[♛] ─ in my blood !!

[karasu,]

nothing to see here --------

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BASED OFF THE RED QUEEN SERIES!

society is ruled by silver blooded, elite groups of
families who possess god-like abilities. these
family lineages are pure and they've held the
power for years, creating a massive divide
between the social classes. however, when red
blooded commoners are being found with these
abilities, the kingdom threatens to fall apart. in
an attempt to prevent a full blown revolution,
the king invites them to train alongside the elite,
hoping to gain them as allies. however, no
matter how lavish their new life is, forgetting
their roots won't be so easy.

★

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★

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[karasu,]

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NYMPH ★ THE PRINCE ★ PLAYED BY KIM

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has the ability to manipulate moisture.
although it does require a nearby source of
water, it can be leeched from the air.

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MAGNETRON ★ PLAYED BY APOLLIAN

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has the ability to manipulate metals through
rigorous training. considered important to the
battlefield as they can manipulate weapons.

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OBLIVION ★ PLAYED BY CLEMENTINE

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has the ability to explode organic or inorganic
matter through the manipulative combustion
of molecules. must be touching object.

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GREENWARDEN ★ PLAYED BY KARASU

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has the ability to manipulate plant life, as well
as it's anatomy, such as leaves, seeds, fruits,
flowers, and roots.

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TELKY ★ PLAYED BY STRIATUM

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has the ability to manipulate a physical object
without physical interaction. this can vary from
lifting, throwing, or stoping objects in motion.

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SILENCE ★ PLAYED BY NEAL

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has the ability to manipulate other abilities. a
heavily trained silence can render any silver
as useless as a red.

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[karasu,]

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BURNER ★ PLAYED BY SUNCHILD

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has the ability to manipulate heat and fire.
they require a spark from special bracelets
to enable the manipulation of the element.

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BANSHEE ★ PLAYED BY GAP

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has the ability to emit highly enhanced
destructive and deafening scream of
high amplitude.

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SHADOW ★ PLAYED BY KIM

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has the ability to bend light. they can become
invisible by manipulating light around
themselves, making them good spies.

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SINGER ★ PLAYED BY JISUNG

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has the ability to use their voice to control
those who hear it. however, direct eye contact
has to be established.

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SKIN HEALER ★ PLAYED BY APOLLIAN

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has the ability to heal anyone but themselves.
some are strong enough to heal a corpse to
look like someone else.

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STORM ★ PLAYED BY VALKYRIE

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has the ability, to some extent, manipulate the
weather. they can manipulate rain, wind, etc.
but storms themselves prove too erratic.

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[karasu,]

CLOSED!
DISCUSSION THREAD ★ DISCORD SENT VIA PM
─ only two characters per person, must be different blood types ─

[karasu,]

xxxxxx clementine vanderwood xxxx greenwarden xxxx tagged: victoria & jun
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xxxxClementine sat between her parents, back ever so straight as a tea cup rested gently in her hand. She had been stuffed into her evening gown, the beautiful emerald green a stark contrast to the varying shades of brown her parent's chose to wear. They had done this on purpose, as every move they made was always part of a bigger plan to push Clementine into the spotlight. Though she couldn't be any less interested, her parents always insisted on her presence, claiming it was good for their family image. She knew better than to refuse, as the Vanderwood family image was something that her parents took very seriously.
xxxxAs Clementine sat there, an array of silver elites and officials continued to talk "politics". Though this was the proper term for what was taking place, it only ever felt like gossip. Half the time, the silvers talked as if Clem wasn't even there. The head of some family would almost always come forward to try and arrange a marriage with the greenwarden family. Almost everyone in the kingdom was aware of Clementine's friendship with the prince and those with male heirs thought that marrying her would boost their family's power. However, every time her parents would dance around the subject, always claiming that they had other plans for her. Every time, those sitting around them would smirk into their teacups, feeling like they were just let in on some grand royal secret. Although Clementine was never allowed to comment on the matter, she made sure to stare daggers at anyone who looked her way, nonverbally cussing them out with the foulest of words.
xxxxHowever, today proved to be different as something bigger loomed in everyone's minds. Today was the day that the newfound reds were to arrive. No one felt any fear about voicing their opinions, as the majority thought it to be better to just kill them off. However, the world already knew of their existence and killing them would only reflect badly on the palace. Though everyone did their best to remain poised, she could tell that they were scared. It was obvious through the ignorant way they spoke to one another. She drowned out the conversation, focusing on a flower in the distance as she slowly made it bloom. Her attention however was snapped back through the subtle way her parents stiffened. She turned her attention back to those around her, surprised to see them all facing her. She quickly realized that someone had asked for her opinion on the matter, immediately reading the question as a trap. This was simply another attempt to deem her unworthy of being a ruler.
xxxxNot feeling the need to play such games, she instead turned to look at a clock. "My apologies, but I seemed to have lost track of time. I'm supposed to meet Jun. Please excuse me." She placed her teacup back on the table and silently stood, making a point to look everyone in the eyes with a polite smile. She could see the knowing smiles starting to take form and did her best to not roll her eyes. "I hope to see you all tonight." With that, she turned away to make her escape.
xxxxAs she walked down the palace halls, no one made any move to bother her. She was grateful for this, as she was no longer in the mood to talk. She quickly made her way to his room, disappointed to find it empty. She sighed as she plucked a book from his desk before turning to make her way to the dinning hall instead. She could tell that this was where everyone resided, taking the proper steps to prepare the room for tonight. In the center of it all stood Jun, giving out orders with ease. Being prince suited him and the girl truthfully believed that if it were anyone else in line for the throne, she would have led a revolt on the palace herself. "Hi Jun," she greeted, sitting in the prince's slightly decked out dining chair. "Will I get one of these when we get married?" she asked, her tone light as she traced the woodwork. She gave him a prize winning smile before flashing him the book she had stolen. "Don't mind me, I just wanted to escape the dreadful tea time. Plus, I know how much you love my company."
xxxxAlthough the silver elites were correct in assuming that Clem and Jun were close, they had the entire situation misread. There was nothing romantic between the two and there never would be. Instead, Clem viewed him as a brother, as it was almost a game to see who could get on each other's nerves first. She had to admit that the prince was exceptionally good at this, as he had a natural talent in being annoying. Though no matter how much he irked her, she continued to seek him company time and time again. She referred to it as charity work however, as she would never say anything sweet about him to his face.
xxxxShe gave the boy one last smile of encouragement before turning to her book. She drowned herself in the words, losing track of time as she turned the pages. By the time she put the book down, finished with her story, the sun was setting and the room had been completely transformed. She stood up and took her time stretching, suddenly painfully aware at the numbing sensations spreading throughout her body. "I've changed my mind. Those chairs are uncomfortable and I don't want one. Consider this though: a bean bag chair." She walked to take her place next to him, taking note of his tired eyes. By now, the band was finishing their last minute preparations and she knew that the Silver families were expected to arrive soon. "You did good," she stated genuinely as she placed a hand on his shoulder.
xxxxAs if almost on cue, the grand doors opened and the first royal family made their appearance. It was the magnetron family, as they played a vital role in the kingdom and were almost always the first ones to arrive. They held a great amount of power due to the work they did in the army and Clementine would be lying if she claimed that they didn't intimidate her. "Why don't you take a moment. I'll go talk to them." She started making her way, a polite smile plastered on her face and her hands clasped behind her back. "I'm so glad you all could make it. I know some families had their concerns about tonight but it is always a pleasure to see such familiar faces" she greeted, letting her gaze fall on Victoria. By now, more families were arriving and the band started playing, transforming the room to one more fit for a party.

[mtuan,]

ＪＵＮ-ＳＯＯ "ＪＵＮＥ" ＳＯＮＧ
❝ ｔｈｉｓ ｏｕｒ ｉｎｔｒｏ, ｔｕｒｎ ｕｐ ｗｉｔｈ ｏｕｒ ｉｎｔｒｏ !! ❞
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tagged, clementine (aka orange aka clemmie aka clammie) |etc, haven't written in a hot sec + its kinda late, but i hope its okay,, 1,374 words

Although the first half of a prince's day had been filled with leisurely strolls through the courtyard garden, grand breakfasts hand crafted by his personal kitchen aides, and casual lounging in the throne that was not-yet-his-but-soon-to-be, a couple hours into the day and with the sun rising higher and higher into the sky until it has reached its peak, the scenery before Song Jun-Soo was much more hectic than earlier. Servants and low-leveled hands bustled from one end of the room to the other, arms full of supplies, decorations, and indistinguishable goods supposedly for the "party guests"- right before the prince's eyes, the dining hall was being transformed little by little. And by nightfall, all preparations were coming together- all thanks to the prince himself, of course. Smug. Of course.

A small quirk sat upon plush lips as mischievous eyes glinted under the artificial light of the sparkling chandelier, taking in the sight of a marvelously embellished dining hall that had gone from its normally rather dull state to a lit up masterpiece- if Jun-Soo could say so himself. And the prince of the kingdom stood amidst it all, watching the chaos consume the royal court helpers as they bumbled about, taking any orders given to them with cautious heed. Jun-Soo had been moving objects about for hours, gesturing vaguely at times to anything that didn't match and occasionally asking to swap out ornaments here and there after he had ordered their placement in the first place.

At times, Jun-Soo had even spaced out from the task at hand, mindlessly ordering people about as his mind wandered towards the silver lords and ladies, the officials, and the elites, tucked away in some room, discussing their own plans for tonight's big event. Jun-Soo wonders if anyone of the families would try and make a move tonight- it would have been a wise decision to give it a try. At times, the young prince couldn't help but wonder if anyone was plotting something big, even- if one of the wily seniors of some elitist silver-blooded family would reject the idea of bringing some red blooded 'civilians' with powers into the court. Surely there would be someone who didn't enjoy the prospect. It came a surprise to Prince Jun-Soo that no one had spoken up about this as he had expected- not that he wanted any conflict at this time, but still startling, nevertheless. Or his parents had already sorted that out without him. Probably.

The boy doesn't stop himself from making some sort of a garbled noise at the thought- whether in annoyance or relief, Jun-Soo isn't quite sure. But the noise certainly jolts him from his wandering thoughts and startles the workers closest in proximity to him. The prince simply shakes his head and waves them off to resume whatever they were occupied with beforehand. He smooths out his blazer, making sure the shoulders and sleeves are wrinkle free and still pressed flawlessly as he readjusts his position and clears is throat to (once again) vaguely gesture for some other object to be moved or for a different set of plates to be brought out for the banquet.

Prince Jun-Soo was dressed flawlessly from head to toe for tonight; he wore a black turtle neck under a royal blue satin-velvet blazer, matching pants, and a belt around his waist to tie it all together. A single jeweled flower adorned his blazer on the right side and some silver necklace that twinkled each time he shifted and the lighting changed ever so slightly against the jewelry. And his hair. His honey colored locks had been parted and styled just so for tonight's occasion- so different from his usual bird's nest-y situation. Contrasting starkly with the way he'd usually ruffle his own hair by running his hand through it too many times to count, this time his hair was no longer so unkempt. Even when the prince had managed to run his hand through his hair in frustration, Jun-Soo still had half a mind to fix it back to it's original state, having his personal aides scrabble to his side to push his messy strands back to it's rightful place. Strands always seemed to fall into his face, they always seemed to do so, but it didn't seem to be of too much trouble, otherwise. To put it simply, he strove to look flawless tonight, though whether or not he achieved such looks would be up to his guests and his guests alone.

Jun-Soo had been in the middle of ordering around some kitchen servants when a figure garnished in a beautiful green comes strolling through the great doors with no stopping in sight until she'd plopped into the prince's own chair. It's the Greenwarden family's 'little' girl, Clementine, the prince notes. The Korean's eyebrow immediately quirks at the sight before him, though he doesn't hesitate to shove some of the tableware aside and prop himself up against the table beside Clementine. "Hey, that's your grace to you, my dear Clementine, I may be your friend, but I am still a prince, after all." although his words are mighty formal, the glint in his eyes suggest anything but formalities. Especially when Jun-soo begins to idly swing his dangling feet to-and-fro, huffing in mild amusement. He would be lying if he said he didn't absolutely adore the way Clementine had no regards to his princely status; she treated him like an equal, a friend and comrade, and he appreciated it far beyond what anyone could comprehend. (It felt personal- she didn't need his status for anything and so their companionship was... nice to say the very least.)

The prince finds himself leaning forward teasingly at his friend's words, a hand reaching out to tip her chin with an index finger, tickling her chin ever so slightly as he entertains her arbitrary whims. "Sure thing, sweetness, I'll be sure that chair is at the top of the list," the smile Clementine flashes is blinding and Jun-Soo reflexively mirrors her smile with a Cheshire grin of his own "Always stealing from my room, aren't ya- is that my current read? You better not lose my page, I was well into that book! But sure, do as you will, I'm sure tea time with those old toads is bound to be a bore, I dunno how you normally do it, Clem." He doesn't bother acknowledging the last bit, but Jun-Soo's sure Clementine already knew of his (platonic) sentiments anyway. They're not exactly hidden. Jun-Soo reaches his arms above his head in a stretch and hops off the poor table he'd been perched upon, back to his task at hand. "Take all the time you need, you're always welcome wherever I am, but I gotta finish up some stuff, so give me a call if you need me... otherwise, if you'll excuse me, these decorations aren't gonna hang themselves."

And with that, the prince finds himself spending the rest of the afternoon and then some with his requests, slowly pulling together the dining hall so that it'd be presentable for his guests. He doesn't pay much mind to Clementine after that until the young maiden speaks up once more, very clearly finished with his book. The Korean laughs genuinely at her words, always bemused by her antics, "Then right off the list the chair goes- ... a bean bag chair? Just fill a sack with beans and call it a chair then."

The moment Clementine puts a hand on his shoulder, Jun-Soo finds himself finally sagging his shoulders and letting out a sigh of relief. He couldn't help but bring an arm to his shoulder and stretch a bit as he grunts at the sensation. "Thanks, I'm just glad it's finally over, to be honest." He pauses as the door opens for the first family to set foot inside and the prince immediately straightens his back and shoulders, half smile breaking onto his face as he prepares himself to meet them; only for Clementine to offer herself up first. Jun-Soo simply nods in appreciation as he takes one last glance at the set and prepares himself for the rest of his guests to arrive.

Get ready for one hell of a night, tonight.

[serafim]

ＹＵＲＩ " ＶＩＣＴＯＲＩＡ " ＳＵＮ!! ───
x❝ 𝐀 𝐍 𝐃x𝐈x𝐓 𝐑 𝐘x𝐓 𝐎x𝐇 𝐎 𝐋 𝐃x𝐓 𝐇 𝐄 𝐒 𝐄x𝐒 𝐄 𝐂 𝐑 𝐄 𝐓 𝐒x𝐈 𝐍 𝐒 𝐈 𝐃 𝐄x𝐌 𝐄
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxi𝐌 𝐘x𝐌 𝐈 𝐍 𝐃 '𝐒x𝐋 𝐈 𝐊 𝐄x𝐀x𝐃 𝐄 𝐀 𝐃 𝐋 𝐘x𝐃 𝐈 𝐒 𝐄 𝐀 𝐒 𝐄 ❞
━━━━━━━━━━━━━ [ x𝐑𝐎𝐋𝐄l magnetron ]xx[ x𝐓𝐀𝐆I clementine, ment. junx] ━━━━━━
pauselack of interest managed to take over the woman's expression as she endured the aimless chatting between her family, the ever so subtle scraping of metal adornments that reflected off of each member each time they hit some kind of obstacle in the road the only sound that seemed to catch her attention━━ if not from the fact that it was giving her a migraine, than from the thought of bending it to makeshift some kind of guard to seal their mouths shut with.
pausevictoria turned her attention away from the intriguing thought and instead focused on her delicate fingers slowly tracing small circles on the silk fabric of her black dress, not quite form fitting but well enough to show some curvature, something she wasn't too big on making a spectacle out of herself for. she pursed her lips as she felt the familiar tingle and brush of metal against her skin, fingers, shoulders, neck and wrists with some kind of precious metal bent around her frame in the form of lavish accessories━━ gorgeous yet intimidatingly capable enough of bending and piercing anyone in her path in case should anything arise━━that always seemed to catch the eyes of others, though never seemed impressive enough to her.
though being a magnetron was something more than an honor in the eyes of other royals, their importance undebatable, victoria couldn't help but never truly see the appeal in it. if anything there was more pressure to be founded and born into a notoriously powerful and influential house than anything else. there was no grandeur to be found━━ no warmth and easy life as others perceived it to have despite what many of her family seemingly bragged about━━ it was simply a parade, a show with their flashy metals and faux importance skyrocketing higher than it should be to seem to be everything they weren't.
pausethe brunette pulled herself from her thoughts as she felt the seat underneath her subtly jolt to a stop, eyes shifting to the rest of her family for some kind of cue for them to get out, the confirmation being when someone came and opened the door for them; the act nearly earning a scoff from victoria, but nonetheless she simply followed and stepped out, the palace ever-so looming and towering in front of them, fingers itching at the sudden burst of thought that she would only be bored to death further with political talk and comments on whom she'd find herself engaged to. in fact, she could probably care less who she'd find herself engaged to, the thought never even crossing her mind until as of late.
but victoria was more than capable of playing along with their little game and false sense of security, despite what was looming when it came to the reds with silver capabilities. the very ones that threatened their way of existence and caused a sudden wave of unease among the silver elite━━ and if she were to admit it, she was a little wary of them and their intentions as well.
pausevictoria eventually began walking with the rest of her family towards the entrance to the palace, keeping in almost militaristic step alongside them as her face remained ever so stoic and cold as usual, eyes only occasionally drifting each time she sensed something with metal attributes near her. the closer they stepped towards the grandeur doors, the more cold and tight the pieces of silver laced around her neck seemed to feel━━ nerves that she once pushed away and dismissed now beginning to bubble and nearly causing her expression and brows to twitch in sync into something akin to concern━━ victoria not even realizing that she had, in fact been tightening the metal around her neck the more nervous she grew, having held her breath and nearly gasping aloud for air by the time they reached the doors and were opened.
pauseshe stiffened almost immediately once she realized that there were already someone waiting by the doors as if preparing for their arrival; clementine with jun somewhere not too far back from what she could hear echoing off the walls. of all people, she expected jun to be the one to greet them, the prince, not the greenwarden, and it seemed like her family agreed in the way they simply let out a subtle, exhausted sigh laced with irritance as they shifted almost uncomfortably, much to the woman's buried amusement. victoria had known clementine from what they've experienced in the way of short flung conversations among their families and ones they've managed to secure outside of prying eyes and ears.
pauseshe quirked a brow at the mention of 'familiar faces' and watched as clementine's gaze fell and matched her own, almost purring at the notion as a faint smirk twitched on her lips out of her own amusement with such a delicate little thing in her pretty emerald green dress acknowledging her. victoria tore her gaze away momentarily as she hummed, deciding to take the role of beginning the conversation, voice almost melodic yet elegant in the way she spoke, effortlessly putting on a show, "well, concerns are commonplace regardless of what may be happening, but of course, we would never disappoint by never showing up to such an event," her gaze resting back on clemetine, "but yes, it's always nice to see familiar faces, especially in these trying and unsure times."
the murmured hum and 'yes' of approval from her family nearly caused victoria to roll her eyes back, the only sign of how her displeasure to having to put on such a faux show evident in the way her brows furrowed soon after her smile once their gazes were off the brunette.
pausevictoria impatiently stiffened once more and glanced at her family, not quite wanting to jump into political endeavors and chats so quickly in the night, she tilted her chin ever so slightly and dismissed them gently, "i'll catch up in a minute, i'd just like to talk for a moment with clementine," victoria stopping for a moment before quietly breathing out, "please."
pauseshe waited until her family eventually drifted off before she finally relaxed her shoulders somewhat, allowing the cool sensation of metal electrifying her skin calm down her previous irritance before she softly murmured, "it's been quite a while, hasn't it clem? how have you gotten along since we last talked?"
admittedly she had a bit of a soft spot for the tender and delicate little flower, not quite giving herself away yet but, her trust was slowly being earned with every lovely conversation they managed to make with what little time they were given each time they met. victoria was aimlessly beginning to wander, slowly but surely, and she turned her head to peer back at clemetine, almost inviting the girl with a quirk of her brow to follow, "i'm sure with what's been happening as of late, nothing more than gossip has just been running around━━ but i can see you've managed to get here before my family as well, so today of all days must have had some substance to it."

[idvly]

𝐒𝐎-𝐇𝐘𝐔𝐍 "𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐀" 𝐇𝐀𝐍
𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐧 ∙ 𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬; 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧


Lisa sat in front of the mirror, her reflection staring back at her from the polished surface with cold, blank eyes. There was no sympathy in her expression, though she was more unhappy than she had been in a long time, but Lisa didn’t allow any room for self-pity. As a child, she had been constantly reminded that feeling sorry for oneself was a vile, unattractive thing, and so it was best to avoid it. Her mother had been particularly on-edge these past few days and Lisa, as always, had been the object of her irritation, which led to a considerable drop in the girl’s self-esteem and now here she was, trying not to feel sorry for herself.

This was the day they would meet the Reds with Silver abilities, and Lisa was far from ready. She couldn’t just look presentable tonight, she had to look perfect, and perfection was a hard thing to achieve, especially when her mother was the judge of it. To avoid any disagreements, Lisa had to act a certain way, say certain things, and hold herself with a certain air of authority, all of which her mother must find—at the very least—acceptable.

The door to her room swung open without warning and the woman herself stood in the doorway for a moment. She inspected Lisa, scanning her daughter from head to toe, her eyes lingering on the dress that had been chosen. Lisa had picked out something simple, but suitable, made with a dark red fabric to reflect the colors of their house. After a moment of hesitation, her mother forced a smile, “You’ve outdone yourself, So-hyun,” she said, and turned, leaving the room and expecting Lisa to follow. The words felt like a hidden attack, masked in what seemed like a compliment, but that didn’t bother Lisa. She had spent most of her life struggling to be good enough and was glad that this encounter had occurred without complaint.

The two of them stepped into the carriage where her father was already waiting. Her parents exchanged a silent greeting—they rarely talked to each other these days unless it was for show—and her mother sat down beside him, gesturing to the empty spot opposite them for Lisa to sit. She obeyed, sitting closer to the window so that she would have some way to pass the time as they traveled to the castle.

The ride was silent and long and Lisa spent most of it staring at the world that seemed to be passing them by. Sometimes she wished that she hadn’t been born into an important house, their reputation brought certain restrictions and not once in her life did Lisa truly feel free. She watched the people outside with a degree of longing, although, if asked, Lisa would deny ever having felt that way. It wasn’t right to be wishing for a simpler life when, in theory, she had everything she could possibly have wanted.

As the carriage slowed to a halt, Lisa prepared herself for the façade she would inevitably have to put up. Lisa wasn’t allowed to be her usual self at such gatherings, she couldn’t afford to be quick-tempered and snap at everyone around her, not when she was surrounded by such important people. Lisa had to be the image of elegance and grace; she had to be proud and act respectable; her conversation had to be witty and free of any unpopular opinions, and she must remember to keep her expression neutral and—most importantly—unreadable. This was already hard enough, but for someone like Lisa, who struggled not to wear her emotions on her sleeve, the tasks seemed somewhat daunting, and she knew that she would mess up in one way or another; she always did.

The door was opened for her, and Lisa stepped out, her eyes immediately drawn to the grandeur of the palace. She had been there many times before, but it always looked more splendid than she had remembered. Lisa tried not to let the distaste show on her face, though she got to see lots of familiar people, the palace was not a place she enjoyed being. Lisa preferred the comfort of her own room to the large, spacious halls that were always full of Silver nobility, all of whom had their opinion on her and her family.

They had arrived fairly early and were one of the first families there, a fact which undoubtedly brought her mother joy and would hopefully be enough to put her in a good mood for the start of the evening. Lisa glanced around the room, making note of how it had been decorated specifically for the occasion. She thought it was unnecessary to put so much time and effort into a visit from a few Reds, but she supposed it was important to make them feel welcome, though she didn’t think a pretty room would make them oblivious to the many disapproving Silvers that filled it.

Lisa stood beside the grand doors, hoping that she’d find someone to start a conversation with, but content to stand back and observe for now. She was curious to know what the other Silvers thought of this event, and even though she was probably right in assuming that they weren’t too fond of what was to come, she was interested in finding out more. Lisa was a sucker for gossip; she always wanted to know what others didn’t want her to, especially if it was information that was difficult to come across. Lisa didn’t expect any of their opinions to be particularly secret, but she was curious all the same.

[mtuan,]

ＳＥＯ "ＤＡＮＴＥ" ＹＵ-ＫＹＵＮＧ
❝ ａｎｄ ｎｏｗ ｗｅ ｉｎ ａ ｚｏｎｅ (ｚｏｎｅ) !! ❞
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tagged, saint |etc, we ride in a pumpkin tonight, boys! 1,008 words

Dante Seo wore a simple black suit, white inner shirt and a bow tie in preparation for the party, taking very little time out of his day and a simple approach to the invitation despite the glaring obvious of the situation. His hair had been cut (a freshly shaven undercut, might he add) earlier during the week and now was parted and styled to his liking, sleeker than usual, but still held a bit of... attitude. His dark fringes fell into his eyes and there were a couple odd spots where his hair had been combed against its natural direction, but nevertheless, the young man looked... presentable at the very least.

The day had started out quite early, with the family of three already bustling about to send their son off to the kingdom's royal castle and although Dante himself saw no necessity in fussing over minor details for some pompous prince to judge, his mother certainly hadn't shared the same sentiments as himself. She'd spent the better half of her time fixing up his outfit and trying to persuade her son into better manners and postures, claiming that this could be an important step for him- for them as a family. Surely being in favor with the royals certainly would have made life much easier for the Seo's. Even so, Dante had argued that he wasn't being married off, why would he need to impress anyone? In an even more dire situation, what if he was being invited into the palace only to be murdered for his powers instead? This could be the last time he was to see his home- a thought that he didn't share with his poor mother, of course. The pitiful woman was surely to have a heart attack right on the spot if he had. Regardless of what Dante thought to himself, he was shoved into a carriage waiting outside his humble abode before the sun rise to its peak in the sky; his parents waved at him with nervous eagerness from below, mother calling for him to behave- and to wish Saint well while he was at it. And then he was off- for real.

The castle was a long way from home. Nearly half a day's travel if they stopped by Saint Dai's residence to pick up the young man along the way. And of course, the red blooded 'light bender' had agreed to pick up a fellow red blood en voyage to the castle as well. As soon as his house was no longer in sight, Dante is quick to slide into his seat a little, slouching against the backrest as he props a foot up against the seat facing himself. For the first half of the journey, the only one besides the red blood himself was the coach driver- and they'd be too busy with the horses to pay attention to someone like Dante. Needless to say, the boy found himself with a bit of a breather as he peers out of his carriage window; the scenery passing by was a peaceful view and the roads were relatively quiet, save for the slight creak of weathered wheels rolling over the occasional rock and the gentle rhythmic clop clop's of hooves against the solid road. Dante enjoys his time during the travel, occasionally slipping in and out of a light slumber until he's picked up Saint and had to prop himself up properly now, his hair messier than it had been initially.

"Well, well, if it isn't Saint- right on time, aren't we? You excited?" Dante entertains, a quirk on his lips as the man steps into the carriage. He waits for the door to close, the other to settle in, and the steady rhythm to pick up once more in silence for a bit, before speaking up once again. "Do you think the dinner will be fun? Or is it going to end up boring with the silver bloods talking about their own topics and us on the sidelines- do you think this is a trap?" Dante pauses in mock thought, as if he hadn't been amusing himself with speculations of the invitation all day thus far. "What if the King and Queen just wanna round us reds with the powers up and then kill us all together? An easy way to get rid of us, don't you think?"

With any brief exchanges over and the idle small talk down, it didn't take long for the horse-drawn carriage to arrive at the foot of the Royal's home. And it took an even shorter amount of time for Dante to hop out the carriage unceremoniously, feet crunching against the gravel in the ground, as he wolf whistles at the sheer sight. "Well, would you look at that. So this is where all the golden-spoon fed kids stay? Much more grandeur than home, I must say." The red-blooded boy turns to look over his shoulder. He makes it a point to wait for Saint, before they're accompanied into the castle by some small congregation of (what Dante assumed to be) servants. The walls are high and the decorations seem no less than... royal- there was no other way for the what-would-have-been country boy to describe the sight other than that. Simply put, this place reeked of the typical snobby rich people scent.

And it only gets worse from there because the moment Dante steps into the dining hall they were invited into, the decorations only became more and more embellished in the type of riches that Dante himself could have never conjured on his own. He only vaguely hears his name being introduced- doesn't even know who introduced him (or maybe he simply didn't acknowledge them); the young man's too busy taking in everything that would be considered in the royal (here we go again-) sense (-whatever that meant). Yeah, okay, he had no idea what he was thinking about either, but there's one thing Dante's sure of- conceited people stank up this place.

"Where do we even start here-"

[jisung]

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𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐒𝐀𝐊𝐈 𝐘𝐔𝐓𝐀 ：（優大）
─── [ 21 ] [ the singer ] [ t's: open ] [ 2028 ] [ 3 days & it's still trash ]
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Things were looking up —or perhaps more accurately— up and to the west.

For on a diminutive balcony of oaken planks scarcely held together by hope and a smattering of increasingly rusty nails, a man could only just distinguish the culminating turrets and banners of his faraway dreams amidst the destitute turmoil of the red’s everyday life. Plumes of charcoal smoke hung weightily above the city like an omen of death that intermingled with the stench of fish long past their prime and other such aromas best left unmentioned.

This— and all other pitfalls associated with the poverty-stricken life the majority of the kingdom faced— seemed not half so bleak and insufferable as they had, say, two days past.

In fact, the young man may have even had the vaguest of smiles set into his lips as his fingertips played along the skyline, standing tall amidst the cheery chimney tops and the homes of nameless families, walking among owners of vague silhouettes in the streets below that his eyes could know but his mind never would. In this moment, the foreboding whines of the wood beneath his feet were but ethereal songs of farewell, and the chilly drafts which whistled through the imperfect seals of his windowpane were the infernal apartment’s fond goodbyes.

He might have even felt a sense of gratitude— long-since believed to be extinct within the harsh and effervescent habitat the boy provided— gingerly peeking out from its hiding place somewhere behind his liver.

Minasaki Yuta was experiencing a rare moment of tranquility, something which had become increasingly common in the last forty-eight hours— and which he suspected would become increasingly more so the closer he became to those banners of silver.

Admittedly, there had been a few misunderstandings, which might have led to his momentary and entirely undeserved incarceration, but he had— of course— dealt with that severe injustice with all the civility and grace of a swan. (That is, if a swan took to weeping openly for the three minute duration of his arrest and continued their noble cause with a rather extended period of pleading intermingled with bribery.)

This was all, of course, water under the bridge. He was most certainly above holding grudges against any particular doddering, miserly old fool who may or may not have alerted the authorities of his powers, even when their transaction was— in fact— entirely legal and that the hag had volunteered — nay insisted! — that he take her life savings. Nor did he hold any ill will towards the knights who had confiscated his hard earned and wholly legitimate newfound wealth. Truly, modern society held entrepreneurs in such a devastatingly low light. It would not have been far from the truth to view him as a tragic hero of old, he nodded to himself contentedly, feeling quite romantic and tortured— condemned by the limited minds of society— as he struggled to shove the rickety balcony door closed, clearly used to the stubborn hinges as he forced a bony shoulder into the cantankerous paneling.

Indoors was not particularly more luxurious— or well-heated— than out, with unpainted walls and a ceiling with more holes than— well, ceiling— but it was familiar and largely patched with old robes from the other occupants of the cramped space who’d lived here long before he had. The scent of sencha clung to every floorboard, and the incessant murmur from the tea house below made it impossible to rest at any point during working hours, but it seemed rather endearing now that leaving it all behind lingered so tantalizing before him.

The briefest hum may have passed between pursed lips, eyes narrowed judiciously as he appraised a rather hazy reflection of himself, corroded splotches decorating the aging mirror like liver spots on a grandparent.

Yuta would do his best before the Silvers, he nodded, pressing a cream-colored blouse to his chest and inspecting its effect sternly. He would be gracious to the highest extent— a new button-up now held to discerning eyes, an unversed bow practiced stiffly before the mirror. He would gain their respect to the best of his abilities— and he would end them.

Minasaki was, in fact, a very firm member of the red revolutionaries. Granted, he’d never actually committed anything concretely “revolution-esque” in the sense that history books might have defined it, but after a lengthy session of mathematical meditation he determined that three years of speech giving, anonymous letter writing, and mental-but-very-nearly-vocal name calling towards anyone vaguely Silver in appearance must have amounted to a riot, or at the very least arson. He had been discreet in his acts of defiance, certainly, but it was defiance nonetheless.

His mind was filled with nothing but contempt for those who luxuriated beneath chandelier galaxies of citrine briolette stars. While kings lounged, shoulders burdened with nothing but mink fur and tomorrow’s dining choices, gazing whimsically up at cherubs and Greek gods while others beyond the walls of his decadent castle suffered amidst the masses, palms extended, fingertips reaching, begging for help from their supposed rulers— only to be ignored, dismissed as inferior.

It was an image he was more than generous enough to share ad nauseam with any and all of his co-workers, whose threadbare futons were spread haphazardly about the flat the men of the tea house shared, forming an arc of unoccupied space between Minasaki and the nearest colleague— no doubt as a result of his recent talkativeness which had already extended late into the previous afternoon on universally intriguing subjects such as : what he would wear tomorrow, the unjust system under which they were all oppressed, and— of course— the complete upheaval of the government which he would no doubt bring with him the moment he stepped past the threshold of the silver castle. And upon exhausting these endlessly enthralling topics, he made the calculated decision of visiting his mother to start again with a fresher audience.

But to speak and to act were of different worlds entirely— a fact which became increasingly apparent the further he traveled into the castle grounds.

Certainly, Minasaki Yuta was receiving an opportunity unlike anything given to his predecessors. A chance— not to merely remove the Silvers but to replace them. He was demonstrable, conclusive, and otherwise incontestable evidence that Reds weren’t any sort of inferior — genetically or otherwise. They weren’t just equals— as of two days past he could control them.

He was not entirely dissimilar to a knight entering the dragon’s den, the man nodded— almost nervously. Armor glinting in the final rays of sunshine, banner held high, as he took the first steps towards his destiny.

Granted, this might have been approaching hyperbole, given his all around lack of banners, knighthood, and any sort of defense should things go awry. But it would be simple— a few documents to sign at his urging— and then— and then all that was left was to dispose of the heir.

But somehow— beneath the judgmental gaze of the castle walls that towered above, none of that felt like enough. His fingertips splayed restlessly beneath the enveloping sleeves of his haori overcoat, the embroidered blossoms little more than golden constellations amid the stark ink of the cloth. The fabric fell to his knees, heavy in its material, concealing much of the charcoal double breasted coat pulled tight around his form and the matching slacks which he had ironed and starched thrice— just to be safe. He had taken equal care with his coiffure, bangs falling to frame his features, a pair of pins set symmetrically in a plaited chignon. It was his Sunday best certainly, but beside the manicured greenery of the verdant courtyard he already felt quite under-dressed, glaring enviously at the thorned roses lining the brick pathways— whose emerald tracery and ruby petal gowns far transcended his own trappings.

It was an onerous trial for his meticulously maintained pride— to bear witness to such beauty that never could be — never had been his. To bite the pink of his lip and bow before the knights which escorted him, eyes wide with a child’s curiosity as he entered the dining hall.

As felines dedicate themselves to the noble art of observation— keeping dutiful watch at windowsills and up into rafters— so did he observe, revolving in a semi-circle of quiet awe.

Champagne light drizzled in a catoptric downpour of dazzling illumination, refracting and scattering in the thousands of faceted, crystalline tear drops suspended from french wire setting. The scintillation of the citrine briolette chandeliers flickered in the eyes of guests, expressions safeguarded by false smiles. Tresses of stiff, silk chiffon fabric and ornamental brocade were hung from columns in baroque adornment, the lustrous surface of the embroidered drapes aglow with the bubbling marsanne atmosphere of the great hall.

It was summer yellow and satin; quartz and sterling silver when all he’d known was the rough burlap and charcoal of the city below and he could do little but stare on, hickory irides settling appreciatively upon the gathered nobility.

And it — it felt slow.

In the way the evening sun refracted in kaleidoscopes of light. In the stillness of the air— holding its breath to watch. In the way sunlight filtered languidly through honey strands, turning all it touched to gold.

And in the same way the sculptor releases beauty from marble prisons, his features came into view.
Slowly, as all great things come.

A smile first— bright and confident in its staggering sunshine— the kind that forced onlookers to narrow their gaze to view this dazzling light from between lashes.

And eyes — stardust eyes.
Burning with celestial incandescence.

It all felt so slow. As if time himself was reluctant to relinquish this moment to the tarnishing properties of memories, pausing in his deathless task to bask in the golden splendor the prince provided.

There has been much speculation, since the dawn of humanity, on the veracity of love at first sight.
Skeptics have declared time and time again that human affections are no more than chemicals, that love is but an illusion concocted by the mind, that no connection could be made in such a paltry fragment of time.

Skeptics had clearly never seen Song Jun-soo in the evening sun.

But what is tragically forgotten amidst this debate is the aftermath of such a love, such a sighting.

Time had resumed his unrelenting march. The world was accelerating about the man as water flows around a stone, fixed to place— left only to ruminate upon the past as the present bade him farewell.

It was only the announcement of his name that brought the man to his senses, startling to life like an automaton whose springs were wound by key as a fanfare of brass serenaded his arrival and declared his newfound ability to the world. The singer.

For a moment, the world was thunderous dissonance, contradictions overflowing into truths as the man’s mind struggled valiantly to compute the proceedings.

It was to . . . be expected that beauty could blossom behind such gates, pampered and preserved from all which could adulterate it. The Japanese man nodded slowly, as if convincing himself. It would take a fool to deny beauty in the ornate but it was but a mask to obscure the rot and sin that thrived behind the jeweled lips and gilt eyes. Yes, he asserted firmly, his fingertips tucked tightly into his palms as he cleared his throat self-importantly.

This was certainly not a romantic fable in which he’d assimilate flawlessly amidst the spoon-fed gentility of the aristocrats. He was no princess and had no desire whatsoever to become one.

This was war— a sentiment which was becoming increasingly translucent with each gawking stare those spoiled hags offered— stares he returned.

Stares world apart from his momentary lapse in duty: from the brief moments of wonder at the artistry hidden away within these walls. His bewitchment— yes that was the right word— bewitchment, was perfectly human.

Such mistakes were past now. The line was drawn and no one dared cross it.

But this was how he preferred it.

It made hating them all the easier.