( closed ) i'm the wound you tried to hide

[breweries]

Who 🍷 shylock and certain people
What 🍷 shylock's affliction from the moon comes back with a vengeance.
When 🍷 anytime this month
Where 🍷 anywhere they wanna be
Content Warnings 🍷 shylock's heart is literally going to be on fire. it's not pretty. the rest is tba since owen will be here and will be saying some fucked-up shit inevitably.


art credit | plotting comment

Comments

👁️ matoba

[breweries]

I do have to wonder, Mr. Matoba.

[ shylock asks, acknowledging the exorcist seated in front of him at the bar this fine day. it's business as usual, despite that disastrous opening night at tanabata. this is exactly why he does not vibe with the underground, okay? despite the prettiness of the place, it did nothing to deter the assassination attempt on ryouma for the nth time, nor the successful kidnapping. he can only sigh just thinking about it.

but anyway, he's preparing the teacup now. and speaking of which-- ]

There are other teahouses in this certain Tamamo district that offer delightful teas and services. [ u know which ones. ] You liked the pina colada I made you last time, didn't you? I could make you one again.

[worldbent]

Hm?

[Matoba is, as he often is these days, seated at the counter of Shylock's bar with his chin in hand, eying the glint of bottles on the back wall and listening to the soft clinking of glass and ceramic as Shylock prepares his drink.]

[It was true that Matoba did imbibe once in a while. For business, normally, or for ritual- it would be impossible to fulfill his duty as clanhead if he couldn't hold his sake. But it was also true that he rarely did so when at Shylock's bar, specifically.]

[A smile curls his lips as he watches Shylock work. The bar was quiet. Just the two of them.] Are you so eager to have me enjoy your concoctions, Shylock-san? ...I have a few tea houses which I do frequent, as well. However, they fulfill a different purpose to me than the one your little bar does.

[His eye falls to the pretty cup Shylock has selected for him.] When I have an occasion to drink to, I assure you that Hemlock will be at the forefront of my mind for that. How's that?

[breweries]

I'm delighted to hear that.

[ he sounds sincere about that, actually. look, their relationship at this point may be businesslike, and there is no hiding the barbed comments that they subtly throw at each other behind practiced formalities. but matoba certainly is... influential, there's no hiding it. it's no wonder he quickly rose to the ranks of the alliance, no thanks to his experience as clanhead.

today's flavor is darjeeling, by the way. while hemlock doesn't explicitly serve tea, shylock does make them if asked -- particularly when said patron wishes to sober up some. and as always, shylock makes them by hand before handing the teacup and platter over to the exorcist with a smile.

curious how they're the only ones at the bar today. but alas, even a place as popular as hemlocks experiences slow days every now and then. these kinds of hours aren't so bad either. ]

I can make sweeter cocktails just for you. Or you could always imbibe one of my non-alcoholics. The ensemble you'd worn at the festival suited you rather well, so why not drink the part?

[worldbent]

[Shylock gets one of Matoba's trademark mischievous, brimming smiles as his tea is slid across the counter to him. Sincerity is always in doubt between them, and has a lot more to do with the circumstances around their conversation than the topic itself.]

[It is, of course, no mystery why Matoba would choose the slower hours- less youkai. Having already been scolded once, he has no intentions of getting hounded into any other scuffles with youkai that would rather not be in his presence, because if that were to happen, they would not leave Hemlock unscathed.]

[And that would just be a shame- if he could not enjoy Shylock's service anymore.]

I'm enjoying a non-alcoholic right now, aren't I? [He protests, with a delicate sip at his tea. The floral scent fills his nostrils; it reminded him of the feel of Shylock's aura.] Oh? Did you like it? We Sutoku had quite a lot of business relationships riding on that event, so we ensured that we would be seen properly by both our investors and our rivals. You know, Shylock-san, I am quite used to doing business with individuals of that ilk. [The wealthy, the influential- the Matoba ensured that they kept good relations with both.]

But I did have a few drinks that night. [He meets Shylock's eyes.] There was some sweet punch, with a bit of mint... It was summery and refreshing. I'll have it again, sometime.

[breweries]

[ a shake of his head. you know what he meant!! but he is now quite curious of these business affairs matoba had had -- whether it's from home, or here. ]

It makes sense. You are from a renowned clan back home, after all. And I'm sure the Celestials were eager to meet you in person after those ranking results.

[ dressing himself up on the proverbial red carpet... but apart from him, it has been rather pleasant to see the other sutokus all dressed up for the occasion, so shylock's certainly not going to complain. it's not like there's anything to worry about when it comes to faction fashion either; everyone knows that the tamamo clan will always outdress everyone no matter the occasion, so for now, they'll let the alliance take this one. ]

I certainly wished I could have joined you in drinking. Come to think of it, we haven't done that in quite a while. [ since their little matcha meetup way, way back then. how time flies. ] Would you like me to serve you a cup? For old times' sake.

✨ natori

[breweries]

Come to think of it, it has been quite a while since I walked around town like this with somebody.

[ shylock had come across natori on the way back to the bar, and since they're going to the same destination anyway, they may as well go together. just the sight of these two celebs in the making is bound to make any nosy paparazzi notice, but that's not this bartender's concern at the moment. ]

Thank you for accompanying me, Mr. Natori. [ he leans to his side, lowering his voice to a whisper. ] You have to smile wider for the camera. There's one right behind that bush. Sad, isn't it?

✨✨✨✨ a month later I'm gomen

[paperpusher]

And you're choosing to share it with me? I'm honored. [It's the sort of nothingburger of a comment that Shylock has come to expect from him at this point: polite but meaningless dazzling celeb filler, without even bothering to sparkle or make the effort to really sell it as sincere. (They both know he doesn't mean it; his brain is just stuck this way.) But it's a nice night, and he does like spending time with Shylock, so here they are walking together-- and apparently drawing attention just for doing that.]

Ah, good eye, Shylock-san. [Natori leans in to meet him, like two confidants sharing a secret. He doesn't glance over towards the paparazzi; he's used to Hiiragi and the others giving him this sort of heads up, and long ago stopped second-guessing them. If Shylock sees it, he'll trust and play along.] You'd think there'd be something more interesting for them to talk about, wouldn't you? We're not even doing anything untoward.

accepts u into my arms ✨✨

[breweries]

Oh, hush. As far as I'm concerned, you're the one with the face plastered on a movie screen while I'm hidden away in a dingy bar. If anything, I should be honored that you're taking the time to escort me. Or might it be the other way around?

[ fufufu. regardless, that's what the paparazzi is assuming at the moment. which isn't entirely false? but the dangerous thing is that they can easily make up anything about these two celebs on the fly for sheer clout. it's a little pathetic, but what can you do.

he leans in to listen to natori's whisperings, nodding along to what he says. ]

They must be getting desperate. There's nothing like a little scandal that spices up the presses some. [ Rising Star Natori Shuichi Seen With Hemlock Bartender??? ] The sooner we evade them, the better.

[ all of a sudden a familiar prickle of pain starts up in his chest, and he chooses to walk faster and almost leaving natori in the dust. hurry! ]

[paperpusher]

[Man, Shylock wasn't kidding about evading them. He speeds up so quickly that it takes Natori a second or two to catch up, doing his best to make his pace look normal and effortless. That moment of hesitation was likely noticeable enough; they don't need the paparazzi thinking they've been spotted.]

Running draws more attention to us, [Natori cautions under his placid smile. He hasn't picked up on anything going on with Shylock besides a desire to get out of the spotlight.] I know we can't help but be extraordinary, but it'll be easier if we act as boring as possible.

💉 emily

[breweries]

[ shylock had no real reason to visit clinics in general, to be honest. wizards, after all, are pretty sturdy, and if they wanted to be healed they can just go to the friendly neighborhood doctor figaro himself.

still, he is curious of emily's work, and so he'd arrived purely by surprising and probably stunning the physician out of her usual work. he has that effect on people, he knows. ]

Good to see everything's working smoothly. [ don't mind if he hovers over her now, as she does her thing. ] Although I am curious. Wouldn't it better if uniforms were provided to the staff? It shouldn't cost as much.

[ says shylock, a bougie kinda guy, ]

[medicative]

[trying to keep Shylock out of hovering by while she does inventory is about as effective as trying to keep a cat from sitting in one's favorite chair, so she's given up for now. instead, she's counting with her clipboard, but she looks back in confusion when he mentions uniforms.]

It costs more than you're thinking it does. And despite our success, this isn't a highly profitable venture. All the spare money right now is going into fixing the second floor.

[does she look like she has money? she does not. it's all in the clinic.]

[breweries]

Second floor?

[ he tilts his head, much like a cat. ]

Well, that takes precedence, of course. But you must consider a uniform for yourself, at the very least. Wouldn't it be nice to wear a freshly laundered doctor's coat every now and then?

[ his priorities, are usual, are a little skewed. but at least he's got the spirit? and he'll gladly donate -- in secret of course, in case emily rebukes his offer because she seems like the type of gal. ]

[medicative]

Maybe...

[she's definitely thinking about it. but Shylock is right, she'd refuse from him - not because she doesn't need it, but because he's also a business owner, and she wants him to be able to sustain his as well.]

It certainly would look rather professional. It's an idea that will keep until our facilities are fixed.

🐹 hizen

[breweries]

[ maybe he shouldn't be flying around town if his affliction has been coming back full-force lately. but shylock has always lived on the edge even when knowing this, and he needed to feel the wind on his face that only broomsticks can provide anyway. makes him feel free in a way.

so when the fire starts in his chest again, he starts convulsing in midair, hand clutching over his burning heart that causes him to go off-kilter and losing his grip on his broomstick. ah, to go out like this is actually pretty lame, shylock thinks as he plummets towards the ground. he knows some witches and wizards who had turned to stone by falling to their deaths via broomstick, and soon he'll be next...

oh well. at the very least he gets to feel this sweet ache in his chest, the exhilaration of falling down, down, down. murr will have to be on his own from now on. what a shame.

what a shame indeed. ]

[harimaya]

(Here he is, minding his own business in the city. It's a sunny day and he sees a shadow fly over him. He looks up, raising a hand over his eyes to look up into the sky to see what it is. Ah, he recognizes a familiar silhouette of what he now knows to be a broomstick. He's caught Shylock flying across the city every now and then and it usually doesn't matter to him the city is so crowded he doesn't stand out at all and Shylock is so high up in the air that neither of them can really notice but today is different.

It's afternoon in a part of a city that usually only wakes up at night. There aren't many people around if any at all and... something seems to be happening in the air. He squints to try to get a better look. His vision is naturally quite good but even he's limited when looking up into the sunlight. It's then that Shylock begins to fall and Hizen instinctively holds his arms out and runs to catch him.

Never mind the fact that from that height, he'll surely get knocked into the ground by the force. He isn't really thinking about the consequences.)

Oi--!

(He catches him in his arms! And immediately tumbles back wards, crashing into the asphalt but it's fine. He'd rather take a few scrapes and scratches than let Shylock crash to his death. He'll recover by the morning with his healing.)

Watch what you're doing up there! You could've died--!

(He starts screaming and scolding before he can even get back up. Yeah, he sure is holding Shylock in his arms though. How's that for a cushion? All 167 centimeters of twink! Give him a moment to realize exactly what the hell is going on. He's dumb from adrenaline and combined with a (slight) natural resistance to flame, he doesn't quite register that Shylock is... you know. On fire.)

[breweries]

[ --ah.

he didn't die. he would know, because he would've turned to stone once he hits the pavement before the fire in his heart consumes him entirely. but no, he was saved by a pair of arms, and a familiar voice and face. ]

Hizen--

[ he winces again, hand clutching at his literal burning chest once more. he can barely hear what the sword was scolding him about -- something about dying or whatever -- but more pressing matters are at hand right now.

haha, so much for being his usual suave self. now hizen gets to see this side of him too. isn't that exciting? ]

[harimaya]

What?!

(He snaps because not even Shylock is allowed grace when he crashes onto him from how many meters in the air but it's right about now that he begins to notice things. The pained way Shylock calls his name, making him channel his annoyance into proper worry to see if he's hurt. Followed by the way Shylock grips his chest, the scent of smoke that doesn't make any sense, and a feeling of warmth that feels familiar to him.)

Oi. (He sits up setting Shylock upright so he can really see.) What's wrong? What're ya--

(Hands reaching to move Shylock's away, fingers feeling an unnatural warmth from his body, and everything dawning on him.)

Hey!

(And he places his hands over Shylock's chest to try and smother the fire out.)

The hell is this?

🧁 owen

[breweries]

[ wizards may be inherent loners, but at the same time they seem to gather at more familiar places no matter the country. for these ragtag bunch of absolute misfits, it's shylock's bar -- even owen, bless his twisted heart, haunts the place quite literally. ]

Normally I'd ask fellow wizards how they're faring in this realm, but you must be doing fine on your own, Owen.

[ shylock's just finished putting the finished touches on owen's drink before sliding it over to him. ]

But if it ever gets too lonely and Cain's company is simply not enough... Fufu. You know where to find me.

[ whaddahell is he implying, though. ]

[sicklysweet]

[Can't believe Shylock's already propositioning him... smh....]

Cain's company? I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about.

[He says like the two of them aren't horribly entangled in each other's lives and they didn't absolutely fuck only a few weeks ago... But Owen is defensive by nature, trying to smother anything that could be a weakness.

He's not a wizard known for his connections or bonds to other people, and he likes it that way, but you can always expect a Western wizard to see right through you.]

But I wouldn't mind doing you a favor, if your cat's misbehaving too much.

[Now what's he implying...]

[breweries]

[ owen, please. unlike the both of you, shylock's eyes are perfectly fine and he can easy see what's going on between them. though it's just as indescribable as his own relationship with murr, fated pairs... really do be like that. ]

You have no idea how honored I am to hear that from someone like you. But Murr has been behaving as far as I'm concerned...

[ is he, now. since murr's at a different faction, it has been hard to keep track of him even if they share living spaces now. but in a way, it keeps their turbulent relationship spicy. ]

And I'm sure he won't mind. It's not as though we are truly together. [ HAH. ] Now, what would you like to drink today?

[sicklysweet]

[There's nothing to see! At all. Ever. It's easier for Owen that way.

Either way, he scoffs.]

You just say that because he can't go poking into the Great Calamity and making everything more difficult for you and everyone around him - without his magic, and his influence, and without his knowledge of how this world works, what threat does he pose? How long do you think that's going to last, though?

[How long until Murr stars causing problems on purpose...!]

I'll take whatever. I don't care.

[Shylock's not going to give him anything that tastes bad.]

🌙 murr

[breweries]

happy s'mores day

[murrvelous]

[ they sleep together, usually. there are more nights than not where murr may crawl into bed before shylock or vice versa, but somehow he gets his paws on the other western wizard. some nights result in one stealing all the sheets. some nights result in one wizard practically splaying out with each limb going to each corner of the bed, other bedpartner be damned.

and some nights... well. most nights, the purple haired one wraps his arms around shylock and smushes his face into his side and just. holds it there. falls asleep almost suffocating himself.

this night, however? ]

Shylock... [ murr grumbles. why is it so warm in their room? he presses his hands against the other's side and pushes. just slightly. ] ... it's hooooot.

[ he's not going to open his eyes though. he wants to return back to dreaming about the moon. ]

[breweries]

[ gone are the days of sleeping on a hammock... having murr as a bed partner is truly reminiscent of owning a human-sized cat with 3am zoomies. it's a miracle that shylock is able to sleep at all when they lay in bed together at all, but he's pretty much used to it. just slap on his sleepmask and BAM, he's fuckin gone.

and today, he may as well be gone for real. shylock groans -- not in annoyance, not in pleasure, but in sheer pain as he clutches his chest once more. why... why does this keep happening. he keeps getting his affliction these past few days... ]

Nngh--... Murr...

[ his side of the bed is starting to catch flames, his pillow singed as shylock pushes himself away from murr and rolls himself off the bed to protect them both. he lands bodily on the floor, slowly gets up with one arm while continuing to clutch his poor heart with the other.

this is just going to by shylock's no-good very bad month, huh. ]

[murrvelous]

[ it's the thump that makes murr jolt into a seated position, hands in front of himself defensively. are they under attack? what's with the smoke and the light to his side? as he's about to take a peek over the edge, shylock stands. it's already obvious as to what's going on, yet it still surprises him every time.

something about not having memory that either works or doesn't.

right now, though? they have to get this fire snuffed out. there's only one reasonable way to stop it. murr grabs his pillow and starts to wave it at shylock--- trying to fan the flames away because clearly the best way to stop a fire is to basically blow at it.

yep. ]

You're... you're on fire!

[ a second then: ]

... we could make toast...