[ given their ups and downs in adjusting to an abrupt life change on this distant land, caroline has adjusted well. she is always someone to keep her head up, to try to keep up appearances. and by some god out there, her friends will simply have to come along for the ride too. how else could all her supernatural and vampire friends at home manage to get their prom or homecoming dresses on time? or even have time for at least one of the dozens of themed dances and outings at mystic falls?
of course she's worried that all of this is just annoying to hyunsu. but given that they are at the younger end of the arrivals here, and given that he isn't terrible company even if caroline tends to take up much of the conversation space, she is glad that he still manages to show up whenever she asks.
she's lost all track of time here that she's surprised when there is an announcement posted on the board in front of the town hall that there's a beach opening day and everyone is invited to celebrate the start of the warm season. ("how old fashioned. they couldn't even send us a text about it.") there's sailing (though not too far) and fresh seafood (lots of salmon and crayfish) and games and a beauty contest for all genders.
it's a tough competition, actually, so caroline is near tears when they place the crown atop her head. she's a blonde vision in a pale green cutout swimsuit and a floral sarong wrapped around her waist. even when they start passing out drinks around the bonfires, she manages to keep it together though the shots of that spicy, herby aquavit challenge her composure. it's not that she's drunk – it's hard for vampires to really get drunks – but she is pleasantly bubbly from the inside out, giggling as they sing the traditional island song after every round.
through the pleasant haze of aquavit, she's still hyperaware of herself and her surroundings when she moseys away from the crowd and finds hyunsu somewhere apart from them, closer to those nordic-style cabanas. she's incredbly hyperaware of herself when she rubs her lips together to make sure they're properly soft and glossed when she leans in to kiss him without a word of warning. ]
[ It might surprise people here to know that Hyunsu has adjusted relatively well to his new environment as well. It doesn't seem that way at a glance, because he's still withdrawn and tends to stay on the outskirts of things, but the fact that he joins in on celebrations at all is a massive step up to what he used to be like.
More than anything, this new home is a massive step up from the monster ridden city that he came from before, and his desire to ever go back is non-existent. He isn't in constant danger here, and no one treats him like a threat. Admittedly no one besides Caroline even knows that he's not human anymore, and even she only got that particular piece of information after she volunteered a truth about herself as well.
She's been a large part of why he's adjusted as well as he has too. While Hyunsu might have locked himself away in the house he was given regardless of relative safety, Caroline has been badgering him to get out and about with her, refusing to let him keep only to himself.
It's been a long time since anyone actively wanted to spend time with him, and it's been a really nice change. Hyunsu is clumsy and awkward when it comes to words these days though, and he hasn't really expressed any of that sentiment to her, though he vaguely hopes she isn't getting tired of solemn presence potentially dragging down the mood whenever she takes him with her to what should be a fun outing.
Maybe it's not something he has to worry too much about, because that sudden kiss she plants on him seems to suggest she doesn't mind the quiet and moody nature that much.
Hyunsu had been straighten up a little out of his slouch when he saw her approaching, unconsciously reaching up to smooth out some perpetually unruly hair. He'd even been think of what to say in greeting when the kiss cuts him short, and he's freezing for a few seconds.
Just a few seconds though, because as slow as he can be to get words out sometimes, it's not like his mind doesn't still move quickly enough. It takes only those few seconds for him to realize what is happening, and to realize just as quickly if he stands there like a dead fish that she's going to pull back, and a very uncomfortable conversation fraught with insecurity.
So after that short pause of discomforting stillness, Hyunsu raises a hand to rest it on her cheek, and tilts his head just slightly to deepen the kiss. ]
( for all her confidence and bravado, even caroline visibly relaxes when he kisses her back and even takes it a step further with her as their tongues meet and she steps even further into his personal space. she tastes sweet, hardly of alcohol, and more of a combination of fresh juices she's had during the course of the day.
it's all a pretty picture in her head, dimly lit by starlight and the torches nearby, the air cool but not too cold that she's uncomfortable in her suit and sarong.
truth be told, she's missed kissing. having been manipulated and misled -- and then having to mislead and break up with the one decent boy she really ever liked for his own human safety -- caroline hasn't had the best track record with guys so far. these days, she feels she can at least treat herself to something a little less difficult. not that it's easy for supernatural young adults ( she's seen ample proof of that at the library ), but given his non-response responses to her antics, hyunsu seems like someone who wouldn't give her grief about any of it. she just needs to make sure he is actually into whatever this is, a hookup or a prelude to something more. )
Mm - ( she breaks their kiss to giggle softly against his mouth, letting her arms come up to drape casually over his shoulders. ) Is ... this cool? ( it won't matter that she thinks he's on the cuter side of scruffy if he doesn't actually want any of this. and sure, her ego will be a little bruised but she's certainly not going to do what other people ( vampires ) have done to her. )
( lightly she touches his cheek with the pads of her fingers and adds more confidently, ) 'Cause if it is, we should lock up one of these cabana thingies. ( that sparkle in her eyes means she has plans. )
[ The nice thing about Hyunsu is that he is neither a manipulator, or someone who is going to be easily hurt by supernatural shenanigans. Instead he's the one that's constantly getting manipulated, and happens to be something well beyond human at this point, though he's not sure if what he is happens to be supernatural or not. The monsters of his world are so new to it, and there's a lot of existence questioning that goes on inside of his head over this.
So it's kind of nice to have something simple like this that he doesn't have to think about much. Just two young people enjoying a kiss under the starlight at a party. It feels almost normal in a way that seems vaguely foreign to him.
At times like this it really wakes him up to how much he truly missed that kind of normal.
A kind of normal he's missed out on, despite being just the right age for a lot of people to start doing exactly what Caroline seems to be implying. It takes him a second, and his brow knits together in confusion, before it seems to dawn on him what she's suggesting. ]
It's cool, but I haven't ever before...
[ Virgin boy. He might as well lower expectations right now. ]
( it's caroline that grounds her friends in the everyday teenage existence. if she had remained in mystic falls, she'd be the one ensuring that they took as much out of their high school years as feasibly possible ( and it's not much, but she will try ). but it isn't just out of a singular desire to do something normal that she's kissing him. she actually likes hyunsu and finds comfort in his oftentimes gloomy and awkward presence beyond the fact that he was the first person she swooped down on upon arrival.
maybe she went a little too far with her implications, but she wants to throw the door wide open while they're here. )
Oh.
( it's a mild reaction, one that isn't of surprise or disappointment. ( though it was tempting to laugh because it is endearing, watching him slowly process her suggestion. it would only worry her if the reaction would come across as mean. ) her smile doesn't fade either and she pulls herself in close to press a kiss to his cheek. )
That's okay, ( caroline says, dropping to her heels again. ) we don't have to decide yet. You can always say when to stop. ( because consent is sexy! she reaches for his hands before backing them into one of the empty rooms. )
[ He didn't mean to imply he didn't want to, though he'd have to stop and think about how much he actually wants. The truth is that he never actually expected to get here with any girl at all, considering how life had gone for him since the middle of high school.
While it was true that leaving school technically should have given him a new lease on life, and allowed him to make new connections, he'd been pretty broken by his experiences. He'd fundamentally changed as a person, and had isolated himself as a result. The only reason he got close to Caroline is that the strange happenings in Seoul had forced him to be around people once more, and she'd more or less sucked him up into a whirlwind of friendship all on her own.
He doesn't mind it though, not one bit. Having someone he can actually connect to again has been a small blessing, but that period of time soloing does mean he always assumed he would die a virgin.
Right now he's suddenly awed by the fact that he might not make it through one more night still being one. That awe shows on his face as he trails after her. He clears his throat and tries again as he steps through the doorway. ]
( her entire expression softens and she pauses after they pass through the doorway, wanting to get a good look at him in the candlelit room. she is touched by the trust in her, even if the statement might sound a bit indifferent to someone else. they're both unfortunate victims of circumstance, with caroline constantly feeling uncertain about herself, keeping her vampiric urges at bay out of a desperate need to just be a teenage girl. ( there have been some close calls even in a town as idyllic as this one, but at least her blood supplies have been taken care of. )
caroline reaches up to lightly touch his cheek with a little smile and a tilt of her head. she doesn't know what it's like where he came from, but she can at least imagine what it feels like to stand on shaky feet in a world that suddenly feels unfamiliar to you. at least they can share in all of this. together. )
The main rule of thumb here is that questions are okay, ( she tells him, lightly tapping the tip of his nose before letting that same hand rest on his shoulder. she resumes he walk further into the sleek, almost minimalist cabana. ) Checking and triple-checking are okay.
[ This is part of why Hyunsu can feel safe trusting Caroline in the first place, because she's the kind of person who recognizes his trust is not easily given these days. He has been through a lot, even before where he came from went to absolute shit, and most people seem more ready to hurt him than to help him.
Caroline has never been like that though, and even though Hyunsu still struggles to really speak up much or be open about his thoughts and feelings, he feels more comfortable around her than he does most people.
He likes her as a person and as a friend.
An admittedly very, very pretty friend.
Hyunsu gives a small nod to show he understood what she was telling him just now, though he does want to double check one thing now. ]
For everything?
[ He doesn't want to make her uncomfortable, so he'll do it, but porn has probably given him a slightly skewed view of sex. Even if he's not the type to watch the more questionable types. ]
( it'll be fun! she wants to promise, but also doesn't want to come across as annoying and overbearing. this is supposed to be without any pressure or expectations. she gives his arms a squeeze before gesturing to the other side of the dimly lit room. ) You wanna sit on that chaise thingy over there?
( the slanted walls of the triangular cabana make caroline all the more aware of how tall hyunsu is in comparison to, well, everything in this small space. she reaches around him to tug on the rope to pull the curtains shut because she is sure neither of them wants to be seen by anyone on the other side of those sliding doors. not that they'd notice. the revelry carries on just outside the thick glass wall.
the alcohol expectedly begins wearing off quickly as vampires tend not to be affected by it as easily. there goes some of her liquid courage, though she tries not to flood her thoughts with self-doubt since he's here with her. )
[ Something about this moment feels more surreal than it did when Hyunsu first stumbled onto the docks, and there's almost a sense of unreality to it all as he watches the curtains fall closed. He doesn't want to say it to Caroline though, because as unreal as this whole experience is, that doesn't mean he doesn't want it to happen.
It's a little like walking through a dream as he moves to the chaise she indicated, hesitating for just a second, before getting into it first. He's bigger than she is, so it makes more sense for her to get on top of him, right?
There's only just enough space for them to both barely lie side by side on it, but Hyunsu is assuming that wasn't her intention. It's part of why he doesn't let go of her hand as he settles down onto it, and looks up at her expectantly after. ]
( for all of caroline's hundreds of insecurities, she at the very least feels confident in her body most days - slim, tall, the body of a high school cheerleader. on the surface, she's is a teen movie dream girl. below the surface, of course, is another story.
but that's part of what draws them together, isn't it? the worry on a teenage level, the worry on a supernatural level, the fear of what they have quickly become. then, there is the feeling of no longer being alone in the world, even in this brand new world. she holds dearly onto that hope.
she had been feeling herself the whole day but is now all too aware of how little she has on when she smiles and slowly sinks onto his lap, keeping a set of hands clasped as she drapes the other arm over his shoulder. sweetly, she leans down to give his forehead a peck. )
[ They're not too different on that front, though Hyunsu's long since lost even the illusion of being a teen dream. He is tall, he's relatively fit despite his lifestyle, and he's good looking. If he wasn't such a shrinking violet, then maybe he'd at least surface level fit in the same way.
But he wore his anxiety on his sleeve well before he had the supernatural trauma heaped on too, to add to his issues with himself.
It is nice to find someone who doesn't judge him for it though, and isn't afraid of him even knowing what he is. He genuinely feels comfortable and as at ease as he can get around Caroline.
... But he is definitely out of his depth right now, and while she's doing her best to excitedly ramble, his own nerves are going to trip him up a little in conjunction with his own denseness.
He looks around them, a little thrown off by the Ikea comment. ]
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caroline –
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of course she's worried that all of this is just annoying to hyunsu. but given that they are at the younger end of the arrivals here, and given that he isn't terrible company even if caroline tends to take up much of the conversation space, she is glad that he still manages to show up whenever she asks.
she's lost all track of time here that she's surprised when there is an announcement posted on the board in front of the town hall that there's a beach opening day and everyone is invited to celebrate the start of the warm season. ("how old fashioned. they couldn't even send us a text about it.") there's sailing (though not too far) and fresh seafood (lots of salmon and crayfish) and games and a beauty contest for all genders.
it's a tough competition, actually, so caroline is near tears when they place the crown atop her head. she's a blonde vision in a pale green cutout swimsuit and a floral sarong wrapped around her waist. even when they start passing out drinks around the bonfires, she manages to keep it together though the shots of that spicy, herby aquavit challenge her composure. it's not that she's drunk – it's hard for vampires to really get drunks – but she is pleasantly bubbly from the inside out, giggling as they sing the traditional island song after every round.
through the pleasant haze of aquavit, she's still hyperaware of herself and her surroundings when she moseys away from the crowd and finds hyunsu somewhere apart from them, closer to those nordic-style cabanas. she's incredbly hyperaware of herself when she rubs her lips together to make sure they're properly soft and glossed when she leans in to kiss him without a word of warning. ]
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More than anything, this new home is a massive step up from the monster ridden city that he came from before, and his desire to ever go back is non-existent. He isn't in constant danger here, and no one treats him like a threat. Admittedly no one besides Caroline even knows that he's not human anymore, and even she only got that particular piece of information after she volunteered a truth about herself as well.
She's been a large part of why he's adjusted as well as he has too. While Hyunsu might have locked himself away in the house he was given regardless of relative safety, Caroline has been badgering him to get out and about with her, refusing to let him keep only to himself.
It's been a long time since anyone actively wanted to spend time with him, and it's been a really nice change. Hyunsu is clumsy and awkward when it comes to words these days though, and he hasn't really expressed any of that sentiment to her, though he vaguely hopes she isn't getting tired of solemn presence potentially dragging down the mood whenever she takes him with her to what should be a fun outing.
Maybe it's not something he has to worry too much about, because that sudden kiss she plants on him seems to suggest she doesn't mind the quiet and moody nature that much.
Hyunsu had been straighten up a little out of his slouch when he saw her approaching, unconsciously reaching up to smooth out some perpetually unruly hair. He'd even been think of what to say in greeting when the kiss cuts him short, and he's freezing for a few seconds.
Just a few seconds though, because as slow as he can be to get words out sometimes, it's not like his mind doesn't still move quickly enough. It takes only those few seconds for him to realize what is happening, and to realize just as quickly if he stands there like a dead fish that she's going to pull back, and a very uncomfortable conversation fraught with insecurity.
So after that short pause of discomforting stillness, Hyunsu raises a hand to rest it on her cheek, and tilts his head just slightly to deepen the kiss. ]
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it's all a pretty picture in her head, dimly lit by starlight and the torches nearby, the air cool but not too cold that she's uncomfortable in her suit and sarong.
truth be told, she's missed kissing. having been manipulated and misled -- and then having to mislead and break up with the one decent boy she really ever liked for his own human safety -- caroline hasn't had the best track record with guys so far. these days, she feels she can at least treat herself to something a little less difficult. not that it's easy for supernatural young adults ( she's seen ample proof of that at the library ), but given his non-response responses to her antics, hyunsu seems like someone who wouldn't give her grief about any of it. she just needs to make sure he is actually into whatever this is, a hookup or a prelude to something more. )
Mm - ( she breaks their kiss to giggle softly against his mouth, letting her arms come up to drape casually over his shoulders. ) Is ... this cool? ( it won't matter that she thinks he's on the cuter side of scruffy if he doesn't actually want any of this. and sure, her ego will be a little bruised but she's certainly not going to do what other people ( vampires ) have done to her. )
( lightly she touches his cheek with the pads of her fingers and adds more confidently, ) 'Cause if it is, we should lock up one of these cabana thingies. ( that sparkle in her eyes means she has plans. )
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So it's kind of nice to have something simple like this that he doesn't have to think about much. Just two young people enjoying a kiss under the starlight at a party. It feels almost normal in a way that seems vaguely foreign to him.
At times like this it really wakes him up to how much he truly missed that kind of normal.
A kind of normal he's missed out on, despite being just the right age for a lot of people to start doing exactly what Caroline seems to be implying. It takes him a second, and his brow knits together in confusion, before it seems to dawn on him what she's suggesting. ]
It's cool, but I haven't ever before...
[ Virgin boy. He might as well lower expectations right now. ]
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maybe she went a little too far with her implications, but she wants to throw the door wide open while they're here. )
Oh.
( it's a mild reaction, one that isn't of surprise or disappointment. ( though it was tempting to laugh because it is endearing, watching him slowly process her suggestion. it would only worry her if the reaction would come across as mean. ) her smile doesn't fade either and she pulls herself in close to press a kiss to his cheek. )
That's okay, ( caroline says, dropping to her heels again. ) we don't have to decide yet. You can always say when to stop. ( because consent is sexy! she reaches for his hands before backing them into one of the empty rooms. )
I feel like kissing right now.
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While it was true that leaving school technically should have given him a new lease on life, and allowed him to make new connections, he'd been pretty broken by his experiences. He'd fundamentally changed as a person, and had isolated himself as a result. The only reason he got close to Caroline is that the strange happenings in Seoul had forced him to be around people once more, and she'd more or less sucked him up into a whirlwind of friendship all on her own.
He doesn't mind it though, not one bit. Having someone he can actually connect to again has been a small blessing, but that period of time soloing does mean he always assumed he would die a virgin.
Right now he's suddenly awed by the fact that he might not make it through one more night still being one. That awe shows on his face as he trails after her. He clears his throat and tries again as he steps through the doorway. ]
Anything you want to do is okay.
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caroline reaches up to lightly touch his cheek with a little smile and a tilt of her head. she doesn't know what it's like where he came from, but she can at least imagine what it feels like to stand on shaky feet in a world that suddenly feels unfamiliar to you. at least they can share in all of this. together. )
The main rule of thumb here is that questions are okay, ( she tells him, lightly tapping the tip of his nose before letting that same hand rest on his shoulder. she resumes he walk further into the sleek, almost minimalist cabana. ) Checking and triple-checking are okay.
Got it?
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Caroline has never been like that though, and even though Hyunsu still struggles to really speak up much or be open about his thoughts and feelings, he feels more comfortable around her than he does most people.
He likes her as a person and as a friend.
An admittedly very, very pretty friend.
Hyunsu gives a small nod to show he understood what she was telling him just now, though he does want to double check one thing now. ]
For everything?
[ He doesn't want to make her uncomfortable, so he'll do it, but porn has probably given him a slightly skewed view of sex. Even if he's not the type to watch the more questionable types. ]
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( it'll be fun! she wants to promise, but also doesn't want to come across as annoying and overbearing. this is supposed to be without any pressure or expectations. she gives his arms a squeeze before gesturing to the other side of the dimly lit room. ) You wanna sit on that chaise thingy over there?
( the slanted walls of the triangular cabana make caroline all the more aware of how tall hyunsu is in comparison to, well, everything in this small space. she reaches around him to tug on the rope to pull the curtains shut because she is sure neither of them wants to be seen by anyone on the other side of those sliding doors. not that they'd notice. the revelry carries on just outside the thick glass wall.
the alcohol expectedly begins wearing off quickly as vampires tend not to be affected by it as easily. there goes some of her liquid courage, though she tries not to flood her thoughts with self-doubt since he's here with her. )
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It's a little like walking through a dream as he moves to the chaise she indicated, hesitating for just a second, before getting into it first. He's bigger than she is, so it makes more sense for her to get on top of him, right?
There's only just enough space for them to both barely lie side by side on it, but Hyunsu is assuming that wasn't her intention. It's part of why he doesn't let go of her hand as he settles down onto it, and looks up at her expectantly after. ]
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but that's part of what draws them together, isn't it? the worry on a teenage level, the worry on a supernatural level, the fear of what they have quickly become. then, there is the feeling of no longer being alone in the world, even in this brand new world. she holds dearly onto that hope.
she had been feeling herself the whole day but is now all too aware of how little she has on when she smiles and slowly sinks onto his lap, keeping a set of hands clasped as she drapes the other arm over his shoulder. sweetly, she leans down to give his forehead a peck. )
I feel like I'm in a museum. Or, like, an Ikea.
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But he wore his anxiety on his sleeve well before he had the supernatural trauma heaped on too, to add to his issues with himself.
It is nice to find someone who doesn't judge him for it though, and isn't afraid of him even knowing what he is. He genuinely feels comfortable and as at ease as he can get around Caroline.
... But he is definitely out of his depth right now, and while she's doing her best to excitedly ramble, his own nerves are going to trip him up a little in conjunction with his own denseness.
He looks around them, a little thrown off by the Ikea comment. ]
This little hut?
[ Cabana, but yes. ]
caitlyn –
mun –
ollie –
jules –