puppycrush2 | week one

[ he huffs and turns his back again, assuming incorrectly that Mark will actually leave; Steve thought he came off pretty meek in their previous interaction, so surely he'd get the message. He remains there for a few more moments, lost in his thoughts, before releasing his grip and letting his hand fall to his side. What he really needs is a distraction. The golden lugers are sitting at the end of his bed, hidden under some laundry; with a sigh, he reaches down to pick one up, glancing it over as he turns to sit on the covers --

only to see a figure in the doorway. ]

Wah! [ a very manly yelp. Fortunately, he recognizes it to be Mark pretty quickly. ] Dammit -- w-why are you still here?

[ Mark looks up sharply at Steve's cry, almost ready to spring into action until he realizes he's the cause of it. He relaxes then, exhaling a sigh of relief — but still doesn't move. ]

I thought you could use some company. [ A simple answer, accompanied by shrug. ] You want to be left alone, fine, I can do that. I just... didn't think you should be alone, is all.

[ cynical Steve rolls his eyes at that. ]

I don't see how your company's gonna help.

[ i'm sorry mark ]

[ don't be, he needs to told off sometimes

so he can remain undeterred. sorry steve ]

Like having nobody around is going to help instead?

It's sure not gonna make me feel worse.

[ which he can't say of everyone else here - maybe even of most of them. He sits down on the bottom bunk as previously intended, flopping onto his back and spinning the gun around one finger by the trigger guard. ]

[ Mark doesn't move, just watches Steve spin his gun around. (Which seems kind of dangerous, but, they probably aren't loaded. Steve said so earlier...) It almost feels like he's gonna lash out if he approaches him, so he's just going to stay in place for the time being.

You know, like when trying to convince a traumatized dog you're friendly actually. ]

How about trying to feel better instead of staying worse?

[ His voice is soft, but his words are just a liiiittle snippy. C'mon man. ]

[ that is the exact right approach. Steve remains horizontal while replying, calling out his answer. ]

I'm not getting better, man, I'm dead.

[ among other things, but the dead part is the troubling one. ]

But you're here right now. I've seen a lot of weird shit, but I've never had a conversation with a dead guy before. So you aren't exactly the typical dead at the moment.

[ His voice softens. ]

Why not try to make the best of things where you can...?

[ a loud sigh. ]

What's the point? [ then, grumbled: ] I don't believe in dumb things like wishes, anyway.

[ in his mopey state, he's starting to question why he's even bothering to play along with this game. A solution that convenient doesn't exist. This is probably some bizarre deathbed hallucination he's having. ]

[ ... Mark is just going to sit down. Here, on the floor, still away from Steve. He leans his back against the wall, like he's going to get as comfortable as he possibly can and there's nothing Steve can do about him still being here.

And yet, his voice is genuinely curious. ]

Then why are you here? [ A beat. ] I'm here for the wish. Even if it doesn't work... I don't know. I feel like I have to at least try.

How would I know why I'm here? I just figured this was the afterlife or something. It's not like I can go anywhere else.

[ his arm flops over to lay on the bed, defeated. ]

I... don't think this is the afterlife. It'd be a pretty weird one.

[ He pauses, long enough that Steve might think he's done talking — except no, he's not. Just... trying to figure out what to say, again. ]

If you can't go anywhere else now, why not make the best of this? Maybe you'll be able to go somewhere else after.

Yeah, easy for you to say.

[ grumble. he brings his other arm to rest over his eyes. It'd be nice if he could just get a nap in or something - maybe he'd feel better. ]

[ In Mark's opinion, there are very few things that are easy for him to say as of late — but he is not dead, he did not die, so Steve might actually be right on this one.

Well, shit.

He's quiet again. ]

I guess it is. I don't know what you're going through, or if you'll be okay. I can't.

The only thing I do know is that you're here right now, and as long as you are, then there's still a chance at something better. And... I dunno, I just hope you take it.

[ But he'll get up to leave now — that really is the best he's got. An optimism he has to cling to for dear life, too. Might as well try to share it. ]

week one | overflow

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