For ninjou.

[tenimuho]

[Tonight, Dazai is really drunk.

This is not different from most other nights in their favorite bar, save for a few things.

1. Ango isn't here.

2. Dazai is really drunk. The kind of drunk that has Odasaku concerned that he might be trying to die through liver failure. That drunk.

And so, it's with hesitation that he speaks up.]

Maybe you should stop drinking for tonight.

Comments

[tenimuho]

[Dazai doesn't have to look in charge for Odasaku. It's not like he can forget.]

I thought it would be more humid tonight, but it's actually nice.

[Humid nights are the worst after you've been drinking, and also in general.]

[ninjou]

[Dazai shrugs his outer coat off and drapes it over his arm--something he's usually only comfortable doing around Odasaku. It's not good to be so exposed, but he has Oda there to protect him and his interests.]

It's beautiful... you can see all the stars. Look!

[He points up and there's nothing visible but city lights, but by god he will pretend. And stagger into Odasaku.]

Sorry.

[tenimuho]

[Oof. Dazai isn't too heavy, but he does make Odasaku reach out to steady him, one hand on his shoulder.]

It's okay. [He glances up, then back at Dazai's face.] But you can't see the stars at all from here.

[ninjou]

You can if you squint.

[He covers his already covered eye and leans heavily on Odasaku. They never get to do cool things like stargazing.]

Should I get glasses, I wonder... I'd look pretty cool.

[tenimuho]

I don't know about that. Borrow Ango's, and then we'll see if you look good in them.

[Ango will probably get mad, but it should be fine if it's just for a minute.]

[ninjou]

Oooooh, good idea!!!

[No. His glasses are ugly. Don't do it.]

I'll borrow them next time we see him... Maybe you'll have to hold him down while I steal them, though...

[tenimuho]

I'll ask.

[He only occasionally helps Dazai do terrible things to Ango. Not all the time. Really.]

[ninjou]

[HE WANTS THE GLASSES.

He's also just leaning on Odasaku now.]

I really like that bar...

[tenimuho]

It's a good bar.

[Just humor drunk Dazai, it's fine.]

Come on. We won't get to play Go Fish if we don't keep walking.

[ninjou]

Sorry, sorry.

[Dazai starts walking in the same direction they were going, then, and he looks Odasaku over instead of the sky. He feels... oddly warm and stupidly touchy feely. That's odd. But it's kind of strangely directed at Odasaku. Not humanity in general, just him. A dilemma.

They round a corner, and Dazai settles his coat back on his shoulders with a flourish.]

Hey, Odasaku?

[tenimuho]

[The apartment's not too much further from here. A nice place to rest, play cards, do whatever else Dazai has in mind.]

Yes?

[ninjou]

[Dazai has many things in mind, like cheating at cards and tricking Odasaku into letting him sleep in his bed.]

What do you think of me?

[tenimuho]

[Where'd that come from...? Odasaku thinks about it for a second, then gives a simple answer.]

I like you.

[ninjou]

[It came from drunk deep thoughts land. Be glad it didn't come from high deep thoughts land.]

I like you, too.

[Dazai smiles a little more than he ought to.]

I'm pretty happy when we go drink.

[tenimuho]

So am I. I'm always looking forward to it.

[He even smiles, just a little bit.]

[ninjou]

Me too! Especially when Ango doesn't show up.

[More smiling. He's kidding, obviously.]

[tenimuho]

I like Ango too.

[He pauses, thoughtful, then adds:] But sometimes it's nice with just the two of us.

[ninjou]

[Pout.]

I was kidding... But when it's just the two of us, we don't talk very much, do we?

[tenimuho]

Do you want to talk?

[He could do that, if that was the direction their friendship was going in. It's just always stayed at this semi-superficial level.]

[ninjou]

I don't know.

[He's looking around, thinking he knows what Odasaku's place looks like.]

I like it the way it is, too. That's such a hard decision.

[tenimuho]

[If things change, they won't stay the same. If they don't stay the same, they have a chance of being lost altogether. It's something like that.]

I don't mind it either way.

-it's this door, Dazai.

[He unlocks the door for him, nodding at him to go in.]

[ninjou]

[Oh. He was walking right past it. He'll just... go back... and go in the right one. He's careful to stop and remove his shoes, flopping on the floor to do so.]

Thanks!~

[tenimuho]

[Odasaku takes his shoes off and sets them neatly aside, then pauses.]

I might not own a deck of cards.

[ninjou]

[Dazai stops. No cards. Oh, he didn't think about that one. He pats himself down, like he might have some on his person. Cigarettes? Gun? Game system?]

I don't have any.

[Time to struggle to his feet.]

[tenimuho]

I guess we can't play Go Fish.

[Oops. That's actually disappointing.]

What do you want to do instead?