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Dreamers is the term we use for humans transported into Wonderland. Since the War, the frequency of humans taking over the bodies of their Wonderland counterparts have increased. If a human finds themselves in Wonderland through the body of their counterpart, we call them Dreamers. Because they come to Wonderland in their ‘dreams’.
Just like I go to the human world when I sleep, the humans come to Wonderland when they sleep. They will be trapped within their Dreamer body until they die in the human world. Once they die, the Wonderland counterpart will return and resume life the way they wish.
It started with the dreams. Weirdly realistic dreams in a fantasy like world. Usually within a castle with sparkling white walls and ruby red diamonds accenting everything. It was beautiful and otherworldly.
Junhui woke from these surreal dreams feeling like he had an out of body experience. A weird floaty sensation in his limbs, as if he were made of air. As if he could just mist away into nothing then pull himself together just as easily.
Of course, he didn’t think much of it. They were just dreams. Sure they were dreams taking place in the same place every time with somewhat of a continuous storyline but he did have a vivid imagination. That coupled with the exhaustion of preparing for their next comeback…well it stood to reason he’d have strange dreams.
“Hyung!” Junhui snapped out of his drifting thoughts at the cheerful voice. A smile slid across his face when Seungkwan came to stand beside him. “I was thinking of going past that new café after practice. Wanna come with me?”
‘That new café’ was a themed café that had opened up in one of the main foodie streets of the city. Themed cafes weren’t uncommon in Seoul and more often than not Jun enjoyed going to those types of cafes. For the novelty of it.
But there was something special about this one in particular.
“The Wonderland themed one?” he clarified despite knowing exactly which one Seungkwan was talking about.
“Mhm! So? Wanna come?”
Junhui agreed because why not? They had good food and wacky décor. It was always a new experience with the rotating menus and strange drink/food combinations. It was a nice change from the general cutesy things or classic café experiences. Not to mention a fascinating Western influence with the stage of Alice in Wonderland.
By the time practice was over he was more than ready to head home. But he made a promise and it seemed he weren’t the only one if Minghao’s quietly heaved sigh was anything when Seungkwan came bounding over. How the younger could keep up his energy was a mystery no one would ever solve.
…or maybe it was just caffeine.
“How often do you come here, Seungkwan-ah?” Minghao asked as they drove to the café.
Seungkwan shrugged, “Not as often as you might think. There’s always so many people there.”
Junhui hummed in agreement. He had visited the café a handful of times himself. Sometimes on a happening of walking past, other times out with the members. It only opened a month ago.
“Is it the food?” Junhui asked. “Or the Wonderland theme?”
“Both!” Seungkwan grinned when the café came into view. “They’re tea’s good. You’ll like it hyung,” he directed at Minghao.
Minghao made a quiet sound of acknowledgement. Junhui followed his stare out the window.
The only indication of the café was a bright red door. It stood out against the greyscale tones of the surrounding buildings. A deck of cards icon was pasted onto the red door alongside a top hat.
It was inside that the Wonderland theme really stood out.
Bright colours made up the majority of the décor. Splashes of blues, purples, pinks, reds, greens, yellows – every colour of the rainbow accented by whites, blacks, golds and silvers. There were walls of random clocks, all showing different times and some chiming at random hours. There were images of top hats, teacups, cheshire cats, white rabbits, playing cards so on so on. None of the tables and chairs matched, all holding an antique quality yet not of the same ‘cloth’ so to speak.
They took a seat towards the back simply for privacy reasons. It was busy but hopefully it was too busy for fans to notice them. And if they did then hopefully they wouldn’t bother them.
“What is all this…?” Minghao whispered.
His stare was a little lost as he tried to read the colourfully named food and beverage options. With the knowledge of someone who had been here multiple times already, Junhui graciously helped him pick out something he’d like.
“The rose tea is the best tea here,” Seungkwan preened. “I dare say it’s better than the coffees they sell.”
Minghao rose a disbelieving eyebrow.
“You, claiming tea to be better than coffee? Now I’ve heard it all.”
Seungkwan laughed. Junhui picked out a sweet cake for himself. He would say their desserts were the best. Pastries to cakes to slices and more. They were all artistically made too.
Thankfully despite the fantasy like atheistic, the café was decked out with iPads and self-ordering systems. They put their orders through and waited.
“When did this place open again?” Minghao asked.
“About a month ago,” Seungkwan replied.
“And how did you find it?”
Junhui smiled sheepishly.
“I did,” he admitted. Minghao blinked, probably surprised he had never brought it up. But they were so busy lately it sort of slipped Junhui’s mind. “I stumbled across it on a morning stroll.”
Minghao nodded once. Seungkwan began chattering about everything he knew about the café – mostly about the food. Junhui slowly started to zone out.
His attention fell on the designs on the walls. There were a couple call backs to the classic Alice in Wonderland story. A white rabbit with a golden pocket watch. The silhouette of a man with a large top hat. The curling tail of a Cheshire Cat mid misting away. A golden crown with hearts adorning its spires.
But there were other things too. Namely the iconography of the playing cards. Hearts, diamonds, clubs and spades scattered all about the café. They decorated most items and most desserts. There were roses too, normally red, white or black.
Despite how busy it was, their food came at a reasonable time. They thanked the wait staff with their card patterned uniform before digging in. Junhui smiled at his cake.
It was a red velvet cake covered in creamy white icing. A red diamond made of fondant sat on top, angled upwards with dollops of white icing for support. Gold dust lined the edges of the slice, probably rimming the whole cake the slice came from. It was surprisingly pretty.
“Ooh that looks good,” Seungkwan commented, leaning over to take a picture before Junhui ruined it. “You know, whenever there’s card related stuff they always decorate it so regally. Like royalty.”
Junhui nodded in agreement. He had noticed that. Red, white and gold for hearts and diamonds. Black, white and silver for clubs and spades.
“They gave me a little macaron,” Minghao mused. He picked up a black macron with the silver spades symbol dusted onto its casing. “That’s cute.”
Seungkwan held up a matching one that came with his tea, except it was pink with a golden diamond.
“I guess all the tea comes with one?” Junhui suggested even though he couldn’t remember getting one himself.
But he rarely bought tea anyway. He literally only came for the snacks.
“Maybe,” Minghao mumbled, sipping from his rose tea.
Junhui watched. Something niggled at the back of his mind. Something like a memory but it wasn’t. Maybe more like déjà vu.
Shrugging it off, Junhui went back to eating his cake and listening to Seungkwan talk.
It went a little like this.
He would slowly open his eyes to a hazy blur of white and gold. He’d try to focus his vision but it was a struggle. A very slow and gradual growing of an image fuzzy around the edges. He couldn’t quite see out the corner of his eyes, either. His peripherals a constant blur. Every time he moved his head would fuzz as if he had turned on the motion blur setting.
Eventually the colours registered as the castle. The pretty fantasy castle he remembered from his dreams. Oh wait, he was dreaming.
Junhui blinked rapidly in the warm sunlight. He stretched, realising he was laying down. There was an airy chuckle above him. A familiar fond laugh but he couldn’t quite place who it belonged to.
He settled when gentle fingers carded through his hair. A purr like a cat rumbled out of him. He instinctively nuzzled his face against a soft stomach, breathing in a floral perfume.
“My pretty kitty…” a woman’s voice echoed above him. “Awake from your nap?”
Junhui closed his eyes when something skittered across his ears. His triangular, furred ears sitting atop his head. It felt too good to question. He went boneless in the woman’s lap, the purring growing even louder.
Was he a cat? Ok. He could be a cat in a dream. That made sense…
That gentle hand continued to pet his head and caress his face. It lulled him back into a sleepy state. His vision started to blur again, the sensations of ghostly touches that grew fainter and fainter as the world around him grew darker and darker.
When he reopened his eyes, he was back in his bedroom.
The first time he noticed the red diamond was in a more coherent dream. He had been walking. Moving against his violation but enjoying the stroll nonetheless. His body had happened to look up and he had paused.
The red diamond hung above a pair of thrones. His vision sharpened and a quiet breath of awe had passed his lips. It was beautiful, this fantasy esque throne room. Walls of sparkling white, an equally white stone creating the large thrones. Golden spirals adorning the armrest and backs of each seat. Ruby red diamonds acting as the centre piece on the back of the thrones. An even bigger diamond made of stained glass sat above the thrones on the wall, letting in sunlight.
Junhui had stared at the beautiful sight for a few seconds. A few very real, very solid feeling seconds. He could almost believe he was right here, standing in this throne room with the sunlight warming his bare skin.
Wait.
He looked down. His vision didn’t swim with motion blur like it usually did. No it was as if he really were in his own body, everything sharp and real. He could see his own tanned flesh, only parts of it hidden by light grey bandages and silks. He stretched out his hands, titling his head curiously at the sharp claws adorning his nails.
“What a funny dream…”
“Junnie?”
Junhui startled. His breath caught in his throat as he whipped around. He blinked a couple times, surprise marring his features.
“Seungkwan-ah?”
Seungkwan immediately stopped, his smile freezing. Junhui openly stared at the younger’s attire. He definitely fit the fantasy world he was dreaming of.
He wore an elegant white suit with gold fabric rimming the edges of his jacket. A golden belt with looping chains connecting to it wrapped around his waist. Similar golden jewellery adorned his wrists and fingers in bracelets and rings, only broken up by ruby red diamonds. His hair was blonde – just like their Face the Sun era – and a golden crown sat upon his head. The golden bars were twisted into beautiful shapes, holding up ruby diamonds to glimmer in the warm sunlight.
He looked like a king.
“…Jun?” Seungkwan whispered, his voice quiet and afraid. “Jun please tell me you didn’t just say my name.”
Huh? Junhui frowned. Something flicked in his hair. He took half a step back from his friend.
“Why…wouldn’t I?” Junhui glanced at his surroundings. “This is a dream.”
Seungkwan gasped.
A sudden panic had Junhui taking a few more steps back. His hand came to his chest, pressing against his suddenly racing heart. His vision blurred and fuzzed – almost as if he were about to pass out–
He woke with a gasp.
Junhui sat upright. He looked around, blinking away glittering white stones and ruby diamonds for the blandness of his bedroom. He pressed a hand against his still racing heart. What…had been that dream? What was that even supposed to mean? It had felt so…real.
Shivering, Junhui forced himself out of bed. He quietly went about getting himself ready for the day.
It was just a dream. The exhaustion must be catching up to him. Why else would he have a weirdly vivid dream of a kingly Seungkwan and an absolutely beautiful throne room?
Something was in the mirror.
Junhui tried not to choke on his water. He stared at the reflected corner of the room. For a second, for a moment there, he had thought someone was standing in the shadows. Someone watching them practice. Someone watching him. The only thing he was able to make out were a pair of glowing white eyes.
Or maybe it had been nothing! That was also plausible. Since his increasingly more vivid dreams he hadn’t been sleeping well. Every time he’d process he was ‘awake’ in that fantasy like castle he would find the quickest way to wake up again. He didn’t want to explore that library or laze about in the sun or go to the familiar voices of Seungkwan and Vernon. The dreams were no longer fascinating. They were scary.
And he really didn’t know why. Something told him it was…something just told him it wasn’t right.
He slowly put down the drink bottle. He tried not to stare in the corner. But he couldn’t help himself from looking over periodically. He wasn’t sure if he wanted that black shadowy thing to be real or not.
He looked once. Nothing. Back to Chan and Seungkwan bickering. Looked twice. Nothing. Back to Seokmin and Soonyoung messing around. Looked a third time. Nothing. Back to Jeonghan and Joshua conversing against the wall. Looked a fourth time–
“What are you looking for?”
Junhui jumped out of his skin. His wide eyes snapped to Wonwoo. The other man rose an eyebrow, arms crossed and looking all of the word unimpressed. Which was, weird, right? Had he done something to piss him off?
“Ahh…nothing?”
Wonwoo frowned. Slowly, almost deliberately, he slid his gaze towards the spot Junhui kept looking at. A chill scurried down his spine.
“…something in the shadows, Jun-ah?”
The quirk of his lips was supposed to be teasing. Junhui ignored the darker glint behind round glasses. He forced a light giggle.
“Maybe? I think I’m just tired.” He sighed. Wonwoo’s next smile was more genuine. “It’s nothing to worry about, though.”
“I’ll take your word for it, then.” Wonwoo gently patted his arm before stepping back. “Make sure you rest, Jun. And if you keep seeing things in the mirrors, let me know, ok?”
Junhui blinked. Weird but…
“Ok…”
Wonwoo nodded, satisfied, then went back to comfort a pouting Mingyu near an almost doubled over cackling Jihoon. Junhui shivered, rubbing his arm.
Why did something not feel…right?
“Is he Dreaming?”
“I think so…”
“Dammit. Of all people…”
“What do I do? I can’t lose my kitten. He’s my favourite!”
A heavy sigh then, “There’s nothing you can do to prevent it. You know that.”
“But what if he’s not good? What if he can’t learn? What if he comes here and ruins everything?”
“He’s just a Dreamer. And you don’t even need your Cheshire to regulate your schedules. You’re a Diamond.”
A haughty huff, “Just because I don’t actually need him to work doesn’t mean that I don’t want my pet! I don’t want a human! And what about your cat, huh? He’s going to be depressed and that won’t be useful for you.”
“Hao will learn to live without him. He won’t have a choice, just like you don’t.”
Another huff, so similar to someone he knew, before a louder, “Fine! But I’m still not happy about it.”
“Whoever said you had to be?”
They were about to pass the Wonderland Café.
“Can we stop by the café?” Junhui asked, startling their manager and Wonwoo who had been listlessly staring out the window.
“Sure,” their manager replied, signalling to pull into an upcoming spot.
Wonwoo gave him a curious look.
“What café?”
Junhui returned the look. Wonwoo still hadn’t been yet? He was sure everyone in the band had gone by now. Huh.
“It’s this cute Wonderland themed café,” Junhui explained. Wonwoo blinked slowly. So uncannily slow in fact it sent a shiver down Junhui’s spine. “They’ve got good desserts. You might like it.”
The car rolled to a stop. Junhui smiled awkwardly. Wonwoo snapped out of it and smiled too.
“Alright.”
He got out first. Junhui pinched himself before getting out. What was wrong with him today? Everything had felt out of sorts since he woke up. His dreams weren’t stopping and didn’t seem to be. They were getting longer and longer, harder and harder to wake up from. He avoided the Seungkwan and Vernon lookalikes like the plague. He had even run into Chan last night before he was startled awake by the impact.
It had left him drained and lethargic all day. It was a miracle he even noticed they were on the road much less near his favourite café.
“Ta-da,” Junhui weakly announced when they stepped inside.
Wonwoo silently surveyed the space. There was something unreadable in his gaze. Something…unsettling. But curious, too.
Junhui led them to an empty table. Their manager hadn’t followed them, instead deciding to get some things done while he waited.
“Are there normally this many mirrors?”
Wonwoo’s question caught him off guard. Junhui blinked a few times before following his friend’s stare. True the décor had changed again for the new month. And yes, mirrors had been strung up in random places, all different shapes and sizes. There was one right behind Wonwoo, reflecting back his side profile.
“No not usually. I think it’s a change for this month…they like to switch it up every month.”
“Hmm…”
Junhui slid the menu to him. Wonwoo silently read it. Something unpleasant tingled in his gut. Wonwoo was…acting strange? Or was it just in his head? His normally quiet friend seemed even quieter than usual. More reserved and maybe a little…cold?
Or it was all in his head! So many things were happening and it wasn’t like he was sleeping well. They were probably all made up by his sleepy brain!
“Rose tea…” Wonwoo’s whisper made him flinch. “From the Hearts Kingdom.”
“H-Huh?”
Wonwoo flashed him a smile. That weird creeping chill started to settle in Junhui’s spine, curdling in his stomach. He shook it off, focusing on the finger Wonwoo was pressing to the menu.
There was a red heart next to the rose tea name. The little description did mention it came from the ‘Hearts Kingdom’.
“Oh…I didn’t even realise…”
“Hm, I doubt many people do.” Wonwoo’s smile faded as he looked back down at the menu. “So much of this is from the Hearts though…I wonder if whoever owns this place has connections.”
Junhui gave him a weird look.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Wonwoo didn’t answer him. Instead he grabbed the tablet and started putting his order in. Junhui copied on autopilot. He ordered what he usually did, the slice of cake and a coffee.
“…I like the set up.”
Junhui looked up with a blink. Wonwoo gestured vaguely around them. A different smile ghosted his lips, something nostalgic. Or fond.
“You like the craziness?” Junhui asked with slight disbelief.
Sure Wonwoo had his weird moments but he normally liked things to be a certain way. He would have thought the bright colours and random objects would annoy him a little.
But to his surprise Wonwoo nodded. He glanced at the mirror behind him, staring into it for a moment.
“Even the mirrors are alright…unsettling but not terribly so.” Junhui made a quiet sound of agreement. “How did you find this place?”
“Just walking,” Junhui admitted.
“And what do you think of it?” The slightly older tilted his head in confusion. Wonwoo gestured around them again. “Do you have any opinions on Wonderland? Because this place is telling a different story to Alice’s.”
…huh…
Junhui glanced around. He had seen these walls enough times by now to know what usually remained with each change of the décor. The cards in particular. Hearts, diamonds, clubs and spades. Those four symbols were always scattered about, always decorating desserts and permanent in the designs.
Actually now that he was thinking about it…he hadn’t seen a single little blonde girl and blue dress motif at all. There was no sight of Alice in the whole café.
“…I’ve never really thought about it…” Junhui mumbled. He stared at the golden chandelier hanging in the centre of the café, the light bulbs flickering and new compared to the rusty frame. “I think it’s interesting, since I never really knew about Wonderland until now. So I’m enjoying learning about the crazy world. I’ve never thought about the Alice in Wonderland story though…”
He turned to look back at Wonwoo. The other man hummed quietly. He reached across the table to grab the rose sitting in the little vase in the centre of the table. Junhui blinked, tilting his head curiously.
Wonwoo inspected the blue rose. He pressed his thumb against a thorn. Junhui flinched when blood quickly welled on his pale flesh.
“Oh it’s real,” Wonwoo mumbled.
“You’re bleeding!”
Junhui grabbed a napkin and quickly handed it to him. Wonwoo mumbled his thanks but didn’t use it. He let the blood trickle down his thumb.
“Oh my god Wonwoo–”
Junhui grabbed the napkin and pressed in onto the wound. Wonwoo blinked as if coming out of a daze. He frowned at his finger, finally taking the napkin to hold against the tiny puncture point.
“Are you ok?” Junhui asked quietly. Wonwoo blinked again, this time looking at Jun. “You’re acting strange.”
Another blink.
“Am I?”
Junhui opened his mouth to retort. However he was quick to freeze.
Something moved in the mirror behind Wonwoo. Something black and dark. A pair of glowing white eyes in the shadows of the reflection.
Wonwoo stared at his wide eyed shock before glancing over his shoulder–
“I have the rose tea, americano and cake?”
Both idols snapped out of it at the waiter’s voice. Junhui brought up a smile for the girl, bowed his head in thanks, and dragged the cake towards himself. Wonwoo similarly dragged the rose tea to his side.
“You didn’t get a snack?” Junhui asked, trying to put the weird shadow thing behind him.
Wonwoo shook his head. He pressed his fingertips to the ceramic, tracing a black spade. His cup was decorated with black thorns and spades. It was kind of scary to be honest.
“I don’t think it would be a good idea to have a dessert too…” He picked up the teacup. His thumb had stopped bleeding thankfully. “This should be enough.”
Junhui shrugged and started eating his own. The slice of cake had diamonds on it again. Every time he came in, the dessert he chose always seemed to have a red diamond on it somewhere. Honestly at this point he felt he should invest in some sort of ruby diamond with his dreams and the food…
“So do you like the tea–”
Junhui stiffened. The…reflection…
Wonwoo’s reflection had changed. Next to him was his friend, his fellow bandmate, enjoying his cup of tea. In the mirror was the same face but a completely different attire.
All his clothes were pitch black. Silver thorn embroidery wrapped around the waist and back of the shirt, spades interspaced along the thorns like leaves. His hands were gloved in white, and silver jewellery with black spades adorned his wrists and around his neck. A silver crown sat upon his head, much like the Dream Seungkwan’s crown, but with glimmering black spades suspended by the swooping beams.
“…Wonwoo…”
Wonwoo reopened his eyes. He looked at Junhui. Junhui stared at the real him, not the reflected version.
“Yes?”
From one blink to the next, Wonwoo’s reflection looked normal. There were no fantasy clothing nor silver crowns. No dark shadows with white eyes. Just…Wonwoo.
“Jun-ah?”
Junhui shook his head. He distracted himself with his coffee rather than Wonwoo’s curious stare.
“N-Nothing…”
A pause.
“…you were seeing things in the mirror again, weren’t you?”
Junhui flinched. He looked further in the opposite direction. Wonwoo hummed quietly. Out the corner of his eye he could see him shift to stare into the mirror too.
“…I think we should get these to go.” Junhui jumped when Wonwoo abruptly stood up. He stared at his friend in shocked surprise. “You clearly need to rest and tonight will be busy.” What? But they had no schedules tonight– “You’ll need your head if you are to deal with Seungkwan. Diamonds might be sane but they are the sane of the insane.”
“H-Huh – what are you–”
Wonwoo walked past. He patted his shoulder as he did so, heading to the register to presumably ask for a takeaway box. Junhui gaped at his back.
What did he mean? Seungkwan? Diamonds? Sanity and insanity? Was Wonwoo ok? Like really, was he as sleep deprived as Junhui right now?
“Come on,” were the first words as Wonwoo handed him the box. “Let’s go.”
“…ok…”
He woke up in a beautiful room.
Junhui blinked the sleep out of his eyes. He groaned, stretching his back across the plush couch he lounged on. The fabric scratched against his skin. He didn’t bother to reach down and fix his shirt. He must be wearing shorts to feel it on his thighs.
He was dreaming again. These antique drawing rooms only existed in his dreams. But it was oddly vacant of the fuzziness he normally faced with waking up.
Rolling onto his stomach, Junhui silently took in the room. It was smaller than some of the places he had found himself in. Still those creamy white walls, however softer with wallpaper rather than the stones in the throne room. Gold accented most of the interior of the room but the objects within prevented it from being too garish. The couch he lay on was a deep red, as was the rug under it. Diamond motifs popped up in all places. Lined along that bookshelf, in the stained-glass windows, on the lamps.
After a moment of admiring, Junhui sat up. He looked down, fully expecting to be unable to see his body like every other time he dreamt.
“Ahh!”
He immediately dropped his hands to his crotch. What the hell?! He was naked! Butt naked save for a few white silks wrapped around his body. And sure, that silk was hiding his private areas but there was no underwear! He wasn’t wearing a single item of clothing!
Something flicked in his hair. Then his leg. He reached up, touching his head. His eyes somehow grew even wider when he felt something furry. Touching it sent shivers of pleasure down his spine. These…were these ears?
Turning around revealed a long spindly tail. A cat tail. He was a…cat hybrid? What a strange dream. Had he always been a cat hybrid in these dreams? He vaguely remembered cat stuff but not…not really.
Hesitantly, Junhui got to his feet. He adjusted the silks so they were properly hiding his crotch and behind. Like a skirt that was spilt up the legs rather than hooking it between his legs. He had a feeling that would just look like a nappy or something which wasn’t appealing.
With a quiet sigh, Junhui crept to the door. He pushed it open, poking his head into the hallway. He tilted his head when he heard voices in a nearby room. Loud and cheerful, as if celebrating something.
Curious, Junhui left the room and approached the voices. There was something…familiar about these voices. Something familiar in the joyous energy emitting from that room.
Just as he drew near, the door opened. He froze, his tail stilling and ears springing upright on their own. He quickly smoothed them down, trying not to look the picture of alarm when the person turned around.
It didn’t help.
“W-Wonwoo-ya?”
Wonwoo froze. His eyes grew wide in seconds, the emotionless cold he had glimpsed gone immediately. Junhui shifted from foot to foot, feeling far too exposed in only these stupid white silks.
“…Jun…Wen Junhui?”
Junhui blinked then frowned. He nodded, his frown turning more into a pout. Why would Dream Wonwoo not be able to recognise him? Just because he was in a fantasy outfit of blacks, whites and silvers with those weird spades again and that really pretty crown didn’t mean he’d forget who he was, right?
“Oh no…” Wonwoo glanced at he closed door still emitting loud voices. “I knew this was going to happen but not tonight. Shit. I just said that to be cryptic not…”
He shook his head and started approaching. Junhui jumped when he grabbed his wrist and dragged him back to the drawing room he had originally been in.
“A-Ah Wonwoo what’s going on–”
Wonwoo shoved him into the room. Junhui stumbled over his feet but thankfully didn’t fall. He turned back to the other man right as he closed the door behind them. The quiet was deafening.
“Do you think you’re dreaming?” Wonwoo asked, dark eyes narrowing.
Junhui tilted his head.
“Well yes, of course. How could this be anything other than a dream?”
Wonwoo smiled thinly. His eyes flickered sliver. Junhui flinched.
“This is not a dream, Jun.” …huh? “You are in Wonderland.” Huh? “You are what we call a Dreamer. A human who has been transported into their Wonderland counterpart’s body.”
…
“What?” Junhui’s voice pitched with fear. “What do you mean?! This is just a dream! Isn’t it? How can this be real? And what do you mean we?!”
Wonwoo sighed but he was still smiling. Smiling as if this amused him.
“It’s real. I would know, being from Wonderland myself.” What? “You are now the Diamond’s Cheshire Cat. Which, lucky you, you don’t have to do too much work and as long as you get on Seungkwan’s good side you’ll be spoiled just like our Junhui.” Seungkwan…their Junhui? “You will only be here when you sleep. Just like me. And it will be like this until you die.”
“What?”
He…his dreams were real? This was…this was Wonderland?! Diamonds? He was a Cheshire Cat?
There were too many questions and not enough answers. Wonwoo’s quiet laughter wasn’t helping either.
“I-I don’t understand…”
Wonwoo waved a dismissive gloved hand. He inclined his head to the door behind him.
“I’m going to grab your new King and Queen so they can…meet you, I suppose.” K-King and Queen? “Expect Seungkwan to be distraught and Vernon…well you’ll figure out Vernon eventually.”
“W-Wait aren’t you going to stay?”
Wonwoo looked at him like he was crazy. Junhui could only stare with wide, vulnerable eyes.
“You’re not my Cheshire Cat.” B-But… “And anyway, I don’t have any control here. I’d rather stay on Vernon’s likeable list so you’ll have to do this alone.” He offered a small, genuine smile then. “But I will talk to you in the human world tomorrow morning, ok?”
Junhui had no choice but to whisper a feeble, “Ok…”
With that, Wonwoo was gone. Alone, Junhui sank onto the plush red couch.
This…this wasn’t a dream…
This was real.
The door reopened a handful of minutes later. Junhui straightened, his ears springing upwards on their own.
Seungkwan poked his head in first. His face was a little flushed. His gaze immediately found Junhui. It just as quickly dropped to the pillow Junhui was holding on his lap.
“…you’re a Dreamer now, aren’t you?”
Seungkwan entered the room properly. He looked just as kingly if not more so than before. Dressed up nicely much like Wonwoo had been – probably for whatever party they were holding.
Vernon followed after him. Junhui tensed, the fur on his tail prickling. Vernon, just like Seungkwan, looked no different to the people he knew, but there was something darker about this Vernon. Something intimidating in his emotionless expression. Or maybe it was a lack of interest.
“…does that mean I’m human?” Junhui whispered in reply, shrinking in on himself a little.
Seungkwan’s nose wrinkled as if Junhui’s very words pained him. Vernon remained silent beside him. Somehow he looked more imposing and kingly than Seungkwan.
Wait, hadn’t Wonwoo said something about a king and queen? That meant one of them was the queen, right? Then…then based on their crowns, was Vernon the king and Seungkwan the queen? Vernon’s golden crown was much simpler in design, less about looking pretty and more about instilling an image.
“Yes,” Seungkwan breathed in answer. Junhui focused on him again. “Yes it means…it means that…oh this is not fair.”
With a very cute pout, he punched Vernon in the arm much like their Seungkwan might do when someone had annoyed him. Vernon blinked, a flicker of surprise shooting across his expression, before he was giving Seungkwan a mildly bewildered glance.
“Why are you punching me?”
“Because! I’m mad.”
“And somehow I’m to blame for this?”
“No! Just – just – ugh!”
Seungkwan punched him again. Vernon flinched this time, as if might have hurt. Junhui watched with wide, startled eyes. What was this?
“This isn’t fair!” Seungkwan repeated, landing another petulant punch. Vernon stepped away this time. “Why does it have to be our kitten? Why not someone else’s?! Why my Junnie?”
Vernon sighed, catching the next punch. It didn’t stop Seungkwan from quickly landing one with his other hand right into the most probably sore spot on the other’s shoulder.
“It is not like we had a choice – can you stop?”
Vernon grabbed him by the wrists now. Seungkwan huffed and tried to kick him instead. Junhui jumped to his feet.
“Ok ok, Seungkwan-ah please stop.”
In a few quick strides he had his hands on Seungkwan’s arm. Both men froze. Seungkwan turned wide teary eyes up at him. Vernon’s stare was just as heavy even if it was devoid of any discernible emotion.
“I-I’m sorry, ok?” Junhui spoke softly. He awkwardly patted the other’s arm, feeling like he overstepped some sort of line by touching him. “I’m sorry that this has happened but I don’t think it can be fixed. I’ll…I’ll try not to be annoying? I don’t really understand what’s happening but I can – I can try to learn how to…work? Here…?”
His words drifted off into silence. Junhui’s ears flicked, his tail whipping just as awkwardly in small bursts.
Suddenly Seungkwan sniffled. He pulled his arms out of the lingering grips of Vernon and Junhui to haughtily turn his back on them. Junhui blinked, attempting to exchange a glance with Vernon but the other man wasn’t looking at him.
“You can’t replace my Junnie,” was the petulant response.
Junhui blinked again. Was Wonwoo sure he wasn’t dreaming? Because this really felt like a dream…
“I’m not…I’m not trying to…I just don’t want you to be mad at me…”
Seungkwan glanced over his shoulder at him. Junhui offered what he hoped was a sincere smile. His twitching ears probably didn’t help.
“…hmpth!” Seungkwan began for the door, startling Junhui. “I’m not doing this tonight! I’m going.”
Junhui flinched again when the door slammed closed after him. This…this really had to be a fever dream…
“…don’t mind him.” Junhui looked to Vernon. The other man heaved a sigh, crossing his arms while glaring at the door. “He’s drunk.” …oh… “We’ll talk in more detail tomorrow when he is sober. He will be much…more accommodating.” Vernon glanced at him with narrowed eyes. “However I am not drunk and therefore I shall give you a word of warning.”
Junhui turned to face him properly. His gut squirmed and he suddenly felt very very out of his depth.
“You are now our Cheshire Cat. The Diamonds have an image to uphold and you will be expected to conform to that image.” Junhui frowned. “Seungkwan will ensure you learn what you need to but let it be a rule right now,” Vernon’s eyes darkened with a serious danger his friend could never have, “you answer to us. I as the King and Seungkwan as your Queen. You may know the Queen of Spades in the human world but you do not work for them.”
Junhui blinked.
“Who…Wonwoo?”
The room suddenly felt colder. Junhui shivered, hugging his middle.
“When you are in Wonderland you obey Wonderland, understand human?” Junhui nodded out of fear rather than understanding. “And do not confuse us with your human friends.” He sounded exasperated now. “I might share the face of one of them but he and I are not the same person. I will not hesitate to kill you in this world and coincidently kill you in your world too.”
Junhui froze. He…he could die in his world if he died here? Vernon would kill him?!
A sigh had him focusing back on the King. Vernon stepped away from him.
“Stay in this room. I will send Chan and Jaeran so you can introduce each other. Tomorrow we will discuss settling you in.”
With that, the King was gone. Junhui stared at the closed door. Slowly, he backed his way to the couch once more. He pulled the pillow onto his lap.
This…this wasn’t a dream.
It was a nightmare.
He felt like he was walking through molasses. From waking up feeling like he hadn’t slept a wink to slogging his way to work, Junhui felt like he could pass out right then and there. The only problem with that meant he’d be back in Wonderland and that was the last thing he wanted to do.
Despite his exhaustion he somehow got to practice fifteen minutes early. Part of Seventeen were already there warming up. He exchanged greetings with most of them before his attention settled on one in particular.
Wonwoo was sat in front of the wall of mirrors. From across the room they met gazes in the reflection. Wonwoo tilted his head, his reflection’s eyes flickering silver. Junhui froze.
…it was real…
Shakily, the dancer approached his friend. He had known this man for so many years now. Most of his life.
And yet…did he actually know who Wonwoo was? Was Jeon Wonwoo simply a persona for the Queen of Spades to parade around in? Or was this human world an escape from the craziness that was Wonderland?
“Good morning,” Wonwoo greeted once Junhui was close enough.
“…morning…” Junhui slowly knelt down beside him. Wonwoo watched him in the mirror rather than turn to look at him. So Junhui did the same. “…it’s real.”
“It is.”
“…what do I do?”
That question seemed to catch him off guard. Wonwoo looked at him. Actually looked at him. Junhui copied.
“You’ll have to learn to live with it,” was the quiet response. Junhui frowned in confusion. Wonwoo smiled gently – real. “I can’t help you over there, Jun-ah. You belong to the Diamonds. Vernon will kill me if I involve myself with you. He is a possessive king.” Wonwoo paused before mumbling, “Seungkwan is too actually…”
Junhui shook his head. He just…
“I still can’t believe this…” he whispered. Wonwoo’s next glance was pitying. “How can it be real? Wonderland…are you really from Wonderland?”
Wonwoo sighed. He looked down at his lap, at his hands. Junhui peered up at his face. Was he…upset?
“Yes…and don’t ask me why.” He smiled sadly at the slightly older. “It is a long story that I do not want to talk about right now. Not when we have a full day of practice.” Junhui hummed in agreement. “But Jun…just try not to overthink it.” Wonwoo reached out to gently squeeze his hand. Some of the tension of the last eight hours started to bleed out of him. “It will be overwhelming at first but the easiest way to live in Wonderland is to just…go with it. I don’t know what they’ll expect of you, but as long as you stay on their good sides you’ll be fine.” He smirked. “Oh and make sure Seungkwan loves you. If you have the Queen on your side then the King won’t ever be able to kill you.” He laughed a little to himself. “It is the only reason Soonyoung is still allowed in the Diamond Castle after all.”
Questions bubbled up his throat. He swallowed them back down. He didn’t want to ask Wonwoo too many things. Not right now and not before the Diamond King and Queen spoke to him.
Something told him that the Kingdoms might not have the same perceptions or opinions on everything.
“…you’ll help me when I need it, right?” Junhui asked. Wonwoo began to frown so he quickly added, “Here. In the human world. You’ll help me here, right?”
The frown turned to a smile. Wonwoo nodded.
“Yes. I can do more here than there.”
“Good.” Junhui sighed, sinking into the other man. Wonwoo let him. “Maybe this won’t be so bad…”
Wonwoo chuckled lightly. He patted Junhui’s hand.
“Trust me, you’ll get used to it faster than you think.”