XOqNI

[tongueamok]

Hello, this is Carlisle. I mean, it's not Carlisle as in I'm actually answering you right now, so if you're trying to reply to me at the second, you should probably save your breath because I'm not really here. This is some kind of a recording of my voice, but this is my communicator. I'm going to assume these devices are as common here as they are in other places — not my world, but others, ones more technologically advanced than where I come from— so if you'd like to leave me a message, then you may do so here, or er... Right. Here is fine. So just leave yo— [beep]

Comments

[tongueamok]

[He will be pedantic until he dies, Atem.]

You need to? Is it something important?

[puzzlingly]

「And this one will be proud and stubborn for all eternity, fite him.」

yep

[tongueamok]

[Hnnnnn it's important he says, but hnnnnn the shame of facing his student when he's a mess and has consistently insisted he's fine.

M O R A L D I L E M M A.]

Fine. I suppose if it is truly important.

[puzzlingly]

「Uff, if Carlisle thinks Atem doesn't know he's a mess already, he underestimates him greatly.」

it is!

「At least it actually is...?」

[tongueamok]

[He believes Atem... for now. He will pass judgment on whether or not it is actually important later.]

My garden is best.

[puzzlingly]

you sure? you havent been there lately

「Don't lie to him.」

[tongueamok]

I am there less than I was.

[And sometimes he's there, but buried under blankets in his cottage, napping the day away.]

It would still be the best place for me, unless you have elsewhere in mind.

[puzzlingly]

where are you?

[tongueamok]

Home, currently. The garden isn't far from it.

[puzzlingly]

where is that?

「C a r l i s l e !」

[tongueamok]

[He almost sends back a snitty remark, then attempts to put together a reply that will utilize one of those faces Atem likes so much to express his displeasure, but he finally just caves. It takes less energy, and Atem is clearly as stubborn as he is.

Like teacher, like student. No wonder they work together well.]

Spire 2 on the northern island. 401.

[puzzlingly]

「Being already in the north island helps quite a lot. He's so done with these islands, making it hard to move between the people he wants to reach, but this is what it is.」

thanks ill be there soon

[text] → [action]

[tongueamok]

[Carlisle leaves it at that, deciding to spend what time he has before Atem's arrival attempting to put the den in order. It's a lot messier these days, papers everywhere, inky handprints marring the walls at key points, what plants he keeps in the apartment slightly overgrown. Rabbit keeps some of them trimmed (unintentionally), but with how stiff the clergyman's hands are, it's harder and harder for him to keep up.

He already has tea set out by the time Atem arrives, hoping the hot drink will stave away the chilly air of the room. It's colder than most of the apartments are, all due to his icy partner; however, he'd be cold anyway as most of the life -- and color -- has seemingly left him.

Atem is welcome to knock in, though Carlisle is listening for him climbing the stairs, ready to open the door when he arrives.]

[puzzlingly]

「The knocking happens sooner than later, and Atem braces himself for whatever that might happen now. There must have been a reason why Carlisle was so adamant to, well, not see him. He can't say he's not excited to see his friend again, regardless.

And while Atem doesn't know what he will find, Carlisle on the other hand will be able to see that Atem is just the same, as ever. Only maybe a little bruised than the last time they saw each other, barely noticeable now — a slight shadow over his eye, very small scabs on his cheek and jaw — but the wound on his lower lip still looks tender. It's been hard for it to completely heal when the teen constantly smirks so much from time to time; even if it's very much less than he used to.」

[tongueamok]

[Carlisle's eyes immediately go to Atem's injuries; though clearly diminished by the passage of time, they are still evident enough to a man who specializes in healing the wounded.]

Your face, wh- what happened?

[Yes, that is the important thing on his mind now.]

[puzzlingly]

「Carlisle, as Kaiba would say, looks like shit and yet he asks about him? Why isn't that surprising?」

Sparring.

「... or that's how they decided to call it later.」

I don't suppose I can ask the same about you, can I?

[tongueamok]

[He averts his eyes, immediate shame coloring him as he steps aside to let his pupil into his abode.]

Time. Existence. The unfortunate result of what I am catching up with me after all these years.

[puzzlingly]

「Of course. That should be something that in fact Atem doesn't know anything about. Is that luck or just another unfortunate result of life that he's stuck in a timeless vessel? He makes it to the apartment, noticing the cold and wishing he was wearing more clothing than a sleeveless shirt.」

You mean, life? 「Weren't they all destined in a way or another to die? Perhaps not quite as Carlisle, but most people would follow the natural flow of life. Unlike them.」 Would you prefer being in a state in which you no longer decay?

「He asks without ill intent, he supposed they are past trying to ignore something so glaring obvious as Carlisle's deterioration.」

Would you like to lie down?

「Atem considers making himself comfortable at the couch, but there is no way in earth that he would impose his will of Carlisle needs something more comfortable than that while he's there.」

[tongueamok]

[Carlisle avoids the first two questions and goes straight for the third as he collects his mug and settles into his own chair.]

I would be more than a terrible host to lie down when there is company present.

[puzzlingly]

「Carlisle thankfully does just as Atem expected. Surely not even having enough energy to debate in such topics.」

Don't do that for me, Carlisle. I don't want to tire you more than necessary.

「Atem goes sit down at the couch anyway, at least expecting for his mentor to not exhaust himself for him.」

Do you happen to have your book here? I wanted to check a few things I'm unsure of.

「He's been studying, regardless of Carlisle's help there, but he is still not good enough, nor remembers absolutely everything there is.」

[tongueamok]

I do.

[And with only a sip from his mug to warm him, he's back up again to collect one of his journals from the bookshelf near the window.]

What is it you find yourself unsure of?

[puzzlingly]

「Atem hesitates as he also brings out the notes from his backpack. He stares at them then at Carlisle.」

I don't know what I'm missing here...

「He handles the papers at his mentor. And what Carlisle might find is in fact is two spells, one to use infuse one's energy into another living being, a plant, specifically to help it grow. It's not such a bad job safe for the fact that it's too raw, not considering the safety of that who might activate it. The other, in another sheet altogether might not be so clear, there are little notes and combination of glyphs that should probably not be put together because of their adverse results, but something is clear, it is not quite the harmless spell. There is a lot of information missing still but it might be obvious for someone with so much experience as Carlisle to figure out what he's aiming to do with it despite of most being written in hieroglyphs. A spell made to hold and seal someone's whole being, they very essence into an object. The third page, however, seems to follow the first with examples and variations to make a plant basically grow. Clearly, that second page should not be there.」

[tongueamok]

[The first page isn't entirely surprising, given the current situation with the trees in the city and recent inquiries. He glances over it, flipping to the second page, then the third... then back to the second, his eyes narrowing as he more thoroughly inspects the proposed inscriptions.]

Atem.

[puzzlingly]

「Oh no, is it that bad? If anything Atem had felt proud of how easy it had come to him to learn, how easy it had been to activate the glyphs, how even Carlisle seemed to actually believe he was doing a good job by giving him harder work. At least it is how it felt to him. He doesn't realize that his most personal notes on the matter got mixed in there.」

... Did I screw up?

[tongueamok]

[He holds the second page apart from the rest, his glowing gaze flicking to his student.]

Unless you are considering sealing the trees away, I would think so.