Week 2, Saturday, post-trial: Waver.

[thesettingsun]

[Late in the evening, Dazai finds Waver.

He has a slap mark on his face, but possibly more notably, his expression is... nervous. He's thought through what he's going to say, but it's still difficult to say it.]

...Can I ask for some advice?

Comments

[thesettingsun]

If it weren't for him, I probably still would be sulking about how I was in the right and everyone else was overreacting.

[Dazai doesn't do well with being yelled at. Unfortunately, that's the natural response to someone threatening murder.]

[londonstar]

So he was the one to knock some sense into you?

[ he makes a mental note to give evan a word of thanks in the future, but for now, he keeps his attention on dazai. ]

It's difficult to accept when you're wrong. And though your proposal was not wrong in itself, it was your intentions that were wrong in the first place. [ he sighs ] You didn't intend to kill Francis with the safety of either Ion in mind, did you?

[thesettingsun]

[Dazai nods at that first question. As for the second...]

It was in mind. It just wasn't at the forefront of my mind.

[londonstar]

So a simple afterthought. Yes, that was what I thought.

[ waver sighs ]

Well, there's nothing that can be done about it. However, do your best to not take things too close to heart, Shuji. You may not be empathetic, but you are extremely sensitive and are no doubt upset. [ and, for a second, something akin to worry flashes on waver's face, before he looks away. ] I simply don't want any more blood spilled, and that includes yours and Evan's. And if that means advising you on how not to be an idiot, then so be it.

[thesettingsun]

[Far too sensitive. A child living in the world of adults. Haruo-sensei would have something to say to him about this.

But he's not here, and for that, Dazai is grateful.]

...Thank you. Can I do anything for you? Besides writing I don't have all that many skills, but...

[It's easier to repay a favor now than to have it hanging over his head, even if Waver probably wouldn't leverage that into something painful.]

[londonstar]

What--?

[ waver looks incredibly surprised by the offer, an eyebrow raised in clear confusion.

he shakes his head. ]

I didn't do this because I wanted a payment. Advising is one of the things I'm moderately good at and if I can help you improve yourself, then that's payment enough for me.

[thesettingsun]

[Dazai's frown intensifies.]

I'd feel better if I repaid you somehow... I don't think you'd hold this over my head later, but, you know. Circumstances being what they are.

[He doesn't want to be in anyone's debt in murder castle, even if he mostly trusts them.]

[londonstar]

[ waver crosses his arms, thinking. if dazai truly wants to repay him...then... ]

Write something, perhaps. You said that's what you're good at, yes? Then use it to write a short story. It can be about anything you wish.

[thesettingsun]

[Dazai perks up at the suggestion.]

I'll write you something amazing. A better story than anything in the library.