ARCHIVED

#𝐫𝐡𝐞𝐚'𝐬 𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 ― out of character

And with that, the 2025 season has come to an end...

... including for this blog. At least in the form it's currently in.

I'll be archiving this blog with the New Year and start fresh on a new one over on treasuresofwonderland (still in baby jail). What does that exactly mean? Here's the most important changes:

OCs will be in the main focus. After years of being scarred because I thought I couldn't put together a coherent original character, I finally found my spark again and I want that spark to continue, so OCs will have the main stage and the canon characters will play the side roles and that is non-negotiable.

I'm significantly cutting down the number of canon muses I have. 97% of them never got requested or interacted with, and I also want to 'train' myself to not impulse add muses just because I like them in the 2 seconds of screen time they got.

I'll put up stricter boundaries for myself when it comes to interactions because I want my new blog to be a comfy and cozy safe-space for me rather than a people-pleasing mess.

I will be dropping all threads and unanswered asks except for the ones that I have with my main writing partners.

Hope to see you on the new blog!

And with that, the 2025 season has come to an end...

... including for this blog. At least in the form it's currently in.

I'll be archiving this blog with the New Year and start fresh on a new one over on treasuresofwonderland (still in baby jail). What does that exactly mean? Here's the most important changes:

OCs will be in the main focus. After years of being scarred because I thought I couldn't put together a coherent original character, I finally found my spark again and I want that spark to continue, so OCs will have the main stage and the canon characters will play the side roles and that is non-negotiable.

I'm significantly cutting down the number of canon muses I have. 97% of them never got requested or interacted with, and I also want to 'train' myself to not impulse add muses just because I like them in the 2 seconds of screen time they got.

I'll put up stricter boundaries for myself when it comes to interactions because I want my new blog to be a comfy and cozy safe-space for me rather than a people-pleasing mess.

I will be dropping all threads and unanswered asks except for the ones that I have with my main writing partners.

Hope to see you on the new blog!

"And we get to get to know each other. That's perhaps the only good part of this," Jake said. They had each gained a brother. That was something he could hold close. They should bond. And their mothers might be able to find some sisterhoood through this.

"I for one really would like to get to know my hyung and form the brother relationship we have been denied our entire lives. That is if ou want that."

#taleofmuses #𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐞 ― kang yeong ho

He couldn't help himself as he reached over the table to give his hair a little ruffle. "As if I'd ever say no spending time with my little brother. We got a lot of catching up to do. Honestly, we should probably order some food and something to drink while we're at it, too."

Their mothers, too, seemed to get along nicely. There were no raised voices coming from the main area of the restaurant, none of them stormed in demanding to leave. They'd be fine. They'd rebuild two broken families into one big one.

"I, for one, am curious what inspired you to become an idol., and what you did before that. You play any sports, or did you have other hobbies?"

"Oh we absolutely should. Luckily we got good resources for them," he said. That shouldn't be hard, but Jake smiled. Because there was one thing that had not only weighed on him, but that he had obsessively researched that night.

"I actually think it might be easy for both our mothers. Marriages require a lot of paperwork. In order to have a second one, some paperwork must be severely lacking, so there's not a bad chance that we can get your eumma out just as easily. And in any case, we can always file divorce on ethics grounds. There's no way either marriage, legal or not, would hold up and would allow him to contest against our mothers getting what they're owed. He's fucked either way. Plus you and me are public figures. I can't see him wanting it go public. And if in doubt...we have a tornado in human form on our side."

"Oh I'd dare him to try and go public and spin some kind of sob story about getting conned by two women, because at this point I wouldn't put that past him either." After all that happened, Yeong-ho wasn't even sure if he truly knew the man at all, but he was ready to accept that he was willing to do anything to save face.

"You mean Gia?," he laughed. "I've no doubt she'd be ready to tear him to shreds. But even if by some stupid way the court grants him anything in the divorce, we're more than capable of getting our families situated. Honestly, the sooner this is over, the better. Our mothers, and frankly us too, get a new clean slate to continue living without that dipshit."

He was obervant. Probably a skill he desperately needed in his job. And in his previous job, too, one he shared with him. As much as they were brothers only from one side, he refused to entertain the idea that they got their musical interests from their father. They probably just had two moms that were into music.

"Don't really is putting it lightly. They were absolutely furious. They desperately wanted us to get rid of him. Offered to pay us an absurd amount of money. Eomma would have thrown them out of the house if my ex's parents didn't already beat her to it."

He raised both eyebrows at the story. he definitely dodged a nuke with never knowing those people, but given who their son was, he wasn't even remotely surprised about that reaction, especially not now, after knowing their father tried to convince Jake of essentially the same, but in his own twisted way that would allow him to maintain both marriages at the same time.

"I mean... they raised that piece of shit. Doesn't really surprise me now that all the puzzle pieces are slowly coming together. We should probably contact divorce lawyers for our Eummas. Maybe it'll be easier for you and your Eumma because of the whole marriage situation. What's weird though is how he took your Eumma's last name."

This asshole. This absolute piece of shit. He had built such an elaborate net around them and kept them apart of thuroughly, it was a miracle they did get to the bottom of it. But at least they did. And now they had each other.

"Yes, yes, he did. I'm not their biggest fan, but they are, in fact, alive. So they probably don't know about you either." Jake reached across the table to take his hand into his. "I'm sorry, Yeong-ho. You didn't deserve mourning people who are very much alive and growing up without one set of grandparents. This guy is so fucked up."

He kept his eyes on their hands, trying to stomach the new information. He had another set of grandparents, ones he didn't know existed, and ones that didn't know he existed in turn. Maybe he should have felt remorse in some way, sadness over decades that could have been filled with nice memories, but just maybe, it was a good thing.

"They raised him, and judging by your tone they're very much conservative and don't really appreciate you having a kid without being married? Not gonna lie, feels like I dodged a nuke with not knowing about them. Spent 35 years without them and I turned out just fine. I think I'll survive without knowing them."

"Well, that's an uncle's job, isn't it?" Jake asked with a chuckle. His uncle wasn't any different. Now he wondered if their father's family knew about the two families as well. That would be fucked up in so many ways. If that was the case, Jake would probably take a lot of pleasure in cutting them off entirely.

"Have you ever met our grandparents?" He knew it was a loaded question, very loaded. One of them could have been lied to. Or both. Either way it was a shitty look on their father.

"I.. wouldn't really know if that's what uncles do, but I know I'll do my best in being one," he said with a soft chuckle, though the statement kind of felt as if there was more to it than he assumed.

The follow-up question was what got his stomach to twist uncomfortably. "I... met my grandparents on my Eumma's side, never on.. his. They're dead." No. No, he was told they were dead. They never really talked about them and all conversations about them were in past tense. "Shibal... son of a bitch lied, didn't he?"

#𝐫𝐡𝐞𝐚'𝐬 𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 ― out of character

me, trying to find a photo of BTOB's Minhyuk that isn't a thirst trap: mission impossible

"He can go to hell for all I care," Jake said. It was quite simple. He had a dream that he wanted to pursue and his mother supported him wholeheartedly. And now that he lived it, he knew it had been the absolutely right decision: Because he modeled for his son that it was okay to go after your dreams even if they seemed unattainable. And now he had an uncle who did that as well.

"I debuted and neither Eumma, nor Ji have any financial worries, worth it in my opinion. And the kid gets to see his dad go after his dreams and be supported in his. And well, his uncle now, too."

Jake had a good point. In all of the mess their father created, there were quite a few good things that came out of it all. Their mothers clearly got along immediately, they now knew each had a sibling and Yeong-ho even had a little nephew. And their father? He lost it all. Karma really was a bitch when she wanted to be.

"I hope you know I'll spoil Ji-yun rotten the first chance I get," he said with a soft chuckle. "But if I'll overstep in any way, either with you, or Ji, or your Eumma, just let me know. It's a new family dynamic and all."

She leaned into his arms, into his kiss which she so dearly missed while traveling. Their relationship had endured distance for years already. She could endure, but that didn't mean she didn't miss im and wished hey could spend more time together. Still Hana looked around to make sure they wouldn't be seen by anyone other than her immediate body guards.

"I did, but there was a threat, so I can't attend tonight's meeting soooo I took a plane here. I need to leave again tomorrow, but...we have a night." And one stolen night was more than she anticipated in a while. "You'll have to introduce me to your boys too. Officially, of course." As much as she wanted to just claim him as hers, right now she couldn't. So at least she could meet his boys, because it was public knowledge they knew each other, because she had been very, very publicly a fan of his band once.

Just the night. They'd make it work. It would be a tight schedule, but something told him that his boys wouldn't mind if he celebrated their potential awards with his girlfriend instead of with them, at least this one time.

For a while, he just looked at her, taking in the whole of her, wrapping his head around that she actually flew to Korea when she could have flown to her next destination and have a bit more leeway for the next diplomatic meeting. "I missed you so much," he whispered, stealing a small kiss again.

"I will. You might have to deal with meeting QuantumX then, too. The two groups are basically glued together ever since XCape changed companies. They're all good kids. Fair warning though, they all currently believe I'm as single as it gets, because I'm not about to give vulture reporters a reason to start digging."

@seaoftales

It's been months of non-stop diplomatic travel and no time for anything, so Hana hadn't been able to check in with Yeong-Ho for a long, long time. The opening in her schedule came about last minute, too. She was actually meant to be in Taiwan, but her appearance got canceled due to a threat, so instead, she flew to Korea. Even just a few hours in between were better than nothing.

The perks of being in her position was that the music show that was on, jumped to acommodate her, inviting her to a vip section and backstage, allowing her to break away after the red carpet to seek out the new manager of XCape.

"You clean up nicely," she said as she found him close to the green room of his proteges. "Surprise."

The boys were slowly and steadily getting back on track. Their new album was announced to release in almost less than a month, their red carpet and award appearances were happening more often, too, and XCape grew more and more trusting towards him.

He'd been handling the last few bits, making sure XCape had everything they'd need, including being seated next to QuantumX because the separation between the two groups was very much an obvious thing now, when he heard a voice behind him that instantly made his heart skip a beat.

He turned around, eyes landing on Hana, and his expression instantly softened. "Hana!" He exclaimed, moving to gently kiss her. "What are you doing here? I thought you had your diplomacy meetings?"

He leaned back a little in his seat. That was, for all intents and purposes, another thing he'd need to wrap his head around. "Holy shit..." he whispered before a small laugh escaped him. "I'm sorry, this is just... a lot. Definitely wasn't prepared for the 'hey, you're also an uncle' part. I'm not judging, though. Clearly you two were adults enough to raise a good kid."

It would also take some time to get used to the new dynamic, but kids were adaptable. If anything, Ji-yun gained more family than he lost, and Yeong-ho knew for a fact that his mom would love being his honorary grandma.

"I still can't really wrap my head around everything. How can you just lie to two families for so long and never once feel guilty?"

"I know. I just...didn't want to lie about him. Not after what he has done," he admitted. They've both been hurt by the lies of one man, he didn't want to continue that, he couldn't. Not with Yeong-ho. Yeong-ho was a good manager to XCape, a good guy, too, great singer, dancer and rapper. He wouldn't lie to him.

"No idea, man. Especially since he was on my case for so long about being honest about Ji and..." Suddenly it dawned on him. "Motherfucker. He wanted me to go public about him to prevent me from debuting, so he wouldn't have to juggle the logistics of us three never being in the same room. He would have secrificed my dream to keep his secret..."

"He was on your case about being honest? That's very rich coming from him, especially since he knew what was on the line." He didn't think he could be more disgusted with that man, but here they were. He kept managing to dig the hole of doom deeper and deeper, and for all he cared, he could rot in it too.

"At this point I wouldn't put it past him that he'd try to do something to make sure you wouldn't debut, even if you did go public that Ji-yun is your son. he'd probably spin some story about his teenage son wanting to debut to escape responsibilities of being a father, or something like that."

"No, we wouldn't have had to hide a cousin we took in," he said. "Ji-Yun is my son." There it was out in the open. "Surprise, you not only got a younger brother, but also a nephew."

That in itself would be something else to stomach. "His mother and I were teenagers when he was born. Two stupid kids who didn't pay enough attention and decided to take responsibility for it." That was at least the short version.

"His mom lives abroad and is very much in the picture. They had a video call just earlier. He's not taking the 'Halabeoji is a liar' part well, but he is excited for an uncle and another halmeoni."

He leaned back a little in his seat. That was, for all intents and purposes, another thing he'd need to wrap his head around. "Holy shit..." he whispered before a small laugh escaped him. "I'm sorry, this is just... a lot. Definitely wasn't prepared for the 'hey, you're also an uncle' part. I'm not judging, though. Clearly you two were adults enough to raise a good kid."

It would also take some time to get used to the new dynamic, but kids were adaptable. If anything, Ji-yun gained more family than he lost, and Yeong-ho knew for a fact that his mom would love being his honorary grandma.

"I still can't really wrap my head around everything. How can you just lie to two families for so long and never once feel guilty?"

Well...straight to the topic that would be interesting. Jake didn't reply instantly. He sat down and pondered. Should he rip off the bandage? He would need Yeong-ho to be aware of that. Or should he wait, discuss everything else first. But then the one thing their father did to them came to him again: Lie. And so he wouldn't lie to Yeong-ho.

"I actually don't have a baby brother. I'm, unfortunately for you, the youngest of us brothers," he said. "Ji-Yun isn't our brother even though that's the public story we're flying."

Yeong-ho sat across from him, studying him as he spoke. It didn't make sense, at least not from his perspective. He was preparing himself to potentially have to wrangle two younger brothers, but clearly that wasn't the case and there was much more to it than what he knew, and the things he did know was what was known to the public.

"Not sure I follow. He looks like us. Kind of at least. More like you than me but... A cousin from your eumma's side?"

It did help. Jake had hoped both women blamed the one truly responsible: his father. He hurt them all. He was glad they would meet on fairly good ground. Honestly, the other was probably the only other woman on the world that knew exactly what the other felt like. And then there werethe sons. Jake texted Yeong-ho the adress, then went to make sure Ji-Yun was taken care of. His uncle and aunt took him in for the night- family on his mother's side. He'd have fun with his great cousins and the abundance of pets, so Jake and his mother could have the more...difficult conversations.

Once there, Jake's mother didn't wait for even a second to hug the woman with Yeong-ho.

"I am so sorry for what he did you to. You do not deserve this," she said. Jake smiled softly and motioned for Yeong-ho toward the backroom.

"I think our Eomma's will be okay."

His mother was nervous on the drive to the BBQ spot, even though both women were in the same boat. Yeong-ho kept reassuring her that everything would be okay, and that him and Jake would be there to mediate if there would be a need for it.

Luckily it never came to that. Jake's mom instantly hugged her, and she returned the hug. Yeong-ho smiled lightly at the sight, looking over at Jake.

"Oh yeah. Yeah, they'll be okay. Nothing bonds two women more than an asshole that wronged them both," he said, following him to the back room of the place. "How'd your baby brother take it? Or you're waiting to tell him?"