victory_road

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[By now, you've probably seen it. It started on a teenager's Instantlergram, and then migrated over to Chatter, Timbr, and you might have even seen a video or two on your For You Page on Joltiktok about it. The Daily Dottler ran an article about it sourced by no one.

About what? About how the hot new band Chicken Choice Judy was recently "caught in the wild" at a child's birthday party dressed head to toe as giant torchics.

And the internet, as it often does, has been having a field day with it:

"guess there's one entertaining thing at my brother's dumb party. #chickenchoicejudy #torchic #canileavenow" - Original Poster MimiKissyKyuutie

"cake is very bad for torchics this is completely irresponsible" - Chatter user badbreedertipsonly, famed meme account.

"what the heck is a chicken anyway" - Timbr user newgearhoothootdis, followed by hundreds of replies of increasingly bad guesses.

"this isn't news, call me when the torchics kiss" - Joltiktok user luvdisco, with a filter that adds sparkles to the picture and a music clip that seems to be Celine Brionne's My Heart Ball Will Go On played badly on a Pokéflute.

And so on and so forth. So it probably isn't a surprise when Ryan pops up after a day or so of this.]

hey so

i get how things go on the internet but how do you take them off

like forever

is just deleting the whole internet an option, or...?

you know, for no reason whatsoever.

[Except you know exactly what reason it's for. Because everyone in all of Johto and Kanto has seen it somewhere recently.]

[ooc: Thank you to

knuxiechan, who Joey commissioned this art from!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[There's a small blip in Ryan's expression - not so catastrophic as before, but something seems to confuse him and then click into place in the span of two seconds. He doesn't know what Min's talking about and then he knows exactly what Min's talking about.]

Gonna be honest, man. I...kinda thought you already knew?

[It feels obvious to Ryan, and to some degree it feels like it's always been obvious. He never said so outright, but there was only so much he could really hide it.

Then again, telling Min was never really in the cards. If he told Min, he always felt like it would call attention to his every move. He might not be able to be as open and close with him, or at least that's what it felt like back in high school.]

But, uh. You're welcome? ...Thank you for being cool about it.

[A beat, and then he realizes he never actually answered Min before. Maybe he should?]

...Bisexual was the right one, by the way. Since you were wondering.

[Min-Gi's face drops for a moment, cheeks heating up as he processes that bit of information. It isn't as though he hadn't known exactly. There had been things Ryan had said. Things he'd done. Nothing outright, but enough he eventually figured that maybe Ryan wasn't completely straight.

But he hadn't thought he was supposed to know.

He goes quiet for a moment, seemingly unsure how to react again. And then... he laughs.]

You never told me! What, did you think I read your mind?

[He sobers slightly then, a faint smile still on his face.]

I... guess I wondered. Sometimes. I figured it was stuff I wasn't supposed to notice. Or I was just misreading.

[The laugh makes Ryan laugh in turn, and he pulls back to playfully shove Min.]

Maybe! You never know!

[Except he does know, and so does Min - neither of them are mind readers and they have to actually talk things out so both of them understand. But it feels right to tease him back about it.

He didn't actually want to pull away though, so he settles against Min again.]

Well...congrats? You weren't misreading, dude. You were just...reading.

[Like everyone else in Ryan's life. Somehow, that doesn't feel as bad coming from Min though.]

[Teasing is good. It's easy, and it lets him settle back into a place he doesn't have to feel worried he might do or say the wrong thing.]

Even if I could I don't think I could handle whatever goes on in your head.

[Min doesn't pull away either, leaning slightly so his cheek can rest on Ryan's head. He still feels a little stupid for not realising that Ryan hadn't felt like he needed to say anything directly for him to get it, but some of his offhand remarks do make more sense knowing that.]

Man, guess I'm not as good at reading as I thought.

[This is the stupidest joke, but he clearly thinks he's being funny.]

Pfft. If I can handle it, you probably could.

[It feels so good to know that this isn't something that he's going to lose - to know that Min still feels comfortable resting his head against Ryan's and that they won't be dancing around each other, too afraid to touch the way they have their entire lives.

The biggest--

No, the second biggest barrier to telling Min in the first place was completely irrelevant. The actually biggest still might catch up with him one day, but right now he isn't losing anything and it's such a relief.]

Or you're really good at reading and just second-guessed yourself. 'Cause I mean, you weren't wrong. Just...

[Ryan searches for a word, but one he really wants never actually comes and the one that's sticking out in his thoughts isn't quite right. He laughs a little bit.]

...I dunno, polite?

[Polite feels like the wrong word here, and he's sort of glad Ryan can't see him glance down at him then open his mouth to fill in with a better word... only to find he can't.

Huh.]

Is it polite? I dunno. I guess it was kinda dumb not to just ask you about it.

[They both know it's more complicated than that, but it shouldn't have been. Not really. Not when it came to the two of them. But then it's not like either one of them had been great at communication back when they were younger.]

I'm glad we talk more now. That's better than being polite.

It wasn't dumb. Really. I mean...I don't know how long you wondered, but odds are pretty good I wouldn't have given you a straight answer. [A beat.] ...I mean, a real answer.

[Ha, ha. He's got puns for days over here.]

I'm glad too though. It's...not always easy, but it's definitely better.

[Though really, he's speaking more for himself than Min now. Sometimes it's hard to talk things out, and he still can't say he always wants to, but it never leaves him feeling worse than before. Min doesn't let him get away with hiding as much, and even if he hates it in the moment sometimes, he knows it's a good thing. It's good for both of them.]

[It doesn't matter that Ryan can't see him. He can probably still picture the way his eyes narrow at that. He can definitely hear the long exhale of air from his nose. Maybe even feel it tickle his hair.]

You did that on purpose.

[The irritation in his voice is false though, and he nudges him as best he can without actually having to move away. You're only a little funny, Ryan.]

It is better. You worry me sometimes, but... I like knowing what's going on with you.

Edited (tagging while messing with icon keywords is a mistake) 2023-01-29 19:15 (UTC)

[Ryan can feel the pretend annoyance, he can almost see it all over Min's face, and it makes him laugh.]

Maaaaaaybe.

[Excuse you, he's very funny - especially with the playful insinuation that it was absolutely on purpose.

The tone shifts very slightly though. It isn't necessarily bad, just...a little more serious. More sincere.]

...Really?

[It's not so much that he doesn't believe Min - it's just weird to think about. That someone worries about him and likes knowing what's going on with him? He doesn't actually want to worry Min, but the fact that he does is kind of touching.]

Sorry, that came out way too much like a question.

[It was definitely on purpose, and he gives him one more gentle nudge to reprimand him before he lets it go.

The "really?" gives him pause, because to him that was obvious. He's his best friend. Of course he worries about him.]

Of course I do. [Although, maybe he's taking it as a bad thing...] Not because I don't trust you. I do.

I just... I care about you. I want you to be okay.

[And even though he means it when he says he trusts him, Ryan isn't always known for making the smart decision. Even if he did, Min's a natural worrier.]

[Yeah, that wasn't the right way to say that. He's kicking himself internally for it now - of course it would sound like he doesn't think Min trusts him.]

No, I know. I know you do. I didn't mean it like that.

[But that requires a follow up that feels harder - expressing what he actually meant. It's a hard transition for someone who spent a lot of his life acting like everything is always going great, and he's still pretty sure he sucks at not doing that, but he at least makes an effort now.

For a long time, it felt like the smart decision. Why would he want to make anyone worry about him on purpose when he could just deal with his shit himself? He should be able to carry his baggage. It's strange to have someone help him carry it, even someone he loves and trusts more than anyone.

Strange, but...not bad.]

It's just...really cool that you do, that's all.

[He can feel his cheeks warm up, but it's the best way he can put it. It's really cool, and it means the whole world to him.]

[Someone else might have to wonder why Ryan thinks that's cool, but not Min. He hates that he doesn't even expect that from him, but he knows exactly where he got the idea that most people wouldn't care what he does.

He goes quiet for a bit, annoyed. Not because he minds worrying about Ryan. That feels natural. But it isn't fair to Ryan that he's the only one who does. It never has been.]

Did I ever tell you about the first time your dad came into Dumpty's after I started working there?

[It's a question he already knows the answer to. It's impossible for the other Akagis not to come up sometimes when their families have known each other their entire lives, but it doesn't always lead to good memories and Min-Gi avoids it when he can. This seems like a good time to make an exception to the rule though.]

[This is a turn Ryan clearly wasn't expecting, for a number of reasons.]

What? No! I-I don't think so?

[If he did, Ryan doesn't remember, but he's pretty sure a story about his dad after he left home would have stuck out in his memory. He pulls away from Min so he can turn and look him in the face while he tells this story. He has no idea what to even expect of his family now that he's left them in the dust, and the part of him that always craved their attention is so, so curious.]

What happened? Are you gonna tell me now?

[There's a story here and even though he knows it might hurt, he wants to know.]

[He slightly regrets bringing it up. Partly because he knew bringing it up would either lead Ryan to pull away, or force him to so he can tell him the story properly. Less selfishly, he knows talking about his family comes with the risk of upsetting Ryan.

Though in this case he's pretty sure the end result will be gratifying. At least he hopes so.]

Yeah. If you want me to.

[God, why is he stalling when he's the one who brought this up? It had seemed like something that would help perk Ryan up, but now he's worried it may have the opposite effect. It's not as though he can back out now though.]

I guess he didn't even know we weren't talking. When I came over to his table he was acting all friendly. [He puts on a voice that doesn't actually sound anything like Ryan's dad.] "Oh! Hi, Min-Gi. I thought you ran off with Ryan."

[He makes a face, already clearly annoyed.]

He tried to make small talk, but to be honest I didn't want to think about him or you so I told him we were short and I needed his order. It was sort of true? It was one of the first times Horace left me to do a shift on my own, so...

[He shrugs. It hadn't been busy. Dumpty's often wasn't. It had been a convenient excuse though, and he hadn't argued. He doesn't even think Mr. Akagi had noticed there was no one else there besides a couple of kids drinking shakes and throwing balled up napkins he'd have to clean up later.]

Anyway... I just wanted to make his food so he'd get out of there. But I kept thinking about how you were wherever, and I was stuck at Dumpty's, and he hadn't even known that. I was so pissed off I wasn't timing things right. I left one of the pans too long, and you know how light your dad likes things done.

I thought; what if I leave it a little longer? He's already going to make me redo it.

[Ryan can probably see where Min's going with this, but he pauses anyway. It seems like a good time to look at him properly. To check he's okay hearing this.]

[He didn't know Ryan left on tour alone.

Ryan seems a little stunned by that information at first, since it feels so obvious to him. It was heartbreaking and devastating and it colored everything about leaving home. But, when he thinks back on it...it makes sense. He didn't exactly have the best goodbye with his family.

For now he keeps that inside, and just listens to Min tell this story. It sounds like his dad for sure - friendliness and smiles for the public but totally clueless about anything outside of his own life and interests, including his kids. It's totally like him to just dump that nugget of information on Min without thinking about what that would mean or asking any sort of follow-up questions.

He knows exactly how light his dad likes things toasted. It's a preference they share, though Ryan kind of hates thinking about it that way. He gasps when he realizes where this story is heading, choosing to be more interested in how Min handled it than what his own dad had to say.]

What! No! Really? Holy shit, you actually burned it on purpose?! Min-Gi!

[Ryan looks and sounds delighted by this. He can only imagine the look on his dad's face, but it would have been so cool to see it for himself.]

[Ah. Validation. A smile starts to creep over Min-Gi's own face now he has confirmation that Ryan is, in fact, enjoying this story. At least the parts he'd intended him to.]

I wasn't going to burn it! Not at first. But Horace wasn't there, so what was he going to do if I did? There wasn't anyone there to complain to. Then I figured, why stop with one thing? Why not really make a point if I'm going to?

So I... burned all of it. It's actually sort of weird the smoke detector didn't go off.

[Actually, why didn't it go off? Why didn't he think about this at the time? Did they even work? He looks vaguely alarmed at the realisation, but it's not like it really matters now. He's going to just... focus on how gratifying it had been at the time, and how good it makes him feel to see Ryan smile that wide.]

I basically gave him a plate of charcoal. No one could have eaten it, especially not your dad.

[Ryan's gone from a look of delight to full blown laughter in the span of a few sentences, enough to make his sides ache. He brings a hand up to his mouth to try and stifle it enough to get a word in edgewise, but the entire story is just hysterical.]

You didn't! Oh my god! [WHEEZE.] What did...what did he even do?!

[He can't imagine. His dad isn't a socially anxious person by any stretch of the imagination, but nothing really prepares someone for their son's childhood friend burning their food probably on purpose.]

Wish I could have seen his face!

[Any trepidation he had about telling Ryan all this has gone by now. He sort of wishes he had sooner if this was the reaction he was going to get out of him. He's grinning broadly as he waits for Ryan to stop laughing enough for him to answer his questions.]

His face made it so worth it. I don't think he could even believe it at first. He sat there looking at it. Then he finally looked at me... and he was not happy.

He was over it by the time I remade it, so I basically thought I got away with it. Until he thought my parents would find it funny.

[His parents had not found it funny. He'd convinced them it was a mistake and that Mr. Akagi had exaggerated, but he can still hear his mom's voice and feel his dad's disappointed gaze from when he'd had to explain himself to them.]

[This all sounds about right to Ryan, right down to Min having to remake the whole thing and his dad being instantly over it. But then--]

Oh no...I'm so sorry dude, that sucks. Did you get in trouble or anything?

[Because he knows Min's parents and he also knows his dad and he has a feeling he knows how that conversation went. His dad has never once considered the consequences of his actions, ever.]

...It does sound totally worth it though.

[He can't help it; even knowing Min might have gotten in trouble it's still the funniest thing he's heard in a while. It might even be the funniest Dumpty's story ever.]

[Min shrugs, making a non-committed noise. He hadn't exactly got in trouble, but then he's never needed to be in trouble to feel bad about things. Disapproval is usually enough to dissuade him from repeating his mistakes.]

You know my parents. They were disappointed.

[But...]

It was still so worth it. They believed me when I said it was a mistake, so it could've been worse.

[This story would have been way different if he had felt terrible about it, so Ryan's glad it didn't turn out too badly.]

That's good. But wow man, I can't believe you actually did that! That's amazing.

[He's still amused, but it comes out with such awe. Amazing. It's truly amazing.]

Let me guess - not a single follow up question from my dad, right?

[He sort of already knows the answer though. Not that his family had any way to contact him, but if he's right they didn't exactly try either.]

Pfft. Figures.

[He likes the feeling he gets from impressing Ryan. Usually the only exciting way he can do it is when they're working on music together, so he's pleased he's succeeded through other means.

Though at question of his dad... he has to shrug, making a small noise as though to brush it off. He wants to keep it light, but at the end of the day a story about Ryan's dad was always going to be loaded.]

Not really. He tried to make it into an in joke, I guess. It's amazing I ever got employee of the month when he brought it up literally every time he came in.

[Thankfully it wasn't like he was a regular regular. Often enough to make it annoying, but not often enough it was unbearable or anything.]

[It's a good direction to twist it in, because Ryan snickers.]

You should've just kept burning it.

[He knows Min couldn't, not without risking his job, but it still would have been pretty great. Ryan can't imagine having to be nice to customers making the same shitty jokes day after day after day.]

Honestly, you probably deserved employee of the month for putting up with him. Not even all the other customers, just my dad. Or like, a special "You Put Up With Mr. Akagi's Bullshit" award.

No way.

[It's not even worth considering as a joke. If one time got him this much teasing, he dreads to think what would happen next time. The way he'd acted was almost like he thought they were friends. Any time he'd been tempted he'd been haunted by visions of him forcing his way into the kitchen "to show him how it's done" or something.]

Besides, I wasn't the one who lived with him for 18 years. Maybe you should get that award.

[Ryan just echoes that answer right back at him.]

No way, man. It's more impressive to put up with it when you didn't have to live with him. Plus, it's not like he was even around a ton anyway. And I left, so, you know. I'm probably out of practice by now!

[He's here trying to compliment Min; he doesn't want this award he completely made up explicitly for the purposes of complimenting Min.]

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