[Atem's words cascade over Ryou like a cooling river, easing the agony and pushing back the shadows. Not Ryou's physical shadows, no. The ones beckoning at the corners of his mind, trying to wrap around and pull him back into that self-loathing.
He's grounded by Atem's hand on his shoulder, and he has to fight not to cry again when he realizes how stupid he's being, to really try and convince himself that Atem could ever hate him for something like this.
But what hits home the hardest is the apology. Atem apologizes for what happened and that sympathy is a balm on a wound that had remained raw for so long, much longer than it had any business being. But Ryou has a tendency to pick at his wounds, opening them up fresh before they can scar over. He hadn't sat down and told this story to anyone like this. Not even the Ring-Spirit.]
You don't know...how much it means to me to have you understand. I've been so afraid to admit what I've done, the weight I carry in my heart for those who I hurt, because I've spent so long afraid that maybe Javert was right that there was a beast in me waiting to be set free. But...that isn't me. It was out of my control, and were I to have agency, I'd never have chosen that path.
[He doesn't care that he's pulled down a little--only a little, he's still shrunken a bit--to compensate for their height difference. He lets Atem pull him down and in fact returns the hug, almost fiercely. His hair flows over his friend's shoulders, soft and almost wisplike, due to the semi-solid state of his shadows.
But...although he's being comforted, Ryou hears something there that he needs to address. Sure, they've already addressed it, but he doesn't care. So when Atem repeats Ryou's analogy back at him, the shade's grip tightens for a moment. A firm squeeze.]
You didn't choose that path for yourself either, with the parasite. So remember the evils of this world and make sure to put your pieces back just the same. You're stronger than me, motivated and self-assured. I know you won't make that same mistake, Atem.
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He's grounded by Atem's hand on his shoulder, and he has to fight not to cry again when he realizes how stupid he's being, to really try and convince himself that Atem could ever hate him for something like this.
But what hits home the hardest is the apology. Atem apologizes for what happened and that sympathy is a balm on a wound that had remained raw for so long, much longer than it had any business being. But Ryou has a tendency to pick at his wounds, opening them up fresh before they can scar over. He hadn't sat down and told this story to anyone like this. Not even the Ring-Spirit.]
You don't know...how much it means to me to have you understand. I've been so afraid to admit what I've done, the weight I carry in my heart for those who I hurt, because I've spent so long afraid that maybe Javert was right that there was a beast in me waiting to be set free. But...that isn't me. It was out of my control, and were I to have agency, I'd never have chosen that path.
[He doesn't care that he's pulled down a little--only a little, he's still shrunken a bit--to compensate for their height difference. He lets Atem pull him down and in fact returns the hug, almost fiercely. His hair flows over his friend's shoulders, soft and almost wisplike, due to the semi-solid state of his shadows.
But...although he's being comforted, Ryou hears something there that he needs to address. Sure, they've already addressed it, but he doesn't care. So when Atem repeats Ryou's analogy back at him, the shade's grip tightens for a moment. A firm squeeze.]
You didn't choose that path for yourself either, with the parasite. So remember the evils of this world and make sure to put your pieces back just the same. You're stronger than me, motivated and self-assured. I know you won't make that same mistake, Atem.