ᵏᵃᶫᵒᵖˢᶦᵃ

SNAPDRAGON song areum. xxv ; vampire. you said to be cool but i’m already coolest !

[irxne]

me? dead in a ditch somewhere

[mavencalore]

carmen // lana del rey

[keepingupwiththegifs]

[songinsp]

fx, pretty girl.

[dejasboo]

i love you

[areumbr]

brjinho:

jinho takes her hand in his the two of them walking away from the more crowded area of the event. “perhaps some sort of grand gesture to match your boldness, i’m sure i could arrange something for you.” he grins easily with areum. they walk past the people passing the pond the tranquility of it with the moon reflected in the mirror like surface pristine and shining on the water. he was a bit relieved to be away from prying eyes. 

he nods when she asks if the spot she has chosen meets their requirements. areum holds her gaze with him, hands still intertwined he knows the sight would raise a few eyebrows, seeming more intimate to those who aren’t aware of their arrangement, he doesn’t make a move to unlink their hands. “hopefully my behavior wasn’t too peculiar, i know of our arrangement i just wanted to make sure everything was going well with you areum.” he begins slowly picking his words cautiously. jinho knew the older song sister didn’t wear her emotions as openly as ara did, it didn’t mean that the situation hadn’t bothered her. unless it hadn’t. “i know the dinner was something much akin to an ambush, i know we agreed that we would keep personal matters aside, forgive me if i am prying i just did not want to be someone to come between you and your sister.” 

she smiles once she realizes he won’t disconnect their hands. that same smile twitches ever so slightly as he begins to speak of that dinner, but doesn’t fade. it’s only evident he’s being careful with his words, and she doesn’t like it. it’s too formal for her, for them. in somewhat of a power move, she releases his hand, and lets her own go to her hip. she hopes he doesn’t take offense, but she likes to think she knows him well enough to be certain he won’t verbalize it, at least. “ my sister and i . . . ” she won’t even mutter her name, the wound’s far too fresh. she cannot bring herself to finish the statement ( there’s nothing she could say that would reflect well on her, anyway ), so she deflects. “ everything’s fine. ” she smiles wide, mendacity hidden deep beneath her perfect teeth. the last thing she desires is him concerned over her, even if it’s just out of his innate politeness. “ i will admit, i was shocked at first. i didn’t expect to see you at my doorstep in such a manner. but you looked really good, so it’s okay. ” she reaches both of her hands up to ‘ dust ’ off his chest area, only using it as an unmistakable excuse to touch him, before her hands fall to her sides. “ and how are you feeling about what happened? ”

[areumbr]

brminwoo:

       areum pours wine in the same fashion of performing a tea ceremony. an exaltation of the beautiful among the contemptible happenings of everyday life. enthusiastic about sign interpretation, this is an augury of what he should expect from the eldest song sister tonight. minwoo is aware that he should not have permitted her to fill his glass, as the rules of seniority dictate. on top of areum being older than him, she holds a higher seat at the council. in the meanwhile, of course. soon his time will come, to oversee the rest of the clans, including hers, and south korea’s vampire society. no one has raised a hand against the hwangs in roughly 30 years, thus the future is golden for the picture-perfect family.

❝surely, if i told you the same, you would find my words rather dull,❞ he masks his eulogy to her, owing to the fact that he also knows flattery. minwoo tends to appreciate remarks having praise follow after them. it makes his pride grow into zealous vines that swallow everything whole, still hubris is what brings men to their knees, closer to death in case they are mortal. he has seen the most obstinate of adversaries fall at his mother’s feet, for the hwang matriarch always retains some sort of compliment hanging at the edge of her tongue. overcoming with adulation is stronger than using threats. areum appears to be savvy in playing the game, or at least she is excels in keeping up with impressions, like a virtuous illusionist.

her reverence takes him by surprise. in his eyes, this is an unexpected behavior from the ever graceful areum. not that he is an expert on acknowledging offenses. minwoo has an aversion to pronouncing the words i’m sorry, because he never is. it sounds pretentious, but to admit failure goes against his ideals. most of his actions are heavily calculated to obtain the least margin of error. he works hard enough, so that there is no time for anything in between. nevertheless, when it comes to others accepting their mistakes, he likes being a front row spectator. in the world of forgiveness, there is the one who asks and the one who receives — the latter has the obligation of exonerating the former.

❝i accept your apology, since your remorse is genuine. i won’t ask anything from you, the areum before me. however, should the day come, i would like to have the head of the song household on my side. don’t you think of such allegiance as honorable?❞ his voice is cautious. he pushes aside any enchantment that ties him to her. minwoo cannot be described as simple-minded, quite the opposite. he learned politics and persuasion at a young age, courtesy of his father in the throne room. while the moon family is cooperative in their decisions, the baes are more unyielding. areum’s bloodline prevails in neutral ground. under her new reign, she can adjust commitments. he assumes she will make the right decision.

❝you don’t have to answer now. in fact, i doubt it is an appropriate topic of conversation for the occasion. please, take a seat,❞ minwoo’s tone changes to a gentle one. he almost laughs at the situation, in an attempt to retrieve the cordial atmosphere, even when no person is watching over them. his hand reaches out for the glass to have a taste of the veroniesi wine, as he waits for her to sit down.

genuine. she expertly stifles a derisive laugh, but the sentiment is quickly overturned as he continues. she slowly lifts her head, eyeing him curiously. she’s silent for a few moments, allowing herself to gather her thoughts. she truly didn’t anticipate such an offer to come from him, but she’s able to recover well. she returns to her seat, not anticipating she will have to stand up once more. an immaculate snicker escapes her lips, ready to tease him. “ it’s always business with you, hwang minwoo. don’t you ever have fun? ” whatever formality areum offered only moments before has expeditiously expired. 

areum ostentatiously crosses her legs, taking a moment to glance at the sumptuous heels giving her an extra five inches in height before giving minwoo her full attention once more. she doesn’t expect to witness any semblance of humor on his countenance. his uptight nature was actually what initially drew her to him, similar to an esurient lion approaching a gazelle. 

despite her indifferent facade, she’s eager to get a perspicuous explanation, suddenly unconcerned with whatever apologies had been forced and whatever dinners were ruined. he cannot declare something so grand and expect her to not want details, given her spirit of inquiry. “ but okay, i’ll bite. what exactly does this allegiance entail? ”  

her glass remains untouched. she’s not exceptionally fond of alcohol, surprisingly. of course she’s not opposed to it in minimal amounts, but she’d never allow herself to be inebriated, especially not in a situation as such. a drunk mind speaks a sober heart, after all, and she’s got one too many skeletons in her closet. she prefers getting her partner ( whoever that may be in the moment ) intoxicated, enthusiastic to hear their secrets and take their money without having to do any of the work. though it would be nice to break minwoo’s enigmatic mold, she doesn’t want his money, and she cannot even remotely envision him drunk. a political allegiance, however, could be beneficial to all of those involved ( most importantly, her ). 

her thoughts travel to minwoo’s arch-rival, the fallen prince. wouldn’t an alliance be a personal slight to him? surely even he is not above being aggrieved at such a thing. the impartiality of her household has kept her in each of their good graces, and she’s unsure if that’s something she wants to risk, should the cha family rise once more. it’s as clear as day, she has quite the decision to make. like the superior she is, she won’t ask for anyone’s opinions ; this is her choice and her family will only hear of it after she’s come to a conclusion. the contumelious child within her wants to prove to her parents, wherever they may be on their surely exhilarating trip, she can make authoritative settlements while retaining her almost human-like life. to finish a council meeting and go directly to a photoshoot, yes, she can do it all. among all of the logic seething through her mind, there’s a hint of malice as she wonders if this would be an offense to ara ( only a bonus ). and then she wonders how aeri would react, if she’d care at all.

minwoo is correct on one thing, if nothing else : she won’t answer now. for how can such a decision be made in the span of a few moments, even for the typically incisive areum? something within her wonders if this was his motive for attending the dinner. could he be more guileful than she assumed? she’s simultaneously impressed and disappointed, yet neither emotion will be exhibited. instead, she sits across from him in a cordial but heedful manner, awaiting a response she’s sure will only intrigue her further. 

[areumbr]

zeminbr:

            AND WITH THAT THE LITTLE interest that he had felt generous enough to give her soon faded. he cared little for vampiric intrigues or drama despite knowing that they had plenty ( they were, in lack of a better word, traditional in their ways ), and so areum’s words bore little significance for him. at her last comment the young hunter couldn’t help but let out a huff though. «yeah. i can tell.» maybe that was why vampires of her rank turned out as uptight as they did — the lack of exposure to those that were different from themselves. he, on the other hand, didn’t have that choice. «can’t imagine your sisters to be in any sort of danger though so you can tell that to your mom and dad.» the last words were spoken with a bitterness only marked by jealousy.

areum inwardly recollects the conversation from the beginning, and she is unable to decipher the reason he’s acting so acerbic. at a loss, she credits it to a general discomfort around vampires. a reality where someone is not fawning over her is not a reality she yearns to exist in. she wants to shake him and prove to him she can and does get along well with humans, but nothing will work, and that’s confirmed in the way he concludes his statement. areum can sense there’s something different in his tone but she’s doubting her desire to investigate any further. his apparent aversion is tiring her, and his reticence is nearly palpable. while that may have intrigued her not too long ago, she has integral responsibilities and isn’t interested in playing a game where she’s not set to win. “ thanks — sorry, i forgot your name. ” she chuckles lightheartedly, as if she’s capable of such an attitude. “ go and enjoy the rest of the gala, kid. ” she cannot help herself. “ and try not to kill anybody while you’re at it. ” she whispers the final part, giving off a mischievous wink. areum cannot imagine the quip will go over well with him, but she needs nothing from him and thus, she is apathetic to impressing him. 

[areumbr]

brhaneul:

― SHE CONSIDERED THE woman in front of her and realized what was so unsettling about her – her illusions weren’t exclusive of her own abilities, she, herself, had learned to distort everything around her to get anything she wants. after a couple seconds of silence that followed her reply, haneul nodded. “ because if we wanted to be close to any of you, you would’ve known of us sooner. ” lies were also not her forte – the bluntness of the truth was better than that. “ but i want to believe you already knew of that. ”

“ i can see where you get your ice abilities from. your words are colder than any snow i’ve ever been around. i’m wounded. ” there’s a remarkably flippant tone to her words, soon accompanied by a pout. “ do you think your father feels the same way? ” much like haneul had done previously, areum tilts her head as she inquires, feigning innocence. “ i’ve heard he’s lonely, and i’m rather skilled at uplifting others. ” she finishes with raised brows, assuming her threat will be understood. 

[areumbr]

brjinho:

her giggle rings in his ears and he finds it impossible not to smile in her presence, even a vampire of his status can admit he finds it difficult to resist the charm of areum. its true the gala didn’t offer too many secret spots for them to slip unnoticed, but maybe a less crowded area so she could feel a bit more at ease. “i assure you areum i would never subject you to something as crude as the mens room, i would think you’d have a little more faith in me than that.” he returns her banter without missing a beat.  his eyes wandering to her neck once more after the light reflected from her necklace catches his eye once more. he extends his arm to her holding his hand extended out to her  “perhaps we can find somewhere more suitable for some seclusion, you can lead the way.” 

her eyes roll upwards in a whimsical manner, her own version of a rejoinder. she enjoys such moments, amiable quips being exchanged between two friends. it’s like a taste of true normalcy. but areum is someone with the obligations of both a vampire and a human, and reality will always be there to remind her of that. as he offers himself to her, areum glances at his arm. her eyes soon return to his, but they’re accompanied by a raised eyebrow, as if to say really? she almost leaves him waiting for the second time as she’s tempted to scrutinize the room and establish if anyone is observing them. with an impressed expression, she takes hold of his hand, and begins to march away. “ i think my temerity is being passed onto you. you might have to call me from now on. ”

the two of them don’t wander for long before areum finds a spot that satisfies her, a building decently distant from wolji pond but still belonging to the school. the students are at the gala ; not a sound is to be heard in the halls. “ is this okay? ” she faces him once more. though her eyes are locked with his and her visage reveals nothing, she’s mindful of their unwavering entwined hands. the ball’s in your court, cha jinho. 

[areumbr]

li daiyu, song areum. it’s likely these two extremely dissimilar individuals wouldn’t give each other a second thought or glance if not for one thing  — they’re neighbors. not the made-for-tv type, however. there’s no freshly baked pies or warm greetings when they’re near one another, but rather sardonic remarks and frigid glares. an intimidating atmosphere surrounds daiyu, but it has no effect on areum. they were bound to be enemies not only due to their contrasting species but their clashing personalities. truth be told, areum doesn’t think the worst of the hunter, but that doesn’t mean she thinks of her fondly of her, either. daiyu intrigues her, if nothing else. hunters have a tendency to do that. to exterminate for a living? she cannot imagine such a thing. she understands that certain levels of vampires are hazardous, and she values the human species, but she’s still a vampire at the end of the day. she doesn’t even want to wonder what would happen if she or any other vampire she cares for happens to make a mistake, one that would cost them their lives. she vividly remembers when she herself ended someone’s life. the thought of causes her to cringe.

and yet, she has no qualms about how she treats daiyu. almost like a vexatious younger sister, a sentiment she understands better than most. her experience should make her more compassionate towards the older woman, but it doesn’t. compassion is not something song areum concerns herself with. diamonds, lovers, and her latest photo-shoot, yes, but not basic human decency. that, too, is a reason they were never meant to be close. she never thought too much of the other woman before learning that she’s not areum’s biggest fans based on the pandemonium from within her household. she cannot blame her. after inquiring to her friends ( read: minions ) about the name li daiyu, it didn’t take long for her to then be told she’s a rather esteemed hunter. icing on the cake. since then, she’s almost made it her mission to tease daiyu as much as possible. in areum’s mind, it’s innocuous, just a source of entertainment for her. she doesn’t know daiyu well enough to safely assume the other won’t truly attempt to harm her, but the unpredictability is almost exciting. 

home alone on a sunday afternoon, areum’s . . . bored. it’s an emotion she cannot tolerate very well, so she promptly creates a list of activities she can do to combat it. “ i could — no, i did that last week. ” and with that, she crosses manicure off of the paper, the very last option. she pouts, letting her chin fall into her hand. “ or maybe . . . . ooh! ” a devious smirk that will remain unseen pops up on her countenance. what better than to annoy her favorite neighbor? she lifts herself from her bed, hurries down the steps, and arrives in front of the living room stereo. after slipping a certain disc into the machine, areum waits until a prominent michael jackson song begins to fill the air. she smiles, and ever so slowly turns up the volume until it reaches the maximum. what is typically regarded as a tranquil neighborhood is now assaulted by beat it being played at thunderous levels, as well as areum’s less than stellar singing voice. she makes certain the nearest window is open, confirming that if daiyu is home, she will hear. if not, then the other neighbors are sure to have a show. none of them would dare confront areum, another fact that makes daiyu special.

@brdaiyu

[areumbr]

brminwoo:

      10:35. minwoo waits until he reaches the confined rooms of the council’s headquarters. his secrecy is only a result of the discretion he perceived in the messenger. then, he withdraws the envelope from the inside breast pocket of his suit, leans his shoulder against a centuries-old column and begins to read its content. his facial expression does not change, rhetorical questions coming unbidden to his tongue. he should keep those for later today.

while he anticipated her apology, he never expected to receive a letter. he cannot tell if it is the traditionalism or the mindfulness of her request, which makes it difficult to think about ignoring her. above all, areum is right: she is unforgettable. granted, the dinner at the song residence was a disaster, but it never interrupted his rarely taken sleep, or at least he chose to believe that his interpersonal relationships were on a plane he had under control.

a moment later, minwoo returns the piece of paper to its original place. he ponders on the red dress for longer that he should, maybe because he looks forward to it. however, her outfit will undoubtedly contrast with his. the hwang heir tends to be practical, it reflects in his own wardrobe. a slim-cut suit and a shirt, head-to-toe black, only to top things off with a coat.

19:00. when he arrives to the newly opened restaurant, minwoo glances down at his timepiece and confirms that he is on schedule. her reservation grants him access to a private area, away from inquisitive eyes. interruptions are not welcomed on this occasion.

he finds areum wrapped in a blood tinted dress, as per her handwritten instructions. there is so much grace in the way she exists, to the point it should inspire mistrust of all beautiful things. the eldest song sister lives up to her two-syllable name. everyone knows it, from seoul’s elites to the fashion industry’s big shots — all tied to her supernatural charm. he is aware that resistance is futile, for he too has been infected by the allure. instead of feeling unnerved at her pull, he experiences a strange kind of fascination. this evening is an ominous promise of learning about both her shadow and luminescence.

❝aren’t you something else, song areum? do you think with pasta and wine you will gain my favor?❞ his expression is amused and indulgent, despite the questions he raises. minwoo takes a seat at the other end of the table, opposite to areum. for some reason, inherent to his nature, he cannot shake off the business vibes. it seems he must always obtain profit in return after every encounter, and he just underwent a big loss to make up for.

the chair underneath her is bereft of noise as she rises at the sight of someone. it’s the indisputable figure of hwang minwoo, the guest of honor. her eyes light up as her lips curve upwards, bred of relief and elation. the vague surprise is visible only because of areum’s guile. at his remark, she chortles, but that, too, is a falsehood. she recognizes the resolution in his words, and is prepared to acknowledge it. that’s what they both came for, isn’t it? she’s well acquainted with the twinkle in his eyes as he peers at her, she’s been subjected to it since she was but a child. she’s become mutable with potential partners, and if not for his lineage, she would have left him behind as she has so many times before, with others. he would have been nothing more to her than a lovelorn puppy.

“ speaking of . . . ” her first sentence of the evening, having left her mouth so casually as if she’s not on high alert. with the elegance of a swan, her hand reaches the bottle of valpolicella on the table before them. she pours the drink in his glass first before doing the same for herself. with that task completed, she follows his suit, her bottom connects with the chair for the second time. now the ‘fun’ may begin. “ pasta and wine, yes — but don’t forget flattery. you look magnificent, minwoo. ” she states it in a dogmatic manner, as if there’s no argument to be made. of course, he truly does look decent enough, but there are several modifications areum would make if given the opportunity. she’s aware, though, that he has too much responsibility on his mind to dress adequately, but she’s the opposite. if present, her parents would scold her for prioritizing fashion over her duties.  

after locking eyes with minwoo from the moment he’d arrived, it’s uncharacteristic for her to glance downwards, and then up again. her smiling mouth flickers, as well. these negligible movements alter the atmosphere to that of one with the ideal balance of earnestness and serenity. “ you’re aware i didn’t invite you over here just to admire you, though. ” there’s a momentary pause before she begins again. “ i can admit, i’m not the best at apologies. i feel vulnerable. but i like you enough to disregard my preferences. ” she will leave him to ponder over the connotation of the word like. “ so! hwang minwoo. ” she lifts herself again. “ i, song areum, head of the song family, sincerely apologize for the petulant and discourteous actions of that fateful night. if there’s anything i can do to prove to you how remorseful i feel, just say the word. ” 

after she concludes, she lowers her head to bow, her curls bouncing forward. she will not glance upwards until he’s acknowledged it, assuming he won’t make her suffer long. if she were profoundly dramatic, she’d get on the floor and weep for forgiveness, but that’d defile her dress and seemed excessive, considering their ages. areum prides herself on balance ( or rather, the illusion of it ) ; interested but not desperate, enigmatic but not suspicious, confident but still humble. though her ethereal appearance may be congenital, deceit is a strength she’s learned as the years have passed, having been wounded one too many times — isn’t that how most villains are generated?

[areumbr]

brhaneul:. 

― haneul was trained for many things, and one thing she was particularly trained for was to identify concealed threats. as the other girl replied, the younger simply looked at her, glass still rolling against her palms, eyes scanning the petit woman right before her. haneul knew of her, of course, even though people couldn’t say the same about her. “ areum song… ” the illusionists, and being the oldest haneul suspected that areum’s powers were unmatched. “ would you really like to know more about us ? ” with her head cocked, she gave her a soft smile, when nothing of soft could ever come from her.

the proud smile areum displays as her name is being said is completely intuitive. it’s just an identity, but it holds an extreme amount of significance, mostly of her own volition. the satisfied expression remains as the seconds pass, and the flicker of suspicion and mild shock areum experiences at haneul’s inquiry is imperceptible. what an interesting shift haneul has made, but areum doesn’t believe it.  “ yes! ” she clasps her hands together excitedly as she exclaims. “ i’m quite close with all of the families on the council. ” true enough. “ why should the moons be any different? ”

[areumbr]

zeminbr:

          HER DEMEANOR CHANGED ALMOST instantly, but zemin wasn’t fazed. he knew to fear some vampires, and simply respect others, and whilst the latter was still a work in progress ( especially since certain vampires’ condescending nature seemed to be inbred ) he had learned to ignore it. «it’s not like i’ll hurt your sisters,» he answered, quizzically. the thought hadn’t even occurred to him — he wasn’t likely to go after any vampire on campus soon, but nor was he inclined to being their bodyguard. he thought it only fair that vampires should have the exact same disadvantages as a human should they be attacked. he owed them nothing.

unequivocal relief overcomes areum, soon to be substituted by her habitual poise with a hint of pomposity. “ oh, i know you won’t. ” it’s a conversation she’d hate to have her sisters actually listen to, specifically the middle one. should anyone find out that she actually cares for the two fools, her pride would take a plunge. she doesn’t want this one before her to think that, either. “ my parents would disown me if anything happened to them, and i don’t interact with . . . your kind, very often. forgive me for being too protective. ” her apology isn’t unfeigned, but areum assumes most people are satisfied with the formality. 

[doseofriends]

[areumbr]

zeminbr:

          HE DIDN’T WANT TO YET zemin seemed unable to stop eyeing the smaller female. vampires had that about them — that mysterious aura that had humans drawn to them like a child playing with fire. the hunter was done playing though: he looked at the vampire with the same interest he’d look at static on the tv. «i’m not your entertainment, miss song,» he answered curtly, but he supposed he could grant her an actual reply regardless. «but if you have to know, the school offers well-educated professors and a successful program. i can deal with the distractions.»

there’s a limitless intensity between them, unspoken but nearly palpable. “ oh, but you are my entertainment. everyone in this room is. thankfully for you, i get bored easily. ” she has the audacity to smirk, but it’s undoubtedly not bred of benevolence. it’s not only complacent, but menacing, as well. “ one more thing, before i let you go. i know you have a job to do, but so do i. so long as we both understand that no harm is to come to my younger sisters, i don’t see a problem. you know what i mean, zemin? ”

[areumbr]

09:00. the suited man grasps the envelope that is now saying farewell to song areum’s scarlet-painted fingertips. per the woman’s request, it is to be directly delivered to the eldest hwang child. no creasing, no peeking, and definitely no sending back. equipped with her exorbitant sunglasses and a fulfilled purpose, she steps into her car, and leaves the neighborhood. all that’s left to do is wait, something areum is not to keen on, admittedly. but she’ll make an exception. the previous night, she spent an eloquent hour writing the letter on the finest vellum seoul has to offer. she then gently folded it, placed it into an envelope, and wrote nothing but his name atop of said envelope. when someone’s hands go to open the letter, it will read:

dear minwoo,

hello, how did you sleep? i’m sure the security i will be handing this to will tell you, but this is song areum. you remember me well, don’t you? it must be hard to forget me after what happened. that is what this letter is about. i feel particularly regretful about that night, and i’d like to formally apologize, in person. this is merely an introduction, but i thought it’d be too flippant to simply text you this. if you’re interested, please meet me at  XXX XXXX XX tonight during eventide at 19:00. it’s the new italian restauraunt! it’s meant to be symbolic, for new beginnings between the two of us. is that too much of a cliché? even though i can’t hear your response, don’t answer that. i understand you probably don’t want to be anywhere near the song household, so in this case, nothing unexpected should occur. i’ll be wearing a red dress. keep your eye out for me, hwang minwoo!

sincerely,

song areum

18:45. it doesn’t seem so long ago that she’d been sitting in her study, biting her lip in thought as she penned away. and now, she’s exactly where the letter said she’d be. the dress is a bit too short, a bit too red, and thus a bit too impactful, earning stares from the men and women sat in the standard area while she’s occupying what should be a private room, rented using her own money. she politely smiles at them in response, but it is all an act as she mentally curses their wandering eyes ( rare, for the attention-seeker ). she’s reserving her genuine smiles, and the position across from her, for someone else. though she does not know how obstinate minwoo is, if at all, she anticipates the seat will be filled, ever confident in her ability to entrap enthrall. she takes this time to realize that she truly doesn’t know that much about him; he’s an enigma she’s found herself wanting to decipher for many reasons. her eyes glance up towards the clock, not quite yet the specified time but the clock continues to tick. 

@brminwoo