[ you know that tone of voice you pull when you are so utterly sure of yourself that it has never even occurred to you to have it occur to you that you might be full of it, atem? that one? are you familiar?

imagine that, but flat. self-explanatory. ]

I'm an everything expert.

[ Marik has somehow ended up the sassy gay frenemy.

But it's cool! It's fine! It's nothing he can't handle! Especially when he finally, FINALLY, maybe, broke through to this ridiculously bullheaded man! Did Marik's ancestors carve mighty statues of their Pharaohs out of stone to symbolize the object of which their rulers' heads were constructed?? Yet he was raised to serve this Pharaoh! Surely he can overcome this last obstacle and unite all the pieces of his plan -

fuel the Pharaoh with what he needs to awaken his powers -

save everyone from their terrible fate -

rejoin his family -

win his bet with Ryou Bakura, ensuring the boy's happiness and thus good graces -

even if this doesn't work (although it totally will), get to be able to point to Ryou and Atem at parties and say "I DID THAT" - ]

It...it has to be you, all right? For Ryslig, and for Ryou. Nothing's won by staying in darkness.

[ He wants this. He wants them together. He wants to see what kind of power that unleashes, he wants....he wants proof that...

that what he'd been told is still true, even though freedom has been yanked cruelly away from him at the last second....

What do you want, Marik Ishtar? Everything. ]

Only by seeking the light.