❝  you will understand in time.  ❞ ( patrick at...maría?? >:3 )

@clemencetaught | PHANTOM OF THE OPERA / SENTENCE STARTERS

---

A tale as old as time: the young and the less so, not quite old, but drained by life just enough that hearing what digits they carry with them in actuality, when contrasted with the age reflected in their eyes, the weight of the time equivalent of the experiences they've gathered, few don't find their own eyes widening when realising, putting two and two together, recognising the implications of a person not yet grey-haired speaking of pain and war with intimate familiarity.

A tale as old as time: the young, reckless, the first year of war, or the second, their first run, their first time smelling decaying corpses and feeling flaws crawl up their nostrils, choking them from within no matter how desperately they attempt to beg them to stop.

A tale as old as time: frustration v wisdom.

She will. She doesn't assume she won't. But as she stands there, body always angled away from Patrick and that wise, old, holder of past hurt look in his eyes, as she stands there and keeps dragging her hands through her hair, fingers getting suspiciously entangled just enough for her to rip, as she stands there and doesn't stand but paces, with her mascara dragging black lines down her face, as she growls in spite of her tears, she realises one thing, what-

"- if I don't want to?!" she hiccups into a shout, whipping around to stare at Patrick. A part of her acts as the spokeswoman to her shame, making her chest feel hot with it, when she recognises what she's doing.

Hasn't he suffered enough?

Hasn't he been here enough, stuffed into a suit, shoved into his victor throne, made to face her as she burns on the stake of her ache? Yes, yes, he has, yes, he knows better, yes, yes, yes, all of that, yes, BUT-

"How can you say that?" she lowers her voice until she's pushing it through her teeth, jaws clenched, stepping closer, face contorted, incapable of sticking to a grimace that manages to hide the desperation in her eyes.

They say, rely on your 'elders'. Listen to those that came before you, let them guide you in a world you don't understand. The Capitol, lights too bright, sounds too foreign, so many of the colours she's broken her back to help put on their clothes, stuck with her neck in the noose of their world and one foot stuck back at home.

One foot stuck in the Arena.

She inhales, sharply, reels herself back in.

"I don't want to," she metaphorically puts her foot down. Then reaches up to mess her hair up further. The Capitol can doll her up all they want. She'll always find a way to ruin it. When her arms drop back at her sides, they do so almost defiantly. She lifts her chin.

"I don't want to understand. I want to do something. How can you ask me to sit here and... and- and just..." her hand tries to encompass what her voice struggles to, but she drops it, bites her tongue, lifts her gaze to meet his once more.

"You shouldn't do that to yourself, either. Understand. They're not kind enough to understand us. Why should I bother to-- isn't that what they want us to do? Sit here and ponder until we realise why we deserve all this? No. There's nothing to understand. All I need to know, I already know."

Her forefinger reaches his chest. She doesn't stab him with it, much like her features soften, mellow out in the pleas of a child hoping the adult she wants to keep safe sees how hard she tries.

"You can't do that to yourself. You have to keep fighting. Don't let them-- don't give up on yourself."

Please.

I want to leave this pretty open so that @uroborosymphony can chime in if they want to; since our lore for Black Fang is definitely collaborative !!! :D

but my general thoughts are that . . . taiquinn's universe is inspired by the darkness of cities like Gotham and Devil’s Judge: where corruption is always bubbling just underneath the surface. it's barely hidden from it's citizens, if at all. basically, their world is visibly dystopian and shattered, and because of this, the 'motivations' behind Black Fang might be just a tad bit more easily understood / accepted in their universe . . .

HOWEVER ! even if it's widely accepted that the city has gone to shit, the citizens will cope with that reality in various ways. some people will fall into apathy, choosing to simply focus on their own survival, living their lives as normally as they can. they don't really concern themselves with 'fixing' anything: they just adapt to the best of their abilities…

others may wish to fix the broken system, to reform it and heal it. these would be the people who believe that the current lineage in power are corrupt and selfish, yes, but they can be replaced by others, who have purer intentions and actually care about humanity at large, not just themselves and the other 1 percenters . . . people of this ideology would most likely support figures such as revolutionary, idea-challenging politicians who want to make broad changes,, and brave humanitarians who stand up for the common man and speak out against corruption, even though the threat of being crushed by the powerful for doing so is very real and omnipresent for them . . .

Black Fang, however, probably appeals to a different kind of revolutionary: people who have a more anarchic view. the people who are not interested in redeeming or fixing the current system: they have no interest in electing new city officials, or attempting to sway the public opinion toward ushering in a new age of egalitarianism … no, they take a more 'fire and brimstone' approach: burn down the existing power structure and those upholding it. essentially, they believe the only way the world can heal is by getting rid of those who are harming it.

Tai has come to believe that in that world, you can only fight fire with fire. yes, that will cause damage to the foundation of the society they live in, but something new will then rise out of the ashes. something better… and also, truthfully, … i think he feels that what comes next isn't rly his biggest priority. he doesn't concern himself too much with the consequences, the rebuilding of the world after the fires; with what comes after the revolution ( he doesn’t think he will live very long anyway ) … what matters most to him, is that someone is finally standing up to the class of people who used to be UNTOUCHABLE. from his POV, Black Fang is doing what other ‘supposedly revolutionary/humanitarian’ groups are too scared to do: they're doing the dirty work that everybody else is too cowardly to undertake. everyone wants new leadership, everyone wants the world to change . . . but they refuse to do anything 'drastic' or violent to make that happen; they decline to get their hands dirty with blood ... as a result, nothing substantial ever gets done: no real change ever takes place. justice goes unserved, and people are victimized again and again by those with the power. and that’s where Black Fang comes in: they do what NEEDS to be done to make the world a better place. even if it's illegal. 'immoral'. or unpopular…

so yeah, opinions on Black Fangs ‘work’ will be highly mixed asjsaj

some people will think they're extremists, and that fear/violence isn't the answer to better the world. some people will think they are making the already chaotic world even harsher, instead of helping… or that even if they are helping people in the short term, it comes at far too great a moral cost, and that society will overall decline from it. Black Fang will also get a bad rep because the gov't / corporations would use Black Fang's extreme actions as a excuse to crack down on any dissent against them: for example, say Black Fang acted out during an otherwise peaceful protest . . . then all the sudden, all protests are banned by the gov't because they turn into 'riots'. stuff like that. so that may taint Black Fang's reputation to some people...

on the other hand, there will be those forgotten people who were wronged by a powerful person. they watched that person go on to become successful, to have a squeaky-clean image, and to likely re-offend, but face 0 consequences for their actions, all because of their powerful connections they have within the system . . . and THAT victim might show support to Black Fang, who they see as the only organization trusted to actually go up against and PUNISH men like that. they don't get justice from the courts; so they're happy to see if from these vigilantes… other people may believe that power corrupts absolutely, so no matter who gets elected, the gov't will eventually become callous towards it's people again. people with this sort of belief may also show great support for black fang...

idk!! it really just depends on what someone's response to the pressures of their urban dystopia is !!

however, I do think that the powers-that-be would do everything within their power to create a negative image of Black Fang, so the 'average citizen' is supposed to believe that they're homicidal maniacs asjjaj; just a gang of killers roaming around and mindlessly setting fires...

but anyone who pays attention will realize there is a METHOD behind their madness. and that they ONLY target the powerful, wealthy, and corrupt . . .

how people respond to that info varies a lot, though ! Black Fang has its supporters among even the most 'average' seeming citizens: innocent-looking, hard-working people who you would never suspect of supporting a revolution… but it also faces a lot of criticism from people, too; and some of it is very valid…

AS FOR TAI'S PERCEPTION IN THE PUBLIC . . . I think that it would be VERY hard for him to keep his identity under wraps. and he doesn’t even try to. he never openly admits to being part of a gang, because that would be legal ammunition against him, and that's a Pandora’s box he can’t rly open, for the protection of the gang… but nevertheless, it's widely known and accepted that he is the leader of Black Fang . Black Fang is EXCEPTIONALY good at covering up their tracks and "officially" hiding their illegal activities: this stems from their origins as a strictly criminal organization. for example, Taiyang has several fronts and legitimate businesses to justify where he's getting money from and what his 'dayjobs' could be, which obscures any evidence of them obtaining money in illegal ways. he's an eternal target of law agencies and their suspicions and questions, of course, but without the EVIDENCE to back their assertions up, it ends up becoming a matter of 'do we REALLY want to incur the wrath of this insane vigilante group which has decent support from the public???' because if a minister of justice goes after the gang, for example, they risk their car being blown up, their house & 2 vacation homes being burnt to the ground, etc... so, in the end, greed and fear for their own safety protects taiyang from consequences somewhat-- even though everyone KNOWS who he is… which in a way, makes him as culpable as the others to corruption??? but the difference is what he uses his money & power for... naturally, though, countless people want him ( and quinn : c ) prosecuted or DEAD– enemies are always trying to successfully pull this off; they just haven’t bested taiquinn yet… but that’s the risk that taiquinn knowingly took when they decided to use black fang for “good”. they are martyrs in a way: they stand for something bigger than themselves. and they are more than just criminals: they’re symbols of a revolution, of desired change. and they’ve had to accept all the good and the bad that comes with that… as an explanation of that,, lynnie’s post abt Quinn’s tattoos — altho seemingly a cOMPLETELY seperate topic of discussion — iDK, IT JUST RLY SPOKE TO ME,,when it comes to taiquinn & their idealogy & their dedication & their lack of regret… taiquinn don’t try to hide who they are and what they stand for. and I think deep down they both know they’ll probably die for this cause but … they are devoted to it. just like they’re devoted to each other. fully and passionately devoted, taking all the good with the bad, and living life to its fullest for however long it lasts…….. ;^;

@clemencetaught

en garde! prêts? allez!

closed starter for @clemencetaught.

there was little that chaeyeon knew about patrick. the two of them were a pair of reticent beings, dancing on the chances of points of agreement. they had a lot in common on the surface, as far as she knew, which makes either a wager for harmony or a clash between them. aware of her nature, however, chaeyeon banked on the latter to more likely happen. he seemed like a man of the law, fancying himself as a gentleman, while she was closer to being the enemy of it. her body language told it all; the way she lunged, the way she stomped the ball of her foot against the ground, the beats she had blown. if this was a bout, she would have gotten plenty of yellow cards already as it was hardly a conversation anymore, with chaeyeon's insistence and multiple feints only being countered by patrick's parries. the dry training's engagement ended with his derobement in reaction to chaeyeon's attempt to command the blade.

“ i didn't do as well as i wanted on this last assignment, and i was wondering if there's any way i can redo it? or do any kind of extra credit? anything to raise my grade. ” / @clemencetaught liked this for a one liner !

 ⋆ ✰ ⋆ ─── 𝟏 & 𝟐𝟓?

                              ⋆ ✰ ⋆ ─── 𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐧 𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐬. ( @clemencetaught )

𝟏) 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧?

🥺👉👈 Yeah, I'd love for more people to be interested in Marin. I know her backstory is kind of a lot (she does have multiple verses, though!) and I know that much of tumblr kind of shies away from characters that are women (especially OCs). Everyone definitely should write with who they want to because I'd rather have interactions that my writing partner is also excited about — but I'd love to find more people who were excited about my girl.

𝟐𝟓) 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐨 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫?

Hands down, Francis. That's okay though, because he's got seniority and started out on a solo-muse blog (prophecyfated) back before I'd substantially developed him into an OC (he was Francis from the TV show 'Reign' then). So, I still have followers and mutuals that have been with me for a long time, as well as new ones, a lot of whom are familiar with the show. My Francis has definitely developed into his own thing though, sweet sunshine baby that he is. People tend to gravitate toward what is familiar to them, I think :) . I came from several blogs featuring popular canon male muses, and since moving here and becoming mainly OCs, I've noticed interest slowed down since people aren't familiar with my characters. At least with Francis, some of them have a starting point. Francis is easygoing and romantic and sweet, originally stems from popular media, and aside from Marin, he has the most verse/AU options, so it makes sense.

”next is…byun yeong-hwan?” ( let’s say this is for roll call in class 😊 either verse one or two for Patrick, your choice!! )

call byan by their full name, see how they respondㅤㅤ∘ ˚ ( accepting!! )

u g h.

ㅤwhy they expected roll call in college classes to be any different from those in high school, byan isn't sure. there's no reason for any of their professors to be aware that they go by any other name, they recognize as much; it's not as though they'd had the option of providing a preferred name in any of the paperwork they'd filled out through the process of applying, after all. still, recognizing and understanding it or not , they've found themself rolling their eyes and cringing not so internally in each and every class they've attended thus far, without fail. (it's been more miserable than they're willing to admit. they hadn't prepared for this, were caught so uncomfortably off guard in their first class that they'd practically snapped at the professor who didn't even know any better.)

hand raising with only the faintest hint of any reluctance, they try their best to maintain a relaxed and unbothered air, head tipping back slightly as they meet professor grace's gaze to announce their presence. and correct him, of course.

ㅤㅤ" here. but like, if y'could scratch that whole name out 'n just write 'byan' instead, that'd be awesome. "ㅤthough it takes a great amount of restraint to keep the hostility out of their tone, they think they manage it this time. (the professor in their first class hadn't been so lucky, but she had been apologetic. actually made them feel kind of bad.)

ㅤㅤ" —keep the surname if y'gotta, but i don't go by yeong-hwan. "ㅤarm dropping back to their desk, byan resumes idly flipping their pink glitter gel pen around their fingers, pausing for only a half second before adding a hasty;ㅤ" thanks. "ㅤafter all, they're trying to be on better terms with their professors than they ever were with their previous teachers — not trying hard, but trying. it may not be much, but it is progress.

@clemencetaught said:

18 & 23

weirdly wondering!

18. your boba/tea order?

He honestly doesn't get boba tea. He's a coffee drinker. If he had to though I'm sure he'd go for chocolate hazelnut milk tea.

23. do you wear jewelry?

If watches count but I'd say summertime he wears bead/shell necklaces if he's down the beach or on vacation. It's not a major thing for his main verse. Though in the film verse he always wears a gold nugget pinky ring. His ear is pierced in his alt college au but that's a rare universe.

COMMON MISCONCEPTION(S).  That Ray hates his father. He would like people to believe so, as he would like to believe it himself, but the truth is—he doesn’t. When he was a child, he outright idealized him. To Ray, he appeared larger than life, untouchable, almost god-like. The man was surrounded by people who respected him and coveted his recognition. Ray was no different, until that feeling slowly gave way to fear, resentment, anger, and disappointment over the years. What remains after his father’s execution is a lot of confusion, regret and the question whether there couldn’t have been a better end to all of this. It’ll take him quite a while to work through his emotions.

AN IMPORTANT HEADCANON.  Sometimes when he’s being arrogant or obnoxious it’s intended as a defense mechanism, rather than a manifestation of his high confidence or enjoyment of exasperating others. To some extent, that behavior is how he weasels out of situations that make him feel awkward or vulnerable. He struggles to take someone’s gratitude or a genuine compliment. Someone complimenting him on something superficial like his appearance? Whatever, no big deal. But someone giving him a heartfelt thank-you? No, thanks. He’ll let you know how great he is himself so you can roll your eyes and he can move on from the situation.

A USELESS HEADCANON.  You know that embarrassing moment when you accidentally push against a door you’re supposed pull? Couldn’t be Ray. He’ll just keep on pushing until he unhinges the entire door and then walks through. There, problem solved.

POTENTIAL TRIGGERS.  In general, you can expect anything that you’d find in the A.ce A.ttorney games. Murder, death, violence, etc. Other sensitive subject matters that may crop up are mentions of emotional and physical child abuse, mental illness ( depression, dissociative amnesia ), and alcoholism. Personally, I’m fine with mostly any subject matter in threads / backstories, as long as it’s handled respectfully. Since A.ce A.ttorney isn’t a terribly dark franchise I’m more than happy to keep subject matters limited to what is discussed in the games though.

SOMETHING YOU ENJOY ABOUT (WRITING) THEM.  Getting to write dog metaphors / similes to my heart’s content? Bullying my friends’ muses? Getting yelled at in d/iscord because he did something stupid? < 3 More seriously though, there’s so much I enjoy about writing Ray that I struggle to pinpoint just one thing. He’s the culmination of all the crime / thriller / detective media I love and all the character tropes I enjoy, and I like that I get to explore those in my own way!

SOMETHING YOU WANT OTHERS TO KNOW BEFORE WRITING WITH THEM.  He may be a grump generally speaking, but it’s not necessarily his default attitude towards everyone. Defense attorneys, prosecutors and authority figures are received with antagonism until they’ve proven their integrity to him. He cannot stand journalists, politicians, and criminals ( who committed serious offenses ) — and he will let them know that. But everyone else? Entirely depends on them. Some types of people are met favorably from the get-go, too. Forensics, other detectives, beautiful women, kind people who remind him of his mother, etc. He often cares more about people than he lets on. Even if he bullies them. Sometimes especially if he bullies them.

tagged by: @clemencetaught (●'◡'●) / tagging: @kagoshou, @virtusdemonte, @lovlorne, @silenthcwl, @tenacquity, @kamipyre, @edgelord-dl6 ( miles! though i would love to know your takes on james as well :flushed: ) & you, reading this ! ♡

 gaya, and what color are you coded as?

BLUE CODED : blue, a study in wisdom, belief, and knowing when enough is enough. you know yourself best, but you know the way the world works even more. you've been wandering in this world a little too long, and maybe that's the problem. you're a wanderer, a vagabond, an oracle, and a prophet all the same. who are you when the curtain call drops the last encore on you? do you dance behind the scenes for a job well done or are you already planning your next show? take a breather, for a moment. enjoy what you've done, enjoy what you have, enjoy the world that you've been wandering for so long. this world is so much better when you realize that some of it is worth living for.

tagged by: @xxj0kerxx (Thank youu)

tagging: @velvetineblue @clemencetaught @hatesdogs @hvnbrn @vulpuslunae @drjxung @redemptioninterlude

Bold all the things your muse has done ( will  /  would do is in italics, bolded italics means they’ve done it before and will probably do it again ).

 ara :    morality challenge.

murder  /  manslaughter  /  assault  /  robbery  /  breaking & entering  /  theft  /  embezzlement  /  money-laundering  /  kidnapping  /  torture  /  blackmail  /  arson  /  trespassing  /  treason  /  libel or slander  /  obstruction of justice  /  lying to law enforcement  /  creation of a weapon  /  espionage  /  riot  /  escape from lawful custody  /  contempt of court  /  public intoxication  /  conspiracy  /  accessory to a crime  /  harboring a fugitive  /  bribery  /  perjury under oath  /  resisting arrest  /  identity theft  /  corporate fraud  /  tax fraud  /  document forgery  /  destruction of evidence  /  assassination  /  counterfeiting  /  sale of a controlled substance  /  purchase of a controlled substance  /  failure to pay child support  /  hacking crimes  /  threat  /  pick-pocketing  /  shoplifting

tagged : @clemencetaught. tagging : @velvetineblue @ofgentleresolve (Felicity my girl HI, can I tag Annie mm Annie as a Black Fang member when she does crime) @tvsteoftrvgedy @kamipyre

And, despite the pain you went through, you still have mellow eyes; you still have helping hands; you still irradiate warmth; you still have a a gentle heart. And, despite it all, you still have the courage to be kind.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PATRICK MYUNGDAE GRACE ❤️📖🧩!!! (@clemencetaught)

“you really don’t have to do that, not for me.” ( for….van 🥲🥲😭 )

@clemencetaught | more random dialogue prompts | ♥

---

Minute faltering.

There aren't a great many things Patrick and Van get to have in common. Pretending might be one of them, though. Patrick's entire existence, as far as Van's understanding of circumstances goes, relies heavily on pretending just in the right tone, in the right direction, with the right people, at the right time, to make sure he gets to live long enough to be forced to try again.

In contrast, Van's pretending is... well... it's like pretending he hasn't stubbed his toe, while Patrick pretends he hasn't been stabbed.

But pretending he still does. He pretends he likes it around here, pretends he genuinely gets it, that he more than empathizes with the plight of being a so very bored Capitol citizen he must continue to surround himself with Victors, because who else could invigorate his so very dull and rich life?

Van pretends in front of Patrick as well. What else is he supposed to do? He's supposed to function as a benefactor here. As selfish as it may sound, as disgustingly privileged to even get to pick and choose, Van doesn't want in on this gun's blazing.

He wants to help.

His feet are firmly planted on the line, he does what he can within the confines of his own gilded cage. He uses money and names, he tugs and playfully curls the strings of someone's mind around his fingers and makes them wonder, oh, aren't there better things to do? Don't the Victors deserve a little more?

It's not an easy task, hell, hell hath no deafer than the madmen who want to own others. But it's not... well, it's a stubbed toe compared to a dagger in a heart.

He pretends in the way he looks at Patrick, polite and frozen smile, it's easier to not accidentally drop the act if he always keeps it up. Their exchanges are rarely verbal, Patrick is more than smart, it isn't difficult to get what point he needs to get across to actually reach the Victor, let alone watch it implemented much better than he could have on his own, what with his lack of intimate knowledge on the matter.

And then... he doesn't anymore.

Because if Patrick says 'not for me', perhaps, just for a small, dangerous moment, they're done pretending.

And Van can be done pretending to himself as well, that he's truly that careful of a person. That he wouldn't do ridiculous things for a person who looks like that.

For the Gentleman, who looks like he's dangling from fishing lines made of electrical wires, exhausted and bled out, and still smiling politely to all those who want to poke at his bleeding purple wounds.

"I'm going to be very direct now," Van starts, and the smile's gone. The polite air is gone. Probably also the reason why he steps closer as they stand outside in the corridor leading to Van's door, why he lowers his voice.

"One, you're very important to the people you surround yourself with, whether you want to be or not. You're not always here when the Victors you tell me to call for arrive, so you don't see their faces or hear their words when they speak of you, but I do. Strategically speaking alone, if you're unsafe, how will they ever be, how will they ever try to be. A martyr works, a survivor works better. Two," he takes a breath, tries to remind himself he shouldn't... he doesn't have the right to care this much...?

"You're my primary contact to Victors, I need to prioritize you, I need to talk to you and hear from you. Three, and I don't know if I'm crossing a line here by saying this, so I'll extend my apologies as soon as we're done," Van turns to smile, all sharp falsehoods in a row as a neighbour walks past and doesn't even bother hide the knowing, appreciative gaze. Victors are the finest on the menu, aren't they?

Van steps back into his flat, opens the door a little wider. "You deserve the reprieve. Now, if you don't want to come in and want me to stop calling for you so often, I will. If you want out of this arrangement, consider it done. Otherwise... would you like to come in and have something warm to drink?"

a GIFT FOR THE TARGET GENTLEMEN : 𝙿𝚊𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚌𝚔 𝙼𝚢𝚞𝚗𝚐𝚍𝚊𝚎 𝙶𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚎 . @clemencetaught

GET TO KNOW THE MUSE !!

REPOST, don't REBLOG.

TAGGED BY: @heartxshaped-bruises​ (thank you!!) TAGGING: @idleds​ @lugoboi​ @mconlight​ @clemencetaught​ @likescrazy​ @entityforged​ @nuidity​ @jeoseungsaja​ @itsacriime​ @daemonry @10ccs

                                            ✧･ﾟ   𝐃𝐀𝐒𝐇 𝐆𝐀𝐌𝐄.

IM JIWON — 🔓 otherside verse.

★  ⸻   THREE THINGS THEY LOVE: helping other people succeed, even if in the smallest ways. the satisfaction of having finished an entire meal. discovering new music and listening to it obsessively until he’s picked out every layer.

★  ⸻   THREE THINGS THEY HATE: watching food pile up in his fridge, then having to throw most of it out at the end of the week because it’s gone spoilt. having to sneak away in the middle of a conversation to gain some clarity through ████. sleeping in the dark.

★  ⸻   THREE THINGS THEY NEED: peace. someone to hold his hand and tell him he isn’t alone. an intervention, before he does something irreversible.

★  ⸻   THREE THINGS THEY WANT: to live without fear. to eat the food he cooks without constantly worrying that he (or someone, or something) has poisoned it. sobriety.

★  ⸻   THREE THINGS THAT SCARE THEM: losing his grip on reality, a little more each day. hurting the people he cares about, intentionally or otherwise. nothing.

★  ⸻   THREE THINGS THAT THRILL THEM: choreographing new routines, whether for himself or his students. going out with his friends or colleagues, hopeful that maybe this will be the night that goes right. preparing a meal, buzzing with excitement for the moment he can sit down and take the first bite.

★  ⸻   THREE FAVORITE FOODS: 낙지볶음밥 (spicy stir-fried octopus and rice). birthday cake ice cream. fresh strawberries.

★  ⸻   THREE FAVORITE SMELLS: freshly baked cookies. the crisp breeze laced with salt from the ocean. the sharp, distinct scent of a medley of red spices being rubbed into a handmade batch of kimchi.

★  ⸻   THREE FAVORITE HOLIDAYS: lunar new year. chuseok. buddha’s birthday.

★  ⸻   THREE FAVORITE PEOPLE: na seunggi ( @idleds​ ) who listens even when he isn’t speaking. caspian berg ( @entityforged​ ) who keeps him grounded when he feels like he’s floating. and . . . ?

❥ what form would your daemon take?

        SERPENT. Your daemon would take the form of a serpent! Those who have serpent daemons are sly and observant people whose aim is to endure. They are mysterious and private, deeply intellectual and preferably three steps ahead of everyone else. They live in the big picture rather than day by day, and their vanity is well-deserved.

        VIPER. Your daemon would take the form of a viper! You are an intuitive and efficient individual who knows how to twist things to their favor. More so than others with serpent daemons, those with vipers are practical and aware people, capable of adapting to different situations and moving on when it suits them. They don't readily get attached to environments or people; while smooth-talking and good motivators, they prefer to work on their own, and don't truly trust anyone.

tagged by: thieved from myself ^o^  /  tagging: @kataskopeia​ >: ], @eternasci​, @clemencetaught​, @temsikfates​, @legalbrats​ ( sebby & klav ) and you ! ♡

            ⋆ ✰ ⋆ ─── a closed starter for @clemencetaught .

       𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐎𝐃𝐃𝐒 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐍𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐈𝐍 𝐀𝐍𝐘𝐎𝐍𝐄'𝐒 𝐅𝐀𝐕𝐎𝐑, 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐄𝐍𝐃 — Francis knows that. He’s always known that. Only a great fool would think that a tribute could enter the arena and come out unscathed. One way or another, they all get claimed in the end. It’s why he tries to avoid the whole of it. What’s the point in getting attached to someone just to watch them die? He’s always known that behind the pageantry — the tributes are people. When he’d been five years old, he’d declared to his mother that he didn’t want to eat meat anymore. His father had told him he’d grow out of it. He hasn’t. Living things deserve the right to live. Who are they, in the end — to condemn death? To give themselves the role of ‘higher power’ in the absence of religion? Things can change in an instant. By the circumstances of birth, the citizens of the Capitol have been told that they are better. But it’s just luck of the odds — just like the slips of paper bearing the names of children.

      He parts through the crowd with their fizzy drinks and champagne like one might endeavor to part the sea itself. They don’t fear him yet — his grandfather’s era has not yet passed. They try to stop him, to make small talk and pleasantries, but all Francis can see is the plethora of giant screens flashing a recap of the death of a tribute. This one’s name had been Io. They had been from District Three, and Francis had bumped into them quite on accident — which isn’t a thing that’s supposed to happen. Io had been smart as hell and there had been one too many glasses of champagne and they had told him that they didn’t feel they belonged in this world, and Francis had felt that with such a deep, aching yearning that he’d allowed himself to slip away into the comfort of the moment. Too far down the rabbit hole. And two days later, they’d been sentenced to die. And now he’s searching for — he doesn’t know what. Answers? To the madness? Answers that don’t exist. Madness is madness. It is without reason and logic.

     Nevertheless, he finds himself situated in front of one of the District Three mentors — Patrick Grace. It’s a precarious position to be in. He can’t afford to show any sort of emotion. Not with everything resting atop his shoulders. And still, his eyes are glassy and he’s swaying a little bit as he searches the victor’s face — as though he can provide answers. As if he had anything to do with it. He has a million things on his mind, and he can’t bring himself to say anything. People are staring, and Francis has a reputation and — “Better luck next time,” he forces the words out as the cameras zoom in on falling white rose petals over Io's body — a gift from his grandfather. A punishment, and a statement — this blood is on Francis’s hands.