For the meme: 6, 8 and 39 for Irateshipping; 8, 11 and 34 for Fragileshipping?

For Irateshipping:

6. When did they realize they loved each other? ALRIGHT. alright. I actually have this one kind of planned out in advance. They did it at different points. Marik fell first without question, it was when he met face-to-face with Joey that it solidified fully. In my head, it absolutely goes: Joey: "(says some kind of incredibly lame pun, e.g. 'I just had to hit that thug on the head with my Duel Disk. I guess you could say I decked him, eh? Eh??)" -> Marik, internally: "Oh man he's so stupid I NEED him so bad." However it then sort of simultaneously both soured and got stronger when Joey broke free of his mind control. It's a kind of paradox; Marik is in love with Joey because he can't control him, but Marik absolutely hates Joey because he can't control him, but Joey isn't interesting when he's not fully himself, but Marik can't do anything with him when he isn't mind controlled. Complex! After the Battle City affair, I think Marik just sort of resigns himself to thinking, "OK, this was just kind of a weird crush I have on a guy who probably hates me now, so I guess I'll just have to cope with this alone until it goes away."

By contrast, I think Joey had kind of a weird relationship to it; he had kind of an attraction to "Namu" as a pretty and nice guy he met, but it was just sort of like. A flirtation. Minor problem. Still other fish in the sea and all that. After Joey figured out he was Marik, though, I think he repressed any and all romantic attraction down as far as possible, with the exception that some of the reason he was pissed originally was just being kind of mad he had that crush at first. Anyways Joey only realizes he's in love with Marik after Some Time (could be anywhere from a few months to years, depending on if he goes to visit Rishid sooner or later), a very awkward reunion, a week-long fight, getting eventually chewed out by Anzu in those "JOEY WHEELER WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU???" talks she likes to give out, stealing a car to go drive out in the middle of the desert to be alone for a minute, having the Moment of Realization and nearly crashing said stolen car in his panic. Woops!

8. What’s one way their personalities compliment one another? Oughghgh okay so. I think it's really interesting how their personalities are both so similar but so different. They're both very stubborn and pretty righteous, while simultaneously having a ton of old built-up guilt. However, they have a lot of differences too. Joey is hot-blooded and willing to pick a fight with just about anyone versus Marik being more of a "master manipulator" type that prefers to let other people settle the score. Joey also tends to be extroverted and makes friends pretty easily if he doesn't freak them out with how passionate he is about, well, everything, while Marik is um. A little stilted when it comes to social interactions (I am betting good money "Namu" usually got by on good looks and brainwashing people to vouch for him whenever that particular character got used). So all this is to say, I think they have potential to actually help each other out a lot when they work together - Marik keeps Joey from making rash decisions or helps him find smarter ways to get around problems, and Joey keeps Marik from getting too isolated and better at dealing with his own problems instead of letting Rishid and Ishizu fix them for him (again).

39. What other couple would your otp get along with the best? I'm going to be honest with you I don't know if this counts but if visionshipping also happens I think they would have a fascinating relationship. Like a sort of friendly rivalry/thematic parallels/less friendly rivalry on the part of mai/marik thing going on. The autistic teenage homosexuals have unionized against the socially awkward 20something lesbians. I think it would be really fun to see them in a double duel (nobody is allowed to use god cards.) Does that count?

For fragileshipping (wow this is getting really long sorry):

8. What’s one way their personalities compliment one another? The irony of Atem being a literal ghost and yet significantly more down-to-Earth than Ryou is never lost on me. I think that most people outside of their relationship tend to dismiss Ryou as being very quiet and introverted, but he's just shy lol - once they're just around one another, Ryou is definitely the more energetic one that is absolutely having incredibly bad ideas, and Atem is going along with them because Ryou is his dear boyfriend and so can do no wrong and have no incredibly bad ideas. right? right???? (said while holding a knife as Ryou tries to figure out if you really can make cake out of ergot-infested wheat). Guy who gets into problems x guy who keeps on getting dragged into them. However I do think its good for Atem to relax a little sometimes lol

11. Which member is more physically affectionate? They are both touchstarved as Hell so they're significantly touchier than your average couple anyways but Hmm. maybe Atem? I feel like Atem goes with constant but minor physical affection (holding hands, casually leaning against him while playing games or watching movies, etc.) whereas Ryou doesn't go for physical affection a ton but when he does Watch Out. One time Atem had to go away for a tournament for like two weeks and when he got back Ryou pounced on him like Hobbes and rested his chin on top of his head with his arms wrapped around Atem like a clingy octopus for the next 24 hours. He Gets Lonely.

34. Do they give each other nicknames? this is a tough one. I feel like if we have a pre-Millennium World situation, then Ryou def had a nickname for Atem to try and differentiate him from Yugi- I'm not sure what it would be though. Incredibly tempted to say Mister Ghost/Mister Spirit just because Ryou is a Polite Young Man. I have a hard time picturing them using a ton of nicknames, but inside Atems head there are definitely five billion poetic epithets of courtly romance he uses for Ryou like:

Ryou: *picking dead lizard off the ground* Do you think reptiles taste like chicken because birds evolved from dinosaurs? Or do you think they taste like fish because their diets are closer and they absorb the taste of all the flies and worms they eat

Atem internally: ah... my angel... what beautiful and intricate lines and connections u draw across the world.... how sweet and like the white winged-dove you are... like a glorious spirit from above