Not Enough Makeup In the World
He was singing only slightly off key, mostly because he wasn't trying to sing like her.
It was a common popular song from a well known artist. He couldn't think of the name of the song or artist off the tip top of his head, but he knew the song well. If he really tried, he could actually be almost in perfect pitch with her vocals. As it was, he was more focused on the samples he was testing. Normally, he'd get specialty brands and open them on camera and test them out for viewers. A Youtuber, essentially. Though he has dabbled a small fraction in fashion. He had to be careful though. Internet alphas were creepier than in-person alphas.
He was hoping to eventually be part of the fashion or makeup world. He liked both. Often together. But he was biding his time. Male omegas had a slightly elevated chance of making it in the fashion world. Their looks were deemed "ethereal" and perfect for what many agencies were looking for. But it was still a rather cut-throat industry he wasn't ready for just yet.
And maybe he was hoping any agency would see his Youtube channel, and decide to reach out to him.
One could only hope.
He gazed at his reflection in the well illuminated mirror as he applied some eyeshadow that had caught his eye. No pun was intended there. It was a nice somewhat sparkly smokey color. After checking it from all angles, he hummed more in thought this time. He was unsure he particularly liked it. The sparkles were nice. They went with his fur coat. A coat that seemed to shimmer and shine, sparkle even. Half black, and half white. And looking like he was made from galaxies, or stars. Maybe both. As he pulled back to get a fuller view of himself, he went into thought.
With certain styles of clothing and or colors, it could work. But did it work for him? His slightly pale complexion and stunning features? And no, he wasn't appraising himself. Many wolves on the internet said these things. In the flesh as well. He tried to remain humble and kind. He was actually rather shy and quiet. Often keeping to himself and having difficulties making friends. He had very, very few. It would make finding a pack to call his own difficult when the time came.
For now, he was content to just be on his own.
With a huff, he reached for a wet wipe and cleaned the eyeshadow from his lid. What a shame, really. It had looked so lovely in the pallet. And swatched on his arm, it looked doable. But the arm was far different from the eye lid. True, doing just one eye definitely made him look like he'd seen an alpha's fist. And would have raised concerns and questions. But even with both eyes done up, it wouldn't look right on him.
With that done, he moved on to the lip products.
//
What an absolutely beautiful shade of reddish orange.
It was shimmery and sparkly. And in the light, it changed from a more red tone to vibrant orange. Deciding to give that a test instead, he leaned towards the mirror to see how it would look. Just as he did, his ear moved. There was some screaming out in the rest of the mall, but it was the mall. Things happened all the time. However, he also heard the sounds getting louder. Growing closer, turning into what may just be a looting.
He frowned at this.
How rather odd.
Seoul wasn't known for its looting issues. The government was strict about such things. But he could hear things crashing to the floor, wolves running and falling. Screaming. Despite the concern, Park Seonghwa turned his attention back to the lip product. He supposed he could give it a quick test. If he liked it he'd buy it, then he'd leave. For the best. Trying to pull his focus back to what he was doing, he applied the lipstick. Even as he felt his heart jumping in his rib cage. A stark warning, he had to get out of there.
Now.
He rarely ignored his instincts. Mother nature put it there for a reason, after all. And he wasn't truly ignoring it. Merely compromising with it. He'd go once he was done with this product. After taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, he calmed down long enough to apply the lipstick. He smiled softly. He absolutely loved it. He then paused. He should buy it. He would never know when it would be back, if ever. But his inner omega was yelling at him to fucking run already.
With a sigh, he set the sample back and took another wet wipe to clean his lips.
Too bad, he actually liked the way it looked on his smile. He hoped he could come back for it some other day. Once he was free of new makeup, he turned to leave. Just as he did, he saw a few wolves get tackled to the ground. Heard their screams, and shock took hold. Watching as blood began to drain from them, and chunks of their bodies down the throats of those clearly no longer themselves. The store he was in was already hurrying. Most running for either exit they could get to.
In agreement with his instincts and the others, Seonghwa rushed out the store. Thankfully, he wasn't holding anything that could set the security off. But he had a feeling, none of that would really matter. Without delay, he turned and ran for the emergency exit. He was stopping for no one. As he hurried down the many flights of stairs with others, he didn't really think about what was really going on. He would when he got home, he supposed.
Upon reaching a set of stairs, he stopped. As did a few others. For coming towards them were more undead. They smelled so gods awful. Rotten and putrid. He knew he'd be sick if not from the sights earlier, then definitely the smells. As the others scrambled and screamed like cockroaches when the lights turned on, he remained frozen a moment.
He took in the zombie before him. Ears and tail missing. Eyes blood shot, no longer indicating sub-gender. Gaping wounds, oozing bloody and puss. He paused and spoke. Likely out of fear, but maybe to keep his own sanity for the time being. He pointed to one staring at him, "There is not enough makeup you could wear to look any better."
Sassing a zombie?
Not great.
But he did anyway.
With a sickening snarling growl, the zombie surged. Aiming for him. With relatively quick reflexes, Seonghwa dodged out of the way. Watching as the zombie more or less face planted on the stairs as it did so. He hissed softly, even if the thing no longer felt the pain he would have and pointed, "Okay, makeup would definitely not help with that either."
Without waiting for a response from the thing, Seonghwa turned and hurried down the rest of the stairs.
As a male omega, he would have loved to have helped as many as he could. However he knew that in this new reality, it was every wolf for themselves. Was it ideal for finding a mate or pack? No. But was that possible anymore? Maybe. If mother nature was merciful enough about it. And he would take the time to figure out what her agenda may be when he had the chance. Possibly when he got home. His inner wolf was guiding his feet, and he'd let it take him where it knew best.
Upon stepping outside, he only jumped back when a car speeding by nearly hit him. Only to hit a pole, instead. Seeing the world in chaos about him, he turned and raced off for his home.
Thankfully, he didn't live very far.
//
Somehow, he managed to outrun and dodge everything happening about him.
He was quick to enter his building. It already showed signs of what was happening outside. Fair enough. He knew it wouldn't remain isolated outside or in the mall. He wasn't that stupid. True, he wasn't big into zombie movies or shows. He didn't have the strongest of stomachs for it. But he knew the synopses for them. The basic understanding of it all. Outbreak, mass panic, survival, possible cure. And he knew to go against the masses. If everyone was running one way, he had to run the other way.
After all, they were still wolves. Undead ugly wolves, but wolves nonetheless. And they'd just be hunting. They were a new form of nature. Why? Hell if Seonghwa knew right this moment. He just wanted to get to his unit so he could plan his personal survival. But he knew that the undead wolves would just be hunting their prey. Chasing them to feed. That was fine with him. Just, did it have to all be this way?
He knew to others he may seem insane for running into danger, but he didn't have nearly as far to go as some did. He only lived maximum five levels above the street. He hated heights. Had since he was a pup. Puphood trauma was often the reason behind many phobias. His just happened to be because his older brother had left him up in the tree house for far longer than necessary, as a "prank". Seonghwa didn't recall how he got out of that stupid thing, but he did recall waking up in the hospital. Likely, he'd fallen. And it must have caused some damage to his brain.
He functioned fine despite this history, but it's left its scars. Namely, in the fact he fainted when he was too high for his liking. He didn't mind going up. It was looking and or coming down he couldn't handle. So going past the fifth floor was never his preference. Sure, the mall had many floors. But as long as he wasn't near any windows, he didn't mind. Or the railing and looking down. Then he'd have been on the floor as well. Possibly dead himself.
Once on his floor, he hurried to his unit. Thankfully, not ransacked yet. After getting in quickly and bolting the door shut and blockading it, he took this time to calm down and think. Just as he turned to start his mini panic and thinking, he jumped as the power suddenly cut out. He sighed. It had calmed him for some reason. Ah yes, the eternal blackout. Let the lack of technology commence.
So much for his channel.
Oh, well.
With a small groan, he shuffled off to his bedroom. He decided he'd take a nap, then he'd think about this entire situation.
Tomorrow certainly looked very different for him.
And the world.