knifemonopoly | IC inbox

...do I? I just pay attention to who's good at what...if Nagito didn't have a prosthetic, I'd have no idea who to ask!

[The Hope's Peak people are extra specialized, which helps....but he spots Ryou feeling weird about it. Nope! No, none of that! The snakes follow Ryou falling and catching himself with their heads, but Atem doesn't comment. Instead:]

And we help each other, remember? You're coming to the disappearances graveyard with me, even though it's hard, because someone out there targeted a friend, and it's a bad idea to go alone until we know more! I asked you to do this...so, the least I can do is make moving around easier.

But, if you'd prefer not to go to Souda, and to wait for your leg to come back in another fog...I understand.

Maybe it's just because of what causes the nightmares. It's not a normal dream.

...H-heh, you sure do like napping with people, don't you? I didn't know that about you.

[It's not so much a taunt as an observation, at this point. Maybe it was just for Monster Bingo, but...it's alright if it isn't. It's cute if Atem likes to be around people like that. He's usually so goal-oriented...it's funny to see him share his rest with others.]

Don't worry about me...I'll be alright. I'm used to not sleeping that well, so I can tolerate it better.

[Well, not really. Not sleeping is what had gotten him in this mess in the first place, wasn't it? If he'd just been more awake, then he wouldn't have lost his balance.

But all the same. It's done, he can't undo it, and he'll eventually pass out into a dreamless unconsciousness when his sleep debt climbs too high. Then...the cycle resets.]

No! No, it's okay!

[Ryou huffs as the response makes him lose more height, then he extends two shadow tendrils from his back, using them to hold his left side up like a crutch as he gets back to his feet--foot. Whatever.]

It's alright, we can go. Don't mind me being stupid, I'm glad you pay attention to everyone's skills. In a place like this, it's invaluable. And of course it'll help in the long run, because I can't very well tolerate this whole month or longer without walking, can I?

[Can he? He doesn't want people to see him, having been perceived by Marik, Five, and the child...Chara? That was embarrassing enough. He's not sure if a prosthetic will make that better or worse. Alas...]

S-so thank you for the help. Even if you didn't have a friend who could help me though...I would have gone to the graveyard with you though.

[sdfjsht if Ryou's in that much danger of falling, Atem's going to reach a hand out for Ryou to grab onto, to help pull him up! Go on, take his hand, he promised he'd be there to be leaned on!

And, when Ryou's done speaking, Atem replies--]

I know.

[Hey, those snakes? Their pupils are big. Like, really big. The ones who can make it into line of sight of Ryou are all looking at Ryou with round, dark eyes, and they're bumping each other out of the way a little with their heads. So, that's happening.]

[(x) doubt, Ryou. Ryou might read that doubt in the way Atem shifts, where his muscles tense.

But he'll also read the moment Atem decides he's going to pick his battles here. Frankly, he suspects Ryou just wants him to stay, and is saying whatever he thinks is close enough to the truth to make that happen...

...luckily for him, Atem has no plans to leave.]

Noa's nice to nap with! He turns himself into a cat, and he kneads the blanket with his paws before he lies down...[which is CUTE.] I thought he'd mind being petted more, but he seems okay with people treating him like a cat.

His employees come into his office on their breaks to do just that, you know!

[He's not expecting this to matter deeply to Ryou. The tone Atem is taking is someone getting a little rambly before going to sleep...it's meant to be a topic that's not very serious, something else to think about, so that no one goes to sleep thinking about rifts and knives and how Atem knows what it feels like to take someone's arm off now, which lends a terrible realism to dreams where it's Yugi.

Nope. Gonna talk about cats. He's a cat person now.]

[Oh, they're going to talk about Ryou, now?

The way Atem's eyes flick up isn't an obvious tell, but all the cobras on his head, which have been low-key agitated over the damage to the cards and the fear for Yugi, stand up straight.

They totally talked. It's in the past, and Atem doesn't plan to make anything of it, but he totally knows. It takes a moment for calm to return, Atem's calm reply takes just a moment too long.]

It is. He's had to live with something terrible, in order to avoid something worse...that's a cruel feeding type. I wouldn't wish it on anyone!

[He's not going to say what living with it has done to Ryou, not until he knows how things stand between the two of them. But it's been hard, anyone who knows Ryou can tell that much.]

[Ryou does take Atem's hand, though there's a distinct pout on his face. He shouldn't be this weak this fast, they haven't even left the building! If anything though, the snakes provide a distraction.

They are super interested in Ryou, and he thinks it's adorable. Atem's mood ring hairsnakes really like him, and as far as he's concerned, that's nice. They're nice. He might actually miss having Atem's hair emote at him when he reverts.]

Your hair is...very excited.

[Shit did he say that out loud? Ryou, no.]

I mean! Uhh. Thank you for the hand up.

[He is just gonna...look at them a moment longer.

...Are they supposed to be walking? Yes. YES, let's walk. Or rather, Ryou's doing a little awkward shuffle hop while using his tendrils and Atem to steady himself.]

[Atem runs a hand through the snakes, trying to redirect them. There's a chorus of upset hissing.]

Ugh, I know they are...I can't do anything to stop them from staring. Not for long, anyway. They aren't very smart...or very polite!

[They are absolutely NOT walking to Insert Coin. They're hailing a cab. The ones that hang out by the casino are pretty brave...so Atem's able to wave one down.]

[ ...Shit. The Pharaoh's going to duel the Fog with their freedom on the line and he doesn't just have snair, he has mood snair? Marik had been counting on that man's poker face! Curse you, adorable little snakes!

...Maybe they don't know how to duel?

But anyway. Ryou. Marik nods. ]

He's overdue for something good to happen to him. I know....I haven't been that something. Ever.

[ This is not something he wanted to talk about with the Pharaoh so he is very glad he can address it in passing, on the way to a greater goal. ]

If he had someone making him happy, every day - that can't erase the pain. But, like you said. It's better to not be alone.

[ As he closes Ra's book, he gives it the slightest, subtlest caress. ]

[....dark eyebrows, which are probably the last human hair left on him, go up.

Oh. Oh boy. Oh, dear, that's...Atem is probably very well equipped to help with that, actually. He's. He has to, doesn't he?]

....if you feel that way, I'm afraid you've got a long way to go! What you did hurt him very badly. It'll take time. But he's a good guy, and pretty openminded...it's not hopeless!

[ Marik shakes his head. ] If he never wants to forgive me, I'll understand. Of course, I'd like to make amends - but that's selfishness.

[ HOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW IS THE PHARAOH SO BRILLIANT AND YET SO DENSE

LET US TRY ANOTHER APPROACH

His hand curls into a fist, his eyelids lower. He has to really sell this. It has to be convincing. He has to...well, he's not sure he's ever fully felt what it looks like Ryou and Atem are refusing to see they could have, but he conjures up the next best thing.

Rishid....Sister....he's trying. He's doing this...for you. ]

If he can just...build up as many good memories as possible, in a place like this....I think that'd be enough for me. Even if I'm not in them.

[ His lashes quiver, ever so slightly. ] There has to be someone who can be his light in the darkness.

[ before marik's own light goes out, motivate the pharaoh, break through the fog, before the darkness closes in again and he can no longer see--

.....SHOOT

HE THOUGHT TOO MUCH ABOUT HIS FAMILY

AND NOW HE HAS MADE HIMSELF SAD

HE IS TOO GOOD ]

[Wow, Marik's really got it bad, huh...

This is a little awkward. Atem knows Ryou likes him, and, he likes Ryou back a lot, but they shouldn't date, not at a time like this...but should Marik be dating Ryou instead? That feels like a recipe for disaster, but also, it's not Atem's call, it's Ryou's.

...

He'll just have to deal with how lonely that makes him feel. Because Marik gets it, right? As long as someone's making good memories, even if they're with Lila Zacharov and not you, that's okay, especially when it's for the best...

He puts a hand on Marik's shoulder.]

I understand. I had someone like that, too...but, if you wait for them to be happy with someone else...even if you're sincerely glad on their behalf, and you know it's for the best, it's a lonely feeling!

You should tell him how you feel. He might not take it the way you're hoping...but I don't think it'll hurt. He really is a good guy!

[ .... ]

......

[ ........ ]

..........

[ ............ ]

..............What?

They're living things too, they can have feelings!

[Your feelings, sir. Which is charming, even if Atem's feelings, while clearly of attachment, are very much not the feelings Ryou wishes they were. He's...still trying to deal with that okay.

He gets it. Atem doesn't have time for this. Ryou also isn't going to let it sour his mood, not today. He can be lonely later. For now, he just follows Atem's lead, and when the cab shows up...he looks at it...then at Atem.

Then back.

And then to Atem again.

He's curious. HE'S VERY CURIOUS...how all this noodle is going to work out.]

Go on, get in!

[He'll help, even! Ryou's gonna get settled first...and then...

And then Atem shrinks. His arms pull back into their sockets. The scales at his waist grow up his belly and back, sprouting like a wave, until they crest over his head--

--and a very big asp, but a very small naga, is looking at Ryou.

Delicately, he slithers into the backseat of the taxi, over Ryou's knees, into the seat on the far side. Most of him manages to curl up on the seat itself, but a little bit ends up on the cab floor. Being able to rear up to make space helps! The snake speaks.]

Insert Coin Arcade, please!

[He's being polite, since he knows this is weird, but any time Atem takes a cab from the arcade, he tips stupid well...so...the driver up front just pulls his cap down over his face and deals with it.]

[With all of the confidence of someone who can count on one hand the number of times they've felt anything remotely resembling doubt:]

You're telling me this because you like him, right?

[It takes some doing, but eventually Ryou's comfortably settled in the cab, and he's thankful enough to be seated on the right because then he can open the door with no problems--

...

...????

If Ryou was staring before, when the snakes were vying for his attention, then what he's affixed Atem with now is basically BOGGLING. 100% of that does not creep him out and in fact he's so, so super amazed at Atem shifting into a travel-sized but still pretty huge snake.

He says nothing the entire time Atem slithers over his knees. He continues to stare at the huge cobra that he's now sharing space with. And finally, after Atem gives the location, Ryou pulls the door closed and

...yeah. Yeah he's staring. He's STILL staring. It's not until they finally start rolling away that he finally finds the words.]

Y...you can just DO THAT?? H-haha, holy shit that's amazing.

[Wait. NO!]

A-ah, sorry, pardon my language!

[Ryou can feel the shift, and he has a distinct feeling he's said the wrong thing. But...since Atem doesn't argue the point, he decides not to either. Sometims it's best not to push your luck when you've already tried to self-sacrifice like 3 times in one interaction.]

I...yeah, he doesn't mind letting himself be a cat. I assumed he would be too proud once, before...b-before he...

[Ryou can't finish that sentence. He just can't. He misses Noa.]

...Anyway, the point is he let me pet him. I was trying to shake his hand and he put his head in it. It was...very endearing. He's pretty small for a manticore, wouldn't you say?

[Ryou tries to keep the conversation basic, just like Atem's doing. Both of them need to sleep. He won't hold up much longer himself.]

Do you think you'd want a cat? Petting one is pretty relaxing.

[The snake face is only so emotive, but there's a very distinct suggestion of a :> expression.]

It's the same as becoming an ordinary bat, when I was a vampire...didn't I ever show you that?

[Come to think of it, he's not sure he did!]

[A quick tightening of his arm, around Ryou's waist.]

He'll be back.

[Atem believes it. He misses Noa, too, and he's upset Noa threw himself in...but, now that he's had some time, Atem believes it. There's no way what Noa did would lead to him disappearing for good.

And he can think about Noa headbumping Ryou's hand instead of shaking it without feeling too bad. That's also cute.]

It is relaxing! But taking care of one in a place like this...it's easier to visit other people's cats. And other people, who are cats.

[He is already very attached to Poundmates, but it helps that Poundmates isn't his. Steve's protecting it already, as part of his job. Protecting his own cat would be all on Atem...he'd be less free to be away from home...which is why Big Sven does not already live with them.]

Edited (actually he's sleepy and less together than that) 2021-08-12 12:00 (UTC)

No, you didn't! I thought you'd just...poof into another animal, that is so much neater than I thought!

[See, this is the kind of content Ryou needs to deal with his problems; his friend transmogrifying from a naga to an actual cobra, travel-sized for your convenience.

Atem's lucky most of him is on Ryou's bad side, or else he'd have a shade smoothing his fingers down his scales.]

This whole naga thing is so interesting...not that you being a vampire wasn't, but to be quite frank with you, the whole second mouth thing was more jarring than some of your vampire traits.

[Oh good. Great. Now Ryou's been activated and Atem's trapped in a cab with him. Never mind the poor cabbie...seriously what's wrong with this guy?]

You really do like weird stuff...

[A talking snake is looking Ryou in the eye and saying this. Atem just turned himself into a snake and is teasing Ryou, very fondly, about being interested in the weird non-human-eating stuff that happens in Ryslig.]

...but I shouldn't be surprised. It makes sense, after the eye pillows you brought home, that you'd be fascinated by an extra mouth!

[His tongue flicks out to taste the air. He's comfortable and curious -- even though he's reared up, it's for space and ease-of-conversation reasons, not any kind of threat. Not being able to wear a sneatbelt, though, does mean he's got to actively work to keep his balance when they turn a corner, and not slide off the seat--he doesn't want to go on that floor--!]

[Ryou actually laughs at that, genuinely, though it does sound a bit stilted. He hopes laughing doesn't hurt forever...]

Heh, the pillows were your indication? Not the skulls, or the goblets? And anyway, it's your fault! You...you don't tell me not to do that, you just accept it! Maybe don't accept what I like, then I'll quit being weird!

[Ryou is clearly joking back, he doesn't mean it to be negative at all. Actually, that Atem accepts him as who he is has made it very easy for Ryou to come out of his shell about his interests in the weird and occult. It's...comfortable and good. He's never felt like he could be so earnest in his life. Monster World is easier to admit to.

Speaking of comfortable though...]

You know, you don't have to stay all bunched up and awkward over there. If you need support, you can use me.

[Seriously. Wind around him, he doesn't mind.

~~fellas is it gay to have your snakepal wrap around you for stability~~]

[ Marik keeps staring. Apparently confirmation he'd interpreted the Pharaoh's words correctly make things worse, not better.

His eyebrows twitch, and for a moment it looks like he might start to lose his temper - his cheeks even flush -

but then he's tempering it down, chuckling. Keep it together. Keep it together-

nope still twitching. ]

...I understand now. So that's the challenge.

[ A little forced keh. ] You're formidable indeed, my Pharaoh!

[ FORMIDABLY DENSE ]

That's all right, I--

[He's about to say he's got it, but then the cab brakes hard at a stoplight and he can feel himself start to slip and he doesn't have arms like this shit shit shit--!

It almost looks like he's going to strike. He's so quick to try to catch himself that he has to launch his top half over Ryou's lap to get to the arm. Once he gets his head and neck hooked around Ryou's remaining elbow, then he can hold the rest of himself up, and he does not slide onto the floor.

Whew. A little muffled, he says:]

...I'm not used to not having arms at all...

[Much more slowly, Atem's going to reposition himself, slithering up so more of his body crosses Ryou's legs and slips around his elbow and his head can hover around eye level, reared a foot or two back from Ryou's face.]

As long as you don't mind, I think I'll hold on like this the rest of the way!

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behold, the fabled "takahashi villain cut-in reaction panel"

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im making the eyeball throw pillows canon

they were gonna be a thing eventually lol

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WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, PLAYER1. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 10.11.0.0.01 * PLAYER1 has joined 10.11.0.0.01 <PLAYER1>** If you're looking for someone you knew as Yugi before June, you've found him! It's Atem, leave a message.