⁝ docks

@❃ jung hana The reaction from the other seemed unwarranted after what Eun had perceived as an attack. Perhaps it had not really been so, but her anger and desperation had joined forces to overwhelm all other senses at the moment. It was almost a relief to just let out everything that had built up over the months that had passed in silence, only to lighten the load on her heart a little.
Even if the cost would be hurting someone she had once thought close.

“Your story! It… It doesn’t belong to you. I won’t let you just make a mockery of me!” Could it really be that she was surprised? It seemed to genuine, and yet she knew how well Hana could hide behind her prim and proper.

Yet that was a defence.
This was… different. Eun couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but she did not care to delve into it now. She had so many pent up feelings to let go of, and Hana was an easy way out.

It was a horrid thought.
Perhaps it was just Eun herself being horrid.

“If it did not, then explain why it is my story? Explain why you are mocking my pain for your own game like this! I thought he hd saved me, and yet I had to leave. I had to turn my back because I could see how this hurt me. I could see how it hurt those I care for!”

Her shoulders rapidly rose and fell with every heavy breath, the only thing keeping her from unleashing tirades of words she knew she would not be able to take back. Things that would have probably broken her at one point, yet not they felt liberating. As if this was what she should have done all along. No games, just the cold hard truth the way she saw it.

Tears still streamed down her face as she watched Hana turn heel. “Perhaps it is best that you do.” What the future held she did not know. But in that moment, Eun saw herself as a victor. If only she would know how hard this loss would hurt with time.

@❀ seo hyunwoo perhaps it is the salty air, or the jittery awkwardness of the space in time where night transitions into day, jinyoung’s nose have been strangely itchy. so much so, that the urge to rub it incessantly while heavy-lifting massive wooden boxes has begun to annoy the hell out of him. it’s almost as if the current wonkiness of his bodily functions is some sort of subliminal warning – a precursor to worse events that will inevitably occur. from the overhead deck, the captain’s gruff voice bellowed for him to move faster, work faster and quit dawdling.

disgruntled, he allows himself one last sniff before he tamps the persistent discomfort down and quickens his movements. the mercenaries at the other end have already started to toss and fasten coir ropes over crates and barrels, ensuring that the trade goods were properly secured for their voyage. jinyoung finishes the last of it, furtively glancing at the skies brightening into a washed-off version of grey. it will not be long until the ship sets sail. aching for a short breather, he descended into the orlop. the barrels here were loaded in first, so it should be empty.

that fussy -in-command has hammered into them that these are rice wine of exceptional quality, marked by ‘x’s on their sides. they are to be exported across the seas, enjoyed by esteemed nobles and the wealthy alike. therefore, it is of utmost importance that they are untouched and unharmed, once they are in place. furrowing his brows, he found it rather odd that the proclaimed alcohol is stored so crudely, unbefitting of its valuable nature. they should have been sealed in intricate ceramics, and carefully packed within layers and layers in padding. … not this.

before his skeptical mind can probe further, the labored creaks of their ship’s floorboards ring out. too heavy for a stray rat, or a cat even. most likely a good-for-nothing runt skipping out until the bulk of the work is over, as usual. "who goes there?" he pressed forward until a man in his early thirties made himself known. impatiently listening to the latecomer’s spiel of well-worn excuses as to why he is shirking responsibilities, jinyoung gives him an unamused deadpan stare at his poor attempt to appear helpful now. “… right.” not only does he possess a flagrant disregard for work ethics, he is also a bumbling idiot. distasteful.

“no, leave it.” he hasn’t tampered with anything, has he? jinyoung sweeps his eyes over the prized barrels and finds nothing untoward. slightly placated, he pulls the wrist of the anxious loafer with a vice-like grip and nods, “come with me.” a mere cheonmin like him can’t afford the promised hell if the most important cargo of the shipment is to break. he doesn’t trust this man around them. fully intending to turn him in and get him relegated elsewhere, the stoic mercenary marches upwards in large strides.

@❃ seo eun marked by constant fluctuations, their time spent at the docks mirrored the ebb and flow of the waters. tears welled up in her eyes at her outburst. the pristine image she worked to uphold has shattered moments ago, and continued to crumble from here on. it only affirmed her need to put up a face of artifice, a shield that helped her feign a sense of confidence.

as the other woman unleashed another outburst however, her hold on her languished. moments earlier, she felt she made the right choice, on the precipice of a genuine friendship blossom between them. one where they can unsheathe their vulnerabilities without any worry of being exploited… only to be proven wrong in just a moment later. the conviction she felt earlier dissipated just like that.

startled by her yelling, hana reared back from her, as if singed by an active hearth.

“w-what are you talking about?!” reciprocating the outburst in a way, the woman was genuinely struck by surprise.

silence fell between them once again, unlike the tranquility from before. it was akin to boulders crashing in on them. it was stifling, having the stepping stones of a foundation built knocked down, just like that.

hana tried not to gnaw on her bottom lip or wring her hands. but she profusely blinked before resuming to speak, after gathering the potency to do so.

“…i wasn’t talking about the man you knew. in fact, it had nothing to do with you.” surprised at the strength in her voice, she withdrew her feet from the lake and put her shoes back on.

shifting to stand up from the ground, and after dusting off dirt and frost from her chima, she looked at her pensively.

“i think i should go, eun.” hana readied herself to depart, turning on her heel as she faced the direction away from the lake.

@❃ heo jinyoung Hyunwoo's heart pounded as he skulked through the shadows of the docks, his mind buzzing with determination and a touch of nerves. "Investigating my parents' murder is turning into quite the adventure," he muttered to himself, adrenaline coursing through his veins.

As he crept closer to the ship, his eyes widened at the sight of his uncle, looking more like a man in the midst of a midlife crisis than a shipping tycoon. "Luckily he never met me before, don’t have to put on a fake scars like his" Hyunwoo thought wryly as he eavesdropped on the conversation between his uncle and the muscular man named Jinyoung. Ordering him to arrange the ‘special’ rice wine on the lowest floor. “Something fishy is definitely going on here,” Hyunwoo whispered to himself as he eavesdropped.

With a plan forming in his mind, Hyunwoo slipped into the belly of the ship, his heart pounding with each passing moment. As he examined the barrels, he couldn’t help but marvel at the clandestine nature of the operation. “Rice wine, huh?” he muttered, his eyes narrowing in determination.

He notices multiple barrels of what classified as “rice wine” on the floor. However, there were some that gathered at the back of the room and it has an X marked on it. He knew immediately what the mark indicates. He marked the rest of the barrels with an X as well but in such way only he can differentiate, a mischievous grin tugging at his lips. "Let's see them try to figure this out," he chuckled to himself, relishing the thought of outsmarting his uncle's cronies. But as he made his move to investigate the originally X mark barrels, a figure appeared in the doorway, freezing him in his tracks. Hyunwoo's eyes widened in panic as he came face to face with Jinyoung, his mind racing for an excuse.

"Ouh! My man! Sorry for being late- I was hangover,” Hyunwoo blurted out, his voice cracking with nerves. "I try to not be seen by others so they won’t fire me for constantly being late. I- hmmmm we supposed to arrange this special barrel to the front right?" He held his breath, hoping his hasty impromptu act would be enough to throw Jinyoung off his trail.

[post deleted by owner]

@✿ baek junwoo Hyunji's eyes widened in disbelief as Junwoo's figure materialized before her, his presence casting a shadow over her carefully laid plans. She had expected to meet with Haoyu, her Qing friend, not the man who had torn her world asunder with his callous actions.

The anger and resentment that had simmered beneath the surface boiled to the forefront, threatening to consume her like a wildfire. How dare he show his face before her, after all he had done? The sight of him reignited the flames of vengeance that had smoldered within her, fueling her determination to see him suffer for his transgressions.

"You have a lot of nerve showing up here," Hyunji spat, her voice laced with venom as she glared daggers at him. "What do you want, Junwoo? To gloat over your latest conquest, or to revel in the destruction you've wrought?"

Her words were a bitter indictment, each syllable dripping with contempt as she confronted him with the pain he had inflicted upon her. She had thought herself prepared to face him, to confront the demons of her past head-on, but the sight of him standing before her dredged up emotions she had long since buried.

"You think you can walk up to me after you burned my shop as if nothing happened?" she continued, her voice rising with indignation. "Well, let me tell you something, Junwoo. You may have broken my heart, but you will never break my spirit. I will not rest until I see you pay for what you've done."

Her words hung heavy in the air, a challenge issued with a ferocity that bordered on madness. Hyunji's gaze bore into Junwoo's, a silent promise of retribution simmering beneath the surface. She may have been caught off guard by his unexpected appearance, but she refused to let him intimidate her any longer. She would stand her ground, no matter the cost.

@❃ jung hana Something in Hana's tone had broken through the frustration she had been holding onto. All she had said was her name, and yet it had felt more genuine than most anything Hana had ever spoken to her in the time they had known each other. For a moment Eun swore she saw something move within her friend's mind, the sliver of an idea not yet given birth but longing to spill forth from behind a barrier.

“Hana…”
She wanted to say something, anything to hopefully ease her mind a little. Even with the comments she had made she did not owe her an explanation, far less to have to expose painful secrets she had not told anyone else. And yet, when she began speaking the gisaeng remained quiet, letting her attention drift out over the water’s surface in hopes of steaming the tides of her tears.

Too much of what she explained sounded familiar to her. Down to her prince coming out of the blue to save her from a horrid fate that could have befallen her. Even the part about having to leave rung true within Eun’s heart, to the point where it almost felt a mockery of the pain she felt. Had Hana already known the story to why she was so heartbroken? Had she heard of what had gone on in Eun’s life that had lead her here?

“St-st-stop, p-please.” The words wrestled themselves from her lips as she pulled away, arms wrapping around herself in a protective manner. What was this? Was it another tired delusion made up by Eun’s own mind to send her further into the darkness? Her eyes caught a glimpse of her friend’s visage in the water, her face twisted by the ripples left by her feet. For a moment Eun swore she saw a wicked smile, as if Hana had tried to plunge a dagger into her back. Yet after a blink and the water stilling she could see the clear image of a distressed Hana, though she seemed as poised as ever. “S-stop talking. Don’t tell that story like that. You know nothing about him, nor me!” In place of her usual defences Eun had nothing but words. Words lashing out against the one she felt was taunting her, pushing her beyond her reason.”Stop!”

@❃ seo eun feeling the world weigh down on the two cheonmin women, the lady-in-waiting continued to hold her loosely in her arms, coaxing her into relaxation. genuinity at this moment came easily to her, breaking down the barriers she held up against others. perhaps, that was the cause of her murmurs, the exhaustion of holding back secrets. secrets that repelled her from others. regardless, she blinked in surprise at eun’s recognition, almost stumbling over her words.

“eun, i-” pausing, she briefly contemplated on spilling the whole truth, or to retreat to her evasive nature. ripples formed as she dipped her feet into the water. with her eyes downcast on the cold water, hana lifted her gaze to meet her friend’s eyes once again. in the silence she created, she bestirred herself to fully open up to the woman beside her, willing to receive any truth she reveals about herself with full transparency.

“i would be clueless on what to do if this man ever comes back. not yours but, this man i met years ago.” tears threaten to fall, but she feared that eun would tear up even more.

“he… he saved me from a wretched place. he felt like he came from a fairytale. however, i couldn’t stay for long and i ended up having to leave.” a singular tear fell from her eye, which she quickly wiped with her free hand. “if it weren’t for him, i wouldn’t have been able to tell this tale. or to have the chance to befriend you.”

@❁ bae eunhyuk Geon smiles. The kind that lights up your whole face and spreads to your eyes. His cheeks stretch and ache at the unfamiliar use, and even though he's sure Eunhyuk means when he says, all he can feel is happiness.

"Please," he says simply, still grinning like an absolute buffoon until their lips make contact once more. This kiss is different than their first, tinted with desperation and a sort of hunger that seeps in at the corners. Geon feels his own body responding, a great chasm within him yawning open to expose himself to the younger.

With each breath, each movement of their lips, Geon feels his soul baring itself for Eunhyuk. As the other's hands grip his clothes in a bid to move closer, he feels those same hands on the very threads of his being, wringing his heart and pulling every drop from it, leaving it to pool in the space between their bodies, ever growing smaller.

Geon's hands are nimble, quick to undo his belt and open his robes down the front. He tugs, and his underclothes come undone in a simple motion. The balmy night air makes him shiver, and he is suddenly far more aware of the scars that mark his chest, the larger one in his side, and the three criss-cross ones on his back, taken as a punishment when he was barely a man.

He understands that Eunhyuk will only add to his scars, but the thought sends a sigh of relief through him. Maybe then he'd learn to love his scars. He wouldn't be able to help himself.

So Geon returns the hungry kisses, reaching for Eunhyuk's hips with a pull, a silent communication for him to move forward, where Geon wanted the male sitting in his lap. Geon was not sure exactly what he was doing, but he had seen the dirty drawings that circulated, the ones that people smuggled in from Japan. Lying with a man would be understandably different, so he could do nothing but allow instinct to drive him, a beast clawing and howling from within him, begging to be released.

@❃ choi geon There is affection in Geon's eyes—it is unmistakable, and all it does is put a heavy weight in Eunhyuk's chest, his own heart sinking. What is this? He fights the urge to clutch at his chest, his mind desperate in its attempt to understand what this feeling means. He almost—almost—avoids Geon's gaze, as though the very weight, extent of the older man's affections is one that is too heavy to bear. But he keeps his eyes where they are, in a stubborn attempt not to lose to the intensity of Geon's affections.

"I decided you are worth that risk."

Eunhyuk hopes Geon does not feel the way his lower lip slightly quivers. Is he worth it? He does not know. But the two of them know that this will be Geon's ruin, one way or another. It is all that Eunhyuk brings, after all, and he has had no qualms before, in doing so.

(Then what is this hesitation from him? Is it because, for the first time, there is an answer that differs from the ones before? Or is it because of his curiosity, shaken by this new experience, that he hopes this does not end so soon? It is only either of those things; he is incapable of anything else. He does not possess the heart for that, simply.)

"It is my gift to you; my ruin."

Another shiver runs down Eunhyuk's spine when he feels Geon's lips against the skin of his neck, along with a sharp inhale. He lets Geon lead his hand, and he rests his palm against Geon's chest. He can feel the way Geon's heart beat against his palm, and only now does it sink in—it is genuine, whatever it is that Geon feels toward him. It is genuine.

(And he will ruin it, much like he has done with the others before. He /will/ ruin it, and that is for certain.)

With his other hand, he guides Geon to face him once more, now cupping the other's cheeks. Eunhyuk wonders how he looks now, with how warm his cheeks feel, and his difficulty in meeting Geon's eyes. But his gaze drops down to Geon's lips, and he speaks, quietly, lowly,

"I will ruin you." And it is a promise spoken to the wind, under the moon. "I accept your gift, and I will ruin you. I will take all that you are, and ruin you."

He leans closer, stopping just before their lips touch. "Do not regret it." No matter what happens, do /not/ regret it.

And he closes the distance once more, claiming Geon's lips with a newfound vigor. He kisses like he means it, messily moving his lips against Geon's own pair, if only to drown the thoughts that are threatening to cloud his mind. He moves closer, one hand moving to lightly grab onto Geon's locks, while the other falls down to the older man's clothes, tugging.

"Come closer," is an unspoken message. Eunhyuk wants Geon closer, wants nothing to be between them.

Where is this desire coming from? He does not know. That is a question he will save for later, when he is no longer drowning in the waves of Geon's affections.

@❁ bae eunhyuk Geon bites back the sliver of disappointment that bubbles up inside him when Eunhyuk doesn't immediately move to kiss him again. He catches the bitter feeling between his teeth and clenches down, forcing understanding to fill its place, to banish the acrid taste from his mouth. This was a lot. And he would not force Eunhyuk, would not coerce him nor fault him if he wished to stop this right now.

That silly little flame did a twirl, wrapping around his ribcage and settling in.

Geon his lips, eyes full of molten affection he had not shown anyone...possibly ever. Geon never felt he was worthy of love, of someone's gaze. Not until he saved his family. After all, how could someone enjoy his company when he struggled with it himself?

But Geon was certain of how he felt for Eunhyuk. And since he was already on a selfish streak, he'd allow it to drag out a bit longer. Let the younger hate him for it later, he did not care. He would likely hate himself, too. That was okay. He could add it to his list of sins.

The question makes Geon want to laugh. He settles for a slight smile and sharp exhale. "Eunhyuk-ah," he said softly but firmly, his other hand lifting to cup the male's face in his large hands. "We both know what doing this would mean. You know I am my family's eldest son. I would only risk them if my heart felt it worth it. I decided you are worth that risk." He slid his thumb over Eunhyuk's bottom lip, mesmerized.

"I do not say that to scare or worry you. It is a mere fact. You could destroy me. You could run into town and tell everyone I forced myself upon you, and I would never recover. It is my gift to you; my ruin."

Geon's eyes trailed down Eunhyuk's form, moving back up slowly and landing on his neck. Slowly, ever so slowly, Geon leaned in, pressing his lips over Eunhyuk's fluttering pulse. His hands twisted to take Eunhyuk's wrist, guiding it and placing it over his heart. "Take it," he said, voice firm. "I cannot bear the weight of it any longer."

@❃ choi geon This... is strange. Eunhyuk is not used to gentleness. Even with his previous lovers, both men and women, they do not know gentle. Oftentimes there is roughness that comes with passion, one that he cannot say he's known the feeling of, but it was quite easy to pretend that he knows. It was quite easy to pretend that he feels the same vigor that his partners had, a lie that he is all too familiar with.

But Geon remains gentle.

Is it because Eunhyuk has set the pace first? Eunhyuk's hands wander, one holding onto Geon's wrist as the latter's hand moves to his locks, the sensation sending a light shiver down Eunhyuk's spine. Oh, this is curious, is it not? He has never felt this way before with anyone else, for he's always taken a distance away from the others. Always at an arm's length, even if they lay with one another. Always at an arm's length, even if Eunhyuk whispers honeyed words and sweet nothings deep into the night, yet not an ounce of love can be seen in his eyes, had they tried to look.

And yet... here he is. He will not call this love, no. He cannot, for this is merely curiosity. This curiosity of his has led him to many things. It has led him here, to find a different answer to a question that he has kept in his mind, a question he asks those who end up in his arms.

'How do you feel love?'

Perhaps this warmth in his chest is Geon's affections. The warmth that Eunhyuk feels isn't his, but Geon's instead. A small, quiet gasp leaves Eunhyuk's lips at the bite, and he can feel his cheeks warm up this time. (And, of course, he blames the cold evening, the breeze that dances around them in this wee hour of the night.)

When Geon pulls away, Eunhyuk almost chases after his lips. Almost. He does not. Instead, he meets Geon's gaze.

"Do you truly want this, hyungnim?" he asks, a whisper into the night that only Geon can hear. 'Do you truly want me?' follows in his mind, unvoiced, dancing at the tip of his tongue.

"Is this what you truly want?"

@❁ bae eunhyuk Was this real? Were the heavens taunting him after all? This had to be a dream. An illusion. Maybe all the alcohol he consumed in years past had finally caught up to him and now he had gone insane and was hallucinating kissing his friend. But that was alright; even if it was a mirage of happiness, he could allow himself a sip of paradise.

Kissing a man, Geon learned, was not so different from kissing a woman. Eunhyuk's frame was similar to his own, though a touch more slight where Geon's was layered in muscle. But his lips were soft and warm and the sensation was filling Geon's veins with warm milk and honey, choking his heart with the sweetest pain he'd ever experienced.

Eunhyuk seemed a bit slow, but Geon was happy to accommodate. There was no need to rush, and all the gooey honey in his limbs made his movements feel slow and syrupy. His hand slipped back against Eunhyuk's cheek, threading slightly into his hair, enough to pull some strands loose. Geon's mind was a roaring mess, urging him to stop while encouraging him to keep going. He never thought about how he was supposed to stop.

So he didn't. Geon was gentle, allowing pauses for Eunhyuk to stop, to pull away. Geon gently nipped Eunhyuk's lower lip, a curious exploration that he soothed a moment later with a sweep of his tongue. The elder pulled back, just a fraction, his chest heaving slightly in response to his pounding heart, eyes slitting open just enough to search Eunhyuk's features.

@❃ choi geon "Pain, if brought upon by you, would be utter bliss."

Eunhyuk knows that this will not end well. He knows there is only one way this can end, for it is him—he has been the one to bring his previous partners to their ruin, crushing their hearts without so much of an apology. Without so much of anything, really. Pain is the only thing Eunhyuk can give the older man, and if he truly cares for the older man, then he will stop him. He will stop Geon from leaning closer, slap the latter's hand away from his cheek.

But he does not.

He does not fight the urge as he presses his cheek against the warmth of Geon's palm, rough against his skin. He finds that he does not mind it, the callouses, the difference of Geon's hands compared to his. His eyes slowly close as Geon closes the distance between them, his lips parting as he too leans in.

This is a mistake, perhaps. For Geon, and for Eunhyuk. This is a mistake that only Eunhyuk is well aware of. This is a mistake that only /he/ is familiar with.

And so, he lets their lips touch. Warmth spreads across his body at the touch, and his heart pounds even more strongly against its cage. He fears that it beats any louder that Geon will hear.

This is not the first time Eunhyuk has kissed a man. This is not the first time, and yet the warmth he feels in his chest is an unfamiliar feeling. What is this? He does not know, does not understand where this warmth in his chest is coming from. But he indulges in it, lets it stay as he moves his lips in a shy manner that is not often associated with him. Almost as if he's still trying to see if Geon will change his mind, despite the fact that it's Geon who leaned in first, claiming Eunhyuk's lips.

(And if Geon does, what then? What will be left of Eunhyuk, who is still reeling from a feeling he does not understand?)

@❁ bae eunhyuk Geon had never watched someone as closely as he watched Eunhyuk. A true statement in general, but even more so in this moment, as his fire danced and twirled, preparing to roar into a great, consuming plume, or to finish its existence with one last hurrah, like a phoenix dying so it may be reborn again someday.

The widening at the corners of the eyes, the pause in breath. Geon was trained to recognize body language, to know when he needed to be ready to fight. That reaction was rising within him in this moment. Will he fight? Or flee?

Geon's hands curl against the slightly damp wood of the dock, splinters pricking at his fingertips and digging under his nails. Good; he needed something to ground him, and pain always did. He himself could barely move, could barely think, not with all the roaring in his ears, and gods, was that his /heart/ making that sound? How embarrassing.

But Geon had an opportunity. An opportunity to laugh his words off, to deny them. But he wouldn't; he wished to be selfish tonight, to allow himself his feelings. If he was rejected, at least he could walk away without regrets. His reputation was hardly in a position to be sullied further as it was. So all he could do was take a breath and plunge.

"I hear myself, and I hear myself so clearly my ears are ringing." Now or never. Now or never. "I wish for you to take every piece of me and do what you will. Save me, cherish me, destroy me. Pain, if brought upon by you, would be utter bliss."

Now or never. Now.

Geon didn't let himself think anymore. He twisted his body, one arm reaching out towards the younger. Geon's hands were large, calloused from fighting. He hoped Eunhyuk wouldn't mind, wouldn't flinch. But Eunhyuk's cheek was smooth and warm, like porcelain fresh from a kiln. Forward, forward Geon moved his torso, until his eyes slipped close and their lips were pressing together.

@❃ choi geon That strange pressure that urges you to be great, huh? Eunhyuk repeats to himself, almost laughing at the thought. While he would say that he himself isn't so bound by the shackles of such things, he cannot deny that as an artist, he wants his art to be timeless. He wants it to be seen, to be acknowledged for what it is, though he supposes the latter is quite... a difficult wish to fulfill.

While art is the only way he knows how to wield in order to communicate with the world—a rough way of presenting himself bare, heart and soul in each and every of his pieces under a different name—he knows that people will not understand him the way he wants to be seen. He has known that since the first time his mother has raised her voice at him, back when he was nothing but a young child.

"That is simply the way you love, I suppose," Eunhyuk says. "Such an honest way to love. Your family must be happy to have you."

(If even his family does not want to understand him, then no one else will. It is a fact that he has known ever since, but it does not stop him from continuing art anyway. It is the only thing he knows intimately, the only thing he has come to /love/. He cannot lose his only way of understanding such an idea.)

"Or else you might find yourself unsure of who that person was in the first place." Does that truly matter, Eunhyuk wonders, when he does not even know who he is now? And if he does not share this love that he understands, then how else would the world know that he is capable of such?

(Does it matter? Does it truly matter how society views him—he, who carries a heart that is incapable of love?)

The words that fall from Geon's lips next—they make Eunhyuk's eyes widen slightly in surprise, in mild disbelief. His lips part, almost as if he wants to cut Geon's words before he finishes, but Geon's gaze keeps Eunhyuk still. Frozen where he is. When Geon is done, Eunhyuk feels breathless. He can hear the way his heart pounds against his chest, loud against his ears.

He knows that Geon means this. He knows that this isn't merely because of their conversation, no. He knows that Geon means this, wholly and honestly. He has known this for a while now, but he hadn't expected for Geon to act on it, speak on it.

(After all, when has Eunhyuk ever been worth such affections?)

"Do you hear yourself, hyungnim?" Eunhyuk asks softly, his voice only loud enough for the other to hear. "Do you wish for me to take everything that you are all to myself, and make you mine? Selfishly, completely?"

He leans towards Geon, the moonlight casting shadows to Eunhyuk's form upon Geon's body.

"Do you wish to be mine, hyung?" Eunhyuk asks. His eyes meet Geon's, and perhaps, in his eyes, there is a plea, a taste of bittersweet. A plea for what? He does not know.

@❀ choi muyeol 　　❛ November 18th, 1869 ❜
The rainy season was Bitna’s favorite. She adores the gray skies for its beauty, and she also doesn’t seem to mind the rain much either. News has already spread of her engagement to the Seol’s rather quickly, Bitna was still registering the sudden event made by the approval of both families herself, she wasn’t quite sure how to feel about its terms.

All that she could truly confess to was that she felt uncertain. In all the years she had lived, marriage had never once crossed her mind. Let alone being betrothed to someone much younger than her, not to mention, he doesn’t seem too fond of her as well, just like she doesn’t seem too intrigued by her soon-to-be husband either. She didn’t know which was worse―being engaged to a total stranger for political purposes―or being engaged to a man who felt absolutely nothing for her, and that her entire life may suddenly turn into turmoil.

Bitna sighed loudly, she stood on the edge of the docks bridge letting the rain embrace her firmly, although she had nearly been soaked from head to toe, it still did not stop her from tilting her lovely visage up towards the sky, letting the raindrops kiss her from all directions.

Whenever the Marchioness felt cornered, she’d pray for the rain to come. Underneath the gloomy weather she’d truly think to herself. Questioning her own existence, for what was her purpose in this life if not for her father’s greed? Tragically, even after the man was no longer here, his determination lived on in his children for better or for worse―in Bitna’s case, she felt certain it was for the worse.

Slowly opening her eyes, the young woman gaze towards the endless sea before her onyx eyes. In the distance, she could have sworn she saw a memory, a woman in her mid twenties twirling around in an enchanting dance underneath the pouring rain with her dear daughter observing her every move, applauding her mother for her breathtaking performance. The rain dance was one of the minor memories Bitna had recollected of her mother, she was but only three years old, then. It was a miracle she could even remember the memory itself, and Bitna could do little but weep behind the curtain of rain that conceals her salty droplets of tears.

Turning her figure around slowly, Bitna looked on to meet a familiar pair of eyes she had come to know. There, only a few meters away, was her long time friend Muyeol. She had known him for most of her life and not once had she ever forgotten him. Despite the rocky start of their friendship, Bitna knew well that she could trust the man she’d already tamed.

“My dearest bodyguard,” the words came out in a soft mumble, “isn’t the rain lovely?” She asked ready for an immediate answer, no matter what it may be.

There was a certain meaning to her question. Whenever she spoke of the rain, she meant it in a tragic sense. The real question she had initially meant to ask was, “Am I worth saving?” but the Marchioness couldn’t bring herself to voice it aloud. She was afraid to hear what another’s response to it may be, because somewhere deep within her stone heart, she felt unwanted.

The only person to have ever truly witnessed her vulnerability was Choi Muyeol, her bodyguard she had caught along the way during the endeavors in their past. Bitna was a mission for the man at first, but, for some strange reason, she became the one person to have the man at her every command. She wasn’t sure what it was that had given Muyeol a change of heart and even now, she often wonders if he was still set on taking her life to fulfill his task to whomever had wanted Bitna dead to begin with.

But one thing was certain. Muyeol was her friend. And friends would never betray each other, correct?

“Don’t worry,” Bitna reassures, flashing a smile in the direction of the young man, “I have no intentions of jumping into the water in case you are worried, I was going to drown myself to escape an arranged marriage.”

Turning back around to face the waters the daughter of the Oh’s continued to observe the scenery, despite the rainy weather. She stood tall with her back straight and both her hands clasped over one another behind her back. In the midst of the moment, she hummed a lullaby as she rocked back and forth to its rhythm, completely oblivious to the familiar presence she felt standing behind her as she continued to hum unbothered.

@❁ bae eunhyuk A soft little noise escaped Geon as he listened to Eunhyuk. Geon was often struck by how different they were, and often wondered how they had become friends in the first place. He saw how Eunhyuk was around others, how cold he could get. Geon supposed that--along with his beauty--was the reason he wanted to approach Eunhyuk in the first place. That cold wall that separated him from the rest of the world felt familiar in a slightly frightening way, like the cellar from your childhood home that you swore beckoned you to come close, come close, crawl down into me and see what secrets I hide.

It was a wall Geon had built for himself as well, ever since his home went up in flames half a lifetime ago. Geon, despite his warrior heart, harbored the soul of an artist, just like the rest of his family. It was a soft spot he both loathed and protected with every piece of himself. If he lost the softness, he was unsure what would become of him.

"I have an entire family of artists," Geon sighed out. "I know exactly how you all like to think, that strange pressure that urges you to be great. I never understood it. Just another thing that set me apart from everyone else. My need for greatness only stems from a need to keep my family safe." A strange, choked laugh left him. "I sound selfless when I say it like that, do I not? Bizarre."

Geon lifted himself up slightly, onto his forearms so he could gaze at Eunhyuk from a better angle. "Nothing that is beautiful should last forever, Eunhyuk-ah. Leave pieces of yourself and whatever great love you have behind, but remember not to let the world have too much of you, or else you might find yourself unsure of who that person was in the first place."

Mighty words coming from a man who had only kissed two people in his life and had never even laid with a woman--not that he would admit that out loud. At almost thirty years of age, women would find him admirable while men would laugh. Would Eunhyuk? Perhaps. Geon could never be sure what sorts of reactions he'd pull from his friend. That was half his charm.

But Geon was feeling a strange swell of braveness rise up within him, as if the stars were lending him their strength. Would the cosmos be kind to him, or was this just another sick joke? The Gods were far from benevolent, after all. He'd have to take that chance.

Swallowing down the remaining scraps of his cowardice, Geon opened his mouth and did not allow himself to back down. "If I ever had the privilege of being a lover of yours, Eunhyuk-ah, I would selfishly ask you to take every piece of me without allowing even a shared breath be known to the rest of the world. Make art with me, on me, mold me into whatever shape you wish, but do not let one pair of eyes past your own even glance upon us."

Bold words, spoken in a hypothetical he was entirely sure Eunhyuk would see straight past. But that false barrier provided just enough cushion to allow Eunhyuk to reject, to pull back, to build a wall. He would expect that; would wait for it. His little flame quivered, anticipating the moment it was smothered.

@❃ choi geon Eunhyuk did not miss the brief movement of Geon's eyes. And thus, once again, here was a heart that could not hide from him even if it wanted to. Eunhyuk wondered if Geon knew that he knew; that he was aware of what feelings were starting to spill on the surface, and of what these implied. But he did not say a word about it. Had Geon's feelings gone so deep that he would consider Eunhyuk for a lover, he wondered. Would Geon even risk that, knowing full well what the world would begin to think of them if they were found out? Eunhyuk had never been one to adhere easily to society's dictations for him, but he himself was uncertain whether he would risk it all for a man.

These thoughts danced at the tip of tongue, a mild threat. Should he voice these words out, he was not certain if he would be able to stop Geon from standing up and leaving him right there and then.

Instead, he listened to the other's words intently. There was something in the way Geon spoke that Eunhyuk had always found rather... charming, and he could not quite tell yet whether it was because of the older man's voice, or of his intonation. But regardless, he found himself watching Geon as the latter spoke, gaze carrying with it a glint that was not often seen on his visage.

"Perhaps that is where you and I differ, hyungnim," Eunhyuk said softly, and he turned his gaze back to the stars. Love—the word itself held no meaning to him (not yet, he supposed, and it might stay that way for years onwards), but perhaps, he would say, that love to him was akin to art. Art was the only thing he had known intimately, after all. It was the only way for him to communicate with the world, and the only way for him to be understood. "I would name a star for my lover, if it meant that the world would forever know their name and what our love meant to me.

Artists, like myself—we do not like being forgotten, you see."

Eunhyuk then leaned back, his arms stretched behind him as he leaned his weight against them. "Most artists want to leave... something behind, something that would forever mark the world in its own way. Something beautiful. Something that will make you want to question the world, or perhaps even life itself."

He blinked, wondering if the words that came out of his lips were still coherent; if they still made sense. Perhaps relating art to love was a stretch, after all. "And I believe, that if I love someone enough to want to immortalize them, then the love we have is beautiful. As an artist, how could I not share something so beautiful to the world?" A light chuckle followed his words, even as he began to feel conflict forming in his mind.

Pretty, pretty words—did he mean any word in what he had said? (He didn't know. Bae Eunhyuk had never known when he had started lying, and when he had started to tell the truth. Perhaps his words would always be a mixture of both. After all, what could a man with a hollow heart know of love?)

He heaved a quiet sigh, and when he looked down at Geon, there was an unusual softness to his visage, and a smile as soft and faint. "How could I not share the fact that it was me who had gotten to experience it, who had the privilege of loving them and no one else?"

@❁ bae eunhyuk Sometimes Geon was certain Eunhyuk knew what he did to him. He had to. Geon could do everything in his power not to act on his urges, but that hardly meant his friend didn't notice his moon eyes. It made Geon self-conscious, something he thought he had grown immune to. Not with Eunhyuk, apparently. Though if Geon were being honest, the thought of Eunhyuk noticing his feelings was a touch exciting. Because if he had noticed, and he wasn't running away or setting clear boundaries...perhaps it meant Geon wasn't alone with his feelings. A silly hope, but one his heart kindled nonetheless, holding it close so the sparks wouldn't snuff out. Not yet.

Geon's brow furrowed for a moment in thought after he heard Eunhyuk speak. "A hero or lover? I have neither of those." But his eyes couldn't stop themselves from flitting over to his friend at the word "lover". Damn him. Too easy to read and he knew it. Couldn't help himself even if his life depended on it, apparently.

"Besides," Geon started again to distract himself. "I think heroes and lovers are both best forgotten, not immortalized on the stars. I like the ephemeral quality of human lives. Like cherry blossoms; we do our best to bloom in one great breath, then fall shortly after. But even the fall is beautiful, is it not? I think if I had a lover, I would wish for their memory to remain with me and me alone. Perhaps that's me being selfish, but I would not wish to share with the rest of the world such a treasure. I would sooner die than share my love with the stars and everyone who gazes upon them."

Geon allowed himself to lay down on his back, not minding how cool the wood of the dock was beneath him. He folded an arm underneath his head, searching the stars for the familiar constellations he knew would point him home. "The thought of being forgotten is comforting. It assures me that no matter what mistakes I make in this life, they will only matter for a brief time. No; I will die, and I will die only having belonged to those I love."

Once more, Geon could not help but look at Eunhyuk again. Not that Geon /loved/ Eunhyuk. Right? It was an...infatuation. A desire driven by loneliness and lust. Geon had not taken a lover in a very long time, after all. His feelings towards his companion were not so deep as love, though Geon wasn't sure he knew what love meant, romantically speaking. Not that it would matter; the two of them would never work out. Though Geon swore Eunhyuk allowed his touches to linger, Geon never saw his openly wanting expressions returned. It was for the best. Even if his heart continued to stoke that little flame, to poke and prod until it could be sure.

@❃ choi geon —— [ dated: 1863 ] ——

To Eunhyuk, the most difficult to understand about the human nature was how the heart functioned. For years, he had seen many individuals fall to their knees at the behest of their hearts, weeping tears of grief that he was not able to understand. Perhaps the first time he had seen his brother cry was when he should have realized that perhaps, he was not the same as others were. He did not possess the same heart, or he would have been known then, what the others felt. Or perhaps, right where his heart should have been, there was nothing—a mere hollow space, with a heart that was not meant to feel.

But that thought did not stop him from becoming... curious. Intrigued by these emotions that he could not understand. It did not stop him from wanting to /learn/, even if it meant that he would have to entertain and tolerate the presence of strangers, whom he had kept further than an arm's length from him. (Perhaps that was where it all had gone wrong—his dislike for most people could have been one of the reasons why he felt... so hollow. But was it his fault for harboring this loathing, when even his family only saw him as a means to earn money?)

The first heart he had broken belonged to a girl, back when he had not yet become a man. A lady with a gentle nature, timid, but managed to earn enough courage, he supposed, to start talking to him. He had been much colder then, when he had turned her affections away. He could no longer the words that fell from his lips then, but he remembered the way she looked at him, pained and in disbelief, as tears rolled down her cheeks.

He had turned his back on her all too easily. But that was what caused his curiosity, his confusion—what was love, and why did it make her cry like so, even when their relationship was not even that of friends?

The second heart he had broken belonged to a man, when he himself had turned of age. Attraction between men was not unheard of, yes, but it was not encouraged. However, he was not certain what it was (still was uncertain, truthfully) that had made him indulge in what was essentially forbidden, a relationship kept in secret as he let himself be kissed by a man behind closed doors, the dark veil of the night where no one but them were awake.

Once again, he turned his back on his male lover just as easily as he had left the first. His curiosity only grew, as he believed that he was beginning to understand what this complex emotion was supposed to feel.

And now, another heart seemed to lay itself bare before him. Choi Geon's heart was one that might as well be worn on his sleeves. Eunhyuk knew—he knew of the kind of gazes Geon would send his way when the older man thought that Eunhyuk was not looking. He knew of the lingering touches left upon his skin when their hands would touch. He knew of these all, and knew of what it meant. Much like a temptress, he had only fueled the fire. How could he not, when Geon had made it all too easy for him? To say the right words, to push Geon's thoughts toward a certain direction.

The two of them now sat beneath the stars, the distance between their forms small but not close enough. Eunhyuk would blame the cold evening for quietly wishing for Geon to have sat closer, skin against skin, if only so Eunhyuk could feel the warmth of the older man's body.

He hummed in acknowledgment of Geon's question, and he turned his gaze from the glistening waters to the heavens above. "A favorite, huh? I am not certain, as my knowledge of the stars is also quite limited." But he did contemplate on an answer. There were very few that he knew of. A moment of silence followed, before he broke it himself, with his voice only heard by his companion in this quiet night.

"There are many I have heard of, but..." Eunhyuk turned to look at his companion, his lips curving into a playful simper, "do you not want to name a constellation yourself? I have heard of people doing so in the past, sometimes to honor a hero or a lover."

@❁ bae eunhyuk ► {`stars, hide your fires; let not light see my black and deep desire }
shakespeare, macbeth


The first boy Geon could ever recall feeling differently towards was the son of a general. Geon was in the strange period between boy and man, still growing into himself and overly conscious of the way he and others looked. This extended to the boy Geon had only met a few times at social events. They had practiced swordplay together, then ran into the river to cool themselves off on a hot summer day. Geon still remembered how his skin felt warm and prickly. His muscles were wiry and he found himself hoping that the boy didn't find him too skinny--then he had paused. Why did he care how the other thought of him? Especially his looks. And when Geon glanced over at the boy, he found himself unable to look away.

Geon knew what a man's body looked like--obviously--and yet when he looked at this boy, this son of a general, it was like seeing the male form for the first time. Smooth skin that stretched over growing muscles, the color warm and sun-kissed. Geon's entire face had heated up and he was faced with the stark truth that he was attracted to another man.

Geon had written this off as a one-time occurrence, but as he grew older he knew it was very much not a one-time occurrence. He was still attracted to women, leaving him confused and wondering. He had heard the whispers, the rumors of men who preferred other men. Men who went behind wives' backs, or men who never married women and seemed suspiciously close to male soldiers or colleagues. Male kisaengs were also rare but not uncommon, meaning they had their own clientele as well.

But Geon could ignore those feelings. Even if he liked men, it didn't matter. He was the heir of his house, and he had a duty to marry a woman and produce heirs himself. Geon needed to not only restore his family, but continue its bloodline. With his house in ruin, it was a difficult task, but one he was determined to complete. Romance was shoved into a dark recess of his mind, one he never intended to allow to see the light of day.

Until he met Bae Eunhyuk. Eunhyuk. Even the sound of his name sent a sigh of whimsy through Geon's body, relaxing his taught muscles and breezing over his skin. Eunhyuk, like many in Geon's own family, was an artist. A damned good one, at that. He himself was also a piece of art, a fact that Geon tried and failed to ignore.

Beautiful was a word thrown around at women, scenery, animals. Geon had never associated the word with a man until he met Eunhyuk, and all at once he realized he'd been mistaken about the meaning of the word this entire time. For beauty was the shape of Eunhyuk's fingers as he held a brush. It was the curve of his mouth when he concentrated. It was the timbre of his voice when he called Geon's name. Beauty was the very makeup of Bae Eunhyuk, and Geon was tumbling down, down, down, into the depth of his eyes and he didn't know how he ever thought that friendship would be enough for him when it came to this man.

But it had to be. Eunhyuk was still young, younger than Geon. Geon's family was nowhere near where they used to be, and he could not drag himself or Eunhyuk further down. Geon was always good at hiding his feelings. This would be no different. It couldn't be. He could not break, even though Eunhyuk was next to him and their arms were brushing and he could feel the man's warmth seeping into his bones.

Geon steadied himself with a breath. He was nearly thirty years old, and somehow here he was, feeling the same way he did in that river years ago. Forcing himself to look up and not to his right, Geon looked upon the stars. The two had snuck away for the night to go stargazing, the sky clear and twinkling above them. A beautiful night. There was that word again; beautiful. A cruel joke of the heavens, to look down upon him like this. Knowing that beauty had been ruined for Choi Geon the moment he laid eyes on Bae Eunhyuk.

"I never paid attention in astronomy lessons," Geon said to break the roaring of his mind. "I can find the constellations to tell me which direction I am facing, but the others are lost to me." He swallowed. "Do you have a favorite?"

@✿ park yeongho ❝— do you find yourself missing me even the slightest bit?❞

geum eunbyeol digressed; the marquess was a bold man. who would have thought that such a man with a serious visage and one who claimed to be quite a meek one was this upfront with his desires? eunbyeol was no stranger to such men and yet, this one — yeongho — continued to surprise her the very least.

still, the question hung in the silence between them as they strolled the docks together and as the marchioness looked much deeper into herself for answers, she found that she had none for him. her steps faltered, lingering behind the man who claimed to have loved her from the moment he had laid his eyes on her. it was quite unfair, was it not? how could he love her like this — not knowing a thing about her at all? was such a thing even possible?

eunbyeol bit the insides of her cheek momentarily before responding, her voice quiet amidst the sloshing of waves against wooden ramps, "i do not want to be rude, my lord but how on earth could i miss a man i barely know? despite knowing none of my affairs, do you claim to have missed me too?"

she gazed askance at his broad back, brows furrowed as her eyes relayed too many questions unanswered. she made sure, however, that their companions were not nearby as she continued, "tell me, yeongho, what is it that you like about me? my face? my aura?"

eunbyeol took a bold step and stood before the man, peering into his very eyes with much seriousness. "i would love to know the thoughts behind those. . .sullen eyes of yours, my lord. do you desire to be married to a woman who you know so little about?"

@✿ yoon junho Soon after dusk, the deepening night sky filled with faint litters of stars. The symphonic muse of the sea crashed against the wooden beam of the docks as Youngjae surveyed the area for his round of nightly patrol. The summer air was warm despite the light breeze that drifted with the waves, and his steps echoed through the docks where stacks of cargo and shipments, various items of imports and exports awaited for hauling.

The capital has been quiet for weeks now, which Youngjae feels rather grateful for ever since the end of the war earlier in the year. His thoughts drift to Saemi, his beloved. He imagined their future together, the small house they would share, the children they would raise. But amidst the excitement, there was also a sense of unease. Marriage was a commitment, a lifelong bond that would shape the course of his existence. Though he wished to marry her as soon as possible, he worried if he would be able to provide for her as a husband.

He glanced over at Yoon Junho, his work buddy on the royal investigation bureau as the two walked the area on patrol. Youngjae often found solace in his company during these long nights of watch duty. "Investigator Yoon," Youngjae began, his voice breaking the comfortable silence between them. "When do you think you’ll settle down and get married?"

@❀ kim hyunji junwoo's strides were purposeful, each step echoing with the weight of his resolve as he approached the waiting figure of hyunji. the name alone stirred a tempest of memories within him, memories he had buried beneath layers of resentment and disdain, memories that fueled the fire of his cold, ruthless demeanor.

as he drew nearer, his expression remained unchanged, a mask of indifference meticulously crafted over years of bitterness and betrayal. though his heart may have clenched at the sight of her, he refused to let any semblance of emotion breach the impenetrable fortress he had erected around it. hyunji was nothing more than a relic of his past, a reminder of a weakness he had long since shed like a serpent shedding its skin.

"i have not so much time," he uttered, his voice a chilling whisper that cut through the silence like a knife. "if you wish to revel in my misfortune, do so quickly."

his words hung heavy in the air, dripping with venomous contempt, each syllable a testament to the depth of his disdain. junwoo had anticipated her reaction, expected the mockery and scorn that would inevitably follow the news of his broken engagement. but he cared little for her amusement or derision. he had far more pressing matters to attend to than indulging in petty exchanges with his past tormentor.

memories, like ghosts from a distant past, flickered behind his steely gaze. he remembered the threats, the whispered promises of retribution that had once haunted his every waking moment. and he remembered the day he had finally taken action, watching impassively as the flames consumed hyunji's shop, a warning to those who dared to cross him.

but even as the inferno raged, junwoo remained stoic, unmoved by the chaos he had unleashed. for he had long since learned to bury his emotions deep within, to let the cold embrace of indifference shield him from the pain of his past.

and so, as he stood before hyunji now, he remained resolute, a monument to cold, ruthless determination. for in the end, he knew that nothing she could say or do would ever weaken him again.

@✿ geum eunbyeol "well, i can't stop you from thinking about something else when you're with me, my lady. we are human beings, after all, and our feelings can be quite unpredictable at times," he uttered, his tone gentle yet tinged with a hint of amusement, as he maintained his warm smile while nodding his head in understanding.

"sure thing, together, my lady?" yeongho extended his arm in a courteous gesture, inviting eunbyeol to walk ahead first, a sign of respect before he joined her side, his hands clasped behind his back as they strolled together.

"if you're curious about my travels, it's simply the usual tasks that the naval sends me: safeguarding the borders and lending assistance to the villagers in need. but if i may turn the question back to you, do you find yourself missing me even the slightest bit?" he inquired, his gaze searching hers, attempting to decipher her reactions.

as he posed the question, yeongho felt his heart quicken its pace, a mixture of anticipation and trepidation swirling within him. he knew deep down what he hoped her answer would be, yet he couldn't shake the nervousness that accompanied such vulnerability. all he desired was for their journey together to continue smoothly, leading them to the moment they would unite in marriage. despite his confidence in their bond, a lingering doubt lingered in the recesses of his mind, whispering uncertainties about their future together.

would eunbyeol ever truly be his?

he refrained from prying into her past relationships out of respect for her privacy, yet a part of him couldn't help but wonder, yearning for a deeper understanding of the woman he loved.

@✿ park yeongho eunbyeol observed the growing excitement painted on yeongho’s face, finding it quite amusing. still, there was no incoming flood of relief that washed through her, nor was there any gentleness blooming within the recesses of her heart towards this man. was it out of habit that she’s immediately distanced herself from any feelings of love and amour?

suddenly, being an adequate future lover proved harder than she thought.

still, the marchioness’ polite smile did not waiver, even as he began to , she merely tried to be placid, despite not being able to prevent the quick rolling of her eyes at his sappy comment.

“something weighing in my mind? i suppose there is - but i think it not fair for you if i think of other things, my lord.”

eunbyeol’s hands clenched tightly where they lay pressed against her belly. there were, indeed, many things that confused her to this day. one of which being the conundrum of opening up to the man who will one day make her his.

“why don’t you and i take a quick stroll under the moonlight, lord park? i’m sure you have. . .alot of things to ask me, and i, you regarding your travels.”

@✿ geum eunbyeol yeongho's heart swelled with excitement as his fiancée presented him with the tassel, a thoughtful gift that stirred deep emotions within him. gratitude washed over him as he accepted the token with reverence, his smile growing wider with each passing moment.

"my lady, this is truly beautiful," he exclaimed, his voice filled with genuine appreciation. "i will cherish it as i do you, my dear marchioness. thank you for this precious gift."

carefully, yeongho fastened the tassel onto his sword, the symbolism not lost on him as he glanced back up at his beloved with adoration shining in his eyes. "it's really beautiful," he murmured, his admiration evident.

however, when his fiancée posed a question, yeongho found himself momentarily caught off guard. clearing his throat softly, he gathered his thoughts before responding. while his initial reason for meeting her was simply to reunite after two weeks apart, he realized there was much more he wanted to discuss.

"can't i just want to see my fiancée?" he mused, a playful twinkle in his eyes. "of course, i'm eager to know how you've been faring in my absence. is there anything weighing on your mind, or shall we indulge in some lighthearted conversation?" yeongho's eagerness to deepen their bond shone through his words, a testament to his unwavering affection.

@✿ park yeongho ⟨⟨ early july, 1869 ⟩⟩

yeongho had always been gracious in his compliments, has always been respectful. perhaps, eunbyeol's threats weeks prior did not fall unto deaf ears.

the marchioness eyed him carefully as he continued to speak, watched his every move — every bow, every smile. she observed the genuinity in his ministrations and it almost made eunbyeol frown in worry. after all, it might take some time before she would fall for him (if ever that day comes).

for the first time in her life, then, eunbyeol found herself to be quite. . .the problem.

still, the lady managed to smile wryly at him, giving him a small curtsy of her own. she waved her guard over, accepting a small box that had been offered. inside was a forest green and red tassel, bearing a small crest of joseon as its handle. she presented it to the tall man before her as she spoke, "this is for coming back safely from your travels despite having been bedridden for awhile. a tassel for your sword, by the way — i. . .my sister-in-law suggested i should give you one."

that was the truth of the matter. eunbyeol had never given any man a gift — she had merely been the receiver.

and as such, she is delighted by the idea of being able to receive a few even if it's from a man she barely knew. there was a glint of amusement in her eyes at his declaration, her lip twitching slightly at a corner. her satisfaction at knowing that there would be new things added to her collection had been gone unnoticed thankfully, however.

"my birthday is not until months away but that would be lovely. thank you, lord park." she amiably nodded in acceptance, peering up at him with confusion. "however, is your telling me about this gift the only reason for your summons, my lord?"

what was the protocol in trying to. . .converse with a man wooing you?

"missing me is another, but. . .did you have other things you want to speak with me?"

@✿ geum eunbyeol yeongho's stride towards the marchioness exudes confidence, each step taken with purpose yet tempered by the restraint he imposes upon himself, knowing that the depth of their connection hasn't quite blossomed into the realm of physical embrace. a genuine smile graces his lips as he finally stands before the woman who holds sway over his heart. to describe his feelings for her would be an exercise in futility – they transcend mere words, bordering on the realm of madness.

with a slight bow of his head, yeongho straightens his tall posture, his smile radiant as he addresses her. "it's been unbearable not seeing you, my graceful lady. each passing day only serves to accentuate your beauty, and i hope you've been taking good care of yourself in my absence," he says, his unabashed affection evident in his words.

eunbyeol, with her tough spirit and formidable demeanor, presents a challenge to yeongho, yet he never views her as a burden. he understands that beneath her tough exterior lies a soul deserving of love and care, and it's a task he willingly embraces.

"as i heard from my right-hand man, your birthday approaches. allow me to extend my heartfelt congratulations in advance. i intend to have gifts sent to you soon, and i earnestly hope they bring you joy," yeongho adds, his voice infused with sincerity as he eagerly anticipates her reaction to his offerings.