⋇ Our Story
⋇ Our Story
the creation of carnival apparens • a love story
War raged in the late 1700s, and men were forced to fight. Hiro had only wanted to explore the world, but he soon would find himself as a casualty of a war he wanted no part of. He accepted his fate yet refused to let his tragic end reach his family back home. He wrote down a false name, knowing that if his body were ever found, his true identity would remain unknown. Fate had different plans for Hiro.
The final days of the war were brutal. Death and blood covered the once tranquil fields. The young man found himself alone, shot down, crumpled on the ground, and bleeding. Hiro remembers looking at the dark sky above him, the bright stars covering the night sky being his only source of comfort. Yet the feelings of despair for his short and incomplete life were at the forefront of his mind, leaving him feeling empty. His silent contemplation of his life was interrupted by a sudden thud. Despite the agony he was in, he turned his head and froze. Someone was dragging a body toward him. The fear was immediate, noticing the sharp grin that formed across the stranger's face. Those abnormally colored eyes seemed to pin him in place and bore into his soul. The man crouched down toward him, a glint in his eyes.
"Today is your lucky day, boy..."
Those were the last words he remembered before his vision turned black as the agony he had been feeling to that point multiplied tenfold. Just as abruptly as the pain started, it stopped, and all Hiro knew was nothing. The next time his eyes opened, he realized two things. Everything seemed louder and more prominent, and he was thirsty. His mouth felt dry, and his gums ached. Days had passed, he realized as the stench of rotting flesh slammed into his senses. Hiro eventually got onto his feet, dragging his aching body to the nearest village, a decision he would come to regret.
He can recall the screams that pierced his ears. The thirst that he could not ignore the moment he caught the size of his prey. He drank and feasted without stopping, running after and attacking those who attempted to run away. The village had been left in shambles, abandoned by the residents who managed to survive the massacre. It didn't take long from that day for Hiro to realize the kind of monster he had become. He had become immortal and now had to deal with the consequences of a choice ripped away from him.
He eventually learned to control his thirst, meeting others like him along his journey. Still, he preferred to wander alone. That changed when the plague hit. Everyone was getting sick, in particular those of creature descent. He lost many friends as the sickness continued to claim more and more lives around the world. He attempted to help those he could with the medicinal teaching he had picked up over his travels. Yet his efforts were in vain. Hiro's entire world was collapsing yet again around him. He refused to let it break him and eventually found the light at the end of the tunnel. He eventually traveled back home, coming face to face with a new world that he did not come from. The disease devasted his home, and he had to move on. It was during his travels that his life changed yet again.
Hiro had settled within a cave, making the area his home. He made it comfortable for him, and he lived in peace, as peaceful as life could be as an immortal being. It had been like any other day until he heard the gunshots and screams. Hiro had first attempted to ignore the chaos and remain hidden but couldn't remain ignorant about the cries of fear. The vampire saw men raise their guns at three figures, and he quickly used his speed to jump in front of them, distracting them from the other three. He smirked, not saying a word, and disarmed the group of humans. He dragged them further into the forest, using his abilities to make them run off despite his urge to kill them. It was then that Hiro discovered other corpses, bleeding from bullet wounds.
It was easy to see they were creatures like him. He returned to the three and came face to face with the eldest, a man with various tails behind him and similar fluffy ears on top of his head. The kitsune was shielding the younger pair of teens from him. He didn't say anything, studying the three with his gaze lingering on the fox demon for a few minutes before he spoke up with an offer.
"If you would like a sanctuary, you can stay with me. However," he paused and turned around, listening in to their surroundings, "you have about ten men hunting you down still, with weapons and horses. Your choice."
He left them soon after, giving them space to decide. It wasn't long before he heard the footsteps beginning to follow after him. He helped the trio settle down, setting them up in the tents and choosing to remain outside to keep watch. He witnessed a lot of death that night, the extermination of many of his fellow 'monsters'. He was only slightly comforted by the fact that he was able to help the three in his home. He didn't see any of his guests until the early morning when the kitsune walked up to him in thanks.
He introduced himself as Jongin, a guardian who had chosen to protect those who sought help and protection. He, however, explained he hadn't been strong enough and blamed himself for failing so many. Despite the tragedy of the situation, Hiro couldn't stop himself from admiring the other. The moonlight from the cave entrance fell upon them just right, their eyes glowing, and the vampire could only stare into those radiant eyes. His chest tightened, leaving him slightly breathless. Jongin had to be the most beautiful creature he had ever seen. The conversation continued into the early hours of the morning, Jongin eventually sitting next to Hiro. The kitsune soon falls asleep beside the vampire, trusting the other to protect him and the teens. It would end up being the best night's sleep Jongin had in weeks.
Days passed, and the teens grew restless when Hiro ventured out to gather information. They ended up wandering outside of the cave only to run into trouble. The vampire witnessed their attempt to run to safety, and he was quick to give chase. However, it was nearly impossible for him to interfere when they ran toward a village. Jongin had joined the chase when he heard the gunshots and was about to continue chasing them into the town until Hiro reached out to stop him. The screams filled the air, and the vampire quickly covered the kitsune's ears. Jongin broke down, crying over the lives of the two young souls he had grown fond of. Hiro waited for the fox demon to fall asleep, his anger seething. He hated seeing the pain in the other's eyes. He would avenge the fallen for Jongin. He wandered back to the village, or what was left, and quickly lost himself to his instincts.
During the attack, he managed to find one of the boys with an unknown woman. Both were terrified of him. The vampire managed to remove himself from the situation, and he made it back home. He awakened Jongin who, without a word, knew what had happened. The pair quickly gathered what they could in haste and sought to leave the area. Having heard rumors of other survivors, they sought them out before heading to the boats, where the group hid among the humans who also searched for a better life.
During the voyage, Jongin voiced his desire to create a sanctuary for others like them, a safe place for them to live and be themselves. Hiro recalled a moment when other creatures like themselves used their abilities to entertain. Though the first few weeks were difficult, with the help of open-minded humans, they built up a circus, a home. Together, they built Carnival Apparens, a safe place for those seeking sanctuary.
The pair grew closer over the years, having each other as pillars of endless support. Many often witnessed private moments between the pair, off in their little world where nothing but each other mattered. Hiro wasn't shy about showing affection to the fox demon, who also had no desire to wander far from the vampire. Many residents teased the pair about their being an old married couple. The pair would quietly admit in everything but paper...
The final days of the war were brutal. Death and blood covered the once tranquil fields. The young man found himself alone, shot down, crumpled on the ground, and bleeding. Hiro remembers looking at the dark sky above him, the bright stars covering the night sky being his only source of comfort. Yet the feelings of despair for his short and incomplete life were at the forefront of his mind, leaving him feeling empty. His silent contemplation of his life was interrupted by a sudden thud. Despite the agony he was in, he turned his head and froze. Someone was dragging a body toward him. The fear was immediate, noticing the sharp grin that formed across the stranger's face. Those abnormally colored eyes seemed to pin him in place and bore into his soul. The man crouched down toward him, a glint in his eyes.
"Today is your lucky day, boy..."
Those were the last words he remembered before his vision turned black as the agony he had been feeling to that point multiplied tenfold. Just as abruptly as the pain started, it stopped, and all Hiro knew was nothing. The next time his eyes opened, he realized two things. Everything seemed louder and more prominent, and he was thirsty. His mouth felt dry, and his gums ached. Days had passed, he realized as the stench of rotting flesh slammed into his senses. Hiro eventually got onto his feet, dragging his aching body to the nearest village, a decision he would come to regret.
He can recall the screams that pierced his ears. The thirst that he could not ignore the moment he caught the size of his prey. He drank and feasted without stopping, running after and attacking those who attempted to run away. The village had been left in shambles, abandoned by the residents who managed to survive the massacre. It didn't take long from that day for Hiro to realize the kind of monster he had become. He had become immortal and now had to deal with the consequences of a choice ripped away from him.
He eventually learned to control his thirst, meeting others like him along his journey. Still, he preferred to wander alone. That changed when the plague hit. Everyone was getting sick, in particular those of creature descent. He lost many friends as the sickness continued to claim more and more lives around the world. He attempted to help those he could with the medicinal teaching he had picked up over his travels. Yet his efforts were in vain. Hiro's entire world was collapsing yet again around him. He refused to let it break him and eventually found the light at the end of the tunnel. He eventually traveled back home, coming face to face with a new world that he did not come from. The disease devasted his home, and he had to move on. It was during his travels that his life changed yet again.
Hiro had settled within a cave, making the area his home. He made it comfortable for him, and he lived in peace, as peaceful as life could be as an immortal being. It had been like any other day until he heard the gunshots and screams. Hiro had first attempted to ignore the chaos and remain hidden but couldn't remain ignorant about the cries of fear. The vampire saw men raise their guns at three figures, and he quickly used his speed to jump in front of them, distracting them from the other three. He smirked, not saying a word, and disarmed the group of humans. He dragged them further into the forest, using his abilities to make them run off despite his urge to kill them. It was then that Hiro discovered other corpses, bleeding from bullet wounds.
It was easy to see they were creatures like him. He returned to the three and came face to face with the eldest, a man with various tails behind him and similar fluffy ears on top of his head. The kitsune was shielding the younger pair of teens from him. He didn't say anything, studying the three with his gaze lingering on the fox demon for a few minutes before he spoke up with an offer.
"If you would like a sanctuary, you can stay with me. However," he paused and turned around, listening in to their surroundings, "you have about ten men hunting you down still, with weapons and horses. Your choice."
He left them soon after, giving them space to decide. It wasn't long before he heard the footsteps beginning to follow after him. He helped the trio settle down, setting them up in the tents and choosing to remain outside to keep watch. He witnessed a lot of death that night, the extermination of many of his fellow 'monsters'. He was only slightly comforted by the fact that he was able to help the three in his home. He didn't see any of his guests until the early morning when the kitsune walked up to him in thanks.
He introduced himself as Jongin, a guardian who had chosen to protect those who sought help and protection. He, however, explained he hadn't been strong enough and blamed himself for failing so many. Despite the tragedy of the situation, Hiro couldn't stop himself from admiring the other. The moonlight from the cave entrance fell upon them just right, their eyes glowing, and the vampire could only stare into those radiant eyes. His chest tightened, leaving him slightly breathless. Jongin had to be the most beautiful creature he had ever seen. The conversation continued into the early hours of the morning, Jongin eventually sitting next to Hiro. The kitsune soon falls asleep beside the vampire, trusting the other to protect him and the teens. It would end up being the best night's sleep Jongin had in weeks.
Days passed, and the teens grew restless when Hiro ventured out to gather information. They ended up wandering outside of the cave only to run into trouble. The vampire witnessed their attempt to run to safety, and he was quick to give chase. However, it was nearly impossible for him to interfere when they ran toward a village. Jongin had joined the chase when he heard the gunshots and was about to continue chasing them into the town until Hiro reached out to stop him. The screams filled the air, and the vampire quickly covered the kitsune's ears. Jongin broke down, crying over the lives of the two young souls he had grown fond of. Hiro waited for the fox demon to fall asleep, his anger seething. He hated seeing the pain in the other's eyes. He would avenge the fallen for Jongin. He wandered back to the village, or what was left, and quickly lost himself to his instincts.
During the attack, he managed to find one of the boys with an unknown woman. Both were terrified of him. The vampire managed to remove himself from the situation, and he made it back home. He awakened Jongin who, without a word, knew what had happened. The pair quickly gathered what they could in haste and sought to leave the area. Having heard rumors of other survivors, they sought them out before heading to the boats, where the group hid among the humans who also searched for a better life.
During the voyage, Jongin voiced his desire to create a sanctuary for others like them, a safe place for them to live and be themselves. Hiro recalled a moment when other creatures like themselves used their abilities to entertain. Though the first few weeks were difficult, with the help of open-minded humans, they built up a circus, a home. Together, they built Carnival Apparens, a safe place for those seeking sanctuary.
The pair grew closer over the years, having each other as pillars of endless support. Many often witnessed private moments between the pair, off in their little world where nothing but each other mattered. Hiro wasn't shy about showing affection to the fox demon, who also had no desire to wander far from the vampire. Many residents teased the pair about their being an old married couple. The pair would quietly admit in everything but paper...
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