![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
allmenare[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
Date: 2022-01-06 04:08 am (UTC)[is that all there is to it? as a prankster, yeah, he can agree that not making a big deal out of things is a good way to not get noticed, but that alone isn't enough by his estimate. perhaps the guards at the entrance have long become used to the sight or are in good terms with the agency? he wouldn't be surprised if that's the case: a few documents he's poured over mentioned incidents at train stations.
that aside --- merlin glances out the window every now and then. or, at least, the gaps between people and over their heads. from here, one can't even tell this city's a hotspot for criminal activity, complete with a winding river and a beautiful sky.]
One would think that's enough of a deterrent for any potential troublemakers at our destination.
no subject
Date: 2022-01-12 05:11 am (UTC)[And those with abilities...well. Sometimes they can be a bit too bold. It's a good thing that Fukuzawa is so skilled with a sword though. His ability does not help him in combat, so he only has his own hard work and talent to go by.
Just...as long as they didn't run into Akutagawa, it probably would be fine. The rest of the ability-users in the mafia usually let him be. Akutagawa was the one who would attack first and ask questions never. And while Fukuzawa could find an escape for himself, helping a civilian escape might be too difficult.
Several train stops down, and Fukuzawa nudged Merlin to indicate that it was time to get off. Once they were off the platform and outside the train station, Merlin would be able to get his first clear glances of the port. Wide open areas of calm blue waters, with a gentle breeze and a mild sun. It really was an idyllic day. Plenty of people were going to nearby parks to enjoy the weather, even.
Fukuzawa, meanwhile, would defer to Merlin.]
This is the port area.
[They weren't down by the docks yet, but it was close enough. Merlin could let his curiosity lead them to wherever he wanted to go.]
no subject
Date: 2022-01-12 05:31 am (UTC)then, he chuckles.]
In hindsight, this is the obvious place to look into.
[if he didn't meant to dawdle at the archives, that is. funny how being within the city's main areas for only a handful of days can make the wide expanse of sky even more beautiful.]
Shall we? [he gestures --- not to where the site of old yokohama is, but to one of the stalls.] After that ride, some refreshment is in order before we get down to business.
[totally a coincidence that his focus momentarily strayed to a guy walking past them with a fizzy drink in his hand.]
no subject
Date: 2022-01-18 04:39 am (UTC)[Merlin is, after all, a client. And while Fukuzawa is finding this trip a bit tedious, he still won't be disrespectful to a client. He must have his reasons for his odd behavior, after all. Fukuzawa just had to watch and see what this man was hiding under his many layers.
Fukuzawa will absolutely go for a can of coffee, though. He's not one for sugary drinks, so he'll skip the soda. It's only after he gets his own drink that he realizes something important though.]
Do you need assistance picking one?
[Fukuzawa doesn't know Merlin's true backstory, but he does think Merlin is a foreigner. Does he even know what all his drink options are? Kanji can be difficult to read.]
no subject
Date: 2022-01-19 07:19 am (UTC)[and while they're in line, he'll stare at the cute sings that come with a tiny stall needing to stand out. mind, it's not that he needs help in reading the signs, but ---]
What would you recommend?
[--- it's his first time tasting a carbonated beverage]
no subject
Date: 2022-01-22 02:09 pm (UTC)What do you prefer to drink normally?
[Whatever Merlin says, Fukuzawa is going to pick some canned, fizzy version of it. He has options.]
no subject
Date: 2022-01-22 05:04 pm (UTC)[plus certain bodily fluids and the stuff of dreams, but that's neither here nor there.]
no subject
Date: 2022-02-03 03:29 pm (UTC)And while the drink Fukuzawa picks out is non-alcoholic, it is a fizzy ginger drink that is reminiscent of beer if you squint at it.]
no subject
Date: 2022-02-03 03:42 pm (UTC)merlin blinks at the bottle handed to him and scans the label before holding it close to his lips. the scent tickles his nose, causing a perplexed look to show on his features.]
These aren't hops.
[what a way to state the obvious. in any case - he tips the bottle in fukuzawa's direction and winks.]
Kampai!
[do they use that outside of boozing it up? ahh, well, he'll find out shortly enough, and he takes a sip.
merlin's eyes become wide as saucers.]
--- this is pretty good!?
no subject
Date: 2022-02-03 03:50 pm (UTC)The reaction there, though, that gets Fukuzawa to let out a small huff of amusement. No smile, just a noise. But he definitely finds Merlin's reaction interesting.]
Do they not have ginger soda, where you're from?
no subject
Date: 2022-02-03 04:09 pm (UTC)wow.]
There probably is, but I never got around to checking.
The fare I grew up with is quite... traditional.
[not too much of a stretch, he supposes.]
no subject
Date: 2022-02-03 04:22 pm (UTC)This certainly is different from traditional drinks. You might enjoy one of these too.
[He taps the sign right at one of the cold coffee drinks. Yes, let's get some caffeine into Merlin.]
no subject
Date: 2022-02-03 05:09 pm (UTC)Don't mind if I do.
[never mind that he's only a third done with his gingery drink. how hard can dual-wielding beverages be?]