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rq-s · 4 years ago

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Title: Lucid Dreams - Chapter 2

Word Count: 2962

Warnings: Mingyu is featured heavily in the first few chapters and is directly involved in significant plot events. Due to recent events, I understand if reading these chapters may make you uncomfortable, but be aware that you’d be missing core story elements by skipping them. (Details)

Notes: While this chapter is part of a larger story, it can also be read (I hope..) as a standalone Mingyu x F!Reader (Light angst & Fluff) !

Lucid Dreams Masterlist

Chapter 1 |

Yn followed Mingyu’s lead as he guided her through ordering. It wasn’t too dissimilar from a regular café, but he still walked with her to and from the lockers, letting her take the pillow and put her phone and wallet inside, smiling widely when she trusted him to keep the key while she slept. Clearly that was a boost to his ego, especially after his low mood just minutes ago. Yn sat and waited at her table; it wasn't long until the drink was ready.

“Here you go,” Mingyu set the glass bottle in front of her, along with a white napkin and a glass straw. “One Sleepy Mingyu!” There was already an awkward blush on his cheeks, but his smile was wide as he clasped his hands together with pride, like this drink was his child at its first recital.

Yn couldn’t help but want to laugh at the sound of a drink being named after someone like that, and how said person was the one who served it to her. The entire situation felt absurd. And yet she didn’t feel as nervous as she had felt when she walked in. Perhaps it was Mingyu’s vulnerability earlier and knowing that she wasn’t the only one who was nervous, but now she felt unusually comfortable.

“Thank you.” Yn smiled back to him and examined the drink. It did, in fact, look as was advertised. The glass of the bottle and straw were nearly crystal clear, and the hue of the soda itself was a powerful royal purple. The way the bubbles ran up the sides and sizzled at the top made it seem especially refreshing and sophisticated, and there was a bit of condensation on the bottle from how cold it was.

Mingyu still stood by the table, hands held in front of him expectantly. She could hear his breath hitch when she finally took a drink.

It tasted like a mix of all the familiar grape flavors Yn knew. It was a strangely fitting mix of two distinct flavors from her memory: the artificially sweet grape juice from school lunches, and the bubbly grape spritzer from family gatherings. However, this was much better than either of those, creating its own memorable taste. It was ice cold and rich in flavor, with the perfect about of fizziness to disperse it enough and make the strength of it bearable. It tingled as it went down, as if actual light sparkles were in it.

Yn moved away from the straw just enough to be able to speak, tilting her head to look Mingyu’s way.

“This is really good.” He sighed with relief, putting a hand to his chest as if his heart had been racing. He mouthed vague praises for a moment before returning to his professional state.

“That’s good to hear! Please enjoy it, we'll keep you safe while you rest.” Yn giggled and thanked him, letting him practically skip back to the register in his glee.

Yn leaned back in her chair, holding the bottle and letting the straw rest between her lips, trying to relax. Sleeping in a public place wasn’t on her list of things that were easy for her to do. She worried that if the sleep aid couldn’t make her drowsy enough to sleep now, then she’d have trouble getting back home. Would Mingyu be crushed if I don’t sleep after drinking his drink? She didn’t mean to have thoughts like that; it felt cheap, like she was pitying him. But something about this place, about how Mingyu and Junhui acted, drew her in and played on her curiosity. She wanted to understand what unique experience they were talking about. That meant giving herself to the process, as strange as it was.

Her worries were needless, as not even two minutes after setting the empty bottle aside and leaning forward to rest her head on the pillow on the table did Yn fall asleep.

There was a jazz band playing, but she couldn’t see them. Yn couldn’t see anything, actually.

It smelled like lobster, rice, and wine. She heard some distant chatter and the sound of dishes being cleaned.

“So, how did you like it?” A voice spoke clearly, as if it was right next to her. Everything around her slowly came into view with each blink.

She was at a restaurant. An expensive and modern one. The ceiling was high, with full length windows, sheer black curtains, and crystal chandeliers. Her feet clicked against the marble floor as she shifted in her seat, and she noticed she had on expensive black stiletto heels. The dress she wore was a bright purple fabric with a black lace layer over the body and sleeves. The outfit wasn’t hers, but was one she could only dream of owning, as it flattered her body perfectly and made her feel dignified and rich.

The voice Yn had heard was coming from a man in the seat across from her. His shirt was fitted and ironed, a beautiful royal purple with a black lace collar and cuffs, matching the black of his dress pants. His face looked familiar, and his name was on the tip of her tongue.

There was an empty plate in front of them both, yet she could smell what should have been there. There was still wine in the glass though, and it smelled just like the kind she had at home.

“It was really good actually.” Yn spoke without thinking; not having thought at all.

“That bracelet looks really pretty on you.” The man spoke again, gesturing to her wrist as she held the stem of the wine glass. It was a small and simple bracelet, with square cut amethyst gems laid in hefty silver. It was perfectly sized to her wrist, and looked brand new, or at least very well cared for. It wasn’t hers either.

“Thanks Mingyu.” His name slipped from her lips, and she were shocked to hear it, finally able to recognize him. He smiled to her shyly, tilting his head with a sparkle in his deep brown eyes.

Why him?

Neither of them said anything for a few moments. Mingyu's gaze lingered on Yn while she nervously observed her surroundings. There were other tables with other couples or parties of guests all enjoying their meals, but they were all faceless. Their chatter got louder when she looked at them.

What's going on?!

“Wanna go outside?” Mingyu asked suddenly, urgently, and right on cue when the chatter began to make Yn anxious. Her senses caught up with her by that point and it felt like they were in overdrive. It was begging to overwhelm her, so she was grateful for his perfectly timed offer. Yn held onto his arm when he offered it, oddly without hesitation, and followed him into the chilly night of the terrace. The chatter stopped completely, the jazz music was stifled, and the dishes were replaced with the sound of cicadas in the distance.

“Oh wow, this is beautiful Yn.” He was audibly impressed, as if the night sky was something she had handcrafted. The terrace was at the back of the restaurant, and it seemed like nothing else existed other than what she could see. There wasn’t any light pollution and not a single wisp of a cloud, only twinkling stars and planets of different colors. The moon was a warning crescent, but was bright and sharp, high above them. Yn was in awe, just as he was.

Mingyu moved his arm out from hers and to the back of her shoulders, fingertips barely touching the fabric of her dress. It wasn’t as cold outside as she'd expected it to be, but Mingyu’s presence beside her was still warming. Any encroaching anxiousness she had felt had been washed away, much quicker than she had expected, and was replaced with wonder.

“What do you see?” He asked with an incredibly soft tone and volume, making her heart flutter.

It was hard to make out any shape or figure. Even the constellations she thought she knew weren’t visible. Mingyu waited for Yn's answer, but after a glance at her confused expressions, he spoke up.

“Look up there, at that cluster of stars.” Mingyu leaned in closer, now holding onto her shoulder, and pointed up into the sky. Yn followed his finger across the stars and found the cluster he saw.

“Now trace my finger with your eyes, okay?”

“I’ll try.” Yn chuckled, but he remained focused and slowly began tracing what he saw for her.

“Oh! It’s a puppy face!” She exclaimed as he finished the second floppy ear. The cluster had been the puppy’s nose.

“Yeah! He looks like he’s having a lot of fun up there.” Mingyu commented with a smile, finishing off the picture with a goofy tongue hanging out of the puppy’s mouth.

Yn kept searching the sky for something to show to him, but all the blinking lights seemed to keep shifting. She was still grinning as her eyes scoured the sky desperately.

She could feel Mingyu’s fingers against her shoulder, the weight and size of his hand on was unfamiliar, and she felt every tiny movement acutely. It wasn’t helping her focus at all.

“It’s okay.” He said kindly, letting go of her shoulder to rub the lower center her back, trying to offer comfort. It felt like he’d given up on her drawing something for him like he had for her. The butterflies in her stomach froze at the thought of his disappointment.

“Wait! Look there, under the moon.” An airplane suddenly came into view, flying slowly in the distance, its lights slowly blinking just like the stars in the dark night sky were. Mingyu stayed silent.

“When I was a kid, I thought airplanes in the night sky were shooting stars.” Yn admitted openly. Mingyu hummed with his hand held still against her, excluding his thumb, which massaged the middle of her back carefully. The motion was almost mesmerizing, threatening to melt her heart if she focused on it long enough. A stranger should not have this kind of power over her, intentional or not. She knew that, yet she didn’t feel afraid, or put off.

“Make a wish.” Mingyu said offhandedly. It came off as a teasing joke, but that’s exactly what Yn did as a child. Wishing on stars was the kid-friendly way of asking the universe for mercy. That’s what she told herself as a teenager, finding comfort that way. At the very least it was fun, and gave her something to hope for.

Yn thought for a moment before answering, choosing to take his teasing seriously, but did not know why her response had come to her mind.

“I wish for you to not be afraid of making mistakes or being wrong.”

She felt his stare move to her suddenly, and the touch of his hand on her back was gone. Still, she continued.

“You’re doing fine, Mingyu. You have good ideas, and you work hard. The only person you should ever have to prove your worth to is yourself. You’ll be alright.” She had no basis for what she said. No reason for him to believe her.

“Thank you.” He whispered.

It felt like it was what he needed to hear.

“Yn? It's time to wake up.” Someone was shaking her shoulder. It didn’t feel like Mingyu’s hand. It wasn’t Mingyu’s voice.

“It’s been a little over two hours Yn. If we let you sleep any longer you won’t feel very good.”

Yn groaned from having slept upright in the chair and her face tingled when she lifted her head from the pillow, as if she hadn’t moved at all in her sleep. The fact that she hadn’t fallen out of the chair was a miracle in itself. She rubbed her eyes a little too roughly and blinked as they adjusted to the light.

“Junhui?” She asked, having only that option to go off of at this point. The man chuckled.

“Nope, he clocked out about an hour ago. My name's Chan.” He pointed to the name printed on his collar with pride. That smile wasn’t one Yn could forget, and it clicked in her head that she’d seen him before too. He was the one who noticed her and let her pass on the sidewalk before, and Junhui must’ve been with him.

“Oh, okay.” Was all she managed to say. He chuckled again, understanding her grogginess.

“I’ll give you a few more minutes to wake up. I’ll be right back.” Yn merely nodded, noticing that the bottle had already been cleaned up. Eager to stretch her legs, she stood up and walked around.

It was about noon now, the store was warm and the music was still as lo-fi as it was two hours ago. The two girls from earlier had also left, and there was no one else around.

Yn's eyes went to the coolers. They weren’t fully stocked, maybe three or four of each of the juices and sodas, only two of each smoothie. I guess things like that are hard to stock when you make them all yourself, and don’t get many customers.

“We make them ourselves, you know.” Chan piped up from behind her, startling her slightly. Mingyu was with him.

“I told her that.” He pouted. Chan seemed younger than Mingyu, yet talked to him like they were the same age.

“Oh, well from what Jun said, you could barely even make it through the example run.” Chan teased.

“Hey-“ Yn and Mingyu spoke at the same time. But she didn’t pause like he did.

“-he tried his best. And Junhui was really nice about it.” It sounded more defensive than she meant it to, and Chan raised an eyebrow at it, but conceded all the same.

“Sorry, it’s his first time having a new customer. We just like to keep him humble.” Chan elbowed Mingyu’s side, and the taller boy played along, but looked at her with a look that assured her it was fine. As sincere as his smile was, Yn still noticed the redness and puffiness of his eyes.

“Let’s get you rung up, huh?” Mingyu suggested, waving her over to the register as he quickly went behind it. Chan mumbled something about coming off like the bad guy, but she was too focused on Mingyu.

“How did you sleep?” He asked softly, just loud enough for the two of them. As if anyone was around to hear. Yn instinctively leaned in a tad closer.

“Pretty well, actually. I’m still a bit fuzzy-headed but I feel more rested than I usually do when I take naps.” Yn failed at small talk, as usual. Mingyu nodded along regardless.

“How does your stomach feel?”

“Uh.. fine? I can still taste it in my mouth but it isn’t bad, and my tummy isn’t upset or anything.”

“Okay good,” He seemed happy to hear it, “We just want to gauge how each visitor handles each drink so we can change how we mix it for them if we need to.” He justified. Ah, right, just standard procedure questions.

“Are your eyes okay?” Yn's question was blatant and caught him off guard. He didn’t answer right away.

“You look like you’ve been crying.” Why does it hurt so much to see it? He’s a stranger. And yet she knew that she’d worry about it all day if she didn’t ask.

“Ah, I’m fine. Nothing to worry about.” It was a dismissive response, but it felt inappropriate to press on.

“So… oh! Since this is your first visit, we’re only gonna charge you half price of your total! So if you’d like to get anything from the cooler, or order something else, now’s the time!” The mention of the coolers made Yn glance to them and she felt embarrassed at what drink caught her eye instantly.

Yn walked to the cooler and grabbed two bottles of Mingyu’s grape soda.

She then walked back up to the counter and set them both onto it a bit too harshly. Mingyu held back a laugh, and she held her hand out.

“I need the key to get my wallet.” Yn felt her face heating up from embarrassment. Luckily, the key was just under the register, and he handed it to her quickly. She heard him scanning the two drinks with a hand scanner as she strode over to the lockers.

“Chan already got the pillow.” He said amusedly as he watched her look for it by her table. Yn tsked at him and went back to the counter, finding her card easily.

Mingyu read her the total, asked if she wanted a paper bag, put the drinks in the paper bag, took the key back from her, and handed her the receipt all in a quick and practiced flow. Yn had already put her wallet away in her back pocket, along with her phone, but it was when she reached for the paper bag that she hesitated. Mingyu did too.

“Yn?” He was asking for her attention when she was already staring at him. She didn’t answer, despite feeling the urgency to.

“Do you still make wishes on shooting stars?”

“…” Mingyu began to panic as soon as the question left his mouth. His eyes darted over Yn features, searching for any sort of answer from her. After a painfully long moment, she finally did.

“I haven’t seen one in a long time.”

“Make a wish on an airplane then. For me.” It wasn’t really a question, but not quite a demand. Mingyu regretted it even before he finished, and he felt sick at the sight of her fearful expression after her quick and unexpected response.

“I promise.”

#rq-s lucid dreams #caratwritersclub #seventeen #svt #seventeen x reader #mingyu x reader #svt mingyu x reader #seventeen fluff #seventeen angst #seventeen au #WHOO!!! the first dreamscape chapter of the sieres!!!#the stargazing scene was the first scene i ever wrote for this story ;-;#it feels so nice to finally post it #how do you all feel about it? how do you like Mingyu being purple #remember #color psych is variable on a lot of facotrs #color moods arent entirely universal so my depiction might not be what you see purple as #even so i hope you enjoyed it!!#with this #pretty much all the core plot elements have bene introduced! how do you feel and htink about them?#hwo do you like Yn? is she relatable?#i tried to make her very base #since thats the point of a fanfic liek this #but i hope shes not difficult to read #anyway please fele welcome to share yoru feelings thoughts and criticisms!!#and as always thank you so much for reading <3

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rq-s · 4 years ago

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Your Tumblr is so pretty! I'm Nonnie from Ao3! I just had to come over here because I was just so curious about Lucid Dream after reading the first chapter... I see you even have profile photos for the boys :D It has been fun so far and looking forward to more. Take care dear! - Nonnie

!!!! thank you so much!, and thanks for coming over and saying hello!! ^-^ tbh your comments have been really helpful in keeping me motivated to post chapters, you've bene extremely kind!

i will take care, heh and i hope you do as well !

#Anonymous

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rq-s · 4 years ago

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Title: Lucid Dreams - Chapter 1

Word Count: 2680

Lucid Dreams Masterlist

Prologue |

It was an hour after dawn, the streets were busy with students and workers on their commute. Yn gazed out of her apartment window, forlornly missing when she would do that. Why wasn’t I doing that? I should still be in college, worrying about scores and my social life.

She was still slowly waking up, with unfocused eyes and bad balance, as she sat at her desk. She shifted in her chair and faced her journal again, with two blank pages staring up at her.

It started as a school project, but it turned into a habit that Yn kept through her youth.

Yn stood and left it open without having written anything, frustrated with herself. If she had dreamt last night, it was long gone from her mind, and she had nothing else to write. There were more days like this lately. Update-less, absent days.

Keep reading

#just reblogging for those who missed it #i kinda impulse posted it at 1 am so ;-;#i hate working two jobs im so exhausted #but i am slowly writing away at this and hope to post regularly even if i can be online #thank you all for beign patient with me and for showing interest in my story <3

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rq-s · 4 years ago

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Taglist: @chuu-soulmate , @nose-bandaid

Please send me an ask or dm if you'd like to be added or removed from the taglist. Thank you for reading!

Title: Lucid Dreams - Chapter 1

Word Count: 2680

Lucid Dreams Masterlist

Prologue |

She was still slowly waking up, with unfocused eyes and bad balance, as she sat at her desk. She shifted in her chair and faced her journal again, with two blank pages staring up at her.

It started as a school project, but it turned into a habit that Yn kept through her youth.

Keep reading

24 notes · View notes

rq-s · 4 years ago

Text

Title: Lucid Dreams - Chapter 1

Word Count: 2680

Lucid Dreams Masterlist

Prologue |

She was still slowly waking up, with unfocused eyes and bad balance, as she sat at her desk. She shifted in her chair and faced her journal again, with two blank pages staring up at her.

It started as a school project, but it turned into a habit that Yn kept through her youth.

Eventually, Yn left the apartment complex with her phone and wallet and walked the familiar path. For weeks she had been going on walks around town, and she’d always somehow pass by the same peculiar store. She found herself lingering there, wanting to go in just to have her questions answered, but something within herself always stopped her. Online searches turned up very little. Just some patents, an under construction website, a local news article, and a few social media postings by previous customers. Everything she found only made her more curious.

The town seemed quiet, though it wasn’t ever busy. It made the journey to Dream Store a peaceful one, even as Yn's nervousness began to bubble.

She arrived a few hours before noon, the sunlight warm and shining brightly past the cartoonish and fluffy clouds. The well-tended potted plants, power washed sidewalk, and neon sign all had a strangely comforting feeling to them that welcomed her. Even the grey layered siding was sweet, despite how it clashed with the surrounding architecture. Yn stood on the sidewalk, facing the front patio, and hardened her resolve. Today would be her first time seeing what it was like inside; she refused to put it off anymore.

Yn approached the door in quick strides and read the print on the window before entering. “Dream Store | keeping hold of our hearts.”

Her breathing went still as soon as she pulled the door open. It was more spacious inside than the exterior led on, having a pastel pallet and being well lit. It felt like the door way was more then just the entrance to a business.

The first thing to see was the bar. A fairly long one, taking up most of the far wall, yet was still tucked in the corner. From the left wall towards the center were eight different taps, and on a counter behind the bar were two large blenders, a sink, and a small ice cream station with five flavors. A small Bluetooth speaker on the end of the counter was playing instrumental lo-fi, and somehow the air itself felt light and bubbly against her skin. On the wall above the bar was a large LED menu with what appeared to all be beverages in narrow-necked glass bottles. On the little space that was left against the far wall was a freezer, decorated in stickers and notes. So it’s a juice bar? The tweets just mentioned ice cream. There was a hallway by the fridge, presumably leading to bathrooms and the staff area. In front of that and against the right wall were wood tables and chairs with mismatched cushions. There were similar tables meant for two on the left side, with what seemed to be medium sized square lockers, and two vending machines full of those same bottled drinks from the LED screen. It all felt surreal, it was too perfect.

“Excuse me?” Yn’s attention was brought back to reality by the voice of man, one she hadn’t even seen standing behind the bar until that moment. His fingers were intertwined and rested gently on the bar while he leaned forward, as if he’d been calling her for a while. Once he saw he had her attention, he stood upright and smiled sincerely.

“Welcome to our Dream Store!” It was as if the entire scenario was a prank, he was an actor and this business was a set. Everything was still and quiet, with nothing and nobody in existence but this store and the two of them.

Finally, Yn approached the bar.

Instead of a name tag, the name Mingyu was sewn onto the collar of his white dress shirt. He was very tall, and his uniform was clearly tailored for to fit him perfectly. His smile was kind and courteous as he spoke to her.

“Is this your first time here?” He asked gently, but with no less energy in his voice than before. Yn nodded.

“Gotcha, let’s find you a table then.” He chirped, and walked around from behind the bar, grabbing a physical menu from somewhere behind the register. “Do you like to sit by the window, or in the corner?”

“Anywhere that lets me see the exits, please.” She answered softly. Mingyu didn’t seem phased by her request and tapped his chin in thought while looking around. Only then did Yn notice one of the benches by the hallway was taken, where two teenage girls were fast asleep. It wasn’t uncommon to see college kids or overworked employees taking powernaps at cafés, but seeing them sleeping so peacefully while hunched over the table was something Yn found odd. Are those pillows matching the seat cushions?

Mingyu decided to seat her at one of the tables for two, the one closest to the taps on the bar. She could observe the whole store there, and had a clear view of the front door and the hallway, while sitting snugly in the corner by the vending machines. Yn sat down carefully as Mingyu set the menus in front of her. Sitting down brought her attention up, making her notice the peculiar ceiling with exposed beams, cords, pipes, and ducts, all painted white to match the ceiling itself. Something about the unconventional look of it was comforting for Yn, as if the establishment itself was being laid bare for her.

“First, thank you for coming in, we really appreciate your interest,” He smiled awkwardly for a moment before continuing, “I’m going to get someone from the back to watch the register for me, feel free to look at that menu in the meantime.” Mingyu lowered his head a tiny bit then swiftly headed down the hallway.

Thank you for visiting our Dream Store! All the staff here are proud of our beverages, passionate about our purpose, and excited to give you a safe, enjoyable experience when you spend time with us. We believe that we offer your community something special, not only with our drinks, but with our potential to give each visitor a unique and individualized experience.

Mingyu came back before she could read further, with another tall young man behind him, who promptly went behind the counter and washed his hands after smiling in acknowledgment to her. He seemed familiar, but she didn’t know why or how. Mingyu sat himself across from her with a sigh, feeling very nervous and struggling to act like he wasn’t.

“Alright, sorry about that. Did you get a chance to look at the menu?”

“Only the first paragraph.”

“Okay cool, the way the menu explains it is kind of weird, so it’s better that I do it.” Yn only grew more confused. She watched as Mingyu glanced over towards the other man, she wanted to look back to see what was going on, but didn’t. Instead, Yn watched as Mingyu squinted, shook his head in confusion, and then silently gasped in realization, all within a few moments. Mingyu swallowed and nodded to himself before redirecting his focus back to her.

“Is it alright if I know your name?”

“Uh, sure? It’s Yn.” He nodded formally and put on awkward smile.

“It's nice to meet you, I’m Mingyu. Like I said, thanks for coming in today.” He failed to fight the cringe on his own face and hurried past it.

“Essentially, we can offer you different kinds of drinks: juices, sodas, and smoothies. They’re all made by us, with our recipes, and you can either have them made for here or to go, or even from the coolers right here.” He leaned over and patted the cooler that had a variety of colored drinks in sturdy glass bottles.

“Why do you need to explain that to me?” She asked without thinking, having already picked up on the fact that this was a place that sold beverages. It was a selling point that they concoct them themselves, and that they can do all this seemingly without a big brand to fund them, but she doubted that it required introduction to every new customer. Yn heard the man behind the register chuckle, then try to hide it with a cough.

“I was getting there.” He stammered, his face flushing a soft red.

“If you’d like to have something here, there’s the option to make it a sleep aid. We call it a Sleepy. With those, we prepare the drink as we usually would, but instead of the liquid sugar we usually use, we use a mix of liquid sugar and drowsiness medicine. We’ve been able to use that in a low volume but effective dose to allow our customers to have a refreshing drink, followed by a recharging nap.” Yn watched him cringe again as he tried his best to explain it without making it sound as bizarre as it was. He continued as soon as she tried to comment, eager to get it the introduction over with.

“You don’t need to worry though! When a visitor picks one of our sleepy drinks, we give them a key to their corresponding table, and that key opens one of those lockers. You can put your things there beforehand so you know they’re safe while you sleep. We have cameras in here and outside, and there’s always at least one member of staff on duty who's trained to handle altercations of any kind, and all of us are trained in first aid and emergency procedures like CPR.” There was another chuckle from behind her, and he didn’t even try to hide it this time. Mingyu glared at him, and this gave Yn her opening to speak.

“So you take safety seriously, that’s good…” She was at a loss of what to say, having been bombarded with information, all of it outside of what she’d expected. She wasn't sure what the odds were leaning toward: him having a scripted yet speedy and thorough defense to any worries or questions she’d have, or that he’d flounder as soon as she asked for details.

“Of course we do. We know it’s a risk to just take a nap at a café. Especially one run but a bunch of young adult guys. But we’re trying something new that no one else in the world is doing, and we really believe in it.” Mingyu’s sudden sentiment was sincere, and his nervousness looked more like vulnerability now. Something compelled her to trust him. Maybe what he was saying about having something completely unique wasn’t true, Yn had no clue, but it might as well be for a town like theirs.

“You’ll notice that we have 13 distinct drink options available right now, each one named after a member of the staff.” Mingyu opened the menu and flipped a few pages till Yn could see depictions of each of the drinks. They were colorful, and beautifully presented on the pages, with descriptions of each one. He stopped on a page of cool toned drinks.

“Let’s say you come in and decide to order a Sleepy Mingyu, that’s this one,” He pointed to the deep purple iced drink and tapped its picture fondly. “It’ll come in a medium glass bottle, with a straw and napkin of course, along with a locker key that corresponds to whatever table you pick. While we’re making it, you can put your stuff in the locker, and inside the locker will be a small pillow, but you don’t have to use it if you don’t want to. We switch the covers after every use and wash all of them each night, so don’t worry about that either. You can decide to keep the key with you, or give it to whoever’s at the register for safekeeping.” He began to ramble again, wracking his brain to make sure he mentioned everything Yn could possibly need to know while to keep himself from growing too embarrassed. She sat there patiently, listening as he helped her understand. He seemed to grow more uneasy with each word.

“You’ll probably want to wait at your table till the drink is done, it usually takes less than five minutes. We’ll bring it to you.”

Mingyu paused and took a deep breath, biting the inside of his cheek in thought, picking his words carefully. He hadn’t looked at her since his sentiment about safety and now it seemed like he was actively choosing not to look up at her.

“The Sleepys only come in medium because the drowsiness medicine is fast acting, and we try to make sure that you’ll have enough time to finish it all before you fall asleep.” He looked to the man behind the counter, and this time Yn dared to look at him too. But he only looked at Mingyu, giving his coworker an encouraging, albeit aggressive, thumbs up. Mingyu shook his head.

“This is really weird, Jun. How do you guys explain this kind of thing without seeming creepy?!” He seemed deeply upset, frustrated and on the verge of tears. It suddenly felt like Yn was intruding on something private.

“Take a breath, okay?” The man came around the counter and spoke gently to his colleague, kneeling to the ground like a father would when speaking to a child. He was close enough now that Yn could read the name on his collar as Junhui. He put his hand on Mingyu’s knee and squeezed it a few times, urging him to relax. Then he turned to Yn.

“Once you finish your drink, you’re gonna fall asleep, and we’ll watch over you while you do. You’ll have a great dream, and we’ll wake you up at whatever time you told us to when you ordered, or after you’ve been asleep for 2 hours.” Junhui stood back up, and patted Mingyu’s shoulder while still looking at Yn.

“Mingyu is a really great guy. He cares a lot about people and about what we're trying to do here. And if you ask me, his drink is one of the best.” Junhui’s smile was warm and his tone of voice was calming as he praised his friend. Mingyu still couldn’t look at her, facing away from her entirely and looking downtrodden. Yn didn’t know what to say and instead decided to read the blurb about Mingyu's concoction.

A sweetly rich concord grape flavored soda! Mingyu’s soda brings one’s imagination to life, while remaining proud and inspired.

“I’ll try it.” She spoke casually, trying to imagine what such a drink would taste like. It had been so long since she’d had a grape flavored drink of any kind, and something carbonated sounded great in that moment.

“You don’t have to.” Mingyu said pitifully, assuming she chose his drink to help him feel better.

“The picture looks really pretty, I wanna see if it really looks like that.” Her bluntness stunned him, and he wondered if she was bluffing. Even so, he resolved to grin and bare it, standing up from the table. Junhui stepped back and smiled, leaving silently as Mingyu went back behind the counter.

“Alright… Let’s get it ordered then!” He bolstered, ready to reaffirm himself in the form of a fancy looking grape juice.f

#rq-s lucid dreams #seventeen #svt #seventeen x reader #mingyu x reader #kim mingyu x reader #svt mingyu x reader #seventeen fluff #seventeen angst #seventeen au #just a note: i'm not sure about hwo realisticly possible the concept of the slyy drinks is #i spent some time researching it but just remeber that this isnt suposed to refelt reality 100%#aka please dont get mad at me if it's weird logistically #id also like to say that in no way shape or form are th esleepys intended to be similar to a club drug or any other type of nefarious drug #im sorry if this makes anyone uncomfortable #please bear with me as things are explained farther in futuer chapters #but rest assured that that kind fo content isnt goign to be in this story in any capacity #ANYWAY this is the first chapter!#after this we'll start getting into more fanfictiony content with the boys but there will still be a bit more explanaton of things #but this is hopefully the most heavy handed that will be #im trying to integrate it better but this was the best i could manage for this section #i hope it wasnt too confusing and if you have any questions please feel free to ask!!#thank you for reading <3

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rq-s · 4 years ago

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Lucid Dreams Notice

The first few chapters of Lucid Dreams were written months before the recent accusations, and I’m deciding to post this first chapter, and possibly more, before a final official statement on the situation.

As we learn more, my thoughts may change, but I do not believe I’d be able to rewrite this story should that happen. This story has been drafted for years, and I’ve been actively writing it for about seven months. I would rather publish it at a precarious time than to discontinue and trash it in the event of an unfavorable official statement.

I hope you are able to read and enjoy these first chapters of Lucid Dreams regardless of the current situation with Mingyu, but I completely understand if you cannot. Again, I sincerely apologize if content described in my story makes you uncomfortable or disturbed, because of this situation or in general.

Thank you, and I hope you’re all well ♡

#rq-s lucid dreams

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rq-s · 4 years ago

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an update

This got a bit long, but i just needed to talk about the mingyu situation and the official statement. so this is just a long rant with my thoughts and feelings.

tldr: im content with the statement from pledis. i glad theyre investigating things thoroughly, giving respect to the victims, and respecting mingyu as an artist, however im also glad mingyu is halting his activities for now.

also an update of my series: im going to keep it on hold for now. but if we dont hear anything else for a few days / this week i want to post the next chapter as planned. i’ll probably put warnings that mingyu is a central character for those who would be uncomfortable reading it, but those same chapters also include a lot of important plot points, so they cant really be skipped if you want to understand what happens. if we do hear something and its bad news, i might rewrite it or just discontinue it depending on the severity. im not sure how ill go about it yet, but just know that for now its on hold. thank you for being patient with me and the situation.

You guys have no idea how much my heart was racing while reading the official statement. i was able to somewhere stay composed these past few days but now that we’ve gotten official word im shaking so badly, but i feel good and optimistic.

Luckily its not bad news. I personally feel good about and relieved by the statement. its well constructed and worded nicely, and i think its genuine. its one of the best statements from pledis we’ve ever gotten, i think.

im glad that theyre taking it seriously and trying to reach out to those involved or closely related to the issue, not only to get a full factual picture, but to express concern and care for the victim and to see things from their side. thats very important, and a step in the right direction.

Even though the original claims are still being investigated, its so nice to know that the ablest accusations are definitively false, from not only the person named but their family. i found those accusations to be the most suspect, and im glad they were able to be denied swiftly.

im also glad that mingyu has chosen to suspend his activities during this time, as much as im going to regret not seeing him in the japanese comeback (if thats still happening) i think its wise for him to step back from a bit not only for himself but because i think it would in poor taste if he were to have schedules right now. its a decent and logical decision and i hope that it helps him keep his reputation and public image from falling any farther.

i was so relieved to hear that they arent going to be making a life altering decisions regarding mingyus career until the matter is sorted out. paired with the halt of activities, i find this decision to be the most ethical one. some may say its just for the fact that hes and essential part of a their money making group, i want to believe its out of respect. i was very anxious about what this would mean for seventeen as a whole, and im relieved to know that for now seventeen still has all 13 members.

i know it’s unlikely, but i hope that we can at least get a few words from mingyu about his wellbeing. they said in the statement that he apologizes for the discomfort and occurrence or all this, but id like to hear it from him. i dont think he needs to apologies to us, but i just want to hear his state of mind, from him. i read that part to mean that he’s reflecting on the past and trying to understand, and thats why he didnt or couldnt apologize publicly to the vicim for the actions themselves. that would imply guilt, and would hinder the investigation and his image. while it’s not ideal for a lot for people, its better than nothing, and im okay with it for now.

overall i think the statement is a good one, and im content with it and i hope to read another one soon. im not sure how the time frame of these things works, so ill be patient until we hear more from pledis or the victim.

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rq-s · 4 years ago

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Here is one of the threads about this that i found the most clear and easy to parse, its one of the few that are without an opinionated tone and are simply translations and a collection of accurate information released by those involved, so its great for being able to stay informed and form your own thoughts and opinions. (here is another translation, if you havnt seen it. you can read both to see how they match and to get a clear view of the situation and use that view to form your thoughts) please try not to get lost in how people are phrasing and framing this situation. a lot of what people are saying is fueled by emotions and that can be misleading. its of course okay to get emotional about something like this, as with any other “scandal”, but we all need to be smart about it and not mislead ourselves or others, that’ll only do more harm. take time to figure out where you truly stand and find peace there, it doesnt have to be strictly on one side or the other. everyone should be allowed to think and decide for themselves, and we all need to listen to and trust what the victim(s) is actually trying to say, not what others are presuming them to say.

again, take care of yourselves, and im sorry for the long wait.

no matter what happens, i hope that i, carats, svt, and those directly or indirectly involved can find peace.

I was about to post the first chapter of Lucid Dreams and i just saw posts about a current situation about Mingyu. ive read up on it but there could be things im missing, but based on what i’ve read, im not sure how i feel about posting my story right now.

Mingyu is specifically a focus for the first chapter and following ones, so posting it those with this going on would, i think, be insensitive and in poor taste.

I think for now im just going to hold off. im sorry for the long wait already but this is a serious situation and i need to think about what im going to do. i cant be online very much because of work and other hobbies, so if someone can please keep me informed on this situation as it develops i would really appreciate it. if you dont already, perhaps take a step away from socials every now and then to relax and clear your head, its important to be informed, but its easy to get lost in the emotions of yourself and others. Try to keep calm and think rationally, and most importantly, take care of yourself and others.

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rq-s · 4 years ago

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Mingyu is specifically a focus for the first chapter and following ones, so posting it those with this going on would, i think, be insensitive and in poor taste.

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rq-s · 4 years ago

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Taglist: @chuu-soulmate

Please send me an ask or dm if you'd like to be added or removed from the taglist. Thank you for reading!

Title: Lucid Dreams - Prologue

Word Count: 1177

Warnings: None

Lucid Dreams Masterlist

Yn hummed softly, strolling down the familiar sidewalk, avoiding the shallow puddles left by that morning’s rain. Lots of children want to have a pet to take care of, and she was no different. But now, well into her 20s, Yn wanted a companion more than ever. Perhaps it was the inherent loneliness of a walk that made her feel this way, or maybe it was that she’d passed the pet shelter a block back.

If I had a pet friend, I could go on these walks with a smile. I could act like I was having a conversation, rather than just talking to myself. I would have something to always smile over and laugh about. I should be able to have a friend that I don’t feel the need to be careful around. These sorts of thoughts plagued her lately. But right now, she was alone.

Keep reading

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rq-s · 4 years ago

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Title: Lucid Dreams - Prologue

Word Count: 1177

Warnings: None

Lucid Dreams Masterlist

If I had a pet friend, I could go on these walks with a smile. I could act like I was having a conversation, rather than just talking to myself. I would have something to always smile over and laugh about. I should be able to have a friend that I don't feel the need to be careful around. These sorts of thoughts plagued her lately. But right now, she was alone.

When Yn was a kid, a teacher told her not to look at the ground so much; to keep her head held high. He said it would help with her poor posture, but even at a young age she knew he was trying to influence her confidence. She remembered this every time she got entranced by the imperfections in the concrete, the gravel, or the grass. And so Yn tried her best to keep her eyes on the skyline. It worked, to an extent, and that made her uneasy.

Her gaze went to the peach and cream tinted sky. Hills were barely visible on the outskirts of town, and there were very few high-rise buildings to litter the horizon. She couldn’t guess what time it was, and hadn’t brought her phone along to be able to check. Part of her liked not knowing. Yet she kept her eyes on the skyline as she walked along the quiet street.

The evening continued like that for a while. She spent a bit of time on a playground park bench. It was early summer now, the leaves of the trees she sat under having grown back in full, offering her a chilly shade. Yn watched a father help his daughter across the monkey bars, and a woman let her partner push her on the swing. A few teenagers walked through too. Some were chatting and gossiping like teenagers often do. One pair was dead silent but held hands so tightly their knuckles were white. One group of five were playing music and singing along out of tune. But Yn was alone.

Then she moved along. She passed a salon, a convenience store, a bike shop, and a place that seemed like a café. She eventually came upon her favorite sandwich shop.

With a chime of the bell above the door, a young girl squeaked at Yn's sudden arrival. The girl hid her phone away in her apron pocket and smiled as Yn approached the pastel pink counter. The wallpaper was a faded blue and was peeling at the corners. The linoleum tiles were also yellowed with time and use, with dust collecting around the baseboards and the metal table legs. It was all just slightly different than she remembered from coming here often as a kid, but having seen it come to this state made it even more nostalgic. However, a fixture of the town was nowhere to be seen on her walk, nor here.

“Has Abby been kind to you lately?” Yn asked. The girl chuckled as she prepared her usual order, having done so many times. The two girls weren’t close, but Yn had been there enough times that it wasn’t awkward to chat casually.

“It’s getting better by the day.” She answered with a hint of bitterness, pulling the cuff of her work shirt up to show the healing scratches the aging cat had left on her hand. Yn clicked her tongue but smiled at the thought that Abby still had some fight in her. She was wild as a kitten; only recently has her age caught up with her, making her much gentler… usually. Yn was always fond of Abby, and it seemed she was fond of her too. Even so, she’d never let Yn, or anyone, take her in. It was admirable.

The owner of the sandwich shop, a family friend, always insisted the staff accommodate the old cat, and to feed her any odd scraps. That’s likely why she hung around the sandwich shop more than the others. Still though, she remained illusive, only letting humans get so close.

Yn decided to start heading home, enjoying her small sandwich snack, when she noticed the sky was darkening quickly. It would still be about an hour till the streetlights came on, but the air was getting cold faster than she’d expected, so Yn sped up her pace.

She slowed, however, when she came to the peculiar café. Although the neon rainbow sign read “Dream Store” so clearly, it didn’t clear up what its purpose was; she couldn’t tell what they sold or offered.

As Yn came closer, she counted four boys in matching outfits. There were no cars or bikes on the street, so she assumed they were walking home. When they lingered on the sidewalk, chatting quietly amongst themselves, she grew irrationally nervous.

Just when Yn paused, still a bit away, the shortest of them noticed her and smiled so brightly he rivaled the emerging stars. He quickly realized the situation, nudged his friends out of the way, and gestured with his other hand for Yn to pass. It was her turn to smile now, and they all waved as she quickly went by. Something about them made her feel less hollow. Which she hadn’t even recognized was what she was feeling until it came flooding back as soon as she'd turned the corner.

Yn knew nothing about that store. She thought it could be new, assuming it couldn’t have been part of a chain or company affiliation. Why can’t I remember what that place used to even be? The crisp work attires those men wore were simple and professional. Matched with the friendly aura they gave off, she was sure the place couldn’t be terrible. I guess I could visit and scope the place out. She had enough extra time these days, so she felt that she might as well spend it on exploring the town she'd known her whole life, yet felt foreign in.

Yn made it home to her new studio apartment not long after sunset. The rest of the night went by just as simply as her walk. She replied to a few missed messages, had leftovers for dinner, and updated her journal while listening to a relaxing playlist on shuffle. Then she did a round of chores, like a good and functioning adult, and rewarded herself with a hot bath before bed. She couldn’t deny feeling lonely and dull now that she had recognized it. It was becoming rare for such things to bother her, though, like she’d fallen into the routine. She was alone, but, for now at least, things were okay.

#rq-s lucid dreams #seventeen #svt #seventeen x reader #seventeen fluff #seventeen angst #seventeen au #WHAAAA its finally starting!!#i wanted to post this with the masterlist and the profiles but i got nervous #the first chapter will be much longer than this by the way! most of the other chapters will be #i just wanted to introduce Yn first and the setting and some othe relements #i hope you enjoyed!!#please tell me your thoughts and any criticism yo may have im open to both <3 #and thank you for reading my story!

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