abrasife

[abrasife]

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[abrasife]

I'm not a connoisseur of much music (and I don't make playlists), but I was listening to some songs I haven't listened to in a while. These two really reminded me of Keith.

Renovate my Life — MLTR

Die for You — Starset

#* ✶ ❪❪ miscellaneous ❫. #* ✶ ❪❪ queue ❫.

[abrasife]

It was a relief Vivian was being nice about all of this. If it were other people, Keith had an expectation they'd be grilling him with questions as to why he couldn't manage to hold things very long even if they weren't heavy. These books weren't heavy at all, but the simple act of clutching them only served to aggravate the discomfort in his wrist. All he could hope for was that his right hand didn't die like the left one did at this point, hence the extra caution he had to not overwork his nerve if he felt the slightest amount of exhaustion from his hand or fingers.

As he waited for the girl to hand him her books, the redhead peered up at her, not sure why Vivian was hesitating to take the offer—but then she spoke. Oh. Budgeting. He could understand that. Money was the top reason he hardly bothered to grab snacks while picking up groceries. Even the fact he was about to get himself a volume of manga that he didn't plan beforehand was stretching the limit of what he mentally had planned out. If anything, he was lucky that Rachael had extra room on her shelf—there was no way he was going to put this next to all his reference books—to indulge him in getting one volume (and maybe he could ask her about this Kitchen Princess series too).

Understanding she wouldn't be using the wheeled basket, Keith straightened out his legs and nodded, ❝ I get it. It was just an offer to make it all easy to carry regardless of how many books you actually end up buying, ❞ he replied. But so much for not looking like a complete jerk for taking a basket like this for people who visibly would need it more than he apparently did!!

Glancing at the books Vivian was holding, he realized that she had, in fact, pulled many volumes off the shelf before he had run into her. Casting his eyes over the top most cover, he decided to ask her about them and maybe help her narrow down what she ended up buying in the end, ❝ so what manga did you add to your pile here that you're struggling to pick out exactly what to buy? ❞ There was clearly a lot more than just shoujo in that stack based on the cover page he could see.

    Of course, true to her word, she ends up graciously accepting the books off his hands with an all too eager nod rolling off her lone head before proceeding to subsequently cradle them against her chest. "Yup, I believe you, don't worry!" came her casual reassurance just mere moments later. Honestly, if Vivian had been offended by Keith's sudden, abrupt departure, then it certainly didn't show from the way she reacted.

    Why, not only was she delighted to be relied upon, being able to demonstrate how manly she was by holding onto a weight heavier than he could bear proved oddly satisfying; therefore, she had no qualms, standing around and waiting for him to come back. The moment Keith returned, however, Vivian's gaze would absentmindedly find itself wandering back down towards the basket he was wheeling around; only, hearing his voice soon makes her head snap upwards again, and little by little, a carefree smile begins marring her lips.

    "Oh, don't mention it, Keefy! As a hero, it's my duty to lend my assistance to those in need; besides, according to Proverbs 21:13, 'whoever ignores the poor when they cry for help will also cry for help and not be answered'," she insists while extending her arms out so that he may at last retrieve the books. The triumph and pride she exhibited, though, ultimately became short-lived, because at the next moment, she was reminded she didn't have enough money to buy the books she wanted, causing her to grimace. Ah, how truly awkward... especially considering Keith probably made that offer to at least seem somewhat decent. To that end, it doesn't take long for her brows to droop as she casts a nervous glance over his shoulder.

    "A-About that, uh... I kinda underestimated how pricey books would be here, so I'm afraid I don't have the sufficient amount of funds to actually buy them at this current moment," Vivian finally admits. "Therefore, I must respectfully decline... sorry." And as if to express her regret, she would hastily manage an apologetic half bow.

#* ✶ ❪❪ in character ❫. #unladielike #* ✶ ❪ a world set in the time and world of the present┊❛ мσ∂єяи νєяѕє ❜ ❫ #;; it's still a mystery why I have to manually type your url for the tag every time #;; but at least your url is easy to remember and spell #;; anyway yeah! Keith is a simple character to understand (I think) and it's supposed to be easy to get a read on him in most cases #;; so the fact that other writers and readers can understand him means I'm doing my job well (I hope)

[abrasife]

What was with people and staring at him from a distance? He could feel it every time he was painting outside but as he was seriously just walking home from doing that at this point, there really shouldn't be any reason for someone to want to stop to take a closer look at him (especially when he wasn't noteworthy on looks compared to other people he knew). Unless, maybe someone was trying to pin the sibling resemblance to Rachael... but that would have to mean the person knew both her and the fact she had siblings to begin with.

Stopping in his tracks, Keith adjusted the canvas bag on his shoulder, whipping his head around to find the owner of that really unnerving stare to snap back at them, ❝ Hasn't anyone ever told you it's rude to stare? ❞

Finding himself met with a man adorned with long red hair, pale blue eyes, a clearly tailored and upscale outfit from what could only be sourced from a high end brand, and stupidly bright (to the point of being blinding) luxury accessories, Keith froze for a moment. Clearing his throat, the boy frowned he pursed his lips, clearly not liking the idea of socializing with society's elite or rich kids, ❝ sure... you did, ❞ he slowly trailed off at the information of the guy only having moved in recently, shuffling a little as he stuffed his hands in his coat pockets.

The face he was seeing triggered flashes of familiarity that didn't make any semblance of sense. If he had met this guy before, there was no way he would've just forgotten, especially when he was so... loud and unforgettable in the bad way. Still, why was this near unbearable gnawing hatred chewing on him from the inside—like something was telling him he wasn't supposed to be cordial with this man?

❝ Besides, why would someone like you want to even talk to me? Don't you have some upper echelon party to go to or whatnot? ❞

@abrasife i have funny thing

"Pardon my staring, but I can't help it. You had a face that I swore I have seen before." It was almost nostalgic to spot that dark red hair poking from the side. He looked average at most, and Mikel does not pay mind to those who cannot catch his eye. He has met models, artists, a celebrity or two, but he has never seen this boy before. Icey blue eyes scanned him up and down, eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Mikel swears that he has never seen this boy before, but there was a pang in his chest. It was the same feeling he had when he met that silver-haired man, more alike to that sensation when he met her again. A quiet-like pain crawled all over his skin, and it only tugged him towards this young stranger.

"Forgive me! Where are my manners? My name is Mikel, and I moved into the neighborhood last week! Pleasure to make your acquaintance!"

#* ✶ ❪❪ in character ❫. #* ✶ ❪ a world set in the time and world of the present┊❛ мσ∂єяи νєяѕє ❜ ❫ #mikel┊ѕнα∂уιиfσ ✶ * #shadyinfo #;; the immediate hate lol #;; blast from the past let's go!!! #;; but yeah I bet Mikel would've reunited with Keith last of the original quartet #;; it only makes sense it'd be something like Randel > Geni > Keith #;; esp since Keith is significantly younger than them

[abrasife]

❝ I'll be right back, ❞ he replied gratefully, dismissing the comment about his skinny arms (when did hearing comments like this ever get any easier?) Sheepishly, he placed the manga volumes into Vivian's hands to make his exit. While his temporary exit to the conversation was abrupt and likely rude, Keith was at his limit in terms of how long he had been ignoring the signals his nerves were sending him. He'd rather take a less than graceful exit than risk dropping the books and damaging them in the process. Besides, he had just explained about his nerve injury, so his excuse wasn't so farfetched (and Vivian seemed to be pretty understanding about these things). With that, Keith turned on his heel and made his way back towards the front doors where he remembered seeing the baskets to begin with.

As he made his way over, he recalled the comment about his shoes. The redhead couldn't help but look down at the dirtied straps and edges of them alongside the lint stuck to the velcro bits as he made his way towards the basket stack at the front of the store. Keith really had to wonder if they were that much due for being replaced. Sure, he had worn them out quite a lot since he had received them, but as they weren't torn externally despite the clear dirt from years of use, he hardly saw any reason to switch them out, especially since prices for them had gone up in spades. If he could hold off until a really good sale happened, that would be great—but if people could tell that his shoes were that worn out despite everything, maybe he should try to look for them next time he was dragged to the mall. Not to mention, it was super hard to find velcro shoes in store as well, and if it weren't for Rachael's surprises, he'd never own a thing via buying online.

Finding himself in front of the array of baskets now, his gaze fell upon a lucky sight: a basket with a long handle and wheels. It was larger than the other ones, but the purpose of it—to ease the strain of his nerves—far outweighed the impracticality of only having two volumes of manga to carry in such a large basket. A smile glued itself on his face as he grabbed the basket handle before anyone else could, nearly humming a tune as he made his way back to the aisle where Vivian was likely waiting for him.

The wheels turning behind him as he towed the basket along probably caught her attention and when he got it, he waved and gestured to her so he could take the books he was intending to buy back from her, ❝ Thanks for holding onto them. ❞ He carefully took the manga as she held them out to him and crouched down to put them in the basket. Seeing the mostly empty basket made him pause, a nagging feeling of the judgmental stares possibly being thrown his way if he was only going to put two books in there...

Looking back at Vivian, he extended an offer, ❝ um, if you want to... you can put your books here too while we're still wandering the store. It'd probably be easier since we're still talking? ❞ Were they still going to converse? He didn't know, but it didn't hurt to ask.

    Frankly speaking, Vivian doubted Keith actually owned a car, but considering she had wrongly assumed before he had been the older sibling, she would give him the opportunity to potentially prove her wrong... only, it turned out her initial guess was right, because the next thing she knew, Keith would soon make it apparent his hand wasn't quite suited to gripping a steering wheel. She, however, remains unsurprised, to the point where a lone, understanding nod would subsequently roll off her head, for while it's true she had never known about his injury, he just gave off 'I prefer to walk' vibes from the most they first met.

    "Yeah, I figured that was the case," Vivian admits. "Though, to be fair, it had less to do with your hand and more to do with the fact your shoes look as though they've seen better days." Why, considering it rained quite frequently in Vancouver, the fact there were faded traces of mud over them suggested to her he often travelled by foot; then again, she might have missed that little tidbit entirely had it not been for the fact she hated prolonged eye contact, to the point where her bespectacled gaze would frequently wander to places other than his face. Vivian, though, paid less attention to his hands and more attention to his clothes if only due to the fact she didn't find him attractive enough to warrant further scrutiny.

    "Either way, your sister knowing how to drive is certainly convenient, since it means you won't have to potentially place your life in the hands of sketchy strangers by calling up an UBER," she then adds before slotting the first volume of 'My Cat is Such a Weirdo' back where it was from upon concluding she hadn't brought enough money to buy the whole series. The moment Keith asks if she could hold onto the books he was carrying, though, Vivian would soon extend her arms outwards while offering him a wry smile.

    "Nope, for all my faults, you'd be pleased to know I actually love helping people out, completely cost-free," she jokes. Naturally, Vivian doesn't bring herself to comment on his lack of judgment, since if nothing else, she herself had also opted to not take a basket, so it wasn't like she could talk. "Now, hand them over, young man; after all, we wouldn't want your poor, twig-like arms to suddenly snap from carrying around so many marked slices of trees, would we?"

#* ✶ ❪❪ in character ❫. #unladielike #* ✶ ❪ a world set in the time and world of the present┊❛ мσ∂єяи νєяѕє ❜ ❫ #;; well props to you because Keith /does/ walk everywhere if he can help it lol #;; and ofc no rush to reading it #;; Keith is bad with jokes simply because he isn't the joking type-- too serious for his own good #;; he's pretty rigid about things and that's why relationships are difficult for him #;; god this is LATE #;; sorry about that

[abrasife]

That was a lightning fast reply—it nearly took him for a loop! Upon processing Alex's words, Keith felt a sense of relief wash over him. This was the kind of guy who would do his best to make a relationship work, someone who genuinely wanted long-term happiness at the end. But at the same time, he could be a little biased considering the way Reanne did feel about him (though it wasn't his place to reveal those feelings to help move things along). Honestly, he did want Reanne to have happiness so giving Alex his approval would be one step closer toward it.

Mulling it over in his head, Keith folded his arms, wondering if he really should give Alex his blessing. Surely, a friend's blessing wasn't much (and did he really have the qualification to take this role too?), but for Reanne—he knew how much she'd want his approval considering how much she considered him a treasured and irreplaceable friend of hers. He didn't hate Alex either, and he really had no reason to disapprove either.

Letting out a deep breath, the redhead finally found an answer. Looking the dark haired boy in the eye, he put on a somewhat mean face (for the sake of things), ❝ You can say all that fluffy stuff, but what really matters is what you do. If Reanne comes back to me and says that you did something to hurt her— ❞

He paused, his fingers reaching to fidget with the folds on his sleeve. He wasn't exactly good with threats.

❝ —well, let's just say you'll no longer have my approval and you'll be subject to glares every time I even hear your name. Oh, and you might have to deal with the wrath of her shitty father who, by the way, is terrifying. ❞ How he even managed to lecture that guy on his parenting so many years back was a feat of its own.

@abrasife in response to this

Almost immediately after Keith had posed the question, the dark haired man answered in lightning speed. He didn't even think of the sort of relationship that Keith and Reanne had, but after years of being the resident playboy, Alex knew better than to play off her friend with a sleazy excuse. "I like her, I still do." Bluntly, he nodded and shifted his weight onto his foot as he began to repack the plushies into his bag. "I'm using Valentine's Day as an excuse to let her know that." Once he had finished, he tucked his hands into his pockets.

With a hint of sincerity, he met Keith's eyes. "She's a good friend and I want to treat her as such. I only want her to be happy." He murmured thoughtfully before clearing his throat. "—but I'm shooting my shot here. Any man would be lucky to be the one to catch her eye, and I'm only one of the thousand who look her way."

#alex┊ѕнα∂уιиfσ ✶ * #shadyinfo #* ✶ ❪❪ in character ❫. #* ✶ ❪ a world set in the time and world of the present┊❛ мσ∂єяи νєяѕє ❜ ❫ #;; poor guy can't even make himself sound threatening lol #;; but that just shows how much of a softie he is at heart #;; anyways I love this small world these 4 have #;; it's so sweet~

[abrasife]

"Help." Face hidden by his hood, a bashful Alex unzipped his backpack to reveal several handmade plushies of animals. Showcasing each one with care, he looked at Keith in a panic. "Which one do you think a girl would like the most? I think giving them all to her is me coming on too strong." Though he and Keith were not necessarily close, Alex was not going to his roommate for this type of advice. Keith always did seem like the type who knew women's tastes better, after all.

UNPROMPTED ┊always accepting.

Woah! This was unexpected! Almost thrown into a panic, Keith put his arms up defensively, expecting some sort of fight to be coming his way. Only after he processed the timid tone behind the request for help did the redhead drop his arms and cautiously tilt his head to peer under the hood of the guy who approached him. Oh. It was Alex. He hadn't seen him in a long time, just like Ophelia.

Even if he wasn't as close to Alex, that didn't mean he wouldn't try his best here to help. It was rare for someone to even want his help with something, and he definitely wanted to know more about this guy since Reanne was very keen on officially asking Alex out sometime soon. That girl was impulsive so the quicker he could get a better sense of the prospect of a long term relationship, he could express warnings if need be.

As the dark haired boy opened up his backpack, Keith was surprised to see the numerous handmade dolls inside. Based on the craftsmanship with little stray threads and awkward tie offs and shifts in colors, he could tell these were made by hand. That wouldn't be present in store bought crochet dolls. A slight glimmer shone in his eyes as he analyzed the choices for the dilemma proposed to him. The assortment of little animal dolls were adorable—an array consisting of a little green frog, yellow octopus, white rabbit, a black cat, a dark blue whale, and a light blue penguin.

Knowing how small his little world was with how he, Reanne, Ophelia, and Alex were connected, Keith couldn't help but find himself assuming that maybe Reanne and Alex were in a similar state as Ophelia and himself—well, at least one-sidedly (as there was no real way to know how Alex and Ophelia felt). Pinning for this long was kind of painful, but what else was there to do but wait?

❝ I'm assuming this is for Reanne, so I'd definitely not give her the cat one. She's allergic to them and hates being reminded of it, ❞ he advised, pointing to the black cat doll Alex had made. Glancing up at the other, he wondered if it would be rude to ask how he felt about Reanne. Keith already knew how Reanne felt, but he still was a bit out of the loop regarding how Alex felt.

Pausing in the selection advice, the redhead shifted his attention to Alex, ❝ I don't mean to be aggressive when I ask this but, what exactly do you feel towards Reanne? ❞ Though, it wouldn't be unreasonable if Alex had moved on considering the whole conversation Reanne had often cried regrets about constantly. Had they even properly made up after that?

#shadyinfo #* ✶ ❪❪ in character ❫. #alex┊ѕнα∂уιиfσ ✶ * #* ✶ ❪ a world set in the time and world of the present┊❛ мσ∂єяи νєяѕє ❜ ❫

[abrasife]

Without a word, Keith reached his hand to run it through Ophelia's hair. He couldn't stop himself from hovering at the haphazardly cut ends as he threaded his fingers through her silky locks. Something must have happened for her to cut her hair, but all that mattered was that she was safe and here now—a thought conveyed by the gentle press of his thumb to the edge of her jaw. ❝ I should craft a new accessory that suits your shorter hair. What do you think about that idea? ❞ he asked her with a soft gaze (a gaze befitting of a boy deep in the trenches of love as his sister would point out).

Haircuts always costed money, and the most that Ophelia had done was trim her split ends on a regular basis to keep her hair from getting too long. Perhaps she would go cut it once every few years or so, but never aimed for something so drastic. Her long hair was one of the only things she found pretty about herself, something that she took a lot of pride in. The day she made the decision to cut it all off was full of heartache, especially knowing she can no longer pull it up. It was even more painful to look at the few scrunchies she took with her, aware that they no longer had anything to hold but her wrist. It was almost as if she lost another piece of him by cutting her hair.

It almost stung her to come back to him looking drastically different. Seeing herself in the mirror since she came back, she no longer looked like herself. Too many grazes and scratches on her skin, her body toned and too big for her heart, and her hair shortened and messy— She came back wrong. And yet, as Alex had told her, at least she came back. It was the best she could do, and seeing Keith again was the least he deserved for her absence. Perhaps it was selfish on her part, but a part of her longed to be with him again.

It was such an intimate act; the way his hand brushed against her cheek, fingers gently pressed against the sharp cut of her jaw. She swore that she would start crying on the spot after being long accustomed to dodging and biting against fists that aimed at her face.

—but she was not in a ring anymore. She was with Keith now, all where she had longed to be this entire time.

As an act of reciprocation, she leaned back into his hand. With a mustered attempt of a smile, Ophelia raised her wrist to show off a scrunchie he had made for her once long ago. Worn out, yes, but not forgotten. "Whatever you think suits me, Keith. You've always had good taste."

#* ✶ ❪❪ in character ❫. #ophelia┊ѕнα∂уιиfσ ✶ * #shadyinfo #* ✶ ❪ a world set in the time and world of the present┊❛ мσ∂єяи νєяѕє ❜ ❫ #* ✶ ❪ you’re too important to me so don’t leave my side┊❛ кєιтн ✖ σρнєℓια ❜ ❫ #;; ahhhh the fluff!!! #;; ngl I feel like Ophelia growing her hair back would be akin to accepting that she can go back to the peaceful life she had #;; and regardless of what she decided to stick with in the end Keith would always adapt to make sure she felt secure in her decision #;; though he personally prefers her long hair (he won't say it out loud) #;; simply because it reminds him of all those good memories

[abrasife]

❝ Can someone tell me why I was called to paint a portrait of you? ❞ Keith remarked as he furrowed his brows at Mikel, canvas and paint supplies tucks underneath his arm. Unlike his usual countenance, his words carried bite and opposition, much like he used to present in his youthful years of turned life. He had certainly hoped that his paintings hadn't grown popular over the years (especially since the only portraits he did were of the regent and made in secrecy for the most part), but for this guy to request such a service rang alarm bells. They weren't exactly on good terms so what was his motive for calling him out this time?

(We hardly do Mikel/Keith interactions so I thought of this~ )

Obnoxious smile and alarming red hair, Mikel had already known the exact expression that Keith would have on his face the moment he entered the room. Combing back his locks, the man smugly sighed in faux offense. Shrugging his shoulders, the redhead pouted at the unimpressed guard. "Why, am I not allowed to mingle with my lady's consort? Ah! Forgive me, you are merely her keeper. Or is it the other way around?" Followed by a cackle, the vampire prepared his body to evade the potential easel to be thrown his way. Yet, Mikel knew better than to think that the regent's guard would ever stoop so low.

(A part of him genuinely wished to see if this former human could best a demon like himself in a fight).

"Alas, no ill-intended ulterior motives for you today. Death (my dear friend), himself, has sang praises of your art! I wished to witness it for myself!" Mikel would have to give Randel a run for this money, tell him stories of today's episode of terrorizing this poor guard. The Grim Reaper was surprisingly full of gossip, and exchanging gossip with him was always such an absolute delight. Staring at the obscured moon from the window, Mikel mused to himself out loud. "I haven't seen my own face for years. Of course, I could have seen another artist," Turning around in a flamboyant fashion, Mikel met Keith with a smirk. "I wondered how you saw me. So, draw me with your utmost honesty, if you please."

It was true, Mikel did not come here with any malicious intent. Still, he wondered and hoped to find an answer to the persisting question; what in the world did the Beast of Gluttony see in him in the first place?

Short bonus: In which Regicide!Mikel recounts this memory.

Staring at the torn painted portrait, a sullen man gripped the pink tips of his long red hair in alarm. Not even this portrait of him resembled him anymore. How he missed his long red hair, and so did the grim reaper who was once so fond of it. Even without the mirror, Mikel couldn't help but detest his own appearance that seemed to embody both his greatest victory and regret. There was pink. So much pink, and no matter how much he chopped off his hair, the pink would remain.

Again, he stares at the painting and continues to wish that the man in the portrait remained the same.

Mikel just knew that the artist would have painted his muse so beautifully.

#* ✶ ❪❪ in character ❫. #shadyinfo #mikel┊ѕнα∂уιиfσ ✶ * #* ✶ ❪ you don’t deserve my respect or loyalty┊❛ кєιтн / мιкєℓ ❜ ❫ #* ✶ ❪ serving the vampire regent he was indebted to┊❛ ∂єνσтє∂ яєтαιиєя αυ ❜ ❫ #;; the temptation he would've had to do a caricature instead of an accurate portrait but gives into his integrity in the end #;; still I do love the idea of Keith having to tolerate Mikel for a couple hours to lay down a sketch and mix accurate paint colors #;; you know like live modeling #;; and Mikel being a complete pain while Keith is trying to paint a portrait like he requested #;; bc he feels kinda bad the dude can't see how friggen annoying he is with the faces he makes #;; and somehow it becomes one of the best pieces he ends up leaving behind #;; bc it's technically one of the last pieces he ever painted #;; esp with regicide verse implications...

[abrasife]

Salvation? Did this guy think he was qualified to go to so-called heaven after taking part in a war with a bloodied sword at his side? Granted that was many eras ago and maybe this world was so far ahead from his time that the home and land in his memories was lost to time, but shouldn't this guy have a better standard for who was allowed to ascend after death? Even if he didn't take lives by choice, it didn't change his stance on this stranger's misplaced kindness.

❝ If you used your eyes properly, you'd notice I also have a sword, moron, ❞ Keith scoffed as he half rolled his eyes and set his hand atop the hilt of his sword, loosely resting it there just to make his point. Although, he didn't know if it was truly wise to continue on this line of conversation. If a fight ensued, he didn't know if his weapon actually stood the test of time like his body did. In other words, it was possible his sword was no longer fit for battle. It was possible that it had rusted and worn down despite being sheathed.

He locked gazes with the stranger, his eyes conveying his raised tension and vigilance and the slightest hint of confusion at his mention of blood. He didn't bother to take a seat on the ground, and he simply looked down at the other man as he took a seat on the nearby rock. Then again, if this guy had been observing him for this long, his reasoning for attacking humans like this was certainly easy to find out, even more so with scent of it still lingering in the air. Still, why would any sane person offer—? Ah, of course. A reason to back out and not provide—it was always the same.

Shaking his head in exasperation, he shifted his posture to cross his arms, ❝ And don't bring shit like that up if you don't intend on following through. It's a waste of time, ❞ he sharply retorted, clicking in tongue as a need for more blood began to nag him. Ugh, he would not be able to get away with another victim tonight if this guy was here. Fighting the urge to scratch at and press on his neck to ease the burning need, Keith showed a peek at his fangs as he spoke next, ❝ though, I'd be willing to hear you out if you had a different quick fix for that right about now. ❞

"That speaks to me that you have a good heart. Only those who feel no remorse are far from any salvation." sometimes taking the lives of others meant taking care of one's own. It was a strange, violent and incomprehensible concept, but it was the reality of life on Earth.

"I could give you my blood, but it would most likely hurt you. Therefore, I will discard the idea easily" he certainly didn't know what his blood could do to a child of the night, and he had no desire to find out. Then he removed from his waist the belt that held his sword close and then took a seat on an old rock, not caring if it stained his uniform with dirt or dust.

"A moment ago you looked at my sword - Was it just a precaution or do you know how to handle one of these?" he was not on alert and his relaxed posture confirmed this, he did not see the boy as any kind of threat. If they were really hostile, they would not be crossing words but going for the opponent's jugular.

#* ✶ ❪❪ in character ❫. #orhan┊мαℓαєαятєѕ ✶ * #malaeartes #* ✶ ❪❪ queue ❫. #* ✶ ❪ chained by bond he lives with a newfound bloodlust┊❛ тυяиє∂ αυ ❜ ❫ #;; god I love when Keith openly insults people without caring #;; i am /super duper/ late on this and I apologize!!

[abrasife]

Him, the older one? That... was a first. Keith never would have thought someone would have assumed he was an older sibling considering, well, everything—but he supposed that because he was picking up a shoujo series that maybe the assumption wasn't farfetched. Then again, maybe there was also how much he seemed to try his best to be a better role model for his niece that might give him the more older sibling vibe at times, or even how much effort he put in when looking out for Rachael on bad days. All those roles seemed to mix in some jumbled up mess.

❝ Huh? You're not close with your sister? ❞ he questioned in return to her comment. He had begun noticing this more lately, but why did it seem like so many sibling pairs didn't have good relationships? It was sad to hear, especially since he couldn't even imagine how his life would've gone if he wasn't so tight-knit with Rachael, Melissa, and the rest of his family. Were... happy families so rare? Ah, he was starting to bring his mood down!

Pushing the thought away, Keith let out a sharp breath, carefully maneuvering so he could keep hold of both the manga volumes the best he could. Now he wished he had grabbed a basket out front or even brought a bag with him. It wasn't exactly comfortable holding the same position with his one good hand and arm. He briefly glanced around for some sort of spot to at least temporarily set the books down, but turned up with nothing. Resigning himself to a sore arm later, he returned to the conversation at hand.

So there was the option of using the train and walking to get to somewhere that might have the rest of this series. Not bad, but he'd rather go with Rachael in case she wanted to browse too, make it a sibling day—he flinched upon hearing the suggestion of driving, his hand clenching momentarily as he tried to plaster an undisturbed expression, though the way his body tensed made it clear his next words were something he wasn't exactly keen on sharing.

Raising his left hand that was protected by a black wrist guard, the boy waved it a little and attempted to move the joints in his fingers, showing off stiff and immobile fingers, ❝ I can't drive with this, but thanks for the suggestion. I can always get Rachael to drive me and she'd likely enjoy the trip herself. ❞ The redhead lowered his arm, shifting a little to keep the books under his arm steady, but considering the eventuality of having to stick around for a longer conversation, he might as well try to give himself some respite from holding on to these, ❝ also... do you mind holding onto these books I've picked up for a minute? I need to grab something to better carry them around. I was stupid enough to not grab the basket when I walked in. ❞

    Ah, so his sister was the older one? Truth be told, Vivian couldn't quite remember if he had ever mentioned that during the last conversation, but without even turning around, she'll simply let out an absentminded hum of acknowledgement while pulling out the first volume for 'My Cat is Such a Weirdo' off of the shelf. "Huh... is that right? My bad. For some reason, I totally had the impression you were the older one," Vivian then shrugs.

    "But I guess we both have that in common... being the younger sibling, that is. I do, however, wish I had nearly as much fondness for my sister as you seem to have," Vivian adds before skimming through the pages. Of course, she doesn't bother elaborating even further than that, because when it came down to it, what she had to say about Crystal wasn't all that positive. Why, not only was she a normie to the point where she had trouble relating to her, she was also feminine, pretty, and well-liked... both things she wasn't.

    To make matters worse, she even once overheard a fourteen year old Crystal objecting to her mother's request to take her along when she wanted to hang out with her friends because according to her, she was 'absolutely embarrassing to be around', which to this day, managed to stick with Vivian well into adulthood. Honestly, as an autistic young girl, those words were absolutely soul crushing to hear, so it was really no wonder she never truly got along with her sister.

    Either way, Vivian doesn't end up spending that long poring over the memories she had of them fighting, because the next thing she knew, she finds herself lifting her gaze from Tamako Tamagoyama's cute, wholesome art once Keith spoke again... and out of curiosity, she finds herself casting a quick glance towards the manga he held. Oh, judging from the rather dated front cover, that was totally a series that stemmed from the early 2000s, prompting her to wince. Still, upon taking his question into consideration, Vivian's brows would soon pensively furrow.

    "Hm... welp, provided it isn't here, maybe you'd have better luck trying at Sakura Media?" came her eventual suggestion. ...After all, this was Chapters, meaning while they might have a shoujo and shounen section, their manga collection was nowhere near as expansive compared to Sakura Media. "Only, it's all the way in Burnaby, meaning if you don't fancy walking and want the shortest commute possible, you'll probably have to take the Sky Train at some point," Vivian goes on to inform him. Within seconds, however, she'll soon arch a brow when recalling another quicker method to get there. "...Unless, of course, you happen to already own a car?"

#* ✶ ❪❪ in character ❫. #unladielike #* ✶ ❪ a world set in the time and world of the present┊❛ мσ∂єяи νєяѕє ❜ ❫ #;; i thank Vivian for being a better conversationalist than Keith bc it's so hard for him to talk w/o screwing up (as you know) #;; poor Keith will never drive--and that's why he got used to walking everywhere #;; he never bothered to learn how to considering how bad his nerve injury was during that time he would've started learning #;; but walking keeps him healthy and not so depressed bc interactions with nature and whatnot #;; YOU SHOULD RE-READ IT BC KITCHEN PRINCESS IS MY FAV MANGA OF ALL TIME OKAY #;; IT'S WORTH IT

[abrasife]

🐝  *  ―  𝑪𝑨𝑹𝑰𝑵𝑮 𝑷𝑹𝑶𝑴𝑷𝑻𝑺. (  add " + " to reverse the action.  )

❛  do you want to tell me about your day?  ❜ ❛  here, you look like you're freezing.  ❜ ❛  i love you just the way you are, and i'm here to remind you of that whenever you need to hear it.  ❜ ❛  i promise i'll always be here if you need me.  ❜ ❛  i wish i could take away all your pain.  ❜ ❛  i'll stand by you, no matter what challenges may come our way.  ❜ ❛  i'm gonna make sure nothing bad will ever happen to you.  ❜ ❛  if you need a shoulder to lean on or someone to listen, i'm here.  ❜ ❛  if you need someone to talk to i'm always just one phone call away.  ❜ ❛  it's okay. i've got you. you're safe now.  ❜ ❛  it's okay to feel this way, we've all been there.  ❜ ❛  it's okay to lean on others for support occasionally.  ❜ ❛  just let me take care of you for a bit.  ❜ ❛  no matter what happens, you'll always have a place in my heart.  ❜ ❛  what do you need me to do to make you feel better?  ❜ ❛  you can always ask me for help if you need it.  ❜ ❛  you just relax and let me do the rest. you deserve a break.  ❜ ❛  you look like you could use a hug.  ❜ ❛  you're always taking care of me so no it's my turn to return the favor.  ❜ ❛  you're not alone in this. i'm here for you, no matter what.  ❜

[ blanket ] sender draping a blanket over receiver's shoulders [ breaths ] sender helping receiver to calm down by using breathing techniques [ compliment ] sender complimenting receiver to make them smile [ cry ] sender offering receiver a shoulder to cry on [ gift ] sender giving receiver a small gift [ hand ] sender holding receiver's hand while they're walking [ hug ] sender pulling receiver into a tight embrace [ injured ] sender helping an injured receiver with everyday tasks [ jokes ] sender trying to make receiver laugh [ kindness ] sender surprising receiver with random acts of kindness [ massage ] sender giving receiver a shoulder massage to tend to their sore muscles [ patterns ] sender drawing random patterns on receiver's skin [ pillow ] sender offering receiver to use them as a pillow [ scars ] sender gently tracing receiver's scars [ sick ] sender bringing a sick receiver whatever they need ( food / medicine / etc. ) [ steady ] sender wrapping an arm around receiver's waist to steady them [ support ] sender quietly sitting down next to receiver to let them know they're there [ touch ] sender letting receiver know they're there through simple touch [ warmth ] sender pulling receiver into their arms to share body heat [ wound ] sender cleaning / bandaging receiver's wound(s)

#* ✶ ❪❪ memes ❫.

[abrasife]

@unladielike * ✶ ❪ cont. from here┊☓ ❫

Prepared to turn around and leave since he had picked up Rachael's manga, Keith was pretty much ready to put this conversation to a close, especially since it seemed his apology fell on deaf ears for a good few (too long) seconds. If anything, he was quite resigned to have yet another attempt at forming friendships go down the drain. When would the pattern change anyway? He'd muck it up the moment he slipped out of being overly cautious and apprehensive about what he chose to share. Being honest hardly ever went in his favor. He was getting tired of the feeling of having to constantly apologize for nearly every outburst like this.

Then, Vivian finally broke the silence, accepting his apology with a sigh. Visibly baffled, the boy froze in his tracks like a deer in headlights as the girl browsed the shelf of shoujo titles. Breaking out of his disbelief, Keith tucked his book underneath his arm. He didn't think... he'd get this far. What was he even supposed to say to recovery from the sheer awkwardness that was salvaging a conversation like this?

❝ If it helps, I do this to almost everyone, siblings and family included, ❞ Keith replied in a low volume, unsure if the comment would actually make her feel better.

He turned his attention to the row of books in front of him, hoping that the art and the act of browsing would relief him of his apprehension. Was there a series he'd want to study the art of? Even if he wasn't super fond of the writing, the art was something to admire in ways with how detailed and cute it looked. It never hurt to expand his artistic horizons after all. It might make it easier to gain more clients as he dabbled more into digital art, considering many were into the anime and manga art styles.

At her question, he looked towards her with confusion on his face, only for his expression to shift immediately when he realized the misunderstanding, ❝ Oh, uh, both my sisters are older than me, ❞ he corrected her, ❝ and like I said before, Rachael likes these sorts of things—helps her feel happy. ❞

Noticing a thick volume of manga—an omnibus edition—that had an appealing title, Keith carefully pulled it off the shelf, flipping it over to the back side to read the summary—a cute cooking manga featuring a youthful female protagonist looking for the owner of a special spoon at a prestigious academy. As he opened the back pages, he saw a small collection of cooking recipes, igniting his interest immensely. Okay, he had to grab this one!

Keith scanned the shelves for the other volumes in the series, but it seemed that he would be unlucky in that regard. Maybe it was luck that he stumbled upon this considering how much older it was compared to these new releases on the shelf.

❝ I didn't realize there was cooking series like this, but I got to find the other volumes in this one and try out all the recipes. , ❞ he spoke aloud, not really sure how else to streamline his thoughts into the conversation. He briefly glanced back at Vivian, unsure if he should really ask her considering how she had mentioned shoujo wasn't her thing, ❝ Err, do you know of any other places I could potentially find the rest of this— ❞ Keith flipped the omnibus manga to the front cover to confirm the title, ❝ —'Kitchen Princess' series? ❞ If it wasn't obvious, he wasn't exactly a manga or book buyer connoisseur.

#* ✶ ❪❪ in character ❫. #* ✶ ❪ a world set in the time and world of the present┊❛ мσ∂єяи νєяѕє ❜ ❫ #unladielike #;; it's alright--Keith is super awkward himself #;; bc no matter how much he tries he just sucks at conversations #;; I hope this continuation is alright #;; but have I mentioned I adore Kitchen Princess so much?? It's my top fav manga #;; I have it physically #;; do you know how hard it is to get the second half of the single volume prints these days? #;; I am so lucky!! #;; but I have to hope that my other volumes are still safe wherever they are :')

[abrasife]

As much as he hoped to not run into anyone he knew while picking up a certain series his sister pre-ordered for herself, here he was at the very same book store Vivian liked to go to, holding a newly released shoujo manga series in his hand with the girl in question absolutely having caught him red handed here. It had been some time since he sorta blew up at her for his absolutely trivial insecurities, and he did owe her an apology for it. Even though the girl was likely doing her best to ignore him right now as she turned away to mind her own business, Keith cleared his throat and turned to her, tucking the manga volume he had into the bag he had brought for easier transportation of his sister's purchases, ❝ I'm sorry about last time, ❞ he began awkwardly, unable to really look her in the eyes as he said it, ❝ I'm not the best at keeping cool when people hit nerves. ❞ He paused, thinking that Vivian probably wouldn't want to hear any excuses out of him. It made sense that she didn't. Besides, she was clearly more compatible with people like Reanne anyhow in terms of friendship and whatnot, ❝ anyway, I'll leave you be. I just wanted to apologize for that. ❞

          UNPROMPTED ASKS. » always accepting!

    The moment Keith entered her peripheral, Vivian wasted no time whirling around, intent on re-browsing the shounen manga again; after all, his presence alone was enough to deter her from checking out the new updates. Before she could bring herself to trot forward, however, him clearing his throat has her immediately cease, and against her better judgment, she'll slowly peek back at him over her shoulder with a single brow arched upwards, as if saying, 'What in god's name do you want?'

    Truth be told, she didn't know what exactly to expect considering it wasn't as if she knew him particularly well yet; still, the subsequent apology Keith uttered was enough to make her jawline unclench, because when it came down it, she just couldn't find it in herself to stay mad at him.

    "...Apology accepted, I guess," Vivian ends up sighing. "I mean... when you're clearly trying your best to be sincere, it's hard to really hold grudges, you know? Besides, I do lack the social aptitude to choose my words more carefully, so people already get mad at me a lot... in other words, I'm pretty much used to it. But yeah, consider our last altercation together water underneath the bridge." Sure enough, she then ambles over to survey the recent volumes released by Tamako Tamagoyama for the series, 'My Cat is Such a Weirdo' all while debating whether or not she should get it for Hayate's Christmas present. Of course, she still wasn't standing super close to Keith, but now that he apologized, the distance between them did at least shorten to half a meter.

    "Are you here for your younger sister?" Vivian finally goes on to question, making it rather apparent she pretty much paid no heed to his last words.

@abrasife

#* ✶ ❪❪ in character ❫. #unladielike #* ✶ ❪ a world set in the time and world of the present┊❛ мσ∂єяи νєяѕє ❜ ❫ #;; so glad I could patch things up through an ask! #;; now I won't struggle to send things in the future T0T #;; i will try to turn this into a thread when I have time #;; bc Keith is saying he must correct the error in Vivian's question haha

[abrasife]

He hated to admit it, but Joaquina was... sort of right about that statement—but that was only because he'd never had these empanadas before in his life! It was a new dish for him, and the aroma was captivating to the point he actually wanted to try one. To say he wasn't disappointed would be a little bit of an understatement. Keith was genuinely enjoying the flavors of the meat filling inside, although he was eating it slowly to both not burn himself and to savor it a little longer (plus old habits die hard).

❝ Ugh, I can't even deny it, ❞ the redhead gently remarked, covering his mouth as he breathed out hot steam from the bite he had taken. He didn't exactly want to admit that expanding his choices in meals (and factoring in enjoyment) would actually benefit him and lessen the chance of him possibly relapsing. Not to mention, this was the first time in so many years that he decided to try meat again. The flavor was strong and almost overwhelming, but he couldn't help but wonder if there was vegetarian version that would taste just as nice as this one.

Plus, if he was able to find himself enjoying something like this, then maybe he had been making progress in the road to normalcy. Maybe... he could be easier on himself about liking a meat dish this time with that in mind. After he had swallowed that delicious bite of the empanada, Keith lowered his hand and looked over toward Joaquina, ❝ it's actually... pretty decent. ❞

Although a part of him wished it wasn't deep fried. He could feel the oil and he was beginning to feel that dread bloom in his chest. Setting the filled pastry-like dish back on the plate, he reached for the napkin next to it to dab his fingers on it, cleaning them the best he could of the oil residue and flaky pastry bits, ❝ though, I'm curious—is there a similar dish like this one that isn't deep fried? Or is the deep fry essential for these? If I tried to make these myself, would baking them be an option? ❞

"See? Look at that, you're lovin' it, right? My cousin makes some of the best empanadas in town!"

Taking a healthy bite out of her own, it's still hot and fresh from the fryer. It was almost like eating her own grandmother's, well almost anyway.

#* ✶ ❪❪ in character ❫. #emystic #joaquina┊ємуѕтι¢ ✶ * #* ✶ ❪ a world set in the time and world of the present┊❛ мσ∂єяи νєяѕє ❜ ❫ #;; thought I'd reply to get the ball rolling with what we plotted #;; I decided to use what we talked about in DMs as a pre-established basis so basically this is set in current timeline #;; but there's still the history of having gotten to know each other during college and through connections in fashion industry (Rachael) #;; hope this is alright with you!

[abrasife]

Since I'm writing a reply that references this, I need to mention that Keith only decided to go vegetarian for cost-effectiveness. Meat can be expensive, so getting attached to the flavors and taste would make it harder to make the best of their limited budget for groceries and daily living (and buying meat enough for one person is significantly cheaper than two in the long run). Of course, he isn't in that difficult spot any more, but the habit remains—hence why he never really bothers to try meat dishes.

But this isn't to say he hates the taste of meat. He does get tempted by the aroma of appealing dishes, but he has very high levels of restraint and control to keep himself from trying them. It would take a lot of pestering and many, many repeated exposures to the aromas/appealing dishes to make him cave and try it.

A quick way to get him to try anything is to get Rachael to vouch for said dish though. He's more open to trying things she likes eating so he can figure out how to make it for her at home—especially since she eats meat herself.

#* ✶ ❪❪ headcanons ❫.

[abrasife]

This girl was clearly on a different wavelength than he was and part of him wanted to back out here and now. It was not an error on her end, but rather, Keith couldn't help but feel like maybe it'd be better if he introduced her to Rachael and then they'd promptly forget he was even there. Once again, overshadowed by the popularity of having a social butterfly and decently-known fashion model for an older sister. How did she even manage to get comfortable with that persona when she was much more timid so many years ago? He'd never get it.

Shifting his hand to thread through locks of hair on the back his head as the heat died down, the redhead averted his gaze, ❝ Uh, I have two sisters, but yeah. I'm not an only child. ❞ He truthfully wasn't sure how to address the comment, especially since Vivian had brought up parents. Keith didn't know enough about his own, and it would be too much to explain that Melissa was the one who raised him rather than any proper adult with a parental role.

Borrowing Vivian's words, he probably was 'chopped liver' in comparison to them. There was a reason they were more liked and loved than he was. They were... more approachable and warm. ❝ and... she's definitely endearing to many, ❞ he muttered. Rachael deserved it though, of course! She worked hard for it!

Though it seemed that his effort at potentially making a relationship work with a common ground failed spectacularly (just like it always did—and of course he'd embarrass himself in the process like a pathetic loser). When he thought that outing his latest pastime activities a little would help them build some closeness, it turned out that they were back at square one. So much for... trying. Ha.

❝ I. Never. Said I liked them, ❞ he adamantly denied, his voice turning more stern and jaded. The more Vivian spoke with some forgone assumption she made up about how he might be seen for supposedly liking the shoujo genre (as right as she was with how he really didn't want to be seen as either of those things), the more he seemed to find himself activated in a not-so-nice way. He returned her smile with a crunched up expression that conveyed a significant tinge of anger that contrasted the positiveness of her expression, ❝ and how the fuck did you get to those conclusions?! All I said was that my sister forces me to read or watch them from time to time, you idiot! ❞

Ah, he was being defensive like the old days. So much for thinking he might have improved on that front.

#unladielike #* ✶ ❪❪ in character ❫. #* ✶ ❪ a world set in the time and world of the present┊❛ мσ∂єяи νєяѕє ❜ ❫ #;; thread end #;; rip Keith #;; failed once again #;; though I do think he'd apologize soon enough once he cools off #;; he isn't the type /not/ to apologize after all