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owlsfeatherpen · 3 months ago

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Arrows and Affection

Pairing: warrior!Yeosang x fem!reader

AU: historical au (Joseon era)

Word Count: 4.8k

Summary: Admiral Kang never misses his mark—until today. No matter how many times he draws his bow, the bullseye remains untouched. The wind hasn't changed, nor has his skill faltered. The only difference? The presence of a certain someone who has somehow turned his unwavering focus into a battlefield of its own.

Genre: fluff, comedy

A/N: Y'all when I saw these damn pics Yeo posted, I knew I'd have to write something. Then I heard Fallin' by Bang Yedam and couldn't stop thinking about this scenario.

ATEEZ MASTERLIST

I still cannot believe this man is real.

The thought echoed in your mind as you struggled to tear your gaze away from him. With effortless precision, Kang Yeosang drew his bow, his stance steady, his movements practised to perfection. Years of training had made archery second nature to him—so much so that watching him was almost hypnotic. He wasn't just any warrior; he was the Admiral Kang, the youngest and most revered commander in Joseon, a man whose victories in battle had cemented his place in history. And yet, despite his fearsome reputation, you still found it surreal that you could stand this close to him.

"Wh-what are you doing here? You shouldn't be here right now!"

The urgent whisper jolted you from your thoughts. A senior maid stared at you in horror, eyes wide as she took in your pitiful attempt to hide behind a paper door—one that did little to conceal your presence. You flashed her a sheepish grin and waved the washcloth in your hand. "Relax, I'm just cleaning. No one pays attention to a maid doing her job."

She sighed, exasperated. "That may be, but the admiral specifically requested complete silence during his training. We cannot risk disturbing him."

You huffed. "Well, then that doesn't make him a very good archer, does it? If he's truly the best, he should be able to shoot well anywhere. The battlefield isn't exactly a peaceful place, now is it?"

Her face paled at your audacity, and she frantically motioned for you to lower your voice. Then, as if realising she wouldn't win this argument, she reached for your washcloth. "Please, just this once, listen to me. Besides, you know very well you're not—"

Before she could finish, you pressed a finger to her lips, silencing her. "I've been good all week, haven't I? I did everything you asked—no complaints. Just let me stay here for a bit and enjoy the view, yeah? You can have my meal again tonight," you added with a wink.

She shook her head, already resigned to her fate, too tired to argue or remind you that everything you had done over the past week was merely your duty. "Fine. But promise me you won't distract the admiral, and make sure you return to your quarters before—"

"I will, I will," you interrupted, beaming. "And I promise, you won't get in trouble because of me!"

You clapped soundlessly in victory as she handed your washcloth back, shaking her head in disbelief before walking away. But not before shooting you one last pleading look, silently begging you not to cause any more trouble. You only grinned in response, sticking your tongue out playfully and waving goodbye before returning to your so-called task—wiping down an already spotless door. A door that, conveniently, gave you the perfect view of the admiral, deep in focus as he trained.

A small sigh of awe slipped past your lips, your earlier mischievous grin softening into a dreamy smile as you watched him. He checked his bow with practised ease before getting into position once more, gripping it firmly. You bit your lip, anticipation bubbling inside you—this was your favourite part. He raised his bow, holding an arrow in place, lifting it just high enough to aim. Then, with calculated precision, he closed one eye to focus on his target.

Damn.

This pose—this was the one that always left you weak in the knees. Just when you thought he couldn't possibly be any more attractive, he went ahead and proved you wrong. Every. Single. Time.

Despite his fearsome reputation on the battlefield, Admiral Kang was, at heart, a little... adorable. When he wasn't fighting wars, he always seemed lost in his own world, absentmindedly staring at whoever was speaking to him with that cute, dazed expression. He was a unique character, to say the least. And maybe that was why you loved seeing this side of him even more—the version of him that was serious, focused, and completely in his element.

It was just so freaking hot.

Until it… wasn't.

Your futile wiping came to an abrupt halt as you furrowed your brows, watching the unfamiliar scene unfold before you. For the first time in all the years you had known him, he let out a sharp curse, frustration flickering across his usually composed face. He reached for another arrow, aiming with a little more force than necessary. Your gaze darted to the target board—only to realise that he had missed the bullseye.

Your mouth fell open. He missed?

A tiny gasp escaped you because, quite frankly, that was unheard of. Admiral Kang never missed—not once since he had built his legendary reputation. It was practically the first rule of the universe: the sun rises, the rivers flow, and Kang Yeosang hits his mark every single time. Yet here he was, missing the target like some rookie foot soldier.

You bit your lip, suddenly concerned. Was he okay? Maybe today just wasn't his day. Maybe that's why he had insisted on training alone.

And then—thunk! Another miss.

Your concern quickly morphed into something else entirely as you took in the sight of him, all tense muscles and narrowed eyes, jaw clenched in frustration. Oh. Oh no. Why was this... hot?

You didn't think you'd ever witness the day Kang Yeosang would be this visibly mad—not at you, not at anyone, but at himself. And somehow, instead of feeling purely sympathetic, your brain short-circuited with an entirely inappropriate thought: angry Admiral Kang was stupidly attractive.

His brows knitted together as he grabbed yet another arrow, muttering a string of curses under his breath, his voice lower and rougher than usual. It was such a stark contrast from his usual soft, slightly dazed self that it sent a shiver down your spine.

Oh, this is dangerous.

You had to press a knuckle to your mouth to stifle the delighted squeal threatening to escape. Because good god, if this man got any hotter, you might just pass out right then and there.

"Goddamnit," Yeosang cursed under his breath, his eyebrow twitching as his fourth shot missed its mark.

With a sigh, he closed his eyes, forcing himself to quell the frustration bubbling inside him. He couldn't believe he was letting this affect him. He wasn't a fool. He was the youngest admiral in Joseon, after all—he had noticed your presence the second you stepped foot inside.

But he hadn't said anything.

At first, he assumed it was just some clueless new maid who had wandered in, unaware of the rules. He was ready to ignore it altogether. But then—he heard your voice. His sharp hearing picked up on your hushed negotiation with a senior maid, who was desperately trying to shoo you away. His pulse quickened.

It was you.

And like a complete idiot, instead of brushing it off, he found himself wanting to impress you. That's where he had gone wrong. His focus had wavered, and now, for the first time in his career, his shots were landing anywhere but the bullseye.

Who knew a single woman could have such an effect on him?

Annoyed—mostly at himself but also at you for making him embarrass himself like this—he finally cleared his throat, loud enough for you to hear.

"Just how long do you plan on hiding there?" he called out, finally turning toward your direction.

He had to bite down on his lip to keep from laughing at your absolutely pathetic attempt at concealment. Pressed flat against the paper door like it would somehow make you invisible, your familiar silhouette was outlined perfectly against the thin material—especially with the sunlight streaming in from behind.

He sighed, setting down his bow and taking a step closer. "I knew you were there the moment you walked in. Show yourself."

Crap. Crap. Crap.

You thought you had been sneaky, but apparently not. If he had known you were here all along, that meant trouble—because you were supposed to be elsewhere. And, worse, he knew that because you weren't just any ordinary maid.

Your only hope now? Act like one.

With your head lowered, you stepped forward hesitantly, bowing respectfully. "A-apologies, my lord. I was only here to clean. I know you asked to be left alone today, and I shouldn't have lingered," you murmured, voice small. "I'll leave at once."

You turned on your heel, ready to flee, but his voice stopped you cold.

"Hold on a second."

Your heart slammed against your ribs. Oh, no. You had promised the senior maid you wouldn't cause trouble, and now you were on the verge of dragging her into this mess.

"If you knew I asked for privacy," he mused, his voice deep and steady, "why did you come here in the first place?"

You gulped, fingers tightening around the washcloth in your hands. This was not how today was supposed to go. You had planned to admire him for a while, soak in the view, and then sneak back to your actual post. Not get caught red-handed.

"Answer me," he pressed.

Your breath hitched. His voice was much closer this time.

Too close.

"I-I was wrong, my lord," you stammered.

He sighed. "That's not what I want to hear. Because of you, I lost my focus. Look me in the eyes and tell me the truth."

Slowly, you turned—only to find him standing right behind you. There was no escaping now. No more excuses. It was time to own up to your mistake.

"I… I just—" you blurted before throwing your hands up in defeat. "I missed you, okay?! I wanted to see your stupid face before going back to my boring duties. Is that a crime?"

Silence.

Then, Yeosang smiled. "See? Now, was that so difficult?" he teased, leaning down slightly to meet your pouting face.

"You knew it was me all along?" you asked, narrowing your eyes.

He nodded.

"How?"

He smirked, fingers tilting your chin up until your eyes met his. "How could I not? You're far too beautiful to be just a maid, my lady."

Heat rushed to your cheeks as you huffed, swatting his hand away. "Ugh, I really thought I had you fooled."

His grin widened. "So, does this mean you finally admit you missed me? What happened to 'I don't want to see your dumb face again'?"

Your jaw dropped. "You did not just bring that up."

"Oh, but I did." He leaned in, voice dripping with amusement. "Verbatim."

Scoffing in disbelief, you pushed at his chest—though, of course, he barely budged. "You're impossible."

Turning away with a dramatic hmph, you muttered, "Go ahead, tell your mother I sneaked out. I'll take whatever punishment she has for me, as usual. Not like you'd ever stand up for me in front of her."

Before you could take another step away from him, Yeosang moved swiftly, wrapping his arms around you from behind. His voice was softer now, warm against your ear.

"I'm sorry, my love." His embrace tightened slightly. "You know how she is when it comes to the duties of a daughter-in-law. I wish I could do something, but as the admiral's wife, you have to set an example for the people. I know those lessons bore you to death, but she's only here for the Lunar New Year. Just hang in there for a little longer, yeah?"

You sighed, finally allowing yourself to melt into his warm embrace—the very one you had gone without for nearly a week.

You had been giving him the silent treatment ever since he failed to defend you when his mother insisted you attend etiquette lessons for the entirety of the Lunar New Year. You had protested, of course—this was supposed to be the one time of the year when your husband was free from his duties, a rare chance for the two of you to be together. But instead, she had taken that precious time away, forcing you into lessons you had little patience for.

Deep down, you understood her reasoning, but that didn't make it any less frustrating. You had been looking forward to this time for weeks, only to have it stolen from you. And so, out of pure stubbornness, you had refused to attend the lessons diligently. Your frustration had driven you to banish Yeosang from your shared quarters in the heat of the moment—a decision you regretted almost immediately. Sleeping in an empty bed had been unbearable, but your pride had been too strong to call him back from the guest chambers.

So, today, desperate for an escape from yet another dreary lesson, you had feigned illness and slipped away. If your mother-in-law discovered your empty room, there would be consequences—not just for you, but for the poor maid who had dared to help you.

The admiral sighed against your hair, his arms tightening around you as if afraid you'd slip away again. Then, with gentle insistence, he turned you in his embrace, his warm hands cupping your cheeks. His thumbs brushed over your skin, wiping away the traces of your lingering pout.

"You're so stubborn," he murmured, his tone laced with fondness. "But I suppose that's part of why I love you."

Your heart skipped a beat. His gaze, steady and filled with an emotion so tender it made your breath hitch, held yours captive.

"I missed you too, you know," he admitted at last, exhaling as if finally releasing a weight from his chest. "Do you have any idea how hard it was to sleep without you? To wake up every morning and not see your annoying little grin first thing?" His lips quirked up slightly, but there was sincerity in his words.

You blinked up at your husband, guilt slowly creeping in.

"I know I should've defended you more," he continued, his voice softer now. "But it's not that simple, my love. I already defied my mother once when I chose you—when I turned my back on the noblewoman she wanted for me. I chose you because you are everything I ever wanted. You're bright, bubbly, and full of life. You make even the dullest moments feel exciting. And though she may not understand it now… you are the best decision I have ever made."

Your breath caught in your throat.

He let out a quiet sigh, his thumbs still tracing circles against your skin. "I just… I only want the two most important women in my life to get along. That's all I've ever wanted. I know it's not easy for you, and I know she can be difficult, but if you could just try… even a little, it would make things easier. For both of us."

Your chest tightened. You had been so caught up in your own frustration that you hadn't once stopped to consider how hard this must have been for him too. Balancing the expectations of a mother he respected and the love of his life—how exhausting that must have been.

Your gaze softened, and you lifted your hands to rest over his. "I… I didn't think about it that way," you admitted, cheeks warming. "I was so focused on my own feelings that I didn't realise how hard this must be for you too."

He said nothing, only watching you with patient eyes as you let the realisation settle.

You sighed, leaning into his touch. "I'm sorry," you whispered. "I promise… I'll try to be better from now on."

At that, his entire face brightened, relief flooding his features as he pulled you in closer. "Really?"

You gave a small nod, lips curving into a sheepish smile. "Really." Then, with a playful glint in your eyes, you added, "I promise I won't be sneaking off to give you surprise visits like I did today again, Admiral Kang."

His jaw dropped slightly, and you could practically see the flicker of realisation in his expression. You had him. As disciplined and upright as he usually was, even he couldn't deny that your little intrusion today had made things far more exciting. Damn the impropriety of it all—he loved you for that.

"Oh, you little minx," he muttered, shaking his head in faux exasperation before a smirk tugged at his lips. A breathless chuckle escaped him as he dipped down, capturing your lips in a soft yet lingering kiss. His warmth seeped into you, his touch grounding you in the moment. He kissed you as if he had been waiting for this forever, as if every second apart had been an eternity.

When he finally pulled back, he rested his forehead against yours, his grin utterly boyish. "Does this mean I can move back into our quarters now?"

You huffed, pretending to think it over, watching as he waited—far too eagerly—for your answer. His hands remained on your waist, thumbs tracing gentle circles against your sides, as if afraid you might slip away again.

Finally, you sighed dramatically. "Fine. But only because I missed you too."

His laughter rang through the air, light and full of joy, before he swooped in to kiss you again, sealing your truce with all the love he had to give.

When he pulled away, neither of you moved for a moment, eyes closed as he pressed his forehead against yours again. He simply breathed—cherishing the warmth of your presence after a week apart.

He knew you had been upset, not just about the lessons but because he hadn't sided with you when you protested. But what could he have done? He was caught between the two most important women in his life—his mother, the woman who raised him, and you, the woman he vowed to cherish. It was never a choice he wanted to make, so he had remained neutral, though it had pained him to see the disappointment in your eyes.

Still, that was why he had spoken to his mother later, asking her to go easier on you. You might not have noticed, but she had—she never truly reprimanded you for your inconsistent attendance, and Yeosang had never made a fuss when you kicked him out of your shared quarters, knowing you needed space. No matter how much it killed him to be away from you, he respected your emotions.

But now, feeling the way you held onto him just as tightly as he held onto you, he was glad. Glad that you were willing to meet him in the middle. That was one of the many reasons he loved you so much.

He could still remember the look of surprise on his mother's face when he had, for the first time, broken out of his usual quiet and composed demeanour—other than the time he had first brought you home, announcing with unwavering conviction that you were the love of his life and the only woman he would marry.

It had shocked her then. And it had shocked her again when he spoke up for you, telling her how much you meant to him and how he wished for the woman who raised him to care for his wife the same way she had always cared for him.

And surprisingly, she had understood.

Truthfully, his mother had never truly been against you. At first, she had been wary—sceptical of how well a woman as lively and outspoken as you would fit into their composed and traditional household. But over time, she began to understand why her son had chosen you.

You were bright—perhaps a little too much at times—but she had come to admire your honesty. She never had to worry about a two-faced daughter-in-law who smiled sweetly in front of her but harboured resentment behind her back. You were genuine—straightforward with your emotions, never afraid to show your displeasure or your affection. And above all, the love you and Yeosang shared was undeniable. At the end of the day, that was what mattered to her most. That her son was happy.

And as the admiral held you now, he knew that happiness was right here, in his arms.

"So, tell me," Yeosang murmured, tilting his head as he gazed into your eyes, the ones he adored so much. "How exactly did you manage to slip out of your lesson today?"

You bit your lip, knowing there was no use lying when he was already staring at you so intently. With a sheepish grin, you admitted, "I told her it's that time of the month and that the pain was too unbearable to continue."

He let out a soft laugh, shaking his head as he reached out to squish your cheeks. "And yet here you are, sneaking around in a maid's uniform just to watch your incredibly handsome husband practice. You must've been desperate for me, hm?"

You scoffed, prying his hands off your face only to squish his cheeks in return. "That's right, admiral. I came all this way just to see you fail miserably at hitting a bullseye over and over again. All because your wife was watching."

His jaw dropped in exaggerated offence as he gasped. "You wound me, my love," he declared dramatically before bending down to retrieve his bow. Then, with a smirk, he held it out to you. "If you're so clever, Lady Kang, why don't you show me how it's done?"

"Gladly," you shot back, grabbing the bow with confidence—only for your bravado to falter the moment you realised just how heavy it was. Your arms wobbled slightly under the unexpected weight, but you cleared your throat, pretending as if nothing had happened.

Your husband noticed. Of course, he did. But to his credit, he bit back his laughter, unwilling to embarrass you further. Instead, he simply watched, eyes gleaming with fondness. If only you knew how much his heart swelled with pride and affection at this moment—seeing you attempt something he had always wanted to teach you. He had dreamed of this for so long, hoping to pass on at least the basics of archery, if only as a means of self-defence. But the opportunity had never come—until now.

Clumsily, you reached for an arrow, fumbling slightly as you held it up. He softened, stepping behind you in an instant. His arms slid around you, one hand lifting the bow's weight with ease, the other steadying your trembling grip as he helped you pull the arrow back.

You glanced up at him, feeling the warmth of his breath near your ear, the solid comfort of his presence surrounding you completely. You had never felt safer. It was moments like these that reminded you just how much pride you had in being his wife. That even after everything, you still found it hard to believe that this man—this strong, kind, and loving man—was truly yours.

"Now focus and aim," he murmured. "We'll release when you're ready."

Nodding, you focused on the target, narrowing your eyes as you slowly closed one to improve your precision. You adjusted the bow slightly, remembering one of the things he had always told you—aim a little higher than your target, especially at longer distances, because gravity will always pull the arrow down.

"Ready," you whispered.

And then, together, you released. The arrow soared through the air, cutting cleanly through the space between you and the target. And for the first time that day, an arrow struck the bullseye.

We did it!

You blinked in disbelief, your eyes locked on the arrow firmly lodged in the bullseye. Slowly, you turned to your husband, who stood beside you, mouth slightly agape.

"Did you see that?" you gasped, your excitement bubbling over.

Yeosang let out an incredulous laugh, shaking his head. "I must be dreaming. My wife, an archery prodigy?"

Grinning, you nudged him playfully. "Maybe I should take your place as admiral instead."

He clutched his chest dramatically. "Stealing my title already? You truly are ruthless, my love."

Before you could react, he suddenly scooped you up into his arms with ease, making you yelp in surprise. Instinctively, you wrapped your arms around his neck.

"Yeosang! Put me down!" you giggled, squirming in his grasp.

"No can do," he hummed, pressing a kiss to your temple. "You impressed me today, so you deserve a reward. And since you did lie your way out of lessons just to see me…" He trailed off, a mischievous and suggestive glint in his eyes.

Your brows furrowed in suspicion. "Yeo, what are you planning—"

Before you could finish, he started making his way toward the exit. But just as he reached the doorway, he stopped abruptly. Because standing right there, about to step in, was his mother.

You gasped, tightening your hold around your husband's neck as he froze in place. "M-Mother…" he stammered.

Old Madame Kang's gaze flickered over the scene before her—her daughter-in-law, who had earlier complained of agonising menstrual pain, now dressed in a maid's uniform, being cradled in her son's arms. She blinked. You swore you saw her eye twitch.

"I-I can explain," you started, and Yeosang quickly set you down, clearing his throat and smoothing down your ruffled hair and hanbok as if that would somehow make things better.

His mother levelled you both with a withering stare. "Please do."

You gulped, exchanging a nervous glance with him, both of you shrinking under her sharp gaze like children caught red-handed.

"She just missed me, Mother," Yeosang admitted, gripping your hand firmly. "She didn't know how else to say it, so she… snuck out to see me."

A beat of silence passed.

Then, to your utter shock, the elderly woman rolled her eyes. "Is that it?" she huffed, exasperated.

You both blinked. That was… oddly forgiving?

She crossed her arms. "You couldn't have just told me? Why go through the trouble of sneaking out and dressing like a maid just to see your own husband?" Her expression softened, though her tone remained firm. "Do you have any idea how worried I was? I brought you herbs, only to find your quarters empty. I came here to inform my son that you'd vanished, and instead, I find the two of you making fools of yourselves…"

Your eyes darted to Yeosang, who looked just as stunned as you felt. Was this really happening?

"…I swear, you two are impossible," she muttered, shaking her head. Then, as if realising just how ridiculous the situation had become, she pinched the bridge of her nose, suppressing what you swore was a reluctant smile. "So, I take it there was never a real period?" she asked, arching a brow.

You swallowed, nodding slowly, unsure where this was going.

She observed you both for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Then, with a small shake of her head, she finally spoke. "I'll forgive you on one condition." You perked up, hopeful—until she continued, "Give me grandchildren soon."

Your husband choked on air. You stiffened, eyes widening in sheer horror as heat flooded your face.

Meanwhile, your mother-in-law remained entirely unbothered, watching your reactions with the calm of someone who had just commented on the weather. "Well, now that I know you're perfectly healthy, I'll be on my way. See you at your next lesson."

And with that, she turned and strode off, leaving you both rooted in place, still processing the absolute chaos she had just unleashed.

The moment she disappeared down the corridor, you exhaled a breath you hadn't even realised you were holding.

Yeosang cleared his throat, glancing at you with a look that was equal parts mischievous and smug. With exaggerated flair, he lifted your hand to his lips, pressing a playful kiss to your knuckles.

"Well, you heard her loud and clear, my love," he murmured, his voice rich with amusement. "Shall we begin fulfilling our noble duty right away?"

Your eyes widened in mortification. "Kang Yeosang!" you hissed, smacking his arm harder as your face burned. "She can still hear us!"

And sure enough, a quiet chuckle echoed from down the hall.

Your husband only laughed, unfazed, before intertwining his fingers with yours and gently tugging you forward. "It's fine, my love," he teased. "She understands."

Hand in hand, the two of you strolled back to your chambers, his warmth a steady comfort beside you. His lighthearted humming filled the air, and when he stole a fond glance at you, a smile tugged at his lips.

The admiral had never imagined he could feel anything but frustration over a missed shot—but as he reflected on everything that had unfolded, he realised that if losing his aim led to moments like these, perhaps a little imperfection wasn't so bad after all.

No bc I just love how I started this with a vision and somewhere along the way, I didn't know how to end it so I just kinda winged it lmaooo hope this was decent HAHA

As always, thank you for reading and let me know your thoughts! <3

General ATEEZ Tag list:

@blueberrychan @marievllr-abg @itsvxlentine @minghaoslatina @huachengsbestie01

@evidive @weedforthoughtz @minkiflwr @cheolliehugs @ho3-for-yunho

@the-kpop-simp @itstheghostofmypast @vantediary @green-agent @skzline

@sharksandminhos @writingwieny @heyitsmetonid @tinyteezer @hollxe1

@pandabur666 @vampzity @tournesol155 @lilactangerine @oddracha

@haven-cove @idfkeddieishot @vic0921 @vnessalau @apriecotte

@bangtannie7 @vtyb23 @khjoongie98 @scuzmunkie @anxiousskylar

@bunny4yungi @zl-world @quailbagutte @astudyoftimeywimeystuff @cixrosie

@cristy-101

#This is so cuuuute!!#kicking my feet #squealing #kang yeosang #i love you #someone send help

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owlsfeatherpen · 3 months ago

Text

Scarlet Requiem

Pairing: emperor!Baekhyun x empress!reader

AU: historical au (Goryeo era)

Word Count: 4k

Summary: In his reign, Baekhyun strived to be a virtuous emperor, all for the sake of his kind-hearted empress, steadfastly resisting the temptations of power that had corrupted those before him. He held onto the belief that this was the key to securing her eternal presence by his side. Yet, he learned, to his heartbreak, that this very resolve would lead to the cruellest loss of all.

Genre: heavy angst

Trigger Warnings: major character death, violence, gore, lots of blood

MAIN MASTERLIST

"Capture that demon before she flees!"

Her hands trembled as she gazed at her reflection in the ornate gold mirror. Once healthy skin now bore a sickly pallor, brown eyes turned crimson, tears staining her cheeks red. Even her jet-black hair had transformed to snowy white. Confusion and fear gripped her as she struggled to comprehend the inexplicable transformation.

As guards roughly seized her arms, she pleaded, "No, please! I've done nothing wrong! I don't understand any of this!"

"Of course, you'd deny it, Your Imperial Majesty," sneered the Minister of Rites, one of many who had urged her husband, the emperor, to accept their daughters as concubines. "Little did you know, those potions you received from the royal healer for the past month were meant to reveal your true nature by shedding your human guise."

Horror pierced her heart as realisation dawned. The tonics meant to maintain her health had been a ruse. She had been poisoned, it explained the sudden and alarming changes in her body and health.

"You," she whispered, the weight of the truth settling heavily upon her. "It was all you."

She was not naive; she understood the ministers' discontent with her influence over Baekhyun throughout his reign. Their persistent attempts to sway him, offering their daughters as concubines to bolster their own power and threaten her position, had not escaped her notice. Their frustration must have reached its zenith when her husband adamantly refused their advances, steadfast in his commitment to her as his one and only empress.

"Hm? I'm not sure I understand what you're implying," the man smirked, his deceptive tone belying his words. "We've long suspected there was more to you, Your Imperial Majesty. It appears you're indeed a demon, effortlessly manipulating the emperor. Surely a man of his stature would desire more than one woman by his side?"

Struggling against the guards' grasp, she retorted weakly, "You vile cowards. You'll rue the day my husband learns of this..."

The pieces of the puzzle fell into place, revealing their sinister plot. They had bided their time, seizing the perfect opportunity amidst the chaos of war. With Baekhyun, the virtuous emperor she had wished him to be, leading the army, they saw their chance to poison her, framing her as a demon to eradicate her while he was away.

"Or perhaps we'll witness the rise of the ambitious emperor we've long awaited. He will finally be able to reach his full potential without you here obstructing his path," he sneered, gesturing towards the approaching healer with another bowl of poison. "Just comply and drink your tonic, Your Imperial Majesty. Your suffering will soon end, and our nation will thrive under the rule of a new emperor, liberated from your naive ideals."

As the sinister men tightened their grip, she sobbed in agony, the relentless headache from the past month resurfacing with a vengeance. Each touch felt like a dagger through her skull, each word a cruel reminder of her plight.

With an apologetic bow of his head, the healer cupped her jaw, his hands trembling as he forced the bowl of poison towards her lips. "Forgive me, Your Imperial Majesty," he whispered, his voice trembling with remorse. "This will be the last one, I promise."

She gagged as the bitter liquid slid down her throat, burning with each swallow. Crimson tears streamed down her white face as she choked on the vile concoction, feeling her strength wane with each passing moment. In that desperate moment, all she could do was pray for salvation from the nightmare consuming her.

As the healer finally released his hold, she felt despair engulf her. The bitter poison settled within her damaged insides, coursing through her veins like a silent killer, slowly consuming her from within.

"It is done, my lord. The empress will not survive through the night," the healer declared, his voice carrying a finality that chilled her to the bone.

The minister's grin widened with satisfaction. "Excellent. Arrange for someone to confirm her death by dawn. Let her enjoy her final moments in the comforts of her own chambers. His Imperial Majesty will surely be grateful we've rid him of his treacherous demon of a wife upon his return from war."

Laying limply in the centre of her grand chambers, the very space she had once despised before ascending to empress, memories flooded her mind. She recalled the scepticism that clouded her heart when she first found herself falling for the crown prince of the nation. After all, history had taught her that no happy endings awaited the women who loved emperors. But Baekhyun was different—he was loving, caring, and considerate, going to great lengths to prove his devotion to her.

He swore never to take concubines, to resist the allure of power, and to remain hers, and hers alone. Despite the admiration of the entire nation, he remained committed to prioritising her above all else, even if it meant drawing the ire of his ministers and officials. Their accusations of his partiality towards his empress over his nation only served to strengthen his resolve, his unwavering loyalty to her.

But now, as she lay weakened by poison, she realised the tragic irony of his goodness. It was his very commitment to righteousness that led him to the battlefield, refusing to let his men fight in his stead. And it was this decision that ultimately sealed their fate, leaving her to face the consequences of his noble intentions.

As the darkness closed in around her, she couldn't help but wonder how Baekhyun would react upon returning to find her lifeless form in this state. Would he succumb to the poisonous words of his ministers, believing their accusations that she had been a demon all along? Would he entertain the notion that she had bewitched him, clouding his judgement and leading him astray?

Or would he remain firm in his loyalty, unwavering in his belief that this was nothing more than a cruel ploy to rid him of her for good? In the depths of her fading consciousness, she desperately clung to the hope that he would see through the lies, that his love for her would prevail over doubt.

On the brink of death, she yearned to trust in his endless devotion to her, to believe that he would never doubt the love they shared. It was a fragile hope, but in that moment, it was all she had to cling to as she slipped further into the darkness, awaiting the inevitable arrival of dawn and the fate it would eventually bring.

"Forgive me for not being strong enough, Baek," she whispered into the stillness of the chamber, her voice barely a breath against the heavy silence. "Please don't blame yourself for any of this."

As the darkness threatened to swallow her entirely, she couldn't help but reflect on the warnings of history, the cautionary tales of women who loved emperors, only to meet tragic ends. Once again, it seemed, she had fallen victim to the same fate.

Her vision blurred with crimson tears as memories flooded her mind—moments shared with Baekhyun before he departed for battle, blissfully unaware that they would be their last. Each memory stung with bittersweet intensity, a painful reminder of what could have been, had fate been kinder.

As her life ebbed away, flashes of cherished moments with him flickered through her mind like scattered stars in the night sky.

Wrapped in the warmth of silk sheets, doubts clouded her mind one morning, questioning her husband's resolve to remain faithful amidst the pressures of his position.

"Would you truly refuse to take any concubines, Baek?" she inquired, her voice laced with uncertainty. "You're aware that the ministers and officials desire it, and perhaps even the citizens of our nation. For all we know, the people might have grown weary of this same dull empress who has yet to bear you an heir."

He drew her close, pulling the silk sheets higher to shield her bare form from the chill seeping through the open windows. Pressing a tender kiss upon her head, he smiled reassuringly. "Never, my love. I do not care for their political machinations. I won't forsake my vow to you. You will remain my only wife, that is final. I did not ask to be emperor, the role was thrust upon me. Now that I am here, they should at least be grateful I am fulfilling my general duties."

She chuckled, nestling into the crook of his neck as he added, "Besides, if the ministers and officials are so displeased, they could just dismiss me. That would be even better; we could live in a quiet little village, just as we've always dreamed."

In another memory, standing before her reflection, plagued by insecurities instilled by the scheming ministers, his unwavering admiration melted her fears away.

"You look beautiful, my empress. You always do," he reassured, approaching from behind to envelop her in his arms.

"Not as beautiful as those young maidens, I fear. I am old," she confessed, feeling a twinge of self-consciousness after witnessing the ministers' attempts to seduce the emperor with their daughters.

Baekhyun gently turned her to face him. "If you're old, then I must be ancient," he teased. "I believe it's only fitting that I am with someone my age, and that's you, my empress. I have no interest in marrying children or anyone else for that matter; I am a taken man. Don't you dare compare yourself to anyone else again, you hear me? You're the most beautiful woman in my eyes, and that's all that matters."

In the final embrace before he departed for war, hearts heavy with the uncertainty of his return, they clung to each other.

"I will be back before you know it, my love. You'll wait for me, won't you?" her husband murmured against her neck, his arms tightening around her.

"Where else would I go, you idiot? Of course, I'll be waiting right here," she retorted, tightening her hold around his shoulders.

Amidst tears and laughter, he leaned in to kiss her deeply, pressing his lips against her soft ones over and over again to imprint the sensation into memory.

"I love you, my empress," Baekhyun whispered against her lips before pulling away, his eyes full of love and determination.

In the quiet of her chamber, she found solace in the fleeting recollections, clinging to them as the darkness threatened to consume her entirely. And as the crimson tears clouded her eyes once more, she resigned herself to the inevitable, silently bidding farewell to the life she once knew.

"I love you too, my emperor."

"I will not ask again, where is she?!" the emperor's voice thundered through the throne room as he stormed back into the palace, abandoning the battle upon learning the shocking revelation. According to the Minister of Rites in his letter, the empress had been discovered to be a demon all along, concealing her true nature under human skin to manipulate him and bend him to her will.

The eunuch panicked and fell to his knees. "Th-the empress is confined to her grand chambers, Your Imperial Majesty!"

Without uttering another word, Baekhyun stormed over immediately, his heart thumping loudly against his chest as fury overtook his being. Betrayal flooded his veins; he was seething with anger.

"You will regret lying to me," he growled under his breath, his vision zeroing in on the path towards her chambers, the place he frequented more than his own. "You will regret deceiving me."

Upon reaching the entrance of her chambers, he turned to the eunuch. "Gather all the ministers and officials who played a part in discovering the empress as what they claimed her to be in the throne room. I wish to speak with them soon."

"Yes, Your Imperial Majesty," the eunuch hurriedly replied before darting off to carry out his orders. Baekhyun steadied his breaths, his hand resting on the door as he prepared to face her once more. Under his breath, he vowed, "I swear, you will all regret it. How dare you accuse my wife of being what you are—demons."

I'm here now, my love.

Stepping into the familiar room, the emperor's heart raced with anxiety as he mulled over a perfect apology. He needed to express his deep remorse for not being there when she needed him the most, for failing to shield her from the treachery of those vultures. Reflecting on his actions, he realised he should have never left her behind. In his rush to leave for war, he had neglected to arrange proper protection for her. In hindsight, he understood that he should have never left her side in the first place.

Determined to make amends, he vowed to do better. He resolved to never again allow those ministers or officials the opportunity to torment her in his absence again. From now on, he would be her shield, her staunch protector, and her unending support.

But it might be too late for any of that.

His steps faltered, his breath caught in his chest, and his heart skipped a beat as he beheld the sight before his eyes. The sword in his hands slipped, clanging loudly as it hit the ground, and he sank to his knees in disbelief at the last thing he expected to see.

His shock deepened as he took in his wife's unrecognisable appearance. Crawling towards her limp form on the ground, he pulled her into his arms, his voice trembling with anguish. The horror settled within him like a heavy weight as he tried to imagine what atrocities these monsters had dared inflict upon her while he was gone. His mind raced with images of torture and torment, each one more gruesome than the last.

"Oh god, what have they done to you?" he whispered, his heart fracturing into a million shards as he struggled to comprehend her pale skin, her white hair, and the blood-like tears staining her cheeks. With shaking hands, he gently cupped her cold cheek, his fingers tracing the contours of her face as if seeking reassurance that she was still there, still his beloved wife.

"Please wake up, my love. This isn't funny, stop scaring me," he pleaded, his voice thick with emotion. "You promised to wait for me. You promised..." His words trailed off into a broken sob as he refused to accept anything but the truth, shaking his head in denial even as he searched desperately for a pulse, even when she remained unresponsive.

"No, no, no... this can't be real. It can't be," he murmured, his mind reeling with the unimaginable horror of what he had found.

Despair and regret enveloped him as he sobbed painfully, holding her lifeless body tightly against his chest. The realisation that she was truly gone, that her final moments were spent alone in the very room she despised just to be with him, weighed heavily on his heart. He grappled with the bitter truth that he had failed her, just as she had feared when she hesitated to be with him.

Gradually, his sorrow gave way to seething rage as he recalled the faces of the ministers and officials responsible for this atrocity. They had callously taken her life, foolishly believing he would be deceived by their feeble attempt to frame her. With trembling hands, he picked up a shard of the shattered bowl nearby and brought it to his nose, recognising the metallic scent of mercury.

Suddenly, everything clicked into place.

They had poisoned her with lethal doses of mercury, causing a myriad of symptoms—tremors, headaches, muscle weakness, kidney damage, and breathing difficulties. And the deliberate administration of such high doses to turn her hair white revealed their sinister intent from the outset.

Just how much had they fed her? It was evident they had intended to kill her from the start. Anguish and fury surged within him as he vowed to make them pay.

Gently caressing her cold cheek, he leaned in to kiss her unmoving lips, his own trembling against hers. He blamed himself for everything that had transpired. Perhaps if she hadn't been with him, she would have lived a better life—a normal life with a normal man. She wouldn't have to endure such a painful and cruel death.

It was all because of him.

Regret hung heavy in his heart, but dwelling on what could have been served no purpose.

"I'm so sorry, my wife," he whispered, his voice thick with grief. "Just hold on a bit longer, alright? I'll join you soon, but first, I'll make those bastards pay. Wait for me—I won't let you face this alone. Not again."

With resolve hardening in his heart, he retrieved his sword and sheathed it once more before lifting her lifeless form into his arms. Like a man burdened by death itself, he trudged towards the throne room where justice awaited. Kicking the doors open with a forceful thrust of his leg, he was met with a sea of horrified expressions from the ministers and officials. Clearly, they hadn't anticipated the emperor's dramatic entrance, cradling his beloved empress in his arms.

Ignoring their shocked gazes, he strode past them, his eyes fixed on the throne at the far end of the room. With careful tenderness, he laid his wife down upon the ornate seat, arranging her robes and ensuring her comfort as though she were merely sleeping. Pressing a solemn kiss upon her cold forehead, he turned to face the assembled council, their unease palpable in the air.

The guilty culprits remained frozen in their places, uncertain of what awaited them.

As the emperor's gaze swept over them, the ministers and officials for the first time felt a cold shiver of fear trickle down their spines. His expression was unreadable, his appearance wild and dishevelled compared to his usual polished demeanour. Specks of blood and dirt stained his robes and skin, his hair a tangled mess, half tied up in a disarray that mirrored the chaos within him.

Gone was the warm smile that often graced his features; instead, a slow, unsettling grin crept across his face.

"My dearest ministers and officials," he began, his voice low and laced with an eerie calmness. "Your message has been received loud and clear. I hope you're satisfied now that you've succeeded in eradicating the empress, as you so desperately desired. I've given it some thought, and perhaps... you were all right."

The Minister of Rites, attempting to feign nonchalance, cleared his throat. "A-about what, Your Imperial Majesty?" he stammered.

Baekhyun's eyes gleamed with a frightening intensity as he smirked, his demeanour bordering on madness. "About what this nation truly needs," he replied, his voice carrying a chilling edge.

"Not a good emperor, but a mad one."

Without giving the men before him time to register his words, all Baekhyun saw was red. In a split second, he unsheathed his sword and transformed into a bloodthirsty animal, cutting down anyone and everyone in his path. The Minister of Rites tried to flee but to no avail. He watched in complete horror as his colleagues dropped dead one by one, their blood splattering over the grand walls of the throne room, their screams echoing.

The emperor went on a rampage, leaving no man behind. The Minister of Rites, who had been behind the idea of poisoning the empress, smearing her name by labelling her a demon, and executing her, was now filled with regret. They had turned him into the mad king his empress had feared. Perhaps they had finally achieved their goal, but it wasn't what they were prepared for.

The minister collapsed to his knees before the emperor, realising that His Imperial Majesty had saved him for last. Trembling, he rubbed his hands together in a desperate plea. "P-please, everything I've done, it's for the betterment of our nation."

Baekhyun's humourless laughter echoed through the hall, sending shivers down the minister's spine. "You truly believe that, don't you? Of course, that includes subjecting my wife to all that torment. Yes, because that is exactly what the nation needs. Unfortunately for you, I am the emperor, and I determine what's best for the nation. And in this case, I think it's better off without traitors like you. See you on the other side," were the last words the minister heard before his head was severed from his neck, rolling off to join the others on the floor.

The emperor finally turned back, his eyes softening as they landed on his beloved's lifeless body. Making his way back towards her, he knelt down beside her, tears streaming down his face as he reached for her hand. Holding it to his cheek, he missed the warmth it once had.

"I'm coming now, my love," he whispered brokenly. "I'm sorry you had to wait for so long. I'll be there with you soon."

"Yes, I understand His Imperial Majesty's orders not to enter, but it's been hours. Surely, any assembly would have concluded by now, wouldn't it?" With apprehension and curiosity, a senior court lady pushed open the doors to the once-bustling throne room, expecting to find His Imperial Majesty and his council of ministers. Instead, she was met with a horrifying sight—a scene of bloodshed and chaos spread across the grand hall.

Her piercing scream echoed through the silent room, jolting nearby palace staff into action. Rushing to the scene, they were met with a scene that chilled them to the bone. At the end of the room, amidst a sea of lifeless bodies, lay the empress on the throne, her appearance shocking all who beheld it. Beside her, her husband remained, his head cradled on her chest, their hands tightly clasped together. A gaping stab wound marred his chest—it seemed he had taken his own life before joining her in death.

Following that, the next prince in line promptly ascended the throne and found himself compelled to appoint an entirely new cabinet of ministers and officials. The entire nation descended into chaos, particularly since it was still embroiled in a war, with endless theories circulating about the events. While some speculated that the emperor succumbed to madness and killed his own council, others whispered of a conspiracy, suggesting that the ministers had orchestrated the demise of both the empress and the emperor.

Amidst this uncertainty, the new prince faced the daunting challenge of restoring order to the kingdom. With a heavy heart, he pledged to uncover the truth behind the tragic occurrences and ensure that justice was served to those responsible.

In the end, the truth of what truly occurred remained shrouded in mystery. All those involved had departed from the realm of the living. As centuries passed, that chapter in history became known as the Scarlet Requiem, a haunting tale that lingered in the collective memory of the kingdom. Despite countless efforts to unravel the enigma, the events surrounding the tragedy remained obscured by the sands of time, leaving future generations to ponder and speculate about the dark secrets of the past.

"What do you think really happened?" a woman asked her boyfriend as they studied a painting depicting the throne room scene in a museum dedicated to the events of the Scarlet Requiem.

He pondered for a moment before responding with a shrug. "It's hard to say. But judging by the way he's holding onto her, it seems he must have truly loved her. Let's hope they've found peace and happiness, whether in the afterlife or their next life."

She nodded in agreement, leaning into his comforting embrace. "Yeah, I hope so too."

He flashed a mischievous grin. "I'm just saying, if I were him, I wouldn't have left her for war in the first place."

She rolled her eyes and gave him a playful smack, though a smile danced on her lips. "I'm sure you wouldn't. I bet it's because the empress was described as beautiful as a celestial being."

He scoffed. "Doesn't matter to me how pretty she was. I'll stay only if you're my empress."

Unbeknownst to them, the couple had been contemplating their own past lives. Perhaps the emperor and empress had indeed found each other again in another existence.

Believe it or not, this has been on my mind for months ever since seeing those AI-generated photos of Baekhyun. I had an epiphany while looking at them again yesterday and just had to write this. It's my first EXO fic, and I hope it's decent hehe~

As always, thank you for reading and let me know your thoughts! <3

Master Tag list:

@the-kpop-simp @itstheghostofmypast @green-agent @vantediary @tinyteezer |

@hollxe1 @pandabur666 @lilactangerine @oddracha @evidive

#This is excellent #I am destroyed #but this is excellent

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owlsfeatherpen · 3 months ago

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Pathcode: Light Through a Broken Lens Masterlist

Part 2 of The Sky that Doesn't End Series

Chapter 1: Depth of Field

Chapter 2: Tao: Barcelona, Spain, 10:09

Chapter 3: Composition

Chapter 4: Suho: Marseille, France, 10:21

Chapter 5: Exposure

Chapter 6: Chanyeol: Arizona, U.S.A, 17:11

Chapter 7: Lens Flare

Chapter 8:

Chapter 9:

Chapter 10:

Chapter 11:

Chapter 12:

Chapter 13:

Chapter 14:

Chapter 15:

Chapter 16:

Chapter 17:

Chapter 18:

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owlsfeatherpen · 3 months ago

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New chapter! Finally ^^'

Pathcode: Light Through a Broken Lens

The Sky That Doesn't End: Part 2

Masterlist

Genre: EXO AU, Romance, Mystery

Rated: PG

Pairing: Byun Baekhyun x Lara (OC)

Summery: Exo has scattered. Now in hiding after the Red Force closed in on them and Luhan went missing. Baekhyun finds himself in a small town while he waits until they can reunite again. Guarded after everything that has taken place, he’s not looking for friendship, or anything else, until a light shines through, even as the darkness closes around them.

First, Prev, Next (coming soon).

Chapter 7: Lens Flare

Lara observed Baekhyun as she stirred her coffee. His attention was fully on his computer as he sorted out his newest batch of photos for editing. She observed him for a few more minutes before pulling out her phone and checking on notifications. Thanks to Baekhyun’s help, the bakery had taken off online and she was one of the few employees that had a good grasp on how to work the social media platforms to answer questions and requests.

As she released a sigh it was echoed by the shutter of Baekhyun’s camera. She flinched at the flash of light and ducked her head away.

“Sorry,” Baekhyun said sheepishly. “I should have asked. It’s just that the light was perfect.”

She looked up slowly towards him as he was lowering the familiar analog camera. His ears had turned red and the embarrassed smile was starting to fall in uncertainty.

She smiled to ease his concern. “It’s okay,” she said. “You just surprised me and…” she shook her head, “never mind.”

His brow pinched and he placed the camera down on the table. “No, no,” he said. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” she said quickly, fidgeting with her phone. “It’s really nothing, just silly.”

“If it bothers you this much then it’s important,” he said firmly. His eyes landed on her hands and his gaze softened.

“I just…don’t really like having my picture taken,” she said with a sigh and dropped her hands into her lap. “I don’t really like seeing my face through the lens of a camera.”

“Ah,” he hummed with a slow nod. “I understand that to some extent. I don’t really like people taking pictures of me either.”

“But you’re a photographer,” she said, and he chuckled.

“Ironic, isn’t it?” He smiled softly, trying to catch her eyes, and she finally met his gaze. “I won’t take any pictures if you don’t want me to. But…” he trailed off and looked away, and she noticed his ears were turning red again. “You are beautiful and make a wonderful subject for photography. I was kind of hoping you wouldn’t mind doing some photos for me.”

She sat up straighter at his confession, her eyes widening. After another couple of seconds she dropped her gaze and smiled shyly. “Thank you,” she said quietly. “I’ll think about it.”

“Really?” he nearly shouted, his wide eyes fixating on her. A blinding smile broke across his face and he bounced a couple of times in his seat. “Thank you. I promise I won’t take any you’re uncomfortable with. And there are actually a lot of really creative shots that can be done without showing a person’s face.”

She laughed at his enthusiasm and shook her head. “You don’t need to thank me. I haven’t even decided yet.”

“But you said you’d think about it,” he said with a smirk. “And that’s enough hope for me.”

~~~

The wind whistled through the field and the sunlight danced across her face as it was filtered through the tall plants. The sounds of nature were randomly interrupted by a shutter as Baekhyun snapped pictures of the golden sky across the horizon.

Lara watched him, her arms crossed across the car window seal, cheek resting on them. The warmth of the sun and sound of the grass was trying to ease her to sleep, but she refused to give in.

First, Prev, Next (coming soon).

#exo #exo fanfic #exo fic #baekhyun x oc #Light Through a Broken Lens #the sky that doesn't end series #dragonowl fics #exo pathcode

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owlsfeatherpen · 3 months ago

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Update

Hi everyone! It's Owl here.

I have some good/bad news. There are still some things going on for Dragon that are going to keep her from being able to participate in updates right now. However, after a conversation, we decided I should go ahead and update alone for now. What that means is I'll be updating on here, but AO3 won't be updated.

So, if you are someone who keeps up on AO3, then I'm very sorry. I don't know when we will start adding chapters over there.

If you read on here, then it's your lucky day! I will get a new chapter of Pathcode: Light through a Broken Lens posted tonight!

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owlsfeatherpen · 3 months ago

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I little thing I made for my friends that wanted to read what I was writing, but don't know Ateez🤭

Some photos found with Dragon's help. Don't know what I'd do without her.

Ateez as Pirates

A little side project that I've been working on with my friends (Dragon and @feralleprechaun) since Ateez teased Crazy Form (I know it's been a minute), and they said they were going to give Atiny something we had been hoping for. Which for our trio, was a full pirate concept. We were inspired to actually start seriously thinking out the idea when we came across @mathildascarlett's first two tiktoks on her Ateez as Pirates ideas. She only had those two videos out at the time, but it sent us into a spiral that had us trying to figure out our own idea of what Ateez would look like as an actual pirate crew. Crazily enough, some of our ideas continued to line up with hers as well as other Atiny's.

Even though we sadly did not get a pirate concept from that comeback, we ate up the military-esque looks and I continued writing for our pirate head-canon.

So here's a little post about our idea. I've written so many chapters for it when I've been brain dead from working on The Sky that Doesn't End (which I am still working on, I swear). I feel bad not publishing it, so I wanted to share some of the other things I've been up to.

Since the crew is small, each of them hold multiple roles.

Kim Hongjoong:

Role: Captain. Helmsman and shipwright.

Personality: Manic. Sass. Swag. Nonchalance. “Nonchalant mania”

Backstory: Marooned for disagreeing with his previous captain.

Kim: Name of kings.

Specialization: Sword, musket, twin pistols

Fighting Style: Hongjoong is one of the best at taking multiple opponents at once. Very aware of his surroundings. Not afraid to fight dirty. Likes to duel wield when in large spaces and facing multiple opponents. Terrifying.

Clothing: Rings, earrings, some necklaces. Long coat. Leans more towards European clothing pieces, but likes to mix and match. Undercut with longer hair on top that he braids or puts into a ponytail and decorates.

Not sure of his full origins, but his guardian told him his name but also not to advertise it. Advised to always be on the move, and given a plaque (hopae) with his guardian’s name on it.

He has a singular amethyst earring that he wears occasionally but mostly keeps safely tucked away. It belonged to his mother, but he doesn’t know that. He just knows it’s important, and one of the few things that ties him to his past.

Seonghwa:

Story mostly revolves around him, even though it is an ensemble fic.

Siren: Somewhere between siren and merman really. Tail that turns into legs, haven't really decided on the color but I lean towards silver. He doesn’t hunt humans, though some of his kind does, using their powers to do so. He can sense negative emotions, mostly ones that are suicidal. When he cries his tears become pearls. White: normal tears from sadness. Pink: Tears of happiness. Black: tears from strong negative emotions (anguish/anger).

Role: First mate and quartermaster.

Personality: Sensable but ruthless. Cool calm anger. Brooder. He sits at the edge on the ship and sings haunting melodies as he looks out over the ocean. (Davy Jones’ lullaby)

Backstory: Love lost at sea. Tortured soul. Falls in love with a human. She is an outcast and he comes across her at the edge of the cliff that overlooks a cove that he calls home. They get close but she is kidnapped/sold and he goes on a pirate hunt to find her. He ends up finding Hongjoong on a deserted island.

Specialization: Sword (still thinking about this one)

Fighting Style: Seonghwa prefers to always have a weapon. Very graceful movements. Flowy. Deceptively strong. Can easily break holds a human couldn’t. Watches and learns. Hongjoong taught him how to wield a sword.

Clothing: Lots of flowy materials. Korean clothing worn loosely. Occasionally the puffy shirt with a corset and pants. Doesn’t really care for shoes but learns to live with them when necessary.

Other: Gives her a norigae decorated with pink pearls

Yunho:

Role: Navigator. Unofficial sailing master with San and Hongjoong’s help. Learned from a true sailing master on his last ship. Trainer for a very brief time. Secondary ship master.

Personality: Puppy, bouncy, caring. Some people are confused about how he is a pirate until they meet him in a fight. He is very quick to let his true personality shine with the crew, though he keeps a lot of his story hidden.

Backstory: Slave turned human weapon on a pirate or naval ship maybe. The sailing master noticed he had an interest in learning, especially in cartography and taught him in secret. This is what helps him hold onto his humanity, though most of the time it is buried very deep inside. He leaves that crew and joins Ateez.

Old crew:

Alessio: Friend, teacher, and ship's cartographer.

Specialization: Cartography. Weapons. He is the most skilled fighter.

Fighting Style: Yunho is comfortable getting up close with his fists. Prefers to use his hands over his feet, but comfortable with both. Can take a hit and keep going. Any time he would go down during training the trainer would just say “again” and it would repeat until he couldn't get up again. At some point he just built up a tolerance until he was strong enough to knock his trainer down. He analyzes others’ fighting styles quickly and adapts to counter.

Clothing: More European. Structured tops with sleeves rolled up. Waistcoats. Long boots. Shorter hair (the fellowship: break the wall; anchor in Seoul)

Other: Some first aid knowledge from his one friend helping him when he was injured since the captain and others saw no need to help him.

Note from @feralleprechaun: In a scenario where he tries to train someone, he comes to the realization that it wasn’t that hard to be a kind trainer. That his trainer had been a horrible man. And he doesn’t have to be like him.

Yeosang:

Role: Assassin. Taster. Doctor.

Personality: Quiet and calm most of the time. Doesn’t enjoy physical affection at first. Doesn’t always pay attention to what’s going on in casual settings once he gets comfortable but is always five steps ahead while on a job or in a fight. Graceful while working.

Backstory: Son of a Gisaeng and nobleman. He’s been friends with Wooyoung and San for several years.

Publicly: his father doesn’t ignore him or treat him with disdain, but he also doesn’t claim him and wants him to live quietly and respectfully.

Hidden: His father has him train under a master assassin for his personal use.

Specialization:

Poisons: was trained to make and detect them. He has high tolerance for many of them.

Weapons: Daggers, knives, and other small undetectable weapons. Bow and arrows. Some knowledge with many other weapons and fighting styles. Minimal knowledge with guns.

Fighting Style: Yeosang is similar to Yunho, but is more comfortable using his feet than him. Prefers to use blades, but still very skilled in hand to hand. Analyzes others’ fighting styles quickly and implements it in his own fighting.

Clothing: Goes back and forth between flowing and fitted. Pastel or dark colors. While his hair was very long he cuts it to shoulder length and often puts it up with a hair stick. Sometimes ribbons/scraps of cloth braided in.

Other: Some first aid knowledge from having to take care of himself when injured. Learns in more detail later.

San:

Role: Lookout. Sail-master/Master Rigger. Boatswain. Fisher.

Personality: Self-sacrificing. Really free spirited but serious when in a fight.

Backstory: His father is a fisherman and he grows up on the boats and in the trade but ends up becoming close with Wooyoung and finds he has a talent at the gaming tables. He learns tricks of the gambling/swindling trade and spends most of his time at the “tea” house.

Specialization: Hand to hand focused but is decent with standard weapons. He’s also good at predicting weather changes and climbing due to his time on the fishing ships.

Fighting Style: San is a brawler, but surprisingly fast and agile. Very difficult to predict. Not afraid to tackle his opponents.

Clothing: More structured tops and waistcoats but that give him enough flexibility to move freely. Arms are often uncovered or his sleeves are rolled up.

Mingi:

Role: Tradesman. Explosives master. Quartermaster: Food and water supplies (job shared with Wooyoung)

Personality: Clumsy, boisterous, impulsive.

Backstory: Son of a merchant. Gets rescued by the crew and decides to join them.

Specialization: Musket. Grenades. Explosives.

Fighting Style: Mingi prefers to stay out of the middle of a fight and pick enemies off from the sidelines. He’s not afraid to throw a mean punch though.

Clothing: Long coats and lots of jewelry, especially long necklaces and rings.

Wooyoung:

Role: Grifter, gambler, pickpocket. Cook. Quartermaster: Food and water supplies (shared with Mingi)

Personality: Flirty. Troublemaker. This bleeds into his fighting. Banters make it seem like he’s not taking the fight seriously which makes him that much more dangerous.

Backstory: His father owns a tea (gambling) house and he is raised in that. Learns fighting from his father and spars with San who also occasionally trains with him, something his father does so they know how to protect themselves. He runs a table with San and they frequently cheat (shady) people out of their money. They make the mistake of trying to fool Hongjoong. After getting along with him they invite him and Seonghwa to watch them spar.

Specialization: Pickpocket. He’s a smoothtalker and very disarming because of his charm. He specializes in dual daggers.

Fighting Style: Wooyoung is fast. Can easily dodge and prefers dodging to blocking. Likes to get behind his opponent whenever possible.

Clothing: Poofy shirts most of the time with a low neckline and long necklaces. Occasional waistcoat. Longer hair, often half up (bouncy/kingdom era).

Other: grandmother was a siren

Jongho:

Role: Strategist. Master of Arms (Trainer). Master Gunner.

Personality: Most “upright” of the group. He hates when they cross legal lines but also understands how necessary it is sometimes.

Backstory: Royal guard or Secret Royal Inspector. Found out about some corruption but is framed or attacked before he can do anything about it. He meets the crew while on the run. He’s kept a hold of his inspector token and they occasionally use it.

Jongho is a secret inspector (young for the job). While inspecting the officials in a small seaside town he witnesses the governor sell some of the villagers to pirates late at night. However, he’s seen and chased, but escapes. While in hiding he sees HJ, who he recognizes from the pirate crew (not at the deal), and follows him and is discovered by the groups. Once everything is cleared up, he reluctantly joins them to expose the corruption occurring.

Specialization: Planning and strategizing. Standard Korean military weapons.

Fighting Style: Jongho is very economic in his movements. Tries to spend as little energy as possible in his moves. Capable with swordplay and packs a mean punch. If he hits you in the head or another vital area… you’re down. Very formal in his sword work, because he learned in the military. Can take a hit and keep going.

Clothing: Sticks with a uniform for the most part, but outside of that, very structured and tidy. Slowly starts adding accessories at the others recommendation.

Other: Some solid medical knowledge from watching his mother who is a nurse.

I've written over 60,000 words so far for this story and have many, many scenes planned that I haven't even written yet. I've only really released it to my friends, but I guess if anyone is interested I could start posting it. Though I really don't want to go through the editing until it's done. Which could be a while since I'm working on so many projects right now.

I have a lot of fun cameos in it, including Bang Chan and his merry band of Stray Kids.

I had to do some trimming on the bios in case I ever do post it on here. We don't want to spoil too many things.

#pirate ateez #ateez fanfic ideas #Owl's kpop side projects #work in progress #that's owl for now

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owlsfeatherpen · 3 months ago

Text

Ateez as Pirates

Even though we sadly did not get a pirate concept from that comeback, we ate up the military-esque looks and I continued writing for our pirate head-canon.

Since the crew is small, each of them hold multiple roles.

Kim Hongjoong:

Role: Captain. Helmsman and shipwright.

Personality: Manic. Sass. Swag. Nonchalance. “Nonchalant mania”

Backstory: Marooned for disagreeing with his previous captain.

Kim: Name of kings.

Specialization: Sword, musket, twin pistols

Not sure of his full origins, but his guardian told him his name but also not to advertise it. Advised to always be on the move, and given a plaque (hopae) with his guardian’s name on it.

Seonghwa:

Story mostly revolves around him, even though it is an ensemble fic.

Role: First mate and quartermaster.

Personality: Sensable but ruthless. Cool calm anger. Brooder. He sits at the edge on the ship and sings haunting melodies as he looks out over the ocean. (Davy Jones’ lullaby)

Specialization: Sword (still thinking about this one)

Clothing: Lots of flowy materials. Korean clothing worn loosely. Occasionally the puffy shirt with a corset and pants. Doesn’t really care for shoes but learns to live with them when necessary.

Other: Gives her a norigae decorated with pink pearls

Yunho:

Role: Navigator. Unofficial sailing master with San and Hongjoong’s help. Learned from a true sailing master on his last ship. Trainer for a very brief time. Secondary ship master.

Old crew:

Alessio: Friend, teacher, and ship's cartographer.

Specialization: Cartography. Weapons. He is the most skilled fighter.

Clothing: More European. Structured tops with sleeves rolled up. Waistcoats. Long boots. Shorter hair (the fellowship: break the wall; anchor in Seoul)

Other: Some first aid knowledge from his one friend helping him when he was injured since the captain and others saw no need to help him.

Yeosang:

Role: Assassin. Taster. Doctor.

Backstory: Son of a Gisaeng and nobleman. He’s been friends with Wooyoung and San for several years.

Publicly: his father doesn’t ignore him or treat him with disdain, but he also doesn’t claim him and wants him to live quietly and respectfully.

Hidden: His father has him train under a master assassin for his personal use.

Specialization:

Poisons: was trained to make and detect them. He has high tolerance for many of them.

Weapons: Daggers, knives, and other small undetectable weapons. Bow and arrows. Some knowledge with many other weapons and fighting styles. Minimal knowledge with guns.

Other: Some first aid knowledge from having to take care of himself when injured. Learns in more detail later.

San:

Role: Lookout. Sail-master/Master Rigger. Boatswain. Fisher.

Personality: Self-sacrificing. Really free spirited but serious when in a fight.

Specialization: Hand to hand focused but is decent with standard weapons. He’s also good at predicting weather changes and climbing due to his time on the fishing ships.

Fighting Style: San is a brawler, but surprisingly fast and agile. Very difficult to predict. Not afraid to tackle his opponents.

Clothing: More structured tops and waistcoats but that give him enough flexibility to move freely. Arms are often uncovered or his sleeves are rolled up.

Mingi:

Role: Tradesman. Explosives master. Quartermaster: Food and water supplies (job shared with Wooyoung)

Personality: Clumsy, boisterous, impulsive.

Backstory: Son of a merchant. Gets rescued by the crew and decides to join them.

Specialization: Musket. Grenades. Explosives.

Fighting Style: Mingi prefers to stay out of the middle of a fight and pick enemies off from the sidelines. He’s not afraid to throw a mean punch though.

Clothing: Long coats and lots of jewelry, especially long necklaces and rings.

Wooyoung:

Role: Grifter, gambler, pickpocket. Cook. Quartermaster: Food and water supplies (shared with Mingi)

Personality: Flirty. Troublemaker. This bleeds into his fighting. Banters make it seem like he’s not taking the fight seriously which makes him that much more dangerous.

Specialization: Pickpocket. He’s a smoothtalker and very disarming because of his charm. He specializes in dual daggers.

Fighting Style: Wooyoung is fast. Can easily dodge and prefers dodging to blocking. Likes to get behind his opponent whenever possible.

Clothing: Poofy shirts most of the time with a low neckline and long necklaces. Occasional waistcoat. Longer hair, often half up (bouncy/kingdom era).

Other: grandmother was a siren

Jongho:

Role: Strategist. Master of Arms (Trainer). Master Gunner.

Personality: Most “upright” of the group. He hates when they cross legal lines but also understands how necessary it is sometimes.

Specialization: Planning and strategizing. Standard Korean military weapons.

Clothing: Sticks with a uniform for the most part, but outside of that, very structured and tidy. Slowly starts adding accessories at the others recommendation.

Other: Some solid medical knowledge from watching his mother who is a nurse.

I have a lot of fun cameos in it, including Bang Chan and his merry band of Stray Kids.

I had to do some trimming on the bios in case I ever do post it on here. We don't want to spoil too many things.

#icymi #pirate ateez #ateez fanfic ideas #Owl's kpop side projects #work in progress #that's owl for now

10 notes · View notes

owlsfeatherpen · 3 months ago

Text

Ateez as Pirates

Even though we sadly did not get a pirate concept from that comeback, we ate up the military-esque looks and I continued writing for our pirate head-canon.

Since the crew is small, each of them hold multiple roles.

Kim Hongjoong:

Role: Captain. Helmsman and shipwright.

Personality: Manic. Sass. Swag. Nonchalance. “Nonchalant mania”

Backstory: Marooned for disagreeing with his previous captain.

Kim: Name of kings.

Specialization: Sword, musket, twin pistols

Not sure of his full origins, but his guardian told him his name but also not to advertise it. Advised to always be on the move, and given a plaque (hopae) with his guardian’s name on it.

Seonghwa:

Story mostly revolves around him, even though it is an ensemble fic.

Role: First mate and quartermaster.

Personality: Sensable but ruthless. Cool calm anger. Brooder. He sits at the edge on the ship and sings haunting melodies as he looks out over the ocean. (Davy Jones’ lullaby)

Specialization: Sword (still thinking about this one)

Clothing: Lots of flowy materials. Korean clothing worn loosely. Occasionally the puffy shirt with a corset and pants. Doesn’t really care for shoes but learns to live with them when necessary.

Other: Gives her a norigae decorated with pink pearls

Yunho:

Role: Navigator. Unofficial sailing master with San and Hongjoong’s help. Learned from a true sailing master on his last ship. Trainer for a very brief time. Secondary ship master.

Old crew:

Alessio: Friend, teacher, and ship's cartographer.

Specialization: Cartography. Weapons. He is the most skilled fighter.

Clothing: More European. Structured tops with sleeves rolled up. Waistcoats. Long boots. Shorter hair (the fellowship: break the wall; anchor in Seoul)

Other: Some first aid knowledge from his one friend helping him when he was injured since the captain and others saw no need to help him.

Yeosang:

Role: Assassin. Taster. Doctor.

Backstory: Son of a Gisaeng and nobleman. He’s been friends with Wooyoung and San for several years.

Publicly: his father doesn’t ignore him or treat him with disdain, but he also doesn’t claim him and wants him to live quietly and respectfully.

Hidden: His father has him train under a master assassin for his personal use.

Specialization:

Poisons: was trained to make and detect them. He has high tolerance for many of them.

Weapons: Daggers, knives, and other small undetectable weapons. Bow and arrows. Some knowledge with many other weapons and fighting styles. Minimal knowledge with guns.

Other: Some first aid knowledge from having to take care of himself when injured. Learns in more detail later.

San:

Role: Lookout. Sail-master/Master Rigger. Boatswain. Fisher.

Personality: Self-sacrificing. Really free spirited but serious when in a fight.

Specialization: Hand to hand focused but is decent with standard weapons. He’s also good at predicting weather changes and climbing due to his time on the fishing ships.

Fighting Style: San is a brawler, but surprisingly fast and agile. Very difficult to predict. Not afraid to tackle his opponents.

Clothing: More structured tops and waistcoats but that give him enough flexibility to move freely. Arms are often uncovered or his sleeves are rolled up.

Mingi:

Role: Tradesman. Explosives master. Quartermaster: Food and water supplies (job shared with Wooyoung)

Personality: Clumsy, boisterous, impulsive.

Backstory: Son of a merchant. Gets rescued by the crew and decides to join them.

Specialization: Musket. Grenades. Explosives.

Fighting Style: Mingi prefers to stay out of the middle of a fight and pick enemies off from the sidelines. He’s not afraid to throw a mean punch though.

Clothing: Long coats and lots of jewelry, especially long necklaces and rings.

Wooyoung:

Role: Grifter, gambler, pickpocket. Cook. Quartermaster: Food and water supplies (shared with Mingi)

Personality: Flirty. Troublemaker. This bleeds into his fighting. Banters make it seem like he’s not taking the fight seriously which makes him that much more dangerous.

Specialization: Pickpocket. He’s a smoothtalker and very disarming because of his charm. He specializes in dual daggers.

Fighting Style: Wooyoung is fast. Can easily dodge and prefers dodging to blocking. Likes to get behind his opponent whenever possible.

Clothing: Poofy shirts most of the time with a low neckline and long necklaces. Occasional waistcoat. Longer hair, often half up (bouncy/kingdom era).

Other: grandmother was a siren

Jongho:

Role: Strategist. Master of Arms (Trainer). Master Gunner.

Personality: Most “upright” of the group. He hates when they cross legal lines but also understands how necessary it is sometimes.

Specialization: Planning and strategizing. Standard Korean military weapons.

Clothing: Sticks with a uniform for the most part, but outside of that, very structured and tidy. Slowly starts adding accessories at the others recommendation.

Other: Some solid medical knowledge from watching his mother who is a nurse.

I have a lot of fun cameos in it, including Bang Chan and his merry band of Stray Kids.

I had to do some trimming on the bios in case I ever do post it on here. We don't want to spoil too many things.

10 notes · View notes