inxthexshadowxofxdeath

[inxthexshadowxofxdeath]

Kim Jae Uck .gif series

Ryan Gold in formal clothes

#go on bare your teeth [ min | looks ] #//speaking of min

[inxthexshadowxofxdeath]

Min didn't cross his arms when he was feeling guarded; Min crossed his arms when he was pissed off. Still, the look on his face was impassive, tone level as he commented:

"You are always such a little bitch."

He quirked a brow.

"What about our relationship makes you think I could do anything to keep you anywhere?" A scoff, "If I could make you do anything, neither of us would be trapped here. I'd have preferred that. But as we all know, you're stubborn as a bull and I'm good but not a miracle worker. Stop deliberately pissing me off."

His hands fell to his sides now. "I'm not your teacher, Jae-Sung. Do you need me to dismiss you?"

Because he wouldn't. Min was very clear what Jae did, in fact, owe him.

"i don't owe you anything." jae-sung tucked his hands into his pockets now, he was never one to cross his arms like min did, it usually meant he was trying to be guarded when he did and around min he didn't feel the need to be that. "now can i go or are you going to try and find a way to keep me here?"

#the torture of small talk [ min | jae ]

[inxthexshadowxofxdeath]

And now Sydney was angry — at himself, at this stupid fucking town… So upset at collapsing into his own anxieties that he almost forgot to be angry with his fiancé. Ex fiancé.

His brow furrowed but he didn’t pull away.

“We haven’t been though anything close to this before, Eiji. You don’t understand…”

In a rare moment of self-reflection, the world stopped revolving around Sydney. He thought outside of himself and how while and he and Eiji where wedding planning or making each other’s lives miserable or living fabulous lives in L.A. these people — his people, Edgar and Art — had been stuck here.

He turned his face away, breaking his gaze from Eiji now. He wrapped his arms around his own body, feeling stupid for how much comfort Eiji’s hands on his waist and face felt. Once more he didn’t pull away, but he had regained enough control to at least try and make sure Eiji knew Sydney was still furious with him. Whether it worked or not was up for interpretation. His ring stayed firmly in his fist, now hidden under his bicep as he hugged himself.

“I’m still upset. — Of course, it’s your fault. It’s always your fault. How the fuck are we supposed to get married when I can’t even be sure if you love me more than you love keeping me on a leash like a fucking prized Pomeranian.”

In reality, the truth of the situation was probably closer to they both brought out the worst qualities in one another, Sydney knew that. He was doing that thing he did, where he tried to push people away with the sharpness of his tongue. Still E was good at saying very pretty words that made Sydney feel like true love could exist and Sydney was just the unlovable one that Eiji was so fucking patient with. And here Eiji was. Stuck in Hell for him.

“Well, that’s deeply romantic.” He lifted his own hand to wipe the final tears from his cheek with the base of his palm. And there it was, that brief flicker of self-doubt that flashed across Sydney’s face. The ‘maybe I was wrong’ that always seemed to come. Maybe I was the drama. Maybe I was the asshole. Maybe Eiji knows best like he always does.

“……I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be so…” He exhaled, voice trailing, “I’m sorry.”

Looking at Sydney's face, deep into his eyes, watching how those eyes gazed back, Eiji could sense the unease, the uncertainty of the entire situation they had both now been thrust into. Sooner than even E had expected, Sydney broke, fingers already curling around his jacket, pulling him closer, words frantic and eyes glazed with tears.

"Hey, hey," his other hand came up, mirroring the hand on the opposite side, gently holding Syd's head still, foreheads now touching, "from what everyone has told me, everything in this place is wrong, but we've been through worse, so we can get through this too."

E meant every word he said, and brought one hand down to Sydney's waist, pulling him in closer while the other hand wiped away the first of the fallen tears. "Of course. I know things got shitty, but you left so upset...and that was my fault. I couldn't let you go knowing I'd made you feel like that. I couldn't find you...no one could find you. But I wasn't going to stop."

#i said what i said [ syd | eiji ]

[inxthexshadowxofxdeath]

Sol’s nose crinkled.

“Adding boy onto sparkle isn’t as sexy…”

He paused, sorting through some internal conflict in his mind before handing the sketch book to Maverick. “…I like to do thumbnail mock ups before I start a painting… I like to work big…” he motioned behind him with his chin to the large canvases on display, “Helps to know what direction I’m going in so I don’t waste paint…” He chewed on his bottom lip, already anxious. The sketchbook was filled with colorful abstract painting ideas as was promised on some pages, detailed pencil drawings on the others — lots of portraiture.

He picked at the sleeve of his shirt with his free hand, his other occupied with its cigarette.

“….I saw you on stage… You stole most people’s attention the entire time. Even during the Ducktales theme. Crazy choice by the way...” He exhaled a trail of smoke with the flicker of a smirk that faded soon as it arrived. Continuing genuinely, “…You’re really talented.”

"Hey there, Sparkleboy" Maverick lifted his hand and gave a little finger wave at Sol. "You greatly underestimate my ability to be bored" he said as he perused the art at the booth. "You working on something here?" He asked, giving a gesture towards the smudged pigment on his hand.

#we need to talk? that has never been true [ sol | maverick ]

[inxthexshadowxofxdeath]

She had a nice smile when it actually reached her eyes Min noted.

"Yes. It compliments you." A pause as she continued, glancing down at his black and grey outfit. "...I don't think I own anything other than a neutral. Everything in my wardrobe goes with everything else. It’s practical.” Another pause, glancing at her and then to the rack. “— Perhaps I should expand..?”

Well, at least this one had manners. Her smile became more genuine though as Min complimented the dress she had been holding. It was a minor comment, but still appreciated. Especially given the last time anyone commented on her outfit choice it was backhanded and bitchy. "You think so? I've always preferred lighter colors. Black and grey are nice, but those are also colors of mourning. At least in this culture."

#the torture of small talk [ min | xiu ]

[inxthexshadowxofxdeath]

Cab did not mean to have woken Anika up this morning, and he absolutely didn't mean to see so much of her when she opened the door. Anika was a known city dweller and on the way to the chapel; she would know what constituted as 'avant garde.' At least that was the reasoning Cab kept repeating to himself.

He wasn't expecting to stay long at all this evening -- the festival was more his scene. Balls like this reminded him of the night Tyler was killed and his conversation with Brother Sin about never truly being themselves anymore... Brother Sin... He worried about him. He worried about this gathering of people and how often things went wrong when they all got together in one place. He worried about not being here if something were to happen. He worried...

When Anika waved him over he was almost at the door, frozen, undecided if he wanted to stay or leave. Focused on her face he didn't notice much else about her until he approached.

"Dramatic is far tamer a word than I would choose, agent Eze..."

I fluster you but you're trying very hard not to show it. Whether it's the questions or the fact I'm attractive doesn't really matter.

"Thank you for your help." He cleared his throat and directed his gaze to the dance floor, "You look nice... If you'd like I can leave my jacket wit' you so you won't get cold latter on. If y'plan on stayin' that is. Could put it behind the bar."

Anika leaned against a nearby wall as she listened to the most recent performance. A young woman with a lot of talent that really was wasted on a town like this. They knew that when it came to knowing a town it was always best to be in the middle of everything with its residents so going to this ridiculous farce of a day seemed a good choice.

It seemed pathological the way they avoided what was going on a night. Normal evening functions held in the afternoon. Home before it got too dark. Why had no one put in the full scale effort to investigate what was going on? Why were they all just living with it? Anika closed their eyes for a moment, tired from being up since just after dawn. Apparently people here were morning people and a certain reverend felt it was appropriate to knock on her door when the sun was barely in the sky.

When she opened her eyes she spotted the offending man and waved him over. "Well look who decided to go with a spot of colour. Personally I liked my more dramatic idea's but I suppose this is a start." @inxthexshadowxofxdeath

#we are not forgotten god knows our name [ cab | anika ]

[inxthexshadowxofxdeath]

Hobbes smile grew when he saw Matt and Tish walking his way. "There they are!" He returned the stolen kiss while Tish's head was turned, parting with enough time to catch Matt's chin playfully between his fingers, chucking him under the chin. "What're you doin' keepin' me waitin', huh? Tish, you were supposed to be keepin' your dad on track! You know he can't be left to his own devices."

He clocked the bouquet of flowers she was eying.

"'Course I have to. It's my job to spoil her, right boss?" He addressed Tish like the big kid that she was, holding out his fist for her to fist bump. Speaking of spoiling Tish... "You want a bouquet of flowers?" He turned to Matt, "Looks like you owe us two bouquets of flowers. I don't make the rules."

@inxthexshadowxofxdeath

who: Matt & Hobbes (and Tish) where: the festival

Matt smiled widely at Hobbes and waved, heading over to him with a small flirty look in his eye, he had Tish with him so while she was distracted by someone walking past with a bunch of flowers, he leaned in to kiss him deeply on the lips. "Morning darling." He chuckled lightly. "Tish has been telling me that you're going to build her a tree house in their back garden... you don't have to, you know?" Matt trailed his thumb over the back of his hand then withdrew it when Tish caught up, commenting on the flowers. "No flower is as pretty as you are." Matt grinned but she rolled her eyes playfully with an 'ew'.

#honey it's alright [ hobbes | matt ]

[inxthexshadowxofxdeath]

There was no gossip blog to worry about. No guilt. No fear. Just sheer determination on Hobbes part that he was going to love his growing family as deeply and unapologetically as he could until he physically couldn't anymore. He had everything taken away from him, but slowly, surely, he was starting to rebuild here.

A light laugh.

"What d'you mean you don't know what to do? You relax and enjoy the beautiful day, how's that?"

His hand was often resting on Hawk's lower back, weaving them through the crowd to this booth or that. Things were busy -- Hobbes worked late shifts with odd hours -- so he cherished the quiet moments he got to spend with Hawk. Art festivals always reminded Hobbes of his father. They were bittersweet, the memories.

"My old man woulda loved this..." He commented thoughtfully, "--Oh hey, look." He motioned to a booth with little paintings of birds, "This is exactly the kinda stuff he painted. Should I get this one for my desk at the station?" He grinned, holding up a 4x4 of a very serious(tm) hawk. "I like him."

who: hawk and hobbes @inxthexshadowxofxdeath

things felt different between the two of them but in the best possible way. ever since hobbes had confessed he loved both him and matt, hawk felt like he was on cloud nine. sure there was a lot of stressor's in their lives right now but he wanted to spend time with both the men in his life. "i don' know what to do at any of these things half the time but if there's somethin' you wanna do i'll join."

#honey it's alright [ hobbes | hawk ]

[inxthexshadowxofxdeath]

#confessions of a teenage drama queen [ syd | musings ]

[inxthexshadowxofxdeath]

"Zac, we are the same height." Raj countered.

Almost the same. Don't worry about it.

The only reason Raj 'remembered' their last conversation was because he wrote an extensive note about it in his phone. He hadn't revisited it recently, but as was standard with Zac, Raj felt a strong wave of annoyance wash over him. He knew that something had been left unresolved, he could feel that. He let it pass though. Because... Maybe... he was in a good mood. More than he had been in a long time. And it'd been forever since Raj felt any semblance of 'relaxed.'

He nudged Zac gently. Raj wasn't surprised that Zac was blazed. But this time, it was a different kind of scolding.

"You didn't think to share? Kinda rude, man."

who: zach and raj @inxthexshadowxofxdeath

The last conversation zach remembered having with Raj hadn’t gone well but in true Zach fashion he’d basically forgotten all about it and was acting as if nothing had even happened. Which is why he walked up to raj when he saw him, joint already smoked and discarded and threw an arm over his shoulder. “What’s up? You get taller or something?” He looked the other up and down as he asked it.

#shoot was that today? [ raj | zach ]

[inxthexshadowxofxdeath]

Sol had told Sydney he would be right back.

"Just watch the booth and don't go touching anything."

"JuSt wAtCh tHe BoOtH. ..." Sydney sneered.

"Don't. Touch. My. Shit."

"-- Ohmygod, ok, Mary, relax! What damage could I possibly do in five minutes??"

The answer was a lot. But Syd would be good. It hadn't been too long since Sol left but Sydney had already swiped Sol's (Link's) lighter and lit up a cigarette of his own, sitting and watching the booth and not causing trouble. For once. Until he heard a voice call out to him. He exhaled a trail of smoke with a bright laugh.

"Mm. You got the wrong twin, baby."

Sydney glanced over the top of his pink-lensed sunglasses.

"But I do want to know more about this shady side hustle." He leaned forward to look the newcomer over, resting his chin in his free hand. "...And about you." Another light laugh, continuing thoughtfully, "My brother tries so hard to keep his cute friends a secret from me and it never works. How about that." Sydney loved that for himself. He always won.

"Link," he offered Sol a grin, and shrugged. "If you just tell them to keep an eye out for the gremlin with early 2000s emo gloves and a look of mischief, they'd probably know who you're talking about." Link liked to think that he had a way with people; he might be a shithead, but at least he was charming. "Maybe I can start trading lighters for extra bits of tobacco or cigarettes since I don't grow it myself. Seems like a fair trade off." His smoking habit was forced to be curbed once he came to Huntsville, but that didn't mean he was ready to give up his second oldest vice - second only to coffee. "No problem; you can usually find me lurking around here or the coffee shop."

~~~time skip~~~

It seemed like the entire town was at the art festival. Link was too stubborn to let anyone read any of his poetry, and absolutely refused to sell any, so he was skulking between booths, being a general menace and keeping an eye out for anyone he knew.

"Aye - Sol!" He had eagerly approached who he had thought was the guy he had run into outside the library. "How's that whole promoting my extremely shady side hustle thing going?"

#we need to talk? that has never been true [ sol | link ] #i said what i said [ syd | link ]

[inxthexshadowxofxdeath]

Eiji has known both Sydney and Sol for... years. It made sense for him to know them so well. Especially Sydney. Who Eiji knew could never be alone with himself for too long. And who would always go to his twin for support. If anything Sol had been a constant thorn in E's side the entirety of Sydney and E's relationship.

It was the same series of events, every time.

The crowd seemed to part and Sydney remained. Frozen in place. He couldn't decide if he was angry or relieved. Exhausted definitely. He couldn't even decipher if the tears that threatened to come were happy or sad. He had told Edgar he felt incapable without Eiji there to help him make decisions; pathetically, Sydney was proving his negative self-talk right now. It was almost like Eiji's hand on his face reset him. His lip immediately quivered.

"This place is so awful...." His fingers were already catching the fabric of Eiji's jacket, "Everything is wrong here. Things come out at night and eat people and we're stuck here..." He rambled. This was the moment Sydney realized he never, really, processed Huntsville. Not even with Edgar or Art or his brother. He was so scared. He wanted to go home. Eiji was a piece of home. "-- Wait...You came looking for me?" Tears started to fall down and over his cheeks without him noticing. "Why would you do that? Now you're stuck here too..."

Eiji, as self-obsessed as he could be, knew the town hadn't put on an event specifically for his arrival, but part of him liked to pretend someone had the precognitive abilities to know he was coming and arranged everything accordingly. He was stuck here now, so he he had to entertain himself somehow and those thoughts were helping to quell any anxieties he had about Huntsville.

One thing that he had less anxieties about were the potential location of the twins, various fliers scattered through town about a pot luck and community meeting at the Rowe family home having Sol's fingerprints all over it. And if Eiji knew them as well as he thought he did, if Sol was here, Sydney would be too.

With the remnants of his cigarette discarded to the side, he made his way through Main Street, pushing through the crowds of people he was yet to be introduced to, looking for any sort of sign that Sydney had been here, was still here.

And the universe provided.

The crowds seemed to part, leaving a long line of empty space between Eiji and Sydney, the two being brought together once again, as they always seemed to be. He couldn't help but crack a smile at his lovers obvious confusion, and he didn't let it stop his forward stride until they were stood face to face. He brought his hand up slowly to cup Sydney's face.

"Hey Superstar."

#i said what i said [ syd | eiji ]

[inxthexshadowxofxdeath]

"...Or maybe you're cocky? Ever consider that?"

They talked until it was almost pushing it for Mav to get home safe.

Maverick asked questions, Sol responded. More in depth when about the resistance that was forming, less so when asked about himself. And Sol couldn't help but be grateful that Sydney was at Sammie's less he burst in make something out of nothing. If Sol caught himself with a little smile on his face after Maverick left that was none of anyone's business.

He was sat at his booth by the few paintings he'd completed in Huntsville, scribbling words in what looked like a sketch book when he noticed a shadow cast over him. In front of him was another makeshift mug ash-tray, as was a Sol classic it seemed. His right hand held his cigarette between his middle and pointer, the left was smudged with the powdered pigment from a pastel stick.

"...Look who it is..." He quirked a brow, "...The festival just started. You can't be bored already..."

"Both." the answer came without any form of hesitation. "Choosing just one feels too boring" he added on as they continued their path of plate collecting.

"Yeah, but admit it you like me following you around" Maverick gave a wink as they leaned up against the counter next to the sink.

[inxthexshadowxofxdeath]

Min scowled at himself for his own thoughtlessness, damning Jae for throwing his whole day off. He caught the garment that had slipped from the hanger. “No, it’s my fault. My mind has been elsewhere.” He glanced at her. “Forgive me.”

Nurse. Clinic. No, Clinic and Sunnyside.

“It’s a nice color.” He handed the item of clothing back to her. Min was a neutral guy himself; touting a wardrobe consisting of black, grey, brown and blue. But he liked color more than he let on. And the pink complimented her.

Xiu was looking at some clothes at a booth when she bumped into someone. "Oh, I'm sorry," she plastered on her bright smile. "I suppose I was a bit distracted."

@inxthexshadowxofxdeath

#the torture of small talk [ min | xiu ]

[inxthexshadowxofxdeath]

At least they could agree on one thing: poor was an understatement. If Jae wanted to insult Min’s character and intelligence he could do so behind Min’s back where Min didn’t have to hear it first hand. It annoyed him that he cared.

He hadn’t been expecting to bump into Jae either. And maybe, if it had been anyone else, Min’s usually dextrous hands would have re-caught the sweet tea drink he had been enjoying before it fell to the ground between their feet.

“And I was hoping to avoid you.” He crossed his arms, “But now, you owe me a new drink.”

who: jae-sung and min @inxthexshadowxofxdeath

the way the last conversation ended between the two was.. poor to say the least. jae-sung wasn't going out of his way to seek out min for this event and only happened to bump into him, literally. "hm. it's you." he commented as he saw him. "i was hoping to avoid you and yet, here we are."

#the torture of small talk [ min | jae ]

[inxthexshadowxofxdeath]

Sydney had retreated so far into himself when he looked in the mirror he thought he was Sol.

Guilt chipped steadily away at him all the time, mainly hitting him in the quiet moments in the mornings when he was alone by himself. So he found a guy to fuck every night after the Christian incident - sometimes before night even fell - lifting from whatever bed or surface and immediately putting on clothes. He had been clear about what this was.

Sorry, you can’t stay. I can’t stay. No I don’t want to see you again. Don’t fucking touch me I told you…

At one point he encroached on Art’s life, thinking he would explode if he didn’t tell someone, ask someone for advice… but he immediately bailed. And again felt guilty.

I keep bothering people… I need to stop being a fucking baby… I can’t need this much support… I need….

All the while, his ring burned a hole in his pocket. He’d snapped the chain; now his only option was to either wear it or hold onto it... He realized grimly he couldn’t bring himself to set it down yet.

The festival brought him little comfort. And for once, Sydney found himself alone and blending into the crowd (as much as he could do in Huntsville). He stopped right in the middle of the road as people milled around him, lifting the ring to glint in the sunlight. It was the most beautiful thing Sydney had ever been given. Expensive. What any person wouldn’t give to have an engagement ring like this. Truly a fairytale Sydney realized he could just drop onto the gravel and walk away from. And there was the guilt again. Because maybe Eiji hadn’t been the problem. Maybe Sydney had always been the problem and Eiji was so patient with him and obviously loved him enough to keep coming back to him despite how stupid Sydney could be all the time…

I need to tell Edgar…

Edgar would surely hate him. But he had to. It was the right thing to do. Edgar, his sweet, thoughtful man who Sydney had been avoiding, deserved for Sydney to be a better friend. He would find him. Right now, before he started to spiral. His eyes focused again, looking up and over the crowd for his friend but landing on someone he hadn’t seen in months. Not just any someone but his someone. And then their eyes met and Sydney’s fist tightened around the ring so fiercely his fingernails painfully dug into his palm. His free hand moved to lift the sunglasses from his face and rub his eyes in disbelief.

“Wh… Eiji..?”

It was barely audible, his lips moved but a whisper of what Sydney’s voice was supposed to be escaped them. He figured that he had finally lost his mind, that he was hallucinating and losing time and that was concerning. He looked down at the ring in his hand.

I have to stop drinking so heavily…

@oxtofmydcpth

#i said what i said [ syd | eiji ]

[inxthexshadowxofxdeath]

Sol almost rolled his eyes at the grin. He was testing Maverick, seeing how far he could get them to trail after him as he moved around the room.

"Do you want the good or the bad things?”

The answer was far enough for Sol to lower his gaze and look down at the newly added plate in his hands with an amused shake of his head. He placed the stack in the kitchen sink.

"...I mean, I already got you following me around. I figured you'd be back."

"Really? Like what?" Maverick asked as he cocked his head to the side and looked at Sol with a fascinated look and toothy grin as the other mentioned being called a lot of shit.

"Oh so you want me at the next meeting, huh? Well, I guess I'll have to check my schedule. See if I'm available to grace you with my presence at future meetings" they spoke in a purposely dramatic way as he picked up a plate and stacked it on top of the ones Sol had already been collecting.

#we need to talk? that has never been true [ sol | maverick ]