In which Joey comes across Ryou in the center of a small village that is situated along the Nile, they've somehow managed to get sucked back in time along with Yugi, Tristan, Tea, Marik and even Ishizu after visiting Pharaoh Atem's tomb exactly two years after he had returned to the afterlife.
"Um, Bakura-"
"Ryou." The White-haired boy amended flatly, correcting the blonde. He found the whole name thing slightly awkward, Ryou had been correcting the group, bar from Yugi, for around two years; two flipping years! And Joey still seemed set on getting it wrong every single time, it wasn't just occasional, like Tea, it was every time! Maybe he'd have to go as far as Tattooing 'Ryou' on his head- actually, that would be one of the stupidest ideas since he wasn't planning on cutting his hair anytime soon. Maybe a trim though. But still, was Joey actually being serious? Was he not aware on how touchy Ryou was about the name thing?
"Okay... Ryou." Joey shrugged while dragging out the name. "Why are ya wearing a towel thing on your head and a dress? Dere's sweat running down your forehead and everything." he said dumbfounded to the complexion of the boy before him. Ryou noticed the small tan forming on Joey's neck, face and arms. Obviously Joey didn't suffer from sunburn as bad as Ryou did. Although, it was the truth that he was sweating like a pig, he even smelt like one too. At the moment he was wearing some sort of headdress he'd seen many ancient Egyptians wear as well as a long commoner's tunic and frankly, his body under the clothing felt like it was in a sauna.
Ryou reached up and patted his own forehead with the back of his hand, removing the beads of sweat that were quickly forming before staring at the blonde in prolonged silence. When he answered him, his tone was mildly sarcastic. "... I wonder if there's any sun cream in ancient Egypt - Or possibly a big, giant, white and red beach umbrella? Or even some little umbrellas? And what about some thin fabricated white T-shirts to stop my shoulders from sizzling? Have you seen any of these things around because I could really use them? They'd probably lighten my mood-"
"Okay, Okay!" Joey interrupted as he caught on to what the albino was getting at. "I get what you're sayin'. Ya have to cover all that skin of yours because sunburn sucks, is that what ya want to hear?"
Ryou diverted his gaze to the ground, slightly embarrassed of his impolite outburst. "Yes. That's my problem." He said in a small voice before looking back up at Joey. "I'm sorry. The heat really is a nuisance, I'm sticky and sweaty and the sunburn I've already got really hurts." The boy slumped his shoulders and looked at Joey through gloomy eyes. "Maybe I should go and hibernate in a shaded place until nightfall comes. Then maybe I'll be in a better mood."
Joey patted Ryou's turban-thing sympathetically. "It's okay," He began with a grin. "Cause I got a better Idea." Ryou's gloomy face lit up. He let out a flustered puff and began fanning his face with his hand like some sort of girl swooning over a drop-dead gorgeous guy.
"Go on." He prompted while raising his white eyebrows.
"Maybe the locals won't mind us taking a dip in the Nile." Joey said, he looked so proud of his idea although it wasn't exactly rocket science, but Ryou nodded eagerly anyway. The thought of living in this heat for what could possibly be the rest of his life was beginning to make him feel sick and he was willing to do anything to experience something even remotely cold. Even the drinking water here was warm, it providing little relief. Also, it only made Ryou want to pee a lot more often. But what were they to do for swim trucks?
Luckily for Joey and unfortunately for Ryou, Joey was planning on skinny dipping in the Nile. If Yugi had been arrested for having the same hair as the Pharaoh, then what would the Ancient Egyptians think of public nudity? It was a gutsy idea, and it took a lot of balls to carry out, but luckily, Joey had those... and he was willing to flaunt them to reunite himself with his best bud.
A/Ns: I had a go at trying to write Joey's Brooklyn accent, it didn't turn out too well and Ryou is, well, way OOC.
If you read, thank you. I welcome all types of criticism, it'll help me improve my writing.