backyardbbq | Shop Visits! (Open post!)

Shop Visits! (Open post!)

[Maybe you stumbled upon the front gate to a strange house while walking in your neighborhood. Maybe you found it nestled between skyscrapers in a downtown area. Or maybe you didn't stumble across it at all, and instead fell into the backyard or something. The way you got there matters little. What really counts is that you're there for one reason: a wish.

A want. A desire. Something you can't get on your own. Something you want so badly that you would do anything to get it.

Well, you've come to the right place.

There's plenty to see in the house. The foyer is nice, and the kitchen is well-stocked. There's several other rooms as well: a sitting room, a dining room, a couple bedrooms for the people who wander upstairs to look, and a rather luxurious bathroom too. Several rooms open to the outside as well, so it's easy to come inside by many different paths.

But ultimately, you will end up face-to-face with a screen that opens into a room with a table and two chairs which overlooks the backyard.

And in that room, you will find the shopkeeper.]

[What happens now? Well, that's up to you, isn't it?]

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[So fine, maybe she was expecting too much out of that little matchmaking party, and maybe she was just impatient when it came to the two blind dates she had snagged. She couldn't expect to meet a guy on the first try, right? This was just a matter of time, and now she had plenty of that now. Patience was a virtue, and she just had to repeat that to herself until she believed it.

But still, it sucked. Having just left her third date that had gone wrong, Shura isn't feeling terribly optimistic about her prospects. She means to just drop by a convenience store and pick up a few drinks to console her, but she's distracted by a ghoul she spies on the corner, a the mangy looking remains of a cat that seemed ready to lash out at whoever came close. On most any other day, Shura would have let most demons be if they weren't causing immediate harm, but damn it, she's pissed and the bugger might cause her a headache later if she lets it go.

In the end, she has to chase the little shit down a few alleys, but once she has it cornered in a garden, she takes care of it easily. Unfortunately, it leaves behind a stinking corpse and Shura realizes that she really doesn't know where this garden suddenly came from. Well. Crap.

Fine. She can do the right thing and tell the owner she accidentally broke into their yard and ask for a bag to dispose of the dead cat. It's strange, though. She doesn't have to look far for one of the house's inhabitants, he's standing right there on a patio. Was he watching her the entire time?]

Ah, yeah. Sorry 'bout this. You got somethin' I can wrap that up with?

[Well it was less 'watching' and more 'getting ready to kick a ghoul out of his yard', but details.

Shura's way might have been a bit more finite than what Watanuki had planned- the broom in his hands is a good indication of that- but it works nonetheless. The cleanup is just going to be different, that's all.

Speaking of which, Watanuki indicates to a pile of wood nearby.]

This place is a nexus of energy. To kill something here means it needs a proper funeral.

[Or else negative energy will settle in. Yes, even from a cat, of all things. Everything deserves some respect, or so Watanuki thinks.]

You prepare a cremation pyre, and I will get the offerings ready.

Wait--seriously? [No good dead goes unpunished!! She should have left the stupid thing to the exwires or something.

She's not going to start building that pyre quite yet. Nexus of energy? She didn't know anything about that. ]

What are you, some kind of medium? Y'know it was dead before I got to it, righ'?

[She just.... rekilled it. ]

That's no reason to be disrespectful to her.

[Her, not it. Because he sure can see that dead cat's ghost, even if Shura can't.

Speaking of which even if Shura can't see the ghostcat, there's definitely a chilly presence nearby.]

The offering is going to be sake, by the way. And if you help you get to partake in it.

[She was chasing after a ghoul, her concern for the cat's dignity and wellbeing were pretty secondary considering

How the heck am I supposed to know whether or not it's a she--

[Oh. Shura notices the ghost belatedly, looking cute and sweet in one piece with a pink ribbon on its neck. Probably a girl cat, yeah. She huffs, dragging a hand through her hair.]

Jeez, what a pain. [Fine, Shura can (very grudgingly) move her butt to start building a pyre for the cat. She just wanted to vent out some of her frustration, not get involved with a little cat funeral. The fact that he's promising her alcohol of some sort is the only saving grace of all this.]

Seriously, never woulda come down that way if I knew it'd involve alla' this. [In spite of her grumbling, she is actually doing a good job of stacking the wood for the stupid pyre.]

Edited 2018-04-17 23:42 (UTC)

[Sorry Shura, you're getting involved with the cat funeral.

Watanuki does disappear into the house to get a bottle of sake and three dishes- two cups and a saucer- and brings the items with him when he returns a few minutes later.]

Ah, it looks like she approves of it. You've done a fine job.

[Yes, he's praising Shura there. She looks like the type who needs it to keep working.

The cat ghost is rubbing up against Shura now too. Look, she made a friend!]

[UGH]

I ain't a dog, y'know!

[This guy, was he praising her as a way to soothe her ego or something?? What a brat. How old was he to be talking to her like this, anyway?

Still, she'll keeping stacking the wood. And cat, no. Stop it. Shura can't handle a ghost cat being sweet and purring at her while she builds a pyre for it.]

Oi, don't look so happy for this.

[She isn't going to shoo the ghost away. Honestly, it's a little hard to resist the urge to pat the cat's head when she rubs against her, but that's a line Shura won't cross.]

[He's much older than Shura, that's for sure. Appearances can be deceiving sometimes, especially when magic is involved.]

Of course not. If you were a dog, the cat wouldn't like you very much.

[He's chuckling there too. Shura's a funny person, he likes her already.

He's stepping over to where Shura and the cat are though, bringing the sake and dishes with him. He doesn't bother to slip on shoes as he steps out onto the grass either, walking entirely barefoot while wearing just his kimono. Then he will sit seiza-style by Shura and begin pouring the drinks, leaving the saucer out for the cat.

Who immediately goes over to drink from it. And yes, somehow the ghost is drinking up the sake. Imagine that.]

[HE DID NOT

Shura paues in her work to fix a stare a stare on him, glaring as he crosses the yard. Little punk. Even if she knew his true age, she'd still be calling him that. But there is sake, and damn that cat is chugging it down as he pours it for her. Maybe they would have gotten along in another life?

She sets the last chunk of wood, glancing over to the cat and shakes her head.]

Wouldna' put you for a lush. Lookit you.

Didn't you know? Cats can be quite the drinkers.

[With the wood stacked, Watanuki passes Shura a cup. Then he'll hold up the bottle of sake, indicating that he will pour for her.]

That might be why she was coming here. I have an impressive stockpile of booze.

Edited 2018-04-18 01:26 (UTC)

Ahh, I don't have much experience with 'em, no.

[Nagas, on the other hand... Well, that was a different story. But thinking about it, wasn't that how Shiro tamed Kuro? She'd have to ask Four-eyes later.

Finished with her work, Shura moves to kneel down beside the weird guy and the lush cat and sit in a mostly-respectful way, folding her legs under her. She has the feeling that if she doesn't follow the rules, she's not going to get her sake. She'll take the cup and cradle it in both hands as she holds it out for him to pour for her.]

But you have a stockpile? Nyaa~, I'm impressed. [Could he legally have a stockpie of sake who provided this to him...]

[It's more 'inherited' than 'stockpiled', but details.

He will go ahead and pour her a cup of it. It's the Good Shit too, she'll be able to tell that by the taste.]

There's a few that come around here sometimes. They keep coming back for food and drink. They're good to have around though, cats keep the mice away.

[Not this ghost cat though, this cat is just drinking and then lounging about on the grass while the two humans drink up.

Once Watanuki is done pouring Shura's cup, he will pour out some for himself as well.]

I suppose we should be thanking her for leading you here, though. You're nearly three months late.

[Inherit would make more sense to Shura. Grandpa the boozer left his good sake to his favorite grandkid. That was more reasonable than this guy buying all of it with his face.

But man, this is the Good Shit. Shura has to stop herself from automatically taking a second drink. Good Stuff is hardly her thing, but she knows not to waste it by chugging the whole cup at once.]

I guess that makes sense.

[Keeping the mice away, something Shura hardly had any reason to really consider before. If a place had mice, she'd just leave and move on. That was just her way of life as an adult.

She's raising the cup for a another drink when suddenly the guy mentions being nearly three months late. Shura stills, just for a moment, then smiles. It's not a particularly sweet or nice smile. It's purely strategic, better than snarling at a stranger whose temper she didn't know.]

Three months late~? Haha, that's a new record. You been talkin' to Four-eyes or somethin'? I ain't usually that late for anythin', even borin' meetings.

[She will not take that next drink, not when she has no idea who she's drinking with.]

No, he's even worse than you about keeping his appointments with me. I have been waiting for him since the beginning of summer. I suppose I can't blame him entirely though, a certain clown-faced adversary has been keeping him busy.

[Gossip and sake, the best combination.]

Hopefully he will make it here before he speaks to the light-bearer again. He faces quite a bit of misfortune if he goes down that path.

[sip sip siiiiip]

We can talk your business once we are done here, though. Your problem is much more interesting than his.

[Her grip on her cup tightens as does that smile of hers. The hell was this guy? She has an initial panic for herself, but since he seems to know something about Yukio (And... shit, he wasn't talking about Lucifer, was he? How was that guy involved?), it;s becoming something full blown. Getting into trouble herself was one thing, but if it involved Yukio or Rin...]

Y'know, I think the only business we have is takin' care of this cat~. I'm not staying for anythin' after that!

[He never confirmed or denied whether or not he was a medium when she asked. She shouldn't have assumed he was just sensitive to spirits.]

['Medium' isn't quite the correct title for what he is, though it's somewhat close to the truth. Close enough that he can't give a yes or no answer without an explanation, which is why he skipped it.

Plus, funeral duties to cats.]

If you want to leave after that, it is your choice. But you did me a favor, so I will have to give payment before you leave.

[Cleansing the demon hiding in that cat, he means. He still owes for that.]

But you were led to my shop for a reason. Nobody ever comes here on accident. You might want to consider why you were drawn to a wish shop in the first place.

I did that on my own, so don't worry about it.

[SHE'S AN EXORCIST, she's paid to do this. So fine, maybe she was off duty and all, but that's not the point.]

Honestly, I don't got any idea about what you're talkin' about, and I ain't interested in any kind of contract right now, so let's just get this over with.

[What kind of wishses did she have, anyway? Nothing that a demon could give her. At least, nothing that she'd be willing to pay the price.]

I don't do contracts.

[He says that flatly. He's a perfectly normal human, thank you very much.

But since she insisted, they can move on with the funeral. Before long the pyre is going, and Watanuki is murmuring a Buddhist prayer as the fire goes. The cat's spirit lingers for a while, listening to the prayer, before finally giving one last meow and fading away.]

There. It should be at peace now.

And I ain't gonna give you whatever it is you want from me.

[She doesn't trust him. He's not giving her enough information to believe anything else, and demons lie anyway.

She can sit politely through the ceremony; it's not her first, and it's probably not her last. But it won't stop her mind from racing. What was this guy, and what did he want from her, from Yukio? He hadn't said any names, but he said enough. But maybe he was messing with her, like those fake psychics who air ads on television late at night. But once the cat's spirit fades away, Shura is rising to her feet, setting the cup of sake down. The cup remains mostly full, and it's only a little pity that she has to leave it behind.]

If you'll excuse me.

Kimihiro.

[He says that suddenly, as she is getting up to leave.]

That is my name. Watanuki Kimihiro. To answer your question from earlier.

[The 'are you a medium' question. Because 'kimihiro' means 'prophet', which is totally an answer to her question there. In his own, obscure way.]

If you change your mind, you will be able to find me here. All people with strong wishes end up here eventually anyway.

[It's enough to stop her from turning on her heel and leaving immediately. Kimihiro. She gets the meaning and fixes a hard stare on him. What, was he trying to earn her trust or something? It's a bit late on that.]

I don't trust guys like you. [Mortal or not. She dislikes anyone who can throw out bits of information, personal details that a decent person shouldn't know.]

And I'm gonna make my own future, so you don't gotta worry about me and my wishes, okay?

Of course, if that is what you want.

[Not everyone who comes to his shop ends up having a wish granted, after all. Though to be fair, most of the people who visit for non-business reasons are friends, not someone like Shura.

It's a little disappointing, though. He does ultimately want to help her. Maybe she will return another time.]

I should ask that you do not mention my name around the clown or the light-bearer, though. Both of them are looking for me, and it would be quite unfortunate if either of them made it here. I'd rather not be made into a tool for either side of your world's war.

Yeah, yeah, whatever.

[a pause]

My world? Hey, even if you're from Gehenna, it's still your deal, too.

[There was, of course, the possibility that there was something more to this. She's seen enough crap that she wouldn't have believed or considered before this, so she knows to keep a somewhat open mind. But only a little open.]

This is neither Assiah nor Gehenna.

[And he just. Points upwards.

When did it become night time? That is a good question. But more importantly, none of the constellations will look familiar to Shura.]

I am called a lot of things- prophet, shopkeeper, wish-granter, witch of dimensions, 'witch' in general sometimes too- but ultimately I am human. I wouldn't do well in Gehenna, it's not a place meant for humans.

Edited 2018-04-18 04:19 (UTC)

['This is neither Assiah nor Gehenna' her foot. She's opening her mouth to give a sharp retort, but he's pointing up. She almost doesn't follow his motion, partially out of spite, but also because she still just doesn't trust him not to trick her. But it's enough to lift her gaze to the horizon, now dark, and she follows the sky up to see a sea of unfamiliar stars.

Shit. Her hand flies to her hip, but her side is bare. Apparently, civilians didn't like it when you came to a date armed. Left a bad impression or something. But damn, she wanted Fang, even if only for comfort.]

I don't care what they call you. What have you taken me?

[Snarling at someone who may sincerely just want to help isn't polite, but Shura doubts that this is harmless. She doesn't recognize any of these titles, they're all meaningless to her. Just who was calling him this, and why did they matter? Human? Fine. Human with what kind of backing? No one had powers from just out of nowhere. They learned them, somewhere, somehow.]

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Shop Visits! (Open post!)

brb ignoring everything terrible going on in canon

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