lownctes

[lownctes]

♚◞  𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐜𝐛𝐥𝐮𝐞.

* / @villastarters· ! 

it’s their worst nightmare about the show and its ‘arrangements’ come to fruition. being paired with either of the names they’d had in mind for the coupling would have been hard enough for indie but sharing a bed with a complete stranger is downright terrifying. they are sure ares is fine enough company and probably not evil but, still. still! it’s easy enough to avoid going to bed that first night, staying up into the early hours in the lounge scribbling away in their notebook. exhaustion is hitting though and it’s with a yawn and a bleary blink that they realize they’re not alone in the room anymore. “how long have you been here?” they ask quietly, tucking legs closer to their chest from their perch in the corner of the couch. bare toes curl into the cushion self consciously. “sorry – i mean, good morning?”

                    𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧  𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐞  𝐭𝐡𝐞  𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐝  𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭   of  holding  and  being  held  by  both  of  his  lovers  in  the  dark  of  the  night  ,  which  had  resulted  in  what  as  probably  the  most  restful  night  of  sleep  he’s  had  in  a  long  while  ,  the  solace  that  came  with  being  tangled  up  in  limbs  didn’t  rid  him  entirely  of  his  little  spooks  ,  of  the  things  that  haunt  him  in  the  dark  .  thus  ,  he  finds  himself  feeling  too  restless  to  remain  in  bed  any  longer  in  the  far  too  early  morning  when  he  jolts  awake  ,  sleepy  lilac  crescents  still  lingering  just  beneath  his  typically  glittered  lower  lashline  ,  and  he  opts  to  untangle  himself  from  sets  of  limbs  with  as  much  care  to  not  wake  hyuntae  or  minkyu  as  he  can  manage  .  thoughts  set  on  something  sweet  as  he  begins  to  drag  himself  to  the  kitchen  ,  he  stops  in  the  doorway  of  the  lounge  ,  only  for  a  second  ,  only  to  rub  the  sleep  from  tired  eyes  with  sweater - pawed  hands  .  he  startles  at  the  sound  of  the  voice  ,  not  having  had  realised  someone  else  was  up  at  the  ungodly  hour  .  ❝  ah  ,  sorry  ---  ❞  he  starts  ,  in  korean  per  pure  habit  ,  before  quickly  making  the  switch  ,  ❝  good  morning  .  i  didn’t  . . .  i  wasn’t  lingering  ,  i  promise  .  i  was  on  my  way  to  the  kitchen  .  ❞  he  pauses  ,  offers  a  smile  .  it’d  dawned  on  him  the  night  before  who  indigo  was  ,  why  they’d  seemed  familiar  in  the  moments  of  their  first  interaction  in  the  villa  ,  and  he  felt  silly  for  not  having  known  sooner  .  ❝  so  ,  like  ,  i  don’t  mean  for  this  to  sound  . . .  weird  ,  but  it  probably  will  ,  um  ---  you  seemed  really  familiar  when  we  first  spoke  and  . . .  you  sampled  one  of  my  songs  ,  right  ?  if  i  have  the  wrong  person  ,  jus’  tell  me  to  fuck  off  ,  but  ---  ❞  he  breathes  out  a  laugh  ,  hand  coming  up  to  touch  the  lotus  flower  tattooed  on  the  back  of  his  neck  ,  slightly  awkward  .  ❝  ah  ,  sorry  ,  strange  time  to  bring  it  up  .  are  you  always  up  so  early  ?  ❞  the  question  comes  from  a  place  of  want  to  escape  the  conversation  he’d  brought  up  ,  perhaps  suddenly  afraid  he  might  have  the  wrong  person  .

[lownctes]

♚◞   𝐡𝐲𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐜𝐞  *&.  𝐦𝐢𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐲𝐮𝐮.

For the first time since arriving at the villa, Henry is perfectly content with the results of one of the coupling ceremonies. To have been not only chosen by someone he cares about so much, but to have been allowed to be put into a trio with the second person who has caught the majority of his attention and his affection is a blessing. Minkyu and Babylon have been together for as long as Henry can remember being on the show, but he still doesn’t feel as if he’s coming between them when he gets put together with them, and rather he feels more like he’s expanding the dynamic for all three of them and transforming it into something different than how it started out. It’s a nice feeling, and it’s one that he doesn’t take for granted given how long it’s taken for them to get to where they are now.

The bed feels plush and warm beneath his back, and he’s sprawled out over it starfish style, long longs reaching to each corner of it. It’s the one that he’s going to be sharing with Baby and Minkyu, and the idea alone makes him smile to himself for all that he’s worth, unable to help it. The most he’s wanted to do for weeks now is just sleep in their bed with them, and as he closes his tired eyes now, he imagines he can still feels Kyu’s presence when he gets closer. Reaching a hand out blindly, Henry flexes his fingers. “Join me, darling?” / @miinkyuu·, @lownctes·.

it’s difficult to remember that their room is shared in moments like this – just him and henry and baby all together. sleeping out in the sands, under the stars had been fine, lovely even, but the idea of getting to curl into the plush blankets and both his lovers’ arms is far more enticing. it feels like a resolution, like some final cog has ticked into place to begin the harmonious something they were always striving for, even before now. the path upon which they tread is still going to be one of exploration and learning but this newest coupling and the perks that come along with it. 

“how are we all going to fit?” he muses playfully as he draws up next to the bed. at first, it’s just to admire. the rightness of the sight sends a warm thrum through his veins. a pleasant flush heats freckled cheeks and he has to take a breath just to process the rush of sensations. then, fingertips are reaching out to skim along the back of hyuntae’s hand, up his forearm and back down again, settling at his wrist. curling up, kyu folds under one extended arm and presses himself solidly at hyuntae’s side. eyes flutter from the rise and fall of his chest over towards baby, an invitation glittering in his gaze. “come,” he vocalizes it with an airy, excited sort of sigh.  “cuddle us.” how nice, minkyu’s heart sings, to be an us. ( @lownctes· )

                    𝐢𝐭'𝐬  𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞  𝐢𝐧  𝐚  𝐰𝐚𝐲   that  makes  his  heart  flutter  ,  being  able  to  share  a  bed  with  both  of  his  lovers  .  his  lovers  ,  though  he  has  yet  to  call  hyuntae  such  a  thing .  it’s  a  situation  that  he’d  never  thought  he’d  find  himself  in  ,  one  that  still  has  him  feeling  overgrown  in  every  possible   way  ,  still  trying  to  untangle  himself  from  the  pretty  ,  little  mess  of  emotions  that  has  wound  its  way  around  his  heart  .  it’s  welcome  ,  though  .  not  an  ounce  of  true  uncertainty  lingers  ,  any  remaining  bits  of  it  having  melted  away  entirely  during  the  coupling  ceremony  ,  he  thinks  .  thoughts  have  turned  to  the  universe  countless  times  ,  and  yet  he  can’t  find  himself  thanking  her  for  this  .  this  something  that  they  have  is  dressed  in  starshine  and  moonlight  ,  yes  ,  but  he  likes  to  think  it’s  all  them  ,  and  as  far  as  he’s  concerned  ,  the  universe  has  no  place  between  them  .

                    babylon  ,  lashes  free  of  glitter  and  cheeks  only  naturally  rosy  for  once  ,  hums  simply  to  make  the  sound  ,  small  smile  tugging  at  unglossed  lips  at  the  sight  ,  at  the  inviting  glance  he’s  spared  .  ❝  will  we  all  fit  ?  ❞  he  breathes  out  a  light  laugh  ,  gaze  turning  to  them  from  where  he  stands  .  it  doesn’t  take  long  for  him  to  draw  closer  to  the  bed  ,  tattooed  fingers  gracing  the  soft  blankets  .  another  sort  of  hum  escapes  eternally  red - stained  lips  as  he  brings  himself  up  onto  the  bed  ,  sitting  at  the  end  of  it  ,  legs  crossed  in  a  way  to  make  himself  small  enough  to  fit  .  head  tilts  to  the  side  and  he  simply  watches  ,  starry  eyes  admiring  simply  to  admire  .  ❝  ah  .  i  don’t  know  .  i  think  i  have  some  things  i  should  work  on  .  ❞  teasing  tone  evident  in  his  voice  ,  there’s  also  something  of  endearment  laced  with  the  words  .  he  leans  forward  to  prop  his  head  in  his  hand  ,  nose  scrunching  up  slightly  to  accompany  the  soft  smile  that  reaches  his  eyes  .

[lownctes]

he looks so tiny I wanna put him in my pocket

[lownctes]

♚◞  𝐦𝐢𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐲𝐮𝐮.

already, he feels like maybe this conversation is going to go better than their last proper conversation about hyuntae, one on one. there’s a smile to start it off, one that minkyu matches so that he resists the temptation to lean up and kiss baby’s instead. he can’t fight off the adorable nose scrunch though and so he does lean up to press a tiny kiss there to the tip before taking up their beach side walk again. they process slowly, hands swinging loosely in between them. he sidesteps a bit closer when he picks up a misty chill in the air, nothing bad enough to draw them inside but enough to make kyu want to share the minimal warmth caused by the brushing of their shoulders. he watches fondly, affectionately, as baby dots his own kisses to minkyu’s hands. he’s so very in love. “tell me what you think of him,” he prompts in a voice that carries on the salted breeze. “just your honest thoughts – no expectations or wrong answers.” a thumb lightly traces the shape of a few tattoos without even looking down; he knows baby well. “you were holding hands when i found you.” minkyu smiles at the memory and nudges his forehead against baby’s shoulder, touching just for the sake of more touching.   

                    𝐭𝐡𝐞  𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐬  𝐭𝐨  𝐡𝐢𝐬  𝐧𝐨𝐬𝐞   has  a  light  shade  of  pink  coming  to  glow  on  babylon’s  cheeks  ,  subtle  beneath  the  glittering  bit  of  rouge  already  applied  there  .  a  small  shiver  wracks  his  frame  and  he’s  thankful  for  the  added  bit  of  closeness  kyu  provided  him  with  ,  though  it’s  not  out  of  pocket  for  him  to  wish  that  they  weren’t  walking  ,  so  that  they  could  hold  and  be  held  even  more  intimately  than  they  are  now  ,  hands  the  one  point  of  contact  between  them  .  he  hums  ,  lingering  silence  winding  around  his  tongue  for  a  moment  ,  simply  savouring  the  comforting  and  familiar  feel  of  kyu’s  thumb  tracing  his  tattoos  .  eventually  ,  he  does  speak  ,  free  hand  coming  up  to  fiddle  with  a  heavy  earring  as  he  does  .  ❝  ah  .  i’m  sorry  ,  ❞  he  apologises  ,  though  not  even  he’s  sure  what  for  .  maybe  the  hand  holding  kyu  has  mentioned  ,  maybe  the  silence  he’d  let  wash  over  him  for  a  moment  too  long  ,  maybe  he’s  apologising  for  the  simple  sake  of  apologising  .  he  doesn’t  find  himself  to  be  truly  sorry  about  the  hand  holding  ,  though  ,  not  really  ,  not  in  the  slightest  .  ❝  i  ---  we  were  talking  .  he’s  really  nice  to  talk  to  .  ❞  gaze  turn  to  the  sky  as  he  tries  to  find  his  words  .  ❝  he’s  deeply  knowing  .  he  seemed  . . .  to  understand  everything  i  was  saying  ,  to  understand  me  .  ❞  a  pause  .  he  feels  like  he’s  opening  up  his  chest  and  exposing  himself  .  ❝  i  think  i  understood  him  ,  too  .  ❞  he  looks  to  minkyu  ,  almost  as  if  looking  for  some  sort  of  affirmation  ,  some  confirmation  that  what  he’s  saying  isn’t  wrong  .  ❝  i  think  that  ,  though  i  don’t  know  what  he’s  struggled  and  is  struggling  with  ,  that  he  deserves  better  than  what  he’s  been  dealt  .  the  universe  didn’t  look  after  him  the  way  he  deserves  .  ❞  another  fit  of  silence  swallows  him  whole  .  i  think  i’d  like  to  talk  to  him  some  more  .  i  think  i  ache  whenever  i  think  about  him  .  he  swallows  pretty  words  down  ,  lets  another  smile  tug  at  strawberry  lips  .

[lownctes]

[lownctes]

♚◞  𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐡𝐪.

          the familiar feeling of a challenge rose quickly from the pit of basher’s stomach and into his heart - and he loved it . most of the other contestants sat pretty and dodged his ego , but babylon … how new and exciting . basher could sense that the other meant no ill-will and held no bitterness behind his word , so he leaned forward , just an inch closer . “ you would really just let me drown like that ? ah , so cold … ” basher smirked and leaned back into his own personal bubble once again , keeping the comfort . with others , it was always about the comfort of the other . light teasing and borderline flirting was as far as he would get , keeping himself in check . boundaries , boundaries , boundaries . “ do you let aussies tattoo you , or did you get them done at … ” he paused , picking his words . “ home ? where are you from , baby ? ” 

                    𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠  𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐬  𝐛𝐚𝐭  𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐲  𝐚𝐭   his  companion  as  he  leans  closer  ,  eyebrows  risen  slightly  and  a  small  .  perhaps  slightly  amused  smile  lingers  on  glossed  ,  cherry - flavoured  lips  .  it  was  evident  that  he  held  no  ill - will  toward  his  newfound  housemate  .  in  fact  ,  this  conversation  was  entertaining  more  than  anything  else  .  ❝  maybe  so  .  maybe  i’d  even  watch  as  it  happened  .  someone  has  to  be  a  witness  ,  right  ?  tell  the  story  of  how  you  ,  so  tragically  ,  met  your  demise  .  ❞  a  tattooed  hand  lifts  to  push  messy  strands  of  hair  back  from  his  face  ,  then  lingering  near  his  ear  to  fiddle  with  the  heavy  ,  silver  earrings  there  .  he  hums  .  ❝  seoul  .  home  .  i  got  them  done  at  home  .  there’s  this  little  tattoo  shop  called  circle  ink  .  i’ve  gotten  all  of  them  done  there  .  ❞  a  pause  ,  he  touches  the  black  dove  tattooed  behind  his  left  ear  .  ❝  minus  this  one  behind  my  ear  .  i  got  that  done  on  a  trip  to  los  angeles  .  no  aussies  involved  .  ❞

[lownctes]

♚◞  𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐡𝐪.

          ah , love island . basher would be lying if he said he had watched the last season - he’d given up when his favorites were voted off . typical . it was different as a contestant , which seemed rather obvious , but different in a way he had never experienced . different in a way that made his stomach twist into knots , different in a way that allowed him to be the person he wanted . and being a pretty boy , it seemed , was what he wanted . on camera , he tried to be smooth , but off camera was a different story . off-camera , he had a tendency to be a little looser . but the villa was no place to be loose . never let your guard down around the camera , ever . it wasn’t until he’d found babylon that he’d realized how wound up he had felt the entire week , but that seemed to be expected . fresh from the shower , his hair brushed back and out of his face , he’d made his way to the kitchen - ready to make the most disgusting green smoothie known to man , but instead saw the familiar tattooed contestant he was so desperate to impress . “ a chef , i see , ” basher teased lightly , making his way over to the counter . “ unless you were waiting for me to make you lunch . ” @lownctes·

                    𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐲𝐥𝐨𝐧  𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐥𝐲  𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬  𝐭𝐡𝐞  𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐬   anymore  ,  which  maybe  is  a  bad  thing  ,  but  it’s  made  for  him  being  a  lot  less  stressed  than  he  was  last  season  ,  a  lot  easier  to  watch  ,  he  assumes  .  not  that  he  thinks  about  it  too  often  ,  as  far  as  he’s  concerned  he’s  not  really  even  here  to  win  at  this  point  ,  just  under  contractual  obligations  ---  though  he’d  be  lying  if  he  said  he  wasn’t  grateful  for  those  contractual  obligations  now  ,  considering  what  has  come  out  of  season  to  already  .  he  lingers  in  the  kitchen  ,  having  been  craving  something  sweet  since  he’d  woken  up  that  morning  .  unfortunately  for  him  ,  nothing  the  villa  had  seemed  to  be  satisfactory  to  him  ;  no  matter  how  many  times  he  peeked  into  the  cupboards  and  pantries  ,  he  came  up  empty  .  he  pushes  the  pantry  doors  closed  for  probably  the  fifth  time  in  the  last  ten  minutes  as  the  familiar  face  walked  into  the  room  ,  glitter - framed  eyes  flickering  his  way  as  he  leaned  back  against  the  counter  .  ❝  considering  i  once  overcooked  instant  ramen  ,  more  like  the  exact  opposite  of  a  chef  ,  ❞  he  says  ,  nose  scrunching  up  slightly  .  ❝  and  not  waiting  for  you  to  make  me  lunch  ,  but  if  you  can  make  something  sweet  appear  out  of  thin  air  ,  i  wouldn’t  be  opposed  .  ❞  not  that  he’s  even  sure  what  he  wants  right  now  ,  which  maybe  is  his  problem  ,  being  unable  to  pinpoint  what  exactly  it  is  that  he  craves  .

[lownctes]

♚◞  𝐦𝐢𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐲𝐮𝐮.

* / @lownctes· ! 

minkyu’s always been accused of having an overactive imagination. it’s why he’s found himself in the career he has – he’d be nothing without his surplus of creativity. however, nothing could have prepared him for the fantasy-like turn his life has taken. no amount of wishing and hoping and dreaming could have convinced him that this is his reality. there are talks to be had but unlike some in minkyu’s past, he can only see good outcomes. one of these talks, he wants to have now – while the memory of him, henry and baby meeting on the beach in the early morning is still fresh on his mind. as him and babylon alone stroll down those same sands, hand-in-hand, kyu gives a sweet little tug to get his lover’s attention. “can i pick your brain?” he prompts with a smile, sea-salted silver wisps tugged into his eyes by the coastal breeze. “it’s about hyuntae.” it’s almost a role reversal of sorts but, instead of tears and fear and panic, there’s only a nagging sort of excitement he won’t let himself experience in its entirety until he’s gotten confirmation from his boyfriend. 

                    𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧  𝐚𝐧𝐝  𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐲  𝐚𝐫𝐞  𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥   settled  somewhere  deep  within  babylon  ,  grown  into  his  bloodstream  and  winding  about  his  bones  ,  but  it’s  become  something  less  fear - wracking  and  anxiety - inducing  and  something  more  welcome  ,  something  that  he  wants  to  discover  more  and  more  of  .  there  are  still  feelings  to  settle  ,  perhaps  mostly  his  own  ,  and  talks  to  be  had  ,  but  worried  red  skin  has  healed  over  and  him  and  kyu  have  settled  back  into  something  normal  .  not  their  old  normal  ,  but  a  normal  .  tattooed  fingers  fumble  with  kyu’s  own  shorter  ones  in  a  fit  of  absentmindedness  and  glitter - framed  eyes  blink  and  flicker  to  his  boyfriend  ,  eyebrows  rising  slightly  at  the  sudden  question  .  it’s  when  the  question  is  clarified  upon  a  bit  further  that  his  nose  scrunches  up  and  a  soft  ,  ❝  ah  ,  ❞  pours  from  strawberry - glossed  lips  .  it’s  takes  him  a  second  to  nod  and  a  small  smile  tugs  at  the  corners  of  his  mouth  ,  something  soft  ,  maybe  slightly  hesitant  ,  but  genuine  all  the  same  .  ❝  sure  .  ❞  he  hums  ,  face  turning  back  toward  the  sky  .  the  bit  of  ocean  breeze  hits  him  in  the  face  and  he's  suddenly  missing  his  collection  of  earloop  masks  that  he  hides  behind  back  home  .  ❝  pick  away  .  ❞  he  brings  kyu’s  hand  up  ,  presses  a  kiss  to  the  back  of  it  before  letting  their  hands  hang  between  them  again  .

[lownctes]

which is more important? love or your career?

                    ❝  do  i  have  to  choose  ?  ❞  he  asks  ,  perhaps  afraid  he’ll  make  the  wrong  choice  in  the  eyes  of  the  public  ,  afraid  they’ll  vote  him  off  if  he  doesn’t  say  what  they’re  wanting  to  hear  .  ❝  love  is  important  to  me  ,  and  the  people  who  i  love  are  unbelievably  so  .  ❞  lips  part  ,  but  momentary  silence  hangs  from  them  .  ❝  but  i  love  my  career  ,  as  well  .  music  was  my  first  love  .  if  i  hadn’t  been  able  to  express  myself  through  my  music  ,  my  choreography  ,  all  of  it  ,  over  the  past  five  years  ,  i  think  —  i’m  certain  that  i  would  be  far  worse  off  than  i  am  right  now  .  it’s  not  something  that  i  can  give  a  black  and  white  answer  to  ,  i  don’t  think  .  ❞  another  pause  ,  glittering  lashes  flutter  .  ❝  i  think  that  ,  if  it  came  down  to  it  ,  if  holding  onto  my  career  meant  letting  go  of  the  people  i  love  ,  or  the  people  i  love  insisted  i  give  up  my  career  —  i  think  i’d  choose  neither  .  i’m  not  sure  i  could  properly  live  without  either  one  of  them  .  ❞

[lownctes]

do you think the k-media accepts your current relationship with minkyu? do you think they'll continue to do so?

                    ❝  minkyu  and  hyuntae  ,  ❞  he  clarifies  ,  and  maybe  now’s  not  the  time  for  it  ,  but  it  leaves  his  lips  before  he  can  swallow  it  down  .  ❝  i  think  that  —  i've  already  littered  myself  and  my  career  in  so  many  scandals  ,  ❝  from  substance  abuse  to  past  relationships  ,  it  was  a  miracle  his  company  hadn’t  dropped  him  ,  truly  .  ❝  that  whatever  k - media  thinks  won’t  …  matter  much  .  ❞  a  pause  ,  a  moment  to  collect  his  thoughts  .  ❝  the  only  thing  i  worry  about  is  ,  if  they  don’t  like  it  and  they  turn  it  into  some  blown - up  scandal  —  ❞  which  they  may  as  well  already  have  ,  he  has  no  way  of  knowing  while  at  the  villa  .  ❝  —  i  don’t  want  it  to  affect  minkyu  or  hyuntae  negatively  at  all  .  ❞  silence  lingers  ,  a  hand  comes  up  to  touch  the  tattoo  on  his  collarbone  .  ❝  ah  .  things  seemed  relatively  okay  over  winter  break  when  kyu  and  i  went  home  together  ,  so  i  supposed  all  i  can  do  is  hope  that  it  remains  that  way  in  regards  to  the  more  recent  developments  regarding  my  relationships  ,  as  well  .  ❞

ft.  @miinkyuu  ,  @hyuntce

[lownctes]

is this the path you ever saw your romantic life going?

                    ❝  no  .  ❞  the  answer  is  quick  ,  not  an  ounce  of  hesitation  even  threatening  to  linger  .  ❞  if  i’m  honest  ,  when  i’d  first  arrived  at  the  villa  ,  i  had  already  somewhat  —  given  up  on  romance  .  ❞  a  pause  ,  he  backtracks  ,  ❝  not  so  much  given  up  ,  i  suppose  ,  but  rather  ,  i  expected  the  worst  from  it  .  ❞  thoughts  of  past  relationships  threaten  to  spill  to  the  forefront  of  his  mind  and  he  hums  .  ❝  so  ,  i  don’t  think  i  ever  really  …  had  a  path  in  mind  .  ❞  he  did  ,  and  it  was  dark  and  he  doesn’t  care  to  vocalise  it  .  ❝  but  i  didn’t  expect  to  find  anyone  who  i  feel  deeply  for  who  feels  deeply  for  me  in  return  ,  let  alone  two  people  ,  no  .  ❞

[lownctes]

♚◞  𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐡𝐪.

          it had only been a few days since he had arrived , and naturally , he hadn’t met everyone - but he felt close . if he skulked around enough during all hours of the day , he was able to make at least one new friend , but he found most of his luck at the bar. he hadn’t been there long before he was joined by another , and -

          now, wait , who is this ? basher allows himself to turn toward the other and quirks an eyebrow , looking him up and down . “ oh , you are so intimidating … ” he smirked and brought his almost-empty glass up to his lips, drinking the rest of what was left . “ maybe i would like that . you’ll have to find out , assuming i don’t chase after my reflection and drown , ” basher offered a half-smile before extending his free hand , inspecting the hand of the other . “ i’m basher . your tattoos … you make a beautiful canvas. ” 

                    𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐲𝐥𝐨𝐧'𝐬  𝐧𝐨𝐬𝐞  ,  𝐩𝐞𝐫  𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐞  𝐡𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐭  ,   scrunches  up  and  he  almost  doesn’t  spare  another  glance  in  the  direction  of  the  stranger  ,  keeps  glittering  eyes  fixated  on  the  red - tinted  drink  he’s  mixed  for  himself  .  ❝  i  don’t  care  to  find  out  ,  ❞  he  clarifies  ,  practically  able  to  hear  the  smirk  in  the  voice  of  the  other  ,  brings  his  glass  to  his  lips  to  take  a  sip  ,  quick  and  sweet  .  the  words  of  the  other  are  ironic  ,  considering  the  tale  of  narcissus  is  what  babylon  has  chosen  for  his  upcoming  comeback  concept  to  be  based  upon  .  ❝  perhaps  i’d  rather  you  chase  after  your  reflection  than  find  out  .  ❞  maybe  words  are  slightly  harsh  ,  but  voice  holds  no  true  heat  to  it  ,  and  glitter - fleck  cheeks  glow  ,  against  his  own  will  ,  a  subtle  shade  of  pink  at  the  compliment  given  .  he’d  never  been  good  at  receiving  any  sort  of  compliment  ,  after  all  .  ❝  thank  you  ,  ❞  he  breathes  ,  unsure  what  else  to  say  ,  before  he  tacks  on  ,  ❝  though  ,  really  ,  it’s  the  tattoo  artists  who  should  be  credited  .  the  canvas  is  nothing  without  the  art  .  i’m  babylon  .  most  people  here  call  me  baby  ,  for  simplicity’s  sake  .  ❞

[lownctes]

♚◞  𝐡𝐲𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐜𝐞.

Flushing at compliments still seems to be something he does, especially when they’re coming from Baby’s pretty lips, and he ducks his head a little bit shyly, bumping their noses together and everything. They’re so close to each other already, close enough that he feels so much more settled than he was even the shortest distance from him. Carry me, Babylon says, and something inside of Hyuntae shivers. Those embers are still burning, gaining more and more heat by the second, and when Hyuntae bends down to loop his arms beneath Baby’s thighs and lift him, it’s like someone’s suddenly added fuel to the fire. Flames burst from it with legs wrapping around his waist, and he keeps his hands beneath his thighs in order to support his weight. Canting his head to the side slightly, Hyuntae presses a kiss to his mouth, sweet and a little greedy. “You can have anything you want. Say the word and I’ll give it to you, Baby. I swear I will.” It’s not a difficult thing for him to put his word to, and he wants him to know that above all else. There is no hesitation in him to be found, no reason for him to feel as if he needs to keep his guard up. The authenticity and the chemistry between them tells him enough to chase away any fears that he may have had otherwise. “Promise.”

Tucking Baby’s head beneath his chin, he presses a kiss to his hair, and then he carries him outside and down the path that will lead them to the beach, to their spot. He doesn’t want to waste time, the sunset already casting the world in fantastic shades, deep colors. It feels good, the temperature not as oppressive as it is during the day, and he lets his bare feet sink into the sand as he makes his way out onto it and towards the place where they will be spending their evening together. Baby’s body feels amazing wrapped around his, and he finds that it makes his heart race every time he thinks about it, every time he processes again where he is, what he’s doing.

“Okay, darling.” Rubbing a hand over Babylon’s back, Hyuntae carefully bends down to let his feet touch the ground. Even then, he doesn’t allow him to pull away, and instead presses a hand to the small of his back and pulls him in against him firm, tight. Once again he presses a kiss to his lips, and this time it is not sweet, and it is not chaste. It bears some of that pent-up passion from earlier, that relentless need that hammers at his insides every moment he is not pursuing discovery of more and more of Baby. Hyuntae finally nips at his bottom lip again, and his pulse pounds in his ears as he gives a little tug to go along with it. He wants to make more of those whines that he’s so good at giving come out of him, and he wants to be even more the reason this time than he was before. It feels good to him, makes his heart rate pick up, and the only reason that he pulls away from bitten, kiss-swollen lips is because he wants to lay down. He’s barely slept in days again, and there’s so much exhaustion weighing on his chest that it’s hard to inhale sometimes. Even with all of this excitement, all of this dreamy sort of affection and discovery happening between them, he feels tired. When he gets the blanket spread out, it doesn’t take him long to sit down on it, reaching out for Baby’s wrist to give it a little tug. In the fading light, he smiles up at him, and then he lets his hand drop away to lay down. “The stars will start coming out soon. We can greet them.” Patting his chest because he knows he wants Baby to lay against him, he gives another smile, this one just as pretty as the one before it. He hopes he thinks his smile is pretty. Believes that he must. “Come here, sweetheart.”

                    𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐬  𝐰𝐫𝐚𝐩  𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐥𝐲  𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝  𝐡𝐲𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐞'𝐬   waist  as  he’s  lifted  into  his  arms  ,  one  hand  splayed  over  the  back  of  his  neck  ,  the  other  entangling  with  dark  strands  of  hair  .  maybe  he’s  a  selfish  little  thing  ,  just  a  little  bit  selfish  ,  a  little  bit  needy  and  greedy  ,  for  wanting  to  be  held  the  way  he  is  .  as  far  as  the  world  knows  ,  it’s  out  of  character  for  him  ,  not  who  he’s  supposed  to  be  ,  but  he  can’t  seem  to  care  with  the  kiss  that  he’s  treated  to  ,  the  words  that  spill  from  hyuntae’s  pretty  lips  .  ❝  want  you  ,  ❞  he  murmurs  ,  tilting  his  chin  to  catch  their  lips  against  one  another’s  only  briefly  .  ❝  don’t  give  me  anything  else  but  you  .  promise  .  ❞  he  smiles  ,  something  soft  and  genuine  and  fond  ,  and  takes  the  word  (  a  word  that’s  maybe  far  too  quickly  beginning  to  feel  like  it  belongs  to  them  )  and  tucks  it  away  for  safekeeping  ,  right  in  his  ribcage  ,  next  to  his  heart  and  amidst  the  pretty  garden  of  flowers  that  he  swears  hyuntae  and  minkyu  have  both  bloomed  there  .

                    skin  feels  warm  ,  though  not  due  to  the  sun  and  the  heat  it  gives  off  ,  no  ,  it  has  something  more  to  do  with  hyuntae  ,  the  proximity  of  their  closeness  ,  the  way  babylon  is  wrapped  around  him  in  such  a  way  .  tired  eyes  ,  not  quite  as  sleepless  as  the  other  morning  but  never  seeming  to  be  fully  rested  ,  flutter  in  a  way  that  dare  to  let  them  slipped  close  ,  and  maybe  they  would  have  if  he  didn’t  find  himself  simply  wanting  to  admire  each  and  every  pretty  feature  of  his  almost  lover  in  as  full  detail  as  he  can  achieve  ,  even  as  he’s  set  down  ,  bare  feet  sinking  into  sticky  sand  .

                    the  petname  makes  his  heart  flutter  ,  but  it’s  the  kiss  that  he’s  pulled  into  that  has  a  soft  gasp  escaping  sweetened  lips  .  it’s  different  ,  not  gentle  and  sweet  like  the  ones  that  came  before  it  ,  but  babylon  still  feels  like  he’s  kissing  the  stars  themselves  all  the  same  .  he  tries  to  rise  on  his  tiptoes  ,  to  press  into  hyuntae  just  that  little  bit  more  ,  but  the  sand  has  him  slipping  slightly  each  time  he  does  ,  though  he  doesn’t  truly  seem  to  notice  .  a  whine  ,  high  in  pitch  and  a  bit  louder  than  the  ones  that  had  spilled  from  cherry - vanilla  lips  before  ,  pours  into  the  air  between  him  and  hyuntae  yet  again  in  response  to  the  tug  to  his  bottom  lip  ,  and  he  finds  himself  not  caring  if  maybe  it’s  a  little  bit  sore  later  ,  maybe  he  wants  it  to  be  .  when  they  pull  away  ,  he’s  left  breathless  and  already  missing  it  ,  and  he  lingers  for  a  moment  when  hyuntae  lays  down  .  gaze  drifts  over  him  slow  and  steady  ,  committing  such  a  pretty  sight  to  memory  ,  because  ---  god  ,  babylon  doesn’t  want  to  forget  even  the  most  minuscule  of  details  that  piece  together  this  moment  .  he’s  silent  as  he  finally  sits  down  ,  taking  another  moment  to  linger  at  hyuntae’s  side  .  the  stars  will  start  coming  out  soon  ,  and  yet  the  cherry - lipped  boy  feels  like  he’s  staring  them  in  the  face  right  now  .  hands  lift  to  snap  his  barrettes  ,  pink  in  colour  ,  out  of  his  own  hair  and  ,  gently  ,  he  moves  to  snap  them  into  hyuntae’s  ,  holding  his  hair  back  and  away  from  his  face  .  ❝  so  your  hair  can’t  hide  you  from  me  ,  ❞  he  clarifies  before  finally  laying  down  next  to  him  ,  leaning  his  head  against  his  chest  ,  right  over  his  heart  .  as  much  as  he  wants  to  look  at  the  sunset  ,  the  slow  fade - in  of  the  stars  ,  he  continues  to  find  his  own  glittering  gaze  flickering  to  peer  up  at  hyuntae  every  few  seconds  .  thank  you  ,  he  almost  dares  to  whisper  ,  though  not  even  he’s  sure  he’s  ready  to  explain  what  for  if  he  were  asked  .

[lownctes]

soft served koo 🍦

[lownctes]

♚◞  𝐡𝐲𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐜𝐞.

Oh, but Hyuntae doesn’t want to part from him. Giving Baby everything he wants is the only thing on his mind right now, the only thing in his heart, and he hears him in such an impossibly deep way that he can hardly breathe past it himself. Those whines, those words, the way they resonate in him — there are embers simmering in the pit of his stomach, getting warmer and warmer. He knows what it means, but he almost isn’t ready to accept it yet. Not here, in the low-light of the setting sun, practically in front of the thrown open doors to the backyard. Anyone can walk in on them and see them, raw and tangled up together, desperate and clinging and holding and touching and kissing. Fuck, God, he doesn’t want it to end. He doesn’t. And he knows that it won’t, because Babylon wants him just as much as Hyuntae does, and for once he’s completely confident that it’s not going to fade away the moment he stops touching him. It hits him, suddenly, as he watches him pull back, that he would rather watch him fall into his arms a hundred times than watch him walk away for any reason. Please. Please is a word that he did not know could sound so pretty as it does falling from Babylon’s cherry-vanilla lips, and he tucks every single one of those pleas away in his heart for safekeeping. He tucks Baby away in his heart for safekeeping.

Even as he untangles himself from him, Hyuntae can’t help but reach out for him again. He’s on the floor beside him, not in his lap anymore, but he still takes his face in one of his large hands and presses a soft kiss to his lips. It’s the sort of kiss that’s longing, a promise for more, and he smiles into it before he pulls away. “I’ll be just a moment. Promise.” Promise, he says, and he finds that he actually means it to his core. Every time he speaks that word to Babylon, it seems to mean something more than it did before, and he doesn’t want that to change. He always wants their promises to mean something, and he knows deep down that they always will. It’s with a startling sort of confidence that he gets to his feet, aching already at even the most minute distance put between them. Hyuntae’s eyes linger on his baby even as he begins to walk away. Seconds feel like hours when he is not with him. 

In reality, it’s only about two minutes before Hyntae returns with a blanket — with their blanket — thrown over his shoulder. It’s reminiscent of the other morning, the only difference being that both of them are entirely sober and intending to stay that way. It would be a shame to ruin this with alcohol, or with anything that can possibly alter the experience, alter the feeling of just being with him like this. It’s all for the very first time, and it continues to take his breath away when he so much as thinks about that. Seeing Baby again is like seeing the stars for the first time, and he stops short a bit, just taking him in. Standing a few feet away from him, he still looks at him like he’s everything, all soft, wide eyes and a gentle curve to his lips. “You’re beautiful, you know. Stunningly so. You make me — uh. You make me stop and stare, and there’s nothing else in the world I would rather be looking at than you.” Moving closer, Henry bends down to offer Baby both of his hands, that curve spreading into a slow smile as he does. Oh, he’s happy to see him. He’s happy to touch him. “Please. Get in my arms. I ache without you.”

                    𝐚  𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐩  𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞  𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐬  𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧   babylon  the  instant  he  brings  himself  to  fully  detangle  from  hyuntae  ,  fingertips  already  twitching  with  the  urge  ,  the  need  ,  to  reach  out  .  to  grab  his  hand  ,  to  clutch  a  fistful  of  his  shirt  ,  to  make  some  point  of  contact  ,  no  matter  how  small  or  brief  or  absolutely  trivial  .  the  kiss  that  he’s  gifted,  soft  and  gentle  ,  leaving  him  wanting  more  ,  settles  him  for  the  time  being  ,  but  he  still  has  to  will  himself  to  not  plead  for  him  not  to  go  ,  not  to  leave  him  ,  even  though  he  knows  ,  with  everything  he  has  ,  that  he’ll  be  back  .  ❝  promise  ,  ❞  he  whispers  in  return  ,  and  it  means  something  more  akin  to  i  trust  you  ---  to  come  back  ,  with  all  of  me  ,  i  trust  you  .  promise  .  such  a  simple  word  ,  one  of  pure  innocence  ,  and  yet  it’s  what  seems  to  keep  baby  grounded  as  hyuntae  turns  his  back  to  him  ,  walks  away  from  him  .

                    he  remains  on  the  floor  as  he  waits  ,  fingers  pressing  into  it  because  he  doesn’t  know  what  else  to  do  with  them  without  his  almost - lover  there  for  him  to  touch  .  if  someone  walked  in  ,  they’d  probably  think  he  looked  small  ,  lost  .  if  he  didn’t  know  ,  with  utmost  certainty  ,  that  hyuntae  was  returning  to  him  ,  he  might  have  burst  into  a  fit  of  tears  the  mere  second  his  back  had  turned  to  him  ,  begging  ,  pleading  for  him  to  return  .

                    seconds  turn  to  minutes  ,  minutes  feel  like  hours  ,  like  far  too  long  ,  and  babylon  lets  out  an  audible  sigh  of  pure  relief  when  hyuntae  appears  in  the  doorway  ,  still  a  few  feet  away  from  him  but  at  least  in  his  line  of  sight  .  it’s  better  than  him  not  being  around  at  all  .  gaze  flickers  to  the  blanket  slung  over  his  shoulder  and  he  smiles  at  the  realisation  that  it’s  the  same  one  from  the  other  morning  ,  the  one  that  baby  had  first  truly  gotten  lost  in  hyuntae  on  ,  and  his  heart  flutters  because  he  can’t  wait  to  lose  himself  in  him  again  on  the  very  same  blanket  .  baby’s  eyes  are  wide  as  he  stares  up  at  him  like  he’s  the  entirety  of  the  universe  ---  endless  ,  beautiful  ,  understanding  ,  everything  all  at  once  .  he  almost  whines  for  him  to  come  closer  with  the  way  he  stops  too  far  away  from  him  ,  but  words  fall  from  hyuntae’s  lips  that  have  babylon’s  nose  scrunching  up  and  his  already  rosy  cheeks  heating  up  .  he  lowers  his  head  ,  his  gaze  ,  hides  in  a  fit  of  shyness  ,  silently  curses  the  barrettes  that  are  holding  his  hair  back  .  ❝  stop  ,  ❞  he  says  softly  ,  voice  hushed  and  a  smile  evident  in  his  voice  .  he’s  never  been  good  at  taking  compliments  ,  and  this  is  no  exception  ,  but  that  doesn’t  change  the  fact  that  hyuntae’s  words  make  him  feel  beautiful  ,  make  him  feel  like  he’s  not  just  trapped  in  this  skin  with  too  many  scars  and  too  much  haunting  it  .  he  feels  beautiful  under  his  gaze  .  ❝  you’re  the  beautiful  one  .  beautiful  doesn’t  even  begin  to  describe  how  breathtaking  you  are  .  the  universe  doesn’t  hold  a  candle  to  you  .  she’d  crumble  if  she  saw  what  she’s  up  against  .  ❞  baby  more  than  happily  takes  the  hands  offered  to  him  ,  the  ache  that’d  settled  in  him  in  his  absence  soothing  the  instant  they  touch  ,  and  he  brings  himself  ,  finally  ,  to  a  standing  .  tattooed  hands  ,  maybe  too  quickly  ,  find  their  way  to  hyuntae’s  neck  though  ,  resting  at  his  nape  .  he  rises  on  his  tiptoes  ,  getting  as  close  to  his  lips  as  he  can  .  ❝  carry  me  ?  ❞  he  whispers  ,  more  breath  than  speech  ,  barely  audible  even  within  their  closeness  .  ❝  miss  you  ,  hyuntae  .  aches  .  want  to  be  tangled  with  you  ,  don’t  ever  wan’  to  not  be  tangled  with  you  .  wanna  wrap  myself  around  you  again  .  might  cry  if  i  can’t  .  ❞  fingers  have  already  found  their  way  back  to  hyuntae’s  hair  ,  threading  themselves  through  dark  strands  once  again  .