The Ice Prince

@gabe-soo-blog

Gi Sung "Gabe" Soo // 20 years old // Mechanic/drummer for Kiss & Make Up // North End

1,838 posts

“you’re right… you’re right!” he punched his own palm to snap out of his funk. “there’s gonna be way more way uglier stuff people’ll make up. it’s better people don’t know what really happened, anyway.” tae ho put his arm around his friend. “we just gotta give them something better and worth talking about.”

“Exactly,” Gabe said with a small smile. “And we will. We’re having great shows and we’re working on our album, right? Those are going to eclipse this bullshit.” he tilted his head. “I’m kind of scared about the thought of people digging up shit about us.”

That, they realized, was an unfortunate choice of words. Mentioning highs to the ex-junkie wasn’t exactly one of their best moments, but all they could do was give Gabe an apologetic glance and press forward. Together, they waded through people all clapping hands on their shoulders and shouting encouragements over the next act who was rolling into their opening set. When they were at the merch table, Jess sat back and huddled against one of the boys until they specifically were hailed by a fan, forcing them to lean forward anxiously and sign whatever was thrust under their nose. As was their ritual. They didn’t understand how Fang and Tae got off on the post-concert hero-worship, honestly. Gabe got it.

“Well Gee, it’d be kind of awkward if we didn’t,” they said laughing nervously and scribbling their initials onto some girl’s hand. “Don’t get that tattooed,” Jess warned, and the girl laughed and gave them a noncommittal shrug before hurrying away. “I’m overwhelmed,” they said suddenly, “are you?”

Gabe glanced at Jesse, then looked up when a girl asked for a hug. That was a little weird. He got up and gave a rather stiff hug, then took a selfie with her before sitting down again. “I’m overwhelmed,” Gabe agreed, looking around at the various people coming by. There were a lot of hot girls, though. That would definitely be a bonus to this job, but not one he would mention right now.

“How long do these things go on for?” Gabe whispered to Jesse. He didn’t want to seem ungrateful, but he was sweaty and tired and thirsty. He kind of wanted a break from all of the human interaction that Fang and Tae were bouncing around over.

“Eight years? You don’t look old enough to have been struggling with this problem for that long.” He couldn’t be more than nineteen or twenty years old. He must have been nothing but a baby really when he first started.

“I started using when I was twelve years old,” he explained. “Pills.” he tilted his head. “For a year, I did that. I got caught and got clean. I stayed that way until...now, I guess. Well, I’m getting it back now.” he smiled a bit. “Life is shitty, but I can deal with it without drugs. Or so they say.”

#[aelishobrien]

“You would think like that,” they smiled a little. “But it’s something I want to do for you if I’m able to, you know? I don’t think I’ve ever meet such a selfless person and right now, I feel really lucky to have you as a friend. I know not everyone can,” they sighed. “Yeah. The optimistic side of me, despite how small that side is right now, feels like things will get better for everyone but the pessimistic side of me…doesn’t agree.”

Gabe tilted his head. “Well, look at Jesse. They have rough patches all the time, but they are stronger for them and are in a band that is signed by a label. We’re gonna be making our names big soon. That’s a pretty big improvement,” he scratched his chin. “And Ollie Davis? I don’t know if you know them, but they’re kind of a train wreck a lot, but they’re also exceedingly confident and are in a great relationship, apparently, and are happy. And both of them were thrown from their homes after coming out. So, I think things go get better, yes.”

ingridryder-deactivated20170625

The surprise of hearing a familiar voice knocked a little wind in Ingrid, and she took more napkins and starting dabbing at her shoes and wallet so Gabe wouldn’t be essentially cleaning her up. She hadn’t seen anyone from her past since she got here besides her mom — and she wanted it to stay that way. But it was Gabriel Soo. Someone that she was on enough good terms with and had enough distance from for her to not turn on her heel at this very moment and make excuses about an impending menstrual cycle.

She offered a slack but genuine grin as a sign of thanks, and adopts a sardonic tone all while maintaining enough bravado to interact with Gabe the way they were accommodated to as minors in an educational prison. “Maybe I did. But I’m not embarrassed. It’s just refreshing to see you anywhere that’s not in a nearly-empty classroom after 3:30 pm, anyway. I definitely didn’t expect you to be the artisan raspberry juice guzzling type. Or are you just passing through the neighborhood?”

“Passing through,” Gabe said simply, tilting his head as he looked at Ingrid. How funny to see her again. They’d been old classmates. Well, mostly detention mates. Either way, it was funny to see her now. “What’re you doing back here? Lanford hasn’t gotten any better, you know. Nothing exciting left here.”

“Knowing how to survive is the most important skill to have,” Aelish pointed out. “I wasn’t comparing anything to yours. Me? I’ve been clean this time around for three months I think its been. It’s still a struggle every day but you know how that is. I’ve been told it gets easier as time goes on so hopefully that’s true.”

“It does get easier, but don’t let your guard down or anything,” he shrugged. “I was clean for eight years. Now I’m clean for a couple months.” he nodded absently, glancing around. “It feels shitty to start over again, but...oh well, right?”

#[aelishobrien]

the whole thing had actually pushed taeler away from social media. he still posted on twitter, instagram, and on youtube, but he had since stopped looking at mentions and comments when he could help it. he couldn’t stand to see all those people getting it wrong or making judgements on what they thought happened. “yeah, i know. it just sucks,” he shrugged, dejectedly.

Gabe glanced at Taeler. He knew he was upset. He put a hand on his shoulder. “This is only the beginning, you know. People are gonna say shit, assume shit, and be assholes. Famous people get that all the time,” he shrugged a bit and dropped his hand. “So...I dunno. We’re gonna have to just learn to tune them out and listen to the people who care. I guess.” the media was Gabe’s least favorite piece, too.

“You sound like one tough guy. Remind me not to mess with you,” She joked. “Me? I fucked up my life. Got knocked up at fifteen. Had a kid by sixteen. Doing drugs by seventeen. In and out of jail and rehab ever since. I wouldn’t call that a cozy life.”

“I’m not that tough, I just know how to survive,” Gabe said. “I didn’t mean for you to compare your life with mine.” he shrugged, stuffing his hands in his pockets. “I’ve...just gotten back on the straight and narrow myself. How’re you doing?” it might be weird to ask, since he had only just met her really, but he knew how much it sucked to come off of drugs, no matter what kind it was.

#tw drugs #[aelishobrien]

ingridryder-deactivated20170625

Bougie luxuries. Something that didn’t often pop into North End on its own volition, so naturally Ingrid stared at a tub of strawberries like it was one of the most sublime things she could have ever encountered. They were just so — so red. They were almost glowing from the vibrance. Seems like fruit that isn’t choked with pesticides seems to look nobler too.

“ Go figure, ” she muttered, before pulling out her wallet to pay and feeling a gush of apple juice spill all over her sandals. Ingrid jerked away, managing to drop her wallet in the murky, yellow-ish mess her right foot was heavily involved in — and subsequently, her dignity.

Gabe was walking through when he heard a familiar voice and saw a familiar face. He smirked a bit and approached, looking at the sudden mess. “Well,” he said. “Look at you. Gone and wet yourself, or something?” he teased, and then he reached for a bunch of napkins he saw and then crouched down to pick up her wallet. “Here. It’s not too bad. Just damp.”

“You never give me a reason to,” they said simply with a shrug. Jimin followed his lead as they walked and when he spoke, they paused for a moment before taking his hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. “Thank you Gabe, really. I’m not the best with knowing what to say but know that it means a lot that you’re willing to do this for me. If there’s ever anything I can do for you, anything at all, please tell me,” they said before pulling their hand away and crossing it over their chest as they continued walking.”

Gabe looked at Jimin and listened to what they had to say, and he nodded. “You’re welcome, but I don’t think you need to do anything for me just because I’m giving you a normal human kindness. Well, it should be normal. Clearly it’s not,” he sighed and kept walking. “Seems like it’s pretty common for people with different gender identities to end up on the streets. It’s despicable.”

“So what did you do to be a typical North Ender? Let me guess. Drugs? Stealing?” What else was there to do around here? Maybe now she was being the one to make assumptions about people.

“Been there, done that, yeah,” Gabe nodded. “I used to pick fights in high school, too. Had a miserable home life. The whole nine yards.” he shrugged. “But I’m stronger than that. Same for you, or did you have a nice cozy life?”

#[aelishobrien]

“Hm? Oh, uh,” he rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m glad they stuck by us, and I’m glad they have enough faith in us to… get through this shit show, but.” Tae ho looked at his friend. “But. I hate how they commercialized what happened to me. It’s not a story to sell.”

“Mm,” Gabe nodded and looked down. “I know. I don’t agree with it, either, but...that’s what the media does, right? They had to make money off us somehow.” he pursed his lips a bit. “I don’t agree, but I’m not surprised.”

They couldn’t keep up with their own excitement. They were thinking the same as Gabe– they had a merch table, they were going to be doing autographs. Like, they’d done them before at other venues but those were smaller and worlds less explosive than this evening had been. Jess felt like they would vibrate out of their skin with excitement.

“Right? I told Temple to record us, I wonder where they went. Dude, if it’s good enough quality, we could throw it up on your YouTube page– augh, like. This is so. What the hell, this is so crazy. I don’t think I’ll ever getting used to the high after a concert, do you?”

Gabe chuckled softly and nodded. “Yeah, it’d be great on YouTube,” he said. His excitement was not as energetic as Jesse’s or Tae’s or Fang’s, but he was clearly excited. The smile hadn’t left his face yet. “No, it’s definitely the best high. It’s almost overwhelming.”

He sat down at a chair, his eyes widening as people started to pour over, checking out their merch and wanting them to sign things. People wanted Gabe to sign their t-shirts. This couldn’t be reality. He wasn’t anyone. Just Gabe Soo.

He started to sign a shirt, then a girl asked him for a selfie. He looked up and gave a small smile, suddenly feeling a bit shy about this whole thing. Well, not shy but certainly undeserving. Even if that wasn’t true, he’d worked hard on that stage and played his heart out. He glanced at Jesse and smiled a bit. “We earned this, didn’t we?”

norahamanson-blog

“Ugh, excuse me – but can you help me find a place? It’s like Taco Bell, but…but it’s more Chinese?”

Gabe raised an eyebrow, looking at the woman. “What?” he asked. “I...I mean, there’s a Chinese restaurant down the street, if that’s what you mean.”

#[norahamanson]

“There may be some truth in it but that doesn’t mean people have the right to make assumptions. That would be like me assuming that everyone from Kingsgate were stuck up snobs,” She pointed out. “Though there might be a bit of truth in that statement.”

“There is absolute truth in that statement,” Gabe said with a snort. “But yeah, of course there are people who don’t fit into assumptions. I guess I’m just a typical North Ender.” he shrugged. “Or I was, anyway.”

#[aelishobrien]

“Not that you care so much, just how you say things. You know when you can sometimes tel people say things and you can see and hear them regretting it as the words come out of their mouth? It’s not like that with you. There’s so much certainty in whatever you say,” they shrugged. Jimin took Gabe’s hand as he offered it to them and got up. “I promise I won’t stay for long…just for the night. I’ll figure my shit out tomorrow,” they said. “And good, I hope you do tell me. If not me, then at least someone else.”

Gabe blinked, and then smiled a bit when Jimin gave him the compliment- well, he took it as a compliment. Being certain and strong with his words and meaning what he said was a big deal. “Well, good. I’m glad you never have to doubt my words,” he said as he started to walk with them. “You can stay for as long as you need to. If you figure it out tomorrow, then great. If not, then great, you can stay until you do.”

malcolmremington

“Not at all? Ever? Superbowl, nothing?” He questioned, he be maybe too much. On anything. Anywhere. “I guess I will, a fucked up twerk worth down the drain at that joke of a strip club in North End.”

“I usually don’t have any money to bet,” Gabe pointed out, looking back up at him. He grimaced. “Yeah, that place isn’t even good for the beer.”

#[malcolmremington]

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