#( luciel / ghostly )

[beyuwol]

now that luciel pointed it out, it does make a lot of sense. from the moment yuwol had entered the tour, there were people being wary of him. whenever he passed by a different group, they would make a surprised noise, even though all yuwol had done was walk across from them. he didn't think too much of it at first ( because why should he? it didn't seem too relevant ), until now. "do i really look... that lifeless?" he questions, unsure how to respond whatever luciel's answer may be, but he has a feeling luciel would lean closer towards yes.

"i feel kind of apologetic... i should say sorry," he whispers to himself, although he knows that if he approaches them they wouldn't care to hear what he has to say in the first place. "i hear that a lot lately, that i have dead eyes." he murmurs, but he thinks luciel can hear him anyway. it is pretty quiet right now—oh, right, he also has a soft voice, so that might be surprising too.

"smile...?" yuwol blinks, but decides to try, for some reason. why not? honestly, he just reacted—he tries to smile, but it only comes out twisted and creepy; uncanny. a couple walks by, only to tense up and walk in the other direction. but he's still waiting for lucel's glowing review.

luciel doesn’t expects that kind of answer, but he also wasn’t too surprised by it. he’s encountered his fair share of cryptic people (arguably, he’s one of those too, but it’s not something he cares about). though, he’s always found odd people interesting, those who do not fit in the realm of ‘normalcy’. but who’s to dictate what is ‘normal’ and what isn’t? it’s a powerful word that people uses without knowing the weight of its power. it takes a feathery blink to point fingers at someone, deem them ‘abnormal’ for not fitting their standards, then casting them out of society.

“i suppose you ended up scaring others instead,” he comments. yuwol is odd, and an individual he knows solely through their family connections. he remembers him as someone with a perfect smile, to the point of eerie. but that’s about it. “all white, and dead-looking eyes. if you mess your hair up, you could look even more the part.”

then he adds in, “maybe you could scare others instead of trying to get scared. since you’re already looking like a ghost. ah, actually... maybe it would work better if you smiled a little too.” the ghost tour became a bit more fun than he thought.

[doriimaatoukonwrites]

Haunted

Summary: Today it was video, a memory of the past with V and Rika. All caught on camera all thanks to the In-Between. He was here, V was close by and you had to speak with him.  Prompt: Haunted  Characters: V, Rika and a bit of Jumin  Series: In-Between Part 5 FF.NET I AO3  Previous: Note: It’s past October and I didn’t manage to finish the prompts in time :’( but that doesn’t mean I’ve given up on the series. So here is my submission for Day 5 @mysmehalloweek if you’re still accepting submissions!  Writing is to be human and Editing is to be divine so thank you @inkandiron <3  ___________________________________

Click

The sound of the shutter is like music to your ears but you can't help but sigh at your poor attempt at taking photos in manual mode on the DSLR. The screen was all white and washed out. Only the faint outline of the tree could be seen but aside from that all the details were lost.

Sighing, you rummage through your bag and find your phone and send a text to 2B.

Ugh, my photos are turning out shit. HELP! Why is using a DSLR so difficult?! Look at my tree picture.

You turn the dial on your 9 year old camera to auto action mode and take another photo of the tree. This time the photo comes out perfect. Your phone beeps with a response from earlier.

Why are you outside taking photos?

You look up at the clouds for a moment and bask in the sunlight. You rub your arms as a chill passes through. The Mint Eye Castle… Saeyoung and his memories. The game was just supposed to be a game, but you go through your bag once more and pull out the metal cylindrical container. This tinderbox was real and every memory and experience Saeyoung had to relive was real.

You fiddle with the tinderbox, opening and closing the lid. You remember how you watched him change from Saeyoung Choi to Luciel, Agent 707. How his soft and guarded features changed the deeper into the castle you went. It was difficult watching him go through that.

A ghostly image of him appears in front of you, his eyes wide and his body shaking from waking up alone and without memories. The lantern his only lifeline in the dark is held with a firm grasp. You raise your hand to take hold of his hand again to calm him down, but the image fades away. It was a memory and your own hands begin to shake. You wanted to see him again, the real him.

Looking down at your phone and staring hard at 2B's question.

It was all too much.

Your life here mattered too. No matter how much you were pulled into their lives. You knew that you were always destined to fade away and come back to this world.

This was your life, here right now, at this very moment. That's why you were out here today because you had wanted to escape successfully for once. No more searching for overlapping points on a map. Today you would give importance to one of your own personal rituals coming up.

Focusing on the phone, you tell 2B about how nervous you were about the photoshoot that you were both planning to do. Despite owning a professional camera, you still took terrible and unflattering shots.

It was your yearly tradition to have a Halloween photoshoot. Usually, a third person would help take photos, but this year she had bailed on Halloween. You didn't want to let down 2B especially when she had spent so much time on her outfit this year. The phone in your hand beeps again with 2B's response to your complaints and worries about this photoshoot.

Improvise. Adapt. Overcome. It's not going to be as bad as you think. Have a little faith in yourself.

Her words cheer you up, but you wanted to practice photo composition a bit more. You tuck the phone into your bag and continue walking around. You kneel and point the camera at a few clusters of trees for the shot. You think the photo will look magical and gram-worthy for later, so when you look at the photo preview you feel like the air has been sucked right out of your lungs.

Your hands shake and the strength in your legs almost give out.

The camera screen is clear as a mirror and no matter how many times you exit from the screen and enter back into the preview the image does not change. Long golden locks and bright green eyes staring back at you. Her lips tug up in a soft smile and her hands are tucking away a stray lock of hair. It was her. The Saviour. Your mind flashes to the castle and the Rika you found there. Her serene face that you see now is replaced with a snarling one, with her clawed hands lunging towards you in that dark chamber filled with magenta electricity.

Your hands shake as you raise up the camera again. Click.

The preview shows the same thing as last time except the image is now closer. Her hands are reaching out towards you but instead of her wild and frenzied eyes, she is looking at you with a soft expression like a child fascinated by a small bird.

You want to run home and slam the door shut. Rika. The Saviour. She was the last person that you wanted to see. Not after what she had done to everyone just to save them all. But, here she was a ghostly image on your camera staring at you with those loving green eyes.

That moment of fear passes and it dawns on you like a brick being thrown at a window, the sudden realization that Rika is not looking at you.

You take a few steps away from where Rika was standing. The connection you had to Rika at that moment needed to be broken. You put away the DSLR camera and opt for your cell. Any semblance of composure is gone now as you search your bag for the phone.

When you do find it, your hands fumble with the unlock button. As the camera app opens up, you see them on the screen just as you had guessed. V, holding his camera up, taking photos of a now posing Rika, her soft and light laugh echoing out of the cell phone. Your fingers flip through the options. Pictures were great but they were also V's speciality and not your strength, so you click the record button and watch the scene play out.

"Beautiful."

V has lowered the camera down, looking at the screen. Rika walks closer to him and peaks at the photos that he had taken. Her face scrunches up in distaste and her eyes cloud over in disgust. You watch Rika bite on her lip while V scrolls through the images.

"You're like an angel of pure light."

His expression is dream-like as he remains fixated on the images instead of the muse who stands next to him. Her eyes darkening every photo that passes by. V. You walk closer to the pair and with each step the louder your heart seemed to be.

Look up! Look at her!

The angelic smile and doe-eyed expression, she had earlier is gone. You see it now bubbling and pushing through her mask; the darkness that she hides and the one that V is trying to blot out with light.

You think your frenzied screams must have reached them because you watch as Rika's glowering expression shift from the camera to straight at you. Your hands are sweating and you worry that at any moment she would lunge right at you like in the dream world. V looks up from his camera as well, and you watch him throw a hurried glance at Rika then towards you. His eyebrows are scrunched together and his eyes squint. He sees nothing. Rika sees nothing. You breathe out in relief, but the thrumming of your heart has not settled down.

V cups Rika's face in his hands, his touch gentle, as if he is holding something fragile and holy. In some ways she was fragile, ready to split from the confusion of light and dark. His eyes are dilated and entranced with this Rika that he reveres.

"Do you love me?" she whispers to him. You see it in her eyes the disbelief and just how her hands grip around his. It was just shy of breaking skin, but you see how desperate she is for him to love her.

"Of course, I love every part of you," he replies, tucking away a stray lock of beautiful golden hair behind Rika's ear.

"I'll save you from that darkness because you are my reason and muse."

No. No. This was wrong.

You scream again at V telling him to see her. You look at Rika and watch her dark eyes water in pain. Those were the wrong words for her because he was drowning her darkness trying to change her to what he wanted to see.

Rika perks up at your voice. You watch her stare longingly towards you.

Her hands snake up and cup his face. You zoom the phone camera on Rika's face and see that her eyes are asking. No, demanding something from him. Her once soft features look darker and you see the wild, desperate eyes instead.

"Would you love me even if I took away your most precious and important gift?" Rika's soft, airy voice has a sultry edge to it.

You watch as her thumbs outline the corner of his eyes. Your stomach turns and the blood in your veins feel as if they have frozen in place. You realize what she is thinking as her fingers wipe a stray eyelash away.

"Yes, even if you took everything away from me. It would always be you."

NO. NO. NO.

You scream and grab the closest rock on the ground and throw it. The rock never reaches them but the thud of the rock is enough to scare them apart.

Every curse word in your mind comes rolling off your tongue like a series of hexes.

The spell breaks and you see that the darkness has hid itself away again. The Saviour had retreated back into the corner of her mind. Rika blinks for several moments, having finally awakened from her trance. The peaceful expression from earlier has returned.

"V, where's your favourite place to go?"

"Besides being with you?" his tone is playful as he takes hold of her hand and gives it a small kiss. Rika slaps his arm and urges him for another answer.

"My art gallery close by because those contain my favourite photos of you."

You watch Rika's face freeze up and you see how for a moment it flashes in her eyes. How she lets go of V's hand and wraps her arms around herself. She did not believe that she deserved to be loved.

Rika.

You find yourself saying aloud. This relationship was drowning her. You wanted to pull them apart because they were just pushing each other further and further into their own delusions.

The phone freezes and you watch in horror as the phone screen turns black. You try and power it back on but nothing. Shit. The batteries must have died. You scramble to find the external battery in your bag, but when you do manage to get the phone plugged in there is no sign of V or Rika anymore. They were gone like a fading memory.

No.

What was this overlap? It wasn't like anything you had experienced before. Was this an old memory? V and Rika were still together and V still had his eyesight. Something had allowed you to see an old memory.

You open up maps on your phone and find the closest art gallery and run there. There was a chance that you could finally meet V.

You run without stopping, but you feel it the overlap is passing with every moment wasted. The crisp October day shifts from bright sunny to heavy rain. Your clothes are soaked when you reach the gallery.

It's quiet when you enter, like being in a ghost town, but you assume that this emptiness was because of the weather.

You send a message to 2B explaining to her what happened and how you were looking for V now.

Something told you that he would be here somewhere. There was an overlap that would allow you to see him in person.

Walking around the gallery, you realize it was larger than it looked on the outside. After a moment, you feel the hair on the back of your neck rise. This was it; that feeling of passing through one place to another. You look around on instinct and wonder if something would lead you to him much like the other times. Nothing. This time you can only follow your instincts. You were getting good at understanding how this in-between world worked.

You round a corner, feeling pulled into this part of the gallery. You see him, like you knew you would, yet you freeze at the sight of him sitting in front of you. His mint hair looks bright and otherworldly, but his eyes… they were covered with bandages. Despite his damaged eyes, he was staring at a painting of Rika.

He was alive.

"I had a feeling I would meet you soon, after what everyone has told me. Don't just stand there, sit by me."

His voice is filled with humour and life. You wonder how he knows that you are standing there looking at him. Your footsteps are quiet even to your own ears, but you sit on the bench next to his wheelchair.

"Hello," you greet him.

His fingers twitch and you see how he gives a heartfelt smile.

"So it was you that day in the woods."

You nod but realize that he could not see and respond aloud, "Yes."

"You know I think you were the first one to see her darkness. She really wanted to meet the ghost in the forest. Her fascination with finding that voice grew with each day."

You stare at the painting of Rika. It was true to her likeness, but there was something wrong with her expression. It was too angelic, too bright. This was the idealized beauty V had seen in her.

"I wanted to save her and you, but..." you trail off. How could you save them both? There was no way because the story had already been played out.

"We both didn't want to be saved, we were both too stubborn with our ideals that…" And then it is V's turn to trail off. He raises his hand and touches his bandaged eyes.

"Jumin insisted I have the operation on my eyes while in the hospital for a gunshot wound."

Your eyes tear up and the sob you had been holding in is released.

"MC? Are you okay?"

"Thank you for being alive," you blurt out. You are happy that he was alive, despite it all, that this one tragedy was avoided.

"I'm happy that I can be with them for this Halloween party," he says.

You were so happy that you could sit beside V today. You wipe away the tears and smile that everyone could be together for Halloween. You look at the painting and smile. Everyone had been brought together because of her.

"This is a lovely painting," you finally say.

"This was my first attempt to paint before the operation. I wanted to try to capture her with my own hands... it's how I saw her… no…. it's how I wanted to see her. Faultless and perfect. My own muse sent to me from the heavens."

V's voice is distant and tears escape from the bandages.

"I didn't really see her and instead I ended up hurting everyone I cared about. But most of all… Saeran and Saeyoung."

You place your hand on his back and try to calm him down.

"Saeyoung and Saeran, they have big hearts. You're their family, so be the best one you can be. The RFA are also part of that family. Be open and honest with them because they don't want to see you suffer," you tell him.

You remember the funeral. The one in the world where V died. Their goodbyes echo in your ears.

Jaehee is the first. V was always consistent and reliable, he was my role model.

Followed by Jumin who's words are solemn and wise. He was a good friend, a good teacher, and a mirror of truth.

Zen is thankful and shocked at the turn of events. V was a warm and fair person who gave me a new family.

You remember Yoosung's honesty and bitterness fade away to sadness and regret. I honestly hated V... but now I forgive him.

Saeyoung could barely string together a sentence in despair. Don't be lonely there, don't try to save anyone there… just live a selfish life, V.

Jaehee cannot stop herself from speaking again. Good-bye, V…

But, it's Jumin's anger and resentment of being left alone by his best friend in the world that resonates.

I will never forgive you for leaving on your own.

You wake from your memory and see V sitting beside you on the wheelchair. He was living and breathing and you just want to cry all over again.

"I don't want to loose them and I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to them." He looks at you despite his eyes being covered and smiles.

You tsk because V has always tried to do so much for everyone. You don't want him to spend his life feeling guilty.

"They want you to be happy too,"

V is quiet and it seems like your words are really reaching him now.

"My bandages come off on Halloween. Just in time for the party and I want to see everyone clearly again, so I can draw and paint everyone in costume," he laughs. His voice more hopeful that earlier before.

"I'm glad," You can't stop smiling at his words.

V is turned towards your direction again and he is hopeful.

"Will you be able to make it?"

It has been awhile since someone asked you about it. Just as you're about to answer him, you hear footsteps closing in and see Jumin walk into the room.

"MC?!" his eyes widen and he stops in his tracks. You realize that it was Jumin who took V to this gallery today. Even with his busy schedule, he took the time to accompany V to places.

You feel the shift in the air. Time was running out. Your time here was getting shorter and you realized that in order to attend the party you needed to know where it was in order to attend. You jump up to your feet. How could you have not realized this earlier?!

"I need to know where the party is or I won't know where the overlap is!" You try to say it quickly, but it's too late, they couldn't hear you. You were going to slip back any moment now.

There was no time, so you do the only thing you could do to help them: You toss your cell to Jumin. It had all the information they needed to find you again. You had all this data on them, but they in turn had nothing on you. You needed them to find you this time.

You watch them disappear like a mirage and find yourself alone in the gallery.

[poobirdy]

I love your daycare au! I would love to see more of it! Like they love mc so much

yes, of course!! i have ideas that i need to actually put it into action. y’ know, vanderwood was probably the only capable worker at the daycare before mc came along! every worker until then were w e a k because there’s no way they could handle the combined pressure of….

a rich brat who could easily leak every dirty secret they have on billboards across the country w/ a simple snap of his fingers. what if the rich br- i mean, jumin so much as steps on a lego and hurts his insured $$$$$$ feet??? would they get sued?????????  one little toe of jumin’s = more than their entire life savings! 

a redheaded genius who’d bring in “harmless” action figures that would literally shoot laser beams from the eyes, and let’s not forget that one time his flame-throwing stuffed animal burnt half of the daycare down??? “i wanted my lunch warm!” well, that’s why there’s a microwave, seven?? luciel?? saewhat??? ok, wtf is his name and who does he belong to and where did he come from and why does he have so many names-

the most handsome child in the world™ who they find hard not to show favoritism to. do you know how many times they’d forget to feed the other kids just because looking at zen feast instead was so… SO breATHTAKING?? he could poke his nose and make it look flawless, ok. don’t even get started on the parents who’d be invited to sit in on occasion. you know how hard it is to fight off parents who aGGRESSIVELY want to plan playdates w/ him and their kid outside of the daycare? “little zenny~, would you like to marry my dear bob one day??” pls s T O p.

and then there’s the last two (sweet jaehee and cutie yoosung) who are heaven-sent in comparison. they are normal and great and w a IT- jaehee, what r u doing on my computer??? are you trying to take my job from me??? o-oh, ur right, the schedule would totally be more efficient that way and whoa- yOOSUNG?? i know u wanna see ur cousin next door, bUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN U CAN CLIMB OUT THE WINDOW!!!!!!!11!!1

when mc came, vanderwood honestly didn’t have much expectation given past experience, but! surprisingly! the notorious bunch of kids were instantly tamed, and mc became his savior… or so he thought. weird things started happening to him shortly after her arrival. he’d find himself suddenly “farting” (thanks to strategically placed whoopee cushions)?? he’d hear ghostly wailing whenever he’d be doing his dirty business in the bathroom (looks like someone’s installed a specially built sound system in the above air vents)??? and he’s pretty sure a stranger (who may or may not be named driver kim) has been tailing him in and out of work??? rather than a savior, maybe mc is actually a curse??? 

[cresendium]

Running P.5

People screamed and scattered, running away through the exists.

 Wait, maybe you needed to act panicked as well! You suddenly realize and tensed up looking frantically around. Grabbing your still half full shake you began to run together with the others but somehow you lost them, or they lost you. You turned into the ladies bathroom and went into a toilet stall. Quickly finishing your shake before changing. A blue ring appeared around your middle, one half went up and the other down. Your clothes changed into a black tank top and black with (f/c) jeans with a number on the upper left side of your chest. Another memory you would always carry from your past.

You turned intangible and walked through the walls, ready to kick some ass only to see the box ghost was already fighting another ghost. A boy with the same white hair as your brother, a suit with a nice print on his chest. A D instead of the S of super ghost or something. You hid in the shadows, invisible for any watching eye and watched how the ghost boy sucked the yelling box ghost into a thermos. You had seen the thermos in one of the labs, you have been in one as well. That wasn’t pleasant, not one bit.

As the boy landed a ghost sense came out of his mouth. Figuring it was in reaction to you, you looked around deciding on your next move as the ghost boy looked around in search, seconds later, his emerald eyes rested upon you and it felt like he saw through your invisibility. Not daring to move an inch the boy kept staring at you curiously, as if he wasn’t sure if you were there.

He didn’t seem that bad right? Maybe we can become friends right? In the lab you had made many friends and always saw them die. This time it could be different. This time there were no experiments to kill of your friends. You slowly stood up and turned visible. Your emerald green eyes matching him and stared the boy down. “W… Who are you?” the boy questioned as he took a step closer making you step back out of instinct. The boy stopped and watched curious and careful. He probably felt like he was approaching a wild cat of the sorts.

You took a deep breath and stood, floated straight, showing no fear. “I am 066” you said as it matched the number on your chest. The ghost boy frowned, “don’t you have a name? I’d rather call you something less, long” he said thoughtfully. You frowned and thought for a bit then a smile tugged at your lips. “Call me Knightwalker” you said as your brother told a story about Knightwalker once back in the lab days. The Knightwalker would save them and give them a future. Luciel was your Knightwalker and this, where you were now, was your future. Free. The ghost boy gave a smile, “I’m Danny Phantom” he said as he floated closer. This time you didn’t back off instead you flew up, since people slowly began to come back.

It wasn’t long before Danny caught up with your purposely slow paced flying. “Somehow you seem like me” you said absentmindedly, wanting to start a conversation. The boy had white hair and green eyes just like your brother, his suit wasn’t that ghostly just like yours and your brothers, it was like he was a human in a ghost skin. “What are you doing here Knightwalker?” Danny questioned out of curiosity but also concern. It was weird. A ghost that didn’t attack, merely observed. It was too soon to drop his guard, however, he couldn’t help but find the situation intriguing. Curiosity may have killed the cat, but without it humans wouldn’t have made it this far with their developments.

“Nothing” you answered casually as you turned in mid-air floating on your back. “What about you Danny?” you questioned. Danny gave grin, “nothing” he answered. You rolled your eyes, which widened at the sound of the clock. You promised your brother you would be home in time for diner. “It was short, weird and awkward, so I will make my disappearance now” you said floating straight and giving a mocking bow before disappearing into thin air. A trick that cost quite a lot of energy since you teleported to your house at the same time. But it was worth it, this way no one was able to follow you.

In your room you changed back and went downstairs. “Bro, I’m home!” you shouted going into the kitchen and getting stuff out for diner. You weren’t the best cook yourself but at least it looked better than your brothers cooking. “Welcome home (y/n)” you heard from the living room. By that you took the time to cut the vegetables and the meat and made a nice dinner for two. With the ghost boy still in the back of your mind. You figured Luciel would already know who it was since he had great connections in the ghost zone. Gossip travelled fast there and since the boy seemed to be a justice fighter or something alike, he would be the talk of every ‘evil’ ghost.

[beyuwol]

yuwol doesn't particularly feel any special attachment to halloween itself, but he does notice an existing pattern where he thrives within the season at the very least. maybe it's the fact that he works well with scares and the horrors of everything—then again, he's starting to realize how prominent his dead eyes really are. despite feeling no emotional tie to the celebration itself, it becomes pretty significant to him somehow. to his surprise, there have been several occasions where he's the one scaring patrons, walking normally through the ghost walking tour.

at first, he doesn't know why. completely clueless to his all-white attire, and his black shoes that blend into the dark background. perhaps he looks like he's floating. still, it always surprises him that whenever he turns, there's a high likelihood that someone will scream and run off.

eventually though, a brave individual comes up to him casually. "what brings me here...?" he repeats the question slowly, as if asking himself the same thing too. "i guess i just wanted to feel something—like, being scared." as cryptic as usual, but he has grown tired of keeping up the facade of a perfect son lately. "so far... i haven't felt much, though."

with the mention of his outfit, yuwol looks down and checks on his attire. "i didn't realize... i suppose it wasn't very smart of me to wear all white. was that why there were a few other people who ran when they saw me?"

ah, right. his eyes.

ghostly ♰⸝⸝ starter for @beyuwol

somehow, luciel finds himself at some ghost walking tour. he hasn’t been updated on the events unless he’s told about it, especially with project green weighing on his shoulders, there’s barely any time for fun these days (his idea of ‘fun’ is questionable, so to speak). truth to be told, he ends up blanking out for the most part of the guided tour, simply following along, awaiting its end. it didn't turn out to be as eerie as he thought, or perhaps he just couldn't care enough. he does find the supposedly haunted areas visually interesting, and that's about it.

there's something that catches his eyes though, what luciel initially thought as a ghost part of the attraction, turns out to be human. it's a little hilarious and something he thinks is 'spooky' enough for the halloween month. though, the figure seems to be a familiar face.

"what brings you here?" casually, he slides in closer to the latter. another tortured classical musician. the two's families knows each other, but that's the limits of their relationship. "i don't think you dressed up like a ghost intentionally, but it fits the vibes."

[lucielxbe]

ghostly ♰⸝⸝ starter for @beyuwol

somehow, luciel finds himself at some ghost walking tour. he hasn’t been updated on the events unless he’s told about it, especially with project green weighing on his shoulders, there’s barely any time for fun these days (his idea of ‘fun’ is questionable, so to speak). truth to be told, he ends up blanking out for the most part of the guided tour, simply following along, awaiting its end. it didn't turn out to be as eerie as he thought, or perhaps he just couldn't care enough. he does find the supposedly haunted areas visually interesting, and that's about it.

there's something that catches his eyes though, what luciel initially thought as a ghost part of the attraction, turns out to be human. it's a little hilarious and something he thinks is 'spooky' enough for the halloween month. though, the figure seems to be a familiar face.

"what brings you here?" casually, he slides in closer to the latter. another tortured classical musician. the two's families knows each other, but that's the limits of their relationship. "i don't think you dressed up like a ghost intentionally, but it fits the vibes."