week 4, thursday

[digestif]

You fought the dragon, didn't you?

[ it would seem like a leap of logic if it weren't for the fact that, with night falling now, the two of them can literally hear something big and reptilian flapping around in the distance. Mizuki is concerned, yes. If they weren't, they wouldn't be out here with a bunch of supplies they looted from the desolate village marketplace, tending to his wounds as best they can with their very basic knowledge; they've got his shirt off (probably not very hard to do) and are doing their best to clean up his various pokes and punctures. To that end, they've also got a jug of water nearby - which they gesture at briefly. However, they are also annoyed... because that was stupid. And reckless. ]

Also, use your power to turn that into disinfectant, will you?

[ they know he can turn water into alcohol, he did it before, dammit. time to make majima use his power for something useful for the first time ever ]

Comments

[digestif]

[ the fact that it's stupider than that doesn't surprise Mizuki... nor does the fact that he's apparently never considered an actual medicinal use for his powers until now. Unfortunately. ]

Eh? You seriously never thought of it? [ direly: ] Majima-kun... I know this is hard to hear, but I won't always be there to think for you, so you need to start learning how to use your brain. Okay?

[ but even as they make fun of him, they're gently putting a hand on his back and urging him into laying down again, touch very careful so that they can try to avoid aggravating his injuries. ]

Also, stay still. The last thing you need is to hurt more.

[haw]

[ he's about to emphatically protest, but at their touch, he goes back down without any further struggle or outburst. contrary to popular belief, even he knows there are some battles that aren't worth fighting... and he's kind of glad for it, honestly. sometimes he needs someone to tell him to stop being so fucking stubborn for once in his damn life. ]

Tch... I use my brain plenty, thank ya very much. [ he pauses as he folds his arms and tucks them under his chin... and even though they can't see his face, they can probably tell he's smirking from his tone alone. ] I was smart enough to get ya to fall for me, wasn't I?

[ now that he's worked his magic on the water-turned-disinfectant, please dip a needle in it and stab him with it or something. ]

[digestif]

[ they snort at that. ]

Well, you've got an active imagination.

[ fall for Majima... no way. This is just a fling born from desperate circumstances. Right? Right.

Fortunately for him, he will not be getting stabbed with any needles - just having his giant bug bites cleaned, which also probably won't be that pleasant, frankly. They splash some of their new handy dandy medicinal alcohol on a washcloth, then hover over a patch they've already cleaned up. ]

This is probably going to sting a little. Sorry.

[ not that the pain seems to be bothering him much... ]

[haw]

[ all that gives him away this time is the quietest of hisses as the disinfectant-soaked towel makes contact with his skin. ]

I keep tellin' ya... it's gonna take a hell of a lot more than bites and burns to take me out.

[ ... under normal circumstances, of course. but this game is full of anything but, and the fact that every week brings about a new opportunity to die without even getting to defend yourself pisses him the hell off. it maybe even scares him, a little bit, that the man who survived all of the shit that life's thrown at him might not even have the chance to bring the fucking fool who targeted him right down to hell with him.

so he prefers not to think about it. maybe that's when being able to turn off his brain helps, sometimes. ]

[digestif]

I know. You're tough. [ really tough, if he could bear all this and more and still have the leeway to posture at them now - but considering he's a former yakuza, and going by all those scars littering his body, he's probably been through worse than this. ] But you're not invincible.

[ and he must still feel this pain - that's what they almost say, but it feels oddly hypocritical, coming from them, so they don't.

They're efficient, but they still try to be as gentle as possible, despite his words. ]

So? What happened?

[haw]

[ he just clicks his tongue rather than reply verbally, because he knows they're right (of course they are, they're mizuki). humans, by nature, are such fragile creatures. not even the man who will one day become the mad dog of shimano is untouchable, as the flap of fabric covering what used to be his left eye reminds him every day.

...

suddenly talking about what happened with catra seems a hell of a lot more appealing right now. ]

Ya better not give me shit for this.

[digestif]

Come on. Would I do that, Majima-kun?

[ yes ]

[haw]

[ he lifts and turns his head to give them the most pathetic look ever. ]

Mizucchiiii... ya can't kick a guy who's already down!

[digestif]

[ they laugh good-naturedly at that. he looks so pathetic... Mizuki will give him a break this time. ]

Fine, fine. I promise I won't say anything. But I do want to know what happened.

[ they're helping him out now! they deserve this much ]

[haw]

[ ... he slumps back down into his arms, because even though they've promised, explaining it makes him feel dumb... ]

Ya know how there's that rule about not backin' down from a challenge? Wednesday mornin', I ran into Catra by the archery field. She started darin' me to do some dumb shit an' I didn't wanna get cursed, so I went along with it an' started firin' back at her... an' it, uh.

It escalated.

[digestif]

...

[ true to their word, they don't reply to that. Not with anything other than a very heavy sigh that probably says more than words would. ]

And? How did that end with you two disappearing for almost an entire day?

[haw]

[ HE JUST? LOOKS AT THEM? THEN LOOKS AT HIS WOUNDS? ]

[digestif]

[ MAJIMA!! they just give him a flat look in return. ]

I know these bites didn't come from Catra.

[haw]

Ya heard how Cunning-han an' Ruin-han set some monsters loose in the woods, didn't ya? We ran into some of 'em, too. Mostly giant ants that really love gold for some reason?

[ hence the pile of shinies over in the corner, probably ]

[digestif]

Giant ants, huh... Sounds like a bad movie.

[ they sigh, but this time it's more amused; they shake their head in disbelief. ]

Well, I'm at least comforted knowing you didn't charge into them entirely on purpose. Only a little bit, but...

[haw]

Whaddaya mean, "a little bit"? I ain't a single bit at fault here!

[digestif]

No, you're definitely at least half to blame for this. But that's a lot less than 100%, so I'm considering it a victory.

[ tough love, majima. ]

But in any case, you came back alive. That's the important thing.

[ it really is. They weren't sure what they were going to do if he died. Well, that's not quite true - they'd just do what they had to do, just like they have this whole time. But... It would be lonely without him. Definitely. They continue gently dabbing at his back, switching to regular water again briefly so they can clean off another bite mark. ]

I think you're going to have a few more scars after this, though. [ a pause. ] ... Majima-kun, can I ask you something?

[haw]

What doesn't kill me makes me stronger, ya know.

[ if only he had an idea of what they were thinking... the way they hesitate then ask that, though, is a point of interest itself. ]

Hm? What's up?

[digestif]

[ maybe they'll tell him!! eventually!! but not now. They don't want to rile him up again. ]

It's nothing serious -- I'm just curious.

[ they pause in their ministrations for a moment to carefully rest their palm on his back, trying to avoid touching any big injuries. ]

Your tattoo - does it mean something? I've been wondering about it. I don't know a lot about... well, about the kind of life you lived.

[ they wouldn't say they've lived a cushy life, but it sure feels that way when they look at this image on his back. ]

[haw]

[ ... hm. ]

Damn... goin' straight for the personal questions while I ain't in any shape to fight back, huh?

[ while normally he would be a little more guarded about his past because sega hates me and won't give me solid deets, being around mizuki instills a sense of safety and familiarity in the air. besides, at this point, they've already gotten to know each other on a deeper level, so... it's not like he has a reason to hide anything from them. ]

Well, ya already know I used to be yakuza, so of course I've got ink. As for why... I didn't want people messin' with me just 'cause I'm not a bulky musclebound gangster, so I wanted to get somethin' that would intimidate the shit outta people once things got far enough to be serious.

[digestif]

I said it was nothing serious, didn't I? You didn't have to answer.

[ but they're pleased that he did. They have to assume his time as a yakuza isn't exactly filled with fond memories - sharing anything with them is a little bit of trust. ]

But that's all, huh... You seem pretty bulky to me. [ he's got the body of a fucking adonis actually but they're not going to tell him that!! that's the last thing he needs to hear from them!! ] But I guess it is intimidating.

[ a hum. ]

I think it's kind of cool.

[ attitudes about these things are much less strict 150 years in the future... they punctuate that statement with going back to cleaning him up, almost as if they're trying to deflect the fact that they just said something nice about him. ]

[haw]

If ya think I'm stacked, you should see some of the Tojo Clan's guard dogs. They make me look like a pile of twigs.

[ he takes a carefully metered breath to lessen any suspicion they may have of him being in pain, because the area they start to clean hurts like fuck, but he doesn't want them to worry. ]

But that's my secret, ya know? Less people suspect the lanky guy in a tux, an' I use that to my advantage. What I lack in muscle definition, I make up for in speed an' finesse. Wait for an opportunity an' strike. S'where the snake comes in.

[ he nods his head toward his shoulders, where the part of the tattoo that extends to his chest begins. ]

Did ya know that white snakes mean rebirth? I grew up with a pretty shit life, so I thought I could get it into my head that I could change an' reinvent myself when I joined up. [ another chuckle, but this one has a bitter undertone. ] That one came to bite me in the ass way harder than the other ink, though.

[ ... normally he wouldn't be such a chatterbox about himself, but rambling like this helps take his mind off the pain. ]

[digestif]

[ sorry majima...

they listen quietly as they work. it's definitely more than Majima's ever talked about himself before, but, again, they feel a little happy that he's willing to share this much with them. ]

Hah... I didn't know that, actually.

[ it's got a familiar ring to it, that story. their thoughts go to hisato, as they often do, despite their attempts to let him go. ]

Trying to find something better, and falling into something worse before you realize it - I've heard that story before. Desperation can take you down strange roads. [ a pause. ] ... My older brother had that kind of problem, too.

[haw]

[ he cracks his eye open at that, and glances over his shoulder to look at them. ]

Haw? Lil' sib Mizucchi? I woulda never guessed.

[ because, like them, he's comforted by their willingness to divulge personal info. ]

[digestif]

Right? It doesn't really fit my image.

[ they laugh a little. ]

It's true, though! His name was Hisato. We didn't get along, exactly, but he'd always look after me...

[ or he was supposed to. Mizuki's voice stays pretty casual as they continue. ]

Obviously, he didn't do a very good job, since I ended up being the one looking for him. He vanished a few years back, but I'm pretty sure I know where he went.

[haw]

[ he pauses, letting that last bit hang for a moment. ]

S'that why you're here? To find him?

[digestif]

... No, I gave up on that. He probably can't come back. But it's adjacent to why I'm here.

[ Mizuki sighs, dabbing daintily at his back. The tattoo is cool; it's a shame that some of it's going to get interrupted by all of these scars. ]

It's a long story... I don't know if you want to hear the whole thing. And I don't know how much of it will make sense, either. We're both from the same Japan, but... not exactly the same. I can tell.

[ he's so old-fashioned - his cabaret club, the way he talks, the way he acted about Senri's old game console when they lived together. They know what it means by now. ]

[haw]

[ he settles back into his resting position, his nostrils flaring as mizuki continues to treat his wounds. ]

Yeah, I got that much. Yer all from the future, ain'tcha? It was kinda hard to not notice as much, an' if this was still our first week here, I woulda called bullshit on ya... but we've had weirder shit happen since, haven't we?

[digestif]

Right... I thought Guy-kun was pulling my leg when we got here. Chuuya-kun, too, and Ishi-san. But, you know... I pet a pegasus the other day. What else can we do but believe? [ a pause. ] When I left, it was the summer of 2148.

[ their tone is fairly neutral as they say it. It's a kind of sad reality, when they think about it. But they try not to think about it. From the beginning, they were supposed to be ready to throw away all of these people; they can't let that change. Or they shouldn't. (They already know they are.) ]

[haw]

[ it's one thing knowing something is possible... it's another to be faced with that reality coming from someone you trust. ]

Ya wanna hear somethin' pretty wild? It was just about Christmas 1988 for me.

[digestif]

... So you and I are an entire 160 years apart. That's pretty hard to imagine...

[ the way they trail off a little is uncharacteristic; it's obvious that they're deep in thought, and they stay quiet for a while. ]

... It's sort of sad.

[haw]

. . .

Hey. Ya done treatin' my back?

[digestif]

Huh? Well, almost...

[ ??? ]

Why? Are you tired?

[haw]

Lil' bit. Plus, I'm gettin' kinda bored lookin' at the wall while I'm talkin' to ya.

[digestif]

[ fair enough. They pause for a second, then scoot their chair back, thus signifying that he's finally free from further stinging. ]

We'll call this good enough, then. Just be careful not to reopen anything. [ a beat. ] Not that I'm a doctor, but.

[haw]

[ he pushes himself back up, running a hand through his hair and swinging his ponytail over his shoulder so that it doesn't touch his back. ]

S'far as I can tell, ya did a pretty decent job regardless. [ he reaches over and casually rests his hand on their shoulder. ] Thanks. I dunno what I'd do without ya.

[digestif]

[ they don't seem to mind the point of contact, merely throwing him a mischievous smile. ]

Hmmm... Good question. You'd probably just fall apart?

[haw]

All right, I ain't that fragile.

[digestif]

[ majima will eat those words in approximately 2 days ]

[ brightly: ] So tough~. Unfortunately, however, all men are fragile.

[ the gender jokes don't hit as hard when he's seen them out of their clothes, but they can't help themself!! Mizuki gives him a wink, then shifts away from his hand, going to throw the bloodied towels in a bin. ]

But - you're welcome. It's the least I can do.

[haw]

[ yea that's why i said it ]

Speakin' of favors... I got a proposition for ya. [ and no it's not horny, ] How do ya feel about comin' with me to meet with Beauty-han next week?

[digestif]

[ mizuki was absolutely getting ready to turn down his horny proposition on account of his injuries, so they're reasonably surprised when he says something normal. ]

Meeting him together?

[ they raise an eyebrow. ]

Why?

[haw]

I sweet-talked Indulgence-han into the idea of formin' an alliance. Since we aren't doin' so hot ourselves, I told him we should start lookin' for help anywhere we could... an', whaddaya know, he said he likes Beauty-han more than any of the other gods.

Plus, we already know we work pretty damn well together. Ain't that convenient?

[digestif]

Is that what he said? I sort of feel bad for him.

[ because Mizuki asked Beauty which gods he liked best, and Indulgence's name... did not come up... rip.

Majima has a point, though. Shockingly. ]

You know, Majima-kun... That's actually a good idea. All right - I'm in.

[haw]

[ honestly, he can't even argue. press f to pay offerings to indulgence ]

Hey—whaddaya mean, "actually"?

[digestif]

Nothing! Good job.

[ a playful wink. ]

It's not a solution, but we've seen how it can help. We can go see him once this weekend's through. [ a beat. ] What made you think of that all of a sudden?

[ it was a bit of a leap in topics... ]

[haw]

'Cause our conversation choices were either talkin' strategy or you roastin' me.

I shoulda known ya would find a way to do both.

[digestif]

Not that. I mean...

[ he'd leapt up from the table so suddenly while they were discussing themself that they were expecting -- well, they don't know what they were expecting. Maybe he just suddenly had the idea and had to tell them. But they shake their head, waving a hand dismissively. ]

Nevermind. You seem like you're learning how to deal with me better, hm?

[haw]

[ people have a habit of saying they have a hard time reading majima. he can tell they're trying to get at something... but hey, if they don't want to talk about it anymore, he'll respect it. ]

C'mon, with all the time I spend with ya? I better have an idea.