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[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]

[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.

[puzzlingly]

「Crap.

There is but a fleeting hint of actual fear in Atem's eyes at the glance of the page before he springs from the couch and retrieves it from Carlisle's hand, quickly folding it and keeping it in his pocket.」

Ignore that.

「Damn, he just wanted to check the book and write some notes to make that more complete. He's probably lost the chance now.」

[tongueamok]

A bit late for that now, isn't it, lad?

[Despite his sickly appearance, there is fire in his voice.]

What are you up to?

[puzzlingly]

「He can identify the tone in his mentor's voice, Carlisle and him might have had some little arguments before, but he can tell something is different. He's not so naive to not know why he'd react that way. He also doesn't want to lie to him or insult his intelligence by making as if was nothing. It clearly is.」

I think you know.

「What is the point of hiding it now?」

[tongueamok]

[Carlisle's nose wrinkles, the glow of his eyes brighter in his agitation as his fingers curl against the arm of his chair.]

You cannot do it.

[puzzlingly]

Why?

「In return, Atem knits his brows.」

You said it yourself, anything is possible with this magic.

[tongueamok]

Within reason.

[Not that sealing demons isn't within reason, but—]

Is this about that demon? The one who walks among us? She is powerful, Atem, and the required energy alone to seal such a creature may be your undoing.

[puzzlingly]

「At least he gets it.」

You don't that. I've done this before! With demon much powerful that Caedra would ever dream to be! I just... I don't have the ways to do it here.

「And it was his undoing...」

I could make this work, Carlisle. You know it.

[tongueamok]

By yourself?

[He knows the answer to that, but he wants to hear Atem say it.]

[puzzlingly]

Yes.

「There is no way he'd put anyone else in danger, then and now.」

You don't have to help me if you don't want to but... You're the only one who can.

[tongueamok]

[Away his eyes go once more.]

I cannot.

[It is his duty to do so, but he knows it would be his end -- the end of both of them, potentially. Should the demon break out, should it backfire, should he drop dead in the middle of the enchantment, leaving behind a Revenant to dominate the will of his pupil—

He tries to swallow the knot in his throat, but finds it won't budge.]

I refuse. And I refuse to let you do this.

[puzzlingly]

「The response only seems to agitate Atem more, of course.」

You, you cannot hold me back. It's something I have to do. 「He shakes his head a little.」 That's the reason I'm here, if I can keep everyone safe...

「He brings the page out again, how is it that a wrinkled little piece of paper has all of his hopes in it?」

Carlisle, please... I cannot do it without you.

「It is very clear that he would have done it if he could.」

[tongueamok]

Then you will not do it at all.

[He swallows again, something catching in his throat as his energies, now riled by his temper, continue to cycle within his frame.]

Even if you were aiming to seal but a part of her powers, the risk would be too great for even the two of us. If we were to fail, he'd risk her coming after us, unleashing an even worse monster upon this place. And even if we were to succeed, there is no guarantee she [a stifled cough] could not be freed, or that we would be [and another] truly safe. There is no safety in this place.

[puzzlingly]

It doesn't have to know you were involved. 「It is his responsibility, he's made it his.」 I can do the rest, you know I can. I will not fail.

「He doesn't know that, no one does, but he's never given up, he's not gonna start now.」

This doesn't have to be a worse place than it already is.

[tongueamok]

It will know regardless. Activation of such a seal would take both of us, so unless you are planning to place a bag atop my head, I doubt I could [cough] hide my identity from it.

[He caves, his hand shaking as he takes his mug and sips from it, trying to soothe his throat. He returns his mug to the coffee table and leans back into his chair, hoping the enchantment will quell his temper.]

And that is assuming we could activate such a seal successfully, with all the inscriptions working without flaw.