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mst3kproject · 3 years

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The Giant of Marathon

For some reason, probably because I've seen them all so many times, I thought I'd already done all four Film Crew episodes. Evidently this is not true. Here's one, and if you haven't seen it... wow, Mr. Honcho was not exaggerating about the thousands of sweaty men.

Philippides of Athens is the greatest athlete there is, having won the entire Olympics. With the games over, he returns to his day job as commander of the Athenian city guard. Followers of Hippias the exiled tyrant are plotting to take control of the city with help from the invading Persians, and they try to seduce Philippides to their cause by offering him wine, women, and homoerotic wrestling (it was ancient Greece, after all). Philippides refuses to be seduced, and sets off to secure the help of Athens' old enemy Sparta in opposing the Persians. His mission is a success, but upon his return a spy tells him that the Persians are planning a sneak attack on the harbour of Piraeus. Can even Philippides get there in time to deliver the warning?

I don't actually know if it were possible to win the entire Olympics in ancient Greece. I know there were several events and at least one of them involved reciting poetry. The Battle of Marathon was in 490 BC and a table on Wikipedia suggests that there could have been up to twelve different sports, but some of them were only for children.

The Giant of Marathon touts itself as a tale of epic battles, daring deeds, and political machinations. I'll get back to the epic battles and daring deeds, but what stands in for the political machinations is mostly a bunch of people pining. Unimpressive villain Theocritus is pining for the beautiful Andromeda, whose father has promised her to him but she thinks he's a dick. She's pining for Philippides, who is also pining for her but thinks she's one of Hippias' followers, so refuses to speak to her. Meanwhile Theocritus' concubine Charis is also pining for Philippides because he's the only man who ever refused to fuck her, I think.

These relationships are important to the plot, too. Andromeda's love for Philippides is one of the reasons her father refuses to join the traitors, and when Theocritus realizes he cannot have her, he ties her to the prow of his ship to force Philippides to watch her die. Charis' crush on Philippides leads her to her death, as she is executed for spying. Yet none of it is ever developed beyond 'these two pretty people saw each other and now they want to bone'. Philippides declares his love for Andromeda after a single five-minute interaction. Charis has seen Philippides twice, and both times it went badly, when she decides to betray Theocritus.

Why do the writers hang such important plot points on the 'love' between people who have barely spoken to each other? I can't decide if it's because they're lazy, or because they're hacks, and I lean towards a combination of the two. There is absolutely no subtlety to the writing in The Giant of Marathon at all. Everything is told, not shown. We know that Theocritus and Creusus are traitors because they talk about it, in dialogue that's clearly written for the audience, not as anything that sounds like a natural conversation. We know that Charis and Andromeda are both in love with Philippides because they say so. The only thing we're really shown is that Andromeda hates Theocritus, which comes through in her body language (though we are also very much told), so props to actress Mylène Demongeot for that much.

The movie doesn't care about any of this character stuff, anyway. It just wants to get straight to those epic battle scenes, and it's very obvious how much work and time went into those as opposed to everything else. The battles are lengthy and elaborate, full of impressive stunts and props and miniatures being destroyed all over the place. We get to see Persian chariots run down Greek infantry, and while I'm pretty sure this would have been orchestrated so the stuntmen didn't get hurt, I'm not nearly so confident about the unfortunate horses (and neither was Bill). There are ships in flames and injured men screaming as they fall overboard. There are even some pretty good deaths, like the guy who was hit in the eye with an arrow. The desperate last stand of the city guard against the entire Persian fleet, with the Spartans arriving just in time to save the day, is very tense indeed.

I get the impression that this is what somebody really wanted to put on screen, and they did a decent job of it, but pretty much the entire rest of what ought to be the story is just an accessory to the fighting stuff. It's as if the film-makers wanted so badly for their fight sequences to be epic that they forgot what makes epic-ness – which is the characters and their stake in the events. We don't know any of these people, none of them have anything we might call a personality trait, and so we don't care.

The focus on how epic it all is makes I seem a little strange that the battle ends on a shot of dead Persian guys floating in the water. You'd think they'd want to end with something that more decisively shows the Athenian victory, maybe the men cheering as the Persian ships turn around and flee. Or perhaps some kind of victory celebration, which could mirror the celebration of Philippides winning the Olympics in the opening and call back to the scene where Philippides asks the goddess Athena to protect her city.

Instead, we cut to a shot of Philippides and Andromeda walking across the farmland together. This feels a little too sudden, and is also a poor fit with the rest of the movie. The only time we've seen Philippides on his farm is when he's gotten disgusted with the politics of Athens and returned to the countryside to sulk. If the farm is supposed to be a place where he's happy and at peace, the movie never establishes it.

So that's political machinations and epic battle sequences, let's talk about some daring deeds.

Unlike the Hercules and Maciste movies we've seen in the past, The Giant of Marathon wants to be grounded in real-life history. This means that while the script does reference gods and mythical heroes, none of them ever appear and there is no hint of them working behind the scenes to bring events about. Likewise, Philippides is not a demigod, so we avoid several of the tropes associated with the genre. Nothing important ever happens (or fails to happen) because the hero was asleep, and he never bends prison bars or drinks a love potion – although a love potion is mentioned, as if to draw attention to this.

This doesn't leave Philippides a whole lot of scope for daring deeds, and when they try the results are a little lackluster. His main feat is, of course, running all the way from Marathon to Athens (the proverbial forty-two kilometres) to let them know of the impending attack, but while this ought to be the highlight of the movie it's shot in terrible day-for-night and we have nothing to suggest how far this is... I think the writers just assumed everybody knows the length of a marathon. If we'd seen the army tired from making the march earlier, we would have a better sense of it being a long and tiring journey even at a walk or with horses, and it would seem that much more formidable as a distance for one man to cover before sunrise. Of course, showing us these things is apparently beyond the scope of The Giant of Marathon's writers, but you'd think they could at least have a character say something like, “it's twenty-six miles! He'll never make it!”

His other major daring deed is when he pushes giant boulders down a hill onto the attacking Persians. This is kind of weird because Philippides is not Hercules or Maciste. He's good at track and field, but we haven't seen any evidence of him having godlike strength, and this is a universe where gods don't seem to do much anyway, so it comes out of nowhere. The rocks are huge – there are similarly-sized ones at the park near my house and I know one guy couldn't move them no matter how buff he might be. Did somebody just forget that they weren't making a Hercules movie?

Between the battles and the various plot twists, The Giant of Marathon could have been a pretty fun sword-and-sandal movie, but it's like a tower without a foundation. The fights have nothing to hold them up, so we just can't get into it. Also, what the Underworld happened to Hippias? We see him once, chatting with the king of Persia, and then he vanishes and the movie decides weaselly little Theocritus is the big bad instead. I'm sorry, but if you've got a character with a name as cool as 'Hippias the Tyrant', you really can't just drop him like that.

The Best Brains liked to complain about the tinyness of the costumes in these movies but honestly, nothing here is as off-putting as actual ancient Greek sports would have been to the modern viewer. When I was in university I TA'd for a course called Introduction to Greco-Roman Civilization. It was an adventure in several ways – the students were mostly dumb freshmen who spent the lectures playing Farmville, and the professor didn't give a shit because she'd just been denied tenure. I don't know how much anybody learned in that class, but I'm sure they all recall how, after the professor told us that Greek athletes stripped naked and covered themselves in olive oil before wrestling, somebody raised a hand and asked if they removed their body hair. The professor cheerfully told him that they did not, so next time we see a Greek vase we ought to remember that these guys were much sweatier, oilier, and hairier than terra cotta can possibly convey.

#mst3k #reviews #episodes that never were #the battle of marathon #the film crew #50s #my cheese steak

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littleredroseonthevalley · 6 years

Text

Red Rose - Chapter 5

Prologue Ch. 1 Ch. 2 Ch. 3 Ch. 4 CH. 5 Ch. 6 Ch. 7 Ch. 8 Ch. 9 Ch. 10 Ch. 11 Ch. 12 Ch. 13 Ch. 14 Ch. 15 Ch. 16

Summary: It is finally the day of the Derby, and an unfortuitous meeting sends Riley to the edge.

Rating: T - Content not suitable for children. Suitable for teens, 13 years and older, with minor suggestive adult themes.

Notes: And we’re back on track! My beta is back from their extended medical leave and we’re coming back with full force. BTW, when I was researching for stills for this cover, I saw Daniel diTommaso’s butt. I’ll leave it at that. Who’s Alexander? And his wife? Any guesses? I’d love to hear them!

Hippodrome Colline de Miel, Phoenike, Cordonia, Fall 2015

After a three-hour car trip through a sinuous, unkempt road up the mountains, the Beaumont family finally arrived to Phoenike, a town some forty kilometers off the border with Greece.

Again, Riley was impressed by the thermal shock of Cordonian weather. Halfway through the journey, while they were passing through Argyrocastron, it was snowing softly, while in the racetrack the women were fanning themselves to relieve the suffocating heat.

Over there, aside from the ruins of an ancient Epirote city, there was the biggest and most traditional race track in the country. The Colline de Miel was off an apple orchard, an Art Deco with a glistening white façade, with great glass windows and marble interior. The place was 600.000 sq. mts., and the main race was to be disputed on a two and a half kilometers sand track.

Still in the car, Maxwell was revising her etiquette. “At the cocktail,” He says. “You’ll have to eat with perfect civility.”

She rolled her eyes. “I’ve got this, Maxwell. I won’t stuff my mouth, pick my teeth or stab Drake with a fork.” She says. “As much as the last one might tempt me.”

“Right.” Maxwell says. “Bertrand said I should go over everything. Speaking of which, how would you address Bertrand?”

“He’s a Duke. He’s supposed to be addressed as ‘Your Grace’.”

“Right!” He celebrated. “And, just in case it comes up, his full title is Duke Bertrand Beaumont of Ramsford.”

They parked off the main building, and Bertrand, insisting on traveling alone, entered the car.

“Maxwell,” He greeted. “How’s progress?”

“As planned!” Maxwell was overjoyed. “Riley and I were just about to review her entrance to the Derby and how to get out of the car without flashing the press.”

“Adjust skirts before moving and keep your knees and feet together while swiveling out.” She recited, beaming.

Bertrand, however, is less than impressed. “Anyone who can run an internet search can spout off that kind of protocol. We’re asking you to be a lady. Maxwell, I hope you don’t mind if I take the liberty of testing Riley myself.”

“Pretty sure it doesn’t actually matter whether I mind or not…”

“Indeed.” The older gentleman smiled wolfly. As he turns to the woman. “Riley, let us pretend I’m meeting you for the first time.”

“Will you demean my profession again?” Riley asked, snarky.

“Just play along, girl!” Bertrand chastised. “Hello. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lady Flowers.”

“The pleasure is all mine, Duke Ramsford.” She says, as she curtsies. The man takes her left hand with his right hand and kissed it.

“Now, what I did wrong?” Bertrand asks.

“You used the wrong hand.” She said, defying him. “You should have taken my hand with your left hand, otherwise it is an insult.”

“Very observant of you.” He commended.

“And there you were, thinking I wasn’t listening to you.” She says, smug.

“Don’t get too complacent.” Bertrand warns. “You’re only ever one mistake away of a scandal.”

“Gee, Your Grace, can you be a little less alarming?”

“Nothing but the truth.” He shrugged. “Now, as I’ve mentioned earlier, how you come across the Cordonian people is very important, and the press can make it or break it with you.”

“It is a sad day to western society when the future of a nation is decided on the yellow press.” Riley thought, acidic.

She tried to pay attention to the Duke. “If the people love you, then it’ll be easy to convince them you deserve their Prince.”

“So, you’ve got to impress the press!” Maxwell beamed. “You’ll be surrounded by them as soon as we pull up to the Downs.”

“All right!” Riley said, excitedly. “Let’s get the show started!”

“I hope your confidence won’t be your downfall.” Bertrand sneered.

“Well,” Maxwell tried to be supportive. “I believe in you!”

“Thanks, dearest!” She squeezed his hand, pulled the door open and gracefully got out of the car.

In the glass entrance of the downs, under a brass insignia of an Apollonian horse, the only breed indigenous to Cordonia, she remembered, and a Merovingian bee, a symbol of the Bonapartist royal rule; the social press of the realm convened, battling for a photo or a statement.

In fact, Riley barely puts her two feet on the concreted walk before a swarm of microphones and a sunshine of camera flashes hit her straight on the face.

“Over here! Donald Brine from the Cordonia Broadcasting Center! We’ve heard about the new lady on the social scene! What’s your name?”

She flashes a smile. “Lady Riley Flowers of House Beaumont.”

“Our viewers care about getting the real story. Tell us about yourself!” Another one said, in the back.

Her smile didn’t betray her thoughts. “Real story. Riiiiight.”

“I’m just that, a mystery!”

Some of the buzz dies down, in confusion. “Most of the ladies can’t wait to talk our ears off.”

“Well, I’m not like everyone else.”

The reporters seemed dazzled. “A fascinating spin…” One said.

“Lady Flowers! Lady Flowers! We heard you were Prince Liam’s favorite. What do you think makes you stand out?”

“I believe he enjoys my company because he can’t figure me out.”

“Lady Flowers, a photo, please!”

She made her best impression of Queen of England, which seemed to please the photographers. “Wonderful, wonderful! You are very photogenic.”

“Lady Flowers, Ana de Luca on behalf of Trend. Your dress is truly spectacular.”

“Thank you!” She beamed.

“Lady Flowers, as an outsider, what do you think of Cordonia?”

“It is a country full of charm and wonder.”

“Our readers will be most pleased with this! Lady Flowers, what qualities make you fit to rule Cordonia?”

“The people can trust me to look out for them and to keep a cool head in times of crisis. I also consider myself brave, caring and honest.”

“How would you handle a low crop yields from the Cordonian apple orchards?”

“I believe a statement should, hypothetically, be issued right away, as in to assure the people of the security of the country’s agrarian policies. The apples are an important part of Cordonia’s culture and economy and deserve a serious answer of the Crown. Beforehand, of course, is the job of the monarchs to charge their government the responsibility to promote actions which protect the poorer farmers and the solvency of the economy.”

The social columnist seemed baffled by the answer, not sure how to retort. In her silence, Riley could hear voices shouting in Greek from the back of the crowd.

“Madam, madam, please, for Dēmokratía!” He shouted. “What do you think of the Cabinet’s proposal to privatize the port of Avlonas?”

Riley was momentarily taken aback with the question. It was a tricky one. “The Cabinet is concerned with the improvement of the infrastructure, but there must be provisions as in to protect the jobs of the people in the capital and surrounding towns as well as the environment, especially around Sason Island.” She said in Greek, as well.

Not the best, most specific answer, but it was an answer. As not to let the reporter ask yet another question, she slipped into the venue.

Inside the opulent and air-conditioned building, the European aristocracy is convened. The Derby is part of a continental championship, and the athletes, the sponsors and wealthy fans of the sport, or of the gambling involved, were mingling amongst themselves, drinking champagne and eating fancy hors d’oeuvres. The ladies vying for the Crown also were around, scouting either support or a fallback plan, together with models, social-climbers and bookies.

As she roamed around, looking for a familiar face, she did find one, though none that she would like to meet.

“Crap.” She thought. “Crap. Crap. Crap. Crap. Crap.”

Riley did not think she was seen right away, but she needed an escape plan right away. She looked around the hall and suddenly she was hit with an idea.

The black-haired walked discreetly, though hurriedly to the doors to the stands by the tracks. They were open, with only a velvet rope and a sign: “Fermé. Prochaine Course 14:00”.

Turning her head left and right, Riley tried to determine if she was being watched. As the coast seemed clear, she jumped over the sign and went down the bleachers, trying to find somewhere more out of view. As she was running down the bleachers, she heard two men talking in the distance. It was Drake and Liam.

If they saw her, they surely would ask what she was doing, something she wasn’t willing to share. As the voices were coming from behind the wooden structure, and they seemed to be coming closer, she jumped the orlop into the tracks.

Crouched, she started run as fast as possible to the stables, where she believed to be the safest. The horses are supposed to be all in their pens, ready for the racing, so the grooms would either be at lunch or at the tracks.

A bell rung on the distance. According to her wristwatch, it was two in the afternoon, time for the races. The attendees are starting to fill up the bleachers. Riley couldn’t see the person she was running away from, so she felt more at ease.

She opened the door to one of the stables, going silently in. Most of the pens, as she expected, were empty, except for one. The occupant retreated further, as she approached.

“Hello?” Riley asked, out loud, as to check if she was actually alone.

Nothing answered her but a gust of wind. It, however, shut suddenly the door to the stables, scaring the horse.

As it was natural, it started neighing and kicking. One of its kicks blew the door to its pen off the hinges.

Seeing a way out, the horse started running to her general direction. Riley tried to calm down the horse, but, as it doesn’t know her, it only picks up speed. She started running herself, but she was too slow.

Riley tripped near the door to the stable. She screamed and closed her eyes, sure it was her end.

Theodora loved the Downs.

The horses were most beautiful, running in the tracks. They were exhilarating! And she quite enjoyed going back to the stables to pet the animals.

Between the end of the races and the time her father would take her to the stables, however, was very boring. Her parents were some feet over, talking to yet another boring adult about things she neither understand, nor care to understand.

Needless to say, she was very bored. There weren’t other children around, and her siblings were off somewhere she did not know.

Done with waiting, Theodora decided to go herself to the stalls.

A few wrong turns later, she could find her way to the stables. It was completely devoid of humans, though filled to the brim with horses. Some of them neighed happily with the company, others seemed to look suspiciously at the intruder, and the rest hadn’t acknowledged the stranger, as the day has been long and tiring.

There was one horse that was particularly likable, its stall close to the door. Theodora approached it and started talking to it, as if it was an old friend. She also managed to find the treats hidden in some armoire.

Between talking, petting and feeding the horse, Theodora hadn’t noticed how late it has gotten, nor whether her parents would worry or not.

Imagine her surprise when her mother came after her at the stables. “Theodora? Are you there? Oh, Lord, why must they like horses? Couldn’t it be cats?”

“Mother?” She responded.

“Good grief, Theodora! Can you imagine how worried I was about you?! Don’t run off like that!”

The girl looked down, ashamed. “I’m sorry, mother. It’s just that I was too bored to wait for father to bring me, so I came alone, I know the way.”

Her mother sighed. “I see, sweetheart. But let’s go, your father is worried about you too.”

“Okay, mother, just let me say goodbye to the horses.”

She smiled uneasily. “I’ll be waiting outside. Be quick.”

Hippodrome Colline de Miel, Phoenike, Cordonia, Fall 2015

She screamed and closed her eyes, sure it was her end.

She waited for the impact. That never came.

Confused, Riley opened slowly one of her eyes, trying to see what happened.

“Whoa, there! Whoa!”

Her eyes widened to the sight of the person helping her. Drake tangled his fingers in the horse’s mane and gently pulls its head down, as in to see him eye to eye.

“Nothin’ to worry about, big fella.” He said, soothingly. “I’ll get this girl outta here for you.”

Drake leads the horse to a stall, and then turns to Riley.

“You okay?” He asks.

“Drake?!” She was still very shaken. “You saved me!”

“Really? I thought I was saving this horse… these Derby runners are like athletes. Can’t risk an injury tripping over a stray human.”

“Oh, charming!” She demeaned. “Did the horse knock your manners out or have you ever been this sweet?”

“Nah… I’ve got out without a scratch.”

“Shut up and give me a hand to get up.” She lifted her hand.

“Get up yourself.” He shrugged.

She moaned. “It’s hard to walk on those shoes, okay?! Please, give me a hand before I rip my skirt.”

“Why haven’t you said so?” He laughed but gave her a hand.

“Thanks.” She sneered. “Why are you even doing here?!”

He passes a hand through his hair. “Look… I…” He sighed. “The truth is, Liam told me to keep an eye on you and make sure you don’t end up in the wrong place… Exactly like now.”

“That must what they were talking a little earlier.” She thought. “He asked you that?” Riley asked, meekly.

“Yeah, good thing I followed his instructions, huh?”

She huffed.

Drake went on: “Speaking of which, you should go back to the racetrack and your adoring fans…” He spat the last word.

“I’d love to, but I’m lost!” She moaned, trying to play the stupid girl card. “Maxwell told me to look for some tents.”

“Noble people would never sit on the grass.” Drake snorted “You’re supposed to wait at the cocktail, then go to the bleachers. How the Hell did you get here in the first place?”

“There were some stairs, I went down. I couldn’t find anyone, so I kept walking. I thought somebody was bound to be looking after the horses. I guess I was wrong.”

“Well, it doesn’t matter now. Anyways, the races are about to start, just walk to the bleachers, can’t miss them. Bye.” He was exceeding unpleasant, while walked to the door.

“Wait!” Riley called after him. “Aren’t you supposed to go that way too?”

“No.” He said, smugly. “I’m due to meet Liam. The royal family has their own booth at the tracks.”

“Careful, Drake, you seem to be looking forward to schmooze with royalty.”

“Har-har.” He was ironic. “But you’re right. Me and Liam usually just hang out there and get some drinks, watch the ceremonies, place our bets on the horses… It is pretty sweet.”

Riley quickly formulated a plan. “In that case, I’m going with you.”

“What?!” He exclaimed, outraged.

“It sounds more fun where you’re going.” She said, simplistic. “Take me with you.”

“I don’t think you’re supposed to…”

“Boo-hoo.” Riley mocked. “What are they going to do? Throw me in Princess Jail?”

She marched to the door. As she noticed Drake wasn’t following her, she looked back and said: “Chop-chop, let’s go.”

He shook his head and went after her.

As they arrived at the entrance of the booth, a tall, strong man from the Guard motioned to her and said, “Invited only.”

“Let me handle this,” Drake said, pointedly. Then, in Greek, full of innuendo, he told the man: “Please, Prince Liam asked for her.”

The man widened his eyes and let them pass. When they were out of earshot, Riley elbowed him. “You had to tell him that?”

Drake smirked. “You’re the one who wanted to tag along.” He pointed to the refreshment table. “You go ahead, I’m going to get some beers.”

As he left, Riley calls him back. “Hey, Drake?”

“Yes?”

“Thanks,” She told him with a smile. “I’d be positively miserable over there with Olivia.”

“Don’t mention it.” And with that, he left.

Over at the railing, Liam was staring intently at the tracks. Riley had a wicked idea. She puts her hands over his eyes, saying softly: “Guess who?”

He tenses at the loss of his sight, but relaxes and smiles to the sound of her voice.

“There’s only one person who could sneak here and sneak up on me.”

“Which is?” She laughed.

“Riley.” He said, softly.

She took her hands from his eyes. “Correct!”

“However in the world did you manage to get in here?!” He asked her.

“Drake was kind enough to get me in.” She said, and then frowned. “Even if he might have suggested to the bouncer over there I was some kind of courtesan.”

Liam seemed extremely displeased with her statement. “Riley, as much as I am glad for you to be here, I am really sorry that you had to go through this. I’ll see to Drake doesn’t…”

She cut him off: “Would the guy let me through had Drake told him the truth?”

“No,” Liam conceded. “But…”

“But nothing, the important thing is that I got in, not how I got in.”

“I… suppose. But you shouldn’t have to go through this kind of embarrassment.”

“I was a waitress, Liam.” She laughed, dismissively. “That was nothing.”

The prince was feeling more at ease with the situation, even if it was aggressive to his morals.

“Speaking of Drake,” Riley continued. “I had a funny conversation with him about you telling him to look out for me.”

“Ah… right. I guess you caught me.” He didn’t seem much repentant. “I did say that to him.”

“Liam,” She said, rather sternly. “I understand you did this out of care, and I do appreciate it, but don’t you trust me to take care of myself?”

“Honestly, you seem the one of the most capable people I’ve ever met.” He says, with that kind of shyness reserved to the guilty. “It is only that I know these events can be chaotic, intimidating. I hate the thought of you feeling lost when I can’t be there with you. I hope you’re not terribly offended.”

“Look, Liam, I know what I’ve said at the night of the Masquerade, about me feeling overwhelmed, and I get your point of view, but if I thought it was too much for me to handle, I’d had left a long time ago.” She took his hand. “I can do this, don’t worry so much about me.”

She kissed his cheek, as in a way to put him at ease. His face, however, tinted in a deep scarlet.

As to change the subject as quickly as possible, he pointed at the gates. “Look, they’re leading the horses to the start already.” He smiled softly. “I love watching the horses.”

“They are majestic creatures, indeed.” She said. “But, especially with those race horses, I can’t shake the idea of them feeling trapped. Here we have the fastest ones in the world, but there they are, running in circles, just to return to small, uncomfortable pens at night.”

“I… never thought that way before. If it is of any consolation to you, I’ve visited where some of these horses spend their days, and the fields are magnificent.”

“That’s something, I suppose.”

“Nothing like a little gilding to make a cage bearable.” He said, with some assertiveness.

Riley rose an eyebrow and seemed ready to ask something, but just then she was interrupted by Drake letting himself into the booth, holding three glasses of beer.

“Hope I’m not interrupting anything.” Drake says, as he handles a glass to Riley.

“You were.” She said, playfully. “But I’m glad to see you anyways.”

“You are?”

“Why would I lie?” She asked.

“And you’re just in time!” Liam told Drake excitedly. “The last race is about to start! I say Twilight-Dash takes the crown.”

“That’s not a bad prediction,” Drake concedes. “But I’ve been studying the stats. My money’s on Mirabelle’s Dream.”

“Want to bet on that, Drake?” Liam challenged.

“Sure. The usual?”

“What’s the usual?” Riley pondered.

“Ever since Drake and I were kids, we’d bet each other push-ups.” Liam told her.

“Not just any push-ups.”

“Yes. Push-ups while the other person sits on your back.”

“That’s so cute!” Riley exclaimed.

“It’s not ‘cute’. It’s rugged. And manly.” Drake, revolted, retorted.

“‘Homoerotic’ might be the word you are looking for.” She showed him her tongue.

Liam laughed, and said: “So, Drake, do we have a bet?”

“You’re on.”

“Except perhaps one change to the usual.” Liam proposed. “I think we’d be incredibly rude to leave out Riley. Maybe she should be the one to sit on the loser’s back.”

“Riley Flowers, gym weight extraordinaire.” She smiled.

“There we have, then.” Liam said.

“Drake,” Riley asked. “Which horse is which?”

“The 8 is Twilight-Dash and the 12 is Mirabelle’s Dream.” He provided.

She looked at the horses and had a cold dread fall upon her stomach. “Who’s… Who’s the man riding the 12?”

“Alexander Rosenberg. He’s an Austrian rider and nobleman. If I recall correctly, he’s the Marquess of Krumau. Mirabelle’s Dream is probably his horse, he is racing this afternoon.” Liam said.

“And the woman?” Her lip trembled.

“It must be his wife. He married recently.” The blond shrugged and then wondered: “Why do you ask?”

“No…” She said. “Nothing important. I just thought I knew him. It must be a mistake.”

Riley receded into her thoughts, coming back to reality when the shot signaling the opening of the gates. The two men leaned forward in anticipation to the winner.

Despite of herself, Riley was rooting for the midnight-black horse. And, as a prophecy, Mirabelle’s Dream, despite tough competition, wins the race and is taken to the side and covered in roses.

“Liam,” Said Drake, smugly. “I believe you’re up.”

“Well, here we go…” He said. “If you excuse me, I can’t get those clothes dirty and sweaty.”

As he takes off his shirt and blazer, Riley takes off her hat and her heels, as in not to lose balance.

“Riley,” The prince called. “I believe I need your assistance here.”

“I’m on it.” She smiled and propped herself down.

“Is that all?” He said. “I barely feel a thing.”

“Keep telling girls that and they’ll line up to date you.” Riley said. “On a second thought, haven’t they done such thing already?”

As soon as she finished talking, Liam started his push-ups.

“Oof!” Riley almost, comically, fell from his back with the first sudden upward movement.

“Too easy!” Drake mocked.

“Thank you, Drake. That’s the kindest thing you told me this week.” Riley said.

“…And ten.” Liam laid on the floor. “Done.”

Riley gets off him and he stands up. Already dressed, he said: “And it shall never be said I back off bets.”

“And you lose all the time, so that’s really saying something.” Drake teased.

“I must’ve done something very wrong at some point for you to be my best friend.” Liam teased.

“Amen to that.” Riley agreed.

“I think it’s part of my job to keep you humble. Hard to do that with all those gorgeous women chasing after you.”

“Speaking of which, now that the races are over, it’s probably time to go back to the social barrage. I should go down and congratulate the winner of the Derby.”

At the mention of the marquess, she felt her face go blank. She should get out of there as fast as she could.

Luckily, her appearance played right into her hand when Drake looked at her and said: “Hey, are you alright? You seem awfully pale.”

“No, I feel a little dizzy…” She said.

Liam tensed at that. “What happened?” He asked, in half desperation.

“I don’t know!” Drake exclaimed. “She just got white suddenly.”

“Go fetch Maxwell!” The blond commanded, and the brunet disappeared through the door.

“I really shouldn’t, but it has to be done.” She thought. “Okay. One, two, three, now!”

She faked a faint.

Palace of the Brigades, Avlona, Cordonia, Fall 2015

After Riley faked her fainting, Maxwell came running with the car to take them back to the Palace. Lucky for her, Phoenike wasn’t much of a big city and they couldn’t find a trustful doctor who could attend to her right away.

Halfway there, she ‘woke up’ from her faint, faking confusion. Maxwell was alone with her in the car. She was informed Drake went on ahead to alert the royal physician, while Liam was kept behind by protocol.

As they arrived at her room, the doctor examined her and said her ‘fainting spell’ was more likely a result of exhaustion, bad nourishment and a climate which she was not used to. She was prescribed bedrest for a few days.

As Maxwell lead the doctor away, Drake kept her company for a few more moments.

“Hey, Drake.” She called.

“Yes?”

“Thank you. For the books, for the booth, for getting me a doctor and for the horse.”

“I know I’m a jerk, but I’d have to be a really low-life to let a horse trample a girl.”

“Either way, thanks.” She said, sincere.

Maxwell let himself in again. “Okay, Riley. You heard the doctor. Try to have a good night’s sleep.”

“If only that was the answer to all there’s wrong with the world!” She exclaimed, teasingly. “Good night, Maxwell, Drake.”

“’Night, Flowers.” Drake said as they left the room and closed the door.

As soon as she was alone, she jumped out of the bed and went to her trunk.

Behind her, a voice tutted: “Leaving so soon? After so much they’ve done for you? How nasty!”

Riley froze at the sound.

“No greetings? Well, I suppose we are past that, though I would like at least a hello. After all, we’ve been apart for so long, and we were so close.” They teased.

“Wh-what are you doing in here?!” Riley stuttered.

“No clue?” They smiled, wickedly. “I’ve come to fetch you! They’ll be so happy to see you again!”

Red Rose - Masterlist

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#red rose #the royal romance

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warmau · 7 years

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{Special} College!AU Kihyun

major: drama + classics (concentration: greek civilization)

minor: ancient greek

sports: is running around campus in a toga considered a sport? he did that once as a part of an impromptu production,,,,,,

clubs: poets society, theater club, hosts the bi-yearly ‘on campus olympics’, playwrights united, so many tbh,,,,,,

kihyun’s love for drama comes from his love for greek mythology. it all started with him watching an old film version of the odyssey when he was ten and afterwards he couldn’t stop parading around the street asking everyone to call him “odysseus ruler of ithaca”

but instead of going into film as a major, kihyun had started reading the playwrights of sophocles, euripides, and agathon and had fallen for the sheer madness of greek tragedy

his love for both acting, writing, and the culture of ancient greece made him want to learn the language (although he is rather clumsy with it) but inevitably he ended up majoring in both drama and the classics

bringing together the two things he loves most: being on stage himself, while also learning about the art of his favorite kind of plays

and everyone in the drama major agrees that if they ever put on productions based off ancient greek plays that kihyun HAS to be the main role -

like for their production of hamlet, kihyun was fine playing horatio - he didn’t have to be the prince but when they put on oedipus rex well,,,,,let’s just say there was no question kihyun wanted the role

mostly because in the play oedipus ends up blind and kihyun came into practice with a blindfold on and proceeded to try and prove he could still do everything without seeing anything,,,,he ended up in the nurses office buT HEY HE GOT THE ROLE

all his classes that focus on playwriting / scripts kihyun has this need to only write twists on greek mythology, or make up stories using the gods

and in costume design he’s always like “my sketches are based on artemis!! see the dress is short, but comfortable with nature-themed colors because artemis was the goddess of the hunt-”

and you know the way some people are harry potter nerds or ,,,, gamers ,,,,, or you know kpop fans,,,,, kihyun is a fan of ancient greece. to put it simply

and he’s really smart about the civilization, he knows so many facts and so many philosophers and writers and political figures - even though it might seem like he’s a little messy at times

which believe me, kihyun can give off the messy feeling because he’s really easily frustrated by a A LOT of things. like he always gets too much on his schedule and then fusses about how he can’t finish

and minhyuk loves LOVES L O V E S to tease kihyun when kihyun is trying to focus on his work

and it ends up with kihyun chasing minhyuk around the library waving around his copy of ‘hippolytus’ like a weapon

but also kihyun always drags minhyuk into his room to read through lines with him or give him his opinion on kihyun’s acting

and minhyuk is like whY ME ASK SHOWNU and kihyun is like i can’t shownu’s only reaction is ‘good’ ‘nice’ ‘very pleasing’

like minhyuk and kihyun are always bickering if they’re in the same room and minhyuk’s always like ROFL YOU’RE SO MAD YOUR EARS TURNED RED!!!! and kihyun is like THEY DID NOT CO M E HERE SO I CAN WHOOP-

but in the end minhyuk is always one of the first people kihyun invites to his productions and it’s cute it’s like cats and dogs w/them

on the other hand, with everyone else kihyun is sooooooo sly and he’s always like,,,,,like he always knows everyones secrets and no one knows how

like he leaned over to jooheon once and was like “i heard you failed your test in global finance” and jooheon’s fry fell out of his mouth because he was like WHO TOLD YOU I SHREDDED THAT TEST and kihyun is just like (-----: heard it thru the grapevine~

also jooheon is just an easy target for kihyun because he always slips up and tells kihyun exactly what he wants to know and everyone is like kihyun let him live and kihyun is like hehehehe,,,,NO

tries to matchmake all his friends on blind dates and stuff because he calls himself the ‘modern day eros’

it flops most of the time and everyone in monsta x is like stop trying to wingman us and kihyun is like that’s why you’re all single because you won’t listen to me - the actual god of love

and even though kihyun seems like this responsible, on-top of his work kind of person there are times where,,,,,,,that isn’t very true

because college makes people doubt their abilities and kihyun has never been the kind of person who’d go around asking for help or advice,,,he always just gives his support

but when he needs it most ??? he shuts down

and you learn this because every time you’ve ever seen kihyun,,,,you’ve seen the happy and excitable kihyun. the kihyun who laughs with his whole body, who speaks his lines with so much emotion that people C R Y, who is always shining on and off stage

you’ve seen him like this ever since you started volunteering to paint backgrounds for the theater club

and never once,,,,had you see him look sad. you’d seen him angrily yelling out when things were getting messed up, how he gets a little on edge when people keep messing up lines,,,,,maybe even the way his ears get red when he’s rushing to get rehearsal started but,,,,,,

sad??? nope

so you can only describe it as pure shock when you think that everyone has gone for the day and you’ve set up the large white banner that you have to paint for an upcoming production but as you step back inside the dark theater with buckets of paints you hear ??? crying

and it isn’t like sobbing or anything but you hear someone sniffle

and you consider like turning around and leaving them in peace, but when you catch a glimpse of the pink hair,,,,,,,,the pink hair of the only person on campus who has that bright of a dye job

you freeze and think “kihyun?”

and at first you don’t believe it because no way. someone so outspoken and charismatic wouldn’t seclude themselves to crying in the theater ,,,,,

but then you see him get up from the corner he’s slumped again, a liter of paper scraps making a ring around his feet

and that’s when you notice that you’ve locked eyes. your wide, confused ones staring into kihyun’s that are rimmed with redness and the tear stains down his cheeks glisten even so far away

something about it leaves you even more shocked ,,,,, because even like this kihyun is handsome. hauntingly handsome,,,,,,wiping at his face with his sleeves and desperately moving his eyes away from yours

and you think he’s just going to run past you. leave

but he seems stuck too

and for a while you two just stand there in a silence broken only by kihyun sniffling every now and then and you shifting the paint can in your hands

and then you hear him go “im sorry, this is painfully awkward for you isn’t it?”

something sounds a bit bitter in his voice,,, what it is you don’t know ? but you transfix your stare and shake your head simply going “no. you’re the one that looks like you’re going through something painful”

kihyun’s head snaps up to look back at you and again,,,,,,something about the browns of his eyes seem illuminated and glassy

he bites back his lip but sadly drops his shoulders “you’re right. it is painful.”

now it probably isn’t your place to go around meddling into his business, but it’s never nice to leave someone crying alone without at least trying to extend a helping hand so shakily you step forward. setting down your can of paint you keep your eyes on him

“what’s wrong?”

kihyun seems to break at the sound of your question. a visible shiver runs down his body and before you know it he’s back to his knees on the floor, picking up the scraps of paper and crumpling them in his hand

without really knowing why you rush over and try to pull the scraps from him. you unravel one and read the disjointed sentences, the obvious dialogue mixed in with stage commands

it’s a script,,,,,,for a play

putting together a couple of more scraps you make out names like ‘aphrodite’ and ‘eros’. the names of ancient greek cities. words you can’t decipher but that are most obviously distinct of an old langue

you look up at kihyun and he stares blankly at the paper before clenching his teeth

“they won’t approve it. greek tragedy isn’t popular in our time, it’s only meant to be studied.” you tilt your head and kihyun continues with a sigh

“every time we have to submit a draft, the professor gives it back. says, “kihyun stop writing tragedies. stop putting in obscure greek references. kihyun,,,,,,,,,,,do something more modern.” but i don’t want to. im not majoring in modern theater. im majoring in the classics. so what if i want to rewrite them. so what if i want to make a play about ancient gods no one cares about. i care about them. i ,,,,,,,,”

he stops and his gaze meets yours. your trying to piece the paper back, you want to read the scene but you can’t. it’s so ripped up

kihyun takes the paper and without looking at it recites that characters lines. he sets the place for you, olympus and than a city off the skirts of athens. you listen, enchanted at how he’s added all this to his memory. the smallest details, the expression on his characters faces

it’s only one scene that he recites aloud, but you edge closer and ask “is there more?”

kihyun lets out a shallow laugh and shakes his head “the professor said to give it up. i need to re-write something more to their taste.

you sit back on your heels and then get up, taking the paint can beside your feet and dipping it in a sand colored mix, you begin to paint a long line

kihyun watches and blinks “what is that?”

you turn to him and smile “ancient greek cities had columns right?you mentioned the outskirts of athens-”

kihyun gets up and puts his hand over your wrist. he shakes his head and goes “you don’t have to.”

but you yank your hand and continue to paint. “i want to.”

for a couple of minutes you continue to paint, trying to imagine the backdrop kihyun described as best you can.

“what about the background you’re supposed to actually be drawing?” he asks and you run your free hand through your hair to push it back from your eyes

“ill do it after. right now, i want to paint this. i want to see a part of your play in front of my eyes.”

kihyun seems taken aback but he sees your determination. he steps back and you think he’s going to leave, maybe find you inarguable and give up

but then you hear him walk back and forth, taking in your painting so far and then a smile pulls at his lips

“well ok see the column, cover it in slight vine. there’s also a market scene in my play so we should add in stalls and maybe an animal or two-”

you and kihyun paint for hours. maybe three. maybe four. you and kihyun. alone.

you both end up with stained hands, sweat on your foreheads, and a half finished piece of artwork

kihyun grins and turns to you, “thank you.”

you shrug your shoulders, the overalls your wearing have long been stained with paint but now there’s even more and you feel bad because kihyun’s gotten his fancy looking sweater dirty but he doesn’t look like he cares at all

he’s looking at the background with shining eyes and you’re happy because you can see that the redness from crying is gone, that bitter tone in his voice is gone

and you’re looking at the passionate boy you’ve always found so mesmerizing again

but as you two realized it’s getting late you set out the large banner to dry in a vacant part of the backstage. kihyun suddenly takes your hand and pushes his phone into it

“put in your name and contact so we can meet up and finish this?”

you gladly oblige and kihyun reads your name aloud when you’re done, almost like he’s testing it out as a line to read on stage. you feel a slight blush cross your cheeks when he says it so boldly but you hide it with a “hopefully this all drys over night.”

kihyun walks out of the theater with you, insisting that he hold half the empty paint cans and a brush between his teeth that makes you laugh

as you wave goodbye and go separate ways the warmness in your heart stays with you all the way to your dorm

the next day,,,,,,,,,,,,that warmness is gone

because the director of the play you were supposed to draw the background for is livid to see that instead of their european snowy mountains request,,,,,,you’ve drown an ancient greek cityscape

“are you an idiot? can you not listen to directions? HAVE YOU EVEN READ THE PLAY? this isn’t some bullshit remake of ‘Medea’. throw this out no one is going to use it!”

the yelling makes you flinch and you reluctantly try to roll the banner up but the director puts a hand in your way

“what are you doing? rip this to shreds, it’s garbage.”

you clench your jaw and stand up, “it’s not garbage. it’s for another play. i need to make sure not to ruin it.”

with a cocked eyebrow the director folds their hands and snorts “what other play? since when were there any greek productions approved by the theater club? no one wants to s-”

“i want to see it. i want to see my friends greek tragedy and im not going to ruin the art we worked hard on so if you can please shut up and move your hand. ill get to work on your background, practice for it doesn’t even start till next week.”

passing the director whose looking at you with an open mouth you roll the banner up and heave it into your hands. it’s long and heavy, but you figure you’ll be fine if you walk slow

but just before you do, another set of hands wraps around the big roll of paper and you see a familiar pink head stick out from the side

“need help?”

you grin at kihyun and the two of you lift up the unfinished background. the director mutters something about of COURSE kihyun wants to put on a play copying the tragedies and it takes everything in you not to snap at them

kihyun’s reassuring smile keeps you stable and the two of you walk out of the theater and kihyun leans the rolled up paper against the wall

“well, i guess ill keep it in my dorm. although im not sure my roommate will be happy about it,,,,,,then again shownu never really cares that much.”

you apologize but kihyun leans over to ruffle your hair

“why are you sorry? i should apologize for distracting you from making that other background. that asshole really went off on you - do you think you can just quit and permanently work for me?”

you know he’s half-joking but you play with the idea in your head for a minute before putting your hands on your sides and going “you know what, i think i will quit.”

and with that you turn on your heel, back into the theater before kihyun can stop you, and you shout “i QUIT”

before returning to kihyun whose waiting outside with his eyes the size of the moon

“you- why- you”

you laugh and shrug “i don’t want to work for an asshole, might as well put my skill to good use for people who actually appreciate it.”

kihyun bites back a big grin and throws his arm around your shoulder, pulling you into him suddenly and squeezing

“you know i owe you a lot!” you blush because he’s warm, his chest is solid and you fit so perfectly into the crook of his hand but you just manage to shadow it with another chuckle “you do! anyway, you need to finish writing the play,,,,,,”

kihyun lets you go and rummages around in his backpack, pulling out a thick stack of papers

“i spent all night on it. i mean i already had half done, but i actually finished it. you really motivated me.”

the words are simple but they make you heat up again and you take the stack, eager to flip through it and finally read the whole thing. kihyun somehow hauls the entire roll of paper onto his back and says he’ll call you when he’s free so you two can finish this up and so you can tell him what you think of the play. you nod and watch as he struggles across the quad,,,,,,,

you hold the play in your hands and think,,,,,it’s worth it. for him, it’s worth it.

you stay up reading it, even neglecting some studying to read it twice. from what you can figure out it’s a play on an greek romance tragedy where aphrodite meddles between a young girl and her secret lover,,,,,,,it’s kind of corny in some parts and over dramatic,,,but that’s the style that suits kihyun the best

and in the morning as you’re leaving for your first class you get a call

kihyun’s excited voice on the other line calls your name and he says that if you have some free time to meet him in the art department soon.

when you show up at the room kihyun told you about you see that all the desks are pushed against the wall and your unfinished background is spread on the floor surrounded by paint cans and brushes. kihyun is already on his knees, painting, wiping sweat away with one hand

but once he realizes you’ve come in he jumps to his feet and tugs you over by the wrist chattering about what he wants to add into the painting.

you guys paint together for horus, kihyun keeping the mood happy with jokes and stories and telling you more about the play he has in mind

at some point you two are sitting close together, shoulders basically rubbing up against each other

when kihyun leans over and you feel the tickle of a brush on your skin

and you look down to see kihyun painting a smiley face on your forearm

you retaliate by drawing a mustache on for him

he laughs and draws swirls on your cheeks

and the background is forgotten for a while as you both paint little things on one and other

kihyun covers you crooked flowers and scribbles of lines and you try to draw whiskers on his nose

and ,,,,,,,,, then you know kihyun is leaning in close

the brush he has is too big so he uses his finger to draw a pink petal on your forehead but then he makes the (good,,,,verY GOOD) mistake of looking into your eyes

and it’s still early afternoon with the sun peaking thru the blinds

of the empty classroom,,,,,

except,,,,,for you two,,,,,,,,,,

and your eyes are like,,,,,,,,,,,the most beautiful thing kihyun has seen in his entire life,,,,,your breathing both slowed,,,,,,,,your mouths inches apart,,,,,literally,,,,,

and both of you are thinking the same thing which is like ‘how soft are their lips,,,,,’

BUT ALAS NEITHER OF YOU DO ANYTHING AND INSTEAD PULL AWAY GOING BACK TO WORK EMBARASSED AS HELL

except kihyun cannot stop thinking about it and you keep touching your lips every second but ,,,,,,,,

kihyun just stops and goes “looks like we’re almost done!” in an effort to break the awkward air and you nod, adding some final details

and finally you get up and kihyun says you can leave it here to dry since no one is using this room today

and you don’t know why,,,,maybe it’s the leftover embarrassment, but you get your things and tell kihyun you have to go,,,,

but before you can make your escape kihyun calls out

“are you going to come and see my play?”

and you gasp because holy shit did he get it approved by the theater club????

but kihyun shakes his head and you’re like then how-??? and kihyun is like “just promise me, when i call you with an invitation you’ll show up right?”

and he puts out his pinkie and you’re like a bit confused but you link yours with his and promise

and kihyun reaches out like he’s going to ruffle your hair again but pulls back

and you leave,,,,,,,,,thinking about how kihyun is going to manage to pull off a play without the club but also,,,,,

your fingers touch your lips again,,,,,,but you’re like sTOP thinking about it let’s go do some homework or something instead!!!

ofc kihyun is in the room alone, staring down at the finished piece with his own hand over his mouth

before screaming out “YOO KIHYUN YOU ARE AN I D I O T” at himself and almost falling forward onto the damn background

but also like ,,,,,, two weeks passes and you don’t hear from kihyun. like you see him running around campus doing his usual thing, you see him teasing that other guy jooheon and hanging out with minhyuk

but everytime he turns and you think he might see you,,,,you duck behind a tree or pull up your hood

because ok you’re not going to admit it but,,,,,,,,,,,,you kind of are still embarrassed about the whole art room incident but,,,,,,you honestly though kihyun would have said or done something by now to show you it was all ok????

and you know it’s stubborn to not just text or call him first but you just caNT

and after it edges on three weeks you think well it isn’t worth it to care anymore. kihyun needed you around because you helped him with the painting. it didn’t really matter

but as you’re sitting in your dorm, watching some drama on your laptop your phone goes off and mindlessly you pick up w/o looking at the caller ID

and on the other line is,,,,,kihyun

who goes “you said you’d come if i invited you right? can you come down to the west dorms?”

and you sit up, almost knocking your laptop off your feet and you’re like “uh oh yes give me 5 minutes” and you can practically hear kihyun’s smile on the other end when he’s like ok great!

and that’s how you end up in kihyuns dorm,,,,,,, staring at the makeshift stage he’s made out of blankets on the floor and the familiar background you both painted taped onto his wall

and you’re not sure where kihyun is, but you can hear voices from the bathroom and suddenly ????? shownu comes out

wearing what you presume is a night sheet as a toga

and he starts off talking about his “daughter” who can’t find love and instantly you realize this is ,,,,, this is the script you read by kihyun

and then the ‘daughter’ runs out. it’s changkyun in a wig

followed by mischievous aphrodite played by minhyuk in another wig and a crown made out of plastic flowers

and the narrator in the back, who sits down in the corner is a very tired looking hyungwon

followed by the dashing young lover,,,,,,,,,,,, kihyun

(also in a night sheet toga)

and there’s music,,,,,,,every now and then provided by wonho with his ipod and jooheon who throws paper shavings everytime minhyuk appears since he’s playing a goddess

and the whole thing looks so,,,,,,,,so bizarre and silly

shownu pulls the script out of his toga to literally read off his lines and minhyuk is obviously improvising and when kihyun tries to hug changkyun changkyun almost smacks him away with his wig

and it’s,,,,,it’s a mess

but it’s kihyuns play. and you watch it: laughing and clapping and gasping when you need to

and finally, the last scene,,,,,,,,the last kiss between the girl and her lover,,,,,,

changkyun suddenly goes over to you and pulls you up, moving you toward his spot beside kihyun

whispering “he wanted it to be you, plus i don’t want to kiss him”

before sitting down where you were

and you’re looking at kihyun who says his last line before wrapping his arm around your waist and placing a gentle kiss right ,,,, on your lips

and you’re like !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! because oh god everyone is watching - was this kihyuns plan - he’s so soft and this kiss is so nice - wait oh god his friends are all watching

but then you can’t help it, your hand almost reflexively goes up to his neck to pull him closer

and hyungwon literaLLY clears his throat because AHEM this kiss is ‘short and sweet’

but when you two pull back it’s obvious the play is over and everyone in the room breaks into applause

but you’re star-struck staring at kihyun who just smiles and goes

“i’ve been waiting a long time to do that”

before turning to bow to the lone changkyun who is sitting where you were, pulling you down a bit so you bow too

and ,,,,,,,,,,, it’s crazy really

but somehow it feels right and you compliment everyone on their acting and helping and all of them crowd around to talk about how kihyun had bribed them to get them to do it

and it makes you laugh, hearing about how much effort kihyun put into this “play” just,,,,,,,,,,,,,,to show it to you

and once all his friends have filed out of the dorm. shownu leaving with jooheon to let you and kihyun be alone

you turn to him and go

“it was a good play, but you should really submit it to the theater club. it deserves more than just me seeing it.”

kihyun grins, kissing the side of your cheek and going “it’s ok. this play is special,,,,,,so special because it’s only meant for one person to see it.”

you: “me?”

kihyun: “the person i like.”

you: “so,,,,,,,,,me?”

kihyun: “pleASE i am trying to be romantic.”

you laugh again and kihyun collects you in his arms, pressing your foreheads together and wow yes kihyun asked you out by putting on a whole play for you and we ALL KNOW HE WOULD BE THIS EXTRA

but it’s cute,,,,,,,,,shownu comes back to find you and kihyun sitting in his bed reading through other stuff kihyun has written and shownu is like “id like to get some sleep but if you two plan on staying up giggling i will go make my bed somewhere else”

kihyun walks you back your dorm considering it’s dark out and you tell him that you’re serious though - he should get one of his plays put on by the theater club

kihyun just kisses you again and tells you you’re the best fan he’s ever had

and you hit him playfully because yes, fan but also -the best significant other???

and dating kihyun means literally just dating the most affectionate person in the world

from the moment you two meet up after your class to when kihyun has to leave you for practice ,,,,, kihyun is holding onto you

holding your hand, holding your waist, holding your face, literally just attached to your side

for that constant love and attention

and he’s even more passionate and dramatic than what you thought you knew

like he’ll get down on his knees with a rose in his mouth in front of your whoLE clASS on your 100 day anniversary

and he’ll insist on carrying you if you as much as scratch yourself on something

and he’ll serenade you outside your dorm window

and he’ll get his face printed on a t-shirt that says ‘i love kihyun’ as a gift for you

and oh gosh it sounds overwhelming but it’s all done with the best intentions because you best believe he makes himself a shirt that says ‘i love y/n’ with your face on it so he can wear it with pride

even though hyungwon sees this couple item and looks at you like please tell kihyun to burn these

but kihyun isn’t just passionate about you,,,,,,,,he’s passionate about your life too. he’s always cheering you up when you’re in a slump over course work or friends or family. and your family loves him because he literally is so polite and so well-mannered around them

and even on little holidays that most people overlook he’s like ‘let me call your family and thank them for bringing you into this world one again-’ and you’re like PLEASE

kihyun is also super smart,,,,,like he knows so much about ancient greek civilization and when he practices the language in front of you you’re like ‘you’re a genius’ and kihyun is like ‘i know, you’re lucky to be dating me. the next socrates’

and you’re like ok bye but he begs you to stay with many kisses

and he’s a drama major, and people think it’s easy but you know how kihyun stays up studying lines and then working on props that the club might need, and revising his own personal playwrights

and when you learn that he’s even taking a class on like lighting techniques??? for like stages???

you’re honestly like,,,,,,he is a genius and so hardworking,,,,,

so you’re always like giving kihyun a shoulder massage or helping organize his notes and he’s like “you really care well for me”

and you play it off like WHAT would you do without me,,,,,but you’re just really proud of his hardwork

and that’s why when you hear that the club is looking of putting out another production you insist that kihyun submit one of his plays,,,,,but he gets all concerned again

so with confidence you submit a copy of it yourself and it gets picked?? and when kihyun finds out he runs to your first

and literally picks you up in a spinning hug because he’s like mY PLAY and you’re like I tOLD you TheY’D LOVE IT

and that one teacher that kept telling him to stop writing in that style,,,,,,well let’s just say he’s quite embarrassed when the whole drama department gets excited over seeing the club put on something modeled after the ancient greek play

and you ofc help to paint the background

and while kihyun is practicing, every now and then he’ll break his concentration to surprise you with back hugs and kisses on the neck

on opening night of the production,,,,, you have a front row seat along with the rest of monsta x

and it’s amazing,,,,,kihyun shines so powerfully with his performance

but watching him makeout with the other lead,,,,,well,,,,,let’s just say you force jooheon to cover your eyes for you

but after as you’re all congratulating all the student actors

you pull kihyun aside and just,,,,,,,,well just you kiss him with a bit more force than ever and kihyun pulls back like ‘is this a gift for my performance or are you trying to tell me something?”

and you blush because Shut UP but,,,,,also,,,,,,,,,,,,,,you’re like “kihyun let’s celebrate more,,,,,,,,alone,,,,,,,,in your dorm,,,,,tell shownu to spend the night somewhere else”

and kihyun’s ears go redder than blood and he doesn’t even have to open his mouth when you two show up in front of shownu

because kihyun’s hair is a mess already since you made out with him and his ears are blushing and you’re already nudging him in the side and shownu gets it

he’s like “ill comeback tomorrow, you two have fun. be safe”

let’s just say when shownu comes around in the morning he has to throw another blanket on top of you and kihyun LOL

and kihyun is amazing,,,,,,,at acting,,,,,,,at being a boyfriend,,,,,at ahem other things

BUT he’s also a good cook and when you find him at your dorm with late night snacks he made or just when you two have the time to use the communal kitchen

you’re just like im blessed,,,,he’s everything

and one summer kihyun surprises you with money he’s saved up for a trip to greece before the semester starts again and you’re like kIHYUN where did you get the money,,,,,,,,,,, and he just grins because apparently translating ancient greek for some older scholars is actually quite a well paying side job and you didn’t even know he was doing it

but ,,,,,,,,,,,, you guys go and it’s amazing. it’s short only a week, but it’s amazing and kihyun is like “if you hadn’t said all those thing, about how you wanted to watch my play no matter what,,,,,,i would have probably dropped out of drama as a major.” and you’re like what oh my god ,,, and he just grins

and brings you close and nuzzles his face against yours because,,,,,,,,you motivated him so much and you continue to motivate him

and you’re like kihyun!!! you motivate me too!!! you keep me stable and positive

and it’s just romantic,,,,,,,,,,,,,kihyun makes everything so romantic

and once you get back and another semester of college starts and all of monsta x is so jealous of your ‘lovers getaway’ to greece

kihyun is like “hey, let me wingman you guys and sooner or later you’ll all be on your own lovers getaways ;)”

all of monsta x: no

kihyun: you all are missing out. like i have a s/o and you don’t think about that hMMMMMMM

you: *face in your hands* why is he like this,,,,,,,,

college!vixx (here) & college!bts (here) & college!seventeen (here)

find special college!jb (here), college!mark tuan (here) college!youngjae (here), college!jinyoung (here) & college!jackson (here)

find special college!amber (here)

find special college!wonho (here) , college!im (here), college!hyungwon (here)

and please look forward to more special college!aus!

#monsta x scenarios #monsta x scenario #kihyun scenario #kihyun scenarios #sfw #College!AU #monsta x kihyun scenario #monsta x #kihyun #college!au x monsta x #monsta x imagines #monsta x imagine #kihyun imagines #kihyun imagine

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