Chapter Text
…..In a dark, dimly lit room, A man sits looking across a desk, into eyes focused on history…..
Two men, one being Ranpo and the other being Fukuzawa, were discussing a mission that he had been chosen for. The dimly lit room put on a somewhat eerie atmosphere, even though Ranpo knew that Fukuzawa did not have any harmful intentions towards him.
“And so, Count edogawa…we have many reasons for choosing you in this mission. You’re young, very smart.. and many people see you as handsome, beautiful. You will be able to get past easier than any of us will..” Fukuzawa explained, his gaze never shifting and his expression unchanged.
“I am at your command, excellence.” Ranpo responded, dipping his head in respect.. even if respect wasn’t his big thing, he didn't want to disappoint fukuzawa.
“Forget the title. In our communication… you shall address me as Mr. Yukichi. Now, let us get on to the facts. I hope that the count won’t be too difficult for you .. He is a smart man, much like you. When you get the information, conceal the message,” he slides a silver envelope over the table to Ranpo, who studies it, before continuing, “in this silver envelope. Write in a silver pencil, and.. Do not lose it, send it to me immediately, most importantly do not trust anyone with it.” Fukuzawa emphasizes on telling him to not lose it.
“Yes, I understand, sir.” Ranpo replied, despite trying to sound as formal as possible, it seemed somewhat forced. He wished he had brought a piece of candy with him to this meeting, he had a craving for candy.
Ranpo looked down in curiosity as Fukuzawa handed papers to him, taking them in his hands and shuffling through them. As he did, Fukuzawa spoke again, “Very well. These papers include all the information that you will need, about count osamu. if you end up needing them. You will take the train tonight, over to Yokohamas masquerade.”
Ranpo nodded, taking the papers, envelope, and standing up. He made his way out of the office, and as soon as he did, he sighed. Trains? He barely knew how to take trains.. it was for a mission, ranpo decided, he couldn’t let fukuzawa down. He made his way up and packed his things, then headed out for the train station.
After about 20 minutes getting on the train, which had been loud and busy, they called for the stop he needed to go to. He watched the doors as people got off of the train.. and decided to follow a group and hope for the best. As he stepped off, luckily, he was greeted.
“Good evening, sir.” A person whom he did not know on the side greeted, ranpo looked down at one of the papers and nodded, handing him his luggage.
“Have my bags sent up to suite 13,” he said, as he swiftly walked off. Moving with purpose, he made his way towards the dining room, passing by someone yelling some advertisement. He passed by another, who greeted him
“Good evening, count Edogawa!” He dipped his head, as Ranpo replied as quickly as he could.
“Good evening!” He said, appearing as friendly as possible. He swiftly continued walking forwards, walking into the doors of the dining room, he stopped in front of the desk.
“Welcome back, Mr Edogawa.” The receptionist dipped his head in respect, smiling.
“Thank you, Poe.” Ranpo responded, smiling at the receptionist. They’d known each other some time now, but it had been awhile since they had spoken.
“Table for one, good sir?” Poe asked, standing back upright like normal and gesturing towards the open tables. Ranpo shook his head,
“Actually.. Is Count Osamu dining tonight?” Ranpo questioned. He was trying to keep this mission as quick as he could. He didn’t exactly know his time limits, and did not want to mess up, if anything. He’d already gathered a plan on how he’d be able to get Count Osamu to come and dine with him.. hopefully, Osamu would fall for his tricks.
“Yes, sir. He’s right over there, the table by the window.” Poe responded, gesturing towards the table that Count Osamu was in fact dining at. Ranpo nodded his thanks and started walking over , as he took a necklace, rings, and bracelets out of his shirt. He caught snippets of conversations as he passed.. someone mentioning they’d die before they wore the hat.. someone talking about some guy named Benson, but he didn’t care much for the conversations.
Ranpo walked up and slammed down the jewelry onto the desk. Stopping the conversations around him, as the entire restaurant seemed to go quiet. Count Osamu curiously looked up at the man.
“I beg your pardon, sir..” Osamu started. Ranpo looked up at Count Osamu. Their eyes caught for a moment, and ranpos breath hitched for just a second. He was.. beautiful.
However, he quickly regained his speech and declared quite loudly, “here is the necklace, and the rings, and the bracelets you gave me, Luigi. Take them back! We’re through!” He said, as quick as he could manage to. Before his words were caught in his throat again, he turned away and started walking.
Osamu stood up and tried to yell after him, confusion almost apparent in his tone, “well, wait just a moment! Sir! You’ve made a mistake! Eh- Sir!! Wait!” He called after, however, Count Osamu made no move to chase the strange man. He had seen the way he had stared at him.. emerald green eyes, which he couldn’t deny was quite a sight. He had originally came here to figure out a new suicide meathod.. but, it seems his plans have been shifted.
Poe walked over, questioning Count Osamu, “Can I be of service, Count Osamu?” He questioned, having noticed the strange scene. Osamu sighed and sat back down, then smiled softly and looked up at the waiter.
“Did you see that young man that stopped at my table?” He questioned. Despite his curiosity, he wanted to stay presentable in his speech.
“Yes.” Poe answered, seeming a bit confused as well towards the scene.
“He left these jewels… I don't understand. Do you know who she is?” Osamu questioned, his smile faltering as he picked up the jewelry, hopeful for an answer that he may already know.
“Yes, sir, he’s Count Edogawa.. if you'd like to talk to him, he is in suite 9-13.” Poe responded, taking his finished dishes away as Osamu quickly stood up, left some money and walked out of the dining room. His mind raced with a couple questions. It was unusual for somebody able to make him so confused, such as this instance.
Needless to say, it piqued his interest. A man, who was quite handsome, and was able to confuse him of all men. He swiftly approached the suite, stopping to knock and readjust his posture. He heard a ‘just a moment!’ From inside, as the door creaked open.
Right as the door opened, and he confirmed it was Count Edogawa he was speaking to, Count Osamu started explaining. “Sir, you have made a mistake.. my name is not luigi, and i have never seen you, or these jewels.” Count Osamu looked down at him as he explained, he was dressed quite formally, a white undershirt under a sleeveless suit, with matching black pants. His eyes were closed, but Osamu almost immediately assumed he wore glasses. His hair was dark, somewhat spikey in places, and he wore a hat. However, he was also eating a type of sucker, which was in his mouth as he listened.
He could’ve sworn he saw some of a similar reaction to before, as Ranpo smiled, like this was all according to plan. There was a hint of smugness in his voice as he took the sucker out of it, pointed it at him and spoke, “I know! Won’t you come in, Count Osamu?” He smiled, opening the door wider to let him in.
Now, this managed to take Count Osamu by surprise, “you… you know who i am?” He stammered, taken aback for a second, his posture changing into a half-shocked, half-casual stance. Watching as Ranpo put the sucker down on a desk to the side.
Ranpos' voice changed to a brighter one, contrary to his fake anger when he was yelling . “Why of course! You were the most handsome man in the dining room.. and I was very lonely.” He spoke up, seeming somewhat joyful in his speech.
Count Osamu was indeed a beautiful man, and tried to stay formal as the Count despite his actual, suicidal personality. He also considered himself quite good at romantic things..
Ranpo continued swiftly, declaring, “So I decided, tonight I will have an adventure! I will make the acquaintance of the distinguished.. Count Osamu!” Ranpo bowed, though not very gracefully, due to the fact he almost fell. Osamu chuckled slightly at this, but was still shocked anyway.
“So you.. how do you know my name?” Osamu questioned, tilting his head ever so slightly. This was definitely not a casual experience.. but for a beautiful man such as Count Edogawa to do this… he wasn’t taken aback. He was rather more.. amused.
“It was not difficult to figure out.” Ranpo responded. Of course, for somebody like him, it wouldn’t be hard. Of course, he was also aware he was taking a chance leaving another jewel thief with his jewelry..
“How did you know i.. wouldn’t run off with your jewels?” Count Osamu inquired. Smiling in a more curious manner. This man.. sure was interesting.
“I took that chance! Besides.. they're insured.” Ranpo explained as he smiled smugly, seeming proud of himself. Fukuzawa had made sure that if he did run off, he wouldn’t lose the jewelry forever. He sighed and opened his eyes slightly to stare at Osamu, “are you angry?”
Count Osamu chuckled in reply, stepping forward towards the smaller. His smile and gaze softened, “no, i am not!” He took Ranpos hands in his, tempted to ask for a double suicide but thinking twice for once, “if some kind fate wishes to send a beautiful man to dine with me… i can only be grateful.” His smile curves up a bit more as he speaks.
“You will do me the honor, won't you, sir?” Osamu responds, as he leans down to place a small kiss on Ranpos hand, a sign of respect, but at this moment seemed like much more.
Ranpo has to take a couple seconds to respond.. staring at their hands. He sighs and smiles back at him, then says, “I should be delighted.” He pulled his hands away
Osamu started walking back down to the dining room, Ranpo following close behind. The plan was going.. better than expected, but he was trying to stay focused on the actual goal. However.. it was proving to be more challenging than he assumed it would be.
They walked into the diner, sitting down at the table by the window Osamu was originally at before Ranpo approached earlier. The two sat down across from each other, and Count Osamu seemed to immediately start asking questions.
“So.. would a man such as yourself like to accompany me in a double suicide?” Count Osamu suddenly asked. Ranpo had to stop himself from actually banging his head against the table.
“Absolutely not. you — I should've known this was coming..” ranpo sighed and shook his head. “My apologies.. count osamu.. but..”
Osamu interrupted him with a smile on his face, “drop the formalities! You can just call me Dazai.” Count Osamu.. rather, Dazai now, leans back.
“Alright..Dazai! Have you ever taken someone to dinner? I have the feeling you haven’t.” Ranpo tilted his head, his voice a mix of energy, from being close enough to Dazai to call him his name in such a short time, and a mix of curiosity.
“Well.. this would be my first. What do you want for dinner?” Dazai asked, sitting back up. He didn’t expect a direct response to his question, which it seemed he was right, as Ranpo answered,
“What does a Count such as yourself like? I’d imagine quite fancy meals.. like.. peacock breasts, pheasant wings, what do you eat?” Ranpo joked. He obviously knew not many actually would eat that for the sake of being fancy.. or professional.. especially someone like Dazai.
Dazai laughed with him, able to pick up on the joke fairly easily. He shrugged and responded playfully, “What does one like you usually eat?” He chuckled, even though he knew what he liked. Obviously, it was canned crab and suicide!
“Almost anything! Though.. I prefer sweets.” Ranpo answered, seeming to be boasting about his love for sweets. However, they were here for dinner, not sweets.
“Hm.. alright! how about, roast beef?” Dazai smiled, putting his words together fairly quickly, so they sounded awkward. However, he believed it was worth it to hear the other man's laughter again.
Ranpo sighed , and through his laughter said, “alright..” He calmed down. They ordered the roast beef, which wasn’t half bad, and dined happily together. They went over many topics, though it seemed to be hard for Ranpo to keep a single conversation without talking about his skills, and for Dazai to hold a single conversation without mentioning some form of suicide technique.
However, if Ranpo’s night ended with dessert, and being in the arms of a handsome man, (which in his opinion , pretty, handsome, and beautiful can’t even start to explain him) he would not mind. He would much prefer it over the solitude of his own suite.