#( ˟ ╰ 𝟘𝟘𝟛. 𝕊ℍ𝕀𝔼𝕃𝔻 𝕄𝔼 ˎˊ˗ — threads. )

[boreumdx]

𝕡𝕦𝕞𝕡𝕜𝕚𝕟 𝕡𝕦𝕣𝕖𝕖 .

with @dxdaehyun ˎˊ˗

the entire diner was overrun with fresh produce - the kitchen in particular looked like someone had bought an entire pumpkin patch, having scoured each section meticulously, and harvested each and every last of the gourds. all of them varied; different shapes and sizes, most of them a vibrant, earth-kissed tones. boreum didn't even know that there were different colored pumpkins out there, having assumed that they were always bright shades of marigold, but she supposes that anything is possible, especially with mutagens who possess plant manipulation abilities.

".. it's huge," she says, marveling at the size of the overgrown crop in front of them. they're stationed at daehyun's usual booth, several smaller pumpkins littered around them. the beginning of october meant that the fall festivities were in full swing - they had already updated the menu with more autumnal items, boreum's newly added apple ciders and cheesecakes at the top of the board due to sparky's insistence, but now it was time to decorate toast & coffee to look the part of a seasonal orchard.

"erm- we have to clean it out first," boreum says softly, glancing up at daehyun. she's since apologized for being a complete embarrassment a few weeks ago, having feared she'd made things terribly awkward after she had stuttered herself into oblivion, but daehyun was incredibly kind, and had thought nothing of her mortification, waving it off when she'd apologized the next time he'd come in. she was relieved, even now as they stand next to each other - the last thing she wanted to do was upset a regular customer and someone who she was starting to hope she could muster up enough courage to call a friend.

she gnaws on her bottom lip slightly, nervously looking back and forth between him and the pumpkin. ".. y-you really don't have to worry about helping. we can, uh- move you to a different table," boreum feels guilty the second he'd walked through the doors he'd somehow gotten wrapped up into decorating and carving pumpkins. she should have picked another booth to start working. "i-it shouldn't be too hard for me.. uh, to do by myself..?" but given she's naturally uncoordinated - well, it might be better to have some supervision.

[boreumdx]

𝕤𝕝𝕖𝕖𝕡 𝕥𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥, 𝕝𝕚𝕥𝕥𝕝𝕖 𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕤 .

with @dxyingyue ˎˊ˗

the fairy lights are unceremoniously draped over the kitchen chairs - they're tethered together with an assortment of throw blankets, each one a different color and texture, though all seem to somehow come together despite their vast differences. between the lights and the covers, the inside of the blanket fort looks like a cozy canopy, a beacon of warmth and security. boreum quite likes it - the warm gleam from the small bulbs, the thought that both she and one of her closest companions are shielded from the raging outside storm, as though this small fort is the epitome of protection. she's never build a blanket fort before, after all, but she'd read enough about sleepovers online to know that this was a staple for a girls' night. comfy pajamas, an endless array of snacks, wholesome movies and the comfort of sharing late night secrets into the early morning hours - boreum's never experienced such wholesomeness, having struggled the both make and keep friends, but it's better late than never.

"they look like stars," she says softly, fixated on the lights as both she and yingyue laying beside each other inside the fort. she's quite proud of their work, and she'd only knocked down the construction three times before they'd secured it enough for the two of them to crawl inside. maomao also joins them, curled up between the two girls and softly snoring. "i'm glad we were able to find some." she continues, voice barely above a whisper, as though talking any louder might disturb the sanctuary of their cocoon.

boreum turns then, head tilting towards the other woman - a gentle smile etches itself onto her features, and her heart warms at the idea of spending the evening with her close friend. the empath always brought such comfort to boreum's less than stable life. ".. do you think we should make popcorn? or smores?"

[boreumdx]

𝕒𝕣𝕥𝕚𝕗𝕚𝕔𝕚𝕒𝕝 𝕗𝕝𝕒𝕧𝕠𝕣 .

with @jaeyongdx ˎˊ˗

the moon hangs high in the sky, a beacon of bright champagne - it's full, and round, the face illuminating the west side of the district, acting as a guide to all of the night-goers. it's a running joke amongst the staff at toast & coffee that this time of month is always the most restless - fast and furious, there's nothing more chaotic than the night of the full moon here. it brings out something manic in people, and there's always some kind of fuss to be had during it's phase.

and tonight is no exception, though boreum wishes that she could have been spared from the misfortune. but it's unlike her to receive a stroke of luck - so much, in fact, she's considered that having ill-fated encounters may be an ability of hers on it's own. so, it's with this misfortune looming over her, coming in the form of a nearby table with snickering, young mutagens, that she approaches jaeyong, face flushed and grip so tight on her pen and pad that her knuckles turn white.

".. t-they w-want an a-autograph," she squeaks out, having been coerced into asking him by the neighboring table. she's the perfect target for these types of demands, and it took them all of five seconds after she'd stuttered through reading back their order for them to figure it out. ".. t-they said that they're.. uh, b-big fans.." boreum shakily extends out her note pad, having nervously ripped the previous page off to give one of her most notable regulars space to scribble down his moniker. there's been plenty of times she's managed to embarrass herself in front of jaeyong - like when she had stumbled over her own two feet and dropped a banana split that she'd been carrying to another table right in front of him, the child who was meant to receive the sweet treat bursting into hysterical tears, in turn making him burst out in laughter - but this one might just take the cake.

[boreumdx]

𝕤𝕨𝕖𝕖𝕥𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕣 .

with @ahrindx ˎˊ˗

the whirring sound of the espresso machine fills the air - it sounds jarring in the quiet canteen, sputtering and whistling, a clear indication that the appliance is not long for this world. boreum winces as the milk steamer lets out a hiss, disgruntled about being used, and wanting to show it's displeasure. she nervously glances towards the kitchen, hoping that she didn't give herself away by using the apparatus, but she's somehow in luck - the line cooks have long since abandoned their posts, most likely huddle together outside in the alley for their umpteenth smoke break. it's not an uncommon occurrence, after all. though working with boreum can be quite awkward, and sometimes teetering on the edge of exasperating, she's much too meek to speak up about colleagues who may be cutting corners or taking an extended break. so, for those who want to slack off a little during the night shift, she's really the best person to have on shift.

but that's not important - what is important, is boreum perfecting this new latte art. which, granted, is much more impressive than her previous attempts, but still falls short in its delivery. what's meant to be a cat smiling in the cup instead looks more like a rounded, white blob with whiskers. almost like a seal. she frowns, but risking making another one when she's really not even supposed to be using the espresso machine is too dangerous. so, she accepts her failure, and places the mug on a saucer and heads over to the only occupant of the whole diner.

"u-uhm.." boreum stutters as she approaches the table, trying not to be so incredibly awkward, though she finds herself unable to not flush at her own embarrassment. "t-this is for you," she says, gently putting down the mug. "on the house." she sputters after a beat, not wanting one of her regular customers to think she was sneakily adding on extra bill items. "you look.." boreum pauses, chewing on her bottom lip. she steals a glance at the older woman, concern shinning in her eyes. "... a little tired today." it's a soft-spoken olive branch. boreum looks down at the latte art - she excelled in making the trademark leaves and hearts, so why did she even attempt a cat? "s-sorry, i'm normally just good at uh.. the leaves."

[boreumdx]

the warmth spreads from the tips of her ears towards her fingertips - she feels elated, delighted to have her first attempt at some autumnal dishes receive such praise. boreum feels the ends of her mouth curl up again, sheepish smile beginning to stretch with each passing second. she feels such a sense of pride, such a foreign concept to someone so modest, and she's ecstatic to hear that he had enjoyed the consommé - daehyun's opinion mattered a lot to her, especially as someone who was always willing to take a chance on her dishes. even if it would have been to spare her feelings, though boreum didn't think so, given how he carried himself, she thought him to be quite forthright, she appreciated his words nonetheless.

"i-it's no trouble at all," she says quickly, bringing her hands up and waving them gently in front of herself, awkwardly trying to convey that it wasn't burdensome in the least. "b-besides.. erm, there's a huge batch in the kitchen.. i'm sure we won't go through it all.." she trails off, unsure how to accept his gratitude. she's never been good at taking compliments, nor has she had much experience with others speaking their appreciation. and certainly, she's never been considered someone's favorite part of anything - his words, although so kind, so wholesome, and so genuine, make the heat on her face burn tenfold and she swears for a moment she had gotten so embarrassed that she'd activated her abilities and disappeared.

"er- w-well, uh.." she sputters, unable to find the right words. it's just a small compliment, nothing to get worked up about. but it's unexpected, and he's being so nice, so she can't even bring herself to formulate a proper response. and saying any sort of form of thank you is certainly off the table. "c-coffee.. is uh, great! t-the best.. uh, part of- uh, waking up!" boreum feels her ears ringing the second the words leave her mouth - that didn't even make sense, but she's too flustered to find something sensible to say. she takes a shaky breath, trying to dispel her nervousness, though she does a poor job at doing so. "r-really, n-no need to thank me.. i-it's fine, and uh- w-we're honored for your continued p-patronage.." she's trying. "oh, erm- l-let me get you some- uh, take away silverware."

the expression on his face remains neutral but there's a subtle twitch in the corner of his lips as he finished up the last spoonful of soup. he didn't always know how to express his emotions in the ways that everyone might expect. "the soup was warming," he said simply, his voice even but there's a sense of genuineness behind the short, monotonous phrase. "to be honest, it was different. unique, i'd say. i don't think i had anything like it ever... before. at all."

he watched her as she was hurrying to grab the dessert as he requested, he was feeling a little bit overwhelmed by the social interaction as he already had to deal with the noise but, there wasn't anything negative. however, it was the effort to keep a conversation going, was more than many ways, stressful enough for him. he didn't think of himself to be anyone too interesting or spontaneous that would make anyone want to be around him for long periods of time.

as she returned with the coffee and desert, he glanced at the big for a few seconds, trying to process about the free souvenir. his brows furrow slightly, unsure of what to say other than a thank you as it was thoughtful, "thank you so much." he smiled a bit. he took sips periodically of his coffee, "you didn't have to do all this, you know…" he appreciated her gesture in every way. "i appreciate you-" he admitted, trying to adjust his tone to sound more warm but he doubts it's working anyway. in fact, he might sound like a ridiculous fool for trying too hard. anyhow, he grabbed a spoon and scooped up some of the toffee pudding, unable to resist-anything coffee-flavored was his guilty pleasure. "coffee is one of my favorite parts of my routine, really. just like you."

[boreumdx]

𝕤𝕦𝕣𝕖𝕩𝕡𝕠𝕤é .

with @dxseol ˎˊ˗

the maple trees hang heavy overhead - the branches are close enough to touch, curving downwards from the weight of the brightly colored leaves, all mixes of vermillion, auburn and gold. the foliage that has been overcome by the crowding on the limbs settle themselves on the ground below, painting the trail in autumnal bliss. the view is picturesque - like something she's seen on television or on aesthetic websites on the internet. it's breathtaking, and boreum takes the sight in through the lens of her camera, hoping to savor the moment.

click! the shutter sounds through the trees, somewhat louder than she would have assumed - and a bright light reflects off the leaves, surprising her as she thought she'd turned the flash off. boreum blinks, turning the camera in her hands and peering at it - she didn't think all cameras were this loud, but she also had gotten this one secondhand when she'd gone thrifting last week. maybe that's why it was such a good deal, she thinks, shrugging it off. she's inexperienced with this kind of hobby, after all, considering she's only recently decided to take up photography. it had come up in conversation on one of her more recent shifts - the less than tactful waitress relieving her in the morning off-handedly made some sort of comment, mentioning that boreum's whole personality catered around waitressing, and cooking oddball concoctions.

boring, she recalls the older waitress saying plainly, having waved her off that morning to take care of the morning rush. the thought makes anxiety swell in boreum's chest - was she really that uninteresting? she shakes her head gently, trying to chase the thoughts away, and angles the camera once more towards the leaves, completely unaware that through the foliage her camera picks up on an unsuspecting mutagen, hidden in the brush some distance away. one, two, three - click!

[boreumdx]

𝕡𝕚è𝕔𝕖 𝕕𝕖 𝕣é𝕤𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖 .

with @sparkydx ˎˊ˗

the countertop is littered with cookware - a mishmash of discount non-stick pans, baking sheets, stainless steel strainers, and plastic measuring cups in all shapes and sizes - it's a an impressive collection of kitchenware, though one wouldn't think that a simple chocolate cheesecake recipe would call for such an extensive culinary force. but this was boreum we were talking about, and she had wanted to ensure that her instructor would have all the necessary tools. now, the fact of if he needed said tools - well, that was another story altogether.

and though sparky may not have needed every single dish or pan she'd put on display, he was gentle with his coaching and made sure to sift through the pans to find what exactly the two of them would need. the lesson had been going well too, and boreum had been excited to learn what items were best for certain types of recipes, but now she finds herself somewhat at a standstill. with the mixing bowl tucked into her arm, whisk in the opposite hand, she pauses her ministrations and turns to the side, unaware of how likely it is that her clumsy nature might just cause the bowl to fall right on the floor if she isn't paying close enough attention.

"add in both sugars and cocoa powder.." boreum looks over the recipe that sparky had so kindly written down for her on the countertop - he's here, supervising the dessert-making in her tiny apartment kitchen, but she still finds it helpful to follow instructions on paper even with him guiding her along. "cocoa powder.." she looks up from the notebook, hues glancing over the granite. the fact that she somehow has gotten a majority of said ingredient on her face is lost on her, and she scans each carefully measured out dry ingredient that they've lined up nearby, though it's not avail. "cocoa powder.." she repeats, unable to locate the component after another sweep of the kitchen, and looks up at her tutor curiously, cheeks tinting pink in embarrassment at the fact she isn't able to locate the ingredient. ".. d-did you see where it went?"

[boreumdx]

TAG DUMP !!

[boreumdx]

there's an endless expanse of designer brands - all crafted with interesting textures, bright colors and eccentric silhouettes that make it difficult to tell where is the start and the end of each piece of clothing. it's far cry from the painfully inferior stores that boreum often visits when in search of new piece for her wardrobe, so stark in contrast compared to the inexpensive thrift stores she frequents. the lights, the sounds, even the smells wafting through this boutique are all so .. extravagant. she swallows nervously, feeling small and out of place in such a high-end store, trembling fingers touching each hanger as though it's made of glass, worried that she might somehow ruin each expensive piece if she isn't careful when looking through them.

".. o-oh, uhm- a-alright.." boreum manages out with a squeak as her friend pushes the shirt into her hands. it's all glitz and glamor and a striking hue that would certainly look good on someone with the right figure, or someone who had the confidence to wear such an.. intricate piece. she swallows, peeking down at the other female with a hesitant look. truthfully, she wouldn't consider coming to the platinum mall to look for a new outfit - but she was so excited when soojung had agreed to spend some time with her over the weekend, so how could she have denied her friend's request to come here and explore the latest trends?

and even more so, soojung is incredibly fashionable - all of her devoted fans shower her with compliments each stream, always wanting to know where she's gotten her outfits. even in the most casual of attire, boreum always admires how put together soojung looks and she's positive that her friend has an abundance of brand deals waiting for her in her inbox. who is boreum to dispute the suggestion of someone she not only admires, but someone she considers a good friend?

"that sounds fun.." she agrees, though taking notice of the open back on the shirt she's holding.. well, she's not exactly convinced she'll look very good in it. but soojung wouldn't lead her astray, right? she has the utmost confidence in her confidant, even if she's a little self-conscious of how she'll look in such a fashionable fit. "you always look so amazing in all of your clothes, so i'm happy to try on whatever you think might er.. suit me." it's a genuine compliment, and boreum offers the other a small, sheepish smile. ".. but i think it might, er.. look a bit better on you."

━ 💎 ⌇ NEW HORIZONS

"boreum, your outfit today is giving, like...substitute teacher. cute, but..." soojung leafs through the clothing rack in front of her. she's very aware that boreum's fashion sense falls on the side of more modest and conservative, and this shop is...not conducive to that. but what's the point of bringing boreum to platinum mall if not to expand her horizons?

her eyes settle on a shirt that's immensely sparkly. she pulls it off the rack to get a closer look. it has mere straps for sleeves and an open back. it's so not boreum's style, but it would at the very least be funny to make her try it on. or maybe she'd look really good and help her to feel more confident! that would be lovely, wouldn't it?

"what size are you?" soojung asks boreum, then quickly settles on an answer herself without giving her friend a moment to speak. "definitely a 55." she turns back to the rack, searching for the second smallest size available. sure enough, they have one in stock! perfect.

"you should try this on!" she declares, turning back to boreum with the correct-sized shirt in hand. she practically shoves it into boreum's hands.

"should we find you pants to go with it so you can try on a whole outfit? maybe shoes too! that would be fun. what do you think, boreum?" soojung doesn't actually care that much what boreum thinks. she just knows it's the polite thing to do. she has no doubt she'll be able to convince boreum to do it, regardless of what she says. boreum has the backbone of an invertebrate.

💎 ━ @boreumdx

[boreumdx]

the night shift can be somewhat disorienting - as summer came to an end, and the colder nights crept in, the sun was chased away a little earlier each and every day, making the clear divide between afternoon and evening hard to establish. she's grown accustomed to the routine over the past few years, heading home and settling in for the afternoon as the sun sits high in the sky and the rest of the world goes about their schedules, but there are times where the hours bleed together, and boreum loses her bearings, thrown off from her normal routine. this afternoon is one of those instances - one minute, she had been getting home from work, exhausted from working a double shift, wanting nothing more than to heat up some leftovers from the fridge, and the next she had found herself slumped over the furthest corner of couch, blinking herself awake, heavy-eyed and confused as the sound of her doorbell rings through her apartment.

it's not until the small chime! of her phone sounds, boreum reaching out and blinking wearily at her phone screen, does she finally gain her senses. she flushes - she's not expecting hwaryun, but the thought that she had been dozing off as he stood outside her door, waiting for her to answer, if only for a few moments now, with a gift nonetheless, has her feeling mortified. she stands up so quickly that her vision swims for a moment, but she does her best to type out a quick response despite the dizziness.

i'm home! i'm sorry for making you wait. (>﹏<) i'll be right there!

she smooths out her clothes as she heads toward the front door, checking herself in the mirror quickly as she goes, wiping the back of her hand across her mouth - was that really drool on her face? she takes a deep breath as she tries to compose herself, trying to act as if she wasn't just fast asleep on the couch, before she opens the door to reveal the younger male on the other side. "g-good morning," she says softly in greeting, a small smile curving at the ends of her mouth before she realizes her mistake and grows red again, ".. er, good afternoon." it was afternoon right? "w-what i mean is.. hello.." boreum resigns herself on the greetings, growing more and more embarrassed by the second - why is it she always finds herself so insanely clumsy around hwaryun? she shuffles to the side, opening the door a little wider and gently gestures for him to come inside. "erm.. p-please come in."

「 neighbour 」 starter for › @boreumdx

hwaryun is usually aware of his neighbours, particularly boreum—because honestly, sometimes she gives him tiny heart attacks. he’s known her for a while, and there’s times when he catches her in unfortunate situations. so he’s made it a point to always look out for the older girl, just in case. he’s been worried especially ever since he saw her losing her balance on the stairs, nearly falling off. they’re neighbours anyways, it’s good to look out for each other!

once in a while, his family from the countryside sends him boxes of fresh produce which is… admittedly too much for one person. so normally he’ll pack them in little gift boxes and give them around to those who needs it, and he’s packed one for boreum too. hwaryun sets off to ring her doorbell, waiting for her. he isn’t sure if she’s home or not, otherwise he could simply pass it on to her later when they cross paths. just in case, he sends her a text message.

> yo! are you home? if you don’t mind, i got you a little gift. :D i'm waiting outside!

[boreumdx]

the shift in conversation catches her off guard, and the flush that had sat on her cheeks moments ago begins to fade, ever so slightly, ever so slowly, as she considers what he's trying to convey. boreum finds herself swallowing gently, the weight of the words that fill the space between them seeming so heavy - weighted with the notion of something she can't quite comprehend, unable to wrap her head around the intentions of his vague warnings. she's not always privy to the intentions of others, whether they're full of compassion and kindness or simply disingenuous, with deceitful and insincere goals. and more often than not, she finds herself a victim of her own naivety, having put her faith in others who perhaps should have not been so easily given the benefit of the doubt. but this isn't one of those situations - daehyun is forthright, straight from the shoulder, and someone who speaks with intention. he wouldn't be saying something like this to her without some sort of reason.

".. daehyun," the sound of his name comes out quieter than she intended as she glances up at him, feeling her heart swell inside her chest when he mentions he wants to protect her from whatever it is that's got him so on edge. the declaration surprises her, eyes widening and pulse quickening, the rosiness that had painted her cheeks returning again. she swallows once more, feeling shy, and she glances away despite the seriousness in his tone. it's not meant to dismiss his words, but because she isn't sure how to manage the way her heart begins to race again.

boreum keeps her eyes glued on the sidewalk below, watching as their steps fall in tandem with one another the closer they get to the apartment. his hand feels heavy in her own, but it's not burdensome - it's warm, the pads of his fingers calloused, but somehow comforting. safe. she raises their intertwined hands slightly as he tightens his grip, as though doing so would lift the burden of whatever he is carrying on his shoulders. she doesn't understand the severity of what he's trying to convey, and she wishes she could understand the reason behind his unease, behind his proclamation, but it feels inappropriate to press on the subject.

".. i .. i want to protect you too," she finally breaks the silence as they turn down another street, their destination now in sight. it's a genuine statement - she does want to protect him, ensure he's happy and safe and comfortable. after all, isn't that how all friends feel towards one another? she takes in a shaky breath, tilting her head up to look at him again as they reach the stoop leading up to the apartments. ".. w-we're here," she says, suddenly feeling embarrassed with how decrepit the structure looks on the outside. she reddens, gently tugging him up towards the entrance door. "m-my apartment is on the third floor.. er- just watch your, uh.. step on the stairs.."

he kept his gaze forward as they turned down another street, his grip on her hand firm. beneath the calm surface, his mind was always analyzing, observing, and calculating. it wasn't just the streets he had to navigate carefully, it was also his own identity. his life was filled with layers of caution, being out in public like this, even for something as simple as walking someone home, wasn't as simple for him as it was for others. the hat, the hood, the mask, it wasn't just because of the autumn weather. it was necessary because he'd been so convinced it kept him unrecognizable. there were so many tabs and threads that he had to keep in check around people in town, that he couldn't let a single soul know.

the engineer working for n.e.p.a., the man with powers that could twist metal like it was nothing... it was all a balancing act, one wrong move and everything could spiral 180. keeping his head down, blending in was how he'd managed to survive this long. but tonight, with boreum by his side, he felt a bit exposed. as if the distance he usually maintained from people was reducing gradually-without his permission. and he didn't know if it was a good thing or not. but with boreum, he didn't have doubts. a part of him enjoyed the closeness that he'd been experiencing with her.

he let out a breath, eyes scanning the streets ahead. "listen.." he tried to explain, "there's a lot going on right now…" he paused, not wanting to burden her with the complications that played in his life. the fewer people who knew what he really had to deal with, the better.

his fingers tightened just a bit around hers, a small reminder to himself to stay in control. he couldn't let any part of his life unravel. not here, not now, not any time soon. "there's bad people around." his tone was with an edge of something much more serious. "eyes and ears are everywhere."

he didn't say it out loud or stated it in an obvious way, an easy way to understand, but that was his unspoken rule. one mistake, one moment of letting his guard down, and everything that he had been working for and built-from his work, investigation, and even the whimsical sense of normalcy he had around boreum and his friends like sparky could come to an end. the thought made his jaw clench, but as he glanced at her again, she seemed unsure but that wasn't her fault, he felt that it was safer if she didn't know anything.

he needed to keep everything in check. maybe, for once, he could just be daehyun, neither a engineer working for n.e.p.a. or the intimidating man who controlled metal dangerously. just tonight, he could let himself feel something else. he's just a guy walking his friend home on a quiet autumn night. "how close do you think we're getting?" after a bit of walking, her place shouldn't be too far away.

he slowed his paced for a moment, some words sat heavy on his tongue, not something he would say often. "I know you don't think the neighborhood's that dangerous..." his voice was quiet but close enough for boreum to hear, "but it's not about that.. i just-" he paused, emphasizing his true intentions. "I want to protect you, boreum."

[boreumdx]

the silence that falls over them is comfortable - it's a calm, steady quietness that envelops the two of them as the hustle and bustle of the rest of the diner fades into the background. boreum exhales through her nose, letting the tension from earlier melt away as she focuses on the pumpkin in front of her and thinks on what she wants to do with it. the flush that had painted her cheeks only moments ago still remains, though less crimson now and more of a pinkish hue, but the nervousness that had coursed through her diminishes, and she manages to relax her shoulders a little as she sits beside him. though she'd been mortified seconds before, there's something about daehyun that eases her worries. perhaps his kindness, or his calmness - the fact that he never seems to judge her or comment on her awkward mannerisms. he speaks softly, reassuringly, and it makes boreum feel comfortable, though she tends to embarrass herself each time she opens her mouth. she briefly wonders how she can go from feeling one emotion to another so quickly, but the thought is fleeting, as she decides it's better to get back to the task at hand.

she doesn't pick up on his lingering gaze, perhaps oblivious in the midst of calming her nerves and concentrating on what she wants to do with the carving tool, but his words do catch her attention as she pierces the flesh of the vegetable, snagging it on what feels like a particularly dense piece of the rind. she blinks, broken out of her trance, and glances up at him for a second as he gently warns her to be careful.

"oh- d-don't worry about me," she says, tugging the tool out from the pumpkin with a soft grunt before she clumsily drops it on the table. the soft blush blooms into something more intense, stretching down her neck again as she burns in embarrassment. "er- well, what i mean is.. d-don't worry, because i'm kinda used to.. getting hurt?" that didn't sound reassuring. "er- well, uh.. i'm pretty clumsy, so i'm.. used to bumping into things or g-getting scratched?" that didn't sound right either, and boreum ducks her head, averting her gaze as she tries to reassure him. ".. er, b-but don't worry, i'll be careful.. and uhm.. w-well, we have a lot of first aid kits here.. i-if anything happens.. a-and there's a ton at my apartment too, s-so i'll be alright.."

she trails off then, feeling the awkwardness of the situation settle down on her again. couldn't she just be normal and have a normal conversation without embarrassing herself? she picks up the carving tool once again and makes quick work of trying to carve something into the pumpkin, trying to chase away the dreaded feeling of mortification that begins seeping into her skin. she just about finishes her design when he speaks again, voice soft and mellow, and though his words are calm and quiet, boreum feels her entire body burn up as he mentions being here with her is what matters.

the words catch her so off guard she can't muster up a reply right away, eyes widening with surprise as he turns towards her after a moment, his words floating between them. she's not sure what to make of his statement, unfamiliar to the idea of someone insinuating they want to spend time with her. boreum instinctively picks up her pumpkin, holding it up to cover her reddening face under the guise of showing him her design - a poorly carved outline of a cat with crooked ears and uneven whiskers. she tells herself not to take his words out of context, not to read too much into them, because daehyun is kind and he's simply just showing her some goodwill, so there's no need to be so flustered. boreum clears her throat as she nods her head from behind the oversized vegetable. she holds it there for a few more seconds before she places it down beside his own creations, shyly peeking at him from under her eyelashes before she turns, going to grab the nearest gourd. "w-what design.. should we try n-next..?"

normally, he avoided staring at people, or even looking into their eyes, because any form of intense eye contact made him tense and uncomfortable. looking too long at someone felt invasive, like he was prying into something private, something he had no business knowing. but with boreum, it was different. he found himself staring at her more than he should, his gaze lingering on her reactions, the way her hands moved as she carved the pumpkin. it wasn’t uncomfortable, it didn’t feel wrong. in fact, it felt natural, like he was drawn to her in a way he couldn’t fully explain. "after sundown," he thought to himself, suppressing a chuckle. she always seemed a little red, her cheeks flushed in a way that made him wonder. was she always this red, or was it just around him? he mentally noted it, wanting to ask if she was okay but not wanting to sound strange. so instead, he just watched her reactions closely—not with judgment, but with quiet curiosity.

his gaze dropped to her hands as she reached for the carving tool. "it’s halloween, right?" he offered with a quick, faint smile, barely noticeable unless she was really paying attention. he shifted his focus back to the pumpkin. he didn’t want to scare her off by staring too much. he was aware of how easily his eyes could linger and, of course, didn’t want her to feel uncomfortable. but there was something about her that made it hard to look away.

he tried to refocus on the pumpkin in front of him, letting the quiet moment settle between them. pumpkin carving wasn’t difficult, but it gave him something to do with his hands, something to concentrate on. still, he couldn’t help but watch her hands as she worked, noticing how she struggled with a stubborn section of the pumpkin. he let her figure it out on her own but couldn’t resist offering a gentle piece of advice. "be careful with the tools. i wouldn’t want you to cut yourself…" it wasn’t much, but maybe it would help, even if it wasn’t asked for.

he set his carving tools aside and leaned back, inspecting the two pumpkins he had just finished. the first was simple and clean, with precise lines forming a star. the second had a jack-o’-lantern face with wide triangular eyes and a toothy grin. it had taken him a bit longer to get the proportions just right, but he didn’t mind. the satisfaction of symmetry always calmed his mind.

he blinked, momentarily caught off guard when boreum said a quiet thanks. for a second, he looked at her, feeling a warmth spread through his chest. then, almost instinctively, he averted his gaze back to the pumpkins. moments like this weren’t his strength, but he managed a small, almost faint smile. "you know," he started softly, "it’s not just about being good at this… being here with you is what matters." the words came out quieter than he intended, but he didn’t bother raising his voice. it felt right, even if he didn’t over-explain it. "let’s do our best together," he nodded, glancing at her again before turning his attention back to the task at hand, the weight of his words lingering in the air between them.

[boreumdx]

there's something about the grave shift that invites people from all walks of life - boreum has seen her fair share of oddities by waitressing into the early morning hours, and if she's not met with some sort of chaos in the form of unrestrained patrons, groups often stumbling in after a few hours of drinks at the nearby bars, she's often in the company of the silent night where she'll sit at the booths and put together the tableware while serving a few frequent night owls their coffee. regardless of how her shifts turn out though, it's rare for her to be striking up conversation with customers - most times she's just stuttering back their orders and rushing to refill their drinks, unable to hold much of a conversation even if they want to strike up one with her. but there's something about the woman sitting across from her that somehow puts boreum at ease, though she's still a little awkward, wringing her hands together underneath the table as the other speaks her gentle praises.

" .. i'm sure miss kitty will forgive you," boreum says softly, the ends of her mouth curving up as the woman offers her apologies to the latte art slowly melting in the mug. she's not used to someone complimenting her designs, and her face flushes a little more as the other expresses her admiration, but the smile widens ever so slightly as she smooths her hands over her apron. "the next kitty will be.. uh.. a little nicer.. er, i-if you don't mind another cat one of these times.." she nibbles on her bottom lip, hoping she wasn't presumptuous in saying that. is it too forward to assume she wants to try out her cat design again in the future? but boreum doesn't have much time to dwell on such thoughts as the other woman speaks up again, leading the conversation from the events of her day to more pleasantries.

".. that's understandable," she says gently, wanting to assure that she understood where the nurse was coming from - she can assume that dealing with something as serious as medical conditions is draining, and she doesn't want to add to the exhaustion the other might be feeling. ".. w-we won't talk about it then," she says quickly afterwards, raising her hands and waving them back and forth, as though trying to dispel the idea altogether. "but oh, uhm- i'm happy to.. er, take requests?" the words come out a little more ungraceful than she intended, and her cheeks burn a bright red. "i-i'm still learning, so.. er- it might not always be.. that pretty? .. b-but i'm happy to try out new designs.."

boreum trails off as she crosses her feeth from beneath the table, bringing her hands together again and gently setting them on the granite as the other inquires about her name. "o-oh, of course!" she says, nodding again as the other prompts an introduction, feeling embarrassed that she hadn't asked the other for her own name before. "i-it's nice to meet you.. i'm boreum.." a pause before she separates her hands from one another and offering one out to the older female, trying not to be so painfully awkward. "d-do you mind if i ask your name too?"

The waitress's ears turn a light shade of pink, and Ahrin can't help but smile. She bites her lip to be sure that it doesn't appear as though she's laughing at the other woman. Far from it. In fact, it only makes Ahrin want to know her more.

She's glad that the free drink won't serve the get the other in trouble. The last thing Ahrin needs is guilt on her mind - the combination of which with exhaustion is somewhat of a deadly recipe for her. Instead, she looks again at her coffee cup, slightly gleeful at the delicate, if slightly wonky art presented to her. It's better than the drink being free. Although the thought still doesn't go unappreciated. "If you get to use the espresso machine when you want, I bet the novelty of coffee wears out fast," she says, still looking at her drink, "This makes it more than novel. It's unique!"

She picks up the cup and wraps her fingers around it, enjoying the warmth that seeps into her skin. There's something comforting about that specific feeling, something that Ahrin feels the waitress knows and wanted to offer her. Thinking this, Ahrin's heart gives a small pang. Maybe it's the perfect night for feeling more affected by such a kind gesture. Or maybe this person is just one of those rare, special people that Ahrin can feel the intentions and emotions of more keenly.

Glancing up at her companion again, Ahrin pouts playfully. "If I drink it, the design will be ruined! How can I be so cruel?" she asks with laugh, then looks back once more at the swirling pattern atop the drink. "I'm so sorry, miss kitty. Please forgive me."

Finally, Ahrin takes a long sip, closing her eyes. It's good. Really good. But why should that surprise her? She's never had a bad cup whilst this waitress was here. It's one more reason why she always comes during the later shifts she knows the other will be working.

"Thank you," she replies as the woman sits down opposite her. It's for both the drink and for taking her request to heart. She's almost as surprised as her companion is; at herself for asking so candidly, and that the woman is seemingly comfortable enough to accept. Ahrin melts into her seat with drink in hand, feeling, for the first time that day, somewhat settled. The very least she can do is not turn her problems onto this kind person who has offered so much to her already. "You know... I think talking about my day might make it feel even longer than it's already been," she continues. The smile on her face takes on a sad hue, one that she hopes isn't so easily noticed as it is felt. "Which would be torture. So let's skip all that. Do you mind if I ask your name? And do you take requests for your next masterpieces?"

[boreumdx]

boreum takes a few moments to contemplate his words, slender fingers slowly ceasing their ministrations of wiggling out the carving tool as her brows knit themselves together ever so gently. she's never considered taking the night off - in all the time she had been working here, she's only missed a handful of shifts due to illness or for some other reason that was completely out of her control, like when the pipes had burst in her apartment, so to simply take the evening to herself.. for herself seems like a foreign concept. truthfully, she doesn't have many friends - two, at least, she can confidently say, but she often follows their lead, most times receiving an invitation compared to presenting one. she knows they both lead busy lives, and though the idea of having some sort of gathering with yingyue or soojung on halloween sounds so fun, she worries she'll disrupt other plans the two girls have. or worse, maybe her plans won't be fun at all and the two of them would have wasted the evening for nothing. besides, some of the staff here have children, and surely will want to take the night off in order to have them go trick-or-treating. boreum would much rather shoulder the night shift if it meant someone else could go and have a good time.

she doesn't have more time to dwell on her thoughts, however, as daehyun's voice cuts through her internal debate, and his larger digits brush her own as he goes to take hold of the tool. she finds herself going rigid, somewhat startled, breath hitching and heat blistering across her cheeks as he pulls the carving device free with ease, and lingers at her side for a few seconds. she swallows nervously, not accustomed to having someone so close in her space, having someone gently graze her with a warm touch, and tries to calm her racing heart and the nervous trembling creeping up her limbs as he pulls away after a few seconds, voice as even and nonchalant as it had been during their whole exchange.

"h-huh?" boreum lets out flustered exclamation as he mentions stopping by during halloween - her eyes widen slightly, chocolate hues lifting to look at him in surprise. but she glances away no sooner than she had lifted her chin, swallowing hard - what has gotten her all worked up? daehyun comes each and every day during the week, so it just makes sense for him to come on halloween if he doesn't have prior engagements. why is she acting so surprised that he'd mention that he'd stop by?

take a deep breath and get it together. boreum takes her bottom lip between her teeth, trying to reign her impending embarrassment in before it gets out of hand. "uh- well, uh, i-i'll be here!" she says, as though she hadn't just affirmed she'd be working, her voice a little higher, a little more strained. "h-hopefully it won't be too busy.. sometimes it gets, er.. a little crazy on halloween.. you know.. with uh, people p-partying.. and everything.. yeah.." she trails off after her tangent, blush stretching from the apples of her cheeks and down to her neck - another day, another conversation where she embarrasses herself. "i-if you come right after sundown, it shouldn't be.. too crowded around then." she mentions, wanting to assure him the diner wouldn't be busy if he were to come after the usual dinner rush. though she's sure the closer it gets to midnight, the more commotion will happen.

"u-uhm.. th-thank you, by the way.. uh, daehyun." she says after another few beats of silence, bucking up enough courage to look at him once more. the smallest, shyest smile plays at her lips, her hand outstretched to take the tool back from him so they can continue the task at hand. "i-i'm not really good at this," she says sheepishly, referring to the pumpkin carving. "so, er... i-i'm really glad you're here to help." and she means it.. who knows what kind of disaster she'd create if she was doing this alone. "l-let's do our best to get through.. uh.. as many as we can..?"

his eyes were fixed on boreum, noticing the slight hesitation in her response and the way she moved. that's when it clicked for him—after hanging out more recently, he realized she reacted a certain way when complimented or reassured. "you're welcome," he replied with a small smile. "it's really no problem at all." he didn’t need her to explain herself; her attempt at expressing gratitude was enough. daehyun was used to being nonchalant, but something about her vulnerability made him want to reassure and protect her in the smallest ways.

he chuckled softly, watching her wide-eyed awe as she looked at his abilities. he was so accustomed to his powers that they no longer felt special, but her reaction made him see his connection to metal differently. "art, huh?" he tilted his head thoughtfully. "maybe. i've never really thought about it." he couldn’t imagine himself in an art class since he hadn’t touched art since grade school. the idea sounded amusing, but he doubted he’d ever be some picasso or monet or have any form of formidable talent for the field of art.

he glanced at boreum's pumpkin, patiently waiting to see if she'd ask for help. holidays had never meant much to him; without anyone to celebrate with, they were just another day. as a child, he rarely marked those occasions, since family celebrations weren’t part of his life, so they quickly faded into the background. "i don’t really care for the holidays," he admitted, though his brows furrowed slightly at the mention of her working. "working, huh?" he repeated, already familiar with her routine. still, he thought a change could be good for her, especially on a day like halloween. "don’t you think you should take the night off? apparently, halloween’s supposed to be fun." he hoped she’d do something for herself, she deserved a break. but even if she didn’t listen, it gave him the perfect excuse to stop by and see her during the holiday anyway.

at her question, he shrugged lightly, his fingers brushing against the edge of the table. "nothing," he admitted. "i usually just avoid crowds. i dislike them." holidays were always too chaotic, overwhelming to deal with. but as the quiet settled between them, his eyes noticed her struggling with the carving tool. something shifted in him. instead of using his powers, he slid closer, taking the tool gently from her hand. "may i help you?" he murmured, his fingers brushing over hers as he crouched beside her, closer than before. he freed the tool with ease but didn’t move away, his shoulder resting lightly against hers. "that should do it." after a few moments, he leaned back slightly, his tone casual. "but maybe this year will be different. i think i'll just stop by the diner and see you during your shift then."

[boreumdx]

boreum takes her bottom lip between her teeth - she holds her breath, apprehension prickling on her skin as she watches with genuine nervousness, tightening the grip around her favorite pen as the spoon lifts and touches his lips. it feels like forever, and her breath hitches as she watches him swallow her latest creation, only for the tension to melt away in an instance, the brightest smile etching itself into her features, elated at his compliments. she knew that her culinary prowess was far from the chefs here, but the delight at knowing he was a fan of her latest recipe - well, that was better than becoming the winning head chef on those cooking shows she watched online.

"it's the perfect thing for a cold, rainy day," she says excitedly as he takes a few more sips, though the weather outside isn't necessarily dreary. "i'm so glad that you like it," she admits, the flush returning on her cheeks. knowing daehyun was enjoying her meal warmed both her heart and her face. "it was uh- the first time i've made soup.. erm, well.. made soup outside of my own kitchen.." a nervous admission, but it's taken over by another smile as he takes another spoonful, and in what feels like a matter of moments, the bowl is clean and she feels the unfamiliar twinge of pride bloom in her chest. "dessert? .. oh, yes - we do have, erm .." she tears her gaze away from him, checking the dilapidated board again. "sticky toffee pudding.. the head chef made it this morning." boreum nods at daehyun's request for the sweet treat and a hot coffee before rushing back to the kitchen, happy to oblige. "coming right up!"

she returns a few minutes later, mug of steaming java in one hand with a plate of the sweet course in the other, a takeaway bag hanging from her forearm - at the insistence of one of the chefs, daehyun is welcome to seconds - and thirds - free of charge. she sets down the dishware before offering the plastic bag to him. "f-for you," she says, a little sheepishly. "on the house.. the cooks were insisting, and er.. it'll be a good lunch for uh.. when you're at work?" she knew he'd come for breakfast and dinner, but hopefully this would be something to hold him over in between.

orchard soup... it's something he's never tried before. though, as unusual it sounds--it bought a smile to his face. it's definitely creative, one could say. "i can't wait to try it," he said, watching the soft pink rise on her cheeks. he leaned back against his chair, letting his thoughts wander as he was going to wait for the order.

when boreum returned with the steaming bowl of the orchard soup, daehyun's interest piqued further. the aroma was a blend of the sweet, earthy blend of the pumpkin with the subtle sweetness of the apples, a bizarre combination that seemed intriguing. he wasn't a man who took risks daintily.

taking the first spoonful, he paused, letting the flavors meld on his palate. it was harmonious, the savouriness of the potato and pumpkin, enriched by the faint, crisp sweetness of the apples. "it's good." he declared, a genuine smile breaking through his more reserved, cold persona. he guarded his emotions closely but found a rare sense of satisfaction in this simple exchange. her culinary experiments, seemingly, unpredictable as life could be, brought a whimsical change to his otherwise stringent and secretive existence.

as he continued to eat, he found himself contemplating the layers of flavors, each spoonful a reminder that life could surprise him but not all risks were dangerous. around boreum, it was okay to let his guard down a bit more around her. "is there anything else for dessert i'm having? a coffee would be good too." he asked eagerly, yearning for her company but also fill in his stomach with more food.

[boreumdx]

the sun has long-since said it's farewells for the evening, bidding the world adieu as it slinked over the horizon. the warm glow that had been cast over the district in it's last few moments now replaced with an inky tinge of dark blue, slowly morphing into a stretch of jet black that's speckled with bright stars. it looks picturesque - especially with the golden curve of a waning crescent hanging in the sky, the epitome of a perfect autumn night, and boreum can't help but take in the sight, chocolate hues glued to the darkness hovering overhead.

truthfully, the trek from the diner to her apartment is nothing new - it's the same excursion she does daily, with the same streets that she travels down and the same buildings she passes. it's the same route, with the same time duration, but it feels different tonight. perhaps it's the drop in temperatures, or the fact that she's greeting the moon on her way home today when she's so used to having it join her on her walk to work. it could be that the stars seem to be burning a little brighter tonight for some reason, or perhaps the fact that the streets seem a little less bustling than usual - or maybe, just maybe, it's because the company she keeps tonight is different.

".. hm?" boreum blinks, broken from her trance at the sound of daehyun's voice. she tilts her head at his words, taking in his hooded figure as he matches pace at her side. he's nearly unrecognizable at a glance, billed hat pulled down over his eyes and hidden beneath the hood of his sweatshirt - she wouldn't have even known it was him had they not left the diner together. boreum found his attire a bit curious when they had been getting ready to leave, but hadn't questioned it, having chalked it up to the fact that it's now mid-october and the nights have steadily been getting colder and colder.

but despite the obvious chill in the air - the temperature bitter enough to see the slight outline of her breathe when she speaks - boreum finds herself burning. it starts out as a smoldering when she realizes how close he is now, having been so distracted by the moon and the stars that she hadn't noticed him inching closer. it then begins to singe at the sound of his tone, a countenance to it that is a little out of the ordinary compared to what she is used to with him. she has no time to question it though, as no sooner do the words pierce the air does she feel his warmth envelop her - larger digits wrapping around her own in a secure, albeit tender hold - and the request to stay close spills from his lips, igniting a fire that burns her cheeks and spreads through her whole being.

" .. o-okay," she musters out after a few seconds, breath hitching as her head begins spinning, thoughts racing, and heart drumming so loud in her chest that it drowns out everything else around them. she swallows down the lump forming in her throat, trying to desperately rationalize why he might have suddenly reached out to hold her hand. the two of them have grazed each other a few times now, whether it be when handing over takeout bags or if daehyun was assisting her with collecting the plates after his meal, but it's just been a brush of skin here and there - never invasive, never uncomfortable, and never longer than a few seconds. daehyun has slowly become a synonym with safety in boreum's everyday routine, a symbol of security and comfort - and it's not that she feels uncomfortable now by any means, it's just that this feels different.

boreum pulls her bottom lip between her teeth, nibbling on the flesh as though it'll keep her grounded. she feels the heat rush through her veins, and she worries that skin feels hot the touch, nervous that she might scorch him. she squeezes her eyes shut for a single second, hyperaware that her palms are sweating too. it's in this brief moment that her mind begins to think of all the possibilities for her current predicament, and she exhales through her nose as she tries to stop herself from reading too much into things. she's always had a bad habit of overthinking, and she'd hate to misinterpret his actions. so, she settles on the fact that daehyun is gently holding her hand and suggesting she stick close simply because of how it's well into the evening by now, and that she doesn't live in the best of neighborhoods. that must be it.

".. w-we'll be okay," she gathers all her courage to give his hand a light squeeze, wanting to reassure him that despite her apartment being in the south side, it wasn't that menacing. and truthfully, she's more worried now about how it feels like her heart will hammer itself right out of her ribcage, not about some unsavory character they might cross paths with on the street. "t-the neighborhood isn't really.. uh, t-that dangerous?" it's all she can manage out as the two of them turn down another street, the apartment building still a good handful of blocks away.

dinner and defenses

( @boreumdx )

he hummed in peace, a short and disconnected melody as he was walking, his steps were measured and at eased, the evening air cooling against his skin. he wasn't sure why he felt the urge to stay within her nearby proximity, to match her pace even when they were in no rush. perhaps it was the quiet comfort of her presence that soothed him. but he knew he couldn't blow his cover in public, not when he was living the life as an engineer for n.e.p.a. and acting out as a normal civilian. he glanced at her, only briefly, before pulling up his hood a little higher, carefully masking his features. he tugged his hat down to make sure that he got enough cover. literally.

still, he wasn't used to this, walking home with someone, sharing the quiet moments… it felt different, unsettling even, but not in a bad way. if anything, it made him more aware of the space between them, how close they were getting. he didn't need to feel the need to pull—the desperate need to stay close to someone. but in these scenarios, outings, he needed to protect her cautiously. he didn't want to put a target on her back because he was associated with her, n.e.p.a. couldn't find out anything about his personal life. he'd grown paranoid if they were spying on his activities outside work, but it was better to be safe than sorry. for, it was this very reason, he couldn't allow himself to socialize, aside, from his antisocial tendencies.

his face moved closer to hers but neither intentional or planned. he just wanted to see close enough to see her tiny details in her expression, just close enough that he could feel her warmth. he observed, but not in a cold way but in the kind of way that made him forget who he was, and why this was so risky. his life set him up differently, he had to be hyper-aware of the consequences.

"you look… happy." his voice was lower than usual, a quiet tease found in his words. he wasn't sure why he said it but maybe it was her happiness that infected him, an infectious happiness…? something that pulled him closer. daehyun reached for her hand, his finger wrapping gently but securely around hers. it wasn't a grand gesture but an instinctive act of protection. he kept his gaze ahead, his expression hinting at the slightest bit of worry but unreadable, rather stoic still. just a slight crumble, eyes beaming with heartfelt concern.

it was as if, that simple gesture, he could shield her from everything—the danger, the world, and even himself.

"it's safer this way," he whispered, his heart thudded a little harder in his chest. "stay close to me, okay?"