NEON

you feel me?

[chunheega]

gaanil‌:

[The puckered look is cute, as are the exaggerated gestures and general exasperation] [He does have that effect on people, doesn’t he] Yeah, you don’t hafta anymore since you’re here now. [Yanks her into a bent arm instead of taking her up on that wrist in wait] [She’s no princess] [But even so,] Your wish is my command! [Leads straight up the flight of stairs and past a corridor speckled with platinum-framed portraits] [Loosens arm locked around Junhee’s neck, dropping hand down to (fingers twitch, tempted for just a beat) instead tug at her billowing sleeve] Y’know. Anywhere that’s not my room. [Fakes a grimace] Gets either really cold, or really hot. For all the innovation these guys do, they still haven’t gotten around to regulating the temperature in my metal box. [Stops at a window overlooking the sculpture garden and power disc courts, peering out] We could go out on the terrace. You could even throw rocks at the triplets. We were just going at a game before you got here, so they’re probably wondering where I am right now.

( ` his eyes narrow, teeth sinking into his tongue to stop himself. better not to make a big deal out of it now, if only for the fact that he knows it’ll absolutely spoil the mood ) “or in general, since i get nothing out of it...” ( ` stumbles forward at the yank, lips pursed and right cheek slightly puffed ) ( ` you don’t hate it that much though ) ( ` allows him to tug her around for the most part, attention flicking from portrait to portrait as they venture down the corridor ) “oh? they gave you a dud for a room? that’s not very hospitable at all.” ( ` follows his gaze, squinting to make out three heads meandering about ) “oh, no.” ( ` the last thing he wants is to bump into those three, all of whom he’d just met earlier that week when he arrived with asana ) ( ` twists his wrist to grip onto stubby fingers, tugging him away from the window ) ( ` eyes lifting to meet his gaze ) “i’m not here to see the ‘great beifong triplets’ though? so, maybe somewhere else?”

[chunheega]

gaanil‌:

[From conversations, he’d picked up on a few things—that Junhee probably wasn’t what she said she was, and that she was a little more interested than she preferred to let on] [Then again, these were things he’d more or less confirmed their first fateful meeting and had kept on until now] [Biting lip down, biting something smug down] Right, diplomatic stuff. Know all about that. [Handmaids and their piddling-no-status fams, right?] Hm? [Hadn’t expected this curveball] [Carefully avoids Junhee’s gaze] Long enough for you to bring it up? [Laughs, wrapping Junhee’s fingers into his hand and gently pushing them down and away] You can get a tour… [Grins] …Or we can get lost! [Stops at the foot of the first staircase] Basically, you can either hear me regurgitate history, or we can catch up. [Dramatic bow, letting Junhee take the lead and offering a clear suggestion] Your call, milady!

( ` typical. he tries his best to control his expression, yet a brief look of something sour still crosses his face in response to an’il’s swerve ) “well, at least i know now not to waste my time with any more of those.” ( ` you’re sulking. he’s okay with that. pulls his hand back to tuck a lock of hair behind his ear, eyes flicking around the area ) ( ` the answer was expected, of course. history, beifongs in particular, he had no interest in. he didn’t come all the way over here for them. ) “let’s get lost, then.” ( ` hopefully somewhere far away from possible peering eyes. the chances of someone from the beifong family recognizing him is just the slightest bit more likely when he’s traversing in their home with a halfbaked backstory. one that he’s pretty sure an’il has seen through already ) “lead the way?” ( ` gestures vaguely, turning his wrist to eye the ticking watch head pressed against his pulse briefly before turning back to an’il ) “what are your favorite spots in beifong’s great metal fortress, huh?”  ( ` he can’t say he’s ever been around zaofu enough to enjoy the city life and aesthetic of it all )

[chunheega]

gaanil‌:

[AI/Would be lying if Junhee at his doorsteps wasn’t one of the first wishful thoughts he’d humored the past week that he’d been back at the Beifong residence] Whoa! [Eyes blink wide open]  

[BF/Catches onto the young sir’s deer-like retreat and mirrors, taking a step back at the young miss’ sudden overwhelming presence]

[AI/Pinky gums and pearly whites on full display with the smile that soon stretches from ear to ear] Long time no see!! [Hears an audible exhale of relief from Bui before she and other housekeeper duck back into the house, out of sight, out of mind] [Dismisses her apology with a wave of the hand] Nah, I love surprises! This is crazy. [Opens door wide, gestures for her to step inside] When’d you get here? How’d you get here? How long’s it actually been?!

( ` it’s hard to keep his cheeks from rising too much at an’il’s reaction but he manages all the same ) “yeah—” ( ` eyes him for a long minute, taking a quick comparison shot to what he remembers an’il to look like last they talked ) ( ` not much change, maybe the slightest bit tanner ) “is it though? we did talk about visiting before...” ( ` only in vague what-if instances, but all the same ) ( ` grins at the invite and follows his lead into the estate, eyes roaming from corner to corner ) “not long, maybe a week or so ago. they’re—uh—doing some diplomatic thing so i tagged along.” ( ` gestures vague. as “handmaids” do ) ( ` how long has it been? question strikes more of a nerve than he would’ve thought ) “well, i don’t know. how long has it been since you wrote me back?” ( ` clicks his tongue, fingers pressing into an’il’s chest to give him a small push back ) ( ` three weeks and four days, is exactly how long. but he’s not counting ) “so, do i get a tour?”

[youngchulyn]

no place but the palace

[chunheega]

gamingxu‌:

featuring; ( @chunheega. ) / fire lord ishan’s funeral, fire nation palace

            as soon as mingxu had been told all una students must attend the funeral, he knew his freedom will disappear as soon as he steps foot within the palace walls. so he tries to keep his head held high as he passes through the ornate doors mingled in with his fellow students. it’s his first time seeing the grounds, so he tries to distract himself by taking in the splendor of the architecture. he’s always been fascinated in cultural iconography. buildings, food dishes, clothing, art, each culture represents its roots through these means. but all mingxu can feel is mounting fear at each glimpse of red, of each guard he passes. he’s dressed in traditional garb as a sign of respect, but how respectful can it be to be donning the colors of the fire lord’s assassin? he feels the eyes of the guards weighing on him like stones. he wishes he could fling them off as easily as rock, but he could never be so lucky.

            as mingxu moves into the reception hall, he finds that a majority of people have gathered. it’s before the official ceremony, so there’s not much people can do but mingle and give their condolences. it doesn’t take long of sweeping the room that his gaze falls on the third born kasai child. mingxu immediately purses his lips. he’s unsure how to feel about the other boy. he’s so charming in the way political families tend to be. a sweet smile, a handsome face. pleasant as could be when mingxu first met him as a representing student of the una. he seemed excited to welcome the school into the fire nation. but his brief meeting after the loss of the fire lord had mingxu’s skin crawling. still with that veneer of a politician, but heavily swaying mingxu to join the other prominent earth benders in the palace. under the fire nation’s supervision. being trapped like that, a prisoner of war without the title, it terrifies him. how will he see his sisters? how will he help his family? but there’s no helping it now. this is his march into confinement, so he must take it with dignity. 

            mingxu approaches chunhee with his hands clasped behind his back, head bowed slightly. they both know he won’t be leaving after the funeral is over. “chunhee, i’m very sorry for your loss,” he murmurs. it’s not his first time saying the words, but it seems appropriate. “i’m sure you know that we una students are here to pay our respects.” 

unsurprisingly, he hates it here. though, chunhee can’t for the life of him think of anyone that likes funerals. it is the added bonus of being on the most watched list that grates on his nerves. it’s unavoidable by now, he’s aware, no matter which direction he may turn. to his left, sharp eyes of the nation’s finest following his every move. and right, faux sympathetic gazes heavy laced with appetency—an obsessive need to know what happens next. with them. with the throne. with the earth kingdom. chunhee hears it clearly in every condolence offered, every lingering look and dead air that hangs between them. they’re not here because they’re sorry. because the loss of a man they’ve never seen in person truly shakes them to the core. they’re here because they want to know about tomorrow. about what’s next.

what happens next isn’t even something he knows. 

the youngest of the beifong triplets are no different. chunhee recognizes barren words when he hears them, however not from the heart they are. but he’s willing to give mingxu the benefit of the thought. if not for the fact that his appearance was more of a requirement (summons from the council) than of any free will. and, he’ll give it to him, leniency. it comes with the beneifts of being tall, having kind eyes, relatively handsome face. pretty privilege. chunhee is guilty of receiving and dealing both. 

“thank you, i appreciate it.” it’s rehearsed. like a soulless drone to his ears. given, it is nearing the 30th time he’s said this today. to faces chunhee’s not even sure he remembers. shaking hands to syllables that escapes his mind as soon as spoken. mingxu, given the state of their last interaction, piques his interest slightly more. “i hope everything has been accommodating enough,” he leans in, words slightly edged, teetering a thin line between threatening and playful. his lips form a coy curve, eyes glinting in amusement. it couldn’t hurt too much to tease mingxu just a little. if only for his own mirth. 

“since you might be staying for a while.” 

[chunheega]

succession

sachun’s room has never seemed grimmer. granted, it showed promise in the past, when heartbreak struck (in unsurprising multitudes, with his brother’s track record) and left him sobbing while draped over his velvet chaise and chunhee sitting by with pitiful backrubs. the past few days haven’t been much different—easy to tell by the clumps of balled up tissues discarded here and there. red-rimmed eyes and pink nose.

between them now is no mere heartache. nothing short of something dismal. 

between them hangs the wet smell of death. windchill that prickles the skin at night and keeps them wound tight. the more plausible than ever now notion of their collective demise. 

there’s no saying there won’t be any other attempts on royal lives.

chunhee for the most part sits impartial in between the two, a delicate balance of work-oriented and emotion-driven. his gaze ove over to sachun to his left, busying himself with finding whatever it was in his closet, and back to sana on his right, eyes fixed on official documents, before settling on the pile of used tissues before him, releasing a small exasperated sigh.

“didn’t someone come by to clean your room, sachi?” chunhee extends his leg, hooking his foot around the rim of the bin and sliding it over to sweep the tissues off the table’s surface. vaguely, he tries to recollect the current time. it is uncomfortably early in the day; having woken up earlier to prepare. mentally and physically. preparation that is required more for some than himself. though chunhee can’t say he’s been too preoccupied with his own grievings when he’s spent the better of the last few days catering to sachun’s.

he twists his tongue in his mouth, pushing against his cheek in thought. there’s a particular question that weighs heavy on his mind. what better time than to ask now that they were all here? “what did mom say about what happens next?” he glances over to his sister, brow arched.

what is the appropriate turnaround time between one’s death and another’s usurping of the throne? 

tagging: @asnksga and @gasachun

[chunheega]

gaanil‌:

[BF/For a Kerita girl she doesn’t reek of wealth but perhaps she’s one of the stafflings or further removed from the tree] [Speculation comes easily in this line of work, with the sorts of characters she encounters on the daily] Since your visit is unprompted, I’m afraid I will have to ask you to wait here while I fetch the young master. [Angles head graciously in apology, eyes downcast] Thank you for understanding, milady. [Calls for another housekeeper to watch the door as she scurries back inside and towards the back of house] [In the garden, An’il balances a ball of wind on his toes as his left leg kicks repeatedly to spin the current faster]

[AI/Ears perking at canvas shoes on grass] Somethin’ up, Bui?

[BF] A visitor, sir. [Slight pause, whirring through options] From the temple, it seems. One of your old friends? They’re just passing through the city. 

[AI/Kicks ball out, smashes against pear tree and knocks a few ripened fruit down] Huh. You dunno who? [Wiggles hands into front pockets of coat, hunching shoulders. Bui shakes her head] Weird. All right. Lead the way. [Follows her through house to the front door, still opened by the sliver, leaking a trace of light and honey-sweet fragrance]

( ` there’s nothing else to do but wait. bummer. not that there’s else he can do about it. it isn’t as if the truth would have helped. what, a prince of the fire nation knocking on beifong doors? in disguise? laughable ) ( ` back turned to the entrance, chunhee’s attention shifts to the view, taking note of the satomobiles and civilians passing by ) ( ` random dog doing business on the streets here, couple arguing there ) ( ` a terribly average neighborhood. it’s a surprise itself that an’il has holed up here for so long ) “tch. taking too long.”  ( ` mumbles under his breath, fingers carding through the lush of black hair framing his face. notably, it’s too long. but at the very least, pinned down right ) 

( ` ears twitch when the door creaks behind him, chunhee turns to face the three. smile already in place ) “hey,” ( ` eyes the two housekeepers briefly, expression turning sheepish ) “sorry,” ( ` well not really ) “i should’ve told you i was coming ahead of time huh?”  

[chunheega]

gaanil‌:

[BF/Don’t recognize the name, think it’s suspicious that she doesn’t provide a family name, and so] Junhee of…? [New to the job but House-Sitting 101 kicks into overdrive] [She looks innocent enough, but those are the types to look out for] [And especially if the visit concerns An’il, the menace of the household. It goes without saying, perhaps, that he would keep equally eccentric company] A surprise, mi— [Her dress is plain, but silhouette structured and fabric heavy enough that the next assumption is, God willing, correct] —lady? [If she’s of royal breeding, then perhaps…] Shall I call for him to receive you, then? [Furrowing a brow in thought] I can use a false name… unless you prefer a different alias.

( ` she isn’t letting up. unsurprisingly, it strikes a chord. you can’t exactly surprise someone if you can’t even make it through the front door ) “the fire nation. kerita.” ( ` again, lying comes too easy. ) “oh, no, you don’t have to do that...” ( ` would’ve preferred to go inside, but it doesn’t seem as if the housekeeper would buy the idea any time soon. and he hates nothing more than wasting time like this ) “i would much rather go in and find him myself, but—if you feel more comfortable calling for him, i'm fine waiting here!” ( ` expression turns a little sheepish, head tilting slightly ) “just any false name would be fine though, thank you.” ( ` even though the one he’s given him to begin with was fake )

[chunheega]

gaanil‌:

[BF/Scurrying to the manor’s entrance] [Could something have slipped under my radar? Were the Beifongs expecting visitors today?] [Pulls doors open to a girl of slight frame, humble maroon dress, and a pert but otherwise unreadable expression] [Of fire pedigree, without a doubt. At this residence it was a rarity to host, save for the odd luncheon or dinner party.] Hello miss—how may I be of help? [Caught off-guard—a visitor for the Zigsa boy? This was certainly a first] Ah… was he expecting you? [Just her luck considering he’d flown off everyone’s radar up until today, at the crack of dawn] Would you be so kind as to provide a name?

( ` was he expecting you? well, certainly not. this was more of an unannounced visit sort of thing. a surprise sort of thing. a i’m-in-town-and-i-want-to-see-him-so-why-not sort of thing. an impulse thing. really on character for him, actually. ) “oh, no, i was in town so thought i’d visit...” ( ` and you telling him would spoil the whole thing ) “it’s junhee—but, i mean, if you don’t mind i wanted to surprise him so...” ( ` wears the mask too well, picturesque of a demure unthreatening thing from the way he stands and carries himself. a housekeeper is—expected, though he hopes he wouldn’t have to deal with anyone else from here on ) “will that be okay?”

[chunheega]

( ` expected that the beifongs live like this, in some sort of metal fortress looking thing, not too far away from the police station. chunhee had briefly pondered on the pros and cons of coming—it’s too obvious end of day. but does he really care? well—guess not. otherwise he wouldn’t have found the chance to sneak out after breakfast. wig and a pair of casual clothing in tow. ) ( ` destination had been an easy decision. chunhee hadn’t stayed in republic city long enough prior to befriend anyone else. it was just a pity that that particular person had to stay with the beifongs. ) ( ` it’s like asking to get exposed. ) ( ` but, fearless, here he is. disguised as a woman, yet all the same, reaching to knock clearly on the door to the beifong estate. ) “hello,” ( ` smile on his face is deceptively demure at the woman that answers. when it comes to lying, or rather, putting on a facade, chunhee was no spring chicken ) “is an’il here?”

@gaanil

[chunheega]

heyo! this chunhee, thirdborn to the crown (no one’s confirmed this but he’s confident it’s kiran’s anyway) and here is his profile page, if you guys want to check it out! will drop a quick tldr;/recap:dobs below the link but hmu for plots! rfn!!

the youngest, the baby (but not really), he’s got every bit of asana (mom’s) bitchiness and none of sachun (dad’s) softness (sorta) — the only difference being since he has no political pull (not his expertise/concern), he doesn’t care if he steps on anyones toes ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

interests lies in: fashion, photography, beautification of the capital city, gossiping, making bets, traveling

leads the tourism division of the fire nation, which works on making capital city more open/friendly to tourists (big whoopsidaisy with that one)

vain kid, knows he’s good looking/cute/pretty/handsome/wtv, can’t be told otherwise

at times prefs living as a “commoner” (quote/unquote only if commoners come with expensive clothing, deluxe suites, no limit spending, etc) than as a royal

^ in short, just hates the title but loves the money (did grow up rich after all)

wants a pet, a big enough pet to ride, like a polar bear dog or something (likes fluffy animals i said what i said)

^ and yet only has his mongoose lizard, dozi (doozy), who he’s trained to bite on command (also, roll over, fetch sachun’s left shoe etc)

recap:dobs

1 in the middle of waiting on his lunch when the alarm rang. very puzzled. never got to eat his chrysanthemum goji jelly /; 2 immediate lockdown once news broke, he’s stuck with some colonel tailing his every move as of now which is 😒3 it isn’t processing right, what it means for him, them, the nation. none of it. decidedly chooses to keep busy instead of thinking about it so he’s just running himself short between helping his sister and trying to settle things in the city from what his limited reach can do

!!!!NOT!!!!ALLOWED!!!!TO!!!!!LEAVE!!!THE!!!!PALACE!!!!!!!WTFFF!!!!!!!!