▫ recreation room

@† chittaphon leechaiyakul Jaehyun sighed, relieved. Though it wasn't the first time. Ten had been friendly, always ready to help, and correct mistakes. Being with Ten is like going on a picnic trip — a happy one. No politics nor the suffocating power hungry vampires around to plot his demise.

"Noted, Ten," Jaehyun grinned, setting up his canvas and picking out the colours he fancied, "by the way, what is your dream? I think mine is growing different kinds of flowers. Maybe I'll draw a field of tulips. They loos pretty, don't they?"

@† jeong jaehyun It was hard not to find the younger vampire adorable, and Ten took pride in being able to make the other smile in a way he wasn't used to seeing outside of the classes Jaehyun would occasionally attend. Even the whine the other released didn't make Ten's teasing smile falter. He even laughed softly under his breath at the reaction.

The older's gaze turned a little harsh for a moment, though, when Jaehyun began to question the theme for today, and Ten was grateful the humans he had been talking to had claimed their seats in the room so he could turn to face the other fully.

"I know it may be hard to understand, but I think they may have the same questions. What could vampires possibly dream of?" He tilted his head a bit as he asked the question before he offered a small smile and patted the other's shoulder, "Don't stress too much about it, and remember this is supposed to be a source of comfort for everyone."

He kept his tone soft and light to indicate he wasn't upset with the younger. It was a common mistake made by vampires who didn't necessarily share Ten's same views and interests in humans.

"I'll be looking forward to seeing what you create. Let me know if you have any questions, okay?"

@† chittaphon leechaiyakul Jaehyun couldn't but smile, all dimpled cheeks with a gleam to his usually indifferent eyes. Jaehyun's pride never allowed him to be babied, he hated whenever anyone touched him without permission yet Ten always made him feel a bit on the childish side. He let out a small and weak protesting whine for only Ten to hear at the pinch though didn't pull away.

"Dreams?" Jaehyun drawled out the syllables, scrunching his nose.

He took a quick glance around the room, his sharp tongue betrayed him before he could stop it, though, thankfully, it was a whisper, "What can these humans dream of—— . I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. I'm sorry."

He lowered his head, cursing himself in his head. "Dream..... I'll try it."

@☩ song qian "Oh my, thank you, Odessa," Erika was pleasantly surprised, eyes widening, and then she grinned, reached for Odessa's hand to greet. The human's palm was rough to the touch, indicating a certain kind of strength that you don't built over few months of harsh work.

It was intriguing.

Also it wasn't everyday you would see a human complimenting a vampire and flirt.

"Erika," Erika responded with a smile while her eyes took in the appearance of the person before her, "and yes, of course, I always have time for pretty people, miss Odessa."

Erika made herself comfortable with the seat available right next to Odessa, crossed one leg over the other while her upperbody faced Odessa. It was obvious the human had certain business and Erika was more than happy to help.

And not because Odessa oddly felt familiar.

"What brings you to me m?"

@† jeong jaehyun Any time prior to the start of Ten's classes is usually spent mingling with the humans, and if no one knew who he was, he'd probably blend right in, soft closed-lipped smiles hiding any sort of indication of fangs. Just the unnaturally pretty, youthful look to his skin may give away his immortality. He sat cross-legged on top of his table he used for teaching, a bit shorter than the humans talking to him.

The tap to his shoulder came as a bit of a surprise, having been too lost in the conversation to notice the other vampire slip in. The sight of Jaehyun had the older vampire practically beaming as he adjusted his position to sit more facing the other. "You know there's always a seat here for you," he laughed, reaching to pinch the other's cheek playfully, "Today the theme is dreams. I wanted to leave it pretty vague and open so everyone could express themselves fully."

@† kim taeyeon The water was cold as she splashed her face to wake herself up that morning, or was it evening? The days and times blended together in this facility and she couldn't find joy in that. Still, her thoughts on the matter wandered as her gaze scanned the reflection in front of her, catching sight of the scar on her temple all the way up to the chunk missing from her ear. Nimble fingers traced up as she closed her eyes, imagining a familiar touch, almost feeling the soft whispers that should have come accompanying it...But she knew better as the room was filled with silence. The rest of her time in the room was spent getting ready, becoming presentable enough to leave and join the recreation room. She took her satchel, tossing her notebook and pencil case inside of it before popping some iron pills, chasing them down with water.

When she arrived to the room, she kept her smile polite and her gait full of confidence as she took a seat on an empty chair. Some of the members liked to play around, while others would paint or play card games on a good day...Bad days were filled with talking and maybe the odd crying face but it didn't matter to her. She had an agenda and after a month of simply sticking to the walls and observing it was time to act.

She already had some iron tablets she requested when arriving, barely remembering which healing vampire it was that lent a hand. But today her objective was a certain blonde...She hadn't spoken to her, but had seen her approaching other humans and talking in medical terms, offering a pill or help where she could. She seemed to at least treat her kind with some sort of respect and that was better than others. Granted, as she thought of the woman's face a worry filled her stomach, nerves that she should be wary of her but she brushed it off as her normal survival instinct.

After all, a shark was still a shark no matter how nice and curious they acted.

Her cue came sooner rather than later as the door opening caused her to look up from her notes and see the woman appear. She smiled softly and closed notebook, straightening her back and speaking up. "They do say beauty really does lift the spirits and I think you've done away with this gloomy looking day for me. Could you keep me company miss....?" She trained her eyes on Erika. "Ah if you have time of course. My name is Odessa."

@☩ jeon somi [ tw: character death, physical assault, blood, burial ]

A thunderous rapping at the door shook him from a dream in the dead of night. The hinges creaked violently as the door shook like it might just burst down at any moment. Who could it be, so desperate for the gentleman’s immediate attention this late, wreaking havoc upon the poor undeserving hunk of wood?

Without hesitation he sprung to action and slipped over his body a long silk robe of deep crimson hues, an aging wound trailed along bare skin kept hidden from prying gaze before swinging the door open. Drowsy eyes widen in aghast awe as the sight of an unfamiliar face trembled before him.

She was lost, frenzied, in need of guidance. Yet none were in need of his help more than the young woman’s beloved grandmother. Such frivolous matters as a curfew meant nothing when an innocent life was on the line, left alone and gasping for air. John was no doctor, he couldn’t immediately provide a solution. At least those who knew better would be receptive to his pleas rather than dismissing a poor human seen out and about after dark. Perhaps his privilege could be of use for once.

“Stay with her, I’ll fetch someone!” His vow echoed through the empty narrow walls, bouncing with determination.

Clanging and shouting like a mad man, he had no qualms disturbing the peace. One by one he gathered anyone with the faintest medical knowledge and rushed them along, never accepting no for an answer. He would have picked the woman up and carried her to the Doctor himself if he didn’t worry to complicate her fragile state.

So quick and fleeting, the frail elderly human was seemingly gone in the flash of a lightning bolt. Her body whisked away into the arms of unknown powers that be while guards rushed to contain the frantic granddaughter all alone in the recreational room. As if she were a rabid animal needing to be caged. A disgusting practice unbecoming of the facility’s authority. If the girl could not stay at her grandmother’s side, John would instead be her eyes to peek behind the curtain of secrecy.

“You have to do something,” John seethed as he followed tight at the heels of those who’d taken custody over the old woman still clutching on for a single breath. There was no urgency, no care, hardly an effort to take her to the medical wing. By the second it seemed less like a rescue and more like they were taking out the trash. “Can’t you see she’s dying?!”

“That’s the point,” A shadowy figure hissed back in retort, careening through to block John’s path. “Humans have an expiration date. This one’s well past due. Our resources are better used elsewhere.”

The audacity. The rage boiling at the very pit of his core. It was no secret that some held a disdain for humans more than others, yet this took the cake.

“Fine. I’ll take her myself." Just before he could rip through the cold strangers and pluck the woman away, his body was plummeting to the ground. Blow after blow, a barrage of tight fists cracked against the bridge of his nose. The shock had him dazed until he finally comes to, raising his arms to push against the hits until he could slither his way from beneath the attacker. A nearby vase. That’ll do the trick.

In a flash he leaps for the fine porcelain and makes a sharp right, bashing the vase as it ruptures into a million little pieces atop the stranger's skull. It was enough to buy him some time. Yet time waits for no one.

Following a trail of dirty shoe imprints and droplets of thick crimson, the path lead nowhere hopeful. At the end all he could find was a hollow grave and an even hollower shell of a human being. Her skin pale. Throat painted red in blood. They let her die, her dry of everything she had left to give, then dumped her body at the bottom of a pit without even bothering to finish the job. Bastards.

What more could he do but show this poor soul one last shred of dignity she deserved? Taking the shovel beside the grave, John dug. Dirt and grovel slowly fill the hole until nothing is left but a fresh pile of earth. Carefully he snapped the stem of a white chrysanthemum from the bush just ahead that hid her grave from plain view. It fell from his fingertips and laid atop the final resting place.

How the is he going to explain this to the girl?

Easy answer. He won’t.

“Listen to me..” John muses as he enters the recreational room and approaches Somi as delicate as possible. Hands washed of grime and blood remain coarse, gingerly brushing a palm over her shoulder. “They did everything they could. It wasn’t enough. I’m so sorry I failed you. She... She’s gone.”

@† john seo [ tw: implied body gore (nail biting), impending character death ]

A dull ache had seeped into Somi’s nail beds. Every passing tick-tock of that stupid clock in the far side of the room was reason for her to stay alarmed. Time. was running out, time was escaping her. Gran had been brought help, but here Somi was: directed by the facility guards to stay in the recreational room.

Her fingernails had been bitten to the bed, but they ached from the way she clawed and fought the steely bodies that mercilessly brought her here. The sliver of nail that remained was buffered by the raised rim of skin where her nails should have overgrown. One wrong bite and the dull ache becomes a sharp throb, but anything was better than the way her body was functioning too fast. Her haze darted from one end of the room then to the other, weaving a nervous path between the mismatched furniture and artificial decor.

The ghastly image of Gran laying on the floor, gasping, at her most vulernable to the point that even Somi didn’t know what to do… was one burned into the inside of her eyelids. Somi couldn’t blink it away or fully shake that helplessness that rattled her.

Somi’s hands unfurl from where they had been curled against her. She examines the pale, clammy skin for answers that she was aching for. Somi spent all these years in the facility growing up, being tough, and making deals to protect her Gran… was this not enough? Would she be okay?

Tick. Inhale.

Tock. Exhale.

Tick. Inhale. Exh

Tock. ale inhale exhale inhale exhal-

Time was all Somi had left. She pushes off the wall, where she had shrunk against the window, instead pacing around the furniture in the dead of night.

@† chittaphon leechaiyakul It was Jaehyun's day off and there was no way better than to spend it learning something beautiful and artistic from Ten (no, it isn't because he is having conflicting thoughts about a human and Ten is fun, lots of fun). Jaehyun checked the time when he arrived the recreation room — five minutes before the event begins. The humans formed a large circle with the middle being empty and Ten was at the other side of the room. He went around. He tapped Ten's shoulder, beaming. "Thank you for saving me a seat. What's the theme for today?"