Velvet Necrosis • vampire tk

Two

November blows in first snowfall of the year, burying all the yellowed leaves that have yet to rot into the rich black soil. It's nice, the snow absorbing all the noises in the world, blanketing the unsightly corners of the world under a thick layer of pristine purity. The construction vehicles have vacated the land next door, instead, a large house stands alone, all glass and concrete walls, like a glaring beacon in an ocean of forgotten relics.

First comes the woman, of brisk movements and muted chuckles, surrounded by a cloud of spiced cinnamon. Taehyung follows her movement as she pushes the lighter furniture around clumsily, pausing at the floor to ceiling windows in the living room. She ventures into the backyard sometimes, sidestepping between residual snow on the ground in her runners. She is oblivious to him.

Then the crowd, descending like tropical birds with their vibrant feathers and loud caws, bringing in parties and even more guests. Cars in the freshly paved driveway, music thumping into the night, and all the exposed scents assaulting Taehyung's senses, practically begging to be tasted.

Taehyung retires to the underground in those moments with a bottle of noir, allowing the artificial tinge to numb his thoughts into a pleasant buzz. But sometimes, right before he heads down, he would sense something alone in the woods, away from the clamouring crowd.

A speck of dark light, with a clean soapy scent. The heart thrums nicely, the frail human body radiates such lovely warmth through a thin denim jacket. The steps are gentle and curious, like the wild hares that traverse the land, easily spooked by the presence of others.

Where're you going, little bunny? Taehyung muses, intrigues.

The figure pauses. Taehyung knows his own thoughts cannot be heard, but it's amusing to pretend that maybe the person feels some strange crosswiring of the waves in the air.

Head home before you get lost now.

The figure sighs, a feeble sound that materializes into the chilly air as huffs of white vapor. But determinedly, he starts walking again, snow and peat crunching under his boots.

Taehyung closes his eyes and traces the figure with his mind. Time freezes, and his body stays immobile, as the soapy scent meanders in the woods, away from the boisterous crowd. It's peaceful, sharing a moment like this, with nothing to gain, just two entirely opposite entities, operating in their own orbits next to each other, not touching.

To his surprise, the little bunny stays. Some time later, a small building is constructed at the edge of the neighboring land - hay strewed ground, heaters inside with huge barn doors that can be pushed close. A stable, to house its one and only inhabitant: a tall stallion with gleaming brown eyes and black spots on its white-fur dusted hind.

An Appaloosa.

Somewhere in the recess of Taehyung's memory, there's a similar set of soft brown eyes, and warm huffs that tickle his skin. Yoongi has always preferred white Arabian, fearless steeds galloping through a field of tattered corpses like a flash of lightening-

Taehyung furrows his brows and kills the thought.

As the winter deeps, and daylight grows sparse, the parties also thankfully become less frequent. Soon, all that's left are the woman and the little bunny, speaking to each other in soft tones. There's always the smell of food wafting faintly into the chilling air, and a black silhouette by the window, gazing absently into the woods, into where Taehyung hides.

Only in silence, can one finally hear the whispers of their own soul.

Taehyung finds the little bunny on the hills now sometimes, riding the grey appaloosa under a muddled sky. The horse's gait is usually slow and full of purpose. And the rider looks dazed, but the leather rein is taut in his hand, always in control. Taehyung keeps his distance, not wanting to spook the horse. Once, as the young man adjusts the saddle at the tiny stable, Taehyung hears the woman comment with a frown, "I wish you wouldn't go, Jungkook. There's ice everywhere, and no proper trails either. Jules is too old for this, you know I'm right."