middaeg | Greetings always followed by sweet goodbyes [Open]

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Greetings always followed by sweet goodbyes [Open]

Who: Majima Gorō and OPEN
When: June!
Where: Everywhere!
What: Giant chickens, runework, plus quests and basically a monthly catch-all.
Warnings: Violence in the sunbear fight thread. Salty language, maybe.

A: I'll call you Nugget

[ Whoever had said 'don't go borrowing trouble' had been a smart guy, a wise man indeed, but the thing about being told you could potentially learn to transform yourself into a totally rad magic animal was that Majima wanted to do it immediately. So it was a quiet day in the Haven, sure -- up until, with a brilliant burst of magical fireworks, a giant, six-foot tall feathery menace descended upon one of the courtyards, stalking through the garden. ]

Fuck.

[ Someone get an adult. ]

B: Runetchers

[ Majima looked up when the shop door opened. It was a slow day, which meant he'd been making progress with the pile of scrolls and other orders for enchanted items. It also meant that his fingers were cramped, and a little distraction couldn't hurt. ]

Hi there, welcome to Runetchers.

[ He stood, gave the potential customer a little bow in a show of impeccable good manners. ]

Are you lookin' for anything in particular?

Research Required (For Justine)

Oh, I... yeah. Is there any way we could skip that part?

[ Apparently, no one had told Majima that this particular research was going to require Bonding. Hey, don't get him wrong -- connections were important, and so was emotional support? But getting himself magically attached to someone when he still hadn't made peace with the idea of sticking around long-term didn't really strike him as the best of ideas.

...especially since he wasn't sure if he wanted to get un- magically attached. He looked around for a friendly face, wondering how the hell he was going to bullshit his way out of this one. ]

Pastoral Pursuit (For Iramaat)

Hey, uh. For what it's worth, I'm sorry about your ears.

[ Look, maybe while they were wandering out into the woods looking for some stray sheep was not the best time to bring this up? But hey, Iramaat's ears had been kind of cool, and she knew how to nab foxes, and Majima knew if he'd had to give up one of his favorite features, he'd be pretty pissed about it.

With no outward signs of change, it was fairly obvious what side of the monster-witch coin that Majima had ended up on. He climbed over a fallen tree trunk, careful not to stave in its soft trunk. ]

Wildcard

Feel free to hit me up via Tetradecimal or PM for plotting!

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[ And he was happy to lend it to her, as strange as the situation was. ]

Hold it back...?

[ Majima was picking up something fierce, but Justine never really had gone into what was going on when her mind was storming. Not that anyone could blame her; what went on in her head was surely hers alone to share. ]

I'm not sure I understand, but the only reason ya agreed to do this was to help me out, right?

Then let me help ya in return. If there's anythin' I can do...

[It's something that's difficult for Justine to talk about because she doesn't like feeling weak but Majima can already feel it, can't he? That teeming darkness. He has to know that there is something inside of her, a rage and frantic darkness clawing to get out.]

I do want to help you Majima. [Her lips press into a soft smile.] You've done so much to help me. [Justine's shoulder presses against his and she uses the contact to ground herself to the spot.]

It's just. Sometimes very loud. Crazy. That's what they called me. I've tried to take medication for it but it only makes me sick and this place. I don't think it has anything like that. [Thomas makes it better, he makes it go away.] I thought I could hold it back.

I'm sorry.

[Justine gaze falls.]

I might be the worst person for you to bond too. The extra magic has helped but I'm not good at holding it back for long. It's always there. I- I hate it.

[ His expression grew solemn as he listened to her, and... yeah, it would have been nice to know as much ahead of time. But Justine couldn't have reasonably known what the effects of the Bond would be, either. They were supposed to stabilize people, right? Ground them.

So he tried to reach out with his own nascent experience, explore around the edges of that teeming sensation.

What darker impulses Majima possessed were part of him, tied up in his being -- they always had been. He gave them outlets in a hundred small ways, and the more he accepted them, gave them an outlet, the more himself he felt.

But Justine? It looked like she was different. Perhaps not entirely so, however... so he slipped his fingers around hers. It seemed to help, that contact. ]

I appreciate the sentiment, Justine, but this Bond thing's supposed to go both ways, right? Think that maybe I can help past donating a little magic.

[ He reached out for the pen, scrawled out a line of spidery runes that glowed and wavered on the page. A charm to bolster Justine's resolve, lend her extra strength. It ought to work, right? He'd been studying Enhancement more than anything else. ]

[Her fingers curl around his as she falls into the calming warmth of his touch.

It isn't the same as it'd been with Thomas but there is something similar in the connection between them now. She felt Majima sitting at her side, warm and alive, his heart beat and more. She hadn't focused on the connection. Justine hadn't wanted to intrude on his privacy but she clung to it now, letting it fill her.]

Right.

[Her eyes drop to the pad of paper sitting in her lap as Majima scrawls the familiar looking runes.] Majima. [Warmth floods through her chest as the spell fills her, cutting off what she'd been about to say.

Her cheeks flush a pink rosy hue as her gaze lifts to meet Majima's.]

Thank you. It's not always so bad. Just sometimes. I feel better. Like this. [With him.]

I'm glad.

[ And for once? He could help instead of hurt. Surely that had to be worth something, even if he'd had to give up something in the bargain. Majima lifted his hand, touched his fingertips to the side of her face before he realized what he was doing. ]

Uh, sorry. I didn't...

[ He remembered now what it felt like to kiss her. It would be great if he could stop thinking about it. ]

[Justine reaches up and gently intercepts Majima's hand, pressing his palm against the smooth curve of her cheek.]

It's alright. [Her head turns and she lightly presses a kiss to Majima's palm.] This feels good. I don't know if it's the bond or maybe it's just you but- [Justine's cheeks flushed as she looked up at him.]

I like it.

[She's always been forward, it's just her personality, but this feels different and she's almost embarrassed at the sudden change.]

[ He regarded her for a moment. The last thing he needed was more complications... a line of thought he maintained right up until he leaned in for a kiss, and not to her palm.

His lips were warm against hers; he thought he could feel the heat radiating from her skin. ]

I don't know, either.

[ But at present, he didn't really care. His face was still close to hers after he pulled away. It did feel good to touch someone -- to share in the kind of closeness he'd done so long without. ]

But I'm glad it's you.

Edited 2019-06-06 02:22 (UTC)

[His lips were warm and soft as they gently met hers. It wasn't like the kiss they shared before. This was simple, more earnest and without the hazy distance of that dream world.

Justine sighed, basking in the lingering heat and comfort of his lips.]

Me too. [Her voice doesn't rise above a whisper, as if the two of them have suddenly slipped into their own private world; away from everything that threatened them.] I'm glad it's you.

[The connection runs deeper than a Bond. There is a similarity between them that Justine hasn't noticed before. Maybe it's rage or pain or stubborn strength but it's not something that's easily ignored. Not while they're connected.

She wants to find out what it is.

Justine leans forward so that her lips rest lightly against his before speaking.] If we... [She inhales the heat of his breath and shivers.] If we keep doing this. I think... I'll want more. I know I will.

[ In answer, he kissed her once, and then again. And why not? He was a million miles away from anyone who'd care, he'd broken with Sagawa and the others, so why the hell not? ]

That a problem?

[ His voice was a low murmur against her skin, his hand moving down to rest on the small of her back. ]

I'll stop if it is.

[ And if it wasn't...? ]

[Their lips met again and again until she once again heard the soft deep notes of his voice brush against her cheek.]

Don't stop.

[Justine slides a little closer, pressing her shoulder and hip against Majima's side. A jolt of electricity curled through her frame as heat blossomed in her chest.]

I want you and... [Her voice trailed off as she lightly rest her forehead against his.] I want to give you all of me.

[ It was a good thing no one was around. That was the train of thought running through his mind as he slipped his fingers under her chin, tilting her face the tiniest bit upward for better access.

It felt somewhere between draught and dream, kissing her like this. ]

I think we want the same thing, Justine. But... we should find someplace inside.

[ As tempting as it was to simply slip her free of the layers wrapped around her, something still registered about the potential dangers of being outside: the reason they'd been asked to Bond in the first place. He didn't want her to come to harm, but as importantly? He wanted to feel around the edges of that connection -- someplace both of them could afford to explore without the risk of prying eyes. ]

[Her chin rose and their lips met again, a sweet note of need plucking from her throat as their kiss deepened into something more. It's better than a dream and deeper than before. She wants to lose herself in him but to do that they should find somewhere safe.]

yeah.

[Justine places one last innocent kiss against his mouth before pulling back a little further.]

Where should we go?

A hotel? Your place?

[ He gave her a small, wry smile. ]

Suppose you've never been to mine, huh? My roommate's a little... eccentric.

[ His fingers were playing lightly with the ends of her hair as he considered the question. A little basic teleportation would probably do it, but... ]

[Justine exhales a soft huff of laughter.]

So is my roommate. I think- either is fine. Or any of those three.

[She brushes her fingers along his hairline, trailing behind his ear while wishing she could run her fingers through his long dark hair.] We can always lock the door.

[She hasn't practiced teleporting and wouldn't want to try it normally but their both witches and bonded together. Maybe it's okay if she hadn't actually practiced the spell.] I'd like to see your room.

My place, then. Hold tight.

[ Or rather, he was going to slip his elbow in hers as he concentrated, then began to write a series of runes in the air with his fingertip. The air warmed, hummed -- and then the world faded around them, until they ended up outside a small apartment.

Oh. Well, he'd actually planned for them to end up inside, but at least he had the keys handy. The door opened up into a two-bedroom, and Majima's particular bedroom turned out to be a spare and neat one. Magical books along one shelf, a few personal items.

There was one minimalist vase in the corner, featuring an elegantly-crafted arrangement of small flowers and stems. ]

It's not much, but I'm tryin' not to accumulate a lot of stuff.

[Justine leans towards him as he begins to paint the ruins in the air. A rush of magic tingles against her skin and then they're standing in front of his home. She recognizes the area and makes a mental note of where Majima lives before following him into the house.

It's a pleasant place and Justine isn't surprised to see limited personal items or the neat arrangement of flowers. They had been at the same flower class.]

I like it.

[She turns towards him, placing her palm lightly on his chest.]

It suits you.

[ He gave her a small, dry sort of smile. ]

Thank you. I've got a feeling we're going to have to apologize to some witches, though.

[ After all, they had sort of skipped out on (at least part of ) their mission. He leaned in, brushing his lips lightly against her forehead and a dark curl of her hair. Her distress seemed to have vanished, so he assumed the earlier spell was working -- but it was a temporary measure, wasn't it? ]

Studyin' actually came in handy. Who knew?

Edited 2019-06-11 02:37 (UTC)

We'll make it up to them later.

[She closes her eyes and focuses on the hum of energy twisting pleasantly between them. His lips are warm and soft, and they bring a small smile to her lips. The voices are still there, cruel and unforgiving, but somehow the magic or Majima has beaten them back. It doesn't feel like an incredible struggle but a passing one that manages to fall to the back of her thoughts without care or worry.]

I get the feeling that you're a quick learner too.

[Justine rises onto the tips of her toes and lightly presses her lips against his. Her palms rest on his biceps while she gently probes the threads of magic twisting between them.]

I do try.

[ Which was not quite the extent of things. Majima found it uncomfortable to be stripped of his strength, to say the least; his studies had been a singleminded effort to reclaim what he'd lost. To be able to move again, feel weight behind his blows again. To now have to wait for days for a minor cut to close and heal.

If it helped him now to salve some of Justine's voices, all the better. His aura had a kind of warmth to it -- not stifling, but present, and at times it was hard to separate that from the low murmur of his voice.

He started slowly, one arm curling about her waist as he pressed a few kisses to her lips, the corner of her mouth, the back of her jaw. He remembered now that they'd done this once before, but outside of a dream, things were different.

Clearer, cleaner. As if he had control of himself, even if he chose not to exercise it. ]

But I've got a feeling the same goes for you.

[ Justine seemed like a survivor, well-suited for adapting even to these strange circumstances. ]

[His lips were tender and warm, gently placing kisses on sensitive sections of lovely pale flesh. Her breath softens and her eyes drop as she focuses on the humming warmth threading between them. She can feel him: calm, confident and present. This is her first time experiencing a bond but she knows that she'll always be able to feel him. It is as if he's filled a place inside of her that she hadn't even realized was empty until it was filled.]

I get by. [She whispers, her palms slowly moving up the curve of his bicep as she slowly begins to map the smooth contours of toned muscle. Justine knows that Majima is strong, anyone looking at him would be able to tell but there is more to his strength than first meets the eye.] I'm not very good at giving up.

[Her lips curve into a sweet smile as she carefully closes the distance between them. Her fingers curl at the back of his neck before placing a kiss to his throat. Her lips trail down his neck.]

I can still feel it but it's easier somehow. You make it easier.

[It might be her own strength holding her together now but Justine doesn't think so. He'd helped her... probably without knowing the full extent of it.]

Edited 2019-06-13 12:06 (UTC)

Maybe a little too easy...

[ Because he felt almost like this situation had taken on its own gravity. It wasn't like him to get tangled up like this, skip out on what he was supposed to be doing, only he couldn't much bring himself to care.

He pressed up against her, hip to hip, and then his hands were slipping under her back and knees, kissing her temple and high up on her cheek before he set her down onto the comforter -- surprisingly soft, white, and puffy. ]

Is this... because of that drink? The bond?

[ His skin felt warm; it felt even hotter where he came into contact with Justine. Was it her he was feeling, buzzing at the back of his mind? ]

Maybe. [Justine's voice is soft and sweet as Majima sweeps her off her feet. She curls briefly against his chest, letting his words repeat in a round in her head.] It might be but-

[She meets his gaze, her fingers reaching up to brush across the angle of his jaw.]

Is that a bad thing?

[Her throat constructs while her heart flutters nervously in her chest.] I don't think it's only that. The Bond magnifies what's there and I- I've liked you since we first met. Since you first kissed me. Since you watched over me as I slept. [Justine's cheeks flushed and she briefly looked down at the blanket, feeling the soft fabric against her palm.]

You... don't have a lot of people you can trust, do ya?

[ He brought his fingers up to take hold of hers, brought them to his lips as if in greeting -- only of course at this point they were a little beyond greetings. ]

I like you, too, Justine. I don't... actually, I don't think I've met anyone quite like ya before.

[ Majima set down on the bed beside her, upper body curled in towards her and long legs perched over the side, braced against the polished wood floor. ]

Tell ya what -- after this Bond wears off, I'll make ya some eggs and toast, just the way ya like it. And for tonight...

[ Maybe it was all right to forget himself. ]

[His remark startles her because it's true and she's never had someone call her out on it before.] I- [Her voice trails off as he lays along side her. It's comfortably having him close and she feels a light tingle of warmth dancing across her skin as his body presses lightly against hers.

Justine smiles.]

I don't think I've ever had someone cook me breakfast. [Her gaze meets his and she feels her defenses softening.] I'd like that.

And you're right. I don't trust a lot of people. For a long time there was only one person I could trust and even then... I couldn't trust him completely either. [She runs her fingers along his biceps and then gently cups his cheek.] But I want to trust you.

[Her voice lowers to a whisper.]

Even if it's scary.

First time? I'd better get it right, then.

[ His tone softened as he felt that light touch, first over his arms and then against his face. ]

I don't know if I deserve the honor, tell ya the truth. But... maybe we can both trust each other. How's that sound?

[ He kissed the tips of her fingers, hand at the small of her back, to tug her a little closer. He smelled like the open air outside the city mingled with smoke, and he undid the first of the buttons of her blouse almost as if in a haze himself. It was strange, but it was almost like the sensation was feeding back into itself.

She was so close, so lovely... ]

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