"I am not omniscient, but I know a lot. "
shim changmin is a 25 years old professor from musa and definitely not your regular human. roleplay purpose only.
The voice was unknown to Changmin and for that he frowned, his body remaining still as he looked over the Musa Sea, arms crossed over his chest in a contemplating thought. He could hear the person’s footsteps, shoes scratching the wooden floor of the pier as they got closer and the professor held back his breath, expecting…something.
“are you that desperate?”
The question was asked again and this time he looked to the side, where a man wearing casual clothes – pants and a coat, plus a heavy brown scarf had his piercing blue eyes on him. He frowned, noticing the fake in his colored contacts unless the man was something inhuman, that could explain a lot. unfortunately Changmin was just a random human with no powers and detect mutants wasn’t one of his attributed.
“do I know you?”
The man chuckled, this time getting even closer, his elbows rested against the wooden protection of the pier, as he stood in front of the professor, their knees barely brushing by the distance between them. He was looking at Changmin with a curious expression and the professor didn’t seem to have an interest of looking away, thinking that even if weird people sometimes tried to start some conversation with him, they wouldn’t be that weird to start it by asking if he was desperate about something.
Because he wasn’t.
“you probably don’t know me.”
“good. Then I don’t think I need to answer your question.”
The man shrugged, making a face that could only be explained as amusement.
“I always wondered what would make you come here all this time. it must be hard for you, to walk around in this.” he pointed to the wheelchair and Changmin stiffened perceptively, a vein on the side of his left temple pulsing, as if a nerve had been hit. No one had the right to talk to him about his situation and the fact that the person was a stranger made everything even worse.
To say something like it must be hard just would put him in the same place of tons of other people but Changmin was nothing like them. To say something like this would imply they knew what was the feeling of living a crippled life and the professor was 1000% sure the man couldn’t possibly understand that. To say something like that would mean sounding condescending and there was nothing in the world he hated most. Still, he raised an eyebrow, a defying expression in his face that could explain a lot but right now he was also a bit curious.
“Can I help you in some way? Are you lost?”
“No, professor Shim. Are you lost?”
A normal person would ask how he knew his name. a normal person wouldn’t be armed and had all the urge to pull his gun and shoot the guy, to end that little game he was in no mood to play. A normal person wouldn’t relax against their wheelchair’s seat and chuckle, keeping his eyes on the stranger, offering them no further word.”
“If I tell you I might have the solution for your problem, what would you do?”
Changmin remained silent but inside his brain was thinking about that question, again he felt the urge of saying something, of pointing out that stupid things said like that wouldn’t change the fact he didn’t have any hope. People normally had the intention of helping him, some out of pity, others just for their own pleasure, to try to come up with some miracle solution, as if they were too bothered by the way Changmin looked and after spending years trying to understand why they would do it, he realized it.
They never did that for him. They did that for themselves.Because they would feel weird about having someone like him that didn’t care about his own condition, they would feel weird about having someone as brilliant or maybe brighter than them, someone who would accept no bullshit like being lowered to a vegetative level just because he was stuck to a wheelchair. So they wanted to fix him for their own sake, not because they were worried about him.
So miracle solutions just made him smile and be dismissive. After all, there was no cure for him.
The stranger might have noticed Changmin wasn’t going to give him an answer because he closed a button of his coat and walked past the professor, his expression unchanged; Changmin followed him with his eyes, barely moving his head to the side.
“I knew you would be resistant about answering me. we will see each other again. I suggest you to think about what I just asked you.”
And disappearing just like he showed up, he went away, leaving the professor with a sigh and a shake of head. The city was definitely becoming a paradise for the weirdest kind of people.
Does it have to be precisely 12 years? Interesting...but you know, all the same old. Get rich, get women, play soccer for the Musa Team, just the old stuff (/ chuckles) Nah, I'll probably be here. Or dead, luckily.
Aren’t I? (/he spats back, nose scrunching up in the slightest as he gives the words that tone of incertainty along with the obvious sarcasm that makes Changmin understand that no, he is not sorry in the slightest. Junsu knows that he has a way with words just as he has a way with people and he knows that part of it comes from the fact that he had to learn how to deal with them. Being a prince might come as an ‘easy job’ for others who think he only needs to look pretty, wave around, give a few comands and watch everything else come into place, but it’s way more complicated than that. Or at least it is for him. He never thought he needed credit for whatever he did, but he was a person too so he is not exempt from being a little selfish and wanting people to see that he made an effort with everything he set his mind into. Changmin doesn’t know it (yet) but he might just be one of those things that the prince has put some effort into, so it’s nice to see how he can feel a little more at ease with his words and actions near the older. His little smile is just one of those achievements that Junsu is proud of; he knows it’s not easy to get one from the younger (and the rotten smirks don’t count) so he’s proud of himself for something as simple as making Changmin smile just by saying the right things. Junsu squints his eyes then, placing both hands behind his back as he walks comfortably next to the younger’s wheelchair, scrutinizing every word with his mind before giving Changmin a look) You are allowed that luxury, Changmin, I, unfortunately, am not. So… I may be losing the ride of my life by not sitting on your supposedly comfortable lap, but I guess you’ll have other ways to marvel me with your attributes. (/he considers the threats, nodding because he knows of Changmin’s slightly ‘violent’ personality, which gives him part of his charm, he supposes. He does wonder what could possibly make the younger mad at him but he knows he would be able to go around the matter anyway, so it proves to be a fruitless mind exercise) Aren’t you afraid of divine punishment then? I’m pretty sure that killing a prince like me is twice as sinful. I don’t know… It would be like killing an angel or something. Besides, the world would miss me (/he says) You would miss me too (/he looks at Changmin from the corner of his eye for a split-second before looking straigh ahead once more, glancing over the buildings of the not-so-crowded streets) Yes, I’m sure (/he mentions, half distracted by a few grafitti on a wall) You’re a local, you’re smart so you match my intellect, which means we’re not going to run out of topics to talk about and you’re nice company. I’d say you’re perfect to be my tour guide. So tell me, about this pier we’re going to, you said you like the place… why is tthat? Lots of good memories there?
You are so weird. (/ he finds himself saying, words coming out of his mouth like a waterfall before he can stop them and he’s almost interrupting the prince to say what’s in his mind because what he just heard sounds so damn pompous and teasing at the same time he feels lost if he doesn’t say anything further as a response) Your people would probably miss you but I don’t think you can say for sure that I would miss you, we barely know each other prince Junsu. (/ his voice holds some kind of humor but again the words come out a little bitter and it’s not his intention that’s bitter but the actual taste of them, as if he was telling some kind of lie only…why would it be a lie? Nothing he said so far had been a lie but still…it’s just a weird feeling in the pit of his stomach and just as he doesn’t want to give it more thought than necessary, he stops his wheelchair for a moment, before signing for the prince to follow him) We’ll get there faster if we take a shortcut through this block, come on. (/ never really giving him the time to think about it, he just crosses the street and nods to himself when Junsu is just beside him again, the split moment of silence they had helping the professor to clear out his own thoughts for a second) I’m entirely sure angels don’t exist though I’ve seen…never mind. (‘ he’s about to say something about the guy with the angel wings from the mutant institution but then he remembers him and Junsu aren’t friends so he shouldn’t talk about serious matters like…mutants; who knows what the man would think about it?) Anyway, you’re lucky I know the place around and my services as a tour guide are free, unless you pay for the food when we get to the street vendor I told you about. Also it’s too mad you’re not willing to live the mundane life of a Musa citizen and I’m not only talking about the ride of your life but there are a few things in here you’d like to try but again, you can’t afford this luxury. (/ he’s half smirking at the prince again, glancing at him over his shoulder as he slowly blinks, avoiding, always avoiding giving the man too much of his own piece of mind about his personal stuff) It’s quiet in there. (/ he mutters, absentmindedly playing with the controls of his chair, purposely slowing down it’s pace as they move through a bunch of people that apparently didn’t recognize the prince) I went there a lot in the past, for…personal reasons. (/ and that’s the deeper he can go when talking about it because if he says something more, he would have to explain about his darkest thoughts and his accident and he’s not willing to do it) You should tell me though, why would you like to visit such an abandoned place? Are you expecting to find ghosts in there?
He hit ‘send’ then, chuckling at the last question without any regrets. This was Changmin after all and there was hardly anyone with whom he could actually talk to like that without being called improper. It was fun to let himself out of his own shell for a change and he knew he had the same effect on his friend.
Sometimes, it was nice to really be themselves for a change.
It was with a sigh of relief that Changmin welcomed the buzzing that followed the incoming message on his phone and before he could even read the content of it he wondered why he was even feeling that way. It was clear that Woobin in a short amount of time had been able to crack a bit of the ice wall he had surrounded himself with by becoming his friend and it wasn’t only because they shared the common interest of being highly judgmental towards people in general but the young man felt there was some kind of connection between them.
Even if they didn’t really spill their secrets to each other; there was a veil of trust but not full trust over them and Changmin was comfortable with that so far.
His eyes scanned the texts and with a shrug and shake of head, he couldn’t help but chuckle, his mood a little restored even if he hadn’t texted him back yet.
[text] it’s not like I can convince her not to do something she doesn’t want. It’s not like they ever pay attention to the sanest part of the family. Because you know they’re stupid. Well, I just don’t want to go back home, they’ll be probably drunk and will nag me for being useless, the stuff you’re used to. Uniform is good, you can keep it, maybe we can get free booze and food if they see you wearing that. Dress to match? Damn, Woobin, your gay is definitely showing, never knew I was your type.
Listening to people complain downstairs still didn’t kill his mood when he sent the message to his friend, expecting now a much faster reply. The idea of taking and picking his sister at the party was still irritating, but what they were going to do after it was definitely nicer. Even if Changmin didn’t really know what he had in mind – he just wanted a timeout off school with Woobin.
[text] Really? You work in odd ways then because I though that only applied to verbal words, but I’ll trust you on that then. Consider it forgotten.
(/of course he wouldn’t, but he didn’t need to keep pressing the same matter, so he moved on to the next one, typing as he walked and sending the message before he even got to the car that was already waiting for him at the entrance)
[text] A “person like you”. So judgemental, professor. When you do get to know me, you can formulate your opinion, not before, so do me that favor okay? It will help you in the future, trust me.
[text] I’m on my way there, actually since I wanted to greet the kids first before just telling you guys to come. I’ll be there in less than 5. There will be someone to escort you guys. If the kids are antsy, they can always wait in the limo that should be there waiting. I’m pretty sure they’ll love to play inside.
A smirk was his response. Too bad the prince couldn’t see it.
[text] It applies to both things to be honest. Sometimes fingers can move faster than the tongue, you know?
(/ his reply was as sharp as he could, denoting the unlikely but normal [so far] teasing and again he wondered why him and the prince were sharing moments like this. he wasn’t supposed to enjoy the royalty, though he admittedly realized the older man was by far more interesting than any other human he had relations with – not to mention he genuinely seemed to be a good person; still there were doubts here and there, doubts that certainly he would like answers, though he probably wouldn’t question the older male, due to the simple difference between them [and lack of intimacy, of course])
[text] you are certainly someone with secrets and issues. Interesting since we both seem to share the same trait then. I always heard I have opinion about everything, people even come from other Lands to request my opinion about matters. But I will hold my tongue. For some time.
(/ as the following text was read, he looked through the window and definitely, judging by the kids’ gasps of surprise the limo was there waiting for them. Changmin smiled, quietly as the plane finally stopped and the kids were already forming a line, waiting for the door to be opened.
[text] they are jumping up and down, I think you managed to get to them without even being here. Congratulations. Now we’ll wait for you, mr. Prince.
(/he knows that Changmin doesn’t feel awkward with him and that is a big plus. In fact, that is probably one of his best achievements, but he knows that there is a certain way that he has to deal with people and make them do what he wants. maybe it comes with the job (definitely not the prince one) but it does make him proud even if he won’t ever boast about it. It wouldn’t be polite to do so and he doesn’t want to lose any advantage he has) Oh, am I provoking you, Changmin? Mmm… my bad then (/he says as he looks at Changmin for a second, tear-shaped eyes squinted in the slightest before he looks forward and purposefully smiles. he knows that Changmin can see it because he’s still looking at him and because his lips curl up and it can be seen from the side. If there is something that he knows the professor has is a hard shell and an oddly proud nature, but he knows how to play him and make him want to do what Junsu wants him to without even realizing so. In fact, he’s been doing that ever since they met. he finds himself wondering where they will be going besides the pier and what Changmin will recommend when they go and eat out. There is a lot that he’s curious when it comes to Musa; he thinks it’s a beautiful city where creativity, talent and art stand as a perfect welcoming card, so he plans to enjoy the tour and the professor’s company. It doesn’t take him too long to be looking down at Changmin and quirking a curious eyebrow at the man’s remark) Snarky… (/he mumbles quietly, but allows a smirk to play on his lips and an equally witty reply to come out quickly) If that wouldn’t look completely rude and maybe a little cheap, I would (/he spat) but I wouldn’t want your lap to be occupied by an overly big part of my body nor would I be entirely willing to explain to the public why was the prince of Eulsa abusing a Musa teacher. And by abusing, trust me, they would make sure to use the word both ways if you know what I mean. You’re very kind though, Changmin, and I’ll be sure to take proper advantage of you, don’t worry. (/and then he gave him a smile, wide and playful, not even bothering to clear whatever misunderstandings those words might lead to)
(/ the only reaction he has is really to roll his eyes at first when he listens to the prince speaking mainly because this cat and mouse game is in a way pleasing to Changmin, since he enjoys thank you very much, to have his brain taunted like that; normally people would feel slightly awkward to engage in certain types of conversation with him because they believed that once he was deprived of his legs movement, anything could be considered an attack to him and the professor just wanted to wheel his way over them whenever that happened because his legs might have been dead but his brain wasn't and he's sure he's more than capable of killing a few hundred of people by just making them feel miserable about their own lived only using words; the fact that the prince doesn't give him the same treatment as other people somehow surprises him and makes him (even if he hates that at times) consider his opinion about the royalty - normally he would put them all in the same bag but now he was just...selecting people better) You're so not sorry for that. (/ he grumpily complains and shakes his head, though his lips are perked a little, barely covering the smile he didn't want to show but his brain thought it would be nice if he did) Sorry if my legs aren't a proper seat for a royal ass. (/ he spats in the same tone of voice as they reach the outside of the building and points to the direction they should be taking now) Only I don't give a fuck about what people might think about highly strange situations. You wouldn't be the first to ride me. (/ his words purposely hold all the innuendos normal and intelligent people would catch and he doesn't mind using them with Junsu since, one more time, he knows the man can handle it and it's become some habit of them to make use of that - long was gone the moment when they would be formal around the other and Changmin in a way believes that's probably why the prince enjoys coming to Musa - at least there's someone who isn't going to bow down to his wishes) Yeah, right. I wonder how this advantage thing is going to work. Don't forget I'm crippled but I can still wheel myself over you if you make me mad. Or "accidentally" push you in front of a car. (/ there's fun is his voice now, as he adjusts the red scarf around his neck) No one would believe a guy in a wheelchair could have done that anyway. They take me for granted. (/ rolls his eyes) Are you sure you want to have me as a tour guide?
(/Musa's heavens are already dark as the night falls upon the city and the professor is bound to arrive shortly, taken home by that one regular cab driver that knows him so well, probably enjoying the conversation in which the two often indulge. Today is, however, a special day and after a few quiet steps across the room, something is left on top of the man's bed - an art book - with two silver feathers over the cover and one already set as the bookmark on the first page. There is only a small card with only three words on it, printed, not handwritten that read "Happy Birthday Changmin".
As soon as the items are set, the man's shadow follows him to the other side of the room then, disappearing along with him once the window is closed behind him and any indications that he were ever there, are gone.)
Changmin couldn't have wished for a better birthday. When he woke up that morning he was sure things would be just like any other normal day, after all everyone at the school knew how much he disliked celebrating that day and it wasn't because he was always grumpy about his current situation, but maybe because he didn't quite find a reason to be celebrating. At all.
So he decided to just stick to his plans for the day - talk to his kids and return home, maybe give his sister a call (if she didn't do it first - somehow he was sure she would never remember his only brother was getting older), order food (and a cake) and spend the rest of the day reviewing the files from his current projects.
But, it was almost as if he was watching a movie, when he entered his classroom and the kids came running to him, singing Happy Birthday. A teacher had been waiting for him to arrive, carrying a chocolate cake, decorated my children's hands and he couldn't hide a smile and even a warmth in his heart. The more he spend times with those kids, the more he realized he had finally found the place where he wanted to be; kids were innocent and pure and their reactions could never be bought by other people. He felt loved by them so when he was smiling, it was genuine, when he hugged each one of those kids he meant it, it was like them all were part of his damaged heart. And he wanted to keep it that way.
The rest of the day went on like he had planned at first, until he arrived home. On his way, he had already ordered his food and sweets, making the taxi driver laugh at his expense because he might have told the older man it was his birthday (probably the flowers and cards and gifts were also a clue).
Once again Changmin was welcomed by Shadow, that meowed enthusiastically when the noise of paper rustling outside the door invaded the living room. Immediately the cat started playing with balls of paper made by the professor while he wheeled his chair to the bedroom. Before he entered the room though, the doorbell called his attention, making him take a turn and go get his food that was being delivered. The smell of fresh sushi and other treats also made the feline alert that something good was brought to him (them?), making Changmin chuckle and shake his head. "Later, Shadow. Go play a bit. I have to take this to the bedroom." Leaving the bags over the kitchen's counter he finally entered the bedroom.
And frowned.
It wasn't because of the thing that was over his bed.
His nostrils picked up immediately the scent of lilies and he sighed, slowly wheeling to the bed, frowning at the present. He wasn't used to getting things like that and he was even a little taken aback to even touch the book's cover. A thousand questions ran through the professor's mind - how someone entered the apartment, how did they know it was his birthday and why the damn scent was still in his room. Changmin wanted to yell and ask someone what kind of joke was that but he realized he would look like a fool doing that so he just shook his head, quietly picking up the book, fingertips tracing the contours of the silver feathers used as a bookmark. A slow smile spread through his lips and he didn't know exactly why but he did it. Whoever brought this to him should be thanked one day because even if he didn't like birthdays, he liked getting presents, again it made him feel loved, made him believe someone out there thought about him.
And of course that wouldn't be the weirdest thing that ever happened to him. Probably that was the reason why he wasn't freaking out and calling the cops. Also because that would classify him as a girl, something he definitely wasn't.
"Thank you." he whispered, to no one in particular, carrying the art book to the living room, the two feathers resting inside his jacket's pocket, close to his heart.
"My name is Jaejoong I am almost but not quite twenty years old and my newest favorite thing besides flying is handshakes because its like saying hello with your body and I’ve not gotten the chance to be physically intimate with many people until now."
Sometimes Changmin wonders why he likes to visit the Institution so much. It wasn’t just that it was a place filled with different people, with different backgrounds and certainly different personalities but to put simple it was like some kind of freak show – in the most delicious way. He would never admit he was highly thankful that Taeyeon had showed him the way to the school and practically made it okay for him to visit anytime he wanted but he was indeed thankful. Because no matter how many times he visited, he always found something – or someone – different and exquisite.
In a way, even if most of the students didn’t bother about his presence (he heard some of the mutants’ parents were humans married to mutants – another thing that impressed him in a way) because they were used to have humans there, the ones that did normally treated him like anyone else; they didn’t ignore him or patronize him for his handicap, nor pitied him but they were nice. Well, as nice as teenagers and young adults could be anyway.
And he enjoyed that – it made him feel like he could be a part of that one day.
Don’t be stupid Changmin, this ain’t place for you, he heard his inner voice forcing him to return to his normal self and just wheel his chair to the library, where he was supposed to deliver a few papers to Taeyeon (the two of them had been working on a way to make human and mutant children to be able to understand each other some more). But a voice calling someone else made him stop abruptly for a moment and frown, there was this kind of sweetness coming from a male’s voice and it immediately would draw anyone’s curiosity.
Looking to his both sides, trying to find the source of the voice, it never occurred to him to look up and when he was called up again, he saw the holder of the gentle tone. Again the professor frowned because the person sat on the ledge looked like one of those paintings of the Renaissance and again he realized how the institution would never cease to impress him.
“Are you okay up there?” he wanted to ask but before the words could come out of his mouth, the stranger just jumped and the most impressive pair of white wings made him float until he was now standing before Changmin. If he tried to hold back his state of shock he didn’t hide it very well because he was sure he was staring for quite too long.
An angel.
Of all creatures there was an angel in front of him and Changmin wanted to laugh at the irony of stuff but he just covered up (this time perfectly) when the man – Jaejoong – held out a hand to him; it felt weird to have someone acting like that towards him but the professor realized that perhaps the angel was just trying to get to know him.
For what, he was yet to discover. But instead of being harsh or snarky, Changmin just accepted the handshake and nodded at him. “I’m Changmin. Not exactly as exquisite as you are but then I don’t think anyone is able to compete with a creature from above.” That thought alone made the professor think about why an angel was there at the school. “I don’t remember seeing you here before.”
(/ for some reason, junhyung tends to think he attracts people of misfortune, much like himself. he’s a magnet for bad luck, and for all he knows, he projects that bad luck onto whoever he’s closest to. either that, or it is just incredibly hard to have a relatively easy life anywhere. but out of all the people he knows, out of all the bad luck and misfortune and downright shitty things that he’s seen happen, by far, changmin is the strongest person he knows to deal with all the horrid happenings. not to say that he still really knows changmin at all. things have changed since the last time they’ve seen each other, and that’s speaking for junhyung alone. yes, he’s still the same old junhyung, just with a few modifications. he’s still a mutant and he’s still as stubborn and paranoid as ever, but he’s grown into a man who actually gives a thought to those around him, is full of compassion and morals, unlike the young fool he once was. he’s not quite sure if changmin has undergone the same sorts of changes he was, but from what he can see, he still resembles junhyung’s old friend. ) still fat, and you’re still as witty as ever. (/ he couldn’t wipe the smile from across his lips because it had been too long that he’s felt this comfortable around a person he hasn’t seen for so long. he misses changmin and he misses the way they used to be. ) i was supposed to meet my little brother, but he bailed on me by the time i was on the train. and yeah—i’m still in eulsa, yet to actually run away yet.
(/ changmin would never admit that he liked to look at a familiar face, he didn't like to give himself expectations that the same people would stick around because nice people never stayed in the end; nice people had places to go and a life to live and even if they would insist saying that there was nothing wrong with the professor, he tended to believe the contrary - it wasn't unreal or negative to say there were limitations, that he couldn't go to the same places or do the same things normal people would so even if he knew he could win anyone's attention because of his spirit and his intelligence, it was highly hard to keep people around when more mundane stuff came in between them; so he just pushed people away, it was easier this way than again have expectations) -- (/ however and of course some people liked to stay, some people just liked to make him feel worth it and he was just in front of one of those rare examples; the sigh coming from his lips was just another way to explain that he was (finally) okay with junhyung's presence) it's part of my charm. and you guys always thought it was the fact that i had long legs. (/ the tease came followed by a smirk and he crossed his arms, head crooked to one side as he expected the younger man to say something else) run away? interesting, you never looked like the type that would do that. but tell me, how's everything doing? I expect you to be fine.
