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
Rules
- Sign up is not required.
- Fills have a minimum of 400 words for prose, haiku-length for poetry (3 lines), and 400px by 400px for art (memes are also art). Other mediums are fine too!
- There is no maximum cap.
- Tag and provide content warnings at your discretion, but a good guide are the Ao3 four (Graphic Depictions of Violence, Major Character Death, Rape/Non-Con, Underage) and this list of common CWs (cr: SportsFest).
- NSFW/Explicit content should be tagged
- NSFW art should not be visible, please provide a link and a warning. You may crop the artwork and embed a SFW preview.
How it works
Prompting
- Click on [Post a New Comment] at the bottom of this post;
- Change the subject to something interesting;
- Copy+Paste the following HTML into your comment and edit the sections. Feel free to add as much detail as you want!
Filling
- Reply to the original prompt;
- Change the subject to [FILL], you may add a title or stay chaotic;
- Copy+Paste the following HTML into your comment, edit the sections, and add your text.
You may also upload your fill to the AO3 Collection.
Remixing
- Post as a reply to the fill you are remixing, using the same HTML as above;
- Change the subject to [REMIX].
Art/media
- Upload your work to any platform (twitter, imgur, youtube, soundcloud, google maps, etc.)
- Using the same HTML code as above, copy the link into your fill or remix. That's it!
- Optionally, you can embed a picture into your comment. Please use the following code instead.
(To explain, the HTML resizes your picture to 400x400px so that it fits on most screens. Users can view the full size if they click on it. You can also add a link to your work on twitter so that others can share it, or to any other website you want)
Note!
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i hope it stays dark forever
Major Tags: villain and anti-hero? basic divorce? political intrigue? idk go crazy
Additional Tags: N/A
Do Not Wants: None
Prompt:
- no children by the mountain goats
Re: [FILL] to surrender to the sea
Major Tags: N/A
Additional Tags: vaguely medieval European setting, political intrigue (I tried)
Permission to remix: Yes
***
"I have heard Your Highness has a fondness for almond cakes."
For a moment, Mingyu is distracted by the slender column of his neck as Jeonghan tilts his head back and laughs. "Now how could you have possibly known that?"
"When it comes to you, I make it a point to pay attention." Seungcheol smiles, but rather than flirtatious, he just seems completely enamored. But that is understandable, considering the other party.
Jeonghan only laughs again, reaching out to grab his hand. "Then perhaps I can expect some the next time?" He stands up and Seungcheol follows, their hands still connected between them. Mingyu coughs and turns around to look at the gardener clip the rosebushes.
He knows how to be discreet.
There is the tell-tale sound of lips separating harshly. A delicate sigh. Moments later, Duke Choi walks out. Mingyu only turns around when he can no longer see Seungcheol's back.
His Prince is still staring in the direction the duke left, wistful. Not for the first time, Mingyu wonders what it would feel like to be the one to make Jeonghan look like that: eyes full of longing, cheeks blooming with color, lips shiny with spit.
Then the moment passes, and Jeonghan's eyes freeze over. He pulls out a handkerchief to dab at his lips, and Mingyu watches almost hypnotically. "Let us depart." Once he finishes cleaning up his appearance, he leaves the hidden gazebo with long, purposeful strides. Mingyu follows three paces behind, the sheath of his sword brushing against his leg.
Mingyu wants to know. What it would feel like to have power over that mouth. Over that man.
***
Today Jeonghan does not follow his usual routine. After his tryst, the prince joins afternoon court, and stays for the entire duration. Mingyu stands at attention behind his left shoulder, carefully watching every peasant that comes forward for any malicious intent. Normally the prince skips out after an hour, claiming it to be an utter bore, but Mingyu supposes even Jeonghan must feel duty-bound sometimes.
Court lasts six hours. It is a long time, and there are enough empty minutes for Mingyu to let his thoughts wander. From his vantage point behind the throne, he can only see Jeonghan in profile.
But what a profile it is. The Second Prince to the Yoon Empire cuts a stunning image, even against the opulence of the court. Corn silk hair curling softly into baby blue eyes; high, shapely cheekbones that dissolve into a sharp jawline; soft, plump, pink lips that haunt Mingyu’s fantasies. There is no one that can compare to his beauty.
Mingyu would think him to be an angel if not for his words. Jeonghan wields his beautiful mouth as a weapon. It is beautiful and awful, watching Jeonghan manipulate his way through court affairs. Mingyu sometimes wonders if he is the only one who can see how Jeonghan holds this place in the palm of his hand.
It serves as a deadly reminder. This is what Jeonghan can do as the Second Prince. Imagine the danger to the empire if he could rule for real.
Court is adjourned as the light of pink dusk filters through the tall glass windows. Mingyu escorts Jeonghan to his room, where he changes into a wonderful high-collar silk shirt with tight pearl-lined laces. Seokmin takes the prince to dinner, and Mingyu stays to guard the prince’s empty quarters.
He stands outside the shut double doors, watching the quiet hallway. Eventually Jeonghan and Seokmin’s footsteps fade away, and there is total silence.
As usual, Mingyu only has a few minutes. Any more than that and the servants will be back from their quick supper, and he can’t afford to get caught.
He slips inside the prince’s rooms in a smooth, practiced fashion, shutting the door neatly behind him. Quickly he makes his way over to Jeonghan’s desk and starts to file through the various piles of paper. Hopefully today he finds Seungcheol more useful information than the prince's sudden craving for almond cakes.
Nothing of note on the desk. He pulls out a small pin and picks the lock of the prince’s jewelry box, successful on the first try. He ignores the glittering sapphires and diamonds and pulls up the bottom to reveal a secret compartment.
He grins. There it is. Jeonghan has a few favorite hiding spots, and Mingyu appreciates the consistency. He flips through the papers. It appears that Jeonghan has agreed to send ten salt caravans to the North by the end of the month.
It spells very bad news for their faction if Jeonghan gains the support of the North. Mingyu needs to inform his superiors, as soon as possible.
As quickly as he came, Mingyu puts everything back where it was and returns to the hallway. Two minutes later the prince’s manservant comes to turn down the bed and ready the bath. In his head, Mingyu drafts a cypher to leave for Seungcheol’s servant. Two hours later, Jeonghan returns and dismisses Mingyu for the evening.
***
Rough hands rouse Mingyu from sleep. “The Prince summons you.”
Blearily, Mingyu pulls his leather vest over his night shirt and grabs his sword. Did something happen? Nervously he rushes to the prince’s room and knocks on the big doors.
“Enter.”
For the second time that day, Mingyu opens those doors, but this time, the room’s owner is inside. Jeonghan is reclined on the chaise, swirling a glass of deep red wine. The flickering firelight bathes his pale features in a warm orange hue, and Mingyu follows the light across the curve of his cheek, down his smooth throat, into the exposed parts of his chest where the shirt laces lay open.
“Oh, don’t be shy,” Jeonghan says. “Come in. My dear Mingyu.”
This is new. Mingyu silently does as asked, closing the door behind him and walking forward until he is a few paces away from the chaise, at the edge of the firelight.
“Mingyu, Mingyu. Why are you silent? Won’t you talk to me?” Jeonghan turns his gaze at him, and Mingyu feels like a small rodent in front of a big jungle cat. Powerless, but at the same time, powerful, because Jeonghan is finally looking at him.
He starts to talk, about random things. Jeonghan cuts him off three sentences in and says, “Not that. Tell me what you think of me.”
“Your Highness?” Mingyu asks, trying his best to keep his confusion out of his voice and expression.
“You heard me. Tell me what you think of me.”
Jeonghan going off-script is very, very dangerous. Mingyu must tread lightly.
“You are the Second Prince of the empire, and my ruler. I will follow you to my last breath,” Mingyu recites. “May the Yoon family prosper for eons.”
Jeonghan snorts. It is a high, ungraceful sound. Mingyu doesn't react.
“How boring.” Jeonghan stands up, placing the wine glass at the side table. His unlaced shirt slips to the side, exposing his shoulder and a peek of collarbone.
“I think…” Jeonghan starts, walking closer. The prince stops a breath away from him, and smirks when he sees Mingyu swallow. “I think you have a lot more to say.”
Mingyu stays silent, unsure of where this is going. Jeonghan’s smirk only grows.
“Staying quiet? Perhaps I can spark your memories.” Jeonghan places his hands on Mingyu’s chest, leans closer. There is no way he can’t feel Mingyu’s jackrabbit heart.
This should not be happening. Mingyu has a mission. And yet, he can’t look away. Couldn’t even if he wanted to.
“I don’t like almond cakes. Hate them, actually,” Jeonghan says lightly.
Mingyu jerks backward as if he was struck, but Jeonghan holds him in place.
“You thought I wouldn’t notice you slinking about, putting your big ugly hands all over? You insult me.” His tone is that of a joking friend, but it only scares Mingyu further. His heart pounds so loud, he’s sure Jeonghan can hear it. “Please, give Seungcheol my regards.” Jeonghan grins, a little feral at the edges, and Mingyu knows he is utterly trapped.
Jeonghan leans impossibly closer, and Mingyu has to grab onto Jeonghan’s shirt to keep his balance. The prince still continues forward, and he can’t help but close his eyes, terrified yet yearning. Terrified of his own yearning.
“You think I don't know what you are," he whispers. Lips brush the shell of Mingyu's ear, and he shivers, tightening his grip on Jeonghan's shirt, unsure whether to throw him away or tug him closer.
It seems futile. Mingyu looks down into Jeonghan's eyes and finds nothing to hold onto. It feels like flying. It feels like drowning. Maybe Mingyu was drowning from the moment he stepped in this cursed palace, from the fateful moment he met the prince under the shade of the camellia blossoms. Mingyu had knelt for Jeonghan that day, vowing it to be the first and last time.
And yet.
Jeonghan kisses him, and he goes under.
Re: [FILL] to surrender to the sea