#*!! starter.

—★ Even during his major (and unexplained) absence, Mars had made a point to keep working on music. Not simply his, but those for other artists under the label. While his work base extended outside the company, that’s what he had been focused on for the past few months. And top priority had been finishing the rest of this song for Peridot who were having their debut at the end of the month. Sure, it was pushing it with nothing more than a few days left in August. It’s not like he was fond of working on things at the last minute, but he had succeeded in finishing what was left for him to work on in regards to the song. Which, he could consider a feat and cause for a celebration (even if was a minor one). And that was what led him to sitting in the middle of a restaurant with a plate of wings and bottle of beer in front of him. His companion for the evening being none other than Alvin, a face and person that Mars had long since become acquainted with over time.

—★ Three weeks back to Seoul and leave it to Mars for this to be his first time actually entering the Crown building in that time. Sure, he’d spoken with and caught up with some people, but he hadn’t really made his way back to “work”, so to speak. Yet, here he was making his way off the elevator and onto the floor where majority of the recording studios resided. His arms were full of mail, letters, requests and several sticky notes indicating missed calls. Seemed as though he was wanted to feature on three tracks and produce or write seven others. Even when he was away, the demand didn’t seem to let up. Using the pinky of his hand that was holding onto his bottle of iced tea to scratch at his eyebrow, Mars almost missed a familiar face as it passed him in the hall.

“Robyn?”

—★ It had been a while since Mars had seen Natasha, granted-- He had gone off on his own 2 month binder and had been MIA, but that was all his fault. So, perhaps that’s why it was no surprise to him that he’d known exactly where to find the brunette when he finally made a point to seek her out. He’d been back in Seoul going on a week and a half now, so he figured it was about time to pay her a visit. And knowing her habit of volunteering with kids, he knew she was probably at the studio. And, to little surprise, was where he found her. Surrounded by children and looking like she was every bit at home as she always did. It still amazed him that people could dance so well (and effortlessly), but that was probably because he’d never been the most coordinated. That’s what he got for being over 6ft and all arms and legs.

—★ There was plenty that could happen in the span of two months. Mars should know, he’d been living the horror of that for the past 60+ days. Plenty could happen, yes. But, what point was there in dealing with the what ifs when there was plenty of horrors that had happened. If he wanted to ever write a book on his life, this would take up at least a good 5 chapters. Where could he even start with it all? Even he wasn’t sure, nor did he want to think on that. Not right now. He had no intention of explaining himself completely to anyone anyway. Sure, Olivia had deserved an explanation of some kind, but there was no way in hell she was getting the full story. It wasn’t necessarily lying, no. He simply believed in keeping truths that didn’t need to be known to himself. Besides, honestly and truly there was only one person he had intention of telling everything to. Someone he needed to tell it all to.

The fact that he had found out quickly of Daeun’s presence in Japan wasn’t surprising in the least. While he had a habit of laying low and blending with the shadows, her tactics for certain things were different. Not to mention, the people got to talking and they started to wonder. What could the two of them possibly be doing apart from each other. People talked and in their “profession” of choice, it was known that where you found one you found the other. Questions arose that he didn’t want to answer and so, instead of sticking around to meet with the girl he’d known for so long, Mars once again took flight. From Seoul to Tokyo to where next? 

Miami to Los Angeles to New York to Chicago. Chicago.

He hadn’t been back there since that fateful day when his younger twin brother lost his life and he hadn’t had intention of going back. But, he needed to visit his brother’s grave. It was nothing more than an unmarked plot in the local cemetery of where they’d once lived, but that’s where Ares was laid to rest. But what a foo he’d been, because when those that killed his brother found out he was back, it didn’t take them long to find him. They wanted nothing more than to toy with him. There was only one person saw himself wanting to call out for when he felt himself blacking out for the umpteenth time in those few months, but he couldn’t do that. Not even when he felt like he was damn near on the brink of death. What exactly was he going to say in the first place? It wasn’t as though he’d had his phone on anyway. It wasn’t as though his death would have a change on things. But oh, how little credit he was giving to Daeun’s heart with thoughts like that.

Even when he’d (somehow) found his way back home to Seoul (something that he still is unsure of how it happened), he couldn’t bring himself to go to her. He should have, yes. Especially after he read the note that had been slipped under his front door. The humour of it all, that note had been the thing to bring him out of his last haze. His latest bout of darkness. The words, the familiarity of it all, the way her scent still lingered in his home. It had all brought him back to reality, but even so-- That hadn’t been enough to save him from the pain he’d felt reading her letter. If you were to ask him specifically what had transpired between them, at this point he couldn’t tell you. He’d just know that he’d lost his best friend. Losing people was a habit for him, though. It had to have been a curse. His parents, his brother, Daeun-- Why wasn’t he used to this by now?

The male shook himself out of his own thoughts and memories as he made his way into a place that was all too familiar with him. It’s where he had spent countless hours beforehand right at Daeun’s side. They had a habit of sticking together even during the simplest things, but he also knew this was the one place to look for and find her. And not to his surprise, he spotted her several feet away, her head and hands busying themselves under the hood of a car. It wasn’t one of hers, he knew that much. It was far too flashy for her taste. It looked more like something the male himself would drive. He’d had a reason for being there, though. One that didn’t involve cars or him thinking on the trivial things.

Mars didn’t have very many moments in his life that stunned him to silence and shock. He wasn’t someone that openly dealt with their demons and problems, not in the least. But, there was one time a year where he’d struggle and suffer in a silence that even he couldn’t bear to control. He was being selfish, he knew that, but he needed to see her. Even if it was just for a moment. He’d seen her on every anniversary of Ares’ death and he couldn’t imagine this being any different. He was going to go, though. He’d made the foolish mistake of thinking he could come in and speak to her. As though he’d some how magically have the words and will to say something of importance and remorse to her. But he didn’t. He didn’t have any of that in him. So, instead of going over to her (when they both probably needed each other most), he turned around slowly, thankful that she hadn’t once lifted her head or turned around. One day he’d have the will and strength--

“Mars Bang!” Shit.

—★ Sure, Mars was a lot of things when it came to Olivia. He was a bit of an ass, he was difficult, he was distant, he was hard to read-- The list could go on, honestly. In his opinion, he was more negatives than positives, but for some reason, she still put up with him. He wasn’t used to that from most people, that was when they got to know the real him. Then again, he could count on one hand the number of people that truly knew him. And one of them was dead. But amidst all the negatives, he truly didn’t mean to be that way with her, because his intentions and feelings for her had always been nothing but of good intention. He was just someone that wasn’t exactly the best at showing that.

—★ Of all the groups in Crown, Venus was among one of the ones that Mars had become most acquainted with. Partially because he was having quite a hand in the production of their comeback (or rather he was, before he went off and disappeared for two months). And partially because he found them appealing: in personality and looks (he was a man after all). Running a hand over his face, he lifted his head to look at the woman in front of him, moving his fingers to drum them against the table. The two were waiting for their food to arrive at their booth and Mars was damn sure he would fall asleep before it actually made it to them. But, of course, that would be unbecoming in public, so he was going to do what he could to keep himself alert.