rosavelle | 04 🐣 HYJ: March Catchall

[Yoojin's in his quarters, dressing after a post-workout wash, when the thought resurfaces. The mana inscription--he rests his fingers against the back of his neck, where the channel of symbols down his spine begins. Myungwoo said it was basically the same as the inscription for an item, didn't he? Now that Yoojin's finally getting somewhere with his Imprintwork, maybe even an amateur maker like him can glean something about mana, about the nature of magic and its Origin, from this piece of himself he's never before examined.

He can't do it on his own, though. Not without a phone cam handy. Frowning, he rubs his thumb over the top of the inscription, then pulls on his pants, throws a shirt on, and exits barefoot to knock on Bulat's door.]

Hey, Bulat? Do you have a lot to do today?

[ Bulat's midway through his ~handsomeness routine~ (he doesn't call it a beauty routine. he also sparkles whenever he says it out loud). Recognizing Yoojin's knock, he answers midway through trimming his hair of split ends. Naturally, he didn't bother to throw on a shirt, although he does have a towel draped over his shoulders. ]

Not much at all! The biggest thing I had in my plans was another sweep-through of the library. With it so warm and festive, everyone's focusing on the outdoor jobs.

[ Had planned. Might still be planning, depending on how much of his day Yoojin wants. Bulat knows what his priorities are here. ]

[Hold that thought. He needs a moment to appreciate what a lucky, lucky man he is, that his eyes have been blessed with the vast bounty that stretches before him, and that he has been given leave, with exquisite presumption, to believe is, in some part, his.]

[But Bulat's eyes are up there. With some effort, Yoojin lifts his eyes, clears his throat, and attempts to remember mouth how make word go.]

Ahem, um! [Where was he. Right, absolutely nowhere, he just got here.] I was wondering if you had time to sketch my mana inscription for me? I want to see if anything I've learned from Bloomcraft can help me make sense of it.

[ His face is up here, his pecs are down there... no matter where Yoojin looks, it's a feast for the eyes. Bulat preens under the ogling.

The ogling, of course, can go both ways! An assassin is well practiced in discretion. He's been taking in the scent of soap and contemplating that he knows exactly how Yoojin's skin feels when it's soft and clean, fresh out of a wash. ]

Damn right I do! Come in!

[ Even more enthusiastic than usual. He's both happy that Yoojin is taking steps to unravel one of his personal oddities and happy for himself, because he gets to make a pinup drawing of his boyfriend.

His room's still tidy, but has acquired more personal touches here and there. A familiar crochet unicorn is chilling out on the dresser, for one. ]

[Yoojin steps inside, and his eyes light up when he catches sight of the Bunicorn.]

Ohh, there's my little buddy! Just as cute as I remember.

[He hops over to rub under its chin with a knuckle, chuckling, then turns back to Bulat. With his hands linked behind his back, but a cheerful smile on, Yoojin looks a tiny bit nervous--he still isn't super comfortable exposing himself in any way, even when he's the one with the request--but game enough. He's certainly nowhere near as anxious as he was that first time at the bathhouse.]

You wanna finish up your routine first? I can wait. Just show me where you want me.

[ Nervous, but trusting all the same! ]

On the bed would be more comfortable, right?

[ He has a chair. There are other options. He's saying what he is at close range in that rumbling tone of voice for a reason. ]

[A reason that Yoojin is altogether too aware of, yet remains unable to resist. As expected, despite his best efforts to remain Totally Cool, Normal, and Unaffected, color creeps up into his face. Damn it, Bulat.]

Yyyees. I suppose so. ...Well, okay!

[Totally! Cool! Normal! And unaffected! As pink as if he'd literally just stepped out of the bath, Yoojin crosses to Bulat's bed and sits on it with a bit of a bounce.]

Just, um, let me know when you're ready.

You can snoop around if you like; I don't mind.

[ The blush is a charm point.

Bulat's grin stretches even wiiiider while he goes off to finish primping. He leaves the bathroom door open, a glimpse into his domestic habits. A few more snips here and there, the process of brushing the whole mane out for volume and shaping it up into two halves of a heart shape, meshed together. ]

Having permission to snoop takes all the fun out of it.

[He does take the opportunity to look around from where he sits, though, one foot swinging idly. It's nice that Bulat's put some personal things on display. The touches make the place feel like less of a stopover and more like... well, like Bulat. Despite the familiar layout and furnishings, it's clear that this room is Bulat's room. This bed is where Bulat puts his head down to rest at night. Yeah. Nice.

Curious, Yoojin flops down on his side, lays his own head on the pillow, and closes his eyes. Is it equally nice that it smells like Bulat? Yes. Possibly even nicer. He makes a small, contented sound.]

Hmm. Is your bed comfier than mine?

I've never thought about it. Every time I've been in your bed, it's had you in it - an advantage mine's lacked up until now!

[ Something in his hindbrain hums contentedly about one of his people cozying up in his territory. Bulat himself never hums out loud, a habit that was beaten out of him during stealth training. The primary noise he's making is the sound of the tap running as he washes traces of pomade off his hands, and of footsteps crossing the room and back to fetch his sketchbook. ]

That said, that pillowcase is silk.

[ It's hair care all the way down... Bulat's natural scent blends with the rose-scented hair mask he uses overnight. ]

[They're probably the same kind of bed. Objectively, they must be equally comfortable. That doesn't stop Boyfriend Brain from insisting it's better to be here. Chuckling, Yoojin sits up, but brings the pillow with him so he can hug it to himself.]

Is that so? It smells nice, too.

[He means it. S-rank noses are so sensitive, most of his friends and family avoid scents of any kind. It's not like Yoojin's ever cared what he looks or smells like, either, as long as he's clean. Being around Bulat is reassuringly familiar in many ways, and enchantingly new in others. He hikes the pillow up and squishes his cheek into it, laughing more.]

I wanna steeeeal iiiit, hehehe.

[ So flattering... and yet, a man must have principles when it comes to bedding, even between lovers! A sharp but playful grin spreads across Bulat's freshly moisturized face. ]

Oho, do you? You realize that if I don't have a pillow, I'll need to find a substitute!

[ Not someone given to idle threats, or indeed threats at all when action will suffice, Bulat flops into bed and puts his head in Yoojin's lap. ]

Eep! Bulat! Hey, how are you gonna draw like this?

[Or so he says. His tone is too warm to even pose as a complaint, and though the first thing he does is poke his finger into Bulat's cheek, the touch quickly turns into one that fondly cradles the side of his face instead. Yoojin can't help himself, it seems.]

Ah, but you are really cute. Doesn't it seem more like you're rewarding my criminal behavior, letting me look all I want at your handsome face?

[ Ah, to be gently treasured in such a way. Bulat visibly relaxes from a state that's already very much relaxed. ]

Well, I am going to be looking at your back for a while. Only fair to let you look your fill.

[ So relaxed, he continues in a flirty, breezy tone: ]

Besides, you have a lot of criminal behavior to go to catch up to me.

[ Testing the waters directly. Yoojin's trusted him with quite a bit, after all. He's only a little bit worried about being judged at this point. ]

[Yoojin pauses, but then resumes rubbing his knuckle gently along the line of Bulat's jaw, as if he's one more big cat who's chosen his lap as a spot to nap.

After another couple seconds, he responds with words, too.]

Well... I don't know about that.

[He hasn't necessarily killed a hundred men himself--if that's even close to Bulat's actual body count and not just a catchy epithet--but even just washed, his hands are far from clean.]

There's a side of the law I prefer to stay on, but it's not always... how to put this. Cost-effective? What I mean is, I'm in the business of survival, and there are prices I won't pay for the illusion of peace and order.

[ Is it wise to be approaching this conversation while literally if not figuratively baring his throat? Maybe not. Maybe so. He's trusting his instincts about Yoojin on this one. ]

Your own safety, the people you love... I'm in something of the same boat, buuuut I love most of the people in my world, one way or another. A soldier, a bodyguard, an assassin - I'll be whatever it takes to keep them safe. I'm sure it won't take me long to fall hard for your home, either.

[ He sounds fond and tender, heart bared along with that throat. ]

[Somewhere in there, Bulat said the word assassin out loud. Yoojin hardly seems to register it; he's forgotten to breathe. He looks at Bulat with wonder and adoration, like he's a marvel, like he's revealed himself as an angel, not a killer. Yoojin looks at him like he couldn't possibly love him more than he does right now.]

Ah, really, Bulat, [he exhales, hushed to half volume.] How are you so... so... You know, it's exactly because you're like this that I l--

[Ah.]

[Ack. Shit.]

[Oh no, he can't. He really can't! He almost forgot and let it slip out but wow, fuck, crap, shit!! The one time he really, really wants to say it, god damn it, no! Why the hell is this his life??]

Edited (Icon variety) 2026-03-11 11:09 (UTC)

That I... l-like-like you! So much! That I can't even tell... s... words!

[At least it's perfectly consistent Yoojinish behavior, the way he burns bright red and chokes at the critical moment. He shoves his face back into the pillow he hasn't let go and lets it muffle a long, defeated whine.

Stupid lousy goddamn keyword. ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ]

Hahahaha, your shy side is just as charming as your bold side.

[ Letting people in... the ordeal of being known is worth it. Bulat can tell what Yoojin wants to say, which is almost as good. In, uh, theory. He hasn't heard it back in a while, in terms of relationships... So this is merely the pattern holding true, of course! ]

I get it, I get it.

[ Bulat sits up and pats him on the back a few times, not unsympathetically. Self-expression takes plenty of guts! He should say something comforting, probably, take Yoojin's mind off being tongue-tied... ]

Hey. Take off your shirt.

[ #nailed it ]

[Yoojin lifts his flushed, steaming face from the pillow to shoot Bulat an aggrieved look.]

What kind of timing--aaaah, seriously...!

[He buries his face again, but this time into Bulat's shoulder, and smothers one more teakettle noise. That must he enough, though, because then he huffs a sigh, finally releases the pillow, and undoes the buttons at his collar. Grumbling quietly the whole time, of course.]

Stupid perfect beautiful jerkface...

[The shirt comes off over his head, and there's Yoojin, shy and scarred and blushing down past his collarbones. Collapsing at the start of Budwake set him back a bit, physically, but there's no denying he looks better, stronger than he did before Bulat started training him.]

Heheh. By that you mean the timing was perfect?

[ Bulat laughs along to the teakettle concert without remorse. ]

I am! And you loo~oove me!

[ Outright singing it. If Yoojin can't say it, he will! This is what it means to have each other's backs.

That muscle tone is really coming along. Yoojin's looking really ~fine~ just as is, but the knowledge that he's been working hard to get to this point and every point before really underlines it. Bulat doesn't say anything outright for a change, but his face lights up enough that he doesn't really need to. ]

[Another rush of heat rises to his face as he loosely folds his shirt and tosses it to the foot of Bulat's bed. Confirming it would be the same as saying it, right? The Custodian skills have never required him to be exact with the keywords; he's only had to get the sentiment across. Otherwise, those skills would never work on monsters like Peace and Sally, with their limited grasp of human speech. Damn, damn, damn!

It doesn't help AT ALL when Yoojin glances up and finds Bulat looking at him like that--like the sight of him is enough to make him happy, like he's got something to be proud of. Blushing any harder's gonna make his head explode. Denied words, driven into this figurative corner, Yoojin does the only reasonable thing he can. Or the only... thing he can. He throws his arms around Bulat and tries to tackle him to the mattress, because that is a normal thing normal people do when they feel normal things about a guy who's confessed he's an assassin.

Face planted directly into Bulat's chest, he complains:]

And you're embarrassing me!

[Overstimulated cat behavior.]

[ The only reliable way to knock Bulat over is to catch him in a situation in which he wants to be knocked over, such as now. The unprecedented levels of skin on skin contact and hot breath right on his amazing pecs are enough to distract him from his current line of teasing. ]

Well, you are so adorable whenever I do, but as a man of integrity, I accept the consequences of my actions!

[ This close, Yoojin might not be able to see the ripe peach levels of blush going on, but there are other advantages! Bulat runs a warm, broad hand down the length of his bare back, which is sort of like staying on the original topic. ]

[Yoojin melts beneath the warm width of Bulat's hand, releases a shivery breath as it passes over marked and heated skin. The powerful wave of security that comes with that touch knocks him right out of performative grouchy mode. He's made intimately aware again of where he is: in Bulat's room, nestled against his chest, safe in the crook of his arm.

I love you. It's crazy how much I love you. Anything you want from me, take it. It's yours.

Even now, riding this huge surge of affection, Yoojin knows he doesn't totally mean that. More of him than he can even account for belongs to Yoohyun, to Yerim, to everyone waiting for him at home. But he means a lot of it. He really, really loves this loving, incredible man.

So Yoojin nuzzles closer, holds him tighter for a moment, and only bites the top of his pectoral, like, a little bit. Just a nip. Since consequences are in order.]

More like a menace of integrity.

[A token grumble. After a moment, Yoojin (sadly) raises his head.]

I guess I should let you up.

[ Just being together like this, warm and trusted, is another fresh surge of wow, I really do want to spend my life with this man. One reason he spreads his love so broadly is that it'll hurt less when he loses someone, or has to cut them free. Falling in love also has its own consequences. Bulat's world view is consistent here.

Yoojin really has become a much more confident person than he was during their meet-cute cuddle session. For better and for worse. At the taste of his own medicine, Bulat makes an undignified "hyehh" sort of noise and looks somewhat like a cat himself, one that was not expecting a nose boop. His pec twitches - yeah, individually. It is a talent. ]

At the very least, you'd have to turn around.

[Haha, what was that noise? Worth it. Yoojin's mouth twitches as he tries not to smile and then gives up, fake grouchiness dissolving like foam. He scooches a little higher up, noses gently at the juncture of Bulat's neck and shoulder. He rests there a moment, because he can.

Has his confidence grown? Maybe, but it's more confidence in Bulat than in himself. Every day, he's more comfortable, more sure of the man Bulat is. He lets out a soft, contented noise.

But they have things to do. Yoojin finally pushes himself up and moves over.] Okaaaayyy.

[He retrieves the pillow and snuggles into it, lying on his side with his back to Bulat. After a moment, he adds,]

I don't mind, by the way. Whatever you've done--or become--to protect your people... you have good reasons. The best reasons, in my book.

[ Bulat takes a moment to retrieve the sketchbook from where it had been knocked to while they were playing around. A longer moment to admire Yoojin's back, and how ready he is to trust Bulat specifically with it, in any number of meanings. ]

I thought you'd say something like that. Actually hearing it is another thing all together. So... thanks, for being someone I didn't know I needed so much until I met you.

[ The scratch of pencil on paper heralds him actually getting around to their original goal here. ]

[On a chilly, on-and-off drizzling day like this, there's nothing like hot, fresh food. Yoojin has decided to take a break from Faire preparations by frying up some jeon in the barracks kitchen: the standard scallion-pancake pajeon, crispy gamja-jeon made of potato, colorful samsaekjeon with mushrooms, pepper, and onion. The smell wafts through Tulip as he plates a few up and leaves the rest on the dining room table for everyone.

When he finds Simran, he smiles wide.]

Simran? I have a psychic-type question... oooooor maybe more of a favor to ask. But I'm fully prepared to bribe you with snacks for it! Do you like fried stuff?

[Sparklesparkle. (He's not Bulat, the sparkles are not diegetic.)]

I have a psychic-type answer, probably! And TBH I would've given it to you for free but I do like fried snacks.

[ Simran happily plucks one of the jeon from Yoojin's plate and bites into it, and the noise of appreciation is immediate. ]

Oh, this is good as hell. What's up, dude?

[He snickers a little, though not meanly. It's not the first time she's said TBH out loud with her mouth, but it's still funny to hear in this cozy, pre-industrial kingdom of Callie's.]

Hehe. Glad you like it. Anyway, Iiiii, um.

[How does he put this.]

I'm maybe a little bit brainwashed? Due to an annoying situation I was in the middle of when I came here. I was wondering if you could help me figure out how to break free of it before I go back.

[ Simran whistles. ] Oh boy. Yeah, I can probably help? How dangerous is it if you think like, a brainwashed thought right now? It's easier for me if I can see it in action. [ She opens her psychic senses, taking in the frequencies of Yoojin's nerve signals, hunting for interference. ]

It's not dangerous. Even back home, the one it poses the most danger to is me. [As if that's not part of what Simran's worried about.] Like I said, it was an annoying situation.

[An annoying situation in which he was kidnapped, beaten, and tortured, but okay.]

Let me see... mostly, it's made me trust someone I really shouldn't, and mistrust people I... should. Trust, I mean. Even though they... have hurt and threatened me in various ways. They're good... well, one of them is a good person, and the other is my business partner with lots of money, which is sort of like being a good person, if you look at it in a practical way.

[Yoojin rubs the inner corners of his eyes. He's having a hard time squaring what he knows he thinks about those two with Park Hayeul's insinuations about S-rankers, about the damage they can do him when they remember he's not worth it. About how anxious he really is that Sung Hyunje will really lose interest in him one day and leave him high and dry.]

Well, the real problem is that I can't do anything that might endanger the skill's user--the one I shouldn't trust, but do. I can't let him passively come to harm, either. He's... just a pretty airhead, after all. Though I think some of his helpless stupidity is an act. Still, he's a kid who only Awakened recently, so it's not like it's totally his fault he stumbled into the wrong hands. I... damn.

[Yup. Months later, Yoojin's still tying his brain in knots to make excuses for Hayeul. Man, fuck that ridiculously beautiful idiot.]

I know how he did it, if that helps. But you see the problem?

[ Simran frowns, listening both to his words and the pitch of his cerebral activity. ]

Oh, yeah, that's in there. Woof, man, I'm sorry. [ She frowns. ]

So there's two parts to this. The easy part is that I can definitely make sure this doesn't happen again; I can like, encrypt your brain so that it only ever trusts signals coming from the inside. We'll use one of your favorite memories as a key, so it'll basically be unbreakable—even if someone wanted to time travel back to when the memory happened, they'd have to predict how your brain remembered and misremembered stuff between then and now. Plus, trying to "brute-force" it would take longer than until the stars die out.

The tough part is we'd have to peel all this stuff out first. And honestly, I'm not great at modifying thoughts, which this would be even if they aren't like, your own organic thoughts. Always felt...invasive. [ She shudders slightly. ] I probably won't be able to read your mind, to be clear, but it'll be like playing with your own emotions on this topic. It tends to stress people out, it's hard to remember how...physical we are, y'know? How easily we can be affected by just playing with our gray matter.

[Yoojin exhales and relaxes somewhat. It's a relief to stop wrestling fruitlessly against Hayeul's stupid skills, and it's also, surprisingly, a relief to let one more person know--even more so because Simran's willing and able to help him. The first thing she mentions sounds awesome, exactly what he needs. His eyes light up as she describes the method.

The second thing...]

Mmm. I mean, as someone used to getting my butt kicked, I'm pretty familiar with how pain anywhere else affects the mind, let alone acting directly on the source. ...Which I'm also familiar with.

[He mulls it over, eyes on the ceiling, then asks:]

Would the second thing also involve my memories? Like, altering how I remember what happened between me and the brainwashing guy? Because I might be able to help with that.

Not...really? It's more like, altering your feelings around them. It won't even hurt, it's just...lemme think about how to explain this. [ Her face screws up in concentration for a moment, and the pace of her speech slows. ] So like, you can kind of think about the brain as a voice, right? When you talk about that guy you supposedly trust, I can tell that a second voice is talking with you. But it's like...I don't know instinctively where in your throat that voice is coming from, we have to kind of just press on different parts of it until it sounds normal to you.

But like, that's a metaphor for how we do this work. It's actually your brain. And this won't be that dangerous, from a psychic standpoint it's pretty tough for me to cause real damage. But like...it becomes really apparent that you're kind of making a choice about who to be, and then tweaking your gray matter to follow suit. Which is kinda existential for some people? [ She frowns. ] It's like, you're only a li'l bit of brain damage away from not caring about your brother, y'know? And your first instinct on hearing that is probably "nothing could ever make me stop caring about my brother," but like, the right kind of brain damage really, truly, could.

[ She shrugs. ] If you want, you can think about it like, brain damage can make you not you anymore. And like...again, it's not an actual risk here, but doing this other thing is going to be a constant and visceral reminder of how fragile—and how physical—your identity is. It gets to some people.

[He stiffens when Simran says that. You're only a li'l bit of brain damage away from not caring about your brother. The denial jumps straight to the front of his mouth, live and buzzing against his teeth.

Resist Fear activated!

But the thing is, she's right. Yoojin knows she's right because that thought scares the shit out of him. Even without bringing the physical reality of the brain to the fore, how many times in the last year alone has he had to confront how horribly easy it is to be changed, permanently, irreparably, in a single second? Even Sung Hyunje, always such a flawless, untouchable bastard, still has a vulnerable human ego. Even the most powerful man alive, a guy in love with himself above all else, almost lost himself because of what's been done to him, over and over.

So. A breath in, then out. Right, he's no special exception, so Yoojin has to think about this rationally and accept the implications.]

I have seen what bad head injuries do to people.

[He struggles with it for another couple heartbeats, then exhales again and lets his shoulders relax.]

All right. It's fine. We're always choosing who we are and shaping ourselves--our brains and bodies, all that fleshy stuff--accordingly. I'm just choosing to make myself someone who can't be caught in this particular way again.

[And it's far from his only decision to consciously alter himself. He shakes the rest of the tension out and claps his hands against his cheeks. Fighting~!]

So, how do we do this?

04 🐣 HYJ: March Catchall

@Bulat, first week of March or something

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@Simran, let's say March 8th

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