⚝ apothecary。

@christopher b。ᵐᵒᵒⁿˢʰⁱⁿᵉ Normally, Matthew wasn't so easily unnerved but the alarms sounded in his head and put him in the sort of autopilot that made he fingertips buzz with that jolt of adrenaline that carried your feet for you. He could chalk it up to being out of practice as a hunter. He'd lived a normal life for who knows how long to keep his head on straight and after his fateful run in, he really wasn't sure what he was even capable of anymore. It was only in situations like this where he found second nature beating him to the punch(sometimes quite literally). He must have been a skilled hunter because he always left himself baffled with his level of skill. Even his build and general quirks or everyday habits made him think he might have been quite the opponent for any of his adversaries. And now, having bested a /vampire/ for the most part, he wondered just how much more he was capable of. How far he'd go. How far he's gone...

But that wasn't the real pressing issue right now. What the hell was going on right now? Who the hell was the attacker? How bad is that bite? From the looks of it, the answer to that last question was the easiest to answer unfortunately. His stomach twisted painfully at the sight in a way that told him he at least knew subconsciously from experience how bad this situation is or could get. The clock was ticking at this point and he had to remedy the situation fast. Remedy. The Apothecary.

He watched warily as Chris' eyes swam a bit to focus on him and his lips turned up as the male recognized him but the smile was laced with anxiety and he did once over of his entire body to make sure there weren't any other injuries sustained before he even thought about moving him from his spot on the alley floor. He couldn't even give a chuckle of amusement at the other's remark about them being even, riddled with a sense of protection that made him laser focused. It was so dark, he was glad Chris could make him out but now he needed to move.

Chris himself was still somewhat of a stranger. An acquaintance? If he were being honest, the way the guy in front of him had shown up to his aid so frequently was a bit concerning in the beginning. He had thought after the third time that Chris was keeping tabs on him but at some point they cleared up that misunderstanding through casual conversation on one of the days Chris had come into the shop for the remedy to insomnia. Now it was just a running joke and connection between them that made Matt feel like he was in debt to the other, whether Chris felt that way or not. Maybe keeping him from bleeding out in this alleyway really would make them even. Right-

He wasted no time in taking the t-shirt from his own frame off to bundle up and press against the wound in place of Chris' hand now covered in blood and though that left him in his tank, now smeared with fresh blood, he would deal with that later. He gripped the males hand once, twice and then placed it over the shirt for him to hold in place so he could lift his body off of the ground. "Okay yea okay- focus on my voice, okay? I'm here alright? And we're going to the shop. The apothecary will have a remedy for the bite and then you can rest but not right now. We're almost there-"

His words were rushed but he wasn't lying, they were nearly back in the shop and he kicked the door back open, carrying Chris carefully over to the nearest flat surface. He quickly the lights and rummaged around with strangely relaxed fingers and sure eyes, scanning the shelves as if he knew the shop like the back of his hand. He was quick to find the remedy and he was back to Chris' side, pushing his thumb into his chin to part his lips so he could pour a few drops down his throat. Too much might send him into hallucinations anyway so he avoided overdoing and watched for choking or loss of consciousness. He waited a long moment to simply observe, continued speaking and squeezing the male's hand. "You got it, man just relax and swallow as best you can. I know it's almost impossible but it's gotta go down. You're doing great"

@christopher b。ᵐᵒᵒⁿˢʰⁱⁿᵉ Becoming acquainted with the shop had it's perks and one of them was being able to close up alone which meant he could study in peace in his downtime. It wasn't as if they were ever particularly busy and it was quietest at night which he obviously used to his advantage. A space away from his own home where he could try to find the answers he'd sought after ever since his return to Magnolia Springs. Most nights he felt no closer to an answer than the last but every now and then he would come across a piece of information that he could add to the book he'd started to keep track of everything he thought was important.

That's where his mind was tonight. Finding even a shimmer of hope within the dusty pages of his small collection of books he kept on him from the library. To say Matthew was immersed in his quest for knowledge (or really just an answer to his questions, if anything) was an understatement. His eyes strained from the hours of reading and by the time he even looked up from the worn book in his hand, it'd been far past time to close. And he was no closer to answering the riddle of his mind. No closer to understanding why today's weather reminded him of so many cities he'd called home during his time away. How he'd gotten to those places. Why he couldn't remember the reason for going. Why all of those places felt like home. Why not a single memory of his came to the forefront of his mind complete. Always muddled and in bits and pieces like abstract art.

Even just standing in the apothecary gave him a since of nostalgia so strong that he wish he knew why in a way that ached in his chest. The familiarity though he was sure he'd never worked there before his return. The way he could stand at the counter and just feel emotionally charged. Or on some days emotionally drained. Putting a finger on the why of it seemed to prove impossible in the state he was in which pushed him further into his quest for answers. What connection did he have to this place that kept him up with his broken thoughts some nights or begged an answer in research louder than most questions. Why did he even think to come back to Magnolia after his altercation in the first place? What drew him back? Some nights he wouldn't stop searching for answers til his body gave out on him- which for a nephelim, was quite a damn while. And tonight was looking like one of those nights.

Up until he got a text from the shop owner. A quick check in to remind him not to stay all night because they knew him well enough already to know that's exactly what would happen if he was left to his own devices. He tutted at the message in amusement, caught red handed being studious as ever and sent a quick 'thanks' before pocketing his phone and closing up for the night, waiting until he was all packed up to turn off the rest of the lights. Through the large windows of the shop, the entire street was visible down most of the block and every now and then a person walking by would catch his peripheral but he rarely had a reason to pay them much attention so when he saw figures, his first mind was to continue with his tasks, going to close the blinds before he locked up. But as he approached the window casually, his focus on figures automatically became clear and what happened next made his dark orbs dilate in shock, his body reflexively moving before he could process what was going on. All that mattered was that one moment Chris was there (that was definitely Chris) and then the next his body was snatched into the dark depths of the alleyway.

Matt cursed under his breath, already on the move and running to his bag to grab his steel, dragging it over his runes for soundlessness, sight in the dark and speed and then leaving the shop unattended as he hurried out and over to where he last saw Chris. The sound hit his ears before anything came into sight, the struggle in Chris' voice clear and fear inducing as he flung himself into the alley. when he was met with the scene before him fear turned to anger and before he could make himself known, Matt was using his soundlessness and speed to his advantage in catching the attacker off guard, on them in seconds to grab them by the throat and make them detach from Chris. Then swiftly, he threw them to the ground, pressing his boot into their chest and adding pressure until the sound of Chris struggling to breathe caught his attention. The struggle to keep the attacker from running or help Chris only lasted a moment and he kicked them away before stumbling over to Chris to look him over, worry knitted in his brows as he knelt over the mundane male's body. " Chris can you hear me? Look at me? Focus man- look at me. Stay awake okay? I'm gonna move you okay? Just stay awake"