Not all reunions are sweet - Kári

[Kylan Thomassen]

Word Count: 711 Tags: @iceicebaby Notes:

A part of Kylan wondered at why he bothered to attend the festival anymore. Until he was required to go, whether that be to follow around his former ‘contracter’ or to take part in his assigned fight, he could just as easily stay in his room and otherwise entertain himself. Having lived in the town his entire life, he’d already seen his fair share of the festivities – the fourteen years before he had been taken to Weeds in which he would always go with his family, then the five years after his graduation where he was expected to accompany his trainer. By the time he was older the hype dimmed upon the realization of what was behind a fair portion of it. This was only furthered once he was made a part of it. Even still… the glimmer of curiosity, the remainder of the child always eager to see new sights, always managed to push him into going out. There could be an interesting play out this year. Neat decorations and costumes to go with the specific theme. Some new vendor than the time before. Some would think he’d welcome the opportunity to roam freely. Despite being a mutant, he had a certain level of mobility due to his being a ward of the government rather than the Underground waiting for purchase. As long as he didn’t cause much trouble and didn’t shirk his surveillance he could move about. Know that there were always some eyes on him in addition to the hairclip chipped to read the specific vibration his vocal chords gave whenever he used his power. Didn’t seem like such a bad deal in comparison to what a majority of mutants in Arkadiya got. Little chance to go out unless on contract, and when they did in this case it was in cages. It had its own level of hindrances though. Any visits to the cages were cut short by guards as he was ‘discouraging humans from looking at the mutants themselves for a review of purchase’ by simply talking to his friends there. They preferred him to stay within the area of the festival while it was going on, as opposed to wandering off into other parts of the city. That way there was already a fair number of guards posted about in addition to any set to watch him specifically. In all honesty the most he usually did was visit vendors and watch shows. Get himself as much good coffee and chocolate as he could, stock up. See plays that he would later retell to his friends in the Underground. There was the chance to walk around with his friend in a similar sort of mobile situation, which he would more than likely do later. As it was Kylan would mill about the still newly opened festival to see what there was. “Haaaaa-” the blond breathed out, watching his breath form a cloud with the usual half-lidded dull blue eyes of only mild interest. Despite the usual winter chill he didn’t feel especially cold. Most heat leaves the body through the head, after all, and on most occasions when he went out he opted for a hat. While it didn’t cover his curl it did sort of take away from its obvious nature. There wasn’t much hope or even care to hide it and how it alluded to his status as a mutant. Kylan did so simply because there would often be the occasional tug at it. Some thought it a stray hair on his shoulder, or a bug. While it didn’t cause him stinging pain as a harsh tug to a strand of hair often can, instead producing more of a dull pull at his head, it still was a level of annoying that he could prevent to a degree. Besides – hats were nice. There was one thing better though: coffee. One of the biggest draws from his room, as well as his first go-to whenever he ventured out. But of course all of the cafes felt the need to be located near each other, leaving Kylan standing within sight of all of the signs as he made his decision. He had been given enough ‘treat money’ to have another one later if he really wanted… there is a cemetery of words buried beneath your tongue

by worldie for becca

[Deleted]

we are wild...

Word Count: 1185 | Tags: Kylan Thomassen | Notes:

T

he first day of the festival was upon them and Kári was a bundle of nervous and excitement. In his stress of the masquerade ball the night before, Kári had promptly passed out upon returning home and did not have the time to worry about setting up for the festival. The moment his alarm woke him, however, Kári was awake and alert, something rare for him in the mornings. His nerves for getting everything set up in time hit him almost instantly, as did his excitement in being able to take part as a vendor in the festival he used to frequent as a child. The first day was going to be the most difficult day for The Little Florist, for they had to get the whole stall set up and prepped by the afternoon when the festivities officially started. Once their stand was set, they would be able to leave it standing for the entirety of the fair and all they had to worry about was transporting the wares to and from the shop. Just the few weeks Kári had worked for Antonio were enough to educate the teen of his employer's... easily distracted attentions. While he could be very businesslike, which Kári learned the attitude came from his second job as an actual businessman, Antonio had a casual attitude toward his conduct concerning The Little Florist. This casual attitude and tendency to get distracted concerned Kári when it came to getting their stall set up in time.

He had convinced Antonio to start setting up much earlier than suggested by the event organizers, so really needed to leave already to meet him at their spot. But it was taking a lot of willpower to leave his apartment. Kári stared at his reflection, taking deep even breaths. The previous owner of the flower shop had a tradition of setting up a stall and then had a cute female helper dolled up as a flower girl to help out. Antonio had loved the idea, but sighed heavily that he could not afford to hire someone else just for the festival to look cute. Mr. Puffin had been ever so kind to suggest they doll Kári up. Antonio was ecstatic and it had been hard to refuse his pleadings to be their flower girl. So here Kári was, wearing one of his thicker multiple layered dresses that he had maybe worn out of the house once. It was so comfortable and he loved the design, once he added some flowers from the shop to his attire he really would be the flower girl Antonio wanted, but he could not help but feel apprehensive about leaving the house this way...

"Obviously Antonio isn't going to give you a hard time about how you look," Mr. Puffin huffed, landing on Kári's shoulder with his hat held in his beak. "And who gives a damn about anyone that double takes you. You're just a cute flower seller."

Kári tore away from the mirror with a huff and snatched the matching cap from Mr. Puffin. "I'm not concerned," he said petulantly. "Let's go." He picked up a bag of licorice on his way out the door and left no room for Mr. Puffin to tease him.

Setting up the stand and getting everything stocked took about as long as Kári expected it to. While they had arrived earlier than most, the more elaborate stalls had also arrived for a head start in preparations. Antonio was predictably distracted by the other vendors, leaving Kári to do most of the work, not to say he minded. This was why he had been hired, after all. When Antonio did remember to help, however, they managed to have everything ready to go before the official opening of the festival. Antonio had given him permission to wander around before the start of the festival, like he had left to do. But Kári really had gotten to know his employer too well and stayed behind at their stand, because the man definitely did not return before customers started appearing.

With colorful flowers pinned to his hat and a flower necklace Antonio had made for him, Kári fulfilled his role as a flower girl. Many regulars stopped by the stand, entertained by his get up. Older women stopped to buy flowers and commented on how cute he looked. Honestly, it was not much worse than the attention he had gotten when working at that cutesy cafe back at home. Why had he been so concerned? Kári stood in front of the stand with a basket of colorful single flowers to lure in customers. Mr. Puffin had fun flying around the surrounding area, catching people's attention and directing it toward the flower stall he landed at. So far, business was going really well.

There was a lull in the crowds, giving Kári the chance to space out a tad while people watching. While he enjoyed working, it would be a lie to say he did not want to go out and explore the festival soon. He had not been to the festival since he was a child and it he had many fond memories about it. A familiar face walked past. Kári blinked and shook his head to clear his thoughts. He was imagining things because he had started thinking nostalgically. There was no way that- but it was. Those half lidded deep blue eyes, seemingly disinterested as he surveyed the vendors; a cross clip keeping his hair out of his face; a floating curl that would be easy to miss if one was not looking for it: it was Kylan. Kári froze. This was the reason he was even in Arkaydia, why was he hesitating? But- he never had thought he would see Kylan walking out and about? He didn't seem to have anyone with him, which was strange. Were mutants allowed to wander on their own- No he knew the answer to that. They most certainly did not unless their owner gave them permission. Was Kylan still owned by someone? No, that was- He could not even consider it, because that put a stop in all his plans and hopes of getting his brother back. He had to talk to him- He could not leave the stall unattended...

Mr. Puffin observed Kári's panicking, a process that only a trained eye could see. He had not seen Kylan, thus tilted his head in an unasked question. Kári met his eyes, then pointedly looked to Kylan and gestured to the stall. "Text Antonio, tell him you need a break," Mr. Puffin ordered as he jumped into the air and flew a beeline toward their brother. Kári scrambled to pull out his phone and sent Antonio a hurried text, asking if he could close up and go to lunch right now, that he would explain later. Meanwhile, Mr. Puffin landed on Kylan's shoulder and snorted in his ear. "You should be more aware of your surroundings, dumbass. There's a little brother that has been waiting to see you for a long time now and you completely overlooked him. Ridiculous." Despite his words, the puffin nudged Kylan's cheek with his head, a rare display of affection for the bird.

we are like young volcanoes

by worldie for jem

[Kylan Thomassen]

Word Count: 960 Tags: @iceicebaby Notes: don't look at me cr eis

I t had been so long since Kylan had felt the specific sort of pressure on one's shoulder that correlated with a bird perching on it. Over ten years, in fact. Kylan could no longer recognize it as that right away. When he felt a weight on his shoulder he instead thought it was a hand. A guard that recognized his face stopping him to ask where he was going or give him some sort of grief. A governmental employee of another sort doing something similar. It could have just as easily been someone from town that knew him, a good samaritan stopping him to hand him something he had dropped. Based on his past experiences, however, his mind tended to go for the former rather than the latter. It was for that reason that he tensed somewhat as an immediate reaction. Not an especially obvious change in attitude or physical stance that correlated with it, it wouldn't have been perceivable to most, his simple glancing of only barely risen brows evoking a more annoyed than shocked feeling. That came when he realized his mistaken identification of the source. Upon the introduction of the fact his eyes did widen to a degree, brows rising further. "Puffin?" He said, the old name on his tongue coming off with a hint of audible surprise. Kylan would know that flat, crass sort of voice anywhere. Why was he here of all places? "Kári-" that name was one that didn't feel at all unfamiliar or dusted over by loss of use over the years. He spoke of him so often, even after his time at Weeds with more easy interaction with friends had ended. Even it was just to himself, slipping into nostalgia and the content of it, saying it under his breath. But for all the familiarity of the feel of the name Kylan still automatically cast his eyes about, movement faster and with more interest than was at all common for him. It was such an immediate response for him that needed no applied thought. Kári, Kári, Kári was here. Where was he, was he close? Flashes of his face went through Kylan's mind. When he was five, pushing him into his first day of school before he had to head off to his own class. Three, the day he first tried licorice. The carefully etched and remembered image of what he'd looked like all those years later, a teenager on the streets of Arkadiya. Just from that and common sense Kylan knew, he knew the Kári he would see would be different. Not the little baby he remembered. But in that moment of a frantic search, that didn't even occur to him. Only the automatic response to look for a glimpse of his missed, his beloved little brother. Feeling the gentle nudge to his cheek, Kylan slowly brought his hand up to rest along the feathered back of the bird. A grounding, comforted sort of touch. There he was... He'd lost some of the volume in his cheeks, not quite as puffy and childish, although they were still far from matured. They remained rounded enough to keep his baby face in partner with those soft, round violet eyes. Taller now. More proportional than that child's anatomy of a slightly larger head to his body. Bits of that soft silver hair could be seen beneath the cap. He was wearing a dress. A layered, cute little dress. Gods, he was still so adorable. If only for a moment Kylan was allowed to let that wash over him. Warm him to his core and fill in every crevice of his being. A soft smile rested in his lips as naturally as the sun and the moon. Loving, so contented just at seeing him. The single fact of being able to know what he looked like now, and that he could still wear the dresses he so loved. Still... still live in that sort of cute world. One that, for that moment, Kylan felt more comfortable viewing than entering. Just... just so he could take it in. Imprint it into his memory for the years to come, in case it was short lived. If he needed to hold it close to his heart on bitter, pained nights, just as he had with the memory of their first long reunion for the years since. "He's gotten even taller," he whispered, fingers shifting in a small stroke of feathers. In the back of his mind he was aware of Mr. Puffins presence. Using it and the constant breaks in his line of sight of passerbys to remind him of reality. Even that wan't enough, it seemed. Something akin to fear, and then caution, passed through his smile when another all too familiar shape passed through his gaze. The dark uniform of a guard as he walked along. Kylan wished, at least a part of him did, that he could say that the crashing of that momentary reverie was violent. An audible rumble of glass and earth in his head, his heart. All it was that he felt, however, was the cold, known slow slipping into the knowledge of what was. That cracked feeling he had become used to, along with that bittersweet sort of tint that his smile took then once the anxiety had passed. He spared one or two glances at the disappearing form of the guard in his advance towards the stall. But the last full length even he couldn't spend looking away much. Not when he could then come up so close, just there in front of him. Fully appreciate that... softness he so adored. "Seeing a cutie like you here," he said, tone warm despite the seeming casualness of the words, "fancy that." there is a cemetery of words buried beneath your tongue

by worldie for becca

[Deleted]

we are wild...

Word Count: 528 | Tags: Kylan Thomassen | Notes:

K

ylan looked around for him. Each time his gaze passed over Kári, his heart clenched. Had he grown up too much? Was he completely unrecognizable to his big brother now? He did- He did remember him, right? No, that was a stupid fear to entertain. Kylan obviously recognized Mr. Puffin and who else would he be looking around for other than Kári? Their eyes met as Kylan found him. Kári felt breathless. This was really happening, wasn't it? He wanted to smile, laugh, there was even the threat of crying because there was Kylan, looking at him and in just a few long strides, Kári could be standing next to him; but Kári could not do anything but stare.

He could only stare as Kylan looked him over. Only stared as Kylan's gaze followed a uniformed guard walked past and the reminder of their situation hit. There could be no happy reunion with tight hugs and tearful smiles. That would be too risky for Kylan. Kári bit the inside of his lip as Kylan approached. Had his brother shrunk? He did not remember him being so... small. Kylan had always towered over him, but it was not so much the case anymore, was it? Kári had grown quite a bit over the years, but he never would have guessed his height would be so close to Kylan's.

"Seeing a cutie like you here, fancy that." These definitely were not the first words Kári thought he would hear from Kylan. A blush crept into his cheeks. Sure, it made sense for Kylan to have a cover for talking to the flower boy, but did he have to have that kind of approach? But, there was a softness to his eyes and a warmth in his voice that gave away his true intention. It was so hard to fight the desire to throw himself at Kylan, to wrap his arms around him and hold him tight and never let go. He had to fight it, though. A shaky smile pulled at Kári's mouth and his eyes watered, but he did he best to keep his composure. "I wouldn't call myself cute, but could I interest you in some flowers?"

His fingers twitched as he fought his arms from reaching for Kylan, instead grabbed a flower clip that complimented Kylan's outfit. "This would look nice with you, si-s" No, he could not do it. He could not put on an act to the point he could not say his brother's name. His smile wavered as tears threatened to fall. Oh how he wanted to just hug him! "Ky," he said, voice strained.

Mr. Puffin jumped to Kári's shoulder and gave his cheek a soft peck. "Has the boss said anything about a break, perhaps?" Kári pushed the flower onto Kylan and fumbled to check his phone. Antonio had replied, giving him permission to close up and have a break right away. Thank god. "I have my break now," he mumbled, rubbing his eyes clear of the moisture that had built up. He started putting things away as he gave Kylan a small smile. "Would you like to accompany me to lunch?"

we are like young volcanoes

by worldie for jem

[Kylan Thomassen]

Word Count: 572 Tags: @iceicebaby Notes: D: don't cry bby

T here was a level of guilt, to be sure, that Kylan felt about the first words he spoke to Kári in so long sounding so flippant. They certainly weren’t the ones Kári had hoped for and it was obvious. Kylan felt the pit of his stomach clench in on itself for being unable to give his beloved little brother the type of reunion he wanted, the kind that he deserved, where Kylan could properly hug him close and tell him how well he had done to come this for. But… they couldn’t have that. Not here, not now, and Kylan was glad for the fact that Kári was aware of that. And, despite his guilt… Kylan had to admit it had one plus to it, this sort of meeting: the way Kári blushed in response to being called cute, his words in reaction. Kylan smiled just a hint more at that. Yes, definitely as cute as ever. The smile dampened into a faint frown when Kári so obviously had a difficult time. The way his eyes seemed to glisten just barely, and that he couldn’t keep from calling Kylan by name. If he could Kylan would reach out and rub at his cheeks, hold him close and whisper to him that it was alright. And yet, he couldn’t. The hands held casually in Kylan’s pockets balled into fists. He couldn’t decide if this was harder or easier than the time once before… A blink of only mild surprise, Kylan took the clip pressed against him and watched Kári check his phone. Break, right. He nodded, biting the inside of his cheek shortly as Kári rubbed at his eyes. When he looked back up, however, with that smile, Kylan returned it with a gentle expression and a nod. “That could be managed,” he said, soft. For now he absently watched Kári quickly try to get ready to leave, tucking the flower clip onto the band of his hat. Had it been another occasion Kylan might have inspected it more and found a way to place it better – he did quite like accessories for some reason, especially ones relating to his hair or hats. But, well, that was more than blown to the wayside in the presence of his little brother. It may have been more casual and normal in appearance if Kylan had slid his hands back into the pockets of his coat or pants, looked around with his usual bored expression while waiting for Kári to finish packing up and preparing the stall to be closed during his break. Kylan knew he had to make this look as coincidental of a meeting as possible, as if he really had just felt like buying a flower clip and decided to eat and talk with the worker for whatever reason. Perhaps about clips, or flowers. Maybe he could say he knew him before… no, that wouldn’t work either. He debated possible explanations somewhere in the back of his mind, far in the back to the thoughts relating to that, well, even knowing all that he couldn’t take his eyes off of Kári. Just… watching him move and be here. What he looked like now, what was different and what was the same. Kylan would have to catch himself from blatantly staring at him the whole while as this little ‘casual meeting of two maybe strangers’ continued. That would be a hard feat indeed, though. there is a cemetery of words buried beneath your tongue

by worldie for becca

[Deleted]

we are wild...

Word Count: 494 | Tags: Kylan Thomassen | Notes: U G H

A

s he rushed to get the stall closed up, Kári could feel Kylan's eye on him. It was simultaneously comforting and nerve-wracking. Kylan could not seem to look away, and Kári knew the second he was done closing up shop he would also be unable to look away from his brother. He wanted to etch every detail of Kylan into his mind, because despite his plan to reunite them for good, he had to acknowledge he did not know when he would be able to see Kylan again at this point. The fact that his brother was free to roam the festival was more unsettling than if he had found him in a mutant cage. Mutant cage meant it was possible to free him. Seeing Kylan with a guise of freedom meant there were more hoops to jump through than he previously thought... But nonetheless, Kári could understand the inability to look away and found comfort in the fact Kylan was the same as him. And yet he had an inkling of a wish for Kylan to stop staring.

Kári feared that if his brother kept staring he would find something wrong with him. He would find something that would destroy the image he had of his loving little brother and decide he did not want to associate with him anymore. It was such a stupid fear. The Kylan he knew would never stop loving him, but that was the root of the fear, was it not? Kári had no idea what his brother had been through all these years, how it had changed him. As afraid he was that he would not hold up to his brother's image, he was even more afraid that Kylan had changed. It was childish and stupid. Of course he would have to change over all these years, but what if the core things that made Kylan who he was had changed? Or what if Kári had done wrong to Kylan and had remembered him wrong through all these years. This was all happening so fast, so much sooner than Kári had been prepared for...

"Stop thinking so much," Mr. Puffin huffed as he gave another light peck to Kári's cheek. Kári started to protest, but the puffin just pecked him once more. "You have a stupid thinking face on. And you're dragging your feet. C'mon get on with it."

Well he was not wrong. Kári laid the final blanket down of the flowers and turned to Kylan with a timid smile. There was no point in over thinking things. Besides, Kylan was probably just as nervous as he was. "Do you have any ideas for food in mind?" He asked as he linked arms with him. That was casual enough, right? Honestly Kári did not care. At this point he just wanted to be as close to Kylan as possible for as long as he could. "Maybe a cafe? Or head out of the festival area?"

we are like young volcanoes

by worldie for jem

[Kylan Thomassen]

Word Count: 556 Tags: @iceicebaby Notes: whines

K ári was nervous. That much was for certain. A soft semblance of a smile, that faint curve of one corner of his mouth, came upon Kylan’s countenance in knowing that even now he could note the change in his dear brother’s composure. This taller, older Kári was still readable enough to him with the harried movements that he busied himself in, the occasional slip up practically broadcasting itself to Kylan in a way that would have gone unnoticed to most anyone else. The source of said anxiety, or rather sources, were also on this side of well known. Having someone you have not seen for so long continually staring at you, taking in every single minute gesture and detail of yourself, could be potentially unnerving even to long lost brother’s. Sadly, that did not deter Kylan’s attention in the least. Rather, he found it quite cute… Ah yes, there was that twisted side of his rearing its head. It was almost as if he could feel that strangely comforting slip of cool scaled skin at his back at the brief thought. But this was not the only apparent reason for Kári’s tension. This situation was not… preferable, to say the least. Most definitely not favorable. At the back of his head Kylan was wondering if there was any way Kári could be recognized. If someone had seen him interacting that day years ago and had taken note of him, snapped a quick photo or written his likeness in a note to be filed away for later use should he appear before Kylan again. Knowing how things were run, how things were run when he was the matter of question, he would not be surprised if that were the case. Not to mention… there was no doubt that Kári would have made the connection by now. He was no idiot, and that was not the doting older brother in Kylan that thought so. He would know that if Kylan was out to walk so freely that his goal of taking him from the Underground was still just that, a dream. The fact that he was without obvious escort only made it more unsettling. Kári had no idea just how out of reach his dream was… Kylan had been unable, unwilling, to shatter it then. And he wasn’t sure he had it in him to do so now either… The crass tone of Mr. Puffin brought Kylan’s attention briefly upon the present reality, but it was the contact followed by a smile that tugged him out of his thoughts completely. He gave one small blink at Kári, remembering himself, before he looked away. The faint turn of a smile was back. How stupid of him to be thinking so deeply of that all now… when he could be enjoying this opportunity to its full potential. Even if things turned out as he suspected as they would, he would have this. And that no one could take from him. There was one moment of a quirked brow down at the touch. After that he let out a barely perceivable sound through his nose. He then leaned into the hold and pressed Kári that tiny bit closer. “I never say no to a good café. There’s one not far from here.” In beginning to walk in the direction he knew. there is a cemetery of words buried beneath your tongue

by worldie for becca