1.5M ratings
277k ratings

See, that’s what the app is perfect for.

Sounds perfect Wahhhh, I don’t wanna
pot-of-terv
ygio

look im not calling atem lives aus fixits because i believe some bullshit like if my otp stays together it will magically Fix The Story, im calling them that because imo atem staying is fixing the story. i love him with yuugi but i dont care who, if anyone, he gets to date if he stays, its not what this is about. its that his journey makes so much sense if he does.

so much of yugioh is about growth, and as yuugi&co were growing up so was atem. he was never this stagnant ghost, an echoing remnant of the past; he was always a living, changing thing, a teen boy trying to find his place in the world. aside from being inconsistent, it is simply cruel to end the story by saying that his place is to die, that his will means nothing, that the bonds he made with his partner and friends are only as good as memories, something to think back on and dismiss in every other way that matters.

and when i say him staying i also mean him getting to deal with the aftermath. i mean that his half-death and coming back from it is just another coming of age, that comes with growing pains like any other step forward. atem spent such a long time focused on duty, on the things he had to do despite his wishes, so what happens when all that shatters? what happens when, for the first time in his life on that podium, he admits to wanting something, and gets it? where does he go from there? he never thought he would actually get it; he came to egypt with the knowledge that he would move on, duelists pride and all.

so, what does he do? he could go anywhere, no shackles of fate or ancient instructions to keep him on their path; he can be whoever he wants. he gets to become an adult like everyone else. and that is terrifying.

ygio

speaking of, yuugi would get to go through just as much questioning and character growth as atem here. because, he spent his whole life seeing himself as someone lesser, but now he beat the king fair and square. his idol was kicked off his podium, both by being defeated by him, and then again when he told yuugi that he was always strong, that he always had some qualities that atem himself never did.

he also spent the last 2 years thinking hes just a vessel with a duty to fulfill; a helping hand for the pharaoh to be led to the afterlife, regardless of what he himself wanted. and now not only was his duty not complete, but the pharaoh is glad, but yuugi is glad. he failed at his job and hes never been happier. what does this say about him? (but, well. he never was very good with authority, was he)

also - you know that trope where the Bad Guy redeems himself and then dies immediately after? this wasnt that exact thing, but i got a similar sense of disappointment - yuugi and atem are finally standing as equals, finally know that theyre equals, and have said some things they shouldve said a long time ago. so what is any of that worth if atem dies right after? i want them to get down from the podium and look each other in the face, i want them to talk and be awkward and for yuugi to get to see all of atems lame sides after seeing him as something so unattainable for so long, i want them to be dumb teens together

ygio

yelled so much on here but im still right. give me growth and bonds and second chances, give me a coming of age done right, follow through with the idea that friendship and unity can do anything, even counter fate

yu gi oh atem
theatricuddles
leahgardner-art

image
image
image

I’m like a moth drawn to a flame

dru-reblogs-stuff

[Image description: 3 oil paintings of various types of lit light sources - an uncovered lamp, a group of 4 candles in various stages of consumption, an edison-style bulb plugged directly into a power socket. The light emanating from each source is a warm, rich, luminous yellow-orange, which is juxtaposed against the cooler whites and blue shadows where the light does not reach. /ID]