Haha, Ryou wasn't...going to bring it up. But now that Atem has, those little pricks against his skin come back, and he feels as if his stomach is twisting itself in knots because he didn't want to address the hydra's words, ever. It isn't because he thinks Atem espoused those beliefs. No, he just saw what he saw, and like a good friend, he kept it inside and never really pushed Ryou that hard on it.
But...the hydra had drawn from Atem's thoughts and, to some degree, his rationale.
Ryou was a very quiet, very lonely person, and only here in Ryslig, with Atem's help, was he able to make friends. But just like back home, those weren't necessarily his friends, with his interests.
Ryou's quiet as he thinks of all this. But eventually, he glances at Atem and he's smiling but that's not a real smile, it's the sad rictus of a person who had no idea what to say here. The smile of someone who was barely stemming the tide of his own feelings.
Oh, he does talk though. He can't stop himself from letting the words spill out, even though he's not even sure what he's trying to accomplish.]
It's not your fault. You've been around me for long enough to pick up a few things about me. You've always been shrewd; it's what makes you so good at games.
[And it is a compliment, absolutely. But the way Ryou's shoulders are shaking...there's something more to it.]
The hydra was right because you were. But after all, I've lived alone for a long time. Before we even met, I had to live alone, because all of my tabletop friends were going into comas and whenever I met you all, the bonds forged were already so strong that trying to loop me in wasn't the same, was it? Or maybe it was, and I just felt that way.
B-but at least...um, you and Yugi are here. You're my friends! And I'm not angry at you for what the hydra said.
[So then...why does it sound like he's still overcompensating?]
I...I'm sorry. That was, um. Haha. It's a little dramatic.
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Haha, Ryou wasn't...going to bring it up. But now that Atem has, those little pricks against his skin come back, and he feels as if his stomach is twisting itself in knots because he didn't want to address the hydra's words, ever. It isn't because he thinks Atem espoused those beliefs. No, he just saw what he saw, and like a good friend, he kept it inside and never really pushed Ryou that hard on it.
But...the hydra had drawn from Atem's thoughts and, to some degree, his rationale.
Ryou was a very quiet, very lonely person, and only here in Ryslig, with Atem's help, was he able to make friends. But just like back home, those weren't necessarily his friends, with his interests.
Ryou's quiet as he thinks of all this. But eventually, he glances at Atem and he's smiling but that's not a real smile, it's the sad rictus of a person who had no idea what to say here. The smile of someone who was barely stemming the tide of his own feelings.
Oh, he does talk though. He can't stop himself from letting the words spill out, even though he's not even sure what he's trying to accomplish.]
It's not your fault. You've been around me for long enough to pick up a few things about me. You've always been shrewd; it's what makes you so good at games.
[And it is a compliment, absolutely. But the way Ryou's shoulders are shaking...there's something more to it.]
The hydra was right because you were. But after all, I've lived alone for a long time. Before we even met, I had to live alone, because all of my tabletop friends were going into comas and whenever I met you all, the bonds forged were already so strong that trying to loop me in wasn't the same, was it? Or maybe it was, and I just felt that way.
B-but at least...um, you and Yugi are here. You're my friends! And I'm not angry at you for what the hydra said.
[So then...why does it sound like he's still overcompensating?]
I...I'm sorry. That was, um. Haha. It's a little dramatic.