[open] no strings attached

[no_kyouken]

Who ⬤ Majima & Open
What ⬤ Night Parade
When ⬤ April
Where ⬤ Around
Content Warnings ⬤ Cross dress, violence, alcohol, probably smut somewhere.

Prompts in comments, wildcard me with anything else you want. You can catch me in the discord or DM me at itsabee#1072. OOC plotting comment Feel free to double up prompts, I will tag you however many times you want. majima 🎶 goromi 🎶

Comments

[no_kyouken]

[ Miss Emily! How bold! Goromi only feigns scandal for a millisecond before she has leaned in with conspiracy, ]

I'll be your darlin' any night.

[ She nudges them out of the way of some ridiculous dick-shaped float, tugging Emily in against her front for a moment as it slides past them. ]

One'a th'Tamamo girls told me about a cute little bar with five star food. Ya wanna check it out?

[medicative]

With the greatest of pleasure.

[she has no doubt that the current part of the parade is fun all its own, and there's something to be said for the sheer freedom that it brings people, but right now, she'd be happier following Goromi's lead. there's always later, after all.]

[no_kyouken]

[ Goromi leads the way through some tiny, winding streets. She's probably a little better than most at figuring out where things are just from experience, but she's also new to this particular town. It takes her a minute, they loop around a block one extra time, but then they spot it: The Pumpkin Parlor. It's a tiny thing and all its decorations are styled like kabocha. Kitschy but adorable. Goromi holds the door open for her as they head inside, pumpkin shaped bells rattling on the door. All the little chairs have pumpkin themed pillows on them. Goromi snickers behind her hand a little before she waves hello to the mama and they find a seat.

All the cocktail names are pumpkin puns. All the food made with differently flavored kabocha. ]

Whaddya think?

[medicative]

[it's obvious how Emily's eyes sparkle when she looks around the place. sure, it has a gimmick, but the gimmick is cute, and she thinks that something adorable paired with supposedly great food is worthy of high praise. it's small enough that you could miss it if you weren't looking for it, but that makes her more intrigued to try it out.]

I think it's delightful.

[glancing over the menu, there's too many options that look great...]

Mind if I follow your lead? Just to start with.

[that way if something was great, they both knew, and if it was awful, they'd try it together.]

[no_kyouken]

[ She smiles lazily, pushing her hair over one shoulder. ]

Yeah, I'll pick out a couple.

[ The first drink is Caught Off Gourd, a sake and grapefruit cocktail that has that pumpkin color from the dilution of the grapefruit. ]

Let's try this kabocha tempura first.

[ Orders in, she puts her elbow on the little table to rest her chin in. ]

Really, it don't bother ya none, me playin' girly?

[ Not exactly that she'd expect rebuke but she's aware that she's spent their entire time knowing each other as Majima. But Majima is a lot of things. ]

[medicative]

[she shakes her head, folding her hands on her lap.]

You seem happy. That matters to me most - whoever you want to be for the night, if you're happy with yourself, why would that bother me?

[it's very simple, as she sees it. no need to tie herself in knots about a concept that's straightforward - if someone she loves is happy, then does it matter whether they call their self Majima or Goromi or anything else at the moment? they're the same person, the same heart she's been entrusted with holding, and seeing less tension, an easier smile...

like she said. that's beautiful.]

[no_kyouken]

Do I?

[ She wonders to herself, gaze downward for a moment but lifting when the first round of food and drink is brought to them. She quirks a smile at the waiter, says thanks quietly before reaching out to swirl her drink a little. ]

In Sotenbori, they were makin' me run this real classy cabaret club. Didn't know how t'do it, but made myself figure out how t'be this real refined host who said everythin' just right an' was always lookin' t'make the customer feel like a king.

[ There's something unsaid in that: that when Majima doesn't know what to do he makes himself figure it out and is willing to dismantle himself to do it. He had already told her he doesn't know what to be in this town, maybe there's some clarity to him in what a pretty hostess does. ]

It's all real phony, me an' the girls just makin' a big fantasy where you're th'most important person around, let ya flash yer cash like ya are. They weren't allowed t'touch th'girls but they were allowed t'throw hands at me and talk t'me like trash.

[ She tilts her head a little, thinking about something, and raises her drink to her lips. Maybe there's some power in being charge of the whole thing as Goromi. Strong enough to throw off hands, pretty enough to invite a good time. ]

[medicative]

Giving them the illusion that they're the ones with power...

[her fingers rest on her drink, but she doesn't touch it yet. what she doesn't say is that it sounds the same as it ever is, flattering people with money or bending yourself to someone else's wishes. that, and she privately hates the idea that Majima simply had to endure being treated like that - it pulls at her heart, even though there's nothing she could do to change it.]

And I bet you were absolutely miserable the entire time.

[no_kyouken]

Was miserable for a lotta reasons.

[ Body still recovering from a year of torture, being haunted around town by Sagawa's men, being manipulated and slapped around by Sagawa himself, being kept from Saejima, not knowing what had happened to Yasuko, working himself to the bone at that stupid club. Then everything that had happened with Makoto.

She picks up a slice of tempura'd kabocha and eats it carefully, it's still hot. ]

Dunno, wasn't in th'mood to be miserable today.

[medicative]

[sipping from her glass, she nods, and watches her carefully, gauging what she can from her actions. there's a lot she doesn't know, but she'd already resolved not to press her. when Goromi chooses to say something - like about the club - it's meant to be taken as it is, and what depths she goes to are her choice. that's their understanding, and it's a patient one.

what makes her happier, what she wants, Emily will support her in. it's that straightforward, so says the calm smile on her face. that's the nature of her love - if she is accepted, with all she is, then she accepts back, and only wants the best for the other.]