|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Tue May 24, 2016 12:43 pm
May 24, 2016 (Back dating to middle of April.) The darkness of night was still hours away and yet the sky was dark as water filled clouds drifted overhead lazily, darkening the world and blocking out the sun so thoroughly. He didn’t know why the urge had come over him, why he wanted out of the city so badly, wandering just wasn’t enough today and he had the day off. He didn’t have work and it was a Sunday so there was no school today - there was nothing to do today. Come tomorrow he’d return to school, he had another month before it was over. He had things coming up later this summer as well, a university class, a trip to Korea, he’d already purchased three tickets for KCon in New York. He’d had to set up his work schedule around it all, so everything could get done.
But today it all seemed so far away, the day seemed to lazily drag on, as cool air blew at hsi curtains. The air was heavy with the smell of the rain which would surely fall, it looked like the clouds would break open any moment now and pour their load over the city. While this sort of weather normally calmed and relaxed him he just wanted out of the house - out of the city.
The idea had hit him fast, out of nowhere, and took hold of him. Sitting up from his bed, where he’d been lying with his head turned to the side watching out his window, he got up and headed for his cousin's room. Knocking gently he asked if she wouldn’t mind watching Yeong for him, he was going out for a while. She seemed to understand his mood, or at least understand his need for her help, and nodded. Thanking her he gave Eunkyung a quick hug before he turned and went to pull some something a bit warmer, he wasn’t interested in freezing while he was out.
Grabbing his cell phone he pocketed that as well as his ipod, he did want some music during the drive. He knew he wasn’t licensed but right now...didn’t care. He needed to get out and needed space - distance. He needed to escape the hollow feeling which ate at him - filled him right now. He just felt...lost - adrift. This wasn’t the first time and as he made his way through his room, headed to his closet to grab something slightly warmer, he thought to take off the necklace he wore. He hadn’t really given it too much thought since he’d first worn it but right now...right now he thought about it. Right now he took it off and tossed it onto his bed before entering his closet to grab a hoodie to wear, his black one from Seoul National University.
Pulling the hoodie on over the long sleeve t-shirt he’d been wearing Seung made his way out of his room, closing his door behind himself, and grabbed at the spare keys for his mother's new car. His mother had finally gotten her own car, rather than relying on public transportation, and since his parents both had the day off they had decided to go shopping. Calling out to his cousin to let her know he was leaving, and to tell his mother he was borrowing her car, he took off. Locking the apartment door behind himself he headed down the hall to the elevator.
Once he reached the apartment buildings small parking garage he went to let himself into his mother's suv and after adjusting the mirrors, since he was taller than her by several inches. Once that was done, and he was buckled up, he backed out of her spot and took off headed out of the city. He knew the ocean was an hour or so away and that’s where his mind had already decided it wanted to go.
It was at the first red light he reached, a block away from the apartment building, that he hooked his ipod up the radio and turned on his music. His cell phone was already resting in the cup holder at his side.
Remembering everything, or at least he thought it was everything, which Terry had told him that evening he’d driven them to the grocery store he tried to apply it now. Tried to drive better - to do what was normal here...what was right. As he focused on that the music served as a nice relaxing background sound, though some of the tracks were a bit loud. Keeping the volume low, so even the louder tracks didn’t bother him and break him out his mood, he continued on his way. As he left the city and got closer to the ocean he did notice the sea birds over head. One here and there at first. As the GPS brought him closer though he noticed more of them. It was at some point he rolled down the window and took in a deep breath as the cold air filled him, causing him to shiver in pleasure and as a normal reaction to the sudden chill.
It was as he reached the ocean that rain started to pitter patter against the windows and off the top of the suv but it didn’t bother him - far from it. It was calming, relaxing...and it suited his mood anyway. Suddenly he had an idea and he was shifting the suv into four wheel drive and pulling off the road and up onto the sand. Up and over and toward the water ahead of him. He’d wash the suv when he got home or tomorrow, depending on how much it was raining when he got home. As he parked a distance from the crashing waves he took the keys and pocketed them but left his ipod and phone in the car, he didn’t need either.
His shoes were tossed into the suv along with his socks, his pants were rolled up as much as they’d go - which wasn’t far. Seung’s feet sank into the sand, the stuff sifting between his toes, as he closed the distance between himself and the crashing waves. They couldn’t be more than two or three foot high but there they were and the storm clouds rain down over him. It wasn’t a heavy rain, not yet anyway, as he reached the edge of the waves range. His toes just getting wet with the freezing water as a wave came in, shivering again from the cold. His hands tucked into his hoodie's pockets as he took the time to just walk...to just try and relax and settle himself - to find himself. He felt like he was buried under so many things...and he couldn’t find himself. All there had been had been the ebb and flow of emptiness...of a hollow feeling that he had taken to embracing.
Knowing that Terry could now feel his emotions, knew what he was feeling when he felt it, he had taken to removing the necklace when he felt the stirrings of depression begin to work it’s arms about him. He didn’t want the other feeling it, didn’t want him to know. It would mean too many questions - things he didn’t want to answer...didn’t want to speak. The other was only trying to help him and he was bothered by it...people just wanted to help him...to improve him...to help him fit in...and yet...and yet he couldn’t...it was too much. It felt like he would lose himself to all of it...and then who would he be?
As the thoughts crashed over him, like the waves did the sand, his knees gave out and he sunk to the wet sand below. Ignoring, or perhaps not feeling, the waves rush up and around, and under, him he didn’t care that he was now even more wet and cold. He didn’t notice the shiver that left him...followed by another.
It was just too much. He had to work on another language, a harder one, and he was working on it - he was doing better...but he still kept telling himself it wasn’t enough, wasn't fast enough. He kept pushing himself as he was used to doing - had always done. But there were so many other things. He was learning a new culture and unlearning another - unlearning what was ingrained into him...what was normal and just...him. Letting his legs draw up close to his chest he held them there with his arms as he stared out to the ocean and how endless it was - it just went on and on. It was vast and in the grand scheme of things, when compared to something so big, he seemed insignificant as did his problems...but to him they were anything but insignificant.
Biting down on his bottom lip he lowered his head, buried it into his knees, as he shook whether from the cold or something else was hard to tell - impossible really. When would he stop worrying Terry? When would he stop needing the other to help him communicate? When could he stand on his own two feet and look around him and feel like he was apart of things? Did he want to be though…? Did he want to be apart of everything? He’d lose himself then - wouldn’t he?
He didn’t stand out too much back home, he did and he didn’t, but here he did and here it wasn't just his looks. It was other things. Shaking his head he lifted it, his bangs falling in front of his face and obscuring his dark eyes.
Unfolding himself slowly Seung stood and started to walk, letting the water rush over his feet and whatever bare skin was available, as rolling or pushing his pant legs up was no easy task. By now it had really started to rain but he honestly didn’t care, he liked the rain, it was cold and refreshing - though right now he was cold. Pulling his hood up, covering up his oddly colored blond hair, as he kicked at the wet sand under his feet.
By the time he’d turned around Seung wasn’t any more decided in things. He wanted to remain who he was...to not become no one, or someone else who wasn’t him. But he needed to stand on his own two feet as he had back home, as he always had till he’d come here. He needed that independence and the confidence in who he was. He needed to learn English and learn it well, fast, like he had with Japanese. There was no question about the language issue, it was an issue and it needed to be dealt with, but the other things...the culture differences. Why should he step out of his comfort zone? It wasn’t just that - it was him. It was who he was and had always been.
He understood laws and such and that was where he would confirm - he had to. He just had to learn things so he could conform and abide by the laws here. Although it wasn’t much progress made it had helped a bit...boosted his confidence a bit. It wasn’t a lot but it was something, it was better than before.
When he finally made it to his mother's suv, soaking wet and shivering from the cold, he went to slip his wet feet back into his socks and shoes and lace them up so he could drive himself home. Driving...that was the first thing he needed to work on. He needed to learn to drive better and get a license, he’d have to save for that. He didn’t want to ask his parents about getting a license here, the how’s or anything else, he’d find out on his own...somehow.
With socks and shoes back on he started the car up and headed for the road and back toward the city. The rain continued to splash down on the windshield and continued to soak, and darken, the world around him. The clouds dark and heavy drifted by as he headed back toward the city. He needed a hot shower...and bed.Word count: 2,023
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 24, 2016 1:07 pm
May 24, 2016 It hadn’t really been that long ago that he’d gotten his hair trimmed and redyed, he’d needed it as his roots had been starting to show. On a sudden whim while pampering himself in Korea Town, he’d already been to the dermatologist, Seung had decided to return to the hair salon - that had been two hours ago. Now when he stepped out his hair was two different colors. Different from what he’d previously had and two different colors had been used on his hair. One was a color he hadn’t had in awhile - his natural color while the other was a sort of reddish hue.
He had dyed his hair black in order to cover up his natural color coming back in, as he was planning to let it do just that. The red hue however was for some fun and color. It wasn’t for some special reason, though it wasn’t a color he’d done before. He’d done various browns and bright blond, and the blond he’d just dyed over. But he’d never done red, in any manner, at all not even as streaks or tips - nothing.
He didn’t know why he’d decided on dying his hair, it really hadn’t been that long since he’d gotten it redyed blond and brown, but here he was sporting new colors in his hair and pleased with it.
As he made his way toward the spa, he had an appointment, he wondered if anyone would think he’d done the red because he was a Ganymede knight - he hoped not. It had nothing to do with that really, it was just a color that had struck him as something he wanted to do and that he’d never done. There was no higher meaning other than the whim and sudden idea. He was hoping no one tried to make some connection, though he was sure someone would, he also knew he would continue to stand out amongst his fellow knights. Terry had a single purple streak in his hair but he looked less...stand out when compared to Seung. The elder two knights in their little group certainly looked older and more mature, not that it was a bad thing. Ganymede herself and her partner were like polar opposites to him and made him feel like he didn’t belong in the same building as them. They both looked so proper...and put together. He had piercings, a lot of them, dyed hair and makeup and eyeliner…
He stood out amongst the small group and sometimes when he thought about it he was bothered. Other times he ignored it whilst other times he thought he looked good - unique..different. Why did it bother him though? Maybe because despite his age he certainly didn’t look it and in some cases he didn’t act it either? Maybe.
Shaking his head, wanting to dispel the thoughts, he ran his fingers through his hair before tossing his head and continued down the sidewalk. He had a new look, one he liked, and today was not a day to let his thoughts get the best of him. He would not let himself feel lesser than his hyungs or his dongsaengs. Today he was him - he was Kim Seung and he was just that...nothing more. Word count: 546
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 30, 2016 10:01 pm
May 31, 2016 (Back dating February 13.) The last trip to his wonder, which had been his second trip in total, had been three weeks ago. He knew he should have gone sooner - before then, he wanted to. But everything had been so busy with an alien showing up and the energy gathering crystals. He should have gone and talked to his ancestor, he knew it, but he’d heard whispers of peoples wonders acting up...of something called the code acting odd. He didn’t want to risk it...it made him nervous and then he was tired and then the fighting in the Negaverse’s own territory.
It had all been so much, so fast, so dramatic and the injuries and then being tired again. But really none of it was a good enough excuse and so he’d decided to go on his own. He was still tired, so very tired, but the guilt of the position he’d put the other Ganymede knight in had been eating at him. The pressure of everything...he needed to escape it all and he just couldn’t in the city.
The decision was sudden but he was thoughtful enough to know he should bring things with him, he did want to work on building his wonder back up after all. The questions was what though? He’d brought a mattress last time and some bedding. This time...perhaps some more things which would be personal...as well as some needed things.
As he thought it over he set about leaving his home, leaving a note for his parents, and decided it was time to do some more shopping for his wonder. If he had any plans of really being able to sleep here for nights, of spending time there, he needed to work on it and bring up more things.
Thinking of what he’d already brought up he knew what he was gonna do first...and it was a big thing. He might not do much else after it either. But he remembered an early trip his parents had made to get some new furniture when they’d moved here and he remembered the few places they’d gone.
Mass transit, subways and buses, were put to use as Seung went to the various furniture stores in order to look over the beds. The one at his wonder was falling apart and wasn’t likely to fit his new mattress as it would break, he was fairly certain of this. So he had to get a bed frame and all that went with it. Once he had that he could sleep at his wonder, after work or just to spend a night there. With today being a Saturday Seung had the time he needed to get some shopping done, he’d go to work later once he’d done what he needed and tomorrow he’d go to his wonder, he had the whole day off tomorrow. So if he could get a bed delivered tomorrow, and he could get his family out of the house right before the delivery, he’d be good. It wouldn’t be easy, he knew it, but he had to get things done so he would try and cross his fingers for luck.
By the time he was leaving for work, going straight from shopping to work, he’d placed an order for a bed and had bought a few more pillows and a second set of bedding for it - he was set for tomorrow, when the bed would be delivered.
Work itself was good, he was too happy to let anything bring him down, as he moved about the convenience store working on shelving things from the back room. The few customers they had he helped, so his boss could do book work and handle the register. The old women would do the book work when no customers were in the store, when someone would come in she’d come out of the back room and move to the register to wait for the customer to be finished and ready to be rung up. The evening was normal and on the way home he grabbed food for himself at a small curry house a few blocks over from his job before making his way home.
Once home he wound up explaining the bedding as things which he was using at his friends when he slept over, as he used an air mattress, so thought it a good idea. The bed however...that was hard to explain to his parents so he’d just told them he was getting himself a bed. He just told them it wasn’t for his room here...it was for elsewhere - he didn’t say where. He was good at lying but explaining the purchase of a bed was beyond even his skills.
After the talk and a shower, where he’d removed his makeup, Seung had prepared for bed and turned in after some studying. In truth he’d studied to the point of his eyes twitching and feeling heavy. When he did go to sleep he lay on his stomach snuggled up to his pillow, looking much like a mummy in that he was all wrapped up in his bedding, as he fell asleep. He couldn’t wait for to the next day, he had a lot to do but was happy for it. Word count: 874
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2016 12:04 am
June 1, 2016 (Back dating to March 5.) Although his parents knew he had a bed arriving he’d still not wanted them home for it’s delivery. He didn’t want them to see what it looked like or see where he was taking it, he wanted them as clueless as possible. The less they knew the better, even if he had used their money for the bed. He hadn’t made and saved enough for the bed he’d bought...and he really sounded like a spoiled child, even to himself, when he’d thought about it after purchasing it...and when whilst purchasing it. He felt like a bad son...he’d felt guilt over it. But he wanted something nice, something big, he wanted something to fit the living quarters it was going to be placed in...and to a larger extent to wonder itself. But that sounded...flat to him now that he thought about it - now that he was looking at the boxes being brought into his room.
Assuring the delivery men he had everything he needed and could put it together himself he paid them a tip, as he’d found out was proper, and thanked them as he saw them out the apartment door. Once alone he shuffled back to his room and pulled the bedding and pillows out from his closet and set them down with the box.
Grabbing his gym bag he went about filling it with things he deemed necessary for a trip to his wonder, his ipod, flashlight, food, drinks, books, and some other things. He would soon fill the place with things which would remain there as a permanent sort of thing, like the books he’s bring today. Once the gym bag was filled he went to tag hold of everything which he intended to carry, the bedding and tools in a bag and the massive box the bed was in was grabbed as he powered up and focusing on his wonder, focusing on where he wished to be, he headed for Venice.
Arriving there was nothing beyond normal. The dilapidated grand theater's entrance room, where people undoubtedly once gathered to socialize before a show and during intermissions, was still in the same state of disrepair. He would, in time, change it but that would take time, money, effort and knowledge in what to do and how to do it. Right now he was taking the steps, slowly, toward improving the private parts of the wonder. There were no people living on Ganymede, no people who would want to come to the theater for a show or anything else so no need to work on the theater part of his wonder - yet. How could he anyway when he’d likely tire himself out, need to wash up, and tend to himself after working to restore other parts of Venice? No, working on the personal, private, part of his wonder first was the best idea.
Leaving the large box where it was he went to bring the two bags down into the living quarters and let his ancestor know what he was going to be working on. He knew the other didn’t mind him working on changing things here, accepted it even, but he still felt it best to let him know before he just dragged in all these parts and started putting together a new bed and disposing of the old one, really he was planning to find a place to store the old bed. The trek to the living quarters were tedious, more than usual, as he felt exhaustion fill him and weigh him down. He knew, by instinct it seemed, that it was due to the large item he’d brought with him. He’d been tired from bringing the mattress the last time but not like he was now. It had been easy to ignore, in favor of wanting to explore and show off his wonder, but there was no such reprieve from the exhaustion this time.
When he finally found his way into the living quarters, having to guess the stones to press to get in, he was bowing to his ancestor.
“I have returned. I am sorry it has been so long but I cannot come any sooner and much has happened.” The words were not in English, it wasn’t his strong suit and Korean was a language they had in common though there were some changes due to time - it did that to all languages.
Lifting his head to see his elder bowing to him as well he smiled, pride and warmth swelling within him even as he yawned wide. “I brought some things for us. Many things have happened to our country - to Korea since your time. I thought perhaps you would like to know...to acquaint yourself with such things.” He spoke, bowing his head once more, he didn’t want to somehow insult his elder by making such an assumption. He just thought the elder may want to know, my be interested, and so he was offering to read to him and to tell him about the modern times personally and from books and mother media.
“That would be fine. I would like to know what I have missed very much. You appear tired though. You should rest and then tell me what has happened recently.” He could see that the younger was tired, worn out, and so the elder drifted along at the other side on the way to the hidden bedroom. Taking note of the bags he watched as they were set down on the once shiny wooden floor.
“Sleep now, I will watch over you.” As if he could do anything, he was after all just a spirit with no solid form. No one would come here anyway, none could.
Watching as the younger nodded he watched as he went to curl up on the mattress he’d brought last time and soon drift off. His fingers ghosted over the others hair, unable to touch, as he drank in the sight of his descendant. So many years had gone by and now there was a new Venice, his line had continued, and the boy here now was the result of it.
“Hwarang.”
It was nearly three hours later when he woke, slowly, rolling over and stretching and yawning. As he sat up, slowly, his arms raising above his head and stretching he let his dark eyes finally drift open and glance about the room. Still sitting there was his ancestor, watching him silently. “Were you here the whole time?” He questioned, shaking his head when he received a nod from the elder.
“You didn’t need to.” He whispered in response, ducking his head, he stood up slowly. “I should get the bed in here...slowly.” And remove the old one...and put the new one together. He was going to be here a while and need a lot of rest after this. Shaking his head, his hair moving out of his face, he went back the way he’d come so he could collect the bed and drag it through the darkness, piece by piece. He had to open the box in the main entrance so he could grab each individual piece of the bed and drag them back to the living quarters which had belonged to his ancestor and were now his.
The process was long, tiring, straining and tedious with none of them seeming to top out the others. But he did it, he got all the pieces there, through the darkness and through the theater, now he had to remove the old bed and leave it with the stage props and set pieces. He didn’t think it polite to just throw it out and where would he throw it out anyway? He doubted there was some garbage or dumpster about for him to use.
Again the process was hard, the bed had obviously once been a solid hard wood bed but now, thanks to time and other factors, it was rotted and falling apart. It was unsafe for a person to use due to the potential of splinters or collapse. As he pushed, and dragged, the bed down the hall and out to where he planned to leave it he turned and slowly, now sore beyond all measure, and made his way back inside and into the bedroom where he flopped bonelessly onto the floor and went about putting the tools he’d brought to good use as he set about slowly putting a bed together using flashlights to help him see and accomplish the task. “I need to bring more lights next time - many candles.” And a lighter for them all. He’d have to stock up on candles...and perhaps more candle holders as well.
“Yes, you will need to. Next time you will do that and you will be able to see better.” Came the calm tones of the elder, who also could not see through the darkness of his home. He could remember where everything was though, he’d lived here a very long time, so he unlike his younger had little issue in navigating the living quarters or even the rest of the theater where as the other needed the light candles could provide.
Listening and watching the other work, slowly, he was proud of him as the flashlights that were set about the room showed him, and Seung, the finished product. A very nice cherry wood bed with a high backboard and posts at each corner. It was lovely and decorated with carvings - expensive surely.
“You did well.” He spoke gently while reaching to lay a unsolid hand on the others shoulder. He hoped Kim Seung would bring honor to his wonder, to his family, and breath life back into this place...he had a feeling he would though, if what little he’d seen so far was anything to go by.
“It is late, many hours have passed. You should be returning home soon. I know you will visit again, when you can, I look forward to it but do not keep yourself here too long - you may worry your family.” Watching as Seung nodded the elder walked with him back into the living room. An exchange of bows, and some parting words, and the ancient Venice was left alone in the darkness though inside he felt great warmth and light.
Seung himself when he arrived home he was exhausted and only just managed to take a shower, eat a quick dinner, and crash in his bed to sleep longer than he normally ever would. He was bone tired, his muscles were sore and overworked and he needed to sleep. “I will return most honored ancestor...I will bring honor to you - to Venice.” The words were whispered into the darkness of his room as he turned over to press his face into his pillow and sleep. Word count: 1,803
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2016 11:49 am
June 8, 2016 (Back dating to March 26.) This time when he visited his wonder he brought smaller things, though a lot of things. He had a bag hanging off his arm filled with long tapered candles, he would need a lot to light up his wonders interior. Inside a large box he held in his arms were more candle holders, glass ones, incase the ones that were about his wonder were rusty and just..unusable. Seung also figured some more light, via more places to put candles, would be a good thing.
The gym bag he had, for his food, drinks, and other things also contained his airbook as he planned to show his ancestor videos on various things, to help with the history lessons. Anything to help his ancestor and show him what his country, his Korea, had become. What would he think of finding out about Korea being split into North and South? Of the language being different between the two?
It was best to not think about that, he’d find out in time anyway, as he walked through his wonder, flashlight precariously balanced on top of the box so he could see in the dark of the theater as he made his way around carefully, he was slowly getting used to the mess and about where things were. He needed to get more light in here, somehow, so he could clean the theater and stage itself but how? How to bring in enough light...there was no electricity here and he needed it to see better in here so he could clean up properly - damn it. But light must have been an issue in the past so what had been done then? What had provided light in the past if not natural light or anything powered by electric? Once you got past the entrance, and it’s large doors that led outside, there was no source of natural sunlight to clear away the darkness. But he doubted his ancestor, or anyone else, walked about in the dark...unless that was a thing or people liked to scare others.
Shaking his head to clear it of those thoughts, he’d figure it out in time, Seung made his way to the now more familiar living quarters down under the stage, hidden down a seemingly dead end hallway. Now he knew which stones to press in so the wall at the end of the hallway would open, granting him access to the living quarters for Venice. Turning toward the open wall Seung stepped inside and bowing as he did so he called out a greeting for the former, now long dead, Venice.
“I brought candles, and more holders. We should have good light now.” But for how long? How many times would he need to purchase new candles. Was he going to need to start spending a lot of money on candles in order to keep this place well lit when he visited and decided to spend time? What if he fell asleep, he’d prefer lights when he woke so he didn’t wake in the dark, but that was a risk wasn’t it? But with him being the only person able to interact with the candles, and other things, he should be ok - right?
“Very good, let us get some light in here and we can sit and talk.” Came the old, wisened, voice of the previous Venice. Watching the figure of his ancestor move into the light he followed him as he motioned him to do so. Finding that his ancestor was helping him, showing him to the various candle holders about the sitting room, he started plugging candles into each holder and lighting the candles each as he put them into their holder. With the living room lit up nicely the bedroom was next as was what he was only just discovering - a bathroom.
The bathtub was sunken in and made of tarnished metal. The floor was...he wasn’t even sure but over the counter top space was dust, very dusty, glass. The ceiling of the bathroom seemed to also be tarnished and an odd color, he couldn’t tell, with a chandelier hanging from the ceiling. “Should clean up in here…” The toilet was something he had some experience with, but not at home. It was in it’s own little room and was a hole in the floor and places to put one's feet. It really wasn’t something unfamiliar, it was fairly common even - a squat toilet.
The candle holders in the bathroom were soon filled and the bathroom was lit up and soon the small private library and office was as well, another new place he’d discovered. The room needed new, and more, book shelves but he’d work on that soon as well. The books weren’t books but scrolls held in shelving made for them and a desk to sit and write at. There was the remains of an old writing set, brush and ink, with brittle blank scrolls and more. It really was a look back in time and the living quarters were an odd mix of styles.
There were influences from Korean, from the Orient, all around but also what had to be from Ganymede itself and it’s own style...which was rather over the top if Seung were to be honest.
Returning to the sitting room the two males sat themselves down. His gym bag at his feet he emptied out the contents he had in there, drinks, food, his airbook, and more as he started to unpack everything as most of it he planned to leave here, aside from perhaps his airbook and the food and drinks.
“I brought books...and I can show you video...umm moving pictures to explain more modern things - to show you.” Seung explained in something of a sheepish manner, hoping it helped the other to understand what he meant by video. “I think you will like some of the things in our history but some, especially some more modern things, will be sad to hear and see.” Watching the elder nod, seeming more serious than he’d seen him thus far, he started in on going over history, as he’d been taught in school. The books, as he pointed out, would go more indepth but he would have to find the time to read from them each time he came here.
As he went over what he knew of their history, starting at the end of the Sillia dynasty, he worked his way forward as much as he could. Reminding his ancestor this was what he’d read and learned in school. Some details, some things, may be skewed of course. History always was and always would be - no way to change that. As time went by, mostly unnoticed by both males, Seung continued going over things as he took sips from one of the drinks he’d brought with him, he had brought four different drinks so he had choices and enough to keep hydrated. It was when he got to the Korean war, how the economy had gone bad...and the bounce back and rebuilding of North and South that he put his airbook to use in order to show things - documentaries. He’d had to download them all onto the airbook from various sources but they gave a look at Korea, now, then and told of what had happened better than he could.
This war, and the splitting of Korea and it’s continued split bothered his ancestor - he could tell. When the videos were over, and he’d showed a few, he turned the screen back to himself. “It is not that we don’t want reunification - we do in the South. People in the North too...it’s why people run away, go to China in order to arrive in the South. But the risk in the North of leaving is very real - slave camps and more...many are made to think they are well off in the North also...they believe it. Those that make it South are welcomed...because the languages are so different now, where people in the North who come South risk doing poorly in school and in jobs, a way to translate what they do not know to what they do know has been made - to aid them in succeeding. One day we will unify and be one Korea again...when we do not know, I hope it is in my lifetime.” He would like to see it. It was a sad and sorry state of things. To be hostile with neighbors who had once been a part of you. To know people there are suffering and be unable to help and know that for them to leave is a risk. It was a situation none should be in and yet so many were.
“It is why at some point I will have to serve in the military. We are not at war but it is for training in case of anything happening. It is a minimum of twenty-one months. I do not know how I will be able to visit here when I do that. I’ve heard the Negaverse has won everywhere else...that if there are any senshi or knights, outside of the city I live in now, they are in hiding. To power up back home, in Korea, would be a serious risk for me. I have years before I have no choice but to go - but it will happen.” And he didn’t know what he would do then, if Korea was still a dangerous place for senshi and knights. He hoped it would be free by then but somehow he doubted it. Even if they won in Destiny City...they would move outward and free other places...how long till they’d reach Korea - if they even would. No, he felt it would be a danger for a long time.
Throughout the talk, long as it was, his ancestor had spoken little. He’d asked for clarification on things, commented on some things, and brought up things as well as he had related some things to things which had happened in his time or had happened in before his own time. There had been a few questions, on things he didn’t understand or know about, which was expected. It had been a good talk, informative and friendly. There were things which bothered his ancestor, clearly, especially now but he also seemed to have hope just as Seung did - for a brighter future.
As conversation shifted Seung was able to talk and work as he went to get other things situated into the bedroom, his ancestor drifting about the room as they spoke. Aside from candles and candle holders, and books he’d brought a few other things - just little decorations. He’d have curtains perhaps the next time and maybe he could put together a dresser here? It was an idea, a mirror maybe in stead? The mirror in here was in bad shape, he didn’t think all the cleaning products could get the glass to clear up enough to properly see him.
The other thing he had brought was make up, extras, and other such products. He’d brought soap, shampoo, conditioner and other needed items such as that. The pillows he’d brought were left on the bed while the make up products filled the bathroom. Slowly he was going to make this a home for himself, a second home, and to do that he needed to have the basic needs here. He wanted it comfortable for himself her, or at least as comfortable as he could get it.
“I will bring more things the next time. I will continue to bring things when I come.” Sometimes a lot of things and sometimes maybe only one thing, it would depend on the item and cost of things. But in time it would be livable, he just hoped they could get running water here as he had tried the sink and nothing had come from it. Water would be nice...very nice and very needed.
At the end of his trip, having spent hours at his wonder, Venice had bowed and exchanged parting words with his ancestor before he left. He was still tired - very tired. It was time to go home and sleep. Word count: 2,039
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2016 3:58 pm
June 20, 2016 (Back dating to April 16.) This time when he’d visited his wonder he had brought a tea pot, something rather old fashioned, as well as cups so he could enjoy a cup of tea while here. More candle sticks had been brought, he was going to start a stockpile of them as he felt he’d need them. The collection was being built in the office inside of a desk draw, he should really replace that at some point as well.
Lite candles filled the living quarters as Seung finished yanking on the normal looking clothing. He might still give off the aura of a squire but he wore normal clothing now as he moved around the living room. The other thing he’d brought, and would have to stockpile, was wood for the fireplace he’d seen upon his first visit to his ancestors, and now his, living quarters. Now he could make tea, which is just what he was going to go do now, as he went to put some wood into the fireplace and find some old, blank, paper so he could get things started.
As he worked to start a fire he just hoped that the chimney didn’t need cleaning or anything like it would if this were back on Earth, he hoped some sort of magic would keep things safe so he could heat some water and make himself a cup of tea.
<”I’ll explain the fight in a moment.”> Seung spoke while casting a look over his shoulder, from where he was kneeling in front of the fireplace, to his ancestor. Watching the elder nod his head and take a seat Seung put the teapot on a hook and moved it over the fire.
Standing, dusting his pants off, he stretched, though carefully due to the still healing stab wound. Finding himself a seat, across from him sat his ancestor, his fingers raked through his hair before he finally spoke up. <”From the Negaverse’s home some people saved a piece of the code, I had never heard of it until then, and brought it back to the moon and left it there. We were summoned not long ago by it. It needed saving, help - from us. It was infected by chaos and asked us to take some of the chaos from it...so it could be purged and saved.”> His ancestor was nodding his head and then stating that they had taken that bit of chaos into themselves, not a hard guess to make, and Seung was nodding his head.
<”Of course. It did have effects. I have been very tired, some are more aggressive. Erebus is tired - a lot. I got caught out, alone, by a General from the Negaverse and another knight rescued me...at injury to himself.”> His head hung as guilt filled his words - filled him. <”That was a little over a week ago...I have kept it a secret to myself and the other knight. I should not have been out alone but I could not ask Erebus out with me.”> he didn’t say why but the look he gave his ancestor should have sufficed in letting him know there was no way he could have told, could have asked Erebus out with him. He didn’t like keeping secrets but some things had to be kept, some things had to remain private and personal and his clinic trips had to be.
When his ancestor asked though, asked why he hadn’t been out with Erebus when it was obvious the city would be dangerous due to the invasion on the Negaverse’s home turf, he had to explain and watch as his ancestor seemed to understand but, no surprise really, not accept it. It was, while he was getting up to pour his tea, that his ancestor scolded him gently; though the message was more than a little strong. He should not be overworking himself and should be resting, taking care of himself, and dedication and pushing yourself were one thing - being stupid about it was another.
Nodding his head, agreeing silently, he couldn’t agree verbally because...he didn’t. He knew he pushed himself but who didn’t? Who didn’t push themself for a dream - for a goal? Who didn’t over work themselves to the breaking point...and then go over that point and rebuild themself into something stronger? He had goals, he had dreams, he had duties and obligations and he needed to do these things and he would continue to strive to fulfill everything - somehow.
Coming back to his seat he sat himself down with his tea. Setting the cup down on the table the younger knight leaned back, eyes closing part way as he listened to the other speak and he responded now as the conversation had moved away from his scolding. It had moved, thankfully, to the code and just what it was. As he listened, and learned, he sipped his tea slowly and at some point went for a refill as he’d run out of tea. The code was...interesting from what he was learning, it was the source of his power and somewhere here - at his wonder. His ancestor knew where, he said as much, but he wouldn’t tell him where.
It was hours, and several cups of tea, later when he left his wonder. He had a task, given by his ancestor - find the code piece here. He wouldn’t do it tonight but he would try and find it his next visit and any subsequent visit if need be. He’d find it, in time, and make his ancestor proud...he’d make up for his own follies and shameful acts.Word count: 937
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2016 2:26 pm
July 1, 2016 (Back dating May 7.) His earbuds in Venice moved about his wonder, trying to sus out where the piece of the code might be. He had no hints, his ancestor would give him nothing to go on, and so he’d been wandering for over an hour now. Lifting his ipod from the pocket of his jeans he switched the song from what it was on, Her by Block B, and put on something by 2NE1. Ever since the announcement a month back about Minzy leaving he would randomly go out of his playlists order in order to play a song of theirs.
The group would go on, thankfully, but to know their main dancer was leaving...it was sad. The group was small anyway, at only four members, but to bring it down to three members - damn. He wondered if it had anything to do with CL going solo and the attention on her - he hoped not. If it was he could understand it, he could, but that should not be a reason to not resign a contract. If it were for other reasons though...well who knows. He’d read enough things, all speculations, as had his cousin but nothing was for certain other than Minzy had left the group and the group would continue on.
It was a shock but he could understand it with how in the background she did seem to be. Shrugging as the song came on he hummed along, occasionally voicing some of the lyrics, as he walked about the ancient playhouse. Down hallways, past moth and time eaten curtains. Seung’s foot steps were as sure as they could be, his lantern flickering this way and that. Every time he spotted a candle holder that was empty he would place a candle in it, he had brought more with him, and light it before he continued on his way - leaving a little glow in his wake.
It was both eerie and sad to see such an abandoned place and what he was sure had once been popular, filled with laughter and people and tears and other emotions, now. It would never attain what it once had, at least not while he was alive, and all those memories, the stories, the history - gone. What had happened, what had brought about the end, he did not know. He hadn’t asked his ancestor, not yet, but he was sure it had to do with chaos and that was all he was sure on. After all what else could have done this? He couldn’t see another planet, or perhaps star or asteroid or anything else doing this...though perhaps it was possible? Perhaps Ganymede had been at war with another star or planet, or even another moon, somewhere.
Maybe once he found the code piece here he could find out what had happened, he wasn’t sure he wanted to ask his ancestor. He knew the elder would understand but that didn’t mean it wouldn’t bring a great sadness to the elder Venice either. Bringing sadness to the other, or any other negative feelings, was something he wished to avoid if at all possible.
Holding the lantern in his hand, it had a white and super bright light, Seung was able to see and find his way around in the darkness of the theater as he walked about, hoping to find what he had no clue to the whereabouts of. Sighing, his fingers ran through his hair, while he wondered if he’d find it today. It wasn’t that he was in a rush, he wasn’t, but he couldn’t help but wonder anyway. Why did it need to hide? There was no one here and hadn’t been for what? A thousand years. It was safe so why hide? Had it been hiding even before hand? Could it move and change locations at his wonder?
Pushing his thoughts away, for now, he focused on his search and continued on through the darkness of the theater.
It was three hours later and he still hadn’t found it. He’d found a few interesting things though. It seemed that one of the four towers the theater boasted had an entrance, behind a painting, and though it was empty it was still nice to know it wasn’t just there for decoration. Maybe in time he could fix up the stone steps and put the tower to some sort of use? It had a nice view and while the three rooms that the steps let off at were small they were nice - could be used. Maybe a small library? Something separate from the living quarters and what books he had there? He honestly wasn’t sure...maybe storage for all the old papers that filled the office? That was a good idea perhaps. He’d think on it more before he did anything for sure.
The other thing he’d discovered was a kitchen. It wasn’t that a kitchen was out of place but one of that size was. It was bigger than any one single person needed. This was something he would ask his ancestor about when he reached the living quarters, which he was headed for now. Passing through the doors and into the theaters first floor he headed toward the stage. Climbing over tossed about chairs and other things he got himself up onto the stage and dropped down into the darkness below, he really needed to find out a better - proper way down here.
Groaning as he landed the page stood up straight, slowly, and headed for the living quarters intent upon finding out about the kitchen he’d found. He’d leave out the tower, as that was a choice for him to make later on - on his own.
The stone entrance into the living quarters was still open, it had been since he’d arrived earlier to visit his ancestor, so he entered with ease and glanced about the lit up room. The candles, all of them, really made a difference. >”I found a kitchen...why is it so big?”> He asked as his dark eyes finally landed on the ghostly figure.
<”It was for the preparation of food during intermissions and for the food our most honored patrons would eat during the performances.>” Ah, well that explained it to him. But then...there was staff who had worked here...aside from stage hands.
<”Stage hands worked here but also cooks...What about for your own meals? Did you make them there, or did you have a personal cooking area? I can’t imagine going there late at night, along, to make something. And dinner time if there was a show it must have been too busy for you.”>
Taking a seat he set his bag down onto the floor and opened his bag. Pulling a half finished bottle of water from the bag, and an empty one, he took a long pull from the bottle as he leaned back. Watching his ancestor he tilted his head a bit, tossing his hair from his face.
<”Yes, but I did use that kitchen as well. People made room for me - I was Venice after all. I did not have a private kitchen somewhere.”> Came the answer to his question.
For a while longer conversation did flow, simple questions and answers, simple and easy talk - nothing too complicated and nothing which delved into the past. It was easy going and light hearted. When he finally stood up, bowing low to the elder Venice, he noted the others bow in return and then was gone - back to Destiny City and the modern world. Word count: 1,260
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2016 1:02 pm
July 2, 2016 (Back dating to May 28th.) A new coffee table had been set up in the sitting room, something nice and low to the ground. Seating had been set up and with candles lit Seung was able to curl up in the bedroom for a nap. He found that bringing big items, like the bed and the coffee table, he needed several hours of rest in order to regain his energy. He had figured it would take energy to come to his wonder with items but so much - he hadn’t been expecting.
Seung had curled up to sleep on the bed shortly after getting the table into place and setting it up, tiredness dragging him down as he put the wooden table together and set about the floor mats for people to sit on. He was going to try and keep the room a balance of western and eastern furniture, and decorations, in order to feel more at home and also not throw other people off. If he ever planned to have others here, if his wonder ever started to thrive, he would want some familiar things for guests.
Laying on his side, hugging a pillow, the knight had also brought normal clothing - two sets. Both were in the closet in the bedroom and ready to be worn whenever he pleased. He was planning to slowly build up a wardrobe here, and bring things home once worn so they could get washed. He really did want to make this home, at least as much as he could given the darkness down here and the need for repairs.
While he slept the ancient, deceased, ancestor sat in the bedroom watching the younger sleep. His thoughts to himself as he reached out a ghostly hand as if to pet the younger's hair, perhaps wanting to move it from his face. As if sensing the hand hovering close to his hair the sleeping page moved closer, a smile tugging at sleeping lips.
It wasn’t until hours later that Seung woke with a yawn, stretch, and rolling over onto his back for a second good stretch that he sat up in bed and glanced about. By now the ancient spirit was not in the bedroom but rather the sitting room. As Seung padded out, having decided to pull on some of his own clothing, his dark eyes found the elder. <”I’m sorry, I did not think I would be so tired by bringing the table here.”> Bowing as he spoke he wasn’t surprised when his words, his apology, were easily accepted. The elder was easy going, perhaps something gained by age or just how long he’d been here. It was...refreshing in a way.
<“I’m going to try and find the code piece.>” Again, though it didn’t need to be said. The other knew he hadn’t found it three weeks back when he’d been here. He would try today and find it - hopefully he would succeed in finding it. He just...he didn’t have a clue where to look and nothing to help him either - no feeling or thought on the matter. The only thing which could help him, his ancestor, was being silent and he was sure it was some form of an unspoken test being administered to him by the elder.
As he finished checking himself in the old, slightly clean, mirror in the bathroom he headed off to see if he couldn’t find it in all the darkness and mess that was his wonder.
The trek to the last areas he’d checked on his previous visit took some time, longer than he’d like to admit, due to fatigue from bringing that table here but it had needed to happen. He needed a table here that he didn’t worry about breaking, as the previous one had been rather fragile, he’d already accepted that he would slowly have to replace everything, all the furniture.
Without a watch, and just his phone, to tell him how long had passed Seung knew he’d spent two hours now looking - again. He’d checked out another tower and found it to be empty. Well, he supposed he now had two places to store things and he could transform them both into something but what he didn’t know. They were towers and the rooms weren’t that big either. He didn’t want to just turn them into storage areas either, he wanted them to serve some sort of purpose, as most of the stuff he was replacing would eventually be thrown out as it was useless and too fragile to ever use again.
As much as he disliked the idea of throwing out such ancient antiques it made sense, he couldn’t just sit on all the old stuff that no longer served a purpose or could even be repurposed due to age, deterioration, and fragility.
Rubbing his temples as he found an entrance to what he assumed was another tower, it looked about the same as the other two, Seung opened the entrance and stepped inside and that when something - some feeling swept through him. Unsure what it was but knowing it was there he headed up the stairs and it wasn’t until he was in the third floor room that he had his answer.
It looked like the piece up on the moon and yet felt different - clean and good. He’d found it. A smile tugged at his lips as he took in the room. A writing desk, papers everywhere and shelving that seemed to be holding all kinds of writings - thick ones. Given this was a playhouse, a big theater, he wondered if they weren’t plays...how interesting. His goal achieved and a smile in place he gave the code piece a bow, greeting it, before he explained he had to go see his ancestor and let him know he’d found it - his honored ancestor would be pleased with this.
One more bow, low, was made to the piece of the code before the page took off into the darkness headed back for the living quarters. Nearly tripping more than once he burst into the living room smiling, panting, but excited. <“I found it!”> That one short sentence brought a smile to the ghostly figures face, something which pleased the younger Venice.
<”Those writings in the tower...were they yours?”> He had wondered when he saw them and he didn’t seem the harm in asking. Had the other put on plays of his own? What had they been about? He surely couldn’t read them, unless they’d been written in Korean..and he hadn’t checked - damn it. Writings found in the officer though had not been so he hadn’t thought about that, plus he’d been too excited by the discovery.
He was almost too excited to notice when the other started to speak but he did notice, only just, and he waited for an answer which came moments later.
<”They were indeed. I wrote plays that the government would not have approved. The royal family here would have had me hung. As a knight I traveled - a lot. I learned and saw a great many things during my time off of Ganymede. The society here was not well, it was unfair to those who were lower class, there was suffering amongst them. We had fallen behind in technologies as well. I saw the problems and highlighted them in plays - plays which no one ever saw. I could not risk having them performed, they became a way to vent my own frustrations at the inadequacies and the injustices being committed.”>
Listening to the elder, seating himself at some point, he motioned for the elder to continue - and he did just that. For over an hour the elder spoke and the younger listened. Soon however the hour became late and he had to get home. As much as he wanted to stay, as much as he should, he was unable to and Seung did depart for home, with a promise to return as soon as he was able and to listen to more - to learn more. Word count: 1,348
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2016 12:02 pm
July 14, 2016 (Back dating to June 18.) Today he came with more things for his wonder, more candles as he had a feeling he should stock pile them in mass, but also he came with some cleaning products that were all natural and organic. He didn’t want to contaminate his wonder but he needed it clean, the dust and dirty was appalling and leaving the place so dirty was simply not right. He had plans today as well, aside from cleaning, as he came with pen and paper and ideas in his head.
Today he would start to set his sights on the bigger picture of his wonder, he would start to look at the whole and start to work on cleaning up things which weren’t just private and personal.
Bringing a ladder with him was no easy task but it was a necessary for the task he was planning to set himself to accomplishing today while here. He couldn’t make the changes today per-say but he would start the ball rolling, this was the first step toward finishing what he deemed as one of the simplest tasks.
The bag he carried with him, filled with food, water, candles, and more was set on the ground as he bent to open it and retrieve the notebook and pen from within its depths. The lantern he had was set down and turned on as well, so it could cast its light around the main entrance, or gathering, room. Moving the ladder to where he needed it, in front of a set of curtains, he started to climb it and figure out how to get the curtains down. He would take them down, one by one, and measure them so he could make new ones.
His cosplay costumes for this year were done, there had been a small weekend convention in Destiny City which he’d already attended, so he had the time now to work on making curtains. Curtains were fairly easy and simple to make. He just wasn’t sure what he wanted them to look like. Did he simply want to replace what had been here? Or did he perhaps want to do something new - something different? What colors, did he want to keep to the deep red these ones had been? Or did he want some other color.
He knew the colors of Ganymede, he wore the colors himself, but did he want to keep with tradition or did he want to go with what he liked? What made him happy? Maybe he would honor his ancestor and go with something more Korean, more oriental, in color and appearance? Some cross over perhaps? He wasn’t sure just yet but at least he would have the measurements for when he did figure it out.
Dropping the dust infested curtain to the ground he climbed down the ladder and went to stretching the curtain out. Returning to his bag he pulled out the measuring tape he also had brought and worked on getting the measurements. Working in the bright light of the lantern, though wishing for more light - proper light. He wrote down the numbers he needed before looking around wishing some garbage bin would appear for him to toss the useless curtain in. This thing was useless, moth eaten and destroyed by time. It had once been lovely, he was sure, but now...it was just filled. It just filled a spot and reminded someone of what once was there, what should be there, it was not worth keeping around since he would be making new ones.
As time went on Seung spent the time at his wonder busy climbing up and down a ladder, measuring fabric, and taking down notes. Each page of the notebook was filled up with numbers, locations, and other relevant information so he could do his job. He slowly came up with ideas. Maybe not just one set of curtains but different sets? They could be changed, so other sets could be cleaned and washed. Perhaps even to fit a mood or a season - did Ganymede even have those?
Would he someday look out the doors to see it snowing? He knew it rained but did it snow? Did they have blazing heat? Did they have light cooling misty rain or heavy fog which rolled in? He didn’t know and he wished he did...would his ancestor know? And even if he did that was a thousand years ago, had it changed since then? Would his ancestor know if it had, locked up down in his private quarters as he had been for so long.
Shaking his head as he dragged the ladder about he headed back to the entrance room and left the ladder in the middle of the room. The cleaning products he had brought, which he were in a large tupperware, was approached and a swiffer was pulled out followed by glass cleaner and a cloth to go with it. These items were put to work attacking the glass doors that led from the outside world into the theater. Cleaning the glass meant at some point he did have to put the ladder back to use, as he couldn’t reach the top of the glass doors.
The swiffer went to work removing the first layers of dust while he followed it up with a wood cleaning and then a polishing products. He wanted to get the heavy wood of the doors to glow and shine like he was sure it once did. He just hoped it would stay clean and not collect new dust while he was gone - three weeks was a long time. He wished he could come more often, could tend to his wonder more but alas he could not.
If he could get here more often he felt like he could do more, replace more, and bring more things to his wonder in order to improve it - to make it his. He wanted to do that - make it his. He wanted to make it a comfortable place for himself while still respecting his ancestor, plus he wanted to show his own culture and where he’d come from; where they both were from. He could be free here and express himself, something he couldn’t do at home.
Another thing he wished for was running water, he didn’t like having to walk outside to relieve himself as there was no running water and thus no proper bathroom. Seung was just grateful he’d not had a bathroom issue yet...until running water became a thing he didn’t think he could really spend a significant amount of time here and that bothered him, he really did want to spend time at his wonder. He knew he could, and would, be fixing somethings but there was no way he could figure out plumbing. That would mean he’d need to figure out where the water which had once run here had come from, how to treat it all, and everything else - more than he even knew about. It was more than he could even hope to fix.
While working, dusting, and cleaning Seung let his thoughts wander and only took a break when he needed to eat, drink, or relieve himself. Today was all about cleaning and preparing to upgrade some minor things. There were no curtains, nor windows, in the personal quarters of his wonder but he wouldn’t ignore his ancestor so once done with what he’d come to do he made a stop down there.
Seung didn’t plan to spend all day there, he couldn’t, but he couldn’t just turn up and leave without at least seeing his ancestor and explaining why he was here and what he was doing. So - that’s what he did. He went down and after greeting his elder he explained what he had been up to, which seemed to brighten the elder if the smile on his wizened face was anything to go by. Mentioning that he planned to do several sets of curtains, and why, gained him an approving nod.
It wasn’t a long talk, just him letting his elder know what he was planning to do and what he had done today, before Seng was leaving. He’d already spent a lot of time here. After depositing the candlesticks he’d brought with him, adding them to the mounting collection, he left and headed back for Destiny City. Word count: 1,397
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2016 8:06 pm
August 23, 2016 (Back dating a bit.) Eunkyung was known for her wandering, it was just something she did, but she wasn’t the only one who did it. Seung liked to wander as well just not as often as her, though it was becoming a common thing for him as of late. When he wasn’t at school or work, when he wasn’t doing homework, he was wandering around the city - letting his feet guide him. His homework sat in his backpack done and safely tucked into folders if it wasn’t written into the various notebooks he had. Work was over for the day and he just couldn’t remain in the apartment - he needed to get out. It felt hard to breath in there - too confining.
Having grabbed a hoodie, the one from his previous university, Seung left with his phone and ipod on his person and headed off to who knows where. He just needed to walk, to breath….to think...to escape.
Stepping out of the elevator Seung took his house key and slipped it into one of the tiny zipped pockets on the black and red patterned pants he wore, the tiny little pockets at the outside of his knees, and headed through the building's first floor entrance...room as he headed for the front doors.
Pushing open the front door he stepped outside and into the cool, soothing, spring night and off he went to somewhere, he had no intended destination or any plans to do anything. As he turned on his ipod and selected one of the two files he had it wasn’t the sounds of pretty flower boys singing to catchy music which began to play but rather the sounds of flutes, drums, and strings being played expertly. It just wasn’t the mood for pop music...his mood wasn’t right and the music would go right in one ear and out the other.
Walking through the city he let his feelings and mind wander, not at all remembering the necklace he wore or more importantly - what it did. Instead he just let himself drown in his own feelings and thoughts - to hell with everything else around him. Such a shameful thing.
At first his thoughts were a scrambled mix of everything all tossed about, as if tossed by some sea storm or hurricane. Slowly however Seung was able to at least sort his thoughts out and order them in some sensible manner. There were just so many thing son his mind, so many things plaguing him.
Being a knight wasn’t that hard, battles aside, but the language barrier did make things harder for him..it was harder to understand things, to learn, and to make allies and friends amongst his fellow knights or the senshi. That was an issue he was working hard to solve, spending a lot of time working on his English. It wasn’t an easy language though but some forgotten things, what he’d learned back in high school and middle school, he was remembering and picking back up quickly. It gave him little jumps, or perhaps hops was a better term, here and there in his learning the language. There were just parts, little but important parts, which were missing.
English...could he just use that as a header for everything? Everything wrong with him started with that - started with this country and culture.
It seemed all he did was do things wrong - be wrong. Language was the most obvious, even when he spoke in English his accent made things hard to understand. But his work ethic and how much he worked - how he worked...it was too much for other people but it didn’t feel like enough for himself...in the eyes of his father and mother. Like he just wasn’t putting in enough effort to do well - to achieve. It felt like the standards here were lower, the expectations were lower, but he was still set to the standards and expectations of home. His parents were, he knew that, so he pushed like he normally would and got told it was too much, he needed to rest, to work less, do less, take breaks, not push so hard. But he had so much to learn and relearn.
He had to learn to drive too..that was another thing he had to learn because it was another thing he had done wrong, had been doing wrong, and he needed to correct it. He needed to find out about lessons and then a license and a permit or a permit than lessons and finally the licence - that order seemed right. He honestly couldn’t remember, but he knew he had been taking lessons and he didn’t have a permit so was he wrong? God, it was too much!
He needed to be driving before the fall...incase public transport didn’t get him on time for classes at DCU. He would be returning to university soon to finish out his business degree and this summer was the time to learn to drive, even as he took a summer class to get a feel for things. DCU was a whole issue he didn’t want to face but had to. DCU just...he didn’t feel so welcome there, not after being yelled at and that black lives matter thing which he still didn’t completely understand. Classes would not be easy, it was University after all, and he worried that his English skills wouldn’t be up to par and he disliked the idea of help being provided to him - again. It just drove home the point his English wasn’t good enough - that he wasn’t good enough...that he wasn’t improving fast enough and closing the gap.
So lost in his own thoughts he didn’t notice corners turned and streets crossed as his feet led him to somewhere...to anywhere but home. They just moved, right then left and then right again. Dark eyes were distant, almost unseeing and almost unaware - so close yet not there. A blank face stared out at the world registering only what was needed, nothing else at the moment mattered as he let his feet take him to some unknown destination.
Where he wound up turned out to be the warehouses in the city, most empty and falling apart - unused and unattended. A good place to go to be alone but also a dangerous place as any Negaverse agent could be creeping about or youma, the thoughts didn’t come to him nor did the worry or concern for where he was. All he saw was an empty space...a large area where there weren’t people and where no one would see or hear him.
Four walls surrounded him with openings to the outside world, giving glimpses outside, but he was here inside...safe and alone. Just him and his thoughts and emotions…
Looking around himself, turning slowly, he let his head tip upward to look up into the night sky as a hole in the roof let him see up - to freedom...to the stars twinkling there so brilliantly.
“Why…” He whispered into the air. Why...why what? Why everything. Why wasn’t he able to get there faster, why wasn’t he better...why was he a burden, why - so many why’s and so many problems - all with him. As emotions crashed over him and pulled him under, as the ocean swallowed him up, he bent at the middle and just screamed for no one to hear, for the stars and the confines of the warehouse to hear - for himself to hear. To give voice to all that he felt...a voice he’d never let anyone else here….a voice no one else could hear.
As he felt himself shaking with silent sobs wracking him he let his legs give out as his knees landed on the warehouse floor before he came to lay curled on his side, one arm pillowing his head while the other curled in close to his chest.
“I need to do better...to fit in…” He whispered for only his own ears to hear.
“But then...do I die? No more Kim Seung…” He whispered to the emptiness that was the warehouse - that was himself in this moment. Tears tracked down his cheeks and dripped onto the dirty ground beneath him. He let them come, didn’t hold them back, he didn’t need to here as he let the cracks show, stopped hiding them, he let his emotions crest like a wave and crash down on and around him - let the darkness of his emotions surround him.
It was at some point, he didn’t know when, that the darkness had captured him and brought him under. Unconsciousness pulled him into her embrace and he went silently, easily, and as he fell he powered down. Left nothing but a civilian on the floor he didn’t wake for some time, how long he didn’t know and didn’t seek to find out. As he sat up some time later and let himself just drift in the feelings and let them take him over.
When he climbed to his feet he headed himself out and toward home, or maybe not. He didn’t know where he would go, maybe home, maybe somewhere else. Word count: 1,529
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2016 8:53 pm
August 23, 2016 (Back dating to August 19-21.) The funeral for his most honored grandparents had been long and filled with tears, something he didn’t wish to repeat any time in the near future. He hoped, now more than ever before, that his father's parents lived a long life - a very long life. He knew it was wrong, and insensitive, to wish for them to live a long life only to help himself, not that it was the only reason it was just the only one at the moment in his mind, but he was human and thus full of faults.
Their arrival on Friday had allowed them to observe both days of the wake, both Friday and Saturday, where monks from the temple his grandparents had gone their entire lives had chanted over their bodies. The good things his grandparents had done were spoken of, how it impacted and helped others, were spoken of. The offerings had been made, he had offered fruit to his deceased grandparents, and incense lit and more was done.
Friends and family from all around Busan and other parts of the country had turned up, some of the elderly people having to be brought by their own children - a sad thing to see. There had been crying, lots of it, his mother clung to his father as her knees spent most of the time weak and shaky. His two uncles, his mother's brothers, had gotten her to sit numerous times.
He had held his little sister, let her cry against his suit, and held onto his younger cousin as well. These might not be Eunkyung’s grandparents but she was part of the family, when two people married the families married as well. His father's parents had arrived as well, for this very reason, and had been as mournful as everyone else there but they seemed upset as well. Perhaps upset that the two had done such a thing? Suicide was against their beliefs, and he knew that.
Friday night he spent back in Seoul at his fraternal grandparents home, since so many family members were in Busan and those who lived there had full homes. He didn’t want to burden them with yet another body taking up space.
Since he’d had dinner with the whole family, at a family member's house in Busan before departing for Seoul, he had gotten himself dressed in order to go out with friends. He knew drinking and having fun, when his grandparents had just died, was not necessarily proper but what else should he do? He didn’t get to see his friends often, though he had only just seen them a few weeks ago when he and Terry had visited, but Seung also didn’t want to let the negative feelings and sadness drown him while he was here. He wanted to try and have some fun, enjoy the short few days he’d be here.
The drinking was to be expected, along with everything else which came with it, the games and talking and laughter. Some talks about him looking good, since last night he had been told he’d gained weight and was getting fat. The other unsurprising thing which came up was his eyes - again but that came after his friends asked him if he would ever move back and continue university, if he would get a job in Korea. He honestly wasn’t sure about moving back, not since he was a knight and had a dust of sorts. He didn’t, and couldn’t, tell his friends this but he just wasn’t sure if he would move back and try to make a life for himself here.
His answer however had his friends, the two females in the group, telling him that if he decided to live here he should make his eyes nicer so he would get good job and make good life for himself - for future wife. He couldn’t, and didn’t, correct his friends and tell them he was gay - that he had a boyfriend. He didn’t tell them that his friend was more than a friend, he couldn’t. He loved Terry, he knew he did, and he wasn’t ashamed of him...but some things were simply not acceptable and he was too scared to tell his friends. He had always been too scared, if he hadn’t been scared he would have told Akihiko all those years ago, he wouldn’t be so good with keeping secrets and telling lies.
Saturday was much the same as Friday had been, though he was hungover Saturday morning. The wake had ended when his family had carried out the two caskets, someone carrying a picture of his grandmother and another of his grandfather, as the coffins were loaded into the two waiting hearse that would take them to the crematorium.
Climbing into a black car set to follow the two hearse he sat with his family, silent as ever, and listened to his mother's sobs and his father try to comfort her. His grandparents would be burned, monks would be chanting as they entered the oven and were set ablaze. The ashes would be picked up tomorrow and scattered out over the ocean, they had both loved the ocean so much.
His hands clenched in his lap as he leaned back in his seat, dark eyes closing as he fought off the tears which sought to spill down his cheeks. He would not let his mother's own emotions affect his own, she would not be the reason he cried.
He did cry though as the bodies left the hearses and headed into the building. The monks were already there and waiting, the chanting starting as soon as the coffins entered the building. They were brought back to where they would be taken care of. The monks would chant and pray over the coffins as they entered the fire, to be consumed and turned to ash, later when it happened.
It wasn't until the family was gathered, for the second time, for lunch this time that something which had been eating at him was brought up in whispers to his parents. One of his friends, one of the females who kept bringing up his eyes and weight, had mentioned she had just gotten the aegyo sal done with her eyes. He had noted, and told her, that it looked good - it looked cute. It was a sudden decision on his part, as he had stated numerous times that he didn’t want to get anything but his nose done and he’d had that done; years ago.
As he whispered to his parents though he asked for something he never thought he’d ask for, asked to do something he never thought he’d do again. He was asking to go under the knife one more time. It wasn't for double eyelids or to have the corners of his eyes cut so his eyes would be larger, he was still sticking to his guns on that, he was asking to do the same thing as his friend had. He’d never had much there, in the aegyo sal area under his eyes, and with how cute it had looked on her and the eye smile she’d had…
Biting his lip as he waited for his parents permission, or rejection, Seung was somewhat surprised when they agreed. Once lunch was over Seung was able to call to one of the biggest clinics and get in before they closed three hours from then. The trip there from Busan was a bit rushed but he and his mother went, together, and once inside were brought to one of the numerous doctors who did such surgeries.
The consultation had gone well, it wasn’t something all surgeons did or liked to do, and an appointment in two weeks was set up. For the next two weeks he couldn’t use his contacts and was to keep in good health and not drinking the three days leading up to the surgery, which was easy to follow. It would be hard to not wear his contacts but...he’d do what he had to. He’d done it once before, when he’d gotten his nose done, he could do it again.
There was a whole list of things he couldn’t do before hand, and things he had to do before hand, it had been awhile since he’d gotten his nose done so the list of things seemed...daunting. But it was all printed up for him in a nice helpful packet of information. Setting an appointment and everything he left with his mother, an arm about her shoulders, as he talked to her on the way out of the building.
He couldn’t believe he was doing this but seeing it on his friend, the words, the drinking...and it was a good look. He didn’t feel pressured, though he knew if he told Terry the other would ask about it - ask if he was pressured and perhaps even assume he was. That made up his mind for him - he wasn’t telling Terry. It was just for a weekend trip back in two weeks to get it done. He’d set up a follow up appointment with a doctor back in Destiny City to get stitches removed and for any other care he might need, which he doubted would be a need.
It was on the way to his grandparents, his mother sitting in the subway car next to him, that he put his ipod on and with that in his pocket, the screen locked, he pulled out his phone in order to check twitter and do a few other things. One of those things was changing the wallpaper on his phone, he had to show his support, as he went surfing about google images for the perfect picture of Suga from BTS to display. He’d dropped his mixtape a few days ago and the first music video as well, which was well over a million views at this point. He was proud of Suga, who was his bias in the group, and so after some searching he had a new wallpaper on his phone. Pleased with the picture he put his phone away and pulled out his ipod to unlock the screen.
Changing the songs he let himself relax as the subway brought them closer to his grandparents home where he’d stay for the night. They would leave tomorrow as soon as the ashes were scattered at the ocean. They couldn’t spend too long here in Korea, as much as he wished they could. He would go out tonight with his friends, again, and enjoy the night while he had it. Sometimes, times like this, where he felt like he belonged and was perfectly normal Seung wanted nothing to do but stay here - to move back. But then he had a duty now, something an ancestor of his was trusting him with, and he had Terry.
He was so very conflicted he felt like he was being pulled at each arm. He couldn’t tell anyone, couldn’t burden them, so he kept his turmoil., his suffering, his stress all bottled up within himself and let it fester and eat at him, let it bring him more pain. He reached up, absentmindedly, to toy with the necklace he wore always. He spent the subway trip like this until they got off, then he had to focus on people and other things, as he and his mother left the station and made their way above ground and took a bus and then walked to reach his grandparents home.
That night...that night he went out again with friends to drink. He drank to forget, he drank to loosen up, he drank to joke around and he drank to be free. He didn’t care that he drank a lot, he didn’t care that at the end of the night he was hanging off of a friend, he wasn’t burdened as he was brought to his grandparents home, for the second time that evening, but this time it was by a cab because he was too intoxicated to walk it. When he finally crashed in his bed he was able to sleep peacefully and as he drifted he wished, not for the first time, that he didn’t have to return to Destiny City - that he was free of so many burdens. He wished for his old life...it was easier, it was mapped out. He was chains that he wanted...the freedom which they gave him.
Morning came and with it he rose and made ready. He washed and cleaned up, made himself up, and did everything else which he had to before they went to bid his grandparents one final farewell. Their ashes were there, waiting when he and those in Seoul arrived, at the ocean and together they watched as they were let loose to the air. As the air took them away he let his mother hold onto him as his father, let her cries fill his ears and then passed his mother off to her brothers.
He moved toward his sister to embrace her. He had not seen her in months and now he had seen her so much. Holding her, his fingers carded through her dark hair, as he leaned down to whisper words of comfort to her. When she asked how he was, was he happy, he lied. “Yes, I am happy.” He knew she would see through it, but he couldn’t let her knew the truth, he would hope she would assume he was upset and not doing well. He would not let her know that the depression he had suffered in on and off bouts growing up had reared it’s head and was swallowing him alive - that he resided within its belly like Jonah had been swallowed alive by a whale.
Instead he spoke with her gently, spoke to other cousins of his, as he moved between family members and assured them that he was doing well, that he was keeping up his grades, that he would visit for the Lunar New Year. He danced the dance and sang the song and they all bought the act, aside from his sister and his cousin Eunkyung. He knew they saw through it all but so long as they let him dance his way through this he would be ok - he needed this...their family needed this. He was not allowed to be what he actually was.
It seemed all too soon that a plane was being boarded and they were headed back for Destiny City, he was headed back to duties and to Terry but he still felt empty and melancholy. He still was torn between two things and damn it...he just wanted to sleep and not wake up. Word count: 2,459
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2016 12:31 am
September 1, 2016 (Back dating a week.) IThe trip back home had yielded many things, many good things indeed, and now those things were all in a large tupperware container, for ease of transporting it all, as Venice was bringing it all to his wonder. He had many things to bring with him up to his wonder - many wonderful things.
He’d taken his time, it was a time consuming endeavor without a doubt, but he had made curtains for his wonder. They were a lovely dark midnight blue velvet with silvery gray fake fur running the length of the curtains bottom. It would sweep the floor, which he needed to deal with before putting up the curtains, but he had come prepared for the floor and tackling that mess also.
He had done some researching, looking up how to pull up carpeting, and he was ready to get to work when he arrived. When he arrived he went right to getting out the tool he had brought to help lift and remove the carpet. He was hoping the wood beneath was good - useable, but he just didn’t know. He didn’t know what he was expecting even, he knew what he was hoping for, but he knew the stage floor had gaping holes in it so he wasn’t sure how the floor of the big entrance hall would be. He hadn’t stepped anywhere which had given under his feet, a plus, but he hadn’t walked everywhere either.
Seung worked tirelessly, for well over an hour, tearing up the carpet in sections so he could easily move it. He didn’t know what to do with the garbage, there wasn’t a dumpster or anything behind his wonder, so he simply dragged the pieces of carpet out the front doors and left it on the steps leading up the his wonders large wooden and glass doors. He would figure it out later, he just needed it out of the way, and work continued once all the carpet was up and the floor beneath was revealed to be a dark wooden color and in good shape - it was complete. The next step was an all natural cleaning product and something to apply it with, after a dusting of the wooden floor and general quick clean up of it.
This all took time, a lot of it, and he took breaks to drink and eat, as he wiped sweat from his brow and shifted his glasses back into place multiple times. He couldn’t wait till he could put his contacts back in, wearing his glasses was fast becoming a pain in the a**.
It was worth it though, all of it was, as the floor was clean and shone as he moved the ladder, he’d brought on his last trip, into place. The curtains slowly got put up, hung by the wooden poles he watched then hit the ground and sweep it just as he knew they would. Smiling he nodded to himself in pleasure. It was light out, the sun shone through the glass parts of the front doors. He could see his work here, could see the progress in it’s beauty. Down in his own living quarters things were harder to see, as they always would be, but that didn’t stop him as he dragged the tupperware with him into the theater and down to the mess of chairs he had to climb over.
Dragging the large container with him he fell a few times, tripped, swore he twisted his ankle, and finally he had it where he wanted it. That was he hesitated. Did he want to drop it down? Could he…
Biting on his bottom lip he reconsidered it as he looked down into the darkness, which was only illuminated by the flashlight he carried with him every time he came here. “Damn it.” Cursing his fingers raked through his hair before he decided he really had no choice.
He just had to remove certain items first. From the container he pulled some wooden lanterns and set them aside, he didn’t want to break them, the rest of the containers contents weren’t breakable. Pushing the container over he watched, and listened, as it hit the floor below. Now...he could jump down on his own..but what about the lamps? That was when he got an idea. He went out of the room and came back a minute, or less, later with the ladder. The ladder was lowered, slowly and gently, into the darkness till it hit the floor below.
He was now able to lower himself down into the basement and he could take a lantern with him, one at a time, it was daunting but he was able to get the six wooden lanterns down with him! Cheering mentally as he got them all down, and back into the tupperware container, he was able to drag the container all the way to the entrance of the living quarters and then inside.
Once he was inside, and the large container was next to him, he turned around and bowed. It was, as always, a nice low bow that he held for several seconds as he called out a greeting to his ancestor. The flashlight he held in his hands was brought up then, once he straightened himself, as he sought out the owner of the voice which had greeted him in return.
<”I have missed you, honored ancestor. I have am sorry for not being here in several weeks. I was unable to however.”> He could not come here as often as Terry could go to his wonder, or as often as he wished he could come here. He wished he could come here more often, and spend longer here, but neither was possible.
<”I brought some things I have been working on, and things I purchased, for here. If you do not mind me decorating a bit.”> He spoke, knowing the answer as he’d gotten it already. He had permission to make things comfortable for himself, but it still felt wrong not to ask. It just felt...right. It felt like he was invading someone else's personal space and that changing things might upset the elder, this had been his dwelling place for how long?
Could this ever be his wonder, his living quarters, with his ancestor here? He wondered about this as he went to light the candles he kept here. Lighting them, one by one, he was glad for the light they gave off and filled the sitting room with. There were no windows here so no need for curtains down here. But the lanterns would be going down here and he did have carpeting to rip up….but damn it if he wasn’t tired.
He could do the other curtains next time, tear up the carpet, the next time and finish today’s work by placing the lanterns...that sounded like a good idea now that he thought about it. That in his mind he nodded to himself before he started to move about as he placed each one of the lanterns. Two in the bathroom, one on the counter top in the bathroom, two in the living room. The last one he placed in the office when he left, after some time was spent with his ancestor talking.
The two had needed to talk, it had been too long since they’d last spoken. He took the time to gently, very gently, mention the idea of energy collection and how it may help their side in furthering themselves in this war. Seung was quick in explaining that he understood taking energy from other people, and being, was not right so if he could he would collect his own. He wouldn’t take from another person nor would he take from an innocent animal, it was a price he was willing to pay. It wasn’t his place to drag other people into the war, even in that small a manner, or to do something against an animal.
He didn’t like the war, he didn’t like that there had to be sides...that there was no real grey zone...no balance. There should always be both dark and light in the world and the fact he was trying to help in taking out the dark side of things bothered him...but this darkness was a danger. It wanted to wipe out the light side...how could a balance be found when neither side wanted it? It was something which had bothered him for a while now and it made his status, as a knight, a hard burden to bare. But, as his ancestor reminded him and he recited, life was suffering - to live was to suffer.
People suffered because they sought things which gave temporary happiness, material things, things that were not lasting. But this, wasn’t this a lasting thing that he was striving for? Peace...a place where people didn’t have to worry about their energy being taken, no worry of attacks, torture, kidnapping, destruction, and other things. Why did such an honorable thing bring such suffering? Why was it so hard to achieve? Though...when was something worth achieving ever easy to achieve? It wasn’t meant to be, they had to be earned. But wasn’t balance what they needed? But to have that meant to have war between the sides...and not the push against each other sort of war that opposites had but rather the war they were in - where each side sought to eliminate the other and take over all.
The talk was brief but deep, meaningful, and it left him conflicted and questioning. His ancestor admitted to having faced the same conflict himself, it seemed to go with the title of knight, so when he went home, tired and filled with thoughts, Seung upon arriving home ate dinner, cleaned up, and went to bed early. He needed the sleep after everything today.Word count: 1,642
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2016 12:06 am
September 3, 2016 (Back dating to August 31st.) The third day of classes, the second day for the classes he had taken on the first day, and he was ready to finally learn! Rather than introductions, like Monday, today there would be lessons given by the professors and Seung couldn’t wait for it. He had gotten up early and made himself lunch, showered, dressed and got himself ready for classes before heading out to catch a bus to the campus.
The bus was, thankfully, on time and he got on. Taking a seat near the doors he waited and watched as other people got onto the bus. Noting a mother with a small child, too young for school, and an elderly couple who were in the back talking. The various people, young and old, were interesting to look at in order to pass the time as the bus got closer to his destination. As it stopped and gained more people and lost people Seung didn’t take notice of where it stood - more than when he got on or less, he just noted the ebb and flow of bodies. He noticed that as he took a glance over each person, interested in how some dressed and in other aspects of each person.
When the bus finally reached his stop he got off and headed past the gates and onto the campus grounds. He wasn’t in a hush but he also had no reason to walk slow and drag his feet. He wasn’t waiting for anyone, had no place else to be, and he wasn’t planning to take the time to socialize on his way to class. He just wanted to get to class, simple as that.
When he did arrive for his Japanese 101 class the same group of early to arrive students were there, some already talking about the textbook as they’d taken a look at it, it seemed some of his classmates were studious? Or perhaps he was just making a hopeful guess? But the fact that some had looked through the book, read some of it, when they had no homework yet seemed promising...at least he hoped so.
Walking past the group he was stopped in his tracks, almost to his desk, by the same voice he’d heard Monday morning and the same voice from the cafeteria. The female in his class but this time it wasn’t shouting senpai but rather oppa. While she had the word right, since it was Korean just like he was, it was still...odd to hear it from someone he didn’t know. He wasn’t friends with her and certainly not her elder brother or boyfriend.
“Not your oppa.” He said hoping to be gentle about it, to not upset her, but it was true and having someone who was simply a classmate call him that or it’s Japanese equivalent since first seeing him was very off putting and wrong - strange.
Turning away from her he continued on his way to his seat and sat his bag on the desk in order to remove textbook, notebook, and pen from inside before tucking it between a small dividing wall and the flat screen monitor. The keyboard was moved, just as a male classmate was asking him what oppa meant, and his books moved to where the keyboard had been.
“Is used by females only for older brother, older male friend….or boyfriend. It is formal..It is for someone you know.” Since friend meant you knew the person as did brother and certainly boyfriend. “Would be equal to senpai...to put simply.”
Taking his seat he went to flip his notebook to the third page, since the first two were notes on class expectations and other things the professor had told them which they needed to know.
Now he sat and waited and watched his classmates. When the professor came walking in a little over five minutes later the girl, her blond hair done in a fishbone braid down her back, sat herself next to him again. So...this would be her seat for the semester - lovely. They were allowed to sit wherever they wanted, and change as they pleased, but she seemed content to sit next to him...not something he was fond of really.
As the lesson started they learned about where Japanese language derived from, about the three different writing systems and how many characters were contained within each. They were told that they would learn the writing and would be practicing that, half of their quiz on each following Wednesday would be half writing in Japanese and half romanization. That seemed fair, in his opinion, though the vocabulary words which would need to be written in each style would be random - so they needed to know both for every word.
So far it would be easy as they went in to what the words for today were, what words they would work on learning to say and write today. Monday they would go over it, make sure they knew it, and move on then to the numbers - which were easy. They wouldn’t take long to learn, at least not one to a hundred. Beyond a hundred some of them might forget things but that was also easy.
Around the room the professor went having them each recite the list of vocabulary words, some had good pronunciation on some of the words. Their professor was quick to correct when and where needed, thankfully he didn’t have an issue as he was fluent already and these were the most basic of words, but no praise was given either and for that he was grateful - he didn’t want the attention.
When the girl, Hannah, had gone before him she’d had several issues and their professor had pointed them out whilst ignoring her pouting look. When the class had to break into pairs to work on the words he had gotten up to seek out a male student only to be intercepted, while trying to get out of his little corner of the classroom, by Hannah who wouldn’t let him past her. She wanted to, of course, work with him - work with oppa.
Gently informing her, again, that it wasn’t proper for her to call him oppa he settled in to help her as he figured she wasn’t about to let him past and he didn’t care to make a scene. So the next fifteen minutes was spent like this...helping her more than working on things himself as he didn’t need to. When the time was up another pass around the room was made, some improvements made were pointed out while others were told they still needed work.
Once it was over they were being assigned homework and he was writing it down, in his own native handwriting and then he was packing up and heading out of the room with a bow and good bye given to the professor on his way out. He made his way down the hall, quickly, in the hopes of avoiding Hannah. He didn’t wish to deal with her - at all. She was nice...but too friendly and wanted to be too close to him.
After this he headed off for his next class, knowing it would be harder and not as fun as the Japanese class but he would not be getting called such things either. Seung really was looking forward to seeing his professor teach, to learning, and to getting back on track.
So as he left the language and arts building he headed off to the building across the quad where he was needed for his second class of the day. Fishing his phone from his school bag as he went in order to check for any texts from Terry, or anyone else. .Word count: 1,291
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2016 12:11 pm
September 3, 2016 The plane trip, just him and his mother, had been a long one and most of it spent between sleeping and being up talking to his mother. He was able to eat during the flight but for the rest of the flight he refrained from eating. He couldn’t eat the eight hours before the surgery, or drink, it was a good thing he was confined to a plane and not out and about where the temptation of food, and drink, would be like a siren’s call to him. It was a very good thing, of he’d have likely given in. As it was once they were six hours away from landing he had to refrained from both things, and thus took to sleeping the rest of the trip in order to avoid the temptation.
It was his mother's voice, and her gently rocking, that woke him. It was her voice which he first heard but then he heard a voice speaking, telling the passengers that they would soon be landing. Shifting, stretching, he sat up properly and buckled back up to prepare for the landing. By now he was used to flying, in the last year he’d flown from Korea to Destiny city, to move there, then from Destiny City to Korean, and back again, for the Lunar new Year. There had been the summer vacation...then his grandparents funeral and now this. Nope, flying didn’t bother him at this point. He’d made too many trips for it to bother him.
Fixing his glasses he sat talking with his mother, they had a small hotel room till Sunday afternoon when they would leave Seoul for Destiny City, via Incheon airport. As they talked the plane made its approach to it’s designated runway and made it’s landing. The landing, the initial touch of wheels to tarmax, was a bit of a bounce but otherwise there was nothing which even gained his attention until the voice called that they had arrived, and could get up now and depart the plane in an orderly fashion.
Getting up, after unbuckling himself, he grabbed his carry on from the holding space above his head. Taking his mother's down as well he offered to carry them both as they joined the que in leaving the plane.
As they had brought nothing else with them, aside from the carry on luggage, they didn’t need to wait for anything and took a cab from the airport to the large clinic, fifteen stories, where he would for the second time in his life be going under the knife. It wasn’t something he’d ever considered till this summer...then he’d not only considered it but went ahead with setting this up.
He wondered, as they sat in the cab, how long until someone got worried about no texts or social media posts. He hadn’t posted a single thing on any site those he knew in Destiny City would know, he still used his Kakao Story account and that was where he had posted while on the plane. It was something he knew was safe and secure, from those in Destiny City, mentioning where he was and what he was doing - what his plans for the day were. He added a picture of himself on the plane before finishing his post with a comment about going to sleep - since he couldn’t eat and the food on the plane was good and tempting.
Now that he was on the way to the clinic he was checking his account while talking to his mother, finding a few of his friends had messaged back he smiled as he noted the comments and the emoticons they used. He sent a message back that he wouldn’t be up for going out tonight, considering he was going to be post op and wanted time to recover. But he added that he didn’t think he’d be doing much tomorrow but shouldn’t be drinking - it wouldn’t help the swelling or anything. So he couldn’t go drinking.
The message sent he logged out and went back to talking to his mother for the remained of the cab ride. The talk was about food, what they should do for dinner, was he nervous - a little, did he want to go shopping tomorrow - yes, and other little things. When they did arrive he headed inside while his mother paid the cab driver. Checking in he went to take a seat with his mother, not that they had long to sit, when they were called the duo headed off to the surgeon's office so he could get marked up, talk with the surgeon on last time, before pictures taken - free of charge. Everyone was done in what seemed like a whirlwind of activity but soon enough it was over and he was drifting off to sleep, an iv in his arm, and the surgeon would get to work on the small procedure. Word count: 823
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2016 2:22 pm
September 4, 2016 When he woke, slowly, Seung was groggy as was to be expected. Shifting a bit, a small sound of discomfort passing his lips. He was not in the most comfortable of positions as he was sitting up in a chair sleeping, his head lolling to the side. His neck was stiff, as was his back, as he stretched he heard his mother's voice and then felt his glasses being slipped on.
Slowly, gently, opening his swollen eyes, it sort of felt like he’d been punched in the eyes but without the pain. The reason for the lack of pain he was soon looking at, a needle in his arm that was connected to a bag with a solution inside of it. Likely there was some pain killers added in so he wasn’t hurting like he should be.
Once his glasses were on, and his eyes open, he could see things clearly though he really wanted to close his eyes again. They really felt tired and swollen and like they should just be closed, and he said as much to his mother. He wanted to get to the hotel and get to sleep, this was...in a way more annoying than his nose had been.
When a nurse came in to remove the IV he was given a take home care package, numbers to call if need be, and other things. This was all handed over to his mother as he went to find a bathroom, the iv fluids had him in desperate need of a bathroom.
When he returned, the problem dealt with, he was able to leave with his mother. Using her as support, as he kept letting his eyes drift closed, he scooted into a cab with her and off to the hotel they went. While in the cab he was able to comfortably lean on his mother and close his eyes - giving them some more much needed rest.
Groaning when they arrived, he really had lost track of time, he had nearly fallen asleep in the back of the cab. The lull of the moving vehicle soothing and his mother's slender digits running through his hair. It was peaceful and comforting, something he was grateful for right now.
Dinner would have to wait, he whispered that and an apology to her as he leaned on her once out of the cab and standing on the curb. As she paid the cab he heard her laugh gently, a gentle sound, and assure him that she had figured this would happen. He should get some rest anyway - he needed it. So the help from her up to their room, it was two rooms connected by a shared bathroom, got them to their room in a good amount of time. He kept his eyes open but only just - he didn’t want to risk walking into anything or bumping people.
The trip to their room wasn’t bad, he didn’t put so much of his weight onto his poor mother this time, but once he was in his room he was taking off his shoes and heading right for the bed and laying down. Inch worming up the length of the bed till his head found the pillow, his feet no longer dangling over the edge of the bed, he grabbed the pillow and lifting his head he brought it under his head fully. Laying his head on the pillow he called out a good night to his mother, asked her to wake him for dinner, and let sleep take him.Word count: 591
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
