Continuation for bandagedheart.

[thesettingsun]

[Very few people get this dressed up for a bar crawl. It looks like it'd be hell to wash, and the only reason you'd wear it out to the bar is an obsession with fashion.

So that's one clue about who this patron sitting at a table is, since he forgot to tell other-Dazai how to identify himself. As for him, when he sees Dazai come in with bandages visible on his arms, he makes an (incorrect) assumption that this is the injury that caused that text and thus this is Dazai.

Well, he's half right, at least.]

Dazai!

Comments

[bandagedheart]

Awww, why not?

[Look at him and his exaggerated pout.]

Not even one?

[thesettingsun]

Not even one. You don't want to meet them, it's a bad idea.

[Because if he meets any of them, word will definitely get back to Oda and Ango, and they will demand to meet this Dazai.]

[bandagedheart]

[You say that, Shuji, but Dazai is totally gonna snoop if you fall asleep.]

I suppose...

[It’ll be a disaster if Dazai meets other Odasaku, but since when has he ever made smart decisions outside of a fight?]

At least tell me about them~

[thesettingsun]

You don't want to hear about them either.

[...he's absolutely going to doze off later and give Dazai an opportunity to snoop.]

[bandagedheart]

Fiiiine.

[Dazai will simply have to stroke Shuji’s hair and cuddle into him a bit more until he’s comfortable enough to fall asleep.]

Mmm...you know, I admire your taste in fashion. Maybe I can get you to dress up for me sometime~

[thesettingsun]

[Could be any minute now. Shuji doesn't like having his hairstyle messed with, but having his hair pet is super relaxing all the same.]

I was just thinking I should get an outfit that's easier to take off... You could be the first one to see me in it.

[bandagedheart]

Oh? I’d love to! You’d look lovely in a lot of things, actually...

[There goes Dazai, laying it on thick.]

Have you considered wearing lingerie?

[Cause Dazai has a thing for lace.]

[thesettingsun]

[And Shuji continues to lap it up. He hums, pleased by all the flattery.]

Not for just anyone, but for you... I could...

[Yawwwwwn.]

[bandagedheart]

I’m flattered!

[Yes. That’s it. Sleep, Shuji. Sleep so that Dazai can make terrible life choices.

His hand begins rubbing soothing circles into Shuji’s back, encouraging him to relax and doze off.]

Black lace would set off your lovely hair~

[thesettingsun]

Black and red... 's good taste...

[After another few seconds, he's fast asleep. Dazai is free to make all the bad life choices he wants.]

[bandagedheart]

Mmhmm...

[Perfect. Dazai waits until he’s absolutely certain that Shuji is asleep before he carefully wriggles out from underneath him and leaves him snoozing on the couch.

Without any concern whatsoever for the consequences, Dazai wanders out of the conference room, clicking the door shut carefully behind him before finding his way back to the lobby.

Shuji mentioned dorm rooms, didn’t he? Time to investigate.

Of course Dazai finds them fairly quickly, and here he is, wandering the halls with his hands shoved in his coat pockets and whistling all the while. He’s fairly certain that he’s not supposed to be back here, which makes this alll the more thrilling.]

[hurrayformarriage]

[He is absolutely not supposed to be back here, but it seems that security is light. A passing cat gives him a weird look before dashing off.

The first human Dazai sees is on his way back from something further in, whistling to himself. He has a book hanging off his belt, and Dazai may remember a similar contraption on Shuji's outfit the first time they met.]

Oooh, if it ain't a new guy.

[He has the thickest Osakan accent anyone has ever heard.]

Gotta be library staff if yer anythin'. What's yer name?

[bandagedheart]

[Aww, that’s too bad! He adores kitties! Why there’s one in a library he doesn’t know, but who is he to question it?

Dazai does indeed notice the book hanging off the stranger’s belt, and he quickly puts two and two together to figure out that this must be another famous author! And a very good looking one too! It must be his lucky day!

Dazai waves, flashing Mr. Handsome Author a dashing smile before bowing in greeting.]

Staff! Yes! I’m new here! My name is Akira~

[Saying that his name is Dazai might raise some alarm, so he does what he does best and bullshits his way through the introduction.]

And you?

[hurrayformarriage]

[Luckily for Dazai, this author buys the bullshit.

Unluckily for Dazai, this author buys the bullshit, which means the only polite thing to do now is introduce himself in return.]

Oda Sakunosuke, at yer service!

[bandagedheart]

Oda...

[Of all the authors to run into...

He knows it’s not his Oda. He knows that, and yet his heart still skips a beat, his expression shifting into something dangerously close to sadness.]

It’s...

[Pull yourself together, Dazai. He doesn’t even look like him.]

It’s nice to meet you.

[hurrayformarriage]

[Doesn't look like his Oda, doesn't sound like his Oda, doesn't avoid calling him out like his Oda.]

You alright, buddy? Gotta say, I ain't the type of guy who writes stuff that oughta make you look like that.

[Sure, sad endings happen sometimes in his works, but not to the extent that it would make you upset to meet the author.]

[bandagedheart]

[Not his Oda at all.]

Ah. It’s nothing~

[Dazai waves off the question.]

I’m just a bit nervous about doing my best here, is all!

[A forced smile.]

You have quite the accent! Let me guess...Osaka?

[hurrayformarriage]

...You never read my stuff, huh.

[That's the kind of question that no one who knows anything about Oda Sakunosuke asks.]

Kinda disappointed...

[bandagedheart]

[Oops. Well, honesty is usually the best policy, right?]

I haven’t, but that’s why I’m here! To learn all about literature, and the amazing authors behind it!

[More bullshit.]

I do love to read in my spare time. Between shelving books and tidying up, of course!

[hurrayformarriage]

If ya shelve books in yer spare time, ya need better hobbies. How 'bout I take you out for drinks? Heck, Dazai n' Ango won't turn down a chance to go drinkin' with us if I ask 'em to.

[Because they drink together all the time, the three of them. No bad memories there.]

[bandagedheart]

[Drinking...with Oda and Ango...

Fate really does love to fuck with him.]

That sounds lovely, actually~ Like a welcoming party!

[Except Shuji is going to blow his cover if he comes along...]

Why don’t we go tonight?

[hurrayformarriage]

Sure thing! Just gotta round up the other two hooligans. Just saw Ango, where's Dazai gotten off to...

[He's usually easy to find, if only because he makes himself noticeable. Fancy clothes and all.]

[bandagedheart]

You know, I think I might’ve seen him on my way into the library, snoozing away in one of the conference rooms! Red hair? Golden eyes?

[He wonders how grumpy Shuji would be being suddenly woken up and asked to go out...]

I could get him for you~

[hurrayformarriage]

He'll get real mad if ya wake him early from a nap. That's why I better do it, so he don't go off on you.

[Oda, of course, doesn't know that Shuji's more likely to go down on Dazai than go off on him.]

Gimme just a sec, I'll drag him back here.

[bandagedheart]

Oh my! I’ll just have to sit back and let you work your magic, then!

[It’s true. Dazai wonders if Shuji will immediately blow his cover, or play along to keep things simple...]

I’ll wait here!