knifemonopoly | IC inbox

[It should only be used for emergencies!

The warning echoes in Komaeda's head, now, belatedly and somewhat humorous in timing, as he carefully dips one of his manicured claws into his mouth just as he had many months before. Now, though, it isn't with the intention to bare his heart in undying confession—no, it's for much simpler, more carnal pleasures.

Komaeda draws the symbol just as it had been shown to him by Atem, and when the last of the lines connect to one another, he watches as they shine brilliantly. He wonders, if only briefly, if it's akin to a phone ringing in Atem's skull. Does he pick up? Or does the transmission simply dominate his thoughts, regardless?]

Ah, is this thing on~? [He asks, his tone playfully curling at the edges, much like the cut of his razor sharp smile.] I hope I'm not interrupting anything too scandalous, Atem-kun... But I'm in a bit of a pinch. I wonder... Could you help me out?

[Ah! Atem sits up straighter, as the image broadcasts directly into his mind. Nagito's become a demon...and he's in trouble? He must be, if he's using the sigil...

A message comes into Komaeda's laptop.]

You're not interrupting at all! What is it?

[He hopes Nagito can get to a laptop...otherwise, he'll have to guess where he is and what's going on from what he can see, and won't be able to get a returned message....]

[From where the sigil has been drawn, several things can be inferred the longer Atem takes to visualize the situation. One, Komaeda isn't actually in any peril. In fact, he's in his room in Merain, perched indolently on his bed framed with strung seashells-like curtains encapsulating it, and the sigil has most likely been place on the adjacent wall.

And two, Komaeda is dressed rather scantily in an oversized shirt that hangs off the shoulders and has had makeshift holes carefully cut into the sides of it for his wings.

But the ping on his laptop gets his attention, and when he dips off of the edge of his bed to retrieve it from the floor, that shirt rides a little higher... Not exposing anything, but definitely alluding to something shorter than boxers beneath the shirt (or perhaps nothing at all?)]

Ah, I'm glad you're available! [Komaeda chirps happily, without replying to the message but definitely keeping the screen in front of him, with his back to the sigil.] You see, I'm out of sugar. I was going to attempt to make something, but I can't if I'm missing this one, crucial ingredient. Can I borrow some?

[....this is kind of suspect. What is Komaeda playing at...? This is weird behavior for him...but he doesn't know what Komaeda is like as a demon...]

You're baking without pants on?

[It's very suspect, in that his demon's nature is currently emboldening him in ways he likely wouldn't as a merperson. Suffice to say, Komaeda is tired of waiting for Atem to make a move, so he's decided to make one of his own.

Still facing away from Atem, he walks his clawed fingers down the length of his side, over the curve of his bony hip, and catches the hem of his shirt with a sharp point.]

I didn't want to get them dirty... Does this bother you?

[Of course he asks this, while hiking that hem up higher... higher... What's underneath...?]

[...huh?

Whoa. Hey! Hey, he's being hit on?! This is -- this is that kind of call?!

Komaeda's laptop pings.]

Hey! Nagito! If you wanted me to come over, you could have just said so...

...but, is Hinata okay with this?

[Because, to Atem's knowledge, the note they ended on was, Nagito would need to speak to his partners about it, and wasn't ready...

...when did that change? Did it change? Atem knows demons can be kind of carefree, he doesn't want to take advantage and then have it be a problem later...]

[It is absolutely that kind of call.

Komaeda barbed tail flicks back and forth, threatening the hem of the oversized shirt from riding up. As his laptop continues to ping, his movements slow, but never stop. Technically, he hasn't told Hinata about this, exactly. But Hinata is aware of his feelings for Atem.

Either way—]

Isn't something like this more fun, though? If I'm going to get you to finally pay attention to me, I might as well be the only thing you can think about, hm...?

[It doesn't answer the question exactly, at least not yet, but Komaeda abandons the laptop to turn and face that glowing symbol on his wall. Again, his claws tease at the edge of the shirt and ride it up just enough to expose the crease of flesh where thigh meets hip—giving the illusion of nothing else worn... maybe.]

Do you think I would do something like this if Hinata-kun didn't know about my feelings for you?

[On the other side of the connection, Atem's brows draw together.]

I thought I was the one who didn't have your attention.

I know Hinata knows, but...there's a difference between being okay with someone's feelings and being okay with acting on them. And I know what it's like being a demon...it makes you okay with some things you wouldn't have been okay with before.

[And before, Komaeda was worried about Lila and Hinata. He won't be a demon forever.]

Your happiness is more important to me than anything else I want from you. It always has been. I won't mess things up for you.

[No matter what salacious images are in his head, no matter how they make him feel (it helps that Komaeda's flirting is terrible), Atem is still too clearheaded to give in to what he suspects is demon hedonism that will lead to heartache.]

[The pings, one after another, coax Komaeda's attention away from the symbol on the wall. He'd much rather continue with the peep show, but... Frustratedly, he brings his laptop back into view. Tail lashing behind him, Komaeda reads the replies, only to hiss out a frustrated breath through his teeth.]

You really are a dense guy when it matters, Atem-kun. I could tell you to your face how I feel about things, and you would make up scenarios in your head about the truth of my words...

You know, our time together isn't guaranteed? I could disappear to the Sea of Stars any day, and the same could be said of you... It's not like it hasn't happened before, right?

[The playfulness of his tone is gone now, replaced instead with a mix of anger and hurt. His wings are slowly unfurling from his sides, and as they do, he pushes himself up from that inviting repose and sits a little more stiffly on the bed—legs held tightly closed and his arms crossed over his middle—closed off.]

If you wanted me to be happy, you'd be here. You would hold me, and kiss me, and tell me that you love me. How long do you think I've been suffocating with these feelings for you? I'm sure half the peninsula is probably wondering why we torment ourselves like this.

[....is it strange, that the closed-off posture puts Atem more at ease than the lascivious one? He's probably kind of fucked up, that it feels more real that they're fighting than it does to have a direct line in his head to a KomaedaCam.

And because of it, the words pull at his heart, leave him conflicted.]

I'm
used to putting my own wants aside, when pursuing them might make my friends unhappy. I don't want anyone I love to feel hurt because I was selfish...no matter how much I wanted it, it would make the selfish act feel bad.

[He might disappear, though. Komaeda's right. The change in coins has left him antsy, uncertain...something's changed, and Atem doesn't know what. He doesn't know how much time he truly has.

But can he live with this, if it's done dishonestly...?

He can't.]

I talked to my boyfriend, so that I could be with you. Even though it was difficult, I had that selfish conversation, so that I could be with you without regrets!

You have to do me the same courtesy, Nagito. I won't ignore your earlier stated wishes because you've temporarily become a monster type it matters less to. I won't risk you being upset with me when your mind's back to how it usually is! Being on good terms with you is too important to me to do something like this without thinking.

I won't be the kind of guy who takes advantage of someone and loses them because of it. It's because I love you that I won't do this.

Edited 2023-08-18 05:11 (UTC)

[What?

Komaeda feels his cheeks burn hotter, and it isn't for any bit of shame at the way his clothes might ride up when he suddenly shifts his posture into something more aggressive. He hovers over his laptop with the looming threat of a predator ready to strike, his anger burning red-hot in his veins in a way unlike he's felt before.]

Ah, ah... Those are some mighty words coming from you, Atem-kun... Do you really think I'm the kind of guy who would just do this?

[He laughs—a short bark of a sound, and inhales another breath quickly as he turns away from the screen, back towards that symbol marked on his wall.]

You know what? I've changed my mind. If that's how little you think of me, that I would just cheat on Hinata-kun, then you can stay wherever you are. I don't want you to come here!

[His hand raises, and with a swipe of his claws, catching the grain of the wooden wall, he severs the spell's connection. With his blood boiling the way it is, any further messages he receives will be ignored for the evening.]

IC inbox

[action] we're back dating this to pre-event (let's say somewhere between 8th-10th)

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just finishes off this thread so we can focus on new

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.