[dcydreamz]

DCYDREAMZ: a private, dependent blog for @ileazure, penned by jia. please do not interact or follow if you are not associated with the group!

♡ HONG MINHYUN: twenty-eight, professional photographer, côte d’or

[4tide]

there's  an  internal  battle  in  taesung's  mind  of  wanting  to  be  seen,  but  only  by  the  light  he  casts  himself.  it  isn't  vanity  as  such,  portraying  something  of  perfection  or  staunch  arrogance.  it's  preservation  at  its  finest.  park  taesung  is  an  image  built  by  everything  that  surrounds  him.  the  sport  he  calls  his  home,  the  family  he's  bound  by  blood  to.  he  shows  only  what's  expected  of  him,  because  it's  the  easiest  face  to  put  on.  but  when  someone  like  minhyun  comes  along,  sees  something  in  taesung  that  is  normally  so  carefully  kept  in  the  shadows,  it  brings  him  to  a  halt.  he  was  never  meant  to  be  art,  certainly  not  meant  to  be  a  muse.  yet  he's  found  himself  in  this  position,  the  apple  of  an  all  too  keen  eye  and  for  every  moment  that  taesung  pushes,  minhyun  seems  to  push  right  back.  but  whatever  minhyun  is  searching  for,  taesung  is  positive  he  will  never  find.  if  only  for  the  reason  that  he's  aware  none  of  it  exists.  it  isn't  beauty  behind  taesung's  perfected  facade.  it's  ugliness.  bitter,  dark,  and  cold  ugliness  just  like  the  depths  of  the  very  sea  they  find  themselves  situated  atop  of.

yet  it  peeks  through.  every  word,  every  push  reveals  something  of  taesung.  is  it  for  control?  is  it  for  the  desire  to  get  under  minhyun's  skin  first?  or  is  this  nothing  but  the  nature  of  taesung,  someone  who  was  determined  to  never  move  first,  to  never  give  an  inch  and  wait  until  he  could  take  a  mile.  jealously.  what  a  fickle  thing  it  was.  if  he  ever  let  himself  calm,  he'd  hope  this  boat  sank  under  if  it  were  anyone  here  but  him.  it's  a  dormant  thought,  one  forgotten  as  minhyun  looks  at  him  :  like  the  intensity  is  more  comforting  than  otherwise.  he  wears  it  well,  taesung  thinks.  like  he'd  wear  jealously  well  too.  "that's  funny.  i  don't  remember  seeing  your  name  anywhere  on  me."  his  head  tilts,  almost  something  akin  to  amusement,  like  he  was  testing  him  all  over  again.  "is  it  a  one  way  street,  or  are  you  mine  too?"

there's  a  reason  he  never  took  to  art,  why  he  never  really  saw  the  beauty  in  any  of  it.  nothing  was  truly  so  abstract.  taesung  liked  there  to  be  answers  to  his  questions,  for  everything  to  have  a  logical  beginning  and  end.  it  was  in  the  unknown  where  he  falters,  where  he  spirals  down  into  something  a  little  more  human.  "that's  debatable.  most  people  would  say  the  opposite  about  me."  after  all,  despite  a  few  missteps  here  and  there,  a  few  nights  spent  in  reckless  indulgence,  wasn't  he  someone  that  had  followed  the  path  meant  for  him?  it  was  only  in  the  cracks,  maybe  in  moments  like  this.  "i've  been  letting  you  in,"  he  repeats,  like  it's  all  foreign  on  his  tongue.  doesn't  question  it  this  time,  maybe  because  taesung  doesn't  want  the  answers  to  it.  instead  he  does  the  unimaginable,  and  he  reaches  first.  his  touch  is  so  light,  dancing  against  the  edge  of  minhyun's  jaw  like  he's  made  of  glass,  hooking  under  his  chin  with  a  bit  more  bravado.  looking  at  him  he's  the  one  who  should  be  holding  a  camera.  "if  it's  anything  more  than  a  distraction,  you  shouldn't  keep  your  hopes  high,  minhyun." a name that rings out like honey, sweetening such sour words prior.

[dcydreamz]

minhyun's not a stranger to beauty. he's seen it and experienced it before. but somehow, it was never enough. never satisfying. almost as if he hadn't yet truly found what he's looking for. and then he meets taesung again, and he's suddenly looking for him in every picture he takes, no, everywhere. he gravitates to him whenever they're in the same room. he notices him first before he notices anything and anyone else. the truth of the matter is: park taesung has found a way into his head and has become a permanent fixture, a realization he's more than okay with. the sensation that comes with it is so addicting and new that it makes him hungry for more.

sometimes, taesung goes quiet. and in moments like these is when minhyun wants to crawl inside his head and find out more. but in his hunger, he's patient too. so he waits. waits to see if his eyes will once again betray his words, if he's going to push, if he'll ask for something indirectly. here it is, the honesty concealed with amused words. he wears his façade well, like it's part of himself, indicative of how long he had to go on like this. minhyun imitates him, tilting his head to the side as well, eyes growing more and more intense. "is this what you want, for me to mark you? show everyone you're mine?" he reaches and traces his fingertips down his neck before they settle atop his pulse. "maybe somewhere... here." a slight pause at his following question. "am i?" fuck, he wants to be. he wants taesung to call him his so badly, the intensity of his yearning might make him burst. "this is something you have to tell me. i wasn't under the impression." he pushes the same way he was pushed.

"mhm. that's why i said deep down. most people don't bother to look past the surface. you don't want them to see you anyway." to the world, park taesung is the celebrated olympic swimmer, the heir who will ultimately follow in the path laid out for him. in reality, he's everything but the persona he shows the world, and minhyun is slowly, but surely, uncovering bits and pieces of it. "you think i don't see through it?" and he keeps coming back for more. he momentarily freezes in place as taesung reaches for him, and he revels in the high his touch leaves. but it's not enough. it's not enough. he lets him tilt his chin up. he wants to be the only person he gets to look at that way. the mere idea that there could be anyone else makes him burn red. his next words make him smile a little. "is that what it is, a distraction? so quick to dismiss it." he leans in slightly, leaving very little room between their faces. "do you do all of this with your distractions? you're not being very honest with yourself."

[onimpact]

he  blinks  again,  only  once  this  time,  and  minhyun  is  still  there.  still  sat  on  his  couch  holding  his  cat.  the  sight  is  as  real  as  it  can  get.  something  blooms  in  his  chest.  it  drives  sam  to  cross  the  room  to  where  minhyun  sits,  the  kitchen  island  separating  them  no  longer  a  shield  now.  it's  almost  cruel  how  easy  he  makes  it  for  samuel  to  forget  himself  sometimes  —  if  samuel  minded  it  at  all.  but  he's  helpless  to  the  pull,  the  invisible  red  string  tied  to  his  wrist  on  one  end  tugging  and  beckoning  him  to  where  the  other  end  loops  around  minhyun's.  what  else  is  sam  to  do  but  answer  when  fate  calls?

his  knee  hits  the  couch.  minhyun  is  only  a  breadth  away  from  him  like  this.  vince  meows  on  his  chest,  his  head  tilted  up  to  meet  samuel’s.  he  blinks  again.  bends  his  knees  and  lets  the  bottle  and  two  glasses  land  on  the  coffee  table  with  a  low  thud.  he’s  so  close.  sam  smiles,  helpless  as  something  tugs  at  him  again  —  the  invisible  force  beckoning  him  lower  onto  the  couch.  minhyun  is  real  and  warm  and  right  there  beside  him  now.  his  arm  brushes  against  the  crook  of  minhyun's  elbow.  he  allows  himself  a  glance  —  presses  himself  closer  unwittingly.

"come  on,  minhyun,"  samuel  says.  it's  like  his  gaze  won't  stay  still  now  that  he's  so  close.  it  falls  to  minhyun's  lap  to  meet  vince's  blue  eyes.  his  cat  meows  again.  look  up.  the  invincible  force  is  too  strong  to  ignore.  he  lands  on  minhyun's  nose.  and  then  his  lips,  and—  sam's  smile  isn't  pretense  when  he  meets  minhyun's  eyes  again.  despite  it  all,  this  much  is  easy.  "when  have  i  ever  forgotten  about  you?"  it  sounds  too  sincere  even  to  his  own  ears.  and  yet,  when  has  he  ever  been  good  at  not  wearing  it  on  his  sleeves?  "try  me."  it's  a  challenge.  or  a  demand.  who's  to  say?  "ask  me  about  anything  you've  said  before.  i  know  you."

and  then  whatever  simmers  in  the  air  loosens,  and  sam  feels  like  he  can  breathe  again.  his  smile  still  holds  true.  "except  that  you’ve  got  a  door  held  open  for  me,  i  guess.  must've  missed  that  memo."

[dcydreamz]

minhyun watches sam as the distance between them becomes smaller. his arm brushes against his own elbow, and oh, it is so light, but it burns everywhere. isn't it so cruel how he has to be satisfied with less than what he wants? it leaves him craving for more of his company and attention, wondering what it would feel like if he was the center of his universe. denying himself the urge to chase those thoughts is a self-inflicted punishment of the highest degree. his words knock the air out of his lungs and pause the thoughts in his brain, while simultaneously sending them racing at lightning speed. it's almost disorienting. he's never felt like this—like he's the one being studied, being exposed and peeled apart, like he's the one being chased.

i know you. when was the last time he's ever heard those words? maybe never.

"you still could," minhyun answers, almost challenging. they're just friends, after all. it can be fleeting. does sam really know him? does he hear his yearning? does he know he's made his mind into a tangled web of thoughts? for the first time in a very long time, he's rendered speechless, unsure what sam's aiming for, like he's hit some wall. "that's a bold statement, you know." he tilts his head slightly to the side, studying his face. he's so beautiful, he allows the thought. "is this is a test? what would the prize be?" me?

minhyun feels like he can breathe again, too. his head drops only slightly, shaking as a light smile curves up his lips. "touché," he says. "i'll make it up to you. come over, this weekend." a pause. the words come out without much thought. impulsive, like he wasn't just trying to convince himself to let go of the idea of more. he's only digging himself a deeper hole, one he might not be able to get out of if he keeps going. "you'll find the door held wide open for you. and dandan noodles ready." sam's not the only one who knows his favorites. it so happens it's a dish he's made several times before. "you'll have to be a fair judge and let me know if i'm a good cook."

[4tide]

for  :  anyone  !  currently  :  uncapped.

📍  outside of côte  &  co.  bookshop,  mid  afternoon.

"  it's  not  what  it  looks  like,  really  !  "  of  course,  it's  a  sight  to  see  nevertheless.  chanel  hunched  over,  a  mountain  of  paperbacks  up  to  her  neck  in  hand  with  no  bag  as  proof  of  purchase.  it's  about  saving  the  environment  though  !  her  hands  and  arms  work  just  as  well  as  some  flimsy  bag  could.  "  i  paid  for  all  of  these  ...  with  my  hard  earned  money.  "  and  the  generosity  of  a  guest  who'd  handed  a  wad  of  euros  over  and  told  her  a  day  prior  :  treat  yourself to something pretty,  chanel  !  jokes  on  him  though,  no  way  he'd  think  she  was  blowing  this  play  money  on  raunchy  romance  books  with  shirtless  men  on  the  cover.  the  same  embarrassing  covers  that  threatened  to  spill  out  of  her  hands  with  each  passing  moment.  "  you  wouldn't  ...  um,  be  able  to  give  me  hand  would  you  ?  they really rushed me out of there. "

[dcydreamz]

"is that what you've been doing in your free time, chanel? stealing books?" minhyun jokes, unable to resist the urge to do so. the reality of the matter is, if she were to ever attempt theft, she would get caught two seconds in. she doesn't make it hard to suspect her. he proceeds to take a few books off her hands, eyes drifting down to see what kind of books she was carrying. "those covers are something," he comments. the photography is nowhere near good, mind you, but he'll keep the thought to himself. he's heard of indie books and whatnot. "lead the way. where are we headed?" with that, he begins to walk, expecting her to walk with him. "how long would it need for you to finish all of these, by the way?"

[shiining]

—   set  at  le   mirage, open  to anyone.

"  the  thing  not  a  lot  of  people  actually  realize  is  just  how  difficult  it  is  to  set  up  for  filming  at  the  beach.  you  watch  the  end  product  and  it  looks  so  aesthetically  pleasing  but  they'll  never  know  how  the  tripod  tipped  over  three  times  and  i  got  sand  in  my  leggins.  "  grimace  appears  on  her  features  but  still  her  tone  remains  chipper.  as  she  swirls  the  drink  in  her  hand,  her  gaze  narrows  in  on  the  unassuming  person  who  had  set  down  next  to  her  at  the  bar.  "  not  to  say  my  job  is  terribly  difficult.  but  it  does  have  it's  challenges.  "

[dcydreamz]

it’s easy listening to yoonah. there’s a sense of familiarity that brings a peace of sorts for minhyun. and despite his conversationalist nature, he would very much rather be the one to listen to her talk and go off on one of her tangents. he swirls his own drink in his hand, smiling fondly at her words. “as cliche as that might sound, the challenges do make the end result all the more worthy, no?” he shrugs lightly. “besides, considering we’re both here now, all you had to do was ask me for help in shooting your content. i would’ve saved your life,” he reminds her, playfulness lacing his tone. “you wouldn’t be suffering a tripod tripping over three times.” he would’ve been happy to help her, no questions asked, because she is one of those people he would do anything for.

[meanderes]

late afternoon, le jardin café

feat. @dcydreamz

her  croissant  sits  on  the  plate  untouched,  still  as  pristine  as  it  was  when  she  bought  it.  the  same  croissant  she  had  every  intention  of  devouring  until  she  catches  sight  of  a  vaguely  familiar  face at the next table.  not  familiar  like  haram  knows  him  as  it  is  she  knows  of  him.  probably.  she  wants  to  figure  it  out  all  the  same,  not  really  fond  of  the  nagging  feeling  regret  brings.  her  attention  is  on  the  instagram  profile  she  pulled  up  minutes  ago,  brows  furrowing.  is  there  no  other  way  of  checking…?  leap  of  faith  it  is, then.  she  turns to him,  chair  creaking  in  kind  as  her  weight  shifts.  “do  you…  take  pictures,  by  any  chance?”

[dcydreamz]

minhyun’s place of choice today is le jardin café. his laptop sits opened in front of him, displaying the myriad of pictures he had spent the better part of the week taking. he’s planning to spend a good few hours here as he sorts through them, pick his favorites to display and add to his ever growing portfolio. maybe it’s because of his own tendencies to observe people does he feel someone’s eyes on him. or maybe she is simply being very obvious about it. either way, she’s turning to him. he does the same, giving her his full attention as he lowers the laptop screen just a bit. “maybe. what if i do?” his tone is light. he’s more so curious why she’s asking. it could be for multiple different reasons, based on his own previous experiences being asked this.

[badnews]

❚❙　𝗙𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚　:　MINHYUN, @dcydreamz ❚❙　𝗦𝗘𝗧𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚　:　the admiral's club,  11:49 PM

“ okay,   be   honest.   how   strong   do   you   want   this ? ”   gio   holds   the   bottle   mid-pour,   brow   raised   like   he’s   offering   them   a   moral   dilemma   and   a   margarita   at   once. “ ‘fun   flirty   buzz’   or   ‘text   your   ex   by   accident’   strong ? ”

[dcydreamz]

it's late, and he's nowhere near ready to be heading back to his residence in cote d'or. so here he was, at the bar. "hm." a pause, as if he's contemplating this, before he eyes look at the bartender, smiling a little. "how about you surprise me. you think you can do that?"

[4tide]

it  isn't  the  first  time  someone's  told  him  he  looks  good  on  camera,  as  if  he  hasn't  found  himself  on  a  few  covers  and  campaigns  in  his  day.  but  it  sounds  different  coming  from  minhyun,  like  it  means  someone  more.  to  be  someone's  muse,  whatever  that  meant.  his  mind  is  a  terrible  place,  one  taesung  rarely  visits  himself.  yet  he  can  feel  it,  minhyun  trying  to  dig  deeper  and  deeper  with  every  gaze  and  moment  between  them.  how  does  taesung  tell  the  visionary  himself  that  there's  nothing  pretty  down  there  ?  he  doesn't.  just  knows  well  enough  to  not  let  him  prod  too  far,  or  at  least  intends  not  to. he  tried  being  with  someone  so  different  from  his  upbringing,  to  experience  every  bit  of  normalcy  that  he  could.  it  was  nice,  even  when  if  his  chest  burns  a  little  to  think  of  the  bitter  ending,  it  had  been  nice.  but  taesung  doesn't  think  he's  meant  for  it.  nice  hadn't  saved  his  heart,  just  kept  it  frozen  and  beating  slowly  in  an  act  of  safety.  the  rays  of  azure  melt  the  barrier  away,  leaving  something  just  a  little  more  human  in  his  wake.  he  doesn't  think  he's  ever  felt  jealous  before.  maybe  he  would.  maybe  he  would  the  day  minhyun  found  himself  a  more  digestible  muse.  until  then,  he  lets  himself  enjoy  it.  let's  himself  be  a  little  unaware  to  the  way  he's  being  looked  at,  like  the  hunter  has  become  the  hunted  in  some  convoluted  way.  that  is,  before  his  question  breaks  his  resolve,  gaze  turning  back  towards  minhyun.  like  for  once,  taesung  was  the  one  trying  to  figure  someone  out.  he  rarely  does  it,  more  than  willing  to  take  whatever  surface  -  level  image  people  sold  themselves  as.  but  with  minhyun,  he  can't  help  but  think  twice.  "  i'd  have  to  see  it  for  myself.  otherwise  it's  just  an  empty  compliment.  "  as  if  he  didn't  hand  them  out  like  candy,  fleeting  words  apparently  reserved  for  less  weighted  exchanges.  "  maybe.  i  get  the  feeling  you  don't  like  people  touching  what's  yours.  "  it  doesn't  answer  his  question,  or  just  not  in  the  way  taesung  wanted.  to  be  different,  to  be  special,  to  be  looked  at  twice,  what  did  it  really  mean  ?  in  his  world,  it  never  meant  anything  good.  he  almost  thinks  minhyun  doesn't  know  why  yet.  doesn't  know  why  taesung  pulls  him  in,  in  the  same  way  taesung  can't  seem  to  get  a  grasp  on  what  he  thinks  of  minhyun.  “  that's  pretty  vague.  ”  his  words  are  mumbled,  in  between  sips  of  wine.  “  in  a  place  like  this,  i  don't  know  if  it's  a  good  thing  either.  like  the  devil  you  know  versus  the  devil  you  don't.  "  and  after  all,  how  well  can  minhyun  see  him  to  make  that  judgment  ?  taesung  leans  in,  again  like  he's  trying  to  assess,  trying  to  figure  him  out,  sound  of  the  water  crashing  against  the  boat  the  only  thing  to  stop  the  silence.  “  i  don't  think  you'll  find  what  you're  looking  for  in  me.  ”

[dcydreamz]

it was instantaneous, choosing taesung as his next muse. it wasn't something rooted in logic. he just knew, as simple and as complicated as that. something unfamiliar and thrilling stirred in him, and minhyun, ever so curious and insatiable, couldn't have enough of that. so he chased. and chased. and chased. he's never been good at stopping. he's sure he's been complimented for his looks multiple times, but for minhyun, the beauty wasn't in the dimples or the dark eyes or the perfect smile, no, that was all too surface level for him. the beauty is finding out who park taesung is when no one's watching. he sees the way his eyes say more than his mouth does, the fleeting moments that reveal cracks he conceals, and the rigidness, with something simmering and boiling beneath the surface. that's beauty. it wasn't always gentle or soft. but it always meant to shake you.

he takes his words in, and before he can let words out, his eyes betray him. they grow darker, more intense, like he's slowly unraveling. taesung is still pushing, and maybe, it's no longer just minhyun trying to peel back layers. he can feel the other trying to dig deeper, and another realization hits: he wants him to dig deeper. he wants to be haunted by him, that maybe, all along, taesung has been his purpose. a shadow of a smile forms on his lips, so small and fast you might miss it if you weren't focused enough. "no, i don't like anyone touching what's mine," he confirms, keeping his eyes fixed on his. "and i don't like anyone touching you, which in that case... this does make you mine." admitting this could be seen as an impulsive or reckless decision, but at this moment, he doesn't care. in his own admission, he is pushing as well. hasn't taesung been his since that very first picture he took of him a few months ago?

minhyun smiles lightly, the wine untouched in his glass since that last sip. maybe it's a good thing his hands are preoccupied. maybe his answer was indeed vague, even though it's honest. maybe minhyun's having a hard time articulating his feelings into words that would do them justice. "you won't know till you try, right? and in a place like this, it's the best time to find out. besides, you don't strike me as someone who plays it safe. not deep down, at least." his heart begins to beat a little louder against his rib cage as taesung leans in. and suddenly, he can feel him everywhere. the sound of the water around them blurs, his line of vision consumed by him. it's intoxicating. and yet, it's not enough. he wants more. he needs more of it. then he leans in as well, just a little. "you're wrong," he begins, words let out so simply. "i'm beginning to think you don't want me to see it, yet you've been letting me in." he pushes lightly. isn't it why they're both here? isn't it why they've been getting closer over the past months? isn't it why everything around them becomes so insignificant the second their eyes meet? "what is it that you think i'm looking for, taesung?"

[yehawd]

“  i've  been  busy  !  all  of  this  having  a  job  business  keeps  me  from  my  real  passion,  which  is  petting  lulu  for  hours.  ”     her  heart  breaks  at  the  thought  of  lulu  being  irritated  at  her.  sometimes  she  wants  to  push  minhyun  out  of  the  way  and  run  straight  to  his  cat.  in  a  loving,  best  friends  forever  kind  of  way,  of  course,  but  there's  a  reason  she's  never  said  the  words  to  him  out  loud.  his  last  question  has  her  gasping,  hand  falling  to  her  chest  as  brown  eyes  widen  like  saucers.  “  me  ?  kidnap  lulu  ?  first  of  all,  if  she  came  with  me,  it  would  be  willingly.  ”  makes  a  point  to  let  that  sift  in  the  air  for  a  second.  she  didn't  have  intentions  of  stealing  lulu…  yet.  “  and  no,  it's  not  lulu.  or  you.  i'm  asking  theoretically  !  in  a  general  sense  !  ”

[dcydreamz]

"so what i'm hearing is, too busy for lulu. and me." mind you, his cat wasn't the most affectionate pets out there, but there were exceptions when it came to certain people. and if you asked minhyun, he'll tell you lulu was a very good judge of character. "don't worry, though. i won't be telling her that so she doesn't feel even more neglected." he quirks an eyebrow in her direction. "willingly? that's absurd. she's my cat." he scoffs lightly, rolling his eyes. "besides, she's probably forgotten about you now, with how long it's been since you've stopped by to see her." evie is one of the very few people he would trust to keep his cat with. but now... now he's rethinking this just a little, in light of what he just heard. he leans forward a bit at her words. "okay, okay. it's not me. who is this person you're theoretically talking about stealing from?" he's so nosy right now and she still won't say anything. "sorry, i didn't mean you are planning that. it's your friend, of course. what's this grand plan they have in mind?"

[comflexxed]

›  closed:  for  minhyun ( @dcydreamz )  ›  location:  azure  plaza,  around  noon

JULIAN  WASN'T  THE  TYPE  TO  GET  LOST  in  deep  appreciation  when  it  came  to  art,  but  there  was  no  use  in  denying  it  always  somehow  drew  him  in.  there  was  something  about  a  painting  or  a  sculpture  that  could  make  you  stop  and  think,  even  if  he  didn’t  fully  understand  it.  but  photography?  that  was  something  else  entirely.  there  was  something  so  fleeting  and  intimate  about  a  moment  captured  in  time,  something  julian  could  admire  deeply.  it  was  his  lunch  break  when  he  passed  by  minhyun  sitting  on  a  bench,  his  camera  resting  beside  him.  it  wasn’t  the  first  time  he’d  noticed  minhyun  like  this  —  reflective,  with  the  expensive  looking  camera  close  by.  “ always  carry  that  thing  around,  huh? ”  julian  asked  casually,  his  curiosity  getting  the  better  of  him.

[dcydreamz]

"hm?" a familiar voice pulls minhyun out of whatever trance he's found himself in. it's not unusual to find minhyun sitting in silence with his thoughts. he ruminated in his head more often than not. azure isle is a pretty big place, always some new area on the island worth exploring, worth taking pictures of. sometimes he went to familiar spots, because even familiarity can be surprising. he looks over at his camera. he hadn't picked to take his favorite one out today. "hm. sometimes," he adds, a light smile playing on his lips. it's not entirely true. he actually carries it around more often than not, because you never know when you find something worth capturing. and these moments tend to be fleeting, so he never wanted to miss out. "the view can be spectacular from where i'm sitting." he gestures ahead. then again, so much about the island is all about the scenery and the views. "i'm waiting for the right moment."

[onimpact]

his  fingers  wrap  around  the  wine  bottle's  neck,  tugging  it  out  of  the  chiller  as  he  opens  his  mouth.  the  words,  well,  you're  special,  almost  leaves  his  parted  lips,  only  stopped  when  he  hears  minhyun  all  but  coo  at  his  cat  somewhere  behind  him.  later,  if  anyone  were  to  ask,  sam  wouldn’t  tell  them  the  truth  :  that  this  is  enough  to  render  him  frozen  —  helpless  against  the  sight  he  has  yet  to  see.  heat  creeps  up  the  back  of  his  neck,  an  invisible  warm  hand  clamping  down  on  it,  forcing  him  to  turn  and  look  at  minhyun.  his  own  grip  tightens  around  the  bottle  of  wine.

he  swallows,  the  plan  to  reach  for  a  pair  of  wine  glasses  all  but  forgotten  when  he  spins  around  at  last.  there’s  distance  between  them  still,  but  even  all  those  steps  that  separate  him  from  minhyun  on  the  far  side  of  his  living  room  don’t  minimise  the  effect  it  has  on  sam.  vince  is  on  minhyun’s  lap,  half  rested  on  his  chest,  and  it’s—  had  they  been  anything  less  than  friends,  maybe  he  would  have  let  himself  say,  you’re  beautiful.  this  is  what  happens  next  instead  :  the  words  get  stuck  in  his  throat.  they  burn  there,  leaving  his  mouth  dry  for  a  split  second  too  long.  he  wets  his  lips,  and  then  tries  for  a  casual,  “careful,  i  might  take  things  the  wrong  way.  thought  you  were  saying  you  missed  me  for  a  second  there.”  maybe  if  minhyun  were  anyone  else,  any  of  this  would  mean  something.  maybe  sam  would  cross  the  room  and  tell  him  he'd  like  that.  but  in  this  scenario,  he  settles  for,  “i’m  game  whenever.”  their  eyes  meet  again,  and  this  time  he  doesn’t  bother  turning  to  reach  over  to  grab  at  the  two  wine  glases  hanging  on  the  rack  in  his  periphery.  “just  waiting  for  her  owner  to  invite  me  over.”

[dcydreamz]

to minhyun, samuel gao is unattainable. it’s something he has to actively remind himself every time he allows himself to craft a little fantasy in his head. except it’s all unreal, isn’t it? he knows that. it’s okay. maybe. kind of. not really. there will always be a hunger that resides in minhyun’s body. a hunger for more. he doesn’t know how to settle for less than what he wants. but—it’s always that cursed ‘but’ making an unwelcome appearance—sam is his friend. a trusted, good friend at that. they’re just friends. maybe he’ll learn to settle for that and be okay with something for once, because of that realization that lingers loud and prominent in his head: sam is important to him. and that means settling for friendship, even if it's not enough. he has to.

he momentarily freezes at sam’s words. he manages to make him feel both lighter and on fire. the sensations coincide, when logically, they don’t coexist. but when has minhyun ever followed logic? the most beautiful, interesting, alarming, and worthwhile things were never rooted in logic. maybe i do miss you, he wants to say. would this be so bad? sam is being casual, so he will do the same. he smiles lightly, shrugging noncommittally. "in that case, i sure hope you don’t ever forget about me, either," he answers, playfulness lacing his tone. maybe if they were more than friends, this would hold much more weight beyond a simple joke between friends. he unconsciously continues to gently pet vince, who is lying against his chest, but minhyun’s eyes are meeting sam’s once again. "and here i thought you knew you didn’t need an invite and were welcome any time."

[toxinivy]

suddenly   ,   being   here   .   .   .   out   in   the   open   felt   suffocating   .   the   walls   were   too   thick   and   his   sweater   felt   scratchy   .   even   the   sunlight   that   warmed   their   skin   just   moments   ago   was   nothing   short   of   excruciating   now   .   sun-ji   felt   like   an   interloper   in   their   own   body   and   with   every   step   minhyun   took   towards   them   ,   that   feeling   further   spread   across   .   somehow   ,   there   was   another   fact   underlying   what   was   blatanly   obvious   .   sun-ji   had   done   what   had   to   be   done   in   order   for   things   to   change   the   way   they   did   .   but   may   it   be   by   hook   or   crook   that   also   entailed   having   to   deal   with   petty   bystanders   such   like   the   man   now   solely   a   reach   away   from   them   .   too   close   ,   too   present   .   minhyun   truly   felt   like   a   giant   coming   to   conquer   what   he   already   deemed   as   his   .   useless   to   argue   ,   said   a   voice   deeply   nestled   within   sun-ji   -   do   it   anyways   ,   something   nasty   yelled   above   that   .   “   mhm   ,   not   the   word   I'd   use   ”   a   shrug   would   have   to   do   the   job   of   conveying   the   remaining   sentiment   .   “   I'd   offer   you   a   seat   but   .   .   .   ”   you   might   actually   take   it   .   not   said   outloud   ,   yet   evidently   depicted   on   their   face   . 

[dcydreamz]

all things considered, you'd think minhyun would be more self aware of his emotions. except more often than not, he only manages to see and admit half the truth. the situation he finds himself in isn't any different. you would think he gave this ample thought before he decided to go for it. but his thoughts were elsewhere and in a way, it was an instant decision. he'll chuck it off to being a protective friend, who's curious as to why sam seems so hang up on sunji. really, what does he see in them? sunji's distant demeanor is to their detriment, because now, all minhyun wants to do is push more. no, seriously, what does sam see in them? if the other's words were meant to faze him, they fail. when you work with people for a living, and when you grow up in the spotlight, not much disturbed you. it would need specific events, or people, to shake you. maybe that's why he was always longing for something, or someone. "well, don't stay quiet, let it out. nobody's watching you," he jokes, shrugging. it's funny, sunji seems like a person with little words, and yet their face speaks volumes. "oh, thank you. actually, i was coming to ask if i could sit with you. if you're expecting someone, i'll leave when they show up." with that, he pulls back the empty chair and takes a seat. selective hearing does work wonders sometimes. "is this your go-to place?"

[4tide]

there's  something  unpredictable  about  minhyun.  something  he  can't  quite  figure  out.  it  unsettles  taesung,  draws  him  in  and  keeps  the  distance  between  the  two  all  at  once.  even  in  the  worst  instances,  he  always  knew  where  other  people  stood  in  his  life,  always  understood  the  role  they  both  played  and  whatever  flimsy  label  it  would  be  brandished  by.  but  minhyun  ?  he  didn't  know  the  first  thing  about  what  the  other  wanted,  and  maybe  it's  why  he'd  never  been  the  art  type,  never  to  see  the  beauty  and  appeal  of  something  abstract.  things  are  better  defined,  but  everything  about  the  way  minhyun  is  looking  at  him  is  dizzying  enough  to  even  trip  someone  as  headstrong  as  taesung  up.  it's  almost  eery,  almost  too  uncomfortable  to  feel  like  he's  being  analyzed. and  of  course,  taesung  lets  every  scenario  run  through  his  mind  before  he  says  something.  everything  shows  on  his  eyes  far  before  it  comes  out  of  his  mouth.  and  even  when  he  makes  the  wrong  choice,  he's  weighed  the  outcomes.  his  admission  comes  with  one  from  minhyun,  as  if  taesung's  attention  was  a  prize.  that  choosing  to  come  out  here  had  meant  something.  "  what's  wrong  with  getting  jealous  ?  "  he  says  it  like  he's  never  experienced  it.  and  of  course  he  hasn't,  because  someone  with  his  mental  fortitude  could  never  feel  too  burdened  by  spite  or  envy.  until  he'd  stepped  foot  onto  azure,  and  it  felt  like  every  emotion  that  he'd  so  carefully  hidden  was  impossible  to  contain.  "  some  people  wear  it  nicely,  "  he  adds,  light  and  playful  in  the  same  ways  minhyun  was  speaking  to  him.  he  wasn't  the  only  one  that  could  push. the  space  between  them  closes,  newly  poured  wine  in  his  hand  and  he  looks  at  minhyun.  just  to  think  one  thing.  he's  dangerous.  not  in  the  way  someone  who  can  light  a  fire  under  him  is,  not  like  someone  who  gets  under  his  skin.  no,  dangerous  in  the  way  he's  looking  at  taesung  right  now  :  far  too  intense,  far  too  soft,  like  this  wasn't  all  meant  to  be  something  casual.  of  course,  when  someone  hints  at  you  having  a  nice  face  for  the  camera  and  would  like  to  get  to  know  you,  you  don't  exactly  read  too  much  into  it,  taesung  doing  nothing  but  playing  into  whatever  minhyun  seemed  to  be  planning.  his  gaze  remains  steady,  close  enough  to  it  being  a  challenge.  intense  maybe,  but  never  as  soft.  calculating  and  curious  instead.  "  why  ?  why  me  ?  " it's a weighted question, like taesung is talking about more than just this little sailing lesson.

[dcydreamz]

it wasn't long after meeting taesung again in azure isle that minhyun knew that his camera would love him. he saw something in him, beyond the surface, that will undoubtedly make him even more beautiful and alluring. azure isle, a place where privacy and freedom were two guaranteed and valuable luxuries, was the best place to reveal that. his muse—that's what he calls taesung. the thing is, he knows what this feels like, but with taesung, it sometimes bleeds into something unfamiliar and unrecognizable, something he doesn't quite comprehend. it comes in small, yet powerful bursts, like a force luring him in.

whether or not he admits it to himself, minhyun has felt envy. but at this very moment, he'll confess to himself that his blood would turn unequivocally green if taesung were to bring someone else here, or looked at someone else the way he's looking at him right now. it's almost as if he wants all of that to be reserved for him. he smiles lightly, breaking eye contact for a split second as the words sink in. he takes a sip of the wine, holding his eye again. the ocean is beautiful, the view is breathtaking, and yet, all he wants to look at it is him. it doesn't hold a candle to him. "do you want me to get jealous?" he asks, pushing right back. "though, in that case, you'll have to tell me if you think i'd wear it nicely, too. i would hope so."

his question is a heavy and challenging one. yes, minhyun, why him? at this point, they both know this isn't a sailing lesson, or a simple outing. the heat climbs up his neck. he wants to drown in his gaze. "because you're unlike anyone i've met in here." it's a genuine response, but one without any further clarification. he would argue there's no need for that. on more than one level, taesung is different for him, and minhyun's been slowly uncovering how.

[yehawd]

starter 4 @dcydreamz !

danger,  danger  !     haneul  choi  spotted  grinning  from  ear  to  ear.  an  ill  omen,  given  who  the  recipient  of  such  a  look  was.  “  hi,  minnie.  ”  only  he  could  make  a  nickname  sound  sweet  and  drip  with  mocking  all  at  once.  “  haven't  seen  you  around  in  a  bit.  i  can't  bear  to  imagine  that  you've  been  hiding  from  me.  ”  hand  to  his  chest,  false  wound.  “  unless  you're  just  waiting  to  show  me  a  brand  new  portfolio.  ”

[dcydreamz]

ah, and here he comes. minhyun's day was either going to get worse or better—depending on who gets to press the buttons first and fast enough. see, he's not opposed to nicknames, but minnie... well, it almost sounds like something his seven year old cousin would call him, except now he begrudgingly associates it with haneul. he hates it, but he'd never give him the satisfaction. "hi, haneul," he begins, neutral eyes coupled with a slight curve of his lips. "it almost sounds like you've been looking for me, like you miss me." he shakes his head. "nope, i'll pass on that. thanks, though. i'd rather show it to someone with a real eye for things."

[yehawd]

starter 4 @dcydreamz !

“  two  questions.   ”     evie  raises  two  fingers.  there's  a  spark  of  mischief  lighting  her  eyes,  and  that  alone  should  be  reason  enough  to  be  wary.  “  one,  when  can  i  pet  lulu  again  ?  ”  one  finger  drops  as  the  question  finishes.  “  and  two,  theoretically.  asking  for  a  friend  who  is  not  me,  because  how  could  it  be  me  ?  anyway,  in  theory,  hypothesis,  and  fiction,  not  at  all  in  real  life  :  if  someone  were  to  be  considering  breaking,  entering,  and  theft,  how  effective  do  you  think  said  person  would  be  if  they've  never  done  breaking,  entering,  or  theft  before  ?  feel  free  to  be  honest.  it's  just  between  you  and  me.  ”

[dcydreamz]

the mischievous glint in evie's eyes is clear as daylight, and one minhyun's very familiar with. he leans forward in anticipation of what will come next. his day has been a tad dry, so he's in search for some entertainment, and he can always trust evie to provide. "i don't know..." he begins, letting out a faux sigh. "lulu's irritated. i mean, when is the last time you passed by to see her?" another pause, moving onto the second question. "without any help? not too effective," he begins. "do you know who this friend—totally not you because how could it be you—is planning to steal from?" evie's words don't faze him. unless... "are you planning on kidnapping lulu?"

[fearstreat]

࿐　　located  at the  racquet club ࿐　　closed  for  your muse of choice @4tide @tingedrose @dcydreamz @lookloveds @whodnnit / @verrdure @stupidiots

　　࿐　　despite  her  athleticism  when  it  comes  to  swimming,  the  truth  is  that  it  may  as  well  be  the  only  sport  she's  good  at.  thea  stands  on  one  side  of  the  court,  over  a  dozen  tennis  balls  on  the  opposite  end  littering  the  red  clay  surface.  she  can't  get  the  hang  of  serving  no  matter  how  hard  she  tried,  with  all  her  attempts  either  hitting  the  net  or  going  completely  off  the  white  lines.  “  god  damn  it,  ”  she  mutters  to  herself,  hitting  the  next  ball  with  her  racket,  only  for  it  to  go  into  the  direction  of  someone  walking  in.  “  oh  my  god,  i'm  so  sorry!  ”  thea  exclaims,  dropping  her  racket  as  hands  move  to  cover  her  mouth.  “  are  you  okay?  did  i  hit  you?  ”

[dcydreamz]

sometimes minhyun took longer routes to get where he wanted to. walking helped—with thinking, with ideas. sometimes he got hit with a sudden burst of inspiration while doing so. what he gets hit with instead is a tennis ball. totally not the expectation he had in mind when he took that path, but alas. "what the fuck." it takes him a moment to register what happens before the painful pang comes. fuck, is this going to bruise? is the first thought that pops into his mind. then he's looking at the culprit. "i guess your strong hand makes up for your bad aim." his words are equal parts playful and serious; there's no ill intent behind them. still, are his words not a fact? "i'm okay," he reassures the brunette. it's painful, but there's nothing to be done except ice it.

[maddamex]

𝚜𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐:  𝚘𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚊  𝚖𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚒,  𝚑𝚒𝚐𝚑   𝚗𝚘𝚘𝚗,  𝚏𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 @dcydreamz

the fresh smell of basil and thyme permeating the air greet lalana first, followed closely by the restless buzzing of the restaurant's maître d', who escorts her to her favourite spot, down by the mullioned windows and a row of white oleanders and bay laurel planted in fine porcelain pots. once seated and obscured from view, she attempts to focus on carte du jour, only for her dark eyes to find their path to a familiar face. now that she's looking, she can't simply look away, rising to her feet instead. everything that needs to be said has already been said between the two of them, save for this: ''are you waiting for someone?'' she questions, graciously allowing a healthy distance to stay between their bodies. ''or are you alone?''

[dcydreamz]

minhyun's eyes land on a familiar face not long after he walks into osteria marini. their break up doesn't cloud his perception of her, she still has that regal, elegant, and graceful aura about her that makes people look. once upon a time, lana meant to him both creatively and emotionally. but that was the past that he had already moved on from; both of them have long since made peace with the direction their relationship was headed in. he walks up to her when he sees her doing the same, meeting her halfway. "lana, hey," he greets her with a kind smile. "i'm alone. join me for lunch? unless you're waiting for someone."