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Yeah.
[ Sorry, Marco, he had to bring snacks, it was like a rule. Hopefully, the merman could simply reuse them when and if someone else came over and wanted something to eat.
Either way, he'd show up with a small bag of biscuity treats, knocking at the door. ]
Hello? Not in the middle of something, I hope.
[ Sorry, Marco, he had to bring snacks, it was like a rule. Hopefully, the merman could simply reuse them when and if someone else came over and wanted something to eat.
Either way, he'd show up with a small bag of biscuity treats, knocking at the door. ]
Hello? Not in the middle of something, I hope.
[Marco answered the door right away, so either he wasn't in the middle of something or he made sure to stop whatever he was doing just in time. The expression on his face didn't reveal anything either way.
... Well, it did reveal a certain sense of unease, but that wasn't out of the ordinary for him.]
Not at all, not at all. Come in.
... Well, it did reveal a certain sense of unease, but that wasn't out of the ordinary for him.]
Not at all, not at all. Come in.
[ And then there was a faint smile from Majima, almost reflexive, at the sight of the man. ]
Thanks. Uh, wasn't plannin' to be in your hair for too long. Can I put these somewhere? [ He asked, holding up the box. They smelled nice, if anything else, a kind of buttery shortbread treat that came with sugar sprinkled on top. ]
And how've ya been? [ He wasn't... avoiding the point of being here, ok. The werewolf was just warming up to things. ]
Thanks. Uh, wasn't plannin' to be in your hair for too long. Can I put these somewhere? [ He asked, holding up the box. They smelled nice, if anything else, a kind of buttery shortbread treat that came with sugar sprinkled on top. ]
And how've ya been? [ He wasn't... avoiding the point of being here, ok. The werewolf was just warming up to things. ]
Edited 2020-01-02 22:44 (UTC)
Oh, please do. Here, the kitchen is this way. [And that's where Marco led him, after closing the door.]
I'm okay, thank you. [A perfectly neutral statement. A sincere one, too. Considering some of the people he ran into at that Christmas party, things could have gone far worse than they did in the end. And nothing too bad had happened outside of it, either, so... December? A pretty alright month. He couldn't complain.
The way Majima approached him made him wonder if other people hadn't been quite so lucky, though. It was with some polite concern that he asked:]
... What about you?
I'm okay, thank you. [A perfectly neutral statement. A sincere one, too. Considering some of the people he ran into at that Christmas party, things could have gone far worse than they did in the end. And nothing too bad had happened outside of it, either, so... December? A pretty alright month. He couldn't complain.
The way Majima approached him made him wonder if other people hadn't been quite so lucky, though. It was with some polite concern that he asked:]
... What about you?
Good and bad. Find a bunch of poaching victims, one of them's your main squeeze... y'know.
[ Ryslig. Majima set down the refreshments, and then something odd happened -- he broke into a big, stupid grin. ]
I got kinda sort of engaged?
[ Once he'd set down the cookies, Marco might be able to catch a glimpse of the insides of his gloves, which were hand-knit with some seriously adorable paw pads on the palms. Big, check. Dumb, check. ]
Oh, uh. But that ain't what I was -- I'm a criminal.
[ What a mess, double check. ]
[ Ryslig. Majima set down the refreshments, and then something odd happened -- he broke into a big, stupid grin. ]
I got kinda sort of engaged?
[ Once he'd set down the cookies, Marco might be able to catch a glimpse of the insides of his gloves, which were hand-knit with some seriously adorable paw pads on the palms. Big, check. Dumb, check. ]
Oh, uh. But that ain't what I was -- I'm a criminal.
[ What a mess, double check. ]
[Oh! Marco opened his mouth to congratulate Majima, but before he could get that out, the man kept talking.
Oh.
At least Marco didn't seem shocked. Stunned, yes, enough that it took him a few moments to put some words back together. But he didn't look like he was about to kick Majima out, at least.]
What... kind of criminal?
[Because Majma had always seemed like a decent man, but lord knew Marco had been wrong before.]
Oh.
At least Marco didn't seem shocked. Stunned, yes, enough that it took him a few moments to put some words back together. But he didn't look like he was about to kick Majima out, at least.]
What... kind of criminal?
[Because Majma had always seemed like a decent man, but lord knew Marco had been wrong before.]
A mobster. Yakuza.
[ He said this simply, like he was used to people knowing what the word meant and what its implications were. ]
They got those back where you're from, right?
[ Generally, they did -- but of course, he was a long way from Tokyo now. If he had to clear up some misconceptions about Tommy guns or yubitsume, Majima supposed he could do that. ]</small
[ He said this simply, like he was used to people knowing what the word meant and what its implications were. ]
They got those back where you're from, right?
[ Generally, they did -- but of course, he was a long way from Tokyo now. If he had to clear up some misconceptions about Tommy guns or yubitsume, Majima supposed he could do that. ]</small
[The look on Marco's face answered the question quite swiftly: yes, he knew what the Yakuza was.
Again, he struggled to find words for a few seconds. Majima really didn't seem like...
...
Okay, no, that was naive of him to even think. Of course Majima looked like the type. But he didn't act like it... Did he? Hadn't he mentioned helping people around his hometown before? Keeping the peace?... Wasn't that exactly what the Yakuza did?]
Sorry-- Sorry, uh, I... I don't really... [He raised a hand, as if to steady himself.] Don't get me wrong, I'm not-- not judging. [Not as hard as he's judged some people before, anyway.] I-I mean, I'm no saint myself.
Again, he struggled to find words for a few seconds. Majima really didn't seem like...
...
Okay, no, that was naive of him to even think. Of course Majima looked like the type. But he didn't act like it... Did he? Hadn't he mentioned helping people around his hometown before? Keeping the peace?... Wasn't that exactly what the Yakuza did?]
Sorry-- Sorry, uh, I... I don't really... [He raised a hand, as if to steady himself.] Don't get me wrong, I'm not-- not judging. [Not as hard as he's judged some people before, anyway.] I-I mean, I'm no saint myself.
Yeah, well. Actually, I used to be one, and I was tryin' to get back in. It's been four years by now.
[ Perhaps because he was the one who'd been the gangster, Majima didn't seem all that fazed by the conversation thus far. This was a man, after all, for whom violence was a perfectly valid answer to public confrontation. ]
I'm not saying this to try and scare ya or anythin'. It's just part of who I was. Kamurocho, where I lived, it was the headquarters of the Tojo clan. Biggest yakuza family in Japan.
My brother, he was in it with me.
[ Perhaps because he was the one who'd been the gangster, Majima didn't seem all that fazed by the conversation thus far. This was a man, after all, for whom violence was a perfectly valid answer to public confrontation. ]
I'm not saying this to try and scare ya or anythin'. It's just part of who I was. Kamurocho, where I lived, it was the headquarters of the Tojo clan. Biggest yakuza family in Japan.
My brother, he was in it with me.
Your brother?
[If Marco sounded a little out of breath, that was because he was just... trying to take this all in. He'd never heard of Kamurocho, and he certainly didn't know enough about the yakuza to understand what Majima meant by "brother", let alone to be aware of the Tojo clan.]
[If Marco sounded a little out of breath, that was because he was just... trying to take this all in. He'd never heard of Kamurocho, and he certainly didn't know enough about the yakuza to understand what Majima meant by "brother", let alone to be aware of the Tojo clan.]
My sworn brother. Saejima. It's just like it sounds.
[ Majima sort of sensed that Marco was needing a minute, so he'd try and take a pause here to let it sink in a little, although probably his answers only inspired more questions. ]
Ya sure you're okay?
[ Majima sort of sensed that Marco was needing a minute, so he'd try and take a pause here to let it sink in a little, although probably his answers only inspired more questions. ]
Ya sure you're okay?
That's right. After the way our last job turned out, he ended up in prison, and I ended up... it's a long story. But I thought I could make up for that if I could just get back in the business.
[ He had to, according to whatever internal, ridiculous set of morals Majima had rolling around in his yakuzabrain. ]
Get high enough up, and when he got out of the joint, I could make sure he had a place there. If he wanted. Something to show for the years he served.
Or be there if he wanted to kill me.
[ Because that was an option, too. ]
[ He had to, according to whatever internal, ridiculous set of morals Majima had rolling around in his yakuzabrain. ]
Get high enough up, and when he got out of the joint, I could make sure he had a place there. If he wanted. Something to show for the years he served.
Or be there if he wanted to kill me.
[ Because that was an option, too. ]
Sorta, yeah.
But maybe it's more accurate to say that's how it used to work. I've been called a dinosaur more than once.
[ But it was the yakuza that Majima had fallen in love with. The one that no longer existed, or maybe had never truly existed except in wistful recollection. ]
These days, a lot of mobsters only care about money and flashy shit.
But maybe it's more accurate to say that's how it used to work. I've been called a dinosaur more than once.
[ But it was the yakuza that Majima had fallen in love with. The one that no longer existed, or maybe had never truly existed except in wistful recollection. ]
These days, a lot of mobsters only care about money and flashy shit.
Edited 2020-01-10 03:14 (UTC)
[ Majima nodded in turn, a serious look on his face. ]
That's right. Even if I get back, I won't be able to see him for a long while. He'll get out, though, eventually. He's that kinda guy.
[ The faith with which Majima said this was... probably not backed up by any real accounting for how the criminal justice system in Japan worked. But it was present, all the same. ]
Anyway, that's where I'm coming from. Didn't mean to come in hot.
[ And though he didn't really have a satisfactory answer for Marco's question, 'did something bring this on', perhaps it could be implicit in his manner: I trust you. ]
That's right. Even if I get back, I won't be able to see him for a long while. He'll get out, though, eventually. He's that kinda guy.
[ The faith with which Majima said this was... probably not backed up by any real accounting for how the criminal justice system in Japan worked. But it was present, all the same. ]
Anyway, that's where I'm coming from. Didn't mean to come in hot.
[ And though he didn't really have a satisfactory answer for Marco's question, 'did something bring this on', perhaps it could be implicit in his manner: I trust you. ]
Yeah?
[ The look on Majima's face was softer now, maybe even a little wistful. ]
Back when I was in Kamurocho, people'd peg me right away as yakuza, even once I was out. Guess I figured the same was true here.
[ Kind of like an open secret, one that people were too polite to bring up in conversation. A man had once compared him to a knife. ]
...but I mostly just came over to tell ya about the engagement part.
[ The look on Majima's face was softer now, maybe even a little wistful. ]
Back when I was in Kamurocho, people'd peg me right away as yakuza, even once I was out. Guess I figured the same was true here.
[ Kind of like an open secret, one that people were too polite to bring up in conversation. A man had once compared him to a knife. ]
...but I mostly just came over to tell ya about the engagement part.
Well... I've never met a yakuza before, I think. So I guess I just don't have that frame of reference.
[It felt kind of strange to switch gears now, but Marco wanted to reiterate his earnest congratulations. Even hearing what Majima had just confessed... he couldn't help seeing him as a good man.
Funny how that works.]
I'm really, really happy for you. When's the ceremony? If you need catering, Elsa is pretty good.
[It felt kind of strange to switch gears now, but Marco wanted to reiterate his earnest congratulations. Even hearing what Majima had just confessed... he couldn't help seeing him as a good man.
Funny how that works.]
I'm really, really happy for you. When's the ceremony? If you need catering, Elsa is pretty good.
[ Majima, apparently, had no issue with switching gears. Maybe it was because for him, the events in Sotenbori were now a year in the past. Maybe he was more comfortable in his new skin. Or maybe he was just in that stupid, smitten high of the newly-about-to-be-engaged. ]
Thanks, man.
[ And just like that, a big old slightly sheepish smile. ]
Uh, don't have a set date yet -- it just kinda slipped out that we were both interested, so I'm plannin' on officially popping the question once Spring hits. All those flowers, ya know?
He likes flowers.
[ Sorry, Marco. ]
She is, huh? Did she do yours?
Thanks, man.
[ And just like that, a big old slightly sheepish smile. ]
Uh, don't have a set date yet -- it just kinda slipped out that we were both interested, so I'm plannin' on officially popping the question once Spring hits. All those flowers, ya know?
He likes flowers.
[ Sorry, Marco. ]
She is, huh? Did she do yours?
[ Marco
winked at him. Had he ever done that before? Majima couldn't even remember. ]
Wonder if a nymph could make cherry blossoms happen in summer. Probably not, but roses and so on'd do just fine.
...Say, you wouldn't happen to have any old weddin' photos lying around, would ya?
[ Just out of curiosity. ]
winked at him. Had he ever done that before? Majima couldn't even remember. ]
Wonder if a nymph could make cherry blossoms happen in summer. Probably not, but roses and so on'd do just fine.
...Say, you wouldn't happen to have any old weddin' photos lying around, would ya?
[ Just out of curiosity. ]
Ah, maybe not. Cherry blossoms are a.. spring thing, right? [Granted, he didn't know much about nymphs, but he never got the impression they were able to defy seasons to that extent.]
Photos? Well, sure. You're that curious about Elsa's work?
[The faint smile on his face signaled a joke - which, in turn, signaled just how Marco felt about Majima's earlier confession. Hopefully.]
Photos? Well, sure. You're that curious about Elsa's work?
[The faint smile on his face signaled a joke - which, in turn, signaled just how Marco felt about Majima's earlier confession. Hopefully.]
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