Yesteryear

Act I: Babylon

"You're going to love this," Seungyoun promised as he set the heavy clothing bag down in front of Wooyoung. They stood at the giant round table in the preparation room before decontamination and discussed the last arrangements before Wooyoung would be on his way to Babylon. Today, they also spoke in Akkadian, just to test his skill in the language once more.

Wooyoung had already said goodbye to Yongguk in the morning (also in Akkadian). Neither of them knew how long it would take Wooyoung to return or if he would be successful, but both of them had nodded at each other confidently when he had left. With determination making his eyes gleam, Wooyoung had met up with Seungyoun to add the finishing touches.

"Did you make it yourself?"

"I needed help this time. But the tailor understood quickly when I showed her a drawing. Here it is, in its full beauty!" Ceremoniously, he unzipped the bag and pulled out the neatly folded fabric. The knee-length tunic was made of soft cotton in a warm beige suiting Wooyoung's skin. With it came a deep purple shawl with golden fringed linings that would wrap around his body. Last, Seungyoun pulled out a modest leather belt and matching sandals.

"Behold!" The ginger-haired man giggled as Wooyoung clapped in awe. What would look like a silly Halloween costume for most people around him was a working uniform for him, and Wooyoung adored its style. Swiftly, he undressed so Seungyoun could help him put everything on and fix it into place. When Wooyoung twisted and turned in front of his friend moments later, Seungyoun snapped a few pictures to show him how great the clothes looked on Wooyoung. Huddled over the phone, both of them gushed about its historical accuracy.

With a frown, Wooyoung glanced at his barely hairy legs. He hoped that being hairy wasn't a sign of manliness or rank in that culture.

"Ah, you will seduce everyone who will come across you. Do I have to come with you to be your chaperone?" Seungyoun pretended to faint as he leaned against the table. His smirk had Wooyoung kick him in the shin with barely any force.

"Hell no, idiot. One of us will already stick out like a sore thumb. You do your job while I take the next tremendous step for humanity."

"Yeah, just exclude me from your important projects, it's alright. At least put me down as the costume designer in your speech for your Nobel Prize," Seungyoun said with a roll of his eyes. Wooyoung pushed his hair back. He wore none of his beloved accessories today since they would have demanded attention back in the fifth century before the Romans nailed that poor dude on a cross. He missed the comforting weight of the silver already.

"Depends if you're good. If you keep being mean, I don't want you to be affiliated with my name," Wooyoung retorted, flicking his hair. As they snickered among themselves, they pushed off their corner to walk over to decontamination.

"Take care, though. You should visit the gardens and take a leaf or two for me as souvenirs, but don't get caught up with slave traders. They like pretty boys like you." When Seungyoun extended a hand to brush his fingers over Wooyoung's cheek, Wooyoung snapped at him with his teeth. Seungyoun's batting eyelashes settled into a frown.

"Stop. You're trying to flirt to get into the autobiography of the next big fish in science. Don't you dare."

They laughed it off, but Wooyoung took his advice to heart. He had run-ins with slave traders before and they were ghastly folks. None of which Wooyoung wanted to associate himself with.

Leaned against the carved wood of the door leading into the past, Wooyoung lingered another moment. When Seungyoun said goodbye to him, actual worry contorted his lips into a pout. Wooyoung assured him he would be back soon. Then he left the man behind to dip into the next room.