odd eye

some things don’t change. it rings too true. milo is not so completely obtuse that he doesn’t notice. the twitch in his sister’s brow remains the same, resurfaces whenever he wears on her good will. the mantle of fool remains the same, like thorns embedded in flesh; second skin he’d likely never give up.

and, more so recently, the notch around his neck tightens all the same—at the announcement of his parents’ arrival to seoul.

at the impending inspection visit to his penthouse.

something of which he and morgan had spent the better of the day cleaning in preparation. not without its downsides, what with his sister’s constant nag carrying them the whole way through—but for the most part? the apartment was spick and span.

meaning he’d have no excuse if anything goes south from here.

“noona,” milo fiddles with his tie absently, properly (least, in their family’s terms) dressed for dinner; though it changes nothing with his demeanor, how quickly he jumps to turn in his seated position and face the older, chin resting against the back of cushion.

“remind me again why we can’t eat out?” a moment’s pause. “or at your place instead?”

in other words: why me?

how she's still here is beyond morgan's limits of imagination: years later, being roped into what's essentially yet another of brother dearest’s endless con jobs.

perfection isn't preferred but expected, or in the case of milo, the closest he could possibly come to the archaic jung standard. of course, there's a method to this madness, with a hidden hand that works the pulleys and wires to keep up with the show as smoothly as possible. 

all at her expense. obviously.

her apartment first, her time second, her energy third. and at the peak of this sunday afternoon, her patience is on the chopping block, funneled through a disdainful, cyro-temper and pine sol fueled cycle of scrubbing and spewing. 

on the side table. a byredo candle flickers, the sweet sharpness of citrus peels and rhubarb wafts over in the momentary calm, recovered from under the clutter they’d cleared out.