Come and let me in

[tigerdrop]

The players: Kiryu and Majima
The scenario: Mr. K comes to visit Mr. M for the first time. How's that investment of mine going, buddy?
The setting: Early 1988, Sotenbori, the Sunshine Cabaret Club.
Any warnings: None to start.

Kiryu wasn't really sure what to expect from his coming here. It certainly was a spur of the moment whim when he'd decided to head off to Sotenbori and check out this 'Club Sunshine' he had been putting investments into. He just needed to get away from all the trouble he seemed to attract for a little while. Not that he was using that excuse to explain the sudden business trip--for that, he reasoned, he was interested in this investment and how it was going. That was his excuse for the unexpected trip should anyone ask.

He was interested in the place. He hadn't heard much, Mr. Moneybags liked to keep the details to himself, and that was fine. The reasoning had been enough to convince Kiryu it was fine the first time around and he wouldn't question that now. But his curiosity only grew the more he thought about it. Mr. Moneybags didn't need to know what he was doing right now. What would it really hurt anyway? He was just going to go in, check the place out, relax a little if he could, and then head back home at the end of the day. No harm done.

That was the plan anyway. He wasn't sure what the place was supposed to be but he was from Kamurocho, there wasn't much that could surprise him in regards to entertainment. When he walked in he noted how cozy it was. It had an air of luxury to it but not ostentatiously so and the smaller room made it more cozy rather than grandiose as the larger cabarets did. He had to admit, he sort of liked it. And, as he would discover after he was seated, it had a more intimate feel to it which he was less certain how that made him feel just yet.

But first he had to get a seat. He made these first few observations as he waited patiently in the foyer to be seated. He rarely came to these sorts of places on his own, especially for personal reasons, so he was admittedly a little nervous. Not that it showed on his determinedly stoic face as he peered curiously about the place.

Idly, he wondered if Mr. M was here today, and what he might look like, who he might be. Kiryu probably shouldn't even introduce himself as Mr. K today but he was a bit curious if it would get him a meeting with the man in charge who was using his money to run this place.

Comments

[hikae]

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—"

[tigerdrop]

Kiryu nodded but when he heard that disappointment in Majima's voice--was that just his imagination?--it caused him to regret his wording. He hadn't meant to make it sound like he was ready to leave. And yet, he glanced at his watch. More time had passed than he would have expected. What was the saying? Time sure does fly when one was having fun.

He supposed that was true. He was having fun. It was tempered by the business-like meeting and his awkwardness but if Kiryu admitted it to himself he had enjoyed his time here. He should probably head back to Kamurocho for the night...

He smiled at Majima. "You can hold off on the cab for a little bit longer."

[hikae]

The glint in the sole eye was back. He wasn't giving much thought just yet, what he found so enjoyable about the other company, simply giving into the moment. Working in nightlife's service industry meant rarely being alone— but his position (besides the other circumstances) often stood in the way of forging connections. Customers saw only the perfected mask. Coworkers got a much closer glance to how Majima really was, but still— he was responsible for them, for the environment they worked in, and for their safety. There were no such lines, or obstacles drawn with Kiryu. Strangely they could... interact as equals.

He opened mouth to say something, but before he got more than the first syllabe, Yuki busted through the door. All prim and proper, but the moment the door closed she sighed loudly and bowed down. Hands-on knees, as she leaned back on the door, an image of misery. The sigh continued until she looked up at Majima and whined.

"Majima-saaan. Please no more. I mixed up the tables! Brought wrong order— Couldn't tell which whiskey is which!! The shelves are too tall—"

The door opened suddenly behind her, pushing her forward. Arms flailing, she nearly tripped but Majima was there to catch her mid-step. Youda who entered the backstage room looked positively sheepish, upon the realization that it was him opening the door that caused the minor ruckus.

"It's alright Yuki-chan, I handled this. You're too much of an airhead to handle floor management" Youda was simultaneously reassuring but also disapproving. The bickering was an everyday thing, but Majima could read the room, and suspected that right now, it could damage Yuki's confidence.

"Nonsense!" Majima proclaimed helping her up and quickly brushing off unruly strands from her face. "No one gets this shit perfectly the first time. You trip and you learn."

"Maybe I'm really not fit for this kind of responsibility" Yuki remained slightly dejected but she also began to perk up, at least until Majima pulled another stunt.

"Hey, Kiryu-han... You got the customer experience already, how about seeing the inner workings?" Majima turned to Kiryu and immediately suggested an idea that suddenly formed in his mind. Accompanied by expression of surprise from both Youda and Yuki. "We could use someone man the bar, to hand Yuki the orders. Ya, look like someone who knows his drinks. Ah— naturally I'll be manning the floor too, yer not going to be left alone out there Yuki"

Yuki looked at the beaming Majima with an expression of combined confusion and suspicion. As if she was trying to find a catch in his words. (As if she was expecting a prank). Then her gaze moved at Kiryu, before returned to Majima again. She clearly had something to say, but didn't want to talk over Kiryu's response.

[tigerdrop]

This was an unexpected invitation. And yet somehow he wasn't surprised by Majima's wide grin as he made it. It was also true that Kiryu got requests for help like this all the time, too, so he barely batted an eye at it. His hesitation was brief as he glanced from Yuki and Youda back to Majima.

"All right," he agreed easily enough. The could feel the surprise in the room. But this wasn't the first time he'd offered to help despite his better judgement. "As long as I don't have to make any mixed drinks."

He was afraid he'd get something like that all wrong. He had no experience behind a bar. He knew his drinks from being a regular patron and he could read bottles without aid, even the ones on the top shelf, but he knew nothing about mixing specialty drinks. He hoped they didn't do that sort of thing here, or that someone else could handle it while he just got the items for said someone else.

As far as helping out though, he had no qualms about it. Again, it wasn't the first time he'd been asked or accepted unusual requests. This time it just felt more like helping an old friend instead of some stranger. Which was odd since they'd only just met today but somehow he felt more close to Majima and this establishment than anyone else he'd met for the same length of time. Or maybe he just didn't want to disappoint that beaming smile aimed at him. The clever man was having fun and Kiryu felt like he should keep that going, felt like having fun, too.

Only his usual nervousness about new things kept him a little subdued. (No, wait, that was typical from an outside point of view. He was always quiet and intense.) And the desire not to disappoint while trying hard to help.

[hikae]

Yuki giggled and clasped her hands overjoyed, nearly jumping on her feet.

"Don't worry, Kiryu-san. Cocktails are not popular orders— leave the hard work to Majima-san!"

"Eh—? Since when I'm on mixin' drinks duty, that's Youda's lane"

Youda observed their exchange with a stoic look on his face as he stated general words of support without directing it to anyone in particular.

"I believe in you."

And that's how they all returned to their work. Majima grabbed Kiryu for a moment to straighten the front of his jacket, and then fixed his collar. A perfectionist at work. Though part of him did want to get a closer look at the businessman that could hold his way in a street fight. Kiryu carried himself like a— soldier, or a fighter. It wasn't immediately obvious but his shoulders just never slump.

"Remember, any moment ya want to take a break just do so. Customers aren't allowed to roam, so no one will come to the bar aside for me, Yuki and maybe Youda" Maybe being a big word here, since, with the chaos they brought, the man was definitely going to stick to the entrance and nothing else. "Thanks for lendin' a hand and goin' along with it."

[tigerdrop]

"Yeah." It was more a sound of acknowledgement and understanding than an actual word but it got the point across. Kiryu was listening. Even as he tried not to squirm under Majima's perfectionist hands fixing his jacket. It was less uncomfortable and more flustering than he would expect. Majima was awfully close.

He stood his ground though and once Majima was done Kiryu finally snapped out of it, and nodded before responding properly. "It's no problem, Majima-san. I'm glad to help. I'll do my best."

Once he was out there working hard it would all be a breeze. That was just how Kiryu was as a person. He put his all into whatever he did.