abraxaslogs | Chapter 2 | Just Enough Rope

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Chapter 2 | Just Enough Rope | [backdated]

WHO: Kiryu and you, Kiryu and Coraline, Kiryu and Majima
WHAT: finding a certain tape recorder and frustrations
WHERE: Room 7, around the castle, dungeons
WHEN: before the trip to the singularity
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

[closed to Coraline]

Kiryu had seen the tape recorder before, which is why when he spots it after Jon's disappearance, he goes to collect it in hopes of ensuring it isn't taken or broken by anyone else in the room. He goes to put it away when his fingers close on the play button and start to play the interaction. Once he identifies the voices on it, he'll walk over to his bed to listen to the rest, turning the volume down a little so as not to disturb anyone else. He resolves to discuss the issue with Coraline and the next time that he sees her in the room (without anyone else there), he beckons her over and pulls the tape recorder (thankfully still there) from beneath his bed and a pile of clothes.

"...there's something I think you need to hear as well."

[closed to Majima]

Majima will probably be surprised, not to see Kiryu, but to the way the man bows his head once he reaches the bars. He's come with his usual extra food and another pack of matches and he'll do his usual check over of the other man before he speaks.

"They won't release you. I'm sorry."

[closed to Jon]

He'd thought that they might not allow him to see the other man, considering how intensely he'd advocated for saving his life, for letting him go, but after enough polite prodding, they let him see Jon, and he offers him the same low bow and apologetic look that he'd given Majima, though with considerably more concern.

"A part of me wishes you'd told me what you were going to do. Another is glad you didn't, since at least one of us is outside of the bars." More quietly, he adds. "I found your gift, however.

[wildcard]

If you're looking for him after the festival/gathering quest, you'll find him where you'd normally find him: out and about, helping servants, and doing the best he can to bring supplies to those in the dungeon. If he looks more surly than he usually does, well, that might just have to do with the fact that his polite (very polite!) attempts at freeing two of his friends hadn't exactly gone well and he's losing patience with the 'smart' approach, getting close to doing something stupid.

But there are people relying on him, so he's... trying. Trying really hard.

Feel free to say hello, though. He's probably not annoyed at you.

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Coraline's got no issue with approaching the yakuza when he beckons her, and vaults to crouch at the end of his bed with a brief "What's up?"

Before he pulls out that bloody tape recorder, and her face sours somewhat.

"Jon said he got information from Ambrose, I didn't know he managed to record it," she says, and something sounds almost wary about that. Like he'd kept it from her on purpose, almost.

He might have, but the fact of the matter is that Coraline is one of them, one of the off worlders, and he has little doubt of her capability. She'd been thought of as an enemy, meaning that she had the capability to effect change... albeit change they hadn't wanted. She's the only other person he knows who seems to be as concerned about Jon the same way he was.

She should know.

He'll hold the tape player out.

"If you don't want to hear, you don't have to. But I thought it was only fair to show you."

A breath out.

"Have you spoken to him?"

She'll take it, of course. She wants to know for herself before anything comes to a head from it. And while Jon is the closest she has to actually trusting someone - by hook or by crook, with his Eye bullshit - she'd still like to hear the conversation for herself.

"Yeah. I noticed he didn't come back, so I went to check. There's only two places he could be, really, so." She'd rather not think about the other, in some kind of shallow grave.

Her grip on the plastic is so tight it creaks, but she looks up at Kiryu with a remarkably even expression, schooled back in place. "Have you?"

He shakes his head.

“Once I realized what happened, I went to speak to our hosts. I thought to argue for his life. I have been…” oh he’s not pleased about this, “politely refused.”

He breathes out with a huff like smoke could come out of his nostrils.

“They were similarly unwilling to release Majima.”

Coraline doesn't seem shocked, but she hugs the tape recorder to her chest anyway.

"I've seen people get killed for way less, so. Given that Jon actually did something to the fucking high wizard, I doubt he's getting off easy."

She's more upset about Majima, truth be told. "Why not Majima? He didn't do anything."

“I don’t know. Though… given what’s on that tape, I have my suspicions.”

Majima Goro, in his day, is a formidable force. He has no doubt that the younger version is any less so. When it comes to being Yakuza, Majima is much better at the majority of the game than he is. He? Has one real talent, as far as he’s concerned. ~~Not that he’s entirely right about that.~~

“I’m not sure what we can do. As things are…” He curses in Japanese, which comes out as ‘shit’ no doubt, but he was trying to save her ears a little. It seems like he can’t save anything right now.

“We can’t let him die. I won’t.”

But he doesn’t want to just send two heads to the chopping block; that won’t help anyone.

It's sweet that he thinks she shouldn't need to hear swearing when her own mouth is extremely filthy half the time.

"Powers don't work in the dungeon, though, even if you're not sealed," she points out. "I'm not sure there's an easy way to just break them out. Maybe we could coerce the guards, but I don't know any spells for that yet." Though that makes her wonder if there's any she could learn here. Learn to pull some Fairest bullshit on the locals.

He's noticed that, of course. But it's not about what she does, it's about what he does. Her choice of language doesn't excuse him being rude.

"There are ways to do something like that that don't involve powers. There's certainly ways to coerce the guards that don't."

She's not blind. The man's made of muscle and the way he moves, she can probably tell he knows his way around a fight. He doesn't need extra powers to take out the guards. They'd be nice, but not necessary. It's getting the doors open. And getting away after that.

She manages to hold her tongue long enough not to say some biting remark like 'at least not using powers is an option for you'. She doesn't hold back, though, from commenting, "Well I'm sure a few of the guy guards would enjoy one of those."

But she rests the recorder in her lap again, drumming her fingers along the hinged back. "So then it's just a matter of getting keys. Which some of the guards should have already for taking people to the yard and stuff. Probably they'll have a universal key for the cells." And if they don't, she'll be bringing Jon's key with her just in case. Sorry, pal. "Cuffs won't be a problem, we weren't put in them unless we were being taken to or from somewhere, so mostly it's just. The actual guards."

They're working together. What he can do is at her disposal.

“And getting away. I’m sure they have some means of tracking us.”

Of that, he's certain. Or why would they have out the prisoners in the position to run away in the ice caverns?

She fiddles with the recorder briefly, making sure it's fully rewound before she presses play. She can listen to things properly while she holds a conversation; it's a learned skill.

It takes her by surprise when it's her own voice first - "Ambrose is a fucking asshole," it says, and she snorts in sheer surprise - but her smile's gone again by the time the dead air clears and Ambrose's voice plays next. (Though she frowns curiously when the crackle of the tape gets worse whenever Jon talks.)

"...if that was true, Ambrose would've known that Jon was coming. Or maybe it's something they have to actively do." The thought of the ice caves makes her shrug. "Maybe they just didn't care if people got killed during it. If Ambrose can just keep summoning us we're super expendable, what does it matter if we die here?"

Edited 2021-07-21 06:49 (UTC)

"I would think it would be more active," he says, because he can't imagine trying to keep track of nearly fifty people all the time, with the same level of scrutiny as if they were walking behind them. "But I don't think we're quite as expendable as that. If that was the case, they would have killed those who were put in the dungeons to see if they could pull something 'better' the next time."

None of which is a plan to get Jon out by itself. But they're walking through the pieces. Kiryu needs to go slow because it's just not his talent.

"If we weren't expendable, you guys wouldn't have all gone to those caves. Probably everyone would've been helping at the festival. So I guess it's somewhere in the middle." She grimaces a little at the notion. "Too valuable to just slaughter like lambs, not valuable enough to need to be kept fully intact."

Coraline isn't used to laying out plans in full, or even in partial capacity. She always let her impulses lead her where they may (and steadfastly refused to acknowledge any as mistakes).

"So they'll probably only care about us getting Jon and Majima out for the part where we're being rude guests. But I think freeing someone who tried to kill the high mage," she drawls derogatively, "Won't get off lightly either."

"Yes," he agrees with her at the first; clearly, they weren't going to be precious with them, but they could hardly be of any use if they weren't useful for anything.

"Honestly, I usually rely on others to help figure out something like this," because she might as well be aware of what she's dealing with, "but hopefully we can make up for that with care and observation. It won't do any good to add ourselves to the chopping block."

Majima was surprised by the unprecedented bow in his direction, and readily curious concerning it. As soon as Kiryu spoke he understood though. People had been disappearing from the prison one by one, here and there, and Majima was aware that it seemed to entail an honored guest advocating for a prisoner to be released. That was how Coraline had gotten out. Lucky girl. Majima hoped she was doing well outside.

So Kiryu had tried to advocate for Majima's release. But it sounded like the powers on high had other plans for him. Why oh why was he not surprised.

Majima reached out to take the gifts from Kiryu. Acting like he was unperturbed by the situation came naturally. "Don't apologize for tryin'. Ain't yer fault this place is run by assholes. I'm not surprised anyway."

“Coraline sends her regards,” he says, instead of apologizing further, because Majima is right. There’s nothing he can do. And showing his anger here will just make Majima feel worse. It won’t help. He hates that too.

“I… have more information as to why you’re here. Why we’re here.” He reaches in and pull out a piece of paper with a good portion of what he’d heard on the tape recorder on it. As soon as Majima’s taken the paper, he’ll turn his hand and start a flame there; the message is obvious enough.

Majima smiled softly at the regards. "Tell her to stay outta trouble."

He sobered as he took the paper from Kiryu. As he read over the written retelling of the encounter, he absently lit up a cigarette and took a drag. When he finished his eye flicked to the licking flame still held in Kiryu's hand and stared at it unblinking for a moment, lost in thought. When he moved again he took the hint and burnt the paper. It wasn't needed any more.

"...Like I said, I'm not surprised."

Though perhaps that only referred to the general idea of why things were the way they were, or more specifically why he was here. He may have been vaguely curious about the Singularity and its power. That was new. That brought along more questions as to what it was, what it did to scare this high mage, or what it was actually capable of. What it would do to them, those brought here against their will, its supposed 'chosen'. So many goddamn questions all over again. It was infuriating.

Nothing in the paper had been surprising, except perhaps for the scope of the problem and the focus on the Singularity. But he's glad, at least, that Majima knows it now. Mostly just because he hated thinking he knew more than him (that is a weird idea in his head) but also just because he knows him to be craftier. The information is better for him to have, and despite some of the reasons why he perhaps shouldn't, he trusts it with Majima as securely as if it was in his own head.

"I had similar luck in asking for Jon to be given amnesty."

Majima nodded then took another hit from the cigarette. His eye turned its attention to the older man. His expression was hard to read but the seriousness conveyed its own message.

"That sounds about right. No way he didn't piss off the guy for that stunt."

Yes, he can see it. And he knows what it means; Majima keeping his voice low and deep is a sign that he'd better get his shit together. He doesn't expect it to be any different for the young version.

"I thought to appeal to the strangeness of our situation, to the difficulties some have had in adjusting to this world. They... were not sympathetic."

They seemed to appreciate that he wasn't taking more extreme measures, but they weren't any more apt to budge.

"They've been saying that they'll have more information soon. I'll be curious what they have to say, considering."

He gestures to the ash of the note.

Majima grunted in response to the first. He just was not surprised by any of this story. It was a pity the people here weren't more sympathetic but considering what they did in the first place, bringing people here and locking half of them up from the start without explanation for either group, it wasn't unexpected that they have no sympathy for an attack on one of them. A reasonable person would perhaps take it under consideration. But these people weren't really reasonable in the first place.

It was irritating. Majima's muscles tensed and he fidgeted slightly.

"Sure, I'd like to hear what they've got to say for themselves. Doubt it'll be anything worth hearin' though. Not to say it ain't interesting to receive something from them." He said with particular emphasis. It was less that it wasn't worth hearing and more that it probably wouldn't be more than they'd already found out. Or that it wouldn't be skewed in their favor somehow. Or that it would help out anyone here.

He wanted to hear it, too. He just didn't have any high hopes from where it was coming from.

He keeps his voice down because he doesn't want to be overheard, doesn't believe that he should share information shared in confidence with him with anyone but his and Jon's closest allies, but he can't deal with any of this without being earnest with... well, Majima at least.

"The mention of other worlds, of our world, that concerns me. We both have precious people back where we came from that we would do anything to protect. Whatever I would do to help you, or... him."

He glances at Majima, because his gut tells him that Majima would never endanger those he cares about, Saejima and Yasuko and the others, and one day, he might include those that Kiryu cares for in that number. But he can't assume here.

Majima stilled at Kiryu's words. There was a seriousness there he couldn't deny. And a concern that he wouldn't belittle.

"...Seems to me that nobody really knows the truth. Everyone's got their own opinion on the matter. We don't really know if there's any danger to other worlds or not. Ambrose thinks it's the end of the universe if he doesn't control this Singularity thing. But the other countries don't agree."

He paused. It was a delicate matter. Of course he had people to protect back home. And if anyone deserved to know the truth in his heart it was probably this fellow here who did so much for him. But hiding himself deep within and being contrary on the outside was just part of his nature. He couldn't help it anymore.

"...not saying we don't need to be cautious. Or that we don't got anything to worry about. But we have no reason to trust what Ambrose or anyone else from this country tells us. We need more information. Information we gather on our own. Before we make any moves on this thing. Before we get wrapped up too deep in all the bullshit of this world."

"This is also a threat we didn't know existed until we were brought here," is the point he is going to raise, has to raise. It's not that he wants to trust Ambrose on the matter of this, but he's also not foolish enough to ignore the very idea because he doesn't like the messenger.

"We do need information. But the very fact that he could bring us here speaks to a connection between worlds. I've never heard of anything like this. I doubt you have either."

He breathes in and out and rubs at the back of his neck with one hand, clearly irritated.

"Which means we don't even know what to look for. And no one who would teach us would do so without an agenda. That is another issue."

"We don't even know if there actually is a threat, is what I'm sayin'," Majima countered with a sharp glint to his eye. He didn't care for the message Kiryu was trying to make. He understood they needed to find that out but he severely hated Ambrose and all he stood for.

He took a deep breath and huffed it out in a hurry. "Fine. I don't know anything 'bout all this fantasy bullshit either. And maybe there's a damn connection between the worlds, or maybe that's just how magic works. Or maybe--" He stopped. Let Kiryu finish. Turned his gaze away in frustration.

A thought occurred to him and it felt like turning down a familiar path. Reluctantly, he resigned himself to it.

"Ain't it always. Don't worry about that. You just worry about figuring out what you can, I'll worry about the rest."

It was a gamble, telling the older man what to do, how to play the game. But one he was willing to try.

Kiryu? Nods to the instructions. He's not someone who takes well to orders but he can agree with companions and allies on how to proceed. Majima makes valid points, and he doesn't actually disagree with any of them.

They don't know there is a threat. But he, for one, hadn't even thought there could be before the idea was introduced. He doesn't like the idea of a connection between worlds because connections mean that others might be taken and there are quite a few people he doesn't want to see here. Doesn't want to be in danger.

He's overly troubled because his mind is on the children he left behind. He knows Majima has his own precious people back at home, but at least those are adults, people who wouldn't be defenseless (as he can't think of even Yasuko that way). His head may be clearer.

"You're right. I'm... concerned. And it won't help anyone if I do something reckless. I'll do what I can to figure out the truth of things and I'll tell you what I know when I know more."

Majima let out a breath he hadn't been aware he was holding as he waited for Kiryu's response. The simple nod was enough. Kiryu was agreeing--though he didn't know to the extent of what he was agreeing to perhaps. Because what Majima didn't say aloud was to what degree he would go to uphold the promise he just made with or without Kiryu's actual comprehension of it.

If Majima had to sacrifice himself to get the answers that Kiryu wanted out of this damn place then Majima would do it to find out. Easier said than done from behind these bars but the one-eyed man didn't plan on being behind them forever. Once he was out he would start the investigation in earnest. And find the information to how this all worked, what link if any there truly was, and if there was a way to either reserve it or shut it down permanently. Anything that would ease Kiryu's mind to know, to have a possibility of protecting those back in his (their?) world.

Why did he make such a promise on a sudden whim? That was a harder question to pin down. Perhaps he just felt like he owed the man that much. Maybe he was just used to making the hard sacrifices in life for another already. What was one more.

"Sounds good." The irony wasn't lost on Majima who already was planning on being reckless enough with his own life once he was out of here. But, he'd won. For now. Kiryu was probably safe for the moment. "Can't have you ending up in here with me. Gotta keep ya out there so I have a steady supply of cigarettes."

It was a joke to lighten the mood. Was he getting better at them? Absolutely not. Was he going to keep making them anyway? You better believe it.

The returning expression isn't a smile, because Kiryu doesn't really smile, but it's the closest thing he's got for anyone over five years old. He looks amused, genuinely fond, and glad to hear Majima making jokes even if they're a little dark.

A part of him thinks he should believe it to some degree, but in his heart he doesn't. He has faith in Majima, not just the man but in their connection to one another. They might not share history or experiences yet (or ever, back in their world) that he remembers, but he can't imagine Majima being there and not being his friend, and an ally.

"The only use I'd have down here is a doorstop. And it doesn't seem like the doors open too often down here."

"Hey, don't underestimate the good use of a doorstop. You may get to make that happen sometime anyway," Majima said. And if it wasn't entirely clear he was making the play on words of stopping up a door instead of holding one open, which might be more clear with his next words. "We might need one if'n we ever have to break out of here the hard way. But don't go thinkin' about makin' that kinda sacrifice without other attempts first. Can't have you hoggin' all that glory either."

Or, what he may have actually been thinking, don't go making sacrifices where I won't get to see you again. Majima was selfish enough to admit to himself, at least, that he didn't want to be alone in this world. He didn't know if Kiryu would read into that, kinda hoped the guy wouldn't, but that's what he probably meant. He was just a coward deep down after all.

The look on his face should make a couple of things clear to Majima: he's been thinking about very little else, for one. For another? He's been doing his damnable best to remember that if he gets caught, that's just one more resource that the people down here won't have. And that? Won't help anyone.

"I'll keep it under advisement."

But, his eyebrows add with a quick jump, when and if Majima has a plan? He's all in.

"I assumed I wouldn't get away with it," he says frankly, leaning against the bars. "I wasn't about to involve anyone else."

The last comment gets just a quiet nod - he's not certain Ambrose knows about the recording, or what he'd do about it if he did.

And Kiryu isn’t the sort to say anything further about it. Instead, he’ll go back to the, er, problem at hand.

“…that’s not the best plan, the one where you’re going to get caught.”

But it’s very mild, not even chiding, just… concerned, more than anything.

“I’ve asked them to pardon you. Pointed out the position they put us in. I have been… politely told to go to hell.”

"I did look for an option that wasn't so direct." Jon sums that thought up with a shrug, arms crossed across his chest, looking up at Kiryu, with a faint, almost surprised smile.

"Thanks for the attempt. But considering what Ambrose said about my being here, I'm sure I would have wound up here eventually."

"Yes, I heard that," and there's a slight, sympathetic wince that one might pick up if they are particularly observant.

"Are there others who... might be concerned about you?"

Other people he might want to try and work with to see if they can get Jon out of here? He's been a little lost in the weeds, as it were. He hasn't made as many connections outside of the dungeon as he has in and even then, things have been relatively utilitarian. He's not much of a talker.

"Coraline." He knows that's not what Kiryu meant, but she's where his concern lies. "She had some words for me, but if you could try to keep her upstairs..."

He nods, because well... that's who he'd been thinking of. Though perhaps not in the way Jon is intending.

"I'll look out for her."

No promises. There isn't enough in his power for promises. And, well, he already knows enough about her that he knows she has her own mind.

"Anyone else?"

He thinks back on his mental list of who should hear the tape.

"Stephen Strange, Phoenix Wright, Zelda Schiff - I talked to all of them about the reasons we're here, they might be able to do something with what I got."

He nods. He can certainly do that. It’s just a matter of finding those people.

“I’ll see what I can do.”

He may also see if Estinien wanted to be involved, he and his friend both.

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Chapter 2 | Just Enough Rope | [backdated]

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