ALL IN!

To be aff. w/Isola UNDER CONSTRUCTION

[inablinkgone]

“Y-yeah… I… think I understand. At least a li’l.” It was always complicated for people in their world. Nothing ever came easy. No connection with another person ever without its cost. “I’ve only met him briefly and seen footage of his rounds, but… I guess it would be complicated, huh?”

Till stops and slowly puts his tools down.

“S-sorry… We don’t have t’ talk about this if you don’t wanna? I wasn’t thinkin’ ‘bout it like that…”

Picking up his phone, Till starts tapping away.

“What kinda food were you thinkin’?” Till lifts his phone up higher so that it covers his face, but one can still see the tips of his ears turn pink.

“C-c-can I… b-borrow some money? Someone offered me a job but… I haven’t started yet…”

[prxmrosx]

"You guys were on stage together when I last saw him and you."

Yeah, she'd rather not talk about Luka. It always ended up causing her to have the worst migraine of her life. She hated it. Hated the feelings it stirred up inside of her when she thought about him. It hurt, it was painful...

....It was...

Hyuna exhales a soft sigh. Almost too inaudible.

"Sheeesh, kid. Already asking your nuna for some money, aye?" She'd nudge him if he were closer. Poking fun will be enough. "Yeah, I can send ya some." She had saved up plenty doing odd jobs and performing on the streets. She'll need to look for a real job, though!

She's sending Till a good amount of dust. Enough to tide him over for a few weeks. "Wanna get pizza? It'll be my treat."

[inablinkgone]

That startles a laugh from Till, full-throated chortles that leave his chest feeling lighter.

“I’d bet! Ya look like you could deliver a helluva mean kick even without it bein’ metal! Scary!” That, of course, was a very high compliment in Till’s mind.

He decides not to push the issue. She might think differently if she knew what he had done, but he doesn’t want to lay bare his regrets in front of her. He selfishly wants them to be friends, and he doesn’t want to burden her.

Till sees reflected in her the look of someone already weighed down by their own sins and regrets.

"...Okay... Th-thanks... Truly..." Till says meekly instead, forever a sucker for a pretty face telling him what to do.

Calloused fingers find a loose bolt in Hyuna’s leg, and Till tightens it without having to be instructed. He seems a little less shy about the whole thing.

“Does ‘everyone’ mean Luka too?” He questions casually, most likely not understanding the full impact of what he’s asking. “He was in your season, right? Did you know him very well?”

[prxmrosx]

Hyuna chuckles, leans back, and relaxes. She'll instruct him when she needs to, but Till's got it. He even took care of a loose bolt without her saying so!

Hyuna looks off to the side in thought. Did everyone mean Luka, too? She chews on the inside of her cheek. Fingers clenching into fists and loosening, fingerpads rubbing at the meaty part of her hand, and again clenching her fist. It was a way to keep her mind here. Grounding technique. Honestly, she wasn't sure where she picked it up, but she wouldn't call it a habit.

"Yeah." It's unclear whether she's answering the first or the second question.

She lowers her head, uses her free hand to push back hair that cascades over her face.

"It's complicated," She finally answers. "We were close, but....Well," She looks at Till with a smile. It's strained. Like she's TRYING not to be so doom and gloom,

"Weeeeee should probably get some lunch while we're doing this, mm?"

[prxmrosx]

[umbreaking]

" We got Night of the Living Weeds goin' on out here. It's kinda creepy, don't ya think? " Enjin was side stepping all of the aggressive plant growth encroaching upon the city. The sidewalks were beginning to get a little difficult to navigate. Someone needed to clean up all of this mess.

" Maybe we oughta set all this shit on fire before it eats us, " it sounded like a joke, but, there was a part of him that was dead serious.

[prxmrosx]

"Unless you plan on setting yourself on fire with it," she points out with a huff. "No amount of painful plucking stops these buggers from growing on you."

He huffs as she plucks another one out, and it's followed by a quiet 'ow'. Her attention is back on Enjin. "How are you so nonchalant about this anyway? Used to having flowers grow on you?"

[afterthesnowmelts]

still not over the remixes i needed to visualize black sorrow hyuna

[prxmrosx]

[prxmrosx]

[ishegayorfontanian]

Lyney gave a soft hum, brushing an invisible speck of smoke from his sleeve as though the very air had offended his stage attire.

“Hmm, a dangerous little vice, then" - he smiled faintly. “Though I suppose every magician knows what it’s like to cling to tricks they should’ve abandoned long ago, so… Who am I to judge?” ~

He tilted his head, eyes glinting playfully. “Are you always this good at making an entrance, or am I simply fortunate tonight?”

[prxmrosx]

Hyuna has a lot of vices that she should be putting down, but hey, if it gets her through whatever turmoil she faces, then it's something. No matter how bad it can get.

"Pfft!" Hyuna laughs and shakes her head,

"I have no idea what you're talkin' 'bout. Name's Hyuna!" She wipes her hand on her pants and extend her hand for a handshake.

[gemmyicons]

143 ct HYUNA from Alien Stage for @prxmrosx

Commission Open ($6.00 for 100ct) SALE $6.00 for 200ct

PSD/Border charge (without flowers)

Commission info is right here

Order form here. Please send through the submission.

[inablinkgone]

“You don’t have t’ apologize… I shouldn’t’ve said any of that. ‘S not fair for me t’ put that on ya… Especially since you couldn’t get yourself out either. You must’ve used up all your luck gettin’ out the first time… Is that what happened t’ your leg…? N-not that it’s any of my business…”

Till tries to scoff, but it comes out weak and wet from his throat as he wipes his tears away.

“If it’s not anyone’s fault what happened, then it can’t be your fault either, dummy—” Till slaps a hand over his mouth. “S-s-sorry! I-I-I didn’t m-mean t’ say th-that!”

The fierce light in Till’s eyes dulls, and he hangs his head guiltily.

“…But you wouldn’t be sayin’ that if you knew what I’d done. It is my fault. If Mizi came t' rescue me... An' it’s my fault Ivan was even there in the first place…”

[prxmrosx]

Hyuna looks mildly surprised, but she laughs, though it is a bittersweet kind. The atmosphere is a heavy one, and even she can't ignore the feeling of guilt. Should have, would have, could have....all the ifs being left unanswered.

"I don't think any one of us were at fault," she doubles down. Nothing was Till's, Ivan's, Sua's, Mizi's, or anyone's fault. Not.....

Hyuna clenches her fist in thought. Yeah, not even Luka's.

It was the circumstance thrown at them. The stage, those behind it all.

"I got lucky," she finally answers regarding her leg. "I got so, so lucky...Hurt like a bitch, though." Hyuna hands Till a tool, "And it packs a mean bite when I kick someone with it," She grins, at least trying to lighten the mood.

Hyuna looks to the side with a small sigh. Fingers run through long brown hair,

"Hey...So, I wanna do right by ya. You and ev'ryone else. I meant what I said. I ain't lettin' anythin' happen to any of you, if I can help it."

[prxmrosx]

She doesn't hug him back. Not even when she feels his arms wrap around her. "Luka, hold on--..." She feels like she can't breathe, but she holds that feeling back. Something is trying to CRAWL its way up her throat, but she swallows it back down. Her heart beats roughly against her chest, but she tries to calm it.

"Let go of me so we can talk."

She inhales then exhales. Fingers wrap around his shoulder to push him off, gently.

Looking at him is difficult, but she needs to know:

"What do you remember last?"

[sacristia]

A soft noise from Luka as Hyuna creates physical distance between them— he doesn't understand, but he remains fairly docile as she didn't sever connection completely. He likes the grounding feeling of her hands on his shoulders.

Then she's asking him a question. What did he remember last? He contemplates for a moment. Certainly not a very hard question... He looks into her eyes as he speaks, his head tilting slightly, as if he didn't fully understand why she needed to know that. "We were on the stage together," He starts off, noting the most important detail to him first. "That kid lost— because he didn't want it enough. He was trying to walk off the stage..." His expression becomes colder, and something of a scoff escapes him. 'That kid' was obviously in reference to Till.

But quickly enough, his face and words liven up again once he shifts the topic back to something he's interested in. "But you were there. And you were hurt, Hyuna." He expresses concern in an almost normal way, until... "But it's okay now. You're okay now. Because I'm here with you. Nothing bad will happen to you ever again- just stay in my arms. It's safest here."

Aaand then he's pushing against the hands on his shoulders that are intentionally creating a distance, trying to move closer again. He's clearly made it up in his mind that Hyuna will accept him.

[prxmrosx]

That kid didn't want it enough...

Want it? Nobody wanted what the stage was. Everyone did it to survive. Even Luka--! He couldn't see that, could he? The scoff, the dismissal of Till's or anyone else's feelings over being on Stage and what happened to them, followed by that blinding smile of his...

He's already moving in closer, and Hyuna keeps her hands on his shoulders.

She's trying...TRYING not to lose it.

She bites her tongue. "Luka---..." Nowhere is quite safe.

He thinks she only got hurt. She needs to tell him what exactly happened. "I died, Luka. That day when we were on stage, I didn't just get shot. Those words I spoke...They--they were my genuine, honest, last words to you."

How did he take them, she wonders. What kind of emotions did he feel? She wants to ask. In a sense, that day, it was her way of showing him something. Though she isn't sure if he actually was able to see them.

[prxmrosx]

흠, 음, 아가 어서 잠들 거라 눈을 감으면 낙원에서 뛰놀 거라 흠, 음, 아가 스륵 잠들 거라 그새 초라한 달은 꿈을 꾸나?

[prxmrosx]

널 많이 미워했어. 나는 매 시간 다음으로 나아가야 하는데.

그랬는데...

네가 늘 유일한 약점이었지. 그래서 네가 너무 미웠어. 루카, 사랑하며 살아. 아픔도, 나약함도, 못 봐 주게 부러운 순간들도 받아들여. 스스로를 용서해. 몇 번이고, 몇 번이고… 모든 건… 그때부터 시작이야.

I resented you so much. I had to keep moving forward in every moment... But you were always my one and only weakness.

That's why I resented you so. LUKA, live with love.

Embrace the pain, the frailty, and the moments so unbearably shameful. Forgive yourself...

Again and again, endlessly. Because everything... begins from there.

[halovianhope]

𝄞 "Ahaha... Well, in a way I suppose? The planet I come from is one where you can enter a Dreamscape. It's a popular beverage inside of those dreams." It was popular within dreams, therefore it was of dreams.

"The authentic version can only be experienced within the dream, but the real world version tastes a little bit different. I was curious about which version this one was."

[prxmrosx]

"Huh. Pretty cool, if you ask me."

Now, silver eyes look down at the beverage that she had picked up.

"I guess there's only one way to find out, huh?"

"Can we get two of these?" Hyuna asks the merchant. Once two of the drinks are purchased, Hyuna gives one to her company.

[sacristia]

His breathing picked up further, smile widening even more as she turned to him and didn't pull away. Not that he expected her to, but—

A thud as he throws himself at her, wrapping his arms around her torso and snuggling into her chest for a few moments before looking up with that innocent, delighted smile.

He didn't note her distress. He couldn't. She was happy to see him too, right? Must be. She'd said his name in return. She had missed him too. He didn't mind being in this world if Hyuna was here.

"Hyuna." Was all he said, gazing at her adoringly. His tone of voice was warm, the characteristic warmth that he reserved only for Hyuna. He loves how it sounds for her name to come out of his mouth. He's clearly waiting for her to hug him back and then drag him somewhere to tell him all about her time here, and he'll listen to her voice in delight while leaning on her.

[prxmrosx]

She doesn't hug him back. Not even when she feels his arms wrap around her. "Luka, hold on--..." She feels like she can't breathe, but she holds that feeling back. Something is trying to CRAWL its way up her throat, but she swallows it back down. Her heart beats roughly against her chest, but she tries to calm it.

"Let go of me so we can talk."

She inhales then exhales. Fingers wrap around his shoulder to push him off, gently.

Looking at him is difficult, but she needs to know:

"What do you remember last?"

[ishegayorfontanian]

Lyney wrinkles his nose slightly as the smoke drifts right toward him, coughing softly before speaking. "Mon dieu… I’ll end up vanishing in a puff of mystic smoke before you even realize I was here."

Although he was calling her attention to it, his tone was friendly and was immediately followed by a smile. "Though, I must admit… it suits you. It gives you a certain femme fatale vibe” ~

[prxmrosx]

"Oh, shit--," Hyuna's eyes widen when she hears someone coughing. It's almost too quiet; she would have missed it if she continued being so lost in her thoughts.

She works on snuffing out the cigarette and waves her hand in the air to separate the smoke and clear the area.

"It's a real bad habit," Hyuna says with a friendly laugh. "Can't seem to put it down, though."

[inablinkgone]

“Don’t say that.”

Till stops, startled by his own tone: cold and abrupt.

“I-I mean…” He begins again, starting out with every intention of explaining himself calmly and decorously, “Y-ya barely even know me, so…”

But as he thinks on it, unjust and selfish emotions start building up — roiling in his gut and boiling in anger until they have nowhere to go but out through his mouth.

“…And you couldn’t do anything t’ help me before, could ya?” Hot, angry tears well up in Till’s eyes, and he springs to his feet suddenly, as if he can’t contain everything building inside of him.

“What about Mizi?! She was fine the last time I saw her! Then I leave her with you and yours— a-and Luka— an’ she comes back covered in scars!” He gestures widely, slashing at the air with his fist while furious tears begin to roll down his cheeks.

“And what about Ivan?! You rescued Mizi, but you couldn’t rescue him, too?! He’s fucking dead now!”

Till comes to a sudden stop, eyes widening. He freezes for a moment before all of his energy seems to leave him at once, and he drops bonelessly back into his chair. He takes a few deep breaths, trying to steady or calm himself; he’s not sure.

“…I’m sorry…” He says at length. “I… I didn’t mean all that… I’m sure you did the best ya could… Thank you for keepin' Mizi alive... An'... I'm the one t' blame 'bout Ivan anyway...” Till shudders, bowing forward as he folds in on himself again.

“I just… I’m not a kid anymore. I don’t wanna be made promises ya can’t keep t’ make me feel better…”

[prxmrosx]

Hyuna's eyes widen at Till's sudden tone. She is speechless. Mouth opened partly even when Till stands. She remains seated, eyes on him, eyebrows furrowed. There's a pained pang in her chest because he's right. She couldn't really do much, no matter how hard she tried. She wanted to save everyone. Break them free from their captors, but she couldn't even do that.

Ivan, Mizi, Sua....Luka.....

Everyone else who had to get on that stage.

It was all life or death.

"I'm sorry," She says when Till finally sits. He apologizes, too, but there really isn't any reason why he should be apologizing.

"It's no one's fault for what happened," She starts with a huff. "But...I feel it is- You're right. I should have tried saving Ivan, too. I'm sorry."

[lostclematis]

@prxmrosx

𝄞 Sua wasn't sure what to say. Socializing wasn't her strong suit in the first place, but when faced with a fellow Anakt Garden graduate that problem was only exacerbated. She was aware of Hyuna, she'd been in the class before hers, even though she hadn't really learned her name until Mizi had told her in the city.

That didn't make it any less awkward that Hyuna had invited her to talk at a cafe. She'd helped Mizi after her death, so she likely knew a lot more about Sua than Sua knew about her.

"...I'm sorry, is there something you wanted to talk to me about specifically?" With a freshly delivered cup of tea in front of her, Sua's fingers ran across the rim nervously. "I'm not used to places like this still, really."

[prxmrosx]

Maybe this wasn't a great idea. No...no, she cant think like that. If not now, then when? It had been easier to talk to Mizi, Ivan, and even Till despite their last meeting, but, man....Sua. Hyuna isn't sure why she finds it difficult.

"Uh, nothing too serious," she says. Is she trying to reassure Sua? The woman seems a little nervous.

"Yeah, me neither. I'm still getting used to everything." Picking up her cup, Hyuna takes a sip from it.

"I wanted to..." she trails off with a light huff. How could she put this without it being so awkward?

"I wanted to apologize."