[Ranpo has a package! Sadly, it's not candy. It's a book instead: The Early Cases of Akechi Kogoro, a collection of short stories by one Edogawa Ranpo.
Atsushi also has tucked in a note:]
Edogawa,
I thought you might want to read some of the detective fiction the Ranpo I know wrote. Let me know what you think of it, whenever you get around to it?
[Well, now! This is a nice surprise! Free books! Ranpo's certainly not going to turn it down, even if detective fiction could be a little boring for him -- he had a tendency to solve the case before the story was over, more or less spoiling himself and getting frustrated that no one else saw it sooner.]
[But he's curious to see how his other self lives up to their shared name, and so he wastes no time getting into it!]
[Which means it's only a few hours later that he gets Atsushi's contact info from Yosano and sends him a message.]
Hey there, Atsushi-san! Thanks for the book! It was a very interesting read. Quick question, though!
Why did you give me a biography about my own father?
Or maybe "how" is the better question to be asking here...
[DID ANOTHER VERSION OF HIMSELF INVENT HIS OWN DAD that's a level of weird he should have been given a bit of a warning for.]
[So uh, he's kind of been searching for Ranpo all day given the special occasion, but after not receiving any replies to his messages he's starting to get worried. He even stopped by Ranpo and Yosano's apartment, only to discover that nobody was home. Needless to say he's rather worked up right now, and he's just going to keep blowing up Ranpo's phone until he gets a response.]
Ranpo-san, I don't mean to be nosy, but if you could at least message me back and assure me that you're alright I'll stop messaging you.
And if you turned on your location that would help as well. For no particular reason, of course.
[Knock knock, Ranpo. There's someone at your door!
...And if he opens it, he'll see not a face but a truly massive chocolate cake being held out as Atsushi bows very, very low... like straight up 90 degrees. The green icing on top in tasteful cursive says 'I'm Sorry'.]
I-I... I know this doesn't make up for what I did, but I'm so, so sorry!!!
[He knows exactly which one of them this is from as soon as he reads that first line. He's not sure how to respond at first -- he's not exactly a poet himself. So he settles for something simple.]
[Hey, are you in Ranpo's contacts? If so, you might just be accidentally added a group text on the 18th, when all three moons are full.]
[The text contains a blurry selfie of Ranpo seated at a bar and holding a drink. The shoulder of his companion is only just visible in the corner, since he's not aiming the camera very well.]
KUNKIDA GOT ME DRUNK!! dont tell yosano
[Please note that everyone can see each other's replies to this text. Ranpo may not reply right away.]
[If Ranpo checks in time he'll witness the [...] indicating that Poe is typing, then deleting it, then typing again, and etc. a few times before settling on:]
[Well, today's the day. It's not like he didn't find out what he needed to, but with Ranpo's loss.........Zed wishes he could drag out the timing a little longer.]
[Which is pretty accurate, since he wasn't too far away. When he arrives, he knocks and opens the door at the same time, immediately seeking out Atsushi.]
[In the short time that Atsushi and Ranpo have been roommates, Atsushi has learned this about him: he enjoys coming home and immediately getting to flop on Atsushi. School schedules don't always permit that, but when they do, Atsushi enjoys a warm and cuddly Ranpo more than he could say.
Today he's not in prime cuddling position on the couch when Ranpo gets home, but the smell of baking cookies will give away why even before Ranpo spots Atsushi in the kitchen wearing a tiger-patterned apron over his usual clothes.]
[Ranpo's honestly surprised how easily he's fallen into routine with Atsushi. There was that part of him that worried that he might grate on his nerves being around him all the time -- Ranpo's not exactly unaware that he can be A Lot to deal with in high doses, after all.]
[But instead, their lives seem to mesh pretty well. Atsushi doesn't mind doting on Ranpo, and Ranpo is always there to cuddle up with him when the night calls for it. Which is most nights, really.]
[He's expecting to find Atsushi curled up and reading when he comes home, but when he sees him in a-- in a tiger apron instead--]
[Ranpo knows Poe well enough to know he would never call if it wasn't an emergency. Text was easier, more comfortable, and something Ranpo was perfectly happy to do. So when he sees Poe's name pop up when his phone starts to ring, he answers immediately -- and opts to listen instead of speaking.]
[Voices-- Poe, and a number of unfriendly ones. It's muffled, but he can still make out what's happening -- and almost immediately, he opens another app to listen while shooting off a number of texts. He can't make two phone calls at once, but he has enough connections with the moon knights that at least one of them will respond in the next minute or so.]
[It is definitely late enough that Atsushi should be asleep, but he is not. He is laying awake in bed next to Ranpo, who either hasn't fallen asleep yet either or was woken up by Atsushi's tossing and turning.]
[Lucy knows it isn’t any of her business. If she makes her business, she is only signing herself up for pain down the road. Really, investing in the emotions of others is such a risky business. Like the stock market, but for maximum heartbreak.
But here she is. Calling Ranpo, because she’s worried about Inaba. Has Lucy mentioned that caring about people sucks? Because it’s about to get worse.]
[He knew this was coming But while he's very proud of Lucy for actually calling him and not just texting, now is really not a good time for that particular sort of personal growth.]
[He answers on the last ring. He sounds... odd. Would she even be able to recognize how he sounds when he's tearful? The tremble in his shoulders carries in his voice.]
[Say, guess who just found one of the gifts Inaba got for him while cleaning? This guy. Which means he'll be sniffing when he picks up -- and clearly not because he's sick.]
...I guess it has been a few days, huh. Sorry for the radio silence.
[A sniffle. Ranpo crying isn't exactly something that happens often -- he might have never actually seen it back home.]
My... girlfriend and I broke up. I'm not-- I'm okay, but it's... a lot.
[The Amphoria Pods have a new memory share option - now featuring third person perspective for easier viewing! - and Atsushi had suggested that he and Ranpo test it out. There is so much of his life he wants to share with his fiance, both before and after incarnating as a spirit.]
So, Ranpo, what memory do you want to - oh, no, I didn't mean this one...
[Apparently 'Ranpo' sounds enough like 'random' for the VR pod to go ahead and select a memory for them to see. It's one Atsushi can instantly recognize: he has plenty like it.
There's Atsushi as a child, already starting to look a bit sickly. He's in his yard, tied to a tree by the waist with a rope. An adult Japanese woman is walking away from him.]
I'm sorry, Mother, I didn't mean to... [He calls out to her back, but she doesn't turn to look at him - she enters the house and closes the door behind her.
[They came out here to have a good time, and all they got were these bone-crushing feels--]
[Ranpo doesn't expect the memory to just begin right away, but there it goes. And what he sees immediately breaks his heart. How old is Atsushi here? He looks so small. And for her to tie him up like that, to have a rope at hand, a tree in mind-- this can't have been the first time it happened. Not with just how defeated little Atsushi sounds.]
[For Atsushi's sake, he keeps his expression neutral. But he also reaches out for Atsushi's hand, holding it tightly. Even without a visible reaction, Atsushi should know him well enough to have an idea of how he's feeling right now.]
...I guess it'd be too much to ask for this thing to have a setting to disable the painful ones.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
10/1, afternoon
Atsushi also has tucked in a note:]
Edogawa,
I thought you might want to read some of the detective fiction the Ranpo I know wrote. Let me know what you think of it, whenever you get around to it?
-Atsushi
no subject
[But he's curious to see how his other self lives up to their shared name, and so he wastes no time getting into it!]
[Which means it's only a few hours later that he gets Atsushi's contact info from Yosano and sends him a message.]
Hey there, Atsushi-san!
Thanks for the book! It was a very interesting read.
Quick question, though!
Why did you give me a biography about my own father?
Or maybe "how" is the better question to be asking here...
[DID ANOTHER VERSION OF HIMSELF INVENT HIS OWN DAD that's a level of weird he should have been given a bit of a warning for.]
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Happy Birthmas Ranpo
Ranpo-san, I don't mean to be nosy, but if you could at least message me back and assure me that you're alright I'll stop messaging you.
And if you turned on your location that would help as well. For no particular reason, of course.
[Smooth.]
no subject
srry my pone was off
phone
iim still a little drunk
but i cant sleep
wow you texted me a lot
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November 1st
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Sure thing! I'm home right now, so you can come over whenever.
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19th, later afternoon
...And if he opens it, he'll see not a face but a truly massive chocolate cake being held out as Atsushi bows very, very low... like straight up 90 degrees. The green icing on top in tasteful cursive says 'I'm Sorry'.]
I-I... I know this doesn't make up for what I did, but I'm so, so sorry!!!
no subject
[...]
And what are you apologizing for?
[He needs to check Atsushi knows the real reason Ranpo is mad, after all.]
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Some nebulous point before the intro log
[Can nervousness convey through text? No? Good.]
Waves hands around what is time
[ATSUSHI THIS IS KINDA WORRYING WITHOUT CONTEXT]
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text, a few days after their log thread
in silent sanguine stillness
I hear your laughter
['Thank you.']
no subject
Let me know when you've picked a favorite color.
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ACCIDENTAL MASS TEXT 11/18
[The text contains a blurry selfie of Ranpo seated at a bar and holding a drink. The shoulder of his companion is only just visible in the corner, since he's not aiming the camera very well.]
KUNKIDA GOT ME DRUNK!!
dont tell yosano
[Please note that everyone can see each other's replies to this text. Ranpo may not reply right away.]
no subject
[Doesn't immediately realize this is a mass text and not just meant for him.]
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Much later:
RIP
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Sometime later
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The 16th, to set up the thread timeskip to triple moon :} 1/2
[Being all kinds of Affected(TM) by the triple moon- it's hard to type with trembling hands- Poe accidentally hits send.]
2/2
I may have to ask you for a favor.
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a weekday morning
where did I put my keys
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How many books did you check out from the library yesterday?
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sometime after march triple moon but pre-event
If he opens it, it's a picture of an older Atsushi (the ADA one)
Enjoy. :) ]
1/2
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backdated to white daaaaaay
Do you want to meet today?
kyaaa
Unless now's a bad time?
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3/21
My world's Dazai is gone.
Can you come over? It's too quiet here.
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[Which is pretty accurate, since he wasn't too far away. When he arrives, he knocks and opens the door at the same time, immediately seeking out Atsushi.]
Atsushi? It's me!
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early april
Today he's not in prime cuddling position on the couch when Ranpo gets home, but the smell of baking cookies will give away why even before Ranpo spots Atsushi in the kitchen wearing a tiger-patterned apron over his usual clothes.]
Welcome home. Are you hungry?
1/3
[But instead, their lives seem to mesh pretty well. Atsushi doesn't mind doting on Ranpo, and Ranpo is always there to cuddle up with him when the night calls for it. Which is most nights, really.]
[He's expecting to find Atsushi curled up and reading when he comes home, but when he sees him in a-- in a tiger apron instead--]
You know I'm always hungry for your--
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April 16 | Silent Auction Threads
April 9th
no subject
[Voices-- Poe, and a number of unfriendly ones. It's muffled, but he can still make out what's happening -- and almost immediately, he opens another app to listen while shooting off a number of texts. He can't make two phone calls at once, but he has enough connections with the moon knights that at least one of them will respond in the next minute or so.]
[But until then-- all he can do is listen.]
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[Text]
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like two am
Ranpo? Do you think plants have feelings?
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[He's still awake, sneakily looking at his phone under the covers while pretending to sleep... might also be snacking, ignore that rustling.]
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pre-cordis, action
[A favor that he's not looking at Ranpo while asking because this is Embarrassing and Shameful.]
If I go full kitsune again, can you keep me from doing anything I'll regret? Last month I...
[Pause.]
Please don't judge me. Or get mad?
[He doesn't know why Ranpo would get mad, he just feels like he would have the right to.]
no subject
[He smiles, reaching out to rest a hand on Atsushi's shoulder.]
I'd say after last month, I'm not really in a position to judge anyone for anything.
What happened?
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(post ABO event) [text] un: idealist
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I'll even give you more than a minute.
[Ah, he was expecting this.]
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Audio
But here she is. Calling Ranpo, because she’s worried about Inaba. Has Lucy mentioned that caring about people sucks? Because it’s about to get worse.]
... Ranpo? Are you there?
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[He answers on the last ring. He sounds... odd. Would she even be able to recognize how he sounds when he's tearful? The tremble in his shoulders carries in his voice.]
Himeko just got home, didn't she?
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Wow thank's DW for no notif!!
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[audio]
no subject
...I guess it has been a few days, huh. Sorry for the radio silence.
[A sniffle. Ranpo crying isn't exactly something that happens often -- he might have never actually seen it back home.]
My... girlfriend and I broke up. I'm not-- I'm okay, but it's... a lot.
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The Morning After (the Orgy)
Where does
Where does he start.
Uh.]
Good morning, Ranpo.
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[Clearly he should start here.]
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1/
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memory share
So, Ranpo, what memory do you want to - oh, no, I didn't mean this one...
[Apparently 'Ranpo' sounds enough like 'random' for the VR pod to go ahead and select a memory for them to see. It's one Atsushi can instantly recognize: he has plenty like it.
There's Atsushi as a child, already starting to look a bit sickly. He's in his yard, tied to a tree by the waist with a rope. An adult Japanese woman is walking away from him.]
I'm sorry, Mother, I didn't mean to... [He calls out to her back, but she doesn't turn to look at him - she enters the house and closes the door behind her.
...ah, it's cold out here.]
no subject
[Ranpo doesn't expect the memory to just begin right away, but there it goes. And what he sees immediately breaks his heart. How old is Atsushi here? He looks so small. And for her to tie him up like that, to have a rope at hand, a tree in mind-- this can't have been the first time it happened. Not with just how defeated little Atsushi sounds.]
[For Atsushi's sake, he keeps his expression neutral. But he also reaches out for Atsushi's hand, holding it tightly. Even without a visible reaction, Atsushi should know him well enough to have an idea of how he's feeling right now.]
...I guess it'd be too much to ask for this thing to have a setting to disable the painful ones.
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