daeyangs

[daeyangs]

Dae found himself trapped in an undertow, thrown into an indecisive current that was tossing him around. Nari had thrown him away and seized him back in a matter of seconds, and he didn’t have an opportunity to speak. He may as well have been an object that she and Adalyn were tossing between each other until the former’s mouth was on his, not once, but twice. The onlookers didn’t bother him, nor did his supposed date, hands slotted into place on her waist and he was prepared to sink into the depths. His mouth captured hers without debate and his tongue shifted into smooth motions, at least for as long as Nari allowed him. Dae took a step forward the moment she broke their kiss, chasing the heat that was abandoning him despite the hand that crept along his chest. Adalyn’s attempt to clasp his lapel was ended by both Nari and himself, her choice to grasp his tie while his own hand circled Adalyn’s wrist. “Go find some other poor bastard to bore.” The corners of his mouth twisted as Adalyn’s fell, a sweep of red coating her cheeks - whether in embarrassment or rage, Dae didn’t know and he wasn’t stationary long enough to find out.“You really have lost your mind, you know that?” Dae spoke matter-of-factly, his eyes darting from Nari towards the crowd, half-expecting to find Axel on their heel for creating a disturbance. Regardless of his words, he didn’t hesitate in movements that drew them closer, naturally falling in line with her and creating a weighty barrier between himself and Adalyn. A female that he lost sight of, easily so once Nari became the prime target; he couldn’t hold back the laugh that rose at the demand for him to sit. “You’re giving me orders now?”  Regardless of the temptation to go against her, Dae took his place on the loveseat, unbuttoning his jacket in the process and sinking into a comfortable position. Shook caused him to waver briefly, a scrunch of his nose the only giveaway of his surprise at her proposal; it wasn’t a question that would have entered his mind for her to ask. “Last event we decided to get married.” A genuine pull of a grin on his face, amusement at the reminder of their last public outing outside Seven Seas territory. “Tonight you want to make a baby, are we getting married at that princess's birthday ball next month?” His inward thoughts should have been enough to derail the idea, it would have been idiotic to agree in such a manner, although he couldn’t deny the pull of curiosity. A pull that had him reaching out for her, hands touching her waist for seconds before dropping to the back of her thighs, tugging abruptly.

“Why are you chasing me?” Never changing behavior from either of them, Nari was always the one to remove herself and it was rare for Dae not to follow her out. These interactions of cat and mouse usually ended with Dae pointing out the obvious, claiming she was overly sensitive about a debate, and professors would have to pry her off him. “I’m not angry.” In fact, Nari gathered her thoughts on the way to the door and realized she wasn’t angry with him. Seeing him with another woman was normal, but it damaged her a little more this time around. “I’m heartbroken.” The overwhelmed emotions mixed with a drunken state caused her to flick any physical contact, distancing herself from his body. “I asked you to come with me. You made it clear that you had no interest, but I wanted to attend which should’ve been enough of a reason for you to join me.” She was wrong about her feelings as anger began to boil her from the inside out. “Then you..” Her voice was interrupted by the woman who she nearly murdered seconds ago. “He clearly doesn’t want you.” Nari knew that much, the reminder wasn’t necessary. Those words never failed to shatter her heart into unfixable pieces. She was angry at him, but leaving now would make him free bait for any woman even the one interrupting; Her fingers reached out to grasp the back of his neck, pulling him towards her before attaching their lips in a heavy session. Nari was marking her territory before an arena filled with hungry hyenas. Lingering the kiss until her lips parted, head gingerly turning to face the woman who wanted her fiancé. “Kiss him, I dare you.” The choices were simple: he accepts the kiss or he embarrasses her in front of an audience. “You want him, right? If he allows you to kiss him then feel free to marry him.” Her lips curled upwards, teasing the woman as she demonstrated how to kiss the love of her life properly. This session lasted longer than the first as she released a breathy moan, a kiss initiating heat between her legs before she tore away once again, and she blamed the drinks dancing in her bloodstream. The minute the woman dared to touch Dae, watching as her fingers ran across his chest caused a switch to flip inside of her. She loathed observing another woman touch him.“On second thought, I’m stealing him away.” Nari wrapped his silk tie around her hand, a gentle tug to gather Dae’s attention. How could be upset with him? Not while he looked incredible in his suit. “You won't get another chance.” She used the tie wrapped around her hand to pull him away from the woman, guiding him towards one of the many sitting areas, and stopping in front of what she determined a comfortable loveseat. “Sit.” Nari unraveled his tie from her wrist, glancing over her shoulder to spot the woman again, and if she was purposely trying to provoke her then she was winning. Eyes returned to Dae as she waited for him to continue following orders as a doting fiancé. “Do you want to make a baby with me?”

[daeyangs]

a smiley tae to light up your day ♡

[daeyangs]

Dae secured a hand on Adalyn’s back, smoothly shifting her in a twirl and ignoring the initial question that was fired in his direction by Nari’s date. His gaze did little more than rest on the pair for a slither of a second, he wanted to create a reaction and the best way for him to do so was to stay still. It wouldn’t take long for Nari to pounce and he was more than aware of it as he swung Adalyn directly into Nari’s field of vision. She pounced and he felt a small piercing of guilt in the pit of his stomach for the female who held no situational awareness to save herself once fingers were knocked in her hair. Dae released her, eyes fixed on one person alone and it had been the woman who was supposed to bear his ring on her finger, yet had chosen another man. “Don’t ruin the fun already, you were only getting started,” Dae called out as Nari chose to split from them, his laughter was low, it was cruel once Adalyn was deposited at his feet although he chose to spare her an ounce of dignity by catching her under the arms and setting her back on her feet. “Busy yourself.” He released her as swiftly as he caught her, in a rush to push back Derrick before he could chase Nari down, and disappeared into the crowd behind her before he could adjust himself. “Nari.” He feared her exit, to chase her the whole way home would have been more bothersome than it may have been worth. His fingers reached out to circle her wrist at the same moment that a shadow appeared, a shell of a suit of armour with the sheer presence to push people away from the exits. At any other moment, he would have marvelled at the logistics of a shadow guard, yet in this moment he wanted to deal with his fiancé more than he did his curiosity.  “Why are you so angry?” He tugged at her, sidestepping to plant himself between the towering guard and Nari. “This was your idea, I was just being a doting fiance and following the rules.”

Every drink she finished seemed to disorientate her vision more than the first, Nari watched as the world filled with laughter began to spin with an unusual amount of sparkles floating in the air. His hands wandering down to her waist caught her attention, craned her neck straightening to view the man who was touching her in such a way. “Derick. Right?” Her question erupted laughter from the man, she was unsure what was funny but laughed alongside him. “I’m surprised you remember my name.” Nari was as surprised because the only name spinning in her head was Dae, it would’ve been shameful to speak another man’s name as another had arms around her; However, these thoughts submerged quickly when she felt the tug of her dress, choosing to ignore until the action happened again. Nari attempted to suppress the irritation flaring rapidly inside her, inhaling sharply before turning to face the culprit. “Hey–” Her words were cut short as Derick's voice towered to address the situation. “Do we have a problem here?” Nari turned to the masked man whom Derick was speaking to, those features looking remarkably familiar even with multiple drinks in her system, and laughter filled the bubble as she connected the dots of that jawline. The unexplainable anger found no reason to suppress any longer as she reached a hand out to grab a handful of the woman’s hair, tightening the grip to aggressively yank her away from the man she believed to be her fiancé. “Imagine a man saying no to attending a ball with you, only to go with the harlot who slept with half of Altruist.” The situation was hilarious to Nari until the woman spoke without permission. “Are you afraid that I’ll steal him away from you, Nari?” Her words sparked an unnecessary nerve, thinking about the lengths she went to be with a man who barely showed an ounce of interest in her. Everything she did to make his life easier must’ve looked pitiful to those who wanted Dae, those who needed a simple agreement from his mother. “It’s your lucky day.” Nari never loosened the grip on her hair, lowering her arm before tossing her violently towards the feet of the Prince who everyone wanted. A technique she learned from a very close friend, the impact would have brought pain throughout her entire body, and it would be a reminder to never speak without being asked. “You can have him. Enjoy.” Nari raised her gaze from the woman to the Prince, even at this moment her heart still fluttered for him, and that reason is why she decided to walk away from him. There was no more enjoyment in attending the ball, Nari moved through the crowed eagerness to escape from the idea of royalty. Fingers wrapped around the mask as she removed it, letting it hang around her neck, before reaching the door as she reached for the handle a shadow prevented her. “I would like to leave, let me leave.”

[daeyangs]

Regret seeped into every ounce of Dae’s being from the second that his eyes snapped to attention on no other than Adalyn Thiede. A woman whom he had met on multiple occasions who fell in the lines of desperate for attention and a nervous habit of talking to the point that she could clear a bustling room in a half hour. “Should we go inside?” Dae peeled out from the arms that had circled his neck, darting to seize her wrist to stop her from making further outlandish jumps, although she’d taken a viper grip with her free hand on his upper arm. “I’m so happy that you accepted my invitation, my mother insisted that I must, my sister laughed at the idea of him, and my gods, my father said I’d have no hope in Olympus but look at me, look at us.” There wasn’t a single breath taken until she shook his arm in punctuation and his feet sped them further into the crowd. She continued talking at his side, her voice melding in with the room's buzz, Dae’s eyes darting around various masked faces and gowns until he found her. Nari had been locked in the embrace of a dance, an activity that he preferred to stray from even if his mother had ensured he attended formal classes. “Do you want to dance?” Adalyn was raised onto the balls of her feet, gazing intently into his face, and she was undoubtedly beautiful. A face that was slim and fine with lips that were full and ruby red; she would be enough to cause a stir. “That’s the first decent thing you’ve asked since you opened your mouth.” Dae watched the surprise light in her eyes at his abrupt nature but it faded the moment he had her hand and twirled her onto the dance floor with the purposeful intention of stampeding on the ends of Nari’s gown. A movement that he ended by setting an elbow into her companion's side, enough to draw the man’s focus off exploring his fiancé's body. “Our bad.” Dae nodded his head in a partial bow, drawing Adalyn to his chest with an abrupt flick of his arm and securing a tight hold on her waist. “It was a lacklustre dance, we thought you'd like a nudge to leave the floor."

The arrival at Strife without her fiance would've been on the weekly paper the next morning. Fortunately for Nari, no one would be able to recognize her due to the requirements of wearing a decorated mask to keep the games interesting tonight; Three drinks went down too easily, and Nari was well informed by her bodyguard that the drinks were spiked with the strongest will of Aries himself. It didn’t help that each drink went down smoothly, but the sparkling sensation didn’t hit until her suitor arrived to greet her. “Whoa, you’re handsome.” This was the problem when Nari consumed too many drinks, she couldn’t keep anything to herself anymore, and it caused issues in her youth mostly for Jia as her best friend would always clean up the messes. The man assumed by her open compliment, throat clearing as he offered his hand without missing a beat. “Shall we dance?” Nari desperately wanted to dance, but the person she wanted to dance with had decided to stay in the comforts of Seven Seas. Whatever she saw in Dae seemed to fade away the moment she stepped in Strife, but time could tell how long that would last. It took another drink before her hand fell into the shipwright's hand, Nari gave her a million-dollar smile as he swept her away from the wall and twirled both of them towards the center of the floor. “You can dance?” Nari's face must’ve given away her expression as he laughed, leaning closer to her with a dimpled grin. “Don’t look so surprised, beautiful.” Nari's ears perked at the compliment, being beautiful was the last thing she considered herself, but hearing it from a random man fueled the sudden ecstasy that flowed throughout her body. She was convinced the drinks were spiked with a mermaid’s teardrop by the way her soul detached from her body, absorbing every drop as the music crashed against her curves like waves weaving through the ocean. Nari accepted the way his hands skimmed her curves, a man who spent years at sea would be able to handle her, especially in a state of intoxication. Even though her body had lost all self-control, Nari’s mind was still being invaded by one man and it compromised potential romance throughout her life. Dae had become a disruption in her love life, no man would ever compare to him, and even if they came close enough Nari never dared to sever the string that led her to Dae. It was pathetic. She was pathetic for falling in love with him.

[daeyangs]

Dae’s fingers ran the silk lining of his overcoat, beginning to inspect the seams out of the sheer boredom that had already rattled him, and he hadn’t even stepped out of the carriage. A rise of noise and the slow movements of his transport were the telltale signs that he had arrived, if not for the dark building that loomed down on him when he glanced out the window. “I should have stayed at home.” An aggravated sigh as a footman opened the door, a reluctant return to society as he stepped forth into the faded light. Dressed in a deep scarlet from head to toe, much to his surprise that his tailor had been prepared for the instance that Dae would change his mind and attend; the finer details of the garments achieved only in the last hour. The cufflinks he toyed with once he broached the crowd were pearls sought from the family vault, the only edition of his connection to a house of the sea. Dae scanned the faces around him, flashes of various masks and face paintings that wouldn’t be so alarming if he had arrived with Nari, because they would make it all the more difficult to locate her. “If the woman attending with me is an irritation, remove her.” His attention shifted to Axel, regretting immediately that he hadn’t chosen his date with care or requested that his bodyguard choose someone suitable. “And if the opportunity arises, the shipwright too, and remember, the only thing Strife does well is turn a blind eye to murder.” Dae clamped a hand on Axel’s shoulder, squeezing a nudge too tight, while his attention was shifting to the throng of people in search of a scarlet gown. 

Axel prepared to shred the invitations, rolling up his sleeves. After all, he spent most of his days with Dae. He was proud to claim his knowledge of a man, but the words spoken caught him off guard. “Excuse me?” He didn’t understand his orders, it was unlike his employer to attend any social gatherings even when begged by his mother. Axel glanced at the pink-wax invitation, flickering blue eyes between a man and an envelope before gently grabbing the invite. “You’re serious? You want me to send an acceptance letter to this random woman?” Dumbfounded by the situation, attending a ball was not on his agenda. It was obvious his fiance was trying to play a game of jealousy, but Axel knew that Dae would never bite except when he did which genuinely had him considering a path towards romance. “She’s changing you.” Axel let out a chuckle, calling for a guard to send word that the two would be attending a ball. “Send an acceptance to this suitor, explain that we will meet them there, but send a carriage to make up for the last-minute response.” He had never stepped foot in Strife due to his obligation in Seven Seas. The area was assigned to another soldier, Axel, however, knew his way around the house even its constantly changing pathways. “I’ll leave you to get ready. I have already sent Raeken to accompany Nari, but we will be about ten minutes behind.” He anticipated Nari attending the ball, this helped him build a detail around her without any trouble, even when she shopped around for a gown. “She’ll be wearing a dress designed by Markus. Elegant, flowy, and the color scarlet with sleeves made of the finest pearl silk. The gown is designed for her, only for her, and I’m sure the man she accepted will not be able to keep his hands off her.” Axel adjusted his sleeves, laying the fabric back in its original position before lowering his head slightly. “In case you wanted to color coordinate, I have called in Markus from the designer quarters to assist you in your bedroom. I will be taking my leave now, need to plan accordingly after you caught me off guard with this order.” His feet glided effortlessly towards the doors, propping them open for the men outside to take over once he left. "The carriage will be ready in thirty."

[daeyangs]

Nari appeared to gain a new talent for pressing the buttons that caused knee-jerk reactions. Dae hadn’t intended for himself to be warped into a new man amid an engagement and he would have been content to fall into his usual routine that allowed his siblings to take reign on socialising. Dae remained where Nari had left him, his eyes trailing from the door to the invitations that she had placed on the desk, half a mind to shred them but he kept his hands to himself. Axel had been a shadow in his life for long enough that Dae had forgotten his presence until his voice filled the void that Nari had created by exiting. “I’m reconsidering begging Queen Ahri for forgiveness.” Dae tossed his head back, viewing Axel in an upside-down blur before fully shutting his eyes, falling back into silence as he weighed his options. Any other day he’d have returned to his book yet today he couldn’t turn to his simplicities. “There will be no need to reorganise shifts.” He spoke after several minutes, tipping his head back into an upright position and straightening onto his feet, kicking up the few invitations at his feet. “You’ll be coming with me to Strife, I will need you to bring someone else to watch Nari.” Dae circled the pile of invitations that now carpeted the floor, many options that he should have considered with care and if his mother had been present would have meticulously read each one. Rather than delving in at the shallow end, he bent down and seized the first envelope his fingers brushed. The seal of Altruist was pressed into pink wax with a waft of rhubarb pressing on his senses as he popped it open and extended it to Axel without peering inside. “Please have an acceptance to this invitation returned for me, don’t make me sound too excited about it though.” 

Axel mounted his post, hands linked together in the front as his attention fell over the engaged couple with curiosity; Lowering his gaze at the millions of invitations that his employer had received with a soft chuckle. He remembered vividly the day that Nari threw a tantrum in her quarters while Dae attended important house meetings, she had forced him to sit at the edge of the bed and listen to how she hadn't been asked. He thought about expressing this, but it would only end the same way it did a moment ago. Axel noticed a couple of things while working for Dae, it was rare that he would change his mind and he was possibly one of the only royals who focused properly on the politics of each house. He was silent since the moment he was employed, strategically intelligent, and completely clueless when it came to emotional reflection. The dynamic between these two raised questions because Axel realized quickly how emotional and openly expressive Nari can be while Dae prefers short and simple. He didn't understand what she saw in him, but throughout these months, Axel did begin to see a change in Dae. "What are you planning to do?" He asked the minute Nari stormed out of the room with a letter in her hand. "As a man, I think we both know that you don't like the idea of her going with another man that isn't you." These words were short, Axel had no reason to attempt to change his mind when he knew the answer. "I can always work detail for her while she's inside Strife. I'll have one of my men take over my shift here to watch you."

[daeyangs]

Balls were often tedious in Dae’s mind, forced to be mindful of his mouth and remind himself to bow at all the right moments or receive a pinch to the back of his neck from his mother. “He might be handsome but does that make him redeemable?” His head was thrown to the side to the view of the sea, inwardly prepared to beg Poseidon to take pity on him and send a tidal wave through the window to end this conversation. He should have expected that choosing a wife would require a form of committal to social events yet he had hoped he would be capable of sending her off in his stead. He shifted his arms to let herself perch on his lap, although they drooped to his sides rather than embracing her, not risking the escalation that would force him to agree. “I’ll take you next year.” A promise he wasn’t intent on keeping, nor was he intending on being in attendance this year until the soldier became a topic again. His gaze flickered from her towards the invitations addressed to her laid out on the desk and he rolled his eyes. “I’d rather he throw you off the side of a ship that over her shoulders.” He shifted suddenly, planting both feet firmly on the floor as he straightened his back, an arm circling around her waist to stop her from sliding the floor - although he had debated allowing it to happen. “Have fun.” Two words that masked his irritation that she had chosen to jump to another suitor rather than stay home with him. Fingers trailing down her arm as she stood, tossing himself back into a comfortable position. “Don’t stay out too late, don’t get bitten by a snake and don’t let another man take your virtue.” He waved his hand nonchalantly despite the inward anger that caused fury in the pit of his stomach. She had twisted his arm and he would be forced to attend with one of the many women who were scattered across the floor.

Nari battled the demons that wanted to reach over and pull on his luscious blonde locks. Eyes fell on his features, darting over his lips as he spoke then towards his jawline; She realized her mind had wandered thinking about him, it was a fault in her code whenever she stood long enough in front of him. “The narcissistic, brooding, ophidilophile happens to be handsome.” A word Nari said daily about Dae without even realizing it, but another man was on her mind this time. “I have heard the rumors about this ball, it only happens once a year.” The whimper was subtle, body swaying towards him as she gracefully tossed the book from his lap onto the pile of useless invitations before comfortably settling on top of him. Nari placed her palms on his shoulder, trailing her fingertips until they reached his neckline. “Are you really not going to ask me?” She didn’t care for random invitations because none of them were from him and being engaged never guaranteed her the automatic plus one; Sitting on his lap was her favorite spot, leaning in cautiously while her lips brushed his ever so gently. All these months spent together, hidden display of affection, and being dragged away to kiss privately yet not a single envelope delivered. “I like the shipwright suitor, he seems straightforward and probably has nice shoulders to be thrown over.” Nari noticed one thing about Dae after growing up with him, there was never a moment in her life that she saw him jealous. It wouldn’t bother him, but she never gave up after all these years—the idea of him claiming her brought on a phantom smile. Unfortunately, Nari didn't know better because false hope was hope after all and that directed her to the next question. "I like the sound of us bringing someone else, don’t you?” Her body gradually rose from his lap, thumbs pressing against his jawline as she lowered her gaze. "I must be going if I plan on attending the ball then I should look the part."

[daeyangs]

Dropped low in the chair, Dae’s legs were extended out to rest his feet up on the desk, allowing his head to lull backwards and to view the book he’d held precariously above his head. He had been attempting to ignore Nari’s presence and for the most part, he hadn’t succeeded. His eyes shifted between the pages and her frame in his peripheral, causing him to skip paragraphs and be forced to read the same page repeatedly. It wasn’t until she started to place invites addressed to her on the desk that he stopped attempting to follow the words, although his eyes had remained transfixed to the centre of the book. “Why do you insist that you want to go to a ball hosted by a narcissistic, brooding, ophidiophile dictator?” He let his book fall into his lap as she emptied out the invitations littered with his name, several of them flying into the air while others slipped under bookshelves never to be seen again. His focus hadn’t been on those at his feet but on those that she’d left on the desk. “Frankly, I didn’t plan to go at all.” He swung his feet and planted them back on the ground, crushing the envelopes under his feet, eyes rolling as she recited the single invitation that she had plucked from the pile. “How about I pick from yours?” He snatched the invitations, shuffling them as if they were prepared to play a game of cards, fanning them out to choose the middle option. “Madam Nari. Pathetic greeting, no.” With a flick of the wrist, the invitation shot over her head and he moved on to the next. “Ah, Miss Nari, better. I come from a long line of shipwrights, interesting. I find you breathtakingly beautiful on the shore and off, have you ever actually been offshore? And if you would do me the honour of attending the ball with me, I will ensure you the best time. I’m ensured he’s a cretin.” He discarded the rest of her invitations on top of the stack of books, sighing as he did so. “Is this really what you want to do with your night?”

Tonight was the ball everyone in the land was looking forward to attending, including Nari because it was an invitation-only ball. Surprisingly, Nari had obtained a handful of invitations from potential suitors each with their own charms, and although this was enjoyable there was one person who has to extend his hand. "Did you see how many invitations I received today? I knew I was a beauty without the need for royal blood." Happy footsteps circled Dae, placing each invite on the table next to the pile of books that had been needing to be put back up. "Unfortunately for you," Nari managed to keep her irritated tone to herself as she pulled the silk bag from behind her back. "Received thousands of invitations." She emptied the bag at his feet watching as each invitation held a unique scent for the Lord Dae; However, Nari had enough the minute her eyes caught the gaze of a particular pink envelope and it was clear this was the work of her nemesis. "Are you planning to ask me? Do you plan to go with the millions of women or men in this pile? What the hell are you planning to do because my patience is running low." Her fingers selected a random suitor, throat clearing to prepare to read the rose throne letter. "Lord Dae, I come from a wealthy family and I am extremely beautiful. It would be an honor for you to attend the Ravenous Veil with me. Please respond by midnight." Nari didn't hesitate to toss the paper over her shoulder, reaching for another one as she planned to disturb his entire peace. "Actually, how about you pick this time?"

[daeyangs]

Dae had entered the carriage with seconds to spare, attendants were rushing to take their places and see off the Overseers of the Damned swiftly. The moment that he was in his seat though, he hadn’t expected the weight of Nari to fall into his lap. At first, he had believed she was searching for comfort until her dress began to slacken and he understood exactly what she was attempting. He didn’t argue, it would have been his next plan if she’d given him the opportunity, his hands were swift to occupy her waist and slowly beginning an exploration of her frame. Mouth matching the feverish energy, a moment that he wished would have been locked in joy and not anxiety. The secondary voice only edged him on to sell the story, his fingers tangled deep into her hair and dragging her closer to him. “It was foolproof.” He almost wanted to laugh when the door slammed shut and the carriage jolted to a start, but his concern for her had his expression hardening. Fingers unravelled from her to seize a hold of her wrists once her frenzy had begun. “We’re going to have to jump once we’re out of Paramount’s boundaries.” Dae kept his head low as they passed by the fortress walls of the house, the guards head turning with every passing carriage and luckily, they weren’t one of the unlucky few that were halted. Their occupants were forced out into the street for verification and he had attempted to glance at the faces, holding his breath in fear of finding someone he knew amongst the shadows, but they had passed too quickly. “There’s a fork in the road about five minutes after their boundary line that leads to Devotion. We can flag down one of their carriages on that road, they’ll help us.” For the first time he had been certain of a plan, thankful that Deity Devotion was a house that dealt regularly with the Seven Seas, but housed citizens that were much more forgiving. His hands released the grasp on her wrists, slipping his arms around her frame and silently beginning to readjust her gown, zipping it back into place. “I’m going to get you home.” Home felt so far away and he yearned for it, but he knew the trouble he would be in on his arrival - this massacre would be on his head. “Are you ready?” His gaze darted free from her and out the window, the landmarks were hard to spot in the dark but it was enough to tell him they were free from Paramount’s hold on them. 

Everything was unfolding too quickly for her to grasp, managing to move at the same pace Dae had set for them. Nari understood the minute he whispered in her ear that this was no longer a game, she only remembered one instance when his tone changed much like today, and it was years ago. Which made it clear to her that danger was following behind and would do anything to hurt them. “Okay.” The only word she could find after delivering a speech to those wanted to slaughter two more sea souls. Nari read about situations like these yet it never occurred to her that she’d be right in the middle of it all. How would she cope? The percentage of someone losing their mind after experiencing something trauma was high, she couldn’t afford to lose her mind not after being proposed to by the man she loved. “Wait, these are Damned..” Before she could finish her sentence, Nari found herself in a carriage much different than ones from Seven Seas which sparked an idea. “Trust me.” Nari figured he’d toss her out if she spoke of trust one more time, but this time she knew what needed to be done. She crawled her way towards him, hands gripping her gown as she lifted the fabric to swing over her leg, and essentially sitting comfortably on his lap. “You need to calm down for me, look at me.” Her hands rose to unzip her gown far enough that the Seven Seas lining was hidden beneath her breasts, pressing her chest against his own to hide any evidence that they were from another house. Nari placed her hands on either side of his neck, thumbs pressing against his jawline before she leaned in to capture his in a kiss so passionate that even those directing the carriage would be able to feel. This was the grand scheme, Overseers would be thrilled a war is breaking out and it would be reason to celebrate; Her thoughts screamed at her for this to work, ears ringing as she heard a halt then the wiggle of the door handle until two men were peering into the carriage. “Overseers always finding reasons to procreate.” It was the last thing she heard before the door slammed shut, Nari peeled away from his lips after a steamy session then it was pure panic. “I can’t believe that worked—Are you okay? Am I okay? I can’t fucking think straight. How are we getting home?” There was so many unanswered questions, Nari always thought about visiting Damned but the conditions were different. “I’m planning a panic attack, bear with me here.”

[daeyangs]

“I’m not the idiot, you are.” It wasn’t the argument to be held in the situation, not while the blood of his people was seeping into the soles of his shoes. The sacrifice of himself would have been enough to absolve him yet Nari didn’t wish to conform to it. The headstrong nature within her that had caused them to battle throughout their youth had her threatening the enemy. “They’ll slit both our throats if you don’t…” It was too late for the warning, her physical attack causing a stir, evident that those who hadn’t expected Nari to fight back or hold any strength - Dae had known better than most not to underestimate the power in her legs. The memory of school made him laugh, ill-timed as there was another surge towards them but it had given Dae the strength to sink his fist into the oncoming male without mulling it over. It took a total of three hits to cause a stall in their attacker's advance, although they were making the reach for weapons rather than the use of their fists. “Just like in school, I’m going to need you to fucking run.” He had turned to shield Nari’s back, jolting against her with his full weight to force her into motion and towards the only exit. He could do little to protect her from any threat coming head-on other than to raise his left arm to hook around her frame and use his hand to shield her heart. “Go.” He was careless to throw out his right hand to cast aside those that closed in on them, a searing pain that shot up his arm and rooted in his shoulder, but he refused to look down at the damage. “Keep fucking going and don’t stop, I swear if you stop I’ll lose my damn mind.” His mouth was next to her ear, containing the desire to scream at her once they were out of the room and into the hallways. They were suddenly in the thrush of people, most of whom had been Seven Seas, throwing themselves forwards and towards the carriages that waited for them. Carriages that sparkled only twenty feet away, drenched in the colours of their houses and carrying their crest with pride, but they wouldn’t be able to mount them the way the others did. He unhooked his left arm from around her to take hold of her hand and drifted towards carriages that were encased in dark metal with intricately twisted skulls, waiting on the stragglers of the Overseer of the Damned that got trapped in the commotion. “They’ll be checking every carriage of the Seven Seas for us.” Dae lowered his voice, waving through the first few carriages of the Damned before settling on one at the centre of its command that had remained empty. He pulled open its door without a beat of hesitation, already beginning to strip off his jacket and slipping it around her shoulders to cover her clothing. “Get in, keep your head down and take off anything that’ll give us away.”

“What are you saying? Leave?” Did he ask her to leave him to become a victim of kidnapping? A hostage? Nari refused to believe he demanded something so bizarre from her. There had to be another way, she didn’t have to leave him behind–another way; The screaming of people clouded her thoughts as her nervous system began to signal that she was safe enough to get away. There was one issue with safety, Dae wouldn’t be there and it would drive Nari insane not knowing if he was dead or alive. As the men gathered women and children to release first, husbands went second after being stripped of any weapon, and her eyes darted over the soulless bodies on the ground. Counting exactly fifteen, all different age ranges with the youngest being at least twelve years old, Nari decided on her own that she would stay by his side. “No.” As bold as her statement was Nari was covered in fear, unsure of what might erupt due to her well-thought-out decision. “Why should I leave you with them? They murdered our people! The moment you step out that door, the minute you’re away from me then you know they’ll kill you. You’re not an idiot, Dae!” Her shaky voice echoed through the now empty quarters, rage filling her veins as she made eye contact with the culprits that took the lives of innocents. “I feel pity for the person who plotted this attack on Seven Seas because the next time we see you–the next time I see you, I will personally slit your throat along with the rest of your family.” Throughout the years, even when she was younger Nari had developed a trait from her unknown family tree which was anger. It became easy to control through the passing years, everyone knew to stand clear from Nari when someone antagonized her; An arm reached out to grab her, Nari swung full strength at the man before he could touch her again and without hesitating used pure will power to kick in his knee. “Don’t fucking touch me and don’t you dare touch him.” Her head turned to face Dae, speaking between teeth as she stood next to him on guard prepared to fight off men. “Do you remember when we took on those idiots in school? The ones who barely passed? I think these are those idiots.“ The silence was eating her alive, Nari left all the planning for someone with experience in royal situations, and having inserted herself in the issue possibly made things worse for everyone. "What should we do? Are you listening? I think I made him angry by hitting him back. Should we run?”

[daeyangs]

There was undoubtedly a change of pace, one that Dae had not accounted for. His curated decisions generally led to a fallout with his parents yet they had never spiralled to pulling down an entire nation. He didn’t even have the time to allow Nari’s questions to settle, to find an answer and a solution to the predicament of their marriage, to the unlikelihood that he would be allowed to marry her even if he pleaded. Faces that passed them were a mix of those he was familiar with and those he had never cared to meet, wrapped up at home in the safety of books. He didn’t care about them until they were herded into a tight space, embedding and flowing in their attempts to find an inch of breathing space. “Wait, Nari.” The mention of Jia should have been his cue to grasp her but he was a beat too late, his hand chasing after a ghost because once she slipped into the crowd, he could have believed she ceased to exist. “Nari!” He bolstered through those in front of him and while they lunged forward, he was pushing right in the direction that he had seen Nari last. At one point, he swore he had crossed Axel with a demand to find Jia, although he felt it may have been a hallucination. The heat was unlike anything he had ever experienced, it sunk deep into his chest with every breath and those around him were gasping for a breath of fresh air that wasn’t coming. The commotion had blocked out Dae’s understanding, the calls of loyalty to the Queen punctuated with screaming, by panic that threw him back with enough time to lay his eyes on Nari. It was easier to move forward while everyone else threw themselves in the opposing direction. He hadn’t noticed the blood until he was the one leaving behind ghastly footprints. His movements weren’t coordinated with the swell of thoughts in his mind, not even as his foot connected with the man’s shoulder that had clasped Nari’s ankle. “Get your fucking hands off her.” Laughter erupted from behind him, although he didn’t turn to its source, focused instead on grasping Nari by the forearms and attempting to force her to her feet. “If it isn’t the Lord himself, wait until mummy and daddy hear what you’ve done.” The voice continued to taunt him, several others appearing to join in, while the cries of his own people were pulling him apart, those nearby turning to him for command. He was suddenly thrown into senior authority for the Seven Seas, a position that he had never been required to fill, always another in a room that led the masses. Never in his life had he desired his father’s, or even his siblings, presence so desperately. “You’re going to find Axel, he’ll have Jia and you’re going to do everything he tells you to do. You won’t fucking look back.” Surprised by the calm in his own voice, dropped to a whisper for Nari alone before he turned to the assailants. “How about a trade? Everyone in this room gets to leave and you get me? I’ll even toss in a deal that won’t my parents sink you to the ocean floor when they get their hands on you bastards.” It may well have been suicide but as the massacre continued, Dae didn’t know what else to do to stop them painting the room with the blood of the Seven Seas.

There was undoubtedly a change of pace, one that Dae had not accounted for. His curated decisions generally led to a fallout with his parents yet they had never spiralled to pulling down an entire nation. He didn’t even have the time to allow Nari’s questions to settle, to find an answer and a solution to the predicament of their marriage, to the unlikelihood that he would be allowed to marry her even if he pleaded. Faces that passed them were a mix of those he was familiar with and those he had never cared to meet, wrapped up at home in the safety of books. He didn’t care about them until they were herded into a tight space, embedding and flowing in their attempts to find an inch of breathing space. “Wait, Nari.” The mention of Jia should have been his cue to grasp her but he was a beat too late, his hand chasing after a ghost because once she slipped into the crowd, he could have believed she ceased to exist. “Nari!” He bolstered through those in front of him and while they lunged forward, he was pushing right in the direction that he had seen Nari last. At one point, he swore he had crossed Axel with a demand to find Jia, although he felt it may have been a hallucination. The heat was unlike anything he had ever experienced, it sunk deep into his chest with every breath and those around him were gasping for a breath of fresh air that wasn’t coming. The commotion had blocked out Dae’s understanding, the calls of loyalty to the Queen punctuated with screaming, by panic that threw him back with enough time to lay his eyes on Nari. It was easier to move forward while everyone else threw themselves in the opposing direction. He hadn’t noticed the blood until he was the one leaving behind ghastly footprints. His movements weren’t coordinated with the swell of thoughts in his mind, not even as his foot connected with the man’s shoulder that had clasped Nari’s ankle. “Get your fucking hands off her.” Laughter erupted from behind him, although he didn’t turn to its source, focused instead on grasping Nari by the forearms and attempting to force her to her feet. “If it isn’t the Lord himself, wait until mummy and daddy hear what you’ve done.” The voice continued to taunt him, several others appearing to join in, while the cries of his own people were pulling him apart, those nearby turning to him for command. He was suddenly thrown into senior authority for the Seven Seas, a position that he had never been required to fill, always another in a room that led the masses. Never in his life had he desired his father’s, or even his siblings, presence so desperately. “You’re going to find Axel, he’ll have Jia and you’re going to do everything he tells you to do. You won’t fucking look back.” Surprised by the calm in his own voice, dropped to a whisper for Nari alone before he turned to the assailants. “How about a trade? Everyone in this room gets to leave and you get me? I’ll even toss in a deal that won’t my parents sink you to the ocean floor when they get their hands on you bastards.” It may well have been suicide but as the massacre continued, Dae didn’t know what else to do to stop them painting the room with the blood of the Seven Seas.

[daeyangs]

I AM: IN LOVE

[daeyangs]

narimoons​:

Nari imagined him in many situations and none of them could amount to watching it play out in real life. Even if she had panicked about the thought of the upcoming war, she awaited the cold-hearted Dae to show no concern, and it surprised her how gentle he was with her as they made their way toward the ballroom. “You’re different.” Her panicking mind settled with his reassurance, there was no reason to fight him on something that she knew nothing about–but it sure made her heart flutter when he spoke confidently about avoiding death; However, the room no longer existed the minute his hands attached to her waist. An action so meaningless to the average person, an action which left her breathless in the middle of an audience who mutter amongst themselves. Her heart rate increased irrationally, juggling thoughts of him being this close to her in a room full of people would create rumors across the lands. If only she cared enough in that moment, but her eyes never detached from his stunning exterior and anyone staring would be able to point out how madly in love she was with Lord Dae. “I already agreed to marry you, idiot.” Her tone was softer than usual as her mind debated on another topic, whether to kiss him or not in front of all these people. In fear that he’d pull away from her, leaving a heartbroken Nari to mend the pieces together, but what if he didn’t pull away? Would that confirm her suspicions of him feeling something for her? “I will marry you, Dae Yang.” And that was confirmation, Nari raised a hand to rest on the back of his neck while her free hand found a way to press against his chest. “You’re stuck with me.” Her face leaned inches away from his, placing a sweet kiss along his lips, body melting into his own as the kiss lingered on. Ignoring the sudden gasps around the room, whispers of how she could kiss someone with such importance without a care in the world.

A part of him believed that Nari would retract her acceptance, that the threat of war would cause a collapse in her emotions, rather bolster confidence in a union. Dae’s fingers flexed instinctively on her waist with her confirmation that she would marry him as if physically securing her in his hands would stop keep her from backing out. “You did, but I was giving you a chance to flee.” His eyes were locked on hers, the room that was opened up to them now falling away, although he could sense the clip of heels and the gasps from those within the flock that had followed him from the Seven Seas. He had yet to realise the trouble that would land on his head once his parents heard the news. They would be married, it was so nonsensical that he laughed at her solidified acceptance, although the sound held no malice. Until twenty minutes ago, he believed that she hated him, and here she was, his fiancée. “Stuck?” His eyebrows rose although he had no time to linger on the statement when her mouth was tracing his and the lilt in his chest had him following her lips. His mouth showed no signs of hesitation in catching hers, drinking in the taste of her regardless of those that looked on. Hand sliding to press the small of her back, an action made to pull her taut to him yet ridden useless by the step he took to place a leg between her knees. “Let’s go home.” Words were partially lost in the hollow of her mouth, certain that the guards around them would have more to say on releasing them so carelessly to the carriages, but Dae didn’t care for the demands they were forced to follow. He had his own rules to abide by, and that required returning to the Seven Seas as quickly as possible. “I must announce you to my parents.” He didn’t care to explain the haste, a desire to get to his family before gossip carried it to them first. His body still slid comfortably against hers, a light sigh airing once he tilted his head back to view her clearly. “Tell them I am stuck with you.”

[daeyangs]

narimoons​:

The passion behind the kiss is what prevented her from pulling away, losing herself against his lips after all these years of running from him. Nari melted under the pressure, palms resting delicately on his chest while her lips went numb to his kisses; She’d forgotten how good of a kisser he was during her time away. Remembering the moment that she first felt his lips, unplanned yet she declared that kiss her first one. Even Jia would laugh when she explained the kiss near the water fountains, cleaning duty, and she’d come to yell at him. Only to find his lips on her seconds later, not even a word except physical violence against his shins. Leaving him to curl up in pain as she walked away with zero expression, well aware of the sound of her heart beating in her chest, and that same heartbeat brought her back to reality. “Dae..” Heavy breaths, catching up to his mastery-level kisses as she spoke lightly. “We should get going..” Her mind raced with scenarios about how easily he asserted his dominance over the Queen, even declaring war on Seven Seas, but she wasn’t like him when it came to life-threatening situations. “She declared war on Seven Seas because you decided to marry me?” Nari spoke with a questioning tone, for a moment confusion overcame her until panic erupted inside her small intestine. “It’s all my fault, I did this? I said yes and there’s going to be bloodshed. Do you know how many people will die? What if you die? What if I die? What if Jia dies?” Her voice raised an octave, fingers running through her hair as she couldn’t decide which way to leave. The body moved left to right multiple times, pausing to catch his eyes as hers were becoming major waterfalls. “Why are you not saying anything? How are you so calm?” Nari couldn’t find air to fill her lungs, catching small bubbles of air as her chest rose to the beat of her heart, and it caused an unreasonable anger to escape. “This is your fault for being such a good kisser! I was fooled into marrying you because your lips seduced me! I was seduced!”

“So war’s that easy?” Dae mused to himself, surprised that all it took was a single flick of his tongue to spiral two houses into turmoil. Perhaps this is what his mother had been afraid of when she insisted that she escorted him and he could only begin to imagine her anger when he returned home. Nari’s concerns were flutterings over the top of his head, her concerns much wider than his own as his gaze flickered towards the corridor that the Queen and her personal guard had exited from. “They’re very suspicious.” His eyes suddenly snapped back towards Nari and her concerns, while the Paramount guard had started to close in around them in order to herd them anywhere without an escape route. He took a step closer to her and then, extended his arm around her back to block the guards from attempting to touch her, although he made a point not to brush his own hands against her. “I’m so calm because that woman is a fool.” He paid no mind to the low growl that emitted from the guard at his right, surprised to find that she had already gained loyalty in such a short space of time. She wasn’t made to be a Queen, he had known that, as did many others. She was a girl thrust into a role and she would be her own downfall. “You won’t die, I won’t die, Jia won’t die.” Dae didn’t speak of anyone else, they would be piling up the bodies at their gates in a short space of time yet he doubted those were the facts that she wished to hear. He would keep her safe, he would extend a similar protection to the friend that she spoke of and he had no more power than that. “Do you no longer wish to marry me?” Much to the guard's dismay, Dae came to a halt on the threshold of the ballroom, the hands that refused to touch her only moments ago securing a hold on her waist. “If you feel so strongly that you were seduced or tricked, are you refusing to marry me now?” They were now given an audience, a room filled with disgruntled men who had lost their opportunity to marry a Queen and women that had spent hours preparing themselves for their efforts to go to waste.

[daeyangs]

narimoons​:

Marriage was never on the agenda for Nari especially not someone with Dae Yang, but she did imagine this moment many times in her bedroom. After years of being madly in love, Dae would propose the Fountain of Flow which is decorated yearly for those who would like to commit to their partners. However, she’s the only one in love and that fantasy vanished the minute his arm cut her off from escaping. The man of her dreams proposed, no, demanded her to marry him under poor lighting and pinned up against a wall—there’s only one answer that would make sense. “How many proposals have you made today?” Nari remembered only lists of women he’d promised to marry only to forget about them the following day. His simple touches increased her heartbeat, unable to process how she was able to smell his detergent because of the close distance. Nari begged her knees to stay up, fighting the urge to fall down to the ground and crawl in the opposite direction. Why was she actually considering saying yes? Her mouth parted, prepared to give him an answer before her eyes caught the sound of guards heading towards them; She had no time for a plan, and before she asked for his permission—her hands fell to his chest, gripping the delicate fabrics that he wore to seal their lips together. She swore that she could hear fireworks all around them, lips pressing along his as if she’d waited for decades to kiss him again. The kiss lingered for minutes, Nari pulled herself inches from his lips, “Yes, I’ll marry you.” She spoke between heavy breaths. She was slowly influenced by his soft pair, thoughts of waking up next to him or daily walks with someone who was desired by many, and she disliked how easy it was for her to fall under the spell. 

“I’ve made no proposals, I may have accepted five or was it six? One of them was crying so much, it was hard to make out.” Dae waved his hand at the thought of the female that had approached him that morning, crying and clutching his hands as if her life depended on it. He had nodded his agreeance to every word that was sobbed at him in the hopes she would be ushered away from him faster. His eyes remained steady, expecting to find her sliding to the floor and crawling away from him, or taking a more drastic approach of slapping him. That would have been much more entertaining than witnessing her attempts to camouflage herself from him. “I’ll revoke the offer…” Her hands on his chest had stolen the words from his mouth and they were replaced by the softness of her lips on his. It hadn’t been the deal he had set and he didn’t make the move to correct her bold choice, the hand that had been resting on the underside of her chin dropping to press against her lower back and drawing her frame to his. Overcome with desire once his mouth found a rhythm with hers, deepening the kiss with every passing second until he was certain he would drown in her. His tongue rolled over her lower lip once her voice had broken into the space between them, an acceptance of a spontaneous proposal in a dim hallway. His mother would be a mixture of delighted and furious all at once. “Then it’s decided, we shall be married.” Words of his own spoke under his breath, dropping his hand from the wall and sliding it under her hair, fingers easing over her nape. Lips brushing over hers, the edges of his lips tugged upward even though he fought the smile, allowing the seconds to drift by before he latched his mouth with hers again. This time, he allowed the pent-up emotions to unleash, feverish and heavy, filled with the passion that had been caught between them all this time. 

[daeyangs]

ken and barbie 💗💛💚

[daeyangs]

narimoons​:

“I’m not in with you. I just happened to mix up the word invitation with you—love you? Hate you? Why does it matter? You don’t even notice me until you see fit.” Her scoff echoed the halls, even Sevens Seas could hear the disbelief in her tone as he spoke about his siblings wives in such a matter, Nari composed herself by using a breathing technique that Jia had taught whenever her social anxiety got the best of her. “You never fail to make someone cry with your words.” Even as he spoke, she remembered times back then where girls would run out crying because he denied their confessions. Not only that but defeated their self-esteem with deadly honesty, Nari had caught this once in the school yard alley and it terrified her—to the point that she’d hide her confession for years. “What? M-marry? You?” His offer brought her back to reality, hoping she wasn’t having another one of her delusions, but the fact he was in close proximity made her heart panic. Always stepping back from, this time her body collided with a wall—since when were the walls this close? Nari glanced up at him, imagining every day being this close to him. “Kiss me.” She denied him an answer, sorting out her feelings would help her make the decision, and there was a chance that the love she had for him faded through the years. Why would she demand a kiss from? Nari’s thoughts screamed at her, regretting the decision she made knowing her heart would explode into tiny Dae Yang faces if he decided to kiss her. “On second thought, it would be wise to head back because you never know what could happen.” She hummed, sliding towards her left as she realized his figure had grown in size the last time she saw him; thanking the gods for involving him in sword training, but escaping from him gave her difficulty.

Marry me. Words that would have gotten him an instant reply from countless women, many of which had begged for him to take their hand and weigh it down with jewels. Dae’s expectations from Nari were not high and if anything, he believed that no was the most likely answer he would receive, to push him aside and demand he leave her alone. His own question was outrageous yet hers had been more surprising to him, his eyebrows raising at the ask for a kiss. “Kiss you?” They were close enough, one sweeping movement would have had him locked on her mouth, and he had been tempted. Yet, he stayed where he was, eyes dancing over her features in an attempt to gauge what had been going on in her head, had she been swearing at him or considering him seriously? Dae’s hand shot out the moment she slid left, blocking her from fleeing further, although he knew her penchant for escaping and his arm wouldn’t be much of a cage to someone like her. The movement had brought him closer, his forehead at the perfect distance to rest on hers and for a moment, he almost laid his head to rest but thought better of it. His other hand rose between the thin space between them until he was pressing two fingers to the underside of her chin and applying pressure to tilt her head back. Eyes breaking the hold they had on her gaze to fixate on her mouth, unchanged since his last encounter with them beyond the chosen lip colour, a pouty quality that had always been so enticing. Leaning in, his lips brushed gently on the edge of her mouth, but they didn’t fulfil their journey and paused for him to speak. “Agree to marry me and I’ll kiss you.” He had ignored her comments on returning back to the ballroom, it was stuffy and crammed, and although the space they stood in was much less grand, he was having a much better time.