Jin shifted, knowing that the words coming out of his mouth would do nobody much good. It wasn’t like reassurances had ever made him feel better when he was tragically upset, but there was nothing else to do. He had to convince Ahn-Bo-ah to come with him; he couldn’t just stay out here forever.
Jin felt his heart pinch again at his friend’s sniffle but this time it was like someone had grabbed him by the organ and was squeezing, without any intention of letting go. “I’m not!” He said quickly. And without much self restraint or will for any, Jin slid closer to Ahn-Bo’s turned back and wrapped his arms around his friend. He rested his cheek against Ahn-Bo-ah and closed his eyes, trying to force out the truth that he had yet been avoiding. It wasn’t just as simple as having a magical place where they could live happily ever after. Bo-ah was right. That didn’t exist.
“The truth is… it’s not… a wonderful, spectacular place. But it does exist.” Jin squeezed him tighter and buried his nose in his friend’s back. Then, pressing a small kiss there, he peeled himself away and sucked in a shaky breath. “I’ve never told you very much about my family or my home, and for good reason. It’s not… the type of place you imagine it might be.” Turning to rest his elbows on his knees, Jin steadied himself for what he wanted to share. He wasn’t sure it was fair not to warn Ahn-Bo-ah of what he was walking into; but in the same breathe Jin would do anything to make sure he was safe, and staying away was not going to accomplish that. “I’ll be honest, at first I didn’t want to even think of what it would be like, forcing you into this place. But the more I struggled to come up with a real plan, something viable that would keep you safe, it was the only way that kept coming back to me.
“My Abeoji is… a business man, of sorts. He took me in when I was very young, after I ran away from my family. He was never perfect, but he provided for me and sent me to school so I could learn about who and what I am.” Jin pursed his lips and hesitated for a moment before continuing. “But living at the Menagerie does not come without its price. It started with just a few performances for Abeoji’s business associates. They were… curious, I guess, about the half-vampire boy and wanted to see me drink blood.” Ahn-Bo-ah would probably remember the first time that happened, and their little fight after the holiday. “Then it became something of a show: the tamed monster, an exotic curiosity for people to poke and prod at. Sometimes I’d have to stand outside in the sun so they could see how I reacted to it, other times it was as simple as letting people stick their fingers in my mouth. One time I was even asked to bite someone while under the imperious curse.” Jin snorted as if laughing could make it any less terrible a memory. He’d refused, so he’d been persuaded. “Sometimes Abeoji asks me to perform, too. To sing or play, so that I can help his business along. It’s never for long and it’s always with some enchantment or curse, but—” Jin waved his hand as if shooing away that train of thought. “My point is, our compound is not exactly going to be the kind of place you dream about, but it is a place where you couldn’t hurt anyone. We’ve had werewolves there before…” Jin said the latter softly, trailing off. “And we have others who have come and gone through our doors, not exactly the most average of witches or wizards.” Jin shrugged one shoulder up towards his ear uncomfortably. He didn’t know a lot about what Abeoji’s business entailed but he knew it wasn’t savory, and the types of people that came and went (sometimes in cages) were not going to be the tamest.
“Anyway… It won’t come without a price.” Jin forced himself to look back up at his friend, keeping a safe distance between them. “But I didn’t know what else to do. I can’t leave you here, alone and unsheltered,” his voice broke on that statement and Jin decided it was enough. Either Ahn-Bo-ah would hear what Jin was trying to tell him, or he wouldn’t. But there was no use begging again until he knew. Because he would: he’d beg and plead and kick and scream until his friend agreed. It wasn’t a fair choice to make on his behalf, selling Ahn-Bo’s pure white soul to the Joseung Saja, but Jin had already done it.
Jin felt his heart pinch again at his friend’s sniffle but this time it was like someone had grabbed him by the organ and was squeezing, without any intention of letting go. “I’m not!” He said quickly. And without much self restraint or will for any, Jin slid closer to Ahn-Bo’s turned back and wrapped his arms around his friend. He rested his cheek against Ahn-Bo-ah and closed his eyes, trying to force out the truth that he had yet been avoiding. It wasn’t just as simple as having a magical place where they could live happily ever after. Bo-ah was right. That didn’t exist.
“The truth is… it’s not… a wonderful, spectacular place. But it does exist.” Jin squeezed him tighter and buried his nose in his friend’s back. Then, pressing a small kiss there, he peeled himself away and sucked in a shaky breath. “I’ve never told you very much about my family or my home, and for good reason. It’s not… the type of place you imagine it might be.” Turning to rest his elbows on his knees, Jin steadied himself for what he wanted to share. He wasn’t sure it was fair not to warn Ahn-Bo-ah of what he was walking into; but in the same breathe Jin would do anything to make sure he was safe, and staying away was not going to accomplish that. “I’ll be honest, at first I didn’t want to even think of what it would be like, forcing you into this place. But the more I struggled to come up with a real plan, something viable that would keep you safe, it was the only way that kept coming back to me.
“My Abeoji is… a business man, of sorts. He took me in when I was very young, after I ran away from my family. He was never perfect, but he provided for me and sent me to school so I could learn about who and what I am.” Jin pursed his lips and hesitated for a moment before continuing. “But living at the Menagerie does not come without its price. It started with just a few performances for Abeoji’s business associates. They were… curious, I guess, about the half-vampire boy and wanted to see me drink blood.” Ahn-Bo-ah would probably remember the first time that happened, and their little fight after the holiday. “Then it became something of a show: the tamed monster, an exotic curiosity for people to poke and prod at. Sometimes I’d have to stand outside in the sun so they could see how I reacted to it, other times it was as simple as letting people stick their fingers in my mouth. One time I was even asked to bite someone while under the imperious curse.” Jin snorted as if laughing could make it any less terrible a memory. He’d refused, so he’d been persuaded. “Sometimes Abeoji asks me to perform, too. To sing or play, so that I can help his business along. It’s never for long and it’s always with some enchantment or curse, but—” Jin waved his hand as if shooing away that train of thought. “My point is, our compound is not exactly going to be the kind of place you dream about, but it is a place where you couldn’t hurt anyone. We’ve had werewolves there before…” Jin said the latter softly, trailing off. “And we have others who have come and gone through our doors, not exactly the most average of witches or wizards.” Jin shrugged one shoulder up towards his ear uncomfortably. He didn’t know a lot about what Abeoji’s business entailed but he knew it wasn’t savory, and the types of people that came and went (sometimes in cages) were not going to be the tamest.
“Anyway… It won’t come without a price.” Jin forced himself to look back up at his friend, keeping a safe distance between them. “But I didn’t know what else to do. I can’t leave you here, alone and unsheltered,” his voice broke on that statement and Jin decided it was enough. Either Ahn-Bo-ah would hear what Jin was trying to tell him, or he wouldn’t. But there was no use begging again until he knew. Because he would: he’d beg and plead and kick and scream until his friend agreed. It wasn’t a fair choice to make on his behalf, selling Ahn-Bo’s pure white soul to the Joseung Saja, but Jin had already done it.
![[Image: HjIYkam.png]](https://i.imgur.com/HjIYkam.png)
* Jin takes potions and enchantments at times to give his voice a persuasive quality.
His performances, or even a simple conversation, can sometimes suggest thoughts
and ideas to his audiences.