diatu | [OPEN] The light that seemed to disappear

Who: Eleven and OPEN
Where: First District/Academy
When: September 3rd-ish
What: El has returned from his world, a bit disoriented by a mix of somewhat obscure visions/dreams, multiple sets of memories, and general time shenanigans.
Warnings: None.. at the moment, I think.

His feet hit the ground, and Eleven landed in a crouch. He held the stilled position for several moments, eyes focused on the shadows spread over the dirt a short distance from his fingertips. Then just as swiftly whirled on the person stepping up behind him. A civilian, he noted belatedly, and dropped his sword with an apology.

The newly forged Sword of Light gleamed in the afternoon sun. He rubbed his eyes and glanced up to clear blue skies above. Sunlight so bright that it seemed impossible. A spread of foreign scenery slowly resolved into distant familiarity.

Not Hotto, but Noa.

A world full of life, not yet fallen to darkness. A world ambivalent to the title of Luminary. Overlapping visions of two very different, yet puzzling dreams.

He'd regained his companions only to lose them again, but traded them for cross-dimensional friendships.

Hendrik. Yotsuyu. Isabel. Lea. Tenn. Isa. Kuja. Atem. A number of others.

Yet his feet hesitated to return, found himself caught between a strong desire to stay, and the compulsion telling him he should go. Mysteries and memories held him captive, conflicting, weighted, and scattering his focus.

He stayed.

It took a few days to feel ready enough.

When Eleven finally returned to Anastara, it was with a practiced smile: patient and friendly yet at odds with purposeful strides and drawn shoulders. He passed through the First District and into the Academy grounds with a polite nod to everyone he made eye contact with.

Nothing seemed terribly different from what he last remembered of the place. The people he thought he knew still recognized him.

"Has it really only been a few days..?"

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"Nice work, Horus!" Atem congratulated his metallic falcon as it concluded it's return flight, by landing on his extended arm. He had sense enough to protect his limb from the bird's sharp talons by wrapping a bit of sturdy cloth about it. With his free hand he reached up to affectionately stroke his familiar's head. It had been a fairly uneventful month save for searching for a missing puzzle piece, and a few recent disappearances. The latter was disconcerting, especially since one of the missing persons happened to be a friend of his. After he learned of Eleven's absence, he'd made sure to keep an eye out for the other as he combed Anastara for the Millennium Idol's missing piece.

Neither of which had turned up yet. It was only now- when he was taking a little recreational break with Horus that he caught sight of Eleven entering the school grounds.

Eyes widening in surprise he exclaimed. "You're back!" After encouraging Horus to move to his shoulder, Atem walked over to intercept Eleven who looked no worse for wear... at least from his initial observations. "Does it feel like it's been more..?" Not really answering the question originally posed. "Where have you been?"

Eleven tipped his head with a short grin. For all he felt out of place here, there was something pleasant about being greeted with such enthusiasm. For just being himself, no less.

Atem, yes, he remembered. That hair was near-impossible to forget. Excepting the time spent in his own world, where he had forgotten.

"My world- for a number of months, actually. Is everything all right?"

Atem wasn't sure what he was expecting but as he drew nearer he couldn't help looking over Eleven again in search of any signs of wear and tear. If any medical attention was needed he would see to it that word was sent immediately. The grin however interrupted his visual inspection.

The style was one that he shared with Yugi- with some variation. That aside it was very unique. Amnesia was actually something he had some experience with should the subject come up.

"A number of months!" Unable to hold in that exclamation. "No wonder you posed the initial question." With a shake of his head. "That's incredible. Oh... yes... everything is fine here. Nothing that couldn't be handled between classes and thieving rodents." He didn't seem to want to focus on the school however. "What about you? How are you feeling?"

"I.."

Eleven shifted in place, beginning to frown.

"Odd," he settled on finally. "I remember.. many things. In separate times and dimensions. Odd dreams and memories I shouldn't have seen. It took me awhile to sort through them when I came back, but they still feel a bit.. unreal."

The subject seemed to be a troubling one, so maybe Atem's concerns were not so misplaced after all. It was just the scars he was looking for were more emotional than physical.

"Mm..." Nodding, and not pushing it, allowing Eleven to continue when he felt like he could. "It sounds very disorienting," He sympathized. "Maybe... you'd like to sit down somewhere before discussing it further? Or get a drink?" Ideally something soothing.

A drink. Now there was an idea. A bit of a dangerous one, if he had his way. But certainly, he could use a bit of company.

"Yes.. that sounds nice. If you aren't busy."

"Not currently, no. Besides I'm sure I could clear my schedule for a friend if I was." Reinforcing that with a smile.

"Did you want to get something in the cafeteria or perhaps one of the local establishments? It can be on me."

It was such a kind off that some of his unease melted from his shoulders. HE had such wonderful friends in both worlds. In that at least, he was very fortunate.

"Thank you. There's a nice place in the First District, if I'm remembering right."

"Mm, you are." A little concerned that Eleven had to question it. If he really had experienced the passage of months in his own world then some things would fade.

:Think nothing of it. Shall we be off?"

He nodded and turned to lead the way as much as his gradually returning memories allowed. There were a few near missteps in the wrong direction, but the sight of the building helped a great deal once he'd wandered into the general area.

"Sorry," he said for the delay just outside the door. "A lot happened. After you?"

It did seem as if Eleven was having some difficulty in finding the place, but Atem stayed silent about it. It didn't really matter how long it took them to get there, but he was tempted to take over the lead so his friend would feel less self conscious about the fuzzy memories.

"No harm done." He tried to assure the other, before stepping inside. "If... it makes any difference, you are handling this much better than I did the last time my memories were tested." It wasn't hard to secure a table once they were inside. "... A few of our fellow students are aware of this but there was a time where I couldn't even remember who I was, much less where any of the local hangouts were."

"I have a feeling, given a little time everything will come back to you with clarity."

Eleven settled after him with a frown.

"That sounds terrible. Are you-"

He turned his attention to the server and ordered something alcoholic. He didn't feel like he was handling anything particularly well, and softening the edges of his memories sounded best.

"You're all right now, though?"

Atem kept his attention on Eleven until he trailed off. Then he also ended up ordering something alcoholic for himself. Once there orders had been taken he could focus more on what had almost been said.

"It was for a great purpose- so I can accept it for what it was."

Though he answered very casually about the whole thing, the amnesia had been troubling to him for a considerable amount of time.

"Oh yes, once I fulfilled my destiny my memories were restored. That happened long before I was brought here." Conveniently leaving out that said completion had also meant crossing over into the afterlife. Honestly he wasn't sure who he'd told about it before. Of course Yugi and Kaiba knew... then there was Yotsuyu... didn't Webby also know? Still, it didn't seem proper to bring up death just now, especially if he'd never told Eleven about it before. His outward appearance of calm could be masking inner turmoil or confusion, he didn't need anything else to weigh on his mind.

Destiny.

Eleven's heart dropped, sympathy coloring his gaze. "I'm glad they were returned to you, and that you were able to fulfill your destiny."

He paused, fidgeting a moment. "..Do you like it here?"

[OPEN] The light that seemed to disappear

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