#familiarstart

Jia: Look, I'm not saying I accidentally stole someone's dog. I am just saying he looked a lot like someone I know and I kind of... took him for a walk.

Jia pulled out her deck of tarot cards, a gift from her mother from when she first started showing promise in the field of magic. While she didn’t hold much stock in fate, it really was inevitable. Still, the cards were calming, especially when they were positive. She took a deep breath and began shuffling them. She pulled out the Lovers card and stared at it for a moment. She blushed. Definitely not meant for her. 

She looked up at the person closest to her, waiting for their order as well. “I think this one is for you,” she said. Jia was joking, but she wasn’t sure if that was properly conveyed with her tone of voice. “It’s upright, so that means love and passion are coming your way. Want to hear the rest of them?”

Bora was not one for night clubs, but she knew how to work the room in one. She knew how to work any room, even if she had not been an heiress for ten years now. Some things were ingrained into her as much as her other form. However, as she was not here for her attention, she tried to blend in as best she could. After all, she had a client to meet and this was the location they had chosen.

             it’s pretty cold out. though, kangin isn’t really wearing anything but the poorest excuse for a basketball jersey someone could imagine. it was a birthday gift, that he’d received. today, actually. from his mother. many years he had been spoiled with material things to make up for her emotional absence during the important events of his life — though he’s unsure what about him could be deemed important anymore. kyungah had come home that afternoon, after kangin was forced to open all of his presents in the lounge like a circus animal being watched by an audience of champagne socialists. actually, that didn’t sound too far from reality. 

             the doorbell had rung ominously as kangin was just starting to sink into the idea of enjoying this day, alone. he’d since lugged around the house, been visited by a few relatives who only dropped by to show off their new cars. or to talk about their recent service trips to southern america. his great uncle had even had a car chauffeured over from his house. because he was too busy waiting on his winter lillies to wish him a happy birthday in person. but of course, all of this contrived humour had to be ruined by his older sister. she came in gloating, with news of her newest successes out in the great wild world: in particular, an engagement. she doesn’t even bother acknowledging the set up for kangin’s celebratory shindig that evening, shoving the princess-cut diamond in her parents’ faces breathlessly.  

             it’s now 2am. kangin has kindly extended his invitation list to around 200 kids — give or take — after initially complying with his parents requests of something more tame. 

             “ the day you get her the fuck out, this house comes under your jurisdiction. it’s my birthday. ” sent them out to his aunt’s house in quite the rush. so, now he sits on top of his roof watching his loyal subjects loudly tear apart his house from the inside out. he’d locked his bedroom, and had the courtesy to do the same with his mother’s office. he’s pretty distracted by an urge to jump off into his pool ( for reason’s unknown. it doesn’t sound very safe when he thinks about it a little more. )

             just as he sets his phone aside, the sweet thrum of ‘poker face’ playing, the roof door flap rustles a few metres behind him. “ bonjour~ ” he calls, and the sound of his faded voice almost sends kangin tumbling over himself.