Status: Closed
This round has closed. It remains open for fills, comments and remixes, but prompts are no longer accepted.
About
"If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more."
"What is grief, if not love persevering?"
"You kept me like a secret but I kept you like an oath"
Calling all readers, lovers of poetry and music, screen and stage. Quote collecters and lyric hoarders, unleash your archive. Each prompt must contain a quote - you can combine them, add commentary, link to articles, and more. Steal from a literary classic, or WeVerse drama. Have fun!
Examples
Minghao + Ocean Vuong
The most beautiful part of your body
is where it's headed. & remember,
loneliness is still time spent
with the world.
Ocean Vuong - night sky with exit wounds
Hoshi/Anyone; "Beauty is terror"
Thinking about these two quotes together and the idea of on/off-stage personas:
"Beauty is terror. Whatever we call beautiful we tremble before it. And what could be more terrifying or beautiful, to the Greeks to to our own, than to lose control completely?" - Donna Tartt, the Secret Histories
"I am calm in everyday life but when I put on my in-ear device and step on stage, I can feel the tension and hear the cheers getting louder as the music gets louder. When the staff tells me it's time to step on stage, I feel something boil inside me. I feel it steaming inside and I think I have to give a burst of something, spill what is inside me." - Hoshi in Hit the Road Ep. 04
Any ship; "It's been so many years"
Hello, hello there, is this Martha?
This is old Tom Frost
And I am calling long distance
Don't worry 'bout the cost.
'Cause it's been forty years or more
Now Martha please recall
Meet me out for coffee
Where we'll talk about it all.
Tom Watts - Martha
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no subject
Major Tags: N/A
Additional Tags: Unrequited Love or Possible Unrequited Love
Do Not Wants: Seungkwan being the one in love
Prompt:
[FILL]
(Anonymous) 2021-12-30 11:39 pm (UTC)(link)Major Tags: N/A
Additional Tags: Royalty, Magicians, Possible Unrequited Love, Childhood Friends
Permission to remix: Yes
***
After closing the spells and potions shop for the day, Vernon sank into one of the chairs and squeezed his eyes shut as Joshua approached him.
“Has Seungkwan messaged you recently?” Joshua’s question broke the steady beat of rain hitting the windows. Vernon’s nails pressed against his arm, forming dents in his skin.
“No.”
Vernon had a video for when he missed Seungkwan: in it, the Royal Magicians – the R7 – greeted the citizens with customary performances during the New Year’s Gala to welcome in the new year and good fortune. Seungkwan dreamily told him once while spinning around the store that it showed magic in its purest form. He abruptly switched to pacing on the well-worn wooden boards, rubbing his neck, and questioning the citizens’ opinions of the R7 at times. Puffing up his cheeks, he asked how a face like this could be uptight and scary. Vernon wished he could steal him away and bring him back to their hometown.
Minghao, the stylist for R7 that Vernon had a few opportunities to talk to in passing, loved the Gala as there were little outfit boundaries as the R7 didn’t need to dress as practically. Vernon grumbled that night about how Minghao was a little too skilled. At that party, his best friend wore a sparkling cropped jacket and leather pants with an added touch of a chunky gold and crystal choker. He was breathtaking, and Joshua and his coworker Dino laughed at him that night about his inability to focus on anything else. Realistically, that was his reaction more often than not when he was in a room with his sun.
Seungkwan had the codename Silvertongue as a magician who could manipulate with his voice: seduce (Vernon would never inquire any further into this), persuade, destroy, and heal to name a few. Healing Vernon after he fell off a tree was how they first met all those years ago in their small island after all. Seungkwan then smacked him on the side of the head and yelled at him to be more careful. When he found out that Vernon was only one month younger than him, the small Seungkwan decided that they would be best friends. They became inseparable, and their families held parties together. Vernon liked to think back on those memories of homemade food from Seungkwan’s mother, bad makeup attempts by sisters on both sides, and teasing from Seungkwan’s sisters.
One summer, an old R7 member on a trip passing through their island found out about Seungkwan’s skill. A week later, he was compulsorily summoned to the capital. Vernon hated that day, seeing the panic in his eyes as his family could not afford to come with him. Determined to protect his friend at all costs, Vernon left his roots and came to the capital with him at the age of 16.
Vernon had no skill for magic, but knew his path had to be one that stayed close to Seungkwan’s. Thus, he found himself learning potion making and spell writing from a low-profile but renowned teacher. In these early days, Seungkwan lied in his bed, drained from training, while Vernon would shoot sporadic questions about how he used spells and potions. It eventually put Seungkwan to sleep, so Vernon would tuck him into bed and sleep on the opposite edge of the bed. He would wake up with his Boo in his arms in the morning.
At the age of 20, Vernon started as an intern at Joshua’s shop. At the age of 20, Seungkwan entered the ranks of the R7, the youngest age anyone joined the group that once seemed to be fairytale to them. When Seungkwan ran into the shop to announce the news, Joshua eagerly told Vernon that he would be promoted to fulltime quickly if Seungkwan advertised their shop.
It came to be that Seungkwan was made for the capital with the fame and the power. He lived for the liveliness, knew how to be unphased and gracious in person, and vent secretly after at Vernon’s apartment. They finally were able to live on their own, so Seungkwan made Vernon’s place his second home. However, he’d turn down any offer to move in together.
Vernon shaped himself to survive the capital and protect his love. He found a small group of friends in Joshua, Dino, and other magicians he met at the shop. He knew how to distract Seungkwan with talks they had since they were young – the pets they wanted (Seungkwan wanted an ice dragon while Vernon would be content with a cat), the movies that came out recently (that actor was only good for his looks), and where they would travel together (if Seungkwan ever had time).
As Seungkwan found his footing in R7, his work brought him away more frequently from the capital and from Vernon. Traveling together became more a dream than a possibility. A silver-tongued magician made him perfect to be a spokesperson and represent the country in international affairs. Seungkwan started to dye his hair blonde, red, and all the wild colors to keep up with the latest fashions. Other governments took a liking to the nation’s darling, especially a certain Prince Moonbin. The Prince was only a few days younger than Seungkwan and was royalty with the ability to use magic. It was clear from the tabloid pictures that the Prince was enamored with Seungkwan - even Joshua noted that Moonbin looked at Seungkwan the same way Vernon did. Seeds of fear and doubt began to sprout as Seungkwan’s visits and texts petered out. There were at least never any mentions of the Prince.
Vernon could maintain a façade, but his feelings showed in his work. There were minor errors in the ingredient addition and the wording, leading to Joshua’s hair turning orange and Dino gaining claws. Joshua called Vernon into his office as a friend, but it didn’t end very well when Dino ran in with the latest news headline.
From Island Secret to Prince Consort?
Moonbin proposed to Seungkwan at the start of November. It would be a Christmas wedding if Seungkwan said yes. Commenters and citizens said he would be crazy if he didn’t accept. They would be a perfect power couple, and Vernon had to secretly agree.
But after almost two months, no one had an answer to whether the wedding was happening. No announcements from the governments on either side. Nothing from Seungkwan.
Joshua bent down to remove Vernon’s hand from his arm and gave his hand a comforting squeeze.
“What are your plans for this Christmas?”
“Heading back home,” Vernon tersely answered, “Seungkwan’s family invited my family and me to a Christmas party.” It was the first time in 8 years that he could make the journey home. He didn’t know if it was healthy but having some part of Seungkwan back in his life for a fleeting moment was desirable. Joshua packed a basket of potions for the families and handed it to him with a soft smile.
“It will work out.”
The air taxi made quick work of the distance between the capital and his home. His sister greeted him with the tightest squeeze, and his mom hugged him with an inscrutable smile. Vernon, drained, gave a weak smile and headed to hide in his room.
“Remember, party tomorrow at the Boos 12 PM sharp.” His mom called out after him, “They’re looking forward to seeing you again.” Vernon robotically nodded.
The next day, Seungkwan’s sister Sojeong greeted them at the door.
“Vernon! You’ve grown so much, Seungkwan was right though you know he’s just jealous that you’re younger and taller than him,” Sojeong warmly welcomed them into the Boo’s lively household. As Vernon handed over the basket to Seungkwan’s mom, she thanked him and pulled him into the living room.
The ocean blue couch that hadn’t changed from childhood had an occupant with a cat. Seungkwan, with freshly cut black hair, was scratching the cat’s head as he sang a lullaby. His mother coughed to notify her son of their presence, and Vernon and Seungkwan’s eyes met after an uncharacteristic two months.
[FILL] heliotropism
Major Tags: N/A
Additional Tags: generic non-famous AU, ambiguous relationship
Permission to remix: Yes
***
Since Hansol quit smoking, he’s never been sure how to leave the room at parties. He wishes Mingyu had a cat he could follow out into the hallway, but that’s not likely to happen any time soon, so he’s stuck wandering back into the kitchen to refill his drink, which he’s already done a few too many times tonight. He wishes it would take on some kind of softening effect, but instead the alcohol is just throwing some things into too-sharp relief, moments landing too hard and then looping like a scratched record: the explosive burst of Chan’s laughter over the music, Mingyu’s hand on Seungkwan’s knee, Bin’s head on Seungkwan’s shoulder, and Seungkwan’s pleased, flushed face at the center of it all. Everyone turning toward a small sun.
Joshua’s in the kitchen with Jeonghan, talking about whatever it is Joshua and Jeonghan talk about when they’re alone, and he looks a little relieved to have something to distract him when he notices Hansol.
“Drink this,” he says, guiding a glass of water that’s materialized from somewhere into Hansol’s hand. Hansol obeys, though chugging the glass mostly just makes him more aware of how drunk he is.
“You okay?” Joshua asks, eyes crinkling in concern. Hansol considers it. People always tell him he’s hard to read, so if Joshua’s picked up on whatever he thinks he’s picked up on, he must seem pretty miserable.
Which is stupid, because there’s nothing to be miserable about. Just people having a good time, and him running up against the wall, caught in his own head the whole night. He’s spent so much time convinced he can’t be a jealous person — he’s always just let things wash over him. He doesn’t like the possibility that he’s been the possessive type all along and he’s just never had a reason to care enough for it to come out.
But he hasn’t answered Josh. “Everything’s good,” he says, because that’s objectively true: he’s not enough of an asshole to think he deserves Seungkwan’s undivided attention at all times, or that he should be the only one to notice how brilliant and funny and — Well, to notice the things that Seungkwan is. “It’s just kind of,” he shrugs ineloquently.
“The vibes are off?” Joshua asks in English, gently teasing, and he scoffs.
“Bad vibes, sure,” he concedes. “Well, not bad. Could be better. I guess I’m just tired.”
“You’re not the only one,” Jeonghan says, abruptly dropping his polite feigned interest in something on his phone. “I never even wanted to come out tonight, and now Minggoo’s music is giving me a migraine.” Even Hansol’s drunk brain is pretty sure this is one of Jeonghan’s lies—Mingyu’s been playing one of his slow jazz playlists over his expensive new sound system, although maybe that is the kind of music that gives Jeonghan a migraine—but it might be one of his considerate lies. The suspicion is confirmed when he asks, nonchalant, “Want to split a taxi? Your new place is near Sinchon-dong, right?”
Hansol doesn’t like pity, especially pity he doesn’t deserve, even if he’s shamefully grateful for the offer. Jeonghan’s kindness should have stopped seeming unpredictable a while ago, but he’s still taken aback in spite of himself. “Hyung, you don’t have to—” he starts, but Jeonghan cuts in breezily.
“Oh, believe me, I’ve been wanting to go home since I got here, and Joshuji’s been boring me to death—” Joshua subtly fixes his shirt collar with his middle finger. “—And now I’m hearing the vibes are bad. We should get out of here, Hansol-ah.”
Seungkwan catches them in the stairwell, an inexplicable urgency in his face. “Are you going out to smoke?” he demands. In the narrow landing, his voice echoes strangely.
How long has Hansol been this easy to please, delighted just to be able to say that Seungkwan chased after him? “I quit, remember?” he asks. Jeonghan, a few steps down, politely busies himself with his phone again.
Seungkwan pouts, lip jutting out distractingly. “Of course I remember! I just thought you might’ve... un-quit.”
“I appreciate your faith in me,” Hansol says, going for mock-grave but unable to stop himself from smiling. “Nah, I’m just kind of tired and hyung wasn’t feeling great so we decided to head out early.”
“Oh! So you’re not...” Seungkwan glances between him and Jeonghan, something complicated passing his face that Hansol probably couldn’t parse even if he were stone cold sober. He thinks he gets the implication, though, and for some reason feels faintly mortified, even though he’s sure pretty much anyone would be flattered if someone assumed they were going home with Jeonghan in that way. Seungkwan seems to be embarrassed by his own misunderstanding, and quickly calls out, “Hyung! You’re still taking those supplements I gave you?”
“Every day, Kwan-ah,” Jeonghan confirms, sunny, still not looking up from his phone.
As they stand there, ten stairs apart, Hansol can’t shake the feeling that they aren’t so far from — something. If Jeonghan weren’t waiting there pretending to ignore them, or if Hansol hadn’t been so jealous and then been a coward about it... but even sorting through those possibilities, he can’t put a name to what he thinks could be on the other side of it all.
“Well, I’m glad you guys came,” Seungkwan says, as if he were the host, and because he’s Seungkwan he truly does look glad. Hansol wills himself to make this one of the moments that sticks and repeats, Seungkwan’s warm smile and crescent eyes.
“It was good to see you,” he says, which is all wrong, weirdly formal, but he thinks Seungkwan knows what he meant.
Someday, he decides, making it for the first time a promise to himself, he’ll try to put it in all the right words.
Re: [FILL] heliotropism
Re: [FILL] heliotropism
Re: [FILL] heliotropism
Re: [FILL] heliotropism
Re: [FILL] heliotropism
I love it because it writes out a particular moment so well, when there's a bump in Seungkwan and Vernon's relationship and everyone is high-strung and sensitive but outwardly calm. I really felt Vernon's discomfort, especially the specific feeling of not really wanting to be at a party (the vibes are off). It feels a little bit like a liminal space, like you're watching a renaissance painting in motion and everything else is part of the composition and you're just the observer. Hansol wanting to leave (He wishes Mingyu had a cat he could follow out into the hallway), Joshua checking on him in english, Jihan having a conversation in the kitchen, Jeonghan looking at his phone when Seungkwan comes out to chat. Those were small details but it made it feel so real for me.
And then the characterisation shining through ("He doesn’t like the possibility that he’s been the possessive type all along" -- so good. party loud but thoughts louder), and most of all, Jeonghan being empathetic and caring (but the insinuation that something is off for him too and he also wants to go -- if you don't mind sharing I would love to hear any headcanons about "[Jisoo] looks a little relieved to have something to distract him when he notices Hansol"). I smell a backstory.
+++ seungkwan being so nosily concerned about vernon smoking and jeonghan's supplements. but it feels like he's filling space with the latter and with the former... a possessive kind of interaction. like reclaiming their previous dynamic, or enjoying the opportunity to nag again. super interesting. And of course as a triangulation lover I'm obsessed with Seungkwan thinking Vernon is leaving with Jeonghan LIKE THAT and Vernon recognising and being mortified. "something complicated passing his face that Hansol probably couldn’t parse even if he were stone cold sober." SEUNGKWAN I READ YOU!!! (tl;dr so many characterisation points were weaved in subtly and I am in awe)
Thank you so much for writing this and for stopping by 17hols *___* would love to read more from you!!
(Also not the line 'everyone turning towards a small sun' and the title being heliotropism aka sunflower syndrome. brb superimposing metaphors and manifesting verkwan dynamics)
Re: [FILL] heliotropism
(i'm afraid i don't have any specific jihan backstory lore here... jeonghan would genuinely rather be taking a nap at home, so he's being a nuisance. there's probably something else happening beyond that but i wasn't really thinking about it.)
Re: [FILL] heliotropism
Re: [FILL] heliotropism