day by day

- Choi Siwan. - 44. - Hospital Director at Parker Co. Hospital. Written by Sage

[siwiwiwi]

choi si-wan -fc: gong yoo. 45. hospital director at parker co. hospital.

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[legallytaemin]

"We're both the type of husband who will say 'whatever you want, darling' and mean it. It's kind of annoying, really. Sometimes someone just has to make a decision," Tae said with a laugh. "But he did mention his aunt and uncle's farm, and it's nice there, so I think it would suit us. As long as we can keep the animals away from Jin. I don't think he's a fan." Tae had been nervous around them too, at first, at least the bigger ones, the horses and cows, but he'd gotten more used to them the more often he'd visited Spencer there over their summers together, and when they had returned for family events.

"I'm giving you the credit. If it wasn't for you coming out here and making it tolerable with me, I'd be sitting at home burying my face in my books or my work computer. I'm sure I'll be doing that when I get home, anyway. February felt so far away when I first decided I was going to try and take the BAR exam again. Now, it seems like it's just around the corner." He still had a few months to study, but now that he was thinking about the wedding and still managing a heavy workload, doing his best to also balance a social life, and make sure Spencer and Jin got all the attention they deserved, it was sure to barrel down on him before he knew it. "If I fail again, I'm going to live on a remote island and you'll never see me," he laughed.

[siwiwiwi]

“I can see how that can get frustrating,” Siwan said with a small laugh. “Though it’s better than both of you being stubborn and refusing to compromise, for sure.” He was definitely stubborn and didn’t easily find a compromise. It obviously depended on the situation, but Siwan knew when he was right and the other party was wrong. It was usually the case. 

“I’m glad I can keep you from becoming a complete hermit.” He lined up his putt, considering Tae’s words about the exam timeline. “I’m sure you’ll do well. I can only recommend putting aside some time every day for it, though. Just so you don’t lose it completely between every time you study. Do you work with someone who could help you maybe?” He added. Siwan took his shot, and straightened up to look at Tae. “You’ll do fine. No running away to remote islands. I wouldn’t know what to tell Spencer and Jin.” He half-joked and smiled at him. “And who would I play golf with? You’re the only one I know who doesn’t bore me to death out here. And I’d have no one to give questionable life advice to.” 

[legallytaemin]

"I would be happy with anything. Being the center of attention isn't usually my default position. I'll make it about Spencer. I don't think he'd take offense to me saying he's the bride," Tae said with a chuckle. Spencer had always been more playful and open with gender than people would have expected from him, especially being that he was a high school jock when they met.

"You're very kind," Tae said, lining up for his golf swing. Was it just his imagination, or was he getting better at this? "Ah, see! I like to think this is your influence," he chuckled as his ball rolled onto the green. "One of these days, I might actually beat you," Tae teased, giving Siwan a gentle squeeze on the shoulder as he moved aside to let Siwan take his shot.

"It's okay. It's natural to be curious. I'm still new to this." Tae wasn't sure if he had the authority to speak about polyamory. It seemed as if he, Spencer and Jin were all figuring it out as they went. "I can only tell you how it is for us. Sometimes we go on dates all three of us together, sometimes Jin and I will go out, sometimes Spencer and Jin, or Spencer and I. We trust each other. We try to be considerate of each other's feelings. We're honest with one another."

Tae supposed it was just like any other relationship, being mindful of how your actions impacted another person, making sure they were happy. "I just try to make sure both of them feel special and included. Make time for them. Putting my career above time with Spencer and not being honest with him about my feelings was what drove us apart last time. I don't want to repeat the same mistakes."

[siwiwiwi]

Siwan chuckled lightly at the comment about Spencer being the bride. “That’s kind of sweet. From what you’ve told me about him, he sounds like someone who’d appreciate you making it about him.” He stepped up to take his shot. “Don’t forget that a wedding is as much the grooms' day as it is the brides, though.” He added as he lined up and took his swing. The ball landed on the green, though not as close as Tae’s. “I don’t think I should be given much credit for your golf game.” He shook his head at his own shot. Definitely not his best performance. 

As they walked toward the green, Siwan listened to Tae’s explanation about how their relationship worked. It made sense, he figured. It was the same as any relationship where communication, honesty, and time together were at the centre - just with an extra person to coordinate with. Siwan definitely admired how Tae was able to juggle two partners and his job, though. Siwan had more than enough to keep the hospital afloat while also keeping himself alive. “That makes sense.” He nodded to Tae’s explanation. “As long as it’s working for you all, it must be great.” He said, and smiled. 

Siwan thought for a moment. “Sounds like you learned from what went wrong before.” He nodded. “Just make sure you’re finding a balance, you know? Your career matters too, especially with the bar exam coming up.” 

[omodrama]

Today you look... like a fried egg."

[legallytaemin]

It wasn't that Tae was expecting people to necessarily criticize his plan to re-marry his ex-husband, but it was still a relief to Tae when the announcement was met with positivity. Tae was a quiet person, a man who often defaulted to being shy and anxious. He only had a few close friends, Siwan being one of them. He had been one of the first people Tae wanted to tell.

"Spencer floated the idea of having it at his Aunt and Uncle's farm. A little Texas, a little rustic, but they're a close family. They were there for him more than his own parents were." Tae's cheeks turned pink at the mention of Jin. He still got giddy at the mention of the other man. He adored him. "We invited him over for dinner, I made Korean fried chicken, and we dropped the news." It made Tae sad to think that Jin had anticipated being dumped in that moment. It made him all the more determined to show him how adored he was. "He's on board. We want him to be. We don't want anything to change with him. But I did drop the word boyfriend, and he didn't run for the hills, so I think... I hope... that we're all doing okay."

After so much uncertainty the last five years of his life, a loneliness Tae hadn't even realized he was experiencing, it felt good to have his heart full again. "I'm very lucky."

[siwiwiwi]

Siwan nodded and smiled. A Texas farm wedding sounded perfect for Tae and Spencer, at least from what he knew about them. Especially if there was a deep connection to the farm. “That sounds beautiful.” He said. “Rustic, that’s a nice look for weddings, I think.” For someone convinced he’d never be married for real, Siwan had strong opinions on what would make a nice wedding. Of course, he’d never say it out loud, but some brides had especially unfortunate taste. Not just in men. 

Siwan chuckled lightly when Tae’s cheeks flushed talking about Jin. It was cute how smitten his friend was with his two partners. “Very strategic of you. But it sounds like it went well if he didn’t run for the hills.” He wasn’t sure why Jin would run for the hills at the label, but that wasn’t really for him to know either. He tried not to meddle too much into other people’s relationships. At least not more than he accidentally would be if he was asked for opinions or told about it. 

He set his bag down as they reached the first tee. “You’re selling yourself short. You’ve done the work to get here, haven’t you?” He told him and shook his head, and looked over at Tae. “Can I ask, though, how does that work with three people? I’m not asking to judge, I’m just - curious, you know?” 

[legallytaemin]

Korean culture could be very platonically affectionate at times, touchy-feely in ways that Americans sometimes found strange, so Tae was sometimes conscious of the fact that he might be overdoing it, but Siwan seemd to understand. "I am in a good mood," he confirmed, a wide smile on his chiseled features. He was often a reserved and quiet person. Spencer and Jin brought the enthusiasm out of him.

"Please, you're going to make better use of those clubs than I ever would," he said, knowing that even though they'd been practicing, Tae still had plenty of catching up to do. "I'll just pretend I'm letting you win. It'll make me feel better," he joked with a laugh. Tae didn't have a bunch of close friends in Blackstone. He'd moved here the last few years of high school when most people already had their established friend groups and people they had known all their lives, then he had moved to Los Angeles for several years before re-settling here less than a year ago, but Siwan was someone he trusted, and Tae knew he wouldn't be able to keep anything from him.

"This." He held up his hand to show his old wedding ring, the one Spencer had put back on his finger. "My partner, husband, ex-ex," he never knew quite what to call Spencer. "We decided to make things official again, at least legally. A little wedding. We don't know what it'll be yet, but... it feels nice. Of course, you'll be invited. I just can't promise it won't be at the courthouse."

[siwiwiwi]

Siwan’s face broke into a genuinely warm smile as he looked at the ring on Tae’s finger. “That’s wonderful,” he said, stopping their walk for a moment to give his full attention to the news. “Congratulations.” He reached out and gave Tae’s shoulder a friendly squeeze. There was something touching about seeing Tae so happy, and so openly excited about this. It was obvious how much he cared about Spencer. 

“Courthouse or ballroom, it doesn’t matter,” Siwan said sincerely. “What matters is that you’re both committed to making it work this time. And from everything you’ve told me, it sounds like you’ve both done the hard work to get there.” He smiled, and started walking again. “Just let me know the location, and I’ll be there.” He promised. He’d be honoured to witness Tae getting married, especially when it made him this happy. “What about your other partner? How does he feel about this?” 

“I hope you’ll be staying here in Blackstone Ridge, though.” He added. He didn’t have many close friends, and he really valued his time with Tae. 

[anaramoss]

CLOSED STARTER: @siwiwiwi. LOCATION: The Whiskey Barrel.

"You're reading the horoscopes?" Ana asked, glancing over the man as she served him his whiskey. "I haven't had a chance to read mine yet." She confessed, as she quickly wiped down the table. It was hard for her to pinpoint just how much truth there was to those kinds of things, but there had to be at least some. Hence why she read them. Maybe it was all just a placebo. "What does it say under Leo?"

[siwiwiwi]

Siwan looked up from the newspaper, slightly caught off guard by the question. He glanced down at the horoscopes section he’d definitely not been absently skimming while waiting for his drink. “I was just killing time,” he said with a small smile, maybe a little embarrassed by being caught. He had always been vocal about not believing in that, but his sister swore by them, so reading them was a habit. He looked back to the paper, finding Leo. “Hm, let’s see.. ‘A chance encounter could lead to unexpected opportunities. Trust your instincts when it comes to matters of the heart, but don’t rush into anything without careful consideration.’” He read and looked up at her. “Wonderfully vague. Does it resonate with you?” 

[benitoxherrera]

Benny had to admit, Siwan was playing it much cooler than he'd expected the man to. Not that he thought he'd fumble around like some fool, but he definitely didn't see Siwan as the type to flirt shamelessly so easily when cornered like this. It made him even more interested, truthfully, and he liked that Siwan wasn't scared off by it. "Guess you have a good point," Benny said, conceding the compliment could in fact mean two different things. He smirked at Siwan's question, letting his eyes fall down the man's body after the green light that was a wink. "Never been much for dinner dates," Benny said, his voice low, "but yeah, I'm flirting with you. That gonna be a problem, or should I keep at it?"

[siwiwiwi]

Siwan had to focus not to shift in his seat when Benny’s gaze travelled down his body. It was something about the gaze paired with his low voice that pulled him in. He had definitely not anticipated this when he stopped by for his whiskey and vent. He was definitely not the type of person to entertain this kind of talk, but… maybe he should be. He took a sip of his whiskey, using the moment to ground himself. “I think you should keep at it,” he said as he set his drink back down, a smirk tugging on his lips. “I’d like to see where you’re going with this.” 

[chasingxclouds-deactivated20251]

WHO: @siwiwiwi

WHERE: Haunted Harvest, Castello Di Amorosa

Isla loved any opportunity to indulge in rich wine, nibble on cheese and meats, and people watch. Her mother had signed them both up for the neighborhood community group that collectively attended different events held in town as a way to connect outside their perfectly manicured lawns. Of course, her mother bailed at the last minute, texting that a friend needed help with men's problems, just as Isla walked into the entrance.

So, she mingled and reconnected with some of her older neighbors whom she had known as a child. As she reached for another glass of wine to sample, she ended up locking eyes with a man. "Did you get spooked with the wine cellar tour? I'll have to admit the last corner got me," she offered a small smile and raised her glass towards them.

[siwiwiwi]

Siwan had been nursing his wine glass, contemplating whether attending this event alone had been a mistake. His sister had insisted he needed to “get out more” and “do normal people things,” so here he was at a haunted wine tour, feeling slightly out of his element among the decor and enthusiastic Halloween fans. 

He looked up when the woman spoke, a smile spreading over his lips. “The wine cellar was quite something,” he said in agreement. “Though I think the most terrifying thing was the spider I thought was fake until it started crawling towards me.” He admitted with a shrug of his shoulders. “They did a really good job with the atmosphere, though. It’s got a real creepy vibe.” He looked over at her. “Are you here with a group, or just a fan of haunted wine tastings?” 

[legallytaemin]

Starter For: @siwiwiwi Location: The Links

Since their first time out on the course, Tae and Siwan had been out playing golf together every couple of weeks. Sometimes it was more frequent, sometimes less, depending how their schedules lined up and how busy they were with their individual jobs, but it was nice to have a hobby for himself, and a friend who wasn't associated with either Spencer or Tae. Someone he could talk to about anything. "Ah, Siwan-hyung," Tae greeted as the older man approached, pulling him into a half-hug, patting him lightly on the back, then immediately realizing he'd possibly overstepped and withdrawing, hands in the air. "Sorry, I'm a bit over-excited today. Did you bring your new clubs? How are you liking them?"

[siwiwiwi]

Siwan returned the half-hug easily, giving Tae a reassuring pat on the shoulder before stepping back. “Don’t apologise, you’re fine,” he said with a warm smile. “Over-excited is good, that means you’re in a good mood.” He said and watched Tae as he pulled back. He appreciated the casual affection. It was a lot nicer than the reserved handshakes he usually got. 

“I did bring them,” Siwan confirmed with a nod, hefting his golf bag slightly. “I’m still getting used to the feel, but they’re definitely an improvement over my old set.” He looked up at Tae. “It was a very thoughtful gift from you, so thank you for that.” He said sincerely to his friend. “Though, I’m not sure new clubs are going to magically fix my swing, so I’m not expecting miracles. But it might get easier to fix it.” As they walked towards the first tee, Siwan studied Tae’s expression. “You do seem to be in a good mood today. Do you have any good news? Or just happy to be out of the office?” He asked with a playful smile, genuinely curious. He was happy to see him like this, though. 

[eddielove]

My Shayla

[benitoxherrera]

"Never was a big fan of limiting my options," he teased back, biting his lip as he pretended to consider the question. "Sorrows drownin' usually isn't too bad unless they're real broken up about it, and celebrations usually mean rowdy crowds but the money's good and the attitudes are better — but there's something that really turns me on when it comes to anyone with cajones who comes in and asks for what they want. Sue me, I get hot over confidence just as much as the next guy."

Benny had clocked Siwan as attractive plenty of times before tonight, but somehow it hadn't ever actually played out into anything. Right now, though, he was feeling the tug more than he remembered ever having felt it, and the conversation was entertaining. Maybe he was just lonely, or it'd been a minute since he'd gotten laid — hell, maybe he'd been a little bit hungry for attention. It didn't matter what the reasoning was, Benny was never one to dwell on that. Instead, he leaned into the moment even more. Benny reached out and trailed his finger along Siwan's jaw, pretending to inspect it closely. "I thought the sun was supposed to be bad for your skin," he mumbled, "SPF and all that. Whatever you're doin' seems to be workin' just fine to me." After withdrawing his hand, Benny rested it on the table. "Are you sayin' you think I'm handsome, or that I fit the stereotypical handsome vibe?"

[siwiwiwi]

If Siwan had been a few more drinks into the evening, his breath would have caught slightly when Benny’s fingers traced along his jaw. The touch was unexpected, and definitely sent a jolt through him that had nothing to do with the whiskey. It was suddenly very clear to him how close they were, and how Benny was looking at him with that easy confidence he had just admitted to finding attractive. Siwan cleared his throat. He wasn’t usually thrown off, but Benny’s directness was disarming. “Both. You fit the stereotype, but also happen to actually be handsome. Those things aren’t mutually exclusive.” He pointed out, giving Benny a crooked smile. 

Finally finding his footing again, he looked up at the other man. “Are you flirting with me, Benny? You could at least buy me dinner first.” He joked and winked at him. 

[legallytaemin]

Tae nodded in agreement. "Yeah, working for her was time-consuming. Busy life, busy workload. But I can't complain, not really. I chose to take on that responsibility. I was running away from my own thoughts. And I ran away from my husband in the process. Buried myself in work. Leona was wonderful, though. She's still a friend. She's just recovering from the trials and tribulations of being a celebrity in Los Angeles by enjoying the quiet life right now." Anything else wasn't really Tae's business, and he didn't want to overstep.

Tae listened as Siwan described his residency and how difficult that time was. Being a lawyer was certainly no easy feat, either. You'd have people's lives in your hands in a different way, but what Siwan did, it was admirable. Tae couldn't imagine facing so much responsibility. "What made you decide it was the life you wanted?" Tae asked genuinely. "Did your parents want you to have a career in medicine, or was it something you came to on your own?"

The question of the BAR exam prompted a nervous chuckle from Tae as he lined up his next shot. He promised himself he would remain calm, to focus on the task at hand, not get overwhelmed again in his anxieties and emotions. It was all easier said than done, but his ball sailed through the air, then rolled gently across the green, landing nicely near the flag. "Ah! Close! What were you saying? Yes, sorry, the BAR exam is going to be difficult, but I have until February to study. A friend of mine, he was an attorney in LA, he moved back here and offered to help me study, too, so we can take it together. He said the California BAR is one of the most difficult. Isn't that interesting? At least with medicine, it's mostly the same wherever you go, isn't it? Or am I over-simplifying matters?"

[siwiwiwi]

Siwan watched as Tae’s ball landed near the flag and let out an appreciative whistle. “Nice shot. Maybe you’re better at this than you give yourself credit for.” He walked over to line up his own shot, considering Tae’s questions. 

“Honestly, I’m not sure. It was always expected, but the more I got into it, the more I enjoyed it. It was something I was good at, you know?” He took his swing, the ball landing a reasonable distance from the hole. “The problem-solving, and way I could help people, it became mine more than an expectation from my parents, if that makes sense.” He glanced at Tae. “Though there are always going to be days where I question it. Especially after particularly difficult cases, or when the administrative side gets overwhelming. But ultimately, I’m happy where I am. I feel proud of what I’ve managed to build, anyway.” He said with a smile towards his friend. 

Siwan nodded at Tae’s comment about the bar exam. “February gives you time to prepare. I’m glad you have someone to prepare with, though.” He smiled slightly. “You’re not oversimplifying. The science behind medicine is the same no matter where you are in the world.” There was a time when he had considered going back to South Korea and study Traditional Korean Medicine, but the timing had never seemed right. Now, he figured it was too late, anyway. He was growing more comfortable in his role at the hospital. 

“Are you having second thoughts about law?” He asked curiously. 

[leylademircii]

"See, doc," Kit said, pointing a finger at Siwan and giving him a playful squint, "you say that like those discharge papers aren't full of things that sound a whole lot like not goin' to work." He knew Siwan was looking out for him, and he appreciated it more than he would with anyone else, but Kit was still not one to take anything too seriously. "Unless they've got the number for the nurse who checked me in on 'em, then what the hell are you waitin' on?" He didn't bother asking for the pain meds, because Kit wouldn't end up taking them. He never did. Alcohol was a buzz he could manage. Weed, on the rare occasion he did partake, made him feel just loose enough to enjoy himself. Pain meds were too far: making Kit feel out of control entirely and creating a hell of a hangover fog the next day. Besides, he couldn't go to work on them, and he was going to work in the morning come hell or high water. "Looks real great," he replied to his reflection in the mirror, turning his head this way and that to take it in. "Bet you won't even see the scar, if there is one. You've got a real talent there, anyone tell you that?"

[siwiwiwi]

Siwan snorted and shook his head. “That’s kind of the point, Mr McGrady.” He said, crossing his arms and giving Kit a knowing look. He didn’t think anything he said would stop him from going to work or doing stupid shit in general. But as his doctor, it was his duty to at least try. “You do need rest, whether you take it or not is up to you, but as your doctor I have to strongly recommend you don’t attend work.” He said firmly, but didn’t dwell on it. He figured he’d just be wasting his breath. “I am not getting involved in your dating life, Mr McGrady, that’s above my pay grade.” He said, though there was amusement in his voice. “But I’m pretty sure she’s engaged to someone who doesn’t spend half his time in the ER.” He handed Kit the discharge papers. “Take these anyway, even if you’re not going to read them.” He said, and pushed them into his hands. He chuckled lightly at the compliment about his stitching. “People have mentioned it, but I appreciate it.” He said with a nod of acknowledgement. “Is there anything else I can do for you today?” 

[coreyjensen]

"You said don't do it for someone else." Corey maybe took that too literally, but they just figured Siwan might get a little iffy about it being for Charlie's sake. "But it's for both of us. I always avoided it 'cause, well, it's pretty fucked up." Corey had watched their mother's condition slowly deteriorate over the course of a decade. The thought of Charlie going through that with them broke Corey's heart, but the wait-and-see was cruel. "Damn, you put it all... mature and stuff. Yeah. A life. With cute little dogs and cats, a house, maybe a couple rings." Charlotte had said that she would wanna get married some day, but it wasn't a step Corey could even consider unless Charlotte could make an informed decision. Knowing it was a potential outcome was totally different to when a DNA result came back and said Corey would definitely get sick.

Corey finished drilling the spice rack to the wall, giving it a once-over from a couple steps back. Corey exhaled, lowering their head with a nod. "Blood draw, yeah." They chewed on the inside of their lip, usual confidence retreating and being overtaken by a more nervous demeanor. Shit, this was getting real. "Next week? Shit, really? I thought they made you do like, counselling and stuff beforehand? Can I skip that? I've already been through all this. What's a counsellor gonna tell me that I didn't already witness with my mom?"

[siwiwiwi]

Siwan shook his head gently. “By ‘don’t do it for someone else’, I meant make sure you’re doing it because you want to know, not because someone else is pressuring you.” He clarified, watching Corey closely. His expression softened slightly. “From what you’re saying, this is something you want for yourself and your future with this person you clearly care about. That’s different, and a good enough reason to do it in my book.” He watched as Corey finished installing the spice rack, noting the shift in their demeanour. It seemed the confidence had made way for something more vulnerable. He knew this was a scary step to take, but in some cases it was a necessary one. 

“You’re right, there is genetic counselling that’s typically required,” Siwan nodded. “You can’t skip it, but we can fast track it a little. The counselling isn’t about telling you things you don’t already know. It’s about making sure you understand what knowing will mean for you specifically and how it can affect other areas of your life.” He thought for a moment. “It’s also to make sure you’re emotionally prepared for either outcome, because once you know, you can’t unknow it.” He picked up his coffee again. “I can shuffle a few things around. Get you in counselling this week, and the test next if you’d like?” 

[siwiwiwi]

(Delivered to Siwan’s home along with a card and some custom engrained golf balls and a custom embroidered golf towel) 

Siwanhyung, I hope you have a wonderful birthday. See you on the links. Drinks are on me at the club house.

- Tae

[siwiwiwi]

(Delivered to Siwan at his office in a gift box) 

Happy birthday, old man. Bet you didn’t take the day off.

-Corey