noasark | Ryslig IC INBOX

[Atem has never experienced the emotionally-illiterate-boyfriend "what did I do??" feeling before in his life. Either life.

It is extremely confusing.

The normal response is to insist that a lion is not just a cat, and is Atem sure he can take care of it? But Noa...Noa's got a problem with it that isn't that??

Then what...what is the problem?]

Noa, what's wrong?

[What's wrong?? WHAT'S WRONG???

Alright. The cat breathes. He just needs to calm down. It's fine. He's being ridiculous, he's a grown teenager cat, and Atem can have a real cat if he wants. It's fine.

He gets on the vampire's shoulders, with a perhaps rough jump.] Nothing; let's move on to Amanda's, shall we?

[When she says "it's nothing"...

Atem lets Noa up onto his shoulders -- oh boy he IS mad -- and starts the trek to the workshop, but he hasn't let the problem go.

Why does Noa have a problem with Atem having a real cat...?]

Noa...do you think I think of you as a pet cat?

[The bristling intensifies!!!] WHAT-

Don't be ridiculous, I'm a person. ...In the loosest sense mind, but I literally have my own pets, [he mutters, tail occasionally thudding against the other's back.]

I just didn't expect you to get a lion, obviously.

I didn't expect it, either! Really, though, he's not mine. It's just that he was being kept in a storeroom at the shelter...they were doing the best they could, but when I saw him, I wanted to help.

My family kept lions before, you know. A long time ago. After last month's fog trouble, I've got some memories left over from when I was alive!

But, that aside -- I want to be sure you hear it from me. Being friends with you, and taking care of a lion -- they're completely different. You're a person. He isn't!

[Maybe this is some kind of manticore-brain thing? Maybe it's a territorial instinct Noa can't help.]

How on earth did they even accidentally obtain a lion? [Noa drawled, apparently now doing his level best to just not address his own irritation.]

You're stating the obvious, but it's noted.

[It's not going well.]

It was from Mana...and the original owner disappeared.

But, Noa...if it's that obvious, why are you taking it so hard?

[This is the weirdest jealousy Atem has ever experienced, and he was in a bodyshare romantic triangle and he doesn't like to think about what Ryou got up to with dreamworld-Atem in June, so that's saying something.]

Edited 2021-11-03 14:10 (UTC)

Someone bought a lion from Mana?

[Well colour him curious on that note, but now he's just bristling again.] I'm not-! I was just surprised, that's all it was!

[(x) doubt, Noa!!!

Atem's letting it go for now, but only until he gets more information!!]

Yes. [No, it was a Nattensfest gift, but Atem's misconstrued what he's heard.] Apparently, he's been here nearly a year, but hasn't grown at all -- so, part of the deal must have been to keep him a cub forever.

[You'll never catch him say it Atem. Never. He'll snub for as long as he must.

...

Admittedly his attention is being caught a bit more by the fact that it's an immortal lion cub though.] A cub forever... ...I would say it's less inconvenient that way, but that is something I'd want to see...

[no he isn't scoping out the competition shut-]

[Clearly, this is a gesture of goodwill?? Both his smart cat friend and his dumb lion pet can be friends??]

You're always welcome to come by and visit. Or, if it's not an imposition, I can bring him over to your penthouse. He's not usually very much trouble...actually, he's terribly lazy!

[They're nearly to Amanda's place. Atem pulls a spare key out of his pocket and unlocks the door as he talks, flicking on the switch that causes all the overhead lights to come on.

Most of the space has been organized, categorized, and put under sheets and tarps to protect from dust. But there are a few shelves around the work bench Atem hasn't gone through yet.]

[Yes...yes...For now. For now there is good will.] Hmmm. I might do that then, [he mutters, looking away for the time being.] Just to see him, at least.

[Just for that. Of course.

Soon enough they're inside, and Noa perches a little more readily upon the vampire's shoulders. This isn't a place to walk around carelessly after all- not that most things are likely armed, but there's still dangerous objects about.] Alright...let's see what we find here then.

[Atem carries Noa on his shoulders over to the workbench and cluttered shelves.]

It's nearly done...I'm taking what I can carry to a different workshop in Bavan, and protecting the rest from damage. But, you said a part that could do what I was looking for could be found here...?

[He's still looking for a conductive piece of metal, for his POT OF GREED, WHICH ALLOWS HIM TO DRAW ALL THE BLOOD FROM YOUR HAND.]

[It feels rather like a low ceiling warehouse. Mannequins outfitted with equipment can be seen in one spot, tools neatly stacked on wall mounts and shelves...

Noa peers around ears flicking.] There should be, yes. It might be part of a trap already, fair warning. It would be fatal even for me in that case.

Even with your level 100 powers, huh...

[Atem starts to go through the traps that are still here, running through their purposes and mechanisms -- which ones require electrical conductors? Which ones activate when the circuit's closed?

But just because they're dangerous doesn't mean he can't make conversation while he goes through them.]

If one of them goes off, get clear. I can get out of any of these that aren't airtight by becoming mist....and I'm not about to go crawling into them!

[Ha ha ha ha ha! He'll leave that glass box over there alone!]

[Mmmh. Noa is...grimacing suffice to say, when Atem explains that.] That could work perhaps...I wouldn't count on it though, especially if she charged any of these with my electricity, [he mutters, glancing at what looks to be a still gleaming blue battery.] Mist would still be potentially conductive.

True, but as mist, I don't have any organs to damage! It's that part that kills you, not the shock itself. Wouldn't the charge pass right through me?

[Atem does, however, for Noa's sake, put on a set of insulated rubber gloves.]

It's not as though it could stop my heart in any case! Heh heh heh...

[He carefully checks that batteries have been removed from one device that looks designed to induce electric shock when you lose (or win, Amanda wasn't picky), then starts to unscrew a panel, getting under the hood.]

I should test it sometime to be sure. My mist form is a very effective defense! I don't want to be caught by surprise if it turns out to have a weakness.

Hmmm...perhaps...

[He'd rather not chance that of course, but still.] If you want to test it in controlled amounts, I can generate it easiest during a fog- otherwise I'll be pulling it from direct sources, [he warns.]

We'll plan for that, then. That kind of test is best performed with someone you trust around anyway!

[CLEARLY THIS IS A GREAT IDEA. Happily, as he removes the panel, takes out a battery, and starts digging into the machine's components:]

Did I tell you I tested whether or not ultraviolet radiation had the same effect as direct sunlight?

Exactly.

[It's a great idea because it means Atem will not test it around people that are not him.]

.........

[speaking of which]

...Dare I ask how that went?

Oh, I got a few burns. Nothing serious. We discovered that sunlight's the problem, not ultraviolet. It's more a magical law than a scientific property! So, ultraviolet-blocking glass doesn't protect me.

[He doesn't whistle unconcernedly, but that's the mood. Whoops! Can't get around his weakness with good sunblock! Anyway, time to get wrist deep in the mechanical innards of this murder trap...]

So UV-burns rather than actual dangerous burns then. Good to know...have you considered a switch to be safer then? [he asks, peering from the shoulder as he stares at the trap.] It used to be a bit of a trend, vampires becoming weak to falling water.

Yes, I have...if I have enough coins by spring, I'll do it then. Falling water's a good one, but just how trendy was it? Does anyone remember but you?

[He starts to unscrew a part.]

If I'm going to switch my weakness to a substance that easily found, I won't want many people to know what it is.

A good question. It would depend on how many vampires the few who have been around that long actually know. There's probably at least someone anyway.

I don't know if they were given a choice, but you could always ask Mana about other options too.

That's true. I'm sure she's seen everything --

[He carefully extracts some metal and wiring.]

-- by now!

[He regards the mechanical part with satisfaction.]

This ought to do it.

Ryslig IC INBOX

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feel free to describe anything that might be there, i'll yes-and it!!

oh gee oh god oh man

problem ? c:

im sittin here like 'ah heck ah gee what to describe'

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