For ninjou.

[tenimuho]

[There are a lot of reasons why a person would want to humor an up-and-coming mafioso, likely to be one of the youngest executives if not the youngest executive in Port Mafia history.

But Odasaku doesn't really think of what he's doing right now, sitting down and playing video games with Dazai, as 'humoring' him. Even if he's not all that great at fighting games compared to Dazai, and even if it might be considered a little weird, a 20-year-old playing games with a 15-year-old...]

Oh, I lost again.

[...it's fun even when he loses, so he's playing.]

Good game. Want another round?

Comments

[ninjou]

Odasaku....

[Each syllable is separate, deliberate.

This up and coming mafioso bears fewer bandages than he will in a few years time, but he maintains that air of maturity and wisdom hidden behind flagrant self-interest that will be there until the day he departs the mafia.

He is holding the controller gingerly, looking at his companion.]

You're so bad at this... you really suck.

[tenimuho]

I don't get as much time to practice as you do.

[It's not said defensively: it's the truth. As the bottom-ranking mafia member, Odasaku's hours are long.

He might suck, but he's never intentionally thrown a game to Dazai.]

[ninjou]

I'm not a slacker, if that's what you're trying to say.

[Sigh. Dazai shakes his head and clucks his tongue.]

I'm not surprised... if you don't practice, you don't get better, but at the same time, I'm just good at it naturally.

[tenimuho]

The more I play with you, the better I'll get. But you'll get better at the same time, so it'll be hard to beat you.

[A true dilemma.]

[ninjou]

I might plateau. Hard to say. But, Odasaku, do you really like games?

[He's fishing for something.]

[tenimuho]

They're not my favorite thing ever, but I like playing with you.

[Honest.]

[ninjou]

So you like spending time with me?

[He sounds so flippant.]

[tenimuho]

[Odasaku, of course, had not been present when Dazai had gotten hurt badly enough to be hospitalized. He'd only heard about it from the Port Mafia grapevine.

Sometimes he forgot that Dazai was a human being who could actually be killed by anyone besides himself.

It was a relief to him when he later heard that Dazai was out of the hospital and recovering. Even more of a relief, when Dazai called him up and invited him over for video games.

...Dazai's probably still recovering. He should bring something.

So Odasaku shows up at Dazai's door with several cans of soup.]

Can I put these in your kitchen?

[ninjou]

[He has a very small kitchen, all things considered. His place is for living in, spartan accommodations because he's rarely there. Still, he steps back and gestures for Odasaku to come in. He has a sprained wrist, and he walks a little tenderly, but he looks otherwise normal. The extra bandages blend in.]

Thanks...

[tenimuho]

[Soup deposited. Odasaku returns to give Dazai a once-over - he looks mostly okay. Mostly.]

How are you feeling?

[ninjou]

[He's moving a little slowly, but he gestures to the couch.]

Recovering. It wasn't as bad as it could have been. [He smiles.] I was lucky! The bullet missed my neck!

[tenimuho]

You were lucky. I'm glad you're relatively okay.

[Odasaku has a seat on one end of the couch.]

[ninjou]

Thanks.

[Dazai doesn't sit yet.]

I uh... bullet in the shoulder, sprained wrist, twisted ankle, some bruises... Almost cut my cheek up, but the doctor said it won't scar. Everything else will.

[tenimuho]

[Dazai's sixteenth birthday.

Odasaku would be lying if he said he wasn't nervous. There are a million reasons why he should be more nervous than he is, even. But he'd promised something, and he has every intention of following through on that promise.

When he shows up at Dazai's home, he's carrying a box. Before Dazai gets any strange thoughts about that-]

I got you a cake.

[Traditional celebrations shouldn't just be forgotten about. And Odasaku likes cake, personally.]

[ninjou]

[He's nervous? Dazai hides it well, but he's apprehensive suddenly. He woke up this morning knowing he'd finally have part of Odasaku he never thought he'd get, but he's still full of questions. He's wondering if he should back out, but he's spent the days since their agreement trying to mentally and physically prepare himself. He'd think of Odasaku at night, touching himself and imagining how he'd feel. He let his mind run wild. But now that the day is here, he offers a guarded smile as he ushers his guest in.]

Did you want to eat some?

[tenimuho]

Maybe later. I'm not hungry for cake right now.

[...Maybe hungry for other things, but not for cake.

He'll just put his box down in the kitchen, then return.]

How has your day been?

[ninjou]

Yeah... me either.

[He'll wait patiently for Odasaku to return, staring at his feet, but his head snaps up and he looks like a man nervously emamored.]

Good. I got shot at. Third time this week.

[tenimuho]

Any injuries I need to avoid?

[Since... there'll be a lot of touching, later. He doesn't want to cause Dazai any pain.]

[ninjou]

No.

[Ah. Nervousness is about to show. He fusses with his coat a bit.]

I'm fine.

[ninjou]

[It's almost a full year before Dazai speaks to Odasaku at any length again. He's about to turn seventeen, and being a new executive, there's a nicely organized party in his honor. Everyone is invited, and anyone who isn't out on some kind of job is expected to be there.

He spots Odasaku toward the start, and promptly settles into a pattern of flirting with female guests and drinking. Of course, he can't resist getting a parting shot at the man who practically jilted him, so eventually... well, he follows the man to the bathroom. He'll wait outside.]

[tenimuho]

[It seems a shame not to speak to Dazai at least once during the party, but he's been busy talking to other guests, and Odasaku has no illusions that he's important enough to have time made for him.

So when he emerges from the bathroom, he just blinks.]

Congratulations on your promotion.

[It's exactly what anyone would say.]

[ninjou]

Thank you.

[He sounds amiable enough, only a little cold. The usual coldness, anyway, the same he'd give any other.]

Why are you here?

[tenimuho]

Everyone's expected to be here.

[So he came, despite the distance between them.]

[ninjou]

Good. I'm glad you felt obligated to come.

[He's feeling this out.]

[tenimuho]

Mm.

[Well, they're in conversation now, so as long as he doesn't bring up anything unfortunate they'll be fine. Probably.]

I hope you've been well.