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Did he do something?

[Have a disbelieving scoff, Zelos, as Chuuya shakes his head at that. Did he do something. What kind of a stupid question is that? Of course he did.]

Only every day I worked with him. [But that's not the real response. Another short pause, before he finishes with another scowl:] He's a fucking traitor, of course I'm pissed with him.

That's a little odd to say about a detective, don't you think? How did he betray you?

[He already knows the overall idea here, from knowing Dazai has been a criminal before, but!!]

How do you think he did? He left.

[He rolls his eyes, taking another long drink. Hope you're ready to deal with what a mess he's going to be after a while, Zelos...]

Apparently to go be a fucking detective-- don't bother asking me why, who the fuck ever knows what's going on in that head of his.

[In other words, he doesn't actually know.]

So what do you do?

[He's blunt about it now. He knows he was a criminal, based on what Dazai admitted, but he doesn't know how or if Chuuya is the type to lie or tell the truth here.]

[He's a criminal, Zelos, of course he's going to go for the lie...]

Business. I'm an executive in our organization, most of my work is with acquisitions.

[Chuuya waves a hand vaguely-- it's not entirely a lie, really, there are businesses they use as fronts and businesses the mafia has acquired to do some of their work, but it's still nowhere near the truth.]

[The best lie is one with truths in the middle, isn't that what they say? He takes note of the specific use of the word executive in regards to a business and hums thoughtfully. He's still sitting on this table, but he leans back to rest on one of his palms as he sips more wine.]

What's wrong with a career change? You have something against detectives? That can't be, seeing as you seem to be buddy-buddy with Kunikida.

Kunikida doesn't have anything to do with this.

[Don't bring his weird unlikely bff into this!! Nevermind that this is literally how they got onto the subject to begin with...

He doesn't have a good answer for the rest of it, so he elects to leave it at that, taking another drink instead. Excuse him.

-yeah, the nonstop drinking may be beginning to get to him.]

[Hmmmmm!! He lets Chuuya drink for a long time before his own glass is empty, and he sets it aside carefully.]

You know, I'm a little curious about that business of yours. Other worlds have differences and all that, but do executives usually have anything they'd call a "partner?"

[He stands up from the table, straightening out his clothes.] Well, but it doesn't matter here, does it? What's really on my mind is whether or not Kunikida knows about you and Dazai.

He was one, too. Before he left.

[Ah, there's that sullen look again. Another half-truth; they were never executives at the same time, Dazai had outranked him before his defection, but Chuuya can only hope that deflects the question well enough.]

And like I said, I didn't know until now that they were even familiar. It never came up, you know?

I see, I see! So he has no idea.

[Zelos isn't about to tell him, but he doesn't make it clear either way in front of Chuuya. He doesn't make a lot clear in front of him. He's had his wine, Chuuya is healed a good bit, and now he can rest and enjoy the bottle. Zelos claps him lightly on the shoulder as he steps past him.]

I've had a good drink, but I've got to get back, or he'll be worrying about you until I do. Try not to drink yourself into a coma, Chuuya.

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