oh, this? i never saw it. ;
It’s been a full month since he’s started working here, and it’s grown on him. The manager? Yeah, she’s pretty awesome. Customers? Okay, they get kind of rowdy sometimes (he’s dodged a bottle twice now), but those guys don’t last very long. Those are the ones that came in during the day with little else to do with their life but to drink, complain about their wives, and leave after getting into a bit of rough-housing with another guy.
If he had a wife he’d totally worship her, though! Why are so many dissatisfied people coming in during the day talking like they’ve got nothing? At least their best friend didn’t--
He’s a day shift kind of guy. Early morning to early evening, and then he goes to a few classes at Kamii to fill in the extra time. A few hours of homework after that, and he’s sleeping until he works next. Anything to forget, really, even if that’s impossible considering his constant reminder is a part of him. Or, rather, what’s no longer a part of him.
Hide’s off days tend to be physical therapy and workout days. Why does he need physical therapy? What’s his constant reminder? Well, for starters, he’s missing a leg. Half of one, actually -- on the left side. In fact, all along his left side, his flesh is mottled with scar tissue that looks like something or someone took a million bites out of him. He’s not really too keen on telling the real story, though -- V14 is a sore topic he’s broached with no one but Kirishima Touka since he was hospitalized. He doesn’t resent him, hell, he let him; he’s just convinced he’s dead.
His cover story is a rather fantastical one, and that he actually enjoys telling, even if it changes a little each time. The gist is that he went hiking in the woods and got attacked by a bear, and luckily his beautiful face was spared from the beast’s rage. The tale is always ended with a fake tear and a laugh about how he was visited once a week by a beautiful woman. Yeah, he loves that story.
What he loves more is that occasionally he gets to drink while he works. And after two years recovering in the hospital, a transplant or two, and intensive physical therapy, boy can he use some drinks.
So yeah, it’s been a month here, and he’s honestly never worked a better job. But, his perfect bubble of safety might just shatter soon. Very soon. Like, now. Well, it was an illusion, anyway, and maybe it won’t entirely ruin things. It’s not like he’s been stalked on his way home from work and made into someone’s dinner yet, so--
Nagachika Hideyoshi might just be in some deep shit, because the manager is behind him (is she one?) and he’s got a bottle of what he is absolutely certain is blood. And he knows because, without a label, he had only two ways to find out what it was, and he was glad he went with option one first, because the moment he pulled the cork he could smell it. Pungent, horrible, and it burned. The last time he smelled this much was... It’s blood. This is a bottle of blood. He knew any bar might have its ghoul patrons, but this is blatant enough that he wonders... how many?
Nodding to himself as if it’s nothing, however, he’s putting it right back where it was and going back to wiping down the bar. Did she see him? Is he going to get chewed on again? Damn it, he’s not ready yet. And Hide’s certain he must be, against his better instincts, paler than a ghost right now.
“Hey, Itori, did I ever tell you about the time some guys in high school shot fireworks at me for the firework challenge?” Time to act casual.
