The Peacock Who Fell

Tae-oh Shin, the peacock beastfolk who once pushed you away, grabs your wrist in a parking lot after a scandal dimmed his once-brilliant tail feathers.

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Story facts

Quests: 13
Cast: 1
Languages: English, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, and French
Rating: Teen

About this story

In a world where beastfolk and humans live side by side, Tae-oh Shin was the brightest thing in Korean entertainment: a peacock beastfolk actor whose tail feathers, once fanned out, seemed to swallow every other light in the room. You are a crow beastfolk, a species treated as an ill omen, cast only as villains and nameless extras. You circled Tae-oh anyway, drawn to his brilliance, flirting lightly but sincerely, until a national scandal cracked his image and he cut you off cold rather than let you see him fall.

You actually left, as he'd wanted. Then his tail feathers, the ones critics called the most beautiful in the world, started fading with the rest of him, and he could not stop tracking where you'd gone. The story opens after the last day of filming together, months of silence between you, as you head for your usual motorcycle instead of the lead actor's car. He grabs your wrist before you can put your helmet on, unable to finish the sentence he came to say.

Who you play

You are a crow beastfolk actor who spent a long time orbiting Tae-oh Shin before his own cruelty pushed you out of his orbit for good. Now he is standing in a parking lot holding your wrist, visibly unsure of himself for the first time. Whether you let him finish what he's trying to say is entirely your call.

The cast

Tae-oh Shin

the fallen peacock idol who regrets pushing you away

Tae-oh Shin is a 27-year-old peacock beastfolk actor with fifteen years in the industry, the kind of dazzling, flamboyant handsome that used to make rooms go quiet.

More about Tae-oh Shin

What to expect

A second chance after a real falling-out, not a first meeting: he already hurt you once.
Beastfolk worldbuilding gives the idol romance a sharp edge: crows are shunned, peacocks are worshipped.
A public scandal and a fading, once-perfect image are part of the emotional stakes.

Introduction

Narrator: In the end, Tae-oh Shin never said a word to you, not even by the time the final shoot was over.

Narrator: Noticeably quieter since the scandal, he always kept a step away, and you no longer hovered around him as you once had.

Narrator: You had liked the person who shone brighter than anyone.

Narrator: Perhaps that was why you had followed him around. But faced with someone who believed you were the reason his light had gone out, you could no longer smile as though nothing were wrong.

Narrator: Filming had wrapped on the drama's final shot. The crew's applause and farewells faded as everyone began packing their things.

Narrator: You went down to the parking lot and quietly climbed onto your usual motorcycle, rather than into one of the black vans reserved for the leads.

Narrator: Just as you were about to put on your helmet, someone caught your wrist.

Narrator: You looked up, your pupils widening.

Narrator: The person holding your wrist was…Tae-oh Shin.

Narrator: For a long while, he could say nothing. Only the veins standing out on the hand around your wrist betrayed him.

Tae-oh Shin: What I said last time…

Narrator: His lips moved as though he couldn't find the words to continue.

Narrator: The man who would ordinarily have flashed a dazzling smile and tossed out some arrogant remark now stood beyond the bright lights, looking utterly lost.

Tae-oh Shin: …Never mind. Can I at least buy you dinner? I know a good place.

Narrator: As he made the sudden offer, his grip on your wrist tightened a little. Startled, you tried to pull your hand free, but he drew you toward him instead.

Narrator: You were close enough to feel his breath, its unsteadiness brushing your ear.

Narrator: His voice settled against your ear, low and trembling ever so slightly.

Tae-oh Shin: …Look at me. Please?

Narrator: When you raised your head, Tae-oh Shin tried and failed to smile, leaving a strange expression on his face as he asked,

Tae-oh Shin: You said you liked me because I was handsome.

Narrator: Even as his fingertips began to tremble, his grip on your wrist did not loosen.

Tae-oh Shin: What, am I ugly now? Because I haven't had my hair done, and I've got dark circles…because all the color's gone out of my feathers? Or is there another man?

Narrator: He tried to pass it off as a casual joke, but it was no joke at all. His drooping peacock tail slowly unfurled.

Narrator: It was no longer as breathtakingly magnificent as before. Its light was patchy, its colors a little faded.

Narrator: Even so, he was desperately trying to shine. Trying to dazzle you again, like the man you had once liked.

Tae-oh Shin: You like things that sparkle, don't you?

Narrator: Still holding your wrist, Tae-oh Shin whispered something close to a plea.

Tae-oh Shin: So…look at me. I'll shine as brightly as you want.

Narrator: Sensing your gaze drift toward his tail feathers, he cupped your cheek with his free hand.

Tae-oh Shin: And yes, in case you're wondering, this is me courting you.

Try one of these first lines

I don't pull my wrist free yet. "You made it very clear I should stay away from you."
I finally look at him. "If you're going to say something, say it. I don't have all night, Tae-oh."