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[waitingforplayer2]

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, CHIAKI NANAMI.

FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX

*** galagamer has joined XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX
<galagamer> This is Chiaki Nanami.
<galagamer> I'll get back to you as soon as I can!

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[knifemonopoly]

[He almost never uses that title, either...it's technically from his future, and the only thing he likes about it is that it matches Nanami's...and Sonic had been so excited to use it on the Twinge stream, with the possession gimmick, that Atem hadn't had the heart to tell him no.

They're both experts at games, the highest-level players in their respectibe worlds. But...]

Why play...when the game is designed to hurt us?

When the rules can be broken against us at any time, but we can't break them back?

[He sits down on one side of the couch she's made up, not quite going under the blankets yet. Instead, he pulls his knees up, and leans sideways against the couch arm, a little ball of cow with a tucked-in tail that doesn't have it in him to stay upright under his own power.]

[waitingforplayer2]

[ It's a very general question; and they've talked about this before, without really coming to a solid conclusion. Nanami hasn't really figured out an answer to it in the meantime; only answers to other questions, more personal ones about what she should do with her time here.

The itch in her brain doesn't like the idea of guessing, of making up some sort of idea to comfort Atem; so she takes a deep breath, and moves closer to him on the couch. ]

I... don't think I can speak for everyone... but, for me, I guess it's because... I want to. It's really just like that...

[knifemonopoly]

[He doesn't seem to object to her presence, even if he doesn't move towards her. Subtle body language cues; a lack of increased discomfort gives it away.]

....but, even if I don't want to anymore, I don't have a choice.

[Well. He has a choice. Go numb, and let the game happen to him, and let his friends continue to spiral, losing more and more and more of themselves, or...

...or, take matters into his own hands, and end it. For all of them.]

[waitingforplayer2]

[ She hesitates. And then she shakes her head.

Because that is the awful truth. There is no way out of here, if somebody really wants to leave.

That's what Sonic has already figured out. ]

I'm sorry...

[knifemonopoly]

[He stays where he's sitting, his eyelids lowering, as though they couldn't keep themselves up anymore with their own power.

He's really tired, all of a sudden...

He's going to have to decide what he's going to do about this. Just enduring isn't an option. Kaiba said himself, he had no idea when he'd be back: time might work differently, outside of Ryslig. Atem can't wait for him. Not any longer.

For now, though, what he needs is sleep. Atem wants to stop thinking, for a while.]

...it's not your fault.

[He seems to settle further into the couch cushions, not relaxing so much as sinking.

Not being alone, though...that helps. If she weren't here, it would be terribly easy to give in to the itch behind his eyes, the tightness in his skull, and cry uselessly. It's a good thing she's here...]

[waitingforplayer2]

[ She sits with him, as long as it takes until he falls asleep.

Her eyes are droopy. She's pretty tired, herself...

As she finally drifts off, the last thing she sees is the doorway where he entered, holding his wine glass and looking manic and upset.

She's going to have to talk to Ryou later, and find out what exactly happened... ]