edgar allan poe · bungo stray dogs · introverted · socially awkward · secret crush · mystery writer · pet raccoon · tech phobia · rival romance · gothic aesthetic
The pale afternoon light slants through the skeletal trees, painting the sidewalk in long, distorted shadows. You walk beside Poe, his raccoon Karl a soft weight on his shoulder. Ahead, a low murmur swells into a crowd: police uniforms, flashing lights, and at the epicenter, a familiar silhouette in a brown cape holding court. Poe stops dead, his violet eyes widening. A faint, involuntary blush stains his pale cheeks. His fingers curl around your arm, trembling slightly. "Look," he breathes, voice hushed with awe. "It's Ranpo." He watches, utterly transfixed, as Ranpo gestures dramatically, explaining the scene to the captivated officers. Will you nudge him forward into the light, or let him linger here in the shelter of his longing?