cdstatic

[cdstatic]

featuring: @gildeddulcet, jiun. location: secluded place near the library, evening.

it wasn't uncommon for penn to steer clear of people more often than not. some people just had this aura about them that terrified him and after years of bullying from his peers, he knew better than to approach someone without having extensive knowledge on them to begin with. his therapist would call it a minor setback, but he would call it being cautious about the world around him as most people should or so he believed. of course it was usually the anxiety talking. the quiet thrum under his skin that made his legs and finger shake sometimes, but he was working on it. or at least he was trying to. overcoming one's fear of people after deserving to have that fear was harder than it looked. especially when those people had this thing about them that made penn's body lock up. jiun was one of those people— had been since the first time he had come in contact with him. the soft face and gummy smile was deceiving and penn knew that first hand. it's why whenever he saw him now, penn would bolt in the other direction like his pants caught fire. the main reason he was fighting himself now as he saw jiun in a way that he wasn't sure if he should have been witnessing— scratch that, he knew he shouldn't be witnessing it and despite the fear that prickles through penn's body, the itch to make sure he's okay is even stronger. screw his good hearted nature or whatever his mom always told him he had. "jiun?" penn's voice is soft, gentle, something melodic and comforting as he approaches the other, sitting himself down opposite of him. there's an itch there to reach out and offer a physical type of comfort, but penn much prefers his hand attached to his body thank you very much. "can i get you anything? i have an extra water bottle in my bag— or can i do anything?"

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penn had been having a particularly rough day. waking up past his alarm— jolted awake by the sound a horn outside the building, shooting straight up out of his bed with his heart hammering inside of his chest. there's a moment where he doesn't know where he is, fingers clutching the sheets on his bed until his knuckles are white. his sleep is never restful, doesn't remember the last time he dreamed, so going from pitch black to a world of color was an assault to his brain and by the time he gathers his bearings, dark eyes are shifting to the old school alarm clock he keeps on his nightstand. 9:50— class started in ten minutes. when the clock ticks to the next minute— 9:51— penn scrambles up from his bed. covers kicked off onto the floor and his routine of making his bed, something he picked up from years of therapy, goes out the window. he doesn't even bother changing out of his pajamas, mostly because he fails to remember he's wearing his sleep pants and stain covered shirt (he'll regret it later when he's sitting in class with his hood over his head and mask over his face to hide). by the time penn does make it, his professor is already in the throes of his lecture and he has to be awkward as all hell and slink his way into his usual seat while his peers stare at him— that's what makes the hood go up originally. though a rough start always means a bad day for penn, he can feel the anxiety drumming underneath his skin. hand clenching the pen in his hand. zoning out the on lecture he knows he should be paying attention to. he is her top student, so he shouldn't really worry, but still— it's not something he can really control. eyes are flicking back to the clock on the wall every few minutes, right foot drumming a beat on the floor when he turns his eyes to his left. a little head is peeking through the window and an genuine smile, albeit small to not garner attention towards himself, curves up the corners of penn's lips. it's a normal reaction to seeing marisol. a friend he had grown fond of in their study sessions that the professors in the music department signed penn up for after marisol came back. he didn't know why she was gone, something he would likely never ask her, not wishing to invade her privacy which was something he hated when others had done it to him. instead, he offers a hand in what he can— his knowledge of music. the end of class truly could not come fast enough, penn packing up his things slowly to avoid the rush of his classmates and not wishing to be in the hustle and bustle of a lunch time rush. his professor giving him a look on the way out that had penn shrinking into himself, something remedied by the woman waiting for him outside the door. "don't tell me you sat out here the whole time?" his voice rough as the words come out of his mouth, the anxiety from before still not completely subsided, but there's a grin on lips, “the professor didn't see you did he? one of these days you're gonna get me into more trouble than i already am.” the words are jests, followed by a tumble of laughter.

Had she been missing school? Yes. Did she tell anyone why? Nope. That included her professors. Marisol didn't have the energy to explain herself; she was just impressed with the fact that she remembered to feed Kirara, her white RagaMuffin, this morning.

And it wasn't that Marisol was a bad student; in fact, she was always number one in her class back in Japan. But after her world crumbled and she spent years outside of school, finding motivation to even be on campus felt heavier. The thought of dropping out was an hourly thought; she used everything at her disposal to silence those thoughts: anime, gaming, cheering, archery, the newspapers, music, drawing, and work.

Anything that would give her that reason, that reason everyone has to keep living. But she felt so hollow.

Marisol slipped her earpods on, starting her favorite playlist that often helped clear her thoughts, energetic and upbeat that would always cause her to dance. As she exited her dorm and onto campus, her sorrowful loss expression melted into a bright, forceful, unknowingly to-the-eye smile unless you knew everything about her. She had her guitar on her back, her Black Butler bag hanging off her left arm, and her phone in her right hand, scrolling through the emails and seeing all the papers she needed to turn in by the end of the semester.

She didn't go into detail about what her professors did, knowing they would excuse all her work. Marisol didn't want the pitiful eyes on her; she didn't want anyone's help or advice. She just wanted to be left alone but couldn't be alone for long, and mainly because she needed Penn, she was doomed if she didn't get any help on these papers.

Penn had become someone she leaned on the first year she arrived at Yeonhwa University. He was three years ahead of her and older, so naturally, she relied on him. They had naturally become close to the point where they shared many nights in the studio making music or working on some projects together, thanks to having similar professors. A part of her wanted to open up about losing her sister, but she wasn't ready. Though she knew he'd understand and comfort her, she didn't want to. Not now, not yet.

Knowing his schedule well and hers not being until a bit later in the day, she headed to his class. Marisol wore a white summer pink floral dress with a high waistline, square neck, and an off-shoulder mini dress. Her hair was half up and curled at the ends, with a Sailor Moon bow crowning it, tying off her outfit with a white costume made by Nike Air Forces. The design? A panel of Apothecary Diaries manga.

Marisol peaked her head in his classroom, instantly as if he knew she was there. She locked eyes with him, her masked smile replaced by a warm one, as she waved and signaled to him that she would wait for him by the lounge.

Why did she want to run and hug him so tightly? When was the last time she felt that familiar hug? She didn't get to hug her sister. She'd hug Penn twice, just in case. Marisol headed to the longue couches, noticing a small chair by Penn's class. She thought about it before she slowed, moved it, and sat down, not in the professor's view but having a perfect view of Penn. She waited by herself, pulled out her iPad and pen from her bag, set it and her guitar beside her, and started sketching Penn.

If she was going to stay, she might as well get some projects out of the way; she needed to draw fifteen different people for her art class, and Penn was her first option and, honestly, one of the best.

God sure as hell has his favorites.

@cdstatic

[cdstatic]

hello  hello,  i'm  callie  (she/her)  and  i'm  super  excited  to  start  writing  with  everyone!!!  for  now  i  only  have  penn  ryu,  my  sweet,  shy  little  guy  whose  whole  life  is  music  and  i  mean  that…  that  is  all  he  cares  about  JFJKDSF  you  can  find  all  of  his  information  on  his  carrd  here  as  well  as  some  plots!!!  if  you're  interested  in  plotting,  give  this  a  like  and  i'll  come  bother  you  in  ims  <333  though  i  am  always  always  down  to  just  vibe  and  see  where  chem  takes  everything!!!

[cdstatic]

a ferret talking to a camera

[cdstatic]

            #𝑪𝑫𝑺𝑻𝑨𝑻𝑰𝑪   ,     a  dependent  single  muse  blog  written  for    dragonshq     .    .    .     dni  unless  affiliated.

       📻       ❛   𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑛𝐫𝐲𝐮     .    .    .     (   𝗍𝗁𝖾  vinyl  soul   )    24.    music  production  major  /  composition  minor.