May, 1886 — Jeong Household, Joseon (17 yrs old)

It was always strange for Jin, the transition back to his home life in Joseon from his time at school in Japan. The ease and familiarity of magic that was so natural at Mahoutokoro was less abundant in the dark, brooding corners of the Jeong household. Now that he’d graduated he supposed he ought to get used to a less colorful, less chaotic normal. Not that his last term there had been at all exciting.

After Ahn-Bo’s accident over the holidays, the werewolf hadn’t been allowed back for their final term. The loss was devastating, not only to Jin but to the magical community at large. He still didn’t know how Moon-ssi senior could possibly have given up his eldest son — the wonderful, bright, honest soul that he was— so easily. But he’d been glad for Abeoji’s mercy. At least now he knew Ahn-Bo would have somewhere to sleep at night, if nothing else. Things had begun to shift around here, obviously, since Ahn-Bo’s arrival however, and the novelty of routine in having adopted him formally was starting to break in. Jin had thought with one addition it would be the end of expansion for them and was settling in to being one of two— but apparently, he’d been quite wrong.

A gangly, awkward boy he’d never met was standing right in the middle of the Jeong courtyard wearing tatters and a look on his face that could make even the King’s eyes bleed. He was perfect in every way: symmetrical, smooth skinned, handsome beyond imagination, and tall despite it all. Jin wondered if the spirits had meant to create a creature so beautiful or if it had been a mistake, but there was no doubt in Jin’s mind that Abeoji had brought him here for a reason.

(Jin gave the clothes in his hand a small squeeze as his heart pinched. He didn’t make it his business to know what Abeoji asked of others but this appearance couldn’t be a coincidence. If the same concern lingered in the back of his mind about Ahn-Bo, he tried not to think too hard about it.)

Clearing his throat, Jin made his way through the doorframe and walked out to greet their new guest. His voice was soft, as if approaching a wounded animal, as Jin gave a short bow in greeting and introduced himself. He extended the offered clothes for the boy to take and then watched, carefully, before gesturing towards a large hanok to the left of the main establishment. It was where he and Ahn-Bo both resided and a room had been prepared. “If you’ll follow me, I can take you to a place to change.”

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Taesu Jeong & muse song

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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’s life existed in one too many fractals: there was his childhood divided between his adoptive parents and the orphanage; there was his heart split between the innocence of not knowing what he was and the shame that followed once he learned; there were before and afters of people in life who frightened of their desire for him, and the realization that he’d probably be alone forever. Not that he could blame them – who would want to befriend a monster? Taesu didn’t like to cross-examine any of them because he’d started out at the top of the food chain, a well loved boy who couldn’t think of a want, to someone abandoned whose single wish was to have a friend.

They didn’t even have to be a real one.

When he slipped away from the orphanage, it wasn’t rebellion that guided him, but rather hunger. Taesu wanted to be with people. To be seen, maybe even liked. Friends, or at least a version of them. The Collector had found him like that: wide-eyed, beautiful, and desperate to be wanted. He’d been skeptical at first, Taesu knew that this kind of attention always came with a price, but the Collector’s smile had been warm, his promises were easy to believe because it was everything Taesu wanted – a home that wanted him precisely for what he was. Not despite it.

He'd lived on scraps of affections most of his life, so that was all he needed to hear.

He’d put on his best clothes (that were still rags, but clean, at least) before he slipped out the door. By the time he stood in the middle of the Jeong courtyard, his stomach had turned itself inside out with nerves. It was beautiful and he felt too dirty to even be standing here. A part of Taesu wanted to run before anyone saw him, to forget that he’d ever thought of himself as worthy of being here because somehow, he knew, he’d be disappointed too because people like him didn’t belong in places like this –

But then one of the doors opened and Taesu jumped, his hands clutching at the thin fabric of his shirt as though he could make himself smaller. The person who emerged was a boy who looked no longer than himself, and although he wanted to find it odd, Taesu’s thoughts were only his heartbeat pounding inside his head. He bowed back to him, somehow stuttering out his own name in greeting. It was too late to turn back now, wasn’t it?

Clean clothes were offered but Taesu hesitated before taking them, afraid to touch something so clean. He looked up once, uncertain, and he opened his mouth to ask are you sure? but all that came out was a small noise of uncertainty. Taesu took them then, careful to keep their hands from brushing, before he glanced down at the clothes, his hands running against the fabric. They were much softer than anything he’d ever had. He couldn’t even bring himself to say thank you in fear of him taking them back like he’d failed a test.

Tae glanced up, but finding Seojin’s eyes on him, he quickly lowered his gaze. He nodded before following him. “Thank you…” He finally whispered, although his eyes remained glued to the ground. “Do you live here?”

This was going to be another fractal moment for him – there would be the Taesu from before, who lived in the orphanage and the Taesu now, who might, if anything went well he supposed, remain here. (Maybe it would be a divide between being unwanted to wanted, but Tae also wasn’t holding his breath.)

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Seojin Jeong

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Jin’s first impression was that this boy, whoever he was, seemed very shy. It didn’t surprise him really. All he’d been told was to welcome the kid and make sure he dressed and ate; he’d be staying with them from now on. Another brother, Abeoji had said with a wry twist of his mouth. The emphasis of the term was not lost on Jin who had shifted, awkwardly, and pretended not to notice. Staring at his new brother now, Jin wasn’t sure how the three of them were supposed to get on. Ahn-Bo had been absent and strange; Jin himself was no great conversationalist; and this kid seemed awfully keen on vanishing into the ground.

As they exchanged names and the clothes were handed over, Jin made to turn to lead him away. The courtyard had never been his favorite place; it was too exposed. Still, he softened a bit at hearing the boy’s thanks and gave a small nod before sneaking another glance at him. “Gwenchana,” he said dismissively. “Ne, I live in the room close to yours actually.” If Jin offered him a small, shy smile— it was a test.

They passed through the courtyard then and into the left wing of the household. Jin left his shoes at the door and slid across the warn wooden floor suddenly feeling slightly more at ease. These halls smelled of ink and incense, sometimes with the hint of amber if Ahn-Bo had been by. Eun-Ho, in her white tiger form, was curled up asleep in the corner by the entrance to Jin’s room as they made to walk past. She napped a lot, and in strange places. “This is Eun-Ho-ya,” Jin gestured vaguely in the creatures direction. “She’s completely harmless and very sweet.” Unlike most things here, he thought idly. Jin passed his hand gently over her big head as he walked by and she didn’t even twitch.

“That’s your room,” he continued as they made their way a little further down the hall. It was in the middle of the corridor across from an empty one next to Jin’s. Ahn-Bo’s space had been moved (or he had moved himself) from this corridor rather abruptly to some undesignated, half decrepit little hanok at the very back of the main house. Jin hated that he had to be chained there every month, but he’d taken to brooding so maybe it was the best place for him. Turning to Taesu, Jin slid out of the way and stood slightly to the side of the empty room. It was tiny and cramped just like his but it had a new bedroll. So that was something.

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Taesu Jeong & muse song

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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.

At first Taesu wasn’t sure what he meant; did he not live here and perhaps just worked here? It wasn’t like he’d asked too many questions before agreeing to this, although perhaps he should have. He blinked at the small curve of Jin’s lips, and while his hands nervously twisted into the clothes he’d been given, Tae somehow managed to return it with one of his own. “Ne, it’ll be nice to know someone nearby, then.”

He followed Jin away as he led them away from the courtyard, and much like his companion, shrugged his shoes off at the entrance. His eyes found the white tiger and for a moment they widened, his fingers tightening briefly on the edge of his sleeve. He froze in his steps as if waiting for her to spring up and attack him, because maybe he’d been lured here because Veelas weren’t welcome in the village, but once she didn’t move even as Jin touched her, he felt himself relax. Still, Tae couldn’t help but hope the tiger stayed away from him, at least until he was certain that she was in fact, truly harmless. He pressed his shoulder against the wall to be as far as away as he could from her until they paused again, this time in front of a door.

“Mine?” He parroted as he turned toward Jin, unsure if he’d heard him right. The orphanage had been noisy, space cramped and fought over because everyone shared the same space, even if sometimes sleeping next to him felt like punishment to his peers. Taesu had never had a space that belonged solely to him. He blinked quickly, fighting to keep his expression neutral, although the corner of his lips betrayed him as they curled upward despite himself.

Taesu took a careful step inside, his gaze flickering around as if he was memorizing the space. This cramped little room, with its thin walls and simple wooden floor, felt impossibly huge, and he wasn’t sure how he was going to fill up the space.He betrayed himself as he stepped further into the room. It felt like a palace. “Are you sure?” Tae asked quietly as he turned toward Jin. He gestured to the bedroll. “I don't need an entire room to myself. You could fit one more bedroll in here…”

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Seojin Jeong
*Ne - I see / I understand

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Credit to Fox for this beautiful set!<3

The boy smiled back at him, albeit more shyly than even Jin could have managed, and it softened him a bit towards the newcomer. Taesu looked… scared and slightly awed. Like this was some kind of dream (or nightmare; Jin didn’t know the conditions under which he’d been brought in.) Perhaps it was both. He inclined his head in agreement but said nothing.

Inside, Jin watched eagle-eyed as Taesu took in their little corridor. He was understandably protective of it and Eun-Ho and Ahn-Bo. This was the only home Jin had ever known, for better or worse, and those creatures and beings in it were his family. But Taesu didn’t look on Eun-Ho with a scoff or the surroundings as too shabby. He seemed almost impressed which also served to ease some of the tension that had tightened in Jin’s shoulders. “Ne,” he reassured with a small nod. “Yours.” Taesu wandered further into the empty room and Jin lingered by the door letting him have his moment. At the boy’s reaffirmed question, he let out a small laugh.

“Ne,” he said, this time more firmly. “We each have our rooms, though Eun-Ho may take to sharing with you at some point if you insist.” If it was a gentle tease based on the look Taesu had given the tiger earlier, Jin wouldn’t admit it. Instead, he made a polite gesture at the clothes still in his new brother’s hand. “I’ll leave you to change and then we can have something to eat.”

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Taesu Jeong & muse song
* Yes

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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.

With the confirmation that the room was his, Taesu wasn’t sure what to say. He turned to glance over his shoulder at Jin, who was just watching him. He must look like a weirdo standing in the middle of the room, his room, but Tae didn’t care one bit. This was already better than the orphanage. “Kamsahamnida*.” He found himself saying, although thank you wasn’t a strong enough expression for how he was feeling.

Once alone, Taesu glanced down at the folded bundle of clothes in his hands as if it might bite him. The gesture was almost reverent, thumb brushing along the soft collar, eyes tracing seams and stitching like someone memorizing a language he wasn’t yet fluent in. Everything was overwhelming and all he really wanted to do was sit down, but at the same time someone was offering him company – something that, at the orphanage, was not extended to him. Jin would learn soon enough what kind of monster he was, so Tae might as well take advantage while he didn’t.

Taesu changed carefully, first stripping out the clothes he came in. He folded them nicely into a neat square before setting them down in favor of picking up the new pair. They were softer than anything he’d worn in months, and Taesu felt guilty letting them touch his skin because he felt like he might stain them by just touching it. He forced himself to breathe through his nose. They were given to him. Gaze found his old clothes though, so he decided to keep them close, just in case.

“You’re still a monster.” He quietly reminded himself as he turned toward the door.

Taesu hesitated. Jin had had something about food, but the idea felt strange, eating with someone, being invited instead of dismissed. He opened the door, hovering in the threshold like he was waiting for Jin to tell him never mind. “Um,” he started, voice catching just a little. Tae stared at the floor. “You said… food?” Not that he was hungry.

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Seojin Jeong
*Thank you

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Credit to Fox for this beautiful set!<3

Jin closed the door carefully behind him and folded his hands behind his back as he leaned up against the wall, waiting for Taesu to change. The kitchens were preparing a meal that could easily have been brought up but he wanted to show Taesu around a little so he could get his bearings. And, probably, introduce him to Ahn-Bo at some point, if the sulking wolf ever decided to come out of hiding. It didn’t take long for the other to change and Jin had just peeled himself off the wall when he heard Taesu mutter something to himself about being a monster. Sensitive vampire-inherited hearing and all that didn’t leave Jin much choice when it came to the privacy (or lack thereof) between thin walls. He frowned slightly and was still frowning when the door re-opened.

At mention of food, Jin schooled his features and offered the pretty boy a more genuine smile. He didn’t know why Taesu thought he was a monster, or what secrets that beautiful visage could be hiding, but he wouldn’t put it past Abeoji to have found someone with a dark past. (Or present and future.) He wanted to raise his guard but Jin didn’t have it in him. He felt drawn to the boy, sure, but more than that— he understood what it was to feel like a monster. He'd dealt with it his whole life. “Ne, ijjog-eulo,” he responded, lightly.

Leading them both back down the corridor then and out to the courtyard, Jin took a sharp right and ducked through another entry way leading around back of the main house buildings. The kitchen wasn’t very large and it was mostly outdoors with a few covered areas. Eun-ho often helped with preparations but seeing as she was curled up asleep in their wing, he doubted she had been involved this time. Jin pointed out a few things here and there as they walked: the main building that Abeoji stayed in, a path out the back gate that led to town, etc. When they finally reached the kitchens and he’d made albeit brief introductions, they settled into one of the corners at a low table and Jin turned to face his new brother. “This is where I like to take meals,” he admitted, a little sheepishly. “It’s interesting to see how the food is prepared.” He didn’t mention that he also had a secondary interest in herbals and medicines. That might seem weird. “Is there anything in particular you don’t eat?” he asked instead. Jin didn’t think Abeoji would care much if they disliked anything; they’d still be made to eat it if ordered. But it would be good for the cook to know, at the very least. Though Jin had never earned much favor from the stony faced cook either in his seventeen years…

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Taesu Jeong & muse song
* Yes, this way

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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.

Tae trailed after Jin even as his stomach tightened into a ball of nerves, his hand clasped so tightly behind his back that his knuckles ached. Every turn down the corridor felt like walking deeper into a labyrinth, each building looking too clean, too unlike anything Taesu had never been allowed to touch. Would there be someone at their destination to tell him that he’d follow for a joke and then laugh at him? He made a small noise and ducked his head because he hoped not. When they stepped into the open air of the courtyard, his shoulders tightened as the scent of smoke and food drifted toward them, alongside the sounds of people speaking.

By the time Jin led him into the kitchen yard, Taesu had dared to peek up, his eyes darting everything. The bustle of it, the clang of metal, the neat rows of jars along the wall…it all made him feel like he should be scrubbing something alongside them. It was what it was used to. The introductions came and went in a blur; he bowed too low, muttered something that might’ve been his name, but he couldn’t be sure of that, before he practically folded himself into the corner Jin had chosen. Tae would have much much rather taken food in his room so he could pick at it.

When Jin spoke again, Tae blinked up at him, uncertain whether he was supposed to respond to the confession. “I used to help in the kitchen and then the gardens.” His voice was small, unsure if the other really cared to learn anything about him; he left off how he didn’t anymore because he became a distraction. Anywhere the matrons could put him where he could work alone, they did. Taesu had grown used to it.

He hesitated when asked about food, unsure if there was a right or wrong answer. Tae slowly shook his head. “Ah, I don’t –” He stopped short. “I’m not picky. I’ll eat anything.” It wasn’t entirely true, but he wasn’t about to sound ungrateful. Plus Taesu had a tendency to just move food around his plate, so it wouldn’t do anyone any good to cater to him.“At the orphanage, we didn’t… get to choose much.”

Eager to change the subject, Tae glanced around before looking back at Seojin. “Who else lives here?” There had been what looked like a few other rooms, and well, Taesu wanted to know how many people he would be actively avoiding, although it seemed like that would be a simple task given that he had his own space.

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Credit to Fox for this beautiful set!<3

It did not escape Jin’s notice that Taesu was very, very polite. It endeared him to the newcomer, more maybe than anything had yet. Jin felt himself softening as the third player— the invader, for all intents and purposes— settled into their home. (Not that he wasn’t glad of the distraction, he supposed. For how much he adored Ahn-Bo, things had been grim as of late and he was tired of walking around with a giant, now wolf-sized hole in the center of his chest.)

They curled into his quiet little corner and Jin prompted Taesu with a few, albeit nosy, questions. He was still curious about the newcomer and wanted to both make him feel welcome, but also understand him better. The response was a bit of a surprise, but maybe it shouldn’t have been. He was an orphan. That would explain why he’d come so willingly… or why it seemed that way at least. (Again Jin felt that prickling sensation on his skin at the thought of what Abeoji could possibly have in mind for a boy of Taesu’s caliber. If he was only skilled in cleaning, there was no reason to dress him so nicely and introduce him as their brother. He was too pretty for that anyway.) Brushing aside these rather morbid thoughts though, Jin nodded along encouragingly.

“Well, we don’t always get to chose here either,” he admitted with a small shrug. Then, leaning forward a bit to whisper under his breath, Jin added. “But I like to sneak things from the assistant chef when Suksu-nim isn’t looking. He can be kkadaro un saram, so just be careful.” And with that he sat back in his seat and looked casually over his shoulder. It didn’t seem the chefs had heard him. Thank goodness.

Taesu’s following question caught his attention quickly though and Jin felt himself grow a little awkward. “Ah, well,” he ducked his gaze and fiddled with a corner of the small table, avoidantly. “You’ve met Eun-ho, and presumably… Abeoji?” Jin spared a glance at his new brother for confirmation before counting. “I guess, aside from the staff, there’s really only one more,” so far. He paused just this side of too long before saying: “Ahn-Bo-ah.” (The way he said his friend's name and the misuse of the honorifc completely escaped Jin's notice, used to it by now as he was.) He half debated leaving it at that, but he didn’t want to leave his response so open ended as to invite further questions. So, he tacked on a shrugged little throw-away statement that he hoped was as casual as he meant for it to sound. It wasn't. “He’s our other— brother.” (It would help if he didn’t choke on the word 'brother' like it was a disease. Jin was still getting used to that weird and uncomfortable parallelism.) He hesitated to say anything more though. He didn’t know if Abeoji wanted Taesu to be made aware of Ahn-Bo’s lycanthropy and he wasn’t exactly willing to risk his hide over sharing a detail he didn’t want to discuss anyway. Beyond that— there was nothing else to tell.

Jin gave another small shrug. “He’s around here somewhere, brooding. I’m sure you’ll meet him eventually.” And with that, he hopped up to fetch them each a small bowl of whatever soup had begun to waft over to them, eager to put physical distance between himself and the topic.

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Taesu Jeong & muse song
* kkadaro un saram = "picky or fastidious person," / "Someone who is difficult behaves in an unreasonable and unhelpful way"

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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.

Almost immediately, Taesu understood that what Seojin had said about the chefs was most likely to be a joke, yet he couldn’t find it in himself to smile, let alone give him a pity laugh. He still wasn’t sure how he felt about being here, although he’d already accepted the offer of this palace being his new home so it wasn’t like he had much of a choice to change his mind. Plus the papers of his adoption had gone through, or well, were going through the channels of being official, so legally he was home.

Taesu found himself numbly nodding that he had met Abeoji. He remembered the first time he saw him – standing near a booth at the market, tossing an apple from one hand to another as sunlight slanted across his shoulder. The man had looked perfectly at ease, the way people do when they belonged everywhere. His voice had been calm, his smile faint but certain when he’d finally approached, but before that he had glanced at Taesu like one might look at a painting: patient, assessing, already convinced of its worth.

That look had terrified him then, but not in a way he wanted to escape. It felt like the opposite of being invisible. You have something rare in you, Abeoji had said, as if it were a fact. Something this world won’t understand unless it’s protected. The memory was still fresh, and made him feel warm inside. It wasn’t exactly the words themselves that had warmed his insides, but the certainty of them. No one had ever spoken to him as though he mattered by simply existing. And now he was here, in this house, sitting beside someone who he might call brother. Abeoji had given him a family. Taesu would give him anything in return so he wouldn’t take that away from him.

He wanted so badly to believe Abeoji’s promises. That this was where his life began properly. That all the loneliness behind him was a test, not a curse.

Taesu would argue that he hadn’t met Eun-ho, although that was beside the point. This third name, Ahn-Bo-ah, he didn’t recognize. The pause before SeoJin said it, and the strained way brother slipped out, made Taesu’s fingers still against the table’s edge. He almost missed it, the small careless way that the other said it, but his ear caught on the ah at the end, that unmistakable slip of tone. His gaze lifted slightly, more reflex than curiosity, and he watched SeoJin’s face as if the expression might confirm what the sound already implied, although before something came of it, and before he could ask why one might be brooding in a beautiful home like this, the other was standing up and walking to collect the food.

He told himself to breathe. He told himself he was lucky.

Taesu glanced around again. All of this felt like a fever dream, like he’d stepped into a life someone else had owned and he was an imposter taking over their space. A family, he reminded himself. He gave you a family. Taesu was frightened to imagine what that might look like in practice. Seojin seemed easy enough to like, even if he joked like he was afraid of silence. And Ahn-Bo, whoever he was, already sounded like trouble, if the tension in Seojin’s voice was any measure. But that was fine. Families were supposed to be complicated. Real families argued, and laughed, and shut doors a little too loudly. That was normal.

He’d take it until they realized he was a monster. Then they’d just leave him, too.

Taesu stared down at his hands that had dropped into his lap. He didn’t look up when Seojin returned with the soup, although Taesu straightened instinctively, his expression smoothing into something neutral. “It smells good,” he said, voice quiet but sincere. He hesitated, then added, “I wasn’t sure what to expect here.”

His eyes flicked up, searching Seojin’s face for a moment, although Taesu quickly lowered his gaze back to the bowl. He didn’t pick up the spoon.“I used to imagine something like this,” he said finally, eyes still on his soup. “A family.” He’d had one years ago, but the memory was so foggy that he couldn’t even recall what his mother or father had looked like. “It feels strange to be sitting here. Like I’ll wake up, and find this is just a dream.”

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Credit to Fox for this beautiful set!<3