e n т r υ ѕ т

myungsoo dipped his head apologetically. “i take that back… i’d understand. and no! i’m not a werewolf, so people have to look harder to find the details about a vampire’s features. long fangs, palish skin, hallows underneath their eyes and such.”

« — hah, don’t worry, it won’t happen.  even if anyone tries to stab you like that, i won’t allow them. not on my watch! » soojung playfully told the other man. it’s likely she sounded like a total idiot putting her trust in a vampire, but this guy seemed horribly inoffensive somehow. there was this feeling about him. after all, if he was truly dangerous he wouldn’t have acted this way with her the whole time. he never let his guard down, but at the same time he was...too friendly to be a big bad natural.

« — well i’d say you look pretty human at all times. you’re blessed with a pretty regular appearance. good thing you’re not like, a merman in water or something! and good thing you mean no harm to mortals for now, or else i’d be in pretty big trouble, huh? » she snickered, feeling oddly comforted by the fact that she could talk so openly about naturals with this man. she did not meet friendly (or neutral) naturals very often, so this entire situation satisfied her.

soojung really liked myungsoo, for some reason. it was likely the feelings weren’t mutual at all, but she didn’t mind, really. he kept her company and it was fine by her.

« — to be honest with you, i think i just... woke up here all of a sudden. i don’t remember much else. maybe something carried us here? »

soojung took a good look at myungsoo again.  meek and jittery, he seemed like nothing but a small child.  of course this forest would scare most people, even naturals, but he seemed too scared. something was wrong. could it be the forest’s magical properties, revealing one’s deepest emotions? soojung herself felt unusual; she was too forward. of course, her motherly instincts were always strong, but never this powerful.

« — i don’t see any kind of light anywhere either... are you doing okay? you seem quite troubled. »

all of a sudden, something odd took control of her. as if by magic, soojung took myungsoo into her arms and embraced him.  she had absolutely no idea why she was doing this, but she somehow...couldn’t resist.

« — it’s gonna be fine, » she whispered softly.   « mama’s here for you. »

a tattoo was noticed on the back of his hand. last time he remembered checking his hand, nothing was printed on it. never had he stepped in a tattoo parlor in hopes to get a number written on his hand. P06, was this supposed to mean anything? whatever was going on, all he wanted was for him not to be alone. alone, myungsoo was weak. weak and lost. all he ever wanted was for someone to help him through life, and right now, he deeply was in need for that someone. a call was heard, and his head jerked backwards. what seemed to take forever for him to run towards the voice, he finally reached the area. and only a familiar face was to be seen. why her, out of everyone he wanted to see. “yeah, i’m number six,” he mumbled, slowly moving towards her. as of now, myungsoo had always put up an act with the girl, not wanting her to see his real self. in fact, barely anyone was allowed to see such a sight. “looks like you and i are stuck together, h-huh?” but why on earth did the vampire have to stutter on his words? where did his charisma go to? “do you have any idea as to why we’re here?”

« — it does seem we’re stuck together, but i’m glad you’re here, » soojung said as she grabbed both of his hands, pulling him closer.  « at least i know you, at least i’m not all alone in these woods.  i have no idea why we’re in this place, though. »

she was of short stature, but somehow, myungsoo felt...smaller than her, this time around. maybe it was the magical properties of the forest they were need, but soojung had the burning need to protect the other.  sure, he was a vampire and most likely had a couple centuries of living experience over her, but that desire consumed her from inside.  she’d take care of him until they’d find their way out, even maybe after that.

« — well, i think we should get going, at least.  we need to find a way to exit this place. »

A normal life sounds nice to his ears though he knows its not quite possible. It would require living. Being alive and feeling it are two different things however. Unfortunately the younger only has the former.  Still, he’s been trying to make the most of his new found immortality, trying to get back in the swing of things. There’s always this nagging feeling at the back of his head though that no matter how hard he tries, he’s going to end up being a monster.  But now that Soojung was here, perhaps it wouldn’t be too bad to confide in her. Maybe.

something in him sure hadn’t changed, and it was his tendency to tease her.  even as the younger one, he was a sneaky little thing, making fun of her age whenever he could.  at least he still had this, a shred of the human he used to be.  soojung put all of her weapons down, a sign that she really did trust him, vampire or not.  some would say such an action would prove itself to be foolish, but if sungjong really had been bloodthirsty, he would have attacked her already.

of course he wouldn’t ever be the same again, but soojung would help him the best she could.  she missed him during those two years, so just the fact that he was still somehow on this earth reassured her immensely.

« — i cannot even imagine how difficult it must be...what have you even done during those two years? do you even have a place to live? i gotta know, i’m pretty worried otherwise... »

“My name?” She repeats, eyebrows raised and her expression questioning. Of course, she wants your name. You guys are having a conversation. To be Soojung or even Krystal (what some people who butchered her name called her back in the states) seemed too much of a chore, but the young woman couldn’t be bothered to come up with an exciting new alias, as she knew she wouldn’t be answering to it at all that night. “It’s Soojung. What’s yours?”

The other’s attempts of small talk begin to warm Soojung right down to her belly, nothing in this woman’s face or company gave her any remembrance of home. Nothing she had said since arriving made her think of the curse. And she was pleased to have a night just to feel free. However free a girl with hardly any money can feel.

« —well, guess what!       i’m a soojung too.       hopefully it doesn’t get       too confusing! »

this turned out to be quite memorable for a first encounter: hopefully it’d change her mind after everything that had happened.  the other soojung seemed maybe a little like her...soft, a tad awkward with people; perhaps they’d make good friends? soojung hoped so.

an expression of surprise surfaced on the hunter’s face as the other girl told her where she was from.  new york?  that was...so far away, what was she doing in this old derelict town in the middle of south korea?  considering how good her korean was, she must’ve lived there for a while at least.  soojung enjoyed meeting foreigners, because they’ve seen so many things that didn’t exist in this country...it was like a whole new world, and the hunter enjoyed hearing about it.  it made life a lot more exciting.  as the bartender came over, soojung ordered a drink along with the other one, and kept talking:

« — oh, i’m not that loud!         obvious, maybe, but not loud. »

myungsoo really had become a chill guy.  so...different from the cold facade he first showed. soojung was glad he didn’t seem to be too threatening, or feel too threatened.  obviously he knew she was a huntress, but he seemed to have let his guard down a little? not like he needed it, but it was nice to see.  vampires were a fairly threatening species, so getting closer to one was a little weird, albeit certainly appreciated!  perhaps he’d make a great ally in the long run.

« — you’ve seen...        such thing, huh?       were you the one        being complimented? »

soojung thought she was real funny.  she thought she was on a true comedy streak.  she took the whole thing so lightly!  not that it was a bad thing, of course.  her banter never ended and she was having a real good time.  a good time...with a vampire.  that sort of thing usually wasn’t high on a hunter’s checklist but that didn’t matter: as long the natural she meets aren’t merfolk, it’s fine by her.  she was a little put off by his proposition of visiting her bakery...not that it annoyed her, but...he was a vampire.  it’s not like he ate human food!

the freedom in wandering the large, spacious rooms filled with people gambling away their life savings. the sound of money rolling away from people’s grasps– so willing. so undeserving. it’s a wonderful feeling, really. seeing so many people fill up this building with smiles on their faces, alcohol induced decisions and money. oh the money that becomes his. what a beautiful place he’s in, really. his heaven as someone else’s hell.

but surprise, he’s not looking for some bigoted fool that doesn’t believe the ‘game is playing in his favor’. or some unwanted man blessed by luck for the night. no. he’s looking for his target for tonight. he’s in the mood for a female, pale and fragile, easy for the taking. he’s gone a little longer than normal, and his steps falter more often than he’d like. but work’s too much of a priority, and he forgets that blood is a requirement to him. well, he can’t forget. more like he pushes the need to the side, or as long as he can before his body starts refusing to work properly. yesteryday, being the first time he saw his hands unconsciously twitch. yes, maybe he waited too long.

scanning the crowds, there’s a table, predominately female and all quite attractive. he pauses, looking each of them over. there’s one, holding a drink her hand, the other slightly grasping the poker table.. perhaps, a little more than normal? she’s petite, and he wonders how much more alcohol her body can handle. her dress doesn’t cover her neck at all– so pale… how nice it’d be to sink his teeth into her skin– how soft it’d be–

donghyun closes his eyes, turning away from his newest prey. not– now. control, damn it. he sighs, shaking his head as he runs his hand through his hair. stopping his fangs from protruding (he managed to gain some random male’s attention– shit), he immediately walks over to one of the booths handing out chips. of course, they know who he is, and without question he’s handed the third highest chips offered in the casino. he doesn’t worry, it’ll be returning  back to him shortly.

sliding through the crowd without much problem, he’s found his way back to the table where the girl is. he’s across from her, and the timing is too perfect, the way she looks up from her cards and their eyes meet. the smile is effortless, and her reaction is quite cute; immediately glancing away, cheeks tinted with the slightest blush. textbook definition of easy prey.

tilting his head to the side, he softens his gaze and waits for her to look his way again.

lady luck hadn’t been very nice to soojung today.  she was so far from winning.  not that the baker went to the casino often – far from that.  she drank just a little tonight, just enough for her to make a few...unfortunate choices in her current poker game.  she was in a real pickle, but at least this particular table wasn’t one with very high bets.  soojung was with some friends but they had gone off somewhere else...to the slots, probably.  all their little sounds and lights made it a real audiovisual experience, and her friends loved shiny things so they left the huntress alone.  but it was fine, because she liked poker.

but she wasn’t quite...alone anymore.  in fact, maybe she wished she had a friend with her right now.  this alluring man across the table had just made eye contact with her and he seemed...mesmerizing.  she looked away from him quite quickly, he was too intimidating!  how could she ever play and keep a straight face with that guy just across her? what a bother.

the tinge of sadness didn’t go unnoticed, and byul could only take a peek at her face, out of genuine curiosity, and probably bothersome. and so, she coudln’t really help but to ask, hopefully the other didn’t mind. “what do you want to do for a living then?” she asked, eyes blinking. “and what’s your true passion?” she added.

a sudden idea struck her mind– out of the ordinary, really. “ah, i think i know a nice place to talk.” she had a look around to where they were, she was so sure that it wasn’t far away– the river she manage to pass by whenever she walks home. “let’s walk further.” she nodded, and she continued to walk further, in a much faster pace. until the said river was on her sight– she does try to chill by the riverside sometimes, even stargaze whenever possible.

“ah, i knew it was here.” a soft smile slowly forms on her lips as she walked towards the riverside. “i used to stargaze here all the time, i always feel at peace whenever i go here.” she explained. “do you mind sitting on the grass?”

it sounded like a really terrifying job.  not that being a hunter was less dangerous.  if anything, it was one of the most dangerous jobs out there, obviously.  but soojung sure preferred that over working at a nightclub; she would probably break if she had to go in there every day.

byul asked her for what she wanted to do for a living, which is sort of awkward because then she’d have to go off about her entire life story if byul wanted to know a little more...soojung supposed she’d have to say a little about it, but not too much in order to not inquire anymore questions.

« — i was at med school,        but now i sorta got...       bad memories associated       to it, so i gave up. 

      i wouldn’t say i have       any passion in particular,       i just wanna protect       the ones dear to me. »

soojung sighed as they were walking towards the river.  tonight was...a nice night.  the sky was clear, the air was good enough, and byul was a pretty nice person.  the baker nodded in byul’s direction and sat down on the cold grass, looking up to start gazing at the sky.

« —oh, you poor thing!        being sick is the worst,        i hope those antibiotics work! »

soojung had a good feeling about all this, but she still wasn’t sure why they were playing around. maybe because they were in public? it’s not like the man could yell about how he sucks human blood for a living  on every roof in busan.  maybe eventually they’d boldly talk to each other with pure honesty, but now wasn’t the time.  they'd have to be slick enough to not make random people raise an eyebrow, but also obvious enough so the other could understand what they meant.

and the sarcasm in his voice was palpable. to some people, it would have seemed unpleasant, but au contraire, soojung loved it.  meeting new acquaintances with this kind of tension in the air proved itself to be exciting to the baker, since it was so different from her ever tame daily life.

« —kim myungsoo huh?         so, myung, or like,         vlad tepes, maybe?        i got a couple nicknames in mind. »

now she was messing around, and unbelievably so.  she was blatant about her knowledge of his identity, but she knew she wouldn’t harm the man.  it was all fun & games.  as myungsoo grinned, showing clear signs of excitement she hadn’t seen from him before, soojung chuckled at the sight of his obvious vampire fangs.  he seemed to be quite the lively guy after all, it’s a miracle he didn’t cower in fear the moment she touched his hand.

« —you should absolutely visit!        we’re preparing our        halloween treats and...        it’s always halloween for folks        like you so you’d...        surely make yourself at home! » 

The following questions, no matter how simple, would prove difficult for the boy to answer. Sure, he could easily tell a lie and be done with it, but that just didn’t feel right. Why lie to the person who had just saved his life? Where was the morality in that? Though deep down Sungyeol knew it was best to keep his origins to himself, for not all humans were welcoming to his kind.

Perhaps one day he’d be able to tell someone of where he had come from. That is exactly what Sungyeol hoped to achieve; a world where the Merfolk and humans could be at peace with each other, neither having to hide from the other. Peace. Was it so hard to ask for? His parents seemed to think so.

Pushing all of these thoughts aside, Sungyeol came up with his answer, deciding to dodge the question of where he was from entirely. It wasn’t lying if it was simply avoiding the question, right?

“I’m not currently studying, no. Though I suppose I’d be making more money if I had.” he admitted with a chuckle. “I’m a photographer for the local news press. Though I admit, I pick up freelance jobs on the side. Anything to keep the apartment up and running, you know?“

Once he had finished explaining his own job, Sungyeol knew he needed to act quickly, or she may pick back up on the subject of origins once more.

“How about you? I’d guess you were a fisher from the speargun, though the shop downstairs suggests otherwise.”

« — you take pictures?  that’s pretty cool.         not only you make money, but also,        it makes a good creative outlet. »

he did say he did some odd jobs here and there to pay rent... once again, soojung’s keen business-inclined instinct woke up, and an idea popped into her mind.  why not...make a deal with him?  they had met tonight, but that didn’t matter— all you need to apply for a job is a good resumé, and a picture. no need to be best friends, it’s just work.  soojung quickly turned the stove’s knob to high, and lightly skipped in sungyeol’s direction.  once she was close enough to him, she raised her head to meet the tall man’s gaze and deliver her message, confidence glistening in her eyes.

it seemed weird to soojung, since the man had...this allure, this presence that made him look somewhat good.  sure he had messed up his job earlier, ruining his image a little, but mishap aside he seemed pretty darn imposing.  but also...he seemed a little shy in front of her?  maybe scared?  he had...something weird about him.  the way he trembled a little, the vibrato in his reply.  something was really, really off.  soojung straightened her back and spoke once more:

« — you see, my parents         wanted to expand their business.        so buying this place...        would be nice. »

but then, soojung eyes widened, giving a look that was both a mixture of surprise or disappointment: she had forgotten to introduce herself. how idiotic!  the baker got closer, and leaned forward to shake the barista’s hand.

« — i can’t believe i hadn’t        introduced myself at all!         i’m lee—  soojung.         it’s nice to... meet you. »

as she boldly went to shake his hand, soojung stuttered a little.  the strange vibes the man emanated were truly real.  he was cold, as frigid as a winter day.  soojung knew a regular human wouldn’t have such low body temperature.  which could also explain why he looked so scared of her at first— he could surely sense her hunter spirit.  but the girl would have to play it cool for now.  they were in a public place, he had done no harm to her, so she would leave him be, as long as he didn’t stir any trouble.

« — oh bother, you’re so cold!         are you sick? you know,          my mother has great medicine,         i should bring you some! »

soojung smirked as she ended her sentence.  she was blatantly playing dumb in this situation, which might make her seem like a stupid hunter, maybe.  but if she wanted the other to relax a little, seeming nonthreatening was the right thing to do!  she just hoped it’d work.

« i’ve actually just finished it, but it was quite… stressful. » to say the least. hwasa exaggerates a sigh, but she can’t push the smile from her features.  « i’m really just curious about what they need so much food for–! »

soojung was glad she was going to have some help— baking a st-honoré was no piece of cake, so help was welcomed.  and the more the merrier, right?  she was sure they would have fun doing this, which made the sheer load of work they had in front of them a lot more bearable.  it’s a blessing soojung had cleaned the kitchens not too long ago, since they were going to need all the space they could have.

soojung led hwasa to the kitchens. they were fairly big for a small bakery and very clean, with a few other employees working here and there.  soojung made them all line up and gave them more orders:  one would keep working on other light orders, and one would work on the cake’s filling.  

« — so, hwasa, i suppose        we’ll work on the dough?         make yourself at home! »

as soojung prepared the ingredients, she supposed she would try to strike a real conversation, wishing to know more about the fellow baker.  i mean, they’d certainly have things to bond over, right?

The lights from the streetlights lit the entire area and he tore his eyes away from hers in order to pay some mind to their surroundings. It didn’t take too long for him to relocate his normal behavior. His forced smile turned into a genuine one and he let go of one of her hands as he kept hold of the other. “Maybe we should get out of the street first,” he suggested as he gently lead her away.

The light in his eyes returned as he flashed the girl another grin. Something was just different about her. He’d just met her yet he yearned to know more about her and he felt as though he could explain things to her. No. This was nonsense. Wasn’t it? He didn’t even know who she was or what her life was like. Still, he had a good feeling about her in the pit of his stomach, and normally that posed as enough for him. Even so, he knew to be cautious. He may be open to people who make him feel safe, but he’s not a complete idiot.

A quiet chuckle left his lips as he continued leading her down the street. Weird. If he didn’t know any better, he’d think that she was the one with magic. He shook his head before glancing over his shoulder and smiling at her once again.

all of her time, really.

but now wasn’t the time to think of such things— she was getting ahead of herself, again.  but she was glad that even as he let go of her a little, he kept holding one of her hands anyway.  it felt genuine...it felt like...real affection, almost.  sure, all she knew was his name and his job, but she trusted him, oddly enough.

soojung tugged his hand in order to make him come a little closer.  she enjoyed the physical contact: she wasn’t one to be very touchy, but with dongwoo, it felt fine.

Somehow Soojung saying those things makes it harder for him. Turning into a vampire, he’d believed that it’d be better to hide away. Had always thought that the first thought his family would turn him away and hunt him. Yet, here Soojung was telling him that she won’t abandon him. Sungjong should feel happy that his assumptions were wrong but he’s not.

« — you’ve become quite...obstinate,        haven’t you? well for things like this,         i am, too.  »

sungjong was still a very young vampire.  he could surely be saved.  they’d find a way to control his urges, a way to stabilize his life before he became a little too much like a vampire.  he was one of the only family members she could cling to, so she would.

« — you’re not very old, sungjong.         it’s true you’re a vamp,          but we can find a way to...        curb your hunger, i guess.        i can help you live a normal life,        or rather the most possible. »