Chapter Text
Poe was not in a good mood. None of his writings had been gaining much traction recently, and his sales were at an all time low.
Which meant one horrible thing for the author.
He needed a job.
Poe had no idea how it had come to this.
His works had always kept him at a steady flow of income. Enough for the small apartment he rented. They had never failed him. Until today.
The simple fact of the matter was that he needed money.
Perhaps that was what drove the introverted man to the pub. Such an establishment like that should be beneath a man like him. However, it had been a long day and he needed something to take the edge off.
Unfortunately for him many other people had the same idea.
The pub was packed with a varied crowd. Poe tapped his fingers on the wood of the table where he sat. Being so close to so many people was not worth the drink.
Hell, he didn't even like the drink.
At least no one was approaching him.
It was as if the universe heard him and decided to change it up.
A young man plopped into the chair beside Poe, which caused the author to jump, a look of panic on his pale face.
“Relax, I'm just here for a drink, like you.”
At those words the man downed Poe's drink.
The author was left staring as the man wiped his arm across his mouth.
“Not sweet enough.” He complained.
“Who…who are you?”
The man stared quizzically at Poe,
“Right, I forgot, it's rude to not introduce myself. I'm Edogawa Ranpo.” He extended his hand.
Poe felt his shock loosen just enough to take in Ranpo's, admittedly handsome, features.
He had wide emerald eyes and a twisted smile.
Messy black hair protruded from under a cap, he wore a plain white shirt, a brown waistcoat, and a brown Inverness cape.
Poe shook the man's hand,
“Edgar Allan Poe.”
“What do you do for a living Ed?”
“Edgar Allan-”
“What!” Ranpo shouted at him, gesturing towards his ear as if he had bad hearing. Never mind.
“I am an author.”
Ranpo gestured for more drinks.
“Sounds intriguing, what kinds of stories?”
Poe shrugged, but internally he felt his excitement grow, how he loved talking about his work.
“Mainly murder mystery and thrillers.”
“Oo interesting.”
“What do you do?”
“I'm a scientist.”
“Respectable.” Poe had met several scientists, all intelligent, pillars of the community.
“Ehh not really, people keep calling me crazy.” Ranpo snorted “I'm not. But Agatha from two blocks away won't shut up about it. It's always ‘’you’re gonna get someone killed!’ not ‘’You’re gonna change the world of modern science!’ Which I am going to do.”
Poe nodded, his admiration for Ranpo growing.
“I believe it!” Poe told him.
“Gee thanks Ed. Maybe you could tell that to Agatha?”
Poe hesitated “I don't exactly have good people skills…”
“That doesn't matter.” Ranpo waved away his concern.
“All ya really gotta do is be ready to hit her with a broom.”
“Pardon”
“But she doesn't take kindly to that and she'll call the authorities and then you gotta explain all the weird stuff in your house, it's not a good situation.”
“Ranpo…you're scaring me.”
“Ahh sorry Ed.”
Edgar Allan-”
“Say Ed?”
“Yes Ranpo” Poe replied tiredly,
“Do you like racoons?”
“I suppose so, why?
“Ehh no reason,”
“Alright…”
“Why the long face?”
“Excuse me?”
“I meant to ask you this earlier but I got distracted, why so sad?”
“Well, it is because I've recently hit financial troubles.”
There it was. Out in the open. Poe's failure laid bare for this man to see.
“So…you need a job.”
“Yes…I suppose so.”
“Perfect!” Ranpo threw his arms up in delight.
“Wait, perfect? For what? What are you-”
“Oh nothing.”
Poe looked down at his pocket watch,
“My it's late! Perhaps we'll see each other another time, but I must be going.”
Ranpo waved as Poe left the pub.
Later that night Poe collapsed onto his bed.
“That was a rather strange encounter.”He murmured to himself. He drifted off to sleep with images of a messy haired scientist in his mind.
A noise awoke him in the middle of the night.
Poe cracked one eye open and screamed. It was Ranpo. In his bedroom. With a sack in his hands. Approaching him with a very suspicious walk.
The scientist froze before he lifted his hand and waved.
“Hey Ed!”
Poe screamed again.
Ranpo sighed before he threw the sack over Poe's head before lifting the author out of bed and hauling him out of his apartment. Poe felt himself being shoved into a wagon before his hands and feet were bound.
“Hey! Let me out! I did not consent to this!”
“Ahh calm down Ed. Don't be so uptight.”
“Where are you taking me!”
“A job obviously.” Was Ranpo's response.