smile. be happy!

That was where the real profit lay.

'We can work all that stuff out when the time's right,' Izaya said dismissively, his tone generous and devoid of any concern. So carefree, too! He could appreciate that. 'For right now, I can pretty much guarantee you'll be the first to find out when this “Wadanohara” character shows her face.'

Wadanohara — what a mouthful. He’d have to ask around later, see if the name meant anything to anyone.

'But anyway. The power dynamics of this place are pretty crazy — there's always someone trying to start something, and it changes every week.’ He gave a shrug that offered no condolences. ‘Look: I’ll save us both some time. You look smart; I bet you’ve got better things to do than ask me who’s popular every Monday. So why don’t you give me an idea of why you want to know…

'And I can point you in the right direction.'

That was simple, right?

This was someone clever. Too clever. Possibly cleverer than him--but, ah, Sal didn't like to consider that. Someone more knowledgeable than him, and that could be rectified given time. Knowledge was free if one knew the lock and the key, after all.

"'Why'?" He repeated, his voice hitching up to a jovial pitch. The shark's shoulders shook like he was laughing, but there was no sound coming from him, though the stretch of his smirk further revealed his mirth.

"I guess you could say I'm a shark who likes to have a fin in both seas, so to speak..."

He flicked his tail, causing a few droplets of water to fly into the air in an arc, catching the artificial light and glimmering brightly.

"It's a dangerous position to play, but the most rewarding. Have a bit of perspective on everything, see the winning side...tilt things in your favor while playing the hero? What could be more entertaining?"

Sal eyed Izaya, obviously amused.

But anything for a client, you know? Anything for a client.

Izaya lifts a lazy hand in greeting when he spots the man in question, an amiable, if amused, smile fixing itself to his face. ‘If I did, do you really think I’d be standing here?’ Sure he would. But still.

A little modesty always goes a long way.

'Sal, right?' he asks to get started, eyeing the… shark guy with only some of the curiosity he feels. His name's probably short for something, so Izaya is quick to dispense with the titles. 'Coming out here — not a problem. Actually, it's been a while; you could almost say I missed this place.'

Except not. Not. At. All.

Smooth in his progression, he comes closer and extends his hand towards Sal, a normal way to start a normal business transaction. He looks like a man who shakes hands. ‘So, just like you heard — I’m Orihara Izaya. Pleasure to meet you. And here’s what I heard: you’re looking for something.’

Sal was a lot of things, but certainly not rude, goodness no.

"Ah, but what could be more relaxing than the sights and sounds of nature~?" Retrieving his hand, the shark swirled his tail idly through the water on the other side of his makeshift bench, smiling as if they were old friends.

"You've heard correctly, not that it's a secret." Red eyes pulled to dangerous slits. "I'm on the look-out for a girl. I know she's not in this city, not right now...but if she should find herself here, I'd like to be the first to know. Her name is Wadanohara. Brown hair, traditional witch clothing--not easy to miss~♪"

He sighed her name like it was something sacred, nails scratching at the rock he was sitting on. One scratch, two, it was a quick and quiet gesture but certainly meaningful to those who could understand it.

"That aside...I'm simply curious about the going-ons of this city. Those with influence, those with prestige...If it's money you're after, that's been infinitely simple to acquire."

Sal shrugged carelessly, still sounding so casual as he picked the fragment of a piece of cloth from under his nails.

This kidnapping case felt like it just got more and more complicated as time went on, all the detective could do now was just.. play along with this.

"I never said you looked helpless, but your kind? You mean sharks? Well they’re called some of the deadliest fish in the seas for a reason you know."

The detective was enraged that this happened, so even childrne too were taken to this city without his parents? He couldn’t imagine the hell these children and their parents would be put through, he didn’t want to think what would’ve happened if Nanako was kidnapped while he was left behind.

But hey! You know how it is. Family.

"You don't say?"

Sal's smile remained coy. "I assure you that no one knows how dangerous a shark can be better than me."

...This was more amusing than it had a right to be. He pretended to think about it, wearing a look of sincere sorrow.

These kids and their get-ups sure are weird though.

"Hey, stop for a second."

Asking about his parents? His parents? Why, perish the thought! He hasn't seen his mother since he was a tiny pup! Sal plays with the idea of different answers but ultimately settles on a friendly air. He keeps the sharp edge from his smile and says pleasantly:

Sal?!

DONT. STOP. ME.

CAUSE I’M HAVIN’ A GOOD TIME,