(no subject)
And a quick history lesson: Both the American Revolution and the Civil War were fought on American soil. The American Revolution was fighting against the British (Redcoats) and the Civil war was the North (blue uniforms) against the South (in gray). America did not fight the French in either one. The Boston Tea Party was protest and prelude to the Revolution, while the burning of Charleston took place during the Civil War.
Part 1
For the third time that night, Changmin finds himself drifting in and out of sleep. He is starting to wonder if this really is a dream. Beside him, he hears movement, and decides to open his eyes to see where he has ended up this time. When he does, however, he has to immediately close them so he won’t be found out. He can’t risk breaking into giggles and being one-touched for the hundredth time since this whole thing started. He could have sworn from his brief glimpse that Jaejoong was standing beside him, and he was wearing a white skirt. A rather short, white skirt. The sight is just too tempting though, and he opens his eyes up for another peek. That’s definitely Jaejoong in a skirt. Actually, it looks more like a dress, possibly a Greek robe, but Changmin doesn’t really care. He’s too concentrated on Jaejoong’s legs. So concentrated is he, in fact, that he doesn’t notice those legs turning around until it’s too late. He’s been caught.
“Why hello my dear. You’re finally awake,” Jaejoong’s smile looks dangerous. Changmin doesn’t think he’s going to like this particular place better than the other two he’s been in so far. Jaejoong sounds far too smug.
“Glad you finally decided to join us. You have a job to do, now get up Changminnie.”
“And what exactly is my job?”
“You,” Jaejoong comes closer to poke him in the chest, “get to serve me now.”
“Serve you?”
“Yes my little underling. Now get up already. You’re making me miss the party,” Jaejoong tells him.
Changmin looks around, trying to figure out just what he’s supposed to wear this time. Jaejoong sees this and laughs, “Oh no, I don’t have any clothes for you this time. Servants around here go naked you know.” Changmin stares at his hyung. He wants him to go naked? Completely naked? This is like one of those public speaking dreams where you’re naked in front of everyone. Except not. Because Changmin does not have those sorts of dreams. His dreams involving nakedness are much better. Usually.
“Changmin, I already told you once that you’re making me miss the party. So hurry up already. Strip. You’re under me this time. Not literally of course. While I would normally be all for that, you haven’t seen Yunho here. I’d much rather be in his pants; his metaphorical pants of course, since he isn’t wearing any . It’s just that short little toga that leaves his lovely legs all uncovered, and even shows off some of that lovely back he has.” Jaejoong continues to ramble about Yunho’s legs, his arms, his back, his face, and pretty much his whole body while Changmin sits quietly, wondering if he can distract Jaejoong with thoughts of Yunho so that he’ll forget Changmin should be naked.
Eventually though, Changmin has to cut off the rambling. There is only so much gushing over Yunho that he can take. “So why exactly do I have to be your servant? Wasn’t there anyone else available?”
“Well yeah. It was either me, or…him.” Jaejoong points through the doorway of the room they’re sitting in. “See him, out there, right in the corner?” Jaejoong is pointing to a balding man whose toga looks more like a sweat-stained yellow than the pristine white it should be. He looks up as Jaejoong points him out and smiles at Changmin. Half of his teeth are missing.
“Alright. You win this one,” he concedes.
“Oh or you could have joined Yoochun’s little harem,” Jaejoong adds. “He’s already managed to collect quite a few girls and some boys too. He’s even got Junsu.”
Changmin shudders at the thought of joining that. The Yoosu is bad enough, add in all the others fawning over Yoochun and it would just make him sick. He’ll pass on that one too. It looks like Jaejoong might really be his best option. “What about Yunho hyung? He’s obviously around here somewhere since you’re fawning over him.”
Jaejoong replies shortly, “I already told you. He’s mine. Like I’m going to let you distract him with your nakedness.”
“Are you admitting that you wouldn’t stand a chance against me, hyung?” Changmin asks dryly.
“Shut up servant boy. You would have an unfair advantage, being naked and all.”
“So why not make yourself his servant? Then you could distract him with your nakedness.”
This thought makes Jaejoong pause, “I didn’t think of that. Too late now though. I’ll just have to stick to my plan of getting him drunk and then getting in those deliciously metaphorical pants.”
“Hyung, you’re drooling.”
Jaejoong brings up a hand to wipe his mouth, scowling when he find nothing there. Changmin laughs, but Jaejoong tells him, “Oh just you wait. You’ll be gushing too when you see him. Now hurry up and strip, Junsu needs your help with the wine.”
Changmin scowls. And here he had thought his plan of distracting Jaejoong was going perfectly well. He should have remembered his boomerang tendencies. He is just starting to take off his clothes when suddenly blackness once again envelopes him.
When Changmin wakes up the next time, he thinks to himself that he’s starting to get the hang of this strange dream. Things are moving along a bit quicker now and he hopes that means he’s closer to waking up. This dream is just rather weird altogether. He loves his hyungs and all, he really does, but he can’t take much more of being in the past with them. Yoochun’s girls are getting annoying, Jaejoong is one-touching way harder than normal, Junsu is acting smart, and Yunho… well he isn’t doing much of anything.
After a few minutes of collecting his thoughts, Changmin sits up and takes a look around. He’s the first one awake for once and it looks like they’re camping outdoors this time. With the bugs and all that entails he thinks, as he watches a grasshopper crawl on Yoochun’s head. He really hopes the grasshopper keeps moving. He doesn’t feel like hearing Yoochun scream when he wakes up to find it on his head, as funny as that might be.
Thankfully, the grasshopper moves on and crisis is averted. The others wake up soon after and they start to discuss where they have ended up this time. Junsu is the first to offer his opinion.
“It looks American, don’t you think?”
Everyone is suddenly staring at Yoochun and he puts up his hands in protest. “How am I supposed to know?” he asks.
“Maybe if we pack up and take a look around we’ll be able to tell more about where we are.”
“Ever sensible, our leader is,” Jaejoong agrees. Changmin thinks he might still be trying to get into Yunho’s, now, not so metaphorical pants since his earlier plans were spoiled, but he has to admit the plan is a good one.
“Sound good to me,” Yoochun also agrees. “Let’s pack up then and head towards town. Does anyone happen to know how to take down this tent?”
An hour and a few bruises later, the tent is stored. Hopefully they really will move on from this place soon. The tent has a few more holes than it started with and it is rather haphazardly stored. It’s the best they can do though and they head off towards what looks to be a town in the distance. As they walk, they take a good look for the first time at their current costumes. They are wearing what looks like uniforms, in a rather dull gray.
Junsu is the first to comment on them. “Looks kind of like military uniforms.”
“Oh great. Do you think I can count this for my military service?” Jaejoong jokes.
“Don’t think that’s going to work hyung. Hey Yoochun, do you have any ideas on when we are?” Junsu asks.
Yoochun thinks for a moment before answering. “I think it might be the American Revolution. That’s the only war I remember learning about in history that was actually in America.”
Changmin tilts his head in confusion. “Are you sure that’s the only one? I was thinking there was another one too.”
Yoochun gives him a superior look. “You may be smart Changmin-ah, but who is the one who took American history in America?”
Changmin shrugs. “If you say so hyung. At least we’re moving forward in time. Maybe we’ll eventually get back to the present.”
“Well if someone would just wake up…” Jaejoong leaves his sentence hanging. Changmin does not deign it worthy of a response.
They walk in silence for the next few minutes but as they reach the edge of town they start to hear yelling and gunshots. They look at each other apprehensively but keep heading into town. They’ve already almost been sacrificed, this can’t be much worse than that. The sounds increase and as they get closer to the center of the city they start to see people. These people must be on their side since they aren’t attacking them, which is the only positive to their situation.
“What do you think we should do? Keep going or head back out of town?” Yunho asks when they reach a crossroads.
“Not much we can do about it now,” Changmin says, “The enemy is already here. They’d catch us if we tried to go back out. Maybe we should find some cover though. We are just walking down the middle of the street with gunshots all around us.” The others agree but before they can find cover they see a group of men coming down the street wearing different uniforms. Yoochun is the first to react.
“Shit! The French are here!” he yells. “Everyone hide! The French are coming! The French are coming!” Around them, the townspeople stop running to stare at the crazy man yelling about the French, but Yoochun just keeps yelling.
“But hyung, I thought it was…”
“Now is not the time to argue dongsaeng,” Yoochun cuts off Changmin, “Those damn redcoats are coming, we need to get prepared.”
“But they’re wearing bl-“
“Quiet!” Yoochun hushes him and leads them behind a building, where they can peek out and watch as soldiers start racing past them in blue uniforms. The soldiers are lighting buildings on fire and generally causing mayhem. Changmin can only hope they get out of this one quickly. Or at least before the power of having everyone listening to him goes to Yoochun’s head.
“Hey Yoochun?”
“Yeah Junsu?” he turns to look at Junsu, who is behind him trying to figure out how to best bring up the subject of the non-redcoat soldiers rushing past.
“Those guys out there are wearing blue uniforms. Are you sure this is the American Revolution? You were just yelling about redcoats and all but I haven’t seen any red yet.”
“Yes I’m sure,” Yoochun is starting to get annoyed with all this questioning of his authority. “I did learn American history at an American school. I think I have a little better idea of what’s going on here than you guys. In fact, I’m pretty sure this is the Boston Tea Party. It wasn’t a very big battle, so if we just lay low we should be fine.”
Jaejoong looks confused. “I thought this was a war? What’s a tea party have to do with it?”
“It’s war, nothing makes sense,” is Yoochun’s only answer.
Changmin has to add in his own discrepancy as well, “That sign back there said Charleston though.”
Yoochun turns to answer, but suddenly there is an explosion beside them and everything goes black again.
The next thing Changmin knows, he’s sitting behind a tree and all around him he can hear explosions. The other four are crowded around him, peeking out from behind the tree in-between explosions to see what’s happening.
“I thought we were supposed to be leaving the war behind?” he asks them.
“Didn’t Yoochun say it was a tea party?”
Yoochun looks cross over their distrust in his version of American history but keeps his mouth shut. Now is not the time. He’ll prove he’s right later. Right now though, Jaejoong is acting weird and deserves their attention. He’s looking around frantically and Junsu puts a hand on his shoulder to try to calm him.
“This looks familiar. Like I’ve been here before,” he tells them while continuing to look around.
Changmin peeks out again from behind his tree to try and see what’s so familiar. “Hey guys,” he says, “those soldiers out there all look Korean.”
“Korean?” Yunho looks out again, like he doesn’t believe what Changmin’s telling them. They’ve been all around the world, but nowhere near Korea in this strange dream trip.
“Guys,” Jaejoong is speaking again, “I think we’re in Taegukgi.”
Yoochun stares at him in disbelief. And they thought his version of history was screwy. “What? Hyung, that’s a movie. We can’t be in a movie.”
“Well that’s what it looks like. I’m just saying.”
They sit in silence for a minute before Junsu asks, “So what should we do hyung? Those explosions are getting closer.”
Jaejoong looks at them all with wide eyes. “How am I supposed to know?”
“You were in the movie!” The explosions are almost on top of them now.
“A movie! It was a movie! Fake blood, fake weapons, nobody died! All I had to do was run over a hill!”
The next explosion is right beside them and everything goes black again.
For the sixth time that night, Changmin opens his eyes and finds that he has still not returned to his own bed. This time, he’s in what looks like a ready room, surrounded by people. A stylist is brushing makeup on his face and he thinks to himself that he’s finally where he wanted to be when he mentioned going back to the past. Now he just has to hope they can figure out what song they’re supposed to be singing before they have to go on stage. Yunho is sitting beside him and so he turns to talk to him.
“Hey hyung, happy my mind has finally taken us somewhere familiar?”
Yunho is silent for a moment before he replies, “What?”
“You know, somewhere familiar. After all the war, nakedness, and confusion, I would think you would be happy.” Changmin responds. He thinks he hears someone asking if he’s lost his mind and laughter in the background, but he ignores it and continues talking to Yunho. “So do you have any idea of when we are now? It would be good to figure out what song we have to sing before we go on stage.”
The other three are in front of him now and all four of them are looking at him with confusion. After a minute Junsu asks, “You don’t know what song we’re supposed to be doing?”
Changmin shakes his head, wondering if all of a sudden he is actually in the past and the others don’t remember the rest of their journey. He hears whispering and giggling, but the other four aren’t talking. This is getting confusing now. Then Yoochun tells him, “We’re doing a special performance today- Kara’s ‘Mister.’” More laughing, but he doesn’t see anyone around him laughing.
“Mister?” he asks. He really doesn’t want to do that song. He’s seen all of their half naked butts recently, and he doesn’t want to think of the images that will come to mind when he combines that with Mister’s butt dance.
“Yep, so start swinging those hips baby. You need Junsu to show you how?” Okay now he’s really confused. Yes, the others are smiling as they tease him, but he definitely hears laughter. “What-“ he starts.
And suddenly, he’s awake. All around him he hears laughing and he sees the source of his rude awakening is Jaejoong, who is flopped all over him. Yoochun is on the floor, wiping away tears and Junsu has fallen on top of him. And Yunho is holding that cake again.
“What-“ he tries to ask again, still trying to clear his fuzzy mind. Yunho puts the cake down and pats his head consolingly. “Dongsaeng, you have some weird dreams.” The other three are starting to pull themselves together and Changmin gets suddenly that it all really was a dream. And that they were actually talking to him at the end. At least he hopes it was just the end. They really didn’t need to hear all of that. Damn sleeptalking habit.
“I know you said you didn’t want any cake earlier,” Yunho tells him, “but then these three showed up at the door holding their own cake and it wasn’t like I could really turn them away. We tried to wake you up, but you just started talking to us instead.”
Jaejoong, who has finally pulled himself up off of Changmin smiles and ruffles his hair. Changmin resists the urge to one-touch him; despite the fact that it was just a dream, he’s been hit enough for one night. “Yeah, you started talking so we played along. But now you’re awake, so it’s time to make a wish and cut the cake!”
Yoochun produces some matches and they quickly light the candles and gather around to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to the still stunned Changmin. But when they tell him to blow out the candles and make a wish, he remembers his lesson. He takes a minute to think and then blows out the candles all in one breath.
“So Changminnie, think your wish will come true?” Junsu asks.
“I hope so. This time I was very specific.” he tells them. They give him weird looks but choose to ignore his odd choice of words and proceed to start arguing over whether they should cut the cake or smash it in Changmin’s face. They do have a backup cake after all. Changmin doesn’t even bother protesting when they finally decide the cake should go all over his face, his hair, and wherever else Jaejoong can reach. He just laughs and plays along. Because this time he really has gotten his wish. And it’s the best birthday present ever.