trying on a metaphor
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One Nice Bug Per Day
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Cosmic Funnies
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if i look back, i am lost
祝日 / Permanent Vacation
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@erratiomerula
OKAY, I want to give everybody a tiny little update for threads. ( This doesn’t include what I already have in queue! )
I currently have; One ( 1 ) reply to katebaikiru ( Ignatius & Takuya )
Two ( 2 ) asks from renran ( Shasta & Edax ) || ( Saleos & Lei )
updated 9 / 22 / 23
SO IF I OWE ANYTHING TO YOU THAT ISN’T LISTED HERE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW
❛ you never asked if i wanted a guest . ❜ for saleos.... 👀
SOFT THORN sentence starters || accepting
The soft click of heels cease with the Queen's words, spoken over a lightly steaming cup of tea— just fragrant enough that her keen senses still detect it wafting in the slight breeze. Crimson peeks back over her shoulder, an amused smile playing on hidden lips that vanish as her figure turns to face the immaculate blonde.
" Assumptions are a dangerous thing, dear. " Vil tended to be rather selective with his company when he managed to have a private moment of peace, and it's true that she had only stopped by to relay some information. Now, with the tone of his words revealing much to one who studied people for fun, Saleos returns to the table— though she does not yet take the available seat.
" May I have the pleasure of joining you during your precious free time? "
𝑺𝑶𝑭𝑻 𝑻𝑯𝑶𝑹𝑵𝑺 𝑽𝑶𝑳. 𝑰 . ( sentence starters taken from / inspired by volume one of ‘ soft thorns ’ by bridgett devoue . triggering themes may be implied .)
❛ you are the brave one . ❜ ❛ you make me brave , & i’ll forever be grateful for that . ❜ ❛ i was born with wide eyes & a fragile heart . ❜ ❛ i feel everything so deeply . ❜ ❛ i am not yours . ❜ ❛ you never asked if i wanted a guest . ❜ ❛ this is why no one loves you . ❜ ❛ beauty does not solve problems . ❜ ❛ someone once told me they were scared of the truth in my eyes . ❜ ❛ i don’t remember love as a child . ❜ ❛ a fantasy in real life is also known as a lie . ❜ ❛ i was eager to prove i was good enough . ❜ ❛ scars may fade , but they last forever . ❜ ❛ i always scared everyone away . ❜ ❛ i kept this dream hidden away . ❜ ❛ i used to think love wasn’t for me . that i wasn’t worthy . ❜ ❛ your love is like an exorcism . ❜ ❛ you’re the one who reminded me i have a pulse . ❜ ❛ there is an unspoken truth between us . ❜ ❛ i crave you , even though i know you will destroy me . ❜ ❛ you’re just standing there watching me burn , wearing that crooked smile of yours . ❜ ❛ i know i’m not perfect , but i felt pretty damn close to it when i was in your arms . ❜ ❛ in another lifetime , we have definitely done this before . ❜ ❛ i never thought i would be a good mother . ❜ ❛ i want to love you back together . ❜ ❛ we have this divine bond between us . divine in the way that it’s certainly not from this lifetime . ❜ ❛ my soul craves a love that’s undeniably real . ❜ ❛ i want to experience why we’re here on earth . ❜ ❛ i want to tell you everything . ❜ ❛ hell is watching something that was your everything slip away & not being able to do anything about it . ❜ ❛ i can tell that when i’m with you , you’re with her . ❜ ❛ why is it that everyone can see i’m suffering but you ? ❜ ❛ let’s pretend like we’re friends . ❜ ❛ it’s so painful to talk to you , because i just remember everything you turned out not to be . ❜ ❛ i don’t know how to fall asleep anymore . ❜ ❛ are you pretending to forget me , too ? ❜ ❛ i can still close my eyes & trace every curve & dip of your soul . ❜ ❛ those who don’t believe in ghosts have never had a broken heart . ❜ ❛ god , you’re beautiful . ❜ ❛ i know i should , but i’m not ready to give up your memory . ❜ ❛ i never told you how much you hurt me . ❜ ❛ i keep falling in love with souls that feel like yours . ❜ ❛ being alone was never hard before i met you . ❜ ❛ you must think i’m crazy for missing something i never even had . ❜ ❛ i’m lonely , but i don’t want company . ❜ ❛ you walked away far too easily for me to believe it was ever really love . ❜ ❛ you never loved me . ❜ ❛ when you’ve been fed lies for so long , you eventually lose your appetite for love . ❜ ❛ i have nothing left to say to you . ❜ ❛ you’ll never know all the ways i died for you . ❜ ❛ ‘goodbye’ is easy . everything after that is the hard part . ❜ ❛ even though you turned out to be a liar , within me grew a love that was the most pure & honest thing i’ve ever known . ❜ ❛ nothing was ever easy , but maybe that’s the beauty of it . ❜ ❛ i am everything that you are not . ❜ ❛ love is a necessary tragedy . ❜ ❛ there are people who don’t want you to heal . ❜ ❛ remember : you are not their prey . ❜ ❛ you have more power than you know . ❜ ❛ the most dangerous thing we can do is forget how to feel . ❜ ❛ you will be safe in the right hands . ❜ ❛ love makes us immortal in the hearts of others , but mortal in our fear that it could all be gone someday . ❜ ❛ we’re only haunted by the things we refuse to accept . ❜ ❛ we are not born broken . ❜ ❛ time will either heal you or kill you . ❜
"--yeah. And I'd be an ass if it was an assumption. But I watched you do it." He answered back. His tone remained chastising as he came closer, trying to impress a point, especially as she was hopping back up on the bar to repeat it. He did click his tongue and sigh, all as she did the same thing over again. The only different now that she was frustrated too from being caught in the mistake.
She was bold though, he'd give her that. Snarkily asking the man in the wheelchair if he wanted to try. It made him snort. Likely she was trying to prove her own point. If you can't do it, don't say anything about it sort of answer. He couldn't do the flips, of course. He was dead weight beneath the waist and these were child height--not a good combination for a 6'2" man.
"Leg thing is a bit of a hindrance." He half joked. Nevertheless, his wheelchair was beneath the bar. Arms extended to grab the and, despite his weight, he pulled himself up atop the bars without any hesitation. Not a grunt or a strain, muscles long sense committing the act to memory. "But I can show you positionally what you're doing wrong."
"You're going to sprain your wrist if you grip the way you do. If you can't see to the right, then you should be prioritizing keeping your hands as central as possible to avoid injury." As he spoke, he'd adjust to show it. One arm holding his weight as the other moving along the bar and changing grips to show. He'd admit part of this was him being a cocky son of a bitch, her having goaded him into proving he wasn't just chastising her because he could. Like some fan for a sports team that never played in their life. " Then the thumb. You're putting your weight into the right thumb instead of the whole hand. You're going to dislocate it with how you favor."
By far, she wasn't an actual gymnast— but the schoolboard didn't need someone of professional caliber. She was basically a glorified athletics coach more than anything; she'd been capable of showing her abilities to grab the job, and practically been hired on the spot. For her, it was just part of the rehabilitation process to adapt in a more common setting. It's not as if she didn't want constructive criticism... it had just come far too early for her to feel like she'd made decent progress already.
His humor didn't faze her in the slightest, nor did any surprise show on her face when she moved out of the way so he could position himself beneath the bar. No response of snark was given— it was long ingrained to watch when someone more qualified ( whether he was or not was unimportant here ) was instructing you how to adjust your flaws.
Eyes narrow with the mention of her ( lack thereof ) sight, but she still carefully watches how he positions himself; it's clear that she's actually paying attention to the advice. Not a peep comes from the woman until he's clearly finished speaking and readjusts his own position on the bar. " Muscle memory makes it more difficult for me to consciously adjust. " More than once already, she had injured herself by continuing to try and do things normally— it had even been the cause of her indefinite hiatus.
" ...I'll keep my grip in mind. " Nowhere in her plans did she intend to make this a long-term job or career option, but it was good advice nonetheless. It was clear, without having done background digging for the building's staff, that he was likely more than he seemed. " Do you have a name to match a face? "
@erratiomerula || starter for Nyoko
"Your form is sloppy." The minute she was to a safe position, he blurted it out. Toes touched the floor and the stranger received immediate admonishment. Wheeling himself closer, it was obvious that he was annoyed. He pulled his hands back on the wheels to brake, not lowering his tone as she was looking at him.
He'd heard they were starting a gymnastics course at the high school. He found himself a bit annoyed that he wasn't asked to run it (yet at the same time, he might have been annoyed if he was asked. There was no real winning in that situation), but thought it meaningful to check the equipment over. Make sure that it was safe, especially for kids so young. Schools were notorious for cheaping out on supplies, after all.
This late in the afternoon, he hadn't expected to hear the squeal of a bar or the jingle of chains. Curiously, he popped his head in to find a young woman using the equipment. While he was eased in knowing that an adult's weight was able to be withstood, there was the issue of her technique.
"I'm assuming you didn't see how close you were to the bar on your right side. You about cracked your ankle on it. You're on kid equipment. Compensate for it if you're going to mess around."
It wasn't her first choice— applying to teach a newly opened gymnastics class at a high school, but it allowed her to continue adjusting to her impairment in a multitude of ways that she simply couldn't do on her own. Being around others made her subconsciously work harder to compensate; the quicker she was able to do that naturally, the quicker she could return to her field. Admittedly, perhaps she should've been more focused on her handwork and actually trying to adjust to her new depth perception instead of being half last in her thoughts.
Even with the slight squeaking of the equipment, she'd thought she'd heard someone enter. Rustic hues find the source of the voice immediately, a sour expression managing to taint her pale features with his words— they were correct, of course, but it left a bitter taste that someone she didn't even know could pinpoint a weakness that easily. It grated on a nerve, given that she wasn't legally listed to be visually impaired.
" Isn't there a saying for assumptions? " It's all she can manage without biting back her tongue hard enough to feel the sting of her teeth. She was trying— was already doing much better than she had been just a year ago... but it obviously wasn't enough yet. Full range of sight was necessary for her job, and each small failure to adapt slapped that fact back in her face.
" I'm far from messing around. " The words are almost muted as she turns her form and jumps for the bar again, ignoring the feeling of his eyes judging her. She was used to performing under pressure, but that did little to help her placement being off in favor of a slightly better field of vision. The way her wrist twisted as she moved was too tight; she knew that. The angle of her leg was still off— she could feel the way she favored twisting to the right even as she tried to correct it.
Even as she heard the clicking of his tongue again, causing her to dismount mid rotation and clench her jaw together. " You wanna try, or are you just going to judge me from the door? "
--he realized the tenderness in Seo's tone earlier was simply to lure him out. Not that he thought he was entitled to tenderness, but he found himself growing uncomfortable knowing that he was more of a burden than initially thought. He was not ungrateful. He'd tell him thank you a million times over to promise that. However...
...he was at a loss of what to say other than that.
They were quiet for the rest of the walk to the hotel room. A simple word of guidance was all that was given, Sullivan still holding Maru, not wanting to leave her on a luggage cart where she could get hurt. He was grateful for the sounds of her eating a treat to break the uncomfortable silence. The elevator dinged and there was an awkward hesitance to make sure that Seo showed him the way.
In that silence, he finally had time to let the adrenaline soak out of him. The realization of what had happened that night. It made him feel dirty. He thought of where Kenji's hands had tried to get to and felt himself spiraling. The times that he was touched. The way he was touched. His clothes felt shabby, as if they were soaking into his skin to be equally contaminated. He was repulsed and felt that he wasn't safe to touch anything all of a sudden, not even Seo. Like he might infect the open wounds on Seo if he did.
Shower. Eat. Stay. Shaking fingers accepted the card, quick to drop it down on the bed. A small 'okay' and he waited for the door to close. He felt himself growing anxious, itching at the back of his hands before he dug through his bag for an outfit that hadn't been worn at Kenji's house, settling into the shower without letting the temperature of the water adjust.
He tore at his skin. Louffa squeezed in a desperate fist, he scrubbed. It didn't matter if there were bruises. It didn't matter if there was an open wound. He scrubbed until he felt all the old skin was gone, some bruises growing brighter in color as his skin pinkened. He glossed over his body to make sure that he was satisfied before finally getting to clean his hair.
He took long enough that Seo was back in the room. Fully dressed before leaving the bathroom, he stood near it, drying his hair further. He felt guilty, eyes wandering about the room until the silence killed him. "I-I...um." Again though, he didn't have any words. "--your injuries. I'm clean and can touch them now..." It held a deeper meaning than he meant it to, pulling out the first aid kit.
"Did you get what you needed to done? Is there anything I can do to help?"
The thought of Sullivan being able to flee if he wanted barely crossed his mind— the man had followed him this far without any sort of question. Desperation and perceived safety did wonders for someone suffering trauma and threatening a complete mental break, but he had given Sullivan the spare key for a reason. He wasn't trapped. He could still turn around and try to go back to the life he'd known before, if he expressed that's what he wanted before they left in the morning.
Three calls had to be made, all done in the privacy of the rental car. First, one to Korea for a barebones update on why he wouldn't be arriving the next morning. The second, to make sure the clean up and disappearance were going smoothly. Third, to reschedule his flight and muscle his way to grabbed two first class tickets so that he wouldn't be bothered on the flight. Truthfully, he could pull for a private plane, but that involving pulling more string than he felt like dealing with at the moment.
Seong-Min considered it a little peculiar that the water was still running when he quietly entered the room again, but the sound dying away only a moment later dismissed any further thought. Sullivan could've easily not gotten in the shower right away, and he didn't care to prod on what he viewed a useless inquiry. Though the silence wasn't the slightest awkward for him, he was aware of the desperate searching of blue irises before Sully finally spoke. By then, he was already shuffling in his luggage for some fresh clothes.
" You could've touched them fine earlier. Let me shower first. You can treat them after. " A quick glance into the room to make sure there was a dry towel before he set his clothes inside, lingering in the bathroom doorway as he shrugged his jacket off and peeled the shirt smeared with blood off. The fabric of the sleeves looked like bloody murder, and the chest hadn't fared much better— Seo dumped it in the trash without a second thought. " You haven't eaten. Call up some food while I shower. Doesn't matter what you want, order it. Just get whatever for me. I already asked them to send a bottle of liquor up for me, so they'll knock. "
Why did he even care enough to bother informing him? Seo knew it was because Sullivan was jumpy and very obviously still anxious about the entire situation. " Everything is taken care of. We leave for Korea in the morning, unless you'd prefer to stay. " It was the last little passively given response before he shut the bathroom door and turned on the shower. It wouldn't take him long— twenty minutes perhaps.
His plead for help was not verbally answered, but he felt comforted as he was offered his phone. The screen cracked from the earlier toss but was otherwise functional. He wouldn't be lost without it, but it was nice to have some apps he could play to ease his anxiety later. He accepted it and nestled it in the pocket of his hoodie A deep breath was taken to try and calm himself further, tears wiped away. After, a nod was given...though--
"W-wait please. Um." He rushed to the bedroom of the home. A few seconds later, he was returning with a little blue carrier and a little rodent. His hamster, Maru. His wallet had been stuffed in his pocket too, but it was of lesser importance. He was sure it seemed childish. But he wouldn't leave her alone and uncared for. "Please let me take her with me..."
He was compliant. Quiet as a mouse. There was a chill that ran over his spine. He caught a look at the legs of the, presumably unconscious, Kenji. Perhaps it was foolish to not assume him dead. Truthfully though, his psyche couldn't handle that sort of reasoning. It was neglected to keep his composure.
The stop at his home was indeed brief. He left with three small bags after a quick peruse of the place. Some clothes. His medicine. Food and toys for his hamster. Snacks remained in his pantry he didn't want to go to waste. And a first aid kit. They were haphazardly placed in the trunk before he returned to the front seat, Maru in his lap when Seo started to drive.
There was silence initially. Sullivan still not prying where they were going, just glad to be out of Kenji's home. He felt that if he asked too many questions, this freedom would be revoked. Even going back to his apartment would carry its own anxieties. He didn't want to be alone. Nor did he want to be anywhere that Kenji might be able to find him again.
"Can I clean your wounds when we get there? I got a first aid kit from my house. I-I don't want them to get infected after you protected me. Um..." What else should he say?
"Thank you...I don't know why you came to get me. But I'm grateful."
There had been an... odd look on Seong-Min's face when Sully emerged with the little cage, but he inevitably let it go with the thought of 'if it helps him cope, whatever'. After that, his face had given nothing away as to how he could be feeling— not as he waited by the front door for the other to gather whatever belongings he deemed necessary, and neither when they were back in the car and on the move again.
Mild surprise, though muted, was felt when Sullivan was the one to squeak out some words. Gray irises flick to the lacerations and jagged cuts littering his arms, still ever so faintly leaking red. It's not as if he felt it was something to be overly concerned with, but apparently it bothered the noir enough to ask after almost an hour of virtual silence. " They won't. " It's an almost knee-jerk response; he didn't get sick in any real capacity often. " If you want to keep your hands busy, you can look them over. "
He wasn't protecting. Don't be grateful for what you're getting dragging into unknowingly. The words obviously never left his lips— a quiet and ironic musing to himself that was washed away with the big and bold lettering for his hotel coming into view. They were close to a major airport; the one he was supposed to have already passed through not that long ago. Unsurprisingly, the hotel was of the nicer variety, obvious even from the outside... and before an employee came out to offering the service of delivering their luggage.
Pulling on a jacket from the backseat, Seo is the first out of the car, adjusting his sleeves while motioning for Sullivan to follow. If one were to inspect either of them too closely, it'd be obvious that something had happened— thankfully, he'd already extended his stay while they were stopped at the apartment complex. " Elevator. " It's the only thing he said when they entered the lobby, fishing the room key from his pocket.
By the time they had ascended several floors and gotten to the door, Sullivan's few bags were already set just inside. " Shower. Call room service if you want food. I need to make a few calls. Here. " Between his fingers was a second room key, half impatiently handing it to him while pulling his phone out with the other hand. " I'll be back in an hour or less. "
'Sully'
The voice didn't register in his brain. His nerves were shot, the situation becoming overwhelming. Sullivan was close to breaking down when he was recognized by name. In his defense, he'd had years of enduring abuse. The thought of being saved from it was foreign, no less from someone who only partially knew him.
Starting to feel faint from stifling his breath, he had to finally release his nose and mouth, a deep loud breath taken, broken into a shuddered sob towards the situation. Legs pushed into his chest, hands desperately tugging at his hair to avoid popping his joints. His back remained against the door, waiting for it to be pounded upon and forced open. But it didn't.
'Its okay to come out'
He was starting to find familiarity in the voice. With some oxygen to his brain and his breaths evening from the hyperventilate start, his brain racked itself for who it might be. He was still frazzled, anxiety swearing that he would die if he opened the door. It was familiar. He knew that tone and cadence of words.
'It's Seong-Min. I know you're scared but we need to leave.'
"Seo?" There was finally a shuffle on the other side of the door. Sullivan turned himself on his knees, staring at the door bemusedly. Seo was here. He'd come to rescue him? Perplexed, there was the temptation to overthink it. To find a reason that he'd be saved. But he hushed himself. A tight swallow and he was up on his feet.
The door unlocked after. First, a crack to check that it was the other man before it opened just enough for him to slide his body out. He looked down the hall as he trembled. Kenji was over there, right? Unconscious? There was the impulse to ask what happened, but he feared the answer. Or...perhaps he feared that this respite was only temporary. He looked at Seo's arms, lacerations disregarded but obviously from a knife. Sullivan could only assume that Kenji putting up a fight meant that he was still alive. And when he woke up--
"I-I want to leave. Please." He repeated Seo's request to signal his desperation. Again, he looked down the hall, his body remaining tense. His eyes were still red and swollen from his earlier crying as he was hidden away. "I don't want to be here. I need to leave." He didn't ask where. He didn't ask why. He accepted it. Whatever Seo could over him as an escape. "Help me."
Although he knew there was likely no other place Sullivan could realistically hide, there was the slightest ease to his lingering irritation when he heard the deep inhale and shuddering sob come from the other side of the door. Patience was something he was selective with, and as annoyed as he still felt, he had to pick and choose his battles. Kenji wasn't an issue anymore— would never be an issue again. His concern, now, was vacating the scene before the cleanup crew got here to avoid drawing more attention than he might have already.
His name come out in a mousey, perplexed noise that was shortly followed by the sound of more shuffling and the click of a lock being undone. Only a soft sigh came from the ivorette in response before the door cracked open to reveal a sky blue iris. He was no stranger to dealing with lack of sleep, but he'd been up since before the sun— the battle scars littering his arms and chest also hissed with heat and aggravation. Sullivan was, blissfully, rather quick to slip out from the bathroom after having visual confirmation.
Gray eyes carefully watch the other's behavior, narrowed gaze wondering if he might just bolt at the first perceived instance of freedom... but he doesn't. The ravenette still looks nervous and fidgety, glancing down the hall repeatedly as if he thought Kenji would come bounding down in any second. It was better that way though, wasn't it? People who weren't used to his lifestyle had a habit of mentally breaking when confronted with it suddenly.
Stunned surprise flits across his face for a moment, the desperation of his 'help me' not at all uncommon— save for the fact that it was directed at him. The recovery was immediate, in which Seong-Min gestured down the hall before taking the lead position. It was a good thing he'd moved the body to a corner. The most Sullivan would see, despite the toppled furniture and some blood droplets, would probably be Kenji's legs. " Your phone. " An afterthought as they neared the front door, which still sat slightly askew in the frame. " Try to be quiet and follow me. The car is about a block away. "
No other words were deemed necessary, so Seo jerked the stubborn door open in a swift movement and took a quick survey of the outside before once again leading. They'd make a quick stop at Sullivan's apartment before heading to a hotel. He'd have to rearrange his missed flight and pull another ticket, but that could wait.
There was a loud creak and crash toward the living area. The eerie quiet turned into a muffled interaction after that. A back and forth that he could make nothing out of, but it was obvious that someone else had entered the house--by force no less.
The dread continued to cumulate in his stomach. A violent need to throw up being held back with each anxious swallow that tasted less of iron and more of bile. So he had Kenji outside and a possible intruder. So it meant that Kenji would get to him or they would. He thought himself evil for not worrying over the well-being of another person, Kenji's safety not at all on his mind as he sat in the dark bathroom. A clatter made him whimper into a stifling hand.
Anxiously, his gaze darted around. He was scared, but there was the instinct to escape. There was a window in the bathroom. A small one to help with condensation and humidity when showering. He'd consider if it wasn't for attempting it before. His shoulders were too wide, and he knew that meant that his hips definitely would be too. So...
...that left the front door. He considered it, trying to make a run for it until the interaction between Kenji and the assailant turned into loud scuffles. Kenji yelling. Furniture being knocked into. Subconsciously his fear of Kenji had made him think he was almost invincible. So if he was being knocked around, what did that mean for his fate? He grew rigid, the fight or flight easily killed inside of him and freeze took its place.
There was a final yell. Then a pop that Sullivan couldn't source. Then, again, an uncomfortable quiet had settled over the house. It made him try to be just as quiet.
The floor creaked. Someone grew closer. As tightly as he could, his hand now covered his nose too. He pressed in to choke his breath, trying to keep from hyperventilating at the worst time. He didn't want to breathe. His heart was pounding in his ears. He had to wonder if it would be his undoing, no matter how silly the thought. Tears ran down his cheeks, rolling down his hand and dripping onto his sweater.
He was going to die. Or at least be injured like he presumed Kenji to be--tried to comfort himself instead of thinking of the other man lifeless on the floor. If they wanted money, then it would be on Kenji's person, not him. In his drawers in the room. He considered blurting it in hopes of sparing himself but nothing came out as he heard their feet stop at the door. His eyes closed as if to brace himself as he tried to stop his breathing even more, to the point that he was light-headed.
Eerily quiet set in once again, the barely audible sound of his footsteps as he worked his way through the house the only thing providing proof that someone was still in the house. He'd shut the front door to decrease the likelihood of a phone call to the police, even if it did sit awkwardly in the frame now. It wasn't a concern— he'd briefly washed his hands in the kitchen before sending word for cleanup.
The room in which he'd been peering in only about half an hour earlier was found after a few closets were checked, Sullivan's phone laying long forgotten near the wall and sporting a spider crack. He could worry about that later... didn't really even need to pocket the phone when he could easily afford to replace it. ( He knew, however, that some people were weirdly attached to their phones and the information inside. ) He'd skimmed the room over, partially curious of its contents, before moving on further into the unfamiliar layout.
Thoughts of speaking out to provide a sense of calm hadn't crossed his mind— wouldn't cross his mind. To Seo, this was still very much reminiscent of a normal job in the aspect that it would be stupid to announce himself. That wasn't how he worked, and he lacked the empathetic fortitude to realize how it might help this situation he'd dropped himself into move along faster.
Finally did he stop in front of what he'd assumed to be a bathroom door, having checked most other rooms and being able to determine that the space beyond this door wouldn't realistically be big another for another bedroom or work space. Nervous energy and fear practically poured from the frame of the door— something he was accustomed enough by now that it could almost be something like a smell to register. Seo reached out to try the handle, noting immediately, though not to his surprise, that it was locked.
" ...Sully, It's me. " He wasn't anybody's hero, and he'd leave the other man here if he was pushed hard enough. " It's okay to come out. I found your phone, too. " He felt condescending, trying to coax the noir from his hiding spot as if he hadn't just ended a man's life in another room of the same house. As if he couldn't just knock down this door even more easily than he had the front one. " It's Seong-Min. " Another pause that tested his patience and stunted empathy. " I know you're scared, but we need to leave. "
He'd been hiding in the bedroom for a few hours now. He was grateful that Kenji had been pulled into a work call. It gave him time to relax and recover from the earlier argument. He knew it was wrong, but he ranked it mild; thought himself fortunate that it had only been some yelling and a single slap. Though, the ease of the interaction made him wonder if more was to come. If Kenji was just thinking through his anger.
--with that thought in mind, his heart raced as the door knob hastily turned. He froze in his spot, though he wondered if it would be better to shut off the TV or at least turn down the volume. His mind was always in a frenzy, trying to figure out what might set him off, or egg him on more. It was his best form of self-defense: placation. It wasn't like he had the strength of heart to do much physically. Besides, what he had done had been scoffed at. His hits or demands had never been listened to, even back in high school.
"You're real capable aren't you?" He started with a scoff. Sullivan couldn't help the sincere confusion on his face...all before the drain of color from him upon seeing his phone. "Mind tellin' me who Seong-Min is?" The new message bubble in the chat made him feel faint, lips parted but struggling to let out any desperate rebuttal.
"H-he's a friend. Just a friend--but you can see w-we haven't talked--"
"Funny that he messaged after you were 30 minutes late to home." He was cut off. Again, with whatever explanation that Kenji had created in his head. The struggle with a narcissist is that there is no convincing them from their conclusions. It made Sullivan rigid like he was preparing to bounce off the bed to run. As Kenji stepped forward, that tension only increased. "Did he miss you? Or did you miss him? Either way, you two stopped and hung out didn't ya? And you didn't tell me so you're hiding something."
"I'm not. I'm telling the truth. I-I was late because of the bus and--"
"Shut up. God. You stutter and whine all the time. Drives me fucking crazy when you do it." His collar was snatched, pulling him forward. Sullivan shrunk as far as he could, eyes immediately wandering away from Kenji's cold gaze. A soft 'I'm sorry' escaping his lips before he even thought about it.
"So how're you going to make it up to me?" It was immediately registering what he wanted as an apology. The ache of his body from last night made him worried about what might come tonight with the mood he was in. And most importantly he didn't want it. He never wanted it.
Without thinking, he pushed on Kenji's shoulder. A quiet denial of the request. And he realized his mistake after there was a laugh. Incredulously before a crueler tone followed. "--are you serious?"
Frantically, knowing there was a repercussion coming, Sullivan reached up, pulling on the collar of his sweater to force his hand away. He thanked God that the bed wasn't up against a wall, giving him a place to crawl off and try and run from the bedroom. He didn't want any more pain. He didn't want to hurt. He didn't want any of this.
Of course, Kenji wasted no time chasing. If not for the misplaced jealousy, he might have found it funny. But he was seething. He rounded the bed, grabbing at the door before Sullivan could shut it behind him. Darting down the hall Sullivan was dashing through himself. There was a bathroom at the end. He knew the front door was locked. He just needed somewhere to hide until Kenji cooled off. He prayed that he would, he--
--he had the wind knocked out of him. Before he could process it, he was on the ground, struggling for a breath. He tasted blood, realizing that he'd bit when he hit the floor, having to swallow it painfully. A deep gasp tried to refill his lungs, but Kenji's weight on top of him made it hard. As he felt a hand on the waistband of his sweatpants, he yelled.
"Let go! Please, don't--" He kicked wildly, trying to turn himself over. As he felt one land against Kenji's groin, he was scrambling back to his feet. He stumbled through the hall, clumsier with each heavy footfall behind him. The bathroom felt like a mile away.
He prayed Kenji was slowed enough that he had time. He ran into the bathroom and closed the door. It was answered with a loud, shaking pound upon it, Sullivan struggling to use his body weight to keep it closed. Kenji's voice was beyond a shout now. He couldn't make out what he was saying though, desperately forcing the door closed enough that he could slide the lock through the peg and turn the knobs lock after.
There was a slam. Another two. A third. Sullivan pressed his back to the door to extra weight, clutching his hands together for a place to deeply breathe into to control his nerves.
But then it grew quiet.
The feet came away from the bathroom. Sullivan could only assume that Kenji was finding something to break the lock. Because he wasn't going to be let off the hook that easily. Especially after kicking him. There was more to come...he'd only given himself a temporary respite. And his awareness of it only made his panic all the worse. A shuddered breath broke into a sob, again having to swallow a mouthful of blood, his sweater sleeve washing his lips and chin.
He didn't want this.
It was almost lazy, the methodical way Seo moved from each window, nudging around the corners and catching glimpses of what hid behind poorly closed curtains. It would be impossible to get a full picture this way, but it was good enough when he found the room Sullivan was in. It struck him as odd, how despondently he was sitting there— blankly staring as faint clips of colored light illuminated the room. That's when it happened; the taut snap of anxiety practically palpable even from outside before the face akin to the one he'd seen digitally appeared.
Trying to listen in wasn't very fruitful, even from the proximity of his position, but the desire to listen vanished with the onset of cold numbness. Gray irises could only catch glimpses as everything bolted into action— a chase that he was about to end. Permanently. Someone was shouting, but not for long.
It was but a few seconds later that he was jamming a tool into the lock on the front door, uncaring of if the fool inside could hear the noise it provided through his rage. It took a few harsh kicks before the door finally swung inward on its hinges, no doubt pushing a hole into the wall behind it.
It was deathly quiet for a moment, Seo taking the time to survey the state of the inside of the house in full. He took a moment to debate if he just wanted to set it on fire afterwards, or if he wanted to pull in another favor and... have Kenji's existence scrubbed clean from the public record. Macabre ponderings lasted only a moment before the man himself came skidding into the living room with a large knife— something that made the ivorette chuckle. " Is that all? That's cute. "
Logic and reasoning were both lost by the wild look in Kenji's eyes— not that Seong-Min was even thinking about using either is this scenario to begin with. An accusatory question of who he was was spat his way, and promptly ignored as Seo's staple predatory smile slipped into a chilled stare. " You won't live long enough for it to matter. Have you had fun making him your toy? Y'know, it's much more fun when they're begging to be fucked instead of running away in fear. "
Responses from the other went through stages of confusion, realization, and then they circled back to animalistic anger. Predictable, even as he started approaching with the knife drawn— partially serrated and assumed to have a nice edge... a decent basic weapon, but nothing he hadn't handled before. " People start asking questions when you're so obvious with where the bruises show. Anyone with history can tell he's been being abused. Just can't take being rejected, can you? " That was all it had taken to finally make the man jump at him with pent up anger, and Seo had been ready.
The next several minutes flew by in a smatter of brute strength and blood. Kenji wasn't weak, but the ivorette was more concerned with physically beating him until he couldn't move, regardless of the hot hiss of metal slicing into his skin whenever purchase was found to do so. Seo finally had him pinned to the ground with a broken nose and badly busted lip, realization and a hint of fear finally reflecting in his eyes. Both of Kenji's hands were wrapped around his forearm, desperately trying to remove his hand from his throat. Only now did the cold smile return to Seo's lips, smeared with blood and oozing with adrenaline of what would be a fresh kill— personally motivated for the first time in years.
Kenji still squirmed beneath him as he reached for the pistol still sitting in his waistband. Recognition made the attempts more fervent, but all it did was make Seong-Min laugh. " I could've done this the easy and quick way, but no. I think you deserved a taste of your own medicine first, no? Now stay still, I don't want to have to pay extra because your brain matter ends up on the far wall. "
It all ended with s sharp noise of pleading terror and a quiet pop. A sigh fell from the ivorette's lips as he pried fingers from his forearm and stood up, taking only a second to wipe the blood splatter from his face. A moment's thought made him drag the body to a corner and drape a dingy blanket over it before he went on the search for Sullivan.
The smile he'd been given made a shiver run up his spine. It wasn't happy. He only saw Seo for a single night, then only spoke through text, so he hadn't gotten familiar with his tones. Anxiously though, he assumed that it was annoyance towards him. He had a right to be, Sullivan being mostly avoidant through their whole interaction.
It made him sad. He had liked his conversations with Seo, no matter how sparse they had become. He was an odd person, but interesting. And he was never cold to Sullivan; something he was unfamiliar with with how poor his social skills had been throughout the years. He would miss it. But he felt like he had no other choice at the same time. The longer he stood there, the deeper a hole he was digging for himself. His gaze grew all the more apologetic.
"I--" He wanted to promise to see him soon. The two of them knew better than that though, didn't they? He took a step back, then another, before starting a frantic sprint towards Kenji's home all over again
As expected, Kenji was less than pleased. He was 30 minutes late by the time he made it back. That was plenty of time for Kenji to create scenarios that didn't happen. He tried to refute them, wanting to use the shared location setting on their phones to prove him wrong. A thought was already in his head though. It didn't matter how many times you proved it wrong, he'd stick with it. Sullivan simply had to listen and apologize for things he didn't do.
The conversation ended with another bruise. One that Kenji apologized for momentarily after, but with his own justification dusted in as Sullivan tended to a swollen cheek.
"I wouldn't have to do those sorts of things if you just followed the rules."
His phone was taken. Sitting in his bedroom, he hugged a pillow, staring despondently at the television, simply thankful that he had some reprieve from Kenji. He'd been distracted with a work call. The bright colors of the cartoon bounced around on his empty gaze. There was no point in enjoying anything. It was all the same at the end of the day.
He was trapped the very same.
Time wasn't wasted while he waited for more in depth information— though not his forte, he was still able to skim some files about Sullivan that were public... if one knew exactly how to access them. ( Most of the world's population wouldn't be aware of these loopholes. ) It's where connections were involved that he hit a brick wall. It didn't appear to be any of his coworkers, and what little he already knew of the noir led him to believe there wasn't a large pool to fish from to begin with.
Seong-Min was given a name and two different addresses before nightfall, just as he'd expected. The first, Sullivan's apartment— something that was definitely in a poorer area, and had an eviction notice on the door that would go into effect within a week's time. To Seo, this meant that whatever had happened had been going on for at least a few weeks.
This wasn't his business, he kept telling himself. Thousands of people across the world were in similar circumstances. He wasn't anybody's hero., and he didn't want to be. It was a shrivel of his morality screaming at him, telling him he'd already gotten involved when he pulled favors to find out the second address he was headed to now.
Basic. The neighborhood and surrounding area around the house was basic, and that suited him just fine. Houses were often close together, but this one had enough space and dying shrubbery that he didn't look twice before slipping a silenced pistol into his waistband— he was just going to scope the place out... peer into some windows and whatnot. He'd read the hastily put together report; the history between these two. A phone was easy enough to track when its' location was publicly shared with another, and he highly doubted it was coincidence that Sullivan's last known location was here before the phone was cut off. An obsession wasn't easily forgotten, and Sullivan didn't seem to have a fighting bone in his body.
Stealth also wasn't necessarily what he was best known for, but he knew how to tread quietly without attracting attention. Walls were thin enough in certain areas that he could hear an unfamiliar voice, muffled and evidently on the phone. All he needed was one thing— one tiny little thing to physically witness that would send him off the edge of caring that this wasn't a paid hit.
One. Single. Thing.
He knew he was being restless. He tried to correct it, trying to keep himself in one place. However, his compulsion to look around kept him from seeming composed. His thumb pressed into the joints of his free hand, squeezing until there was pain and an eventual pop, repeating it as he tried to give a proper look to Seo.
Kenji...had not changed since high school. And Sullivan was unsure if that surprised him or not; he'd just been praying that he'd never see him again, tuning out other thoughts as much as he could. Though he was trying to get out more, he'd thought his interactions were limited enough to keep him safe from being found. So when he came to his work, claiming to be his boyfriend after all these years, it left him astonished.
He escaped that day. But he followed him home. He followed him to the store. He followed him even to the cafe that he'd started to enjoy visiting. He knew every location that Sullivan would be, and he waited there. When tenderness didn't work, he turned to desperation. And when that didn't work...--he hadn't been home in a long time. He knew there was probably an eviction notice on his door.
Standing here with Seo, he was terrified about being late instead of happy to see him again. He felt ungrateful and rude. However, the unhinged nature of Kenji in his fits trumped it. He was littered with bruises. His body ached terribly. The pinky and ring finger of the arm Seo still held were splinted from an early debacle. If he obeyed there wasn't pain. He was still allowed some freedom and human connection if he stayed on time. And he was already late. So very late--
"N-no. It's okay. I'm okay." He choked out quickly, trying to correct any worry without the face to match it. "But I can't stay. I'm really sorry. Um. The Takoyaki from the third truck down is really good. I recommend them. But I'm really sorry that I can't stay, a-after all this time." His lips pursed, there being a final, proper gaze to Seo.
"I'm really sorry. I really need to go."
The more Seong-Min observed his behavior and nervous habits he'd witnessed before, the more he was certain it wasn't just apprehensiveness. It was terror. He wasn't just nervous, perhaps about even seeing him here with no notice or warning— something had Sullivan fearing for his safety, even if he tried to mask it.
Instinct itched to reach out and stop the sickly pop of the other's joints, if not from kindness, then of annoyance and irritation. Gray hues grew more calculating as he surveyed the noir to the best of his ability without physically touching or moving the baggy clothing. Sullivan was very pale even when they'd first met, and it enhanced the splotches of nauseated color seeping out from sleeves and around his collar. Even the splint that he hadn't first noticed, Seo doubted it was from clumsiness.
It wasn't his business, and Seo was usually good about avoiding that which wasn't his to deal with. Usually.
Sputtered response was heard without an immediate rebuttal— the words had only been half heard to begin with. A beat of tense silence passes, the avoidance of being able to look the ivorette in the face something that itched on a nerve. " Be careful not to run into anyone else. Doesn't look like you need any more splints. " What most would consider a pleasant smile passed over his lips as he half turned, watching Sullivan immediately scuttle off.
Recommendation went ignored in favor of the nearest restaurant with secluded indoor seating. Less than half an hour later, he sat in a corner booth with a plate of decorative sushi and warmed sake— both barely touched as he held his phone up to his ear. Korean wasn't commonly spoken in any real capacity here, but he still chose his words carefully. " Do a background check. Work history. Any incidents in his past. People of interest he's come in contact with. " For all intents and purposes, it sounded like it could be for a very extensive application review instead of illegal tracing and breach of privacy. Unless he was dealing with someone proficient, he'd have all the information he'd need before night even fell.
It was time to hunt.
He was late. Late. Late. Late. His heart thumped hard enough that he almost felt out of breath. He was almost sprinting before he'd been held up, clumsily bumping into another person. He was practically blurting an apology, profuse until he was certain that he was forgiven (or at the very least the stranger was tired of hearing it). He pulled out his phone, feeling dread pour into his pores, stumbling over his feet to start his hasty pace again.
10 minutes late. All because of the stupid bus. Kenji was going to flip. What assumptions he'd conjure about his tardiness, he didn't want to think; even scarier the punishment. He was timed whenever Kenji couldn't come to pick him up from work. It took 30 minutes to get home with all things going smoothly. Anything beyond 5 minutes was impermissible. He was certain that Kenji was already checking his phone to see where he was, his location was always shared.
He was going to have something taken away. Or perhaps worse. Something broken? A part of him or something that he liked? All because of the bus. He was going to be in trouble because of the bus. It was out of his control it--
"No--!" The firm grip upon his elbow terrified him. He jumped and tried to pull away on instinct. There was a part of him that feared that it was Kenji, already impatient and waiting to catch him.
...but imagine his surprise to see Seo, of all people. It took a minute for it to register. He stared at his features, bemused at how he was seeing him in Japan of all places. How he was found so coincidentally. He stopped to get a proper look at him.
"Seo...?" His eyes darted. Looked all around the place to check that he was safe, subconsciously. The last thing he needed was to be caught talking to another guy. But. He couldn't help but stop. "Um. H-hi. I--" What was there to say though? 'Sorry I stopped messaging you'. 'Sorry I ghosted you'. He bit his tongue at a loss for words. Again, he checked his surroundings. "--I...I'm surprised to see you here. Did you have work o-or is it a vacation?"
Fingers almost lose their grasp with the startled response from the other, but they still linger lower on his forearm as Seo can't help but narrow his eyes— something he's certain the other doesn't catch in his apparent panic. It's a curious response that makes the cogs start turning in his head immediately. He knows what a trauma response looks like ( he's been the cause of many of those ), and Sullivan had reacted before he'd even turned his head to recognize who had grabbed him.
Nervous energy practically radiated off him, even as he stopped his struggle and the spark of recognition beamed in his bright blue irises. There was no real reason the ivorette should already be going down a list of people here who owed him a favor— people who had certain talents at looking into information others were trying to hide. No real reason at all, but he was still doing it.
" ...Business. " Carefully did he mask the way he was calculating behavior; the way Sullivan kept glancing around and fidgeting. He wasn't going to bring up the lack of responses or how they suddenly just stopped. No, Seong-Min's mind was already on the numbers and names stored in his phone. " Well, technically the business aspect is done. Do you want to get food? I was just looking for recommendations. "
A placid, almost soft smile was on his lips— anything to prevent how he actually felt irritated from showing on his face. Being nosy about others' personal business wasn't usually a habit he had, but he had a shred of protective instinct left that was raring it's head even as he finally let his grip slip away.
Part of him wanted to ask outright, but he was a smart man who knew how to do things in the shadows. While he hadn't intended to look for Sully while he was here, it wouldn't be that difficult to track him down even if he slipped away here. " Or are you in a hurry? You look frazzled. "
@tximidity
It was a curious thing— how months after their first encounter, Seong-Min was still checking his phone to the notifications of a text message from that cute little foreigner. Uncommon a thing for him to give out his number, especially to someone he knew would be returning to his own country shortly after. Even weirder, however, was that Seo quickly noticed when the frequency or length of the texts suddenly dropped off and became far and few between. At first, it wasn't something he was the least bit concerned with— it may have even stayed that way and filtered off to nothing if it wasn't for a business related flight to that area of Japan a few weeks later.
A few days came and went quickly as business needs were met and arrangements of certain fashion were made, leading up to the first day he had mostly to himself after an early morning meeting. Gray irises flick through the nearby food recommendations on his phone, trying his luck to see if anything caught his eye— but it was when he happened to glance up at a quiet apology a few yards away that something actually caught his interest. He recognized that voice, the face the quickly angled towards the ground when the apology for bumping into the other man was met with a slight nod.
Swiftly was his phone slipped back into his pocket, a split second of the sheer coincidence stalling his form before his feet began walking, long strides closing the distance rapidly. Strong digits curl around the noir's elbow just as he opens his mouth to speak— he knew he wasn't wrong in who this person was. " Sullivan. "
I want so badly to at least put skeleton info for my gensh!n verses on certain muses, but I know better than to try and tackle carrd again.
“I do, but–” He…wasn’t listening. Or, he was, but it was given indifference. Was that kind of money easy to come by for him? Even so, Sullivan didn’t want to be indebted–and it was far too kind a gesture. As the two of them stepped into the elevator, he simpered over the action, still wondering how he might make it up to Seo.
…however, he wouldn’t deny that there was some relief, hence the shy smile. He’d been grueling this trip for a number of reasons. He was certain that his coworkers thought him odd and uninteresting. Not only that, but he had an obsession with locks. They needed to be done right for him to feel safe and he didn’t want to look like a fool amongst the group. He also got to sleep without the fear that someone would disturb him for a prank or something (that was something that happened in those sorts of situations right? He’d watched lots of movies that had it).
Seo calling him out for pulling on his joints made him stop. Though, it was obviously hard for him to resist, instead shifted his weight from foot to foot until the elevator finally opened. Blushing at the ghosting hand at his back.
The hotel room he’d been given…was even nicer than his previous one. He couldn’t hold back the gape of his mouth as he looked around the place. The door clicked behind him, hand stubly tugging on the door to ensure it was locked a few times before walking further in. He clutched the access card, continuing his mesmerized journey through the place.
“I-it’s so pretty. Please tell me you didn’t pay a lot for this…” he knew he did, but he really would accept a lie by this point to calm himself. “I…can’t thank you enough. I don’t know what I would have done if I was stuck outside till the rest of my group came back. C-can I get you something to eat? I know you have money, but…” He was realizing how childish he sounded, growing red. “…b-but I could treat you to the meal.”
By normal standards, the room and the décor held within might be classified as lavish— most certainly a step up from whatever type or room he'd been sharing with his coworkers on a business budget. Unbeknownst to the noir, at least until he had time to explore the room further, it also offered several small bonuses; a mini fridge with a set of a few different types of drinks, extra plush towels, a discount on certain items provided by room service, and a few other small comforts. None of it was worth outright mentioning to Seong-Min, given he was very familiar with the fancy and upscale hotel rooms and their equally upscale luxuries. Still, it was a mix of amusement and finding it oddly cute how Sullivan gaped at the open space and kept looking at everything in awe.
" Depends on your definition of a lot. To me? No, I didn't pay a lot for this. I don't use this branch often, personally, but they've got a decent pent. " Ashy hues meet baby blue for as long as the other holds his gaze, which as it turns out, isn't long. Long legs take him towards the wall length curtain at the far side of the room as the other babbles about repayment, hands pushing the curtain aside to reveal the glittering lights splayed against a dark backdrop of the city below. He was used to dealing in favors of such variety, but this foreigner wouldn't know that— wouldn't know of the lazy churning his brain was doing in calculation for how he could convince this little rabbit to have some fun.
....All in all, he supposed he could start with the food. Seo had only really had a chance to pick at the appetizers at the club, and he could eat common street food just as easy and he could the fancy decorated plates at top tier restaurants.
" Are you familiar with Korean food? I can translate the ordering guide if they don't have it in English. " It was unlikely they didn't, given the outfit of this hotel was meant mostly for foreigners here on business, but it was a gateway to agreeing. " I'll cover my own drinks. " Before a protest could even be born, Seo lifted a hand to silence the 'but' that was likely already forming on the noir's lips. " Hotel beer is shit. Anything half decent is expensive. No arguing. "
the clock ticked within the living room as fingers flipped a book, curious about what was occupying his mind. It wasn’t any mystery to the Avatar of Wrath when realizing who resides in his thoughts. That woman had done well during their time together in proving her worth, already expecting that to be the case. Even now the demon couldn’t help but…scribble a few pages with her name. It’d be troublesome if the rest of his brothers would know, hearing the sudden taunts from seeing the fourth become enamored. Satan didn’t think it was possible despite being the embodiment of Wrath. No one should possess enough patience to deal with an angered demon — he was content with the concept of solitude if this were to come to pass. Now that she existed in his life, he found himself become longing for her company. Closing the few pages of his book the demon headed out to her shop. Perhaps there’s a means for convincing her to another outing, making a couple of purchases and using his connections to lure her in. It intrigued him enough to proceed with that grand entrance.
“are you lacking any customers for today? I expected I wouldn’t have any opportunity to come see you today, Saelos.” It was a subtle tease that meant no harm in crushing her capabilities but wondered if Satan could push her buttons. Something about seeing a pout form on those lips someday brought a twisted smile to the avatar’s face, as strange as it sounded. He couldn’t help relying on those instincts…even for someone that Wrath developed feelings for. The Avatar of Wrath didn’t plan on being open for those reasons entirely, not until he can comprehend her own measures of curiosity. She left a couple of chapters blank for her book which made the fourth fill them out. He already looked forward to engaging in this activity, no matter how long it took. Green-nailed finger skims through the titles upon the shelves and finally withdraw a curious one with ancient text. Another was pulled out right next to it, nodding with agreement. “Ah, I think I’ll take these two. Feel free to charge as much as you like.”
@erratiomerula ♡’d FOR A STARTER ( SATAN & SAELOS )
Little had changed from an outward perspective of her ties to the fourth born, but there was almost a languid swirling energy between the two of them that they were both aware of— even if it went unspoken. Even now, idly cataloging her wares and redirecting customers to what types of curiosities they sought, a faint smile curls the edges of red lips with the passing of a memory. Always were they playing a quiet and secret game of push and pull, an elegant dance of growing closer while still managing to largely avoid the prying eyes of his brothers. His scent seemed to linger on the surface of her skin, a tantalizing reminder of his presence in increasing frequency. Though not a constant itch the back of her mind, thoughts pertaining to the Avatar often filtered through in gaps— slithered between the cracks, sometimes when she would least expect them. That was how her day had drawn out so far, until she could feel his presence just beyond her shop, bringing forth a mixed smirk and pleasant smile that would vanish before the gentle bells officially announced his arrival.
" I am only lacking in what you choose not to provide. " An immediate quip to leave her tongue, though tinged more with playful provocation than any real sense of irritation. More frequent did she hear her ancient name fall from his lips, each time sounding almost more lovely than the past— something she wouldn't verbally admit without proper promise for adequate reimbursement in revealing such a private thought. No stranger the promptings of lust, it had crossed her mind how it might sound coming from his lips in... different circumstances. Scarlet irises follow the languid movement of his browsing, appreciation for his particular beauty shamelessly on full display. Satan was still a curious thing, silently begging for her to continue her endeavors— it hadn't slipped by her notice that he was visiting her shop more frequently. Nigh mischievous smile returns to her lips as he makes his selections, emerald eyes gazing down at the books before flicking to her. " I will accept an unorthodox manner of payment, specifically for you. " It was excuse to ensnare him in a further outing, but she always one was to take an opportunity when given— even if it may well not be necessary to achieve what she wanted. " If you're already here browsing, one might assume that you aren't preoccupied? "
