#Anti-Misty hate
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Honestly, Misty got redeemed overall with Aim to Be a Pokemon Master, and I'm glad about it. That said, like with the Unintentionally Unsympathetic entry for her and to a degree, Brock, I see a vocal minority of her haters have taken TV Tropes and basically pushed this shade on her:
"Back in the 90s and the 2000s, Misty was one of the most popular characters in the franchise for being a Fiery Redhead Action Girl and hilarious Deadpan Snarker who acted as the perfect foil to Ash Ketchum while also being a bit of a mentor to him, with legions of fans shipping the two of them together. Many were devastated and outraged over her getting Put on a Bus at the end of Johto, and you could see people demanding her return to the series as a main character as late as 2009, long after her replacement May had been retired and while May's own replacement Dawn was getting ready to leave as well. However, starting in the early 2010s those same fans would look back on Mistyâs tenure and scrutinize it for a multitude of reasons. Unlike later female characters, she lacked any kind of Character Development beyond becoming less violent after getting Togepi (which some don't count as actual development, considering the show as a whole became less violent around this time), with said violent outbursts now being seen as more cruel than funny. These fans also point out that for all of Misty's bravado, she rarely battled against trainers aside from Team Rocket, which made her credentials seem like at best an Informed Attribute, and at worst made her many critiques of Ash seem hypocritical. The introduction of the infamously polarizing anime version of Iris was also a contributing factor; Iris was widely suspected to be an attempt at recapturing Misty's success, which caused many viewers to go back and re-evaluate Misty in a more critical light, with some pointing out that quite a few of Iris' most criticized qualities had earlier been displayed by Misty. While Misty still retains fans to this day, she's become far more divisive, with many fans arguing her initial popularity came mainly or even solely from being Ash's first female companion."
Oh, trust me, the scruitinization was going on during AG as well, and that was just showing how some people lacked loyalty to her to begin with. Scott85 was among the worst.
As far as the rest, seriously? Misty if anything was probably one of the better-developed members of the cast (if there was anything preventing her from being fully developed, it's that Masamitsu Hidaka forced her to be kicked off for "not being girl enough"). She actually had to develop from someone who had to present a tough exterior partly due to bullying from her elder sisters to being somewhat open about having a soft side by the end of Johto, while STILL keeping her temper intact. I'll admit she probably didn't get much battles in hindsight, but at least she still managed to GET battles in, and by Johto she was getting a good turnaround by giving SOME focus on her goal. And as far as the outbursts, seriously? Most of her outbursts in Kanto were outright TAME compared to some of her peers in other anime (for example, Bulma outright SHOT Goku a few times, and don't get me started on Naru Narusegawa in Love Hina, who treated Keitaru FAR worse. Heck, even IN-SERIES, Jessie treated her companions FAR worse than Misty EVER did). And as far as Iris, while I'll admit I don't have much to go by regarding Best Wishes due to being on boycott at the time (and I would have watched it on Pokemon TV alongside the other sagas barring OS, even that, if they didn't stupidly do "keep circulating the tapes" for everything barring the immediate beginning and ending of the series prior to shutdown), what little I heard about Iris if anything had me view her as a WORTHY successor to Misty, meaning I didn't even hate her at all. Even her infamous "Just a kid" catchphrase (what caused her to get a hatedom) was if anything more the fault of the writers making Ash regress in development than an ACTUAL issue with Iris herself. At most, I was neutral, even came close to liking her (far more than May and Dawn, those two I downright hated, and still DO hate ultimately, and believe it or not, my hatred of them had very little to do with Misty other than maybe characterizations). I fail to see how Dawn really developed other than MAYBE going from point A to point B, and May's development if anything was a complete mess (and considering she threw a tantrum after her loss to Solidad and even basically blamed Ash for the loss, I can hardly say she even developed from her insecure self at the beginning at all), with Lillie doing May's character development a LOT better (and if anything May was moreorless a standard Shoujo Protagonist). The only things they had over Misty was an (over)focus on their Coordinator goals (and let's be honest, had Misty actually been allowed to go to Hoenn instead of kicked off, her Water Pokemon Master goal most likely would have gotten a LOT more focus and thus actually ALLOWED her to be better developed goal-wise). Oh, and Misty was NEVER a hypocrite regarding her criticisms of Ash. At least Misty actually WON her battles when she had them, while Ash for half of Kanto literally got his badges via dubious methods that didn't even entail battling (especially when one remembers that the Pokemon League in the anime was a fighting tournament, meaning Ash needs to actually BEAT the Gym Leaders just to genuinely qualify), and even regarding the Cascade Badge, her SISTERS were the ones who awarded the badge to Ash that time, NOT Misty. She if anything protested that decision. Actually, the only one of the cast who actually WAS a hypocrite was Brock, since he derided Ash for so-called "pity badges" despite his WILLINGLY giving such earlier.
And at least for me, Misty's popularity had nothing to do with when she debuted. It was overall her actual character (and most of those "fans" seem to ignore the actual positive qualities she had on the show, including encouraging Ash [yes, she DID in fact do that, and also did a LOT to actually TRY to help him. In fact, there were more than a few times where if it weren't for her, Ash and co. would have been dead or otherwise unable to continue], also genuinely helping various COTDs like Joe when he was being bullied by Giselle. I can assure you if Misty debuted after May or Dawn or even Serena, I definitely would have genuinely liked her regardless.
The good news is, this is definitely a case of vocal minority, since the Movie 20 poll for various characters made it pretty clear that Misty was liked by fans of all ages enough to qualify in the Top 3 (only Brock and Serena beat her out).
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why does everyone think itâs some kind of âgotcha!â to Misty fans to be like âsheâs a rapist/she tried to rape Ben!ââŠ.
Like yall do understand that wasnât her overall goal of poisoning him the first or second time, right?
Her goal was to lower his morals/inhibitions enough so that he didnât CARE about the ramifications of having sex with (sexually assaulting) her. If she truly wanted to hurt him the way yall imply, then why would she even be upstairs the first time she poisons him? Wouldnât she be downstairs waiting for him to pass out/get sick?
(I know people will bring up when she tried to grope him that one morning, and while that was wrong, I think it was coming less from a place of âI want to sexually assault this personâ and more from a place of âIâm a confused child who doesnât know what to do with these huge feelings Iâm having and I already donât know how to navigate social interactions well so Iâm going to do what I assume a grown man would want.â
Also, this feels like the face of a scared childâ
ânot a potential rapist.)
And the second time she poisons him, she only jumps on him AFTER he gives a whole big speech about not caring what society thinks and about how love connects everyone (typical mushroom thoughts but who can blame Misty for misinterpreting that? Sheâs also on mushrooms during this scene.)
She obviously was waiting for him to have some sort of mental âbreakthroughâ so he can love her/assault her, which is⊠really fucked up, but also really sad? Sheâs so desperate for any kind of attention that she is actively begging for a grown man to assault her. This isnât something a non-abused child would do, btw. This behavior is definitely influenced by past traumas/experiences.
Also the morning after Doomcoming, she saysâ
âand I know a lot of people see this and think sheâs lying/lashing out, but I think sheâs being honest here about her interpretation of the situation.
Iâll say it over and over again if I have to, Coach Ben is not the victim in this situation. Idk what itâs going to take to get that through yâallâs heads.
#like oh my god#inspired by a Misty hate post I just saw ugh#misty quigley#yellowjackets#anti coach Ben#sa mention
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Behold everyone, the most anti-Larry thing I've ever made!
#ace attorney#misty fey#maya fey#larry butz#it's actually dunking on misty not larry#i just don't make anti larry stuff at all#because i am a larry enjoyer and people really hate him too much
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Lmao as a c!dream apologist, there is something soooo funny about the way c!dream anti's will unironically say that he deserved torture and that they're happy about that and then in the same exact breath talk about Tommy and how dream apologists' won't call exile abuse.
Like okay bestie, sure, torture/abuse is completely morally acceptable as long as the person deserves it. That is a completely normal, not at all concerning way to view retribution.
And I think most Dream apologists (at least the normal ones) can acknowledge that exile and prison were both unacceptable. Can you?
#dream anti's leave me alone I'm objectively correct for once#i hate to be the one to tell you this#but when we say no body deserves to be abused#that really means no body#not even those you deem to be horrible people#like bestie c!dream is not a one dimensional villain#he is not a good person#but he is still a person#and people deserve basic human rights#no matter how awful they are#c!dream#rant#dsmp#misty rambles#joining this fandom was a mistake y'all give me anger issues
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Everyone and their mom wouldnât stop bitching about the Cats movie when it came out, but that ugly ass CGI PokĂ©mon remake movie from the same year predicted all those hideous AI generated fake Pixar movie posters.
#it looks so bad#itâs the same art style#pokĂ©mon#pokeani#pokemon#pokemon anime#my fucking post#ash ketchum#gym leader misty#gym leader brock#cgi remakes#Mewtwo strikes back#i hate ai#shitpost#meme#funny#anti ai#fuck ai#fuck generative ai#Cats 2019#cats movie
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Pretty much agreed with all of this. And quite frankly, even though people complain about how she's a cheap knockoff of Misty, I'd argue if anything her similarities to Misty is PRECISELY why I found her a decent character from what I could gather of her (far better than May or Dawn were regarding filling her shoes ultimately), and I ESPECIALLY appreciated how the writers DIDN'T repeat the mistake they made with Misty when her run ended. She's similar yet different at the same time. Her only true writing flaw (note I said writing flaw, NOT character flaw, as character flaws are intentional flaws that a character is supposed to outgrow or at least mitigate, while a writing flaw is a case of bad writing) was her "Just a kid" gag, and even THAT was more a bad reflection on Ash's rewrite in Best Wishes than a genuine writing flaw on her part specifically.
Now, who knows, maybe my views on her might change once I get an actual opportunity to watch Best Wishes, but from what I could gather of her in various intel of her, she's decent, a step up from May and Dawn.
Iris is Great.
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Anti-Romantic | CHAPTER TWO | 18+
«GENERAL M.LIST» · «NAVIGATION» · «TALK TO ME» · «TAGLIST»
THE MATCHMAKER MEETS HIS MATCH
âRuin me, please.â
«PREVIOUS CHAPTER» · «SERIES MASTERLIST»
Pairing: Hyunjin x Fem!Reader Genre: Non idol au, fluff, smut, romcom, drama, opposites attract Chapter Warnings: explicit sexual content, mentions of emotionally abusive ex, mutual fantasizing, brief mentions of virginity loss, heavy drinking, Hyunjin is delulu, heavy dom/sub dynamics: dom!reader, sub!Han Jisung (yes, there's Jisung smut in a Hyunjin story SUE ME), degradation, creampie, oral sex (f receiving), rough sex, drunk sex (both are consenting parties), semi-public sex (?) Word Count: 15.1k
P.S. ⥠If you like my work, please consider giving me feedback in the form of reblogs, comments, and asks! âĄ
âAnd now, hereâs what we really want to ask you, Dr. Hwang: are you single?âÂ
The interviewer swivels her head to look at Hyunjin, her Botox-enhanced mouth spreading into a wide, magenta-lipsticked smile. Hyunjin barely registers her question, distracted by her disturbing resemblance to a vulture, with her beady eyes, hooked nose, and razor-sharp nails clutching a microphone like talons grasping prey. Her garish pea-green pantsuit and cat-eye glasses, combined with a frizzy blonde perm, remind him of that creepy reporter from Harry Potter, absolutely not helping his currently depleted Zen levels.Â
He can already feel a sweat breaking out on his neck, permeating his satin button-down and threatening to ruin the outfit he had chosen this morning. Usually, picking out what to wear is one of Hyunjinâs favorite parts of the entire day; breathing in the Coco Noir scent of his walk-in closet is like Hyunjinâs own expensive version of aromatherapy. Today, however, it felt like a chore; It took him forever to find the perfect accessories to tie everything together, before he finally settled on his new gold Cartier earrings and the matching Juste un Clou bracelet. Hyunjin knows he looks amazing in his tastefully vintage yet sleek ensemble. He looks every bit the title of a sexy savant, one that he so rightfully carries. He looks ready to slay an interview on Californiaâs most popular talk-show, The L.A. View. But for the first time ever, he doesnât feel it.Â
It could have been the coffee that he had hand-pressed for himself this morning, his usual brew of arabica beans imported from the misty slopes of Guatemala. But then again, the coffee brought a much-needed buzz that Hyunjin needed to drag himself out of bed, no matter how temporary. More likely, it was the margarita that heâd downed in the car that was sent to pick him up and bring him to the studio to tape the interview. Tequila always makes Hyunjinâs stomach turn. Or maybeâ
âDr. Hwang?â
Hyunjin snaps out of his reverie, plastering a charmingly mysterious smile onto his face. One, two, three⊠work that charm. âWouldnât you like to know, Sharon?â
The audience oohs beneath the dimmed stage lighting, and Sharon turns red, a shade visible even under the lurid bronzer thatâs caked onto her face. Hyunjin would really love to book Sharon an appointment at HWASA Skincare and Cosmetics, his go-to beauty consultant whenever heâs visiting Seoul. The founder and CEO, his old friend Hye-Jin, would personally host her just so that Hyunjin could be relieved of the horrible bout of trypophobia heâs getting right now, staring into Sharonâs cavernous pores.
âOh, stop it!â Sharon giggles, clapping her hands together. âThere definitely must be a lucky lady in your life. Youâre the Love Doctor. And not to mention, but very handsome.â
Sharon winks over exaggeratedly at the camera, and Hyunjin has to hold himself back from cringing away when she palms his shoulder, eyeing him hungrily. He canât blame her, of course; the sleeves of his shirt squeeze his arms in such a way that his toned biceps are shown offâ thank you very much, Better Body Pilates. But he needs his personal space. Out of everything, he hates when people treat him like some sort of an animal at the zoo, petting and prodding at him. He sees himself as more of the Mona Lisa, a masterpiece to be marveled at, not touched. His Zen is important, after all.Â
Still, Hyunjin just shoots her a disarming smirk, crossing one Valentino-clad leg over the other. âThe only lady in my life is Princess Diana. But Iâd say Iâm the lucky one.â
Both Sharon and the audience members aww, utterly captivated by Hyunjin when he pulls out a small Polaroid of his puppy from his breast pocket, holding it out so that the cameras can zoom in on it. As expected, his answer seems to have satisfied Sharonâs invasiveness, but beneath his beaming expression hides the building tension in his chest.Â
What Hyunjin said is the partial truth; he may not currently have a significant other, but did he have someone in mind, when romance is in question? Yes. Is said person completely off-limits? Also yes. And would his reputation be completely tarnished if that very classified information got out? Yes, yes, and yes.
âThank you so much for sitting down with us, Dr. Hwang,â Sharon says, thrusting out her hand for Hyunjin to shake it. Ever the professional, he accepts it like a champ. âAnd thatâs all for now, folks! Stay tuned to watch my little chat with Meghan Markle about her ex-royal lifestyle. The teapot is boiling!â
The cameras cut and Hyunjin quickly excuses himself, waving to all of the people wistfully gazing after him. He enters the little hallway behind the filming room and breaks into a run very unlike himself, practically having to swerve around crew members and stage equipment. As soon as heâs locked away inside his dressing room, Hyunjin slides off his patent leather loafers and falls back onto the couch.
Itâs been exactly three months since he first set eyes on you, kickstarting his unsavory fantasies and therein, digging himself into an early grave. And maybe it would have been okay, because as a male, sometimes heâs inclined to think with his dick. Itâs a biological reaction that he canât control. But itâs not, though, because the constant image of you printed like a tattoo on his mind has been interfering with his life and sense of normalcy. Itâs a feeling thatâs only grown in magnitude, especially now that with your weekly sessions, youâve rapidly blossomed into the strong, confident woman that he always knew you were. So itâs not the fact that heâs hornyâ well, not the only factâ itâs that he might have feelings for you. Feelings that could get him into trouble, bigtime.
And the list that you wrote for him a while back definitely didnât help. Hyunjin sits up, reaching for his notepad that he left on the little coffee table in front of the couch. He leafs through the pages, before pulling out the small slip of paper that he saved. Reading over the words for what feels like the umpteenth time, Hyunjin involuntarily smiles to himself. This time, itâs genuine.
The first thing that I donât absolutely hate about myself is my imagination. Iâve been restricting myself a lot, lately, because I hated the thought of coming up with new ideas just to never bring them to life. Itâs probably my post-Jisung and ITEM Tech trauma. But I felt kind of inspired by our first meeting today. I have a lot of great ideas, and I think that one day, I have the potential to beat Jisungâs ass and make a better company than his.
My fucking patience. You know, you might think otherwise, because it may seem like I have the patience of a single mom at a birthday party. But today proved differently. My friend/coworker Minho and his wife invited me over for dinner, which would have been fine, except theyâre one of the most disgustingly perfect couples ever. They canât go two minutes without giving each other a sappy ass look or holding hands or singing a song or something. And then Minhoâs wife asked me if I wanted some ice cream, like she and her man werenât just all over each other a millisecond ago. I just smiled and nodded. You can say I have the patience of the saint, now.
I like how Iâm perseverant. For example: this. I could have given up after the first two days and ditched this piece of paper. But I didnât. I want to be better. Iâm very perseverent. Okay, my hand hurts. Iâm putting down the pen for today.
My resilience. For the billionth time in my life, my boss made me want to drive out of work and jump into a lake. Long story short, Mark Lee is the worst motherfucker to ever exist (well, after his bestie Park Jisung. My boss and ex-boyfriend are friends. FML). But after one of his daily rants about how Iâm not up to mark for some random reason, I walked out of his office and into the office kitchen. I got a Sprite from the fridge, crushed the full can with my bare hands, and then proceeded to calmly clean up the spilled soda before going back to work. I deserve a medal for my healthy anger management technique of smashing things and then bouncing back like a frigginâ spring.
The only home cooked meals I can really stomach are the ones that Minho shares with me at work. You know, heâs really such a menace. When I moved into my current apartment, he got me a cutting board as a gift, knowing damn well I donât cook. But nowadays, Iâve been slowly getting more comfortable in the kitchen. I still donât think I trust myself in cooking, but Iâm kind of a really good baker, Iâm realizing. Today, I made brownies. Iâm eating one right now, and I guess I donât hate that.
I am very patient, Part 2. My dumbass cousin, Yeonjun, called me up to hang out. Knowing him, that means me buying him a crap ton of expensive food. And heâs pretty loaded, too. I think he just loves pissing me off. First, he wanted pizza. That would have been fine, if we hit Dominoâs or something, but he made me take him to this ridiculously upscale restaurant downtown. Their damn pizzas had caviar and truffles on them! Like, what the fuck happened to good old pepperoni? And as if that wasnât enough, he then started complaining that he wanted fucking dessert too. So he ordered this fruit charcuterie board that cost another fortune. On the way home, I had to get him an $8 boba because âthe cheese made him thirsty.â His metabolism is amazing. Iâm kind of jealous. But anyway, Iâm practically Mother Teresa at this point, because dealing with Yeonjun is no easy task. Heâs lucky I love him.
Fundamentally, I think Iâm a good person. And I think I deserve to be happy. There. Seven things, seven days. Iâm done now. See you tomorrow.
Hyunjin sighs, sliding the paper back into his book and setting it inside his little Prada bag. This tiny scrap of paper had him seeing stars, when he first read it in the office, in front of you. Thereâs just something about you that he couldnât and still canât put his finger on. Maybe itâs how delightfully pugnacious you are, or that comically angry tone you approach the world with, no matter what. And he had to bite his tongue too, because thereâs no way you came up with just seven things, not when Hyunjin felt like he could give a whole recitation on your very attractive qualities, just after meeting with you once. Youâre unintentionally hilarious. Real. Tough. Inquisitive. Also, youâre simply the sexiest thing heâs ever seen.
Youâre like an impossible puzzle to him; all the pieces are there, and yet, he canât seem to put you together. Or rather, he canât seem to figure out how to get his own shit together and finish the damn puzzle. Because heâs oh-so down bad, and he knows it.Â
âDr. Hwang? Are you in there?â
Hyunjin stands up immediately, locking away his daydreams about you and brushing off his trousers. He quickly smooths back his artfully slicked wolf cut and opens the door for Wonyoung to step inside with her trusty tablet. Momentarily, Hyunjin is sidetracked by her outfit, a stylish mini paired with a silky lilac bomber jacketâ because where the fuck are those heels fromâ before he remembers himself.
âWhatâs up?â Hyunjin nonchalantly flicks a strand of hair out of his eyes, trying not to seem like he wasnât just having a panic attack on that stupid couch just five seconds ago.
Wonyoung taps on the screen of the tablet for a few seconds, before looking up. âYou have an appointment with your personal trainer in twenty minutes. Youâre running late. And then at four, you need to get back to SeoulSpark for a meeting with a client. Hereâs your change of clothes. Iâve already called a car for you.â
âOh. Thanks.â Hyunjin accepts the gym bag, before jerking back in dreadful realization. âWait. Which client do I have to meet with today?â
Wonyoung gives him a strange look. âMiss Y/L/N. Hey, are you alright, Dr. Hwang? You always stay on top of all of your engagements, but you havenât been yourself lately.â
At the mere mention of your name, Hyunjin literally wishes he could melt into a puddle right then and there. Of course he hasnât been himself, not when you waltzed into the office and wreaked havoc on his very humble lifeâ for example, yesterday, he forgot to wear his Versace pajamas to sleep, and not his Fendi ones. Hyunjin knows that Saturdays are strictly for Versace; he promised Donatella years ago at the Met Gala. This is all your faultâ how can it be poor Hyunjinâs, when heâs just a mere mortal cowering in your goddess-like presence?Â
âI- Iâm okay, Wonyoung. I, uh, just ate some bad sushi.â
âYou ate bad sushi every day for the past three months?â Wonyoung suspiciously raises an eyebrow at Hyunjin. She isnât buying it, unfortunately.Â
âUh-huh. Itâs a terrible addiction that Iâm trying to break. My raw seafood intake is off the charts. Guess Iâm not perfect after all,â Hyunjin babbles, adding onto his already horrendous lie.Â
Wonyoung still doesnât look convinced, but Hyunjin flounces out of the room before she can say anything else and uncover his deep, dark secret: you. Besides, his ride is waiting outside and his quads really need working.
âSee you later, Changbin.â Hyunjin waves to his trainer as he grabs his belongings and exits the gym after a grueling workout. Usually, he prefers more low-impact routines, like aerial yoga or cycling around Marina del Rey. But because heâs been skimping out so much these days, Changbin made him do an endless round of jump squats before beating his ass in boxing.Â
Hyunjin presses his fingers to his aching back muscles, sore with both exhaustion and worry. The slim hands of his Rolex alert him to the fact that there is only one more hour before he must face you, and he is nowhere near ready. Heâll just have to skip the sauna today. Quickly, he gets into the car standing for him by the curb, slipping on his Gucci shades and sliding down below the window in the backseat, like a celebrity escaping a paparazzi cloud.
As soon as he gets back to Oasis, the opulent complex that houses his beloved penthouse, Hyunjin practically flies into his bathroom and locks the door. Without even bothering to set his eucalyptus shower steamer, Hyunjin cleans himself up as much as he can, scrubbing off the sweat and grit of the gym from his skin.Â
Once heâs finished, he gets dressed and sits down in front of his bedroom mirror thatâs designed to look like a Hollywood-style vanity. Taking a deep breath, he inspects his face for any signs of something off. Nope. He looks as dewy and fresh as a pink rose petal, minus the slight red rings under his eyes, which are the courtesy of many, many sleepless nights over you.
Hyunjin, however, is incredibly proud of himself for getting to the office with fifteen minutes to spare, therein being able to fit in a little solo pep talk in the car. His third outfit of the day is a show-stopping black Celine suit, practically designed to make heads turn. It definitely isnât to impress you with his impeccable styleâ no, he did it for himself, obviously. Thatâs the only reason. And itâs a little extravagant, even for Hyunjin, but then again, heâs never been known for his subtlety.Â
His post-workout clarity gives him hope that everything will go back to normal, before you. All he needs to do is focus on himself. Everything else will pass, eventually. At least, thatâs what Hyunjin keeps telling himself to believe, right before he crashes headfirst into you in the hallway outside of his office.
âHey, Hyunjin!â Grinning, you hold out a small gift box tied with a sunny bow, which is coincidentally the exact same yellow as the dress you wore when Hyunjin first met you. Today, youâre sporting salmon-colored shorts and a cream blouse with an adorable sailor collar, and Hyunjin immediately has to tamp down the urge to whisk you away to go on a private boating vacation on a yacht in St. Barts. God, you really have amazing style.
Hyunjin swallows roughly and takes the box, trying to look more excited about it than how utterly taken with you he is. âAfternoon, darling. Whatâs this?â
You reach your hand over to where the box rests in Hyunjinâs hands, toying with the bow. Hyunjin automatically feels himself internally hyperventilate at your proximity thatâs too close for comfort.Â
âMango cheesecake. Iâve been trying to perfect the recipe for a while now, and I think it finally turned out really well.â You break into a bright smile that makes Hyunjinâs brain short circuit. âI want to thank you for all of your help, besides me being less-than-cooperative sometimes. Coming here has really changed my perspective on things, and for the better.â
Hyunjin clutches the box to his chest. He had always suspected that you are the sweetest, under your stormy exterior, and thereâs nothing he wouldnât do to get a taste and confirm the truth for himself. Nevertheless, heâs both touched and now even more delusional, because you spent time on him, making something to give him. âDarling, you shouldnât have.â
You pout in response, and Hyunjin grasps the box even tighter, nearly crushing the contents in an effort to get a grip on himself. âI wanted to do something nice for you.â
Hyunjin grins, feeling himself relax a little. Thatâs one more thing about youâ you have this contradicting ability to induce both calmness and anxiety into him, another kind of black magic that you definitely harbor in your bewitching eyes. âWell, thank you. I canât wait to try it.â
You look away shyly and gesture towards Hyunjinâs office. âShould we head in?â
Smiling to himself, Hyunjin steps ahead to open the door for you as you duck your head and scramble in, folding yourself onto the sofa that you both are now well-acquainted enough to often share. After setting his velvet tote bag onto his desk, Hyunjin sits down beside you, holding out a glass of mango juice to you, a drink that you now frequent whenever you meet. Plus the cheesecake? You really must love mangoes.
As you sip on your juice, Hyunjin decides to take the reasonable course of action available: ask you about your day, not if youâre available next Friday night at six. âHow have you been? Iâm sorry I couldnât see you last week.â
You shrug, waving off Hyunjinâs apology like itâs nothing. It isnât, though; he would rather have spent time with you than having to fly to Shanghai for some brand endorsement deal that his agent made him take. âDonât worry about it. And Iâve been good. Evidently, in a much more agreeable mood these days. Itâs certainly a step-up from the grumpier me, isnât it?â
âI like you however you are,â Hyunjin blurts out without thinking, before freezing in realization. In a better world, he would have had the sense to at least clamp his hand over his mouth before he could say something stupid, but unfortunately, heâs stuck here. He wills the stammering, bumbling idiot that he turns into when youâre around to disappear, to be replaced by his usual, suave self. It doesnât quite work, because he feels a furious blush building on his neck.
Youâve also turned a light shade of pink, and Hyunjin prays to God that you canât see through his bullshit. âBecause Iâm your client. You accept me however I am.â
Hyunjin has to mentally stab himself with a fork as a reminder that he cannot, under any circumstances, disagree, although he really, really wants to. You could never be just a client to him. Youâre too precious to him for that title. Yet, he keeps a straight face as he nods, disgusted with what heâs about to say. âExactly. Youâre my client.â
You down the rest of your drink, setting the glass down on the coffee table. âAnyway, you emailed me that you had something special planned for today. What is it?â
âRight.â Hyunjin clears his throat, getting up from the sofa to make his way over to his desk. He opens one of the drawers and pulls out the thick binder heâs been dreading using with you for a while now. It weighs his hands down like an unpleasant secret as he sits back down next to you.Â
âWhatâs this?â You inquire, leaning in closer to Hyunjin. The movement allows the sugary scent of your vanilla perfume become even more prominent to Hyunjin, which is definitely not helpful right now. Hyunjin stares down at the binder, adopting a robotic tone that wonât betray his thoughts.
âWeâve worked on just you for the past few months, and now itâs time. Youâre finally ready to explore dating.â Hyunjin opens the binder, trying to ignore the sour taste of the words on his tongue. âAnd as Iâve told you before, SeoulSpark has an incredible matchmaking service that caters to everything you desire in a potential partner.â
âCool! How does it work?âÂ
Out of the corner of his eye, he notices your shorts ride up slightly, further exposing the soft skin of your upper thigh. Think of the fork, Hyunjin. Think of the damn fork.
âWell, Iâve already compiled a number of candidates in our database whose profiles complement yours. Weâre going to be setting up a time when you can speed date them.âÂ
You quirk your eyebrow in a way that shouldnât be as attractive as it is to Hyunjin. âSpeed dating? ThatâsâŠâ
âI know, I know. It might seem weird at first, but thatâs why weâre doing it the SeoulSpark way, to reduce awkwardness and make it really worth your time. Weâll go over the candidates briefly, and weed out the ones you really donât want to see.â Hyunjin opens the binder, going to the profiles. âBut I wonât tell you their names, so we can maintain at least a small element of surprise.â
Your eyes widen as you take in the first candidateâs picture, and Hyunjin has to fight the burning jealousy in his chest. âWow. Heâs handsome.â
âSwipe left or right?â
âRight.â
âOkay.â Hyunjin turns to the next page. âWhat about him?â
âUh, left. He reminds me of my uncle. No thank you.â
Hyunjin stifles his smile as he continues flipping through the profiles, noting down your answers. He tries to enjoy your unfiltered reactions and not think about the fact that one of these lucky bastards could be your future husband. Finally, he gets to the last candidate.
You frown. âHe looks kind of like a chipmunk. A quokka, maybe.â
âSo is that a left?â
âIâll say right. He seems like heâd be interesting.â You shrug, your eyes glittering with mischief. âActually, Iâm kind of excited now. Some of these guys are lookers.â
Hyunjin laughs in spite of himself, shutting the binder and standing up. âIâll email you the details of the event by next week, when weâll be holding it. â
You nod, tucking a strand of loose hair behind your earâ oh, how Hyunjin wishes he could just casually do that for you. âGot it. Iâll make sure to look dazzling.â
âDarling, you always look dazzling.â Hyunjin smirks in self-satisfaction when you flush at his quip. Itâs not exactly a reaction thatâs foreign to him, but seeing you like this, all cute and bashful, is new. And itâs a look thatâs very attractive on you. Hopefully, you attribute the flirting to Hyunjinâs naturally charming personality, not the fact that heâs impossibly gone for you. Not that the truth would make a difference, however. Youâll never be his.
âThanks, Hyunjin.â You get up from your seat, letting Hyunjin walk you out, like he always does. âI feel like you have a vision going on for this matchmaking event.â
âOh, I always have a vision.â Hyunjin chuckles, opening the door for you. âWeâre considering a tropical theme, or a garden party, maybe. Or something glamorous. Kind of like prom, but without the bad music and horny teenagers, you know?â
You shrug. âActually, I never went to my high school senior prom. But all of these ideas sound incredible.â
He pauses, his eyes widening. âYou never went to prom?â
âThere was this guy.â You look uncomfortable, but before Hyunjin can assure you that you donât have to tell him about it, you decide to continue. âI wanted to go with him, but long story short, he rejected me. And I didnât really have any friends I could go with either. I could have gone on my own, but I wasnât brave enough. Itâs one of the things that I did when I was younger that I regret now. I guess it just speaks volumes about how I hold myself back a lot.â
Hyunjin frowns. âWho in their right mind would reject you?â
âMy first love, apparently. And a bunch of others.â You sigh, fiddling with the little bow on your sleeve. âBut whatever. Iâm going to find a real man.â
âTheyâre idiots. And prom isnât even all that.â
You snort. âSays you. Iâll bet you were the kind of guy who got invited by all of the girls to be their date to prom, even if you werenât even a senior yet.â
âExactly. I would know precisely that prom is overrated as fuck.â Hyunjin gives you a smile. âMaybe weâll just go with the garden party.â
You stay quiet for a moment, as if thinking something over, before looking directly into Hyunjinâs eyes. âShame. I think I wouldâve liked to see you in a tux.â
And with that, you turn around and leave, as Hyunjin just stays rooted on the spot, dumbfounded. Because how can you just so easily shoot an arrow straight into his heart and walk away? Youâre a threat to society. Youâre a wicked enchantress. Youâre the bane of Hyunjinâs existence, and yet, he wants you to come back and string him along like a fucking bow. The dilemma is clear: Hyunjin absolutely cannot just move on from you. This is an extremely deafening cry for help.
âWonyoung?â Hyunjin croaks, as he steps back inside and collapses onto his chair.
Hyunjinâs loyal secretary sticks her head into the room, her glossy locks tumbling over her shoulders like a Pantene commercial. Hyunjin makes a mental note to ask her later about her hair care routine. âYes, boss?â
âCall Dr. Kim for me, please. I donât feel so good.â
âOf course. I guess the bad sushi really got you this time.â
âStrep throat? Negative. Flu swab test? Negative. Every single other test you made me administer for you? Ditto.âÂ
Hyunjin aggressively rubs his palms over his face. âIs there anything else, Seungmin? Are you sure there is absolutely nothing wrong with me? Should we do anything again?â
Seungmin rolls his eyes, setting his clipboard down on the bench space next to him. âItâs Dr. Kim. And I did a Barium Swallow test for you, Hyunjin. You donât just do those for any idiot who walks in begging to be examined for no apparent ailment. Took thirty minutes and nothing at all. Chief resident would be on my ass if she knew.â
âYouâd think we havenât been best friends since our Stanford days,â Hyunjin says. âThere is something wrong with me.â
Hyunjin stares down at the upper right leg of his pants, picking at a small loose thread. Heâs never seen one appear in his clothing ever since he was eighteen and quiet being so fashionably challenged, but instead of disgust, he feels a strange sense of solidarity. Just like the thread, he feels out of place; confused and lost, even though heâs standing right in the middle of half of the worldâs dream. But wanting someone who he can never have isnât a dream, surely, and neither is the phantom pain in his abdomen, the one that Dr. Kim claims doesn't exist.
ââOur Stanford daysâ were literally only three years ago. And I was in med school while you were getting a PhD in the study of crazies. I knew there were a couple screws loose up there,â Seungmin scoffs, tapping his temple in flourish punctuated with impudence. âI should have known better than to befriend your ass.â
âSeung-min, youâre lying,â Hyunjin retorts, emphasizing the syllables of his friendâs name. âI swear, Iâm sick.â
Seungmin groans, fed up with Hyunjinâs stubborn mindset. âYouâre twenty-eight years old and have your own booming practice. Hell, you wear head-to-toe designer, even underwearâ yes, I saw the Gucci briefs in your bag, that one time you made me go shopping with you. Meanwhile, Iâm a stressed, overworked, and underpaid surgery resident who has to listen to his rich and famous best friend complain that heâs not feeling well. Oh, poor baby. What the fuck is wrong with you?â
âIâm trying! Iâm trying, okay?â Hyunjin finally explodes, throwing his hands up in the air. Usually, he maintains that peaceful temperament that puts up with Seungminâs attitude. Not today, however. âHonestly, Seungmin, you want to know whatâs wrong with me? Her. Sheâs all over me, inside and out! Everywhere I look, Iâm reminded of her. Everywhere I goâ her. And you know what? Itâs not all in my head. Itâs not a fucking crazy case. I physically feel myself wanting to throw up every five fucking minutes. I have a horrible headache that wonât go away, no matter how long I rot in my bed. Iâm sore all over and I just want to go home!â
Hyunjinâs best friend just glares at him in shock for a good few seconds, watching as he pants from the ferocity of his words. And then he recovers, smoothing his face over into that signature judgemental expression, because heâs Kim Seungmin. âI shouldâve known this was about a girl.â
Hyunjin sighs. Thankfully, no one overheard his rant, because this is Seungminâs lunch break and whenever Hyunjin insists on an emergency meeting, Seungmin brings him over to this empty corridor tucked behind the equipment storage rooms, where no prying eyes wander.Â
âItâs not just any girl, Seungmin. Itâs the girl. Sheâs⊠all I do know is that sheâs my client who walked into my life three months ago and proceeded to destroy it. She came in like a tropical storm and now she smiles at me like the fucking sun. She confuses me and makes me forget random shit and she doesnât even know about any of it. And all I want to be is hers, even though I canât be.â
Seungmin doesnât say anything, before he bursts into uncontrollable laughter, the kind that makes his body shake with impact. âYou⊠are⊠acting⊠so stupid.â
And this only makes Hyunjin even more frustrated. âWell, thatâs the whole damn point! Iâm not stupid, but Iâm obviously acting it! I donât know what to do, Seungmin! Help a brother out!â
After he calms himself down, Seungmin sighs loudly and wipes the traces of any tears caused by amusement of Hyunjinâs plight. âIâm not an expert in this, Hyunjin. But to be honest, it seems to me that youâre falling for her, and youâre just in denial.â
Hyunjin feels nothing short of horrified. âBut⊠I canât be. Are you sure?â
âArenât you the frigginâ Love Doctor or some shit? How the fuck am I supposed to be sure?â
But Hyunjin barely hears Seungmin, getting off the bench to pace back and forth in the little hallway. He canât be falling for you, becauseâ he just canât! The plethora of problems that would arise from him falling in love with you are fucking endless, the worst being that you could end up negatively impacted. And all because your stupid, idiotic dating coach couldnât keep his stupid, idiotic feelings in check. He would rather give up his beloved Versace brand deal than ever see you hurt, and thatâs really saying something.
Seungmin tries to get to Hyunjin again. âOr maybe youâre not falling for her. Maybe youâre just horny.â
Hyunjin whirls around, side-eyeing Seungmin with disgust. âThe hell you mean?â
âWhenâs the last time you, you know? Got some?â
âYou put it so eloquently.â Hyunjin rolls his eyes. âAnd itâs been ten months.â
âSee? Thatâs definitely it. You need to get laid, and youâre taking your sexual frustration out like this. Youâre always the one lecturing everyone else on having healthy sex and love lives and shit, but really youâre a hypocrite. Tell me, why are you such a hypocrite, Hyunjin?â
Hyunjin crosses his arms, irritated yet able to see Seungminâs point. He had his share of relationships, enough to augment his experience and research in the whole field. Itâs not like they all ended badly, thoughâ quite the opposite, really. The majority of them were amicable splits, or awkward conversations, at the very most. The only notably sour memory is Hyunjinâs ex-girlfriend from ninth grade, the one who broke up with him in a fit of jealousy when another girl confessed her love for Hyunjin. But then again, all high school relationships are basically doomed to crash and burn.
Hyunjin was careful to never get into anything too serious anyway, because his only love would be his job; he broke up with his last girlfriendâ which might be a strong word for someone who merely considered him a wine-and-dine booty callâ because he just didnât feel that same spark with her that he felt when running his business. And he didnât think he had that capacity to feel it anywhere else, but that was all before you.
âI donât know, Seungmin.â Hyunjin looks down glumly at the concrete flooring, his body completely exhausted of all of the fight in him
The look in Seungminâs eyes softens as Hyunjin slumps back into his seat. âDonât you think that youâve been so busy thinking about helping other people with their loves that youâve completely neglected yours? When are you going to stop being so goddamn perfect and care for yourself?â
âBut I do care for myself! Why else would I have a fourteen-step skincare routine and Gucci boxers?â Hyunjin protests, stalling more than really arguing. He just doesnât want to admit to whatâs really bothering him.
Seungmin rolls his eyes for what feels like the hundredth time in the past ten minutes. He should get back to rounds; lunch will be over soon. âThatâs not self-care, thatâs called being fucking weird. And Iâm talking about your head. You have this illusion up there that in order to help others, you need to be flawless. Get out of it, man. Whether you want someone to have a one-night stand with or have your freaking children, you need to be open and pursue it. Life is messy and unpredictable, even for neurotic perfectionists like you. Itâs okay to be horny. Itâs okay to be in love. Itâs okay to be you.â
Hyunjin ponders over Seungminâs advice, before looking up. âI hate when youâre right.â
âI know.â
âFine.â
âDonât you âfineâ me, dumbass. Go put on your Armani shit and get going, for fuckâs sake. This isnât Mission Impossible. I canât believe I have to tell you this.â Seungmin shakes his head, dusting off his scrubs. He leans forward to tighten the laces on his special work sneakers; the clock is really ticking down now.
Hyunjin gives Seungmin a withering look. âI wear Versace on my missions.â
âWelcome to SeoulSparkâs third biannual company-wide Matchmaking Event!â
The small crowd of hopeful singles crammed into the gazebo politely claps as the speaker looks down at all of you from his perch on the little elevated platform, like some kind of an all-knowing benefactor.Â
âThank you everyone. You can call me Jin, and Iâll be your emcee and operations director on this fine afternoon.â He beams. âAnd can I just say, you people look so good today? Obviously not as much as me, but still.ââ
A scattered collection of horribly faked laughter ripples throughout the gathering, and you have to resist rolling your eyes. If it wasnât for the fact that Jin does actually serve as great eye candy, you wouldâve already been putting on your sunglasses and trying to fake being awake.Â
âDr. Hwang will be here in a few moments to intro, and then weâll get on with it!â Jin states, continuing his unnecessary theatrics. âBut while we wait, can someone answer this question: what do you call an ice cream that parties too hard?â
Before the inevitable awkward silence can ensue, some bored-looking man who stands a little further away from everyone else pipes up. You recognize him as the very first candidate whose picture Hyunjin had presented to youâ the hot oneâ except now, his short, preppy haircut has grown out into a wavy mullet. âJust say it.â
Jin looks temporarily taken aback by the manâs unfiltered attitude, before correcting his expression back into a winning smile. âIt is out of CONE-trol! Get it? Because of the ice cream cone? Isnât that funny?â
There isnât a single person in the crowd who looks impressed, least of all mullet-guy. âNo. And it still wouldnât be funny even if I was seven years old and actually liked horrible dad jokes.â
Thereâs a bite to his tone, and Jin seems to have taken it personally. Jin clears his throat, stuck while clearly trying to think of something to say, when relief comes over his face as he looks directly at you. âThere he is! Dr. Hwang: the man of the hour.â
You turn around so fast that you nearly get whiplash, and of course Hyunjin is right there, towering over you like some sort of gorgeous sunflower. Fuckâ you knew you smelled that stormy jasmine in the air, but you passed it off as just your imagination. And because there are so many people packed into this tiny pavilion, your bodies are practically pressed together as everyone else cranes their necks to get a load of the Love Doctor.Â
âItâs so good to see you, darling. You look stunning,â Hyunjin says to you, in a way that seems so genuine that your baby blue gingham sundress from Target doesnât feel so childish anymore, like you thought after seeing all of the other ladiesâ stylish getups.
âThanks.â You blush, averting your eyes. The last time you met up with him, your bolder alter-ego possessed you for a second and threw a flirty one-liner at Hyunjin, when you realized yourself and walked the hell away, before you could gauge his reaction. âYou look very stunning yourself as well.â
And he truly is, as always, dressed in another quirky yet stylish look: a high-neck jacket and camel cargos, complete with a chain link shoulder leather bag. The thick gold crosses dangling from his ears donât look gaudy, instead bringing out a youthful glow in Hyunjinâs skin. God, you really love a man who can dress.
âEverything alright, Dr. Hwang?â Jin calls out, breaking you out of your trance.
âYes, Jin. Iâll be up in a second.â Hyunjin doesnât take his eyes off of you, just serenely blinking like he has all the time in the world. âI absolutely adored your mango cheesecake, darling. You have to tell me about the recipe later.â
He shoots you one last disarming smile, before heading up to the platform, and youâre left to longingly stare after him like a dessert enthusiast on a sugar-free diet. You watch him take the mic from Jin, who dramatically holds out his hands towards Hyunjin when backing off of the platform.Â
âHello!â Hyunjin chirps, and really, the wind is a paid actor here, breezing in and perfectly tousling his midnight mane.Â
This time, the audienceâs response is more authentic, everyone responds in their own greetings out loud. You canât help but feel your heart swell at the sight; your crush really is so charismatic.
âSo, weâve already explained how todayâs going to work in the emails that were sent out to all of you a couple days ago. But to debrief: we will be having fifteen six-minute speed dating rounds today, each held at one of the designated tables,â Hyunjin explains, gesturing to the space surrounding the gazebo.
For the matchmaking event, SeoulSpark booked out Cafe Fiorella, a posh little eatery nestled in the heart of Vista Hermosa Natural Parkâs dusty garden trails and meadows. Hyunjin and his planners did an outstanding job of organizing everything, and even you canât help but note how impossibly romantic it isâ for a speed-dating gig, at least. There are dainty bistro tables set up in the grassy outdoor dining area and nestled on top of them, multiple tiered platters loaded with hors d'oeuvres and decorative blossoms. You donât even want to think about how much this would have cost.
âBefore each round, you will all get a text providing you with the number of your table, where you will be able to chat with your partner, one of the candidates that corresponded with your profile.â Hyunjin catches your eye, and you feel yourself heat up. Focus. âAfter every round, take note of who you want to see again, and at the end, weâll give you a form to fill out and submit. When you have your next appointment with us, weâll let you know who youâve matched with. Any questions?â
No one raises any, probably because theyâre too self-conscious to ask in front of their potential partners, which leaves Hyunjin to just nod. âMy team and I will be present as chaperones, just making sure everything is going smoothly. And Iâd also like to thank our Dr. Jeonâs brother, Mr. Kim Seokjin, for volunteering to time and emcee the event!â
âOh, Hyun. Always so formal. Call me Mr. Worldwide Handsome instead!â Jin calls out from the back. He does an exaggerated little bow and youâ along with many other attendeesâ have to stifle a laugh. What a cheeseball.Â
Hyunjin just smiles graciously, eyes crinkling with mischief. âLetâs get the party going!â
The up-tempo, raunchy sound of girl rap blasts out of speakers that you didnât even know existed, scaring the shit out of you momentarily. You have no doubt at all that the afternoonâs garden party beats were compiled by your eccentric Love Doctor, before you start to subconsciously swayâ and mentally twerkâ to âBody.â
âLadies and gents, this is just in with Jin! Make sure to find your seats in the next five minutes, and weâll start the clock!â
Your phone chimes with your first table assignment of the day, and you make your way over there, dodging the throngs of men and women antsy to discover their matches. You sit down at your table, trying to ignore the nervousness building in your chest. With the presence of Hyunjin, his beautiful self lingering somewhere barely a few feet away from you, youâre not sure you can give today your best. And for the first timeâ itâs not you. Itâs the fact that you have feelings for your unsuspecting charmer, and deep inside, you canât fight the thought of not being able to get over him.Â
But a lively ambiance courtesy of Megan Thee Stallion doesnât fit the deep, contemplative mood, so you resort to pushing away your qualms and blankly gazing out at the high rise views while waiting for your partner. If this doesnât work out, at least you can say you had a nice time humming to lovably NSFW music and raiding the appetizers.Â
âBeefing with you bitches really getting kinda boringââ
âYou know, I kind of vibe with this shit.â Mullet-guy from earlier plops down into the chair across from you. âDonât tell Mr. Worldwide Handsome that, though. Iâll never give him the satisfaction.â
You giggle at the comically blank expression on mullet-guyâs face. âDonât worry. I donât think Jin wouldâve added the EDM remix of âSavageâ to the playlist.â
Mullet-guy doesnât smile, but you catch the flicker of amusement in his eyes. âFair enough. Iâm Yoongi.â
âY/N.â You carefully take a mini slice of flaky herbed pastry off of the stand and place it on the china plate in front of you. Now that everyone has settled down, the music has been turned down to enable better conversation. âMaybe Iâm being blunt here, but you donât exactly strike me as the type of guy to go to a speed-dating event.â
âWell, what kind of guy do I strike you as?â Yoongi asks, settling back comfortably into his chair. If it was anyone else talking, you would have thought they were flirting with you. But not with Yoongiâ you canât quite put your finger on it, but he feels incredibly familiar to you. This could be just another regular talk with a good friend.
You make a show of taking in his beat-up leather jacket and the silver stud in his left ear, all add-ons to his roguishly handsome aesthetic. âWannabe SoundCloud rapper meets Fuji Kaze, except with an even worse fashion sense.â
Most people would have already shrank away from your sarcastic sense of humor, but Yoongi claps back. âI could say the same for you. Donât tell me youâre actually going for The Stepford Wives with that dress. You even have the Mary-Jane shoes.â
âThese are discounted flats from Old Navy, donât even. And Iâll bet your emo ass was stuck in Hot Topic since grade school.â
Yoongi bursts out laughing. âOkay, you win. But youâre not wrong thoughâ I am a rapper, of sorts.â
You lean forward. âReally?â
âOf sortsâ I haven't had much time to really get into it and improve myself, ever since I started my own record label last year, D-2 Music,â Yoongi says, picking at his peach scone. âManaging other artists is my focus these days. Been writing my whole life, though.â
âWhat do you like to write about?â You take a bite of your pastry, savoring how it nearly melts in your mouth. Maybe this thing isnât that bad; good food and good conversation. Besides, this Yoongi is totally intriguing to you.
âDreams, depression, obsession.â Yoongi steadily holds your gaze, and you donât look away.
âRefreshing.â
âI get that a lot.â Yoongi takes a sip of his mimosa, before making a face and putting it back down.Â
âNo, but seriously. I hate pretending, most of all. Perfection doesnât exist, and a lot of people canât get a grip on that.â You shrug, wiping your mouth with one of the provided lavender napkins. âIt is refreshing that you donât seem to give a crap about others.â
âYeah.â Yoongi smiles, and you think itâs a good look on him. It doesnât fade even after what he says next. âWeâre not going to be a match, are we?â
In that moment, you can confidently say that you are both the same exact person, and while it feels so good to finally speak with someone who might remotely understand exactly what you are, you know it can never be a sustainable relationship. The two strong-minded pessimists that you both are would only clash or just further bring each other down, in the end. So you return his smile, not a hint of sorrow in it.Â
âProbably not.â Both of you clink your champagne classes together and drink on it, before collectively gagging at the taste.
âTimeâs up, people! Please bid your partners adieu and get on to your next table!â Jinâs voice breaks out through his microphone, and immediately, the music resumes as the frenzy starts all over again.
You stand up, smoothing out your skirt and looking over at Yoongi, who stays seated, taking his own time finishing his scone. âCatch you later, Hot Topic.â
âLikewise, Mary-Jane.â Yoongi snickers, tilting his head up in a casual goodbye.Â
You make your way to your new assignment, and as you approach, you remember him. The next person sitting there is the final candidate that Hyunjin had shown you, the one with the rather squirrely look to him. You have to admit, however, that he isnât bad-looking, with wavy brown bangs falling into his eyes and a soft smile painting his features. He looks simple, a pretty boy waiting for a girl. You feel like youâre reading a picture book with a happy ending, because there are no puzzles to stay sleepless over. You see the bistro table becoming a kitchen counter, frequented for coffee talk and family dinnersâ there is no smoke-cracked glass desk that costs more than your entire salary. And youâre not Pygmalion sculpting Galatea, the gender bended Grecian rendition of the Hyunjin who plagues your thoughts; instead, you can see the elementary construction paper dotted with finger-painted sunny skies.
âHi,â you greet, dragging out your chair and locking eyes with the stranger. Strangely, you donât feel that telltale thump of your heartbeat in your panting chestâ you sense a steady rhythm, and perhaps you could get used to it. Think: the picture book over the puzzle. You like staying in check and controlâ Hyunjin doesnât allow you that power, no matter how unknowingly he keeps it for himself.Â
âHi,â he responds. âI, uh, thought you had a nice smile in your picture. Itâs even better in real life.â
You stay unfazed; compliments donât affect you muchâ when they come from anyone but Hyunjin. Still, itâs a cute try, and you decide to dig in deeper. To you, directness is keyâ again, when dealing with anyone but Hyunjin.Â
You slide your finger down the damp side of your champagne flute, tracing a haphazard shape in the water drops. The man falls quiet again, and you donât bother saying anything else, just taking him in. You donât have much experience with conversation loaded with romantic intent, and this holds true even with your infamous ex-boyfriend.
Park Jisung had spied you at a holiday festival on your college campus, and then proceeded to ask you out. It was pretty unceremonious, to say the least, and thinking in hindsight, you canât remember a time when he actually tried to get to know you. You were so enamored with him that you didnât bat an eye, not even when he insisted on having sex with you on your very first date. And it was also your very first time, actuallyâ but you didnât question it. And the sex? It was over in less than five minutes and he left right after he finished, but it just felt nice to be wanted, for once.Â
In the following months, you realized that when he wasnât sleeping with you, Jisung was in his own world. You barely existed to him, while you memorized his Chipotle order and silently bought new soap for him when it ran out. It wasnât hard to figure out that he just wanted a warm body in his bed to replace the other ones heâd fucked with all day.Â
âYou should know that I have asthma, just in case you intend on taking my breath away on a regular basis,â the man blurts out, snapping you out of your depressing Jisung-reverie.
You bite back a snortâ looks like Mr. Worldwide Handsome has new competition for the corniest person at this place. âThank you.âÂ
He coughs, no doubt embarrassed by his poorly executed pick-up line. âSorry. I canât help it. Pretty people make me nervous.â
âYouâre pretty too.â You shrug nonchalantly as the man blushes. âWhatâs your name?â
âHan Jisung.â
You nearly throw the champagne in his face. âCome again?â
âJisung. My name is Jisung.â
You clench your fists under the table, trying not to break something. Of all the people in this worldâ of all the fucking names in this worldâ you just had to get set-up with a guy who shares the same name as a monster who did nothing but hurt you. What the fuck, universe? You glance at your phone screen peeking out of your purseâ there are still four minutes left in this stupid round.Â
âHey, is everything good?âÂ
âWhy wouldnât it be?â You look up, giving him a venomous smile. Screw the picture book. âWhat do you like to do in your free time, Han Jisung? Donât tell me you like to day-drink and play beer pong.â
âIâm not really a drinker. And you can just call me Ji-â
âTell me, Han Jisung, is your zodiac sign Aquarius? And do you work in tech? Do you work for SM Tech? Do you?â You inquire without a break, gulping down your glass before refilling it with more of that horrendous champagne. The angel on your shoulder implores you not to project your ex-boyfriendâs personality onto the poor sucker sitting in front of you, but the devil whispers a different tune. You decide to follow the latterâs advice; raging hellfire is always more fun.
Han Jisung looks bewildered, but answers your question anyway. âUm, I'm a Virgo. I do work in tech, but with JYP Electronics.â
âWonderful.âÂ
âAnyway⊠I never got your name,â Han Jisung tries, visibly shaken by your suddenly aggressive line of questioning.Â
You scowl at him. âThatâs because I already made the mistake of trusting someone like you, Han Jisung.â
Thereâs still a few seconds left in the round timer, but you donât pay any mind to it. Your social battery has been exhausted, and all of the progress youâve made in a long time has gone to dust in a mere five-minute parameter. You grab your bag and stalk away from the table, leaving Han Jisung staring after you, openmouthed and utterly perplexed by the unmerited hostility. But screw himâ you canât even live for a day without being reminded by your douchebag ex who traumatized the fuck out of you.
In your fury, you barely notice the rolling cart of lunch items that accidentally rams into your side. Bowls of pesto pasta fly off the cart, the roasted cherry tomatoes arching in the air in perfect semi-circles before splattering onto the pristine grass. The restaurant staff immediately attends to the mess, while the other guests just glance carelessly at the mess before continuing onto the next round. You rub your hip as Hyunjin rushes over to you.
âDarling, are you alright?â Hyunjin drapes his arm around your shoulders, gazing at you with concern. You melt into his touch for a moment, the frustration simmering with the longing inside of you. âWhere were you going?â
You back away from him. âThis was a bad idea. Maybe Iâm not ready for this. I need more time.â
He frowns, stepping closer to you. âButââ
âHan Jisung?â You interrupt, more animosity in your tone than you intend for there to be. âYou knew his name when showing me his profile.â
Hyunjinâs eyes widen in both remembrance and regret. âOh my god. I didnât realizeâ Iâm so sorry, Y/N.â
You take a deep breath, trying to calm yourself down. Even taking into account how you feel right now, you donât want to take it out on Hyunjin. Never. âItâs not your fault. But Iâll be on my way.â
Ducking your head, you turn and walk away, furiously blinking the tears away. A small part of you wishes Hyunjin would call you back, hug you close to him and ask you to stay. But he doesnât, because he knows his boundaries. Itâs you who doesnât know their place, because regardless of the smarting pain inside of you, you want Hyunjin to bandaid your emotional damage.Â
And as you pick up your pace, you realize that maybe you really are doomed to be Pygmalion, yearning for someone who no one else can even compare to, someone whoâll never be yours. No matter what sorts of grotesque demons haunt you, the most sinister of them all is the off-limits adonis who disturbs your heart even when youâre still reeling from the previous break. Han Jisungâs sunny skies woke you up from your dreamsâ Galatea is a fucking statue, art that will never come alive.Â
âWell, that was a colossal disaster.â Hyunjin covers his face with his palms and shrinks into the buttery leather upholstery of his seat.Â
Wonyoung glances over at him as the car starts up. âWhat do you mean? I think it went great. I saw a sickening amount of flirting going on. Pretty soon, youâll be officiating a bunch of weddings.â
Hyunjin groans, shaking his head. âBut did you see the way Y/N left, Wonyoung? The whole Jisung thing? God, I screwed things up colossally.â
âItâs not your job to remember the names of all of your clientsâ ex-boyfriends. It was an honest mistake that we both overlooked.â
âStill.â
âDr. Hwang, I feel like thereâs more to this than youâre letting on.â Wonyoung crosses her arms. âSince when did you get so worked up over a clientâ over anything?â
Hyunjin rolls his eyes like a petulant child. âIâm not getting worked up.â
âYes, you are.â
âAm not.â
âSure.â Wonyoung looks back down at her tablet, tapping away at the screen. âIâm already seeing so many matches.â
âNice.â Hyunjin looks out the window pointedly. âItâs always fucking raining these days.â
âDr. Hwang.â
Hyunjin ignores Wonyoung, just leaning forward to instruct the cab driver. âActually, can you drop me off at The North End? Thanks.â
âSeriously. What is going on?â Wonyoung presses once more. âYou canât just go drinking now, not like this.â
âIâll be fine, Ms. Jang.â Hyunjin doesnât meet her eyes as he gets out of the car, placing a few bills covering the whole cab fare into her hands. âGet home safe.â
Before she can protest, Hyunjin closes the door and lets the drizzle envelop him, effectively ruining his new logo-motif jacquard set. But he doesnât give a fuck as he steps into the bar like a shivering stray cat, because the stench of liquor and greasy peanuts is strong enough to incapacitate his inner fashion police.Â
âBourbon, on the rocks,â Hyunjin orders glumly, looking down at his phone screen, a shot of Princess Diana on her birthday last year. She looks absolutely precious in that fluffy pink tutu that he dressed her in, a sight that never fails to make Hyunjin melt. Today, however, not even his adorably stylish puppy can cure him. He downs the whiskey the bartender sets in front of him, wincing at the burn he so rightfully deserved.
When you stormed out of the party just barely two hours ago, it took every fiber of Hyunjinâs being to not run after you. Heâd wanted to ditch everyone and just kiss it better for you. Heâd take you back to his apartment, run you a bath, cook you a comfort meal, and massage all of your sore spots. And then heâd cuddle with you on the couch, holding you while you fall asleep in his arms. But his stupid common sense held him back, rooting him to the spot like a big, dumb boulder.Â
After speaking with Seungmin, he realized how precisely heâs gone for you. And it obviously wouldnât end well, so he decided that distanceâ complete professionalismâ would be the way to go. Last night, heâd tried a crapload of healthy methods to try and fix himself, from watching porn to reading porn to even listening to porn on some sketchy podcastâ anything to distract him from the thought of you. But nothing worked, because he wasnât horny. No, he had an emotional bonerâ the worst kind of boners. In the end, heâd realized that the only way to move on from you would be get his ass out there and find someone else,a reboundâ which is what heâd been dreading all along.
Therefore, heâd turned around like a fucking moron and went back to the party, listlessly floating around like a trash bag discarded on the highway. And now, heâs at some bar with high end cocktails that are just a pretentious way of saying âfuck meâ to strangers.
âHey there handsome, need company?â
Hyunjin looks to his left, where the sultry voice has originated from: a young womanâ a pretty one, too. Sheâs wearing the kind of tight, black dress and matching coy smile that can only mean she wants one thing. Luckily, Hyunjinâs on the same page as her.
âWhatâs your name, darling?â Hyunjin asks her, ignoring the guilt inside his chest. That term of endearment was once reserved for you, and only you. Heâd have to get over the sting of that too.
She sits down next to him, tossing her hair over her shoulder and exposing the smooth skin of her neck. âLisa.â
âLisa,â Hyunjin repeats, signaling to the bartender for another round. âTell me, what do you do?â
âIâm hoping itâll be you tonight.â Lisa smirks at him, raising an eyebrow seductively.
Well. That was fast.
Hyunjin chuckles, trying not to think of the nausea rising in his stomach. He accepts the drink from the bartender, clinking his glass against Lisaâs, meeting her darkened eyes over the rim.
âIâm Hyunjin. Itâs nice to meet you.â
You havenât watched trashy Youtube videos in months, thinking youâd left that disgusting habit behind, and yet, here you are, watching said trashy Youtube videos. Today, itâs a shotgun wedding getting upstaged by one of the bridesmaids proclaiming her love for the groom. You feel an old chips packet somewhere inside the bedsheet hollow youâve burrowed yourself into, the crumbs poking into your back like unwanted intruders. However, you just try to ignore the nasty feeling and slump into the mattress, pulling the bedcovers up so they cover your chin.Â
Itâs been almost a full week since the matchmaking debacle that you absolutely made a spectacle of yourself at. Youâve spent the entire time drifting off to work, getting yelled at by Mark for no reason at all, and then coming home and lazing around. At this point, your gym membership must be a mere accessory, and the nearby 7-Eleven that you frequent for junk food is practically your second home. Fuckâ youâre disgusted with yourself.
Resorting to self-destructive yet containable activities has always been your go-to for whenever youâve been downâ youâll let yourself be fine with the world falling apart as long as itâs inside the confines of your humble abode. For months, however, youâd truly believed that you were past it. Hyunjinâs presence in your life inserted a certain desire inside of youâ not to be better for him, but to be better because of him. Hyunjin opened your eyes to the real beauty of living, of having passion for any trade and a lust for happiness. That kind of positive outlook kept you climbing up that hill, no matter how arduous it was to maintain good spirits for the majority of the time. But as soon as a crisis hit, you bailed on your trek and fell back down the cliff.
You feel truly guilty as well, an emotion that usually got lost in the web of pity and hatred that you spun yourself into whenever you know youâve done something wrong. Han Jisung didnât deserve to be subjected to your outburst, you know thatâ that should have been reserved for the person who actually wronged you. You never actually got the chance to confront Park Jisung, not after he walked out like he didnât just fucking break you. Deep inside, you know that you take out that inky mixture of unresolved frustration and regret on every single person who dares trigger you, even if itâs unintentional. Han Jisung was one such unfortunate target today.
A small chime alerts you to a new message, and you tear your eyes away from your laptop, reaching for your phone on your nightstand. In the notifications on your home screen, you see that it is not an email from Hyunjin like youâd unrealistically hoped forâ instead, itâs a text from Yeonjun, your cousin whoâs a constant thorn in your fucking side.
Yeonjun: hmm iâm thirsty :P
You: no yeonjun, i will not take you out for drinks.
Yeonjun: pretty pls w a cherry on top
You: fuck off
Yeonjun: u seem upset :(((
You: iâm having adult problems, yeonjun. leave me alone.
Yeonjun: well then i will help you with ur adult problems
Yeonjun: u know, iâm an adult too OMG
Yeonjun: come on, when have i ever not given u great advice?
Yeonjun: i missed my fucking calling in therapy. i woulda been an excellent shrink.
Yeonjun: iâm an amazing cousin who always is there for u. y/n i lysm, u know that?
Yeonjun: u know what else i love? Vodka.Â
Yeonjun: but i love u too <3
You: Yeonjun, stop fucking spamming me or Iâm not coming.
Yeonjun: YAYY!
With a defeated sigh, you shove the blankets to the side, the cold air conditioning gripping your body like a vice. But begrudgingly, you have to admit that it feels refreshing to get out of your sweaty hideout and step into the shower, cleaning yourself up as much as you can on the outsideâ the inside issue can be attended to with the drinks.
A half hour later, you find yourself in a skeevy dive bar on the Westside, doing shots with your cousin, because even though he irritates you to the core, heâs all you have. You really could use that drink, anyway. But no amount of alcohol seems to mask the way your heart hangs heavier than the full moon outside. In fact, the liquid courage just manifests your sadness even more, leaving you a sniveling mess on the bar counter.
âAnd, he was actually really cute, you know? But I could never date him,â you sniffle, after downing your fifth drink. âItâs just, I just canât deal with any reminders of Jisung.â
Yeonjun knocks back his vodka. âI take it back. If therapy means dealing with saps like you, Iâd rather die.â
You frown at him. âItâs better than being a failing TikTok influencer. Whenâs the last time any of your thirst traps got views?â
Yeonjun shrugs, unbothered by your jab; heâs as used to you as you are to him. âYou couldâve at least hooked up with him, if he was that cute.â
You swirl your straw in the melting ice as you get on your phone, pulling up the follow-up email in which Hyunjin had sent you online scans of the candidate profiles. Yeonjun looks over your shoulder and whistles as you zoom-in on Han Jisungâs picture. âBut Iâve only ever slept with Jisung before. I may be a scary bitch, but Iâm not bold enough for that.â
âAt least youâre self-aware,â Yeonjun cackles. âWell, itâs only a better reason to have a one-night stand. Do you really want to give your trash ex-boyfriend the power of being the only person to have had sex with you? Thatâs kind of sad.âÂ
Yeonjun makes a face, shivering in disgust, and you sock him in the elbow in retaliation. âFor someone so bitchless, you really have such strong opinions about me and my love life.â
âWho says Iâm bitchless?â Yeonjun grins deviously. âBesides, youâre the one who told me all this crap in the first place.â
You glance up at the ceiling, feeling an indescribable sense of loss. âPerhaps I wouldnât mind a one-night stand, though. I guess getting laid is something I kind of need right now. I need to stop letting Jisung control every aspect of my life.â
âWell, if youâre not averted to the idea, a person of interest just walked in.â
You whip around to look at the door, and of all people, Han Jisung from the matchmaking event walks in. He doesnât notice you at the counter, just making his way over to one of the booths near the entrance and sitting down in solitude. The waiter takes his order and walks away, leaving him to put on his headphones in wait.
âI think I must be living in a social experiment.â You groan and look over at Yeonjun. âHell if Iâm sleeping with him.â
âDid you or did you not just say that you donât want to let your ex control your life?â
You stare at Yeonjun. âI can sleep with someone else. Heâs probably too scared of me anyway. I kind of verbally-knifed him the other day.â
âPlease. Everything about that guy screams âdegrade me.â He probably liked that shit. You might as well use him as a punching bag againâ this time, more productively.â Yeonjun waggles his eyebrows at you suggestively, and you wrinkle your nose in distaste.
âThe fuck do you know about productivity?â
âNada. But I do know a lot about getting a fix when needed.â Your cousin winks at you, producing a packet of condoms out of nowhere and slapping it into your palm. Before you can react, Yeonjun is already slinking off to go and flirt with a pretty girl sitting by herself on the other end of the counter. And alas, youâre left alone again. With a packet of XL condomsâ Yeonjun sure is optimistic.
You glance over at said person of interest, who is currently immersed in whatever song thatâs got him bopping his head to the beat, eyes closed as if in a dreamy trance. Heâs not your type, for sure. But the thing is, you donât even know what your damn type is at this pointâ if it wasnât for Hyunjinâs ability to make you feel inappropriate things so vividly, youâd have thought you had fucking cobwebs down there. Speaking with Yeonjun really was a reminder that youâre still young, after years of both an emotional and physical dry spell. Emotionally, you might not be ready. Physically, however, thereâs an opening, and you know it.
When you were dating Park Jisung, sex was always initiated by him. It was always for himself too, because he never cared about making you feel good. But you didnât see it as a red flag, since you were so in love with him. You just followed him around like an innocent, lovesick puppy that was eager to please. And in the end, even that wasnât enough.
Your first orgasmâ and first experience with a deeper kind of desireâ was alone, some time after your relationship ended. It was a quiet night, and youâd just fallen back onto the couch after another long, uneventful day at work. You flipped through the TV channels before settling on a network that was playing The Notebook, and despite its fame and reach, youâd never watched the movie before. Everything was normal until the main characters started kissing each other in the rain, a scene that would remain something youâd download and revisit many, many times when you were locked away in your room.
Youâd never seen that level of lust before. Youâd never felt it directed towards you or ever even experienced it when you discovered porn in your teenage years. Yet, these two people seemed to want each other on a whole other level, risking everythingâ their home, their reputation, their loveâ for something youâd always thought would be over in two minutes. And as your hand undid the button of your jeans and slipped down even lower, you realized just how wrong you were.
In the years that followed, you learned to become so much more comfortable with your sexuality. Hell, you have a drawer dedicated to storing your sex toys and on nights that youâd had too many glasses of wine, you wind up writing filthy erotica just for fun. However, youâd never actually considered having sex outside of a committed relationship, not until now. And in complete honesty, you really are curious about if Han Jisung is as subby as Yeonjun insinuatedâ if that proves to be true, you wouldnât mind taking your pent-up Jisung-frustrations out on him. Productivity, and all.Â
You slap your payment down on the wooden counter, shaking it slightly, before marching towards Han Jisungâs table.Â
âHey,â you start, but Han Jisung doesnât notice you. âHEY!â
Han Jisungâs eyes fly open as he jerks in his seat and pulls off his headphones. At the sight of you approaching him so determinedly, he eyes you with both wariness and renewed interest, and you have to keep yourself from sighing exasperatedly at his hesitant desperation. Youâre here for a reason, after all.
âOh, hello. Y/N, right? I asked Hyunjin for your name after you left.â He gives you a nervous smile, brushing the bangs off of his forehead. âI think we got off on the wrong foot. I just wanted to sayââ
âIâll get to the point, Han Jisung.â You cut him off, ignoring the surprised expression on his face. Itâs like heâs never in his life encountered a woman who knows what the hell she wants. âI want to have sex with you. What do you say?â
For a good minute, he says nothing, just gaping at you, shocked. And then he does a double-take, looking you up and down as if checking to see if youâre real.Â
âIs this a ploy to kidnap me and steal my organs, or something? Because when I last saw you, I got the impression that you severely disliked me.â
âNo, Iâm not going to steal your organs. The truth is complicated,â you scoff. âBut youâre hot, and Iâm over everything else, at least for tonight. Are you up for it?âÂ
You stare Han Jisung down, making him shift in his seat. He scratches his nose and blinks at you like a trembling mouse. âI⊠wait. You think Iâm hot?â
What an idiot. Good thing heâs pretty.
âIs that a yes?â
âFuck yes.â
With no warning at all, you grasp his hand, pulling him out of the booth while he scrambles to grab his belongings and shove them into his pockets. You feel his gaze on the back of your neck as you drag him through the bar, walking with your chin pointed up with purpose. You wind your way between the tables expertly, but this Jisung stumbles, making you glare at him over your shoulder.
âWatch your step,â you snap.
âSorry,â he mutters, looking down at the floor as you barge into the bathroom in the back of the building, tugging him inside with you. âWait, are we not going to your place, orââ
âStop asking so many fucking questions, Han Jisung.â You slam the door behind you both and click the metal latch in place, leaving you both locked in the tiny room. It isnât so cramped that there isnât any space for movement, but itâs small enough to force you both into facing each other in a charged silence.
You eye Jisung from head to toe, taking in his baggy t-shirt and ripped jeans. He clears his throat, making you raise an eyebrow at him. âSo, um, do you really have to call me by full name? Donât you think thatâs a little formal, considering whatâs about to happen?â
You roll your eyes, your mind going back to the other Jisung you know. Neverâ there must be something to differentiate the two. You take an intimidatingly emphasized step towards him, backing him up against the wall. âNo. I donât think thatâs too formal, Han Jisung.â
âButââ
âShut the fuck up.â You trace your eyes down his body once more, gaze landing on the noticeable bulge in his pants. Bless Yeonjunâ how right he was, for once. You look up, giving Jisung a mean smile. âAre you actually getting turned on right now?â
âUh, wowââ He squeaks, as you reach your hand out and place it on his warm thigh, tracing it up his limb at a painful pace both dedicated to your desire to tease and be cautious.
âI asked you a fucking question.â You retract your hand right before it reaches its destination, glowering at him. âAnswer me.â
âJust, um. IâŠâ Jisung stammers, closing his eyes before opening them again, as if preparing himself. The honeyed tone of his skin exposes a light blush and therefore, his answer. âRuin me, please.â
Thatâs all the permission you need before youâre placing your hands on Jisungâs surprisingly toned shoulders, roughly turning him around and swapping places with him, so that now youâre the one with their back to the wall.Â
âHan JisungâŠâ You speak slowly, punctuating your words with the kind of loathing that has Jisung panting like a dog waiting for a treat, eyes wide with anticipation tinged with delicious fear. âIf youâre a good boy and do as youâre told, Iâll see about giving you a reward.â
âOh my god.â
âTake off your clothes.âÂ
Jisung nearly trips over his own two feet trying to wrestle the suddenly irksome swaths of fabric off of his body, tossing the garments onto the gross bathroom floor like he doesnât give a fuck about getting a staph infection later. When heâs fully stripped, you trace your eyes over him in your own leisure, reveling in the way he shivers when you do. Your gaze washes over his defined abs, dipping even lower until you reach his hardened cock, flushed a pretty pink and glazed with pre-comeâ the condoms would come in very handy, after all.
Seeing him bared to you and your mercy rouses you up like you never thought it would; you never thought that feeling wanted yet being in control would work you up so much, but it does, and you love it beyond reason.Â
âYouâre really something else. Getting off on me being so mean to you.â With a sadistic smirk, you cross your arms. âI bet you thought about me even after I ditched your ass at the party, didnât you?â
âIâ I did,â he admits, with a nervous giggle. âYouâre so fucking hot, I just couldnât help it. Seriously. Iâm sorry ifâ mmph.â
You interrupt his rambling by winding your hand into his soft hair and forcing him closer to you, meeting his soft lips in a harsh kiss, one that has him moaning shamelessly into your mouth. You kiss him deeply, like you want to punish him for it, like you want to both hurt him and make him beg for more. Jisungâs lips are small but full, moving against yours in a sloppy yet heated exchange, fighting for more in an unwinnable battle; he tastes like brandy, strawberries, and the promises of a good time, and youâre drunk on it.
âYouâre disgusting, Han Jisung,â you spit out, prompting a whimper from Jisung. âGet on your fucking knees.â
He wastes no time dropping to his knees and letting you lead the way, fully submitting to your tantric commands. Quickly, you clutch at his hands and direct them to where they should be, tilting your head back against the wall as Jisung satisfies your wishes. With an eagerness that doesnât even compare to your own, Jisung loosens the knot on the elastic band of your skirt, not bothering to untie it fully before heâs tugging the skirt up so that itâs bunched around your waist.Â
And without you even demanding him to move faster, heâs pushing your panties aside and attaching his greedy mouth to your cunt. You nearly jerk away at the overwhelming sensation of pleasure; your ex-boyfriend never went down on you, and oh, how profoundly youâve missed out. But youâve researched enough to know exactly what you want.
Jisungâs eyes flick up to where youâre looking down and showering him with breathy sighs, spurring on his performance. When you shoot him a warning glare, he goes back to completely making-out with your cunt, easily spreading you apart with two of his fingers so he can focus on your throbbing clit. Jisung uses his other hand to squeeze your thigh gently, rubbing circles into the smooth skin as he works.
He delves deeper into your pussy when you run your hands through his silky hair, lapping at your arousal like itâs honey and heâs been starving for days. âYou taste so goodâŠâ
Immediately, you yank back his hair and hold him in place as you start to grind onto his pretty face. âI donât remember saying you could fucking talk.â
Jisung groans, taking every insult you hurl at him in such a measured but unbridled way. He makes up for his lack in precision with his enthusiasm, suctioning his mouth around your tender clit and swirling his tongue in patterns that have gotten you seeing the fucking stars. He lets you use him entirely, body going slack as he helps you ride out your high. The obscene sounds of Jisung slurping at your cunt fill the room as you come, gripping his head between your thighs as you feel that beautiful wave of euphoria fall over you. You pat Jisungâs shoulder in silent instruction, and he rises, cupping the sides of your arms and running his hands down them gently, soothing the way you quiver at any touch.Â
âAre you okay?â Jisung whispers, making you open your eyes in surprise. Your ex-boyfriend never once checked up on you, not even when you were clearly in discomfort that first time he made you his own. This complete stranger however, one that you have been anything but gracious with, inspects your face with concern. A strange feeling of warmth spreads throughout your body as you nod your head.
âIâm good. You did well.â You grasp the bottom of your top, pulling it over your head so that all youâre standing in now are your skirt and basically ruined panties. You didnât bother with putting on a bra before you left the house, and now, youâre thankful for the decision that was ultimately a byproduct of your laziness; Jisung gazes at your body with utter reverence, like just the sight of your tits has blessed his entire life.
âPleaseâŠâ
âPlease what, Han Jisung?â You bite your lip, both amused and flattered by how desperate he is for your pussy. âUse your words.â
âFuck me. Please, fuck me. Iâve been good, havenât I?â Jisung whines sadly, clearly on the verge of tears. His cock is now rock-hard, flush against his stomach, and it turns you on so much to know that eating you out has reduced him to such a pathetic mess.Â
âYes, you haveâŠâ you murmur, before jutting out your hand to hold his chin tightly. âSpit.â
Without a single protest, he obeys, a single string of saliva connecting his lips to your hand, before youâre reaching down and palming his cock. He lets out a gasp as you wrap your fingers around the base, spreading the dampness and pumping a few times for good measure, as if the mixture of his spit and your own arousal coating your pussy isnât lubrication enough.Â
You take the condoms out and help Jisung slide one onto his cock, chuckling when he places his hand over yours to help quicken the process. And then youâre finally guiding him into your entrance, circling one leg around his body and caging him into your fantasies.Â
âFuckââ
Jisung enters you as you both collectively moan out loud, him at how tightly your cunt clenches around him and you at how wonderfully his dick curves into you, hitting your sweet spot inside each time. Jisung cups your face as he kisses you again, but this time, itâs slower and more drawn-out, a vast juxtaposition to how rigorously he thrusts into you. You drag your nails down his back in a way thatâs sure to leave marks for days to come, but he just increases his pace on your aching pussy, lost in pleasure.Â
You grip Jisungâs ass and squeeze at the flesh, eliciting a throaty groan from him as your sweat combined creates a sticky layer between your bodies. Your breasts are pressed against Jisungâs chest, and he ducks his head to attend to them, licking and sucking at your sensitive nipples. The heightened attention goes straight to your sweet pussy, making you buck your hips as you hold him even tighter.Â
âOh godâ Iâm fuckingâ Iâm gonna comeââ Jisung chokes out, his movements now erratic and even more rushed, if possible.
âNot yet.â You just laugh cruelly, shaking your head. âYouâre going to wait. Iâm first.â
âIâ I donât think I canââ
âSuck it up like the little bitch you are, and make me come again,â you snarl, digging your nails into the arch of his ass.
He cries out, and for a brief lapse in time, you think he will not be able to outlast you, but then he slides his hand down, rubbing frantic circles onto your clit. The attempt to get you off a second time works, and the orgasm washes over you like a cool breeze in the summertime. You canât help what escapes you next.
âHYUNJIN!â
âDid you justââ
You clench your jaw and give Jisung a menacing look, warning him of a topic that should not be broached under any circumstances. Luckily, your harsh expression just seems to spur Jisung on even more, and he follows you into ecstasy not long after, squirming in your hold. When he finally finishes, hot spurts of him coat your pussy and trembling thighs.
For a moment, Jisung slumps against you limply, and you let him, enjoying that blanket of heat and protection against your exposed skin, another gift youâve never been given before. But then you remember thatâs all he is to youâ a body that has warmed you up for one night. You donât feel guilty though, because you never did offer more than you could actually give.Â
You pat Jisungâs back, prompting him to draw back and give you a fucked-smile. His bangs are plastered against his forehead in a sweaty mess, and his skin is tinged pink from his great efforts to please you. Itâs a sight that youâll be tucking away in your memories for any future lonely nights.Â
After putting your blouse back on, you walk over to the sink as Jisung just stays leaning against the wall. Wetting a paper towel with some water, you run it between your thighs and clean up the remnants of Jisungâs come smeared there. And then you pull your skirt down and help Jisung, because no matter how you donât see him as more than a fling, he is still significant to you. Heâs the first person to make you come and show you that physical care that youâve been craving for so long, and that amounts to something. Besides, youâd never just toss someone aside after using them so intimately, not like your ex did with you.
You get a fresh towel for Jisung, placing it against his forehead to cool his heated skin while assisting him in putting his clothes back on. When you both are completely dressed, you place a chaste kiss on Jisungâs lips and give him a small smile, before turning for the door.
âIâll be on my way now, Han Jisung.â
Jisung leaps forward quickly, grabbing your head before it can reach the doorknob. âHey, I know you said this was just a one-night, but canât we maybe get dinner or something?â
âJisung.â The plain name is still sour on your tongue, but you swallow it down. âWe arenât going to work. This isnât going to happen again.â
âWait. Are you just, like, crazy edging me right now?â
Shaking your head, you let out a tired laugh. âNo, Iâm not. Look, I think youâre a really nice guy. Iâm sorry for how I treated you at the party last week. You definitely didnât deserve that, and I definitely still need to resolve my own issues. Iâm sure thereâs some other sexy lady out there just waiting to dom your pretty face off. You deserve better than me.â
You leave Jisung speechless, finally getting out of the bathroom. You have a very important meeting tomorrow, one that you absolutely cannot miss. Besides, he really does deserve better than you, someone who definitely doesnât make his whole life an enigma. Someone who doesnât have the same impact on him as Hyunjin does on you.Â
And in your post-coital clarity, you also finally accept that there will be no compromising with your feelings for Hyunjin. Youâre falling in love with him, so much that even when another man is balls-deep in you, heâs all you can think of. Itâs so profound that it hurts, the thought of never being able to fuck him into oblivion like you just did with Han Jisung. You can never have those nights with him in dirty bathrooms, or the ones tangled up in bedsheets for hours at an end. Late night conversations about the banalities of life and playful interviews about where he buys his amazing clothing will never be yours. Youâre playing a dangerous game, ignoring your feelings like theyâre a hazy insect that will eventually buzz away. Because you know they wonât. Theyâll come back to sting you.
As you beeline for the bar exit, you run straight into Yeonjun, who seems to have been waiting for you all along. And by the looks of the Cheshire grin on his face, he knows exactly what youâve been up to.
âI knew his dick was big.â
âDonât. You. Dare.â
âSo⊠want to talk about last week?â
âThereâs not much to talk about.â You shrug, toying with the hem of your dress. Itâs green, a new look from the various shades of pinks that you donned whenever visiting Hyunjin. The change doesnât feel refreshingâ really, itâs restricting and strange, somehow. Like it doesnât belong on you.
Hyunjin sighs, getting up from his fancy chair to sit down next to you. So understanding, so caring, so gentle. Everything you donât deserve and that you will never have. âDarling, please. Open up to me.â
You snap, looking at him directly. âI had sex with Han Jisung.â
Closing your eyes, you lift your up palm, effectively silencing whatever you know that Hyunjin was about to say. You take a deep breath, bracing yourself. You have to mend the cracks before you break completely. Again. Itâs now or never, no matter how much it will hurt you to do so.
âAnd I think we should stop seeing each other.â
«NEXT CHAPTER» · «GENERAL M.LIST» · «NAVIGATION» · «TALK TO ME» · «TAGLIST»
AUTHOR'S NOTE Here she is!! We're 2/5 of the way there đȘ Thank you for all of the love for this series! And again, I apologize for the atrocious wait-time. Please leave your thoughts, I donât really mind if you leave a whole essay ;) -Dreamy
TAGLIST @skzfelixlove @army-stay-noel, @hwangjuhong, @chizumiyoshi @hyunjinswifeee @geneziesm @sherryblossom @yeetfellx @bennetbutton @chillseo @hyuneyeon @seosalad @nhyunn @hyunjinnie2000 @ajxreads @n2tl4na @yeahhspider @8makes1scream @jetblackbelle @143hyunes @raginghellfire @sinforsuccubus @lixiesw1fe @chartrucewhore @freckleboilix @ultimatestayandminoronce @cheesytangerine @leyknowsbin @stay278 @strawberry-dreamland @lvrgrl-xo @moasworld @hyunnielix @httphans @chaotic-world-of-the-j @nyasstars @beautifulmusicaddict-blog @imasimplol @1clickawayfrominsane @xsw-void @queen-klarissa @hyunjinsamdl @heavenhannie @moasworld @kykeu @sxlxna ***The users that I could not tag are written in pink***
If you'd like to join the taglist, click here!
NETWORKS @kflixnet @k-films
©jisungsdaydreamer 2023 | All rights reserved. I do not condone translations or transfers of my work onto other platforms such as Wattpad, AO3, etc. Tumblr is my only platform. Acts of plagiarism are strictly prohibited.
#stray kids smut#skz smut#kflixnet#k-labels#straykidsland#hyunjin smut#hwang hyunjin smut#hyunjin x reader#hyunjin x you#neverendingdreams#hyunjin x y/n#han jisung smut#jisung smut#anti-romantic#stray kids fic#skz fic#hyunjin fic#stray kids#skz#kpop imagines#skz au#kpop fic#stray kids au#k-films
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You think the brand of people who hate MVK and call him neglectful also hate Misty or does she get a free pass as a Girlboss(TM)
no, they're just as bad to misty (but weirdly fine with morgan?)
honestly the person i compare misty to isn't mvk, it's miles. miles and misty both did the same thing (jouhatsu) but miles is forgiven, rarely held accountable, lauded as morally complex or untouchable because he's twaumatiiiiized but misty is demonized always and forever as a neglectful, absent mother whose love is worthless because of the choice she made.
i've never met a single person in this fandom with a favourable opinion on misty, it's fucking depressing as all hell. meanwhile no one gives a shit about morgan who canonically beats her fucking daughter (amongst many, MANY other things)
how the aa fandom chooses to declare parents abusive has nothing to do with the parents and everything to do with how easy it is to project onto their "victims." case in point:
misty fey: morally complex in canon. maya, while not super popular, is growing as projectionbait due to her self-worth issues & the fact that she's often shipped with franziska who everyone is inexplicably horny for. VERDICT: ABUSER.
morgan fey: abusive in canon. beats her youngest daughter & controls her access to the outside world. manipulated all three of her children into committing attempted murder for her. iris is not projectionbait because she is viewed primarily as a threat to narumitsu and thus despised. dahlia is not projectionbait because she is not mentally ill in a sympathetic way, instead exhibiting severe cluster b tendencies and being "one of the bad ones." no sympathy is given to dahlia despite the fact that she was clearly a severely mentally ill child in need of support. pearl is not projectionbait because people's only perception of her personality is "child" and nothing more. VERDICT: NOT ABUSIVE, SIMPLY A CHARISMATIC VILLAIN.
blaise debeste-winner: abusive in canon. berates his son every single opportunity he gets. i am almost certain he does worse by the end of the game but have not yet finished it. eustace is not projectionbait because he is a narcissist and that is not one of the acceptable mental illnesses, see dahlia. VERDICT: NOT ABUSIVE.
manfred von karma: not abusive in canon, I AM INVITING EVERYONE READING THIS MESSAGE TO COME INTO MY INBOX AND DEBATE ME ON THAT POINT RIGHT NOW. DO IT, COWARD. cartoonishly evil. ridiculously so. so evil that it loops back around into being hilarious. morally complex in that we are rarely allowed to know what he is thinking, and so many interpretations of it arise, rightfully so. miles was made to be projectionbait. punitive view on justice that all the fucking catholics on this website share. canonical post-traumatic stress disorder. attractive young gentleman. shippable with the protagonist. severe guilt complex. deep-seated self loathing. would identify as an "anti" if he were on fandom twitter. depending on your interpretations of canon, suicidal. franziska is debatable projectionbait--being like dahlia in that she is the 'wrong' kind of mentally ill--but she inches ahead into a firm yes because she is a burning-out gifted kid and, again, annoying lesbians on this website want to have sex with her. VERDICT: MANFRED VON KARMA INVENTED CHILD ABUSE AND IF YOU COME AWAY FROM THE TEXT WITH ANY KINDER INTERPRETATION ON HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS KIDS WE WILL UNPERSON YOU ON TWITTER.
i could go on, but i love myself, so i won't.
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So Stephen said he invested a piece of himself in 47 dol-- erm, I mean, figurines.
Since I'm insane, I'm gonna try to figure out which teams/heroes/anti-heroes/villains have one.
Misty Knight (confirmed)
The Bar With No Doors
Doctor Voodoo
The Avengers
Scarlet Witch (I know she's with the Avengers but she's also working solo atm)
Iron Man (same as above)
Magik (New Mutants included)
Silver Surfer
Namor
Hulk
The Fantastic Four
Hellcat
Hellstrom
Adam Warlock (and the Infinity Watch)
Black Widow
X-Men (whoever is the current leader)
Professor X (for Illuminati shenanigans)
Deadpool (he'll regret it later)
Howard the Duck
Black Panther
Blade
Wiccan & Hulkling (Young Avengers return when)
Daredevil
Moon Knight (Clea forced him)
Luke Cage
Alpha Flight
Valkyrie (Jane Foster)
Black Bolt
Man-Thing
Spidey (he will also regret that later)
Ghost Rider
Loki (only because Thor agreed to supervise them)
Elektra
She-Hulk
Storm
Black Cat (another poor decision)
Ms. Marvel (Champions return when)
Iron Fist I (Lin Lie)
Iron Fist II (Danny Rand)
Spider-Woman
Blue Marvel (and Taaia)
Gamora (Guardians of the Galaxy)
Nick Fury
Agents of Atlas
Cloud
Elsa Bloodstone
Moon Girl
Got his offer rejected by: Nico (she doesn't want adults supervising her Runaways), Doom (got suspicious and said Doom doesn't require any kind of aid -- although felt tempted to accept it deep down), Wolverine (told him he hates magic $#%&$*#).
Did I forget anyone?
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I'll stay quiet as soon as one person admits that toxic xy haters attacked xy fans first and have brought this on themselves with nothing extra added "it will be amazing idk but I doubt it". There's no point in saying you've been here for as long as 2007 if you've never acknowledged it once, so there's no point. A zoomer is still a zoomer.
I'm very glad Twitter is blocked in Brazil now. Hopefully it happens to the entire internet too.
There's seriously no reason for me to change. https://pokenoire.tumblr.com/archive/2023/2
What this bro is tag me lfmao again. If he can stay quiet for a few months it will be amazing idk but I doubt it
#anti anipoke fandom#anti anipoke#no your orientation is not a shield to be THIS ignorant#at this point it's like saying pokeshippers didn't attack anyone when may replaced misty#there's genuinely no reason for me to change or stay quiet. idc if âi'm doing this to myselfâ.#i guess getting someone to admit that is a bad thing then#getting to the point where i might make a fake account and get you to admit it#pokenoire will never know what it's like i unironically hate him#less reasons for me to âchangeâ they only want me to change bcs they tolerate toxic hate since even 2007
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I'm seriously becoming a misty quigley and an anti-ben fanpage.
if you hate misty and/or like ben, my blog is not a safe space!
#danistalks#coach ben#misty quigley#yellowjackets showtime#yellowjackets#FUCK BEN SCOTT#misty quigley my belived â€ïž
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1, 8 and 10 for yellowjackets đ
HEY MOOTIEEEE okok;
The character everyone gets wrong - I feel like people misunderstand so many of the characters (as an ex Misty hater who didn't understand the mechanics of a black box I have been guilty of this), but I think the main one is Natalie. I've seen a lot of people complain about how her character is largely based around Travis, but the whole point of it is to demonstrate her trauma-bonding habits and how she EVENTUALLY GROWS OUT OF THAT. While we didn't get a chance to see healed Nat apart from the S2 finale, the show explores how you have this loner girl, who's included with the team and her two friends but at the same time reclusive, with a horrific family life that prevents her from truly connecting with others (ex. Kevin, who she probably never invited over to her house to bond or otherwise EVER again), and a sex life with men who have only used her for her body. You bring her into this situation where she's stranded with the only girls who truly notice her and a guy - Travis, who has an asshole dad who is just lost. Travis keeps people at arm's length, he's got this turmoil inside of him, he's angry and isn't afraid to show it. And Nat is drawn to him because she NEVER gets to be angry- she had to be careful around her dad and take care of her mom. And she sees her inner thoughts in this guy so much. Natalie wants to be there for him in the same way that no one could ever be there for her, and it's someone she can connect with on a personal level, not someone who wants her for her body, not someone who will never understand her, not someone who will idealize her and see her for her beauty. And just as suddenly she's taking bullets FROM this guy and she's falling into the same pattern as her mother, even becoming her. But she stays with Travis for so long, because she doesn't see her father, she sees herself. And so she bonds with him, she sticks with him, she destroys him just as much as he destroys her because she wants to punish herself, and Travis, in many ways, IS her. But the problem is that Travis is also her dad, and she wants so badly to love and hate herself, that she doesn't know he's the one holding all the cards. When she loses him, she loses herself, her other half, her purpose in life, and then he dies and she will never have him in her life again. So in S2, this man who she has projected herself onto, it turns out, really isn't a part of her at all. They are 2 separate puzzle pieces painfully glued together, but they can be separated. That's why Natalie isn't with Travis on the plane to her death. She's with her younger self. Because all along, it wasn't Travis that she truly loved and accepted, and who loved and accepted her. It was the parts of her she had lost and had finally gained back.
Jesus I yapped on the first one so I'm gonna make the next one shorter. For number 8, I think people are wrong about Ben. Do I think it was awful he lit the cabin on fire? Yes, obviously that's fucked up. But this is a man who needs more food than the rest and hasn't eaten for literal weeks at this point. He is anxious, schizophrenic, and totally anti-cannibalism. He just witnessed his only 'friend' (Nat) let a CHILD die in her place and be crowned a fucked up cult leader queen for a group of insane women (and Travis). He is horrified. He is scared. He is on his last leg. Like I said, lighting the cabin on fire was horrific, but whose to say he was next? So I think it can be justified a bit in many extents.
Finally, for number 10, I'm sorry to all my Van loving mutuals, but i genuinely HATE her. I know she's starving and unreasonable but I feel like her character got really fucked up towards the ends of season 1 and the entirety of season 2. Fanon acts like she's the greatest ever but she literally told a guy whose brother she had JUST LET DIE that he was being selfish, and that she didn't regret letting a little boy die when there was a USELESS, CULTISH, HALF DEAD BITCH who was WILLING AND READY to be consumed if necessary that was offering herself up for food. Javi's whole death was fucking bullshit and literally horrific. They let Jackie sleep outside and consumed her dead body but couldn't allow an ailing Lottie to just die when she was already injured? And Van EXCUSING that behavior and on top of that TAUNTING a fellow survivor about the fact they were going to fucking eat his little brother? I feel sick. All the girls are fucked, but Van is especially shitty, and fanon needs to stop making her out to be a fucking perfect angel.
#yellowjackets#shauna shipman#jackie taylor#van palmer#taissa turner#misty quigley#natalie scatorccio#yellowjackets showtime#yellowjackets fandom#ask game#mutuals#moots#yj#yj spoilers#yellowjackets text posts
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A Misdemeanor of the Heart is my current all time favourite fanfiction and seeing you stand up for other writers when you're so skilled really gives me so much more courage when I try to write
Aww shit- that... this one really got to me. Hold on, I'm feelin things and it's making my eyes misty....
I'm pretty open about the fact that I get a good bit of Anon hate sometimes and as a general rule, ignore the vast majority of it, or I roast the message in private with friends (10/10 makes getting anon hate more fun)
I won't lie, sometimes when I'm punting an Anon being an ass to someone I worry it'll make me look unapproachable or bitchy when really I just have a very strong anti hate stance.
So please, Nonny, write. Don't stop. Try new things, new pairings, new themes, new types of stories, new crafting methods. Don't let some asshole get you down because nine times outta ten, they can't write half of what you can.
Writing is a skill- while I have so much more to crow as a writer, I got here by writing and you can't grow if you never start. So, please, write. Share. And know that I and a others will gladly stand with you, cheering you on.
PS- thank you so much for loving MisD- see you in the morning for a lovely chapter!
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ok real ask what are ur opinions on ahs coven
oh god. i go back and forth on it a lot cuz on one hand it's very funny and for sure the most lighthearted ahs season out there. plus we got my number one ahs girlie of all time, miss misty day, literal love of my life- but on the other hand im a diehard emma roberts anti (besides chanel oberlin ofc) and i genuinely cannot stand madison montgomery. don't get me wrong- she hilarious and the season would not be half as good without her BUT i still fucking hate her omfg.. also i can't think abt kyle for too long or i get really sad. it's like crazy how not only was his character so sad but also the writers literally did not give a shit abt his storyline like they forgot abt him halfway through and sucked all the life out of him. it really felt like they added his SA to make his character deeper and then halfway through they just got bored. so tbh i kind of have beef with coven even though cordelia foxx is probably my fave sarah paulson character. and also im a myrtle snow stan.
#love u anons#ahs coven#stupid takes#misty day#madison montgomery#myrtle snow#kyle spencer#cordelia foxx#girlblogging
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Home finally.
Misty's back too. She was a good girl and did fineâno sedation necessary. She's been put on more anti-inflammatories and an antibiotic. Didn't even bark except when I picked her up and the tech brought a new cone. She hates the cone.
Meanwhile I'm fucken exhausted...
Mattie's running fine. No clue what was up with her doing that sputtering shit but she's fine now and running perf on the 91. And no more radiator overheats, which is good. I'm probably gonna end up putting some electric radiator fans in her at some point just to be safe, though. Fuck stock, that's a hazard.
But her ticker's ticking good.
I'm thinking of washing up before I make dinnie, maybe. But right now reckoning I could go for a Bex wank and a good liedown. I'm stuffed đ
ETA: I got Misty a plain burger to praise her for being good, but for some reason she didn't wanna eat it which meant I had to fucking chew it for her. And guess what? It worked. I chewed it, gave her the chew, and she ate it readily. She's so smart but she's so dumb sometimes.
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Universal Month:All Quiet On the Western Front
The film I shall review ,All Quiet on the Western Front has been on my watch list since 2008,when I saw it on AFI's Top 10 War films.....Thats a long time to be on my to watch list.I have indeed rented it twice before from my local library ,but both times hadnt gotten round to watching it .You might be wondering why it took so long for me to watch it ....To be honest.....Its hard to hype myself up to watch bleak movies,and I KNEW this was bleak,I have actually seen the 70's version(I think I even reviewed it but cant find my review _.....Doubt I will watch the recent remkae that came out (Which I hear is not just bleak but long and.....Long movies, I have to be in a mood for ).But anyway what do I think of this version ?
in this 1930 film we follow Paul Baumer (Lew Ayres ) and his friends as they enlist in the German army during The Great War only to find War is not glorious and face the horrors of it
So I am not a war film connoisseur,but I dont hate war movies,one of my favorite films is Lawrance of Arabia which is a war film .A common criticism I hear to War films is that cause battles and fights are inherently cinematic .....Movies make war look cool,with war films either coming across as propaganda pieces OR if the film is about how War sucks ,the cinematicness of war undercuts the message.....I am glad to say this film is one of the most sucessful Anti War films I have seen ,cause it makes war look miserable .In fact if the film has a theme to me its misery .I was kind of surprised how harrowing this film was for a film from 1930 ,in fact that made the shocking moments more shocking.This is a film about basically kids getting swept up to "Fight the good fight" only to starve ,lose limbs ,go mad or die.My favorite scene in the movie is when the troops are relaxing and talking about the war and realize.....They dont know why they are fighting .Its both a light scene yet it underlines the darkness of the story
I also wanna confess.......I only knew ONE actor going into this film,Lew Ayres ,who plays the protagonist Paul ,cause he went on to have a long and diverse career ,though I know him for his later Television work as an old man in the pilot of Battlestar Galactica and the miniseries Salems Lot .Initially at the start of the film I wasnt impressed by him,in fact he kind of blended in with the other boys .....But halfway through he started to really grow as a caharcter and for an early sound performance I was actually really gripped by Ayres.His best scene is when he kils a soldier and is stuck in a pit with him
Other performances that stood out were John Wray as the nasty postman turned Sergent Himmelstoss ,who is a perfect unlikable,mean and pathetic character showing people given power who shouldnt have it .The scene stealer of the film is Louis Wolheim as Kat ,the sort of big brother/cool uncle figure of the soldiers,the tough guy with a heart of gold who most of the films warmth comes from....And whose departure from the film made me misty eyed
If I have a complaint it that most of the soldiers kind of blend together for me and I really dont like the scene where PAul confronts the professor who convinced him to enlist,it feels at odds with the rest of the film and a bit heavy handed
OVeralll.....This was better then I thought it would be ,this is a really harrowing anti war story that has hold up very well for being over 90 years old
@ariel-seagull-wings @countesspetofi @the-blue-fairie
@themousefromfantasyland @piterelizabethdevries
@theancientvaleofsoulmaking @princesssarisa @amalthea9
@barbossas-wench
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