PSL (closed)

[foundfate]

[The shop had finally settled again. It was a bit of a relief, because it hadn't anchored to a world in nearly two weeks, and Watanuki's food stores had started to run low. A shopping trip would be in order, mostly to replenish his nonperishable before the shop set out looking for another world in need of his help.

Usually Watanuki could guess when a move was about to happen, but sometimes it happened out of the blue. Like this last move, which had come so soon after arriving in the previous world. That usually meant that his services were in dire need and that people's souls were calling out to him, even if they didn't quite know it themselves yet. Watanuki would just have to wait for them to come to him.

His first visitor, at least, wouldn't take too long to get there. Watanuki always had a sense of when someone was to arrive, and as soon as the shop's gates had opened and revealed itself to the busy streets of Yokohama he had felt the impending arrival of a customer. It was enough to pique his interest, because he didn't usually get a visitor on the same day after a shop move. Someone was very perceptive, it seemed.

By the time his guest would arrive, Watanuki had already set up some tea in one of the sitting rooms. The summer was at its end, and the cool breeze felt nice enough that Watanuki had decided to open the movable doors to reveal the backyard, which was still bathed in the greens of summer. They could stay cool without the need of an air conditioner that way.

From there, he waited. He had a feeling that his guest was a particularly clever one, so he felt sure that they would find their way to the sitting room on their own.]

Comments

[neverwashere]

[The lack of an answer didn't escape his notice.

This was an interesting switch of topics, though. What exactly had Watanuki picked up on? Dazai didn't think he had any tells that'd lead to that conclusion.]

Eh? I do know someone who can qualify. However, what do you think I'd wish for? Even if there was something I wanted, it's probably unobtainable.

[Four years ago, perhaps, the temptation would be strong. At the present, he was just resigned to some things never happening in his lifetime.

OG Dazai isn't aware of any alternate realities. As far as we can tell, anyway.]

[foundfate]

The way you carry yourself speaks of someone who holds regrets deep inside their heart. Giving that person access to an item that can change the past isn't a wise decision.

[Watanuki didn't know Dazai specifically, but he can see the echoes of hundreds of previous customers in Dazai's features. He doesn't need to know Dazai's specific brand of regret to know that he has things he would change, if given the chance.]

Since you seem interested in my wish-granting, I will tell you this much: I will not kill someone, and I will not return someone to life. The former is a weight I do not want to carry, and the latter is a Taboo that even I will not violate. Most other wishes I will at least consider and name a price for.

[1/2]

[neverwashere]

[...hmm.

Wasn't this too short a time to be called out like that?

Then again, he couldn't fault someone for being too perceptive, even if it placed Dazai himself at a personal disadvantage.]

[2/2]

[neverwashere]

[Neither was he obliged to confirm or deny anything, and Watanuki's own guidelines just proved that a certain old half-boiled want of his was still moot. So, moving on!]

I see you aren't adding to the recent surplus of hitmen. With abilities like yours, most of them would have had to face the dreaded prospect of finding a less lucrative job for longer hours.

In this place, the name of the game is organizational control. I'm sure you can see where acquisitions and loss might lead to in this context, even if murder and resurrection are out of the question.

[It wasn't something he needed to say outright, but he might as well clear that up. Tit for tat, if Watanuki had just revealed to him some of the conditions for his practice.]

[foundfate]

[Well I mean. He did ask.]

I can certainly imagine. Yokohama is hardly unique in that respect.

[Crime was everywhere, and Watanuki had been through his fair share of brushes with the seedy underbelly of humanity in the past. Most of those types only made the mistake of crossing him once.]

So what 'control' are you after, then?

[neverwashere]

[So he did, and Watanuki could've dodged more questions. Knowing how abilities worked was currency for someone often involved in conflicts that included them.]

Not unique, yes, but its frequency is pronounced here.

As for what I'm after: a favorable situation for me and mine. Hardly anything unusual or fancy.

[Mind, he could've gone for an indirect answer, but he considered it a less productive route at the present.]

[foundfate]

The wish isn't unusual, no. But I suspect I will have to do something unusual to make any significant different in the lives of 'you and yours'.

It wouldn't have anything to do with a white tiger, would it?

[This was a guess. Watanuki had seen a white tiger in one of his visions of the future, and he had suspected that he would get a visit from that tiger sometime soon. But what if he wasn't going to meet the tiger, but rather an associate?]

[neverwashere]

'White tiger?'

[And back to being obtuse.

It was just one surprise after the other with this guy. That he didn't connect it with Atsushi's human form might be a favorable sign, but Dazai'd rather know first why Watanuki thought the tiger was relevant here, and where he first heard of it.

Rumors, perhaps? Though Dazai had not heard of any resurgences from that story, and he was sure that finding it was no longer an immediate priority of the police.]

[foundfate]

[Yyyyyep Dazai knew something about it. Maybe he was the intended recipient after all. It would have been easier if Dazai just admitted to it, but some people didn't come quietly. It seemed Dazai was one of those people.

Watanuki took a moment to sip his tea and collect his thoughts. describing his vision but not outright stating it was such was a good way to direct the conversation, or so he figured. Either Dazai would figure out that his knowledge was due to his powers, or he would be interested in finding out more.

When he spoke again it was with a bit of distance, as if he were describing a dream that he had to strain to remember.]

A fearsome beast, a white-striped man-eater. It prowls around under the light of the full moon, frightening those who assume he is out to eat them. But the white tiger isn't looking for food, is it? Hmm...what could he be searching for...

[And then he shrugged and returned to his normal voice.]

Or so it seems that a customer of mine will be tied to that white tiger in some way.

[neverwashere]

[Sorry, old habits die hard.

But that tone Watanuki uses - it's unlikely from a recent memory. Not with how Atsushi's more in control of his tiger form these days.

And not many would note how being eaten's only an assumption.

Atsushi might just like this guy, once he gets past the initial discomfort of his ability being discussed.]

Perhaps you're right.

It's up to the tiger to reveal himself, though he's not usually comfortable showing his fangs outside of fights.

[foundfate]

I imagine a 'man-eating tiger' who has no interest in eating men would be like that, yes.

[After taking a drink, Watanuki set the cup down once more. His tea cup was empty.]

Though I suppose it is none of my concern, unless he comes to make a wish. Outside of my job, I have no place in the day-to-day life of this area.

[neverwashere]

Hmm? None whatsoever? I can think of one or two places that are rather accommodating for tea breaks.

[It was also pretty weird hearing something like that from a shop owner, but then again Watanuki seemed to run things differently. Whatever business contacts this guy had, they probably weren't the usual sort, either.]

[foundfate]

Well yes, there are shops I can visit. What I meant was that this city is not my home, and I have no attachments to it. Which is why I stick to granting wishes only.

[Watanuki definitely ran things differently. Dazai would find out more as soon as he decided to make a wish.]

[neverwashere]

[He chuckled. All or nothing, was it? Right, fair enough.]

What, concerned you might bump into former customers who didn't exactly know what they were asking for?

[He was still thinking about cautionary tales and being careful of wishes, not quite aware of just how applicable they were in this situation. Knowing the book exists and seeing it work didn't necessarily make it easier to accept other avenues of wish granting that could potentially warp reality.]

Can they even ask for refunds?

[Another indirect question on the nature of the price might be asked. Watanuki had already mentioned significant costs, but for Dazai, that was a little hard to quantify without a benchmark.]

[foundfate]

It happens from time to time, and it isn't always pretty. And no, there are no refunds. Once a wish is made, it is made. Some of the prices are not easy to return, nor are effects of wishes easy to reverse.

[He could sense that an example would help with picturing that, so he decided to be a bit forthcoming with a wish he made of his own. Maybe that would help paint the picture.]

Back before I was the shop owner, and I just worked as a part-timer instead, I lost my right eye in an incident. I would have been without an eye my entire life except a friend made a wish to give me half of his right eye instead. I don't know what price he paid for it, as he never told me, but now I see through his eye. The magic of the wish translated 'half of his eye' into half of his eyesight capabilities, so we each ended up with a whole eye while our vision was half of perfect eyesight each.

I'm sure you can imagine why it would be difficult to reverse that wish.

[1/2]

[neverwashere]

[Oh that made the picture crystal clear.

And also thanks Watanuki for clearing up that 'half of his right eye' bit, because Dazai was about to imagine how that would've been accomplished literally.]

[2/2]

[neverwashere]

So magic is real.

[. . .]

Sure you're not into organ trafficking?

[Just pointing out what that sounded like.

Also, he refrained from asking about that friend. That kind of willingness spoke volumes.]

[foundfate]

It's not organ trafficking if all parties involved agree to it.

[Yep.]

It's not always as simple as taking something from one person and giving it to someone else either. Sometimes it's something like "I wish my friend wasn't so sad anymore". In that case, I wouldn't take away someone's happiness and give it to someone else. Emotions don't work that way. The person making the wish would pay a price, and the person receiving the benefits would get something else to facilitate the wish.

Besides, most people make wishes for themselves, not for others.

[neverwashere]

[Dazai merely smiled. Pointing out that there were people who voluntarily sold their organs to someone in the black market for a quick buck was already irrelevant. That, after all, wasn't the spirit in which he got his eye.

As for that last point - well. That was a fair observation.]

True enough.

You've mentioned some wishers wanting more than they could pay. Have you encountered someone who tried to pay a huge sum before even knowing the correct amount due?

[This time, he was thinking about Atsushi again. If his appearances near the shop carried the same 'inevitability' as Dazai's own visit, that meant he might cross paths with Watanuki soon.

Dazai did think they'd get along. However, it was probably a different story if it got to the point where his uneasy co-existence with the tiger broke, and he could no longer tolerate his other nature.]

[foundfate]

Occasionally, under the previous owner. It is why I am upfront with all of my prices. As soon as someone states their wish, I tell them the price.

[Some changed had to be made with a new owner, after all. Watanuki was never a fan of using someone's wording to trap them in a terrible wish. For all of his talk of being impartial, he still had a soft spot for people in general.]

And if what they want is too expensive, I tell them that outright.

[neverwashere]

[How upfront. The change of bartering style was refreshing, for all that Dazai could imagine it bringing problems to the shopkeeper.

Normally, he'd question how thus was economically viable, but the usual rules of human economics seemed to not apply.]

It's an approach beneficial for your visitors, even if not all of them will appreciate it.

There is something I might need in the future. Assuming we both agree to the deal - is there such a thing as a conditional and delayed execution of contract in your trade?

[There was a seed of an idea. Dostorvsky might be lying low for now, but there was no guarantee he'd quit targeting Fukuzawa, as the Agency's leader.

First the virus, then the arrest.

He didn't like that he had to make contingency plans for that dark possibility, but needs must.]

[foundfate]

That can be worked into the wish, yes. I've done so before. Usually a set condition or phrase is put on the wish, and it doesn't activate until that condition is met or those words are said.

Of course, you would still have to pay the price upfront. Even if the wish was never used it would still have to be paid for.

[So no 'set up a thing and only pay for it if it's used'. Watanuki doesn't work like that.]

[neverwashere]

[An understandable policy. He chuckled and slid his hands into his pockets.]

Then let's see if I can actually part with the cost, no?

That boy with the long belt you keep seeing. At the moment, he can only control his transformations thanks to my boss' ability and his own reluctance, [or so he suspected] but there's a chance he'll be pulled off those training wheels sooner than expected.

Should that happen and until such a time he can willingly reconcile and transform, I'd wish for his ability to control the transformations without my intervention.

[A stopgap, in other words.

At this point, the tiger thing should be clearer to Watanuki]

[foundfate]

[Pieces were certainly falling into place, yes. A reluctant weretiger, one who needed the magic of another to keep himself in control...hmm...

Watanuki mulled over the wish as he prepared his pipe, packing a bit more tobacco into the end of it. Then he lit it, and he took a draw from it, exhaling the smoke with a slow breath. It was only then that he finally answered.]

You want a way for him to remain in control, for the tiger to be able to hide his stripes at will. That is certainly something I can do. However-

[With his free hand, Watanuki will reach over to indicate to one of Dazai's bandaged wrists.]

In order for him to hide the darker parts of his life, you must give up your ability to do the same.

[1/2]

[neverwashere]

[Whatever price he expected, that certainly wasn't it.

One personal choice for another, was it?]