week 4 afterparty

[odasaku]

[ well, that was definitely A Trial.

however, oda understands that everyone must be feeling a little heavy, considering the death of someone like jughead and whatever bullshit dazai said earlier.

so, at everyone's door is a note that says the following:

If you don't want to be alone, come to the diner.

There's food.

oda himself is at the diner, although there's no food on his table, nor is he being a very good host of a party. he's just sitting alone at a table next to a window, staring out of it in deep thought. ]

Comments

[doublelammy]

[Well, someone wants to.

It takes some effort to track Dazai down. He certainly doesn't make it easy. But then again, this is exactly what she's been trained in. Spotting the little things that no one wants her to.

When she finds him, she stands at the base of the tree behind him for a moment, trying to decide what to say.

Ultimately, she decides on nothing at all. Instead, she simply climbs up the tree as well, finding a sturdy enough branch nearby to nestle herself in.]

[odasaku]

[ oda doesn't expect dazai to come. perhaps that's why he was thinking so much in the diner. about what happened and about what dazai had told him once the results were given. they definitely didn't make oda feel any better about the fact that two more people were going to die here but...

he doesn't think that dazai should be alone. that's for certain.

so when he sees millium begin to track dazai, he quietly goes after her until, well, they're both there. and while he's not going to climb up the tree like she is, oda will stay looking up at him. ]

It's cold. You're gonna get sick.

[pursuitofdeath]

[His troubles always do seem to find him. It’s not that he doesn’t want to see them as much as— he doesn’t know how to face them. What he should say— what to do going forward— he has a lot to think about and not much in the means of progress has been made. But ignoring it won’t make it go away... it won’t make the two people who’ve tracked him down go away either.

So he has to come up with something.]

I like to think I take better care of myself than all that.

[It’s words that sound like he should laugh with them— but he doesn’t.]

[doublelammy]

...Oh. Hiya, Oda.

[Normally she's better about noticing she's being followed, but... well. If it's Oda, that's fine. That's who she's here for, anyway.]

Not well enough t'not hang out in weird trees when it's cold n' late, apparently.

[She's not laughing, either, although that's... mostly teasing. Mostly.]

How long were you plannin' on staying out here?

[pursuitofdeath]

Oh... I don’t know.

[Well it’s not a lie. But it’s not a very good answer either.]

I thought maybe it would be better for a little while. I seems I have some thinking I should do.

[Boy if things don’t feel really complicated right now.]

[odasaku]

You can think where it's warm.

[ there's slight concern in oda's expression....which means he is very concerned. ]

I'm not leaving without you.

[pursuitofdeath]

You...

[What argument does he even have for that?]

You’re incredibly difficult, you know that? You should know better than to worry about me.

[doublelammy]

...Goddess, both of you.

[Millium sighs loudly from her spot in the tree, folding her arms.]

Can you two quit talkin' circles around each other for two seconds? Yeah, sure, Oda, he can think where it's warm, and I'd rather be somewhere warm, too, but that's not gonna fix anything. He'll be just as mopey in a warm place.

So. Dazai. What is it you're thinkin' about? 'Cause if it's us, you'd be a lot better off just speakin' up. We're right here.

[odasaku]

[ oda will continue looking up at him, expectantly. look at his face, dazai. please don’t disappoint that big puppy dog look that oda has right now. ]

[pursuitofdeath]

[...Dazai sighs. He’s completely disarmed when it comes to these two.]

...then let’s take this inside.

[If it doesn’t matter where it happens then he doesn’t want to get either of them sick. It will also give him a moment to collect his thoughts while they change locations.]

[doublelammy]

Works for me.

[And with that said, she hops down from the tree.

Maybe not the best idea in the world, but she does nail the landing, and seems perfectly fine upon standing up. JRPG acrobatics, man.]

[pursuitofdeath]

[He follows her down— hopping down without ever taking his hands out of his pockets.

Now they can travel.]

[odasaku]

[ oda sighs in relief when he watches dazai hop down from the tree, glad that they were able to convince dazai to come with them.

for a moment, oda lifts his hand up as if wanting to reach for dazai's hand...but he's not sure about it. perhaps dazai doesn't want to do something like that, especially after today's trial. maybe it would just make things worse than they already are.

after that quick moment of hesitation, oda decides to simply put his hand back in his pocket, walking in silence. ]

[pursuitofdeath]

[If Dazai noticed the movements of Oda's hand, he didn't show it. He's very good at ignoring the things right in front of him. So his hand remain casually perched in his pockets like nothing happened.

And he joins Oda, walking in an uncomfortable silence.]

[doublelammy]

[Okay, but do you know who did notice all that? And do you know who's also completely done with all of this beating around the bush nonsense? Because it's the same person, and it's Millium.

She trots up to keep pace with them, squeezing herself in the middle and then tugging on their sleeves.

If they won't hold each other's hands, they can at least hold hers, right?]

[odasaku]

[ millium is too good and must be protected.

that's why when oda feels a tug on his sleeve, he doesn't hesitate to hold millium's hand, a ghost of a smile on his face. he feels bad that she has to see them like this, but oda's also sure that he wouldn't have been able to face dazai if she hadn't been around. ]

For the record, Dazai, you're not going to sleep outside of the motel after this. You'll just get sick.

[pursuitofdeath]

[Feeling the tug at his sleeve, Dazai does hesitate. Acts of affection may come naturally for Oda, but to him, they're foreign. Just like the obviously theatrical displays that he makes to the women he's asked to join him in making terrible decisions, being genuinely affectionate would just seem fake.

Logically, in this situation, it's better not to get too involved-- or let other people get invested in him.

...yet after that moment of hesitation, he takes his hand out of his pocket and gently takes her hand anyway. And for all that it feels like an alien moment, it's nice for a moment.

Until Oda throws him under the bus.

...fine. Two can play that game.]

Oh Odasaku... If you wanted to tie me to the bed, you could have just asked~~

[doublelammy]

[Millium offers him a little smile when he finally does take her hand, offering a little squeeze. She has nothing to add to what Oda has to say, and so she stays quiet...

Until Dazai has to ruin everything by speaking, because Dazai.]

Ehehe. Well~ I mean, if that's the kinda stuff you guys are into, go for it~! But maybe let me know before it gets this late so I can ask Sakura-chan if I can just curl up in her room for the night instead, y'know~?

[Millium don't encourage this]

[odasaku]

I didn't say that.

[ he's even rolling his eyes a little as millium obviously takes the bait. ]

It's just because I care.