tiger, tiger, burning bright

ki-woong || tiguri of the ailuran race “ the world is a jungle. you either fight or run forever. "

[holang-ix]

demoniclilith:

 ❝Now?❞ She asked, brows furrowing in confusion. ❝I don’t give a damn what you do now. I just thought I’d save you the anger and frustration of reading a pamphlet full of lies and bullshit. I bet not even five percent of what was on those papers was true.❞ She smiled, as if she had done him the biggest favor in the world, and in her mind, maybe she had. 

So he should thank her then ... maybe? Well, if she’d done him this supposedly wonderful service by destroying a brochure filled with nothing but lies — he could have done it himself, but it had never even crossed his mind to — then the least he could do was verbally express his gratitude. Maybe. “Uh — thanks,” Ki-Woong muttered, lips curving upward into a small smile of amusement, directed inward. “I feel stupid now. Such a simple solution was staring me in the face all this time, and I never saw it.” He couldn’t even blame it on ignorance, not this time. “So ... yeah. Let’s just forget that ever happened.” She didn’t seem to particularly care what he did after the fact, so he might as well take advantage of that.

[holang-ix]

choixjunsu:

      WHAT would it take to drive the cat away for good? He should’ve gotten the message by now. He should’ve figured out by now that he wasn’t welcomed here. If he’d truly wanted Ki-Woong around, Junsu would have deliberately left him with a way to contact him. But he hadn’t. “THE VIEW,” he repeated, arching his brow in skepticism as he decided then to tackle the problem of key retrieval head-on, struggling to find the best solution among the many godawful ones. “I DIDN’T REALIZE LONG, DREARY HALLS WERE YOUR KRYPTONITE. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW OVERWHELMING LAS VEGAS MUST’VE BEEN FOR YOU.” It was nonsense, and Ki-Woong undoubtedly knew that. But that obviously didn’t stop him from stirring the pot of ridiculousness with his farcical replies.

“I KNOW WHAT YOU’RE DOING,” he snapped, thrusting his fingers through his hair as he unconsciously took a step back. “AND I DON’T SEE WHY YOU CAN’T BE MATURE ABOUT THIS AND JUST GIVE ME THE DAMN KEYS.” For someone who rarely resorted to cursing, it said a lot about his mental state. “NO MORE WORD GAMES.”

He was angry — Ki-Woong got that. But bowing his head in acceptance of the heaps of shade he was determined to bury him in and saying nothing at all, even if it proved nonsensical, fell outside the realm of his character. There was only so much misplaced animosity. This boy had been his life, their bond long-lasting and too strong to sever with the invisible scissors of man’s greed and cruelty. He’d struggled to reach his side many a night, the chains rubbing his wrists raw as he yanked and pulled with determined vigor. But all his efforts had meant nothing in the end ... Junsu wanted nothing to do with him, treating him with disdain — and an indescribably small trace of fear. A human wouldn’t recognize the emotion, failing to detect it hidden within the depths of his eyes. But he couldn’t fool Ki-Woong. This tiguri could practically sense it in the stale air surrounding them. “You honestly think something like that could keep me away from you?” Even if he found himself completely overwhelmed by it all, he still wouldn’t let unease or uncertainty stand in the way of their reunion. “And who’s to say the view that has me so spellbound isn’t you?” Caged by two long, plain walls; it was clearly Junsu’s fault.

“I never could get anything past you,” Ki-Woong replied lightheartedly as he advanced forward a step, refusing to let Junsu put even more distance between them. “No games.” Not so much an assurance as it was an expression of intent. “Not biting? Fine — then I’ll come to you.” He meandered closer, still jingling the keychain — giving off the impression of nonchalance with his lax movements. But he was feeling anything but. “Do you hate me now?” He asked softly, insecurity prompting the question.

[holang-ix]

demoniclilith:

Lilith had just happened to be walking by when she saw the exchange. It had gotten on her nerves, to say the very least. She slowly approached the stranger, grabbing the paper from his hands and flipping through it for less than a second before ripping it and letting the pieces fall to the ground.   ❝You’re welcome.❞

He wasn’t expecting someone to personally step in and rid him of this nuisance, but when she did, all he could think to say was, “okay.” He supposed he should have been the one to think of that particular solution. Now that she’d done it for him, though, he felt slightly ridiculous for wanting to chase the strange human down and forcibly return the brochure to him. “What now?” He quirked an eyebrow. Was he supposed to say you’re welcome or nod his head and move on? Or ignore the fact that he’d probably annoyed the woman with his reaction? The choices were limitless, or so it seemed.

[holang-ix]

“What,” Ki-Woong started to say, fingers clenching around the brochure some human had randomly decided to hand him - something to do with faith. “Hey - you,” he called after the quickly retreating back of the man who’d made haste for the opposite side of the street as soon as he’d delivered to him this rather thin pack of laminated papers - and frowned. “I don’t want this. Take it back ... hey!”

[hxginn]

❛   — MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE,  ❜   Huginn reads aloud, dark gaze narrowed on the bin of tiny bottles marked for sale.  ❛  IS THERE A MESSAGE LENGTH REQUIREMENT?  ❜   He picks one up from the bin, wanting to take a closer look at it.   ❛  HOW LONG DOES IT USUALLY TAKE FOR THE RECIPIENT TO RECEIVE ONE OF THESE … IMPOSSIBLY TINY THINGS?  ❜   He mutters to himself, already half-convinced that the task will most likely prove impossible given its size.

[holang-ix]

“Useless worries, don’t you think?” Ki-Woong cocked an eyebrow, giving one of the many bottles a curious sniff - before returning it to the bin. “But there has to be an easier way to get your message out there.” This from the ailuran who knew very little about mortal doings. “This thing doesn’t seem capable of holding a decent-sized letter.”

[holang-ix]

aleaghxla:

— She doesn’t know how to respond at first, a little caught off guard by the boy’s comment. Does it being a human tradition mean that others don’t take it as seriously? But — being quite familiar with the djinn community, it doesn’t really surprise her to find that someone clearly not human doesn’t intend to celebrate the new year or truly make a resolution of their own. “Some are,” Alea acknowledges, really not all that acquainted with human customs; just this one, but only slightly. “And I would like to think so. Why else would they name them resolutions if they don’t intend for you to be resolved in doing what is needed to achieve your goal?” Otherwise, it just doesn’t make sense.

— A glitchy GPS — not exactly what she’s hoping for. “I get so easily turned around as it is — I’d rather not have such a thing compound the issue even further.” And with her luck, that’s what it would do … compound the issue.

“Just some?” Ki-Woong shook his head in disagreement. Because he knew for a fact that most, maybe even all, human ideas and customs demonstrated drollery in some form or another. Very rarely did they abide by their instincts, choosing instead to second guess themselves. And when their instincts did come into play, it was nearly always over the pettiest or smallest of reasons. Even Junsu was guilty of that, considering how quickly he’d run off to Las Vegas after his release. “It seems kind of ... fascistic to me - something to say to make yourself feel better about everything that’s gone wrong in your life due to your own mistakes and bad decision-making skills.” That might not be specific to humans alone, though. Some ailurans were known to chase goals that would forever remain unattainable; he just wasn’t one of them.

“Find a navigator,” was his solution. Surely a living, breathing navigator could get the job done - a lot faster than she could. “They’re pretty good with directions.”

[littlextiguri]

  ▎camera at the ready, jin-woon peered through the viewfinder, one eye closed as he brought the picture into focus; with a small smile, he watched the woman spoon applesauce into her child’s waiting mouth, then proceed to wipe his chin clean. “cute,” he murmured, quickly but skillfully snapping a shot of the scene before another variable, unknown or not, had the chance to ruin it. while photography was something he did to pay the bills, he also found that he enjoyed it, especially during impulsive sessions such as this one — when it was done for fun rather than for work.

[holang-ix]

He’d known Jin-Woon was in town almost from the time of his arrival, his brother hunting him down before he’d even settled on a place to sleep for the night. And even though he’d wanted to order the brat home, afraid that trouble would not only find his sweet, naive brother but whisk him away to parts unknown, Ki-Woong hadn’t had the heart to crush his dreams of starting anew with a clean slate. 

“So is this what you do with your free time now?” With a quirked brow, he rested his chin against the boy’s shoulder and squinted into the viewfinder, trying to figure out what had him so captivated. “You and I have very different definitions of cute,” Ki-Woong muttered, wrinkling his nose as he watched the woman mop up globs of applesauce sticking to her son’s face. “Look at the mess on that one. I’ve seen muck cleaner than that.”

[holang-ix]

choixjunsu:

      RECOGNITION ignited almost as soon as the first word left the creature’s lips. Closing his eyes — and ears — to the familiar sound and sight of his childhood friend, Junsu debated feigning ignorance and finding another way into his apartment. But short of breaking down the door — and honestly, he wasn’t even sure he was strong enough to get the job done — or punching through the glass of one of the windows — again with the strength issue — there was no other way inside; not that he could think of, anyway. “WHAT’RE YOU DOING HERE?” He muttered, not quite meeting the other male’s eyes as he held his hand out for the keys. Because if he did, there was no telling what expression he’d see on Ki-Woong’s face. Smugness, maybe? 

      “KEYS … PLEASE,” he added, striving for politeness when all he really wanted to do was tuck tail and run away; no pun intended

How he wished things were different. In another time - another place - Junsu would have happily greeted him with a smile, ushering him through the door before he’d even opened his mouth to ask if he could come in. But the humans had gone out of their way to destroy the intimate , close bond he’d once shared with his precious charge, the torture they’d inflicted upon Junsu as cruel and as evil as it came. They’d wanted to test just how far an ailuran was willing to go in order to save his human, and Ki-Woong ... He’d been prepared to throw his life away for the boy. But Junsu had had no idea what was truly going on, finally seeing the tiguri for the animal he was. So his reaction to his unexpected arrival ... Well, it was expected. But that didn’t make it any less harder to swallow. “Oh, just admiring the view,” he answered after a while, flashing a small, fleeting smile. “Is that against human law now?” They had so many laws that keeping up with them all proved impossible.

“Why don’t you come and get them yourself?” He cocked an eyebrow, jingling the keys for added effect. Sure, he could have easily handed them over, but then it would prove as yet another barrier blocking his pathway to Junsu - and he had far too many to crash through as it was. “What? Afraid I bite? Don’t worry, J. I’ve had all my rabies shots.”

[holang-ix]

goddessxthetis:

▎ “Is that a judgy tone I detect? They can’t help being born with such … unappealing attributes, fish gods or no fish gods.” thetis was certain most fish gods would find his comment offensive. “And since my father was once dubbed Old Man of the Sea, I don’t know if I should be offended or not.” but the teasing note in her tone implied she’d already made up her mind not to take anything that was said seriously.

▎”I’ve never heard that one before.” indeed, cats for brains was a new one. “But with all your cat references — and obvious dislike of water — I’m beginning to think feline blood flows through your veins.”

“No scale-lifts for the poor blubbers?” Shoulder lifting in an insouciant half-shrug, Ki-Woong considered doing the polite, human thing and ignoring everything odd in her comment. But he just couldn’t do it - not with that wacky title she’d so carelessly thrown at him. And if she took offense to his amusement ... Well, that was on her. “You mean to tell me several someones once called your father old man ... of the sea? And meant it? Are you sure they weren’t picking fun at his beard? Maybe he had barnacles growing out of it ...”

“You thought right,” he answered, rather proud of that fact. “What, not a cat person?”

[holang-ix]

goddessxthetis:

 ▎ “Not since the last time I deigned to check — and while I have nothing against guppies, I wouldn’t wish to be one. ”

 ▎ “Ah, but I hear swimming can be quite relaxing. Perhaps you should give it a try sometime. Who knows? You may find that you actually like it.”

“Who would? They’re tiny - with bulging eyes and spindly looking tails. The fish gods were not kind to them.”

“Sad to say, I’ve got cats for brains. No aqua lovers allowed ... But hey, if water’s your thing, good for you. Just leave me out of it.”

[holang-ix]

paxvictoria:

Nike looked at him in surprised as they bumped into one another, glad at first that she hadn’t knocked over either of their drinks.  Sometimes it is just too crowded in places for anyone’s own good.

Her eyebrow rose when he asked to do it again and she laughed nervously.  “Again?”  Nike looked at the mug still full and pondered his request.  “That bad hmm?  Accidents do happen don’t they,” she added, gently bumping his hand to knock the beer over and smiled.  “Oh dear another accident.  How terrible.”

Ki-Woong blinked - a slow blink, reminiscent of the cat he’d once been ... and still was, truth be told - at her nervous laugh. Did she not receive requests like the one he’d just made often? 

“All the time,” he replied, giving a disgusted sniff at the thought of having no other recourse but to gulp down that godawful drink and pray it didn’t give him hives ... or worse, a hairball. But then she did exactly as he wanted, the back of his hand making accidental contact with the mug and knocking it over, spilling the beer all over the table. It would have been an oops moment for anyone who hadn’t actually anticipated that very thing happening. 

“Oops,” he said with a straight face - added for good measure. 

Eyeballing the waitress, who’d played witness to the whole ordeal, he shot a small frown her way, as though either warning her to stay quiet or challenging her to speak up against it. “It was obviously an accident.” When it looked like she’d gotten the message and finally stomped off - hopefully to get a rag to clean up the mess they’d forced him to make with such shoddy beer craftsmanship - the tiguri turned to offer the red-haired woman a grin, tinged with gratefulness. “Thanks. You saved my palate.” More than she could possibly know.

[choixjunsu]

@ holang-xi

      IT had been an incredibly long day, the minutes seeming to drag on as he stood in line at the DMV in order to not only renew his license but to change his address, something he should have done within days of first arriving in Las Vegas. And now that he was standing in front of the door to his studio apartment, it should have been over and done with. But instead of relaxing after such an exhausting day, he was frantically rummaging through his pockets in search of his lost keys.

      “DAMN,” he cursed under his breath, tempted to bang his head against the wall for doing something as idiotic as losing his keys. “WHERE’D I PUT THEM?”

[holang-ix]

He’d found him.

After days of searching every nook and cranny of Las Vegas, frequenting places he assumed Junsu would visit at least once, he’d managed to stumble upon his scent, a surprising discovery found amidst too many unfamiliar - and offensive - scents to count. But it was a scent he’d recognize anywhere ... and he had. A fact that had incited the cat inhabiting his body, urging him to trace it all the way back to the boy’s home. Patience should have been the name of the game, but it had been too long since he’d last laid eyes on Junsu’s face, and with him already in sight ... it was time.

“Looking for these?” He cocked his head, very feline in nature, as he dangled the keys before the boy’s eyes, lips curving in satisfaction at having successfully located his human charge. And if he thought he’d be letting him out of his sight anytime soon, he had another thing coming.

[holang-ix]

goddessxthetis:

  ▎ “What do you have against water?”

“Everything.”

“It’s wet and cold and inescapable. I don’t understand why people would even want to submerge themselves in it. Swimming’s for guppies. Are you a guppie?”

[submissivexlottie]

Some nights the wishes for luck and to win were louder than others.  Funny how most believed it to be the same thing when it so wasn’t.  She liked those times, teetered between one and the other, smiling and waiting for those she would grant favor too.  Nike could think a better place to be than Las Vegas except perhaps Monaco.  Reaching for a glass of champagne with a smile, she turned to round the tables, looking up as she nearly knocked into someone.  “Whoops!”

[holang-ix]

He was on a mission. 

Find Junsu. 

Mark him. 

Protect him - even from himself if need be, and the boy certainly got into enough trouble without his assistance. Well, he used to. There was absolutely no telling how American city life had changed him; therefore, Ki-Woong expected the worst.

A mission that would undoubtedly end in failure if he didn’t take a much-needed break soon.

Leaning against the edge of a corner table, the tiguri sniffed at the alcoholic beverage the waitress had placed before him, assuring him that a drink in such high, public demand would be adequate liquid fare. Talk was cheap, though - and as predicted, it didn’t amount to much ... When something didn’t smell particularly appetizing, chances were it wasn’t. 

“Humans are weird.” In so many ways.

With a wrinkle of his nose, he pushed the drink away and moved to rise, only pausing when another body nearly collided with the table. Glancing up at the stranger, Ki-Woong almost thanked her for the upset; if she’d succeeded in knocking over the Cave Creek Chili Beer, that would’ve at least provided him with an excuse not to drink it. Now no such excuse existed.

“Can you do it again?” He looked pointedly at the solitary mug of beer, the expectation in his gaze saying it all. “We’ll call it an accident. Accidents happen all the time.”

[goddessxthetis]

   ▎ “Have you ever had the pleasure of bearing witness to the choreographed water show put on by the Fountains of Bellagio?”

   ▎ “I stumbled upon it by accident last night, and I must say — beautiful performance.”

[holang-ix]

“Pleasure? No. Misfortune? ... Maybe.”

“If you stand too close, the water will get you.”

[aleaghxla-blog]

— “I find the concept of a New Year’s resolution interesting, personally.” She takes a moment to gloss over the pamphlet the friendly woman gave her a few minutes earlier — before a small, curious smile grazes her lips, and she lifts her head to ask, “What resolution have you settled on for the coming year? I hope to become more independent myself … and learn how to navigate my way around a map, GPS or no GPS.” She’s only just recently learned what a GPS — global positioning system — is.

[holang-ix]

“It’s a human tradition,” Ki-Woong pointed out, as if that explained why some might not care about establishing a new year resolution. He certainly didn’t. “Human traditions are odd.” But she did have a point - kind of. The idea itself was rather interesting. “Do resolutions require you to be resolute, I wonder ... ” He was resolute in his desire to find his human charge before other predators stumbled upon him, thus shortening his life by years. “And I wouldn’t bother with a GPS - they tend to glitch all over the place.” Or maybe that had more to do with the fact that he was prone to technological mishaps.  

[howtoskinatiger]