knifemonopoly | IC inbox

Oh...

[Ryou frowns, setting the Gameboy aside and crossing his arms. It's less of a haughty look and more of an anxious one.]

I didn't like that fog...it seems like a bad sign that it's here now. But it's best not to worry about it right at the moment, I think.

[He slides off the couch, landing to his feet at a diminutive height and walking to Atem, taking hold of his hand. He doesn't care if Atem's dirty or not.]

You do deserve a bath, if you've really been up to all that. It's kind of you to help everyone in their time of need! Go on, and I'll make something to drink for afterwards.

[Or he will certainly try, at least...]

That's kind of you.

[He grips Ryou's furred hand with his green one, drawing reassurance from the touch.

....but, it's strange for Ryou to be so small....]

When I'm clean...we'll talk more. I want to know about your new form...but I don't want to get blood in your fur!

[But it's kind of hard to fully let go of Ryou's hand. His grip loosens, but won't fully let go unless Ryou does, as he makes his first steps toward the bathroom.]

[Ohh...Ryou would very much like to keep holding Atem's hand. Part of his mind is on a very odd track, actually, where he'd like to tell Atem that if he'd gotten Ryou's fur bloody, then the solution would simply be to bathe together.

...

But he's not going to say that. Seriously, what a thought!]

Don't worry, we'll have plenty of time to talk about it. I...h-haha. I would like to figure some stuff out with you around. That's when it's safest.

[His furred fingers pass across the undersides of Atem's and curl for a moment, reluctant to break contact...but when their fingers slip apart, he doesn't fight it. He's going to go make some tea, darn it!

He's in the mood for tea, so that's what he goes about making.

It, uh.

It takes him a minute to figure out how to do it in the easiest manner. His first instinct is to hop up to find what he needs, because hopping is extremely easy! It's also kind of loud, so Atem might hear his padless feet thumping the floor, even from the bathroom.

Eventually he decides to pull a chair over, moving it as needed so that he doesn't end up spilling something. The funny side-effect of having the ears he does is that when he's focused, they stand up at attention and add at least a foot and a half of height. They really are very big!

By the time Atem's finished with his bath, Ryou's successfully made tea, and put everything away, even the chair. Which...probably might beg the question of how such a small pooka managed to get everything in order and set at the table.

As for Ryou, he's squatting near the couch and giving Tybolt scritches. Tybolt...seems a little confused, but not overly alarmed. This smells like Tall Dad, but a baby lion with a selective and fleeting memory can hardly be expected to understand why his dads are always changing!

He's also probably decided that he shouldn't pounce on the bunny for now. The bunny is providing scritches and therefore deserves to remain undisturbed.]

[What happens first is a shower. Running water, to get the worst of it off of him and down the drain, so he's not sitting in murder girl bathwater while he's trying to get the blood-smell and the murder out of his head and into the past. That's when he gets clean: scrubs himself down, all of the grime, all of the dirt, all of the lingering traces of the worse Fog, all of them wash off with some soap.

That done, he draws a bath to actually relax in.

He hears Ryou stop moving around, hears what sounds like tea being poured -- and, while leaning on the side of the bathtub, his head resting on his arms, he calls, already sounding better, already more relaxed:]

You should bring it in here!

[Shameless.]

[The next thing Atem will hear is a laugh, because Ryou is absolutely amused by the absolute audacity! But, he's also rather inclined to allow this shamelessness, and so after a final scratch under Tybolt's chin, he shuffles about in the kitchen looking for a tray--because they totally have one. They're not savages! He then piles all of the tea and tea accessories onto it, and carefully carries it to the bathroom.

There's a gentle clatter as he sets the tray down, then reaches to open the door.

Damn. He's so short, this is so weird...even the tray feels entirely oversized. But monster strength allows for him not to fumble it as he picks up the tray once more, then walks in.

Ryou pads right up to the tub, then sits with his legs folded neatly beneath him and sets the tray down for a final time.]

Your wish is my command, my king.

[It sounds very sassy.

Listen.

You deserve it, buddy.]

Does the pharaoh wish for any additives to his drink?

[Because Ryou brought milk and sugar. He might be teasing, but he's doing so while prepared, thanks very much!]

[Oh, there's that pooka mischief.

This is going to be fun. Atem leaves his petally head resting on his green arms, gazing up at Ryou from the side of the bathtub, grinning.

He shakes his head, choosing to play back as the straight man.]

I'm sure it's perfect the way you've made it. No, I don't want anything --

[...well, that's not entirely true. Playfully:]

-- unless you want to get in with me, and drink it here! That is, if it wouldn't be too much trouble to dry your fur, after...

[He doesn't actually want to inconvenience Ryou. But, the truth is, Ryou will more than fit; this bathtub can hold only one naga at a time, but it can easily fit a short nymph and a shorter pooka.]

[Oh. Oh?

You want him in the bath?

(get out of his head)

Ryou's tail gives him away by twitching and lashing from side to side in excitement. But to his credit, he doesn't rise to the bait immediately. Instead, he takes hold of one of the cups, then stands to hand it to Atem.]

Well, that's very polite of you, to be worried about my fur...but the fact is, I have much less fur like this than any of my other forms. I suppose it'd be alright, if that's what you'd like.

[He says it airily, waiting for Atem to take the cup before he does anything further.]

[He waves a hand airily, accepting the cup of tea regally.

(what's ryou planning. a month ago this might have ended with Ryou crawling into the bath, just happy to be close, but now, there's something else, something coming that Atem can't predict as easily, and he loves it)]

I'd be a terrible king if I kept the luxury of drinking tea in a bath all to myself...if it's alright if your fur gets wet, then you should definitely join me!

Hmm...well, if that's what the pharaoh wants.

[Then, that means Ryou has to take said pharaoh's shirt off. It's pretty big on him, falling to his mid-thigh, so he has to reach down and hook his thumbs pretty low before tugging it up and over his head.

He does it slow, specifically to be garner a reaction...and Atem will get his first look of Ryou's markings as he does this. The fur is an off-white from top to bottom, slightly lighter than his hair color, with the facial marking that touches most of his lower face and goes up the bridge of his nose being the only pure white coloration.

He might be small, but he's well-proportioned for his size, save for the hilariously large feet.

His next logical move might, in fact, be to grab a cup of tea for himself. But Ryou doesn't do that. Instead, once he's pulled the shirt up and over his head, he tosses it aside and with little warning, springs up and jumps into the tub.

It is wildly inappropriate, and water gets everywhere. Atem has a few seconds to compose himself before Ryou surfaces, letting out a huff through his pink nose, then reaching back to scratch inside one massive ear.]

Ah...that feels weird.

[Ryou.

Ryou?!?!

You just hopped into a bathtub and probably showered you boyfriend with fog priest bathwater?!?! HELLO??]

Edited 2022-09-08 04:24 (UTC)

[Atem realizes what's about to happen just in time to cover his cup of tea with his hand!

Water splashes everywhere, dripping off the petals that make up his hair -- and, when Ryou surfaces, Atem's laughing.

(He was totally looking a moment ago, when the shirt was being pulled off. You got him!)]

Ah...a pooka prank already...I see!

No, no! It's...

...It was, wasn't it? I'm sorry! I didn't mean to do something like that, is your tea okay??

[Pooka prank?? Oh no...is he going to be like this all month? Had he chosen poorly? Atem might be laughing, but maybe Ryou should have put more thought into his actions than to effectively cannonball into the tub and get water everywhere.

...Don't mind him, he's just...gonna sink into the water up to his eyes and avert his gaze sheepishly. It manages to look cute, because his massive ears catch air below them and buoy up with his hair.]

It's fine! See?

[He removes his hand from the top of the cup and holds it out to show. See? No harm done!]

You can do what you like! You got me, pulling my shirt off like that...I almost didn't cover the tea in time!

[Oh no look at those floating ears....Atem reaches out to catch one by the tip and pull it toward him, over the water, to look at. Let him see them!! These are the biggest listeners Ryou has had yet!]

[Ryou might have been content to stay put where he is, even when Atem gives him a pass on his silly, overblown behavior. He'd just let the change get the better of him, it's day one...he can eventually forgive himself for it.

But then Atem takes hold of one of his ears and Ryou bolt up a little bit, creating a rippling wave as he does so.]

H-hey, be careful...that's kind of sensitive!

[Which he's learning now, at this exact second. That being said, he doesn't mind Atem inspecting his ears. He is pretty surprised at how easy it is to pull one close though, enough that Ryou can see it easily.]

My ears...they're pretty big, aren't they?

[Objectively true, since they're nearly, if not, half his total height when at rest behind him.]

They're big, all right! They go all the way down to your waist....I wonder what they look like when they go up!

[He understands that they're sensitive...so, Atem doesn't touch them too much. He just holds one gently by the tip, turning it over to inspect.

Ryou'll have a tricky time hiding them when he uses his disguise powers...maybe Atem should get him a very big hat.]

They're cute, you know. I know they're sensitive, but you won't mind too much if I pet them, will you...?

[Asking first!]

[Ryou hasn't really put much thought into how the ears might affect his disguising powers, because he's never really done much to try and use those kind of powers. He has shapeshifting as a shade, but when does he ever use that?

At any rate...]

You always think I look cute, no matter what form I take. You're biased!

[And yet Ryou's casually turning in the water, with the full intention of little-spooning Atem in the bathtub. It means that now, both ears will be on full display.]

...But yes, you can pet them. You can touch whatever you like, don't I always let you?

[Said teasingly, but honestly! He likes being close to Atem, and it feels particularly right in this instance.]

I'm in love!

[He corrects, as Ryou turns around.]

That's not the same as being biased. That's having good taste!

[As he settles in to spoon, he picks one of the ears up in one hand, then takes the other and gently runs the palm down it, from where it disappears into Ryou's hair down to the tip.]

You do always let me. But it's still important for me to ask! After all, if you weren't in the mood to have your ears touched, that would be okay...

[The gentle petting continues, over the wet fur, slow -- one after the othe.]

[You know, for a guy who is definitely aware of how sensitive the ears are...Atem is really being quite thorough. Ryou visibly relaxes, his arms resting against Atem's legs below the water line.]

Mmhm, it is. Important for you to ask, I mean. But...you know, it feels nice. So if you want to keep doing it...that's okay.

[Ryou sounds entirely into it. Perhaps...a little too into it. But it's like having his hair brushed, only twice as sensitive, so why wouldn't he like it?

Still, Atem might notice the tone of that response is less than pristine. Maybe Ryou did need a bath after all, in a sense. Who gets that interested in someone petting their ears?]

[Atem takes one last sip of the tea, then sets it aside. He leans forward, pressing his face into Ryou's hair, seeing if it's taken on a furlike texture again this time -- and pressing a kiss to the back of Ryou's head.

It's chaste, but that doesn't mean he didn't notice Ryou's tone.

"Not being in the mood" really was the last thing Atem had to worry about, wasn't it?]

Is it better than having your hair touched, or about the same?

[His nails are gonna get involved, now, stroking through the wet fur instead of over the surface.]

[Ryou lets out a soft, surprised breath as Atem's face presses into his hair. It's damp, but there's a very clear, fluffy texture to it, something beyond the way his hair usually feels. This feels like, once it's dried, it might feel velvety.

But all of that pales in comparison to that simple little kiss. Why does it make his skin tingle? They're just spending a little time together...but Ryou really wants to turn around and make out right then and there...to press himself as close to Atem as possible and figure out what he's really feeling.

Instead, he shudders and bites his lip to stave off a more obvious reaction as Atem's nails scrape against the thin, warm skin of his ears. Wet as they are, there's not much resistance from the previously-fuzzy fur.]

U-um...I think it's better...

[That might have come out too low. Darn it, he should have just kept his mouth shut!]

....I see!

[Yep. Okay. He can tell.

How long can Ryou keep this up, Atem wonders? He continues stroking down the ears, base to end, catching some of Ryou's hair in the process, which means a gentle tug.]

This is going to be even softer, when it's dry...I'm looking forward to it.

[And, Ryou hasn't even touched his tea...Atem pauses in the ear petting.]

But right now, I shouldn't distract you too much...your tea's going to get cold!

[He knows perfectly well he's being a shit.]

[Ohhh, not for very long, as it turns out. The more involved Atem gets with the ear-petting, the more Ryou starts to squirm under the water. He draws his legs in, one foot layering over the other as he tries to keep himself together.

This is stupid! He's not normally this easy to rile up, is he? It's just ear petting, and--oh...oh that's hair pulling, if even just slightly so. It pulls a little noise out of him.]

Atem...c-come onnnn...

[He's not thirsty. He wanted the tea before, but now he definitely has his mind on something else.]

You should stop...unless you're going somewhere with this.

Do you want me to be going somewhere with this?

[The petting resumes.

Lazily, leaning against the wall of the bath, Atem asks a clarifying question.]

Where would you like this to go...?

[He's not opposed, he just wasn't expecting a move to be made so fast...]

[Oh, that tears it.

Ryou's hands push off of Atem's upper thighs, propelling him forward--probably unfortunate, since now Atem's petting is accelerated until Ryou's ears are out of reach--so that he can turn and settle more comfortably on Atem's lap, facing him directly.

Now Atem can see exactly what he's done to his bunny boyfriend, intentional or otherwise, because Ryou looks more than a little flustered.]

In order to figure that out...we ought to drain the tub, right?

[Smooth, padless fingertips trace down Atem's chest, the nails scraping a trail down his bare skin. Ryou's holding himself back, but. He wants to touch, a little.]

[....this is very sudden. A darker green flush creeps over Atem's cheeks! Ryou's really that excited, huh...Atem only touched his ears, and not for very long...

He wants to let Ryou direct this, and take it where he wants it to go, but there's a small problem.]

Won't that be cold? You're the only one with fur here, you know!

[Unfortunately, once again, Ryou has to run the "the soil, weather, and sunlight conditions must be right or the flowers don't come out" gauntlet.]

I could just take care of you like this...I don't mind!

[Under the water, one hand comes to rest on one of Ryou's thighs. They could stay here, you know, instead of having to get out of the bathtub.

Atem is so reluctant to wake up early to bathe, and he is so lazy about getting out of the bath at night.]

[Ryou huffs a little, because Atem is being a prissy little flower about the whole thing and ordinarily that'd be cute, and he'd entertain it!

But also he's feeling pent up and the truth is...Ryou's also going to be a sassy little rabbit and demand what he wants.]

I don't just want you doing all the work! I want you...to let me do things to you, and if you don't want to empty the tub, then...

[And without much more warning, he draws in a long breath and dives under.

Atem is gonna get underwater kisses all over. What's he gonna do, stop Ryou?

(don't stop him please he wants to do things)]

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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...squints, is this a nsfw implication

travel sized sins

mild ones!! sins lite

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NO PAW PADS. NSFW IMPLICATIONS

nsfw implication continues because ryou's a bunny