#Happy birthday choi twins

[brighteststar707]

Birthday surprises

On the early morning of Saeyoung and Saeran’s birthday, they slip out of their house unnoticed. Their mother is passed out at the kitchen table, and Saeyoung knows that it will be a long time before she wakes up again, giving them more than enough time to go out and celebrate a little bit. Saeran deserves more than anything to spend today outside enjoying himself.

He had been preparing for this day for a while now. He had had a plastic bag stuffed under his mattress for the past few weeks, where he stashed most of the treats that he either received from V and Rika or from the church. There are even some he stole while out doing errands for his mother. He’s not so proud of those, but he’s hoping that just for today, he will be forgiven.

He brought it with him on his way out, making sure that Saeran couldn’t catch a peek of its contents. Hand in hand, he led his brother down a route he knew well, the one that led towards the church. There were less people around there, especially at this time of day, so the risk of an adult catching two children by themselves outside was lower. It only took one concerned adult to get them into big trouble.

Behind the church there was a small grassy clearing that Saeyoung hoped would be good for watching the clouds from. V had brought him there a while ago to show him the view, and even then Saeyoung knew it was somewhere he wanted to bring Saeran too. The greenery was a far cry from the dullness of their bedroom.

It was rewarding enough to see the look of wonder on his brother’s face when they arrived. They sat down side by side on the grass, legs stretched out in front of them, and Saeyoung finally brought the bag out.

Saeran looked at it with wide eyes. “What’s in there?”

Saeyoung smiled brightly, holding out the bag to his brother. “Birthday surprises. Close your eyes and pick one!”

Saeran shut his eyes and excitedly reached into the bag. His fingers closed around one of the treats – a chocolate bar – and he quickly opened his eyes to see what he got. He looked at the chocolate with surprise, it had been a long time since he had had one.

“This is for me?”

“Every last bite! You need all the chocolate you can eat to grow this year. It’s a rule!”

“What about you?” Saeran asked.

“I get my own turn with the surprise bag! Will you hold it for me?”

Saeyoung covered his eyes with one hand and reached into the bag with his other. He emerged with a bag of little gummy bears and cheered.

“Let’s eat them! There’s more in the bag that we need to get through before our birthday is over!”

They both opened up the packages, and Saeyoung watched Saeran break off a square of the chocolate and eat it. Watching the smile appear on his brother’s face made the guilt he felt after stealing the chocolate fade a little bit. Surely, something that made someone as kind as Saeran smile couldn’t be that bad.

Saeran broke off a second square and handed it to Saeyoung. “Here, you should have some too.”

Saeyoung offered him a sweet of his own in exchange. Slowly, they worked through their treats while watching the clouds move slowly across the sky. They made a game of trying to spot the strangest shapes and took turns imagining a house hidden amongst the clouds that they could live in. Little games, but enough to make them both laugh more than they had in a while.

As far as birthdays go, this one is one that they both remember fondly.

[thefunniestguy]

" i said i'd never think i wasn't better alone "

Cursinf my phones bad camera quality foreverrrr. Close ups under the cut ‼️

[shizukais]

Commemorative title image for the twins’ birthday~

[natasha-in-space]

A small unedited self-insert drabble for the birthday boys!! They deserve to be silly and have fun <3 Happy birthday to the wonderful Choi twins who have changed so many of our lives for the better. Here's to them finding each other in every story and living out the life they dreamed of as kids.

The spacious kitchen of the cozy cottage was filled with sounds of life. Well, mostly sounds of kitchenware cluttering together, music, and occasional laughter. All three residents were stacked together with a single mission in mind. Mia was set on making the twins' first birthday without any eminent danger in sight a special one. Though, as it turned out, baking a cake together maybe wasn't such a good idea after all. Specifically with Saeyoung there. While Saeran and Mia had a strong heart for baking, the same couldn't be said for the older twin. At any rate, he was definitely enjoying himself. Much to the exasperation of his younger brother.

Saeyoung was having a blast in the kitchen, that was for sure. He was quite literally jumping all over the room, almost bouncing off the walls in excitement. It was a wonder how he hadn’t messed something up yet. He’d been initially instructed to measure out ingredients for the icing, but he already had some cream smeared over his cheek, and his hands caked with sugar after trying to steal some powdered sugar straight from the bag. Seeing him so hyper was as amusing as it was bewildering. It's been a good while since he was this excited over something.

Well, either way, it felt good to see him be all carefree and happy on his birthday.

Meanwhile, with the most concerned expression plastered all over his face, Saeran was watching him go about his antics in tense silence. Eventually, it seemed like he had enough, as he put down the eggs he was about to break into the bowl, and sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose: "…Hyung, please slow down."

Mia's mouth was lightly covered with the palm of her hand as she let out a short laugh at the scene. The sight was quite amusing. She tried her best to focus on the baking, but the constant movement of Saeyoung in the corner of her eye was stealing her attention.

And having two distracted bakers on your hands is a short road to a baking disaster.

"I don't think slowing down is an option for him at this point," she chuckled, casting a glance over her shoulder to see how the older twin was handling the ingredients. Or, at least to make sure there were no weird additions to the recipe being added.

Saeyoung responded to them both with a wide smile and a playful wink. To describe it simply, he was hyperactive. Sure, he’d been this way for a long time in his fake-giddy 707 persona, but now that he was free, happy and comfortable with people he loves, he couldn't help but let his lively nature reign free. In a way, it was an open expression of his happiness at it all. Being able to spend a birthday with his family. Doing simple, mundane things like baking a cake. Laughing and joking around with one another like a happy family would.

No wonder he was as happy as can be.

And he truly was doing his best to pay attention to the measurements, but he was quickly getting distracted by the faint music playing from the speakers. A mishmash of all of their shared music tastes put together. Though, hearing a familiar Hatsune Miku tune, it was in that song that he found yet another way to cause some chaos.

"Oh, Mia, our favorite!" he exclaimed playfully, grabbing his whisk as a makeshift microphone and quickly falling into step of a familiar dance routine. And it would be funny if he wasn't genuinely very good at it. Not to mention singing along in perfect Japanese.

"Yup, the world is truly yours, Saeyoung. I won't even try to out-perform the number one princess in the world," Mia tried her hardest to control her laughter, but it was too much and she eventually burst out into a fit of giggles at the sight. Though, while still watching the performance, she did attempt to continue with the baking as well.

Key word: attempt to.

"Wait, Saeyoung, the flour-!" Saeran suddenly exclaimed, reaching out with his hand to catch something that was already way out of his reach.

But it was too late. And what Saeran was dreading the whole time had finally happened.

The redheaded twin stopped in his tracks, realizing a moment too late what he had done. He had accidentally dropped the bag of flour onto the kitchen floor, spreading white powder all around them. Well, more than there was already, anyways. He looked down at himself, then back at Mia and Saeran staring at him nearby, and gave out a sheepish chuckle, like a guilty kid would.

"Oops…?" he offered weakly, clearly not really sorry at all.

While Saeran pouted at the mess, Mia laughed softly, shaking her head in mock disappointment.

"You really can't stay still for a second, can you? Look at the mess you made," she wiped the tears of laughter from her eyes and shook her head once more. Though her scoldings didn't sound nearly as genuine as one would expect. And she was mostly doing it to keep Saeran from an eminent headache. As, both twins knew that if there was only Saeyoung and his sister-in-law in charge, the chaos would be ten times worse.

Good thing Saeran was there to keep them both settled.

Saeyoung shrugged, smiling widely. So much for acting guilty.

"Nope," He answered in a painfully straightforward manner, gazing back at the flour now coating the floor and then returning back to Mia. He paused for a second, and then, with the swiftness of a cat, had somehow got a handful of flour, and thrown it in her direction, landing his makeshift weapon in a white puff onto her apron.

"You little- Eek!" Mia tried to retort, before a second puff of flour flew straight into her shoulder. Looks like this baking session was quickly turning into a food fight. Or, more like a flour fight.

"I’m bored, sis. Why do we have to follow the recipe so closely, anyway? It'll be more fun with some chemistry and science involved, y'know," Saeyoung whined playfully, leaning against the counter and crossing his arms over his chest like he'd done no wrong ever.

While that back-and-forth was going on, Saeran looked so exhausted with his brother's antics that it almost made him seem fifty years older. He shook his head and sighed heavily as he reached for the bag of flour, putting it safely out of Saeyoung's reach.

"-Because the cake needs to be edible. And I won't risk Mia getting a stomachache because of your experiments. Just stand there, and don’t move…" he instructed like a parent scolding their unruly child would. Which was pretty comical, since he was actually the youngest one in the room. And yet, he was the most mature one, "-And stop throwing flour at her, Hyung. You're distracting her."

"Oh yeah? Make me!"

Before either Saeran or Mia could speak up, Saeyoung threw a third handful of flour in her direction, which covered her instantly, making her clothes seem more white than black at this point.

"Saeyoung!" she made a half-serious protest and shook off the loose powder, "I swear to God, you're like a five-year-old now."

She tried brushing the flour off of her clothes and hair, but it proved very difficult, since it seemed to stubbornly cling to everything.

Well, that's another issue to add to the list.

Despite the chaos, it was nonetheless sweet in a way. When compared to how the twins' birthday usually would go by, the light and playful atmosphere filling the kitchen was like a different world altogether. But now, they were all free to live without fear, settled together at last. And it was all thanks to them finding each other in their lives, despite all the odds. They had become a family now. Despite Mia not having any familial ties to either of them.

Though, the kitchen was definitely a horrible, white-covered mess. It's a good thing Saeyoung had a cleaner robot to take care of such 'accidents'.

The older twin laughed as Mia fruitlessly attempted to remove the flour from her body. He was having fun watching her struggle, knowing full well she'll probably get him back for this later. Their dynamic was a light, playful one. Always poking fun at one another and causing trouble on purpose. Of course, all of it with no ill intentions in mind. In a way, both of them knew Saeran wasn't one for messy pranks, so they settled that need between each other.

And despite his soft grumblings, Saeran couldn’t help but smile softly at the lighthearted scene between his lover and his brother as well, leaning over to help Mia with the flour on her face. By some miracle, he’d managed to keep himself completely clean of the mess, which was an achievement in and of itself for sure.

"Hyung, you’re an idiot," he spoke quietly, barely audible to his brother, as his thumbs swiped under Mia's eyes, wiping away the excess flour. With a soft chuckle at her disheveled appearance, he leaned over and placed a kiss to the tip of her nose, feeling his heart warm at the giggle that left her lips in response.

Maybe there was something cute about her covered in flour like that. Not that he would thank Saeyoung for that, of course.

"-Hey, I heard that!" Saeyoung retorted in a loud voice. He stuck his tongue out at his twin and then crossed his arms with a pouty huff.

Looking over at the mess he’d left out on the floor for a moment, and then the one happening on Natasha, he snickered, before finally finally replying: "In my defense, it was funny."

After his response, Mia merely rolled her eyes and crossed her arms as well. Though there was no hiding her smile as Saeran fretted over her like a dove preening its partner.

"Funny, but very immature," in a mock scolding tone, she retorted and raised an eyebrow, "You are lucky you're my brother-in-law now, you big baby, or I would have kicked you out of the kitchen for this."

Saeyoung merely laughed, coming over to both of them and suddenly throwing his arms around them, pulling them into a big, group hug. And, of course, smearing them all in flour in the process.

"...This is nice. You two. Just having fun together and being stupid. It's all I ever wanted for you, you know," he murmured, his voice taking on a more softer, serious tone as he looked down at them, a wistful, content look to his amber eyes.

A moment of silence settled between the trio as his words hung in the air, before Saeran let out a sigh. And then, he returned the hug his brother had provided, giving him a somewhat firm look: "You're having fun, too. It's your birthday as much as mine."

"-Yeah," Mia continued, finishing up the messy group hug by wrapping her own arms around the two brothers as well, "Don't forget about yourself, Saeyoung. You deserve to have fun and enjoy your day just as Saeran does."

"...Touché. We still gotta finish this cake, though."

[yanderefan-kimi]

I am VERY late but....

Happy birthday Choi twins!!!! 🎉🎉🎉

[k0kichiimagines]

🥺🥺🥺 aw look at them

they always have a birthday party because they never got any as children ill sob

[rfaromance]

'She's staring.'

Saeran didn't need to look at the other end of the couch to know that his sister-in-law's attention was on him. He had long grown accustomed to the feeling of knowing when someone was watching him.

Whether that someone had been his mother, his false "Savior", or believers watching in fear and awe, he had needed to learn this skill as a means of survival.

This woman... was by far the least subtle of any of them.

Saeran didn't like being gawked at, under any circumstances. His fight or flight instinct always kicked in, no matter how much he tried to keep himself calm.

As calm as he could be these days, anyway.

More irritating, in his point of view, was the fact that she couldn't commit to staring. She'd glance over at him, then her gaze would shift back to her phone. A moment later he'd feel her eyes burning into his skin again, but they'd leave him before he could snap at her.

If she had something to say, couldn't she just say it? Did she hate his hair, which had fully grown into a mop of crimson, because now it wouldn't allow her to forget that he was Saeyoung's twin? Did she want to criticize the bags under his eyes because he hadn't slept properly since... well, since they'd forcibly knocked him out in the hospital? Did she tremble at the sight of his scabby, cracked knuckles, because no matter how raw and red he rubbed his hands he could never wash the blood off?

Just as he was about to call her out on her obnoxious, clumsy ogling, she spoke up.

"Saeran?" Ariella began cautiously. "May I... sit behind you, for a moment?"

He hated how she had the ability to constantly surprise him.

"... I guess."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than had Ariella bounced to his side of the couch. She hesitated briefly once she had landed beside him, but then finally she wiggled her torso behind him, holding her hands in close to her chest.

"Is this okay?"

"I guess."

He still couldn't figure out her motivations, but at least she had warned him instead of just plopping herself (partially) behind him without warning. He wouldn't want to be held responsible for how he might have reacted if she had surprised him.

A soft puff of air left her lips, like a gasp of "Ah." Saeran's ear twitched, but he said nothing. She spoke up again, actually squeezing her words out this time.

"Can I touch you? Ah, your back?"

Saeran could feel the heat radiating off her body in waves. Partially because his body was always cold, and she also tended to be cold; a sudden flustered burst of heat would stick out like black rose in a garden of baby's breath. "I guess."

He didn't want her to make a big deal out of anything, but he still couldn't figure out for the life of him why--

"What the fuck?"

His cry of pain slithered out through clenched teeth like a hiss, and he subconsciously shrank away from Ariella, trying to get out of her grasp.

She yelped and scooted away of her own according, much to his relief. "S-sorry!"

"What was that about? Did you just drive a damn rock into my back?" His minty eyes, usually glassy and apathetic, were now burning with the intensity of the hottest blue flames. He hated lashing out like this, but a caged animal caught in a trap will bare its teeth and claws to defend itself.

"I... I..." Saeran scowled as the pastel princess whimpered and stammered from the other end of the living room. "Your... posture..." She inhaled sharply. "You always... hunch over... I thought... your neck and shoulders... could use... a massage...." Her voice got higher and quieter, until she was practically squeaking at the end of her explanation.

"A massage?" Saeran echoed. His brow furrowed in his frustrated confusion. "What's a massage?"

"Ah... uh..." Ariella stretched her arms out in front of her. "You find... stiff, sore muscles... and pound or rub them... to loosen... them...." She began demonstrating feebly with her shaking hands, making chopping motions and then circling her thumbs rhythmically where he assumed his shoulders were supposed to be. "I'm... not very strong, so--"

"Strong enough," Saeran gruffed, feeling an embarrassed blush rise to his freckled cheeks at the thought of Ariella having enough strength to send him spinning like this.

"Um. Thank you," she murmured, chuckling softly. "Ehe." What an odd woman. "My family... deals with back problems. So I thought... I'd help loosen the knots... in your back."

Suddenly a familiar light began sparkling in her eyes, a telltale sign that she was getting excited about something. A sign that usually spelled trouble for Saeran, who had once thought that nobody on this planet could match his twin's penchant for new projects and bizarre adventures. (Saeran had since realized that he was horribly mistaken, and this glimmer was usually the precursor to another exhausting day.)

"I bet if we fixed your posture, you'd be super tall! How tall are you, anyway, Ranran?"

A cold shock raced through Saeran's body, chilling him to the bone. Murky memories in a thick, intimidating fog, one that he was told to never explore or else face his doom. A chart on a wall, with a brother who was once his reason for breathing--

And even now, the only reason he was forced to stay breathing in this god-forsaken world.

"Don't know. Don't care."

He could tell that his words stung Ariella, who'd turned her head downward and folded in on herself. "Aha. Fair enough. I was just curious... because sometimes you look taller than me, and sometimes you don't, so...."

Before Saeran could shut down her curiosity for good or escape to his room, a door flung open with a resounding slam that cut off both him and Ariella in their tracks.

"My dear brother! How tall are you?"

Saeyoung had made his grand entrance, and if he had overheard Ariella talking about height...

Then Saeran had no hope of escaping.

~~~~~

"Aaaand step aside, please!"

Ariella leaped away from the door post, then spun on her heel to eagerly watch Saeyoung carve a pink notch into the wall. She handed him the tape measure and watched with bated breath as he stretched it out.

"171 centimeters," he announced, and Ariella puffed her chest out proudly.

"Yay!"

"No way," Saeran scoffed, leaning against a nearby wall. "Your hair is so big that it probably added a centimeter. Your idiot husband is just too smitten to tell you otherwise."

Ariella groaned and stomped her foot. "Saeyoung would never rig it for me! He knows I'd rather be honest than tall! Right, my catstronaut?"

"Saeran, come measure me! Then I'll do you!" Saeyoung clearly wanted to avoid the subject. Silently, he mouthed the addition: "Just like we used to."

Saeran let out a grumble of disapproval and turned away. His brother needed to stop living in the past. They weren't those same kids anymore, and they never would be.

And yet...

"If I smack you with the ruler, you asked for it."

Maybe he just wanted the satisfaction of finally being taller.

175 cm. 173 cm.

'He's still bigger,' Saeran thought with a huff, as he rubbed his shoulder after getting Ariella's instructions on how to stand up straight for proper measurement. 'Of course I wouldn't be so lucky.'

But at least he didn't need to stand on his toes anymore to reach his brother's heights.

[anas-tasiaa]

"Hyung, let me measure you too!" Saeran's eyes sparkled with excitement, his heart racing as he held a measuring ruler in his tiny hand. "Oh? My little angel wants to measure me too? Aw, sure, come here." Saeyoung replied with an affectionate smile as he ruffled Saeran's hair. He stood still, leaning against the wall, eyes never leaving his little Saeran. Saeran gave away a toothy smile and stood on his tiptoes, trying his best to reach Saeyoung's height. Saeran furrowed his brow as he extended his arm as far as he could, trying to place the end of the measuring ruler at the top of Saeyoung's head. Saeyoung watched his little brother with a mixture of pride and amusement. "Come on, Saeran-ah! You can do it! A little more!" Saeyoung encouraged, a proud smile spreading across his face. "A-almost there!" Saeran strained on his tiptoes; his determination was unwavering. After a few seconds of effort, he managed to touch the tip of the measuring tape to Saeyoung's hair. With a slight tug, Saeran successfully measured Saeyoung's height. "Hyung...you are...ah...115 centimeters! Wah..." Saeran stepped back, his lips curling into a smile as he looked up at Saeyoung, a twinkle of admiration in his eyes. "You're growing tall, hyung!" Saeyoung could not help but widen his smile, a warm glow spreading through his chest. He pulled Saeran into a warm embrace, feeling a small frame of his little brother's body in his. "You're growing taller too, Saeran-ah. Soon you would catch up to me." Saeyoung grinned; he did not want to miss out on this opportunity, so he tickled Saeran's sides. Saeran burst into a peal of cute laughter, a melody to Saeyoung's ears. The room soon fills with the joyous sound of their laughter, creating a symphony of twin delight. The memory that they would forever hold in their dear hearts.

[marshmallowprotection]

Angelica

Happy Birthday, my love! Pairing: Ray/Lila [Original CMC] Description: Lila's not sure that she'll ever be able to capture her painting the way she needs it to be. However, it seems like there's something just around the corner that wants to show her there's another way. Based on a Pokemon AU. Word Count: 5,233 [AO3]

“Hey… wait… wait for…!” 

The sounds of another Pokemon trainer trailed faintly from the other side of the meadow but Lila did her best to pay it no mind. She was too caught up in her painting to think about what someone else was doing.

It was bound to happen after all, spring came earlier than expected and most trainers wouldn’t want to waste a second if their Pokemon could benefit from soaking in the sun's rays. Her Pokemon did, and they were enjoying themselves as she did her best to focus on the lake and the wild Poliwags that had made the riverbed their home. 

Deerling, Budew, and Lilligant were playing a game of hide-and-seek amongst the flowers just out of sight. She knew they were close by but not too far away. They would never travel far without letting her know where they wanted to go. Now and again, she could hear the trio shout out in surprise, delighted by their little game as they bounced between the flowers and tall grass to amuse themselves until she finished with her painting. 

Lila blew a sigh from her lips as she squinted at the scenery in front of her and listened to the cries of her Pokemon. Deary, Dapple, and Peony sound like they’re having a lot of fun over there. I wish I could play! But, I promised the commissioner I would finish his gaggle of Poliwags today. I feel like I’m missing something and I don’t know what! 

“Smear! Smeargle!” 

Lila glanced to her left and noticed the messy canvas dripping in berries and paint that her Smeargle seemed to be focused on. Her Smeargle was always excited when she told him she needed to paint something in the field because it meant that she would let him out of Pokeball and paint on as many smaller canvases as he liked while she finished her work. His paintings were abstract, zig-zags, slants, and curvy lines that seemed like nothing would stop them except the borders of his canvas. 

“It looks like you’re doing a wonderful job on that painting, Marble. I like how you decided to incorporate the berries we found on our walk earlier. Who knew that oran berries could make such a vibrant blue if you added a dash of water?” She praised with a laugh. “Keep it up, I’m sure it’ll look amazing when you’re done!” 

Marble beamed ear to ear in pride. He wasn’t always confident about his paintings given how quick people were to dismiss something a Pokemon created if it didn’t speak to them. It was one of the reasons why she left home to begin with because as much as she could lie to herself and say it didn’t bother her when her Mother destroyed her drawings, she couldn’t stand the thought that it would happen to her innocent Smeargle. 

There was nothing she wouldn’t do to look out for him. It was easier to take care of her Pokemon than it was to take care of herself. It was easy to put their needs first. They needed her to be brave, and if being brave was enough to protect them, she could do it. If they needed anything to be happy and healthy, she would make it happen as soon as possible. That wasn’t easy when it came to herself. Sure, she left home and that made a lot of things easier on her, but it didn’t change the fact that she knew it wasn’t something she would’ve been able to do on her own. 

Seeing Marble beam made the trouble worth it, though. Seeing all of her Pokemon laugh, play, and have fun made it worth it. Even if she was still learning how to put herself first, her Pokemon were the ones who made her want to try harder. If they could be that happy, she wanted to be that happy, too. Marble flicked his tail against the canvas again, visibly excited to get back to the creative process now that he’d received some praise for doing his best. 

He always knew what he wanted to paint, though. He wasn’t short on ideas by any means. He didn’t have the same problem she did, she was afraid she couldn’t make her paintings inviting enough to match what the viewer wanted to see thanks to her paintbrush, and he didn’t think about what people wanted to see as he dragged his tail over the canvas. 

He didn’t have to be afraid of criticism when she was with him. She just wished she felt the same way. His confidence was only getting better by the day and it felt like hers was trailing leagues behind where it needed to be for someone as far in her career as she was. She told herself that not a soul would take her dream from her, but the fear of not living up to her dream was staring right in front of her as the canvas seemed to mock her every move. 

The most despicable fear was that out of anyone, she never imagined she might be the one to crush her dream, but it seemed more and more likely as the hole in her chest grew larger. She'd been working on this painting for at least a month, but no matter how many times she went back to the drawing board, it never turned out right. 

How could she depict what was in her heart if she couldn't manage to convey what other people asked her to convey for them? An artist had no choice but to work to live and to create without the means of money and shelter rattling at her heels, she might’ve had more time to think of a way to temper her wandering mind, but between her own pieces and the art she promised those who visited her little house, she felt like she was at a standstill. 

What was missing? 

Why couldn't she find the missing piece to make this painting complete no matter how many times she flipped between the canvas and what lay just beyond it?

The painting was a simple one. The commissioner told her that he had adored the frolicking Poliwags in the local park for years with his wife as they enjoyed their walks together every afternoon. He wanted to give her the sweetest gift imaginable, a centerpiece for their dining room that was dedicated from top to bottom in homage to Water Pokemon. It was the perfect gift, and maybe, just maybe, the pressure of trying to make what she imagined to be perfect was what was holding her back. She’d made a dozen paintings like this one before, however, so it didn’t make sense to her why this painting felt so different! 

Lila had no idea what happened between the minute she sketched her idea down on paper and the second it came to life thanks to her brush. There were four Poliwags in the painting, two of them playing with a beach ball that someone had forgotten to take home after a day out at the park, while the others floated on from one side of the water to the other. It wasn’t that difficult of a scene to capture. Rich blues danced into gentle greens with the wave of her hand, and yet, it didn’t have a piece of life to it. 

It was missing a much-needed breath of fresh air and Lila desperately wanted the canvas to have that missing puzzle piece. 

However, if she was honest with herself, it might have been easier to get the painting done if Lotad wasn't adamantly trying to take a nap on her head. Jubilee wasn't the life of the party. Despite his name, all he ever wanted to do was take a nap. At least he made for a nice hat, she tried to reassure herself with a small laugh but it still wasn't enough to make her feel better. 

“I just don’t know what I’m doing wrong,” she lamented. She fell silent once more as she glared at the painting. The longer she stared, the less it felt real, but it was the only way she could figure out where she’d messed up in the first place. Why didn’t the Poliwag look the same? Why didn’t the river flow no matter how many streaks she added? Why didn’t those thickets of grass invoke the desire to beckon the viewer to see if they’d be lucky enough to find more Pokemon if they came closer? 

Thump… thump…! 

That was when she heard the sound of grass rustling. It wasn’t any of her Pokemon because the little footsteps sounded heavier than her team. She paid it no mind, though, assuming it was the trainer she’d heard not too long ago. She had to focus! She couldn’t get distracted because someone had decided to enjoy the park at the same time as her! If they wanted to run and play, that was fine by her, but she needed to figure out how the best way to fix her painting before the deadline forced her to hand over a painting she wasn’t proud of. 

Thump… Thump... Thump... Thump…! 

Her Buneary was half-asleep on her lap, snoozing the hours away as Lila carefully angled her brush against the canvas to capture the stray droplets of water that splashed with every wiggle of the Poliwags. She scratched at the soft bundle of fur behind her right ear. The last thing she needed was someone to wake her up, because the minute Bonnie was shaken out of a restful sleep, she would make it somebody’s problem. 

Well, as long as that trainer doesn’t make a commotion or decide he wants to train his team here, it’ll be fine. I should’ve given her a name that came with a warning label, like Ms. Wake-me-up-and-face-my-wrath-buneary. 

It didn't seem as though luck would be on her side that day, because out of the tall grass came a silver coat of fur that dove into the water, sending the group of Poliwag away, scattering underwater to escape the Pokemon who disturbed their playtime without any warning! The picture-perfect moment was gone in an instant as the Eevee splashed around excitedly, a loud cry signifying her intent to play with the Poliwags and kick her feet against the river rocks. 

It was adorable, or rather, it would've been adorable if it didn't ruin the reference she'd been using to paint. Out of frustration, she sprang to her feet, Bonnie waking up just in time to bounce against the grass rather than land against it in an unceremonious thud. It wasn't as if she had control over the Poliwags, she knew they wouldn't stay in place for her painting as long as she needed them to, but as long as they went fully undisturbed, the less likely she would have been to lose the reference. That was the logic she used. She didn't think about taking pictures of them, why would she? She was fast with a sketch and even faster with a brush. 

The sound of a camera shutter would get in the way of what she believed to be her authenticity. She wanted to live in the moment, and even if the process made things harder for her, she enjoyed the challenge! All of her work depended on being able to focus, and this Eevee had unknowingly spoiled her chance to get things right! 

She wanted to be angry, but she wasn't the type to be angry at innocent Pokemon who didn't know any better, so, all she could do was fall to her knees and lament—"No, no, no! I needed them to stay like that for just a little bit longer!" 

The dancing Eevee seemed none the wiser to her distress at first, deciding to instead dance across the lily pads as best she could without a trainer to hold her back, but the sound of hours of exhausted devastation catching up to her caught its attention at the last second. The Eeevee stared at her for a long moment before she began to dart in Lila's direction. She had a perplexed look on her face that gave way to what appeared to be surprise as Lila's team appeared in front of her defensively. 

Her team wasn't built for fighting by any means but their reflexes were much sharper than Lila realized because never before had she seen her friends move that fast! 

Eevee bristled, seemingly unaware of the danger she put herself in by running towards a trainer she was unfamiliar with, barking something with a cute little voice that would've made anybody forgive her for not realizing she did something wrong. Bonnie and Marble chirped back at the Eevee, and given the sound of their voices, they seemed to be the most upset on her behalf. Lila didn't want her Pokemon to get into a fight by any means, but the sounds of her sadness made them want to look out for her. If she wasn't overwhelmed, she might have broken out into tears because it proved that her Pokemon were willing to look out for her just as much as she was for them. 

It just wasn't great that they were growing at an innocent Pokemon who didn't deserve it. She wasn't sure if this Eevee belonged to anybody, but a right of ownership didn't matter when she couldn't see anyone. Wild or not, the last thing anybody needed was a fight and a trip to the Pokemon Center. 

"Guys, it was an accident. I'm not angry. I'm a little bit upset but I'm not angry! Stand down. Eevee didn't realize what I was doing, I think she just wanted to make friends with the Poliwag—" 

A voice cut her off before she could finish her thought, and when she turned her head, she saw a man not much older than herself, with red hair and flushed cheeks to rival it as if he'd been running around for a while. "Lily! Lily! Lily, what did you get yourself into now? Oh, I'm so sorry, I don't know what trouble she got up to but I'm sure I can make things right! I beg you, anything but a battle! We're not even licensed for Pokemon battles!" 

She was relieved to hear those words. The last thing she wanted was to be thrust into a battle her team would never be capable of. Lily’s expression transformed from confusion into excitement as she hopped past them to stand at her trainer’s side. She nuzzled her head against his leg and cooed affectionately. How could Lila be mad at something so cute? She clearly had no awareness of her surroundings, only knowing that she wanted to play around with as many Pokemon as she could. 

Out of breath but still determined to speak, he bowed his head. “I don’t know what she did, but I apologize. I sincerely apologize. Lily has a hard time paying attention to anything I say when we come to the park. She’s determined to explore everything she can get her paws on… even if that means she eats somebody’s picnic snacks or she wakes up a sleeping trio of Hoothoot before dark.” 

Most people would scold him for not paying attention to his Pokemon, or perhaps tell him he didn't need to let her out of her Pokeball until he had a handle on her excitement. But, she didn’t have the heart. The big, wild world had a lot to offer to someone small who didn’t know what’d be waiting for them around the corner. That kind of curiosity brought a smile to her face. To be able to throw caution to the window without the fear of what might go wrong? She missed that feeling, it wasn’t one she’d felt since she was a little girl who wanted to play with Torchics. 

“I—It’s okay,” she tried to reassure him. She didn’t want this guy to feel bad about it since she hadn’t lost her painting or anything. She just lost a scene to watch as she painted. She would’ve been more upset if his Eevee tried to paint her canvas. Her voice betrayed her, though, as she tried her best to reassure the man, only for her voice to crack, “She didn’t cause a lick of trouble for me, she just got excited—” 

Lily chirped and sprang into her trainer’s arms without warning. He let out a squeak as her damp fur coated his shirt, but sighed in defeat just as she nuzzled her face against his cheek. It probably wasn't the first time he had to deal with that, and it wouldn't be the last time he was treated that way. 

“You don’t have to cover for her if she did something bad,” he said. His golden eyes sparkled with sincerity as she studied his face. “I appreciate it if you’re worried about her being scolded for disobeying me but if I’m being honest with you, I spoil her even when she makes a mistake. I’d rather know what she did so I can… um, you know, tell her to work on not running up to strangers who’re busy doing something and don’t have time to play with her.” 

Lila waved her hand, “No, really, it’s okay, she just got too excited and rushed into the river bed. It’s not like I got wet or anything. I’m not so sure she even realized I was working near the water. She seemed to be on a mission to get wet and nothing would stop her from enjoying the cool water.” 

“Oh, I see. So, did she start to run toward you once she realized you were working by the water? I can see why your team might try to protect your work since she’s soaking wet. If she got your canvas wet, it would ruin all the hard work you’re putting into your piece. Still, I’m sorry she got the team worked up thinking she might not have the best intentions. She’s… just a silly girl who doesn’t think before she leaps, as you can see.” 

It was enough to make Lila laugh! But as to be expected, like trainer, like Pokemon, he offered his soaking wet hand to shake hers, but just as soon as she began to lift her hand to meet him halfway, she felt Jubilee begin to stir and he let out a little yip that told her what was about to happen before it happened. She opened her mouth to stop him but by the time she began to say, “Wait, Jubilee, don’t!” 

Jubilee didn’t hesitate. He took one look at the Eevee’s trainer and sent a Water Gun hurling in his direction without warning. It splashed against his face and soaked through the top half of his shirt, leaving his sweater damp around the collar as he sputtered, incredulous that a tiny Lotad of all things had such firepower behind it! She was just as surprised as him, as this was the first time her most recent Pokemon had done something other than ask for treats! 

Jubilee wasn’t ashamed of himself. The Lotad confidently took his place at Lila’s side after his attack, happy he was able to do something to stop a “dangerous” threat from reaching his trainer. She never expected him to do something like that, but today was a rather strange day and she just couldn’t expect the expected anymore! 

Lila shot him a disappointed look before she turned to her bag, tearing through different layers of her things before she landed on a small towel she always carried around just in case one of her Pokemon made a little mess she needed to clean up before they went home. She knew it would come in handy one of these days, she just never thought it would help a different person! 

She bowed her head, offering the towel to him with the best apology she could muster, “I’m so sorry, I don’t know what got into him! He’s never done anything like that before! I promise we can pay for the dry cleaning bill if you send us the receipt. Please, borrow this towel so you’re able to dry off your hair before you catch a cold!” 

He blinked through the sudden onslaught of extra water and laughed, a sweet sound that made her heart flutter. “It’s okay. The little guy didn’t realize I wasn’t a threat, either… and I guess I didn’t realize it was your Pokemon. He makes an awfully convincing hat.” 

After he managed to dry himself off, he took a seat on the grass next to her as she glanced back at her painting and internally lamented her loss. She didn't know what to do with herself now. She couldn't go back into town empty-handed after she spent all day trying to make things right. She made a promise to make sure this man had an excellent anniversary and it was one she was determined to keep. It would be easy to blame a stranger for getting in the way, but she knew better than that. 

The only problem she had was with herself, not with the scenery or the Eevee that came dancing into the scene. 

What could she do? It wasn't as if she could continue to paint the same scene over and over again from memory. Technically, she could, but it wouldn't feel the same way it would if she did it the way she intended. It wouldn't feel the same. It just wouldn't feel right, she told herself as she decided to pack things up instead. She didn't want to admit defeat. That was far from what she wanted, but what else could she do but accept this was the way the painting had to be? Even if she wasn't satisfied, deadlines came before anything else in life. 

He leaned back to get a glimpse of her canvas but couldn’t seem to see as much as he wanted to from his vantage point, "What were you painting, anyway?" 

"Poliwags. They were frolicking in the river before your Eevee decided she wanted to be friends with them. They're here every day, having fun without worrying about being captured out of the blue since you don't see many trainers in this area, but… today was my very last day to paint the Poliwags right,” she murmured. 

He raised a brow, "Paint them right?"

"Yeah. I know this might sound a little over the top but I've painted at least a dozen different portraits of Poliwag over the past month for this lovely old man who commissioned me to paint his and his wife's favorite Pokemon. Today was my deadline. I've been trying to draw them since I got the request, but it doesn't seem to matter how many times I try, I just can't seem to get them." 

There was a strange look on his face as he prodded, "Wow. I don't know if I believe that. If you've painted them that many times, you must be an expert now. They say if you do anything enough, it should get easier the next time you do it." 

"I wish that was the case, sir," she said. A smile appeared as she gestured towards the canvas, it wasn’t as bright as she wanted it to be. "Take a look for yourself. I'm sure you may not feel the same way after you see it." 

Curious, the stranger pulled himself off the ground and decided to take her up on her offer. He stood next to her and admired the canvas as each detail stood out plain as day. She can see everything she did wrong in full view, and it was one of the reasons why she had a hard time divulging her passion to others. 

She figured he could see everything she did wrong as well as she could. It wasn't unheard of for her to be on the receiving end of criticism without any positivity, after all. Far too many times had people told her what she did wrong without fail, and she accepted that without a second thought because that was all she ever received. She braced herself for the worst of the worst, but instead of criticism, he did the exact opposite. 

"I stand by what I said. You managed to capture how much fun the Poliwags had before Lily interrupted them. If this is what they looked like, it's no wonder she wanted to be their friend. They have big smiles, you can see it in their eyes!" He affirmed. He glanced at her with a pursed lip which made her raise a brow. "But, I do see one thing wrong with the painting if you don't mind my saying so." 

Lila nodded, unsure of what to expect, but ready to see what he had to say and if it would hurt as much as the rest of the criticism she received. 

"You don't look like you're having fun." 

Lila stared at him, incredulous. "Huh?" 

"I guess that sounds weird, right? What I mean to say is, the painting itself is perfect, but the look on your face isn't. If anything, I think… The reason why you think the painting looks bad is because… you don't feel good. If you've been working as hard for over a month, that means you haven't been able to take any time to enjoy yourself. The painting might look happy, but if you're not feeling happy, wouldn't it be fair to say that your personal feelings are clouding you to what's right in front of you?" 

Lila didn't know how to respond. She never thought about it that way. Those words felt heavier than she expected them to, and it brought tears to her eyes. His words felt so profound as if it was something she needed to tell herself but could never find the courage to do so. 

He wasn't entirely off base, there was a part of her that wanted to have fun with her Pokémon, but she kept telling herself over and over again that she couldn't have any fun until she completed the work that had to be done. She had to take care of them, and that meant responsibility had to come first. She didn't have time to think about having fun with them even if she wanted to. That was a part of the deal she made when she left home. 

Did she look that sad? 

Was it so obvious that a stranger could see it and she couldn't even see it herself? Or, rather, that she wouldn’t admit it even though it was as plain as day? 

Was it possible that she was making herself miserable trying to take care of everyone? Was it possible that she was focused only on trying to take care of everything to the point where she didn't think she was allowed to have fun anymore? Was it possible that she decided to kick herself while she was down and never allowed herself a chance to have some fun when it wasn't something she could justify? 

Sure, she managed to get herself the lovely house on the corner thanks to her hard work, but it didn't mean that she could let her guard down. Or, could it? 

She hurriedly rubbed her sleeve against her eyes. It wasn't enough to hide the sniffles that came with it, but it was a devastating blow to realize that she wasn't happy.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to upset you! It’s just that I was taught by my Dad to always be honest with others and I felt like it’d be wrong to not tell you the truth! Your eyes look so sad and that doesn’t seem right.” 

The kind stranger immediately began to apologize for saying something but she shook her head before he could say something else. His apology was sincere but he didn’t need to apologize… He hadn't done anything wrong, not a single thing, and she didn't want him to blame himself for that. It wouldn't be right for someone to take the blame for something she'd been struggling with. 

I needed to hear that, she thought. 

"It's okay. I think… I think I needed to hear that. I've been pushing myself way too hard lately and when the opportunity arises to do something fun, I don't let myself go through with it. I keep telling myself that I'll get around to it later when I have the time, but that chance never comes,” she said. 

“That seems like it could make you miserable in the long run,” he offered his hand to her again. “A princess like you doesn’t deserve to be sad when she’s pursuing her passion. You deserve to have fun, too. Where’s the fun in life if you’re always working yourself to the bone?”  

She took his hand that time, smiling at how warm he felt despite how cold she expected it to feel. “It's hard work trying to make a dream come true, but… if I don't let myself enjoy the little things, what good will my dream be? I'm always happy when I'm able to paint, but if I'm miserable when I'm not painting, there might not be enough time to play with my Pokemon."

She thought of how desperately she wanted to play hide and seek with her friends, and she waved them off instead of making a happy memory with them. She didn't want to treat them that way. They didn't want her to treat herself that way, either. All those times she ignored them in favor of her painting weighed on her like an anchor. 

“My Dad went through something similar, you know? He tried to force his way into making himself happy and it just ended up making him sad. That look on your face reminded me of him, and I know he would want me to tell you to enjoy the little things,” he smiled. It was a bashful smile as he added, “Sorry, I should’ve led with this, but my name is Ray. It’s… It’s nice to meet you, miss.” 

“I’m Lila,” she said. 

“When’s your deadline, Lila?”

She glanced up at the sky to see how far the sun had moved from where it’d been when she checked last. “I’m supposed to meet him in town by sunset. I know there’s still a few hours before then but I’ve been out here since sunrise trying to get it right. I don’t think the Poliwags will be back today but that’s okay… I’ve got what I need and I need to stop doubting myself. I’m sure my client will love this.” 

“Well,” a rosy hue spread across his cheeks as he glanced away. “If you’re not busy with your painting anymore… would you like to have some fun with Lily and me?” 

Lila took a look at her friends who were staring at her expectantly. She could tell that they wanted to have fun, too. How could she turn them down when they looked at her like that? So, she relented and decided it wouldn’t hurt anything to indulge in some fun instead of overworking her painting. 

“...I’d like that.” 

[kumaclick]

🦈happy birthday to the choi twins🦈

[amagicalduckling]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHOI TWINS 🎉🎉🎉

[quequesia]

happy birthday to the Choi Twins 🫶

Another Mysme fanart with 707 and his brother because this duo is one of my favourite ever 😭

Please, let them be happy forever 🙏

[viviuilo0]

happy birthday, twins choi <3

[olibuns]

Happy birthday Choi twins 🥺💕🥳🎉🎈their birthday CG made me cry given how it's like a cute moment where they get to just Be Kids so I wanted to draw something with similar energy...I care them so bad you guys don't even KNOW

[natasha-in-space]

"I wonder what kind of flower is that... It's so pretty!"

Natasha couldn't help but giggle as she saw Saeran's golden eyes widen in pure wonder. It seems like his insatiable curiosity would only grow with time. Or, rather, there was no more fear stopping his curiosity from coming through. "Hm, I don't know! How about we ask grandpa Alan? He knows all sorts of stuff! And, it is his garden after all."

Saeyoung looked up from the hefty astronomy encyclopedia he was engrossed in before, quickly jumping into conversation at the mention of the witty old man all three of them now collectively called their 'grandpa', by his own insistence, of course. "He knows all about stars, animals and flowers? Is there anything he doesn't know?"

"Well... Uh... I guess he doesn't know how to cook! Or maybe he just doesn't like it... But, I never saw him cook anything before." Natasha noted, tapping her chin in thought. Now that they were talking about this, she's pretty sure that grandpa Alan doesn't even own an oven. How weird is that? There's no greater joy than serving a delicious meal you made with your own two hands. At least, that's how it was for her.

"Still, this flower is strange... I never saw one with such bright colors." Saeran's voice was barely audible as he mumbled to no one in particular but himself, all of his attention focused solely on the oddly shaped flower swaying playfully in the wind, almost like it was finding his confusion endearing. He didn't even notice Natasha shuffling closer from the other corner of the tiny garden as she too now studied the aforementioned small plant. Looks like he was completely lost in his own little world. Not like her or Saeyoung minded that in any way. Both of them were happy to see the timid boy feel comfortable enough to indulge in his interests.

"...Maybe it's... magical?" The girl suggested, a silly little smile slowly making its way onto her face as she awaited for a response of some kind from the redheaded boy. It was unclear whether she was joking or not, but, judging by the way her fingers would occasionally drum against the sides of the plastic water can she held in her arms, this was her idea of playful banter. Though, Saeyoung was the only one that caught on her plans, snickering under his breath.

Her sense of humor was pretty odd.

Still, this was the perfect opportunity for something he was planning on doing for a while now. Reaching stealthily into the small backpack laying haphazardly to the side, he pulled out a small polaroid camera he snuck in from the thrift store all three of them visited about a week ago. He's been tinkering away at it for days now, determined to make it work again, no matter how long it'll take him. And so, lifting the fragile little camera into his hands, he snapped a picture of Saeran and Natasha, quickly making them both turn their heads to the sudden shutter sound.

"Hyun? Is that a... camera?" Saeran blinked, obviously a bit confused by what just happened. Though, his older twin was far too giddy by the mere fact of it finally working as he saw a small picture starting to print out. So he did fix it!

"Yeah! The one I found back in the thrift shop, remember?" Saeyoung's grin was practically reaching his ears now as he glanced up at his closest friends, eager to see their respective reactions.

"I thought it was broken!" Natasha exclaimed, her eyes growing wide.

A rather smug look crossed over Saeyoung's freckled features as he fixed his glasses in a sophisticated manner before giving out a reply. "It was broken, but I fixed it! Look, it even prints out pictures as soon as you take them. It's called a polaroid camera. Now we have something for us to look back on in the future when we're all grown up!"

He was obviously feeling quite proud of his achievement, showing off the printed picture once it was done. It was only when all three of them looked at the image more closely did they notice a small bird perched up proudly right on the top of Natasha's head. How long was it sitting there? Either way, it made both of the twins giggle as she quickly got all embarrassed over not noticing such an odd thing before.

It was an afternoon filled with laughs and smiles.

----

"Is this...?"

Natasha mumbled, carefully lifting up a worn out photo she recognized as soon as she saw it, tucked in the corner of a fairytale book. It was a bit crumbled and scratched in some places, but it was obvious that it took a lot of care and patience to keep it in such a relatively good condition.

Saeyoung's eyes widened as soon as he saw her holding the book in one hand and the photo in another. No words were needed as they stared back at one another. This was a moment from the past neither of these former childhood friends ever forgot. And, seeing it like this... was the perfect proof of him genuinely caring for Saeran, regardless of what the 'Savior' has told him.

Natasha swallowed dryly, her hands trembling as she carefully placed the book onto the nearest table. Her voice was barely above a whisper.

"...You never forgot about us, isn't that right?"

[Ref. used by @ANIFORCE_PUSAN on Twitter!]

[schmellows]

Happy birthday to my favourite pair of twins. ily choi brothers <33333