#stardustwriting

[mystichearrt]

The Magnus Archives (Spoilers for episodes 150+?)

!! Rant !! There’s art at the bottom if you just wanna skip to that.

This has nothing to do with what I’m writing and I’m not done with The Magnus Archives (a little past 150) but I’m like so mournful over Jon’s life mannn. Not because he (AGAIN SPOILERS) became an avatar but because he hadn’t been allowed to reconnect with his humanity

Im definitely going to talk about this some other time on my side blog (@stardustwriting) there’s one thing that gets my heart hurting and gets me so so soooo mad is when characters bully the MC for trying their best despite being dealt the worst cards and just being so unsympathetic.

Why the HELL are you up my dude’s ass because he needs to eat??? Why are you isolating him?? Why are you ignoring him desperately trying to stay in touch with his humanity?? His power is getting stronger and he’s scared and you’re scaring him my baby boy

and I’m not trying to infantilize him but WHY THE HELL ARE THEY DOING THAT??? I literally had to pause and start crashing out because I just NEEDED them to stop talking to my man. Just don’t interact with him. Stop. I don’t wanna hear you speak to him oh my goddsss you wanna put Daisy on an effing pedestal so bad because she can “control herself�� but she was literally DEAD (basically) FOR MONTHSSSS I’d also fuck off of all my favorite drugs too

(not saying being an avatar is some comparative is simply compared to a drug but please understand what I mean)

sigh.

I can’t into this completely until I’m done with the series but if someone told me 20 episodes ago Daisy would start being being more likable than Basira I would’ve blocked you itll. I hate corrupt cops (I know Basira is also one) and I can’t forgive her for taking advantage of a position of power like that but at LEAST SHE IS HEARING OTHER PEOPLE FINALLY. AT LEASTTTT SHE INTERACTS WITH JON BECAUSE SHE CAN AT LEAST REALIZE HOW FUCKED UP SOMETHINGS HAVE BEEN.

…anyway here’s art that was supposed to be a sketch and I felt the urge to continue forever

[stardust-writer]

[my first kiss went a little like this] Mystic Messenger Week Day 3 2020

Written for @mysmeweek2020‘s day 3 prompt: firsts! I actually had a whole collection of firsts planned, but I figured I could save that for another time. 

Summary:  Areum and Jihyun’s first kiss went a little like this.

A/N: I have a different OC for each route. Areum Song is the OC I use for Jihyun/V’s route. Other OCs may appear, but for this work, Areum takes on the MC’s role.

Songs While Writing: Stuck with U - Ariana Grande (with Justin Bieber), First Man - Camila Cabello, Heartlines (Acoustic ver.) - The Broods

Areum and Jihyun’s first kiss went something like this.

It was a month after Jihyun had returned to her. The whole association was gathered at their place, just taking a break from their daily lives to spend some time with each other. They had just finished dinner, everyone having scattered around the living room and broken off into different groups.

Jihyun had taken on the role of doing the dishes, Jaehee and Saeran deciding to offer their assistance. Jumin and Zen were having some sort of debate by the television set, leaving Areum, Yoosung, and Luciel to talk amongst themselves by the sofa.

“You guys haven’t kissed yet?” Yoosung practically screeched.

Areum turned beet red and gestured for her friend to calm down. “Yoosung, please keep quiet! It’s embarrassing!”

“You’re damn right it is,” Luciel laughed. “You guys can immediately move in together, but can’t even give each other a peck on the lips?”

“We sleep in different rooms! It’s not like kissing is the only thing we haven’t done.” Areum pouted and shook her head, hanging her head low. She glares as Luciel laughs some more. Yoosung, on the other hand, looked frustrated.

“What? Don’t you want to kiss him?”

“I really don’t like where this conversation is going.”

“Come on, Areum,” Luciel teased. “You don’t want to kiss Jihyun?”

“Would you pipe down?” she said weakly. “Of course I want to kiss him! What girlfriend wouldn’t want a kiss from her boyfriend?”

“Then, why don’t you guys just do it?” Yoosung asked, exasperated. “Most couples don’t even wait a week before their first kiss—some even have their first kisses before they get together!”

“I’m glad that you seem so invested in our relationship,” Areum said, placing a gentle hand on Yoosung’s shoulder. It was stiff at first, but he relaxed after a moment. “But it’s just how it is. Jihyun and I agreed when we started this relationship that we wanted things to be natural! I won’t force a kiss on him if he doesn’t want it!”

“Well, how do you even know that he doesn’t want it?” Luciel asked, a smirk playing on his lips. “Because from what I hear—and see, because you guys have it so bad for each other—he wants it just as much as you do.”

Areum was already pretty warm in the face when this conversation started, but her face just took on an even brighter shade of red. She buried her face in her hands, the sound of Luciel’s laughter mixing with whatever rant Yoosung had gone into.

The idea that Jihyun wanted to kiss her too wasn’t far-fetched. In fact, there had been a lot of times that Areum thought he might initiate a kiss, but there was never any follow through, so she just thought she was seeing things.

“Okay, let’s please just not talk about this.”

“Not talk about what?”

Areum jumped in surprise. Jihyun’s eyes sparkled with amusement as he let out a small laugh.

“Nothing,” Areum said immediately. She turned to glare at her two companions to keep their mouths shut. Luciel held his hands up in defense, an innocent smile plastered on his face. Yoosung did the same.

“It doesn’t look like nothing,” Jihyun hummed, taking a seat between Areum and Luciel. He draped an arm across her shoulders. Almost automatically, Areum relaxed and a smile formed on her face. “What is it? Can’t I know?”

“Nope. If I tell you, then that would be talking about it. And we just said we would not talk about it.”

Jihyun pretended to pout. He angled his head closer to hers so that their foreheads were touching. Areum was forced to look into his mint-coloured eyes. She always found herself so easily lost in them. “You really won’t tell me?”

“Sorry,” she said in a sing-song voice. “No matter long you fix me with that stare, I won’t give in.”

“Is that a challenge?”

“Maybe.”

Areum and Jihyun were so busy looking into each other’s eyes that they nearly forgot Yoosung and Luciel were there. Actually, they might have. They were so invested in each other that they didn’t notice Yoosung send Luciel a couple of gestures before getting up to switch places with him.

“Alright, how about this? We—mn!”

Jihyun couldn’t even finish his words. They both felt something collide with the back of their heads, causing Areum to lurch forward at the same time that Jihyun was. And before they knew it, their lips were planted on each other’s.

“Oops.” Yoosung and Luciel said in unison.

The couple pulled apart hastily, both extremely red in the face. They stammered out excuses and apologies, Jihyun bowing several times before running away into the kitchen and Areum hiding her face in her hands before sinking back into her seat, dazed. She could hear Luciel’s laughter and Yoosung’s words of disbelief, but all that registered in her head was the feeling of Jihyun’s lips on hers.

After everyone had left that night, it took a while, but Areum gathered up enough courage to go up to Jihyun and pull him into another kiss. One that was deeper, gentler, and sweeter than the one Yoosung and Luciel had initiated. Jihyun would whisper, just before he pulled her in for another kiss, that he’d been wanting to kiss her since he came home.

Areum would never admit it to Luciel or Yoosung, she absolutely refused to, but this was all thanks to them.

A/N: The first kiss they had was inspired by this post on tumblr from @ynlife.

[orphicpoieses]

Penguin Classics Tag Game!

Thanks to @thetruearchmagos for the tag!

Use this website to make a cover of your WIP(s) in the style of the Penguin Classic covers!

I did some extra because it was so much fun creating them!

Even though ‘Wings of Fate’ and ‘Stokes Chronicles’ are book series, I only made one. There should be something new when I publish them 😉

This game reminded me of my old days of writing, where I would make covers for all my books… I still have every premade cover in my photo album!

Enough of nostalgia!

I’m tagging: @mirrorthoughts @stardustwriting @mr-writes @flowerprose @ren-c-leyn

[stardxstwrites]

Roleplay Partner

Hello everyone! I’m Star. I’m twenty-one, my pronouns are she/her/they. I live in Eastern Standard Time Zone. My triggers are pedophilia, rape, and self-harm.  I’m looking for 1x1, 18+ writers that portray 18+ muses. I’m comfortable with smut as long as it comes with a good storyline. I have a few muses but not enough for a muse page yet. I would prefer doubling up. And I only roleplay on discord. 

Here is the link to my muses - https://www.pinterest.com/stardustwrites/_saved/

Here is a list of plots I’d be interested it. But in reality I’m interested in most things so if you have a plot in mind just message me. 

- roommates

- enemies to lovers 

- friends to lovers

-  criminals on the run bonnie and clyde style

- high school sweethearts who lost touch run into one another

- one night stand results in pregnancy. 

- friends with benefits 

- random hookup turns out to be? my new boss?

- plot similar to that of the movie "life as we know it"

- opposite attracts 

- college students

- zombie apocalypse

- supernatural elements, werewolves, vampires, witches. 

- MC

Fandom List: 

- Peaky Blinders

- Sons of Anarchy

- Mayans MC

- Supernatural

- Bridgerton

- BCC The Musketeers 

- Reign

- Euphoria 

[ventureswithbooks]

⚔️⚔️ Giveaway Alert!! ⚔️⚔️ . . Today I’m partnering with @audreygreyauthor for an amazing giveaway!! One winner will receive a signed hardcover of OATH TAKER, the art print of Haven done by the fabulous @morgana0anagrom and a $20 book depository gift card!! . . ⚔️ TO ENTER: ⚔️ -must follow me, Audrey: @audreygreyauthor and @books_coffee_cocktails - tag 2 friends - share in your story for 24 hours (be sure to tag @books_coffee_cocktails so we can keep track!) . . ⚔️ EXTRA ENTRIES: ⚔️ -share on your profile and be sure to tag @books_coffee_cocktails and @audreygreyauthor -gain 1 entry for tagging 3 people per comment (can do this up to 5 times) -visit @stardustwrites tomorrow for extra chances to enter . . ⚔️ RULES FOR GIVEAWAY: ⚔️ -must be 18+ to enter (or with a parents permission) - must be a public acct for verification - US and International giveaway - giveaway closes on June 13 EST midnight - IG is not affiliated with this giveaway . . I am so excited for this gorgeous book!! If you haven’t heard of it yet I’ll post the synopsis in the comments. But it is absolutely incredible and not to be missed!! May the odds be ever in your favor! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #AudreyGrey #OathTaker #KingdomOfRunesSaga #OathTakerIGTour #putaswordonit #flatlaystyle #booknerd #instareads #bookaesthetic #ventureswithbooks #booklife #booksofinstagram #bookworm #yafiction #yabooks #bookishfeatures #bookstagramer #bookstagramit https://www.instagram.com/p/BygQ_IsgBFz/?igshid=1qyrpymmq845f

[orphicpoieses]

Can we please point out the talent of @moonlitinks and @thetruearchmagos?! This is amazing!

I'm definitely not as good as these two... But anyways, thanks to @moonlitinks for the tag!

My little snippet is from Wings of Fate:

{snippet no longer available}

I tag you all, poor souls in my following feed! @mirrorthoughts @owlishink @serickswrites @writings-of-a-squirrel @drowsy-quill @thefallenauthor @bebewrites @stardustwriting

Last Line Tag!

Tagged by @sleepyowlwrites , thank you kindly!

The following is from a new WIP I've started off, "The Commonwealth Calls". Still so new that there's still not much there, but I look forward to getting more for it!

Steel Clad Coffin

On all sides, smoke plumes against stormy skies shrouded the land in a darkness only lit by the fires of burning machinery and rubble, the only trophies of this most sudden war. Under the sleet grey sky, thunder and lightning were drowned out by the rumbling booms of far off howitzers and the crashes of their sent-off greetings, the cracks of rifle fire finding home, and above all the growls of the great machines that sallied forth into battle. A pair of such machines, two ACV-612 Chariots, glided and sailed across the open road that cut through the wide plains and open farmland, bearing down on a wide hill at 65km/h. Drawing closer, Major Hilda Goyan, her armtrack in the lead, finally crested the ridge before her. Out in the lowlands before her, peering through the turret mounted periscope with its streaks of rain, she could see the rest of A Company, 4th Liichtu Hussars lined up in their own armtracks, ready to move up with their commander's arrival. She flipped on the Company radio, and sounded off. Alright, folks, let's get moving

Welcomes for anyone, and I'll tag @moonscribbler , @athenswrites , @mj-is-writing , @sanguine-arena , @moonlitinks

[inshadowsrp-blog]

—looks like CALLISTER WRAYBURN has been lurking around the shadows. you know; the 22 year old SHADOWHUNTER. let’s hope he isn’t causing any trouble around the institute. but who knows, i mean, i hear they are SENSIBLE & DUTIFUL, but also STUBBORN & SELF-ASSERTIVE. if you see them, don’t be fooled, they look just like BILL SKARSGARD. (laurel, 17, gmt+8, she/her)

Accepted! Welcome to the institute, Callister Wrayburn! Please be sure to make your account within the next twenty four hours! From then, please check out our tracked tags and follow everyone in the follow list! Bill Skarsgard is now taken.

[stardust-writer]

[a kiss on the shoulder] i could spend the rest of my life just kissing you

Click here to read on AO3!

Summary: Literally just domestic fluff and an excuse to write shoulder kisses with Jihyun.

A/N: I have a different OC for each route. Areum Song is the OC I use for Jihyun/V’s route. Other OCs may appear, but for this work, Areum takes on the MC’s role. Also, I have no idea how flirting goes, so forgive the cringe. This ficlet originally started as a single chaptered fic made up of very short scenarios where Areum and Jihyun would give each other different kinds of kisses. But then I saw the kissing meme and I got too many ideas for it to be just one. So, I’ve decided to make it a series of kissing ficlets/one-shots instead!

Songs While Writing: Love - Lana del Rey, You Are In Love - Taylor Swift

Jihyun heard Areum before he saw her.

She had a habit of humming to herself when she found a new song she liked in particular. Today’s tune was sweet and light, sounding an awful lot like Andrew Lloyd Weber’s All I Ask of You.

He peers into the kitchen and sees her twirl gently away from the fridge and to the counter, still dressed in his shirt which she had gone to bed in. It was much too big for her, the sleeves needing to be rolled all the way to her elbows, her collar exposed rather than covered, and the hem falling to her knees.

Jihyun stifles a small laugh.

It’s not as though he hasn’t seen her wear his clothes before. In fact, she took his shirts so often that he had once even offered to go shopping for some more clothes with her. She declined of course, but he wasn’t too disappointed. How could he be when she looked so beautiful and his heart felt light each time?

He crosses into the room in just a couple of steps and wraps his arms around her waist, placing a quick peck to her exposed shoulder. Areum doesn’t even jump and instead continues to hum, pausing only to turn her head and give him a quick kiss on the cheek accompanied by a soft ‘good morning’.

“What are you making?” he asks, resting his chin on her shoulder.

“Just pancakes,” Areum says, resuming her humming after the words left her mouth. “As much as I love the ones you make, I figured it was my turn to make you breakfast.”

“I told you that I can take care of that.” Jihyun places another kiss on his wife’s shoulder. How he loves to pepper her with kisses. On her temple, on her cheek, on her hand, on her lips—anywhere he can get to, really. He loves that Areum was here with him, that she was in his arms, that she returned his love as much as he returned her’s. A kiss, even just on her shoulder, reminds him that she’s there, and that he’s lucky to have her.

“And I told you, this is a two-way street.” Areum leans further into his body as he places yet another kiss on her shoulder, this time leaving his lips pressed a little longer to her skin. “We both have to give and take turns, you know.”

Jihyun hums, smiling. Another kiss is pressed to her shoulder and Areum laughs. The sound of it is music to Jihyun’s ears.

He leaves another kiss on her shoulder.

[stardust-writer]

An Introduction to Gardening

Author’s Note: Word count limits are my worst enemy, which is why I need t participate in more drabble events and work on that. This was written for the first day of the RFA Discord’s drabble event! It’s also my first time really writing without any of my OCs or Jihyun, apparently, so please bear with me!

Rating: General

Pairing: Yoosung/MC

Prompt:Gardening

Final Word Count: 417 words

Summary: MC wants to start gardening and heads to the local flower shop for some tips.

There’s a ring from the doorbell as you enter the local flower shop.

Immediately the scent of flowers engulfs you and you find yourself at peace. You breathe a sigh of contentment and take a glance around, recognizing a couple of flowers your grandmother would grow in the garden over the years. You recall the many fond memories you had of watching her work around the garden, sparking your love for nature.

But now that she’s gone from this life, you figure it was up to you to maintain the garden. Except, you had no idea what went into gardening.

“Hello! Is there anything you need help with?”

You turn around, startled. In front of you was a rather attractive young man, with blond hair and bright eyes. He faces you with an adorable smile and you feel your heart beat faster.

“I, er, flowers,” You find yourself unable to form a proper sentence.

“Are you looking for flowers?” he asks, kindly, probably taking pity on you. “Is there a specific kind you’d like?”

“Yes—I mean, no. Yes and no?” You groan and take a deep breath. You’ve talked to plenty of guys before, you tell yourself. Sure, none of them were this cute, but you need to get a hold of yourself. “I would like some flower seeds, but it’s my first time actually gardening. I was hoping I could get some tips?”

The young man’s eyes sparkle.

“Of course! Why don’t we get you started with some pansies? Oh, I’m Yoosung, by the way.”

“Nice to meet you,” you say with a grateful smile. “I’m MC.”

Yoosung showed you around the shop, handing you a seed packet of pansies, and pointing out other flowers you could start with. Every once in a while, he would stop to give you little tips for a certain flower and his eyes would shine brightly, as though he could talk about flowers for hours.

“Thank you for all your help,” you say as he finishes bagging all your purchases.

“It’s no problem,” he chirps, another sweet smile sent your way. “Oh, I also wrote my number down on the receipt. Give me a call if you need more help!”

You feel your face heat up as you take the bags, but smile and promise to call. The last thing you see as you exit is Yoosung blushing as another employee with red hair teases him for handing out his number.

You were definitely going to be calling him soon.

☆   ☆   ☆   ☆   ☆   ☆   ☆   ☆   ☆   ☆

@sunshinejihyun

[stardust-writer]

Never Mind, You Were Never Mine

Title: Never Mind, You Were Never Mine

Rating: General

Prompt: Lifetime - Ben&Ben

Pairing: Jihyun/MC 

Final Word Count: 732 words

A/N: I’ll keep it under 400 words, I said. I can keep to the word count this time, I said. Ahhh!! I’ve never been good at writing angst, but I hope this conveyed my concept right. I’ll probably end up making this into a bigger project to (Even though none of the WIPs I have are at all close to being finished.)

Summary: So, what if MC an V knew each other in high school or something, and they pined for each other, but nothing ever came out of it :))

Your grip around the champagne flute tightens.

“Congratulations on your engagement,” you say, trying your best to make it sound like you meant it. Why shouldn’t you? Jihyun smiled so brightly when he had his arm wrapped around her waist and his eyes twinkled whenever they were locked with hers. You felt as though you were intruding on a moment. “You two look so perfect for each other.”

Beside you, Jumin makes a face. After knowing you for so long, he can see you’re lying. He looks at you in doubt, but neither of you say anything. It’s not like Jihyun—no, he goes by V now—it’s not like V notices, anyway.

“Thanks, MC,” he says, his eyes alight with joy.

His eyes lock with yours briefly, and in that moment, you swear you see it all over again. All the stolen glances, the secret smiles, the little inside jokes you shared—they flashed through your mind as though it were only yesterday that you had been seated next to the other in class. You think you may even see a wisp of longing.

You erase the thought from your mind immediately when he breaks from your gaze and returns to looking at Rika. Of course you were just seeing things, it couldn’t happen in high school, why should it happen now, when he’s so deeply in love with someone else?

“I’m happy you invited me tonight, but I’m afraid I must leave.” You push down all the feelings of regret and longing, the ache in your chest and the tears you just know are going to be flowing non-stop can wait until you are out of their sight.

“So soon?” Rika asks, eyes just a little disappointed.

For a second, you want to hate her. You want to cry and yell at her for snatching V up before you even had your chance with him, for being the one he held, kissed, woke up to, fell asleep to, smiled at—the one he loved. But you know you can’t. You can’t because it’s not her fault that she was amazing and that it drew V to her instead of you, not her fault you didn’t take a chance.

“Yeah, I have work tomorrow. I just came here for your special moment.”

You’re sure the smile you’ve plastered on your face looks fake, but if any of them notice, they don’t make note of it.

“MC, are you sure you can’t stay for even just a few more minutes?”

You look at V’s earnest eyes. Those beautiful mint eyes that you’ve always adored. You think again, maybe you shouldn’t leave. Maybe you should stay and watch him be happy. Perhaps this could be a gift to him, even if he knew nothing of how you felt.

But Rika wraps an arm around his waist too, and the ache in your chest starts becoming too much to bear.

“It’s a morning meeting, I can’t be late.” Setting the champagne glass down on a passing waiter’s tray, you muster up the brightest, sincerest smile you can. “I’m glad you found each other.”

V looks like he wants to say something, but Rika smiles back at you and thanks you, so he does the same.

You bid them farewell, shooting one last smile—one last look of longing at the happy couple, and turn to leave. You barely make it out the ballroom hall’s door when the tears start pouring. You do your best to stifle your cries until you make it out the lobby, but you couldn’t do it. There was no stopping the tight clench of your heart as you tried to erase the loving gazes shared by V and Rika from your mind, nor the painful sob clawing its way up your throat as you think that it could have been you.

A strong arm wraps around your shoulders, lifting you up just as you begin to lose the feeling in your knees.

“I’m fine,” you say, already recognising Jumin from the sleeve of his expensive suit.

“You aren’t,” he replies. “But you will be. For now, let’s get you home.”

Back inside, Rika sends V a reassuring smile.

“At least she made it.”

“Right,” V says, smiling.

He glances at the doorway his friends left through.

Maybe in another world, he thinks to himself before pushing the thought away and sending Rika another loving gaze.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

@sunshinejihyun

[stardust-writer]

love me—that’s all i ask of you

Written for @mysmeweek2020​‘s Day 4 prompts: AUs & Lost!

Read it on AO3!

Summary: Lost and terrified, Areum finds shelter in Jihyun’s arms. Or the All I Ask Of You scene with Christine!Areum and Raoul!Jihyun in this Mystic Messenger Phantom of the Opera AU I’m working on.

Warnings: Trigger warning for mentions of murder, violence, and blood.

A/N: I have a different OC for each route. Areum Song is the OC I use for Jihyun/V’s route. Other OCs may appear, but for this work, Areum takes on the MC’s role. This work is a concept scene from a WIP I have: Phantom of the Opera!Mystic Messenger AU. As this is just a concept to a work that hasn’t been published yet, it may not appear the same or at all in the final draft when the WIP has been finished and posted.

Songs While Writing: All I Ask Of You (2004 Movie Ver.) - Emmy Rossum, Patrick Wilson, Andrew Lloyd Weber; (25th Anniversary at the Royal Albert Hall ver.)  - Sierra Boggess, Ramin Karimloo, Andrew Lloyd Weber

The opera house’s rooftop was bare of any signs of life. The night sky shone with an array of stars, with little to no clouds to hide the moonlight. The gentle snowfall covering their surroundings in blankets of white. Had it been any other time, Areum might have found it calming. Instead, she scans the place madly, ensuring that they were safe.

“Areum.”

She flinches at the soft whisper. She turns to Jihyun, her eyes wide with fear.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” he asks, taking her hand in his and caressing it with his thumb. “Why are we here?”

“I...I can’t go back there,” Areum whispers frantically. She glances around their surroundings again. “Please, Jihyun, don’t make me! He’ll kill me!”

“The phantom?” Jihyun’s bright, mint eyes cloud with concern. He pulls her closer to him as gently as possible. He takes Areum’s face in his hands and looks her in the eyes. “There’s nothing to be afraid of, Areum. The phantom is nothing but a story—a fable.”

Areum shakes her head. Her eyes begin to fill with tears and she squeezes them shut, trying to calm herself down. But none of it helped.

“Then how do you explain all that?” she cries, referring to the chaos in the opera below them.

Jihyun falters for a moment, trying to find the right words to calm his beloved. Areum sees this and turns away, wrapping her arms around herself.

“Areum, please,” Jihyun tries. “Please, think about this. He can’t be real. No one has even seen him. He’s just a figment of your imagination, a made up entity to explain accidents in the opera house.”

“You don’t understand,” she says. Areum takes in a shaky breath.

“I’ve seen him, Jihyun. I’ve met him, spoken to him, and sang with him” She tightens the grip of her arms. She could still see the vastness of the glassy lake, the darkness of the cavern only kept at bay by the many candles inside. She could still hear the sound of the piano, playing as she drifted in and out of her sleep. “I don’t think I’ll ever forget the way he latched onto my arm, or the way he tried to keep me from leaving.”

She recalls the angelic voice that would sing with her each night. The gentle flow of his words as he taught her how to polish her raw talent, the way he praised her with such sincerity. She never imagined that her angel of music could bring harm to anyone, much less murder someone in cold blood.

Then the face of the phantom flashes in her mind.

“You should’ve seen him. The pleading, child-like eyes he faced me with. He looked so lonely and vulnerable, so lost and alone...I know what that feels like, Jihyun.”

“Areum…”

Areum.

The blood freezes in her veins. Impossible. He couldn’t have found her here. She tries to reason with herself, perhaps she was hearing things. Except, she’s heard that very voice so many times before. She would know it anywhere.

Areum searches around wildly, her whole body shaking with fear. She forgets the pitiful face and instead sees the evidence of violence and death she witnessed just moments ago. Her eyes scan the rooftop desperately. She can hear Jihyun still trying to call her name, but her knees buckle and she falls to the floor, unable to erase her fear.

“Areum, listen to me,” she hears Jihyun say. His arms wrap around her body, lifting her up from the ground. He holds her close, face only a few inches from his so that she would see nothing else. “That’s enough. Let’s not talk about darkness or fears. I’m here with you, and I promise, nothing will harm you.

“I’ll guard and guide you, if you let me.” He says, pressing his forehead against hers. “Let my words warm and calm you. Let me know your fears so I can shelter you, hold you, and keep you safe in my arms. Just...let me be with you. That’s all I ask.”

Areum feels the strength return to her with each word he utters. She releases the grip on her arms and instead chooses to cup Jihyun’s face in her hands.

“Do you mean it?” she asks.

“Of course,” is his immediate response.

“Then, can I ask you of something, too?”

“Anything, my love.”

“Stay with me,” she breathes. “Say you need me with you beside you, that you’ll let me follow you anywhere. That you’ll share each day, each night, each morning with me. That you’ll love me every waking moment, as I do you—”

“You already know that I do,” Jihyun says, cutting her off with a gentle smile.

A tear slips down Areum’s cheek as a smile breaks on her face.

“Anywhere you go,” she whispers.

“I’ll go, too,” he whispers back.

A small laugh escapes Areum’s lips as she pulls him in for a kiss. It was slow and gentle, sweet and assuring. The fears remain in her head, but they’ve shrunk to almost nothing. Yes, the phantom can try and find her, he may even attempt to drag her back into his darkness. But she had Jihyun to stand with her, and that alone was enough.

[stardust-writer]

‘cause all i want is you [Mystic Messenger Week Day 1]

For @mysmeweek2020 ‘s Day 1 prompt: Anniversary! The moment I saw the prompt list, I couldn’t help myself. I just started binge writing and here we are! You can also find this on my ao3, where I have an extra/bonus scene it you want to check it out!

‘cause all i want is you [AO3 LINK]

Summary: It’s an even bigger RFA party this year, and as proud as Areum feels for the accomplishment, she’s feeling a little lonely without Jihyun at her side. Not to mention it was their anniversary tomorrow, and from the looks of things, Jihyun’s forgotten. But like the true friend he is, Jumin notices and comes to the rescue.

Song While Writing: That Kind Of Love - MAX 

A/N: Basically, this was meant to be centered on Jihyun and my OC. But then once I got to Jumin’s parts, I couldn’t help myself and I just wrote Jumin being his sweet self. Anyone who says Jumin wouldn’t be like a good big brother to MC when not in his route can come and FIGHT ME. Anyway, just a little info. I have a different OC for each route. Areum Song is the OC I use for Jihyun/V’s route. Other OCs may appear, but for this work, Areum takes on the MC’s role. Also, I have no idea how to write a decent summary, please forgive me;;

——————————————————————————————————

It was bright in the ballroom, in more ways than one. An upbeat tune echoes through the halls as people, dressed to the nines, dance across the ballroom floor. Areum feels her heart swell with happiness. It’s been six years, but it never fails to make her smile to see people of different backgrounds, all smiling and laughing, gathered together for a good cause.

It feels like a celebration of life.

Despite the happiness in her heart, she felt a sense of loneliness. It was thirty minutes to midnight now, which means in a couple of minutes, it will have been six years since she and Jihyun truly got together. Six years since they began their journey of loving each other as they loved themselves, since the beginning of the happiest days of her life.

But Jihyun wasn’t beside her today.

The thing about the RFA parties, as fun as it is to plan and attend them, is that they tend to make each member too busy to stop and have a chat with each other. Everyone is either attending to a guest, or off with someone from the staff to ensure that the party is going accordingly. From where she’s standing, Areum can see Jihyun talking with Chairman Han.

A tiny voice in her head wonders if perhaps Jihyun had forgotten that tomorrow was their anniversary. She tries to dismiss the thought. Jihyun was the type of guy to remember all their milestones. He takes note of them all. Usually he made preparations for their anniversary and would give Areum a rundown of the plans the day before in case she wanted to do something different. She never does. All she wants is to spend the day with Jihyun, after all.

But today, he went on as though it was a regular day. Areum shouldn’t mind. She really shouldn’t, but the thought keeps crossing her mind. This RFA party turned out bigger than all their previous ones, so everyone has been extra busy. Even the messenger was rarely visited. It was only natural that they would forget some things due to all the extra things they had to deal with.

“You look deep in thought.”

Areum nearly drops the champagne flute in her hand. She turns to find Jumin trying to suppress a smile.

“Geez, you scared me.” Areum breathes, placing her free hand on her chest.

“Sorry,” Jumin says, though he looks too amused to seem like he really means it. “You were here all by yourself and you looked like you could use some company.”

Areum smiles. For all the jokes the other members made about Jumin being weird, he was actually very sweet and caring. Next to Jihyun, she found his presence to be the most comfortable.

“I’m fine. Just thinking about how busy this party in particular is.”

Jumin hums. They remain quiet for a bit, watching the people at the party laugh and enjoy themselves. Areum thought she saw Luciel sneaking around with something that looks suspiciously like Elizabeth the 3rd hidden in his coat, but she dismisses the idea. Elizabeth the 3rd wasn’t even at the party, so it was impossible for Luciel to have her in his coat.

“How are things between you and Jihyun?” Jumin asks, breaking their peaceful silence. “It’ll be six years for you two tomorrow, if I remember correctly.”

“That’s right,” Areum chirps. The thought of Jihyun makes her heart feel at ease, but remembering that he was too busy at the moment wiped that feeling away quickly. Remembering that Jumin was still waiting for an answer, she clears her throat. “We’re doing alright. We have nothing big planned for tomorrow, but I don’t really mind.”

She meant that last part. Just spending the day with Jihyun makes it special enough for her.

“I...I don’t want to sound presumptuous, but you don’t seem so excited.”

Sharp as always, Jumin, Areum thinks. Or maybe I’m just really obvious.

Either way, Jumin has picked up on her lack of enthusiasm. She thinks it might be okay to tell Jumin. After all, he’s Jihyun’s closest friend and someone that Areum trusts and has become fond of. But even she thinks that her behavior is irrational, what good would telling Jumin do? Besides, he might tell Jihyun, and the last thing Areum wants is to add her feeling clingy to his already busy night.

“It’s nothing,” she lies. It wasn’t that big a deal, she could handle feeling a little lonely and keep it to herself. Except that Jumin was looking at her with that calculating gaze, and sooner or later he’ll figure it out. It would be better if she just told him, rather than make him feel bad with her lying.

“Actually,” she sighs. “Well...you have to promise you won’t tell Jihyun, first.”

Jumin raises a brow. “I’m sorry, but that’ll have to depend on the gravity of what you’re about to tell me. I can’t keep that promise if it risks you and Jihyun.”

“Don’t worry,” Areum says with a smile. Jumin really is a sweet and loyal friend, and she truly can’t help but be grateful to have someone like him in her life. “It’s really nothing like that. I just…”

Jumin offers her his arm, which she takes almost immediately. About two years ago, Jumin had taken on the habit of offering her his arm when he knew she needed comfort. He would then lead her somewhere to sit down and let her take a deep breath or two before consoling her or hearing her out. Jihyun had said that Jumin didn’t just allow anyone physical touch, and Areum felt so honored that Jumin allowed her such a thing.

Once he had her seated at an empty table, he sat across from her and waited until she was ready to talk.

“I feel a little embarrassed to say this but...I’m feeling...lonely.”

Jumin nods, assuring her that he’s listening. Areum takes this as a sign to elaborate.

“Jihyun and I usually have a plan for our anniversary. It’s not always something big, but he likes to make a to-do list, of sorts, and he usually lets me in on what he has in mind a day before. But with how busy we’ve all been with this party, I feel like he’s forgotten about tomorrow. And I know it sounds sad and even a little pathetic, but I’m a little upset that he’s forgotten.”

Areum fiddles with her fingers. It’s not like it’s the first time she’s confided in Jumin, but she didn’t like feeling like this. She knows Jihyun cares, but all her thoughts just twist that around.

“It’s such a small thing,” she says, a weak laugh leaving her lips. “I’m worried over something so small, and the more I think about it the more it makes me crazy but I just can’t get past the thought. I love Jihyun with all my heart, and if he asked, I’d be ready to spend the rest of my life with him! But I don’t want him to see me as clingy and always in need of his attention—”

“Alright,” Jumin interrupts. He looks at her with calculating eyes once more, and Areum quiets down. If anything, Jumin was like an older brother to her, being someone who could calm and silence her with a single look. She actually does tell him pretty often that she thought of him as such, but Jumin always thinks it’s a joke. “You’re overthinking again.”

“I know,” Areum sighs, closing her eyes.

“Just take a deep breath, first. Do the Four-Seven-Eight technique.”

Areum does as she’s instructed. Closing her eyes, she takes a deep breath for four seconds, holds it for seven, and breathes out for eight. She repeats it four more times before she feels her head clear. Her negative thoughts were still there, but they no longer sounded as loud as before.

“Feeling better?”

Areum smiles and opens her eyes. She nods at Jumin.

“Good.” A small smile on his lips, Jumin stands up and offers her his hand once more. “Now, how about a little distraction? Would you care to dance?”

Areum hadn’t even noticed the music shift in the room. They were now slow and sweet, and more couples seemed to have made their way to the ballroom floor. She thinks she even spots Jaehee dancing with Zen.

“Sure,” she says, taking his hand and getting up. “But I must warn you now, I’m not very good at dancing.”

“Nonsense.” Jumin leads her to the dance floor. He has her place her free hand on his shoulder, but keeps the other in his hand. “Jihyun has told me you’re very light on your feet when he dances with you.”

Areum feels her face heat up. Technically, they did dance at social events, but it was all slow dancing. The kind where you had each other's arms wrapped around the other’s body and you swayed to the slow rhythm of the music, like in high school dances in the movies. But when they were home alone and Jihyun played the sweet music he loved to listen to late at night, they would perform a more elaborate dance.

Jihyun would take her by the hand, leading her to the clearest area of whatever room they started in. Then he’d pull her into his arms, position them as though they were a couple of ballroom dancers, and move. They would attempt to dance like professionals, with lifts and swings and the very light step sequences, but they always ended up improvising and laughing. All the same, they would dance around the house, flitting from room to room.

It always ended the same way. With Jihyun twirling Areum and then dipping her as far as he can without them both crashing to the floor. They’d be breathless and alone, smiling at each other with pure love and adoration, then their lips would meet for a sweet kiss. She didn’t mind Jihyun telling Jumin, but it was such an intimate thing they shared that she hadn’t realized she never really let anyone in on it.

“Of course, he’d say that,” Areum laughs, trying to lose the heat in her face. “But you’ll be sorry for believing him when I end up stepping on your Verragamo shoes.”

Jumin huffs a laugh at that, but pulls her into a slow dance anyway. You’re both quiet for the most part, just listening to the music.

“It’s not pathetic, you know,” Jumin says, breaking the silence. “Wanting him to remember your anniversary. It’s meant to be a day of celebration.”

Jumin is always serious, or rather, always appears as such. But there’s a certain gleam in his eye as he’s speaking to Areum that she just can’t seem to place. It makes her want to hear all that he has to say.

“Six years ago, V came home as Kim Jihyun, a man that finally felt comfortable enough to love himself and thus confident enough to love another person as they are. Six years ago, you two took each other’s hands and became a couple, one that built each other up and would support each other’s growth in a way that inspired others to do the same. Six years ago, the RFA was changed from a simple charity association with secrets, to a family that vowed to spread good in the world through lawful means.

“But most of all, six years ago today, you and Jihyun embraced each other and started a life full of love. And that alone is a cause for celebration.” The song changes and Jumin gives Areum an experimental twirl. It’s angled a little awkwardly and it’s slow, so she doesn’t end up tripping all over herself in her surprise, but it makes her smile. “You’re not pathetic for wanting your beloved to remember the day on which you celebrate your love.”

There’s a reason Jumin was the one that Areum came to for advice. Sure, he was blunt half the time, and he couldn’t always relate to her problems, but he always did have her best interests at heart. He was always willing to listen and ready to give her his honest thoughts.

“Thanks, Jumin.” She smiles. His words didn’t make the negative energy she had disappear completely, but Areum felt as though a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders.

“Of course,” Jumin is quick to reply. He opens his mouth to say something more, but appears to hesitate, a very un-Jumin like move. Areum was going to say as much, but it seems that he had already decided to speak. “Anything for my little sister.”

Areum lights up and a wide smile spreads across her face.

“Aw, Jumin you think of me as your little sister?”

“Can’t I do that?” he asks, but she sees the tips of his ears darken with a blush. “You’ve become such a big part of my life, and you’re always calling me your older brother. So I figured I can treat you as one.”

“No, you can. You absolutely can,” Areum laughs and leans her head on his shoulder for a moment. Lifting her head up, she smiles brightly at him. “Thanks, big brother. I’m really glad.”

Jumin sends her one of his rare, genuine smiles. The ones he reserves for his most precious friends.

“You’re welcome, always.” They dance in silence for a bit, but Jumin has more to say. “Also, don’t worry too much about him forgetting.”

It’s Areum’s turn to raise a brow. She asks what he means, but all she sees is a telltale gleam in his eyes. She tries to question him some more, but his head snaps away from her gaze and turns irritated.

“Luciel, what do you think you are doing with Elizabeth the 3rd?”

Areum glances behind her to see Luciel on the dance floor with Elizabeth in his arms. He was holding her tight to his chest and spinning around, as though he were dancing with her. Luciel hears Jumin and laughs a little before running off with the persian cat.

“Areum, I apologize, but I need to go—”

“No, it’s alright,” Areum laughs. She lets go of his hand and shoulder, and gestures to his cat. “Go get ‘em.”

Jumin throws her a quick smile before dashing after Luciel. Areum laughs some more. She should have known better than to doubt Luciel. Of course he’d find a way to sneak Elizabeth in. Oh, she felt bad for Jumin, but it was always funny to watch him chase Luciel off because of Elizabeth the 3rd.

“There you are.”

Upon hearing the voice, Areum immediately feels at ease. She allows Jihyun to wrap his arms around her waist from behind her and relishes in being held by his strong arms.

“I’ve been looking all over for you.”

“You have?” Areum twists around to face him. She wraps her arms around his torso, and places her chin on his chest to look up into his eyes—his beautiful, mint eyes that just seemed bright with all the lights.

“Of course. I got a little busy talking to Jumin’s father about sponsors, but I had to get to you before midnight.”

“Midnight?”

Jihyun smiles.

“What, did you forget? Tomorrow’s our anniversary.”

[stardust-writer]

[in need of a vacation] Mystic Messenger Week Day 2 2020

Written for @mysmeweek2020‘s day 2 prompt: vacation! I tried to add domesticity in too, but I’m not really sure if it fits in. Anyway, this was a little rushed because it’s technically not July 10 anymore, but here it is anyway!

Summary: Jihyun and Areum go on a vacation together, but Areum invites the RFA at the last minute.

Rating: Teens and Up

A/N: I have a different OC for each route. Areum Song is the OC I use for Jihyun/V’s route. Other OCs may appear, but for this work, Areum takes on the MC’s role. Also, Saeyoung will be referred to as ‘Luciel’, because Areum (OC) got used to calling him that more than Seven or Saeyoung.

Song While Writing: Daisies - Katy Perry, Love - Lana del Rey

“This is so romantic,” Areum hums, leaning further into Jihyun’s arms.

After the stress of the last RFA party, Jihyun and Areum took the time to plan and go on a vacation. They didn’t really care about the destination so much as they did having time together, so they ended up booking a villa by a vineyard in Italy. The villa’s garden that they stood in was perched on a cliff, allowing them a perfect view of the sea. A gentle breeze brushed through their hair, the scent of fresh flowers and the ocean engulfing them. It was the perfect romantic getaway.

“It is, isn’t it?” Jihyun smiles, pressing a quick kiss to her hair. “I just have one concern.”

“What’s that, love?”

“Did we have to bring the whole association with us?”

As though on cue, a loud shriek echoed around the gardens. The couple quickly abandons the view of the sea and finds Yoosung running away from Luciel. Luciel was holding a stick that was seemingly harmless, but upon closer inspection had a large, hairy caterpillar dangling from its end.

“Saeyoung, stop it!” Zen calls from his spot on one of the garden chairs. Across from him, Saeran watches the chase with an unimpressed expression. “Those things can give you a ra—ARGH!”

Zen yelps and joins Yoosung in sprinting away as Luciel shoves the stick in his direction.

“Oh come on,” Areum laughs, taking a hold of Jihyun’s hand and intertwining their fingers. She watches his resigned look with a smile. “It’s not so bad. I figured they needed a vacation, too. I mean, Jaehee definitely needs one.”

Their eyes land on the gazebo by the entrance of the gardens. Jaehee sat at the table, typing away on her laptop as Jumin caressed Elizabeth the 3rd’s fur. Jumin pauses for a moment to look at the document Jaehee is working on and make a few adjustments before leaving his assistant to do the rest of her work.

Areum makes a face.

“Okay, so maybe she isn’t getting much of a vacation, but if we lead her away from Jumin, we might just be able to give her a decent one.”

“I don’t mind that,” Jihyun sighs, a small smile on his face. “It’s just that I sometimes feel like they’re children and we’re their parents. They even call us mom and dad sometimes, you know. I just thought we’d get some time alone.”

Areum smiles at his pouting face and giggles a little, but understands what he means. She spares another glance at their friends. Saeran has now stolen the stick from Luciel and threw it in the direction of the gazebo. Jumin jumps and starts yelling, Zen laughing loudly at his fuming face.

“I know what you mean. And I know it’s not what we had planned. I’m sorry that I ended up inviting them without giving you much notice,” Areum says. “I just thought it might be nice to bring them along.”

Areum wraps her arms around Jihyun’s torso and snuggles her face into his chest. Jihyun returns the gesture and plants his head in the crook of her neck. Another gentle breeze blows past.

“Well, it’s fine,” Jihyun murmurs. “As long as I have you with me, whether or not we have our kids with us, I’ll be fine.”

“Aww, you’re so cute!” Areum squeals, pulling him closer.

Jihyun laughs and holds onto her tighter, too. They stay that way for a moment, just relishing in each other’s embrace.

“You know,” Areum says, lifting her head and placing her chin on Jihyun’s chest to look him in the eye. “It’s not like we’re going to be with them the whole time. We can have alone time if we want, it’s not like we’re sharing rooms with any of them.”

Areum dons an innocent look, breaking away from their embrace and instead, she links their hands together. A mischievous smile spreads across Jihyun’s face, one that only a handful of people can claim to have seen.

“What are you thinking?”

“Nothing,” Areum says, voice nonchalant. She tugs on his arm, dragging him away from the group as inconspicuously as possible. “I just suddenly feel cold. I think we need to head back to the room. But I don’t want to disturb the others, so maybe we should go alone.”

“Oh? Do you think our kids will be alright by themselves?” Jihyun teases, but he allows her to drag him along.

“Oh, they’ll be fine. Mommy and daddy need their alone time.”

They both laugh as they sneak off back to the villa. Neither notice that Saeran was watching them, a small smile playing on his lips. The others have yet to realize that they’ve been left behind, but that was fine. Saeran will just keep his mouth shut until someone else brings it up.

[stardust-writer]

beautiful ghost [Mystic Messenger Week Day 7]

Written for @mysmeweek2020‘s 7th day prompt: a Free Day! This is so rushed because it was meant to be posted earlier, but my laptop decided to shut down and stay that way for over six hours. I might revamp this later in the future, but it will stay this way for now.

Summary: Areum wakes up in a hospital and can't find Jihyun.

Warning/s: Near death experience, comatose, swearing, Spoilers for V Route

A/N: I have a different OC for each route. Areum Song is the OC I use for Jihyun/V’s route. Other OCs may appear, but for this work, Areum takes on the MC’s role. This work contains information that cannot be deemed accurate. I’m no medical expert, so please do not consider anything I’ve written here as something that could happen in real life.

Song While Writing: Beautiful Ghosts - Taylor Swift

“Areum.”

“What is it?”

The look Jihyun gave her was concerning. He was smiling, but it didn’t reach his eyes. Perhaps it was just the pouring rain, it made it difficult to see, after all. Still, the energy that her husband was emanating did little to soothe her nerves.

“Nothing,” he said simply. The traffic light turned red and the pedestrian light switched to green. He wraps an arm around her shoulders, pulling her further under the safety of the umbrella he held. “I just wanted to tell you that I love you.”

Areum quirked an eyebrow, but smiled nonetheless. They walk off onto the pedestrian lane.

“I love you, too, Jihyun.”

There it is again, a twinge of sadness in his mint-colored eyes. She wanted to ask about it but before she could even open her mouth, a flash of light blinded her vision and everything went dark.

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The first thing she registered was the beeping of the heart monitor.

It didn’t immediately occur to Areum that she was in a hospital until she heard the unmistakable chatter of medical terms from above her.

Bright light clouded her vision as she attempted to open her eyes.

“Areum! Oh, thank goodness!” A woman that looked like an older version of herself came forward. Tears pricked at her eyes as she cupped Areum’s face with her hands.

“Mom?” Areum rasped. “What happened?”

“It’s okay, honey,” her mom breathes, pressing a long kiss to her forehead. "You were in a car accident, but you’re okay now.”

She held the hand against her face, feeling the familiar warmth. The haze that clouded her brain began to disappear and suddenly it all came back. The pouring rain, the barely visible pedestrian lane, the sound of a horn. Jihyun’s arm wrapped around her shoulder.

“Jihyun,” Areum said. She tried to sit up, but her mother pushed her back down gently. “Mom, where’s Jihyun?”

Her mother's brows knit together.

"Who?"

"Jihyun," Areum breathed. "My husband?"

There's a moment of silence. Areum felt a tension build in the room. Her mother stared at her strangely then laughed nervously.

"That's funny, sweetheart." Her mother caressed her hair, still smiling. Areum could only look on, confused. "Husband! I suppose you had kids, too?"

"Mom," Areum pushed her mother's hand away and made another attempt to stand up. "I'm serious! Where's Jihyun?"

The laughter in her mother's eyes disappeared. It shifted to concern. She meant to say something, Areum knew because she parted her lips, but a doctor approached before anything could be said.

"Song Areum?" The doctor addressed her.

Warily, Areum nodded her head in recognition.

"Hi, I'm Dr. Lee Hyeok. How are you feeling?"

"I'd feel better if someone told me where my husband is."

A look of realization then sympathy crossed Dr. Lee's face. Areum wanted to ask what made him throw such a look at her.

"Ah, before that, I'd just like to ask you a quick question." He smiled the way professionals did, charmingly and reassuringly, but without depth. "Do you know what date it is today? Or rather, what day your accident happened on?"

"Of course," Areum said. The fact that he said 'what day' like she'd been asleep for longer than a couple of hours bothered her. "It's July sixteen, twenty-twenty."

The same look passed over the doctor's face and beside him, her mother looked like she had just been struck by lightning.

"Ah. Alright, before anything else I'd like to inform you that when you were brought to the hospital on the day of your accident, you were in pretty bad shape." The doctor tried to send her another reassuring smile, but Areum had her guard on. At the moment, she had only been half-listening and her other half was still trying to figure out where Jihyun was. "We had to get you into surgery immediately and you fell into a coma."

Areum's attention immediately snapped right back to Dr. Lee.

"I was in a coma?"

Dr. Lee nods.

"For how long?"

There's another moment of silence. Areum could practically see the gears turning in the doctor's head, wondering if she could handle the answer.

Her mother was the one that stepped forward.

"You've been in a coma for four years, darling."

Areum felt her heart sink. It was like the world had disappeared. All she could hear in her head was 'four years'. She'd been asleep for four years. Then, a thought crossed her mind.

"Jihyun," she said. "What about him? Is he okay? He was with me during the accident."

The thought of Jihyun no longer being there crossed her mind. Jihyun not surviving. Her hands were shaking, she couldn't handle it if that were the case.

"Please, tell me if he's alright!" She begged.

Dr. Lee took a breath, then faced Areum with a serious stare.

"Ms. Areum, when a patient goes into comatose, they only become unresponsive on the outside. The brain is still very much active, and may sometimes play tricks."

Areum only looked at him with a confused expression. This wasn't the answer she was looking for.

"There are accounts of people who go into comatose and still stay aware of their surroundings, like hearing the people close by," Dr. Lee continued. "Others have accounted that it was like they had a brief, unrealistic dream where they met with 'God' or a respected and loved person that has passed on. And some have said that while in a coma, their brains created a world of their own."

"I...I don't understand." Areum said.

Dr. Lee gave her another pitiful look. Areum was beginning to get pretty tired of that expression. She turned to her mother to say as much, except she shared the same look as Dr. Lee.

"Today's date is July Sixteen, Twenty-Twenty." Dr. Lee said simply. "Your accident happened four years ago, on July Nine, Twenty-Sixteen."

The blood froze in her veins. Nothing was making sense to Areum. A headache was beginning to form, and she could barely register the doctor's next words.

"It is highly likely that your brain created some world of its own, syncing from the time you were in the accident to today, when you woke up. There's a huge chance that the memories you have right now are all just dreams your mind conjured while you were in the coma."

"No," Areum breathed.

It was impossible. She remembered it all so vividly. Saeran luring her to the Mint Eye, Jihyun's first attempt to rescue her, their wild escape with Luciel's help. She remembered Vanderwood, Jumin, Yoosung, Jaehee, Zen—even Elizabeth the third! She remembered the day Jihyun proposed, how he lifted her up and spun her around when she said yes. She remembered the day of their wedding, when they shared their first kiss as husband and wife, had their first dance, and left for their honeymoon.

They were all so clear in her head, they couldn't just be dreams.

"No, you're lying." Areum squeezed her eyes shut. The more she thought about it, each memory became hazier. "You're lying! Where's Jihyun?"

"Sweetheart, look at me, please."

Tears were now leaking down her cheeks, even as Areum did her best to shut her eyes tight. Her mother was pulling her into her arms now. She struggled, still calling for Jihyun.

"Darling, I know this all must be so overwhelming for you," her mother said. Her voice was trembling, and Areum felt the telltale drip of tears as her mother held her tight. "And I'm so sorry that it's happening. Let's just take a deep breath and get some rest first, okay?"

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A week passed.

Dr. Lee came in to check in on her everyday, each time trying to ease her into the reality of things. That Jihyun and her life with him was just a figment of her comatosed imagination. Areum refused to believe it.

She didn't want to. Her heart ached at the mere thought of it all, but even she couldn't deny it anymore. Things began to make sense when she took it into consideration.

The day Saeran lured her into the Mint Eye was July Nine, Twenty-Sixteen. She had no recollection of ever having the app he used to contact her initially, and she just went along with his early instructions without giving it much thought. The sly comments that Luciel made in the chatroom, indicating some sort of fourth wall that never seemed to make sense at the time. The way Jihyun looked at her the last time she saw him—eyes filled with a sadness that Areum only realized now meant it was time for them to part ways.

She felt a sob escape her throat. She hadn't even realized she was crying.

Areum loved Jihyun so deeply, so truly. She had an entire life with him and was ready to spend the rest of it just by his side. The fact that all those happy memories—the happiest she had—were simply figments of her imagination crushed her soul.

"Jihyun," she sobbed. She yearned for his strong arms to wrap around her, for him to press a kiss to her cheek and whisper that they would get through this, as he always did when she was upset. Except, the more she thought about it, the harder it became to imagine.

The more she tried to remember all her memories in the world she created, the faster they faded.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Three years later

Areum still thought about it sometimes. After she had been discharged from the hospital, she found herself trying to recreate the traces of the world she built in her mind.

She went to the ballroom she suspected that they always held the RFA parties at, to the mountains where Mint Eye's building would have been, or to all the places she and Jihyun would have frequented.

But after a while, even she lost sight of what she was doing.

The memories began to fade faster and faster, until all she had left was the memory of her waking up from her coma.

Wait, no. That wasn't true.

At night, in her dreams, the memories sometimes came back. Areum would feel a sense of peace as she's brought back to the world she's grown used to, to the people she loved and adored. But come morning time, they all disappeared, leaving her with a vague sense of sadness. The best she could hold onto was the ghost of a memory, one where she danced with a familiar warmth, but couldn't picture his face.

These days, the only place she revisited was the coffee shop she suspected she and Jihyun used to go to all the time. At this point, she's forgotten why she decided on that shop. She just knew that she liked the way they made her coffee, and that she felt at peace whenever she was there.

Today, she stopped by before heading home from work. People always asked her why she came after work instead of before, but Areum would just smile and shrug. Because even she didn't know, she just felt like doing it that way.

"Hello and welcome! What can I get you today?"

Ateum smiled at the clerk, at Jaehee. Jaehee began working at the café about a year and a half ago, apparently after leaving an office job she thought she could be content with. Areum once thought that maybe she's seen her before, but nothing came to mind. Still, she introduced herself and they've reached a point where Areum might even call them friends.

"Hey, Jaehee. I'll have a Caffe Americano for here, please."

"That's unusual," Jaehee commented.

"It is?"

"Caffe Americano is a little more bitter than your usual choices," she explained, punching the code in the register to generate a receipt. "You just always get a drink on the sweeter side, that's all—your total is 5,000 won."

"Huh. I never thought about that." Areum handed her the money and left to find a seat as she waited for her drink.

The café was a little slow today, so Jaehee left the register to her coworker—who Areum still couldn't remember the name of after all this time—and got a start on her drink.

Gentle music played through the speakers and echoed around the shop. Areum closed her eyes, smiling a little. The notes were familiar, and in her head she could imagine herself laughing as she danced around  a hazy room with a faceless entity. She was so lost in her little daydream that she barely noticed the sound of the cafe’s door bell ring.

“Assistant Ka—”

“She’s not your assistant anymore, Jumin.”

The familiarity of the voices snapped Areum out of her reverie.

She looked around the cafe wildly, but stopped herself. She tried to remember what made the voices so familiar, but nothing came to mind.

“Caffe Americano for Areum!”

She shook her head in an attempt to reduce the strange paranoia she developed and headed for the counter. She smiled at Jaehee gratefully as she took the cup out of her hands. She took a tentative sip and almost immediately scrunched up her nose.

Jaehee’s right, she thought. This is too bitter.

She turned to leave. She’d rather just drink the coffee than tell Jaehee she didn’t like it. Except, before she could even take two steps away from the counter, a body collided with hers and spilled the hot liquid all over her.

“Ah, it’s hot!”

“Oh gosh, I’m so sorry!”

There it was, that familiar voice again. Areum’s gaze snapped up, and her heart began to beat wildly in her chest. In front of her, donning a similar surprised look, was a man with mint-coloured hair and eyes.

“I...er...It’s okay,” Areum managed to stammer. Those bright eyes were so familiar. The way his brows creased with worry almost made her want to smile for no reason other than that she found it strangely endearing.

“No please,” he said, grabbing a tissue off the counter and offering it to her. “It’s my fault. Let me buy you another one.”

“No, really, it’s alright,” Areum laughed this time. It felt natural, so easy. She took the tissue gratefully and began to dab at her blouse. “I didn’t really like the drink much anyway. But thank you, er…?”

“Jihyun,” the man supplied, hastily handing a hand out for her to shake. “Kim Jihyun.”

There’s a twinge in Areum’s heart at the mention of the name, but she can’t seem to figure out why. Instead of paying it any mind, she took Jihyun’s hand and gave it a shake.

“Song Areum.”

They’re both silent for a moment, just staring at each other, hands still clasped together.

“I’m sorry,” they say in unison. “But have we met before?”

[stardust-writer]

Makeshift Wedding

Written for @mysmeweek2020‘s day 5 prompts: Quarantine and Marriage.

Read on AO3!

Summary: A quarantine wedding that did not turn out as they expected.

A/N: I have a different OC for each route. Areum Song is the OC I use for Jihyun/V’s route. Other OCs may appear, but for this work, Areum takes on the MC’s role.

Songs While Writing: Canon in D

The living room had never looked more lively, Areum thinks. Yes, the usual set up was fine, but it looked appropriate for today’s occasion. Candles were lit all over the room, wildflowers adorned the curtains and walls. The sofa and coffee table were removed to make room for tiffany chairs and an aisle of flower petals that lead to the makeshift wedding arch in the center of the room.

“Are you anxious?” Luciel asks teasingly, bumping her with his elbow.

He was dressed in a nice suit, like the rest of the RFA members around them. Areum, herself, wore a forest green, off-shoulder dress that she only ever wore to the most formal of events.

She rolled her eyes good-naturedly.

“Shut up,” she whispered, with no malice.

“Come on,” Luciel persisted. She knew from his tone that it was all just to rile her up. Ever since quarantine had begun, Luciel used his free time to find different ways to mess with all the members of the association. “Don’t you feel even a little jealous?”

At that, Areum actually let a small laugh escape her lips. “It’s not a real wedding, Luciel.”

Canon in D played softly in the background and she took that as her cue to get up from her seat. She took a glance at the arch, where Jihyun stood, dressed proudly in his wedding tux. He locked eyes with her briefly and they shared a sweet smile. She then turns away, to the entrance of the room where the main character of today’s event stood.

A little girl of six years, dressed in a princess costume.

Her daughter, Kara held a bouquet of flowers that she had picked herself in one hand, and in the other was the hand of her aunt Jaehee. Her mint eyes sparkled and she smiled brightly as they walked down the aisle of flowers. Areum had to resist the urge to pull out her phone and capture the moment that Jaehee handed Kara over to her father.

“You look beautiful, love.” Areum heard Jihyun say.

“Thanks, dad!” The little girl chirped. “You look beautiful, too.”

Areum’s heart melted as Kara and Jihyun both laughed and turned to face the arch, where Zen stood holding a random book for his prop.

“We are gathered here today, to celebrate the wedding of these two lovely people in front of me,” Zen started, getting fully into character immediately. “Kara, do you take Jihyun as your husband?”

“Huh?” Areum heard Yoosung whisper to Saeran. “Aren’t there a bunch of other stuff he has to say before that?”

“Just go with it.” Was Saeran’s answer.

“I do!” Kara beamed.

“And do you, Jihyun, take Kara as your wife?”

“I do,” he said, smiling as his daughter faced him with her pretty smile.

“Great!” Zen says. “Now, before I pronounce you husband and wife, is there anyone who objects to this union? If so, speak now or forever hold your peace.”

There was a moment of silence. Areum waited for Zen to continue, but he just kept quiet. In fact, he was looking between her and her daughter expectantly. She gave Jihyun a questioning glance, but he looked just as confused as she did.

“Mommy!” Kara stage-whispered. “Mommy, what are you waiting for?”

“What?”

“This is where you come in! Uncle Zen is asking if anyone objects—you’re supposed to object!”

“Er, I am?”

“Yes!” Kara said, slapping a palm to her forehead, as though Areum should have known all about this. When Areum didn’t make a move to get up, Kara took it upon herself to drag her mother to the arch. Areum could hear the quiet laughter among the RFA members. Once she’s successfully shoved her mother by her father, Kara whispered once more, “Now say, ‘I object to this marriage’.”

“Erm, alright.” Areum took a moment, then decided to get into character. “I object to this marriage!”

“Oh no!” Kara said with a fake gasp. She brought the back of her hand to her forehead in a dramatic display of woe. “But why?”

“Because,” Areum said, attempting to match the drama in her daughter’s voice. She turned to Jihyun, who seemed to be trying his hardest to keep his smile and laughter down. Not knowing what to do, Areum just went with the flow and took his hand. “I love this man. I’ve loved him for many years, and I cannot bring myself to hand him over to anyone. Jihyun, I love you and you’re the only man for me!”

“Daddy, it’s your line now!” Kara whispered again.

“Oh, right,” Jihyun cleared his throat. “Areum, I can’t believe this!”

Jihyun pulled Areum into his arms and held her tight. The dramatics of this event were ridiculous, but Areum couldn’t wipe the smile off her face as Jihyun faced her with a dramatic expression of his own. She could already hear the giggles of their daughter from behind them.

“I have also loved you for many years, and I thought I could learn to love someone else, but no—” Jihyun pulled her closer, and for a moment his voice lost some of its theatrics. “It can’t be anyone but you. I love you, Areum.”

After all these years, Areum still felt her face go red at his words.

“Oh!” Areum and Jihyun turn to Kara, still in character. She places a hand on her chest and takes a deep breath. Areum always knew that her daughter was bound to be artistically gifted, but this was just the start of her performing arts career. “Okay, I give up! You can have him!”

The little girl wandered off in mock dismay and settled in Areum’s previous seat. She then turns to them expectantly.

“Well, what are you waiting for? Kiss!”

The room erupted into laughter, and Jihyun and Areum followed Kara’s order. They took a moment to share a soft smile, before their lips met. As they pulled apart, the clapping and shouts of joy from their friends and daughter echoing around them, they stared into one another’s eyes and smiled, as though they were having a silent conversation.

Life couldn’t get any better than this.

[stardust-writer]

A preview of my piece for the @acrossrealitieszine !! I’m not exactly the biggest creator in the fandom, so I’m glad that I have a chance to show my work in such a zine.

Please grab a copy! It’s full of amazing art and incredible stories more than worth your while.

Preorders are now open from October 5 - November 2!!