+ esquire korea (january 2022)
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+ esquire korea (january 2022)
vcmanikalâ:
âIâm sorry about ruining your blouse,â Maja said, cocking her head. âI would really like to make it up to you somehow⌠if youâd let me.â This was starting to sound like the prelude to a bizarre lesbian porno. While providing sexual favors for this womanâs pardon was not altogether out of the question (Maja was aware of her perversity), that suggestive statementâs purpose was to put the ball in Sebinnâs court and see what - if anything - she did with it.Â
People milled about the plaza, but the enchanted doll paid them no mind. The sky was a perfect blue overhead, a total blue like a peacockâs neck. The sun rayed hotly on the pavement. Maja did not sweat, but she liked dressing for the weather; she wore a short sundress in a pastel, summery hue and Espadrille sandals. Even her eyeshadow evoked the season: shimmery gold like a Grecian sunset. A memory from long ago.Â
âIâm sure there must be something I can do,â said Maja, tucking a stray lock behind her ear. She thought about Sebinn pulling her hair and biting her neck. Her dark eyes sparkled. âSo?â
(â˘Ěá´â˘Ě )Ů ĚĚ
"There, much better. Was that so hard?" She crooned, the corner of her mouth twitching up in again in a bemused smile, watching the woman's expression change from sweetly coy to something much darker. And dark was much more her speed, and it seemed that the woman knew, or was at least subconsciously aware of that.
That and the innuendo in her seemingly innocent tone made everything all the more fun. She was used to the chaseâcraved it, could probably love it if she had a heart that beat and had a capacity for that sort of thing. But this new approach was out of the norm, and dare she say refreshing, as she felt heat slowly warming up her from within.
"And just what could you do to make it up to me?" Her hand moved, reaching to tilt the woman's chin up, staring down at her with an expectant look. "I'm not in want for much of anything, so I hope you can offer something..." her gaze traveled down, taking in the way her dress fit on her and the delicate stature of her body before her eyes dragged back up again, "special, to me."
syphavcâ:
.
đ
It was a true question on her end. True in the sense that she was curious. The reputation of the other the reached her ear, partly because it was amusing, and well, she just liked knowing. Why would she not? There was perhaps a statement of her true interest buried under simple curiosity, slyly, but Sypha saw no need to dwell on that. That served no purpose. For all she liked in Sebinn was very close to what kept them apart.
What was immortality without its mild challenges though? Drinking from the champagne she again considered exerting true effort in seducing this one, knowing it would end like a nuclear explosion, and yet, she didnât hate the thought. Living as long meant she was able to change the narrative of her life as she pleased as time progressed and well, how many would be alive after anyway.
A few, a very small voice said. She drank again to silence it.
âYou do like them beautiful, but without as much of a challenge as I would be, and useful, no?â She began, though keeping the list vague enough. âThey need purpose, right? Beyond well, you knowâ, she cooed. âMakes me wonder though, because I know I top that listâ, she said finally looking to her hand over her necklace. âGo on, you can touch me too. I know you arenât shyâ, she said stepping closer to the succubus. âPerhaps we should just get it out the way. Iâve always known I would enjoy you. Shall we?â, she asked then moved the womanâs hand to her chest and with a small smile.
(â˘Ěá´â˘Ě )Ů ĚĚ
"Ahâ it seems that you know me far too well." Check, check, and check. Sypha was right on the money with her assessment, and she was right again about Sypha's spot on her list. It was the allure of having something she couldn't, the constant thrill of the chase and the glances and touches they shared in their meetings, though few and far between as they were. They existed parallel to each other, never intersecting, but so close that they might as well have.
And while they had skirted around each other, let their hands brush close and bodies brush closer, the look in Sypha's eyes made Sebinn wonder if the bets were fully off tonight.
If they were to leave together and finally bridge that gap, would Sebinn be disappointed?
She hoped not, but Sebinn also wasn't one to hope, nor to wish for things that were fully out of her control. But Sypha was mysterious enough, cards held so close to her chest that upon further thinking, Sebinn realized that she could not even have any sort of expectations when no information of note had been given.
So it's with this in mind that she lets Sypha guide her hand. "Though," she hummed a moment later, leaning in close until their faces were barely an inch apart, "I'm never quite sure what to expect with you. I don't even know what you can offer, a girl like you to a girl like me."
vcmanikalâ:
*
Majaâs head tilted as she took the other woman in, not unlike a kitten. âYouâre right,â she said, lashes fluttering. âIt was a lousy apology. Would you like me to try again?â
There was a certain terror about Sebinn, hot magma rippling beneath the smooth, unblemished skin. Mount Vesuvius as a woman. Maja loved beauty when it was horrific, when it was all teeth. All venom.Â
Maja forgot about her spilled coffee.Â
The brilliant thing about this type of woman was that they did not fall at her feet or allow her do whatever she wanted without consequence, of which she had long grown bored. Men of sour temperament were of no interest to the enchanted doll. She loathed when men called her a brat and would tear out their throats with her nails for such an offense. But women were a different matter altogether. Maja smiled sweetly at the raven-haired woman.
(â˘Ěá´â˘Ě )Ů ĚĚ
"It won't get the stain out, but it certainly might help make me feel better." Her own smile grew, sharp teeth on full display. Her head tilted to the side, she hummed expectantly.
A beautiful girl groveling and begging at Sebinn's feet would make her feel better, but at the same time it would be such a waste to dirty her knees on the sidewalk of all places. At the same time, how could she say no to that smile? If Sebinn had a weakness, it would be that: a pretty smile.
While Sebinn could get any woman in her bed, it was very evident that she had a type. Aside from just the prettiest thing in the room, she also liked the ones that were hard to chase and even harder to catchâeasy prey was just that: easy.
And there was a certain way about her, the set of her shoulders and the expression on her face just before she had smiled that made Sebinn think there was so much more than the sweetness she was exhibiting. It helped that this was also evidenced by the girl berating a man not mere moments before that as well.
"So?"
Maja was in a bad mood. Nothing in particular was the cause, which was infinitely worse because now her ire was directionless, chaotic. The doll was bored. By stages, she grew to abhor the monotonous routine of daily life. Each decade that passed, the immortal grew ever apathetic and ever harder to please. Sometimes she could distract herself with sex, clothes, and the internet, but today was one of those days where nothing seemed to work.Â
The doll tried retail therapy, and though sheâd purchased a new skirt and an adorable pair of platforms, she was still left feeling empty. With shopping bags tucked in the crook of her arm, she went to her favorite cafe for a takeaway iced cappuccino. Her new plan was to return to her apartment, drink coffee, and rewatch her favorite K-dramas. Maybe banshee-shriek into a pillow.
As she headed out of the shop, a much larger passerby checked the doll with his shoulder. Maja lurched forward, only managing to regain her composure at the last moment. The same could not be said for her coffee, which had lost its lid in the commotion and spilled all over the woman in front of her.
Maja fumed, whipping around to the bumbling oaf whoâd bumped her. âLook what you did, you idiot!â she met the manâs gaze, cocoa brown eyes roiling with dark magic. âWhy donât you go back to whatever pathetic hole you crawled out of and think about how much of an idiot you are.â The man obeyed instantly, turning on his heel and making his determined way to⌠well, Maja wasnât precisely sure. Usually, when she used that trick, she never minced words. But sheâd been too angry to care. Either heâd head back to his apartment or find a literal hole to crawl into.
She turned back to the woman, cringing at the sight of the large wet brown stain on her blouse. âIâm sorry,â she said, but was really mourning the loss of her coffee. It took her a moment to see through the fog of her own apathy, but eventually, Maja noticed the other woman for what she was: hot.Â
âĄâ§âË @vc-csb
(â˘Ěá´â˘Ě )Ů ĚĚ
Long had it been since the last time she had stepped foot in the city during daylight hours, but Sebinn found herself doing just that. Held held high, she walked the streets of Agdoeg with a singular purpose: to turn heads.
In the middle of all the chaos unfolding in the world around her, sometimes the best way to alleviate the stress of running a gang was to just bask in the looks of awe she received as she did something so simple as exist.
And it was glorious.
Because even in her casual garb, she was still enough to have women double-taking and men droolingâthe latter of which was especially humorous given the fact that she so deeply despised them. It was nice to know that they couldn't get what they wanted.
But the glory of it all is gone just as quick as it had come, a particularly busy street and a jostling of bodies ended up with a chest drenched in coffee and an earful of yelling, both of which had her eye twitching in immediate annoyance. The soiled outfit was nothing special, but the giant stain mixed with the acrid smell of coffee and the principle of it all, well...
It had her seeing red. And the red of her gaze flicked to the insignificant little bother that had caused all the trouble that had now fell quite literally in her lap. Her chin was tilted up, narrowed eyes slowly taking in the woman, dragging long enough for it to feel uncomfortable.
"Are you?" Sebinn hummed, brow quirking up. "Because I am not at all convinced by your half-hearted apology."
syphavcâ:
đ
Painted smile held in some of her laughter at the retort until she thought more on it, her lips parting and laughter passing freely. âTouchĂŠâ, she answered then grabbed champagne from a passing tray. Eyes returning to the woman, passing her body slowly without care before returning to her face. âYou are still delectable to look atâ, she said extending her free hand to adjust a stray hair with a pleased low moan. âShameâ, she breathed then took a sip from the glass, eyes never moving from the woman before her.Â
Indeed, a shame, she thought. Because this being possessed all the things in an appearance Sypha was attracted to in a woman. That sort of alluring beauty to called you in but warned you, you would never be good enough. Now that never deterred Sypha because in her case, it simply wasnât true. But Sebinnâs fucking personality made any attempt at conquest, even for a fucking night, not happening.Â
And yet continually they found themselves just like this, smiling at each other, admiring, yet loathing all at the same time. Perhaps it was because it truly was fun. And Sebinn had what she loved on any being, a distinct aura that piqued her mischievous need for danger. It made her far more attractive, seductive, even if Sypha knew the countless that died for that same reason.Â
âWhile I know I am your type, Iâm not that typeâ, she said alluding to the string of playthings consumed by this evil force. âI donât break so easily, butâ, she said turning her head to where the loud laughter was coming from, eyes shifting slowly after. âWho is your flavour of the week?â she teased watching some woman jump on the birthday boy. From there Sypha could smell her, eyes then scanning her veins with silent intent. âI am ever interested in that rotationâ, she added, eyes shifting back to Sebinn.Â
(â˘Ěá´â˘Ě )Ů ĚĚ
There was always that line between them, flirting dangerously between drawing closer and stepping apart. It was part of the fun, but also the most annoying point of contention in their little game. Sypha leaned in, gave just as much as Sebinn herself did with the playful retorts and delightful quips, but it was just that. She wondered if there was really a point to continuing on like this when Sypha was as impossible as a conquest could get, but alas, here she was... still trying as always. It seemed that nowadays, her luck with the only few people she actually wanted in her bed would not come so easily. Maybe she had a type, like Sypha said. Or something. Beautiful headaches, a challenge, whatever she could label them in her head the point still stood.
But of course Sypha was different, because what else could she be if not that? In some ways, they were similar in that aspect, two truly... different beings drawn together because of... what? Morbid curiosity? Their need to seek out danger? Whatever it was had Sebinn's lips curling up under Sypha's attention, golden eyes blinking up at her as innocently and innocuously as possible. Coy, even.
"And what exactly is my type?" She hummed, her own hand coming up to trace the shape of the rubies spilling down her delicate throat. Sebinn was always curious about Sypha's thoughts on her, and any bit of that critical knowledge would help her in some way. "And as for your question..." Sebinn trailed off, not entirely sure how to answer that question since she'd forgotten the name of the girl in question, "why bother with such silly questions when you're here?"
all smiles
The thing about being known for being known, was it had to be kept up. Sure she could be a reclusive billionaire, but really, that type was always trying to prove how much they loved the planet while never doing anything to address the real systematic issues. Sypha hated that sort of pretense. Instead, she pleasantly lived up to the image of the cheabol darling. She attended the right things, gave to the right things, and grew that fortune she could never spend but sure did make it look like she was trying to.Â
Sypha Jeup and her impeccable taste was invited to the birthday party for some son of some conglomerate the family held decent stake in. So hard to keep track of all of that. But the evening was open and after a thorough feeding and comforting bath, she was dressed in a black Georges Hobeika strapless dress, not even available for purchase yet but, what else do the unattainable wear. Bayco Burmese rubies secured around her neck and covered well the marking not set for appearance that eve, matching ring upon the middle finger of her right hand, and hung from her ears.
Phillip Plein strass embellished sandals led her from the elevator into the press circulating event. Of course it wasnât a fully prlvate event, or at least not yet. Her eyes met the guest of honour, his happy voice ringing out of her name brought her closer with smiles. Well wishes and and a vague comment on a gift tossed on the gift table led to laughs and the nosy tendency of press. Camera presented the two drew closer for the series of photographs before he looked around and called over another guest.Â
She withheld the smirk itching to press over the smile on her lips as the woman she knew well crossed the room. The birthday boyâs wishes of being sandwiched between the two beautiful women earned a genuine laugh, because she was certain that was not something he could survive.
âSebinnâ, she sang sweetly then tilted her head for the camera. She waited for the guest of honour to excuse himself to greet other guests before continuing. She turned to the other woman, smiling as brightly as her rubies glistened, âWhat walking dead lured you from that den of witches?â
@vc-csb
(â˘Ěá´â˘Ě )Ů ĚĚ
Sebinn was growing tired of having to appear at such gatherings. Each one made her realize just how much she truly hated rubbing elbows with the "elite" of the city. Almost every single one of them were the same sort of unbearable, and it became easier and easier to want to drop the whole charade of being "just like them". If only they truly knew what sort of deity walked among them... they wouldn't even so much as speak in her presence. And right now, that was all she wanted.
But alas, things as of late hadn't been going her way, and almost as quickly as she had managed to evade another long-winded conversation with some drunken socialite, a voice rang out through the crowd. She hated it, gritted her teeth as she was called upon with such familiarity.
It was almost hilarious that anyone here could think to be on the same level as her, when they were nothing more than pawns in a game bigger than any of them could ever know. Barely pawns, really, but what else was one to call them? She didn't even remember any of their names. But rather sooner than expected, the tense, silent gnashing of her teeth was eased the moment her eyes fell to the third party by the birthday boy's side.
Sebinn heard not a single thing coming out of the man's mouth, which was a given considering her usual affinity for ignoring humans and specifically human men. But if her eyes lingered, on Sypha, then so be it. Sypha continued to impress whenever she made a public appearance, somehow outdoing herself each time. Which shouldn't have been possible, and yet... there she was. If Sebinn wasn't just a little bit taken with her, she would have seethed with rage, jealousy, a shade of green truly opposite than her usual red.
"Would it be so wrong if I said you?" A smile twitched at the corner of her mouth, as coy as she could possibly muster, drawing closer to Sypha.
đ đlandestine đommunion
@vc-csbâ
A pretty pink fingernail trailed along the twisting tendrils of darkness that spiraled through the marbled walls, stopping as her finger met an ostentatious frame. Kiyomiâs head tilted ever so slightly as she took in the painting, cinnamon eyes passing along careful brush strokes that made the waves come to life on the canvas. A ship on the precipice of being swallowed by the ocean, lightning crackling through the sky as the only source of light. Drawing closer, her nose threatened to bump into the image as she noticed a silhouette of a man falling overboard. Her imagination swam, conjuring how her tail would flash among the storm, wondering if she would save the man or pull him further into the depths. She supposed it would depend on the man.
Her phone chimed in her hand, seeing that it was a message from Sebinn she didnât bother properly opening it. Knowing it was most likely a reminder that they were meeting in five minutes which to Sebinn meant that Kiyomi was already late. A skip in her step made short work of the rest of the hallway, her flats leaving light clicks against the floor announcing her arrival before she slipped between the ornate doors. The cloying aroma of incense lingered heavily in the air, seizing her senses and letting her sink into a tepid state. Pulling her hair loose from a hair tie the minor illusion fell with it, the midnight black cascading into her usual caramel locks, the sea spray of her magic being quickly snuffed out and consumed by the tainted smoke.
âYou wished to see me?â
(â˘Ěá´â˘Ě )Ů ĚĚ
"I'm glad you could make it." Sebinn said pleasantly, a small smile on her face. It belied the fact that she had made Sebinn do the one thing she hated the most. Sending someone a message was one thing, but the fact that it was a reminder to not be late was, if anything, mildly grating; to have to repeat herself meant that her words carried no importance. And what was she, if not important? But she could forgive it, just this once, because Kiyomi was slowly becoming one of her favorites. She waved her in, gesturing to one of many seats in the large room, a silent demand for Kiyomi to sit.
"I just wanted to see you." Sebinn hummed, head lolling back lazily, chin tilted up as she regarded Kiyomi. A long moment passed, Sebinn still merely blinking at the woman the same way a cat did, before she sighed, getting up from the giant chair, just to slink over to the side of the table and lean against it.
And her statement was trueâfor the most part. She did want to see Kiyomi, but it wasn't... just that. It never really was with Sebinn, was it? It was the same way a celebrity garnered and kept the love and affection of their fans: through nauseatingly excessive amounts of fan service and constant exposure. And while it was rather arduous to both maintain such relations with every single member of her group, it was much more rewarding than the other option. She could, instead, just use any one of her powers to do the same thing exponentially faster, but it wasn't as satisfying nor as fun to win someone's affection without even trying.
"I just wanted to check in with you, and see how everything has been going." What was the state of affairs? Was there anything new happening? Were moves being made behind her back that she didn't know about? All that went unsaid, but the nature of these meetings were all the same, weren't they?
IRENE â§ âMONSTERâ (in sparkles â¨)
180125 seoul music awards
IRENE | Red Velvet ë ë벨벳 âQueens Archiveâ Special Behindă ŁRV Collection
vcsangcheolâ:
-
Feeling the short pulse of a notification, Sangcheol withdrew his phone and tucked it into his pocket without looking. This city was an epicenter of death that he monitored closely, leading to connections and correspondence with conflicting parties that he navigated by never tipping his hand. Acting as an unseen observer, appearing uncaring to maintain his small corner of peace. Sebinn was a one such thread he handled carefully, having existed in the wake of her carnage for centuries now. She had the mind to create kingdoms, and the flippant willpower to destroy them.
Despite her posturing, he recognized the simple fact that her persistence meant she cared. Not particularly about him as an individual, he could never accuse her of having such a heart, but the attention their partnership gained her. In turn, he showed her respect by keeping his observations to himself.
âYou donât annoy me,â He clarified, adding his homegrown herbal mixture to his mug and letting it brew, âwhich is why Iâm bothering to negotiate.â
His fingers wrapped around the ceramic and held the warmth close to his chest, basking in the pleasant aroma for a moment. âIâd rather not perform under such a distressing title,â the word boyfriend would never leave his lips, âhowever, this is your project and youâll do whatever you want anyway.â Savouring a sip of tea, he leaned against the counter, âIf we go with my concept, I wonât argue with you when we inevitably have to do it again in the future.â
(â˘Ěá´â˘Ě )Ů ĚĚ
Sebinn narrowed her eyes as the man in front of her got lost in his own thoughts. He was usually the type of person that didn't seem all that interested in voicing out his thoughts, but she could hear the gears in his head turning anyway.
What little she knew of him was that he was old. Older than her and probably older than anyone in this city. He had the air about him that seemed older than time itself, a sort of wisdom about him that belied the youth in his features. She wondered for a brief moment if he was tired of having to watch the world burn as it had for millennia. She could help, probably... though she doubted that killing the guy would do anything aside from make him genuinely annoyed with her.
Cocking her head, she removed the veil she'd been using as a sort of makeshift scarf from around her neck and picked at it with her free hand, still watching him despite her mild surprise at his statement.
"Oh." She huffed out, turning her nose away in a flippant sort of way, "Well it's good that you've got a good head about you. I wouldn't want to take on any extreme measures to get you to agree with me on such a trivial matter."
Agreed. She didn't want to do it either. The relationship between them was nothing more than a pair of reluctant coworkers, in every sense of the word. She doubted that either of them would be happy with such a title, even if it were a lie. She couldn't even think to stomach such a thought. "'My friend that is coincidentally a man does my makeup'. How about that for a working title, then? That way there's no confusion to people online and we won't have to act under that... what did you say? Distressing title.
vcsangcheolâ:
-
He hung his head with his hand resting against the cupboard handle because, unfortunately, he had seen the aforementioned video. Well, he had watched a portion of the video and promptly closed it when it had crossed a certain threshold of gyration. It was ⌠certainly provocative.
âI canât move like that,â Sangcheol sighed, simultaneously reaching both into the cupboard for a mug as well as into his shadow to retrieve his phone. Opening the app that she made him install however long ago, he bravely ventured into the trending tab and a darkness fell across his face as the screen became flooded with various dances. Without looking, he gently shooed away a cat from sticking its held into the mug. His impassive expression briefly flashed as he found a possible life line and he promptly held his phone out to her.
âWould this not provide the sufficient numbers?â Playing with muted sound was one of those my boyfriend does my makeup videos.
(â˘Ěá´â˘Ě )Ů ĚĚ
Seeing the man in such a state of mild distress made Sebinn smirk. It was funny to see him react in such a way, knowing full well that the man usually made a marked point to be as much of a blank slate as possible. Or at least, that's what she assumed. It was both a hassle and an unwanted venture for her to address his emotions, strictly because her low tolerance for males. It made it quite difficult to look at or think about them for more than a few milliseconds before withholding the urge to gag.
"You can't? Or you haven't tried?" She countered, stepping further into the space, leaning against a free counter. Her arms were still crossed over her chest as she stared at the man's profile. See it to... men to make everything so difficult. If she could, she would eradicate them from the face of the earth as her first move in her coup against the world. It was priority number one in her internal checklist, and this encounter only further solidified that.
"It's quite redundant to have such a conversation when I know you'll eventually cave," she mused, "even if it's strictly out of annoyance. The sooner I'm out of your hair, the better the outcome for the both of us."
But she paused, cocking her head as she stared at the screen in the man's hand in mild surprise. "I was under the belief that you lived under a rock," she noted as she looked up at the man, "color me surprised. Though, are you interested in doing such a thing? Posing as my-" she gagged a little. "Boyfriend... and doing my makeup for money on the internet?"
vcsangcheolâ:
-
âI hardly see how thatâs my fault. Youâre the one controlling the camera.â Growing impatient, Sangcheol quickly sunk into his shadow to emerge in the hallway and switched from his greenhouse sandals to his slippers. He knew that his protesting would fall on deaf ears given that she had made the effort to hunt him down in the most obvious place for him to exist.
âCould you not just record me making tea?â Crossing his arms, he waited for her to join him in the hall before making his way to the kitchen. He turned on lights for her benefit, which happened to also summon the nearby cats to him, the creatures assuming that he was there to feed them. There were only 3, but all of them black and weaving between his steps.
âIâm not agreeing, but what would you have me do?â
(â˘Ěá´â˘Ě )Ů ĚĚ
"And yet you somehow find a way to sneak into every shot." Her brows furrowed, huffing impatiently as she called out to the man who kept disappearing from her line of sight. She had half a mind to stomp her foot as well, thinking that maybe the display of utter childishness would make the man cave, if only out of sheer annoyance. She would stoop that low if need be. She'd done worse for less.
"I could, but what would be the fun in that? Didn't you see that dance that I sent you? The trendy one? Imagine the numbers." She had an inkling of a thought in her mind that, no, he had not seen the video, because he was a snob and a purist and probably owned one of those stupid rotary phones still. Sebinn followed after him nonetheless, giving the man and the cats at his feet a wide berth. If there were that many animals weaving between her ankles she'd probably lose it.
"As I said: do the dance with me. I don't think anyone wants to see you quietly making tea. It's not exciting enough."
vcsangcheolâ:
-
âMy humble apologies for not adhering to a convenient schedule for you.â Sangcheol drawled as he returned the hose and wand to their proper place in the greenhouse. He scooped the cat from her perch as she started to become restless, tucking her into the crook of his arm like a baby, and surveyed the rest of the plants before determining his work in here done for the day.
âAh yes, your videos,â he sighed, approaching the steps to the doorway and where Sebinn was currently occupying. The cat in his arms could only handle so much and began squirming, so he reached around Sebinn to let her loose in the hallway. Flashing a longing stare at his slippers, he simply raised an eyebrow as she brandished her phone like a weapon. âAs tempting of an offer that is, I have tea to make. And the butterfly garden needs to be weeded.âÂ
It was the newest addition to his home, and thus took up a majority of his free time. Accumulating the required caterpillars had taken him far longer than he wouldâve liked but it was certainly worth the wait. The great purple emperors had emerged from their cocoons only a few days prior and he found himself making any excuse to spend more time in the garden just to watch them flutter about his heliotropes.
(â˘Ěá´â˘Ě )Ů ĚĚ
With a little hmph, Sebinn rolled her eyes again. The man constantly toed the line of respect in her mind; half of the time his dry wit was something of an annoyance to her, but for once in her life, she said nothing about it. There were other things at hand, at the moment, and he had been of some use to her as of late. But did he need to have so many cats around? The place was all but crawling with the creatures, and seeing so many felt very much like an omen. Not that she cared, but it was just... strange.
"Yes, my videos. People seem to have taken a liking to you, though I don't know why. All you do is stand around in the background." Let it be known that her internet demographic had gone all but feral for the man, and there was nothing stopping them from constantly pestering her for more. "Tea could wait. The video won't take longer than a few moments of your precious time, after, I'll be out of your hair so that you can go about doing whatever it is you do with all these weeds." She waved a vague hand around her about the garden. "The other things could wait for the moment."
She could tell that the man was lost in his thoughts, probably thinking about cabbages and bugs or something of the sort. The fact that one so closely associated with death would take such a liking to harvesting these live things was ironic in its own right. Maybe it was a futile attempt at playing god, controlling the very birth and death of all natural life. She knew she had a complex, but she wouldn't go so far as to controlling such menial things as this. Some things benefitted from nature taking its course. How else could have such things survived the world this long?
"So?" She asked, "Couldn't your other duties wait but a few minutes?"
vcsangcheolâ:
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Expecting a cat, his head gave a slight jolt as Sebinn made her presence known. His free hand reached up to wave over his face, human like black eyes appearing in place of the distinct twilight voids that hinted at his true heritage. Blinking a few times so that they focused, he rose from kneeling just as the black cat bounded across the edge of a shelf and draped herself across his back.
Reaching up, he adjusted the feline into a more comfortable position and appeared undeterred as she aggressively nuzzled into his neck, âI can only imagine the surprise of finding me in my own home.â
As he spoke, he walked around Sebinn to unravel his hose and attach his watering wand, âItâs almost as if I prefer to be not reached.â Flicking through the settings, he gestured for her to stand on the nearby step that led to the door, knowing that he wouldnât hear the end of it if he ruined her outfit by having the audacity to get water on anything.
âWhat would you like for tea?â Slowly waving the wand over a trough of tulips in various stages of growth, his shadow reached towards the hallway to turn on the kettle in another room. It was unfortunately good for him that Sebinn was so strong-headed that she had the tendency to let herself into his life and begin bossing him around. If left to his own devices, Sangcheol would never leave his gardens. She was one of the few creatures stubborn enough to put up with him and remind him that there was a world beyond the plants in front of him.
(â˘Ěá´â˘Ě )Ů ĚĚ
The garden, while beautiful, was not to Sebinn's tastes. She was one for refinery, structure, like a well-constructed coliseum or something of that nature. Plants had a tendency to grow rampant and wild if not molded and maintained painstakingly, a feat that was both difficult and contrived for a being such as her. She watched the man idly as he worked, nodding silently when their eyes finally met.
"You're very much like a specter, did you know that? Though I only ever see you in about a handful of places, it's hard to tell where you are at any given moment. I only have so many eyes." The alarm cat at his shoulder seemed to be staring her down, and she narrowed her eyes at it but for a moment before turning her attention away. She never did like animals either.
"Well this is what happens when you show up in almost all of my videos." She stated blandly, moving out of the way, face scrunched in distaste as he held up the hose. It would be better if he stopped entirely, but some things just couldn't be helped. Shaking her head, she watched the man again as she adjusted her footing in the uneven ground beneath her. God, her shoes would be a nightmare to clean. And she was pretty sure she'd just recently got them.
The way the man watered his plants with such care made Sebinn roll his eyes. It was a futile attempt, really. Nothing good came out of controlling things such as those. Plants were wily and had a mind of their own. What good was it to continue on such an endeavor?
With a small scoff, she crossed her arms over her chest. "I have no want for tea at the moment, thank you very much. You probably know why I'm here, since there's only so much I ever ask of you." That much was true, much to Sebinn's dismay. She didn't really want to have to speak to another man, much less reach out for help, but the Internet was insatiable. While she was in a good mood, her patience was ever-so lacking. Brandishing her phone from her back pocket, she waved it at the man. "Time to shake your ass to make me money on Tik Tok," she said with a devilish grin.
@vc-csb
The word estate felt too grand to describe his abode, but the sentiment wasnât entirely inaccurate. On the same lot of land as the funeral parlor, tucked behind strategically placed trees was his private residence, secluded, understated, traditional, all those lovely words that could also be applied to him. It was too big to be occupied by himself, which is why he found himself welcoming any stray cats into the place. There was only one area that they were not allowed, his greenhouse, mainly because he didnât want to have to clean little dirt paw prints on the hardwood floors.
Sangcheol tended to his orchids, gently misting them before carefully examining their roots through the clear pots. Satisfied, the moved to one of the shelves of bonsai, this one occupied with fruit trees. He heard and promptly ignored a tiny mewl from the other side of the door, knowing it was most likely the black one hoping for sardines. As he trimmed a few wayward sprouts on the apple tree, he sighed, hanging his head as he heard the mewl again. Reaching over, he unlatched the door and cracked it open, returning to his task resigned that he was about to have company occupy his shoulders.
(â˘Ěá´â˘Ě )Ů ĚĚ
The only good thing about being the head mistress to one of the most notorious gangs in the city was having a... varied skillset. A skillset that allowed her to find and then break in to the homes of others without breaking a sweat. Her... benefactor? No, not a benefactor but more a co-worker of sorts, seeing as they both had dealings in death, was not one that was so easily found. And yet here she stood, in the middle of this grandiose place, staring down at a small black cat that mewled up at her every five minutes. It was like a honing beacon or an alarm, the way the thing was meowing, and if Sebinn were in a worse mood, she would have been annoyed.
But her days as of late had been going by rather smoothly. Too smoothly, to the point where her suspicions raised, just slightly. But that wasn't the task at hand.
The task at hand was filming another video. Her guise as something of a social media influencer made living a secondary life both easier and harder. No one would suspect a woman such as herself, one that filmed borderline sensual content on the internet for money, to also be the head of the city's largest pharmaceutical gang.
Hearing the door open made Sebinn snap out of her thoughts. So he was home. The man was not so easy to reach, and she had a suspicion that the man basically lived under a rock for how little she managed to communicate with him.
Which made her sneer. She couldn't believe the amount of comments she'd garnered about the other man, and it seemed that he'd gained a small following of his own. It was something that made her just a tinge jealous, but it was no matter. In the end, attention was attention, and she would take anything she could get.
Passing through the threshold of the door, she was immediately greeted with the saccharine scent of flowering fruit trees and the earthy scent of freshly-tilled soil. It was a smell that would be of comfort for others, but ultimately made her nose scrunch.
"Fancy seeing you here," she mused, wandering further out of the threshold as she made eyes at the man in question. "You're quite difficult to reach, you know."