#( with - prince yi chanyul. )

[ignitxr]

A GENUINE LACK OF EXPERIENCE @tamedflame

Her parents thought this would be a simple task, considering her ability to socialize effortlessly in the court. Oh, how they were wrong. While it was indeed true that Wanning was confident in social settings and could entertain and small talk for hours, her target of conversations was mostly women. Families, poetry, art, and jewelry. Fashion, tea, history, and dreams. She knew very well what ladies liked discussing. Now, men, she had absolutely no clue what was on their minds...perhaps, horses?

Wanning smiled to herself, amused by the thought of a discussion regarding horses when around here, people could ride on dragons. At times she was envious.

House Yue was secretly in opposition to Yi House's rule. They waited patiently for the opportunity to bring down the royal family but until then, wished to employ the the strategy of keeping their enemies closer. Someone (her mother) had the brilliant idea that Wanning should vie for the attention of Prince Chanyul in hopes of gaining an ally and she was eventually convinced into an agreement.

Truth to be told, Wanning did not wish to do it. Her preferred battlefield was an honest one, where victory would be secured by arrows, not lies. Besides, Prince Chanyul was as kind as he was handsome. He had not shown any negative traits that would alleviate Wanning of her guilt. In fact, if presented with a choice, she would much rather attempt to seduce a dreadful man of oily flesh and poor hygiene, someone full of ego as well as vile words.

"My prince!" Oh look, so lost in her thoughts, she'd nearly forgotten her manners. Wanning found her smile as she dipped in a bow of greeting - it was a genuine smile for the most part. Prince Chanyul was not a difficult company and conversations tended to run smoothly. At times she was fond of their time together, despite her mind still constantly pondering upon the real question: how should one go about seducing you, my Prince? I doubt there's anything on me that you haven't already seen.

"Shall we dance?" It was a banquet, after all. Wanning took a spin to show off the full flow of her dress. "A little different from the last time you saw me." The last time they met, it was at a less formal event. Wanning wore a plain outfit and had her hair tied back with her usual crimson ribbon instead of wearing jeweled pins with tassels. "Which version of my look do you prefer?"

[dcrkbloods]

@tamedflame

the conversations being held throughout the gardens were of little interest to hyeseong as he meandered around. he had exhausted most of his options for the rest of the night, and himself. he'd rubbed his eyes once or twice and had been walking around with the remnants of the makeup on the back of his hand. undoubtedly sobering up and going back and forth on whether or not he should fix that. one thing he would be fixing was his face.

as thrilling and amusing as the night had been thus far he was ready to go home, but there was still that voice in the back of his mind begging him to stay for one more drink. he let out a deep sigh and glanced up at the palace and into the sky painting a dark scene behind it. the sun wasn't even close to reappearing, but he wished it was.

he removed the paint from his eyes and lips with a cloth he'd bothered one of the palace staff for, and took up even more of the man's time making him hold up a reflective dish to hyeseong's face as he wiped it away. as he grabbed another glass of the dark wine he'd been entertaining himself with all evening he scoped out someone to share the final round with. would it actually be his last glass?

his eyes stopped on a somewhat familiar face. a face he had associated with a bittersweet memory, but that was the prince's twin he found more of that memory in. hyeseong wasn't at all that close with him either, so the idea he'd conjured up on his walk over to him wasn't foolproof.

"your grace, you don't appear all that busy." hyeseong moved his hands around to motion at the lack of companions, or maybe his approaching presence sent them elsewhere. "care to join me for a drink and a walk? i'd rather not go seeking out those nasty spirits alone."

[chrysanths]

⸻ @tamedflame

In the most recent passing days, Geonwoo comes to ponder upon his true feelings concerning his profession. He takes immense pride in his position; knowing himself to be one of the Fire Nation's most formidable to be granted such a role. However, there are instances in which he can feel the regret creeping at his toes. His body has been honed over the years to be sturdy as a tree trunk, able to withstand the heaviest of blows and longest of days. And yet, a waver makes itself known in his legs.

He feels his eyes grow heavy, head bob to the side and— he clears his throat, startled by his own doze. Several blinks and a widening of his eyes jolts him back from the seductive fingers of dream world. One glance around would serve him a reminder of where he is. Trapped, he would say, within four walls of some extravagantly decorated bedroom. With honor from House Bae, each noble had been granted accommodations in the coming days before their illustrious banquet. The children of House Yi ( of course ) are housed in the most luxurious of spaces. Certainly no match for the royal household in Hari Bulkan but its interior is impressive. More than a man like Geonwoo would ever dream to stay in.

His special assignment to guard Prince Chanyul ( and the other members of the royal family ) only gives him a small peak into the life of unfettered opulence. Servants flit about the room with various items of clothing. They hold it up to the prince's body to see how it may fit for his banquet outfit. Outer robes, silk sashes, shoes with ornate designs. The man finds the repetitive notion of dressing and undressing in pieces one would not walk out and wear a daunting task.

Gods, free me now... or make the sun grow dark and end this suffering.

"Your grace," through grit teeth, he speaks at last; leaning over the prince's shoulder as he sits. Geonwoo's hands remain clasped tightly behind his back. "Dinner will be served soon, on the hour."

[divinetrcgedy]

𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐒𝐄𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐎 𝐁𝐄 𝐀𝐋𝐌𝐎𝐒𝐓 𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄, 𝐁𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐆𝐈𝐋𝐃𝐄𝐃 𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐏𝐘 𝐎𝐅 𝐂𝐑𝐘𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐄 𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒 ⸻ the bae's emerald teahouse was undoubtedly alive with revelry as once the feast finally commenced after the crown prince's opening speech, the teahouse have turned into a riot of colors and sounds where a symphony of laughter and music echoed through the air as all the noble lords and ladies wined and dined to their hearts content without a single care for the world. yerim, ever so glittering and shinning, had been exchanging a round of pleasantries with an entourage of highborn ladies whilst she spew empty compliments drenched in honeyed flattery from her rosy tiers over their dresses and masks alike when her dark eyes couldn't help but to caught sight of an old friend.

prince yi chanyul himself, standing at the quiet edge of the hall — a rather rare scene for yerim who'd always see surrounded by a crowd of nobles, lords and ladies alike vying for his attention. yerim, who could never pass up a chance to catch up with an old friend, eventually excused herself politely from the group before sauntering foward to approach the prince.

❝  good evening, your grace. ❞ her voice is nothing but the lilt of a melodious songbird as she greeted him with a small curtsy, all poised and ladylike before settling into her usual teasing self with her roseate lips painting themselves into the most mischievous of smiles. ( how fitting was it that her mask was none other than a fox, the trickster of all animals ) ❝ why, isn't this a rather rare sight? where have your usual crowds of adoring nobles have gone, my prince? or have you finally warned them off with your dragon? ❞

𝑳𝑬𝑻𝑻𝑬𝑹𝑺 𝑻𝑶, @tamedflame

[afterburning]

chanyul

"i'm glad to see you back," he says. he only just manages to bite back the words 'and well', aware that most who returned from the spirit world came back worse for wear. but in the weeks that the zhao brothers were trapped in the spirit world, every passing day without their return felt like another step closer to an irreversible outcome. he ignores the pang that comes with the unbidden reminder that his mother sohee still has yet to return home. "keran had been worried about you."

that’s one way to put it, chanyul says, and jiyu isn’t unkind enough to point out that it’s the truth of the matter. opposite him is the ruler of crescent island, third in line for the throne, prince chanyul who needs a spouse; these are undeniable facts. jiyu’s own thoughts on the matter are hardly worth consideration. and he’d ask, were it anyone else he’s speaking too, how he intends to go about it - the ceremony to it, the process, the criteria he intends to use. but jiyu’s not eager to unearth family history. the place at chanyul’s side would’ve been keran’s, years ago. deep down jiyu thinks that, despite her shortcoming, it should still belong to her. he could never put this into words.

“i’m glad to be back.” he thinks of the jungle, of footsteps in the mud. the weight of lady yerim on his back, the slow trek, a never-ending walk through wilderness. he remembers feeling tired and trying not to give into it. jiyu’s kept awake for more hours than he knows he should push himself; it comes with the work. he’s not used to his body failing on him like that.

“keran has mentioned you stood by her side recently. if my brother hasn’t extended his appreciation”, and jiyu is sure he hasn’t, with the way jian has been talking about the yis, “let me do it in his stead, for both of us. i’m glad she wasn’t alone.” but she might be, again. if jian loses himself in his quest for vengeance, and jiyu succumbs to his illness.

with this in mind, he hesitates before going on. “it might’ve been mentioned to you that i will be dead, likely within the year. i’d be grateful if i could count on a friend being there for her too, when the inevitable happens.”

[orchdaries]

𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚢𝚞𝚕:

[ ... ] "i did see lord jiyu,” he admits. he knows that jiyu is attractive, in his serious and reliable way with his dark eyebrows and strong physique, and he feels somewhat responsible for validating her feelings. in truth, aera is a lovely woman, and she’d be good for jiyu. while he does not know what she’s waiting for before confessing, he understands that it might feel safer for now to admire him from afar. should she ask, he’d be happy to attempt to play matchmaker, though he supposes she may not have asked due to chanyul’s own ... lack of success in the matters of love. “he did seem like he was in a good mood today. and he’s quite handsome when he smiles.” he gives her a knowing smile. “what did you two talk about ?”

     " oh no no no . " aera is quick to deny any interaction with jiyu that morning, one of her hands coming to her cheek, feeling it get warmer while the other accepts chanyul's arm offered to her and positioning herself at this side instead of in front of him. " how could i ? he seemed busy . " she explains even though another reason for not going up and talking to the older zhao was that just the thought of interacting with him outside of their little ritual of hey can you fix this? and yes, of course! or even their hi, this is your tea of the month! and thank you and whatever small conversation that aera can get out of those little interactions was more than enough to have a kaleidoscope of butterflies making a full ball on her stomach. besides, well, commander zhao did seem a little busy with his friends and aera didn't want to disturb when they weren't that close.

     it's in those moments that aera realizes that maybe they haven't changed as much as she thought they did. after all it must mean something that they're able to still talk about silly things like that. the thing of choi aera and yi chanyul is that, even though they bickered and teased each other endlessly, they still feed off each other's energy quite well. they simply had enough in common not only in taste but also personality that simply clicked and it shows; it shows that hasn't changed and as a matter of fact might've been reinforced by the fact they hold affection for the same man.

     of course that aera knows how rumors can be fabricated, simply consequences of bad spread information done intentionally or not, after all there was a rumor not long ago of her and keran getting married; however either due to her wishful thinking or to her ability to pick up certain details of people when it's something that interests her (and of course that romance is going to be one of those things), she sees actual evidences that this one particular rumor might be true, the fact that chanyul was there smiling at her while indulging her talk about jiyu's smile is more than enough proof that there is something there. besides it'd definitely help the story line of their stories if chanyul ended up with jiyu and keran ended up with geonwoo.

     " have you spoken to him ? " aera questions her friend in return; although she knows better than to ask for details of a conversation between a prince and a military commander, it doesn't mean she won't find another ways to be nosy about this. " you said he was in a good mood so— " she puts a hand to cover her slightly open mouth, a gasp escaping her lips that almost sounds like an excited squeak. " don't tell me ! did you make him laugh ? "