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soobie woobie doobie boobie 🐶

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SOOBIN The Name Chapter: Temptation (Jacket Shooting)

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The blond's cheeks grew hotter at the pet name and while he tried his best to hide his awkwardness - as he was far too cool to be awkward - he couldn't help but shift on his legs, just the tiniest bit. Mingyu liked to describe himself as laid back, easy-going and adventurous, which were all good qualities when trying to hit on someone, in his opinion. However, he had zero experience hitting on guys and with his recent... panic moments, he wondered if he was perhaps taking on something he wasn't quite ready for. Maybe it didn't help that practically nowhere was safe. At work, he had Jiwon, who was a flirtatious force by nature and while Mingyu had not quite been the victim of it, he could sense the danger of it at times. Meanwhile at home, he had to exist around Duckie, the person who this unfortunately had all started with.

"That makes sense. I never really thought you would feel that way, though. We both like to talk a lot. Are you telling me you talk even more in Korean?" He questioned, teasingly raising his brow. It was a case of the pot calling the kettle black, really, and Mingyu wasn't delusional enough to think that he could be the one to make Jiwon feel flustered the way he had done a moment ago. But it was still worth the try, especially since he famously sucked at serious conversations and was unable to stop himself from trying to joke around most of the time.

"Sure, I'm down. Am I supposed to give you homework as well? Or maybe we can just start with our menu."

Mingyu's willingness to attempt flirting with a guy on his behalf drew a soft giggle out of him. It was cute how determined he had suddenly seemed. "Of course you can, gwiyeomi. I am sorry for saying otherwise." He was sorry, but that did not change the fact he was still more confident in his own skills in seducing a man than the blond's. They didn't know each other especially well, only mingling at work for the most part, but Jiwon rated his own confidence above most people's.

They nodded in response. "Mm. English," They affirmed. "To be honest, I find myself mostly making friends with people who speak Korean so I can default back to it when I need to. I won't learn that way, will I?"

A wry smile tugged at his mouth. "It's okay. I can handle this much," He said, slender fingers making work of the top of the can and pulling it open. "So we're on? For English lessons?"

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ofsyzygies​:

Thick dark eyebrows raised slightly, once more taken aback by the ready openness with which the stranger seemed to carry himself. After all, they had just met - in a dark and dimly lit park of all places, in a town that had been plagued with recent horrors and tragedies. Natural selection would not have been kind to this person. “Mhm,” He acknowledged, dragging the sounds out. It was difficult to imagine someone so naïve and unassuming surviving a field as unforgiving as medicine. “I don’t know. I haven’t had a dog since I was a kid.”

Animals tended not to like him very much, no matter how much he liked them. It wasn’t a consistent thing, nor something he had actually experienced much of himself. He had heard enough stories from when he was growing up and his episodes were something his parents hadn’t understood at the time, still didn’t quite understand, to know that it was a thing, at the very least.

His eyes did pan over once more at the mention of the name. “I’m Maxxie,” He offered, mainly because it made no difference to him whether they exchanged names or not. Even if their paths crossed again since it was a small town, he had no intention of ever speaking to him again. “And yeah, I haven’t forgotten your dog’s name yet.”

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As per usual, Eun Jae was unaware of his own naivety. His people pleasing nature and his insatiable desire to make friends wherever he went, would most definitely make him the easiest target for anyone intending to do harm. By some miracle, however, this had not yet been the case, as was most likely clear from the way he proceeded to carry himself. “You had a dog? What was their name? Was it a big dog or a small one like Hwannie?” He inquired, determined to use the dog talk as his sole source of energy as they walked.

Oblivious to Maxxie’s intention to never speak to him again, his face lit up at learning the other’s name. “Maxxie?” He echoed, forgetting his embarrassment from earlier over his excitement. “Have you lived here long? I’ve never seen you before. But I also kinda only go to school and the mall and the park.” He rambled on. “So maybe if Hwannie hadn’t seen you, it would’ve taken much, much longer to meet you! ‘Cause I guess people don’t go to the park much, except on dates like the movies or to walk their dogs and you don’t have a dog. Do you go on park dates?”

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"I didn't, no." Mingyu confirmed. "It would probably have been better if I did. My dad was really worried about me going to another country, so he wanted to come with me. Now he worries because we live... well... here." He let out a dry chuckle. "I think he was fully ready to pack up and move after my roommate was attacked, but I couldn't leave, you know? And he wouldn't go without me, so I guess we're both staying." Part of him felt guilty for keeping his father hostage in a town full of murderers, but he had tried his best to live his own life and take responsibility. Was it his fault that his parent didn't let him? "Not really trying to make it big, I just want to travel and try new things."

"Yeah, maybe," Ian responded. Bowling really wasn't high on his priority list. He was much more of a homebody especially considering there was danger seemingly lurking around every corner in the mall. The bowling alley sounded like a dangerous place to be if something were to occur. The last thing he'd want is for a bowling ball to be hurled in his direction and from his experience with the killers he definitely felt they were strong enough to cause some serious damage with heavy projectiles like that. "Oh, so you didn't come over here alone," Ian commented. He didn't know his own parents so he would've assumed that the other had made the journey by himself but it made sense that he'd come with family. Most people were close to those who raised them. "You should've chosen somewhere bigger than Shrike Heights then. That's where people make it big here," Ian explained not that he knew anything about living elsewhere in the US. He only knew the small town experience and that didn't breed much success in his mind.

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pretty yeji ♡

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"Yeah?" Aaron was surprised at the compliment, though perhaps that was because he'd felt so disconnected from his body for years that he struggled to look at it the way others might have. "I love learning new things, I have been doing that a lot the past few months." They added with a genuine smile. It was overwhelming at times to learn how much there was to see and do, out there in the normal world. But as much as it was terrifying, it also felt really good to have the freedom he wasn't sure he would ever have.

As they watched Copper's reaction, while the other most likely did the math, Aaron realized that they had said too much. It was easy to forget that even though it was a life they had been used to, most people would be shocked to hear about it. He averted his eyes momentarily, similarly unsure of what to say in the moment. "Sorry," He then managed, feeling a sense of guilt for putting his baggage onto someone he had just met. "I shouldn't have- You didn't want to know that." He let out an awkward chuckle and shook his head. "I'm okay. Or, you know, getting there. There's a lot of things to learn. Like swimming or reading or cooking." He laughed again, a little more genuinely this time. "I'm pretty hopeless, actually, don't listen to me."

While he couldn't be entirely sure about it, it appeared as if the mood had shifted again and Aaron assumed it was mostly due to shock on Copper's part. It didn't take a genius to figure out what had caused it. "Well, how else am I going to get rid of the stiffness in my neck?" He tried to ask as casually as possible, reaching for the back of his neck to rub it. After all, he had built up the courage to get a massage already, so he figured he should definitely get one.

Once they arrived at the ice cream shop, his eyes quickly tried to scan the signs for the pictures rather than the actual menu. "I don't know what that is," He admitted in response to Copper's preference. "But I like chocolate. Or- Or the pink kind. Is that strawberry?"

Copper was glad to change subjects, not that he thought he'd never talk more about his past with Aaron. He seemed like a nice person, and so far he'd been easy to talk to, so maybe. But at least the more specific details he was going to keep to himself for now. Nodding, he smiled at the other and replied, "Yeah, you do. You've got a runner's build." Then Copper smirked, adding, "Yeah, I can teach you some things." Like Aaron, Copper was being a little flirtatious with his remark, though he was mostly serious. It would be fun, and it was something Copper genuinely liked doing, especially with someone eager to learn.

As Aaron continued talking though, Copper's smile fell from his face. His suspicions proven correct, Copper exhaled sharply as he it all came together. "Fifteen years experience..." he repeated in a mumble, eyes widening slightly as he quickly did the math in his head. Aaron seemed to be in his early 20s, so - "Shit," Copper said suddenly, looking back at Aaron. For a several seconds, he didn't know how to reply, at a total loss for words. But one thing he didn't want to do was make Aaron talk about it. They'd been through a serious trauma, and Copper knew what that was like (though what he'd been through felt so small compared to what Aaron had seemingly endured). "Fuck, Aaron, I..." Copper trailed off, grasping for words. And then he refocused, saying, "I'm...I'm glad you're the only one getting paid now." His instinct was to reach out and touch his shoulder reassuringly, but given what Aaron had been through, Copper didn't think that was a good idea.

Although he knew how he would have responded a few minutes ago to Aaron's remark, Copper was totally thrown off now, though he managed to hide it well (at least he hoped so). "If...you really want me," Copper replied slowly. But then he thought about it, and he decided that Aaron knew what he wanted, so Copper was going to just treat him like he would anyone else. Grinning at the other, Copper added, "I've been told I'm pretty good at massages." There was a part of him that was still uncertain of how to handle this, but overall he was just pushing through because he wanted to keep spending time with Aaron. "Ice cream it is," he said, and then a minute or so later, Copper and Aaron were walking together toward the ice cream shop in the food court. "I hope they have something with marshmallow in it," Copper said as they made their way there. "Like s'more flavored or something. I'm in the mood for that. What about you?"

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"I'm sure. I was stupid to think I wouldn't see anybody that knows me, my head just automatically assumed it was someone who also knew I'm supposed to be at work." Mingyu replied with a soft laugh, shaking his head. Usually being a social butterfly had its perks, but in situations where he was more or less trying to be invisible, he guessed it had the opposite effect. "I'm really not! I have never skipped work before, but the idea of being stuck in the dark on such a nice day was just too much." He dramatically raised a hand to his forehead, as if he had just stepped into a theater production. "Forgive me my sins, I am just a man." The blond then dropped his hand again and grinned sheepishly. "So, have you tried the water? Is it any good or is it too cold?"

“it’s fine. your jumpiness definitely makes sense now” she gives him a face that screams “you know you did something wrong”. but there really was no judgement. more of an observation. and if it was someone who worked with her she would have forgiven them. kept it their little secret. “as long as your sure. i mean you never know.” looking from left to right to see if she could see any familiar faces. she laughs at his statement. “maybe you just aren’t the skip work type. personally i could never do it. the guilt would eat me alive for no reason at all. and i don’t think it’s a stretch to assume it’s the same for you. but since you’re already here, just enjoy it.” she hoped her words were comforting. the guilt was punishment enough in her opinion. “yeah. i’ve been here most of the day. and i’ll probably be here for the rest of the day.”

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Mingyu could feel his cheeks heating up slightly. How was it that he hadn't considered that detail? "Uh, I haven't. But that doesn't mean I can't." He tried to sound more confident than he really was - hitting on a guy couldn't be too hard, right? As long as it didn't put him in any awkward situations. The blond wasn't one to back down from a challenge, however. Though it seemed that maybe he didn't have to take one on, as Jiwon came up with a different suggestion. "English?" He echoed, not particularly seeing anything wrong with Jiwon's current knowledge, though perhaps that was because he wasn't that advanced himself. Still, he figured he had a couple more years of experience speaking the language and being as talkative as he was, this meant that he'd learned very fast.

"I can do that, sure. As much as I know, anyway. We could talk about specific subjects you maybe want to have easier conversations about with people." He shrugged and watched as the other worked their magic with the vending machine, briefly waiting for Jiwon to get the items, before realizing that he was expected to do so. While he debated being stubborn about it, he also didn't want to seem ungrateful to someone who had just helped him out, so he reluctantly crouched back down to grab their drinks and handed Jiwon his. "Want me to open it for you, too?"

Jiwon sighed exaggeratedly, his free hand coming up to rub his neck. "I don't know if I trust your game enough to wingman for me. Have you ever hit on a man?" It was said with a pointed look. In fairness, Jiwon hardly needed help in that environment. If one was eager enough and easy on the eyes, most men were down for at least a casual encounter, and that was all the brunet was really looking for anyway. Love was for people who weren't as busy and didn't need to juggle multiple jobs to sustain both himself and send money home to the parents that raised him. That was what they believed, anyway. Then, swapping to Korean, they said, "What about English tutoring?" It was no secret that the boy occasionally struggled with conversation beyond the very basics. It was worth a shot. In the meantime, they put their own dollar in, selecting the item above Mingyu's and watching as it processed, knocking down the stuck item as well as his own. He made no move to grab either of them.

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Aaron chuckled at Copper's comment. "You're right, I think we might already have been too intimate to worry about those things." They added with a playful grin. It was nice to have a semi personal conversation without having to worry about offending someone. Most men he had been around absolutely hated if he asked questions about their personal life, regardless of how much they sometimes complained about things. He was used to needing to shut up and listen, despite being naturally curious, so getting adjusted to having two-way conversations was still a relatively new thing.

"I look like I'd be fast? I suppose I have a pretty good stamina, but I haven't tried using it for sports. But I'm down to try some things, if you want to teach me." While there was a hint of suggestion in his tone, he was also serious about taking on the offer to be taught. It felt like even with his job, he had far too much time on his hands and didn't know what to do with it, other than just roam around the town, which didn't seem like the safest waste of time with all the attacks that had happened. "Uh, yeah, I guess I do. I don't do it that often, it's more like... a habit, I guess? An easy way to make money. It's the one thing I have fifteen years of experience with, so, you know..." He trailed off with a frown as he wrapped his arms around himself. They couldn't help but feel a little disgusted with their body as they spoke about it. "But I'm the only person getting paid now, yeah."

Aaron was taken aback by the offer of ice cream and was unable to hide the surprised look on his face. "Really? I'd like that. Uh, maybe I can do the massage some other time then? Unless you want to give me a private one."

Copper felt better when Aaron said that it was okay. "You've got nothing to be sorry for," Copper assured the other. "We're just talking and getting to know each other. It wasn't too personal. Besides, we were just talking about facials, so I think it's okay if we get a little personal, don't you?" He said this mostly because it was true but also partially to get them firmly off the topic of his marriage. Nodding, Copper told Aaron, "I do, and probably soon. And you are, trust me." These weren't just things Copper was saying to make Aaron feel good either - he really believed them.

Yes, Copper felt like there was something...different about this situation, and though he didn't want to overly ask, he felt like he was slowly getting to the bottom of it. "I think you might surprise yourself," Copper told Aaron. "You look like you'd be fast, so good at track or soccer maybe. And I think I could make you at least a decent swimmer." The longer that he talked with Aaron, the more concerned Copper became. While his knowledge was sort of limited when it came to sex work, he thought that they got paid and at least had a say in who their clients were. But it sounded like Aaron had not only not gotten paid, but he hadn't been able to have a say in his clients. "Aaron..." Copper said quietly. He felt like he knew the story now, knew what had happened in Aaron's past, but he didn't want to say it out loud; most likely, it wasn't something he wanted to talk about. Even so, Copper felt the need to make sure the other was okay. "You get to choose who you have sex with now though, right?" Copper asked. "And...if money is exchanging hands when this happens, you're...uh, one of the hands, yeah?" Maybe he could have said that more eloquently, but he hoped Aaron would understand what he'd meant. He didn't want to actually ask if Aaron was okay because then it would be hard for the other to ignore that Copper seemed to have figured this all out (if they wanted to), but he thought he'd get his answer this way too.

The mood had gotten heavy, but Copper didn't want to stop talking with Aaron. And he also wanted to maybe cheer the other up, though Copper wasn't totally sure whether or not they needed cheering up. Either way, there was never a bad time for what Copper was about to suggest (except like maybe in the shower or while swimming or while going for a run...okay, so there were lots of bad times for his idea, but this was not one of them). "Let's go get ice cream," Copper suggested. "My treat. My shift is over anyway, and if you're okay with it, I'd like to keep hanging out."

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Aaron was quick to shake his head as Copper apologized. " Don't be, you're okay. Ah, I should apologize, I didn't mean to ask questions that are that personal. It just seemed to mean a lot to you, I suppose?" He raised his shoulders in a timid shrug. "I get it, um, getting stuck, I mean." He didn't want to elaborate, but he could definitely relate to thinking too much about things that happened in the past, things that shaped him into who he was now, situations that he would most likely never be able to let go of. "You think so? I suppose I am pretty cute." He laughed.

"Ah, it was a long time ago and I was really young," They tried to clarify. It truly felt more like it had been a whole other life where they had been able to exist like a regular kid and while they logically knew that it had happened, sometimes it had been easy to become convinced that all of that had just been a dream. "I must have been six or seven, so it's hard to remember. I don't think I'm very athletic." They then admitted with a chuckle, trying to imagine himself playing any sort of sport. "I'm not feeling pressured, don't worry. There's plenty of time to take things slow."

Aaron shrugged again, letting out a dry laugh. "That's the only kind of sex I've had, really." He admitted, sounding just a little bitter. "Don't be sorry, I don't mind talking about it. It's... normal for me, you know? I stopped feeling embarrassed about it a long time ago." The question very briefly took him off guard as he hadn't realized the implication of his own words. "Oh. No. No, I didn't." He frowned, wondering if that was something unexpected. "My... I guess you could say it was like my boss? But it wasn't just him. Ah- Clients would pay the people in charge and then get to pick someone to take with them. Usually to a motel room."

Thinking about how this might be making Aaron feel, Copper sighed. “Shit, sorry,” he said with a slight grin on his face. “I just made that kind of awkward, didn’t I?” Although he chuckled a bit, it wasn’t really funny. “Sometimes when I think…uh, certain things too much, I get sort of stuck, you know?” He was hoping to salvage this conversation because Copper was enjoying talking to Aaron, but he wasn’t going to be able to do that if he kept talking about his honeymoon and marriage, so that needed to stop. Honestly he should have never started, but the thing was that Copper loved talking about Deacon, even when he hated it; he loved talking about his favorite person ever because he had been incredible. But it also broke his heart. “Then you will,” Copper replied. “You’re nice and interesting and cute, so trust me, it’s gonna happen. I know it.”

“You don’t remember?” Copper asked, surprised. He felt like this was more to this situation, more to Aaron’s past, but this was literally the first he’d ever spoken to the other, so it didn’t feel appropriate to ask anything further. “Well I mean, maybe you are,” Copper said. “You could play a few and see if you’re any good. Maybe it’ll help you remember too.” Shaking his head, Copper told him, “You don’t have to pay me, really. I do it because I like to.” He didn’t add that he didn’t need the money, that he didn’t even work here for the money. It would have sounded like bragging. Realizing how his comment might have seemed, Copper clarified, “I don’t mean maybe like I’m not sure. I just maybe like…I’d be okay with whatever happens but don’t want to add any pressure to the situation.”

“That…makes a sad kind of sense,” Copper admitted. “Guys unfulfilled with their marriages, their sex lives. I get it though, that you did it even though they were dicks and even though they were cheaters. It was your job, and you don’t always get to choose your clients in a lot of professions, this being one of them. You just do what you have to do. Hopefully you’ve had the kind of sex where you don’t want to just get it over with.” And then Copper’s eyes widened as he realized, “Fuck, that was a really personal comment to make. I’m sorry.” He hadn’t earned the right to talk about this kind of thing with Aaron yet. Even so, Copper couldn’t stop himself from asking about Aaron’s next comment: “You got paid before though, right?” he asked. “When you were a prostitute I mean?” Maybe that wasn’t how Aaron had meant it, but it’s how it had sounded to Copper, that getting paid for his job now was different. That…well, that was a troubling thought, and Copper didn’t like it at all. 

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Aaron nodded in understanding. There had been some kind of vibe they were getting throughout their conversation with Copper, but the blond wasn't the type of person to assume, nor to ask too many questions. The people he was used to weren't the kind to appreciate being asked personal questions. Copper wasn't anything like his past clients, of course, but it had made him into someone who avoided getting too personal with others. "That makes sense," He eventually said with a soft smile, wondering if maybe his question had been too much and perhaps ruined the mood. He observed as Copper reached for his ring finger, which made him feel slightly awkward. He was getting the feeling that whatever he didn't know about was rather serious. "It... It sounds nice," He offered with a small smile, holding back a laugh when the other seemed surprised that he had never been in a relationship. "Really, yes. I would really like to be in one, maybe, one day."

"It sounds nice. I don't know if I was ever really good at sports. I can't remember." It sucked to admit, but the very few childhood memories he'd had of his parents and his friends, from before, had faded over the years. Part of him had tried to hold on to them and then another part of him had decided it was most likely for the best to forget about something he would never get back. "I could pay you, though," He bit into his bottom lip. "Maybe?"

Aaron chuckled softly and brushed his hair behind his ear. "It's usually the other way around. Married guys approaching the prostitutes, I mean. At least that was my experience. Most were married; probably in denial about their sexuality as well. I don't- I mean, I don't like cheaters, I didn't like any of those guys. Just wanted to get it over with fast, usually, because they had nothing nice to say. But I like meeting people at bars, too." It was weird to now have the conscious choice to hook up with people for money, perhaps even weirder that he was still doing it. Maybe it was for the familiarity, in some sick sense. "I do like my job. It's different, but... it's healthier. And I get paid money for it, so I'm enjoying that, too."

When Aaron asked him if he'd ever go back to Hawaii, Copper actually had to stop and think about it; it wasn't such an easy question to answer. "I don't know," he answered after a few moments. "It was beautiful, and I really loved it there. I could have stayed a month longer, but then we would have had to go back because I would have started to miss my family and my cats and my friends. But I don't know if I'd go back. The memories...they might be too bittersweet." Again Copper paused, looking off past Aaron, lost in thought about the past, but then he came back to himself. Blinking a few times, back in reality, Copper answered, "I don't think I'd ever go back." There were things Copper didn't say to Aaron, things like I'd miss him too much and I already miss him too much. These were things Copper only thought, and his smile was a little sad just then. But yeah, this was not a topic he wanted to elaborate on, though he did admit, "It was nice. I loved being married." And then his fingers went to where his wedding ring used to be, where it sometimes still was (though wasn't today), and he wished he could feel the solidness of it now. Maybe it would have helped ground him. Surprised by what Aaron said, Copper asked, "Really?" He hadn't expected that, and for a second he wasn't sure what to say. But then he replied, "Sometimes they're really good, but...sometimes they're not." Sometimes you lost everything and didn't know how to keep going.

Talking about swimming was much easier for Copper, and he was smiling again now. "Alright, maybe I was a little better than okay," he admitted, smile growing. "I wasn't the best though. But you know, it was never about that for me, not in soccer either. It was just about having fun and being part of a team. That's something I've always liked." Nodding at the other, Copper said, "I'd definitely love to teach you. Sometimes I think about like advertising for swimming lessons, not for pay or anything, just because I like doing it. So I'm definitely be down to teach other. And I won't let you drown." What Aaron said next had Copper grinning, cheeks a bit flushed as he thought about the implications of what the other said. "I think I'd be down for that too sometimes. Maybe..." He didn't know how serious Aaron was, but it felt nice to flirt, even if it was just for fun.

Yet again, Aaron surprised him, Copper's eyes widening when he heard what the other used to do. "Wow," he said after a moment. "I've...never met one of those before. Well I mean once at a bar actually, but I didn't know it until after I told them I was married. I thought they were just hitting on me." This didn't feel like the right thing to say, so Copper went on, "That's cool with me though," and it was; sex work was real work in his opinion, as long as it was what the person wanted to do. "I can imagine you'd meet a lot of creeps that way though," he added. Copper thought about it, about how a lot of the guys would act entitled, like they owned Aaron because they were paying him, and the thought made him angry. "I hope you like what you do now," Copper said quietly.

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"Yeah, fine, sorry." The words came out a little more awkward than intended as he subconsciously tried to sound as American as possible. "I don't think I'll walk into anyone, really, you just freaked me out for a moment. I thought I got busted." He laughed, realizing how paranoid he had seemed for no reason. "I have never skipped work before and my dad might kill me if he finds out." That statement was entirely hypothetical as Mingyu was positive there was no way for his parent to find out. "I might work an extra shift over the weekend to feel less guilty. Or maybe I won't." He pursed his lips, already regretting the statement. If he could avoid work, he would. Besides, he would much rather take up extra shifts at the cafe than at Starstrike. "The thrill is pretty nice, though." He then admitted with a grin. "So this is your day off then?"

evie loved her job. she enjoyed being in the boutique surrounded by the colorful fabrics. and best of all was it air conditioned. but she definitely enjoyed being out of work more then in work. her days off were special. they were the days that she got to spend doing what she loved. that typically involved being outdoors in some capacity. especially during the summer. she was often times found floating around in a pool or laying on a beach chair soaking up some sun.

she looks at mingyu with a confused look. “hi. are you okay?” she asks slightly concerned. she watches him as walks over and takes the chair next to her. she sits up and puts her legs over the side of the chair so she can talk to him. “i guess i don’t blame you.” she wasn’t one to skip work, but she doesn’t blame him for doing it. t was a beautiful day, and she feels its safe to assume no one wants to be cooped up in a bowling alley for most of the day. “if i had the guts i would to. now clam down. i’ll keep a lookout for you.”

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Aside from his roommate, Mingyu's father was the only person he regularly spoke Korean with. Practicing his English had been a main priority when he came to live in America and he found himself defaulting to his secondary language more than his first these days. Still, it could be nice to not have to think too much about pronunciation or grammar. Unfortunately for Duckie, speaking in Korean made it all the easier for Mingyu to ramble away. With other people, he had his moments where he messed up and forgot the English terms for things, but he could hold his own for the majority of his interactions.

It had been odd to see the changes in Duksoo's behavior since his attack. It was hard not to notice them, no matter how hard the other male had tried to hide them. Mingyu had known better than to seem overly concerned, as he had witnessed how much it pissed Duckie off when it was coming from his brothers, but it had been impossible to seem completely unaffected by everything. The biggest change was probably how much time he had spent at home, rather than choosing to spend his free time elsewhere. Mingyu normally hated feeling cooped up inside, but he hadn't been able to leave Duckie all by himself for long periods of time as he recovered from his injuries. While he knew he wasn't responsible, he couldn't help but want to ensure he wasn't accidentally turning a blind eye to Duckie's mental health.

"Sitting inside is pretty boring, I agree. Even if working sucks sometimes, it's something to do at least. And, as you said, it makes money." He replied with a nod. Not that he was blaming Duckie for the fact he'd spent a lot of time sitting inside the last few months. "Besides, your job is far more eventful than mine," Mingyu then added with a nervous chuckle. "Not that I'm complaining about being the designated bowling shoe guy, of course. I don't think I could keep a straight face working at Come What May. But it seems like a good distraction."

duckie was definitely a good person for someone to keep close if they wanted to ensure that they wouldn’t be forgetting the korean language any time soon - not that it was the easiest to keep duckie actually close . while duckie did speak english with plenty of people in his life , and could speak it relatively fluently without issue , when he knew a person spoke korean , he would almost never use english ; even around non-korean speakers , duckie would often speak at least a little korean , particularly when caught in a bad mood , and it wasn’t likely that that was going to change any time soon . while less stubborn on the matter now , duckie would’ve easily been as stubborn as he was as a child if mingyu had asked him to help him practice his english .

he was glad to be made to believe that mingyu didn’t really think of him as a bad person ; duckie’s success with being morally grey at best came from his charm , and in all honesty , it wouldn’t have surprised him if his facade were ruined in the period after his attack ; he had been made to be so vulnerable , and vulnerability was far from what duckie willingly gave others . he was still struggling a large amount after the attack - understandably , as every victim in the attack was - but he did feel a little better knowing that his relationship with mingyu was relatively safe ( for now , at least ) . content with his knowledge , he didn’t feel the need to respond verbally , though that hopefully wouldn’t have come as a surprise or come across as rude ; duckie had never been one to be so eager for conversing with others all of the time , after all , and mingyu would have come to learn that already - anyone who spent much time around duckie did . 

“ yes , i am , ” though duckie was incredibly glad that mingyu hadn’t asked him whether or not he was okay , he was aware enough of mingyu’s concern to actively think about how glad he was that he hadn’t only asked him if he was okay ; he was quickly made to feel at least some of the frustration he would have felt if the pointless question was asked , though thankfully mingyu’s actual question and his attempt at keeping things more light and casual helped to calm duckie down - almost none of duckie’s internal thoughts or processes showing externally , much like usual . duckie had a rather effective poker face . “ you’ve got to make money in order to spend money , which i do enjoy doing . besides , i hate having nothing to do , ” duckie wasn’t the biggest fan of working - he especially didn’t care to do much hard work - but hanging around come what may certainly beat being stuck inside - which was something that often had him reminiscing on the time where he was imprisoned , which was understandably not the most desirable thing to have going on in his mind , for many different reasons . 

[ofchrysoprase]

"I think you're probably right. Maxxie doesn't even really hug me anymore, he probably thinks I'm too old." Cindy laughed, though it was a bit painful to think about how they had grown apart, despite her own efforts to stay close. She could have been studying at a better university, far away from Shrike Heights where nowhere seemed to be safe. Then again, she would most likely have come back eventually, not feeling comfortable with leaving her parents all by themselves in a town plagued by killers. She could feel her cheeks burning with embarrassment. "I, uh... I do really like boys." She muttered, averting her eyes. It was a bit of an understatement - while she tried to carry herself as mature and independent, her poster covered walls at home did not represent that side of her.

"You think you could do that? Be my wingwoman?" It was no secret that Cindy was hopeless when it came to flirting or dating. In fact, she had no idea where to start. It was hard to imagine Avery as someone who thought nobody was looking at her, but she was probably right. Perhaps most people struggled to see themselves as good enough for someone else to notice, no matter how much they wanted it. "Like... What if they say no?"

"See you sound like you just need a good hug from someone who isn't family," she teased but her expression softened when she considered how serious Cindy was as she shared her experience. As much of a cynic as Avery was, she wasn't going to rain on Cindy's parade or tell her how to feel about something. If she wanted to believe in the magic of romance who was Avery to tell her differently? Still, Avery hoped that Cindy would actually find someone and not have to experience just how disappointing men could be. Relationships in general were disappointing, even without men. "You were just so..zoned in on the dudes, I get it. It happens. To the best of us," she teased and tried not to make too much of it. She knew that Cindy had meant well despite the way it came off. But it mostly made Avery laugh. And just showed how much views on relationships varied from person to person.

"Or maybe you don't give yourself enough credit. I mean I used to think no one was checking me out but that's because I wasn't actually looking up," she joked but it was true. As self deprecating as Avery was, she knew she was attractive and worth spending time with. So she wasn't exactly surprised when people hit on her but it had taken her a long while to notice that anyone would. "It doesn't hurt to ask someone out too. Gender norms are kind of silly. And waiting around for a boy to notice anything is like asking for rain in a sixty year drought, you know? You just gotta get out there. I'd happily be your wingwoman. As much as I complain, I make a good one."

[ofchrysoprase]

Aaron nodded, not entirely sure how great he was at setting boundaries, even in a setting that was supposed to be as casual as a massage. It wasn't something he'd ever had the privilege of doing and it felt wrong to do so. "I'll try," They eventually promised, since that was the most they could do. "Would you ever want to go back? To Hawaii, I mean. Or would that, you know, be a bad idea?" Aaron had no idea what happened to make the marriage not work, but he guessed that whatever it was, most likely wasn't good and so he wasn't sure if Hawaii would just make Copper sad. He was getting the sense that the other wasn't quite... over his marriage, even if Aaron didn't know how it had ended. "It sounds nice," He agreed, hoping he wasn't just ruining the mood. "I've never even been in a relationship." He admitted with a small laugh, hoping it would keep their conversation more casual.

He tilted his head, his expression silently judging Copper as he spoke about his swimming abilities. "You were okay? I don't believe that at all. I bet you're a great swimmer, even if I know nothing about it." He laughed, shaking his head in disbelief, even though it was always nice to meet people who were more modest about their skills. While confidence was good, Aaron really didn't like people who went on bragging monologues, especially if it clearly wasn't to try to impress him, but rather just to hear themselves talk. "I'd like to watch you and I will try not to drown, if you'd ever want to take on teaching me. Perhaps I could teach you some techniques to avoid spraining your toes and stuff."

The blond briefly hesitated, as the topic of their past was a tricky one to navigate. He was hardly looking for sympathy and also worried that Copper might view him differently. Still, the other had been pretty open and honest about his own life and Aaron felt like it was probably only fair if he was slightly less vague about his past. "Well, I, ah... I worked as a prostitute, so, you know. That's where the creeps happened." He laughed softly and pulled up his shoulders in a shrug. "But I try to see it as a learning experience that I can now apply to my job." That was only slightly true, but trying to be positive was his best shot at coping.

"It probably would," Copper agreed. "Sometimes people are so stiff and don't even realize it. When I got mine, then masseur kept commenting on that, and I had no idea. So you, I'll make a note here, but mention it to them when it's time too just to be safe." It definitely wasn't a weird request; Copper knew from talking to the person who actually worked the front desk that it was something people asked for. "Hawaii is nice," he responded. "There were places we thought about going instead, but it would be a lot of touring around. In Hawaii, it would be more relaxed, so we chose that." He didn't want to get too in depth about it though because while Copper was able to just focus on the happiness of those memories for now, if he started talking too much about Deacon, he knew he'd start to fall apart. Still, Copper did say, "Being married was nice too," his voice sounding a little sad. Luckily he was able to move on from that before the thought weighed him down. When he said Aaron's wink, Copper laughed, not quite 100% sure if he was interpreting that correctly but amused nonetheless. "We definitely had fun," he confirmed with a nod.

Aaron had a nice smile, one that made Copper smile in turn. "I was okay," he replied, but really Copper was being a bit modest. While he wasn't their best swimmer, he was pretty good, he could objectively admit that. But he didn't want to sound like he was bragging. "It was fun though," he continued. "I made a lot of friends I'm still close to." Blushing just a little, Copper added, "I could show you sometime though. It might be fun to see if I've still got it." While he was still a good swimmer, Copper was suddenly curious to see if he still had the ability to swim competitively. "I'd be happy to teach you," Copper told Aaron. "Sounds fun." And then as he listened to the other, he began blushing a violent shade of red, but he laughed too because Copper was pretty sure he knew what Aaron was getting at. Even so, he still asked, "What kind of things could you teach me?"

"People you had to work with in the past?" Copper questioned. More and more, he was feeling like he wasn't quite seeing the whole picture here, that he was missing something. Copper decided he was going to just ask: "So...what did you used to do?" he asked Aaron. Copper laughed along with Aaron, blushing (of course) as well. "I mean, they'd fun, and they're always there for you, unlike people, so what's not to love?" Copper asked jokingly, laughing again. His face was burning, but his smile just grew when Aaron leaned in and whispered, "No, no...you don't need to stop," he responded. "I can handle a lot, don't worry."