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]

[Odasaku's pretty sure it didn't have a wobbly leg, but he's not going to argue.]

Thank you for cooking. I'm sure it'll be delicious.

[Even if the candles were not a great idea, surely that's the limit of how wrong a well-planned meal can go.

Ahahaha.

He switches the seat cushion that has the soggy gift on it for a different chair's cushion, then has a seat.]

[ninjou]

You're welcome~

[At least this part will be good! For sure! He made it extra spicy just for Odasaku. It's probably not as good as his usual place, since it's an amateur effort, but it's made with affection!

Dazai returns with the white wine and the whiskey, corkscrew in hand.]

I wasn't sure what kind of wine you liked... So I bought my usual whiskey, too.

[Oh! The gift!]

You should open that while the food cools off.

[tenimuho]

[The wine looks fine. Odasaku opens up the soggy gift - it's not hard with how wet the paper is.

Ah. Silk pajamas that are almost soaked through. Odasaku runs his thumb over the material.]

These look nice.

[They were probably much nicer without water involved, but maybe dry-cleaning can rescue them.]

Thank you, Osamu.

[ninjou]

[Ah. Good. He seems satisfied with the wine! One thing is going well enough.

But the expensive pajamas are soaked through, their deep reddish purple almost pathetically black.]

They were nicer about twenty minutes ago... but... happy anniversary anyway.

[tenimuho]

[-ah. It has been two months since they officially began to date, hasn't it. Odasaku smiles.]

Happy anniversary.

[He didn't need to go through all this for him, but - Dazai gets a soft kiss on the lips for his troubles.]

[ninjou]

[He accepts the kiss and delicately returns it before taking a seat opposite Odasaku. There's really no food for Dazai now, but he spoons up a scoop of rice to pick at so nothing is awkward.

Oh, of course he missed something. The reason he'd made hot water.]

I forgot to make the miso.

[A little laugh sounds, and he shakes his head.]

For a person who always knows what to do, I'm failing pretty badly. Hopefully the curry is fine...

[tenimuho]

[Odasaku decides right then that he cannot let on to Dazai that the curry is anything less than delicious.

It's good that he decided that before actually trying it, because that is too spicy. Odasaku barely manages not to cough, but it feels like his entire mouth is on fire.]

It's - it's really good.

[He takes a sip of wine.]

[ninjou]

[And Dazai, choosing not to read context clues right now, forcing himself to be oblivious, smiles broadly and nearly slides out of his chair in relief.]

Thank goodness! I'm so happy! That was the hardest part. I know you like it spicy, right? But it's too hot for me to try it. I did it until I could smell it, so it smells like what you always get...

[tenimuho]

[Well, now he really can't say anything.]

It's delicious. I'm only sorry yours didn't come out well.

[He has another tiny, tiny bite, followed by another sip of wine.]

[ninjou]

[Those are very small bites, but maybe he's just savoring it.

No.

Dazai can smell it from across the table. Dammit. He... completely ruined dinner. Just... smile and try not to facepalm. Nope, he puts his head in his hands rather briefly before running his hands over his hair.]

Do you want me to order something for delivery? Don't make yourself sick if it's not good.

[tenimuho]

[...Ah, he's bad at deceiving anyone as usual. Odasaku sets his spoon down.]

I'm sorry. Rice will be fine.

[ninjou]

[Something will go right. Something will go right. Dazai's not hurt, he swears. Not at all. Nope. He messed up and it's his fault, not Odasaku's.

They'll laugh about this someday. With a slightly crooked smile, Dazai pulls his phone out and waves it a bit.]

Are you sure? I'll pay. I'll get you real curry!

[tenimuho]

I don't want you to go out of your way for me.

[...though that's long since a lost cause, at this stage.]

Rice is fine. Let's just relax. Tell me about your day.

[ninjou]

[Odasaku has seen only the burnt tip of the iceberg. Well... okay, about half of the iceberg. The rest is waiting for after dinner.

But he can do this! He'll make it work. A few things are punched up on the phone, and he puts on some sweet, soft music of the type he knows Odasaku will appreciate. Then they can... at their rice. Mmmmm rice.]

I've been here most of the day. When I saw you this morning, I stole your key! It took a few hours to sneak everything in.

[tenimuho]

It looks like it took a while.

[He really only has seen about half, and it's still impressive.

The music is nice, though. Odasaku relaxes a little into his seat.]

I don't think I own a rice cooker.

[ninjou]

[Ah. He fusses with his phone a little, picks at his rice, then gives up, setting the chopsticks down.]

You do now! And the kettle, too.

[tenimuho]

Thank you. I'm sure they'll be very useful.

[And most importantly, neither of them are ruined in any way, so there's nothing to complain about there.]

[ninjou]

I hope so. You live like a bachelor...

[So does Dazai, so he's not really judging. He just thinks Odasaku deserves better. Which is why he went to all this stupid trouble for a two month anniversary.]

I have a lot of things planned that shouldn't go as wrong, so eat up! You can stop being disappointed after that!

[tenimuho]

[Odasaku smiles and starts to eat his rice.

...It's not bad rice, for what it's worth. Not exactly an entire meal, but he won't complain.

After that's all taken care of...]

You said you had more plans?

[ninjou]

[Dazai is a little too stressed to eat much, so he picks at his a little more before just waiting, watching Odasaku intently. This can still be good! The bedroom and bath are lovely...]

I was kind of counting on the mood being a little better, but you can at least go see. It's probably the thought that counts the most, as they say?

[He nods toward the bedroom.]

[tenimuho]

[Well then, Odasaku will just go have a look-see in the bedroom. Those sheets and pillows are fancy, and the rose petals are a nice touch.]

Romantic. Thank you, Osamu.

[None of the sheets have burn holes in them so they can still use them at a later date.

He's smiling, at least?]

[ninjou]

[Oh. Good. Smiling. Now Dazai can smile a little, too. He's standing in the doorway watching as Odasaku takes in the details, if he feels like examining everything. If not, at least he has a basic positive response to the overall aesthetic.]

There's... more in the bathroom.

[Well. Whatever. He's defeated, though he's trying to act like it's all totally fine. He takes things in stride, after all, but there's nothing that can stop him from running one soggy-bandaged hand through his hair a few times making it more of a mess than usual.]

I wanted it to be a special night for you. We haven't had much time alone, and I wondered if anyone had ever done something like this for you. And then I thought, well, if they had, I had to do better.

[Sigh.]

So... I'm sorry. But I tried.

[tenimuho]

[Odasaku turns back to Dazai, still smiling softly, and pulls him into a hug.]

No, no one's ever done anything this sweet for me. Even if it didn't work out the way you planned - it still means a lot that you wanted to.

It's alright for things to go wrong once in a while. It happens to everyone.

[They'll think it's funny, in the far future.]

[ninjou]

It was a pretty perfect plan until the flowers caught on fire.

[He pulls out of the embrace, but keeps his hands on Odasaku's waist.]

You can keep everything, obviously. I'm going to leave and pretend this never happened, anyway!

[tenimuho]

Do you have to? It'd be sad to spend our anniversary apart.

[Even with everything that's happened, of course he wants to salvage what he can of the date.]

We could just cuddle.