(no subject)

[tigerpoet]

The Ware Wolf Shop has a two item limit per month, even if you have enough Chroma for more. How does anyone decide what to buy?

I know I want one orb to get one of my books that Caster asked for, and I know I want to have another orb for some of my coworkers' works... But how am I meant to choose just one? Even if I can get more later, I find it hard to say whether Kyouka's works are a higher priority than Dazai's or Chuuya's or Yosano's or Kunikida's or - well, I could go on. And that's just limiting myself to buying the orbs and limiting what I could summon to books.

I could use advice? Or opinions about Japanese literature, if you have those.

Comments

[scarsnstripes]

So you two are close as well? That's wonderful! And that does sound like Kyouka-chan... she's always giving her best when it comes to work. As her senior at the Agency, I have to work hard to keep up!

[It really was kind of nice, to know even if there were... other versions of them out there, some things really did stay the same, no matter the differences.]

...I know a Miyazawa Kenji too, actually. He's another member of the Agency. But what do you mean 'this life'?

[tigerpoet]

...living human beings don't bleed ink, and I know you've seen that.

[With their spars and all.]

Saying I'm a ghost is technically inaccurate to the exact kind of spirit I am? But it's close enough.

[scarsnstripes]

YOU'RE DEAD?!

[tigerpoet]

I'm sorry!

[apologizing for being dead.]

[scarsnstripes]

[Wow they really are way too similar in some ways--]

It's not like you did it on purpose! Or something??

I just thought everyone in your world did that!

[A pause, before--]

The ink thing, not the dead thing!

[tigerpoet]

No, regular people bleed normal blood. It's only spirits who bleed ink.

You're certainly going to outlive me, so please don't worry about that! You're much healthier than I was.

[scarsnstripes]

[Ah...

Well. He's probably right.

Considering how hard people have tried to kill him so far.]

I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to bring up what's probably a painful subject. I was just so surprised, I didn't think.

I'm sorry! You look very good for being dead!

[....]

[tigerpoet]

Oh - thank you, that's kind of you to say.

Really, it isn't such a painful subject that I can't talk about it. I've always known I was going to die young anyway.

[scarsnstripes]

[...Does this mean he made out with a ghost?

Um-- Hm.]

Really...? You said I'm healthier... but were you really that sickly? I never really had to deal with illness much, but it might be the tiger's influence.

[tigerpoet]

I was really that sickly. I was hospitalized just about every winter from breathing problems, and I died age 33 from asthmatic heart failure.

[scarsnstripes]

[There's no response for a long, long moment. Dying at 33, sickly all his life... It was so different from his own life, though he certainly had plenty of brushes with death himself.

At least he'd had his health, though. At least he'd always recovered, even when he feared he wouldn't. He'd never realized that the reason for his survival all these years was likely the tiger, until the agency.]

That sounds Painful. Lonely, too.

[tigerpoet]

...it was. I don't remember very much about the moment of death, but I remember that I was alone. It was routine for me to be hospitalized, so there was no need to visit, I suppose.

[scarsnstripes]

[...He'd died alone... It's like some sort of childhood nightmare come alive, honestly.]

I'm sorry.

It's always worse to suffer alone, without anyone there to support you. And to die alone... that sounds terrible, Atsushi-san.

[tigerpoet]

[What else is there to say about that day, about that hospital room, besides-]

Thank you.

It is what it is - I can't go back and change my life now. And - truthfully, it makes me feel a little better to know you don't have the same sicknesses as me. Even if we aren't connected that closely, and there's no reason to think you'd share my fate... I'm glad to know your future is brighter than mine was.

[scarsnstripes]

[It's surprising really, that his existence makes Atsushi feel better. Jealousy, hatred he'd expect. He'd even understand it. But this...?]

Honestly, I think if I'd also been sickly growing up, I wouldn't have lived nearly as long as I have. In a way you're far stronger than I am, having fought against something I don't know if I could.

I'm trying my best, so... hopefully, I'll have that sort of future you hope for. I want to, at least.

[Neither of them can go back, can they? But...]

And... this is like a second chance for you then, isn't it?

[tigerpoet]

[What good would jealousy and hatred do? Just to drag someone down while stewing in his own misery? He isn't that kind of a person.]

It's a lot like that. Or at least it's a chance to do things I was never able to do in life, like meet very cute tiger boys.

[scarsnstripes]

[Wow way to derail, there! Though it's certainly working. He's glad this is text, because any verbal response he could give to that would include some serious flustered stammering. With text, he can actually sound semi-confident!! And not baffled by being called 'cute'.]

Ah. I suppose that's true! There's lots of things you can do now.

I didn't know you found me cute, though...?

[tigerpoet]

[Talking about dying is depressing. Time to flirt.]

Of course you're cute. I thought it went without saying, but I can tell you plenty more if you want.

[scarsnstripes]

[#priorities.

Not that Atsushi would blame him. Though he might die from blushing first.]

Huh?!

voice

[tigerpoet]

You're cute. Not to mention incredibly handsome.

Voice

[scarsnstripes]

[Of course, of course Atsushi would switch to voice right when Atsushi is about to self immolate from being so flustered at all these compliments. There's a noise that sounds like a failed attempt to start talking that cracks out in more of a squawk, then the sound of a palm hitting skin as he covers his mouth.

A few beats, before--]

H-How can you just... say things like that so easily?

Voice

[tigerpoet]

[Oh nooo. Atsushi really should have mercy on him-]

It's not hard to say the truth.

[-but he won't.

After a moment, he does feel bad enough to add:] I can say it, but I'm weak to hearing it. So don't feel bad about being embarrassed.

[scarsnstripes]

[There's probably something comedic about hearing the high pitched wheeze that escapes Atsushi at that without an expression attached to it.]

So you already guessed I couldn't handle it but did it anyway?

[Said in a whine... admittedly, he's also bright fucking red behind his phone, good job.]

I-I'm just... not used to this sort of thing, yet. I mean, I've been here for a couple of months now, but... I didn't exactly... get compliments like this back home? It's not something you just expect, you know?!

[Whineeeee--]

Besides, you're way more handsome than me. You're cute but almost elegant looking, you know?

[tigerpoet]

E-elegant? Surely that's too much...

[Yep, he's just as weak as predicted. Now he's blushing and stammering too.]

[scarsnstripes]

No, it's really not. Elegant, refined... It was really easy to believe you were an author, you know? You just have that look about you. Like a handsome scholar you'd see in paintings.

[He's blushing too, but at least he's not stammering as much??? Turnabout was fair play.]

Though the other Atsushi is a little more on the wild side of things.