Chapter 1 | Strange New World | Open Log

[lone_horse]

WHO: Kiryu and you
WHAT: Getting to knoooooow you, getting to feel really skeeeeezy (about this situation)
WHERE: Room 7, The Dungeons, around the castle
WHEN: June 12 and 13
NOTES: No warnings to begin with. If you'd like a starter, or to plot for something, feel free to ping me on plurk @ yarnzipan

room 7

[ Kiryu's used to sharing a room with people, given his prison experience, but he's never shared such a nice one. Hell, he's never had such a nice one, even during the Bubble.

It means he's meticulously neat and tidy, and that he's very careful to both keep to his space and respect that of the others. He can't help, however, that this is the place where he's supposed to sleep and he doesn't often sleep with his day clothes on. So it's very likely that one of his roommates may get a look at his back and, by extension, the large and intricate tattoo on it. (They might also catch him moving his slee to the floor with some blankets because he can sort of handle a western style cot but something like this? Too soft.)

They'll also probably catch him at his morning exercise routine, which isn't much but he's getting on in years now. Gotta maintain if you want to keep the muscle.

And, of course, if he sees you? Well, if he knows you, you'll be greeted. If you haven't met yet? Gotta do those introductions, after all. ]

the dungeons

[ Kiryu's priority in these days are those in the dungeons. Perhaps it his own experiences in being imprisoned, and perhaps it's the fact that he knows for a fact (in his mind) that the reasoning for their imprisonment is absolute garbage, but he just can't make himself care about the concerns of an 'honored guest'. Not when there are people below them, suffering the same disconnection and loss of their world as they are with quite a lot less support.

That's why he's going to go between the cells and ask if anyone needs anything, check in to see how people are doing, and (quietly) try to make sure that the guards haven't been abusing anyone. The one thing he has on hand consistently is cigarettes, and thankfully, that little fire spell he's learned is the perfect way to light one up for someone.

Looking for something? Want a companionable smoke? Need a favor? Curious why a 'guest' is down here? Feel free to say hello. ]

around

[ Kiryu isn't the sort to make promises and not keep them, which is why most of his time during these days is spent dealing with the servants, the various people going about their jobs, and he uses every ounce of experience in helping the denizens of Kamurocho to find every potential tasks that someone might need help with and help them out with it. And if he plies those favors and assistance into the kind of supplies he needs for those in the dungeons, so be it: everyone wins. So if you spot him carrying things, doing dishes, watching children, or otherwise doing some menial, random task for someone? Well, he's not going to stop but he will happily chat with you while he's at it.

And if you just happen to be wandering? That means you might find him just about anywhere, the Tower etched on his clothes. If the cloth is thin enough or rucked up in anyway, you might notice another design on his actual skin. ]

Comments

[lone_horse]

[ Kiryu nods and he'll pick up the dice, but as he's rolling them between his fingers, he puts them down again and takes a drag on his cigarette. It'd almost gone out since he'd been neglecting it. Then he'll pick them up, roll them between both hands, and suddenly put them on the ground. ]

Pick.

[sunshinehan]

[Majima took a deep breath, not certain which outcome he truly wanted, and picked.]

Odds.

[He stared at Kiryu levelly even as the other went to reveal the dice. He didn't want to look--he'd rather just wait for Kiryu to announce it.]

[lone_horse]

Evens, then.

[ He lifts his hand and reveals a two and a one. He dips his head to Majima.]

It seems the dice are with you tonight.

[ He doesn’t sound bothered. If anything, he’s trying to be encouraging. ]

[sunshinehan]

[He was surprised. His eye darted to confirm the outcome, quickly looking back up. His face betrayed him as he went through subtle signs of various emotions before settling back down to one: determination.]

My kyoudai... if I- if I'm not dead by your time... did he renounce me? Why didn't he kill me?

[lone_horse]

[ Kiryu looks genuinely surprised, even a little confused. He shakes his head. ]

I can’t speak for him. But from what I heard, you two fought and then you talked and then… it was done.

He never doubted you, Majima-san.

[ He watches him as he finishes. ]

No one who knows you ever would.

[sunshinehan]

[It's so...simple. Majima isn't certain how to feel. It was as if he was waiting for more to the story. But after a moment he knows Kiryu isn't going to elaborate--because there isn't anything more for him to say. It seems strange, feels strange, to think it was that simple. But perhaps that was only because his life for the past couple of years with nothing more than nightmares and hardships made it seem impossibly complicated. It couldn't be that simple when he was so painstakingly close to the beginning, not the end of it all.]

But I... betrayed him...

[He wouldn't cry. Not here, not in front of Kiryu, not in front of his cellmates. But there was a certain note to his voice that was on the verge of cracking.]

I wasn't there... I wasn't there with him! I should have been!

[lone_horse]

[ Kiryu’s heart bleeds for him. Because Majima is his friend. Because Saejima is his friend. Because Nishiki-

Better not to think of Nishiki.

His tone is very gentle. He wishes, suddenly, that Majima knew him. That he trusted him. This seems so cruel as a stranger. ]

Think beyond your guilt, Majima-san. Saejima-san would never believe you would abandon him. Even Yasuko-san never did.

[sunshinehan]

[Beyond his guilt? His guilt was all he had. He hadn't been strong enough. He hadn't tried hard enough. He--

Saejima. Yasuko. How could they not hate him (as much as he hated himself)? How could they believe in him?

Majima closed his eye once again. It was all he could do to stay in control. But he had years of practice now on how to remain calm in the face of hardship. His Lord of the Night persona had never been so useful as it was right now. He wouldn't show his weakness to this man. He wouldn't let his cellmates see him break down. Not more than he already had.

He opened his eye and there was a calmness inside--derived from a lack of anything at all. He stared emotionlessly at Kiryu.]

I'll wait to see them again.

[It's what he resigned himself to years ago. It's what he would continue to do.]

[lone_horse]

[ He wonders, suddenly, if this is what it felt like for Majima. If every time he tried to leave the clan, it felt like this. If he could feel him slipping away.

It probably was, he realizes. Just like he did with Daigo.

Shit.

He swallows down his own hurt and looks back to Majima. ]

You will.

[ Because for this Majima, it will be decades. ]

[sunshinehan]

[Majima nodded. For a moment silence hung in the air, and Majima's eye lowered to stare back at the dice.]

I think I have had enough of this game today. Is there anything you would like in exchange for the favors you have bestowed upon me?

[Formal speech, polite, not at all like his normal pattern outside of work. Easier to slip into than remain himself.]

[lone_horse]

[ For all that Majima's antics have been bothersome over the years (and in one case, actually infuriating), this? He hates this. This is probably the least favorite 'act' he's ever seen from his friend. He'd take zombie!Majima over this. ]

"Kiryu-chan"

[ Because more than anything? That's been grating on him. ]

You've never called me anything else.

[ Well, he's made a few jokes with his given name but he realizes that will take time. This? This is apt to get him twitching soon enough if he doesn't ask. ]

[sunshinehan]

[That caught him by surprise. His face twitched as he restrained his confusion from showing. It was more obvious in his verbal response though.]

Kiryu...chan?

[It wasn't completely out of character for him to call people he liked "chan" instead of "san" or "kun" but--this guy wasn't anywhere near his age. And was quite the benefactor so far. It felt odd not to be more respectful.

A thought occurred to him.]

Ne, when were you born?

[lone_horse]

[ The Majima he knows would be able to read the amusement on his face; he's not sure if this one can. All the same- ]

1968.

[sunshinehan]

[ Oh.

Oh.

He understood a little better now. Logically, it made sense it was just weird thinking about it too much. It wasn't just a difference in year they were taken. Kiryu was actually born after Majima. He should have been--]

Oi! I must be an old man to ya! ...that really puts it into perspective. Still weird to think you're from another year an' all.

All right... Kiryu-chan.

[lone_horse]

[ Again, one of those... not-smile smiles and a faint teasing tone as he says. ]

Not that old.

[ He nods. ]

Thank you, Majima-nii-san.

[sunshinehan]

52 is old. I got decades between here and there!

[He said after some quick math. Whether Kiryu had meant to or not, he'd broken the spell Majima had entered. The teasing helped immensely.

He nodded once.]

Don't thank me. Ya might regret it yet.

[lone_horse]

[ There's that not-smile again. ]

Let me worry about that. Now.

[ He glances over at the guards again. ]

I have some work to do. People to talk to.

[ The guards don't look pleased but it's more 'scared of Kiryu' than anything else. ]

But I'll be back with matches.

[sunshinehan]

[Majima glanced towards the guards when Kiryu did though his look was more skeptical. He appreciated the sentiment but he wasn't certain he was going to appreciate the outcome. Maybe it would work, maybe not. Well, it wasn't as if Majima wasn't used to a little bit of torture in the evening. He'd rough it out either way.

He looked back at Kiryu and nodded.]

Do yer worst.

Guess I'll be seeing ya around, Kiryu-chan.

[lone_horse]

[ He'll keep it mild. Because as before, he's not sure of the situation, of how things work here exactly. But he has to do something.

Most importantly, he'll be back. ]