puppycrush2 | week three

[ He laughs at Mark's sudden comment, a startled kind of noise. If Mark's not pulling away, he won't either — his hand lowers from where it's gripping Mark's arm to thread their fingers together. With his other hand, he gives him a playful shove in the shoulder, still smiling. ]

You falling for me, man?

[ The words are smug, teasing, the smirk on his lips playful. He's made more bold by Mark going along with his schemes, and by his earnestly given praise. There's nothing malicious about it — it's the opposite, really, openly flirtatious. The closer Josuke gets to someone, the more he treats them like one of his punks, someone he can joke around with and push and taunt.

It helps, too, that they're alone. It's like their very own secret moment stolen away. ]

It'll be cooler when we make it away with the goods, [ There are workers nearby, so he stops them behind another machine, peeking around the corner. ] Just gotta sneak past here..

[ Oh, yeah, he is not letting go of Josuke's hand. Even when Josuke essentially calls him out, openly flirting with him. Mark can't help but think, weren't their roles reversed when Josuke asked him out on this date again... but maybe that adds to the appeal of the two of them together.

How they aren't each other's perfect matches is beyond him... ]

Oh— Yeah, yeah. [ He shakes his head for a second, rejoining Josuke in the real world, not just staring at him dreamy-eyed while lost in his own head. ] We can... hmm...

[ This might be the first time Mark is regretting not being open about his powers; he could just pick Josuke up and zoom them past the workers so quickly it wouldn't even register for them? But even without cameras around, he can't risk it... agh, this got so hard all of a sudden. ]

... Do you think we gotta distract them, or could we risk just... going across, really really fast and really really quiet?

I don't wanna make a mess... guess we'll just have to be stealthy.

[ Temporarily shutting off one of the machines or setting off an alarm would make a hassle for the employees. Josuke loves mischief, but he doesn't like inconveniencing innocent people; if they were people who'd set him off, that'd be a different story.

Anyway, they need to wait until the coast is clear to dart across, with Josuke leaning over considerably to try to lessen his height. They're both not easy to miss... but it'll be fine. He pulls Mark along with him confidently, knowing that sneaking around has everything to do with waiting for a decisive moment, and going boldly.

It looks like there's a few primo hiding spots underneath the upcoming conveyor belts sending off packaged assorted chocolates, though the floor also opens up in other directions. This shipping and packaging part of the factory seems to have less personnel, since the candy's all already been okay-ed to be shipped off.

Whispering, to keep his voice low while they sneak by: ]

Oh, lucky! [ Because Mark mentioned liking chocolate, too!! And there's probably enough room for them both to sit under there, if they squeeze. ] They're not gonna miss some stuff that's already passed inspection. They were gonna give us some anyway.

[ Josuke, the delinquent with a heart of gold...

Mark waits for Josuke's lead, fully entrusting him to lead them through. If things were different then he'd take the lead, but he trusts Josuke more to get this right — he's the one who knows how best to operate within his natural limits, unlike the ones Mark has superimposed on himself.

He's just gotta duck down some, too.

And of course trusting Josuke was the right move — look at this bounty it led them to? Camped out under a conveyor belt like this, Mark looks up at its underside. ]

Yeah. Besides, they probably account for waste or damage or something like that... just a rounding error...

[ He's also whispering before he peaks out from under the conveyor belt, and, just gonna yoink a box real quick (albeit at slightly above average human speeds).

And place it in between them. ]

It's not being greedy if we share, right...?

That's the spirit.

[ Because yes, there is nothing greedy about stealing from an innocent factory while on a free tour. Josuke draws his knees up, honestly not even noticing anything amiss when Mark brings the box down between them — out of the way of their joined hands.

With his free one, he starts pawing through the box's contents for the perfect candy to celebrate this moment, which in this scenario, is the AYTOverse's equivalent of a Tw*x bar. Rather than let go of Mark's hand and open it like a normal person, he tears the wrapper open with his teeth and offers the opened bar to Mark first. He's not gonna take a bite of it then offer it to him, even thought that would be an indirect kiss... what if Mark thinks that's gross?? ]

Here, let's try this one first. I haven't tried a lot of American candies...

[ Mark's eyeing the box's contents, too, but giving Josuke his space to go through it first. While holding hands still. He gives Josuke a little squeeze while he waits, because what else is he going to do, right?

And his eyes light up at the Tw*x. He laughs a little as Josuke tears the wrapper open, then reaches up to take the bar with his free hand, because he still has one of those. ]

You haven't? ... Oh, I guess that makes sense. I haven't had a lot of Japanese candies, I don't think...

[ Brightening! And totally oblivious to any worries Josuke may have, as he takes the first bite... and then holds out the other end to Josuke for him to take. ]

You want some? You should totally have some.

[ Instead of taking the bar back for himself, he just leans over and takes a bite of it that way — passing it back and forth seems like a lot of effort. He does it without thinking; it wouldn't be the first time he's done this sort of thing with friends. It does make it necessary for him to lean over the box and into Mark's space though, not that he seems nervous or embarrassed about it in the least.

When he pulls back: ]

Woah! It's sweeter than I'd thought it'd be... is all of your candy like this?

[ He at least has the decency to half cover his mouth with his free hand while he talks, seeming genuinely surprised. ]

[ Oh he really just went for it like that, didn't he.

Though in hindsight Mark wasn't sure what else he was expecting? He's acutely aware of the fact that they're each still down a hand, but being the one to let go feels wrong, so... Yeah, it makes sense, he can justify this. Not like Josuke being in his personal space is a bad thing or anything...

He blinks at the observation. ]

Oh, uh... yeah, pretty much? I mean, some of it isn't, like dark chocolate or whatever, but yeah, a lot of it is like this.

[ A beat, because he's suddenly feeling self-conscious. About his homeland's candy, apparently. ]

Is Japanese candy not...?

[ So much of it looks so colourful, Mark thought the taste would probably be pretty much the same... ]

Some of it is really sweet, don't get me wrong... but I feel like our chocolate is more bitter?

[ If he had some to compare it to, he would, but alas. It's not too big a deal to him, clearly, since he's already pawing around for something else to eat. ]

Well, I've got a little bit of a sweet tooth, so I don't care. Custard and pudding are my favorite desserts... just like my mom. [ He drops that trivia just on a whim, not seeming to be searching for anything in particular. The box is so varied it's almost a little overwhelming. Hence: ] You don't have one you would recommend?

week three | dates

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