this is a spell that'll punish me

sehun practically falls out of the bar’s open door, his arm tight around the shoulder of one of his closest friends. there’s nothing but laughter and good feelings in the air. it had been a long time since he had left behind his mantle of a gwiin witch with a steep family history and expectations and traded that in for simply being sehun, a guy with a long list of friends and not enough time to spend with all of them.

when his oldest friend, a human with no connections to the other world, had reached out for a night of drinking and catching up with other people they had gone to high school with, well sehun hadn’t been able to turn him down. instead he found himself looking forward to the taste of barbecue and soju, of memories and laughter. and the night had given him exactly what he had hoped for.

but as quickly as it seemed the night started, it also ended. sehun feels his happy mood dropping quickly as he waves goodbye to his friends and turns on his heel to head towards his apartment. the streets are still busy, packed with people as they try their best to take advantage of the nice weather before fall descends on the city. sehun loves watching the locals and tourists flutter around the stores and stalls on the busy streets.

shelter.

[...]

kiha knows that he should pick himself up and get away from this stranger before they get themselves caught up in something they aren’t prepared for. but the wound at his side hurts, hurts a lot worse than he can remember hurting him for a long time. he should be checking for traps, should be making sure that this isn’t all just a game to lure him and strike when he’s let his guard down. but he finds that he can’t care as much as he should.

so instead, kiha sucks in a deep breath and lets his weight lean against the stranger who is soft and smells nice. he lets himself be picked up and moved out of the damp and dark alleyway for a house that’s warm, a well lived in and well loved home. once he’s placed onto the couch, kiha moves around a bit, drawing in a sharp breath before settling in against the cushions. the pain is intense, strong and radiating from his side.

once he’s settled, kiha finally gets a moment to take in the face of his rescuer. he’s young, much younger than he thought he was. he looks soft, too soft for what he’s walked into, for what kind of creature he’s brought into his home. but kiha should probably count his lucky stars that he listened, didn’t call an ambulance like most humans like to do.

a touch to his face startles kiha out of his thoughts, it’s soft and he sinks a bit into it. it’s been a long time since anyone’s touched him in this way and he struggles to remind himself not to sink into it, to turn his head and let the stranger continue to hold him. but the words that follow, they’re enough to sober him up, to remind him that he doesn’t know who he’s dealing with. he should have guessed, should have known that with his luck he’d never just meet a regular human on the street. he’s not sure what the other man is though. a witch, maybe?

“you don’t have to worry about that. just give me a second and i’ll get out of your hair.” he’s tempted at first to spill his secrets, to accept the help but he knows better in the end. he’ll take just a second, he’ll push himself up, get out of his hair and back to his apartment. kiha’ll figure it out from there.

give ‘em the runaround.

[...]

“what’s your name, by the way?” he laughs a little at the absurdity of the situation. acting like best friends, but not so much as a name to match a face to. “i’m hawon, by the way. and i promise i don’t usually make a habit of scamming people.”

as just like that, kiha commits himself to this game. as they continue to move through the crowd, he’ll admit he’s impressed with how easily the human (maybe human?) plays into the role, as if they’ve known each other for years rather than a matter of minutes. and kiha, well he’s fine with playing along, content with seeing how this all plays out in the end.

after all, it’s not like he had any plans for the evening. and whatever he’s just gotten himself into promies to be much more fun than wandering aimlessly through the night market. and he’s a bit endeared by both what’s happening and the stranger that’s roped him into this mess.

he won’t lie and say he’s not impressed with how easily the human (or at least he thinks the other is human) plays into the role as though they’ve known each other for years rather than minutes. it’s not often that kiha finds someone willing to play games with him let alone someone who plays it well. he’s content with holding hands and playing up his part, whatever that might be. he figures it’ll be easy, scare off the ‘gym freak’ as the other puts it and then he can demand a reward afterwards.

but as they move through the crowd and the sea of humans parts behind him, kiha finally catches a glimpse of the one pursuing him. and he recognizes the telltale signs of a werewolf staring back at him. he tenses, feeling his hackles raise for a moment before forcing himself to relax. hawon wasn’t kidding when he mentioned the other had muscles. now he’s even more impressed and despite what his instincts are telling him, he’s invested and he’s dying to know how someone so small can scam someone with muscles so large.

he weighs his options, debating on what kind of story to tell this time. in a moment of stupidity he’s sure he’ll kick himself for later, he chooses to tell the truth. “my name’s kiha. and your friend seems like he has muscles on muscles. i wouldn’t be surprised if he looses his temper and ends up squeezing both our heads for this.” he says it with ease, like it doesn’t bother him to be joking about pain or death like that. “and i’m not sure i believe you, it seems like you have a lot more experience with this kind of thing than someone of your nature should. but honestly that’s what i like about you.”

due to anxiety and the looming fear that i might have a terminal illness really kind of killed the writing spirit for me. but my prognosis came back all cleared so now that i have that weight off my shoulder, i’m looking to fully be able to dedicate myself to feylines! i still have a full time job so i might be slow with messages but i’m going to work on being consistent. so, with that being said, if you would like to or still like to plot with this playful master vampire then please like this post and i will pop into your ims! 

shelter.

[...]

“i just need you to keep you to stay awake for me.” is what he ends up saying instead.

kiha’s spent all of his life being more alert than the average being.

[...]

If existence and safety were tangled into the shape of a building, Zhixin was positive he’d be walking the ledge like a professional.

kiha’s crossed paths with his fair share of hunters. you don’t live long until you learn how to pick them out of a crowd, to see which humans carry themselves as predators instead of prey. and the one below him scanning the alleyway around him is no different.

@yohanfey

if there’s one thing kiha isn’t, it’s a fighter.

tw: violence, blood

give ‘em the runaround.

[...]

“just be cool,” he flashes a grin, wild and unabashed even in the face of danger. “some guy thinks i scammed him, i don’t even know who he is. just don’t let him get me alone.” he huffs and puffs, catching his breath between words. it’s a busy enough area; surely nothing will happen.

when kiha had awoken this evening, the city was already under the tight grasp of the summer and her unbearable humidity. it had only been an hour but kiha was already suffering underneath the feeling, could feel his hair curling at the nape of his neck.

for majority of his life, kiha had adapted a nomadic lifestyle. he had kept to a strict rule of staying no more than 10 years in the same place, long enough to enjoy it and leaving well before anyone could ask any questions about him or his past. he had traveled to a lot of countries, had fallen in love with a lot of cities and their cultures, but a small part of him always longed for his home country. he had grown up on the dirt streets of a town now long forgotten and covered with buildings and tarmac. but his memories lived on, carried and buried deep in his heart, stubborningly refusing to forget everything even the horrible moments.

kiha holds a certain softness for seoul and her vibrant city, especially her nightlife. and tonight is no exception. the nightmarket is thriving, the streets alive with bright lights, music and the smell of food. kiha slips through crowds of humans and non-humans alike as he makes his way slowly through everything, people watching and window shopping as he goes. it’s a nice night, more laid back then he usually would go for but he enjoys moments like this. moments where he can forget everything even just for a little while, forget who and what he is, lets his guard down and just lives in the moment.

this would probably explain why he doesn’t realize someone has grabbed onto his arm until it happens. kiha turns in surprise, looking down at their looped arms and into the face of a pure stranger.

Tonight however, he’s losing, in whatever way he can possibly lose.

kiha owed his sire a lot. 

castor

[...]

he turns his attention away from the mess on his couch, instead, finding it more interesting to busy himself with someone a little soberer. “sorry for kickin’ you out of your seat.” only sorta. “can’t say i’ve seen you around before.” at least, not at one of his parties– that he can recall. minki gives him a once over. he’d remember a face like his. “i’m minki– obvious host. hope it’s an alright party for you. usually most people would be blacked out by now. it’s a slow night.” 

it’s well known that kiha likes to play games. he’s always been known for going too far, for playing too hard.

but at parties like this? he finds himself becoming a little bit softer. there’s something oddly comforting about becoming someone else for a little while without his name and his nature hanging over his head. humans are so fragile and ignorant but there’s something safe to be found in their unknowning.

the edge of the couch was a safety manuever but he’s regretting it now as he finds himself surrounded by the smell of sweat and soju. it’s overwhelming his senses a little bit more and he wants to excuse himself but at the same time there’s a pretty boy talking to him for the first time tonight and he wants to see where this goes.

“at least you can say you got away from her. people like that, well at least they’re interesting sometimes, right?”

minki, kiha hides another smile in the rim of his cup as he lifts it to his mouth, pretending to take a sip. he doesn’t miss the way he gives him a look over, taking this as an opportunity to return the favor. it usually takes him a while to find the owners of these parties, they’re usually surrounded in large crowds or drunk in a corner somewhere. it’s the first time he’s met one that seems to be seemingly sober.

@feyxnoel

for as much as he likes to pretend to be carefree, emotionless without regret or understanding of consequences, kiha is very much full of shit. one of the things he couldn’t shed despite becoming a vampire was his ability to feel and to feel very deeply about everything. he was always one to throw himself into everything, every task, every feeling. and when kiha loved, he loved so deeply, with every inch of his being until his chest hurt. and that love extended even to the small kitten curled up in the cat carrier on his lap.

the older man in the driver’s seat effortlessly navigates traffic all while telling kiha about this amazing jajangmyeon restaurant a few blocks away from where they were heading. but kiha ignores him, instead keeps his gaze on the small kitten who seemed to be sleeping so deeply despite the sharp turns that jostle his carrier.

the vet clinic they were headed to was the best kiha could find online, the reviews raving all about the staff and the excellent work they do. but there’s a pit in his stomach that grows, when he taxi drops them out front and kiha is left staring up at the little white building while wondering if he’s really going to go inside. the kitten inside the carrier is not just any ordinary cat, no, he’s the the only companion kiha has had in centuries. living a life where he can count his friends on one hand, he chooses to place his trust in creatures that can’t hurt him.

@feyxzhixin

the evening was hot and humid, causing the fabric of his shirt to stick to his skin.  it had been pouring all day, seoul plagued by neverending thunderstorms that wracked the sky and made the ground tremble. it did nothing to break the humidity that they had been feeling all week, if fact it felt as though it had made it worse.

the harsh rain of the early evening had cleared the streets out quickly, leaving humans rushing to find shelter from the sudden onslaught. kiha had gotten caught up in it. he had been hunting for his meal for the evening before getting soaked and taking up residence on the balcony of a darkened apartment in the heart of gangnam.

the balcony’s bannister squeaks under his weight as he sit on the curved metal, ankles hooked around the metal to keep his balance. the streets beneath him are empty as thunder echoes overhead. kiha knows he could probably just head home, change and head out to a club to feed. but he’s grown tired of the party scene, instead wanted to feed while exploring the night market for the evening.

living as long of a life as he has, it comes with it a lot of baggage, whether he likes to pretend it exists or not, it usually does him in eventually. sometimes it’s just the exhaustion of his long life, the uncertainty of what waits for him just over the horizon in the future. but most of the time it’s the past, memories coming back to haunt him at all hours of the night. familiar faces he sees in large crowds, voices he swears to hear on the wind, and loves he wishes his heart would just forget.

during these times, the only thing he can do is escape and so he does. kiha never goes far, runs away as far as the han river. he tucks himself away in various parks around the city, forgotten benches under the sanctuary of trees. he hides there until he’s able to tuck away all of his wrinkled edges, until he’s sure he can face his enemies without his weaknesses showing.

tonight is one of those nights. earlier he had been wandering around the night market, a little bit hungry and tired, when he passed by one of the vendors and picked up a scent that struck his heart as strong as thunder, left him shaking as the memories came flooding back.

hunger forgotten, he had retreated to the narrow path he walks down now, the sound of the water rippling beside him. it works his magic, calms him enough that the sight of a stranger jumping in front of him amuses him. “did you lose your way?” he chuckles, sliding his hands into his pocket. “you’re in mangwon hangang park.”

a small breeze ruffles his already messy hair as the cars of the last subway of the night, swept past him before picking up speed and flickering out of sight into the black tunnel. it was really late and the subway station was empty save for kiha, who was warm and sated after a night of partying and feeding.

as he makes his way out of the stop, the sound of his footsteps are loud, echoing off of the walls and traveling around him. but it isn’t long before the sound is swallowed up by the telltale soung of rain, falling hard and fast. as he climbs the stairs to the street, the air that hits him is hot and muggy, it causes his shirt to stick to his skin.

kiha reaches out with a hand, testing the temperature of the rain and, surprised to find it cool to the touch. looking around, he takes note of the dark and empty street, no umbrellas in sight before he takes off. the rain is no big deal to him, barely gets wet as he takes his vampiric nature to his advantage, moving quickly enough that it almost looks like he’s flickering in and out of view.

the storm above him rages on and kiha pauses underneath an awning as lightning lights up the sky above him followed by the loud rumbling of thunder so loud it seems like it would shake the ground. and as it trails off, the rain slows down for just a second, and he hears something to his right near the bushes planted in front of the cafe he’s taken refuge in front of.