DIATRIBES.
@ofeternity
jang eunseol is by no means a damsel. she plays at one, sure. but she is not one herself.
she has her methods of getting power – her smiles, her words, her touch. she wraps men and women around her fingers and puppeteers them around as she pleases. people have killed for her, died for her. but her power is soft, not the kind she wants, truly. she can pull on strings and watch them dance for her, but the strings tie themselves back to her and she’s got no way of cutting them off without losing her own. it infuriates her to be caught in this balancing act, needing people for power when she wants it for herself.
her brothers pet her head and tell her to be on her best behaviour, like she isn’t the reason the jangs have the chance to call a truce with the hwangs. longtime friends, turned longtime rivals, and now perhaps a truce can be had thanks to her. not that anyone has taken note. after all, eunseol is the only one who bothers to listen, when her father worries about their numbers and diminishing turf. he wants to expand their sphere of influence with minimal bloodshed, she wants the power that comes with that.
which is what this dalliance is about.
hwang min shows up, finally. she pulls him towards her, wrapping her arms around his neck when she greets him with a kiss. it’s for show, slick and demanding. eunseol doesn’t let herself get caught up in it because she’s got something to say and it’s for his ears only. “you owe me,” she reminds him softly when they break apart, his breath hot on her cheek, “i’m collecting.”
when she takes him by the hand to lead him to the table, she pockets one of his smaller rings. for later.