[It's a familiar chuckle, one he's heard a thousand times—under breaths and through gritted teeth—it should be familiar. But the sight before him isn't.
When they were both shades, it was different. Komaeda had been so blinded by his own emotions he hardly had time to parse Atem as anything other than safe. Now, though, the shape that stretches towards him in a way that feels reminiscent of ghost stories, doesn't feel safe. It feels like he's stumbled into a yokai's den—like he's about to be eaten.
His heart had been racing before, for the sake of his nerves, but now it's thundering so hard in his ears with panic that he feels like he's about to pass out. Maybe it's because he'd gotten used to what he assumed monsters should be like, that he forgot his animal fear of what lurks in the dark. That comes second nature, now, even when he clenches his eyes shut the moment Atem reaches his shoes.
He has to remind himself that this is his friend, someone he trusts, and not a legend come to life.
Once he feels the first few prickles of something not-supposed-to-be-there invading his body, he's able to relax a little more into it. Somehow, it's easier when he isn't looking the ghost straight on. He hadn't been in his right mind enough to really dissect the sensation of being possessed before, but the distinct feeling of his body being too small is what stands out now. Like it wasn't made to house more than one soul.
And the second Atem settles into his mind and heart, his casual greeting will be met with what feels like a barrage of sensation that's part panic, part radio static with how flurried Komaeda's emotions have become in a matter of moments. It's an adjustment, give him a moment.
It takes a bit of him just standing there, frozen, as Atem feels out his body. Once that moment passes, though, Komaeda exhales a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. He feels warmer, then. Like easing into a drawn bath filled with water at the perfect temperature. He relaxes.
Hello, Atem-kun. He responds quietly, in the space of their shared mind. I... think I'm okay now. I wasn't expecting it to feel like that.
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When they were both shades, it was different. Komaeda had been so blinded by his own emotions he hardly had time to parse Atem as anything other than safe. Now, though, the shape that stretches towards him in a way that feels reminiscent of ghost stories, doesn't feel safe. It feels like he's stumbled into a yokai's den—like he's about to be eaten.
His heart had been racing before, for the sake of his nerves, but now it's thundering so hard in his ears with panic that he feels like he's about to pass out. Maybe it's because he'd gotten used to what he assumed monsters should be like, that he forgot his animal fear of what lurks in the dark. That comes second nature, now, even when he clenches his eyes shut the moment Atem reaches his shoes.
He has to remind himself that this is his friend, someone he trusts, and not a legend come to life.
Once he feels the first few prickles of something not-supposed-to-be-there invading his body, he's able to relax a little more into it. Somehow, it's easier when he isn't looking the ghost straight on. He hadn't been in his right mind enough to really dissect the sensation of being possessed before, but the distinct feeling of his body being too small is what stands out now. Like it wasn't made to house more than one soul.
And the second Atem settles into his mind and heart, his casual greeting will be met with what feels like a barrage of sensation that's part panic, part radio static with how flurried Komaeda's emotions have become in a matter of moments. It's an adjustment, give him a moment.
It takes a bit of him just standing there, frozen, as Atem feels out his body. Once that moment passes, though, Komaeda exhales a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. He feels warmer, then. Like easing into a drawn bath filled with water at the perfect temperature. He relaxes.
Hello, Atem-kun. He responds quietly, in the space of their shared mind. I... think I'm okay now. I wasn't expecting it to feel like that.