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uniasus · 2 years

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Misconception Car Brainstorm

Thank you 2hr car trips where I just daydream fanfic, I suppose. Not sure if I'll actually write this story as it's now complete in my head, but figure people might enjoy the summary? Shout out to Misconceptions by Kukiwi, which jumpstarted my brain on this idea

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Atem works first one long night a week, then it becomes more consistent working for Kaiba. Atem gets less communicative and misses planned events, and eventually stops answering his texts. Yugi takes steps to cure loneliness - late nights at the store, hanging with friends.

Over the 3-4 months as communication between them dissolves as Atem's work at KC gets busier, Atem and Yugi really only connect during their morning routines and Atem gives the conversations they have less and less attention as time goes on. Yugi becomes increasingly worried Atem is having an affair with Kaiba. During this time, Yugi gets an offer from Pegasus - to inherit Industrial Illusions - but before he makes his choice Pegasus offers him a six-month trial period to see if he actually wants the position. Yugi tries to bring this up with Atem, but Atem pays half attention. At one point there is a conversion where Atem asks about a new coffee maker in the kitchen. Unknown to Atem, it had supposed to be an anniversary gift but when that flew by Yugi just put it out for him to use. Yugi says he bought it for Atem with money saved from a lower grocery bill cuz he's cut down on food waste. But in reality, Yugi was able to save for it because Atem hasn't had dinner with Yugi in months and Yugi has stopped buying food for two people. Atem makes that connection later while at work, but while noting it doesn't implement any change in his routine.

Yugi's birthday happens, and the few nights before it Atem never comes home and he also doesn't show up for the party at the restaurant. One his way home, Joey runs into Atem and Kaiba leaving the office, overhearing Kaiba asking if Atem is again spending the night. Joey explodes at Atem, asking him first why Atem didn't come (encouraging Kaiba to leave with something about Mokuba at the party) and then directly asking if Atem is having an affair. "Yuge will never ask, so I am."

Atem is shocked, but Joey continues to bring up points about how Atem's habits could be considered as such. Part of this convo includes Joey chastising Atem for never responding to calls or text and Atem being confused because he's not gotten any for weeks. Pulls out his phone as proof and Joey is originally confused to not see himself in Atem's call record but then points out that's a KC phone, and not his personal one. To his horror, Atem realizes he turned off his personal cell phone during a meeting and never turned it back on, solely using his work phone (and thus talking to Kaiba) the past few weeks. Joey fumes, did Atem not think it strange to never get a text from Yugi? Or that he never started a chat with Yugi on his work phone, sharing the number? Joey ends by saying he's really hoping Yugi takes Pegasus's offer cuz Yugi obviously needs a break from Domino. "You might not be bending Kaiba over a table, Atem, but you're giving all your attention to that bastard. Yugi hasn't been a priority in your life in months." Joey says not to expect Yugi at home that night. They've been feeding him drinks since he's been sad. Joey insinuates Yugi may in fact go home with someone else (Tea? Rebecca?)

Atem is confused and guilty as he goes home, particularly shocked over the phone. He sits at the kitchen table, reading messages, and notes how Yugi's has changed from hey when are you coming home and playful conversation starters to status updates that have all gone unanswered. There are three texts about the birthday party. While Atem is looking through the phone, he gets two text. One from Tristin (Yugi's at his place). Then another, with drunk spelling from Yugi. He's Pegasus's offer.

Yugi comes home the next morning, scrambling and hung over as taking Pegasus's offer means hopping on a plane to California the next day. Atem, guilty for a myriad of reasons and essentially panicking when he realizes Yugi is going to be gone for awhile, showers Yugi with attention all day in a love bomb. Atem spends the day trying to reassure Yugi their relationship is still on track and Yugi is #1 in his heart, but Yugi can't 100% believe it.

With Yugi gone, Atem's late hours continue, but it works with the time difference to Cali. Communication restarts between them, but it's touchy because they're now working for rival companies (there's privacy concerns) and they hadn't had a proper convo in months. However, Yugi alludes to a corporate strategy he presented to Pegasus that makes Atem realizes Yugi is good at business. His strategy skills carry over from duel monsters to conference rooms, and Atem is ashamed Pegasus noticed before him. He tells Yugi he should take Pegasus's offer once the job trial is done. Yugi, knowing the implications, panic calls Joey thinking Atem broke up with him.

Joey checks in with Atem for Yugi's sake, again bluntly asking if Atem broke up with Yugi. Atem sputters no, they're on good terms now because they talk regularly and Joey notes the couple might be on better on better footing but Atem is still just fitting Yugi into his schedule vs making time for him. Atem mentions he's seeing Yugi in nyc the next week. Joey is relieved to hear that, then rambles about Yugi's fearful thoughts as to why he thought Atem had called it off - implications about Yugi taking the job Atem hadn't even thought of such as Yugi moving permanently to California and Atem making no move to cut himself off from Kaiba and Kaiba Corp and the tensions that have arisen from that. Atem decides to not tell Joey that his visit to NYC isn't a couples' vacation. It's a work trip; Yugi and Atem are representing their companies at the US Championships. Atem had made sure to clear his schedule a few hours one night for a single date.

The tourney is a chance for Atem to see Yugi in action as Pegasus's protege. He overhears a convo with Duke about the rights to dungeon dice monsters, which reminds him of Yugi's early talk of a distribution deal. Yugi's business plan is deals and partnerships, kaiba on beating the competition. Mokuba joins Yugi and Duke at some point, and they reminisce about something Atem has no knowledge of. Atem realizes Yugi is building a circle without Atem. It's painful, but also a healthier thing perhaps. Atem wants to go over to say hello, but Kaiba drags him away. Atem and Yugi lock eyes but that's it, and Yugi is upset by it. He hadn't realized Atem would be there for day one. Their date is day three.

Later, Mokuba joins Atem and Kaiba at an event and Kaiba presses his brother for information on why he was hanging with Yugi. Mokuba lets spill that Yugi is working for Pegasus, something Kaiba hadn't known. He's huffy that he hadn't, why hadn't Atem shared that knowledge?

Toward the end of the day, Kaiba corners Yugi for a match. Yugi wants to disagree - neither of them are in the tournament - but Pegasus says why not? A showcase match during the lunch break tomorrow perhaps. It can be a test for the duel stadiums, which were only scheduled to be used for semifinal matches and above. It's a good test for a few concept cards Yugi has developed.

Atem texts Yugi, asking for his hotel room, but Yugi ghosts him. He needs to prep, but he's also upset Atem had planned to be two whole days at the tournament before their date and never let Yugi know or tried to catch five minutes between events during the day. Hell, Yugi had an autograph hour on the event schedule. (the KOG title when to Yugi upon their split. Atem insisted because Yugi did ultimately been Atem at the end)

Breakfast the next morning, Atem gets dragged down with Kaiba, but as he finishes Yugi walks in. It's another miss.

Yugi wins the showcase match, and Kaiba doesn't appreciate Atem cheering for Yugi, and makes a comment about believing they had broken up (echoing the call with joey). This aggravates Atem, of course he's still dating Yugi. He tries to flag Yugi down for dinner, but Pegasus interrupts. Business dinner with the Devlins. Atem will have to wait for his originally planned dinner with Yugi the following night. Yugi continues to be upset/sad because he's continued to only see glimpses of Atem and they haven't had a full conversation yet. Rebecca and Duke are supportive.

The next day, as the dinner date approaches, Kaiba makes a fuss. Work is more important than seeing an old friend. Atem realizes it's not only Yugi and Joey who thinks Atem is/has/considered cheating. Kaiba thought Atem was showing interest in him too - in as much as Kaiba thought romantic interest could be for an aroace guy. Atem balks at it the idea that nearly everyone thought he and Yugi were done/dying and is extremely apologetic as he realizes he's been unintentionally stringing Kaiba along. Atem thinks back to what Joey said in their last call - he needs decisive action showing that Yugi is a priority in Atem's life. Especially after not providing it for at least six months at this point. So he quits. At dinner, he tells Yugi this and asks for a job, doubling down on how the whole reason he'd wanted to stay in this world was for Yugi and he'd been an asshole for not making Yugi realize that. Yugi accepts Atem's apology - helped by a full night of being worshiped ^_~

#yugioh #puzzleshipping #atem has a body #my fanfiction #wip #snippet #cheater cheater pumpkin eater #fic rec

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princessofgames · 5 months

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puzzleshipping fans need to stop being afraid to depict yugi and the spirit sharing a body like they do in the show.

#So many fics where Atem just has his own for no reason #Not even post-canon just aus and whatnot #When the body sharing thing is an integral part of their relationship and needs to be focused on more #puzzleshipping #yugioh s0 #yugioh season 0 #yugioh season zero #yugioh duel monsters #ygo dm #yugioh #ygo #yu gi oh

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fat-butch-dyke · 2 years

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The implication that yugi will always be second place to atem in everyone's mind makes me aaaaaaa

#something about the two fo them sharing a body #anzu has a crush on yami for the longest #seto gives his whole everything to talk to atem again #something about atem always being the one everyone wants #ans yugi being second #makes me aaaaaa

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symbioticsimplicity · 2 years

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I finally watched DSOD and I loved it. It was so bad but it was so good and it brought the nostalgia HARD. Diva went way harder than he needed to for a movie villain and I love him for that.

But also now I can't stop thinking about Kaiba fucking smuggling Atem out of the afterlife.

#dsod #ygo #prideshipping #im just saying since Atem wouldnt have a vessel #and Kaiba has MORE THAN proved how few fucks he gives about any sort of rule #i can just imagine him insisting that Atem hitch a ride back with him #totally just keeping him there platonically until he can tech him up a new body #just doesnt tell anyone shit until after hes done it too #seto kaiba #atem #you cant tell me he wouldnt

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phantoghost-gamerdemon · 27 days

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Working on writing something for my Yugioh OC, but I forgot that nobody knows how Ember's origin universe works except for me, so if I type out "Rebuilt New York City" none of y'all are going to know what that means 😭

I have to create a prologue before the prologue to give y'all some context naurrrrrr

#atem speaks #I'm writing the meat of the story down atm because ya boy has TOO MANY THOUGHTS #but I need to write a short synopsis as to why Ember has the powers it does and how it got them w #or else y'all are going to think I'm just giving it bullshit anime powers I pulled out of my arse #instead of this long in-depth backstory about how it grapples with its lack of humanity #and something something ghost possessing its body devoured its soul and now thinks it's the real Ember or something like that #I'll put out a character sheet for it but still I HAVE to give y'all some context for its powers #AND the references I'm making to my OWN universe I CAME UP WITH

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sennenpharaoh · 1 year

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[text] sorry to bother you. I'm having trouble getting back to sleep. Haven't been able to rest well for a few days. Any advice?

He heard a small vibrate tone coming from his nightstand. Turning his head, he noticed a small notification on his phone. It was his mirror.

Hmm... how to sleep well? Atem chuckled at the question a little. Oh if he knew... Or maybe he did, and that's why he was asking.

[text] - Maybe try a pillow? One of those full body ones? I have one that I hold close to help me sleep.

#kurai honoo #atem has a full body pillow to help him sleep #AND NO IT'S NOT A DAKIMAKURA

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karxx · 8 months

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Thinking hard about the orichalcos arc. The scene in dub with Atem going “IT SHOULDVE BEEN ME ITS NOT FAIR.” Was funny as hell but the jpn ver. Was… depressing. Atem yelling partner over and over and then screaming made me pity him so much. Like that was his host, the person who he has shared a body with since what feels like forever to him. Because that’s all he has ever known, Yugi. Imagine the comforting presence that is always by your side being replaced by silence. Like, do you think Atem ever tried calling for Yugi from the time they where apart? Hoping that he would respond in some way.

Orichalcos arc was a shit show but god do I love a codependent duo!!

#Puzzleshipping #ygo #orichalcos arc

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kujakumai · 3 months

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In BC during the Atem-YB duel when Marik has Rishid fake-switch Bakura to the front, he does so successfully and without Yami Bakura's consent or knowledge of the plan, implying that by virtue of their sharing system he can in fact Just Do That. And then a few minutes later YB tells Marik to go to hell and takes the body back by force, so he can also Just Do That. I am stating these facts not because they are significant but because altogether they suggest that canon contemplates and accepts a scenario where Marik and YB could have a perpetual back-and-forth flip-flop idiot slapfight over who controls Bakura's body (since both can simultaneously take it or kick the other out at will). And I think that would be funny

#worst tenants. they don't even pay rent.

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saijspellhart · 20 days

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Thoughts about the Puzzlepile AU. And how it might begin.

Yugi knows about AI-tem, and has been avoiding him because he knows it’s not Atem. And he can’t bear to be reminded that a facade exists of the person he misses and wants to be with, but cannot have. Atem is Yugi’s most intimate friend, and AI-tem feels like a cruel joke to him. Yugi misses Atem so desperately, and despite knowing it was his decision to send Atem to the afterlife, he resents himself for doing it, and wasn’t prepared for the empty void inside.

Meanwhile AI-tem observes Yugi from afar via Kaiba’s network. He watches all the old recordings of Battle City and other events from when Yugi and Atem were still together. He doesn’t have all of Atem’s memories, because Kaiba didn’t have access to such intimate knowledge. What he has is surface level. Enough to make a believable pretense, guise. But he isn’t Atem, he doesn’t know what he is. But there is a part of his program that longs and yearns for Yugi. And he’s convinced it’s a remnant of the real Atem.

AI-tem sees how Yugi suffers, and it kills him seeing the way Yugi looks at him with both longing and agony. But Yugi won’t even give him a chance. Not that they could interact physically.

Then one day above Domino city, there is a blinding explosion of light. Kaiba has used his dimension hopping machine to break into the afterlife to see Atem again, (and kidnap him) after the events of DSOD. The entire city of Domino shields their eyes from the light, feels the aftershocks that shake the city.

Hours later, Yugi is walking down the street, headed into the heart of the city to meet his friends when he spots a strange person standing in the road who looks suspiciously like Atem, dressed in ancient Egyptian garb. Albeit not as opulent and rich as Atem would have worn. The man is scared out of the street by a honking car, and darts into an alley. Yugi gives chase, and when he catches up, the man turns to look at him. And it’s himself.

Yugi is staring into a frightened and terrified eqyptian mirror. The ancient Egyptian Yugi speaks to him in an ancient language, frantic and confused. Yugi tries to reach out and touch him, but the Ancient Egyptian Yugi suddenly flees.

Then Yugi hears a scream, and the city is shaken again as a massive green dragon flies overhead. He runs out into the street to see the dragon heading to Kaiba Corp, where it descends on the tower. He knows this dragon, it’s Timaeus (from season 4). He has a suspicion that something has got to be Kaiba’s doing, and starts heading that direction.

Along the way, he bumps into a what he thinks is another mirror of himself, dressed in period British royal clothing. But upon looking up he’s staring into Yami’s face. He’s bewildered at first. The man stares at him with no recognition. And this “Yami” is also terrified just like the ancient Egyptian Yugi had been. Yugi tries to call him Atem, but the man doesn’t respond to the name. He gets that same uncomfortable feeling he gets from AI-tem. That “this isn’t my Atem,” feeling. And instead of staying, he runs from this British royalty Yami.

He continues to stumble upon a few more versions of himself and Atem on his way to Kaiba corp. that feeling of intense dread growing, something is very wrong. At the base of the Kaiba Corp tower he encounters his Atem. Except it isn’t his Atem. This Atem is pale like Yugi is. And looks like Atem used to look when they still shared a body. This odd pale Atem turns to him, and actually looks upon him with recognition and reverence. This pale Atem speaks to him in a voice he’s missed so dearly, calling, “Yugi!”

Yami runs to him to pull him into a hug, the most tightest of embraces. Because the chaos unfolding in the city frightened Yami. And the last thing he remembered was getting separated from his Yugi by a flash of light and energy. So he’s thrilled to see his partner and he pulls this Yugi into a tight hug, and tells him how glad he is that Yugi’s safe.

And Yugi just short circuits. He just can’t. He hasn’t felt Atem’s touch or presence in YEARS. And this pale Atem recognizes him, sees him, looks upon him with love and adoration and reverence. This Atem is embracing him the way he’d always wanted Atem to embrace him.

And that’s when Yami realizes this isn’t his Yugi. Because he can FEEL how thin and fragile this Yugi is, in a way Yami’s Yugi never was. When he pulls away that’s when he sees the tired, defeated, despondent agony that’s wracked this Yugi for years. Because he’s realizing, this Yugi isn’t his Yugi. This Yugi looks weary, and older. Worn down by grief. This Yugi is thin like he hasn’t been feeding himself. This is not the Yugi he had been with just moments before all the chaos. This is a Yugi that spent the last few years without Atem, and dying inside.

But all Yugi can see is the Atem he used to have. The person he wants most.

Even as Kaiba returns to the present day with having kidnapped Yugi’s Atem from the afterlife. Yugi and Yami (pale Atem) enter Kaiba Corp to find Kaiba being loaded on a stretcher, to be taken to the hospital, his little brother fretting over him. And Yugi’s true Atem is standing in the front room bewildered and raging. Screaming at Kaiba for ripping holes in time and space.

Cue all of them being tasked with combing the city to find all the Yugis and Atems that got scattered across Domino.

Anyway, the whole AU is basically most of the puzzepile gently coaxing DSOD Yugi and his Atem to reconcile, reconnect, and rekindle their relationship. And Yugi being absolutely unwilling to let his real Atem get that close, because he just CANNOT experience that heartbreak again. But it ends up starting with Yugi holding Atem at arms length, not allowing himself to get close again, because he knows Atem will have to leave again and he cannot experience that heartbreak a second time.

They start with a series of small moments that build into bigger moments. Slowly the two of them dismantling walls and rekindling the trust and devotion they once had, but with a romantic element to it now

Meanwhile all this is happening, Yugi bonds with all of the other Yugis and Atems, each of them carving a place in his heart. All of their threads of fate intertwining. Because even across time and space their different incarnations and versions are drawn to each other. A bond that defies even the gods.

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teatitty · 15 days

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This is such a weird thought but like. Do you think the body sharing means they also share body temp or does it reset itself whenever they switch? Like, if Yugi starts feeling really cold and he switches with Atem to escape it, does Atem feel the same level of cold as Yugi did when he switched or does he reset to being whatever their usual body temp is? Does Atem have a different body temp to Yugi or is it the same? I know their visual differences are just for us, the viewers, but if we assume the visual differences are there for everyone [because it's funnier that way especially when Yugi has no muscle whatsoever and Atem is jacked by comparison] then does this translate to them having other physical oddities?

Welcome to my autism brain this is the kind of stuff I think about daily we have fun here

#yugioh #yugi mutou #pharaoh atem #yami yugi

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puzzleshipping-library · 2 years

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So...

Author: QueenBastet (@queenbastetsstuff)

Rated E • Published 2021 • Complete • Word count 139k

“So, when are you gonna tell him” “Tell who what?” Joey rolled his eyes and nodded in the direction Yugi had just been staring in. “You know, Atem?’ Joey sighed “Seriously Yug, you look like some love struck teen the way you stare at him.”

Read on AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/30441342/chapters/75057765

@saijspellhart says: This was the first fic I read written by Bastet, and my introduction to their writing before we’d even become friends. So it’s precious to me. And the story is lovely. I love that it’s an exploration of emotion and relationships. Exactly my cup of tea. It’s one of those slice of life kind of stories with just a little plot to help guide things along. I love the evolution of Yugi and Atem’s relationship. Their expressions of trust, and how Yugi helps Atem work through his PTSD. How patient they are. It’s so beautiful. I cannot really summarize much since it’s mostly slice of life, and character exploration. But it’s so worth the read. Fluff and smut galore.

#rating:e #length:over100k #status:complete #site:ao3 #2020to2024 #canon divergence #atem has a body #genre:pwp #genre:fluff #genre:romance #genre:slice of life #library #submittedrecs #postcanon

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crushcardvirus · 1 year

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wait we can finally settle the possessed guy fight hold on

THINGS TO REMEMBER:

this is a PHYSICAL fight. no card games allowed

they are all currently inhabiting the bodies of an assortment of 15-16 year old gamers

yami malik has the least amount of self preservation and the pointiest milennium item but he also grew up in a cave. take that how you will.

atem still needs to die in the ceremonial duel so the plot is on his side. the millennium puzzle can double up as a bludgeoning instrument in a pinch

the millennium ring's tines have been shown to be able to pierce human skin. yami bakura is the most likely to also be carrying a knife

#the card game channel

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girl-of-ink · 2 months

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Puzzlefic Recs

These Days We Celebrate / Reconfiguration by Phoebeus

Original synopsis: “Originally a series of canon-compliant stories spanning the six month gap between the defeat of Pegasus and the arrival of Otogi, it now includes a branch-off story that changes the climax of the Millennium World arc and explores what would have happened if Atem had gotten his own body a month prior to leaving for Egypt. [Manga-canon, Puzzleshipping]”

Type: Series of oneshots + one multichap longfic

Word count: 300k+ altogether

Rating: G/T/E

Warnings: None

Status: Complete

Times read: 3 times for the whole series, at least 5 or 6 for Reconfiguration specifically

Standout characters/aspects: Yuugi's mom & Honda

Notes: The holy grail. The puzzle fic to end all puzzle fics. Nothing beats it. It aligns almost 98% with my personal headcanons, & the small things we disagree on are contextualized in a way that makes sense in the story. Yuugi's mom is iconic in this story, & my own interpretations of her lean heavily on her portrayal in this series.

Haunted House Sweet Home by InkFlavored

Original synopsis: “Yugi doesn't believe in ghosts. He never has and, up until now, he thought he never would. But when he moves into his new apartment, things start disappearing, doors start slamming, and an ancient crown has it out for him. He's forced to face reality: he's living in a haunted house. But will he be ‘living’ there for long?”

Type: Multichap longfic

Word count: 150k+

Rating: T

Warnings: Mention of eventual major character death, brief mention of eventual Yuugi/Atem/fem OC in final chapter

Status: Complete

Times read: Probably 3ish

Standout characters/aspects: Feriha (fem OC) has a very small part, but she is integrated in a well-thought-out manner & quite likable.

Notes: This fic takes a lot of normal aspects of ygo like “cursed object” and “troubled king” and gives them a new spin! Bonus points for writing an OC villain who works as well as Hazim does.

Egyptology Exercises / All This We Do in the Name of Ma’at by Nedjemet

Original synopsis: “My attempt at redoing Yu-Gi-Oh with a focus on character development, magic, and historical accuracy instead of card games. While this is technically a series, "All This We Do in the Name of Ma'at" functions as a standalone story. All of the other stories are just in-universe follow ups to show what the characters got up to after the story was over. These shorts largely function as stand alones, too, since Ma'at follows cannon very closely in the important ways. All of the stories are ordered loosely in terms of when they occured. You can read them in any order.

All of the Egyptology is heavily researched and I did my best to get it right. If something is off and you have a source, please send it my way!

All of the stuff in modern Japan has minimal research done and is more for flavor than anything else. I'm going for anime-level accuracy with that, not realism.”

Type: Multichap longfic + a couple of shorter multichap fics + bonus work diving into the Egyptology research used in the fics

Word count: 200k+ altogether

Rating: T/M/E

Warnings: None

Status: Complete

Times read: Twice for All This We Do in the Name of Ma’at, probably 5-6 times for the two sequel fics

Standout characters/aspects: Nedjemet’s research on the Egyptology aspects is very impressive

Notes: Really good! The main fic is quite plot & research heavy tho, so I find myself revisiting the two shorter follow-up fics more often. More fluff than substance for me.

The Last Puzzle by Tenderwulf

Original synopsis: “11 years after the Ceremonial Duel, Atem and Bakura inexplicably find themselves back in Domino. When they meet their previous hosts, they realize how much things have changed: Yuugi, the now world-renowned King of Games, is going through a marriage crisis, Ryou is struggling to balance studies, work, and his brittle mental health, and Malik... well, Malik is living his best life—and his own yami is nowhere to be seen.

They soon realize they all have to work together in order to solve the mystery of the yamis’ return: some to make sure that they stay, and some to make sure that they don't.”

Type: Multichap longfic

Word count: 300k+

Rating: T

Warnings: Graphic depictions of violence

Status: Ongoing

Other ships: Tendershipping [Bakura Ryou/Yami Bakura], past Peachshipping [Mazaki Anzu/Mutou Yuugi]

Times read: 1

Standout characters/aspects: Yami Bakura’s character development is stellar.

Notes: Very good, altho I confess that I’m slightly more interested in the puzzle storyline than the tender story (which happens to be the main plot lol). Very much worth reading.

Keep the Light Shining by Clydeside

Original synopsis: “Yugi's new job as a lighthouse keeper sounds simple enough... until he realizes he's not entirely alone on the remote island: a dark spirit haunts Crawford Sound.

It lingers like a shadow in the night.

It watches, and it waits.

The past keepers warned of an inescapable terror, but as the days turn into weeks, Yugi begins to think it's not the ghost he ought to fear.”

Type: Multichap longfic

Word count: 50k+

Rating: M

Warnings: Major character death (Atem is already a ghost)

Status: Complete

Times read: 3

Standout characters/aspects: Worldbuilding!!!! This story is so gorgeously atmospheric

Notes: Please please please read Keep the Light Shining, it’s so good. The horror aspects combined with the romance and mystery aspects are so well-balanced.

Lineament by Zuzeca

Original synopsis: “Once seven, now three. A broken Pendant, a crumbling empire, and tugging at the seams of reality, hints of a sinister power returning. His faith in destiny strained past breaking, newly-crowned-and-deposed Pharaoh Set makes the questionable decision to try and solve the Millennium Puzzle with magic. As it goes with magic, his efforts are rewarded…but not quite in the way he expected.”

Type: Multichap longfic

Word count: 50k+

Rating: M

Warnings: Major character death (Ghost Atem again)

Status: Complete

Other ships: Logicshipping [Priestess Isis/Priest Seto]

Times read: 3

Standout characters/aspects: Set & Isis are very interesting & well-developed characters here.

Notes: Really interesting twist on the whole series. Somewhat of a time travel fic, but in a much more satisfying and less cheesy way than most.

Snake Charmer by InkFlavored

Original synopsis: “Prompts: ‘Wow, my pet snake looks so cute this morning and I’d be even happier if I actually had a pet snake.’ & ‘You curse under your breath in a foreign language and I know I shouldn’t be turned on but I totally am.’

Type: Oneshot

Word count: 20k+

Rating: T

Warnings: None

Status: Complete

Times read: 5

Standout characters/aspects: Osiris the snake is an icon

Notes: 100% fluff. Cute snake. Utterly delightful.

Cut Off / Whiskey, No Chaser by InkFlavored

Original synopsis: “Few people choose a day during the week to drink away their problems at a bar downtown. Most people wait until the weekend, content to simmer with their issues until Friday. Others do it at home with friends, and without worrying about how they're supposed to get home in time for work in the morning. All in all, it's rare that someone walks into a bar on a weeknight at ten-thirty to start drinking.

But that's exactly what happened to Atem.”

Type: Two multichap longfics

Word count: 100k+ combined

Rating: T

Warnings: None

Status: Complete

Other ships: Past rivalshipping [Mutou Yuugi/Kaiba Seto]

Times read: 2

Standout characters/aspects: Great way of showing how Atem becomes part of the friend group

Notes: It’s cute! Not InkFlavored’s best work, but all of their stuff is worth reading.

Macchiato Incommunicado by InkFlavored

Original synopsis: “Prompt: ‘my favorite coffee shop is closed for the day so i have to find somewhere else where i can get my overly-advanced pretentious order and i found the place where you work and now i never use the other place anymore because even though you always serve my drink with a “what the fuck has normal coffee ever done to you”-sigh you're really cute and i'd like to go out with you.’

Type: Oneshot

Word count: 15k+

Rating: T

Warnings: None

Status: Complete

Times read: 3

Standout characters/aspects: Points to everyone else in this fic for putting up with Yuugi & Atem’s stupid bullshit.

Notes: Pretty good interpretation of the dreaded miscommunication plot and the cliché coffee shop AU.

The First Leaves That Fall by Clydeside

Original synopsis: “When Yugi arrives in Yubari to settle the last of his grandfather’s affairs, he finds a mountain village in quiet decline. Most people have left for the city, buildings are crumbling, and nature grows dense and wild against its outskirts.

But among those who remain, superstition abounds, and they all offer the same advice:

Stay out of the forest.

Yugi, however, is intrigued. By the puzzle of its shifting paths. The riddle of a wind that speaks, if he listens.

And, perhaps most of all, by the stranger who always shows him the way out before dark.

Or: Yugi falls hard for the local cryptid. Not everyone is cool about it.”

Type: Multichapter longfic

Word count: 40k+

Rating: T

Warnings: None

Status: Ongoing

Times read: 1

Standout characters/aspects: Honda & Miho are really great friends, and bonus points for local Shinto priest Bakura, who is as ominous and strange as ever.

Notes: I love this fic!!!! Again, Clyde is the best at writing spooky & atmospheric stories. I can’t wait to see what really happened in Yubari to make the nature spirits (including Atem) so angry.

Chained to You by SajiSpellhart

Original synopsis: “Taking place after the events of Season Zero, all the shadow games happened but Yugi never found out he was possessed by the spirit of the puzzle. Now he's an adult, living on his own, and he starts to notice strange and spooky things happening around his apartment. When he sees his own shadow moving Yugi begins to suspect his new place is haunted. But is this shadow spirit malicious or... kinda sweet?

Yami does a bunch of stupidly sweet domestic shit for Yugi to help take care of him. Expect romance, fluff, self-care, and Puzzleshipping shenanigans.”

Type: Multichapter longfic

Word count: 100k+

Rating: T

Warnings: None

Status: Ongoing

Times read: 1

Standout characters/aspects: Yami is incredibly cute in this fic.

Notes: Really interesting AU where Yuugi never finds out about Atem as a high schooler, and so Season 0-esque shenanigans continue into adulthood.

He Has a Heartbeat by Kaibbage

Original synopsis: “Atem is back, and this time he's living and tangible. As such, Yugi cannot stop touching him - and vice versa.”

Type: Oneshot

Word count: 3k

Rating: E

Warnings: None

Status: Complete

Times read: 10 at least

Standout characters/aspects:

Notes: So cute!!! One of the best Atem Comes Back oneshots out there. Very sweet short little PWP.

Superimposed / Bird Rock Lambchop (Bird Bigger Bird) by Toffeecape

Original synopsis: “Yugi wants his other self to have nice things.”

Type: Series of oneshots + short multichaptered fics

Word count: 70k+ combined

Rating: E/M

Warnings: Some installments mention major character death (but with the caveat that the characters cross over to the Egyptian afterlife), most have no warnings

Status: Complete

Times read: Superimposed probably like 5 times, whole series twice

Standout characters/aspects: Love Yuugi’s urge to provide for Atem, very sweet. I also love the chapter of Like a Stone into a Pond that focuses on Yuugi’s mom’s relationship with Atem.

Notes: This series is sort of YMMV for me. To be entirely honest, the smut gets a little too weird for me in a lot of installments, so I don’t revisit it too often, but the first installment is definitely my favorite, and I love seeing the intimacy between Yuugi & Atem grow while they’re still sharing a body. The 4th installment is my other favorite, as it focuses less on smut and more on character interactions.

Phantom Limb by Killdoll

Original synopsis: “In the hospital after the fire where Yuugi reassembled the Millennium Puzzle, Yuugi and his Other Self have a heart-to-heart.

(Puzzleshipping, set during anime canon, attempted ghost cuddling.)”

Type: Oneshot

Word count: 3k

Rating: T

Warnings: None

Status: Complete

Times read: 5+

Standout characters/aspects: Really great characterization

Notes: Very sweet examination of the aftermath of (the anime version of) the fire.

Pieces of Puzzleshipping by Phoebeus

Original synopsis: “Originally this was where all of my tumblr prompts and random ficlets would come to live, but it's quickly become home to all of my random puzzleshipping fluff, instead. We shall acknowledge it as such until at least one other ship invades!”

Type: Oneshot collection

Word count: 17k+ combined

Rating: E

Warnings: Author Chose Not to Use Archive Warnings (I don’t remember anything too triggering in these oneshots besides a safeword use that is immediately respected in chapter 10)

Status: Complete

Times read: 2-3

Standout characters/aspects: To be honest, I don’t remember these individual oneshots all that well, but I love all of Phoebeus’ work.

Notes: Bite-sized and enjoyable fluff!

Getting Rivalzoned (and Learning to Live with It) by Oogenesis

Original synopsis: “Finding out that your best and closest and most infuriatingly attractive rival has come back to life is one thing.

Finding out that he and his former vessel have eyes only for each other - well, that's quite a different matter.”

Type: Short multichapter

Word count: 8k

Rating: T

Warnings: None

Status: Unfinished (seems to be abandoned, but I recall the last chapter working fairly well as an ending, so it’s not too infuriating)

Other Ships: onesided Prideshipping [Atem/Kaiba Seto]

Times read: 3ish

Standout characters/aspects: Just so incredibly funny.

Notes: This is my ideal prideship scenario. Sorry, Kaiba.

Visiting Hours by Oogenesis

Original synopsis: “Kaiba, at Atem's insistence, finally brings Yugi along on one of his visits to the afterlife, and promptly regrets it.”

Type: Oneshot

Word count: 1.5k

Rating: T

Warnings: None (possible major character death as Atem has already crossed over to the afterlife)

Status: Complete

Other Ships: One-sided prideshipping [Atem/Kaiba Seto]

Times read: 5ish at least

Standout characters/aspects: Same as the previous fic, just so funny to see Kaiba so deeply jealous while being completely ignored.

Notes: Love how excited to see each other Yuugi & Atem are.

Ours, Not Mine by MagiMevi

Original synopsis: “The spirit found such ease and amusement in simply perusing Yugi's daily memories, and Yugi no longer wanted to just share them with him. He wanted to make them with him – he wanted the spirit to create new memories – he didn't want to just amuse the spirit with the passing fibres of his life – he just – he wanted -

Don't worry about it, partner.”

Type: Oneshot

Word count: 5k

Rating: T

Warnings: None

Status: Complete

Times read: 2-3

Standout characters/aspects: Great exploration of Yuugi’s character

Notes: Yuugi scheming like hell to try to get Atem to live & enjoy himself while in the puzzle is one of my favorite tropes, 10/10.

Take Him (Cut Him Out in Little Stars) by InkFlavored

Original synopsis: “Most people think of light and silence as comforting things. To Yugi, they're anything but. Atem's mind is tearing itself to pieces and no one understands.

PuzzleJune 2019 (Week 3: Light)”

Type: Oneshot

Word count: 5k

Rating: G

Warnings: Creator Chose Not to Use Archive Warnings (Major character death canon to the end of the manga)

Status: Complete

Times read: 5+

Standout characters/aspects: I love Atem’s talk with Akhenamkhanen.

Notes: Definitely one of the most influential Atem comes back fics to my own work! It’s fabulous, 10/10.

The Seldom Seen by Clydeside

Original synopsis: “Yugi’s soul has gone missing after reassembling the Millennium Puzzle in the fire, leaving the Other Yugi to fill his place.

As he tries to hide the truth from Yugi’s friends and family, he searches for his partner and the scattered pieces of his soul. But without Yugi at his side, he is losing control of the Puzzle’s power over the shadow realm… and the creature it contains.”

Type: Mid-length multichapter

Word count: 45k

Rating: T

Warnings: Major character death (albeit tagged as “only sort of permanent”)

Status: Complete

Times read: 3

Standout characters/aspects: Angst!

Notes: I love any fic that examines Atem’s relationships (or lack thereof) with Yuugi’s friends and family.

Jolly Sailor Bold / Shellfish Tendencies by Kudalyn

Original synopsis: “‘The seas sing for those who are lost, and for those who find as well.’

Atem is a siren/merman and Yugi is a ghost haunting a sunken ship Atem comes across. Atem is intrigued by the ghost, hangs around enough that they start to get to know each other, getting attached, and falling for each other over time. But Yugi’s memories start to fade, as ghosts don’t get to stay forever on the living plane, and Atem has to deal with this loss.

My entry for the YGO Big Bang 2018!

Content Warning of character death and mourning, with reward at the end if you stick through it ;)”

Type: Series of two oneshots

Word count: 15k+ combined

Rating: M

Warnings: Major character death (sort of temporary? It’s complicated lol)

Status: Complete

Times read: 3ish

Standout characters/aspects: Honestly really interesting implications about the origins of mermaids……….

Notes: Super fun twist on a mermaid AU.

Untitled Puzzleshipping Doujinshi by Kaluda

Original synopsis: “This is a doujin I made in 2019 that I decided to post here as well. Inspired by the end of the Dark Side of Dimensions film.”

Type: Short comic

Word count: N/A?

Rating: Unrated (I would say G)

Warnings: None (Major character death canon to manga/anime)

Status: Complete

Times read: 3ish

Standout characters/aspects: Such cute art!!!!!!

Notes: Rare comic example, but it’s posted on ao3, so I’m counting it as a fic. It’s really very sweet & short, go check it out!

Angle of Approach by InkFlavored

Original synopsis: “Definition: (in golf) the angle at which the club head strikes the ball. This affects the trajectory the ball will travel and spin.

The only thing Atem hates more than his family’s annual summer vacation is the “family” part. A whole three months away from home, away from friends, and away from freedom. This year, he’s nearly resigned himself to the worst trip he’s ever been on, surrounded by people he couldn’t care less about.

Then he meets Yugi, and decides to make his own fun.”

Type: Multichap longfic

Word count: 130k+

Rating: E

Warnings: No archive warnings apply, general warning for emotional and slight physical abuse by parents, and definitely warning for workplace sexual harassment

Status: Ongoing (Unfinished? Abandoned??? I sure hope not)

Times read: 2

Standout characters/aspects: Yugi is phenomenal in this AU. I’m obsessed with him.

Notes: I love this fic!!!! I usually don’t like fics where Atem is an asshole, but apparently it’s fine if he’s a bottom lmao. Anyway I love seeing Atem very very slowly become a better person against his will, and I’m really hoping Ink_Flavored is still working on this fic. It’s one of my favorite ongoing works.

Dress Up Game by InkFlavored

Original synopsis: “The Mutou family, including the newly resurrected Atem, get invited to a wedding. Neither Yugi nor Atem have anything to wear to the event, but it’s not a big deal. All they have to do is go shopping to pick something out. How bad could it possibly be?”

Type: Two chapter fic

Word count: 25k+

Rating: T

Warnings: None

Status: Complete

Times read: 3

Standout characters/aspects: Really great attention to detail about Japanese culture. Taught me a lot about traditional Japanese weddings!

Notes: This fic is so cute! Really nice fic that focuses on Atem living life after coming back from the dead.

Await Red to Become Anthracite by Zigur_zig_ah

Original synopsis: “Yuugi, security guard un-extraordinaire, leads a particularly mundane life. He sits in front of a monitor for eight hours a cycle, pretends to concern himself with the safety of five-hundred and thirty-nine Roman coins of no value whatsoever, and occasionally, when work is especially slow, occupies the unenviable position of Duel Monsters champion of the known universe.

But something stalks the perpetual darkness of Proxima-b. A horror from beyond the grave, loosed in a moment of carelessness, has set its hollow, empty sights on Yuugi - and Yuugi, try as he might, can't seem to stay away from it.”

Type: Medium length multichapter fic

Word count: 30k

Rating: M

Warnings: Creator Chose Not to Use Archive Warnings

Status: Complete

Times read: 1

Standout characters/aspects: Really fun combination of futuristic sci-fi, horror, canon, and ancient Egypt?

Notes: A bit less romance-y than plot-centered, but the way the story unfolds is really fascinating.

Hindsight by Cloudsmachinations

Original synopsis: “Yugi needs to wear glasses. Atem needs to calm the hell down.”

Type: Oneshot

Word count: 2.5k

Rating: T

Warnings: None

Status: Complete

Times read: 3ish

Standout characters/aspects: I love an Atem that is down bad

Notes: So cute tbh

#aka: a rec list for anyone who hates dom atem as much as i do lmao 😅😅#a lot of these are pretty obvious/popular already eg anything by clyde/inkflavored/phoebeus but hey #it's my list & i'm in charge #morgan rambles #my ramblings #yugioh #ygo #yugioh duel monsters #mutou yugi #mutou yuugi #puzzleshipping #atem #yami yugi #blindshipping #fic recs #rec list #yugi mutou #yuugi mutou #yugioh dm

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