( open ) here I am, swollen red

[breweries]

Who 🍷 Shylock and you!
What 🍷 The softest of openings of his bar, Hemlock! Haniwa may or may not be there. And maybe some other substory prompts?
When 🍷 Anytime this month
Where 🍷 His bar, Hemlock, and all over town probably.
Content Warnings 🍷 tba


source | bar reference

Comments

[worldbent]

Photographs? [Matoba chuckles softly as he sips at his tea.] Shylock-san, if you are that curious, you should see interesting sights with your own eyes.

[Tsk, tsk. He's not an errand boy, wizard. The Alliance were all merchants of information, and Matoba offered for free only what he believed would yield fruitful results. Speaking of that, though...] ...You know, cats make excellent agents. [hm] Perhaps you should try hiring one of those clan bakeneko to bring you something interesting to look at.

[He finishes off his cup of tea and pushes it back towards Shylock. He'd gladly take another as they chat, but he meets Shylock's smiling gaze at his question and gives a soft breath of a snort.] Of course not.

[Leaning in across the counter of the bar on his elbows, Matoba lowers his voice- soft, conspiratorial, and just a touch playful.] ....Where do you think we are, Shylock-san?

[breweries]

Or, we could go together. [ suggesting it as if there's absolutely nothing wrong with that arrangement whatsoever. ] I shall find time for us to set off.

[ maybe he could get murr to go with him instead? hm, yes. either way, it'd be a nice little date at the edge of town. how exciting...!

and it's because of his excitement that he returns matoba's conspiratorial smile with his playful own. ]

Hell, of course. Or at least part of it. But don't you find it strange that some of us don't even remember how we arrived here?

[worldbent]

[Matoba blinks once, mild surprise crossing his features. Investigate, with this troublesome creature? He might not have the insurance that came with investigating with a member of his own clan, but they were not explicitly at odds, either. .....It could be fruitful, only if it was intriguing enough to keep his interest. With interest, came agreeability... That was what he had learned so far, of this wicked and unpredictable ayakashi called Shylock.]

[He leans thoughtfully on his propped hand, and appears to consider it.] We could, [He agrees, with a light and pleasant tone to his voice.] There are so many interesting rumors going around, these days. It would be more fun to investigate them yourself, after all. And I must admit, [They're already leaning into it, those dangerous smiles of theirs, so why not?] I am as curious to see you at work.

...I do wonder about that. [He tugs back, just enough to keep the tension at bay.] Hell... Perhaps its construction is not as the legends have told it. Of course, the likelihood that most of us have died seems quite low. But because of that, perhaps this city is not a place for those who have truly died, and since none of us have received judgment, it can't really be said that we are being punished, either.

[breweries]

I didn't expect you to be so agreeable. [ a light chuckle. he was so ready to be rejected outright, you know? good thing matoba isn't that heartless <3 ] And I am just as curious to see you and your abilities in action, if you will let me. It is what you would call a "cultural exchange", correct?

[ sort of. either way, if there is anyone whose kink is Knowing All The Information, it's matoba. shylock will have quite a time with this strange, strange little human.

now, as for this other discussion. shylock barely acknowledges the tension between them, but he smiles nonetheless at the exorcist's words. a hopeful one, at that. ]

That is most reassuring to hear. I don't mind a small detour when this realm has been quite exciting so far. Moreover, I still have an important job to do for when my contract is fulfilled.

Do you?

[worldbent]

Why, Shylock-san, you think I wouldn't want to spend time with you? [Matoba smiles sunnily, and tilts his chin on his crossed hands.] I wonder what sorts of abilities will become necessary, in a rough place like that. We will have to see, won't we?

[He certainly does have an idea, already. Kim had scoped out the area already with his partner, he had been told, and gave him an overview- rough and tumble. Outcasts of clan society. Violent temperaments to be expected. And a sort of survivalist mindset that allowed them to persist on the edges of the Wastes...]

[Matoba wondered what sorts of things the youkai out there saw on a daily basis. Wonders how they might be bartered with, or... convinced to provide insight.]

[Shylock's view of their stay was predictable, for an ageless ayakashi who saw the passage of time here as merely an amusing pastime. The bastard knew. He was just trying to get a rise out of him.]

I have a great many plans, [He agrees, and finally detaches himself from the counter, a signal of finality.]

[Reaching into his kimono sleeve, Matoba draws out the change to pay for his tea.] ...The Tamamo clan really does carry the finest quality in teas and apothecary, I must say. Are you planning to rotate your offerings? I will come by and sample more often. Unless, of course... [He glances to Shylock's "guests" again, pensive.] ...We are all brought to ruin, sometime before that.

... Shylock-san, are you familiar with warding spells?

[breweries]

[ yes, they'll have to see. it's no different from being sent out to missions back on his world to investigate the phenomena around the great calamity, so at least shylock will know what to expect...? or maybe not. shylock loves surprises too <3

he'll graciously take the payment, thank you. ]

Yes, the menu does change every... well, every time I'm in the mood for it. [ his bar is almost like a box of chocolates that way. ] Need I remind you, Mr. Matoba, that this is a bar and not a teahouse, and thus I look forward to the day when you can finally indulge in one of my perfected creations.

[ a wide, genuine smile stretches across his face. please, as if they're all not ruinous already. but that's part of the fun. ]

As for your question, I do know what warding spells are, but it's hardly a specialization of mine. Why do you ask?

[worldbent]

Libations are something I save for special occasions. Partaking too often will only lead to it becoming dull, I think. [That's not the real reason and they both know it, but Matoba also doesn't necessarily think that Shylock will try anything with his drinks- not without some cause, anyway. Simply the very risk of being affected by alcohol was enough.] But I look forward to trying one of your concoctions, Shylock-san. Something sweet enough for my tastes, I hope.

[Warding is not one of Shylock's specializations... What is, he wonders? Perhaps he will get to find out, when they have their little adventure, but for now Matoba slips from his seat and strolls cautiously towards the haniwa.]

It is one of mine, in a sense. Although Natori-san is more talented in that area than I am, actually.

But perhaps I may offer some assistance with this ...problem. Unless you are pleased with the negative auras gathering in your bar? [He is, after all, an ayakashi. Maybe he was fine with that, but even the youkai in this city seemed to want nothing to do with these haniwa. It probably wouldn't be good for his business...] --No strings attached. Consider it my contribution, for providing such a fine place to gather.

[breweries]

[ a rather convenient excuse for abstinence, but shylock will take it. no pressure at all. regardless, he really can't wait till matoba gives in on his own accord -- and he will take note of sweeter cocktails very soon. ever the sweet tooth, isn't he.

but anyway, shylock brightens at matoba's offer. ]

The influence of the haniwa might not be easily solved as of right now, but some assistance in restoring the peaceful ambience of the bar would be very much needed. [ he'd mention that once again, he did not expect matoba to offer in the first place given his overall demeanor, but shylock will keep that notion to himself. he does a small bow. ] Regardless, I look forward to do more business with you in the future.

[worldbent]

[Every little thing had a purpose- Matoba might say 'no strings attached', but that was as a matter of specific repayment; it was still a gesture of goodwill towards the wizard that would shape their relationship in the longrun. Whatever personal feelings he might have towards wizards and what they were, it was genuine when he called Shylock a valuable contact, and the bar, a valuable place.]

[From his sleeve, Matoba draws a spelltag between his fingers, and aura begins to seep into it with his concentration and chanting, activating the spell.] This spell will target and repel malice from any ayakashi that attempt to cross your threshold, haniwa or otherwise. My experiments have have shown that the haniwa manage to erode even spells such as these rather quickly, so whoever is sending them our way may perhaps be actively targeting any attempts to evade them.

Unfortunately, without more information, there isn't much I can do about that.

[Matoba walks towards the entrance to the bar, and posts the spelltag on the frame of the door- there it seals itself against the entryway, protecting whatever entered.] ...If you notice it beginning to weaken, do give me a call. Regular maintenance seems to help.

[How tiring that was... But, he had a shortlist of locations that he would revisit, to renew their seals. The bar would be there, somewhere.]