Pleasure to make your acquaintance. This is my lil safe haven to blog with a bunch of strangers so I don't have to put on a mask for people I have to interact with on the daily.
In truth, I want to make connections with people. I just have somehow compartmentalized my life so my IRL friends and family don't always see what goes through my mind. Anyway, enjoy my nonsense.
About Me
Name: Shao-wei
Affiliated Characters in my life: Hubster, Spawn, Chester the Cat, the Parental Units
Fandoms: Lord of the Rings, Legend of Zelda, Warhammer 40k, Dungeons & Dragons, RWBY, Harry Potter, My Hero Academia, Demon Slayer, Ikemen Series'
My Fanfic Corner
I'm currently focused on my first fanfic, which I went "go big or go home" on. But, I'm proud of it. The early chapters show my amateur start, but I grow stronger and more elegant with each passing chapter. Please give it a read if it tickles your fancy:
Title: Muted Serendipity
Fandom: Ikemen Vampire
✨ MUTED SERENDIPITY MASTERLIST ✨
Summary:
"Serendipity. Look for something, find something else, and realize that what you've found is more suited to your needs than what you thought you were looking for." - Lawrence Block
Based on the visual novel Ikemen Vampire, this is my take on MC and her interactions with our favorite boys. She's tough, smart, and thrives in her crazy and dangerous lifestyle. But, she's thrown into a world of supernatural and suddenly she's not the smartest or toughest in the room. While she's anxious to get back to her own time, this is also a great opportunity to slow down, something she hasn't done in many years.
Ground Rules
I'm actually pretty loosey goosey when it comes to interactions with me, but let me set some expectations:
I am happily married, so flirting is not gonna happen. Compliments will be acknowledged, but crossing that sexual line will either be ignored or put on blast in this blog.
Fandom: Ikemen Vampire
Rating: Mature
Content Warning: Graphic depictions of violence, sexual tension, implied sexual content, explicit language
Summary: The smell of fresh butter and sugar begins to erode Dawn’s internal walls.
Author's Note: Probably one of my favorite chapters because I am a SUCKER for pastries and the smell of fresh bread.
LINK TO AO3
The sun was barely up, casting only a grayish tint across the sky as night gave way to day. It was a peaceful morning for sure, with only a couple coaches and carriages traversing Paris before it truly woke up. One particular coach gently rocked its inhabitants as the wheels rattled over cobblestone.
Inside the coach, Leonardo sat beside Dawn with his hands loosely folded in his lap. Dawn looked out the small window, but he could tell her eyelids were heavy, each blink slower than the last.
It made sense, considering he knocked on her door at an ungodly hour to wake her up and urged her to get dressed with haste. He was actually impressed how quickly she came out of her room. She dressed practically—as he expected her to—in an ivory blouse tucked into a cinnamon brown skirt, brought together with a thick belt that made him think of the color of cognac. In preparation for a chilly morning, she covered her shoulders with a charcoal cloak.
As for her hair, she was in the middle of plaiting it with deft fingers behind her head when she exited her room. A copper-toned ribbon was held between her teeth until she had weaved her hair past the nape of her neck. Once she secured her hair near the bottom of her hairline, she finished by untangling the remaining length into a soft ponytail.
Now that they were in their coach heading to their destination, it seemed Dawn's sleepiness was catching back up to her. Only minutes after they began their journey did Leonardo feel the weight of her head lean against his shoulder. He looked down and saw she had completely succumbed to slumber, her cloak tightly wrapped around her like a blanket.
All he could do was release a quiet breath through his nose, but smile softly at how peaceful she looked. It was going to be about 20 more minutes before their arrival, so he would let her rest. Leo kept still as to not jostle her awake, but made sure his compagna provvisoria remained comfortable for the ride to the market.
*~*~*
“Cara mia.”
Dawn's eyes began to move, slowly adjusting to the light creeping through the curtain of the coach. Her nose scrunched and her eyes squinted, her face and body slowly coming to life. It took her a moment to regain a sense of her location, to remember that Leo had abruptly woken her before the sun was even considering the beginning of the day and rushed them into a coach.
It seemed she had drifted asleep, but the cat nap did her some good. She felt more refreshed than agitated, and the coach was surprisingly comfortable.
… I am not leaning against the coach.
Her head had not moved yet, but her eyes were adjusting exceedingly fast. No, she was not leaning against the coach. She was leaning against something warm, solid… breathing.
Sure enough, the fabric she was feeling was Leo's overcoat, its wine-colored sleeve cushioning her cheek against his arm. As she slowly looked up, she was met with his warm eyes of gold. His long, dark ash-brown bangs fell to the front of his face, somehow making his already brilliant eyes shine brighter.
They stared at each other for a long moment. Leo did not move nor speak. She was worried he would have something snarky to say, like when she mocked him for snoring when they went to Le Pré-du-Bois, but he did no such thing.
Dawn slowly raised herself upright. She felt a yawn coming as she clumsily rubbed her eyes awake with the base of her palms. I can't believe I fell asleep, she thought to herself. She shook the thought away before looking up again. Leo barely moved at all. He simply sat patiently, waiting for her.
Awkwardly, she waved hello.
Leo let out a small laugh, finding her good morning gesture endearing, if not comical. “Come,” he said, finally breaking their silence, “we are here.”
He opened the door and exited, then held out his hand for her to take. She gave herself a moment to compose herself, breathing in deeply and remembering they were on a “date”, before smiling and accepting his hand.
Outside, the morning light was much brighter, warmer. There was a golden glow enveloping everything around her. She could see all of the vendors setting up their stalls, the sounds becoming a natural white noise.
But the smell. Oh God, the smell. It was the warmest, sweetest scent that filled her nostrils. She couldn't tell where it was coming from. Maybe it was coming from multiple places. Maybe it was wafting on the breeze that tussled the loose strands of her hair that did not want to stay in her braid.
It didn't matter. It smelled absolutely divine. She needed to find the source.
Leo led Dawn down the street, nestling her comfortably into the crook of his elbow as they walked. She noticed how Leo took smaller, slower steps to match her pace, carefully guiding her around the passing people and the occasional uneven stone. Somehow, he made it feel as though they were in their own small bubble, untouched by the bustle of Paris waking around them.
Her nose lifted into the air, realizing the scents she had wanted to find were becoming stronger. As she looked around, she saw a bakery with its door open, and Leo was walking her straight to it.
Inside, there was only one other customer being helped by an older woman. This woman was short, just an inch taller than Dawn was, with a plump figure but strength and energy abundant in how she carried herself. She had her gray hair pulled back into a bun with a sweet, welcoming smile as she spoke to the customer. Even her wrinkles had a way of smiling when she did.
Once she saw them come in, she flashed with a wide grin. “Bonjour et bienvenue (Good morning and welcome!)” Her greeting was so warm and energetic.
“Bonjour, Odette (Good morning, Odette),” Leonardo responded. It sounded like he was well acquainted with the shopkeeper.
“OH! Leonardo!” Dawn was amazed that Odette was capable of being even more happy to greet them as soon as she realized who Leo was. “Dis donc, cela fait un bon moment que tu n'étais pas passé nous voir. (My, it has been some time since you stopped by!)” She walked across the shop floor and she placed her hands on his cheeks, as if she was a motherly figure to him. “C'est tellement agréable de te voir. (It is so good to see you.)” Then, she eyed Dawn. Her eyes glistened with knowing excitement. “Et en compagnie! (And with company!)”
Suddenly, she smacked Leonardo on the arm. “Il est grand temps que tu trouves une femme pour toi. Tu es bien trop beau pour continuer à te comporter comme un séducteur insouciant avec toutes ces jeunes filles. (It's about time you found a woman for yourself. You're too handsome to remain a troublesome tease for all the debutantes.)”
And just as quickly, she turned her attention to Dawn. “Quelle chance tu as! (You lucky girl!)” she commented. All Dawn could do was smile in bewilderment, not sure what was going on. But, when she glanced at Leo for some context, he just smiled and nodded—utterly unhelpful—like she was just supposed to accept this without question.
Odette approached Dawn and, similar to how she treated Leonardo, her hands were on Dawn's cheeks. They were surprisingly warm. “Tellement beau aussi. (So beautiful, too.)” She leaned closer, paying close attention to Dawn's eyes. “Hah, et avec des yeux tout aussi colorés que les tiens, Leonardo. (Hah, and with just as colorful eyes as you, Leonardo.)”
Is she supposed to be this handsy with someone she just met?
“Odette,” Leonardo chuckled, “Je pense que vous risquez de submerger mon compagnon par votre gentillesse. (I think you may be overwhelming my companion with your kindness.)”
The older woman took one last look at Dawn, seeing the forced smile that was too kind to say “please stop”, then stepping back some. Still, she held that same, sweet, genuine expression of happiness. “Je vous prie de m'excuser, ma chère. Maintenant (My apologies, dear. Now),” she said, addressing them both, “que puis-je vous servir (what can I get for you two?)”
Leo caught Dawn's attention and tilted his head towards the display of foods and pastries. They had a display case filled with croissants, eclairs, tarts, buns, and slices of breads ranging from plain to fruity to chocolate-infused. The warmth in the bakery already let Dawn know they were fresh from the oven—the best time to bite into a treat.
“Tout d'abord, une tasse de café pour ma dame (First, a cup of coffee for my lady),” Leo told Odette. “J'ai peut-être interrompu son sommeil réparateur pour l'amener ici le plus tôt possible… (I may have disturbed her beauty sleep to bring her here as early as possible…)”
Odette laughed, her sound ringing with joy, “Je devrais me sentir flatté que vous ayez risqué de vous faire réprimander, même si c'est peut-être mon devoir de vous en protéger. Je vous l'offre gratuitement en guise de remerciement pour votre fidélité. (I should feel flattered that you risked a scolding—though perhaps it’s my duty to protect you from it. I’ll offer it for free as a thank-you for your patronage.)”
Dawn could hear the lighthearted conversation, but her focus was on the enticing display of sweets. There were tarts covered in seasonal fruits, éclairs covered in glossy glazes, sweet buns of different shapes with different fillings, and croissants aplenty. Her mouth started to salivate, imagining how everything tasted.
“Cara mia.”
Leonardo's voice pulled her out of her trance to see him holding a small ceramic cup filled with steaming coffee. She graciously accepted, tapping her chin and pulling her hand away, thanking him. As she took a sip, the subtle bitterness of the coffee jolted her senses awake but the warmth as it traveled down her throat to her stomach eased her into a comforting bliss.
She felt his hand press gently on the small of her back, urging her forward a step. Leo leaned toward her ear and whispered, “Pick whatever you like,” enticing her to choose freely. She looked up, asking only with her eyes if he was serious. Of course, all he did was direct her attention to the pastries again with a nudge of his head.
Oh, crap.
Was the baked apple tart the right choice for this early in the morning? No, it was more dessert-like. Oh, maybe the éclair. But, the chocolate or the coffee-flavored one? She already held a cup of coffee, so maybe not the éclair dressed like a tiramisu. Although, the sweet buns looked delightful. The idea of cherries within the soft texture of a brioche sounded wonderful, and the honey bun with candied orange peels also looked sweet and quite bold with the flavors. Oh, but back to the tarts! Lemon tarts were so classic and punchy, almost anything that was a pastry with lemon was bound to be delicious. And yet, there was the raspberry and almond tart. And that cream beneath the toppings would probably be velvety…
Her eyes bounced back and forth multiple times. Fruity? Chocolatey? Classic? Which one?!
Leonardo watched her eyes move—too quickly, too carefully. Not the look of someone deciding what they wanted, but of someone measuring, weighing, editing herself down.
At last, she lifted a hand and pointed. Not at the tarts. Not at the buns. She pointed to one of the plain croissants.
Leonardo blinked once. Of all the things in the case—of all the color and sugar and fruit that had clearly held her captive only moments ago—that was what she chose?
Odette, feeling the slight tension between them, followed his gaze then looked back at Dawn. She didn’t comment.
Leonardo’s mouth twitched, thoughtful rather than amused. He nodded once. “Un croissant (One croissant),” he said calmly.
Odette reached for it.
“Et une tarte aux framboises et aux amandes. (And one raspberry almond tart),” Leonardo added just as easily.
Odette’s brows lifted—just slightly—but she complied, setting the tart beside the croissant.
Dawn’s eyes widened. She shook her head quickly, lifting her hand and signing, “No.”
Leonardo paid no mind to her plea. “Et la tarte aux pommes cuite au four (And the baked apple tart),” he continued.
Odette glanced between them now, understanding dawning in her eyes. She made eye contact with Leonardo before placing the tart down with deliberate care.
Dawn tugged lightly at Leonardo’s sleeve, her movements flustered. She pointed again to the croissant, insistently this time.
Only then did Leonardo turn to her. He leaned in—not touching, not crowding—but close enough that his voice was meant only for her. His mouth brushed near her ear, his tone low, steady. “I see what you are doing, cara mia,” he murmured. “You’re holding back because you don’t wish to be a burden.”
He paused, just long enough for that truth to land.
“I brought you here because I want to know what you like,” he continued softly. “Not what you think is acceptable.” He straightened, giving her space again, and gestured gently toward the display. “Show me what you really want.”
I do not normally do commissioned art. I am a poor person in the sense that I cannot be trusted with money, but I DO NOT REGRET having @danaesalcido02 do a scene from this chapter!!!!
We started chatting LONG AGO and it filled me with joy that truly wanted to know more about Muted Serendipity and the characters and plots I have planned for our dear Dawn. I can even say she is a friend now!
As an artist, she is detailed. She asked questions and sent over progress pictures to make sure I liked the direction it was going. 100% approve!
Ok, without further ado, lemme share her amazing artwork!
LOOK AT HOW CUTE THEY ARE!
Literally how I imagined it when I wrote this chapter...
Jean was showing me some of the weapons he made at the weapon shop he works at. I don't think he expected me to fangirl, but I definitely did. I love me some blades, and holy crap these were beautiful.
Jean mentioned that dueling was still a common practice, so sabres and the épée de combat were still popular among the men.
However, the increase in folding knives for gang members meant he was making more of them. I could tell he wasn't too pleased to be making those knives... something about being "less honorable". But, considering I carry a balisong myself, these were really cool to look at. Maybe I could commission one of these Navaja-styled knives...
If I did, the first person I'd show is CeCe. While not a proficient blade user (actually... she sucks), that girl does appreciate the artistry and history of weapons. I think if she ever found a proper forge, it'd be like pulling teeth to take her away from it.
I really wonder how she got to love weapons but is completely dumb when it comes to using them. She is really good at hand-to-hand combat, probably because she's got a similar, bulky build like her brother, Damian. But I swear, those two just do not care about using weapons. Their fists are deadly enough.
Speaking of which, I wonder if she's decided if she wants to follow in Damian's footsteps. Damian earned his medical license years ago, which is why he is our team medic. That black bear pretending to be a human is probably the sole reason everyone on our team is still alive. His status as an Advanced EMT came in clutch on multiple occasions.
Unsurprisingly, CeCe showed any interest in anatomy, just like Damian. However, she didn’t seem to know what she wanted to do with her life.
Unlike Cesar, Damian practically integrated his little sister into what we do. I think it was out of necessity for his sanity, to be honest. I still remember how bogged down he was with studying and we'd have this little kid hanging out with us while we were cleaning our weapons.
Actually... that might be why she liked learning about them. Oops. But still, she just learned to be around us and what we did.
That being said, I'm not sure how I feel about her possibly wanting to be an SRA. We already don't get along with law enforcement and we just barely keep our relationship with the Rocky Mountain Search and Rescue teams because they could use more able bodies. I know she has the strength, guts, and abrasive attitude to do just fine, but it's similar to how I feel about Isa.
I watched her grow up. I don't wish this life on anyone. Not really. You don't choose this life, you fall into it.
I am so scared CeCe will choose this life because she grew up around it.
Like I did.
You know what, the next time I see her, I think I'll tell her how I feel about it. I don’t want her to be like me.
A miracle happened. A 0.000001% possible outcome occurred.
Mozart talked to me. Willingly.
He hasn't really taken the time to learn any sign language, but I noticed he was consciously asking yes/no questions as much as possible. I only had to write a couple answers in my notebook for him.
Who is this doppelganger and where is the real Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart?
He wouldn't fall for any tricks by Dazai or Arthur because he wouldn't entertain their shenanigans in the first place. He and Leonardo have a mutual respect for one another, so I doubt they'd mess with that. And Jean would never.
But, it was nice. I think. He commented that I was surprisingly well-behaved at that masquerade ball Le Comte had me accompany him to. I hadn't realized Mozart could be observant, even while performing. Then again, he is a musical prodigy...
And no, I wasn't going to be insulted by being called "well-behaved". I mean, I should have, but coming from Mozart it felt more like a compliment. He's almost as bad as Theo when it comes to backhanded comments.
He left it at that and then continued walking, probably to the music room. He was always there, playing some melody that changed daily. I wonder if it's because he keeps coming up with them, or if he's scrapping them and having to replace the melodies of yesterday?
It made me think of Isa, Cesar's little sister. I think if they met, she could break through Mozart's prickly exterior through music.
After all, she was working towards being a musician herself.
The girl from a young age always loved performing. Cesar was one hell of a doting brother, forcing all of us to attend her piano and singing recitals. But, she did great. And I'm not just saying that to be dotting either. She had that crystal clear tone with total control of both volume and pitch when she sang. She blew everyone else in those recitals out of the water.
The next thing we knew, she was being scouted. God, talk about a nightmare for all of us. The last thing we wanted was for little Isa to get roped into something dangerous, so we did background checks on anyone that even breathed near her. Cesar even missed a couple ops because he became her personal bodyguard out of fear.
So, we had no choice but to teach her some of our trade. STRICTLY to protect herself. Cesar made that extremely clear: Isa Cortez would never become one of us.
We all agreed because she was our little princess and none of us wanted this life for her.
If she wanted a life of music, we would support her. And destroy anyone that threatened her endeavors.
I got home sick again today. I really do appreciate that everyone is trying to keep my mind off the fact that I'm stuck in this era against my will. Le Comte and Leonardo, especially. Le Comte for making sure I have everything I need or want. Leonardo for planning all of these little "dates" and keeping my mind off things.
I'm not oblivious to their blatant ulterior motives.
I'm surrounded by geniuses who have lived long, whole lives. It's practically a given that everything everyone does serves a separate purpose of some sort.
Well, except for Isaac and Mozart. They are honest almost to a fault.
But Le Comte and Leo? They're natural schemers. And despite Leo's aversion to big and pompous events or grandeur gestures, his "dates" were top tier experiences. At least, I think so.
I'll be honest, I avoid relationships like Leo avoids big and pompous events.
But, even I must admit they are fun.
Still, all the distractions cannot completely make me forget about home. I woke up and almost panicked, forgetting that I wasn't sleeping in my own room. I wonder what caused that. I've been here long enough to know better. Right?
Maybe I'm just going crazy and this whole ordeal is finally breaking my psyche.
Wouldn't be the first time.
NOPE NOPE I NEED TO GET AWAY FROM THIS THOUGHT PATH.
Ugh. OK. No negativity. Only realistic, truthful statements. Unbiased.
I am Dawn Zhao. I am 33 years old. I am a trained Situational Reactive Agent of RAVEN. I am allergic to avocados. I have been to every continent except for Antarctica. My team is my family. I have a father, four brothers, and two little sisters.
So, I got hungry. It was late in the evening and I was craving something. Something savory. Something warm.
Something that unfortunately used the oven.
I've stared at that contraption that Sebastian calls an oven and I think he's gone mental. That thing couldn't possibly be one. I think it runs on magic. How does he control the heat? How does he know when it needs more fuel?
WHAT KIND OF FUEL?! Wood? Coal? A sacrificial offering to the God of Cooking Appliances? An inextinguishable source of heat like a roll of toilet paper soaked in gasoline?
Thankfully, Napoleon was in the kitchen. He was hungry, too. He's the only vampire in this mansion that actually needs human food. And, because of that, he's actually a decent cook.
Everyone in the world should be grateful for this miraculous encounter, lest I try to cook something for myself...
I remember a time that something like this happened before. It was the summer of 2009. 2010? No, 2009. I was 21 years old. Could finally (legally) drink. Anyway, it was summer and I wanted a BBQ. The weather was amazing. Warm air but comfortable with the breeze. And the mountain smell all around us was intoxicating. But I wanted hot dogs and burgers off a grill.
Except I had no idea how to use the grill.
Even in our modern time, I still had no clue how to heat it up.
Thankfully, two years prior, we added Cesar to our team roster. He was a total goofball and a grill master. I swear, when he did the "tong click", it was literally like magic. All of his food was delicious. I even think his BBQ sauce was an original recipe. KC Masterpiece ain't got shit on him.
He was like Damian, in a way. Also an older brother to a younger sister, Isabella (went by Isa). Also without parents.
I think Jin is collecting us orphans like Pokémon cards.
But, despite his goofy nature, he had a mean streak. Jin and I took to training him on firearms and somehow, he is a better shot than me. And it calmed him down. Not like, hurting anyone. Just, the act of aiming and firing. Having a target and slowing his breath down did wonders for him, and he was really good.
That, and grilling.
I think it's some Latino secret art. He said his abuelo was some pro with cooking, too, and it just made sense to him like knives made sense to me.
I still believe it's magic.
And he still believes I have no business within 100ft of a kitchen.
Oh, right. How I fucked up.
We are NOT going to tell Sebastian or Le Comte that I almost set fire to the kitchen.
I swear to God, I am going to stab Arthur. Maybe I will make it subtle, inconspicuous. No one the wiser until it's too late...
No... he's a vampire and they keep reminding me they are stronger and heal faster. UGH I would love to heal fast like that. Then I could do MORE reckless shit with less lectures from Jin.
Wait. Maybe I would get more lectures? Eh. Who knows. Not like it's gonna happen. I will NEVER allow any of them to bite me. Over my dead body. Just. Ew.
Anyway, back to Arthur. Dude tried to pry some more information out of me. He is cunning, and sly with his words. And probably a bigger ego than his body can contain. But, I've met men like him. They like to solve puzzles, and get bothered when they can't. It's like it eats away at them from the inside out, making their very existence hurt until they can finally put it to rest.
Damian is like that. When we met, he couldn't figure me out so he swore he would one day learn everything that there about me.
I think I took it as a love confession or something in my 16-year-old brain. May have caused me to punch him in the face. But, he is one of the few people that can take my hits like it tickled. From that day on, I knew I could never take him down...
Anyway, Damian said I was an enigma. I didn't make sense. He learned my history and saw how me, Jin, Kota, and Shota all interact, and somehow *I* am the weird one?! Please, the twins were definitely in their weird phase. Like, really weird. Like, I can never eat burritos again... weird.
He later explained that I was weird because I acted WAY older than my age. He was older than me by two years yet he sometimes felt younger than me. And how I viewed danger? OK, that was uniquely me. I did view danger like I viewed a walk in the park.
I don't think he liked that.
Damian had a very strong view on life. Him and his little sister, CeCe, were it. He legally was her guardian and that made him view the world like a parent. Sometimes, he made me think of Jin.
But I knew his life was hard from the get-go. A young, black man (teenager, but still) raising a 5-year-old sister in the early 2000s? And he made the crazy decision to study med? "Ambitious" was an understatement.
But he always succeeded in what he put his mind to.
Maybe thats why Arthur irritates me. Because somehow, I am terrified he will be like Damian and he will figure me out.
Actually, it might just be everyone in this damn mansion...
So, funny thing happened. Vincent and Theo were... bickering? Is that what they do? They were speaking Dutch, so I'm not 100% certain, but I swear they were fighting over something stupid. Like, the brotherly kind of stupid. And its funny because Theo is always the hot-headed one and therefore, Vincent always comes out on top. I think.
Makes me think of Kota and Shota again. I swear, those dumbasses would fight and bicker over the stupidest things. Who got to use the bathroom, who had better facial hair growth (gross), who could eat more char sui bao in one sitting (again, gross). They even had a competition to see who could snag a date with me. Spoiler: neither.
Then again, they're twins. Its natural that there'd be some natural competition between them.
Despite them being identical, they have vastly different personalities, in my opinion. Kota, being the oldest by just a few minutes, is more boisterous and says some out-of-pocket shit. Shota, being more reserved (but not by much) is more careful about his words and is very considerate.
Shota always won the arguments because he was calmer and could come up with wittier retorts. It was hilarious to watch Kota flounder like a fish out of water when he had no ammo to send back. If he tried to win with his fists, it was normal for either myself, Cesar, or Damian to separate them. Haha, they hated when Damian stepped in...
I hope they aren't freaking out that I am missing. Of all my team, they were the closest to feeling like my actual brothers. Younger than me by four years, they looked up to me. And more than a time or two have I saved their lives. After all, if it wasn't for me begging Jin to take them in when they were 10 years old, they might have ended up dead somewhere.
I was watching some kids playing when I went on an outing with Sebastian today. They were cute. Two boys and one girl. Maybe they were siblings. Anyway, they were running around, playing make-believe... I think. They were speaking French, so I really didn't understand them. But they were smiling and laughing and it was fun to watch.
Made me miss home again.
Or, maybe miss the childhood I never really got?
From a young age, I didn't exactly have a standard childhood. I can't say that Jin made it easy, either. He may have been my adoptive father, but "father" was a stretch.
Sure, I did kid things. Back when I was living in China with him, in the Anhui province near the Huangshan (Yellow Mountains) range, I would climb the trees and get stuck. Or I'd steal red bean bao from the steamers before the cooks would notice.
The village elders hated me.
But, I've always had a mind for survival over simple things like playing. I don't even remember hanging out with kids my age until Kota and Shota showed up, and I was 14 years old by then and they were stupid 10-year-olds...
Kota and Shota. Ha. I wonder if they've noticed that I'm missing?
Actually, how will this work? Once my month here in 1894 is over, I think the door opens again? Will it take me to the very moment I went through? Or has a month passed over there too? I mean, it's time travel...
