Tried to nurse it behind my mom’s back. [Open]

[justbeingknife]

Featuring: Majima (justbeingknife) and you!
What's happening: Finding old gyms, moving house, let's get drunk on the minibar
Day/s: Throughout March
Content warning: Salty language, drinking, Majima being himself

I feel alive for the first time

[ Ever since they'd found those old boxes of footage, Majima had been wandering further and further out in his explorations, both to get a better handle on the town and because he wasn't so sure their last hit had simply been dumb luck. Sure, coincidences happened, but --

There was a tall building with a white stone facade up ahead, its entrance slightly ajar. Oiling the hinges and pushing the door open revealed a wood-floored room illuminated only by a row of high windows along the back side. PISCINE BOULLINGRIN, read the sign.

It, like its neighbors, looked long-abandoned. But the row of mirrors inside and the markings along the floor suggested that the first room had once been some kind of studio.

ooc: Feel free to stop by and have Majima ask if your character would like to explore the abandoned gym, or find him a little later on rummaging through equipment closets, searching the rooms, or starting some cleanup! This is a general placeholder for any gym-related shenanigans. ]

Each sip hits my lips like a landmine

Uh... thanks.

[ signed Majima as a native carried a bar stool through the doorway and into the house. The man waved enthusiastically at him before leaving once more -- possibly to bump into anyone standing outside.

Should anyone drop by, they'd find that the walk-in basement of Majima's new house was currently filled with random junk Majima hadn't asked for (but appreciated, don't get him wrong): a pair of tonfa, shoes, a 50-pound bag of sand, a dart board... and then there were the boxes of bottled alcohol. These were clustered around the dark wood counter of the mini bar, which to the old owner's credit was beautifully appointed.

Majima shrugged, and plucked the first of the bottles out of its carrying crate -- single malt Scotch, amber in the afternoon light. ]

Guess I'm gonna need a sign.

On the 7th day, it was said God rest/But on the 8th day he made the DVX

[ Later on in the month, with everything squared away, Majima could be found at odd hours behind the bar, cleaning glasses or reading about bartending technique.

Someone who knew him well might think he looked a little more tired than usual, but any new faces? They'd get a smile and a bow from the man at the counter. ]

What'll it be?

Wildcard

[ U know what to do. Additional prompts to follow, maybe. Feel free to hit me up on Tetradecimal or tetra | majima #2434 on discord ]

Comments

landmine

[deadboywalking]

[It's like this kid has a sixth sense when something artistic-ish is needed, because look who is it, poking his head around the corner curiously.]

we didn't get one of these! [He still texts most of the time, having not really picked up a ton of sign language yet. He understands it (thank you Mike), but he's not that good at it yet.]

[justbeingknife]

Hey, Will.

[ Will didn't get a 'you' or 'kid' -- which might seem like a small distinction but was actually a fairly significant one for Majima, who was looking up from where he'd knelt to start sorting through bottles.

Just the boy he was thinking of, actually. ]

Didn't get one of what?

[deadboywalking]

[Will blinks a couple times, curious, then crouches down to gravely examine the bottles. He has...no idea what most of these are. His mom doesn't really drink a lot, and there isn't alcohol in the house. His dad was a big drinker, but he always went out to the pub to get sloshed.

Still, he likes the labels on some of them. There's one shaped like a skull!]

a basement. mike and i have a house now. [You know, like most 13-year-olds do.]

[justbeingknife]

Yeah? Must be somethin' going on. Bunch of people showed up earlier today and said I could live here. All this stuff was here already, too, so I guess they musta been plannin' it for a while.

[ Maybe they thought it might help take their minds off the recent... news? ]

What's your house like? Got any flowers up front?

[ Did Will like flowers....... it seemed like he might... ]

[deadboywalking]

maybe they want us to be more comfortable here? are you all by yourself, though?

[That sounds lonely, Majima. Will reaches out to pick up a sake bottle, because it has a fish on it.]

it's nice. lot of windows and stuff. and flowers and things. [Of course Will likes flowers, Majima, what do you take him for?]

[justbeingknife]

I'm used to it.

[ In other words, yes, what about it. Believe him, this is an improvement over his last solo living situation. ]

I'll drop by sometime, if ya tell me where you're situated. By the way, you ever painted a sign before?

[deadboywalking]

[Will looks suspicious at you, Majima. Living alone sounds so sad and lonesome. You're gonna get a LOT of visitors, y'know.]

yeah, for sure. we're close to the old house. what kinda sign?

[justbeingknife]

[ what no he's not sad!!!! get outta here he doesn't even have feelings, it's fine

Majima attempted to look as non-suspicious as possible, just chatting about stuff, don't worry...... ]

A store sign for this place. There's no way I can drink all this by myself, so I figured I'd offer up drinks part-time.

You know. Maybe it'll help people relax.

[deadboywalking]

[He can see right through you, Majima, he knows you have a heart of squishy softness!!! But he'll help protect your image, okay.]

wait, you want...me to paint it? really??

[justbeingknife]

[ look it wasn't like that ok!!

He flashed Will a quick grin. ]

'Course. I've seen your work, and I can't think of anyone better to ask.

If ya got time between those classes you're teachin', that is.

[deadboywalking]

[Will ducks his head, cheeks turning bright red with pleased, embarrassed delight.]

uh-huh. i got time. what do you want the sign to look like?

[justbeingknife]

Hmm... dunno, exactly, but I know what I want it to say. 'Church in the Wild'.

Maybe kinda like the signs in them old Westerns. You ever watch any of them?

[ not that Majima was a huge film buff, but... ]

[deadboywalking]

[Will sits back on his heels, looking thoughtful, then nodding.]

i kinda know what you mean. the big loopy golden letters. my friend's dad likes those movies.

[justbeingknife]

Yeah, somethin' like that. But hey, if ya get inspired, do what your gut tells ya and I won't complain.

You interested in those labels?

[deadboywalking]

i can do a coupla them and you can pick which one's the best?

yeah, they're really cool. [Beer bottle labels are always brown and boring. These ones have tigers and cool trees and stuff on them.]

[justbeingknife]

Huh? Really? Sure, if you don't mind. Feel like

[ He smiled at Will's open interest. ]

I bet they'd be great to learn off of for your drawings, too. I need 'em for now, but once the bottles're empty, I can save ya the labels.

[deadboywalking]

yeah, for sure. no problem. [Will is trying to appear casual, but he's already plotting out this sign, Majima, he is so excited.

And he perks up at this, nodding emphatically.] yeah, that'd be awesome! i wanna try and draw this gross...dead worm thing.

[justbeingknife]

In the mezcal?

[ Will's enthusiasm was kind of infectious; he didn't even care about worms!! ]

Yeah, that's some kinda tradition. Don't know how it started, but I bet it was a marketing gimmick.

[ He ducked behind the bar, and came up with a slender, dark-brown bottle. ]

You ever tried one of these?

[deadboywalking]

yeah! it's got a scorpion on it, look. [Will is going to end up not giving back any of your liquor, Majima, and he's going to get in trouble for stealing, oops.

Have a huffy, indignant look that melts quickly into a grin.] yeah, of course. everyone has.

[justbeingknife]

Really? Damn. I guess that makes sense, though -- Mexican cola's probably easier to get in the States than it is in Japan.

[ He held it out to Will. ]

You want it anyway? It's cold.

[deadboywalking]

[Now Will looks confused, taking the soda curiously. It looks like a regular Coke to him...]

what makes it mexican?

[justbeingknife]

It's got cane sugar instead of that corn syrup stuff.

Tastes different.

[ He slid it across the counter for Will, then produced a bottle opener. ]

Ever used one of these? Just put this end under the cap and twist up.

[deadboywalking]

[Sugar is Will's favorite flavor, Majima, how'd you know? He takes the bottle opener and carefully sticks it under the cap. It takes him a couple tries, but he finally pops off the lid, looking surprised and delighted at himself -- and, of course, immediately looking to Majima for approval.]

[justbeingknife]

[ He gave Will a thumbs up and a grin. GOOD JOB, SMALL ART SON. ]

So? What's the verdict?

[deadboywalking]

[Will hesitates a moment, then takes a slow sip.

And then another.

And then a much bigger sip, shooting Majima a thumbs up in return. Sugar!!]