lady luck laughs

“Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck.”

[akaruimichi]

“The chaiman’s eldest grandson, Kang Hyun Min, is a person who seeks to spread the incredible amount of love he’s received to many people–” “In other words, a total player.”

[xjaeyong-blog]

Jae-yong: so, luck and gathering information don't mix. ya learn something new everyday. i'm so bored that i'll gladly go on coffee runs right now, so this is your final offer!!

[xjaeyong-blog]

                 “….. What?” Jae-yong physically took a step back, before the implications of her statement sank in– she thought that he wanted to use her for her more… destructive power. How ironic, considering the true intentions of their little adventure tonight. 

                 In all honesty, he admired Saoirse– like him, their power both brought destruction in all senses of the word, calamity and more often than not, death. That was probably why he’d come to her for this, rather than another member of the Van Allen. 

                “We’re not going to hurt anyone, Saoirse. Just put on your damn gloves and come with me. We’re going to help people off these cold, cold streets, and you’re going to beat up anyone who comes at me with a threatening glare.” 

[saoirsekelly-blog1]

Saoirse stared at him, unblinking, knowing her coffee was growing cold by the minute. Too often, people wanted to use her for her ability–in fact, she would venture to say that was the only thing anyone wanted her around for. What a strange turn of events. She could already feel herself relaxing, less like she was being choked by the knowledge that she was about to hurt anyone, and more like she could enjoy a favor for once. 

She shrugged. “I’m sure the people that know about what you can do try to use you just as much, if not more,” she told him, making a snap judgment and a snap decision to help him. “Fine, but I’m taking my coffee. And please tell me it’s not in the dead of gang territory or something even more outrageously dangerous.” 

[xjaeyong-blog]

              “Take your coffee if you must, but be warned, some people might try to take it from you.” he said, stepping backwards slightly. 

              “It’s not gang territory, but the slums. The sidewalks, mostly. I try not to get involved in violence.” he told her. 

[adrianmoores-blog]

He liked the question. It was quite a bit easier than “who is that?” He didn’t quite know the answer to that one, but Jae-Yong’s was phrased in a way he could respond to more easily. 

“Yes, one from the theatre itself. I wish I knew who it was. That’s the curse of memories. I only know one perspective of a person.” His eyes glimmered with thoughtfulness, tracing over the sketch and imagining color filling between the lines– the bright red of the seats and the darkness of shadows, the gold trim before it was dulled by age. He wished he could see the theatre like that today. 

[xjaeyong-blog]

            “Could it be the former owner of the theatre?” he speculated, mulling over the drawing. “From what I’ve heard, she must have been magnificent and capable indeed.” 

            “Speaking of former heist societies, why the Bank of England? I’m guessing we’re not really a Robin Hood type of society, now are we?” he grinned. “Can’t say that I hate the idea of hitting the heavy capitalist constructs either, though.” 

[imogen-douglas-blog]

The dogs alerted her to his presence before the man even knocked. Who needed a security system when you had a high strung terrier mix and a bloodhound whose prodding nose doubled as an alarm clock? Imogen rubbed sleep from her bleary eyes as she shuffled over to the door, the yapping of her hounds accented by the occasional creak of linoleum beneath her bare feet. “I’m coming, I’m coming…”

Imogen held Pippa, the aforementioned terrier, in one arm while pushing the older dogs back with her leg. Wrestling them back into her apartment and away from a new guest was a song and dance that felt akin to juggling balls of jello, but eventually she shut the door, leaving only the two of them in the hallway. Pressing her back against the door, partially to put an extra inch of space between her and her visitor, Imogen stuck out her hand in a belated attempt at a proper greeting.

“Yes! Yes. The offer is definitely still standing.” As far as she remembered, it had been a vague ‘if you ever need anything…’ and though she never expected anyone to actually take her up on it, the offer had been genuine. “Just, uh, give me a quick refresher on what exactly I’ll be helping you with.”

[xjaeyong-blog]

             “... Just helping people off the streets. I’ve slightly overstepped the boundaries of my luck giving abilities recently, and well, the streets aren’t particularly comfortable this time of year, at any rate.” he said smoothly. 

            “Or did you not really mean it when you offered help?” he raised an eyebrow. “Sorry, English is so difficult to understand. Sometimes a person says something when they mean another, and the nuances are difficult, aren’t they?” 

[kimberlyhtv-blog]

Navy sighed, that did sound kind of fun. “Why are we doing it in the night time though?” She asked genuinely curious. Whenever she did these kinds of things, she made sure that it was in the day time. Less sketchy and definitely more people around to confirm that she hadn’t smashed the atm open or anything like that, she had simply keyed her pin in. Or that was what it looked like anyways. 

“–and why are we doing this?” She added as an afterthought. She really didn’t want to be doing one of those cliche convenience store stick ups, well he had mentioned armed robbery after all. Seeing those clips on the news, with the ski masks on and the obviously very frightened robber, made her want to hurl. They were such amateurs. 

[xjaeyong-blog]

           “I know, you have many questions. Many questions.” he glanced pointedly at her. “But I have my REASONS. And as a man of mystery, I feel obliged to at least keep up that façade for a certain length of time before I reveal my devious plans to you.” 

           Looking at her face, he added as an afterthought-- “Look, we’re professionals. I just need this one favour, and then we’re square and fair forever after until the next time you owe me. Okay? I promise it’s not anything horrible. Can you just please put on your coat and let’s go?” 

[tx700-tam]

“If you could change the luck of dead people, I’d be really freaked out,” Dexter laughed, because what would that even be? The luck to not get eaten by worms? The luck to get mummified from a cold, dry climate and be discovered by archaeologists in a thousand years?

The luck to… not become a zombie? Who knew.

“I’ve never really tested the limits of mine,” he admitted. “I don’t know how big I can go, or for how long. I guess we’ll find out, maybe, in the heists.” The idea of which still made Dexter vaguely nervous, but, the idea of doing something productive with his power was interesting. “I bet you’ll get so sick of good luck charm jokes.”

[xjaeyong-blog]

            “Oh, not the luck of dead people.” he amended hastily. “That would be useless, and weird indeed. I mean for those who are physically touched by death, or are dying. It’s difficult to explain.” he shakes his head, reaching out his arm to trace a constellation in the projection. 

            “Hmm. That’s interesting,” he commented. “I wonder how many people you can affect at any one time... that would be a useful ability for a heist.” 

            “Well, not many people know about my luck manipulation abilities.... but if you so much as think about cracking a joke, I’ll make sure your milk turns sour for a month.” 

[kimberlyhtv-blog]

Navy sighed, “Did I say that?” She vaguely remembered agreeing to something the last time they had spoke, but she hadn’t been 100% there. A certain redheaded Russian had been occupying her brain space. She stares down at the man with a disgruntled intensity, he’s trying too hard to look charming. His eyes revealing his excitement for the whole thing. 

“Remind me again, what did I agree to?” She really wasn’t in the mood for this. The smell of freshly popped popcorn still lingered in the background, she had decided to get HBO Go and didn’t want to be disturbed. The blaring noise in the background was silenced when she brushed her fingers against the exposed wires that lead to the TV. She had set up a little hub by her front door for this very reason. 

Her body was angled so that he couldn’t see in. After all, they had only really known each other for two months. Hardly enough time to fully scope him out. She tapped on the frame of her doorway, impatient and waiting for his answer. 

[xjaeyong-blog]

              “ Well, I’ll give you the short list since we’re running out of time: You agreed to theft, possible armed robbery, night-time swindling, and likely perjury, if we get caught. So, we’re not going to. One less thing to worry about.” he said. “Oh, and I hope you’re good at self-defense.” 

               Usually, he preferred to carry out his little adventures alone, but what with the sudden influx of new occurrences in his life, he’d been forced to rely on his luck a little more than usual, and he didn’t dare change anything else into his favour or someone else’s favour, lest the consequences become too horrible to bear. 

               “It’s not even that difficult a task.” he coaxes. “Just a little manipulating of ATM machines and accounts. Both things I’m sure you can handle, correct?” 

[adrianmoores-blog]

Adrian took the pencil, a smile pulling at the corners of his lips. He was a bit charmed by the Jae-Yong’s whole demeanor, he had to admit. “I’d need a little more than a twist, I think.” He tilted his head to the side, eyes following as Jae-Yong sat across from him. 

Rather than reply, he turned the drawing around so it faced his companion, showing him the half-finished image. The seats of the theatre spread out in an arc on the page, only vaguely shaped by short pencil strokes. An outline of a figure sat in one of the middle rows, head leaned down as if looking into a playbook. “Daydreaming too, though. Focus is not my strong suit.” 

[xjaeyong-blog]

                           Jae-yong liked Adrian. He was calm and collected, and always made him feel like they had transcended this universe-- what was the point of worrying? Everything was going to be fine. 

                            He admired the drawing in front of him, in quiet awe at how well done the sketch was, even though incomplete. “Is this a memory of someone?” he asked hesitantly, not quite knowing how the question would be received. 

[saoirsekelly-blog1]

Saoirse was holding a cup of coffee in her hand, looking as casual as the day she was born. She wasn’t sure why she’d asked Lee here. Call it a whim, call it a lapse in judgment. Saoirse wouldn’t usually do something like this, offer to help anyone, but quite frankly, Lee was a friend, and a good one. Plus, his own ability could give her something in return that she needed desperately: a favor. 

She gestured her head towards the living room, towards the couch and the coffee table. “I think I’m supposed to ask you if you want something to drink. Coffee, tea.” She paused as she sat down on the couch, sipping her own coffee. “But yes, I did. How many people do you need me to hurt?” She hated saying it like that, she hated admitting what she did and how she did it. She wished she could burn the fingertips off her hands. Maybe that would stop it. “I can’t promise anything before I know all the finer details, so you might as well start now.” 

[xjaeyong-blog]

                 “..... What?” Jae-yong physically took a step back, before the implications of her statement sank in-- she thought that he wanted to use her for her more... destructive power. How ironic, considering the true intentions of their little adventure tonight. 

                 In all honesty, he admired Saoirse-- like him, their power both brought destruction in all senses of the word, calamity and more often than not, death. That was probably why he’d come to her for this, rather than another member of the Van Allen. 

                “We’re not going to hurt anyone, Saoirse. Just put on your damn gloves and come with me. We’re going to help people off these cold, cold streets, and you’re going to beat up anyone who comes at me with a threatening glare.” 

[tx700-tam]

“Probably a bit of both,” Dexter mused. “But, I mean, does it even count as changing my luck if I could have gotten out anyway?”

Jeez.

His own power was, ironically, more solid than Jae-yong’s. The other man’s power confused him a little, he’d readily admit, because it seemed nebulous and strange, based on probability and insight that Dexter had no way of seeing for himself. He supposed his own illusions might seem the same way to others.

“So.” Dexter sounded perfectly mild, a little hint of a bemused, teasing tone lurking underneath his words. “Even though I’m sure you put the fire out. If it did burn, I’ll let you out of the illusion so you can see your death coming, but luck will make it so neither of us will die, the roof will just miraculously collapse everywhere but right here.”

[xjaeyong-blog]

                    “That’s a good question. I have no idea what the rules are with people who already possess powers that circumvent the normal spectrum of human behaviour.” he admitted. “We could do a test run, but I doubt it would end well for anyone, and we’d be in deep trouble for ruining a cultural heritage building, or something. 

                    “But it does bring us to the question-- what’s the extent of our powers?” he wondered out loud. “How far can we stretch? I already know one limit of mine: Death. How inconvenient, isn’t it?” 

[cittamemes]

[ Bold which of the two traits applies most to your muse! Note that these will not necessarily be opposites and sometimes neither option will fit well! ]

Ambitious // Vindictive

Self-critical // Selfless 

Idealistic // Relaxed 

Loyal // Innovative

Patient // Neat

Kind // Moody 

Fearful // Open

Frugal // Glamorous

Trusting // Confident 

Perfectionist // Patriotic

Methodical // Humorous 

Maternal/Paternal // Callous

[tx700-tam]

“I have no idea,” Dexter replied.

A pause, then:

“To either of those statements, actually.” He could only imagine the fire regulations in this building were rather strict, what with old ass building and all. “I didn’t know it was the called the Pleiades. It’s that cluster, right?” He pointed upward, tweaking the glow of the cluster just a little brighter, a little bluer. It was one he liked to look at, at night, along with Orion, when he rose in the northern hemisphere.

Besides, he figured: wouldn’t Jae-yong’s luck ensure that the theater didn’t burn down around them? Or could it, with the bad luck he seemed to have sometimes? Admittedly, Dexter had no idea what that was about. Some kind of equal-and-opposite reaction, maybe. He’d never really had the courage to just ask Jae-yong.

“Well. If the theater does burn and we die, I can make it so you don’t notice.” Dexter sounded as if it he meant it to be comforting. For him, it was. “The pain of burning, I couldn’t much about. But if we die from smoke inhalation, I can probably work with that.”

[xjaeyong-blog]

                   “Well, putting aside the shockingly low amount of faith you have in me,” Jae-yong said, pretending to be affronted. “I made sure that the fire was put out completely, before I left the room. Otherwise I would have been looking for a fire-extinguisher in here, not a broom.” he added rather pointedly. And he had put it out! Just.. well, not as soon as he probably could have. 

                  “ And that wasn’t comforting at all, even though I know you meant it to be. Imagine not knowing that you were dying! And before you realized what was happening, it would have happened. How awful!” he said again, thoughtfully. “I suppose I could tweak my own luck to make sure that we didn’t die if worse comes to worst, but then would saving you be considered changing your luck? And would that come back to bite you or me in the arse?” 

[xjaeyong-blog]

                                     a curious incident of luck. 

          Night-time has fallen. Maybe the streets are a little colder than you would expect for this time of year, but none of that deters him, and on he moves, marching doggedly through the piles of fallen leaves; all a blur of orange, red, brown. Fall bares its fangs slowly but viciously, stripping summer of its finery and replacing it with staunch trees, to pave the way for winter.

           He has left the antique-shop slightly earlier than usual today, excusing himself to his boss on the pretense that his mother is ill. ( The creation of a fake relative is invaluable, he will protest to anyone who states otherwise ) The contrast between the crisp clearness of the outside air and the stale, heady antique-shop atmosphere is pleasant, and he breathes in deeply, the scents of pumpkin, ash and tar filling his nose.

           And then, a turn down one last street, checking the address scrawled on the piece of paper in his hand. He stops outside a door, less conspicuously lit compared to its many identical counterparts, and knocks.

          When the door opens, he musters the most charming smile he possesses in his arsenal, teeth glinting, eyes aglow.

          “You said you were interested in helping me. I assume that offer still stands?”

[weobin]

[tx700-tam]

Whoops. Either he’d forgotten to make himself visible within the confines of the illusion, or it was just too dark. With a blink, and a snort of laughter at Jae-yong accidentally stumbling into him, Dexter dutifully shuffled over, easing back the effects of the darkness just a touch, enough to make them both visible to Jae-yong’s eyes.

“It’s not actually… accurate,” he muttered in apology. Sadly, he couldn’t memorize the entire seen-from-Earth star map.

But it was quiet. And dark. And warm. A nice change from the loud, busy streets outside.

Still staring upward, he kept his gaze on a floating nebula, a cloud of green and gold. Kinda looked a bit like a mouse, if you turned your head and squinted. Finally, Dexter glanced over at Jae-yong, squinting at him, curious. “Why do you smell like smoke?”

[xjaeyong-blog]

               “ Trust me, the less you know, the better. Do you happen to know what Saoirse and Adrian’s policies on fire safety are? Just asking. For a friend, of course. Nothing to do with me whatsoever. ” he lied, answering the latter question while shifting into as comfortable a position as he could get. “ I’m about 95% sure that the place isn’t going to burn down, and that’s all that matters.”

               “ It’s a remarkably accurate map, given the limits of human memory. “ he went on to comment more quietly, the beauty of the dark skies washing over him like a potent narcotic. “And you’ve rendered the Pleiades constellation fairly well, which is about all I know about astronomy.” he admitted.

[adrianmoores-blog]

The night always had a way of casting a surreal glow over anything and everything it touched. It was peaceful, if a bit unsettling, and the Van Allen was one of the places it seemed to affect the most. The place wasn’t well lit, and though it had been well travelled in the past few months, it still smelled of dust and in some places, mildew. London wasn’t easy on its older buildings. 

Though Adrian wasn’t overly social in nature, he’d found more recently that he hated the feeling of being alone. Sometimes he could bear the lonely walls pressing in on him, but tonight he found himself back at the theatre in the comfort of its creaky wooden walls, his sketchbook in his lap and a pencil in his– well, it used to be in his hand. Now it was nowhere to be found. He sat up, looking around him to see if it had rolled into a crack in the wood of the stage, or perhaps under his leg.

Instead he found a shadow, split into many by the scattered lights overhead. He followed it to its source, eyes turning up and squinting through the light. “Oh. Have you seen my pencil?”

[xjaeyong-blog]

                     “..... Found it.” he reached down and picked up the offending pencil, returning it to its owner. “If you ever need a twist of luck for that, you know you to call.” he winked. 

                     He settled down, cross-legged opposite Adrian, and smiled, drawing his sweater down to cover the palms of his hands. 

                      “ So, what’re you drawing? Or was this mostly a day-dreaming session?