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Braun glides across his studio– another successful episode of Braun’s Late Night Talk Show! Another well-received guest, another productive cooperation.
Truly, his latest employee was a blessing. Humming lightly, Braun strides across his studio. Employees part like water before him, their facelessness annoying Braun slightly. After all, the only one he cared about had quite a lovely face, if he was allowed to say so.
“Kim Soleum!” Braun cried out, his screen displaying a smiling emoji. His dear Roe Deer looked up from where he was discussing with another employee, his eagerness as he suggests yet another guest still not having faded yet as he looked up at Braun.
“Host-nim,” he greeted respectfully. There was a light flush on his face, a rather pleased expression that Braun enjoyed.
After all, even if this was Braun’s show, even if he was the host, he did not think that the show would be quite as successful if not for this employee before him.
Ah, Kim Soleum truly had a talent for showbiz, Braun thought mournfully. If only his dear friend would agree to be his co-host– the jump in viewership would be astronomical.
Even so, at the same time, a relatively minor part of Braun protested at showing off his best employee so simply. No, no, he had to start small. Slowly introduce his dear friend to the audience before inviting him onstage to be with Braun, else the viewers would be surprised.
Ah, it wasn’t like that would truly be a problem. Anyone who didn’t like his Kim Soleum certainly had no business complaining about his show and what he did with it.
“Host-nim?” Kim Soleum asked, snapping Braun out of his contemplation. He is dressed in a fine suit, one Braun had tailor-made for him; the leather was smooth and glossy, with no wrinkles to be seen. Clearly, his dear friend had been taking good care of his clothing. Unlike the company-made suit he had from before, this one was made to fit his body. Braun extended a hand, gripping Kim Soleum’s waist and admiring how it fit so nicely. Yes, he’d keep this part of his dear friend to himself– the soft one that eagerly talked about other ‘Darkness’es, the one that stared up at Braun with nothing but admiration in his eyes.
Braun wouldn’t mind showing the natural actor Kim Soleum on stage– after all, it was where he flourished. Braun pondered, wondering how he should introduce the idea to Kim Soleum. He would have to do it slowly, unfortunately– even in his studio, his good friend still hadn’t shed his shyness. He would have to do it slowly, one step at a time–
And certainly, it wouldn’t be a problem for a host as great as Braun.
“Who did you want to be our latest guest again?” Braun said, absently, wondering when he had started using “our” instead of “my”. It was fine, if it was his Roe Deer.
“About that!” Kim Soleum said eagerly, his face still lightly flushed, as he quickly described a ‘Darkness’ in the form of a teddy bear.
Braun took in Kim Soleum, the way he glowed under the studio’s lights, the way he was so eager to please, so glad to be at Braun’s studio, to be part of Braun’s show–
His dear friend truly made Braun decide between the hardest decisions. To keep Kim Soleum all to himself, or to show him off to everyone else…
Braun paused for a second.
“Kim Soleum,” Braun began, his voice teasing. His good friend paused, clearly nervous for what Braun would say next.
“I-is anything wrong, Host-nim?”
If Braun was mortal, perhaps he would have ‘taken a deep breath’, as the mortals would say.
“Yes.” Braun replied, his hand travelling from Kim Soleum’s waist up to his neck. “It seems like my dear employee has forgotten to tie his necktie properly.”
The knot was loose around Kim Soleum’s neck– he had likely pulled it down a bit sometime during his shift.
“My apologies, I’ll–”
Braun didn’t let his favourite finish, opting to undo his tie entirely. Gently, he took the tie from around Kim Soleum’s neck, smoothing it out with a smiling emoji on his screen. His employee, as observant as he was, quickly caught on to what Braun was planning to do.
“Braun, this isn’t necessary…” Kim Soleum floundered, clearly embarrassed if he was referring to Braun with his name proper.
Braun increased the brightness of his screen, letting out a cheerful laugh. “Nonsense, my good friend! After all, if you are tardy…”
He leaned in, until his screen was nearly touching Soleum’s face, his volume dropping to a whisper.
“It reflects badly on me.”
Kim Soleum nodded, his face increasingly red. Perhaps Braun should install some air-conditioning in his studio after all!
Deftly, Braun wrapped the tie around Kim Soleum’s throat, pulling just hard enough to exert some pressure on his throat, but not enough to truly bring him any pain.
Braun did not consider himself possessive until now.
Oh, he certainly had a normal amount of possessiveness– he was proud of his studio, for one. He had built this studio, he had nurtured it, he had made his show from the ground up, he had forged his reputation as a host– how could he not be proud? These were his achievements, his property; surely it was not strange to care for his show, his passion so much.
Tying Kim Soleum’s necktie into a bow, his fingers gentle against this fragile mortal’s smooth neck, Braun thinks that he finally understands what ‘possessiveness’ is.
His dear employee was clearly confused, but willing to go along with whatever Braun wanted. How obedient! Perhaps Braun should reward him for his good behavior later.
In this studio, there was no one like Kim Soleum. No one with as quick a mind as him, as innovative as him, as wonderfully interesting as him.
Yes, yes, as long as Braun made sure that Kim Soleum was clearly seen as Braun’s , a staple of studio–
What would be the harm of showing him off?
Tying the knot, Braun pulled until his good friend let out a small gasp. Ensuring the bowtie on his throat was not going to fall apart, Braun hummed in delight at his work. Now his darling friend was much more distinguishable from the other employees of his studio– and knowing Kim Soleum’s personality, he wouldn’t dare untie it until Braun did so himself.
Braun could clearly see Kim Soleum pondering whether he wanted to ask about Braun’s behavior, but he let it go easily enough, chatting about guest ‘Darkness’es he thought would be a good fit to Braun’s show.
Braun watched in delight as that bow moved alongside Kim Soleum’s throat, tight enough to remind Kim Soleum of its existence even as he went through his shift, but not tight enough to restrict his airflow.
Oh, but with how he was now, did he even truly need to breathe?
(He did, Braun’s inner voice said with disappointment. He was still a fragile person, his neck so small and delicate. But he wouldn’t need to breathe if he became Braun’s co-host. Braun would treat him so well– )
Kim Soleum’s voice cut off as Braun tilted his head up, admiring his own handiwork. With such a clear proof of ownership, of Braun’s favor, surely this would make sure any viewers who didn’t appreciate a mortal on his show wouldn’t ever dare speak of it within Braun’s presence.
Not that it mattered; this information would eventually come back to Braun anyway.
“Well, Kim Soleum, I’d best not bother you with your work anymore.” Braun displayed a winking emoji. “But you will be in the audience tonight, will you not?”
Kim Soleum nodded eagerly.
“Of course!” He replied, admiration clear in his eyes.
After all, as long as Braun’s Late Night Talk Show was how it was, no matter what, no matter who might appear, Braun was Kim Soleum’s favourite.
After all, who else would invite the ‘Darkness’es Kim Soleum desperately wanted to see? Who else would be able to provide a safe environment for him to observe them? Who else could bring the stories Kim Soleum dearly loved and cared for before him but the great host Braun ?
Kim Soleum would obediently follow instructions, he would express his gratitude, he would lovingly pick guests for Braun–
After all, why would his dearest friend want to return to that dangerous, stingy office life, when he could watch ‘Darkness’ess from the safety Braun provided? Why would he want to be anywhere else, when Braun could provide all the excitement he could ever want?
He would watch his beloved ‘Darkness’ess from the spot Braun had made just for him, watching Braun ask the questions he desperately wanted answers to, his expression doubtlessly one of joy when one of his theories or the other were proven correct–
And as long as Braun continued his passion, as long as Kim Soleum would work that wonderful mind of his–
Why, was there
anything
else he could possibly need that this Braun could not provide?