Chapter 64

                                    

                                          



With it being Monsoon season, the photo shoots were done in between downpours. The Muse was having a great time, though. She got to sit next to an old dog and give him lots of love and pets while she watched. There was a younger dog running around as well, that she got to play with. There were no balls to throw, but the pup seemed perfectly fine with whatever she could find. Sticks, rocks, whatever. 
                          
    Also, since the shoot was outdoors, she was able to wander around freely and get some actual fresh air. She missed being outside! She didn't even bother with her shoes, preferring to feel the grass and dirt under her feet. There was a pretty pond close enough that she could explore, too. The whole area was magical. She felt grounded. She very well could have felt that way because this was the first time she was allowed to wander around outside since she came to them. 
                          
    That thought stopped her. How long had it been? It felt like a mix between forever and yesterday. Huh. 
                          
   They took a short lunch break and got back into their shots. The rain started to fall pretty heavily while they were shooting in a covered area. The Muse, on the other hand, was back out by the pond playing in the rain with the younger dog. She loved the feeling of the rain. It was warm rain and it wasn't too long before she found herself jumping in the puddles that were forming in the grassy area. She was laughing and yelling in joy as she and the dog ran back and forth, jumping in the puddles together. She felt so free in that moment. 
                          
    The Warriors and the staff had all stopped what they were doing to watch and laugh along with her. The photographers took the moment to take a couple of shots of the soaked Queen as she frollicked around in the rain.
                          
    The Muse was covered in mud, dress a mess, hair plastered to her face and back, and she looked the happiest they'd ever seen her.
                          
"I wanna go play in the rain, too." whined Taehyung.
                          
"Don't you dare!" barked a stylist from behind him. 
                          
"Oh, Jesus." complained one of the stricter managers, "What is she doing now? We should really get hazard pay for dealing with that one. She just cannot behave!"
                          
He stomped over to the edge of the dryness and barked, "Highness! What are you doing? Get back in here! You are a mess!"
                          
The Muse just waved and giggled just before she jumped into another puddle, completely ignoring the man trying to take away her fun. 
                          
"She has always loved playing in the rain." Min-Ho's wistful voice made the Warriors jump in surprise. He was standing just behind them, smiling at the fun his little sister was having.
                          
"Every lifetime she has ever had, she could be found playing in the warm rain."
                          
He turned his head and watched the manager trying with all his might to get The Muse to pay attention and follow his direction. Raising an eyebrow he looked to the Warriors,
                          
"Have you not figured out how to get her attention?"
                          
Yoongi spoke up, a little offended, "We know we can talk to her in her mind."
                          
Min-ho nodded, "Yes. there's that. But she can ignore you that way if she wants to. And it looks like she wants to right now."
                          
Hoseok tilted his head to the side, "What are you trying to say, Min-ho?"
                          
"I am saying, you can call her to you in a way she cannot ignore. It's all about your intention when you do it. If you just want her to look your way, she will. If you want her to come to you, she will. She has to." He turned back to look at The Muse as she slipped and fell to her knees in a puddle, the dog jumping up on her back with its front paws in excitement as she laughed and splashed at it. 
                          
"Go ahead," Min-ho encouraged, "One of you hold your hand out to her with the intention of calling her to you, see what happens."
                          
The seven looked at each other, silently deciding who was going to try it first. In the end, Namjoon lost the ensuing rock, paper, scissors match and was the first to reach out his hand toward his Queen with the intention of calling her to him.
                          
The moment his hand was outstretched she stopped and turned, her feet seeming to move without her permission as she walked their direction. The look on her face was wary, and the feeling coming from her was annoyance as she stomped through the puddles. 
                          
She didn't bother coming up the stairs into the covered area, choosing to stay just out of their reach in the rain as she looked at Namjoon, one eyebrow up with her head cocked to the side. 
                          
"Um," Namjoon said, feeling a little uncomfortable at her ire, "Min-ho said that we could get your attention this way if you were ignoring us."
                          
She said no words, simply turning her annoyance to Min-ho, who was smiling devilishly at her. 
                          
"I'm concerned, Princess. It seems your Warriors don't truly know how to deal with their Queen."
                          
"They know well enough how to 'deal' with me, Min-ho." she snapped out loud, switching to thought so she could mentally tell him to shut his mouth. "They don't need to know everything. No one does."
                          
"And why do you think that, Princess?" Min-ho asked silkily, much like an older brother that was planning to do something that will definitely irritate their sibling.
                          
Her Warriors were all looking back and forth between the two, all seven curious at what looked to be a silent war happening with them. 
                          
The cranky manager chose that moment to stomp over, yelling at The Muse about being covered in mud and needing to get cleaned up before they can move on with their day.
                          
She heard the cranky man, but never looked away from Min-ho. Afraid if she did, he would spill more of her secrets. She was afraid it was just a matter of time before he did just that. 
                          
    Min-ho backed up and eventually disappeared while the manager was still giving her hell for enjoying herself. Once he was gone, she turned her attention back to the matter at hand. 
                          
Jungkook stepped forward with a garment bag that Min-ho had apparently given him so she could change.
                          
"Hyung," he said to the manager with a little bow, "I'm finished with the shoot. I will take her down to the showers to get cleaned up and be back before you can miss us."
                          
With that, The Muse turned and walked the direction of the shower, knowing Jungkook wasn't far behind. 
                          
"Hold on, Yeppeun," he called, "I need to grab my shower bag from the room."
                          
He jogged back to the room to grab his bag, leaving her to enjoy the last few moments she had of this lovely rain storm.