monthly catch all!

[odasaku]

WHO: Sakutarou Oda and you. Plus an added thesettingsun Shuji Tsushima in one prompt
WHERE: Dreamscapes! And beach time!
WHEN: Throughout July.
WHAT: July Catch-all!
WARNINGS: To be added as they come

1. Dreamscape

[ oda himself never seems to show much emotion when he finds someone visiting his dreams. at most, his eyes will widen if it's someone he knows-- he's not very into the idea of those he knows peering into his thoughts.

but oda will stay quiet and continue to spectate into his own dreams as you're pulled in. have fun. ]

a. [ it's raining.

even inside the bright café, the rain seems to bring down the mood of the establishment as it falls continuously. the scents of tea and coffee are strong, but not overwhelming. it's a peaceful place, in a melancholic sort of way.

but what stands out over everything else is the young teenager that speaks to a mustached, middle-aged man. on the boy's side of the coffee table are two books-- one closed, the other open. ]

Then, you write it. [ the voice is the older male's, who looks sternly at the teenager. ] That is the only way the novel can retain its completeness. Writing novels is about writing people. How people live and how they die. The way I look at it, you have that qualification.

[ the teenager looks at the mustached man with a surprised, yet empty, gaze ] Who are you?

[ what the mustached man says, nobody hears. not you nor oda. it might be the answer, or maybe it isn't. either way, the man leaves after that, leaving you and the boy alone in the coffee shop. ]

b. [ this dream is much different.

the giggle of children is the first thing you'll hear. five children rounded up and tied up in what seems to be a makeshift rope made out of a blanket. most of them giggle but the oldest, the ringleader, does not.

oda stands over him, expressionless. ]

You give up yet?

[ the answer is immediate ]

No I won't!

Then, let's have some Port Mafia-style torture. [ but before anyone thinks that it's going to be an awful dream, oda actually just...begins to tickle the boy. between tears and laughter, the boy surrenders almost immediately. the children are untied, and oda moves to the door to leave. ]

Next time we'll definitely beat you!

[ oda scoffs, lighthearted despite the lack of emotion in his expression ] I'll look forward to it.

2. Beach! (ft. thesettingsun if you'd like!)
[ with summertime finally here, oda's going to take the time to visit the beach at least three times a week.

sometimes he'll be seen actually bathing in the beach, but most of the time he's just sitting on the sand, staring at the horizon or reading. and sometimes, shuji might be there, too, if you'd like to talk to the both of them! ]

Comments

[odasaku]

Oh.

[ condescending is...actually no problem for this boy? he takes it with stride because the advice that the other gives is good enough for him. even though he still feels nervous over the idea of basically changing his entire life, he understands what the stranger is saying.

he sighs. ]

Did you ever...change your life? Completely?

[clothes]

[ ah, yes... cue the distant look as he remembers his dead parents, all those shitty foster parents, everyone in his staff who dares to say they're like family, and now nazuna, the big brother he needed.

it sure took awhile... but he has purpose now. going from useless and unnecessary, to famous and loved and cared about-- ]

I did. I desired it more than anything, and just like you, someone saw potential in me. Unlike you though, I did not hesitate in taking the chance offered to me.

[ when he looks down at oda, his expression has since returned to its natural impassive state. ]

If you enjoy killing, then continue killing. If not, then write. It's that simple. Only a fool would deny himself his own truth, and knowingly lead an existence that is unsatisfying and meaningless.

[odasaku]

I don't enjoy it.

[ oda's not nearly as cruel as other people may think he is. he simply does it because it's what he's been doing for a long time. at this point, he's sure that it's the only thing he's good at.

but he sees this person who changed his life with much less hesitation... ]

It sounds like you have a good life now. I'm a little envious. [ even though his expression is empty, he means it.

he looks down at his books, silent. ] If I could have a life outside of killing...that would be nice.

[clothes]

[ akutagawa certainly wouldn't peg this boy for cruel. if anything, he's had the sense he no longer wanted to continue the whole serial killer thing. not that he blames him. his sister, gin-- the one in his memories, she was an assassin, and she looked pretty fucking miserable all the time. akutagawa doesn't even want to think about what he was like; so for the time being, he doesn't. ]

I suppose so. It's better than what it used to be, and I will never return to those days.

[ akutagawa follows his line of sight, glancing down at the pair of books. ]

If you look at the human condition as if it were chaptered, think of this moment as your chance to begin anew. It's an easy choice if you ask me.

[ PLEASE JUST DON'T KILL PEOPLE ANYMORE??? WHY IS ODA EVEN IN THIS SITUATION, WHY IS HIS LIFE SO BAD THAT HE HAS TO GO AROUND ICING FOLKS??? akutagawa almost pities him, but that would require him to not be a self-centered asshole with the empathy level of a small reptile. it's the thought that counts though. ]

[odasaku]

Easy?

[ well, oda sure didn't think about it that way until akutagawa mentions it. for a second, he wonders if he's been seeing everything all wrong until now. though it's not like he can complain about his life up to now, that might just be because he doesn't know how to do complain in the first place.

he nods. ]

I'll try. I want to be good at something else. Other than killing.

[clothes]

Normally I would never make a promise to someone I wasn't well-acquainted with, but I will make an exception with you. I promise it is much easier to be good at writing than it is to be good at killing.

[ this has been the most profound-and-weird-at-the-same-time conversation he has ever had in his life, and he has had a lot of weird conversations.

somehow though, he feels like this kid will be okay. in real life, anyway. please, god, let this just be a fucked-up dream. ]

[odasaku]

...Okay.

[ oda still has his doubts. not because he wants to continue killing, but because that's all he's done in the first place; he can't imagine anything else.

but if this person was supporting him, then...maybe it will be okay. ]

Thanks. For saying that.