![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
PSL
[On the shoreline stands two figures. One standing on the shore, and one out over the water's surface. The one on land respects the one on water, and listens while they speak.
Words are exchanged back and forth. Some agreeable, some not. Then the being over the water holds out their hand to the other, and...
And...
This is where the dream always ends. It doesn't come to him every night; sometimes he'll go weeks without seeing it, only for it to jolt him awake in the early hours of the morning. But when he does dream of the still waters and the two persons there, it's always the same. Eerily calm waters, a conversation, and an extended hand.
It feels significant, but Fukuzawa has never been the best at interpreting dreams. Nor does he have the drive to consult an expert about what the dream might mean. It's an annoyance, but nothing more. Some random bits of memory mixed together to make something both familiar and unrecognizable at the same time.
Even though it's only half past four in the morning, Fukuzawa decides to get up. Falling back asleep after that particular dream is always a chore, and he decides to skip it this morning. Instead, he spends the extra time before his alarm goes off playing with his pet cat with several of the toys he had bought for her. A feather on a string, a laser pointer, a crinkled up foil ball, all of it is fascinating to the small grey tabby cat. Said cat is well tired out by the time Fukuzawa thinks to get dressed and get ready for work.
The dream is far from Fukuzawa's mind by the time he arrives at the office. He has no reason to ponder such strange nighttime thoughts, not with all of the work to do. There's clients to meet, deals to arrange, and new subordinates to properly train into great detectives. Fukuzawa may be a kind leader, but he is also a strict one. A certain level of capability and professionalism is to be expected from anyone he counts as 'his'.
All in all, it's a normal Tuesday for Fukuzawa. Up until 11 am rolls around, at least. He has a meeting scheduled, but it's one that nobody remembers putting into the calendar, nor were any details about the potential client taken down. No, this is going to be a surprise meeting, one that will change Fukuzawa's life forever. He just doesn't know that yet.]
Words are exchanged back and forth. Some agreeable, some not. Then the being over the water holds out their hand to the other, and...
And...
This is where the dream always ends. It doesn't come to him every night; sometimes he'll go weeks without seeing it, only for it to jolt him awake in the early hours of the morning. But when he does dream of the still waters and the two persons there, it's always the same. Eerily calm waters, a conversation, and an extended hand.
It feels significant, but Fukuzawa has never been the best at interpreting dreams. Nor does he have the drive to consult an expert about what the dream might mean. It's an annoyance, but nothing more. Some random bits of memory mixed together to make something both familiar and unrecognizable at the same time.
Even though it's only half past four in the morning, Fukuzawa decides to get up. Falling back asleep after that particular dream is always a chore, and he decides to skip it this morning. Instead, he spends the extra time before his alarm goes off playing with his pet cat with several of the toys he had bought for her. A feather on a string, a laser pointer, a crinkled up foil ball, all of it is fascinating to the small grey tabby cat. Said cat is well tired out by the time Fukuzawa thinks to get dressed and get ready for work.
The dream is far from Fukuzawa's mind by the time he arrives at the office. He has no reason to ponder such strange nighttime thoughts, not with all of the work to do. There's clients to meet, deals to arrange, and new subordinates to properly train into great detectives. Fukuzawa may be a kind leader, but he is also a strict one. A certain level of capability and professionalism is to be expected from anyone he counts as 'his'.
All in all, it's a normal Tuesday for Fukuzawa. Up until 11 am rolls around, at least. He has a meeting scheduled, but it's one that nobody remembers putting into the calendar, nor were any details about the potential client taken down. No, this is going to be a surprise meeting, one that will change Fukuzawa's life forever. He just doesn't know that yet.]
no subject
Perhaps it's the excitement of the spectacle that catches his fancy and the thrill of anticipation that, once again, has him at the edge of his seat. Perhaps it's the competition for an object that seems like a Grail knock-off with its multitude of limitations and rules. Perhaps it's witnessing power akin to magecraft being used so freely, a secret with the kind of openness that doesn't diminish its potency.
Perhaps it's the humans involved: a ragtag group on all sides, several led by tyrants and a few who, in another time, may be worthy of recognition as kings.
As a premier king maker, of course he'd know. It's practically his expertise. Can one blame him for appreciating the efforts of this one individual?
So here he is, wearing a light gray suit over a pink shirt, pretending to be a foreign client just because it seemed like a good idea at the time he snuck one Emrys Collins, reclusive enthusiast of esoterica, into the secretary's calendar.
--- not that even the most normal-sounding alias he could pick out is a match for the resident genius who mows into his bag of chips as "Emrys" is shown in. Or is it the clothes? Anyway, Merlin pretends he doesn't notice the attention, sending the young lady who shows him to the meeting room a dazzling smile before greeting the severe-looking man.]
Good morning~!
Thanks for accommodating me in what must be a busy schedule.
no subject
Good morning, Mr. Collins. Come have a seat.
['Mr.' instead of '-san' because this man was very obviously foreign. Fukuzawa often made that switch to accommodate others as needed.
Fukuzawa was at his desk, which had a few loose papers on it. On his right was a folder from the previous visitor, who had left about ten minutes before Merlin showed up. He hadn't had time to stick it away yet, but he would after this meeting. It's strange, though. He didn't remember scheduling a meeting at this time? One of the secretaries must have done it. He would have to remind them to schedule more time between meetings, so he had time to clean up.
But for now, he moved a blank piece of paper in front of him, ready to take notes as needed. He wrote 'Emrys Collins' and the date at the top, and then looked back up to the odd man.]
What brings you here today?
[Fukuzawa would have thought that Merlin would have sought help from his country's ambassador's building if it was something serious. But he sought out a detective's office instead? Curious.]
no subject
Instead of immediately answering the question, Merlin takes a second or two longer to survey the man's features: gracefully lined with age, dignified in a way more than a few lords he's met in the past would benefit from becoming.
What's this guy's moniker again? Silver Wolf? Well, it sure does suit a good-looking gentleman such as him..!]
Discovery.
[Merlin nods to himself as if this should be self-evident and gestures out the window.]
You can say I'm a fan of all sorts of strange happenings across the globe. A few months ago, I came across an article about a massive whale-shaped airship being beached in these parts, and your Agency was involved in... handling it? [He tips his head, pretending to struggle with that bit of recall. Anyway ---] I understand it's all cleaned up now, of course, but I hope you understand how excited I was to hear of such an incident and several other oddities pertaining to this general area.
Did this place used to be a holy site or something? That's the kind of record I'd like you to find out.
no subject
But Fukuzawa didn't rebuke him immediately. In the past when he had done that, it had caused more problems for the Agency. Stubborn people had a habit of coming back over and over again until they got what they wanted or they were finally got beat up to the point where they couldn't try again. So Fukuzawa sat back in his chair for a moment, thinking of how to handle this situation.]
'Whale-shaped' is certainly a way to describe it.
[His tone is what denies that rumor, not those exact words.]
But as you said, it's all been taken care of, and that case is closed.
[He's curious to see if this man will pry further.]
no subject
If you'll pardon the comparison: this spot is like a Bermuda Triangle. Except that instead of disappearances, the events that cluster around here involve oddities that seem to happen too frequently compared to elsewhere.
You catch my drift?
no subject
[It's literally in the Agency's description, so.]
But that doesn't quite explain why you're looking for information from a private detective agency. What are you hoping to find?
no subject
[He wasn't even going to bring up the whole bit on abilities after getting the impression that they're an open secret as far as civilians are concerned, but since the guy already did --- why the hell not?]
I can, of course, do my own investigative work, but I've also been tipped off that there are several criminal organizations in the area that I'd best steer clear of. Not the sort of mess I'd rather get into, as I'm sure you understand.
1/2
2/2
[He pauses here again, mulling over the best way to get this guy to open up a bit more about his own intentions. He probably knows about the book, or at least the fact that it's an object capable of amazing things. Everyone who comes knocking on Yokohama's door is looking for that damn book. It doesn't matter how well the Agency hid it after the Decay of Angels were handled and that whole zombie nonsense was cleared up, rumors will still circulate.
But it's best to not tip his hand about that. The patterns of people with special abilities showing up is at least well-known enough that he can talk about that freely. And maybe he can scare off this man with a bit of blatant talk.]
If you have an ability of your own, you will find it difficult to live here. People with abilities aren't allowed to hold most jobs. Very few business owners are willing to give ability users a chance at working for them, and the government treats them with caution. That is why so many turn to organized crime.
[And that is why he founded the detective agency in the first place: to give Ranpo- and then Yosano, and then Kunikida and Katai, and so on- a place where they could go that wasn't the government or the mafia.]
So if you intend to question people about such things, you might be better off starting with the government offices. They have the most information on ability users on-hand, as they document each and every one of them that enters this country.
no subject
But it is not his place to critique the workings of a government he isn't managing. Instead, he'll point out the obvious hurdle in dealing with them:]
Nah, I think I'll stick with you and yours. Going through all that red tape is a hassle. Besides, it's not as if a foreign visitor such as myself will be privy to such classified details, and I've yet to see if the appearance of these ability users is the core of what I'm looking into or if it's --- well, "symptomatic," if you can excuse the term.
[He has no intention of likening whatever's going on to a disease.]
no subject
Oddly enough, Merlin gave off a vibe similar to Dazai's. But Dazai got the benefit of the doubt in Fukuzawa's mind. Merlin hasn't earned that yet, so.]
If you're looking into something specific, then the Agency will hear your request. But we need to know what you're looking to find before we can promise results.
no subject
[Does he already have general knowledge about the Book? Sure. Will he admit to that? Of course not; he's just supposed to be some ordinary guy with niche interests!
Merlin sighs, shakes his head, and shrugs his shoulders in seeming resignation.] Ah. But if that's not enough reason for you, I suppose I'll just have to live with it, do my own digging, and try my very best to not get extorted along the way. Or worse.
Can it get any worse? I mean, I can always expect to run into a gunfight between two gangs or something if I take the wrong turn, but how much of that excitement is a movie-only thing?
[sheltered weirdo here plz halp por favor :D :D :D]
no subject
But in the end, Fukuzawa decides to show a little bit of mercy. Mostly because he doesn't want to have to save this man from the mafia later, that's a headache he could do without.]
I'm not going to send you out there on your own. It's less about the reasons and more that I don't know what exactly to give you beyond 'files about ability users', which is nearly every case that the Agency has handled. You're asking for literal decades worth of information here. Unless you have an ability that lets you speed-read paperwork, it's not going to be that useful to you.
no subject
But either way, looks like he's getting... someone. Merlin claps his hands delightedly --- please let it be the guy sitting in front of him!]
'Fraid I don't have magical infodumping talents, so I'll be in your care for the time being.
How's this going to work? I presume you'd rather want all the files in one place?
[something something this isn't a public library!'
no subject
[Dazai is absolutely the best pick to babysit Merlin. For one, Dazai will only work exactly how much he wants to at any given time, which might be enough to get Merlin to talk more about what he's looking for. Secondly, Dazai is an excellent judge of character, and Fukuzawa trusts Dazai to take care of any potential problems the strange man might bring. Nullification is a powerful tool after all, and if Merlin means ill then it will be nipped in the bud immediately.
Though of course Fukuzawa will peek in from time to time to check on those two. Them becoming drinking buddies and ditching work is a distinct possibility.
Well, time to go alert Dazai to his temporary job duties. Fukuzawa pushes himself to his feet and strolls across the room, trusting Merlin to follow him. Dazai should be in the office, as he hasn't been assigned to any cases today. But the question is if he's actually there or if he ducked out to go hide on the roof again.]
rusty :x
[Who now? Not that he has to wonder for too long, of course, seeing how Fukuzawa's already out the door, and there's a spring in Merlin's step as he follows suit.
As for Dazai --- he's been napping on the roof again. Not that he'll still be lying down when he hears a second set of unfamiliar footsteps: they have a guest at this time? He doesn't recall any office gossip about this new appointment.
Well, whatever the case - he's up, both hands stuffed in his pockets when the door swings open, coat slightly rumpled and swaying in the breeze.]
Good morning, President!
[Slightly less chirpy now that his eyes have slid over to the guy walking a step behind Fukuzawa, a bit to the right --- huh. Well, that's a face he hasn't seen before.]
Friend of yours?
[That's a reasonable assumption..? Fukuzawa, after all, has a lot of connections, and that's where plenty of their clients are from.]
it's ok you're good
[So someone who is not a friend, but who was able to get a meeting with Fukuzawa himself somehow.]
This is Mr. Emrys Collins. He has requested to go through our case files looking for some information, and I have decided to assign the task of assisting him to you. Mr. Collins, this is Dazai Osamu, one of our best detectives. He will be a valuable resource during your time here.
[It's a bit of an odd introduction, but these are two odd men so hopefully they won't mind it too much. And hopefully Dazai understands just what Fukuzawa is actually asking of him, because 'Mr. Collins' seems a bit too sharp to do double-talk in front of.
In a couple days Dazai will have to be pulled off of this assignment to deal with a more pressing issue involving an ability-user and a hostage situation, and Fukuzawa will have to take over in his stead. But for now, Dazai actually has to work a full day's work, assuming Merlin pokes him into doing it.]
no subject
[Merlin puts a hand on his chest and dips his head --- a customary greeting of his that probably can be passed off as a foreigner adapting to the local custom? Or something like that.]
Looks like I'll be in your care. Nice to meet you.
[Either way, it looks like he'll have to obtain actual modern clothing for his next visit if he's spending time around this guy for the foreseeable future: there's no telling how that deadened air about Dazai will interact with magecraft! The atmospheric mana in this era is already low, but having a complete absence of it around the guy is still stands out to Merlin like, oh. A negative highlighter? Something like that.
Dazai, for his part, waves. There's something off about this guy - did he put on a new set of clothes just before showing up? That aside, Collins looks completely at ease around Fukuzawa: another remarkable thing given how regular clients also get intimidated by the guy's presence.]
Hi.
And sure thing. [That's to Fukuzawa with a respectful nod. Going through the archives and playing babysitter sure can be boring, but figuring out this guy's deal will probably make up for it. Why else would Fukuzawa hand this over to him instead of someone like Kunikida, who's more familiar with the contents of the files better than the secretaries?] If you'll follow me.
So what are you looking for, exactly?
[So off they go, with Dazai handing over stacks of relevant not-super-secret files for Merlin to pour over, and Merlin providing both color commentary and hums, as if he forgets Dazai's there half the time.
By the time they surface, it's for an afternoon break --- Dazai's had chips to munch on, and Merlin just forgets to keep track of human mealtimes until Dazai invites him over to the cafe downstairs for coffee.
But before that --- Dazai will also knock at Fukuzawa's door and poke his head in if the president's not busy.]
We're going down for a bit.
[A meaningful look. Does Fukuzawa want some of his observations now, or shall he save it for later?]
no subject
Fukuzawa also doesn't miss that look on Dazai's face when he peeks in at lunchtime, and he nods.]
Just a moment then, I need you to take down a lunch order for me too.
[Fukuzawa, who usually doesn't eat lunch at the restaurant, giving Dazai a couple minutes to say the most important parts first. He's sure Merlin is waiting by the door, which is why Fukuzawa will wave Dazai over to the desk and make a movement like he's writing down a lunch order on a piece of paper.]
no subject
[Yeah, let's pretend this is a normal late lunch for busy people. Dazai's wandering over, although he'll only start scribbling a message down once Fukuzawa lists down a few menu items.
preliminary: reads like he's browsing for entertainment
So far, that's the best way he can sum it up, and it's the most pertinent detail as far as assessing those vying for the Book is concerned. Of course, the guy hasn't shown his cards yet either, so Dazai will just add these in rapid succession:
doesn't seem the type to purposefully commit acts of terrorism
talked about pranking
no subject
[Fukuzawa scans over what is written, and his brow crinkles in confusion. Entertainment? Pranking? Is this stranger really looking for something to keep himself busy? Fukuzawa does trust Dazai's assessment of the situation, the man is rarely wrong when it comes to things like this. But there must be more here that they're missing.
Fukuzawa takes the pen next and hastily scribbles 'Ability user?' on it. If Merlin tried to use an ability, then Dazai would have known.]
no subject
[Dazai shrugs. The guy in question, incidentally, has already wandered from hovering near the door of Fukuzawa's office to chat up the secretaries, although Dazai will carry on with this pretense just to be extra careful.
0 signs so far, doesn't mean anything
They'll need to spend more time around Collins until they can safely conclude that the man doesn't have any actual Abilities. After all, aren't there those that can only be used under highly specific circumstances? Like Alcott.]
I think Uzumaki has a teriyaki sandwich special. Other than that, there's always tuna.
no subject
[Aware of their guest lingering nearby, Fukuzawa takes the slip of paper and folds it once, then slides it into his desk. He'll dispose of it once Dazai takes 'Collins' downstairs for lunch.]
I suspect you might enjoy the tuna more than me.
[It's not crab, but he knows about your like of seafood, Dazai. And maybe some gentle chiding will help make the conversation seem normal. If Collins is smart he'll know that information is being passed, but Fukuzawa wants to keep up the pretenses of a normal conversation for now. He's not going to strike at Merlin until there's proof of wrongdoing, and he wants Merlin to relax his guard enough for Fukuzawa to find that proof.
Incidentally, what is Merlin talking to the secretaries about? Because they definitely will give more information away than Dazai or Fukuzawa will.]
no subject
[A lifetime of avoiding outright admissions is hard to change.
As for Collins - in between lightly sprinkled compliments, it seems he's interested in how the secretaries like their job. And pets, apparently, because they've moved on to feline care, and Collins finds it quite remarkable that cats in this country seem to be cuter than the ones he's come across elsewhere after being told how Haruno and Mii-chan met. Alright, fine, having cat food on his person would probably do the trick ---
And it seems it's time for afternoon tea! Or a late lunch.
In the days leading up to Dazai reassigned, more observations get added to the list. Collins seems to prefer stylish yet comfortable clothes, eats about as much as Dazai does (which is to say, not much at all) yet commentates about what he samples as if it's his first time sampling staples like tea and cake, and continues to read wherever his interests lead him. Dazai, too, finds that Collins' questions alternate between getting a clearer picture of how these abilities look like ("Like, how big of an explosion are we talking about?") and might work ("Eh? Isn't it easier to just do this instead?")
For someone interested in esoteric stuff, his working knowledge extends to old myths, but not to the newer urban legends. As for an actual job, Dazai does get a confirmation that Collins retired from his old one before pursuing his hobbies, although nothing more specific beyond being a tutor for a handful of students is given.
He is, all in all, about as slippery as Dazai himself when it comes to revealing information about his past, although Dazai can estimate that their client isn't the malicious type.
Dazai, for his part, looks quite entertained every time he reports his findings, even after the occasions Collins gave him the slip after Dazai offered to walk the guy back to his hotel to point out the areas to generally avoid at nighttime.]
It's not an ability. He's as good as I am with misdirection and using the crowd to disappear: the only difference is that he announces it'll happen sometime beforehand to avoid causing alarm.
I think it's safe to say he wants to remain on friendly terms with us.
no subject
For a brief moment, Fukuzawa imagines something out of a western fantasy story: an old kooky wizard imparting knowledge on a young student while also being aggressively old-fashioned about everything. For some reason, the thought tickles a nostalgic part of Fukuzawa's brain. Must be some long-repressed memories of childhood stories or something.
But as long as Collins isn't making a move against the Agency, Fukuzawa lets him stay. Fukuzawa is confident that nothing bad will happen with the sharing of information like this- there is no direct mention of the book anywhere in these files, after all, and the more serious cases like 'decay of angels' never got a file written in the first place- and if this is all part of some nefarious plot then keeping the mastermind close at hand means he'll be easy to dispose of. But still, Fukuzawa has the gut feeling that it won't be necessary. And Fukuzawa has long since learned to trust his gut.
He doesn't approach the mage in disguise until nearly a week later though. Dazai is sent out to support Atsushi on a mission- a bit of a break from the office, since Dazai has earned that by now- and Fukuzawa himself ends up in the records room with Collins. It's not just to babysit though, he's actually sticking some newer files away now that recent cases have been closed. Some of them needed his signature, so he's signing them and filing them away for long storage.
None of them are anything exciting. In fact, some of them have nothing to do with abilities at all. It's the usual small-time cases that the Agency gets in-between big incidents. The one he's looking over right now is actually a budget listing from a formal dinner several members of the Agency had attended a few weeks ago. They all needed fancy outfits, and that's an office expense. That one he sticks into its folder as he speaks up, asking Collins an offhand question:]
Any closer to finding what you're looking for?
[A week's worth of effort must have gotten him something, yes?]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
idk why this suddenly became vaguely thirsty but
Merlin your thirst
simp + incubus. simpcubus?
sounds about right
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)