Fall 1887 - Jeong Residence, Joseon

The courtyard had begun to lose its light. A book lay open in his lap, though he hadn’t turned a page in an hour. Every few minutes, he glanced toward one of the doors, half-expecting someone to come calling; Abeoji had made his purpose at the Menagerie clear and Taesu hated it; he hated being touched and paraded around like an animal, but there wasn’t much he could do about it. Hopefully tonight will be free of… people. He needed a night just to himself, to sleep without hands reaching out to take what he didn’t want to give.

The door slid open behind him with that familiar whisper of paper and wood. Taesu stiffened, his back straightening like a rod had been shoved up on his spine. He didn’t turn, but the woman came around toward him anyway, her head bowed, silver tray balanced in both hands. The cup steamed faintly, that same ugly, metallic smell that clung to the back of his throat every time they tried to present it to him. He hadn’t taken it, not yet, but Abeoji was becoming more frustrated as each day passed without consumption; it would only be a matter of time before the potion was involuntarily poured down his throat.

“I was told you are to drink before dinner,” the woman murmured as she stepped closer to him, offering him the tray once more. The smell alone made Taesu’s stomach turn, a feeling of nausea settling in the pit of his stomach. He stared at the potion like it might jump out and kill him, before he turned his head away.

“I’m not hungry,” He murmured, although Tae knew that hunger had nothing to do with it.

She hesitated. “It’s not food. It’s… required.” They both knew what would happen if he sent her away, because Abeoji was not a man who tolerated defiance. Still, he couldn’t wrap his head around why he had to take it, so until Abeoji came to him himself, Taesu would continually turn away any potions presented to him. She stepped forward and slid the tray in front of him like a peace offering.

“I don’t want it!” The words snapped out of him like something alive. He pushed the tray back, too hard, the cup toppling, potion spilling across the dirt and the book in his lap. Tae hissed and jumped up, the book sliding into the dirt. Her eyes widened as she glanced at him, his name leaving her lips like it might force him to stay, but he was already running.

Taesu didn’t look back, although he assumed that she wouldn’t chase him; no, she’d go back to Abeoji and tattle on him, telling him that Taesu was once more refusing the polyjuice potion. He knew it wasn’t going to end well, but he didn’t understand why he should look like someone else -- people wanted to fuck a Veela, so really, his own face should be fine with for that. He ran across the veranda, bare feet slapping the wood, heart stuttering like a trapped bird inside his chest. His fingers slipped against the door a few times before he finally managed to open it for him to slip inside.

For a moment, he only stood there in the shadowed hall, chest heaving. The smell of the potions still clung to him, soaking into the fabric near his lap. The scent made him woozy. Taesu pressed a shaking hand to his mouth as if to stop himself from being sick, or worse, from screaming. Behind him, The servant called for him again, although it was probably to march him directly to Abeoji since he’d ruined the potion. The dirt could drink it.

Taesu cursed under his breath and moved quickly until he was standing in front of his own room. He couldn’t stay there because Abeoji would find him there. Where then? Dark eyes darted around the hallway, and as he heard the woman call for him again, Taesu made a snap decision, ducking into the first open room he saw. He pressed himself against the door as he tried not to breathe too heavily. Only when the quiet returned, the woman probably going to tell the man about Taesu’s defiance, did he realize how tightly his fists were clenched.

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Ahn-Bo Jeong

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   Ahn-Bo Jeong

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Credit to Fox for this beautiful set!<3

Ahn-Bo Jeong

Since his arrival at the Jeong’s, time had passed by somehow both slowly and quickly. There had been other arrivals since his, not that he’d seen them personally. Jin had told him about them, but the information of who they were, how they’d come to be here, and their names had gone in one ear and out the other. It didn’t change his day to day. Why should he care?

Despite how much the vampire and his tiger lady tried to cajole him into leaving his room, he refused. His room would lighten when the sun was up, and darken when It went down. There were no candles or other means of light, and he found no reason to leave his bed (except for necessity.)

At first, when his door had slid open he’d thought it was Jin coming to try to convince him to choke down his evening meal. It was why he kept his back to the door, already bracing himself for another argument. The door slid closed, and there was only the sound of heavy breathing in the darkness. Jin-a usually brought light in with him… and, Ahn-Bo sniffed, this person didn’t smell like Jin-a at all.

He rolled over to see who the newcomer was, but the darkness hid everything except the silhouette outlined against the screen. ”Who are you?” he asked, tone dull with disinterest.

  

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Ahn-Bo speaks in Korean to his family unless otherwise stated in posts.
He has a noticeable accent when speaking in English.

Set by the amazing Fox! • plot with me