Atsushi Nakajima - 中島 敦 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
moonlightbeast) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
backyardbbq2019-02-06 08:40 pm
moonlightbeast) wrote in backyardbbq2019-02-06 08:40 pm
TIGER SQUARED
[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.]
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.]
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[Rude he has feelings?? Sorta. It's not like any of that was untrue.]
So, Atsushi-kun-- have you taken a page out of Tanizaki's book and hooked up with your long-lost evil twin brother? Or is this guy going to just disappear if I touch him?
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[He was never able to do anything about Dazai in his world either.
Nakajima does perk up when he hears the name 'Atsushi', but he quickly figures out that Dazai is talking about the other Atsushi.]
Who is Tanizaki, and should I be upset that we're being compared to him?
[Dazai is welcome to try and touch him if he wants. Watch out for the collar though, it's that collar.]
cw incest mentions.....
You know, that's fine. ]
I have not! This isn't anything like Tanizaki-san and Naomi-san's relationship!
[ Atsushi does, however, frown at his other counterpart. ] Tanizaki-san is another one of our coworkers. And yes. Yes, you should. But don't ask.
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Hmmm, well! I suppose I could just keep guessing. Or if one of you would like to offer an explanation for why Atsushi-kun has a clone, that might just save us a bit of time!
[--a clone that is apparently into Some Things if that collar is any indication. Someone likes it rough??]
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Call me Nakajima. The why and how of my appearance don't matter. I'm here now, and I'm trying to cause as little trouble as possible.
[Don't diss his collar, it serves a purpose!]
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[ He's saying that under his breath as if Nakajima wouldn't hear that.
Someone is still a little bitter. He doesn't have anything else to input here, though. ]
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[The same last name isn't really helping deter from the long-lost-twin-brother hypothesis, but he'll roll with it.]
But seeing as I was the one to interrupt your little date night, why don't I make it up to you by ordering us a pizza? Considering Atsushi-kun's appetite is one of the seven mysterious of the ADA, I doubt five bowls of chazuke would have been enough to feed either of you.
[He remembers the 30-bowls-of-chazuke incident ok]
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[Food is honestly a good way to placate both of the Atsushis. However, Nakajima regards Dazai with a look of suspicious caution. Not that he expects Dazai to outright poison them or anything, but the Dazai he knew never did anything nice without having hidden costs tied to it. Even food had been used to manipulate in the past, and Nakajima absolutely expects some sort of 'gotcha' moment here.
Dazai might recognize that look, too, as he probably got the exact same one in the mafia all the time. Mostly from people smart enough to know that Dazai isn't someone to trust, but not quite smart enough to see Dazai's plans hidden in the shadows.
But ultimately, he defers to Atsushi, giving him a curious look. Is Atsushi going to trust this offer?]
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[ Atsushi frowns at his counterpart as he slams his hands onto the table before taking yet another chazuke and eating it. Although he does look at Dazai because while he trusts Dazai implicitly...
There.
There has to be some sort of catch here, right...... ]
You're really going to order us pizza?
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[This is the extent of his maliciousness. But really, why hasn't Kunikida just gotten a new credit card yet?? He probably does this a lot.]
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Pass. If I'm going to steal food, I'll steal it on my own. Chuuya-san would yell at me if he found out anyway.
[Which he says as he takes a second bowl of chazuke and started horfing it down. So much about this world is different, and apparently this Dazai works for the Agency instead of the mafia, so there's no reason for him to know Chuuya right???
Though he's making himself sad, thinking about a person he'll never see again. He needs to stop doing that.]
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[ Since this particular Atsushi is a good boy, he is definitely frowning at the both of them even between eating his chazuke. ]
And don't steal food either, Nakajima.
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[And he stands--]
I suppose I'll just leave you two to your canoodling, then. But could you try and keep it down for once? I'd like to get some sleep tonight.
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Nakajima is going to reach up to grab for Dazai's arm and yank him back down. If successful, Nakajima won't disappear. The magic that brought him here is stronger than Dazai's nullifying ability, it seems.]
Nah, you can stay here with us. You're the one who listens in, right? So maybe a front-row seat is what you need.
[He is teasing to get a rise out of Dazai, and maybe to get Atsushi flailing too. But he sounds serious.]
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And especially given what Atsushi knows about Nakajima's sex life, this is admittedly pretty embarrassing. It's enough to burn his cheeks into a very bright, bright scarlet, waving his hands around. Thank goodness the chazuke bowl is on the table instead of in his hands because he would have dropped it by now. ]
Y- You're going to have Dazai-san watch?!
[ Let him perish already....... ]
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What makes you think I want front row seats to your pale, elbowy sex? You're making an awful lot of assumptions about me for someone you've never met--
[...]
[Ahh. Is that how it is?]
...just how well do you really know me, I wonder? Nakajima-san.
[The cold smile on his face isn't one Dazai ever uses around Atsushi. Or at least, not this Dazai. But Nakajima might just feel right at home.]
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But that look, and that tone, it makes him freeze . A look of abject terror is present on his face, like he just got caught and is about to get punished. Punished in a way Atsushi might remember from the orphanage.
And then he lets go of Dazai's hand and immediately drops his gaze to the ground. When he speaks, it's with a quiet voice, one that seems subdued but is barely hiding a very really fear. ]
I'm sorry. I won't tease anymore, it's not my place.
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That's not an expression he sees often. No. It's an expression that he's never seen before, and even on instinct, he knows it's dangerous. Dangerous enough to make his blood run cold and his face pale.
And while Atsushi has never seen that expression on Nakajima's face before, he recognizes it enough to make him lose his appetite entirely. His eyes glance over from Nakajima to Dazai and back again before finally making an attempt to work his mouth to say something, anything— ]
D-Dazai-san, maybe you should go. . .
[ He doesn't know what else he can do in this situation when clearly he's also a little terrified right now. ]
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[That isn't the reaction he was expecting to see. Not with what little information he'd gleamed from how Nakajima was treating him -- he was expecting hate, not fear.]
[But it's Atsushi telling him to leave the damn near knocks the wind out of him.]
[But what should he have expected? Atsushi was keeping this a secret for a reason. And to hide something like this for so long... maybe he was the only one who thought they were close? Somehow, it hurts more than he ever thought it would.]
[He won't say good-bye as he turns and opens the door to the balcony, shutting it behind him as he climbs back over to his own apartment.]
EDITING IN PART 2
Nakajima lasts about five seconds after Dazai leaves before the urge to run away becomes too strong. But unlike Dazai, Atsushi won't open the door. He goes crashing through the glass instead, diving out and running like the wind. Where is he off to? Who knows.
But if Dazai is still on his balcony, or close enough to his door to peek out, he'll see that Nakajima's arms and legs have transformed into tiger limbs. That explains how he can dive on out and run so quickly, at least?]
[But anyway, Nakajima will disappear for several days. He's proven to be good at hiding, and trying to track him down will be largely fruitless. Rumors of his appearance (or rather 'Atsushi' in general, since they look so much alike) can be found, but the man himself is absent.
Up until the day Dazai gets a call from a familiar number. Hm. It's rare for him to be calling.]
"Dazai-kun. One of your subordinates- Nakajima-kun- is currently in our custody. You'll need to come collect him, as we cannot release him into the public directly. Also there is a fine to be paid."
[Welp. Looks like someone got in trouble.]
1/2
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[The way he talks to him. The way he smiles. And even the way he jokes-- it's different now. Or maybe it was different before, and now Dazai is holding Atsushi at arms length, just as he does with everyone else in the agency.]
[And maybe it was better this way. Atsushi has long since surpassed the need for a mentor in Dazai -- and lord knows there were far better role models to pick from, even within the ADA itself. They were just co-workers now-- and nothing more.]
[Which is why, when Dazai gets the phone call he was honestly expecting at this point (Nakajima seemed like a wild one okay), he doesn't think anything in particular about who to bring with.]
Ah, Atsushi-kun? Looks like you and I have a job today! [He hops up to his feet, having hung up on poor, poor Ango.] I'll fill you in on the way-- come on then!
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But he promised Nakajima that he wouldn't say anything.
Because he knew that if the truth was revealed, Dazai would get mad. In fact, he kind of wonders. If, underneath all of the 'act' he was actually really angry. So when he's called to work on a job together, he can't help but be a little suspicious.
His dual color eyes glance at Dazai with a bit of skepticism, still organizing papers before he drops them on the desk. ]
Dazai-san...?
[ He does get up from his seat by the shared desk before heading towards Dazai, even if he's purposely trying to keep his distance. ]
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So when they arrive, Ango is going to look to Dazai, and he opens his mouth like he is about to say something. But then he pauses and looks to Atsushi. Then to the paperwork in his hands. Then to Atsushi. Then to Dazai.]
"Dazai-kun. What is going on?"
[Don't make him use his ability to sort out this mess. Why are there two mantigers?]
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Ah, Ango! Always good to see you! [Again, said the lying liar who lies a lot.] Isn't it obvious? This Atsushi-kun isn't the one in jail! But we can't very well let our dear friend Atsushi-kun stay locked up-- so Atsushi-kun and I have come to bail Atsushi-kun out!
[It makes perfect sense to him ok.]
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