Is nothing sacred, is nothing saved?

[secondhandeye]

It was Halloween, and he was looking for a mermaid.

That was at least what people here seemed to think was going on. Sailors had been being dragged off docks, boats, even off the shore. Those around claimed it was a mermaid, devouring them under the waves. A detective Subaru once worked with had sent him a case file in the mail, and Subaru had been calling him to let him know that that wasn't really his area of work, when he'd paused while flipping through the pages.

There was something here.

Of course just as he noticed it, the phone on the other end had picked up, and before he realized what was going on, he had committed to being in town by the next day.

A long train ride later, most of which had been spent flipping through the file and searching for the little hints and ghosts around the edges of the facts he'd been sent, trying to find what was underneath the bare bones facts of the police report. By the time he arrived in the sea side down, his copy was marked in neat lines and straight slashes of highlighter, but he still had little idea of what we here.

Patting down his pockets for the half empty package of cigarettes, he moved through the station, peaceful in the window between morning commutes and lunch in this small town. He was suppose to meet the detective this evening, but a hotel had been arranged for him before hand and he's like to leave his small carrying bag these while he explored before being caught up entirely in the police investigation.

Comments

no Subaru don't follow the pretty butterfly

[metousiosis]

The bait had worked. As planned, in all honesty. It didn't matter that it was small, subtle, probably not noticeable to most. Sumeragi would notice it. Subaru certainly noticed. He knew enough about him to know what worked, what would catch his attention immediately. It came with getting to know the young Sumeragi well over the course of a year. Once he was fixed onto something, it was hard for him to let it go.

Though he did wonder now if Subaru had changed his peaceful ways towards all.

Clink. A little fresh air while he waited. Not that he'd need to wait long. The tobacco crackled faintly as he lit his cigarette. He wouldn't have to wait long at all. And then he could check his theory as to what the years have done.

Perhaps he'd hear a familiar laugh. Her laugh, maybe? A shadow of it, really. But a shadow was enough to pull at the heartstrings. He had the Sumeragi at his mercy now, but on some level, surely Subaru knew he could see what he wished to see. How bound by the past was he now? Would he want to spill blood over it?

Only one way to find out.

DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO

[secondhandeye]

It was the smell that hit him, not anything more nuanced, or subtle. Nothing that only he could find, some magical calling card crafted so that only an Omniyouji could feel it. Just the simple, familiar smell.

Somehow, even though he had the smell of cigarettes around himself all the time now, it was different. He doubted it was anything like the brand. No, from the moment he'd seen that out of season petal, the emotions had started roiling in him, just under the surface, and now it took nothing for them to all come crashing down on him.

He twisted on his heels, searching out the familiar form, the wisp of smoke. And when he saw him-

-he had no idea what to do. He froze, staring at him. How many times had he thought this over, how many different paths of possibility had his mind went over, dozens every night.

And now? He just stood there, staring.