Me: The thing about crossovers is that you can't please both fandoms because the author tends to favor one MC over the other, which is why I didn't tag the other fandoms and always filter out TCF when browsing the ORV tag. And considering the nature of ORV, KDJ is always made fun of and teased, good-naturedly but paired with Cale, some fics have bad humor and just comes off kicking one MC down to glorify the other, which is like subtly comparing them in a one-sided competition. So I prefer non-crossovers — a world can't have more than one God, y'know? Kidding, I'm Christian. But anyways, try not to rant under the comment section in response to this but if you must, do it in my discord server linked at the endnotes. Happy Reading!
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Normal POV!
The thing about being stubborn is that it could either save your life or doom you to an even more miserable fate, something that Jaehwan learned since meeting Kim Dokja. But in spite of knowing what it feels like to be in the protagonist's shoes, Jaehwan can't bring himself to spare even an ounce of sympathy for the obstinate man called Yoo Joonghyuk.
Kim Dokja once told him that being hardheaded is a trait that main characters are born with, if only to ensure an infallible resilience that will aid them in achieving their goal, but rather than finding the man's tenacity impressive, it only grates on his nerves, wearing his patience thin. He could try to be a little more understanding, but things would be so much easier if the regressor just let his companion take the lead and accept his help.
Honestly, Jaehwan would be a little less bitter about him if not for the fact that his lack of cooperation makes things more complicated and gets in the way of the reader's plans. He wonders what exactly Kim Dokja sees in him, to favor him over Jaehwan and the others, enough for his story to become the reader's favorite.
He's aware that the situation is different now. Unlike their stories, 'Three Ways to Survive in a Ruined World' saved Kim Dokja's life — a novel that goes on for years, practically embedded in the reader's own life story. And even when the long-awaited ending finally arrived, Kim Dokja loved the story enough to interfere when Yoo Joonghyuk's end didn't satisfy him.
True to his name's Hanja, Kim Dokja takes his role as a reader very seriously. No matter how a story ends, he always makes sure not to do anything that may affect the plot. Whether this is out of respect for the author or because he liked the story regardless of the ending, he's never said, but Jaehwan has an inkling that it's a bit of both, because his reader is greedy — and no story will ever be left unread as long as Kim Dokja continues to exist.
It's a harsh truth, but Jaehwan does not regret his decision, and he doubts the others would feel any different. They chose to abandon their world and become Kim Dokja's companion, and eventually, they all learned to share, because it's not in a reader's nature to only love one story. And while all of them can never forget the despair they felt when they reached their end, leaving them wrought and feeling empty, they found salvation through Kim Dokja and unhesitatingly took the hand he offered them.
Deon Hardt is probably the worst of them, and while it may seem like a choice made out of sheer desperation, slowly but surely, he's learning to smile again. The world had broken him down, imposed such cruelty in his innocence, and while his devotion is scarily concerning, to the point of dirtying his hands with blood to please their reader — this time, he has a choice.
And it's not like Kim Dokja goes around collecting protagonists on purpose. If anything, his invitation is more whimsical than an offer made out of pity. Ryu Gunwoo, going by Park Moondae now, for example, is given the same choice despite getting a happy ending. It's rare for his offer to be rejected, only happening once so far courtesy of Han Yoojin, who, despite the harsh life he's lived, chose to stay for his brother — though Jaehwan doubts his overprotective dongsaeng, and other wards, would even allow him to leave.
Sung Jinwoo is probably the most enthusiastic of them all, having formed a deep admiration for their reader, and Jaehwan is not all that different even if he doesn't show it. Even Kim Rok Soo, now Cale Henituse, offered to join out of his own volition, but having yet to achieve his story's end he was denied the option to escape.
Yoo Joonghyuk is a fool.
He's got his most devoted reader actively participating in dangerous scenarios, putting his life on the line just to change the story, and he repays it by ruining their plans and putting Kim Dokja and his companions in danger whole Jaehwan and the rest are forced to watch from afar, forbidden from getting further involved in the story.
If only he knew the sacrifices Kim Dokja is willing to make just for him...
A ping interrupts his thoughts, and Jaehwan looks up only to see a notification from the constellation Dog Who Threw Himself Into the Flames urging him to focus on his tasks. His chosen sponsor, the same constellation that sponsors the others, is the safest choice that wouldn't put them in a tough spot and keep them away from the spotlight. It's a choice made from Kim Dokja's suggestion and their willingness to follow his lead.
One day, Yoo Joonghyuk will understand that Kim Dokja is the only answer he needs, just like the rest of them. But for now, Jaehwan vents his anger out on monsters as he waits for his reader to revive.
He's allowed to be mad.
After all, Yoo Joonghyuk is not Kim Dokja's only protagonist.
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Me: Haphazardly done ending, not proud of it because I gave up writing it better — the idea is half-baked, more of an essay really, and I did not think the world-building through, but y'all can have it anyways. I had to exclude characters from Turning, I Don't Want This Reincarnation, and These Lunatics Are Obsessed With Me along with other novels that are actually shounen ai and not just platonically in love with each other stories, as much as I want to mention them all. This is to maintain consistency, especially if KDJ supposedly read these stories. Also… damn, I tried using the ORV Workskin but I can't get rid of this white line appearing when the text exceeds two lines in the system box. I also wanted the text centered but it wouldn't let me, and if it's going to stay on the left, I at least wanted the text justified. But that aside, as usual, obligatory discord server (tdNdHA9) plug, and see you guys in my next work!
~~~CHAO!~~~