VOICELESS

( ... )

The third question’s response makes him puff up quite a bit. He made a really dumb mistake, but surely someone else has done something similar in their life… Well… Actually no it is a pretty dumb and really inconceivable mistake. “I think my head is full of locusts more than air. Man, I must have just been caught up in talking. Hit me if I don’t read your responses in the future… You have full permission to deck me.”

The answers to his last question give him relief, and a large sigh escapes Haechul. At least this friend he had ignored for so long has good taste. “That’s a relief, man. I don’t think I’m made for eating either. Probably make someone sick.” He shudders as he completes his thought.

“Really though what is the extent of things you would eat covered in chocolate? Bugs aside, I’d love some grains and bread and stuff. Add chocolate and it’s a little bit better even.”

There’s always something amusing about the people who read what Gohn writes outloud. It’s just something about hearing what he’s just said repeated, or maybe just the fact that it’s nothing like what he imagines his own voice to sound like (or perhaps just how he remembers it). He is plenty patient, though. Propping his head on his fist as he continues to hold the book so that Haechul can read over every sentence and give his responses. He just keeps smiling- waiting. It’s not like this is a bad conversation.

He just shrugs a bit at Haechul’s first reaction. He isn’t going to get into talking about such sad times. He’s lucky enough he’s alive and he’d rather not go too far into details beyond that. So he just waits for Haechul to continue on with the other answers. Besides, they can’t keep conversing about all these things at once. That’s far to complex, even for Gohn as he writes things. He’d rather just skip a topic now and then.

The second topic is met with the same dismissal.

At the next comment, he just smile wider and gives a soundless laugh. Of course Haechul’s head is full of locuts. Gohn’s head is the one that’s full of air. Such is the particulars of the way the two of them are fae. Gohn’s not one for punching, but he could see himself bonking Haechul in the head with the notebook if he tries to ignore the writing in the future. It’s usually considered rude to interrupt people or ignore them, and in Gohn’s mind his writing is him speaking, so it’s similar and he should be more confident about it. So he waits for the book to be given back before adding a little.

“I’ll bonk you if I have to. No worries.”

The next part of the topic is back to the silliness that he associates with the other fae- so he just take a moment to tap his pen against his chin. What would he eat covered in chocolate? Well, mint, but that’s sort of thing anyway. The problem is that human’s might think something is odd but Gohn doesn’t even really have to eat human food... So nothing seems too odd to him. He begins to write slowly and turns the book to Haechul once more when he’s done.

( ... )

Maybe she looks less like she’s crying when she smiles, this time: Duri can’t say for sure, even though she manages to meet Gohn’s eyes. “You’re not the first one to figure it out. It was a few days before I contacted you.” Her hands squeeze together, each finger digging into the empty space between knuckles upon the opposite hand. “I needed to see how long you took, because if they started looking for me when I think they did—then they were sure about my identity in less than two days.”

Two days versus a week: and that was assuming they hadn’t been interested in her earlier. Her eyes slide away from the fae’s, distress weakening her resolve some, but Duri pushes herself back from shying away. “I know you’ve been watching me, but you didn’t suspect that it was me, at first. Could someone else—figure it out?” 

(The real question that brews beneath the rest: How safe am I? But the answer is already close at hand, in memory of the first fae and now the second who has tracked her down. Probable cause is proven: the true inquiry she should be making is, Who will know next?)

It isn’t too long before the witch opens her door, and, albeit somewhat nervously, let’s Gohn inside. He looks around with curious eyes as though it’s his first time in the house- looking over the little details that he’s seen already. They interested him the first time, so he might as well give them a bit more thought now that he’s no longer working on trying to learn things. He’s smiling small the whole time- wandering more than he probably should be. It’s not that he ever really stops following Duri, just that he sometimes meanders a bit off the obvious path to stare at little things here and there. He’s just... like this. He can’t help it.

It’s quiet for a bit, not that he minds. He’s always quiet, so it’s only fair that when others are he doesn’t think too much of it. If he did, that would make him constantly rude. He’d really rather not think too much about that. When she finally does speak he snaps his attention to her- smiling just a bit wider. He’s been offered a seat which is only polite with humans. He nods slowly and walks more to the living room- finding a nice chair to settle down in. 

He couldn’t help but notice that this poor witch seems awfully on edge. While being figured out might be sort of a big deal, he can’t fully comprehend why it is that her voice is conveying nerves so strongly. She did, after all, ask to be found. What did she really expect? Did she think that he was bad at finding information? Did she assume that because he was a fae that he wouldn’t even be able to use a computer? That’s awfully rude. He crosses his legs- more resting on his ankles on his thigh as he clasps his hands together in his lap. He’s still looking around with that curiosity that only seems fitting. There is, after all, something so very strange about this place. He can’t find it without looking more, but he can feel it everywhere. Maybe the reason he’s so curious is because it’s so empty. The rest of the house wasn’t. Did she clean? He finally looks back at her- eyes turning up into half moons.

She’s writing and he just sort of blinks. For a moment his smile drops as he waits. Again, the silence doesn’t annoy him, but he does admit he has a distaste for people using technology with him around. Then again, he has no way of knowing what she’s doing or even if she knows he can’t use the tech, so he just waits as patiently as he can. He pulls out his notebook- choosing to doodle while he waits for her. It can’t be considered rude when she started it, after all. He’s about half way done with the penguin he was drawing by the time she pushes the envelope over. He looks up with a slightly more curious face before picking the envelope up and turning it over in his hands a few times. He’ll open it later, when he can know it’s safe.

Finally she speaks up and he’s smiling again almost instantly. She starts by telling him something he already knows and he laughs soundlessly- covering his mouth with one hand in order to somewhat hide the action (though that hardly does anything but point it out more). He waits to let her finish, though. Watches her actions closely as though he’s learning something more from it when all he really sees is that she’s still nervous. It isn’t until she gets a little further in that he actually understands.

He pulls out his pen and taps it neatly against the notebook for a moment- thinking. So she’s being stalked? Someone is after her? A hacker? He looks up at her again. Two days is pretty impressive. They must have wanted something more than Gohn wanted to be paid... Did they need something with her? He blinks just a bit and continues to tap at the pen. He’s leaving the air awfully quiet but it’s normal for him to do this. He starts to write moments later- pen scratching on paper killing the quiet at least slightly. He could put this nicely or he could probably be a bit more rude about it, but he determines it’s better to be polite and avoid upsetting nervous witches. He already has a dislike of them naturally... He’d rather not push his luck.

“Depends on how bad they want it.” Is the first line- written directly above the half drawn penguin from earlier. Underneath it is the rest of the explanation. “I had to get some outside help from hackers. You use your home IP for all of this which makes you easier to track, according to my source. Look into something that scrambles it, I guess? On top of that, you’re home has a very supernatural air. Anyone with the ability to sense some sort of magic might be able to tell that it’s odd. That might help people find you considering the whole witch thing.”

He yawns- which probably makes him seems less like he cares but it’s just a factor of him being tired. He taps his finger to his chin for a moment before taking the notebook back. He’s got a little more he could probably say- so he writes it a little bit below the original line.

(original post here but the reblog was being stupid and wouldn’t let me readmore)

( ... )

The next line of neat handwriting immediately made Himchan’s blood run cold. “Being mute isn’t rude..” Alarm was apparent on his facial expressions. Had he given off the impression that not being able to speak was rude? He shook his head immediately. “It is more rude of me to not be able to sign. I mean, you cannot help it, but I can help that I don’t know any sign language. I really should learn.” Himchan briefly paused, an idea coming to mind. “As a matter of fact, I will start learning it now, in honor of you, Dongsung. How does that sound?” He was apprehensive, but he did not want to feel the sinking feeling of guilt in the pit of his belly any longer. 

For a moment there’s a twinkle in his eye. Gohn’s smile widens at the clumsily signed hello and tilts his head a bit further- eyes turning into crescent moons. The attempt is cute, admirable, though this poor doctor doesn’t seem to know sign language very well. It’s nice that he’s trying, though. It doesn’t exactly cross Gohn’s mind as even remotely odd that a doctor might not know KSL or anything like that. He sees no reason that they should have to learn it any more than any other human or supernatural. It’s not like this poor doctor is likely going to be working with people like Gohn frequently. Maybe more frequently than some, but Gohn holds no grudges. He just finds the attempts cute enough and plenty well meaning. He leans on his bloody fist for just a moment- holding his elbow as he continues to smile.

He pulls the book back in order to write a bit more a second later- scribbling down his response in always neat letters. The pen today is red, since he was using it to write to his, er, victim just moments ago. Red is, after all, the scary color! Actually... He should ask if it is the scary color. He thinks he knows someone for that. He turns the book around with his response in clear writing- making sure that Himchan has more than enough time to read and reread.

“Now, now... It’s no issue. I understand so please don’t trouble yourself like this! I am quite used to using writing for my usual form of speech.” And airy chuckle is added- mostly soundless, as he pulls the notebook back to himself. Now that they’re further from that scum of a human it’s much easier for him to smile more genuinely. It’s not every day Gohn finds himself talking to a Were-Doctor!

He taps the pen against the notebook slightly at the next question. The blood is a bit telling, but he’s pretty sure his lying skills can easily make up for it. After all, it’s so much harder to tell a person is lying when they don’t even speak. On top of that, his expression stay controlled and he has all the time he needs to think about what he says. He holds the pen properly again- writing this time a bit more slowly. He turns the notebook around once again once he’s done- letting his smile fall to punctuate his thoughts.

“No No. This is his blood... Since I pulled him all the way here, it got all over me. I’m not very strong, you see. I would have called an ambulance but- ah... I truthfully don’t know if I could have. I have been told there are ways for mutes to communicate with emergency response but... I’ve never had to do it, so I didn’t know what to do. I had no choice but to drag him here myself.”

He smiles just a bit a moment later though. Better that this man live, after all. Gohn isn’t in the killing business, just the hurting one, plus this way he gets to be a warning to others like him. There’s another glint in the wind fae’s eyes as he nods a bit. The next statement catches Gohn just a bit off guard, though. He had never considered things to be really rude or not rude. He’s just used to apologizing for the inconvenience his lack of voice frequently causes. The idea that this were-doctor is willing to learn signing for him, though... For some reason- it makes Gohn beam- nodding happily. He starts to write yet again- bouncing just a bit.

( ... )

It’s been nice today still, warm and humid in the city as he made his way to and from classes, followed by a rather short project that had taken less time than he thought it would take. It’s that free time left over that has him here in this coffee shop with Gohn, and given that he’s the one that invited him he’s - and reasonably so, he thinks - alarmed at what the other writes out in return to his statement.

“I didn’t say that? No, no, that’s not what I- That isn’t what I meant,” Taehyung insists, brows furrowing as his eyes skim the paper once more. Leaning back into his seat, he sighs, eyes closing for a second.

“I’m not comfortable because I don’t like talking about- Um, I don’t really like talking about vampires.” The words sound childish even to his own ears. “That’s all. I don’t care if you write. You could do interpretive dance if you wanted and I still wouldn’t care. Talking’s nice. Doesn’t really matter if it’s not verbal - I do that plenty for the both of us.”

A moment’s pause is given as Gohn listens closely to what the other fae has to say. It’s often enough that he misinterprets a conversation, or, if nothing else, jumps to the wrong conclusion. He’s good at telling emotions apart and reading people, but that only goes so far. He tugs on his scarf again- still smiling ever so nervously as he looks down at the hand in his lap. From his wording now, though, it would seem that Taehyung might be a bit upset that Gohn would even... come to that conclusion in the first place.

But Gohn still thinks it’s relatively fair. Long gaps and pauses in the conversation, being unable to covey the emotion of his words in sounds, the lack of the feeling of speaking in real time at all... There are a lot of people who don’t deal with it well. Gohn has more time to put into his words because he writes them down, but that also makes it easier for him to fabricate them. It makes it easier to lie, and that, in a way, is probably a part of why he jumps to such conclusions so often. He clenches his fist yet again. He wishes frequently that he was better with technology and could use online chat boards. Those would be more fitting.

But he looks up again nonetheless with a smile. His eyes no longer show that nervousness because he’s determined to make it go away. So he just laughs without air- swatting a hand to the side as he does so. Vampires aren’t a usual topic for him anyway. They just come up sometimes when relevant. He can easily avoid talk of them if it’ll make this other fae feel more comfortable. He certainly won’t press for a reason as to why Taehyung is uncomfortable with them in the first place. Those aren’t matters he feels he’s allowed to hear.

So he pulls the book toward him again- seeming to have pulled a complete turn around from his original nervous nature. He’s writing again- letters finally not shaking as they were before. He takes more time to think about his words now- about the meaning each carries. Maybe he writes a bit too long, but he’s trying to make up for the way his writing look moments ago.”

“Oh! I’m sorry. I didn’t even realize you had issues with them. I won’t press, I won’t press. Don’t worry. I won’t talk about them again in the future.” A break. “Would you rather talk about interpretive dance? I tend to think that when I’m flying about in the wind my moves could look a bit like it. Do you think I could start a studio where I teach people to dance in thin air..? Oh, wait, no no. Most people can’t fly so it wouldn’t work, would it? Here, have an apology mint.”

( ... )

Sunggyu wanted one too; maybe if only to be part of the group..He often felt he was too old and unlucky to handle such technology, but he had a small glimmer of hope that Gohn would be able to show him the absolute basics in operating such a thing. 

“If you’re willing,” he adds on,”I know it would be very difficult to teach me, as I’m not very good with most, if any technology. I’m lucky the CD player doesn’t burst into flames, actually.” How he had managed to keep that thing operating is beyond the elder Fae. Maybe it was pure luck, or perhaps the CD player being over a decade old was in his favor. 

The phone was new, something way more intelligent. 

Gohn’s smile only grows just a little as he listens to Gyu talk about the phone. Truthfully, he’s pretty sure that the older a fae is the harder time they have with technology. He can admit whole heartedly that he himself has a terrible time with them, but he’s never been worried about actual fires with his tech. He just assumes that it will spark all over the place and stop working. There have been times that he’s attempted to use ATM machines only to watch them suddenly start screeching and possibly trying to attack him. He really wishes he had better luck with that sort of thing... But at least he doesn’t have to use it that often.

“I’d be willing to help, though I’m not fantastic with phones myself.” He signs only a little more slowly now. He’s trying to think of what sort of thing he can even teach Gyu. “Assuming your phone is the same as mine. If it’s not, I’m not sure I’ll recognize the tiny pictures that operate it. There’s a magical connection between the little pictures and the magic phone operation systems. I think it’s a... like a ward or something.” He rocks in his seat now- thinking about how exactly that magic can work. He’s pretty sure there are touch activated wards but so many tiny ones in one space? The witch who made the phone must be awfully talented.

Witches do make phones, right?

( ... )

With a subtle skip in his step, Himchan approached the doctor, requesting permission to shadow and assist before following them to a hospital bed. Being an intern, it was frustrating to not be able to actually work on the injury, especially one that did not require too much complicated procedures – he could only watch as the usual method of applying pressure to the wound, cleaning it, elevating, and bandaging was carried out. It was simple, really, but not yet something he was allowed to do. He did, however, turn to the other man, eyeing him for a moment before speaking. While the injured male was being fixed up, he might as well initiate a conversation with the man who had accompanied him and try to accumulate information that may be useful.

“Hello.” He started slowly. “I am Himchan. I’m an intern and am currently shadowing. Do you mind telling me what happened to your.. friend here?” A tug at the corners of his lips revealed a small, friendly smile. 

So he might have gone a bit far this time. He needed info, he got a bit angry, the guy got more cut up than intended. It’s not his fault that this guy associates with shut a large gang! And one that sells people, none the less. How was Gohn really supposed to hold back his anger against this sort of guy? Answer: he wasn’t! Simple as that. So after several hours of having the guy tied to a chair, cutting him up with wind in order to make him screech and watching as he tried to hold back any info (even though he had been asked REPEATEDLY), Gohn had taken a lunch break and come back fuming. So he got out of control, cut the guy up more severely and well... Now he’s at a hospital.

Not because he’s hurt, but because it’s not like he wanted to kill this guy, even if he is on today’s list of the world’s biggest douche bags. Really, Gohn just can’t forgive selling people- be they human or supernatural- into any type of slavehood. He knows a bit too much about that life to be comfortable watching such little things slide by. On top of that, the client who hired him to find the information in the first place is looking for his son, who Gohn heard was about 10 or something. If this guy actually kidnaps human children then he probably deserves to be this hurt... Gohn smiles as always- even when there are people approaching him. He hands the injured trafficker off and stands still- not really caring despite being somewhat covered in blood himself. 

A second person approaches and Gohn’s eyes are quick to notice that his movements seem awfully cheerful, not that the wind fae minds. He has no problem with the doctor being a horrid sadist if his patient is this guy. Then again, he might be jumping to an awful lot of conclusions... He’s pretty sure sadistic doctors are not real in the human world, but just an idea created by those weird horror games he watches. Human media can be so misleading!

A moment later and he reascends his thoughts. This person is, after all, not human. He can tell from the way he feels- the way the wind moves around him or... something. It’s a way he’s in tune with the magic around him, maybe. A few moments later and the were is asking him a small question; introducing himself is well. Gohn just tilts his head to the side and gives a small wave. His next movements are typical to him, but he’s sure the doctor will be left confused. It’s a pity that even these people probably don’t know how to sign.

“I’m Kim Dongsung. Pleasure to meet you. Let me guess, you don’t know sign language?” He stops signing moments later in order to reach into his pocket and pull out his notebook. The pen comes next and he begins to write again. He does hate having to repeat himself, but he realizes that this is necessary. Once he’s done writing, he holds up the notebook. His smile stays, but his eyebrows say he’s very worried.

“Thank you for taking care of my friend, Himchan. I’m Kim Dongsung. My friend here was pulled in by some horrible gang, I believe. He told me he had been getting mixed up in some sort of organized crime, but I didn’t realize it was this deep! Now he’s ended up like this... Do you think he’ll make it?” There’s a bit more space before his next words.

( ... )

he looks at the text again and barely manages to gather his etiquette, bowing a little awkwardly. “it’s nice to meet you, gone. do you speak english?” he pauses, recollects the mistake in his words and widens his eyes. “ahㅡsorry, that was a little insensitive. i meant, do you know how to write in english?”

ten smiles politely back. “my name is ten, gone-ssi. you seem lovely too. despite the unexpected flight.”

For some reason, Gohn thinks it’s sad that this fae has never flown. It’s normal enough, he guesses. Many of the fae from the collection he came from couldn’t enjoy the sky. Many of them had no wings, no abilities to lift the off the ground and let them enjoy the rush of air around them and the warmth of the sun when it’s even closer... But it still strikes him as sad. Maybe it’s just that he comes from the wind- the concept of it, but to him flight means so much. He always likes to try and share the experience... But this fae didn’t much like it- says it was surprising. Maybe with more trips he could learn to love the sky as much as Gohn does... But he won’t push that too far. He’d rather not lose a new friend so quickly.

He’s still smiling as he’s asked if he can speak- and then write, in English. He laughs without sound. He nods just a bit. He’s back to scratching down various words in his notebook at he listens to his new friend speak. He says his name is Ten and for some reason, that name only makes Gohn smile more. Ten is a fitting name for a fae. It reminds him of the word names his family had... Maybe that’s an odd way to think of it. It’s likely that Ten is meant to mean something else, but it’s just what sticks in Gohn’s mind. He finishes what he was writing and holds it out once more- offering the book to Ten should he want to hold it in order to read more easily. The letters are all clean, but several are blatantly different. He’s made a note to write in every language he knows, though he starts in Korean.

“I do ‘speak’ English.” is in plain Korean, followed by “Quite well” in English. Korean follows once again with the words “I also ‘speak’ Mandarin, Japanese, and several types of Sign...” In Mandarin it just reads “I find Chinese the most difficult, though.” and in Japanese it reads “This one was more forced on me than anything.” He laughs a bit to himself as he looks over his handiwork. The bottom of the paper has returned to Korean, since he knows that the other fae can speak it, if nothing else.

“I tried to learn to write in as many languages as possible to break more speaking barriers. I think it’s important that I’m able to ‘speak’ with as many people as possible, since I already have this rather obvious complication in place. If there is another language you would prefer I use, let me know.”

( ... )

One of the first things Eunae realizes is that lifting her arm to take hold of her drink is the slightest bit more difficult now, her jacket weighed down by the extended family of mints that she’d mindlessly adopted. She doesn’t know what she’s going to do with all of them ─ maybe she’ll try playing this game with someone else, somewhere. The thought of playing it with him seemed too lame in comparison to trying with a stranger or an unsuspecting friend, unfortunately, but he really did seem a little down over the loss. 

She reaches into her pocket, rummages for her wallet, and after a deliberating shuffle of various items, pulls out a sole, unused sticker and slides it across the table, mimicking his own actions prior. 

With it she nods, seemingly satisfied with the action. Though…

“…How many?” she asks, lacking every hint of detail. 

He’s still laying flat on the table watching her with somewhat sad eyes as she seems to think for a moment. She’s quiet, but he has no issues with this. If he did, that would be rather ironic and perhaps a bit stupid. So he waits patiently for her to do or say anything. She’s just messing with something for a moment. He assumes, perhaps, she is getting another mint from the ones she put in her pockets, but he’s shocked what she pulls out instead.

It looks, at first, like just a small scrap of paper, but once it’s slid across the table to him he sees what it actually is. A small cloud with a face drawn on it. In his mind, Gohn states that this sticker is likely designed based on a fae, because he’s sure there are fae that look like clouds with faces. He picks the sticker up- holding it gently in both hands as he stares at it. Is this... sticker like a part of her soul? Would not accepting it be as rude as it is for him when people refuse his peppermints? He couldn’t just refuse it then! Besides, it’s cute and he sort of likes it. It’s fitting of him.

So he pulls it away from it’s backing and sticks the sticker directly on his cheek. For a moment he seems to sparkle with his happiness- smiling at the stranger with excitement. Surely she will be happy that he accepted her sticker. This is probably a sign that the two of them are very good friends now! It’s exciting to find a human who understands how to make friends so easily. Most of the humans he’s talked to are so much harder to get close to... That’s why he’s been so lonely! If only they all had stickers and mints to give each other...

But then she speaks up and his eyes widen ever so slightly. How many? Is she saying she will give him... More stickers? His mouth opens, but no noise comes out. He just grins now- eyes turning into half moons as he does. This must be because he gave her so many mints! She wants to share just as much with him as him did with her! That’s very nice. He wiggles just a bit in his seat before pulling out his notebook. He writes neatly and slides the booklet over to the girl. It reads neatly, as always, but includes a small drawing of the cloud at the end...

( ... )

With a relatively high probability on rules being bent in the favor of the present situation, Jeongguk firmly stands of the opinion that retreating to his apartment with the individual is currently the best choice of action to take; there’s little point to seek shelter in DSEM’s headquarters, even in times like these and if he’s to be punished at a later point for the choice of action taken, then so be it.

“Can you stand? If not, I’ll help you.”

The moment Gohn feels someone approaching his eyes widen. He wants to get up- to run, but he barely manages to twitch his fingers. He breathes heavier- harder, but it stings his lungs. He wants to cry now, and that he can manage. He claws the ground- feeling his blood there. It’s now he’s realized just how bad the bleeding is- how bad it hurts. What is bleeding? Where is he bleeding from? The white is stained across the ground like some sort of mural and he chokes on his breath. He manages to move an arm just a little- feeling his whole body screaming in retaliation.

He only manages to prop himself up weakly when it’s to late. Blurred vision distorts the figure above him- splitting him into three copies of himself that spin around in an indescribable pattern. His breathing hurts- lungs feeling like they could crack and break at any moment. He tries to focus on the figure- pulling the other arm up- not noticing the staining of white all down it. Not noticing the gash that’s formed deep into it. How did he get cut? Vines? He wants to manipulate the wind- to break this man- tear him to pieces so he doesn’t hurt him... But the words manage to hit him before more than a small breeze kicks up.

He says he won’t hurt him and Gohn’s arm drops back to his side. His eyes turn pathetic- a smile coming to his lips as a natural reaction. He feels awful. He’s barely able to see, let alone begin to communicate well. His pen and notebook are out of the question. He can’t move his arms far and it takes so much just to force it. Writing would destroy him with pain. He’s already on the verge of blacking out in a second’s notice. 

He’s posed with a question, and that question takes thought. Can he stand? Can he move. He tries- pushes up on both hands and his body seems to tear. He drops back to the ground- claws digging deep into the ground as he lets out a silent scream. He curls up- even that causing more pain. He’s hyperventilating now. The pain from breathing makes it feel so much worse. Tears are falling heavy and his smile is completely gone. This is panic. This is what it feels like to not be in control of what’s going to happen to you. He shakes his head despite the pain- covers his ears as a strange ringing starts up. He hopes the stranger gets the pictures. He hopes that he’ll be okay. That this person is kind and means what he says.