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Seokjin wakes in the early morning, the quiet of his home a welcome comfort with the rising dawn. Light pours through his windows, golden and red, stretching far enough to brush against the bottom of his robes. He plucks some of the crystals out of the chest in the corner before dropping each one into his bag; rubies and emeralds, topazes and quartz, and many more. He knows how many he needs for the day by heart, the customers on today’s list familiar and regular (and his favorites).
It’s still quiet and tranquil by the time he finishes preparing for the long day ahead of him, fingertips dusted with graphite sliding over his doorframe. The wood vibrates under the slight pressure, rumbling and trembling until bright light flashes from behind, and with a deep breath, Seokjin pushes the door open and steps through.
The sea breeze is new. He rarely ever visits the ocean, the vast waters and their enchantments are so wholly different than his own, different elemental magic pouring through every inch of his soul. Seokjin is connected to earth in various ways, preferring its stability underneath his feet compared to being swept away in dark tides, so he wonders why today’s location isn’t in the usual village, but a house just by the shore.
“Hyung,” comes a pleased voice, honeyed but drawled. When Seokjin turns to greet his first customer of the day, he’s met with obsidian scales glinting in the sunlight as the house’s door slides open. Large wings fold against his back. As dragon as Yoongi is, he’s just as human, warm chocolate eyes and fair skin contrasting against such dark scales. “Come in.”
Jungkook is reclined on the floor, skin a bit sunburnt, his own feathered wings spread against the rug. He’s nose-deep in a book, but he perks up immediately when Seokjin calls for him, his entire face lighting up.
“Hyung! You’re here!”
The first order for today: Yoongi’s request for opal and emerald and Jungkook’s request for jade and amethyst. Seokjin supplies them properly, dutifully, as he accepts their warmth and kindness. Yoongi needs the opal for embellishing the swords he makes with its magic while Jungkook needs the amethyst for his artwork, the details committed to Seokjin’s heart.
They’ve always done this, crowded at a small wooden table with steaming tea in their hands and smiles on their faces, just as they have for the last hundred years.
“You’re by the sea today,” Seokjin comments, accepting the mug of tea Jungkook hands him, steaming and filled with spice, just the way harpies tend to love. Seokjin adores that Jungkook shares his secret stash with a select few, love and excitement poured into each cup he makes, entrusting it to Seokjin to properly enjoy it. “No longer staying in the village?”
“We’re here for some work,” Yoongi laments, sitting at the table with his large tail curled underneath his chair. The shine of each scale is almost prismatic. “I had a delivery to make of my own, but we decided to stay for a few more weeks.”
“Good for the creative mind,” Jungkook jokes, pointing at his temple with a wink.
Yoongi’s eyes flicker to Jungkook before meeting Seokjin’s once again. “A break.” He ignores Jungkook’s laughter. “We needed a break.”
“You should take one too, hyung.” Jungkook points at their window and towards the sandy view, warm and inviting. “You’re more than welcome to stay with us if you want a vacation too.”
Seokjin smiles, eyes crinkling despite himself. “I have more deliveries today, but thank you.”
The dragon hums, as if he had expected as much. “You’re welcome tomorrow or any time at all. Doesn’t have to be today. You deserve rest too.” When Seokjin declines once more, Yoongi smiles softly, yet again as if he had anticipated the words. “At least come get lunch with us before you go, hyung.”
Seokjin spends a few hours sandwiched in between those two, snacking on grilled fish as they walk through the marketplace, laughing and giggling in a way that eases Seokjin’s heart in a way he didn’t know he needed.
“Hyung, thanks for listening,” the half-spirit murmurs, almost bashful. Dimples poke through the nervous smile, which Seokjin just laughs at and pokes, using his free hand to deposit a satchel of crumbled pyrite into Namjoon’s palm. “Don’t laugh. I mean it!”
“Hyung will always listen to you,” Seokjin promises, enjoying the way branches sway from where they stand on the cottage’s front porch, evergreens surrounding the property in a tight embrace. Seokjin peeks his head over Namjoon’s shoulder. “And you, too!”
Taehyung pops back into view, grin wide and sweet, several books in his hands. He steps beside Namjoon, several fox tails flowing behind him as if they were light enough to catch on the forest breeze.
“Take these with you! A gift. For coming all the way out here to deliver our goods again.”
When Seokjin fumbles to hold onto the thick stack, he catches Namjoon’s pleased look and Taehyung’s excited expression. Looking back down to his newly acquired inventory, Seokjin gasps . “How did you manage to find these?”
Books with ancient text greet him in return, the edges worn and aged, cracking and almost crumbling when he runs a finger along their sides. He definitely doesn’t own any of these, nor has he come across them in his travels before. Seokjin isn’t much of a casual reader these days, but he’s nothing short of a hard worker when it comes to his craft, dedicated to expanding his skillset in the ways he can. This is a gift he’s absolutely grateful for, something that holds a lot of value for him.
Taehyung grins, sharp canines and all, like he knows the importance of this present.
“A traveling merchant came into town when we were visiting,” Namjoon answers thoughtfully, eyeing the books himself. “Taehyung knew you’d like them. They’re filled with old information about gems and their energies.”
“Isn’t it perfect?” Taehyung questions, beaming, yet almost shy. Seokjin is equal parts excited and soft, truly endeared by the thought at all.
Taehyung and Namjoon always find him little gifts and trinkets along the way. Last time, they’d presented petrified wood, something Seokjin always has trouble getting his hands on, and they had remembered that, had made sure to find and give it to him the next time they saw him.
They always look out for him in that way, just as Seokjin looks out for them in his, mixing in extra charcoal and quartz for their order, knowing the seasons can be harsh here in the forest and these will help in protection spells. They exchange these small gifts, just as they always have for the last hundred years.
“It is,” Seokjin breathes, eyes crinkling, clutching the books even more. “Thank you.”
“Let us know if you need time to study them,” Taehyung adds, nodding resolutely. “We’d be more than happy to study with you when you need the quiet. Whenever you need it, hyung!”
Namjoon agrees easily enough. “The forest is perfect for that after all.”
Seokjin knows they really do mean it, the sincerity on their faces genuine and sweet. These two always help him when he needs, always offer their assistance, no matter the reason. As Seokjin snaps his fingers and the books are sent home ahead of him, still having one final delivery left, he feels warmth swim in his chest.
He can only hope that his work is enough to repay their kindness.
The last pair on his list of deliveries for the day always take the longest. It’s not often that Seokjin encounters a jackalope or one of the fae, but Hoseok and Jimin greet him at their door all the same. Just as they have for the last hundred years.
Hoseok’s antlers knock against the side of the door frame in his excitement, but he ignores the collision entirely as he wraps his arms around Seokjin, elated to see him. Jimin follows, translucent wings shimmering in the setting sun, long fingernails gripping onto Seokjin’s robe carefully as his hug is even tighter than Hoseok’s.
They sit at the garden table out back, Seokjin dividing up the remaining inventory he carries on him, knowing this stop would be his last for today. He hands Hoseok the last of his stock, pearls for Jimin and his enchanted jewelry, rubies for Hoseok’s charms. They eagerly take their items, sorting everything properly into their own small boxes and chests, pleased with their delivery.
The sun is setting over the horizon, most of it hidden behind the tall rooftop of Jimin and Hoseok’s home, and Seokjin is happy to be here, to be in the company of such wonderful folk. Jimin’s sheer weeks glisten even in the dimming light, and Hoseok’s lovely grin as they joke with one another is welcome. They talk and talk until Seokjin’s cheeks hurt from laughter and Jimin has toppled out of his chair at least twice.
When Seokjin grows tired, exhausted from a long day of deliveries and transportation magic, Jimin offers shelter for the night.
“Hyung, want to sleep until morning?” Jimin questions, Hoseok nodding immediately after in agreement. “You look tired.”
They always offer, and Seokjin always declines. “Thank you, but it’s best if I return home.”
“Are you sure?” Jimin pouts a little, small fingers tapping softly on the wooden table. “You’re more than welcome to stay as long as you need.”
Hoseok agrees once more. “Our door is always open.”
And Seokjin knows that’s true—knows that these folk really mean it, just like all the others have from today.
Days like this one are his most favorite in the entire world, and even though he would’ve loved to stay with Yoongi and Jungkook with salty fish on his tongue and sun on his skin, or Namjoon and Taehyung buried in books and having vivid discussions and talks, or with Jimin and Hoseok, sitting in the gentle spring breeze with sore cheeks from laughter and heart full, he once again declines.
Neither Hoseok or Jimin push him any further, although the expressions they wear seem sad their friend is leaving so soon. (So soon being hours. ) Instead, they escort him to the arbor that sits at the entrance to their garden and wave goodbye as Seokjin prepares to return home.
This time, he uses crushed jasper to dust his fingertips, running them alongside the top of the arch, feeling how the earth seems to tremor beneath his feet, trembling and breathing as it connects his magic back home, forging its own direct path to his front door. When Seokjin’s familiar house plants greet him on the other side, he bids them a goodbye as well, laughing at Hoseok’s exaggerated waves and Jimin’s tinkling voice calling his name out as he walks through the path forged for him.
When his front door shuts behind him, cutting off the connection, he finds himself in complete silence.
Seokjin takes in a deep breath of air, feeling it settle in his lungs as he pulls the robe off his shoulders. Soon after he enters his bedroom, he gently pulls off the earrings and bands around his arms, listening as they softly clink against his dresser. He feels exceptionally tired from all the magic he’s used today alongside all of the preparations he’d made for today’s deliveries, but he feels terribly satisfied as well. Days like this one are heavier on his magic, going to great lengths to visit his friends for their deliveries, but easier on his preparations. Their orders are always simple and he has been selling and trading with them for a century now—this is all second nature to him now.
A long bath is in order, and once Seokjin is ready for bed, he plops into fresh sheets, feeling happy and overjoyed about the day. It’d been a good one, and he doesn’t always get one as fun and pleasant as today.
There are times where he wants to give up his shop and his trades, thinking of Yoongi and Jeongguk who stay wherever their work takes them, traveling to places and seeing sights that Seokjin hasn’t seen in years. He remembers Namjoon and Taehyung talking about traveling merchants coming into the village, and how they get to find books and oddities that bring them all sorts of delight. Then he recalls Jimin and Hoseok, retired to a small cottage in the woods, overhanging trees and eternal springtime breezes caressing their skin in the golden hours. All six of them have beautiful lives, fulfilled and happy, and in all honesty, that’s all Seokjin could ask for.
He’s not quite ready to give up his current work, dedicated to his craft, working and speaking to earth, only to listen to it in ways that many other witches can’t. It’s something special to him, something he takes pride in, and just isn’t ready to change that quite yet.
Seokjin already finds himself drifting off to sleep, contentment and joy lingering on him with a warm embrace. There will be a time where he grows tired of this, he’s sure. And while he’s the furthest thing from lonely or isolated, he also knows that there will be a time where he’ll find that he wants to take a different path. Now, Seokjin lives his life this way, attuned to himself and to the earth that holds solid and steady beneath his feet. That day may very well come in his future, but it is not today.
But as sleep pulls him under, he still dreams of retired days spent alongside his incredible six friends. These images are as golden as topazes and as warm as rubies, so he holds onto them very dearly. It might not be time for him yet, but he figures that he’s in no rush either.
It’s been a hundred years since he’s met these wonderful souls on his journey, and he knows, without any hesitation, that they’ll have several hundred more years to spend alongside each other.