[Min returns the smile, reassured to see Ryan looking a little happier now. He seems less tense now he's less concerned, though of course he hasn't forgotten how much this had messed with Ryan's head. He actually does intend to ask more questions about the shows they're offered from now on. Had done even before Ryan made a joke about it.]
Maybe not quite like that, but we should definitely ask more questions. We should probably have for this one too, but who offers that much for a kid's party?
[The dad must be really well off to justify all this, and the way he'd been talking about it it had definitely sounded like a legitimate show. Nothing he'd said had raised any concerns for either of them until they showed up.
Min-Gi glances around nervously at the mention of his other source of income, but he knows logically no one would guess what it was. No one so much as glances at them until he looks around, and even then it's only one of the other parents raising a mild eyebrow before going back to their own conversation.]
Yeah. Plus it's not like I couldn't pick up other work. ['Other work' being hospitality jobs he hates, but at least he's not tied into those.] And I could probably challenge some of the weaker gyms if we got really desperate.
[Not that he thinks they will, but he always feels better with a back up plan.]
[Not that they can really complain, after getting paid a stupid amount for the show. But Ryan can't picture his family shelling out that much for a birthday party. A better bar is that he can't picture Min-Gi's family shelling out that much for a birthday party either. It's super not normal, and yet here they are.
He pops another bite of cake into his mouth and then points his fork at Min accusatorily.]
I think you mean "we". "We" could pick up work and challenge gyms. You don't have to take that on alone if it comes down to something like that.
[Sure, he doesn't have a ton of experience, but he's not going to just sit around and do nothing while Min struggles to make ends meet. Let him help!]
[They can agree on that much. They shouldn't complain since they're the ones reaping the benefits, but it's super weird.
He hesitates before he says anything else. He's not sure how to avoid sounding rude here, but...]
What jobs would you do? [Oof, no. That sounds bad.] Not that you couldn't! But... you don't exactly have the same experience I do. And like... I don't think I could beat Lieutenant Surge yet, so gyms are probably still out for a little bit.
[Explaining his concerns is probably not helping here.]
[It's really not. Ryan can't help making a face at that response.]
I don't know? I'd figure something out. Besides, you said yourself that people hire people for short term stuff all the time around so...I'd see what was around, I guess?
[He's not sure why this particular point has him so weirdly defensive. Min's right that he doesn't have a lot of traditional experience, but he's also never tried to get a job like that before - as evidenced by the story about his desperate $30 gig.]
I'd figure something out, okay? What else am I supposed to do, sit around all day while you go do like three or four different things for money? I'm not doing that, Min. We're in this together.
[Min looks suitably ashamed even just at the face he makes. He knows he shouldn't have questioned it. He should have just been appreciative that Ryan would try when it's not like either of them want to do anything besides make music together. It's not Ryan's fault Min ended up caving to his parents insistence it would be a good idea to apply for a reliable job if he wasn't going to university until the following year. It's not Ryan's fault Min got conscripted into the Poké Mob. It's not Ryan's fault he didn't get pulled here until two months after he did so his teams aren't quite the levels Min's are.
None of that's Ryan's fault, but of course he still wants to contribute even if Chicken Choice Judy isn't pulling in the money they need it to. It doesn't even seem like they'll have to rely on other means in the near future, which just makes having pushed him on it even stupider.]
I know. I'm sorry. I guess I keep thinking it's my responsibility since I've been here longer. I was really freaked out until you finally got here. I picked up a couple of jobs because I needed the money, but that was tough. It felt so normal when everything was weird, and not in a good way. Not like the bathroom. Like I was just stuck again doing whatever other people wanted, and I didn't even get a say.
[He chances a look back over at him, hoping Ryan's not as annoyed.]
I don't want that for you before you've had chance to settle in. I forget you don't need as much time as I do before something new stops being scary for you.
[It's hard to stay annoyed as he listens to Min speak. He can't relate to Min's specific problems, not really. He's never worked in a diner, or been pressured to go into a career he didn't want. He's never had family that would push him as hard as Min's. They never expected him to go to college. Ryan, for better or worse, has always done whatever he wants.
But for once? He can actually see a bigger picture. Maybe it's only because it's been on his mind today, but...the problem, at its core, is kind of the same as his.]
...You were back in that space again.
[Something happened, and then it was like Min never left Dumpty's. It was like Ryan was still on that shitty tour. Something happened and they both slid right back into old habits and worries they thought they'd outgrown.
Ryan sets his hand on Min's shoulder, trying to say more with a gesture than he ever could with words.]
We're not going to get stuck. If it ever does come to something like that? Totally temporary. Just long enough to get us back on our feet. And you'll always, always have a say with me.
[Even if they don't always agree, the last thing Ryan wants is for Min to just go through the motions for his sake.]
And like...I know I've sucked at it before, but. I can take some of that responsibility. Just because you have experience doesn't mean it's good for you. If one day you're like "Dude, I can't even look at another diner without wanting to hurl," I'll get something extra until we figure something else out.
[He gives Min's shoulder a gentle squeeze. He's right here.]
I meant it. We're in this together. Don't take all of it on by yourself, Min.
[There's been many times where they just don't understand each other. Close as they are, they're two different people with very different perspectives on life. But sometimes something connects, and they understand each other perfectly. He knows from Ryan's voice this is one of those moments. He doesn't need the hand on his shoulder to understand they're on the same wavelength, though the warmth of it is pleasantly reassuring and does get a smile out of him.]
I know. So do you. I'm just... I'm used to being the responsible one. Not even just with you. In everything. I know you don't expect me to take on everything, but sometimes it's hard for me to let go of that.
I'm sorry if I made you feel like I don't trust you to help if we need it. No one's ever had my back like you do.
[It sucks, but even after the train they still mess up. Sometimes it even feels like they mess up more than they did before, though really it's just they're more likely to talk about it than they were back when they were kids.]
It is different. You know so much more than I do about getting by on the road. You know how to talk people into giving us a shot for shows. I'd never even be able to get a tour going without you.
[Maybe things hadn't gone so well when Ryan had tried to do it solo, but it's not like Min would have even got started without him. He needs him too. They work better as a team, and even though Min-Gi's been here longer that doesn't mean he should forget that.]
[Ryan smiles in a rare way for him - soft and subdued, but genuine. It's so hard to take compliments, but...it feels really good to hear that from Min. To hear the things he's doing right here.]
Together we make the perfect touring band.
[They balance each other out, like they always do. They could have only ever done this together. Ryan manages another bite of cake on his own, but he glances over at Min thoughtfully.]
You wanna ditch once we're done with cake? Even ignoring all my stuff from before...kinda feels weird to hang out too long for this afterparty?
[The entire party is young children and their families, and a few out of place older siblings here and there. He doesn't regret hanging around for a bit - he really needed a minute and he's feeling better and more like himself. Leaving the party is probably okay now, even if it comes with the possibility of talking out other things, if Min thinks of them.]
[He agrees, of course. Since they've started touring it's never stopped amazing him just how well they work together. The parts he can't do come to Ryan with ease, and a lot of the things that seem to have been the downfall of Ryan's solo career are aspects Min-Gi doesn't mind dealing with.
Objectively they still have a long way to go before they can be considered successful (or at least they did back home), but everything runs so smoothly between the two of them that a lot of the time Min-Gi already feels like they're there.
Still. Hearing Ryan say it out loud fills him with warmth. It's a good feeling, though he wishes he couldn't feel his cheeks heating up. He's glad for another subject to switch to, and after another swig from his juice box he sets it down to pick his cake back up to finish.]
Yeah. Let's ditch. We can finish the cake, then round up the Pokémon and finally get out of these stupid costumes.
[Ryan is too, if he's being honest. Under different circumstances the goofy costumes might have been more fun, but now he's just ready to go back to the inn and chill there for a while. He's let out a lot of bottled up feelings and it's sucked out most of his party energy - even for a kid's birthday party.
It's time to escape and reset, and he's so glad Min's onboard with that.]
Definitely. I'm so over this. I want this dumb hood off so bad.
[His desire to get the hell out of this party is greater than his lack of appetite too, so he'll have no problem finishing his cake. Maybe even his juice as well.]
Same. I can't believe I spent so much time on my hair when this is what we were wearing.
[Ryan probably can, especially since they were under the impression this show was going to be a big deal for them right up until they showed up and got the real rundown for it.
At least it's something they can laugh at now. Laughter feels like something that's sorely needed after the ups and down of their post-show conversation.]
We have the rest of the afternoon ahead of us still. What do you want to do? Just chill?
[Actually, the fact that they do have the rest of the afternoon ahead feels like it should've been a warning sign, but he's grateful for it now. They both likely need it. Ryan especially.]
[Ryan definitely can. He could believe Min spent a long time on his hair literally any day of the week, for any occasion. His hair is a work of art, but he can't just blurt that out now.]
Right? Waste of a good look.
[They really should have figured a gig this early in the day would be something weird, but Ryan refuses to give it much thought. It's over now and they're getting out of here.]
I'm good with just chilling if you are. We can always do something later if we want. Man, it's so weird being done with a show while the sun's still out though...
[This day has already been so much and even though he's feeling better now, going back to the inn to wind down and just decompress a little bit sounds really nice right about now.]
[Min laughs at what he takes as a joke, shooting him a look of mock offence. He worked hard on it, okay?]
Chilling sounds good. I'm not even sure what else I'd want to do. I'm so used to just crashing once we get back to the van or our room for the night.
[Obviously he doesn't want to go to sleep now. It would just be nice to unwind for a few hours before doing... something. What, he has no idea, but they'll figure out something. They'll still have the entire evening. It should be a nice fault, but he feels weirdly off-kilter about it.
He shoves a few more mouthfuls of cake in his mouth. Partly to stop himself thinking too much on things that really don't matter, and partly to speed up getting out of here. There isn't that much left so he sets down his plate, looking at Ryan expectantly as he uses the last of his juice to wash the cake down.]
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no subject
Maybe not quite like that, but we should definitely ask more questions. We should probably have for this one too, but who offers that much for a kid's party?
[The dad must be really well off to justify all this, and the way he'd been talking about it it had definitely sounded like a legitimate show. Nothing he'd said had raised any concerns for either of them until they showed up.
Min-Gi glances around nervously at the mention of his other source of income, but he knows logically no one would guess what it was. No one so much as glances at them until he looks around, and even then it's only one of the other parents raising a mild eyebrow before going back to their own conversation.]
Yeah. Plus it's not like I couldn't pick up other work. ['Other work' being hospitality jobs he hates, but at least he's not tied into those.] And I could probably challenge some of the weaker gyms if we got really desperate.
[Not that he thinks they will, but he always feels better with a back up plan.]
no subject
[Not that they can really complain, after getting paid a stupid amount for the show. But Ryan can't picture his family shelling out that much for a birthday party. A better bar is that he can't picture Min-Gi's family shelling out that much for a birthday party either. It's super not normal, and yet here they are.
He pops another bite of cake into his mouth and then points his fork at Min accusatorily.]
I think you mean "we". "We" could pick up work and challenge gyms. You don't have to take that on alone if it comes down to something like that.
[Sure, he doesn't have a ton of experience, but he's not going to just sit around and do nothing while Min struggles to make ends meet. Let him help!]
no subject
[They can agree on that much. They shouldn't complain since they're the ones reaping the benefits, but it's super weird.
He hesitates before he says anything else. He's not sure how to avoid sounding rude here, but...]
What jobs would you do? [Oof, no. That sounds bad.] Not that you couldn't! But... you don't exactly have the same experience I do. And like... I don't think I could beat Lieutenant Surge yet, so gyms are probably still out for a little bit.
[Explaining his concerns is probably not helping here.]
no subject
I don't know? I'd figure something out. Besides, you said yourself that people hire people for short term stuff all the time around so...I'd see what was around, I guess?
[He's not sure why this particular point has him so weirdly defensive. Min's right that he doesn't have a lot of traditional experience, but he's also never tried to get a job like that before - as evidenced by the story about his desperate $30 gig.]
I'd figure something out, okay? What else am I supposed to do, sit around all day while you go do like three or four different things for money? I'm not doing that, Min. We're in this together.
no subject
None of that's Ryan's fault, but of course he still wants to contribute even if Chicken Choice Judy isn't pulling in the money they need it to. It doesn't even seem like they'll have to rely on other means in the near future, which just makes having pushed him on it even stupider.]
I know. I'm sorry. I guess I keep thinking it's my responsibility since I've been here longer. I was really freaked out until you finally got here. I picked up a couple of jobs because I needed the money, but that was tough. It felt so normal when everything was weird, and not in a good way. Not like the bathroom. Like I was just stuck again doing whatever other people wanted, and I didn't even get a say.
[He chances a look back over at him, hoping Ryan's not as annoyed.]
I don't want that for you before you've had chance to settle in. I forget you don't need as much time as I do before something new stops being scary for you.
no subject
But for once? He can actually see a bigger picture. Maybe it's only because it's been on his mind today, but...the problem, at its core, is kind of the same as his.]
...You were back in that space again.
[Something happened, and then it was like Min never left Dumpty's. It was like Ryan was still on that shitty tour. Something happened and they both slid right back into old habits and worries they thought they'd outgrown.
Ryan sets his hand on Min's shoulder, trying to say more with a gesture than he ever could with words.]
We're not going to get stuck. If it ever does come to something like that? Totally temporary. Just long enough to get us back on our feet. And you'll always, always have a say with me.
[Even if they don't always agree, the last thing Ryan wants is for Min to just go through the motions for his sake.]
And like...I know I've sucked at it before, but. I can take some of that responsibility. Just because you have experience doesn't mean it's good for you. If one day you're like "Dude, I can't even look at another diner without wanting to hurl," I'll get something extra until we figure something else out.
[He gives Min's shoulder a gentle squeeze. He's right here.]
I meant it. We're in this together. Don't take all of it on by yourself, Min.
no subject
I know. So do you. I'm just... I'm used to being the responsible one. Not even just with you. In everything. I know you don't expect me to take on everything, but sometimes it's hard for me to let go of that.
I'm sorry if I made you feel like I don't trust you to help if we need it. No one's ever had my back like you do.
no subject
[That goes for both of them, but they're always working on it. Ever since the train, they both try a lot harder.]
Plus like, I haven't always been reliable, so...I get it.
[He feels like crap about it, but he gets it - which is why he means it when he's offering help.]
But I want that to be different. No one can be the responsible guy all the time - you'd go nuts!
no subject
[It sucks, but even after the train they still mess up. Sometimes it even feels like they mess up more than they did before, though really it's just they're more likely to talk about it than they were back when they were kids.]
It is different. You know so much more than I do about getting by on the road. You know how to talk people into giving us a shot for shows. I'd never even be able to get a tour going without you.
[Maybe things hadn't gone so well when Ryan had tried to do it solo, but it's not like Min would have even got started without him. He needs him too. They work better as a team, and even though Min-Gi's been here longer that doesn't mean he should forget that.]
no subject
Together we make the perfect touring band.
[They balance each other out, like they always do. They could have only ever done this together. Ryan manages another bite of cake on his own, but he glances over at Min thoughtfully.]
You wanna ditch once we're done with cake? Even ignoring all my stuff from before...kinda feels weird to hang out too long for this afterparty?
[The entire party is young children and their families, and a few out of place older siblings here and there. He doesn't regret hanging around for a bit - he really needed a minute and he's feeling better and more like himself. Leaving the party is probably okay now, even if it comes with the possibility of talking out other things, if Min thinks of them.]
no subject
Objectively they still have a long way to go before they can be considered successful (or at least they did back home), but everything runs so smoothly between the two of them that a lot of the time Min-Gi already feels like they're there.
Still. Hearing Ryan say it out loud fills him with warmth. It's a good feeling, though he wishes he couldn't feel his cheeks heating up. He's glad for another subject to switch to, and after another swig from his juice box he sets it down to pick his cake back up to finish.]
Yeah. Let's ditch. We can finish the cake, then round up the Pokémon and finally get out of these stupid costumes.
[He's definitely looking forward to that...]
no subject
It's time to escape and reset, and he's so glad Min's onboard with that.]
Definitely. I'm so over this. I want this dumb hood off so bad.
[His desire to get the hell out of this party is greater than his lack of appetite too, so he'll have no problem finishing his cake. Maybe even his juice as well.]
no subject
[Ryan probably can, especially since they were under the impression this show was going to be a big deal for them right up until they showed up and got the real rundown for it.
At least it's something they can laugh at now. Laughter feels like something that's sorely needed after the ups and down of their post-show conversation.]
We have the rest of the afternoon ahead of us still. What do you want to do? Just chill?
[Actually, the fact that they do have the rest of the afternoon ahead feels like it should've been a warning sign, but he's grateful for it now. They both likely need it. Ryan especially.]
no subject
Right? Waste of a good look.
[They really should have figured a gig this early in the day would be something weird, but Ryan refuses to give it much thought. It's over now and they're getting out of here.]
I'm good with just chilling if you are. We can always do something later if we want. Man, it's so weird being done with a show while the sun's still out though...
[This day has already been so much and even though he's feeling better now, going back to the inn to wind down and just decompress a little bit sounds really nice right about now.]
no subject
Chilling sounds good. I'm not even sure what else I'd want to do. I'm so used to just crashing once we get back to the van or our room for the night.
[Obviously he doesn't want to go to sleep now. It would just be nice to unwind for a few hours before doing... something. What, he has no idea, but they'll figure out something. They'll still have the entire evening. It should be a nice fault, but he feels weirdly off-kilter about it.
He shoves a few more mouthfuls of cake in his mouth. Partly to stop himself thinking too much on things that really don't matter, and partly to speed up getting out of here. There isn't that much left so he sets down his plate, looking at Ryan expectantly as he uses the last of his juice to wash the cake down.]
You ready?