knifemonopoly | IC inbox

Go on, get in!

[He'll help, even! Ryou's gonna get settled first...and then...

And then Atem shrinks. His arms pull back into their sockets. The scales at his waist grow up his belly and back, sprouting like a wave, until they crest over his head--

--and a very big asp, but a very small naga, is looking at Ryou.

Delicately, he slithers into the backseat of the taxi, over Ryou's knees, into the seat on the far side. Most of him manages to curl up on the seat itself, but a little bit ends up on the cab floor. Being able to rear up to make space helps! The snake speaks.]

Insert Coin Arcade, please!

[He's being polite, since he knows this is weird, but any time Atem takes a cab from the arcade, he tips stupid well...so...the driver up front just pulls his cap down over his face and deals with it.]

[It takes some doing, but eventually Ryou's comfortably settled in the cab, and he's thankful enough to be seated on the right because then he can open the door with no problems--

...

...????

If Ryou was staring before, when the snakes were vying for his attention, then what he's affixed Atem with now is basically BOGGLING. 100% of that does not creep him out and in fact he's so, so super amazed at Atem shifting into a travel-sized but still pretty huge snake.

He says nothing the entire time Atem slithers over his knees. He continues to stare at the huge cobra that he's now sharing space with. And finally, after Atem gives the location, Ryou pulls the door closed and

...yeah. Yeah he's staring. He's STILL staring. It's not until they finally start rolling away that he finally finds the words.]

Y...you can just DO THAT?? H-haha, holy shit that's amazing.

[Wait. NO!]

A-ah, sorry, pardon my language!

[The snake face is only so emotive, but there's a very distinct suggestion of a :> expression.]

It's the same as becoming an ordinary bat, when I was a vampire...didn't I ever show you that?

[Come to think of it, he's not sure he did!]

No, you didn't! I thought you'd just...poof into another animal, that is so much neater than I thought!

[See, this is the kind of content Ryou needs to deal with his problems; his friend transmogrifying from a naga to an actual cobra, travel-sized for your convenience.

Atem's lucky most of him is on Ryou's bad side, or else he'd have a shade smoothing his fingers down his scales.]

This whole naga thing is so interesting...not that you being a vampire wasn't, but to be quite frank with you, the whole second mouth thing was more jarring than some of your vampire traits.

[Oh good. Great. Now Ryou's been activated and Atem's trapped in a cab with him. Never mind the poor cabbie...seriously what's wrong with this guy?]

You really do like weird stuff...

[A talking snake is looking Ryou in the eye and saying this. Atem just turned himself into a snake and is teasing Ryou, very fondly, about being interested in the weird non-human-eating stuff that happens in Ryslig.]

...but I shouldn't be surprised. It makes sense, after the eye pillows you brought home, that you'd be fascinated by an extra mouth!

[His tongue flicks out to taste the air. He's comfortable and curious -- even though he's reared up, it's for space and ease-of-conversation reasons, not any kind of threat. Not being able to wear a sneatbelt, though, does mean he's got to actively work to keep his balance when they turn a corner, and not slide off the seat--he doesn't want to go on that floor--!]

[Ryou actually laughs at that, genuinely, though it does sound a bit stilted. He hopes laughing doesn't hurt forever...]

Heh, the pillows were your indication? Not the skulls, or the goblets? And anyway, it's your fault! You...you don't tell me not to do that, you just accept it! Maybe don't accept what I like, then I'll quit being weird!

[Ryou is clearly joking back, he doesn't mean it to be negative at all. Actually, that Atem accepts him as who he is has made it very easy for Ryou to come out of his shell about his interests in the weird and occult. It's...comfortable and good. He's never felt like he could be so earnest in his life. Monster World is easier to admit to.

Speaking of comfortable though...]

You know, you don't have to stay all bunched up and awkward over there. If you need support, you can use me.

[Seriously. Wind around him, he doesn't mind.

~~fellas is it gay to have your snakepal wrap around you for stability~~]

That's all right, I--

[He's about to say he's got it, but then the cab brakes hard at a stoplight and he can feel himself start to slip and he doesn't have arms like this shit shit shit--!

It almost looks like he's going to strike. He's so quick to try to catch himself that he has to launch his top half over Ryou's lap to get to the arm. Once he gets his head and neck hooked around Ryou's remaining elbow, then he can hold the rest of himself up, and he does not slide onto the floor.

Whew. A little muffled, he says:]

...I'm not used to not having arms at all...

[Much more slowly, Atem's going to reposition himself, slithering up so more of his body crosses Ryou's legs and slips around his elbow and his head can hover around eye level, reared a foot or two back from Ryou's face.]

As long as you don't mind, I think I'll hold on like this the rest of the way!

[Although he had offered himself as a support beam, Ryou is still pretty surprised when a big ol' cobra launches at him. The general instinct of knowing that a snake that big and venomous could cause a lot of damage makes him stiffen at first, until he reminds himself properly that Atem is the snake, and that he's in no danger of being bit.

The sensation of Atem's scales wrapping around his arm and slowly passing across his lap is definitely...something. He even shudders a little. Look, Atem's a little cool to the touch at this point, it's not Ryou's fault! But other than that, it's fine, it's cool.

He's just looking a big-ass cobra in the eye. And the cobra is his friend.]

N-no problem, I offered. [He smiles, of course.] I think you need a bit of a bask, you're pretty cool. Should we get you a heat rock?

[Again, very much joking. Ryou's been leaning heavily on humor to deal with his problems, sorry.]

[He is a little cool, actually. More of his body follows, looping a coil or two over Ryou's knees as he talks -- as he returns the joke.]

It'll have to be shaped like a skull. Otherwise, it won't match...

Well then we may have to special order it to be large enough for all of this.

[Seriously how long are you like this Atem?

And then...suddenly a thought occurs to him and he snorts. Super attractive, right? But look sometimes you have a funny thought and you can't help it!]

...W-what if you just...went into the skull through one eye and came out the other? That would be like something out of a Halloween-themed haunted house. Or even better, just slither out of the mouth.

[Creepy. Spooky.

...This poor cabbie needs a good tip.]

Heh heh! Anyone who broke into our apartment while I was basking would be in for a surprise...you could say it was bone-chilling, if it weren't meant to do the opposite!

[Spooky.]

[Ryou tries to grab at Atem's suspended body and pull him down in rebellion. No you have lost face-to-face privileges, sir. He's smiling but you still deserve to be punished!]

You can't just say that! That is a terrible pun!

[Then why are you smiling Ryou?]

Ah--!

[Atem's pulled downwards, eyes wide (they're always wide but extra wide now) in surprise.

Oh.

Oh no he doesn't. Atem pushes himself up, fully intending to slide right up through Ryou's closed hand, since there's nothing to hold onto and he's basically a long tube. Once he's gotten enough of himself through, Atem will throw the upper two or three feet of his body around Ryou's shoulders, going behind his neck and sticking his face out the other side, sticking under Ryou's jaw.

This happens very fast. Nagas are quick!]

Yes, I can.

[Rude. Ryou can feel the scales slide through his fingers but he's not about to grip tighter, that could hurt Atem, surely! But hey, wait a minute, wait!]

Hhhgh!!

[Ryou can feel Atem coil around his shoulders like some kind of living boa, and the sensation of scales against the back of his neck has him do a full body wriggle because hsdfhskj it tickles! He normally has hair covering the back of his neck! And then Atem has the snaudacity to camp under Ryou's jaw like the absolute sassy bastard he is!]

You...you're incorrigible!

You don't mind, do you? Heh heh.

[Said snaudaciously. He's perfectly aware that he's being a shit, it's the playful variant on the self confidence he draws on to walk into places strangers don't want him in and convince them to wager their lives.

It's just being used to plant himself around Ryou's shoulders, this time.

Oops, this is the relationship Ryou has found himself in. Any roommate regrets yet? Maybe you moved in too fast...]

[Ryou pouts. You can't even see him pouting can you even be satisfied at your work, Atem.]

Of course I don't mind. I offered, didn't I? The issue in question was your terrible use of puns. B-but now I have you where I want you, don't I? Now you can't go flying off the seat!

[J...just as planned? Ryou doesn't even sound convinced at all. It's very much just posturing because if he just keeps running the joke then Atem won't look at him and see his pouting, flustered face, right? Probably.

Here's a fun fact--one of them being a snake doesn't really make this any less weird. It just means Atem feels comfortable enough around Ryou to wrap around him like ribbon.]

[What are you talking about, this is definitely less weird! Atem does not have a face or arms, he is an animal! That means none of this handling is weird.

(They're not going to talk about what it felt like to slither his entire self through Ryou's hand.)

Ryou blushing just makes his neck warmer. That's very nice, actually. Still in that playful tone, but with a touch of laziness creeping into his voice:]

Yes, I suppose that means you have the upper hand...

[Unconcerned. More of him moves onto Ryou's knees.]

Mmm, if "bone-chilling" bothers you, maybe I shouldn't tell you about the names I gave some of the penalty games, in Domino...

[what's wrong with puns, Ryou, giving things names with double-meanings is a clever and highbrow form of humor!!]

[Nothing is actually wrong with puns, Ryou's just being petulant because it's a good joke and he didn't think of it first.

He's in too deep now, he can't admit defeat.]

Oh no...what kind of names did you give your penalty games? Now you have to tell me.

[He's surprised how very much of Atem is still slithering along his legs. It's kind of funny, actually...Atem really didn't lose half as much length as he had mass in the transformation.]

[Good, because his penalty game names are clever! ...some of the time!]

I admit, they weren't all winners...but some of them were pretty good!

[More of him slithers over Ryou's shoulders, so that he can warm more of himself, but also so that they can talk face to snace again.]

I'm not sure I should just tell you, though. I'm vulnerable in this form, you know! If you decide I've committed a terrible pun offense and deserve to be held down as punishment, there won't be anything I can do about that!

[Besides slither through hands again and that's not being discussed.]

[Okay. Okay. Ryou doesn't want to hear that. He needs to know what Atem's penalty game names are, and the very thought that information might be withheld at this point makes him pout harder.

Maybe once he no longer needs to take painkillers to deal with healing wounds, his brain will clear enough to realize that he's being extremely childish. For now though...filter off, no thoughts only very adult whining.]

No, you can't do that! You have to say it, that's not fair. Tell me!

[He even makes sure his hand is open, completely disarming him from doing what he'd done before.]

I promise I won't grab you again. Come on, Atem, please tell me.

[A snake-y head tilt, like he's considering.]

You really want to know?

[Open hand: good. Painkillers Ryou asking about his old games: also good.]

[He huffs, because now Atem's milking it. But he can't very well walk it back, his curiosity's been awoken. That's usually dangerous for everyone.]

Yessss. I wasn't there!

Tell me!

[This is going to be so embarrassing later...]

Well...all right!

Most of them were pretty straightforward. "Mosaic Illusion," "Mind Crush," "Illusion of Avarice"...but "Beat Festival" was pretty good. And there was a television producer who tried to cheat Jounouchi in a game show...when I made him reveal his true nature in front of the cameras and the studio audience, I called that one "Mind on Air."

[The game itself hadn't been particularly inspired, but man, the penalty game name had. That one was good. It's a shame it made the ZTV studio go bankrupt, though, and Jounouchi wasn't actually able to collect the winnings...Atem feels a little bad about that!

A little quieter, an aside:]

...then, there was the guy whose soul was fed to 25 dragons...I really couldn't come up with anything good there...

[Finally! Ryou's expression slowly shifts to one of complete interest. He doesn't really give away what he thinks of the names yet, he's just listening! But...he thinks they're all pretty neat. Maybe he needs more context for some of them, but the ones he gets an explanation on are fine...surprisingly.]

Mind on Air is pretty good! You have to explain the other ones though, like Beat Festival. It sounds like an interesting story.

[A pause.]

Wait, you fed someone's soul to 25 dragons? And...you didn't know what to go with? H-heh, if you don't know, always go with alliteration. Feeding Frenzy, or, um...Death by Dragon.

...Actually no, not that one. That's bad.

But also in what situation would you feed someone's soul to 25 dragons?

[Maybe he will! Maybe he'll explain, if he's asked again, but first, he's been asked to address why a soul should be fed to 25 dragons. Because, on the one hand, there's the natural disasters that would have come, if a game hadn't been played at all, but that was what Yugi had been playing for. The stakes for Atem had been different.]

To keep the dragons from devouring Yugi's soul, instead!

There was a game called "Dragon Cards"...a classmate of Yugi's, Imori, brought it to the game shop one day. Grandpa told him it was very old, and very powerful...and that he must not break the seal on that game, no matter what! If he did, then the negative energy of the dragons would send the world out of balance. He needn't have bothered, though. Imori already knew...and he knew the only way to replace the seal would be to play a shadow game. The loser's soul would go to the dragons...

Edited (tagging awake) 2021-08-15 12:39 (UTC)

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, PLAYER1. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 10.11.0.0.01 * PLAYER1 has joined 10.11.0.0.01 <PLAYER1>** If you're looking for someone you knew as Yugi before June, you've found him! It's Atem, leave a message.

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im making the eyeball throw pillows canon

they were gonna be a thing eventually lol

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TELL ME meme but it's ryou being a baby

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