#* ( deng ) ♡ — the joker

[hehosts]

❝ your hair, ❞ he states firmly, ❝ i want it. ❞ // * open starter from deng !!

#* ( deng ) ♡ — the joker #* ( deng ) ♡ — ic

[hehosts]

yes, he's been following you. since you met, he's been persistent to seek you out, find you. ❝ ... i wondered how long it would be, ❞ he starts, ❝ until you saw me. ❞ i wanted you to. // * open starter from the right hand of that man —— deng !!

#* ( deng ) ♡ — the joker #* ( deng ) ♡ — ic

[hehosts]

❝ this will end in blood. then again, it always does with you, doesn't it?? ❞ // * open starter from deng !!

#* ( deng ) ♡ — the joker #* ( deng ) ♡ — ic

[hehosts]

❝ THE BIRD? ❞ asks deng, holding up a pendant that reflects the image of a silhouetted free bird.

❝ OR THE CAGE? ❞ prompts ji-hun, holding up one of equal worth and measure. his portrays a simple cage for a simple creature.

// * open starter from deng && ji-hun !!

#* ( ji-hun ) ♡ — cobra in the hare’s den #* ( ji-hun ) ♡ — ic #* ( deng ) ♡ — the joker #* ( deng ) ♡ — ic #i always just use the border that's closest to the last used icon so aesthetically expect that to switch rip #curse their opposing colors #also another bsi reference of course #they're doing this as a test for that man

[hehosts]

the academy / "that place" — run by that man, currently known as watanabe goro, that place or the academy is an academy for students between ages 6-18, with further educational opportunies for ages 18-24. from there, many students become employed either here (due to debts or desires), other academies, or individual pursuits. that man is always available to his students, current or alumni. many alumni eventually come back, even after going "their own way."

the academy exists, similarly to goro's office in main canon, in a pocket dimension. it can be located anywhere, and currently exists somewhere in japan. students of all origins are encouraged to attend, so long as they possess a gift.

aesthetically, it fits both a classic and gothic aesthetic, much like a castle, and is always shifting / changing, while remaining "the same." there is a sense that you know where you are, but something is different. the staircases, the art, the statues, the doors...there are gardens. quite a few, in fact. courtyards, dorms for staff and students, lounging areas, and expansive corridors.

have their been non-gifted students? yes. they are rare, but there have been exceptions. non-gifted students are typically indebted to goro, or someone in their life is (usually a parent or sibling), or their family has a history with the academy. many non-gifted students become gifted. not many students without "gifts" go without making deals to fit in with their peers.

what about non-gifted staff? same as the above, mostly. non-gifted staff members are typically indebted to goro, or have family that went to the academy. they might have gone themselves, they might not have. meeting goro outside of the academy is not unusual, especially for those that are non-gifted. sometimes those that have made deals or have taken loans from the traditional realm will "work off their debt" (meaning they get room and board, that's it). rarely — although it has happened — will goro just "give someone a job." they are typically staffed in traditional studies, if they are able to teach, as well as groundskeepers, working in the nurse's stations as assistants and front desk staff, TAs, housing, the cafeteria, and other positions best suited for those without gifts / non-supernatural individuals.

do students have to start at age 6? no, they transfer in at any age. transfers usually come from other academies, so there isn't much to catch up on other than how things operate at this place, as well as the traditional coming of age / fitting in with their peers. students who transfer in late from the traditional realm have a lot more work cut out for them, but it has been done. students that start at age 6 are typically well engrained in the non-traditional realm, or their parents and family went to the academy, thus having knowledge to enroll early.

how long has the academy been active? — seemingly as far back as formative studies have been a concept, if not longer.

what do students study?

— traditional studies. these are "core classes" that fall into the "traditional realm." many students have lived lives in "both worlds" or will have some experience with the traditional realm (the human world, as we know it). these classes not only go over the main foundations (mathematics, science, history, literature), but also cultural classes (as many students are from varying cultures that exist outside of their species/subspecies).

— formative studies. these are classes that are "core," "elective," or "specified" courses that are explicitly supernatural, as well as the bulk of the curriculum. for example, if your character is a shapeshifter, there are courses for shapeshifters. those would technically be specified courses. an elective can be anything that doesn't apply directly to their species / their gift / their power. caring for your familiar can be an elective. an example of a "core class" in formative studies would be a non-traditional history course.

taken positions of staff:

headmaster — the great man / that man / "watanabe goro"

security — currently headed by ji-hun, a former student. it is hard to remember a time that the academy has not been guarded by the cobra. he works closely with deng.

guidance counselor — yong-sun. he assists students in finding their paths, as well as listening to their problems and squabbles.

regarding ji-hun, deng, and yong-sun:

ji-hun's abilities: similar to what he can do in canon, but with the ability to transform into a cobra.

deng's abilities: similar to what he can do in canon, but with the ability to transform into a hyena.

yong-sun's abilities: similar to what he can do in canon, but also has the ability to tell the future. he is known as the dragon.

open positions of staff*:

* otherwise staffed by NPCs for most threads

nurses, teachers, teacher's assistants, groundskeepers, janitors, security guards, etc. any position that are a typical academy would have is likely necessary here.

goro's office — the same as it always is. there is still one window that functions the same way it does in canon. it primarily exists, and is always accessible, at the academy. however, it still "can be found" anywhere. just because he's running the academy doesn't mean he's not still running business as usual. a major difference would be that his business outside of the academy is handled primarily by him, not by extensions as usual (ji-hun, deng, yong-sun, etc).

what about ren? — what about him? he's not in this story. he's likely living his normal life, indebted to goro with no knowledge of the academy. however, there will be an AU where ren is attending as a student, given that he does (technically) have the sight.

#* ( goro ) ♡ — ace of spades #* ( ji-hun ) ♡ — cobra in the hare’s den #* ( deng ) ♡ — the joker #* ( yong-sun ) ♡ — jack of diamonds #* ( verse ) ♡ — academy

[hehosts]

ji-hun is that man's left hand and also his 'eyes'. he started as the eyes, then became the left hand. he is considered the serpent, the jack of clubs, and has been likened to a dragon, but is most definitely the serpent (the cobra).

deng is the right hand, and also the unwelcome tagalong to ji-hun (in context of the story). he is the joker, the hyena, the tiger's tail.

goro is the head, the body. he is the vessel. he is the great man / that man. he is the ace of spades.

yong-sun is the ears. he is the real dragon, and he hears everything. he is blind ... or seems to be (physically). this does not hinder him. the details of his deal are old and unknown, even to ji-hun. whether he became blind for the position or was blind before is speculative. we assume the former. he is the jack of diamonds.

#* ( goro ) ♡ — ace of spades #* ( yong-sun ) ♡ — jack of diamonds #* ( deng ) ♡ — the joker #* ( ji-hun ) ♡ — cobra in the hare’s den #* ( ooc ) ♡ — headcanon #new character incoming #he won't have graphics for a while until i get a feel #like after writing him if i do end up writing him if there is interest #he is likely an rp character only so no comic content from him really #but he is canonically involved even if he's not shown in the manga #ill find a fc eventually but ill either add him to the deng and ji post or make him his own to hyperlink #and ill get him on the pinned maybe later #the name was a tie breaker so i went with yong-sun bc i like it #i should eventually fix ji's tag to add the dash symbol bc i made it at a time that tumblr tags did not like the dash rip

[hehosts]

❝ we're glad you could join us, ❞ says yong-sun, pushing back a long chunk of white hair. the dragon smiles, eyes closed, yet seeming to look directly at them.

❝ sit, ❞ insists the great man. he is openly smoking a cigar, uncaring as he sits with splayed posture. commanding, authorotative, he says that they ❝ have been waiting. ❞

❝ yeah, ❞ quips deng, ❝ we've all been waiting. ❞

ji-hun says nothing, staring hard from his seat. eyes flash to deng, a silent command to silence him. the hyena chortles, baring sharp teeth. the surgical mask that usually covers his lips and nose is tucked beneath his pointed chin, making a ridiculous expression at the cobra.

❝ i said sit, ❞ that man maintains. he is tired of his brood and their antics. ❝ there is much to discuss. ❞ // * out for dinner !! an open starter featuring the great man (goro), the cobra (ji-hun), the dragon (yong-sun), and the hyena (deng) !!

#* ( goro ) ♡ — ace of spades #* ( goro ) ♡ — ic #* ( ji-hun ) ♡ — cobra in the hare’s den #* ( ji-hun ) ♡ — ic #* ( deng ) ♡ — the joker #* ( deng ) ♡ — ic #* ( yong-sun ) ♡ — jack of diamonds #* ( yong-sun ) ♡ — ic #my life is so difficult tagging this was a nightmare for me but you're welcome #i made the open featuring all four of them for that dinner i was talking about #to keep it short — it's a nice place lbr #and goro probably owns it ngl

[hehosts]

❝ i'm bored, ❞ complains deng.

❝ quiet, ❞ insists ji-hun. the cafe is casual, intimate, and respectable. no place for men like them, at least not one in particular. ji-hun sips his black coffee as deng toils with his soda.

❝ i'm bored, ❞ he repeats. waiting for their intended third constituent is, well, boring.

❝ i said quiet, ❞ ji-hun snaps darkly. ❝ shut up. here they are. ❞

// * open featuring the hyena and the cobra (deng and ji-hun) !!

#* ( ji-hun ) ♡ — cobra in the hare’s den #* ( ji-hun ) ♡ — ic #* ( deng ) ♡ — the joker #* ( deng ) ♡ — ic #here it is #i imagine it's a cafe setting?? as i mentioned #or like a cafe type setting??? if that works better #idc what it is tbh

[hehosts]

small edit for ji-hun and deng's fcs bc i needed to see them together

#* ( ji-hun ) ♡ — cobra in the hare’s den #* ( ji-hun ) ♡ — faceclaim #* ( deng ) ♡ — the joker #* ( deng ) ♡ — faceclaim #* ( ooc ) ♡ — edit

[hehosts]

❝ i could answer your questions ... if you're willing to ask. ❞ // * @psichique liked for a one-liner from deng !!

#* ( deng ) ♡ — the joker #* ( deng ) ♡ — ic #psichique #he's being cryptic like usual #what else is new!!

[hehosts]

a little moodboard for deng (red)

#* ( deng ) ♡ — the joker #* ( ooc ) ♡ — edit #maybe i should do one for the other three villains #and also ren

[hehosts]

❝ i won't ... let you go. ❞ // * open starter from deng !!

#* ( deng ) ♡ — the joker #* ( deng ) ♡ — ic

[hehosts]

"how long have you been staring at me?" for deng!

"we constantly flirt every time we meet but it's never gone anywhere" prompts. accepting. // * @vonerde !!

he steps out from the shadows at her beckoning; at her knowing of his presence. no need to hide anymore.

❝ long enough. ❞ like a hyena, deng quivers under the weight of his own laughter. a surgical mask covers his face, one he tugs down beneath his chin to reveal a split, teeth-baring smile. red eyes read black, disturbed, and they narrow into slits before closing entirely. ❝ call me curious — i wanted to see for myself. ❞ and why wouldn't he? ❝ i wanted to see you ... as you are. ❞

#* ( deng ) ♡ — the joker #* ( deng ) ♡ — ic #vonerde #now this is a dynamic i want to see more of too !!

[hehosts]

❝ what are you working on? ❞ deng asks, peering over the working man's shoulder. ❝ hm? show me. ❞ demanding thing. dangerous thing. best to renounce the temper of the hyena to the coil of the cobra.

❝ leave it be, ❞ ji-hun snorts. ❝ we're here to observe, not interfere. ❞ their observations have gone from simple stalking to direct contact. their presence itself is interference, but ji-hun would digress on the logistics of that fact. doing what we're told —— if you want to keep your hand on your body, you'll do the same, sungmin. after all ... we both know what that man wants. because what is that man — the great man — if not a culmination of parts. his? certainly. others? most definitely. ❝ keep working. ignore him. ❞ // * @inkbleds liked for a starter from deng && ji-hun !!

#* ( deng ) ♡ — the joker #* ( deng ) ♡ — ic #* ( ji-hun ) ♡ — cobra in the hare’s den #* ( ji-hun ) ♡ — ic #inkbleds #lbr goro will make an appearance sooner or later so you're technically going to have all 3 in 1 go sagkjaksdlg

[hehosts]

❝ —— bark, bark. ❞ // * @wolfvirago liked for a one-liner and got deng (red) !!

#* ( deng ) ♡ — the joker #* ( deng ) ♡ — ic #wolfvirago #ill write one from ji or ren next but he thinks he's funny

[hehosts]

the thing with deng is that he's totally chaotic. he does everything that man requires of him (and more! gladly more), but he also does what he wants within the perimeters of what that man wants. deng enjoys doing "bad things" to surmise, but that doesn't mean he stands idle to certain injustices. that man has a very specific code when it comes to children: they're not involved, or if someone that's involved with goro has a child, the child is looked after to have as many little negative consequences as possible (it's unfortunate when a parent dies, so usually goro will take "custody"). also, with children specifically, there's an idea that save a child now? they'll be indebted to you for life when they're ready to make a deal or "play" with goro. they'll view him as the good guy. deng will stop cruelty to children when he sees it, no question. he enjoys violence, but things like domestic violence are also off the table. he'll intervene, though he doesn't want thanks — he wants the thrill of the kill.

#* ( deng ) ♡ — the joker #* ( ooc ) ♡ — headcanon #it's weird like #he won't stop fights he sees but he will intervene if like a kid is involved or like #like he won't typically stop a mugging but he will stop like idk a domestic violence situation he sees #because deng is stronger and he is well aware of what he can do #he's no vigilante seeking out to right wrongs but if he sees something in his path he'll do what he wants to 'correct' it #even though he's not doing it out of the good of his heart by any means if that makes sense #there are codes he follows that are laid out for him and then there's his own explosive nature #deng is awful let's not forget that he's not out saving people gladly for the fun of it #he just doesn't get thrills out of cheap shit