puppycrush2 | week one

[Will can be pretty quick to become ride-or-die for people too, so in that respect, they are alike! besides, he thinks Anna is right-- they are in this together, and some people have important wishes that need granting. they won't achieve that if they don't try to coordinate, right?]

[(LAUGHTRACK IN MATCH CEREMONY REVEALS)]

[but at any rate. . . for now, Will shall remain blissfully unaware of what happened with Asa. he hasn't had the chance to speak to Asa himself yet, but he had noticed that she and Anna got along pretty well. that's something he is going to ask Anna about next week, for sure!1]

It actually wasn't so bad. The trip was surprisingly short.

[. . .]

And I'm glad we had the chance to talk. I actually didn't want to go to sleep without at least saying goodnight.

Edited 2024-11-17 04:16 (UTC)

Aw, c'mon, you're too sweet! You really know what to say to a girl.

[ really putting on a good show for those cameras. see how devoted he is? if to one person, why not a nation? considerate and caring... they're important traits for everyone to see. ]

... But I was planning on staying up until you got back, so let's call it even.

[ thank goodness he got back when he did though a midnight vigil would've gotten her teased for sure. sitting by the window like some lovelorn teenage girl. mmmmm. her appetite's definitely back, she's really enjoying her meal now. ]

[does he? does he really know what to say?? he's just being honest, but. . . for some reason, that does make him feel a little happy]

All right. We're even, then.

[a beat]

[a few tags ago Peace said Anna was a messy eater, so-- don't mind Will as he suddenly reaches out to brush his thumb across the corner of her mouth, dusting away a bit of crumbs]

I didn't think about it, but I should have brought you a fork, too.

[gently endeared]

[ (aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa)

her cheeks flush and she turns her face away to wipe at any other potential ones, suddenly very done with her meal even if she isn't as she folds it back up. ]

I-I'll save the rest for later when I have one, then! It's a pretty good finger food, but it's definitely meant to be eaten properly. Um, it's really good. Like, really really good. You were totally right about the spices. Do you cook a lot?

[ please let's just get it off her ]

[a gentle chuckle when she turns away, and his hand drops back into his lap]

I do when I'm on the road. Mostly with my friends. I find cooking to be a great bonding experience.

[all the recipes he knows he has learned from other people!]

I won't say I'm great at it, but I really do try.

Me too. I make my own lunches back home, so I know a little of this, a little of that. I've even made a perfect omurice before!

[ flipped that baby like a pro... heheh. so proud of that. ]

What're your friends like?

Omurice?

[WHAT IS OMURICE. HE WANTS IT!]

[but he perks up when she asks about his friends, his smile turning more into a beam, because clearly he loves talking about them!]

[TIME FOR A WORDY DUMP]

Strohl is like an older brother to be-- he's a noble who has been working to restore peace to his people after their village was destroyed. He was the first to throw his support behind my cause.

Hulkenberg is a royal knight. She can be a bit old-fashioned, and she has strange taste in food. . . but she is the most loyal person I have ever met.

Neuras is an inventor who is fascinated by anything mechanical. He drives our gauntlet runner, and its through his innovation that our vehicle was able to sail across the ocean.

Junah is a famous singer. She's playful, but kind. She can be a little impulsive, but her heart is in the right place and you can always count on her to give things her all.

Gallica is my shoulder fairy. She has been with me since my time in the village. . . it's been strange not having her here, because we've rarely ever been separated. But while sometimes she picks on me and scolds me, I know she'll always have my back.

And Eupha. . . she's our newest friend. She's a priestess of the mustari tribe, with a heart of gold and passion to match. She'd do anything for her people, and I can't help but admire that.

It's a rice and omelet dish! Super yummy.

[ she'll have to make it for him sometime... hope he likes his eggs a little sweet. the yanamis do.

but she listens to him talk, noting... how many girls... are in this group of his a little unhappily. with that many, there's no way he didn't feel some kind of attraction??? even like, a moment? a milisecond of a crush? she exhales shortly, kicking in the water a little more. not enough to splash just... movey. ]

They sound nice. [ chilly. ] You sure have a lot of girl friends, though.

[ he's getting to experience her first major flaw....... ]

[oh my god]

[OBLIVIOUS AND UNAFFECTED]

Gallica, Eupha, Junah, Hulkenberg. . . oh. I've never thought about it, but I suppose so.

[ALSO I]

[FUCKING FORGOT HEISMAY]

[BECAUSE I'M A HORRIBLE PERSON]

[please pretend he also said something like, "Heismay is the oldest member of our group, but also the sharpest and smartest. He seems harsh at a first glance, but deep down he's kind and nurturing. Sometimes. . . he feels a little bit like my father."]

[ u got it babe. balance those numbers a little. ]

Close with any of them? Besides your "fairy", I mean.

[ like, seriously? even giving her a cute title like "shoulder fairy"? ]

[just as many guys as girls. . . how could I forget Heismay he is the best]

I only just met Junah and Eupha, but I think I would consider myself close to them all. . .?

[giving her a puzzled look now??]

. . . they're all supporters of my cause. I appreciate that about them. I don't think I could have come as far as I have without all of them by my side.

[and by "all of them" he means the girls AND the guys]

[ ugh......... he really sounds like he'd be a perfect pair with that eupha girl, too....... both passionate and eager to help their people. hearts of gold. she's probably drop dead gorgeous and kind. but there's gallica to consider. another childhood friend. his life's chock full of them, huh? hulkenburg sounds like she'd be more married to her job than he is his dream, but junah's definitely another threat. famous singer? more like siren.

...

anna's the intruder though, she can't forget that. it doesn't make her feel any better, but it is fact. ]

Well, I'm glad you have them. Maybe you don't need any help in the leadership department after all.

[wait a minute. . . Will can be pretty dense, but not that dense, and he think he is starting to sense. . .]

Yana-chan. . .

Are you jealous?

[he doesn't sound bothered! just bewildered]

Of course not! Why would I be? I mean, needing publicity or not, I don't think you'd agree to this, [ them, ] if you had a thing for someone!

[ unless he's DUMB.

...

but. she is jealous, of course, since those girls sound like they've got a lot more going for them than she does. her hand comes up to play with her hair again, moody. ]

All your friends sound wonderful, Will-kun. It'd be nice to meet them too someday.

Edited (important addition) 2024-11-18 15:25 (UTC)

[HE IS DUMB. . .]

[but he draws up a smile and shakes his head]

They are wonderful people. I'd like for you to meet them sometime.

And you don't have to worry. They're my precious friends, but that's all they are. Friends.

Edited 2024-11-18 17:22 (UTC)

[ yeah she's gonna heckle him someday about that other one.

... will's been honest and open with her from day one, and she has no reason not to believe him now. but he's also. thinking of minami. he's kind of. he is sort of. if someone else liked him, then--

actually, no, if someone else liked him then it's their fault for not saying anything before, mission be damned. there's always time for love. for telling someone they're important to you. don't look back on this in a few weeks if she can't spit a word out. ]

... Okay. [ they missed that ship anyway. ] I believe you. One of them sounds really married to her job anyway.

[ two of them if she really wants to cut that golden heart girl out of the race. which she does. ]

Think they'll tease you for bagging a babe like me first day?

[I HOPE SHE DOES, HE'LL BE SO TAKEN ABACK--]

Junah definitely will.

[she has teased him so many times that he knows she isn't going to let the whole "whirlwind romance" thing with Anna go. she may even be proud of him for moving so quickly and decisively. traits of a true king!!]

But mostly, I think they'll just be happy.

[ nevermind she asked him out, right. ]

Because you're having fun and making friends?

[ like he's some kid ]

[YES YES, SMALL DETAILS!!]

Of course. But also-- because I'm happy.

[they'll be happy that he's happy!!]

You are?

[ even though the fate of so many tribes are resting on his shoulders and he's here on some dumb TV show trying to campaign his reign? ]

I mean, it's not bad here, and it's pretty fun... but I'm pretty impressed you're not more worried.

[HE NEEDED A VACATION. HE DIDN'T SAY IT BECAUSE HE IS DUTY-BOUND BUT GOD DID HE NEED THIS--]

[not that he realizes how much he needed it, either]

If we were on a tighter deadline, I might be.

[but as things are, his party back home is kind of stuck in a waiting game. they have a several week stretch of free time before their next big move, and. . . well. they are all agreed: why shouldn't Will spend that doing something productive for his campaign?]

[like going on a dating competition and becoming more popular!!]

But right now, there isn't much to worry about. It gives me time to focus on what's happening here.

[both for purposes of a) gaining public favor, b) earning everyone their wishes, and c) . . . meeting and connecting with new people]

Oh, okay. That's pretty cool.

[ ... heheh. she's bumping his shoulder a little. ]

Soooooooo... what's made you the happiest?

[ and why is it ~her~, ]

[Anna I hope you're actually prepared for it to be YOU]

Meeting you has made me the happiest, of course.

[and he MEANS it because Will isn't capable of being anything but grossly sincere]

I've really enjoyed getting to know you, Yana-chan.

[and she is another follower in his cause, which. . .! as she probably knows by now. . . means so much to him]

[ she's not can she abort this conversation how does he say stuff like that with a straight face he's a different kind of stupid than nukumizu she's contemplating the pool again but she has to say something similar in return for the sake of the show-- ]

W-Well... there's still plenty of time to get to know me more, so. You've got that to look forward to.

[ help. help. please. someone help. ]

But, um... you've... made me happy too, Will-kun.

[hehe. . . warm fuzzies. . .]

. . . it's getting late though, isn't it?

[he did return awfully close to bedtime]

I don't want to keep you up too long. Are you getting tired?

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mid-game metaphor spoilers don't look!!! I'M WATCHING YOU PEOPLE ON FLATVIEW!!!!!

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