TIGER SQUARED

[moonlightbeast]

[It's the bright light that gets to Atsushi first, making him squint as he holds up an arm to shield his eyes. It's so bright here, brighter than his own world. Maybe it's because he's outside during the day, instead of sleeping off his insomnia and waiting for night time? Who knows.

But this world is different.

It's 'a world in which Dazai-san didn't die.'

He knows what he's done is unforgivable. He knows that, if Dazai remembers anything, he'll hate Atsushi forever. But Atsushi doesn't care. He went three months knowing how to save Dazai and not giving in to that temptation. Three long, long months. Then the temptation just became too great, and he gave in.

'Maybe, with some experimenting, I can find a world where they both live.' That is his thought process.

That will take time to sort out, though, and the book apparently has a cooldown before it can be used again. So Atsushi will have to live in this world for ten days, and come up with a plan of action for his next attempt.

Pulling up his hood, Atsushi glances around nervously. He has the book tucked safely into an inner pocket of his coat, but it feels heavy there. It's the most precious thing he has ever handled, and he knows he has to keep it safe. Because if he loses it, then he loses his chance to fix everything. And if he loses his chance to fix everything, then he will have betrayed Dazai's trust for nothing. Even he couldn't survive that.

But here in Yokohama, in the middle of the day, Atsushi might learn a few things. Like how he's not the only 'Atsushi' around, and that by writing 'I want to see Dazai-san again' he has made it so he exists in this world too, when he really shouldn't. It's going to become a big mess very, very soon.]

Comments

me @ me: "how do I play Atsushi again" aka I'm going #yolo here

[mantiger]

[ While it might be called the Armed Detective Agency, there are times when Atsushi had to be sent off on odd jobs that didn't involve investigating at all, especially during what seemed to be a cool off period like today. Perhaps they assigned him to this because tiger, of course, or perhaps the group had some sort of other ulterior motive underneath it all, he couldn't be so sure.

But one thing is for certain, and that's the fact that this Atsushi, in spite of being a nervous wreck is attempting at approaching his counterpart without realizing who it is. ]

Um, excuse me, you haven't seen a small black cat around here, have you?

[ You can now tell why he was sent on this mission as he tries to nervously laugh, worried that he might have stumbled over his words.

Nailed it. ]

go fight win

[moonlightbeast]

[YEAH UH

He had been expecting a lot of things, but 'another version of himself' is not one of those things.

His eyes go wide, and for a moment he can't even breathe, much less move. It can't be him, this shouldn't be possible. And yet here he is, staring at himself.

Maybe this Atsushi doesn't recognize just who is hiding in that dark coat with the big furry hood. It's partially obscuring his face, after all. But surely he can recognize his own voice, right?]

Ah...n-no...

[mantiger]

[ You know how when you listen to a recording of your own voice and play it back, it sounds different from how you would imagine hearing your own voice?

Well, that's a bit of an issue for almost half a second before he notices it and when he does?

He freeze right on the spot, eyes growing wide because he must be hearing things. There must be an ability user doing this, he has to contact Dazai-san immediatelyー

But he doesn't, in spite of those growing concerns.

Instead, he just asks the question that's probably on both of their minds, an underlying tremble there that doesn't hide itself beneath the surface. ]

Who. . .?

[ Who are you? ]

[moonlightbeast]

I...

[He can't do this. This is almost as bad as immediately running into Dazai. This other version of him looks so different, and he just knows it's because his entire life is different.

He's not even wearing the collar. Atsushi doesn't know why he noticed that, but he can't stop staring now.

And then, a moment later, he turns and runs. Because 'flight' has run over his rational thinking.]

[mantiger]

[ While a part of his instincts scream that pursuing him is probably dangerous, that maybe it's a very bad idea to chase after the person that sounds exactly like him, there's just so many questions running rampant in his mind that are left unanswered that he has to know.

Like the one he just asked.

Curiosity killed the cat, as they say, and Atsushi is no exception. Maybe that's why he drops all his other plans - work be damned, he'll apologize to Dazai-san and Kunikida-san and all of the others later - as he instead chases after 'himself' with all the speed that he's got, calling out to him as he does, even if it might be in vain. ]

Wait!

switching Beast!Atsushi to his last name in the narrative

[moonlightbeast]

[Unfortunately, Nakajima is fast. Very fast. He's got the tiger's speed after all, and even if it hurts to use he's boosting his speed as he bolts down the streets, trying to put as much distance between himself and Atsushi as he can.

But fortunately, Atsushi also has that speed, and following Nakajima will be easy if he uses his ability. It's not like he's going anywhere too unexpected. Just to the docks.

The docks where the Port Mafia operate.

Because, even if he's not mafia anymore, that place is Home. And when someone is scared, they tend to run somewhere familiar. Though Atsushi might want to stop them before they get there, as the mafia might have Questions.]

[mantiger]

[ Being able to match that speed is a good thing, thankfully, especially given the direction that he's headed - which takes some time for Atsushi to even realize that the direction the duo were headed was the docks, and that's.

Well, it's not a place he would want to be right now.

And it's decisively not a place for two Atsushis to be right now, not when they might have questions. Hence the decision to give chase, even using those strong legs of his to not just run, but take a long leap towards him in a sheer attempt to tackle Nakajima to the ground before reaching the docks. ]

I said wait—!

[ He isn't even angry or upset at the other Nakajima Atsushi. He just wants to understand. ]

[moonlightbeast]

[The tackles is successful! Perhaps a bit too successful, even. Because as they fall to the ground, Nakajima hisses in pain as the collar digs into the skin of his neck. That's the pain he picks out of the whole mess there, the dull ache in his body after being tackled barely registers.]

Let me go!

[A shout, and a familiar tone once again. Nakajima is struggling to squirm away, but he doesn't think to use his claws against Atsushi, so Atsushi can win the fight pretty easily.]

[mantiger]

[ Weeks pass and everything seems almost normal. One might even think that perhaps he'd forgotten about his other self, but that isn't the case. In fact, it's made a lot more difficult to forget when sometimes he'd come back to an empty fridge - he would ask Kyouka if she touched anything there, but she'd always shake her head quietly. And then there's the towel on his balcony... And on top of that, there were the rumors that were spreading around, people saying that he's hit someone and he tries to refute it, saying that they've mistaken him for someone else. But they insist it's him, so there's only one logical answer. Trying to find his other self. So, where is Nakajima today? ]

[moonlightbeast]

[He's down by the pier, actually! He's lounging underneath one of the large, shady trees there, passing the time by playing some kind of game on his phone. A phone he totally took out in Atsushi's name, by the way, thanks for the credit. He's good about paying the bill on time, though, so there's that.

His attire hasn't changed much in the past few weeks, either. He's still got that big doofy coat, and that collar can just barely be seen with his hood down like this. His attention is entirely focused on the game, too, so Atsushi can get pretty close before catching his attention.]

[mantiger]

[ THANKS FOR NOTHING!!!! He didn't allow this and it's made even more obvious when he runs over and tries to yank him by the collar. ] Hey! [ ... sorry for the distraction from your mobage. ]

[moonlightbeast]

[Atsushi is grabbing him by the collar? The spiked collar that is specifically designed to cut into Nakajima's neck any time it gets jossled too hard?

Yeah, enjoy cutting your fingers on that, Atsishi. It's also cutting Nakajima's neck, which makes him hiss in pain and try to pull away from Atsushi.]

At least grab me by my coat, you asshole!

[mantiger]

[ This was definitely a mistake and he finds himself also wincing a bit, even though he should have seen this coming. But he isn't going to apologize for what he did, even if he slightly regrets his actions. But sure, he can let go. ] Well, maybe you shouldn't be taking my stuff and making me look bad!

[moonlightbeast]

Really? You're going to hurt me over food?

[He's rubbing at his neck now. Shit, that hurt. Even if his skin is already healing, the burn from the open wounds will last for a while.]

I don't exactly have a bank account here, you know. It's hard to get a real job in a world where you shouldn't exist, and I refuse to go back to the mafia for work.

[mantiger]

If it was just only food, I would have just simply yelled at you. Besides, you could have talked to me. [ There's this little thing called communication?? ]

[moonlightbeast]

You were asleep, I didn't want to wake you up. That's rude.

[Like punching people isn't rude???]

tiger squared + a Dazai

[moonlightbeast]

[So. Nakajima has been in this world for a couple months now, and he's been paying Atsushi visits for the last month. Mostly normal, food-mooching visits, though occasionally other activities were involved. Activities that Dazai, as a perceptive person, probably has already picked up on. Even if he hasn't seen Atsushi's new beau yet, he should be all too aware of the fact that he exists.

Which means that Dazai can absolutely guess at what's going on one evening when Nakajima is visiting Atsushi.]

Come on, don't be like that! I brought enough for you too!

['Enough' meaning 'five bowls of chazuke'. Three for himself, two for Atsushi.

But hey, if they're arguing, it might be the perfect time for Dazai to pop over and meet this fine emo gentleman in a big fluffy coat.]

[mantiger]

You got more than I did! If you wanted to get me enough, you should have gotten six bowls of chazuke at least! [ Of course, it doesn't help that he's slamming his hands on the table to emphasize that fact. Maybe they should be lucky that Kyouka isn't here at the moment, huh. ]

[diabolicaloser]

[Yeah, it took about a week for Dazai to realize Atsushi hasn't just developed some sexy imaginary friend.]

[But he's been hearing Atsushi in stereo for quite some time now, and aside from the easy explanation that he found someone who just so happens to have a similar voice, he's not otherwise sure what to make of it.]

[But honestly, the weirdest part of it is that Atsushi hasn't said a thing about it. Sure, he didn't exactly seem like a Tanizaki, showing off his PDA to everyone in earshot-- but he finds himself somewhere between curious and a little miffed that Atsushi is keeping something so important a secret!]

[But that secret ends tonight, as Actual Cockblock Osamu Dazai makes his way over.]

[He could be normal and knock on the door, but where's the fun in that?? Instead, he waits for the right moment, when they're both completely distracted and arguing, and casually slips into the room from Atsushi's balcony. He's still only seeing the back of Nakajima's head -- but huh, same hair color, too?]

Ahh, does that mean there won't be enough for me?

[moonlightbeast]

[Well, the amount of chazuke to be split among the two tigers in the room is about to become much more equal.

Nakajima does not know that Dazai lives in the same apartment building as Atsushi, much less that he's Atsushi's neighbor. He's been spending the last two months avoiding Dazai, so he never really looked. But now he's learning many, many new things, like how Dazai still doesn't respect people's privacy, and it leads to Nakajima screaming and he whirls around to face Dazai.

And he ends up throwing what he has in his hand at Dazai, as if it will defeat the gremlin that has just appeared.

That 'something' in his hand happens to be one of the takeout bowls of chazuke.]

[mantiger]

[ He hears the voice first before he actually sees it, and it almost immediately makes him screech in a rather high pitched noise in surprise, especially when Nakajima basically yeets the chazuke bowl. Oh. Oh no. ] D-D-D-Dazai-saaaan?! [ Welp. He's totally fucked now, isn't he? Rest in pieces, it's time for him to die personally at the hands of his coworker. ]

1/3

[diabolicaloser]

[HOLY SHIT WHY ARE THERE TWO--]

[diabolicaloser]

[...]

[Rude.]

[diabolicaloser]

[Excuse him as he casually wipes chazuke off his face.]

...well now there's not enough for any of us!

[Let's just pretend this is totally normal until one of them feels like giving an explanation.]

[moonlightbeast]

[If someone's going to give an explanation, it sure won't be Nakajima.

He's just. Going to glare at Dazai while casually scooting the four remaining bowls of chazuke over to his side of the table.

Guess he gets to eat all of it now.]

Didn't someone ever tell you not to snoop?