[Open]

[note_atem]

Who: Atem and Open
What: Atem is silently reflecting on some things while walking around the island. You're welcome (and encouraged) to come bug him.
When: Late afternoon\early evening Saturday Night
Where: The mall, around the park, just walking about
Warnings: None yet? Depends on who shows I guess. Will update if necessary

Comments

[candiedwings]

Nill had been watching Atem, following him from a great distance. She was still a bit shy around him and she didn't want to rouse him from his thoughts; watching him was enough, to see how he acted by himself. This may be creepy for people to do, but Nill didn't really realize how odd it was because of how odd she was herself.

It was really amazing, how many things she learned by peeping on people, even if it was a bit of a nasty habit. Slowly, she almost crept up behind Atem and touched his arm softly, to let him know she was there.

[note_atem]

Atem might have been more aware of his surroundings had he not been so in his head. He usually was. It didn't do well to leave yourself so vulnerable, especially not on this island. The touch shocked him because he hadn't been paying attention.

He jerked slightly, moving to face her- thinking maybe somebody was approaching with vicious intent. But upon seeing her he eased back a little, dropped his jitters. "Ah, hello, Nill." He hadn't seen her for a while he recalled.

"How are you?"

[candiedwings]

Nill jumped slightly at how abrupt he was when he turned to face her, but tried to shrug it off. She smiled up at him, mouthing the words "Good". As she studied his face, she realized his eyes were telling different stories than they had been when he first met her.

She pointed to him, tilting her head in question as he smile fell, becoming more of a pout.

[note_atem]

He returned that smile when he understood what she was saying. Good was.. good. He hadn't seen her in a while, he'd actually thought maybe she'd been sent home. It was common. But it was nice to see that she'd been doing well on her own.

Though the point at him felt like she was accusing him of something. For a moment he was entertaining the idea of acting like he had no idea what she meant. But it passed. A shake of his head. "What? Nothing's wrong." He did know what she meant, but that didn't mean he had to answer it. "What about you? Where have you been? I haven't seen you around in a while." Changing the subject felt like a good thing to do.

[candiedwings]

She was concerned, but she didn't want to press him on the subject. If he didn't want to talk about it, that was fine with her. She outstretched her arms, motioning to around the two of them. She'd been out and about around the island, but she almost felt bad about following Atem, considering he wanted to change the subject back to her again.

She took a deep breath, took out her LP and typed a few words before showing it to Atem.

"Are you okay?" she was nervous about asking him, but she really was worried.

[note_atem]

He couldn't help the soft smile at what she was implying. Around. Vague but.. it would do. She didn't seem to be hurt, so that was good, too. In fact she seemed just fine, which was great. One less to worry about. Not that it would stop him. It never did.

The typing on the LP caused him to bring his arms up to cross over his chest. He'd wait patiently. But the question..

"I'm alright." A defensive and quick answer. He felt bad for going about it that way. So his eyes lowered, and he added a secondary- "I've just had a lot on my mind lately, is all."

[candiedwings]

Nill flinched slightly at his abrupt answer; though he covered it up well, it was quite defensive. She hated that. She hated knowing that she couldn't do anything about it, whatever it was. She just wanted to help but even then it was hard for her. Atem was very protective of his emotions, and she respected that, but still....

A slight smile made it's way across her face as an idea popped into her head. She did what she could do.

She embraced him, wrapping her thin arms around his waist. All she was thinking was it's okay. over and over and over as she was sure that maybe he would hear her, even if it was impossible.

[note_atem]

He always somehow managed to find himself feeling lost and locked up whenever someone did this to him. No matter how long he'd had an actual body now, and no matter how many friends he'd made that were the touchy-feely physical sort of person to do this.. It just always left him feeling less than.

Just as if he didn't have the right response. And his personal space was something of great importance to him. But it had already been breached, and he locked up awkwardly. But he knew what it meant. She was trying to assure him, he could understand that at least. Now. Before he might have been quick to just push her gently away.

As it was, and there was a long moment of awkward shifting from him, he finally reached around to give her a soft pat on the back. A sort-of reciprocation. It was the best he could do anyway. "Thank you." For her message. He was just sorry he wasn't better at receiving it.

[candiedwings]

Nill pulled back, looking slightly dejected. She knew he wasn't the best with physical contact since the last time she touched him, but it was all she knew how to do. The whole LP-talking-through-text-thing was a bit of a nuisance, for her and for other people because they had to wait longer.

She let out a small squeak, a partial sigh. She knew there was nothing that she could do.

But maybe there was? Nill reached up and cupped his cheeks, a familiar gesture. Though it was still ... going over his personal space bubble, it was a more meaningful for touch than a hug. At least she thought so. She really was worried, and she would love it if he told her something, anything.

[note_atem]

Those hands on his face, those eyes staring back at him so deeply as if his soul was large print- easily read. They'd been down this road before. He remembered, the first time they'd met. Almost fitting that their second meeting should follow the pattern so easily.

But it wasn't, was it? She was looking for something. Was this going beyond reassurance? He sometimes found it hard to believe people could take an interest. He'd been alone too long sometimes to remember what that was like.

"....do you ever wonder if you've made the right decisions?" The question slipped from him as he stood there, straight backed but shoulders eased, as if she'd cast a spell over him. She might as well have. Somehow her silence was reassuring and grating all the same- and none of it was her personal fault. He knew that.

[candiedwings]

Nill let out a small breath she hadn't realized she had been holding. She nodded with a soft smile. It was okay, he really was a good person. She respected him greatly, all she wanted from him was his friendship -- and to know if he was okay. She loved and cared for her friends, always.

If she could speak, she would tell him that whatever decision that he had made may not have been the right decision, but it was done, and there would be no use regretting anything.

Instead, she smiled more, pulling him down to her height and pressing her forehead against his, looking straight into his eyes.

[note_atem]

There were so many things that plagued him constantly. A lot of it was his past, decisions that were made, choices that could have been different, paths not taken. Some of it was too close to even let go of- the constant fear that he was never enough. That he always was a minute too late. That he wouldn't be able to protect those he cared about

[candiedwings]

Nill relaxed, seeing his smile made everything she had been trying to do worth while, because something finally worked. She loved being able to help, if only a little bit.

She pulled away, smiling back and nodding. This was wonderful, it really was. She mouthed "You're welcome", her wings fluttering slightly because of how happy she was. This was definitely an accomplishment for her, especially seeing his smile, which was beautiful. She loved it when people smiled.

She tilted her head, though, still watching him, wondering if there was anything else.