August 10, 1895 — Dongmulwon Park entry foyer

The day had come for their first debut into English society. After months of planning and studying, weeks of moving, and a few days settling in, they were finally here ready to be cast out like piranhas on prey. Jin was feeling more nervous about it than he had the other day when he’d briefly touched on the subject with Ahn-Bo. He didn’t know why, exactly, but he felt as if this first event was markedly important. He wanted to make a good impression, for The Coll— Abeoji Yeom — but also… for himself, he supposed. At least for now.

Jin had only ever been exposed to magical society once before and that had been in school where he’d been thoroughly isolated. He’d never been able to hide behind the pretense of being anything more than what he was-- but here, now, Abeoji had given him “a true gift” or so he claimed. And it was not one to be scoffed at and discarded so easily. A reputation was a thing built with time and trust and blind forgiveness of that which one did not know. Jin had never held such a thing before; he was almost enraptured by it.

Almost.

Running a hand through his too-short hair - which, per his request, Eun-ho had still left rather a bit longer than might be stylish - Jin turned away from the mirror he was gazing into. He hated the press of British clothing and the restriction of it as he tried to move.

They were all waiting in the main foyer for Abeoji to come down and join them before they were to portkey together to the Abraxley residence. Taesu was… missing and Yun had just run off to grab something he’d left behind. Jin prayed the both of them would turn up quickly. He didn’t need the headache of a lecture or punishment before an event like this one.

“Bo-ah,” he turned to nudge Ahn-Bo beside him and gestured with his chin towards Ki-Se. Are we ready? he mouthed behind the little one’s back. Jin was only vaguely aware that Ki-Se could probably see him in the reflection of the mirror but it was said in jest as much as nerves. He wasn’t worried, if the teasing grin that cracked over his facade was any indication.

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Ahn-Bo Jeong / Ki-Se Jeong / Eun-Ho Rang / @Gin - somedaysoon

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* Jin takes potions and enchantments at times to give his voice a persuasive quality.
His performances, or even a simple conversation, can sometimes suggest thoughts
and ideas to his audiences.

Ki-Se had initially refused to let anyone touch his hair, the attempt involving growls and biting. So in the end it had only been trimmed a bit and was tied back into a ponytail. He stood in the foyer with the others, pulling at the uncomfortable clothes he was going to have to wear. He wasn't used to having clothing made to his form, he'd grown up wearing whatever he could find which tended to be clothes three times too big for him. Focused on how uncomfortable he was and knowing he was going to have to Deal With It, he was oblivious to the actions of the others.

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italics means he's speaking Korean

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Ahn-Bo was thriving. Though he knew the others were uncomfortable–especially Ki-se–Ahn-Bo though himself rather handsome with his new haircut. His clothes were tighter fitting, which showed off his form better. Sure, they weren't as comfortable to wear as the robes he was used to. But he definitely looked good in them. The others did too, of course, especially Jin. He was slightly distracted by the mirror in the foyer, his own reflection staring back at him. He brushed a stray piece of hair back in place. Jin's voice made him turn.

Ahn-Bo's dark eyes glanced toward Ki-Se. If he were being honest (which was rare), he was surprised Yeom had decided to bring him. Fitting in with the magical British society would be the most difficult for him out of them all. But instead, he returned Jin's grin and nodded. Everything would be fine. Why bother worrying about tomorrow when you haven't even finished the current day?

He tossed his arms around his two brothers and gave a slight, playful squeeze. "Who do we think they're going to love most?" He said loudly as an attempt to break the tension.

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{Ahn-Bo speaks in Korean to his family unless otherwise stated in posts.}

Set by the amazing Fox!

Jin’s grin only increased as he watched Ki-Se fumble with whatever he was so diligently concentrated on. It looked like he, too, was displeased with the over restriction of British clothing and with that Jin could sympathize. It was bad enough feeling like he was going to crawl out of his skin on display in such unusual attire but he didn’t also have to worry about transforming in a blood curse if something truly set him off. The baseline for Ki-Se’s discomfort was set. Jin almost reached for him to calm the tugging hands.

Before he could do much of anything however, Ahn-Bo was throwing his arms around them both and Jin grimaced playfully. Leave it to the wolf to squish them like playthings, forgetting his strength. He shoved a rude hand in his brother’s face to get out from under his grip. He didn’t want to appear wrinkled on his first debut into this new world!

“You ask things knowing the obvious answer will result in a compliment for you,” he admonished, brushing himself off. The truth of the matter was that Ahn-Bo was the friendliest of them with the sweetest temper and the most charming presence. He was also, potentially, the most conventionally attractive— though Jin couldn’t in good conscience say he was the most attractive. All his brothers had their charms; it was how they’d been built and amassed and groomed by The Collector. Where Ahn-Bo was easy to talk to however, Jin certainly had to make a more conscious effort to appear approachable.

Turning to Ki-Se, Jin grinned at the smallest. He was still itching to straighten him up from all the tugging but refrained, for now. “Are you ready, Ki-se-ah?” He asked teasingly. “I feel as if you will be the most successful of all of us in presenting the right way.” He was the most intent on it and certainly more handsome than Jin himself. The brunette gave him a small poke in the cheek, unable to help himself. “With a face like that, maybe you will outshine hyun,” he teased.

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Ahn-Bo Jeong / Ki-Se Jeong / Eun-Ho Rang / @Gin - somedaysoon

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   Eun-Ho Rang

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* Jin takes potions and enchantments at times to give his voice a persuasive quality.
His performances, or even a simple conversation, can sometimes suggest thoughts
and ideas to his audiences.

Ki-Se snuggled into the warmth that had been thrust upon him. It helped calm his hands, at least. "Taesu?" Ki-Se answered almost immediately. "Everyone always wants Taesu." Hell, even he wanted Taesu but he was also pretty attracted to the rest of his "brothers" in one way or another. Different things about them and all that.

He blinked slowly at the question asked. "I better be," he answered instead, straightening out his attire with the help of the foyer mirror. He flushed faintly at the rest of Jins words. "That would be impossible. No one can outshine a sun."

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italics means he's speaking Korean

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Even knowing that he was late, Taesu hadn’t been in any hurry to join his brothers. He had been hoping though, that a polyjuice potion would be pushed into his hands for him to take before the debut, but alas, no such luck; it made him feel exposed, raw in a way he hated. Without the buffer of borrowed features, he felt like his skin didn’t quite fit right, like everyone would see straight through him the moment they arrived.

Despite the gnawing discomfort, Taesu slipped into the foyer at last, his shoulder slightly hunched as if it made him any less noticeable; his hair wasn’t quite as combed as Jin’s, his clothes wrinkled just the slightest, but it was something that a quick spell would fix before they left the foyer.

Taese shoved his hands into his pockets, drifting toward the edge of the group, only blinking up as Ki-Se said his name. Everyone always wants Taesu. He hated it; hated how the eyes found him and people gravitated toward him without knowing why. (Sometimes he wasn't sure if his brothers liked him for him, if it was just the veela blood they were constantly pulled toward.) “I hope people leave me alone tonight.” Taesu said as he glanced at Ki-Se before he gave the tiniest of shrugs; he wasn’t quite sure who he was without borrowing another face, and Taesu had no desire to find out tonight.

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Ahn-Bo beamed back at Jin, who had known exactly what he was doing. Jin seemed to have more faith in Ki-Se than Ahn-Bo had realized... although there was a chance that he was just trying to build up the quietest one's confidence. His lips pursed in faux annoyance at said quiet one's immediate reference to the half-veela. They all knew who the best looking was–it was a given–but Ahn-Bo wasn't about to let go of the joke. He'd collect all the compliments sent his way.

Speaking of Taesu - he popped up nearby just in time to hear Ki-Se's remark. The tension in his slight frame nearly made Ahn-Bo frown, even more so at his brother's remark. Taesu was near opposite of Ahn-Bo in that regard. He hated attention, especially when he wasn't polyjuiced. He supposed that was what came along with being a more 'desirable' sort of magical being. Where Ahn-Bo adored attention–craved it, even–and he was the type of magical being you locked in your attic for a few days every month so he didn't kill or maim anyone.

"Just send them all my way, Taesu-ah," He forced himself to sound cheerful, "I'll keep them busy for you."

  

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{Ahn-Bo speaks in Korean to his family unless otherwise stated in posts.}

Set by the amazing Fox!

Jin couldn’t say he was surprised at Ki-Se’s response to Ahn-Bo’s query. It was a fair and logical assessment, probably the answer most would have given if they hadn’t been so wrapped around the axle when it came to the eldest. Still, he felt a small pang at hearing it knowing that Taesu wouldn’t appreciate the spotlight nearly as much as Ahn-Bo might. And he was right. The look on Taesu’s face as he appeared in the foyer spoke volumes as to his discomfort.

Jin poked Ki-Se in the cheek hoping to distract from it and found himself beaming in the little one’s face. He did have a lot of faith in Ki-Se. And who wouldn’t when faced directly with such a perfect little visage? Ki-Se was not in the least going to struggle as far as appearances went, and Jin stood by his assessment. He was a little surprised by the response but he scoffed it away. “Anyone can outshine a sun hidden behind clouds or a moon masquerading,” he muttered under his breath just loud enough for the littlest to hear.

It was as much a joke as it was the truth. Jin wasn’t going to announce it to the room but Ki-Se really was the least of his worries. “Where is Yun?” he asked suddenly. It went without saying but if they weren’t all amassed before Abeoji found them, he was sure it wouldn’t be for the best.

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Ahn-Bo Jeong / Ki-Se Jeong / Eun-Ho Rang / Taesu Jeong

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* Jin takes potions and enchantments at times to give his voice a persuasive quality.
His performances, or even a simple conversation, can sometimes suggest thoughts
and ideas to his audiences.

Eunho studied the floorboards as she listened to the boys banter. Her hands twitched as she fought the urge to wring them in distress. She didn't like this weaker body of hers and she wanted to go back to her stronger self already but had been ordered to make them all presentable and not an embarrassment to British society. This was an important night and only good things were to be spoken about them and she feared the Collectors anger if she had made any mistake in her boys presentation. They would be responsible for their behaviours but what if the clothes were wrong? Or the hair? She had tried her best but the British belief in short tidy hair was quite foreign to her. She had felt as if she was taking something away from them with every cut and even after that she'd struggled with Ki-Se and had to settle with a solution she hoped the Collector would approve of. She hoped nothing bad would come of it. He looked presentable. They all did or so she thought. She was just hoping she'd judged correctly as she found herself struggling with the westerners aesthetics as they were far different than what she was used to and in her eyes they always looked good. She just hoped the Collector would be happy.

The urge to wring her hands again caught up with her as she realised that whilst Taesu was back Yun was not.

Her nerves were wrought and she was just glad that she wouldn't be following them and had been set to guard look after the house and await the return. She would be forced to remain in her weaker body till they returned, practicing wearing the restrictive maid clothing that the British maids wore, and keeping the fires lit and ensuring her other tasks were complete and whilst that promised an uncomfortable evening full of dread it was nothing particularly new to her.

She ought to go find Yun. Yun not being there was bad. It was making her nervous.

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Sig <3 from Fox

Ahn-Bo understood him – he could have all the attention as far as Taesu was concerned, and he’d be happy to send anyone who dared say hello to him over to his brother. Hell, maybe he’d even spend the majority of the night by his side and politely say one or two words so any conversation with him would die. Now that was a plan. A small smile appeared on his face as Taesu decided he was going to do just that.

“Deal.” He said, glancing at Ahn-Bo before his attention was drawn to Jin and Ki-Se.

The latter wasn’t going to have any issues tonight either, and he deserved to be the center of attention for this ball. “He passed me while I was walking over.” Taesu said in regard to Yun, but he hadn’t felt the need to ask where he was going and if he’d be back in time to leave. None of them were daft and understood what would happen if they disobeyed directions from their father. (A word that tasted sour in Taesu’s mouth.)

He caught Eun-Ho’s slight movement from the corner of his eye. He let out a slow breath, not quite a sigh, and adjusted the cuff at his wrist more for something to do with his hands than out of real need. “We look fine.” He said to her, although he could only guess that was what her nerves were about.

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Credit to Fox for this beautiful set!<3

Ki-Se didn't really know what to say to that. Jin always had some sort of response to the things Ki-Se spoke of or worried about. At least some of the tension left his shoulders though he chose not to rebuff the words this time.

"It's going to feel so strange for me to speak to people besides you all in a social way," he mused. After all, he had no presence of mind to speak when in his cursed form and that was what Menagerie audiences came to see. And he often did not speak to those people on purpose even if they did approach him in his fully human form.

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italics means he's speaking Korean

graphics by fox!