90s sadness and gay???

[dtective]

[By this point, Leon has lost track of how long he's been searching for Count D. It became an obsession that only grew with time, and now he couldn't keep to one spot anymore. Not while D was still out there. Across cities, across countries, he probably looked insane to everyone around him. But they didn't know the half of it! Sometimes even Leon wasn't sure he understood what he was doing.

Right now wasn't the time to doubt himself, though. He'd hoped that this lead would get him even an inch closer to his goal, but he hadn't counted on spotting him in the streets. It had to be him. He'd seen him turn and look at him, and those eyes—]

Wait! Stop right there!

[He doesn't hold back, shoving his way through the crowded streets and keeping his eyes locked on him. It doesn't work, because of course it doesn't, and his steps slow in his confusion. His heart is beating way too fast, his stomach sinks, and for a moment he's sure he's lost his one chance.

But something catches the corner of his eye, and his instinct tells him to turn. He reaches out, grabbing the first wrist he can and meeting D's eyes with his own.]

...Found you.

Comments

[dtective]

Yeah, okay.

[That's permission to flee temporarily, so he pulls his hand back a little regretfully and picks up all of the trash. D can enjoy that half cookie later, okay. It's a park so there's probably a trash can not too far away, so Leon will head on over to do just that.

Things he's trying not to think about: holding D's hand, the implications of everything they just spoke about and did, if this is ever going to happen again, if he should bump hands with him slyly on the way home to see if he does it again, and all of his stupid feelings. Things he's thinking about: all of that.

At least he doesn't linger at the trashcan or anything weird. He tosses away these wasted napkins and then heads back.]

[pruning]

[Meanwhile, D busies himself shaking out the blanket for any lingering crumbs or grass stuck to the other side, then folding it back up to tuck into the basket. He'll carry it this time, he supposes, lest Leon get overloaded thinking about too many hand things. He's thinking about too many hand things himself, and frowns down at the basket when he catches himself arranging it precisely on one arm so his other hand is free...

This is ridiculous. What is he doing? He's taking this too far - the only thing Leon agreed to do is stay. Hmm.

He's dealing with this like a pro!! When Leon comes back, he's perfectly cheerful and not judging himself at all.]

Let's go.

[dtective]

[He's been thinking a lot lately about how D constantly made him doubt himself. His hunches, which were normally always correct, were completely useless when it came to him. No matter what he observed, he was always wrong in some way he couldn't grasp. Now, he was staring at him holding the basket and wondering just how much of anything is intentional, what each thing means...

He's tired of it. If they're stuck together for better or for worse, apparently, then the best thing to do is just... whatever he wants! Think about it later!

This is his usual mindset for many things, anyway.

So, he may not be the smoothest or most gentle about it, but when he heads back and sees that D is ready to go, he doesn't hesitate in reaching over to take his hand and tug it as he heads back.]

Come on. It's this way, right? [He remembers it this time. He'd paid attention to where they came from.]

[pruning]

[Oh— well then! D isn't sure which thing is more surprising, that Leon took his hand or Leon didn't forget which way is home. It takes him a moment to fall into step beside him, glancing down at their hands only once.

Is he taking this too far? He didn't have to do a thing this time.]

Up ahead, there's a left.

[But where... that's the only helpful direction he's going to give, and it's not even helpful. Good luck, Leon.]

[dtective]

[A vague left is a start, and honestly, it's probably better that he only receives that. This means he has something to focus on other than their hands. He can puzzle out the way back home. Maybe he'll make a wrong turn here or there, but if D doesn't correct him he'll catch himself soon enough.

He's so focused he isn't even talking, though... Aside from mumbles under his breath about what he remembered of their walk to the park.]

[pruning]

[D will let him drag them around, wrong turns only pointed out if they seem to be leading into absolutely totally lost territory. It looks like Leon is working it out! After harping on him to carry a map around, D can't complain and take over from here...

Sooner or later they'll have to reach the shop, though, and D perks up considerably when it comes into view. The torment is over.]

Well done, my dear. You've managed to commit one route to memory, for the most part.

[dtective]

I just got here, cut me some slack. I think I'm allowed a couple of days of getting lost.

[Geez, D. He's not actually too bothered. A long walk was fine to him, but was D in some hurry? He said his errands weren't actually important, so he could hush. Leon heads into the shop and hesitates for a moment before letting his hand slip away. He can't justify just holding it even longer in here... D has to put the basket away, right?]

So how long do I have to wait before my first explanation? [He doesn't know what else to talk about, shhh]

[pruning]

[Where's that detective's intuition!! D waves Leon away to go sit down while he puts the basket away. He's going to throw away that cookie, too.]

What would you like me to explain first?

[It's going to be bullshit, so.]

why are you allowing me to ask questions about petshop's bullshit

[dtective]

[Hmm... After staring at the weird lamp for a long moment, he moves to sit down on the couch.]

The animals. Why did Chris see them differently than I did? I saw them... once. [He squints over at him.] Right? I wasn't imagining that?

to torture myself and write dumb tags as a result

[pruning]

[There is probably a perfectly sound reason for this, probably including something about Leon ~learning to believe~ and Chris being an innocent baby.





D explains that thing here. It probably makes only moderate sense and has too many metaphors in it. He tries.]

GOD

[dtective]

[Leon looks so confused you can probably see the question marks floating above his head.]

Wait, so... Hang on, that sounds like complete bullshit! He didn't forget, so why would it... [He's holds his head.] That doesn't make any sense!

listen you started this

[pruning]

I didn't guarantee it would make any sense.

[Shrugs... he can't do better than this.] Most people choose not to think too deeply about what they see in the shop.

I MEAN....... YES, BUT

[dtective]

I don't know if it's really choosing. [He was definitely looking around for all things suspicious. You'd think he'd notice a bunch of people in a pet shop. Nevermind that he HAS...]

What about the weird extra doors? Is it the same kind of thing?

don't complain

[pruning]

[Listen, some people don't like to admit they're furries. It's a very specific choice.]

Well... you've seen the shop in its less ordinary form. [the goddamn boat] It is connected, shall we say, to what you might call... the heavens?

[A beat, then quickly,] Not in an angels lounging in the clouds sense, that is. It is difficult to explain.

[i'm doing the best i can with zero canon information]

leon draws out this suffering

[dtective]

[Huhhhhh... So that just was the shop itself? It flies? Now he's glancing around the room and trying to understand that when the word "heavens" distracts him again. That's right, didn't they...jump off a building and fly? Does that have to do with it? Did he almost die... Did this happen and he didn't even connect the dots??]

So you shoved me off a flying version of your shop. Was that some sort of dream, too?

why is this happening

[pruning]

[................]

Do you remember the night at the museum? When you came to, were you not simply in an ancient history exhibit?

[That you fucked up, ya loser. But point stands.]

Do you think those events were nothing but a strange dream?

it would just happen more in cereal stop him

[dtective]

That's what you told me.

[You lying son of a bitch... but okay, they're past that, he's here now. Hm.] But it felt like it was more.

screams no

[pruning]

Yes, well... [That was different, he wasn't as gay back then.]

You may consider the two events similar in that regard.

[dtective]

You're some kinda ancient... something, so I guess it makes sense if you can pull that kind of crap, but you can just drag me with you?

[Like, he knows he kind of crashed into the museum one himself, but ????]

[pruning]

["Some kinda ancient something" is better than all the ??? currently being worked with, but it's still rude. D gives him a look - he is probably 23, thank you very much.]

I suppose I can. You could have died from blood loss or burning to death if it weren't for my "ancient something" abilities.

[dtective]

...Don't remind me.

[He doesn't want to remember anything about all that. He couldn't even stand, he'd killed D's father and honestly he was ready to die himself. Thinking back on how D saved him before he just disappeared... Even if they'd "sorted things out" right now, it still made his chest hurt.]

I wasn't trying to diss you.

[pruning]

[Maybe he should be more careful with his words!! D is ready to snap something like this, but... given the subject matter, and taking into consideration all they've talked about today, maybe he'll try to keep the snapping to a minimum for a little while.

Like, a few hours, maybe. He'd been scowling, but he loses some of that tension with a sigh.]

Was that all of your questions?

[dtective]

Not by a long shot.

[He frowns a little himself, crossing one of his legs over his knee and bouncing it a little. He has an endless amount of questions, but he's actually thinking along similar lines. Today has been heavy enough already.]

But I won't sit here and quiz you all night. Just give me some explanations the next time weird shit starts going down. [He'll ask then.]

[pruning]

[That isn't much better... He'd like to go without the difficult questions entirely, maybe because he's kind of lazy.]

That's... fair.

[He doesn't wanna!! But fine.]

I cannot promise you perfect explanations, however. You will have to understand that before you frustrate both of us.

[dtective]

...As long as you try instead of leaving me hanging.

[He'll still be the usual, grumpy (ex-)detective, but he'll at least try to remind himself that not everything makes sense with D. He also knows now to just believe some of these weird things instead of questioning them, so there's that. It'll work out, probably.]

I guess it'll kinda be like we're partners. [You know... like cops, except... everything's illegal, he's sure of it.]