through the thick and thin

Sangseok watched the male with adoring eyes and had hoped that Yejun would understand his heart without having to say a word. However their relationship did hit the rocks when the other learned why he had been so present in the youngers life. Personally he had wished to be the one to tell his flatmate, but of course tradition was rather different and so he had to shoulder the backlash. It had been hard to see the hurt and betrayal in Yejuns beautiful eyes, leaving Sangseok nearly desperate to make the other smile or laugh. He had hoped to move past it, to show more of his heart and sometimes he wondered if even the other wished to see it. That mere thought left him to nearly chicken out again, because the sheer idea that he wasn’t even seen as someone more than a protector broke him.

Upon the others reply he fell silent and sighed, slowly standing up and without touching a single thing picked up the berries to serve them to their bunnies. Staring at the bowl as he served the delicious blue creations, Sangseok didn’t realise for a good while that the bowl he held was empty and he had been feeding air. Snapping out of it he returned a few minutes later and set the bowl in the sink, staring at the freshly scrubbed metal surface as if there would be all the answers he needed. “Yejunnie,” he spoke again and swore never before had he felt such a weight on his heart speaking that nickname, “Actually what I wanted to say is…the thing is that you and I.” Somehow the words jumbled together as he tripped over them without much success in speaking a clear syllable. 

“What I mean to say is, you are a very precious person to me.” That sentence encapsulated every single emotion he felt right now - dedication, devotion, love and caring for Yejun, the only man Sangseok had eyes for for the past several years. He silently had watch the other date and tried the same himself, but in the end no one could capture his heart the way his flatmate had so many years ago. It was hard to even explain how deeply his emotions ran, but he knew seeing Yejun smile made his whole heart flutter like a swarm of butterflies. Yejun being drunk made him want to protect the younger from the world and whenever Yejun was sad, Sangseok wished said emotion was a person so he could murder it. Saying a simple ‘I like you a lot’ or 'I love you’ could never cover it, because to him it was so much more than that and he wished there was a better sentence to encapsulate all his heart felt. He wasn’t just a protector of a Yi family member, he was heart, soul and body completely Yejuns. 

Sangseok had always been a comforting presence if not a little distracting. Over the last few years of living together they had managed a routine with how they moved about their shared space which left Yejun content. So few things in his life were under his control, but here in his kitchen with his best friend at his side the witch could relax and feel at ease. No one knew him as well Seok and at this rate Yejun doubted anyone ever would. After his last failed disaster attempt at dating it was easier to throw thoughts of love away and focus on things that actually mattered like growing his connection to his magic. For a brief moment the witch touched the enchanted emerald that sat around his neck and hummed when he felt the magic radiating around him. He found enchanted jewels and crystals easier to use than wands or a staff. He could keep his hands free while he cooked or dug for plants in the forest. 

Eventually he went back to his task at hand preparing the wet ingredients for the cookies until everything was ready to be mixed. Combining the wet and dry ingredients had always been the witch’s favorite part. Instead of using a fancy mixer, Yejun preferred the old way of slowly mixing everything together by hand until the consistency was exactly what he wanted. “Do you want milk chocolate or white chocolate,” he asked his roommate without bothering to look up from his task. Had he being paying attention Yejun would have seen the mixed emotions brewing in his roommate. Instead, he only hummed his response at the nickname and kept his eyes on his task completely oblivious to everything going on. 

Pollux didn’t mind the staring at all. No– he understood why YeJun was staring. After all, they hadn’t seen each other in years… naturally, they were going to stare. He looked away as well, down to his feet. So much regret settled itself into his chest. Truthfully, the wolf wasn’t sure what had happened between the two. They sort of fell apart… and Pollux couldn’t piece them back together. But it was for the best, Pollux believed. For a moment, just a split moment, he thought about maybe just not opening this can of worms. But he had to. Pollux never really got his own closure. 

“I promise I’ll be honest,” he breathed softly, giving him a small nod. He wanted to be honest. But he was sure what would come out of his mouth… the other wouldn’t really like to hear. Maybe, he wouldn’t even believe him. Lux made it hard to have any sort of relationship, really. “To the roof,” Pollux smiled lightly in agreement, glancing around once more to double check nobody needed him, before gesturing for Yejun to follow him to the stairs. It was just like before, when the two dipped away to share the night together, young and naive. He let out a soft sigh at the memory, fingers trailing against the railing as they climbed the stairs to the roof exit. He opened the door, allowing the other to move ahead in front of him. His eyes trailed to the stars, a sad smile coming to him face. “What would you like for me to be honest about?” he finally questioned softly, fixing his eyes from the stars onto the witch in front of him. 

Being honest was all Yejun could ask of Pollux though he knew that despite wanting answers the werewolf wasn’t obliged to give them. He was thankful that his ex agreed and now he could finally get the answers he needed all those years ago. Was it too soon to hope that maybe they could be friends after this? Maybe, but the witch wouldn’t say anything about that first. He didn’t want to be the only one invested in this relationship again. As he left the bathroom the sound of boots clicking against the tile followed him out and towards Pollux. It felt so damn familiar following the werewolf to their secret hideaway on the roof. Granted this time they didn’t stop on the stairs to trade quick kisses nor did they hold hands. 

romeo & juliet

maneopollux‌:

Pollux didn’t know what to say. He was absolutely speechless. After all, there he was. His first love. His first kiss. The first boy he held hands with. How ironic they would meet again in the exact same place, in the exact same way. For a moment, Pollux just stared, until the other spoke. He would have blushed a few years ago. This time, he smiled, clearing his throat. While Yejun was a friendly face to see, he was still an exe. He was still someone he didn’t necessarily leave on good terms with. Given, they didn’t leave on bad terms. They just… left. Pollux shifted, moving so he could look at Yejun more closely and not through the glass of the fish tank. 

The werewolf gave a friendly smile. If it was possible, the witch had become even more beautiful through the years, and a small feeling stirred within the wolf’s chest. Maybe he had never really fell out of love, despite the years. Maybe it was just the initial shock of seeing him. Either way, Pollux still stared, finally nodding. “It’s me,” he replied softly, biting his lip. He looked around for a moment, figuring nobody was needing him. “Would you like to go somewhere to talk?” he asked softly, figuring even if they had left in such a way, that a friendly and familiar face was something they would both be relieved to see. At least, on Pollux’s end. 

Yejun couldn’t look away. He knew he was staring his one and only ex and others would consider that rude, but this was Pollux. The wolf looked older and had a new hair color, but his eyes and soft smile were still the same as they were directed at the witch. There was once a time when Yejun would have done anything just to see that smile, but now looking at it again, some part of him desperately wanted it to go away. Those emotions were tied back to the countless nights he had spent going around in circles trying to figure out what he had done wrong in their short relationship and why couldn’t Pollux had given him a chance to fix things. The witch didn’t consider their breakup a mutual agreement. No, one day he woke up having a boyfriend and the next he didn’t. 

...shooting ones shot, missing hard

@yejunxmaneo​

Sangseok was studying in his room, which was slowly filling with the delicious scents from Yejuns probable stress backing in the kitchen. For about the last three years he had been waiting for the right moment to tell the other how he felt and yet again he sat in his room wondering when. Chewing on his lower lip, trying to force his brain to study and yet all he could think about was pouring his heart out to his beloved. He had imagined it being romantic or relaxed, maybe even during breakfast and yet never it seemed right to him, because things needed to be perfect. Nothing less than ideal. Here he still sat for that ‘ideal’ moment.

With a huff he stood up with the chair falling down behind him as he grabbed the book and nearly pulled an anime pose to signal he was determined. After all they lived in a very relaxed student apartment, filled with bunnies and plants in equal measure. In every way possible it was a student aesthetic breathing from the walls, floors and right now the kitchen, which seemed to seduce with its scents. So the ‘ideal’ he was chasing was in their home, in this nice Sunday afternoon setting where one of them had put on a playlist and forgotten it hours ago. It was now or never.

Walking out of his room and heading to the kitchen he knew that since the Baking Incident of two years ago, Sangseok was forbidden from helping Yejun. He could watch, enjoy the smell and maybe comment, but nothing beyond that and especially no suggestions on what to put into the pastries. So now he silently moved behind the kitchen table and set his book down again, opening it and trying to seem natural. “Yejunnie?”

As always when Yejun was stressed he found himself elbows deep in kneading dough. He wore one of his more extravagant aprons on, this one read ‘kiss the cook’, and was already covered in flour with smudges on his nose as well. Yet, soft music was floating in from the living room and the smell of his herbs hanging up in the kitchen was enough to take the edge off. The rest of the witch’s stress went straight into roughly handling the rye dough until it had the perfect amount of stretch. He gave the dough one last slap before putting it into a greased round bowl and covered it with plastic wrap to prove. From there he’d have to wait at least an hour which gave him plenty of time to start on a fresh batch of chocolate chip cookies. 

The witch hummed along to the music as he cleaned up his working station. Now that he was out of culinary school and working with the Aegis full time as a division leader, Yejun needed these lazy Sunday afternoons to decompress and spend time with his roommate outside of work. His relationship with Sangseok was interesting if not complicated. The witch had known the older wizard since childhood. For the longest time he had just assumed they were childhood friends destined to leave each other at some point as the grew older and inevitably drifted apart, but a year went by and then a few more. Eventually it grew clear that Sangseok meant to stay around and oddly enough Yejun was okay with that. He liked the older wizard. It wasn’t until they were teenagers with Yejun deep into his magic studies that he learned the truth behind their meeting. Sangseok’s family was inherently tied to the Yi family. 

🏕:if you were asked to go on a camping trip with whoever you want, would you?

“Absolutely. I’d go on a camping trip with the entire Yi family if it meant spending time outside surrounded by flora and fauna.”    

🗾: a lone soldier? a social butterfly? or both?

“Lone soldier by choice, social butterfly by obligations.” 

🌄: are you a planner or a improviser?

Just answered this here!

🏜: if deserted, what's one thing you'd want to be with you more than anything?

“I always hate these questions because who can pick just one thing? The only logical choice I have is my familiar Pepper. If she’s with me I guess I’ll be okay.” 

Just answered that here! 

🎢: what's the best ride you've ever been on?

“I’d rather say what the worst ride I’ve ever been on is which is my life.” 

  ⛰: if you could go on a road trip with just one of your faves who would it be?

“That’s easy. Of course I’d pick my roommate Sangseok. Although wouldn’t Gordon Ramsey be an interesting pick as well?” 

🌄: are you a planner or a improviser?

“Planner for sure. If I tried improvising a recipe I’d probably burn the kitchen down and that’s the last thing I want.” 

“So far my greatest achievement was finishing culinary school, and while I can only put my schooling to practice in my own kitchen for the moment, I’m still proud of my education despite what my parents might think.

As for my biggest regret that would be allowing my family to control my life they way they have. I wish I had stood up for myself and what I want for my life than following down the path they chose for me.” 

🚢: does the idea of the sea provide you with a feeling of comfort or worry?

🎡: @ seven of your fave mutuals that you'd love to go to a fair with

🎢: what's the best ride you've ever been on?

🎠: if you had to describe your aesthetic, what would you describe it as?

🏗: what's your preferred method of dealing with stress?

🌁: what's your idea of horribleness?

🗼: what's one thing you've learned to take as a warning sign in any type of relationship?

🏭: would you consider yourself short tempered or even tempered?

⛲️: what's your ideal dream date?

🎑: city apartment or country house?

⛰: if you could go on a road trip with just one of your faves who would it be?

🏔: long drives or long walks?

🗻: what are your favourite genres of music?

🌋: what's something that pisses you off as soon as you hear even a mention of it?

🗾: a lone soldier? a social butterfly? or both?

🏕: if you were asked to go on a camping trip with whoever you want, would you?

⛺️: does being without wifi actually worry you?

🏞: what are your top six essentials you must carry with you at all times?

🌅: are you a morning bird or a night owl?

🌄: are you a planner or a improviser?

🏜: if deserted, what's one thing you'd want to be with you more than anything?

🏖: do you believe in mermaids?

🏝: how do you feel about islands?

🌇: what are your thoughts on 'city life'?

🌆: do you get homesick easily?

🏙: what's the capital city of the country you're from?

🌃: how does politics make you feel?

🌉: in your opinion, what's the biggest obstacle one can face?

🌌: how do you feel about god?

🌠: if you were allowed three wishes, what would they be?

🎇: if you could create a day to be celebrated e.g. christmas or eid, what would it be and what would it be celebrating?

🎆: do you admire spontaneity or does it annoy you?

🌈: what are your thoughts on 'love'?

🏘: if you could, would you change your upbringing?

🏰: to you, what's the most magical place on earth?

🏯: if you could move to any country of your choice, which would it be?

🏟: if you could erase one person from your memory, would you?

“Spring! My connection to my magic feels the strongest during spring when the plants are in bloom.” 

“That experience was bittersweet. I have such fond memories of that summer but it was not a mutual parting. Being told the relationship meant nothing put a damper on the entire experience.” 

Yejun’s birthday is October 26th making him a Scorpio. 

“Freedom is being able to chose my own path in life. Being born into the Yi family comes with perks, sure, but my parents put their dreams of moving up the family tree on my shoulders at birth. That’s not freedom.

As for what I’d be willing to do for freedom, I don’t know. If the Aegis was something I could walk away from with no consequences I would, but there are always consequences.”