[Ryou looks at Atem with such a tired, lost look on his face. He's not going to let the naga's hand go. Even if Atem tried, Ryou would probably fight it weakly. That's what he wants--contact.

Telling the story was a bad idea, but it needed to be told, didn't it? Now Atem knew, and that uncertain part of Ryou's heart that was telling him he had no right to exact any kind of payback on Marik was...well, not entirely assuaged, but at least validated.]

I know you were going to anyway but...stay, please. Just...for a little while.

[He tenses a little, bracing himself a bit as he shifts his lower body in an attempt to slide down onto the bed properly. It's slow going, but he manages as best he can without using his upper body and therefore causing himself too much pain. He doesn't want to tower over Atem right now just by virtue of positioning and also being a shade. He wants to be on a level area with him.]

Mm...maybe we can do a word game. Kind of...ch-change the subject...

[...Yeah, that sounds stupid. What a great distraction, Ryou. Sure.]

Then again...maybe not.