I whined so hard about the thread they let me back in! and while waiting for more eu moots to get access back to the content, here - a 💳 swap wip 🫴🏻
cw / daeshin
Also the fact that hj, the introvert was the one ordering everything while sh, the extrovert, just sat their looking pretty 😫😫 god sh is such a spoiled wife
“I find myself jealous,” Patriarch muttered, lips trailing down the column of Jimin’s bare neck. “That a stupid village girl gets to abandon this camp and return home to Terrance house with you. It is a privilege she is unworthy of.”
Cruel? Perhaps her husband was.
But he had never been cruel to her. Not intentionally.
“You have little to apologize for, husband. So little, that I do not see the point to an apology at all.”
—
The cuff, a lavish stretch of silk and the leather resting underneath it. The symbol of family protection. His last defense to his neck, to his life.
Such a thing would be used to tie off Jimin's hair.
Patriarch gave her an unimpressed look, before pulling his shirt over his head. “The village girl started her campaign without any thought of how to secure victory. If I braid your hair, I will ensure I have something to tie the off the braid before I begin.”
He unbuckled his belt, setting his sword to the ground. Then, began freeing himself of his armor.
“Cathy seemed to be managing just fine,” Jimin said, teasing, standing up. She swung her half done braid forward, over the front of her shoulder.
If they had been Patriarch’s capabilities roiling under his poor mood, under his worry for Jimin. Was Patriarch so concerned for her safety? The thought made her a little giddy.
“You will be leaving at first light,” Patriarch said, tone brooking no room for argument. “Having you so close to the border is not good for my temperament.”
Briefly, distantly, Jimin wondered if the rain and lightning last night had not been a simple storm.
“And I have forgiven you.” The Min Matriarch stepped back, admiring Catherine’s done hair. “There.” She held up a small hand mirror, showing Catherine her own reflection, “Could he ever treat you as well as I do?”
“Matriarch,” Catherine whispered. “You should not be so nice to me.”
“Why not?”
“The man… he’s—”
“Oh. I know,” the Min Matriarch said, “He can be so very cruel, can’t he?”
Catherine had slept with her husband.
Catherine felt ill.
This woman had saved Catherine from Captain Min’s blade and offered her an honorable position reserved for noble ladies.
And Catherine had slept with her husband.
Catherine’s lips parted. Her thoughts halted. The Min Matriarch was good. She was a good person. More generous, more charitable, more gentle than even the angels described in the temples, and Catherine had spent the past six months despising her and wishing her ill.
Jimin is so nice bro. If I was in her shoes I'd end up poisoned 😭😭😭
I already got attitude and I have a hard time coming up with such nice acts of kindness so quickly as a broke person, imagine as a rich person
it'd be OVERRRR for me
“Will you be one of my attendants? I find you witty and honest and capable. And it would give me great happiness to steal you away from this undeserving man of yours.”
“I’ve been called many things,” The Matriarch said, yawning, “But this is the first time I’ve been called a village person.”
“What?”
The Min Matriarch turned towards her.
“That is hardly behavior of a gentleman, Cathy. We must raise the standards we hold for men, even if they are likely to fall below them.”
“He’s kind. Generous. A good man.”
“Then, Cathy,” the Matriarch leaned forward, “Has he ever returned the favor?”
The Min Matriarch giggled, a pretty, girlish sound. “You’re funny. Too funny and pretty for a dreary place like this, Cathy. What could you possibly be doing here?”
She felt affronted. She didn’t know why. “Captain Min has a gold tooth, too! He hardly has the ground to lord over you.”
“He lost his in a beating. I lost mine due to pastry consumption.”
“But, I don’t think you nag him about avoiding beatings.”
“Why?” Catherine asked, frowning. The Matriarch was gorgeous. Catherine could not fathom any man lodging a complaint, let alone a man absent from his family home most of the year.
“My teeth,” the Matriarch said, voice low and embarrassed, face flushing pink.