divina commedia

"I haven't been back to Korea since my enlistment," he explained. The enlistment that he knew was a major part of why his marriage had failed, why Tae had been so intent on closing himself off from people, including his husband, after he'd returned home. "I should have filed a deferral and said I was living overseas, but my dad's voice hammering on about respect and duty got in my head. I suppose I'm still trying to put the pieces back together after it all, and I haven't had it in me to go back." Even when he had hidden his sexuality, never mentioned his husband or life back home, it was almost as if everyone around Tae knew that he was different. He'd been unhappy, his husband had been unhappy, his family had been unhappy. Nobody came out as a victor in that situation.

"It's only been a few months. The band just relocated from Texas to LA, and I only started in this role relatively recently. They're my first real client. Maybe that's why I'm determined to do a good job. They deserve this chance." Despite the difficulties life had brought upon Tae, even if a good number of them were at least partially his own doing, he did his best to focus on the good in life. His new job, being promoted from an assistant to being a real artist manager, working with people who shared his passions and goals, hopeful that he would pass the bar exam sometime in the next couple of years, and now, a person he thought he had lost forever walking back into his life. Things could absolutely be worse. "I'm really glad they hired you to work with the band. Not just because I'm happy for them and what it means for their music and the album, but because I get to see you again."

Jin listened, letting Tae share without interrupting. The pink ears, the whole explanation about the divorce, the weight of the enlistment, it all painted a picture of someone who’s been through a lot and was trying to move forward. Jin understood that. He understood the self-blame, and the sense that somewhere, somehow you’d fucked everything up. “Do you think you’ll ever want to go back? Or do you think you’ll stay in the US?” Jin had thought about moving back to South Korea himself. Part of him wanted to rebuild the connection with his family, and see his nephew grow up - including any possible future nieces or nephews, too. However, the fear of ruining it all was a lot, and always had him reconsider in the end when he thought he’d reached a conclusion. 

“I’m glad to see you again too.” Jin smiled at Tae, looking up at him from across the table. He hadn’t thought he’d ever see him again after he had so suddenly been sent away. It felt unfair that they never really got to explore more, figure out what all of those feelings meant back then. “Home-cooked dinners, and more of this would be nice, though.” He said, gesturing vaguely between them and the bar. 

➜ location: jin's place ➜ @toptiertragedy

"Before you say a word," she said as soon as Jin opened the door, holding her hands up while she clearly had more shopping bags on either arm than any other person might've shown up with, "I didn't actually pay for any of this. So you don't get to say no, because I'm technically just re-gifting it all, and it's all much more tailored to your frame than my brother's." She slipped inside the doorway, giving Jin an innocent-looking smile as she did. "Besides, he has contracts that limit who he can wear, and you don't." She furrowed her brow, tilting her head to one side as she looked back at Jin. "You don't, do you? This would be a horrible time to find out that you do, after I just lugged all of this over here. I suppose I could've called, but where's the fun in that?"

Jin looked at the bags, hands on his hips, and lips pursed thoughtfully. “So, regifting, huh? Whose gifts are they?” 

"Fruit for a fruit, if it works, it works, right?" He said with a small smile. Tae stepped up to the bar, making the order for both of them. His cheeks flushed slightly in a way that hopefully wasn't too visible in the bar's lighting. "What? Oh, I go lots of places with clients, but that doesn't make you not special. You're special because I don't have to woo you to get you to work with me and I asked you to hang out anyway. Anyone who can tear me away from an early night and a law journal is already leagues above a regular client. You saved me from my slippers and a home-cooked dinner for one." He smiled at Jin across the table they'd picked out, hoping they hadn't grown too far apart over all these years to not be able to tease one another anymore. The teasing was different now, somehow laced with gentle ease, and the potetial of expectation, the hesitation that came with trying to get to know someone again after a long time. "It's really special that we both ended up in the same place after all these years. Do you still go back to Seoul often?"

When Tae asked about Seoul, Jin’s expression shifted slightly. He looked down at his drink as he tried to decide how much was too much to share on a first proper catch up after all these years. “No, not really. I haven’t been back in Seoul in a few years now. I went for an award show like, a year or two ago? But only for a weekend so it doesn’t really count.” He shrugged his shoulders. “I hear from my sister and parents now and then, but that’s about it.” He left out the part where he tended to cut the conversation short when they wanted to connect more. It all got too complicated. 

Taking another sip of his drink, Jin looked up at Tae finally. “What about you? Do you ever go back?” He asked gently. He figured it had ended on a difficult note between Tae and his father, so he didn’t want to pry too much. “It is kind of wild that we ended up in the same place, and working together no less.” Jin smiled some, his tone a little lighter. “How long did you say you’d been working with Corey and them?” 

Miserable together

➜ location: recording studio, studio garcia hq ➜ @toptiertragedy

Marti didn't usually go barging into studios if she wasn't expected, but Jin was an exception to the rule. They'd worked together and crossed paths so many times over the years that she felt like he was family at this point, some sort of long-lost cousin who traveled the world and brought back all sorts of exciting new stories to share with her. Marti traveled, but not like Jin. Jin's skills in the soundbooth and as a DJ were unmatched, and Marti knew he was in high demand.

"Knock knock," she said a beat after opening the door, realizing that she probably should at least announce herself. "I heard a little rumor flying around that you were in here today. I come bearing gifts in the form of—" she paused, checking the labels in her hand before lifting them up. "Canned Casamigo Margs!" It wasn't the best selling point, but it would do. The good liquor was all stashed upstairs thanks to more than one artist getting too drunk to record, and she wasn't wasting any time going to hunt it down. "How are you, my darling Jin?"

As he pulled back Jin turned to clear the small table and couch for her to have a seat. “I’ve been good, you know, just hanging out doing my thing.” He said, not really sure what he had even been up to since last time he saw her. A lot, probably. “What about you? I haven’t seen you in ages? Where have you been hiding?” He sat down on the couch, away from the monitor to give her his full attention, and motioned for her to join him.

"Gentleman is a good thing, I hope," he teased with a grin he still seemed unable to fight around Jin, even all these years later. The way chance and circumstance had brought them together again was the kind of thing that might make him actually believe in fate. "I've been here a few times. It's close to where a lot of our artists record. We use that studio regularly," he explained. "Admittedly, I'm a bit of a cocktail enjoyer. Does that make me fruity? Or is it the kissing boys that makes me fruity?" He was getting better at making fun of himself. His father would definitely have looked down on his taste in drinks, but what did it matter? He was allowed to simply enjoy things. "They have one called Dune Bug that's really good. It's their own spin on a June Bug, I think theirs doesn't have any banana, and it's made with Havana Spiced Rum instead of Coconut Rum. Do you like pineapple?"

“Dune bug,” Jin repeated, and nodded. “That’s clever.” He smiled some to himself. Normally he was more of a wine guy, but he also loved a good cocktail every now and then. Today felt like a cocktail kind of day, anyway. “I do like pineapple.” He answered. It was the rum he was unsure of, but he was absolutely willing to be converted. “I’ll start off with a dune bug, I think. It sounds interesting.” He looked up at Tae and put the menu down. “So,” he cleared his throat, and looked at the other with a playful smile. “Do you come here often, then? With clients? Here I was thinking I was special.” he placed a hand over his heart. 

Somehow, kissing Siwan was different from all of those other kisses. It felt special in a way Benny wouldn't ever quite understand, like he'd solved a riddle and unlocked a treasure chest filled with gold. Benny enjoyed the back and forth, the cat and mouse game that came before hooking up with someone new, but this wasn't quite the same feeling. This felt bigger in a way, but better in so many more ways. As soon as it was over, Benny was ready to dive right back in, but Siwan's voice stopped him.

He took the other man in, lips curving upward at the wide-eyed look Siwan was giving him. The roughness of his voice would be Benny's undoing, he knew instantly, and the playful line Siwan fed him was music to Benny's ears. He was leaning in to kiss him again when he heard a bottle land in the glass trash bin, jerking him back to the present moment. "Hold that thought," he said just before sinking his teeth into his bottom lip. Benny stood quickly, barely leaving any room for Siwan to stand without their bodies colliding a little—subconscious on Benny's part but entirely welcomed and appreciated when it was all said and done. Benny moved quickly: grabbing both glasses in one hand while the other reached for Siwan's. With nothing more than a bend at his waist and a gentle "c'mon," Benny brushed his lips against Siwan's ear.

He led the way in silence, fully aware that he was still holding Siwan's hand with each passing step. He'd led plenty of people down the short hallway to his office, but the amount of hand-holding he'd done during that walk was far more limited. Thankfully the office was unlocked, so Benny simply used his elbow to tap the door handle open and kicked the door shut with his foot as soon as they were both through. Once inside, he sat the glasses down on top of the smooth, dark wood of his desk before turning his focus back to Siwan. He glanced at their hands, still woven together, before giving Siwan's a gentle squeeze. Benny moved them with gentle but determined steps as he slipped his hands onto Siwan's waist, backing him to the desk before he lowered his lips to the other man's jaw, kissing down his neck as he spoke clearly and confidently. "I want to take my time with you, no interruptions," he finally said. "You okay with that?"

When Benny backed him against the desk, Siwan’s breath caught. He tilted his head back as Benny’s lips moved down his jaw to his neck. He moved his hand up his back and rested it on the back of Benny’s shoulder. He shivered at his words, suddenly unable to think again. This was different from anyone he had ever been with. Siwan’s free hand moved to rest on Benny’s waist as he nodded. “Definitely okay with that.” He hummed and pulled him closer towards him until he felt his chest pressed against his own.

And he was definitely okay with having Benny all to himself without any interruptions. Maybe it was selfish of him to think that, but he had been promised his full attention, after all. He tilted his head forward and pressed soft kisses to Benny’s neck, and shoulder. 

"No shit?" Kit's eyes widened as he reached up and rubbed his chin with one hand, nodding when Jin mentioned not wanting to hurt them. "Yeah, of course I am. I'm always up for an adventure. I bet we can find out, maybe make a few calls. There's this guy at the feed store I swear knows everythin' there is to know 'bout the wildlife around here, he's probably seen a couple himself."

At Kit’s mention of the feed store guy Jin smiled. “Really? We should definitely talk to him.” He nodded in agreement. “Do you think he’d be willing to share that kind of intel with us? I’ll understand if he’s protective of the unicorn population, though. Who wouldn’t be, you know?” 

Jin thought for a moment. “What do you think they eat? Like, sugar cubes? Or do they eat carrots? And when do you think is the best way to go? Dusk feels like prime unicorn time, but also like prime monster time.”