ximilia | text; un: majimagoro

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text; un: majimagoro

We're all working hard, making names for ourselves, and figuring as much intel as we can. Dunno if someone got to take a peek into the main HQ just yet, but I've got an idea how we could rise up chances— I've taken upon the host club assignment as I've been running an establishment of that sort, back home. Two even, a long story. The Lionettas want it to become profitable, but ya can squeeze a lot more money out of that business than the bar they set. If we make them swim in cash and information we could use it as a bargaining chip— prove our usefulness, get into bosses good graces. And when we succeed, we could suggest making a demonstration of our team's skill to the big shots in the main HQ, to get more funding.

To plan that heist we will need a good scoop inside, otherwise, it's just too much improv, too much of a gamble.

So consider this an open work call, Lionettas. Anybody who wants work is welcome, no experience required, I'll figure out where to put ya. Hosts, hostesses, barkers, bouncers, cooks, influencers, wait-staff, cleaners, performers. There are never enough hands on deck.

Rules are simple, we sell dreams and smiles, the customer is king— as long as they adhere to the club's policy; no touching, no harassment. Someone starts being an asshole, you call me and I rearrange their jaw, with utmost politeness

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Oh, so that's what you're good at, huh? I can see part of that last bit being easy for you but I wouldn't expect the rest.

[Is he teasing his teammate to get more information out of him? That's exactly what he's doing.]

[ Look at that username, Majima can't help but chuckle. Someone's veeery open about his connection, tho granted— many could see it as a badass(fuly) nickname rather than fact ]

What can I say— I am a man full of surprises. Just managed to pull one on ya! But let's just say that's in the past, I'm movin' on to a different approach to entertainment.

[Is that what we're calling insanity these days? Zhao isn't sure that's what Majima means but he can't help but wonder now about this man's past...future...whatever.]

That so? Too bad this place managed to suck you right back into it. Guess it won't last last forever at least.

I just didn't take you for business management. More of a...waste management. Top tier. But I guess that's how rumors work; always more under the surface.

[ Majima giggles at the "waste management" mention. ]

Ah yes, good old times—

[ He sounds almost wistful. Those sure were different times, when he and Saejima scoured the city, making the names for themselves, thinking themselves immovable and immortal. Not noticing they were just desperate brats ]

Told ya, didn't I? I've been livin' clean for a while. Ended in that kind of scene— [ Not by his own will, well, at least with Grand. Sunshine was more of a hobby project ] —turned out I got a knack for it. Not surprised the rumors didn't mention that.

[ Mostly because no one really knew about it. He was a dead man back in Kamurocho, at least until he rattled a few skulls in last few days before getting on the station ]

Yeah, almost as hard to imagine as you being good at business. But I guess you couldn't stay a hitter forever and move up as high as- you could manage. [He finished a little lamely. Realizing he had been about to phrase that suspiciously. Now it just sounded awkward.]

Ah. So why go back if you got out?

[ 'Who said anything about going back?' Majima feels himself prickle, but manages to not follow that impulse— last time they had a longer chat alcohol was involved, and he might have mentioned something that directed into such a conclusion. After all, Zhao was pretty sharp. ]

Oy, oy. That's a backhanded compliment if I ever heard one... Dunno how it's in Yokohama but over here ya gotta be both good with makin' money and protectin' it to get anywhere.

[ But then, Zhao also seems to have an agenda. They could dance around it or— ]

Ya might need an update to yer gossip mill. I didn't got out, I was kicked out. [ —blunt honesty is like a blunt weapon. ] Or do ya know it already and are tryin' to figure out why a buried man is still walkin' ?

My point exactly. Guess you're going somewhere, eh?

[That was fair enough assessment, true enough in the underworld. One could make all the money in the world but if you couldn't protect it none of it would matter once it was in someone else's hands. Same was true for the other side, if you were powerful enough to defend yourself but held no business acumen then you'd never get anywhere with all that strength except to work for others.

All right, so he knew the officer had to be good at a lot to make it that far up the chain, but it was still one thing to know it had to be true versus seeing it in action. Especially after seeing the guy go crazy as he did in a fight.

Now he had more intel to go on and figure this guy out. At least he thought somehow he could piece it altogether. This was starting to get interesting.]

No. That sounds like a great follow-up question. So how did that happen?

[ There he goes, showing his hand too early. But at least he gets to know that's not something Zhao knows about. Whoever that Tojo dude was, he sure either did not mention that, or did not know that. In the first case, it could have been someone he once knew. ]

Ya ought to buy me dinner first if all ya wanna hear is a bullshit tragic backstory.

[ Sure making it into a joke will make it sound like it's not as serious as it is ]

That Tojo friend of yours, he got a name, or family?

[The reply made Zhao want to squirm though he did his best not to reveal it. (Thank goodness for this conversation not being in person.) It seemed he was definitely prying a little too hard here.

Had it been in person though he would have hid his discomfort behind a crooked smile as he said:]

I'll cook you whatever you want when we get back to the station. Unless you can find a kitchen here that'll let me barge in and use their stuff.

[As for the question... he debated a moment before answering. It probably wouldn't hurt, right? Maybe he could learn more about that history, too. Hear a few stories Kasuga hadn't gotten around to telling yet.]

Arakawa family.

Ah... them. [ Now it was Majima's turn to cover his confusion. No name, only family? A good way to give an answer while still protecting his sources. Not that it mattered much, because— ] Can't say I ran close with any of these crazy bastards— we were as likely to hit shit together as we were to butt heads.

[ As it was with many other families, but Arakawas were set on building a certain reputation, while Shimanos' were dead set on protecting theirs. He did remember few names, maybe it shouldn't be surprising that he was in turn remembered as well ]

Ya sure keep a tough company. Smart. [ Was this what was happening here? Was Zhao testing him to see if the stories were anywhere close the reality and if he was worth allying with— or challenging?

Or maybe there was no ulterior agenda, maybe the guy is just genuinely friendly, if a little too nosy for Majima's comfort. They're not in a setting where a man can be an island. His tone shifted, raised an octave, sprinkle of energy put into it as he changed into a subject ] That cookin' thing tho? Now that's interestin'! I've been cravin' takoyaki like an addict, like a man dyin' of thirst— I almost want to put ya into the kitchen, even if yer not a Lionetta

Edited 2021-09-17 22:46 (UTC)

Oh yeah? You ever butted heads with any of them personally?

[That would have been a story worth hearing. Zhao would be curious. Would he have met the patriarch himself? Maybe Sawashiro? That bastard would be easy to want to butt heads with even if the families were trying to work together for once, ugh. Or maybe Zhao just had a bias considering what he'd done to Kasuga.

Zhao heard the hint to switch topics though. He would be disappointed there was no more stories to be revealed, but at least he liked the new topic. He'd brought it on himself anyway.

He chuckled.] Get me in, get me the ingredients, see how it turns out.

[Again, if only he could be seen--Majima would have seen the wink Zhao threw at him after such a statement.]

You got this! Consider it yer work interview~ [ Majima giggled on the line, but that sound died pretty quickly. His voice dropped an octave, he also sounded just quieter ] —that could get ya in trouble, ya know?

[ The rivalry between the families is still a thing. It's one thing to be friendly over the network, that no one has access to... but anything else is a risk. Of course, it's guaranteed that each family has multiple moles in every other— but that's a risky position to be in. ]

[Zhao was quiet for a moment as he assessed. It didn't take a genius to figure out that Majima's drop in tone was on purpose, and it didn't even take knowing him that well to tell there was something up right now. It was simply a matter of figuring out what exactly. That Zhao didn't know him well enough yet to deduce without further hint. However...]

Yeah, I guess it could. Would it be in my best interest not to show up for the interview? Or would it be in yours that I do?

[ Indeed, Zhao's pretty sharp, that impression's only cemented here. ]

Both, to be honest. I don't mind risk, part of the thrill— 'sides we can't win this without helpin' each other out. [ So yeah, he's not against Orbers working together. Quite on the contrary ] Just— I've got real nasty task this round. Someone gets in trouble with their family thanks to my involvement? That's a win for me.

[ It would feel disingenuous to keep it hidden, if they're talking cooperation. Majima doesn't mention his uncertainty regarding approaching it, nor does he try to sway Zhao against the idea of working with him. Instead, he turns into a joke ]

Up to you if ya decide to trust me, or if ya worry I might... give into the temptation.

[ The chuckle at the end is pretty humourless ]

Ouch. That sounds pretty harsh. Kinda makes ya wonder if whoever's handing out the goals really wants us to work together or not. Or complete our tasks.

[Maybe that was the point. If they didn't complete enough of them, they didn't get their 'wish' so to speak. And maybe someone didn't want to pay up when it came to fixing all these regrets. Just wanted the free help.

Tch. What a way to think. They didn't need that sort of thought going on right now. So Zhao stuck with their current dilemna: getting Majima his task completed.]

You want that takoyaki, don't you? You name the time and I'll be there. The rest is up to you.

Heh— I appreciate the vote of confidence

[ Fuck— sp now it's... what? Takoyaki of Trust? He's gonna do everything possible it doesn't blow in Zhao's (or his own) face then. It's not like Zhao has to pass the interview, they get a brief interaction that from the perspective of their families gets them nowhere, and get to enjoy a moment of food sharing in return.

Oh yeah, it does start to feel like home. If he ever called Sotenbori his "home". ]

I'm gonna check the club schedule, and sent ya it over to yer calendar— but yeah, ain't first time shit like this' happenin'? Last time there was a kid who wasn't allowed to help those askin' for it. Sometimes ya just get a shitty hand dealt to ya.

[ Such is life... but it doesn't make a lot of sense for the group that they are. Makes the whole purpose seem off. Scam or get scammed ]

[Zhao had a similar thought. It really did sound like it was 'scam or be scammed' with these sort of tasks. With it being easier for them to work together to achieve the ultimate goal of the mission (nab the Orb), it didn't make any sense for them to be pitted against one another like the personal tasks seemed to lean towards.

He made a small noise caught between thoughtful and incredulous. What shit was that.

But wait- ]

Hey, don't worry about it. You do what you have to do. You got that?

[He put emphasis on the last part to try to get his point across.]

[ Wait—

He didn't catch Zhao meant it that way the first time. But now? It was nearly spelled out. And filled him with dread, just a little. Mostly confusion. The pragmatic and logical thing would be to take that offer. Fixing the mistake that got Saejima into prison, and him into this miserable existence, is a priority, should be a priority.

But once again, he is swayed by what's right here, by who's right here, and by his convictions. He couldn't kill an innocent woman, and maybe it's not as big as that, but the very idea of throwing a teammate under the bus still leaves a bad taste in his mouth. ]

...that's very generous of ya— [ After a pause Majima started carefully choosing his words. ] But ya don't owe me anythin' let alone a favor of that caliber. Unless yer task is to get in trouble fer someone else's sake.

[ That would make it a trade ]

[A thoughtful little pause. He could work with that.]

Well, if we're trading secrets. Yeah, I have a task you could help me out with. It would go great with yours and then we'll both be set for this mission.

Sounds good, don't it? Maybe that's part of the point, too. Maybe we are supposed to work together for this shit, ya know? Find your partner, get shit done. Even if it ain't all that fun.

[Better than the alternative. He leaves that unsaid but implied.]

Heh. What if th'lesson was to teach "how to ask for help" all along?

[ And then everyone held hands and sang a song— Though it would make for an interesting twist, if they were given tasks that were meant to be completed in tandem. When put that way it... made it a little easier to consider. Everyone wins, even if one of them might get yelled at or get his ass kicked. ]

Alright, I'll bite. [ Now that's a call-back to their previous conversation. Why yes, they might have been drinking, but it was hard to forget the ferocity and glee that Zhao emanated when he proclaimed his preference to be a biter. Also a good way to lighten the gloomy atmosphere ] Ya like that, dontchya.

A hard lesson for some.

[Even Zhao. It took him a long time to finally meet someone worth asking help from, and sharing secrets with. And finally finding the courage to break away from gang life.

But that was something else than what was going on here and now. He had to stay focused.

Or just get thrown off completely by the sudden twist in Majima's reply. Wow, he should have seen that one coming back to bite (haha) him in the ass sooner or later. He can't help it--he giggles, a little high pitched and unhinged sounding, as it bubbles up before he can stop it and it absolutely makes it through the ear-piece's audio setting. It's a knee-jerk reaction. How has his life come to this? Is this even real?

He's grinning as he replies, the expression obvious in his voice as he speaks.]

...I'm not gonna deny it. A little tough love every now and again keeps things interesting. So, is that your answer? Gonna show me how ya do it in Kamurocho?

[ You don't ask for help when doing it leaves a trail of corpses of those few that did try to help. That's the lesson Majima learned. It wasn't true to this place though, not entirely. Throwing a teammate to the wolves felt wrong, but denying a trade someone who made a show he can take care of himself, wasn't much better.

Oh.

Oh, then of course Zhao had to make it even worse, with the innuendo and— is that flirting? Like a real deal thing, not crotch-first circus Nishitani pulled. (No pun...?).

Majima snorts at that reply, it grows into a chuckle a little awkward and prolonged, and for a second nearly unhinged, as he scrambles his brain for a reply (and his brain is already scrambled a lot, makes it hard to figure out which part is him and which was put there and carefully molded by Shimano and Sagawa's hands— ) ]

Didn't peg ya for such sucker for a punishment. Fine, I can step on ya~ [ Majima responds in a sing-song tune, finally figuring out the reply. He's not Nishitani, he got standards. And wants an actual plan to be put in place ] Whatchya need me to do. Only fair deals in this house.

[ He can replace what them in his skull with someone else, someone of his choice ]

[Zhao almost giggled again but he restrained (with some effort) this time. The response was beautiful though and he admittedly loved it. He found it entirely too fun to play this game of words with Majima. A game most people either found too tedious or too childish (or too scary depending on what was going on) to play with him. Majima almost sounded interested and--that sort of made Zhao interested.

Now was not the time for such inane thought though. He could tell that Majima was trying to be semi-serious at least. That a part of him was having trouble with the deal, perhaps? The man specifically didn't want to do this unless it was a fair trade. There was a sense of honor in such careful movements that twinged at Zhao's heart. Something he wasn't used to receiving (up until a certain maroon-suited idiot had shown up in his life that is).

He kept the game going if only to hide their serious discussion, make it lighter than it actually was. Made it easier to say out loud, yes?]]

Ooh, I appreciate the dedication to suit my needs. You're such a considerate man, Majima-kun. [He said with his own little lilt. Though slightly more serious was next:] Well, do you want to hear it now or would you like to conduct that interview in person? It might come up there naturally, ya know?

[He was going to have to think about what he wanted to say. To tell someone. Even this guy who was as involved with the underworld as him. And...someone he thought he could trust now that Majima was revealing a considerate side to himself. What a strange thing the world turned out to be sometimes. But he still had to think about what would count, and what he wanted to reveal about himself at the same time.]

We gotta give each other a helpin' hand, to quote ya.

[ "Considerate" huh? He took the oaths seriously, the principles. One thing left to hold onto. Even if it leads to an early grave. He doesn't know how to address that compliment so he just— doesn't. Jumping straight into the organizational section.

Before he got second thoughts again. About trusting. About letting someone put a trust in him. ]

Few hours before the club opens there's barely anyone there, a good time to come over. I'll get the ingredients needed.

[ Or whatever he can find as an equivalent. They weren't on earth, that was as much as obvious. Not that he knew that much about cooking and shit, but it makes sense he'd be the one to sponsor that little cooking attempt.

He sent over the address, and immediately started with the preparations. ]

Sounds good. I'll see you then.

[With the information given to him, Zhao got ready and headed over during the appropriate time. Part of him was nervous though not because of the fact that he was, essentially, in enemy territory. That never bothered him. But rather the idea that he had to think of something to finish his own task.

Not that it ever showed in his mannerisms or demeanor. As usual, he had that relaxed air to him. The same presence as a tiger walking comfortable in its own territory. He went in through the back to meet Majima in the kitchen of his little establishment.]

Yo.

audio; un: mafioso

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