Steven Yeun photographed by Matteo Mobilio for GQ Magazine (2018)
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Objects, at times, belonged with certain people. Even those who claimed to not understand Silasâ line of work, artifacts and items had always been important in some degree or fashion. Family heirlooms, precious gems â no one could deny that they had at least one thing they cherished most and wanted to protect. He hadnât grown to discover what side of the fence his fellow cubi was on, but the shine of the coins and the engravings meant they were from nowhere other than the Byzantine Empire. Years had passed, Silas knew, since those days that he wondered if Gabriel just wanted to forget. He supposed this was a way to test the waters and discover more about his friend. âFound something interesting,â the cubi stated as he pulled the gold coinage from a cloth just behind his shop desk. They had been there for almost a week at this point, Silas stewing on the idea of forcing the interaction, but decided on the more organic approach, âPicked them off another collector at an estate sale.â Which really meant he forced the manâs hand and got a little snack in the process, cheeks taking on a strawberry hue at the thought, âThought maybe they deserved to be in your hands instead.â
reapersorianoâ:
Pride had finally started winding down and he was about ready to take off any and all of his clothes just so he could go shower. He was sure a drink had been spilled on him at some point and he wanted out of it as soon as possible. As he took off one of the beaded necklaces that had been thrown around his neck, he was interrupted by some person walking up to him. Normally, Angel was ready to ignore and keep it moving, but he wasnât going to do that this time. The least he could do was enjoy the end of this whole thing to the best of his ability. âOh, sure go ahead.â He wasnât even sure what he should do so he kind of just stood there continuing to handle the beads. Slowly wrapping it around his wrist, he looked back up at the other man. âI assume youâre also enjoying yourself?â
He had felt this before, that mustering of something dark within an individual and tried to place where or who it might have been with. It was brief, the incubus remembered, and still hadnât been able to figure out what exactly was underneath the skin. That was happening a lot more as of late and the man that stood before him was no different, though Silasâ usual friendly grin tugged at the edges of his lips as he adjusted his camera to snap a picture. âI did,â the camera blocked most of his face now as he looked through the lens, positioning it just right and admiring how casual the moment became, âIn my own way.â Just like everyone who had placed themselves at the event, each having their own experiences and he was excited to share with his sister how it all went. But that curiosity pulled at him moreâ what exactly was this man? Whoâsâ and then it struck him. The man that visited him in his shop months prior, purchased a ring, but Silas couldnât place his name at this time. Only the feeling. âGot plans after this?â he asked in an attempt to get him to lingerie longer, âIf you donât mind me asking.â
giovannixrussoâ:
âWould you believe me if I said thatâs precisely what I wanted to hear today?â He plays coy with the true reason behind his visit for only a moment longer before settling into natural charm, slightly disconcerted that the other man held a vastly greater allure without actually trying. âWhite, medium sized, and in an ornate metal holder. The wax has an intricate carving on one side. Does any of that sound familiar?â Fingers brushed at the crux of his neck, an uncharacteristic turmoil overtaking in that moment. As much as Giovanni intended to use Silas for his own knowledge, there came something rather striking about the other man and almost⌠trustworthy. The sensation struck him as both odd and comforting in the same breath. âIf someone wished to pawn it, I thought you might be their first stop.â
Of course it sounded familiar, though Silas was having a hard time actually allowing those words to come out of his mouth. He hadnât had the chance to really look into it, seeing as it had only been a few days of it being in his possession, and the idea of simply handing it over to Giovanni without a second thought seemed foolish. The incubus knew better than that. Trust was something that came later, with time, and the man that stood before him hadnât been granted that level as far as Silas was concerned. Stalling, however, wasnât exactly possible at this moment. What did the cubi care anyway? He had already had his fill of dabbling with cursed objects and the goal had to be who was going to be his highest bidder, âYeah Iâve got a couple that might fit that description in the backâ hadnât gotten around to placing them out on display yet. Just let me bring them up.â
rpmememakerâ:
Send âââ for a MORNING text. Send âââ for a text that WASNâT SENT. Send âââ for a RUSHED text. Send âââ for a DRUNK text. Send ââżâ for a SUGGESTIVE text. Send âøâ for a LATE NIGHT text. Send âââ for a HATEFUL text. Send â#â for a RANDOM text. Send â@â for a SCARED text. Send â&â for a LOVING text. Send â%â for a CURIOUS text. Send âăâ for an EXCITED text. Send â$â for an ACCIDENTAL text. Send âââ for a HEARTBREAKING text.Â
waeteethâ:
âReally? In this day anâ age?â He couldnât find it in himself to be anything but a little intrigued. An artisan in Greece of all places, howâŚ.Strangely romantic? Jamie wasnât quite sure if that was the right way to phrase it. Or if he even cared about it. However he did know he liked a man who worked with his hands in general, was a telltale sign they knew how to use them.Â
Down boy.Â
There wasnât really a smell to him, which didnât mean he wasnât just a human, Jamie knew better by now. Still, woodworking felt like such a lost art, something he didnât see too often anymore. If heâd have been in a mood to dwell on his past, heâd maybe have thought back to seeing his father whittle something out of an oak branch while they attended the stables at the estate. But he wasnât too keen on that anymore, would tolerate a flash here and there, but that was it. âYe a local then? Or sell those wares fae place tae place?â
A gentle head nod at the question as the bartender brought Silas his drink, placing it on a black coaster not too far from his hand. He moved to grip it, a tinge of butterflies throughout his insides as the man placed interest in his occupation, bringing the cocktail to his lips in hopes that it would relieve his own tension. It wasnât often that he was interested in another without it being his dinner and the cubiâs obsidian hues lit up faintly at discussing his work.
âLocal now,â he stated after clearing his throat, liquor burning its way down his esophagus as it planted into his empty stomach and felt the warmth take him, âJust a few years, shop on the main street. Though I have done some place to place,â the accent was still a bit rough on the cubiâs ears, but he could place enough to get the message. Silas honestly couldnât even fully place it, just knowing the brunette had to be from some United Kingdom attached areaâ right? âBit difficult to manage,â he spoke over the sudden change in music, club seeming to get louder as they sat inches apart at the bar-top.
lucysgreenâ:
A look: oversized t-shirt, yesterdayâs jeans, yesterdayâs make-upâ all of that paired with some very fashionable puffy red eyes she could not have been bothered to cover. The girl hadnât even remembered to put on her shoes as she stormed out of the building and ran until her feet felt wet sand under them.
It was odd. The ocean had never before offered her any kind of comfort whatsoever. Not until coming to Corinth Bay, anyways. But now she found herself at its shore whenever she felt like there was nowhere else to go. Nowhere else to run. With a deep breath she let the sound of the waves slow down her heartâ and she was almost successful until she felt a splash of water hitting her face (mind you, one that clearly did not come from the oceanâs nature itself).
Lucy gave an audible gasp and then a loud and irritated:Â âWill you stop that?!â directed to the source.
@corinthbaystartersâ
At times, Silas found himself seaside listening to the waves crashing right below his feet. Sketchbook in hand with a large bag of different artists' tools depending on his mood, drawing anything that interested him or came into his mind. Sometimes it was the water itself, other times it was the various faces that could be found making their way across the gulfâs drift wood and pieces of shells. It was a chance to get away from his shop and find new inspiration in the people that called Corinth their home, along with the many visitors that appreciated its allure.
That was when she appearedâ hair catching light giving it hints of crimson and gold. The woman had also seemed out of place. Not in the sense that she didnât belong around the bay, just that she almost didnât seem to know what exactly she was running to. More that she had to run from something. The cubi began to sketch her, entranced by her presence until he heard her shout at the water tides with all her might. Expression changed within moments and he attempted to sketch that, too. Charcoal hues glanced up and back down at his paper, trying not to seem too obvious with his movements as he wanted to keep capturing her naturally. A tool he often used when evading the North Korean army during the war, drawing them without even realizing he had been feet away the entire time.
Several days had gone by with the curse lifted, but Silas was still showing hints of fatigue. Nightmares had dissipated into solid REM sleep, though the incubusâs body had yet to fully recover. He kept the shop closed for those days, placing a sign for anyone that came by that read âtemporarily closed due to illnessâ, and stayed huddled up in his loft just above. Guilt swiftly crawled into the sheets as he slumbered. The scale had plagued him, changed his core moral compass to something the cubi had never expected nor fully realized. Not until Safiye had ripped it from his grasp to pulverize it, bits of jade and emerald dust fading into nothingness. When he woke, all Silas could think about was his fellow incubus and the way he had treated someone he considered a close friend. Lies and for what reason? An object and a false sense of doing a good deed? Hardly the path the Kyun was known to walk and it showed in the way Gabriel believed him.
The smell of books permeated his nose as the cubi slunk into the library, peeking around each corner in hopes to find the fellow cubi working his usual shift. A text was too impersonal for an apology, charcoal hues bouncing around the room until chocolate locks were seen and Silas made his way over. âHeyââ his usual warm grin and eyes that actually looked as though there was life behind them, âGot a break soon?â
@gabrielxnikephorosâ
Do you like what you are?
Silas:Â Like is a very strong word. Accepted is probably the more accurate way of saying it and I donât think I would go as far as saying I hate what I am either. I have become something for a reason, even if it was completely out of ignorance and eventually I will understand the depth of it all.Â
kieratandanuâ:
  Kiera had learned earl on in life that food was a huge source of comfort. Maybe not for everyone, but for a lot of people. Whenever she had a bad day, her fatherâs food could cheer her up â or make a good day even better. Now she was happy to do the same for everyone in Corinth Bay who was willing to try her treats. And the expression on his face was pure gold, causing her to laugh. âI wish you could see yourself right now. Like a kid in a candy store,â she teased, as she picked up a piece of brownie to take a bite herself. Maybe one of the downfalls of running a booth at the festivities was that she was seemingly constantly eating herself. âI told you itâs a free taste test and I meant it. Letâs say itâs a thank you for your help with the mask â if you still remember. My aunt loved it.â Picking up a napkin that read love is love, she held it out to him. âYou got a bit of frosting on your face. Not that it doesnât look cute, but if you want to impress someone today, you better get rid of it.â
âHow could I possibly forget,â which was a very true statement coming from the incubus. He had a habit of journaling the days to help him remember them, but placing the proper items with the right people never leaked from his memory bank. It also helped that he enjoyed Kieraâs company, even if most of the times they actually found a way to chat was when either of them was working. Delicate fingertips found their grip on the napkin that was offered, licking his lips to snag the reminisces of cupcake before pressing it against his mouth and cheeks. âI appreciate the kind gesture, as usual,â a gentle grin, charcoal irises still holding onto their childlike quality as he attempted to get all the frosting off his face, âEven if Iâm not exactly looking to impress, still not sure I would want to walk around with food all over my face.â Though the color might match some of the displays he had seen as he meandered around the festival, Silas had always wanted to blend rather than stand out, âBeen able to step away at all?â