from that moment on, time passed steadily

seunghyun three hundred and thirty one faery prince

[mxminwoo-blog]

elpis. +seunghyun

[mxseunghyun-blog]

mxminwoo

❝to say i remember what that was like would be a lie.❞ the memories that remain of drunken nights are nothing more than vague smudges on the canvas of his mind; he’d never been drunk much during his human life, and while minwoo has spent more time intoxicated on faeblood than he’d care to admit, he thinks it’s different.

the food leaves stains of grease and flecks of colour behind, the brightness of it stark against his pale finger pads. he’s disgruntled, feels graceless like a baby deer standing on its legs for the first time. minwoo avoids settings that require him to take sustenance as it’ll break the thin veneer of humanity he paints on to blend—and it’s showing now, in a way that’s embarrassing him.

there’s a curl of jealousy there, a nagging voice that says they have it so easy—but he silences it brusquely. vampirism is a gift bestowed upon him (by a maker long since hated) that allows him to be preternatural in a way many can only dream of. (it was completion, he thinks, a shell befitting the monster he was destined to be.)

❝help?❞ he asks. his voice contains equals part outrage and curiosity. would seunghyun truly help him, or would he just laugh and trick minwoo, to play him for a fool? (he could, probably, because of that rattling in his hollow heart.) he decides against it though. ❝no, i am fine, thank you.❞ forces a smile that doesn’t crinkle his eyes, or shine in his eyes; fake, making his eyes flicker back to the food soon enough. the vampire is so embarrassed he can’t meet seunghyun’s eyes.

his vampiric complexion has never been more of a blessing.

his meal is continued mostly in silence, and he’s quick to wipe the stains off his fingers as soon as he is done. the food itself was good, though the sensation of it sliding down his throat was somewhat unpleasant in its unfamiliarity. it’s only when the food disappears that he looks up, and at the sight of their host, minwoo’s face goes carefully blank; betraying the ceaseless anger by the lack of emotions. anger is ungraceful, unseeming, and as such has no place here where there’s the image to be maintained.

a hiss escapes the vampire’s lips as the marks burned, and he stares at it with pained disbelief—there is nothing causing harm, neither silver nor holy water. it must be magic—if only he knew more about it, could place it. he swallows, thinks about what he wants most so close, so in reach that it hurts in a way that is plenty more unbearable than the burn of a mark.

minwoo can’t even manage a fake smile, or something blank to hide the exhaustion in his face as he turns to the faery prince when their host disappears. ❝let’s go then, shall we? i’d rather not spend any moment longer than necessary in here.❞

Seunghyun brings another bite of food up to his lips, enjoying the smoothness of his tongue if not to distract himself, and sighs. Minwoo is a mess when it comes to cutlery, that much Seunghyun is certain of. At least he’s a cute mess, Seunghyun has to admit. 

The prince pouts in the slightest when Minwoo rejects his offer of help, shoulders slumping in the bratty way that was most common when he was a child. “I try to be a good friend and you say no,” he sighs, teasingly smiling at the vampire. The smile on Minwoo’s lips is fake, forced, and Seunghyun has to keep himself from staring at the lips that had so readily been against his just moments beforehand.

It seems like the kiss had just happened, but at the same time it feels as if it were centuries ago. Maybe it was meant to happen forever ago, but Seunghyun knows better than to think thoughts like that. Thoughts like that are dangerous, and do him more harm than good. 

He eats with a slight downturn of his lips, mood taking a turn for the worse, and occasionally sips at the drink set in front of him by one of the magical servers. In a way, being tended too reminds Seunghyun of court. The impending doom reminds him of court, too. 

He doesn’t even blink when everything disappears, a fruit disappearing from his fingertips, and he sighs, leaning back and gazing towards Minwoo. “Your right,” he drawls, tired, “We should leave.”

He stands up, frown deeper with every movement of his body, and submits himself to the inevitability of whatever the hell his father has in store for them. He knows he won’t like it, but at this rate he knows he doesn’t have a choice. He never had a choice.

[mxseunghyun-blog]

exacerbation + solo

Seunghyun breathed in hard as he fell to the ground, sleep falling over him like a stupor. His sleep was dreamless, exhaustion settling over him and easing the pain in his mind. 

Where was he?

Seunghyun woke with a start, hands scrambling over the forest floor as he tried to get to his feet. The mind numbing saturation was back, his eyes watering as he looked over the neon colors of the leaves and flowers around him. He felt more unsafe as he took a few steps forward, debris crunching under his feet. 

He heard a faint laughter in the distance, the sound forcing goosebumps to rise on his arms as he started to walk towards it. Minwoo wasn’t here to stop him, there was no one to keep him from running after her.

Seunghyun was certain, feet moving with barely any conscious thought, that he would find her this time. He would find her- 

Another call sounded to his right, deeper and so much like the voice he had been hearing throughout his entire journey in the forest. Seunghyun made a little sound, bordering on a whimper, as he glanced between the directions of the sounds. He didn’t know what he wanted more. 

He took a step forward, head bowed, fingers clenched. He could only hope he was making the right decision as he walked, the reality of his life behind him as the dream took over. 

[mxminwoo-blog]

elpis. +seunghyun

[mxseunghyun-blog]

mxminwoo

the people around him seem so carefree—minwoo wonders what it’s like. to just sit there and talk, without having to monitor his words or expression carefully. Some people wear that expression that says they’re with friends, or at least at ease. Sure, he too has that little voice whispering of safety and comfort in the back of his mind—but six hundred years of guarding his heart, and in extension, guarding his person—makes for a person who can’t relax.

such as now, faced with a foe he cannot beat; cutlery. it’s been so long that he’s forgotten how to use them. a glass is easy, but chopsticks require more coordination—and he’s never in his life used fork and knife.

so instead, he glances at seunghyun from the corner of his eyes; tries to burn the motions into his mind, trying to shamelessly copy how it works like a child copying an adult. it’s more difficult than he thought it’d be, and for once he regrets not being able to eat.

❝I don’t like that mental image❝ he admits absently—mostly for its accuracy. it almost makes him abstain from the food laid out on the table for him—almost. the hunger raging in the pit of his stomach is too much for him not to, and so he grips his chopsticks tight. there’s something mechanical about the way he tries to bring food to his mouth, something that shows minwoo truly has no idea what to do.

gravity pulls on his food, drags it from his shaky grip; minwoo catches it before it can make a mess on his clothes, cupping it in the palm of his hand. his chests heaves with a sigh, a grimace settling on his face as he slips it back onto plate. what a mess he thinks with a grimace. he glances around to see if anybody has seen it, instead reaching over to grab some finger food—it’ll be much less dignified than him spilling his food all over his chest.

Seunghyun puts the first piece of food in his mouth and frowns. It’s good. It’s annoyingly good, not the best he’s ever had, but it’s good enough to place a grimace on his lips. He wishes that the food could have been subpar, or even gross, but no. It was good, and he hated it even more for it. A part of him was screaming that he shouldn’t be enjoying this. 

“I don’t have much of a memory of it, to be honest,” Seunghyun laughed after swallowing a piece of food and dabbing at his lips with a napkin. Princely things. “Drinking tends to do that.”

Seunghyun’s eyes catch on the food as it falls, and he tugged back a smile as he took a sip of the wine in front of him. He mulls over his thoughts for a moment before biting his bottom lip, tracing the rim of his glass as his eyes linger on Minwoo eating the easy access foods. 

Well, that was unexpected. He’s sure that the vampire should have been able to use utensils, but on second thought it makes no sense. Of course Minwoo was going to have trouble. Vampires don’t exactly eat their prey with a steak knife, last time Seunghyun checked. Or at least he hopes so.

“Do you need help?” he asks, careless as he brings another piece of food up to his mouth. It’s a question that can be taken multiple ways, really, and Seunghyun’s not exactly sure if he’s ready to admit that he would be willing to feed the vampire if he needed.

No, that’s too embarrassing. Minwoo would probably never ask for it, as well, so Seunghyun supposes he’s shit out of luck. Maybe it’s a blessing in disguise. It would probably be too intimate, Seunghyun reasons with himself, even if it’s a platonic act. They did, after all, just spend some time kissing. 

That in itself brings a dash of red to Seunghyun’s cheeks. He turns his head, mildly embarrassed as he shoves another mouthful of food onto his chopsticks and onto his tongue to keep himself busy. 

[mxminwoo-blog]

elpis. +seunghyun

[mxseunghyun-blog]

mxminwoo

the fake image you know he thinks, but he doesn’t voice these words. doesn’t want seunghyun to know that he doesn’t know the real minwoo—then again, does he himself know who he truly is, beyond the plethora of shifting masks that he slips on and off when it suits him? instead he chuckles, letting his head dip forward with a chuckle—at a loss.

another chuckle escapes him; his nose crinkles in distaste—genuine, but not directed at the faery. ❝you think i’d be willing to come anywhere close to one of those werewolves? i’m not a masochist.❞ he hates the smell of werewolves –can pick it up from where he’s standing—and he can’t imagine kissing one—but to each their own.

❝we should❞ he agrees easily, glancing at the table. a table laden with food, something that makes his long empty stomach grumble. it’s been so long, he barely remembers the taste of food—he’s almost curious. knows the hot sweet taste of thick blood sliding down his throat—but food?

the vampire pauses, hesitates—the moment surely has passed but…he can still play the charismatic vampire. minwoo usually cranks it up to seduce victims, but he figures he might as well play it up for now. excuses it as a way to control what’s going on around him; but even he knows he can’t fully rationalise it.

he slides a seat out for the faery before taking one of his own, long legs crossing underneath the table with a hum. his nose is able to pick out what dishes are suitable for him and which aren’t, and he reaches for one of them. pauses before he carefully fills his plate. his motions are exceptionally careful, forcing himself to keep his hands steady.

minwoo’s eyes flicker towards the other guests who are eating, and for a barest second a confused frown shimmers over his face; and then it’s gone, face carefully blank as he picks up a pair of chopsticks. his eyes flicker again as he tries to position them just right—and then he pauses.

❝after you❞ he says gesturing to his prince. and while there’s a smile on his face, it’s a cover up for the fact he has no idea what he is doing.

Seunghyun laughs, head tipping back in the slightest. “You’re smart. Truthfully, it isn’t as bad as i thought it might be. If you’re drunk enough, I suppose everything is diluted.” His eyes glance to the long forgotten goblet Minwoo had been holding when they first spoke before looking back at the vampire. 

His feet move without thought, following Minwoo with empty thoughts, and he made a small sound as the seat was drawn out for him. “Always the gentleman,” he says, a teasing smirk on his lips, before sliding into the seat with the grace of a prince. 

The scent of the food up close makes his stomach growl with impatience, and he finds himself sighing in relief that he can eat without fear of punishment. He did his part. He delivered a favor, and in turn the ache in his belly will be suppressed.  There’s a low murmur of people eating and speaking around him, and it all seems too comfortable for his liking. Do they all not understand what’s going on? Well, it’s impossible to considering the circumstances, but Seunghyun figured there should be some unrest and anxiety. 

Maybe they were all hiding it, like himself. 

He picked out a plate, fingers closing casually around a pair of chopsticks and curiously tapping the ends against his lips. “I feel like a pig being fed before going to the slaughterhouse,” he murmured against the utensil, eyes flitting to Minwoo for a moment before looking back to his food. 

Nonetheless, he picks up a piece of food and eats it, deciding that the hunger gnawing at his belly is too great to ignore. He doesn’t notice Minwoo’s situation, too vexed with his own problems, and instead sighs around a piece of vegetable. It doesn’t seem like there’s any way to get away from the feast at the present moment, so he may as well fill his belly. 

[mxminwoo-blog]

elpis. +seunghyun

[mxseunghyun-blog]

mxminwoo

minwoo’s always been of the opinion that secrecy is a vampire’s livelihood—and if not so, it certainly was his. yet tonight had already been a night where confessions have tumbled over his lips like they haven’t for so long—and he already knows he wants to spill his heart out to this faery half his age—and less tarnished.

so he tilts his head, his eyes dancing with projected mirth and a forgiving quirk lingering in the curve of his lips. rust-hearted he may be—but he doesn’t want seunghyun to feel bad. minwoo is just sick and tired of sharing these should-be forgotten facts about himself. ❝secrets?❞ he asks, and his voice is quiet, like anything beyond a whisper will pop the bubble he imagines them to be in—imagines that there aren’t people around them who might even be staring. ❝don’t you know me at all? i don’t share my secrets. it’d ruin my image.❞

there’s a mantra going through his head, as he tells himself not to spill—don’t ruin this illusion, not now. there’s not much to ruin—but he’s scared to do so anyway. he wants to hold onto this ephemeral moment for as long as he can, imagine a happier life where things would work out—even if he knows the shattering of that glass pane of a wish is right around the corner.

yet he wishes— ❝maybe if you’ve got a good secrets to trade i’ll change my mind.❞ ah, what was seunghyun doing to him? he almost wants to add a disclaimer, something that goes along the lines of i’m not normally like this but it’d feel ridiculous—not in line who he pretends so hard to be. he’d hate it, if not for the fact that it seems there’s a l-word floating around when it comes to the faery.

❝after that i’m afraid i really should eat something—i’m starving and i doubt our gracious host— ❝ and there’s a good bit of sarcasm dripping off that word, ❞would appreciate me feasting upon the other guests.❞

Seunghyun smiled, less amused than beforehand as the thoughts of his mind plagued his happiness, “What image?” he teases, glancing to the feast table a few feet away. Like everything didn’t happen. Like he didn’t admit to himself the intense craving, the desire, the need to have Minwoo by his side and in his arms and on his lips. It’s selfish, and ultimately idiotic, but what was a prince to do in the eyes of his unrequited beloved?

“I have quite a few good secrets,” he purred, indulging himself if not for a second more. “Have you ever kissed a werewolf?”

It wasn’t his proudest moment, truthfully, but clubs don’t always have the best crowds. Lonely princes at clubs in the wrong side of town rarely end up doing thing to be proud of in the morning, but Seunghyun was well past the point of caring any longer. 

His stomach sinks at the reminder of what the hell is actually going on, gut curling at the image of his father presenting them with the feast. Does Minwoo know? It’s embarrassing, to say the least, and he had to wonder if any of the other faeries in attendance think the royal siblings have something to do with the forest and the feast and everything fucked up. 

He wants to voice his worried, having something to lean on as the nervousness piles up and up and up at the back of his mind, but he knows Minwoo isn’t that kind of person for him. Seunghyun would just ruin everything, and he wasn’t in the mood for rejection anymore. 

“We should eat,” he muttered, good mood falling back to the dubious thoughts that originally prodded his conscience. “Who knows what they’ll throw at us next.”

There are thoughts at the back of his mind, wandering to his mother. If they even cared if he would have made it off that path. What they would have done if he didn’t make it off the path, or was seriously injured. No, they probably wouldn’t have cared. Perfection is only perfect as observed from afar, and Seunghyun had too many imperfections up close for them to be potentially ashamed of. 

[geeyongz-deactivated20160627]

MELONAWARDS2K15: seungri!

[mxminwoo-blog]

elpis. +seunghyun

[mxseunghyun-blog]

mxminwoo

there’s this huge temptation to tell the horrible truth, to pass it off as a joke, because minwoo is poe’s spirit of perversity; self-sabotaging, committing an act just because he knows he shouldn’t—something the author claimed to be purely human, but at this point the vampire isn’t so sure. nonetheless, he bites his own tongue hard for a moment to slip the words from coming out. blames it on the wine and not the fact that he’s desperately, quietly alone and somehow projecting some sort of fantasy where seunghyun would put up with the monster he is after he finds out about every gruesome act he’s done in his life.

in fact, he’s thinking that he never wants the faery to know the truth about his past; the murders that matter, the blood of his parents clinging to his fingers, his time at the brothel and everything that follows. seunghyun doesn’t need to know; seunghyun can’t know of the taint of guilt he bears upon his soul—or what’s left of it, at any rate. no, minwoo wants to hold onto him and not scare him away like everyone else—

but here in seunghyun’s arms, despite being in this deceitful forest, having been forced into tasks and hunger—despite all that, he feels safe for once. and he thinks i could do this forever, except that it’s a silly notion. he’ll end up losing everyone in the end—that’s how the story goes for him. that’s how it always goes. if something was to happen between them then—

but why is he even thinking this? the vampire scolds himself mentally. seunghyun wanted affection and minwoo was self-indulgent in return—there’s nothing that ties them together other than the power of the vampire’s black and gold card. to think that there might be something more between them is silly, to hope for such downright setting himself up for disappointment.

the rust-heart vampire realises that they can eat now, if they so wish; he can fall upon the feast like it is any other victim—at least, for a moment. yet despite the hunger gnarling in his stomach, he has no wish to; he doesn’t let go of the faery just yet, relishes the warmth seeping through the fabric of his clothes. smiles down on him, small but inexplicably genuine. he picks up the other’s heartbeat this time, but blames on something purely physical—it’s not even minwoo refusing to see the signs, but unable to trust them.

❝i have been around for a long time now❞ he says instead of everything he wants to say, everything that’s on his mind. ❝i have had time to practice.❞ a hundred kisses given in exchange for money, a thousand as he tumbled into beds or straggled into alleyways or other convenient places, and a thousand more to perfect the ruse of seducer before revealing himself as the deadly predator—but none for love.

Seunghyun sucks in a breath as they pull away, bottom lip quivering as the pressure of Minwoo’s lips linger. There’s this air about them, and Seunghyun’s not sure if it makes him feel at ease or if the goosebumps raised on his arms are from discomfort. He settles on both. 

He likes it. 

It’s different than usual. The kisses he gives are fleeting, even when deep and sinful and in alleyways and in bedrooms and nothing like what a prince should be doing, but with Minwoo it feels different. With Minwoo he’s not kissing to get money or gifts or whatever. The kiss may have been for the exchange of food for favor, but if Seunghyun closes his eyes, pretends they’re somewhere else, it feels like they’re kissing just to kiss.

It’s a risky thought, one he knows he should never hold, but he’s already off the deep end. There’s no use in playing hard to get with the matters of his heart when he knows he’s already lost. 

“Practice,” Seunghyun echoes, feeling oddly calm as he rests his palm flat against Minwoo’s neck. “I know a thing or two about practice.”

His words are laced with a underlying question, eyes lingering on the lips he so eagerly pushed himself against just minutes beforehand. No use in playing hard to get, he reminds himself. He’s already lost. He may as well come out with his consolation prize. 

“Why don’t we trade secrets?” He applies the slightest bit of pressure down, lips quirked up in a catlike smirk. He’s okay with being hurt. Minwoo never meant to hurt him, or so it seems, so in all truth Seunghyun knows he may as well milk their little business relationship for what it’s worth. It’ll just turn into another transaction. Give the poor daddy some affection, and in turn the lonely prince will get his toys. It’s a game Seunghyun never would have seen himself falling into, but he’s too far into it and far too good at it to stop now. 

The pain, like it or not, is the biggest consolation prize. But it’s not like this is his first doomed love story.

[mxminwoo-blog]

elpis. +seunghyun

[mxseunghyun-blog]

mxminwoo

journeys end in lovers meeting.

it’s a fleeting thought, a half-remembered quote from some gothic horror novel he’d read to fill his time. journeys end in lovers meeting, the protagonist repeated desperately, over and over as if that mantra would make it true. minwoo has little business comparing himself to gothic heroines –generally pure, kind women that don’t deserve the tragedies bestowed upon them—but he knows his share of misfortune, knows repeating something so much until it becomes true. knows the catch about that;

it doesn’t work like that.

the tragic protagonist crashed into a tree, never meeting that lover she so desperately longed for, and minwoo will be left in the dust eventually as people see him for what he truly is; a monster since birth, sealing his mother’s fate with his first cry. something unholy that never should have been born, but is. as soon as he lets someone in, they’ll find that he’s not to their liking because they’ve never seen his real face—and he’ll crumble once more. heartbreak is something he’s never learnt to deal with.

and yet… he wants this. despite not even realising how deep he is –doesn’t even dare think of labelling the concept of what he’s feeling—he knows he wants this. even if he’d like to blame all that’s roiling inside him on the alcohol, he knows that’s not true. this makes him feel things, and sure, he hates it because it’s a prelude to pain. the warmth in his chest will flare brightly and consume him in time, and vampires have never been very resilient against the flames—especially not him.

minwoo makes no pretences to being a good person because he’s never been. the ultimate predator; strong, charming and intelligent, and so cleverly human if the situation calls for it, he’s never found a reason for him to conform to any sort of morality—until now. he knows he’s not exactly the perfect man to bring home, but he suddenly wants to be.

in any other case, the vampire would’ve turned away to laugh—perhaps even hysterically so. but instead, he just tightens his grip the slightest bit, wants to hold onto seunghyun so he never leaves, yet knowing that he can never keep what he covets. It’s just not meant to be for him.

and yet it’s relief that colours his face when seunghyun leans forward. Minwoo forgets it’s a favour done for mutual dinner in a hellish forest—knows nothing beyond the press of lips against his own. He’s been kissed a million times, and suddenly all of that means nothing compared to this. the vampire keeps it sweet on purpose, almost afraid of too much tonight: too much force will break him, too much enthusiasm might scare him off—and it’s strange, having to keep track of someone beyond himself for once.

minwoo won’t call it heaven as there’s no use comparing it to something that he won’t know—but it’s making warmth spread through his chest, something he only vaguely remembers as being genuine joy. it feels like it should make his cold heart beat once more with the sheer power of it, and oh.

in layman’s terms? well fuck it.

he’s in love.

Seunghyun feels a little used, if he’s being honest to himself. There was no way Minwoo returned his feelings, that much was apparent. A favor for a favor. The kiss is nothing more than a favor, nothing like a show of affection. He’s sure other people at the feast were doing the same, sharing affection and hugs and kisses and little things that would normal mean something but here, under the moonlight and in front of food that could calm the hunger aching in his belly, they meant nothing.

His mind wanders to the poems and short stories he’s written, piled up in an old shoebox under clothes and miscellaneous things, and wonders exactly where everything started to go wrong. He was happy, using him mind and body to advance himself in the petty, shallow human world, without anything to hold him down. But now, with the object of his affections attached to him at the lips, he feels broken for the first time in a while.

Stories were stories. He knows very well that happy endings are fabricated, writers using their characters to live the joyous lives they’ll never achieve. He’ll never get his Prince Charming, knows that for sure, and there’s no use lying to himself about it. At least, he thinks bitterly, heartbreak gives the mind some inspiration. 

And still, he leans forward. He opens his mouth with a breathy sigh and melts into the kiss, falling easily against Minwoo’s body. It felt nice, despite the coldness of the vampire’s body, and he hoped the sound of his heart beating wasn’t too loud. 

He pulls away first, not wanting to seem like a food in the eyes of his (one-sided) beloved, and bites his bottom lip. He wonders if he should ask for another favor, for another kiss, but decides against it. He doesn’t want to seem desperate, even though he feels just that churning in the pit of his stomach. 

“Where did you learn to do that?” he teases, instead, not moving from the hold on the vampire. He deludes himself, deciding to stay close to the older man just to enjoy the moment while it lasts. He knows very well the possibility that their first kiss could be their last, and he was never one to look the gift horse in the mouth. 

[mxminwoo-blog]

elpis. +seunghyun

[mxseunghyun-blog]

mxminwoo

❝hm. good.❞

for a moment, he doesn’t feel so alone anymore. doesn’t feel tired with the centuries bearing down on him anymore. for a moment it’s alright—for a moment he lets himself think that this has any possibility of real. just for this moment, just for this here and now.

and oh god, does he want it.

minwoo is tired of being alone. he usually refuses to admit it to himself, but he’s little control over what he can and cannot admit. tonight has worn him down, and all he wants is someone to tell him it’s okay, someone who will hold him—even for just a moment. nobody has willingly done that for him for as long as he can remember, and perhaps he can’t truly miss something he never had—but he can damn well crave it.

so caught up in his own thoughts, he doesn’t pick up the skip in seunghyun’s heartbeat—misses all the signs, too oblivious, too disbelieving. he’s handsome, and has a mask made out of charm, but nobody truly wants him. seunghyun has known him for long enough to know that he probably figured out minwoo’s not worth his time beyond convenience—and that’s alright.

except that it’s not—he’s got a taste and now wants more. and perhaps tonight is his own chance to get it. perhaps he should cut seunghyun off after—the damage is done, but not irreparably so. he needs to distance himself, needs to make sure he doesn’t crumble. with a shock, he realises the following;

seunghyun now has the power to ruin him.

the faery is most likely not aware of this, how wrong words can now cut rather than sting. how a single rejection will make tear at what’s left of his rotten heart—he’s been ruined once, twice over now—and he doesn’t want it to happen thrice.

except that the choice is out of his hands now.

normally, he might’ve automatically pushed seunghyun away to protect himself. but now is not a normal situation, and even if he did, they will most likely be forced together later on anyway. he needs to be careful not to ruin it—that seems like the best course of action.

but minwoo is tired of being careful—he wants to take more tonight. so instead he pulls away the slightest bit, just so he can peer down at the faery’s face with lidded eyes. takes in the planes and valleys of his inhumanly beautiful face. there’s the urge to trace the line of his face, sweep a thumb over those lips—but it feels to unbidden, even for him. seunghyun is not one of the one night stands, or not even the few amis amants he keeps around.

❝a favour for a favour, right?❞ he inquires. ❝i know what i want.❞ it’s stupid, and it’s dangerous, and he shouldn’t do this. he’s going to ruin things—no minwoo doesn’t get any happy endings. never has had any. so why should this be any different? and yet—yet he asks, even as his eyes flick to those tempting lips. he wets his own with the tip of his tongue. even with all his bravado, he doesn’t dare look the faery prince in the eye.

❝give me a kiss.❞

Seunghyun’s heart feels heavy, catastrophically so, but he can’t pull away. Minwoo is everything he wants and needs, probably more than Seunghyun is willing to admit, and it scares him. It terrifies him, but he doesn’t want to pull away. He wants to stay in Minwoo’s cold, firm grip for as long as he can and play out his little fantasy until his heart it too full to think of heartbreak. 

He smiles against the soft cloth draped over Minwoo’s shoulder, presses closer almost subconsciously. He wants to make the most out of what they have in the moment, so that he may grieve over his impish, pathetic broken heart with the ghost touch of Minwoo on his skin. He feels like a child, latching onto its mother’s hand for the last time before fleeing to the wonders of adulthood, and Seunghyun would willingly stay a child forever if he could continue to live his life in a lie. 

Heartbreak was no foreign thing to him, as the lovers in his life never stayed often for him to truly, deeply embed himself in the fibers of their being. He wants, though. Oh, how he wants. He craves, yearns, for that opportunity to carve his soul into the heart of the person he loved. He wasn’t a hopeless romantic, far too pessimistic to be so, but falling in love too often has made the desire find a nest in the seat of his heart, reminding him of what he could never have.

Minwoo is a wild card, and has always been one. Seunghyun never intended to fall in love, much less with a man that would never love him back, but things like that rarely worked in his favor. He wondered if Mother Nature was punishing him, if she was darkening the edges of his heart with bitter, one-sided love full of trepidation as his payment for all the sins he’s committed in his life. 

Maybe he was just scared, too easy to find someone that would protect him and latch onto them out of fear. But he knew, he knew, that Minwoo wasn’t just convenient. He wanted to believe that, in the seat of his heart, he harbored the desire to put himself on display for someone he could easily give the world.

Years of living a lie crash down on him, and he barely noticed when Minwoo pulled away, the music a distant ringing at the back of his mind. Oh, he was in love. Mother Nature spare him the impurities, the despair, the rotten side of love that he had too often been victim to. Seunghyun’s nose wrinkles momentarily, scolding himself for being melodramatic. Minwoo was Minwoo, and Seunghyun was Seunghyun. No amount of wishing or childish desires would change that.

His breath caught in his throat at the vampire’s words, eyes following the movement of his tongue before flitting back to his eyes. A kiss. Seunghyun’s heart ached, but he had always been a stupid boy. He tilted his head, insecurities and questions and bad thoughts squashed as he leaned forward to receive the prize he had been, subconsciously or otherwise, chasing after for years. 

[mxminwoo-blog]

elpis. +seunghyun

[mxseunghyun-blog]

mxminwoo

seunghyun is suddenly everywhere; his fingers between minwoo’s own, so soft and warm and fragile compared to minwoo’s own; his cinnamon scent in his nostrils, overpowering so close; the warmth of his cheek against his shoulder. it’s somewhat startling how fast he’s suddenly there, pressed against him.

he’s never been so glad that his heart has gone still so long ago; with the faery pressed against his shoulder, there would’ve been a good chance he would’ve heard how his heartbeat picked up, beating a jolly little rhythm—but he won’t, for minwoo has been dead for years. all he does is take a sharp breath, relishing the scent of cinnamon.

there’s a small smile playing on his lips as he gently squeezes the fingers tangled with his own—so very careful, like the faery is made of porcelain and not flesh and bone. with seunghyun so close and his control slackened with faeblood, he’s a little worried about accidentally hurting him—and about getting hurt.

(it’ll be fine, he tells himself. it’s a lie, that nagging voice in the back of his head says.)

he places his free hand on the faery’s waist, pushes the slightest bit as he starts to lead him into a dance. they’re not particular steps—does seunghyun even know human dance steps? instead he just makes small steps, almost dancing on the spot—swaying, really. minwoo likes the intimacy much for grand gestures and bold moves. For once, he doesn’t want the attention drawn to him—

no, for once, he wants to stay in his own little bubble.

for a moment, minwoo doesn’t speak. for once he can properly forget the events of the past few hours, but only if he doesn’t break the spell between them. if he closes his eyes and forgets the scenery, he can almost see a lifetime longer of doing this.

minwoo’s heart aches at the thought.

when his words come –eventually, for they have to— they are soft, barely a whisper next to the other’s ear, edge of fondness almost imperceptible for those who don’t know him well enough. ❝this alright?❞

Seunghyun wondered if he was making a mistake. Trusting Minwoo- trusting this man that probably cared nothing for him with that little sliver of his heart that held hope and love and adoration. Seunghyun wanted to melt, collapse into the easy melody of their bodies swaying together and touching the fringes of something more.

Minwoo is cold, so cold, but Seunghyun finds himself growing to like the coolness against his heated skin. There’s a light skip in his heart as his hands in squeezed, fingers fitting together solidly like the blood pounding, pounding through his veins. Minwoo is everywhere and nowhere at once, and Seunghyun prays to a god he doesn’t believe exists that his heart won’t betray him. 

His other hand rests on Minwoo’s shoulder, thumb bumping against his bottom lip, and squeezes softly. It’s comfortable, almost domestic if Seunghyun lies to himself more, and he wished he could have kept his desires at bay.

He knew that he was going to get hurt. Minwoo wasn’t like that with him. He had never showed that he wanted more, and Seunghyun wished he did. He wished he could have had something to hold against the older man, something more than his own foolishness. 

He swayed comfortable, body moving to the music on its own accord as his eyelids fluttered down to rest half-lidded. Minwoo was cold, so cold, but Seunghyun swore the blood pumping through his body, burning against the skin that brazenly was pressed against Minwoo, overrode it. There was balance, and Seunghyun wished they could have been too different to fit. 

The soft, caring voice makes his heart speed up and he sighs, lips quivering against the back of his hand. “Yeah,” he breathed, “of course it is.”

Oh, how love was a mighty wretched thing. 

[mxminwoo-blog]

elpis. +seunghyun

[mxseunghyun-blog]

mxminwoo

seunghyun’s hand is warm on his wrist; he imagines that he can feel the pulse of his heart pumping blood through his veins—but the hunger wins out. it throws him off, just as everything else about this damn feast—but he’ll get over it. vampires might not be known for their quick adaptability, but no minwoo isn’t just any vampire.

the faery’s request takes him aback. it’s not the fact that seunghyun wants to be held. he knows that desire; that’s why he frequently invites people into his bed, drains them of their affection prior to taking their blood. even he wants physical affection.

what minwoo isn’t getting, is why him?

with all these people here, fae and others alike, surely there’s somebody else seunghyun could find himself somebody else to hold him, to dance with. anybody else. why does he want minwoo, a vampire, a man with a heart like pandora’s box? with his cold marble body, his poison touch. seunghyun is a prince—minwoo’s sure there’s tons of pretty fae tripping over themselves to get with the prince.

nonetheless, who is he to deny seunghyun this request? there’s warmth dripping through his veins still, blurring just judgement just enough for him to put the goblet down, smile tugging on his lips. he doesn’t even mind the idea—in fact, quite likes it. likes the idea of this small fact of physical intimacy—and tells himself not to relate it to seunghyun. the faery is just distraught, that must be it, and minwoo is a convenient familiar face. it’s always been like this, and while almost everything has escaped his pandora’s box tonight, it’s elpis that remains there still.

❝alright❞ he relents nonetheless as he holds his hand out for the other to take. there’s music coming from not too far away—perhaps another favour being done, it doesn’t matter. it’s perfect. ❝let’s dance. why not?❞

Seunghyun managed to hold back the sigh of relief, smiling to the man in front of him. He had been scared, rightfully, that Minwoo would reject him. But he supposed there was no reason for the vampire to. This was just like every other affair they had ever engaged in. A favor for a favor. That was just how they worked. 

The music is quite pretty in the background, soft enough for Seunghyun to be able to focus solely on Minwoo, but loud enough for Seunghyun to not lose himself. It’s a constant, gentle reminder of where they are and what they’re doing and Seunghyun isn’t sure if he’s grateful or scornful for it. Perhaps, a little bit of both. 

“Why not?” he repeated, playful smile quirking at his lips. He glanced at Minwoo’s extended hand, gaze lingering for a few seconds, before sliding his hand on top. He faced their palms together, tentatively intertwining their fingers together. He was indulging himself, surely, but he could only hope that Minwoo wouldn’t pull away.

They’ve never done this, acted so intimately, and a little part of Seunghyun was scared. He was scared that Minwoo would ask him what the hell was wrong with him, or that he’d turn up his nose and tell him to go bother someone else. Deep down, in his heart of hearts, he knew that Minwoo would never do that to him. Or maybe it was hope that drove him to rest his cheek on Minwoo’s shoulder. 

He relinquished all control, wanting to feel someone take the reins and lead him to some place where he didn’t have to think deeply about he was doing. He wanted to trust Minwoo, knowing that at this point he wasn’t sure if he could trust himself.

[mxminwoo-blog]

elpis. +seunghyun

[mxseunghyun-blog]

mxminwoo

a plastic smile—minwoo can recognise it, has given enough of his own to know the way muscles shift to create an expression such as that. he wonders what’s causing it, wonders if he can get away with prying. his tongue is almost curling around the words necessary for such a question—but he refrains. perhaps it’s some sort of lingering effect of a ghost from the path—he wouldn’t want that pried into himself.

his tongue presses against his teeth, frowning for a split second. does he go with honesty or something more placating? what’s more useful, and what would the effect of truthfulness be? he answers with a shrug—buying himself more time before he sighs. ❝it’s not exactly my most favourite activity❞ he admits after a moment. thinks about his first task of the night, the one that’d caused him to drown his sorrows in bloody wine. ❝have you eaten yet?❞

if it’s concern lacing his voice, then it’s for himself—that’s what he tells himself. somewhat shouts at himself. concern for himself; he needs seunghyun to be nourished in case something happens, that’s all he’s worrying about. (a blatant lie; his face is more open than usual, and concern is displayed in the creases of his eyes, the quirk of his lips. he’d damn the wine, but he’s not even aware.)

minwoo tilts his head questioningly, blinking a little. his eyes flick from his fellow natural to the table of the feast, and then back to seunghyun. ❝oh.❞ his mouth for a shape according to the size, before it purses into a line. he considers it before nodding; briefly, only once.

the vampire doesn’t think much of it—their relationship is based on exchange. items for blood. and now it’s favour for food back and forth—a favour for a favour perhaps, so they can both eat. minwoo already feels the curl of hunger settle in his stomach again and he hates it—hates this foreign feeling, doesn’t like the physical sensation of eating after so long.

but he’s condemned to play the game, and so he will. (but only until he can take the reigns.)

❝alright❞ he agrees. tells himself it’s no different than usual. ❝a favour for a favour, then. i starting to feel those hunger pangs again.❞

Seunghyun couldn’t help the small laugh that leaves his lips. It’s not fake or forced this time, but he still feels uncomfortable in his own skin. He doesn’t feel like himself, in fact it feels like he’s a child lost away in some foreign land that did something terribly wrong. Emotions of guilt and sadness throb at the back of his mind, and he wondered if it was the hunger helping spin the wheel of his emotional turmoil. 

“I haven’t,” he said, slow as his breath caught in his throat. If he wasn’t worse for wear, he could have sworn Minwoo looked concerned. For him. It hurts, realizing how shocking that it, but Seunghyun did his best to bite back the curious look building in his eyes. Minwoo wasn’t at his best, Seunghyun knew that. None of this meant anything. 

The nod placates his nerves and he reaches out, curling a hand around Minwoo’s wrist. It’s cold, as expected, but the touch comforts him more than he would ever voice. None of this means anything, he reminded himself. The words were still caught in his throat and he bit his lip, unsure how to ask for what he wanted. “Would you...” he paused, the words trying to force themselves back down. 

Seunghyun cleared his throat, ignoring the warning signs flashing at the back of his mind. “Would you just...hold me? Or something. Dance with me, even, fuck. I don’t care I just-” His words were uneven and uncomfortable, and he dropped his gaze to their feet. Minwoo was going to laugh at him. He was going to laugh and tell him to go somewhere else, to pull out of his fantasy before it was too late. 

Seunghyun considered pulling back his hand, laughing and playing it off like it was a joke, but he was much too proud. He had made it this far, and if there was anyone that could complete this wish for him it was Minwoo. There was simply no other way. As pathetic and meager as it seemed, Seunghyun wanted that warmth and comfort.

He wanted to feel needed, to feel as if what they had was worth something- if anything. If just for a moment, he wanted to feel as if Minwoo wasn’t only coming back because he was convenient. 

[mxminwoo-blog]

elpis. +seunghyun

[mxseunghyun-blog]

mxminwoo

intoxication trickles through his veins, blurring his world. for the first time since waking up among the fog and the leafs, minwoo feels safe and at ease. he’s drank enough to gloss over some of the sharp memories of the hours before, has drank just enough wine to fill that aching hole with liquid until it’s doesn’t feel so empty anymore.

the vampire isn’t drunk; he’s not stupid enough to get drunk in a situation like this. he’s seen many a familiar face in the crowd, and so he has to switch and swap masks as it suits him—all the slightest bit different to suit whoever he is talking to. he’s just inebriated enough to make it easier for him to deal—at the cost of some of his composure, but he knows nobody will blame him for it. after all, who doesn’t feel like getting the slightest bit inebriated here in the forest?

but all roads lead to rome, and there’s still a mark on the back of his hand that paints him as half of a set. he watches seunghyun from afar for a bit, a little bit weary. the faery has already seen him at a pretty low point—does he really want to risk ruining whatever image he’s built up for seunghyun to see in one night?

at the same time, he supposes their reunion is inevitable; two halves of a whole for the duration, minwoo has the suspicion that they’ll be pushed back into their partnership after a while. he swallows another mouthful of wine, holding the empty goblet in the palm of his hands as he strides over to join the faery, offering him a smile. does he look as tired as he feels?

❝hello again❞ he greets, somewhat cordially. ❝enjoying the feast so far?❞

Seunghyun was still in a mild state of shock, the confused feeling of betrayal resting atop his shoulder. Of all the people to have put him in such a place, especially with the man he- with Minwoo- Seunghyun would have never expected it to be his father. He supposed his mother must have been behind this as well, in some way. He wished there could have been some way to talk to his father, sort out exactly what was happening. Something to calm the anxiety in his thoughts. 

His father’s words echoed in his mind as he did his best not to take a step forward towards the food. Others are poking around at the food, some talking in low voices, but they all faded into the background once his eyes landed on Minwoo. 

He felt guilty, essentially. He wondered if any other faeries in attendance blamed him and his siblings. He wouldn’t blame them. After all, if some werewolf alpha had done this to them all he wouldn’t be feeling cordial towards the werewolves in attendance. 

“Hi,” he returns, smile a little plastic as he eyes the goblet in Minwoo’s hands. Had that costed something as well? “I’m...impartial, I suppose. I don’t know how to feel. What about you?”

A thought crossed his mind, a question to ask of Minwoo, but he turns his head instead to look at the food. He was supposed to do favors for people in return for food. The thought made him uncomfortable, but he supposed it was all to do with the game. What a terrible trick. The consequences were already starting to pile up, a steady pang of hunger aching at the base of his belly, but he tried to ignore it in favor of smiling at Minwoo.

His wish. 

“If I ask you of something, would you do it for me?” He took a step closer, fingers rubbing against each other in an attempt to squash down any temptation. “Of course in return you could ask me something, it’s just...” he trailed off, glancing towards the feast and back at Minwoo, hoping he would get the message. There was another reason, an underlying cause for his wish, but he wasn’t sure if he would ever be able to voice it. Not under the pretenses of their relationship. Their business deal. 

[mxseunghyun-blog]

+ hollow-eyed adonis + solo

Seunghyun’s lips curved downward, the anxiety of the forest seeping into his pores with every step they took. Would there ever be a way out of the forest? Seunghyun feared for the true answer. He trusted Minwoo, presumably more than he should have, but he couldn’t help but have doubts. Who was to say they wouldn’t be attacked or injured or left for dead?

Seunghyun glanced down at the ink on his hand and sighed, clasping his fingers in front of him. He had to stop thinking negatively. He was with Minwoo. He trusted Minwoo greatly, and if they stuck together Seunghyun was sure they would be fine.

And yet, his head ached. He feared the bubbling thoughts that rose in his mind every time he looked at the vampire by his side. They were feelings, thoughts, emotions he hadn’t felt in a long while. Feelings, thoughts, emotions he had hoped to never encounter again. He had hoped, but fate was not on his side. 

He tilted his head back, observing the cold sky and leaves above, and tried to imagine he couldn’t sense Minwoo’s presence with every fiber of his being. They weren’t like that. They were simply business partners. No more, no less. The forest had poked at his weaknesses and desires, that was all. There was nothing he could do to prevent it. 

Seunghyun might have been lying to himself when he thought that he had never wanted to have more with the vampire, but it seemed that lying was the only thing he was good at doing lately. Hiding his true thoughts and feelings were the only way he could prevent himself from getting hurt. Right? He was just a toy. 

He sucked in a breath as they finally, finally escaped the path that would be probing at his nightmares. The sleep had helped cleared his mind, but more questions were starting to fill those blank spaces. About the game, about Minwoo, about himself. He could only hope that they would escape before he started to try answering them. 

[mxminwoo-blog]

sugar and spice +seunghyun

[mxseunghyun-blog]

mxminwoo

hallucination, seunghyun tells him, sleep lingering on the other’s syllables, and for a moment he can’t believe how vivid this supposed hallucination is. it smells sweet and wet and thick, and if he opens his mouth the slightest bit and sniffs, he can almost taste it on his tongue. imagines how easy it’d be to turn to his partner, put his lips to his neck like so many times and bite down. have that blood fill his mouth and eventually his veins, send thrills through his body and muddle his mind.

how blissful would it be, just to forget about the harshly coloured woods with its whispers from the past, to just lay his head down and let fae blood do its work; to soothe and soften his world until the pain and guilt and sadness that had been previously locked up so tight don’t bear down on him quite that heavily anymore.

how blissful—and how useless.

it’d render him completely useless for the remainder of whatever is going on—and seunghyun as well, in all probability. this is no time to trip, no matter how useful it’d be to wash away the memories of what he’s seen tonight-today-whatever-time-it-is. combined with the fae’s and at once the spell is broken; the smell of blood still lingers heavily, wafting towards him with every breeze, but it suddenly smells artificial—fake.

and minwoo realises how he’d shifted into seunghyun’s proximity a little too much; quiet, and like a ghost, the way a true predator would do it so that its prey doesn’t notice until it’s too late. he wonders who’s the prey here—seunghyun, him, or both of them? he can’t help the low growl that escapes him as he pulls away abruptly, regaining his former position against the tree. he places his hands on his knees, squeezing to regain a measure of control. doesn’t move for a while, until he’s sure he’s not about to suddenly let loose without noticing again. he can hear the soft breath of seunghyun doze next to him, and he can’t believe he’d almost lost control that easily.

a hallucination. why do these keep getting to him so easily? what happened to those walls he carefully crafted around himself, that are meant to keep the pain and the people and everything else out? it’s like this forest is made specifically to bother him—bully him—or to tempt him.

❝oh.❞ of course. it seems all so simple in retrospect. what easier to tempt a vampire with than blood? what is one of the few things minwoo can truly say he longs for if he’d be willing to admit it? and this is magic. minwoo usually doesn’t care much about magic—has no positive or negative opinion on it most of the time. but now he can truly say that whatever magic is at work here—he hates it. it must’ve been rooting around in the dark corners of his mind that he’d rather keep hidden.

the hand on his knee tightens.

it’s something to keep in mind, something to warn the other for when he wakes up again. he figures seunghyun needs the rest, so he decides against waking him up, as much as he wants him to. instead, he listens to the faery’s heartbeat, the rhythm of his breath, trying to keep himself calm. centuries have taught him patience—but nothing is as aggravating as having a panicked revelation on the tip of his tongue and not being able to share it.

Seunghyun fell into a blissful, blank sleep. Minutes, maybe, at most ten. The sleep helped calm his mind, taking him far from the place that was starting to poke at his fears and insecurities. The forest was taking advantage of him, surely. It was taking advantage over both of them. 

Waking up was less peaceful. He startled awake, sucking in a large breath as he looked around him. The forest was so unrealistic. It was as if he was in a toy house, seated among plastic trees and flowers. Minwoo was the only thing that seemed real, and even then Seunghyun wasn’t sure if he was all there. He made a little sound, trying to keep down the yawn that usual surfaced after he woke up, and took a final glance around him.

“We should leave.” Now he regretted the nap. He felt better, in the slightest, but he had a feeling that he was dragging them down. They needed to get away from the eye sore foliage and onto safer places- as safe as they could get in this mysterious forest. 

Seunghyun continued to remind himself that he had done well to stick with Minwoo, that the numbers inked on their skin meant something. He had done well to find his match. He could only hope that they would stay together. If he truly needed his partner and they were separated-

Seunghyun didn’t want to think of any potential consequences.

They were in it together, they had to be. Seunghyun had to put his trust in Minwoo, and he could only hope that Minwoo would return the favor. They were alone in this mysterious, fake forest and Seunghyun wanted to put his hope in the man next to him. 

He stood up quickly, discomfort wracking his veins, and dusted off his pants before letting his eyes linger on the man he hoped would put faith in him. “We can talk later we just...need to go. I don’t trust this place.” He shouldn’t have taken that nap. 

[mxminwoo-blog]

sugar and spice +seunghyun

[mxseunghyun-blog]

mxminwoo

relief bleeds into his chest, into that cold and empty cavity where his heart should be—why it’s there, he can’t exactly pinpoint. he’s glad seunghyun agrees to pause, sure, but why is he relieved? there’s no part of him that should care about the well-being of others. minwoo has no space for anyone but himself in his porcelain-rust heart. (he swings between the idea of having one or having none, fairly often—right now he tells to convince himself he doesn’t.)

❝do you have any clue how long we’ve been here?❞ he casts another worried look at the skies for a moment, but with all this light polluting his sight it’s difficult to determine whether the stars have faded, dusted out of the sky with the first rays of sun. he’s worried. ❝if the sun comes up i’ll have to seek shelter.❞

he watches the faery for a moment, the bitterness in his voice and the unease, tells himself that his concern was meant only for himself before he follows to sit down against the tree trunk as well. the bark probably ruins the expensive fabric of his jacket, but he doesn’t have the luxury to care. minwoo leans his head back, against the bark, eyes slipping closed and he lets out a soft groan.

the cover of his eyelids immediately feels much better than the bright, glowing world around them and he didn’t even realise the extent of his headache until right now. the vampire hopes that he doesn’t need to use that gilded tongue of his anytime soon, because using his supernatural charm might hurt more than it’s worth. no, he just wants to sit here for the immediate future until the throb in his temples has receded.

a deep breath before he starts listening intently; hears seunghyun’s heartbeat, steady and familiar close to him, but beyond that he thinks he hears voices—whispers. things he can’t trust, and so instead he focuses on the thump-thump of the other’s heartbeat, the waft of his smell that his sensitive nose can pick up. sniffs again, face going from quasi-peaceful to troubled.

❝are you bleeding?❞ he asks, before shaking his head. ❝no, you’re not—it doesn’t smell like you at all.❝ he tilts his head, face becoming a little more peaceful as his face twists into something akin to a blissful smile. ❝smells good, nice. i wonder what the meaning of it is.❞ he’s not hungry, has fed the previous night—or at least, the night before he was gracelessly dumped into this woodland area. but that doesn’t mean he can’t still admit something smells good—though it makes him wonder. is there some sort of purpose to this smell? or did somebody with exquisite smell just happen to die nearby?

Seunghyun considered thanking Minwoo for considering the rest, his eyes fluttering shut as he tried to forget where he was. More so, who he was with. It almost made him uncomfortable, but Minwoo was... Minwoo was Minwoo. Seunghyun touched briefly on the word ‘friend’ but he keeps reminding himself that they are not ‘friends’. Seunghyun had to wonder why it mattered so much to him that he was constantly thinking about it.

It had to be their proximity. That was certainly making him think absurdly. It wasn’t like Minwoo invaded his thoughts all the time. When he was with friends or family he didn’t just think of Minwoo. Granted, he did think of Minwoo, but Seunghyun attributed that to the fact that they had been ‘partners’ for years.

That’s all they were. Business partners. 

He sighed, tilting his head in the slightest so that his chin bumped against his collarbone. He was tired. Of a lot of things, he supposed, but that tended to happen to a person that had a habit of locking away their bad thoughts and emotions and let them build. A bad habit he had never even tried to grow out of. Seunghyun just wasn’t sure who to talk or rant to anymore.

Had there ever been anyone to talk to? Seunghyun didn’t pity himself, he knew that he was fairly well off in life. He just wasn’t sure if there had ever been a person where he could sit down and complain to them for hours. A shoulder to cry on, per say. It had nothing to do with having a limited supply of people around him for support, but rather his pride. He refused to let anyone see him be weak. Too many people had seen his tears before and Seunghyun didn’t want to add more to that list. 

His consciousness groaned as Minwoo spoke, eyelids dragging up to see what Minwoo was talking about. “Why would I be bleeding?” His eyes closed again, finding more peace in the darkness than the over-saturated nature around them. It was creepy and, as someone that had been literally birthed from nature, it made him uncomfortable. It felt wrong, like even the plants were turning against him. He wanted to get out of this forest. 

“I don’t smell blood,” he murmured, snapping his fingers lightly. “It’s another hallucination. Stop it.” He couldn’t gather more words than that, sleep already pulling at his strings. Just a little nap...that would be fine, right?

He was sure he’d be fine. Minwoo would be right there for him. 

[mxminwoo-blog]

sugar and spice +seunghyun

[mxseunghyun-blog]

mxminwoo

here’s the thing: no minwoo, vampire of considerable age, wealth, wisdom and sophistication, does not need anyone. he is a loner by choice, because he can. because he doesn’t need anyone. and so this situation irks him—the fact that he does now need someone and has something to show for it. purpose unknown, metaphorical path ahead of them dark, he can’t say damn it all, i can do this by myself because there’s no certainty, nothing he can back up his claim with.

and then there’s seunghyun, two-edged blade.

on the one hand, it’s a good thing. his partner being this particular faery makes the entire affaire much more bearable. he’s a right brat, but endearingly so. and the fact that they knew each other beforehand makes this easier. he doesn’t have to be wary, doesn’t need to analyse every damn word. minwoo can depend on him, that much has been proven with a warm hand on his arm when he was about to chase that illusion—a sensation that he still vividly recalls.

on the other hand, it’s a bad thing. it puts him at a disadvantage; if he’d had a vampiric partner for this nonsense, they’d be much further ahead, had been less in danger of whatever lurks here. as it stand, he’s here with a fae who’s lost his magic. he somewhat feels responsible for it, and the thought shocks it. minwoo is quick to blame it on the need for seunghyun to be on top of his game, rather than any kind of protectiveness borne from fondness. and the fact that they do know each other complicates things as well—minwoo still feels the need to play that role, knows that they’ll meet again after and thus can’t ruin his image. and he can’t ditch him, again for the sake of the image.

doesn’t want to ditch him.

he bites his lip harshly, blood pooling up around where his fangs tear into the skin. opens his mouth for a sigh—the puncture wounds are already healing. licks the blood away—focuses intently on all of this, rather than some stupid thought about not wanting. he’s going to need a break, a moment in a safe spot to recollect his thoughts. he glances up—the sky is still dark, but for how long? minwoo realises he’s lost all sense of time. how long have they been here anyway? will the sun even come up? the fear of the sun makes him change his mind.

❝i think it’s better to pause for a bit.❞ he says, with an edge of steel. for some reason, he finds his voice softening a little as he inexplicably finds himself explaining why. ❝you need to rest once in a while, no? and i want to find some sort of shelter—i don’t know if this place will stay dark forever, but i’m going to need to rest my eyes and i don’t want to risk being caught in the sunlight.❞

inexplicable, and even more so by the fact that he’s including a care for someone else’s wellbeing. uncomfortable, uneasy, unused to doing all this, minwoo thinks what is this forest doing to me?

He shouldn’t take the offer, realistically. They’re still trapped in this god awful place, and it wasn’t as if he were exhausted. Mentally, perhaps, but physically he was just fine. If anything, the adrenaline rushing through his body served as a pick me up, and he was not sure what he would do if the silence allowed his thoughts to wander. The idea of showing his weakness, weaknesses, to Minwoo was terrifying. Mortifying, really. He didn’t want to show himself as a weak, little faery alone in the woods depending on his vampire sugar daddy to keep him safe, but it seemed that was all he was capable of doing. That vision had scared him, scared him to know that even after so many years he would still chase after her.

He would chase after her, even knowing that she would never let him catch her. He blinked slowly, nails pushing into the soft skin of his palm. Would Minwoo chase after him? The vampire stopped him, yes, but Seunghyun wondered if Minwoo would chase after him. 

Seunghyun shook the though away, eyes glancing to the side to watch Minwoo with careful eyes. They probably need the break more than he wants to admit. He wants to say yes. Maybe Minwoo wants him to say yes, too- that’s why he asked, right? Seunghyun sighed, the lightest huff of air leaving his lips, and resisted deluding himself into thinking that Minwoo cared about him outside of their strictly business relationship. It would comfort him more than it should, and he didn’t want to deal with those thoughts.

“Okay,” he said, finally, coming to terms with himself. If he took a nap he could get the hallucination behind him and move on. He wouldn’t have to drag them down anymore. Minwoo wouldn’t have to pity him. “Yeah, okay, we need our strength.” He wanted to thank Minwoo, maybe put a hand on his shoulder and ask him if he’s okay. But he didn’t. He knew his place, and Minwoo knew his. They weren’t in that kind of relationship. Seunghyun wasn’t even sure if he could consider what they had a friendship. 

He glanced around him after stopping, leaning on one foot and then the other, and tried his best to avoid observing the the sickly sweet foliage around them. He pulled the flower crown off his head and walked over to a nearby tree, carefully leaning against it as he sat down as if it would eat him up. “Maybe I’ll go to sleep and this will all be a dream,” he said, laughing bitterly. 

A dream. Seunghyun didn’t care what it was, he just wanted it to end. His eyes lingered on Minwoo for a second before locking on the flower crown in his fingers, resting his eyes of the soft colors and the normalcy. As normal as it could be whenever he saw the black staining the back of his hand. As normal as it could feel when he didn’t even know if he was walking into his death or something worse.