bsumone | Slightly less monstrous boys: prequel

“Have you, really?” Though Silvio couldn’t see the amusement on Su-jin’s face, it was definitely audible. Su-jin knew his accent was bizarre. No matter how long he lived in a place, he simply couldn’t get rid of it: that strange mix of his native language with every other language he’s learned since. Even now, he still sometimes has some difficulty with Ls and Rs.

“I’ll be happy to share that with you. It probably isn’t surprising that they’ve been watered down and turned into children’s stories instead of morality tales.”

"You haven't heard some of the people who get lost in these woods trying to speak Spanish." Besides, Su-jin had a pleasant way of talking that meant that he never minded the accent. It was just nice to hear the tone of his voice, especially when there was laughter in it.

"That makes sense. Mortality stories can be harsh and some prefer the gentler side of things."

“I can’t always fault them for that,” Su-jin mused. “Life can be harsh and if they’re able to eke out some joy from a happy story instead of a sanctimonious one…” Or maybe they just didn’t feel good trying to frighten their children. Who could say? Whatever the case, Su-jin wasn’t trying to judge anyone for it.

“There’s nothing wrong with wanting a softer life.”

"You know, I was human for a time but I never actually had a normal human life. A lot of this stuff is so new to me. When my pack found me I was just a baby. My entire life has had been them." Until the obvious. But that part could be left unsaid. That wasn't what they were talking about right now.

"I feel like I'm learning a lot from you since you surround yourself with humans all the time."

Su-jin’s human life was unremarkable… until it wasn’t. He doesn’t recall many of the finer details, but impressions of normalcy before the monster clawed its way to the surface. After that? Only fear and guilt and a burning urge to survive in spite of it. Lowering his eyes, a subtle smile curled his lips and warmth spread from his chest.

“I’m only able to do so because of Tiras.”

If not for him, Su-jin would still be a scared little thing hiding in the dark, terrified of the hungers he felt and the damage they caused. Even still, he finds his hunger off-putting, but at least he’s able to slake them in a way that’s safe.

"I'm really glad you have him. You seem an amazing person so it would have been a shame to have a world without you in it."

He wouldn't have been able to befriend him like this, after all. The fact that Su-jin was the one who had found him in the depths of his loneliness? It really felt like fate in the best way possible. He couldn't help but be grateful to him and whoever out there and decided they needed to meet.

He felt like he should explain more thoroughly, like he should share why having Tiras in his life was the only reason he has a life. That Tiras strips away the bone-deep fear he used to have about what he is. But he resisted. No need to overshare when surely someone with Silvio's keen sense of smell could detect the relatively fresh blood on Su-jin. It's a scent that clings to him and often puts off many other supernatural who are able to smell it.

"I am fortunate. Not only for him, but now for you. There are very few people who aren't human among my acquaintances." For the aforementioned reason.

"Really? That surprises me. You're a good man."

And he genuinely believed that. Because Su-jin didn't have to help him when he saw him in the city. He didn't have to come back to help him after the full moon either. He definitely didn't have to offer to be his friend. Yet here he was doing all of that. Maybe the guy didn't believe in it fully himself due to what he ate (and Silvio could definitely smell it on him) but the wolf did. To the fullest.

"Non-humans are missing out."

A good man who reeks of blood. Other predators recognize him for what he is and that can be very off-putting. Silvio seems more forgiving about that. But the wolf’s keen sense of smell probably tells him that the scent on Su-jin isn’t human. He’s not out there devouring hapless humans.

Su-jin laughs quietly to himself. “Maybe not. You’ve seen what an exciting person I am.” Cooking bad food and reading to Silvio.

"Things don't always need to be exciting. I appreciate that you are the way you are."

Others clearly didn't seem to and that was a shame. He'd witnessed so much good from this man. But he had a feeling that Su-jin didn't see himself that way. Well, he would be happy to remind him of what these blind eyes were capable of seeing every chance he had to spend time with him then. The man was his friend so it was the least he could do.

"I don't need exciting in my life, after all."

"Mm, if they were exciting all the time, that would become normal, and normal can become dull to some."

Silvio's not wrong about Su-jin, though. He does good and tries his best to be good as though it will make up for what he is. Even with a partner who can handle, who even enjoys Su-jin's appetites, he still harbors a lot of fear and guilt around said appetites. Having someone like Silvio to remind him that he's more than the monster he fears will be a treasure.

"It's good, though. I can only tolerate excitement in small, measured doses."

"I get enough excitement during the full moon. I'm good with peace the rest of the time."

Silvio was facing a lot of that right now in fact. The aftermath of the full moon. Burning himself for three days with silver, being unable to do much of anything for himself. The pain, the fear, the anger. Peace was very welcome for him and he was so glad to have the comforting aura of Su-jin with him right now. His new friend.

"That I can happily offer," he quipped. "I'm not a terribly spontaneous person, either, so you needn't worry about me encroaching on your time and space randomly. Perhaps we can have a standing day and time to meet during the week? Full moon, of course, being an exception to that."

Silvio laughed a bit at that. A schedule, huh? Outside the full moon when had he last had one of those? But it'd be nice. Especially if he got to have someone around his territory more often who he wasn't just helping to get back out of the forest.

"Deal. Pick a day that works well for you and we'll make that happen."

The pause that followed was thoughtful as Su-jin pondered his schedule. Typically, he balanced his time between work, Tiras, and his own hobbies. So finding time for a new friend wouldn't be difficult.

"Would Tuesdays work for you?" He's not going to make any assumptions about what Silvio's days look like. "Any day would be fine, I can adjust things if needed."

"Yeah. That works for me. I'm not sure if you've noticed but I'm not the busiest guy in these woods. Or anywhere really."

He lived a very simple life where he did things to make sure that his territory was cared for. Otherwise it was a lot of time in the quiet. And alone. The only times really shifted was during the full moon for, well, obvious reasons.

"I wouldn't want to presume," he explained. "Waiting until Tuesday will give me time to select some books." He'd offer to cook a meal, but they've already established that probably wasn't Su-jin strongest talent.

"Great. That'll give me time to make sure there's room for any you feel like leaving too." And time to recover before he had to go back to having a normal life again. Business as usual obviously.

"You know, it's going to be so nice having you around when you visit."

"It will be nice to be around." Su-jin had acquaintances, even a few people he'd call friends, but none who were likely to live longer than a century. The thought of a someone he could have that kind of bond with for more than a single human lifetime was an amazing one.

"Yeah. You kind of sound like me. Someone who doesn't get to really have a lot of opportunities to be with others who live for a long time in order to make friends." They were opportunities that his pack later had told him were once much more abundant. Back during a time before the Council. When creatures like them didn't have to hide from the world so readily. Silvio had never known that world himself but he knew it must have been nice.

Su-jin never had a taste of that world either. If he ever had a chance, it was marred by his own innate fear of what he's capable of. For so long, he starved to protect people that he could hardly trust himself to be near them.

"It certainly isn't easy to meet others like ourselves."

"It's not. Not anymore." Silvio let out a sigh. "Sometimes I wonder what it would have been like if I'd been born even a hundred years earlier. But then I'm grateful for the time I had to know other beings like me. I don't want to change it for anything."

And then he smiled a little. "And I might not have met you."

A thoughtful look crosses Su-jin face, turning his lips down subtly. "I'm not aware of having known any others until The Council arranged my meeting with Tiras. Before that, I only encountered Fomorians."

Slightly less monstrous boys: prequel

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