#banditvld

“You don’t bring flowers to people you don’t like,” his mother always said, something he’d taken to heart and kept close to the breast as he wandered through life, collecting fragments of time and space like wildflowers plucked from a vast field, filled and cluttered with experiences that sought to birth opportunities and wonder, but often times revealed a piece of himself that shuttered and sought to hide from peering eyes and sharp nails that would find no other pleasure than to sink beneath his skin.

So were secrets: skin deep but burrowed within the bone, suckling marrow maggots that drew the deepest, darkest crevices of his brain to the forefront, causing him to confront the darkness that seeped and sought to rattled the reality he had built for himself. Built on legs of sand, his image shifted under the weight of accusations unexpected, those sent through shifting eyes and meddling glances that knew better than to place such a thing upon a man such as himself.

He was bold, he was strong. He was firm in his stance and decisions.

Yet all it took was a single flower, a single blossoming in his chest, his breast a warm mess that made way for feelings unexplored, for emotions ignored and desires smothered.

Bring flowers to those you like.

“Do you like them?” came the soft query, dark eyes focused on the glass vase in the center of the desk of freshly picked flowers from his morning walk. Wisps of dew still hung on the leaves, like Dawn’s tears for She must again return to Her ancient slumber. He reached out, catching a slipping droplet on the pad of his forefinger. It slid through the grooves of his fingerprint, gentle flecks on the tabletop.

The interior of the dorm room was flooded with warm light, soft rays catching the edges of the muted colors that otherwise sat flat in their environment. He’d been able to convince his roommate to vacate for the morning, offering him some pocket change to get himself a breakfast that would likely outrank that which was served at the company’s cafeteria. Where the rest of his group members were, he wasn’t sure, but he was certainly lucky they were away, for the humming silence seemed to feed the warmth he felt, that which streamed through the windows and circulated through his veins.

The picked apart breakfast sat between them, accompaniments of half-drained coffee and tea glasses at the ready. Eyelids heavy from lack of sleep and a hearty meal, the young man rested one elbow against the desk, chin rest in the open palm as dark eyes found the other idol once more.

@banditvld​

the plan had been to take the bus into town to shop for some meat for the barbecue for that evening. and it had started well, he and bandit had managed to get the right bus, the problem then came when the two of them ended up getting off at the wrong stop. not a problem for two grown adults with years of experience in the adult world, you would think. then you would be wrong and neither of them really knew where they were going anymore, meaning the two of them were simply just aimless wandering down streets they didn’t recognize. 

“maybe we should have asked for directions fifteen minutes ago,” jungwon did eventually have to offer with a sideways glance at his companion for this trip. because now they had probably walked miles in the wrong direction. then again, it was not like there was really anyone around to ask at the moment. then he grinned, turning to bandit with a rather joking tone of voice, “bet if you posted on your social asking for directions, you’d get hundreds of responses in seconds. probably hundreds of fans showing up in person as well.” that was a joke, obviously. the last thing they needed right then were fanatic particle fans. 

the evening was quaint, time moving uncharacteristically slow for the last days of the summer. sitting on a little step outside a closed bookstore as the slowly vanishing rays of sun painted each wall orange felt almost cathartic. a change of pace moonsan only became aware he needed once warmth seeped through clothing layered to keep his identity safe, spreading around his skin and making him sink into himself. between that and the familiarity of the presence with him, the young man was unknowingly sinking into comfort and vulnerability. enough to forget any defenses and the lies he’d tangled himself into so much he believed them.

“thanks for meeting me today despite me being an idiot,“ the melodic tone of his voice was mellow for once, somehow fitting the atmosphere. “and sorry that i dragged you out for nothing. i obviously got too excited and didn’t do my research properly.” head tilted backwards to gesture towards the closed store. the oldest bookstore in seoul stood behind him, holding many interesting valuables that played into the know-it-all, try-it-all habits legion’s leader often displayed. there was just enough time to indulge in them, too, a day or two dedicated to rest between comeback preparations a perfect timeframe. however, characteristic impracticality just had to reach a peak that day.

I do, yes. I know @vldminhyun since we trained together and naturally everyone knows the members of Particle. I’m not exactly well acquainted with @samuelvld, but we have met a few times and they’ve been fine exchanges. So, no complaints from me, not to mention they’re people I wouldn’t really see otherwise so this is a nice opportunity.

Absolutely Seongsan Ilchulbong. You can see the sunrise from anywhere in the world, but there are certain places that make it... I don’t want to say “magical,” but there are places that make it feel like something you imagine you’ll never experience again anywhere else. It’s something special, watching the sunrise at Seongsan Ilchulbong.