among the ashes.

          —  BACKDATED:  WINTER 2019

          his fingers drum along the side of the glass, a mindless gesture of timid anticipation.  the dance floor beckons him forth – has been for the past couple of minutes – but he resists;  temptation lies within another.

          across the bar sits a pretty little face, one that holds his attention over several sips of stale scotch.  he’s observed this man for some time now, indiscreetly, never one to shy away from showing interest.  he’s not his usual type.  zihuan prefers the rambunctious and the unruly, but the man has a certain air to him that zihuan finds oddly captivating.

          “one more?”

          “’m good, darling.”  he slides the bill over.  “keep the change.”

          he’s nonchalant as he leaves his seat at the bar, his eyes skimming the crowd that soon follows.  there are far easier targets here, ones that can certainly entertain him in the same way, but thing is – he doesn’t like easy.  

          so that brings him here:  slipping into the space on the man’s immediate left, a bold intrusion of his personal space.  he takes a moment to order two gin and tonics first.  “both on mine,”  he tells the bartender once she comes back around with the drinks.

the wave leads him to the bar, and he peers over hooded eyes at the vibrant colors all around, enjoying the ambiance of sweat and lust. it feels great on his skin. but then a presence is made known; even in his haze jinwoo feels the man approaching long before he’s actually close, and after a few moments he twirls his neck defiantly to stare at him. the man remains far too close for far too long, and it’s a curious way of breaking the ice. jinwoo decides to play along, wondering how far they could go. he would be lying if he said he noticed the stares before, but that’s only because half the club has already looked his way at least once.

–

“um, yeah,” duh, he almost adds. you didn’t have to be a vampire to know that falling into a whole bunch of glass containers isn’t gonna end well for your outfit. “there are easier ways to get a guy out of his clothes than throwing him into a potion stand, though.” he winks. it’s all a joke, of course. everything is.

the stench hits his senses like a sledgehammer, and he feels the need to step away from the scene immediately. witch blood has been wired to smell like horror since the beginning of time, and jinwoo has a hard time keeping a straight face so as to not blow his little performance. god, it stinks. maybe he should have foreseen this outcome before pushing hawon into the booth. but he didn’t, and so now he has to deal with the scent that activates his flight instincts at the innermost level.

“a hundred years? really?”, he almost laughs. “feels just like yesterday...” he moves closer to the boy and tries to gently lead him away from the crowd as he lowers his voice. “you’d be smart to learn from the classics, though. there’s a reason their speeches are held in such high standards and are still quoted to this day. they’re captivating,” he gestures faintly to the humans nearby.

the boy winks, and jinwoo’s brain is suddenly flooded with a million different ways he could go with this. sure, he could be threatening, he could insinuate that it would indeed be much easier to take his clothes off by ripping them apart with his much greater strength and speed, but the way hawon has acted since being actually harmed indicates he would just laugh it off again – a personality trait that jinwoo greatly appreciates, by the by. and as he turns his head to look directly into the witch’s eyes, he realizes he wants to know more about this feisty little boy with fae blood still faintly coursing through his veins.

“𝕲𝖔𝖉 𝖍𝖊𝖑𝖕𝖘 𝖆𝖓𝖞𝖔𝖓𝖊 𝖜𝖍𝖔 𝖉𝖎𝖗𝖊𝖘𝖕𝖊𝖈𝖙 𝖍𝖎𝖘 𝖖𝖚𝖊𝖊𝖓.”

[ ... ]

but then a date catches his eye and it has him sucking in a breath, looking up at the man with wide eyes. “sir–” minki starts, immediately removing his hands from the book. he shouldn’t be touching this without gloves. 

“do you realize this book was published in the 1800′s. i can’t even imagine what this book is worth.” and he hasn’t even referenced the title or author yet. 

he watches as the man handles the book with care, and it only cements what a great idea it was to bring it to this particular shop. the greatest establishments are always ran by genera other than humans, truthfully. “hah, a few generations at least,” jinwoo replies, genuinely unaware of the exact answer. how many generations has it been since he first saw the copy, anyway? how many descendants would he have by now? “my great grandpa told stories of his great grandpa, something of the sort.”

there’s somewhat of a lingering silence in the air as minki opens the book, skims through the publishing records until he spots a date. during that moment, jinwoo breathes in the scent of dust and wet soil, and something in him relaxes. it’s like he’d been tensing up an invisible muscle the past few weeks, and, at least for now, he can let go and focus on something as relaxing as talking about books. it’s a much welcomed change from... well, everything. 

“1839. first edition”, he nods almost proudly, shooting a loving stare at the cover washed out by the years. he remembers when his father brought him to the fair that year, how things were different back then with the advent of steam power and the braille language being disseminated still in secret through private classes and rare copies sold in creepy looking tents. “one of the first uses of lithography to print in color ever recorded in south korea... at least it’s what i was told. i figured you would know more about it, or at least know how to properly conduct research on it.”

and then his eyes are widening and he’s stumbling over his words in shock, “you’re a ceo? you’re so young- i mean- you look so young- i mean-” he shakes his head, lets out another sheepish chuckle, “i know you’re a vampire, but it’s just- i guess i’m still wrapping my head around everything. i’m…” he recalls the word jinwoo used upon their initial introduction and nods decidedly, “new, at this.”

he clears his throat and bows in return, “lee kyuhwan. it’s…nice to meet you, sajangnim.”

and just like that kyuhwan blossoms like a spring flower eager for warmth after a long winter. 

it’s easy, so easy– a few meaningful words and a sense of relatability, and suddenly he’s chatty, easygoing and less worried about politely deflecting questions. he’s still protective in the way he holds his book, a last resort of defence that keeps him from bearing his all in front of a virtual stranger, but it’s a far less thicker barrier to surpass now. 

“hah, it’s alright,” he shakes his head dismissively. “it can be tricky at first, don’t worry about it. you’ll learn how to smell the years weighing down on someone in time. and the eyes– always look them in the eyes, it’s where the true stories are hidden.” he lets out a sigh and sits back a little, breaking down the imposing stance as it seems to make kyuhwan feel even more at ease. “it’s a family business, so there aren’t really many merits to my position besides having the right birth chart... but yes, i’m the ceo now, have been for the past century and a half. and now you know why i get invited to parties at all,” he chuckles sheepishly, feigning self-deprecation when in reality he storms into parties five days out of the week just for the hell of it. 

jinwoo picks up on something that he runs over in his mind as he talks. kyuhwan isn’t afraid of the word vampire. he doesn’t flinch at it, instead he throws it into conversation normally. it’s a testament to his sire’s ability to coach him into immortality more than anything, really, but it also says something about how comfortable kyuhwan is in his new moonlight skin. it’s sort of unexpected, and jinwoo greatly appreciates it.

“no need for honorifics, though. they get just as old as parties.” he stares again, though now just as a way to test how long kyuhwan could go without avoiding his gaze. he looks adorable when blushing. “...kyuhwan.” there’s something eerily dominating in how he tests the name rolling out of his tongue. who sired you, kyuhwan?, he’s desperate to ask. who blessed you with immortality only so i could play with it for you?

[ ... ]

“is there anything i can?” she inquires with another glance around the living space. “i don’t think trading one pain for another will actually help that.”

“niceties to ploy me”, jinwoo repeats sarcastically, though there’s a hint of sadness in his voice. mei is polite as always, using of fancy words and elegant make-beliefs to keep a safe distance from the world. jinwoo hates it, but he appreciates the effort she must put into it regardless. “the packets are fresh,” he reiterates in response, sitting up at last. “had them delivered just this morning. male, young, a hint of early diabetes...” his words linger in the air.

but of course, she’s not here to share a meal. her maternal instincts are repulsive, if anything because jinwoo has never had anyone look out for him like that. “kijung and his fists are his own responsibility,” he looks at her at last, defiantly, like a little child that refuses to listen to reason when they’re told to make up with a classmate after a brawl in the yard. “he didn’t kill me and i’ll be healed by the end of the day, so i guess you’re off the hook anyway. there’s no cleaning up to do.”

“i just can’t stand him and how he hovers over everyone as though no one is worthy of so much as a glance,” he holds her gaze for a while longer, then stands up, circling around the couch and wincing as his head spins again. “...i’m mostly just hungover. it’s fine.” there’s something in the way she pities him that makes him want to crawl out of his skin at any cost, so he desperately seeks a change in subject instead of reiterating how much of a bitch kijung really is.

[ ... ]

“oh come on, take some of the credit,” he calls to him, smile wild and just a touch wicked. “you helped, after all!” the humans may not see it, but the two of them know what happened. “hope that was fun for you. you ruined the whole lot!”

it’s interesting how the boy laughs, how his lungs fill with amusement as he struggles to get up from the slippery mess that the stand had become. the scent of sugary water hits his senses, and the laugh is almost contagious; jinwoo can’t help but grin sheepishly at the realization that he’s facing a worthy opponent. inferior, less interesting creatures would have lashed out at him instead, but the boy plays along in good faith, even if he’s aware of the imminent danger of dealing with a vampire. it’s a defiant trait that jinwoo greatly appreciates.

the boy taunts him, partially blames him in public, and for a second jinwoo lets his words linger in the air as he ponders his next movement. “this is indeed a tragedy,” he slowly nods. “but it wasn’t me that caused it. i was merely waiting in line to try these fine potions in order to find my true self. it’s been a harsh couple of years, you see...” he’s always had a flair for the dramatic after all, and mocking the silly humans like those around them for their lack of intelligence is one of his favorite acts. 

jinwoo steps forward among the crowd and suddenly all of his being screams money, from the way he holds himself to the expensive outfit his flowy coat lets show. he is all politeness and charisma as he half addresses the stand owner, half the crowd. “however, this is surely a tragic loss. ma’am, i do not wish to see you lose your source of income over a silly accident, so, how about this–” he fishes a business card out of an inner pocket, all elegant-like. “give my secretary a call first thing monday morning, and, along with paying for damages and replacing your stock in full, we will see that all your expenses are taken care of for the next month.” his little performance is met with quaint cheers and murmurs of agreement by the crowd.

[ ... ]

“university,” he admits easily, with a nod, indicating the heavy textbook tucked into the crook of his elbow, “i’m pre-med, studying to be a doctor. it’s tough, but…worth it, i think. i keep a thermos around,” he adds, pointedly, still smiling: i’m a good fledgling, i have everything under control, i promise, ignoring the faint itch of thirst already crawling up the back of his throat, “for snack breaks.”

when kyuhwan chuckles, it’s as though jinwoo’s head moves along with the motion, his eyes still carefully studying his expression in order to pick up any hints of either positive or negative reactions. manipulation is in the details, you see – in how even a polite fledgling such this one can give away his true feelings with a twitch of the eyebrow or curl of the lip. kyuhwan is probably  more transparent than he is aware of, and that only benefits jinwoo in the end. still, he misses nothing, and his reactions are even a beat delayed because of how intently he focuses on the other.

but then kyuhwan makes another mistake when he stutters, and at close inspection one would see how jinwoo’s eyes widened briefly in surprise. that’s a lie, or at least a polite omission of the entire truth, and it sparks an even greater curiosity. there’s no reason to hide a name in this society where no one dies and the firm grip of the ruling government requires every fledgling to be identified and appropriately associated with a sire. the council doesn’t take abandonment lightly as it had potential to create turf wars and more, and they kept a pretty tight survaillance of all vampires in the area. for kyuhwan to be afraid to drop a name like that... something was off. your sire is no secret, unless your sire wasn’t meant to be your sire to begin with. “it can get overbearing indeed,” he nods along, still not blinking like mentally stable creatures should. “being social, i mean. when you’ve experienced life through centuries of events and gatherings and what have you, you learn more and more to appreciate peace and solitude with your loved ones.”

and there’s the welcoming tug at his lips again, a piece of wisdom being thrown with little reason just to seem all-knowing and trustworthy. it’s the most he’s spoken yet, and it’s an attempt at relaxing kyuhwan in his presence some more by making himself relatable in comparison to the other’s sire.

( tw: violence )

[ ... ]

instead, he grabs jinwoo by the shoulder and forcefully pushes him toward the ground.

[ tw : violence and honestly just desperate sadness ]

[ ... ]

“i am,” he smiles back, kindly, ever polite, remembering that it’s normal for others like him to be able to smell the length of his life on the air, “new, i mean.” but he’s seen enough horror movies and psychological thrillers and after school specials to know it’s never clever to admit one is alone, especially not to fanged immortal strangers. he is still, however, nothing but polite, “i’m not alone though. my sire,” the word still feels strange on his tongue, especially when talking about kijung, “he checks in every few hours. i’m in school, so…”

the fledgling smiles, and that’s his first mistake.

his smile is sweet, like a newborn vampire would have. he still retains so much of his humanity – jinwoo can sniff it on him, on his clothes, on his demeanor, on the sparkle in his eyes that still aren’t used to the red tones popping out when he feeds. his politeness is overwhelming, too; he’s so formal in his quick dismissal and it’s endearing how he thinks he’s protecting himself by subtly shutting jinwoo down like that.

his second mistake is to explain he’s not alone.

see, in every other occasion this would’ve been the right thing to do considering the situation. but when it comes to jinwoo, backwards is upwards and he likes all that is not conventional; to him, a newborn fledgling is specially interesting if they’re accompanied by a sire. the possibilities are endless with this piece of information – for example, what would happen if jinwoo ripped this boy’s limbs apart one by one, until there was nothing left attached to his chest but his skull? would he be able to regenerate if his arms and legs were sown together? would his sire come for him or would the sire abandon his creation if deemed to be a lost cause? would jinwoo die at the hands of the council if he kidnapped this little child and shipped him off to a remote island before it could all be traced back to him? what if he wedded the fledgling, would the sire be jealous?

would the sire risk their life for the fledgling’s sake? if he did, how would the fledgling react? and if he didn’t, how would the fledgling feel then?

the chances of jinwoo’s interference causing pain to at least one other party involved are far too great to be passed on. 

he hangs on to kyuhwan’s every word, eyes fixated on him, tongue one beat away from slipping past open lips in painful hunger for chaos. how does young vampire blood taste? it’s been so long, jinwoo hardly remembers it anymore... “your sire must be so worried about you. even if he checks up frequently, to leave you alone like that...”

[ ... ]

“yeah, i saw,” he replies smoothly, cocky grin on his face and shoulders held confidently. “i didn’t care. i’m not moving except to get closer.” there’s the note of a taunt in his voice, the quiet what’cha gonna do about it? unspoken. if he knew he was picking a fight with a vampire, maybe he’d have held back. then again, maybe not. he’s not quite known for making the best decisions.

jinwoo can’t help but to show a crooked grin at the boy and his oh so smug attitude. it’s the kind of grin that sends chills down your spine, that bares his fangs just enough to let the other know they’re at risk, that makes it very clear just how fast things can go down at his hands. his lips remain tugged as his head tilts forward and he stares up at the other, eyes flashing red to clear any doubts as to what kind of genera hawon was dealing with.

“feisty, are we?”, he snickers through the nose. “just how i like it. fine, little boy. have it your way.”

in all but half a second, far too quickly for the humans gathering nearby to realize, jinwoo raises both hands to hawon’s chest and shoves him hard against the crowd, the potion seller and the fragile stand that succumbs to the witch’s weight instantly. 

he’s already made up his mind before jinwoo asks him to. he punches jinwoo hard, square in the jaw. 

[ tw: intoxication, violence ]