...have been efforts to get it through to other monsters that they should leave Ryou alone.
He killed in terrible ways, with traps and machines Amanda Young taught him how to make, to be a frightening presence, to show he and the people under his protection were too dangerous to mess with, because AM hurt Ryou in the dollhouse, and it showed Atem that the only way to be effective was through being the thing that generated horror.
He picked a fight with AM personally, giving up his last free life in the process, to try to ensure it wouldn't happen again.
He went through with broadcasting the recording of the Illumination Industries game, where Ryou committed murder on tape, destroying his own good name and several precious relationships in order to give Ryou a gift that would mean he could never be hurt without retribution -- that, still, was not enough to keep Ryou from undergoing torture that broke him further.
In retaliation for that torture, Atem became a true torturer himself. Not just someone who used machines and games with consequences, not just someone who trapped people in painful illusions -- a true, immediate, flesh-and-blood torturer.
And now...
....
Ryou is choosing to open himself up to retaliation, from people who are "rightfully upset."
Once again, what Atem has worked for...is being thrown away. And, if Atem moves to protect Ryou anyway, from further hurt, that will just break and break and break -- will that be the wrong move, for Ryou? For them?
He's stuck in a situation he can't turn good. Every choice is bad. He's helpless.
Atem opens his mouth, goes to reply, that it doesn't matter if those people are "rightfully upset," it doesn't mean they have the right to hurt him, and that he should fight back --
-- but, then, Ryou goes on.
Atem's eyes widen.
A lot of implications hit him at once.
I don't want you involved more than you need to be, for your sake. Ryou thinks he's weak. He is weak. Ryou isn't wrong, and that's worse.
I'm going to be upset, a lot. Those words aren't coming from a normal place. Ryou is going to hurt himself, and potentially hurt Atem, because of words and feelings he won't be able to control.
Ryou needs to be stronger. Ryou should go after this for himself.
But Ryou's decided that the price he's willing to pay is everything Atem's given up before now to protect him, his own life, and --
-- and, hurting Atem.
He doesn't like anything about this. He doesn't see a way out of it where anything is okay. He could argue, don't let them retaliate without a fight, or you're disrespecting everyone who's fought to protect you, but.....
....
....nothing he did was effective in protecting Ryou anyway. Not in a way that was good enough. What would be the point, in asking for it to be respected...?
His jaw sets.]
I understand.
I'm glad you want to be strong...I think this has a good chance of working. That it'll get you the powers you're looking for.
...and, I understand that you've considered the cost. Thank you, for warning me...about what's going to happen.
[It's not cold. It's not collected, either, not quite...but it's words chosen carefully, ones that obscure what's happening in his heart.]
cw torture mention in meta
...have been efforts to get it through to other monsters that they should leave Ryou alone.
He killed in terrible ways, with traps and machines Amanda Young taught him how to make, to be a frightening presence, to show he and the people under his protection were too dangerous to mess with, because AM hurt Ryou in the dollhouse, and it showed Atem that the only way to be effective was through being the thing that generated horror.
He picked a fight with AM personally, giving up his last free life in the process, to try to ensure it wouldn't happen again.
He went through with broadcasting the recording of the Illumination Industries game, where Ryou committed murder on tape, destroying his own good name and several precious relationships in order to give Ryou a gift that would mean he could never be hurt without retribution -- that, still, was not enough to keep Ryou from undergoing torture that broke him further.
In retaliation for that torture, Atem became a true torturer himself. Not just someone who used machines and games with consequences, not just someone who trapped people in painful illusions -- a true, immediate, flesh-and-blood torturer.
And now...
....
Ryou is choosing to open himself up to retaliation, from people who are "rightfully upset."
Once again, what Atem has worked for...is being thrown away. And, if Atem moves to protect Ryou anyway, from further hurt, that will just break and break and break -- will that be the wrong move, for Ryou? For them?
He's stuck in a situation he can't turn good. Every choice is bad. He's helpless.
Atem opens his mouth, goes to reply, that it doesn't matter if those people are "rightfully upset," it doesn't mean they have the right to hurt him, and that he should fight back --
-- but, then, Ryou goes on.
Atem's eyes widen.
A lot of implications hit him at once.
I don't want you involved more than you need to be, for your sake. Ryou thinks he's weak. He is weak. Ryou isn't wrong, and that's worse.
I'm going to be upset, a lot. Those words aren't coming from a normal place. Ryou is going to hurt himself, and potentially hurt Atem, because of words and feelings he won't be able to control.
Ryou needs to be stronger. Ryou should go after this for himself.
But Ryou's decided that the price he's willing to pay is everything Atem's given up before now to protect him, his own life, and --
-- and, hurting Atem.
He doesn't like anything about this. He doesn't see a way out of it where anything is okay. He could argue, don't let them retaliate without a fight, or you're disrespecting everyone who's fought to protect you, but.....
....
....nothing he did was effective in protecting Ryou anyway. Not in a way that was good enough. What would be the point, in asking for it to be respected...?
His jaw sets.]
I understand.
I'm glad you want to be strong...I think this has a good chance of working. That it'll get you the powers you're looking for.
...and, I understand that you've considered the cost. Thank you, for warning me...about what's going to happen.
[It's not cold. It's not collected, either, not quite...but it's words chosen carefully, ones that obscure what's happening in his heart.]