"I don't make threats. I'm not that kind of man." That was more Namjoon's thing, he imagined. All of his men, from everything he had seen and heard. Jin had already tried to ensure the safety of the servants by choosing ones that were at least older and therefore perhaps less desirable, but he wasn't sure if that would help. Nothing had happened yet, but they reported a lot of improper attempts at touching and talking.
Still. Namjoon didn't look so awful right now, standing there with a smile and sniffing a flower. "The blooms can fall off the shrub so easily. A strong breeze is enough. We see them as a symbol for love that is developing. Still fragile. It could still fail to blossom."
"I like that better. In my culture, it's always death. Death, death, death. It's always interesting what others see instead." He tucked the flower gently into one of the button holes of his hanbok and turned to Jin, smiling as best he could and trying to seem more gentle, less of a brute. He wanted him to like him, if they had to do this and all. He didn't want his husband to hate him.
"Would you still like to have tea? We have to discuss a few things. Nothing too bad but we should probably do some business." Namjoon gestured for Jin to lead the way, hoping that they could clear up any misunderstandings.
"We like to focus on life. Living the best way." And his people wanted to live, so he had to make this sacrifice and try and be a good husband to this brute. Although he looked less terrifying today, especially with the flower right there. Jin tried to see that as a good sign and he headed for the table where the tea was being prepared, bowing his head to the lady in charge of the tea ceremony. He knelt down on the pillow put on the ground for that reason, watching her calmly. This was not something to be rushed.
Instead he watched her movements in silence, as was proper.
Namjoon wasn't sure what to do. He'd never done anything like this before and he felt a burst of anxiety, wanting Yoongi to come and tell him what he had to do and how to do it so he didn't get it wrong. He was very aware of how chaotic he was lately. He awkwardly knelt down to copy Jin, not touching a thing as he watched the lady carefully.
When she was done, and boy did it feel like forever until she was, he smiled politely at her and nodded. "Thanks." Did he just ... Did he just pick up the tea? Could he? Tentatively, he reached out to hold one of the cups, eyeing Jin suspiciously.
The lady smiled at him as well before bowing her head, even if not quite as deep as the other servants might. She was a master of her speciality after all. Jin realised how out of his element Namjoon clearly was and picked up the other cup, watching him as he took a slow sip and then set it down again.
"Thank you for the tea." He bowed his head to the lady and she took his gratitude graciously, then stepped back and moved aside, staying close only in case she would be needed again. He turned to look at Namjoon again. "I didn't know if you had tea ceremony where you are from."
"We just drink it. If we drink it. It's usually alcohol or water. No time to brew tea on a battle field." They tended to stick to water or booze if it was cold, there was not much of a middle ground. He sipped the tea gently and it wasn't too hot, just enough to drink it. Oh, it was nice! He smiled a little and knocked back the rest of it, lightly burning his tongue as he did so. Good!
With a joyous laugh, Namjoon casually smashed the cup on the ground like it was nothing, grinning at Jin. "Very good! Well done. Good tea. Thank you. Another!" There. That should show appreciation for everything that Jin had done. Right?
Jin stared at him with wide eyes, pulling his own cup back protectively. Why had he done this? He turned his head quickly, seeing the lady who had served them covering her face with her hands, clearly crying. He couldn't blame her, he certainly felt the urge himself as well.
But he had to try and be diplomatic, had to try and understand. It just made no sense. Why did Namjoon have no respect for anything? He swallowed and finally managed a smile again, even if it was clearly forced. "I'm glad you like it. Do you want more?"
Maybe they could get away with giving him a less precious cup.
He fucked up. He did something wrong and he knew it. He made someone cry and he felt like such a dick - he just wanted them to know that he enjoyed it. "You guys, you -- you don't smash the things, huh? I'm sorry." God damn it. Namjoon shook his head, not wanting any more tea. He didn't want to touch their pretty things and ruin them any more.
"I apologise that I have to be here. It wasn't my choice but my brothers are engaged in battle and I am not." He felt like he should apologise for just existing here. He felt so wrong. "I have come to secure the barrier and I will do my job and do it well. I may not be capable of doing anything with great delicacy but I can make sure you survive whatever attack comes." That was about all he could offer because apparently anything else he tried just went horribly wrong. "You, uh, you just -- this is political. I don't expect anything."
"Your culture is different. I understand, we are not insulted." Maybe he should speak for himself, because Jin could imagine that the tea lady had a very different view on that. However, it wasn't as if either her or him could afford to be insulted. They needed Namjoon and he had to make Namjoon feel welcome.
"We are to be wed. It's a holy bond, an eternal bond. It can't be dissolved or severed." This couldn't just be political. The motivation behind it, sure. The results, yes. But for him? It was always going to be more. There was a reason he'd been crying himself to sleep lately. "I want you to love this country and its people, so you will protect them."
He wouldn't expect love for himself, that wasn't what was important here. "Please love them as I do, Namjoon-nim. That is all I ask for and you can have me entirely in exchange."
"Entirely? Huh." Jesus. This was so fucked up. Namjoon got down onto his knees and gently picked up the pieces of the cup, careful not to get hurt or leave anything behind that could hurt anyone else. He set the pieces on the table and nodded his head slightly, approaching the lady who was trying her best not to be bothered. Bowing politely, he decided to do his best. "I apologise. I can replace it."
He stood behind his seat, not overly wanting to sit with someone who had to love him just so he could protect his people. It made him feel dirty and wrong. God, why did he have to do this?
"You know how to make a guy feel special." Namjoon laughed a hollow laugh, playfully tapping his heart.
Jin wasn't sure what to say, so he bowed his head again, trying to think of words. Finally he rose to his feet, stepping around the table so he could be closer to Namjoon. Not something he greatly desired to be, but not something he could entirely avoid either. He swallowed and smiled.
"The flower looks good. I like these clothes better than the other ones. I assume they are not as good in battle, but they fit you better. You look handsome."
"Uh-huh." Nah, he didn't buy it. He was saying it just to make sure he wasn't pissed off. He needed him not to be upset so he had him and his men. He didn't blame him, he got his logic but it felt bad to know that the man he had to marry and lose his virginity too likely would never love him back. He just wanted something from him.
All politics, as he said. He didn't expect any different really. "Jungkook will talk to your man about business. I think you and I would operate best not doing that." He didn't want to risk provoking him. "Thank you for the flower. I appreciated it."
"You are welcome." He felt so helpless against this man he didn't understand, who gave him nothing but uncertainty. Jin wasn't sure what he had expected out of this, but it wasn't this. "I hope to see you again soon. Before the engagement."
What else could he say? He wished he knew what Namjoon thought of him, truly, but he was scared to find out. He didn't even seem to think he looked good. "Please continue enjoying your stay."
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Still. Namjoon didn't look so awful right now, standing there with a smile and sniffing a flower. "The blooms can fall off the shrub so easily. A strong breeze is enough. We see them as a symbol for love that is developing. Still fragile. It could still fail to blossom."
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"Would you still like to have tea? We have to discuss a few things. Nothing too bad but we should probably do some business." Namjoon gestured for Jin to lead the way, hoping that they could clear up any misunderstandings.
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Instead he watched her movements in silence, as was proper.
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When she was done, and boy did it feel like forever until she was, he smiled politely at her and nodded. "Thanks." Did he just ... Did he just pick up the tea? Could he? Tentatively, he reached out to hold one of the cups, eyeing Jin suspiciously.
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"Thank you for the tea." He bowed his head to the lady and she took his gratitude graciously, then stepped back and moved aside, staying close only in case she would be needed again. He turned to look at Namjoon again. "I didn't know if you had tea ceremony where you are from."
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With a joyous laugh, Namjoon casually smashed the cup on the ground like it was nothing, grinning at Jin. "Very good! Well done. Good tea. Thank you. Another!" There. That should show appreciation for everything that Jin had done. Right?
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But he had to try and be diplomatic, had to try and understand. It just made no sense. Why did Namjoon have no respect for anything? He swallowed and finally managed a smile again, even if it was clearly forced. "I'm glad you like it. Do you want more?"
Maybe they could get away with giving him a less precious cup.
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He fucked up. He did something wrong and he knew it. He made someone cry and he felt like such a dick - he just wanted them to know that he enjoyed it. "You guys, you -- you don't smash the things, huh? I'm sorry." God damn it. Namjoon shook his head, not wanting any more tea. He didn't want to touch their pretty things and ruin them any more.
"I apologise that I have to be here. It wasn't my choice but my brothers are engaged in battle and I am not." He felt like he should apologise for just existing here. He felt so wrong. "I have come to secure the barrier and I will do my job and do it well. I may not be capable of doing anything with great delicacy but I can make sure you survive whatever attack comes." That was about all he could offer because apparently anything else he tried just went horribly wrong. "You, uh, you just -- this is political. I don't expect anything."
He may as well put his cards on the table now.
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"We are to be wed. It's a holy bond, an eternal bond. It can't be dissolved or severed." This couldn't just be political. The motivation behind it, sure. The results, yes. But for him? It was always going to be more. There was a reason he'd been crying himself to sleep lately. "I want you to love this country and its people, so you will protect them."
He wouldn't expect love for himself, that wasn't what was important here. "Please love them as I do, Namjoon-nim. That is all I ask for and you can have me entirely in exchange."
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He stood behind his seat, not overly wanting to sit with someone who had to love him just so he could protect his people. It made him feel dirty and wrong. God, why did he have to do this?
"You know how to make a guy feel special." Namjoon laughed a hollow laugh, playfully tapping his heart.
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"The flower looks good. I like these clothes better than the other ones. I assume they are not as good in battle, but they fit you better. You look handsome."
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All politics, as he said. He didn't expect any different really. "Jungkook will talk to your man about business. I think you and I would operate best not doing that." He didn't want to risk provoking him. "Thank you for the flower. I appreciated it."
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What else could he say? He wished he knew what Namjoon thought of him, truly, but he was scared to find out. He didn't even seem to think he looked good. "Please continue enjoying your stay."