thesettingsun | Week 0, Friday, post-investigation: Fitzgerald.

You may.

[His eyes narrow as he looks down at the other. Well, well, a visitor. He steps back, allowing Dazai to come in, though his body language is a bit guarded, wary.]

Are you here to talk about that unfortunate event? The murder?

Not exactly. We both saw the same evidence.

[It was summarized and everything.]

You said something towards the end. About how it couldn't be blood, 'unless - no, it can't be.'

If you tell me what you meant, I'll tell you what I meant right before that. It's a fair trade.

[And Fitzgerald is a man with business sense, isn't he?]

Hm. So that's what you're interested in.

[There's a pause, before he shrugs. Fine.]

I was just thinking at the time that if there was no signs of blood except for that strange ink...well. Wouldn't it be too much of a stretch to say that the ink, is, in fact, her blood all along?

[He laughs.]

And I guess I was proven right. Her blood wasn't blood at all.

I think that still counts, in a certain sense of the word? I've been using the phrase 'ink blood' for myself for a while now, so if I have to come up with a different term, that'll be a pain...

[Right, fair trade it is.]

I'm a ghost with ink as blood-substitute. Mine is blue, not a match.

Yes, but I hardly think regular blood smells like ink, you know.

[And.....wait, what?]

Pardon?

I'm the spirit of a dead novelist summoned in a physical body that has ink instead of blood.

[How do you explain things clearly? Dazai doesn't know.]

You're not pulling my leg, are you, old sport?

[WHAT??]

Edited 2018-06-09 01:07 (UTC)

How stupid would I have to be to make up a story about myself that involves ink blood when there's a murder victim covered in ink? There are better methods for suicide.

I don't know. Maybe you're...

[He makes a twirling gesture next to his head. Very subtle, Fitzgerald.]

[Probably, but not in that sense.]

A few people saw me bleed ink already. Sanji, Zelos, Belph. Ask them.

Yes, but now that elderly lady has turned up with ink blood too. [He lets out a short laugh, his eyes narrowed.] Either you two have it naturally, or something is happening to make it appear the way it does.

Unless you have proof that you had ink blood before you came here.

Not being surprised at bleeding ink isn't enough? Most people would be pretty startled.

Hm. Perhaps you're not one to be easily surprised. How should I know?

Hmmph. Does it really matter to you what I am, anyway?

Of course it does.

[His grin grows very wide.]

Where I was, before I came here, there was a man named Osamu Dazai. I already told you this. But he wasn't my friend. Quite the contrary! He was a bit of a bothersome obstacle in my way. A thorn in my side.

[The side of his mouth is twitching.

And to think I end up here, and there's a man with the very same name? You understand how I would feel. I can't say you're him, but...this all reeks a bit too much to be coincidence, right?

I wish I could say I knew anything about Fitzgerald the novelist, but I've never met any American authors, even the ones who were publishing around the same time as me...

[Oh. OH. Suddenly his expression goes from grumpy to elated in the span of a second.]

But if you know a Dazai, then, do you know an Akutagawa-sensei? You must have at least heard of him, right? If there's a Dazai worth knowing then you must know Akutagawa-sensei!

Excuse me? I'm not an author. What are you talking about?

[He tilts his head to the side, eyebrows knitting together in confusion.]

Yes, I know of an...Akutagawa. He's a brute who works for the Port Mafia. Why do you know of this Akutagawa?

[Who wants to talk about Fitzgerald when they could talk about-]

Akutagawa Ryuunosuke-sensei is only the most talented writer in the history of Japan! There isn't a person alive in Japan today who hasn't heard his name, and for good reason - he's amazing as a person and a writer! No one else's writings have moved me as much as Akutagawa-sensei's, they're as dear to me as my own works - no, even more!

If there's another Akutagawa-sensei out there, then I'm sure he must be wonderful no matter what! Because Akutagawa-sensei is perfect down to his very core...!

[I'm so sorry.]

[...]

[...]

[......]

[Yeah, he's got nothing.]

You really are delusional.

You only say that because you haven't read his works! The moment I get my hands on Rashomon or Hell Screen I'm forcing you to read it and understand how amazing Akutagawa-sensei really is!

He hasn't written anything, you idiot. Like I said, he's a brute. He's not a "sensei" or writer or whatever you want to call him. He's a murderer who does nothing but go around moping and wearing black and killing anything that gets in his personal space.

Just what are you talking about??

...What are you talking about? Akutagawa-sensei couldn't kill anyone besides himself, and he doesn't wear black much, and he's the most famous writer that Japan has. The most prestigious literary award in the country is named after him.

Not to mention he's been dead since 1927.

I've read Japanese literature and I've never heard of the man. There's no such award. He exists and it's 2018, old sport.

[He scoffs, obviously getting frustrated.]

You're speaking so much nonsense that it's a wonder why I'm even allowing you to say anything at all.

And I suppose that Dazai doesn't write literature either?

[...because he's going to literally throw his novel at Fitzgerald's face now. Read No Longer Human, by Dazai Osamu. It's depressing as hell.]

No, he does-

[Well.]

[He was just conked in the head with a book.]

[That's a thing.]

[He jerks back with a low pained noise, clutching his face. The NERVE!!]

What the hell is wrong with you?! How dare you try to hurt my perfect face...!!!

Who cares about your face right now?! Read a book before you start spouting off about people you don't know!

[Not that Dazai cares about Fitzgerald's face ever.]

[He just picks up the book and brandishes it at him.]

I read plenty of books! And I've never heard of your damn Akutagawa being some kind of author! He isn't! Get that in your head!

Either you're delusional or you've been living under a rock for the past ninety years!

[This is going so well.]

Did you hit your head when you came here? That must be it, there's no way anyone would be so stupid and uninformed otherwise!

You're the delusional one, old sport! With all your talk of authors and literary awards and...ugh! You clearly have no idea what you're talking about!

[He lets out a sharp tch, reaching up to rub at the place on his forehead where the book hit him.]

As I can see, the minds of commoners are so dreadfully addled. [He glances down at the book.] And you carry around books like they're-

[Hold on.]

"Osamu Dazai"...? No Longer Human...?

My novel, which you would have known if you'd listened to me for one second.

[Maybe he shouldn't have thrown things at Fitzgerald's head if he wanted to be listened to... eh, whatever.]

...

[He's still staring at the book.]

But "No Longer Human" is...the name of Osamu Dazai's ability.

What do you mean, ability?

[He genuinely has no idea what Fitzgerald is getting at here.]

Tell me. [He turns his attention back to Dazai.] Are there ability users, where you come from?

It doesn't ring a bell, so I'm going to say no.

[Alchemists yes, but they've never been referred to as 'ability users'.]

Hmm.

[There's a long pause, before he lets out a huff, tossing the book back at Dazai.]

Take your stupid book. I have no time to read anything, nowadays, let alone the books of delusional people.

[Dazai grabs his book and holds it close to his chest.]

Hmmph. You wouldn't understand it anyway.

Week 0, Friday, post-investigation: Fitzgerald.

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