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CelestialPermalink Reply by ✓ Hanseol Park on March 27, 2019 at 10:11

A part of him felt relieved that he was able to open up slowly to another person that wasn't Jae or Yeon. Admittedly, the celestial is a shy soul who trembles behind someone when it comes to socializing. He's just bad at it. But in time, fortunately he learned from it and could hold his own when needed, doesn't mean he likes being the one who initiated them though. He knew that in this modernized world and age, all those meetings and conferences he'd attend in the future will benefit greatly from his learning. There's also the part where he regretted he didn't approach her two years ago, it took him this long to come forward and get to know her personally, and it kinda made him embarrassed.

Nodding excitedly at the mention of flowers, Hanseol was very glad to show his liking to them in body language alone, his eyes lighting up like a Christmas tree decoration. “I'm a big fan of them. They're artistically pleasing to look at, only knew about them because I learned to mesh the hues from each to generate a color.” Not going to lie, he preferred using natural induced equipments when it comes to his paintings. Most of the paints were handmade. It was one of the reasons why he also have a small garden on his backyard, since his place is right around the corner lot. He hummed in agreement, the way the world can easily be describe like a rose made him feel a little more complex.

The idea of winding down their natural glow really appealed to Hanseol, who always found them glowing brighter whenever he's taken by any strong emotion, may it be the positive ones or the opposite. It attracts a lot of unwanted attention from supernaturals, which he can say there's plenty here in the eternal city. One can never be too careful and he didn't wish to come across as a celestial to others that much, without having any option to control that part of him. Surely they were all owed that much? “It's not that I don't want to use it. I admit that being a celestial is..,” he paused momentarily, allowing his head to find the right word to put this. “difficult. But I know I can't deny that part of me. I was a star before all this and the only thing that changed was that I'm now a fallen star, just added a title in front. The reason why I'm apprehensive about this whole thing was because I thought it's possible to lead a mild and normal life like a human because let's be real, being hunted down and having to run every once a month is not exactly ideal, no?” He was careful while saying those, his tone indicated there was no offense being given out.

He's been at the other side of that, spending his entire life running, up to a point where he didn't know what he's running from initially. “But I realized pushing it away would not diminish it. Might as well make the best use of it.” Hearing that Phe too suffered the same made Hanseol smile sadly, to see how their lives started off like. It was upsettingly tragic. “I heard that the Ailwards stood for everything that is good. That's not exactly true, is it? Not the whole thing at least. Light cannot exist without the darkness, I think even they would know that.” He's come to terms not to blame them until he gets to the bottom of things, until he knew the exact reason why they were locked up in the first place.

He offered her a reassuring grin, brightening up his entire being, the crescent-like eye smile making an appearance. “We'll work together towards that. It's time we start settling.” But he couldn't fathom the pain of betrayal Ophelia would've felt when the Ailwards turned on her. They were once her friends too, no doubt. And that's always more hurtful. He knew that their magic is volatile, but hearing those words of encouragement from her made him feel more determined to learn to control it. “I'm a very emotional driven being” he facepalmed, shaking his head at that because he's like one of the worst people to control his emotions. It's limited.

His blush deepens when she said it was okay to feel things. All of the emotions went spiraling out in his head, mostly reminding him the time he spent with Jae and how he didn't want something like the night of the incident to ever occur again. Not if he could help it. Fluttering his eyes open, to see the same thing that occurred that night at the dojo made him gape in awe. He never thought he'd be able to do it the second time, and felt pressured at first. But now, he's more comfortable with the fact that he can do it.

The star didn't make any promises but he was open to testing it, and Phe would know the best so he uttered a small ‘yes’ to affirm the situation in hand. He was nervous yet again, but it's hard not to feel the calming air that came from Ophelia, who seemed very nurturing and maternal even. He's never had that kind of care before his mother's, which only lasted for three months unfortunately. Slowly following the stance she showed earlier, he tilted his head thoughtfully, trying to grasp to what she's trying to do. His desire to stand his ground grew as he nodded and projected everything that the wayfinder told him to do. The curiosity in him peeked out, waiting to see what she's going to do.

CelestialPermalink Reply by ✓ Ophelia Dreyvalian ~Admin~ on March 30, 2019 at 13:48

Ophelia felt some regret for not making more of an effort with the younger celestials until now, truth be told she wasn’t sure how to face them really, considering she felt responsible in part for the fact they were captured in the first place. But Hanseol didn’t seem to hold any anger towards her, in fact, she might even describe his demeanor as contempt, though a little nervous and jittery at times, like many of their kind.

It was really nice to see the way his eyes lit up at their conversation though, especially because it was something she really liked too, though she was particularly interested by the fact that he mentioned meshing them to make colors “You mean for painting?” she asked curiously, that was how they always used to make paints or dyes of sorts when she first fell, she wasn’t much of an artist herself but she had dyed a few of her dresses different colors using the natural coloration of flowers “Now there’s a throwback” she commented with a gentle laugh, she hadn’t done something creative for so long, she kinda missed it.

The raven-haired female nodded, she could understand both minds that stars found themselves in, she’d experienced it all for herself first hand and while she hadn’t been locked away on Skye physically she felt like a part of her had been for all those years. When her people hurt, she hurt too, it was part of the being she was and the duty she fulfilled “I don’t think a normal human life is ever fully possible for us, we don’t grow older” she shrugged softly “I want to feel like I’m proud of the being I am, I am a star for goodness sake” she laughed softly as she thought about the night sky in her mind, she didn’t remember being from up there so it felt kinda surreal to her but she was what she was and if she couldn’t accept herself then why should the world “What all of the hunters forget is that celestial energy is one of the most powerful magic in the world and we are the ones who control it” she pressed her lips together, their greatest strength was their biggest weakness, it was poetic really.

She was glad he could understand what she was saying, she could also understand those who felt frozen by the fear of what they were and didn’t feel ready to get past that “I don’t think they stood for good per se, they stood for protecting the world” she pressed her lips together for a moment “In a twisted way I understand why they did what they did” she explained, not that she was justifying it or agreeing with them, she could just understand the need to protect something so badly that you didn’t think about the consequences fully “I can still never forgive them for it, but I can understand it” she nodded a little “But I know them better than they think I do” especially Aureus who she had met with recently and seen the conflict about his decision with her own eyes.

He was right though, it was time they picked a place to call home and they fought for it and she truly believed Evermore was going to be that place for them and from the look on Hanseol’s face she could tell he wanted it to be the same. She had a feeling that someone he mentioned before might be the reason why “You’re right, it is” she nodded to affirm the words if someone who was as timid as he was wanted to stay then that was enough to convince her. When he spoke about his emotions driving him she laughed and shrugged “Me too, though you learn with time how to cover them” especially when you were a leader and your emotions could hurt more than just you.

When he confirmed he was okay for her to test it she watched as he moved his stance the way that she told him, he was a quick study it seemed because she didn’t need to correct his posture. Shields were relative she knew, but typically they could keep back a supernatural attack or a physical hit before they would be absorbed and if you practiced enough you could keep it up through a hit. Her hands were still on the shield he had made before she stepped back and threw a clean sharp punch to the surface, while it did falter for a second he managed to hold it up. She gave a proud smile. She then stepped back and closed her eyes, generating a ball of light once again but this time it shaped itself into an arrow. She tilted her head before she threw it towards him with the aims of breaking the shield. The moment the arrow touched the edge of the shield she watched as it began to break apart but somehow Hanseol was still managing to hold it “Whatever memory or person you’re thinking of, you should hold onto that, because wow” she spoke softly as she dropped her hands almost in disbelief about the power he held already.

“Okay now I want you to let it go, tell yourself that you have successfully protected and that they are safe and so are you” she nodded as she dropped back down to her cross-legged position on the floor, there was a thoughtful look on her face as she did so.

CelestialPermalink Reply by ✓ Hanseol Park on April 16, 2019 at 6:03

Perhaps a part of him resented his own identity, and that’s been going around the celestial for years long, and it has nothing to do with Ophelia’s leadership or whatsoever in any part. It’s just him. So even if he didn’t like how things are going for him, he only had himself to blame, at the end of the day. He’s heard that they were captured because of who they were, over something they couldn’t exactly control, and it does evoke a strong emotion of anger from the usually shy and timid star. Behind all those doors, held someone who grew bitter and hated the world in all its glory. Thankfully, it was compressed behind those doors. It was also the persona he disliked very much, seeing as it was all negativity and regardless of his pessimistic views, Han would never see those things acceptable just because he’s driven by his emotions.

Then, what use is their head? One does not rule with its emotions, after all. The question is, how long are they able to keep up with that. Nodding vehemently at her question, it was evident that the dark-haired celestial was very excited to talk about the colors. He’s a painter, so naturally, he would be giddy about it. “Yes, exactly that. I know it’s how people from the earlier centuries made the clothes. At least, dip them into the dye.” He might’ve not known a lot of things in general, which makes him very innocent and easy to influence when it comes to it, but his strong-willed self does evade from it, occasionally. Thank god for that. “Can’t imagine it was easy though. But aren’t all beautiful things supposed to have the same amount of effort poured into them?” He supposed it was what made them intricate and a lot more pleasing to look at. Hearing that the Wayfinder sounded solemn upon saying them, he did wonder if she missed it. “Do you miss the 17th century? Or any centuries before today?” She must’ve.

The fallen star chuckled at her remark about being a star, it sounds so biblical when he thought about it. “Not gonna lie, when I first found out what I was, I thought of fallen angels and connected the dots together from there. But then again, I was like a few days old that time, so…” But the question still stands, why they fell in the first place. Were they apart of something bigger to happen in the world? A part of him wished to stay up in the night sky, but recalling all those memories he’s made with his boyfriend, he couldn’t find it in him to forget that could’ve been non-existent had he not fallen. “At least you look mature, I had to pick the right clothes and style myself so I don’t come off as a high schooler, granted a senior, but still… the identification process is very aggravating. I’m just thankful my ID card says I’m 22.” Midlife crisis, he’d say. It’s not like he would lounge around a bar and drink his sorrows away at nights, but still, proper identification is vital to one’s life.

Pushing the times when the doe-eyed star would often panic internally if he misplaced his driving license and all. “I know it sounds incredibly poetic when they say your strength is also your weakness, but seeing it up close in this scale, it doesn’t sound as appealing as I would’ve found them before.” This is because, for others who might be oppressed by those stronger than them, it’s a well-balanced fort. It reminds them that while they’re immortals, they’re not expendable. Hearing her views on the Ailwards made Han nod his head in awe, she’s a strong woman, indeed. “I finally got the answer I’ve been searching for, then. And that’s good enough. I never knew why they did what they did, but the world has a strange way of working, so I’m not surprised by it either. Has any of them met with you recently? I mean after we settled here?” Pardon him for his curiosity but the most mysterious faction lives just across the city, in the south side.

Hanseol really wanted to stay, he didn’t wish to run anymore, it was tiring and before, he had nothing or anyone to stay for, but now he does. He’s found great potential in the eternal city and was growing to it. Pushing aside the fact that he got attacked earlier this year, everything was well, with a few exceptions to night terrors, but he’ll handle that on his own. There was completely no reason why they shouldn’t be able to stay, so to say he’s concerned about the peace treaty holding the lines of the city, would be an understatement, since if they wanted to chase them out, they have all the means to do so. But since it’s been two years, it should mean they’re welcomed.

Ophelia displayed a lot of promising prospects which was what got him happy since there were rooms to assert themselves in and improve. The celestial was actually wavering slightly when he saw the arrow but focused more on blocking that fear away and stayed around that particular memory about a certain someone. His ears rung with instructions given by the Wayfinder and he slowly allowed himself to reassure everything was fine. It wasn’t nearly as hard as the first because he does know that Jae is fine now and was away from trouble. “I can’t even know how to begin saying thank you, Phe.”

CelestialPermalink Reply by ✓ Ophelia Dreyvalian ~Admin~ on April 16, 2019 at 15:54

Ophelia liked the way that his entire face seemed to light up at the very mention of colors and painting, she’d never seen him painting herself but he seemed like the artsy type, quiet and reserved, always looking at the world around him and taking it in “Yeah that’s what I used to have to do” she responded with a soft laugh “I remember being so elated the day I finally managed to get this shade of red I’d always wanted to have a dress in” she shook her head amused by the very thought, the little things were really the ones you would remember for years to come “It wasn’t easy but then it wouldn’t feel as much of an accomplishment if it only took a few hours, it’s why I find it so hard to throw any of my old clothes away” she shrugged her shoulders a little, she was a bit of a sentimentalist. His question made her pause for a moment “I miss elements of the life back then” she responded with a nod “The clothing and the formal dance style, the people I know back then” she shrugged “But I wouldn’t go back, times weren’t great for a woman back then, much less a woman who is also a leader” the world had moved on for the better and she was very glad for that.

When she had first fallen she had been just like the rest of them, lost in the world with no idea who or what she was, it took her a long time to eventually come to the reality of her role on earth and even longer to actually find another who was like her “I was unconscious when I fell so for a while I honestly just believed I was a human with amnesia” she shrugged, it was a fair assumption to make right? Except she wasn’t human, that had become evident when she learned that her skin glowed and set her on the path to find out more about whence she came. “I guess I did get lucky with that one” Ophelia glanced at her reflection in the mirror on the wall “I’d say I could pass for about 26” she commented with a raised brow, maybe even older if she put on dark makeup “But there are definitely worse things in life than looking young and handsome” she jested towards him, most celestials looked between the ages of 16 and 40 she found.

Ophelia shrugged softly “We can’t change what we are and what we can do, but we can control the small parts of ourselves that we are given the ability” being able to know which emotions would trigger your glow could be the difference between life and death for a celestial if they wanted to have any hopes of staying hidden when being hunted. As much as she hated the idea of hunters being a thing in their lives, it was a reality they would all have to face again. “They did what they did because they couldn’t risk the timeline being changed again” she admitted with a sad shrug “I couldn’t save a star who was killed in a timeline that caused the great Initia and Phoenix war” she admitted, she had to be honest with the celestials, they had to know the reality of the life they were now leading. “I’ve seen many of them, I have to, they run the peace treaties here in Evermore” she nodded a little “and I’d rather it was me who faced them than any of you” she always wanted to protect them all, shield them from any further pain “You can ask me anything you want to know” she assured noting the nervous way he posed the question “you have a right to know” she just tried not to burden them with the details unless they wanted them.

Ophelia had never wanted to stay in one place so badly as she had wanted to stay in Evermore, not just because she had found the prospect of love here but because it was the first place in a really long time that felt like it could actually be home. They had a chance to be free and live normal lives here, something not even the Isle of Skye was able to offer them and she could honestly, see a happier future for them here. That’s why she was fighting for it with everything she had and knowing Hanseol wanted to stay only helped her to be sure she was doing the right thing by doing so.

As they trained, she was really impressed by Hanseol’s resolve and the way he managed to hold his own despite him not having all that much experience with energy control, she knew with practice he was going to be a really powerful wielder, though she’d never force him to use it if he didn’t want to. He even managed to drop the shield pretty quickly, the energy absorbing into him once more and she opened her mouth almost shocked by how quickly he had picked it up. Her expression softened when he started to thank her “You can thank me but keep showing up and learning more, even if you only use it here” she nodded softly “I’ll feel better just knowing all of you can hold your own and control yourself” she smiled softly “Are you tired?” energy control always tired her out, especially so when she first started.

CelestialPermalink Reply by ✓ Hanseol Park on April 26, 2019 at 18:35

Nobody else ever saw him as the artistic type, since there was no proving how many types existed in the world, by providing numbers like statistics, at least. Especially given his current occupation, being an artist like a painter, is far beyond his ley lines. Someone like him should stay within his field, which was medicinal. Treating animals had been his priority for the past two years, nearly up to three, now. It’s the job he accepted the moment they set foot in the eternal city that has slowly grown to him. He wasn’t sure if it was the city itself, or the people inside it, namely his boyfriend, the dhampir that stayed by his side and has helped him discover new things that he never would’ve found out had it not been to him.

Despite looking youthful, that’s all his vessel is accounted for; appearance. It was because of his immortality either. Compared to other celestials, he was one of the youngest. Ophelia, herself, is nearly 500 years old, and then there’s Hanseol, who would only be turning 90, this year. Han had no previous experience in wielding his celestial energy too, he was a sucker for nature and beautiful things, in general, but is the shyest person you might ever meet in your life. With his tousled messy hair that sometimes resembles him much like a Maltese, paired with those expressive doe-like optics that would stare into your existence like there’s a whole galaxy behind the dark hues as well as also crinkle into an eye smile, and his lips that seemed a little poutier whenever he’s expressing himself. Hanseol Park is the definition of a baby boy culture. But that doesn’t exclude him from the bitter truth of the cruelty the world sets on them, since he too, was one of the many victims that fell to it. He just so happened to be one of the unfortunates.

Regardless of the tragic history, the celestial is more than ready to dive back into the world with an optimistic mind and search through the lines in a journey to find himself. With Ophelia as his Wayfinder, things seemed to be working out. Slowly but surely, he would find it in him to access more of his celestial energy in the future. Fear is, after all, quite a powerful tool. Hearing Ophelia talks about the early centuries that was dated a few centuries back made his gawk in fascination. “I wonder if I could survive that period if I was born in it” he pondered, the fallen star is usually an independent guy, and sometimes, that is his problem. He didn’t know how to be dependent on others, so much that it would eventually pose itself as a problem, someday. To be fair, he also found it hard to depend on his Volakiri, whom he’s grown closer to and wasn’t sure if he’ll ever be able to get rid of this habit. Perhaps, training and studying with Phe would be one of those steps. “I like your dresses,” he beamed, the corner of his eyes crinkling as it forms into a crescent-like eye smile. It’s one of his distinctive features. That, and the tilting head.

“It’s beautiful and authentic. It’s hard to find anything original these days, isn’t it?” But then again, Hanseol is a traditional guy, and despite spending his time in Busan after he fell for about 3 to 4 months, he grew into the customs taught by his parents and eventually became a product of a conservative community. Not too conservative that it would end up clouding his judgments and views, seeing as the celestial found a partner in Jae, becoming far from the ‘perfect’ unit, after all. He couldn’t imagine a leader that wasn’t the woman before him today, and though he might not know her as well as others do, he’s heard plenty of stories and Han liked to believe that he’s a pretty good judge of character.

All those stories were only further affirmed to be the truth after he witnessed the skills and traits shown by the raven-haired female. Truly a compassionate woman with a heart made of gold. It is no wonder others looked up to her, him included. “You’re a good leader. Just thought you should know. Not the perfect kind, or whatever other people’s definition of perfect is, but a growing one and that’s a really good kind” he complimented. Since compliments don’t come easy from the timid celestial, to see him opening and warming up to Ophelia, is a big achievement. When Phe jested about his physical appearance, the fallen star blushed profusely and tried to avert his gaze to the floorboards because he could feel his cheeks warming up, an initial sign that directs him to the land of red cheeks. With his slightly paler complexion than most, blushing always comes hard to him since it really shows. Ironically, when speaking about their glow, Han remembered the time when he would resent that part the most about himself; his glowing appearance that ends up attracting plenty of supernaturals. It doesn’t bid well when you’re trying to live a low-profile life.

But now, ever since Jae complimented him and teased him light-heartedly regarding his ‘natural glow’, it grew on him and now he didn’t mind it, if anything, the celestial found a way to love it instead. It’s amazing how one person can change your whole perspective. Following what Phe said, Han frowned softly and bit his bottom lip. So that’s the story of how their imprisonment came to be. Now his hatred towards them didn’t feel fully justified, don’t get him wrong, the celestial still very much resented them for their actions, but to be the bigger person, he needed to see the bigger picture and now he could. Maybe it’s him, but regardless of his time being locked up for the most part of his life, at least it indirectly saved him from being hunted down. Running away has always been tiring. “I’m touched that you wanted to protect us, Phe. It means a lot, for someone who’s known nothing but destruction, chaos, and loneliness at his wake” they didn’t have to run anymore and he’s grateful for that.

“Here’s to hoping there’s more of these good days ahead of us” Han quipped. What else did he actually do wanna know, though? Were there any other questions he wished to ask? “I’ll be sure to drop by every weekend then,” does this mean he has a new friend now? Someone he can lean on? Hanseol wanted to learn more, maybe, just maybe, he would be able to get rid of this fear and protect himself alongside the ones he cares for. He couldn’t depend on Yeon forever. Nodding softly as he laid himself on the floor, staring into the ceiling above him, the red-haired celestial blew a few strands of his hair and hummed. “I feel drained, for sure. Maybe I need a coffee…,” he murmured. “Scratch that, coffees.”

CelestialPermalink Reply by ✓ Ophelia Dreyvalian ~Admin~ on April 27, 2019 at 22:27

Ophelia was always considered quite a stern person, she was pretty serious and often the other celestials would make jokes about the fact that she didn’t know how to have fun and they were probably pretty founded if she was honest. The Wayfinder rarely let herself let her hair down, instead, she preferred to keep her focus on everyone else around her, that probably wasn’t healthy but it was the way she handled life, duty first, everything else second. So a lot of her closest friends were members of the colony, she got along with most of the elder stars and was working on getting to know the younger ones. Some of them, like Hanseol, she had never met before she rescued them from the Isle and honestly, she was really surprised when they chose to follow her to Evermore. She was grateful for the trust they put into her when they didn’t even know her and she hoped to prove herself worthy of that trust.

When he talked about living in the time period like hers, she pondered it for a moment, she figured that people were probably more adaptive than they actually gave themselves credit for and he would have fit in just fine in the society, especially because he was male. But she couldn’t say for sure because she hadn’t really seen how well he adapted to difficult situations just yet “It was a lot easier to run then” she spoke as she shrugged her shoulders a little “Information didn’t travel so fast or so accurately so staying under the radar was a lot easier than it is now” she nodded a little “Nowadays we have to worry about CCTV and police tracking” she commented as she pursed her lips a little, it definitely didn’t get any easier to be a celestial, the only saving grace they had right now was that most of the world forgot they ever existed but how long was that going to last.

When he complimented her dresses she smiled softly, she wore a lot of them still, especially around the castle where it was normal to see such attire, outside of the castle she’d adopted the tops and skirts or jeans approach though, she didn’t want to stand out more than she needed to in a crowd and someone dressed like a renaissance lady was likely to stand out “Thank you, I know they aren’t exactly the kind of thing I can wear casually anymore but I guess a part of me does still want to hold onto the past” she shrugged, was there a problem with that? Everything felt simpler back then, that’s for sure. She could tell that perhaps he was a little stuck in his past too “How old are you again?” she questioned with raised brows, she would have lived through the time he fell so perhaps she would remember a little about what the world was like then.

It really meant a lot when he called her a good leader because sometimes she didn’t really think she was one, she had made some really big decisions and some of them had turned into a complete nightmare. Her interests had only ever been in keeping them safe though and that experience had made it so hard for her to trust anyone external again, it had taken the full two years she had known Gideon and been in this city to really trust him the way she did now and even then she sometimes had irrational reservations. Still, he was willing to become her Volakiri so that spoke great lengths. “You know I think you’re the first person to ever tell me that” she admitted and she teared up a little at the thought though she didn’t cry, just rubbed at the bottom of her eyes and smiled softly “Directly in words at least” she laughed softly “I think a lot of people, including myself, doubt my place as a leader considering what happened with the Ailwards” and they’d be right to, but she intended to right that wrong by securing them a safe home.

She could see the look of understanding in his eyes as she explained what happened on Skye and why they were locked up and it occurred to her that he actually didn’t know at all, she bit her lip softly and tilted her head slightly, running a hand through her dark locks as she spoke “DId none of the other celestials...talk to you?” she asked almost afraid to hear the answer, it felt so much worse to her if he confirmed that they had all sat there in silence for days on end or they hadn’t been able to see each other at all. She didn’t know how they all made it through that without going completely insane if she was honest. She went a little crazy without them, willing to do anything to get them back. Everything felt wrong when she was away from them, like a piece of her was still on that damn Isle which she couldn’t get to “You and me both, Tauri” she commented with a smile, it was a term of endearment an older star could use for a younger “But it’s time we stopped running and started living” she added with a soft nod, she really believed they could her and the feeling in her chest told her it was the right place to be.

“I could definitely use some of that positivity” she responded to his hoping that things would get better, she’d love to know that was a guarantee but of course, there was no certainty for people like them, mostly she took every day as it came and made the most of it. She was really glad she had managed to sway him on the idea of training though, it was really important to her that her people got to accept what they were, even if it was only in small parts in a tucked away room. She was proud to be a celestial and she wanted other people to be proud too “I’ll hold you to it then” she spoke with an amused smirk “Maybe we can convince some of the others to show up” she teased with a laugh, though she did kinda like the chance to get to know him a little one on one “Okay then we’ll call it for today, feeling tired is a good thing, means you gave it your all” she winked in his direction and laughed “I need to get my hands on a coffee too” she admitted and smiled.

CelestialPermalink Reply by ✓ Hanseol Park on May 1, 2019 at 14:45

If before Han had been pretty intimidated and scared of the Wayfinder, now he’s no more of that. Well, to be fair, all he’s ever heard from others and stark rumors were how the Wayfinder is scary in person, but now after spending some time with her despite it being a short while, he could see where that sternness originated from. It stemmed directly from her passion and conviction, those of which Hanseol respects, very much. Perhaps it was due to the fact that Han too, knew what it feels like to always the world is against you at every moment possible, he’s never known anyone else’s gesture of kindness after his mother’s death and his departure from Korea. Ophelia is very altruistic soul, that much the dark-haired celestial could see from his own point of view, and it didn’t take much for him to feel comforted and settle in the setting a lot easier with her help.

Naturally, he’s a shy guy, and it would take a patient person to drag him into their community back. This is because for Han, everything is temporary, even the happiness he felt in him wouldn’t last forever, it will be gone someday, and he will have nothing valuable in lieu of it. It was easier to run back then? That was enough to pique his interest further, as the fallen star tilted his head slightly to the side and blinked. “It was?” During his time, even when the technology wasn’t all modernized as today’s gadgets, he found it hard to evade bounty hunters all the same. They would always find a way to locate him, which did have him wonder if they had a diviner on their side to do a locator spell on him because most of the times, the hunters were the same individuals. There were a few new ones, but he admitted there’s one or two who was hell-bent on chasing him to the ends of the earth for three years consequently. Every time they found him, it wasn’t as if he got out unscathed.

Hanseol had his fair share in suffering from a few mortal wounds that were thankfully, not so serious and life-threatening. It didn’t make him complacent, however. If anything, it made him more alert of his surroundings, wearing the same alarmed expression on his face each time he docked on a new country. “I knew I had a reason to be afraid of the gadgets people wear on, these days…” he murmured, still finding most of them to be more troublesome than they picture themselves to be. One day, it’s all going to come back to bite them. “Even if our past isn’t the best for us to remember, there’s got to be that one memory you wanted to hold on to.” He hated his years of running, even if it was as brief as 3 years only, but he also loved those counted days when he could bask in the motherly affection and love he received from the kind woman who would end up being one of the best people he would meet in his bitter life.

When Phe asked him about his age, Han chuckled nervously and craned his neck instinctively, bringing one hand to rub that particular spot behind his neck as his lips quivered slightly. “I’ll be turning 90 this upcoming June,” he said, 90 doesn’t seem much to most immortals, but to the doe-eyed celestial, it’s a long time to live, especially alone. “You shouldn’t doubt yourself, Phe. If you do, then I’m not sure how people like me are going to live up to that” he chuckled softly, an impish grin creeping up to the corner of his lips. “What happened with the Ailwards couldn’t have been prevented even if there was a way. Not everything has a loophole that could directly turn everything into a whole 180, you know. There’s a possibility you could’ve prevented this, but even if you go back in time to do that again, I’m sure the butterfly effect would come bouncing at you. Don’t blame yourself too much, I admit those years I spent being locked up against my will wasn’t pleasant, but sometimes we gotta see the bigger picture and be considerate, right?” He stuttered slightly towards the end but eventually covered it with a reassuring smile.

The topic about the celestials not talking to him does bring a painful stretch to Hanseol, who grimaced at the thought. He’s kept to himself the entire period he was locked in, only sparing a few sentences with Artemis, who was locked in the cell in front of him. But apart from the times when he needed to answer, the celestial clamped his mouth shut. It wasn’t as if they would talk much, either. “There wasn’t much to talk about, so conversations didn’t really come lightly. And I’ve always been a lone wolf. Most thought I couldn’t speak the English language, but I just chose to keep quiet. I guess, in a way, it makes the waiting easier” He wouldn’t lie and say he didn’t feel the hope diminished from him throughout his captivity because it has, more than once or twice.

His ears perked at the sudden mention of what seemed to be a nickname coming from the raven-haired female. “Tauri? For a second there, I thought you were talking about the Chitauri aliens from Avengers…” Surprising? Not. The idea of being able to come back home with a smile, while not having to worry if someone is going to tackle him down and drag him back into that wretched world, it’s very nice. It only made him smile at the thought of it. He could go home to his boyfriend’s embrace without having to worry that he’d be hurt. “Take all the positivity you want, there’s plenty of where that came from, though I have to say it doesn’t always come weekly, it skips order sometimes, that little rascal” he joked, attempting to lighten the conversation more than it already took a lead to. “If you could convince me, I’m sure it won’t take the others long to respond to the call.”

After all, Hanseol did view himself to be quite stubborn. Since he’s here in person, that means others would do too. “I’m sure we can brew ourselves some coffee while we’re at it. There’s a kitchen here, I know it. Don’t keep me from it, come on…” he beckoned and had his hand outstretched for the celestial, a smile adorning his boyish features.

CelestialPermalink Reply by ✓ Ophelia Dreyvalian ~Admin~ on May 1, 2019 at 23:27

Ophelia shrugged a little, she thought things were simpler back then but perhaps she was just remembering it with rose-tinted glasses because she didn’t have to worry about city politics, alliances, managing money for an entire faction of people and dealing with the faction that betrayed them being right across the city “As easy as spending a life on the run could be I suppose” she had always been searching for something that felt like home for them all, she knew how draining it was to spend no more than a few weeks in one place before you had to move on, it was all she had done for the past few centuries of her life and it was only in the past few years that she had really experienced what it meant to actually build a base, feel like you actually had a future of your own for once instead of just being a pawn in everyone else’s. It was a nice feeling, even if she knew it wouldn’t last forever.

Ophelia chuckled as she heard his observations on modern technology, she was both wary of it but also aware of the power it held “I think I sit on the middle line, what it can do is scary, but it can also save many lives” she glanced over at him and smiled softly “Think about life support machines and telephones that let us get emergency calls through fast enough to actually save people” if they had technology like that maybe they would be able to prevent so many celestials dying in the first place. “A few weeks ago in the ambassador meetings there was even talk of prison cells which could hold the supernatural” she pursed her lips after she said that realizing he might be afraid of that so she went on to explain the reason she thought it was a good change “With a fair justice system, those people who come after us, we have a way of putting them away for good, taking them off the board without anyone getting hurt” fair trial, fair sentences was what the humans were after and she could get behind the idea of that, especially if it let her have a say in that.

She nodded softly when he told her his age, a lot of the younger celestials were under the 100-year mark which meant they spent more time locked up on the Isle than they did actually living, some had even managed to be captured the very day they fell. She felt awful that they never got to even live before all they knew was cell walls, it must have been so confusing and disheartening for them to endure. Still, Hanseol seemed to be in decent spirits about the whole thing which gave her some hope that she could win the others over too, convince them there was plenty of life for them to live now “I will make sure to remember it” she spoke softly, she was good at remembering dates. The way he saw what happened was very mature and well thought out, not what she typically saw from the celestials who had been locked up, a lot of them were hellbent on getting revenge instead “I know that, I do” she spoke softly as she pressed her lips together “But being the only one on the outside and not knowing what any of you were going through, that had a greater toll on me than I’d like to admit” she felt responsible for them and wanted to protect them with everything she had, that was just who she was and always would be.

She could see the brief twinge of pain in his eyes as she asked that question and she was about to ensure him he didn’t have to talk about it if he didn’t want to but then he did speak “That’s okay” she assured him with a slight nod of her head, it must have been hard to spend so long in silence though “And now you’re a living a life out on your own, with someone you clearly really care about and you came to a training session where you had to make yourself vulnerable and managed to do it” she praised as she reached out to squeeze his shoulder a little, if he wasn’t proud of all of that she would be proud for him because that was a massive difference to someone who could barely to speak to anyone around him “What changed?” she asked with raise of her brow, she wanted to know what he drew strength from, it made her curious.

She wrinkled her nose a little and laughed when he asked her what Tauri meant and commented about a movie he had heard something similar from, she shook her head a little and smiled “No it’s something elder celestials have always used to address their youngers” she spoke with a serene look on her face, it felt familiar to her, something passed down to her from the Wayfinders before her she supposed “It quite literally means young star” she nodded, it was an endearment more than anything but she liked using it, holding on to some of their heritage and roots in this modern world. “Oh I definitely will” she spoke with a half smile “I need a little light of my own times” she admitted with a shrug “But we all have off days” they weren’t superheroes after all, they were real people with real feelings and worries “I’m just, trying to get people to hold onto who they are you know, being a celestial, that isn’t something we should be ashamed of and while it’s a hard life, I hope to make it a better life for all of us” she rolled her shoulders back, was that asking a lot? Of course it was, but she had to think big at this point, bold was the only play that the Ailwards had left them.

Part of her was giving him a window to run in case this had been overwhelming for him so she was glad when he suggested they both go and get coffee together “I actually have some really good beans stashed away” she teased with a laugh as she took his hand to pull her to her feet and she headed for the door leading the way through the halls to the kitchen “I know you don’t live here but you’re welcome any time all the same, if you just want to be around people or whatever” she spoke softly with a shrug, they’d renovated it into quite the community space now, which he would notice as they walked into the kitchen and communal area, she led the way to the coffee machine and then dug out her fancy Italian coffee which she had hidden at the back of the cupboard.

CelestialPermalink Reply by ✓ Hanseol Park on May 27, 2019 at 16:45

Perhaps they could relate knowing how it feels like living their life on a run, for Han who didn't know anything until he was subdued momentarily while he was busy doing his grocery shopping, it became the biggest revelation in his life. He remembered that night when he truly got hurt physically by another for the first time. The perpetrator threw a knife his way and because he didn't realize his presence, it made a clean small cut against his cheek hence the almost invisible scar on his left cheek today. It was a reminder of how tragic his story became after that eventful day. "You know, for the longest of time, I thought I would continue running, I wasn't sure if it was me dreaming at first, but after getting the sour end one night, I made it my mission to keep going until it kills me" thankfully, the celestial had survived until today, though he was sure most of them are just his luck. "Were you ever hunted down before? Did you have to run away from hunters? Like head on being chased by them?" he asked out of his curiosity, Hanseol wanted to know too, if Ophelia had to face the same problem he did, and perhaps a few others along the way. It was why he was so grateful he was given a second chance at restarting his life anew with a fresh and clean slate. So far, he's very content with what he had, so yes, Han is happy.

He's focused on making his life a tad bit better than the last, with his boyfriend and stable job, he was sure he could achieve half of what he wanted with enough work. Ophelia was older than any of them celestials, so sometimes Han did question what she thought about how things are for them currently, and how she's led her life since then. Like how the Wayfinder wanted to know more about the younger doe-eyed star, the same star wanted to know more regarding his mentor, on a more personal scale. Nodding in agreement, he knew the modern technology could aid them better than before, which does bring a relief, especially for him who's specialized particularly in the veterinary medicine field, these couldn't have been achieved properly had it not been up to those gadgets. "It's scary, isn't it? Knowing something could be so perfect yet so imperfect at the same time. It's either used to your advantage or the opposite. It makes it more… unpredictable" To Han, whenever his circumstances are unpredictable and couldn't narrow itself down to one or two perspectives only, he gets jittery and anxious. Who knows which one of the two would happen? Would it be for the good or the bad?

The sudden mention about prison cells made the dark-haired celestial's ears perked up, glancing over to the raven-haired female as he arched a questioning eyebrow. What was that supposed to mean? It doesn't sound friendly, but then again that's always a given since its a place to hold a person captive. For someone who's been locked for almost all his life, Han wasn't exactly looking forward to see the production or creation of it being anywhere near him. However, he gave it the benefit of doubt and heard Phe out as she talked about it. The idea of it being strong enough to accommodate those who would use their supernatural abilities to hunt them down is appealing, he'd say so though he does wonder to what extent would the cell be able to stretch out. "I'm going to be truthfully honest there… prisons doesn't sound good to me either way, perhaps I developed a trauma over it. It sounds justified to know that there is a place where we can look to if we are ever wronged again. Because… you know, it's not as if everyone pays attention to us while taking care of us like we're in their best interest" he mumbled sheepishly, rubbing his nape softly as he cleared his throat awkwardly.

"It does pose a few curious questions though, like how strong would it be? To what extent would it stretch out? Its domain?" perhaps he's too curious, but is he really to blame? The idea of having that to protect them and others who are equally oppressed and mistreated by hunters and antagonistic people all the same, it was very looked upon. But he also wanted to be sure that the prison wouldn't be used against them, someday. Surely there were still such possibilities, no? "Pardon me for being paranoid… I just wonder if me supporting this idea would end up biting me if I'm ever found inside one of those things… Again." Make no mistake, Hanseol was greatly damaged during his years in captivity, every hope was robbed off him and the start of his vengeful shell and bitterness stemmed from those dark years. He's just better at keeping it enclosed. He hated that they were forced to be the victims on hand, spending almost a century of living in the darkness, with no hints or talks whether they would ever be released, it gets very depressing. But what could've they done? Nothing. In the end, there was no point in regretting things for it won't give them another chance at fixing the situation in the past.

"If there was one thing that I learned, it's that there's no use in regretting, Phe" he placed a reassuring hold on her shoulders, sparing the elder female a woeful smile. "It's okay, we're okay... " They were. He's sure of it. Recollecting yourself is one of the next steps in ensuring a better life, after all. All those years spent behind the walls gave him enough time to reflect on himself too. "We'll just focus more on rebuilding the life we deserve, right?" A wide grin stretched out to the corners of his lips as he nodded in affirmation. Yes, she was right, now he had a very good life that he intends to keep for many more years to come. "I didn't know how I managed to do it honestly… I'm not exactly daring enough to be doing this" where's the lie in that. "I guess, spending my time with confident people influenced me for the better, somewhat. I'm glad I was blessed to have a good life for my second one. It makes it easier to forget my tragic one. If anything, I think I shouldn't try to forget about it, and should keep it as a reminder that I survived and now I'm doing a whole lot better."

The sudden surge of confidence sweeping the celestial off the ground was continuously making his heart swell with pride. Han was elated to know that he's slowly progressing. When Phe asked him what changed, he quirked his smile briefly before chuckling tenderly at the thought of it. His answer probably sounded ridiculous to others, but not to him. "I met someone. Someone very special–someone who took a chance with me. To see the whole me, inside and out. The good and the bad. I think even when I didn't tell him, he knew secretly that I was broken, and like any special rose, he crouched down and picked me up. Instead of throwing me away, he mended me. He didn't have to, he could've just looked away and ignore me but he didn't" a blush slowly crept up as he could feel his cheeks burning up because of it. Just the mere thought of Jae was already making the celestial glow brighter. "It sounds childish that I drew all that strength from a guy I love… cliche, isn't it?" Hanseol wasn't shy to speak about his beloved dhampir to others, but was he shy to show that his entire life meant more starting from him? Just a tiny bit. He is naturally, a shy person, after all.

"I'm not gonna lie, when you say young star, all I can hear is young padawan" someone watched too many Star Wars. "I like it, it sounds very endearing and special." He is a sucker for that. The more he heard about their history, the more Han found himself wanting to learn more about their species as a whole. Where they came from, why they fell, there were so many questions bombarding his head that never got answered. "Some of us had a hard time reclaiming our light because it dimmed after we suppressed it. But the others didn't know how to control them because no one ever taught them. I still don't know how to control my glow as of recently, and today I learned so much more. One day, they will come to seek you out, Phe. Some of us may resent this celestial part of us, but it's not something we can just ignore forever. I came today because of that. I still felt that desperate want to reconnect with who I am, to understand myself better, so here I am." There must be a reason why they fell, shouldn't they make the best and most out of it, then?

His eyes lit up like a bulb would when it was replaced with a new battery, the moment he heard about good coffee beans stashed away somewhere in the castle. "I'm a slave for coffee, it's not even a surprise anymore. I'm addicted to it, even my boyfriend finds it hard to get me to lay off it" he retorted wryly, feeling slightly giddy at the thought of being able to allow that familiar hot beverage grace himself. "Speaking of homes, you should stop by my place too, it's not far from here, just the neighborhood down the road. Though, unless you're allergic to devilish furballs, then I guess you'll have to pass, I have two who could wreck your life." Leaning against the counter with both his hands crossed, he tilted his head slightly to the side and stared at the other celestial. "Are you happy here, Phe? In Evermore?"

CelestialPermalink Reply by ✓ Ophelia Dreyvalian ~Admin~ on May 27, 2019 at 20:26

Despite the fact that the two of them had never been particularly close or even talked that much before, Ophelia found it pretty easy to talk to Hanseol, he had a level head on his shoulders and he was rational and intelligent, something quite refreshing when compared with a lot of people she had met. She considered him to be quite young, despite the fact he was closer to a century because she could tell he had lived his life in a state of paralysis while he was locked up on Skye and that meant he kept this youthful side to him that was so rare to see. “I thought that too, still do sometimes” she spoke and tapped against her forehead “Still see it sometimes, nothing I can do to stop it happening” celestials were often plagued with nightmares, it was usually the way that visions manifested and trying to ignore them only made things worse. His question made her lower her gaze “For many years, Niram and I had to take to the seas to escape it and even then it was only waiting for us every time we docked” she pursed her lips “Everyone wants to change the past, I couldn’t say I don’t either, though I know the price is too high” to greedy and selfish souls though, it was an easy trade-off.

The topic of technology was definitely a seesaw which could go either way, on one side, it could do a lot of good and help a lot of people, it upped communication and medical treatment, it ensured greater security and protection but then if it fell into the wrong hands it could also be very dangerous. It wasn’t just supernatural abilities they needed to worry about now, it was also humans with technology, or anyone with technology really, bombs, guns. “Very scary, but also part of our reality now, we are immortal beings have to learn to adapt with the times, no matter what it might bring or otherwise get left behind” that was just the reality of not aging, you had to constantly fight to stay current with the world around and with their youthful looks, people expected them to know much more than they did. “I only learned to drive recently” she admitted with a soft laugh “Something I should have done a long time ago but never got around to” she was happy to have finally achieved it though.

She definitely knew that prisons were a touchy subject to mention to people who had been held against their will for several decades but to her, it was a necessary topic, much like Sariah had put it in the ambassador meetings, there was a choice between a fair justice system in Evermore or a ticking time bomb of waiting for the next war to take place. “As much as I hate to acknowledge the idea of locking people up after happened to all of you” she pursed her lips “There are always going to be hunters and if we can’t try them for their crimes and remove them as a threat, the other options are to kill people or run from them” she shook her head “Why should we have to run when none of it is our fault?” she shrugged softly.

“They’re planning on letting everyone who has signed the peace contract have say on how the justice system is implemented, how people are tried” she nodded softly “Which means if I can finally make the deal permanent for us, we’d get ten percent of the influence on what happens and I know the valkyr would agree with us on making sure the system is fair” plus she did believe the human ambassador’s intentions with this whole thing. His questions were fair, though she didn’t have all the answers he wanted “I’ve yet to see it for myself, but from what I’ve heard, it would be a highly maintained prison facility much like those for human prisoners, just with measures to counteract supernatural strength and abilities” she definitely wanted to see and try the cells for herself before she gave any official word on it, until there, it was just a picture in her head after all. “No one’s going to blame you for erring on the side of caution, it’s taken me 2 years to even consider signing the peace contract” they were all paranoid, how could they not be when they were so royally screwed over “Some way or another we have to see the end of these supernatural feuds and deaths” she admitted as she pressed her lips together.

He was right though, she could go over what happened in the past 1000 times and it still wouldn’t change what happened or make her feel any better about it, instead, she could focus on the here and now and try to be the leader they all deserved after learning from the experiences they had all been through. Feeling his hands on her shoulders to assure her she smiled softly and nodded “I’m supposed to be the one who makes you feel better” she teased back at him and reached up to pinch his cheek in an endearing gesture and laughed softly “You all deserve the world for living through what you did” she assured with a nod of her head “I’m just trying to find the best way of getting that” while keeping them all safe and free in the process. It was a political mess, she had to admit and she did feel a little exhausted by it all but it was worth it. When he spoke about confidence she smiled “That’s a great outlook” she admitted with a nod of her head “If everyone could see things like that I think we’d be in a better place overall” she pressed her lips together.

As they came into the kitchen she hopped up onto one of the bar stools and leaned her hand against her cheek as she listened to him talk, she had learned pretty quickly that given space and confidence to do so, Hanseol was quite talkative and liked to share his thoughts and parts of his life. She quite enjoyed hearing his perspective and getting to know the person he was. The way he spoke about meeting someone, it made her smile proudly, she could see how much joy was fuelling the words he was speaking and she got a sense of meaning in the way he talked. She was happy he had found someone who made him feel that way, she knew the elation of being in love well and wished he got to keep it. It didn’t faze her at all when he spoke about this particular person being a ‘he’ she was just simply happy for him. “It’s horribly cliche” she commented with a wry smile on her lips “But strength is strength and having someone to share your life with is a wonderful thing” if it made him happy and gave him strength, that was all that mattered “I bet he’s cute too” she teased him, nudging his shoulder “What’s his name?” despite her own love life being a mess, she could never resist being in love with seeing other people in love, call her a hopeless romantic.

She laughed when he spoke about the nickname used, she’d seen a few of the star wars movies herself so she knew exactly what he was talking about “Well I suppose the meaning isn’t that different” she teased with a laughed “I am your teacher for the foreseeable after all” she looked forward to seeing the way his energy control evolved and seeing him get stronger and more powerful which she was sure he would from the potential she had seen this afternoon. The way he assured that he thought others would follow suit in time was appreciated, she was trying to approach all of this in the fairest way possible and give the stars the option to choose their own path but she was also very aware of how vulnerable a celestial could be if they didn’t have control over their powers “I hope so, I don’t think there’s any sadder thought than a star too afraid to shine” she admitted with a sad smile, she’d been through a point in her life where she feared her ability too so she understood.

She smiled when his eyes completely lit up at the mention of coffee, she had taken out the bag of coffee beans and was loading them into the coffee maker on the side as she listened to the extent of his addiction “I was spending so much on Starbucks that I eventually decided we needed a decent coffee maker in here” she laughed softly as she tipped them in and then started it up, putting a mug under the spout for when it was done. His invite to visit his home was really kind “A handsome boyfriend and two devilish furballs huh?” she responded with a laugh “Sounds like you have quite the busy life” she commented with a bright grin “I love animals so I’m sure I could handle a visit” she teased with an amused look.

His question did catch her off guard though and she went quiet for a moment considering it “I’m not sure” she answered honestly “I guess my own happiness hasn’t been in forefront of my mind for a long time but..” she pursed her lips “Being able to stay in one place and build a home, that’s definitely given me a sense of purpose and perhaps I could see a happy future for myself one day” her problem was she would give up her own in the stead of someone else’s in a heartbeat and because of that, she wasn’t sure she could answer yes “Probably why I’m fighting so hard for it” she admitted with a shy smile “And you? Are you happy?” she got the feeling his answer might be more definite than hers.

CelestialPermalink Reply by ✓ Hanseol Park on August 6, 2019 at 10:00

Hanseol had never been one to talk much given his exposure, before all of this, he remembered that he had been so shy and timid that even his co-workers and colleagues alike were a bit apprehensive to approach him, not that he could ever blame them. He wasn’t the easiest when it comes to handling anyway. The fallen star is quite vulnerable and sensitive, anyone with a good eye can definitely see that from a distance away. It was precisely the reason why he always kept to himself before he met Jae, he was most afraid of making his perceptions clear to another person only to have them leave him when the time comes. The only reason why he even poured in everything to his boyfriend was that Jae’s his partner, it was given on his part, and even then he didn’t fully tell him everything. That was something Han will have to get over with soon if he had any hopes of moving forward with his life. Phe gave him the encouragement that if he believed something enough, he’ll get that answer he so enthusiastically sought out for. Perhaps, there was some truth to it. 

He knew there was no actual cure to the nightmares, he only found his recently in Jae, and even then, it’s temporary. He loves the dhampir very much but Han wasn’t stupid enough to think that’ll be enough for him. It doesn’t mean he didn’t want it to be enough though. He wished it was. When the Wayfinder told him that she too had to move a lot because of hunters, the Celestial found himself hanging his head low, his lips pursed slightly at the mention of it, there was no escape to that, was there? “You’re right, there’s no way to stop it from happening, we can wish and hope, but that’s as far how it goes right? I hate that we’re so vulnerable and had no power to stop that from happening, it feels like we’re the prey of the supernatural world, and sometimes humans who had enough knowledge about this world would seek us out too,” he murmured faintly, rubbing his arm soothingly to assure himself that this city was their chance of living a normal life, he hasn’t had any attack for months now and he’s relieved, “it’s a never-ending cycle. But it doesn’t have to be that way forever, if what you say about the cells and prison are true, then I would want to see it come true too. I don’t particularly like the idea of locking people up, even if they’re bad guys, perhaps because I’m traumatized on my own due to my experience but… it doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be realized. You said it yourself, our running ends here, we shouldn’t be running because we’ve done nothing wrong.” Han sincerely believed that, and hearing Phe only confirmed his suspicions.

 He saw this picture of a person who wishes to do everything in her power to protect her people, even up to sacrificing her own. The Celestial knew he could trust her and for him, that runs low. There were only a handful of people that he actually trusted. “The idea of changing the past sounds too good to be true. Luxurious perhaps, but still too good to be true. Surely I’m not the only one who thinks the same. Everyone had a feeling it’s too high of a cost and to take such a risk would mean you need to commit an inhumane act. Even the most delusional people can see that the question is, would they be willing to take that risk? The higher the risk, the higher the return after all. Those people who take the high risk, they’re the ones we should be afraid of because they have nothing to lose but have much to gain if it’s proved successful.” The doe-eyed Celestial was still young, even if he was near to a century old, he retained that youthful mindset of his that matches well with his physical one, but it didn’t mean he didn’t learn.

 He listens to people attentively and his head often jots down what he could learn from them. He takes the good and leaves the bad. When they talked about technology, he chuckled softly because he wasn’t alone in that term, “well I already have my driver’s license a year back or so, so I can drive. But I’m a bit claustrophobic still, so it gets on my nerves that I can’t drive too long or I’ll get really bothered and antsy sometimes,” to him it was burdensome, it was the reason why Yeon usually takes over when it comes to driving, “I wish I can get over it… but bad habits die hard I’m guessing. At least that’s what people say about habits” he mumbled, biting his bottom lip only to replace it with a bashful grin afterward, he made a mental note to smile a lot around Phe, just to see it influence her to do the same because her smile is beautiful and the young star wished to see more of it. He did feed on positive energy for a reason. 

“But smartphones are quite the techy stuff, I remember it took me like 2 weeks to figure it out. So many updates too...Probably why I always opt to write letters and take physical pictures in polaroids instead, to store anything. It feels more real in a sense, or maybe that’s me being sentimental and lazy” he snickered wryly, knowing fully well he did that because he wanted to have something to look at, and he’ll prefer holding them rather than scrolling somewhere in his phone. Phones can be replaced, but the memories can’t. If people forget about him someday, he wanted something to remember them by. “Take your time, Phe. You don’t have to rush about the peace treaty contract thing, take your time and think about it, we’re fine you know” he grinned assuringly, he couldn’t fathom the weight resting on her shoulders, being a star alone is hard enough, let alone being a leader to many, and there are not many of them here too, there were still many out there.

 “We’ve survived this far, we were fine before and we’ll continue to be fine now and in the future, no need to rush, we’re not going anywhere.” That would be the last thing in his head to do, not when he’s finally had a stable life; one he only ever imagined watching movies or reading novels on. He didn’t want to leave everything he’s built behind, he didn’t want to forget the memories he’s made here. This is his home now. “A whole court system to try them sounds like a big step to that, preventing from more deaths to occur, and protecting our rights” he smiled, it was a dream to finally live his life without any worries that one day he would have to pack up and leave because it was that time of the year again. Hell, they may not even have the time to pack up. He guessed it was why he always traveled light, having nothing more than just one backpack with him everywhere he goes. A gleeful giggle escaped him when she chastised him that she should’ve been the one who’s assuring him and not the other way around, “Let’s put it this way then, you console me when I need them and I’ll do the same to you when you need it, it’s a balanced cycle that way, I don’t just take, you know” he teetered, scrunching his nose up when he felt her pinch his cheeks, admittedly they were quite puffed up whenever he does that and he’s naturally a human version, well… star version of bunny manifestation. 

“You deserve the world too, think about yourself more Phe, sometimes when others are not there to treat you to it, you just need to treat yourself, that’s usually the best part,” he would know that too, he’s tried to treat himself by using Jae as a conduit most of the time, the more time he spends with the dhampir, the happier he can see himself becoming so that’s his way. His eyes followed her earnestly as he took a seat on one of the stools, staring at the raven-haired female with an endearing look mixed with admiration, he somehow had this magnet to him to attract people who would end up wanting to look after him, perhaps he’s lucky in that department too. Han was always excited to talk about Jae, whenever one asked, he’d probably spend the entire day with a stupid grin on his lips, talking about the love of his life. “Oh, he’s cute. He’s handsome, he’s… ethereal, basically. It’s ironic, I’m the one who’s not from earth originally and yet I call him unearthly, probably the looks, but his heart is equally golden so I’m content with either” the thing that made him fall for him so bad was that Jae looked after others before his own, he knew he felt something when Jae got hurt trying to protect him, a stranger he met a while ago. 

He’s never felt so important and it impacted him a lot. “His name is Jaesung Moon, most people just call him Jae though.” It was clear that he was head over heels for this guy and telling Phe about him made him feel so giddy beyond explanation. “I hope I won’t let you down, I want to train more so I can get a hold of it better. If I want to make sure my life is a long one, I need to get out of my bubble and try too, I can’t let others keep taking the bullet for me, not when I care about them so much,” his weakness still remained the fact that he couldn’t find it in his heart to maim or hurt others, despite their intentions, “you know I have this weakness I can’t get rid of. I can’t seem to find it in me to maim or hurt anyone, even for defensive reasons, even if they were about to kill me or kidnap me… I just couldn’t. It stresses me out that I couldn’t because others often take advantage of me because of that.” Han knew he shouldn’t look so sad about being that way because it meant his moral was intact in so many ways but he didn’t want to burden others. “I want to shine brightly too albeit not too bright physically or I’ll blind people” he grinned sheepishly and rubbed the back of his head awkwardly, the smell of the fresh coffee beans shredded in the coffee maker made his senses perk up, god this star is a sucker for coffees, he swears.

 “I wouldn’t say I’m too busy to do anything free, but I definitely have a good life now, I’m proud in a way, past me will never think of this but it seems like hopes and dreams are something everyone needed. Come over whenever you want, I may even invite you over for dinner, I can make a few stuff if I have the time” he assured with a bright and proud grin of his own, “I imagine living here could only do so much, we can get out every once in a while and do something fun” he suggested, he may not have a lot of free time but he can definitely make time. His grin grew upon hearing that she too could wish for a happy future, it made him relieved, “wanting to be happy is not something to be ashamed of, it’s only human nature-” he halted momentarily and chuckled ironically, “I mean it’s nature.” Was he happy? With how things are looking up now? He was. Truly. He nodded, a grin as bright as his glow looked, “I am. I like the life I have now. I’ve never felt more important to someone before, and now I am and I like the feeling very much. I used to think I like the idea of it, but I fell in love with what it was along the way.”

CelestialPermalink Reply by ✓ Ophelia Dreyvalian ~Admin~ on August 7, 2019 at 17:08

She wasn’t going to feed anyone false hope or tell them they were 100% safe, she didn’t have the power to ensure that and while she was fighting with everything she had to get the celestials the life they deserved and the happiness they all craved, she wouldn’t feed them words she couldn’t hold herself to. They deserved better than false promises and sugar coating. “Well I think there are things we can do personally to be less vulnerable, wielded correctly as you have seen, celestial energy can be quite the tool” she nodded her head gently, she had personally always been okay with trade-off, using your energy made you visible to all the supernatural beings around you but for her, she would pity the fool who decided to come after her when she was in the height of her training. “And I don’t just mean offensively, you’ve seen the power of what a shield can do today” and given the right motivation and source of strength a celestial would typically be able to hold that shield for as long as needed for help to come for them. But it did take many months or even years of experience to get to that level which is why she was so keen on getting the celestials to train and learn more about their own abilities in a safe and contained environment “I can’t promise anything will come of it, Sariah is facing some heavy opposition from those who think faction individual justice is a better way but” she grimaced at the idea of having to punish anyone in her faction for breaking the rules.

Ophelia had essentially dedicated her entire life to protecting and caring for these people, to the point where she really had given up on a lot of her own happiness in the name of it but it wasn’t anything she questioned, she always had this feeling deep in her chest about what was the right thing to do and she did her best to let it guide her “I guess a lot of people who seek to change the past and therefore the future, they feel like they have nothing left to lose, if we look at what happened to Raven, it was all to flip the tides in what was currently a losing war” she was still bitter and disgusted by the whole thing and just thinking about the number of people who died because of that made her sick to her stomach “At the end of the day, they just don’t care who or what gets hurt in the name of getting what they want” there were some really selfish individuals in the world, to do something so unspeakable in the name of changing their life, you had to be a whole new level of self-absorbed.

“Can’t say that I particularly enjoy driving either, used to the days of horse and carriage so perhaps I’m just stuck in the past” she laughed softly, she felt like that about a lot of things, that she was missing the way things used to be because she was used to them and all these changes in the modern world came so rapidly that it was hard to keep up with them “Do you think the claustrophobia was triggered by everything you went through or was it something you experienced before then?” she could understand why someone might develop a hate for small spaces after being trapped in them for the best part of a century, in fact, she was pretty surprised they didn’t all have a little bit of that “If it’s triggered by the past experience then you might be able to work on negating those thoughts by reminding yourself of reality” she totally understood that a fear was a fear though and couldn’t always be faced as a resolution.

She laughed “Story of my life” she admitted with a serene look on her face, she had kinda come to terms with the fact that she would always be a little bit behind when it came to technology but she did her best to keep up and understand what everyone was raving about. She didn’t see a lot of it as negative, she kinda liked how convenient it made life to be able to reach someone else at the touch of a button. She definitely didn’t want to be one of those people who cursed what they didn’t understand because they were too lazy to educate themselves “I think it can be hard to trust something you truly don’t understand” she admitted, she agreed with him, she’d much rather write her journal on actual paper she could keep rather than on a computer where she wasn’t even sure where it went after you saved it. “I’m not rushing but I do think it’s about time we come to a decision, especially considering all the strange happenings in the city” it hadn’t escaped anyone’s notice that there were a lot of things occurring that no one could truly explain right now.

“That’s optimistic” she responded to him in a praising tone, since coming to the city, her people have had the chance to settle down in their lives and learn a lot about themselves and the things they wanted to do. She was glad to be able to give them that but she also wanted to make it permanent, get her people’s name on the contract so that anyone who crossed them would face up to the full justice of Evermore law. “It really helps to see all of you getting to do the things that make you happy though” she knew there would always be a question of safety and Hanseol being attacked a few weeks ago wouldn’t be the only time something like that happened but she also did feel optimistic about the prospect of staying in Evermore. She liked it here, she liked the people here and the home they’d build, she liked the sense of normality and permanency it filled her chest with “I want to see it happen, because that will be one more safety net I can give us and we need as many of those as possible”. When he giggled at her words she broke out into a bright smile “I think I can handle that deal” she admitted and shook her head slightly amused at the way he scrunched up his face “You’re too cute, the world isn’t going to know what hit them” she wasn’t surprised that someone had fallen for him already.

“Yeah I know” she spoke honestly “Sometimes it feels easier for me to focus on others than to worry about my mess of a personal life” she admitted with an amused shake of her head “But you’re right, I need a pamper day or something, it would be an awful shame if my hair started falling out” she spoke it in a teasing tone but she wasn’t sure it was completely out of the realm of possibility considering she was handling the negotiations for the contract, her amulet and also dealing with a pretty heavy break up right now. The way he was looking at her so enthusiastically and like he believed in her though, that definitely helped, it reminded her that there were people who looked to her to be their guidance, people who followed her without questioning her every decision or her intentions because they knew what she was trying to achieve. Listening to the way Han gushed over his boyfriend brought a bright smile to her lips and she laughed softly at the way he babbled so excitedly as he tried to describe all the things he liked about him in one go “He sounds pretty special” she meant that, anyone who could make Hanseol shine quite like the way he was now must be “How did you meet?” man she was a sucker for love stories she had to admit.

She listened to him intently as he talked about the way he cared for people and yet they had to keep protecting him, she nodded softly, he couldn’t really let her down if he tried because she just understood everything he was going through so well and empathized with him on a level others might not necessarily understand “Well I don’t necessarily think that’s a bad thing Han, it means you’re compassionate and you don’t want to hurt people” she nodded slightly “Have you thought about trying to find ways around it, things you could do to trap those coming after you without causing harm? I can help you to learn to do things like that” she was a little in awe of how he had managed to hold onto his compassion considering all the things he’d been through and how hard it must be to still care about anyone after all that “Being compassionate doesn’t make you weak okay” she assured him as she placed a reassuring touch to his shoulder. She laughed softly when he said he didn’t want to shine so bright he blinded people “Well that would always be a plus, I’m sure your boyfriend enjoys looking at you, after all” she nudged him as she continued brewing the coffee and them when it was finished she glanced over at him “Cream and sugar?” she raised her brows.

“Do you cook?” she asked curiously as she finished making the coffees and slid his along the countertop to place in front of him before she set down her own and sat on one of the stools next to him “I’ve always enjoyed cooking, though cooking in this castle feels a lot like being a maid at times” she number of times she’d made a meal and had it disappear before she even got to eat any was actually crazy “I’ve been trying to get into baking lately but it’s not going all that well” she laughed, she just didn’t seem to quite figure the oven out when it came to cooking cakes and pies. “Hmm” he pondered with a laugh “I think you may be casually suggesting I need to get out more” she teased with a laugh, well he probably wasn’t wrong, she spent most of her time cooped up in here “But I’m not sure what modern entertainment actually fits me” she admitted with a slightly flustered laugh, damn it, she was becoming a hermit. “You’re right, being happy is all we ever really search for and yet” she rolled her shoulders back “I’m not exactly sure what happiness looks like for me” but she was content right now and that was enough for her “I really like that” she responded to his answer “People always tell you to love yourself but sometimes it takes a certain path and chain of events to find it” she smiled, nodding thoughtfully, it seemed like she needed to find something that gave her that spark he had.

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