#i'd been thinking a lot about the hanahaki au and also anything related to unrequited feelings is so . . . . [clenches fist]

[katierosefun]

Can I ask about fanfic commentary of Beyond Evil fic „a wildflower like (for) you”? Especially that part from '“They’re a fool for not loving you.”' to '“Why don’t you,” Joo Won said. “Love me.”' I loved that part. When I read it for the first time I cried. It was so good <3

aah thanks for asking about this part!

so actually, when i was writing this fic, i realized that i'd misunderstood what the hanahaki trope was about--because i thought that hanahaki disease manifested when someone had what they perceived to be unrequited feelings (learned later that the traditional use of the trope was that no. the person suffering from hanahaki disease is literally suffering from unrequited feelings).

but too late, i was still rolling with it--because i wanted the core of the story to be about joo won and dong sik both having stupid feelings for each other but also, because they are stupid when it comes to actually making a move, so it was very much a relief when joo won finally came out with the Issue (ie. "i love you like this but i don't think you feel the same way which is why i am currently vomiting up an entire flower field").

the line they're a fool for not loving you is also one of my favorites just to write, because while it's a simple sentence, i feel like it's a thought that people have had when they're witnessing someone they love in love with someone else. like, there's this very specific pain that comes along with seeing someone who you love and you adore and you know like the back of your hand getting hurt over someone else--it doesn't necessarily have to be the possessive Nice GuyTM type of attitude that i think we often see in other stories, but it can be a genuine pain, because when you truly love someone, you get happy when they're happy and you get sad when they're sad. (even if the reason for their sadness might be something that personally hurts you.)

but luckily for joo won and dong sik, they get to realize that their feelings weren't unrequited all along. :'))