[Ryou doesn't expect that. He takes a moment to simply perceive the way that Atem's coils slowly slip over his leg, how the thinner part coils slightly around his ankle, and it kind of feels...strange. But not unwanted. It's like a hug, he thinks, and although Atem's snake body is a little cooler than Ryou's skin...the shade still feels warm.
But he's telling a story. He can't stop now. So he draws in a slow, shuddering breath that has him wincing because of how it stretches his upper body.]
Mmnh. This is where things become uncertain for me. Yugi's grandfather took me to the hospital, and I spent...some time there.
[Ryou Bakura and being injured go hand in hand no matter where he is.]
Then...I was at the meeting grounds for the semi-finalists of the tournament with a Duel Disk on my arm. I don't remember how I got there, but what I did know was that it was fine--it wasn't fine, though. But there was something in the back of my mind...t-telling me...
[His remaining hand clenches at the bedsheets between him and Atem, bunching them tightly as he thinks about how calm he felt. He looks down, staring hard at his own legs because this hurts. It hurts...knowing what it all was.]
...Something was telling me it was okay. This is where I'm supposed to be, don't worry about my arm. It doesn't hurt.
[He remembers how happy he looked, how happy he was for the chance to show his friends his deck, and even though he didn't know how he got all of his locator cards, it was irrelevant! It just was.
The way he speaks, the distant manner in which he slips into the present tense as he explains this to Atem now is reflexive. He's remembering being brainwashed and parroting those intrusive, calming thoughts that made it okay to be out of the hospital with blood streaming from underneath the bandages.]
...Everything I did when we got on the blimp past that, it felt like I was in a dream. My body wasn't moving without me, but I didn't feel like it was moving with me either. So I wasn't possessed by my spirit. He puts me to sleep. Marik didn't put me to sleep, he just dulled the nerves and made me happy and safe.
cw; brainwashing, possession
But he's telling a story. He can't stop now. So he draws in a slow, shuddering breath that has him wincing because of how it stretches his upper body.]
Mmnh. This is where things become uncertain for me. Yugi's grandfather took me to the hospital, and I spent...some time there.
[Ryou Bakura and being injured go hand in hand no matter where he is.]
Then...I was at the meeting grounds for the semi-finalists of the tournament with a Duel Disk on my arm. I don't remember how I got there, but what I did know was that it was fine--it wasn't fine, though. But there was something in the back of my mind...t-telling me...
[His remaining hand clenches at the bedsheets between him and Atem, bunching them tightly as he thinks about how calm he felt. He looks down, staring hard at his own legs because this hurts. It hurts...knowing what it all was.]
...Something was telling me it was okay. This is where I'm supposed to be, don't worry about my arm. It doesn't hurt.
[He remembers how happy he looked, how happy he was for the chance to show his friends his deck, and even though he didn't know how he got all of his locator cards, it was irrelevant! It just was.
The way he speaks, the distant manner in which he slips into the present tense as he explains this to Atem now is reflexive. He's remembering being brainwashed and parroting those intrusive, calming thoughts that made it okay to be out of the hospital with blood streaming from underneath the bandages.]
...Everything I did when we got on the blimp past that, it felt like I was in a dream. My body wasn't moving without me, but I didn't feel like it was moving with me either. So I wasn't possessed by my spirit. He puts me to sleep. Marik didn't put me to sleep, he just dulled the nerves and made me happy and safe.
[Compliant.
That probably sounds familiar.]