Archive of Our Own

Follow the signs
Right back to you
Back to you, back to you
I know they wind
Right back to you

- Back to You by Twin Forks

That day had begun much like the rest of his days. Jimin woke with the excitable chirping of the morning birds and greeted the day with messy hair and droopy eyes. He'd allow himself some time to sit beneath the warmth of his covers, watching as the world beyond his window awakened with the rising of the sun.

It was quiet, but not in the way eerie silence was. It was quiet in the way his darling small town was. There was no endless bustle of humanity conducting their business throughout the night. There was no raucous disturbances from the town's bar and inn. There was no great surge of travelers as they sought out astounding sights along the road. There was nothing spectacular or discordant about their little town and Jimin liked it that way.

He had lived for quite some time within the large city that wasn't more than a day's ride away, and the overwhelming sound of continuous activity had always bothered him. If he had been given his choice, he'd have opted to do his apprenticeship in the countryside. He was far more suited for leading a quiet life away from the busyness of the roaring cityscape.

Elmyra had been his safe haven escape during his apprentice years. Jimin had fallen in love with the cottage style homes and cozy shopfronts spread throughout the dirt roads of the town limits. He had made it a goal to move out of the claustrophobia nightmare he had been in. A few short years after establishing that goal, he had done it.

He had left cobbled streets and sturdy lampposts for open land and the light of the stars. Jimin had never been so happy. His magic had been stifled within the city, but Elmyra had given it room to blossom like the summer wildflowers in the farmer’s fields.

Taehyung, his best friend and business partner, had always agreed with his sentiments. “Magic is meant to be free,” he would always say. “It can’t be free within so many boundaries to stifle it.”

Such a belief was just one of the many reasons that they clicked so well. There was a kindred energy that they shared that went far beyond mere morals.

He'd met Taehyung in the second year of his apprenticeship and had been stuck with him ever since. They had once joked about opening a business together somewhere in the countryside, but they had made it their reality after being graduated by their mentors.

Elmyra had been the perfect cradle for their early development. The townspeople had been warm and welcoming to their presence, encouraging them along every step of the journey. Jimin was glad they had ended up deciding to make it their home. He and Taehyung never saw a shortage or work despite the small population. There was always something to do, a client to help, or a new problem that needed a few blessings.

The Merry Wand was their baby, and they were endlessly proud of how far they'd brought their amateur dream project.

Jimin raised his arms up behind his head and sighed as his joints popped with the stretch. There was still a few hours before he needed to go open the shop, but he was ready to begin the day. He pushed himself out from beneath the covers and stumbled his way to the bathroom.

Morning routines were calming in the way they allowed him to have a slow start to the day. Waking up early was hard at times, but it was always worth it to be able have a quiet and slow window of time before the work day began.

It was his way of ensuring that he had been able to start with control, if the rest of the day happened to go sideways.

Jimin freshened up for the day and let his  hair dry in the cool breeze that crept in through his cracked window.

A small smile lit up his face as he felt his magic stretch out towards him in a warm greeting. Goosebumps tingled down his arms as he allowed the invisible tendrils to wrap around him.

Magic was a semi-sentient force that magical beings carried with them. It was alive in its own way and acted in symbiosis with its wielder. For creatures, that amounted to creating a ward of safety around them, which also served to protect them from hunters. Witches were by far the most common group to hold and wield magic. They honed their abilities into a chosen discipline over the course of their life, and endeavored to help the world around them with their gift. Every witch that bore magic compared the feeling of that gift to various things. Some might call theirs a friendly snake curling over their shoulders. Some might see their magic as an excited puppy coming to greet them.

For Jimin, his magic had always felt like the affectionate brush of a cat against him. There were times that he had even been able to imagine the tingle of fur from the tendril of magic. That idea had only been further solidified within his mind by the appearance of his familiar, a black and white cat he had named Dipi.

Familiars didn’t form for every witch, those that were blessed with one were often seen as those of greater abilities. It was more common that a witch could handle every bit of their own magic and didn’t require assistance. Those with familiars often needed the help to harness the raw power at their disposal.

Jimin had gotten an entire lecture about familiars and the such during his apprenticeship. His master had been very thorough in the lesson, ensuring that he’d know everything that he needed to. With that lesson had come the important message of ‘the familiar does not reflect the abilities at hand’. Instead, a familiar took the form of a person’s innate energy.

Which is why Dipi’s appearance had amused him so much. He’d never considered himself to be cat-like in any way, and yet there she was.

Jimin glanced over to the bed Dipi usually occupied during the night and found it empty. She had probably ventured out again. It was one of the many reasons he kept his windows cracked for most of the year.

”Guess it’s time for breakfast,” he murmured to himself.

His magic unfurled in a way that felt encouraging.

Jimin huffed in amusement. Leave it to his powers to encourage nourishment. It felt as though he was being coddled from time to time. Though it wasn’t a bad feeling. It was just cozy to feel cared for by his magic of all things.

The cuckoo clock that Taehyung had made for them rung for the hour.

As he jogged down the stairs, he couldn't help but wonder what the day might bring. He was ready to face it all.

"Didja hear that we're supposed to be having some traveling musicians stoppin' in sometime this week?"

Jimin lifted his gaze from the parcel he was wrapping up for his customer. "Musicians? It's been quite some time since we had any of those. Where did you hear about that, Ningal?"

The old woman beamed at his question and put her hands up on the counter. "I overheared some folks talkin' over at Doyun's place. How excitin' would it be if they do come 'round!"

Of course she had overheard it from the tavern. He offered a kind smile and finished tying the pack of goodies. "Yes, I suppose it would be fun. I guess we'll just have to see if Elmyra happens to be on their travel map."

Ningal huffed at that. "Our town's a small one, but it ain't no pushover. They wouldn't forget us on those fancy ol' maps."

The sentiment was a sweet one, but Jimin hadn't even known there was a town out this way until he had walked into its outer borders. He had been wandering after his apprenticeship with no direction in mind, and had just so happened to bump into it. Jimin knew for a fact that most maps failed to jot down their location. Most countryside maps didn't include towns if they bore a population of less than 500 people. Elmyra's sat at a pretty 350 or so. It was small but still populated enough to make the town feel homey.

There was no telling if the musicians - probably better classified as minstrels - would find their way to Elmyra's gates or not. Jimin refused to hold his breath over the matter.

"They would have to be fools to overlook us, you're right."

Ningal seemed pleased. Her wrinkled face brightened with the smile that took over her face. "That's right, Jiminie. They'd be some big ol' fools. I'm thinkin' we'll be havin' some quality entertainment here soon."

Jimin presented the old lady her parcel. "Perhaps we will. If we do, I'm going to tell everyone that old miss Ningal made them appear with her magical persuasion."

A youthful giggle escaped her as she accepted the packet of goods. "I ain't got no magic, Jiminie. That's all you and that Tae boy. You brought our lil town some magical beauty."

"There's nowhere we'd rather be," he assured her. "Now, don't go through those soothing potions too quick this time! If it's not working as well as you need it to, just tell me and I'll reinforce the properties that help your pains."

Ningal offered a silly salute, "Yes boss, I'll letcha know."

"Good then. Get home safe. I'll see you at the turn of the month if not before." Jimin reached out with his magic to pull open the door for her. Dipi jumped up onto the perch by the door to oversee the old lady's progress.

"Ah there's that lil rascal," Ningal crooned. "You keepa watch over that cutie, huh? Good kitty."

Dipi shut her eyes as she accepted the pets and chirped a farewell once Ningal crossed the threshold. Then she bounded across the shop to jump up onto his shoulder.

"Hi my pretty baby," he greeted. "I didn't see you this morning, were you out galivanting again?"

Dipi trilled and brushed against the side of his head. Her paws kneaded along the meat of his shoulder.

Some witches tended to try and ensnare their familiars within the limits of their home. Jimin had always tried to let his have her freedom. He had given her a collar that had been enchanted with protective wards, so that he knew she would be safe while out wandering. Dipi was a kindred soul to his own. If he had left the city with the intent to find freedom in the open countryside, then he knew his familiar must bear a similar longing.

Jimin kissed Dipi's forehead and placed her on her favorite bed atop the counter. "Take a nap, sweetie. You've worked hard today."

He busied himself with a list of orders he had accumulated over the previous week. Half of them were crossed off and fulfilled, but there was still a small handful left remaining.

There was never much hustle or bustle in the shop despite it being a staple piece of the town. He and Taehyung had worked long and hard to prove themselves an asset to the community in those early days, and it had paid off. They were much beloved by the townspeople and bore high recommendations from all of their neighbors. Still, the shop was quiet for a good portion of the day and Jimin loved it.

He never felt harried when preparing goods, never felt rushed to wrap up interactions with customers, never felt pressured to divert his attention in four different directions at once. He was able to enjoy chit chat with visitors and offer genuine help.

He knew that Taehyung enjoyed that aspect of their lives as well. Taehyung was just more of a free spirit that he and spent half of his time hopping from small town to small town offering extended help to those without a local witch. His constant shenanigans had created a trickle effect for their main shop. Every once in awhile a traveler would stop in with a glowing recommendation from Taehyung.

It worked for them. Jimin never minded being the primary shopkeeper. He also knew that Taehyung would come back in a moment's notice if he needed the support or some time away. They just worked well together, both of them able to have the work/life balance that they desired.

Jimin preferred to stay grounded within their base of operations in Elmyra, and Taehyung got to explore and bounce around while conducting business on their behalf.

He had always longed for the quiet life, and he had gotten it. Jimin had never been happier.

"Was that old Nini?" A tired voice asked.

Jimin glanced behind him to find his best friend wiping at his eyes. "Yeah it was. She came in for more potions."

Taehyung blinked and huffed an incredulous laugh. "You gave her enough for a month not a fortnight ago. Where is she putting it all?"

He couldn't help a small smile. "I know. Ningal must have been quite keen on the drink in her prime."

They both cherished her a lot. Ningal had been one of the first to give them the benefit of the doubt in their early days, and remained one of their regular customers. She was one of their favorites, even if the amount of potions she went through was astounding.

"Are you heading out again soon, or will you be staying for a spell?"

His best friend had just gotten back from a seven days of travel the night previous. It had been a fruitful venture, but one that had tired him out. Jimin was glad to see him back though.

Taehyung hummed to himself. "I think I'll linger for a couple of weeks. I've missed interactions with our regulars." He paused and tilted his head in silent question. "You need me to handle the shop?"

Jimin nodded, "I noticed that I'm running low on some ingredients so I wanted to go collect more. I already placed orders to the blacksmith and glassmaker for supplies but I realized-"

"Minnie, take a breath," Taehyung teased him. "I can watch the shop for a week while you restock, it's fine. The only real plans I had were to stop down at Wildflower to bother Kookie."

He was interested in the fact that his friend was going to continue the dance he'd been having with the local barkeep. Jimin had first noticed the shared interest three winters ago and had sent a small wish into the universe that his friend might be able to find companionship in the adorable man.

Jungkook worked in the biggest establishment in town, the combined inn and tavern known as the Wildflower Taverinn. It was a landmark of Elmyra that also served as the largest gathering place in town. Owned by long standing resident Doyun, it featured every bit of cozy hominess that Elmyra boasted. Travelers often complimented their stay place with the glowing ovations.

Taehyung had first noticed Jungkook when he had been hanging up a flier for their shop up at the public message board outside of the Wildflower. He had been enraptured at first glance and had endeavored to make himself a known presence to Jungkook ever since.

Jimin was certain that Jungkook knew of Taehyung's intentions. He just didn't know if the younger realized how serious his friend was on the matter. He was content to watch the proceedings from the sidelines as the two of them attempted to figure each other out. It felt as though he had been provided free entertainment.

"I think you're gonna need to make your proposition of courtship soon," he commented. "Jungkook won't do it first, he's too shy."

Taehyung seemed flabbergasted by his statement for a moment. Then his brow furrowed with thought. "Do you think so? I thought he knew my intentions..."

Jimin fought the urge to roll his eyes. "Tae, he is fully aware. He looks at you as though you've given him the stars from the sky every time you show up at the tavern. He just isn't bold enough to take the first step. He will need you to do that." It was a partial lie. There was a fire in Jungkook's shining eyes that spoke of quiet determination. Jimin had no doubt that if Taehyung failed to take initiative, that Jungkook would do it for them.

He had a running bet with and older man in town, named Laohu, on which of the two would begin the official courting stage. His money was on Taehyung, while Laohu had his money on Jungkook. There was no guarantee that his hint of persuasion would bear any fruit, but he had to try.

Taehyung seemed to be in a state of deliberation, munching absently at a piece of butter bread he had prepared. "How does one go about initiating a courtship though? Do I just.. ask him? No that would be too plain. Kookie deserves something magical. Maybe I could make him a lucky charm. Or maybe I could do..."

The muttering continued as his best friend left the room deep in thought.

Jimin smiled to himself, pleased. It was high time something become of the two lovebirds. They kept hovering just out of reach from one another and Jimin was exhausted from watching them.

"Maybe we'll get those knuckleheads together yet, eh Dipi?"

She purred from her bed.

Yeah, maybe.

Almost a full week after Ningal had introduced the idea of minstrels traveling through their humble town, they appeared.

Jimin had been out collecting various mushrooms from the forest that lay behind The Merry Wand and had been broken from his bout of concentration by the distant sounds of music. His brow furrowed as confusion had swept through him. Then he had remembered Ningal's excited chatter.

It seemed that Elmyra hadn't been left undiscovered by the minstrel posse after all.

He crept out of the woods with hands stained with dirt and his straw hat tilted out of place on his head. His basket of finds took residence over his arm, tucked against his hip. Curiosity fueled him as his feet carried him towards the center of town.

From a distance, he could make out the beautiful voice of a flageolet mixed in with the lively strumming of a pípá. There was a drum keeping pace with the two instruments, and the subtle strums of a citole just underneath it all. It had to be at least four musicians at work.

Jimin's heart thrummed in rhythm with their tune. It had been far too long since he had touched his own instruments, but the sound of their music had him aching to pick one of them back up. Perhaps he had found another thing to do while Taehyung watched over their shop.

A growing crowd stood around the courtyard beside the Wildflower Taverinn, heads bobbing and feet tapping. Some of the gathered children had taken to forming a circle dance just behind the adults. The air about the area was alive in a way it had not been in quite some time.

Elmyra had seen it's share of bards and minstrels, but it had been nearly an entire year since the last had passed through. It was always a time of excitement when new travelers stopped in. He just knew these ones would be the talk of the town for the next several weeks.

Jimin kept himself at the edge of the crowd, moving around the formed semicircle until he was able to garner a peek at the minstrels.

Behind them sat an entire wagon of different instruments and their respective cases. The sheer amount of which was astounding to behold and telling of their popularity. At the far left sat the drummer. He had dark brown hair that flopped about as he nodded in time to his own drum beats. Beside him sat the pípá player, dressed in an ivory tunic that matched his cream colored locks. Further right was the one playing citole, a burly man with a golden straw hat. The last, at the furthest right position, was the minstrel playing the flageolet.

There was something interesting about the wind player. His hair was silken in appearance and a beautiful brown in shade. His eyes were closed in concentration but the lack of tension in his brow spoke of experienced play.

Jimin watched the man's fingers dance over the finger holes as if in a trance.

It was a wonderful experience to watch a skilled musician at work. He made it look so simple but Jimin knew from his own familiarity with instruments that it was a tricky façade at work. The more harmony a music player bore with their instrument, the more time they had spent playing said instrument.

As he glanced back at the other minstrels, he noticed a similar level of talent amongst them all. Music surely ran in their veins for their ease of play and the sheer amount of instruments in their care.

The flageolet player's eyes opened to peer over at his groupmates. None of the others looked to meet his gaze which was an unsaid signal to continue the song. His eyes trailed along their gathered crowd. The man's swept along with nonchalance, until they landed on him.

Jimin flushed upon making eye contact and averted his gaze to his hands. It was his vague hope that the quick reaction would make it seem as though he hadn't been staring. He knew it was an effort made in vain, as it had likely incriminated him further. He let his gaze flicker back upwards and sucked in a breath when he met the man's again.

There something like awe in those warm amber eyes. The man blinked a few times, fingers moving to form notes on instinct. Then he bowed his head and quirked up one side of his mouth in an expression that was reminiscent of a smile.

For some reason, the reaction made him feel shy. After a short nod in return, Jimin laughed and tucked a strand of hair behind his ear.

The song continued with the same fervor for a while, then the four different musicians made eye contact and ended as a unit.

Everyone clapped as they finished.

"Thank you so much for the warm welcome! We are pleased to be in your midst, we are the Misfitting Quarter. My name is Seokjin and I am the leader of our little group."

Jimin hummed in consideration. Somehow it was a fitting name for the pípá player. He wondered what else the man could play.

The drummer shot up with a beaming smile. Everything about him was bright. "I am the loud man of the group, my name is Hoseok! Thank you for coming to listen to us!"

"I am Namjoon, and normally you'll see me playing my hurdy-gurdy," the largest among the group said with a dimpled smile. "Thanks for having us."

He tried not to perk up as all eyes drifted to the wind player. Jimin was curious about him.

"The name's Yoongi, I am our resident wind connoisseur." The man offered a small smile to the crowd. "Thank you for offering us such a warm reception. We look forward to bringing you further enjoyment with our music."

Jimin met gazes with the man again and fought off the urge to hide his face and let a blush take over his cheeks. There was something so intent about his gaze that managed to fluster just about every cell in his body. Jimin didn't understand what it was.

He lingered for awhile more as the group started into another song. This one seemed to feature Seokjin on the lute, while Yoongi followed the gentle rhythm with a tin whistle nestled between his lips. It was a light tune with only the voices of their two instruments to carry the beat.

He had the distinctive feeling that it would stick in his head for the rest of the day.

Jimin shifted his satchel to the other shoulder. Mushrooms weren't the most heavy thing to carry but a whole bag of them held for an extended period proved itself to be rather formidable. He inched his way away from the front and made his way back to the shop so that he could clean and store his finds. The music followed him the entire way.

It was fascinating that old Ningal had been right after all. He smiled at the thought of her boasting the fact whenever she got the chance to.

He hoped they stay for a bit so that he'd have a chance to hear more of their music.

...And perhaps he could try and learn more about the mysterious wind player should the opportunity present itself.

Yeah, that sounded good.

The Wildflower Taverinn was almost bursting at the seams that night. The news of the town's visitors had spread to everyone and they had emerged from their homes to see the minstrels in action. Music crept out of every window of the building, the warm fire and candlelight making the entire space look welcoming.

Taehyung had dragged him along after they had closed up shop, intent on seeing Jungkook and interacting with the strangers.

Jimin had allowed it. He had remaining curiosity over the woodwind player - Yoongi was it? - and figured there would be no better opportunity to satiate his interest.

It never failed to amuse him how excited the town got over travelers, especially if they brought performance talent with them. It was rather endearing to see the patented Elmyra hospitality at work. If there was one thing their humble town was known for, it was the warm reception they offered to any and all that entered.

He had gotten to experience it first hand back in those early days when he and Taehyung had been out scouting for a potential base of operations. Every townsperson he had stumbled upon had greeted him like an old friend. Every acquaintance he made while visiting promised they'd remember his name for whenever he stopped back in. The entire experience had felt too good to be true at the time. Jimin had been quick to request that Taehyung pass through as well to see if he had the same experience. Not a week after that, they had decided to approach the local land agent about buying some property to start their new lives.

Neither one of them had looked back every since. They loved Elmyra.

Jimin hoped that these minstrels would get a hearty look into what was so wonderful about the area. The land itself was stunning but the people were amazing in their own right.

The mood within the Taverinn was comfortable. Lighthearted chatter and laughter mixed with the upbeat music the minstrels were playing. The bar was a bustle of activity as food and drink was brought out to the eager patrons.

Taehyung made a beeline for the bar with an excited bounce to his step.

Jimin laughed as he followed. "Should we really be bothering Jungkook when this place is so busy? He might be swamped with orders right now."

"Then I'll make him take a break! He would do it if I asked," his best friend declared.

There was no feasible way that he believed Jungkook capable of denying Taehyung anything, but Jimin kept that thought to himself. "Don't be fussy, Tae. You can wait for him to get off to properly see him."

Taehyung pouted and grumbled something under his breath.

They made their way to the counter and then maneuvered over to the side that Jungkook was working.

As Jimin had anticipated, the poor man looked harried as he placed out plates of food for waiting guests while filling drink orders for others. The look on his face was a painful mix of stress, concentration, and anxiety. His heart went out to the younger.

"Heya Jungkookie!"

Jungkook froze for a second, but shook himself out of it just as quickly. Some of the tension drained from his shoulders as he flashed them a smile. "Hi Taehyungie. Hi Jimin. I'll be right with you."

Jimin felt fascinated. It had been all too easy for Taehyung to knock down some of the stress off of Jungkook's shoulders. If that tidbit of information wasn't telling of their current status as courtship dance partners, Jimin didn't know what was. 

"He's so cute when he's working," Taehyung said to himself. "I want to paint a mural of his little face on my wall."

He rolled his eyes. "Pardon me while I gag. You're hopeless, Tae."

His best friend sighed dreamily. "Hopelessly taken by the wonder that is Jungkookie, yes."

"I'm going to toss myself back out the door if your mushiness continues to be audible to me." Jimin was happy for Taehyung, but he also didn't want to be subjected to yet another tangent of how pretty Jungkook was. He had heard enough of those in the past few months. He was tired.

Taehyung tossed him a cheeky grin. "It's fine. I can keep it internal. That's about how my days go anyways. Would you rather talk about the pretty woodwind man that has caught your eye?"

Jimin snapped his head back around so fast that his neck popped. "You wouldn't dare."

"Oh bardlings~! I must inquire about your master of winds he seems to have caught my friend's eye-"

"Be quiet," he hissed, "someone might hear you."

Taehyung patted his head. "Pssh yeah sure. The way they're hearing each other right now? Listen to how loud everyone is talking, Minnie. They're not paying attention to us."

"Hmmm well I wouldn't go that far," a stranger said behind them, "but by all means continue, I'm intrigued now."

They froze and turned halfway to find a vaguely familiar face looking back at them with amusement clear in their eyes.

"Do excuse my eavesdropping, but your conversation does pertain to my bandmate and friend." The man offered a quick bow and winning smile. "The name's Seokjin. I believe you were discussing Yoongi?"

Jimin flushed a bright red up to the tip of his ears. "Uhmm no, I believe you are mistaken."

Taehyung hummed in consideration beside him. "And if we were? How would that pertain to you?"

Seokjin let out a squeaky laugh. "Seeing as I am happily taken by the other two in our merry group, I am always interested in potential romantic connections for our Yoongichi. He is a tough one to crack. We've been waiting for someone to steal him away for years."

"Well now I'm intrigued," Taehyung mumbled. "You have two partners? That sounds like a busy bed. Do you all fit on a standard bed found at inns and the like? Did Wildflower have one big enough for the three of you?"

Jimin hid his face in his hands. He wished that he knew an invisibility spell to make himself disappear from the situation.

The bard was a good sport to his friend's curiosity and answered his stream of questions with dignity.

Jimin was proud of his ability to read a person's character in short order. Sometimes he could tell upon first glance what kind a person he was dealing with. Seokjin, based purely on the conversation at hand, seemed like a kind man. He bore no hostility nor annoyance from being questioned so thoroughly, and seemed tickled by the interest if nothing else. Plus there was his bubbly laugh that seemed to brighten the room around him.

"I think that's all the questions I have for now," Taehyung said, as if he were finishing an interview. "I must now go check on my darling, please excuse me."

It was only when he was watching his best friend prance back up to the bar that Jimin realized what that meant for him. He whipped to face Seokjin whose grin had sharpened a bit at the edges.

"Now that it's just us," he crooned, "would you tell me more about this crush you have on Yoongi?"

Jimin whined in despair. "Please just leave me to drown in my own mortification."

Seokjin giggled at him. "Ah young love. Come now, you can tell me. I promise I won't be mean about it."

He knew that he wasn't going to get out of it. He needed to talk about the matter with someone anyways, might as well be this Yoongi's bandmate. Jimin let loose a long sigh. "Fine.. Though I wouldn't say it's romantically inclined yet-"

"Yet," Seokjin agreed, the twinkle in his eye was delighted.

Jimin glared at him. "Yet," he reiterated. He believed the magic of the world, and the powers wherein, but he had always been skeptical about the supposed ideal of love upon first glance. Relationships were complicated and fickle things that could not be formed through the aspect of attraction alone. It was one of the reasons he had never initiated courtship with past admirers, it was usually a shallow sense of affection they were offering.

"I am curious about him though," Jimin continued after a moment. "He seemed to be looking at me a lot." Perhaps it was surface level, but something in him still wanted to prove that to himself by meeting the man.

The minstrel nodded. "Oh yes, he was absolutely astounded by you. He keeps talking about the pretty man in a straw hat with dirt covered hands. I'm guessing that was you?"

He wanted to hide under a rock for the next few years in order to escape the second hand embarrassment he felt in that moment. "Oh heavens. I forgot that I was in such a state of dishevelment at the time. I'm one of the local witches, y'see, and I was out collecting mushrooms. I happened to hear your music in the edges of the forest and I had to come take a listen."

"Oh! You're a witch! I hadn't even realized. It's been a long time since I found myself in the company of someone magical, it's a pleasure to make our acquaintance."

It was a genuine sort of greeting and it made Jimin's heart warm. He wasn't always introduced to someone on such good terms when they learned he was a witch. "Likewise," he replied, "my name is Jimin, by the way."

Seokjin's responding smile was brilliant. “Ah you’re just as kind as you are cute, no wonder Yoongi was taken by you.”

He sputtered at that, unsure how to respond. He was flattered for sure. Though the worrywart side of his mind wondered if surface level attraction was all that would come of the interest between he and Yoongi.

”I can’t say I know his intentions but I imagine you’ll be having a conversation with him at some point during our stay here. We plan to stay for half the week before moving southwards.” Seokjin paused to give him a wink, “So don’t be a stranger, y’hear me? We’d all love to chat.”

”O-Okay,” he managed to reply.

The sheer charisma that exuded out of Seokjin was rather absurd. It was no wonder that he was the leader of their group. He was no doubt a strong source of advertisement for the group. He had the kind of personality that just intrigued you into listening to whatever he had to say.

”We’re taking a half hour rest before our next few pieces. I imagine if you wanted to find Yoongi, you’d find him in any nearby garden or public sitting place. Somewhere quiet.” Seokjin patted his shoulder, “Good luck, Jiminie.”

With that, he disappeared into the crowd, headed towards a table against the wall.

Jimin fought with himself for a few minutes. Then he happened to make eye contact with his best friend, stood by the bar, who tilted his head in wordless question. He shrugged in return, to which Taehyung threw him a thumb’s up. He guessed that was his sign to be off to the garden and picnic area behind the Wildflower.

It was the most likely location for both the quiet and proximity. It was also easy to slip out the back door and escape to. Jimin figured it was as good a bet that Yoongi would end up there as any other place nearby.

The noise level dropped off as soon as the door fell shut behind him. Signs of life could still be heard, but the volume had been decreased significantly. Jimin let himself relax, falling back against the door with a small sigh.

Sometimes the large gatherings that Elmyra had were too much for his senses. He loved getting to see so many familiar face and have avid conversations, but the nonstop drain to his socializing levels tended to wear him out rather fast. He could understand why the Misfitting Quarter's wind player felt the need to slip away during a break period. There was a reason he had run out of the city at his first given opportunity.

"Oh, it's you!"

Jimin looked up to find Yoongi staring right back at him from one of the nearby benches. It seemed as though he had been writing down something or other, if the journal clasped in his hand was any indication. He sent him a small smile. "Sorry to bother your quiet time. It was a little loud in there."

"No need to explain that to me," the minstrel said in return, matching his smile. "I love seeing the joy our music brings to people, but their exuberance is just a little much in such a closed in space."

It seemed their sentiments were almost the same. Jimin liked that he already felt understood by this man. "Yeah, I feel the similarly." He scuttled forward half a step and gestured to the other half of the bench. "May I join you?"

Yoongi's smile shifted into a smirk. "On the small condition that I learn your name? I must admit I have been wondering since I saw you earlier."

Jimin flushed as he plopped down next to him. "Do pardon me for appearing in such a state of disarray. I had been out collecting mushrooms for some potions I need to make. One of our older residents relies on them to calm her joint pain and I knew my store of the key ingredient was running low."

"Potions? So are you...?"

From the good reception he had garnered from Seokjin, Jimin was willing to bet that this man wouldn't be bothered by his magical status either. "I'm one of the two local witches, I am named Jimin. My best friend and I run The Merry Wand that's just down the lane."

"Ah, I will have to make a stop in there before we travel on to another location," Yoongi said. "Would you happen to have any lucky charms or anything for protection?"

Jimin huffed. "That's the equivalent to asking a baker if they have a rolling pin in their arsenal. Of course we do. We can even personalize charms and wards for specific people and uses. It's rudimentary magic for witches."

Yoongi chuckled, eyes crinkling at the corners. "Well do excuse my ignorance, little witch. I'll have to witness your expertise in person so that I may be better educated on the subject."

He fought down a blush. "Good. I'll not have my craft seen in such a simplistic way, minstrel. Just as you wouldn't want someone claiming that anyone can play your instruments with no background in their use."

"Indeed. That is an oversight on their part. I shall endeavor to not be the same." Even as he said it, there was a teasing edge to Yoongi's voice.

Jimin nodded. "That's all I ask."

He took a moment to appreciate how easy it felt to converse with the man. It was as though they met previously and had been able to step around the awkward stage of interaction. Such a thing was rather rare to find in a relative stranger. Jimin could remember the last time he had felt that way, and that had been when he and Taehyung met Jungkook. They had taken one look into his adorable doe eyes and had been attached.

It might not be the exact same case with Yoongi, but there was still a natural connection between them that Jimin refused to overlook.

"You are far more interesting than I could have ever imagined you'd be," his companion commented.

Jimin broke free of his thoughts and raised an inquisitive brow. "Oh?"

Yoongi scratched at the back of his neck - a nervous habit? - and gave a half shrug. "Well, it's not often that we have tussled looking villagers coming out of nowhere to listen to our music with careful scrutiny. I was intrigued."

"Ugh," he whined, petulant. "You're never going to let me move on from that matter, are you?"

"Not a chance."

He let out a surprised giggle at that statement. "Your dedication to this course of action is admirable, minstrel."

Yoongi waggled his brows. "I aim to please. Are you impressed yet?"

Jimin laughed again by way of response.

"I'm taking that for a yes. Glad to hear it."

"Believe what you will, man of winds," Jimin teased.

There was a comfortable quiet that settled over them as they looked up towards the stars that sparkled above them and took in the beauty of the night. Again he was struck by how easy it felt. There was no pressure from either of them to continue conversation, no sense of unease to be found.

The back door of the Wildflower opened to reveal Seokjin with a pink of beer in hand. "Yoongichi, we're up in three. If you require a drink before we start back up, now is the time."

Yoongi heaved a small sigh. "Duty beckons me, dear witch. I'm afraid I must depart our conversation for now."

"Fair travels back into the thicket, fair minstrel," Jimin said with a smile. "I shall listen to your tunes from a distance."

That earned him a small grin that matched his own. "May our music be a blessing to your ears. I will seek out your shop come the morning."

Jimin couldn't say why, but something in his chest fluttered to life at the small promise. Even his magic rolled and curled with obvious contentment beneath his skin

"I'll be looking forward to your visit, then."

Yoongi had become a familiar sight to him in rather short order.

Jimin had wondered if anything would happen beyond that first visit they had shared during the Misfitting Quarter's brief stay in Elmyra. He had been pleasantly surprised to see Yoongi at his door the visit after that.

For a musical group that lived for the roads, it was rather odd to see them revisiting their humble town more than once within a month's time. At the same time, however, Jimin didn't want to look at the matter too closely. Perhaps the group had felt drawn to Elmyra.

It became a routine that the day they arrived into town, Yoongi would come knocking. After the second visit, he brought a small trinket with him. "It was something that made me think of you," the minstrel had admitted with a sheepish smile. Jimin hadn't known it at the time, but that would be the first of many trinkets that the man would bring him.

The first had been a bracelet that happened to have a luck of wealth spell weaved into its beads. Jimin knew there was no way that Yoongi could have sensed the magic in the bracelet, a fact which made him feel endeared.

The first has been followed by many more, until it had become a routine. Each time that Yoongi came to see him, there was sure to be a trinket offering to follow.

Such was the case one bright spring morning. Jimin had been preparing a few potions for the townspeople that would help lessen the effects of their seasonal colds. The spring months were always hard for those with sensitivities to the outpouring of pollen from the fauna of the area.

His concentration had only been broken when a familiar voice spoke from the doorway.

"Oh, who is this?"

Jimin looked up to find Yoongi standing face to face with Dipi. Her ears were perked forward with alert, nose twitching as she took in the man's scent. After a few seconds of taking him in, she offered a sweet little mew to him in greeting. He smiled. "That's my familiar, her name is Dipi."

Yoongi offered a hand out to her, petting only once she had bumped her head against his fingers. "Is she a new addition to your operation? I don't believe I've seen her before."

"Ah she was probably hiding or out exploring," Jimin replied. "She's a free spirit and likes to wander the land. I only tug on our bond when I have need of her assistance."

"Tug on your bond?"

He laughed shyly. "Apologies. I forget that you're not used to magical concepts." Jimin rounded the counter and brushed a hand down Dipi's back. "A witch's magic grows with them. Each year that we age is another small addition to our inner store of power. Some witches, like myself, have access to a bigger well of magic than most and require aid to use our abilities. While I was mastering my crafts with my mentor, Dipi appeared."

Yoongi listened with rapt attention, though he continued to pet his familiar until she lay boneless and purring.

"Our familiars are a presentation of our nature, and a kindred soul to our own. Dipi is a precious part of my life. I may be biased, but I do believe she is the finest familiar to grace the face of this world." Jimin leaned down to press a kiss into her side. "Anyways... we share a bond through my magic and I'm able to pull on it like you might pull on a piece of fabric? It's hard to describe. It took us awhile to understand those tugs but now she knows that if I tug for her that I need her help with something and she'll come running."

It took him until his tangent had finished to realize that he had been rambling. Jimin chuckled and ran a hand through his hair. "A-Anyways... anything in particular that brought you here today?"

Yoongi stiffened up at his question, a nervous swallow giving away his nerves. "Uh... yes. I did have a reason besides coming to visit like I said I would."

Jimin tilted his head in silent askance. For the nerves that the minstrel was showing him, he figured it was the better option to let the man move at his own speed on the matter.

"If I might be so bold, dearest witch," Yoongi said, stepping forward with an adorable and shy smile. "I saw this pendant along the road and couldn't help but think of how it matched your beautiful eyes."

Jimin stared at him in utter surprise for a long moment before he ducked his head in a vague attempt to hide the smile and flush that came to his face. Every time he thought that he had Yoongi figured out and could anticipate his next move, the man pulled something different out of his hat. He always found himself flustered and shy. It was nigh impossible for him to predict what might come next.

"Would you honor me by wearing it, for comparison's sake?"

He laughed at the question and nodded. "I think that for you, dear minstrel, I could do just that."

Yoongi's smile brightened and became more certain. He stepped forward, either end of the necklace strap in his hands. Then he raised it to Jimin's neck and fastened it. Once he had finished, he stepped back and peered upon him with a smile.

Jimin averted his eyes, overwhelmed by their proximity. "Well? How does it look?"

There was something deep and contemplative in Yoongi’s gaze as it swept over him.

He could feel every second of that moment.

“Like I made the right choice,” he murmured. “It’s beautiful on you.”

Jimin peeked up at him to flash him a small smile in return, pleased. He had not ever considered his eyes to be anything memorable.

Yoongi, apparently, disagreed with that belief.

It was such a wonderful new feeling to feel like he was remarkable in an ordinary way. In the eyes of many, he was only special because of the magic he bore. Yet Yoongi seemed to see much more of him than that.

Jimin wasn’t sure what it meant just yet, but his traitorous heart did a gleeful dance in his chest.

Fairest witch of Elmyra,

Perhaps this is a bold gesture to send a letter between times in which our troupe is able to return to your humble town, but I couldn’t seem to help myself.

It feels as though that I see something that makes my mind think of you in every town and city that we pass through. Every shopfront has some trinket or other that seems to suit you, and I cannot seem to resist the temptation to snatch it up.

If it is too forward of me, then you may tell me when next we’re in Elmyra. For now, I shall send small offerings when I can. I suppose I’ll just have to keep any larger findings in our wagon so as not to bother the post workers.

My offering this time made me think of your feline, though I can’t recall her name. May the small carving bring you a smile.

Though I’m unsure when next we’ll come ‘round, I assure you that you’ll be one of the first to know of our arrival.

Until the next we meet, fair one.

Your humble man of winds,

Yoongi

The next time that the Misfitting Quarter made their appearance within Elmyra, the town was preparing for their annual Summer Solstice festival. The day before their arrival had been a collaborative town effort to raise the tents and stands for the upcoming event.

Jimin and Taehyung had been amongst the set up group, running every which way to scale the poles to secured the ropes that connected them all together. It was a wild rush of activity but Jimin loved feeling helpful. Plus he'd loathe to see any of the older villagers trying to handle such an arduous task.

By the time the Quarter rolled into town, most of the hard work had been done. A fact which he and Taehyung were quick to tease them about.

"Do pardon our late arrival friends," Seokjin had said in return, throwing them a winning smile. "If we had known, we would have hastened our journey here."

Taehyung slung an arm over Jungkook's shoulder and pressed a kiss into his cheek. "If the four of you really are inclined, I'm sure there are a few villagers that would appreciate some help setting up booths and stands."

Hoseok wiggled in excitement and snatched his partners' hands in his own. "C'mon loves! We have people to help."

"We should also do a small set come lunchtime to provide entertainment," Yoongi hollered after them.

"We'll reconvene come midday!" Seokjin assured as he was dragged off towards the throng of people hard at work.

Yoongi turned to face them with after they had disappeared from view. "What about you three? Anything that you need help with?"

Taehyung huffed and nudged Jimin forward with his leg. "Go set up our booth, Minnie. Jungkook and I are going to grab an early lunch together."

Jungkook flushed a bit but nodded.

Jimin sent them a weighted glance at that. "Is that what you're calling it now?"

"Shut it," Taehyung said, sticking his tongue out.

"Have fun, kiddies. Please make sure no one else is around this time." He was glad that the two of them had gotten themselves in order and become a couple at long last. Jimin had just underestimated how shameless it would make the two of them. The town had been subjected to their enthusiastic kissing sessions more than once. He had sat them down after the third time and lectured for a full forty minutes about how the entirety of Elmyra did not need to be privy to their pre-coupling routine.

They had gotten much better about situational awareness but Jimin still hoped their raucous honeymoon phase tapered off soon.

"So.. the two of you have a booth?" Yoongi questioned after a moment.

Jimin gestured him to walk alongside him. "Yeah. Ever since we made Elmyra our home, we've made the entire town little sun charms for the Summer Solstice. Each one contains a different type of minor spell. Farmers tend to go for one that carries a luck of growth spell as it boosts their crop yield. Artists and craftsmen tend to go for one that bears protection so that they may work without fear of injury. Children either grab the luck of schooling charm, or the bountiful good memoir charm. Older folks go for any number or things but really see benefits by carrying our luck of health charms."

"That sounds like an immense amount of work to accomplish every year," Yoongi said in disbelief. "How in the world do the two of you manage it?"

Jimin laughed, shoulder knocking into the minstrel's as he did. "We tend to make at least ten a day every day of the year. If the weather is bad and we have no customers to serve, we do a large session of enchantment to make a dent in what we have yet to make. Aside from making the charms, lacing them with a minor spell is easy work. Especially when you have a group of them that you can imbue with the same effect."

It was a lot of hard work for them and everyone in town was aware of the fact. Some folks had kept every year's charm and used them to decorate their homes around the Solstice. Some people would burn the old charm after receiving their new one for the year. Jimin had even seen some mothers make their sun charms into keepsakes for their children, holding onto the different ones over the course of their child's life.

He and Taehyung never dictated what people should do with them. They were just content to hand them out and give good energy to their neighbors.

Yoongi shook his head. "The more I learn about you and how much you do for Elmyra, the more awed I feel. You have done so much for your community since joining it. It's really admirable of you, Jimin."

He jolted in place and whipped around to face his companion with his mouth open in shock. "You-!" It was so rare to hear his name fall from those lips. Each time that it did, Jimin felt like he'd been thrown into a barrel of ice water for how great his shock was.

The minstrel tilted his head as a smirked tugged onto his face. "That is your name isn't it, dear witch?"

Jimin could feel the burning red of a blush crawl over his cheeks. His magic wiggled in delight. "You're impossible."

"And yet here I stand, returned into your company again and again."

"Yes," he conceded, "and you should feel lucky about that."

Yoongi chuckled. "That I do."

They finished the walk to The Merry Wand in companionable silence. The summer air was warm in a pleasant way, with a crisp breeze dancing through the trees. It was nice, and almost felt like a private walk together.

Jimin lead Yoongi inside and showed him where their boxes of charms lay. There were four large ones in total, all filled to the brim with an assortment of various spelled charms. He knew from experience that it would require a secondary trip.

”I’ll get this one, would you get that one in the back? It’s one of the bigger ones that I’m not sure I could tote.”

Yoongi snorted a laugh as he meandered over to it. “I am flattered by your belief in my ability to lift it if you cannot. I hope I don’t disappoint us both by failing.”

Jimin rolled his eyes and tugged on the man to have them face one another. “Stand still a moment.” He let his eyes fall shut as he reached for his magic. It billowed up to meet him with in warm reception. With a quick flick of his wrist, he embellished Yoongi’s arms with a fortifying spell. It was a temporary boost but it he knew it would last long enough for them to finish the job.

”There, a little reinforcement for your muscles to make sure you don’t hurt yourself!”

The minstrel stared back at him, bewildered. "You can just do that?"

He grinned in return, "I can do all sorts of things, music man."

Yoongi's mouth flapped a few times in shock before he seemed to accept it and refocused on the task at hand.

Jimin felt a bubble of pride in his stomach. It was always nice to see genuine reactions like that. It made him feel like his magic was something special, and served to remind him of his overall mission to help those around him. Magic was a constant in his life, but it wasn't for many others. So Jimin wanted to ensure that he did his utmost to give others a taste of his everyday experience.

They managed to haul everything to the booth in three trips. Though their third venture to the shop was to grab the final décor and display shelving needed for the booth and was thus the lightest load they bore. It turned out to be a refreshing jaunt for the both of them.

Yoongi helped him set things up, their work aided by Jungkook and Taehyung once the couple had resurfaced.

Jimin was pleased with the set up once they had finished, and thanked Yoongi for all of his assistance.

"If you'd like to thank me, perhaps you might direct me to a place to find lunch?" Yoongi had asked with a teasing edge to his voice.

Which was how they had found themselves settled at a table with the other members of the Misfitting Quarter, the seven of them taking up one of the Wildflower's large tables. They ate in good company, trading stories from their hard work before the lunching hour. It was comfortable.

He knew then that the bonds between them were sure to last for many years to come. Jimin just had a good feeling about it.

"You know, we've been talking amongst ourselves," Hoseok said after they had finished their meals, a smile one his lips, "and we came to the unanimous decision that we'd like to make Elmyra our hometown."

Jimin felt a jolt of astonishment roll through him.

Jungkook made a sound of shock. "Wait really? What would that entail exactly?"

Namjoon took over that part of the conversation. "All of us have been without a concrete base of operations since we started out. We loved the nomadic kind of life and were content to bounce around at our heart's content. We traveled near and far, seeing almost every nook and cranny of this country. We've sat down with lords and ladies, magical folk and small townspeople, people and creatures alike. We accomplished our primary goals and we have all been contemplating a change up."

Seokjin nodded. "Being on the road has been all we could have ever hoped for. We've been blessed by the hospitality of folks wide and far, and met people we never could have imagined ourselves getting to. Yet that restless spirit we had all used as our drive has settled somewhat. Being constantly on the road is harder than it was when we were younger. Plus..." He sent a soft smile to his partners. "Plus I have grown quite fond of the daydream I've been having of owning a proper home with the loves of my life."

Jimin felt as though he were in shock. It was wonderful news, and would be a great source of natural growth for the band, but he couldn't help but wonder why they might choose Elmyra. "Are you sure that you want that here? I'm sure you've seen far more alluring places to settle down.."

Yoongi, sat beside him, huffed out a laugh. "Coming from one of the witches who fell in love with this little town after just one visit? Is it really any surprise? We like it here, it's close enough to the city that we can travel back and forth, but away from the ludicrous bustle of the city that we can fully relax."

He turned his gaze over to the minstrel, judging the sincerity of his words. His scrutiny seemed to fluster Yoongi a bit which he found intriguing.

"There's also no other town that has you three in it," Yoongi said, ears a bright burning red.

Hoseok laughed on the other side of the room. "Yeah that's true too. We've gotten attached to you three dorks. We'd miss you too much if we settled somewhere else."

Jimin tried not to let those admissions go to his head. Yet he couldn't deny the way it made a well of hope fill his heart to the brim. Was that Yoongi's way of saying that he'd miss him? They had been dancing around each other for weeks by that point, but he never felt sure that it went anywhere beyond flirting and a casual situation.

Was that his sign at long last?

"You'd miss me?" He whispered, so that only Yoongi beside him would hear.

Yoongi scratched at the back of his neck. He still seemed shy over it. "Yeah... I'd miss you."

His traitorous feelings soared. Jimin smiled wide, vision blurring with the familiar sting of happy tears. "I'd have missed you too," he murmured.

It felt like a confirmation between them. It was the first solid step they had taken into their budding courtship being something more. He could just feel the minute shift between them.

The two of them shared a soft glance that said even more about their shared sentiments than they could with words alone.

Jimin just knew it was the sign he had been waiting for. His instincts had been begging for him to pay attention to this bond, and they had come through yet again for him.

There was something special about Yoongi's presence in his life and he couldn't wait to see what came next.

Mushroom-bearing witch of compact stature,

I found myself thinking of our first indirect meeting this morning due to the nature of the small gift I've found for you. I know not if you wear ear clips, but I stumbled upon these shroom earpieces at a local market and could not resist.

I imagine that if you were to hold them up next to you for size comparison, I'd see you making a home out of the base. Ah I can just imagine your expression of ire reading that.

Our hope is to traverse back to Elmyra soon. We miss the people and the fine company you and yours provide. Plus no food has settled as well as the delightful home cooking we've come to enjoy from the town. The flavors are always something to be remembered with the highest reverence we might offer them.

We're off to attend a local festival as some of the entertainment so I must leave my letter brief this time.

May these ear clips serve as my trinket offering for the time being.

I look forward to the next opportunity we've to meet.

Your mischievous minstrel,

Yoongi

“So you’re planning to act on the mutual romantic sentiments between you and that musician, right?”

Jimin choked on the sip of tea he had been trying to drink down. He coughed and stared wide eyed at his best friend.

Taehyung returned his gaze with a raised brow.

Perhaps it had been the incorrect choice to encourage initiative between he and Jungkook. The two of them had been far too insufferable ever since. Curse hindsight for being full of clarity.

”If you got to continuously tell me to get myself together and approach Kookie, then I get to do the same for you,” Taehyung declared. “He’s brought you back five trinkets already. He can’t stop thinking about you.”

Jimin willed his cheeks not to brighten with color as his eyes dropped to his hands. “How am I to be sure that it isn’t merely flirtation? He might just think of me as pretty…”

Taehyung dropped his head onto the counter with a groan. “He brought you a replacement string for your harp from the capital, Minnie. That’s not just flirting.”

That had been a pleasant surprise to be sure.

The two of them had gotten to sit down for a long conversation about their musical interests during one of the group’s earlier visits. Yoongi had been fascinated to learn that he played three different stringed instruments - the harp, the lyre, and the gonghu. Each was an intricate thing in its own right. His harp in particular had always been the biggest source of grievance for him. If it wasn’t falling out of tune, it was a broken string, or a snapped tuning pin. There was always something.

He had mentioned the broken string to the minstrel in passing, stating that he hated to play it without the full set of strings. It had not once crossed his mind that the minstrel might go out of his way to bring him a spare. Yet that was precisely what had been presented to him in a delicate wrapping that was indicative of the seller it had been purchased from. Jimin had recognized the tiny stamp on the parcel at once - he had never been able to afford that particular seller at any point of his habitation in the city.

With that, his temperamental harp had been in one piece once more.

"...Perhaps you have made a point that I am reluctant to analyze."

"Minnie," Taehyung whined, "just accept that Mr. Woodwinds has deliberate intention to court you into a relationship, and then act in kind. That is all I ask."

It was not lost on him how humorous it was that the tables had been turned right around so that his best friend was the suffering party of a painful bout of pining.

"His name is Yoongi," he corrected without much thought.

Taehyung scoffed. "He can become Yoongi or some other terrible nickname once he's worked up the guts to state his intentions properly."

"Intentions that we're not even sure that he has," Jimin replied with a pointed glance.

Dipi mewed from her perch, golden eyes watching him with intent.

"See??" Taehyung said with a vibrant gesture. "Dipi agrees with me. You're being silly."

He crossed his arms over his chest. Was it silly? It had been his mindset to enjoy and entertain the flirtations unless he reached a point that he was afraid for his heart. Jimin knew that he had a gentle one that was moved by romantic gestures. Given that Yoongi’s attentions towards him were some of the first that seemed rooted in genuine feelings, Jimin was worried. What if the well of budding affection he bore wasn’t returned? What if he’d be left high and dry.

The extended silence was apparently more telling than he anticipated. Taehyung let out a sigh and sidled over to him and gathered him in for a hug.

”Don’t overthink it so much, Jiminie,” he said, voice soothing. “Do you think that I’d encourage you to pursue this if I thought Yoongi didn’t have your best intentions in mind?”

”No…”

Taehyung patted his back. “You’ve trusted me with a lot over the years, and I like to think I haven’t steered you wrong that much if at all. So trust me with this too.”

Jimin sniffled as he burrowed into his best friend’s embrace. “I’m just scared, Taetae.”

”I know you are, and that’s okay. Take the time to process those feelings and allow yourself to experience them. Don't brush them away. Wasn’t it you that made me sit down to validate my own preoccupied feelings when it came to Kookie? Spare yourself that same courtesy.” Taehyung pulled away to brush some of his hair behind his ear. "We were scared out of our wits when we started our life here, but excitement was there too. This is the same kind of feeling though, isn't it?"

He nodded.

The feeling was much the same if he thought hard about it. The decision to buy land within Elmyra had marked the new beginning for he and Taehyung. That moment had been full of all kinds of feelings, including that bizarre mix of fright and excitement. It was just scary to try and convince himself that he was allowed to be cradled in the affection that Yoongi was offering. It was new and frightening to realize that this person was genuine in his interest. Jimin didn't know how to handle it but.. he wanted to try.

"You'll be okay, Minnie. Just give it a shot."

"Okay, Taetae."

Gentile witch of the wood,

The road has been long and never ending as of late. I look forward to a time that we can return and find rest within Elmyra's warm embrace. While the people are as welcoming as ever, I find myself only half interested in our shows. I feel bad that I'm not giving our hosts my full focus and attention.

Perhaps my trouble lies in the fact that lately, my thoughts just turn to you. It's as though you have become a tune that won't leave my mind. Everywhere that I look, I see pieces of you. The bushes of sage make me think of The Merry Wand's storeroom. The smell of pastries makes me think of the breakfasts I've been able to share with you. The rustle of the leaves brings to mind our first meeting.

You are impossible to escape. I believe I am beginning to make peace with the fact.

It has been difficult to find a reliable post worker in our current city of occupation - Senyua I believe - but if this letter finds its way to you, then I succeeded in locating one.

The offering I present this time is meant to pair with the first pendant I ever gave to you. If memory serves me correctly, these ear jewels will go with it well.

I supposed I will have to wait to see if I was correct or not.

Please be well. I shall look forward to the next opportunity I have to see you in person.

Your faithful trinket finder,

Yoongi

Jimin had been up reading when the knock had come at their door. The moon was rather high in the night sky at the time, but his mind felt restless and refused to find sleep. So he had decided to pick up one of his master's gifted grimoires to explore the recipes within.

The knock was a disruption to his night, though not an unwelcome one. He dropped the blanket that he had wrapped over his shoulders on the sofa and strode to the door.

He swung the door open and paused at the sight that met him.

"Yoongi?"

The minstrel bowed his head in greeting. "Evening, darling witch. Have I woke you up?"

Jimin shook his head as he pulled the door open further. "No, I was just reading. Come in."

It was far from the first time that Yoongi had been in the house, but Jimin found himself worrying over some absent laundry placed over the couch, and the small stack of scrap papers on the table. The bigger part of him that was a bit drowsy decided that worrying over such things wasn't worth the energy expenditure.

"What brings you to my doorstep, dear minstrel?"

Yoongi offered up a grin. "Bold of you to believe I didn't come out of sheer desire to see you."

Jimin rolled his eyes, amused more than anything. "Bold of you to believe that I will believe that."

The musician cleared his throat and shuffled in place. "It was worth a shot.."

"Hmmm."

He watched the man closely, trying to decipher the possible reason that Yoongi had sought him out. It was several hours past dinnertime, so surely it wasn't to share a meal. It was late enough that Wildflower would be closed down so that the overnight guests could find rest. His bandmates were surely tucked into bed together as well. So what could it be?

"Might I ask," Yoongi murmured, fingers brushing against his.

The brush of their digits made tingles crawl down his arms in a delightful way.

"Could you show this man of the winds how to harness the strings?"

That was unexpected. They had broached the topic of getting together and playing their respective instruments in a duet, but they hadn't had an opportunity to as of yet. The sudden reappearance of that topic was surprising but welcome.

Jimin swallowed as his pinky reached to curl around Yoongi's. "You.. want me to play for you?"

That beautiful gummy smile that he had come to adore appeared. "Please? I long to hear how a witch of the wildflowers wields one of the most gentle instruments in his capable hands."

He giggled as a sudden onslaught of shyness hit him. Their pinkies remained interlocked. "Only if you'd join me in a tune after." He gathered his courage and met Yoongi's eyes. "I've always wanted to know how my song of string might sound with the winds as an accompaniment."

There was so much softness in those eyes. Jimin's magic danced exuberantly within him, ecstatic to be on the receiving end of such gentility. 

"It would be my honor, darling witch."

They gathered Jimin's smallest harp - a twenty six stringed lap harp - and moved off into the forest under the cool light of the moon.

Jimin led them forward, the forest an old friend to him after so many days spent wandering its depths. "There's a small grove nearby," he told Yoongi, "and I think it will suit our evening perfectly."

Yoongi followed him without a word, though the small smile he bore said everything he did not.

The nocturnal critters of the woods followed them along their path. Jimin was used to their presence and paid it no mind. He reached up to scratch at the head of a deer that sidled up alongside him, and allowed an opossum to climb into his hood. An owl tittered somewhere in the trees and Jimin called a greeting back at it.

"Is it always like this?" Yoongi wondered behind him.

Jimin turned to face him and was surprised by the shock the minstrel had broadcasted over his features. "Like what?" He asked in return.

His companion gestured to the animals that had gathered at his feet, and the deer that continued to follow them. "Do the animals always seek you out?"

"Oh!" Jimin laughed to himself, running a hand through his hair. "I suppose so? The creatures of the wood are familiar with me and my magical signature. They recognize me as a trusted friend of the forest, and know that I mean them no harm."

Yoongi made a sound of disbelief. "You are just full of surprises, aren't you, little witch?"

He couldn't have stopped the subsequent pout his lips formed if he had tried. "I'm not little."

The quiet night was broken by the boisterous laughter Yoongi let out. His shoulders shook and his eyes crinkled into delighted half moons.

Jimin tried to ignore the way something tugged within his chest. Even his magic curled up in delight, feeling wispy and buoyant beneath his skin.

"Ah darling witch," Yoongi crooned, "you are just precious."

His thoughts had fallen quiet, there were no words for him to try and say in return. Jimin wet his lips and crossed his arms. "But I'm not little. We're the same height."

"Is that right?"

Jimin nodded, resolute.

Yoongi smirked and strode right up to him until they were nose to nose.

The air filled with a charged sort of tension as they stood there in silence.

His mouth went dry as those pretty eyes stared down at him. Jimin wondered why his breath felt hard to find. His heartbeat drummed a furious tune in his eardrums.

"I dunno about you, but I do believe I'm a few key units taller than you," Yoongi said.

Jimin could feel the other's breath on his lips. They were so close. "I-I..." He swallowed. "I suppose you are correct."

Yoongi took a meaningful step backwards, smirk turning mellow and pleased. "Why thank you for noticing. Shall we?"

It was all he could do to nod again.

Yoongi's pinky found his as they continued walking.

Jimin pretended that the small action didn't make him want to melt into a puddle.

The light of the moon guided them down the natural forest path all the way to the grove he had been guiding them to. Jimin tugged Yoongi forward at a faster pace when they were close. He was excited to share this small haven with the musician. He wanted to see what Yoongi thought of it.

They broke through the tree line at the edges of the grove with quiet laughter. The animals that had chaperoned their journey there burst into the small clearing with a magical sort of energy. The deer frolicked forward with a joyous gait, while one of the raccoons rushed over to a pile of discarded seeds. The opossum in his cloak hood seemed content to remain there.

"I would have never known this place was tucked away back here," Yoongi wheezed. "This is beautiful."

It always felt a big more special during the latter summer months because the trees were aglow with the flickering light of fireflies. Plus there was the gentle cadence of katydids that filled the entire grove.

Jimin loved it at all points in the year, but he loved the magic that crept into the area in the spring and summer. There was just something extra wonderful about it.

"I found this grove on accident not long after Taehyung and I made it our home," he said, voice soft as he peered around the familiar space. "The trees were kind of sad looking then but I've done my best to pour magic into their soils so that they're able to grow bigger and stronger. It makes me feel a little proud each time that I come and see how big they've gotten."

Yoongi was watching him, he could just feel the man's gaze.

"It's tricky to get the balance right," Jimin continued. He tended to ramble when he was nervous and it seemed this instance was no different. "My magic would love to just pour its entire supply into the trees and make them flourish beyond reason. I have to hold it back, however, as such a sudden dose of my energy would be a shock to the ecosystem. My magic would make their growth multiply and it would become unstable. So I have to space it out and do it little by little."

He had noticed that his magic had led to the secondary effect of the small pond being inhabited by a couple of fish and other amphibians. He wasn't entirely certain as to how they had appeared, but the sight of them living happily in the clean water had made his heart soar.

"You are..."

Jimin tried to swallow down his nerves as he waited for Yoongi to continue.

Yoongi huffed out a laugh and ran a hand through his hair. "I don't even know how to describe you, Jimin. No words feel suitable, nothing seems to match up to how you actually are."

It was one of the rare times that his actual name had fallen from those lips and it made a shiver roll down his spine. "Maybe you could try anyway?" He asked, voice shaking.

"I think that for you, dear witch," Yoongi said with a teasing smile, "I could do just that."

Jimin returned the smile, feeling bashful from his head to his toes.

"You have a heart that seems much too large for your body," Yoongi began. "It surely must take up more than half of your chest for how big it is. You are kind to the world in every way that you can be, you are kind to people even if they may not deserve that kindness." There was a bizarre mix of admiration and awe showing through his eyes. "You wield your magic with respect and give it back to the world around you."

His mouth felt dry, but his eyes felt damp. Jimin couldn't break his gaze away. It was as though he had been locked in to only see Yoongi, as though the forest had fallen away around them.

"You have the beauty of what the ancients must have considered to be angels. Your voice is a wonderfully unique instrument that must surely be a hidden treasure from people. Your eyes..." Yoongi stepped closer and interlocked their hands as he kept eye contact. "Your eyes hold the light of the stars, and a consoling glow that makes me think of home."

"Yoongi..."

He smiled. It was soft and gummy. He raised a hand to gently cup his face, thumb brushing over the apple of his cheek.

Jimin leaned into the feeling on instinct.

"I had thought that my life was to be spent on the road. I thought that music and the freedom of traveling from city to city was everything I could ever hope for. And then we happened to stop in a little town, just off of the map, and my life changed forever with a single glance."

Yoongi tilted his head a bit, eyes filled to the brim with an emotion he couldn't place.

Whatever it was, it felt monumental.

"I have been afraid to voice what was lingering in my heart all of this time," Yoongi told him. "All I've ever known was the life of a minstrel, a bringer of music and entertainment. Now I'm suddenly faced with the terror of something new and unfamiliar that my heart longs for even more than music."

Tears trickled down his face as the weight of the moment hit him. Jimin sucked in a gasp of air, letting it out with a small sob.

Yoongi's other hand reached up and cradled his other cheek. "It may have started with a singular glance, but you changed the course of my life from that moment. When I think of the future, I don't see an endless stream of travel and shows anymore. I see you, Jimin. I see myself coming home to you."

"Y-Yoongi," Jimin pleaded.

"If I am a reckless fool saying all of this for naught, then please let me know-"

"I-It's not just you," he said with a tearful smile. "You changed m-my life too. I want this.. I w-want you."

The minstrel froze. "You-..."

Jimin laughed, tears falling from his eyes anew. "M-Magic was to be my sole calling in life," he murmured. "B-But you've brought music back to me. You b-brought me light I didn't know was missing. It just turns out I was m-missing you."

Yoongi laughed then too. It was a breathless and relieved sound that made the air feel radiant. "Truly?"

"I wouldn't waste m-my words if I wasn't certain," Jimin assured him.

The two of them took a moment to watch each other, emotions bubbling with a shared affection. There was such elation in the simple act of speaking the words of the heart.

"Jimin," Yoongi whispered.

A sharp thrill hit him each time that the minstrel resorted to using his given name. He felt intoxicated by the way his name sounded in that wonderfully deep voice.

"Might I beg permission to kiss you?"

His heart raced in his chest, thundering in his ears. "Y-Yes," he croaked. "Please kiss me.. please-"

Yoongi's lips sealed over his own.

It felt as though butterflies had erupted within him. They fluttered with a force he had never known before and left him feeling shaky.

Jimin pressed back against Yoongi's lips with equal fervor.

When they pulled away, he knew that everything had just changed. The world felt different. The air felt warm and charged with energy. His magic swam in delighted circles.

"I want to see a future that begins with you," Jimin mumbled.

Yoongi kissed him again, short and sweet. "I want that too, dearest witch. So let us see it done."

It was the beginning of a whole new song; one that they both knew would be filled with something wonderful.

Jimin couldn't wait.

My dearest witch of the wildflowers,

Though it grieves me to say, we have elected to remain within Daemegui for another week or so. The pay has been bountiful and the crowds welcoming. Though I find that I crave the bustle of the city a little less each time we are within the limits of one. I dare say I finally understand your desire to escape it all.

I cannot placate you with a visit in this time my sweet, so I shall instead give you the comfort of words from mine own hands. Has it worked? Do you feel comforted in my absence?

Though I have said it before, I shall say it again. Before our troupe stumbled upon Elmyra, I had lost what it meant to have a home. The road had called to me as devoutly as a rooster in the morn. Then I saw you and began chasing a new kind of home. Rest assured that, even if the road continues to call to me, all paths lead back to you in the end.

May the day find you well, and business profitable. I’ve a fair few trinkets to give you once we’ve come back ‘round.

I miss you as much as the sky misses the moon when her light is absent from it. Give Dipi a pat for me.

Your enamored minstrel,

Yoongi

When one of the mighty cedar trees in the forest had given in to the force of the natural elements, Jimin had cut a log from its remains and preserved it with his magic. He had left the rest for the forest to reclaim, but that log had become a familiar sight in his storage room. No project ever felt proper for such an astounding piece of wood.

Then a certain musician had stumbled into his life and filled it with dozens of travel trinkets and letters. Jimin had known then what he wanted to do with that beautiful log of cedar. 

He had enlisted the help of Taehyung to ensure a proper construction as the two of them worked to hollow out the log and give it legs on the designated underside. They worked on it for weeks as the curved edges of the log gave way to smoothened sides of a massive cedar chest.

Once the base had been completed, Jimin worked to inscribe its lid and sides with protective runes and wards. He wanted to ensure that his new fangled chest would be secure and stable for its future contents.

Then, with some of the large chunks that had been left from their forming of the box itself, Jimin made a few shelves and a covered tray that would hold the letters Yoongi had sent him.

It had taken many moons to complete and was easily one of the most intricate things he had built in quite some time, but Jimin was proud of it. He finally had a proper home for his prized treasures from his favorite minstrel.

Jimin continued to place the offerings Yoongi would present him with in the chest. It served him as more than a collection of keepsakes in that it allowed him to look back on previous gifts and letters whenever he found himself missing his beloved. It was an emotional safe haven for him and presented the opportunity for all sorts of reminiscence.

The first time that Yoongi laid eyes on it, he had burst into tears. He had been so honored that all of his offerings of courtship had been saved and could now be preserved within the tempered safety of the chest.

They had spent a good portion of that day going back through all of the trinkets and letters. Some made them laugh, some made them tear up, and some made them cling onto one another with adoration in their eyes.

Jimin knew it was a testament to their developing bond that their recent history made them so sappy. To look back upon a letter received not a fortnight before was enough. Their hearts were in the same circuit and running alongside one another.

Much like the cedar chest that stored the evidence of their courtship, their relationship was one that would be built with careful hands and would serve as a statement to their craftmanship. Slow and steady, they went on, embracing every moment and carving out the story of their love into stone.

Jimin wasn't sure what in the universe had steered Yoongi into his realm, but he was so glad for it. He had gotten to discover a new chapter of life for himself and now he looking at a future that would include a significant other that he had never expected.

Yoongi was his in all the ways that mattered. They had shared so many precious moments as a pair, and Jimin was excited to continue that trend for the rest of their lives together.

He was excited to build a life with Yoongi with the same dedication that he had built that precious cedar chest.

"You have the song memorized now, right?" Jimin asked as he wrung his hands. Anxiety had crawled down from his mind and settled heavy in his gut since the morning. He had the utmost faith in the abilities of his friends but his anxiety refused to be silenced.

Taehyung nudged him. "Calm down, Minnie. They've been practicing for weeks. They're golden."

He took a long, slow breath in an effort to make himself relax a bit. "I know. I know.. I'm just really nervous."

Seokjin, who lay draped over the laps of his partners, huffed with amusement. "I would be offended, but I know this is an important ceremony for the two of you. We'll make sure that our performance is the best that it can be, just for you Jiminie."

Yoongi said nothing but his hand was heavy and warm on his neck. His fingers would squeeze and massage the skin there at irregular intervals in an attempt to help ground him.

Namjoon offered a kind smile. "We understand your stress, Jimin. Don't worry about our half of the deal. We're ready."

Hoseok nodded. "We practiced long and hard to make sure that our rendition of the song is perfect. We've got your back!"

"See Min'ie? It'll all be alrigh'," Jungkook grumbled.

Taehyung leaned down to plant a kiss against the side of his head. 

The younger had been napping off and on after an extended shift the night before. He had insisted on being present in their pre-ceremony meeting, even though he had been asleep for more than half of it. They all found him a little more adorable each time that he nodded off.

Jimin bit his lip, planting his feet on the ground to prevent them from jogging in place. "What if I mess something up though? Usually Tae and I just chant the spell but now they're lyrics... Ugh I hate feeling like this."

Yoongi rubbed at the back of his neck in a soothing gesture. "You two have been doing this ritual for ages. If anything, this will be the best one you've ever done and the entire town will be thanking you for the rest of the year."

That was likely to be true but it was difficult to convince himself as such.

It was that time of the year again in which he and Taehyung were set to perform a spell that required a complicated dance routine to accomplish. It was one that would replenish the soils of Elmyra to prepare for the next year's harvest. The effects of which had been weaker in their early years but it was their ultimate gift to the residents of the town, both an act of gratitude and a blessing to the people. Elmyra had seen great benefits from their annual spell work. So much so that Taehyung and Jimin felt driven to keep up the tradition for as long as they were able.

It was their usual operation that they'd sing the spell as they wove their magic into the land. They were used to that and could do it without the nerves they had bore the first year they had done the spell. Yet their dearest friends had offered to be their musical accompaniment.

Jimin was sure that the added musicality would make for a more enjoyable event, but it made him nervous to shift so dramatically from what they had become accustomed to.

Some of the nerves were the good kind - the kind that filled him when they unveiled a new product, or when they hosted an event to celebrate a witching holiday that Elmyra hadn't heard of. He tried to clutch onto that aspect of his feelings and not let it float away in the bad side of nerves. He wanted this blessing ceremony to be one of good memories. He'd loathe to let his own doubts spoil that.

"I'm sorry," he mumbled out at length. "I'm overthinking this and working myself into a tizzy."

Yoongi chuckled and pulled him in so that their sides were pressed together. "You are just a bit, darling witch, though it just shows your dedication to this ceremony. That makes your concerns admirable."

Jimin sagged into him. "Thanks Yoonyoon," he whispered for only his partner to hear. The assurance wasn't a permanent solution that resolved all his internal stress, but it was nice to hear nonetheless.

"Deep breaths, Minnie," Taehyung called. "We're gonna be just fine."

He hoped so.

Jimin made eye contact with Taehyung at the edge of the magic circle they had made on the ground. They held their hands together in a cup above the edge line and nodded. It was time.

They had gotten ready after their pep talk with the Misfitting Quarter. They had donned their finest witching clothes and painted temporary visual enhancement spells on their arms. It was more exciting for the citizens of Elmyra when they could see they way their magic would swirl and billow out of them and into the ground.

The two of them sent nods to the bards and awaited their musical guide.

Seokjin and Yoongi began the song with a beautiful duet between their respective instruments - a lute and a sogeum - and allowed the gentle melody to carry them into the brunt of the song. Hoseok and Namjoon - on various drums and a hurdy-gurdy - joined in for a brief moment as the song swelled for a few measures.

Jimin and Taehyung centered themselves, letting their magic brim to the surface and flood into the air around them.

He peeked his eyes open just long enough to see the familiar mix of their energy colors halfway in between. Sea foam green and rose pink mixed to form a heather purple in the middle. Jimin smiled. It always felt like a beautiful moment when he got in indulge in a show of magic alongside his best friend.

As usual, Jimin took the lead on speaking the spell aloud. Taehyung tended to harmonize with him, as he was better at voicing them internally. Though they had both agreed to recite it with audible words as it put the villagers at ease.

Namjoon played along with their words in a low volume so that they could focus.

Jimin smiled when his magic frolicked and danced around him. Dipi was a steady presence at his shoulder, ensuring that his control wouldn't slip out of hand.

As the music swelled, Taehyung and Jimin began their dance. It was vital that they do so to ensure an even spread of their magic. They sang together with bright smiles, their eyes alight with the glow of their powers.

The gathered townspeople clapped and cheered as they became more active.

Dipi meowed in delight, kneading at his shoulder as they danced.

Jimin let himself get lost in the moment. There was something intoxicating about getting lost in the swell of magic that formed when a large spell was performed. He sent his magic out in beautiful spirals as he twirled around the circle. This was his element.

Magic had been his steadfast source of comfort and familiarity for his entire life. There was not one step that he had tread that the warm buzz of his power had missed. It felt as though it were a lifetime companion to him, there for every high and low that he faced.

A shared moment of eye contact with his beloved showed open awe and admiration. Yoongi's gaze was heavy with so many emotions.

Jimin drank every one in like a man desperate to quench his thirst. It made him feel a bit powerful to be the sole recipient to such a weighted stare.

The ceremony drew to a close far quicker than he had anticipated. Jimin ensured to push his magic out with even more force as he and Taehyung approached one another in the center of the circle. They wound their arms together, raised towards the skies above, and let the last portions of the spell settle into place.

Applause filled the air when the music fell away.

Taehyung laughed, bright and loud, and sagged against him in an embrace.

Jimin shared his joy and hugged him tight.

They would be low on energy for the next few weeks as their inner stores built back up after such a massive spell cast, but it always felt worth the effort involved. They stumbled out of the magic ring and coaxed it into vanishing so that it could not be used for nefarious reasons.

Jungkook barreled into Taehyung and pressed fervent kisses all over his face. "You did so well," he praised, "it is always so beautiful to watch your magic at work."

Yoongi sidled over to him at a much more sedate pace, though made a similar motion to embrace and support him. "You were perfect," he murmured.

Jimin gave him a tired smile and kissed his cheek in thanks. "I think I rather liked the musical accompaniment. What would your leader say to a permanent annual performance?"

His minstrel chuckled. "I'm sure that can be arranged, my dear witch."

He settled into Yoongi's arms and sighed. His body would be aching in the coming days after the spell, but he knew that his partner would be there to support him each step of the way. For the first time in a long time, he looked forward to the downtime. It would be a refreshing break from everyday life as he recuperated under Yoongi's watchful gaze. Even his magic, tired and tender as it was, curled in delight.

"You did well too, Dipi," Yoongi said, reaching a hand to stroke over his familiar's soft fur. "I'll endeavor to fetch you the finest slice of pork I can get my hands on."

Jimin laughed, content to stay nuzzled against the older's chest. "You spoil her."

"You two are the most precious things in my life," Yoongi grumbled. "I daresay it is my right to care for you both with as much love as I have to offer."

He peeked up to see his partner's face, cheeks flushed. "...Love?"

Yoongi's gaze turned soft. "Of course, Jimin. Only my deepest and undying love for you."

Jimin beamed in reply. His heart fluttered at the use of his name. "Of course only the same in return to you, my dearest Yoongi."

"I should hope so," the minstrel teased with a kiss to his temple. "Come. I'd like to see you fed and resting after such a show."

"You should carry me," he said with a pout.

Yoongi huffed. "Again, my darling, your devout belief in my ability to do so is flattering. Though I'd loathe to drop you, so I shall decline." He tapped a finger at the edge of his nose and smiled, gummy and sweet. "I am also aware that you're unable to cast your little enhancement spell at the moment."

Jimin whined. "Spoilsport."

"Might I offer you bedside support and care in return?"

He hummed, as though considering it. "Under the stipulation that it is for the rest of our lives."

Yoongi mimicked his hum and kissed him. "I believe that can be arranged too, dearest witch."

Jimin loved him. He allowed himself to be guided along with a pleased sigh. "That's all I ask."

Elmyra's blessing had been cast, and it some ways, it felt as though his life had been too. Magic had long since been his life companion and source of comfort and familiarity. Though he knew that Yoongi was right there too, his new source of safety and love. He loved him.

Jimin was content. All was as it had been meant to be, of that he was sure.

There were some nights, just outside of Elmyra proper, that the sound of a harp could be heard mixing with the soft tune of a woodwind. The delicate music would soothe the forest around it and create a bubble of peace.

Travelers would speak of the magic laced within the soils of Elmyra, of how the entire town seemed to radiate its own magical signature. They'd speak of the welcoming people, the delicious food, the wonderful entertainment, and of the cute little witch shop down the lane.

Though above all, travelers would tell of the minstrel that had earned the heart of one of the local witches. They'd tell of a love so gentle that it made romance stories of old seem frivolous. They'd share stories of the jovial bond the two shared and how you were sure to see the two of them wandering the town with their instruments in hand.

They'd tell the tale of Yoongi and Jimin, and how their love put a town back on the map.