yunjinxs

[yunjinxs]

SAWYER.

“Mm, true enough.” Sawyer agrees with a small smile. Jinny was always quiet, and he knows she is generally more than happy to sit in comfortable silence. He just can’t help but worry about her. He doesn’t have much in the way of family, any more, so she really is like a little sister to him. Sometimes he thinks he needs the other Essex residents to be okay more than he needs himself to be okay. Like, he may not be great at looking after himself, but that doesn’t matter if he can at least make sure Jinny is okay, and Dani, and the others.

Maybe it’s too much to hope for, though. He’s not really sure if they’ll ever be okay after what they went through. But she says she’s okay, anyway, and reaches for a cassette he knows she loves. He loves it too, and resists the urge to sing along in his loudest, goofiest voice — manages to contain his enthusiasm to simply drumming his fingers against the wheel in rhythm, turning to Jinny with a grin. “Ain’t touched a guitar in years. Might need a bit of practice before I can shred like Chris Holmes.” That, and the nerve damage in his hands from all the invasive experiments probably means he’ll never really play well again. But that’s a depressing thought he doesn’t want to give thought to. “Somethin’ to work toward though, right? ‘Cause I’m— gonna be somebody,” Yeah, he can’t resist a bit of a sing along. “Hey, maybe we can check out a music shop tomorrow? Not that I can afford a guitar, but we can mess around a bit. Bet we can get you playin’ Smoke on the Water in no time.”

It slips pass her mind and the guilt consumes her for a moment, but she pushes it back as she smiles, “Maybe we can get our hands on a keyboard too, I’m not sure if I still know how to play the piano, it’s been long. And yeah, I’d love to learn the guitar properly,” She thinks that if Sawyer can no longer play, then she can play for him. “Hey, maybe there’s a secondhand guitar that we can get! Pawnshops are the key.” She nudges at him.

“Ooh there it is!” She says as the pizzeria comes in view, “We should get Dani something too.”  

[yunjinxs]

JOSEPH.

         we get happy when we let ourselves be. it’s advice that joseph could stand to take, despite their reluctance. “maybe you’re right,” he admits, sighing softly. “but i just… i always want to understand people. i guess that’s one of my flaws.” not knowing is a pain that they frequently try to avoid, whether by divorcing themselves from companionship or… desperately seeking out answers that are better left to rest.

         “i guess i never thought about it like that.” for a stranger, there’s something strangely comforting about her. like she’s wise beyond her years, infused with a sacred knowledge. or maybe she’s just used to persevering. “maybe i’d feel better about it if god had been the one doing the resurrecting.” after a beat, they add, “i’m sorry you had to go through that. i hope… i hope you can find something better out here.”

“I’m sorry as well,” There are a lot of words she can say, but she knows that silence is better at that moment. She looks up at the midnight purple in the horizon and she imagines herself flying, and feeling the air against her feathers. Ever since she’s free all she’s done is fly fly and fly.

“What’s something that make you feel alive?” She asks her new friend.

[yunjinxs]

RIVER.

“yeah—yours are pretty cool, too.” river wings instinctively flex, almost as if he’s attempting to mirror the other’s movements. “i’ve never really met anybody else with wings. i mean, there was this one guy in middle school who could float, but…” he shrugs, “he kinda just did that by himself.” his fingers find themselves tapping against the tin roof, “—um, i’m river, by the way.”

“I’m Yunjin,” She introduces herself. “I haven’t met much Mutants until in Essex house, and that was a shit show. I think you might be the first person I met with wings as well. How high can you fly?”

[yunjinxs]

SORA.​

         “of course, i always like to offer. and if you ever do need something, you’re always welcome back.” trust is difficult to gain, but the institute rarely loses someone once they come their way. those that do leave are often just finding a place in the world, still in good standing with xavier’s school. soon, that will change. “yes and no. we do offer college courses, but we’re first and foremost a place for safety. mutants of all ages and experiences can find help here.”

“That’s nice to know, a friend of mine goes here, so I guess that’s fine, but right now I’m just curious. I kind of like the freedom that I have and I don’t want to be tied to any institution yet.” She explains herself, so at least Sora knows where she comes from. “It’s good that you guys provide safety to everyone here.”

[yunjinxs]

I had a weird feeling in my heart when I first met you. I believe in fate you know !

[yunjinxs]

FINLEY.

“A little too fast, probably. But, perks of working at the library is I never run out of books to read.” It would take her years to get through every book she wanted to read in a place that big. That, on top of the Xavier library, would keep Finley well read for years.

“Oh you work at the library, that’s cool. I should drop by there,” She looks over the kitchen, there’s not much customers, so she hopes they don’t mind her chatting a little more with Finley. “What’s your favorite book of all time?”

[yunjinxs]

JACK.

         nodding, jack offers his own goodbyes. “i’ll see you around.” she’s right about one thing, of course—easier to blend in with so many people around. few even recognize his own face, despite how sought after it’s become. for the moment, he’s not a spectacle. “enjoy your… people watching.”

the end.

[yunjinxs]

JOSEPH.

         “it’s nice to meet you,” they offer, genuine. it’s been a while since they haven’t immediately felt panicked about the idea of a conversation, but yunjin is surprisingly easy to talk to. “and honestly, i… don’t usually talk to anyone. this is new for me, too. talking about things that are bothering me.” and to someone he doesn’t know, of all people! “i guess… part of it is that, yeah. i wish i did know why he did it. some of it… i don’t know, sometimes i wish he hadn’t.”

“I’m not sure if this is much of a reassurance,” She begins, “I think when we find out answers to the questions we seek, it just opens a new question or problem, it gets bearable only when we make it to, we get happy when we let ourselves be.”

She smiles, “I’m glad I met you though, first time to ever meet someone who got Jesus Christ’d” She makes light of the situation, “Although I know the feelin’, there are multiple times I wished I was put out of my misery. I was in Essex House, it was a whole different level of suffering. Felt like I knew hell through that place.”

[yunjinxs]

SORA.

         “i understand. we have students who have been through things like that, before. if you’re more comfortable outside, you’re welcome to stay here for as long as you need. our grounds are a safe haven, too.” wariness is a gift that essex has given yunjin, but one she hopes to strip, little by little. “nobody has to pay for anything here. charles has enough stashed away to cover everyone’s needs and then some.” a beat. “speaking of, can i get you something? water? some food? we have an excellent kitchen, too.”

The stranger is quite insistent, but Yunjin’s not one to give up herself. "I appreciate your kindness, Ma’am, but I’m good for now. I’ll be leaving soon, there’s no need to accommodate me.” She presses her lips, “Anyway, are you guys a college for Mutants?”

[yunjinxs]

​FINLEY.

“Oh, I don’t mind. Anyone who’s interested in the nerdy stuff I read is usually careful with books. Plus, I’m in here… way more often than I’d like to admit. It wouldn’t be all that difficult to trade books.”

“Honestly, I do see you a lot here, you’re like one of the people that stays here a lot. It’s cool how you bring different books every time you go as well. You must be a fast reader.” 

[yunjinxs]

SORA.

         “of course!” she tries to be reassuring, a perfectly baited hook. it helps that it’s the truth—xavier’s doesn’t turn anyone back out onto the streets, even when it becomes obvious that they should. sora uses that to her advantage. “this is a safe place for people like us. a real safe place.”

Yunjin shakes her head, “I appreciate the offer but I have already experience being offered solace and it didn’t really end well. I’m fine staying out until I catch my breath.” She keeps her wings, just in case. “This place is rather fancy, do people pay to stay here? 

[yunjinxs]

JOSEPH.

         “well… i mean, i don’t know anything about your life,” he starts, trying to navigate this carefully. it’s not like he can say it’s impossible. his own parents had disowned him when his mutation got too dangerous to deal with. “but it sounds like it’s worth a shot, you know? if you miss them, maybe they miss you, too.” after a beat, joseph turns back toward the horizon, shrugging a shoulder. “yeah, i don’t mind. i’m joseph, by the way.”

She moves closer to him, “I’m Yunjin.” She smiles, “You usually talk to strangers like this?” She casually asks, “Not going to lie, this is the first time I ever get to talk about things I worry about. What’s got you thinking so much about your resurrection, like, are you wondering about the reason why they did it?” 

[yunjinxs]

JACK.

         there’s a question forming on the tip of his tongue as yunjin mentions living at monique’s house—what about seven? is he still there?—but it occurs to him that she might not even know who he’s talking about. another time, then. “good,” he answers instead, nodding. “as long as you have somewhere safe to stay, that’s good.” somewhere that isn’t involved with the warring factions the city has created, either. neither the brotherhood or the xavier institute are good for the essex survivors, jack is certain of that. “not today, no. i was just on my way back home,” he says, shrugging. “you? are you out exploring?”

“Yeah, just taking in everything, and enjoying people watching.” She looks around the crowded park. “Everyone’s everywhere, it’s easy to blend in.” She feels like she’s said what she has to, “I don’t want to hold you up any longer, you take care on your way home, Jack, don’t be a stranger.”

[yunjinxs]

APRIL.

“Wow! Your feathers look very soft,” April compliments, running her fingertips over the back of Yunjin’s hand gently. “You can fly? That’s so cool! I know someone who has wings. He’s my ex-roommate’s new roommate.” Does she say the last part with a little bitterness? Yes, but only because she misses living with Laurel. ‘Jeromio’s like your baby then.’ April is glad the toad isn’t around to hear that. It would surely earn her a grumpy frown. “He’s more like a brother,” she chuckles. “I found him outside my front door when I was young. I lived in the swamp, so my mom agreed to let me keep him. We’ve been inseparable ever since. When I left my home to come to NYC, I brought him with me. He lives in a pond near Xavier’s now,” she tells Yunjin, before realising that the other woman probably doesn’t want to hear about the backstory of how she and Jeromio met. “Yunjin? That’s a pretty name, I like it! My name’s April.” Her cheeks feel flush again, and she rubs the back of her neck with her hand. “Well if that’s the reason you bumped into me, I’m not gonna complain,” she beams. “I’m glad you did. You’re really nice and sweet and kind. And soft!” Biting her lip, she rocks on the balls of her feet. “It’s nice to meet you too, by the way!”

Her stomach gets filled with butterflies and her cheeks gets tinted red upon hearing April’s words, she’s definitely flattered and she’s wondering if this falls under the category of flirting. And she is hoping it is. It would be such a bummer if April’s just being nice. She did touch her feathers, that has to be suggesting something! Right? “Your name fits you perfectly,” She is attempting to do some obvious flirting now, shamelessly so. “You bloom like flowers in Spring,” She giggles softly. “Are you on your way somewhere by the way?” She bites her lower lip and just goes for it, “Do you mind if I walk you there? I’d love to hear more about you, I-I’d love to talk some more” Her ears are heating up, but she wants to take the chance.

[yunjinxs]

SORA.

         sora isn’t, in fact, monitoring the grounds when the harpy practically crashes through the hedges. she knows her. remembers her file, at least. god, are essex’s runaways literally falling from the sky now? even so, she offers a small, concerned smile. “you’re not in trouble. we don’t turn people away just for coming onto the grounds.” offering a hand, her smile grows. “would you like to come inside and rest?”

It feels so good to be true that this person’s inviting her inside. So she’s hesitant, “Is that okay?” She asks, she’s scared that this might be like the Essex house and she doesn’t want to get her freedom taken away from her again. 

[yunjinxs]

JACK.

        “it wasn’t as noble as you think it was,” he admits, lip curling down in a frown. “sometimes i wish i hadn’t done it.” the attention he’s garnered, the stares… it’s almost unbearable at times. but only almost. he knows, in his heart, that he had made the right decision. “but it’s not as big as you might think. sooner or later you’ll run into somebody else.” is it a warning or a reassurance? even jack isn’t quite sure. “well, i’ve been thinking about quitting my job, and i moved into…” he trails off, frown deepening. with concern this time. a new feeling. or rather, a new acknowledgement. “do you have a place to stay?”

“Moved into...” says Yunjin to prompt Jack to continue his words, “Oh about that, I honestly would be homeless right now if not for Mo, I’m living with her and some others.” She rubs her arm with her hand. “I’d live on my own but I can’t afford New York’s expensive rent.” She laughs. “Are you off somewhere today?” It’s so surprising to her that she is talking for so long with Jack, all she ever spoken to him before were ‘Sorry’ ‘hey’ ‘hello’ ‘excuse me’. 

[yunjinxs]

JOSEPH.

         what does it feel like? joseph doesn’t know how to answer the question. for the long moment of thought they delve into, they come up empty. “i don’t know. i don’t really know how to describe it… i guess not everything feels like something else.” a beat, shorter than their silence. “but i want to be glad. that i’m not dead, i mean.” he doesn’t miss the metaphor, but he doesn’t think on it long. it’s easier to throw himself into someone else’s problems. “why did you run away? i mean… did they love you?”

“I’d like to think they love me,” She admits. She cannot remember a time where she heard I love yous being spoken in the Song Household, what she does remember is the feeling of her mother’s warm hug, the concerned look in her eyes. She didn’t know any better then, so her heart feels like it’s being punched repeatedly. “I got scared they’ll disown me, I felt like a monster because I was different. I was the first mutant in the family,” Or so she believes. “Do you mind if I come close to you, Dude?”