[ It takes a few days before Valmont's emotionally ready to confront what happened last week. Turning into a child would have been embarrassing enough. Turning into a child with a child's mind and memories? Yeah, a few days and a not-insignificant amount of drinking, now that's he's once again legal. God, he's never touching anything they serve at the Ware Wolf Shop again, deliciousness be damned.
But finally, today, here he is: staring at his communication device, one finger poised over the name he's been trying to make himself dial. He really isn't the type for apologizing, ever, but Mr. Nakajima is one of the closest things he has to an ally in this blasted world. For that to be the last impression the man has of him... He doesn't think he could live with it. Besides, he's going to have to talk to him sometime if he wants more tea recommendations, so he sighs and stabs his finger down. Here goes. ]
I believe I may have caused you some... inconvenience... several days ago.
[When he gets the call, Atsushi is in the middle of grading papers. It's Valmont, so it's probably not a booty call, meaning he feels comfortable picking it up while he works.]
Not at all. But it's good to see you back to your usual self.
[ So he does remember. Not that it was particularly likely he'd forget, but hope springs eternal - until it's dashed, anyway. Valmont drags a hand down his face, a fresh burst of memory coming into his mind. Play with me - This is stupid - I don't care - Leave me alone! ]
How can you be so calm?! I was an absolute nightmare!
[ Implying a lot of implications with that past tense there, V. ]
[ Thank you for putting him out of his misery, Atsushi. Valmont acknowledges the acceptance of his apology with a nod and a muffled, possibly grateful noise, but Atsushi's mention of Manuela gets him to look up through his fingers. ]
You know her, then? Well, "wise" is certainly one word for it. "Insufferable" is another.
[ And yet he keeps on suffering her, for some reason. ]
I - I do mean that in the most positive sense, of course. We're friends too, of a sort.
[ He backtracks hastily, though not without a stab of annoyance. What, now he has to be nice about people when they're not even here? He misses the days when he was rich enough not to have to care. ]
Eccentric, that's it, that's the word. She's certainly a woman of culture, though, and I have at the very least enjoyed our time together.
[ Even if it does tend to leave him with confusing and conflicting feelings about himself, but that's just the tsundere sub life. ]
Do you mind telling me more about this academy of yours? I'm afraid I haven't had much of a chance to discuss it with the woman herself.
[ Since he still doesn't have a job here, maybe he ought to look into taking a class or two. It can be hard to fill the days without heists to plan and artifacts to appropriate. ]
It's a small school open to Prismals and Moonblessed alike. I teach languages and literature, but we have classes on everything from combat to music. Classes are on flexible schedules to be able to work around Moonblessings of students and teachers, and to cover whatever level of instruction someone might need.
[He's teaching some people the basics of reading, for example, and without judgment as to their level of knowledge for their age.]
Well, that sounds a good deal more appealing than the state school in which I was forcibly placed during my... rejuvenation. I daresay I shall have to pay it a visit.
[ He does like the sound of those combat classes. It wouldn't be a bad thing to sharpen his skills once in a while. ]
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video, post-Iris
But finally, today, here he is: staring at his communication device, one finger poised over the name he's been trying to make himself dial. He really isn't the type for apologizing, ever, but Mr. Nakajima is one of the closest things he has to an ally in this blasted world. For that to be the last impression the man has of him... He doesn't think he could live with it. Besides, he's going to have to talk to him sometime if he wants more tea recommendations, so he sighs and stabs his finger down. Here goes. ]
I believe I may have caused you some... inconvenience... several days ago.
Re: video, post-Iris
Not at all. But it's good to see you back to your usual self.
[For Valmont's sake, not his own.]
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How can you be so calm?! I was an absolute nightmare!
[ Implying a lot of implications with that past tense there, V. ]
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[Yes, he was a bit of a brat, but that's just the behavior he can expect from children of that age.]
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Don't - don't remind me.
[ Yeah, no, he's still not emotionally ready to handle this topic. He may never be. But there's not going to be a better time to try. ]
Look. Manuela would have it that this is the sort of thing I... make reparations for. So consider this an apo- an apolnngh-
[ It's kind of pathetic how hard he's struggling against his pride just to get that one word out. But he is trying. Give him that. ]
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[It's close enough, he won't make Valmont struggle anymore.]
Manuela is a wise woman. I'm sure whatever advice you received from her is sound.
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You know her, then? Well, "wise" is certainly one word for it. "Insufferable" is another.
[ And yet he keeps on suffering her, for some reason. ]
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[Funny how Atsushi is more annoyed at Valmont than he was before the apology...]
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[ He backtracks hastily, though not without a stab of annoyance. What, now he has to be nice about people when they're not even here? He misses the days when he was rich enough not to have to care. ]
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I'm glad to hear that. She's a good friend to have, even if she can be a little eccentric.
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Eccentric, that's it, that's the word. She's certainly a woman of culture, though, and I have at the very least enjoyed our time together.
[ Even if it does tend to leave him with confusing and conflicting feelings about himself, but that's just the tsundere sub life. ]
Do you mind telling me more about this academy of yours? I'm afraid I haven't had much of a chance to discuss it with the woman herself.
[ Since he still doesn't have a job here, maybe he ought to look into taking a class or two. It can be hard to fill the days without heists to plan and artifacts to appropriate. ]
no subject
It's a small school open to Prismals and Moonblessed alike. I teach languages and literature, but we have classes on everything from combat to music. Classes are on flexible schedules to be able to work around Moonblessings of students and teachers, and to cover whatever level of instruction someone might need.
[He's teaching some people the basics of reading, for example, and without judgment as to their level of knowledge for their age.]
no subject
[ He does like the sound of those combat classes. It wouldn't be a bad thing to sharpen his skills once in a while. ]
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[And they're just as interesting as the combat courses, he thinks...!]