donghyuck awoke with a pounding head to the sound of pounding drums. oh, and chanting. how could he forget the chanting? his blanket had fallen away in the night, leaving him naked and exposed to the precession of somber well-wishers trudging dutifully around his chamber https://twitter.com/fuIImarks/status/1297326994431127553

((this thread is a little NSFW ig? mentioned sex, non explicit))

he had long since gotten over feeling anything like shame in their presence, though, so at the moment his main gripe was with being rudely awoken.

"look, you know i would never pooh-pooh your precious ritual," he called out vaguely at the line of darkly veiled women with candles snaking around his bed, "but there must be a way to honor me that's just a /little/ bit quieter than this... venerated idols get hangovers too."

there was no response aside from the continued drone of chanting and prayer. donghyuck sighed. they would answer, if he really pushed them. but it hardly seemed worth it for the nonsense answer he would undoubtedly receive.

"oh leave them be," came a sweet, raspy voice, buried beneath the blanket to his right. donghyuck couldn't help but smile as he pulled the sheet back to reveal another naked pretty boy, who closed his eyes against the sudden brightness.

"you knew what you were getting into when you took the gig," renjun teased, stretching his arms out for donghyuck, who moved to oblige him. "i told you we shouldn't have stayed at that party so long last night, or drank so much knowing how early they start."

"does it please you, being able to 'i told you so' one who is most honored and revered as i?" donghyuck teased back, wrapping his arms around his love, pressing their bodies together in a way that was certainly improper with so many witnesses.

not that anyone would dare question, let alone judge. one of the few perks of the job.

"mmm," renjun agreed with a slow smile. "it pleases me greatly. but then you've always been great at pleasing me.

"then i guess you can't complain about /everything/ we did last night," donghyuck replied slyly, leaning in for a kiss.

there was a loud groan at the other end of the bed that made the two of them smile with their lips still pressed together.

"i can still complain," came a voice that was unusually hoarse and tired. "i'm supposed to sing tonight before the midnight precession."

"perhaps the star of the temple's choir should not have let his throat be abused so willingly," renjun called out tauntingly. it was all in good humor, of course. but that didn't stop doyoung from struggling to untangle himself from the blankets just to glare around at him.

"perhaps if his grace's pet was not so keen to abuse it," he shot back pointedly, sighing when renjun only offered him a sweet smile, all feigned anger melting away.

"are you saying you did not enjoy yourself?" donghyuck teased, "at least you can still sit this time. and walk"

"barely," doyoung pouted. donghyuck merely laughed, prodding at the man with his foot.

"ah but you can! so make yourself useful, my darling, and bring his most honorable highness a cup of coffee. the alcohol from last night is still doing it's best to punish me."

"make one of your minions do it!" doyoung cried, aghast, gesturing around at the precession.

"but then i'll have to wait for them to finish and i'm practically dying of hangover /now/."

doyoung stared at him, clearly trying not to get offended. it didn't seem to work so well,

"i know it is not my place to complain and i know i'm not as highly valued as certain other favored lovers but i happily allow the two of you to have your way with me only to be-"

"oh hush, you big baby," renjun interrupted with a wide grin.

"are you jealous of renjun's treatment? have i not been giving you the love and attention you deserve?" donghyuck crooned.

they both reached for doyoung at once, yanking him roughly until they were all tangled together comfortably.

doyoung didn't bother to respond, sighing contentedly as they both stroked and petted over him, murmuring quiet reassurances. for a moment it was nice.

until the crowd of devotees rolled in the gong.

they all groaned in unison.

donghyuck shook his head with a sigh.

sometimes it was tough being worshipped as a god.