puppycrush2 | week three

[ Mark just nods, accepting Josuke's answer. It still feels weird, but he's also experienced more than enough physical pain before coming here, so why question a good thing, right? Besides, Josuke is just a guy, so it's not like he could've actually done anything to help... maybe being around him just makes Mark feel better or something.

Yeah, that's probably it.

He's still eyeing Fou, though, because he knew the vibes had been off between Ritsuka and Josuke, but he still didn't know by how much. He'd really thought Fou was just being rambunctious like the dogs here, but... ]

Wait, so he was mad? ... At Josuke?

[ He's going to stand up now — slowly, not wanting to spook Fou further or anything — but having people hovering over him is awkward. With one last glance down at where he thought he was hurt... guess he's just going to have a boob window for the rest of the date, huh. ]

[ Maybe he should have fixed the boob window, on second thought.... well, anyway. Mark has about the reaction that every normal person has when fixed by his Stand: momentary confusion, then mystified acceptance. It's better to not involve him with Stand business, for now. With a dry laugh: ]

Guess so. I'm the kind of guy people - dogs - Fou's? Love to hate...

[ This, he is much worse at lying about, but he doesn't feel like it's his place to say hey, Ritsuka and I had a big disagreement regarding her deleting 5 worlds worth of people. And he genuinely does not want to drag Mark into it. He gives Ritsuka a slightly nervous glance, standing up to his full height again. ]

You're sure he's fine, now?

[ Thankfully, Ritsuka is so used to defusing a situation, so as she steps back to give Mark some room-- ]

I think the wind or something caught the basket or something knocked it flying, and it hit me in the head, and Josuke was closest to me, so Fou got the wrong idea. He really is fine now.

Right?

[ To Fou, who lets out an adorable little chirp and raises his adorable little paw. ]

[ Josuke saying he's the kind of guy people love to hate is the most suspicious thing he's said here. He's eyeing him, much less willing to believe him now.

Although Ritsuka's guess of what happened seems... plausible? More plausible than a ghost at least. With one last ??? glance towards Josuke, he turns back to Ritsuka — and, more specifically, Fou. ]

Huh. I guess that makes sense...

[ ... ]

Can I pet him?

[ He'd really rather not leave things on bad terms with Fou, considering they are still going to be under the same roof, ]

[ Nervous, forced smile when Mark gives him the ??? look. It's fine, don't worry about it. ]

You go on ahead. I'm still kinda nervous...

[ Which is the truth. Josuke is scared of multiple animals on a normal day; being almost jumped by one doesn't make him feel very brave about trying to pet anything else. Maybe He guesses Mark got his wish after all, he got to protect him from something. If he thinks about it too much, Mark sure did jump in front of him so quickly... it's a little romantic, right?

Well, Mark would probably do that for anyone. Still. He can privately think to himself that it was nice to be the one protected for once. ]

I don't have great history with cats either... it's probably just my luck. [ Genuinely curious: ] Where you'd even get the little guy, Ritsuka?

He was a part of the organization I wound up working at, so I don't know his full story there. I actually met him when I took a nap in the hallway and he started licking my face. I didn't think he'd tag along here, but he sort of does what he wants.

[ And now here we are. But she steps closer to Mark so he can attempt to pet Fou.

For the record, Fou will allow it, and might even lick Mark's fingers after some time to sniff. ]

[ Inside Mark's head: Wow, it's a good thing I got in front of Josuke. It's okay, I can keep him safe... it felt good to do that again.

But otherwise, he's listening. Fou's probably an alien, which he's met before... not any domesticated ones, but Fou also seems kind of. Not domesticated. That isn't going to stop him from stepping forward to cautiously pet him though, laughing a little at the licks. ]

Hey, that tickles, [ but he's not pulling away, just gently petting.

And with peace apparently resorted, he looks back up at Ritsuka and Josuke with an expectant little tail wag. ]

Does this mean things are normal between you guys again?

[ has he even addressed his previous bad vibes with Ritsuka? no of course not. these two were the priority, so, ]

[ So Fou IS woobie, destroyer of worlds. Yeah, he doesn't want to pet it, even if it is cute... ]

Uh, [ He says intelligently, caught off guard by the abruptness of Mark's question. ] Yeah — yeah, things are fine.

[ They will never be normal again, Josuke doesn't think, but they're fine. Fine! He's relieved Ritsuka is going to do whatever she can to save the remaining Lostbelt, and sufficiently convinced that her intentions aren't maniacally homocidal. That's enough to keep him at bay. He wishes he could go back to pal-ing aronud with Ritsuka like normal, but it's hard to look at her the same way he did before. It's not something he expects to be able to explain to Mark, who doesn't deserve to get dragged in to things of this scale. It's a lot even for Josuke; how much harder would it be for a normal person?

At least Ol*ve G*rden improved things. He already swore he was going to help her save the last group of potential victims, so that makes them allies, at the very least. ]

Just got to talking about wish stuff, you know how it is. [ It's serious! Anyway, the best lie is the kind that's sort of the truth. He waves a hand, then sticks it in his pocket, his own tail sweeping slowly. ] Kinda hard to believe it's all coming up so soon.

Edited 2024-11-28 20:02 (UTC)

[ There's an uncertain drooping of the ears, because it's not that simple, is it? Things can't ever be normal between them again, she knows that. And she misses it, being able to lean against Josuke or make jokes and have him call her a dumbass and there's also the fact that Mark is probably still irritated with her for not wanting him to come "help" and it was why she'd been a little reluctant to go here in the first place.

But she and Josuke have at least agreed on a plan to do what they can and he knows she's really not okay with what she's had to do, so. Allies.

She kind of just clasps one arm in some sort of self-soothing gesture, before she exhales. ]

Yeah... and we've still got a lot to figure out with the matches, too.

[ Mark stops petting Fou and looks back and forth between the two of them, uncertain. So it'd seem that things aren't normal again... but neither really wants to talk about it, which is okay, actually. It's probably not his business... as long as the way back to the house is less awkward.

He's going to lean into the topic they've set up in that case, determined to do what he can there. ]

Right? A month kind of seemed like it wouldn't be that long, but... wow, a lot happened. It feels like we're really close to the end now. I, um... [ oh. he feels a sudden bout of honesty coming on. ] When we were all getting to know each other I really thought my match would be one of you two, or that you guys would be together. A week and a bit later and it already feels like that's not happening anymore, huh...

Well, hey, don't be so sure.

[ Josuke shifts, looking at Ritsuka's ears droop down. He feels bad... things are complicated. But there's no reason to be a dick about it or make anyone feel worse than they already do. So: ]

If Ritsuka and Lessing aren't matched, it might be you two, still. [ Because of comphetgate. His gaze stays on Ritsuka, shrugging. ] It could still be us, I'm not counting out the possibility.

[ One because it's logical, and two because... maybe he's the one who's supposed to help Ritsuka through this. He's reminded of Kira, how he was his natural opposite, fixing versus destroying. Maybe Ritsuka could help him understand loss better than he does; maybe he's supposed to prevent her from having to cause any more. It's possible.

He sighs, putting a hand at the back of his head. Trying to break any of the lingering tension, he complains, moodily. ]

I thought it'd be one of you two, too, but.... I'm gonna feel like a dumbass if you're both off somewhere else.

[ maybe the real josukebowl was all the no matches he was distracted by along the way... ]

I wouldn't feel too bad. Like you said, I could still be matched with either of you, and I could see it. [ Though her connection with Lessing shouldn't really be underestimated, either. A sigh. ]

And then I thought maybe Doro-chan or Kat for Mark, but Kat would also be good with Josuke or Anna for either of you, and we still don't know if Josuke's even paired with a girl at all.

[ Yeah, let's focus on this. ]

Depending on what we find out, if Lessing and I don't work and I had to pick, it'd probably be you two or Steve.

[ Mark nods, rubbing at the back of his head. At this point he's reasonably certain his match is Kat after all, and Ritsuka's does seem to be Lessing, but who would be Josuke's...

Either way... let's not focus on this so specifically. ]

I guess I was just thinking about how well we all hit it off right away. It seemed so obvious to me? And I know it's not like we're being set up with relationships we're going to have for the rest of our lives... probably... but I guess we still had a lot to learn about each other. And... I don't know... I feel like maybe that wasn't a bad thing. Because even if things didn't work out like I thought they would, at worst I still got two pretty cool friends out of it.

Right?

[ Right?? ]

"Two pretty cool friends," huh....

[ He says with a lightly knowing tone. Did their (potential) kiss at the candy factory mean NOTHING to you, Mark. Anyway, he's just yanking his chain for fun, and doesn't press the issue more. ]

I've been saying since the beginning, if I walk out of here with a couple friends, that's gonna be more than I bargained for. [ He never had high hopes for that damn wish. ] It probably is for the better that it's this way though, yeah.

I think the pressure of being a match... would make it harder to get close. For me, anyway.

[ She just glances at the two of them, before humming a little. ]

Yeah, I didn't come in expecting anything. But I'm pretty glad for this--to have made friends. [ Despite everything. ] I think, in the end, we're all coming out of his with some pretty strong connections, no matter what form they end up taking.

I don't even know what I was expecting, really. [ A little laugh. Come here. Get a wish. Interpersonal relationships along the way weren't even on his radar. ] But... I'm glad we're all on the same page. Even with the matches complicating things, this is nice.

[ And with Josuke thinking a match would be too much pressure... hm.

But the car ride back is going to be so not awkward now, he's sure of it. ]

week three | dates

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