#zenran

The first gay marriage ceremony in BL since Thailand legalized gay marriage and it was adorable. The whole ceremony was just wonderful to see and to enjoy. Plus, the bouquet was caught by the main gay couple. Beautiful.

Granted Zen gave us the best interaction with Saeran in the entire game in my option, yes, I can get down Saeran and Zen as a ship. It isn’t one that you may expect, honestly. I think a lot more people lean towards Jumin and Saeran as a concept, especially given their chemistry in Another Story! I tend to lean more to Seven and Jumin, but I’m not super picky, I love to hear about the ships people have because they may see something from an angle that I didn’t look at as they had. 

They seem like polar opposites, at least from the surface. Saeran tends to be a lot quieter, and Zen tends to be a lot louder. That’s just glancing at the surface of this, though. Zen and Saeran both have a lot of body insecurities. Saeran cannot stand his body, how small it is, how weak he feels, so on so forth to the point in his life where he believes it. Zen was lead to believe by his family that he was a curse and he was ugly, and for a long time, he did think they were right. 

I imagine if the two of them really were able to talk on a delicate level, they could have someone that empathizes. I say, consider perhaps Seven extending a hand to Zen to see if he or Yoosung would be willing to try and be his friend too, and Zen takes him up on it. 

It’s a little awkward at first, but Zen realizes that Saeran isn’t strange. He wondered if he was like Seven, but seeing this quiet guy not really say much says otherwise. Saeran probably opens up a little bit when Zen gently inquires about his aesthetic, and they can bond over the leather and grunge. 

Zen felt totally powerful like that, so I think he would love to chat with Saeran about that sort of thing. It just grows from that point. Zen is really respectful and he would do his best to be gentle with Saeran, but he knows the guy isn’t glass and he won’t break like Saeyoung acts like he will. 

That’s likely why he respects him... why Saeran doesn’t mind hanging out with him instead of Yoosung. I’m not big on Yooran but I do think it’s cute. I just think there’s too much tied into Rika for the both of them for it to work. Whereas he does not have a history with Zen like that. I just think they would have a chance to try something new. Saeran could try to be a bit bolder and Zen could learn to be a bit more slow. 

Emotionally, though, it might a bit hard. Zen is very give-give-give, and Saeran is much more... quiet in his affection. That’s the only thing that may cause a bit of trouble but that’s not a deal-breaker. 

i lay there perplexed at this prompt until cheritz swooped down with the perfection of the halloween cg last night. @cutiesaeran and i ended up having the same brainwave, god bless...

—

Zen finds himself completely unable to make words the moment he opens the door. Which must be the reaction Saeran was hoping for because he can see half of Saeran’s wickedly satisfied smile peeking out from under that mask he’s wearing. That iconic white mask that Zen’s seen a million times from a million repeat viewings. That mask that he could recognize on sight from miles away.

“You dressed up as the Phantom?!”

Saeran doesn’t answer, just puts a hand on Zen’s chest and lightly pushes him back through the doorway, stepping in after him. The door closes, and then…

“Nighttime sharpens, heightens each sensation~♪ Darkness wakes and stirs imagination~♪”

Oh my god. Is...Is Saeran singing to him? Seriously?? Zen pinches himself. This feels more like his birthday than Halloween.

“Silently the senses abandon their defenses~♪ Helpless to resist the notes I write~♪”

Saeran pushes Zen further until his back presses up against the wall. Zen laughs, a little breathless. “I could never have defenses around you, babe,” he teases.

Saeran leans in close and Zen can feel warm lips move against his jaw contrasted with the hard plastic of the mask, the last softly sung line of the verse getting lost under Zen’s thundering heartbeat. When Saeran pulls away, Zen tugs him back in so he can kiss the corner of his mouth and taste that smirk for himself.

“Down boy,” Saeran scolds, a glint in his eyes as he covers Zen’s mouth, blocking a second kiss. “We’re not done here yet.”

Zen whines.

“Come on, pretty boy. Don’t you want to play dress up with me?”

“Oh? Are you finally gonna tell me who I am?” Zen grins, perking right back up and leaving a peck on Saeran’s palm. “I hope you’ve got everything for the costume with you ‘cause all I got are some props from old shows.”

“Mmm, nope. Not telling you who you are. You’re going to have to guess.”

“Guess?!”

“Don’t worry, it won’t be hard. I mean, you’re the one that’s so into couple’s costumes, right?”

“Couples costumes...? What do you mean c—” It clicks. “WHAT?! Wait, wait, wait, I’m Christine?! Why am I Christine?!”

Saeran snickers. “I’m cashing in on last year’s promise. I was the girl last time. Now it’s your turn.”

Oh yeah. He did say something like that, didn’t he.

“Well if that’s what you want, then…” Zen makes a show of swooning against the wall. “...I’ll do anything for my angel of music~”

Saeran had brought Saeyoung along to help with Zen’s costume change and Saeyoung sweeps through the door with everything: costume, wig, contacts, even makeup. By the time he’s done with him, not even one of Zen’s most devoted fans would recognize him, and that’s good. That’s perfect. If no one can recognize Zen than they can do whatever they want.

Saeran’s pulling him out the door by the hand the moment Zen steps out in his gown and Zen laughs, hurrying behind in quick feminine steps, the remnants of his training from playing all of those women’s roles when he was young. “You know, I always thought I was the Phantom.”

Saeran slows and turns, bringing the back of Zen’s hand up to his lips. “Problem?”

Zen’s heart slams against his ribs. God, Saeran’s really getting into it. “I’m not complaining.” Zen says, eyes sparkling. “Kinda funny for Christine to be taller than the Phantom though.”

Next thing Zen knows Saeran’s hand is curling around the back of his neck. “Guess I’ll just have to bring you down to my level then.”

They end up kissing for long enough to mess up Zen’s makeup.