jigokulogs | ( open ) 003

Who ⬤ Hizen Tadahiro & you
What ⬤ Catchall for May & June
When ⬤ May
Where ⬤ See prompts
Content Warnings ⬤ N/A for now

SUBSTORY 1: MOON MEDICINE

(It was just mochi. How dangerous could mochi be? There's a reason why mochi is up high on Hizens' list of favorite foods and it's because mochi has never done him wrong.

… Yeah, this definitely isn't his brightest moment and in his defense, he never pretended to be particularly smart.

It's a warm, sunny spring day but Hizen is bundled up in his hoodie and a scarf. No matter what does, he can't fight off this chill and even being out in the sun isn't helping. Desperate, he tries to buy a hot drink from a vending machine if only so he can have something to warm his hands with and

it just takes his money without giving him anything. He tries one more time and gets the exact same result! He can be found sticking his arm up the slot, shaking the machine, or punching it. Sensitive to being watched, he turns his head to see you. Yes, you and snaps, teeth chattering,)

What?! (He's defensive,) Stop looking!

(And please don't perceive the fact that he's literally shaking while he yells at you.)

SUBSTORY 2: VEND ME A DREAM

(They had to retrieve a photograph of a certain host and then bring a hitobashira some takoyaki from a particular vendor that required waiting in an obscenely long line that never seemed to move. After getting the takoyaki, they had to go to a cafe and find a kitsune who was actually a very offended tanuki who asked them if they tried the vending machine alley on the other side of the city. When they get to the alley, they find a strange vending machine in the place that should have had the vending machine they were looking for. It looks like it's been replaced with one that just gives ominous mystery items instead.

His body is small and can only hold so much frustration before he explodes. He lets out a yell when he sees the vending machine,)

Aaaaaaaah! (He kicks at it which makes it beep and flicker,) Where the hell is it?!

(An entire floor full of vending machines and the right one isn't even here.

Maybe you were already with Hizen on his quest. Or maybe you were also led to the hall of vending machines. Or you just heard about this weird place and want to try your luck for unrelated reasons.)

SUBSTORY 4: HANIWHAT?

(He isn't the most sensitive person, even back home when he knows what to look out for. It's easy for most things to slip past him if he isn't paying attention, especially in Jigoku-cho where there are so many things happening, a strange occurrence here and there can be overlooked. But these dolls are strange. He isn't an expert on them but he recognizes them for what they are. They're old; far beyond in his time or knowledge. At first, he hadn't thought much of them but the more he noticed them, the more uncomfortable he became.

These things just feel bad to him. They make him uncomfortable and put him on edge and when he hears that the Enma are calling for them, he's relieved. Good riddance. He has no idea what they're up to but it isn't going to be his problem.

But everyone is so nosy. Everyone wants to push their luck and see what they are. They touch them, they move them around, they treat them roughly, and it just makes him feel anxious. When he sees you checking one out, he snaps,)

Oi. Leave it alone.

(He's clearly irritated,)

You're gonna get in trouble if you keep messing with it.

GENERAL: SHUTEN TERRITORY

(Hizen can be found checking out some of the weapons stores in Shuten territory. He isn't looking for a new weapon— he's perfectly content with his own sword, thank you very much. But when your true form is your sword, weapon maintenance is important. He's shopping for oil, cloth, and other things to take care of himself and he's also asking around to see if anyone can recommend a good smith but no one really wants to give out their source. Instead, they keep trying to sell him a new sword,)

I told ya already, I'm not interested.

(Yeah, but they really don't want to give out their suppliers. It's bad for business, you know?)

I don't give a shit about that. I'm just looking for a guy that can fix things.

(Well, if your sword is broken then might they recommend this one here? It's quite popular with the new recruits—)

I'm not broke!

(Kind of a weird thing to yell but yeah.)

OPEN TOP LEVELS

I'll be adding more top-levels and linking them here so they don't end up lost in the other comments,

⟡ Post-Intro Mingle: (It's raining, it's pouring)

WILDCARD

❀ If you have another idea for a prompt or would like to plot anything out, let me know
❀ Plotting comment here
❀ contact; eski | discord: eski#9874 | PM

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I was thinking of the aforementioned martini, for something that's a little less sweet than what you've been having lately.

[ is hizen already that inebriated, though? shylock better keep an eye on him and the alcohol content he'll be pouring into the drink now that he's working on it! some of the ingredients and utensils start moving on their own too while shy prepares the glass with his own two hands, much like a western fairytale. ]

(He sure is. Do you think he left any Shuten party with an all-you-can-drink deal without being at least a little tipsy? He wouldn't be nearly as talkative if he was sober.

He props an elbow on the counter, face resting on his hand and nods,)

Yeah. (Sure, he'll outright say what he wants,) Haven't had a bad one yet.

(On the contrary, they've all been good.)

... Guess you're pretty good at your job, huh?

[ shuten 🤝 tamamo
never saying no to alcohol

shylock doesn't look up from his work, but there's a smile in his voice as he addresses the sword. ]

I like to think that I am. I have been in the business for hundreds of years, after all. [ a known fact that he's willing to admit to anyone. besides, hizen is a spirit, so he could understand the whole old-age thing as well. ] And even then, this world has introduced flavors and drinks that I have yet to encounter back in my realm. I'll never get tired of experimenting this and that with my drinks.

(Shylock... old. Hizen doesn't think much about it, though. Shylock is right. As a spirit himself, Hizen isn't surprised. It's normal enough for him.)

... But you got your own place back home, don'tcha?

(To be working at something for so long, he has to have his own place, Hizen thinks.)

I do. I established it around... seven hundred years ago in the Bennett region. There's a vineyard sprawled atop of a nearby hill, and a sparkling shoreline stretches out when you look down. It's a beautiful place located in the entertainment district of a lively town.

[ there is much fondness in his voice as he explains, and he serves up the requested drink for hizen to try. ]

I do have another bar at a certain manor where a select group of wizards are currently living in, but I'd say it does not compare to my actual shop. Though the high quality of drinks hasn't changed in either bar.

...

(He can tell Shylock is fond of his bar. He thinks about how long he's had it and how he's kept doing the same thing all of those centuries... it's impossible to not admire it. He's good at something, he loves it, and he's proud of it which is more than what Hizen can say for how he feels about his own skills.)

It sounds nice. (Really.) Bet it's real popular.

(Is that how Shylock got so good at dealing with people, too? It would make sense.)

(He receives the martini in a glass he's never used before. He feels like if he isn't careful, it'll topple over and all go to waste. Or he'll break it and cause Shylock trouble. So he's careful when he takes it and raises it to his mouth for a sip. It's an unfamiliar taste; one he can't describe but he likes this one too. it's simpler and reminds him more of the straight drinks he's used to.)

Your stuff here ain't bad, though.

(He's? Trying? To be encouraging? Or something???)

Bet you could get your own place here if the fox likes ya enough.

[ oh, he's a lot more forthcoming with his compliments now. the drinks certainly helped, but shylock likes to think that maybe the sword is comfortable enough around him even without the alcohol.

but oh, speaking of which. shylock's smile is sly, as if he's been keeping a secret for a while now and is Dying to tell someone. ]

As a matter of fact, I do have a shop in the works. Keep it to yourself for now, hm?

[ he presses a finger up to his own lips like shhh. ]

Unlike Bar Bennett, however, I'll have to allow humans in for the time being. I won't be allowing smartphones and the like, however -- too much hassle for me to keep up with. But I'd like to have Lost Souls who have been left behind by the times to have a place for their own without worrying about the concrete jungle we call Jigoku-cho.

[ ... ]

Will you visit it sometime?

(It's a secret. Okay. He leans in a little more to listen and really focuses to make sure he hears what's so important...

Ah. He'd just mentioned how Shylock could get his own place and here, Shylock already has one. He knew it could happen. And... hm, he can't describe it exactly but he feels a little happy for Shylock. Yes, that's the best way to describe the feeling.)

... As long as you're making the drinks.

(So, yes.)

[ it won't be a secret for too long, but getting to tell at least one person about it is exciting nonetheless. ]

Of course. [ he beams. ] I look forward to it.

[ for now, he'll just have to keep serving hizen until he's warm enough to leave... if he can even stand on his two feet after this. ]

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