so far away | yoonkook

sundown : 06

"but these things are boring." namjoon steps back and studies the sight. when he looks to his left, yoongi's doing just the same, though he's more distracted than namjoon is.

it doesn't even look like he's figured out what it was he was trying to figure out yet.

yoongi tilts his head to various angles as if he was a painter trying to find the right position to his subject. he wants to understand something that namjoon can't pinpoint if it's even there.

"they sell themselves to people?" yoongi looks over at namjoon with an expression that's more clear now, concern.

"I believe that's part of the idea of 'hosting', hyung."

"and this is legal?"

"well if it isn't then you'd see police raiding these establishments by now. do you see any?"

yoongi shakes his head very slowly. "isn't that a bit unfair. it's as if they're forced against their will to please people of every kind, even if sometimes the outcome is outrageous."

"some of them weren't forced. they actually enjoy the activities."

"you know anyone?"

"none personally but I've been told stories."

yoongi nods. "I'd like to know for myself."

"I'll stick to my word then. go right ahead." namjoon gestures a hand for yoongi to enter first.

the double doors are colored chocolate and are varnished to add a sheen finish so whenever they caught light they'd give off the illusion that the entrance was sparkling.

bordering the entryway were rich velvet drapes that cascaded from the ceiling and onto the floor, sequenced and piped with silver and held in place by a thick grey rope.

on either sides stood intricately crafted ivory pillars, the ones that remind yoongi of greek temples and roman bath houses, with fake vines spiraling against the posts to finish off the elegant effect.

though yoongi isn't particularly drawn in by the entire concept that the bar held together, he was more fascinated with what actually went on inside.

coming from someone who simply couldn't bear the pressures of family statuses and educational requirements, yoongi greatly wonders how well these people or hosts handle their tasks. because for him, it's never been easy to be told to do something pass his interests, let alone have his parents dictate the rest of his life for him.

"but for them, it's as simple as clipping paperwork together or brewing coffee in the morning." namjoon whispers to his older companion, as they're escorted by one of the smartly suited chaperones into the main room.

yoongi takes an interest in observing some more, from the warm lighting, the gargantuan framed paintings lining the hallways to the newly vacuumed carpet and the bar's choice of room and linen spray. polvere.

the musk gest stronger by the time they walk into the main socializing place where yoongi's eyes begin to dart from one end of the place to the other.

"a-ma-zing." he coos in a low voice, watching the bustle of waiters and customers inside the space.

a grand chandelier is the main focus of the room. there are mirrors in exchanged of plain paint or wallpaper on concrete. most of the actual business take place on the leather couches that are pushed against the walls with velvet pillows for the added comfort and a fur blanket hanging from the edge of the arm rest.

for each conversing area, a single white rectangular table is available where a bucket of champagne or wine of the customer's choice and a bowl of chocolate pebbles stand.

namjoon and yoongi are taken to a free area near a window on the far end of the establishment.

"one of our hosts will approach your table. she will entertain any of your further concerns. have a pleasant evening gentlemen." the chaperone bows and the two do the same in gratitude.

as soon as the chaperone leaves, as he had instructed not too long ago, a very pretty and very demure looking hostess sits across from yoongi and namjoon and offers a graceful hand for either of the young men to take.

"a pleasure to meet you both. you may call me iris." she says with a smile as namjoon is the first one to accept her greeting and tells her his name.

yoongi is quiet and observant, on the other hand. he notices that her gestures are quite lacking in warmth and genuineness. a bit too practiced for his liking, actually.

"choi haneul." yoongi says when she asks for his name. she doesn't react in any way that would show she just saw through this lie. instead, iris simply nods and suggests they have drinks.

"none for me." namjoon says with a shake to his head and politeness gracing his features. yoongi dismisses the fact that namjoon just declined any drinking when he specifically asked for them to enjoy tonight.

yoongi agrees to the drinks and tells iris to ignore the killjoy. namjoon chuckles a bit but doesn't snap back. he's doing it for yoongi after all.

"so is iris your real name?" yoongi opts to start a conversation as he takes the glass their hostess was offering. he feels namjoon's gaze falling on him but he decides to ignore it.

iris shakes her head, a kind smile still resting on her lips.

"what's your real name, then?"

"I'm afraid it's classified." she says before taking a sip from the champagne. "see, all our female hosts now take the name of a certain flower, whereas the male hosts change their name to an actor of their liking. for example, one of our very successful hosts takes the name 'tom' and says he aspires to be as charming as the actor tom cruise."

the hostess leans back and turns her head ever so slightly to her left. "there he is with the light hair, red bowtie, and crisp black suit with his famous coattails." she holds out a hand as if she was presenting a prized photo in an art gallery.

namjoon and yoongi follow the direction where she was gesturing at and their eyes fall onto a tall, lean man with broad shoulders, and bleached blond locks. he's encircled by a small crowd, a number of his fellow hosts standing beside their customers, as each of them tried to capture his attention all at once.

"yoongi." namjoon whispers, tugging the side of yoongi's sleeve slightly. "I think I know that guy."

the older gestures to iris to give him a second with his friend and she gently obliges.

"well, of course, he's popular isn't he?" yoongi whispers back, eyeing the hostess as she makes subtle greetings with her co-hostesses whenever they pass her.

"I'm not stupid like that. I don't keep up with local celebrities, okay? but him—I'm fairly sure I've met him before. like outside this whole deal."

"what's his value that's got you all in a twist, man? did he sell you drugs you haven't paid for yet?"

namjoon snatches yoongi's sleeve and pulls him downward while iris stares at them both in question, continues sipping her champagne.

"keep your voice down, asshole! you don't know who might be listening." namjoon says rather briskly, his voice tuned to a loud whisper. "and no, I do not owe him money and I have never ever bought drugs from anyone before. that's nonsense. though, let's say, if I did I wouldn't be broke enough so I couldn't to pay for my shit. this is seoul, the drug business takes their shit seriously, remember that. but that's besides the point."

yoongi sees namjoon's turning red.

"that guy over there, I think he's the same dick that dumped me two years ago." namjoon gets sweaty on the tip of his nose. "but with a different hair color."