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

[foundfate]

I should have expected you to pick up on that.

[When Watanuki said that, though, there was a sense of relief to it. Like 'finally, I don't have to explain that to someone'. By the present day Watanuki could tell spirits apart from humans by sight, but ghosts and humans still gave him some trouble.]

He should be out in the backyard. Shall we?

[He held up a hand, gesturing to the hall that led to one of the sliding doors that connected to the backyard. He meant it to indicate the direction to go, but it could be easily mistaken as a 'take my hand' gesture too.

When they eventually got to the backyard, they would find Atsushi tied up in the drying clothesline while he two girls were giggling at his misfortune.]

[neverwashere]

[That relief shouldn't be as surprising as it was. Then again, Dazai was aware if how abilities warped perception, starting with Q.

He inclined his head, though his preoccupation in steeling himself for a certain reveal made him tuck his hands in his pockets. No offense, shopkeeper, but he did want to dig his nails into his own palms just a little bit. If anyone would zoom in the lack of bandages, it'd be Atsushi.

Of course, whatever tension that he built up during their walk shook the moment they came upon the tiger's predicament. Dazai couldn't help but snicker and rock on his heels.]

Oh dear. So you play twister while doing the laundry. I suppose Demon Snow has to bail you out every now and then?

[foundfate]

[It definitely would be Atsushi, but he didn't notice at the first moment. Mainly because he was legit crying while the girls ran in a circle around him. Their giggles made for an interesting contrast.]

Dazai-san, help meeeeee!

[As amusing as it was, Watanuki did have to put an end to it.]

Maru, Moro. Leave him be.

[The two girls responded with "okay, shopkeeper~" before hurrying off back into the house. Atsushi was left tangled in the clothesline, but it would be much easier to free him without the girls right there.]

[neverwashere]

And here, ladies and gentlemen, is our dear tiger-turned-maypole! A good fit, considering his birth month.

[Y'know, casual confirmation of him looking for old files, but never mind that.

Also, Atsushi being all tied up and still reeling from the two girls was the perfect opportunity. With ease, Dazai glided from the porch to the center of the yard.]

Candy, for your pains. Say 'ahh!'

[Never mind that he popped the impossibly compact sun in Atsushi's mouth while he was still speaking, and helped close Atsushi's mouth by placing a hand under the tiger's jaw.

Easier this this way, truth be told - an apology or something might be better instead of having to waste time dealing with plenty of questions, suspicions, and explanation.

If that also redirected Atsushi's attention from the lack of bandages to the thing he was made to swallow, well - all the better, right?]

[foundfate]

Ah?

[And in goes the sun, shoved in during a moment of confusion for Atsushi. He did swallow it down, though he coughed from the surprise and confusion of it all. It wasn't every day that Dazai was shoving things into his mouth.]

D-Dazai-san, what was that?

[True to his word, Watanuki kept his mouth shut and didn't explain anything, even though he would have interjected at that moment. Instead, he just watched the exchange between the caught tiger and the man hiding his feelings behind a mask. Atsushi was so thoroughly confused by it all that he didn't pick up on the lack of bandages at the start. He was too busy staring at Dazai's face.]

If you are done with my clothesline, then?

[That prompted Atsushi to work at untangling himself. Give him a moment, he'll get out. Though he does trip and end up ass-up on the ground.]

[neverwashere]

And down that goes.

[With a merry hum, Dazai crouched on the ground and rested his chin on his palms, speaking as he watched Atsushi's attempts to untangle himself.]

Our dear shopkeeper happened to have a medicine of sorts for your monthly problems. [Why yes, he knew what that sounded like, and he waggled a finger.] Don't you go coughing it up now like a hairball! Take it from me: lawn grass does not taste like green tea, no matter how the unfamiliar swear otherwise.

[foundfate]

Medicine-

[Now, Atsushi wasn't quite on the same level as Dazai or Ranpo, but he was pretty intelligent in his own right. His gaze went from the shopkeeper, to Dazai, then down to Dazai's hand. as it wagged a finger in front of him.]

What-why? What price did you pay for it?

[Yeah, he instantly got what Dazai meant, and he remembered from earlier that wishes came with a price. He was one step away from figuring out Dazai's entire deal.]

[neverwashere]

[Atsushi's intuition when it came to Dazai-related nuances always proved to be a surprise.]

Ehh? Curious kitten today, aren't you. [The position of his hand meant Atsushi's nose was within reach. Dazai pinched the youth's nose, longer than just a playful tweak of the tip - Atsushi's speech was unhampered, and thus it was safe to say that the star was past the other's esophagus.] Shouldn't you check if it works first? Watanuki-san might be familiar with his own products and he doesn't seem the type to sell duds, but looking out for side effects is always a good practice. After all - one might wonder if you'll get gas and heartburn once the capsule ruptures in your stomach acid.

[Y'know, ball of flaming gas and all. Not that Atsushi was aware of that little fact.]

[foundfate]

Eh? But how am I supposed to check it?

[Atsushi looked to Watanuki, who could sense a wish coming on and sighed.]

There's a cost if you want me to make the full moon appear right now.

[neverwashere]

{Dazai snickered and poked the center of Atsushi's forehead.]

Tempting a calamity already? How bold of you, when there's no telling what such an event might do to the tides. [He shook his head in amusement.] A full transformation might suffice. That's a state your rational mind doesn't necessarily have a large degree of influence over, no?

[foundfate]

Well...that's true, I guess. But, um, stay close in case it doesn't work?

[Atsushi didn't want to rampage around the shop or anything. Watanuki, interestingly enough, didn't react one way or the other to the idea of a transformation. He stood by passively and watched instead as Atsushi, once he got untangled and stepped to a clear part of the backyard, focused and transformed into the tiger.

...and it promptly looked at Dazai and Watanuki with a hunger in its eyes, any trace of Atsushi gone. Lights out, nobody's home. Watch out for the tiger that was getting ready to pounce.

Watanuki still looked unconcerned, though. Even as the two girls ducked into the shop to hide.]

[neverwashere]

[As far as Dazai was concerned, it was merely a question of who the tiger would go for: after all, the worst he'd get was an armful of teenager. Not so much for Watanuki.]

Tora-saaan~!

[Look at this waving palm, tiger. Pounce anywhere else, and you get a heavy nose boop.

Now. Time to see what that sun did, in the time Dazai kept himself from intervening]

[foundfate]

[The sun actually did Jack All, for reasons that Watanuki would explain once he was asked. Which he figured would happen soon, because that tiger was absolutely pouncing towards Dazai. Pounce, boop, nap time!

Watanuki watches the whole event impassively. Does Dazai let Atsushi tumble to the ground, or does he catch him?]

[neverwashere]

[What Dazai did was not quite a catch: boop the tiger's nose, catch Atsushi's wrist and pull him to the grass, letting gravity do its work. Happy napping, tiger, and be a good arm rest while Dazai stretched out on the grass indulgently.]

Well, that's that. [He glanced at Watanuki and pointed at the sky.] How relevant is the daylight here?

[Wishes, according to stories, were oddly specific contracts. Moreover, there might be a reason for Watanuki giving Atsushi a sun - the light of which was reflected by the moon.]

[foundfate]

[Dazai plz, don't just drop Atsushi on the ground like that. Even lowering gently was silly.

Watanuki didn't even bother glancing up before shaking his head, though.]

Not at all. He has the daylight within him, will will block any unwanted transformation from here on out. Just as you wished for.

[And that was the key part: Dazai's wish had been to control the transformations, not the tiger itself. And while Atsushi was certainly in complete control of the transformations now, control of the tiger would take time and hard work on his own.]

[neverwashere]

[Ahh. So that was it. Dazai chuckled and exhaled softly.

Sorry not sorry, Atsushi. To begin with, Dazai was already crouched on the ground when the tiger began its descent, and the brunet couldn't be bothered to move.]

Let me guess: to have also wished for him to retain his consciousness would have cost more. [Dazai idly began touseling Atsushi's hair. Good luck in finding a comb.] What would you have claimed next - my coat?

[foundfate]

Your identity as 'a member of the Armed Detective Agency'.

[Since Dazai has already made two wishes, Watanuki will answer his questions honestly.]

The coat would have been an accurate physical representation of it, I suppose, but the cost is much, much greater than the ability to hide. And asking you to give up all of yourself is not a price that is conductive to a long life. I think I should refrain from angering a certain someone too. He can actually hurt me, if he tries. Which I suspect he might if I even consider taking a deal like that.

[neverwashere]

[That first sentence made Dazai visibly grimace.

Hearing what Odasaku might do, too, stirred a strange tangle of feelings that had been building up since the start of this strange afternoon. It was one thing to miss the man, and entirely different to miss his very presence in a context outside of nostalgia.

...he really, really wanted to see Odasaku. He was probably frowning severely right now, like those days where he couldn't satisfy his want for curry thanks to a dozen other errands.]

He would be. [Dazai tried to smile, glancing down at Atsushi. Ahh, this was tough.] His last request, after all, was what led me to the Agency. It'll be a pain, having to look for work again. I don't do well in work environments with too many restrictions, you see.

[What an unconvincing attempt to lighten the mood.]

[foundfate]

[It was very unconvincing, yep. But it made Watanuki smile sadly.]

I figured, which was why I didn't offer it initially. Over the years I have gotten good at telling the answers my customers need, rather than what they are asking for.

He will be fine. The tiger is no normal tiger, and will always take control when he transforms fully. But now he has the choice of when to transform, so he can mitigate the risk presented to everyone else.

[neverwashere]

Good enough.

[Or so he said with an accepting sort of satisfaction. That was, at the end of the day, the freedom he'd asked for on Atsushi's behalf.

He hummed. Watanuki, really, was kind. He said as much as he attempted a one-hand braid - not even having flexible fingers could do much, and Atsushi's hair was short.]

You're too nice, you know.

[foundfate]

So I have been told.

[There weren't any repercussions this time, as Watanuki had taken an adequate price. But he was a shopkeeper who sometimes used his own body and blood to make the transaction easier for the wishing person to handle. He just couldn't keep the cold indifference that Yuuko had at times.]

He should wake up shortly. And I should warn you, he seems like a smart one. If he comes back and makes a wish on his own, I will grant it.

[neverwashere]

Ahh, what a pain.

[The situation was, rather than the two people involved. It wasn't like he could stop an Atsushi who really set out to do something.

With a hum, Dazai stood up and brushed his coat. Atsushi, he'd leave on the grass - no reason to shock the kid by being too nice outside of any harrowing life-changing events.]

I suppose I should just keep him busy.

We'll be out of your hair soon, then.

[foundfate]

[Watanuki simply offered up a smile.]

Of course. My shop never lingers in a single world for too long. Though if you ever have need of my services in the future, you will be able to find me.

[neverwashere]

[Single world, eh?]

Of course.

[As promised, they did leave when Atsushi woke up. The only question Dazai didn't dodge had to do with Atsushi's control.

He excused himself soon enough and made his way to Lupin. Things returned to relative normality outside the shop - Odasaku moved things less and...

...and knowing the man was still hovering around didn't make Dazai's routine easier. He said as much a few days later, visiting Oda's grave.

Wishes were dangerous things. Knowing they could be fulfilled was deadly. Like this, he could accept Watanuki's assessment that Dazai shouldn't be in charge of that Book.

It took a while between the distractions of mundane matters and cases, but Dazai found himself in front of the shop. It was evening, he was tipsy, and there was another bottle of sake in the paper bag he carried.

Odasaku's birthday was in October.]

Knock knock.

[So he announced, rather than knocking.]

[foundfate]

I'm on the back porch.

[Watanuki's voice carried through the house, so Dazai would know where to find him.

He also had three empty sake cups waiting next to him, but no bottle of sake. An interesting setup, really. It was like he had expected Dazai to come with a drink.

His outfit that day was a bit less revealing, but no less fancy. It seemed as though he was always dressed up in some way. He also had his pipe out, though he wasn't smoking it quite yet. It was full of tobacco and he had a book of matches ready, though.]