#do i make you nervous? (seong all ft luana)

[ofemeralds]

closed- seong ft luana

closed for @fairplcy

location: dynasty hill, seong's home. it had already been a long week at work and one might say that seong was a workaholic this week which technically was true but it was something that kept him busy. these days he seems to be working himself to the bone. he had called luana earlier and told him that his home was unlocked for her and to meet him there so they could have their annual sushi night while watching terrible crime documentaries. “ah, you found your way in i see. and you didn’t bring anything this time? i still have that bordeaux wine from last time that we could always have tonight.” he undoes his tie around his neck and lets it loosely hang from his neck as he makes his way to the kitchen, tossing his pleated coat on the bar stool. “are you keeping yourself busy this week? lately it feels like i haven’t had a chance to catch up on sleep.” and the stubble around his neck proved it.

[ofemeralds]

@fairplcy ft luana

To the Wonder 我的阿勒泰 (2024) — Episode. 3   

[ofemeralds]

seong enjoyed these nights when they could just be together and finally catch up on what they missed about each other. It seems like he never misses too much, but life in devil’s junction always moves fast. he always made time to see Luana, of all people. she was, after all, mostly the person that he considered family at this point within the insanity of this town. “mister ramsay looks like his hair would turn orange if he was caught in a kitchen fire and honestly, i would rather not be associated with someone like that.” he says with the slightest bit of a laugh as he puts the plates out at the kitchen island and moves around to sit at the bar stool next to her. “this is why i associate with cooler people like you. you’re much more interesting than the boy next door or something like that— which speaking of, i have a saga to tell you after you tell me about your someone that has caught your attention. because, hello? when does that ever happen?" he asks with the slightest bit of a smile on his lips as he serves the food onto both of the plates.

Luana smiled at Seong fondly as they chattered while he cooked. Others could most certainly get the wrong idea about the pair considering how they acted around one another. There was a level of comfort between them that was typically reserved for romantic partners. And yet, the two could not be more platonic. To her, Seong was family—someone to protect and look after for the rest of their days. When he stated he wasn’t sure if he’d ever like to bring children into the world, Luana nodded knowingly. She was on the same boat in that respect. Hell, she had never even been married in her forty-five years of life. And wasn’t really looking to be at this point. “I can respect that. Children aren’t required to be whole in life. I just think you’d make adorable ones.” She playfully replied, a smile ever present on her lips. Man, woman, or anyone in between, it didn’t matter to her which Seong was attracted to. As long as the next person he chose to spend his days with treated him right, it was neither here nor there. “Oh, please. I’m way cooler than mister Ramsay. He just gets an edge because of his octaves and accent.” The woman teased, wrapping up her work at the table. She then opted to head back into the kitchen to wait for their meal. “Everything is fine in my life, I think? I mean, I’ve been keeping busy as always. Ruffling feathers…the usual.” Her shoulders lifted in a shrug. “Someone may or may not have caught my attention recently, but we don’t need to dive into that topic.”

[ofemeralds]

A laugh escapes his lips as his cheeks flush a bright red. The compliments he should be used to around luana at this point to be quite honest. He grates the parmesan on the cutting board as the lasagna heats up in the oven. It could almost be like that seong was cooking for his wife but in reality, they both knew the type of people that seong was into these days, it was why his first marriage didn’t work out and now he was deathly afraid of the thought of getting married again. “I still don’t think i would be the type to offer children to the world in a million years, that’s not my pony, not my rodeo.” he says a bit truthfully. “I’m sure gordon ramsay would be yelling at me from across the room if he were here. It’s a good thing i don’t know actually know anyone cool like that.” he says with a teasing smile as the oven dings and he puts on the oven mit and pulls out the lasagna letting it cool as he turns off the oven. Rarely did seong use his own oven but it was nice to catch up with luana on evenings like these. “How have you been? Other than acting as royal godmother and an excellent matchmaker? How is work? How is life” he asks making sure that he hits every point letting his hands run under the sink to wash his hands, yet again, doing anything that could keep himself busy. It seemed like the man couldn’t stay still even in his own house.

Luana playfully shook her head and rolled her eyes back when Seong claimed to have known what she had been referencing. “That is a complete and total lie and you know it, honey. You are a good man with incredible genetics. Might as well bless the world with a couple more of you.” While her tone remained light, she was being fairly serious in that moment. The man before her had his faults—just like any other human being in existence. Even so, he was the most kindred spirit she had ever met. The world could do with more people like him. Besides, it would be one way to make his large home feel less empty. When he asked for her assistance with the plates, she gave him a nod and went about the task as if it were second nature. On most days Seong’s place felt more like home than her own. “Oh yeah, don’t hold back on the Parmesan.” She answered, peering over at him from the table. “It’s every great lasagna’s signature piece. Skipping it is like bread without butter. The culinary gods would never forgive us.”

[ofemeralds]

“uh huh- right i knew that.” he says as he couldn’t help but roll his eyes at her with the slightest bit of a smile on his lips. “no– nope, i would not make a good father, you’re not getting either version of a godmother, fairy godmother or not.” he says as he pours some wine into two wine glasses, handing her the other just in time for the oven to ding. he pulls the lasagna out of the oven and puts it on top of the oven to let it cool for a moment before cutting them some slices. It was a good thing that he made the effort to make this earlier in the week before everything got too busy otherwise he was certain that he wouldn’t have nourished himself with good food this week if he didn’t. “that honestly sounds like a good plan. would you get the plates out of the cabinet as this cools?” he says talking to her as if she knows exactly where they are. to be honest, she probably knows this mansion better than him at this point, seong would not be surprised if she did. she practically had helped him move in when he acquired this home. they had helped each other move in when they both came to devil’s junction. It felt almost weird not to. “do you want parmesan cheese on top?” he asks prepping shredded parmesan on the side. anything to keep himself busy right now was really what he needed. 

“Neither did I.” She admitted with a soft smile. Luana did not make close friends easily, let alone ones she felt so dedicated to. Her heart was far too stiff for that. At least, that’s what she told herself. Seong, however, was a different story altogether. There was just something about him that made them click instantly. He was her family away from family. Hell, Luana confided in him more than her own blood. Their bond was like no other in her life and she would not trade it for the world. “I meant like Cinderella’s fairy godmother. But hey, an old broad can dream—and you would undoubtedly make an adorable father.” She half jested, yet the softer tone of her voice demonstrated nothing but sincerity. While privy to all of the details, Luana was aware that there was some darkness in Seong’s past. Despite whatever he’d experienced, his heart remained golden. The mention of his ex resulted in her placing a comforting hand upon his shoulder. “While I’m glad that you’ve been cooking, you should take it easy.” It was pointless to suggest considering they were a pair of stubborn workaholics. Nevertheless, she make the attempt anyways. “Burning yourself out won’t do you any good. Let’s dig in first; I’ll help you with that facial disaster afterwards. Deal?”

[ofemeralds]

“yeah i didn’t really think that i would grow on you as much as did.” he says completely honestly, especially for seong– luana has been a part of his makeshift family longer than anyone since he has entered the united states. how was he able to create something so stable as he settled his life in chicago? he wasn’t really expecting that. he had built his walls up so high that luana had somehow figured out to pick at his achilles heel. or maybe he was more atlas holding the world up on his shoulders? “godmother? you know you’re never going to get me to have kids. You have already attempted with cameron. isn’t my companionship enough pay?” seong asks, tilting his head at hers as the warm light of his kitchen shines between the two. he rarely talks about his ex wife anymore. but alas, here he was, thinking about how he royally fucked everything up in chicago when he had a somewhat normal life for once. “lucky for you,i still cook every now and then, c’mon. i need the motivation to at least shave off my five o’clock shadow. at this point i’m not going to do it by myself.” he says sounding a bit exhausted. seong really did need to give himself a break.

“Or maybe you’re growing on them like you did with me.” Luana half teased with a light giggle. Seong was a kindred spirit in her eyes. She didn’t see how anyone could not be fond of him. He was the equivalent of a precious puppy—an irresistible bundle of cuteness that was to be protected at all costs. “In all seriousness, I did mean to bring a box of macarons with me but I may have accidentally left them at the office again.” There was a slight pout forming on her lips at the revelation, but she was quick to shift her focus as Seong continued. “Wow, bestie, makeshift godmother, matchmaker, and now personal barber? I think I might be due for a pay raise Mr. Baek.” She jested. “And left over lasagna sounds like a perfect idea. To be honest, I don’t think I’ve had a home cooked meal all week. One of the many woes of being a busy-bee.”

[ofemeralds]

“people oftentimes come over here and bring random gifts a lot. I don’t know why, maybe they are intimidated by the large home.” he says with the slightest bit of a laugh. It was part of the reason why seong has not been hosting as much because he doesn’t want to have all those knicknacks sometimes. He is trying to have a clean mind and a clean home this year. His mother was someone who would oftentimes bring gifts when visiting people. It was strange sometimes to come to America and realize that was often not the norm. He rests his hands on the marble of his countertop staring down at his sink where he realizes he forgot to put his coffee cup away from earlier this morning. He does really hate coming home to an unkept house. He did hire cleaning people for a while, but that was an expense that he didn’t really need. “uh— i don’t know.” he says a bit truthfully furrowing his brows. “care to help me tonight though? I meant to do it earlier, then the next day passed, and then the next and now it’s just…. there,” he says with a shrug. “Then i can heat up the lasagna from last night for us. I did make too much.”

As a certified workaholic herself, Luana knew all too well the toll overworking could take on oneself. She had pulled all-nighters and survived on iced coffee and determination alone, but that didn't mean she approved of the same for Seong. Even if she wasn't in a place to judge, she would still nag him about it. "What do you mean? I brought my presence—my present is my presence." She teased, taking a moment to walk over to him and get a better look at his tired face. "Just look at you," She sighed. From the moment they met, Luana had always been incredible protective of Seong. She didn't know what it was about him that made her feel that way, but it could not be helped. "When's the last time you shaved?"