exonym | lift your open hand, strike up the band,

( For as long as Dae-Jung can remember, he has always been a cuddly person. His mom used to joke he was part koala bear, because he was always hanging off of the nearest person, fingertips gripping just hard enough to snuggle in. His family had been affectionate regardless, and he'd never truly lost it - even in his awkward youth.

So when the war had come, and things like affection and care and love came few and far between, Dae had made a promise to himself not to let anything harden him. The people he had loved so freely may be gone, but his heart hadn't. Most days that works.

It's better now. The house is full of people he can gravitate towards, bouncing down stairs to throw an arm around someone's neck, or flinging himself into the lap of whoever's occupying the couch at the time. He knows not everyone in the house cares for the way he invades personal space - and he really does try to be mindful of that - but more often than not he's touching everyone at any opportunity. Hands pressed into backs, fingers laced together, a lazy sprawl against someone's shoulder.

Which is why when he stumbles into the kitchen in search of delicious, delicious coffee, he stops first to press a kiss to someone's cheek, squeezing them round the middle. He probably hasn't even opened his eyes yet. )

( Some days being an empath fucking sucks. Dae may not be all that powerful, but he can still sense things. So when one of his housemates is having a very, very bad day it pricks at his skin until he can't keep away anymore. Wherever the afflicted person is, he'll eventually track them down like an emotional bloodhound, laden with snacks and ridiculous information. )

We should build a tree house some day. Those big cypress trees would be great. We could get lots of lights and blankets and make it super cosy.

( A hum as he offers drinks too. )

We could attach a slide!

( Dae comes back in the evening, grinning ear to ear with his hair a victorious looking gold. It's been a successful day picking terrible people's pockets and he's pretty sure he can pawn the lot of it for enough to be able to treat themselves. Maybe they could have a party. He stashes his haul in the usual out of the way cupboard - because no way is he meeting up with the shady people he knows at night - and skips up the stairs to get changed.

When he comes down he's wearing sweatpants, feet bare, a pair of headphones hanging over his naked shoulders. They're not his. Neither's the iPhone he's got, but that's by the by. Scooting over to the nearest person, he offers up one of the buds. )

Wanna judge this person's music collection with me?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I never would've gotten this at the Culinary Institute.

[this is how fond minsu is of everyone, that this kitchen in this house outshines his dream school more and more. he turns his head enough to nuzzle the hair that's sticking to dae's temple, pressing his smile there before he goes back to cracking eggs.]

Would you like your eggs scrambled and me over easy?

[it's too early for ridiculous lines, minsu.]

( It's never too early for lines, because Dae's face splits into a wide and ridiculous grin at it. )

Shush, your making smile turn sunny side up.

( Also that smells delicious, so the minute Dae has coffee he's travelling back to Minsu to hook a chin over his shoulder and peer into the pan. He still marvels at this. Real food. Not stolen shit. )

I'd still give you an A+.

[oh, that was good. minsu laughs at dae's return, reminded of why he likes him so much.

likes all of them, and this is all he can do for them. so he does his best, even if he wishes he could give them better.]

Do I get one of those little gold star stickers?

[he pours a thin layer of eggs into the pan, concentrating, but careful not to dislodge dae either.]

I kinda want one so everyone will know that i'm the teacher's pet.

I don't have any, but now I'm going to get some.

( He will even pay for them like a respectable citizen and stick them up on the fridge. )

I was never the teacher's pet. I hated school.

( He just wanted to play video games and make up dances and not worry about life. )

Ah, I got in trouble if I didn't do well.

[even then, minsu got in trouble. because he took home economics instead of shop class. because he got a part-time job at a daycare instead of trying out for football.

he folds the egg over and slides it onto the plate, pinching a few herbs from the little pot that neve helped him with. and then minsu turns, presenting it proudly to dae.]

That'll be three hugs and a forehead kiss. Should I add it to your tab?

( He pulls a face, like he might go back in time and fight anyone who yelled at Minsu, but then the food is being given to him and instead he lights up. Dae takes the plate and leans in to press a kiss to the other boy's forehead. )

I'll pay up the rest later. I don't want to drop the delicious food.

( A pause. )

I'd still probably eat it though.

No you wouldn't!

[over minsu's dead body is anyone eating food off the floor in this house, even if he does keep his kitchen clean.

he follows after him though, content to sit and keep dae company while he eats.]

What are we doing today? Anything I can help with?

But it's tasty!

( He's eaten worse, Minsu. Though he won't mention it, he doesn't want his friend to suffer heart failure. )

I'm not sure. ( Usually he just goes with the flow of the day. He could always go and work on getting them some cash, but he probably should lay low for a few days. He thinks about it as he tucks into the food, chewing with a thoughtful expression on his face. ) I was going to go for a run. Do you need anything? I could get it.

lift your open hand, strike up the band,

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