The country, Vagu, was under the Coian people for centuries.

Vagu itself as an Asian country next to the Koreas. It had long summers and short winters. In their country, the women were in government. It took nearly two hundred years to get a man in office. They enjoyed the way society worked.

It wasn't a poor country, in fact quite the opposite. They enjoyed great schools, theaters, and hospitals. Many North Korean people escaped to go there, 75% of the country's population is either fully Korean or has a relative from North Korea. They refused to give into Korea's demands and return them. They held high respect for all groups and had many different religious buildings on all streets despite most people being Roman Catholic.

However, not everything was good. It was considered unworldly to date someone from a different nationality and completely taboo to have a mixed race child, especially with mixed skin. Dead children, although rarely did a child under the age of fourteen die, were not grieved for long. It was encourage for parents to never mention their dead child and considered rude to openly grieve, especially young parents, as there was always time for another. Grieving, in general, was so shushed that people don't go out in public for at least a year or longer until they've moved on.

Along with a few other problems, Coia, a powerful nation in the Pacific, had them under an iron fist. The taxes became increasingly more and more extreme. Any protests and complaints were quickly and brutally punished.

By 2014, the Vagian people had enough of their rule and demanded change. As to be expected, most were thrown in jail for protecting.

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"Lloydie, sweetheart," his mother asked him in French one day at the breakfast table. Because of him, the world was beautiful again. "What are we to do with all the protesting?"

"Well, we could maybe have a fight." She glanced at Beom. "Or a protest. I wouldn't mind joining."

"No. The jails are disgusting. I will not have you in there."

Lloyd knew better than to go against his father, nodding along. His uncle and his dad spoke to each other in Korean as his brother, really cousin Valentino.

"Lloyd, come to my room." He whispered to him as he grabbed a few pancakes.

"Why?"

"Bitch, it's important!"

They sneaked off to the room. It was much more quiet in the house these days. With four of the others gone, it was just them and the adults. Both were still high school students, but school didn't start for another month. They usually watch movies together or go out to some silly adventure. Today, Valentino was going to drive Lloyd and a few of his friends to the beach.

Valentino's room was Lloyd's favorite. It was a light tan color with fake plants hanging from the walls. It was bigger than his own. He even had a mini fridge with snacks in it.

"Ok, I'll pick you guys up at around seven. Is everyone at his house already?"

"Should be."

The other grabbed his keys. "Good, let's go."

----------

They've arrived at the house just a few moments later. James greeted Valentino and helped him put the things in the car as Charles grilled him for being fashionably late.

"Chill, Charlie. There's no rush." Lloyd finally said once they were standing in Mulligan's living room.

"Y'know how I like to be on time, early even." He ruffled Lloyd's brown hair. "Mulligan is still in his room choosing his clothes. He's been there for like forever."

Lloyd began to walk upstairs. "I know what to do."

Once he was at the door, he quietly heard Mulligan moving around things in his closet and sighing. His outfits always had to stand out. It was quite funny, all Lloyd wears is black and his boyfriend will wear only the brightest colors.

He knocked on the door and smiled when his tall boyfriend opened it and picked him up to hug and kiss him. He seemed to be in a good mood today, thank goodness.

"What should I wear, babe?" He held him up to his closet. "You can choose."

It was hot today, so he chose pink shorts and a white tank top. Mulligan put him down and went into his closet to get changed. Lloyd looked around his room, more like their room due to the many weekends of them simply just laying in bed together after the long nights of partying. His favorite thing in there were probably the books they read together. He likes the other's deep voice when he reads.

Mulligan came out shortly after and told Lloyd that everything they needed was in the car. They went downstairs together and were greeted by Mulligan's mother, Sarah. She isn't as big as he is yet isn't as small as Lloyd.

"By back before it gets dark, ok?"

"Yes, ma."

She gave Lloyd some cookies. Chocolate chip, with a little more sugar than needed. "I know you like your sugar, sweetheart. Be safe."

He smiled and thanked her. She loves him a lot, especially after the incident. The whole family doesn't like to remember it, Sarah got rid of the table where it happened. But Lloyd especially remembers it. He rubs his head every time he's in their kitchen.

Mulligan and Valentino got the front seat, James and Charles got second row, and of course, Lloyd was stuck in the back with all the stuff. He took out his phone and played The Beatles.

He always liked being in the car. His father said that when he was a baby, he used to be taken on late night drives when he couldn't stop crying. Sometimes, when his father is up because of his insomnia, and Lloyd just because, they go on night drives together. It still makes him fall asleep.

But right now, it wasn't nighttime. He was wide awake. The beach was just an hour's drive, and already a certain pair were fighting over snacks.

"Charlie, you fatass! I want the chips!"

"But I got them for me!"

Maybe it was a bad idea for Charles and James to be sitting together, and maybe an even worse idea for only one of them to be in charge of the snacks.

"You guys talking about snacks?" Lloyd put his hand out. "Give me something."

Charles, mid-argument with James, passed Lloyd a packet of Skittles. Valentino yelled at them to both shut up and that he'll get more chips on the way back. That seemed to settle everything. Besides, those two were singing Barbie Girl together just a few minutes later. Mulligan stayed sound asleep through all the chaos, having nine siblings get you used to all the noise very quickly.

-----------

They finally got there around two. Valentino dropped them off near the boardwalk and said he'll pick them up at seven or eight, either was fine.

Once they settled on the beach, Charles and Lloyd were quick to run into the water. Charles, of course, swam in his flip-flops because of the gross stuff at the bottom. The shorter felt so calm in the waves, as if they were trying to rock him to sleep.

"Hey Lloydie," he pointed to a group of girls. "watch me get some bitches."

The other smirked as he walked over to them, saw him getting splashed, and laughed as he marched back.

"First they thought I was gay," he laughed harder. "then they told me their lesbians and splashed me!" It a few minutes to Lloyd to stop laughing. "Do I really act gay?"

After a few seconds of silence, Charles half- attempted to drown Lloyd.

----------------

By five, they had lunch and were chilling out. James and Charles were somewhere on the boardwalk, and the other two were still on the beach. Mulligan laid on the towel as Lloyd dug a hole for apparently no reason.

"Babe, can you come here for a minute?"

After putting something in his swim trucks, he sat next to him. Mulligan yawned, made Lloyd laid down next to him, and put James' pair of sunglasses on him.

"Sleepy."

"Were your sisters fighting again?"

He sighed. "A damn hairbrush, as if there isn't thousands of them in the house."

"You should sleep at my house. It's quiet now." He sighed as well. "I kinda miss them dancing to music at one in the morning."

"We should switch houses, I could use some peace and quiet."

They talked for a while, mostly about how the new year in school would be. They both didn't like school, too much homework. Eventually, they both fell asleep.

---------------

"The rise of protects are taking over the capital. They are expected to go north, as the gov-" Beom turned off the TV. He drank his coffee, tapping his fingers on the screen

Marie was cooking dinner with Ho in the kitchen, the tiny gray radio playing a French song. He walked in there, trying to suck in the carelessness they had. He wished the war didn't make him such a worrier.

------

Someone was yelling about the protests to an officer on the beach. Of course, he was going to get arrested. When the man started running, however, the office shot him in broad daylight.

Immediately afterward, a riot formed. The officer, who by then had called for backup, started shooting in the crowd. Many people, especially young people and parents with children, ran off. Lloyd woke up first, who shook Mullgian awake.

"Mully, wake up!" Once he heard the shots, they both ran.

People were rushing into open stores. Lloyd tried to look for Charles and James, but Mulligan was basically dragging him into the place they had lunch.

Mulligan picked him up and looked him over. "Are you hurt?!"

"Yes, what about you?"

"...I'm good."

They both had to catch their breaths. The store next to them had their window shot. They both ducked under tables, holding each other's shoulders.

"It'll be ok." Lloyd whispered to Mulligan, who was close to having a panic attack. "Just breathe."

His phone rang. Quick to answer, it was James yelling about how Charles sprained his ankle when they were running away. He looked to Mulligan, then at the man behind the counter, back at Mulligan, who was starting to realize what he was thinking, then ran. He didn't even realize he was running for a few seconds.

"LLOYD COME BACK!"

"Did you run out?!"

"Yeah. Where you at?"

"Jesus Christ, I can see you. Keep going forward."

He reached them. Both of them started yelling about how stupid that was. He just picked up Charles and led them to where Mulligan was. James held the door so Lloyd could get in first. A bullet flew in, the boys and the man screaming as it knocked down a photograph. Charles was put under the table with the others, having to use a pillow for his foot.

"Lloyd, I thought you got shot!"

"Sorry, babe, but Charlie got hurt!"

"I would kill him if I could walk properly!"

"I saw a bullet go this close to Lloyd's leg!"

James huffed and touched Lloyd's shoulders. "Don't do something stupid like that again! What if those bastards shot you?!"

"Don't act like you guys weren't just sitting ducks! At least I was a running one!"

"Lloyd!"

His phone was ringing again. James answered it and put it on speaker.

"Lloyd, where are you?! Everyone's freaking out at home!"

"Hey, Val. It's James. I don't think you should come right now. They're still shooting."

"Don't care, I'm already driving there."

"God, are all Dohs the same! Lloyd was running outside because Charles got hurt."

"Lloyd, auntie will kill you!"

Despite telling himself not to, he laughed. "Not if the shooter kills me first."

At once, everyone glared at him. "Not funny."

"How did you even know what's happening?"

"Dumbass, it's on the news."

Charles laughed. "Boys, we made it big!"

"Glad to think you and Lloyd think this is so funny."

"At least we're not screaming and crying."

"Where should we meet you?"

"You seriously thinking about going outside again?"

Mulligan hugged him tighter. "He's not going to."

"WAIT SHUT THE FUCK UP." Everyone turned to Charles. "I THINK IT STOPPED."

No more shots, no more bullets flying. They all looked at each other, then Lloyd tried to get up to see. Mulligan put him on his lap.

"Don't move, we're not sure yet."

"Jeez, Lloyd."

They waited. It was the man who went outside.

"Alright, it's safe." The man grinned at them. "You could leave, but be careful. It's the end of the world out there."

Mulligan picked Charles up as James went out. They saw a body next to the water. Valentino, still on the phone, said he was thirty minutes away and to stand where he dropped them off.

As they were waiting, Charles took selfies and pictures, the body being in the background. His mother called.

"Charlie, where the hell are you?!"

"Oh my gosh, mom. I kinda hurt my foot and Lloyd like almost died."

"I did not almost die."

"Charles!"

"Mom, I'm good! I'm coming home soon."

Everyone's parents were calling. James was talking to his mother in Spanish and held Mulligan's phone so he could talk. Lloyd's father and mother were both yelling on the phone, causing him to flip-flop French and Korean every few seconds.

At long last, Valentino finally arrived.

--------------------------

Charles went home first, his mansion was closest to the beach. Mulligan and Lloyd were in the second row, the taller still holding his boyfriend for dear life.

"Damnit, Lloyd, don't do something that dumb again." Valentino kept himself from laughing as James side eyed him. "You're lucky I'm not telling auntie and uncle."

"I was worried. Charlie's my best friend."

"Honestly, both of you were laughing during the whole thing. Without him, James would have to yell at you all day long."

James let himself finally laugh. "That's what he gets for stealing the chips."

"Oh my God, James, let that go."

-----------

James went home fifthteen minutes ago, with chips of course. Valentino wanted to get coffee, leaving the couple in the car.

"Mully, please stop shaking, we're safe now."

"You know how I get."

He kissed his hair and opened his phone. "Wow, only one person died? I was expecting more."

"How many injured?"

"Sixteen."

"I was expecting like a million." He kissed Lloyd's arm. "You have a bruise."

He moved his arm up to look. "Oh, that's from falling in the hole." He took out the shell from before. "I found this, I think you'll like it."

Mulligan took it and put it in his pocket. "Thanks, babe." He hugged him. "Please don't do anything like that again. I was really worried."

"I know it was dumb. I'm sorry."

They both lend in to kiss, only for Valentino to open the door and throw a bag at them.

"Heyyy, dad's like freaking out. I lied and said we're stuck in traffic." Valentino drunk his coffee before starting the car again.

"Oh my gosh, Val." Lloyd opened the bag and gave Mulligan half of his cakepop.

Suddenly, Valentino popped off his arm. "Phantom pain."

"Sometimes I forget your arm is fake."

"Do you have your medication?"

"Good idea." He opened the glove department and took some pain medication. It took a few minutes, but then he put his left arm back on. "Alright, we're good. Let's go."

------------------------

By the time they dropped Mulligan off and arrived home, Lloyd's parents and uncle were still panicked. Having to juggle shaky French and worried Korean was no easy task.

"Are you hurt?!"

"No, dad!"

"Is everyone alright?!"

"Yes, mom!"

Valentino's adoptive father, Lloyd's uncle, asked both boys what happened. They both tried to explain it the best they could, one was sleeping and the other wasn't even there.

It took everyone a while to calm down. His mother was still hugging him tightly as they both ate baguette and kimchi together. His father, although he didn't show it, was shaken.

His mind danced around the idea of it happening again. A war. He's too old, they'll send his son. But that wouldn't happen. He won't let it happen.

--------------------------

Around one in the morning, his father couldn't sleep. His stomach was sick with worry. His mother noticed and went to go talk to Lloyd, who was laughing with Mulligan on the phone.

"Oh my gosh, Mully! Hunter wasn't that bitchy!"

When she knocked on the door, Lloyd hung up the phone and said she could come in. His room was fairy clean, a few clothes on the floor. She liked the way his flags look, even if she forgot what they meant. One was pink, blue, and purple. She knew the other one, the Non-binary one. The colors in that one were her favorite.

"Lloyd, I'm sorry you had to go through that today." She secretly liked talking to him without her husband. There was no need to translate anything.

"Mom, it's ok. But why was dad all panicked? Was it because of the war?"

"Yeah, but he's sleeping now."

"I could him watching TV in your room." She smiled at him, she was caught.

"Well, he's sleepy, I promise."

"Do you think a war might happen?"

She sighed and twisted her long hair. "I honestly don't know. The country was acting like this before the other war."

Lloyd thought for a minute, then said, "If it does, I'll go for dad."

She had goosebumps. "Don't worry about it. It probably won't happen."

"Ok, besides, I need to worry about what my classes would be for school. I hope I get Driver's ED."

"There we go, I'm so proud of you for keeping your head in the right place." She kissed his forehead and stroked his brown hair. She loved his appearance. It was a combination of both parents. Brown hair and pale skin like her, yet wavy hair and brown eyes from his father. And she got to create that.

"Try to go to sleep, ok? It's late."

"But moooom!!"

Her voice was too gentle to be firm. "No, no, time to go to bed."

He did what she said, laying down as she turned off his light. She kissed his soft hair and wished him goodnight. The minute she left, he took his phone and played a game.

-------------------------

"Now go to sleep, darling."

His father played with his hands. "Marie," he spoke in sloppy French. He was never really good at it. "Are you sure it'll be ok?"

"Yes, Beom. Now please go to sleep, you haven't slept well in days."

"Yes, yes."

They both turned to the wall, the TV and air conditioner being the only sound. Just as Marie was about to go to sleep, Beom's mind began to run again.

"Gongjunim?"

"What, chéri?"

He extended his hand to her from under the blanket. "I keep overthinking."

"It's going to be okay." She smiled softly at him, her green eyes looking brown in the dark. Beom smiled softly when he saw their son in her face. "Don't worry."

---

Tomb of a Suicide
Wilhelm Kotarbinski