(after event chill out lil mingle) let's understand it

[nullificates]

(cw depression)

(he hasn't exactly been doing great - much to the opposite. he spent the week in bed, he hasn't taken care of himself whatsoever, and he's exhausted. either way, it hardly matters how he feels, does it ever?

so. let's go. a text message arrives to everyone's charms and tablets, and it reads:)

this is, you guessed it, osamu dazai. it's been a week since that stupid maze, so here is what we have:

1. i need copious amounts of alcohol and food. i'll bring some to the beach in 30, i suggest we all do the same.
2. i'd like to hear what your experiences were. it's important for data building - we have a few detectives in this place, some smartpants, and some go-getters. we need to take advantage of our only resource, which is ourselves. meet me at the beach, or send me anonymously. i don't care about your shit per se.

see you, or don't see you.

many words that mean absolutely nothing here,
dazai.

(to those that come to the beach, they'll see several cocktail possibilities laid in front of dazai, as well as a good number of the food they serve in lupin - mixed nuts, pistachio, cheese tables, chocolate, dried figs, potato chips, chicken snacks, boiled sausage, asparagus with sauces, and dried fruit. a bonfire warms his hands in the chilly breeze of the night - this feels awfully needed.)

Comments

dazai osamu | bungo stray dogs

[nullificates]

𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒎𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝒉𝒂𝒍𝒇𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒔𝒆;
(cw depression)

(rough week, it's easy to say. the maze - it's not the facing what he's done and used to be that he dislikes, but what they represent. change is such a hard thing, something he isn't sure he can do completely - he has always been who he is, a man whose heart bleeds dark, whose plans can be cruel, who doesn't particularly mind a way or another to achieve anything.

and then, he got to relive that moment where he felt like the world had disintegrated, lost even more color to someone who had never seen any before. 'saving people makes your life a little wonderful', but it is also hard as fuck if you would elect to do the complete opposite if the situation called for it. to have those doubts on his own capabilities and then oda's death shown all over again - that was just mean. and then he lost someone. and then he had a talk - ew.

and then the bed had become his biggest ally this week. getting out of these slopes are always the most difficult, so he now is distracting himself by-- definitely not making cocktails. he's just drinking from the bottle, allowing his bandaged feet to feel the waves the ocean brings.

who'll come, he wonders.)

𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒑𝒂𝒚𝒔, 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒉, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒂𝒙𝒆𝒔, 𝒐𝒉;

(something warm that comes to see the people here. food is comforting, drink is a bandage, but it is something he finds deeply needed after all that - bullshit.

his clown mask is back on his face, and here he is, all tone inflation, fufufufusback into his voice.)

I just guess I don't get it! What's the obsession with dogs? You know, somewhere in my office back at home, there's a 17-page vent against them. Dogs are naive! And too loyal! Ugh, get cats...!!!

𝒊𝒕'𝒔 𝒂 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍 𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒑, 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒚𝒂;

(your wildcard option.)

depression hours

[orphne]

[Dazai might be sitting alone on the beach, but not for long. He'd given them thirty minutes' notice to come to the beach, which meant she had juuuust enough time to heat up some of the pizzas she'd made the other day with Chuuya. They get added to the plethora of food on offer, and it's with two plates precariously balanced in hand and her shoes gripped in the other that she drops down to sit beside him.

She doesn't say anything at all at first, just sets her shoes out of harm's way of the waves and places a plate in his lap for him to eat or ignore at his leisure. She didn't have enough hands to get a drink of her own, so she just holds out her hand. Stop distracting yourself with that bottle and let her have some! It means he'll have a free hand for eating with.

Then she just drops her head to rest against his shoulder. Hey, buddy.]

kotone shiomi | persona 3 portable

[orphne]

1. prep!!

[Thirty minutes is not enough notice for a party, Dazai! She needs at least a few hours to finish everything she wants to get done! Considering how tired she's been since the maze vanished, it's even harder to justify getting up and getting out of bed -- but if Dazai is reaching out, that means if nothing else, he needs company. Anyone else coming along is just a bonus.

Luckily, the day before during one of her bursts of energy, she'd prepared pizzas. Like, a lot of them, because she knew she'd be tired later in the week, they're easy to store and heat up, and the general attitude of the locals in town made her... not really want to go out to eat. She at least has time to warm them in the ovens in the club building before making a run for the beach. Does she look ridiculous carrying several boxes of pizza in her arms? Yes. Will that stop her? No.

Please help her before she drops them :(]

2. recovery

[It's hard to keep a brave face up since the maze. Maybe it's because so many people reassured her that she didn't need to back then that it's harder to feign her usual upbeat, carefree attitude. She has a plate of snacks with her, a drink in her hand, and a smaller, if more genuine, smile on her face as she approaches.]

Hey. How're you doing? After everything.

[It doesn't matter if they've never exchanged words, or only know each other a little. Enough people helped her get through the maze that she almost feels like she owes it to the other Chosen to be more proactive. Even if she's tired, it's important.]

3. weariness

[But even if she's trying to catch up with everyone, eventually her own exhaustion catches up with her. More than once, she's dozed off by the bonfire, pillowing her head in her arms. Each time she wakes, she looks around as if to check to see if anyone needs her before putting her head right back down again. At least she seems to be enjoying the company around her, even if it's hard to keep her eyes open.]

4. wildcard!
[something else! get her!]

[nullificates]

(he just watches her at first. partly why he said he was hungry is because it'd lure out the nice ones such as kotone, who would always come to aid when it came to things like that. how many times has she come around with food, anyway?

ah. pizza? he isn't sure if his stomach can handle pizza. he'll give it small bites as they come. the bottle is passed to her, and instead of using that free hand to eat further, he wraps it around her shoulders, nose nuzzling a little against the top of her head.

it's almost like this is their unspoken affection display at this point.)

[orphne]

[It's chicken and broccoli! She brought that kind over on purpose so he can pick off either the meat or the veggies if his stomach is bothering him and eat just those instead.

She sets the bottle down beside them without taking a drink of her own yet. It's not like she really needs it; the idea was more to take it from Dazai, at least temporarily. Closing her eyes as he nuzzles the top of her head, she exhales softly and scoots that little bit closer.]

Talk to me?

[It's a quiet request. He can choose the topic, as serious or as silly as he wants.]

[nullificates]

(he knows. he's taught her so well. what a good kid.)

Ah, you should have brought a one-week-sober chip! Where is it? Where!!

(which was true as of like, two minutes ago.)

[orphne]

You would've had to have told me!

[A little chiding! But she bonks the side of her head against his, summoning one of her brighter smiles more for his sake than any genuine emotion. She's at least making the effort, and that has to count for something, right?]

I'll make you something nice tomorrow, okay?

[nullificates]

(as if duplicity were a crime exclusive to her, he smiles just as brightly, both known the show of teeth is empty in real intent.)

Why do you think I'll be around tomorrow! Maybe I'll be off to fight God.

[orphne]

Have you fought a god before? You should take someone with experience!

[She nudges his shoulder. Smile even when things are hard -- especially when things are hard. They're the same bitch, more often than not.]

I could put together a whole team of god-slayers now.

[nullificates]

(dazai would never have children, he's got no siblings, but if he had either, he's sure they'd be much like kotone. they're too awfully similar, and it makes him laugh when he brings a kiss to her forehead. he sees you, girl.)

Not yet! I've fought a bunch of stuff, but not God, yet! I do argue with his disciple sometimes, though. Ah, if I did kill God, I'd make him have a heart attack, his health is really fragile. I think we can simply sue.

[orphne]

Oooh, yeah, Fyodor-san is religious, isn't he?

[She vaguely remembers Dazai mentioning that. Also-]

Tell him about my Personas if you want to give him a heart attack. [She laughs a little, not at all serious. Dazai had already warned her not to tell Fyodor, and she has no intention to.]

[nullificates]

Very much so! Ah, no, thank you, he'd get... Overinvested! He calls Chuuya 'godling', which to me? Hilarious!

(you know? -ling? because he's tiny! aha!)

[darkdisgrace]

Why would you spend so much time and energy writing a 17 page rant hating on an animal that can't even read it.

[Said in a deadpan as he settles into the sand next to Dazai with a drink in hand.]

What did dogs even do to you to? They're loyal, easily trained and fun to play with.

[nullificates]

Oh, then in that case, I shouldn't have handed you to read it.

(bitch,)

Ugh, like yourself! You know, take my essay, and change dogs to Chuuyas! It's the same!

[darkdisgrace]

Oh fuck you, I know how to read! I did your own damn paperwork often enough.

[bitch.]

For the last time, I am not a dog! Exactly what about me even seems like a dog?!

[nullificates]

Stop telling me to go fuck myself, you know exactly what I'm going to say - and at this point, with no credible witnesses, it's a 'he said, she said' situation! I have never seen you read here, has anyone?!

(he's going to throw a stick, he did it, he threw a stick.)

Who's a good boy!!

[darkdisgrace]

You want me to write and read your obituary? I can do that.

[A shove against Dazai's shoulder. He's already tipsy, thanks to the provided drinks.]

Because if you say 'fetch' I will shove that stick down your throat.

[nullificates]

Woa, woa, you don't have to prove to everyone you can! I totally believe you, super do! You can totally read!!!!

(hehehehe.)

Fetch, boy, fetch!!!

[darkdisgrace]

[Chuuya is tipsy, but not tipsy enough to go running after that stick just to thwack Dazai with it. Because that would be, for all intents and purposes, fetching.

So instead he's shoving Dazai back in the sand and pinning him there.] If I'm such a dog, maybe I should just bury you instead, eh?

[nullificates]

(he knew something was coming - he knows chuuya's every move, so it's no surprise that he finds himself on the ground.

ooooo noooo)

Woooow, calling me a treasure? Something you want to keep!? Ah, romantic!

[darkdisgrace]

[And here Chuuya was reaching for a handful of sand so he can threaten to pour it over Dazai's head--

Until he says that, and it has him blushing as bright as his hair.]

What?! I didn't say any of that!!!

yu narukami | persona 4

[izanagis]

i. what a melon

[Thirty minutes…it's not a lot of time. Still, Yu manages to be there, though not with a moment to spare. He's got a bag with him, and in the bag, a watermelon. They're at the beach, after all, and even though fall is on the horizon…well, maybe he was feeling a bit nostalgic.

He sets the whole melon on the table, using the bag as a stand underneath to keep it from rolling around. Then he pauses, looking thoughtfully at it.]

… I forgot to bring a knife. [A beat.] Or a stick.

[Thirty minutes, Dazai?? This is what happens when you rush people.]

ii. sunset

[There's a chill in the air as the sun sets. All around him, people are pulling on jackets and hoodies, gravitating closer to the bonfire, replacing cold drinks with warm.

Yu stays apart for a while, watching the festivities. He hasn't wanted to talk about it much, what happened in the maze, except with one or two particular people. Watching the sun go down over the ocean like this has him in a bit of a quiet mood. Memories, friends, bonds. He had said, back when he transferred to Inaba, that he was going to keep a low profile. Keep his distance, since for once he knew just how temporary it all was.

… He doesn't wish he had stuck to that. Not with the friendships he made. But sometimes he thinks it would've been easier.

Eventually, his thoughts start to run in circles, chasing each other in a loop. So he has no choice but to put them aside. So he looks for an open seat around the fire. If you happen to have no drink in hand when he approaches, he offers a mug—hot water and plum wine.]

Is this seat taken?

wildcard
[open to anything!]

depresso espresso!!!

[chemex]

[Akira is wearing a flu mask, but he's dutifully shown up to Lupin every day that Goro will actually let him leave their place. As such, he's got an apron on, and a funny little carry-case with a variety of things in it. Mostly, it's coffee things, but there's a few bottles of liquor, too.]

[He will absolutely not explain how he got them, thank you.]

[He steps out of his shoes and rolls up his jeans, trudging out to where the sand darkens from the tide and flopping down to sit beside Dazai. Wordlessly, he lays out a tray and a few things, and makes him an espresso martini. He hands it over without looking away from the tray. What might be the oddest part of all of this, is that he's not wearing his glasses.]

2

[chemex]

[He's been showing up to Lupin wearing a flu mask, but he's adamant about still leaving the house. Fresh air, distractions, not steeping in his sickness and his poor mental state like the actual worst cup of tea ever, etcetera. So he's still wearing one out at the beach, despite it being outside and despite definitely wanting to breathe in the sea air-- he's probably not even contagious, but something something, too Japanese to live, something.]

[But he's got a little carry-case of things, mostly coffee and syrups, but a few small bottles of liquor, and he's been making people espresso martinis, because of course he has. They're his favorite to make at Lupin, too. So when approached by Kotone he smiles, and she can actually see it despite the mask, because he's not wearing his glasses.]

[Still.]

I think the only reason Goro hasn't moved out is because I'm not contagious and not oozing snot everywhere, but it's funny to watch him deny being domestic. How're you?

i; did someone say knife

[chemex]

[Akira seems to appear out of thin air, offering his dagger which also seems to come out of thin air. Seriously, where the hell does he keep this thing?] Dazai likes to surprise people, I think.

[He's not wearing his glasses, but he is wearing a flu mask. Don't worry about it.]