We Are Bulletproof

Hey, don't come over tonight

Stay out of the fog

@Baek Jiyun

Trailing a hand through the sun-dappled, dewy leaves overhead, Xu An breathed in deeply. He took in the scent of the damp earth and the petrichor that lingered just after a sudden burst of rainfall. He hadn't been expecting it to rain and was caught out but it didn't matter. Xu An liked being in the rain. He felt cleansed.

Underfoot, something scurried through a small bush; a dart and a flicker of what looked like wings. Just a small bird. He peered over the edge of the bush and saw a robin hopping hastily away with something caught in its beak. Probably a bit of food, maybe a berry or a worm. Xu An tracked it until it disappeared deeper into the woods, then resumed walking along the damp trail that led down to Pebble Lake.

He swept a hand through his rain-soaked hair as he walked, slicking it all back. Although his clothes were now heavy with moisture and stuck to his body, the mild discomfort didn't bring down his good mood. A rusty smile even worked its way across his lips--albeit briefly--as he caught a glimpse of sunlight glinting off the waters of the lake.

Xu An walked until he reached the usual spot, a secluded area away from prying eyes and several hundred feet off the man-made trail that wound its way around Pebble Lake. He had found it purely by accident while exploring the area and it became their secret place to meet every time they could get away together. They couldn't leave in the same car or even at the same time, so usually Xu An left first on the rickety bus that trundled in and out of town and, a little after sunset, Jiyun followed him.

A glance up through the canopy of leaves showed that dusk was just beginning to fall. Xu An sat down on the grass, in the area that they had painstakingly cleared together, and pulled his knees up to his chest. He rested his chin on his knees and wrapped his arms around his legs, content to wait in peace and quiet. This time of the day, not many people were out; nobody wanted to be lost out here after dark. The woods here were fairly safe--unlike the stretch near Eagle Ridge--but it was still highly unpleasant to be lost.

Plip

Something cold and wet landed on his cheek. Absently he looked up; just a raindrop. Lowering his head to survey the area, he had to admit that the clearing wasn't exactly ideal for a secret tryst at the moment--unless they wanted to roll around in wet grass and mud. Xu An was all right for energy, though. It wasn't about the energy anyway. He couldn't get much out of Jiyun; humans were worth more as far as that was concerned.

It was just...

Jiyun warmed him, from the inside-out. He liked the way their hands fit and how even a glance produced sparks. They didn't have to be close for Xu An to feel the pull but when they were connected, he felt like every cell was alive. 

Ever since he first laid eyes on him, wandering through downtown Hazleton with his group of friends, Xu An knew that he was the one. He didn't know how he knew but the way his heart started pounding in his chest and the heat that flooded him from head to toe were pretty obvious signs. The next time Xu An saw him, he was alone and Xu An wasn't shy about making his intentions known--it was a definite anomaly for him, to make the first move.

All his life, Xu An was cold. People called him Ice King--even his friends. He didn't smile and hardly registered emotions. Sometimes he looked irritated but that was about the extent of his emotional range. Even clients at the brothel complained about his expressions. He wasn't a log in bed but he didn't look like he enjoyed it and that broke the scene for them or something. Xu An didn't know what they expected; they were paying for sex. It wasn't a relationship.

This thing he had with Jiyun, though, wasn't all of a relationship either. Xu An had been up front about where he worked. It was never a big secret and he didn't want it to be one. He wasn't ashamed of what he did--he needed that energy to survive. There were other ways to get it, that didn't involve sleeping with strangers, but that kind of existence was bothersome and bordered on torture. Why barely scrape by when he could have his fill? Xu An didn't work at the brothel every night; just once in a while, when he needed to feed that other side of him.

Slowly he lowered his head until his forehead touched his tented knees, alone with his thoughts. It had been a few weeks since they'd last been together; he couldn't remember missing anyone as much as he missed Jiyun in that moment. After that incident at the Moonlight Inn, everyone was up in arms against the vampires and his group was no different. Meanwhile, the vampires were banding together, getting defensive--aggressive. Things were happening that Xu An didn't like.

Just underneath the surface of that sleepy little out-of-the-way town, a storm was brewing.

It wasn't until a warm hand touched the top of his head that he finally looked up, and smiled--a full and real smile--as his hand slipped up a thigh to suggestive heights.

Xu An wasn't shy.

This is a listing of some of the businesses in downtown Hazleton. If you would like to have yours listed, please post below with the name and a short description (2-3 sentences).

Anchors Away -- A popular date spot, Anchors Away is a trendy cafe frequented by happy young couples--and hipsters.

A Trip Around The World -- This place is a large antique shop with artifacts and toys from all over the world, ranging in size, material, and age. The owner also does repairs on most anything related to what you can find in the shop. Behind the front counter, there's a pet he has which can almost always be seen chilling there.

Bailey, Bailey and Smith -- The town's one and only law firm.

The Crimson Clover -- An exclusive 'club' for those in the know, the Crimson Clover is a brothel where incubi and succubi provide pleasures of the flesh--for a hefty price. Clients are usually supernatural beings, as exposing the location of the brothel to humans is heavily frowned upon.

Dine 'n Dash -- A little diner just off Main street, the Dine 'n Dash serves good old American diner food, from burgers to salsbury steak to mac 'n cheese. There is also a bakery counter, with mouth-watering pies, danishes and cinnamon buns. Don't let the dated 70s decor fool you; the food is good and unpretentious, the portions are generous and the waitresses are surly if you don't tip them correctly.

Discover Dance -- The local dance studio in town, with classes for ballet, contemporary, modern, and hip hop, is open to all ages. Located downtown on the corner of Elm and 10th street, discover Dance is owned by Lillian and John Wu.

Fern Street Cafe -- Run by a Chinese-American couple with two teenage sons, the Fern Street Cafe is located--unsurprisingly--just off of Fern St. and 4th Ave. The atmosphere is chill and relaxed and on weekends there are specialty drinks up for grabs that reflect the changing seasons.

Happy Burger -- Despite the name, Happy Burger's teenage employees look anything but happy. They serve lackluster burgers on soggy buns, with unenthusiastic service, but the soft serve is worth walking across town for.

House of the Vettii — House of the Vettii is a sexual health resort (fancy name for a brothel) that offers a safe haven for all supernatural sex workers, as well as human sex workers aware of the former's existence. The House offers all the standard services of a brothel – escorts and strippers of all genders and sexes, a fully stocked bar, private soundproof rooms in varying designs – as well as more esoteric services – sexual surrogates, sexual counselors, magical rituals. The House is owned by Landon Rhodes, who also owns several other similar establishments around the US and Canada.

JC's -- A dark, dingy, seedy dive bar in the heart of Old Downtown.

Living Art -- A little shop where paintings and different sorts of traditional art media are sold, all personal works by the owners Jay Lee and Choi Jun Yong. The younger owner often runs the store. It's located near the middle of downtown, with a colorful mural on the front.

The Mint -- The Mint is ran by Cyrus Woo, local rich boy. The club offers local DJs, drink specials, and a back room for the supernatural party needs.

The Night Owl -- A tavern owned and run by a man and the quiet kid who works there under him as one of the bartenders. It has a friendly atmosphere and serves a few different cuisine foods along with the bevy of drinks. The owner is jovial and good at bringing the customers in, but he's a no nonsense type so troublemakers are out in a flash.

Petals for the Beloved --  A small cute little building filled to the brim with all kinds of plants, but mostly flowers. Here people can buy single-stems or a whole arrangement, whatever they wish. The perfect place to get your sweetheart a heartfelt gift. Petals for the Beloved is owned by Zhu Zheng He.

Rosemary's -- The local upscale 'swanky' Italian restaurant. There is one and only one good parking spot out in front of the restaurant; the other parking spaces are out back, where break-ins and car jackings are highly likely to occur.

Something Fishy -- Hwan Chinhae's aquarium that he built almost entirely himself. Rumor has it that he didn't bother to buy the fish and he didn't have to try to catch them: they all came willingly. Not the largest aquarium ever seen, but none of the fish are ever ill and the quality makes up for the size. A family favorite.

Speedy Pizza -- Get your order in half an hour or less, or your cheesy breadsticks are free! It's not Pizza Hut, but it's the next best (and only) pizza joint in Hazleton.

St. Andrew's Hospital -- The only hospital in Hazleton, located downtown.

West End Pharmacy -- The only pharmacy in Hazleton, located downtown across from the town's (one and only) law office.

Wing's Restaurant -- One of the handful of Chinese restaurants about town. Their spring rolls and dumplings are to die for and they are open late, which is perfect for anyone with the munchies after dark.

Hey

I have your jacket. You left it at the coffee shop yesterday.