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[Atem has ended up terribly entitled to being in Ryou's bedroom. He knocks on the door as a courtesy, to give Ryou the chance to tell him not to come in, but in the absence of a just a minute! he won't hesitate to step inside. There's something wrapped in cloth under one arm!

He spots the painting as he comes in.]

Ah...I was right! You're lucky we knew each other in the other world. Otherwise, I'd have no idea when your birthday actually was!

[The network post was a reminder, but Ryou hadn't been specific about the date on it. Atem had had to rely on what Adam knew to narrow the date down.]

Edited 2021-09-07 03:23 (UTC)

[Ryou hears the knock and decides not to say anything one way or the other because hey, look at that! There's his gift, walking right in. Plus honestly, Atem lived in his room lately. He is always permitted.

He doesn't bother to hide the painting either, so he's not surprised when Atem makes a comment on it. He sets down his paintbrush, then turns in his seat with a grin.]

Good morning to you as well. Thank you for remembering, it means a lot to me, even if it did come from a fabricated world!

[He definitely means it, he's happy that Atem was here and that he knew it was Ryou's birthday.

...Though, he looks to be holding something, and that definitely piques Ryou's curiosity. Surely he wouldn't have had time to get a present, would he? Nor should he need to.]

[A hand goes to Ryou's opposite shoulder, and a quick kiss is pressed to Ryou's temple! Easy, casual, comfortable.]

Here...I wanted you to have this, if you'd like it. If it's too tied up in bad memories, I understand! Don't feel obligated to keep it if you don't want to.

[He passes the cloth-wrapped bundle over to Ryou. It's pretty light!]

But, there were good memories, too...

[And from what he understands, Ryou likes creepy dolls. It is worth a shot, and it is much less creepy than keeping bits of shed snakeskin, thank you.]

[~~He has your eyecaps and some hairsnakes and you can pry them from his cold dead slenderfingers.~~

The kiss is welcome, it makes him feel giddy. He's still at that point in this whole situation where even the little things mean so much to him. And speaking of little things...]

Oh. It's for me?

[He takes the bundle, sets it down and opens it carefully.

...Ah. Ryou had gotten one of these, too. He's quiet for a moment, considering how he feels about it. He hadn't thrown his doll away--actually it was on a floating shelf above his bed. His was charred in several places, and he doesn't like looking at it.

But...Atem's is different. Because it does represent a happy memory.]

You're right. There were good memories there to combat the bad. I didn't like that place, being controlled, and punished for not complying. But if it's okay with you, then I would like to keep this. So I can remember how you asked me out through a Ouija Board. That was terribly romantic of you, after all, if a bit risky.

[He remembers what happened. He's not going to talk about what happened. Neither of them need that.]

Thank you, Atem. This is a very thoughtful gift.

[The tendril he had still kept extended reaches out, passing slowly across Atem's cheek since Ryou's hand is occupied at the moment.]

[Knowing what Atem knows about Ryou, he isn't sure there would have been a better way to ask out Ryou Bakura. He couldn't have orchestrated a better situation if he'd tried. So, he'll take it. A corner of his mouth pulls up when the shadow tendril brushes his cheek -- that's sweet.]

Then it's yours!

[He leans in and plants a brief but warm kiss on Ryou's mouth.]

Happy birthday. What would you like to do?

[He says, as if he didn't see Ryou crowdsourcing ideas from the network and read all of them that were public.]

[Brief as it is, Ryou leans into it like clockwork, and then he smiles. He can't stop the brief chuckle in the back of his throat either, he really hadn't expected a gift, and he hadn't thought much of his birthday, but hearing Atem wish him a happy one is a little giddying.]

Thank you! [He sets the doll on his desk with care, away from the paints and the still drying paper.] And, um. Well, I asked people for ideas, and although there was a general consensus for a party...I don't think I want to do that. It would have been short-notice, and I can't even bake a cake big enough to entertain right now.

[He lets out a huff. Cake would have been nice...but he at least bought a few sweets the day before. So it was okay, they just weren't homemade.]

...I did like the idea of watching horror movies, playing games, and maybe having a drink, though. Those were good ideas. If you have things to do though, I don't mind cutting out a little of that.

[He shakes his head!]

I've already done everything I need to do today.

[Which Ryou will find out about, when he opens the fridge. Ominous!]

Which do you want to do first? Games, or movies?

[So Atem's all his for the day? Very cool, extremely acceptable!]

Hmmm, depends on the game I suppose. And also whether you're in the mood for a meal.

[Which could mean anything honestly. Atem's switched back, and Ryou wants to make sure he's okay.

Ryou stands, then takes a moment to stretch before turning his attention back to Atem.]

But...I picked up a few sets of D6s a while back while I was looking for D10s, so how about a bit of Liar's Dice? That seems like we'll both enjoy it, and we can go from there.

[This is the closest thing to a break that hasn't been forced on him that Atem's taken in a while. Even this has called for a little bit of preparation -- there is something in the fridge besides blood bags, and there's a stack of horror films in the living room, all death traps have been put away and all investigations into murders and possible higher-profile victims are shelved. Atem's also carefully made sure he's not too hungry.

So, he doesn't indicate whether he needs a meal of either kind, not right away -- he gives a slight shrug when Ryou mentions it, as if to say there's nothing pressing.]

Liar's Dice?

[A grin creeps across Atem's face.]

Sounds like fun. I'm in!

[And, because he's him:]

Do you want to make a wager?

[Of course Atem would hone in on the game, and think about a wager. Ryou shakes his head, but it's with a fond look on his face rather than a disappointed one.]

You would want to spice it up, wouldn't you? Very well, we can make a wager.

[He moves to his small bookshelf and fetches a jar of assorted dice from next to a few unfinished figures--perhaps if Atem has a look, he'll recognize some of their friends! Specifically, Horatio, Yugi, Noa, and Celeste. The details aren't all sorted on the former and the latter, because he'll need to find somewhere with polymer clay for Horatio's antennae, and Celeste's tail needs making as well.

Ryou really does miss crafting...but if he's lucky, the fog will return what its taken.]

Did you have anything specific in mind? I'll leave the terms to you.

[Which is an amazing amount of trust to place in Atem's hands, isn't it? But hey. Ryou does trust him.]

[The little minis of their friends? Adorable. Stupid cute.]

Oh, nothing that isn't fun.

[This absolutely will not be a death game.]

I was thinking, one wish granted for each round won.

[Hey, about that trust? It is super mutual.]

[A wish. A wish. Look, Ryou's not even sure what he'd wish for if he even won but that is really charming and not at all as potentially heated as he expected. Which is fine! It's good, a nice primer for the day.]

H-heh. Alright then, one wish to the winner per round. I suppose we can't do it all day though, or else we'll run out of ideas.

[Maybe. Ryou kind of likes the thought of it though.

He moves to the door, walking with a surprising sense of balance. He'd gotten used to his new foot by now, to the point he doesn't stumble or limp nearly as much anymore.]

I think later on, we can probably work in a drinking game, yes? That's a very adult thing to do.

[No it's not. Pffh. He doesn't even feel like an adult, honestly. 20 feels like 19, feels like 18. He's still not sure what to do with himself.]

[A drinking game? Atem's fine with that. He knows his tolerance is not very good, so he may lose, but that's okay -- he'll bow out if it gets too much, accepting defeat when the cost of winning would be too high.

Also, he's not doing anything tomorrow, either. Fog's not due till the fourth, it's fine.]

I'm sure we can.

[He follows Ryou out, his hands in his pockets (having pants pockets again is something Atem's had to get used to, along with pants themselves, and feet, but being able to just take off his shoes when he comes in instead of a whole washing-up routine is very convenient) and his gait easy and casual. He's sure Ryou's missing limbs will be back soon, but that prosthetic really seems like it's made Ryou's life easier...]

[He hadn't expected to be helped by this so much, but...honestly he had to admit that despite the learning curve, and the lack of it during the duration of the dollhouse nonsense, it really had given him a bit more independence than he thought he could have.

His powers weren't acting up as much, he was using them as he needed, and yet he's grateful for Atem bringing him to Souda, for Souda doing this for him...

He'll have to find a way to thank the gargoyle somehow. But that's something for another day. Now it's his day to spend with Atem, and they're going to finally, finally have a day in playing games. Thank god for games...

He goes to the kitchen and fetches two plastic cups, then moves towards the sofa. It's nice having everything back in place, but he'll miss the blanket nest, just a bit. It was a good place to just relax...even if it does have a very specific use.]

So...what subset of rules shall we adhere to? Common hand? Or just the regular bid style?

[Yugi's not the only one who knows games. Dice games are in line with Ryou's interests, to an extent...though not half as much as board games.]

Common hand, I'd say.

[That's better for a game with only two players than the other kind of betting.]

If someone else turns up and wants to play, we can change the style, but if it's just us...

[The terms of the wager will change, too, if they end up with company today. The number of people he'll write blank checks for favors to is in the single digits.]

How flattering, that you'll play a different game with me than with someone else.

[Ryou grins, knowing very well that he's in an unusually privileged position now that they're this close to each other. He doesn't intend to take advantage of it, but if Atem's baking free benefits into the rules of the game, he won't say no either.

What would he wish for anyway, that Atem could give him?

...Several things come to mind, some innocent and others...not quite as much. But Ryou isn't the sort to act on saucy thoughts, so there's no problem there. He's well-behaved!

Once he's seated, he holds the dice jar between his thighs just long enough to unscrew the lid...then goes about picking out ten dice. He tries to create a set of five for each of them that have decent matching colors...but colors are pretty hard to come by in Ryslig, so it's just black dice for Atem, and white dice for him.

How boring.]

The dice around here are so ordinary, I really wish I could find good colored ones.

[Oh well. He drops the dice into their cups, then slides one over to Atem.]

Hmm...I suppose I shouldn't sit too close to you, because that just invites wandering eyes. Not that either one of us would cheat, but it's certainly hard to be secretive on either side that way.

[Ugh but he wants to be close to Atem though...]

Heh! It's important to pick the right game for the people you're playing with!

[Important when it's your friends! Important when it's your enemies! The game's got to fit!

Poor Ryou, though. Can't find colorful dice (Atem makes a mental note to keep an eye out), can't sit too close during a game that calls for secrets...

Atem can't do anything about the first one yet, but the second might have more possible solutions.]

But I'll agree to close my eyes if you do.

[It's only two players. They can shut their eyes when the other one checks the dice. Not too hard to do, and it means they can sit beside each other...]

Fair enough. Of course I trust you, and you'll definitely know if my eyes are open.

[Big glowing things that they are...]

Then, I suppose the only question left before we begin is...shall we play ones wild?

[You'd almost believe Ryou was confident in his position, since he does know the rules. As if he was the king of games. But actually, he's pretty sure he's going to lose every single round here. That's just realistic, in his mind.

Best to just set the rules and have a good time. He doesn't mind losing to Atem!]

[And, if Ryou beats him...Atem won't mind losing, either. Thanks to Riley -- thanks to Steve -- Atem knows how to lose with grace, to be happy for a winner who's a friend. He's not going in expecting to lose! But, if he does...it won't hurt.]

It's your birthday. Do you want ones wild?

[It'll make what's under the cups harder to read, from each other's bids. Atem settles on the couch beside Ryou, not quite close enough to touch but almost.]

[Ryou's mind immediately tries to figure out why they aren't closer, why aren't they leaning on each other--

...and then he realizes that's perhaps a little much for the start of the day, and a bit of color rises to his cheeks. Don't look at him, he's going through some feelings unprompted and unbidden.

Atem reminding him it's his choice since it's his birthday does not help because that's nice and Ryou likes being treated nicely! But after some thought, he comes to a decision.]

I think I do. It'll make the lies more difficult to discern, right?

[He smiles, then picks up his cup.]

I'm ready if you are.

[He catches that. Oh, Ryou's not being touched enough, is that it? That'll be another thing to fix later, but not yet. It's early...they're going to play the game first. Atem gives a nod! Aces wild it is.

He picks his own cup up, holds a hand over the open end, and gives it a good shake. No cheating! He makes no attempt to control the roll of the dice as he turns it over and slips his hand out just in time to set the cup face-down on the table. He'll time it with Ryou's, as close as he can, so the dice land around the same time.]

[Ryou gives his dice a good shake as well, and he's not the sort to do any kind of dice shenanigans, so it's all fair at the table. That was the Ring-Spirit's habit, not his.

His cup clacks down on the table almost exactly at the same time as Atem's. Good!

He's not sure why, but playing a game like this is kind of thrilling, isn't it? It's a game where you have to fool the other player for as long as you can. He's pretty sure that of the two of them, Atem's the better bluffer. Still...he's excited.]

Alright, I'll let you look at your dice first. Just let me know when I can open my eyes.

[And he closes them. The glowing is extinguished completely, for now.]

[Extremely easy to tell when Ryou's eyes are open or shut. Atem tilts his cup up, takes note of his dice - 1-3-2-4-6 - then sets it back down.

He touches Ryou gently on the arm.]

Your turn.

[And he'll shut his own eyes! No cheating.]

[Ryou opens his eyes, gives Atem a quick glance that's probably way more fond than it needs to be, and lasts a couple seconds longer than necessary at that...and then he turns his attention to his cup.

He lifts it up, glancing at his own roll. 2-2-5-6-5. It's not terrible! And now that they've both had a look, he bumps elbows with Atem gently to let him know that he's finished looking.]

You can call first.

[A smile. Go on, Atem. Let him see your play!]

[Atem doesn't look at Ryou, but that early pause --

He's looking, isn't he.

That's. He is astonished to find just how much he doesn't mind being looked at. Something about it makes him feel very...real? Very present? Of course Atem knows he still exists when his eyes are closed, he couldn't play this game if he didn't have object permanence -- but, as a vampire again, with silence where a heartbeat should be...it's strangely comforting to know for sure that someone on the outside is looking at him and confirming that Atem is here.

He spent a long time not being known! Being seen, specifically as himself, by someone else, who definitely likes looking at him in a romantic way, sends a curl of giddy warmth up through his dead heart.

His elbow's nudged, and he opens his eyes. Right, he was going to make a call...]

Three twos.

[He crosses his legs, folds his arms, and leans back against the couch....but in a way that shifts them closer, so their sides are touching here and there. It's not intended to be a distraction! It's not a play. Atem's just feeling affectionate, and recent events have him less hesitant about expressing that.]

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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cw undeath body horror and unreality but like, in a sweet way