— 𝓆𝓊𝑒𝑒𝓃𝒹𝑜𝓂 𝒸𝑜𝓂𝑒

our thing progresses, i call and you come through. blow all my friendships to sit in hell with you — but we're the greatest ! they'll hang us in the louvre ! ( down the back, but who cares; still the louvre )

[ahyoungbr]

❛·° — brminwoo:

    her invitation took him by surprise, for the activity was the complete opposite of her previous request. nevertheless, it solved his dilemma in regards to the hour: he would be staying longer than planned. he did not find himself aggravated by the petition, to the point that he even considered it unique. impossible to reject song ahyoung, especially when he had just offered his services, like a knight to his lady. the promise of dinner was not the priority, as long as they got to spend more time together.

❝i would love to. where can i wash my hands?❞ his question served as a way to both say yes and ask for permission, because he knew most of the corners in the song residence thanks to ara. minwoo followed ahyoung and rose from his seat, leaving the council responsibilities behind, encased in his portfolio, just for one night. once he reached the hwang residence, her files were to be the focus of his attention. for now, he was not exactly sure of how to help her, but assumed that all the times of observing his mother in the kitchen would come in handy.

          HAD IT BEEN HER INTENTION all along ? ahyoung certainly hadn’t invited minwoo over just for running through some documents she was certain were more than adequate already, but at the same time she had been much too insecure about where they stood to simply invite him over for dinner. this was a test of sorts, of their bond, of them — of whatever label they didn’t put on whatever they were, and weren’t.

ahyoung could only give him a smile as she walked towards the kitchen, the man following her trail. this unconcerned, calm state she found herself in, the tranquil feeling of having him close and leaving her worries for another time, was one the oldest song daughter could get used to. she motioned towards the sink, though she knew he’d have no problem locating it. she moved the ingredients from the fridge to the kitchen counter, preparing to chop the vegetables when minwoo reappeared by her side. «here, i’ll show you,» she insisted, genuine smile directed towards him.

[ahyoungbr]

❛·° — hyekyungbr:

she was a force to be reckoned with, according to the tales of her enemies. but hyekyung was once a girl. once a fumbling mess of a daughter-in-law. and she had worked so hard to impress bogum’s parents. more specifically, his mother. 

the only difference was, she had done it out of love.

times were changing now. love was now a reward in marriages, ( if you got lucky ). ahyoung was somewhat unfortunate in that case. love not her entire motive in this exchange. but hyekyung had grown with the changes. saw the lack of importance those in their war had for their emotions and had learned to accept it; had understood its significance over years of being alive.

at the answer, hyekyung reaches for the finest white wine in stock. she finds appreciation for the young woman’s composure. the softness of her voice mirroring her glow. 

moving towards the table, the hwang takes the first seat. her posture upright with the black leather of their dining room seats. “take a seat, dear.” she states. hyekyung does a subtle comparison to ara upon the other’s choice of words. the sugarcoating choice of tone extremely different from the younger song sister. but words refrain from speaking up her observation. moreover, it was decently pleasing to her ears. “im pleased he has. but how is everything, love? i hope your family is doing well.” it was now time. their meeting a purpose for both individuals to learn as much as they can from each other. and unfortunately, hyekyung wasn’t about to hold back. 

          SHE KNEW WINNING A MOTHER’S heart was a difficult task. whilst bogum cared more for the alliance than anything else ahyoung could offer, hyekyung would ask for her to ensure minwoo’s happiness as well. love was a privilege most vampires of the elite no longer had the means to afford.

still, ahyoung remained calm. she didn’t need to feign affection for minwoo — hyekyung could rest assured that the oldest song would care for her son, even grow to love him as that was becoming quite the realistic option as well. but of course, ahyoung wished to be of importance to the family as a whole, and she knew she had a role to fill — and hyekyung was the judge of whether she was fitting or not.

seated down opposite the hwang matriarch, ahyoung smiled appreciatively as her glass was filled. the questions, she knew, were coming, and she was prepared. «my parents are quite well, thank you,» she responded, though she hadn’t been in touch with them for quite a while — she could only assume at this point. «as for my sisters,» she chuckled lightly, «they’ve rarely ever been particularly obedient to commands going against their own wishes, have they ?» even as kids, whenever ahyoung had felt it was necessary to use the oldest sister-card they had seldom followed her guidelines.

of course the dynamics had changed drastically since then, all things considered. «i believe i’ve been rather .. difficult at times ever since our parents decided to leave the family’s duties to me, but i’m very proud of them regardless.» she always would be: family always came first — ahyoung suspected hyekyung felt much the same.

[ahyoungbr]

❛·° — brtaekyung:

he knows what (who) they’re looking for. taekyung also knows that he doesn’t want to find it. maybe that’s why he’d been busy consuming whatever drink he could find instead—which wasn’t a lot, because apparently the bloodsuckers were faster at this whole drinking game. god, he couldn’t even get drunk, they ruined everything. though his sulk was hidden behind his (ingenious) wolf mask, taekyung knew it was rather obvious that he wasn’t blending. they were eyeing him strangely, and the urge to take out his dagger to stake one of them before they could sink their teeth into him was ridiculously high.

but all thoughts of murder disappeared the second a hand reached for his. his head turned and his eyes landed on her, freezing up entirely. he doesn’t know how he knows, but he immediately realizes who it is. almost as if in a trance, he allows her to guide him to the dance floor, unable to take his eyes off of her. even when her face is covered in a mask, she’s beautiful, carrying herself with the kind of elegance he knows he would only ruin.

“you know i have two left feet.” it’s the only protest he’ll give. she’s right—he hadn’t been behaving like a guest. that’s because he doesn’t want to be a guest. after a long moment of hesitation, his hands finally grasp her sides, resting on her waist. his touch is almost feather-light, mostly because he doesn’t know if he’s allowed to hold her any closer. eyeing her, he’s a mix of wary and curious. “why are you helping me?” she could’ve just let him be exposed. instead she’s helping him ‘fit’ in. if that’s what he’s doing, anyway. they’re so different, like day and night – neither of them would ever fit into each other’s world, no matter how much he’d once wanted to.

          IT WAS EERILY EASY TO melt into his simple touch, as if she had never truly left his arms at all ( and maybe she hadn’t ), and ahyoung resisted the urge to press closer to him the moment his hands found her waist and hers rested around his neck loosely. she knew it wasn’t accepted, masks or not, but she couldn’t help it — the anonymity of it all made she feel like she could get away with it. 

he looked, even if she couldn’t admit so out loud, like what loving him had felt like. part of her wished they never had let go, though part of her knew it had been the right thing for them both, looking at it in retrospect. now, standing so close to him, she wasn’t so sure anymore though. «and that’s why i lead, remember ?» she muttered back to his feeble protest, the ghost of affection lingering in that simple question. ahyoung recalled dancing in the kitchen, giggling, free of worries and concerns. swaying to the music, taekyung gazing at her with those eyes of his, had her longing for a past that was the past for a reason — they could never be. 

«you would’ve done the same for me,» she spoke confidently, even when she couldn’t be sure anymore. things had changed between them — they inevitably had to have — but she couldn’t imagine a world in which the two didn’t care for each other in one way or another. he had become part of her, and she had a feeling that no matter how hard she tried to shake him — like an emotion she was no longer allowed to feel — he would always be that prayer she didn’t dare to speak. the vampire sighed as she locked her eyes with his. «what are you doing here, tae ?»

[ahyoungbr]

❛·° closed — @brtaekyung.

          IT WAS UNLIKE HER TO feel so uneasy at a social event. ahyoung had always loved the spotlight, basked in it without a single worry, but then she had grown up: now every mask anyone else hid behind was a possible threat, and she had learned to sleep with one eye open because of it. nothing was safer than her gut feeling, and she wasn’t feeling great.

her long, black gown made her blend in with the party’s participants without much difficulty — her beauty was of no significance when no one could even pick her out in the crowd. still, she was a keen observer, and there was one person in particular that stood out to her ( he always did, mask or no mask ), and his presence had her confused — and worried. what a hunter was doing here was beyond her, but it was clear to anyone that he wasn’t supposed to be.

she strode over as casually as she could, not making her intentions clear until she had reached out for taekyung’s hand, ignoring the subtle spark that appeared the moment her skin touched his. «you stick out like a sore thumb,» she muttered, dragging him out on the dance floor and turning around to meet his gaze when they had melted into the ocean of guests. had she even been in doubt, she couldn’t be now — she’d recognize his eyes anywhere, and somehow she knew he did the same. «if i can pick you out of the crowd, so can others. dance with me.»

[ahyoungbr]

❛·° — brahins & brhyunmin:

among the party lights illuminating the place with every beat, hyunmin wondered. was this how god felt when he created the world in seven days? because hyunmin, too, saw everything he had made and, behold, it was very good. the warehouse was filled to the brim, in fact he was sure not one further being, immortal or not, could fit. everywhere his gaze went, two eyes behind extravagantly crafted masks looked back at him. no one was walking with empty hands, either glasses of blood wine or champagne were their company or the most high class designer drugs. better, louder, harder. a promise well kept. now, it didn’t take much for him to make out ahin in this crowd due to a variety of reasons. the main one being her sending him a picture of her outfit and mask before she had arrived at the location. maybe not the fairest thing to do considering it was a masquerade ball but after all everything was allowed in love and war. this was a bit of both. the second helping hand was her perfume. it was all he needed as confirmation when he spotted the familiar outfit and mask in the crowd, accompanied by people he probably couldn’t care less about. he quickly found himself behind her, bodies pressed together. “come with me. now,” he mumbled in her ear, words only meant for her. without giving her much time to deliberate her choice of actions he grabbed her hand, setting both of them off on a path only he would know. a little room in the back, stacked to the ceiling with cardboard boxes full of champagne, away from the eyes of the public. just how they liked it. private enough to indulge in the dance of their bodies, yet with the knowledge of danger at their fingertips. “hope you like the party, doll,” he said with a smirk on his lips. one hand pulling the mask off of his face while the other wrapped around ahin’s waist to pull her closer, not allowing any distance between them as he leaned in for a heated kiss. / / @brahins & @ahyoungbr

― she was waiting for that, like a child waits for christmas ( and herself, included. ) – with a heart full of anxious expectations and high hopes. she knew what meant hyunmin being back in seoul, and she loved his infamous parties almost as much as she loved his company itself; considerably less, of course. still, sh thrived off of attention, and his parties were guarantee of that. ahin knew it would be a party out of expected proportions – it would be so much more than one simply expect. so, when the invitation arrived at the song’s household, her heart couldn’t help but leap on her chest – the day before her birthday, and, to add more to the mystery, a masquerade ball. 

she had never been to one of those. ahin had, as expected, been to a fair share of parties herself – but masquerades has a whole different aura to it; something far from the beer pong table and girls squealing to get boys’ attention. that was something mature something only hyun could pull. she was aware of the etiquette, and she knew, following the theme, it was supposed to be a surprise – but she couldn’t help but show him what she was going to wear, knowing that she wouldn’t risk have him mistake someone else as her. 

( the thought, alone, made her blood boil. )

the place was probably beautiful – the guests, probably pulled their best attire to attend to the event; yet, her attention was undivided on the quest of spotting his familiar frame in the crowd. she thought she had recognized some people – some broad shoulders there, long legs here, but not his. it didn’t take long for him to find her, instead. his scent quickly hit her, unmistakably his, the one she would b able to recognize anywhere – and before she could turn to face him, before she could lean against him, she felt his fingers intertwine with hers and felt herself being pulled from the crowd; their time alone, as the usual. 

as much as she was expecting to be at the party, she couldn’t wait to be with hyunmin, for a fact. the moment she was pulled into his arms, was the moment she sighed deeply, eyebrows raised “ oh, i am liking it just fine. ” and her lips found his, naturally molding against his own, hand gripping on his shoulders as she kissed him back with enthusiasm before breaking apart slightly, whispering “ but i am sure it’s about to get better. ”

          UNLIKE HER YOUNGEST SISTER, ahyoung had been lukewarm at best regarding the invitation from sh corporation. a party, particularly a masquerade, was right up ahyoung’s alley, but ever since she had taken over as head of the song household she had held a respectful distance towards anything — and anyone — that she couldn’t trust completely. im hyunmin and his business was one of them.

still, her worries were kept locked up where only she could find them, hidden away from the public eye, and hidden away from her sisters. it was her duty to make sure they were safe, and that they felt safe as much as they could, anyway. her concerns were for her and her only, and she could not voice them there, or anywhere. that’s why she had gotten dolled up, purchased a mask she was certain as few as possible would be able to recognize her in, and she had put on the best fake smile she could muster in the presence of a man she didn’t particularly like, nor trusted with a single drop of blood in her body. it didn’t help that she knew he was present, but could hide behind any mask her gaze rested on tonight.

it felt too crowded for her liking, and ahyoung decided to seek out some space for herself — to clear her thoughts and take a breath, remind herself that she was wearing a mask tonight too: also she could let her smile falter without anyone noticing it was her. she was suffocating on her own mind and she needed space to breathe if only for a second. the oldest song sister had feigned beams at everyone that crossed her path that night, regardless of whether she could recognize them or not, and she had fuelled conversations with people she suspected she had never talked to before, and perhaps never would’ve had it not been for every guest at the party being anonymous. surely no one would notice if she slipped away for just a second — tonight she was just another nameless being in an ocean of anonymity. 

she thought she had found a spot for just that when she noticed she wasn’t alone. her hues fell onto a familiar figure, one she would’ve recognized even after death, and confusion made the older speak first. «ahin —» the name died on ahyoung’s lips as her eyes fell on her sister’s company, and immediately her tone changed — not the usual, respectful song ahyoung. this was personal. «mr. im.»

there was nothing pleasant about song ahyoung now.

she looked at him and saw a threat, and she looked at her sister and saw a target. nothing about this situation felt right, or safe. she knew exactly what it was she was witnessing, and yet she had to ask, tone clear as the white wine she had just been drinking: «ahin, what is this ?»

[annybartollo-deactivated2020030]

[ahyoungbr]

❛·° — brjinho:

he pondered how many of these moments, these sort of nights he would have in his life. even with the workload of university he found these quiet moments of escape with ahyoung in the past, the ease and calm he felt around her reminded him that life did give way to some tranquility along its always spinning course. he had found a kindred spirit in ahyoung. 

her touch is featherlight against his arms, and with her touch it was like all the stress was melting away from her touch, all the burden was gone. even if only for a moment he felt at ease here with her. “to think this was all but a fleeting moment in our very long existence.” jinho speaks softly, he takes her hand linking their fingers together. he lifts his eyes to meet her gaze and the warmth from her brown eyes draws him to inch a bit closer. a spark of something in the air between them, jinho ponders what does happen now? he knows of the future that awaits him and for now his mind doesn’t want to think of it, he is focused on now. the closeness of ahyoung, and her eyes on his own, his hand in hers. “to not think about the future for once, would be a blessing.” 

          RESPONSIBILITY WAS ONLY PART OF GROWING up and when ahyoung had been younger the promise of more power had been exhilarating. she had learned it came with a price, but somehow the burden seemed a little lighter to bear whenever she was found with jinho by her side. they had an easy bond that was hard to attain with anyone else, and she knew to appreciate it.

as his fingers linked with hers, his touch so foreign yet so familiar, ahyoung couldn’t help the fluttering feeling that was so new to her when it came to him. this was simple, uncomplicated, and it was exactly what she needed — what they both needed. tomorrow was a new day with new challenges, but tonight belonged to them, empty of concerns that haunted them whenever they dared close their eyes. «the things i would give for that — to not worry, for one night.» her voice came out almost like a whisper, eyes resting on jinho’s as she couldn’t help but inch closer until there was nothing but the fabric of their clothes between them.

[ahyoungbr]

❛·° — bransook:

he throws a lousy stretch, arms spreading above his head as he heads down the corridor. it was a weekend. and that meant you could find him back at home, tugging on the attention of either his brother or minnie. unfortunate, jinho was off being busy somewhere.

but still minnie was around.

his stare watches the excited corgi dance around his legs. ansook rubs her head in their slow walk to the kitchen. he wasn’t sure what to get upto today. maybe he’d kick it back in his room for the night. however, that plan quickly vanishes as a voice intrudes. peering over his shoulder, the male draws an awkward smile at ahyoung. though he was not close to the older, he did have respect for the song. she also had a subtle sister vibe that he had appreciated. “hello,” he greets back. for some reason he feels like a deer in headlights and throws his hands down. minnie is now off to ahyoung, sniffing and barking in glee at her presence. “my brother?” ansook repeats as he turns to face her. “no. i think you missed him.” he answers. theres a pure frown on his face.

“um well,” he mumbles as a hand rubs the back of his head, “if you would like to wait, he should probably be back soon?” and then to help his downfall and awkwardness, the male blinks as his stomach begins to grumble.

           THE CORGI GREETED HER FIRST and ahyoung crouched down to pat the dog with an authentic and joyful beam on her visage. dogs, she had decided long ago, were much more uncomplicated than both humans and vampires. still, ansook was one vampire she quite willingly decided to grant some of her time. 

the song sister got back up, eyes falling on the younger. «oh really ?» she replied, disappointment almost present in her tone — almost. she supposed she could’ve left it at that and walked away, as was her original plan should she be so unfortunate the oldest cha wasn’t home, but instead ahyoung heard the sound of ansook’s stomach growling and decided on the spot that she’d rather stay.

«well, i suppose i could wait,» she replied after a second of silence, as if she had really pondered on her decision much at all. «would you mind if i had a bite though ? i was going to make dinner for jinho and so i didn’t eat.» it was a lie, sort of, but she was sure ansook wouldn’t notice. «maybe you’d like a bite as well ?»

[ahyoungbr]

❛·° — brtaekyung:

seeing ahyoung again is a hard pill to swallow. as much as he’d tried to suppress them, his memories of her are still clear as day – as is the one where he’d so carelessly broken things off, not providing any closure. but a part of him had died at the same moment his father did, so he’d shut off the part of him that’d been in love with her. all so that he could focus on something that’d been more important to him in that moment: justice (or had it been vengeance?) unfortunately, seeing her here and hearing her voice for the first time in what seems like decades… maybe shutting off didn’t necessarily mean he’d gotten rid of them entirely.

because he’s still standing here, covered in the remains of a dead vampire. a part of him clearly still wants to talk to her, or he’d head on back home to at least take a damn shower before coming back to track the vampire’s last moves before it’d spotted ahyoung. his head dips for a brief nod, acknowledging her story. he doesn’t know if she’s lying, but would she have reason to? well, maybe. “of course we’re aware.” the order has been aware of these happenings for quite some time now, yet they hadn’t been able to find much of anything.

but it’s starting to feel less like a coincidence and more like something’s going on that they’re not aware of – but if these level e vampires are being made on purpose, who the hell is behind it all? if they didn’t find out soon, it’d be a disaster. not only for the hunters, but humans in general. there’s a damn good reason why vampires are still kept secret; it’s to avoid an all-out war between their races. one that human kind would surely lose. eyeing her, taekyung is torn between leaving – for his own good – or asking her what she knows. in the end, his hunter side wins over his human side. it usually does. “you wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you?”

          SHE HAD FELT THE NEED TO explain herself ever since he had disappeared, but what was there to say ? he knew what she was, he knew their worlds were vastly different, and still they had chosen to try to make it work. and it had, for a while. but like everything in ahyoung’s life it had crumbled and she had been standing on a battlefield no longer with taekyung by her side, but opposing her.

the war between lovers was a bitter one, but in their case ahyoung wondered if there was any other way for them to co-exist. she regarded humans the way she regarded vampires — no more, no less. but it was easier for her of course,  for not once had she had to witness one of theirs causing pain to one of hers, seemingly for no reason whatsoever. she could not defend the actions of level e vampires — she could hardly understand them to being with — but nor did she feel compelled to. she just wished taekyung could see they were fighting the same war.

his comment had the woman frowning slightly. for some reason it made her feel defensive, as if he was pointing fingers and it was leading to her. «of course not,» she replied coldly, finality in her tone. level e vampires were as much a threat to them as they were to humans — only they had the means to defend themselves. still, even they were not invincible. «i know as little as you. and quite frankly, i’d like to eradicate the threat too.»

[ahyoungbr]

❛·° — brsong:

if she were to point at someone to take blame for the current state of unease between them, ara would choose herself. her ‘hello’ had been a bit too hostile, but she doesn’t want to acknowledge it. the ‘sorry’ is so far back somewhere in her throat she’s already swallowed it back down. something about the way her sister had walked in after her date had simply frustrated her – or maybe it’s not about something her sister has done today, maybe she’s just been holding it all in and she’s ready to blow her top.

of course she doesn’t, remaining still on the sofa. “it was fine,” her answer is the echo of the one her sister had given her, though not intentionally – that’s simply how her day’s been. fine, because nothing had truly happened. there’s something else on the tip of her tongue; it’s obvious that there’s something left unspoken, but to be honest, ara’s not exactly sure what that is. she wants to say something, but her head’s blank – or is it thinking too fast for her to keep up? – so instead, she lets the awkwardness take over, silence lingering between them.

          AHYOUNG KNEW THINGS DIDN’T HAVE TO have ended up like this, and yet it had been inevitable somehow. the older wished she had done things differently when they had begun to slip apart, but even to this day she didn’t know exactly what she would’ve, much less could’ve, changed. she loathed that it had taken a toll on her relationship with her sister, but ahyoung knew sacrifices would have to be made along her way. she hoped she could patch whatever damage that had meant for them.

«hey, why don’t we,» the oldest sister began, reaching for two glasses of wine and a bottle of red on the counter, «put on the tv and watch a crappy movie together ?» it was worth the shot, she convinced herself, even if ara surely would decline the offer and return her attention to her book. ahyoung needed to at least feel as if she was doing some effort to repair something she was starting to think truly would break. «or just talk, if you want to.» anything, really, as long as it meant spending time together.

[ahyoungbr]

❛·° — brjinho:

jinho takes a long sip of the wine, enjoying the taste of the beverage but not nearly as much as he enjoyed the company of ahyoung besides him. from childhood she had always been a steady presence besides him, the two of them going through their schooling together, both of them sharing similar ideals with each other. their companionship had always been an amicable one, she was reliable and someone that the two of them could lean on. 

he chuckles at her comment, swirling the contents of his glass. “i would never slander the song name like that, i would gladly take the fall for you.” he nods, he steals a glance at ahyoung, the easy smile on her expression lit by the moon and his breath is stolen from him for only a moment. jinho grins setting his glass down besides him. “i’m happy to have this moment with you as well, it seems so rare we get these moments simply just to breathe.” 

           SHE WAS LUCKY TO HAVE SOMEONE like him on her side — he was intelligent, strong, benevolent, and she supported him the best she knew she could. their platonic bond went unspoken, and she looked at him and felt safe: he felt like home. he was what she always came back to when the going got tough, and she knew she’d never have to walk any path alone when he was there.

«you say that as if i’d let you,» she smiled, absentmindedly reaching out a hand to run it down his arm, a light movement against smooth skin. «it’s almost hard to believe we made it,» she muttered, as if talking to herself, and she lifted her gaze to meet jinho’s familiar dark hues. «what do you think happens now ?»

[ahyoungbr]

❛·° — hyekyungbr:

she sets aside the plates on the counter and reaches for two cups. “dearie, can you take these to the table?” she asks. her question directed to the guest of the hour: ahyoung. it was time mother hwang met the woman. her son rambling enough about a ’perfect alliance’ but hyekyung had to make sure. she needed to observe the fellow song and see for herself. “also would you prefer wine, whiskey or a glass of our finest juice?”

they had both agreed to a dinner and instead of one outside, hyekyung decided a cook-in would be nice. it would be less informal. perhaps the causal side of ahyoung would be present; the one behind the pretty face and big sister act. ( also a subtle motive to gain information off the other when there was less of a crowd. ) but hyekyung wanted to see how ahyoung was when it was just them two. no minwoo. no jinri. no helping hands. it was a test as an alliance but also as a daughter-in-law. ahyoung would became both if they had come to an agreement. and it was a role that held significance and importance. 

given to only one. 

someone worthy of its position. 

“minwoo won’t be here to entertain us, unfortunately. but please do get comfortable.” hyekyung states as she walks towards the table and sets the glasses on either sides.

( @ahyoungbr )

          AHYOUNG KNEW EVERY LITTLE TRICK there was to being a respected vampire, or even a respected human. she knew how to play the part without even the hint of discomfort. her modelling career had tailored her into becoming a grown woman at a young age, one that could remain poised and calm under any circumstance. hwang hyekyung had the girl nervous, but she refused to let it show — she was a song, after all. she could always hold her ground.

«a glass of wine would be excellent. thank you,» she replied with a bright, friendly smile — as authentic as she could muster. it wasn’t hard to conjure: the oldest song held the hwang matriarch in high regard, a respect that wasn’t so easily feigned. she hadn’t only agreed to the dinner due to her being a hwang though; she genuinely wanted to be on their good side, for her sake as much as for minwoo’s. family was important in this society and if she wanted any part of it she knew she’d have to prove herself worthy. the name song opened doors, but ahyoung had to keep them that way.

«that’s quite alright, mrs. hwang,» she assured the woman. she hadn’t been there to see minwoo after all — if anything, he would’ve served as a distraction. ahyoung needed to do this alone. «thank you for the invitation. minwoo has told me nothing but kind words of you.»

[ahyoungbr]

❛·° — brtaekyung:

the song sisters were notoriously infamous, even at the order. whether it’s ara, who’s always a source of entertainment, or ahin, who’s sure to be falling off the wagon soon – they’re never a bore, and he’s been privy to multiple ‘if i was a vampire…’ scenarios that’s made him want to slice his ears off. gross. ahyoung, however, is the source of all his discomfort.

very few know about them and their history—but that’s how they wanted it, even back then. the son of a reputable hunter, dating a vampire? that would’ve broken his father’s heart, if not the entire community. but he’d done the seemingly impossible; he’d fallen in love with one of the ‘abominations’. he’d been ready to quit the life that’s been given to him, if that meant he could be with her.

and then his father had died at the hands of a vampire. had been torn apart, dismembered, until even his own son had trouble recognizing him. it’d changed him. it’d ended them.

taekyung eyes her wearily. “i don’t know anything about you.” he’s curt, but it’s the truth, isn’t it? it’s been years, he doesn’t know who she is now, even if he used to know back then (that she’s ticklish right behind her elbow—) because it’s not like what they had was of much importance (—twists her hair when she’s impatient—) and they’ve both moved on from it (—listens to the same song over and over again until she’s sick of it completely—) but he’s also a liar, so whatever. he doesn’t want to talk about it; the past is best left there.

he doesn’t take the bait. “i’m not here to socialize.” and even if he was, she’s about the last person he’d want to do that with. he’s obviously not in the least bit curious about her taste – all he knows is that it’s bloody. “do you have any idea where it came from?” ‘it’ being the now deader than dead vampire. way more interesting than his ex.

          SHE KNEW HER STATUS WITHIN her society, and she knew now what being with a hunter would entail. but back then things had been different, and her responsibilities hadn’t weighed what they did now. she had been freer to choose then, and she would’ve chosen him — but that wasn’t the reality of her situation anymore, and she knew he’d never choose her back anyway. they belonged to different worlds.

still a foolish part of her had hoped that maybe they’d be able to have reconciliation, to at least be on friendly terms with one another, but maybe there was no such thing for ex-lovers, especially of such different worlds, and she was only left to wonder what could’ve been of their endless nights hidden away from others’ eyes, stolen glances and loving kisses that belonged to them and them only. 

so maybe she’d never gotten the closure she so sorely needed, and maybe it still pained her to think that he was completely over her, but maybe that was also the only way to move on. she could bury feelings that weren’t supposed to be there anymore. her life was a graveyard of emotions she was no longer allowed to explore. 

straightening her back, ahyoung elected not to humor him with any replies to anything but his question. if he wanted business, she would leave it at that — it was easier to look him in the eye and pretend she didn’t still see the boy she had once loved so much then. «it’s been stalking me for a little while so i would guess it came from downtown perhaps,» she answered simply, visage remaining expressionless. «you’re noticing it too, aren’t you ?» she asked, referring to the order in general, «the influx of level e vampires.» surely their hunters would’ve noticed the unusual rise of the ex-humans.

[ahyoungbr]

❛·° — brminwoo:

    to us. her words similar to what many of her class would have used, especially a head of family like ahyoung. in this society, a group priority conquered over the individual. it was the manner in which vampire clans survived throughout dynasties. the songs had found a comfortable place with their neutral position among vampires — and their friendly disposition towards humans. meanwhile, his parents cleverly made it to the top, establishing the hwangs as the most prestigious bloodline of nobles. thus, it was evident that they were stones of two different colors on the baduk board, but not complete opposites.

he took her expression of gratitude in the solo aspect as well. somehow, ahyoung’s words increased in value when she referred to herself in particular. the smile she directed at him was a replica of what he had missed on the magazine cover, but definitely more vibrant. her last question took him by surprise, maybe due to his distraction. minwoo considered glancing at his watch to ponder on the hour. his thoughts were divided between not being a nuisance to the host, and maybe spending a little more time with the eldest song sister. unsurprisingly, he chose the second option.

❝hungry? if i’m honest, i haven’t had dinner yet.❞ 

          HOWEVER LITTLE SIGNIFICANCE SHE WANTED to delegate their friendship when compared to strictly political motives, ahyoung could never escape the fact that she cared for the hwang. from a political point of view it could prove to be inconvenient ( only time could truly tell ), but the oldest song allowed herself to be selfish, for once — that was the reason minwoo was here after all, was it not ? she enjoyed his presence, and a small part of her longed for the attention, specifically from him. he was steady, certain, intelligent, warm. ahyoung had coated her heart with ice, but she caught herself thinking that maybe, just maybe, he might find a way to melt it.

she got up from her seat at his words, gentle smile directed at him. «then maybe you would like to help me prepare some ?» she suggested, though there was the slightest hint of a hidden command underneath it — not of an ill nature though. if anything, the song sister was attempting to lure him into staying just a bit longer. «if you’re lucky i’ll even let you have a taste,» added ahyoung jokingly, flashing him a grin.

[ahyoungbr]

❛·° — brahins:

― people would always believe the idea that ahin admired herself first, and loved herself first – and people would never believe in the fact that neither of those were correct. ahin was a greedy being, flawed in so many aspects that only she dared to count in her worst moments, she was not ashamed of what she was, nor she regretted every single action that she had taken but still, she admired one person above them all. 

and that one person looked flawless even when cooking dinner for her, hair pulled up on a messy bun on the top of her head, face capturing the light of the lamp, making every move of her look gracious. 

ahyoung was her goddess, and she was a devout admirer of her own older sister. 

with bare legs kicking the air, she took a moment to process the question ahyoung had directed at her. ahin sat in hyun’s shirt, that no one knew that belong to him, as she played with the hem of it. there was plenty of things bothering her, none of them she dared say out loud. “ not really… ” she lied, wishing her sister wouldn’t pick up on it. “ i just don’t know what i want for birthday. ”

          THE LENGTHS SONG AHYOUNG WOULD GO to to ensure her sisters’ safety knew no limits. she felt particularly protective towards her youngest sister, acknowledging that ara was way beyond heeding her advice and rather walking her own path. ahyoung trusted both her sisters to do what was best for them — or so she tried to convince herself.

there was that ever-present worry in her core that refused to let go whenever she looked at ahin. she took responsibility for her sisters, as far as she could anyway, and it worried her just slightly that she never seemed to know what exactly her youngest sister was doing most of her time.

«what you want for your birthday,» ahyoung echoed incredulously, no mockery in her tone — only the notion that she knew ahin was lying. «okay, but if you want to tell me what’s really bothering you ..» she offered with a shrug and a smile, reaching ahin a spoon filled with the beef stew she was preparing.

«here, try this for me, dear,» she requested, electing to leave ahin’s troubled mind for just a second. she trusted her to open up to her if she needed it.

[ahyoungbr]

❛·° — brsong:

“honesty, not hostility.” or at least that’s what ara is telling herself. she doesn’t quite know where her agitation is coming from, if she’s being perfectly honest. ahyoung hadn’t said or done anything out of the ordinary—she’d simply walked inside the room. perhaps the irritation’s just been building up over time and for too long. her sister’s always on the move, constantly trying to stay one step ahead of it all, whatever ‘it’ is. ara’s the one who’s trying to seize the moment, wanting to live in the here and now. what good is the future if you can’t enjoy the present? they’re always walking circles around each other, never in a straight line.

sighing, ara puts her book aside, her concentration lost. she’s overthinking now, too. she doesn’t need to be preparing herself for a conversation they’re not having (yet), even though she knows it’ll come eventually. present before future. she’ll put blame on her reading material; the story of two sisters who’d been on opposite sides of the same coin. one good, one evil. (which one is ara?) “nothing’s on my mind.” she might as well leave it be and attempt to be civil instead. a part of her is glad to see her sister, the longing for normalcy between them eventually outweighing everything else. “how was your day?”

          IT HAD BEEN LIKE THAT FOR a while and ahyoung’s frustration grew in the back of her mind. she couldn’t read ara’s mind, and in truth she wasn’t sure she really wanted to, but sometimes she wondered just where they were standing. ahyoung blamed herself for the gap between them, but she was trying to salvage it the best she could, with the limited amount of time they seemed to be able to spend together. their views differed, and the oldest knew ara didn’t appreciate every decision she made, but she had to think about the future for all of them. she had to think of it so her sisters didn’t have to. 

she would stand by them no matter what, but ahyoung didn’t expect them to see that. she didn’t need them to love her unconditionally, or even support her every decision, but she longed for their trust, one she had so effortlessly always had as a child. simpler times. «it was fine,» she replied, not wishing to dig further — surely if something was bothering her sister she would tell her ? and still, the hostility was hard to wash away. «how about yours ?»

[ahyoungbr]

❛·° closed — @bransook.

          DIPLOMACY WAS ONE OF MANY values she found important, despite what it sometimes looked like. for song ahyoung, little seemed to be of more importance than the preservation of her own and her sisters’ well-being, but despite the lengths she would go for that she was a pacifist at her — buried deep, deep inside. the battlegrounds they all lived on, a minefield only waiting to explode, was no place for someone as soft as ahyoung had once been: and so she had changed.

but relations were still of the essence for her, and some never seemed to change. the chas and the baes had always been close friends of hers, and their kindness was always met by a genuinely thankful ahyoung. their presence had always made her own existence a lot lighter, and she always felt she had a home with them. maybe that was why she had headed over to the cha house on that particular evening, seeking out jinho for no other reason than hoping for a chat with a friend.

she walked into the house after knocking, a habit she had worked up after all this time, and immediately her eyes scanned the area for any signs of the oldest cha being home. removing her shoes, ahyoung walked down the hallway and into the living room. «jinho ?» she began, but instead her eyes found his younger brother. whilst ahyoung and ansook had never been as close as her and jinho, but the oldest song sister still cared for the younger boy, considering him as the younger brother she never had. «oh, ansook ! hi, i’m sorry to barge in,» she chuckled lightly. «does your brother happen to be here ?»