don't hate me

you are a broken heart tattoo i'll have forever on my chest

[sprxinedankle]

rushveins;

west warned him to lock the doors at the sight of the somewhat unhinged seeming male but talon disregarded it for the simple reason that his friend had a tendency to exaggerate —-especially when it came to ‘ threats. ’ once, he claimed a witch was coming when really it was a hipster interested in spooky and spiritual souvenirs from her trip to this side of the city ; ever since then, talon’s taken his warnings a little less seriously. cautiously he presses his finger against the binding of a book until it fits into place and he looks towards the direction of the front door and he just knows. there’s something important over there —- whether it’s good or bad doesn’t matter but rather the significance of it —- and his feet are moving before he even knows it.

light hits him in a funny way as his shoes tap near soundlessly against the carpet ; it’s almost omnious, the way he appears from within the shadows only to be slowly uncovered. talon locks his gaze on the other, hands pocketed and eyes unblinking —- shoulders drawn inwards, he tenses his stance. physical largeness doesn’t do much when held against a subconscious need to shrink himself in apprehension at the face of the unknown.

today, the man in front of him is the unknown.

“ you found him. ”

— For a brief moment, Junsung feels relief flood through him. And then just on instinct he subconsciously sizes Talon up. He’d gotten in too many fights not to. The other is tall, probably has at least an inch on him but he carries himself like he’s trying to hide. A small part of him expected something else, someone else. He doesn’t know why exactly, maybe it was just the stereotype he had in his head but he wasn’t expecting the level of normalcy this guy held. He was kind of just relieved that Talon didn’t take one look at him and run the other way. 

     “I, uh,” Almost as soon as he started speaking he stopped, brought up short. There really wasn’t a good way to explain exactly what had happened, what he needed or wanted. He hardly understood any of it himself. “I need some help. With, I guess, ghosts.” Weird pauses in his sentence made it sound even worse than it was, and he couldn’t help but let out one loud single laugh. God, he sounded crazy. Maybe he was. “There’s this, ritual, I think.” June scrubbed at his face with his hands, trying to get himself somewhat together. “Fuck. I don’t know what I’m doing. It’s just this ritual, and I don’t know what I’m doing and I don’t have any of the shit I’m supposed to have.” Listening back to himself he sounded like a broken record, like some weird guy he’d never met before. He just missed his parents, god he fucking missed his parents. For some reason he felt like this could work. Felt like Talon could work. Is what weird? Maybe. Probably. But there was something about the other guy that he couldn’t quite place, like it felt right. 

     “I just need help.”

[sprxinedankle]

— @rushveins​

— Junsung looked rough. It’s something he wouldn’t normally admit, but right now it was such a glaringly obvious truth. He hadn’t slept since god knows when, a constant headache p u l s i n g behind his eyes from all the staring he’d been doing at various LED screens. The origin of his fixation is a little hazy, but if he thinks about it he can probably pinpoint it to staying up late and watching Ghosthunters. Which, I know, sounds a little ridiculous but that’s just where it started. A simple idea that manifested into something a lot more. A few days after that he was about 3 websites deep in the idea of ghost hunting, just summoning spirits in general, really. He’d read around a bit, and eventually found this ritual. It was said to be able to summon the spirits of a dead loved one, allowing you to see them and speak with them. It called for a lot of things he didn’t have though, things he wouldn’t even know about getting. Which is when the name Talon Amari got thrown around. Apparently his friend of a friend of a friend had a problem with pesky spirits that wouldn’t leave her alone, and Talon was the guy who helped her. His friend said if anyone would be able to help him, it would be him. Although of course they didn’t give him a number or an address or anything, really. Normally he wouldn’t even act on something like this, a weird guy who supposedly gets rid of ghosts? But truthfully he was desperate.      June had gotten this wild idea and then it was like it wouldn’t leave him alone, like all these years his parents had been wandering alone as spirits and he’d never known. The idea was gnawing at him, eating him up inside and preventing him from getting a good nights sleep (not like he was sleeping very well before, either). Talon Amari felt like a shot in the dark but at this point he didn’t care. After a very hasty google search he found the location for a book store with an owner by the same name. Which is where he was standing now, just outside looking in. Dark circles adorned his eyes and he was sure he’d lost at least 10lbs, but none of that seemed to matter. What matters is that he’s going to get answers. Stepping inside, he doesn’t really see anyone. From what he could tell it was a pretty small business, there wasn’t exactly a multitude of employees standing around. “Uh-” He hadn’t spoken in so long his voice sounded a little funny, so he cleared his throat and tired again, “Is anyone here? I’m looking for Talon...” 

[rushveins-blog]

closed starter for @sprxinedankle​. 

it’s funny – everyone always did say that the moment when you met your weapon ( or meister, respectively ) would be one of the most important and monumental moments of your career as a hunter of kishin, but talon never imagined the insurmountable happiness that would fill his very being from the top of his head to the tips of his toes – not to mention the relief, but he imagines that’s because it’s been such a long time coming. he’s been at the DWMA for four years, from the time he was fourteen to now, and tonight he’s finally met him; his weapon. not someone who was forced by the academy to try and resonate with him, but one who chose him, who came to his aid so naturally, like weapons are meant to. 

he thinks those are probably what he’s heard people describe as butterflies in his stomach. talon doesn’t listen very closely to their teacher as they’re lectured for fighting off of school grounds, or as they’re praised for how well they fought together; in fact, he can’t seem to look away from junsung who’s just as graceful and large as he is in his weapon form. soon enough, they’re left alone and he finds himself meeting his gaze – expression soft and smile genuine. he’s never spoken to anyone at the academy for any reason, but something about this moment makes him think he should. makes him want to. he thinks he’ll comment at first about how seamlessly they fought, but something else comes out.

 “ your hair is bitchin’. ” 

[sprxinedankle]

junsung has been aware of talons existence since he first started at the DWMA, four years ago. of course, it was hard not to be. the boy who hadn’t uttered a single word, to anyone. he never really thought it was that big of a deal, if he didn’t have such a big mouth and he wasn’t so mad at the world he’d probably abstain from talking as well. whatever the reason, talon didn’t talk. because of this, he was sort of infamous but june had never really paid that much attention. never seen him in person either. just ghost stories and rumors whispered throughout the halls. 

when he did see him, it didn’t even register in his mind that it was that talon he was standing in front of so naturally. the only thing he could think about was protecting him. there was an exhilarating feeling that went along with fighting with talon, a drum in his chest and a vibration swimming in his veins. no class or lecture had ever prepared him for the sensation, the rush. junsung had found his meister in a boy who had him mystified in more ways than one. maybe that’s how it’s supposed to be, he doesn’t really know, he’s just happy ( and relieved, and excited ).

it’s not until they’re being scolded, and talons name get’s mentioned that he realizes just who his meister is, but it changes very little if anything at all. they don’t need words, he knows that first hand. when they’re fighting it’s like they have a language of their own. unspoken commands and strategies already communicated through something else that he doesn’t know how to describe. but when they’re out there, he just knows. it is however the reason that surprise is littered throughout june’s mind as talon speaks. he doesn’t convey this though, his face a permanent grin that he couldn’t get rid of even if he tried. it’s just a natural reaction, something his brain is telling him should happen even though in his being, his soul, there’s understanding down to his core. 

“ your hair is bitchin’. ”

a loud and short laugh bubbles out of junsungs throat, in a deep staccato burst. although it seems silly and not at all appropriate it’s perfect. he would expect nothing less from his partner, his meister.  “it’s supposed to be intimidating, but bitchin’ works.” 

[sprxinedankle]

rushveins; 

there’s a number of social situations that talon doesn’t know how to react appropriately in, but console isn’t one of them; in fact, it’s quite literally the only one he excels at. the thing about it though is there’s no one way to comfort – different people will need different care, and junsung is no exception. talon knows him well enough by now, he thinks, to understand that prying isn’t the way to go; if he wants to elaborate, he will.

but, that doesn’t mean he’ll do nothing. it’s subtle at first, awkward even, the way his free hand blindly fumbles around next to where june’s hand should be, and then once found it conforms to it, squeezing. he doesn’t think he’s going to say anything – not about that. he wants to say that it’s okay, he’ll see them again soon, but even he doesn’t know that for certain and the last thing he wants to do is give a false hope. he won’t do that.

the silence, although not uncomfortable, is broken by a clearing of the throat. “we don’t… we don’t have to talk about it, but i hear you, and i’m sorry. maybe, instead… what about… what about your best?” he asks, gaze settling on the other once more. really, he just wants to know more about him. the good, the bad, the pretty, the ugly.

truth be told, june hasn’t ever really thought about his best memory. he’s spent so long thinking about his worst, about the bad, it hasn’t really left a lot of room for the good. the first thing that comes to mind is small things, like waking up on saturday mornings to his parents singing together in the kitchen while they made breakfast. or maybe his father letting him drive once when he was 12, just in a parking lot and only for a little bit, but he loved it. 

he doesn’t like thinking about his best memories, because good memories lead to hope for more. for something else good to happen, and for junsung it’s never really been too likely. he’d just rather not set himself up for more pain. it’s not something he can deal with. “i don’t know, don’t really think about them that often.” the honestly is a little shocking, even to himself. something about talon makes him want to be honest. 

“what about you?” there’s a pause, the passing of the joint, “your best or worst memory?” for a second he wonders if he shouldn’t have asked, but the haze in his mind is starting to work it’s magic and the ability to fully care is slipping slowly. 

[sprxinedankle]

rushveins;

it’s funny, he thinks, how the addition of one person – a dead person, no less – is enough to change the entire aura of a room. in the same bed that he’d awoken thrashing about, he laid now calmly on his side as though it were the safest place in the world for him to be. maybe it is, provided junsung is with him.

at some point, his head turns completely down against the pillow in some attempt to steal the coolness and apply it to his face, but he leaves his injured hand out for his companion when he should return. it isn’t too long before that happens, but the time between then and now is blurred for lack of a better word; it’s as though he’s in some sort of post-panic attack haze. it’s the sting that brings him back to reality and he flinches throughout, but he makes no noise – his pain tolerance is wildly high. frankly, he doesn’t mind the sting; it’s just one of those things, you know? reminds him he’s here. he’s here, he’s real.

the first noise talon does make is him humming along with him, and as if on cue with junsung saying hold tight, his hand moves to form around his bottom most one and he squeezes. he holds tight. head shifting just enough, he looks at him now, lids slowly blinking. that’s how cats show affection, right? will june know that? he doubts it. wishes he would, though.

he’ll just have to go verbal with this one. “thank you.”

junsung is crouched in front of talon, eyebrows furrowed still in determination. the only thing left to do is dress the wound, which is easy enough, and yet he’s still moving as slowly and carefully as possible. he’s used to dressing his own wounds with nothing but a dirty t-shirt, he’s stooped as low as giving himself stitches with dental floss and a sewing needle, and yet now he’s doing everything so delicately. taking all precaution so he doesn’t fuck up anything. he was treating talon like he could break, and for all june knew he might. 

finally, after taking his sweet time, junsung lifted his head to look at talon who was staring straight at him. if he didn’t know who talon was, it might have been a bit unsettling, but then he did the oddest thing. talon blinked. slowly. all the while staring at june while he did it. he didn’t know what it meant, what exactly talon was trying to convey, but he felt something in his chest. a flutter in his heart. 

“don’t thank me, i’m just taking care of you.” his voice is soft for once, and he almost wants to reach out and brush the sweaty hair off of talon’s forehead. he refrains, almost scared at how close he’s getting to the other already. junsung has never cared for someone like this, and it’s terrifying to be honest. but for the first time, he doesn’t run. instead, he does what he said he’d do. after putting the dirty rags and peroxide away he settles in on the other side of talons bed, “i’m not going anywhere.”

[sprxinedankle]

rushveins;

what talon sees in junsung is beyond west’s understanding. petty dislike aside, west truly does not trust him in any way; not with talon. then again, over the years his protective instinct has grown almost to the point of overbearing and he knows it, but he doesn’t care. talon’s been through too much for him to pick and choose potential heart aches to protect him from.

still, he’s been talking to west – asking him if he’ll help junsung learn how to protect himself as a spirit of the dead – and he agreed, but only because talon was the sole person, alive or dead, that west had any respect for. he was also asked not to say anything yet, so he won’t, but that doesn’t mean he can’t put him through a little… preliminary examination, does it? a smirk suddenly replaces his scowl, and his head cants. sorry, boss, he thinks to talon – it doesn’t wake him up, but he can feel him stir in his sleep, and he makes a silent note to be quiet about this. his voice drops when he speaks, a completely new tone accompanying his increasingly menacing demeanor. “ you shouldn’t be so quick to pick a fight with me… i would have left your pathetic little lost soul where we found you, but fortunately for you, talon’s a better man than i. ” tsk noises escape his mouth as he stands, beginning to circle the living room until the distance between them is maximized to the absolute limits of the walls.

in an instant, west vanishes and reappears beside him to deliver the first blow to junsung’s jaw; a cheap trick, but that’s west. a petite spirit learns quickly how to defend themselves against the others; even if they can’t die again, the pain of having your soul directly hit isunbearable. he knows he doesn’t stand a chance physically; the sizes of their beings arevastly different, with him on the underhand. fights aren’t the same between the living and the dead because there is no vessel, there is no bleeding; the force is applied directly to their very self and the more self you have, the more force you can apply. west’s own soul has been battered up, down, and sideways over the past twenty years  protecting talon from demons – he’s adapted to the feeling… but he remembers the first time his soul was struck. his punch, however lacking it may be in comparison to what junsung will be capable of, will hurt more than anything junsung has ever felt.

he almost pities him. demeanor unchanging and gaze steady, he stares him down, hands trembling with pure and raw excitement – it’s been a long time since he’s been in a fight with another spirit, and if he had adrenaline beyond the mock feeling of it’s memory, it would beraging.  “ show me what you can do, bigshot. try not to wake up talon, though… he is going to be most unhappy about this.”

the last thing june was looking for, was a fight. if only to spare talons feelings, he had no intention of making things physical. for whatever reason, west was one of the most important people to talon and he knew that. so yeah, he was being an asshole, but mostly just because that’s who he was ( and west annoyed him to no end ). 

but very quickly, he can feel the change in the air. if there’s one thing he’s picked up on, it’s how to tell when there’s gonna be a fight. or specifically, when someone is going to fight him. the look in their eyes, change in demeanor, the way they stand. everyone has a tell, and everyone has a different aura about them. even the dead. what he didn’t expect was the other vanishing, and it took him a beat too long to pinpoint his new location. 

before he could react their entities connected and it was like his entire world was shaken for a moment. he couldn’t really describe the pain, because he hadn’t felt anything like it before. it went past physical pain, it was something much deeper. and when he finally recovered enough to think about anything other than the pain, he was nothing but angry. red hot anger was spreading throughout his chest, seeping into his veins. he took a fucking cheap shot. west was doing what little he could to gain the upper hand and it was infuriating. 

if he were alive, he would most likely be spitting blood into the others face. 

“you took a fucking cheap shot you small goddamn coward.” the words come out like venom, not even close to mirroring the anger coursing through his system. he was still doubled over, banking on taking west a bit by surprise. the other was only about a foot or so away, and june stood up straight quickly, already in motion as soon as he does. his left hand catches west’s collar and the right delivers a swift and powerful punch to his face. he puts his entire body into it, leaning the entirety of his weight into the swing. 

junsung doesn’t know exactly how fighting the dead goes, but he’s almost perfected the art of throwing a punch. he know’s when fighting someone alive, how to make it hurt and he’s hoping that for ghost fighting the same rules apply.

[sprxinedankle]

rushveins;

the nerve of this guy brings the twitch of his brow to maximum overdrive, and he’s this close to actually making a move on what was otherwise an empty threat. “ listen, i get it, guy. you’re new at the dead game. me, though? goin’ on twenty years. i don’t need sleep, but it’s better than counting down the endless clock. if you’re so bored, why don’t you do something useful? steal some food or something. i don’t think the kids gone grocery shopping in a week. ”

he felt like he was about to roll his eyes out of his head, having to listen to the whole ‘i’ve been dead longer than you’ spiel was tiring. and annoying. everything about west was annoying. “alright grandpa, i get it, you’re old.” now he was just being childish. “have you ever thought about finding something useful to do with your time? besides doing unnecessary human shit.” june is in full annoyed asshole mode, his thick eyebrow arched and his arms folded across his broad chest. “at least i’m not parading around pretending to be alive.”

[rushveins-blog]

@sprxinedankle

his brow twitches with frustration. three times in the past ten minutes, he’s been woken up by him – three times west has ignored him, and t h re e times he’s almost fallen back asleep. in defeat, he pushes himself up off the couch and looks pointedly at junsung, most unhappy. “if you don’t have a damn good reason for being the prick you’re being right now, i’m going to wring your ugly ass neck, you shit eating – what the fuck do you want?”

[sprxinedankle]

with talon fast asleep, the only thing june really had to do was fuck with west. the other ghosts kinda freaked him out, to be honest. most of them were pretty old, and the only one he’d actually spoken to was west. so really, he had no other option. what else was he supposed to do at 4am? “for someone that doesn’t need sleep you sure are cranky.” there’s a smug smirk on his face, and he’s trying to stop the laugh he can feel forming. “i was just bored, asshole.”

[rushveins-blog]

@sprxinedankle

the coolest thing about talon’s house is definitely how the window next to his bed leads to a section of roof that’s perfect for relaxing on, and after a particularly grueling case that required physically dealing with a malevolent spirit, he’s decided to lay out under the city lights as he finished his last bit of weed for what will likely be a long time. the blunt to rule the world. he’d get more, it’s just a habit he really can’t afford right now– but he’ll revel in every drag like it’s his last until it really is. and who better than june to share it with? 

he’s lost count of how long they’ve been up here, but no matter the answer, he has to admit that the other has really grown on him – particularly, he appreciates the fact that comfortable silence is easily accomplished between them. 

a cloud of smoke exits his mouth and he watches it float away, a hand waving it off on what would surely be a long journey. when it dissipates and he passes the blunt, he finds himself speaking. “memory, as a whole, is kind of weird, if you think about it. they’re just these… segments of your life, imprinted in your brain. what’s even weirder is how the worst ones make the biggest impressions.”

[sprxinedankle]

june doesn’t know why, but he’s grown quite fond of talon. every time he sees him walk into the room he can’t help but smile. it’s scary, because quite honestly he’s never been this way before. he’s had no problem pushing everyone away, but here he was taken with someone he’s known for just weeks. 

as soon as the other came home, he could tell it’d been hard. he didn’t believe him at first, when he told junsung he wasn’t allowed to go because he thought this was a bit too nasty. although june pitched a fit he listened. staying behind and waiting, getting into petty fights with west. he wouldn’t admit it if you asked, but he kind of missed talon while he was gone. worried that it’d be too strenuous. ever since the nightmare june had seen him have, there was this worry streak running through him. a feeling he’d only had for 2 other people in his life. 

he took the blunt, staring at the other with soft eyes while he spoke.  hanging on his every word, almost forgetting to take a hit. once he did he inhaled quickly, letting it sit in his lungs before blowing it out with a slight cough. “my worst memory is easy,” june looks away while he talks, taking another hit and exhaling straight into the sky, “the day my parents died.”

[sprxinedankle]

rushveins; 

he doesn’t know if he believes him. outside of the knowledge that most passing spirits are just that, passing, he has no reason not to believe him, but he also doesn’t have enough yet to sway the decision favorably either. for now, all talon can do is choose to believe him in the moment and hope against hope that it sticks; hope that he follows through, because god only knows what it’d do to him if he didn’t.

the look in his eyes as he stares back into junsung’s says more than he could ever hope to in the form of words: his entire heart is out in the open, and when it comes down to it, he trustsjunsung. talon nods once to show that he understands, refraining from speaking because he knows that if he tried, he’d cry again.

confusion twists onto his expression as his eyes follow june’s, and for a moment, he genuinely doesn’t remember doing that – the entire thing gets blurrier and blurrier with every second that passes on. his gaze darts around the room and when he spots the place on the wall that he’d done it, he winces and points with his free hand in the direction of it as if to say that. that’s what he did. shit. another hole in the wall. why was it always the fucking wall? the money needed for those repairs was just not something he had.

and then he points to the bathroom, clearing his throat in preparation to speak. “in there… under the sink. washcloths, bandages, hydrogen… whatever. stingy shit. can you…?” talon makes a vague gesture with his hands, he’s trying to say get those things for me, but it’s just not coming out the way it should. he’s trying. he really is.

when junsung gets up to get what he’s asked for and he’s let go, talon’s suddenly overcome withheat; something that had already been the case (he gets warm when he cries like that, he doesn’t know why) but hadn’t bothered him until now. its disorienting to the point that he feels the need to strip himself of the sweater he’s been wearing, completely disregarding the reason why he never is without a shirt if he can help it; his head is too fuzzy and his knuckles hurt too suddenly for him to pay it any mind. he rests, lying down sideways now as he waits and he catches a glimpse of himself in the mirror, eyes shutting immediately. he remembers now, but it’s still too hot. whatever, he decides – junsung’s already seen him at his worst, hasn’t he? the scars are part of the person june says he’s going to be beside forever. it can’t change much.

his eyes stay shut as he waits, but he isn’t asleep.

when he follows talons hand, directing his gaze to the opposite wall, he’s greeted with what looks like a fresh hole in the drywall. not only that, but he also notices the several other holes scattered around the place. he wonders if just like the nightmares, the punching is recurring as well. june can’t think about it for long, the thought of talon intentionally hurting himself made his chest get tight. whether it was anger or sadness, he couldn’t quite tell but either way he had to find something else to preoccupy his mind before he lost it. 

before talon can even finish listing off various medical supplies junsung is already in the bathroom, on his knees sifting through the cabinets. stingy shit, he tsks as he realizes there’s no actual first aid kit. he made a small note in the back of his subconscious, trying to make sure he remembered to bring it up later when it wasn’t such a bad time. 

shortly after he moved to south korea, june got involved with some.. questionable people. petty gangs, mostly. groups of kids with nothing good to do, only seeking out rebellion in trouble. the first year with his aunt was spent trying to fight the world with his bare hands. first aid was something he learned to be good at, because more often than not he was the only one there to clean up his wounds. broken knuckles, split lips, he’d even given him self stitches before (  although it’s not something he’d recommend ) 

so it took him very little time to grab all of the things he needed, and when he turned, with his hands full he was taken a little by surprise. he didn’t show it though, instead just continuing on by normal. while lining everything up, getting the peroxide and bandages ready, he took a quick moment to run his eyes over talons body. the scars didn’t really surprise him, but even if they did he wouldn’t have said a thing. if there’s one thing he’s learned over the years, it’s that everyone has skeletons in their closet. obviously, this wasn’t something talon was proud of, and it wasn’t june’s place to pry. if talon wanted him to know, he’d tell him. and honestly junsung wanted talon to be able to trust him enough. he didn’t want to have to pry an answer out of him, he wanted it to happen naturally because talon wanted him to know.

“this is the stingy shit, as you put it,” june works to keep his tone calm and soothing, “it’s gonna hurt but only for a minute, okay? i have to disinfect the wound.” he works quickly, holding talons hand out over the floor instead of the bed to reduce the mess pouring peroxide creates. junsung winces as he does it, just imagining the stinging sensation he knows all too well. he watches it fizz and bubble, working it’s disinfecting magic. 

then, carefully, he takes a damp washcloth and slowly wipes away the dried blood covering talons hand. the entire time he’s working, he’s humming the lullaby. not only does it calm talon but it calms himself, helping keep his hands steady. 

“we’re almost done, just. hold tight.” 

[sprxinedankle]

rushveins; 

one thing and one thing alone should be made clear: under any normal circumstance, he’dnever let junsung see him like this. if he had any choice in it, he’d never let anyone see him like this; but the fact is that he doesn’t even hear him enter over his own cries. between his first scream and now, he’s found himself with his back to the rest of the room and his nose in the corner, hands covering each of his ears in some effort to make it stop. there’s a point where out of pure frustration, he punches the wall ( by the looks of his room, it isn’t the first time he’s done it ) but the second his hand leaves his ear, the ringing starts and a bloody fist finds its way back to cover it frantically – if he doesn’t hear it, he won’t see it. if he doesn’t hear it, he won’t see it.

he doesn’t know he’s there until he’s being led away, eyes wide and heart racing – he wants to beg him to leave for the sole reason of wanting to protect him, but the words can’t break past the sobbing; and even if they could, he’s too scared to be alone. he’s scared, and now that his eyes are open he can see it, hovering right next to them. right next to june. when he’s pulled in, his body clings to his and his face presses into his chest, a plead to the specter of the same phrase over and over coming out between sobs and breaths; “please don’t hurt him.”

he stops somewhere in the middle of it. the song – he doesn’t have any explanation for why it calms him the way it does, but without it, he fears his heart may have literally stopped, had he continued on like that. all that remains is a subtle shake and what is left of his crying has become silent, his heart beating substantially slower in his chest but it’s still faster than it should be – by the end of the song, he’s taking deep breaths and resting his temple against junsungs chest. reluctantly, he opens his eyes only to find that its gone. it’s gone, and he’s safe. they’re safe. he looks tentatively around the room, and then up at junsung; when he speaks, his voice is raspy to the point of break. “it’s gonna… it’s gonna come back, i can’t – i can’t stop it?” distress coats his voice and he knows he won’t understand – even west didn’t until he saw it himself. it can’t come to that, though. not with june. not june. “please don’t go.”

june has never seen someone come as undone as talon is right now. with every broken word the other mutters, his heart breaks a bit more. he was never the comforting or nurturing type, but he was all talon had. with every broken word he uttered, it made june want to help him even more. 

the song was really the only card he had up his sleeve, but miraculously, it worked. after the first verse, talon stops sobbing, he stops mumbling the same thing over and over. he seems calm, gaining back at least a minuscule amount of his normal demeanor. relief floods through his system, and calling back again to how his mother would help him, he softly and slowly runs a hand through talons hair. june is so worried, he can’t even stop to notice his heart doing flips at the close proximity of the other. 

“it’s gonna… it’s gonna come back, i can’t – i can’t stop it?”  he remembers, then, what west had told him. it wasn’t just nightmares. it was an actual, thing, demon — fuck whatever, june can’t remember exactly. but he knows that talon was actually seeing something, something that was tormenting him. anger is coursing through junsungs veins, the thought of something out there trying to hurt talon that bad... he wants to punch something. someone. “please don’t go.” is the only thing that keeps him grounded. 

it’s a feeling that resonates with him. something he’s so familiar with it almost hurts him to hear the same words leave someone else. especially someone he cares about so deeply. the only thing he’s ever been afraid of is someone leaving him, abandoning him. he doesn’t know how to convey in words that he’s gonna be with talon for his entire afterlife. 

“i will never leave you.” june looks down at the other, still pressed into his body. with his index finger underneath talons chin, he lifts his head slightly, looking into talons eyes. “i’m not going anywhere, okay? you’re stuck with me. forever.” he means every single word he says, he intends to stay by talons side for as long as talon will have him. out of the corner of his eye he notices blood smeared on part of the bed, and from there he finds the source coming from talons knuckles. gingerly, he reaches for his hand having to drop talons chin in the process. with both hands he carefully turns it over, inspecting him for any injuries worse than surface wounds.

“aigoo aigoo, what did you do to your hands?” he sounds, quite literally, like a worried korean grandmother, “we have to clean this, c’mon.”

[kimwoobinseyebrows]

Kim Woo Bin for Elle Korea

[sprxinedankle]

rushveins;

“heh… yeah, man. welcome to my world,” talon laughs. it feels foreign to even himself when the sound-waves meet his ears and he wonders when that happened last. a week ago, maybe? that was the last time he got high, so it’d make sense. it feels nice… he’s missed the laughing. this is when he decides he quite likes junsung, actually. the only other spirit he’s ever felt anything other than completely and utter indifference for is west – he loves west. he’s pretty sure that’s what it is, right? that’s how you feel about your brothers, so love must be the word. that said, this is really quite new. maybe he’s found a friend…? the possibility is enough to keep the smile, however subtle, steady on his face but he won’t hold his breath. they always leave once they’re done with him.

always.

talon lowers himself until he’s sitting on the coffee table and facing the other, knees to knees, intrigue painted across his face as he waits – is it going to happen? is he going to get high? “i don’t know,” he responds with a cant of the head, genuinely unsure. “i asked west one time, and he just flipped me off and ate the rest of the KFC bucket. i’m not really close to any of the others. i mean, they’re welcome here any time, but…” he trails off, shrugging. “most of them are pretty old… it’s kinda like asking your grandma to get high with you.” not that he’s ever had a grandma. he’s assuming, here.

“oh, right… i didn’t introduce you to west, did i? he’s someone who died about 20 years ago. think he was 19. i met him when i was 5, shortly after he passed. he’s just kinda stuck by me this whole time. doesn’t usually happen that way. spirits come, ask for my help, and they… well, go. west is kind of like an annoying brother. eats a lot for a guy who doesn’t need to eat.” somewhere in the distance, he hears a full mouth yell fuck you and gestures towards the kitchen with his hand. “my best friend. what a life, huh?” really, though, west is the nicest person he’s ever met; they just have a funny way of showing their love. you wouldn’t guess, but there’s been many nights – even into his adulthood – where everything would become too much, and west would literally rock him to sleep. west is a good guy. he just doesn’t act like it.

talon laughing takes junsung off guard. now that he thinks about it, it’s kind of ridiculous to assume someone just never laughs, but there’s something about talon. it’s hard to gauge what emotions he’s feeling, because he doesn’t show them. he always just seems calm, at least from the little bit june has seen of him. so it seems odd, and out of place, but he loves it. the way it sounds, the expression on talons face. maybe it’s the weed, junsung doesn’t fuckin’ know but he likes talon. he thinks he’s interesting, and kind of cute, and there’s a certain sense of familiarity. june is used to keeping everyone an arms length away, he’s used to pushing everyone out and being such a fucking asshole that they don’t want to be let in in the first place. it’s his defense mechanism, his way of saving himself the hurt of someone leaving later on. but he’s fucking dead now. just the idea of letting himself get attached to someone is enough to make his chest tighten with fear, but he’s got a lot of time to get over it. it’s not like he’s got anything else to do. 

when the other turns, their knees brush together slightly. the two of them have maybe the longest legs on earth ( and the afterlife ). it jars june out of his own existential post-death crisis, and he realizes then that holy shit he’s a bit high. it’s different though, a different kind of high. it happened gradually, so gradually that junsung didn’t even notice it up until this point. like a slow, growing vibration in his mind. a slight buzz rushing through his veins.

“i think i’m high,” he takes another hit before passing it back to talon, “but it’s different. feels different.” he can’t find the words for it, to describe exactly what he means.  “i had a friend, before i moved, in middle school. he used to tell us about how his grandma got high all the time. medical shit, she had some kind of illness that was never explained.” tired of hearing his own voice he pauses, not really sure why this story decided to come up. he’s not the storytelling type, especially when it involves anything before... his parents. it just kind of happened, bubbling out before he could stop it. “i think she just liked to get high.”

now that he thinks about it, he knows exactly who talon is talking about. the ghost that had been with them the entire way home, the one june was trying desperately to ignore. he was oddly a bit thankful for west, appreciating that someone was there for talon. although, junsung doesn’t know why he cares. the guy sounds extremely annoying. 

“west sounds... interesting.”

[sprxinedankle]

@rushveins

junsung can hear talon from the living room, and immediately panic sets deep into his chest. his fingertips went ice cold, and it was almost like he couldn’t get up fast enough. for some reason, he assumed the whole panic attack thing would go away after he died. he was sorely mistaken. he vaguely remembered west talking about nightmares, but to be honest he usually just tuned west out after a minute. now he was starting to regret that. june didn’t know where the fuck that annoying bastard was, but for the first time he missed him. 

once inside talon’s room, it only gets worse. it’s like he’s stuck in place, just watching talon freak out. he felt like everything was going in slow motion. that’s when it clicked. he started moving without even really thinking about it, grabbing the others hand and tugging him to the bed. junsung positions himself so he’s sitting slightly upright with talon pressed tightly to his side. 

it starts slowly, his voice almost too quiet to be heard but gradually it grows. he’s singing an old korean lullaby, one he’s known ever since he was little. fond memories of his mother played through his mind. whenever he was sick she would come in, stroke his hair, and cradle him while singing the same lullaby. it’d been so long since he’d last sang and his throat felt beyond dry but he didn’t care. june just wanted talon to be okay. 

“hey, you’re okay now. i’m here.”

[sprxinedankle]

sms ⇀ ?

PHOENIX: What made me think that I can work in close contact with the human race

PHOENIX: I hate people

PHOENIX: "Does this plant come with purchase?" It's decorative. "Then why are you selling it?" I'M NOT SELLING THE PLANT, LADY. I'M SELLING THE HOUSE.

PHOENIX: God, I have a headache.

PHOENIX: Are you home? I need some place to hide for the rest of my life.

JUNSUNG: you might want to think about changing professions

JUNSUNG: unless you become more tolerant, i don't think people will become less stupid

JUNSUNG: house is all yours for the hiding

[sprxinedankle]

reverse starter call !! like this post and i’ll go reply to one of your opens 

[sprxinedankle]

rushveins;

shit. did he do that? no – he did, but it wasn’t him, just what he said. junsung’s emotions wash over him in a haze; clearer than someone alive, but so intense that he couldn’t match the wavelength if he tried. instead of focusing on his momentary discomfort, he drops to his knees in front of the coffee table and fiddles with something out of the other’s sight. it isn’t on purpose, he just happens to be sitting in front of it. talon looks over his shoulder at him he begins to speak again and he listens, shrugging his shoulders and then nodding his head. his hands keep at it.

“i’ve dealt with worse, but it’s your call. say the word, and the offer’s back on the table,” he breathes out, eyebrows raising at him but the second their gazes lock, his expression changes. it’s not distress, in fact, it’s not even related to junsung at all; rather, it’s puzzlement at one of his own passing thoughts. actually, it was more of a question… one he couldn’t believe he hadn’t thought of yet. he shakes the thought away for the moment, nodding at the other’s suggestion.

“that should help. even if they aren’t there, there will be a residual energy… i might be able to pick something up from it,” he states, words distant. his hand digs now into his pocket and retrieves a lighter as he turns to the table once more to pick up what he had crafted – a blunt. he stands now between the table and the couch, right in front of junsung. putting it between his lips, he can’t help but entertain the thought again as he looks down at him. it seems stupid. there’s no way. after taking the first hit – and man, was it a long one – he holds it out to him, curiosity painted across his expression. “try it. i wanna know if ghosts can get fucked up.”

it kind of amazes him, really, how selfless talon seems in that moment. maybe it comes with the gig, the whole talking to ghosts thing. doing anything you can to help them. but junsung can’t help but think, if he were in his situation would he do the same thing? probably not. if he’d been stuck having to see death and spirits and whatever the fuck his entire life, he’d be a downright asshole. ( i mean, he already is, but still ) 

he watches as the other hunches over, and gets to work on something out of june’s view. he’s curious, but loses interest after a short moment, choosing to pay more attention to the next words that come out of talons mouth. a residual energy. something to go on. it was weird, thinking about going on a ghost hunt for your own damn dead parents. but there was oddly this lingering feeling of excitement, not too strong, just there underneath the surface. the prospect of his parents being out there, somewhere, sent a slight buzz into his veins. a subtle vibration. 

“residual energy. i feel like i’m a god damn ghost hunter.” it’s half muttered underneath his breath, but he has a feeling he could literally whisper it and talon would still hear. it’s then that he notices what the other has been doing, and he almost snorts out loud but instead sits back and watches. he’s rolled a blunt, and the entire prospect of talon getting high amuses him. for someone that seems so calm all the time, you’d assume they wouldn’t need any outside help to chill. 

june likes watching him smoke, the way he inhales, the look on his face as he does it. he likes to watch him exhale, blowing the smoke back out into the world. it’s a bit embarrassing, but he thinks it looks pretty. he’s always had a bit of a thing for smoking, just the intoxicating way it looks when other people do it. 

“if not, i want a refund. this whole dying thing is a fuckin’ cop out. what is death if i can’t even get high.” his tone is drenched in sarcasm, but he still takes the blunt carefully between his thumb and forefinger. “why haven’t you tried this out before?” he pauses to take a hit, inhaling quickly and holding it in before exhaling slowly toward the ceiling,  “with one of your, ghost buddies.”