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

(It's not that it doesn't affect him because he can feel the heat and he'll surely be burned if he lets his touch linger but he definitely has some resistance because... he is a sword, yeah.

His heart drops into his stomach. He doesn't understand what's happening, how Shylock's chest can be on fire like this, and he has so many questions he wants to ask. Even when he tries to suffocate the fire, it doesn't stop or grow weak. He feels the same heat and he reluctantly lets go so he can support Shylock instead.)

It's not going out.

(He sounds confused, and stressed, and there's a creeping panic even if he tries to keep his head level right now. Not here. Somewhere safe? They're in the middle of the city. Everywhere is a shop or a business of some sort. A cafe full of patrons, a convenience store crowded with shelves, a cramped flower shop, a clothes store with people going in and out, and...)

Lean on me.

(Determined, focused.

He shifts his body so Shylock can lean on his side. Despite his size, he's stronger than he looks. When his mind is set on something, he carries it through and right now his mind is set on taking care of Shylock. He can drag the wizard over to the hotel the cafe is attached to and sets him down on one of the couches in the lobby. It's the middle of the day, quiet, everyone is either out exploring the city or eating lunch.

Again, he tries to cover the fire with his hands, the edges of his sleeve covering his palms. Why won't it go out?)

You need a healer. (He thinks.) Or a doctor. I can call Emily--

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?

Emily--

[ he can barely cough out her name before that familiar searing ache causes him to stagger, his free hand wrapping around her wrist over his flaming heart. he can't even say that he doesn't need her help at all, since it's pretty much her job, so... ]

L-Lay me down, at least. Can you... do that?

Wh--

[ the sudden 180 of murr's personality causes shylock to stop writhing in pain, actually. shylock turns to stare at him, all wide-eyed, before more burning pain from his heart catches his attention yet again. ]

It's been back... For a while now. I knew it's going to come back to h-haunt me at some point, but...

[ he cries out in pain, collapsing on the floor again. at least he's conscientious enough not to lie on the carpet in case that'll catch on fire too. ]

[ lean on him, he does. and come to think of it, shylock thinks idly (somehow?!) as the sword carries him throughout town -- he hasn't seen hizen in action like this, expression as sharp as a well-maintained blade. he'd comment on it if he wasn't, you know, in total fucking pain, but he's doing his best in focusing his vision on one spot and it just so happened to be hizen's pretty face.

the hotel looks... rather fancy? it's to shylock's taste, probably to appease this wizard or something, but it only makes hizen look out of place. he winces when hizen addresses him and especially when he mentions emily. ]

Y-You can't. [ but not because he doesn't need her help or anything, ] There's nothing... she can do. About this. Have to wait until... this blows over--

[ he sucks in a sharp breath as he lurches over, hand still gripping at his smoking heart. he did tell hizen to take him somewhere safe, but the fact that he took him to a hotel of all places... doesn't the sword know that he'll tease him relentlessly after this? oh well. ]

(It is truly just a random hotel in the middle of the city and it just happened to be on the nicer end. It's fine. The desk staff look over at the two and whisper to each other. Are they guests? They don't recall either of them checking in this morning or on the last shift...

It doesn't matter. Hizen's priority is Shylock. If others want to talk then let them. )

Water...? Or--

(Shylock leans forward and Hizen's hand reaches to grab a hold of his free hand then. He gives it an anxious squeeze and tries to )

You're in pain. (He's trying to keep focused, stay calm. Now isn't the time to lose his cool,) There's gotta be something. Anything...

Of course.

[to aid him into lying down, she can do that with her other hand, guiding him into a prone position while one tries still to smother the flames. it's not sustainable - she has to try, and if nothing else she can ease the pain, minimize the damage. her own powers at her fingertips, and a counterlight comes from her hands. the healing trying to fight it off, to soothe the agony in his breast and repair what damage there might be.

it's a single wall against the tidal wave of the moon's power, but she stands behind it, trying with all she has.]

[ whatever humor that he could find in this has left him. for some reason, seeing shylock in actual pain... it doesn't hit as hard. in fact, it hits in a completely different way. how he feels isn't pity for the other wizard's injury, nor is it a smug satisfaction that murr has been spared the worst compared to others?

or, his was the worst and he just doesn't know it when it hurts more than just him.

murr slowly crawls off the bed. he slides down next to shylock. despite the fire being dangerous and hot and indiscriminatory... he decides to risk it. ]

... you're not gonna turn into ashes, are you?

[ it's a silly question, he knows. but. never hurts to ask. ]

[ shylock can only shake his head. there really is nothing he can do... not on his own, at least. nonhumans they may be, they can't be any more different. ]

Just... Hold me, Hizen. Stay...

[ even in complete duress, he still has the gall to say words like that. it's appropriate for a hotel stay, what can he say. the hotel staff does ring them in though, letting hizen know that a nice spot on a high enough floor is vacant. a perfect view for a friend who's seemingly burning to death, tbh. ]

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?

[ come to think of it, this is shylock's first time seeing her in her element, eyes zooming in on her healing hands. it's not unlike how figaro does it, but then again figaro himself is powerful in his own right, so shylock would be lying if he isn't interested in what emily can do.

unfortunately, even the doctor herself is no match for the moon's curse. the fire almost seems like its growing stronger, outdoing the glow in emily's fingertips. shylock continues to sweat and writhe in pain. ]

Emily... There's. Nothing you can do... against the moon.

[ shylock's eyes flicker at him in wonderment. what's with that reaction? is murr trying to play with his feelings again? ]

You... You'd like that, wouldn't you? But it wouldn't be that easy...

[ a bitter laugh escapes him as he continues writhing on the floor in anguish. ]

I'm used to this by now, Murr. Don't-- Don't tell me you're showing pity now of all times...

[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.

(He can't help but glare at the hotel staff when they come. Can't they see he's busy? Unless they have something helpful to say or do, he doesn't care what they want-- ah. A room. His look softens only just slightly and he looks back at Shylock.)

Can ya move? (He gives Shylock's hand a squeeze,) I'll help ya. You can try to rest... or... or somethin`.

(And he will help Shylock to the elevator, carrying much of the weight on his shoulders, mindful to not strain Shylock more than he needs to. All the way up to the room, where he doesn't even care to check out the view or anything else in the room. He just wants to set Shylock down and... and he doesn't know? He holds his hand like Shylock had wanted him to but it just feels useless.)

[it doesn't mean she won't try. there has to be something she can do, something she can make happen, and it's only when the presence in her head shrieks that it's throwing energy into a bottomless pit, that she'll just wear herself to shreds, that Emily pulls back. her burned hands can be healed, but all she can do after is hold him and wait, and it's terrifying. if she keeps watching, he can't die on her. he's stronger than that - she has to believe.

whatever the moon is doing to him, she begs of it to stop.

time passes, flowing slow like crystalized honey. but it does pass, and she's still here. if that's the only thing she can do for him, she'll do it. waiting, for this to either do the job or end.]

[ what's he supposed to say next?

'yes shylock! i would love to use you to feed my flowers! black and purple ones! lilies and roses and carnations and...'

but even as he thinks about expressing those thoughts and as a smile creeps up on his face, murr hart stays quiet. he smushes his face into shylock's side, wraps his arms around him the best that he can despite how hot he's getting, and just. lies there. for a second. breathes in, breathes out. if he had a real tail, it'd be flopping side to side. ]

Just 'cause you're used to it doesn't make it hurt less.

[ it's not pity. ]

[ 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.

[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.]

[The corner of Matoba's mouth curls. Yes, his interactions at that party had been very ... enlightening ... with regards to those rankings, as well. Ydris had seen to it that he would be showed around to those Celestials who had been digging into their pockets in order to rocket him up to the top of the polls. And from what Matoba had heard from them following the party, their efforts had been very fruitful in securing additional funding for the app.]

They were certainly very enthusiastic. --Did you know my supporters have formed a rivalry with Natori-san's fans, all of their own volition? [His smile brightens from tenuous to earnest with just that thought.] Those Celestials are certainly the foolish sort. The saying goes 'a fool and his money are soon parted', but I suppose when you have that much of it, perhaps it isn't such a worry.

[Matoba isn't going to mention that it had been his idea to gussy up the clan, lest he be compared to these Tamamo sorts... But at least that sense of taste could be appreciated. The exorcist looks up from another sip of his tea, as Shylock laments. Outside of the bar, the last time Matoba had a drink had been at that "beach party", hadn't it? That was an interesting afternoon, to say nothing of what followed.]

Are you that eager to intoxicate me? [His lips twitch upward again, a fingertip tapping on his cup.] ...Very well. One cup cannot hurt, I suppose.

Think of something for us to toast to.

[ how the staff even allowed a guy with a burning heart stay in their hotel is beyond shylock's comprehension, but he'll give them a large tip for accepting him in despite that. for now though, he'll focus on getting on his feet and be guided along by hizen, the burning in his heart seeming to intensify the further up they go on the elevator.

once he's collapsed on the bed, shylock tries his best not to curl in or put himself in a compromising position that'll set the sheets on fire. wouldn't want to make hizen pay for extra fees, after all. ]

I'm... I'm resting.

[ he gives hizen's hand a very tight squeeze, wincing at the pain in his heart. he kinda feels bad? that there's nothing hizen can do in this situation, but in a way it is kind of cute to see him this helpless. it's a look like no other. ]

Just give it time... My affliction will just. Die out on its own.

[ so just wait, and wait. hizen will soon see that the fire is slowly dying down, and he's free to place his hand on it if he wants until he completely vanishes. oddly enough it did not burn a hole through his clothes, but there is a heavily singed portion on his breast, right where his heart is. ]

(It's a hotel in youkai hell. Surely they get customers just as strange if not stranger.

Useless useless useless he's so useless right now and returns the squeeze. He's holding on tight, absolutely anxious, and doesn't let go of the wizard. As Shylock struggles through the pain, he tries to make it as comfortable as possible. It's awkward but he reaches out to keep Shylock's hair out of his face and just... tries to stay calm.

Panicking won't help. In situations like this, it's... it's important to be a reliable figure. Yes, this is what he's learned from his time on the battlefield, at least. Be a steady source until help comes or... time runs its course. And that's what Shylock had said he'd needed, right? Time.

The fire dies down and with it, some of Hizen's anxiety. He sits up, more alert, wondering if this is his chance. Can he finally do something? He reaches his free hand out over Shylock's chest, feeling the flames weaken. He lowers his hand carefully as the flames grow smaller, trying to smother and bat away at the embers.

Interesting. Despite the strength earlier, he'd expected to see Shylock's clothes damaged but... there's nothing. The more he thinks about it now, it makes sense that it would be a magic flame or something. Not once had the fire spread... it just burned in place.

Quietly,)

Hey.

(And again, he fixes Shylock's hair awkwardly,)

... Shylock?

[ the great calamity may be lightyears away from where they are but its effects can still be felt by certain wizards, and shylock is certainly no exemption to the rule. with cain's own affliction still affecting him even now, it was only a matter of time before his own comes back to haunt him, so he's been prepared for a while now...

and yet.

shylock will give her this though, as he continues to writhe -- he's glad that emily knows not to push herself too hard in times like this. the fire does die out after a while, and shylock can easily breathe again albeit shakily, lifting a slightly trembling hand to place it on top of hers. strangely enough, the fire did not leave a hole in shylock's clothing, but rather a simple singed portion. ]

Emily... [ he pants, giving her a weak smile. ] That gave you quite the shock, didn't it?

[ ah, of course. murr would never show pity -- not now, not ever. it's something that shylock has failed in teaching him over and over while he did his best in raising him up again from nothingness after the great calamity did him in.

somehow this very fact, and just... murr in general, is making his heart hurt even more than his flaming heart. indeed, love and hate truly are two sides of the coin, and shylock has never felt so much of both at the same time until now. it's a familiar feeling that puts him in ease despite the intensity of both concepts intermingling in one another. ]

Murr...

[ he sucks in a breath once more, as if the conflicting emotions in his heart is making his affliction worse. he stays there in murr's embrace, writhing in his grasp as they wait for the fire to die out on its own. when it does disappear, he can only pant and catch his breath as he lays limp there, completely exhausted. ]

Fufu. We do share living quarters, but he is outside of my jurisdiction for the time being. He is the Sutoku Alliance's problem now, and I won't lie that I'm looking forward to how my exorcist acquaintance will be handling him.

[ that goes to emily and ryouma too, but. ehh. it's funnier to see how matoba deals with them in general.

also, it's true that shylock would never give him anything that tastes bad. or anyone, for that matter. but he still likes to egg owen on, so -- ]

Hm? So you don't want me to make you a chocolate cocktail, I take it. I have been wanting to make a cocktail with sweets for a while now, but since you don't care...

[ oh? now this is news. usually it's shylock who would bring up natori in normal conversation with matoba, so he's pleasantly surprised to hear matoba talk about him for once. or their fans, for that matter. ]

A little bit of drama would benefit you two for the long run. Or at least with Mr. Natori and his rising status as a star. [ no such thing as bad publicity. ] And don't you worry about the Celestials and their ever-fleeting taste in people. If anything, you should have taken advantage of their goodwill and ask them for more information -- for a fee, of course.

[ capitalism, ahoy! at the mention of intoxication, shylock mirrors matoba's furtive smirk and takes a short bow. ]

I will. And I'll also show you how much I learned since the first and last time we'd drank matcha together. One moment, please.

[ just going to make a short exit towards the backroom where he's sure he'd purchased some matcha and a special whisk for the occasion-- ]

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

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