even at golden hour || kth. + jjk

ground zero >prologue.

"A calamity, I tell you. An absolute fucking calamity," the man nearly scoffed from his own outburst, knocking his pint of beer down against the already abused wood of the pub's table. The linen of his shirt sleeves were dirtied, coated in the faintest of dirts and grime. Unlike him, for the man was almost always clean. The man lived in a place of royalty- it was his job to dress a certain way, act a certain way. However, when the night fell, he was off duty. He could wear as he pleased, and this night, he decided a white linen shirt and fastened leather vesting was the best approach. This confused the man across from him, for he had always believed a man of his status would dress proper always. There was something he wanted... something he was doing.

"Jin, it's far more than just... you involved in this," the other man said softly, watching as the man in question grabbed up his beer again, guzzling down whatever it was that was left. "Sure, the Gods know it's awful how Bromiza is now in the court and how you have to cater to him, but it's more than just cattery. You understand that the influence he has over the king will send Arruela into absolute ruins, do you not?"

A grunt, a firm gulp, and Jin was slamming his now-empty glass to the table once again. His eyes were more so tired than they were angry, they almost always were. The man simply was exhausted. But truly, if anyone were to work in a royal court almost day-round, who wouldn't be tired? The man was no God, and if he were, it wouldn't take away from the astounding amount of work he had to do on a day to day basis.

The man across from him just sighed at the look he got, equally if not more tired than Jin. He, too, worked at the castle, just simply of higher position than Jin. He was more in the know-how compared to the maid- knew all that was mainstream, knew the talk of the advisory board like the back of his hand. Only difference was, Jin knew the talks behind hushed doors, knew the works of the board's private conversations. Great fires below, he was involved himself in some of the conversations. But unlike the man before him, Jin wasn't part of the court.

"Kim Namjoon, I swear to the great Gods above that if you seriously think that is why I am distraught, then I hope you loved your schlong, because you will not have it for much longer," The elder glared continuously, even as he brushed his hair from his face. Namjoon himself wondered if he was even blinking.

"I know what it does to Arruela," he continued. "I know just how shitty that Bromiza is. I know just what his intentions are. I know what it would do to the kingdom, Namjoon, I am the kingdom. Don't have some superiority complex over me because you think you're all high, poised, and mighty for being another goon in the courtroom. We're equals, remember? That was the promise I made to you as you made to I. Do not belittle me in such a way.

"Anyways, back to what I initially called you in for. I wanted to do it here because frankly, I needed a drink, that, and the maids are in the walls. They whisper and they talk. Here... well, these slums are too drunk to form a coherent thought, let alone sentence to gossip."

Namjoon made no effort of cutting his lover off, it was a bit of a low blow. So instead, he just nodded, leaned back into his chair, and motioned for him to continue.

"But right," the elder sighed, finally losing a bit of his hostility to lean back into his chair, trail his finger along the rim of the glass. "What I wanted to talk about... well, we already started talking about it- that Bromiza guy. Yeah, no- he's the reason I want to start a revolution. Kill the king, maybe. Treason, maybe, I don't care. All I know is I want him gone-"

"Oh, well do be so frank," Namjoon choked back a laugh, throwing his own self back against his own chair. In his mind, of course, he knew his lover wasn't lying. He knew his lover wanted change however he could take it. Of course, Namjoon agreed, he wanted change too. The difference between them was that Namjoon was practical. The king was, obviously, a cruel hearted, ill-fated man. If he were to die, frankly, not many would be hurt over it. Lord Kim of Arruela, king of the plains from mountain to mountain and the rivers they held. Ruthless. Vile. Crude. No compassion or morals of his citizens. Money, riches, wealth- they were his only concern. Namjoon knew this better than anyone, he witnessed it first hand in the council meetings. But now, with Bromiza as Kim's royal adviser, things were sure to take a turn for the worst. The town was already falling into drought, already selling their lives in debts and their children for food on the table. A king like Kim cared not for his people, but for his own gain. Bromiza was no different, Bromiza just had a stronger will to make it happen.