[Ryou simply shakes his head, a slow but firm motion. Atem's wrong now, and he might be wrong in a way that's forgivable, but it's still not right.
Ryou will have to liberate him of that idea, won't he? Of several, in fact. His hands finally draw away, but not because he intends to leave Atem to think about things, way harder than they need to be thought of. No, instead, he gives Atem space to move freely.]
You know...there's something that has been told to me by different monsters at this point, and I have taken it to heart, in a way, because it's true.
Despite us categorically being changed into monsters...we are still possessed of our human traits. We're still people. We still have humanity in our hearts. I tend to forget that, because after being here for two years...well, it doesn't seem like a lot.
But it is, when you're made to murder and eat people.
[Ryou shifts in his seat, looking down at the table and wishing he could lose himself in the pattern. But that would do them both a great disservice at this point.]
The point is...you're asking me if I should just stop loving you, as if it's the easiest thing in the world. Maybe it would be, for someone else.
[Maybe it would be easier for Atem, than it is for Ryou, who is a deeply lonely person, and one who had been told by Atem, perhaps one too many times, that he mattered. Maybe it would be simpler if Ryou wasn't such a kindhearted person, albeit one changed by his situation here in Ryslig.
But despite everything, he remains Ryou Bakura, at his core.]
Every person on this peninsula has made a bad decision in their lives. You have, I have, our friends and enemies have all made mistakes, and a lot of those have caused us pain.
I've forgiven someone who used my body to commit atrocities, and left me scarred. I've forgiven someone who let terrible things happen to the person I love the most, just because they didn't want to get in the middle of two people they cared about.
[Finally, he reaches out, gently brushing the backs of his clawed fingers along Atem's cheek, if its exposed.]
So then why would I ever care if you made a mistake? It's not fair to expect you to be perfect, in such an untenable place. Furthermore...why is it, Atem, that you think you're any less allowed to make mistakes?
Please...you can't chain yourself to your errors, and never forgive yourself for any of them. That's not fair...you're not here to play a perfect game. You're here to survive.
You're here to live a life, and be you, as best you can. Best doesn't mean perfect.
S-so that's why I'll give you as much of myself as I can, even now, after everything that's happened. You can't choose for me. If you could have, then I wouldn't have invited you in here.
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Ryou will have to liberate him of that idea, won't he? Of several, in fact. His hands finally draw away, but not because he intends to leave Atem to think about things, way harder than they need to be thought of. No, instead, he gives Atem space to move freely.]
You know...there's something that has been told to me by different monsters at this point, and I have taken it to heart, in a way, because it's true.
Despite us categorically being changed into monsters...we are still possessed of our human traits. We're still people. We still have humanity in our hearts. I tend to forget that, because after being here for two years...well, it doesn't seem like a lot.
But it is, when you're made to murder and eat people.
[Ryou shifts in his seat, looking down at the table and wishing he could lose himself in the pattern. But that would do them both a great disservice at this point.]
The point is...you're asking me if I should just stop loving you, as if it's the easiest thing in the world. Maybe it would be, for someone else.
[Maybe it would be easier for Atem, than it is for Ryou, who is a deeply lonely person, and one who had been told by Atem, perhaps one too many times, that he mattered. Maybe it would be simpler if Ryou wasn't such a kindhearted person, albeit one changed by his situation here in Ryslig.
But despite everything, he remains Ryou Bakura, at his core.]
Every person on this peninsula has made a bad decision in their lives. You have, I have, our friends and enemies have all made mistakes, and a lot of those have caused us pain.
I've forgiven someone who used my body to commit atrocities, and left me scarred. I've forgiven someone who let terrible things happen to the person I love the most, just because they didn't want to get in the middle of two people they cared about.
[Finally, he reaches out, gently brushing the backs of his clawed fingers along Atem's cheek, if its exposed.]
So then why would I ever care if you made a mistake? It's not fair to expect you to be perfect, in such an untenable place. Furthermore...why is it, Atem, that you think you're any less allowed to make mistakes?
Please...you can't chain yourself to your errors, and never forgive yourself for any of them. That's not fair...you're not here to play a perfect game. You're here to survive.
You're here to live a life, and be you, as best you can. Best doesn't mean perfect.
S-so that's why I'll give you as much of myself as I can, even now, after everything that's happened. You can't choose for me. If you could have, then I wouldn't have invited you in here.