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[Atem noticed how quickly Shalem left after helping subdue Soujuurou. How he's avoiding everyone. What if he's just shy..?
Except Argenti's gone again. And Soujuurou's been checking on Yoon.
So here he is now in front of Shalem's door. Quietly rasping on it with one hand while balancing a few plates of pizza with his other arm. He looks ridiculous. He feels it, too. But he can't stand the thought of the God of Conflict infecting another one of their teammates.]
Except Argenti's gone again. And Soujuurou's been checking on Yoon.
So here he is now in front of Shalem's door. Quietly rasping on it with one hand while balancing a few plates of pizza with his other arm. He looks ridiculous. He feels it, too. But he can't stand the thought of the God of Conflict infecting another one of their teammates.]
[There's someone at his door-- he heard them before the knocking and kept completely still, barely breathing, just in case he was hallucinating again. He may not have had them since arriving here, but he just believed it was a matter of time.
The knock on his door tells him that it might not be a hallucination, so he goes to check, opening it a crack just so he can peek out of it.
Atem might just see a curtain of pale hair and a single purple eye behind all of that.]
Hello, yes? [The kid he picked up off the ground...] How may I help you?
The knock on his door tells him that it might not be a hallucination, so he goes to check, opening it a crack just so he can peek out of it.
Atem might just see a curtain of pale hair and a single purple eye behind all of that.]
Hello, yes? [The kid he picked up off the ground...] How may I help you?
[That eye blinks, before Shalem straightens up and pulls the door wider.]
And thus you took some of the pizza from your gathering for me... Well, I appreciate that, but also... [It's unnecessary, he's about to say. But he shakes his head, and reaches out to relieve the boy of the plates, even balancing one on his tail.]
Come in, if you're so inclined.
And thus you took some of the pizza from your gathering for me... Well, I appreciate that, but also... [It's unnecessary, he's about to say. But he shakes his head, and reaches out to relieve the boy of the plates, even balancing one on his tail.]
Come in, if you're so inclined.
[Well, since it's an invitation! Atem steps in to Shalem's room.
Only, uh, one small (huge) problem. Atem's crap at small talk. Uh. He picks at the Millennium Puzzle's chain.]
You left so quickly after what happened with Soujuurou... We didn't get a chance to talk.
Only, uh, one small (huge) problem. Atem's crap at small talk. Uh. He picks at the Millennium Puzzle's chain.]
You left so quickly after what happened with Soujuurou... We didn't get a chance to talk.
I didn't believe there was much to talk about. I see I'm wrong...?
[Well, he knows some people would have wanted some words with him-- and that's exactly why he beat a hasty retreat. He really, really doesn't want to address anything... but he's cornered now.
Even if he acts all casual about it, placing the various plates on one of the desks in his room.]
[Well, he knows some people would have wanted some words with him-- and that's exactly why he beat a hasty retreat. He really, really doesn't want to address anything... but he's cornered now.
Even if he acts all casual about it, placing the various plates on one of the desks in his room.]
Ah, that?
That is... what I believe one could call sheer luck. [He flicks his forked tongue at the various plates-- don't be too shocked, Atem!-- before taking the one that smells of meat the most.]
I wanted to find a way to handle him in a non-violent manner, and constricting an opponent tends to be my first resort when I decide on such a thing.
That is... what I believe one could call sheer luck. [He flicks his forked tongue at the various plates-- don't be too shocked, Atem!-- before taking the one that smells of meat the most.]
I wanted to find a way to handle him in a non-violent manner, and constricting an opponent tends to be my first resort when I decide on such a thing.
[Oh, yup, that's a forked tongue. Yup. Wow. Atem was trying hard to ignore the snake thing, too... Guess he can't actually do that. His eyes quickly dart away to look elsewhere in the room.
On the bright side, Shalem doesn't appear to be any kind of snake Atem's familiar with. And he seems friendly!
Atem thinks of chaos. Thinks of protection. All is according to Ma'at and Isfet.]
I appreciate it... Not to be crude, but he was kicking our asses.
[His kidneys hurt just thinking about what happened to Izou.]
On the bright side, Shalem doesn't appear to be any kind of snake Atem's familiar with. And he seems friendly!
Atem thinks of chaos. Thinks of protection. All is according to Ma'at and Isfet.]
I appreciate it... Not to be crude, but he was kicking our asses.
[His kidneys hurt just thinking about what happened to Izou.]
Edited 2024-09-15 04:37 (UTC)
Mm... [Give him a moment, he's going to inelegantly shove this slice in his face because that's just how snakes are sometimes. And he'll only address Atem's comment once he's swallowed and wiped his mouth.]
That he was, wasn't he? People with that sort of look in their eye, you can only subdue them, rather than reason with them.
Like I said... constricting an opponent tends to be my first instinct. We were all fortunate that this was the right thing to do, in this case.
That he was, wasn't he? People with that sort of look in their eye, you can only subdue them, rather than reason with them.
Like I said... constricting an opponent tends to be my first instinct. We were all fortunate that this was the right thing to do, in this case.
[But Atem had to hear it... Ughhh... He suppresses a shudder and schools his face into something less unburdened.]
It's a good instinct.
[Is there anything interesting in the room they can talk about? Because he doesn't want to make more awkward small talk if he could ask about something else... He fidgets with his cloak hem. This is the exact reason why Atem let him handle their conversations while he hid in the Millennium Puzzle. He was so much better at it.
He wishes he was here... Partner...]
It's a good instinct.
[Is there anything interesting in the room they can talk about? Because he doesn't want to make more awkward small talk if he could ask about something else... He fidgets with his cloak hem. This is the exact reason why Atem let him handle their conversations while he hid in the Millennium Puzzle. He was so much better at it.
He wishes he was here... Partner...]
[Sorry about that, Atem. Shalem does note it, and figures he should slow down and eat like... a normal person. A non-Phidia.
He tugs a chair up for Atem with his tail as he wipes his hands clean and dry.]
I suppose it is. [As long as his arms are faster than his tail, because he can't guarantee survival if his tail gets around a neck first.] I hope the air has cleared downstairs?
He tugs a chair up for Atem with his tail as he wipes his hands clean and dry.]
I suppose it is. [As long as his arms are faster than his tail, because he can't guarantee survival if his tail gets around a neck first.] I hope the air has cleared downstairs?
[Haruka doesn't notice Shalem(?) slinking off, too distracted with the mortification of being thrown back to the real world and all of their Palace-granted items disappearing (on top of the man's just... sneaky nature), but...
Well. Someone has to go be a nuisance, and it might as well be Haruka. He's well aware he's being too stubborn for his own good (and for the good of whatever "connection" he and Shalem have), but that's not about to stop him as he goes to find the snake. His first stop is his room, so... hopefully he's there when Haruka finally shows up. Knock knock!!]
Well. Someone has to go be a nuisance, and it might as well be Haruka. He's well aware he's being too stubborn for his own good (and for the good of whatever "connection" he and Shalem have), but that's not about to stop him as he goes to find the snake. His first stop is his room, so... hopefully he's there when Haruka finally shows up. Knock knock!!]
[Haruka mutters something under his breath that might be something along the lines of "why do you keep changing your accent..." but who can say.]
I'm here for you.
[Does he realize how that sounds? Another mystery.]
I'm here for you.
[Does he realize how that sounds? Another mystery.]
Truly? [Colour him intrigued.
He steps back from the door and opens it fully to let Haruka in. His room is neat and clean, but lacking in many personal touches-- it merely seems to be a place to sleep, and a repository for the serpent's belongings.
He's dressed in a simple shirt and jogging pants, not his typical athleisure look he tended to choose as his casual outfit-- Haruka had visited when he was in the middle of some light dance practice.]
Come in, then.
He steps back from the door and opens it fully to let Haruka in. His room is neat and clean, but lacking in many personal touches-- it merely seems to be a place to sleep, and a repository for the serpent's belongings.
He's dressed in a simple shirt and jogging pants, not his typical athleisure look he tended to choose as his casual outfit-- Haruka had visited when he was in the middle of some light dance practice.]
Come in, then.
[Me forgetting Haruka and Soujuurou's room is right next door to Shalem's so he might have heard the music this whole time... honks my clown nose.
Haruka is going to make himself at home, though, taking a seat on the bed after taking his sword from where it rests at his waist. (It's become a habit to carry it, with how Palaces and oddities can appear from nothing...)]
Of course. Things got pretty strange at Atem's place, and I'm kind of curious about it.
Haruka is going to make himself at home, though, taking a seat on the bed after taking his sword from where it rests at his waist. (It's become a habit to carry it, with how Palaces and oddities can appear from nothing...)]
Of course. Things got pretty strange at Atem's place, and I'm kind of curious about it.
[With Haruka taking his bed, Shalem pulls up a chair for himself with his tail and sits down, crossing his legs.]
You seem to be curious about a great many things... and tend to assume when you are curious. Such things in tandem usually invite disaster.
Are you sure you want to know?
You seem to be curious about a great many things... and tend to assume when you are curious. Such things in tandem usually invite disaster.
Are you sure you want to know?
If I know, then I'll stop assuming, won't I?
[Seems logical, doesn't it? It does to Haruka, at least.]
So, I want to know.
[Seems logical, doesn't it? It does to Haruka, at least.]
So, I want to know.
[Wow, you're keeping him from being annoying?????]
...That seems like an acceptable condition.
[He just stares back at him, wondering what exactly Shalem is looking for from him.]
The stage is all yours.
...That seems like an acceptable condition.
[He just stares back at him, wondering what exactly Shalem is looking for from him.]
The stage is all yours.
...Mm. Were you dancing before I knocked on the door?
[That's a good starting point as any!]
Yes, ballet. My expertise had been in dance and instruments, above everything else. [Except for murder, of course!] I'd neglected my skills in recent years, but I refuse to let them waste away now.
[Which is why it's a good starting point-- it's the perfect segue into who or what he is, was, should have been, and had ignored for his entire adult life up to this point.]
Now that I no longer have anything to fear about who I am, why should I continue to neglect myself? I may not be of the Troupe any longer, but I am still the man they made of me. Atem's little game helped me sort that all out. In a way, I'm quite... grateful. [Then he waves his hand at Haruka. One more question!]
Yes, ballet. My expertise had been in dance and instruments, above everything else. [Except for murder, of course!] I'd neglected my skills in recent years, but I refuse to let them waste away now.
[Which is why it's a good starting point-- it's the perfect segue into who or what he is, was, should have been, and had ignored for his entire adult life up to this point.]
Now that I no longer have anything to fear about who I am, why should I continue to neglect myself? I may not be of the Troupe any longer, but I am still the man they made of me. Atem's little game helped me sort that all out. In a way, I'm quite... grateful. [Then he waves his hand at Haruka. One more question!]
Ballet... That's impressive. I'd like to see it, some day.
[That was something he never had training in, most of his dance training on other forms. He's curious about it—and he wants to know more about the troupe, of course, and what Shalem means when he no longer fears who he is, but...
Well, that's not what he's most curious about. There's more important things to talk about, obviously]
Do you sing?
[That was something he never had training in, most of his dance training on other forms. He's curious about it—and he wants to know more about the troupe, of course, and what Shalem means when he no longer fears who he is, but...
Well, that's not what he's most curious about. There's more important things to talk about, obviously]
Do you sing?
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