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[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)

Oh.

[Well, that's kind of...heavy. Yugi really was a magnetic attractor for trouble, huh? Which is a rich thought coming from Ryou "I'm keeping this Ring" Bakura, but alas.]

Then...it's understandable. That is to say...I wouldn't want to sacrifice anyone's soul, but if...if they made the choice themselves to break the seal, then you only did what you had to.

For Yugi's sake.

[He doesn't like the idea, but this Imori guy had brought it on himself. Yugi hadn't broken the seal. His soul...needed protecting. Ryou can understand that, and he likes that Atem is willing to protect his other self without question.]

...That means that you bet your soul too, doesn't it?

Yes.

[His soul was absolutely one of the terms of the wager. Atem stands by everything he did to Imori: no one made Imori break the seal, or try to become the guardian of darkness by winning the Millennium Puzzle. A soul had to go in that jar, and Atem had no intention of letting it be his own or Yugi's.

He knows feeding a soul to dragons might hit a little close to home for Ryou. He's glad Ryou understands the situation.]

I really don't understand it.

[It might have almost sounded like he was responding to Atem's thought process there, but actually, Ryou was shifting to a different line of thought.]

...Why are people back home like this? I give this place a great deal of grief for what I've had to do to survive, and what we go through, but Domino isn't a very safe place, is it? All of us have been hurt there, numerous times.

People like Imori exist in all scenarios. People with darkness in their heart exist, always. Like the guy you told me about--Ushio. A-all these people you had to make up penalty games for...they all come from Domino, don't they?

Is it the place, or is it who we are that attracts the darkness?

[He doesn't just mean him or Atem specifically. He means all of their friends too. His mind's just going over the situations, playing the ones he knows out and remembering all of the pain they'd all felt...

Then suddenly, he shakes his head.]

I'm sorry. maybe we shouldn't talk about this. It's too heavy, isn't it? We were having fun before.

It is heavy...

[But that's not said in a way where Atem sounds like he's complaining. He retreats a little, so that he can bump the top of his head under Ryou's jaw, then retreats a lot, so that he can place his chin on top of Ryou's head, settling right at the top, facing the same direction as Ryou. It's warm!]

...but that doesn't mean we can't talk about it! I've always thought it was that the world was full of people like that...people who didn't care who they hurt, as long as they came out on top. A lot of times, when Yugi was attacked, it was because those people thought he would be an easy target! There were exceptions, of course...Imori was actually after the power of darkness itself, so you could say he was drawn to us...but mostly, it was that they thought they could get away with anything, if they did it to someone like Yugi.

[He's not initially cognizant of it, but Ryou does lower his chin just a little, as if to meet Atem's movement with his own. Afterwards, he considers that perhaps it was a foolish show of affection--something he keeps doing way too much, when he knows it's not right.

But having Atem settle himself atop Ryou's head makes him reconsider. There's nothing strange about it. It's okay. Atem's doing it...so it's fine.]

Yugi...I feel so terribly for him, he's gone through so much. He has such a kind and powerful soul. I wish I had his strength. N-not that...I don't have my own kind of strength. You've shown me that, more than once. But Yugi has always been a kind, accepting person. He never deserved all the people who hurt him, and even though they did, he finds a way to forgive the transgressions of some...who probably don't deserve it.

[If Atem were capable of closing his eyes in this form, he would. He's content here. But he can't! So, he looks out the window, watching the arcade approach.]

He's very kind. But he gets angry, too...

I'd like to protect his kindness, if I can! But the anger might serve him better here. The kind of righteous fury that used to call me...when someone had been hurt, but he didn't have the power to make it right...

The best that you can do is to protect what you can. Preserving who we are at our core is the best we can do...because anything else is tainted by this place.

[It's awful to say, but Ryou knows it's true, and he's sure Atem does as well. They've done plenty of things they regret here. Now they just need to protect Yugi from suffering more than he needs to.]

...It looks like we're getting close. I would like to talk about Yugi later though...about what I can do to help him, too.

[He's a shade. He knows that his friendship with Yugi will become troublesome since they're opposing monster types...but he still wants to be a good friend.]

[There's a little snod (snake nod) against the top of Ryou's head.]

You're right...and, I think you'll be able to help in a way I can't.

[Because of shades' feeding type. Yugi believes Ryou is still the same person he always was, even though he's got to eat some souls so that he doesn't lose his mind and eat all the souls, so...having them talk...Atem thinks it will be helpful.

But they're almost there! The cab is pulling up outside the arcade, and Atem slithers down Ryou's shoulder, unwinding himself and getting ready to get out. Down the arm he goes!]

Edited 2021-08-18 19:00 (UTC)

[Ryou follows him out and that'll go places!

...After which point they head back out, presumably to call another taxi. Ryou's not quite sure how far out from the arcade their original destination is, but he trusts Atem's judgment in the matter.

He's pretty worn out already, but he definitely puts forth an effort to hide it. He did agree to come, and no detour was going to make him back out of that. Most especially not when Atem had gone through the trouble of trying to fix another of Ryou's problems.]

[He's already flagging one down, and Ryou's getting helped in, and this time, instead of trying to curl his travel form up on the seat, Atem proactively slithers across Ryou's knees, then loops back, and loops around Ryou's right arm, once, before pushing himself back up to eye level. Nice and anchored!

He directs the driver to an address near the edge of Bavan, then settles in.]

I know we're making this trip for a serious reason, but I've been meaning to show you this place for a while. There just wasn't time in July.

[Stay with him, buddy. This is the last leg of the trip out, and if Ryou ends up taking a dirt nap, all the better. He might be more rested for the trip home...and by then, Dr. Pierce will have finished the autopsy. Who's got no thumbs and is the king of time management, this guy.]

[Ryou's glad to be of assistance in balancing Atem during the taxi ride again, and it's kind of nice to feel like he's being hugged.

...You know, but around his arm. Look, he's probably the only one who perceives it as hugging, but that's alright. No one else here but him and Atem. No one trying to ascribe intentions to him...no one to tell him that he's definitely got it bad.

Damn, he's tired...but Atem's words grab his attention, and he glances over. It's very kind of his snake friend to keep at eye level. Vaguely, Ryou finds himself thinking about how nice it is to look Atem in the eye. He's such a tall creature that it's hard to look anyone face to face...

Wait. Atem said something. No, he has to focus.]

Hmm? I'm surprised. Normal people don't make it a goal to bring their friends to graveyards, you know.

[He smiles, raising an eyebrow.]

Have you grown bored of me already? I know you're terribly good at planning, but I didn't expect such a well thought out plan to dispose of your roommate.

[...They could both probably use the humor right now, perhaps.]

Ha ha! No -- never!

[Never bored! Never bored of Ryou!]

It's the opposite! You make it easy to accept your weird interests...it's a good thing when you're around the things you like, Ryou.

[He does mean the specific "you" here. Ryou Bakura, specifically, should be surrounded as many skull stickers and black candles and Ouija boards as he wants. Bury him in weird throw pillows.]

Actually, your enthusiasm makes it easier for me to figure out what I like, too.

[Ryou's style...it's been a jumping-off point for his own, and it's less overwhelming than looking at everything you can possibly put into an apartment all at once and telling yourself to develop individual, specific aesthetic taste outside the utilitarian all at once. He can look at what Ryou does and think yes, I like it or no, I don't.

And even the things he doesn't personally agree on, like the eyeball pillows, help too. Having them out makes Atem feel like he's free to bring in things that are just for himself. Besides, he doesn't have enough of a problem with them to move them. Looking at them makes him feel very fond of his heartbreakingly gorgeous, secret horror fan roommate.]

...if my intentions really were to eliminate you, you'd never know. You'd probably be convinced you were just about to strike it rich!

Edited 2021-08-21 15:08 (UTC)

W-well, I'm glad I can help! Even if you don't like what I do, if it leads you to the path of something you enjoy, then I'm happy to be of assistance.

[And he smiles, of course, because Atem's saying nice things to him and after having been poked and prodded--all in the name of something helpful and good, of course!--he finds the encouragement to be particularly soothing.]

But...you better not get comfortable, or the next time you turn around, I'll have a pentagram painted on the ceiling in red paint.

[Yes. Red "paint".

No but really he wouldn't do that to Clint. That'd be rude, he's already slapped a hole in the wall with his big stupid fog form tail. But more to the point...what Atem had just said sounded vaguely threatening. Little bit threatening?]

Hmm...well, I'd say I'm pretty happy if you're bringing me somewhere I like. So are you absolutely certain you've no plans?

[He's smirking like a proper smartass as he says that. He knows Atem's just saying that, but look, he'd rather be taken out by a particularly clever, possibly painless situation as opposed to whatever else Ryslig has to throw at them.]

[The snake's posture deflates a little. He'd....sort of had plans, a little bit, for this graveyard. But now that Steve's died...it's not about that, anymore. It can't be. Steve...probably suffered...

...

Get it together. Worrying about that won't do any good right now. What's done is done, don't waste time reviewing last round's score, worry about the round you're on.]

Only to get you to relax. That's all!

[He says, like the biggest snypocrite in the world.]

[Oh no sir. He sees you.

Ryou knows that Atem's using his arm for stability...but he's not wrapped around Ryou's fingers, so it's fine if the shade runs a hand over the coils settled in his lap, right? Just a gentle, long stroke like he's getting a feel for Atem's scales.

Time to distract. It's okay if he changes the subject, because for all Atem knows, he's just attentionless because of his medication, right? That's not the case for this situation, but it's a reasonable thing to believe!]

You know...

I think I would like to see you feed. Just once, before you change back. Do you think there'll be time for it? I always assumed that nagas just ate prey whole.

I'm sure there will be. I'm going to try to get a meal before the mid-month fog comes in! I timed it badly, in June...I ended up having to bite you, in my fog form...

[It had been terrible, his fangs had been even bigger than usual...it was so much worse than a normal bite.]

I won't let it get that bad again! So, in a few days, I can show you.

[He thinks about warning Ryou that it's pretty gross.

He decides against it, figuring it won't matter.]

It's hard to know what to expect at any given time when it comes to this place. And you were busy helping people, so...it's understandable, Atem.

And I don't blame you for doing it. I offered my blood to you.

[And he's fairly certain he'd do it again if he had to, even if the bite had hurt at first. Ryou just dealt poorly with pain. Though...this particular set of injuries was acclimating him to chronic pain.

...Probably not a good thing. But he's starting to grow accustomed and therefore hardened to it.]

Anyway...I do look forward to it. Eating people...it's not something I like to think about, but in the most academic sense, um. Feeding methods do interests me.

[They're getting close to the graveyard! A mist hangs over it, though not a magic one. Just your usual run-of-the-mill spooky graveyard fog, from night air cooling faster than damp warm gravedirt.]

You'd really have done okay here, changing like this, if you didn't have to feed on people, wouldn't you? Everything else about it...you just think it's interesting.

[This isn't judgmental in the least. He likes this about Ryou! Ryou likes monsters? Ryou thinks this stuff is cool? It's a god damned tragedy Ryou's been forced to kill instead of allowed to live his horror dreams. The tone is understanding, and interested.]

[Spooky graveyard fog has definitely got Ryou's attention! Yeah, this is so cool! It's like a horror movie, you know someone's gonna die here and add to the body count. It's inevitable. Don't mind him, he's just going to all but press his face against the cab window.

...Though what Atem says to him does grab his attention. How could it not? It's true. He smiles, but it's not an entirely happy one.]

It is interesting. I wouldn't have minded being a shade, I suppose, if I could just eat normal food. But, um. It's really difficult. I'm sure all monsters feel their hunger differently, but for me, it's so terrible when that emptiness hits. It's all-encompassing, like it's eating me up. Knowing that I have to destroy someone, not just kill them, in order to sate that void...it's very difficult.

[He runs his fingers over Atem's coils again, slowly. Feeling out the scales individually.]

This body killed enough people before it changed. At least with those, as hard as it was, it wasn't really me doing the killing. Eating souls to stop the hunger? That is me.

It is! But...

[Atem leans in. He winds himself around the back of Ryou's neck; possibly tickling, but not meaning to. What he means to do is, one, provide touch that keeps Ryou in the moment, and two, comfort.

The top of his little snake head presses up against the underside of Ryou's jaw.]

If you waited until it got bad, and you lost control...then, it wouldn't exactly be "you," either, right? You wouldn't make the decision to kill...because nothing that makes you you would be there. It'd just be a monster, without any direction or guidance.

You're preventing that damage. Every time you choose to eat a soul, you're doing something that's very hard, in order to keep a worse eventuality in check. Not everybody does! It never should have been asked of you...but it's working. It's an admirable thing, to do your best to hold a monster back, even when it's hard.

[Even if Ryou doesn't always do a perfect job, he's doing his best. He doesn't just leave it until he loses control when the fog comes, like Atem suspects might be happening to a friend of his...

He presses his head harder for a moment against Ryou's jaw, then lets up. A snug (snake hug). It really is unfair that Ryou has been asked to do this, forced to make that kind of decision.]

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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TELL ME meme but it's ryou being a baby

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jump to after prosthetic measuring & head to graveyard?

yeah i'm good with that!

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cw; discussions of murder

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