#*also glaring at chu*

[trivia-yandere]

Hello! I was wondering If I could request? Yandere bts whoever you choose, where their darling has never cum before, experiencing it for the first time with them and overstimulation, getting dumb off of dick 🥰

yes we can! it wouldn't be us if we didn't add at least a little yandere to it

two sentence horror story

it's been nearly five years since you last saw seokjin... @sweetempathprunetree @darkuni63 @momnomnom @chimmy-licious

halloween masterlist

word count: 2.309

warning: dirty talk, humiliation kink, slight sadism, restraint, bound/gagged, pussy slapping, possessive/jealous seokjin, oral (f receiving), spitting, edging, yandere/dark themes, fingering, squirting,

it's been nearly five years since you last saw seokjin.

Seokjin likes to think that he’s graced you with his presence. That you are lucky to have him - lucky to have someone so successful, handsome and rich. You were lucky to be his girl, someone who he spoiled with nice clothing and jewelry. He took you on expensively lavish vacations and dates. You ate only the finest food and drank the best wine the world has to offer. You didn’t even have to work, not while you were his girl and he had it - because that meant that you also had it.

But you did work, much to Seokjin’s dismay. You were a woman that didn’t need him to be dependent, no matter how many times he would place his credit card in your hands, you only ever used it on useless things such as gas for your car - the same car he wishes you’d get rid of all together. It wasn’t luxurious and it didn’t fit the look for someone like you - his girl.

Seokjin didn’t appreciate your lack of respect for him. Your refusal to quit your job, stating that you worked hard to get where you were at. So what? Thousands of girls would drop everything to be beside him like you were, and yet everything he did never appeared good enough for you. You didn’t need him like other women would’ve - and that is what upsets him. There was no control over you. You had your own money, car, home - what was he truly useful for if you didn’t need him for anything?

Seokjin had been lenient with you. Even as the months passed and the relationship grew, he had yet to bed you. He learned that you had little experience during one tipsy conversation and that’s all he needed to know to understand now. You couldn’t submit because there was never a reason to - no other man gave you what he could. You wouldn’t submit to a man that couldn’t even make you cum - how comical. 

“J-Jin…”

Seokjin hums, head snapping to your direction. You were always so beautiful to him. You didn’t have to try hard to catch his attention. Your glow was as bright as the sun, radiating off of you heavenly.

Seokjin could say he was a bit of a sadist. It’s another reason why he isn’t quick to bed you - you couldn’t handle then what he had it store for you now. He marvels at your oiled, naked skin, arms wrapped tightly behind you while your legs are spread apart widely, ankles tied beneath the bed post. 

“Remember how you told me you never came before?” Seokjin questions, learning against the bed frame to look down upon you. “That ex boyfriend of yours only cared about pleasuring himself, huh?”

Seokjin notes how you’re confused, wondering why he’s bringing this up now out of all times. 

“I saw you talking to him. It must be awkward working with an ex.” Seokjin’s tone is dangerously calm as he speaks, eyes glaring holes into your face for a reaction. “Is that why you don’t want to quit?”

You’re taken aback by his sudden change in demeanor. “I have to talk to him. He’s my coworker.”

Wrong.

Seokjin slaps his hand against your bare pussy harshly. You jump at the impact, eyes widening. “J-Jin-”

Seokjin slaps you again, and again. Each slap is harder than the last. You don’t notice the moans coming between your lips and just how wet you were becoming. Shivers erupt through your skin and it feels taboo just feeling this way; getting pleasure deprived from pain. 

“You’re soaked.” Jin chuckles, fingertips ghosting across your bulging clit. “I don’t believe you.”

You knit your brows in frustration - both sexual and irritable. 

“You and him had dinner.” 

The prints of Seokjin’s fingers place themself firmly against your clit. He rubs in slow, taunting circles.

“I-I…what?” You moan, hips buckling, arms squirming in the restraints. You’re unsure why you allowed him to have you in such a position. It was brought up randomly when you had come to his home and you’d admit that you were curious. 

“I-I…what?” Seokjin mocks, rubbing along your clit more roughly. “You aren’t a dumb bitch, Y/N. You know what I’m speaking of.”

Seokjin never spoke to you like this, but it was hard being upset when he was pleasuring while doing so. You bit your lip to suppress a moan. 

“A work dinner.” You pant, recollecting the only time you had seen the man outside working hours. “You followed me?”

Of course he had. Seokjin scoffs. You were his girl after all - someone he has graced his presence for. He allowed you into spaces other people could only dream of being in. 

“Have you ever been eaten out?” The question catches you off guard and causes you to grow hot with embarrassment. 

Seokjin hums upon your head shake and now he grows hungry, mouth salivating at the thought of tasting you. 

“Though you do not deserve it,” Seokjin lowers himself between your legs, eyes set right on your wet clit. You squirm once more, humiliated by him being so close to you. “I’ll just have a little taste.”

“Jin- oh!” your words are caught in your throat when you feel him - his tongue wet and warm against your clit. It flickers back and forth at a steady pace.

As for Jin, his nose touches the top of your clit as he dives deeper to have a taste of you. Having complete control over you is an added bonus while getting the chance to finally taste you. His tongue laps between your folds as your thighs quiver.

You gasp when Jin leans back to spit, then suckle onto your clit once more. He looks up, eyes watching the way your head falls back as you continue to moan.

“I-I think I’m gonna-”

“No.” Jin pulls back, lifting himself up and away from your clit. You shivered, feeling your high come crumbling down to a disappointing halt. “What do you two talk about?”

You swallow thickly, eyes flickering open. You’re panting as you speak. “N-Nothing but work.”

“Why don’t I believe you?” Jin tilts his head. His fingers are dangerously close to your clit once more. “There has to be a reason why you keep going back to work.”

You want to scream that it’s because it’s your job and you need it, but your mouth is shut. Jin fingers enter you swiftly and now he’s pumping inside of you. “You’re so wet that I was able to slide right in.”

Your walls clench around his fingers selfishly, wanting more and more. The pleasure is one you have not felt in a while - and even then it wasn’t like Seokjin’s. Your juices are coating his bedsheets, but he doesn’t care. The sight of you is utterly filthy and worth it.

“You’re going back to see him.” Seokjin’s thumb rests upon your clit as he pumps, rubbing in circles. 

Your eyes are clenched shut and your moaning increases. “Does it feel good, Y/N?” Jin teases - he knows it does. 

“Y-Yes!” you sigh. “So good.”

Jin removes his fingers from inside of you and slaps your clit harshly. You scream, tears lining your eyes. Your high once again came down, disappointed at the lack of pleasure.

“Why should you deserve to feel good?” Jin questions, his tone dark. “It’s not like you deserve it.”

Your eyes blink a few times to look at Jin. He appears serious, waiting for you to respond to him. 

“I don’t know what you want me to say.” you murmur to him, hands clenching in the restraints. 

Seokjin scoffs. “I want you to tell me why I should let you cum?”

You swallow. “You were the one that wanted to make me cum.” you hiss. You were growing frustrated with the man. He was hell bent on showing you how pleasurable sex could be and not one-sided - but now all it appeared to be was him questioning you about an ex you cared little about.

“Aw, feisty.” Jin cackles.

“If this is what you meant then maybe I could go to my ex.”

Your ears are ringing seconds after you snap at Seokjin, your cheek stinging. The room is eerily silent.

“You…” Seokjin’s tone is deep. The deepest you’ve ever heard it become. 

“Jin-”

Another slap across your cheek, and then another. You don’t manage to speak before Seokjin hovering above you onto the bed.

Seokjin pulls off his pants, underwear going right along with it. He has been lenient enough but your words angered him. To say such a thing to him when he’s allowed you to do what you wanted the entirety of the relationship was a slap to the face.

“I wanted our first time to be enjoyable.” Seokjin says. He spits at your clit once more - not because he needed to. No, you were wet enough, but because spitting on you was what he liked doing to show that you were his - he likes to say it’s a way to mark his territory. 

“Seokjin.” you attempt, but you’re squirming upon feeling the tip of his cock rubbing against your clit. 

“If you cum along the way, that’s great for you.” Jin murmurs, cock now at your hole. He’s entering you slowly.

You widen your eyes at his words. Where was he going with this?

Jin snaps his hips inside of you. You scream out at the sudden impact. He removes himself just to do it again - this time grinding so deep that you swear you could feel him in your stomach.

Jin’s left hand grips your thighs while his right clamps down onto your mouth and just beneath your nose. Your eyes bulge at the sensation of him fucking you. He had no mercy, snapping his hips so roughly that the bedframe slams against the wall behind you.

“And to think I was going to let you keep that little job.” Jin chuckles and shakes his head. There’s already a white ring around his cock. “You’re creaming, baby. You’ve never been fucked this good, huh?”

Your throat groans a response, unable to do a proper one. Your eyes are rolling now, stomach churning. Your walls are clenching around him, suching him in for more.

“But after what you’ve said,” Seokjin pries your mouth open, entering his fingers inside. Your tongue swirls around this, tasting your juices. “I’ll never allow you out of here.”

Your mind isn’t registering his words - after all, you assume this was just roleplay. Men were into weird stuff. Instead you were busy groaning beneath him, toes curling. There’s drool dripping out of your mouth and down Seokjin’s wrist, but he doesn’t go to remove himself inside of you.

“Look at you!” Jin laughs, snapping his hips harder. “Cock drunk. You don’t even know what I’m saying.”

“P-Please let m-me cum!” you gurgle out. You could feel the familiar high bubbling once more, this time even more intense then the last two, 

“Why should I?” Jin removes his fingers from your mouth to cup your cheeks roughly. He was still pissed - and rightfully so. He was already upset that you were a whore enough to have dinner with your edx (colleague or not) and now you were begging him to have you cum?

“Please, Jin!” you feel hot tears pour from your eyes, so far gone that you don’t even realize that you’re crying from pure pleasure. 

Jin’s nails dig into your cheeks so deep that he notices that they begin to draw a pinch of blood. He growls low, feeling his own high coming.

Jin spits on you once more before capturing your lips in his, allowing a few more sloppy thrusts before he’s about to cum. He removes himself from you, cumming right onto your twitching clit, admiring how his cum drips off of you.

“I’ll let you cum, whore.” Jin murmurs, allowing four fingers inside of you now. The stretch causes you to scream once more, but he doesn’t care. He’s pumping inside of you without a care. 

You should be upset. You were being degraded and called out your name - you had spit running down your face. But you weren’t. You were far gone from your sanity, and the only thing you wanted now was to cum like he promised. 

“You don’t understand me now, Y/N.” Jin murmurs to you, eyes fixed on your soaking pussy. “But you’re not leaving. In due time you'll understand.”

“I-I’m cumming…!” you bite your lips, eyebrows knitting. 

Seokjin chuckles darkly, free hand going to rub your clit to bring you closer to your high. He feels you clench around his even tighter, head falling back against the headboard. 

Your juices squirt out, soaking him in the chest. It’s long and accompanied by a low shout.

Your breathing slows as your body twitches. You were feeling exhausted.

“Can you take these off?” you murmur after a few minutes of trying to compose yourself. 

Upon not hearing a response, your eyes blink open to find Seokjin.

“W-What-”

Your eyes are burning and now you’re screaming at the top of your legs. You pull at your arms to shield your eyes, but you are unable to. Your head thrashes back and forth in an attempt to get away.

“Now you can’t work if you can’t see.” Seokjin says in between your screams. “If you can’t see, then there’s no one else to look at.”

You’re crying, but even then it hurts. Your vision is blurred until it goes completely black.

“Now I can take care of you like I intended in the beginning.” Seokjin’s voice is now calm - peaceful. The one you recalled since becoming entangled with him. “Behave, or I’ll have to hurt you again. And I don’t want to do that, Y/N. I love you.”

it's been nearly five years since you last saw seokjin.

He reminds you every day that if you misbehave, he'll take your hearing next.

[breadbrioche]

misunderstandings

so mun x reader

➳summary: jeokbong makes a completely wrong conclusion

➳warnings: crack, hanamun mentions but not taken seriously

➳word count: 506

➳a/n: found this in my files I think this was actually the first tuc fic I ever drafted up!

“Mun, are you and Hana dating?”

One, silent second passes before the entirety of Unnie’s Noodles bursts into an uncontrollable manic laughter. The aforementioned counters look at each other, then at Jeokbong, eyes wide with horror at the accusation.

“DEFINITELY NOT! Why would I date Hana noona of all people?!” Mun retches at the thought, which makes Hana glare at him. He cowers behind you (who’s laughing so hard you clutch your stomach in pain) hiding from the older woman’s glare.

“No offense, noona…” he meekly adds but Hana just clicks her tongue.

“What do you think I am? Some kind of cougar?!” Hana snarls after turning to face Jeokbong. If it were even possible, her comment sends the rest of the group into an even louder frenzy. You grab onto Mun’s shoulder, shaking and heaving for air - your body unable to withstand the giggles erupting from you.

“W-Where did you even get that from?!” You wheeze out between breaths. This is seriously way too funny; was Jeokbong blind? You knew he was dense but Mun isn’t exactly subtle about your relationship.

“W-well, I mean- you’re always together! And you looked close so I…” Jeokbong stammers while shuffling in his spot, embarrassed. You snort; to be fair to him, you have been working a lot with Ms Chu these days so all your typical tasks with Mun naturally transfer to the next available person (Hana in this case). Motak, finally recovered from his laughing fit, pats the new counter on the back knowingly.

“It’s easy to think that,” he begins with in the way he only talks in when he wants to sound smart. “But we’re like a family! Mun and Hana are like siblings-“

“He’s more like the family dog.” Hana says under her breath.

“What’s that supposed to mean?!”

“Well Mun-ah, you do have some very puppy-like charms. Especially when we first met you, your hair reminded me of a toy poodle!”

“Ms Chuuu!”

“-AND ALSO!” Motak says in a louder tone, effectively shutting everyone up. “Our So Mun is dating someone else!”

Yeah, hell no.

Sensing that this won’t go down without you losing at least some dignity, you immediately make a dash for the nearest exit but you’re being pulled back by the collar of your shirt by the man of the hour and promptly guides you to face Jeokbong’s direction, where he’s looking at you shocked. Usually, you wouldn’t be opposed to Mun’s arm around you but the usually comforting grip feels like shackles that you couldn’t get out of now matter how much you wriggled.

“Oh- oh my god I’m so-“ Jeokbong stumbles as you force a smile with gritted teeth while stabbing your elbow into Mun’s side. How dare he do this to you.

“If I had to go through that, so do you.” Mun whispers to you. Though you weren’t facing him, you could definitely tell he had that one of those cheeky grin of his plastered on his face.

This was gonna be a long day.

[pinkroseblooms]

Options

Arajin Tomoshibi/f!Reader/Marito Jin

Summary: A misunderstanding leads Arajin to realizing he's not quite over his crush on you; it's even harder ignoring his own feelings when you also manage to peak his volatile boyfriend's interest. A/N: This takes place in a AU without magic and honki people. Suggestive language, but no smut: part 2 coming soon! Enjoy! wc: 2.3k

“Let Arajin go!”

Marito felt something smack the back of his head, right dead center of his bun; he slowly turns enough to see you holding a ladle high above your head. You flinched, but held the utensil higher. Arajin shrugged off Marito’s arm; his soul might have ascended from his body, seeing you standing in the middle of the street.

“What are you doing?!”

“It’s okay; you start running, I’ll hold this jerk off!” Your knees shake, threatening to buckle under you at the glare Marito is casting your way. “Run!”

“Wa-wait! It’s not what you think!” Arajin sputters, hands raised as he gets between you and Marito. “What are you even doing here? Mom said you were on serving duty today; just go back to the restaurant-”

“Ara-teen, do you know this little beast?” Marito’s lips form a slow, cold smile. “That must be it; otherwise, I sure hope she has a good reason for attacking me so rudely on our date.”

“Date?” You blink, lowering the ladle to your chest. “Arajin, you…know this guy? So, he’s not bullying you?”

About ten minutes prior, you, a server at the Chu Chu Chinese Restaurant, had been tossing a couple of trash bags out in the dumpster when your eyes spied Arajin walking past with someone you didn’t know. The taller boy’s arm was slung over Arajin’s shoulders and he was talking animatedly, but your immediate assumption was that this stranger was shaking down Arajin for money or favors. You didn’t know at the time Marito Jin was in fact a gang leader, but currently you’re apologizing profusely for your “attack”; Arajin and Marito sat across from each other at an empty table as you explained to them what was going through your mind.

“I feel so dumb.” You bow your head in Marito’s direction specifically. “I really am sorry, I jumped to conclusions; I’ve been worried about Arajin having a tough time at school and I guess…I assumed the worst. I’m so sorry, Jin-san.”

“I’ll let it go this time.” Marito says coolly, barely glancing your way. “I wouldn’t normally let you live after such an offense, but for Ara-teen’s sake, I’ll excuse your rudeness.”

Arajin gulped: there’s no way he can tell you Marito is actually not only a juvenile delinquent but a dangerous psycho. No, it’s better you don’t get involved in any of this; Arajin’s known you most of his life. His mother and yours had been friends forever and when your mother passed, you had been all but adopted. You made ends meet working at Chu Chu; you were earnest and hard working but something of a worry wart, at least when it came to Arajin.

“You really don’t have to worry about me,” Arajin tries to sound casual and breezy as you set down two cups of hot tea. “Marito might seem scary but he is a…well, he’s very…he would never, uh…” 

Okay, maybe it’s dishonest to try and tell you Marito is a “good” person but Arajin really doesn’t want you to be concerned; if anything, he knows Marito is going to be the first person to throw down on his behalf should anyone even try to hurt him. Now, whether or not Marito will be inflicting any of that pain himself, that’s something Arajin can’t quite say for sure. 

“Is your head okay?” You look around Marito’s head; you lightly touch the spot you made contact with. “I can get you some ice.”

“Wow, you are wound up tight.” Marito slaps your hand away, but it’s more of a light swat than anything. “Ara-teen, tell her to calm down and bring us food; it’s bad enough our date got interrupted, I’m starving.” he whined as you left to fetch them some appetizers. “Also, you didn’t ask how my head was…”

“You said it didn’t hurt though,” Arajin grumbles under his breath, blowing on his tea. “I can’t believe this. What on earth was she thinking?”

“Is she your guard dog? A little beast like her couldn’t hurt a fly.” Marito snickers, teeth baring wolfishly. “Don’t tell me she thinks you need her to protect you.”

“It’s more like…she’d step in to help anyone.” Arajin smiles a little himself; he remembers how hard you were shaking, the real fear behind your bold glare. “She’s crazy, that girl.”

“Hey, who are we talking about here?” You come back to their table with two plates loaded up with food. “Arajin, so mean.”

“No, I didn’t mean it how it sounded!” Arajin scrambles to explain himself. “You were really cool back there actually.”

“Aw, come on, you and I both know I’m useless in a fight; that was all a bluff.” You address Marito. “Besides, he’s the one who looks cool. I really like your hair and piercings.”

“Flattery won’t get you on my good side.” 

“No, I’m serious.” You tell him with some surprise. “I’m sure you get this a lot, but you could be a model or something; of course, Arajin’s still the cutest. He’s off the charts when it comes to being a cutie pie.”

“Ugh, don’t make fun of me.” 

“Come on, no need to be modest in front of your date.” You tease. “He knows what I’m talking about, right Jin-san?”

“I’m an expert.” Marito agrees, fixing Arajin with a knowing look. “You should see how cute he looks when-”

“KNOCK IT OFF!”

“Soooo scary!” Marito cackles. “Is your face red from anger? Or something else?”

“You’re both awful.”

Arajin scoffs but inwardly he’s getting…tingly. It’s almost like both you and Marito are flirting with him, giving him all this attention. He has to remind himself you’re just being nice.

Marito takes a chicken skewer and tears a bite of juicy meat off with a satisfied hum. “Hm, these are different.”

“Oh that one is my recipe.” You grin. “Arajin, do you like it?”

“It’s delicious.” 

“Yay!”

Arajin feels his chest swell at the look of pride on your face; honestly he would happily swallow unseasoned glass shards by the spoonful if you asked him to. You were wrong: if anyone’s cute it’s you. God, he’s only been back for a few months; Arajin thought by now you wouldn’t have the same effect on him, especially now he’s seeing someone. To be fair, with Marito he wasn’t exactly given a choice, but still. 

“Feed me, Ara-teen!” Marito leans over the table and points to his open mouth. “I want a dumpling.”

“You have hands!” 

Arajin’s cheeks flush and he hopes you don’t notice. He uses his chopsticks to take a dumpling and pops it into his mouth, ignoring Marito’s whimper, but hunger wins out and he takes a dumpling for himself. 

“Here, don’t forget the sauce.” Arajin slides the bottle over to Marito. “You always eat too fast and forget to use it.”

“Aw, thanks honey~”

“Don’t. Call. Me. That.”

“Yum!” Marito licks his lips eagerly. “These really hit the spot.”

“I hope you like them; I still feel bad about earlier, so I doubled the portion.” You smile sweetly, hands clasped to your chest. “I made them with lots and lots of love, just for you two!”

Arajin almost chokes when your hands form a heart shape; Marito pauses mid bite as you shoot them with a “love beam” and giggle childishly. 

“Chu!” You blow them a kiss. “Please let me know if you want anything else; have fun on your date, Arajin-it was nice to meet you, Jin-san.”

Arajin can barely stop himself from staring as the skirt of your uniform flounces around your thighs and your hips sway with every step.

“I see how it is.” Marito leans over the table with a sly smile. “Ara-teen, bad boy. You’re practically family, aren’t ya? Does she know about your little crush? Or were you childhood sweethearts? Don’t say it’s so, I’ll be jealous.”

“No, no, no! We’re barely friends, my mom knew her mom, she’s just…”

But Arajin can tell Marito isn’t buying his excuses; of course he’s thought about you that way. 

“I liked her.” Arajin confesses quietly. “She’s cute and she's a good person: I admire her, that's all."

Cute, brave, sweet, and only the most perfect girl and Arajin knows he doesn’t have a chance in hell. Besides, you don’t see him that way; he might as well be your kid brother, the way you fuss and act so protectively. 

“I can see it now: two love birds who grew up together, getting married and running this place, a few kids maybe, real domestic. Blegh.” Marito rolls his eyes. “I bet your mom would be thrilled; is she planning the wedding? You're not just playing with me to pass the time, are ya?”

“You know mom likes you; you shocked her maybe, but she thinks you're funny and cool.” Arajin replies with a small smile. "Not that she wouldn't be happy with anyone as long as they treat me well. The only thing that would make the old hag happier is maybe if you and I and-”

“We all got together? You, me, and that little beast?” Marito picks up a dumpling, almost gingerly with his chopsticks, inspecting it with an odd half smile. “Nah, more like…a nervous little kitten who doesn’t know how to use her claws yet. She needs training.” 

Arajin watches Marito carefully; he’s been acting off all afternoon. More so, at least. 

"You heard what she said: besides, she hates fighting." Arajin remarks, passing Marito the whole plate of skewers. "Go on, these are your favorite right?"

"They're best when you make 'em though." Marito winks, basically salivating as he picks up another stick. "I bet you've had a lot of her cooking, huh?"

"Why do you keep bringing the conversation back to her?" Arajin sighs; his teas gone cold but he's too anxious to call you back over to bring more. "My mom teaches her and she has me for a guinea pig. Actually when she started cooking it was awful."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, always over salted or undercooked or burned, you name it." Arajin recalls various failed dishes he had been assigned to taste test. "She'd do it over and over again though. It was important to her. Mom would tell her food can be an expression of personality; I guess that's why she put so much effort into doing better."

Every time, you would go to him with a hopeful spark in your eyes; even now you're self conscious about how your food tastes. Arajin would say the practice paid off, but considering he would consume poison made with your painstaking care, maybe he's not the one you should've been going to for critiques.

"Her food tastes like her." Marito smacks his lips in satisfaction. "I taste it."

"The saying isn't really literal." Arajin smiles in exasperation. "What are you even tasting?"

Marito leans his chin on his hand; he has a much more subdued expression and the abrupt change on his demeanor isn't lost on Arajin. Marito is being serious.

"Filling warmth."

"Filling...warmth?"

"It's kinda like," Marito drawls. "There's heat in my belly; I already ate so much, I know I shouldn't eat more, but I can't get enough. Don't ya taste it?"

"Yeah, well," Arajin scratches his cheek. "I'd say it's comforting? Something like that."

“So, you do have a crush."

"Marito, lower your voice please!"

"Says the one squealing like a little girl; gotta say, I’m a bit disappointed in you, Ara-teen. All this time and you never tried to claim her? Normally you woulda been kissin' her ass and the ground she walks on, but you're holding back?” Marito asks, almost as if he’s genuinely curious. “You’re so odd: fiery and bold one minute and all shy and timid the next.”

“I mean, we’re…together now, so what does it matter? Come on, it's not funny, Marito. We're on a date but you keep trying to-to goad me into flirting or something.” Arajin glances around, but no one seems to be paying them any mind. “You act like you want me to make a move on her.”

“Maybe I do.”

Arajin watches, gaping as Marito sinks his teeth into the last dumpling; he’s staring towards where you’re speaking with his mother behind the bar counter. You’re nodding, looking fairly serious now, at the ready and eager to help. Arajin can feel his heart fluttering again and he jumps when Marito’s foot slides to tap his own under the table; Arajin looks up but Marito’s eyes are still on you, a strained smile playing on his lips, as if he's trying to not laugh. 

Although everything on the table has been devoured already, Arajin wouldn't know it from the hungry way Marito scans your face, the way his tongue darts out as if to savor any trace left of the meal you had brought them. He looks ready to lick the empty plate clean: except, his eyes are still on you.

Arajin squirms in his seat and at the same moment, you seem to have noticed them staring. You wave sweetly, smiling at them; Arajin could dissolve into a puddle as Marito reaches under the table to grasp at his knee.

"Hey, ya know what we oughta do? Let's adopt a kitten."

"What?!" Arajin gasps, words cut off as Marito slides his wandering hand further to his thigh. "Stop teasing, this really, really, isn't funny..."

“I thought you liked when I teased you?" Marito giggles maniacally. "Anyway, she did say with lots and lots of love for us. Or are you so worked up you can't remember?"

"I don't think she meant..I-I couldn't-"

"Please, Ara-teen? Pretty, pretty please?" Marito coos and simpers; there's a hint of pink rising in his pale cheeks. “I wanna play with that kitten.”

[trashbin-nie]

CHAPTER 3: Car Ride Home

Do NOT copy/translate my fics. Reblogs are always welcome!

TW: mild sibling violence (typical sibling things)

Summary: Rosa Winters NXT women's champion, cousin Trinity (aka Naomi), introduces her to Josh Fatu, her boyfriends brother, and they hit it off this is their story

Hehehehe, you guys commenting brings me joy! We gon’ pretend there wasn’t like a 3-week break in between here. Also, Spanish is NOT my first language. It’s also super rusty, so lmk if the grammar/sentence structure is off

Anyways, enjoy chapter 3. It's kinda short though apologies

Tags: @reignsboy19 @yana3sworld

Rosa fell asleep

Also, these two are my very first tags, so thanks, guys. I'm glad you're enjoying the story so far 🥹

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(Josh POV)

She fell asleep.

Damn near right after her story too. 

She went to our school and had a crush on a guy who slammed her with a football during my senior year. I was on the football team, and, of course, what luck, she conveniently doesn’t remember the guy’s name! 

This has to be some sick joke.

“Hey man, sorry,” Jon said glancing back at me. I guess Trin fell asleep too, didn’t have time to notice, all wrapped in my head and shit.

“Nah uce, it’s fine. She don’ know who it was,” I shrugged and continued glaring out the window with my arms crossed.

Jon sighed and shook his head. “Lil’ bro c’mon we both know it was you. You da only one on the team that damn near murdered a cheerleader our senior year!”

“Jon, ain’t neither one of us knows that for sure. Could’ve been anyone else she talked to afterwards might not have been me. I can’t even remember,” I said waving him off. I could feel him rolling his eyes.

“Boy- You gon tell me that you don’ remember us walkin’ home after that day you sent that poor tiny girl flying off that people tower and talkin’ ‘bout “bro that girl was fuckin’ hot as all hell” and a bunch of other things? I ain’ buying what chu sellin Uce,” he said. 

“You both are real lucky that girl could sleep through a damn nuclear bomb cuz you ain’t quiet,” Trin said adjusting her position.

“Sorry Trin, but he trippin,” Jon said pointing at me.

“I ain’t trippin Jonathan,” I said shaking my head.

“You are Josh. I only brought it up cuz Jon was tellin me ‘bout it a while ago,” She said, unmoving. “I’m sorry she couldn’t remember your name, or whoever’s name if you’re insisting.” She raised her arms feeling my glare.

“Can you three musketeers shut the hell up? Some of us are trying to fuckin’ sleep in this damn car an I’m tellin you right now it’ll be all queen of hearts, hablando mal de la cabeza. Pendejas,” Rosie said groggly.

She angrily threw her pillow on my lap, ripped off her seatbelt, and slammed herself onto it on her side quickly going back to sleep.

We all froze.

“Trin… I thought you said she'd sleep through a hurricane?!” I whisper-yelled holding my arms up avoiding touching the girl suddenly sleeping in my lap

Trin stared in shock, “she's never woken up through talking before!” She yelled.

Thankfully the rest of the ride went smoothly, Trin fell asleep an hour after the fiasco, and I wasn't far behind. Jon woke us up when we arrived at the girls house.

It was a large two-story home painted white with stonework by the door and a black roof. The lights were still on when we pulled in, so someone was awake.

Jon shook Trin, waking her up.

“Oh good, the twins are still up,” she said, wiping the sleep from her eyes. She unbuckled and got out heading to the door, and before long two tall skinny men emerged from the house. Jon and I both slid out of the car, me more gently trying not to wake Rosie.

“Guys, this is David and Daniel, the Winters twins, and Rosie's older brothers,” Trin said.

“Sup, names Daniel, just call me Danny. I take it the ray of sunshine is passed out in the back seat as usual?” He asked, All of us nodded. “Well, David, its yo’ turn I woke her ass last time, and I'm still recovering from the  black eye.”

“I never-” David started, but after a dark glare from his brother changed his mind “ugh fine!”

David slowly shuffled his way to the back seat on the passenger side and slowly, with a shaky hand patted his sister's shoulder lightly she adjusted a little but stayed asleep  Danny rolled his eyes telling him he had to shake her harder. He looked at his twin with the nerves written on his face. 

He shoved her a lot harder and we heard a groan.

“I thought I told you that I was trying to sleep!” She groggily yelled, her brother being met with a shoe to the forehead.

“Well, you ungrateful whelp. You're home now so go to yo’ damn bed,” David said.

“Just carry me,” she said. David rolled his eyes.

“Absolutely not, you can walk in after that nice black eye you just gave me,” He said.

Rosie gave him a stank face ripping her bag from the floor, slamming the car door, and stomping up to the door.

“Damn worse than usual what did y’all do?” Daniel asked holding a fist to his mouth.

“Woke her up in the car,” Trin said, laughing as we watched a big beefy Rottweiler jump on Rosies half asleep form. “Now Dexter is all riled up.”

Jon and I shared a look.

Ain’t no one told us there was a big ass Rottweiler here!

[lav-bee]

Blue Lock x Reader Headcannons

What they do when reader is on their period

Characters: Bachira, Isagi

❤️- read as romantic

A/N: Sex of the reader is not said at all, so if you identify as not fem but still get periods you should be good 👍

I should also mention the word ‘pussy’ is said

Bachira

- Shamelessly buys you pads/ tampons

- Does not care for the looks he gets when he tries to find the right ones

- ‘Hey bae what pussy size you wear?’

- Picks up a few snacks on the way as well

- Holds the bag of goodies out when you open the door “Your knight in shining armour has arrived~”

- Thinks hugs will solve everything so there are many cuddle sessions with you being the little spoon

- Tries to find the hot water bottle when cramps get bad but when he cant find it he’ll give you massages

- “My poor baby” :(

- Forehead kisses <3

Isagi

- Doesn’t know what the hell to do honestly

- He tries his best though 😅

- Will buy you snacks but is a bit hesitant to buy pads/tampons

- There’s just so many kinds! What if he buys the wrong one?

- ‘The hell are wings?’ , ‘What is S? ……super pussy?’

- Is determined though!

- Gets annoyed when people stare and him, like- ‘what chu’ lookin’ at?’ -> glares at them while holding the box of pads/tampons

- When he drops the supplies off he’s low key kinda scared, he be walking on egg shells

- Doesn’t want to make you mad ‘cause no matter what you’ll win, doesn’t want to make you sad either ‘cause then he’ll feel bad

- Usually leaves you be but gives you many hugs and kisses when you ask :)

[acatbyanyothername9]

The horror in Husky and his white cat shizun

One thing that strikes me as I re-read 2ha is that Meatbun is in my opinion incredibly skilled at writing horror. And i don't see much discussion about it except in a general hand wavy "it's dark" way. People tend to focus more on the "noncon" between Taxian-Jun and Chu Wanning than the other things.

There's so many things that didn't jump out to me as much during my first read but that are just glaring now. In my opinion it also makes the moments of happiness and the few truly good people stand out all the more.

As meatbun put it in chapter 68 : "it turned out that the most disgusting thing in this world was not ghosts or demons, but those cowardly, worthless beasts who wore human skins and hid in the crowd, willing to say and to do anything in the name of their own survival. At the end of everything, they would say, “I only wanted to live. I’m pitiful and powerless—I’ve done nothing wrong.”

This incredibly bleak world view that humanity is inherently selfish in Ehra makes a lot of sense when you realise it's a horror novel (among other things)

Examples under the cut, in no particular order

There's the psychological horror stuff that's linked to the whole flower business (mind control, mind rape etc.) Being forced to forget all happy memories while all the bad stuff is ramped up to eleven so you keep living in anger and pain wihtout any reprieve what's so ever.

There's the body horror of the Zhenlong Chess Formation which control corpses or dying people. Once the illusion is broken at Jinchen Lake, the bodies explode and taint the whole water red. There's the crucified members of the Feathered Tribe at the bottom of the Abyss also used for the Zhenlong Chess Formation and that's not even mentionning the bridge that allows the BBBF to go back to the Demon Realm (not going to go in details but let's just say it's an ENTIRE UNIVERSE worth of corpses)

From chapter 43 : "With the removal of the last rock, the illusion shattered. The fuban exploded, its blood diffusing into the water like the haze of fog. Near simultaneously, all the monsters and creatures in the market stiffened for a split second—before drooping bonelessly as their bodies festered, saturating the lake’s water with a miasma of blood.

The lake was dyed a red that rapidly deepened as more and more blood seeped into the water. First, things in the distance became hard to see, but soon, the immediate area was clouded over as well, and finally, scarlet filled their vision to the point that they could no longer even see their hands in front of their faces."

From chapter 76 : "Thousands of crosses stood at the bottom of the abyss. To every one was bound a member of the feathered tribe, entirely naked and drenched in blood. Within each of their mouths was stuffed a lingchi19 fruit, and these were what emitted that piercing red light. From above, the collective blaze of these thousands of fruits had easily been mistaken for flames burning deep within the abyss."

There's the existential horror that Hua Binan had Mo Ran almost kill EVERY SINGLE PERSON in the first timeline and basically wanted to do a bis repetita in the second one just so the BBBF could go back to the demon realm. Let's not even get in the whole Heavenly Rift stuff which is basically the fantasy equivalent of a hostile alien invasion where anyone could die at any moment if the rift is not sealed.

There's the horror of a mother forced to cannibalised her child while her husband is made to watch only to be later lynched by the very people he was trying to protect. Which speaking of this family! After being lynched, Chu Xun also digs out his now still heart so he can give his spiritual core to protect the survivors that stayed with him and tried to protect him. Keep in mind this whole tragedy wouldn't have happened without the selfishness of one single person.

From chapter 68 : "Chu Xun’s body slowly lifted its hand, which had not yet gone stiff, and under the control of his spell, it grasped the knife buried in his chest to pull it out. Then—

“Gongzi!” The people around him cried out with grief, their voices twisted and hoarse, soaked with tears. “Gongzi, what are you doing?!”

With his own hands, Chu Xun ripped open the gash in his chest, dug into his flesh, and grabbed his no-longer beating heart. Slowly, inch by inch, he tore it out.

[ivykim]

01z MEET UP!

SUMMARY: after 3 years of ivy’s idol career, she finally meets the 01z group that heeseung hangs out with! and yes, that means she finally has idol friends to hang out with.

ivy’s outfit: casual outing

NOTE: i am not familiar with just b’s lim jimin so if it’s not his how his personality is, i do apologise😭

“are you sure, heeseung? i feel like i’m overdressing! the boys will think I’m weird.” ivy says whilst straightening her clothes.

“vivi, beomgyu is literally in the friend group. you’ve seen him more than you’ve seen BTS sunbae.” heeseung mentions.

“yeah but I.N sunbae is there and haven’t even seen this other Jimin you hang out with. I only know Chu Jimin from I-LAND. what if I make a bad impression.” ivy pouts.

“nonsense, you’re our pretty girl who by the way, is almost every boy group member’s ideal type.” heeseung lifts up her chin and pecks her lips. “don’t be worried, you’ll be fine.”

she sighs, “okay. I’ll try. this won’t cause a scandal right.”

“everyone knows we’re friends and they also know you’re part of ENHYPEN so no scandal. don’t worry, our manager will be around us and chilling.”

“alright. also, we aren’t just group members. you and the other boys are still my boyfriend.” she quickly jumps and pecks heeseung’s lips. heeseung smiles at the gesture.

“you’re right. my girl.” he pats her head.

and out they went. they had meet up with the rest of the boys at some PC Cafe that they always went to. it was nearby an arcade and definitely secluded so idols could come here without getting disturb. by the time they went in, both heeseung and ivy could hear beomgyu cussing out loud.

“yah! stay in your fucking lane!” beomgyu yells out. heeseung whacks the back of his head and so he pauses the game.

“oh, you’re here-” beomgyu pauses when he notices ivy. “with ivy.”

ivy playfully glares at beomgyu, “you sound excited to see me.”

“i’m kidding.” beomgyu chuckles. “i am happy to see you. finally, you’re hanging out with us! 01z isn’t complete without you.”

ivy’s eyes met with I.N and Jimin staring at her. she felt a little shy under their gaze and so she hides behind heeseung.

“babe, why are you hiding?”

“umm, no reason.” heeseung grabs her hand and squeezes it.

“don’t worry, they don’t bite.”

“I do.” beomgyu says.

“then I’ll kick your ass.” heeseung warns.

“oh come on, you already beat me in one game last week and you’re acting as if you’re older than me.” beomgyu huffs.

“alright then, old man.” heeseung shrugs. beomgyu’s eyes widened.

“yah!”

ivy stops beomgyu, “okay, we are grown adults here. it’s a public space and I’d like to not get into a scandal because you and heeseung were arguing.”

beomgyu sighs, “fine.”

I.N approaches ivy, he reaches out his hand to gesture for a handshake. “hi, I’m jeongin or umm I.N.”

she blushes, “oh umm, hi. I’m ivy.”

heeseung wraps his arms around her waist protectively, he wasn’t one to be possessive of ivy but he still wanted to be there for her. I.N take notice of that and smirks.

“so, how does it feel to be in a some sort co-ed group? must be fun to have all their attention on you.” he asks.

“oh, I mean.” ivy blushes. “you can tell?”

“pretty obvious, heeseung doesn’t act so protective all the time but here we are.” I.N points to the other male’s hand on her waist. “he really loves you.”

“shut up.” heeseung bites back.

“okay, calm down there cowboy. let’s play a round or two to loosen up.” beomgyu adds.

“oi, jimin is here too.” I.N says.

“right, spotlight is for you.” beomgyu mutters.

“uh, hi.” jimin waves. beomgyu smacks his shoulder.

“you are not shy, stop pretending. is it because the IT-Girl of 4th Gen is standing in front of you?” beomgyu points out,

“no, I just- whatever, let’s play.” jimin rolls his eyes beomgyu.

after a couple of hours, the boys and ivy played some games. they were impressed ivy could lead their whole team. they appreciated it and they won. beomgyu stands up and yells.

“SUCK IT.” he shouts.

they could only feel the second hand embarrassment for beomgyu but he could care less.

“anyways, we should do something for our only lady here. wanna go shopping?” jimin suggests.

“sounds good.” heeseung turns to ivy, “want to walk around?”

“yeah, why not. I think beomgyu needs to calm down after this game.”

“he definitely does.”

“you guys just suck, having ivy was the best thing. ivy, me and you should play next week and be partners.” beomgyu says.

“why not.”

“hell yeah, I got a new partner.”

“is soobin hyung not gonna-”

“he can gobble on deez nuts.”

jimin, heeseung and I.N snickered.

“let’s go! my treat for our HYBE IT-Girl.” beomgyu happily skipped out the door.

all 5 of them left the PC Cafe and went to shop. they enjoyed the shopping and had fun. they had also stopped by somewhere to eat and chat even more. finally, it was late at night, I.N and jimin had to leave early and so they said their goodbyes and left.

eventually, beomgyu had some late night practices so he had to go to. in the end, it was just heeseung and ivy left. they had waited for their manager to pick them up, it would probably take a couple of minutes since their manager texted that he would arrive soon.

“had a fun time?”

ivy nods, “they’re really fun.”

“really or is it because beomgyu paid for your new hat?” heeseung smirks.

“do you really believe that’s the reason?” ivy deadpans.

“i’m kidding. i know you had fun with the boys, they’re really fun and energetic people to be around. well, when we play games. other than that, they’re really mature in some ways. oh and wise too, like jongseong.”

ivy smiles, “I miss our boys.”

“you’re talking as if they aren’t at the dorms or at HYBE practicing right now.”

“is it wrong to miss my 6 other boyfriends?”

“not at all.” heeseung smiles.

ivy snorts, “well, pretty boy. if we weren’t in public, I would’ve kissed you by now.”

“no one is around.” heeseung gestures to show the empty street.

“mhm, sure. you say that and suddenly dispatch appears out of nowhere.”

ivy could sense it. they were definitely around and since she could see ghosts, they were definitely helping her out. pointing over to where those dispatch employees were hiding.

“seriously though, they are around. it’s best we don’t try anything.” ivy warns. she looks around trying to spot anyone suspicious.

‘hiding in the bush and in one of the cars nearby.’ – a ghost whispers like a wind blown.

“you sure?”

“I am sure, my instincts are always right.” ivy smiles.

“alright, princess. whatever you say.” heeseung ruffles her hair.

she makes eye contact with one of the people hiding, they quickly duck back down and so she scoffs. both ivy and heeseung continued to wait for their manager and finally got in the car after another 5-10 minutes of waiting.

heeseung places a kiss on her forehead once the manager drives off.

“you saw someone didn’t you?”

“which one? ghosts or the dispatch employees?” ivy asks.

“ghost?”

“well, I saw both. the ghosts aren’t scary. the dispatch people are scarier.”

their manager obviously heard what they were talking about. “I’ll talk to the CEO about this matter, if it persistently goes on.”

“thanks manager oppa.” ivy says.

“let’s get you two home first, i need to pick ni-ki and jake from HYBE since they had their own schedule.”

both ivy and heeseung hummed at their manager’s words. it took about 20 minutes for them to arrive back at their dorms. warm and cozy and also…very-

“THEY’RE BACK QUICK ASK NOONA AND HYUNG WHO IS BETTER!” sunghoon yells.

ah, yes. they couldn’t have missed this more while hanging with the 01z.

[babyniigo]

Sibbwy kwaito and kwanade hcz?? >:3c (/nf, take chu time!)

Sibling Little! Kaito and Little! Kanade ૮꒰ ྀི◜๑◝ ꒱ა

When both Kaito and Kanade regress together in the Sekai, it’s usually the quietest most peaceful thing ever! ໒꒰ྀི -. -｡꒱ྀི১

Kaito regresses to around toddler age (3-6) while Kanade regresses do baby age (0-3)

I think they nap together sooo much! Like they love to lean against each other in the Sekai and nap (っ˕ -｡)ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁

And they also tend to snuggle together and cuddle to take their naps!! ૮꒰ྀི ᵔ ๑ ᵔ ꒱ა

Because Kaito sees himself to be a big bro to Kanade, he tends to be very protective of her!

Like if anyone walks near them he hides her behind him and glares to protect the baby!! Even tho he’s baby too!!! (* ´ ﹃｀*)

The CG has to calmly reassure like “we aren’t taking baby Kanade away from you darling, we are here to take care of the both of you!”

I think he tends to want to play with Kanade a lot!! He grabs all the toys that are thrown around the Sekai and brings them to Kanade!

But she’s too eepy and tiny to play so he just places a plushie in her hand, and presses his own against hers to play heheh ς꒰ ´‌ ତ ˋ‌ς ꒱ა

Also if anyone in niigo gets them baby snacks, he tends to nibble on them, and then place one in Kanade’s mouth to try and be a big caring big bro and feed her!!! 𐙚૮ ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ აᡣ𐭩

When it’s nap time, his CG might cuddle him but he will snuggle into Kanade cause he wants to be a good big brother and care for Kanade hehe

He’s sooo protective of her!!! And being responsible makes him feel cosier in his regression cause he feels happy to be a caring and good little boy! ૮꒰ྀི⊃´ ꒳ `⊂ྀི꒱ა

[w3bgrl]

tea time w/ seung&joong — vlive highlights

t/n: english. satoori.

it’s about 8 PM KST when viewers tuning into todays vlive are greeted by cutesy animal crossing music paired an even cuter duo waving with tight-lipped grins. “hello!” they chirp as the live chat quickly fills with a myriad of different greetings. juyeon and seungmin sit for a moment in wait for more viewers to join, bobbing along to the music and making cute faces as they glanced over the comments.

“okay,” juyeon finally says after sitting long enough to garner a few thousand viewers “hello everyone! how was your day today? honestly, seungmin and i had quite a long day today, so we thought we’d go live together to have a nice, chill time with stay and wind down before bed. how does that sound?”

seungmin is already chuckling to himself at the implication in her words before continuing, “joona and i typically have green tea at the end of the day, so we’ve prepared our tea and locked the door to make sure this will be a relaxing live.” juyeon is now laughing as she lifts her own steaming mug to show the audience laughing alongside them.

“like an asmr live without the asmr.”

“right,” seungmin says as he looks down at the comments on his phone “we’ll just be chatting and hanging out until we finish our tea, so send in some questions.”

“noona do you speak gyeongsang dialect or jeolla dialect?” seungmin read the comment aloud as if for her to answer and then went right into his own “honestly, chu uses both at home. her jeolla satoori always comes out when she’s trying to butter someone up.”

juyeon chuckled at seungmin’s blunt yet true statement, listening intently as he continued. “the jeolla dialect is kind of…silly…sounding…but it also has a lower pitch than her usual speaking tone, so she convinces the members by making them laugh. it’s really a superpower. no one can say no.”

“as for gyeongsang…well, the daegu satoori is higher tonally but sounds very sharp and direct, so it’s like her mom voice — it usually comes out when she’s really tired or after eating a lot.”

“yah —” the older girl now looks up from the comments at him, eyebrows furrowed as she glares over at him only to earn an innocent smile in return. he was too cute to be truly mad at, but she could pretend! “what does that mean? your assessment is all wrong!”

seungpuppy simply giggles. “no~ whenever we perform on music shows and you’re sleeping in the waiting rooms you’ll tell us to be quiet like a mom. like…” now a full laugh slips out as he straightens out to mimic her “‘hold your tongues or i’ll do it myself.’”

“i’ve never said that!” juyeon’s voice had noticeably raised a few decibels, a note that made seungmin smirk “you’re such a liar!”

the devious younger boy laughs again “that is what you sound like, though.” having proved his point through seemingly premeditated jabs he moves on with utter nonchalance, starting a whole new anecdote after a comment caught his eye.

“juyeon what is your favorite color?” she reads aloud before whipping to seungmin, smiling smugly as she clasped her cup closer “seungmin-ah? what’s my favorite color?”

for a moment he simply blinks back at her. “well…” seungmin trails off, earning himself a raised brow from the older girl now sitting back in her seat. “well?”

“you like red — you always have red lipstick on.”

juyeon shakes her head with a soft sigh "i do like red, but not my favorite. my favorite color is a hard color to wear, it's more of an accessory color."

the younger boys eyebrows furrow as he thinks, head tilting to the side while his gaze panned to the live broadcast like the answer would be hidden in the audience comments. "you don't wear it often?" juyeon shook her head again.

"mmm...orange." "close but no." "salmon?"

finally juyeon huffs and a shrill whine escapes her throat as she moves her seat to fully face seungmin who, giggling at the audience to hide from her sharp eyes, glances over at the call of his name. "kim seungmin! how can you not know this? it was my phone case for 6 months!"

seungmin belly laughs at her conviction, "i'm sorry, i don't remember."

juyeon rolls her eyes as animated as she can before grabbing her phone, notably cased in a primarily red flower design, before smiling up at the audience. "everyone, it's yellow. please remember yellow as my favorite color since this kid can't."

“what’s mine then?” he butts in expectantly. juyeon simply sighs as she scrolls through the comments. “purple, of course.”

as juyeon's story comes to a close, a certain anecdote stands out to seungmin before a reminiscent smile dawns on his face. "noona," he says, catching the attention of the older girl "remember when it snowed?"

"recently?" juyeon asks. seungmin shakes his head. "last year, when we all went outside to make a snowman."

"ohhhhhh" she now trials off with a similar smile curling her lips, cheeks now a shade pinker than before "maybe..."

seungmin turns back to the camera upon juyeon's hesitant response and laughs as he reveals what it was that he'd been reminded of; "last year it snowed while we were all in the studio, so we went outside to play in the snow before we went home even though we didn't have clothes for the weather."

halfway through juyeon whines about what's coming next but she doesn't stop him, instead tuning in to listen attentively.

"so, we get outside and joona starts walking out in her slippers, but before she sees the ice she goes to grab a handful of snow on the sidewalk and ends up falling right on her back." seungmin laughs almost like a kid "but! the best part is, the way she fell — her legs came up and her slippers flew right off — they were up in the air for like a minute before they came back down."

juyeon now 'inconspicuously' sips her tea, eyes peering over the edge of the cup to the stays laughing at her misfortune.

"oh!" after a long pause of silence as they read the comments juyeon abruptly exclaims and straightens out, subsequently causing seungmin to nearly jump in his seat, eyes wide at her sudden burst of energy despite the relaxing tea.

juyeon continues with a devious smoothness to her tone "you and han went on a date the other day, right?"

said 'date' was a recent outing together in which fans spotted them eating one-on-one and ended up taking pictures with the stay through the window, leading to a viral interaction online and memes being sent to juyeon. one of these messages sent on bubble, however, pointed out a special detail within the pictures.

and yet, seungmin is oblivious as he mumbles, "yeah?..."

“did you have a nice time? was it good?” juyeon smiles. it would almost be creepy if not for how cute she was. “yeah…?” seungmin utters.

"what song were you listening to? was the sound quality good? comfier than usual?" she's now scrolling on her phone in search of something, eagle eyed stays pointing out the bubble colors. seungmin is still lost. "what?"

finally juyeon finds what she is looking for and clicks on it to show seungmin with a 'gotcha!' type look. "those are my headphones — the ones i cried about losing on bubble."

finally, seungmin now understands what was going on. those pink headphones, juyeon's precious beats that she used every day, were pictured around his neck in the photos posed with stays despite her reminding him to drop them off after vocal practice. he gulped.

“oh.” seungmin chuckled nervously “isn’t that funny?”

“mmhm” juyeon hums triumphantly “super funny.”

with one last sip of her tea juyeon loudly finishes her cup and sets it back on the table, garnering seungmin’s attention as he peeks into her now empty mug.

“you just now finished it?"

she hums in response. seungmin turns back to the live. "joongie must be sleepy from the tea, she drank it so slow tonight."

"maybe i just wanted to talk with stay longer than you." juyeon now butts the younger boy from the speaker's box with a smile at the audience "stay~ we've officially finished our tea, so you know what that means; it is time for bed! please rest well tonight thinking of joongie who loves you most!"

laughing at her triumphant end to the live that had her fighting to hold herself back from the monster seungmin on her left, juyeon begins to wave as she reaches forward, pushing said monster seung to frantically wave himself.

"bye bye! thank you for tuning in!"

[miixz]

Okay this will be rambly as it's been too long since I've tried to put my thoughts in a coherent meta sort of thing, but I've come to the conclusion I might like how the whipping is treated in erha.

(for anyone following the official english release, beware of spoilers ahead)

It was something that threw me off at first and made me doubt I'd ever really like Chu Wanning, I even compared him to Shen Jiu around that time, but looking back at it having read erha in its entirety I can look at it with a different perspective.

While I do like how having Chu Wanning whip Mo Ran so early on helps present him as the terrible teacher of Mo Ran's altered memories and deceive the reader, I think it's also an interesting side of him as a character that he did that in the first place. To me, it seems that Chu Wanning is one of the people who have bought into the myth of physical punishment which seems to exist in his society. It's not a belief shared by everyone, Mo Ran certainly doesn't buy into it, but it isn't a belief Chu Wanning seems to have taken from within himself or even one that he fully agrees with. 

There are rules on Sisheng Peak which include whipping as a punishment, we see this as the system Chu Wanning uses as a guideline to base his decisions on, not only for Mo Ran but himself as well. His punishments aren't chosen entirely on a whim. 

Chu Wanning looked up to shoot him a glare. The Jielü Elder shut up. “In accordance with the rules, the punishment for this transgression is two hundred strikes, three days of protracted kneeling in Yanluo Hall, and three months of confinement,” Chu Wanning stated. “I do not dispute the transgression, and I am prepared to receive the punishment.” Dumbfounded, the Jielü Elder glanced left and right, then curled his finger. The doors to the Discipline Court closed with a thud, leaving only the two of them standing face-to-face in the silence. “What is the meaning of this?” said Chu Wanning. “How do I say this… Yuheng Elder, it’s not like you don’t know—the rules may be rules, but they don’t really apply to you. The doors are closed; this stays between you and I. What say we just let it slide? If I actually strike you and the sect leader finds out, he’ll have my old hide.” Chu Wanning didn’t feel like wasting his breath, so he simply said, “I hold others to the rules, and I will hold myself to the same.”

Now, that doesn't excuse him, I wouldn't say that's what the story is trying to say and I'm not either. It's more that to me that's part of what makes it forgivable when to other characters it isn't.

There are characters like Madam Yu from MDZS who are clearly using that punishment excessively and unnecessarily, out of cruelty, which I can't forgive. Chu Wanning, however, I'd say is more misguided, which earns him a different approach.

Although he doesn't look remorseful when we first see him whip Mo Ran, we learn later that he was and tried to make up for it in his own awkward way. One of Chu Wanning's most defining traits is his immaturity (in my interpretation anyhow), he is a man that was raised not to be his own person and hasn't been living with others for all that long and it shows.

Huaizui seems to only have taught Chu Wanning shallowly, to the point of lying about the state of the world outside, because he was never meant to be his own person who has complex relationships with others. It makes sense though, why would he do that when Chu Wanning was only a vessel for someone else's soul?

So when it comes to making those difficult decisions, like how to discipline his disciples, he is sometimes lacking and refers to the guidelines that he has. With whipping being an acceptable punishment in his sect and his own issues with anger, I see how he arrived at that punishment at times.

It's an awful thing to do, but I like how it's a mistake that humanizes him and explores his upbringing and the places where he falls short.

And Chu Wanning himself knows, on some level, that this is the wrong way to go. That's why he feels guilty and makes Mo Ran wontons to apologize, but he lacks the ability to choose another course of action, most likely because he's never been taught how.

(And this is something that he does improve on somewhat throughout the book, especially in regards to how he treats Mo Ran, who challenges him to think about these difficult questions and to work on his emotions the most.)

In the end, I think Chu Wanning is someone who truly wants to be a good teacher and a good person that help others, which he does often achieve, but sometimes he is held back from that by his own shortcomings which themselves are connected with the ways in which he's been failed by others (especially those who were meant to care for him).

[pinkroseblooms]

Options, Pt.3

Arajin/f!Reader/Marito

Summary: Arajin and Marito grow closer to you over time and start becoming more open about their intentions, but a wrench is thrown into the works when you receive a confession on Valentine's day. wc: 3.7k A/N: warnings for violence, possessive behavior, general toxic behavior, jealousy, crying, angst, Marito being a borderline yandere (honestly it's not hard to see canon him as a potential one). Also the OC is meant to be a reference to Harima Kenji from School Rumble (another lovable delinquent character lol) Enjoy!

As time went on, you, Arajin, and Marito began a comfortable routine; at first you would typically spend time with Arajin, whether at the Chu Chu restaurant, milling around the local shopping center, or studying at the library. Sometimes Marito would show up, usually unannounced, or Arajin would suggest oh so casually if you wouldn’t mind his boyfriend joining the two of you. You couldn’t say the exact time where Marito’s presence was a given; it got to the point where you were so used to him being around, it was more strange for him to not show up. Marito would surprise you sometimes, creeping up on you, saying “boo” or growling under his breath; it escalated to finding yourself regularly trapped in a loose embrace, an arm over your shoulders caging you to his side, or just a hand ruffling your hair just a little too roughly. He was as clingy with you as he was with Arajin now and to his delight, you never shrunk away or gave him any indication you weren’t just as pleased to be in his company as Arajin’s (unless Mahoro was present and glaring daggers; you didn’t want to rattle the tiger’s cage).

Arajin, of course, was becoming bolder and bolder, albeit in his own way. He would hover and fuss whenever he wasn’t latched to Marito; he’d shower you in compliments for the most (at least in your opinion) insignificant things and basically insisted on being at your disposal for any and every inconvenience. Arajin refused to let you carry anything but your own purse, if that, would strip off his top layer the moment you shivered at a slight chill, even offering to blow on your drink if it was too hot to taste without burning the tip of your tongue. At one point while the two of you were walking around, there was a sudden and heavy downpour; Marito and you were fine waiting it out, but Arajin insisted on running over to the nearest convenience store to buy an extra large umbrella for the three of you to walk under, along with a pack of tissues and a hot tea in case you somehow caught cold from being a touch damp. 

Marito never showed any sign of jealousy or irritation at his boyfriend’s doting on you; you weren’t sure what to make of it. From what you heard, Marito, to put it lightly, was not a particularly giving or forgiving person. Yet, he seemed not only apathetic to Arajin’s behavior but amused. 

No, more than that. There was a pattern that you couldn’t unsee when you finally got around to noticing how Marito would behave every time Arajin took more liberties with his indulgence of you: ruffling his hair, whispering things into his ear until he turned into a blushing mess, pulling him in close to blow raspberries on his cheeks, trapping him in bone crushing bear hugs, laughing and smirking all the while. It was as if Marito was praising Arajin, granted usually in a sort of teasing, roughhousing sort of way, for becoming more confident in expressing himself around you.

What’s more, when Marito did this, he would stare at you. Sometimes a brief glance and a wink; other times he would make direct eye contact and not break it until Arajin said something to regain his full attention. Those looks, deliberate and intense, left you with a dry mouth and a rapidly beating heart, not because you were intimidated and you didn’t believe it was Marito’s intention to do so in the first place. You swear, those fervent, almost hypnotizing looks were calling for you to…do something. That’s where you were officially stumped. 

At least, until today. 

“This is for you.”

You take the letter, a little dumbstruck; it was a plain white envelope, sealed with a red, heart shaped sticker. 

“Read it first before you give me your answer. I’ll be at the clubhouse after school, near the spot where that old pond froze over. Will you come?”

You’re gripping the letter lightly in your hands; you’ve only spoken to Harima Kenji a handful of times. He’s one of many Siguma recruits you’ve made small talk with in times you dropped by to visit Marito and Arajin or met them on the way to go somewhere else. Harima is a newbie and you were shocked to learn he was a second year student. With his large build, goatee, and severe looks, you had honestly assumed he had been held back a year or two. The impression you got from the brief interactions you’ve had is that Harima was a lot more sincere and earnest than his rough way of speaking and near constant scowl implied. To think, he would do something so…romantic and on Valentine’s day no less. Had he been waiting to give this letter to you for the occasion? Just the thought made your heart swell a bit, touched at the sentiment. 

“I know this is sudden, but I can’t stop thinking about you. I want you to be my Valentine and...be mine. Even if you can’t accept my feelings, I hope you’ll take some time to consider me.”

“...okay.” You smile shyly. “I’ll come with my answer after school.”

“Thank you!” Harima clenched his fists at his side and bowed his head slightly; he hasn’t smiled once this whole encounter, but his eyes practically shine when you smile and his cheeks flush so bright you can see it under his whiskers. “I’ll be waiting.”

You’re left alone, standing at your shoe cubby, still feeling a bit shocked; perhaps that was why you didn’t notice Arajin. He had dived right back around the corner, sweaty palms clutching a small box of chocolates and a bushel of daisies, as he unwittingly eavesdropped on the exchange.  

“Who confesses with letters these days?”

Marito cocked his head to the side slightly, examining the way Harima struggled to get up; his uniform was half soaked by slush and mud. Arajin was off to the side near the edge of the pond, eyes rimmed red and looking conflicted; he didn’t think Marito would go this far. When he ran off to tell Marito what he had seen, panicked and heart heavy, he thought he would just scare the rookie a bit, get him to back off. Everyone within Siguma was aware who you were and that you were off limits. Besides, Arajin was almost positive you were going to reject Harima anyway; it wouldn’t hurt for Marito to lay down the law and nip the problem in the bud, right?

“Aren’t you just an old-fashioned romantic? A confession by hand written letter, asking her to meet you after school.” Marito waited until he was half standing to send another swift kick to Harima’s wobbling legs. “Kenji-kun, I knew you were kinda stupid, but not this stupid. And as if your blatant disrespect wasn't bad enough, you upset my Ara-teen; another strike against ya.”

“Sh-she accepted my letter.” Harima grunts, doubled over, but face raised to glower up at Marito through swollen eyes. “She coulda thrown it out…turned me down right then if she really wanted to, crazy bastard. You have no right-!”

“Now how are you still able to talk?”

Another kick, this time to the ribs; Harima heaves, spitting up what Marito assumes is whatever he had for lunch earlier. The ground is cold and wet from the half melted snow; it’s slippery and Harima can’t seem to get his footing; frankly, he’s strong, but far outclassed and up against one very pissed off juvenile delinquent. Marito allows some space, watching unimpressed as Harima tries to stand; he had put up a decent enough fight initially, but he’s all power and no stamina from what Marito can see. Finally, Harima collapses on his hands and knees with a curse.

“Eat shit.”

“Hm? Did you say something?” Marito leans down slightly, hand cupped around his ear. “Gotta speak up.”

“Dammit, I give, you crazy fuck.” Harima manages to growl. “She’s coming to see me either way.”

Marito clicks his tongue, shaking his head in faux disapproval. “I guess you weren’t as serious about her as you claimed to be. All it took was a little roughing up and a couple shattered ribs. Where’s the passion?”

Arajin steps forward, eyes wide and unable to keep the tremor from his voice. “Marito, maybe that’s enough? You didn’t need to-”

“Arajin, if you can’t stomach it, you can wait for me inside.” Marito smiles blithely over his shoulder. “Aw, don’t worry, I ain’t going to kill him. I won’t even kick him out of Siguma, not yet anyway. I still have a use for him.”

“But, he's hurt really bad. This is way too much.”

“Isn't this what you wanted?”

“I never told you to beat anyone up!” 

“C'mon, you had to know what would happen once you blew the whistle.” Marito grins without a trace of mirth. “Just a while ago you were bawlin’ your eyes out to me about losing your chance with her, after all these years, after finally getting some nerve to start making moves. Ara-teen, we're so close to making her ours. We need to put this loser in his place and make an example of him.”

Harima groans; he’s trying to get up. Marito’s smile falls; he moves forward to grab Harima by the hair and slams his face straight down into the cold mud. Arajin’s stomach churns at an audible, sickening crunch and Harima’s sharp scream of pain.

“Whoops, looks like you broke your nose.” Marito’s nails dig into Harima’s scalp, holding him down, easily ignoring the hands grabbing and scratching at his wrist. “Go on lover boy, make your confession! Fuck, you're pathetic.” 

Marito yanks Harima’s head up so the other boy can get one desperate gulp of air, before grabbing his face with both his hands. Blood gushes from Harima’s nostrils to mix with the mud and snot as his face makes contact with Marito’s knee. As he recoils, Harima’s mouth opens and Marito cackles, seeing a gap in his teeth; it’s probably buried in the mud now.

“Marito!” Arajin rushes over, finally gaining feeling in his stiff legs; he kneels down and tries to pull back Marito’s arm, but he hardly budges. He’s honestly terrified of Marito right now, but he feels more guilty.

Marito was right; Arajin knew that something like this at the very least could happen. He hoped. He wanted Marito to throw his weight around and put a stop to Harima’s pursuit of you because in his heart, Arajin didn’t know if you would accept his feelings. Arajin didn’t know for sure and he wasn’t willing to cross that line but he didn’t want you to leave him behind either, be with someone else. 

You looked so flattered, glowing from Harima’s request. It scared him. It made him want to throw up and so he ran away, candy and crushed flowers in hand, because Arajin couldn’t bring himself to approach you the same way. He was more willing to let someone get the shit kicked out of them to have a better shot at you. Arajin has never felt more sick with himself. 

“Dammit you have to stop!” Arajin pleads, grabbing at Marito, using what strength he had to try and pry him away. “Enough is enough!”

“This isn’t close to enough. I can’t believe you thought…what did you think? I’d just hand her over? To you?” Marito stares at his subordinate's bloodied and bruised face with utter disgust. “It’s an insult is what it is: this weak bitch…fuck, you really thought you would get away with it, didn’t ya? That you could make a move on our girl?!”

Arajin is shoved away unceremoniously, sent back skidding in the snow; Marito isn’t smiling anymore. His breathing is as labored as Harima’s as he begins stomping anywhere he can reach. Harima is all but unconscious as his body is kicked over and over, in quick, brutal succession. 

Marito scraps the sole of his boot against Harima’s face like he’s trying to get the mud off and it earns him a pained moan and now there’s blood mixed with the mud. Marito can hardly stand to look down on him: Harima is nobody, an NPC, a nameless red shirt. He couldn't take a few well placed punches at half of Marito’s strength. The very suggestion that you had accepted Harima’s corny bullshit love letter with a smile almost made Marito angry with you. How could you even entertain it? Why should anyone else even matter to you, let alone someone so beneath him?

“Get up." Marito demands, digging his heel into Harima’s neck. “You limp dicked, shit-for-brains loser, get the fuck up! If you even think about looking at her again, and I’ll-”

“Marito!”

Marito turns to send a nasty glare Arajin’s way, but it’s not him who’s running at breakneck speed to Harima’s side. You slip in the mud a little short of where Harima’s head is resting on the cold ground, but you crawl the rest of the way. A look of abject horror changes your features in a way Marito has never seen.

“Harima? Harima, are you okay?” You frantically try to push away Marito’s leg. “Stop it, what are you doing to him?!”

“You need it spelled out?” Marito taps Harima’s temple with the tip of his boot before moving back a step; he’s smiling now, grinning down at you, blood and mud splattered over his clothes. “Don’t worry, kitten. He won’t ever bother you again. No need to give him an ‘answer’; I made sure Kenji-kun got the message loud and clear.”

You silently reach into your skirt pocket and take out a handkerchief.

"Gross." Marito makes a gagging noise as you begin gently wiping Harima’s swollen face. He’s able to open one eye, watching as you clean off as much as you can with the scrap of cloth.

“Harima? Don’t fall asleep; do you think you have a concussion?” 

“You came.” Harima turns his head slightly as a tear runs down his cheek; he can barely speak with his split, swollen lip. “I’m sorry. Just go: I don’t want you to see me this way.”

“Harima,”

“Ugh, knock it off, crybaby; I barely hit you.” Marito rolls his eyes in disdain as you help Harima rise to a sitting position. “Really milking it for those sympathy points, huh?”

Harima rests his head on your shoulder, breaths shallow but steady. You won’t even look at Marito.

“Is this the “Siguma pride’ you told me about? Threatening your members? And for what?” You ask quietly. “I’m not a prize to be won.”

“He’s a loser.”

“This isn’t a game.” You snap, your cold stare wilting when Arajin catches your eyes. “Is this what you do now? You don’t fight anymore, but you’re okay letting someone else do it for you. You can’t work up the nerve to be honest with me about your feelings but I guess you can stomach this just fine?”

“No.” Arajin denies; his guts feel like they’re being twisted. “I didn’t want this.”

“I don’t want to hear your excuses. I can’t even look at you right now.” You tell him. “I can’t believe-I thought we were friends, I thought-”

“You belong to us.” Marito states calmly. “Everyone else knows but this idiot, apparently.”

“I’m not a thing you can put a claim on!”

“I did,” Marito replies. “And I am. I won’t let anyone else have you.”

You shake your head, as if in disbelief; Marito bends down, reaching for your arm to haul you up. Before Marito can lay a finger on you, Harima slaps his hand away. 

“Leave her alone.” Harima wheezes; he’s rolled over slightly in front of you, as if to shield you from the offending touch. “I’m sorry. This happened because I wasn’t strong enough.”

“Nah it's ‘cause you’re a fuckin’ loser.” Marito jeers, sticking his tongue out at Harima’s scowl. “Now, kitten, don’t make me be rough with you; Ara-teen and I just wanna have a chat to clear up things.”

“We do, really.” Arajin puts a hand over Marito’s. “Please, we’re sorry.”

“Huh? I ain’t fucking sorry.”

“Seriously?!” Arajin looks at him, silently begging Marito to stop being combative; he looks at you so guiltily, so regretfully, you almost feel swayed by his words. “We are your friends. It wasn’t supposed to happen this way, but it's the truth.” he professes. "We like you."

“So, what do you say, kitten?” Marito adds with an uncontrollable grin.  “You’re gonna be ours, right?”

“Don’t speak to her that way, scum!” Harima sits up, puts a hand on your shoulder, trying to stand up once more. “She doesn’t want to go anywhere with you and your toadie boyfriend.”

Any trace of humor disappears from Marito’s smile. “You just don’t know when to shut up; all this for a stupid shitty letter-”

“You’re wrong.” You put a hand comfortingly on Harima’s shoulder, ushering him to calm down. “That letter was so sweet and thoughtful. I think it takes a lot of courage to be so honest about how you feel.” 

“Okay, enough is enough.” Marito sighs heavily and moves to reach for you again. “Come on, get up. We should be discussing this privately-”

This time it’s not Harima’s large hand that smacks Marito’s away; you’re finally looking at him. Tears well up in your eyes. Marito recoils as if your slap hurt; he’s looking at you, almost dumbstruck. He’s never seen you so much as raise your hand to swat a bug.

“No.” You can’t stop the tears from coming; your hand is still raised, poised as if to slap Marito again should he try to come near you. “I don’t want to go anywhere with you.”

Arajin tries to go to you, but stops short; he stands, helpless, as you cry into your hands. You’re crying and it’s partially his fault, yet Arajin can’t even bring himself to go to you. 

“Hey.” Marito’s hand drops to his side; his crooked smile wanes, gaze searching your face, as if he can’t process what he's seeing. “Hey, why are you looking at me like that? I’m not gonna hurt you.”

Arajin doesn’t know when you stopped crying; an hour later he’s with Marito back at the Siguma clubhouse. You left, half supporting Harima, as he limped towards the nurses office, insisting he could patch himself up and a hospital wasn’t necessary. 

Marito hasn’t spoken a word; when you all but ran off, he trudged the opposite direction, looking forward, motions stiff, almost robotic. When they returned to the clubhouse, the building feeling strangely empty and cold despite having a heating system running, Marito pulled Arajin to the hammock. Arajin didn’t argue or make any smart remarks; he let himself be tugged along. Currently he’s slotted between Marito’s legs, half lying on his chest. Marito is staring up at the ceiling, barely blinking; he looks half asleep, half awake. Arajin can’t tell if he’s angry or not but he doesn’t feel like asking. He feels like shit. 

“I screwed it all up, huh?”

Marito has one arm underneath his shoulders; his fingers clutch onto Arajin’s arm. After a beat of silence, Marito has him locked into a tight embrace; Arajin’s face is tucked away into the crook of his neck. From this position, he can’t see what kind of expression Marito is making.

“It was going so well, but then that asshole came outta nowhere, I thought we were gonna lose her, it felt like we were suddenly running out of time. I didn’t even think she’d actually say yes to him. Shit, I don’t know, I freaked, I was-”

Arajin doesn’t need Marito to finish; he knows exactly what he wants to say because it’s the same reason he himself had run away. Again. 

“It’s not your fault.”

“Don’t bullshit me.”

“I mean, it’s my fault too.” Arajin closes his eyes tight. “I should have told her a long time ago.”

“Why didn’t you?”

“Do you have to ask? I’m a selfish coward.”

“Yeah, but I kinda like that about you.” Marito lets out a half chuckle. “Did you think you were too weak for her?”

“Sort of. Can we not get into that now?” 

“When then?”

“When?”

“We’re going to get her back, aren’t we?” Marito sounds annoyed. “We give her a little time to calm down and try to talk to her.”

“It’s not that simple.”

“You’re gonna have to see her again; she works for your mom.”

“I guess she’ll be avoiding me from now on.”

“What about me?” 

“What do you mean?”

“It’ll be easier to avoid me. Ya know, she’s probably with him now. If I go after him, she’s just gonna hate me more, but-I’ve never felt this before.”

“Pissed?”

“I want her here and she’s not.” Marito swallows hard; there’s no levity in his tone. “She didn’t even ask if I was okay.”

“Are you okay?” 

Arajin realizes this might have been the first time he’s asked Marito that question; not to mention, this might actually be the first time Marito hasn’t gotten something he wanted, something he couldn’t get with threats and intimidation.

“I got hurt too, you saw. He got me on the face even.” 

Arajin doesn’t point out to Marito that the injury he’s referring to is the most minor of bruises on his jaw.

“She didn’t even care. She didn’t even notice.” 

“I could…” Arajin sighs. “Kiss it better.”

Marito moves so he can stare him down with the most lost puppy dog eyes Arajin has ever seen on maybe the most terrifying person he’s ever met. Arajin leans over, pressing a soft, but lingering kiss to the small welt. Marito whines, arms wrapping around him tighter.

“Ara-teen, you gotta talk to her. Tell her I didn’t mean any of it, I just got carried away.”

“Weren’t you the one telling me to be more forward?” A slight smile comes to Arajin’s face for the first time in hours. “Tell her yourself.”

“She’s just gonna run away.” Marito slumps with a pout. “Tell her I’m…”

“Sorry?”

“Yeah, that.”

“Okay, that’s really something you’re going to have to tell her yourself, even I know that.”

“But she won’t talk to me! You saw how she looked at me…” Marito bites his wobbling lower lip, teeth almost scraping against his snake bite spikes. “I scared our kitten away. I messed everything up.”

“We both messed up.” Arajin lets Marito bury his face into his shoulder. “I guess we deserve each other…”

[neon-knights-mercenary-company]

8 October 3153 Islington System, Magistracy of Canopus, Rimward Periphery DropShip Electric Pony - docked with JumpShip Geranium Fever [NOTE: JumpShip unresponsive - disabled/destroyed(?) by misjump] [NOTE: Chronological error - pre-jump date: 4 January 3052]

---------------

"A boarding team is being sent to verify the condition of your DropShip."

That was what the Star League Star Colonel had said - Binetti, Rowan de la Rosa remembered his name absent-mindedly as she stared at the viewscreen.

The members of the Neon Knights watched as a small dropshuttle vectored from the Canopian station - difficult to see, surrounded as it was by actual honest-to-God WarShips, all decked out with the SLDF star. What have we missed? Rowan thought.

The muffin-shaped shuttle beelined towards what was left of their ride - the Geranium Fever had gone completely unresponsive, so naturally the worst had been assumed - the comms officer zoomed in on the craft with the Pony's optical sensors. The proud red-and-black dragon insignia was plain to see against the slate grey of the shuttle's plating - as was, next to the dragon on either side, an SLDF Cameron Star. They weren't perfectly aligned with each other - probably means they'd been added later?

"It's a modified Dragonstar class transport shuttle, ma'am. Kuritan markings... the hell are the Kuritans doing in bed with the Clanners? It's squawking friendly ident, they haven't powered weapons, and their commo doesn't sound angry. So I doubt we're about to get vented," the officer snarked, before focusing on something in their headset.

"Hokay, they're sending a message - boarding team is being led by a..." the comms officer stopped mid-sentence, and swore in unbelieving Swedenese, though they recovered quickly and continued. "Led by a Tai-sa Ryūga Kurita, assigned to the... whoa. One of the Ryuken regiments, ma'am."

DCMS elite troops - the one's trained by the Wolf's Dragoons? An actual member of the Kurita family? What the hell have we jumped into here? thought Rowan.

"... also a Chu-sa Dahiya Ult Salah-Miyamoto? Assigned to the ... Hikage regiment? Never heard of them, must be new."

Another message made the comms officer focus again.

"ETA is... two minutes, they're burning hard. Looks like they've got other shuttles coming too, probably checking in on the Gerry and the other droppers."

The officer paused, and looked back to the others.

"We playing this cool?"

Rowan considered for a moment. A slight tremor buckled her knee, before she steadied herself with a hand on the good techie’s head. 

Dammit, not now.

“Aye, Xiong. Cool as cats,” she gave them a pat, “and speaking of cool cats- I want Charles and Jo to be part of the meet-and-greet, and with a quickness. Armed, but weapons holstered. Ags,” Rowan turns towards her XO. She had a white-knuckled grip on the other side of Xiong’s chair, but at least seemed to have steadied her breathing, instead glaring a hole in the Pony’s bulkhead, “I want you to take the conn while I meet the good Star Colonel.”

Agata flinched at Rowan’s words, but eased her grip on the chair nonetheless. “Understood, Commander. I have the deck.”

Some of the tension seemed to drop away from Agata’s shoulders at being given a task, like the strings holding her up were cut, but Rowan could tell she was still higher strung than a substation livewire.

Better to have her stay up here and stay cool. 

Rowan nodded, and turned in a parody of an about face to head on down to the airlock.

Time to meet the SLDF.

---------------

In the span of a hallway and an elevator ride, the tremor had made it’s way out of her leg and up to her arm.

Least this means I shouldn’t loose my balance in front of our guests.

She hard them before she saw them, around the corner. Quiet chatter, the sharp bark of Joana’s laughter cutting through Charles’ curt replies, nearly drowning him out.

None of Jo’s usual warmth.

No laconic drawl out of Charles.

Both were already posted up, and their conversation withered as she approached.

“Boss,” Charles spoke up, one furry ear twitching with nerves, “what’re we expecting?” 

Rowan fiddled with the zipper of her jumpsuit, finally working the shakes out of her hand as she replied, “They claim they’re SLDF, but they’re using Clanner ranks and talk with a stick up their ass. Maybe got some Dracs with them too, from the sound of things. I’unno just what their game is here, but we’re playin’ it cool. Leave me talkin’ with the good Star Colonel, an if y’all think you can swing it, chat up some of their boarding crew. We’re working on limited intel here, and-” the sound of the shuttle docking to the Pony’s airlock cut her off.

Rowan flicked open her sunglass, setting the round lenses over her eyes.

A deep breath in.

And slowly out.

The Commander turned to the airlock, wearing her role like a uniform jacket thrown over a shoulder.

“And we’re out of time. Buckle up, y’all. Let’s see just who’s claiming to be the SLDF.”

[shen-daozhang]

ooh i saw your tags in the post about ppl hating female characters for the same things they love about male characters, and i thought about sqt vs jgy, so i wonder what you think about both of them! (if you feel like answering! it's not like a 1:1 comparison)

*vibrating* Yea I like those characters a normal amount why do you ask!! (Also I had a super busy week at work and I kept thinking about this ask and monologuing about it in my head, so thank you for the enrichment in my enclosure)

(very messy thoughts incoming!)

Ngl, I never considered how they are similar until this ask, and there are a lot of ways that they are! A background that includes abuse, being seen as less-than for the circumstances of their birth (SQT as a Butterfly Boned Beauty Feast, JGY as an illegitimate son of a sex worker), both gravitate towards powerful men to protect themselves, both are navigating the confines of society trying to move upwards, again, in order to protect themselves. Also both use torture (or at least the 0.5 timeline SQT does)! So that's a fun little similarity.

Now, a big difference is there is the element of revenge in JGY's actions on top of the base need to survive (and a desire to thrive in a world that looks down on you), and I think considering his intelligence he would have gotten away with his plans if not for the completely buckwild re-introduction of WWX back into the plot after his death. I personally think SQT is just focused on survival, and even when she is cruel to Chu Wanning in the 0.5 timeline, I believe she does so because considering TXJ's own treatment of CWN she thinks that is want he wants, and doing so will improve her standing with him (which, sidebar, I am always floored by people who hate on SQT for hurting CWN while they woobify TXJ). Her accusation of Ye Wangxi is only done in an attempt to survive, and I think should be viewed in the lens of the danger that Mo Ran's planted evidence places her in - she's a known Beauty Feast and you know in the world of Erha the second she is out from the protection of Nangong Si her life is likely literally over.

SQT is also just not as smart as JGY, which isn't a slight towards her, JGY is obviously brilliant on many fronts. But I think there is an element of SQT batting above her level, and that leads to her downfall in both timelines. Another glaring similarity is the fandom reaction to them and their actions being a smidge... shall I kick the hornets nest and say hypocritical especially when compared to the actions of the main character? Or other characters in the story who get woobified? (I will also throw Ye Bingchang from Till the End of the Moon into this category). At the end of the day, they are people who are just trying to survive in a deeply messed up world in the only way they know how. Now! Are they both innocent of any wrong-doing because of this? Of course not! That's what makes them interesting and why I gravitate towards these types of characters. The TL;DR: of this is essentially, "people doing fucked up stuff to survive in a world where you have to do fucked up things to survive? It's more likely than you think!"

I will say the fandom's feelings towards JGY has chilled a bit lately, but people were nasty towards him back in the day. Unfortunately, people still are towards SQT and I don't see that changing. I actually ended up including her in my 0.5 fic because I was tired of seeing fics that she either didn't appear at all OR was killed off in a way that was obviously done with malice on behalf of the author. Now she uh doesn't meet a happy end in either of my fics where she features but she's actually a character I really enjoyed writing, and I hope I did it with some sense of sympathy.

There was more I wanted to say but this is already long so I shall post this before it withers further in my drafts! <3

Also gonna link my own fics in case anyone is curious since I mentioned them. SQT appears as a character in this one here - my take on "hanahaki but worse" which has a sad ending - and her death is an inciting incident in this one, an AU where Chu Wanning is the one who got the flower and has become a zealot trying to cleanse the cultivation world (a WIP but I will finish it!).

[llostwriter]

The Husky And The White Cat Shizun With Their Baobei

Chapter 13

Throughout your lifetimes, you have seen Chu Wanning in a bride gown three times. Making it fourth, this time. The first time was in the novel. The second time was in your second lifetime, during Mo Ran’s first mission. The third time was when Chu Wanning was forcefully made into a concubine by Taxian-Jun, with you having no choice but to silently watch from afar.

Chu Wanning, dressed in the red gown, whose appearance tells a tale of discomfort and reluctance. But this was all pushed aside with the reminder that he still needed to look out for his disciples, replaced by his usual cold and distant demeanor. His elegant appearance radiates an aura of transcendent holiness that only you know. The veil only expands his attractiveness, like a white cat waiting to be claimed.

The situation on your side was no different. The exquisite red bride gown clung to your form, the scarlet fabric flowing around you like a silken caress. The intricate golden embroidery embedded into the fabric, your view covered by a red sheer veil, Your lips were tinted plump red from lip papers by the apprentice. But unlike the situation in your illusion, you could completely control your body. The single silver bell earring stayed by your side as you followed the path.

Out of the trio, the only one who wasn’t wearing a red bride gown was Mo Ran. Instead of a bride gown, he wears a groom gown. The dress is traditional and elegant, having its fair share of intricate embroidery like the rest of the chosen groom.

You stood behind Chu Wanning, catching a glimpse of Chu Wanning grabbing Shi Mei’s wrist before he switched positions with Shi Mei. You did the same, putting yourself in front of Shi Mei. All of this was unnoticed by Mo Ran. Chu Wanning followed Jade Girl, with you following behind. The jade girl that was guiding you smiled at you and said, “A mistress, it is.” Before continuing with the parlor.

—-

Mo Ran: “…”

Mo Ran was suspecting that Shi Mei would be his chosen bride. In his past life, after he switched spots with the random groom, he finally shared his moment with Shi Mei. Even though Shi Mei wasn’t in the clear mindset, it was still by far one of the happiest moments of Mo Ran’s previous life. One that he wouldn’t change for anything. But who would have expected that he would be greeted with the sight of his Shizun and Shixiong y/n? He’s completely astonished by all the changes going on with this timeline. If he hadn’t known any better, he would have assumed that somebody was purposely messing with him. But that couldn’t be, since it would mean that Shizun and Shixiong y/n would have memories of the past timeline.

If that were true, his dog's life would have already been taken by that cold-hearted bastard. Shixiong Y/N, on the other hand, has been acting strange; he almost appeared more affectionate, but that wouldn’t be possible. Mo Ran must be delusional to even think that Shixiong y/n is acting affectionately with him. All of it must simply be indirect mockery, Mo Ran reminded himself.

The golden boy and the two jade girls clapped their hands before singing a ghostly song, disabling the ability for the three alive beings’ to speak. The ghost officiant also joined in on the song, asking Mo Ran to lift the veils.

If he could, Mo Ran would have laughed out loud. He was trying so hard to hold back his laughter, until he noticed the core-striking glare from Chu Wanning’s side, almost sending a shiver down his spine. Then he took a look toward you. It didn’t take a fool to know that he’s going to lift your veil first; the vibes that Chu Wanning is giving are literally screaming the sign of danger approaching.

The wandering ghost smiled. Completely unaware of the glare that one of the ‘brides’ is sending in the groom’s side. The wandering ghost handed Mo Ran a folding fan before instructing him to list the veil.

Your veil was lifted by Mo Ran. You weren’t sure why, but it almost felt like your heart was pounding against your chest. You resisted the creeping blush; you weren’t sure why you were feeling this way. You have to remind yourself that this was a mission—nothing less, nothing more. Thankfully, soon the feeling dissipated.

—-

The three pairs of hands touched each other as the water from the basin was poured down. It was a rule for the groom and bride to wash each other’s hands. It didn’t take long before Chu Wanning took the basin, and he separately washed your hands. He slowly poured the water on your hands before his hands caressed yours in a gentle and patient manner. When he finished, he headed toward Mo Ran’s side, he didn’t even bother and splashed the remaining water on Mo Ran’s hands; some of the water even drenched Mo Ran’s sleeves.

Mo Ran didn’t even look surprised; in fact, he had expected it from Chu Wanning.

After the hand washing ceremony, it was time for them to exchange wine cups. It would be easy if there were only two people, but there were three.

Mo Ran gives the wine cup to Chu Wanning. You give the wine cup to Mo Ran, and Chu Wanning gives it to you.

Now it was the bowing ceremony, and what stunned Mo Ran even more was the sight of his cold-hearted Shizun kneeling and bowing down. Maybe it was because Shixiong y/n was there as well; if it were only him and Shizun, there’s possibly no way that Shizun would ever kneel or bow.

When it comes to the third bow, you didn’t even completely lower your upper half when you heard a bang sound. It ended with Mo Ran and Chu Wanning’s foreheads slamming into each other. If Chu Wanning wasn’t annoyed by the former two parts, he surely is annoyed at this part, mostly due to Mo Ran. To which Mo Ran could only mutter his apologies.

Lastly, it was the hair-tying ceremony. The pair of golden scissors were given to Chu Wanning. With that, Chu Wanning swiftly cut off the end parts of his and Mo Ran and your hair, stuffing them into the brocade pouch presented by the golden boy and the two jade girls. Before keeping it inside his robes.

[Mo Ran’s thought: Is that a blush on Shixiong y/n? No, that couldn’t be possible. It must be a mistake. ]

[bangtanhoneys]

Relationships with BTS & ARMY

Seokjin & Grace

These two, as well as Yoongi, are classed as the parents of the group as they always work together to care of everyone. Seokjin is in charge of the cooking, and Grace is in charge of the baking. They’ll switch up who has to wake everyone up because that’s not a fun job to do. 

They have each other’s back, considering these two have the least lines together. They will be at each other’s solo videos if possible and they aren’t afraid to go against company rules to make sure the other is comfortable. Jin often refers to her as Chu, even though it’s her surname, it’s easier to say and will playfully butcher Grace any chance he gets. Grace will refer to him as RJ, just to piss him off. 

There was an early attraction between the two but never followed through until 2017. Their relationship became a thing in January 2018, with the news being confirmed to ARMY when Seokjin enlisted. ARMY likes to theorise they are secretly married, especially in the early days of BTS. They also share the same habit of turning red when the attention is on them - humble king and queen.

Yoongi & Grace

Two cats in a pod - literally. If they could be twins, then they would be. And even though she is older than him, Yoongi will rarely refer to her as Noona. She’s Gigi or Grace. One or the other - another person who will butcher the name Grace. The two are seen as the protectors of the group - mess with one member, these two are glaring daggers. 

Also seen as the parents of the group, but Yoongi is the fixer and Grace is the carer. If you feel sick, you go to Grace but if you break the door (again…Namjoon) then Yoongi is your man. You’ll find these two in the Genius Lab more often than not, where Grace’s on the lyrics and Yoongi is on the beat unless they switch it up. She has covered his parts especially during his surgery recovery and has covered his Cypher parts without losing breath - a proud fact she likes to throw out there every now and then. 

Brother and sister, without a shadow of a doubt. Don’t mess with them, especially when it comes to sleep and they don’t mind the affection but not too much.

Hoseok & Grace

Outside of Namjoon, Hobi will call her Grace because he likes the name and how it rolls. Sometimes calls her noona. These two both have dancing backgrounds, Grace more so to ballet/ballroom so it was hard to adjust to hip hop but he taught her everything and in return she would secretly teach him how to waltz. Her Dangerous Woman choreography was created between Hobi, Grace and their dance teacher so any credit for any sexy parts go to Hobi. 

Fashionistas of the group though Grace will admit she knows nothing about clothes but Hobi is there as well as Taehyung. If she has to go anywhere fancy, it’s these two she goes to and very likely, if there’s nothing scheduled, Hobi is her date. They both have a fear of heights and bugs, so don’t expect these two to help out when there’s a spider. 

Both are considered rays of sunshine in the group and they don’t mind going a bit over the top with the cuteness to brighten everyone’s day.

Namjoon & Grace

Namjoon was the first member to meet Grace who joined Bighit before him and she was considered his ‘trainer’ and ‘teacher’ as she had been there the longest. She was also his English teacher, not that he really needed it so they would spend their time looking up music and learning together about other subjects. She would teach him about her British way of life, he would teach the Korean way of life. He was the one who came up with ‘Gigi’ for her nickname and she came up with ‘Joon.’ 

They have each others backs, very much like her and Jin, but this time it’s leader and translator. If he’s tired and can’t be bothered, she’ll be the one to step in for translations for the group but not without his say so first. She doesn’t overstep any boundaries between leader and member in public - at home it’s a different story. She’s his Noona and he’ll respect her. 

She became his meter in terms of lyric subjects and what it said about women in general. War of Hormone was passed by her because she saw it for what it was - boys turning into men and their mindset, at the time. 21st Century Girl was a dedication more to her and what she went through in their early days - their love subject in videos, their object of desire when in reality they were all scared of her. Namjoon is her biggest supporter and has key opinions in her solo career.

Jimin & Grace

Her biggest fanboy in the group - solo career has been entirely supported by the maknae line, with Jimin spearheading it. And in return, she’s there for all of his. Lie is her favourite song and features her vocals in the background. They are choreography partners - they like to learn together and be next to each other if possible, another one who learnt how to ballroom dance because of her. 

A pair of mochi’s, both known for their cuteness. She’s his sister in the very meaning of the word and his biggest supporter, just like he is hers. Every performance, she’ll give him a thumbs up and he knows he’s done a good job whether he was at his best or not. In the diet days, she was the one who would pull him out and feed him her homeland meals - Sunday became roast dinner days thanks to Jimin. 

Another protector but she’s very protective of him - there are many clips of them together at public settings where she’s got her arm wrapped around his and holding him close. If Taehyung wasn’t Jimin’s soulmate, she would be.

Taehyung & Grace

Sometimes known as the weird duo - you’ll find them being completely random for no reason. Their personalities match on the most random days and you’ll find Grace almost encouraging Taehyung, letting it out of his system before calming him down. They are the pair who always get it wrong when it comes to telepathy in Run BTS because they think outside of the box yet they are completely in tune with one another. 

Grace’s fashion designer - he’s there to make sure her outfits for public appearances are worth it, whether they cover the right spots or not. He’s always in favour of her showing the world she’s a woman and not your typical ‘cutey girl in pink and fluffy things.’ She’s a woman, she needs to show it off. So its thanks to him that you’ll see Grace wearing more mature clothes, a little bit more skin. He’s often than not the one behind her tour clothes. He knows what works and he works well with Hobi to pull it off. 

Cuddle buddies - you’ll find them in the corner of the screen, fast asleep, leaning on each other. Taehyung is a koala at the best of times and she adores it, though it will get tiring especially during the summer. Will always refer to her as Noona or Grace, sometimes is mix of the two though god knows how he does it. Always wants her baking.

Jungkook & Grace

Mother and son - there’s no denying it at this point. His Noona or secretly, Mum. Though in the beginning, they didn’t really speak to each other because of how shy they both were - she was seven years his senior and he was only a teen. But slowly, they began to talk to each other and after a deep conversation, they were inseparable.

ARMY often jokes about who brought Jungkook up and though it’s agreed Seokjin and Yoongi had a hand in it, it’s Grace who gets the credit. She’s his comfort zone, his safety zone and one who is always at his side. Feeling up or down, she’s there every single time. During high school then university, she was the one who got him up on time, got him to eat and then homework. They both agreed they would dedicate an hour a day for each other to do an activity together - mostly it’s sleeping or gaming but their together.

Her biggest advocate for more lines and centre positions - she has the skill and the voice so why doesn’t anyone see it? It wasn’t until Wings that it finally started to happen and Jungkook had the biggest ‘told you so moment’ when Blood, Sweat and Tears views went so high because of Grace being in the centre and ‘main villain’ in the story.

ARMY & Grace

She’s their biggest supporter and their her biggest fanbase. Don’t mess with them when Grace is involved - you’ll find yourself under scrutiny for even saying her name wrong. She’s Korea’s Noona, she’s also ARMY’s Noona or Unnie. More often and than not she does lives where she gives advice and support, in Korean and English. 

She does lives one day in Korean, the other day in English for international fans. 

When she had her solo performances, they were the loudest in the room. Her first mixtape broke records, her videos broke records - thanks to ARMY and their reactions. They had been hesitant of a female in the male group but once she proved she was there as ARMY’s point of view, they were behind her all the way. 

If she’s in someone else’s video or her solo performance, she always wears some kind of purple for ARMY and for Bangtan. She’s theirs.

[wlwcatalogue]

Queer Women in Qing China: Chen Yun & Han Yuan in Six Records of a Floating Life

(Pak Suet Sin as Chen Yun (left) and Yam Kim Fai as Shen Fu (right) in Madam Yun, dir. Chu Kea, 1960)

Despite being written by a relatively unremarkable man, Shen Fu's (沈復) Qing-era autobiography Six Records of a Floating Life (浮生六記) captured the public imagination for its depiction of an unusually loving married couple - namely the author and his wife Yun - and for being very sad, because the wife died young after a protracted battle with illness and poverty. Their tragic tale has inspired films, TV series, stage plays, Chinese operas, and musicals.

But for some reason (spoiler alert: it's homophobia), as far as I can tell (see note 2 below the cut), the derivative media all fail to mention that while Yun certainly loved Shen Fu, there was also someone else she loved-- a female courtesan named Han Yuan, whom she convinced her husband to take on as concubine. Although there are only a few references to Han Yuan throughout the book, her impact is outsize, making her absence from the various adaptations all the more glaring.

So let's try to rectify things, shall we? Extracted here are all the references to the relationship between Yun and Han Yuan contained in Six Records of a Floating Life - although I haven't included all the other nods to Yun's fruitiness, so do check out the book in full - click below!

Overview

The happily married Chen Yun falls for the female courtesan Han Yuan and the two soon become sworn sisters (see note 1 below). Then, to ensure they can remain together, she manages to persuade her husband to take the latter as his concubine despite his protestations that they cannot afford another mouth to feed. This turns out to have unfortunate consequences: Yun's in-laws, who she was already on thin ice with, are highly critical of the two women's relationship, and have the married couple expelled from the familial home. Further, while Yun and her husband are living elsewhere, a wealthy man pressures Han Yuan into leaving and becoming his wife instead. Yun falls into despair and the heartbreak causes her already-delicate condition to deteriorate, leading to her eventual demise.

Note 1: Sworn kinship is the most widely-available Chinese custom allowing for the formalisation of a relationship between individuals of the same gender, other than those specifically hierarchical in nature (e.g. adoption, godparents, mentorship, etc.). While not primarily romantic in association, there is certainly precedent for it: arguably the most famous Chinese love story, The Butterfly Lovers, focuses on the romance between a man and a cross-dressing woman who swore an oath of brotherhood. Even after the latter reveals that she is female, there are repeated references to their oath, and the man continues to refer to her using familial terms (賢弟/"worthy younger brother" is simply switched to 賢妹/"worthy younger sister"). Note 2: As far as I can tell, Han Yuan really does never come up in the various derivative works. However, there is some (mostly very mild) hinting regarding the in-laws' disapproval stemming in part from Yun's failure to conform to cishet norms; at least three of the adaptations from Hong Kong take as the flashpoint an incident where Yun dresses as a man in order to enjoy the Mid-Autumn festivities with her husband (see the GIF in the header) and is discovered, despite it not having had any negative consequences in the book. (There is such a cross-dressing scene in the 2021 Kunqu opera adaptation, but for some reason, in that version, Yun seems to have been on great terms with her in-laws and there was no disownment at all.) AFAIK the only adaptation that explicitly deals with Yun's queerness is the 1987 dance production from Hong Kong, wherein the disownment happens after a scene which I'll just describe as "the Mid-Autumn Festival incident, but as a boat ride which Yun turns into a threesome between herself, the boat-girl, and her husband". This actually pulls from the source material, as there is a somewhat suggestive episode involving a boatsman's daughter (this is a few pages before Han Yuan is introduced - I did say Yun was fruity)... but it's interesting that the creators decided to depict her queerness through a drunken one-night stand where she's dressed in male clothing (which was not the case in the original, though the boat-girl does still know she's a woman in this version), instead of committing to her much deeper relationship with Han Yuan.

A (probably-incomplete) list of adaptations

Fei Mu/费穆’s 1943 stage play Six Records of a Floating Life/浮生六记 (PRC)

1947 film Six Records of a Floating Life/浮生六记 (PRC) – dir. Pei Chong/裴冲, starring Su Shi/舒适 and Sha Li/沙莉

1954 film Madam Yun/芸娘 (Hong Kong) – dir. Ng Wui/吳回, starring Cheung Wood-Yau/張活游 and Pak Yin/白燕 – full movie

1960 Cantonese opera film Madam Yun/芸娘 (Hong Kong) – dir. Chu Kea/珠璣, starring Yam Kim Fai/任劍輝 and Pak Suet Sin/白雪仙 – full movie; also see my posts on it here and here

1987 dance performance Six Records of a Floating Life/浮生六記 (Hong Kong) – dir. Chan Kai-Tak – full performance

Cantonese opera Shen San Bai and Madam Yun/沈三白與芸娘 (Hong Kong) – multiple productions from different theatre companies across the years – clip

1974 TV drama Madam Yun/芸娘 (Hong Kong)

Zhou Mian/周眠's 2018 Kunqu opera Six Records of a Floating Life/浮生六记 (PRC) – multiple productions – clip 1 | clip 2

Luo Zhou/罗周's 2021 Kunqu opera Six Records of a Floating Life/浮生六记 (PRC) – multiple productions – full performance (w/ English subtitles)

Tian Chenming/田辰明’s 2021 musical Six Records of a Floating Life/浮生六记 (PRC) – multiple productions – clip

2023 Peking opera Six Records of a Floating Life/浮生六记 (PRC) – assorted clips

Extracts from Six Records of a Floating Life, trans. Leonard Pratt and Chiang Su-Hui, 1983, Penguin Books

Part I – The Joys of the Wedding Chamber

(p.48)

In the seventh month of the Chiayen year of the reign of the Emperior Chien Lung I returned from Yuehtung with my friend Hsu Hsiu-feng, who was my cousin’s husband. He brought a new concubine back with him, raving about her beauty to everyone, and one day he invited Yun to go and see her. Afterwards Yun said to Hsiu-feng, “She certainly is beautiful, but she is not the least bit charming.”

“If your husband were to take a concubine,” Hsiu-feng asked, “would she have to be charming as well as beautiful?”

“Naturally,” said Yun.

“From then on, Yun was obsessed with the idea of finding me a concubine, even though we had nowhere near enough money for such an ambition.

(p.49)

[The courtesan Leng-hsiang] had a daughter named Han-yuan, who, though not yet fully mature, was as beautiful as a piece of jade. Her eyes were as lovely as the surface of an autumn pond, and while they entertained us it became obvious that her literary knowledge was extensive. She had a younger sister named Wen-yuan who was still quite small.

At first I had no wild ideas and wanted only to have a cup of wine and chat with them. I well knew that a poor scholar like myself could not afford this sort of thing, and once inside I began to feel quite nervous. While I did not show my unease in my conversation, I did quietly say to Hsien-han “I’m only a poor fellow. How can you invite these girls to entertain me?”

Hsien-han laughed. “It’s not that way at all. A friend of mine had invited me to come and be entertained by Han-yuan today, but then he was called away by an important visitor. He asked me to be the host and invite someone else. Don’t worry about it.”

At that, I began to relax. Later, when our boat reached Pantang, I told Han-yuan to go aboard my mother’s boat and pay her respects. That was when Yun met Han-yuan and, as happy as old friends at a reunion, they soon set off hand in hand to climb the hill in search of all the scenic spots it offered. Yun especially liked the height and vista of Thousand Clouds, and they sat there enjoying the view for some time. When we returned to Yehfangpin, we moored the boats side by side and drank long and happily.

(p.50)

As the boats were being unmoored, Yun asked me if Han-yuan could return aboard hers, while I went back with Hsien-yan. To this, I agreed. When we returned to the Tuting Bridge we went back aboard our own boats and took leave of one another. By the time we arrived home it was already the third night watch.

“Today I have met someone who is both beautiful and charming,” said Yun. “I have just invited Han-yuan to come and see me tomorrow, so I can try to arrange things for you.”

“But we’re not a rich family,” I said, worried. “We cannot afford to keep someone like that. How could people as poor as ourselves dare think of such a thing? And we are so happily married, why should we look for someone else?”

“But I love her too,” Yun said, laughing. “You just let me take care of everything.”

The next day at noon, Han-yuan actually came. Yun entertained her warmly, and during the meal we played a game – the winner would read a poem, while the loser had to drink a cup of wine. By the end of the meal still not a word had been said about our obtaining Han-yuan.

As soon as she left, Yun said to me, “I have just made a secret agreement with her. She will come here on the 18th, and we will pledge ourselves as sisters. You will have to prepare animals for the sacrifice.”

Then, laughing and pointing to the jade bracelet on her arm, she said, “If you see this bracelet on Han-yuan’s arm then, it will mean she has agreed to our proposal. I have just told her my idea, but I am still not very sure what she thinks about it all.”

I only listened to what she said, making no reply.

It rained very hard on the 18th, but Han-yuan came all the same. She and Yun went into another room and were alone there for some time. They were holding hands when they emerged, and Han-yuan looked at me shyly. She was wearing the jade bracelet!

We had intended, after the incense was burned and they had become sisters, that we should carry on drinking. As it turned out, however, Han-yuan had promised to go on a trip to Stone Lake, so she left as soon as the ceremony was over.

“She has agreed,” Yun told me happily. “Now, how will you reward your go-between?” I asked her the details of the arrangement.

(p.51)

“Just now I spoke to her privately because I was afraid she might have another attachment. When she said she did not, I asked her, “Do you know why we have invited you here today, little sister?”

““The respect of an honourable lady like yourself makes me feel like a small weed leaning up a great tree,” she replied, “but my mother has high hopes for me, and I’m afraid I cannot agree without consulting her. I do hope, though, that you and I can think of a way to work things out.””

“When I took off the bracelet and put it on her arm I said to her, “The jade of this bracelet is hard and represents the constancy of our pledge; and like our pledge, the circle of the bracelet has not end. Wear it as the first token of our understanding.” To which she replied, “The power to unite us rests entirely with you.” So it seems as if we have already won over Han-yuan. The difficult part will be convincing her mother, but I will think of a plan for that.”

I laughed, and asked her, “Are you trying to imitate Li-weng’s Pitying the Fragrant Companion?”

“Yes,” she replied.

(Footnote 44 of Part 1, p.153) The Lien Hsiang Pan, a play by Li Yu (1611-?1680). Li-weng was his literary name. Yun’s confirmation that she had this play in mind gives us our principal clue about just what her real relationship with Han-yuan may have been: the play tells the story of a young married woman who falls in love with a girl, and then obtains her as a concubine for her husband so the two women can be together. As van Gulik has pointed out, Imperial China regarded liaisons between women – as opposed to those between men – quite tolerantly. They did not by any means necessarily imply a lack of affection between such women and their husbands (R.H. van Gulik, Sexual Life in Ancient China, Humanities Press, 1974: he discusses female homosexuality on p.163, and the play itself on p.302, where he translates its title as Loving the Fragrant Companion.)

From that time on there was not a day that Yun did not talk about Han-yuan. But later Han-yuan was taken off by a powerful man, and all the plans came to nothing. In fact, it was because of this that Yun died.

Part III – The Sorrows of Misfortune

(p.76)

Yun had had the blood sickness ever since her younger brother Ko-chang had run away from home and her mother had missed him so much that she died of grief. Yun was so distraught she had fallen ill herself. From the time she met Han-yuan, she passed no blood for over a year, and I was delighted that Yun had found such a good cure in her friend, when Han-yuan was snatched away by an influential man who paid a thousand golds for her and also promised to take care of her mother. “The beauty belongs to Sha-shih-li!” I had learned of all this but had not dared to say anything to Yun, so she did not find out about it until one day when she went to see Han-yuan. She returned weeping, and said, “I had not thought Han’s feelings could be so shallow!”

“Your own feelings are too deep,” I said. “How can that sort of person be said to have feelings? Someone who is used to beautiful clothes and delicate foods could never grow accustomed to thorn hairpins and plain cloth dresses. It’s better that we should be unsuccessful now than to have her regret things later.”

I comforted her repeatedly, but having been so wounded Yun still suffered great discharges of blood. She was bedridden and did not respond to any treatment. She suffered relapses, and became so thin you could see her bones. After a few years the money we owed increased daily, and so did the gossip about us. And because she had pledged sisterhood with a sing-song girl, my parents’ scorn for Yun deepened daily.

(p.78)

[…] a messenger arrived. He had been sent by a woman who had been a sworn sister of Yun’s as a child, who had married a man named Hua from Hsishan, and who had heard of her illness and wanted to inquire after her.

My father, however, mistakenly thought he was a messenger from Han-yuan and so became even angrier, saying, “Your wife does not behave as a woman should, swearing sisterhood with a sing-song girl. Nor do you think to learn from your elders, running around with riff-raff. […]”

(p.79-80)

These were Yun’s parting instructions to our daughter: “Your mother has had a bitter fate and emotions that run too deep; therefore we have had many problems. Fortunately your father has been kind to me, and there is nothing to worry about in our leaving. […]”

(p.86)

I returned to find Yun moaning and weeping, looking as if something awful had happened. As soon as she saw me she burst out, “Did you know that yesterday noon [our servant] Ah Shuang stole all our things and ran away? I have asked people to search everywhere, but they still have not found him. […]”

(p.87)

[…] from then on she began frequently to talk in her sleep, calling out, “Ah Shuang has run away!” or “How could Han-yuan turn her back on me?” Her illness worsened daily.

Finally I was about to call a doctor to treat her, but she stopped me. “My illness began because of my terribly deep grief over my brother’s running away and my mother’s death,” said Yun. “It continued because of my affections, and now it has returned because of my indignation. I have always worried too much about things, and while I have tried my best to be a good daughter-in-law, I have failed.

These are the reasons why I have come down with dizziness and palpitations of the heart. The disease has already entered my vitals, and there is nothing a doctor can do about it. Please do not spend money on something that cannot help. […]”

[…]

(p.88)

Suddenly she fell silent and began to pant, her eyes staring into the distance. I called her name a thousand times, but she could not speak. Two streams of agonised tears flowed from her eyes in torrents, until finally her panting grew shallow and her tears dried up. Her spirit vanished in the mist and she began her long journey.

[…] Alas! Yun came to this world a woman, but she had the feelings and abilities of a man. After she entered the gate of my home in marriage, I had to rush about daily to earn our clothing and food, there was never enough, but she never once complained. When I was living at home, all we had for entertainment was talk about literature. What a pity that she should have died in poverty and after long illness. And whose fault was it that she did? It was my fault, what else can I say? I would advise all the husbands and wives in the world not to hate one another, certainly, but also not to love too deeply. As it is said, “An affectionate couple cannot grow old together”. My example should serve as a warning to others.