Midgard Clocktower: Eternity Bell

@〄 Byun Wooseok ¥✔ The world had turned to fire and ruin.

Screams tore through the night, a chorus of panic and pain, but all I could hear was the ghost of your apology, hollow and fleeting, swallowed by the chaos you left in your wake. My body refused to move, trapped in the raw disbelief of what you had done—what you had become. The gentle soul who once whispered dreams beneath the willow tree had vanished, replaced by something unrecognizable. No. Not unrecognizable. Taken. Twisted. Broken.

A sharp crack snapped me back to reality. A splintering beam, its fiery edges gnawing through the thick air, gave way above two terrified children. My body moved before my mind could catch up. I lunged, every muscle straining, the fresh Dragon blood burning in my veins as I caught the weight of the collapsing structure. Fire at my arms, searing through the fabric of my sleeves, but I clenched my jaw, forcing the inferno to the edges of my mind.

"Run!" My voice cut through the chaos as I shoved the beam aside, sending it crashing into the inferno. The children hesitated for only a moment before their instincts overpowered their fear, their small forms vanishing into the smoke.
I straightened, scanning the carnage. The festival was gone—what remained was a battlefield. My guards moved swiftly, pulling civilians from the wreckage, their shouts barely registering over the crackle of the flames.

Then I saw you.

A fleeting shadow disappearing into the alley, the crimson flicker of your optics swallowed by the dark.
A command teetered on my lips—an order for my guards to pursue and especially no other members of the Grand Central council—but I swallowed it down. No. They wouldn’t hesitate. They’d cut you down like a malfunctioning machine, discard you as nothing more than broken scrap. But you weren’t broken. Not yet.

This was my burden.
"Daniel!" I called, my voice raw. The Lord of Dreams turned, his sea-glass eyes narrowing in understanding before I could even speak. "Help the citizens. I’ll handle him."
I didn’t wait for his reply. The heat roared around me as I propelled myself forward, my body a blur through the smoke and flame. The air turned thick, acrid, but I pushed on, leaping over debris, dodging falling embers. You were fast—desperate—but I was faster.

I would find you.
I would stop you. 
And I refuse to allow you to destroy yourself. I promised myself on my honor.

I will save him!

[Should we take the next scene to the alleyway?]

@❦ Choi Hyunwook The lanterns swayed above the square, spilling gold over cobblestones slick with mist and spilled ale. Laughter rang from the crowd, voices a jumble of accents and songs from the thirteen nations. I stood on the edge of it all, watching—always watching. You’d think after years of exile, I’d have grown used to being alone in a crowd.

But tonight was different.

A crackling of energy pulled at my senses. You’d know the feeling if you ever stood beneath a storm cloud—electric, alive, dangerous. My ears twitched, catching the faintest rustle of tails. Yours. I’d recognize the cadence of your steps anywhere.
I saw you then, framed by the glow of a hundred lanterns. You held a paper bag of fish-shaped buns, tail swishing as if you didn’t carry the weight of the world. Thunder Kitsune. The first I’d seen in years.

The world shrank around us. The festival blurred, sound fading like a curtain pulling back. My throat tightened, my pulse quickened. I thought of sisters', their laughter like summer storms before everything fell apart.
I opened my mouth to reply, but then your words landed with an easy lilt. You kicked at the water, sending up a small splash, feigning a huff like this was all some great injustice. You were toying with me, and I knew it. I deserved it.

My ears flattened before I could stop them. The bar fight. The broken table. The splinters in my knuckles. The sheer rage burning through me when I realized I’d hit another dead end trying to find my sister. I hadn’t meant to drag you into my storm, but I did. And now here you were, teasing me over it.
I stared at the bag. The scent of red bean filled the air, cloying and warm. A memory snagged me, sharp and sudden. My sister's and I, perched atop the sacred tree, splitting one of these three ways—one for each of us. Even though their share was large than my own. They'd always laughed when I pouted about it, nudging my cheek with her nose as I did all the work to steal them from the kitchen. "Fair’s fair, little brother," my elder sister would say. I swallowed hard, pushing the image back where it belonged.

"Fine," I said, clearing my throat. "On one condition." I met your gaze, forcing a smirk. "I replace the drink I owe you."

The lanterns reflected in your eyes, flickering with something unreadable. You tilted your head, considering. Then, with a slow grin, you held out the bag.

"Deal."

And just like that, the storm within me settled—if only for a little while.
But storms never stayed quiet for long.

@☾ Dong Youngbae [dope! take you time love <3]

@☾ Kwon Jiyong [definitely. ^_^ actually in the process to do replies]

@☾ Dong Youngbae ☾ Kwon Jiyong 5 days ago Reply
@☾ Dong Youngbae The ale sloshed against the rim of my mug as I let out a deep, exaggerated sigh. “Of course,” I muttered, swirling the last of my drink before downing it in one go. It burned, but not enough to drown out the inevitable. Youngbae—ever the noble fool—was about to get us both in trouble. Again.

I slammed the mug down, sending foam splattering across the table. “You just can’t help yourself, can you?” My words were lost to the revelry, the crowd too drunk on merriment to notice the shift in the air. But I felt it. That low, primal thrum, the kind that tickled at the base of my spine and whispered, Here we go again, Jiyong.

Then—pain. Not mine, but someone else’s. A scream ripped through the festival, raw and agonized, the unmistakable crack of a whip following soon after. The sound sent an irritated shudder down my spine. “Oh, for the love of—” I didn’t even get to finish my thought before I was on my feet, already moving.
I barely had time to shove past a group of startled dancers before my body answered the call of the wild. Bones stretched, muscles coiled, and in a blink, the drunken, grinning pirate was gone. In his place, a monstrous black-and-gold werewolf thundered forward, claws digging into cobblestone as I propelled myself after Youngbae.

A single, guttural snarl split the night, a warning to anyone foolish enough to stand in our way. My roar followed, shaking the very air, making lanterns shudder and weaker-willed men piss themselves where they stood.

“Damn it, Youngbae,” I growled, crashing into the fray beside him, teeth bared in something between a grin and a promise of carnage. “If I end up in a cell again, I swear my wife will be the least of your problems.”
The Central Task Force was already descending upon us, their shouts lost in the chaos. I flexed my claws, rolling my shoulders.

“Well then,” I smirked, tail flicking, “might as well make it worth it.”
And with that, the real fun began.

[incase you'd like to continue here.]

@❖ Daniel Henney He was sitting on a nearby stool, watching her with an amused expression when she demanded to provide her an answer. His lips barely curved that seemed to feed the mermaid’s suspicion. She tilted her head, hating his impassive attitude. The man touched her forehead, and she instantly fell unconscious.

Bora’s eyes widened as she realized she was . She quickly grabbed a sheet nearby, pulling it till her chest. “It doesn’t matter. You’re a stranger, mister. Tell me your name, and what do you want from me?” She insisted, trying to keep her voice steady. There were no one around but them. Bora’s eyes narrowed. With brute force alone, the mermaid will lose.

“Warden of The Grand Central.” He uttered, sending a shiver down her spine. “No” She whispered in utter contempt. Not once, but multiple times that she woke up in a random room or party and was paraded to the highest bidder. She was already thinking the worse – one of Madame’s client or an accomplice.

“And at the present, the only reason you’re not being dragged to the executioner’s block.”

The mermaid’s grip on the candlestick tightened, still wary. Then something shifted. Momentarily, she lowered her gaze thinking of the poor sweet boy from the town square. She was beaten and branded for life. But nothing can compare to the heart wrenching pain of knowing that she harmed a child.

“Are you hurt?” He asked.

Bora cleared , returning her gaze at him. Her lips parted but no words escaped from it. She gasped, holding the metal rod up when he moved. Piercing blue orbs followed his gestures. She raised a brow, when he offered water. The mermaid’s face burned with embarrassment and anger. She felt silly for not knowing that it was a candlestick since she had no use of them under water. Dry and starving, Bora swallowed hard staring at the cup. For a moment, she wavered. She tucked the sheets under her arms and grabbed the cup of water. Maybe, just maybe, he was not to harm her. She was about to take a sip, but then he opened his mouth.

“I beg your pardon.” Bora shot a look at his direction, cocking a brow. “What exactly are you implying?” She scoffed, sliding the cup across the table. “I’m made aware of lacing drinks to put someone to sleep. I insist that you drink from it first.”

@❇︎ Yooa ¥✔ If information is cheap, then he would share everything to Yooa. However, besides wealth and knowledge, their resolve is to maintain tradition. Myungsoo never have the nerve to ask for a room of his own because he was lucky to be given so much in exchange for his undying fealty. His eyes widen, wagging his hands and said, “Oh no no no.” The young man bit his lip, knowing that his dear friend might really ask the Dragon Queen. He couldn’t, not when his family and some of the vampires seen Yooa’s adopted mother as a traitor. Perturbed by this, Myungsoo tried to deafen the aching curiosity behind his parents’ actions. “If they truly don’t like the Queen, then I could’ve home schooled me.” He muttered to himself only to hear Yooa’s sweet laughter and that nudge on his rib. His rubbed his nose, staring intently at her and sighed. “My roommate seems fine. I was just expecting someone else. A gentleman perhaps.” He grinned, now knowing that they’ll have a place to hang out far from the unnecessary interruptions. “Sugary treats are on me then.”

Myungsoo hides the small box of blood candies in his robe but was quick to glance at Yooa, who expressed her concern. He could pick up the change in her demeanour and he hates to see it. A surge of anger, fuelled by injustice done to Yooa, pulsed through Myungsoo. He knew no guilt. And he aims not to give the stolen blood candies.

He leaned forward and pressing his lips against Yooa’s temple. “He is a swine. Probably saw you excited and try to solicit more money off you.” He said, jaw clenched as he watched the merchant carefully. “Excuse me.” He called out, the merchant looked at their direction, in confusion. “I changed my mind.”

“B—bbut—” The merchant’s jaw hung open.

As they walked away, Myungsoo glanced at Yooa and said, “Oh, blood drink already sounding far more delicious. Shall we---”

“Wait a minute!” The merchant bellowed. His voice thick with suspicion. He rummaged through his wares, his face reddened. “The Blood Candies! Thief! Stop them!”

The market erupted in chaos. Myungsoo cursed under his breath. Without a second thought, he scooped Yooa into his arms. “Hold on tight.” His voice urgent, and with a surge of supernatural speed, he launched himself into the air.

Someone gasped but Myungsoo ignored all the commotion and ran towards the Midgard Clocktower. He came to a halt underneath the shadows if the clocktower’s pillars and gently setting Yooa down. “Are you alright?”

@♦ Sen Mitsuji Oh, this human was a clever little . Using Dove’s own words against her. She pursed her lips, eyebrow twitching with internalized anger. It was a fair shot that she had left wide open. gods damn her. But the human simply smiled a gooey smile, moving toward her like a jester asking for her hand in entertainment. She leaned her face to the left, as if to mimic the way the other talked to her. “Here, you can stay,” she spoke. But the kid was already moving around her, walking backwards toward the door. Her expression changed from annoyed to that of agitated concern as he was refusing to listen.

“You’re not doing yourself any favors,” she tried to reel him in, though it clearly had no effect as he kept moving closer and closer to the exit. She crossed her arms over her chest. “Hey!” she called out, but he had made it to the door, saluting her and jogging out to the streets again. She clicked the bones of her jaw in , head slightly turning away as she chortled in the disbelief. How could a human be so ignorant to his own safety…it was maddening. Like trying to round up a group of children…but it was one man…

There was a secondary “boom” that came from outside, and Dove only then moved to the door, pushing it open. It wasn’t hard to spot the tuff of chocolate on the guys head as he went into the buildings towards the explosions. Another recoil of energy hit, causing Dove to stumble some from the sheer force, but she caught herself on the hospital building. ‘, this is bad,’ her gears shifted back towards the problem at hand, beginning her run towards the chaos. Had the perpetrator planted more bombs?

@☾ Dove Cameron The female’s response made Sen quirk a brow, genuinely surprised at her hostility, if he could even call it that. But instead of taking offense, he simply smiled in amusement, watching her with mild curiosity. 'Can’t please everyone.' he mused to himself, remembering the countless times he’d been met with wary stares, cold shoulders, or outright aggression. Didn’t bother him. He had long since learned that people, no matter the species, had their own reasons for acting the way they did.

His gaze lingered on her briefly as she started to walk away, only to slow down again, as if she were debating something. That was interesting. And then, to his mild surprise, she turned back and actually asked for his name. Of course, Sen couldn't help himself. His lips twitched upward as he tossed her words right back at her. "Doesn’t really matter, does it?" he shot back teasingly. Stifling a grin, he waited for the inevitable flash of annoyance he was sure would follow. He had a knack for getting under people's skin, not maliciously, just… playfully.

Then, as if to prove his point, he strode toward her with an easy, relaxed manner, his ever present, carefree smile in place. “Doesn’t really look like you want me hanging around.” he pointed out, tilting his head slightly, studying her. But before she could react, he stepped back, pivoting on his heel and making his way toward the door. Except, instead of turning fully, he walked backwards, keeping his eyes on her as if expecting her to lash out, chase after him, or maybe throw something in his direction. After all, he wasn’t oblivious to how much he could be a nuisance, its just that he just didn’t care. If anything, it made things more entertaining. And besides, people were so predictable when annoyed. Well, most people. This one? Not so much. That was probably why she intrigued him.

With a small, knowing smirk, Sen gave her a lazy salute before finally spinning around and disappearing out the door, whistling an old explorer’s tune under his breath. And as soon as he stepped out the doors, another explosion erupted, an aftershock from the initial blast, likely triggered by something flammable catching fire. A second wave of panic tore through the remaining crowd, but Sen, ever reckless, was already on the move, sprinting toward the chaos. But before he could get any closer, another explosion followed in quick succession, igniting a chain reaction. The force sent shockwaves through the area, and while luck remained on his side, keeping him just far enough to avoid being struck by debris, the sheer impact knocked him off balance. His ears rang from the deafening blast, a sharp, grating discomfort that made him wince as he clutched the side of his head. His vision blurred for a moment, doubling the already chaotic scene before him. Still, he pushed forward, stumbling but determined, his focus solely on reaching the center of the destruction. For now, he had completely forgotten about his companion from earlier. His instincts or the lack thereof, driving him toward the heart of the danger.

[post deleted by owner]

@⥈Yoon Bora ¥ Daniel watched her with the stillness of a predator, his gaze dissecting every shift in her unconscious expressions. Not reading her mind—no, that was crude. He studied the echoes of her dreams, the twitch of her fingers, the flicker of longing across her face. A slow, deliberate motion of his hand sent a ripple through the air, dissolving the last remnants of sleep-clouded confusion.

When she jolted awake, eyes wide with panic, he didn’t flinch. The sharp clatter of metal as she snatched up a candlestick amused him more than it should have.

“Who are you? And what the hell do you want?”

His lips barely curved, amusement a ghost behind his otherwise impassive expression. “You already asked before you collapsed. I waited until you were capable of listening.”

The space between them seemed to tighten, drawn by the gravity of his presence rather than movement. “Daniel Henney,” he answered, voice precise, measured. “Warden of Grand Central. And, at present, the only reason you’re not being dragged to the executioner’s block.”

Silence settled, dense and deliberate. Then, his tone shifted, a shade softer, though no less assured. “Are you hurt?”

Her hesitation pleased him. He reached for the pitcher, poured water into a tarnished metal cup, and placed it within her reach. His fingers lingered on the rim, a fraction too long. “Drink. You’ll need more than adrenaline if you intend to fight me with candlesticks.”

He studied her a moment longer, eyes gleaming with something unspoken. Then, as if an afterthought—"You’re not what I expected."

@♦ Sen Mitsuji @☾ Dove Cameron ☾ Dove Cameron 23 hours ago Reply
@♦ Sen Mitsuji Dove heard that perky little voice peaking through her mindscape of her thoughts as she moved semi slow, carrying the guy until suddenly, the weight was half as bad. And there he was, human hero of the hour, Mr….whatever his name was, because they hadn’t even gotten there. She opened to tell the guy she was fine, but there wasn’t much point as they were already moving faster onto the street, and he somehow was the leader again in the race with his verbal and physical direction giving.

They moved together where he pulled the guy (mostly), eventually landing in a bustling hospital, laying the guy down on a cot. Dove pulled her hair back, beginning to braid it at lightening pace to preform surgery on the groaning civilian, before stopping when she saw the human start his own work. The way he moved his nimble, veined hands, his eyes writing a novel internally with whatever notes he had, the wolf just watched. Did he think looking was gonna help? But something internally nudged her to just let the mundane do what he wished… weird stupid nudges. So she put her hands back down at her side, hesitatingly stepping back and moving her gaze to the various attendants in scrubs and their doctors move about the swarm of patients.

‘Weird hospital,’ she thought. She grew up on the knowledge of how to take care of her own wounds and problems, so doctors…sure they were out there, but most wouldn’t get business from her. Not in a sterile place like this, where the tile reeked of chemicals, and the machines beeped like there was no tomorrow…

Her gaze flicked back to the human who went to a group of…people in uniform, explaining the man’s injuries with great detail, before the group came around the cot and completely took over the space, leaving Dove to just take a couple steps back, leaving them to it…she guessed.

The she wolf heard the fly buzz in her ear again and turned to look at her side, where he was standing, as they both faced the medical team working. She exhaled through her nose and checked the others expression, eyes narrowing like lasers. Something about his demeanor really pissed her off… like he was too happy and it didn’t make sense, especially at a time like this. “Doesn’t really matter, does it? You handled yourself fine,” she spoke in a guarded fashion, feeling like she was talking to a pestering sibling more than anything. She her heel and headed to the door.

‘Dove,’ her dad’s voice now started buzzing in her head, ‘you need the human’s allegiance too…’ ‘Well me then!’ She wanted to scream, her steps slowing. She knew he was right… and she had no clue what status this human had to his people, and she could really be ing it all up…

‘Bloody hell,’ her lips scrunched in displeasure, but she stopped moving all together. “What’s your name?” She called back, wondering if he would go back for his story, or if he would stay in the hospital (she prayed the latter so she could focus as soon as possible).