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

[hurrayformarriage]

[Oda will show up a little later than the appointed time - he's not great at schedules even for people he likes more than not-Dazai.

When he arrives, he hops up on the next stool to his acquaintance.]

What's good here?

[bandagedheart]

[That’s fine, because Dazai is in no hurry.]

Good evening! I’m rather fond of the sake here, but the beer is also good!

[Dazai takes another sip of his sake, eying Oda curiously.]

You mentioned an Ango. What’s he like?

[hurrayformarriage]

If he was here, he'd tell ya he's a "grand delinquent". He ain't wrong, 'cept he made that up so it means whatever he says it means.

[Oda places an order for another sake before continuing.]

Ango's the kinda guy who ain't been sober a day in his life and got no respect for anythin' yer supposed to be respectin'.

[bandagedheart]

Oh my! He sounds like quite a fun guy!

[This Oda is certainly different from his Oda, but this other Ango sounds like polar opposites to the one he knows. A delinquent that drinks heavily and has no respect, huh...]

Is he as overprotective of you as your Dazai is?

[hurrayformarriage]

Not if it ain't real bad. 'Course, Dazai don't gotta deal with Dazai, I figure it's easier bein' overprotective of yer friends if he ain't tirin' ya out.

[There is no Dazai who doesn't occasionally try to die.]

[bandagedheart]

I see. You have quite interesting friends!

[Dazai finishes off his sake before ordering another.]

You know, as odd as it sounds, I knew an Odasaku as well.

[Hoo boy. Feels...]

He was a very good friend of mine. Perhaps that’s why I was so curious to meet you.

[hurrayformarriage]

That right? Maybe yer friend got named after me.

[He is at least somewhat notable, and naming your child after Odasaku would be slightly less likely to bring bad luck on them than, say, naming them after Dazai.]

Hope I don't disappoint too much.

[bandagedheart]

Maybe!

[He’s just humoring this Oda. He knows that he and Dazai are authors, but he still has no idea about the “dead” part.]

Not at all! You’re quite handsome!

[Dazai gives Oda a playful wink. Always a flirt.]

[hurrayformarriage]

[He doesn't look old enough for an adult to be named after, he knows. But he's also not going out of his way to explain everything he says.

The flirtation gets a loud laugh and a shake of Oda's head.]

Just drinks 'n conversation is what ya said, right?

[bandagedheart]

That is what I said.

[But when has Dazai ever played by the rules?]

Do you have someone special?

[hurrayformarriage]

Nobody who's around right now.

[He'll never forget his first wife, but... He's not going to see her again, and he's accepted that.]

[bandagedheart]

I’m the same.

[Not that he’s ever been in a serious relationship in his life.

Best not try too hard yet, though.]

Do you have a drink of choice?

[hurrayformarriage]

Depends how drunk I feel like gettin'. Sake's good.

[bandagedheart]

Then order as much as you like!

[No ulterior motives here.]

Just don’t tell your Dazai!

[hurrayformarriage]

He ain't got business complainin' 'bout me drinkin' too much.

[So he'll order himself another round, and finish off his first glass]

[bandagedheart]

Goodness! Look at you go!

[Meanwhile Dazai is keeping his own alcohol consumption to a minimum for reasons.]

Tell me about your works, Oda-kun. What kind of things do you write about?

[hurrayformarriage]

[Oda can be a heavy drinker when he wants to be. This will only end well.]

Ya never heard of the decadent school either, huh? Me 'n Dazai 'n Ango, we wrote stuff that pissed off the establishment.

[bandagedheart]

Did you now? You sound like quite the trio!

[He misses those days dearly...]

The Ango I know is all about business and order. He’d faint at the very idea of rebelling!

[Exceot that he’s like a triple agent, but shh.]

And the Oda I knew...would’ve told us both how terrible of an idea breaking the rules was while secretly doing it himself...

[He looks a bit sad now, but the smile remains as he takes another drink.]

[hurrayformarriage]

Yer Ango sounds like a bore. Might be fun to stick my Ango 'n him in a room together, see what goes down.

[He's placing his bets on author-Ango driving business-Ango to crack first.]

Yer Oda sounds more fun.

[bandagedheart]

[Dazai chuckles softly at that image.]

We might have a massacre on our hands, then.

[All the mirth immediately leaves him when other-Oda mentions his Oda, however, and Dazai purposely hides his expression behind his glass.]

He was.

[hurrayformarriage]

[...Odasaku pushes his glass towards Dazai. You need an extra drink more than he does.]

Wanna talk about anythin' else?

[bandagedheart]

[Dazai wordlessly takes the glass and drains it before forcing a smile.]

How about we get nice and wasted and see where the night takes us?

[hurrayformarriage]

If that ain't the best plan I've heard all day. Bartender, another!

[And so he keeps drinking. And keeps drinking... Nobody's got tolerance like a decadent author.

Even he'll get drunk eventually, however.]

[bandagedheart]

[Despite what he’d said, Dazai takes his time and paces himself with the alcohol, and ends up only pleasantly buzzed while Oda seems very...drunk.]

Oh my! Should I cut you off?

[Dazai grins and takes another sip of his sake.]

I can take you home, if you’d like.

[hurrayformarriage]

You'd better! Dazai-kun'll get it in his head to worry 'bout me again.

[As if Shuji ever stopped worrying about Odasaku.]