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WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, CHIAKI NANAMI.
 
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<galagamer> This is Chiaki Nanami.

<galagamer> I'll get back to you as soon as I can!

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Maybe not. But people don't all feel like you.

[Ryou hesitates with the next part. He doesn't want to make it personal, because he, personally, isn't nearly as important as anyone else. He doesn't want pity. But...Nanami wanted to know about him. She wanted to see him.]

...It's hard to explain that dying is scary to anyone who hasn't died here. And it's hard to explain how seeing someone you love be in so much pain and experience uncertainty he should never experience can be so painful.

[He glances down, at his open palms. The tips of his fingers curl inward, making his claws look threatening.]

They can't understand either...why I don't want to be a shade.

[He's scared, and it shows in his eyes, in the way his ears are pinned back to his head and how his shoulders are bristling. He's afraid that as soon as the month's over, the Fog will stabilize and he'll go back to being a shade, with all the terrible, dark thoughts that make him so angry.]

So, they're angry about what I did. And they don't want to know why I did it, because they can't see the path that awaits them.

[ She doesn't want to make it about her. She wants to listen to him.

But she can't help the way her gaze drops, and her hands tremble. ]

I know what you mean. [ And she'll leave it at that, for now. She squeezes her eyes shut, trying to get the cheshire grin out of her mind.

Reminds herself that she's stronger now, she wouldn't fall to her again. She thinks. ]

Can you ask Mana? If she lets you change for a little... she can let you change for good too, can't she?

[For how self-involved Ryou seems to be in his own thoughts, he does catch a little of Nanami's reaction.

...He will remember that.

But for now, he keeps on their current subject.]

I'm...I'm sure she can. I haven't asked her yet what the price would be, because I still have other things that I need to do. I have a feeling it would be many more coins than I have...so I'm grateful to the Fog for this form. At least for now. It's a welcome break.

[He glances at Nanami, one ear flicking, but ultimately they both relax. He reaches a hand out, gently places his padded palm and fingers on her shoulder, then smiles a little.]

I really can't thank you enough for listening to me. I think...perhaps we can talk about something less sad, right? You've heard more than enough, and if you want to give me a chance, then the least I can do is make sure it isn't all terribly depressing. Right?

If I can help, I will.

[ She's already found a few coins, after her first month here - and she doesn't have any plans to use them.

... Probably.

But the change in subject relaxes her too. She gets up to make them some tea, at the food counter just next to the board game corner. ]

I don't think you're depressing. [ It's been interesting, even if the subject matter has been sad, and at times gruesome. She puts the kettle on and leans over the counter so she can still see him while the water comes to a boil. ]

Do you have any favorite games?

[Ryou takes a little longer to get to his feet, drawing his hand back so that he can use it to push himself up, before both arms cross protectively across his chest. He's not worried about her anymore, but he still has guarded body language.

It's...just a bit of a habit, honestly.]

It's alright, you don't have to say something that isn't entirely true.

[That's all he says about her insisting he's not depression, he won't push the matter past that.]

Favorite games...? Any board game, honestly. I love board games, and dice games, but mostly anything that has a board is where I excel. My favorite is a tabletop RPG, however, by the name of Monster World.

[...There. There's a bit of confidence.]

A tabletop game? [ That really peaks her interest. While she prepares their mugs, she thinks. ]

I don't have that one here, but we have a lot of board games. [ She glances over at the corner where they've been sitting. ] Do you wanna play something together? I love all kinds of games, really.

Any game you like is fine. I'm happy to play whatever you like.

[His tail wags once, twice...and knocks over something small, because it's massive. He startles, forcing it to wrap around his leg while he looks over his shoulder.]

Ah! I-I'm sorry about that. Sometimes it has a mind of its own...

[ She smiles and brings him a mug, then starts setting up a shogi board. ]

It's okay! So do my tentacles. [ The ones on her head are idly curling around each other as they speak. ]

Your tentacles seem quite tame in comparison. Actually...they look rather cute!

[Ryou doesn't even put much thought to the fact that he's complimenting a lady's appearance. It's true, isn't it? Watching the tips of her hair-tentacles undulate, they really do look cute. It reminds him of Atem's hair-snakes, from way back when.

Either way, he takes the mug happily, sips at his drink, and lets Nanami set up the board. After what they had spoken of...a game is a welcome change of pace. He'll enjoy sharing it with a new friend, someone he can trust.

Someone...who had trusted him first.]

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