knifemonopoly | IC inbox

[Network's upsetting. He can't stop putting his foot in his mouth in person or online. As such, Atem has decided to let matters rest.

.....until he hears WAILING.

He sits straight up, his ear-wings flaring out and up into his hair in surprise.

What on earth...? Is that Noa?

He calls through the door from the living room:]

What is it?!

Edited 2021-11-30 15:22 (UTC)

[Excellent it's working. While Newf politely ceases her knocking to lay down before the door, Noa loafs up harder as he inhales.

Know that this hurts you far more than it hurts him (in the pride).]

You have ignored my messages and I would like to go INSIDE. It is COLD!

[There's a much briefer pause there than there should be, considering how far from the door Atem sounded. Nephs are fast. The door opens almost before Noa is finished saying "cold", and a droopy-winged nephilim answers the door. Even the purple cloth floating around his shoulders seems listless.]

Come in, then. Of course I won't leave you to freeze on the doorstep.

....

....

Your dog's trained, right?

[Tybolt sticks his head out of one of his hides, sniffing the air curiously.]

Wait...unless it's a werewolf. Are you a werewolf?

[Shit, he didn't even consider this might not be a pet.]

Edited 2021-11-30 15:59 (UTC)

[Noa was just about to do another round- hold the glass of water now- when the door opens.

Newf stands, and politely sniffs.]

Ah, you're a nephilim. This explains a little, [he observes, tapping the dog and ushering her in. Newf in turn carefully gives a soft, quiet wuff at Tybolt, sniffs, and trots in.]

This is Newf. I need to find Judai and talk to him about her, as she normally gets fed by him; he looks after the treehouse her last owner was at, [he explains.]

She is a fully trained specialty service animal for both house assistance and emotional support however, so I am taking advantage.

Also she's warm. Now.

What are you doing tonight?

[Whew, okay. No werewolf social faux pas. Tybolt does the new-dog thing, where he sniffs, then jumps back crouched down, then belly crawls forward to sniff again.

Atem, in the meantime, shuts and re-locks the door.]

Nothing important. Reading, maybe. Why?

Mmm. Good.

[Newf is patient. Newf sits, and does nothing. You may explore, strange cat.]

You're coming with me to that pre-christmas party then, I refuse to go alone.

[sniff

sniff sniff sniff!

Tybolt's tail lashes back and forth, and he puts two too-big lion paws on Newf's side. Hi? Hi??

His ~~owner~~ foster dad looks about as shocked, but much sadder. The halo resting just atop his head is the same wintry white as the sun outside, and the wings beside his ears pull in tight to the sides of his face. Atem's own lion tail hangs low, but tense.

Under any other circumstances, Atem would really, really like to go to this party. He sent Ryou to the party. He is terribly lonely not going, but the truth is--]

Noa, I...I can't. This temporary change...it's made me diffucult to be around. I get angry, and unreasonable...I got into half a dozen fights this month. I confronted AM twice!

[He looks away.]

I can't even tell if I've made terrible mistakes, or if I'm just thinking differently now. I can't trust my own judgment. Not like this!

Maybe when coins come in this month, I can pay Mana to end it early. Until then, though...

Edited 2021-12-01 14:25 (UTC)

[Noa is of course trying to be civil. He sits on Newf and listens, and watches, and...well, even if he isn't saying it, a cat's disappointment is clear.] ...I see.

[AM is...rather serious news after all.] I suppose this...explains why there was no follow up as to our 'night out' then...

[Newf ignores all of this. Instead she remains there, laid down, tail occasionally thudding as she pants away the great heat of her coat. She moves her head toward Tybolt, but keeps it low- no scaring small things, no no.]

[HE IS TREATING THIS CAT SO TERRIBLY UNJUSTLY.

Atem's tail curls first one way, then the other, miserably.]

I'm sorry. It's my fault...but it has to wait.

[She turns her head, and Tybolt immediately flops down on his side, showing his round little belly. He reaches up with a clawless paw to pap her face. He's been carefully taught to play gently. Atem keeps an eye on that, but he's not worried enough to interrupt what he's saying, and the hot, awful shame of not being someone who can be counted on that comes with it.]

There should be plenty of other people you know at the party. Ryou's there. Once you arrive, you won't be alone at all!

Hmn.

[That, if anything, only has Noa curl up more on the spot with narrowed eyes.] Don't act as if you're that replaceable. I mentioned our owed night out for a reason after all.

[Ahh, what a cute weird thing! Newf is equally gentle, nosing Tybolt's belly and letting the lion pap away.]

What?

[Noa--!

Noa wants...him...to be there?

....

Atem's a lot of emotions right now. He needs a second. It takes him by surprise even now when people (besides Ryou) just want him around, not to win a game, or take care of a problem. Noa wants to go to a party with him, him, and is willing to call in a favor to make that happen.

Is it really that impossible to keep himself under control for a few hours? What is he, an animal? Even a baby lion knows when to retract his claws. He's got to at least try, right? For Noa?]

...okay.

I'll go. It might be a little awkward...I told Ryou and Annie I wasn't going. Is it okay for me to show up anyway...?

Hmn!?

[Well that was unexpected. Noa's head snaps up, but not without some hope. He did, after all, hope to have at least a bit of time at the party with a friend.

And well, Ryou's someone he knows, but he's hardly as close to them as he is to Atem. So-]

Well...perhaps a little, but if anything they'd be pleasantly surprised wouldn't they? If you're coming, I can make sure to reign you in if you seem to be doing anything odd- how's that?

[Some very gentle head-wrestling is going on with Newf. The little furry scuffle undercuts a lot of tension.]

All right. I'll trust you...I don't want to get in a fight at a party someone else worked hard to put together! Annie has enough on her mind already without me causing trouble.

[Is this a good idea? Atem wonders. It might not be. But he's going to give it everything he's got, to be there for his friends, without breaking promises or disappointing them.

He sees a flash of teeth headed for Newf's ear.]

--Tybolt, be gentle.

[The command is heeded, and the teeth go away. Fur gets licked instead. Bath time, not bite time. Newf is pride now.

If nothing else, Noa is a Fog priest, and fully capable of holding Atem back. He has Atem's full permission to grab him by the scruff of the shirt Marik-style and haul him off.]

Edited 2021-12-01 15:21 (UTC)

Then let us head off as soon as possible~ I assume you would need to get ready, at least.

[Noa either ignores the matter with Tybolt and Newf, or simply has that much faith in the animals. Newf for her part is oblivious. Bath time, very good. Biting would have also been fine, as she is nothing if not durable and patient. The dog's tail swishes slowly, and panting continues.]

[None of Atem's clothes are worn, exactly; nothing about his pants and shirt could be described as sloppy.

But they're not party clothes that you wear when someone you care about a lot is throwing an event.

Noa's very right.

But, man...he's going to Annie's party after all....that makes a little swell of happiness spin around in his brain, kind of like holding Tybolt or Big Sven for the first time.]

Y-yes...!

[What does he wear? He wasn't going to go. What's appropriate? Is there something traditional for a holiday party? Atem remembers what Ryou was wearing, and Noa just wears cat-sweaters all the time...he remembers something about a sweater contest...are sweaters right? But he doesn't have any sweaters, just the one coat that's altered to be wearable around his wings, and actually, that might simplify his decision a lot--

There's a flurry of activity for about two minutes. Clothes get changed. His face gets washed. His hair gets brushed and arranged. Eyes get lined. Teeth get brushed. This probably would have taken longer if Noa didn't stay in the other room, but as long as Noa doesn't follow him in to watch, Atem can move at his real speed, not the pinned-to-a-board crawl he's stuck moving at when someone's got eyes on him.

Tybolt is unperturbed and continues to have a bathing and wrestling match with his new buddy.]

[And Noa of course will patiently wait- with his eyes closed even, curled in a loaf on the ever sturdy Newf's back. He only cracks one open when Atem appears again, or at least...when he hears him.

At that point, he purr, impressed.] I've heard about nephilim speed, but I've never seen it in action like this. You managed that well...~

Heh!

[Even though Atem's higher level now -- level 35, maybe, with some ranks in other monsters -- it still feels pretty cool to get a compliment on his abilities from a level 100. Atem remembers when he was just learning how to use his mist to get past doors and review files...

His two normal eyes close for a moment, flattered, as the forehead one regards Noa with fondness and pride. Being alone really isn't good when you're sad, is it? Noa coming along, inviting him to go somewhere...it's really the best thing.]

It's not moving fast that doesn't feel natural.

[His eyes open, his head tilts. More seriously:]

How do I look?

[This isn't asked the way a vampire would ask it; Atem can see himself in mirrors these days. It's almost startling, the unexpected movement...but it makes the eyeliner easier. The reason nephilim-Atem is asking is, he's checking to see if this is an appropriate way to dress for a friend's holiday party. It's a plain shirt, a gray coat modified to button around his wings, and plain blue pants, but purple cloth floats around his neck like an antigravity scarf, and he's got a collar and a couple sets of earrings, bracelets at his wrists, and of course the Puzzle. He just wants to know if he's breaking any party fashion rules, since he's never been to one like this before.]

A shame then, you're quite the sight to behold after all. Especially now~ [he compliments. And he means it- it's a good look, nice and simple, excusing the obvious additions such as the puzzle. But frankly, that's just Atem's thing as far as he understands, so it's nothing to remark on.]

I'm personally relieved you don't have one of those 'ugly sweaters'- they're good for the season, but hardly anything worth wearing for the night.

[He says, with a kitty equivalent under his coat.]

[As a vampire, Atem was arrogant, but not particularly vulnerable to flattery. Compliments from Noa, though, especially right now, hit different. Confidence creeps back into Atem's smile as he receives the manticore stamp-of-approval, and he stands a little straighter as he heads for the door.]

Annie mentioned there would be an "ugly sweater contest"...I have to admit, I don't fully understand the tradition!

[He'll hold the door open for Noa and Newf, and tell Tybolt to stay, so they're not followed by an overenthusiastic lion who, despite being an emotional support, is not service animal trained.]

Mmmm. Something about the style of holiday sweaters. At some point it became fashionable to deliberately knit them in blinding patterns. The contest, therefore, will be to find the 'worst' one~ [he hums, patting Newf's head and prompting her to stand.]

Alright, Newf- time for us to get moving, hm?

Hfff.

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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.