Who would have thought that being praised could feel so good? He did, he always did. A weakness, if anything, but when it was delivered with this smooth voice he could allow himself to indulge. That's also usually hidden behind the armor, Sagawa always made sure that the praise he offered was lined with something diminishing, belittling— not to mention even earning an honest one from that man, made him feel slimy.
No reason to mull on that sully the mood, Sunshine was outside of Sagawa's greedy hands, and so were everyone involved, including Kiryu (even though not out of his reach. Majima knew he was allowed to work here only as long as it didn't interfere with Grand's business)
"Thank you for your patronage"
Smoke and mirrors. They're so polite, nice, business-like... Majima wanted to laugh, if not for the aluminum bat (that he still hasn't put away, and instead leaned on as if it was an elegant cane, befitting his outfit), they'd still be a picture of two, snappy young businessmen.
"The way you say it, makes it sound like you'll be leaving us soon—" The hint of disappointment was genuine; that energy that sparked moments ago, it wasn't gone, at least not for Majima. He was looking at Kiryu in a new light, as if all the little things of his personality that he unfolded before, of what kind of man he is, started to fall in place. Now that he realized he was missing a crucial piece.
—because now he knew there was also a streak of spiky defiance lurking just below the soft-spoken and candid surface. Where Kiryu went outside, despite being told to stay. And got involved because he wanted to— or maybe because he felt the need to. Perhaps he was jumping to conclusions way too soon, but Majima suddenly felt with utmost certainty, that nothing, no request, no authority could make this young man bend his personal convictions. No wonder he made a fortune.
"Whenever you're ready, we can dial you a cab any moment ya want, there's a spot for them just nearby. You may stay however long you wish, though—"
no subject
No reason to mull on that sully the mood, Sunshine was outside of Sagawa's greedy hands, and so were everyone involved, including Kiryu (even though not out of his reach. Majima knew he was allowed to work here only as long as it didn't interfere with Grand's business)
"Thank you for your patronage"
Smoke and mirrors. They're so polite, nice, business-like... Majima wanted to laugh, if not for the aluminum bat (that he still hasn't put away, and instead leaned on as if it was an elegant cane, befitting his outfit), they'd still be a picture of two, snappy young businessmen.
"The way you say it, makes it sound like you'll be leaving us soon—" The hint of disappointment was genuine; that energy that sparked moments ago, it wasn't gone, at least not for Majima. He was looking at Kiryu in a new light, as if all the little things of his personality that he unfolded before, of what kind of man he is, started to fall in place. Now that he realized he was missing a crucial piece.
—because now he knew there was also a streak of spiky defiance lurking just below the soft-spoken and candid surface. Where Kiryu went outside, despite being told to stay. And got involved because he wanted to— or maybe because he felt the need to. Perhaps he was jumping to conclusions way too soon, but Majima suddenly felt with utmost certainty, that nothing, no request, no authority could make this young man bend his personal convictions. No wonder he made a fortune.
"Whenever you're ready, we can dial you a cab any moment ya want, there's a spot for them just nearby. You may stay however long you wish, though—"