mpxayden

[mpxayden]

hyunjin x vogue taiwan: what’s in my bag?

[mpxayden]

Giselle never saw this side in her; she wasn’t one to feel compelled to offer acts of kindness, ever. She knew better than anyone not to trust people, and she also knew to only ever trust what she saw. “You’re fucking crazy,” she therefore bursted into a series of chuckles, waving a hand as she turned away with a flick of her hair in the wind, before turning back to stare straight at him with a pointed look. “It’s not a favor, nor an agreement.” This part was where she didn’t want to be looking at him when she spoke, because she might just end up being the one read from front to back. “All your plans, your intentions,” she began, flicking the cigarette butt from her fingertips down the balcony, watching it flitter in the wind. “They’re acts of love.” Love was such a cheap word. People used it and abused it, until the world no longer could define it within a universal meaning, universal feeling. “I wish I had someone who’d do that for me.”

The scowl on Ayden’s face twitched in a thin layer of confusion at Giselle’s alleged insult and the sound of her laugh. 

He blinked, once, twice, intently seeking explanation in her hands’ movement, in the ash of her cigarette, in the gaze that seemed to pierce through his soul. A big gulp of air rushed into Ayden’s lungs when she showed some mercy, letting him know through words the thoughts that were circling her mind. 

At first, he was half convinced that he had stepped into some sort of bizarre trouble, in the form of a Psyche’s daughter who enjoyed smoking and could gain free access to others’ brains with a touch. But it seemed like the universe was trying to prove to him that genuine kindness from strangers still existed, just often hidden behind a deceitful facade. 

“I guess that’s the point of our soul contract, if you ever believe in that. My sister helps me see the future, I help her banish her past, and we both help each other live a better life.”

He stubbed out his cigarette into the small astray on the coffee table, no longer interested in playing around with nicotine puffs. His curious gaze landed back on the side of Giselle’s face, refusing to leave. 

“Since you’ve seen a piece of my mind and accepted it,” he started, the journalist in him was itching to jump out and pull a whole interview. But Ayden refrained from his eagerness, not wanting to make Giselle think that her story would make headlines tomorrow. He leaned slightly backwards, his back facing the sun, elbows resting on top of the balcony, his smile soft like a breath of spring.

“It’ll only fair for me to lend you my ears, don’t you think? Your secrets are safe with me.” 

❛ do you mind if i smoke? ❜

“Whatever,” Giselle waved, letting the other invade the space that was originally hers on that balcony. She liked this cafe, and she’d come early to snag this only table on the tiny balcony. Felt like France here, and perhaps she only let him smoke there and share her space because cigarettes were so… Parisian.

Well, what the fuck did she know about Paris apart from what a spoiled brat who went only for shopping sprees would, anyway?

“Can I have one too, then?” She decided to stick to the Parisian theme, getting up from her seat and approaching, pushing her newly-colored dark blonde locks behind her shoulder.

[mpxayden]

a starter for the wonderful @mpahri and, well, the @inarimp feature the lion @lioxmp

TW: violence, homicide

“Hurry up, okay?”

Lio shoved the gun into his gloved hand, threw the commanding reminder over his shoulder, then off to the opposite direction, behind the bushes, where the still-warm corpses were waiting to be interred.

Ayden stared at his fingers squeezing the handle of the soulless weapon. Suddenly, he wondered if one could weigh death, then should it be about this size of heaviness?

To the ever-bustling city, this part of the forest was almost forgotten. Barely any light could spike through the maze of tree trunks and foliage, the one that did was weakened to the point it turned more illusion than reality.

But it was not a problem for Ayden, never a problem for a demigod whose fox spirit essence had just discovered its new limit. The once-dampened soil underneath his boots was all dried up, and so was that within the two-meter radius, all thanks to the burst of foxfire that immediately took a few out.

Lucky for them to carry this revenge scene in a clearing, a ‘stage’ created by Lio, or it could be some of his connections, Ayden forgot to ask about that. Physically and mentally tiring, he could not handle his words properly, yet he knew Lio knew he much appreciated the meticulous plan they had. The other even had two shovels at the back of his van, just in case one did not work fast enough to bury their crime.

The human kneeling in front of him let out a low groan, as if being unhappy for being ignored. Ayden steered his eyes to the man, the one that, according to his own testimony, was the instigator of Yeji’s misery.

Ayden’s head hurt, his pulse bumping like crazy, the gun in his hand trembling, silently screaming for a shot. The muffler now stared straight into the half-gone eyes of the sinful abuser. It, with the chilly breezes of Kyoto, waiting impatiently for the call.

The son of Inari still hesitated. Is this too merciful?

Deep in his thoughts and worn out by his half-planned foxfire combustion, Ayden missed the rustling noises and dull footsteps rushing in from behind his back. He caught Lio’s faraway alarming voice, but it was not behind a big shadow tackling him facedown on the forest’s bare ground.

wishes came true

[mpxayden]

wishes came true

[mpxayden]

HYUNJIN BIRTHDAY COUNTDOWN (2024): hyunjin in every letter... ↘ D-13 | RED

[mpxayden]

open for any souls that fancies spending time in the central park

It was yet another beautiful day following a sleepless night. 

Ayden sat on the rim of the fountain in the central park, under the gentle sunlight of the early spring, sketching and painting his tiredness away. On his lap sat his favourite sketchbook, on his right side the backpack that had been with him for years, and on his left an open box of well-loved coloured pencils. 

His long hair was messily tied up behind his head, his head leisurely moved up and down from the view ahead of him to the sketch page and back, and his right hand seemed to working on its own. He was in the middle of drawing a picture of the park’s morning scenery while enjoying the sounds of birds singing and people living in his surroundings. If insomnia did anything good to Ayden, it enhanced his productivity, for he tended to draw and paint a whole host more whenever sleep evaded him. 

Occasionally, Ayden’s right hand paused for his eyes and left hand to seek the right colour he wanted to add to the picture. He grabbed the light olive green pencil he had placed on top of the box, but the dark olive next to it demanded some attention. The pencil rolled off, fell on the ground, then continued rolling away despite Ayden’s mild panic and late effort to grab it. Who knew a pencil could roll that fast?

Hurriedly put down the sketchbook, he rushed after the pencil before it could roll into the bush. His whole body was so focused on chasing after the item that Ayden did not pay attention to someone coming in from the side, and so, inevitably, he bumped into that poor person. 

“Oh my god, I’m so sorry I’m so sorry!” He said in another wave of mild panic, the pencil temporarily forgotten as he turned around to apologise. “I’m so sorry, are you okay?”

rolling colours

[mpxayden]

rolling colours

[mpxayden]

Inari did not know if Ayden knew, but there were moments when the fox deity could read the thoughts of their children, as fleeting as if pictures in clarity. To see the anger on his young face, the foxfire that emerged from his tails made Inari give a soft sigh. A slim hand reached out and the foxfire danced from his tail to rest on their palm. "Breathe," Inari commanded softly and the fist closed to extinguish the foxfire, to return to their master. Inari met Ayden's feral eyes, their own flashing a glow that showed which of their inner fox the superior. Inari understood perfectly the anger Ayden felt, it still coursed through their veins. Knowing the injustice that Akihide went through, their children's abuse...Inari battled with the anger everyday. "I will not stop you." Inari spoke now, and there was a harshness in their own tone, replacing the playfulness that usually lingered. "But you understand, there is a danger to leaning into this anger Ayden. Especially for you. For beings like us." Inari's hand reached out, not really touching him, but offering that just in case he needed it.

Breathe, he heard a voice commanding him to breathe. 

The raging wrath burning inside his guts made it hard to breathe, painful even; each breath in threatened to burst his lungs, each breath out menaced the remnants of self-control he was left with. 

He even wanted to snare the moment his foxfire was taken away, but had no energy to do it properly. The noises escaped him inching close to a whine, a yelp, a soft cry of years of pent-up anger and agony bleeding out at once. Tears were gathering in his eyes, blurring his vision, but he did not feel them falling down his cheeks. Maybe the heat of anger had evaporated them all. 

His inner fox reluctantly obeyed Inari to keep breathing. Ayden dragged himself through laboured inhalation and exhalation, his chest trembling, his hands going cold, yet he kept doing so until he was steps away from the verge of bursting into rage. 

“No, you won’t. The only way to stop me is to kill me, and you won’t do that.” He spoke up, defiant gaze spiking straight into Inari’s eyes. He listened to their warning, to the roar of anger inside him, and for a short moment, he was terrified.

It was not his nature, at least his human side’s nature, to seek revenge. Yes, it was he who ignited the fire that burnt down his so-called foster parents’ house, where all of his suffering and nightmares were born. He did fight back at times when fighting back was the only choice left to survive. But it was instinctive, the reactions were destructive yet not murderous. This time, however, he was wishing death to those who hurt his twin sister. 

He wanted to be those humans’ death. 

“I do understand,” he confirmed, eyes still looking at Inari and their hand reaching out toward him, voice dropping low in excessive self-control. Sarcasm painted a bitter smirk across his face, and Ayden’s hands remained resting still on his lap. He gazed at the deity that gave him this life, letting his thoughts run around until they refused to move on from the beautiful smile of a certain person, the sun of his life. 

“Just in case I’m in danger, or I go mad in anger, whatever comes first,” he started again, saying what he believed to be the only pleading ever he would ask Inari. “Would you please watch over Ahri? I…I love her, and I don’t want her to ever be upset about anything…”

“Do you ever just want someone to come over and sit on the floor with you for a few hours?”

"Ahh little kit," Inari's voice was unusually soft, and the flicker of their amber eyes told them they were thinking of a memory far from where they were at the moment. "Our hearts tend to run wild most of the time, though I don't presume to know your own. But to your answer your question...yes" As if to echo their words, soft tinkling of bells could be hear and their tails seemed to dance alongside a faint melody.

"Once, a long time ago, there was one who would have tamed the wildness of my heart." A soft smile before it quickly vanished and the sly fox smile that they were known for appeared. "Before they offered their heart for me to devour."

[mpxayden]

[...] The sigh of relief wasn't missed by the nurse and he smiled, carefully putting the drawing away on his pile of files. He looked at the young man, at his radiant but tired face at the compliments. "Never doubt of your talent, whatever people can tell you" he gently said, peeking at the drawing again. It indeed wasn't Tsukiko's usual ward but now that he had found someone who seemed to need help, he wasn't going to leave them alone in the middle of the hallway. Lunch could wait and his colleagues of the Cardiac Cares would call him if his help was wanted.  "Ayden, that's a pretty name ! I'm happy to meet you too. You are on the right level but the Psychology Ward is on the other side of the hallway. I'm going in that direction, come with me ?" Then Tsukiko would see if he could find his file before recommending him to one of the doctors. "Do you often have sleep problems ?" he asked as he waited for Ayden to be ready to go.

Ayden looked through his sleep deprivation to follow the nurse’s hand moves, his lips tugged up into a small smile as the portrait sketch was now safe in the other’s folder. He did not miss the way Tsukiko took just one more glance at the sketch while talking to him, and that sent a right amount of pride to Ayden’s almost numb senses. 

“I’m still learning not to give a damn about the comments,” he admitted, his lack of sleep made the effort to brush the heavy feelings off his heart look more effortless. “People tend to be careless with their words, you know.” 

His mood slump lasted as long as a blink of an eye, as now his tired brain got a piece of much more practical information to digest. At the other’s comment about his name, Ayden responded with an easy “Thank you!” It was interesting, as Tsukiko was the first one to compliment the sound of his name, something Ayden himself had never really thought about. 

Looking up at Tsukiko with slightly wider eyes, Ayden sat in silence for a few seconds, then concluded with a foolish chuckle. “Ah, so I’m at the right place, but not really the right place.” He then gave a quick nod of his head to the nurse’s invitation to tag along, taking a few more seconds to realize that meant he should put his sketchbook and pencil case back into his backpack. 

Ayden’s hands moved on their own, he believed, as he did not really remember how he gathered his stuff and zipped the backpack before standing up from the bench. Holding the backpack loosely in one hand, he let his legs move themselves to follow Tsukiko, leaving his brain enough space to hold the conversation with the nurse coherently. 

“Quite often, mostly when I’ve got deadlines, and in wintertime.” He then asked Tsukiko, his voice got slightly slurred because of the physical tiredness. “How long have you been working here? Which ward are you working at?”

[mpxayden]

[...] She wanted to protest, when he said he preferred for her to stay, and her brow furrowed as he mentioned he had asked Lio for help. She tried to hide the pang of hurt that he had gone to her ex for help first before her, but Ahri knew Lio dealt with a whole other skillset than her own. So she nods, trying not to imagine her ex and her present boyfriend going all gangsta in Japan. "Have you..." She hesitates as if wondering if asking this would also trigger Ayden. But she would rather ask him than the other, and so she cleared her throat, her eyes still meeting his. "Have you asked your mom for help?" She knew better than most how disappointing godly parents could be. But if Ayden was about to go to Japan to confront his past, Ahri was in the opinion that the fox deity could at least accompany him. Especially after abandoning them early in their life. "I...I can at least help you pack? Or book your flights? Please...let me help you, whatever you think I can do for you." She leans her forehead against his, tugging him close to her. "You're not alone anymore, Ayden."

Talking with Ahri about his intentions on his upcoming trip to Japan was stressful, yet at the same time, Ayden found it therapeutic. 

Before deciding to contact Lio, Ayden had guessed how Ahri would react to knowing that her ex would be involved in the plan. The friendship between Lio and him started a while back ago, when Ayden was still in his alcoholic-whore phase and got something going on with Lio’s best friend.

That best friend had left and Ayden was completely over the situationship, yet the friendship with Lio remained. While the son of Sekhmet did not make it show, he did not try hard to hide it either - the fact that his hands were deep in gangster business, that he had enough skills and connections to get things done. If it were not Lio, Ayden would not know anyone suitable to ask for help. 

While he was not sure if Ahri knew what Lio was doing outside the island, Ayden believed she would understand why he contacted the man and not her first.

Ahri did not ask about Lio’s presence in his plan, which was a relief, but there was a more challenging question she posed that he should respond honestly. Reluctantly, Ayden recalled the conversation he had with his parent, finding himself skipping some parts of it, just so his anger would not be re-ignited and therefore hurt his girlfriend. 

Releasing a long sigh, he finally replied. “Well, yes, and no. I told Inari about my plan but did not explicitly ask them for help, or to do anything. Inari warned me about getting my hands dirty, but also said they would not stop me.”

He paused shortly, then concluded with a sarcastic chuckle, keeping his voice light so that his pent-up anger would not leak. “If we think about that, they already helped by not preaching on forgiveness, and by not acting like they’ve got nothing to do with why shit happened.”  

Ayden then closed his eyes, taking a few seconds to push all the negative feelings provoked by Inari’s name to the back of his mind. While they got to have a somewhat civil conversation, and Inari did help him out of trouble a few times, it may take more than that to pacify the resentment toward his parent that had rooted in Ayden’s heart and mind. 

Ahri’s gentle voice and their forehead touch quickly pulled him back to calmness. Ayden opened his eyes and leaned back just enough to properly look at her, and found himself easily gave in to her genuine care and enthusiasm to help.

“Alright, then please help me pack and book a one-way flight to Kyoto.” He smiled softly, and quickly explained his request for the flight.

“I can’t be one hundred percent sure about the return date, it may take two weeks more or less, depending on…well, on a lot of things. We’ll try to finish everything as quickly and neatly as possible. I’ll let you know once I book the flight home, okay?”

[mpxayden]

Giselle didn’t mean to sneak up on him like that. Sometimes she’d do so to those she suspected to confirm her thoughts, but not to someone who’d shown nothing but courtesy and kindness. It was the thrill she spoke about that got to her, and she wondered if she should have let her impulse get to her like that when… It was her home country; the signs on the street tell her so, and although what she saw were bloodthirsty shots one after another, straight out of an action movie with chasing scenes galore, all she felt from them were a desperate brother’s undying love for his sister. She had already forgotten about the demigod who almost got hit by the car below. This was much more compelling and humbling, and she held a sharp breath as she took her fingers off of his forearm, gaze a little taken aback and a little apologetic, too. “Don’t worry,” Giselle murmured, sounding serious for once. “I’ll keep this deep within my heart and nowhere else.”

For a heavy moment, Ayden felt his heartstrings tremble, and his core shook in a sudden surge of anxiety. 

He was aware of Giselle’s mind-reading ability, but he had not been explained yet how exactly far into one’s mind she could reach through a touch. The son of Inari was not sure if she could see the motives of his revenge scheme, the actual reasons why he was haunted by those horrible thoughts of unliving people. That stirred up great worry in him, that probably she would accuse him of being a psychopath, a cold-hearted criminal, or worse, tell someone about his plans, to stop it from happening.

It was self-contradicting, he realized, how much he did not want to be perceived as a bad guy, but at the same time did not want his murder scheme to be sabotaged. 

“Oh my, thank you…” Ayden did not recognize that he was holding his breath, until Giselle gave him her promise to keep the secret. 

Still, there was another problem emerged. Ayden, for a much better part of his life, had seen and been through enough to not easily believe in unconditional kindness. Yes, he was willing to offer others that type of kindness, but to receive it in return was what he preferred not to expect. Giselle appeared to have some rough edges with her, not evilness, but since it had not even half an hour into them knowing each other just yet, Ayden got the urge to question. 

“...So, uhm, what’s the catch?” he asked, timidly as he knew his query may be taken as an insult, and the last thing he wanted was to offend the one who had his darkest secret in the palm of her hand. Quickly, he added. “I mean, I really appreciate that you’ve agreed to help me keep the secret, and so if you think I can do anything to return the favour, I can…I can try my best.”  

❛ do you mind if i smoke? ❜

“Whatever,” Giselle waved, letting the other invade the space that was originally hers on that balcony. She liked this cafe, and she’d come early to snag this only table on the tiny balcony. Felt like France here, and perhaps she only let him smoke there and share her space because cigarettes were so… Parisian.

Well, what the fuck did she know about Paris apart from what a spoiled brat who went only for shopping sprees would, anyway?

“Can I have one too, then?” She decided to stick to the Parisian theme, getting up from her seat and approaching, pushing her newly-colored dark blonde locks behind her shoulder.

[mpxayden]

[...] Careful, airy steps made their way to the door so he could invite his friend in from the cold-The cold he now thankfully had shut the sliding glass door to, so his home should be heating back up soon-and with every bright fleck in his warm brown eyes he expressed so much appreciation for the man in front of him. "Oh Ayden.." His smile is just as warm and welcoming as he takes one of Ayden's cold hands into his own, squeezing it for a moment in his version of affection. "It has been far too long, how I have missed you!" Tau had never been told per say why December is so hard for his friend, but he did notice how every year the man just wilted around this time. A beautiful flower that still tries to stand so tall even when the frost is trying to take it's petals. Ayden still always stood tall, and it was so wonderful to see him blossomed and perky now. Of course he would always rather his friends be feeling their absolute best, and of course he is always willing to be the one to help them get there. He would be here for Ayden whether he was wilted, or like now when he stands tall. "I have to say I've been well simply because I feel I learned sooooooooooooo much while I was away this time. Though, I dislike that being gone, now has me unaware of how you have been, Ayden! Please sit sit I will light the fire, we must catch up." Tau strides to the open hearth fireplace, letting the logs catch to let a beautiful glow cast through Tau's mostly cream and brown toned interior. Warm and peaceful, a space that gave him the same feeling his friend gave him. Almost gliding around his house he returns with two blankets for the couch and a glass of wine for Ayden. Also the rest of the bottle. "Now please tell me what's been going on lately. Of course only what you wish to share you know I would never try to pry." To say he was excited to reconnect after so long was an understatement.

It was way beyond his expectation, how easily seeing Tau again and being welcomed into his serene apartment made him glow in bliss.

The moderate squeeze of Tau’s hand demonstrated his thankfulness to the other’s existence. “I feel like I should have been mad at you for how long you were away,” Ayden stated, his wide smile got his eyes curled up to mimic a crescent shape as he added. “But we both know I can’t, I’m just too happy to see you back!”

Running into Tau was like running into a breath of spring, like when one opened the window to the early morning’s glorious sunlight, to its merry dawn chorus, and saw that the once scrawny twigs had started to sprout. Decembers were harsh, each year with another creative way to bend him under their will, yet every time, he was propped right back up by the precious relationships that he got a fortune to keep throughout the years. Their presence in each other’s life may not be constant, and their friendship had a bumpy start, but Tau remained a true friend, someone Ayden could hold hand and felt like there had not been a day when they were away from each other. Ayden knew he would risk it to keep that happy smile on Tau’s face. There was no need to understand why, since their friendship was not built on reasons or conditions.

“You’ve got a looooooooot to tell me as well, Tau! Like seriously, don’t think about kicking me out before you give me the whole story of your journey,” he warned jokingly, reluctantly letting go of his friend’s hand as he sat down on the couch as told, taking that time to let his eyes take in the space. He watched closely as Tau lightened up the fireplace, observing the other’s movements out of habit. When the fire came up, he could not help smiling as the touch of pleasant warmth on his whole body. Rubbing his bare hands together, he cooed softly. “Aaahh, it feels so nice!”   

Ayden had stopped drinking alcohol for a while, after several incidents he sent himself headfirst into under its influence. Yet, for Tau and this very special occasion, he gladly accepted the glass offered to him and took a decent sip from it. While his friend excitedly asked to hear updates from him, Ayden put the glass down to tug one blanket over Tau’s lap, then the other on his own, suddenly having the urge to make Tau feel the warmth that he was also feeling inside. 

“Uhmm, where should I start?” He said sinking deeper into the couch and the comfortableness it offered, buying a little time to gather the most significant news that he would like Tau to know. Fiddling with the blanket, he started to list the events in no particular order. 

“So, you still remember Yeji, my twin lil sister? Last month she moved to Seoul to learn her way to becoming a violinist, going to spend quite a while there. I still work at The Rises, am trying to not drink too much, paint more, and my boss Ahri is now also my girlfriend,” he paused for a sheepish smile to bloom on his face, still finding it somewhat unreal that she agreed to date someone like him.

He then added, quite less joyful, but still got the need to let Tau learn about it. “Uhm, and, I also talked to Inari, and learned things about Yeji’s and my human father. His name is Akihide. I’m planning to go visit his tomb in Japan soon, maybe in March.” 

“That’s all about my life lately, now it’s your turn! Tell me everything you want to tell me please, I’m all ears!” He passed the ball to Tau, excitement to learn about his friend’s life while they were apart shining bright in his eyes and voice tone.

[mpxayden]

Inari for their part had looked distant, their eyes seeming to glaze over, indicating they were no longer fully present on the conversation. Their tails curled behind them, twitching as in agitation before settling back around the back of her chair. Ayden's question seemed to have triggered memories on Inari's part and for a moment they seemed to have immersed on it. "I..." For a brief moment a look of grief seemed to cross over their amber eyes before it settled into one of complete control once more. "Humans can be so cruel." Was all she explained as if they couldn't bring themselves to repeat the information. It had been devastating enough to discover it the first time. "I did my revenge." They explained and a feral look crossed their face, more animal than human. "For the insult and the betray of trust. I had thought Aki had shipped you off to safety, and so I did not look for you. How very wrong I was." Inari ducks their head now, the anger replaced with shame. "I am truly sorry Ayden, that I was not there for you and your sister."

tw: mention of violence and homicide

Ayden fixed his gaze on Inari’s face despite their momentary distant expression. His fox ears stayed erect, his tails stiffened, his eyes wide open in brewing ferocity, vehemently demanding to know all the truth he deserved to know.

The explanation was not as elaborate as he expected, but that one sentence turned out to be everything he wanted to hear. If Inari gave any details about how his father passed away, Ayden believed he would explode right then and there. 

Humans. Always humans. The worst of all kinds.    

For a moment, his thoughts swirled and swirled and turned into a vortex, dragging him down to the bottom of the darkest memories he had always wanted to get rid of in vain. Years he spent at the mercy of a mad scientist couple who claimed to be his foster parents, but never spent a day without carrying on those inhuman experiments on him. The continuous painful injections, several different liquids transferred into his body, fistfuls of pills that made him throw up until he felt like his organs were being rearranged, and the times he woke up inside a cage and not his bedroom. All was covered by a sweet big fat lie. ‘Don’t worry, we’re helping you to be healthy, son.’  

Ayden then recalled what his twin sister had told him in tears, about the horrible things some humans had done to her. 

The demigod frowned, clenching his fists. The shimmering wrath made it hard to breathe, desire for revenge soared his chest felt like it could burst. From the tip of one of his fox tails, blue foxfire grew. He stared at Inari through their apology, his face got stern, and for the first time in a very long while, kindness stopped twinkling in his eyes.  

“You did your revenge, and I am going to do mine,” he claimed after a long, heavy stretch of silence, his voice went cold like the wintry winds. His stare went feral, as if he was no longer Ayden, but a vengeful demigod with animalistic power boiling up inside him. “I’ll start with those who hurt my sister. Tear them apart, taste their blood, eat their hearts, burn their corpses and souls so that they will never ever be able to return to earth again.”

“Do you ever just want someone to come over and sit on the floor with you for a few hours?”

"Ahh little kit," Inari's voice was unusually soft, and the flicker of their amber eyes told them they were thinking of a memory far from where they were at the moment. "Our hearts tend to run wild most of the time, though I don't presume to know your own. But to your answer your question...yes" As if to echo their words, soft tinkling of bells could be hear and their tails seemed to dance alongside a faint melody.

"Once, a long time ago, there was one who would have tamed the wildness of my heart." A soft smile before it quickly vanished and the sly fox smile that they were known for appeared. "Before they offered their heart for me to devour."

[mpxayden]

[...] He had noticed the pretty young man sitting not far from the ER's counter, seemingly absorbed bye the sketchbook on his knees. He looked exhausted though and the nurse hoped he would soon have enough time to take care of him.  It was the middle of the afternoon when things seemed to calm down a bit. Tsukiko was hungry but there was still work to do before being able to sit down for a moment. He was about to get the next patient's file when the handsome boy beckoning him over, handing him the portrait. "For me ?" the nurse confirmed, looking down at the drawing. And it was absolutely gorgeous, almost life-like. There was something strange and amazing for the Japanese demigod to look at his own face, to truly notice how he had changed since his arrival to Mount Phoenix. The brighter gaze, the soft curves of his well-nourished cheeks.  He had hidden his sufferings to everyone, even to his adored friend Sun, and seeing how better he looked brought tears to his eyes. He smiled though, looking up at the young artist before him. "It's beautiful, thank you so much !" he exclaimed, looking at the drawing again, turning back to the other after a few instants. "I'm Tsukiko. Anything I can do to repay you ?"

Ayden observed the change in the nurse’s facial expression when he took the sketch, his tired eyes were filled with anticipation. 

For an artist, revealing his works to someone was the best, but also the worst moment. Best, because his effort and hours of working would be seen and the art’s existence would be acknowledged. Worst, because how the audience would react and what they would comment about the pieces was pretty much unpredictable. Sometimes it was better than he had expected, but sometimes it looked like his worst nightmare had just come true. 

He did not realize he was holding his breath until the amazement on the other’s face looked genuine, and his compliment came to allow Ayden to let out a relieved sigh. 

“I’m glad that you like it,” he responded simply, words could not match the joy that brightened up his face, momentarily overshadowing the marks left by serious insomnia. 

He did not expect the busy nurse to want to continue their conversation, knowing that he probably had a lot of tasks to be done, and he seemed not to be directly in charge of the department he was assigned to. But what department he was told to visit? Ayden suddenly doubted his memory, and only then did he start to wonder if he was waiting in the correct zone of the hospital. 

“I’m Ayden, nice to meet you. And no, no repay please, just...” he introduced himself as a reflex, a slight confusion cast over his face as he briefly looked around then back to Tsukiko. He suddenly felt stupid, but it would not be harmful to ask just to be sure. “Hmm, is this where I should wait to check my sleeplessness? The nurse at the reception told me to go to the clinical psychology floor and wait for my name to be called. I’ve been waiting for a while though, so…”

sketches in the hospital hallway

[mpxayden]

Ayden wished he could break into tears right there and then. 

He wanted to do so the moment he met the beauty in her eyes. In the living room’s dim lights and dancing flashes from the TV screen, she looked like magic. His urge to cry grew when she spoke about his bravery, the warmth of her palm resting on his cheek like an affirmation. Ahri did not have to prove anything, he never needed her to, for whatever coming out from those gorgeous lips was the gospel he would follow until the day he was no longer himself. 

Ayden stayed silent, watching his girlfriend work magic with her supportive words, each syllable lifting a stone off his chest, her soft smile soothing the growing pain at the bottom of his heart. He was loved, and he was understood. Right in the moment she verbalized her commitment to keep their young relationship, Ayden realized how much he was loved and accepted by her. 

So he wanted to cry, so hot droplets began to burn the rims of his tired eyes, and so he momentarily shifted his gaze away from her. He lifted one of his arms up, quickly wiped the tears with the sweater’s sleeve, then let it get back to wrapping itself around his girlfriend. When he looked back at her, there was a soft smile mirroring hers on his face, and he looked nothing like he had been just inches away from a mental breakdown just a few seconds ago. 

He knew there was no need to mask his emotions in front of Ahri, but it had yet to be the best time for bawling his eyes out. She got a question, which Ayden felt like he could not treat lightly. His mind was still a hotchpotch of thoughts, it took him a while to carefully consider the role Ahri could play in this plan of his.  

“Just stay gorgeous and be mine, maybe?” He opened with a joke, something he hoped to brighten the mood, or at least serve like a short break before seriousness resumed. 

“But seriously, as much as I want to, I don’t think it’s best to ask you to go with me to Japan,” he continued, voice sunk low as he mustered all the logic he had to explain the situation to her. “The Rises needs you, while I can’t say exactly when the trip will end, and…what I may do when I’m there. It’s…like, it may not be good, and I really don’t want to put you through all of that, Ahri.”

Ayden shifted slightly on the couch, still holding Ahri in his arms, now looking more like he was clinging to her with the way he rested his head on her shoulder. His eyes looked aimlessly at the coffee table in front of them as he continued.

 “And, so…I’ve asked Lio for help, he said he had some connections there, so hopefully we’ll get some names soon, or even faces, if we are lucky. I…gosh, I don’t even know what I want to do to those people, but,” Ayden paused to take in a deep breath then exhale, a quick method he usually did whenever he felt his anger was creeping in close. When he spoke up again, his voice remained low and gentle, but there was undeniable weight in his timbre.

“It’ll not be good, I can’t…But before that, I’ll go visit where they put my father. His name is Akihide, he used to be one of Inari’s priests, a good man, and Inari said I look like him.” 

Braveheart | ayri (ayden + ahri)

continued from here with @mpxayden

Ahri leaned back against Ayden's chest, burrowing deeper into his embrace. She could tell that what he had just spoken aloud had been difficult him, even to her and she had gotten to know him over the years. The thing about magical families, Ahri believed there will always be pain from the gods. While she was thankfully spared from the kind of childhood Ayden's twin had---(something he only mentioned was bad as it was not his story to tell) Ahri knew how deep wounds like that could go.

She turns a bit now so she can meet his eyes, so Ayden would know that what she spoke next was the truth. "I think you are very brave." She reaches to place a hand on his chiseled cheek. They were still ensconced in her favorite flannel blanket--remnants of their takeout lingered at the coffee table. And the bright and cheery TV show hardly contributed the gravity of their conversation. But Ahri pressed on, having a feeling that Ayden needed her. For all the patience he had bestowed upon her and their newfound relationship, she hadn't gotten a chance yet to offer anything in return.

"I don't think you're a bad guy." She continued, voice soft. She reached out to stroke a few of his locks away from his head. Her boyfriend was devastatingly handsome--she had noticed this the first time he joined the Rises, but rather than be intimidated by him then, Ahri felt a kinship. She was just oblivious to the other feelings he had for her until that night. "You are doing what you think is right; even if it isn't to others--you must do what you must right? You would never be satisfied otherwise. And why should I blame you for those choices? You can't get rid of me that easily."

She smiles gently then. Her circle of friends resembled Ayden's stance on doing what was necessary. She hadn't grown up with Irelia to not realize that sometimes, violence was the answer. But even if it was, one could still be gentle and kind amidst that, like Arwyn was every fight. Even Lio had been the same. So yes, she understood.

"How can I help?" She leans her forehead against his, her hand drifting down to settle on his chest above his heartbeat.

[mpxayden]

HYUNJIN @ MBC GAYO DAEJEJEON (231231)

[mpxayden]

The smoke within her lips expelled in a quick puff as she snickered at his shocked reaction. It does take people aback, when she suddenly exposes them like that, but in this case, she didn't do it out of offense or spite. She waved a hand to shake it off, a smile blooming on her usually cold features when he busied himself with explanations. "Don't worry about it," she shrugged, "thoughts of murdering me have appeared more than enough times." Her gaze landed on the demigod beneath, someone she didn't know looking very upset about something, and as inappropriate as it seemed, Giselle had to admit she found some excitement in watching what may unfold. The young man bolted across the road, and a car coming his direction began honking its horn in desperate warning. "I'm Greek. Psyche's," Giselle grabbed onto Ayden's forearm in borderline anticipation, hissing at a big event that may unfold anytime now. "Does that explain the thrill I'm feeling right now?"

“You’re not a gangster on the run, are you?” 

His question was meant to be a joke, but life had taught him that everything was possible, and no scenarios, even the most ridiculous one, should be excluded. The probability of her being a villain of some kind did not worry him, however, as the way he smiled at her remained playful and fear-free. Giselle did not hesitate to reveal shocking truth after shocking truth in the span of a few minutes of their talk. Whether she was too straightforward for her goodness or did not give a damn to mask herself, he appreciated her honesty. 

The chain of frantic sounds of a car honk yanked his attention from her and back to the street below, fast enough to witness a demigod barely escaping his demise underneath the wheels. Ayden, with his enhanced hearing, believed he heard anger spilling out from the car’s open window, in a language he did not understand.  

“Oh, you’re the very first Psyche’s baby I have the honour to meet,” Ayden exclaimed, the surprise on his face was mild but genuine. His eyes widened at the sudden physical contact, and tried to retract his arm out of instinct. He took a step back, but stopped himself from pulling further from Giselle when he saw her intriguing facial expression. 

“The thrill?” 

He echoed in confusion, but thoughts about his plan to travel to Japan and hunt down those who hurt his twin sister had already flashed across his haywire mind. It was too late to stop himself from thinking, and he knew Giselle had got a quite vivid image of that revenge scheme through the touch. Ayden was not sure how to feel, and so he paused, standing completely still and gazing into Giselle’s eyes, his cigarette had already been dropped on the balcony’s floor. 

After a while he was not sure how long, he spoke, his voice got lower and quieter, making his words sound half like a threat, half like a pleading. 

“Don’t tell anyone what you’ve seen in my mind, will you?”

❛ do you mind if i smoke? ❜

“Whatever,” Giselle waved, letting the other invade the space that was originally hers on that balcony. She liked this cafe, and she’d come early to snag this only table on the tiny balcony. Felt like France here, and perhaps she only let him smoke there and share her space because cigarettes were so… Parisian.

Well, what the fuck did she know about Paris apart from what a spoiled brat who went only for shopping sprees would, anyway?

“Can I have one too, then?” She decided to stick to the Parisian theme, getting up from her seat and approaching, pushing her newly-colored dark blonde locks behind her shoulder.