[open dreamdive] no longer human

[thesettingsun]

WHO: You!
WHERE: Shuji's subconscious.
WHEN: August 18.
WHAT: Dreamdiving!
WARNINGS: Depends on how the dive goes, but a likely one is suicide.

[Maybe you weren't even in line of sight of Shuji. Just about everyone has a reason to be out and about on a Saruday afternoon, and nobody wants their day interrupted by the ground falling out from under them. Maybe you don't even instantly recognize that the library entrance you fall into would be part of Shuji's subconscious and not anybody else's.

This is how things ended up for you today, unfortunately. Might as well take a look around and see if you can't spot the man himself.

Locations are in top-levels added as divers enter them.]

Comments

OFFICE

[thesettingsun]

[This office is a mess. The desk has papers strewn everywhere and the floor is not much better. The bookshelf is half-empty and definitely not arranged in alphabetical order. The light hanging overhead is missing its bulb.

Shuji, sitting on top of the desk, smiles a sweet smile at you.]

Having fun?

[scythegun]

[Ah, there he is. Jaeger holds up his free hand in greeting.]

I was wondering where you were! You have quite a nice place here; I've had a good time looking around!

[thesettingsun]

Thank you! [Always pleased to be praised - some things never change.] That's quite a compliment from you.

[scythegun]

I do like to think my taste is pretty good~! I'd hate to see the contents of my own heart like this, though. I can't imagine they'd be nearly as nice.

But anyway, how are you holding up? You seem to be in a good mood!

[thesettingsun]

[Jaeger gets a nod at that first part - most people wouldn't like their own heart.]

I don't get visitors much. Why wouldn't I be in a good mood?

[scythegun]

This is a bit of a strange situation, ja? Do you have any idea how to return? Not that I'm not enjoying my time here, of course, but I do have a shop to run!

[thesettingsun]

...I'm sorry, I wish I did...

[Shuji rubs the back of his neck, sheepish.]

Have you checked out all the other rooms yet?

[manufactured]

[...you know what, this is fine. he doesn't trust it, but this is fine.]

Not quite how I'd word it, but it's been an interesting experience, I'll give you that much.

[thesettingsun]

That's fair. No one really likes being dumped somewhere against their will... Blame Retrospec, as usual.

[manufactured]

Oh, of course.

[He'll start his usual pacing around the room as he continues to address Shuji; there's not much to mess with in here that immediately catches his attention, so he'll refrain from touching anything, but that bookshelf over there... Anything that he would find worthwhile on it, given what he's looking for?]

Your boyfriend seems to be a charming person.

[thesettingsun]

[All of the books on the shelf have blank bindings... except for one that says 'Shuji Tsushima'.

Shuji doesn't notice where he's looking in particular.]

Of course he is! I could spend all day with him ♥

[manufactured]

I got that impression, yes.

[Bingo.

So can he get anywhere near it, or will this get hostile...]

I have something to tell you, by the way. Once we're out of here. It isn't particularly my place to say just yet, unfortunately, but sometime soon it will be.

[thesettingsun]

[He can get closer to it, but Shuji's definitely paying attention to his movements now, and his expression isn't so sweet.]

So you're telling me you have something important to tell me but you won't let me know what it is? That's cruel. ...Well, I suppose that's not surprising from you.

[vitis]

[ why helloooooo there not!shuji ]

Hey!

[ john strolls inward, his demeanor a bit too easygoing. but it's not like he's not on notice, and to his credit, he doesn't quite approach the desk in full. the smile's actually wide enough to border on passive-aggressive, now. ]

How's it goin', Dazai?

[thesettingsun]

You couldn't play along for even a minute? How cruel.

[Siiiigh. Shuji's smile drops.]

What do you want?

[vitis]

Yeah, guess I'm like that.

[ followed by a shrug.

--it's interesting, "meeting" shuji's "past self," even if this isn't exactly... reality, he supposes. ]

You got somethin' I need. [ blossoming forth from beneath his collar, a vine lazily curls over his shoulder. ] A book of sorts, I've heard.

[thesettingsun]

So you can play the hero, like it'll make up for who you really are?

[Dazai's scythe appears in his hand.]

Don't kid yourself.

[vitis]

[ ... oh, wow. coming from someone that looks distinctly like shuji, that hurts a bit more than he anticipated. his smile doesn't falter, even if his eyes thin at the really rude comment. ]

I really don't kid myself to be a hero, y'know.

[ as edgy as that might sound-- he's done with trying that, as lackluster as any attempts were. he eyes the scythe's appearance. ]

Just doin' what's gonna be done.

[thesettingsun]

[Dazai looks exactly like Shuji, aside from the slightly more unhinged expressions.]

You're not needed here, so why don't you mind your own business?

[Just because John shouldn't hurt Dazai doesn't mean Dazai won't hurt him, and that scythe looks awfully sharp.]

[strawberrypunch]

[...Aaaand there's Shuji.]

...Um, I'm looking for some stuff...

[thesettingsun]

What kind of stuff? Maybe I'll know where it is - it is my heart, after all.

[strawberrypunch]

[...]

I'm looking for your book.

[thesettingsun]

[Shuji tenses up minisculely.]

What are you looking in here for, then? There's plenty of books in the main hall.

[strawberrypunch]

Yeah, but I couldn't find yours.

[thesettingsun]

Did you look through all of them?