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

[lowkeycrazy]

[He can't help but supress a little smile, a hint of mischievousness twinkling in his eye. He hadn't meant it to be a "dig", no, but... he may have been intentionally a little vague in his gesture, just to see what sort of reaction it'd get.

A point to him for not getting riled up due to a perceived insult.]

Perhaps I should have been more clear.

[He briefly lets go of the cup to bring his hand up, tapping on his cheek underneath his eye, before he hooks a finger around the handle of the cup again.]

Beat them back? Figuratively, I presume.

[...okay, he might be teasing a bit.]

[justbeingknife]

[ Akechi was fair game: confirmed. ]

Figuratively and literally. They were pretty sore losers. Always ended up sendin' their goons in when they couldn't win fair and square.

[ Majima would leave it to Akechi to wonder about his methods. ]

Now that they're outta business, figure Sotenbori's club scene oughta get back to normal.

[lowkeycrazy]

Did you sue them for damages?

[...siiiiiip.]

[justbeingknife]

Nah, I figured that'd be insult on top of injury with that hospital bill I sent 'em back with.

[ Majima went ahead and poured himself a whiskey.

Sip, indeed. ]

[lowkeycrazy]

For taking your eye, I'd say it'd be well-deserved.

[Little known fact in Reims: Akechi is vindictive as hell.]

[justbeingknife]

Huh?

[ That threw Majima for a bit of a loop before he let out a little puff of air -- not quite laugh. ]

Nah, the Five Stars ain't have nothing to do with my eye. This's what you'd call an old injury.

[lowkeycrazy]

What did you think I was referring to?

[No, Majima, he wasn't actually digging on you.]

So what's the tale behind that?

[justbeingknife]

Ya asked about my cabaret work. So that's what I answered.

I'm kinda surprised at ya, Akechi-kun. You seem like someone who'd understand delicate sensibilities.

[ In this case, Majima went out of his way to use the English version of delicate. He wasn't particularly sensitive about his eye, but he also wasn't going to dish on it to a virtual stranger. Why would he? He hadn't even told his closest friends here.

He'd simply picked the option most likely to ease the conversation along: politely ignoring the insinuated question in favor of answering the one presented on its face. ]

[lowkeycrazy]

[Oh, so he was being deliberately evasive.

He takes a sip of his cup for a moment, then sets it down.]

Alright, I'll stop pressing. I was only curious.

[Curiouser more that Majima seems so sensitive about it. Weren't battle scars often a point of pride? Hm. In either case, he should probably avoid asking about Majima's past, at least for the moment.

As his eyes travel around the bar, they land on the dartboard and light up a bit in realization, before he looks to Majima.]

Do you have darts for that board?

[justbeingknife]

Sure do.

[ He removed a small case from a drawer under the bar, then slid it across the counter. ]

Gonna play solo?

[lowkeycrazy]

[His eyes glitter with delight at the case, and he eagerly moves to open it up, picking up a dart and admiring it.

With his left hand, he signs:]

Are you feeling up to a match?

[justbeingknife]

Hell yeah, I'm up for a match.

[ In fact, the black-feathered set was Majima's. ]

Count-up? 501?

[lowkeycrazy]

Count-up. It's been awhile, so I need to warm up first.

Do take mercy on me and blame it on the alcohol if I'm not quite up to snuff.

[akechi, you've had like, half a tea cup of amazake,]

[justbeingknife]

Alright, then. I'll start off.

[ What would Majima's idea of a casual game look like...

He stepped up, dart in hand, a serious expression on his face. One hit to the outer bullseye, two to the inner -- then he stepped over to retrieve his darts for Akechi's turn. ]

[lowkeycrazy]

125 on the first try. Are you a professional?

[Once Majima is out of the way, he takes his borrowed darts and comes up to the line. The other man might notice that he's throwing with his left hand, and he hits the outer bullseye twice, and, to his dismay, the 19th sector. He gives a soft click of disapproval with his tongue, going to retrieve the darts.]

[justbeingknife]

[ Majima smiled at him. ]

'fraid not. But I did used to play challenges a lot. Bunch of fellas used to pester me to do this drunk.

[ Two outer bullseyes and one inner this time, with a steady hand. ]

You a lefty?

[lowkeycrazy]

Indeed. Unfortunate, isn't it?

[He tosses them again. Three to the outer bullseye.]

Rather like putting salt in the wound, when I was already an orphan to begin with.

[As if people didn't have enough reason to discriminate against him, he was born left-handed as well. Bad luck. A curse.

Heh, he supposes it's not wrong.]

[justbeingknife]

They make ya write with your right?

[ Though Majima continued to talk casually in between rounds, his next round saw three inner bullseyes, which he followed up with a smile that might as well have been a challenge. ]

I know a couple dudes like that. Always seemed pretty pointless to me; they ended up with shit handwriting.