Beginning

[thecastle]

One moment you were elsewhere, surely speaking to your friends, fighting in a battle of your life, dying, or even in a state of non-existence in its entirety. It doesn't matter now, since when you open your eyes it’s become clear that not only is everything around you foreign and unfamiliar, so is everyone. And there seems to be a fair lot of you, at that.

It's easy to discern a few things upon a cursory glance, once you pick yourself up from the field of grass you're resting on. The place you've awoken in seems to be fairly tranquil, for the first few moments at least, and the view of a newly budded sakura tree is among the first that will greet you. In the distance, is a towering castle that manages to look all at once both imposing and welcoming at the same time. There's also an odd pendant around your neck, which you'll find won't come off despite your best attempts. In your pocket you'll find a room key, engraved with a number.

The weather is currently cool, with the sun brightly shining in the sky, though there are a few too many clouds to make it a completely clear day. While most of them appear rather normal, every so often you might spot one that looks just a bit off— like a storm cloud that's completely lost it's way. Lucky for you, it doesn't seem like you're going to have to worry about any inclement weather anytime soon, as they'll vanish from your vision as quickly as they came.

A large stone wall surrounds the entirety of the castle, though it's anyone guess why that is— maybe it's for your safety, maybe it's to keep you trapped, or maybe it's for another reason entirely. The only breach in the wall is a single gate that looks like it certainly led to the outside at one point, but that too has been cordoned off by solid stone.

Fortunately, there's nothing to stop you from entering the castle itself, where you'll find it's pretty grand all things considered. The lighting inside is provided not by electricity, but by magical flame that adjusts to the time of day or night. Actually, if you're looking for anything electronic anywhere, or even a simple power outlet, you'll be sorely out of luck.

For now, it might be best to explore and make some sense of where you are and why you're here— maybe one of your fellow travelers might know something? There are some plaques in the Great Hall that might catch your interest given their focus, in addition to one ridiculously large golden one that seems to bear rules.

Welcome, fellow warriors, to your very long stay.

Comments

[buddyoldpal]

[ If there is any truer sign to the fact that Majima's changed, it's this. The way Majima actually takes the physical affection, where he was once completely averse to it almost exclusively, is a pretty big surprise. ]

You've grown up, haven't ya? I musta missed all the good stuff.

[ If only they'd met sooner, in another life... etc. ]

[maddogs]

Dunno about good stuff.

[ most of his story was pretty sad - a fact he'd only share with a select few. nishitani gets to be one of them. ]

Gettin' sentimental ain't like ya. Don't go outta your way for my sake.

[buddyoldpal]

Dyin' ain't like me either, but I still went an' did that.

[ His response is pretty blank, but he can see where Majima's coming from. He's got twenty-two years of catching up to do, he doesn't have to do it all in one night. He perks up, setting the sentimentality aside for now. ]

Anyway, what the hell's up with this place? They got sponges but they ain't got washin' machines? Can't make up their damn minds, can they?

[maddogs]

[every time nishitani mentions his death it's like another punch to the gut. it's something he's tried not to think about in so long, tried to put all of the horrible experiences of what happened in sotenbori behind him. but nishitani just keeps mentioning it like it doesn't matter. he gets it, on some level, he does. it's the way he talks about his eye, the way he talks about almost everything about himself.

but this was different. nishitani was important to him. and his death was a wound that reopened a little more every time he says anything about it.

he wants to tell him to stop. he wants move past it and talk about laundry and sponges and lack of technology. he wants to stop hurting. finally after a long moment: ]

Fuck the laundry. [ he shrugs out of nishitani's arm but grabs his hand to drag him back outside the laundry hut ] Fight me, old man.

[ it'll be good for them both - he knows it's something nishtani wants, and maybe physical pain will put the emotional pain aside for a while longer. ]

[buddyoldpal]

[ Nishitani goes. He's always been an insensitive asshole, so it's only natural that every word out of his mouth hits Majima, but not in the fun way. He smiles as soon as Majima grabs him. ]

Now you're talkin' my language, pal!

[ He doesn't even wait till they're settled outside, he throws a punch at Majima's jaw, in his blind side. Rude, but then that's Nishitani. He'd rather play dirty than talk about how much dying sucks. ]

[maddogs]

[ the punch hits him hard, nishitani was behind him and in his blind spot and so he really doesn't see it coming and his instant reaction is to turn to hit him as hard as he can. he's been fighting for twenty-five years having to deal with his blindside he's learned how to react and not take people's shit for trying to get him like that. ]

That's a cheap fuckin' shot, Nishitani.

[buddyoldpal]

[ Nishitani grins against Majima's punch, the sheer force of it knocking him back a bit. It's absolutely a cheap shot. He might not know what's changed in Majima's life besides him becoming head of his own family, but he's gotta make sure Majima has the same fire in his eye as he used to. Even when he was so clearly done with everything, Nishitani had seen that fire in their first fight and their second. ]

Wouldn't want ya goin' easy on me, pal. Old age mighta made ya sentimental!

[ In other words, yeah, he's being an asshole on purpose, sorry. One punch isn't going to slow him down, though. He throws another punch aimed right at his face this time, a hit he knows Majima can counter or block. Truth is, after being dead, a little pain feels really nice. ]

[maddogs]

[ "after being dead" whatever dude we know you find pain more than a little nice always. but majima does block the punch - he catches it with his left hand and goes for a count with his right, still plenty strong but not quite with the same caged animal lashing out drive the first one had, this one is definitely more fun. ]

Wouldn't dream of it.

[buddyoldpal]

[ He hasn't rubbed one out since he died that seems like a good excuse as any to get Majima to punch him super hard, ok. Nishitani chuckles as Majima's fist connects again. It's so wonderfully familiar, how could he not enjoy it? ]

That's what I like ya hear.

[ Nishitani twists around Majima's hold and goes to knee him in that nice, bare chest of his. A+ clothing choice tbh. Nishitani's a little disappoitned he didn't think of it himself. ]

[maddogs]

[ majima aims a kick at the same time so their legs kind of end up hitting instead of making contact with the rest of their bodies. majima releases nishitani's hand and does a jump and a flourishing twirl to get out of the way from his leg and then tries to punch him by the side of his head on the way down. ]

[buddyoldpal]

[ Ah, Majima fights so prettily, Nishitani's in heaven. Nishitani's so busy looking he doesn't move away in time to dodge the punch. He can't stop smiling, though. This is honestly everything he'd want out of the afterlife: a place where he can get his ass kicked by Majima. ]

Aah, I'm the luckiest fuckin' guy!

[ Of course just because he's enjoying himself doesn't mean he won't fight back. Because as soon as he gets his foot back, he dives down to brace himself on his hands and do a pinwheel, breakdance-style kick. ]

[maddogs]

[ majima gets hit by a couple his those kicks - it's a lot of flourish but his reaction is basically to get on his level, run at him crouched, and try to punch him in the gut. it'd be easier with a knife but eh he can swing it without one. ]

[buddyoldpal]

[ Aw, Majima, you know just how to get a guy's attention. Naturally, Nishitani doesn't get back up fast enough to get out of the way and ends up knocked onto his back. This is what happens when you break dance, dude. ]

[maddogs]

[ great, majima's gonna walk on over, take a fistful of his hair and try and slam the back of his head back against the ground. i'd say sorry but nishitani probably thinks thats the hottest thing ever. ]

[buddyoldpal]

[ Correct, that is the hottest thing ever. Nishitani gets his face smashed hard into the ground but like holy shit this is hot??? He can't complain. 10/10. Would get head smashed again. And the hair pulling? Bonus. 12/10. He should not be smiling, but he sure is. ]

[maddogs]

[ great, because then he just straddles his chest to keep him down. ]

What do ya think, old man? Ya still wanna go?

[buddyoldpal]

[ Nishitani gasps as Majima straddles him. I'm sorry to whoever has to read this thread. ]

Ah-- If it feels this good, pal, I'll go as much as ya want.

[maddogs]

[ majima leans down close to him so he can be quiet, almost intimate ]

Don't forget ta fight back.

[ and then punches him in the face again. he knows it's what nishitani wants, and he's kind of sort of trying to pay him back for that whole dying thing so. ]

[buddyoldpal]

[ Ah, that sort of teasing is exactly what Nishitani is into, Majima knows him so well. That intimate sort of violence is absolutely his favorite thing and Majima's giving it to him so good. ]

Wouldn't be fun if I didn't, eh?

[ He grins and pulls himself up, pushing against Majima to try and push him back and reverse their positions. He'd like to return the favor, y'know. ]

[maddogs]

[ he's resistant for a moment, holding his ground, but relents, letting nishitani get him on his back. ]

Come on, show me what you've got.

[buddyoldpal]

[ This is such a dangerous place to be, we gotta keep it PG-13....... Nishitani punches Majima square in the jaw and slams him into the ground. ]

Fuck, what I wouldn't give ta have a knife right now.

[ They could have so much more fun!! ]

[maddogs]

[ theyre just fighting let them have this. besides its already not pg-13 with all your f-bombs

majima gasps, his head hitting hard against the ground. at least they're fighting on grass and not pavement, because that hurt a lot more than it usually does. ]

Shit -- [ he tries to knee him in the tight, to buck him off ] that'd be pretty good.

[buddyoldpal]

[ only sex is R rated, obviously!! much as Nishitani would love to do it with Majima right here on the grass, we're not playing in that kind of game so he'll roll to the side and off of Majima, but not before spinning a little and dropping his knee right on Majima's stomach. Gotta give him a little something to remember him by, right? ]

Maybe next time, huh?

[maddogs]

[ yeah doing it in public is kind of beyond even majima's complete lack of embarrassment sry 2 say. he wasn't expecting to get kneed like that so it kind of knocks the wind out of him but then he rolls over so he's on his side and can look at nishitani, sprawled out in the grass.

unfortunately after fighting is time for pillow talk and by pillow talk i of course mean actually talking about your feelings. ]

I still can't fuckin' believe this is real.

[buddyoldpal]

[ Ah yes, the post-battle real talk. Nishitani is no stranger to it, not when he knew Majima back when he was in Sotenbori. ]

Same here, pal. I sure as fuck didn't expect anythin' after that shit back in jail.