Always the bridesmaid

[Ryland Ren]

Maybe NY isn't a fantasy after all.

[Min Yoojin]

Yeah... it's safer. Well, it's bigger. Hunters come and go through NY but it feels safer than a tiny town where all of us are gathered, like fish in a barrel.

[Ryland Ren]

It feels like we're seconds away from the end of the world sometimes, when you look at the news.

[Min Yoojin]

They sensationalize everything! That makes it worse, like... it's not entertainment! These hunters are all trouble, every single one of them. I've never met a decent hunter in my life. They're all so full of hate and ignorance.

[Ryland Ren]

Yeah they are. I can't understand why they'd choose to live their entire life hunting people down and killing them. My dad always says it's fear.

[Min Yoojin]

Well there are some real stinkers among us, I won't deny that, but not all of us are crazy people-eating monsters.

And the vampires and everybody can't help that they need certain things to survive. :( I guess I can see both sides of the argument but killing...

Some days I'd give anything to be human. :\

[Ryland Ren]

There are vampires that co-exist with humans, though. I guess if they were all like that, it would be easier to convince humans we're not all bad. But what about shifters? We don't cause any problems. Most of us like to stay AWAY from humans!

I don't know though. I like being who I am, I don't want to be human. And don't let Alva hear you saying that.

[Min Yoojin]

I guess it's different being only a little bit supernatural. Most of me is human but if I ever ran into a hunter, they'd only see the other side of me. :\ I don't even use magic on a daily basis!

Alva would slap me silly if he ever heard me talking like this. Haha! Although I have to admit, I can't see you as anything but a sly sly fox. :P

[Ryland Ren]

I feel a tug to both worlds. I think most shifters do. But it's not... worth dying for. :/
I couldn't even become a hunter hunter but Alva...

Alva got really messed up by what we saw that day so I can't blame him, really, for idolizing a guy who kills hunters.
I'm just afraid it might end up with Alva killing people, too.
You know?

[Min Yoojin]

Oh no! No don't even think that!
Alva would never hurt anybody!

And anyone who makes him
they're the real monster

[Ryland Ren]

I don't want to think it. I just worry. He's still got a lot of anger and right now he's so vulnerable.

[Min Yoojin]

Guess he never really got any closure from what happened to him and his brother huh? Poor Alva...

And you were there too...

He never talks about what happened. Has he been bottling it all up this whole time?

[Ryland Ren]

Yeah. I thought maybe he blocked it out for a long time. But his hatred of hunters... I mean I hate them too. But I don't know, Yoojin. I worry about him. 

[Min Yoojin]

...I should've kept in touch more with him...

It's so strange how he can be so loving, but also have so much hate. Do you think we should start talking to him more? Or do we wait a little while until he simmers down?

[Ryland Ren]

I don't know anymore.
When I try to help I get the feeling he thinks I don't trust him to take care of himself.
But I also can't leave him too long...
He's my cousin and I love him. 

Plus he's with somebody powerful that might be manipulative.

He's smart though. I know he can take care of himself. Usually. Just. This time I feel he's in over his head.