currently recovering
from a hiatus.
Sunggyu knew it wasn’t his right in anyway to ask the other fable such a question, but his curiosity always gotten the better hand. For once, he simply gave the other male a small nod and asked no more. He didn’t realized that it had gotten so late and all he wanted nothing more was to make his way home and lay down. He had been running the whole day and lost most of his stamina in the process of the chase. He really didn’t feel like he had the need to owe the male an apology for his question, nor did the other male ask for one. He simply stated that the shop would be closing soon.
The statement from the male made him turn his head to the door that lead back to out to the streets was empty and quiet just like the shop he was currently standing in. It was his time to head back to the farmlands and get the majority of his strength back. Work was to be done for the upcoming day and he wasted the rest that he was suppose to get to today due to the cunning men in black suits that had worked for the adversary.
“Ah, I realized when I was back there it gotten dark. My apologies for my unexpected arrival and making the stay longer than what was plan to be.” He spoke softly towards the other, still a bit curious as to why he had something against fables such as himself, but that would be something only the other male would know. Sunggyu didn’t bother to ask for the male’s name since he seemed so eager to have him leave his shop as soon as possible.
So, quietly — which contrasted drastically to his entrance, he made his way out the shop and moved on his way back to the place he called his home.
He spoke no more, simply standing there with his book in hand and waiting. His stance reeked of discomfort of having the other Fable around. Especially now seeing as he had gone to even question Won Bin about his behaviour. A question he had received so many times during the years, one he grew tired and always led up to more questions. Ones he did not at all want to answer.
Once the other spoke up, apologizing even, he lifted his head to look at him. He made no move to stop him or say anything in return. Won Bin was a person with a tad too much painful remorse in his body to divulge in the details. Details that were still fresh opened wounds when attention was heeded to them. As Sunggyu began to move, Won Bin followed him with his eyes. Almost as to make sure he did indeed leave.
And as the bell over the door went off and the door closed, he let out a sigh. Fables, in particular those he had encountered here, were clearly not something he could handle. Lifting a hand he drew it through his dark hair and walked over to the red door. Frankly, he wasn’t sure he would ever get fully used to this life.
With that thought he flipped the sign over to read closed as the fatigue began to set in.
From the looks of the other male, Sunggyu could tell that there was a discomfort coming from the fable. Maybe there was a bad past between him and others, but he wasn’t someone to pick at someones past, since him to had one that was not so great. With a small nod, he turn to see the other already walking away. With a tilt of his head, he then shrugged the thoughts about the other male just walking off the way he did. At the time, he was more worried about the people finding him again, though a tinge of guilt did hit him as he intruded in the fables shop unexpectedly as he did. It was more of a spur of the moment type thing, rather than one on purpose.
He made his way to the back of the shop, looking at all the titles of the books that he passed. Maybe to past the time away, he could perhaps find a novel to read while he was at it. Since, there was nothing else to do in the shop. He was one to get bored very quickly and always had to be doing something. Finding a title that piqued his interest, Sunggyu pulled it off the shelf it was resting on and looked at the cover. It was one thing about books or any other thing. If the picture on it looked good then he was interested in it. He wasn’t one to read synopsis of things first, or to see what it was about. He liked to read it for himself with out the spoilers that the book gave him. Though on other occasions it was necessary.
The smell of roasted coffee filled the book shop, the aroma was quite pleasing to the young fable, though he’d never been the type to be a coffee drinker. Just the taste of it didn’t settle right with him, but that was an talk for another day. He settled down on the floor with a book in hand and leaned against the wall. Having taught himself how to read was a challenge in its own, but it was well worth it in the long run— there were still somethings left he had to learn as well, as if learning Korean wasn’t hard enough.
Opening the hard cover book, he soon began to read the first chapter of the book, having time go by he realized that he halfway finished the whole book. Looking up from it he looked outside to see that the sunlight was soon to fade away. Had he been reading for that long? Placing the book back on the self, he made his way to the front of the store to see the male still there. Surely, the adversary was long gone, but then he made eye contact with the other fable and curiously asked what had been on his mind a few hours past.
“You seem to be uncomfortable around me, is there something you have against people like us?” He asked him as he walked up to the counter, noticing he was the only one still at the store.
The floor creaked under his feet as he made his way back to the front of the book store. On the way he passed the other fable, glancing at him once before continuing to walk. For now Won Bin was sure he himself would manage the other’s presence, given he stayed quiet and didn’t poke around. Hundreds of years may have passed but Won Bin was never quite able to become comfortable around fellow fables. It seemed to be a curse he couldn’t shake off.
But his thoughts were pushed to the back of his mind, like always, as a customer came in. Accompanied by the sound of the little bell, Won Bin greeted the female customer with a ‘Welcome’ and watched as she made her way around the shelves. As soon as she had turned to corner, no longer able to see him, he let his somewhat customer friendliness fade away and return to his normal demeanor. No matter how grouchy he might appear.
Though as she had left another customer came in, and in such a way the day went on and on. The sun sent dimmed orange light into the old book store. Almost illuminating the small specks of dust hanging in the air. Immersed in his book, it wasn’t until he felt the other fable shift and walk up to him that he tore himself from the book. He turned his head, only to look straight into the others eyes.
Event at the question posed, one he would rather go without, his stoic demeanor did not change. “As much as it isn’t your business in the slightest; yes.” Again he felt the same feeling as he used to before and something he disliked greatly. The feeling of being scorned put up against the wall. For years now it had been him and they, a difference that only became enhanced with situations like these.
Glancing once outside at the sun, now nearly set, he looked back at the red headed fable. “I’ll be closing soon.” He looked down at his watch before closing the book in hand. “If your business is done I’d recommend you exit he store.” As seen in his words Won Bin was no social man. Not that it seemed like he was intent on changing that fact as he stood up to make his way to the back room.
He continued to look up at the other male, then towards the entrance. A hand was placed on the shelf in front of him to help himself up, dusting off his clothing. He could tuned out the many questions that the male in front of him were asking, having heard them all before. The fables were becoming more and more predictable with each on he met. Sunggyu couldn’t count the many times he was asked who he was. Who was he, could he inform him that he is Jack the one on the run from the adversary. It was easy to tell which person was a fable, but it was hard to say who they belong too. This male didn’t look like he was from the adversary, but he also looked as though he didn’t care for much.
His gaze moved back up to who seemed to be the owner of this bookstore. He hadn’t realized he ran into the shop until he stood up and actually got a look around the area. “Um…” He started, scratching the back of his as he thought of something to come up with to answer the male’s question. “Well, I could tell you a lot about who I am, but telling you may get me in trouble again. By that aura around you, you must be a fable as well.” He said in a soft spoken voice, a slow nod coming after before he continued on.
“I go by Sunggyu, forgive me for running into your shop like this. It is like me to do something like I did just now. Hopefully I didn’t ruin any books when I ran in…” Sunggyu looked around the shop to see if there were any books scattered on the floor. Thankful enough, everything was still intact. For now, he needed to stay put until things calmed down. Though the men were gone for now they would be back again later on to see if he was still around. It had been years since he was chased down like he was today. He contemplated whether or not he should have told them the truth, would they still remember him. His time with the Noble King was over, so, could they have been working for someone else in the Adversary.
Sunggyu was deep in his thoughts, his attention was brought back on the other when he realized that the fable was still in front of him. “Do you mind if I stay here for a while longer? I wouldn’t be a bother, I’m rather quiet than most.”
The fable hadn’t expected the man to give his fable identity right away. Knowing how the Adversary pushed on into the Mundane world there was no doubt fables would take their precautions towards new faces. The adversary had corrupted so many, turned friends to foes that you couldn’t know who stood where. The fate had been too cruel for too many fables to allow such casualness among them. And thus he didn’t pry, he was after all no cruel man, just silent. Simply nodding he listened to the the other’s request. As long as they didn’t bother him, wreck any of his books or store; he honestly couldn’t care less who were in it.
“Fable indeed.”, he didn’t bother saying any more. Just having a fellow fable around made him uncomfortable in too many ways to describe it in a sentence, or two. Fables had never been the kindest towards him, but nor had he been open to let them. There was a reason why he opened the bookstore outside of Fable Town and in the Mundane world.
“There’s a small break room in the back you can hole out or just go further back in the store.”, he nudged his head down past a few shelves. Won Bin waited for his reaction before slipping back to his counter and grabbing the empty cup of coffee from the wooden surface. The dark haired male didn’t wait for an answer as he turned on his heel, empty cup in hand, and made his way down past the shelves.
If it was one thing Won Bin relied on then it was coffee. And an empty cup of coffee while he was minding the shop wasn’t desired. Honestly the thought made him want to close the shop for the day and hole up in his flat. But that was a thought for another day he figured, and poured himself a cup of coffee.
What a perfect way to start your afternoon by running into workers of the adversary, then being questioned by them. Oh perfect, just perfect. Sunggyu had contemplated earlier whether or not to stay at the farms or go out. He wasn’t sure what to do since the gift shop wasn’t opened on certain days. Those certain days depended on whether or not he felt like opening up or not. He’d just wished that he would have chosen to stay instead of going to Fabletown, now he had put himself in a sticky situation where the only way he could get out of it was run. What else more could he do?
With that, he ran.
The sounds of footsteps echoed over the concrete from the men black leather shoes mixed with the sounds of his sneakers hitting the ground as his legs took him as fast as they could. How long would he have to run before they gave up. He could have lied and said he was one of them, but how would he have back that up if he did. The idea of going in hiding for now was set in his mind as he made a sharp turn around the corner and into a shop filled with books on in. Ignoring the male that had watched him run past, he made his way to the back of the shop and hid behind one of the shelves that was blocking the view of the door way. He could hear the voices of the men yelling from the outside.
With heavy breathes, he slid down to the floor and leaned against the dark wooden shelf in hopes that they would soon give up trying to pursue him. His lids closed shut as he tried to catch his breath after the long chase. How long has it been since then, the last time he’d been chased was after his homeland was burned down by them.
Not noticing the footsteps that was growing closer towards him, he continued to keep himself calm not wanting to move from his spot. That was until a voice brought him back to reality, making him freeze in the spot he was sitting in. Sunggyu’s eyes fluttered open as he slowly looked up at the male, feeling relief wash over him when he notice that the other wasn’t wearing the same type of clothing as the men before. Though the aura around him told Sunggyu that he was also a fable. This wasn’t so surprising as it was before. He began to realize that a lot of fables such as he, frequent this town more than the mundanes.
“Silence is Gold” was a saying Won Bin nearly lived for. Something that again mirrored his surroundings wherever he went. He never struck up a conversation unless he had to, he never said anything unnecessary or play any music. Just silence in the form of page flipping and the clunk from his cup of coffee being placed on the counter. A seemingly perfect afternoon for the fable indeed.
Yet nice things never last in this world. Silence is one of them it seemed. Won Bin was unable to hide his mild surprise as the door to his shop burst open, a red haired man stumbling in and disappearing between the shelves. But that was not the end, not by far, as a couple of men in suits hovered outside his store. Having regained composure from the initial surprise by then he shot them a look, not wishing to start a fist fight or whatever in the midst of his books. Once they were gone he sighed and shut his book, and that was when it hit him. Fable. His head turned towards where the other had ran behind and he sighed as he pushed himself up from his seat.
Book lazily held in a hand his steps made the old floor creak as he walked towards the back. Turning the corner and spotting the other fable he leaned against the book shelf. He hadn’t seemed to notice Won Bin yet as she let out a soft sigh before speaking. “Well.”, he simply said while watching him realizing he wasn’t alone behind the shelf any more. “Who are you then.” It was more of a statement to himself than a question as his gaze didn’t leave the other one.
Pushing himself away from the shelf he took one look to the front of the store before turning back to the red haired male. “They’re gone.” He spoke lazily, leaning the book in his hands against his side simply waiting for the other to react.
