#lieutenant han

[supercalifragipopculturevomit]

Here's to one of the best actors of his generation, the versatile and multilingual king who's been pulling heartstrings for three decades with a variety of roles, faces, and languages... Happy 46th birthday, Daniel Brühl!

p.s. who's your favorite Danny character? Sound off in the comments or the tags—or don't. I'm not your mother. 😋

[rolling-veins]

Standartenführers and their captured allied lieutenants (who kicked their ass in the end scene)

[this-acuteneurosis]

Infiltrate

Nothing is perfect, but they're handling this. Mostly.

[4ndj4]

Me whenever someone's in the same fandom as me

[meltthefrozenheart]

FROZEN 3 and FROZEN 4 are both in development, and I can't wait!

The news sounded odd to me initially, I didn't expect anything like this from Disney Animation, but it became immediatly appealing the moment I realized the GREAT potential a double feature could have for the franchise, most importantly when Bob Iger specified “Jenn Lee, who created Frozen, the original Frozen, and Frozen 2 is hard at work with her team at Disney Animation on not one but actually two stories.”, which would mean:

More time to enstablish new elements, new characters, time to explore new lore and new places without the risk to rush everything;

A bigger story that can help flesh out our protagonists in their new roles, their new wants and changes they might face, considering how the F2 ending brought many new possibilities;

A narrative context where the new crysis (whatever it might be) could be explored even better, also allowing to maintain things in a complex prespective just as the Frozen movies like to do, where the matter of "good and evil" not at the center, and things are first of all deeply personal for the characters

It seems to me that Jennifer Lee always wanted to delve deeper into things, this is why the Broadway Musical was a perfect opportunity for her and the Lopez to expand the characters and flesh out things in the story, also adding new elements that would've been useful for F2.

And when they worked on Frozen 2, they built it as the "second part" of the story, reconnecting almost all the aspects of the sequel to the 1st movie, and the story was clearly meant to be BIGGER and longer compared to what we ended up having because of numerous issues and rewrites. J. Lee and C. Buck didn't want to introduce something that would feel just as "a new adventure", and more about the actual characters evolving, see what they left unresolved, breaking the "Happy ending" scenario of F1, which also led them to NOT give the new human characters (Mattias and the Northuldra) the same relevance given to Spirits of Nature, in order to remain focused on Elsa, Anna and the rest of the gang.

Now, Lee will most likely not direct or write these two new movies, but she is still directly involved, because it's both part of her job as CCO of Walt Disney Animation Studio and because Frozen is her (and Chris Buck) baby. It will be curious to discover with what idea Marc Smith came out with, but the fact he worked on the 1st Frozen as a storyboard artist and the became Director of Story for Frozen 2 says a lot about him and why Lee trusts him so much, and I'm sure they will follow the approach used with the 2nd movie and carry it on with 3 and 4. Numerous sagas used the two-parter approach, like the books adaptations of Harry Potter, Twilight and Hunger Games series, or more "original cases" like Pirates of the Carribeans or what we are getting now with the animated Spiderverse movies (Across and Beyond). But I think the best similarity (and probably what led to this ambitious choice) is with Avengers Infinity War/Endgame, where the BIG FINALE gets developed in two movies.

[swordbladeknight7]

Star Wars Doodle Dump #10

—Kallus’ stomach is clinically dead

—Kalluzeb vs. the cone of shame

—Some old Kalluzeb pose practice

—Closeted ZebXKallus-who’s-been-out-for-like-2-decades (ft. zero brain cells)

–Zero-G sexy times

–RexXKalani/Rexlani (next-level crackship courtesy of the roommate that watched Rebels with me— just two Clone Wars vets and an army of B-1 stepkids)

–KallusXJovan/Kallvan

–KallusXHan Solo + XLando Calrissian hookups (hate fuck mileage may vary) + XAntoc Merrick

[photsibutnot]

been wanting to draw these two together since @make-him-worse ‘s post about a potential lieutenant // hans father-son dynamic and yeah my heart :(( ….disney if ur out there

[incorrect-frozen-quotes]

Mattias: How would a murder attempt look on your record?

Hans: Terrible.

Hans: People would know I failed to get the job done.

[ericmicael]

The 14 Frozen characters on the official website. I find this list a little curious mainly due to the absences: Agnarr, Iduna, Grand Pabbie, Nokk and Yelana.

Agnarr and Iduna are missing because they are both dead.

Nokk is not because Bruni is, and the salamander is the most popular even though it is not Elsa's Sven.

Yelana has been ignored for a while now (Honeymaren literally stole her role in the "I can do the same as you but I'm young and pretty" cliché, after which she winks seductively at Elsa lol).

But for me, Pabbie's absence has little reason.

[wtf-tfw]

When Billy Joel wrote Vienna do you think he thought about including a line about the little canned sausages they make there? Because my big fat ass could not resist making an Homage personally. L.M.A.O!! (Laughing my ARSE off!!!)

[ihavethedreamies]

Stray Kids Historical AU! Series Hub

ON INDEFINITE HIATUS

Please Read my Letter

Oh boy! After my poll, Stray Kids was decided as the subject of my next series! Below you will find the overviews for each story and I will be working on them next and uploading them as I finish. Hopefully it won't take more than a week to get them all up, so stay tuned!

I'll be going in age order, so Bang Chan first and I.N. last.

Let me know if you want to be on a taglist! I do those, just not had too many requests to do so.

(I also struggled to find a Historical-type outfit for Changbin that wasn't older so if anyone has something more recent, let me know. I really only check on Pinterest so...)

Only You - Bang Chan [NSFW]

King! Bang Chan x Noble! AFAB! Reader

Summary: You are a nobleman's daughter and your father is struggling to find you a husband. The king refuses to marry all of the women brought to him and will not take any concubines. You end up meeting each other. ~4.6k

Her Hero - Lee Know [NSFW]

Podocheong! Lee Know x Noble! AFAB! Reader

(The Podocheong were like the police of Joseon Era Korea)

Summary: When a political rival of your father kidnaps you for a ransom, your father calls on the Podocheong (Police) to rescue you. An extremely handsome Bujang (Lieutenant) rescues you, but you would be loathe to admit you need (and like) a hero. ~5k

Kept Secret - Changbin [WIP]

Wonsanghwa! Changbin x Princess! AFAB! Reader

(A Wonsanghwa was essentially the guy who trained the Hwarang)

Summary: You are the youngest princess, and because of that you get the most freedom. The only thing your father refuses is to let you learn to fight. So, you get rid of the middleman and go straight to the Wonsanghwa.

Love is Free - Hyunjin [WIP]

Prince! Hyunjin x Merchan! AFAB! Reader

Summary: You run a store for your father that sells all kinds of clothing and accessories. A nobleman comes by nearly every other day and will buy anything you recommend. You figured at first he was there to buy gifts for his girl, but turns out, he doesn't have on. Yet.

Beside Me - Han [WIP]

Noble! Han x Princess! AFAB! Reader

Summary: You often go to spend the day with your best friend at her husband's family's estate, using it as an excuse to leave the palace. Your friend's younger-brother-in-law normally keeps to himself, but you heard he's actually really fun. You're determined to bring him out of his shell.

Getting Closer - Felix [WIP]

Noble! Felix x Handmaiden! AFAB! Reader

Summary: You had been training ever since you were a little girl to grow up and serve the crown prince and later the king. Because of that, you grew up with the prince as well. Though, the one that always had caught your eye, was the prince's best friend.

Favorite Place - Seungmin [WIP]

Noble! Seungmin x Princess! AFAB! Reader

Summary: You are a habitual escape artist, sneaking away from the palace as often as you could to actual live a fun life. Your best friend of nearly twenty years is always on the other side of the wall to catch you. Every so often though, he goes into the palace to see you instead.

Keep You Safe - I.N. [WIP]

Personal Guard! I.N. x Noble! AFAB! Reader

Summary: Your father, because of his political position, he hired a private guard to keep you safe. He was always disguised as either a servant or a suitor. You have yet to see him actually need to protect you, and you were honestly fairly curious how well he'd do.

Master-Master List

Stray Kids Master List

Taglist: @huldrelokken, @estella-novella, @astrobebba, @kayleefriedchicken, @minghaosimp, @cassandramrn, @qwonyoung23

[edelweiss-maiden]

‘‘how romantic it must be to be imprisoned in a castle and made to squeeze out heirs’’ (1x04)

til death do us part by edmund blair leighton (1878, detail) / zella day - jerome / susanna and the elders by bernardino luini (c. 1521-1525, detail) / halsey - the tradition (inspo) / the french lieutenant’s woman by john fowles (1969) / lear and cordelia by ford madox brown (c.1849-1854, detail) / the penitent magdalen by unknown follower of giacinto brandi (c.1623-1691, detail) / death and the maiden by hans schwarz (c.1520) / fire and blood by george r.r. martin / ganymede by jericho brown

[meltthefrozenheart]

In case anyone wondered, yeah, all the most recognizable Frozen characters are in the final group photo, even Hans that many thought was excluded just because Elsa jokingly froze him in the picture.

So, to all the fellow Hans fans out there: calm yourself, take a deep breath and accept that Hans getting joked about is still a way to take him into account because, at least, the protagonists can express their disdain for him, which is totaly fare.

[writingoddess1125]

Nerdy S/O 🎮 📖 🧛

The guys and their uniquely nerdy S/Os who they love!

Soap 🧼, Ghost 👻 , König 👑 x GNREADER

Soap + Cosplayer 🧛

• Johnny had met you when you were both at a bar, You typically werent too into the bar scene but it had lead you to meet the man of your dreams.

• Afterall who could resist that Scottish Charm?

• It had been 3 years of bliss shared between the two of you-

• Johnny knew from the beginning you were- quite the Nerd. He found it cute however! Even if he didn't understand it fully-

• Often getting back from deployment in the nice flat the two of you shared to see you dancing around listening to music while stitching some sort of fabric together.

• Johnny spent hours with you, Enjoying the craft of building your costumes and often wanting to join in the fun. Even if he knew nothing of the media this was involved in.

• "What is this costume for again?" He asked setting down the freshly cut foam to the side while you glued your peices down on some fabric-

• "This my Darling is a costume from the 1999 Mummy with Brendan Fraser" You say cheerfully as you stitch the costume.

• "Movie?-" He questions and you comfirm "Movie-"

• Will eventually start watching the Movies and TV shows with you. And gets really really into them as well- Turns into a big fantasy guy

• "Love- I want to cosplay with you at the next convention.. I wanna be a elf" He said shyly

• You damn near cry at this and hug him "Oh Honey I've waited to hear those words!"

• "I need to do the inseam-" You mumbled as you measured inbetween the man's leg to get the measurment.

• Will definitely want to roleplay in the bedroom. Feels like it has opened a new door for him and is more then excited-

• Comes in dressed like Han Solo with a wide grin- Fake gun and all on his hip as you laid on the bed in your own costume. "I do believe that you ruined my last smuggling trip- Sorry darling but you'll be paying for that another way"

• Will show you and his costumes off when he visits friends on base. Showing the last convention the two of you went to together- if anyone gives him shit he has no issue punching them.

Simon + Book Nerd 📖

• You and Simon had been married for years, the famed Lieutenant knowing from when he first met you that you were a book fiend

• It was a major part of you- And one he adored

• Simon was quite the reader himself but truthfully not as deep as you. Havibg seen you so engrossed in stories before that you forgot to eat.

• But books were also how you showed love.

• "Love, I know this is a long deployment for you.. so I want to send these with you so you don't get bored" You say softly, holding up a 3 book series to your husband as he prepared for his job.

• Of course he accepted and read them while on his missions.

• Enjoys whatever you give him, be it fantasy, sci-fi, historical fiction or what have you. He will always read them through and even take a note so he can talk to you about them later.

• Will also love when you read outloud to him

• "Honey I just got this series I want you to check out" You called out excitedly as you rush to your husband who is watching his Football (Soccar) game and sees you holding the collectors box. Calmly mutes the TV and gestures for you to sit and read out loud to him the new book.

• He had built you a library and Many shelves to store your hoard of books and got you a special couch to sit in and read.

• Does have a deep appreciation for Spicy Books and will happily warm up to prepare for your want to experiment.

• He had gotten you the book 'Den of Vipers' and had heard from the book store owner it was a spicy one- so he waited.. It took a few hours but you came into the bedroom flushed face. Simon having already stretched and was ready-

• He also knew about your fanfiction even if you were embarrassed and secretive about it. Occasionally you'd let him read over your work, which he would appreciate and genuinely enjoy the stories.

• Also will grab books while he is on his deployments or secretly read your fics on his phone.

• Buring a Mission he is stuck in a book store, as he is ready for the attack he spots one of the fantasy books you had wanted that had sold put before you got your little hands on it... so he slips it into the vest of his armor and goes on with his mission.

• Saved him 50£ anyway-

König + Gamer 🎮

• When you and König start dating he is a bit surprised by you playing video games.

• He was taught it was something children do- so to see his Partner playing is a big surprise for him.

• However you help him open his eyes to the media and introduce him to the fun interactive stories and escapism that video games help you with.

• This peaks his interest and ask to join your gaming adventure.

• "Schatz are you sure about this?" He ask softly as you get him to play some Mario Kart 8. He's nervous at first but after a round his competitive spirit comes out and gets very good quickly- Cheering loudly as he wins and gets first place.

• After this a massive gaming room is built in his home for the two of you to share. König now understanding why you love games so much and supports you hobby fully.

• Even if it's a very expensive one.

• The two of you having funny cute arguments over the games subtitles or language.

• "I want it in German with English subtitles so I can practice" You wine as König shakes his head- "Liebling I want English with German subtitles"

• This often ending with the two of you giggling together over it and a passionate session between the two of you.

• Will support you wanting to decorate the home with some gamer merchandise and even gets his own to throw in there.

• Will eventually start playing some other games without you. Something to help him relax and take his mind off things-

• Mainly Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing are his favorite at the moment. It helps him unwind after his deployments

• After the hardest of deployments will just want to relax with you and watch you.

• Will love to just have the two of you cuddle in a warm bed and watch game play videos if you guys aren't up to playing a certain game. YouTube being a wonderful addition

• Will download some games on a burner smartphone he keeps and play it in his bunks. If it's multi-player will invite you to join him so the two of you can spend this time together even at a far distance.

[vindicated-truth]

“You look well, Park Jeongje-ssi.”

Jeongje tilts his head and languidly takes his seat across his most consistent, most frequent visitor.

“That’s what you already said the last time you came, Lieutenant Han.” Jeongje smirks. “I think by this time you can be honest enough to do away with the polite pleasantries and tell me straight to my face if I look like hell.”

The corner of Joowon’s mouth quirks. “You could use a haircut. And a shave.”

“What, the grown out prison look isn’t dashing on me?”

“… You did just ask me to tell you the truth.”

Jeongje laughs. Han Joowon is still honest to a fault, albeit softer and warmer around the edges—less prickly and more receptive to teasing.

Gentler.

Happier.

It’s amazing what a year can do to a person.

How it can change them.

Jeongje decides to test the limits of how much he can actually tease the younger man. “So, Lieutenant Han. How’s your dear old father?”

Joowon arches an eyebrow. “Still in prison. How’s your sweet old mother?”

Jeongje grins at the way Joowon gives it as good as he gets. It’s the one defining aspect of Joowon’s that he’s glad has never changed. “Still in prison.”

He can see the way Joowon struggles to keep his face impassive, and doesn’t miss the way Joowon clamps his lips together to fight the smile threatening to form.

A year ago, Jeongje could’ve never predicted this kind of humor as a coping mechanism in their shared trauma of having similar parents.

A year ago, Jeongje could’ve never even conceived of the notion that the one person he’ll end up having the most in common with—is Lieutenant Han Joowon.

He wonders what his therapist might think of it all. He resolves to tell her next time. He’s been talking a lot about the people of Manyang, after all.

Especially one person, in particular.

Jeongje brightens as Joowon pushes the carefully packed food containers across the table. He eagerly rummages its contents, eyes widening in delight at the sight of his favorites. The aroma is enticing, and it immediately makes his mouth water. “Jaeyi-ya’s specialties, I presume?”

It’s then that Joowon smiles, warm and sincere. “No better quality meat in the whole of Munju. Possibly even the whole of Gyeonggi-do.”

Jeongje meets Joowon’s eyes just then. There’s a pang in his heart at the realization.

Joowon is a regular at Jaeyi’s butcher shop now. The way Jeongje used to be.

Joowon, ever the profiler, must have seen something flash in Jeonge’s face just then, because Joowon’s own expression inexplicably gentles. “Yoo Jaeyi-ssi sends her apologies for once again being unable to visit.” Joowon clasps his hands together on the table and leans forward as pride—candid and genuine—colors both his face and his tone. “Her business is booming so much recently that she’s finally been able to provide her shop its much needed renovations.”

“I see,” Jeongje says quietly. “I haven’t seen it for myself just yet.”

Something in Joowon’s face falls then, and Jeongje gently shakes his head to forestall the unneeded apology already forming on Joowon’s lips.

Joowon is trying so hard, and Jeongje really can’t fault him for any of it.

“Like I said, Lieutenant Han,” Jeongje offers him a small smile. “After all this time, you can be honest with me now. You can give it to me straight if Jaeyi-ya’s still not ready to see me.”

After all, she isn’t the only one who hasn’t visited yet. 

Joowon regards Jeongje thoughtfully. He has always been a man of honesty, so he doesn’t bother to offer Jeongje a comforting lie. This has always been a defining trait of his, and Jeongje is glad to see that this aspect of Joowon’s character remains intact.

There are so few people of principle left, and Jeongje doesn’t think he can handle seeing one more person close to him being corrupted by the system.

(His own mother has been enough.)

However, it seems like Joowon also believes there’s no need for unnecessary cruelty either, so much to Jeongje’s surprise, he remains quietly contemplative instead.

This kindness, this consideration for other people’s feelings—this is slowly becoming new for Han Joowon.

He’s changing, Jeongje realizes in awe.

“I’ve brought more gifts for you,” Joowon announces instead as he reaches under the table for his own package.

“You have?” Jeongje raises his eyebrows as a smile slowly creeps across his face at the newfound ammunition to tease. “With how often you visit me and bring me gifts, Lieutenant Han, it feels like you’re courting me.”

Joowon shoots him a look of mild disgust. “You’re not my type.”

“Of course I’m not,” Jeongje grins. “I figured one of your requirements for a date is someone who’s not in prison.”

“… I can take this back, you know.”

Jeongje laughs. “Give it here, Lieutenant Han, since you already came all this way.”

Joowon heaves a long-suffering sigh as he grudgingly sets the box on the table. This huffiness, too, remains amusingly the same about Han Joowon, and Jeongje will always enjoy any opportunity to annoy him. 

Joowon makes it so easy after all. Jeongje imagines this is why everyone in Manyang enjoys teasing him too.

His heart clenches at the thought.

He pulls the box towards him and opens it.

He inhales sharply. For a brief moment, Jeongje forgets how to breathe.

He can feel Joowon’s gaze on him as the younger man explains. “I figured you must have run out of your stock of supplies by now.”

And because Jeongje will never, ever ask, he’s deeply, heartrendingly grateful when it’s Joowon who takes the initiative to softly add:

“Lee Dongsik-ssi helped me source the right materials, because he knows your art style the best.”

Jeongje swallows thickly as he gazes at the art set: sketchpads, pencils, charcoal, pastels, erasers, and the like. And to Jeongje’s trained eye, it all seems to be of top-grade material too, which seems like an unnecessary splurge for someone with a Lieutenant’s salary—especially because Jeongje knows the courts have currently frozen the Han family bank accounts and assets while Han Kihwan is still undergoing his appeals.

Jeongje doesn’t know what to do with the way the thought makes his chest constrict painfully, so he blurts out the first thing that comes to his mind.

“I—I’m not sure the guards will allow me to keep this.”

“Oh, they will.”

Jeongje’s gaze snaps up to Joowon at that. Joowon is only calmly watching him, but there’s steel in his eyes and a firm set of his lips at the surety of the declaration that Jeongje is forcefully reminded of the fact that Joowon is a Han.

There’s a quiet power emanating from Joowon that makes Jeongje thankful, and not for the first time, that Joowon has a moral compass entirely opposite that of his father’s.

Because this power of making people bend to his will—it runs in the Han family bloodline. And it seems like Joowon is no exception.

He just chooses to enact it differently.

Oddly, Jeongje finds a strange comfort in that thought: that children can turn out differently from their own parents.

He wills his hands to remain steady as he replaces the cover and sets it aside. 

Joowon blinks as he follows Jeongje’s movements. He gestures at the box. “Aren’t you going to check the contents more thoroughly?”

“I trust in the quality of your taste, Lieutenant Han. You have the best taste in the whole of Munju. Possibly the whole of Gyeonggi-do. And the entirety of Seoul. And—”

“Alright, Park Jeongje-ssi, there is no need for flattery.”

Jeongje grins. “Speaking of flattery.”

He’s amused at how he seems to have completely befuddled the great Lieutenant as he brings out his own offerings and places it on the table between them. “I actually have gifts for you, too.” He hesitates for a brief moment and plunges through the explanation before he can second-guess himself. “For both of you.”

Joowon looks at him. Jeongje knows he doesn’t have to clarify who the other person is.

“The one on top is for him. The one below it is for you.”

Joowon’s hands are steadier than Jeongje’s as he pulls the used sketchbooks to himself. He meets Jeongje’s gaze once more, and Jeongje smiles at the banked curiosity he sees there, tempered only by Joowon’s respect for privacy.

This, too, is new. 

Jeongje watches how Joowon is about to courteously set aside the top sketchbook and gently points out, “You can look through it too, Lieutenant Han. I don’t mind.”

There’s a tightness in Joowon’s shoulders that relaxes at that. Permission granted, Joowon acquiesces and carefully flips open the first sketchbook.

Jeongje sees the way Joowon’s eyes widen at the first page. He keeps on flipping, and his eyes keep on widening, and widening.

Suddenly awash by an insecurity that he hasn’t felt in a long time, Jeongje opens his mouth and is about to ask for Joowon’s thoughts on his work when Joowon himself beats him to it.

“These are incredible.”

Han Joowon’s defining aspect to his character has always been his unabashed and unfiltered honesty, and the quiet intensity of it knocks the breath out of Jeongje’s lungs.

“I can see why you fell in love with her,” Joowon murmurs as he slowly peruses all the pages Jeongje has painstakingly—lovingly—sketched, capturing different angles and profiles in shades of shadow and light. “Considering she is Lee Dongsik-ssi’s twin, there has never been any doubt about how beautiful Lee Yuyeon-ssi is.”

Jeongje stills, wondering if Joowon is aware of what he has just unwittingly revealed about his own heart.

This, too, is something he unexpectedly shares with Han Joowon, one that Jeongje could have never, ever predicted a year ago:

Falling in love with a Lee twin.

“I was afraid I would forget what she looked like,” Jeongje says quietly, and Joowon’s gaze drags up to meet his. He smiles at Joowon wanly, knowing that Joowon won’t ask about her—the way Jeongje won’t ask about her twin. “Ironically, my time here made me remember. My memory became sharper after I stopped all the meds.”

Something in Joowon’s gaze softens. “I’m glad.”

Not good for you, the way his mother would praise him before with her backhanded compliments.

I’m glad.

Bare honesty laced with a sincere kindness Jeongje has never been privy to, before. Han Joowon, a mere stranger just a year ago, is now genuinely happy for him.

He drops his gaze as his vision shimmers. This, too, is new.

“And then I thought,” Jeongje murmurs, “that because of me… her brother doesn’t get to have any more pictures of Yuyeonie.”

The silence settles heavily for a beat before Joowon speaks.

“The fault is not entirely your own, Park Jeongje-ssi.”

No sugarcoating, as expected. Han Joowon’s moral compass is indefatigable, and he won’t absolve Jeongje of his sins.

And yet—

Jeongje lifts his head, and sees mirrored in Joowon’s eyes the same heaviness Jeongje carries in his heart.

And yet… Han Joowon is willing to share the weight of the blame.

Even if it isn’t his to carry.

“I know this doesn’t make up for my sins even if I spent the rest of my life repenting for them.” Jeongje’s lips are trembling as he smiles sadly at Joowon. “It doesn’t matter, because this isn’t for me. This isn’t for my forgiveness.”

His gaze drops to the drawing on the open page in front of Joowon.

Lee Yuyeon, the 20-year-old bright young girl full of promise, the cherished gem of her parents and the apple of her twin brother’s eye, Manyang’s most promising future lawyer.

Jeongje’s first and last love.

Radiant, joyful, full of life. Forever untarnished in this charcoal image of her youth and happiness.

The only girl Jeongje has ever felt a love so pure for, like this.

“It’s for him. Because he deserves to see more of Yuyeonie, too.”

He looks up at Joowon.

“Dongsik-ah…” Jeongje swallows thickly. “He deserves to remember Yuyeonie like this.”

Joowon looks down at the sketchbook. His fingers skim the drawing paper, touch feather-light, as his fingers trace the outline of Yuyeon’s long hair.

Jeongje used to thread his fingers through her hair just like that, once upon a time. She would tilt her head up and close her eyes, long lashes settling on those rosy cheeks, and Jeongje would lean down and give her the kiss she’d wordlessly ask for.

He wished he had at least kissed her goodbye, that night at the deer farm, had he known it would be their last.

Joowon exhales slowly and gently closes the sketch pad. He settles it to one side.

Only one other sketchbook remains. Joowon opens it.

His hand freezes in mid-air as soon as he sees its contents.

And at that moment, Jeongje realizes how foolishly mistaken he and the rest of the people of Manyang had been for once judging Han Joowon as a soulless, cold little prince from Seoul.

Joowon slowly lowers his hand and settles it gently—lovingly—on the meticulously drawn artwork of Lee Dongsik.

Jeongje’s gaze follows Joowon’s movements as his shaking fingers trace over Dongsik’s hair, the shell of his ear, the crinkle in those eyes, the slope of his nose, the curve of his jaw, to finally linger on those plush lips as Dongsik smiles.

Jeongje hasn’t realized he’s been holding his breath. An inexplicable embarrassed warmth suddenly suffuses him; he feels strangely like a voyeur, like he isn’t supposed to witness something that should’ve been kept private.

Jeongje has never, ever seen anyone wear their heart so openly like this.

“I—” Joowon starts to say, and god damn the boy sounds so breathless. “I’ve never seen him like this.”

Jeongje stares. “What?”

Tremblingly, Joowon curls his fingers into a fist as he retracts his hand. “It must be borne out of your long history with him, to have seen him looking like this.” Joowon’s eyes are rueful when he meets Jeongje’s gaze—his smile sad. “I’ve never seen Lee Dongsik-ssi this way before.”

Jeongje looks down at his own drawing. There’s a tenderness in Dongsik’s expression that Jeongje has tried his best to capture to the best of his memory, especially because the startling image of it has seared itself onto his brain.

Thirty years of friendship, and it’s the very first time Dongsik has ever looked like that.

Jeongje drags his gaze back up at the other man. “Do you know what he’s looking at here?”

Joowon startles at the unexpected question, then shakes his head, frowning.

Han Joowon has always hated it whenever he realizes he lacks pertinent information, and it makes Jeongje gape at him in disbelief.

He doesn’t know. Han Joowon doesn’t know.

“Lieutenant Han,” Jeongje says slowly. “Dongsik-ah was looking at you.”

There’s an astounded, shell-shocked expression Joowon always has on his face when he discovers evidence that completely alters the theories of his investigation.

It’s the one he’s wearing on his face right now.

“What are you talking about?” Joowon quietly demands, his tone a strange mix of frustration and tentative hope that Jeongje can’t help but sympathize with.

It’s fascinating, really, how for a detective at the top of the game, Han Joowon has clearly missed all the clues.

“I was in love with Yuyeonie for ten years, you know.” A wistful smile touches Jeongje’s lips at the memory. “She got tired of waiting for me, so she was the one who made the first move.”

Jeongje rests his elbows on the table and leans toward Joowon. He juts his chin towards the sketchbook laid open between them.

“Her brother, unfortunately, isn’t as smart. She’s always been the brainy one of the pair.”

Joowon’s gaze flickers down. Slowly, he flips over to the next page. It’s another angle of Dongsik, this time with his head thrown back, his eyes crinkling in laughter.

The entire countenance of Joowon’s stiff posture visibly softens. Jeongje wonders if Joowon is aware of how his face mirrors the same tenderness and warmth captured in the charcoal image of the man he loves.

Jeongje knows this, because Dongsik is the same.

Because Dongsik’s eyes crinkle in happiness the same way as Yuyeon does whenever she used to look at Jeongje.

Jeongje intimately knows, more than anyone, how a Lee twin looks like when they’re in love, too.

“You, however, seem to have the brains to rival hers.”

Joowon’s eyes flits up towards him briefly in question. Jeongje smiles back at him wryly.

“You’re gonna have to do the smart thing, too.”

Joowon is quiet as he peruses each page, revealing more of Dongsik’s myriad of expressions. Like a detective examining crucial evidence, Joowon is studying each page more thoroughly, drinking every single detail.

It’s like he’s seeing Dongsik for the very first time.

Jeongje waits patiently as he watches Joowon process everything. Han Joowon always gets to the right conclusion eventually.

Joowon reaches the last page, and seeing that there isn’t anything more, closes the sketchbook.

The silence between them is heavily laden.

“I don’t think I’m as brave as her.”

Jeongje’s gaze is steady as Joowon hesitantly meets his eyes. And Jeongje could have never predicted this a year ago, for him to be the one to clearly see through all the masks:

Underneath all that brave posturing is an insecure little boy, one who has never quite felt he is good enough, after being convinced all his life that he clearly isn’t.

By his own family.

This, too, is something Jeongje understands far, far too well.

“You brought down your own father for him, Lieutenant Han,” Jeongje tells him softly, meaning it with all his heart. “You’re braver than anyone I know.”

Joowon looks at him thoughtfully for a long moment. Jeongje holds his gaze, letting the younger man look his fill, letting him take the courage he needs.

“So did you.”

Jeongje startles. Joowon tilts his head, and finally lets a gentle smile grace his lips, too.

“You brought down your own mother for him, too.”

Joowon places a hand over the sketchbook and caresses the cover knowingly. He isn’t looking at Jeongje, yet the words pierce through Jeongje’s ribs to land straight on his heart all the same.

“You love him, too.”

Jeongje has to abruptly look away. Honesty without reservation, impactful in its simplicity.

In its encompassing truth. 

Han Joowon always arrives at the right conclusion eventually.

Out of nowhere, Jeongje feels fresh tears well up in his eyes, blurring his vision. “Not—”

To his horror, his voice suddenly cracks, and he inhales deeply to steady his breathing as he returns his gaze to the man in front of him.

It’s Han Joowon this time who is calmly letting himself be the anchor Jeongje needs.

“Not as well as you do.” Jeongje’s mouth trembles, his voice watery. “You love him the best.”

Han Joowon’s defining aspect to his character has always been his unabashed and unfiltered honesty. He has never seen the need to fill in silences with aimless denials or sweet lies.

So he doesn’t this time, either—and wordlessly accepts the simple truth of Jeongje’s statement.

It makes Jeongje smile.

He watches as Joowon carefully takes both sketchbooks, handling them like they’re something precious and fragile as he prepares to take them with him. He then reaches over to retrieve his own gift and slides the box in front of Jeongje once more.

“I’ve brought more coloring materials for you here,” is Joowon’s odd non-sequitur of an explanation.

Jeongje blinks. “Are you saying my drawings need more color?” Jeongje narrows his eyes as he clutches his chest in faux offense; he’s pretty sure he isn’t fooling Joowon in the slightest anyway. “Are you saying they aren’t good enough?” He teases, glad and deeply grateful to be back on familiar ground.

“Yoo Jaeyi-ssi is looking to decorate the windows of her butcher shop with flower stencils.” Joowon’s expression suddenly pinches, like he’s tasted something sour. “Something about livening up the place with color.”

The corner of Jeongje's mouth twitches. “You must be the minimalist and monochrome type. I can’t imagine you and Jaeyi-ya ever agreeing on interior design.” Jeongje grins. “Or anything else, for that matter.”

Joowon glares at him, unable to deny any of it. Jeongje laughs. “Why are you telling me this, Lieutenant Han?”

And Han Joowon, the brat that he is, only looks at Jeongje like Jeongje is dumb.

“Because she wants you to design the stencils for her.”

And for the first time in a very, very long time, Jeongje feels something painfully familiar flutter weakly inside his chest, like the quivering of a hatchling’s new wings.

And he wouldn’t have predicted a year ago for Han Joowon, of all people, to be the harbinger of that hope.

The hope for a second chance.

The hope—that he’s still welcome.

“And Lee Dongsik-ssi,” Han Joowon tells him with a smile, “wants to remind you that Lee Yuyeon-ssi’s favorites are balsam flowers.”