[That... sounds right. That feels right. It certainly follows the piecemeal narrative Jamil has been reluctant to string together from his dreams, the memory of hearing Kalim sob, the feeling that something terrible will happen if Jamil lets him out of his sight.
Honestly, he doesn't want to know any more. What Five has already told him is enough, and what good would more details really do him? He understands the gist, confirmed now by more than one perspective. He's dead. He was murdered and now he's a fucking ghost and there's nothing he can do about that. He might get stronger, he might learn new ways to apply his alternate abilities, but nothing can change that this happened.
He floats in place there for a minute, staring at nothing, trying to process this. He can't quite manage it. It's too much to wrap his head around, but an eerie calmness does settle over him.]
...Thank you.
[For being honest. And even respectful, about this. It's more than Jamil would expect from Five, and more than he's offered in return, if he's being truthful. Not that he's sorry about it, but maybe he could afford to be a little more charitable going forward. If resentfully.
Jamil sighs and closes his eyes, wondering if he's about to regret this. Probably.]
I'm sure you've figured this out, but you didn't just faint that day we came back. I... don't know how I did it, but I somehow took over your body for a second.
[Well… At least Five got to enjoy a few moments of feeling some kind of peace about where he and Jamil have landed. He truly wants to convince him that things don’t have to be constantly unpleasant in the way they have been lately, and this feels like a good step towards establishing some kind of truce.
He was NOT ready for Jamil to hit him back with this reveal, though.
Five blinks a few times, letting that information wash over him. When Kalim had told him that he wanted Jamil to explain what happened himself, Five hadn’t expected to actually get that explanation. Like, ever... He might be more shocked by Jamil owning up to the deed than he is by the contents of the confession. Deep down, he thinks he already knew… Or at least, suspected.]
...I see.
[…]
Well I can’t say I’m exactly thrilled by the knowledge that you briefly turned me into a meat puppet... But I can also accept that it was an accident if you say it was. After all, my own record isn’t exactly spotless…
[He is kind of forcing himself to be calm about this.]
[Oh. Had he actually not known that? That's awkward. At least he doesn't seem that mad.]
Thank you for being so understanding.
[He's well aware Five is maybe having a stronger reaction than expected, but why pick a fight? Five is right: there's nothing to be gained by escalating tensions on purpose, no matter how satisfying it might feel. Allies are better than enemies. If Five would prefer to pretend this isn't a big deal, Jamil will happily meet him where he's at.]
...I suppose that gives us a clean slate, now? [Most conveniently for him...]
[Which he says cheerily enough, but it's also kind of in a tone that indicates Jamil best not push his luck. And that he'd best answer his follow-up question(s).]
What was that even like? You didn't... Read my mind or anything like that while you were in there, did you?
[Big relief there; he certainly doesn't need Jamil rooting around in his brain... He also chuckles a little, amused to hear his dino-soul still managed to make itself a nuisance.]
Mmm, yeah, that tracks, since it causes me trouble almost constantly... What exactly did it do?
Interesting... So not only was it causing you trouble, it was also causing me trouble at the same time by preventing your departure. It does have a tendency to be rather clingy, so I suppose that also tracks... It was a pack animal in life, after all.
[Always kind of interesting to hear other people's takes on his Natural Soul. And yeah, he is maybe privately praising it a little for giving Jamil a hard time, lol. Even if that did increase the amount of time he was possessed for... The thought is funny enough that he'll let it slide.]
[Jamil certainly doesn't find it as funny as Five, but unfortunately this is both of them trying to make nice, so it's his turn to swallow his annoyance for the benefit of diplomacy.]
Yes, well. Water under the bridge.
[Now if you'll excuse him, he's going to attempt to rattle some silverware out of frustration.]
All joking aside: even if they did end this by getting on each other's nerves a bit, it DOES feel like they're in a better standing now than they were before. At least, Five hopes.
But he can also tell that Jamil is pretty checked out, and that this conversation has probably run its course. Best not to overstay his welcome more than he already has.]
...Well then. I'll leave you to your business, shall I?
[He turns to the kitchen door, but pauses part way, looking back over his shoulder.]
I really did mean what I said, about lending a hand or a claw or what have you, to the cause of figuring this out. If you ever pick up on any leads that you'd rather not leave in Kalim's well-intentioned but often easily distractable hands... Do let me know.
It's unusual, in his estimation, for Five to be so insistent on lending a hand here. Maybe they have a truce, but they have no reason to like each other, either. Maybe Five's profession of sympathy truly is sincere, and in that case, Jamil will have to edit his mental profile of the guy--he truly had thought of Five as purely self-interested.
It's something he could maybe find a use for.]
...Perhaps I will, then.
[He mutters it to himself, long after Five leaves. like a dweeb]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Honestly, he doesn't want to know any more. What Five has already told him is enough, and what good would more details really do him? He understands the gist, confirmed now by more than one perspective. He's dead. He was murdered and now he's a fucking ghost and there's nothing he can do about that. He might get stronger, he might learn new ways to apply his alternate abilities, but nothing can change that this happened.
He floats in place there for a minute, staring at nothing, trying to process this. He can't quite manage it. It's too much to wrap his head around, but an eerie calmness does settle over him.]
...Thank you.
[For being honest. And even respectful, about this. It's more than Jamil would expect from Five, and more than he's offered in return, if he's being truthful. Not that he's sorry about it, but maybe he could afford to be a little more charitable going forward. If resentfully.
Jamil sighs and closes his eyes, wondering if he's about to regret this. Probably.]
I'm sure you've figured this out, but you didn't just faint that day we came back. I... don't know how I did it, but I somehow took over your body for a second.
[A beat. Deadpan:]
It was an accident.
no subject
He was NOT ready for Jamil to hit him back with this reveal, though.
Five blinks a few times, letting that information wash over him. When Kalim had told him that he wanted Jamil to explain what happened himself, Five hadn’t expected to actually get that explanation. Like, ever... He might be more shocked by Jamil owning up to the deed than he is by the contents of the confession. Deep down, he thinks he already knew… Or at least, suspected.]
...I see.
[…]
Well I can’t say I’m exactly thrilled by the knowledge that you briefly turned me into a meat puppet... But I can also accept that it was an accident if you say it was. After all, my own record isn’t exactly spotless…
[He is kind of forcing himself to be calm about this.]
no subject
Thank you for being so understanding.
[He's well aware Five is maybe having a stronger reaction than expected, but why pick a fight? Five is right: there's nothing to be gained by escalating tensions on purpose, no matter how satisfying it might feel. Allies are better than enemies. If Five would prefer to pretend this isn't a big deal, Jamil will happily meet him where he's at.]
...I suppose that gives us a clean slate, now? [Most conveniently for him...]
no subject
[Which he says cheerily enough, but it's also kind of in a tone that indicates Jamil best not push his luck. And that he'd best answer his follow-up question(s).]
What was that even like? You didn't... Read my mind or anything like that while you were in there, did you?
no subject
No.
[Thank God. Gross.]
You were completely unconscious, as far as I could tell. Though your Natural Soul did cause me some trouble...
no subject
Mmm, yeah, that tracks, since it causes me trouble almost constantly... What exactly did it do?
no subject
Actually, it wouldn't let me leave.
[He tried and everything.]
no subject
[Always kind of interesting to hear other people's takes on his Natural Soul. And yeah, he is maybe privately praising it a little for giving Jamil a hard time, lol. Even if that did increase the amount of time he was possessed for... The thought is funny enough that he'll let it slide.]
no subject
Yes, well. Water under the bridge.
[Now if you'll excuse him, he's going to attempt to rattle some silverware out of frustration.]
no subject
Indeed.
[So he's glad that's all settled.
All joking aside: even if they did end this by getting on each other's nerves a bit, it DOES feel like they're in a better standing now than they were before. At least, Five hopes.
But he can also tell that Jamil is pretty checked out, and that this conversation has probably run its course. Best not to overstay his welcome more than he already has.]
...Well then. I'll leave you to your business, shall I?
[He turns to the kitchen door, but pauses part way, looking back over his shoulder.]
I really did mean what I said, about lending a hand or a claw or what have you, to the cause of figuring this out. If you ever pick up on any leads that you'd rather not leave in Kalim's well-intentioned but often easily distractable hands... Do let me know.
🎀
It's unusual, in his estimation, for Five to be so insistent on lending a hand here. Maybe they have a truce, but they have no reason to like each other, either. Maybe Five's profession of sympathy truly is sincere, and in that case, Jamil will have to edit his mental profile of the guy--he truly had thought of Five as purely self-interested.
It's something he could maybe find a use for.]
...Perhaps I will, then.
[He mutters it to himself, long after Five leaves.
like a dweeb]