descendants

“...she made her home in between the pages of books.”                          ― Maggie Stiefvater, Linger

[quxrxncia]

“After school ride

◆ ━ @destructiveurgxs

Despite the heavy rain falling over the capital, Leon had leaned on his almost eight-year-old Kia K3 car, an umbrella in one hand and a cigarette between his lips, and was standing in front of a high school, waiting for the students to pour out of the building. And even if he didn't look in one way or another suspicious while wearing a set of wide-legged navy trousers, a loose cream turtleneck and a pair of round-framed clear glasses, the school's security guard had been on his tail since his arrival.

Well... he guessed that to be a good point. He was a twenty-something male hovering before a high school, when he should have been in practice had it not been for Kiseop looking so lost and desperate when asking him to pick his niece... Leon sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, moving his glasses a bit up as he did so, upon remembering the older male's pleading eyes. Apparently, Kiseop's partner's flight was delayed because of the heavy rain, and the theatre owner himself had a vital meeting with sponsors in less than half an hour. Nevertheless, the two elders were the guardians of their niece for the upcoming weekend and had to pick her up. Considering the weather they can't have her just take the metro to make it to the other end of town. And here came Leon - young dependable fella, as Kiseop described him.

Kiseop was a poor judge of character, Leon thought as he saw the students pouring out of the gates at long last. And he didn't just think that upon seeing any of the students, he thought that upon seeing the aforementioned niece. Much the same as the last time the scion laid his eyes on her, he couldn't grasp how beautiful someone could look. And he had seen beautiful people before. He was surrounded by models and other famous people, due to his mother's past and plenty of his friends were considered national beauties. But this girl, she was... simply breathtaking.

...And a student. She was still a student and was underage. He had to remember that.

The blond male straightened up and put out his cigarette, as he saw the girl approaching him. Obviously, Kiseop had warned her about who would pick her up. He opened the door for the young female, who was still wearing her high school uniform, Leon had to remind himself before blurting out any cheesy pick-up line, when he noticed two people trailing behind her. One girl who was obviously checking him out, and one boy whose expression Leon couldn't read.

"Do your friends need a ride, too? We can drop them off," he asked the black-haired girl as if she were his long-lasting friend. He had seen her so many times, that he completely forgot they never actually met, "I'm sorry, I'm Leon, your chauffeur for today. Kiseop sent me, as I believe he told you."

[receiptsofwhiskey]

USEFUL SITES FOR ROLEPLAYERS

Thought I'd make a list of some useful websites for those of us who enjoy roleplaying and what have you here on Tumblr and whatnot.

roleplay formatter: Made by the awesome @rpclefairy. I honestly can't recommend this one enough. Great for adding color, changing the font size, and the whole shebang with bold + italics + underline + strikethrough. 10/10 always use

fsymbols + emojipedia: These are both great for making your tags fancy and whatnot.

alt codes: This is genuinely great for teaching you how to make the symbols with your keyboard for everyday use so there's that. It's especially useful if you and/or your muses speak a second language so that's a bonus.

text color fader: *marge vc* I just think gradient effects on text is neat. *end marge vc*

list of colors (wikipedia): Has a list of an infinite number of colors and their hex codes. Very useful if I do say so, myself. But that's just me.

screencapped.net: Great for getting all sorts of screenshots for making icons, GFXs, promos, and whatnot.

fancaps.net: Also great for getting all sort of screencaps for making icons, GFXs, promos, and whatnot. My only complaint is that it's a little annoying to navigate so here's the proper links to movies, tv shows, and anime.

photopea: Great if you can't afford Photoshop and/or don't like using GIMP.

hakuneko: It's not so much a website as much as it is a program. You can download manga, comics, webtoons, doujinshi, etc. for making your icons, GFXs, promos, and whatnot. It's also just a great way to read stuff and catch up on everything.

Feel free to reblog and add more. <333

[quxrxncia]

[ Rushing on the road to Hell ]

◆ ━ @destructiveurgxs

"Is it clear?" Dohwan's even voice echoed in the big office, and all Soohyuk could do was nod, replying with a simple 'Yes, sir.' But even if it was clear - the older male couldn't fathom it. After all the years he spent serving him, he thought he had come to understand Dohwan's way of thinking and his wickedness. He thought he came to terms with some of the younger's antics but, apparently, no. His boss' new set of orders was just... cruel. And that comes from someone who had tortured and killed at least a dozen people. They were probably more, but Soohyuk just hated counting beyond that.

"What is it?" the vice president asked, since Soohyuk was still at his place, staying silent. The younger leaned back in his chair and ushered his secretary to speak his mind. Soohyuk was, after all, the only person he would allow to speak his mind, no matter how crude or rude his opinion and choice of words were.

"With all due respect, you're an absolute scum for what you're about to do." The secretary let out, clasping his hands behind his back and slightly spreading his legs. He doubted his boss would get physical for this, but just in case, he decided to get in a position where he would get hit but would be able to maintain his balance. Instead, Soohyuk was met with a peal of hearty laughter.

"You're the only one I allow talking like that to me!" Dohwan exclaimed with a smile but said nothing more. He just shook his head and continued reading the papers before him.

"Yes, that's why I am the one to tell you this. Not to mention it will backfire badly when she returns her memories." Thinking back on it, the plan sounded insane, and Soohyuk couldn't believe Dohwan would go along with it. Sohee was extremely intelligent, and memory loss would certainly not dampen that fact, so even if she didn't regain her memories, Soohyuk thought she would eventually figure it out. That last part he kept to himself, though. Praising her before Dohwan would positively earn him a bullet. Not to the head, but in the arm or leg. It was not due to the younger male not knowing Sohee was indeed extremely smart and sharp, but because he hated his right-hand man praising her.

"High risk, high gain, Soohyuk." was Dohwan's only reply. He waved his hand in a manner of shooing the older male out. And that was Soohyuk's cue to leave and not dig deeper into the matter. Luckily he would have a few months to talk Dohwan out of it or at least keep him in check.

"I'm Lee Soohyuk, ma'am. Your boyfriend's secretary." Soohyuk drawled out, hating the lie that just came out of his mouth. The word 'boyfriend' was far from how he would define her relationship with his boss. Rival, nemesis, enemy - those words fit. Boyfriend and lover didn't. Not in a thousand years, but Soohyuk was lying through his teeth on the spot. Let it be damned his bloody loyalty towards Dohwan.

Soohyuk extended his hands, which were holding his business card, to the female and fervently studied her expression. The moment her eyebrows furrowed in doubt, Soohyuk's lips curved in a small smile. He was right after all - with or without her memories, Sohee was still the woman she was. Not blindly trusting a stranger. But he was prepared. The saying "know your enemy" did come in handy.

He fished his phone out of his coat and played a video to the female from their company building. The Woo family may be at war with the Han one in the underground, but it was a stupid move not to work on the surface together or talk at all about business. And due to that, the video he showed Sohee was of one meeting she had with Dohwan. Or rather, at Dohwan meeting her in the lobby, with Soohyuk by his side. The meeting itself was better not to be shown ever, and not only to her but to anyone. She silently watched the video and then looked at Soohyuk with questioning eyes. All the male did was shrug.

"I know you well enough," he added, taking his phone from her hands, which were holding it. "I believe sir told you why I'm here."

"Yes," Sohee finally said, still looking at Soohyuk with suspicion in her eyes. "To help me, know who is who around me. But it's just... very odd."

"I can imagine," Soohyuk replied with his usual blank expression and reached into his laptop briefcase, which was hung over his shoulder. "That's why I won't be at your tail all day. I prepared for you a few files and pictures of the people you meet with daily and those who are closest to you or that you trust." among them were a few files of people that Dohwan would skin Soohyuk alive for adding. Due to the orders given to Soohyuk, the older male was to avoid anyone who could help in speeding Sohee's memory loss recovery, and actually try to distance her from them. One of them was that Mingue guy who worked closely with Sohee in their last two projects. Despite his orders, Soohyuk thought it would be good to have at least one person that would be her person. And Mingue was pristine, with no blood on his hands, so he should be fine. Not to mention - this should be enough to have Soohyuk's consciousness in check. "If you have any questions, you can call me. Now I'll leave you, ma'am. The doctors advised me not to stay too long."

"Thank you," Sohee mumbled, and those two small words jabbed at Soohyuk's heart with a dull blade. The male just nodded in reply and left the room.

One of these days, he would pack his bags and leave, falling out of the face of the earth and away from Dohwan's insanity.

[bemybaebaebae]

Leo

[ihateprompts]

fake dating prompts

as celebrities ????? ..... im cooking

"hold my hand" "absolutely not" "they'll think somethings wrong if you don't" *grabs hand and kisses cheek*

staying at a hotel but theres only one bed

kissing in private as 'practise'

"if we do this, we need rules" "rules? for dating? seriously?"

wearing eachothers clothes publicly to 'keep up the image'

"all you have to do is stand there and look pretty, it shouldn't be that hard" "it's not gonna be hard at all, thanks!"

"you have to admit we look good together" "i don't have to admit anything"

"i think i might be falling for you" *laugh* "good one!"

acting like a couple in private to 'stay in character'

fake dating with benefits??

meticulously planning 'candid' photos

living together so people dont get suspicious

coming up with a ridiculous story on how they got together to see if people would believe it

flirting as an act turning to real flirting

"why did you kiss me with tongue?!" "'cause it was kinda funny"

"i hate you" "there's people coming" and now they're making out

using the most embarrassing pet names they can think of

"you're not even a good actor" *has 4 oscars*

reasons for fake dating:

to make ones ex jealous

so ones ex leaves them alone

so they dont have to attend award shows alone

for media attention

to avoid media attention (but they end up gaining more)

for fun

ADD ON TO THIS!!!! I NEED MORE FAKE DATING PROMPTS FOR MY OWN WRITING

[quxrxncia]

A "merry" birthday present

✖ -- @destructiveurgxs

The rain was pouring down onto the pavement with a loud thud. Here and there, an occasional thunder would split up the sky in half with a roar, illuminating the room of the pink-haired female through the tiny crack left by the thick curtains that were pulled close. The image of her father's hands covered in blood, his face painted with rage, and her mother's screams, as she tried to stop him from killing the laughing unidentified man in their living room kept hunting Ryujin with every meager noise that came from downstairs. Even the best director could not write up such a perfect setting and plot for how her life came crashing down split-second.

It was her birthday, after all. A cruel birthday she would never forget.

Never.

The word was stuck in her throat, even without her voicing it out. Her eyes started welling up with tears. Had she managed to stop crying for at least a minute? She wasn't too sure.

"Ryujin?" a faint voice split in half the silence that engulfed her room, and the female looked at the door. There stood her friend with an expression as pained as her own. She was sure Jieun knew everything, as their families had no secrets between them.

And suddenly, it hit her even harder - the information shared with her and her parents tonight. Ryujin would live to see her friend mature, maybe get married and have children, even grandchildren... and she would live to see those grandchildren's grandchildren too. She would live to witness her friend draw her last breath, and she would live to bury her, all the while looking the same way she looks today.

Ryujin opened her lips to call her friend's name, but all that came out was a loud sob choking her and tears streaming down her eyes. Her whole body ached, and she doubled over on her bed, unable to control herself. Everything hurt physically, dulling the mental pain by a small fraction.

[quxrxncia]

destructiveurgxs​:

█ ▌     Black thread of fate:   @quxrxncia​

The day Fort came back from school to find his grandmother placing his neatly folded clothes in a suitcase was engraved in his memory; the way his eyes widened and glistened when the thought they were going on a surprise vacation only to notice the solemn look on his grandmother’s face. The look stirred a sinking feeling in his chest that seemed to deepen to his core. Fort did what his body compelled him to do and walked to his grandmother, wrapping his arms around her and remained quiet until she was the one to speak. “You are going to move to live with your…. father.”  She whispered the words as if she was afraid to hear herself say them. 

Fort’s father was hardly mentioned in the house ever since he left Fort’s mother after their short-lived romance. Fort’s mother never wanted her mother to worry so she never showed how much the whole ordeal affected her until Fort entered high school, which ironically was only months ago. Who would have thought the school Fort was eager to join ended up being the same school his older half-brother went to!

           ▢               ▢               ▢           

During the past months since he moved to live with his father, this was the first time his brother had addressed him directly. The two wouldn’t even exchange greetings of any sort, not even looks or nods of acknowledgement. To see his brother meet him at the entrance and tell him he needs to be home forced Fort’s left brow to raise as he watched the usually quiet brother continue finishing his reservoir of words. 

Full moon! Fort repeated the words in his head while watching his brother go on to act unlike his usual self and even check if Fort had eaten. Fort might be a happy go lucky guy most of the time, but even to him, this behavior was alarming. People only go to act out of their way when they are trying to hide something or are trying to avoid something, and he couldn’t tell which was the motive behind Jungkook’s unusual display of theatrical play. Fort followed his brother with slower steps, considering for a moment to leave from the same door he just entered. For a split of a second, he thought his brother was going to try and poison him, but the last words from the older on roaming around freely made the younger furrow his brows in thought. 

So his brother really did not want him outside the house tonight?

A few minutes passed in silence, Jungkook had started boiling the water and took out the packets of ramen. Fort found himself moving silently to take out two bowls and place them down on the counter as he sneaked looks in his brother’s direction every now and then, unsure what to make of all of this. 

When their eyes met, Fort’s thoughts made themselves heard before his brain could register what was happening. “What happens tonight?”

Fort wasn’t one to hold back, his friends called him impulsive, but if this trait was going to get him to understand this stranger he is supposed to call family then it was worth it. 

Jungkook remembers he was not this awkward prior to the incident with his uncle, but since that day it felt like he had this leash around his neck that pulled and stopped the male from acting like he used to... from getting too close to others. Taken in Fort was not someone he felt comfortable around to begin with, it just made the situation worse. That’s why the black haired male focused on not over-boiling the instant ramen, and not on keeping the conversation going.

He felt his younger brother move about, and he took a few glances to make sure he would not bump him. One it was going to be rude, second it may end up causing the small annoying minor demon that was roaming about the room to attach to the other, and that was really not a good way to start building some basic relationship with the boy.

The question that was voiced out, made Jungkook’s thoughts to immediately come up with a lie, but before he managed to speak it out the male stopped himself. The thing he hated the most about their situation was that the elders brought Fort into their house, but never took the time to explain or show him why. Jungkook hated it, and didn’t want to follow suit, so he took a deep breath and leaned back on the counter, his palms resting on the edges. He hummed a bit and tried to manifest the correct words to speak out.

“We’re not normal.” Jungkook started, then made a face, knowing how weird it sounded. “not humanly normal--” he tried again, then turned to turn off the stove, seeing the ramen he was making was done. “I’m aware it’s not something you can take in and think we’re sane, so...” he turned back to look at Fort, with an apologetic smile, because what he was about to do would scare his brother for sure. Jungkook extended his hand towards the drawer next to the younger male, causing the shadows around them to shift and embrace the object’s handle, then pull it open. “You forgot the cutlery.” he then moved the pot to the table, placing it over a thick cloth, as if nothing much really happened a few minutes prior, and sat opposite of where Fort was. “I’m sorry, I don’t know how else to deliver this.” he whispered as he sat down, afraid to look at the boy in the eyes.

[quxrxncia]

“Last Wednesday of the month

Since Leon had entered university he has been coming back to his parent’s house less and less, but there was still one day of the month where he would definitely be there, and especially in his father’s study. This month was no different, as he was keeping the tradition established since he was seven years of age.

The last Wednesday of the month, was a day when Leon’s father would invite a promising guest in, someone that picked his interest with their business endeavour and approach to their rivals. And from how the meeting would progress the fate of that person’s business would end up in one of three paths - it would be invested it, it would be swallowed, or it would be obliterated.

The investment was the most rare occurrence, and someone had to make a very good impression on Leon’s father to be allowed to walk that path. As a kid, the young heir never understood why it was so hard for his father to offer that option, but as he grew older and attended more of these meetings, he eventually started realizing why - it was easy to get a good idea, but not every person had the talent and insight to make it flourish.

That’s why there was the second path - the swallowing. Those were good companies, with good ground and good management, but their leading people lacked the talent and insight to go further, or were too naive and easy pray to fall to malicious intentions. This was the option, where Leon’s father would buy out the company, and would insert people to further develop the company, meanwhile keeping everything else as it was from the management and manpower side.

Now the obliterating... Well, the guest had to be a complete garbage of a person for this to happen, but it was a necessary action. Letting people like that gain more money, and power with it, never had a good outcome. For those companies the usual path led to near bankruptcy and then a buyout on a very low price. It sometimes took months, other times - years, but there have not been even one target of his father that was destine to this path and that survived it. And regarding that, Leon was still not sure when he would learn to carry out the path the way his father did.

“What do you think?” his father suddenly asked, making the blonde male rise his head from the book he had taken to read, while his dad examined the papers, that earlier Leon had looked over. He was allowed to be in the meeting, but he never spoke during it. His place, while his dad conversed with their guest, was usually on the desk, examining documents regarding the guest’s business. After the meeting, his dad would take a double take on them, and add or retract some information that had become known during the meeting.

“Hm...” Leon hummed, closing his book and looking up in thought. “He has potential for investment, but there is still something that bugs me about it. It felt like he was acting out his confidence, rather than really emanating it.”

“I noticed the same.” his father confirmed, nodding his head before he jotted down something else on his documents.

“Then, swallowing, but keep the guest in the upper management?” Leon asked, leaning over the armrest of the couch and staring at his father, who only smiled and nodded down. At the silent confirmation Leon’s chest swell up in pride that he managed to asses it properly, and a wide smile bloomed on his face.

“I know our agreement is for me not to meddle, but regardless - I don’t like your new hairstyle or girlfriend.” his father suddenly spoke, changing the topic, as he started gathering all the documents sprawled on the desk and neatly putting them away.

“Both are not to be kept for long, rest assured.” Leon answered, chuckling and shaking his head. He was sure his dad wouldn’t like either of them. “Especially the girlfriend...” Leon mumbled, as he felt his phone’s vibration buzz yet again in his pocket. He took his phone out, just as his father sent him a questioning eyebrows to elaborate, and the young male turned the phone screen to the elder. It showed twelve missed calls and about fifty something messages.

All in all, Leon started dating the girl just to get rid of all the rest that were following him in campus. Even if he was not often in magazines or the news, everyone who was majoring in economics or business, and was serious about it, knew who Kang Leon is, plus the girls that were just hunting to marry a rich guy. And to be fair - he did warn her he was not serious, and he also warned her his last Wednesday evenings of the month were not a time she was to be in. “I told her I was busy, and she is blowing up my phone... For something I said I won’t be serious about, she demands too much.”

“Your mother’s demanding that you find someone you like, may end up in vein.“ his father was talking about the written agreement he had signed with his mother, that no arranged marriage will be spoken of until Leon turned twenty-seven years of age, and no blind dates would be arranged for the male. And if in the meantime Leon found a girl he truly loved, that girl will be accepted regardless of her status or qualities. Basically - his mother was a romantic soul, and his father loved her too much to go along with it.

“I still have seven years until it expires, and you’re free to arrange my marriage after. For now, I’ll just enjoy myself.” Leon replied with a forced smile, blocking the girl’s number in the meantime and proceeding to call one of his friends. “I take we’re done here, so I will be off now.”

His father was probably going to ask if he would still meet the girl, despite it all, but when he heard Leon mention one of his childhood friend’s names instead, the elder just sighed and waved his hand, indicating Leon to just go already.

“Tell mother I will visit over the weekend.” the blonde male said, before he left his father’s study and proceeded on his phone. He was going to end things with his so-called girlfriend tomorrow, because he knew if he met her now things would go bad. After all, they had some weird made-up anniversary apparently.

[quxrxncia]

destructiveurgxs​:

█ ▌     Black thread of fate:   @pandemxnivm 

“You can do it too.”

The sound of the wind filled the silence that followed, the listener was staring into nothing, making it hard to figure out if he has heard the comment made by his friend or if he even cared for their attempt to prevent him from feeling like he fell behind his brother who had passed earlier in front of them with his friends. 

Kook was the favored son, but Fort couldn’t recall a time when he felt anything towards his brother; be that a pleasant or an unpleasant feeling. The two were half brothers, and grew up apart until a year ago when they were brought to live together. The new arrangement felt forced and Fort’s way to adapt was to stay in school until ungodly hours of the night so he could go to his room immediately. As the days passed, he realized his brother was not spending time in the house either. 

The two were complete strangers so whenever they crossed each other’s paths in public, neither acknowledged the other. 

Fort hopped off the brick fence he was sitting atop, pulling the strap of his bag along. “I don’t need to become him,” he addressed his friend with his reply and offered his usual bright smile. 

He did not feel the need to prove anything to anyone nor did he want to fit in. 

                ▢               ▢               ▢              

Fort’s fingers slid across the textured wall as if they were tracing for braille letters, needing guidance on what to expect. His eyes were searching in endless pitch darkness for any glimpse of light to find his way in the unfamiliar setting that has become his home.

A scream had almost forced itself through his throat if not for the hand that muffled it, he had not expected for his hand to feel anything other than the concrete so feeling another hand on his startled him. The clouds behind him pulled away, letting the full moon’s light shine through the window’s glass facing his back and reflect off the eyes that were staring at him.

Standing there too close to his brother sent shivers down his spine. There was something peculiarly eery about him, and Fort couldn’t explain it. He wasn’t a scardy cat, but this was against every fibre in his whole being. It was as if his core wanted to jump out of his body and leave the place.

“You should be back home early on a full moon night.”

I don’t recall being a werewolf. The words would’ve made it past his lips if not for this strange paralysing feeling that took over his body.

Today was one of those days when Ryujin had a date, so Jungkook was left to walk with Jieun for majority of the time. He usually walked her to the station then continued home, but today Jieun’s dad was in his neighborhood and was supposed to pick her, so she walked further along with him. And all was fine, while two of their classmates were with them, but the moment they separated and Jieun and Jungkook were far enough from them eavesdropping Jieun jabbed Kook in the ribs with her elbow.

“What did I do?!” the black haired male asked exasperated, rubbing his sore skin and looking at her in disbelief.

“You’re a douche, but not that big of a douche. It’s not his fault, so don’t treat him like this.” The only close people to the dark wizard that knew of Fort were Jieun and Ryujin, but none of them ever mentioned anything, unless Jungkook spoke first.

“Should I have offered to hold his hand and walk him home?” he replied in a snark manner, and puffed out his cheeks in annoyance. “I know it’s not his fault, it’s something else...” something no one knew. Jungkook was worried Fort was like him. His father and grandmother were worried too, that’s why they brought the boy to this household in the first place. Like Jungkook’s abnormally high powers and their father’s infidelity was not enough of a problem. Let’s have another potential misfortune bringer in. Add to the fact that upon finding out, Kook’s mother blamed him for it in her rage. It was really a well written recipe of ‘avoid the new brother’.

“At least stop acting like he doesn’t exist.” Jieun sighed, stopping to look at the male with her hand on her hips. “And I’m up to here. Don’t text me for the math answers later.” she waved to the male, not letting him answer and just disappeared.

■ ■ ■

“You should be back home early on a full moon night.” he heard himself say, his words sounding a bit harsher than he intended, and he felt the shadows shift beneath his feet. It was a split second, but enough to make Kook repeat the words to himself in his mind.

He stepped back from the other male, looking at the side and rubbing his neck. “It gets-- odd around full moons here.” we get odd around full moons here was the proper explanation, but Kook knew his family still kept shut about the reality of the family around the boy. His grandma believed if no powers manifest until he turns 16 he will end up being a normal human, like his mother. Not like there are no records of people in the bloodline manifesting later. But there were also no records of another half human.

“Oh, did you eat?” Jungkook asked, a little after he started walking away from his half-brother, remembering Jieun’s words about at least trying to talk to the boy. “I’ll be making ramen, and mother won’t be around today... so, you know-- you may roam around.” Jungkook imagined both his female friends standing next to him and shouting ‘awkward’ as he struggled to say all of that, and because it was true, and he knew it, he didn’t wait to hear what the other boy had to say. He just turned around and started walking towards the kitchen.

[quxrxncia]

The coldness of the marble floor beneath his feet felt soothing, yet dreadful, as Jungkook walked barefoot towards the end of the corridor. And as he kept walking mindlessly, it seemed like he wasn’t fazed by the dark crimson walls' sudden thin layer of frost creeping further and further ahead of him towards the giant crystal clear mirror. He walked slowly, the vision in the mirror getting clearer and clearer.

It was him-- yet it was not.

It was his image, his face, but his eyes shone in yellow, and with each step, a pair of antelope horns grew out of his head more and more. By the time he was a step away from the mirror, the visage in front of him was him just in features, and nothing else reminded of the usual quiet boy. Cruel smile, sharp hateful eyes, hands covered in blood up to his elbows.

“You can’t escape yourself.” The visage whispered with a hateful voice, extending its hand beyond the mirror and grasping the male by the throat, causing all misfortunes that happened around him to flash before his eyes.

“Ju!” A firm shake and a soft, but stern voice pulled Jungkook from whatever that was. His vision was still a bit blurry, but he managed to make out the subway cart he was in and the female before him. And just as panic was forming inside of his chest, by the feel of her hand lightly slapping his cheek, the thin silver necklace he had gifted the female slipped from her collar and dangled before his eyes. His grandma’s protection charm for his two friends. Not that Jieun knew the same “friendship” necklace Ryujin gave her was actually from him. “How can you fall asleep on the subway. Gosh, it’s almost our stop, snap out of it.”

“Lately I can’t sleep well. Thanks.” He retorted, moving his hand to ruffle his hair, which felt flat on his head and blinking a few more times to focus.

“You should ask auntie for some tea to help with that.” Ryujin said matter of factly, slinging her backpack over her shoulder and pulling the male up by the sleeve, reminding him they had to get off here. Jungkook knew that Ryujin was right. Jieun’s mother did own a herbal shop and the tea she made them always tasted good, but for some reason the male didn’t want to ask her. There was just something in the elder red-haired female that made the boy feel anxious around her. Especially since their last visit to their place, the memory still haunted Jungkook and he had to remind himself he was just too sleep deprived to have seen right.

After all, Hyosung wouldn’t have such a victorious smile after commenting the boy had been having darker circles around his eyes by the day. Or the sigh her husband, Minwoo, gave at the time... It just, couldn’t be related or true. They were two pretty normal humans, according to Jungkook’s father, and he was never wrong about such things. Now, the teen had a lot more to learn to distinguish people with powers, but his father was exceptionally good at it, especially taken in he had the most power in their cursed family.

“Ryujin! Here!” someone called out amidst the crowd, the moment Ryujin and Jungkook ascended from the subway, and the male noticed Jieun a few meters away from them. The moment Ryujin ran to hug her friend Jungkook ended up scrunching his nose in displeasure. The three of them in one place, without their school uniforms, always looked off. Jieun was dressed too proper with her short brown checkered skirt, white turtleneck blouse, her straight black hair tucked behind her ears and wedge high heels. She looked more like she worked in an office, rather than being a high school girl. Ryujin was dressed with white baggy long pants, a cropped-top white T-shirt and green corduroy jacker. Her light pink hair was not to be mentioned. And then there was he... looking like the emo kid those two took out to get some sunlight before his skin turned translucent. His dark circles from lack of proper sleep really didn’t help him at all.

Jieun looked his way, once he approached, and her face expression mimicked his once she scanned his clothing. “Maybe we can at least once go shopping for clothes together.” She ended up sighing and extended her hand, that was holding a paper bag, towards him. “It’s from mum, she said you surely still have trouble sleeping. This should help with it.”

“Thanks...” the boy muttered taking the bag reluctantly. Surely still have trouble... The words repeated in his head, and the last visit at Jieun’s house repeated along with them. The smile, the sigh, the exchanged looks of the two elders.

“Ju! Come on, what’s with you today?” Ryujin asked, tugging him by the sleeve, and it was then that Jungkook noticed the two females had already started walking away from their meeting place.

“Sorry, not my best today.” he replied, shaking his head in try to perish all the thoughts racing through his head. “So, where to today?”