No, but I doubt we're the only world with our 'Fushiguro Toji' here. Other people have found ways to coexist. We can too.
[ They do not get to choose what challenges they face. It would hardly be so much of a challenge if they chose it. No, they all have to cope with what and who happens here. Even Gojo.
He's not dealing with it alone. Nanami sets a hand on Gojo's shoulder. ]
Slow your mind down for a moment. It's working out. You have Geto back here. I have Haibara. Sometimes things go shitty. Sometimes they go great. That's life. That's normal.
[Not that Gojo even has a baseline of what normal is. There are some fleeting moments in Folkmore that almost feel that way, then something comes along to shatter it.
Stop and think. Geto keeps telling him the same thing. It shouldn't be so hard, but lately seems impossible.
He chews on his lower lip, shoulders tense, quiet for a moment as he tries anyway.]
Nothing's ever gonna be normal for us. But I was hoping we'd get a little closer than we were.
[He looks at Nanami, reminded of the strange ways this place can be good, too. after a moment, he adds:]
[ It's so clear Gojo's trying. He's so used to running a hundred miles a minute, from one mission to the next, from one activity to the next, from a sugar high to a game high. Always go go go.
Nanami waits with him, breaths evenly. ]
Normal is a concept everyone talks about but no one has. What does normal mean to you? What do you want while we're here?
[ That's a more useful concept. Nanami smiles, soft, but it's more of a smile than he's had in all his time in Folkmore before Haibara arrived. ]
[Gojo wants to be a person. To do normal, stupid teenager stuff with his friends and his boyfriend. To get used to thinking he has a boyfriend. He wants to travel this weird land and see everything it has to offer.
It doesn't seem like much, but at the same time, it seemed like everything. Stuff that seemed so foreign and unattainable in their weird lives that it was hard to accept when it was finally within arm's reach.]
I want you to be right about that. I hope you are.
We'll make it the case. [ Nanami isn't about to let Thirteen ruin this chance of happiness with Haibara. It may be an odd sentiment given she's the one who made it possible, but it stands. ]
Even in the non-jujutsu world there are shitty people. My manager at the corporation was a completely immoral jackass.
My former supervisor would never be more than a standard entitled prick to most people, who couldn't hold his own in a fight, but he ruined many lives without ever meeting the people in question. That hurt can be just as devastating, if more faceless.
[ Nanami gives a small nod at Gojo's thanks. ]
You're welcome, Gojo. One moment.
[ Nanami quickly goes to the kitchen and raids Haibara's snacks to grab a sweet for Gojo. Haibara won't mind. He returns and hands over the lollipop. ]
At least I know you won't get cavities since you're always healing yourself.
[Gojo can't believe what he's seeing. What is he, 12? Yes. He look at the lollipop, then at Nanami with a raised eyebrow. After a moment he plucks it from Nanami's hand indignantly, chin held high. Of course he was still taking it.]
Mm. It's nice to not have to worry about the little things, huh.
[Speaking of. He should be returning this favor, right? He fiddles with the lollipop, thinking.]
[ The action is likely transparent—rewarding Gojo for doing something difficult and growing as an individual. Yet his weakness for sweets means he accepts the reward, no matter what he thinks of it. The more he grows and the more he's rewarded for it (Geto is surely... offering even more tempting rewards), the more inclined Gojo may be toward growing as a person. Sweets is a small price to pay on Nanami's end. ]
The rest of us brush our teeth.
[ Nanami considers his life and how it's going in Folkmore. The main thing, as ever, to come to mind is Haibara. ]
Haibara's here, alive and well. What more could I ask for?
[That gets a smile and a satisfied nod from Gojo.]
Good. Having someone like that here makes all the difference, huh.
[To think that Gojo agreed to come here to get away from Geto. How things have changed. Gojo unwraps the lollipop, pops it in his mouth, then gives Nanami a hearty shoulder pat as he heads to the door.]
[ Gojo's final words send a shot of anxiety and unease through Nanami. For however long it lasts? It's not that Nanami expects it to last forever, but Gojo saying it so casually aloud, it hurts. ]
We should never forget the good things, while we're here. Have a good day.
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[ They do not get to choose what challenges they face. It would hardly be so much of a challenge if they chose it. No, they all have to cope with what and who happens here. Even Gojo.
He's not dealing with it alone. Nanami sets a hand on Gojo's shoulder. ]
Slow your mind down for a moment. It's working out. You have Geto back here. I have Haibara. Sometimes things go shitty. Sometimes they go great. That's life. That's normal.
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Stop and think. Geto keeps telling him the same thing. It shouldn't be so hard, but lately seems impossible.
He chews on his lower lip, shoulders tense, quiet for a moment as he tries anyway.]
Nothing's ever gonna be normal for us. But I was hoping we'd get a little closer than we were.
[He looks at Nanami, reminded of the strange ways this place can be good, too. after a moment, he adds:]
... I'm glad that Haibara's here.
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Nanami waits with him, breaths evenly. ]
Normal is a concept everyone talks about but no one has. What does normal mean to you? What do you want while we're here?
[ That's a more useful concept. Nanami smiles, soft, but it's more of a smile than he's had in all his time in Folkmore before Haibara arrived. ]
Me too. [ He means it with all his heart. ]
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As if I have any clue. But I know sorcerer life has got nothing to do with it.
[Not this kind of sorcerer stuff, anyway. He'll always be one, no matter what happens here, curses or no curses.
Maybe "normal" is seeing the most genuine smile he's ever seen on Nanami's face. Gojo might not like Folkmore, but it's good for some things.]
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I may have left the jujutsu world for a while, but I wouldn't call it a particularly normal life experience. It's not something I want to go back to.
Figuring out what we do want... that's possible here. That's where we can find joy and resolve some of our anguish.
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It doesn't seem like much, but at the same time, it seemed like everything. Stuff that seemed so foreign and unattainable in their weird lives that it was hard to accept when it was finally within arm's reach.]
I want you to be right about that. I hope you are.
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Even in the non-jujutsu world there are shitty people. My manager at the corporation was a completely immoral jackass.
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Yeah. I know. Earth, Folkmore, the merry ol' land of Oz, they're everywhere. But there's a difference between run-of-the-mill assholes, and that guy.
[Toji transcended mere asshole-ness.
The smile fades as he struggles for a moment to say his next words.]
... Thanks, Nanami.
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[ Nanami gives a small nod at Gojo's thanks. ]
You're welcome, Gojo. One moment.
[ Nanami quickly goes to the kitchen and raids Haibara's snacks to grab a sweet for Gojo. Haibara won't mind. He returns and hands over the lollipop. ]
At least I know you won't get cavities since you're always healing yourself.
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Yes.He look at the lollipop, then at Nanami with a raised eyebrow. After a moment he plucks it from Nanami's hand indignantly, chin held high. Of course he was still taking it.]Mm. It's nice to not have to worry about the little things, huh.
[Speaking of. He should be returning this favor, right? He fiddles with the lollipop, thinking.]
Everything good on your end?
[You know, aside from problems Gojo is causing.]
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The rest of us brush our teeth.
[ Nanami considers his life and how it's going in Folkmore. The main thing, as ever, to come to mind is Haibara. ]
Haibara's here, alive and well. What more could I ask for?
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Good. Having someone like that here makes all the difference, huh.
[To think that Gojo agreed to come here to get away from Geto. How things have changed. Gojo unwraps the lollipop, pops it in his mouth, then gives Nanami a hearty shoulder pat as he heads to the door.]
For however long it lasts, let's enjoy it.
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[ Gojo's final words send a shot of anxiety and unease through Nanami. For however long it lasts? It's not that Nanami expects it to last forever, but Gojo saying it so casually aloud, it hurts. ]
We should never forget the good things, while we're here. Have a good day.