#dokyeom-love-poison

[noircheols]

˗ˏˋ  AS THE SUN HITS ; l. seokmin ´ˎ˗

she'll be waiting, with her cool things, and her heaven. (7.6k+)

⋆ SYNOPSIS. ― you were his muse, the motivation behind every note he strummed on his lyre, and every verse he sang. but now the air that would rush through his lungs as he'd sing could only be pried from your cold dead hands.

⋆ INFO. ― angst, fluff, ancient greece!au, historical fantasy!au, greek mythology!au, hurt no comfort

⋆ PAIRING. ― orpheus!dokyeom x eurydice!reader

⋆ PRNS. ― they / them

⋆ CW. ― MAJOR CHARACTER DEATH, blood, seokmin can carry the reader, seokmin is afraid of dying cus of hubris, hades!minghao and persephone!jun take on gender fluid-esque forms for my sake (dont question it), mentions of starving, s3xu4l 4ssault mention (verbal), alcohol, food, kissing, pet names (my love, darling), possible historical/mythological inaccuracies, mentions of a beheading, mentions of poisoning, mentions of vomitting, light smut mention (if u blink u probs won't notice)

⋆ 💬.  ― special thanks to @seokmn for proof-reading!! inspired by a post which quite literally stated "orpheus seokmin x eurydice reader" BUT I LOST IT I WANT TO CRYYY. basically op wanted somebody to write something along those premises so i done just that (not shocked if somebody else got to it first tbh...) IF SO THIS WAS NOT COPIED FROM ANYBODY INTENTIONALLY THIS CAME OUT OF MY TINY BRAIN. i forgot who the original poster is but if anybody figures it out PLEASE TELL ME IMMIDIETALLY !!! this idea isnt mine i just wanted to bring it to life :(

Seokmin's favourite pastime was to have you running your hands through his hair. He loved the way your fingers gently brushed through his scalp, as you coaxed him with sweet nothings after a long day. It's what kept Seokmin going, his knees buckling as the musician climbed the hill to your cottage. Every day followed a very specific routine, you would be diligently looking over your garden, and he would wrap his arms around your waist from behind. It was your voice that renewed his love for music. Every word you spoke perfectly pieced together like a song. The way the corners of your mouth curled into a cheeky smile, the shape reminiscent of his lyre. Everything about you sounded right. It's why you made so much sense as his fiance.

Domestic life, despite his rich imagination, was something Seokmin never envisioned. He had travelled across the globe, seeing all that grew upon Gaia's skin. Kings had discovered his talent from messengers, and out of curiosity, invited him to perform. Everybody that heard his voice was bewitched, with rumours spreading that he was Apollo, the God of the Sun and Music taking on a mortal disguise! For his performances, Seokmin had been offered sparkling gems from the King of the Sea, pearlescent ivory from foreign lands in the South, and olive oil that flowed like honey from the finest of orchards. But Seokmin believed the best gift he had received was the gift of song. The gift of your song. With your song came his most stunning melodies. Melodies which tell the story of a wandering bard’s love for a valley nymph, an auloniad. The bard had only hoped the auloniad would notice him. Fortunately, Seokmin could conclude that the bard had a happy ending, because he was living it.

"You've been working too hard, Minnie."  you giggled as you gently tucked a flower behind his ear. You two sat quietly on your shared bed. Seokmin felt his body sink deeper into the linen with how gentle you were, treating him like he was made from the finest glass. Even with his eyes closed, could feel the warmth of your gaze. "You should tell the King to give you a day off, spend it with me, no?" you winked at the man, whose head rested on your lap. A blissful smile rested on his features. He looked angelic with the way the sunset cast its glow upon him.

"My love, he's invited to our wedding tomorrow! I can't afford to accidentally disrespect him. You know how these things work. There are too many stories of courtesans being beheaded; you don't want your fiance dead just before the fun starts!" he laughed. "Wait— are you planning on getting rid of me!?" his eyes looked like they were about to fall out of his sockets.

"Well, your big brother Wonwoo has been looking so good after becoming a scholar in Athens. It would help if you were out of the picture," you smirked, eager to see your fiance's reaction. Seokmin scoffed loudly, getting up from your lap.

"I'll kill Wonwoo before he can even see you!" Seokmin jokingly yelled before tackling you into the bed to be tickled mercilessly. You squealed "stop" repeatedly as your laugh filled the small house. Seokmin was pleased with your reaction, and finally released you from his grasp. He was hovering on top of you, hair falling in front of his eyes. You wanted every day to be like this. You wanted to see that same hair of his turn white and his face aged with time. You wanted to drown in his neverending love. Marriage would finally make you one being, an entity that shares a future and a past, and two breaths walking.

"I can't wait for us to get married tomorrow," Seokmin sighed, as he reached for your hand to kiss. You smiled as his lips brushed against your knuckles. You had heard from fellow nymphs that marriage was a poison that seeped into your bones, immobilizing you and keeping you trapped in a moment. Nymphs were born to be nothing more than bargain pieces, their names alone meaning "bride". However, you begged to differ.

When it came to Seokmin, you felt free. Never did you feel that you were inferior. Waking up next to him peacefully sleeping, as he spooned you. His soft pleas for you to "stay in bed a little longer". When he'd come home from a long day of performances and litter your face with the sweetest kisses, where he would thank you for "being his muse". Looking into his eyes after a long day felt like staring into the wide skies in the valleys you would live in.

You couldn't wait for tomorrow to come.

"You look good," Wonwoo chuckled as he placed a wreath of gold leaves on his younger brother's head. Seokmin took a good look at himself in the mirror, the gold illuminating the spark in his eyes. It was Wonwoo's wedding gift he brought with him from Athens. His brother supposedly enlisted the best of the best goldsmiths with the very little money he had left to his name to make the stunning crown. The gold metal felt heavy on Seokmin's head, but your love was something he would proudly wear.

It was the day of your wedding. Seokmin had invited his human friends he had met on his adventures, and you invited nymphs of every kind. It was still early in the morning, much before the ceremony would commence in the evening (a personal touch Seokmin included; he remembered how you would get up in the middle of the night to stargaze). Still, the garden was bustling with life. He could hear the joyous hollering of well-wishers from outside his thin house walls.

"Look at you, getting married before me." Wonwoo teased. "I thought you were going to die in a tavern as a spinster— thank the Gods that you found [Name] before you met your fate drunk in a random street."

"Please, I'm not THAT miserable." Seokmin pouted at his brother's remarks. Seokmin's chest heaved. He wanted to see you, he wanted to kiss the bridge of your nose and tell him he was honoured to be your companion in life. He wanted to lift your veil off your face and see your doll-like eyes stare into his.

"Do you think..." Seokmin began to trail off. "Do you think they will love me forever? I know I will love them forever, but what if they become too good for me?"

"Well, Heraclitus had famously stated 'you cannot step into the same river twice' with his Doctrine of Flux—"

"Please don't go all scholar on me! I'm going to my wedding, not to school,"

"All I'm saying is, love never remains constant. It's a dynamic entity, but then again, you and [Name] are pretty dynamic too. You match each other perfectly, it's like Aphrodite blessed you. Although, my little brother has always been loved by the Gods." Wonwoo smoothly explained.

Like Aphrodite blessed me.

Seokmin gave himself a proud smile in the mirror before putting on the rest of his wedding garments.

Brushing the blackened ash of incense over your lashes, you grinned satisfied with your reflection in your hand mirror. You didn't previously imagine marriage or starting a family because you had heard so many stories from fellow nymphs of their nightmare affairs. But once again, Seokmin was different. He had the sincerest of emotions for you, and you for him.

You took a good look outside of your window, inhaling the fresh air. The air was particularly sweet today, maybe it was from the plethora of figs and wine available. Or, maybe it was because your heart swelled so much with excitement from the wedding all your senses were being overshadowed. The cottage you and Seokmin resided in was looking exceptional today, with the bouquets of wildflowers and candles. The cottage was a gift bestowed to you and Seokmin by the King of Aeolia, who adored Seokmin's music. The orchards were bountiful, the fruit plump and sweet. The garden was your favourite place, as you were previously a follower of the nomadic forest deity, Pan. You remember vividly how you first met Seokmin.

You were stringing flowers up from the Earth when you heard a scream ripple through your valley. You chuckled softly to yourself. Humans. Still, there were many stories of them searching for greatness, ignorant to the fact that they were designated to ultimately become the dirt they walk on. Your previous lover, a minor God of trickery, would boast about his status and the inferiority of humankind. You’d laugh at his stories of luring humans to their death, but you were aware that nymphs were just as weak— if not weaker, than humans. Really, nymphs and humans were two different sides of the same coin— two entities that were used by the Gods as playthings to pass their time as immortals. However, a key difference was that humans spent their time locked away in their big marble palaces and scriptures, and nymphs would be imprisoned by the freedom of the wilderness.

What would a human be doing out here in auloniad territory?

You tracked down the origin of the sound, finding yourself deep in the forest. "STAY BACK!" the man shrieked. You peeked behind a willow tree, its long branches acting as a disguise, and you cracked a wicked smile. The man, clutching his lyre, was cornered to the back of a tree by a boar. The beast snarled, showing off its sharpened and bloodied teeth. Boars, to auloniads, were like what puppies were to humans. If this were any other human, you would have allowed the beast to have its way. But something about this man, with his big doe eyes and perfectly sculpted face made him seem... different. He held an aura— no, a glow, that made you interfere.

"Alright, Sherman, please don't eat the nice guest." you stepped out from your hiding spot, cooing at the beast. The boar stopped its hunt once it heard your voice. It trotted over to you, for you to cup its face. "Aren't you just adorable!" you gushed, ruffling with its fur.

Seokmin's eyes fell onto you, fear evaporating from his body. You were... magnificent. He had seen beautiful people before, when he was entertaining royalty. Princes and princesses would throw themselves on him, begging to take him to bed. But you were beautiful like the waterfalls he'd see on his journeys, birds chirping signalling a new day, the rocky steppes of mountainous terrains in Crete.

"His name is Sherman?" Seokmin began to laugh.

"Her." you giggled, as the beast revelled in your affection. Seokmin began to laugh to himself, wondering how the same vicious boar, who had chased him from across the forest, could resemble the same characteristics as a harmless puppy under the right touch.  You released Sherman, letting her go to run off into the wild. 

"Thank you for saving me," Seokmin spoke up, drinking in the nymph's beauty. You laughed— goodness, how could somebody be so charming? "Next time when you come into this neck of the woods, I'd advise you to not play any instruments. Boars are extremely sensitive to noise. Rather, go to the Pineios River to practice." you advised. "What were you playing, anyways?" being a nymph, curiosity bested you. It’s not always you get a human in your hand.

"Oh, just this old thing!" Seokmin brought a rather strange thing from his dilapidated satchel, a gold tubular instrument.

“And… what is it?”

“A salpinx! Its pretty loud though, soldiers use this in battles. Maybe this thing is why Sherman wanted to kill me…” Seokmin thought out loud. You giggled at the human's cuteness. He was endearing, like a fawn.

“Well, I should get going now, back to doing absolutely nothing.” you chuckled. As you began trekking up the forest, you heard Seokmin call out to you.

“Wait!— Why don’t I play something for tomorrow, just the two of us? At the Pineios River!” Seokmin offered.

He was composed when it came to playing in front of giant cyclops to convince them to let him live, at weddings of huge political significance, impressing the Goddess of Arts and Crafts, and setting wild lions to sleep with gentle lullabies. But to have you in his audience was the most nerve-wracking thing to him. To feel your eyes bore deep into him was… tantalizing. To be the object of your attention, as you spend your days together lazing in each other's company. He had never felt stage fright before. But that only motivated him to perform the best he could.

Grinning, you turned your head around. “I’d love to.”

He knew at that moment he wanted to marry you, and that feeling only grew stronger every time he played for you.

The festivities were in full swing. Guests took it upon themselves to feast on the multiple honey-flavoured sweets prepared and the platter of goat's cheese with cucumbers and figs. There was an overwhelming amount of wine available to wash it down. "Eat it all up and vomit it all out" was the Ancient world's favourite way to pass the time. Amongst all their excitement, Seokmin was oddly quiet.

"You aren't eating anything," Wonwoo observed, eyeing his brother's untouched plate.

"Something feels wrong," Seokmin responded, voice hushed so only his brother could hear.

"How?" Wonwoo asked before going for a second lamb rib.

“It feels like… my life is going to change tonight.” Seokmin solemnly spoke. “I mean— aside from the fact I’m literally getting MARRIED. But, I don’t know, something is telling me I should check in on [Name].”

"Maybe you’re just experiencing pre-wedding anxiety. It's common.” Wonwoo explained. Wonwoo was Seokmin’s polar opposite, in that he viewed convoluted situations as simple problems with logical answers. Wonwoo was reasonable, a characteristic all scholars possessed. Growing up, in difficult situations, it was Wonwoo’s brain that triumphed over Seokmin’s heart. “I'm sure [Name] is alright, they have all their friends. Just trust me on this and eat your food." Seokmin gave a weak nod before picking up a fig to eat.

Seokmin wishes he had listened to his heart before it was too late.

By evening, Seokmin was expected to have wed you already. By now, you would be dancing to his lyre with a careless smile with the stars smiling down on your union. But as Seokmin searched tirelessly for you, he could hear the stars laughing wickedly.

“My love?!!” Seokmin called out for his love. "Please, answer me!" Seokmin's eyes frantically scanned over the almost endless rolling hills. He felt like he was staring into the ocean. At first glance, the ocean was inviting and almost harmless, but the danger was in its infinite grasp over the world. But Seokmin would claw through the waves if it meant he could be with you.

"No sign of them here!" one of his wedding guests shouted.

"Over here!" one of your nymph friends called out, waving at him. Seokmin ran over to see what was happening, and his heart sank. You lay peacefully on the tall grass, as though you were just in a deep sleep. The earth was waiting for you to finally return to its arms. It had yearned for your return ever since you left the valley to travel alongside Seokmin. Now that you have returned to it, Seokmin knew better than anybody it wouldn't let you go. 

"We were all just dancing, like we normally did and—" another nymph choked on her tears, rolling down her cheeks at the same tempo of the beads of blood rolling down your ankle and staining the lush bed of grass underneath. "We were startled by an entourage of hunters, threatening us with all sorts of crude things, because that's all nymphs are good for. But [Name] wouldn't take any of it, and soon enough, it delved into an argument— and the huntsman just shoved them so hard that they stumbled onto a stupid venomous snake."

Rage.

There had never been a moment where Seokmin felt so much rage.

What was even more bitter was that your blood was trickling into the Pineios River, the same place he had given his first performance to you. The sounds of the water gently crashing against the shore did nothing to soothe him. His world, you, had just stopped. But the rest of the world still flooded past your body, reminding him that he was just another pebble in the riverbed that was life. The river, which was supposed to be a natural monument to your love, was now stained by your death. You had deliberately chosen to get married by the Pineios River and to have your cottage here, because this is where time would stand still for you and him.

"Where are those hunters?" Seokmin questioned, as he scooped you into his arms. It hurt him that you were so perfect. Even in your final moments, you chose to remain generous and protect the people you love most. How he wished you could have been more selfish.

"They ran off into the woods, laughing to themselves..." another responded.

Seokmin's fingers clung to your figure, hoping to feel your blood rush. Right now, he wanted nothing more than to bring you back and finalize his vows with you. He was supposed to carry you into your shared cottage as blushing newlyweds, staring up at the ceiling together because that was your favourite thing to do. But here he was, carrying your cold lifeless body. That same body which he spooned to sleep. Just moments ago, he woke you up with a kiss on the forehead. How did moments seem so distant?

Burying his face in your chest, Seokmin sobbed. Maybe he could hear your heart beat once more? Maybe you could feel his warmth, and then you would regain your spark and miraculously come back to life. Your eyes would flutter open, and you could spend your last moments with him in the sweet bliss of domesticity. Seokmin thought that if he wailed loudly enough, the Gods would hear his pleas and give him his greatest love. His big brother's words, "Beloved by the gods," echoed in his mind, ringing painfully in his memories.

No human could ever be loved by a god. Not the same way he loved you, at least.

He loved you. And that's what was going to be his undoing.

It had been days since the wedding. Seokmin hadn't been eating regularly. Some twisted part in his mind lashed at him for not being there to protect you. He should have been the last thing you saw. He should have held you so as you shut your eyes and left this world he could have been able to say goodbye. He wishes he could have been able to say goodbye. Or maybe, he wouldn't need to say goodbye, because he would keep you away from those hunters and you would have never tripped. It doesn't matter now, because while your breath was faltering and your heart slowed he was feasting without a care in the world.

Seokmin also stopped sleeping. It's grown to hurt him too much. Every time he would close his eyes to rest, he hoped that when he woke up, it was all a part of a cruel trick his mind was playing on him. But it never was. It then grew to become him trying to sleep forever, so that time would pass by seamlessly and he would shrivel and find himself in the Underworld with you. But it would never work. It was because he was selfish. He would wake up in the middle of the night, his chest heaving and gasping for air. As much as he was terrified of losing you, perhaps most importantly, he nursed a fear of dying. He was a coward who turned his back on death, the only time humans are treated equally. But he was not like the rest, he was a jewel amongst the rock garden of humanity, and you were supposed to adore him. He was vain, but any artist with self-respect was. Why should he be treated the same as other humans, when he was a hero of far-off kingdoms and Apollo's champion?

Rather than disappointing himself, he took to roaming the gardens you tended to so ardently. "I'm still a nymph, after all! I’m good with plants" your voice rang clearly in his head like a bell.

Staring mindlessly at the flowerbed, meddling with the strings of his lyre, singing to himself. All he could think about was how spring was treading forth on its heels, bringing flowers in their bloom. But when you died, you left him none of the bright colours that dotted your shared world. Maybe, he could catch the Goddess of Spring, Persephone, and beg her to convince her husband to bring you back to him. The Goddess of Spring, or as he likes to appear to humans, Jun.

Seokmin knelt before the once flourishing bed of flowers, singing once more. Louder. With more strength. Maybe Apollo won't fail him, and will take his golden chariot mounted by swans to pluck you back from Hades and return you back home. You would emerge from the shining beams of sunlight, and you will both laugh about this cruel dream. If Apollo could gift him his lyre, surely he could gift him his love?

Seokmin's eyes fluttered, feeling those restless nights catching up on him. His exhaustion made him mistake the dirt as a gigantic pillow. Seokmin's shoulders sank, as he lowered his head. Maybe the dirt will consume him and crush him into a fine dust that will leave nothing but his soul, free to travel between worlds and free to reunite with you. But— then he would be gone. He would be nothing more than the dirt people stepped on. He could no longer hear the music of the world he loved so much.

"No!" Seokmin shook himself awake. His eyes slowly enlarged. That once large brown pillow suddenly had flowers sprouting out of its barren surface. Soft pink blooms with thin twig-like stems, native to the craggy stony steppes of Aeolia, called evia. Your favourite flowers. There was only one possible explanation of how this could have happened.

A figure walked towards the bard, long pastel pink silk trailing to the ground and flowers from every part of the world woven into his hair. Jun. The manifestation of the Goddess of Spring.

"A nymph was sobbing in the Underworld about you, mortal." his voice echoed.

"How did you find me?" Seokmin bowed in front of the Goddess, making sure to keep his eyes glued to the ground.

"Please, enough of these formalities! I'm not going to drag you down to the Underworld." Jun chuckled, finding Seokmin amusing. The Goddess of Spring was much kinder than his husband, that's for sure. Although, that didn't mean they didn't share the same sense of gallows humour. It makes the Ancients let out a sigh of relief that it wasn't Hades allowed to crawl the service and take all who frustrated him back underneath the Earth's crust to never be seen again. "As one finds all champions of Apollo, find where the sun shines brightest and where the music sounds sweetest."

"What are you doing here, then?"

Jun merely laughed at that question. "What gall you have, mortal! Asking why spring goes where it wishes?" Jun stopped laughing, catching his breath.

"Normally, I don't care about the dead. That's Minghao's job. It's so glum, don't you think? Listening to whining brats isn't really my forte, thank goodness he's so patient." Minghao was the chosen mortal name of Hades, the malevolent ruler of the Underworld, waiting for the fall of every being from the shadows. “Patient” was certainly one way to describe him.

"But this one was special. Wailing as loud as possible so Apollo could hear them, but alas! His home is high up in the sky, he's too brilliant for us! Minghao told me that this was the soon-to-be spouse of Apollo's champion. Naturally, I was curious about them, since they had managed to capture the attention of one who is in Apollo's favour."

"I'm honoured to have caught your attention, but..." Seokmin paused, wondering what to say. "Will you please bring them back?"

"Bring out your hands, mortal." Jun sighed, reaching down to pick up an evia. Reluctantly, Seokmin laid his palm flat. "Minghao always explains to me that mortality is chained to time. The second a mortal is born, the clock never stops ticking. Second after second" Jun tears off a petal. "day after day." and another. "Year by year." and another. "Your darling was already dying. Until finally—" SNAP! Jun rips the stem in half. "The clock stopped." Jun brushed off the broken flower into Seokmin's palm. "Now if you excuse me, my curiosity has been satiated."

"Forgive me for my intrusion, but you're immortal. I don't think you should be explaining how death works to me." Seokmin spoke up without thinking. What had gotten into him!? Why was he challenging a goddess!? Guilt sunk into him. "I'm so sorry! I— I was speaking without thinking!" Seokmin got on all fours. Jun once again laughed.

"Mortal, do you think I'm enraged? On the contrary, I'm amused!" Jun smiled, kneeling to grab Seokmin's chin and make him look into his eyes, bright like flowers emerging from the cold winter snow. "I'm nothing like those old hags on Olympus! I like your attitude. I was worried that Apollo favoured idiots, but I'm glad he finally chose somebody with a mouth!"

"I— Really??" Seokmin was at a loss for words, getting back up on his feet. "All I ask is, I have a word with Hades. I'm sure he will understand my plight."

"Are you saying you want to challenge him?"

"I mean, you are his bride. You have his affections, surely he will listen to you!" Seokmin pleaded. "Please, I need to see [Name]. Every day has been worthless for me. Food has no taste, music has no rhythm." Seokmin stumbled on his words, his mouth clogged by the emotions plaguing his heart.

"You do understand, mortal, that the dead is not my kingdom. Once we head to the Underworld, I won't be able to protect you." Jun explained. Seokmin sighed, weighing the options.

"I've travelled oceans and fought monsters, talking with the King of the Underworld seems like nothing if I can have [Name] back," Seokmin answered.

Jun wryly smiled, his eyes mischievously glinting with the opportunity to witness a game, as he began his long walk back home. "Well, onwards we go then. It's a long way back." Seokmin firmly nodded, picking up his lyre, as that was all he'd need. "Seriously? That's all?" Jun quirked an eyebrow. Seokmin nodded. Jun scoffed. Maybe all of Apollo's favourites were idiots.

Finally done climbing up the stony steps, Seokmin arrived at the large entrance of Hades's palace. Dark obsidian columns with silver accents and a large door handle of bone, except large bouquets crawling down its walls (courtesy of Jun).

"Let's go over some basics before you meet him, alright?" Jun turned to Seokmin. "Number one, don't touch anything! Otherwise, you're stuck here for good. Instead, let me open this door for you." Jun leaned against the cool frame of the door. "Number two, Hades isn't nearly as cruel as you mortals make him out to be. He's actually quite fair, as death should be."

"Death wasn't fair to my love." he huffed, letting his true feelings show. Jun knew this feeling of resentment toward Minghao wasn't uncommon. So many mortals beg for his forgiveness, to make their deaths as seamless as the flow of time. But even then mortals resent death for taking their loved ones away.

"That's what they all say." Jun rolled his eyes. "Third, play by his rules. Minghao normally finds you mortals championed by the arrogant Gods of Olympus to be so prideful, so it'll be refreshing to see something opposite of that, and you'll be in his graces." Seokmin's ears perked at the last bit. Could he wager immortality, then? Could he have you and him enjoying the future without the fear of it ending?  "Number four, and most importantly. It's easier to get into the Underworld than to leave it."

"Alright so no touching, Hades is nice, listen to him, and it's hard to leave." Seokmin recounted.

"Exactly!" Jun gave a thumbs-up before the gates opened for him.  "Now put your game face on, Champion of Apollo." Seokmin quietly followed after Jun, his eyes glazing over the palace. Each wall held engraving of different stories, all stories which shared an ending in the Underworld. The final destination for all.

"Hao!" Jun called. "I brought you somebody!"

"Leave them at the front desk, the clerk will sort them out!" Minghao replied, his voice booming. Seokmin covered his ears, he forgot how loud the voices of Gods appeared to regular people. Jun opened the last gate, and into the throneroom. Seokmin's jaw dropped. He could only imagine being back at the cottage with you, composing a song of Hades and rescuing you. The large throne perched upon stairs of what looked like sizzling magma. Seokmin gulped looking at the throne, composed of skeletons, all of them belonging to those who had mocked the King of the Underworld. Most importantly, was the very king that sat comfortably on his throne. Seokmin imagined the king to be hot-tempered, like the fires which scorched wrong-doers. But it was very much the opposite. Cold. Cold like a corpse when it stops breathing.

"I bring to you, a Champion of Apollo! This is the one we were talking about earlier, the fiance of the nymph." Jun turned to Seokmin, signalling for him to follow.

"Um, uh— greetings, your... awfulness? I would say highness, but we are at the lowest part of the Earth. Would your lowness work better?" Seokmin mumbled, awkwardly, kneeling in front of Hades.

"Isn't this exciting!" Jun forced a smile, mentally face-palming.

"He isn't dead." Minghao finally spoke, a chill piercing through the room. "Stand, mortal. I want to look at the one who dares challenge me." Minghao stepped down from his throne as Seokmin's legs struggled to stand up without wobbling. Jun sighed, knowing this was where his power over Minghao ended. As Jun walked up to his own throne adorned in flowers, he turned to Seokmin and mouthed "Good luck."

"Mortal, you dare mock me? Using my bride as a bargaining piece, breaching my palace, and all while your heart still beats?" Minghao threatened, analyzing the man in front of him. Minghao was perfect. Perfect in the way all Gods are. But he was impressed with Seokmin, that even compared to a God he was able to stand proud. "It makes sense that you caught Apollo's attention, but I detest the Gods of Olympus. They keep me underground, send me humanity’s worst, and expect my generosity." he scoffed.

"I— I only have one wish for you." Seokmin finally spoke. Minghao raised a brow. "I suspect it has something to do with shipment #50A194. The auloniad." Minghao thought out loud.

"You assign numbers to everybody who comes here?"

"People die every day, I have to keep track somehow." the God casually shrugged. "They were nothing like other nymphs. Normally, nymphs are relieved to come to my arms, as humans and gods alike toy with them. But this one was upset. This one says you have shown them something special, something that makes my kingdom pale in comparison. I wonder what it is." Seokmin's answer of “music” hung in the air.

"All I ask from you is that you return my love to me." Seokmin blurted. A beat of silence. Seokmin felt the air around him suffocate him, his body growing numb. Another beat of silence.

Minghao stepped closer to Seokmin. "Are you afraid of dying, mortal?" Seokmin froze.

"W-what?" he tried playing it off, but Minghao knew the living just as well as the dead, and the racing of his heart gave him away.

"You champions are all the same. You lead fruitful lives, you find great loves and great riches. But you all are terrified of the end." Minghao smoothly explained. "Just because the sun bends in your favour, doesn't mean death will. You are a coward, is what you are. A coward that fears his end! You will not do what is natural and wait for death to find you. No, instead you will mock death. You will find death, and you will demand it give you what you deserve. Your love for [Name] is not true!"

"OK ENOUGH!" Seokmin roared back, tears dripping down his face. "I love [Name]. More than anything. You can call me a coward, I don't care." Seokmin spoke. From the corner of his eyes, he could see a satisfied Jun enjoying his performance. His vision began to obscure with tears falling once more from his eyes. "Yes, I'm scared of dying. I hate the idea of it. I know it is everybody's fate, but the journey has to be completed alone. I cannot bear the idea of being alone. I cannot bear the idea of being without [Name]." Seokmin looked at the god, gaze unfaltering and filled with rage, the same that filled him on the day of your death. 

"Fine. I admit, I empathize with your cause." Minghao reluctantly sighed. "I shall retrieve your love, and dress them in the finest of Underworld garments and jewels so you can have a wedding ceremony even better than the last." "Really?" Seokmin blinked.

"There is an exit out of the Underworld only Jun and I know, you two can hike up it and will be back home in the blink of an eye. However, I have a condition"

"Anything!" Seokmin grinned, already imagining how he would hold you the second you two reunite. You two will exchange stories of brushing with the Underworld and the sights. He’ll tell you about his encounter with Persephone and her husband, and you will tell him about your trip across the River Styx. 

"You by any means cannot turn around. Not even go as far as to check on the nymph that will be right behind you. You will only have one chance. If you fail, you shall be separated from each other in eternity." Minghao sternly spoke. Seokmin's smile dropped as quickly as it quirked up. "You are forbidden from communicating to them, as well as touching them. You will also be unable to hear them."

"But, how will I know they are with me!?" "Not my problem." Minghao sighed. "This is the most you're getting from me. Now, shoo." Rolling his eyes, Minghao made his way back to his throne. "The next time I see you, you better be dead. If not, I'll make sure of it."

Seokmin waved goodbye to the kind Goddess of Spring and bowed to Hades to signal his respects to the Underworld. He took a deep breath in, looking up at the glittering light seeping through the cracks. The only exit out of here, and his ticket to freedom. He could imagine the sweetness of your lips kissing him. Your voice sighs in relief that he came to rescue you from oblivion. Standing in his way was a long, steep and rocky path, its width shrinking the closer it was to the exit.

"My love, how I missed you!" you grinned. "You can't believe how abysmal it is here! God, it felt so lonely, I just– I couldn't stop crying."

As he gently stepped forward, he could feel the loose soil underneath him shift and slip. Normally, he would have no concern. You're an auloniad, for crying out loud. Rocky terrain dotted with grass is your home. But the snake bite that pierced your ankle was bound to compromise your movement. He figured he'd just move slowly, for your sake.

"Ah, I fear my leg still hurts from the bite. Could you go a little slowly?"

As Seokmin carefully climbed the rugged steps, a thought popped into his head. Hades did not specify that he was forbidden from singing to himself. It just happened to be a coincidence that you overheard him. Humming to himself (and maybe to you, as well) he strummed the strings of his lyre.

"My favourite song!" you gushed. "Do you remember the first time you performed for me, at the Pineios River? Goodness, you just get better every single day!"

Normally, his song would penetrate through the deepest of depths, and his voice would triumph above all. But it all felt hollow like the darkness of those depths was consuming him whole and slowly pushing him back into the Underworld. He wished, so desperately, to know you were listening. Seokmin couldn't hear your steps or your breathing. It was haunting, how you weren't here on this long climb, yet he could vividly remember you. Grief is strange. How you must restrain yourself from looking back on memories of loved ones corrupted by their death.

"Please, turn around so I can get a good look at you. Don't you think I deserve that, at least?"

Maybe he was doomed. How could he know that Hades wasn't mocking him? The light which had guided Persephone to him and the passion which motivated him was being waned.

"Seokmin, why are you ignoring me?" your voice grew softer. "Is it something I said? Have I upset you? Please, just answer me already. You're making me nervous." You reached out for his hand, but he moved it away.

Feeling the chill of a cold wind brush past his palm, Seokmin moved it closer to his chest, hoping the Underworld hadn’t drained him of his life. When will he get to hold your hand again?

Knees buckling, he let out a sigh of relief that he was finally halfway up, already smiling knowing Apollo was waiting for him with the way the light grew even brighter.

"Darling, please, just talk to me. Say something." you huffed. "Why can't you just turn around!?" You hobbled on your ankle, trying to keep up with your lover, watching him disappear as he moved closer to the light. "I don't understand, what is wrong with you!? Please, just turn around already!" Your eyes began welling with tears, raising your voice as much as possible.

As Seokmin treaded higher up, he noticed the crack enlarge just enough so that he could pop his head through. He let out a long sigh of relief, as cold sweat dripped down his forehead, his knees stinging from exhaustion. What would be the first thing he would do with you on the Overworld? Roll in the grass? Breathe in the fresh air? Hoist you up and listen to your heart beating in your chest? Seokmin tries to think, but the Underworld is unforgiving. The air felt thick and heavy, gravity dragging him down as he tried to tear himself away from its clutches, taunting him that your death was inevitable and that he would soon be ensnared in the Underworld’s net. It casts doubt upon him. Does his music have the strength to pierce through the darkest of moments as he prides himself on? Was his passion enough? Was Hades and Persephone lying to him? The Gods are not exactly above toying with mortals, as that is their favourite pastime. Doubt settled in his mind. 

Seokmin shook his head. He must stay firm. He mustn’t listen to the doubt in his mind and push through. He feared death. He feared the cold wind brushing behind his back, echoing how his story would end. Cold. Dark. Alone. He needed you back with him. He needed your body’s warmth, your light. He needed to die in your arms.

The grating sound of a rock falling off the ledge and into the abyss below obstructed Seokmin’s train of thought, realizing the sound could mean only one thing. “I got you!” he snapped his head back. Seokmin’s jaw dropped, realizing the horrible mistake he had made. “You finally turned around.” you weakly huffed, tears sparkling in the dark. Minghao had kept his word. You were otherworldly. Contrasting against the darkness, you were a bright star, shrouded in a bright white glow. Your beauty only made him even more upset, as his eyes grew wide with the realization he had squandered his last chance. This was easily a pardonable offence, if the spirits knew how to pardon. In their long-spent immortality, never could they empathize with Seokmin’s plight. 

“I… thought.” Seokmin slowly blinked, tears dripping down his face. Breathing heavily, he tried to calm himself down. He thought you had fallen, and your body would crash against the ground like a fallen star. It wasn’t that his love for you was small, but that it was too much. It was overflowing and reckless, just like the nature of youth. He couldn’t resist turning around to help you, especially with the knowledge of your snakebite. The same stupid thing that sent you here. You frowned, heart hurting at the sight of your lover in disarray. Stepping forward, you cupped his face, your touch still lingering with the frost of the Underworld. “Darling, what’s wrong?” You tried to make eye contact with him.

“I’m sorry.” he choked on his sobs. “I wasn’t supposed to turn around… but I just got so nervous, I thought you fell,” Seokmin confessed. “I’m an idiot. I failed you. I’m so… so… stupid. I’m so sorry. I’m sorry.” Seokmin screwed his eyes shut, unable to muster the strength to look at what would happen to you now that he failed. Minghao hadn’t specified what would happen if he had failed. Would he send furies to tear you apart? Would he force him to drink poison?  

“No! You’re not an idiot. Don’t be so cruel.” swiping your thumb against his cheek and wiping away his tears. “You’re so brave, coming all the way to rescue me… all because you love me. You failed… because you love me. I’m happy knowing that.” You smiled, knowing the bitter end that was to come to you. They needed to kill you twice for him to let you go. But you had to be strong, for his sake. He was strong enough to challenge the Underworld, the unforgiving end. He was strong enough to face death, his greatest fear, challenging its irreversibility. He was strong enough to defy the laws of nature. The least you could do was comfort him. “I’m so… proud of you.” your touch felt feather light against the heavy mortal flesh weighing him down. “Please… just look at me.”

“But, you’ll be gone!” Seokmin wailed. “I… I’m not strong enough for this! I can’t go on!” 

“You are strong enough. So open your eyes.” your words gently coaxed him. Seokmin inhaled one last time, bracing himself for the horror he was about to witness. As his eyes fluttered open, you were gone as quickly as you had appeared before him. There was no dramatic murder, just a hazy glow left in where you were standing before him. That was how mortality worked, in the eyes of Gods. Mortals come and go on this Earth, in the span of a blink. Mortality, which feels like entering a room and just finding the exit. Mortality, which weighed Seokmin down, and held you in its clutches. It was a signal to him that it was time to wake up from the dream that was you. It was time for him to grow up and to accept mourning the loss of his muse. Falling to his knees, Seokmin sobbed, the noise drowned by the hollow abyss of the Underworld. His voice, which set him apart as a champion of Apollo, was indistinct from the rest of the wailing of the Underworld. 

Maybe you will have a greater fate than him. You will drink from the River Lethe, whose waters flowed through the God of Sleep's cave, causing one to forget the mortal world. Sure, it meant you would forget the blisses and joys you shared above the surface, but it also meant you would forget the pain and sadness. You would wake up, yawning as you ponder the strange figure in your dream named "Seokmin". You would be reborn and would carve a path through the foreign wilderness of the underworld. You would be trapped in a moment, a distant memory of a time of idealistic, passionate, youthful bliss. You would be free. Like you were destined to be. Free from mortal anguish. Free from him. Your skin could never wrinkle, your hair couldn't gray, and your health wouldn't deplete.

Who knows what would have happened if you had returned to him in the mortal realm. Would the love between you dry up? Would your love only be immortalized in a contract, and not in real life? Maybe life will ravage your happy marriage and shred the love that once existed. You would part ways and leave him behind, as you could never truly be his. When would be the last time in your unhappy married life you tell him "I love you"? Would he bar the door when you got sick of him and tried to leave? Would he welcome your newfound hatred of him and show you the way out?

The memory of you would be his prized possession, something to draw inspiration for his music, to know he had the pleasure of experiencing such a love, and to wonder the many possibilities if he were successful in bringing you back. He was fine if you could just stay. It didn't matter if you only stayed in his memory and never talked to him again. But please, stay.

mlist

don’t ! copy or repost my work ✎ © NOIRCHEOLS

[mylovesstuffs]

SEVENTEEN when their s/o bakes them a cake that turns out disastrously

Seungcheol: Seungcheol would laugh it off and finish the cake regardless, just to show how much he appreciates your effort. Realizing his own limitations in the kitchen, he’d suggest ordering dessert or calling someone who knows how to bake (like his mom) to guide you next time.

Jeonghan: Jeonghan would tease you endlessly. “Wow, are you trying to poison me?!” But deep down, he’d find it adorable and might even eat some just to show he appreciates your effort. Later, he’d jokingly tell the other members, remind him to keep snacks handy next time you bake but definitely no hard feelings!

Joshua: Joshua would laugh it off in the most gentleman way possible and try his best to eat it, even if it tastes awful. “It’s not bad at all! You put your heart into it, and that’s what matters.” He’d probably bring up a funny and embarrassing story about his own cooking fails to make you feel better lmao.

Jun: Jun would be sweet and encouraging, eating the cake with a straight face and not complaining or letting his expressions show. He might gently suggest baking together next time, subtly guiding you without hurting your feelings.

Hoshi: Hoshi would still be his dramatic self but wouldn’t even attempt to help you in the kitchen. “This is so unique—Michelin star material!” Then, sensing your disappointment, he’d immediately order a fancy cake or dessert delivery to cheer you up saying this is their backup plan! But he'll would seriously suggest, Mingyu or Jun for a crash course in baking.

Wonwoo: He would eat a small bite and give a small smile, quietly placing the fork down. “You worked hard on this. That means a lot.” Knowing he’s not skilled enough to help, he might suggest baking as a fun activity for the two of you—but with supervision from someone better at cooking. Alternatively, he’d find a simple no-bake recipe online and try it out with you to build confidence together.

Woozi: Woozi would take one bite, pause, and then try to give you honest feedback without being mean. “Okay, maybe next time a little less sugar... or salt?” But he’d also finish his piece anyway because he really appreciates your effort.

Dokyeom: He’d be so touched that you baked for him that he wouldn’t even care about how it turned out. With a big smile, he’d take a big bite and dramatically exclaim how amazing it is to make you laugh.

Mingyu: He’d immediately jump in to ‘fix’ the cake, assuring you with a big smile, “Don’t worry, we can save this!” He’d turn the disaster into a fun bonding moment, teaching you tips along the way and hyping you up for even trying. By the end, the kitchen would be a mess, but you'd at least have something edible to share.

Minghao: Minghao would be honest but not hurtful. “This didn’t turn out how you planned, right?” He’d suggest analyzing what went wrong in a supportive way then he’d probably insist on baking with you next time to show you his own tricks and ways.

Seungkwan: Seungkwan would try to keep a straight face while tasting it but would burst out laughing BECAUSE HE CAN'T KEEP LOW. “Okay, I’m sorry, but... what happened here?!” He’d tease you affectionately but still praise your effort and insist on ordering dessert as a ‘reward.’

Vernon: Vernon would be super chill. If the cake was truly inedible, he’d order takeout or a dessert you love, turning it into a mini celebration instead of a disappointment. But please keep him away from the kitchen.

Dino: Dino would be so excited that you baked for him that he wouldn’t care how it turned out. He’d eat it happily, even if it’s terrible, and might even ask for another attempt, saying, “Let’s make it together next time!”

[innocent17bts]

So hey hehe~ so my request is a scenario of DK and Y/N beimh best friends and your at a party and Y/N dances really sexy? Maybe DK get's jealous, because other boys stare and he comes up to dance behind you? Well I don't mind anything with smut and it is of course up to you to do the story as you want. uwu

SO SORRY IT TOOK ME SO LONG!! I loved this idea since i read it but I didn’t like anything that I wrote so it’s finally here T.T I didn’t made it smut (sorry, but it’s hard for me to think dirty thing with this angel T.T)

Anyways I hope you like it!! 

Finally you were done with your finals, and finally had a night to enjoy yourself. It’s been a while since you could go out with the boys to parties because of your studies and their work. But you were finally here and you wanted to make this the best night.

Getting your third drink of the night, despite your best friend trying to stop you, you walked to the center of the room to dance, knowing the boys would follow you there.

“You weren’t joking when you said you were going to dance all night” said Vernon, laughing.

“Of course I was being serious! I’ve been studying the past few weeks!”

You took a sip of your drink, enjoying the sensation of the alcohol going down on your throat. The music changed, and you started moving your body again, not caring of who was looking or who was close to you.

FInally you could let go all that stress that has been haunting you for the last few weeks. You didn’t have to worry anymore, you could just enjoy your night and let your body follow the music.

You pass your hands through your hair and closed your eyes, letting the music control your body.

“Hey” a familiar voice made you open your eyes, finding Jun in front of you. He had a smirk on his face as he walked closer to put his hand on your hips.

You smiled back, letting him do it and kept dancing, your body slowly following the rythm of his body and the music… When something pulled you back to reallity.

“Huh?” you looked at your best friend confused, he didn’t look very happy.

“Hey, y/n, I was looking for you” said Seokmin, his eyes glued on Jun while he slowly walked away with you.

“Hey, hey, where are we going? And how is that you were looking for me? You were practically next to me the whole time!”

He shook his hand, still waling, wating to get to the other side of the room.

“Seokmin! What’s wrong?”

“What do you think you were doing there?” even though his voice still sounded calm, you knew he wasn’t happy at all.

“Me? Dancing?” that was confusing, why he was so mad so suddenly?

“Like that? With Jun?”

“Since when that is a problem? It’s not the first time, you know? What got in to you so suddenly?”

He grunted, finally looking at you. You would never say this, but he looked really cute when he was mad. HIs lower lip in a pout and his eyebrows forrowed made him look even cuter.

“Why don’t you dance with me?” his tone was sadder this time. Okay, now you were really confused.

“If that was the problem, you just had to ask. You know I love to dance with you too!”

“But like that…”

“Huh?”

Before you could say anything more, he pulled you against him, with his hands on your hips just like Jun was holding a moment ago. You let him do it, your eyes glued on his as he moved with you. Even under the dim lights you could see his cheeks turning red but his lower lip was still on a pout.

“What’s…?” you were about to ask when you pressed his lips on yours with more strenght that he wanted. His hands moved to your cheeks still holding you into place.

It took you a few seconds to respond, time enough to make him think this was a mistake.

When he was about to pull away you hold his face, moving your lips on him, letting your body relax against his. His hans moved to your hips again, this time more delicate. His lips become intense but loving agains yours, you could even feeling him smile against you. This made you even softer, how could he be so cute?

[flurrys-creativity]

WIP List Tag Game

Tagged by the lovely @proudahgase-got7

Tagging: @toikiii @defwoodz @limjaeseven @aura-mp3 @star-lemonade @sanjoongie @moccahobi @yutasthetic @wordycerty @strayed-quokka @pastelracha @leelysian @baekhyyun @dokyeomblr

I think some of you already posted their wip list.. so ignore the tag if you already did 🙏🙈

I got like two lists and both are long.. 😅 have fun and feel free to ask about them 🙏🥰

Game (Truth or Dare with Youngjae)

Turner (Taehyung as the new W. Turner)

Villain (Cruella de Vil but Wooyoung ooooor Hongjoong)

Brian (What am I? Young K)

Poison (vampire ateez)

Touchdown (hybrid college au JK)

Spy (spy x family johnny)

Pirate (pirate ateez)

Freeze (mafia stray kids)

Drunk (changkyun being not "that" drunk)

Poly (cleopatra pwp au with svt)

Lurking (assassin au with jinyoung)

Android (namjoon being an android in love)

Metanoia (fantasy au with pyromaniac yoongi)

Woozi (asylum au based on scenes from ruby mv)

Mirmirlidi (mark x reader x johnny humour)

Lachrymose (Mark as Rocket Racoon)

Wabi-sabi (taehyung hybrid au)

Orphic (jin merfolk au)

Speak (namjoon idol au)

Lawyer (kibum is a sassy lawyer)

Doctor (johnny as a doctor)

Apaixonar (jackson chaebol au)

Sciamachy (hoseok secret agent au)

Gentle (yeosang being a gentle criminal)

Found (found family with bts)

Alien (extraterrestrial idol contacts reseacher reader)

Dépaysement (hybrid apocalyptic au with San)

Kvanity (bucket list event)

Brute (bm being a soft brute)

Desideratum (bang chan idol au)

Cheetah (cheetah hybrid needs dog hybrid as an anxiety helper)

Fox (jimin hybrid au)

Now we come to my random ass ideas that are always based on a single picture...

Starting upper left:

Merfolk!Taehyung innocently drowning human reader

Pwp emperor concubine/servant dynamic

Upper middle:

Based on the movie rock of ages the scenes with the songs "wanted dead or alive" + "i wanna know what love is"

Upper right:

Big Hero 6 au with yunho as tadashi and wooyoung as hiro...

Spy academy e2l with seonghwa

Lower left:

Pwp emperor!minghao concubine/servant dynamic

Pilot academy e2l joshua

Demon contract au with wonwoo

Gang Au with jun

Arranged marriage king!joshua

Fae!prince!jeonghan

Alice in wonderland with jun

Sherlock holmes/detective au with joshua

Beauty and the beast joshua

Cinderella au with svt

Knight dokyeom getting annoyed with royal reader

Lower right:

Bartender jaebeom or neighbour jaebeom during laundry day pwp

Mafia au with jinyoung

Bad boy jinyoung

Romeo and juliet au with jinyoung

Pilot academy e2l jackson

Exes2lovers drunk worried jinyoung

Once again feel free to send in asks to any of those ideas/wips. I have for all of them sooo much trivia stuff and many scene ideas and I would gladly share them! To hype you up and hype me up and get like super excited about it and basically immediately sit down and write it 😅

[svt-writers-club]

i don’t know how many people are into my iron man!au, but i’m aware that at least one person likes it and i am willing to do anything for that one person. you know who you are ;3

Jihoon used to meet Wonwoo for brunch every Saturday. Keyword being: used to.

Back when they were still young and Jihoon had just newly gotten hold of Lee Group. He was a child genius, but still a child. Only nineteen when he was expected to lead an international company into the new age. Wonwoo had been a year from graduating with his masters and already on the way to being part of the Air Force. Wonwoo had always had his head stuck in the clouds, so seeing him aim for pilot had not been a shock to Jihoon.

Nowadays, they mostly meet at work functions. Wonwoo’s barely in the country and Jihoon is too busy with his work. Running a company (but Seungcheol’s taking over soon, so that’s fine) and creating weapons (ah, but he doesn’t do that anymore – not since Afghanistan) and making new technology that turns people’s heads.

Now, Jihoon’s making something of himself. Maybe even something that makes people (Seungcheol, Wonwoo, Seokmin) proud of him.

“Message from Wonwoo-ssi, sir,” WooJI says.

Jihoon, lying on his bed and doing nothing for once (which might have something to do with the aches in his joints), groans.

“Tell him to go away.”

“Let’s get brunch, Wonwoo-ssi has texted.”

Honestly, what’s the point of creating an AI when they just end up doing whatever they want anyway? It’s bad enough that Jihoon can’t control Dokyeom. Even his baby WooJI has his moments of rebellion. This just has to be one of them.

“Tell him no,” Jihoon orders.

WooJI hums contemplatively. There’s a quiet ping. “Wonwoo-ssi will be right over. He will arrive in twenty minutes.”

Jihoon groans, with feeling this time. “I’m selling you,” he grumbles.

“Of course, sir.”

Did he program smugness into the AI? He doesn’t remember doing it, but he must’ve. Past Jihoon must really hate him.

Jihoon forces himself to his feet. Through his threadbare tank top, he can see the dark veins of the palladium poisoning. He hates that it’s so stark against his pale skin. He wishes he could hide it under a tan, but he burns under the sun. Even if he didn’t it was too late to hide it. The poison had gotten bad enough that it was already travelling down his arms. Soon enough, he’d be nothing but pale skin riddled with a road map of black veins.

He turns away from the mirror. Jihoon has never been one to be disgusted with what he’s seeing in the mirror, but he is now.

He’s disgusted.

He looks worn out and sick.

Pathetic.

He forces himself into the shower, water hot enough to turn his skin pink. He wishes he could scrub away the black lines on his skin, but it doesn’t work that way. Maybe... maybe if he could just give up the suit. If he could give up being Iron Man.

Jihoon doesn’t let himself stay in the shower a minute longer than he needs to. His hair is still damp when he pulls on a t-shirt and blazer, covering up his sins effortlessly. He looks in the mirror again and forces a smile onto his lips. With a few adjustments, he looks the way he always does – the way he looks like in the newspapers and tabloids.

He can do this. It’s just as much for Wonwoo as it is for himself. He can’t let his best friend know what’s happening to him. Knowing Wonwoo, he’ll try to do something, like make it all better by being there. Wonwoo, with his dark glare and worried hands and his... caring nature.

No, no. He’d rather just keep Wonwoo away so that when he finally goes, it’ll be a relief.

Wonwoo arrives in the old pickup truck that he’s had since they were college roommates. Jihoon, smirk firmly drawn on his lips, smacks the passenger door obnoxiously.

“Are we finally sending this piece of junk to the scrap heap?” he mocks, looking at Wonwoo over the top of his Burberry sunglasses.

Wonwoo’s face is impressively blank. “You shut your stupid mouth. Don’t talk like that about Precious.”

Jihoon hops into the passenger seat, reclining the seat the way he knows Wonwoo hates. The pickup truck smells like it always does – of fake lemon, old leather and motor oil. He closes his eyes and it’s almost like he’s back in college, too small and too young and too smart and Wonwoo is the only one who understands.

“It’s been a while since we had brunch,” Wonwoo says conversationally. He doesn’t even blink when he shoves Jihoon’s feet off the dashboard.

“You haven’t been in Korea much,” Jihoon accuses.

Wonwoo snorts. “You haven’t been out of your apartment much. Shut up. I think you’ve managed to get paler, and I didn’t think that was possible.”

Jihoon gracefully ignores Wonwoo’s weak jab.

“At least I’ve been in the same country.”

“Is that what you call it when you fly off in your high-tech suit to save civilians?”

“Hey. At least it’s usually somewhere in Korea.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

The music is low. Something hip hop that Wonwoo indulges in because he likes the beats or whatever (and he’d started liking it at first because it didn’t fit his image, but now he loves it).

Jihoon lets his foot hang out of the open window. It’s a nice, balmy summer’s day. The kind of day Jihoon would have loved to spend on the rooftop of his apartment, shirtless and soaking up the sun. These days he can’t do that. He’s too worried there’ll be a news chopper or even Seungcheol walking in on him.

“Did you call me out for something?” Jihoon asks as they turn down the road to Wonwoo’s favourite brunch place. It’s old, the furniture is mismatched and the food is greasy. (Jihoon loves it.)

Wonwoo hums along to the radio. He parks. His hands squeeze the steering wheel. “Do I have to have a reason?”

No, of course he doesn’t. Even if they don’t see each other much anymore, Wonwoo is still Jihoon’s best friend. He’s the only one who knows Jihoon.

“Yes,” Jihoon says with an aggravating smirk. “I didn’t think you missed me much, puppy.”

Wonwoo scowls and reaches over to punch Jihoon’s shoulder. Jihoon pretends that it doesn’t hurt. Wonwoo doesn’t know his body is frail now, after all.

“You know I hate it when you call me that, Jihoon.”

Jihoon does what he does best when he finds an exposed nerve: he jumps on it like a fucking trampoline.

“Oh, you hate it? Big bad air force man, Colonel Jeon Wonwoo, hates being called puppy? I thought you got over your fear of dogs ages ago – ”

“Listen, tofu boy, if you think you can hold that over me, you’ve got another thing coming!”

Jihoon uses his whole body to laugh. He throws his head back and lets the laughter fill the air, even as he reaches over to punch Wonwoo on the shoulder. He keeps up the act, acting as obnoxious as possible so whatever Wonwoo really wanted to talk about never actually makes it out.

This, Jihoon thinks, is how I want him to remember me.

Not the dark veins and the tired eyes. He wants him to remember his bright hair (he’d gone platinum blonde again on a whim) and his even brighter laugh. Better his sharp quips that border inappropriate or insensitive, rather than the heavy words he doesn’t dare speak, except to his coded-child WooJI and an impersonal video left in the AI’s memory banks, firmly hidden within his End of The World protocol.

[stoopsbookstore]

Thirteen Princes Masterlist

Inspired by a post @dahyunmingyu made about Seungkwan being Mrs. Potts and Chan being Chip

Hello, reader. I'm the narrator, you may call me The Bookkeeper. I'm here to tell you the stories of 13 boys, all of whom I witnessed firsthand. I'll be by your side as you read about the story of each prince, no matter how twistedly heartbreaking, how teeth-melting fluffy, how virigious smutty or terrifying horrific it gets. I remember each story like it was yesterday. The thirteen princes of Pledis Kingdom are famous for being a tightly knit group, they're rarely seen in a group less than 4. Each prince has his own cut of the land and their families are known throughout the island for their synchronization when it comes to wars and battles. Each prince has his own story to tell, maybe a story never told, one you saw in a theatre or one you used to be read at night. You may be used to seeing the colorful images, hearing the vivid songs, but some may be more, how you say, dramatic or violent. The thirteen princes are eager to tell their stories and here's where you begin.

Fluff - 🧁

Angst - 🙁

Smut - 😳

Horror - 👻

Seungcheol (Robin Hood)

The eldest prince has a secret, he's the vigilante the resident head of knights is after. He's been taking a small portion of the goods and money that had been seized by the knights and giving it back to the poor, the children and the ones who struggle from time to time. To hoard this gold and not help the village pissed him off. When he starts to fall for a maiden, he's torn between his feelings and her safety. A smut/angst loosely based on Robin Hood.

Seungcheol is the first in line for the throne, a good prince. Maybe he should be careful of his little secret.

Jeonghan (Beauty and the Beast)

A horrible curse was placed on the prince of the Yoon kingdom. One cold night, a witch attempts to tricks the young Jeonghan to letting her in the castle. He rejected as he didn't know who was standing in front of him. Feeling hurt and betrayed by the so-called nice, charming prince Yoon, she cursed him to look like a unlovable beast until someone loved him for true or when the last petal fell of a rose colored blue. No one dared to go near the castle until the local inventor is kidnapped and the town blames the beast who may not even exist. The daughter of the inventor decides to investigate herself and meets the beast and his way of living. A horror story based on Beauty and the Beast.

Joshua (Snow White)

A hunter who was sent on a mission by the queen to kill a girl, the queen's envy of her beauty the cause of the heinous crime. But when he came back empty-handed, the queen sent her son, Joshua, to kill the girl, to toughen him up, teach him the world is cruel and unfair. When the two meet, it was love at first sight and Joshua helps the girl hide until his mother catches wind of the girl being seen on the outskirts of town. Clearly the rule "don't take candy from a stranger" doesn't exist in the Pledis kingdom as the girl is soon kidnapped after eating a poisoned apple. An angst/smut based on Snow White.

Jun (Sleeping Beauty)

The section of Pledis ran by the Wen family falls under a deep sleep when the curse placed upon Prince Jun when he was born finally comes true. A mysterious girl sent by her mother bearing gifts soon finds the ghost town, vacant of life, any bodies to be seen were in a death-like sleep. Her heart too fragile to experience the destruction finds the prince, a familiar face she thinks, and tries to awaken him. A horror/smut story based on Sleeping Beauty.

Hoshi (Cinderella)

The dance was supposed to bring everyone together, not tear them apart. A shoe found by the prince, a show belonging to the girl he danced with, the girl who would become his princess and eventually his queen. Families tore apart because their daughter's foot wouldn't fit, daughters disowned because they're not the next queen, girls cutting off their heels and toes to impress Prince Hoshi. All the girls in the kingdom are accounted for, except one who is known by her family as Cinderella, but she hasn't been seen in years. Hoshi feels this is his future wife and he's determined to find where she is and what her family is covering. A horror story based on Cinderella.

Wonwoo (Tangled)

Prince Wonwoo has been meeting a girl in a tower for years, ever since they were children. He never knew her name for she doesn't have one, at least she think she doesn't have one. One day, while they were playing, her caretaker called out for her, Wonwoo hiding under the bed, seeing the girl with magical hair helping the woman through the window. The woman started to beat the little girl, Wonwoo struggling to keep his anger back. As the woman left, he came out, telling his friend that he will rescue her one day and they'll go to the Lantern festival held by the Pledis kingdom every year. An angst based on Tangled/Rapunzel.

Woozi (Atlantis)

Only rivaled by Wonwoo as the kingdom's booknerd, the determined prince is ready to find a hidden city, long believed to be lost. He reads stories of Queen Kahi and the Pristin Princesses, fascinated by how an entire city can just vanish. His friends think he is foolish, except for the aforementioned Wonwoo, but he is convinced that there is a surviving kingdom under their very own. His expedition drags him and his 12 friends into a wild adventure. A mashup of all 4 genres, most likely a multi-part.

You know this story is a mash-up of everything, it may not be contained to just one story, there's simply too much to his adventures and misdeeds.

DK (The Little Mermaid)

He would always sing to anyone who would listen, children, elderly, even animals that passed by. His favorite place was the pier behind the kingdom, hidden in the forest. He liked to think the fish below the surface could hear and enjoy his music, and it was true. A mermaid started to leave him little gifts and notes as trinkets from under the sea. He has only caught a glimpse of her face, but he remembers the tail vividly, rose quartz, a pale pink representing love and healing and a light blue the kingdom dubbed Serenity. Unfortunately, he also attracted the worst type of sea creature. The sea witch, Ursula, wanted his voice as her own, so she tricked into being her own personal singer in hopes that he will find the girl. With time running low, what can Dokyeom do with no voice? A horror/fluff story based on the Little Mermaid.

Mingyu (Aladdin)

Growing up, Mingyu had to do some things he wasn't proud of. Steal a loaf of bread here, stab this man over there, yeet that guard to the kingdom over, you know... normal boy stuff. When Mingyu finds a lamp and is given a chance to impress the one girl he has had his eyes on for years, he discovers that maybe it's not your past or how you present yourself, but maybe it's what's on the inside that counts. A fluff/angst story loosely based on Aladdin

Minghao (Mulan)

When his father discovers that Minghao refuses to teach a local townsgirl because his admittedly sexist views, he tells the young prince the story of two lovers who were thrown for a whirlwind when a sudden war threatens to destroy the kingdom. An angst/fluff story based on Mulan

Seungkwan (Emperor's New Groove)

Cocky, brash, aggressive, flamboyant, loud, all these words can describe Boo Seungkwan. He has that type of personality that can make you love him or will make you want to rip his throat out. The villagers get fed up, and when one deranged kingdom workers attempts to poison him and he goes missing, no one seems to notice. It's not until a local girl, Y/N, finds a lost llama in the wild that Seungkwan realizes that maybe he is a bit too much. An angst based on Emperor's New Groove.

Vernon (The Princess and The Frog)

You would think the first time Vernon almost got cursed, he would stop asking strange people for his fortune, but no. The 2nd youngest prince asked for his future from a voodoo doctor and was transformed into a frog, the curse only to be broken by a kiss from a princess. When he convinced a girl who he thought was a princess to kiss him, the two are dragged into a trip where they must figure out how to get cured and avoid being found by the voodoo doctor. An angst/fluff based on The Princess and The Frog.

Dino (Frozen)

The youngest prince had a brother, it's rumored that the brother is dead or a traitor to the Pledis Kingdom. The truth is much more heartbreaking. The boy was locked up after accidentally injuring Dino with his ice powers. Dino was confused as to why his brother was locked up, so he constantly visited the door his brother was held captive behind, trying to talk to him, day after day, month after month, year after year. When the town is submerged into an endless winter, Dino has to figure out the cause with the help of a strange townsgirl before his brother is killed or the town is destroyed. A horror/angst based on Frozen.

[noonashearteuajunice]

How Seventeen Members Survive Hunger Games

Dino : do not get to participate; one of his hyungs volunteer for him.

Vernon : crawl into a cave and sleep until everyone is done killing each other.

Seungkwan : stun everyone with variety skill during interview; is recruited as new host before he could be sent to the arena.

Minghao : deceive everyone with soft and cute visual; actually capable of killing people with DIY pick-axe.

Mingyu :  found a glitch in the system and escaped, accidentally electrocuted other Tributes in the process.

Dokyeom : held a farewell dinner with all Tributes he somehow befriended during training; accidentally killing everyone with poisonous berries he added to the salad.

Woozi : grab a long range weapon from Cornucopia, proceed to climb a tree and shoot everyone, cackling crazily all the way

Wonwoo : contemplating the meaning of life while camouflaging as a pile of moss

Hoshi : set the arena on fire

Jun : dazzle other tributes with his visual before breaking their neck

Joshua : pray to God; God send lightning to the Gamemakers, Hunger Games is canceled

Jeonghan and S.Coups : Pull off a young-love scenario a la Katniss and Peeta to attract sponsors’ help (a little too convincingly).

[innocent17bts]

Thank you so much for the scenario! It was a perfect timing for posting it 😍 my birthday is actually on 18th and yeah it's kinda like an early birthday present and I love it. Thank you for your effort 🤗😊

Aw, then happy birthday sweetie!! Hope you have a beautiful day! ♥♥

And i’m happy that you like it 😊