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[completelycrazy]

[Newt has definitely not been up all night building salamander-proof enclosures out of spare Null parts so the fact that he sounds both tired and revved up on way too much coffee is just your imagination.]

Two questions, Hadriel. One: Tell me about the cave monsters. What all has crashlanded here before I got here? Specifically, I'm looking for stuff that a person could feasibly, like, catch. Or at least put down and drag into town for some post-mortem studying. This includes stuff that might be a good food source, maybe? I don't know. Depends on what's out there.

[The food source thing is secondary in his mind, but the masses don't need to know that. He's already expecting to catch some flak for this.]

And two: Anyone got some time to help me wrangle some salamanders, at least? I'm thinkin' two should be good. I'd like to grab some other stuff too, but again, depends on what's out there. Gonna start with the salamanders for now.

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atem das bakuracist

[softspokenlandlord]

I'm sorry, you must have me mistaken for someone else--

[Hold on a moment.

It may have taken him a split second to realize it, but that's a familiar voice! No way, it couldn't be...]

Yugi?

[puzzlingly]

「Oh no... No, this is not happening.

It is from the very first moment that he apologize, Atem knows. This is not the Bakura he knows. It is the host. Wait, that doesn't sound right. Since when did he call Ryou that way?

Since he cannot help a pang of dreadful jealously down his stomach at what this means. Yugi, he is... not here.

But Ryou is.」

... Ryou.

「He doesn't need to know.」

[softspokenlandlord]

[Ryou doesn't speak for a moment. It's hard to tell with no face to work with, but there's something...different about the clipped response. It lacks the enthusiastic nature that he'd come to expect from Yugi, even in spite of...

...In spite of what had happened months ago. Losing his other self had been hard on Yugi, but Atem was in a better place. Right?

Maybe that's it. Maybe? He'd never know unless he saw a face to put to the voice, but Ryou's almost a little uncomfortable asking.]

Ah, yes. Yes, it's me. You sound as if you expected someone else.

[Someone else who might look like him. Or talk like him. But definitely not so convincingly, right? Not if he'd just been asked what he'd been drinking. The implication is troubling. Disconcerting. He's not going to think too hard on it.]

I didn't realize anyone else I knew would be here. I'd say it's comforting, but of course, that means we're both in a dangerous place.

[puzzlingly]

「It's been a bad...

huh, three months. He can't help but let all sort of feelings pile on him from time to time, no matter how much he tries to keep his cool, but heavens know how much he's missed his partner, how much he's swallowed his pain and solitude. It's bound to explode some day.

But today is not that day. He shouldn't let this negativity engulf him so, maybe it is not even on him entirely. Maybe, there is something else pushing these feelings out of him.

But he... his will is stronger than the Eye's, right? He's the Pharaoh, the power of the Millennium Items belongs to him, not the other way.

Surel keep telling yourself that, Atem.

He ignores the first over the second remack. Trying somewhat a less serious tone, it is not the other's fault after all, to be here, he should not be blaming him for it, but it's not easy.」

Yeah, we are.

「At the same time, he ponders, if only for a moment if he should tell him about Bakura (Bakura for the Spirit of the Ring, the Thief; Ryou for the gentle one, he might as well make that distinction clear in his mind as of now) or maybe he should just let it slide until the other finds out. Maybe even, what if the Spirit is still with him? What if somehow the Door brought them together, could it be possible to even hold two identical souls in this place? He wants to ask — it is a sensitive topic, however.」

Bakura... Ryou. Is he with you?

「Never mind, maybe this is not exactly the place for this conversation but... tact is not exactly his forte when presented with these kind of situations. He asks the exact same question he asked Bakura then, the Thief knew exactly what he was talking about, maybe Ryou would as well.」

[softspokenlandlord]

[...This isn't the place for that kind of conversation, indeed. While his friend had been a little standoffish to start--and Ryou did in fact notice--he was still happy to hear from someone familiar.

Being pulled into a place like this and expected to adapt was unfair and difficult. He'd dealt with the Null upon arrival, nearly been set on fire many times...and finally, he had though he could feel safe with a friend.

But.

There was that question. And although Atem can't see the look on Ryou's face, the pause is unmistakable. Silence, but for nervous breathing across the phone. Eventually, he finds the words, quiet and reserved as they are, to answer.]

I don't have the Ring anymore. He hasn't been with me for a while.

[There's something conflicted in that tone, but that's a given; Ryou has plenty to be conflicted about with a question like that.]

[puzzlingly]

「Ryou's answer comes as a huge relief. It held even more important conclusions, despite Atem's own feelings about the matter. There is only one Ring to worry about, only one King of Thieves and definitely, no Zorc...

Yes. He'll definitely take that as a great answer. The Pharaoh can feel his shoulders relax, his issues still his, but those are his own to deal with not Ryou's.

Maybe that's why he opts not to tell him about Bakura, on the other hand, he won't be telling the Thief anything either, why would he? It's not like it's gonna change anything between them.」

I'm glad.

「It comes definitely less tense, a little more amiable. A little more Yugi.
Ryou's tone doesn't go amiss, but for the first time... Atem can't deal with it, he doesn't want to.」

Be careful out there, Ryou. This place can be a little too much at times. If you need help, just ask.

「Hahaha... He knows he won't. He never did.

Maybe this is why Atem is here and not in the Afterlife, he yet again, thinks to himself, he's a little more than rotten in the inside.」