*(autoplay warning.)

She had blurted out what she did, and there was no taking any of it back now. Yet, that was fine, as his next series of words, his descriptions– they elicited a reaction in Eto that she, herself, was surprised at. It started off with a chuckle, soft and low; yet it soon turned into an audible laugh, one that any librarian ought to have shushed.

It was funny, all of this, so how could she not show how amused she was?

“Ufufu…”

“You forgot ‘an annoying pain in the ass’.”

Her own description of that particular man was actually on the more polite side. Eto figured that the both of them could be a lot harsher; perhaps they would do so later.

chuuya tried to not be too loud when he chuckled considering they were at a library. but it felt good for once to meet someone who could relate with him if it came to dazai. ‘right, how could i forget about his key feature....?’ he said, then snorted for the last time. 

he hummed when he grabbed one of the books. now, he got a bit curious. she seemed to have heard his name before... he was wondering what things dazai had blurted out about him.

Eto watched him with an amused gaze, a similarly themed smirk budding on her lips. How fun it was to share her favorite things with people that actually appreciated them. When he bowed, that same smirk widened immediately.

She began with a chuckle. “Ufufu you don’t have to b– eh?”

That name. Oh, that name. Nakahara Chuuya. The famous Japanese poet. Eto did not know that that man had red hair. Takatsuki Sen’s smile twitched, the mask crackling and crumbling long before she could stop it. Chuuya, she’d heard that name before, and as it rang in her mind, the voice of a certain man was the one who spoke it.

Her brain lit up, a buzz with questions that whirled around her skull faster than she could speak them. Regardless, a moment of silence fell between them.

“I think you and I might have a mutual…” Acquaintance? No. Friend? Even worse. “… person that we both know.”

her reaction upon him speaking his hame was quite questionable— in fact it seemed like she had heard it before. obviously, she knew dazai but he wouldn’t want to mention that to her, in fact he found it quite amusing to have her reveal it herself; as much as it was impolite. 

‘ hah...? someone we both know? ’ he repeated her words, as if he was unaware of who she was talking about. he then clicked his tongue, closing his eyes while his fists were burried in the pockets of his pants.

‘ let me guess..’ he then started speaking, ‘ taller than the both of us, trenchcoat, dark hair and wasting bandages like a mummy ’ he said. 

She nodded, then turned and set off. As the two of them walked, Eto pointed out various establishments that she would recommend, and those that he ought to rather avoid. As a long time citizen of Cotes Ward, Eto was quite familiar with what it had to offer.

The library she led him to was the second largest within Cotes, and Eto had come to make it her preferred library of choice. She was thankful that the mindless faces that worked within the libraries of Spirale did not communicate, but, there was no need to share that terrible tale with the man beside her.

Once they had arrived, it was easy for Eto to locate the majority of Kafka’s works that the library owned. She had no problem carrying all the books either, and seemed practically eager to share them with her new companion. Once she sat them down at a table the two of them procured, a thought came to her. How silly of me, she thought.

“I just realized, I never caught your name.”

“Mine’s Takatsuki Sen– feel free to just call me Sen, I don’t mind.”

the library was decent looking but it was definitely fit for his taste. he looked around, however, being quite intrigued about this place. he hadn’t seen much of spiral ever since his arrival, so the sheer curiosity was there. it sure was like a normal library with books, nothing too unusual. 

the moment he heard her name, however, was what made him a bit... curious. tatatsuki sen...? didn’t dazai say that her name was eto? or was it just a nickname he gave to her...? ah, it didn’t matter because the description was fitting her, so he went along with it. 

he decided to bow down, quite a bit too elegant, but he couldn’t just act all casual towards her, right?

Her small body pressed up against the corner of the cell; sitting on the floor in such a position made her seem tinier than she truly was. Her knees were brought up to her chest, and she had been previously hiding her face behind her hair. Yet, she had been keeping a careful eye on the area beyond her cell, suspicious of anyone that might walk by.

She could feel her heart beating her chest, and it only furthered her anxiety; she knew that the police that had arrested her for pick-pocketing were not Doves of the CCG, but would they turn her over to them? She had been too afraid to lash out with her kagune at the officers, for fear of Doves appearing. Now in a cell, she wished she had slaughtered them, for it might have allowed her to flee.

The sound of a voice made her flinch, especially when she saw the bandaged boy it came from. She heard his words, but didn’t understand what he meant by them. Mafia? Chuuya? There was another person with him, but…

“…!”

Creaking, the door to her cell opened, and Eto eyed it with suspicion.

“Don’t,” she hissed. “Come near me.”

@corruptsorrow​ > @dazaisensei​

he sure was quite aggravated about whatever dazai had to plan, and all he could do was following him like a dog. something he’d never admit and would never even think of it. but dazai was the only person he could currently trust in that matter, even though his suggestions were wild and beyond any normality. 

with a sigh, he stopped at the cell where dazai was standing, squinting real hard to look what was in there.  ‘ oi... it could be dangerous. although i wouldn’t mind if it bit you so you realize what you’re doing .’ ah, heartless and careless as always, chuuya.

he looked at the girl, heaving a sigh. whoever did that to her, and whatever it was, she honestly didn’t deserve it, that was for sure. 

ANYWAYS, i’m quite late but here’s the proxy info for chuuya!

- turned fifteen, quite shorter (shrunk about 10cm). - left sheep, killed rimbaud & joined the port mafia with dazai as his partner. - is a loud brat and will fight when you call him a shrimp or piss him off. - will shit talk about dazai (nothing special because he even does that without being in this situation but y’know he’s just... being a little bitch).

Certain idiot, he said. Eto supposed she knew a lot of those sorts of people. This island had plenty to spare. She chuckled, ever so softly. It wasn’t like she couldn’t relate to the troubles he idly mentioned, or at least those his words implied. Reading a good book, it was life’s one solution for almost all of its problems.

She also knew of many places where he could procure anything written by Kafka, her own book store included. Yet, if she were to head back there, her staff might have just as soon shooed her away again. Well, there was always other libraries… except for one. So, she smiled, turning fully towards Chuuya.

“There are other libraries, you know.”

“I wouldn’t mind spending time re-reading Kafka myself. Why don’t we look for some of his literature?”

Anyone that was a fan of Kafka had to be at least a little bit interesting; and, even if they weren’t, Eto didn’t mind discussing her favorite author with another fan.

was that an invitation? it sounded like a genuine one, and perhaps he could try and trust her. maybe he’d find out more about this place ans why dazai was referring to her to begin with. after all they seemed to have met before, right?

the mere thought of dazai making actual friends, especially with a woman was strange, honestly speaking. knowing this fool in a trenchcoat, he’d try anything to get a girl to commit double suicide with him, right?

ah, whatever. whatever. right now he’d like to focus on the fair lady. he smiled at her, a gentle and rare smile, followed by a nod.

‘ then you will lead the way. i am not familiar with this place ’, chuuya admitted.

if he’d get to know her better, he sure would rub it under dazai’s nose. but that wasn’t really relevant right now.

Their relationship was like a noose around his neck. Dazai knew getting close to Chuuya wasn’t good for him, the two of them would only continue to aggravate each other worse and worse, and the rope would get tighter, and it would get harder to breathe.

Yet, he didn’t want to distance himself any more. He drew closer and closer to Chuuya, because Chuuya allowed it. If Chuuya wanted to make him go away, he would kick or punch him. If Chuuya wanted him to shut up he would punch him in the jaw.

Dazai just smiled as Chuuya hurled insults and abuse at him.

“Hmm… I got it.”

Dazai said, and then he picked up small, angry Chuuya and threw him over his shoulder.

“It’s okay, I’ll carry you like I did all those other times you passed out like an idiot after using corruptions. I’m your partner, after all. Let’s go home, Chuuya.”

sometimes there were moments where he’d resist dazai like a plague, like an annoying fly that was flying around him, not willing to go away— sometimes, however, he wouldn’t mind staying close to dazai. these were the moments where he felt desperate and vulnerable. their constellation as double black had shown that they could rely and depend on each other but hate to show it.

just right now, chuuya was helpless, desperate even. he was in a plavce he’d never been before, with dazai being the first person he found. he hated to rely on dazai at that moment, he knew dazai would take this situation for granted only to mock chuuya on his lack on independence.

he’d known dazai well enough— he’d known this man long enough. and there he was, standing in front if him with dazai looking up with a scowl in his face. that face was just punchable for him, and he was really this close to raise his fist, but it seemed like dazai had another idea.

‘ oh— !? ’ just in that moment he found himself hanging in dazai’s shoulder. ‘ oy!! put me down, you fool!! ’ he shouted, trying to move away but there was no hope. chuuya couls only release a growl after that.

the mention of home, however, caught his attention. he surely couldn’t mean yokohama, right? if that would be the case, then dazai would have gone to yokohama any moment and even chuuya know there was no going back.

@corruptsorrow​ - event starter

“If you come any closer I’ll kill you a thousand times Chuuya.” 

Dazai said that with a cheerful smile, but his appearance was anything but. He wore a long black coat (given to him by Mori) and his face was half covered in bandages. He looked like a half dead child someone had abandoned on the streets somewhere. 

Chuuya got closer. Chuuya never stayed away.  Chuuya was obnoctious. 

“You must really want to die. Maybe we have something in common after all.”

Dazai picked up a gun and pointed it at Chuuya for a moment, before aiming it at his own head and pulling the trigger. Nothing happened of course, because the gun was made of plastic and was connected to an arcade machine. Neon lights, and digital screens flashed color all around them. 

Dazai just wanted someone to play video games with him. 

meeting up at the arcade sure was not a good idea. it reminded him back when they were at the arcade for the first time and some of the sheep showed up. the memories were still there.

with a growl he tried several ways of how to win this, but he couldn’t really concentrate— especially if he was in THAT situation. 

‘ if i win, you’ll give me something. don’t care what, could be your head or yer fuckin’ wallet. ’ 

 he was kidding about the latter, he didn’t know what to do with dazai’s wallet in the first place. and if he wanted money, he’d just look for a job himself in this cursed city. 

‘ if you win... choose your prize, i honestly don’t fuckin’ care at this point. ’ 

   … well, this guy didn’t seem as happy to see ranpo as ranpo did to see him. ranpo pouts, but doesn’t make any attempt to move or sit up from the ridiculous position he’s found some strange comfort in. hey, maybe chuuya will get a kick out of looking down on someone  –  he doesn’t get to do that often, after all.   ( neither does ranpo, but he’s still taller!!  )

   “  that’s it? ‘it’s you,’? all grumbling and ominous in the middle of the day, suteki boushi-kun?  ”   ranpo chides, tone all dramatic hurt and annoyance.   “  are you still mad at me over the book? it’s not as if you died in there or anything. i knew you weren’t going to, you’re too good for that  –  besides, i would have figured you’d enjoy a breather away from that inside you.  ”

   had he been someone more concerned and careful, perhaps he would tread more carefully on the topic of this talented executive’s ability  –  but if ranpo is anything, it’s a cruelly blunt person first, before he is anything else. if anything, he felt a sort of understanding towards that weight. weren’t they both harboring their own, as the respective pillars of their organization?

   maybe chuuya just can’t fathom the similarity out of anger right now. ah well.

   “  you really don’t have anything else to say? and here was i, happy to see a familiar face for once since i got here.  “

chuuya, for one moment, remembers their encounter and for what he’s just saying. still— being stuck in a book has not been a good experience, nonetheless trying to get out of it. mayhaps he’s just acting up a bit because he cannot really think of a good experience he’s had with ranpo.

this is a new place after all and much to his dismay, he’d rather spend a day with him than with dazai... after all he doesn’t give him that aggravating vibe dazai seems to harbor. 

‘ a familiar face, eh? ’ does ranpo even know that dazai’s here too? or is this his first encounter of someone the detective knows? he heaves a sigh, then leans against the bench. ‘ whatever ’, he mutters, ‘ perhaps you should look for your friends. ’

“You’re the most helpless man on earth, Chuuya. Especially when you’re with me.” 

This was why Dazai liked to lie, and joke around so much, because he found the truth to always be harsh and painful like this, and he hated pain. Dazai’s fingers curled around Chuuya almost possessively. He clung to him the way a child might cling to a favorite stuffed toy. 

He wanted to remove the leather gloves from his hand and intertwine their fingers more directly, but Dazai doubted Chuuya would allow that. Taking his gloves off would be the equivalent of stripping him naked in public. 

Dazai looks at the angry eyes staring up at him, threatening to burn a hole over him. He smiled, and then said simply. 

“You’ll trust me with your life, Chuuya but you won’t trust me with anything else?” 

Then, Dazai suddenly let go. He stepped back and pulled away ending all closeness between them. 

“Selfiiiiiiiiiiiish! Chuuuuuuuya is so selfish, he keeps his trust all to himself. He won’t trust his dear partner who never did anything wrong to him. I’m just trying to help him, and all he does is bully me!” 

Now Dazai was throwing a tantrum in public. He was a child again, he was always just sixteen years old whenever he was around Chuuya. 

perhaps it was his fatigue showing that could make him easily misunderstanding or dazai knew what chuuya was talking about & he was just acting like a brat about it. it’s always been that way & it would never change.

perhaps chuuya didn’t even want it to change, their relationship had been a complicated yet strained one to begin with. it had been like that ever since chuuya had joined the port mafia... what a memory.

a memory that he’d rather keep to himself, they had been working along for over seven years now, and the mere thought of being apart or not having dazai around... did that mean he’d depend on dazai without even openly admitting it?

just hearing dazai shout all around with people possibly watching them was already enough to make him upset & most likely show his choleric side to dazai— as usual.