bakerstreet | Wrong Number

Wrong Number

The Wrong Recipient Meme

Oops. It happens to all of us. In a hurry, kind of drunk, too tired – for whatever reason, you've sent a text to the wrong recipient and it's up to you to do damage control.

¤ Post with your character. Name, canon and any preferences in the subject line.
¤ Others choose one of the options below and reply to your character with a text message that wasn't intended for them.
¤ Communication or miscommunication ensues?
¤ Profit!

1. talk dirty | "baby, you were such a stud yesterday"
Texting is a great way to make your partner spend the rest of their meeting thinking about exactly how steamy action was last night... Unless you sent it to the wrong number, of course. How to explain that one?

2. those dates | "Don't forget lunch at 2! :-)"
Easiest way to arrange meetings, confirming them or just saying thanks for a good time is by cell. Even easier? To screw it up when the invitation reaches the wrong person... Or perhaps your mishap lands you an entirely new date!

3. anger management | "OMFG, you really are an asshole!"
They’ve pissed you off royally, so someone deserves a piece of your mind. Poor recipient, having to put up with a dressing-down of that magnitude. Especially if it wasn't actually intended for them.

4. my condolences | "Jane, I'm so sorry about your aunt."
Someone lost a relative, got broken up with or didn't get the grades they'd hoped for, so you quickly text them your heartfelt sympathy. Let's just hope that the recipient actually has lost their aunt...

5. well done | "I heard about it from my mom. You go, girl!"
They aced their exams, just got published or they had a baby. Something definitely deserving of your congratulations. Hopefully the one receiving it will appreciate the recognition of something they probably didn't do.

6. auto correct | "Dad says we're having pussy tonight."
A completely ordinary message. The concert was amazing, you're running late... Autocorrect just happened to change one little word into something completely different. Something that’s even more difficult to decipher for the wrong recipient.

7. wildcard | "ok"
Want another scenario, something combined or something completely different? Knock yourself out!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only | Expand All

[Weeeell, what she gets out of Izaya depends entirely on her, of course! He'll certainly not offer any information unless she asks, and even if she asks, he'll wait until after they've eaten, at the very least. He doesn't have all that much of the trivial information she'd consider crucial, no doubt: unlike his sisters, he doesn't have enough free time to endlessly stalk (in a manner of speaking~) a person or two. But he'll always make sure to know enough to be able to surprise her. It's rare to catch her off-guard, but that's what makes it fun.]

You make it sound like that's such a hard thing to accomplish. [It's practically dismissive, too lacking in depth to even pretend at modesty, and shockingly blunt as a result - though only for a moment.] That said, it's not exactly pretending. I really do love all humans. But that doesn't necessarily mean I want the same for them as they do - or claim they do.

You should be able to understand that. [Is that really what he's saying, or is he implying the exact opposite? She'd be better off not thinking about that too much, but unfortunately, Izaya will be happy regardless.

As he is about her ordering for both of them, for that matter. Smiling, he puts the menu away with a flourish, but decides not to comment for now. He's got enough pieces moving already.]

[ She'll need an update from his sisters regardless, but what he's willing to give to her will be the deciding factor when it comes to when she needs that update - this evening or the following day. That he may have something that his sisters don't is entirely possible, but his information is likely to be bigger. Something more related to him and his plans, something he considers worth his time. Something that may or may not matter to her at all. ]

You want what entertains you, whether it's good or bad for them. [ She does wonder at times if Izaya knows what love is at all. It's not something she'll question with the way he insists he loves humans even as he drives them toward destruction. She prefers remaining in neutral territory when it comes to her boss.

The suggestion that she understands how he feels is almost enough to make her scoff, but she holds back.

It isn't until the waitress moves away from their table that her full attention returns to Izaya. ]

What do you know about Seiji lately?

I think you've got that turned around... but very well, I'll give you a passing score.

[It's more like he's entertained regardless of whether something's good or bad for them. That said, too much "good" tends to lead to stagnation - and where's the fun in that? Besides, don't people grow the most in adversity? One could argue that he's helping them here, you know!

Not always in a way they want to be helped, of course. He'll readily admit to that. Still, that makes the ones who do want to be helped all the more precious. How many toys out there ask to be played with?

The question is expected, but his expression clouds a little regardless, a sharper edge to his thinning smile. There's no fun in the overly predictable, even if he does have everything he needs to convince her to stay. It feels oddly like rejection.]

Already, huh...?

[He can't even be bothered to hide his displeasure just yet, which no doubt suits her just fine. It irritates him. So single-minded. So predictable. She can entertain him so much better - and then she has the unmitigated gall not to!

Well, that is how it is. Looking away from her, he lets go of his irritation, casting a passing glance at the other customers in the shop.]

That kind of discussion doesn't belong at the dinner table. You might just ruin your appetite!

[Which has absolutely nothing to do with the content of any possible news about Seiji, and everything to do with his own mood being briefly ruined, but the point stands.]

[ His correction earns a dismissive wave of her hand. More often than not, the things that entertain him most are bad for the people affected. And if he's going to get involved, it's never for the sake of something good coming from it. Not good for those involved, anyway.

It's not worth the time she'd waste delving into conversation about it when Izaya dances around things enough that she's bound to come out of it more irritated than when she started.

That's why she skips to the point of this meeting - something the look on his face makes her all the happier to do when it's clear that he dislikes the turn the conversation has taken. ]

Were you expecting me to wait?

[ His displeasure is enough to earn a brief, pleased smile along with her question. Irritating him is almost enough to make her earlier mistext worth it. Not quite when it doesn't last longer, but she still has more time to get under his skin before they part ways. ]

I never said I was hungry to begin with.

[ But she doesn't make any demands about what Izaya knows. She knows he's not going to give anything up unless he wants to, and even then he may want something in return. ]

Expecting, no. But it would nice to see you develop a little. As a human being.

[He says that, but if there's anything he's not expecting, it's that. Those things are rarer in adults, anyway, and Namie in particular -... Well, it's part of her charm. Just as well: he might play with her more seriously than just tricking her into unplanned "dates", otherwise.]

A better question might be: did you expect me to answer, just like that?

[It's a trick question, really. He's not entirely opposed to it, as long as he can get her to stick around a while - which he's fairly sure he can. Regardless, he's curious to see her reaction.]

And if I developed-- [ The word is spoken with some amount of disdain at the thought of doing anything according to what Izaya wants to see. ] --where would my focus shift? To you?

[ It would be a laughable concept if it wasn't something that's already half true. Barring Seiji, Izaya does get most of her attention, even if it's far from the same type. And while he does pay her well for that attention, it's more than she cares to give anyone who isn't her brother. ]

No. But I thought I would give you time to dance around the subject before we finish our meal.

[ Instead of giving him the chance to leave without saying anything about it at all. ]

No way. [He chuckles at the very thought. Oh, he wants her love, as he wants the love of all humans, but that kind of focus, from a person like her, would probably be more trouble than it's worth. It might be novel, and he wouldn't say no to it, but...] In my line of work, it would be far too inconvenient, having a stalker.

[What is it about Seiji that attracts the type? You'd think it was written in the stars or something.]

In that case, I'd hate to disappoint.

[Look! It's almost a promise that he'll actually tell her something! At some point!

As if on cue, a waitress shows up with their food just then, buying Izaya his first delay - but perhaps that was the very reason he acquiesced, of course.]

[ Even using the word 'stalker' is enough to make her bristle, as if he's openly comparing her to Mika for the attention she shows Seiji, and it shows in the tone of her voice as she replies. ] I'm not a stalker. I'm a loving older sister.

[ Who just so happens to pay other people to report back on his every move because she doesn't have the freedom to watch him herself. ]

Somehow I doubt that.

[ The comment is quiet as their food arrives and she lets her mood settle once more. Despite her earlier remark, she is hungry and intends to eat - something that's also good for preventing her from talking to Izaya for a short span of time. ]

[Which is exactly what he was doing, of course, both for effect and because it's close enough to the truth. He doesn't judge, though. It's exactly variations like this that make humanity so much fun.

He chooses not to argue with her regardless, opting only to smile knowingly. It's fun to play with people, less fun to piss them off too much. Constantly walking that fine line will never stop being entertaining, though.]

Well then... Shall we begin?

[Poking his spatula into the okinomiyaki, he expertly detaches a small piece, but doesn't eat it yet. All of that nonsense he spouted about quality time together to the contrary, in the end, he'd rather talk than eat.]

Though I wonder how much you really want me to tell you. The truth can hurt, you know?

[ It's part of the push and pull between the two of them, though Izaya does manage to piss her off more often than she manages to irritate him. She's working on that, trying to narrow the gap between them, but he tends to come out on top more often than not, as he does in most cases.

Even so, she doesn't carry on with the subject. Instead, she follows his example by turning her attention to their food, if only briefly.

What he says is enough to keep her from taking a bite. ]

You know how much I want to hear. Both of us know you don't care if it hurts.

That's harsh... Didn't I say I was a thoughtful boss?

[Not that what he said changes the fact that she's right. Still, he's not entirely insensitive. Hurting her with no chance of some kind interesting reaction would just be boring!

Of course, what he knows is probably not as dramatic as all that, but a little friendly talk about hypotheticals never hurt anybody. Much.]

You want to know everything because you feel like it gives you some measure of control, when in in the end, the more you know only makes you realize how little control you actually have. Isn't that right?

[With that, he finally takes a bite of his food. First move: his.]

Saying it again isn't going to make it true.

[ Hurt isn't something she suffers from often anyway. Anger is more likely to rise up instead, depending on what she hears. That usually drowns out any chance of self-pitying hurt that may come from things she hears.

Izaya's comment does earn a glare, though, as she watches him take a bite. ]

I don't need control. [ A complete lie. She wants control of everything in her life and Seiji's. ] Knowing everything means I can take care of him when he needs it, even when he doesn't ask for my help.

[ She briefly considers saying more, but decides to instead let her focus drop to the food in front of them so she can help herself as well. ]

Oh? But if he needs your help, surely he can ask for it. If he wants it, that is...

[It's a cheap shot, but he indulges in it anyway. For all that it can be fun to twist the truth, it's far more entertaining when the truth is perfect just as it is - the more so when people are intelligent enough to recognize it. Not that he expects her to admit to that, of course.

Admittedly, it's a little difficult for Seiji to contact Namie at the moment, but he's one determined young man, when he actually cares. That's one thing that seems to run in the family.]

[ She knows that's the truth, and it's true that she'll never admit it. There are a lot of truths that exist that Namie refuses to acknowledge aloud - things about the way Seiji feels and about their almost nonexistent relationship. Things that would take her down too far if she did have to acknowledge them to herself or admit them to anyone else.

Which is why Izaya's comment makes her consider stabbing the nearest utensil through his hand. ]

You were right. This conversation is making me lose my appetite.

[That makes him snicker a bit. Even twisted around, it's nice to have her of all people say he's right. That in itself is a victory, and he'll reward her by not pushing any further - for the moment, that is.]

Now, now... Eat up properly so you can maintain your health. You'll be no good to Seiji otherwise, surely?

[Grabbing his spatula again, he cuts off a few more bite-sized pieces, childish amusement fading from his eyes in favor of something darker as sharp metal slides through food. He may or may not be imagining cutting through Shizuo's face in much the same way. If only that animal were as easy to cut up...]

Anyway, I didn't meet you here just to play.

[He'll give her something useful, all right. When he feels like it - which might just be sooner than she thinks, because as much as he's enjoying their little game, he's never had the longest attention span, and he's starting to get tired of it already.]

[ The real reason for the admission is to allow her to lean back, giving up on their meal as she watches Izaya across the table. So the prompting to eat more does little good in making her move back toward the food in front of her. ]

I'll eat later.

[ As if it's something worth telling him. She watches the way the look in his eyes changes, briefly wondering where his thoughts have gone. Luckily, she's sure she's lumped in with most everyone else, so it's unlikely that the look has anything to do with her.

Namie folds her arms across her chest as he speaks, her irritation left aside once more for a more serious look. ]

Are you giving me something I want? Or did you show up to give me something else to do?

You'll ruin your figure, you know. Well, I won't insist...

[Like it's any of his business - but then, that's never stopped him before. There's not much behind the comment, anyway, except maybe a little test. He's got a fairly good idea of what things get to her, but it's fun to test for others. If he just irritates her, well, that serves him just as well, too.]

It never occurred to you that it might be both? [It certainly could be - but, as it happens, it isn't, by most definitions. His interest in her acting or not is purely for the sake of his entertainment, in this case: there's no business involved. Not the way she might think, anyway.] Whether you do something is entirely up to you. I wouldn't recommend it, but... I won't pretend I can stop you.

[ It isn't any of his business, but the comment is just enough to make her eyes narrow. If they were still having their usual exchange, she might've said something in return. But now that he's decided to move on to something closer to her interests, Namie feels less need to give in to the irritation he manages to cause. ]

How long are you planning to build up to this? [ The irritation shows in her voice as she asks, this bout of it coming from the implication that there's an issue potentially worth doing something about. She can't help immediately thinking it has something to do with Mika - that she's convinced Seiji to do something. ]

Just tell me.

How very unfeminine of you...

[What woman doesn't like a good build-up? Oh well, since Izaya enjoys them, himself, he can't really judge. At this point, though, he's ready to share, because he's generous that way.]

What if I told you that, through some unconventional channels, a request came in to investigate the habits of your darling Seiji-kun?

["Unconventional" here meaning jobs sent to an information broker supposedly not him. He has a few identities online in business as well, after all, and while most aren't high-profile enough to get anything interesting, it's an easy way to make some money - and once in a while, he gets some assignments that are truly interesting, though usually not at face value.]

[ Namie is far too straightforward to enjoy being led along in circles before she's handed what she's asking for. That Izaya considers it unfeminine is, surprisingly, not something that bothers her. But that could have everything to do with what she's waiting to hear.

And what she hears makes her fingers curl into fists, any remaining irritation morphing into anger at the thought of someone trying to get information on Seiji. It doesn't matter how little they might be asking for or if the reason behind it is something entirely innocent. ]

I'd have to ask you who sent in a request like that.

[ This is what Izaya wants. She's sure she's playing right into becoming another part of his recent entertainment, but it doesn't matter. Not when Seiji's involved. ]

I'm looking into that. I would have been happy to drop the case in your lap, fully solved, but your friendly invitation found me first!

[He's really just confirming his suspicions at this point, rather than still "looking into" anything as such, but there's no need to be too forthcoming. For that matter, he would have certainly never dropped anything in her lap - but why fuss the details?]

That said, the number of people with a vested interest in Seiji-kun are few and far between. I'm sure you can make an educated guess.

It's possible that it's really Mika they're interested in, of course. By all accounts, they rarely leave each other's sight. Or touch...

[Still, there aren't that many people who could be after Mika either. Not unless she's done even more meddling than Izaya is aware of, which is considerable.]

[ The news of the case likely would've been saved for a moment of calm in the apartment, if she had to guess. One where Izaya would have mentioned gathering information on Seiji after the fact just for the sake of inciting her anger on a quiet day. That she's hearing about it now is probably only the product of her mistext, which she's no longer regretting. ]

I don't want to make an educated guess. I want to know who it is.

[ His mention of Mika - and how much time she and Seiji spend together - does make Namie dig her fingernails into her palms, but she knows he could be right. The girl knows an alarming amount about the people who may come near Seiji, to the point that she may already know who wants information on him and why.

That gets under her skin and she lets out an irritated sigh, pulling her phone out to scroll through the contacts. ]

If you don't know who it is, someone else may.

[Contacting someone else? For information? While he's sitting right here?! That manages to sting. He's used to being brushed aside by her, of course, but he does have some professional pride - or, to be more precise: just a bit of a god complex when it comes to his work. His eyes narrow, but that's as much as he'll let himself react. That said, when he speaks again, there's nothing playful about it anymore.]

Are you sure you want to be contacting that person?

[He won't stop her. For that matter, there's only a 50-50 chance at best that his guess about who she'll get in touch with is right, but one option is his prime suspect, and the other -... Well, the other would personally annoy him.

If she really wants to make an enemy of him, this may just be the only thing that would do the trick - depending on if she contacts someone, and who it is.]

[ She expects that even the mention of getting information from someone else will bother him, so the way his eyes narrow and his tone grows serious pleases her enough to make the move worth it. Her phone ends up lowered to her lap once he questions her, making it clear that she's not in that much of a rush to contact someone else. It's something she knows would be better saved for a time when she's not around Izaya anyway. ]

I never want to contact her. [ Unless it means being able to finally end her, but that's got nothing to do with this. If she's forced to ask for a meeting, it won't involve poison or saws. ]

But if the information broker won't tell me what I need, I have to do somewhere else, don't I?

[Her?! That honestly wasn't what he was expecting - though he's careful not to let that show, of course. He knew the news would get to Namie, but he genuinely didn't think it would make her that desperate. At a better time, it would entertain him no end; as it is, he's still a little miffed, childish though it is, and his amusement is tempered considerably as a result.]

I never said I wouldn't tell you - and yet you rush to call her of all people? If you're looking for an excuse to bring things to a head, I'm sure you can find better ones.

[He's also sure she's trying to force his hand, which he's not really in the mood for.]

Maybe I should let you do it, at that. [Because clearly it's up to him to let her.] It'll be interesting to see what becomes of you... when Seiji casts you out of his life for good.

[He may be banking on Seiji's sanity a bit more than is warranted, with that assumption, but creating even a sliver of doubt should be enough.]

(no subject)

balking - 2015-10-11 21:12 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

hitorabu - 2015-10-12 08:36 (UTC) - Expand

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only | Expand All