I guess our world is already pretty weird in it's own ways. I wonder if that's why I got used to it so fast-- ah, relatively speaking, at least.
[He did not get used to it fast, he was a disaster for the first few months.]
[But with the food ordered, he's just gonna go right back to cuddling, because why not? His three tails are even wagging behind him... didn't he only have two earlier? Hm.]
[For once, Lucy isn't saying this to drag the mood down. She's not about to start a pity party, even if her old self may have lept at the chance. Instead, she sounds curious. Maybe there's more to miss back home than she originally realized.
As Ranpo returns to the cuddling, Lucy becomes a sap.]
Never had a home. But now I have people, so I don't need one anyway. [That's you, Ranpo. The tsundere is talking about how ADA is as close as she's had to a home. But even Lucy knows that would be disgustingly sweet to say, so peppers it down with some tsun.]
Maybe that's why this place doesn't always feel alien to me.
Home has never been a place for me. It's always been people.
[The ADA wasn't home without the people he knew and loved there. Perhaps that's why it's barely even crossed his mind to consider opening a branch here. It wouldn't be home.]
[But while Lucy isn't going to be that sappy, Ranpo absolutely is--]
[She offers a mumbling and a pouting, but no attempts to break their position. It's embarrassing to be read like a book... Yet, that is something she likes about Ranpo. Even if him 'reading aloud' can backfire for her.]
I should be saying that to you. I'm the one who should be glad.
[After all, Lucy isn't contributing very much back.]
[He lets out a soft laugh -- not the sort of thing he thought he'd be able to do today, for how down he's been feeling. But it seems like Lucy's manage to perk him back up.]
I should hope so! But say-- does this mean you're looking to join the ADA officially now?
[Officially, he says, since she's very much been unofficially helping them for a while now.]
[She's grinning right along, especially when she hears him laugh now. Lucy knows how hard it is to laugh when you're sad. It's a relief to hear he still has a laugh in him. Sad Ranpo has been so surreal for the girl who only knows him for being amazing.
That question does throw her for a loop. Lucy can't deny the way her thoughts crash into a wall, denying herself the hope. He's probably joking. She can't actually join ADA, because--]
I... I can't. I attacked you guys barely a few months ago. [You can't invite your enemies into your cool secret club!
But she's being too serious! This is supposed to be fun!]
B-Besides! I~... Don't like paperwork! [She wanted to tell a joke, but nothing came to mind.]
Aww, like that's ever stopped anyone from joining us! Did you think everyone in the agency had a squeaky-clean record before they joined?
[Between Kyouka, Yosano, Fukuzawa, and Dazai, the agency had one hell of a body count.]
But I guess I can only really make the offer for now. The ADA doesn't exist on Prismatica, so anything official would have to wait until things settle down back home.
[Hey, don’t make her emotional too! Lucy is tearing up too! ADA is so kind. She knows that Ranpo is just one of many members and probably can’t officially let her join. Not even this moon branch of the Agency, actually. But the offer has Lucy’s eyes watering. ]
“Lucy” is fine, you know. I don’t know any Montgomeries.
[She places a hand on the back of his head, gently patting his head. Maybe going for those ears. Ranpo has had it rough and it’s her turn to take care of him. He did buy dinner, after all.]
[Friendship is so beautiful, they're both just crying on the couch-- but Watty is starting to look Concerned, which is enough to have Ranpo sniffling and reining in the tears.]
...Lucy-chan, then.
[Don't push for a first name without honorifics okay he'll blush--]
But you know, you're pretty lucky, getting a recommendation from me. You probably won't even have to take an entrance exam!
[--naturally any offers to Poe or Bunatsu still need one, since the Love Bias is too strong there.]
[Lucy, too, remembers to keep it together for Watty. Her beloved... what is he. Nephew? She's not sure. Her cute catepillar loving friend. That works.]
An entrance exam...? Yeah, I wouldn't pass that. I barely know any math. Stickin' with you.
[Though, why does the Agency have an exam? It's not university, is it?]
Oh, it's not that kind of exam. It's actually pretty unconventional-- for Atsushi's, everyone staged a hostage situation in the office with a bomb threat to see how he'd handle things. Dazai was assigned a case straight-away to see how he'd solve it, and Kyouka-chan was accepted after preventing Moby Dick from crashing into Yokohama and killing hundreds of thousand of people.
[ONE OF THESE THINGS IS NOT LIKE THE OTHER--]
But seeing as I'm one of the founding members of the agency, my word holds a little more sway than everyone else.
[Huh. You know? Atsushi’s anxiety makes even more sense now. She want only imagine how that went...]
...please tell me he didn’t throw himself on the bomb like an idiot. [She likes to imagine he could talk a bomber down instead, but damn. That boy is stupidly selfless. This suggestion was a joke, so please laugh.]
I don’t think I could do any of those things. I’m not that nice.
[Everything she has done so far was out of self interest.
But they don’t need to talk about sad things, like Lucy being a rotten person.]
You’re a founding member, huh? Funny... I guess I never thought about how the Agency wouldn’ta just sprung up outta no where. Someone would have to plant it, huh...
[She won’t call him old! Not when his story sounds so charming. Instead of defending Dazai (sorry, dude,) she giggles and tries to press for more story details.]
Humble beginnings! That’s such a lovely start to a story.
[Since he doesn’t seem reluctant to talk about it, Lucy lets the conversation wander that way. It’s better than him being sad.]
Did you know your dad had some an amazing origin story, Watty?
[Channeling Watty is by far the best way to get Ranpo talking about it, because no one can resist a smol fox tilting his head and chirping-- "Papa has an orange story?"]
Oh, it's some story, all right!
[His smile softens, growing more fond.]
It was just a coincidence that we crossed paths that day. The gruff bodyguard and sheltered orphan who was too smart for his good... but he let me follow alongside him, and pretty soon, I was putting him out of business by solving all his client's problems. After a while, I was the one they were calling for instead. And so we started the agency with the hope of helping even more people -- with whatever they needed.
[He's more than just a founding member -- it likely wouldn't exist at all if not for him.]
I may not be an ability user like you, but I've still got a gift. And using our gifts to help people is what the ADA is all about.
[She giggles, only gently repeating the pronoun is toon for Watty one more time. Otherwise, Lucy is sincerely engrossed in this tale. She didn’t know that Ranpo was an orphan like her. It frames his cheerful demeanor in a completely new light. How are people like Ranpo and Atsushi, and even Dazai, so strong and bright? Meanwhile, Lucy hangs in the shadows and tries to drag people into the darkness with her.
No. She could never join the Agency. They’re different from her. Right now, she’s lucky to bask in their light at all.]
Hmm. Hear that, Watty? Your Papa sure is amaz—-
Edited (Rip your notifs basically) 2020-08-13 08:46 (UTC)
Ranpo has no ability??? But after all that shit he pulled to save the Agency—- no way! He changed an engine, planned those rescues, pulled a fast one on the page hunting whoevers... And she’s supposed to believe he’s just a normal human??!!]
[You would think he'd look proud of the fact that he's a normal human keeping up with a bunch of ability users, but no. Instead, he looks a little sheepish about it.]
It's still a little more complicated than that. I don't think it'd be accurate to just say I'm really smart-- it's more like I see the world with a lot more detail than most people can.
But when I was kid, I didn't realize I was special. It caused me a lot of grief-- it still does, sometimes. But Fukuzawa-san saw that, and he made up a story about me being an ability user to help me understand myself better.
Maybe it wasn't the most ethical thing to lie about, but... I wouldn't be the person I am today if he hadn't.
Lucy wants to be a kind and supportive friend for Ranpo right now. She knows how to put others first. But it’s hard. It’s hard to be kind when you’re drenched in selfish misery. Her despairing tendencies deep forth before she can catch her tongue.]
I would be furious... And seeing the world in more detail? I’d go insane. The world sucks enough in normal vision.
I don’t understand you Agency people...
[But does she ever love them. They make her think that maybe the world could be a beautiful place after all.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[He did not get used to it fast, he was a disaster for the first few months.]
[But with the food ordered, he's just gonna go right back to cuddling, because why not? His three tails are even wagging behind him... didn't he only have two earlier? Hm.]
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[For once, Lucy isn't saying this to drag the mood down. She's not about to start a pity party, even if her old self may have lept at the chance. Instead, she sounds curious. Maybe there's more to miss back home than she originally realized.
As Ranpo returns to the cuddling, Lucy becomes a sap.]
Never had a home. But now I have people, so I don't need one anyway. [That's you, Ranpo. The tsundere is talking about how ADA is as close as she's had to a home. But even Lucy knows that would be disgustingly sweet to say, so peppers it down with some tsun.]
Maybe that's why this place doesn't always feel alien to me.
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Home has never been a place for me. It's always been people.
[The ADA wasn't home without the people he knew and loved there. Perhaps that's why it's barely even crossed his mind to consider opening a branch here. It wouldn't be home.]
[But while Lucy isn't going to be that sappy, Ranpo absolutely is--]
I'm glad you were able to find a home with us.
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2/2
[She offers a mumbling and a pouting, but no attempts to break their position. It's embarrassing to be read like a book... Yet, that is something she likes about Ranpo. Even if him 'reading aloud' can backfire for her.]
I should be saying that to you. I'm the one who should be glad.
[After all, Lucy isn't contributing very much back.]
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I should hope so! But say-- does this mean you're looking to join the ADA officially now?
[Officially, he says, since she's very much been unofficially helping them for a while now.]
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That question does throw her for a loop. Lucy can't deny the way her thoughts crash into a wall, denying herself the hope. He's probably joking. She can't actually join ADA, because--]
I... I can't. I attacked you guys barely a few months ago. [You can't invite your enemies into your cool secret club!
But she's being too serious! This is supposed to be fun!]
B-Besides! I~... Don't like paperwork! [She wanted to tell a joke, but nothing came to mind.]
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[Between Kyouka, Yosano, Fukuzawa, and Dazai, the agency had one hell of a body count.]
But I guess I can only really make the offer for now. The ADA doesn't exist on Prismatica, so anything official would have to wait until things settle down back home.
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But here. Joint ADA here. That sounds realistic.]
I-I mean. I’ve kind of forced that on you, haven’t I? You couldn’t get rid of me here even if you tried. I’d fight you.
[She doesn’t want to leave him, okay!!]
1/2
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[Gonna just tear up and bury his face into her shoulder.]
You're a good friend, Montgomery-chan.
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“Lucy” is fine, you know. I don’t know any Montgomeries.
[She places a hand on the back of his head, gently patting his head. Maybe going for those ears. Ranpo has had it rough and it’s her turn to take care of him. He did buy dinner, after all.]
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...Lucy-chan, then.
[Don't push for a first name without honorifics okay he'll blush--]
But you know, you're pretty lucky, getting a recommendation from me. You probably won't even have to take an entrance exam!
[--naturally any offers to Poe or Bunatsu still need one, since the Love Bias is too strong there.]
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An entrance exam...? Yeah, I wouldn't pass that. I barely know any math. Stickin' with you.
[Though, why does the Agency have an exam? It's not university, is it?]
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[ONE OF THESE THINGS IS NOT LIKE THE OTHER--]
But seeing as I'm one of the founding members of the agency, my word holds a little more sway than everyone else.
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...please tell me he didn’t throw himself on the bomb like an idiot. [She likes to imagine he could talk a bomber down instead, but damn. That boy is stupidly selfless. This suggestion was a joke, so please laugh.]
I don’t think I could do any of those things. I’m not that nice.
[Everything she has done so far was out of self interest.
But they don’t need to talk about sad things, like Lucy being a rotten person.]
You’re a founding member, huh? Funny... I guess I never thought about how the Agency wouldn’ta just sprung up outta no where. Someone would have to plant it, huh...
1/2
[He's not even here to defend himself smh]
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Of course, we're a lot more professional now, but back then, we were just a former bodyguard and a genius kid detective.
[Emphasis on kid here okay he's not that old.]
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Humble beginnings! That’s such a lovely start to a story.
[Since he doesn’t seem reluctant to talk about it, Lucy lets the conversation wander that way. It’s better than him being sad.]
Did you know your dad had some an amazing origin story, Watty?
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Oh, it's some story, all right!
[His smile softens, growing more fond.]
It was just a coincidence that we crossed paths that day. The gruff bodyguard and sheltered orphan who was too smart for his good... but he let me follow alongside him, and pretty soon, I was putting him out of business by solving all his client's problems. After a while, I was the one they were calling for instead. And so we started the agency with the hope of helping even more people -- with whatever they needed.
[He's more than just a founding member -- it likely wouldn't exist at all if not for him.]
I may not be an ability user like you, but I've still got a gift. And using our gifts to help people is what the ADA is all about.
1/3
No. She could never join the Agency. They’re different from her. Right now, she’s lucky to bask in their light at all.]
Hmm. Hear that, Watty? Your Papa sure is amaz—-
2/3
[Wait, hang on. No ability?
Ranpo has no ability??? But after all that shit he pulled to save the Agency—- no way! He changed an engine, planned those rescues, pulled a fast one on the page hunting whoevers... And she’s supposed to believe he’s just a normal human??!!]
3/3
[Oops! Sorry, Watty. But also: Aunt Maudie is in unfiltered shock.]
What are you— a human utility knife for brain stuff?? How! I can’t even solve a puzzle!
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[You would think he'd look proud of the fact that he's a normal human keeping up with a bunch of ability users, but no. Instead, he looks a little sheepish about it.]
It's still a little more complicated than that. I don't think it'd be accurate to just say I'm really smart-- it's more like I see the world with a lot more detail than most people can.
But when I was kid, I didn't realize I was special. It caused me a lot of grief-- it still does, sometimes. But Fukuzawa-san saw that, and he made up a story about me being an ability user to help me understand myself better.
Maybe it wasn't the most ethical thing to lie about, but... I wouldn't be the person I am today if he hadn't.
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[Seriously! She doesn’t get it!
Lucy wants to be a kind and supportive friend for Ranpo right now. She knows how to put others first. But it’s hard. It’s hard to be kind when you’re drenched in selfish misery. Her despairing tendencies deep forth before she can catch her tongue.]
I would be furious... And seeing the world in more detail? I’d go insane. The world sucks enough in normal vision.
I don’t understand you Agency people...
[But does she ever love them. They make her think that maybe the world could be a beautiful place after all.]
But... mysteries aren’t bad.
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