DAZAI CATCH ALL

[allmyfriendsaredead]

Comments

[guileturncoat]

[...oh. That. Right, he's supposed to keep that bandaged.]

It's nothing. Just a close call before the game started.

[allmyfriendsaredead]

It's not nothing!

[Instinctively, she reaches out a hand to cup his face, trying to get a better look. Or maybe he'll dodge first?]

[guileturncoat]

[He actually doesn't, but he's still surprised by the sudden touch.

It's definitely an older wound, probably close to fully healed at this point. It's probably going to leave a scar, but there's no permanent damage to his eye or cheek muscles at least.]

S-Saki-san, really, it's fine.

[allmyfriendsaredead]

[Hmmmm. Her hand is just going to stay right where it is, even after she's done examining the wound.]

Who did this to you?

[guileturncoat]

A big bull did. Tried to gore me in the eye with one of his horns, and I just barely got out of the way.

[allmyfriendsaredead]

[...Well, she does draw her hand back, but it's pretty easy to tell she isn't buying that lie.

Actually, she looks both sad and annoyed that he said that.]

[guileturncoat]

[Aww, she didn't appreciate his joke.]

It was just a minor scuffle right before the game started. Not with a bull, but with another person. But it's fine, this is all that happened because of it.

[allmyfriendsaredead]

[No, no she didn't.]

...Dazai...

Do you trust me?

[guileturncoat]

I'm telling you the truth there, you know.

[No answer on the trust question.]

[allmyfriendsaredead]

[Yeah, she notices. Which is why she falls quiet again for a moment.]

...I don't care who you really are, or what you have to do for the Foundation. But I'm placing my trust in you.

1/2

[guileturncoat]

[...oh.]

[guileturncoat]

...it's not misplaced.

[Oh look, Dazai is now more serious about this talk, and he's full of determination.]

I'm going to help all of you, and together we'll save everyone.

[allmyfriendsaredead]

[She gives a light sigh of relief when he says that. And once he's finished, she nods in return.]

Thank you. That's all I want right now.

For all of us, including you, to get out of this together. I'll do whatever it takes to make that happen.

[Because he's not the only one determined, here.]

[guileturncoat]

That last one might be harder to do than the rest, but if you want to try then I won't stop you.

[He cares more about anyone else, but he won't fight her on it. If she wants to try, then try.]

...I really don't want any of you to die here. But it might be necessary.

[allmyfriendsaredead]

It's already hard trying to convince everyone to avoid killing each other. And Azula...

[She broke the rules, and very publicly at that. There probably wasn't any way to avoid killing her.]

...Still, if we're already trying to save everyone, I don't see why we should stop with only the contestants.

[guileturncoat]

...well, if you insist.

[He's trying to sound casual, but he's actually touched that Saki cares so much as to consider his life worth saving along with everyone else's.]

[allmyfriendsaredead]

[Good. She takes a step back again, arms behind her back.]

Then- let me know if there are ways I can help. And...

[...Hmmm.]

[guileturncoat]

And what?

[Let's start there with the help.]

[allmyfriendsaredead]

...Well, in between help...

I guess I'd just like to know more about you. [...] With less pretending.

[guileturncoat]

...I think we can do something about that, yes.

[allmyfriendsaredead]

[That gets a smile from her!]

Is there anything you'd like to start with?

[guileturncoat]

Want to hear about my family? That's something Dazai doesn't have, or at least he doesn't talk about it, so it's a difference between us.

[allmyfriendsaredead]

I would love to hear about your family.

[And it's completely genuine. There were hints before, but...

She wants to see the real person behind the mask, if he'll let her.]

[guileturncoat]

[Well settle in, it's time for ~family stories~]

It's just been me and Mom for a while now. Back when I was born, there were four of us: Mom, Dad, my grandma, and me. But my grandma died when I was a baby, and my dad died several years ago.

Mom...doesn't really know about the Foundation stuff. She thinks I got a special scholarship to an exclusive prep school and that I'm in college now. I still write her letters, but it's hard, you know? Since I can't really tell her much of anything.

...I think she's lonely. She won't date anyone, even though I told her she should. And I can't exactly go home and check on her that much either.

...

It's going to crush her, if I do die here.

[Wow, this turned dark fast.]

[allmyfriendsaredead]

[...It sure did. And she's already beginning to connect the dots as he speaks. "I miss him," he'd said, so...]

...So the person you miss is actually...