luckless: Official game/manga unless specified otherwise (Default)
Nagito Komaeda || 狛枝 凪斗 ([personal profile] luckless) wrote2021-01-31 10:15 pm

[RYSLIG] IC Inbox

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, NAGITO KOMAEDA.

FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 004.28.777.00

*** MrBrightside has joined 004.28.777.00
<MrBrightside> Hello there! This is Komaeda.
<MrBrightside> I'm grateful that you want to talk to me.


Anonymous username(s): < Triple7 > < BlueRam >
knifemonopoly: (has never felt so right)

[personal profile] knifemonopoly 2023-02-24 07:49 pm (UTC)(link)
[Two years of knowing the guy mostly as a fish with a very set face and jaw has left Atem used to depending mostly on tone and posture for cues to Komaeda's mood -- not that he's been good at reading them, even when he gets them.

A fully expressive face, one that's surprised-pleased-fond, feels like information overload -- a little like you've been trying very very hard to move something heavy, and then it slides where you want it to go all at once, and a little like he's just been dropped into warm water.

For a moment, Atem's mouth hangs slack, something like wonder joining with and tempering the anxiety and worry.
]

I--

[Where does he even begin? All the questions are jumbled up at once, and Komaeda's asked him something, and--

Oh. Oh, he's in trouble.
]

No, I'm...going to be staying here, for the moment. I was hoping things would go back to normal...

[...

Atem stares a split second longer, then his eyes narrow as an explanation occurs to him. This might not just be sudden awe at having facial expressions to read. He tilts his head, folding his arms and taking a drier tone, one corner of his mouth twitching up.
]

You may have left one of your new abilities on.

[He'll get to the whole nephilim-concerns thing in a second. Right now, Atem needs Komaeda aware that his awe-spell is obviously active, it's important for him to know when he's using that.]
knifemonopoly: (led away by imperfect imposters)

[personal profile] knifemonopoly 2023-02-25 02:09 am (UTC)(link)
[Atem came back from being a slime with an addition to his own -- a set of narrow, golden-brown bat wings curled behind his own ears, nestled behind bleached bangs. Right now they're furled tight, because

I guess we can stay here a little longer...if it makes him that happy...

Purple splotches, old and long-deoxygenated blood, are appearing slowly on Atem's cheeks. No, no, he isn't really thinking of delaying moving somewhere else because Komaeda has an expressive face, is he? This is bad, he's being hit really bad...
]

You really didn't notice? Humans must have been affected worse than me, when you were out...

[Atem is uncharacteristically mumbly about that point.]

I...I don't know. It turned on for me when I wanted to stop someone in their tracks, get their full attention, and it went away on its own...

[S.O.S., send help, it's like trying to stay standing up in heavy surf and every new expression is another wave.]
knifemonopoly: (holding him for ransom)

[personal profile] knifemonopoly 2023-02-25 02:46 am (UTC)(link)
[Atem's arms fold, and the wisps of Fog-cloak float around him. It's a little easier with the attenion off him...

...and it reminds Atem that he has other things he wants to ask, besides "please stop stunning me."
]

...are you doing okay with the monster type so far...? I know it's early, but it was a difficult one for me...

[He's told that story already, about how being a neph made him feel and led him to act. Not even he should have a dog, whatever dog he wants can distract Atem entirely from the sense of dread he associates with the monster type.]
knifemonopoly: (no longer i pretend)

[personal profile] knifemonopoly 2023-02-25 03:07 am (UTC)(link)
Ah...that does look like it would be pretty cold, in February.

[Atem, luckily, is not a pervert under most circumstances and he is erring on the side of "the flash of back isn't for my benefit, therefore I'm going to be normal about it." It's a cute look, true, but it's Komaeda's face that's his captivating feature right now.]

I'd lend you some of my clothes that are made to go around wings, but I don't think they'd fit...

[It's good to hear nothing too bad emotionally has hit. It's still early, true, and Komaeda might just have not seen anything yet that awakens the burning, electric fury that rests in the heart of the monster type, but...nothing yet.]
knifemonopoly: (all the school kids so sick of books)

[personal profile] knifemonopoly 2023-02-25 12:32 pm (UTC)(link)
That's right.

[Just confirming what Nagito understands about his priest power and keeping his eye contact from being too intense as Komaeda drops closer to his own eye level, that's all. He does his best not to think about proximity. They have to stay friends, for Ryou's sake. But staying friends was a lot easier when his attraction to Komaeda felt like a game of Russian roulette, where anything might happen, and though it was thrilling, it was anything but safe.

And when his face always stayed the same.

(He might need to have a word with Nanami.)

It's really different between them...it's not the same as they were before. It's something that makes Atem terribly, powerfully glad, so glad he feels like his heart's going to burst. It's like he was trying to see Komaeda in almost total darkness before, staining his eyes, making do with outlines and the impression of movement, and they kept bumping into each other in the dim light.

Atem's the one who's asked for and insisted on friendship, but now that things have changed, it's his turn to sit with discontent about the situation, even though he's gotten everything he wanted before.

Damn it.

Well, he has no plans to refuse this request, whatever it is. He doubts Komaeda would ask in earnest for anything outside of the considerable range of things Atem is willing to give or do, and certainly not without a good reason worth hearing out. He's listening.
]
knifemonopoly: (I can see how this is gonna go)

[personal profile] knifemonopoly 2023-02-25 11:40 pm (UTC)(link)
[I...I'm scared of flying. Komaeda doesn't have to say anything else -- the cooler facade Atem's put up drops instantly as he remembers events he's been told about that may well be why Komaeda has that fear. His eyes widen, rounding in understanding, and his mouth opens to reply --

-- when Komaeda backpedals, offering him an out, a "sorry, I'm too busy, but I'm sure you'll get the hang of it soon!" that he could say, if he doesn't want to do this.

Atem doesn't say it.
]

No...it's okay! I do know how to fly...and you should learn, too, as soon as you can. You never know when it might be important...

[But that's the utilitarian reason. Atem needs to do less of that, and more listening to how he feels.]

It should be less scary with someone else around, and I'd be glad to do what I can to help. I'm not too busy at all!
knifemonopoly: (the party boys call the kremlin)

[personal profile] knifemonopoly 2023-02-26 03:14 pm (UTC)(link)
The roof?

[Atem lets out a little heh! and closes one eye in a wink.]

If you're nervous about flying, jumping off the roof isn't the best way to start at all!

[Take it from him, and how he had to dive after manticore-Ryou. It's gutsy of Komaeda to think about the roof, but really...Atem doesn't want him to be hurt or frightened, or to give this room to go wrong with a bad fall.]

It's cloudy today, so it should be all right...we can meet on top of the hill in the park.

[In Ryslig, the locations are made up and the geography doesn't matter! We're making up a nearby park with a steep hill!

He is a vampire, and he does hear Komaeda's heart going a mile a minute. It is a distraction he absolutely has to tune out. Atem is treading water, being hit with he's cute when he's bashful and his tail wags? already -- all thoughts about the rush of blood under Komaeda's skin and if it'd taste different than it did as a merperson must be stifled so that he can keep having this conversation normally.
]
knifemonopoly: (the blonde waitresses take their trays)

[personal profile] knifemonopoly 2023-02-26 07:40 pm (UTC)(link)
[Little purple splotches reappear on Atem's cheekbones.

Yes, obviously he would catch Komaeda if he was falling, but that's not the purpose of the exercise, and even if it would be more exciting...

...being mindful of Komaeda's flying fears matters more than getting to catch him, or setting up a trust fall.

Atem simply gives a nod -- to both statements -- and when Komaeda is safely out of sight and the door to apartment 807 is closed, he takes a second to slump against the wall of 806 and let out a long breath. Atem scrubs his face with his hands -- he has got to get a better hold on himself. Things with Komaeda have to stay like this for the foreseeable future, so he's got to get used to warm smiles and racing heartbeats and the understanding that they would catch each other if they fell.

He just has to get used to it, he thinks, putting a hand above his own heart. Atem is happy about these developments, they're in a good place, better than ever -- it'll be okay. He has a lot to be happy about.

It's okay if things stay like this...

Straightening, Atem heads for the stairs that lead to the roof, stepping out into the cold gray February light. The cloud cover is thick and not likely to clear, so it's only a little uncomfortable being outside. On the roof, Atem's body changes, fingertips first, blue claws emerging from a swirl of fog. He kicks his shoes off to be retrieved later, not needed on his hooves, and launches himself off the edge with a jump and a flap of batlike demon-wings.

A blue demon will be waiting for Komaeda, sprawled carelessly on the grass at the top of the hill, idly rolling a solar back and forth on its edge along his spade-tipped tail. His eyes are on the sky, watching the lowest layer of the clouds scudding by, and everything about his posture from the slump on his elbows to the much less precise way he holds the yellow-gold wings at his ears is relaxed. It's impossible to mistake him for anyone else, though -- the hair's always the same, and so are the red irises. This is definitely Atem.
]
knifemonopoly: (through the end of the world)

[personal profile] knifemonopoly 2023-02-26 09:10 pm (UTC)(link)
[He tilts his head to look at Komaeda, propping himself up with his hands on the grass behind him, and gives a much easier grin than before. He's gonna hang out with Komaeda this morning, spending time with someone he likes, probably teach flying, and after that, who knows? Atem kind of wishes he'd brought snacks, to make this a picnic instead of a lesson, but he's not going to run back now, hell no. Maybe breakfast later? The world is full of possibilities.]

I like it. It's a really strong monster with a lot of useful abilities...I don't worry as much when I'm a demon. Anything that happens, I'll probably be able to handle...

[He trails off contentedly. As a demon, nothing feels so important or so urgent that he can't take a break, to do what he wants to do...

Atem tilts his face up toward the gray, dreary sky, only a little lighter than the Fog cloak rolling down his shoulders and disappearing in wisps over the grass.
]

It feels like I can do whatever I want, and it'll work out. The only problem is the weakness...salt is even easier to find than silver!
knifemonopoly: ([event] just a)

[personal profile] knifemonopoly 2023-02-27 02:58 am (UTC)(link)
[He can tell he's being looked over, and impishly, Atem picks up one hooved foot and cocks it, settling deeper into the lazy posture in a way that's a bit of a deliberate display; the self-satisfied narrowing of his red-on-black eyes and curl of a grin only strengthens the impression. Let Komaeda look, let anyone look if they like, he's ashamed of nothing.

He gives an easy one-shouldered shrug at the inherent danger of their opposing monster types. Even if there is an unfortunate magic mishap, the fog's coming in soon, they'll heal, he's not concerned at all. What's funnier to Atem, personally, is a different aspect. Namely:
]

It is funny. If opposites attract, and we're a devil-and-angel pair, then that means I might end up getting you into trouble. You're not worried I'll be a corrupting influence, are you?

[Oh no, how terrible would that be, is the tease in his tone, as his tail sways playfully, winding and unwinding around the solar. Atem has no concrete plans to do anything terrible (and frankly that sounds a lot like work), but it's fun to not worry so much about right. Atem can fill the space he's in, be himself and all of himself without worrying whether it's the right self, the correct move, the proper action. He's free to be just him, and whatever shape that takes is the right one.

Right now that shape involves playful what-ifs, an I-see-you-looking! call out shift in body language, and no shame at all about either. All he wants to do as a demon is play, and any openings like "it's like how they say opposites attract" will be exploited.
]
knifemonopoly: ([event] you can serve it to me)

[personal profile] knifemonopoly 2023-02-27 01:19 pm (UTC)(link)
[For the demon, playing back was a win-win scenario: either he got to keep flirting, or have the satisfaction of seeing Komaeda blink first.

Komaeda blinked first.

The only way to lose would have been to shy away himself, to cut himself off from an interaction he wanted to have out of some misplaced sense of responsibility for someone other than himself. Ha.

So it's with a peal of laughter that's both wicked and delighted (he meant that! He meant it, "I'd let you corrupt me!" Actually getting to know Komaeda is so great, he's so weird and interesting and fun, and Atem wants to have that, experience that, so much, but not now) that Atem pushes himself to his hooves, standing up and unfurling his own wings, flicking the solar from his tail to his hand and pocketing it.
]

Yep!

[Time to switch gears from flirting to flight: Atem does want Komaeda to learn to fly, and he wants the satisfaction of having been the one to teach him. Atem rolls his shoulders out, then plants his feet in the grass, his wings and tail shifting to balance him against the wind.]

The best way to get a feel for how to fly is by running downhill with your wings out. I can't explain how to hold your wings, or how often to flap them...all monsters are different! Even as a nephilim, flying felt different than as a demon or a bat...but as you run, you'll feel the air catch under you. When you have the angle right, you'll start to feel light...your feet will come off the ground, and then, you're gliding!

Want me to show you first, or just give it a try yourself?
knifemonopoly: (to find the missing lifeline)

[personal profile] knifemonopoly 2023-02-28 05:49 am (UTC)(link)
[Atem has truly terrible amounts of practice turning his trains of thought away from impossible what-ifs. He understands, even in this state of mind, that there's no chance that today ends in kissing and also ends well, so he's resolved to take what he can get: to be the monster who taught Nagito Komaeda how to fly, who reached into Komaeda's heart and put the knowledge there, like leaving a piece of himself in a way it can't ever be removed.

Despite these feelings, he watches Komaeda stumble down the hill with distinct amusement -- a giant angel stumbling like that is pretty funny! But, when Komaeda gets it right at the end, the demon hops back up to his feet and lets out a whoop and a holler of excitement.
]

That's it! You got it at the very end!

[Atem's hands are cupped around his mouth as he shouts to the bottom of the hill.]

Come back up and try it again!

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