puppycrush2 | week two

[ oh my god. you're so useful, josuke. she feels so much better when he's patting her back... that thing's going back in and being mercilessly crunched though. try and kill her, huh. see how long you last in these pearly white gnashers. ]

I'm fine now. Thanks, Josuke-kun. I seriously would've died if you weren't here.

[ nevermind it's his fault in the first place, technically...

anna stabs another grape, but it's... just to stab at it. it doesn't lessen her pink cheeks, which are not from her choking. ]

Will-kun's just a decent man, like you. Whatever he feels about it, I've been serious about him since day one.

[ you know, love at first sight and all that. or so she's claimed. ]

[ It's his #1 skill.... making everyone feel better :) ]

Well, if he's doing all that about the Embrace Space and stuff, he's gotta feel somewhat serious about it.

[ Though... also, Will said he only came here for his political campaign. Maybe his situationship with Yanami is just a happy accident? Or is he just trying to be diplomatic? ]

What do you mean, "whatever he feels about it," anyway? Shouldn't you know?

[ ??? he's seen yall go in there and hang out there's no way they've just been making small talk this whole time, right... ]

Checking in with me is because he knows how I feel about cheating, that's all, really. A decent guy, promise. He's good and kind. I mean, of course he's doing it because we're together, but it's kind of a courtesy thing.

[ that much is true, it is because he knows how she feels about cheating and potential cheating.

but crap, right, she should, shouldn't she? because they're oh-so-close and stuff? that poor, ravaged grape is being paired with a cheese and eaten. god, she wishes she had some meat. salami would kill with this. ]

... Will-kun... is both easy and hard to read.

[ this. too. is true. but not for the reasons that one might assume. reasons she cannot confess to towards her fellow contestants for the most part. ]

But I guess if you think so, then there's truth to it.

[ He still thinks she should have an inkling... during the first week, he might've thought Will passive enough to just be swept up into anything around him. He knows better now, though; Will's a pretty resolute guy. If he's by Yanami's side, there must be a reason for it. ]

I'm just an outside observer, [ He drawls, looking up when a waiter brings by two flutes of fancy grape juice for them. ] The only way you'll know for certain is to ask him directly.

[ That's what he thinks she should do, anyway... based on his impression of him, Will doesn't seem like he'd be a very good liar. Asking him straight out ought to do the trick! ]

[ uuuuuggggggggghhhhhhhh thanks for the drink she's draining the whole thing in one go. this is something she really can do, setting the glass down firmly. ]

... Not a chance.

What? Why not?

[ Visible confusion??? Seems like a pretty obvious solution to him... he's gonna wait on the juice until he gets to the bottom of this. ]

Confidential. But there's no way I can ask him, okay? Just trust me on that.

[ moodily picking at her cheese now.

... it... sure does seems like she wants to be asked about it though, not gonna lie, with how she peeks at her from under her bangs. maybe. ]

If the two of you are going to keep picking each other, it's probably best to get to the bottom of these things... sooner rather than later.

[ Which he offers mildly, keeping his comment contained to the matters of the game so that she hopefully doesn't take it too personally. It's possible there's a real reason she can't talk about it, which he can understand. But the way she's peeking at him through her bangs makes him think she's just being bashful about it. ]

[ ...

back to spearing a poor grape. another board arrives, this time with Stinky Cheeses, and anna stares at one before giving it a shot

and deciding she isn't a fan. ]

It's for publicity.

Will told me he came here because of an election, yeah.

[ He's not as brave as Anna, he's not even going to attempt to eat stinky cheese. He'll just keep eating crackers. It's pretty easy to make the next logical conclusion, but he's careful with his words, his voice gentle. ]

Was pairing up with you part of that?

Wanna know how it went?

[ with the tone of it's a pretty stupid story. ]

Also, you cannot tell anyone else. We did it in front of cameras, so I don't really care about those.

[ He gives her a flat look over the rim of his grape juice, almost as if to say really? ]

I'm not gonna tell.

[ He likes to think he's a pretty trustworthy guy... ]

I just want to help.

I trust you, I just wanna make sure.

[ because it's very important. their little act. that's apparent as she twiddles her toothpick. ]

So, he overheard me saying that he was my type, and I pretty much immediately asked him what he was here for if it wasn't love, and he said publicity. So I told him we should date.

[ like

within two minutes of knowing him, from the sounds of it. ]

There's no one better at drawing attention than me, [ for better and worse, ] so I figured I could help out -- everyone loves a tale of love at first sight, an immediate spark, and being with someone could show off sides that he might not be able to show off otherwise. I didn't actually know why he needed it until he sat me down with a book and told me about the election stuff though.

[ and even then, there's more to it. she ignores the stinky cheeses and goes for more fruit. ]

... We're both getting something out of it, and if I start to like someone else then it's an amicable end to our whirlwind romance. Those were the terms.

[ but. the problem. is pretty easy to puzzle out. ]

[ Josuke listens intently, brow creasing the more she goes on. On its face, it's a pretty smart plan. Better for Will to get involved with someone quickly and get screentime rather than be stuck in the middle between a bunch of other matches. It helps him keep his image stable, too — easier for any of the masses to remember.

That's about where the cleverness of the plan wears off, though. He leans his cheek into one of his hands, propping an elbow up on their shared table. ]

Right, but now it's not only about logistics, for you.

[ She's right, it is easy to puzzle out. For what it's worth, he looks deep in thought, now understanding why she might read all of Will's actions as part of his act for publicity, or his considerations as practical parts of their terms. His brow furrows, the immediate solution evading him — but he's going to simmer on it, let him cook. ]

If I give my honest opinion, I don't think Will is very good at lying. He's serious about his goal... but I don't think he's cold enough to lead you on for it.

[ Their PDA has been a little hard to miss. At least from his perspective, Will doesn't seem like the kind of person that can just parrot that for the sake of clout. ]

But I get why you'd feel uncertain. [ His words are deep with empathy and understanding, like a warm, soft pat on the shoulder. ] What's your plan as of right now? Just let this ride out 'til the end?

[ smart boy. she mirrors his position, nodding with a sort of tired look. tired of herself!!!! ]

I mean, duh? I just have to keep reminding myself that as genuine as his actions and stuff are to me -- because you're right, he's too honest and wouldn't ever lead someone on, if the idea even crossed his mind to -- it's... I mean, it's not for any real romantic purpose. We're even planning on putting off the booth as long as possible since there's no cameras there. Guess who had to remind him why it was a bad idea to be shipped off too soon, if we are a match.

[ guess, josuke. it's rhetorical. anna rests back against her chair, hands stretched out on the table as she looks up. ]

I'm stuck looking at the bigger picture and I really, really like him. I wanna be a match. I do think we probably are, maybe, and he's certain of it, but I don't actually know if he's like that 'cause we should be certain we're one, or because he really, really thinks we are, but I just want us to be anyway. [ because she'd like to be. his match. hers, his; his, her. ] But I gotta remember the reason he agreed and I can't let anything else distract him from that.

[ even if

she is going to be putting her own heart on the backburner, to put it simply. she does seem determined about that part, even if she's got a kind of... resignation about the rest.

... goes without saying that she doesn't want to think about not being a match. even if she tells people it doesn't matter beyond the game, she doesn't want to think about it. ]

[ Yeah... he can see why this would be stressful. If feelings have already gotten involved, then it's likely paralyzing for her... he feels a twang of sympathy in his heart, but he keeps his expression cool, determined to offer helpful support. ]

It could still be both, though.

[ He points out gently, lifting a single finger. ]

If you tell him now that you have feelings for him, and he feels the same... then who cares if you're not a match? I think you'll feel a lot better knowing how he feels about you definitively before the show makes a "ruling" about you. Then, however the chips fall, you can go out knowing you laid your cards down without regrets.

[ They should define what their relationship is, not any of the other contestants or a plan or the producers. If she knows Will feels the same, a "no match" won't hurt so badly, and a "perfect match" will feel liberating. Josuke is laid-back and open about most things; to him, he thinks the path of least pain and resistance is to take preemptive action. But none of it is offered with judgment or urgency; he can't tell her what to do, he can only tell her what he thinks would be good to do. ]

It's possible he won't feel the same way... but, knowing Will, he'd be graceful about it. And I think he'd still want you by his side for the rest of the competition.

[ It's not like he'd abandon her. Their bond would still be there... it just might not be romantic. Isn't that worth trying for, then? ]

Besides, you don't need to be totally confident you're a perfect match to look good to the public. Relationships have ups and downs... it makes them relatable. [ So, in his heart of hearts, he really doesn't think it'll damage the publicity they've built thus far, anyway. If anything, it might make people more attached to them. Josuke glances up, trying to gauge her expression. ] The way I see it, you've got way, way more to gain by telling him than by saying nothing.

[ it could be, but it wouldn't

it's not fair if it is, if it isn't. it'd be easier if this was as one-sided as her other one. even if thinking about will with someone else, match or otherwise, chews at her heart. anna messes with her hair as she listens, expression somewhere between gloomy and resigned in the "i know you're right but" way. ]

... I wouldn't be able to stand the sight of him if he rejected me, though. I've already gone through that once, Josuke-kun -- I don't want to go through it again. No way in hell. But he knows all about that too, so I don't want him to like, you know. Humor me. Or whatever. Because he doesn't want to hurt my feelings. I think I'd punch him.

[ she'd almost done that to sosuke too. even though she doesn't think will would humor her like that, and anna lifts her head to say so-- ]

I mean, he probably wouldn't, but if he did, I'd punch him. So I'd rather just... I don't know, wait on it. It's not like he doesn't have someone he likes already anyway, whether he knows it or not.

[ Well, if that's what she's convinced of, he's not sure what else he can do to push her... he can see where she's coming from, and that's the important thing. Even if he wouldn't quite deal with it like this. ]

"Someone he likes already?"

[ That seems to be the next important thing to hone in on, because he can't help but try to sus out who she's talking about among the contestants. It doesn't even occur to him that she might be talking about things beyond the scope of this reality TV stint; Will had told Josuke himself it wasn't something he much thought about. ]

What do you mean by that?

He's got a guy back home he's definitely head over heels for but because they're childhood friends I'm pretty sure it doesn't clock. And also because Will-kun's a total idiot.

[ hello ]

He's the person that Will-kun's doing all this for too, and when he talks about the guy it's... really obvious, okay? As obvious as when I talk about Will-kun.

[ like

how is she supposed to beat a prince-- ]

[ He won't deny that's a possibility. Maybe Will just hasn't realized his feelings? But also... ]

Do you think he'd be willing to pretend to be in a relationship with someone else if his feelings about his friend were that serious, though? That seems like a stretch.

[ If he was close enough with one of his friends like that, even if he didn't realize it was romantic, he doesn't think cozying up to someone else would feel good. ]

I've known the guy, what. A week and then some?

[ ... ]

Yeah, there's no way he'd do something like that. [ no more murdering the cheese and grapes. ] But again it's for the sake of his friend, so... maybe he can put up with it.

[ ... not that... he seems like he puts up with it, or her, the way he lights up the moment he sees her and the sweetness of their nightly ritual...

anna's cheeks pinken and she huffs softly. ]

He's doing a bad job of playing pretend though. It almost feels like he really likes me. Like, more than a friend. He doesn't make goodnight kisses feel like a chore at all.

week two | dates

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