Half Incubus Boyfriend: taeyung (rough draft)

The posters for the carnival were plastered everywhere. It seemed wherever you went, whether it was the cafe, the music store, or even at the bus stop, there was a poster for that carnival that was coming into town. Now, there was one posted just outside the door of work. It seemed odd to you that the niche little antique store you worked at would be a target of advertising for a carnival. Most of the customers were, well, they didn’t seem like carnival people. Although you have seen a lot of oddballs ass through.

Your boss, Robin, is a relative, how he’s a relative you’re uncertain. But he hired you on the spot, especially since he said this store was going to focus on rare and antique books. “I know you collect,” was all he said.

As strange as the hiring process was, and meeting a family member you’d never met before, you had enjoyed this job so much so far. Once a week Robin or his wife Eira brings in a new supply of antiques, mostly books, although there is the occasional antique statuette or painting. You then catalogue them, research, price according to Robin’s list, and display. If the books need cleaning you call in another employee who seems more into books than you are. It’s a good job, a wonderful job even, and you never thought you’d have that.

It was just a few days before the carnival was to open, but already it was set up just beyond town. At night it glittered upon the horizon, looking fantastical against the sunset. You were still toying with the idea of going. It could be fun, but you felt a bit nervous, especially since you’d probably have to go alone.

You were preparing a new window display, tossing the idea of the carnival around in your head. You’re standing on a ladder, hooking up a new chandelier to the top. You then look down, seeing someone is staring through the window, watching you. Your guts churn, anxiety builds. You don’t like to be watched, but being watched on top of a ladder is a whole new type of fear.

The young man outside smiles and waves up at you. He’s lovely, tall and a bit lanky, he has fluffy white hair that looks like a cloud resting on his head. You wave back then watch him anxiously as he comes into the shop.

“Good morning!” His voice is charming. “I don’t mean to bother you, so just keep working, I’ll look around.”

You swallow your heart back down into your chest. “Is there something you need?” Despite your best efforts, your voice cracks from nerves.

The handsome man smiles, and in the light of the shop you see his skin is strangely colored. Patches are white-pink while others are peachy nude. His eyes too are separate colors. One is deep amber, while the other is almost white blue. “I’m looking for something for my mom,” he says. “It’s her birthday and I wanted to get her something really special. Since you work here, well, you know all the secrets.”

Oh god, he’s handsome and loves his mom, surely that’s where the goodness ends. You climb off the ladder and smooth down your clothes, grateful the uniform apron hides your belly. “Well, is there anything in particular you want for her? Jewelry? Art?”

“She loves books,” he says, eyes darting around to the many shelves. “I was hoping you would have something that really...pops.” He looks directly at you, his eyes focused upon you and then he smiles. “Oh, I’m Taeyung by the way.” He holds his hand out. His nails are painted bright glittery red.

You cautiously take his hand and shakily introduce yourself. “It’s nice to meet you.” You take your hand back. “What kind of literature does she like? We’ve got all sorts of books, it’d be hard to narrow it down.”

Taeyung looks around again, seeming to trail when he’s in thought. “Anything really,” he starts to laugh. “I know that isn’t helpful.”

You shake your head, smiling softly. “No, it’s okay. Let’s start over here. These are some of the new books we’ve just gotten in.” You lead him to a shelf where you always display the new stuff. That’s when you notice something strange, there’s a book that’s out of place. In fact, it’s a book you’ve never seen before. It’s large with a black spine with gold hinges along the side. Of course, Taeyung reaches for it first and pulls it off the shelf.

You open your mouth to say something, but keep it closed instead.

“Oh wow,” he murmurs. He flips a few pages. “Oh wow!”

“We get a lot of strange things,” you try to cover. “So sometimes we get in books that may seem-” You stop when he grins.

“This is great!” Taeyung announces. “Almost perfect.” He holds the book in a way so you can see it, and inside is artwork and photos from old carnivals and circuses. “My family operates the carnival,” he says. “My mom would love this.”

You gasp softly. “So you work at the carnival.”

Taeyung smiles down at you. “I do. I’m actually going to have my own show starting here. I’m kind of nervous, but you probably don’t wanna hear about that,” he chuckles.

His shy expression, mixed with his uncertain smile makes your heart go pitter patter. “No, that’s great. Congratulations. What is it you do?”

“I sing,” he says shyly. His confident smile fades a bit more. “And I do magic.”

“So you’re a magician?” Your smile brightens. “What kind of tricks do you do?”

Taeyung sets the book aside then exposes his palms to you. He then fans his fingers out and down and flicks his wrists and he’s holding a bouquet in his hands.

“Oh wow!” You gasp.

“Wait.” Taeyung shows you the bouquet. “It’s flowers right? Go ahead and touch.”

The petals are soft and slightly damp. You nod in approval and he whisks the bouquet back. He holds it up over his head, and pushing on the stems they pop open and become an umbrella.

You cup your hands over your mouth. “Whoa!”

He swings down the umbrella which turns liquid and floats in the air, then falls down as a scarf thats painted with dozens upon hundreds of flowers. Taeyung places the scarf around your neck and smiles brightly. “Usually I make it rain petals, but I didn’t want to create a job for you cleaning.”

The scarf is soft and light as air. It feels expensive. “That was amazing! I’ve never seen anything like that!”

“Then you should come to the show,” Taeyung says excitedly. “I’m able to do my really big tricks there and I’ve worked really hard at making some unique ones.”

“I can’t imagine how you could top this! Bouquet to umbrella to a scarf!” You start tot ake off the scarf to give it back to him but Taeyung stops you.

“Keep it,” his smile grows. “Wear if you come to the show, and then I’ll be able to find you.”

Nervous butterflies not only flap around in your gut, but they’re chewing at it too. “Oh uh-” You’re not sure how to act or even speak. “Th-thank you. That’s very nice.”

Taeyung picks the book back up. “I’ll take this for my mom.”

“Here,” you hold out your hand. “If you want to look around some more I’ll get this wrapped for you.” Really, you want to look at it yourself. You can’t remember seeing it ever before.

“Thanks!” Taeyung places the book into your hand. You look it over as you walk to the front, seeing there is indeed a price tag on it from the shop.

“How weird,” you murmur to yourself. “I thought I knew every book here.” You take off the price tag and begin wrapping it as Taeyung comes back.

“Thanks for wrapping it,” he says. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a wallet.

“Hopefully your mom will have a really good birthday,” you say.

Taeyung’s smile becomes soft and sweet. “I hope so. I owe her and my dad so much.” When he pays with a card, you see his name is Taeyung Faire. “I really hope you come to the carnival. It’s lots of fun, even if you don’t see the shows. My family works really hard on it every year.”

You smile back at him. “I’ll try and make it. Thanks for the magic scarf.”

“Thanks for the perfect gift.” He takes his purchase. “Have a good day!”

You wave as he leaves. “You too.” You sigh as he leaves, he was so handsome and sweet too. How could a guy like that be real?

A few days go by, and around town you have heard people talking about the carnival. You hear lots and lots of good things, how it’s got everything, how it’s scary, how it’s funny. You hadn’t real planned on going, but hearing all this, as well as meeting Taeyung, your interest is piqued.

You wear the scarf when you go. You pay for your ticket then as your about to walk in you stop. “Excuse me,” you say to the girl at the gate. “I uhm…” You grow nervous. “I was wondering, there’s a magic show I wanted to see.”

“Oh here.” She hands you a pamphlet. “That’s the schedule of events. You’ll find all the shows and their times as well as a map of the property.”

“Thank you,” you walk on, finding a place to go over the map. The place is huge! Much bigger than you expected. The magic show is in the big top at seven and right now it’s six. “Okay, I’ve got an hour to waste,” you murmur. “What can I do?”

“It’s you!”

You scream and spin around, clamping your hand over your mouth.

“I’m sorry!” Taeyung looks mortified and apologetic. “I didn’t mean to scare you! Are you okay?”

“It’s fine,” you warble. “Happens all the time.”

Taeyung smiles, he’s wearing all black from head to toe. “I’m glad you came though! It’s so good to see you again.”

“I’ve heard really good things.” Your heart is still pounding. “I was just trying to figure out what to do before your show.”

His eyes light up and his smile grows even more lovely. “I’ve got some time before my show starts. I can show you around!”

Oh gosh, this is too good to be true. “No, it’s okay. You really don’t have to!”

Taeyung takes your hand. “This is my home, I’d love to.”

Your pulse stops, so he is able to move you around easily. He shows you the different sights of the carnival. There’s a section just for kids, a section of games and good. There’s an attraction called Scarebrooke where it’s year round haunts and scares. There’s a giant merry go round, a ferris wheel. Taeyung wins you a stuffed lion, he gets you a sweet drink that’s coffee and caramel and takes exactly like caramel corn.

“Oh shoot,” he huffs. “I need to get to the big top.” He has a pout on his face.

“Well thats important right?”

He grumbles. “Yeah, but I was having fun with you.”

Your heart completely stops again. “Your show is really important though.”

Taeyung sighs. “I suppose.” He then beams again. “How about I take you on the ferris wheel after my show?”

“Really?”

Taeyung nods. “It’ll be fun.” He then, in a shocking twist, bends down and kisses your cheek. “I’ll see you at the show!”

Your body shuts down. This isn’t a test. This is high alert! An extremely good looking man just kissed your cheek! Abort! Abort! Luckily, a child accidentally runs into you and your senses return. You make your way to the big top, hoping to get a decent seat for the magic show.

The tent is dim and all around you there is whispering and murmuring. Once it gets closer to time to start the lights shut off completely. The whole big top is dark and everyone holds their breath.

“Good evening,” a man’s voice pours through the tent. It makes your skin prickel with anticipation and you gaze through the darkness hoping to see someone upon stage. “We’re all glad to have you here at the Children of the Night Carnival. I am your host, Mr. Faire. And tonight, I am very happy to bring to you my son.”

“His dad,” you murmur excitedly.

“He’s a very talented young man.” A spotlight turns on, focusing on a tall man at the left side of the stage. “He’ll perform for you tonight his many tricks,” music begins to play quietly in the background. “As well as sing a few familiar tunes for you all.” Mr. Faire then bows at the waist. “So welcome to the stage, my son, the talented, the unique, Taeyung.” As he rises back up he suddenly flashes bright with light, smoke bursts forth and he turns into glitter which blows out into the audience.

The music grows loud as a piano plays and the light focuses on Taeyung at a piano which is suspended upside down and levitating above the stage. Your eyes widen at the sight as he hangs there, like a bat on the piano keys. He plays beautiful music while lights around the stage begin to glow and dance.

He begins to sing, and it’s the most beautiful voice you’ve ever heard. It’s smooth, gentle, with a soft rasp at the back of his throat. It’s sexy and charming, much like he appeared. The piano slowly begins to turn, all while he’s playing and singing. He stops playing, climbing up on top of the piano where he opens it up and jumps inside. He vanishes, reappering falling from the very top of the stage. He lands and everything goes dead silent.

You hold your breath, afraid to breathe. The piano begins to play by itself, spinning around and around in the air. Taeyung starts to sing again, reaching up and taking hold of the piano. He pulls it down and it turns into a curtain which flows around him. He flashes it out, making things appear behind it, disappear, change, reappear, change. He wrings the curtain through his hands and it turns into a giant umbrella, which, when he opens it, explodes into light and glitter and flowers.  Dancers appear on stage, shifting between human and animal depending on the songs he’s singing.

He then comes to the front of the stage, taking a breath and laughing. “Thank you all for being here this evening! Are you enjoying the show?” The crowd erupts in cheers. “I’m going to need some help with this next trick. Is there a princess in the audience?” There’s murmurs but no reply. “A princess? Anyone?” He begins to look concerned.

Your scarf lights up, it glows with different colors and Taeyung turns in your direction. “I think we have one!”

You nervously try to cover the scarf, but Taeyung is already making his way towards you. He grins, holding his hand out to you. “I promise, it’ll be fun.”

It’s instinct to want to say no, to want to turn this down and continue to be hidden in the shadows of the audience. But for some reason, you take his hand. He leads you down the aisle and takes you on stage. The lights and colors on stage take your breath away. As does Taeyung who begins to sing. He takes your scarf, pulling it so it grows and grows and surrounds you like a cocoon. He then pulls it down over your head and the crowd gasps loudly. It takes you a moment to realize that your clothes have changed. You’re not standing in a beautiful gown and there’s a crown upon your head.

“Princess,” Taeyung bows and extends his hand. “May I have this dance?”

You take his hand, unsure if you are in reality anymore or just dreaming. He holds you close, spinning you around the stage as more flowers fall. The stage rises and the piano is back. It lifts you up above the stage where Taeyung leans in close to you.

“I’ll find you again,” he says. “Just wait.”  He picks you up and throws you into the air where you become enveloped in light. The next thing you know, you land on a mattress backstage. You stare out, unsure of anything anymore. You’re no longer in the gown, which is a slight relief. You stand up and some of the dancers come to help you.

“You did great!” One says.

“Come sit down, it’s so strange at first right?” Another giggles. They give you a seat and give you a big cup of a water. You hear the roar of the audience and Taeyung say his good night. You’re still trying to sort through what happened. Was it magic? Like actually magic?

“I found you!” Taeyung comes running up to you. He has your scarf in hand which he places back around your neck. “What did you think?” He pushes back his hair, which has gotten sweaty from the performance. He even takes off his shirt, revealing a white one underneath clinging to his figure. You’re still in a trance from being on stage. It’s a lot to take in, but it also feels like a breath of fresh air.

You stare up at him, awed and wondering if you’re in the presence of some magical fairy prince. “What was that?” You almost start laughing. “How did you even do all of that! The gown! The piano! Me!” You pat your hands around yourself just to make sure you’re actually real.

Taeyung chuckles, his smile big and grand. “I’m glad you enjoyed it. I was worried you’d get scared, but you did so well!”

“But how?” You gasp.

Taeyung grins and winks. “I can’t reveal my tricks. Not yet anyways.”