#dalhyeonn

open ✉ ❝ royal wedding prompts ❞

the younger male cast a look of amusement at his brother, pursed lips trying to withhold a laugh as he nudged into his brother’s sides a little. while hyeon had always been the more sociable, and fun son of the chief scholar, hui supposed that he still preferred running wild, roaming about instead of having to sit through something as formal as a wedding celebration of a princess.

❝ you have already downed a whole jar, hyung. ❞ his voice is soft, even if it was spoken in a timely reminder, it sounded less of a chide than a by comment. pulling his cup of tea closer to take a sip, he hummed softly, looking around them. marriage and celebrations was not new to him, but one that involved a groom he was well acquainted with, that was something different. in the corner of his eyes, he could see dongho downing a bowl of wine himself in high spirits, and shook his head.

instead, he turned back to his brother. ❝ i thought you enjoyed your share of chatter, ❞ hui laughed, teasing him by referring to his stream of words whenever the brothers are left to their devices. still, it showed when they’re in events, how hyeon always blended well with others. ❝ i never thought i’d see a friend get married so soon. it makes it seem like the wedding is more alive than the ones we’ve been to, if i make sense? ❞

☆┋event: royal wedding, open

“my… apolo…gies.“ the two words come out in a slower and more unsure way than hyojin had ever thought he’d hear himself say. but they did, and he couldn’t do anything about that. so he repeats himself in case he didn’t make sense “my apologies, i didn’t mean to cause racket.“ he says, this time voice not wavering or pausing weirdly.

in all honesty he just needed a breath of fresh air, that was the main reason why he had walked out of the celebration. excusing himself from the company of those around him, he found himself here, with hyeon. he didn’t think his arrival would be loud, but apparently, he had managed to cause enough noise to disturb the other. “it’s been a while since we’ve seen each other.” hyojin points out, tone of voice soft, as he steps next to the male, looking up at him with mild curiosity across his features. 

of all the places, of all the things deoksu could have been doing, this was definitely not at the top of that list. banding together with men of equal ( or to put it frankly, of more ) caliber than he, was definitely not a day made in deoksu’s book. neither would books be involved but he soon realizes, coming back home, everything returns back to the way it was: like the way that nothing in his life is in his control but in the hands of one self-righteous left minister who would rather see his son bloodied and haggard than safe at home, resting. 

oh family, you got to love them!

a thought that clings to his mind half-heartedly as hands take the reins of his stead haphazardly. the bow is slung across his chest, arrows untouched as he feigns interest in today’s game. sure, competition was something to be enjoyed -- especially if it was friendly but having just returned from a field that was a little less friendly and all the more hostile, and if it had been any other time, deoksu would have been all for tossing back the reigns and celebrating camaraderie but alas, it is what it is. 

he’s unsuspecting, practically a sitting duck in the middle of the forest -- with little hopes, deoksu prays, as he’s lost in his thoughts, an arrow doesn’t come straight through his thick skull. ( dying outside of war would only add salt to his metaphorical wounds )

@dalhyeonn

the skies’ still dark when he stood in the courtyard, one hand gripping onto the rein as the other sooth the mane of his ride. very soon, the sun would rise, and very quickly, it would envelop their world with its golden rays. it was rare to hear hustling in the household at this timing, but today was a special day, and even for an early-riser like hui, this morning was at an unexpected hour too. the chilly air tickled his skin, but he knew that it would feel better once the sun rose fully, hanging itself among the clouds.

the horse neighed softly under his quiet rubs, as the male casting a look towards the rooms on the far ends. his brother wasn’t late, for he was always early. earlier than punctual, always so, and never late. still, he was feeling a little restless already. even if he himself was not on the hunt, he wanted to go for a ride, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity.  ❝ shhh, i know. hyung would be out soon, ❞ he whispered to the family horse. even though he’s not a bad rider, hui had never had his own stead.

after all, he was never one to roam the outdoors, at least not as frequent as his brother or father, the latter whom was always on a mission if he was to go anyway. so the spare horse in the family stable would do. after all, there’s only so many of them. eyes shooting to the direction of the chatter, hui let slip a tiny smile, hand dropping from the neatly combed mane.  

                ━━━━━━━━   ◦  ◦     THERE ARE A LOT of people he hasn’t seen once since coming home from war.  

he thought this would be a good chance to reconnect in spite of his injury, because jinil knows all too well that he’s been avoiding that front as much as possible.  it’s the shame in him, that he can no longer be the strength behind his country; that he can no longer serve his king.  there’s not much he’s good for (  even his future wife would much rather have someone other than him.  )  jinil allows a sigh to escape his lips, trying not to let the thoughts plague him - after all, he’s with two of his very best friends.  the crown prince and dongho are both on his team, and that’s something to be grateful for.

hyeon, though - hyeon is one of those people he hasn’t had a chance to reconnect with since going off to war.  not that they’ve done much talking in the first place; jinil has always been closer to his younger brother than the eldest son of the go family.  he doesn’t really try to approach him - for now, instead focusing on the forest floor and eyeing any potential tracks he might see amongst the brush.  it seems that hyeon is different though, because he approaches and makes jinil tense in suspicion upon hearing the snap of twigs. 

“ oh .. i thought you were an animal.” he smiles and his voice is quiet, relaxing his shoulders and allowing his arm to fall from the quiver of arrows strapped to his back.  “ good morning.”

@dalhyeonn

their time together is spent with idle chatter, fit for two men on a leisure stroll than two men on the hunt for beasts. the way feels hwan as he sits back on his horse is a combination of strange and ill-fitting emotions. he leans back as the refreshingly cool woodsy air hits his skin while his shoulders, full of earnest conviction to lead their team to victory, are tensed; it’s actually uncomfortable sitting like this, but he doesn’t shift or change the way he is seated.

and isn’t it better to be ready than to be taken aback by a surprise target?

he closes his eyes to take a deep breath through his nose. the slight sting from the frigid air is enhanced from his closed eyes, but he doesn’t mind it. in fact, it keeps him on his toes ( or rather, keeps him tense; helps him realize that this is no time to be dilly dallying ). and that is exactly what he needed at the moment. as soon as his shoulders slump from the intake of breath, he notices a slight rustling of leaves. hwan’s shoulders straighten.

━  ♞  @dalhyeonn​ 、  continued from 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 .

Hyeon can’t help it. Naivety of the young, one might call it, or naivety of those with a heart big enough to harbour it, is how Hyeon would call it. But when his gaze moves to rest upon the young features of the maiden who had uttered those words, Hyeon simply can’t help it, and he chuckles.

A light, warm sound, for his laughter is truly his biggest pride, and the smile doesn’t vanish even as he clears his throat and makes to bow in apology to a perhaps rude beginning of a conversation. “Apologies for my reaction, but I hope you may forgive me if I explain to you why this,” and he turns to pointedly direct his gaze onto the men currently stuck in a rather heated debate further into the room, glasses in hands, chins lifted in a clear attempt at dominance over the other that the other wasn’t willing to give - no man would, “is an absolutely expectable turn of events.”

“You see, when a young woman - and I hope this won’t sound like an offense to you, your highness - asks just the right kind of question to the right kind of men, discussions are born as easily as snow falls during winter,” he tilts his head, “I would say… you’ve managed to bring quite a heated debate to life. I’d be proud. It keeps men such as themselves feeling alive.”

He halts. Huh. When’s the last time he had spoken that much to anyone tonight? “Ah, I may have stepped over a line with my unrequested talk, do forgive me.”

the panic never settles ; instead, curiosity fosters it, concealing it for the moment, as she listens, dumbfounded, having not thought that the words she had uttered prior were of any sentiment. in fact, deep down, ruihan knew they shouldn’t have -- her mother’s disconcerted gaze could be felt heavily on her back  -- and the fact that the opposite had happened made her shift one foot to the other in discomfort. 

but despite what she knows she should have done instead, a curious gaze follows his steadfast, unable to deny the interest that had been piqued by his words. like a bee, encouraged by the promise of honey at the tip of a bud, she’s buzzing with curiosity. of which swirls in dark pools of brown, hidden by long lashes that fail to hide the stare she dons among a group of men from afar. it’s the slightest slip of judgement as she hangs onto the other’s every word, the need to sate her wonderment overriding the control she had branded into her skin.

she feels the alarms in her head go off ; warning her of the way her eyes never sway, the piercing gaze of utmost attention dripping from her fingertips. the silent questions once more at the tip of her tongue but never once breaching the surface. she had gone as far as to blatantly stare, could she be so daring as to commit to questions, as well?

closed ✉ ❝ queen munjeong’s birthday prompts ❞

finding his brother once more in the crowd was like finding the light at the end of a forested trail. hui exhaled slowly, eyes darting around the many pockets of things happening in the wide area. he still felt a little green from throwing up in the loo earlier on ( thankfully, alone where no one knew, hopefully. it’s just the idea that he was throwing up in a place as grand as the palace being one of its minute guest that made him feel a little embarrassed, among other things. ) but better with the cold wind brushing against his face on his way back.

exhaustion was already setting in as he glanced at his brother, lips pursed into a slight pout. as a child, he’s spent much of his time chasing after his brother, and that same set of reliance didn’t fade away with time. if anything, it grew heavier, because ultimately, blood ran thicker than waters. and he could feel - and appreciated - that.

 ❝ not we, hyungnim, it’s more like me and me only, ❞ he puffed his cheeks just a little, taking his cup of tea to his lips to drown down the bitter aftertaste still lingering at the back of his throat. there, much better.