#[tdn: just a short one]

[echantedtoon]

Kindness

Sometimes all someone needs is some kindness.

(This is inspired by the post @lelee-tdn on tumblr. The post is linked below.

Apologies if this isn't the best writing and so short. I'm having some writer's block and got a random burst of inspiration for this so I wrote this quickly.)

The day was bright and beautiful as the mid-day light fell through the window and grazed over the few patrons still in the small cafe you worked at. The murmuring hums of light talk, generic elevator like music, and the occasional care passing by outside. It combined with the sounds from the kitchen. Clinking dishes, utilities, and the occasional shout of an order ready to be served. Relatively peaceful and normal day for those whom worked the cafe life. 

It was a demanding job sometimes if you had to handle multiple orders by yourself especially if you were by yourself or happened to be short-staffed that day or if there just so happened to be a large crowd. But it wasn't a bad job. The Patrons were mostly friendly aside from the occasional Karen or grumpy person in the morning who demanded their caffeine high for the morning. It always smelt nice with the lingering scents of coffee, chocolate, and various hand made baked goods in the glass display nearby. 

After a while one would even start to recognize the frequent customers visiting the shoppe's doors. The old couple that always stop by on their Sunday strolls for tea and macaroons. The man in the suit with consistent eye bags always tiredly asking for coffee in the mornings. The soccer mom that brings her children in for doughnuts every Tuesday night. Not every patron ordered something though. There was the frequent college students or bookworms that just liked to sit in the cafe and do their own things. Sometimes they'd order snacks sometimes they didn't but that was life. 

It was a slow day this morning in particular.

The smells of glass cleaner mixed in with the scents of coffee and sweet vanilla as a cloth ran across the shiny glass of the display case. Inside it beheld the delicious sights within it's hold. A few cupcakes and cakes ready to be bought and eaten. Tempted to take one himself. But it'd have to come out of his pockets if he did so. Not many people had come in today either. A few in the morning for a quick coffee run before work but for now it was just him alone here. He didn't mind, it was Peaceful and quiet other than the distant sounds of the cars passing by on the streets outside. 

So perhaps that's why he was caught off guard when someone did come by. 

Sort of.

He saw a lady around his age. She didn't come inside but sat outside at one of the tables just stationed in front of the giant window. She had a bright smile on her face and was happily tapping away on her phone. Maybe she felt eyes on her because green eyes turned to him.. And she gave him a friendly wave.  He just gave a polite nod back before going back to cleaning the display case. He'd best get back to cleaning up the place while there was a lapse in crowds.

Now he wasn't sure how long time had passed between the few times he glanced up again, A second time an hour later as he was sweeping the floors, she seemed to still be on her phone. And again a third time a little bit after that and was surprised at how hunched over she was.

What was more of a surprise was the expression on her space. Thick large tears were weld up in her eyes, large enough for even him to see all the way by the register, and falling onto her face only to trail down her cheek and dripped onto her sleeves. Quite a shocking sight. Her hands shook as she stared at her phone and looked like she was reading something before a silent sob wracked through her body. Slowly she slumped forward until her forehead pressed against the table and the phone thudded from her hands effectively deflating like a balloon. You'd think she was hit with the saddest news in the world.

**********

"Excuse me, Miss." The lady didn't look up from where she was splayed out across the table and honestly he was half expecting this. "I couldn't help but notice you were crying. Is everything ok?"

"Does being left all alone count?" Her slightly hoarse voice caught him off guard a bit and her head looked up at him. Her eyes were pink and puffy from crying and her nose sniffled. He was debating if her question was her giving him a cue to leave when she hiccuped out a sentence. "Why does this keep happening? Is there something wrong with me?"

His brows rose higher as he scanned her body and the table for a moment making it click. "Were you.. expecting someone?"

Another hiccup from her most likely sore throat. "Was is right. Why does this always happen? I thought it was going do well and then-.." Her lip quivered before a hand wiped at her face.

Oh. He got it now. A wave of irritation washed over him as the unspoken puzzle was finished. "Ah. I see. Sounds like a doged bullet then."

The hand paused in the rubbing of her face. Green eyes blinking widely up to him. "W-What?"

"Listen. I don't know much about your situation but usually if a bad thing avoids you then it's a sign you have incredible luck."

Those eyes blinked wider. "Luck? H-How is constantly being stood up luck?" Her hands lifted upwards in a shrug motion. "There's only so many times that this happens to me before it's obvious that I'm the only one who's stuck in the middle."

"You might be in the middle but that doesn't mean you're at the bottom of the barrel..." He sighed and her head lifted up as something was placed in front of her. A pink plastic cup of..boba tea? And..a small plate of fango? They pushed towards her face so she backed up until she was forced to sit back up to stare at the goods-"I thought you might've been hungry from just sitting out here for so long." Her face turned to him mouth opening- "It's on me so don't worry about it." He offered a smile finally. "You needed it more than we did anyways."

Those eyes blinked. "But..why?"

"Because you're the luckiest girl in the world. If someone is only surface level looking then they aren't worth the gold that buried beneath the surface they miss. I know because I've seen someone who was in your situation once."

A small sniffle escaped her throat as she blinked and a sleeve wiped her eyes. "You have a girlfriend?"

"Fiance actually." Arms crossed proudly for the first time since they met. "Take it from someone who took a really good woman for granted once, you're not unworthy if someone doesn't see you that way. It just means that the person who's looking for ya hasn't seen you yet either." Her eyes widened as he nodded making a move to turn and leave. "Enjoy your food."

Green eyes blinked widely as he turned and left her there, the shoppe door sending off a cute little bell chime as the door opened and closed behind him. She lingered a little longer as she blinked before looking back to her small plate.. Slowly a hand clasped around the stick before lifting the small dango to her mouth and taking a bite. 

A hand grabbed her cheek as she hummed. "Ha! So yummy!"

She didn't notice the smile she had gotten from inside the cafe. A sign of better things to come surely-

"A dozen of those chocolate cupcakes please."

A pair of eyes looked up from where they were currently studying a stack of styrofoam coffee cups his hands hand been restocking nearby. Blue eyes met familiar green eyes they hadn't seen for a little over four months. A large smile on pretty features that had him smiling widely back in response.

"Sure." The cups were slowly placed down and he turned to the two people standing there. "Will that be everything for you then?"

"No. Make it two dozen. I'm paying for it anyways." The voice of a black haired man standing right beside her piped up bluntly as she gaped at him surprised.

"Whaaa?! Are you sure?? You don't mind me having so much?"

 Her shuffling was nervous as the slightly smaller man looked down slightly and it was only then that he realized that the two people in front of him was holding hands. 

"It's fine. You deserve it from all the late work you've been doing lately."

"AW! OBI! You seriously spoil me too much!," she gushed making the other man shrink a little into his collar but not out of embarrassment if the pink of his face had anything to say. Her hand made a peace sign indicating the number two. "Make it two please!"

The smile upon his face widened. "You got it."

[filosofablogger]

♫ Three Dog Night Week Grand Finale ♫

Well, folks … last day of Three Dog Night Week.  I enjoyed it and I hope you did too … though I know our Brit friends are cheering that it’s over.  I really thought I’d find at least one TDN song they liked, but nope … nary a one!  Anyway, as I’ve done with my last few artist weeks, I’m using this last ‘wrap-up’ day to play a few that I didn’t get to.  Just a short background blurb about each and…

[krxmarktuan]

GHOST! for a starter where my character is trying to convince yours that ghosts are/aren’t real.

Drabble (x) || starter

Whoever the fuck thought that it would be fun to invent horror movie night can rot in hell.

This was the thought in Mark’s mind as Mihyun demonstrated ROFL in real life as a reply to the former’s suggestion of her sleeping over, not wanting to be home alone after a marathon of Blaire witch project and the Insidious trilogy.

This was an hour ago, and now Mihyun still has that stupid grin on face as she insists that ghosts do exist. She was in the kitchen while Mark was draped on the sofa, shouting rebuttals.

“Mark, they do exist.”

“Don’t start with me.”

“Even he said that your flat is haunted.”

“IT’S NOT HAUNTED-“

Mark stopped mid sentence, bolting out of the sofa to run towards the kitchen, eyes wide at Mihyun. He can see the discomfort the other felt, as if her face mirrored his fear.

“Who is ‘he’? Who told you?” He asks.

“Your flat mate.”

Who would’ve thought that Mark would meet Halloween almost passing out from being spooked;

He lives alone.

[aquietwritingcorner]

Sicktember Day 3: Chicken Pox/Rash Word Count: 2069 Author: aquietwritingcorner/realitybreakgirl Rating: G/K Characters: Vato Falman Warning: NA Summary: Of course Falman would be the one to catch a childhood disease as an adult. Notes: AO3 || ff.net

________________________________________

Chicken Pox/Rash

Falman sighed, and idly scratched his wrist while he read the report in front of him. “—the incoming transport was loaded with supplies slated for the southwest region near Yommib. Unexpected delays occurred in the rail system at 1034. Causes were as follows—”

Falman blinked at the page. It was difficult to concentrate on it. He had been reading reports for days and memorizing them for this investigation. The non-stop reading was wearing on him, as silly as that sounded. His head was hurting, and he felt exhausted from spending all day reading these reports. Every time he stood up, his body protested by aching all over. He supposed he had spent too much time hunched over the reports. He even skipped meals, not that he had much of an appetite after reading what the criminals in question were up to. He wished he could take a day to rest, but he knew that it wasn’t possible. The stakes were too high.

He idly scratched at his chest. Did he forget to put in fabric softener last time he washed? It was possible. He had been rather caught up in that book Sheska had recommended to him.

“—Anonymous phone call received at 1025 purporting terroristic activities. Consequential investigation following received call. Mysterious substance on tracks (See report PGH#73940 for analysis). Small landslide approximately 3.5 miles down track (cause undetermined. See report IGF#2739 for further details).

Consequences of delays were as follows: 340 lbs. of meat unusable. 37 passengers missed connecting trains. Lack of support for troops at—"

Falman let out a sigh again and stood up. Breda looked up as he did.

“Goin’ somewhere?”

“I need more coffee,” Falman said.

Breda frowned at him. “You’ve been hitting the coffee hard the past few days.”

Falman nodded. “I know. But something about these reports just…wears at me.”

Breda grunted. “Yeah. I get that.”

Falman just nodded and got himself some more coffee before sitting back down and getting back to the reports.

“—Turnting. Further consequences include the delay of further trains, which had other unintended consequences (See attached report TDN#73849 for list of other related reports). A major consequence of note is the kidnapping of twelve children ranging from ages 14 to 3. This is believed to be part of a ransom and tr—”

Falman sighed, gripped his coffee, and kept reading.

By the time Falman went home, he was so exhausted he could barely keep his eyes open. His brain was swimming with facts and reports, and he was looking forward to a night of sleep to help. When he got home, he blearily changed clothes, not even bothering to shower. He’d do it in the morning. He was just too tired and wanted to curl up into a long night of a dreamless sleep.

Unfortunately, Falman didn’t get his wish. It was 0249 when his phone rang. Fuery was on the other end of it sounding more awake than Falman did.

“Sorry, sir, but the colonel said its time. Rendezvous at site omega.”

“Right.” Omega. That was the one furthest from command. “ETA of… twenty minutes.”

“Understood.”

Fuery hung up, and Falman rolled out of bed. He ached and was tired and coughed. He hoped he wasn’t coming down with a cold. That would not be good. Still, he didn’t have time to think about it. Twenty minutes was cutting it close, and he didn’t have time to think of much beyond throwing on his clothes and going through all of the reports in his head. As a last-minute thought, he grabbed a canteen, filled it with water, and stuffed some peppermints in his pocket. His throat felt dry, a bit sore, and Falman figured it was just his luck.

He hurried through the dark night, making his way to the omega site as quickly as he could. His back itched as he did, and he wished he had given himself more time. Maybe he could have put on a little lotion or found a shirt that wasn’t as scratchy. He’d definitely have to remember the fabric softener next time.

He made it to the omega site within the twenty minutes he had allowed himself, although he felt more winded than usual. He carefully entered the building where he knew they had set up a watch. As he entered, he saw that, thankfully, he wasn’t the last one there. Havoc and Hawkeye were both missing, although Breda and Mustang were going over some reports. Fuery approached him, a cup of coffee in hand.

“Figured you could use it,” he said with a smile.

“Yes, definitely. Thank you,” Falman responded. He took a sip, and the warm liquid felt good on his throat.

Fuery frowned at him. “Are you alright, sir? You look a little pale.”

Falman shook his head. “I’ll be fine. I think I might be coming down with a cold.”

Fuery’s brow furrowed. “That’s not good. Are you going to be alright?”

Falman gave him a tight smile and scratched at his chest again. “I’ll be alright.”

“Falman!” Mustang called out, interrupting them. “We need your input.”

“Coming, sir!”

For the next hour, a plan was laid out. Havoc and Hawkeye returned from canvasing the area. This was the group they were after, and they had several of the children held in the facility. Mustang called in more of the men under his command. They weren’t going to take any chances with these children.

And yet Falman kept feeling worse.

He drank coffee, drank water, made his way through all of his peppermints. And yet he still felt bad. His throat was dry, he had a cough, he felt so drained, and he was itchy. What was he so itchy? It was almost unbearable. Maybe it wasn’t that he forgot fabric softener. Maybe he was allergic to something. Maybe he had developed an allergy to his fabric softener. Maybe it was something that someone before him had used, seeing as he used a public laundromat.

It was Hawkeye who finally said something, and Falman found that he was glad that she did. She kept giving him concerned looks, until she finally reached out towards him, her hand going towards his forehead.

“You don’t look good, Falman,” she said. Her brow creased. “You’ve got a fever.”

That caught the attention of the others.

“What?” Mustang said.

“It’s nothing, sirs,” Falman said, scratching at his chest and then at his wrist again. “Just a cold.”

Hawkeye didn’t seem to be buying it. Instead, her hand moved, darting out to catch his wrist. “It doesn’t seem like it to me. And you keep scratching at yourself.” She pushed his sleeve up, and then blinked. The rest of the team looked on.

“What is that?” Breda asked.

Falman looked at his arm. Little red dots, blisters of some sort, dotted his forearm. The passing of his sleeve over them caused them to itch more, and he brought his other hand over to scratch at them. Hawkeye caught it, keeping him from doing it.

“Don’t scratch,” she ordered.

“Off hand, I’d say it looks like chicken pox,” Havoc said. “Or at least it looks like chicken pox.”

“That’s a kid’s sickness,” Breda said.

“Unless you never got is as a child,” Fuery pointed out.

“Or had a light case as a child,” Riza filled in. She focused back on Falman. “Falman. Did you ever have chicken pox as a kid?”

Falman blinked at them. “I—no. No, I never did.”

Hawkeye and Mustang exchanged looks. “Take off your shirt,” Hawkeye said.

“Sir?”

“Just do it, Falman,” Mustang said. “Let’s see how bad of a case it is, and if we can confirm if it’s chicken pox.”

Falman was just miserable enough that he didn’t feel like arguing, and he did as they said. Hawkeye released him, and he pulled off his uniform jacket first, and then the shirt he wore underneath it. A collective breath was sucked in, and honestly, as he looked at his chest, he couldn’t blame them. It was covered in the same red spots. Up his chest, down it, on his shoulders, down his arms.

“Is my back just as bad?” he asked, turning around.

“Oh yeah,” Havoc said.

“Alright, first things first—is there anyone here who hasn’t had the chicken pox?” Mustang asked. There were negatives all around. Everyone else had been afflicted by the disease in childhood, it seemed.

Hawkeye looked over him, worry creasing her brow. “Sir, we probably need to get him to the hospital. Chicken pox is more dangerous in adults. It’s why a lot of parents try to expose their children when they’re young.”

Falman honestly thought the hospital didn’t sound like a bad idea. Maybe he could sleep. Although the prospect of this disease being dangerous was worrisome.

Mustang frowned, and then looked at Falman. “Do you think you can last until morning? This op can’t be delayed.”

“Yes, sir, I can,” Falman said, although he didn’t really feel like it. “Although… I’m honestly not sure if I’ll be of much help, sir. I’m sorry.”

Mustang shook his head. “You couldn’t have predicted this. You’ll stay here, assist Fuery in look out duties.”

“Yes, sir,” he said.

“In the meantime, rest until it’s time to move.”

Falman nodded, visibly glad for the opportunity to rest. “Yes, sir,” he said.

He found himself a place to rest, and discovered, quite by accident, that Hawkeye was a fairly attentive nurse. Although she was still working on the op, she made sure he had plenty of water, got some medication from somewhere, procured a blanket for him, and got him a wet rag for his forehead. He dozed off and on, his fevered mind only picking up snatches of the conversations around him. When it came time for the operation to go into action, he drug himself up, did his best help watch and relay information, although, to be honest, most of it was a blur in his mind. Now that it had been determined that he was sick, his body seemed to have given up fighting the symptoms. As soon as he could, he was sitting back down.

Falman wasn’t sure how much time had passed before Havoc was rousing him from his sleep, helping him up. He led him down to a car, where Hawkeye joined them. It was only a short trip to the hospital, where he had to wait in the waiting room, was finally looked over, a prescription for a few things were slapped in his hand, and then he was sent on his way. Havoc and Hawkeye drove him back to his place where Havoc helped to settle him in while Hawkeye did something in his apartment.

To be honest, he felt too bad to care what she was doing or about the state of his apartment.

Havoc left, and came back with some sort of lotion, which Falman wasted no time in putting on. Havoc must have felt some kind of sympathy for him, because he helped him spread it on his back as well. The lotion helped, and Falman breathed a sigh of relief as it helped to mitigate the itching, at least a bit. Laying in his bed made his back itchy again, but at least it wasn’t as bad.

Before they left, Hawkeye came in to see him, putting some medicine on his bedside table, as well as a glass of water and a canteen.

“I left some broth for you on the stove, covered up. All you’ll have to do is turn it on to eat. There’s also some soup in your fridge if you feel up to that. I took the liberty too, of setting up what you’d need for an oatmeal bath in your bathroom. I’ve been told that soaking in it helps the itching. Someone will be back to check on you tomorrow.”

“Thank you, Lieutenants,” he said. “Sorry.”

“Don’t sweat it,” Havoc said. “It’s not like you got sick on purpose. Just rest up.”

“We’ll be back. Call if you need anything,”

“I will. Thank you.”

Falman heard them leave and relaxed as best he could in his bed.

Of course he would get sick.

Of course he would get the chicken pox as an adult.

But at least he had people who cared about him to help him through it.

[neoreminders]

Daily Dare 2017 Masterpost/Help Thread

If you havent done any of the challenges, you can still get a gold trophy/top tier final prize! You just need to have completed all of Chadley's Challenges by the end of Daily Dare. The final day for the event is this Monday the 10th of April.

Daily Dare main page is here and the Jellyneo DD guide is here

If youre having trouble, I recommend scouting the individual reddit threads for tips. Feel free to ask any questions or share any tips you might have here. Also feel free to panic or complain about any of the games :P

1) Chemistry for beginners

reddit thread

JN guide

Recommended strategies: Walkthrough

2) Kou-Jong

reddit thread

JN guide

Recommended strategies: medium difficult, play quickly enough for time bonuses; type cyodrake for an extra hint, once per game

3) Bruno's Backwood Breakaway

reddit thread

JN guide

Recommended strategies: Use the maps on JN; type lookoutbruno for an extra life

4) Tubular Kiko Racing

reddit thread

JN guide

Recommended strategies: literally just hold down the left and right arrow keys the whole way through. once you get to 370, or almost 370, you can try to go through an extra checkpoint just to make sure you hit the chadley score.

5) Mop 'n' Bop

reddit thread

JN guide

Recommended strategies: exceedingly easy, just read the "how to play" you'll be fine

6) Cooty Wars

reddit thread

JN guide

Recommended strategies: Zoom in or use a larger screen. In the first level or two, wait for a moment before you hit the p3, you should be able to get at least 5 or 6 points from each p3 (max is 10pts)

7) Korbat's Lab

reddit thread

JN guide

Recommended strategies: type spiderbite for an extra life (once per game). Type skip at any type to skip to the next level (unlimited). You can skip levels and just do the ones that offer lots of easy points. Press shift to pause (you can pause then skip if youre about to die).

8) Whirlpool

reddit thread

JN guide

Recommended strategies: JN has walkthough/solutions for each level.

9) The Usul Suspects

reddit thread

JN guide

Recommended strategies: Type lumiwatergun for an extra life (once per game)

10) Lost City Lanes

reddit thread

JN guide

Recommended strategies: game guide/tips

11) Toy Box Escape

reddit thread

JN guide

Recommended strategies: JN walkthrough

12) Hungry Skeith

reddit thread

JN guide

Recommended strategies: Nothing in particular tbh, but there are a few tips on the reddit thread

13) Hot Dog Hero

reddit thread

JN guide

Recommended strategies: Use the mustard condiment to draw short-ish ledges, and you can jump where you need to go. Should get the score by the end of level 2.

14) Revel Roundup

reddit thread

JN guide

Recommended strategies: Use a systematic path through the nine areas, and go fast.

15) Cave Glider

reddit thread

JN guide

Recommended strategies: idk just kinda do it???

16) Jubble Bubble

reddit thread

JN guide

Recommended strategies: Click the jubjub and then hold to ensure youre aiming correctly.

17) Assignment 53

reddit thread

JN guide

Recommended strategies: tdn level walkthrough

18) Barf Boat

reddit thread

JN guide

Recommended strategies: focus on just keeping 1-2 petpets on the boat. More tips here and here

19) Wheeler's Ride

reddit thread

JN guide

Recommended strategies: do wheelies against the wall at the start of the first level

20) AAA's Revenge

[reddit thread] doesnt exist yet, will update when it goes up

JN guide

Recommended strategies: ????... something about finding a rhythm???

HAVE FUN GOOD LUCK :D

Submitted April 08, 2017 at 04:08PM by ThisIsDivi via reddit

[echantedtoon]

Heavenly Lights

After a particular bad start to your celebration being chosen as the wife to the God of Festivals, a surprising turn happens that enchants you forever in the heavenly lights.

This is once again inspired by the artwork of @lelee-tdn and their artwork depicting Tengen as a literal God of Festivals. I'll link it below but warning it IS spicy art. So if you're 17 and below pls DNI as respect to the artist's wishes. It's pretty short but I wanted to write something for this man you have no idea.)

https://www.tumblr.com/lelee-tdn/697936924738977792/cw-suggestive-mdni-the-god-of-festivals?source=share

Fireworks are chaos and unpredictability. Their explosive gifts like heaven's art. Filling the night with their bright dreams, born to live through colour then die again. The spectators seeing their blazing trails arc above. There's something about them that warms the heart even in the cold, as if their stray sparks passed into their blood. 

So tell me why must the heavenly lights bring amongst their happy lights such sorrows?

Why must such sorrows take a hold of your skin at the time of happiness amongst the hundreds of others laughing at the company of others and the dazzling gleam of lights reflecting off their eyes like hundreds of tiny mirrors to the souls. The laughter's ambience and joyous sights held nothing within the mind of one that found nothing but sorrows. 

You felt no happiness when your name was called by the oracle.

Felt no spark when you were ushered away to be properly dressed up as beautiful as the lights in the sky.

Felt no hope despite the emense dancing of the crowds and the joyous laughter they exuded towards the heavenly lights of the dark abyss. 

Filling their heads with joy and their hearts with warmth. 

However lights were not going to be able to help you in your predicament and fortune unless you leave. Leave the center of fired hearts set ablaze. Dash away from the lights. Cloak yourself in the darkness far away until the next morning when the grandness of lights would finally be dowsed by the sun.

To her freedom remained intact and her life not taken.

The music of the giant celebration gently flowed throughout and between the beautiful decorations wrapped around the walls of buildings. The way the candles inside lanterns lit up the surroundings and made the shadows beautifully dance against the walls. The way the smell of delicious foods being sold by vendors and the thick gunpowder and smoke wafted through the air. The beautiful music mixing with the laughter and talking of the guests around the lights. 

It was almost like a dream. Everyone having a great time behind their happy faces, no one telling who they were or maybe that was all part of the game. The fun of not knowing who you were speaking too and being able to be your own person tonight. But maybe she wasn't meant to join the fun and laughter that everyone else seemed to be having. Being maskless and alone wondering the world was the lonely fate of the girl in the flowing white dress. Blindly walking and circles, moving around. The sounds, the smells, the atmosphere. It was starting to make her dizzy. Everyway she'd turn she would catch a glimpse of a man with red eyes.

Those familiar red eyes. The ones she both dreaded and feared yet found beauty in every festival that has arisen for the past two years. The eyes that were telling her to come forth and watch the lights being driven by the emotions running amock through them and outward into the nights.

Very familiar red eyes. 

Her dizzied mind knew not to be afraid or excited about the way it gazed and pierced her soul. The way he looked at her with those beautiful wine red eyes. Promising only trouble ahead. Well maybe she was looking for trouble, her head was kept on a swivel, always looking around herself in the see of marked laughter. Sometimes she'd catch a glimpse of red or maybe it was just her clouded emotional mind. At this point she didn't know if she was searching for him or trying to ensure she was far from him. But however she put it, the circles and laughter was starting to get dizzier and dizzier. She barely noticed when someone tall bowed to her. Grabbed her hand. And lead her to dance. Maybe it was because she was temporarily blinded by the lights casting shadows upon his face, or the swirls of the graceful dance they spun. But there was no mistaking those red eyes. Perhaps she was crazy. Perhaps her dizzy mind was clouding any judgement. Maybe she was under some kind of spell from those red eyes. But when those eyes smiled at her-

She couldn't look away from them. 

Nor could she deny the magnetic static that clung to them both with every step of the dance, with fabric flowing and laughter crowding their brains or the way the intoxication of lights seemed to light his body like an ancient celestial being long since remembered. The addiction of the smells of carnival foods and faint scent of gunpowder coming from his every step. Or the smile that seemed to ignite the lights above them. Giving them that first match, that starting spark all fireworks needed in order to truly be brought to life.

"Flashy aren't they?"

You did not know if he spoke of the lights or of the eyes you couldn't escape the sight of. Smiking at you possibly brighter than the sun himself. It's euphoric glow seemingly bland compared to this man's radiant gleam and shine. 

"How about beautiful?"

You know not how you came to find the words nor not how you were about to light the eyes with surprise but when they shined at you with the dazzle of a lot fire, you found yourself burning back up to fizzle out and die in those eyes like the fireworks they were made for.

[krxmarktuan]

too bright; warm enough

@krxjaehee​

He already emptied his last bottle of sleeping pills the other night and fell asleep with the help of alcohol last night. Mark woke up in an unfamiliar bed, rushing to get dressed and run out of an apartment in Gangnam. Work was skipped and an hour long bath was taken, Mark still drowning on fears he never thought he had. 

And he hated the feeling. The vulnerability of being alone, the frailness of longing. It had been more than a year now that he left the States to manage Seoltang and never did the young business man think that he'd miss the warm sun and the swaying palm trees of California as much as he does right now. One night stands weren't warming his bed anymore and the crystals are just not enough to keep his demons at bay. 

The sky was amber, a soft light illuminating the old but well-maintained park that Mark was lounging in. It was his favorite place to be, the park was vast and people barely visit it on weekdays, making it the perfect place for someone who cannot stand crowds without either being paid to do it or being four bottles deep. The bench was only one of the many that lined the edges of the playground that had a garden on the opposite side. Mark sighs, putting his face on his palms. "Fuck my entire life"