[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

[thesettingsun]

I have nothing to be scared of. I've been remembered, and he'll be forgotten.

[This is certain. There's no reason for him to be envious of Shuji.]

[vitis]

Nope.

[ he gives a definitive shake of his head. ]

He won't be forgotten, because I can't forget him— that's all there is to it. Steinbeck wouldn't forget, either. [ even if feelings may change, yes. but forget? no. ]

[thesettingsun]

You'll die.

[Casually.]

Everyone who knew 'Shuji' will die sooner or later, and he'll have left nothing worthwhile in this world.

[vitis]

Sure he will. He's a published author and he's still affected a ton of a people— it's not like people just dyin' off is the end of remembrance for everyone.

[thesettingsun]

Do you know how many authors are forgotten as soon as they stop publishing? [Dazai's irritation grows rapidly.] It's not a sure thing to be remembered generations after your death! Don't just belittle my achievement like that!

[this isn't about you, Dazai, but okay

The more pissed off he is, the less attention he's paying to John and any sign of movement.]

[vitis]

Then quit belittlin' Shuji.

[ the vines, long ago thrown at dazai's feet, have begun to climb past him and elsewhere— planned and meticulous (hence, unnatural) as their growth is, not even a leaf should rustle out of place. ]

I can't say I get what's with you at all. [ but his tone isn't accusatory— he genuinely does not understand, as simple as it might seem. ] There really a point to all of this?

[thesettingsun]

[Dazai hasn't noticed anything with the vines. So far so good.]

I can belittle him if I want to, it's not any of your business. Getting flowers doesn't actually make you his boyfriend.

[vitis]

It's my business 'cause he's my friend.

[ or, well. it's also john business because he's decided it's his business, apparently. ]

[ the vines, climbing upward, will deftly slip the book from its place. ]

Didn't realize boyfriends had the monopoly, there.

[thesettingsun]

[Still hasn't noticed, too busy being a dick.]

Do you screw with all of your friends' heads? Because that's what you're doing.

[vitis]

[ that response gets john to wrinkle his nose.

and meanwhile, the vines wrap around the book so as to obscure its form, lowering themselves to the ground once more. in its bunch as it is, it travels toward him with careful slowness. ]

You're not my friend. [ spoken simply. ] And I don't screw 'round with Shuji's head, either, so don't try that one on me.

[thesettingsun]

Bold words from someone still carrying the evidence.

[...no, he doesn't mean the book from this office, he means John's book that he snagged from the library.]

[vitis]

[ that. admittedly does get the vines to halt completely in their midst, particularly john's heart skips a beat wherein he thinks he's been realized. thankfully, from within his jacket, he does feel the book pressed to his side.

his brows furrow, mouth twisting ]

I'm— [ ah. he shifts. ] —How do you mean that, messing with his mind?

[thesettingsun]

Are you serious? You don't even know what you've done?

[I hope you weren't expecting Dazai to be helpful suddenly. His mouth twists up in a smirk.]

Maybe it's better this way.

[vitis]

[ john's eyes narrow to slits. how irritating. ]

Couldn't know, could I?

[ he bites the inside of his cheek to stop himself from saying something more candid; the book moves toward him once more. he steps back again. ]

With comments like that, though, not hard to make an educated guess. [ but does he want to, is the question ]

[thesettingsun]

Oh, don't mind me. It's not a big deal.

[From Dazai, this is as good as saying that John really should try to fix it.]