#like there is a REASON people think they were mystics lol. they couched their words in religious doctrine | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

fromthedeskofelizabeththird · 5 years ago

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Spring Day

Well.

A long time ago, my friend @xeraeus drew a picture of Jumin and V set to the song Spring Day by BTS. (More specifically this picture, but honestly they have a few on this topic). Anyway, I’ve wanted to write a fic in that vein, based on that song, for a long ass time now, but never had the right angle. It is so perfectly them. This fic was supposed to be smut, but lol. I played myself I guess. It was originally set to the song 2002 by Anne Marie, but became Spring Day all on its own :’). Dates are based on the original 2016 release of Mysme and timeline I made. Our boys are 30 this year!!

Mystic Messenger | JuminV (I wrote them with the idea in mind that they loved each other deeply, though I think it’s also enjoyable as simple platonic love) | Tw for suicide and dead bodies. Like legit, if you’re even slightly triggered by these things give this fic a wide berth. It incorporates the original secret endings.

~~~

1996

“Here...like this!”

Jumin picked up the nearest piece of chalk and pressed it down onto the concrete, shading in the eyes and hair of his clumsily drawn superhero.

As had come to be the usual summer routine, Jumin and Jihyun spent entire afternoons at one another’s house. Sometimes they broke through the hole in the fence at the end of Jumin’s garden and explored the street; other times they climbed the trees and peered out across their tiny kingdom.

Today they had taken to Jihyun’s porch with boxes of brightly coloured chalk, eager to scribble down pictures of their favourite superheroes.

Iron man’s armour and Superman’s boots were pink, with speech bubbles scribbled in a luminous green. Jumin and Jihyun’s hands, meanwhile, were covered in bright smudges of colour where their hands had touched the ground. At some point Jihyun had rubbed his hand across his face, leaving a smear of pink dust.

Jumin dragged a piece of chalk across the concrete, sketching clouds underneath Iron Man’s boots.

“He’s going to fly away to Metropolis, just like this…”

“Just to see Superman?”

“Of course!”

Jihyun took a different piece of chalk and drew over the frowning face he had put on his original sketch.

“Superman’s happy,” he said. “Look, he’s smiling.”

“Of course he is, he’s getting a visit from Iron Man!”

“Oh, it’s not Iron Man he’s excited about. It’s Pepper Potts. He wants to take her on a date.”

“But Pepper isn’t coming...and anyway, she’s Iron Man’s girlfriend. Why would she go on a date with Superman?”

“Ah, well, Iron Man and Superman are friends. Friends share the things they like!”

“I don’t know if that applies to people…”

Jihyun, seemingly unphased, reached for the bottle of sugary juice he’d been sipping at in the baking heat.

“Of course it does! See, Superman can take Pepper on dates from Monday to Wednesday. Iron Man can take her on dates from Thursday to Saturday.”

“What about Sunday?”

“Hmmm,” Jihyun scratched his chin. “I suppose she’ll need a break from all of those dates. Maybe Superman should go to the movies with Iron Man while she’s resting.”

“That’s very considerate of them,” said Jumin. “I suppose they must be meeting on a Sunday this time, then.”

“Oh, you’re right!”

Jihyun moved to set down his juice, presumably to draw other details onto their scene. He misjudged the distance, though, and gasped as it spilled, flooding their drawings in a sea of red.

They both moved instinctively, slamming their hands over the juice in an attempt to rub it away. It only smeared the chalk, though, leaving Iron Man without a head and Superman’s smiling face a blurred mess.

Jumin watched as the colours merged into one, reds and pinks and yellows and green, so closely intertwined that it became difficult to tell which was which.

Jihyun jumped up to fetch a cloth from the house, leaving Jumin to watch in curiosity at the grazes on his hands, blooming through the mix of juice and chalk, shining like a rainbow over his broken skin.

1997

“So if we carry the one and find the multiplier…”

Jumin glanced up from his textbook, expecting a follow up question or observation, only to frown at the confirmation of his worst suspicions. It had been Jihyun’s idea to have a study party, but he had spent most of it with his head resting on one hand, seemingly more interested in the goings on outside of his bedroom window than any equation.

Jumin cleared his throat politely, watching as Jihyun’s wistful expression cleared into one of disorientation.

“Where were you?”

“I…” Jihyun ran his fingers through his hair, “I’m sorry.”

“Something on your mind?”

“No. Not exactly.”

Jihyun looked back at the window, as if searching for answers, which presumably did not come, for he stayed quiet. When he eventually spoke, it was so softly that Jumin wondered if he was really addressing him at all.

“That woman… She came again today.”

2002

“...and to that I hold. I would rather share one lifetime with you than face all the ages of this world alone…”

“I choose a mortal life.”

Jumin and Jihyun watched in awe as Narwen let go of Naragorn’s hand, leaving behind the glittering Nevenstar.

They waited on the edge of their seats for the next line, only for it to be drowned out by thudding at the door. They peered over the back of the couch, watching as the maid scurried to greet whoever had come to visit, visibly nervous from the heavy urgency of their knocks.

“Good aft-“

The maid got only midway through her greeting before realising the visitor’s identity and, even though neither Jihyun nor Jumin could see what was going on, it was incredibly obvious from the maid’s hurried apologies that whoever it was was not only unwelcome, but unhappy about it.

“You tell him!” The visitor cried out, their words slurred in the telltale fashion of one who has lost their hearing. “You tell him he’s my son- he can’t keep him from me!”

Jumin turned back towards the television, unable to shake the feeling that he had seen something he shouldn’t have. He chanced a sideways glance at Jihyun, who still peered in the direction of the voices, an unreadable expression on his face.

“Well,” said Jumin, sliding off the couch and wishing he didn’t sound so awkward. “I can’t hear the movie. We should watch it elsewhere.”

Jihyun didn’t answer, but he certainly didn’t protest as Jumin stopped the movie and put it back in its case. They climbed the stairs to Jihyun’s bedroom in silence, Jihyun lost in his thoughts and Jumin reluctant to draw him out of them for fear of saying the wrong thing.

Jihyun closed his bedroom door behind them and rested his back against the grain, squeezing his eyes shut in a failed attempt to block out the woman on the porch.

“It might take a while to get back to the scene,” said Jumin, getting onto his knees to fiddle with the TV. “If you just give me a-”

“Why does she do this?”

It was rare for Jihyun to have this sort of outburst and Jumin turned to him in surprise, watching as he sank down to the floor.

“Why does she keep coming here...keep saying such idiotic things…”

Jumin wanted to say so many things, but ultimately only one thing felt appropriate.

“She loves you,” he said, thinking back to the movie scene only seconds before. “People act in unexpected ways when it comes to their loved ones..”

“In that case, I hope it never happens to me.”

2005

Jumin didn’t like the smell of hospitals. It was the smell of death, as imminent as it was inevitable, and it permeated every fibre in his clothing and strand of his hair. He thought of it every time he visited charity events with his father, unable to hide the way the chemical scent burned his nose as he posed for photographs. It gripped onto him no matter how forcefully he scrubbed his skin in the bathtub; lingering on the collar of his shirts regardless of how often he sent them away to be laundered.

This time, though, the smell was the least of his worries. As a matter of fact, he hadn’t thought about it all.

He had the luxury of only bits and pieces of the story; the smell of smoke overpowering his imagination. For the first time in all of his visits to the hospital, he had a genuine reason to be afraid of what he might find there.

He stayed silent as Chief Kim showed him into the room; saying nothing even as he approached the bed, both relieved and nervous at Chief Kim’s rapid decision to leave them alone.

Jihyun had recently had something of a growth spurt, yet looked incredibly small in the hospital bed. His face was bruised, his arms bandaged and Jumin was sure he’d never forget the expression on his face. It was as if he wasn’t truly there, staring off into space as if searching the walls for answers.

Jumin cleared his throat and took a seat next to the bed, lifting his book bag onto his lap and reaching inside for the books and papers he had carefully packed before leaving the house.

“I made a second set of notes for you,” he said, setting them down on the bedside counter, “as well as the recommended reading.”

Jihyun stayed still and silent, as if he wasn’t there. Jumin pretended he didn’t notice, continuing to rifle through his bag.

“Our class signed a card for you,” he said, “we pitched in and bought some candies. Here, your favourites.”

Jihyun still said nothing and Jumin clasped his hands together in his lap. He didn’t know what he had expected to find there, so eager to see his friend that it hadn’t crossed his mind that he didn’t really know what to say to make him feel better. He wished he had brought another member of his class with him, someone who wasn’t as awkward as he was.

“I...um,” he said. “About what happened...I’m sorry for your loss.”

It sounded hollow, even to him, though nothing sounded appropriate. There were no words for situations like this; not one of his lessons on etiquette had prepared him, and he certainly lacked the relevant life experience to draw from memory.

He wanted, more than anything, to say that he was sorry. He was the one who had suggested Jihyun take the time to visit his mother. He wondered if any of this would have happened if he had considered his words as carefully as he was now.

Jihyun began to speak, his voice so croaky that Jumin wondered how long he had gone without speaking.

“She...she saved me…”

“Jihyun?”

“She saved me,” he said again, turning towards the bedside counter and pile of brightly coloured candies. “Why?”

Jumin knew only the bare bones of the story and the mental image alone was enough to haunt his imagination: smoke billowing from broken windows; the crash of a falling chandelier. He knew he had nothing of value to say, so instead repeated the same words from a couple of years before.

“She loved you.”

It felt strange to say it in the past tense and he couldn't even begin to imagine how it might feel to be on the receiving end.

Jihyun clearly didn’t know either, for he never replied, instead turning back to the wall and staring back into space, as if going over the words in his own imagination.

2008

“Over here...just...aha! Like that!”

Jihyun-no, V-took a step back and clapped his hands.

“Well,” he said, “what do you think?”

Jumin pinched his chin, taking in the bright colours and practised angling.

It was immaculate, that much was true; a portrait of longing in pink and purple. Even so, he couldn’t think of the right words to describe it.

On its own it was perfect. It would certainly attract admirers if presented in an exhibition. The fact remained, though, that it wasn’t in a gallery or even alone. V’s study was full of photographs almost identical to that one, with only V’s own assurances of the imperfections that distinguished them from one another.

Jumin couldn’t help but skim the floor and desks, eyeing the endless rolls of films yet to make it to print; the makeshift darkroom and unpacked boxes.

Over the past few years, Jihyun had taken an interest in photography that quickly developed into something of an obsession. Jihyun spent most of his days travelling between his studio to one site or another to fill his photo albums with pictures of the skyline. Jumin frequently scolded him for how little he was sleeping; how dark the bags under his eyes had become.

Since his mother’s death, he had been continuously restless, spending so long behind the camera that he no longer seemed to recognise the real world beyond it. One day he would show Jumin a new shot he was proud of, only to have archived it several days later.

There was no denying that his photographs were beautiful and Jumin could only imagine how they must look to outsiders. Having seen them all, however, he couldn’t escape the underlying sense of desperation in each one, as if each one tried and failed to capture its true subject.

He took in V’s hopeful expression as he examined the picture in front of him, recalling his own observation several years ago.

People were irrational where their loved ones were involved and V was nothing but irrational of late. Jumin glanced at the bookcase on the opposite wall, full to the brim with the leather journals that came into V’s possession after his mother’s funeral.

He turned back to V and forced a smile.

“It’s wonderful,” he said. “The best one yet.”

2010

“It’s beautiful!”

Jihyun chased the shoreline, jeans rolled up to his knee and camera outstretched in front of him. He dropped to his knees to capture the way the sun shone against the tides; his own shadow against the shore.

It had been Jumin’s idea to visit the island and Jihyun’s to bring his camera. Even though he had suggested the break in an attempt to give Jihyun a break from seeing the world through a camera lens, he couldn’t bring himself to tear it away from him. He looked so happy, gasping in genuine delight at every ripple of water and his own footprints in the sand-footprints washed away by the sea only moments after being set in place.

Jumin wanted to tell him that true beauty couldn’t be contained on something so simple as camera film, but it was difficult to follow his own advice. Camera or no camera, this was the first time in at least a decade that he had seen Jihyun so free.

“Jumin!” He cried out, dropping to his knees and setting his camera aside. “Look!”

Jumin walked over to him, concerned that he might have grazed his foot or worse, only to slow his gait when Jihyun lifted the shell in his hands.

“You had me worried there for a second.”

“Sssh!”

Jihyun held the shell to his ear and leaned out towards the sea, trying to focus on the sounds within.

Jumin folded his arms, watching as the sea lapped the shore and drenched Jihyun’s jeans. He didn’t seem to care, far more interested in the sound of the ocean than anything else.

Perhaps it was hypocritical on his part, but he wanted to capture this moment forever. How long would it be until he got another glimpse of Jihyun laughing? Would Jihyum ever see himself bathed in the sunlight he had come to love so much?

Despite himself, Jumin reached for the abandoned camera, stealing a picture of Jihyun while he wasn’t looking.

People weren’t themselves when it came to their loved ones and he didn't mind being someone else for a while.

2011

Jumin knew V better than most. He could tell when he was tired, coming down with a cold, hungry, annoyed and more.

It went without saying that he could tell when he was nervous, and that certainly seemed to be the case now. Jumin glanced from his friend’s nervous smile to the woman standing behind him, who had bowed so politely at the mention of her name.

“V has told me so much about you,” she said, “it’s like we’re friends already.”

She spoke so pleasantly that it left him feeling guilty, all too aware of the uneasy look in his friend’s face.

“A pleasure,” he said, stretching out a hand for hers.

It wasn’t a pleasure, of course, and he trusted that Jihyun knew him well enough to notice. He couldn’t escape the bright colour of her hair; the wideness of her smile as she accepted his handshake.

Never before had he met a person that reminded him so thoroughly of empty landscapes and lonely skies. She reminded him of sunlight-the same rays V so desperately tried to capture on film- and something about it sent a shiver up his spine.

He had spent so long staring into Jihyun’s desperate portraits of loneliness and longing, yet had never come to consider his own.

He remembered the heavy thuds of Jihyun’s mother’s fists against the Kim’s front door, each one echoing through his heart as Rika and Jihyun laughed in front of him, so engaged in their own conversation that it was as if he watched them through a misted window.

He didn’t know why, but her every word cut into him like broken glass, bringing to mind events that he believed long forgotten-sugary juice seeping through lovingly drawn lines and erasing them forever. He squeezed his hands into fists without meaning to, the ghost of broken skin and scratches as sharp on his senses then as they had been so many years ago.

2012

The first RFA party was a resounding success, which came as a surprise to absolutely no one. The past few months had been a flurry of activity and organisation, communications and last minute checks. It was satisfying to see the culmination of everyone’s hard work, even if he was exhausted at the end of it.

Jumin was only too happy to take a break as the auction came to a close. He left the hall and took a seat in the kitchen, wiggling his toes and flinching at the soreness of his feet.

He couldn’t wait to get home and check his emails, his neglected cell phone burning a hole in his pocket. He reached to switch it on, considering that it would only take him a matter of minutes and it wouldn’t offend anyone if he was very much alone.

As the phone screen lit up, the door opened and he quickly moved to hide it in his pocket, only to change his mind when he saw who had interrupted him.

It was V, closing the door behind him with just as much relief as he had only a short time ago. He squeezed his eyes shut and loosened his tie, visibly startled when he realised he wasn’t alone.

“Oh, Jumin,” he said, every ounce of tension leaving his body. “I didn’t see you there.”

The irony of it wasn’t lost on him; this was the first time the pair of them had been able to talk all evening. Every opportunity he had had to speak to V alone had been interrupted by patrons and Rika alike. Now that they were very much alone, he wasn’t sure what to say.

He had wanted to congratulate V on the success of the evening, though his own involvement in it left the compliment feeling shallow. In truth, the night was a success for both of them, yet left him feeling so empty that it was as if he had not had any sort of role.

“How goes the auction?”

“They’re about to sell the last item,” said V, taking a seat beside him. “I’m a little nervous, to be honest.”

Jumin knew the piece he referred to; the biggest and brightest photograph in the room. It was certainly beautiful and should have made him happy, but it was difficult to ignore the fact that the more colourful V’s photographs became, the more V himself seemed to bleed away into monochrome.

His style had changed and he had a different muse, but behind every layer of colour was the same desperation as before. Even his modesty was bittersweet; Jumin knowing all too well that it came from vulnerability just as much as it did humility.

He wanted nothing more than to stay with him, away from the rest of the party. They spoke almost every day, yet it felt as if years had passed without his notice. V was always busy, always out on one adventure or another with Rika.

“Come here,” he said, regret biting through his words even as he said them. “It’s your masterpiece. You should be there when it’s sold.”

V looked just as disappointed as he felt, but got up regardless, standing still as Jumin reached to fix his tie.

Jumin focused on the material, willing himself to keep quiet. He wanted nothing more than for Jihyun to stay, to let him know that he didn’t want to leave him behind any more than he wanted to be left.

He didn’t trust himself to stay quiet if V stayed behind with him; didn’t believe in heart of hearts that he would find the right words now that it mattered.

Jihyun reached out for his hand and Jumin froze in place at the unexpected warmth. He looked up at Jihyun in surprise, never once retracting his hands.

Jihyun’s gaze dropped to the floor, hair falling into his eyes and shielding him from view.

“Jumin, I…”

Jihyun squeezed his hands a little tighter, the silence between them as palpable as a winter breeze.

“I…”

Jihyun took a deep breath and then, as if reconsidering his words, let go of Jumin’s hands.

“It doesn’t matter,” he said, forcing a smile so artificial that it looked far more like a grimace. “Don’t worry about it.”

He shook his head as if shaking away his thoughts and turned away to the door. Jumin watched as he rejoined the party, stepping back into the cacophony of strong perfumes and brightly coloured dresses, leaving the peace and quiet behind

2014

“Do you ever think about the way things used to be?”

V swirled the wine in his glass, watching the shift in colours.

“How so?”

Jumin wondered what had prompted the question. Up until a few moments ago, they had been comparing notes on V’s new exhibition and the pieces he meant to include.

“I don’t know,” said V, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “I guess I’ve just been very nostalgic lately.”

“...are you drunk?”

“Maybe.”

He laughed bitterly and leaned back into the couch, never once letting go of his drink.

“Do you ever think about the choices you’ve made?”

Jumin raised an eyebrow at the question.

“Not especially,” he said. “I consider most of the pros and cons before trying to reach any true conclusions.”

“Of course,” said V. “That’s just like you.”

He took a sip of his drink, seemingly still deep in thought.

“Do you ever wonder what might have happened if we’d made different choices? If you hadn’t gone to work for your father...if you’d gone to live with your mother…” V paused, grimacing into his wine glass. “If I’d gone to live with mine.”

“A lot of those weren’t our decisions to make,” he said. “And even so...I think that we are the product of our decisions in the end. Even if we decided differently-if I abandoned my father’s name, for example-the person I am now would be drastically different and not necessarily for the better. I wouldn’t have had so many opportunities, financially or in terms of career. We might never have been friends.”

He glanced across at Jihyun, suddenly all too conscious of the tangent he had taken. He did not seem to mind, though, resting in his head in his hand to listen and raising his glass as Jumin fell silent.

“A toast, then,” he said, reaching to tap his glass against Jumin’s, “to living… with the consequences of our mistakes.”

He laughed out loud, apparently at some sort of private joke, before leaning back to swallow the rest of his wine. Jumin did not follow, watching as some of the liquid dribbled past his lips and onto his shirt, leaving a bright red stain behind that gave the impression of an open wound.

He wanted to ask what mistakes Jihyun could possibly be talking about, though said nothing in the end, instead reaching for the glass in his hand.

“I think you’ve had enough for one evening.”

Jihyun didn’t try and resist him, instead watching the abandoned wine glass with a dreamy smile.

“Jumin,” he said. “Do you ever wonder what might have happened if I’d never met Rika?”

In truth, he wondered almost every day what might have been. He wondered what might have happened if he had never urged Jihyun to see his mother; how things might have turned out if he had called Jihyun back on the night of the first RFA party.

He might say otherwise, but he already had a lifetime of regrets and definitely had lingered over the idea of a world where the pair of them had taken hold of their respective family businesses instead of steadily drifting apart.

“I think you’re definitely drunk.”

2016

Jumin didn’t know anything about medicine, but he knew a dead body when he saw one. His guards had reassured him that he would have needed a surgeon and full operating theatre even if they had gotten there in time.

“Sir,” said the nearest guard, voice trembling from both grief and nervousness. “We have to get going.”

“Just a minute,” said Jumin. “Just a minute more.”

Jumin didn’t know what had happened in the moments leading up to V’s death. He hadn’t heard his last words, nor gotten a chance to say goodbye. Strangely enough, though, neither of those things fueled his anger.

Nobody had moved Jihyun’s body from the place he had died, leaving him face down on the carpet and soaking the floor with blood from his chest. No one had taken hold of his hand and Jumin had to wonder if anyone had offered any gentle words at the time of his passing.

That, though, didn’t rouse his temper either.

Jihyun was looking right at him, but his gaze was far away, as if peering into the distance. Jumin was oddly reminded of the day he saw him in the hospital after his mother's death, staring off into space as if searching for answers in the walls.

Jumin wondered if he had ever truly left that room; how much of him still searched for the answers even in death.

Only now he was dead did he truly look relaxed, as if each one of his burdens and worries had finally left him, and that was what infuriated Jumin the most. He could think of nothing but his own words in 2002, that people were at their most irrational when it came to their loved ones. He wished he could take them back; wished he could plant any other idea in his mind but that one. At some point, without his notice, V had taken his simple observation and come to the conclusion that true love meant sacrifice.

He wanted to tell him what a fool he had been; wished he could take back each one of his mistakes. He wished he had intervened long before V met Rika, even if he knew the outcome would be the same.

Jumin closed his eyes and pretended the copper smell of blood was wine; that he and Jihyun were still in his penthouse and at the nostalgic stage of drunk.

For a second Jumin forgot Jihyun was sprawled across the throne room carpet and looked like a fallen prince. In that moment it was his friend in his arms instead of a body.

Of course it was disappointing when he opened his eyes again to find himself sitting on the floor, Jihyun slumped in his arms and growing colder by the second.

“Where are you?” Jumin whispered, as if Jihyun had lapsed into daydreams and nothing more.

He didn’t expect him to answer, yet still found himself disappointed when V didn’t open his eyes.

“Where are you?” He said again, shaking V’s shoulder.

He already knew the answer, much as it pained him to admit it. He had gone to a place Jumin could not follow; a place where it was never winter and permanently bathed in the smell of spring flowers.

2017

It took many months to find a buyer for Jihyun’s home. Despite every attempt to keep a lid on the situation, it was only a matter of time before its reputation as a suicide house became national news.

Jumin, of course, was deeply offended at the nickname. Despite rumours to the contrary, one had ever actually died there, deliberately or otherwise. Rika still lived, in a jail cell many miles from there, while V passed away in a castle, far from his own bed.

In truth, the idea of selling Jihyun’s house left him feeling uncomfortable, and he might never have gotten rid of it if the decision had been left to him. Chief Kim, on the other hand, was only too eager to be done with it and found a buyer after the house sat empty for many months. After V’s memorial and the RFA’s own goodbyes. Jumin was the only visitor.

The house remained untouched; rolls of film still left in random places and clothes folded at the foot of the bed. Jihyun’s house phone still blinked to warn of missed calls and his voicemail held a grand total of eighteen messages. He didn’t know how long they had been sitting there and couldn’t bring himself to find out.

Whenever he found a quiet moment, he returned to the house, sitting at the kitchen table and taking in the sound of the ocean outside. He remembered sitting there at the time of Rika’s disappearance, scrolling through his contacts for the number of a private investigator. V had always been reluctant to hire one, and only now that he was gone did he understand why.

After V’s death, most of his family and friends had held themselves at a distance, as if he might explode. They didn’t know what to say and he didn’t blame them. He had been in their shoes more than once, after all. They spoke on the messenger and at the memorial how much they missed Jihyun, but he had never fully been able to relate. He had, after all, missed V for many years, and most of all while he was alive.

When the final sale finally went through, he had little choice but to finally rummage through Jihyun’s possessions. Jaehee and Zen both offered, though he- perhaps selfishly- insisted that it had to be him. He didn’t want to miss any remnant of his best friend anymore than he wanted to miss any fragment of himself.

There was so many photographs and he looked over them last of all, packing every album and loose picture into boxes, examining each before setting the boxes outside of Jihyun’s front door. He had been there when he died, yet still expected him to come through the door at any moment, confused by his empty home.

The last photo sat at the back of V’s wardrobe, crumpled behind a shoe stand and it ripped as Jumin fished it out. His blood ran cold when he saw what it was-a photograph of Jihyun sitting at the shore with a shell pressed to his ear. He recognised the photograph only too well; still remembered the moment he had taken it.

The strength left his legs and he sank to the floor, the impact of Jihyun’s absence hitting him all at once. They would never go to the beach again-Jihyun would never see how gently the sunlight kissed his hair. He would never again lift his camera, never again pore over the colours of the sky, and Jumin found himself hating him for it.

He moved before he realised what he was doing, storming out of Jihyun’s front door, down the cliffside and lifting each box of photographs to the sky, watching with a fluttering heart as they each took to the wind and landed across the water, too light to break the surface and floating out to sea in a cacophony of different colours-a portrait of a summer sky he would never see again and never wanted to.

Jihyun had died long ago, before ever picking up a camera. Only his body died at the castle and it filled Jumin with rage. He wished he could go back and smash each one of Jihyun’s cameras; take him by the collar and shake some sense into him before it was too late.

Wishes counted for nothing, though, in the grand scheme of things. It didn’t matter how often he wished; how many days he waited for Jihyun to come home; how many photos he cast out across the ocean. None of it mattered now that it was too late.

It was almost too ironic that he only really understood Jihyun now that he was gone. He finally understood Jihyun’s final toast-to regrets, and living with the consequences of their actions. He knew then that he hadn’t been drunk at all.

The water as cold at first and it sent a chill through his body. He stared ahead at the withered tree in Jihyun’s garden and abandoned photographs floating above him, decorating each branch in a flash of cover.

He closed his eyes with a smile, allowing the tides to take him, lulled into sleep by the knowledge that when he opened them again the blossoms would be real and winter would be over.

??????

“Jumin…”

Someone poked his cheek and he frowned, turning over onto his side.

“Jumin!”

That same someone reached for his shoulder and shook him, leaving him no choice but to open his eyes.

“Where am I?” He said, rubbing his eyes as he sat up. He head was spinning and stomach fluttering, every scent and ray of light hitting him all at once.

He was sitting under a tree, the perfume of its flowers gentle on his senses and petals scattered on the floor around him. His face was wet with morning dew and a five year old Jihyun sat next to him, laughing out loud at his confused state. Jumin reached out his hands, taking in their size and the pitch of his own voice, concluding that he was five as well.

Something about it struck him as strange , but he couldn’t quite figure out what.

“Don’t you remember? We’re at my mother’s house!”

Jihyun pointed across the lawn, towards a house surrounded by fruit trees.

“But...that house…” He said, confusion overtaking him again. “It burned down, didn’t it?”

He was sure he remembered the ashes and aftermath, yet could see it clear as day.

“What are you talking about? There’s never been a fire here.”

“No...I suppose you’re right.”

Someone emerged from the doorway of the house; someone he had seen before, though couldn’t quite remember when.

She waved to them both, motioning for them to come into the house.

“Come on, you two, it’s time for dinner!”

Jihyun jumped to his feet, beaming as his mother climbed the hill towards them.

“Coming,” he said, running towards her and wrapping his arms around her waist. “Say, did you make our favourite?”

“I guess you’ll have to wait and see,” she said, before glancing towards Jumin. He was sure he caught a flicker in her eyes-sadness, or something like it.

She reached a hand towards him, smile creeping across her face.

“Are you coming?”

Jumin stood up, linking his fingers in hers. For some reason, he still felt nervous. His chest was tight and he took a deep breath, turning back to look at the tree behind him. Its petals were beautiful, luminous pinks and golden hues shimmering in the light. Somewhat strangely, its highest branches had been decorated with hanging shoes, each carefully tied together like baubles on a Christmas tree, shifted gently by the breeze.

Something about it was both strange and reassuring, and he turned back to Jihyun’s mom with a smile, flooded with warmth as she stroked her fingers through his hair.

“I’m coming!”

"So what did you two get up to?” Jihyun’s Mom asked as they returned to the house. ‘Return’ being as strange word, as Jumin was sure he had never been there.

“We played the imagination game,” said Jihyun.

“Oh? And what did you imagine?”

“Iron Man flew away to Metropolis!”

“Just to see Superman?”

“Of course!”

#mystic messenger #mysme #jumin han #jihyun kim #juminv #jumin x v #one constant point of amusement #is that jumin is into iron man #since at the time he says he and v debated iron man vs superman #iron man wasn't mainstream #iron man wasn't mainstream until 2008 #it had an infamously bad animated series in the 90s #and i dont think it was very widely released or even known outside of murica #which just gives me the mental image of jumin rushing over to v's house #with dvds/vhs tapes of this hot new thing #and v sitting there like :| because it was genuinely terrible

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artificialqueens · 7 years ago

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Love me tender - Part Two (Shalaska/Pearlet), by Lavish

A/N: The long overdue second chapter. I am extremely sorry this took so long. Thank you to everyone who filled my askbox with questions about this fic even after so long. I love each and every one of you. Xo, Lavish.

Coming home was always a drag for Alaska. She never really left her office downtown before 7 pm, and still had a long drive back to the suburbs. Tom had talked her into living in Manhattan Beach, explicitly because it would be best to raise their kids in a safe, children-appropriate area. Young and in love, Alaska had accepted without even thinking twice. Now, stuck in traffic on a Friday night, with no kids, and wondering what take out service to call, it didn’t feel so great to have splurged in such a big house far away from her job. Nevertheless, she never really made the effort to escape Manhattan Beach. Alaska knew to select which battles to fight. Lately, she had been choosing much more than she’d like. She looked out of the window, analyzing the people on the sidewalks to pass the time. Since it was just the beginning of the weekend, the streets were packed. A roaring sound of chatter and laughter made its way inside the car from the people sat outside bars, already too drunk to care for politeness or tone. Alaska couldn’t help but smile. Not long ago, she was one of them. At this moment, she couldn’t really put a finger on the last time she went out. The red light turned green, and gripping the wheel with both of her hands, Alaska followed ahead, tired of feeling shitty about herself. She was a grown woman, who was able to not only fix her life but others as well. That was the main reason she’d gone to Law School in the first place. She was a helper, a giver, never a taker. Alaska always took better care of others than of herself. She allowed her mind run back to the meeting earlier, marveling in the story of the three individuals. She thought of Violet, still a young girl, having to make the tough choice of raising her baby or giving up a life she created. She thought of Matt, poor Matt, who seemed so scared to let their kid go to other hands, but also very afraid of losing Violet to his selfishness. Lastly, Alaska thought of Sharon, the beautiful nurse. Her belly fluttered with familiar butterflies while she reminisced in the memory of her voice and the warm touch of her hands. It was hard to concentrate on traffic. Alaska decided to call the one person she knew who was an all time fool and yet lovable. She selected the phone icon on her car screen and pressed the first contact. “Go for Cory.” His voice resonated through the speaker. The sound of it made her body relax, and Alaska felt the muscles of her shoulders start to detangle. “Hey, dork.” “Oh, my! Is this… is this Alaska? I once heard a tale about this mystical creature but I never knew one could get in touch with aliens so easily! How’s planet Glamtron?” Her brother joked in false awe, and she sensed no traces of resent in his speech. True, it’d been a while since they talked, but Cory made her feel closer to him everytime they spoke. A smile spread across her face and Alaska heard herself cackling, the sound resonating in the car. “How have you been, sis?” “Same old. I’m doing ok, I actually picked up a great case today.” She stopped at another red light and took her time watching the passers by. “There’s this teen couple, the girl is 6 months pregnant… She wants to give the baby up but the father is just not taking it. He won’t tell her tho, the poor thing is scared. And guess who’s adopting? Oh yes, the most beautiful nurse who ever lived.” “Ooooh, somebody’s got the hots for the nurse! Guess she’ll be….. licking your wounds very soon, what up?” Alaska scoffed and tried to contain a fit of laughter. She heard Cory’s snorting through the line. “You are so gross, oh my God. But no, she will not be licking anything, as I am a married lady and she’s a mom to be, so suck it.” “I know who you want to su…” “THAT’S ENOUGH FOR THIS CONVERSATION. I hope you don’t kiss our mom with that mouth, ugh.” She pressed on the accelerator, watching the parade of cars ahead finally start to move. Thankfully, she was halfway through the journey already. “Yeah, right. But really, Lask, stay cool. Also, send me a picture of her next time you see her. I would like to know what this lady looks like if she’s messing with your head like that.” “Maybe in the next life.” She took a left, breathing in deeply before talking again. “Hey, we should get lunch sometime. Wanna join me tomorrow?” “Hamburger Mary’s?” “Deal. You’re paying. Byeee!” She hung up before he could protest, a smile still accompanying her on the travel home. ———————————————————————————– Alaska arrived to an empty, dark house. There were traces of her husband’s entrance. His suit jacket was carefully folded on their L shaped couch, a cup of scotch half full sat on the coffee table, and his briefcase stood at a perfect 90º angle by the wall. It was all too meticulous like it was all a video game scenario. Nothing smelled like him, nothing seemed like he had got in with the intents to stay. By the door frame, a note. “Went to tennis practice with the guys. Don’t wait up. Love, T.” Alaska took a deep breath, expecting anger or sadness to wash over her. That something would cross her mind and ignite a more natural feeling than the utter relief she felt to know he wasn’t home. She sat down, defeated, kicking off her high heels. What was happening? Not too long ago she knew she would’ve been pissed. She would’ve called, asked him why he wasn’t home, she’d chase him down, even offer to tag along and play a match. But when you chase after someone for too long, the enchantment just fades away. You get worn out, you look for ways not to step on their toes because you simply don’t bother. Instead, all the anger flutters when you’re together, when you have to stand someone’s presence and the quirks you thought you’d learned to love. She motioned towards the kitchen and checked the clock for the first time since she’d entered. 9:23. She figured it was ok to have dinner, since Tom wouldn’t be back so soon. The club he played only closed at 11, and he was never one to leave early or leave a game unfinished. She picked out carrots, peas, cheese and two eggs, opting for an omelet. She found some left overs from the night before, and decided to leave them for when he arrived. Alaska went back to her pondering while the skillet heated, the only thing hot enough in the sterile, cold house she never called home anymore. Alaska found herself escaping any contact to avoid conflict. She didn’t even manage guilt to surface. She felt nothing about her relationship, save for some neediness here and there. Hot tears spiked her eyes, frustration the only thing to actually take over. Her marriage fell apart and she didn’t bother. Salty tears insisted on jumping off her eyes, making her dinner even more depressing. Her food was tasteless, despite her best efforts to season it. She felt pathetic, eating alone with most of the lights out. Still with a heavy stream cascading down her cheeks, she collected her belongings and headed upstairs to her bedroom. Not even her bed, decorated with cream and white pillows and bedding, looked that inviting. She opted to fill her tub with warm water and rose-smelling bubbles. Watching the steam rising from the water finally made soothed her, and the warmth of the room decorated her cheeks with a pink flush. She cut the stream of tears, wiping the rest of them before letting down her hair from the low bun she’d made. The strands brushed her shoulders, tickling the soft skin of her neck. It had always been her favorite thing to pamper herself. Shimmying out of her trousers and finally getting rid of her collared shirt, Alaska felt as if she was peeling off worries of her body. She could launder them later - both worries and clothes. For now, she just wanted to enjoy a calm bubble bath. After stripping off her underwear, she climbed into the hot water. The knots of her muscles untangled instantly, and her heartbeat finally slowed down. She didn’t know how long it’d been since it’d been racing. She reached a long arm out, extending it towards her phone. There was one call from Tom and 3 messages from an unknown number. She decided to call her husband first. She was sent to voicemail. “Hey, it’s me. I’m home, just taking a bath. There’s dinner in the fridge. I’ll see you tomorrow, ok?” She softened her voice, remembering the end of his note. “Love you too.” She hung up fast, as if she was afraid of her own words. Again, pathetic. Cursing under her breath, she unlocked her device and read the messages. [20:58] Hi, Alaska, this is Sharon! We met earlier today. Listen, I was wondering if we could set up a meeting before Friday, there are some things I would like to discuss with you on the side. Beer’s on me! Xx [21:02] Also I may or may not have willingly downloaded ‘Love Me Tender’ and a bunch of other Elvis tunes and put them in a pen drive for you, so when you come around at the hospital they’ll be our jams. [21:02] Ok, now I’m done. Let me know when our little meeting will go down! Alaska nearly dropped her phone. Her eyes were wider than an apple pie, and a surprised smile occupied the place her frown had been moments ago. She typed in an answer, scared her runny, wet fingers may let her phone slip. [21:49] I can’t believe you! Going as far as actually occupying disk memory in your computer with these songs can only mean one thing… [21:49] You either really really like ancient songs OR (which is highly more likely) you are determined to kiss my ass continuously until you get guard on this child lol kudos on the effort tho!! And yes, we shall meet again. I’ll be downtown again tomorrow to have lunch w my brother, would you like to meet me after? Alaska hit send before she could regret it. She knew it’d be odd in the least to meet a client during the weekend, but then again, it was Sharon who proposed it in the first place. Granted, they did have to discuss matters on the child and make sure she was ready to welcome a baby into her home and her life, so there had a lot of explaining and planning to do. Alaska clung to that idea, repeating to herself she was not taking her newest client on a date. Her ethic manners screamed at her heart, condemning how fast it beat waiting for an answer. She decided to focus on her bath and relax, putting away her phone to clear off her head. Sometimes, she felt it necessary to just be out of thoughts, feelings and memory. She appreciated the numbness and oblivion of moments like these. Alaska sunk deeper inside her tub, allowing the water to cover her pale body from head to toe. She stayed down, in her nest of warmth, until her lungs begged for breath. She lost track of time, distracting herself with the bubbles dancing around her toes. Only when the water turned cold and her fingers looked like raisings she stepped off. Alaska took her time drying off her skin, covering every inch she could reach with lotion, and blow-drying her blonde locks. Finally, she took her phone and wrapped herself in a robe, tucking herself into her bed. There were 6 texts and 1 missed call from Sharon. Alaska smiled before she even opened them up. [21:50] Why I do like them very much alaska! I’ll tell you all abt my fascinating taste in music tomorrow then, text me where we’ll meet [21:50] Also yes there will be a lot of kissing alright if its up to me [21:55] fuck why did I say that I don’t know where it came from [21:55] I thought you’d find it funny oh my god IM SORRY [21:55] can you believe I’m a nurse being this dumb [21:55] UGHHHHHHHHHHHH IM SORRY Alaska was a little ball of laughter, shaking with the motion of her wheezing. Sharon’s slight panic reminded her of an excited puppy who got so happy and agitated they end up tripping on their own paws. It was adorable and just made Alaska want to see her more. She entered her response quickly, feeling her body warm inside and out, and her lids heavy. [22:17] chill girl! I was just taking a bath, but its totally okay She thought about what to say next. Alaska felt confused, like she was betraying her own sense of dignity by feeling this attracted and lured by another woman while she was still married. But what was her marriage anyways, besides a contract bonding two people who were nothing alike? She felt like she’d just had a taste of what fun felt like, and she wanted more. She wanted the opportunity to know different people and try new things. Alaska wanted to chase this new feeling and courage, even if it led nowhere, or if it wouldn’t be with Sharon. She just needed the opportunity and she’d been granted with one, it was only up to her what to do next. [22:18] I’ll hold you to those promises!! See you tmrrw xo The feeling of accomplishment that overcame her just from those daring words was enough to bring a calm, well slept night, one she hadn’t had in forever. Just before she was taken by Orpheus and went into the peacefulness of slumber, she saw very clearly the colorful imagery her subconscious had fabricated. She distinguished two frames, both tall and slender, with soft curves on their hips and torso. Two women. One of them had hair of gold, a reflective shine only blondes exhibit. The other one had rosy lips and hair of ebony. They were happy, she could tell. There was something else, a third form she couldn’t identify at first. It was small and heavy – it had to be held with both arms. Upon further looking, shapes formed. A pair of shining, chocolate brown eyes. Very little hair framing rosy cheeks, and a tiny, round mouth. It seemed fragile and small, and now it was easy to decipher. The blonde lady held a perfect baby in her arms.

#please remember your tags!#lavish #shalaska #pearlet #sharon needles #alaska thunderfuck #pearl liaison #violet chachki #submission #love me tender #rpdr fanfiction #lesbian au #m/f au

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my-mystic-messenger · 8 years ago

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can i request a ficlet for a pride and prejudice au with jumin and mc? thanks!!

hahaha that moment when you think you have it under control but then things get totally out of hand. Lol. Anyway, this was by far my favourite prompt so far, because Pride and Prejudice was the first ever book I read in english, it is to this day my favourite book as well as movie (the 2005 version with my goddess Keira Knightly) and I finally got to write that AU I’ve been dreaming about writing. Masterlist and of course the MC’s used and described in this story hope you enjoy and as per usual

|| REQUEST ARE (ALWAYS) OPEN!! ||

Fandom: Mystic MessengerRating: GeneralWarnings: NoneCategories: F/MRelationships: MC x JuminWord count: 4756

Madeleinehad been amidst dancing with a young, lively man when suddenly themusic had come to a sudden halt, effectively stopping everyone intheir tracks. Heads were turning and quiet gasps filled the ballroomimmediately. In the span of a mere minute people moved away from thedance floor, forming a sort of pathway for the three new guests.Madeleine frowned, standing on her tiptoes in a fable attempt tocatch a glimpse of these apparent royals, from the treatment theywere receiving. That was when a strong grip pulled her to the frontof the row. Now she stood amidst her two best friends, Mi-Hi Cha andMélodie Carpentier. While Madeleine had known Mi-Hi since her moveto Korea at the age of eleven, Mélodie had joined their friendsgroup rather recently. Yet, a deep bond had formed between the threewomen, especially Madeleine and Mélodie. There was not a thoughtunshared between these three women, no matter this situation.Obviously, such a grand entrance had to be discussed as well, albeitin hushed tones.

“Someroyals I must know of”, Madeleine asked, turning to her Koreanfriend, as she generally knew better when it came to gossip. “Well,you’re not that far off. All of them are rather close in line for thethrone, but even without the title they are influential andridiculously wealthy.” You snorted a laugh. “Really?” Mi-Hinodded. “The one on the right, his name is Jihyun Kim and the womanon the right is his fiancé, Rika Choi.” Upon second glance theblonde looked even more stuck up and arrogant than Madeleine hadfirst assumed. Her face was a constant mask looking as if she had anunpleasant smell in her nose. There was also something about her eyesthat seemed rather wicked. Especially seeing the way she looked atthe man in the middle when she was supposed to be Mr. Kim’s fiancée.“And who is the poor, miserable sod in the middle?” Mi-Hi huffed.“Miserable he might be but poor he certainly is not. His name isJumin Han. He earns multiple thousand mun a year and owns half ofSeoul.” Madeleine couldn’t help but chuckle at that. Obviously hisfortune didn’t make him any happier. “Which one, the miserablehalf?”

The two women were just laughing when the threearistocrats passed them. While Mi-Hi managed to contain herself,Madeleine barely did so, looking up midst snicker only to catch themans eyes on her. Despite her quickly catching herself and the politecurtsy she made, Mr. Han seemed unimpressed first glaring at herbefore quickly looking away. As the man seemed to focus his attentionon anything but her, Madeleine couldn’t help the laugh that bubbledup inside of her. Luckily the heavy silence was soon broken by themusic starting up once more. With a sigh of relief the three womenreturned to their dancing until it was their turn to be introduced tothe new guests. The introduction was brief and left Madeleine with afoul taste in her mouth. Everything from the way Mr. Han looked ather to the way Miss Rika, as she preferred to be called, looked atMr. Han seemed off to some extend or the other. Her assumptions wereproven correct when later that same evening she overheard Mr. Kim andMr. Han talking about the women present. While Mr. Kim wasnothing but friendly and polite, even saying as much as how beautifulhe found Mélodie in particular, Mr. Han had nothing but cold wordsto share. He said that he was in no way interested in any of thewomen in here, that none of them were pretty enough to peek hisinterest and even went as far as calling Mélodie ‘too exotic’ afterMr. Kim had just complimented her. When he mentioned Miss Rika andhow she was the only good looking woman at the dance Madeleinecouldn’t help but roll her eyes. The dynamic of that friendshipseemed off. Were they having an affair? But had he not just said hefound no interest in women? Maybe he was gay? Who knew. “What aboutMiss Campbell? I saw you stealing glances at her.” Madeleine beamedwith pride for a brief moment. She did not care for the mansjudgement, but knowing that she was desirable still soothed her ego.That was until Mr. Han opened his mouth to correct his friend. “Itmust have been the intense colour of her hair catching my eye. She isfar too simple minded for my taste and in no way attractive enough topeek my interest.” Madeleine huffed. Well, she did not care for theman either!

♛

“MissMadeleine, let us take a turn about the room”, Miss Rika suggested,tearing the woman’s eyes away from her book. Madeleine was in no waynaïve and knew that Miss Rika had some sort of ulterior motive. Eversince Madeleine came to Mr. Kim’s estate where her best friendMélodie was sweating out her horrible cold the woman had never oncebeen sincere about any of her seemingly innocent or kind words. Therewas always a tone of sarcasm and superiority laced within them thatput Madeleine off. However, she knew better than to disappoint. Onebest fought such people by playing along with their silly mind games.So she closed her book and got up where Miss Rika instantly got holdof her arm, laced it with hers and the two of them began their walk.“Will you not join us, Mr. Darcy?” Madeleine smirked to herself,holding back on shaking her head at the woman’s words. “You canonly have two motives, Rika and I would interfere with either”, Mr.Han replied, not even looking up from the letters he was writingswiftly.

Oncemore Madeleine would have enjoyed to laugh. While Miss Rika’sadvances were understood they were completely shut down by the man.It was amusing, to say the least. “What can he mean”, Miss Rikaasked in faux surprise. Madeleine was not interested in playing alongthis time. “Our surest way of disappointing him will be to ask himnothing about it”, she replied. That was when Mr. Han looked up andfor a brief moment their eyes locked, Madeleine smirking at himbefore looking away. Miss Rika obviously noticed, trying to redirectthe attention to her by breaking the pleasant silence once more: “Butdo tell us, Mr. Darcy.” As expected Mr. Han barely acknowledgedher, scarcely looking up from his work. However, as he did, it wasalways in Madeleine’s direction and it would have been a lie to saythat she was not please. For however little she liked him the moreshe enjoyed the fact that it was her catching his eye and not MissRika whom so unbashfully made advances at him with her dear fiancéestill in the room. Madeleine had never wish for a union to fall apartas much as she wished for theirs to do as much.

Herthoughts were interrupted by Mr. Han’s surprising words.“Either youare in each other’s confidence and have secret affairs to discuss, oryou are conscious that your figures appear to the greatest advantageby walking. If the first, I should get in your way. If the second, Ican admire you much better from here.” Madeleine snickered. “Ahyes, a woman’s job; to be admired by a man.” On the couch Mr. Kimwas stifling a laugh while Miss Rika – who’d stopped beside Mr. Han– looked positively bewildered by Madeleines comment. She quicklycaught herself, of course, once she noted that Mr. Han’s attentionswere directed and Madeleine once more. “Well, it seems the onlything Mr. Han admires is writing those tedious business letters. Howodious I should think them. Don’t you agree, Miss Madeleine?”Madeleine who’d once more seated herself in the couch to continue herbook looked up from the beautiful words, meeting the woman’s awaitingeyes. “I fear I find myself disagreeing. I quite enjoy writingletters, even letters of business.” Miss Rika frowned. “When didyou have occasion to write such letters?”

Madeleine smiledto herself, closing her eyes for the briefest of moments to regaincomposure. Yes, women like Miss Rika did not know they joys ofworking for yourself. Everything in her life was done for her andeven the faintest of independence scared her. “Since quite a youngage I’ve helped my father with his business. I consider myself anemployee, even. Writing letters was one of my earliest tasks as myfather considered my handwriting to be much more readable andpleasant to the eye”, Madeleine explained, Miss Rika’s eyeswidening with every of her words. “That sounds rather accomplishedto me”, Mr. Kim said, smiling at her in his usual, friendly manner.“I would have liked to agree with you, Mr. Kim, but from thediscussion we shared earlier on that very topic I can no longer say Iam. Too much of my energy was invested in making a living instead ofembroidering cushions and table painting. However, know that MissRika and Mr. Han have educated me on what an accomplished woman hasto be like, I shall practice those skills at once. Hopefully one dayI’ll be able to call myself truly accomplished so that Mr. Han mayknow more than just half a dozen accomplished women.

♛

WhenMadeleine had agreed to dance with Mr. Han it had been mostly out ofsurprise and a certain curiosity. Last time he’d found her notinteresting enough to dance, despite her having hinted at wanting apartner, and now he was asking her. She wanted to know the reason forsuch a change in heart. Not to mention the opportunity to spark aconversation about Mr. Ryu, whom he’d reacted to strangely to. Atfirst their conversation was polite, overly so. Both of them knewthey were avoiding what they really wanted to talk about. “Do youtalk, as a rule, while dancing”, Mr. Han asked, giving Madeleinethe opportunity for a little jab. “No… No, I prefer to beunsociable and taciturn… Makes it all so much more enjoyable, don’tyou think?” Luckily, it was Mr. Han who brought up their walk intotown so Madeleine merely had to reply and thereby decide the courseof the conversation. “Yes, we often walk to town. It’s a greatopportunity to meet new people. In fact, when you met us, we’d justhad the pleasure of forming a new acquaintance.”

Mr.Han’s facade never quite fell, but Madeleine could see it crumblingbehind his eyes and she wondered what had caused such distaste. “MrRyu’s blessed with such happy manners, as may ensure his makingfriends. Whether he is capable of retaining them, is less certain.”“He’s been so unfortunate as to lose your friendship. I dare saythat is an irreversible event”, Madeleine instantly returned, thetwo of them dancing around one another in both the literal as well asfigurative way. “It is. Why do you ask such a question?” Had hejust sounded irritated? No, Madeleine must have been mistaken. “Tomake out your character”, she replied, looking directly into hiseyes, so close now the energy coursing between them could have beentouched. “What have you discovered?” They’d come to a completehalt then, instead facing each other in the middle of the dance floorlike a challenge. “Very little. I hear such different accounts ofyou as puzzle me exceedingly.” It was then that Mr. Han suddenlycaught himself, starting up their dance once more but never oncetaking his eyes off Madeleine. “I hope to afford you more clarityin the future.”

♛

Madeleinehad been in church when she’d heard of what Mr. Han had done.Frankly, despite her better judgement, she found herself hurt andsurprised. Madeleine could not have said when their conversationsstarted to change from cold and distant to somewhat familiar and fun,even. Suddenly the jabs were no longer with any heat behind them thatwas meant to hurt but for both their amusement. They talked likefriends instead of distant acquaintances and their looks lingeredjust a moment too long for them to be purely platonic. Yet, neitherof them was ready to admit to any such feelings. In fact, Madeleinehad sworn to herself to never find a liking in that man and yetsomewhere along the way she had. Which made his betrayal all theworse. The fact that he’d purposefully taken away Mr. Kim in order toprevent Mélodie and him getting to know and appreciate each otherbetter would have been just a little understandable had it been withMr. Kim’s reputation in mind. However, Madeleine knew better than toassume as much. His actions had all been with Miss Rika’s benefit inmind and that thought infuriated her.

Aftermass, Madeleine just wanted to leave. Despite the heavy rain shefound herself running, more than willing to face a month tied to bedin order to avoid seeing Mr. Han. Little had she known that he’d beenfollowing her through the rain, surprising her when he made himselfknown. “Miss Madeleine. I have struggled in vain and I can bear itno longer. These past months have been a torment. I came to visit myfather with the single object of seeing you… I had to see you. Ihave fought against my better judgment, my family’s expectations, theinferiority of your rank due to your insistence to work alongsideyour father and circumstance. All these things I am willing to putaside and ask you to end my agony.” Madeleine froze, staring at theman with wide eyes as the cold rain caused her body to shiver. “Idon’t understand”, she replied, arms wrapped around her body. “Ilove you. Most ardently. Please do me the honour of accepting myhand.” That is when Madeleine realized that the cold had verylittle to do with her shiver. She’d merely predicted those words andher body had recoiled. “Sir, I appreciate the struggle you havebeen through, and I am very sorry to have caused you pain. Believeme, it was unconsciously done.”

“Isthis your reply?” His gentle demeanour dropped, leaving thefamiliar cold and irritation behind. “Yes, Sir.” He steppedcloser and surprising herself, Madeleine copied his move instead oftaking a step back. “Are you… are you laughing at me?”Madeleine swallowed, never once looking away as she denied as much.“Are you rejecting me?” To ask with such shock in hisvoice almost made Madeleine laugh. “I’m sure that the feelingswhich, as you’ve told me have hindered your regard, will help you inovercoming it.” Once more he stepped closer and Madeleine swallowedyet refused to budge. “Might I ask why, with so little endeavour atcivility, I am thus repulsed?” The audacity of that man! “And Imight as well enquire why, with so evident a design of insulting me,you chose to tell me that you liked me against your better judgment.”He tried to apologize, his composure faltering for the briefest ofmoments, but Madeleine would not hear a word of it.

“Doyou deny it, Mr.Han? That you separated a young couple who could haveloved each other given the chance, exposing your friend to thecensure world of caprice and my friend to derision anddisappointed hopes, involving them both in acute misery of the worstkind? Only a fool would ignore Miss Rika’s indifference towards herfiancée. She has nothing but status in mind, completely unashamed inher advances on you and yet when someone sincere came around thatcould have made your friend happy, you separated them. Do you denyit?” At least he had the mind to look ashamed. “I do not denyit.” When Madeleine inquired his reason for doing as much she couldnot believe her ears. “Iobserved them most carefully and realized his attachment was fardeeper than hers. Jihyun has been hurt by Rika more than enough andthe last thing he needs is another woman with too little interest inhis heart”, he’d replied. “Mélodie, she’s shy! She hardly showsher true feelings to me and Mi-Hi. Not to mention that she is not yetfluent in Korean and therefor remains quiet a lot.”

“Andwhat about Mr. Ryu”, Madeleine asked after a moment of silence.What excuse can you give for your behaviour toward him? He told ofhis misfortunes and yet you treat him with sarcasm.” It was thatstatement that somehow seemed to anger Mr. Han, although Madeleinewas not sure why that was. “So this is your opinion of me? Thankyou. Perhaps these offences might have been had your pride not beenhurt by scruples about our relationship. Am I to rejoice in theinferiority of your circumstances?” Madeleine gasped, her anger nowmatching his. “And those are the words of a gentleman? From themoment I met you your arrogance and conceit and your selfish disdainfor the feelings of other made me realize that you are the last manin the world I could ever be prevailed upon to marry.” At thispoint Mr. Han and Madeleine were so close to one another they seemedto be sharing the same breath. He bend further even and for a momentMadeleine was sure he’d steal a kiss, once more surprising herself bynot moving away. Of course no such thing happened.“Forgive me,madam, for taking up so much of your time”, he said instead beforeleaving her behind feeling strangely empty.

Madeleinetold herself that she was not interested in his wealth or hisdepressive side of Seoul. He was a selfish, cold man with nothinggoing for him other than his wealth and she would rather remain alonely maid for the rest of her life than marry him. For long she’dbeen so sure of herself and her opinion. That was until she’dfinished the letter he’d brought over in a hurry explainingeverything. Madeleine had spent hours upon hours reading andre-reading it, internalizing his words. As he explained his disputewith Mr.Ryu and how it’d come to it. It broke Madeleines heart tohear such things and even more so when she realized she’d trusted thewrong man all along while judging the innocent so harshly. She’dstopped reading for a moment then, considering all the shamefulthings she’d said and feeling as rotten as she deserved. When shepicked the letter back up it was to words of apology and a sincereproblem to make up for what he’d wronged. By the time Mi-Hi returnedhome she found Madeleine sitting by the fire, tears glistening in hereyes. He was not the one who should apologize. It was her.

♛

Thenext time Madeleine so much as heard of Mr. Han was through news ofher dearest friend Mélodie. Apparently Mr. Han had convinced Mr.Kimof the mistake he was making in denying himself a happy future out ofthe obligations he felt towards Miss Rika. Not only that but he’dmade sure to help his friend in proposing to her surprised friend aswell as paying for the quick but according to Mélodie beautifulwedding. He’d also apparently talked about Madeleine a lot and onlyin the most positive ways possible. It made her feel warm inside andyet that shame and rotten feeling never quiet died down. Especiallynot when in the middle of the night there was a bang on the door,waking up Madeleines entire family and staff in the process. By thetime she’d gotten herself out of bed – red hair a mess and sleepinggown out of place – Lady Glam Choi had already made her way insideof the house, making her anger and disgust obvious despite using veryfew words. It was really quite interesting, really, how she wascapable of such a thing.

Sheasked everyone to leave the room as she wanted to speak to Madeleinealone, which confused the younger woman. What on earth could thiswoman possibly want from her, let alone in the middle of the night?From her aggravated state it could only mean bad things. Of courseMadeleine was proven wrong as the old hag began cursing her to helland back, insulting every fiber of her being and throwing accusationsaround the room Madeleine had not even heard of before. Apparentlywhen Mélodie had mentioned Mr. Han talking about her in positivelights she’d failed to mention the rumours of their engagementcirculating along with his words. Madeleine attempted to explain toLady Glam Choi that she had, in no way, so much as heard of suchrumours let alone started and spread them herself, but the woman wasbeyond comprehension, it seemed. Madeleine was about to lose her calmentire and snap at the woman when she mentioned her sister and thefact that she was apparently engaged to be married to Mr. Hanhimself. It most certainly changed things, but not enough toMadeleine to budge. Mr. Han would never have asked her to marry himwithout the intention of going through, which could only mean thatthe engagement had been fabricated against his will. Strangelyenough, it gave Madeleine a sort of hope.

“Now tell me onceand for all: Are you engaged to him?” Madeleine swallowed,overwhelmed by the sadness that suddenly consumed her at the thoughtsof her following words. “I am not”, she whispered. “And willyou promise never to enter into such an engagement”, Lady Glam Choiinquired once more. Had her tone not been as judgemental, Madeleinemight have reacted more politely. “I will not and I certainly nevershall. You have insulted me in every possible way, and can now havenothing further to say”, she replied, walking towards the door andripping it open, revealing the entire staff and family standing thereand listening in. Not that she cared in that moment. I must ask youto leave immediately. Good night.” The woman gaped and huffed,angrily storming outside the room and towards the exit. “I havenever been thus treated in my entire life”, were her parting wordsand Madeleine found herself strangely silent. That conversation was alot to take in for the young woman, especially after all the newthings she’d heard over the course of the last week she could notfully comprehend yet. Madeleine had been sure that she’d never crosspaths with anyone related to Mr. Han again, but fate obviously hadmore in store for them and Madeleine was ready to face it.

♛

Evenhours after returning back to bed Madeleine had not been capable offalling asleep. Her entire body seemed to be buzzing with somethingakin excitement and nervousness at the very same time. She tried tosleep multiple times but gave up entirely when she heard the firstbirds sing their song outside her window. With a sigh she got up anddressed herself to go for a quick walk, nothing more. Maybe the freshair would soothe the turmoil inside her, allowing her to finally restin peace. She’d been walking through the grass heavy with nicelysmelling morning dew for about half an hour when she heard movementfrom before her. Upon lifting her head Madeleine was surprised to seeMr. Han approaching her, breathtakingly beautiful as ever. His linenblouse was unbuttoned just enough to reveal parts of his bare, strongchest as his long, black coat swayed openly with his movements andthe breeze. Madeleine’d breath got caught in her throat and shebarely dared to breathe nor speak.As he finally stood beforeher the distance between the two of them seemed to close almost onit’s own. They stepped close to one another, leaving only enoughspace between them as to not touch. Once more neither of them wascapable of sparking the conversation as the thoughts in their mindsseemed to overwhelm them each. Eventually, it was Madeleine who spokeup, voicing the first thought that somehow managed to fall past herlips. “I couldn’t sleep”, she whispered, a small smile curlingabout her lips which was mirror by his. “No, so I heard. Lady GlamChoi…”, he spoke, quickly interrupted by Madeleine. “Yes, shewas here.” She knew it was impolite to interrupt, but that womanwas the last thing she wanted to talk or think about during suchprecious moment. “How could I ever make amends for such pain?”Madeleine looked up from the ground, eyes wide with surprise. “Afterwhat you have done for Mélodie it is I who should be making amends.”Mr. Han stepped even closer there, so much so that she could feel hiswarm breath ghosting over her cheek. “You must know…surely, you must know it was all for you. You are too generous totrifle with me. I believe you spoke with Lady Glam Choi last night,and it has taught me to hope as I’d scarcely allowed myself before”,he said, their eyes locked the entire time. “If your feelings arestill what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affectionsand wishes have not changed, but one word from you will silence meforever.” There was a short pause, giving Madeleine the opportunityto speak her part, send him away if she so wished. When nothing camethe small smile returned to the mans face and he continued. “If,however, your feelings have changed, I will have to tell you: youhave bewitched me, body and soul, and I love, I love, I love you. AndI never wish to be parted from you from this day on.” Madeleinetook his hand into hers, lifting it to her lips and pressing a kissto the cold skin. “Very well”, she whispered, smiling hopefullyat the man before he. He returned the smile, eyes glistening withsomething that could have been tears as he leaned forward to resttheir foreheads together, completing the perfection of their tendermoment together.

♛

Asthey stood beside one another, looking upon the estate that both ofthem now finally called home Madeleine mindlessly rubbed he hand upand down her husbands back, eager to touch and hold and feel now thathe was irrevocably hers as she was his. Jumins gaze turned from theflickering lights on the water darkened by the night and to his wife,smiling at her the way he’d never dreamed he’d get the opportunityto. He turned to her, taking in all the beautiful that she had tooffer. “How are you this evening, my dear”, he asked, brushing aloose lock from her tender face. “Very well… although I wish youwould not call me my dear”, she replied, earning herself achuckle from her husband. “Why is that?” Madeleine shrugged,hands mindlessly playing with the hem of his blouse. “Because it’swhat my father always calls my mother when he’s cross aboutsomething.”

“Whatendearments am I allowed then”, he asked in return. Madeleinehummed in thought. “Well let me think…Maddy for every day,my love for Sundays, and…Goddess Divine… but onlyon very special occasions”, she replied, chuckling at the lastpart. “And… what should I call you when I am cross? Mrs. Han?”Madeleine quickly shook her head. “No! No. You may only call meMrs. Han… when you are completely, and perfectly, andincandescently happy.” Jumin reached out for her then, cupping herface with his hand, holding it so delicately as if it were the mostprecious of treasures in the world. The chuckle he gave was thesweetest of sounds and it melted Madeleines heart every single timeshe got to hear it. “Then how are you this evening… Mrs. Han?”He caressed her cheek, bending forward to press a kiss to Madeleinesforehead. Her eyes fell shut, both her hands coming to rest on thepart of his chest that was bared to her, right above his heart. “MyMr. Han”, he whispered before finally closing the distance betweenthem once and for all, sealing the moment with a kiss.

A/N: for obvious reasons some of the plot-points and stuff had to be changed. However, I tried to keep the charm and feeling of the original alive and did use some of my favourite dialogue from the movie in here.

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