#;threads.

     Devoid ashen searches for an answer upon a collected visage only to be met with a cheshire grin that does nil to betray the inner workings of that enigmatic mind, a 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 smirk that offers zero enlightenment to he who had yet to decrypt the reasoning behind such an impromptu summoning. So he finds himself hanging on to the utterance ushered past calculating lips — a single word serves to spark his psyche into action, white-tipped obsidian tilting ever so slightly in contemplation.

     A mention of manipulation.

     Yes, the older male was more than efficient with such psychological tactics; he was a bonafide 𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥, always several steps ahead of everyone else, perpetually the most intelligent person in the room. With a matter such as this, Akutagawa could only expect intricate, devious planning; he was being handed the smallest of hints, and if he was expected to solve the riddle presented — if that was what he so revered desired, then the hellhound would not disappoint.

     ‶ It would be safe to assume this is connected to me, ‶ he begins, steel hues glancing southward at the tepid digits still wrapped around him. He pulls his arm away if only because the touch itself is too foreign to be comfortable, pondering silently for a few moments, until some semblance of connection c l i c k s. Those who had distanced themselves, this impeccable timing . . .

     ‶ — a coincidence? ‶ A shake of his head in instant dismissal of the thought. No, this was all deliberate, yet despite the implications, the infernal Diablo found himself oddly calm in the moment. Finally, he was taking a step towards clarity. ‶ Was it your doing, then? ‶

just wanna be yours. // @sbsunwoo

valentine’s day has never meant too much to hansung. not until he met sunwoo. the amount of time it took for hansung to go head over heels for the other boy was awfully embarrassing, but he is! very! sure! about this one! they’re already pretend boyfriends, and hansung might take a little too much pleasure in that but he just tells himself he plays his role too well.

when he finds the chocolate milk outside his door with a tiny note about a valentine’s day party, he can’t help but get excited. this is the perfect opportunity to spend more time than he already does with sunwoo, and he downs the drink without even thinking. it has to be a good omen. nothing can possibly go wrong, he tells himself with a nod.

when the party comes around, he’s amongst the first few people there, feeling awfully strange but he chalks it up to nerves. he grabs one of the heart balloons and clutches it to his chest with a small smile, set on offering it to his ‘boyfriend’. it would be a nice touch to their act, right? of course it would.

when he spots sunwoo, a shudder crawls through his body and his mouth goes dry. was he always this gorgeous?  he pulls at the collar of his white button up shirt and swallows before putting on a bright smile that would probably resemble a smirk more than a smile, but he’s totally unaware. when their eyes meet as he gets closer, everything only intensifies, teeth sinking into his lover lip.

@janitorialevil ---- "Hey! Hey! Stop that!" He's running over with a mop. "You don't have the right clearance to clean up this mess!" Sure you knocked it over, but you can't clean it up.

HIS FRANTIC Claims don't go unnoticed , in fact it's met with a small jolt of surprise at first , momentary hesitation , a -- ' ' Hm . ' ' --- and then , no further reaction , really , as fingers continue picking out the larger glass pieces , and placing them into her open palm . The almost vinegary smell , mixed with some weird form of rot now wafts in the air , filling the relatively large corridor space quicker than expected . Formaldehyde -- effectively spilled across the floor , resulting in the horrendous mass of a dead specimen that was kept inside , to now lay upon the ground , looking near deflated if anything . But , she can only be thankful to making such a habit out of wearing her mask this frequently - she is safe from any horrid stenches , just not from the embarrassment of it all . -- ' ' My mother didn't raise me to be messy . ' ' - a mumbling acknowledgement , head tilted down still as she is focused on cleaning up as much as she is able to by hands alone .

@yellowfingcr --- The dark one-way glass behind which the thing ambles about doesn’t possess any pretension of blocking its sight. The thing is a fungal revenant, a rot-black colony of spores and electric input and strange chemistry in the shape of a human body; that it moves like a person, then, is as far as its semblance with a person goes. So, despite the glass and walls, it knows that someone is approaching it- that someone is observing.

“Annieee,” it vocalizes, deep and drowning, the sound muffled by the panes. It shudders, excitedly. Moves a squelching step closer, then another. “Visit. Hello.” A beat. When it next opens its jagged mouth, the sound that emerges turns sharper, more feminine, more confident. “Hello. Are- you well? Are you well?”

The ceaseless sound of boot heels knocking on tile floors fill the near empty lab halls once again . Her steps fading in & out in her continued back and forth , thus passing in front of the colossal , tinted glass on more than one occasion . -- It's purposeful , 'pon each route she takes near obvious & dragged out glances through the glass , glances that even her mask has trouble hiding properly . Technically speaking - this area is no place for a botanist , but her only advantage being : her research , in all other parts of her field . Extended mycology studies & collected samples brought her to have ( although , less than minuscule ) hand in examining the Mycete , & so , some scrutinizing of it went under her radar , maybe even a lot . -- Her presence around here however , was based on nothing more than sheer stubbornness , and the supposed safety of a hidden identity to the other scientists around , her mask once again coming in clutch , the same it does usually . --- An unusual type of quiet finally settles , background chatter , machine whirls die out in a drawn out matter . Which in turn , makes her steps slower , much softer as well , as if there is a newfound ease to her stride now - Steps that eventually , come to a halt ----- right back in front of the glass . She stares - into the dark of it , her posture leisurely for once , arms crossed loosely over a broad chest while head tilts directly up , though still on edge from the possibility of being found for staying " a little past closing " - so to speak . Despite the chamber's window being clear as day on her side - the mass - that is the other inside fogs up any features she could even attempt to make out . --- THEN THERE'S THAT VOICE , A previously unheard one , viscous in tone as it calls her name . Her gasp is audible even trough her breath-filters , & her hand almost immediately comes loose from her previously tangled arms - just to gently press finger pads to the cold surface . -- It continues , and hearing the words only pull her private smile wider . -- ' ' Y-- yes ! A-a-annie ! yes ! yeah ! that's me ! ' ' She repeats , drawing out her own name in the process as if to try parroting it back , to make it stick in the process .

-- ' ' Hi girl ! hi-- my god look at y' -- you're beautiful aren't you ! ' ' - AN UNDENIABLE EXCITEMENT , Her steps steadily draw her closer , glance shifts rapidly in attempts to admire as many elements as she possibly could . -- ' ' yes ! I visit ! ' ' -- Her voice drenched in adornment , maybe the same kind one would pick up when talking to their favorite breed of dog . -- ' ' I'm well ! So well y' can't even imagine--- How are you ! Are they treating you well in here ?-- ' ' There's a bit of pity to that question , as if part of her would know it sounds almost like a mockery , given circumstance , given everything .

-- ‘ ‘ in or out buddy -- IN OR OUT ?-- ‘ ‘   - AN ODDLY FORMED Standoff , & a boot heel now tries to dig itself into the ground - only for even cracked tile floors to make that an impossible attempt . But her stance is firm nonetheless , & as it appears so is theirs . -- ‘ ‘ I can’t do this all day----   just let me thru’ I’m beggin’ you . .  ‘ ‘ Her only sign of annoyance ( now turned desperation ) is just in the way her tone shifts , the fog of her her mask hides the rest of it , thankfully . Now there’s an itch to take a step & then another - left then right in hopes of shuffle past the blockade the other’s frame is making in the doorway . . . part of her feels as though this is becoming a reoccurring thing , when it comes to her work especially - despite how easy of a task ‘field research’ is supposed to be . . . there’s always someone ,  something rather  -- in the way  -- ‘ ‘ matołek . . . ‘ ‘  comes out in a muffled murmur . . .

@morttodea​ :  [Disagree] the demon fae is pretty firm on not letting Annie through the door.

A Raspy sigh finally follows as it resonates through the filters of the mask , - and for once her posture loosens - even if it shouldn’t have . . . Shoulders roll , gloved hands snap to on each sides of her waist , back straightens , while gaze remains fixated ‘pon him all the same . . .  -- ‘ ‘ Swear to god I will put you in a TEST TUBE on day . . . ‘ ‘ 

❤ -- @priceforeverything​​ ----- To say she wasn’t comfortable in any of the known establishments would have been an understatement -- one similar if not almost identical to the next , but this was to be expected - corporation aesthetics , or whatever , so by this point she didn’t bother to care . Majority of her work is required field work , sample collecting included -- and collecting requires traveling regardless if she wanted to or not . & to her it felt reason enough to be less than mindful of both new & old faces around , tunnel vision to finish work was put into practice a bit to excessively , but such is the usual . Boot heels click on tiles , she makes her steps hastily & impatiently -- papers , folders & a potted herb just barely balanced in her arms - and it’s a struggle even further when she comes to a slow halt . ----- A figure ahead , frame just about large enough to block the doorway forward - would she not be in a hurry enough maybe she’d consider being intimidated , but instead -- ‘ ‘ Can you move , like out of the damn way , ‘ ‘  said with a tone that’s maybe harsher than intended at first , but it’s not as though she’d soften her temper any time soon , so she continues to add : -- ‘ ‘ I actually have a job to do here , y’know . ‘ ‘