|
Post by KYU-SIK MOON on Jan 2, 2014 7:49:41 GMT -8
Today won’t come again. At some point, the time has already...
May 25th
tag | Donovan
words | 304 | Kyu-Sik figured that it wasn’t so much a want or need to share that caused him to bring up the topic of his relationship with his twin. It just was what it was, and he was deciding to be perfectly honest when questioned. Having someone by his side for his whole life had been a blessing, and feeling suddenly cut off from that wasn’t something he took well. He wasn’t mad at her for how she was treating the situation. If anything, he blamed himself for everything still.
As he took another bite of chicken, his response to Donovan was just a solemn nod at first. It wasn’t by his choice, but he wanted to admit that it was his fault. However, he didn’t want to pour more of the story out to a man who had enough of his own problems to fill a book with. “It just gets lonely sometimes," he dared to admit instead. It came out very easily even if it lacked any tone of cheer or grief. It was a simple fact. That’s just how it had been. And knowing his nature, that’s just how things would continue to be in the end. Perhaps somewhere inside he could have seen that he didn’t necessarily prefer it that way, but for now that’s what he had accepted.
“There are worse things in life, I imagine.” To avoid the risk of any awkward turns, he decided to brush aside his statement just as soon as he was willing to admit it. “Beheadings, for example. Or grouchy roommates.” Altan did not sound like much of a friend. The man must have had good tastes, but he couldn’t imagine the extent of what not getting along with anyone really entailed. “I’m guessing you avoid inviting friends over when he’s around.” |
electric has gangnam style and back to neverland
|
|
|
Post by DONOVAN SHEPHERD on Jan 2, 2014 9:17:33 GMT -8
HOLD YOUR BREATH AND COUNT TO TEN The lack of elaboration was met with a small nod and acceptance that Kyu-Sik wasn't likely to add much more of the subject of his sister, fork abandoned on the table as Donovan quietly fussed with the edge of his napkin in thought. It wouldn't do to try to offer any advice since it probably wasn't welcome, his outside perspective limited and his own way of dealing with problems unhelpful. Even if he stubbornly stuck to his familiar methods of coping through avoidance and denial that there was anything wrong in the first place, he couldn't really recommend the same to anyone else. It would be dishonest to pretend he had any solutions to problems he didn't even entirely understand. "Sometimes I think being alone is one of the better things in life," he tried to put an optimistic spin on it, but the words fell flat and Donovan had to shake his head in disagreement with his own statement. There was little actually enjoyable about loneliness, yet the alternative had been far too uncomfortable to seek. "Well, it at least keeps you from some of the worse things," he sighed, knowing it was a cowardly way about justifying it. But it had worked thus far, he hadn't been forced to deal with any hurt since. As unpleasant dealing with his roommate could be, there was never much of a misunderstanding where he stood. The insults were easy to deal with when nothing else was expected, and at least things rarely got physical. There was very little that he actually disliked of the arrangement. "I don't necessarily," and Donovan paused, already feeling a twinge of embarrassment for how pathetic it was to voice aloud, "have friends." He had met plenty of people that were nice enough, and if asked he'd claim to like them with the disclaimer that he didn't honestly know well enough to make an accurate assessment. People flitted in and mostly out of his life with no promise of permanence from either end. It'd be absurd to consider them friends, doubted they spent any time thinking of him. Donovan didn't mind it, preferred things to never really progress past friendly into friendship. "... To invite over. So it's never been an issue, no. But it's been explicitly stated that I shouldn't have guests." Kyu-Sik's presence was an obvious anomaly to that fact, but he doubted the other really appreciated that something as simple as the meal they were sharing was putting any sense of normal in his life under strain. WORDS:422 TAGS:Kyu-Sik NOTES:
|
|
|
|
Post by KYU-SIK MOON on Jan 3, 2014 22:29:23 GMT -8
Today won’t come again. At some point, the time has already...
May 25th
tag | Donovan
words | 387 | Although Donovan had made his attempt to make loneliness sound like a positive thing, it was easy to tell that the man didn’t quite believe what he was saying himself. Kyu-Sik could understand where he was coming from after hearing the man’s background. Too large of a family meant little privacy and then there was the trouble with the person he ran away with… Perhaps then loneliness was easier.
In the long run, he couldn’t disagree with that. His stance on most relationships were that they were time consuming and not very productive for him. He had a lot he wanted to do and accomplish, and even now just sitting down to dinner with someone he could perhaps consider somewhat of a friend at this point was preventing him from getting something else down. He was already behind on a few personal projects. There was nothing he could justly say to the man to contradict the comment when his whole life he could have agreed.
It was only when he thought back on his month that he finally shook his head. “That’s true, but only some of the worse things.” To be fair, he wouldn’t have watched someone get eaten by a snake had he not driven Rhiannon to that party. None of the weird things that had happened to him would have really happened at all had he just continued his daily routines while blocking the rest of the world out. However, they had happened and now dealing with the oddities was a little difficult to do alone. Other than Rhiannon, who would have even believed him if he talked about monsters, mysterious runes, and unfamiliar memories that felt far too familiar to ignore?
While he thought, Kyu-Sik had distracted himself with the food on his plate. He was hardly surprised at all by Donovan admitting he didn’t have friends. Not because of Donovan, so much as it wasn’t as weird of a concept to him as it may have been to others. “I can’t say I have many either,” he assured, as if that was really assuring. Though he had met some interesting people within the past few weeks. What caused him to finally look up again was the fact that Donovan wasn’t supposed to have guests apparently. “Is this alright then?” |
electric has gangnam style and back to neverland
|
|
|
Post by DONOVAN SHEPHERD on Jan 4, 2014 9:44:04 GMT -8
HOLD YOUR BREATH AND COUNT TO TEN Loneliness was easy in the sense that it took very little effort to maintain, didn't conflict with his preference to keep things peaceful and quiet. It was easier to let things play out passively than taking too much control, not really trusting his decisions after where they had led in the past. Better to just allow things to just be as they were, even if they weren't ideal they were safe. Loneliness was easy because it didn't mean having to second-guess himself for the sake of others, worry about what his words or actions might cause to them. Because he could accept when things went wrong on his behalf, but he didn't want to take responsibility for letting somebody else down. And that was the crux of it, wasn't it? Donovan couldn't trust himself to be what anybody needed, found it unfair to let them build up any belief in him at all. Not when he couldn't even manage to be what he needed from himself. Not with his history of running whenever things got too difficult to handle. "Worse things are bound to find you, no matter," Donovan frowned, knowing his life wasn't even all that bad, even if it had left him disenchanted. He wondered under what circumstances worse things Kyu-Sik had encountered, but how inappropriate was it to dig so deeply. "I don't mean to sound so pessimistic," he insisted, knowing that it probably came off that way. Sometimes he missed how easy blind optimism and faith had been, a trust that there was a god watching over him and that everything had meaning. But how self-important had such a belief been, as if anything cared to keep track of him. Praying now felt more troubling than the hopeful relief it was had been, the thought that his voice didn't deserve to reach any higher ears. When he had asked for forgiveness a hundred times over, the weight of his sin and the shame still clung, as if the requests had been denied. It only contributed to the feeling that all he really had was himself. For all his devotion, everything had fallen apart all the same. He wondered if lonely together was too contradictory to even consider, the reminder that he was running out of reasons to drag out their acquaintance. No more excuses to waste Kyu-Sik's time more than he already had. He hoped the other boy was at least enjoying the food, if nothing else. He had no idea how to recover the conversation, turn it in a more positive direction. Donovan finally took another bite, but his thoughts had effectively killed much of his appetite. "It's fine," he reassured with a dismissive wave of his hand. If Altan wasn't angry about this, he'd surely find something else. "He won't suspect anything. He thinks he's the only person that's willing to talk to me." WORDS:480 TAGS:Kyu-Sik NOTES:
|
|
|
|
Post by KYU-SIK MOON on Jan 6, 2014 7:40:23 GMT -8
Today won’t come again. At some point, the time has already...
May 25th
tag | Donovan
words | 377 | Had it not been so far ingrained in him to never waste food, the whole matter probably would have quelled much of Kyu-Sik’s appetite as well. Still, instead of stopping, he just found himself pushing around the vegetables on his plate before picking them off one by one in no particular order. It was good food, too, and that made it that much more important to finish his plate. It wasn’t everyday he got out of forcing down something terribly fried since his sister returned home.
Still, even if Donovan wasn’t meaning to come off as so pessimistic, he was good at exactly that. And probably more telling for Kyu-Sik was that he couldn’t disagree or deny anything that he was being told. Worse things had found him already and there wasn’t much use dwelling on it more than he already had. It wasn’t just worse things, they were weird things. Unexplainable. He wanted to try and go on, but there were very few words he could use to honestly explain the whole mess. Kyu-Sik chose to nod at the roommate comment instead, letting his eyes drift up to Donovan’s again.
“Well, he might just be making that guess by the fact you claim to have no friends,” he reasoned, still not really knowing the full extent of what kind of person Altan was. However, he was getting some idea. “But who could blame you if you keep ending up near people like that.” He was making an assumption, but it was one that came from his own experience. He tended shut out the friends he might have had before he got too close to them. He was fairly certain that Donovan was a kindred spirit in that, but for much different reasons.
The teenage boy let out another sigh as he cut into his slice of chicken again. “Sorry if I’m making assumptions. I’m usually catching myself making excuses, but ever since…” He paused, knowing there was no real way to step around what he wanted to say. “Well, earlier this month I watched someone I know get eaten by a giant snake. It puts things in a weird perspective that I’m not quite sure I know what to do with yet.” |
electric has gangnam style and back to neverland
|
|
|
Post by DONOVAN SHEPHERD on Jan 7, 2014 5:59:14 GMT -8
HOLD YOUR BREATH AND COUNT TO TEN For as dreary their exchange, Donovan hoped not to give the impression he wasn't enjoying the company, but Kyu-Sik seemed hardly in need of empty cheerfulness that would be out of place between them. It was a relief to drop that pretense and not have to worry about if he was smiling enough to avoid being asked what was wrong or accused of a bad attitude by the aggressively optimistic. He didn't like to think of himself as an overly negative person that stubbornly clung to his own misery (because Donovan felt content), just careful and perhaps a tinge cowardly to reach out when the risks seemed skewed against him. His own lethargy tended to make him far too tolerant, ready to ignore problems until they drifted away or the consequences overcame him. So maybe he wasn't necessarily drawn to people that were bad for him, though Kyu-Sik seemed to imply a pattern that could come off a bit pathological, but he certainly put up with it more than most would consider healthy. "I like people, fine enough," he insisted instead of openly exploring his bad choice of relationships. "Talking to them and all that. I can." And while he could recount most of the conversations he had within the last few weeks, he wasn't going to use statistics to prove that point. Talking wasn't the difficult part at all, but there were plenty of reasons he remained quite friendless. "But I think I might just bring out their worst." Owen had been a rather nice guy, before. Not that he could blame himself entirely, but it was difficult to deny his role. About to dismiss the apology as unnecessary, hardly offended, Donovan's puzzled expression reflected the moment he managed to put together what his guest had said. Eaten by a snake. His first thought was that sounded like a rather unfortunate way to go and hoped that they were dead before the digestive process. He knew that snakes could unhinge their jaws rather far, but didn't it usually take awhile for them to choke something that large down? A human couldn't just be one quick gulp, even for a bigger snake like a boa constrictor. But Donovan didn't doubt that Kyu-Sik was telling the truth, didn't know him well enough to read him accurately, but his impression of the boy was that he wasn't the type to lie about such absurd things. Even if it sounded beyond absurd. "That's... discomforting," he frowned, not sure how else to word that. He suspected that Kyu-Sik was more disturbed than distraught by the loss, considering he hadn't used the word friend. So there was little sensitivity to hold himself back. "Just how... big of a snake?" WORDS:454 TAGS:Kyu-Sik NOTES:
|
|
|
|
Post by KYU-SIK MOON on Jan 9, 2014 4:06:54 GMT -8
Today won’t come again. At some point, the time has already...
May 25th
tag | Donovan
words | 375 | For what it was worth, Donovan certainly had not brought out his worst side. Kyu-Sik knew his flaws well, as quiet as they were, and he had only sent he worst of himself with his sister’s company. However, the whole matter of bringing up the snake delayed his ability to make that statement.
Doubting his choice of words after they had already been made, he awaited Donovan’s response to his comment about the snake. Part of him hoped that maybe Donovan would just talk past it. He seemed like the sort who could, perhaps. At worst, he was ready for a laugh and to be told he was crazy, or to be met with too much sympathy over the matter. In the end, the other man gave the most logical response as a question.
“A very, very large snake with some weird skill. We couldn’t talk at all and we could barely breathe, but—“ Kyu-Sik paused and finally just decided to cut himself off there. The memories were still rather surreal and they were certainly unwelcome. He didn’t want to think about it any more than he already had. And for a boy who dealt with his problems internally, he had thought the whole matter over again and again throughout the days. So much was happening to him now even if it really must have seemed like nothing on the outside.
The boy sighed again and pinched the bridge of his nose for a moment. He was too tired to really explain the full extent of the matter and he hadn’t meant to trouble Donovan with it to begin with. “It sounds crazy, I know. But it did happen.” He wasn’t trying to defend the truths of the matter so much as he had come decisively to the fact that it wasn’t just a hallucination. Everything at that party had indeed happened. “A lot goes on in Los Angeles, but not like the that. I can’t say I was very prepared any of this.” He vaguely spoke on behalf of everything that was happening to him that certainly wasn’t going to make him sound any more sane. Wasn’t waking up with a tattoo on your shoulder more of a Las Vegas thing? |
electric has gangnam style and back to neverland
|
|
|
Post by DONOVAN SHEPHERD on Jan 9, 2014 6:17:21 GMT -8
HOLD YOUR BREATH AND COUNT TO TEN Despite hoping to have his initial confusion cleared up with some simple clarification, Kyu-Sik's explanation made the situation even more difficult to wrap his head around. More unbelievable, but he was still inclined to believe that this wasn't some sort of strange joke. Kyu-Sik's raspy and earnest tones probably could have convinced him of anything, though, not that Donovan was consciously aware of such. His brows drew together with worried confusion as he tried to process what he was being told. Giant snakes that ate people. It was disconcerting, but not enough to dwindle his curiosity. Not that Donovan watched the news or kept up with most local events, but wouldn't that be the sort of threat that people were panicking about? Unless the animal had been disposed of, which was likely the case. "At a... zoo?" he questioned, not liking to think that oversized snakes would be lurking around elsewhere to mistake him as something edible. Donovan wanted to take comfort in that he'd be too bony for anything to want to eat him, but then he doubted anything horrific enough to devour a person would be too picky. Being slow would be worse than being bony, in that case, and he was relieved that Kyu-Sik apparently was at least faster than the person he knew who wasn't so lucky. Not that he'd say such. "It choked you?" Donovan further asked, the choice of words oddly disturbing. Skill? He hated that all he had were questions, but no idea what else to say that would be appropriate. "I don't... well..." he stumbled over his words, not sure what he was trying to say. "It'd be more worrying if you were prepared for something like that?" he frowned, picking up his fork again. "I mean, how awful would your life have to be if that was something normal." And he shoved some rice into his mouth to stop himself from talking more. WORDS:322 TAGS:Kyu-Sik NOTES:
|
|
|
|
Post by KYU-SIK MOON on Jan 14, 2014 7:46:56 GMT -8
Today won’t come again. At some point, the time has already...
May 25th
tag | Donovan
words | 319 | Kyu-Sik had certainly talked himself into a corner. He wasn’t bothered by the questions being asked, because Donovan wasn’t calling him crazy and he wasn’t giving him some overly emotional response. From what conversation he had with the other man so far, he was grateful for that reoccurring feature. However, Kyu-Sik just wasn’t really sure where he had expected to take the matter far past the mentioning that it had happened. Explaining the details of it wasn’t coming easily, though he had ran the possibilities a few times in his head between boughs of pretending it had all been a crazy dream.
“It was in the garden of a mansion that’s apparently not there anymore,” he said, his eyes falling again as he questioned himself. The more he said, the more he knew it sounded unbelievable. “There was a party and it turned into a mess. I—“ Once again, Kyu-Sik cut himself off. He covered his mouth and tilted his head, trying to best work out how he could describe what actually happened. “I wasn’t physically choked by anything. It’s… I don’t know. I guess all I have to say for myself is that my life has been much too normal to really understand what happened.”
His life had been boring. While he always sat quietly and worked hard in the hidden hopes that something better would befall him, his realism had drowned out any real optimism. Things so strange weren’t what he had in mind when he hoped for a change, but that seemed to be what he received. At least he was generally careful about what he wished for otherwise.
“Sorry, it’s strange. I probably shouldn’t have brought it up. The only point I meant to make is that things are weird right now. It changes your outlook on some things, I think. Though I’m not sure what it changes to just yet.” |
electric has gangnam style and back to neverland
|
|
|
Post by DONOVAN SHEPHERD on Jan 16, 2014 3:47:24 GMT -8
HOLD YOUR BREATH AND COUNT TO TEN Strange was an understatement for describing what was beginning to sound like a bad drug trip, memories of his ex-boyfriend's nonsensical ramblings in various states of influence. Donovan chewed at the inside of his lip to prevent himself for responding too hastily, not wanting to make the accusation and unwilling to believe that Kyu-Sik was the sort that would fall into that habit. But he never had thought Owen would be either, not trusting his own judgment on what people were capable of doing when presented the opportunity. People in California were much more openly liberal with their lifestyles, and he wasn't one to judge anyone's choices, but Donovan came from much too conservative a background to feel comfortable with indulging in recreational drug use. Especially not after watching how quickly Owen had become consumed with addiction. Though hardly an expert, Kyu-Sik just didn't seem to have the twitchy desperation that he remembered, looked too well put together. Somehow it seemed more unlikely than magical man-eating snakes. Another option he considered was that Kyu-Sik was lying, although to what purpose he couldn't guess. The other knew about his lack of education, but Donovan didn't like to think that made him stupid, though he usually preferred people to think so than admit the source of his ignorance. Was there supposed to be a punchline? A laugh at his expense for believing it so long? Donovan felt a bit uneasy at the idea, not wanting his trust to be turned against him, and not wanting to call the other out on the possibility in case he was being serious. Could Kyu-Sik really blame him for being doubtful? But a cautious glance across the table was all that Donovan needed to decide he was telling the truth, as implausible everything seemed. "That's why I don't go to parties," Donovan murmured, cutting his chicken into smaller and smaller bits without paying much attention, wondering how an entire mansion would just... not exist anymore. Demolishing an entire building after a few snakes would be a bit much. "I'm glad that my driving wasn't the worst thing that happened to you," he expressed his relief before realizing it could be taken the wrong way. "Not that I'm glad bad things..." A shrug, because there was no use in overcorrecting. "I guess it might make you doubt some things, whatever your beliefs are." WORDS:396 TAGS:Kyu-Sik NOTES:
|
|
|
|
Post by KYU-SIK MOON on Jan 21, 2014 8:00:59 GMT -8
Today won’t come again. At some point, the time has already...
May 25th
tag | Donovan
words | 365 | Despite the severity of the topic and the heaviness of his own memory, Kyu-Sik couldn’t stop himself from cracking a real grin. He found some sort of subtle amusement in Donovan’s response. “That’s what I said. Never again,” he nodded, looking away and covering his mouth until his expression recovered to its usual state. “I didn’t think I’ve ever really had beliefs, to be honest. It’s more a matter of priorities.”
It was easy to say it vaguely, but he didn’t really have a way to properly explain it to him either. It wasn’t something explained, not even to himself. However, looking at the few weeks that followed the incident gave him some idea of what it really meant. He paused for a moment and stared at his dinner before looking back up at Donovan. “I wouldn’t have bothered before,” he finally decided. If he was being honest with himself, he knew that was it in the end. That’s what he thought that Donovan’s social situation was a familiar one. Normally he wouldn’t have bothered with people in general. It wasn’t that he didn’t like them, he just didn’t value time with them over the productivity he was missing out on. Even now he was making excuses to himself just to be there. The excuse that he was at least being fed.
“I can’t say I have many friends, because I don’t bother with them. I never have. If it hadn’t happened, I really doubt I’d be here at all right now.” It was a harsh truth, but Kyu-Sik didn’t make any hesitation in saying it. After all, that was hypothetical. He was there and, though he had yet to really decipher what his relationship with the other man could be considered so far, he was making some sort of effort just by being there. Even if it was minimal. “So I think… it’s fine.”
Just fine. There was the slightest bit of hesitation in actually saying that, but it was said. Kyu-Sik was good at hiding his unusual uncertainty in his expression, but not so much in that hesitation. He gave Donovan a brief glance before eating more rice. |
electric has gangnam style and back to neverland
|
|
|
Post by DONOVAN SHEPHERD on Jan 22, 2014 6:58:42 GMT -8
HOLD YOUR BREATH AND COUNT TO TEN The briefly exposed smile was endearing, but the act of covering it behind a hand like a shy child was even moreso. Donovan didn't bother to hide his own, quietly pleased and heart beating just a little faster at the realization the smile had been for him. Kyu-Sik didn't seem accustomed to allowing himself to openly enjoy much, so even a simple smile felt like a rare victory. A much needed silver lining to their shared pessimism, a reminder that not everything was so awful. "I guess it makes it difficult to deny the possibility of something. For better or for worse," Donovan pondered, still struggling to piece together what fragments remained of his own faith. "I saw a man get shot a few weeks ago, had his blood all over my hands... and I realized I forgot how to wish for everything to be okay." He never even followed up to see if the man lived, didn't want to know. Tragedy had always been explained to him as a way of God testing his followers, so many times he had to recite the story of Abraham's sacrifice to his younger siblings when everything seemed too unfair. Giant snake monsters ruining parties seemed to fall into that category of working in mysterious ways that he'd be taught to accept no matter how cruel. Part of some greater plan, and all would be forgiven of those who followed blindly. And even if it wasn't part of any higher scheme, some sort of evil (in the most basic understanding of the concept) acting of its own will, Donovan (selfishly) couldn't say it was all bad if it played a part in influencing Kyu-Sik's mindset that led him to this moment. He didn't like to examine what kind of person that made him. But he was willing to accept the truth that their time together had been entirely circumstantial, knew that it was very wouldn't usually from both ends. "It's fine," he repeated with gentle conviction, not sure which of them he was trying to reassure. Kyu-Sik's admission might not have seemed like much at first, but the hesitation gave it away. "I guess I was surprised that you accepted, but no more surprised at myself for offering." And then quietly, "But I'm glad." WORDS:381 TAGS:Kyu-Sik NOTES:
|
|
|
|
Post by KYU-SIK MOON on Jan 24, 2014 8:24:54 GMT -8
Today won’t come again. At some point, the time has already...
May 25th
tag | Donovan
words | 420 | Kyu-Sik would have never considered himself a shy person by any means. He was in the same boat that while he generally just didn’t go out of his way to socialize, he didn’t really mind dealing with people. He had never been awkward, and carrying out what little socializing he needed to was easy for him. However, he found something about the current piece of their conversation an oddity. It gave him an unusual feeling that caused him to just turn his eyes away again when Donovan quietly added that he was glad.
It wasn’t really a feeling he could pinpoint, as it wasn’t quite the sort of discomfort he was used to when he had to be around others. It wasn’t an annoyance or exhaustion, nor was it as simple as a confused happiness. “I’m glad, too,” he still admitted at the risk of it sounding odd. He wasn’t entirely sure about the idea of a God, but Donovan wasn’t wrong. It got difficult to deny. Religion was not big in the Moon house, and his own parents were Buddhist if they were actually anything at all. With the mysterious things like snakes, tattoos, and dissonant memories, he couldn’t say that there was nothing at all at work in his life. He just wasn’t sure where it was going to go.
With his eyes turned, he glanced over the meal in front of him. Something that was gained through his diligence was the ability to eat rather quickly. With a real conversation, he didn’t think he was actually clearing his plate as quickly as he was, but he had been hungry and the food was delicious. Somewhere in the lulls of what they were saying he was already more than halfway done with the food that Donovan had piled unto the dish. Knowing that wasn’t really slowing him down, though. He cut and ate another piece of chicken before he thought of the right words he could respond with.
“When was the shooting? And where were you?” It was Los Angeles. Being from a neighborhood that hadn’t always been the best, he knew all too well that it wasn’t always the most pleasant city to be in. Random shootings or robberies happened enough for it not to seem as out of place as giant snakes. That didn’t mean he wasn’t a little bit curious though. He was just going to potentially mark it as a place where he should be on guard if he ever visited it. |
electric has gangnam style and back to neverland
|
|
|
Post by DONOVAN SHEPHERD on Jan 25, 2014 4:34:52 GMT -8
HOLD YOUR BREATH AND COUNT TO TEN Realizing that Kyu-Sik was further along with his food despite having started with more, Donovan used the excuse of catching up to fall silent again for awhile in reflection, initially acknowledging Kyu-Sik's questions with nothing more than a reluctant wince. He hadn't mentioned the incident to anyone other than filing a brief witness statement for the police and hoping there wouldn't be much of a follow up on case. "About two weeks ago," he finally estimated after he put more of an acceptable dent in his meal, not caring to be entirely exact on the date. As far as he knew, the thieves responsible weren't even caught. "Just at a small electronics store." A random one that he couldn't even remember the name of. It was enough to fulfill what the other had asked, but Donovan supposed a better explanation was desired. And if he learned anything about Kyu-Sik the day before, it was that he'd keep digging until he got the information he wanted. "Two men came in wearing masks and after I got pushed to the floor I just thought... well, maybe it's best to stay there and not move," he shrugged, sure that was the most reasonable thing to do even if it didn't sound the most admirable. He was never delusional enough to fancy himself the daring hero. But just laying there was hardly a story that was worth telling anyone, so he never bothered. If seemed especially flat as a follow-up to monstrous snakes. "It really wasn't any of my business, and there wasn't too much I could do to stop them. That's fair enough, isn't it? I imagine everyone was thinking the same, doing nothing. Except one guy... got shot after hitting one of them over the head." But Donovan still failed to see the purpose in risking a life to protect some money, especially when it wasn't even the man's own. Probably just a small fraction of the store's profits. None of the customers were even under immediate threat, although he vaguely remembered somebody else being hit when the robbers finally left. Donovan had been too preoccupied to care much. "I tried to stop the bleeding, but there was a lot of it. I guess that shirt needed throwing out, anyway." WORDS:387 TAGS:Kyu-Sik NOTES:
|
|
|
|
Post by KYU-SIK MOON on Jan 25, 2014 8:07:10 GMT -8
Today won’t come again. At some point, the time has already...
May 25th
tag | Donovan
words | 275 | Something like a shooting could really traumatize a person, especially with the possibility that the person shot may have died afterward. Kyu-Sik wasn’t going to ask if he knew how the man’s condition was now, not needing that answered. He also didn’t necessarily imagine Donovan the type to follow up on it. The reluctant wince given before the explanation was enough to make him think it wasn’t something Donovan really wanted to remember the details of, even if it had been him who brought it up first.
“Playing the hero isn’t always the best option,” he sighed, thinking the injured man as more of the idiot in that case. If it was a small electronics store and no one had been hurt before that moment, then there was no reason to try and save the day. That was what the police were for. With someone shot they would have had to dispatch an ambulance, and who knew how that would have affected the authority's ability to catch the criminals in question.
He wouldn’t say more than that, as he wasn’t going to push Donovan any more in talking about things he might not really want to discuss. Instead, after finishing off his rice, he looked at Donovan’s outfit for the day. To be fair, this had to have been one of his nicer sweaters. He still didn’t understand wearing a sweater in the summer in Los Angeles of all places, though. “I’m sure losing one of your shirts wasn’t a big loss.” He nearly said that a few of his shirts probably needed throwing away, but he figured that might have been rude. |
electric has gangnam style and back to neverland
|
|
|
Post by DONOVAN SHEPHERD on Jan 25, 2014 18:55:54 GMT -8
HOLD YOUR BREATH AND COUNT TO TEN Though the incident had made it difficult to sleep for a couple nights and a few strange dreams he couldn't quite classify as nightmares, Donovan wouldn't say he was traumatized so much as uncomfortably aware of how dispassionate he felt about the whole thing. How compliant he had been to just allow it to happen, how little he cared if the robbers got caught or if the man that got shot was even still alive. And all he could think was the story was too boring to tell and that he was relieved he wasn't more involved. Maybe in a situation where he could have done something, had reason to do so... but Donovan couldn't even be so certain of that. "I'm glad I didn't do anything," Donovan sighed, only allowing himself to admit so after Kyu-Sik's comments about not being the hero, not feeling too guilty about self-preservation. "Perhaps it's not as admirable... but," he trailed off, not needing to explain what seemed obvious enough. Losing a bloodstained shirt really wasn't the worse thing that could have happened, but Donovan could pick up on the underlying suggestion that his shirts weren't all that nice anyway. To be fair, they weren't. "I only have six left, but luckily it was only a dollar or so. Good reminder why I shouldn't get anything more expensive." Maybe some people interpreted his shabby clothing choices as a lack of confidence in himself, his slouching posture and messy hair not helping contribute to an image of somebody who took much pride in their life. But he liked to stick with what made him comfortable, and he liked to think it took some degree of confidence to dress like a ill-fitted mess without caring much about how others perceived him. It hadn't bothered him any that Kyu-Sik was significantly more stylish, could admire the other's sleek and clean appearance without worrying about his own. WORDS:319 TAGS:Kyu-Sik NOTES:
|
|
|
|
Post by KYU-SIK MOON on Jan 27, 2014 4:36:08 GMT -8
Today won’t come again. At some point, the time has already...
May 25th
tag | Donovan
words | 300 | An odd thought occurred to Kyu-Sik. He wanted to think that heroes were, in general, a good thing. He respected a few, like the policemen who actually did their jobs. However, he realized that the concept contradicted what he had already said about playing the hero. It just wasn’t always the brightest idea. Not in a situation like that. He found himself glad for Donovan, too. “There’s nothing admirable about being shot.” That was all there was to it.
All seemed in agreement until he found himself a bit surprised. Only six shirts? Wait, no, he wasn’t actually surprised at all. He wanted to hold his tongue on asking if they were all inappropriate sweaters. He hadn’t known the man for very long, and this was a grown man he was talking to. It wasn’t his place to tell him what he should and shouldn’t wear. In a way, he did find something about Donovan’s style pleasant in a terrible and quirkily sort of way, even if it wasn’t at all something he’d wear. He had yet to see the cat sweater.
However, Kyu-Sik’s quiet glance probably said his repressed words for him. It was okay to have six shirts if they were at least appropriate and nice shirts. He was a tailor’s apprentice, and he had to remind himself that not everyone had the ability or luxury of just buying something cheap and turning it into something like new. “It’s good that it was cheap, then. Maybe that was the powers at be telling you that you needed a new one anyway,” he said, though he quickly decided that wasn’t much better than questioning his sweaters. It was a flatly-spoken joke that he wasn’t taking it back. Kyu-Sik cut into the chicken and finished off the slice. |
electric has gangnam style and back to neverland
|
|
|
Post by DONOVAN SHEPHERD on Jan 27, 2014 7:05:00 GMT -8
HOLD YOUR BREATH AND COUNT TO TEN People died for less, he supposed he understood the desire to give it sense of purpose. However seemingly foolish. "I'm sure there's something worth being shot for. Or shooting for," Donovan decided, although perhaps there was very little in his life that he felt passionate enough about that would justify the act. No causes, nothing worth protecting when he was generally content enough to lose. Maybe that meant he was an empty, shallow soul. But he had risked everything, once, for the naive glimmer of love that at the time he'd believed would last forever. Hadn't. Maybe in a way, they all had their own proverbial electronics store to throw themselves into the line of fire for, and it didn't really matter if nobody else could see the value. "But I guess I wouldn't make a particularly inspiring revolutionary," he smiled wistfully. Leaving enough on his plate that the leftovers were worth saving, Donovan tried not to stare too obviously while waiting for the other to finish. There was no rush, wondering how long Kyu-Sik would bother to stay after dinner. Donovan had work to get to, but it was still a couple hours yet before he needed to leave. He pushed his food around with his fork into a neat pile, mostly to give him something to do. And as he considered what might have been meant as an insult, Donovan's expression fell flat before he erupted in quiet laughter. "Could you imagine?" he asked once he could get enough breath, wiping at the corners of his eyes. "My shirt must have been rather hideously offensive to warrant the spilling of blood to rid the world of its horror." WORDS:### TAGS:Kyu-Sik NOTES:
|
|
|
|
Post by KYU-SIK MOON on Jan 29, 2014 6:00:51 GMT -8
Today won’t come again. At some point, the time has already...
May 25th
tag | Donovan
words | 277 | The words coming from the other could have easily been rephrased as something were worth dying for. Some things were worth killing for. It wasn’t like he had never thought about something like that. It was easy to quietly examine the hypotheticals in his head without so much as blinking an eye. He imagined that most people did consider something like that at some point in their lives. Dying for a cause like a robbed electronics store seemed ridiculous to him, but that didn’t mean he had nothing at all himself. He already decided in his ponderings after the snake attack that he would have protecting someone close enough to him. His family. His sister. That was worth it. But then the other hand of that, was he just as willing to kill for them? Was there anything else?
The idea didn’t make him feel as uncomfortable as he thought it perhaps should, but he still decided to let it pass. Instead, he offered a simple nod when Donovan declared himself to be a poor revolutionary.
Then came that laugh. It was quiet, but it was enough to have Donovan wiping at his eyes. It wasn’t the first time he had gotten a laugh from the man, but this was a better context. He enjoyed it, for what it was worth. “I can imagine,” he reemphasized very matter-of-factly. Another smile went hidden, though this time by taking another bite. After a moment of silence and chewing, he was done. He felt the slightest bit guilty for finishing before Donovan, but it was a habit, especially when he was hungry.
“What should I do with my plate?” |
electric has gangnam style and back to neverland
|
|
|
Post by DONOVAN SHEPHERD on Jan 30, 2014 4:29:36 GMT -8
HOLD YOUR BREATH AND COUNT TO TEN "Be glad I have any shirts at all," Donovan responded, remembering a time in his life where he was only down to a couple that he could barely afford to wash. He might not have been fashionable, but at least he was clean. Standing from his chair and collecting both plates off the table, he set Kyu-Sik's cleared one into the sink before scraping leftovers into containers to put into the refrigerator. "The powers that be must be careful, me going shirtless is even more unsightly," he spoke from over his shoulder, turning on the faucet and waiting for the water to run hot. Not considering if it'd be somewhat rude to wash the dishes while he still had company, Donovan never liked to let them sit for too long. They had a dishwasher, but he could never seem to fill it up enough before wanting to use something that was still dirty and ended up doing them by hand anyway. It was good stress relief. "If you want something to do," he offered, hoping Kyu-Sik realized he was under no obligation. "Then you could help dry?" Donovan nodded his head to where a towel hung on the side of the cabinet, busy scrubbing at a pot. "Or you're welcome to watch TV, or read a book... or leave, I guess." Donovan slightly winced at how bad he was at this, concentrating even harder on getting everything spotless. There really wasn't any reason for Kyu-Sik to stay, but he wasn't going to outright ask him to do so either if the boy felt compelled. WORDS:### TAGS:Kyu-Sik NOTES:
|
|
|