Orginial Fiction: Wonderlife

[walkwithheroes]

Wonderlife is a new original fic that I've been working on for over two years. I think of the story as a human drama filled with romance and some comedy. It's the story of people; a family that is formed by people whom society doesn't want. They are con artist/gamblers/etc, who are just looking for a moment of wonder in a life that is filled with anything but.


Geum Chan-wook is a middle-aged gambler, who has "adopted" seven people throughout the last twenty-two years. The stories tell of the complicated relationships within (and outside) their family, as well as the daily issues they face while trying to stay under the radar. The stories I have written so far explore the past, present, and future of this family. The stories are sometimes dark, sometimes fluffy, but always character driven.


The story is being written for the fabulous journal, runaway_tales . Sadly, you can only read the stories at the journal - because I have only posted two or three on this journal - but joining is free and is worth it.




Several Years in One

Friendship Marriage - Chan-wook's aunt considers marriage (Chan-wook;Jun Yi;Chul Hyung)

Once Upon a Time - Once Upon a Time, there was a family, who wasn't (Chan-wook;Takara;Kaori;Mason;Aoi;Eddie;Yuri;Ling'er;Ji Sung;Jin;Taka;Jiro)

Moments That Shape You - Kaori has had several moments that have shaped her. But there was always two constents: Takara and Chan-wook (Kaori;Takara;Chan-wook)

Rainy Days - Chan-wook's worst days are when it rains. (Chan-wook;Takara)

Pied Piper - Chan-wook discuses a bit of his life and how he got all his kids (Chan-wook)

Six Years - The six year relationship of Mason and his mystery girl (Mason;Yuri)

Selfish Promises - Mason and Ji Sung reflect on their relationships with Ling'er. Ling'er reflects on the cold fact that she may not love either of them as much as she says she does. (Mason;Ji Sung; Ling'er)

Round and Round - Key moments in Taka and Jiro's relationship from 2009 until 2020 (Jiro;Taka)

Bound Together - Jiro and Taka are always following one another. Several moments (Jiro;Taka)

Seventh Day - Seven days of Oto Jiro's prison life (Jiro;Taka;Kaori;Mason;Eddie;Jin)

Angst - Three couples, three different kinds of angst (Mason;Yuri;Ling'er;Ji Sung;Taka;Jiro)

Firsts - Several Firsts in the life of Taka (Taka;Chan-wook;Eddie;Jiro;Ling'er;Aoi;Mason;Kaori;Jin)

Lovers, Liars, and Fools - A look at people (Jiro;Jin;Eddie;Aoi)

Valentine's Wishes - Several Valentine's wishes (everyone)

Hero to Heroic - Chan-wook teaches his kids because he wants them to survive when he's gone (Chan-wook;Jin;Mason;Ling'er;Kaori;Takara;Jiro;Eddie;Ji Sung;Taka;Yuri;Zen;Sato;Sakura;Haru;Bo Ra;Gun; Ryu-Jin;Ryu-Min; Mieko)

Family Names - Taka is in charge of giving people new names (Taka;Eddie;Aoi;Mason)

Hate, Hurt, Hit - Everyone has issues (Jiro;Mason;Eddie;Jin)

True Love's Kiss - Several first kisses (Takara;Chan-wook;Mason;Yuri;Eddie;Aoi;
Jiro;Taka;Ling'er;Ji Sung)

Unreal Man - Jin lies a lot (Jin)

Third Generation - Eight pockys following the third generation (Bo Ra;Sakura;Sato;Gun;Ryu-Min;Ryu-Jin;Zen;Haru;Mieko; Hani; Mae-Ri; Sugihara)

Mothers - Being a mother is important (Aoi;Yuri;Taka)

Fathers - It's important to be a good father (Eddie;Mason;Jiro;Jin)

Five Days - Five times Aoi took care of Taka (Taka;Aoi)

Famous Last Words - The last words of everyone (Everyone)

Ryu-Jin and Ryu-Min - Ryu-Jin thinks he's ruined his twin sister (Ryu-Jin/Ryu-Min/Gun) *NEW*

First Generation (Pre-Wonderlife)

1979

Bastard (Kaori;Chan-wook)

Alleyway Wake Up - Chan-wook wakes up in an unusual place (Chan-wook)

Rivals - The man who taught Chan-wook about gambling reflects (Kang)

1980

Facts - Takara used to have a mind like a steel trap (Takara)

Sick - Takara finds out about her mental illness (Takara)

Single Pill - Takara thinks about her pills (Takara;Kaori)

1981

Until the Dawn - He wants to be the best (Chan-wook)

Sleeping Habits - Takara and Kaori have a habit (Kaori;Takara)

1983

Cherry Pie - Chan-wook and Kaori have a little chat; Kaori asks for something, which may be the start of Chan-wook's life. (Chan-wook;Takara;Kaori)

Quiet Goal - Seventeen year old Takara hasn't really talked much since being given to Chan-wook. But, that's okay. He's got a plan to make her smile and let her know he cares (Chan-wook;Takara)

Sunshine and Rainstorms - Chan-wook and Takara give and take; she keeps him from being lonely and he tries to save her from the voices in her head. (Chan-wook;Takara)

1984

Bus Ride - Chan-wook rethinks a few things (Chan-wook;Takara)

Phone Call - Chan-wook calls Kaori (Kaori;Chan-wook)

Shoe - Chan-wook wakes up missing something (Chan-wook;Takara)


Second Generation (Pre-Wonderlife/Wonderlife/Post-Wonderlife)

1985

Obedient Boy - Jun Wei is good boy whose scared of his father, so he always does what his daddy says (Jin)


1990

Enough - Sometimes they win big (Chan-wook;Eddie)
1992

Run! - As a child, Aoi's mother tries to protect her from her fate (Aoi)

1992

Always a Plan -Sometimes they win big (Eddie;Chan-wook)

1993

Hole - Just how did Eddie get that nasty scar on his stomach? (Eddie)

Once Upon a Time - The Story of Ling'er's parents (Ling'er's awesome birth parents)

1997

Happy Christmas - Six year old Taka at Christmas. (Taka)

I'm Only Human - Before he was Mason, he was just a fourteen year old kid, already annoyed with life (Mason)


1998

Tea Deal - Jin, at seventeen, asks Kaori to help him get away from Chan-wook, who he's deemed a "kidnapper; Kaori want to set the record straight before she makes the deal. (Jin;Kaori)


2000

Untitled - Kaori is left alone with a seven-year-old Ling'er - who likes to talk (Kaori;Ling'er)

Survivor - Aoi will survive (Aoi)


2001

Teenage Rebel - Jiro is such a rebel - in his head, anyway (Jiro)

Siblings - Eddie and Ling'er take a walk (Eddie;Ling'er)

2002

Words She'll Never Say - Kaori will never tell Chan-wook the one thing she really wants to tell him. (Kaori)


Money, Money - Chan-wook tries to recruit Eddie into a dangerous game with an old enemy. Meanwhile the nickname "Tak-Tak" is used for the first time. (Chan-wook;Eddie;Jiro;Mason;Taka)

2003

Chary - Kaori will never let anyone in, because she knows what will happen (Kaori)

Rule Breaker - Aoi breaks the number one rule - never leave with a client. His name is Chan-wook (Aoi;Chan-wook)

Three Duckling Sisters - Aoi tells a story (Aoi;Ling'er;Taka)

2004

The Man, The Bus, and The Girl - Eddie meets Aoi and realizes something very important - he's screwed (Eddie;Aoi)

Mirrors - Aoi doesn't like looking in mirrors. (Eddie;Aoi)

First Kiss - Jiro and Aoi do an experiment late one night (Jiro;Aoi)

Boys Night Out - Jiro, Mason, and Eddie recoup in an alley after what should have been a simple night of gambling goes wrong. (Jiro;Mason;Eddie)

Slaves - She tells him to call her A-ni - he's Steven (Jin;Aoi)

Pencil Sketches - Mason has sketchbooks full of pictures. Some days, the sketchbooks are the only things that keep him going (Mason)

Fire Drill - Chan-wook does a fire drill (Chan-wook;Aoi;Jiro;Ling'er;Taka)

Fancy - Jin makes a friend. . .sort of (Jin;Allison)

First Smile - Taka smiles for the first time (Jiro;Taka)


2005

The Biggest Sin. . .It's Not So Much A Sin - Jiro and Mason catch Eddie and Aoi in a hug. And, Jiro isn't having any of this wacky "incest" (Jiro;Mason;Eddie;Aoi)

Waiting for the Man in Black - They wait for a contact (Aoi;Eddie;Mason)

Seductress - Aoi is always asked to play the seductress. (Aoi;Jiro;Chan-wook)

Promise Ring - Aoi receives a gift from Eddie; this makes her decide to go with him. (Aoi;Taka;Ling'er)

Cheaters - Aoi and Eddie have a system all worked out for stealing (Eddie;Aoi)

Scaredy Cat - Chan-wook's go-to hacker has an unusual fear (Shin-woo)

2006


Glass Slipper - Eddie and Mason look for a shoe (Eddie;Mason)

The Last Brownie on Earth - Two men; one brownie (Jin;Eddie;Aoi)

Hell's Dust - A (slightly) darker look at one of Mason's "jobs". (Mason)

Trail of Poison - Mason sells his poison (Mason)

He Was - Mason plays his parts (Mason)

Knife Trio -Eddie takes care of something for Aoi and Ling’er (Eddie;Aoi;Ling'er)

Remaining - A look inside her head (Taka)


Host Rule Number One - Hosts have rules (Jiro)

2007

Masters - Chan-wook learned from the best and he teaches the best (Chan-wook;Eddie;Jin;Mason;Jiro;Aoi;Taka;Ling'er) *NEW*

Drunken Confession - Eddie's drunk; Aoi knows; and the bartender's been in this scene before. (Eddie;Aoi)

Playing Prince - Jiro knows it is all a game (Jiro)

Happiness Is a Cold Scalpel -Jin's happiness is his work (Jin)

A Thousand Maybes - Mason and Taka discuss the simple truth that everyone lies (Mason;Taka)

One in Many - Jiro has many clients (Jiro)

2008

Wall of Words - She has a Wall of Words that remains her of how she should feel. (Taka)

My Sisters Are. . . - When a costumer asks Jiro about the picture in his wallet, it makes him think about his three "sisters" (Jiro)

The Noose Promise - Jiro visits Taka at her university and the two spend the night together in her room. Discussing everything from pink towels to Taka's noose to a promise Taka made years ago and, of course, why hugs hurt. (Jiro;Taka)

Family Outing - Chan-wook and all seven of his "kids" spend a day at the beach. (Chan-wook;Eddie;Jin;Mason;Jiro;Aoi;Taka;Ling'er)

Back Of the Bus, Men - Being forced to sleep in the back of a tiny van sucks. (Chan-wook;Eddie;Jin;Mason;Jiro;Aoi;Taka;Ling'er)

Spork Love - Jin has lunch with a co-worker (Jin;Dr. Autumn Cameron)

Merry F'ing Christmas - Chan-wook has "bought" Ling'er a Christmas gift, but he's having some trouble setting it up (Chan-wook;Ling'er)

Untitled - Yuri thinks about Mason (Yuri)

2009

Stray Dog - Chan-wook sleeps; Ling'er's hungry; Mason thinks of Ling'er as his very own stray dog. (Chan-wook; Ling'er; Mason)

Into the Woods - Wanting to see Mason, Ling'er heads out on her own, getting lost in the process. (Mason;Ling'er;Ji Sung)

A Meal - A drunk Chan-wook wants to make a toast - in an expensive restaurant (Mason;Ling'er;Chan-wook)

Rich Boy Slumming - Mason and Ling'er discuss Ji Sung (Mason;Ling'er)

Thirteen Hour - After he and Ling'er are attacked, Chan-wook goes to an old friend for help (Chan-wook;Ling'er;Ki Soo)

Family Gathering - Chan-wook and some of his children visit the burial mounds of their family (Chan-wook;Eddie;Aoi;Mason;Taka;Jiro)

The Yellow Dress - Ling'er can be unbelievably cruel, even if she doesn't fully realize it (Ling'er;Jin)

Shopping Trip - Kaori buys Taka new clothes (Kaori;Taka)

Chat Logs - Jin looks for advice (Jin;Eddie;Mason;Jiro)

When I'm Gone - Ling'er and Ji Sung take in a movie (Ling'er;Ji Sung)

Love Lockdown - Eddie reflects on why he and Aoi have never had sex (Eddie;Aoi)

Journal Entry - Aoi reflects on Eddie (Aoi;Eddie)

Sad Truth - Taka's scars; Jiro's shameful act. Sometimes, no matter how much you care about someone, you just can't stand to see their flaws (Jiro;Taka)

Exam - Taka's biggest fear is being exposed (Taka;Jiro)

Routine - A glimpse into their life (Taka;Jiro)

Pretty Children, Bright Children - Chan-wook catches his children in a happy moment (Chan-wook;Eddie;Jin;Mason;Jiro;Aoi;Taka;Ling'er)

A Little Romance - Ling'er and Ji Sung walk home (Ling'er; Ji Sung)

Blurry Angry Things - Ji Sung introduces Ling'er to his parents (Ling'er; Ji Sung; his parents)

The Girl in the Yellow Dress - The moment Ling'er first showed a real and true sign of being seriously ill (Chan-wook;Linger)

Santa Letters - My characters' 2009 letters to Santa Claus (Chan-wook;Ling'er;Ji Sung;Mason;Eddie;Jin;Jiro;Taka;Aoi;Kaori)

Pill Box Gift - Mason gets Ling'er a special gift for Christmas (Mason;Chan-wook;Ling'er)

Ling “Ling’er” Sara’s List of Top Ten Things She Always Wanted to Do (But Won’t Get To Do) - Ling'er's top ten (Ling'er)

2010

A Little Romance II - Ling'er visits Ji Sung's home (Ji Sung; Ling'er)

Twirl - Ling'er is playing, and wants Ji Sung to join in (Ling'er;Ji Sung)

The Man in the Mirror - Chan-wook catches himself in a mirror (Chan-wook)

The Task - Chan-wook asks Taka for help (Chan-wook;Taka)

A First for Everything - Jin catches Taka doing something he didn't think she could do (Jin;Taka)

The Chart - Ling'er finds out the truth about her illness (Ling'er)

Truthful Liar - She's only lying to herself (Ling'er)

Last Love Letter - Ling'er writes one last letter (Ling'er)

Ballet - Taka dances for Jiro (Jiro;Taka)

I Like You (Ling'er;Ji Sung)

2011

Searching for Her Rest - She's looking for something - or someone. (Ling'er;Eddie)

Rest - Ling'er's ready to go (Mason;Ling'er)

Helping Hands - Taka decides to help (Taka;Ji Sung)

Good Day - She thought it was a good day to go (Ji Sung;Ling'er)

The Book - Taka delivers a gift (Taka;Ki Soo)

Stormy Night - Taka has the perfect poker face (Taka;Eddie;Jin;Jiro;Aoi;Mason;Kaori)

Rain - Jin hates the rain (Jin)

All Fall Down - Everything is Falling apart(Jiro;Taka;Jin;Eddie;Mason;Aoi;Kaori)

Breaking Down - Jin confronts Taka; it doesn't end well (Jin;Taka) *NEW*

None of Us Are As Dumb - Jiro finds Mason at a bar after the group fight (Jiro;Mason)

After the Fall - Taka's best trait is her loyalty; the others disagree (Taka;Jin;Eddie) *NEW*

For Her - Ji Sung regrets nothing (Ji Sung)

Last Day I - Ling'er last day (Ling'er;Ji Sung)

Wrong One - Chan-wook got it wrong (Chan-wook)

Prisoner - Ji Sung takes a go at seeing and hearing the world the way Ling'er did (Ji Sung)

Stalker - His one distraction from this is the only woman he ever loved. Too bad she wants nothing to do with him(Mason;Yuri)

Mirrors Two - After years of not looking, Aoi tries to (Aoi;Eddie)

2012

Marriage I - She ran away from home in a wedding dress (Yuri;Mason)

2013

Therapy Files: Ms. Sakurai Kaori, Session One - Kaori's issues come from two places - her jealousy of Takara and her love/hate of Chan-wook (Kaori)

2014

Once More With Feeling - Taka tries to fulfill her Noose Promise. Jiro is only there to help. (Taka;Jiro)

2015

Somnambulate - Mason notices something about Taka's sleeping habits (Mason;Taka;Jin)

Does it Hurt? - Taka's got a question (Taka;Eddie)

2016

Trade Off - Jin teaches Taka to read and write in English (Jin;Taka)

2017

Milshake Angel - Mason buys Taka a milkshake. (Mason;Taka)

The How - He remembers the why, where, and when. Just not the how (Jiro)

2018

What Is There,Isn't - Jin knows its there (Jin;Nurse Sato)

Love Wonder - Nurse Sato wonders about Jin (Nurse Sato)

Wishing Well - Jin celebrates his birthday (Jin;Taka)

Visit - Mason and Yuri visit the family graves (Mason;Yuri)

Together Again - Jiro gets out of jail, Jin and Takara are there to greet him
(Jin;Jiro;Taka)

In Which - Jiro and Taka make progress (Jiro;Taka;Jin)

2019

Whose In There? - Taka wonders whose inside Yuri (Taka;Yuri;Mason)

Babies Make Four - They are his life now (Mason;Ryu-Jin;Ryu-Min)

2020

Fight or Flight - Taka was meant to run, but instead she went back. (Taka)

Fragments of Change - Jin and Taka try and save Jiro; he loses something important (Jiro;Taka;Jin)

Parts - Jiro wants forgiveness;Taka's not sure she can give it (Taka;Jiro;Jin;Kaori)

Real Deal - Haru watches his parents dance (Aoi;Eddie;Haru)

Which One Is Witch? - While shopping, Jiro and Taka run into one of Jiro's old clients (Taka;Jiro;Ikeido Reiko)

Over - Taka wants Jiro to feel something (Taka;Jiro)

2021

Book Talk - Jin always gets nervous before going on stage (Jin;Jiro;Taka)


2022

Fifty - Jiro looks back on past lovers (Jiro)

Drawing - Mason's family inspires him (Mason)

2030

Christmas Meal - Christmas Dinner with Eddie, Aoi, and some of their kids (Aoi;Eddie;Zen)

2031

Strays - Eddie and Aoi bring their kids to meet "Great-Aunt" Kaori (Eddie;Aoi;Kaori)

Bedtime Fairy Tales - Aoi tells her kids a bedtime story (Aoi;Eddie)

2038

Lead to Hope - Gun thinks it could have gone better (Gun;Sakura)


Third Generation (Post-Wonderlife)

Several Years in One

Walk On -Several Pockies (Gun;Ryu-Jin;Mieko; Sakura)

Bo Ra - several key moments in her life (Bo Ra)

Ryu-Min - She tries to be happy (Ryu-Min;Ryu-Jin;Gun

2018

Three Brothers - Eddie and Aoi's foster-sons (Sato;Haru;Gun)

2036
Sakura - Sakura asks about her name (Sakura;Sato)

Name -A trailer about Sato and Sakura

Rival - Mason has a rival for his daughter's love (Mason;Ryu-Min)


2040

Over Now - Gun stops loving her (Gun)

2043

Five Sides - Five people; three love triangles (Bo Ra;Gun;Ryu-Min;Ryu-Jin;Mieko)





AU:We Are - in which Takara never died, and Chan-wook never picked up his children. They were forced to survive on their own.

1987

Fateful Day - Kaori gets a phone call (Kaori)

Back in Japan - Chan-wook and Takara visit Kaori

2002

Aoi - Aoi is sold to mobsters in Japan (Aoi)

2003

Unnatural - In the 2003 two Japanese orphans have a close relationship. This bothers the adults around them (Jiro;Taka)

Failure - At 12, Taka is considered a failure (Taka)

Reason - They took away his reason for living (Jiro)

2007

The Life and Death of Nojima Kazuko - She lives five years showing no emotions (Taka)

. . .Found - Jiro is looking for someone; someone is waiting for him (Jiro;Taka;Shin-woo)

I'm Slightly Breaking - Jiro discovers the painful truth - Taka is broken. (Taka;Jiro;Shin-woo)

2009

Survival - Aoi comes up with a plan to save herself (Aoi)

Eddie I - Eddie reflects on his new life in Japan (Eddie)

Only Hope -This isn't her first time (Eddie;Aoi)

Band-Aid - It's Eddie who takes care of her (Eddie;Aoi)

Trying Not To - He tries not to care (Eddie;Aoi)

Two of a Kind - They share secrets (Eddie;Aoi)

Dolls - Jin is given a task: find a murderer, before he or she strikes again. He does it will a little help from medical examiner, Setsuko - a milkshake! (Jin; Setsuko - a milkshake)

Wake Up Call - Ji Sung and Ling'er wake up to find they aren't alone (Ji Sung;Ling'er;Yuri)


2010

Five Times -Five times Na Ji Sung meets Sara (Ji Sung;Linger)


By Others: (Milkshakes)

Tiny Bit Magical - Eddie is a card shark (Eddie) *NEW*