Seventeen Muses

Chapter 4

Author Note: Here is your coffee and anxiety induced, 4am writing session results.

-Book

Desdemona had woken up with Seungcheol wrapped around her. She'd then spent the morning clinging to him as he got ready for the day. The poor man had just sighed through the clinginess, understanding at least a little more why she felt the need to guard him so harshly after their late night conversation.

They'd been escorted to the company fairly early and into the same green practice room from the night before. He was happy to see that some of his top candidates for their group were already there.

Seungcheol turns to look at the muse who was still standing just behind his shoulder and asks, "So... how many artists can you bond to at once before I have to deal with a drunk demon?"

She tilts her head, playing a long with his teasing tone, "Hmm... probably 3 or 4. Why?"

"Well, that just means I have 3 or 4 shots at adding to our group."

"What's that supposed to mean?" She asks as he starts dragging her across the room to the 4 men he'd been hitting it off with throughout the training sessions. In his movement he also purposefully steered her away from one of the men in the room he couldn't stand.

Walking up to the 4, they're greeted with 90 degree bows all around, but Desdemona waves them off, keeping a tight grip on Seungcheol's arm.

"Little demon..." He starts, ignoring the chokes and shocked faces from the other four, "I'd like to introduce you to my 4 top suggestions for our group."

She rolls her eyes, "You're a menace, you know that? Going to give your potential group mates a heart attack before I can even get a taste? Pretty bad leader behavior."

She turns to the first man in the group, smiling at him and Seungcheol helpfully adds, "That's Jun." He goes to start introducing the others, but she places a hand on his chest to stop him.

Turning to look at her group leader, Desdemona smiles softly, "I know you're eager, but we have to do this a specific way to be successful. One at a time, okay?"

He nods and watches as the muse steps forward, circling Jun slowly like she'd done to him. The man shifts from one foot to the other. Clearing his throat as she stops in front of him to stare into his eyes, "Umm... hi?" He murmurs.

She tilts her head, smiling softly at him as the sound of chimes in the wind swirls around her to mix with the strong drums Suengcheol had brought. A perfect accompaniment to the powerful base Seungcheol provided the group. She looks over her shoulder at the man in question, who's standing there with arms crossed and a single brow raised. She huffs at his obvious cockiness, "Fine. You have decent taste." Turning back to Jun she smiles, extending a hand, "Would you like to bond with me and join our group?"

Jun looks down at her hand and back up at the others, eyes wide before accepting it cautiously. The rush of wind in his ears was unexpected, as was the muse's reaction. Never before would he have thought he'd be getting jumped by a literal descendent of a goddess.

He stares wide eyed at Seungcheol as the woman continues to curl around him and the other man just laughs, "I'll explain it to you later. Just be prepared for her clinginess."

Desdemona hums happily, eyes unfocusing a little, "You sound so pretty together..." She murmurs

The others all look towards Seungcheol again and he just sighs, "Don't ask..." He pulls the woman off of Jun, ignoring her pout as he redirects her to her next potential victim, "This is Hoshi."