perfectmatch | week two

[given an out, he will always take it. the mortifying peril of being perceived. . . even if he has an inkling that Rom may kind of understand]

I do stay pretty busy. So do my coworkers.

[a crooked grin]

But never mind any of that. We're eating hot pot together now, aren't we? Let's enjoy it.

Yes, of course.

[ Slightly disappointing, but very well. Edamura has been sweet so far, so he'll reciprocate by being tactful for once.

He finishes eating the meat Edamura had prepped for him, but also takes the chance to start poking at the ordering tablet. Time to see what else they have ... ]

Coworkers, though. What did you say your job was again, Edamura-san?

[I'm so sorry, Rom is about to quickly learn that Edamura. . . is Like This]

[swirling a few pieces of beef in his own broth as they talk]

Someone called me a "freelancer," and I think that's accurate. I take odd jobs here and there. Whatever I feel like.

[and then, perfectly casually, as though it's just the normal flow of conversation]

You're an exorcist, right? Can I ask how you got into that line of work?

[ Freelancer. Someone jumping between odd jobs? Not implausible, though gut instinct tells him that something about Edamura's fussy personality doesn't feel quite right with his image of an odd-jobs gofer. He'll think about it more later. ]

Hmm? That's not a question I get very often.

[ He finishes scrolling through the menu to order a few more things -- mushrooms, shrimp paste, another plate of the beef -- as he considers how to answer. ]

I guess you could say I was made for it from the start. Ah, but if you're interested in joining the business, I wouldn't mind helping you get a good start on things. Would you like to give it a go?

[pfffft]

No thanks. I don't trust unpleasant spirits.

[said perfectly nonchalantly as he stuffs some beef into his mouth]

Mmmm. . . what does "made for it from the start" mean?

A shame. I think it could have been fun working alongside you, Edamura-san.

[ He fishes out a piece of cabbage, and takes a moment to eat it while glancing at the nearest camera.

-- well. Now's as fine a time as any to talk about this, he supposes. And it's not like it'd really go against the careful charade he's been managing so far, so. Plainly: ]

... I've been able to see spirits since birth.

Give me a call if you ever try branching out into new fields. We could try it out then.

[said with a bit of a smug grin!]

[which fades quickly when Rom answers his question]

Since birth. . .?

[and now he's picturing a poor little baby having to deal with creepy spooks haunting their room. . .]

Is it an ability unique to you?

[ Oh Edamura. You're gonna regret making that offer someday when Rom tries to rope you into some 'totally not spiritual' nonsense work that does turn out to be spiritual nonsense work. Though Rom keeps the thought to himself with a cryptic smile as he fishes through his pot for more vegetables. ]

Not unique, no. I'm sure you've heard of people boasting about such things before -- that they have a sixth sense, or have heard whispers in the night. On the rare occasion, those claims are true. Some people are just sensitive enough to feel some things, and otherwise live normal lives.

[ Oh, more cabbage. Rom idly stirs it around his bowl of sauce as he continues. ]

But those strong enough to call themselves mediums are rarer. I've only met a handful in my life. ... though I've heard that isn't the case where some of the others are from. Fascinating, isn't it? How different all our walks of life are.

Edited (clown noises) 2025-06-11 05:16 (UTC)

[GOOD. that's truly just how his life works, Rom understands the assignment]

I've heard it. I've just never believed it.

[never had reason to. never really wanted to! claiming spiritual sensitivity was just another conman's way of making of making a quick buck. it wasn't his style.]

[he pulls some veggies out of his broth, popping them into his mouth as he continues listening to Rom's explanation. at the mention of Shoko, he opens his mouth to say something-- but then quickly shuts it again. NOTE TO SELF ASK HER ABOUT THAT LATER. . .]

I suppose if we are all from different. . . [grimaces] Worlds, then it makes. . . sense? Wouldn't it be stranger if things were the same across the. . . [wheeze] Universe?

... correct! That would be terribly boring, wouldn't it?

[ They're briefly interrupted here by the waitress bringing them the extra plates he'd ordered. Rom accepts them with a thanks, before promptly dumping the fresh order of meat into the broth -- half into Edamura's side, the rest in his. To make up for what Edamura had prepped for him at the start. ]

But you do believe me now, I see. You should be careful not to get scammed by any sleazy people in the future, okay? -- ah, I am the real deal, for the record. But just a precaution you should probably keep in mind for the future. It'd be a terrible shame if you signed up for freelance work from the wrong client and came out of it missing a kidney, after all!

[AND NOW WE IGNORE ALL THE SHOKO STUFF THAT AL FOGOT TO REMOVE FROM HER TAG--]

[Edamura looks a bit surprised when Rom shares the meat with him, but hey! he also is not complaining. he'll let a few pieces simmer before he starts picking them out one by one, piling them atop his mound of half-eaten rice]

You worry too much. I can recognize a scam artist from ten miles away, Shindou-san.

[jabs his chopsticks at Rom]

The only reason I'm convinced you're real is because of all of the other weird stuff happening, here!

[and even then he is still holding out for the "drugged and kidnapped" theory]

Edited 2025-06-12 01:07 (UTC)

[ He just smiles at the chopsticks pointed in his direction. ]

There certainly are a lot of interesting people in our group, aren't there. [ 'Interesting' is a gross understatement. He hums in thought as he fishes the meat from his side of the pot one by one. ] I might have some familiarity with strange happenings, but it's been a lot to adapt to even so ...

[ A thoughtful hum. ]

Do you think you'll be able to return to your normal life after this? After encountering so much 'weird stuff?'

[there's that word again. . . interesting]

[Edamura's response is bland and quick]

Absolutely not.

[how can anyone go back to being JUST A NORMAL GUY after seeing the things they have seen on this show??]

Not that any of this weirdness exists back home, but I'll be thinking about it when I'm lying awake at night. Staring at my ceiling.

Wishing I had seen none of it.

[that last part is a joke]

week two | dates

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