closed.

a starter for @sgn-jmoon

𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞, 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐠𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬. empty words, repetitions of promises no one is keeping a track on if you keep them or not. if it was up to yun, he would light his responsibilities on fire and watch them burn away, scattering the ashes for the entire hall to see.

if it was up to him, he wouldn’t be here, listening to his mother talk. bordering on tediousness.

when mother speaks in korean, her words have soft edges, syllables rolling off her tongue so naturally one could almost mistake her for a native. but when she reverts back to cantonese, her voice grows edges as sharp as knives that could cut you if you aren’t too careful. it seems she is always throwing daggers at yun’s way, the way she speaks – bold and unrelenting, like rapid gunfire. she does both of these with the same mouth, same tight-lipped smile. 

“don’t look so sour” she warns behind her smile, pats his cheek and taps his chin upwards. there is something flashing in her eyes that looks awfully, familiarly disapproving. her hands move to his collar, fingers carefully but firmy fixing the necktie that’s hanging from his neck as if it was a leash for her to hold onto and to keep him in check. when she tightens it, it could be compared to that of a noose constricting around his throat. once there is nothing else to fix and mother looks more approving than not, she gives him another warning slash reminder and goes back to mingling.

with the hawk off of his back, yun approaches a waiter, snatches a glass of champagne off the tray and gulps it down with one go. it tastes as bland as everything else they are serving here, he notices. (don’t look so sour my ass.) grabs the tie and yanks, loosening it enough for mother to get a headache if she saw. it feels slightly easier to breathe when there is no such firm pressure against his throat, but discomfort still sticks to his skin whenever he’s dressed like this. one would assume he’d get used to the tux after basically growing up in it, but it doesn’t change the fact that it makes him feel more like a prisoner than anything else.

the clock has barely moved its hands for what feels like an eternity, minutes ticking by slower than elderly people with their elongated handshakes and even slower words. boredom and inconvenience go hand in hand. discreetly steering away from the crowds, his lips stretched into a halfhearted, almost smile. when it begins to seem like his only option for getting through the night is to get hammered, yun spots a familiar face amidst the hundreds of people. relief is like sweet poison into his veins, and suddenly, it is getting slightly easier to breathe. there is no time wasted between the recognition and approach; rare chances like these present themselves just to be seized.

in lieu of a proper greeting: “julian. what a coincidence!” maybe, if they hurry, no one will notice his absence for the rest of the night. unlikely – but maybe they’ll be able to buy an hour or two of leniency.

“40?! No way you are 40. Miss, you look stunning like a 25 year old.” Oh he sure had a way with his words, a smirk on his face after uttering a flirty line. It wasn’t a rare sight to see ladies crowding and clinging onto Julian for he had a charm. None of the men there impressed him anyway. A rich 40 year old could work as a sugar daddy. He didn’t mind escorting a man like that for money but of course Julian knows that if his parents ever found out, he would be beheaded instantly. 

An hour into the event and Julian was starting to feel his social energy levels running out. Put him with people he actually clicked with and he can spend a whole 4 hours with them. This? Not so much. Which is why the male had been lingering around the same corner by the balcony, sipping on red wine very very slowly. He didn’t need to get tipsy and start making a mess and worse of all, embarrass his Aunt. He contemplated letting his Aunt Gloria know that he desperately wanted to leave so he could go back to the dorm and watch a crime drama but didn’t want to leave her alone too. Not until he heard a very familiar voice coming from behind him. 

                  HEADS UP KIDS AND CROOKS,

To the ladies and gentlefolk of Seongnam University, you are all cordially invited to a CHRISTMAS BLOWOUT BASH held this year by Wolfbane Social Club’s own president Shin Tsai!

Come and see the Student Center’s largest lounge room and cafeteria section transformed into a den of iniquity a beautiful array of festivity, decked out in fairy lights and ambient decor, and catered with plenty of gourmet dishes (and yes, of course, booze included!). There will be a DJ for those who dance and a dessert table for those who can’t, and all attendees will have the option of participating in a secret santa gift exchange if they so wish, at the stroke of midnight!

So please dress to impress and join us from 8PM TO DAWN THIS COMING SATURDAY before everyone exits campus grounds for the Big Day Itself, to blow off some holiday cheer!

                                                                                                 (shin sticks a little note in front of                                                                                                   the entrance like if you enter you’ve                                                                                                     agreed to death and all other                                                                                                     possible consequences and                                                                                              wolfbane will not be held responsible)

aito held onto his cellphone, clinging to the text sent to him. he didn’t need to wait too long. but it almost felt too long. he backed up when the two men tried to bother him, sighing and curling in on himself. and really, he was surprised as to how fast julian actually came to get him. he felt relieved. his eyes widened almost comically when he watched the older male make his way toward him and push the two men away from him. he let out the softest of sounds, and stuck to his side, content and feeling maybe for the first time that day, and during that party, safe. just for a bit. he licked his lower lip and took his time to stare at julian, his tutor. he was always kind to him, and he enjoyed their sessions. he was… a good friend. he could say it. after all, you don’t go running to someone to help them if you didn’t like them somewhat. 

he felt content knowing that he mattered to someone. it made him feel warm inside. he was pressed next to the older male, and he took his time taking his breath and catching it. which in the party, watching everyone, his anxiety seemed to rise, and he felt himself becoming very panicky. it wasn’t unnatural. if anything, it happened a lot, and all the time. it was a bit embarrassing to have to do breathing exercises in front of his hyung, but he also knew he wouldn’t be judged for it. so he took his time, the younger male clutching onto julian’s hand as he breathed in slowly, and licked his lower lip. he blocked his nose so he could get some cool air as he breathed, and he tried to clear his mind, trying to forget the fact not one, but two people tried to flirt with him- ugh.

aito’s nose scrunched up and he shook his head. fingers tightening around julian’s wrist. he squeezes gently and tugged him outside, wanting to escape and leave quickly. he didn’t want to hang out there anymore. not for a long time. he reminded himself not to go to any parties anymore, at least not for a long while, it never really made him feel any type of good way, honestly. it just made him feel anxious, and after today, he’ll remind himself to say outright no. he still felt a bit shaky, honestly, but being outside in the dark with only one person. it was nice and grounding. he finally took a look at the older male beside him who came such a look way for him, his lips curling upward into a soft, yet shy smile. ducking his head, he tugged on his wrist and leaned in to offer him a hug. nice and tight, before quickly letting go. a flush dusted his cheeks, only from embarrassment from having to be basically saved, but his hands raise and he offers a simple and a quick, ‘thank you’, signed slowly to be understood. 

he looked around once more, before turning is attention to his friend, looking for his phone to quickly type out exactly what he wanted to say, offering his phone to his hyung afterwards.

thank you for coming to get me. im sorry you had to stop doing whatever you were doing- i hope i wasnt bothering you? it means a lot you came out of your way to help me though, really. and i dont know how i could thank you- but. maybe you can let me buy you food or something? i feel bad i made you come, but im also so very thankful. youre the best. <3

While Aito took his moment to regain himself, Julian did his best to be there for the younger —  holding his hand and keeping a look out for anyone who might come over to their spot. The last thing they needed right now was for a few nosy kids to crowd around the poor boy and make him feel worse. The hold on his wrist went from one of comfort to ‘let’s just go already’. Aito tugged Julian along which he followed rather obediently as they finally made their way outside. Julian could finally breathe and exhaled before shaking his head in disbelief as he glanced over at the younger, corners of his lips quirking upwards into a cheeky smile. Julian saw Aito inching closer and wrapping his arms around him which made him instantly reach up to embrace the other as well. 

“Thank you.”

“It was nothing. I’m glad you’re all fine.” 

Julian stood there when the other male fished for his phone and began typing away. He thought that maybe he was calling for a friend to come pick him up even though Julian could be the one to do that. It was when Aito held up his phone with words typed in a note that he realised that the other was working on a message. Pulling out his own phone, Julian typed in his reply before holding it out towards the other. 

🌑 a late night text-

[ la lumière de la lune –> ] r u done at the library yet, come over[ la lumière de la lune –> ] no arguing this time come over[ la lumière de la lune –> ] im bored and not in a good mood can u just come[ la lumière de la lune –> ] i’ll make it worth ur while

🔎 a revealing text-

20:17 Surprise surprise. I’m actually in my dorm. 20:17 I’m just done showering and I don’t mind taking another later 20:18 For now, let’s take that frownie away. I’m coming.  20:19 Coming over. 

______________________________________________

  🤡 - a goofy text

( sms ▶ moon cake ) hip joint - the horse has a limited hip movement compared                                    to the dog. this is mainly restricted to bending and( sms ▶ moon cake ) wait this is not the notes app …

🗑 - a text that wasn’t sent

( sms ▶ moon cake ) i don’t get what you find so attractive in

🔎 - a revealing text

but after watching his 24-hour video, i feel like i've learned a lot: basically, that i was overthinking the whole thing.

i think what makes taeil taeil is that sense of simplicity. he seems nice and he is. he seems warm and he is. i was searching for motives behind his kindness, but that's just how he is, and i absolutely love it.

his personality is that feeling of home, stability, the feeling you get when you happily banter with your siblings. and his voice is all of that piled on top of technical beauty.

Taeil: yes! I’m glad you asked because I can definetly see us as cats

Johnny:

##% TAEIL DETAILS