#paths

[xponentialdesign]

On my 37th birthday, I made a tool to trace orbital paths Realized later the source file was gone But a mistake saved me from the loss I had imported it into another project by accident That one was archived and I found it today So I'll play with it a little bit more DIGITAL ARCHIVE

[pangeen]

" Oregon Paths " // © Dino Sokocevic

[greencoding]

[rocy5]

[tofreezetime]

all the sadness inside me

melted away

like I was free

[huariqueje]

Happy Trails - Larry Welo

American  b. 1951 -

Etching colour intaglio , 10.50 x 12 in. Ed. 35/100.

[withered-primrose]

𝗣𝗔𝗦𝗧 𝗟𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗦

synopsis: the time didn’t seem to be in favor with the man who lived in every century just to see you again, jinu.

pairing: jinu x reader

content: angst, reincarnation, canon au, inspired by the movie “past lives” and paths by niki, slightly proofread so there might be errors ahead, jinu drabble, just wanted to write about him because he’s so pookie ugh.

words: 1,197

There's this Korean word, In-Yun, which translates to destiny or fate. Figuratively, this word suggests that every encounter—even insignificant ones—is a result of past connections.

Jinu's life was in a disarray. Fingers calloused from playing his biwa all day, stomach empty, and barely managing to live through the day and next.

He would've given up a long time ago if it wasn't for his mother, sister—and there's you.

Just like him, you weren't living a life of gold either. Regardless, you were optimistic that someday, life will be easier for both you and Jinu.

More importantly, you've accepted him for who he is. Be it the poor guy who plays his instrument to make a living, you didn't care. For as long as you're with him, you are already content with what you have.

You were the light in his dark life. He swore, even made an oath under the stars that he'd marry you one day and give you the life you deserve.

That was, until, he heard that one menacing voice that gave everything he wanted and took everything he had.

Jinu thought nothing of it at first. How could he, when he was finally living the luxury he yearned for? He finally slept on warm cushions with a full stomach, finally getting recognition from the king, and with nothing to worry about for tomorrow.

He thought that he could go on like this—until one night, when the cries of his sister and mother replays in his mind and echoes throughout his ears.

While you only stood there in front of the gates.

Jinu was already acting unusual before, and you never had the perfect timing to confront him about it.

So, imagine the terror in your eyes when you saw him entering the palace without a care. There was a hint of pain and betrayal in your eyes, and you couldn't quite remember how Jinu looked at you for the last time.

Was it apologetic? Did he look at you with pain as well? Or none at all?

Jinu snapped awake when he saw your face in his dreams. His breath hitching in between his pants, and his palms were cold as ice.

He thought it was only a one time thing, until it became something that haunts him every night.

Jinu once sought help from the underworld king, but not once did the demon take pity on him. Perhaps, it's the consequence he gets for abandoning the people he loved most due to his selfishness.

He never heard anything about you ever since nor did he really get the freedom to visit you.

All you knew was you could be on your deathbed, and he'd still be in comfort and serenity.

It was starting to get to him, like a tick he badly wanted to scratch away. He was beginning to rot inside, faster than he expected. The next thing he knew, he was already a slave of a demon and a slave of his past.

But, no day has passed when Jinu didn't think of you. It was a curse to be far away from you while remembering you. Thus, he'd spend countless centuries looking for you, to cross paths with again, and atone for his sins.

However, in every century and every era, he was unlucky. There were no signs of you wherever he goes. He was beginning to lose encouragement. The thought that maybe, that really was the ending for you and him is finally seeping in.

-

Jinu walks by the street, it wasn’t busy so it was quite peaceful to stroll on. He whistles the melody of the debut song they’re working on, trying to be a little carefree even if it’s just for a brief moment.

A demon’s gonna need a break from work too, right?

His right foot tapping the floor while waiting for the green signal to walk on the pedestrian lane, his eyes wandering on the environment in front of him.

That’s when his eyes landed on something—someone—across the street.

His world began to weigh on his shoulders and his memories began to clung onto him like the rain on pavements. His whole system seems to have abruptly stopped.

Jinu remembers that figure all too well. A figure he’d been looking for—for the past 400 years.

You were as beautiful as the day he last saw you. Except, this time, your hair is done neatly and your clothes modernized.

You sit on a table near the café’s window, reading a book as you sip your beverage.

Jinu wonders what you’re drinking; is it the same drink you’ve always wanted to try before? And he wonders what you’re reading; were you finally able to reach the life you wanted?

He didn’t notice that the world around him went on, only snapping back to his senses when he saw that you’re leaving the café.

He runs across the street, not giving a care about the car that closely passed by him.

You almost jumped when you felt a hand grip your shoulder. The grip wasn’t harsh, not soft either. Almost as if it was only trying to catch up with you.

You slowly look behind the man, probably in your age, catching his breath. His hand doesn’t leave your shoulder. Somehow, you don’t mind it, and you don’t know why.

Jinu finally looks up at you, eyes immediately locking in with one another.

It was the same ones that used to look at him with adoration, also the same eyes he fell in love with. Here you are, flesh intact, and finally within his reach again.

He doesn’t know what words to say. God, he has a lot to say to you.

However, his bubbles begin to burst when you break the silence between the two of you.

“Do I know you?”

Jinu’s grip begin to falter, his body wants to slump down in defeat.

His eyes look at you once again, and that’s when he knows this is not yet the time for you and him.

He chuckles bitterly to himself.

He didn’t know which one was more gut wrenching: your eyes then, when you looked at him with pain? Or your eyes now, when you looked at him like you never knew him in all of your life?

The archaic melancholy began to hit him. It brings a pang in his chest, like how it always did in every lifetime he lived without you.

“I’m sorry,” Jinu mutters, and gave you a sad smile before walking away from you.

There’s this Korean word, In-Yun, meaning every encounter is destined to have deeper meanings. It is a concept that in any place, you will meet someone and will meet again in time.

It is also a belief by many that when two people marry, they have already reached 8,000 layers of In-Yun in all of their lifetime—may it be in the present or past.

As a demon, Jinu isn’t one to hope.

But for this once and for you?

He hopes that this encounter is one of your past lives with him.

© withered-primrose, 2025

[unholyeldritch]

Garden Paths.

[rainbow280372]

[rowanstonephotography]

layers of spring

May 2025

[euphorictruths]

Darkness And Void- Nick Pedersen

[xponentialdesign]

Tessellatives

[ksjanes]

Mothers Day, a day to reflect on my mom and how fortunate I have been to have such loving mother. Someone who cared and supported me always. It is also a day to give thanks for having the honor of being a mom to two sons. I thank them for helping me discover new ways of loving and for understanding my role of being mom changes as they and myself follow our individual paths. Feeling blessed, to be a mom.

K.S. Janes

[pangeen]

" Magical " // © Daniel Weissenhorn

[rocy5]