puppycrush2 | week two

I do.

[he answers that so quickly and easily. . . but it'd be stranger if he didn't have any, wouldn't it? any adventurer and bounty hunter worth their salt has a few scars— and the tales of victory to match]

[he tilts a head slightly at Josuke as he feeds his pony a carrot. it's a treat the animal is all-too-eager to devour, teeth clacking and crunching together as she CONSUMES]

It's okay, though. It's all a part of the job.

Edited (I AM SO SORRY) 2024-11-19 00:38 (UTC)

[ Josuke hums, nicking a sugar cube for his own pony, even if he's nervous about giving it and doesn't even use a flat open palm. He's just, trying to hand the treat to it awkwardly. ]

And this "job"... what is it, exactly? I never did end up figuring that out.

[ The pony is struggling to get the food from him, but it gets there eventually, with him only Mildly shivering when he feels the pony's tongue. ]

I'm just a student, for the record.

[it feels like MOST PEOPLE HERE are students of some kind. . . it throws Will a bit, since he knows the general population in Euchronia is not that educated. it's yet another thing he has had to get used to hearing]

My "job". . . well. I like to tell people I'm an adventurer, or even a bounty hunter. Oh-- you should offer the treat to it with your hand open, like this.

[Will demonstrates with another carrot, which his little pony laps up just as easily as the first one]

But the truth is. . . I'm trying to become the next king of Euchronia.

[ He follows through on the instructions, his own pony finally getting its own delicious carrot and munching along with Will's. Just when he's about to ask another question -- ]

A king...?!

[ ????????? Mercifully, he has the tact to not shout despite his surprise (it would scare the ponies), but he does look very taken aback. ]

Of an entire country? For real?

["for real" RYUJI/JOSUKE CONFIRMED--]

[despite Josuke's surprise, Will keeps his own expression firm, eyes slipping shut as he gives a solemn nod]

Yes. An entire country.

[there's so much more to the story than that, of course. but. . . one step at a time, right?]

The previous king was assassinated in his bed. His only heir. . . [a beat. Will scratches behind his pony's ears, gaze a bit distant, a bit pensive] . . . died a long time ago. With no one to succeed the throne, the next ruler is to be chosen by popular vote of the people.

[ Holy shit. That's so much pressure. Still sort of appalled, he idly scratches under the pony's chin for a few moments, the silence hanging tensely. ]

So being here, it's part of your publicity, right?

[ People go on reality TV to get famous all the time -- if he's trying to become King through popular vote, then he needs to be... well, popular. Known. It makes sense, it just never occurred to him that that might be why Will came here. ]

Or is it the wish you need?

[he shakes his head!]

I don't need the wish. I don't think I could accomplish what I want to accomplish with something as simple as a wish.

[so Josuke was right the first time]

But. . . if participating in a competition like this could boost the support I have from the public even a little bit, then. . .

[it'll all have been worth it!]

I feel you. It wouldn't feel right to use something I can't trust for anything important to me...

[ Even if they do get a wish... he's not sure he'll use it. It seems far too risky and suspect. ]

But you know, that's pretty damn smart. [ He sounds impressed! ] You know what they say — any publicity is good publicity. And I think you've had a pretty good showing so far.

[ He never sees Will starting drama or being gross... so the public should totally like him. ]

[well. . . there was that drama with Minami and Anna, but that is so last week!]

Do you think so? [he sounds relieved] I hate for people to be offended that I'm not here to find a match, but it sounds like most people are the same way.

[only. . . they're after that wish]

I don't think what you're doing is offensive at all.

[ He shrugs, turning his attention back to the pony. The words are blunt, even if they're delivered with his relaxed, cooled cadence. ]

Everyone came here for their own reasons. No one has the right to tell you you were wrong for it. [ unless someone came here to do something truly diabolical, that's when it becomes everyone's problem. ] I mean, I only came here to take a vacation.

[ So they both kinda came here not for the purpose of matches. Either way, he doesn't think it's a big deal. ]

I actually think it's great you're taking any opportunity you can to get to your goal. You must want to help the other people in your tribe when you become king, huh?

[they're blunt, but they help Will relax. funny how Josuke has that effect on him. . . first the pep talk about his tribe, and now this]

[he smiles at his own horse, offering her a sugar cube to lap up as he continues to scratch her ears. she's such a patient creature]

I do. But not just the people of my tribe.

[the elda aren't the only ones who face prejudice, after all. the paripus, the nidia, the eugief, the mustari. . . his voice is soft, but there's a certain level of firm determination behind his words when he next speaks]

I want to build a future where tribe doesn't matter at all. Where anyone can have dreams and believe in themselves. . . regardless of who they are, or how they look.

[ Just like he imagined... Will is a really kind person. He smiles lopsidedly, glancing over at him with a bit of renewed fondness. He can see the fire burning in those eyes — he knows he's telling the truth, that he's truly running towards this goal with all he has. Josuke really respects and admires that... ]

Well, damn, you're a stand up guy, Will.

[ Casual and laid-back as the words are, he says them with a warmness, approval clear in his cool timbre. He tilts his head, quirking a brow. ]

Anything the rest of us can do to help? Not exactly like I can vote for you, but maybe there's something.

[ He asks it as naturally as anything — sure, he doesn't know all the details of Will's world, but based on what he's heard already about the treatment of Will's people, of course he's going to support a future where no one has to suffer like that anymore. While they're here on the same show, he'll do what he can to help that goal along; that's just the obvious, common decency thing to do, in his mind. ]

[and the offer earns Josuke another smile, bright and grateful]

Your support for my cause is enough. As is treating the people around you with kindness. After all. . .

[the pony nuzzles into his ribs, clearly seeking out more food. Will laughs, bright and fond]

I can dream big, but change doesn't occur in a single day. Nor does it happen because of the wishes of just a single person.

If the world is going to change. . . it's going to require all of us to change with it.

[ Will is pretty wise... for someone so cute looking, he's actually so serious and focused on matters much larger than himself that it's a little surprising. Josuke's never had far reaching goals like that, never concerns himself with the big picture. Being the protector of his hometown is plenty enough pressure on his shoulders.

His own horse starts doing the same to him, but he twists a little comedically, concerned it's going to start chewing on his nice clothes... ]

Yeah, things never change overnight. But it sounds like you've got the will [ haha ] to see things through.

[ As long as he has the drive to reach that goal, isn't that what matters? That spirit might carry on for generations. ]

Are there a lot of other... candidates? There must be a pretty big struggle for power, huh.

[omg. . . Josuke. . . Will lifts a hand to his mouth to cover his amused smile as he watches his companion do a li'l pony dance. the creature probably will start nibbling on his shirt if he doesn't feed her!1]

You're right. The struggle for power is pretty. . . intense. [and he feels like he is putting it so mildly, too] The candidate pool started at several hundred, but it has diminished to less than twenty now. Out of those who remain. . .

[hmmm]

. . . Sanctifex Forden-- that is, the head of the church I was telling you about-- is in the lead.

Well, sure, but that's a given.

[ The Church seems to have a lot of influence... they're gonna start in a strong lead, no matter how the cookie crumbles. The pony is in fact chewing on the end of his shirt, and he's gently in a tug of war with it... he's not gonna let it stop him from talking to Will, though. ]

But people like an underdog story... I'm sure that's true even in your world. [ He believes in him!!! ] I imagine you're far from the only one who has problems with how things are. You've already made it pretty damn far, if it went from several hundred to twenty.

[nodding in agreement. it's definitely a given. also Will is coming to save him from the pony by offering the cranky creature a carrot]

I'm definitely not the only one who is advocating for change.

[and here. . . he pauses, brows knitted together, features tight]

[. . .]

The person in second place-- Louis Guiabern-- is a strong critic of the Sanctist church's teachings. He didn't care for the previous king, either.

[ oh thank god.... he happily accepts Will's help, holding his hands up and out of the way. ]

So, then... isn't that good? There's more of a chance someone will win and balance the scales.

[ If there are multiple people in the race looking to tear down the new order, that seems like a pretty good outcome to him, at least in his imagination. ]

[l. . . lmfao. the way Will tenses, his gaze trained sharply on the pony as he feeds it a carrot, narrowing slightly, may be a bit. . . telling. . .]

[. . .]

[after a moment. . . he looks up, directly at one of the cameras, and replies]

He has a lot of public support. Many people-- like him-- were unhappy with the previous king.

"Unhappy," how?

[ Will's tenseness is telling. He backpedals. ]

You said most of the people in your "world" look down on the elda, your tribe. So, if that same majority is unhappy with the king... I guess the next person in line that's supported by them isn't going to be favorable to you. Right?

[pointedly]

[looking]

[at another one of the cameras]

[and then he turns back to Josuke and smiles]

. . . we're both trying to become king. So I suppose you could say. . . we're rivals?

week two | dates

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mild early game metaphor spoilers!!

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