((answering for Gala!verse, but honourable mentions to Isabel, Carmon, Ryou, and Ryuzaki of other verses))
‘Favourite’ is such a difficult word--and this is even assuming that he’s limited to living persons! “First of all, I’m redacting that word and replacing it with ‘most important’.”
“Which, unsurprisingly, starts with Seto... and then everything gets muddled. Mai, maybe? Siegfried--if only because we’re in a relationship? I don’t love him, but you’re asking me to pick three people and I’m stuck after naming one. The others have been very nice, and I don’t dislike any of them.”
“--in fact, most of the time I like them more than I like Siegfried. I just don’t feel the same type of connection; Siegfried is my partner, and he allows me an outlet for things I can’t do with someone like Yugi. Right now, those things are important to me.”
Mai couldn’t help but laugh. “You might be right, honey, but look at me. I’ve got cash, and I don’t love.” Granted she didn’t want love. “Better yet, look at Kaiba. What’s money ever done for him romantically? Actually…don’t answer that.”
“I don’t know about Seto, but it seems to be doing fine for Siegfried,” Amelda replied, teasing. Although, forgive him if his head slowly sunk into Mai’s lap, gesturing to the ceiling. “I’m what... one of five people he’s seeing right now? Most of them in for it for the money--although Yvette’s nice. I think I’m the only one who doesn’t care.”
“So I’m hearing. They’re already closing down the airport...” Amelda muttered into his phone, free hand sifting through his hair. So, Siegfried couldn’t leave. Whether this was poor planning or intentional--whatever that meant--he wasn’t sure yet.
💓 - And a name to ask if they would start a [romantic] relationship with them.
Mai / @harpypunk: “…of all people, her? Isn’t she already taken twice over–thrice over, if you believe the tabloids. Anyway, I’m not interested, so no. Not unless, by some miracle, she purposefully and successfully sets out to change my mind.”
Seto / @sethokai: “No. No, and I resent that everyone claims to know how I feel! I realise, on a few occasions, I’ve damned myself, but it’s really… just not like that. I want to be friends, and if I’ve ever wanted more than that, it wasn’t romance.”
“Frankly, the thought is a little uncomfortable.”
Valon / N/A: “Even if I knew where the Hell he was, I’d have to be out of my mind to try something with him. Nevermind the fact that Valon radiates heterosexuality–and if he’s not, I think I’d die of shock first.”
✮- And a name to hear their real feelings for them.
Mai: “‘Real feelings’. I think she’s a headstrong, stubborn, impossible woman. That being said, most of my animosity toward her is really just petty at this point. She’s probably not actually awful, but I’m stubborn.”
Seto: “I’ve said all I’m willing to say publicly. If Seto wants to approach me privately and ask, then he’s welcome to. I’ll talk to him, not you.”
Valon: “I don’t know. Sometimes, I view him as an antagonistic part of my life I’d rather not see again. Other times, I’m less sure. We grew up together, but we were never close or even really got along. If he showed up, I might give him a chance, but that’s as much as I can guarantee.”
// Verse depending ofc, but I had a sterling realisation that in a few of them--Gala!verse in particular--the last person to have actually held Amelda (circa 13 years old) was Dartz.
// Thinking about potential ships within the group verse. LIKE shipping isn’t a 100% priority?? but it feels weird being the only member of the core group--or at least of those who attended the gala--that isn’t paired off in some way.
and... upon coming up with nothing substantial, I’m standing by my theory that Amelda seduces an AI.
// A partial timeline of Amelda’s relationship with Siegfried, mostly for my reference. Right now, it’s only through July, but... I need a break.
I’ll update & probably edit it later, because I’m sure I’ve missed some things, too.
April: Amelda contacts Siegfried, seeking friendship. Warns @sethokai about it, but overall not all optimistic about the experience. Yet, Siegfried one ups Amelda by proposing a romantic relationship.
April: The rules of their relationship are discussed at length, and it becomes a sort of game for them both. Amelda wants the fantasy of a loving, cliche romance. Siegfried wants to know more about the mysterious stranger that’d been introduced as a “Legendary Duelist” at Seto’s gala. Plus, it'll annoy Seto.
April: Amelda sends @harpypunk a picture of the lingerie Siegfried sent him.
April: Their first date. Siegfried takes him to see the cherry blossoms. Amelda enjoyed himself more than he wanted to admit.
April: A candid photo of their date was sent to Seto
April: Amelda becomes determined to beat Siegfried in Duel Monsters
May: (Amelda wins)
May: They visit an aquarium for their second date. What starts off as a good time enjoying marine life ends with Amelda having a vivid, magic-fueled episode -- complete with visceral hallucinations. It freaks Siegfried out.
May: A typhoon ravages Domino, trapping Siegfried in Japan for a little while longer. In the midst of the storm, Amelda has another episode, dragging Siegfried out into the storm. He is understandably terrified. Amelda passes out shortly after he summons Siegfried’s Valkyries to bring them to the safety of Kaiba Manor.
May: Siegfried spends the remainder of the storm contemplating his relationship with Amelda -- all while Amelda is firmly attached to him, recuperating from his breakdown. Despite his reservations, they stay together.
May: Amelda & Mai talk about his virginity, including Amelda’s hesitation to want sex with Siegfried.
June: Siegfried sends Amelda a bottle of sherry.
June: Amelda immediately re-gifts it to @toyboxgadget for his birthday. Yugi gets him tipsy and they talk about boys.
June: Siegfried invites him to attend E3, but Amelda declines.
June: Amelda includes Siegfried in his list of “3 favourite people” but says he doesn’t love him -- @nomightbutmine gives him shit about it.
June: Amelda asks Seto if he can borrow his kitchen to teach Siegfried. He declines, although they briefly discuss his relationship during a different, related visitation. Amelda is still hesitant about Siegfried, assuring Seto that it’s not like he can and/or plans to marry him.
July: In one of their usual afternoon video calls, Siegfried insists (again) that Amelda is attractive. Amelda believes him this time, and if he wasn’t so embarrassed he'd be touched.
July: Siegfried crashes Amelda and Mai’s trip to Venice for a night. They talk about the future of their relationship--or lack thereof--while Mai is showering. They’ve started getting in too deep -- stubbornly trying to cling to their “game” even if it’s clearly become more than that.
July: Fresh from Venice, Amelda is immediately roped into another [traumatizing] excursion with Kaiba aboard a cruise ship destined for Spain.
July: After killing Gozaburo’s ghost--among other things--the ship reaches port where, again, Siegfried is waiting for him, hotel room already prepared for them.
July: Still shaky from the experience, Amelda tries & fails to get Siegfried to fuck him after an equally shaky first kiss. Minding Amelda’s fragile state & not wanting to take advantage of him, Siegfried declines, proposing a shared bath instead. It helps.
July: Their conversation wanders to the future again, culminating into an awkward-but-sincere “I love you” from Siegfried. Amelda doesn’t say it back.
The second night was greeted with underwire, silicone, and far too many petticoats. A bra, borrowed from a friend nearly thrice his bust, silhouetted an unnaturally full figure under jacquard and lace. If it weren’t for the dress--Siegfried mused aloud, laces taught between nimble fingers--you’d surely look ridiculous. It helped. Albeit, Amelda still staggered against each pull, yearning for a time when the bodice was fit snug and proper. Then they could finally get on with the night.
He wondered where Siegfried learned to lace up dresses.
Yet, the ending came without fanfare, simply tucking loose ends into Amelda’s skirt. Leaving the bow would look tacky on such a nice gown, would it not? Either way, Siegfried wouldn’t have it, and that was that. He paid for the dress, and Amelda would simply have to wear it the proper way or not at all. Albeit, somehow he imagined Amelda would do both eventually that night--and not just for the sake of taking it off to sleep. After all, it surprised him til the very moment they entered the ballroom that Amelda had insisted on such bourgeoisie finery.
It hardly suited him, but perhaps that was the point? They were attending a masquerade, and if it weren’t for the striking burgundy of his hair, then who would have guessed?
