lingering fear: it's very possible that the consequences of this are still hanging over his head. If one of Nanami's friends, one he's not on good terms with, hears about it...it could get ugly. Even Komaeda, Atem suspects, wouldn't let such a thing slide...and besides that, there's the penalty that comes from siding with a human over a monster, the bad luck, the curse. That might still come for him.
But, for now...she isn't upset with him, and even if Atem doesn't deserve that, he can accept it, with humility. ]
Don't worry about me...I have a lot of practice sorting out my memories! It hasn't been too bad.
I flipped a coin for if he keeps his head or not lmao
The shadow tendrils come out and wrap around her shoulders and waist, bark or no bark, and squeeze back.
The relief is tempered, however, by lingering fear: it's very possible that the consequences of this are still hanging over his head. If one of Nanami's friends, one he's not on good terms with, hears about it...it could get ugly. Even Komaeda, Atem suspects, wouldn't let such a thing slide...and besides that, there's the penalty that comes from siding with a human over a monster, the bad luck, the curse. That might still come for him.
But, for now...she isn't upset with him, and even if Atem doesn't deserve that, he can accept it, with humility. ]
Don't worry about me...I have a lot of practice sorting out my memories! It hasn't been too bad.