A surprisingly short answer compared to the rest of my pharaoh ramblings: his friends.
Obviously, assuming we mean a real laugh, not the laughter of insanity as he brings justice upon those who have hurt his friends. But for real, true laughter, it's the times between the craziness, between the life or death fights, the times between the shadow games, when he can just enjoy his time with Yugi and his friends. He can chuckle at Yugi's attempts to flirt with Anzu, he can laugh at Jounouchi and Honda's playful fighting or arguments or their conquest of depleting the local burger joint of every hamburger. It's the times when he can joke with them, that he can feel comfortable as he and Yugi converse in their shared soul rooms, or the two can switch control so quickly, so easily, as if walking in and out of a revolving door.
Or even in the past: holding in giggles with Mana while the two hid from responsibilities in giant vases or laughing over a game of Sennet with Mahaad as they share how their days went. Even the times he could get a chuckle out of the young priest Set, although much rarer, and usually only through playful jabs.
It is when he does not have to be a pharaoh, when he does not have to be a leader. It is when he does not have to save the day or protect Yugi. It is in between leading a country or in between shadow games that he can sit with his friends, and just laugh at simple, everyday things. Nothing complicated, nothing hard, just being able to live as any 17 year old would wish.
Those are the times that make Atem laugh the most.
"What makes you laugh?"
Obviously, assuming we mean a real laugh, not the laughter of insanity as he brings justice upon those who have hurt his friends. But for real, true laughter, it's the times between the craziness, between the life or death fights, the times between the shadow games, when he can just enjoy his time with Yugi and his friends. He can chuckle at Yugi's attempts to flirt with Anzu, he can laugh at Jounouchi and Honda's playful fighting or arguments or their conquest of depleting the local burger joint of every hamburger. It's the times when he can joke with them, that he can feel comfortable as he and Yugi converse in their shared soul rooms, or the two can switch control so quickly, so easily, as if walking in and out of a revolving door.
Or even in the past: holding in giggles with Mana while the two hid from responsibilities in giant vases or laughing over a game of Sennet with Mahaad as they share how their days went. Even the times he could get a chuckle out of the young priest Set, although much rarer, and usually only through playful jabs.
It is when he does not have to be a pharaoh, when he does not have to be a leader. It is when he does not have to save the day or protect Yugi. It is in between leading a country or in between shadow games that he can sit with his friends, and just laugh at simple, everyday things. Nothing complicated, nothing hard, just being able to live as any 17 year old would wish.
Those are the times that make Atem laugh the most.
(so much for a short answer this time. whoops.)