August 7, 1895 — Dongmulwon Park, early evening

As the week of endless preparation carried on, Jin was growing more restless by the moment. They had been forbidden by The Colle— Abeoji Yeom, from wandering offsite and by now Jin felt he’d explored every inch of the estate perimeter about as far as he could get from the house. Nothing had been said as yet of his frequent and extended absences or newfound freedom, but since Jin didn’t want to prompt any such notice, he’d decided today to stay in the house as much as he could. He was slowly growing more acclimated to the idea of being unleashed on an unsuspecting society, despite the stipulations and rules that came with it. Some freedom, any freedom, from the constant pressure of a wet breath on the back of his neck was looking more and more appealing as he felt the relief of it even just in the limited estimation he had now.

His room was still sparse and the bed still felt blocky and uncomfortable; too lush and too feigned. He’d opted not to wear British attire today and give himself a small respite from the over restriction as he donned a normal hanbok. Both the jeogori and baji were black, like most of his clothes, but they were breathable. At least in this he felt he could move. If he also felt ridiculous with the too-short haircut that Eun-ho had given him, Jin tried not to think about it.

Dusk was fast approaching and Jin found his feet sliding across polished wood boards in the direction of Taesu’s room for reasons unknown. Tae was the softest of his brothers and perhaps it was this facet of his that called to Jin during moments of tension. Or, maybe it was just an intuition that Tae was struggling to adjust. He hadn’t, in fact, seen Taesu at all in the past few days, wandering or otherwise. Whatever the reason, Jin found himself in front of his brother’s door with one knuckle poised to knock. “Taesu-ah?” he called quietly through the frame. “Gwenchana?” The question was gentle, a prompt more than a direct inquiry.

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Taesu Jeong & muse song
attire-ish, but more commonplace fabrics
*Gwenchana = a prompt into if he's ok

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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.

Taesu tried to ignore the first knock. He was warm and muzzy in much needed sleep, after performing a duty that was expected of him; he always felt dirty after, the feeling of fingers and lips brushing against his skin, and while he hadn’t managed to bathe just yet, his bed felt like a sanctuary against the chill of the real world.

But one eyelid cracked up and glanced at the direction of the door where the knock had come from. Taesu hadn’t been up for socializing much with his brothers, or with anyone really, and wished that they could continue to leave him alone; it felt as though they got more freedom, he got less, if only because he was being forced to be out in public and interact with people as himself. Being hidden behind a polyjuice potion where people didn’t know his face nor the fact that he was a Veela was a lot easier for him.

Taesu wasn’t even sure he liked himself.

(Hell, he wasn’t even sure he knew who he was.)

He staggered out of bed, eyes only just slitted open as if that might somehow preserve sleep even as he stood. He pulled the dressing down around his shoulders as he stepped silently across the room toward the door, which he opened just a crack. It was enough to see Seojin on the other side. Taesu scowled at him.

“Gwenchana.” He answered, although even to his ears it sounded more like a defense than an answer. “Go back to whatever you were doing,” he added after a beat, softer this time.

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Credit to Fox for this beautiful set!<3

The silence on the other side of the door was deafening. Could he be asleep, Jin wondered idly? At this time of day he wasn’t going to sleep through the night if he was. Maybe that was the point, some small part of his mind supplied unhelpfully. Swatting it away as goosebumps rose on his arms, Jin knocked again this time more firmly and called out to his brother. He heard some slight rustling then and took a step back as the door cracked open.

Taesu looked… exhausted. His shimmer was dulled and he looked (and sounded) more irritable than Jin had expected. The half-vampire hesitated for only a moment before shoving the door open further and imposing himself on his brother. Wanted or not, he was here to check in. He steeled his usually docile demeanor and closed the door behind them, crossing his arms over his chest as he looked the veela up and down. “I won’t,” he responded defensively. “Not until I’ve seen you eat something.”

His eye caught on an untouched tray of food just beside them. Eun-Ho must have brought it and left it here while Taesu was sleeping. Jin had no idea where his wand was but one flick of the wrist and he managed to heat up the bowl of soup that was long since cold. He jutted his chin out towards the tray intentionally.

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Taesu Jeong & muse song
attire-ish, but more commonplace fabrics

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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.

Jin barreled into his room without warning which just annoyed Taesu more than it should have – all he wanted to do was sleep (even if it meant he was going to get any tonight, given how early it was), but his stupid brother was making that very difficult. Tae scowled at him, although he took a step back to at least have some distance between them.

“What are you, my keeper now?” He didn’t even bother to look at the tray or the now heated soup, even if the smell did make him realize he was a little bit hungry. It was the principle of not letting Jin boss him around that made him not go over to it. Instead Tae’s eyes flicked to Jin, to the arms crossed over his chest, and the flicker of irritation in the set of his shoulders. He wasn’t allowed to be irritated, because he was the one who came barreling in with demands.

Taesu moved to the bed, which he leaned against. “I’ll eat when I eat. When’s the last time you’d had something? You’re cranky tonight.” The half-Veela muttered. Not that he was going to offer himself for a snack.

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Credit to Fox for this beautiful set!<3

Jin could sense this was going to be a defensive encounter and he was already wishing they could start over. At Taesu’s question, he bit back a statement about always having been and instead sucked in a short breath that he held one, two, three beats. Then, releasing it, he dropped his arms and softened his voice. “Taesu-ah,” he chided gently.

There was more behind his tone than just scolding. There was understanding, concern and a hint of pleading, at least on the surface. Deep down there was so much more that swirled in Jin’s gut for the pretty veela boy who’d come to them with no friends, no family, and a big heart.

Refusing to touch him, because Jin respected most boundaries even when he was being smothering, he made his way over to Taesu’s side and dragged the table towards them with his magic. It floated an inch off the floor and then settled right smack in the middle of the room just beside where the two were leaning against the solid bed. Jin settled himself onto the floor on one side and then looked up at Taesu expectantly. “We'll both eat,” he compromised. Not that Jin had any intention of touching much.

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Taesu Jeong & muse song
attire-ish, but more commonplace fabrics

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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.

Taesu let out an annoyed breath as his eyes narrowed on Jin. He could just eat and be done with it, but then his brother would think that he could boss him around whenever. (Not that Jin often bossed him around, but right now it felt like he was trying to be his keeper more than his brother.) Lips pressed into a thin line as he followed the table’s lazy float to settle between them before Jin lowered himself to the floor, wearing a maddeningly patient expression waiting, always waiting.

“You always do this.” Tae finally snapped at him. “Did Abeoji Yeom ask you to come in?” Though he already knew the answer – Taesu had done exactly what was asked of him, and therefore it didn’t warrant him barging in here to play watchdog. Scoffing, the veela drummed his fingers against his knee as he stared at the other. It was very evident that Jin wasn’t going to leave no matter what he threw at him.

Finally, he reached for the spoon, more to break the tension than out of any real appetite. He scooped a little broth and let it cool a moment before tasting it. The flavor was dull on his tongue, but he didn’t grimace. He just swallowed and set the spoon back down.

“There? Happy? Now go.”

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Credit to Fox for this beautiful set!<3

Taesu’s snap hit its mark. Jin could feel the look of hurt that flickered across his face before he could stop it. That… wasn’t fair. And Taesu knew it. He never checked on them because Abeoji wanted him to; in fact, the Collector couldn’t have cared less if they never spoke to one another again. He certainly used thier closeness to his advantage, but they’d developed thier bonds organically. Out of a desperate need for camaraderie and survival instinct. For Taesu to hurl that back in his face was a bit harsh. Jin didn’t respond.

The silence was heavy as it lingered between them like an uncomfortable humidity. Jin knew better than to react. He didn’t trust his temper around anyone and Taesu certainly didn’t deserve it. He was just exhausted, physically and mentally— like the rest of them. Jin felt a twinge of pity mixed with guilt wedge itself between his vertebrae.

Finally Taesu sat and the spoon moved. Jin watched with a hint of amusement as the slightest sip was brought to his lips and swallowed. The subsequent bark only made him grin. “My turn,” Jin responded as if he hadn’t just been kicked out. Again. He reached for the tray and picked up Taesu’s flat chopsticks. He helped himself to one piece of whatever banchan had been organized and made a noise of satisfaction. “It’s good,” he prompted. Then, picking up a second piece, he held it out on the chopsticks just in front of Taesu’s mouth to feed him. He sat, patiently.

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Taesu Jeong & muse song
attire-ish, but more commonplace fabrics

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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.

Jin didn’t take his bait despite the hurt that quickly flickered across his face and Taesu wasn’t sure if he was relieved or irritated by it. He knew though, that he had to appease Jin to get him to leave him alone since apparently today he had decided to play big brother, caretaker extraordinaire, so he took the smallest sip of his soup possible. His eyes narrowed, lips pursing into a thin, irritated line, especially as he caught sight of Jin’s grin.

He took a bite then, but instead of leaving, he held out a pair of chopsticks near his mouth. They lingered there like a dare, and for a moment Tae considered batting Jin’s hand away to prove he wasn’t a child who needed to be coaxed into eating. His pride prickled hot against the back of his neck.

But Jin’s patience… damn him, it always had a way of undoing Tae. He hated it. Hated how steady Jin was when all he wanted was for him to take the bait and snap back at him. The broth still tasted sour in the back of his throat, but he leaned forward to take a bite straight off the chopsticks. Chewing slowly, Taesu sat back again, arms folding tight over his chest as though he could shield himself from the unwanted warmth creeping into his ribcage. Taesu swallowed, his jaw tight, and kept his eyes fixed stubbornly on the wall rather than on Jin.

“Seojin-hyung.” Taesu said after a moment. “I…” He tightened his arms as he refused to look at him. “I want to make a friend.” He was lonely, and well, maybe, just maybe he could make one here who didn’t know (or care?) that he was a Veela.

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   Seojin Jeong

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Credit to Fox for this beautiful set!<3

Jin was pleased as Taesu accepted the bite off extended chopsticks even if his expression was sour. It was a small victory, but with this particular mood his brother was in, every fraction of success counted. Jin schooled his grin and kept it off his face for the most part, looking down instead to pick up another piece of food and extend it forward again. He had the chopsticks in the bowl when Taesu said his name and attracted Jin’s full attention.

Golden brown hues flickered up curiously at the formality that burdened his brother’s tongue. Jin knew from experience that sometimes such things could be used to put distance between brothers or express otherwise wordless emotions. He was surprised instead to hear the admission that followed.

Jin put down the chopsticks carefully and eyed his brother with a wide-eyed curiosity. The declaration made sense with everything he knew of Taesu, what was spurring it now in their new situation was what made him weary. “Aren’t I your friend?” Jin teased lightly. He knew that wasn’t what Taesu meant, but Jin wasn’t sure exactly what he was looking for in a response quite yet.

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Taesu Jeong & muse song
attire-ish, but more commonplace fabrics

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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.

Finally, Taesu glanced at Jin instead of staring at the wall. As annoying as he was, Jin was still his brother, and wasn’t it a brother’s job to be annoying? “No,” Taesu said flatly. “You’re a pest.” His arms tightened across his chest, because now he felt vulnerable and he wondered idly if Jin would use it against him somehow. (Not that he ever had, but Taesu wasn’t willing to give him things on a silver platter to keep in his back pocket.)

“You don’t count,” Taesu added, softer, though the edge in his voice hadn’t dulled. This was getting awkward and he wished that Jin would just leave. He could tell him to forget it, but instead Taesu muttered,“I mean… someone who actually wants me around. Not someone stuck with me because they can’t shake me off.”

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   Ahn-Bo Jeong

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Credit to Fox for this beautiful set!<3

Jin shot his brother a beaming grin at the snippy response. He’d gotten Taesu to look at him; that was a victory in itself. If Jin felt the truth in that statement, he didn’t let it show. His own insecurities had no part in this discussion. They were very similar to Taesu’s, he knew. Not feeling worthy of being recognized or cared for. Where Jin knew he wasn’t ever going to be worth anything for anyone though, Taesu believed nobody would ever want him for his non-veela self. Jin's heart pinched at the thought. If only he knew how untrue and unfair that was.

His voice had softened and with it Jin’s grin. He knew Taesu wouldn’t believe him but he still felt pressed to force on him that “I don’t just want you because I’m forced to.” Jin wished he could reach over the table and give his brother’s hand a gentle squeeze but he didn’t dare. “Taesu-ah, you mean something to me outside of this—” zoo? hell? “—situation, and I want you to believe me.” And then, before Taesu could interrupt to blow him off and say that this wasn’t the point of what he’d said, Jin barreled on. “But I understand what you mean. About wanting to find someone… outside.”

Jin’s soft smile faded. He had no doubt that his brother would find it difficult to make friends who wanted him for himself, but it was possible. If he let down his prickly exterior every once in awhile. Because inside, Taesu was one of the gentlest, sweetest people Jin had ever met. He was so worthy of having someone else, someone yes— who wasn’t in such close proximity and trauma bonded to him — recognize that.

Jin decided it in that moment: if this was what Taesu wanted, he would do anything in his power to help.

“I do believe you can find that, Taesu-ah,” he said definitively. “You just have to want it badly enough to let someone else in.”

Another problem they all likely shared.

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Taesu Jeong & muse song
attire-ish, but more commonplace fabrics

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   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.

Suddenly Taesu wished that he’d taken Jin up on his offer to eat, if only so he’d have something to do with his hands. He didn’t want to meet Jin’s gaze – not when his brother was saying things like that, in that voice that always made him sound like he knew exactly what he was talking about. Tae figured he hadn’t taken a persuasive potion because it wasn’t like he needed to be persuaded to do anything right now, but still, It wasn’t fair. As much as he wanted to believe that he meant something to his brothers, Tae didn’t believe that they’d all stick together if the situation finally ended.

He swallowed, the words catching somewhere tight in his throat. Jin would argue with him, but Tae wasn’t daft. He knew he’d be on his own.

“You make it sound easy,” he shot back as he chose to ignore the first part. “Like I can just open the door and someone will just… walk in. But people…” Tae exhaled. Jin was friendly and knew how to talk to people; people liked him. It was hard not to. The room was starting to feel claustrophobic. “People don’t line up to be friends with someone like me.” He finished the sentence with a weak shrug. It came with the territory of being half-veela. People were often disgusted when they learned what he was, and well, that always led to him being alone, outside of his brothers who were stuck with him.

Tae finally met Jin’s gaze.

“I do want it. I do, but every time I think maybe it’s possible, it turns out they just… want something. Or they get scared off.” He gestured vaguely, as if the word veela didn’t have to be said out loud between them. “It’s okay.” Although Taesu wasn’t sure if he was saying that to himself or to Jin.

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Credit to Fox for this beautiful set!<3

Jin had been ready to say whatever he needed to get Taesu to eat. He’d been successful in that, somewhat, but this conversation had taken a turn he hadn’t expected and it took everything in Jin to muster what support he could. He understood how Taesu felt. Probably better than the others. Every word coming out of his brother’s mouth sounded like a mirrored echo of his own inner monologue on the worst of days. But Jin had been lucky; in his most formative years (and even now) he’d had Ahn-Bo who had served like a springboard, kicking aside every misconception about people Jin could bother to think up. Every time he’d imagined he wasn’t wanted or that he’d never be accepted because he was a monster, there was Ahn-Bo proving him wrong. And while things had shifted a bit over the years, they were still close. And Jin knew, at the end of the day, that beneath whatever becoming a werewolf had done to his brother that Ahn-Bo would be there for him again, always, if he needed it.

The half-vampire sucked in a short breath. “It’s not easy,” he replied, quietly. “I know from experience.” And while Jin wasn’t inclined to talk about Ahn-Bo because it could get a little tricky, he leaned forward a bit towards the pretty veela. “But it is possible, Taesu-ah, trust me. People are… inherently selfish creatures. Most of them do want something from everyone they meet. Even you and me. But if you’re patient, and you trust enough, there will be at least one person who comes along and stays because of who you are not what.” Then, trying to channel his inner Ahn-Bo as much as possible, Jin offered his brother a lopsided little grin. “And being handsome isn’t a curse,” he said gently. “If nothing else it’s the reason people do flock to you so that you can pick and chose who to let in. You’re not stuck with the nameoji at the bottom of the rice sack the way I was.” He gave a playful little huff.

Lifting his chopsticks again, Jin picked up another morsel and offered it over the table to his brother. “Eat,” he encouraged. “My wisdom comes at a price.” If there was a playful little grin against his lips, Jin didn’t mind. He was proud of himself for being so sage. Maybe all these years of hearing Ahn-Bo put up with him had prepared him for this very moment.

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Taesu Jeong & muse song
attire-ish, but more commonplace fabrics
* leftovers / surplus

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   Ahn-Bo 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.