Oh, can I talk about my GX AUs? Most of my AUs are for stuff you haven't seen yet, but I do have this one AU where Ryou Bakura ends up becoming a teacher at Duel Academia. I'll probably heavily streamline the plot if I ever revisit it, but a major plot point was him having to deal with being the modern version of Thief King Bakura and Yami Bakura's host body/how he feels about all that stuff. It's not helped by the fact that he starts seeing Duel Spirits, which he would normally think is cool, but unfortunately his Duel Spirit buddy is Diabound Kernel.
(Also he ends up becoming the Slifer Red head halfway through just so that I could justify giving him a red coat for Thematic Reasons.)
i love aus so much so if they're not spoilery do send them over i love checking them out!!
Ryou after the events of the dm anime and dsod is a very interesting avenue to explore especially since Ryou's emotions, mentality and feelings on the matter were never truly addressed ever in the show, and i can see him signing up to be a teacher of History, especially since he would have gotten his love of history from his dad as well as his interest for ttrpgs, which do make you do a lot of research about the most random things for maximum accuracy
so when does he start seeing duel spirits? does it happen after Atem leaves to the afterlife or does it happen after the events of dsod where Aigami made him remember Yami Bakura taking over his body to kill Shadi? because i feel depending on the situation he would initially either be very confused or terrified that he can see spirits out of nowhere
his duel spirit buddy is Diabound Kernel, which means that even in death tkb/yami bakura is still with him, Ryou will never not be haunted but i feel that in time Ryou manages to develop an amicable relationship with Daibound Kernel, tho i think that would only happen during the plot of gx
idk why but i imagine Diabound Kernel usually whispers in Ryou's ear to kill people and by the time he became a teacher in Duel Academia he is completly deynthesised to it and tunes it out.
Diabound Kernel: you should kill that guy
Ryou making Earl Gray at 3am, not listening at all: uh huh
Ryou being a teacher at Duel Academia is so funny because on one hand, the horrors never cease for Ryou but on the other hand, gx finally has someone who actually knows whats going on and will not be keeping it to themself (looking at you principal/daitokuji). he sees Titan's duel with everyone else in ep 41 and immediately calls Yuugi because what the fuck
Yuugi: i only thought that millennium items could create shadow games!?
Yuugi: i'll ask Professor Hopkins and you inform this to Kaiba
Ryou: what do you mean 'so'!? your students could die?!?
Kaiba: but we survived it
Ryou: just because we did doesnt mean that everyone else will???
Kaiba: it builds character. and besides, if they dont overcome this measly issue by themselves they're not proper duelists anyway
i like to think that Ryou and Judai form a really sweet bond during s1. Judai is so happy to meet someone else who can see duel spirits like him and while initially Ryou is like "who is this lost child???" he grows to care about Judai as the season goes along. Judai also reminds Ryou of Yuugi and Jonouchi in the best ways (my dandelionshipping heart couldnt resist here xD),
Judai: your partner is a snake!!! thats so cool!!! :D
Ryou: ...i suppose he is cool if you look at it that way
Judai: i have a partner too!! here is Winged Kuriboh!! :DD
Diabound Kernel atempts to eat Winged Kuriboh and since then Winged Kuriboh is atleast 6 feet away at all times
by the end of s1 Ryou is absolutely done with everything and ready to quit but then s2 happens and he cannot leave his students behind. he is the only faculty who outwordly opposes the sol tries to contact the principal but to no avail. and i also think that as someone who has been possessed himself, he would have suspicions that Tarot Reader is possessed as well
Ryou: Kaiba i think one of your students is possessed and they might have taken over the school
Kaiba: it builds character
he also gets a heart attack when Judai goes missing because Judai is nowhere to be found on the island and none of the other teachers seem to care and he helps everyone else comb through the island for Judai and is just about ready to call unicef because the island is under international law and not under any government when Judai shows up for the rematch with Edo
Ryou: where were you!? we looked for you everywhere!
and during the Domino field trip arc, Ryou gets to hang out with his friends, after being assured by Judai and gang that they will take care of themselves and has a great time while Judai, Edo and Sugoroku are struggling for their lives
i think during Genex while Edo and Judai were squaring off against Cult Leader/ LoD, Ryou cannot find Bluie, Benkei and Judai and goes to tell the principal who waves off his concerns
Diabound Kernel: you should kill that guy
Ryou: i actually just might
Diabound Kernel: you shou- wait what
Ryou: this place is horrible. Safety laws are a suggestion, rights do not exist here. it is like i'm reliving the state of nature
Jonouchi: well then why dont you leave
Ryou: absolutely not why would you even say that
Ryou becomes the next dorm head!!! yay!!! the only sound descision that the principal makes in season 2 and Pharaoh is pleased to have a new assistant. the only person not happy about this is Winged Kuriboh and thats because Diabound Kernel is in the dorm as well
now about the desgin itself!
the glasses!! they look adorable on him!! is there a particular reason why he's wearing them or is it just for the aesthetic of it? because either way they look very cute on him, a+ design right here!!!
the red coat!! reminiscent of tkb!! Ryou reclaming the symbol for himself!! red is super cool colour in general so yay for that too!! i do feel that the red woul emphasize Ryou's tiredness and dark circles a lot, which ends up making Ryou look like the worlds most cutest zombie
his scarred hand reminds a bit stiff!!! i love this detail so much!! it definetly aches when the temperature drops and when it rains. even in death yami bakura will make sure that Ryou never forgets him for as long as he lives. the angst potential here is so good i love it
a funny interation between Ryou and Judai that popped up in my mind, it takes place in s1:
Judai: if it makes you feel better sensei, i also dont remember much from my childhood as well
Judai: yeah, i dont my remember my 5th birthday or my 6th birthday or my 7th birthday or—
Ryou thinking: is this kid possessed as well????
10/10 give me 10 seasons and a spin off