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the boy with a pearl earring (kth)

» member: kim taehyung x reader » genre: art history au, a love story » length: 1,923 » part 2 (the making of) [coming soon], part 3 (the epilogue) [coming soon]

» t/w: mentions of death, grief

» note: this is one of my old stories that i am reposting on this blog. i am so happy to be bringing this story back to life again! i based this story off of the famous painting ‘girl with a pearl earring’ by johannes vermeer. this painting has always stuck with me and as soon as i saw the above photo drop of tae way back in the day, i knew i needed to write a beautiful story.

in this story, taehyung is the subject of a rediscovered famous painting and the reader is the mystery artist. the two characters engage in a love affair that will inevitably end with heartbreak, but it is truly a lesson on the appreciation of life and love as they embrace the fleeting moments they have together just for a taste of true love. the series will also be set in different time periods. part one is set in “present day”; part 2 is set in “the past”; part 3 is set in “the future”. i hope you all enjoy this story ~ ~roni, xx

Year: Present day, 3067 Location: The city of Iloni, a once lively city known for its love and vivacious expression of the arts through its peaceful fairytale ambience during the day and its extravagant nightlife. Iloni was diverse, housing various rambunctious restaurants, more art galleries than there were gas stations on every corner, lively theatres, and so much freedom of expression. It truly was a city that never slept. A city with pride for recognizing the beauty in the world around us and displaying it through everything imaginable from architecture to intricate blendings of nature with anything man made.

The city of Iloni was inclusive, peaceful, safe, free, and it never imagined that it would wind up seeing such dark times, but alas, it had endured the darkest of times.

A once lively city was now so dull and desperate for a change.

For a revolution.

A deep recession hit the city, ultimately bringing it to its downfall. In response, the newly elected members of the government began to ban all types of art, finding no use for it. It was seen as a waste of money and the main reason that led the city to its downfall. The government sold many of the world’s most famous pieces of art, leased out the many galleries and theatres to business owners and soon enough, the city of Iloni was finally getting back on its feet. It was the end of an era and the start of a nightmare for many of the citizens. Despite ruining many individual’s own purpose and lives in the process, this new change did seem to be helping the city. So now, the once lively city of Iloni that took great pride in its free expression of the people and known for its deep rooted history in being the hub for the arts of many forms has seen nothing but stillness and grey for over 40 years.

The city’s new motto became something that focused more on production and money making, finding the arts as a true waste of time. A no good hobby that wasted the city’s time and brought nothing valuable to its progression. The city was so grey and the people were so quiet, like little lifeless robots. Becoming true cogs in an artless machine, there seemed to be no more hope for the city of Iloni. Except, one man had held onto a glimmer of hope all his life, a small spark, hoping that maybe the arts did have something meaningful to offer and a change will come. Who was this man holding onto that glimmer of hope?

Kim Taehyung. A man who likes to spend 3 out of 5 of his workday mornings walking from his midtown apartment to his downtown job in Iloni. Although it’s a 25 minute walk, he found no harm in taking a break from driving every other day if it meant he could smell the crisp morning air from not the inside of his ten year old car. Taehyung grew up in this lifeless city and never fully agreed with the belief that art is a waste. If it was such a waste, then what are we? Are we not art? No matter what you believe, Taehyung thought, in some form we were created. If it was such a waste then what is this world? Is it not art? Is nature, itself, not the truest form of art? The way mother nature grows and blooms in its own beautiful ways. How can we stand here in the midst of the greatest masterpiece of all and believe that art has no purpose?

And so, with all of these thoughts constantly cycling through his mind on his morning walks while looking around at all the lifeless people passing by, Taehyung felt alone. He has grown up believing that no one else could ever believe the same things as him.

At the ripe age of 34, Taehyung embraced the walks of the city, taking in the architecture and the atmosphere. He saw the world through different eyes. Despite the city’s dullness, he found beauty in it, noticing the hidden beauty of the city. The way people walk, talk, and laugh quietly with each other, the way that one building casts a shadow down on the streets, aligning perfectly with the bushes on the side walk, the way the trees overlap and the roots protrude through the ground. He believed if he kept his head up, eyes open and heart full, art would never truly die because as long as he lived, he thought, at least someone was still appreciating it for all it had to offer. Taehyung taught this philosophy to his children and vowed to teach this to his children’s children. That art never leaves you. It is everywhere and it will find you if you keep your eyes open and your heart full.

It was a Tuesday morning and Taehyung set off on his morning walk downtown. The walk was nothing out of the ordinary, he took his same route to work, passed the same bakery, the same art gallery masking as a new tech start up, all very routine. It wasn’t until he passed the busiest side of Main street when something caught his eye, causing him to stop completely in his tracks. The daily newsstand, sitting on one of Main Street’s kiosks, displaying this morning’s headline in big bold letters. It was then that he felt his whole world turn grey, making Taehyung freeze for a moment. “WHO IS THE BOY WITH A PEARL EARRING?!” The paper read in all capital letters and overbearing font, followed by a picture of the painting with the referred ‘boy with a pearl earring’. The painting displayed a soft image of this boy in question, decorated in the rags of the riches, and placed in front of a pastel colored, cloud-like background. A background so bright it could pass for the heavens above us all, such a stark contrast to the grey dullness that has consumed Iloni. The striking softness of this painting contrasts with the slight sultry stare of the boy, making this portrait so intriguing that, of course, the people wanted answers. This was the first piece of art the city has seen in 40 years, this was groundbreaking. Taehyung’s feet began to slowly move his body towards the newsstand, his breathing starting to match every slow step made. In a deep haze, he picks up one of the newspapers and begins to read the first few lines of the article, “World renowned underground artist and art collector of our time, Y/N, has sadly passed away at the age of 39,” and at that moment, Taehyung’s heart drops to the pit of his stomach. His head starts to spin while the busy murmurs of the crowd silence behind him. This was the first time in years that he’s thought of your name and this was the last way that he would have ever wanted to recall your sweet name again. He blinks away the tears as they begin to sting and continues reading the next few lines, “In the wake of Y/N’s sudden passing, her husband has begun fulfilling his wife’s last wishes. A final release of all the paintings that she has completed during her hiatus. As it turns out, a plethora of beautifully exquisite paintings were in her possession. Y/N held some of the most famous and beloved paintings of our time, even of eras before ours. But what is more renowned, is her collection of her own most beautifully intricate paintings that the city has ever seen in decades. Y/N’s wish was made in the hopes that this could be the starting point for the return of the true city of Iloni, in hopes that the city returns to the city as it once was.” Taehyung’s heart has now moved up into his throat as images of your face began to fill his mind. Your captivating eyes, your soft smile, your hair, your lips, your laugh; it was all but a faded memory being risen from the deepest corner of his mind. The article continued,

“And now, Y/N’s paintings are finally being released for public viewing! This wish was made by her as a means to finally break the barrier and address the blatant oppression of art in Iloni. She hoped that by releasing these works, it would become the start of a revolution. A wide variety of the hidden paintings cover a range of beautiful topics and styles, but the most breathtaking and memorable one of all? The boy with a pearl earring.” The rest of the article goes on to describe in detail the profound beauty and mystery in this painting that had been created by Y/N. The most highlighted parts of her painting pointed out by the article were the sultry look in his eye, the overall softness of the image, the vibrant yet gentle hues of colors used in her painting, and the earring, seemingly to be a woman’s earring. But whose earring would he have in his possession? Y/N’s? And who is the boy? Who is he looking at with such an intense look in his eye? Who is the boy with a pearl earring? A rush of emotions begin to fill Taehyung’s heart as he stands outside on the busy sidewalk of Main street, heartbeat racing, body numb. His feet begin to move as he moves down the street, speed increasing as his mind turns into a haze. He’s not really sure of what to do at this moment. He only knows the one place where he wants to be right now and it is not here.

Y/N’s arms. Taehyung found himself back at his apartment. He threw his work bag on the floor next to his shoes. Shoulders in a slump and body feeling like he has run two miles and then some. Sitting slumped on his reading chair, he eyes the clock ticking away on his wall, watching the seconds tick by. He tries to drown the sound of the ticking and replace it with the sound of your voice in his head. Hours passed and the sun began to set. He finally peeled himself off of his chair and moved to take off his suit jacket, only to head for his bed. Unbuttoning his white button down, he threw his body across his mattresss. While his eyes stared up at the ceiling, he let his mind drift off. Drifting back into the deepest corner of his mind, trying to remember ten years ago as if it were yesterday. Reaching that part of his mind, he remembers Y/N and finds comfort in remembering the fleeting moments that he had spent with her all those years ago.

To many, the boy with a pearl earring, is a revolutionary piece. Marking the start of a rebellion against society, just as Y/N had hoped. People were awestruck with the piece and it seemed to have brought a small percentage of color back into the grey city of Iloni. The citizens are waking up as the story of these paintings came to life. In particular the boy with a pearl earring and its mysterious meaning, everyone was falling in love with its stunningly captivating appearance and mysterious backstory. To Taehyung, the boy with a pearl earring marked the first time he had ever experienced companionship. For once, Taehyung did not feel alone. and he found comfort in that, realizing this was the first time someone else had believed in the same things that he had believed in. And for the first time ever, Taehyung experienced what it was like to fall in love.

| masterlist | (coming soon)

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