So I mentioned I’m currently fostering a puppy from the shelter I work at. Due to unfortunate circumstances, his sister who was also fostered out was returned abruptly.
Immediately they contacted me and now, go figure, I’ve two puppies instead of one awaiting their forever homes with me. Fingers crossed everyone!
Genji isn’t often depressed, but when he is, the blues can really take him
At this stage in life, Genji is very much about protecting people and helping others, but during these periods he shuts down
He’ll lock himself away or take solitary missions
Its tough for Genji- there’s always things he craves during these times, always one thing or another that a part of him believes will make the sadness go away
One of the things Genji always craves the most is a hug- the feeling of another body holding and squeezing his, the feel of their warmth and heartbeat
Despite the fact that his whole body isn’t gone, his cybernetic parts make it difficult
A lot of his body can’t feel the hug, taking away from the effect. And even then, who do you ask? Your older brother who tried to kill you? Your best gay cowboy buddy? Your old boss who now has a vendetta against everyone and thing in the world?
For him, he doesn’t feel like he can talk about it either. Everyone has bigger problems then him, in his mind
Luckily, he is never fully alone
Soba lets him mope about for a bit, because lets be real- all emotions and feelings are real and ignoring them doesn’t solve anything. Pretending they don’t matter doesn’t make them go away
But you still need time to feel them and know where you are at
Soba will usually pull Genji’s weighted blanket out from a box and onto him, before crawling under to lay in his arms
Sometimes Genji will cry, but always he will hug her- and the way she chirps and delicately licks his cheek always gets to him
Its usually not too long before Soba will do one of two things- either she’ll cry and demand he get up to go to the kitchen, or she’ll roll in something dirty and come back and show him
If its the kitchen, by having to make her food he inevitably makes himself food too- always comfort food. Usually rice buns
If he has to bath her, she’ll roll on him and inevitably, he’ll be forced to get in too
Both of these are usually a step in the right direction- just some form of taking care of himself
Soba actually has her own little harness and leash- not Genji’s choice. Zenyatta wanted her and Checkers to have matching harnesses, and hers is kind of fuzzy
The two will go for a walk, usually a long one
These things doing necessarily fix Genji, but they help the start of getting Genji into a better place physically and emotionally
Genji will finally at some point go and talk to Zenyatta, who will listen with little interruption and if not help Genji work through those feelings, remind him that those feelings are okay
Genji also has a tendency to walk around in oversized ugly sweaters during these moments. Why? No one knows, but they were hand-me downs from Jesse, and we’ve all seen the bamf belt- his sweater choices are no better
just walked my dog past a guy sitting in his car in the dark with the headlights on playing lose yourself by eminem so loud it was crystal clear through the shut windows and just gripping onto the steering wheel and staring straight ahead motionlessly.. good luck man ive been there