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]

[ 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.

[maddogs]

Ya wanna talk about it? What it was like?

[buddyoldpal]

Gettin' shot, ya mean? Hurts like hell.

[ Which part, exactly... ]

[maddogs]

[ majima just sort of watches him for a moment saying nothing. ]

Ah.

[buddyoldpal]

Took that fucker out before I went down, though. Sonuvabitch had the balls ta beg fer his life.

[ His brow furrows, he's upset but he won't... actually say it, obviously. But he's thinking about Billiken and his final moments, so that's bound to bring up some pain. ]

Fuckin' coward.

[maddogs]

[ he hadn't meant to make nishitani talk about this, only offered if he wanted to. and mostly he'd been curious about the afterlife. but he wasn't about to stop him, as much as it hurts to hear it. to remember it. it makes him feel young again, that same naive kid who'd made mistake after mistake running into traps. ]

You deserved better. [ it's strong, important. but he follows it up with something equally as important but delivered much lighter: ] Next time, I'll kill ya. That'll be better for ya.

[ it's the same thing he's promised kiryu, isn't it? that kiryu can't die so that he's the one who gets to finally off him? ]

Anyone tries ta kill ya before that, they'll have ta answer to me.

[buddyoldpal]

[ Nishitani smirks. Majima's grown up, hasn't he? ]

Aw, yer gonna make me blush, sweet talkin' me like that.

[ And for all that he means it, there's a note of gratitude there, too. Dying by Majima's hand would be a great death. The best there is. ]

Same goes to ya, huh? Ain't gonna let ya die here if I can fuckin' help it.

[maddogs]

[ he's already on his side to look at him so he just kind of falls on top of him so he can rest against his chest and look up at him. personal space? what's that? ]

We're both makin' it out of this one alive. Together.

[buddyoldpal]

[ Personal space is lame and it sucks, personally. This is way better. Nishitani sighs wistfully. He could lay with Majima forever and he'd be happy....... I mean he'd want a little more than just laying down, but y'know. ]

That'd be real fuckin' nice.