puppycrush2 | week one

[ IT'S OKAY, HE'S GOTTA GET USED TO IT ]

I... yeah, it would be, right? I think she was actually travelling the world for a bit helping people, so maybe she was just there right when they needed them. Or something.

[ uuuggghhhh not logistics... it's just easier to think about problems being magically solved... ]

[ logistics, man!! the phantom thieves would be mad at ryuji if he went through the whole game and didn't come out of it at least a bit more aware of The System.

one day this too will happen to mark. ]

Yeah, but it ain't like the problem's there's not enough food, right? Just that the food ain't getting to the people who need it.

[ a pause and then — ]

Sorry, I made this depressing, huh? I'm sure she can help with this though!!

[ help him ryuji ]

Oh, no! No, it's... I mean, there are so many people in the world, so I guess it would be really tough for one person to help everyone, right?

[ ... ]

Maybe it's more about... doing what we can? I don't think you even have to be a superhero for that. Though it probably helps.

[ Ryuji nods at that because that's his shit, for real! Doing what you can! ]

It's hard, bein' the person to make the big changes in the world. Especially when you try and it doesn't work out. [ wow, Ryuji, talking from experience? ] Sometimes there's an underlinin' cause for why people don't change [ LIKE THE DEMIURGE ] but sometimes it's just that you need to start smaller. I've been really into starting small lately.

... What have you been doing? When you're starting small, I mean?

[ Extremely genuinely interested... maybe this is something he can adopt? Ryuji show him the way. ]

[ Ryuji considers this because a lot of this has been thoughts he's been having but haven't acted upon. Still, it's nice to have the conversation. ]

I started physical therapy again for my leg and been volunteering a bit at the PT clinic 'cuz of it, since there's other people there for worse stuff.

And with school, I'm tryin' to get my grades up. I wanna go into something that helps people and I'll need to study for that.

It's like... about planting the seeds that'll grow into somethin' better later on. No big massive change but little shit. I tried the massive stuff and I'm proud of what I did but it was risky and didn't pan out the way I expected. Now the way I think about it, like, if I'm good to one person then maybe they'll be good to the next and then they'll be good to the next. I gotta believe that, right?

[ Ryuji you have SUCH a good heart...

Mark is listening, intently, gaze softening as he goes on. By the end of it he's nodding enthusiastically, like, yeah. Yeah, you gotta believe that. ]

That makes sense... I think that's a good way to go about things. I mean, most people are good people, right? So you help them, and then they... pay it forward, I guess. And then eventually, everyone's doing that. When things go wrong... usually people will be there to help each other.

[ Mark, specifically, has to believe that. He has to, because he is. Truly not that far away from being a part of so much death and destruction, however much he didn't actually want to be...

Just having a little internal moment there. Nothing to worry about. When he smiles again it isn't as convincing as he'd like, though. ]

That's really cool, with the clinic and getting ready to help people even in the future... I should probably start looking for stuff like that after all of this too.

[ He is just a baby boy who wants to do the right thing!!

But he brightens when it seems like Mark Gets it because that's really all he wanted, to be understood. So, he smiles brightly and nods in return. ]

We gotta believe that, right? Otherwise, what's the point? You start thinkin' the world's out to get ya, or that it's cruel on purpose, and then you'll never have hope.

[ He looks at Mark a little, catching the weakness of the smile but he won't push. He just hopes what he's saying resonates with Mark. Things have to be tough being a normal person in a superhero world, he couldn't imagine it. ]

Yeah? We're both still young and we get to shape our lives how we want 'em. I really hope you can figure out how you want to do that, Mark!

[ If his eyes get a little misty no they didn't. ]

No, no, you're right. Man, sometimes it just... feels like there's so much you can do that it's hard to narrow it down, you know? [ there is so much he, specifically, should be able to do... ] So I think your philosophy on starting small is just. It's a really good one. Maybe it'll lead to something bigger, but doing the little things is good too, like you said. It... keeps you hopeful.

[ A little exhale. whew!! This got to be a lot, not that he's complaining. It feels good to talk it out. ]

Even being here is a part of that, right? I mean, getting to meet you... But also we all have the chance to make someone's life here a little happier. That's a good thing, too.

[ Oh, Mark!! Ryuji feels like hugging him, honestly, but that might be a little weird. So, he just claps him on the shoulder and smiles brightly back at him. ]

Yeah, exactly! If we're all just a little good to each other here, we get to take it back to where we're from and do good there too. It just... it makes it easier. Digestible. Feels like shit isn't so hard as a result.

[ But he's also well aware this conversation got a little heavy so he tries to think of a way to pivot. ]

If you had to choose something to be, what'd you choose? And superhero doesn't count!

[ He says it, joking, and doesn't realize how it might come off at all. ]

[ Beams right back at the shoulder clap. Buddy!! And nods along at Ryuji's sense of doing good... They're so on the same page here, it's just, it's nice to be around someone like him.

That question, though... Mark's smile slowly fades, replaced with a more thoughtful expression. What would he choose to be... that isn't a superhero... the thing he's been dreaming of for most of his life...

... ]

Um, maybe a— [ don't say cop, dumbass— ] firefighter, or something? I'm pretty fit and I wouldn't mind rushing into danger if it meant saving someone, so... yeah, maybe that! A firefighter!

But I mean, I'm still gonna go to university, so maybe something will come up there. We still got a lot of time to figure out what we want, right? What about you, did you have anything specific in mind?

[ They're both just... good boys! And Ryuji really appreciates being around someone who has the same sense of good as he does. It's nice. It's really nice.

The answer that comes? It doesn't really surprise him. Mark does give the vibe of like... public... good. He doesn't want to say cop either because he doesn't trust cops, but if cops were good, Mark would be one of them. So, firefighter is a little more palatable for Ryuji. ]

That's a good one! People always need 'em and they really help a lot.

But going to school is def gonna help. Maybe you'll come outta there wantin' to be a doctor or lawyer or somethin' crazy like that.

[ For him though? He looks thoughtful as well, before a little shy. ]

I kinda thought about this 'cuz of my situation but I think it'd be cool to be a physical therapist? And help people learn their bodies again. I helped my friend train his body a while back to be more fit and it kind of got me thinking. But I'm not really that smart, so it'd take a lot to get there.

[ An embarrassed little laugh. ]

I'm not that smart either, so I'm not sure if I could be a doctor or a lawyer. But as long as I'm helping people then I'm happy.

[ Oh, that shyness though. Time to boost his bro up. ]

A physical therapist would be so cool for you, though. That's really one way of paying it forward. I know we haven't known each other that long, but it feels like it suits you, you know? You already know what it feels like, and you're really easy to get along with and encouraging, which I'm sure people need when they're going through that. And that's like... a big thing you could do for so many people. Maybe not big in the grand scheme of things, but huge for them.

[ oh...! he's boosted...! Ryuji looks a little touched at Mark's words and he feels his heart flip in his chest. Thank you, man. That encouragement means a lot. ]

You really think so...? That means a lot. I haven't really told a lotta people about this idea 'cuz I'm just kind of... working on it. In my head. But hearing that is really nice. Thanks, Mark. You really are great to talk to.

[ Mark's turn to be touched and feel his heart flutter a little... Who knew that being nice to someone would result in them being so nice to you in return. It really is the philosophy of the little things put into action, right here and now. ]

Ah... [ rubs the back of his neck, a little awkward, but still grinning at him. ] Thanks, man. I... I try.

But I think your heart's in the right place, so you should totally go for it. When you're ready, I mean, but you definitely should.

week one | overflow

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