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[bakegarasu]

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mid-julyy

[proposed]

[ Press, release. Press, release. Press release. Press, release.

That's the rhythm he has. That's the soft sound of ice clinking against the glass as Dazai pokes at it, his head nestled in the crook of his elbow, lamenting something or another as he awaits his partner. There's no rhyme or reason to it save his own amusement, and perhaps some thought that nudging the highball will make his friend come faster. It won't, but that only makes him lean his head in a little more, and hold the glass sphere down a little longer before releasing it and watching it bobble up to the surface of the whiskey glass. ]

Odasaku is late...

[ He almost sounds like a pouting child, one who's been so wronged despite not having been done so at all. He had just come here with a certain expectation, as he is wont to do, and now his eyes trail and follow the bartender for that absence of his friend. ]

[bakegarasu]

[Otoha looks up and blinks. He was just cleaning the bar, so he probably looks like the bartender even though he mostly does stock. But this person knows Odasaku - well. A lot of people here probably do. Still, it couldn't hurt to ask...]

You're Dazai, right? Odasaku said I should meet you.

[... He picks up a glass and pours himself a drink. Also whiskey, though neat rather than on the rocks.]

Bar time!!

[heavensnight]

[Maria thought that after everything, Otoha needed the bar visit. something nice and surrounded by simplicity rather than the destruction they had seen. than the dark thoughts that clearly plagued Otoha.

and she needed it, too.

so they'd come up with a date and time and Maria showed up in her usual strapless dress though without the jacket this time. she showed up early enough, hoping to be there before Otoha was because she wanted to be able to set the mood. she didn't even know what he may want from this outing, if he might consider it a date or something. Maria was trying not to get ahead of herself on that end.]

[bakegarasu]

[Otoha has not dressed up at all, but as long as Maria feels nice that's what matters. He wanders in a few minutes after her, his usual coat on his shoulders. He looks around and nods to Maria, going over and sitting down near her.]

Sorry for being late.

[He's not late, he's right on time. Still, he's later than her...]

[heavensnight]

Sorry for being late? You're on time. [but she is only teasing and smiles at him.]

I just got here early.

[bakegarasu]

Oh...

[He was ready for it to be his fault... he knows he needs to stop doing that, but it's difficult.]

You haven't ordered yet, have you?

[heavensnight]

Nah, it's rude to start without your partner for the night.

[and she gives him a wink. she's still gonna flirt.]

[bakegarasu]

[lsdkf.]

I don't really know date rules. Never been on one before.

[He reaches out to squeeze her hand gently.]

But uh... I'm glad to see you. Really.

[heavensnight]

[Maria was putting on more of an act that this wasn't so new for her. in theory it wasn't supposed to be. she should have been around the block a few times.

but actual experience, this was new.

she looks at his hand and then squeezes back, smiling.]

I'm glad to see you, too. How have you been?

[bakegarasu]

I've been all right. Things have calmed down a little bit. ... Bar's been a little busier, but that's pretty normal after something where it shows people stuff they don't want to see.

[He'd had a few himself, so it wasn't like he was immune to that.]

What have you been up to?

[heavensnight]

Same old, right? I was a dancer at a bar. People always go there after something rough.

[tale as old as time.]

Surviving, I guess. Taking it day by day. Hasn't been so bad for me lately.

[bakegarasu]

[At a bar... yeah, that definitely solidifies what he thought. There's no judgement, just an assumption of experience.]

That's good. ... You live alone, right?

[heavensnight]

I live with this guy from my world. James.

[whether she should tell another guy that she doesn't seem bothered with.]

But he's not good for much conversation or comfort. I'm out of the place more than not.

[bakegarasu]

... Got it. So you're not... close.

[He's not stealing someone's girlfriend? Good. He'd feel a little bad about that.]

My door's always open if you need somewhere quiet to crash. Got an extra room -

[That sounds like... oops.]

Not that I'm running to the 'live together' step, just... if you need to escape.

[heavensnight]

[Maria is a little lost in the fact that in many ways yes, she's not close to James in that way. only made for him but hey, what does that matter?

and then Otoha is saying all that and she smirks, rubbing her foot up against his leg.]

Well if you're not jumping to that step then what step we getting to?

[flirting was so easy for her. something she could default to.]

[bakegarasu]

[Oh that feels... weird but nice? He's not sure.]

To be honest, I don't really know what the steps are. ... Most of the women my brother had around weren't... serious relationships. He just thought of them as... accessories. I'm... you're way more than that.

[He swallows hard. How to even explain this?]

I want to know more about you. What you like, what you don't... what sort of things make you smile. I want... to make you smile, any way that I can.

[heavensnight]

[then does this mean he's looking for something serious with her? it gives her a pause because Maria never expected this for herself. that someone might want that and she doesn't know for certain if that is what Otoha is implying...

but what he says about her, it seems like he does truly like her and his words make her smile.]

You're sweet, you know that? Well, I've never been taken too seriously so a first for everything.

[bakegarasu]

You deserve to be taken seriously.

[He pauses as their drinks are ordered - just hard liquor for him.]

But I'm just trying to listen to my feelings. I'm trying... to be more of a person. You're... a good person. Despite what you might think.

... You're different than those people. You're more real than them.

[heavensnight]

[Maria orders a whiskey for herself and tries to appear calmer than she actually is feeling. nobody has ever talked to her like this and she's struggling to think of the right things to say. most times she has a script or she can come up with one. this? this is new.]

You think so, huh?

[she sounds less teasing, a little more thoughtful now.]

[bakegarasu]

I do.

[He smiles slightly, tilting his head towards her.]

They always felt like... like caring at all was just them putting on an act. And I think he knew it and didn't care that they didn't care. But... you care. And I care that you care.

[heavensnight]

[Maria laughs. not at him but just happily. she didn't think James would agree with that. but it was just her own assumption. neither wrong or right.

but she did care. adid want to help others. she always had. it was good to see Otoha noticed that. ]

You know how to make a girl feel special. I think it's obvious you care too.

[bakegarasu]

... Well, yeah. I try, at least. It's... I'm free here. Not someone's weapon or... or a puppet on a string. I don't... have to be cold and ruthless like I'd been taught to be.

I'm just able to be me. ... To be someone who can care.

[heavensnight]

[by the look on Maria's face, it is obvious she understands. she understands better than many can. there is no role for her to play here and it's very freeing but also confusing. she doesn't know what to do if she doesn't have a script to go off of.

her hand pats Otoha's and she nods.] I get that. I'm glad you get a chance to be yourself. Everybody deserves that and I think you do.

[their drinks come and Maria rises hers in a toast.] Cheers to being ourselves?

[bakegarasu]

[He chuckles and knocks his glass into hers gently before taking a sip.]

Tell me something you like about yourself.

[He's already trying to think of something for himself, but her first.]

[heavensnight]

[that's a good question. Maria doesn't think she would be able to tell someone even one trait about herself.

she is silent for probably too long before she decides on:] I think that I like to try to help. I do what I can?

[it was better than doing morning.]

What about you?