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[knifemonopoly]

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.

Main handle: < Player1 > Anon: < turtleluck >, < actuallydied >, < burner >

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[knifemonopoly]

[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.]

[noasark]

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.]

[knifemonopoly]

[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.]

[noasark]

[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...~

[knifemonopoly]

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.]

[noasark]

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.]

[knifemonopoly]

[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.]

[noasark]

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.