helleborus orientalis

happy new year everyone! 🎊🎇

mod lotus and i are so excited to be going into 2024 with you all! we’re so thankful to have all of you and your wonderful muses here in the directory. in an attempt to ease back into interactions on the dash, we’ve decided to start up an honesty hour game! this will end with our crocus event at the end of the month (january 31st), so send as many questions to your fellow muses as your heart desires. just keep any potential triggers in mind when doing so.

◎﹑ ⵌpoetic justice

@bhjuyeon at the crocus festival ( ... )

ㅤㅤxiaolin didn't think of herself as a rude person. she was sweet to everyone she knew -- minus those god-forsaken children of the mugunghwa, magnolia and gladiolus houses. she never outwardly said anything rude, especially to people she didn't know. xiaolin did not view herself as a rude person, mainly because she kept her rude thoughts to herself. as of now, her most recent rude thought occurred somewhat like this.

this is the guy everyone is obsessed with? he seems a bit boring to me.

and, since xiaolin wasn't a rude person, she didn't say that. she simply put a smile on her face. she had made a bad first impression already, so censoring herself was probably the best option going forward. "oh ... anything is fine! i like a little bit of everything .. though, maybe we should aim for holiday songs? it is that time of year after all." she mentioned, thinking over all of the holiday songs she knew as she tapped her chin in deep thought.

"i wonder .. what's your favorite holiday song? i'll sing that one."

"holiday songs..." he thinks, wondering if there had been any song in particular that sticks to him when it comes to the wintery season. under any other years, juyeon would not find himself celebrating or performing during these season given he would either be away or locked away in his room until he needs to show his face for any formal crocus events. the only holiday song he could recall was one that he had listened to the maids of the mugunghwa residence humming to before finding the sheet from store.

but what could she possibly wear out for such a special occasion?! the weather was cold, but she hated frumpy layers that resulted in too much time spent undoing when in the warmth of the indoors. eventually, she’d settled on an oversized sweater, paired with a simple pleated skirt and high socks. her scarf offered a splash of burgundy to the look while her fluffy mittens were intended to help combat the cold.

there's a sigh of relief when he finally sees and hears of dasom but upon the suggestion of changing, juyeon finds himself shaking his head rapidly. "no, you look great. as long you're keeping yourself warm." he quickly says in hopes dasom would not find herself going back into the room to change for another attire which may make him wait longer. perhaps another part of him didn't understand nor care for fashion so as long it looked like she had been presentable and warm at most, juyeon is more ready to get them both off and out for the road.

( ... ) there's a burning sensation he feels from the back of his throat. was it anger that juyeon feels? by no means, would he want to make a fuss now and call the older man out for what he had said, especially since the person in question is not only the man's brother but his best friend. are older siblings all the same? that it runs in their blood to disregard their younger sibling despite all efforts they may put to rekindle the siblinghood? "breath juyeon." he tells himself before straightening his collar of his durumagi as he approaches the man with polite courtesy. "how is your evening going so far, yeonsu?"

even in the advisor that stands before him, yeonsu can tell that no one truly understands the qualms that he’s going through. that he has been going through — alone. it was almost as if everyone had expected him to be happy or relieved to finally return home, or to find out that he wasn’t a poor man after all but from a prestigious and well known family instead. 

none of that meant anything to yeonsu though. not when he could still remember the expression his mother wore in that moment of the truth being unveiled to them both. memories brought back that yeonsu wasn’t truly her child. that he had been a mere victim in a scheme of bigger things making them all fools for lesser. 

the small conversation dies quickly as the advisor loses the ability to find a proper reply to yeonsu’s response. there’s a hint of sorrow in his eyes as he then quietly excuses himself that leaves yeonsu feeling as if he’s done something wrong again. one mixed with empathy and pity. it was getting hard telling the two apart in all the eyes that looked at him.

the stinging effect of the troublesome gaze is quickly thrown under the rug however when yeonsu suddenly hears a voice addressing him. when yeonsu finally finds the owner’s voice, a part of him sighs internally. one- for the unanticipated company and two- because he was only human… and the ability to keep his emotions hidden continuously was beginning to wane.

but he supposes he’s thankful for knowing who it is that approaches him at the very least. 

“juyeon,” yeonsu greets back with the best smile he can put forward. “it’s been a lovely night. the mugunghwa estate is much more extravagant than i had realized seeing how it’s been decorated for tonight. i believe i truly understand what all the citizens of beonhwa mean when they say that mugunhwa is truly a sight to behold.”

it’s talk expectant from yeonsu. from and heir. from one house to another. and yet, yeonsu feels like he’s choking on every word.

“how has your evening been? i presume it’s been a busy day with all the set up?”

perhaps it had been his own relationship with eunjoo that had sour him the possibilities of an older sibling being fond of their younger siblings, that it reflects of his impressions of yeonsu. that just as eunjoo would treat him, yeonsu would not allow any chance of redemption of closeness for yunjin to be acquainted with him amidst their lost times.

still juyeon pretends for now and when the chance arise, he would then confront the older man of his.... kinship with his brother if it were to even exist.

the man flashes a smile at the son of gladiolus, one that is kind and used mostly out of courtesy in formal situations just like this one. "you could spare the house of mugunghwa any flattery. the house of gladiolus does not fall behind in their grand knighthood. it is with your house that the citizen of beonhwa, including myself, could fall asleep at night, knowing we're being protected from harm." there is some truth to his word, but the house of mugunghwa themselves have capable man that guards the residence but hierarchy amongst houses - be it spoken aloud or not - has always been a funny topic.

◎﹑ ⵌpoetic justice

@bhjuyeon at the crocus festival

ㅤㅤjoint performances was something that xiaolin was used to. in most cases, she would sing with a band, or have dancers accompany her on stage at the orchid opera house. so, when she was asked to perform at the crocus festival in order to raise money for charities, she wasn't exactly surprised when she was told that it would be a performance with someone else. the who, however, is what had surprised her.

his name was kang juyeon, a master of instruments which had been the talk of the orchid opera house for quite a while. apparently, attending his performances was viewed as an honor, and he rarely, if ever, performed with someone else. so, of course, it was a bit of a shock to hear that he had agreed to it. perhaps it was because they were giving money to charity. for whatever the reason was, xiaolin just hoped that he wasn't mean. she couldn't deal with a rude man tonight. well, she could -- she just didn't feel like it.

so, once xiaolin had received the news, her curiosity (and general nosiness) caused her to go up to him for the first time. "so .. i didn't know you performed with other people." is all xiaolin should've said, but she always had a way of not being able to stop talking. "thought you were kind of like .. y'know, a lone-wolf type of guy. which is kind of a cliché -- not that you're a cliché, but, you just don't talk much- or maybe it's because we've just never talked-." xiaolin cut herself off at that point, taking a breath and putting a warm smile on her face.

"anyway, i'm xiaolin. i'll be singing with you tonight."

it seemed that even as he had arrived, his performing partner for the day had strut up to him, chatty and nosy as ever from what he has heard of her. before even exchanging their names or the lack of formality, he hears the woman go on about impressions of him; one alike many others when they think of him. a lone wolf. a quiet boy.

juyeon allows her to talk first without interrupting her and finally when he hears of her name does he finally speak up. "i'm juyeon. it'd be my first time doing accompaniment with someone, so do look after me." he introduces himself briefly followed by a mirroring smile while pretending he had not listened to her earlier commentary of him as he peels the gloves off his hand, slowly stretching them before taking the hot pack out of his pocket and holding onto it so it warms his joints.