박재민

Tommy knew what it was like to make a friend like that. His first friend on this island had been Dhani and that friendship would always be special. He was glad to be Jae-min’s friend. Though he hoped that he didn’t mean first friend ever in his life because that would be a sad thing. Everyone deserved friends. “Cool. I need all the friends I can get! You’re not taking advantage. I’ll tell you if I ever feel that way and we’ll deal with that then yeah? Cool. This is gonna be great.” 

Graceless | Katell&Jae-Min

Katell recognized the words of another good master. She could feel safer with him keeping an eye on her at least. With that settled she finished her cleaning.

She smiled gratefully once more to his offered hand. She placed her own gently in his and came gracefully back to her feet, tray in hand. “Should I need more assistance, I’ll need to see you out,” she spoke with all her charm and gratitude.

“I’m not unhappy,” she clarified with a shrug.  “It’s just … what I do.” The professor did love her languages, but she was still so new to the island and everything it offered.  Teddy was still on the fence about how she felt about, well, all of it.  Hearing that his living was made on fashion, she couldn’t help but look down at her own.  ‘Preppy’ would be the word most likely used to describe how she dressed, but she saw it as more utilitarian.  Button ups and polos, shorts and khakis.  She didn’t really pay much attention to the way she dressed.  Though she was surprised that her companion had learned such things from his mother so long ago.  “Wasn’t that considered women’s work, back then?”  If she offended Jae, she didn’t intend to.  Social norms just were still foreign to the shifter.  “Would you design something for me, maybe?”  Perhaps that would smooth over any offense she’d caused.  That and it would allow her to branch out a little.

Jae Min repeated her words in his head. It’s just what I do. What a strange thing to him. He never did anything that was for anything but his own enjoyment. Even when he was younger and did what his father ordered him to, he loved it. He found a thirst for it. “You have time, I suppose. To know if you are happy with it. I do think there is a line between enjoyment and loving what you do and just doing what is known.” She was young though and she was new to the island it was still time to explore. He followed her gaze to her clothing, laughing slightly. “I like your outfit. I think clothing needs to fit the person and my own standards if that makes sense.” He took another swing of his drink shrugging at her words. “Yes and no. Typically women made women fashion for their families or for the upper class families, doing the sewing and such but men were the designer still and had their own shops. The designer for the royal family was always a man and he was respected and set the tone for the country’s fashion.” He explained. “ My mother was a bit of a anomaly. Having her own little shop when she met my father. It was far from most towns, but she didn’t do it for money or power, just for enjoyment.”  His eyes roamed over her form once more taking in the details of her outfit before smiling. “I would love that. What do you have in mind?”

That’s exactly why I came,” she nodded. “This school carries a lot of weight, I figured if I could get an education here in Russian Literature and Ballet, they’d see how serious I am about their program,” she smiled. When he said he’d make her something, she smiled. It was always nice to have a friend, and to have one who would make her something as beautiful as a suit was a good fortune indeed. “Well then, I’d love to dance for you sometime,” she smiled at him. 

“A smart decision. Further your education while waiting on being ready for your dream. I hope that things work out for you and you’ll get into the program. Ambition should be rewarded,” he said kindly. He could do with making some genuine friends on the island. “Oh that would be wonderful. I really look a good dance. It’s been a lone time since I saw one.”

“I don’t know about happy,” she admitted with little thought.  Some might try to hide their feelings behind banter or jokes but that wasn’t her style.  Maybe she was just another disillusioned millennial, but she wasn’t sure she even knew what happiness was.  So much of her life had been spent logically going from point A to point B because it made sense.  “What kind of work do you do, that you’ve been doing forever?  I’m guessing not literally forever but probably longer than me, right?”  Forever could mean many things among the supernatural; she’d once met a shifter in the family that had been alive when Jesus was purported to be.

“You aren’t happy? Then why do it?” Jae-min lived far to long to do things he didn’t enjoy, but maybe it was due to his nature or him growing up a prince, but he never did anything that didn’t bring him enjoyment and happiness. Though he was lucky to find his happiness early on in his life. “I am a fashion design major, getting my Phd and I own a tailor shop. Making clothes and designing makes me happy. And it is a lucrative business.” Always available in a new country or century and with the constant change it keep things fresh. “A few hundred years give or take. It learning to mend clothes or make my own was one of the first things my mother taught me.” 

Vicious Cub

“Oh! The waterfall sounds fun,” Dakota replied. They butted their head against the other, their lips curling just a little bit. They flicked their tail and looked up at him with their big brown eyes. 

“But, only if you enjoy me. Maybe, we’ll get lucky and this spell will wear off,” they said. “Regardless, I expect you to at least dip your toes in the water.”

He couldn’t help but laugh at their little head butting against him. Truly the cutest thing he ever had the pleasure of having a conversation with. “Then we shall go to the waterfall.” He said, moving the cub to his shoulder.

“Yeah, I mean it’s sad for sure, but there are a lot of orphans in the world. Kind of like a fucked up kind of club or something.” He nodded and ate the last bite of his cupcake to hide his emotions. “Ha, me and cup o’ noodles are old friends. You can totally live off of them.” He waved his hand. “You don’t have to hire me. I’m a slave.” He pointed at his collar. “You can literally order me to, but fuck you don’t even have to. I’ll totally do that for you. I make a lot of things. Mostly I like to take fancy food and kind of make it fun and accessible like comfort food.” 

“I can’t claim to relate, I’m only eighteen.”  His words had her assuming that he was supernatural as well, and if there was one thing that was common among all species, it was that appearances could be deceiving.  Just because she looked young didn’t mean that she was young, so she felt the need to quantify that.  “I’d say it’s a pleasure, Park, but we’re only a few sentences in.  I guess we’ll have to see.”  It was a poor attempt at a joke, but an attempt all the same.  Teddy shrugged at his question; her abilities with languages were never really ones she’d thought to question.  “It’s just … always been present.  I’ve been good at them for as long as I can remember, never thought about doing anything else.”  Not that she’d had much of an option to do so, having enrolled in college at such a young age.

Jae-min was pressed that she was a professor at such a young age. He thoughts she liked young, but appearance's meant nothing in the grant scheme of the island residents, still she was more interesting that most people he made that were young. Jae-Min appreciated her honestly or lack of social skills it was difficult to tell from their shot conversation. “It has been a pleasant talk thus far,” he concluded, laughing slightly. He nodded in understanding at her explanation. “I suppose that makes sense. I am the same when it comes to my work. I’ve been doing it forever, I am good at it, it’s a useful skill and I’ve never thought about doing anything else. As long as you are happy, nothing else really matters.”

Dom scoffed “I only give enjoyment to people who are worth it, and you are not worth it” he hissed before his face was grabbed “Scream? Try anything and I’ll fucking hunt you down when this stupid punishment is over and destroy you”

“As if I want enjoyment from you. If you worth is tied to the men you sleep with that is your problem not me. I am happy to not be places with them,” Jae-Min stated plainly. He chuckled at Dom’s threat. “Empty threats are so enjoyable,” he said, shoving him to the ground and using his foot to keep him down.

Tommy was pretty certain at this point that Jae-Min didn’t hang out with people a lot. The touch to his shoulder was obviously meant very well, but it was a little awkward. This only made him feel more touched by the gesture. “Me too. But it happens to a lot of people.” He shrugged. He didn’t like to think of himself as that boy who’s parents died. Not anymore. He grinned wider. “Well you should let come over and do some meal prep for you. I could do it like twice a week and have you all set. And like not to be all conceited and shit, but I’m pretty good at that stuff.”