love & evil *

why am i gonna apologize? what have i even done? why you acting like you LOST the crown? if you were never wearing one. falling ever deeper, dealing cards NOW. now you can't recognize yourself on the deck.

[sanguinolentum]

* crucntus‌:

          HE CAN’T HIDE IT even if he tries to — and he’s no longer trying to. siwon wears his heart proudly on his sleeve, unable really to do anything else when it comes to the human. it’s odd, perhaps. inconvenient, absolutely. unconventional, to say the least. they should not be there together, and yet he knows they should.

he hasn’t told anyone — not because he is scared of their judgement, not really. his father will surely understand, even find it in him to support, what it means for young hearts to be followed. his mother, whilst not so amused, loves him unconditionally. but siwon is painting himself in expectations by saying it out loud — he’s going on a date with seunghee. he can’t afford to wish for anything, as if he knows it’ll slip through his fingers. foolish thought. true thought.

siwon walks into the café attempting to hold his head high, and he can feel the anticipation buzzing throughout the entire room, people turning their heads upon the rare sight of a night class student among them. he’s a few minutes early, but something tells him that she will be too, and rightly so he sees her seated by a table, eyes wandering expectantly.

how a human can make his knees weak so easily is still beyond him.

«seunghee.» he greets her name like a melody, leans in to give a courteous but brief hug, feigning confidence even when he thinks he’ll choke on it and his words with it. «i’m glad you’re here.» he cannot possibly think of a more foolish greeting than that.

           AT THE SIGHT OF HER date approaching, seunghee's eyes light up. a natural reaction to siwon’s presence, ever glowing. whenever he is around, she cannot help but feel enraptured by him. she is not the only one. eyes of diners follow the night class student through the room. it is apparent that he does not belong to that hour of the day.

for scholars of the keuroseu academy, residents of the moon dorm are characterized by the veil of mystery that surrounds them, and siwon is not an exception. he is untouchable, nearly divine. how lucky must seunghee be; how undeserving it makes her feel. this rendezvous is a dream come true. so unreal that the following gesture takes her by surprise.

“siwon,” seunghee manages to correspond with his own name, however, she welcomes the embrace. while unexpected, she plans on cherishing this first time. there is warmth in between his arms. safety and comfort settle into her heart, but the enjoyment only lasts a few seconds. they are looking at us, she almost lets out when she realizes the situation.

"let's look for a table," she suggests, breaking the hug apart. in an attempt to hide her flushed cheeks from siwon, seunghee enthusiastically looks around the crew. it is difficult to control her reactions, her feelings, in front of him. how embarrassing. when she spots an empty place, she takes siwon’s hand to guide him all the way there.

[sanguinolentum]

* crucntus‌:

          A FEW YEARS AGO THE MERE prospect of the supernatural existing in her otherwise mundane life would’ve sent meiying spinning into her wildest fantasies, but the magic has since died out. she finds the other species outlandish and unfamiliar in a way that worries her more than excites her.

maybe they feel the same way.

«i mean, yeah .. or, it’s something about the variety .. just like —» her voice dies out. «forget it. you wouldn’t understand.»

she can’t expect taeyeon to. since becoming a rather regular companion to the female vampire, mei has immersed herself in her culture in a feeble attempt to feel at home again, and for that she has willingly given up luxuries she never before thought she’d miss as much as she does. 

«no thank you,» she mutters silently. after the things she has seen she is already contemplating going vegan. «and we’re not drowning anyone either, taeyeon.»

she knows it’s not what the vampire had in mind when being gifted mei, wrapped up in fragile skin and innocent bones. to be fair, this isn’t quite what mei had expected either. 

«can’t we do normal people things ? like .. fucking bathe in a lake or something. go hiking. do something that doesn’t require killing.»

        TAEYEON’S JAW TENSES at mei’s words. a dangerous animal ready to thrust forward. what’s the point of understanding humans, really? nothing but a waste of time.

such insinuation should send her into one of her usual fits, instead taeyeon keeps it in every time she interacts with the other girl. she hides her frustration in hopes of being amazed.

the human is an enthralling puzzle, one the vampire is willing to solve. mei works in strange ways, yet to be understood, but she tries. a first time for taeyeon, who is used to having what she wants close at hand, without question, under the threat of atrocious fury.

“alright!” she huffed, disappointed. both their concepts of normalcy are quite different, brought apart by species, culture and morality. for real, there is no crime in drowning men in the ocean.

silence follows mei’s list of options. however, taeyeon’s eyes shine bright with enlightenment.

“i know of a place you might enjoy,” no killing involved, she almost adds and shoots off in the opposite direction. mei has the skill to catch up.

their destination is promising: a crystal clear pool awaits. taeyeon’s favorite body of water in the entire ahn realm, which equals to the nicest bathing site.

she stops before the shore, hands already reaching for the skirts of her white dress. it makes her giddy with delight and victory to think about the human’s reaction.

[sanguinolentum]

* crucntus·:

          SHE BALANCES BETWEEN A MORTAL and, in their eyes, fictional world from a young age. she’s an accessory in one and a necessity in the other, but the lines often blur so song ahyoung doesn’t let anyone but herself define her own worth.

at least that had always been the case until hwang minwoo had become a rather permanent part of her life.

she stands tall still. ahyoung budges for no one and whilst the line between politics and feelings is starting to blur she lets no one look past the curtain that is her visage. she never drops the model act, human or vampire, even under pressure or in unknown waters.

this, she knows, will be as unknown as it gets.

ahyoung anticipates minwoo’s arrival, buzzing comments floating around the studio, whispers and eyes glancing in the model’s direction. she talks little about her private life, but somehow word of her ‘boyfriend’ has gotten around regardless, and whilst she knows there is nothing of substance in their so-called relationship ( or at least that there shouldn’t be ), she can pretend for them with a smile that arrives shockingly easy. she doesn’t dwell on what that means.

someone taps her shoulder where she sits, mist from the hairspray momentarily dissipating for her to hear the familiar name being whispered in her ear. she gets up then, leaving no room for her stylist to complain as she walks, and strides with confident steps as she wraps the robe tighter around herself. 

«emily, if you’re flirting with him i regret to inform you that you’ll have to find someone else,» ahyoung announces to the woman next to minwoo as she approaches, tiptoeing over to the man and planting a soft, lingering kiss on his cheek. maybe she lets her lips touch him for a second too long, and maybe she should fight the tingling sensation it sets into motion in her body, but those are thoughts for other moments. «glad you could make it.»

          HE EXPERENCES relief when he sees the requested person appear, since the wait feels awkward with that human girl next to him.

“thank you for the water, emily,” minwoo returns the empty glass, holding it with both hands. He adds a soft laugh in reaction to ahyoung’s innocent threat, which serves as enough reason for emily to leave. however, he can still sense the multiple pairs of eyes on him. it happens every time they are in public as a couple. he is aware that he should not be fond of her actively participating in the farce they created.

in front of ahyoung’s people, he is unable to weave the usual tangled web of lies. for this same reason, minwoo expects her to set the mood of the interaction. once her words give away their relationship, even if it is pretend, he knows how to navigate the situation. he has come to realize that he does not mind her leading, showing the way. it is comfortable.

“there was little traffic,” he simply replies, instead of the ridiculous for you, my fake girlfriend, i would go anywhere he has in mind. dialogue flows easily, unlike physical gestures. it is when doubt creeps up on him. ahyoung’s lips on his cheek are corresponded with minwoo reaching out to take her fingers in his. enough to show that their palms fit perfectly together.

“It seems I’m early. i can come back when you’re done,” minwoo offers, aware that he is an outsider in that place, afraid of missteps. he is careful not to embarrass the well-known, humanahyoung. it is also part of the agreement to protect her interests in such aspect.

[sanguinolentum]

* crucntus:

          IT WAS ONLY A SIMPLE, a small mistake. zemin tries to reassure himself that his mentor’s reaction, or rather lack thereof, means he thinks the same. there is nothing more to it than a word. the boy chants silently to himself that it means nothing, and even if it does he can’t afford for it to. he lost one father before. he doesn’t think he’s strong enough to ever do it again.

their line of work means sacrifice and maybe that is why many hunters choose a life in as much solace as can be healthy for them. neither zemin nor jihoon ever had the choice though, and sometimes zemin can’t help but think that he is a burden on another man’s shoulders.

( but he had only been a kid back then: scared, broken. he had looked up to the hunters in every sense of the word as a way to avenge the death of his parents, to redeem himself. he has outgrown the other hunters now, but nothing ever stops him from being the runt of the litter. )

the young ones always wanted to prove themselves.

«actually, uh,» he begins, fighting the urge to stagger back. jihoon is comfortable and safe, and part of zemin wants to search for traces of affection on the older man’s visage. he doesn’t though — their appreciation for each other goes unspoken, for the most part. 

nothing more to it than a word.

«the ‘old lady’ mentioned a mission off of the school grounds. a couple of vampires recurring at a farm every other night.» he speaks slowly, respectfully, knowing they have played it safe with him this far. this is the first mission where he may not come back in one piece — or at all. 

he needs it to feel worthy.

«i’ve trained with you for years. i’m ready, jihoon.»

           HE IS ABLE TO feel it. the return to comfortable normalcy of their relationship.

jihoon listens intently, absorbing zemin's worries and doubts. He knows that reassurance is important for his student — any soldier charging into battle needs it, the cautious induction of hope that they will come back alive. every mission implies hazard, no matter how easy it may seem. of course, the president is thoughtful enough to assign rookies with effortless objectives, in theory.

when he was handed zemin, jihoon found the boy quite malleable. in exactly the same way those before him, who joined the order in search of retaliation. bad teachings would lead him down the wrong path. as a mentor, he tried not to sell him a vengeance story. for once consummated, it was inevitable for the furies to show with thirst for revenge.

still, it is difficult to grasp that loss is a part of life, especially in a world of immortal creatures.

“you won’t have any trouble,” he confirms, pondering over the details. zemin is now well-learned on the art turning vampires into dust. jihoon reviews basic steps before every mission. it gets ingrained in your head. first, reconnaissance work to learn the behavior of the creatures. then, the lure into a place where the high ground is assured. finally, a quick execution that prevents you from being detected. easy, right? except he was by himself this time.

“i am proud,” jihoon basically whispers, risking the cliché, hands clasp behind his back. it is only for zemin and his confidence to hear. leery of letting the rest know — of the side he reserves for the young hunter. others simply don’t understand what they share.

[sanguinolentum]

            THE POUNDING INSIDE seunghee’s chest is comforted by the smell of fresh coffee brewing. her usual sense of confidence seems to evaporate like a hot drink. the choice of such a public place, in the middle of college, does not help. very clever, brave. if only her courage returned to her side at this time.

she thinks about how everyone is going to see her with him, siwon, from the night class. sun and moon. an eclipse. a once-in-a-lifetime chance. however, a feeling of inadequacy resides, although no keuroseu rule is broken. every time her brain muses date, her heart skips a beat. it is too late to backtrack now that she showed up.

there should not be any problem, seunghee tries to convince herself. she is meant to have everything under control, the ever reliable president. she takes a deep breath, inhaling the aroma of globby paste turning into hot oatmeal cookies. perhaps when her emotions found calm, she would regain her appetite.

as she anticipates siwon’s arrival, her vision is focused entirely on the display of available food. better than incessantly looking at the clock, waiting for noon, as he indicated. his voice resonates in the room as a verdict. ships that pass in the night no more. the days of barely meeting, touching just slightly, are over.

or so she hopes, wishes. an exhibit of human naïveté.

                                                                                           * @crucntus

[sanguinolentum]

* brmiran:

autumn had swept over the country in one big wave, turning everything a burnt orange under its merciless tide while the heaven remained grey. under the cloak of a cool night, everything faded into a tint of a blueish black, almost making autumn nugatory. under the security of darkness, miran knew her most loyal spies were hard at work, with an appearance so unremarkable that no one would think twice about the raven sitting on the tree in their backyard. it was the matriarchs way of having her eyes and ears everywhere, the animal kingdom serving her after centuries of being at mother nature’s feet. an extension of herself. the world could speak to vampires in the most mysterious ways if only they listened, if only their minds weren’t poisoned by the disgustingly simple ways of humans. a beak firmly knocking three times on the kitchen window announced the return of a faithful companion. miran’s eyes diverted from her book before promptly rising from her seat to grant the bird entrance. it flew inside to let itself onto the kitchen table. pitchblack eyeballs focused onto miran’s own eyes, the untranslateable language exchanged. it was too early for miran to display concern, anger or betrayal. the information was too vague, too fresh to devour fully. but she knew just the person to tell. for a moment, her fingers disappeared in a large, old-fashioned jar, grabbing a small handful of grains and seeds before making a small pile on the table. a well-deserved reward for the animal, which quickly filled its beak before leaving through the same window it had previously entered. “taeyeon,” miran called through the kitchen door, her voice vibrating through the house, unsure of where exactly her daughter was located. “come to the kitchen, my dear, will you.”

          AFTER MIRAN SUMMONED HER, she didn’t take much time to show up at the kitchen.

taeyeon leaned half her body on the table, without any concern. every corner in miran’s kingdom was a playground. worries? her clan lived in prosperity, enlightenment — with the exception of those her mother deemed as expendable. they survived only to be conquered, tossed aside. the ahns, they swallowed everything standing in their way.

she might have grown untamed, unrefined in the eyes of outsiders (her own species). still, her bond with nature, its secrets, was more powerful. worthy of her ancestors, the first vampire. it also provided her with the gift of animal tongues, just like the matriarch of her bloodline. she knew the reason behind the visit of the raven, the messenger.

her fingers swiftly advanced on the wooden surface, until they reached the remaining seeds. she played with the grains in quiet anticipation. the bird had done a good job, which explained the reward. it filled her with curiosity. what could have possibly made her mother that content? especially for her to request her daughter’s presence.

truth was that she was closer to miran. the expected daughter. in essence, her other half existed because of bad luck. his brother resisted in limbo, and she only eclipsed him. a prisoner in his own home. taeyeon perceived his zero sense of belonging. poor taetae would always come second to her, even if he was the eldest of the two.

“so, any news from beyond the limits? should i take a walk near the border?” she finally asked, quite interested. the black animals tended to bring word from those areas, not exactly her favorite, thanks to their vigilant eyes under miran’s command.

[sanguinolentum]

* crucntus·:

          AND THERE HE WAS, STUCK in his own head again. he did that from time to time — zemin was a creature of habit, but there was one habit of crucial importance he had left behind, and it was that of hope. he couldn’t wish back his own faith no matter how hard he tried.

he would lie if he said this was the life he wanted. every morning woke him up with exhausted limbs and an emptiness between his ribs no amount of air ever seemed to fill. he was a lost cub in a flock of lions, and whilst he was making his own roar known he couldn’t help but feel like he could’ve done more.

the guilt of his parents’ death would always weigh him down.

he missed them all the time and looked to the hunters for comfort, for home, but none of them saw him as a young boy in need of affection. he was a soldier, a weapon, not a child any longer, but he had never gotten to be one in the first place. was it so bad for him to long for a childhood he could’ve had ?

his missions were his distractions. zemin filled his days with training and reading and hunting, then repeated when he found even a moment for himself. his days were hazy, gray, melting into one another in a meaningless blur, and he let them without fighting it. but there was one mission in particular that had caught the young hunter’s attention — a more challenging one than he had been permitted to partake in before, but he believed he was ready. still, he knew he needed the blessing of his superiors to take on such a mission, especially alone, and it was how he found himself seeking out jihoon.

he walked into the training room, his mentor present as zemin had suspected, and it was then it slipped. «dad, can i ..» zemin froze. the ghost of the word lingered on his lips, that boyish insecurity making home out of his now palpitating, embarrassed heart. his father was dead. zemin would be the first to say so.

«jihoon. i meant jihoon.»

closed ⤷ @sanguinolentum.

           JIHOON EXISTED IN solitary. self-imposed exile. a lone wolf. the order enigma. the path he chose since he grabbed the deadly nam relic. blades and blood. it was in his dna, just like any descendant of hunters. destined by nature herself.

he was aware of the perils of the job, but he was also good at it. as a one-man unit. sharp enough to cut, to tear open. no horde of level e vampires stood a chance. imposing, sometimes awful. those creatures didn’t deserve much of his time.

perhaps his arrogance grew with each mission, which led to the president’s intervention. she intended to stop a falling star from reaching its doom. the answer was in entrusting him with a student. jihoon failed to understand. he didn’t need a burden.

zemin. tragic child, quiet. damaged enough for the battlefield. he was expected to put the kid back together. he worked with the pieces, and gruesome training, to assemble a soldier. at the same time, the pupil slipped through his cracks.

he found himself shoving food into zemin’s mouth because he needed strength, training until late because he needed experience, making up words of support because he needed comfort. he finally cared for someone else. it turned into a familiar routine. family. more than brothers in arms. a father to a son.

such realization hit him like a bucket of cold water.

the training room was barely occupied. still, jihoon’s peripheral vision confirmed that there was no reaction to zemin's freudian slip. on his part, he tried to hide the surprise in his expression, acting as if he had only heard his name. just a mentor. not a different figure.

“are you ready for what the old lady assigned you?” while his question was casual, jihoon approached zemin cautiously, giving him space and time.

“beers are on me if you don’t end up too bruised.”

[sanguinolentum]

            JUST AS MINWOO IS about to pay for the books under his arm, he stops short at the checkout. there is an array of magazines, but one catches his eye among them. he does not bother reading the main headline on the cover — his knowledge about fashion publications is non-existent anyway. he drops some bills to pay for his stack and heads to the parking lot.

can you send me the address? reads the text minwoo types, now in the driver’s seat.

as he waits for a reply, he stares down at the glossy pages of his purchase. ahyoung’s high cheekbones grace harper’s bazaar. dark and playful. haunting and lavish. her supernatural appearance produces slick, black and white images. everyone knows of the beauty and the grace, human or vampire. he knows. when her eyelashes bat in his direction, with practiced model composure, minwoo thinks that something inside him will succumb.

he puts the magazine away, as his phone buzzes softly in his pocket. the message is followed by her pin on the map. he tenses when he sees the location.

despite all the responsibilities, even self-imposed, minwoo has learned to carry himself prideful. yet, his shoulders protest beneath the weight of a new role. the arrangement that exists between him and ahyoung is merely ceremonial. there is a procedure to this, there is a front to put on. what is he to do with the accidental touch, the residual afterthought?

at the improvised shooting site, minwoo feels definitely out of place. the backstage is suffocating and crazy. very different from the quiet secrecy of his own job. he finds it surprising how she manages to handle two personas, while he is a stranger to the thrill of dreaming and showbiz. standing still, he watches stylists running around, but does not manage to spot the model.

are you looking for someone? a voice asks and minwoo blinks, spaced out.

“song ahyoung.”

                                                                                            * @crucntus

[sanguinolentum]

* crucntus‌:

           THINGS HAD BEEN LESS COMPLICATED back in china. it was what mei told herself, that once life had been normal, but normalcy had long since then ceased to mean anything at all. the girl couldn’t say she hated it, but her relationship to her new reality was far from a love story. part of her had already grown used to this, and she wasn’t sure if that was a good sign or just simply a sign.

«i’m not homesick,» she argued, crossing her arms in a stubborn manner. fishnet stockings revealed themselves through holes that hadn’t been in her jeans a few days prior, and mei wasn’t sure if her boots were wet or if she had ceased to be able to tell the difference. she wasn’t homesick per say, but she had always been an urban city girl, and the concrete beneath her was the most comfort she think she could ever feel. then again, no one would blame her for trying hard to adjust to new circumstances — circumstances she had quite willingly placed herself in, like a fly napping in a spider’s web.

«sure, i smell like cow shit and i think i might actually die if i can’t have pizza soon, but i’m not homesick.» stubborn, stubborn girl.

a sigh followed, but reluctantly mei seemed to be drawn to the female vampire. «fine. but if it’s tossing rocks at bypassing men i’ll pass. it was only fun the first time.»

            TAEYEON'S ENTHUSIASM FADED with mei's words. liar. she was being no fun at the moment. 

since their first encounter, the human had seemed a pliant plaything for her entertainment. taeyeon’s eyes sparkled with dark intentions when she requested mei to miran. how foolish of her to sacrifice freedom in the name of a man, related by blood or not. however, after weeks of dragging her around the hills, the youngest ahn twin had changed her mind. mei not only belonged to another species, but to a completely different world. her stories made the vampire curious.

“is human food that great?” taeyeon asked, indignant. after all, she was an exclusive consumer of blood. the constant mentions of a variety of dishes were getting ridiculous. 

“i can try to get you a lamb if you are hungry. maybe pork?”

taeyeon could easily snatch an animal away from the villagers in the surrounding area. one of her favorite pastimes was to drinking the blood of their livestock, only to feed their fantasies of a creature. she did not know where the consideration for the human came from. mei was a complicated pet sometimes. especially because she had a tendency to hide her thoughts and feelings, all with the purpose of appearing fierce.

she was the most fragile thing in taeyeon’s eyes.

“throwing rocks is nothing compared to drowning them,” she commented as if referring to the weather. she did not care about confirming the rumors about her clan's practices.

[sanguinolentum]

🔥 – grinding against them (jinho/minwoo)

             FOR YEARS, THE CRANE never bowed its red-crowned head down to the tiger. honoring a disgraced royal is never a cause of pride. the chas are meant to wither in the frost of motionless eternity. the heads of their ancestors offered as sacrifice in exchange for rain to wash away sins. minwoo’s pious sentiments towards what his family has established don’t falter, but that night he overlooks the grand scheme of politics, instead giving in to his most basic instincts. he is enraptured by a poisonous force.

while they are the most beautiful of creatures, they are also vicious beings.

when the prince puts his hand around minwoo’s neck it is different from last time. the rage that flows through his veins expects him to break jinho’s nose. yet, desire’s method is to have their mouths crashing against each other. it is inside of the car when he kneels before him (for the second time in his life). mind getting reckless and zipper going down and face facing his crotch. minwoo’s hands slides over strong thighs. image is such a fragile commodity in that position.

he must have looked ridiculous clinging to the shorter vampire, as he opened the door to the cha residence. too large for the non existent souls of the brothers, but just enough to trap the groans and whimpers that follow. in the middle of the vestibule, jinho’s sheer outfit doesn’t last at the mercy of his desperation. between them, a secret sort of thrill flowered along the golden blood spilled by the prince. jinho gives and never takes. a foolish visionary. minwoo can change that.

he wants to make him dirty. jinho’s aorta bleeding into the night. see him shiver after every cut, for he is with a god that rarely drains himself. how lucky. blessed his existence for touching the impossible. on his part, minwoo welcomes every bite like an old friend. his body is warm and pliant. trained to stay resilient in the face of pain. as climax approaches, hands holding above his head, he forgets about the baduk board and the war flag he bears.

crimson and white sheets are the ensign of their act. minwoo’s eyelids welcome light, only to be hit with a realization. his cheek is against a rising and falling chest. when he looks up, he discovers jinho’s (now very well known seraphic) features. minwoo always leaves before the day comes, this time the sun won the race. he wriggles his way out of the bed, where he had been sprawled over like a panther. all fluttering eyelashes and plush lips. then, there is a shift in the mattress. he remains still, knowing the other is awake.

“good morning. do you want breakfast, minwoo?”

his royal highness is back to his usual self. the kindness, as usual, makes things awkward. minwoo, his name different from the wanton and needy tone from yesterday. how hungry can he be after what happened. for the first time, he does not know how to face jinho. silver tongue useless, opposite to the night before, with curses and motions. his mind is running a mile a minute, thinking of picking up his way more modest clothes that are in the first floor. maybe they can play pretend a few hours more.

[sanguinolentum]

             WHEN TAEYEON GREW OUT of mother earth's core, she was made for the garden of paradise. miran had built the ultimate locus amoenus throughout the years, for her sisters and their children. the selected few, the deadliest of the species. without a care for the impurity of the outside world, controlled by the vices of greed and pride. the youngest of the ahn twins was bred to enjoy the intoxicating air of perfect freedom, unlike her pitiful brother — taeoh learned to show himself as a cautious prey, wary of the dangers that this supposedly safe haven represented.

“a little bird told me that you are homesick,” she mentioned, amusedly. a crested lark told her indeed. taeyeon’s eyes lit up when she saw her, wide and unblinking, trained on the face before her. mei, who was deemed to reve in the false illusion of liberty, under the watchful eyes of the vampire. dressed in her usual pristine robes, she approached the other girl, anxiously awaiting her reply. while miran had awarded mei to her daughter, an unconventional pet for her entertainment, taeyeon always showed a particular interest in the human and her reactions to the newfound civilization.

“how about i show you something fun?”

                                                                                            * @crucntus

[sanguinolentum]

* brhyunmin:

times ruled by peril and uncertainty meant a higher sense of caution for most. a wary approach when encountering new people, carefully choosing trusted allies by hand. for hyun it spelled an open field. people with no alignments and chosen sides, left unnoticed because people were too busy being cautious. it was his opportunity to forge new alliances, advance further while others stayed behind, chained by their fear. he had a similar train of thought when he found the recommendation of shin changmin in a neat file on his desk one morning. an impressive portfolio, a résumé that kicked off before hyun started rummaging around on the face of this planet. his emotional range spanned from intrigued to curious until it reached ecstatic. the process of experiments were starting to reach their peak and hyun was almost impatient to find a project leader with the right potential to help sh to even more greatness. he adjusted his tie right before the elevator brought him to his desired destination, the last floor, only accessible to a few. sh corporation had a plethora of closed doors with business that only concerned a few confidants. with a woman’s gentle voice announcing the floor number he stepped out of the elevator. employees left and right sent an unbothered gaze his way only to realize who exactly was strutting through the hallways and then hastily bending themselves into a 90 degree bow. hyun distributed nods left and right but had little desire to dedicate more energy to anyone else. automatic doors opened with a swipe of his card through the terminal next to them and the sound simultaneously announced his arrival. he took slow but generous steps through the laboratory, hands locked behind his back to keep himself from the urge to touch anything. the one and only figure present in the room seemed so immersed in their work that neither the door nor hyun’s steps could pull them out of their work. he spent a few more seconds looking around, eyeing glasses and equations written on several boards until he approached them, glancing over their shoulder. “interesting stuff?” / / @sanguinolentum

              BY THE TIME the airplane engine gradually increased to a deafening roar, he had already been assigned to sh corporation’s crown jewel. throughout his lengthy existence, he had witnessed multiple attempts to provide vampires with second feeding options. the solution par excellence involved animals, for such classification of living organisms provided with a great variety to choose from. undoubtedly, he also found deviated moral compasses (not that he cared too much) that resorted to human blood to improve their formulas. however, the korean pharmaceutical chose a unique route to success. while many would have rejected the work, he saw a hobby to entertain himself with in his new place of residence.

reaching incheon meant yet another identity to discard. he (and his companion) had enjoyed many lives that were ended by an abrupt full stop. he was to be addressed as shin changmin from now on, a renowned biomedical engineer. the first person he introduced himself as such was his employer, the mind behind the secret project. somehow, he was not lying in regards to his occupation. decades of walking on earth, among his own kind, provided him with a great deal of knowledge, but never enough and changmin had grown avaricious. the opportunity to experiment with his rank was almost unique, although it implied challenging nature itself — and the rules that were imposed after its conquest.

“as interesting as you appearing unannounced,” his voice came out flat, while he labeled collection tubes, which preserved a thick red liquid. he showed no intentions of turning around. the concentration he devoted to his work was unequaled. changmin found hyunmin to possess the energy and the inquisitiveness common of his age, only magnified by his unyielding personality. necessary traits to run a business, but also characteristics that turned him into a good fellow. outside his laboratory, all seriousness vanished to give way to a relaxed, immutable being. one that seemed to click with the director of sh corporation. a very fortuitous relationship for the task.

“did you come get me? am i late for tonight’s company dinner?”

[jwoys]