#I guess minos is there but he is so tiny

[sonicvoid]

I was om vacation in the pit of fucking NOWHERE my bad (and I finally picked up DOOM and I am absolutely fucking loving it)

Also these are the only guys I ever get gender envy from now

[realcleverscience]

Wait... WE can read Greek?!

I was reading a wiki article about ancient artifacts when it shared some Greek words that were inscribed on the artifacts:

ΚΡΙΟΣ

ΤΑΥΡΟΣ

ΔΙΔΥΜΟΙ

ΚΑΡΚΙΝΟΣ

ΛΕΩΝ

ΠΑΡΘΕΝΟΣ

ΧΗΛΑΙ

ΣΚΟΡΠΙΟΣ

ΤΟΞΟΤΗΣ

ΑΙΓΟΚΕΡΩΣ

ΥΔΡΟΧΟΟΣ

ΙΧΘΥΕΣ

Of course, my first thought was that I obviously can't read that... but... I kept looking and realized that I could sort of read some of the greek, thanks to knowing certain greek words and letters, mostly from my scientific interests, but other places as well.

For instance, look at the second word: "ΤΑΥΡΟΣ" Spelled out: Tau-Alpha-Upsilon-Rho*-Omicron-Sigma = TAUROS. The bull, which you may recognize from astrology or from the mino-taur (minoan bull) of mythology.

(*There were a few letters that I was less familiar with: e.g. P = Rho. Basically it's an R without the bottom-right leg. Also remember that there are kind of three "O"s: Regular O = Omicron; Ω = Omega; Θ = Theta, which looks like an O but isn't)

Let's try the 4th word: "ΚΑΡΚΙΝΟΣ"

Kappa-Alpha-Rho-Kappa-Iota*-Nu-Omicron-Sigma = Karkinos = Crab.

(*The expression "not one iota" is bc the letter "i" began as one little tiny line or event a dot. e.g. In hebrew, the letter is known as "yud" and is the smallest and simplest letter. It looks like a comma.)

For those familiar with astrology, they may know this is also known as "cancer", and is the origin for the use of the medical condition as well. (You may have heard about certain foods being "carcinogenic" = carcin generating = cancer causing.)

(Why "crab" for "cancer"? - NPR: "...Hippocrates because he was around very early. And some time about 400 B.C., he was examining many cancer patients with what we'd call today end-stage cancer... And he applied the Greek word karkinos, which means crab. A lot of explanations, all of them equally wonderful and all of them equally difficult to prove, but why did he use that? And if you examine a tumor, if you actually feel malignant tumor, you'll note that it's hard as a rock. And so some have explained that it reminded him of the hard shell of a crab. But others have said it.. may have reminded him of the pain that a malignant tumor induces. It's much like the sharp pinch of a crab's claw. And an even better version is that it suggests the tenacity with which, you know, a crab bites you…")

Ok, next is the 5th word: ΛΕΩΝ: Lambda-Epsilon-Omega-Nu = Leon = Lion (I think this one is easy, but perhaps that's bc my name, Ari, means Lion.)

Next: "ΠΑΡΘΕΝΟΣ" Pi - Alpha - Rho - Theta - Epsilon - Nu - Omicron - Sigma = Parthenos = Virgin Again, astrology fans may recognize the word. Zoo fans may recognize the word from stories about lizards in zoos suddenly becoming pregnant on their own, known as "parthenogensis" - virgin birth. (Christians may recognize the word for similar reasons!) Or you may be familiar with the Parthenon, an ancient greek temple to Athena the "virgin/maiden goddess".

Two words later, #8: "��ΚΟΡΠΙΟΣ" Sigma-Kappa-Omicron-Rho-Pi-Iota-Omicron-Sigma = Skorpios = Scorpion!

Next: "ΤΟΞΟΤΗΣ" - This one's a bit harder Tau-Omicron-Xi*-Omicron-Tau-Eta-Sigma (*That's a hard letter. There's also apparently a similar letter represented by "X")

= Toxotes. I wouldn't have recognized this as the word for "archer" (technically, "bow") but you may recognize the word as the root for "toxic", which I just learned is derived from the word for archer - either bc it harms like an arrow, or bc the arrows were dipped in poison, making them toxic arrows.)

Ok, let's jump to the last one: "ΙΧΘΥΕΣ" Iota-Chi-Theta-Upsilon-Epsilon-Sigma = Ichthyes

People who've played animal crossing, or maybe just love fish or biology, may recognize this as part of the word "ichthyology" - the study of fish.

By now you may have guessed that the ancient object was a calendar of sorts, and was here listing the various months with their astrological signs.

----------

So it kind of blew my mind to realize that I can sort of read greek.

Clearly this doesn't mean that I can just open up ancient or modern greek texts and start translating - but, I'm a LOT closer to that for greek than for most other languages. And not just me, but all of us. Which is just amazing. If I opened a book in russian or japanese, I'd be totally lost. I can't read the alphabet and I have basically zero familiarity with russian or japanese root words. But as westerns who speak english and use mathematics that both largely evolved from/with greek sources, we are all a lot closer to this ancient language than we probably assumed.

Kinda puts a new perspective on the phrase, "it's all Greek to me".

[spicynamericano]

Sunrise. - yt nakamoto

sypnosis: yuta tells you to stay.

word count: 1k

genre: angst

a/n: this was originally posted on twitter! my first attempt at writing after three years. by the way, i pictured this with two scenarios in mind. let me know how you imagined it!

inspired by: MINO’s Sunrise

https://open.spotify.com/track/3AneSYPZTGWVonpCy9yxAW?si=d05b9a2356c74d0b

"Stay," he whispers, latching on to your cold hand, squeezing it as tight as he could.

"Stay," he mumbles, voice trembling, intertwining your delicate fingers with his, as he pulls your hand close to his bruised cheek.

"Please, stay..." choking in between cries, he quivers as you feel droplets flow down your soft skin. You faintly hear his muffles as he kisses the back of your hand softly, not letting go unless you stay.

But you did stay. You stayed until he let your hand go. You stayed until he stopped crying.

You stayed, yet he didn't know.

It was lonely and hard. How could he stay sane when he loved you all his life? Without you by his side, he started to drink his sadness away, til no trace of you was left in his memory. He blames himself for letting you leave. He blames himself for letting you leave like the wind that flows just to brush past you. He blames himself for letting you leave, just like that.

Every day, bottles of liquor pile up in a corner of his dark room. Locked in his thoughts, he withers and shivers on his now cold bed, no trace left of your shared warmth and joy. Yes, he's broken—to an extent where he thinks he could no longer be fixed. In his sober thoughts, he waits for you still, an ironic shift from his drunk laden miseries.

His dusk to dawn sessions are frequent, to avoid the busy rush of what used to be his early mornings. Ever since you left, he's become a lifeless man. He knows you're not coming back yet still awaits your return.

I mean, how could you come back? After shattering his life with a single phrase, would you dare to piece him back together?

He's now alone and miserable. Not one of his friends could even reach him. He's so caught up on you, that no matter how hard he tries to forget you, you'd appear before his eyes. I guess you still keep staying in his faintest memory.

"Fuck!" He shouts, as he shoves a console table within his reach. Yup, he's gone mad. Books fall to the hard ground, creating a thudding noise that echoed across the studio. His eye caught one thing in particular though—a yellow piece of paper stuck under a Before Sunrise DVD.

It was your favorite movie. It reminded you of how you both unexpectedly met while travelling abroad, promising to meet at Han River when you both have no dates on Christmas Eve. Funny enough, you did meet up. Well, not because you both kept your promise, but because you were both dumped by your exes on that same day. You both didn't really recognize each other at first. Not until you both were dressed the same as you did back in Arashiyama. Meeting up at Han River was like fate, the promise was just a bonus.

He opened the slightly crumpled piece of paper only to see a selfie of the both of you, smiling wildly with the sunrise behind you. It was his gift to you on your very first anniversary. He drove you to the East Sea, where you both could see the sun rise from the waters. It was the most beautiful sight you both witnessed, a memory you both treasured forever.

At the back of the picture was a letter written by you, two years later.

10. 26. 18

Hi love! Happy anniversary! Found this old photo in one of our albums! >.< You know, I have never been this happy in my life :) Three years with you is something I’ll forever cherish. As you came into my darkest nights like how the moon lights the night, let me be your sun that guides you to something new each day.

Idk if you’ll see this hehe but whatever happens, do remember that I love you and I will always love you with all my heart and soul.

I will always stay no matter what. Just look out the window and see the sun rise, for I’ll be shining the brightest ‘til the night comes when you fall asleep.

愛してる、ゆたくん。ily. 생일축하~

Yuta's not one to cry but tears instantly rush down his swollen face as he grasps the photo in his right hand. He looks out the window and Seoul is still bustling with city lights on a Saturday night. Feeling sobered up, he swiftly checks his phone and gasps at the screen. It's 3 am. He quickly changes his shirt, grabs his wallet and keys, locks his apartment, hops on to his car and drives off as quickly as possible.

An almost three hour drive to the East Sea becomes two, with his speed pacing up. He arrives and parks his car, it's currently 5 am and dawn starts to break. He finds his way to a huge boulder in the middle of the beach and reaches for something in its caved areas. He manages to grab a tiny box, with a ribbon on top. He sits on a flat surface of the boulder and waits for morning to come as the colors of the sky start to change.

He takes out the photo in his hand, as well as the tiny box. He brings out a sunflower ring with white and gold diamond crystals and stares. Tears start to fill his eyes once again but he resists.

"Hi, love." he says, looking up at the sun that's slowly starting to rise from the waters.

"Remember how I promised I would propose to you here at sunrise? I'm here now," he says softly, turning his head to the photo.

"See? I even have the ring ready. I even traveled here to hide this ring just so you would find it," he pauses, looking at the ring.

"But you never did."

Mustering up some courage, he looks up at the bright sky, "Wherever you are now, I hope you are happy."

He stands up from the boulder and feels the morning breeze hit his face. He digs up a ditch in the sand next to the boulder and places the photo and ring inside.

My love, you did stay. But only as a reminder that I'll never see you again.

Goodbye, my sunrise. I will now let you go.

‘Til we meet again.

He bids farewell to the place once familiar to him and drives off under the basking light, not once looking back.

[baeklination]

htbagn, 4

MINO

Date:210526

Warnings/Contains: SMUT 🔞, oral (giv/rec), fucking, fingering, masturbation, cumshot, G.E.L.

Pairing: Baekhyun x F.Reader x Mino (Song)

WC: 2,2k

NOTE: It wasn't that long ago I told anon I had no plans for Mino - but then I saw the Songzio ads.

Waiting on the elevator someone comes up to wait beside you. A little too close for comfort, you think, and take a step to the left as casually as you can.

"You usually move-"

You know the voice instantly and almost snap your neck with the speed you turn towards.

"Mino... What the... You're back", you greet him getting into the elevator. "When d'you get home?"

"A couple of days ago", he says cooly, basking in your appreciation.

You immediately notice he's different - and not just his new blonde hair and tan.

"And you didn't think to tell us, huh?"

"Did you miss me that bad?", he asks, giving you the up-down, sucking in his bottom lip.

"We missed you plenty, but I'm not some faint hearted schoolgirl, so this...", you reply, putting your hand under his chin, not fazed by his tricks.

Being caught, he breaks into a laugh, his shoulders bobbing up and down.

"So when can I come up?", he asks, keeping the door from closing with his foot as he gets off.

"Missed us too?"

"Every night", he smiles crookedly. "Both of you."

You find Baekhyun sitting by the computer in his home office.

"Guess who's back…", you whisper in his ear, giving him a semi hug from behind.

It takes him a few moments before he swivels the chair around, wearing an excited smile.

"He's back?"

"Yep. Ran into him in the elevator."

Baekhyun's hands hold the small of your back as you sit down to kiss him.

"He said he missed us…"

"We better invite him over", he suggests, pulling your body closer to his crotch, sucking on your lips.

"I think he's a little different." Noting the question on Baekhyun's face, you continue. "I couldn't put my finger on it… More...aggressive?"

"Really..? Then we really should invite him…"

•

"You were gone quite a while this time", Baekhyun says, sitting down by the table next to Mino, across from you.

They look as if they decided to match their outfits; Mino in black with his blonde hair, Baekhyun in white with black hair.

"Yeah, the shoot dragged on for so long I'd've only had time to get in the door before I had to turn around and leave again, so I stayed out. That video you guys sent kept me company during my cold nights...", Mino replies, obviously eager to get started.

"Oh, something tells me you found other ways to keep warm, Mino…", Baekhyun smiles.

"I have no idea what you mean", he chuckles and runs both hands through his hair. "Unless you're talking about my request?"

"It's a good one. I like it."

"Well, why wouldn't you, honey", Baekhyun says, unbuttoning the top part of his shirt. "It's all about you."

"If I'm not mistaken it includes all of us…" You tilt your head and look at Mino. "Didn't it?"

He nods and sinks down a little, dragging his hands along his thighs as if he's fixing creases on his trousers. Baekhyun puts his hand on him and looks at you.

"Why don't you be a doll and help Mino out, honey..?"

The pleasure Baekhyun derives from seeing you perform - on someone else, but always for him - is evident by the bulge on display in his own trousers as he gets up. He stands behind you, softly pressing your nipple between his index finger and thumb while you watch Mino get ready. He's cocky in the way he unbuttons his shirt with one hand and roughly pulls it off to reveal his tattooed torso; in the way he smirks when he pulls down his trousers to let his cock bounce out and rest on his stomach. Just as he grabs your fingers to move you closer you feel Baekhyun's lips on your neck.

You bend down, stopping at Mino's face, waiting for him to make his first official move. He chuckles and guides your lips to his parted ones, gently sucking, tasting, getting reacquainted, while letting his hands play like feathers on your body. When your light fingers find his cock and stroke it his kisses turn harder and he raises his pelvis, wanting more.

"Don't tease him, honey", Baekhyun says in a soft voice.

"Mm, yeah, don't tease me", Mino echoes.

The head of Mino's cock is perfectly smooth pushing past your lips to bury itself at the back of your throat. He swears under his breath and lets his hand rest on your head. His thickness fills your mouth completely, but there's no strain; only enjoyment at slowly and continuously swallowing him. He sucks in air and deeply moans it out again and again, still raising his body upward. Giving him a glance you see his head is on the back of the chair; and behind him stands Baekhyun, running his fingers through Mino's hair, looking at you with ever growing arousal.

"Ah, shh… That mouth is sweeter than I remembered…", Mino praises you.

"You're exactly as I remember." You cock your head. "At least in my mouth…"

Challenge accepted, Mino drags you off the floor with a smirk and pushes his body against yours, meaning for you to get on the table. In a flashback you recall he's not putty in your hands when it comes to fucking - it's only Baekhyun he allows to lead him.

He pulls your panties to the side and takes his time enjoying the view. Taking a deep breath he exhales with a smile on his face.

"You smell sweet…"

The way it's beating between your legs you know you're glazed all over. And if you couldn't tell yourself, Baekhyun's tilted head, tongue playing in the corner of his mouth, would. It turns into a slack jaw and knitted brow as Mino guides his cock to your entrance. The ease with which it glides in is back-archingly electrifying; the kind of pleasure that runs through your entire flesh, yet it's illusive and delicate - a wind rolling through. Mino feels it too, seemingly releasing it through his mouth with a whistling moan. Every thrust brings a new wave of tingles with nowhere to go but sit and build up. Seamlessly he moves into a quicker pace and press your legs to his sides to keep you in place. The smacking and squelching are the icing on the proverbial (fucking) cake. Baekhyun puts his hand on Mino's shoulder.

"Save some for me."

"Yeah…"

"Ten…", Baekhyun starts counting.

He lets his trousers and shirt fall to the floor, giving you a chance to see the silhouette through his boxers before pushing them down as well.

"Zero", he whispers, putting a soft hand on Mino's waist.

"Fuck…", he groans, gritting his teeth and rests his head on your chest.

You laugh, patting his head and get a smile back as he slips out. Baekhyun pulls your panties off and gets you standing, where he takes off the rest.

"Bedroom?"

"Living room? If he's gonna be on his knees…", you say and look at Mino. "Or..?"

"Your bed's pretty high. Living room", he nods and leads the way.

Baekhyun comes up behind you in the hallway, pressing himself tightly against your body as he takes a deep breath and hums, delighted. His cock is hard against your back, his fingers - searching - are soft. He finds your entrance and slides it in. Just as you lean into it he stops and smacks your ass.

"Go on."

Your tiny acknowledgement of the burn earns a laugh from the living room and a cheeky play of the tongue from Baekhyun.

Mino's waiting on the carpeted floor with impatient anticipation as you make yourselves comfortable. The arrangement is almost like the very first time you had Mino over.

•

Baekhyun's chest is warm against your back, steadily filling with air and then sinking. He pinches your nipples, giving extra weight to Mino's tongue lapping over your clit. He isn't bothered by you grinding on Baekhyun's throbbing cock; his mouth follows along exquisitely, kissing, softly sucking - moaning.

There's a pause in his motion and out of nowhere, you get the full vibrato of Baekhyun's deep whine in your ear and feel a shift of his legs. Looking down you see Mino's mouth on his balls, giving him almost the same gentle treatment you just got. Baekhyun grips your thighs and presses upwards, pushing the root of his cock tight against your entrance.

"Shit…baby, look at my good boy…"

"Your?"

Mino winks at you.

"Don't be...mmh...don't be jealous", Baekhyun coos and puts his fingers to his mouth before placing them on your clit, gently circling it, running them along either side of it.

Mino bites himself in the lip with a glint in his eyes. You can tell there's something on his mind - and you're pretty sure you know what it is. Liking where he's going, you introduce the idea to Baekhyun.

"Baby..?"

"Mm-hm?", he replies, nuzzling your neck, still rolling his hips.

"You want a little g-spot attention?"

He chuckles and looks at Mino, who in turn nods at him.

"You're spoiling me today", he says, inching down a bit and opens his legs further. "Go ahead."

Mino wets his finger and carefully presses it in, little by little. Baekhyun pulls you down and holds you close against his body as he in turn presses deeper into you. His breathing is thick with pleasure, exhaling deep moans into your ear.

"Fuuck…"

Satisfied he's found the right tempo, Mino again directs his attention towards you. As if Baekhyun's cock lodged deep, his sounds ringing clear and warm hands isn't enough, Mino parts you folds with his free hand and starts giving you teasing flicks with his tongue before sucking a vacuum - just on the edge of painful - on your clit and releasing it with a groan. Not pausing, he does it again - lightly this time - both tongue and plush lips enveloping you over and over. Baekhyun's movements meet with yours; they're small so you won't disrupt Mino, but with both of you getting special attention you don't need much for the build up to start. Spreading your legs further you bury your hand in Mino's hair as his mouth is firmly planted on your pussy.

"Shit, I'm gonna come", you whisper faintly, in so asking if Baekhyun wants to come first.

"Okay…", he moans back, he himself swept up in complete pleasure. "Go first, baby… Ah, shh..."

Mino's eyes glint when they meet yours, happy his request is so well received, before he places his tongue flat and rubs hard. Baekhyun squeezes in as tight as he can - the deep climax he's created inside spilling out in a circle around your entrance. You push down on Mino's head as your quick breaths are accompanied by the tightening of your body before it relaxes in enormous shakes as he takes you over the edge.

The clenching proves too much for Baekhyun, who draws a whistling breath and grips your waist and fucks you roughly from underneath. You love it when he can't control himself.

"Harder, baby", you urge him on.

Mino moans. His free hand is now round his cock, pumping as it's leaking pre-cum.

Baekhyun's pelvis beats into your ass just like his short whines hit your ears.

"Oh, shit…", his voice rattles, his sync jumping.

His beating turns to deep, hard thrusts, pressing your waist down on his cock as he comes, spraying his cum into you with hitching wails.

"Shit", he sighs out of breath, bringing his hand to your breast. "I love when you come on me", he says kissing your wet shoulder.

"Me too", you chuckle, still catching your own breath. "What about you, Mino?"

"I think you should come on her", Baekhyun suggests, stroking your breasts. "Don't you think so, honey?", he coos.

"You want that, Mino?", you ask, wetting your fingers and running them alongside your clit.

He stands up, cock thick in his grip as he watches.

"You still hard?"

Baekhyun snorts and starts rolling his hips as he's still inside you.

"You wanna see me fuck her..?"

He still feels good in you, pulling out long before rounding back in - all for Mino's viewing pleasure.

His eyes are dark as he watches, his faster pumping bringing moans of content from him.

"Hold me", you say to Baekhyun as you bring your knees up.

He does and Mino groans at the full view.

"Be a good boy and cum down my girl...", Baekhyun prompts, seeing he's on the verge of coming.

His thighs get taut, his stomach tight as his huffs and moans get louder. He drops his head back with a whine, shutting his eyes tight before breathing out heavily, watching as he spurts out cum over your stomach.

"Fuck…", he chuckles seeing the mess, hand at his shaft.

He sits down - lays down - and puts his hand on his head.

"Shit… I wasn't lying when I said I missed you", he laughs.

"I know what you mean", Baekhyun agrees, getting up from under you. "I was planning on taking her - you", he points "...from behind while you were getting a blowjob…", he says, sauntering to the closet to get you a towel.

"I think your hands were a bit too magic, Mino", you smile at him.

"Yeah", Baekhyun raises his eyebrows "You should go away more often."

[jeonandjoonie]

Just One Day

posted on wattpad and this tumblr only.

You have a crush on your boxing T.A. college au. Jungkook X Reader.

word count: ~10,900k

W: NONE

================================================

Kids.

You couldn’t believe that for your last semester in college you would have to take a physical education class. You still curse your advisor when you remember the day.

You were walking happily to your appointment prepared to turn in your graduation application only to be told that you were not set to graduate. Your previous advisor didn’t notice the unfulfilled requirement. You almost cried and immediately went to your apartment to search up any physical Ed classes that would satisfy the requirement.

Of course being so late in registering, all the basic classes such as Yoga, Gym, and Dance were filled. You looked over the list, even weight training had a waitlist of 5. You were beginning to feel hopeless as you saw Judo and Tennis having a waitlist as well. There must be an open one!!

And how much your heart delighted when you noticed a class that was full but had no waitlist! Your eyes immediately crossed over to the left to see what class it was.

Boxing.

Taken back, you pushed back the stress from clouding your mind. Thinking of having to not only work out but be punched down Sighing, you quickly clicked on the class to register accepting your doom. Another couple hundred dollars invested into your degree, taking a class you were not interested in.

With the start of the semesters you passed through all your classes easily already feeling like a master in your discipline. You walked happily from class to class. You were especially happy that your internship and student work study all fit perfectly within your schedule.

You plopped yourself onto your tiny single bed. In a few hours you’ll have to get ready for your first day of Boxing. 3-hour class, two times a week, it made you want to cry. Your classes started at 6 and it was past 4 when you got to your apartment, so you quickly went to your kitchen to eat. You wanted your food to be digested before class to prevent yourself from vomiting.

You settled for some leftover mango rice and smoked salmon that accumulated from days before. Neither were yours, but you and your three other roommates agreed that when food has been in the fridge for more than two days it’s a free for all.

"Hey, __" your roommate, literally roommate which you share your room with, patted your head as she passed you. "Do you want to do our nails and talk about our 5-year plans and then eat ice cream?" She shouted from your shared bedroom.

" Sorry, can’t!" You shouted back to her, "I got that boxing class tonight!" You continued to shout even though she was now in front of you. You wanted the whole world to hear your misery.

"Oh, that sounds like fun!" She responded leaning onto the counter

" Ugh. Please, it’s going to be such a waste of time. Punching people is one thing but having to let someone punch me sounds so annoying" you complained putting your dishes in the sink.

"Stop crying, I’m sure they won’t have you fight anyone. I bet it’ll just be like learning posture or something. It’ll probably just be the basics".

"True... Anyways do you have any clothes I can borrow real quick? I didn’t have time to buy any"

"Sure, What’s the dress code"

“I dunno, the guy just said casual and comfortable for the first day", you thought it over " just sweats, I have a t-shirt. Please!"

When you asked for sweats you didn’t think it was going to be an issue. Sweats are pretty much one size fits all. You should have known better as you looked at yourself in your floor length mirror. Minah's gray sweats were clinging to your butt and legs.

"Oh my god Minah, what is your size? a size negative zero, I feel like I’ll explode. Did you get this at the kids’ section".

"Shut up, those are the only ones I have…they kind of shrunk when I washed them" she mumbled the last part. You knew Minah was skinnier than you, but you didn’t expect it to be this much maybe just a size or two. "they don’t even look that bad, they fit really snug on me after the wash".

Seeing your disappointing stare, she quickly fusses over you. "Fine. Bend down, run, jump or do whatever boxers do. Let’s see how they look".

You jumped, kicked, and ran in place. You dropped it low a couple times to feel the strain on your thighs and butt.

"I mean…I guess they’re okay" you studied yourself again "you know what, it’s no big deal it’s like I’m wearing yoga pants"

Minah laughed "You’re so right! why are we even discussing this?"

You looked at her putting on a pout "they look like yoga pants, but they feel like they’re about to rip. Look, my pockets are sticking out!"

Finally getting annoyed with you, Minah sighed loudly throwing her hands up in a dramatic flair "Wear them, don’t wear them. Hurry up cause it.." she looks at her rose gold wrist watch with faux diamonds around the frame, the one you gifted her for Christmas. Yes, you are proud of your gift. "Oh my gosh, __ you need to go it's 5:50! Isn’t your class at 6?" Minah looked at you with wide eyes.

"What?!" you squeaked. You didn’t want to be late, you couldn’t given the fact that you were on the waitlist. You can’t give off a bad impression now. "Oh my…oh my gosh" you muttered to yourself quickly, slipping on a black t-shirt. You grabbed your bag and ran towards the front door to slip on your black shoes. Which was a struggle and you later realized it would have been easier and maybe faster to untie them and then put them on.

You reached out for the door handle only to have it hit you against your forehead.

"Oh my gosh" three voices chorused at the same time.

Sohee your other roommate gasped as she grabbed your arm to inspect your injury. However, you simply brushed her away as you were already late. "__, wait are you okay, I’m so sorry"

"It's fine, I’m good!” you yelled back as you ran the two blocks to your campus. only to getting slightly lost as you turned a right and not a left. You didn’t even have time to blame it on your possible concussion. Can you get a concussion? you don’t know. But you almost threw up with nerves when you realized you made the wrong turn.

You need to get into this class. Your graduation depended on it. Although you’re sure they will squeeze you in when they realize you’re a senior, you still want to be in good standing with the instructor if you planned on slacking off in class.

Reaching the gymnasium doors, you tried to control your breathing. You haven’t run this fast since you had to run miles in middle school. You felt dizzy and tried hard not to think about your burning calves.

Inside looked nothing like you thought it would. You imagined dark lights, punching bags, and maybe some weights. However, there were only large mats laid out on the floor. A small group of students seated in front of what you figured is the instructor. You quickly ducked your head trying to hide yourself as you sat down in the back. There were two other people standing next to him wearing head gear and strapping on boxing gloves.

"And who is the new intruder?" the instructor, Mr. Kang or Mino, questioned out loud.

You shyly smiled (or what you thought was a cute shy smile) when in reality you looked like a nervous wreck, trying to hide the fact that your legs were burning and you were breathing too hard. Hmm? was that sweat running down your neck.

"I’m ___, I should be on the waitlist"

Mino made a huge show of flipping the pages of his clipboard. "Ah yes __, I see you here. Well if you still want this class you’re in luck because three people dropped out this morning"

Even though you were practically hyper venting in your seat and you're pretty sure the sweatpants were cutting your circulation. You felt such a relief wash over you.

“Just don’t make a habit out of being late, 25 minutes is unacceptable, 5 more and I would have kicked you out. Next time make sure to email me beforehand"

If you didn’t look like a nervous wreck before, you sure did now. You nodded your head too afraid to speak from the embarrassment.

"Come get your syllabus after class, we’ve already gone over it”, he looked around “Everyone this is why I stress that you should attend every class and be here on time, every moment is important" he clapped his hands, “now for the fun part: the demonstration”. He turned towards the two people standing at his side, “like I said these are two of my excellent students who are in boxing III, they volunteered their time to be here and help me teach this course. so please give them the same respect you will give me" he turned towards them once more giving them a nod as a sign to begin. The two guys started to face each other and sway around.

"These are more advanced moves, we won’t be learning these in this course but I want you to see..."

The instructor's voice drifted off as you watched the two guys start to move and jab at each other. They were fast and moving so quick on their feet. Your eyes lingered on to their legs. Interesting…very interesting. With these types of demonstrations maybe this class wouldn’t be so bad.

The two guys continued to "punch" each other bouncing in their spot. "Whoos" can be heard from the students around you who knew what was happening. It did look like the one in all black was beating the one in a blue shirt. The guy in blue was larger than the other which says a lot since they both look fit.

You were startled out of analyzing as Mino clapped his hands, "Okay. Okay, guys that’s enough thank you".

He applauded and everyone followed along. As did you, poking your head in between the seated bodies in front of you trying to get a better look of the guys. The guy in all black had tattoos on his hand and arm. The one in blue had a tattoo running up his neck. You were curious to see how it would spread out on his body. When he fully took off his head gear, wow….

Oh….

Wow…

You were amazed. These guys are so handsome. They are the straight definition of charming. You almost wanted to reprimand him for risking his stunning features. He gave a boxy smile "Hi, everyone my name is Taehyung".

“Hi Taehyung” a couple of aspiring class clowns responded back.

"Hi, I’m Jungkook" the voice next to him said.

Your eyes turned to him. The one in all black. To say your heart stopped would be an understatement because you are sure your brain cells did to. You froze in your spot, zoning in on his pretty face. Noticing the way his eyes crinkle despite his attempt to look serious. The charm and absolute power that oozed out of him was no intimidation to you, for your newfound adoration for his aura and beauty captivated you more. So much that you are willing to freeze in the spot if it resulted in you taking him in.

You continued to stare at Jungkook. This time zoning in on his lips, not yet picking up on his squinted eyes trying to meet yours for he felt you blunt stare and felt slightly amused. Jungkook, what a guy, what a man, what a-

“Okay class, let’s begin some basic moves everybody! Get to the mats".

Upon hearing more chatter and the squeaks of shoes, like on autopilot your body stood up. You were out of your trance once you realized you were staring at the back of Jungkook's neck. You quickly got into a spot in the back corner wanting a place where no one will see if you happened to rip your sweats or see your lame attempt at following along. You tried to make sure you have a view on that Jungkook guy, but blocking your view was a couple other people. You didn’t even have the privilege of seeing his calf. You decided to just admit defeat and listen to Mino. The class began with basic exercises that seemed even more difficult than the jumping jacks and squats you did in your room earlier.

"Hey are you alright?". You jumped back upon hearing a voice at your side, "Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you, are you good?"

It was Taehyung.

"Huh, wha- why?.. no, no I’m good"

"Okay it just seemed like you were struggling a bit”

"No I’m fine. Everything is fine…haha" you said as you lunged your leg forward like everyone else did to show him you were right on track. Can he notice the agony on your face that was caused by the ridiculous sweats?

“How about your forehead?” he asked, pointing to his own, upon seeing the confusion in your eyes.

“OH” you exclaimed a little too loudly, placing a hand on your forehead.

Taehyung gave you a short smile and a short nod as he jogged up to his spot in front of your section.

How considerate. As the exercises began you were now aware of Taehyung eyes. He tried to act like he was casually glancing at you and not keeping an eye on you. You would love to say it was due to that fact that he thought you were cute, but you knew it was because of the sweat that now adorned your face and the puffs that escaped your mouth. You haven’t exercised properly in ages.

As you continued your moves you were beginning to feel itchiness from the band around your ankles. You lifted the band as much as you can, only to be horrified with the deep red marks imprinted around your ankles. You looked up in shock meeting Taehyung's eyes. He immediately rushed to your side .

“Are you crazy?” He asks you with wide eyes “You need to go change”

“I’m okay” you tried keeping your voice hushed as to contour Taehyung's loud exclamation that had people around you turning their heads.

“No, this is bad,” Taehyung said, trying to find Mino to gain his attention.

“No, No, I’m fine” you hiss at Taehyung “Go away”.

Taehyung ignores you as he stands at high alert waiting for Mino to come to your side. You noticed Jungkook trailing behind him.

As the two men approached, Taehyung simply pointed at your ankles which were lamely covered by your hands.

Jungkook rushes to your side and tries to lift your sweats to see the damage done. If you weren’t so mortified by the attention given by everyone in the class, you would have swooned at his proximity.

“I’m fine” you mumble.

“No,” Mino says, meeting Jungkook’s eye “you should go home. Class is almost finished anyways”.

Feeling defeated your get up to your feet keeping your eyes on the ground. Being this close to them you realized how small you are. You hid behind Jungkook’s body to hide from your class's attention.

“I’m okay” you try to reason with Mino, “just a little tight” you tried to laugh.

“Miss?”

“__”

“___” Mino repeated, “I’m responsible for you in this class and I won’t allow for any injury no matter how small or big. Please, you're excused to go home”.

Slumping your shoulders and keeping your head to the ground you sighed, “Okay”.

In any other situation you would have taken this as a fortunate luxury, a blessing in disguise, but since Jungkook was witness to this (and Taehyung) you felt embarrassed. You didn’t want them to think of you as dumb. I mean you are leaving a boxing class early due to an injury caused by your tight sweats.

“and ___,” he called out to you as you made your way to the door ,”please come to class on time and be properly dressed”.

Yeah, this had to be one of the dumbest moments in your life.

You grumbled your way to your second class of boxing. After the first class, you went home and cried to your roommates about how embarrassing it was. Although you didn’t have time to wallow in your embarrassment due to the difficulty of peeling off the sweats. The girls helped you lather ointment on your red marks. The stinging and itchiness can now be felt with the cool air hitting your skin. You and Minah were scolded by Tara, your other roommate, for putting yourself in danger in “cutting off your damn ankles!”. You tried to protest only to be hushed by Sohee. With the way things were that night it would seem like you and Minah were the kids to your mothers Tara and Sohee. So, to fit into your new role you stuck out your tongue at both of their backs as they left your room and Minah tried to suppress her giggles.

You really didn’t want to go to the next class, but that degree was on the line. What would be your excuse? That you were publicly embarrassed in front of your class?

This time around you made sure to buy some sweats and cute shiny shorts. You will be prepared. Well not that prepared, as you slipped on the shorts you noticed how you didn’t even shave. So, you had to go back to the black sweats you brought.

To your massive egos surprise, no one seemed to care or remember about you. You made sure to arrive 10 minutes early and found yourself with three other early birds. Not even Mino or his helpers were here. You felt a little ridiculous but it’s better than being late. So, you sat against the wall scrolling through your phone waiting for the time to pass. It was 4 minutes before class when the chatter in the gym began to get louder. You looked up to see that everyone was here including your instructor. You remembered that you had to get the syllabus but now he was surrounded by eager students talking about God knows what. You are aimlessly glancing around trying to find a chance where your instructor could be alone. You slowly made your way closer to the group of seated students. You spotted Jungkook talking to Taehyung. They were also getting crowded by students. You watched how Jungkook walked over to the mats with one of the students and began to demonstrate something with his feet. Your guessing it’s his feet with how everyone is staring at his feet and he keeps looking down as he talks. You are admiring the way he moves his pretty lips as he talks when your vision of him is once again blocked by somebody. A boxy smile. A handsome smile. Taehyung.

You watch him walk over to you with a smile on his face as he waves a sheet of paper in his right hand.

“You need this” he states handing you the class syllabus.

“Yes. Thank you” you reach out for the paper. Your eyes skimmed through the paper making mental notes of the exam dates and random quizzes.

To your surprise you felt Taehyung still standing next to you. Feeling shy all of a sudden you focused more on the text.

“So… why boxing?” he suddenly asks with a gleam in his eye. He stared at you waiting for an answer.

“Why not?” you challenge him, “am I not boxing material?”

“I never said that” Taehyung defends himself, “just trying to make conversation to avoid having to…” he nudges back to where all the students are surrounding Jungkook.

You stop yourself from snorting, “I need it to graduate”

“Oh, you’re a senior?” he asks with interest.

“Yup, with a physical requirement I didn’t know I needed till the last minute”.

“So, this was the only option” Taehyung looks at you with pity understanding the lack of enthusiasm in your voice as you tell him your sad tale.

“It’ll be fun” he says with a smile” just look like you're trying and you’ll pass”.

You shrug and give him a smile. He was nice.

“Listen you don’t have to try hard and with everyone else you’ll be average. Trust me, this is my second year helping the beginner’s course. I’ve seen worse. A lot of freshmen who are over their heads”.

You laughed at that “It’s cute though, right?” you joked with him.

“Yeah, it’s cute, until they hurt themselves. All fired up kids,” Taehyung thought for a moment,

“actually it's embarrassed freshmen and then fired up second years that think they matured overnight or something”

You laughed at his analogy, remembering the cockiness that came from some of your classmates of sophomore year.

“You’re so right” you said, clapping your hands laughing.

Taehyung laughed along with you, “honestly though I wouldn’t mind going back. To be a bit naïve. Thinking of graduating makes me nervous”

“aww” you cooed at him reaching over to pat his arm.

Taehyung rolls his eyes, this time at you.

“What are your plans?” you ask him.

“Art Courier”

“Art” you ask surprise.

“Yea” he smiles, “I love it. I’m also volunteering at an art gallery downtown. Its local art, it’s nice”

“So why are you nervous?”

He looks at you, “Aren’t you?”

You shrugged, “I don’t know, I mean I got an internship out of town. I’m hoping to stay there for a short while. Then I want to come back to Kim Corp.”

He smiles at you, “Those are big plans”.

“Yeah… but yeah, I guess I’m nervous but like an exciting kind” you tilt your head, “like butterflies or dragonflies in my stomach”

“Dragon flies? that’s new” he chuckles, “mine are like crashing waves so sometimes it gets nauseating”, he pouts slightly thinking hard, “it’s exciting”. He sighs, “the truth is I’m applying for a master's and I just turned in my last application, so it’s this waiting period”.

“Ahhh, I see” you pat his shoulder once more giving him a smile, “good luck!”

Taehyung smiles back at you turning his full body to face you “thanks, you too”.

“Taehyung!”

Taehyung's name being called interrupted your mutual understanding of senior nervousness and friendship that was forming between the two of you. You lifted your head to the voice that interrupted such a sweet moment. Your eyes were ready to squint at the rude person, but they only softened upon finding the irritated face of Jungkook.

“Oops, got to go, seems like those fired up sophomores are getting to him” Taehyung whispers to you before he jogs up to a furrowed brow Jungkook who is still surrounded by eagerly waiting students. You wait for him to possibly shift his glance towards you. Readying a reassuring and “haha, yikes'' face to show him. However, he kept his gaze locked on Taehyung till he arrived at his side. You pout as you give up and stuff your syllabus into your bag.

Later that evening while the class was practicing a two step footwork you notice Jungkook teaching a student a few rows ahead of you. You watch carefully as he slowly makes his way down to your back corner. Is this your time? The moment in which you have him all alo-on-ne, to have a “private conversation" with him. You hoped. Jungkook was examining the student in front of you. You were next. You lowered your head focusing on your feet. You tried to remain calm even though the anticipation of talking to him was weighing down on you. You stole a quick glance at his feet, they were headed towards you. Here it goes.

“Hey Jungkook!”

Oh my gosh.

“Jungkook, Am I doing it right?”

You’ve got to be kidding me.

You lifted your head to see Jungkook making his way to the kid next to you. There Jungkook goes helping those eager hogging students that take any second with Jungkook away from you. Should you also feign ignorance to the movements in class? Even though you’re sure you probably really do need the extra attention. However, those kids just want to be praised by the “cool" Jungkook. You just want to talk to him.

The following weeks had no progress both with your boxing and with Jungkook. Thankfully your friendship with Taehyung grew as you both would be catching up with each other before classes. And you’re pretty sure you’ve seen Jungkook try to make his way over to you guys only to be stopped by some over achievers. You once asked Taehyung why he doesn’t teach the kids only for him to say he doesn’t need the experience unlike Jungkook who is majoring in Exercise Science (and a minor in art, which is where they meet and become friends). You only huffed in response and told him to give him a break. Taehyung just shrugged and went back on his phone. The talks with him were fine. Taehyung had good humor and amazing story telling skills, once in a while he would reveal subtle information about Jungkook. You would try to slyly ask him questions about Jungkook. You found yourself knowing a little about him every day.

One of the most amazing days though was when you were coming out of the bathroom after class and you overheard Taehyung’s unforgettable laugh and Jungkook’s -surprising- high pitched laughter. You walked slowly towards the divine laughter. You had to hide yourself behind a pillar when you saw them stop before an elevator.

“Those sophomores are so competitive! Hmmm… It reminds me of someone” Taehyung says jokingly, tapping his finger on his chin.

Jungkook shoves him playfully.

“I’m kidding, I’m kidding” Taehyung raises his hands in defeat before Jungkook could put him into a headlock. Their rough playing is stopped with the "ding" sound of the elevator doors.

The "ding" also reminds you of what you were doing: hiding behind a pillar like a loser and overheating these guys. At this point it was odd since you were actually friends with one of them. I mean you did have Taehyung’s number and he would occasionally text you to tell you when he (or Jungkook) would not be in class.

You slowly inched your foot, not trying to make noise. You were ready to leave but halted when you heard Jungkook’s voice as they headed inside the elevator.

“So, what did you and __ talk about this time?”

HUH

Did he?

“Oh, I told her about your obsession with banana milk”

“Taehyung!”

Is all you heard before the doors closed.

Okay… what was that about?

Did they talk about you?

Was this an ongoing thing? Taehyung never told you about Jungkook’s supposed obsession with banana milk (cute by the way). Does this mean anything?

You groan as you make your way back to your apartment. Your head was spinning Did he…or did he not? Or did Taehyung just tell him once about all your “interesting” conversations that

Jungkook just routinely started asking him about it?

Your heart thumped at all the possibilities.

Whatever the reason it seemed he had an okay opinion about you. Right? I mean the best outcome you can hope is to be his friend because from what you see in class, and what you’ve heard from Taehyung, Jungkook does seem like a cool and genuine guy. And you’re not doing him (or Taehyung) any justice by eavesdropping on their conversations and following them. At that moment you decided to stop your shy approach and borderline creepy behavior towards him. You were an adult for goodness sake not a love-struck teen. You were going to be more direct!

Your heart raced miles at your final decision.

The next couple of days you began your new resolution by approaching Jungkook first. Your conversations weren’t as complex nor were they as comfortable as with Taehyung. A light tension always seemed to linger as if you both had your own elephants roaming around the room. You ignored it as much as you could. You were grateful for when Taehyung was around to break the tension. This would lead to the three of you to develop a more easy-going conversation. You were just happy that you were able to learn things about Jungkook directly and not through a second source.

All this progress seemed to have gone down the drain one night when you were practicing a new defensive pose. Jungkook came up to you to slightly adjust your arms into the proper distance from your face and body. He smiles afterwards, urging you to feel the difference. You proudly do your complete pose and suppress a giggle when his smile widens. He’s so mesmerizing. Mino was out of the gymnasium, quickly running off saying he need to go to his office. So, you took this opportunity to have Jungkook all to yourself. You were less reserved around him now and were ready to break some more of the barriers between you two. It starts with you two laughing over Taehyung's obvious lie of pretending to be busy. He’s looking over some papers on the clipboard at the front of the matts. You wanted to see Jungkook laugh again as he jokingly comments on the students in front of Taehyung who are trying to get his attention.

“It’s all these fired up Sophomores” you began, hushing your voice as if telling him a secret.

“they’re so competitive and eager to please as if they are being paid to be here. All these little kids will soon face the real world and realize that no one cares”.

Jungkook nervously places his hand behind his neck, “Some of them have potential...”, he hesitantly mutters.

You snort, “potential or not. All little kids, sorry, sophomores are the same. They are all so overly passionate. I feel bad for them once they realize that there will always be someone better, prettier, and bigger than them out there. Haven’t we learned that by now?”.

You turn to Jungkook upon seeing his straight face. You must admit it wasn’t one of your best attempts of comadeire, but the way he was acting seemed like you offended his mother. You were about to apologize and voice your concern when Jungkook nervously laughs.

“Yeah, well…” He chuckles again defeatedly. “…there’s always someone better…”.

“Jungko-“

“I see you have all been working diligently as I was gone! Thank you! As a reward I think we should run a few laps around the gym”.

Jungkook skedaddles away at the voice of Mino. You’re left confused, pondering over your conversation. Can he not stand unfunny people? Were you really that bad? Did he find you to be some bitter old bully?

Once the class is over you jog up to Taehyung and Jungkook before they could get onto the elevators.

You wanted to make sure you were good with Jungkook. You knew you would be up all weekend trying to figure out what went wrong. You know it was something you said. Did he not like your joke? were you being a bit too mean? You didn’t mean it too much. It was just something Taehyung always joked about, so you thought it would be okay to do so as well. Making your way up to them you say the first thing that comes to your mind

“Hey, are you guys going to the Senior Party?” This senior party was for seniors only (unless you were a plus one) hosted by all the frats of school. They all come together to make a huge block party that is honestly favored upon by many and has everyone going.

“hmm not sure” Taehyung says, “Maybe, I’m kind of over frat parties”.

“Yeah…, but this IS the last Ho-rah”. Taehyung shrugs at your response.

“How about you?” you turn to face Jungkook making sure to make eye contact, afraid he’ll look away and avoid you as he has done for the rest of the class period.

Jungkook looks you straight on furrowing his eyebrows, “Why should I go?” he asks almost coldly.

“Oh” okay he hates me, you thought to yourself. “Well, I mean everyone usually goes”, you respond to him with a much more quitter voice now that all your confidence has disappeared.

“It’s only for seniors. I’m a Sophomore”.

Sophomore.

WHAT!?

Your mouth fell agape. And you only half registered Taehyung laughter as he smacks your back,

“____, didn’t you know Jungkook is a baby”.

You knew he was baby. You didn’t realize he was a baby.

Jungkook rolls his eyes at Taehyung's comment.

“I didn’t...I-I’ You stuttered “ Aren’t you in the advanced class and have all these achievements and- and”.

“Yeah” Jungkook sourly smirks “I guess I’m just like all those overly passionate kids”.

Taehyung laughs as if not catching the tone in Jungkook’s voice or the nervous energy you are sure that can be detected from miles away.

“He’s the king of the sophomores! Why do you think they are always crowding him like he’s their hero”.

“Right…” you look down on the floor. You didn’t offend his mother, you offended him. You’ve insulted him.

“Okay, well I’ll see you guys in the next class, Bye” you turn fast around and start speed walking home. You only faintly catch Taehyung’s boisterous “Bye!”.

This all makes sense, the students crowing him like he’s a king, him being insulted by your unfunny comment, Taehyung always picking on him. But the thing is that Taehyung CAN pick on him because they are friends, he’s teasing him. You are not friends with him. You have no right to talk to him or joke with him like that. Your stress levels rise because you never want to hurt someone, much less intentionally. He probably thinks you’re some big bully and know it all. Imagine what he has told Taehyung by now. What if you get shunned by both of them? This is so embarrassing, and you feel awful. You shouldn’t have run away. You should have confronted Jungkook and apologized to him. You should have cleared the air. But at that moment you were so confused and surprised your head was everywhere. Forget dating Jungkook he probably wouldn’t even want to be friends with you anymore.

All of your woes were heard by your three roommates on your living room floor. Picking at your blue fuzzy carpet you retold them everything. They first got mad at you for not telling them about these two good looking guys in your class and then they got even more mad at you for making a

lame joke that insulted Jungkook and then running away.

“You need to talk to him ___”

“You said: ‘Overly passionate sophomores, little kids’. Who even talks like that?”.

Taehyung does you want to point out but instead remain quiet as they continue their criticism and advice.

“Yeah, talk to him! Don’t even think about how you insulted the poor guy!”

“or how you said an odd and unfunny joke”

You never thought about dating young guys. You were always into the older type. You ask your friends about what you should do. They give you the advice you already knew inside your heart. Talk to him, apologize, and go for it.

You remembered that Jungkook is sporty and artsy. The Art building was your first stop. You don’t know his schedule and frankly you don’t want to know it. It would make you feel like a total creep if you knew it and purposely went looking for him. You didn’t want to repeat the ugly feeling you felt after the eavesdropping incident at the elevators. Instead you conceded with a coincidence. This was less guilty.

You entered the Student museum and browsed the artwork. You were so excited to see one of Taehyung’s art pieces hanging in display that you quickly took a photo of it and texted it to him. You momentarily forgot about what had happened. You hesitated to look at your phone after feeling its vibrations indicating Taehyung had replied. You quickly found the nearest restroom which wasn’t easy given you’ve never been inside this building. You entered a stall and opened the text. You were greeted with a “You should have told me you were going to be there I just left Campus” accompanied with two crying emojis. You felt a sigh of relief, as if you can breathe again. Taehyung is not mad at you. You replied with compliments and several hearts that Taehyung gleefully returned.

Your mornings were spent waiting in between classes in the student lounge, in the Art building, and walking laps around the Sport’s building and Gymnasium. You even peeked at the pool only to be flashed with multiple water polo swimmers climbing out of the pool. You blushed running away after making eye contact with the swimming coach. During the night when you had boxing, everything seemed like the beginning of the semester. You would talk with Taehyung as you always would but Jungkook…he was different. He would acknowledge you and would occasionally join you and Taehyung, but he wouldn’t be alone with you anymore. If he ever was he would just stay with you in silence. It would be such a peaceful quietness if you weren’t so confused and nervous on what his opinion of you was. You wanted to apologize to him, but he became much more competitive and almost aggressive during demonstrations. You felt this new form of intimidation towards him. Was he trying to send you a message? No, of course not. It was probably just finals. Most people were on edge during this time.

In the last month of the semester you coincidently found out (thanks to the students in class) that Jungkook has a drawing class 30 minutes after your last class on Friday. With this new information you made plans to sprint over to the Art building to meet Jungkook.

You were just walking down the hall of your building when you spotted… Jungkook?

Interesting.

Is this fate?

This is the time.

He stops next to a class door and leans against the wall, seemingly waiting for someone. You notice then his huge army backpack. For boxing class, he brings a big black duffle bag. This backpack caught you for surprise. You stopped in your tracks staring at the backpack because you’ve seen it before. Plenty of times. In the library, the parking lot, the convenience store in front of the east campus. You’ve sometimes seen it by just passing by. The bag was so big and almost ridiculous that you’re sure most of the student body knows of it. To think that the bag belonged to Jungkook. You’ve never bothered to look at the owner and when you did, they were either far away, at an angle in which you can’t see them, or they had a bucket hat or hoodie over their face. All this time it was Jungkook. To think if you’ve looked or spoken to the person you would have known Jungkook way sooner. All this wasted time.

Is this the coincidence you were dreaming of? Does any of it mean anything? At this point you don’t care. You’re going to talk to Jungkook! Whatever opportunity that is presented to you, you are going to take. You’re almost close to Jungkook, who doesn’t notice you as he’s immersed on his phone, when the classroom door opens with pouring students. You're slightly worried he’s going to leave as the students start obscuring your clear view of him. However, what you don’t miss is the way a pretty girl stops in front of him. He looks up to her and smiles shyly. You can’t really see her face at this angle. You only notice the way Jungkook takes her books from her and follows behind her as she walks to the opposite direction from you.

You felt like you were in a movie. You know the type when the main character is standing in one place and all around her there’s blurs of people moving about. The screen is colored gray and there's sad music playing as you're left there in a daze.

O-kay.

So.

Jungkook has a …he has a… (you can’t’ say it).

Jungkook is-what?

Dating? Has a girl? Not available? Hmmm, maybe he’s not interested in you.

Walking back to your apartment so many questions and conclusions flow around in your head.

Did you ever stop and think he maybe just wasn’t into you? Like what if he just didn’t like you? And not in a bad way. He just doesn’t want to pursue a romantic relationship with you. And here you were thinking he was lucky you were even considering a younger guy like him. Please. Who do you think you are? You’ve acted so arrogant and bitter around him you’re surprised someone as sweet as Taehyung and Jungkook even talks to you.

Reaching your apartment and heading straight to the shower, because the shower is where you make all your final resolutions and get all your ideas, you’ve come to the resolution that you need to stop moping around in class. Second, you like Jungkook, like-like. Third, you are heart broken. And lastly, maybe it’s just not meant to be.

Sometimes things can be blessings in disguises.

You cried in the shower.

Your beautiful roommates were once again there to support you! They even surprised you that weekend by having a little party amongst you and your closest friends. Irene, Maria, Seokjin, Yoongi, and even Mr. Busy Chef Seokjin came along. It was fun and you got drunk. You are going to be okay. You are going to forget Jungkook. It’s the end of the semester anyway and you are leaving town after graduation. It’s for the best.

Right?

Wrong.

Wrong on all parts. You very much like Jungkook. It was confirmed the next time you went to boxing class when your heart didn’t stop thumping. And wrong because you aren’t going to let it go. You felt ridiculous and pretty whore-ish when you still found yourself smiling at him (and did you coyly laugh at his joke just now?) even after knowing he has a girlfriend/ partner/dating/something. (A voice in your head was whispering into your heart that nothing is confirmed yet).

“Jungkook”, you called out his name after the announcements in class. You ran to him and staked your claim on him before anyone else can take him away from you, “Jungkook, can you help me with the exercise from last class, please?”.

He agreed. You walked behind him as he was already heading to your claimed corner. You noticed the disappointed faces of some of your classmates. Taehyung also had a confused face on as he was heading your way for you two to possibly gossip at your corner.

Jungkook helped you with your placements and speed. It was honestly helpful even if you did laugh a bit too loudly or moved in a way you hoped was sensual. At one point you ran out of things to hold him back with, so you must admit defeat and let him go. You smiled at him wildly as he moved to the next student. It was the last month, it wasn’t going to lead anywhere anyways. Which is why you’re trying your best. You were going to see him, talk to him, simply be by him because you’re probably never going to see him again after this.

You connect eyes with Taehyung as he’s walking directly to you. You both held a staring contest till he reached your side. He squints at you. You made a face of a “what”.

He coughed, “So…uhh…you like Jungkook or...?”

You choked on your spit. Were you that obvious?

“Huh? No. What? N-why?”

Taehyung looks at you, “ No reason, just asking.”

He slowly inches away clearly trying to make you less nervous. So, you force your body to relax and just laugh at his antics.

The rest of the class period Taehyung kept sending you looks or raising his eyebrows. You were nervous but soon started to become defensive. You would occasionally mouth “What” at him. Until at the end of class, he finally walked up behind you and whispered “Jungkook”. You jumped back in surprise at his deep voice and most importantly at the name of the owner of your heart.

“Taehyung!” you yelled at him. He laughed, only to stop when Jungkook joins you two. You blushed again and started rubbing your arm afraid Taehyung would tease you again. You all went to gather your things and headed towards the exit to leave class. Taehyung taps your arm to grab your attention. He made the motion of sealing and locking his lips, making it even more noticeable! Your eyes averted to Jungkook only to feel a wave of relief at seeing him typing away at his phone. Thank God.

You give him a face. He chuckles at you.

“Bye__” he said walking away. You rolled your eyes.

“Bye __” Jungkook said with his sweet melodic voice. You smiled at him.

It was the night of the Senior Party and you were ready to forget all about the cute guy in your boxing class. No, not Taehyung but Jungkook. Since you found out about his girlfriend you’ve tried hard to rewire your brain to think of him only as a friend. It was easy because he was such a gentle person. He was kind and funny and so very ambitious. You’ve grown to admire him in many ways. You were happy at where your relationship was (even though you would still like to be involved with him…*cough*romantically….). You weren’t going to be no homewrecker even if it pains your heart to see him smile or see him ruffle his bouncy hair.

Who are you kidding? You are in love with him.

However tonight you are going to forget about him. Tonight was about finally graduating and having a fun night with your friends. You, your roommates and other friends all meet up at a local restaurant before the party. It was fun there stuffing your faces and emptying your glasses, you almost forgot about the party. So, before the buzz faded away you all slipped into an uber off to the streets of the Frats and Sororities that are hosting the party. You were sad that Taehyung wasn’t going to be there. You wanted to introduce him to your friends. A few months ago, he told you he wasn’t going to go and instead booked a trip up North to go camping with his friends Namjoon, Jimin, and Hoseok. Friends who were equally as handsome you thought to yourself last night as you scrolled through his Instagram feed and viewed his story. You should’ve accepted his invite when he jokingly asked you to tag along. Maybe then you would move on from…him.

With your short skirts, dresses and skinny jeans you all swayed into the blockparty-eque event. The music was loud and there were so many people dancing and running around.

“This is practically a carnival, we're only missing the rides” Sohee shouts over the music.

“Lets just go to the main house” you yell back at them.

You all walk the short distance to the largest house in the block, the main source of the party where the DJ, drinks and food is located. Inside the house was empty of furniture leaving every room as a makeshift dance platform.

“This looks complicated!” Sohee complains furrowing her eyebrows “Where do we even begin”

“Lets just look around!” Taeyeon excitedly states turning her head around. You were prepared to see her make a 360 turn. She was Minah's friend who you were surprised to see come to the party. She was a Junior and it wasn’t until the girls told you that night that plus ones were allowed regardless of their year so long as they are students at the University. If you would’ve known you would have “jokingly” invited Jungkook.

After scoping out the house, your group ended up stealing a bag of chips and red cups of lemon soda and vodka. You decided to go to the house next door which belonged to a sorority. (“Maybe they’ll have better drinks” Minah complained).

Entering the house was like a new world, the lights were off and the music was not blaring. It seemed more chill. You walked deeper into the house that had a great atmosphere. Upon entering the kitchen you see the island decked out in different snacks and even mini cupcakes. There is flavored beers and a variety of vodkas, tequilas, juices, and soda. You’ve all shared glances with smiles in your faces. This is your place. You've all grabbed your drinks and you managed to fit two mini cupcakes in your hands before you made your way into the main living room, which like the frat house, was bare of any furnishing. Leaning against the wall with Minah who grabbed cotton candy you sipped on your drinks as you watched the others invade the dance floor.

“You think this was supposed to be a private party?” She asks cutting off a chunk of her cotton candy to feed you.

You thought for a second letting the candy melt in your mouth.

“No,” you told her, meeting her eye. You both laughed. “It would be really stupid if it was, I mean it is the Senior Party thing”.

“Yeah but what if it is and they kick us out”.

You shrugged “Whatever were gone in two weeks anyways. Besides it's on them for hosting it on the same night”.

“I don’t know” Minah continued out with her cotton candy slipping her drink in between each bite. You weren’t sure if she was drunk and just saying something or was actually concerned. You peered your eyes on her face as if to see her better. She was zoned out.

Rolling your eyes you start to look around trying to see your dancing group of friends to join them. You were done with your cupcakes and were ready to drag yourself to them. You thought you saw the Blue sparkle of Tara’s dress. You focused more on the spot only to see these blue sparkles wearing Tara seeming to be dancing or should I say “hugging” someone.

"Oh my gosh, ! LOOK LOOK!” you said slapping Minahs arm.

“What?", she said, trying to catch what you're looking at.

“Tara! She's got herself-“ Your words died in your mouth. For as your eyes traced along this person dress they were meant with a head that did not belong to Tara. First, poor Tara who has the same dress as someone in this room. Second, this person is none other then that girl that Jungkook was with. Your mouth was stood agape for even if your heart broken at the reminder of that girl and the fact that Jungkook was not yours. Your heartbreak and slight jealousy was soon replaced with confusion and then anger. Isn’t this Jungkook's girlfriend? What is she doing grinding on someone who is not Jungkook? No, this guy was not him because you know this guy! He's the famous school pianist whose faces are plastered all over the music building and concert highlights. Min Yoongi. What is she doing? So because Yoongi is a school celeb she's just going to do Jungkook wrong like that. Pretty Jungkook, who smiled at her with a hopeful look in his eyes and carried her books around like some servant. Is your poor baby being played? How dare she? Does she not realize how blessed she is?

“Minah”, you hand her your drink, “wait here”.

You don’t bother for her response and only hear a “what?”

You don’t have time to fill her in about this snake because your adrenaline is pumping in. Maybe it's the alcohol or maybe it's your devotion towards Jungkook. All in the name of love. And if you're not going to be kicked out because it's a private party, you'll probably be kicked out for fighting. You didn’t take boxing for nothing.

Okay…

Maybe not. You're not sure what you're doing and even though you're angry and feel like you need to regain Jungkook's honor, you do have the same part of your brain working and yelling at you to turn back. What the hell do you think you are doing? And who the hell do you even think you are?

You could be on your way to making a complete fool of yourself. But no, you will do anything for Jungkook. Even if it turns out this person is Jungkook's girlfriend's twin and you reveal yourself to be a complete stalker and weirdo.

Your steps seem to move slowly and your skin burning hot from your anger now turns to anxiety. But it was like you couldn’t stop as you neared yourself to her. If you couldn’t confess to Jungkook this was an alternative outlet. By protecting his dignity.

Gosh, is it hot or are you just sweating?

And like a miracle sent from heaven you felt a cold hand wrap itself around your arm halting you in your steps. You tuned your head to see… JUNGKOOK?

“___” he says almost relieved.

You're confused and agaped. You're so caught off guard that you don’t manage to hide your opening mouth.

“Hey” he says softly, almost whispering. He quickly removes his hand around your arm.

His voice brings you back to reality. He always grounds you and neutralizes the nerves in your body. All by being near Jungkook's smiling face.

His smiling face that will soon turn bad. Your stress increases. Your eyes jump from his face to his girlfriend who is still dancing on Yoongi. Jungkook follows your eyes as he notices the stress evident on your face. What's wrong? Jungkook slightly steps in front of you as if to shield you from whatever your eyes keep returning to.

You reach out your hand trying to stop Jungkook from seeing the scene of his girlfriend dancing with another guy, but it's too late. Jungkook is staring ahead for a couple seconds.

Jungkook looks around trying to see what is catching your attention. He catches the sight of his cousin dancing on some guy. Putting a childish face on when she turns her head over to make out with him. Jungkook turns back to you with concern on his face at your still evident distress.

You watch as Jungkook quickly turns around. You see his concerned eyes and frowned lips. No, not to Jungkook. This won't happen to him, you wont allow it. Regaining your energy to confront this snake you move closer to him

“I’m sorry”

“So you want a drink?”

Is he trying to change the subject? Maybe they just broke up and you just reopened his wound.

You give him a smile of sympathy and pull him in for a hug. Yes, you were being forward but you are proud to admit that you didn’t hug him with any malicious or secretive motive. You just care for him so much that you want him to always be happy. You don’t know what happened between him and his girlfriend but you want him to know that he has you. That it is okay.

Jungkook stills in your embrace. You hug him tighter and are happy to finally feel him relax into your hug wrapping his arms around your lower body.

Jungkook is surprised and perhaps dreaming. When you jumped into his embrace he almost didn't know what he did to earn this. Your perfume was swaying in his brain until he saw the teasing expression on his cousin's face.

She winked at him, which caused his cheeks to heat up. So he quickly pulls away from you and coughs.

“So uhh, no drink?” he asks once more unsure of what to say.

You saw his blushing face, maybe you did too much but you couldn’t stop yourself from continuing when you heard a loud laugh at your side. You turn and sure enough see her laughing with the guy.

You step closer to Jungkook so you could whisper slowly to him, "Did you guys break up?”

Jungkook tilts his head in confusion but before he can continue you stop him.

“Its okay you don’t have to tell me, I’m sorry”

“__what are you sorry for?”

You nod your head towards her who continues to dance with the “other man”.

Jungkook squints his eyes at you after having looked in the direction that you head nodded towards. You see the confusion settle onto his face, waiting for you to continue whatever observation you are trying to make.

You decided to end his misery, 'He's obviously too embarrassed to admit it' you thought to yourself.

"I saw you guys together...", you say, trying your best to say the rest with your eyes. You watch as the realization hits his face. His lips formed a tiny 'oh', only to let out an "ah" followed by a short chuckle.

Following his amused response you felt embarrassed. Maybe you stepped out of line and he's going to thank you for rubbing salt into his wounds.

"Sorry" you blurt out trying to save what's left of the respect Jungkook has for you. " I should've stayed quiet..".

At this Jungkook laughs loudly only ending it with a...a coo? He leans closer to your ear so you can hear him clearly.

"Follow me"

You don't got to be told twice.

You follow him through the throngs of people, pass the kitchen, through the back door. You almost tumbled out the door but was captured by the cold air hitting your skin. You rub your arms weary of letting Jungkook see because you didn't want him to reconsider the whole idea and go back inside. You wanted to be alone with him out here. it was nice. You followed him to the bench that rocked back and forth. It was gray with a top cover. He sat on it waiting for you to join him as he tried his best to stabilize the bench by planting his feet to the ground. You gave him a small 'thanks' as you settled yourself next to him. You made sure to keep enough space between the two as to not make him uncomfortable.

Jungkook felt his heart beat in his chest a contrast to the cool night that was at a standstill compared to the house and loud music not only a few feet away. He was grateful for the noise and lights that came from the house and fencing of the backyard, as it gave his shaky breath a cover from being heard by you. He sneaked a glance at you and saw as you sat seated next to him. You followed him out here into the cold. He noticed as you rubbed your hands on your arms. At this point Jungkook knows what comes next. He should offer you his jacket, but he wasn't wearing anything. He opted for a button down, he had no reason for any other fabric. He thought he would spend most of the night in a packed house or street with so much body heat. He felt like a kid scared to look at their crush. He didn't know what to do from this point on. Having a surge of confidence at the probability that you cared for him. If you being concerned about his alleged heartbreak was anything to go by. Jungkook wants to hold onto the care you had for him no matter how small it was. He knew you were a senior who was set to go out of town. His dreams of being with you seemed like a lost hope by now. At this point he just wanted to stay by your side, just to talk, even if just for a day.

One thing Jungkook became sure of as you both stared silently at the moon was that this right here was more than he could have ever wished for.

You were the one to break the silence.

You figured you should clear the air after your assumptions.

"So how are you holding out?"

Jungkook was about to give you a generic answer until he remembered what happened inside.

"I feel perfect" he answered honestly

You give him a confused look.

Man, you thought for sure Jungkook would be heartbroken, now you're thinking of the possibility that he left her.

Jungkook suppressed his giggles and decided to come clean to you. To tell you the truth. That's all he wants for the both of you.

"You know you can come to the senior bash if you're invited by a senior"

You nod not sure where this is going.

"I asked my cousin to let me go with her" Your eyes widened

Cousin?

"I was going to go with Taehyung but he had other plans. My cousin said yes...with the condition that I become her "assistant", Jungkook makes air quotations at the word. You smiled at the playful annoyance. "So I helped her with her courses, and followed her around everywhere. Honestly". He leans in closer pointing at the colorful lights that adorned the roof of the house. "You see those lights? I hung them up all yesterday and when you go inside that dessert table was recently bought from Ikea, I had to set it up". He slumps his shoulders.

"So was it worth it?" you ask not helping the giggles that escape your mouth at his behavior.

Jungkook turns to face you. The first time you both make eye contact since reaching the bench.

"Yeah" he says softly, "I'll say it was worth it".

You avert your eyes and turn your face. A struggle but your fear of letting him see the absolute shyness you knew ozed out won over. You needed to protect yourself and most importantly him. You didn't want to scare him or offend him anymore then you already have.

Not wanting to lose the momentum of the conversation, Jungkook spurts out the first thing in his mind.

"So where are you going after you graduate?"

For some reason you didn't want to answer. It would make it way more real. The fact that you wouldn't see him anymore and that hurt. At that moment with the distant music that pouned throughout the earth, with the laughter you hear from inside the house, the light of the moon and lights from the house, the coldness that you feel around your arms and neck become fuel for you. If this was going to be your last moment with him then you should make the best out of it. Maybe even let yourself become vulnerable in every sense of the word. If just for one day, you wanted to be completely honest and open with Jungkook.

"I got an internship two hours away" you say looking at the ground, "I'll be kind of far, but maybe not so much" you don't know what you're saying, mostly just trying to convince yourself. You looked at him and are willing to say he looked almost sad. You don't know why he looks down now. You just know it made you feel worse. You want your time with him to be happy and fun. Even if it hurts later. You don't know why hes sad and you may make yourslef look completely stupid but in this moment you wieghed your options. If he answers positively you can leave with hope. If it's negative...well...at least you won't have to see him again. That thought makes you frown and scares you. It scares you so much that you couldn't even stop yourself from asking the next question if you tired.

"Do you want to wait for me?"

You both look surprised at your question.

Jungkook remains silent, so you repeat the question already feeling the adrenaline rush from your confession.

"Jungkook, do you want to wait for me?" You ask him again with hopeful eyes.

"Ar-are you pr-proposing?" He was so in shock he didn't have time to register his childhood stutter to make an appearance.

Normally you would have been frozen out of embarrassment and shock. Truthfully, you were bewildered at your actions. But it must be the power of the moon that shines above you both. Or maybe it's the alarm in your heart telling you this may be your only chance. You take a breath and give jungkook a soft smile. One that said 'yes I like you and it's okay if you don't'. You watch as he takes a moment to gather himself.

Hmm.. maybe you should have been more clear on your love confession. You were about to open your mouth to explain when he turned his body to face you. He reaches out for your hand to hold it in between his two large ones. You watch as your hands disappear inside of his.

Okay, maybe you were freaking out a little bit.

The warmth from his hands begins to travel from your arm to all of your body. Your heart beating fast against your chest as you decided to finally look him in the eye.

"Why wait?" Jungkook says.

FIN

[elencelebrindal]

Heyy with your takes on female Cloths (I enjoyed reading them so much!), can I ask for your input on something on the opposite side? Surplices. Some are great for protection (not you Cheshire) but when I look at some I genuinely wonder just HOW whoever is inside is even able to move. Take Minos for example, how does he properly walk without hitting his legs at the “skirt”-ish part of his Surplice at every step? (1/2)

(2/2) Why are wings some sort of a standard at some point even if the “source” creature has nothing to do with flying, like Acheron or Alraune? Can the Spectres at least actually fly to compensate for the wings being so bulky and uncomfortable? If not, what's the point in having them in the first place? I have so many questions about the designs it’s not even funny.

(I put the second half of your ask here so I don’t need to make two separate posts)

I guess it’s time for me to write something about them, uh?  Brace yourself, this is another long post. 

My answer would be: their bodies adapt to the Surplice, so they can freely move around in it without being bothered by the ridiculousness of the thing. It is a bit of a stretch, but it’s either this, or the Surplice has like five thousands joints and moves accordingly to the body.  Which, honestly, seems way more unrealistic to me. Yes, I just said that their bodies adapting to the armor is more realistic than jointed pieces. Welcome to Saint Seiya!

The real world instances of, following your example of Minos, that “skirt” thing he has on his legs is very close to the combination faulds + tassets. Not quite the same thing, but close to it.

This, basically. Obviously, in real life these things are overlapped lames of metal that give the wearer a lot of mobility, and they are - generally - shorter that the ones we see on the Specters (in this case, Minos).

I’m saying this because on one hand those pieces of armor are supposed to grant mobility to the person wearing them, but on the other hand it’s clear that Saint Seiya doesn’t treat them with a realistic approach, so I generally believe that they can easily move around because their bodies adapt.  But even with that, it’s still pretty obvious that a Surplice has a great deal of mobility and flexibility. We do see a lot of the characters move in ways that should be impossible if the armor doesn’t accompany their movements enough. 

I don’t think this is well portrayed in Saint Seiya, and I totally understand it; this is an anime and a manga, not a movie that needs real people to walk in real armor. But, at the same time, it can have an explanation. I say can because this is just my explanation of it, it’s nothing even remotely official or - admittedly - of real importance.  I’m just a small blog writing these things, after all. 

What Minos has going on is a fantasy exaggeration of those things, at least as far as I can tell. The lower part of his cuirass could be based on faulds and tassets, but I have no way to know for sure.  I can only throw out some hypotheses based on what bits and pieces or armor knowledge I have. 

A bigger problem for this Surplice, rather than the hypothesized faulds and tassets combo, could actually be those big wings he as for pauldrons. They seem flexible enough, as they actually look jointed, but they are really in the way. Those could actually hinder his movements way more, at first glance, not so much with bending, but more with up and down arm movements. However, this is not something I will tackle, because Saint Seiya often shows how a lot of characters deal with those exaggerated fantasy pauldrons, and as unrealistic as some of their movements seems I have to give them a pass. There’s no way of explaining all of them in a realistic matter. This is a problem of a good deal of fantasy-style pauldron, though, real ones

Real ones are way less cumbersome and have a ton more mobility, they are made for the wearer to comfortably move their arms with them and to offer protection at the same time. The photo I’m showing you is just a replica I found while looking for good pictures, but it’s still close enough to how the thing works.  What Minos has could be functional, but it’s so exaggerated that I have a lot of doubts about it.  Still, I won’t hold it against the show/manga. Fantasy-style pauldrons, again, tend to be unrealistic for the sake of aesthetic. There’s nothing we can do about it.  A good representation of this piece of armor in fantasy setting can be found in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. At least, most of the armors are well designed. 

Since I’m here, let’s have a look at the other two Judges as well, and then I’ll tackle the second part of the ask. 

The design of the Garuda Surplice is something I can definitely judge a bit more well made in terms of mobility.  It has the same base pieces going on, but in this case the pauldrons look like pieces that can offer a good deal of mobility. Still, the way they attach to the Surplice is questionable, but in terms of shape we’re getting there.  Even the two horns are correct, since they’re facing outwards; you don’t want spikes or horns with the points facing inwards, that’s a shortcut to disaster and severe head injury. 

This is were mobility and flexibility peaked, when it comes to the big three. The combo faulds + tassets is not obnoxiously long, it gives protection without being a hindrance (yes, there are also instances of faulds and tassets with that shape, you can maybe understand why it was done at the time though), and the pauldrons look amazing. They look like they provide good mobility to the arms, and the way they attach to the Surplice is pretty correct. There’s space for Rhadamanthys to lift his arms, as you can see. Brilliant.  His boots don’t make a whole lot of sense, but... again, the body adapts to the Surplice, so there’s that to take into consideration. Maybe it’s tremendously painful to walk in some of those shoes, but for them it feels normal. 

However, back to Minos:

The TLC version of him is actually unable to move. There’s not a single excuse here, that thing restricts him movements. Period. The pauldrons look better, it seems like they can provide better arm mobility, but the lower part of his armor is literally a solid piece of metal. Maybe the side pieces can move, but he’s literally wearing a metal skirt there. I have no other words to describe it, it’s just bad. 

And now, onto the next part. 

Why does everybody have wings? Let’s go in order here, with all of them (I’m going to restrict myself to the anime, because otherwise I’ll stay here all night). 

Of course, the Judges are supposed to have wings. 

Garuda, griffin and wyvern all have wings. There’s nothing to say about them. 

Myu (who has really good armor, admittedly) is literally a butterfly. His wings are approved, and are not even that much of an hindrance. They’re not wings made of armor, and they seem incredibly delicate. He’s probably the most comfortable with his wings, honestly. 

I have to point out that the majority of the Specters with wings (not all of them, obviously) are Celestial Stars. But let’s not lose ourselves.

Charon having wings doesn’t make sense, but I don’t know if those could be called wings. I’ve always thought them to be a nod to those traditional Venetian masks, much like the design of his Surplice. 

Specifically, the Jester masks, with pointy fabric and bells coming from them. To me the inspiration seems pretty obvious. Maybe those wings could represent them a bit more symbolically, or maybe I’m looking way too much into character design and they’re literally just aesthetic.  If you want some explanation of why he has wings, though, here’s mine. I find it kinda weird that Charon is not even from Venice, in the show, but... what can we do about it. A gondola is a gondola, after all. 

The Balrog Surplice having wings is... ahem, questionable. I’m sure that if there’s any Tolkien fan reading this, they know what’s up. They know the debate going on in the community. Long story short, we have no idea if the Balrogs have wings or not. The movie depicts the goddamn Valarauka with wings, the books don’t describe them all that much.  Let’s try not to look too much into it, okay? He has wings, it could both make sense or not make sense. This is Schroedinger all over again, just weirder. 

He kinda makes sense, though those wings are tiny. They resemble the kind of wings Ancient Egyptian used, for example, for the winged scarab, Maat, and Isis. 

Since his Surplice is based on a Egyptian theme, and Pharaoh himself is Egyptian, they have a pretty self-explanatory reason of existence. 

And now we come to what to presented to my attention, the Alraune (aka the Mandrake) Surplice.  Those, my dear anon, are not wings. Those are either petals or leaves of the mandrake, not only a plant birthed from the mind of ancient authors or questionable fantasy writers, but also a real life plant. That has flowers like these:

It’s a similar shape, eh? This led me to believe that the Surplice worn by Queen has this as a main inspiration, opposite to the one worn by Fyodor in TLC, something that’s visibly based on the fantasy approach to the plant.  What I’m trying to say here is that yes, it makes sense for this Surplice to have “wings”, because they’re not wings. They’re something that links the Surplice to its probable inspiration.  I’m going off of visuals here, so don’t assume I’m correct. 

Shilfield here doesn’t make much sense with wings, right? After all, his Surplice is based off the basilisk, a giant venemous snake with eyes capable to instantly kill.  Well... technically yes. But:

This is the cockatrice.  A basilisk is born from an egg lais by a rooster and incubated by a toad, but it’s said that a cock egg (an egg with no yolk, as such it was believed to be laid by roosters) would hatch as a cockatrice.  Basilisk and cockatrice became synonyms when the De proprietatibus rerum, which featured a basilisk in it, was translated, and the basilisk changed to a cockatrice.  If the Basilisk Surplice counts both as a basilisk and a cockatrice, then there’s your explanation of why the armor has wings. Because the cockatrice has wings. 

The Harpy Surplice is self-explanatory. It has wings because harpies have wings, plain and simple. The shape of the wings resembles a heart because of Valentine’s inspiration, but the weirdness ends there. 

As honorable mentions, we have:

The Bennu Surplice, with another good reason to have wings: Bennu is an Ancient Egyptian deity in the form of a bird, probably the origin of the Greek phoenix myth. 

If I recall correctly, his armor is based on Lucifer, who we all know is a fallen angel who probably had a ton of wings, given what angels looks like.  So, even if this is Hades, wings have total sense on his armor thanks to the inspiration behind it.  Also, his armor looks like a 4/10 for practicality and mobility. You’re better than this, Hades. 

This was VERY long, I know. But I hope I answered your question as thoroughly as I could.  Thank your for reading by kilometric essay, and see you next post. 

[btssavedmylifeblr]

Void Bonus Chapter - Jungkook

Summary: Jungkook finds something he wasn't supposed to find. 

A/N: Takes place at the same time as the beginning scenes of Chapter 4 of Void. 

Warnings: voyeurism, masturbation

The news from the meeting lingers in the air of the kitchen. Jungkook and Jin are the only ones left. Everyone scattered after the meeting, rushing off to do important things. But Jungkook doesn’t have any important things to do. Maybe he should get up and go somewhere else, but where is he going to go? The ship only has so many rooms and he’s already spent months in each of them.

Jin is eating, because of course Jin is eating. Normally, Jungkook would join him, but he’s not hungry. Maybe he should do another workout. He’d already done one this morning, but another never hurt. It was one of the few things he liked doing here.

He picks up his camera and looks back through the footage he recorded of the meteoroid. If he knows how much editing he has in front of him, then he can decide how much time he has left for exercise.

The science officer returns to the kitchen, scanning the room. Jungkook looks up, but she’s not looking for him. She’s more interested in Jin and his food. He turns his attention back to the camera.

No footage would be worth the extra two years of his life, but it would be comforting to discover he shot something good. People on Earth might be watching this footage for a decade before the Minos ever returns home. Better at least be in focus.

He uses the screen on the back of the camera to scan through his videos. It’s too small to tell if the focus is quite right, but he’s pleased with his framing. He smiles when the two science officers say goodbye to the meteor. They are cute. It’ll make a great ending moment.

He keeps scrolling through the camera, flicking further back in time, until an entirely different image appears.

Boobs. There are naked boobs starring at him from his small camera screen. Holy shit! It’s a whole naked woman! He can’t see her face from the way the shot is cropped, but he can see everything else.

Jin laughs and Jungkook looks up, afraid they’ve noticed the scandalous thing he’s found, but his crew members are too busy flirting with each other to pay attention to him.

He must have accidentally stolen Yoongi’s porn stash when he went hunting for more camera memory. He flicks back further to see what other illicit treasures he has stumbled upon, but there’s nothing else here. The only other things on this card are some scenery shots that Taehyung took a few weeks back from the observation bay. Why was Yoongi keeping just one naked woman on a mission SD card?

Jin asks him something, jolting Jungkook from his investigation.

“Huh?” Jungkook asks.

Jin holds out a tiny bottle of vodka. “Want one?”

Jungkook shakes his head. “Nah, I still have chores today,” he lies. “Plus I think I might be up late editing footage.” Or up late watching Yoongi’s mystery video.

“Get anything good?” the science officer asks, leaning over to look at the camera screen. Shit. He can't let her see that. While the male members of crew traded porn back and forth occasionally to cope with the lack of other sexual outlets, they kept it strictly secret from their female colleague. She would not approve.

“Uh.” Jungkook snatches up the camera. “It’s okay.”

“Are you alright?” she asks, raising an eyebrow at his complete lack of sublety. He eyes the door. It was almost too much for him when she gave him her whole focus like that. She was so smart and he felt like an idiot in front of her, always doing something dumb or saying the wrong thing.

“It is what it is.” He shrugs, eager to get her to stop paying attention to him. “I should get going.” He stands up, taking the camera with him. He almost makes it to the door when he remembers that he did have something he wanted to talk to her about. “Officer?”

“Yeah?” She spins around to look at him.

“Can you help me with that haircut tomorrow?” Just another way he was defective. Every other crew member seemed to manage this without her help. “I need to send a message to my mom.” Why did he sound like such a small pathetic boy?

“Of course.” She gives him a smile that he imagines she thinks is kind, but feels condescending. “Meet me in the observation bay after the morning chores.”

“Thank you, Officer,” he replies before fleeing into the hallway with his new secret.

Jungkook rushes to the editing lab. It was the closest thing to his own room he had on the ship, other than his sleep pod. But the editing lab had the nicer video monitor. The only other person who ever used the editing lab was Taehyung, but Taehyung said he needed to work on something with Jimin.

The lab is small, only slightly bigger than the sleeping pods. There was only room for one computer, monitor mounted on the wall, and a small desk with barely enough room for a keyboard and mouse. The best thing about the lab was the chair. It took up most of the space in the room but it was worth it. The engineers at the ICSE had custom designed this chair for him to be comfortable in both the artificial gravity and the zero-g so Jungkook could edit at any time of day. It’s the best seat on the Minos.

Jungkook boots up his computer to find sixteen red notifications blinking at him from the ICSE’s messaging service. They’re all from his mother. A wave of guilt washes over him about how he should be watching and responding to those rather than watching Yoongi’s mysterious naked woman video.

For a moment, his conscience gets the better of him and he opens his mother’s messages instead. But as he scrolls through them, it becomes clear that there’s a least an hour and a half of video to get through. He promises himself that he’ll do it first thing tomorrow. But right now he really wants to watch Yoongi’s porn.

He pops the SD card out of the back of the camera and into the computer. He skims past the meteoroid footage, back to the woman he caught a glimpse of in the kitchen.

The camera is zoomed in close, so close that her face has been cropped out of the shot. He can’t tell where she is. She appears to be sitting on a table, a bumpy yellow cloth beneath her. Her legs are spread wide with her feet on the edge of the table, putting everything on display for the camera. He hits play and watches as she lifts one hand up out of frame, then brings back two fingers slick with spit and begins circling her nipple. Her whole body shudders as she breaks out in goosebumps and her pussy clenches in response.

Holy shit. Jungkook’s dick twitches in interest as he searches for his headphones with one hand, eyes fixed to the computer screen. He needs to hear her.

Where did Yoongi get this video? Jungkook could have sworn he’s seen every explicit video on this ship at least three times, even the tentacle shit. But he’s never seen this. Has Yoongi had this the whole time? Why has he been keeping it from the rest of them?

Jungkook finally locates his headphones. He gets them on just in time to hear the woman moan as she circles her perky nipple with her fingers. He has to adjust his pants to make room for his growing erection.

“That’s good.” A man’s voice grunts from off camera. “Keep going.” Jungkook is so startled to hear a man’s voice it takes him a second to realize that it’s a voice he knows well.

Fuck. It’s Yoongi. Yoongi filmed this himself. Perhaps that’s why he never shared it. He must know this woman. An old girlfriend perhaps? Lucky bastard.

Jungkook should stop watching. This is clearly something private and important to his crew member and he definitely shouldn’t be watching it. But her entrance is glistening with arousal now and he can’t bring himself to stop. Yoongi doesn't need to know. Jungkook will just watch it once, then sneak it back. No harm, no foul.

“Are you wet?” Yoongi asks and Jungkook has to stifle a groan. She’s dripping.

“So wet,” she murmurs, voice husky with sex. She shifts as she reaches her fingers down to her dripping core and a large piece of the wall becomes visible behind her.

The Kevlar-lined wall.

No. No fucking way. Jungkook looks at the wall behind his computer and back to the wall behind the woman. He would recognize those walls anywhere. They’re the only walls he’s seen for two years.

Everything clicks. This is Yoongi’s workshop. The naked woman is perched on top of Yoongi’s workbench. Jungkook took this SD card from where it was sitting next to the power drill. The power drill that is currently propped next to her naked thigh.

And that means…

No. It can’t possibly be. She would never.

He backs up to video to hear her again. Fuck… it is her. He’s never heard her voice like that, breathless and rough with need, but there’s no mistaking it now. Their chief science officer is masturbating on Yoongi’s workbench.

Holy fucking shit.

“Touch your clit,” Yoongi commands and Jungkook’s dick kicks with excitement. The only woman within 200 million miles of him circles her clit with her wet fingers and gives a long deep moan.

This is wrong. This is so wrong. This is absolutely not a thing Jungkook was ever meant to find. But how did it get here? Why did it exist? Were she and Yoongi dating? Why wouldn't they tell the crew?

“Do you wish it was my fingers right now instead of yours?” Yoongi asks. Jungkook groans out loud as she slides two fingers inside herself and moans again. He wishes those were his fingers. How can Yoongi just stand there, not touching her? If she would let Jungkook touch her, he’s not sure he could ever stop. It’s been so long since he’s been able to hold a woman. His hands tingle with the desire to run his fingers all over her. Her skin must be so soft and smooth, her cunt so warm and wet. Fuck.

Jungkook is so fucked.

“Don’t worry,” Yoongi whispers. It’s so quiet that Jungkook has to turn up the volume to make it out. “I won’t touch you. I know the rules.”

What rules? What kind of weird sex game is this? Why can’t he touch her? She was into kinkier things than he would have guessed. And Yoongi was a much stronger man than Jungkook.

“Do you wish it was me?” Yoongi asks again and for a moment Jungkook let’s himself pretend he’s the one behind the camera.

“Yes, god,” she moans breathlessly and Jungkook wants to die. His dick is throbbing for attention at this point, but he knows if he lets himself touch it, it’ll all be over. How is he ever going to be able to be in the same room with her again? He puts his head down on the desk and groans in frustration.

“What about Jimin?” Yoongi asks and Jungkook picks his head back up. Jimin? Why is he bringing up Jimin at a time like this?

“This is his video.” Yoongi adds. “Don’t you wish he was here too?”

What? No. Jungkook doesn’t want Jimin to be there too. What did that mean, “it’s Jimin’s video”? Did Jimin put them up to this?

They exchange more whispers, but Jungkook misses it in the shock that a third crew member is on this sex game. Was she dating both Yoongi and Jimin? And they were cool with that?

She moans again as another gush of wetness soaks her fingers. She is the sexiest thing he’s ever seen. Jungkook had always thought the science officer was attractive, but there was always a barrier separating him from her. She was so closed off, so professional, so focused on the mission. He never thought he would see her like this.

“Do you wish Jimin was here right now?” Yoongi asks again, and Jungkook rolls his eyes. Who gives a shit about Jimin right now? Just fuck her already please.

“Yes,” she gasps. What about Jungkook? Does she wish Jungkook was there?

“Did you like his video?” Yoongi asks and she nods.

So is that the game? They make sexy videos and send them to each other to pass the time? Jungkook could make sexy videos. He’s never done it before, but he’s the best videographer on this ship. Yoongi has totally butchered the lighting for this scene. Jungkook could do way better.

“Do you want to suck his dick?”

She licks her lips and moans and Jungkook has never wanted anything more in the entire world than to put his cock in her mouth.

“I asked you a question.” Yoongi barks. When did the small flight engineer learn to be so commanding? “Do you want to suck his dick?”

“Yes, I want to suck his dick,” she gasps. Sweat breaks out across Jungkook’s forehead. He’s never going to be able to unhear that. He’s going to be trapped on this ship for another twelve years with this shockingly submissive woman who moans about how much she wants to suck her crew members’ dicks. This is impossible. He’s doomed himself entirely. He knows it’s wrong, but he can’t stop himself from palming himself through his jumpsuit.

“What about Hoseok?”

What the fuck? Is everyone getting laid except Jungkook? Hoseok seems like the last person who would be involved in a secret porn video swap. He never participated in the trading of videos that some of the others did.

Jungkook watches her moan and writhe at the idea of blowing yet another crew member and it just isn’t fair. What about Jungkook? Does she want to blow him as well?

“And the commander?” Well, now Jungkook knows that Yoongi is making shit up. There’s no way the commander is involved in this. The commander keeps to himself most of the time, always off on his own, doing important commander things. Jungkook isn’t entirely convinced that the commander isn’t a hyper intelligent humanoid robot, let alone has human needs like sex.

She lets out a small whimper that has him squeezing his erection harder. She must be close to coming. He wishes he could see her face. She’s normally so put together, so serious, to watch her fall apart like this must be incredible. He has never been more jealous of anyone in his life than he is of Yoongi holding that camera. Jungkook rubs his dick through the rough jumpsuit as it aches to be buried in her. Come on man, ask her about Jungkook.

Yoongi chuckles. “Is there a man on this ship you don’t want to fuck?”

Jungkook is on this ship! This is his moment.

“No,” she moans.

She wants to fuck him. It’s all the green light he needs, ripping down the zipper of his jumpsuit, finally bringing his hands to his aching cock. He lets out a sigh as he touches it, already embarrassingly hard.

“And why is that?”

Jungkook groans out loud as he speeds up his hand. God, he wants to fuck her so badly. The idea that she might be interested in him in that way had never occurred to him before, but if she really wanted him, that was almost too much.

“Tell Jimin what you are.”

Jungkook holds his breath, hand moving quickly over the slick head of his cock.

“I’m a slut.”

Holy fucking shit. He can’t take it. She’s too much for him. How Yoongi hasn’t keeled over and died yet is a mystery.

He’s speeds up his hand, feeling his pleasure begin to crescendo, when suddenly, the door behind him opens.

“Hello!” Taehyung’s voice interrupts Jungkook’s masturbating, followed a softer “Oh shit” and a chuckle.

“Fuck,” Jungkook mumbles, forcing his dick back into his pants. “Shut the door!”

Taehyung steps into the room, shutting the door behind him, which wasn’t what Jungkook had really meant.

“What the fuck,” Jungkook groans, rearranging the sleeves of his jumpsuit around his waist to try to disguise his erection. “Don’t you knock?”

“This is the editing lab.” Taehyung fights back a smile as he takes in Jungkook’s flustered state and the naked woman still on the computer monitor. “Not some horny teenager’s bedroom.”

Jungkook’s face heats up. He spins the chair back around and closes the incriminating video on his desktop. “Can I help you with something?” he asks without turning the chair back to Taehyung.

“I was coming to see if you wanted to play a game or something,” Taehyung says from behind him, barely concealed laughter in his voice. “But I see you’ve found a better way to entertain yourself.”

Jungkook slides lower in his chair, desperately hoping Taehyung will finish his teasing and leave. But instead, Taehyung steps closer to the computer and Jungkook.

“Anything I should watch?” Taehyung asks.

“I don’t know.” Jungkook crosses his arms and pointedly looks in the opposite direction. “Just got it from Jimin,” he lies.

“Bullshit.” Taehyung laughs. “I know every frame of Jimin’s entire porn collection. And that was new. How did you get new porn?”

Jungkook slowly spins the chair to face Taehyung. “I can’t tell you,” he says, rubbing his ear.

Taehyung’s eyes widen and he leans forward. “Why not?”

“It’s private.” Maybe Taehyung will just drop it and leave him in peace.

“Was that our science officer?”

“What?” Jungkook looks back and forth from Taehyung to the monitor, pulling up the video again to see what Taehyung might have seen. “How the fuck can you tell that?”

Taehyung shrugs. “Those are our walls. It’s new porn. There’s only one woman on our ship. You’re being super weird about it-”

“Fine, fine.”Jungkook waves his hands to get him to stop listing all the reasons Jungkook should have figured it out sooner.

“My question is how did you get it?” Taehyung asks, leaning closer to inspect the video on the monitor.

“Um,” Jungkook hesitates again, but Taehyung already knows too much. “I found it in Yoongi’s workshop.”

“Yoongi?” Taehyung raises his eyebrows.

“I know, right?” Jungkook laughs, relieved he doesn’t have to keep this secret all to himself. “I would have assumed if she was dating anyone, it’d be Hoseok.”

“No way, Hoseok doesn’t have the balls.” Taehyung shakes his head. “I thought she and Jimin had something going on.”

“They keeping talking about Jimin!” Jungkook jabs at the screen in emphasis. “I can’t figure out what’s going on.”

“They?” Taehyung asks.

“Yeah, her and Yoongi, they made the video together, but I can’t figure out why.” Jungkook frowns at the screen.

“Let me see,” Taehyung says, crossing his arms and leaning against the wall.

Jungkook backs up the video and restarts it. He hands the headphones to Taehyung, regretful that he won’t be able to hear her again, but also relieved because he’s not sure how he would deal with that with Taehyung standing right next to him.

Taehyung lets out a low whistle as she begins touching herself. “She’s so hot,” he says, leaning in closer to the screen.

“I know,” Jungkook groans in agreement.

“I had assumed that she was just benefitting from only-woman-we’ve-seen-in-years syndrome.” Taehyung licks his lips. “But she is really hot.”

“I know!” Jungkook leans his head back in his chair and exhales in frustration. He looks back at the beautiful needy woman on the screen and wants to touch her. “Why did you think she had something going on with Jimin?”

Taehyung reaches out and pauses the video. “Jimin sent her a video of himself jerking off.”

“What?” Jungkook sits up in surprise. “Why?”

“Cause he’s an idiot.” Taehyung laughs. “He’s had a crush on her for a long time and she asked him for porn. Couldn’t help himself, the fool.”

Jungkook looks back at the video, lower lip sticking out slightly. “Did she like it?”

“Yeah.” Taehyung nods. “Though at first he thought he seriously fucked up. But he said she told him she liked it.”

“Well, then why is she making naked videos with Yoongi?”

“That is the question,” Taehyung mutters and unpauses the video.

It’s a little awkward watching this right next to Taehyung. While they’ve traded porn with each other before, they’ve never sat down and watched it together. Every time Jungkook looks at the video, his erection threatens to rear back up, so he keeps looking at Taehyung instead. But Taehyung keeps looking up from the video and catching Jungkook staring at him and that is weird too.

They get to past the part where Taehyung walked in and interrupted and Jungkook can’t help himself, he needs to hear what happened next. He taps Taehyung on the shoulder.

“Can I listen too?” he asks, then looks down, cheeks flushing. “I, um, didn’t see this part.”

“Oh shit, yeah.” Taehyung nods. He cracks the door and sticks his head out into the hallway, scanning back and forth before closing the door again. “No one’s around, just unplug them.”

Jungkook turns down the volume before slipping out the headphone jack and letting her moans fill the editing lab.

“That’s right.” Yoongi coos in the video. “What a good girl. Such a slut for her whole crew.”

Jungkook’s erection comes surging right back, pushing against the confines of his pants. Jungkook chances a glance at Taehyung to see him adjusting himself in his pants. Jungkook panics and looks away.

Fuck. Is Taehyung aroused? The last thing he needs is more of his colleagues masturbating. Jungkook watches him through the corner of his eye, but Taehyung keeps his hands out of his pants.

A soft whine pulls Jungkook’s focus back to the video. She pumping her fingers in and out at a faster pace now. The slick sounds of her wet cunt fill the editing lab. Yoongi continues his torment. “You want to be fucked by everyone like the filthy girl you are.”

Jungkook’s dick is aching, pressing desperately against his underwear. He needs to touch himself, but he can’t do that with Taehyung standing right there. He chances another glance at Taehyung, who appears immersed in the video.

“You’re so wet.” Yoongi is right. She’s soaking. Jungkook could just slide right in. Ever so slowly, Jungkook presses his wrist along the length of his erection, adding just a bit more pressure, gliding his arm downward across the bulge in his pants. It feels so good to have just a bit more pressure. He glances back at Taehyung one last time, but Taehyung is not paying attention to him, only the video.

“Look at the way you drip. So turned on by the thought of your crew members using you like their own little fucktoy.”

Jungkook’s mouth falls open in shock. How can Yoongi say those things? And yet, she seems to be getting more and more turned on by it, moaning and speeding up her fingers. She does want to be fucked her whole crew. The whole crew including Jungkook. He rolls his hips, driving his hard cock up against his wrist again. He watches Taehyung out of the corner of his eye, but Taehyung doesn’t react. Maybe Taehyung can’t see him.

“You going to come for me?” Yoongi asks. Jungkook is so close. He rubs his arm up and down the length of his cock, just a little bit faster. He’s been on edge so long, almost anything would set him off at this point.

“Think about how badly you want to suck Jimin’s cock while I fuck you,” Yoongi commands. Jungkook can picture it. Her mouth wrapped around Jimin’s cock as Jungkook takes her from behind, the way she would gag on the cock with every thrust of his hips.

“Come for me.” She’s coming. Her hands shake as she gasps. Her empty cunt clenches over and over as she cries out in ecstasy.

And then Jungkook is coming too. He bites his lip to keep himself silent, yanking his arm away from himself as he fills his underwear. He sticks his hand into his pocket, pulling the fabric away from himself to avoid any incriminating wet spots. He glances at Taehyung through the corner of his eye, but Taehyung hasn’t moved.

The video ends and silence descends on the editing lab. Wet cum soaks into Jungkook’s underwear, making him feel sticky and gross.

Taehyung exhales slowly. “Well, damn.”

Jungkook flinches. Did Taehyung see him?

“That was so sexy,” Taehyung says. Jungkook can’t look at him. “But it doesn’t really explain who she’s having sex with.”

“Maybe both of them?” Jungkook’s voice sounds more breathless than he would like.

“Maybe…” Taehyung nods, staring off into space.

“Do you think?” Jungkook starts, but then pauses. It’s a dumb question.

“Think what?” Taehyung finally looks down at Jungkook, raising his eyebrows.

“Do you think she really wants to have sex with everyone?”

Taehyung smiles. “I’m pretty sure she wants you, if that’s what you want to know.”

“Really?” A flutter of excitement rushes through him.

Taehyung chuckles. “Yeah.”

“Why?” Jungkook rubs behind his ear.

“Because you’re you.”

Jungkook’s face heats up and he looks away from Taehyung. “No, but what has she said about me?”

“Well, she offered to cut your hair.” Taehyung says. “She’s never done that for anyone else.”

“That’s just cause I’m an idiot.” Jungkook mumbles, fidgeting with his hair.

“Well, there’s only one way to know for sure.” Taehyung smirks. “You’ll have to seduce her.”

“What? No way.” Jungkook shakes his head. “She’ll just start talking about fungus or something.”

Taehyung laughs. “I like when she talks about fungus.”

“Yeah…” She was adorable when she got really excited about science, even if most of it was beyond Jungkook’s understanding. He scratches his head. He really did like a lot of things about her. She was kind and smart and helped him with things. And now she was also incredibly sexy.

“So,” Taehyung says, squatting down next to Jungkook. “Here’s what you do.”

------

And that’s the bonus chapter! More main chapters and more bonus chapters are in progress. Hope you enjoyed it!

[look-atthis-graph]

the labyrinth

so you know how the labyrinth was “reinvented” to be less sinister and everything so now the campers have to explore it in their training games? what about the people who were seriously harmed from that place and have no intent on going back in there. clarisse said she’d never go in there again. chris was tortured into insanity there by a ghost. Percy, annabeth, grover, tyson, and nico had traumatic experiences in there. (although nico and will do pair up to go explore it in toa, so i guess for nico the labyrinth was about navigating his own confusing feelings over bianca’s death and percy, and figuring out that and Minos’s trickery culminating when he calls himself the “ghost king” instead of the fear, but still. i hardly think nico would want to revisit that place.) 

anyway, so give me camp on an idyllic summer day, everyone sitting at their cabin tables, chatting and laughing and eating. and chiron stands up to make an announcement (wait-where does chiron sit in centaur form, on his back ass-cheeks?) and tells the campers that the labyrinth seems to have reinvented itself and thus its exploration will be added to training in order to better understand it and adapt to changing circumstances. give me a clarisse whose heart leaps to her throat when he explains this, feeling trapped like she can’t breathe. She looks over to the Hermes table at her boyfriend, and sees him looking down, quietly shaking. and clarisse gets mad, fear giving way to anger.

how dare they insult what they’d been through? how dare they insult his pain?

give me a clarisse who stands up abruptly in the middle of chiron’s speech, marches over to the hermes table, grabs her boyfriend’s arm, and storms out of there to sit and fume by the campfire near the lake.

give me a percy and annabeth, who exchange startled looks of shock and fear, with something like pain fueled-anger glistening under percy’s sea green eyes. give me an annabeth, the architecture affectionaire, who for the first time is wondering if her curiosity over the reinvented maze is worth the pain it caused her and her friends, her grey eyes blazing at the injustice that this creation could come back, when the people who died there and fighting in the battle couldn’t. that’s what she liked about architecture, that it was a monument. then how come this piece felt so wrong? compelling, and beautiful, but sinister and taunting at its core?

give me a percy and annabeth who silently sit through the rest of his speech and then leave quietly afterwards, walking in the same direction without a spoken word, knowing the other would be going there too, to think by their favorite spot by the lake, just near where they kissed.

give me a grover who feels a lingering sense of confusion and disgust emmenating from percy through the empathy link, one that can’t mask his own fear and anger. although now infinitely more confident, that place represents everything he doesn’t like, dark, underground, confusion and danger. give me a grover who doesn’t understand why they could possibly send someone else into that place, didn’t they know how terrifying it could be, underground with the walls caving in as if they were a monster’s jaws about to clamp down and swallow you whole? give me a grover who’s facing an influx of bitter memories, of pan’s death and how he was ostracized by the saytrs for returning from that wretched place with information the council didn’t want to hear. give me a juniper feeling protective and furious, ready to go kick some centaur ass for even thinking of sending more people into a place that caused her boyfriend such fear and hardship.

give me a tyson who doesn’t understand the point of returning if there’s no quest to be done, and who’s sad that he might have to return without big brother percy by his side. tyson, who remembers briares who now lives happily at the forges, and knows what a bad place the labyrinth could be for his kind , his family, and his friends.

give me a nico who straightens in shock upon hearing the news, and locks eyes with his boyfriend from the apollo table, who noticed his jerky reaction and offers him a reassuring smile. give me a nico helping will prep for the medical assistance sure to be needed after the exploration, eventually feeling comfortable enough to divulge a tiny bit of his experience down there, with minos and becoming the ghost king. nico, who claims that he isn’t entirely opposed to the idea of going back, as long as will is by his side.

give me clarisse and chris sitting in private by the campfire, her squeezing his hand and hugging him close as he shivers and cries, her own eyes welling up with tears. chris, letting go, explaining the darkness, the ever present feeling of death lurking over your shoulder, the terrifying monsters, and the way minos tortured him, got into his head, showed him he was better off dead. his last straw, the images of his dead little sister mary conjured by minos, that made it impossible to hold on. the bitter memories resurfacing, the terror of not remembering, the trapped feeling, the loneliness all come to the surface.

give me clarisse, holding on to him tight, pain and anguish caught in her throat while private tears stream down her cheeks. clarisse, feeling safe and vulnerable enough to reveal her own traumas, the walls pressing in on her, making it hard to breathe, the uncountable times she thought her life was coming to the end. forced to remember some of the worse times of her life, watching chris shake and sob without him knowing who she was in the basement, unable to comfort him and hold his hand. the fear that each breath he took might be his last, and her pain at being forced to sometimes stay away, wishing and feeling and thinking if only she could have done more. the fear of losing him that took over everyday.

give me clarisse, who after the frightening, emotional evening sneaks chris into the ares cabin, not caring who sees them, but still hoping no one does. they hug each other under the blankets, holding on to one another until they feel calm enough to sleep, safe in the other’s arms.

give me a percy and an annabeth, who eat blue cookies for comfort and go for a walk at the breezy evening beach, hand and hand, their hearts at home. returning to the poseidon cabin, where they look up at the stars through a skylight, a soothing sea breeze perpetually blowing around them, as they can finally fall asleep, safe with the notion that they are together.

give me a will who walks nico to his cabin and is offering to stay if it would help nico get some rest. give me a nico who blushes as he sets up an unoccupied bunk for will to sleep in as he runs to the apollo cabin to change. maybe, this one night nico might feel calm enough to sleep.

give me a chiron who announces their first exploration as a surprise in the morning.  clarisse and chris slip away to go train, then go back to her cabin. percy and annabeth decide to make out in the woods, as everyone thought they were doing the first time they fell into the maze. and will and nico, will’s hand on his shoulder, letting him know that he’s there if he needs it, and nico steadying himself to return to the place that made him his own.

give me a chiron who notices their absence, turning a blind eye and yet explaining that overcoming fear, he says, is important for survival. mentioning the next exploration would be the next morning, and all campers are required to attend.

and give me clarisse, fire in her eyes, fed up with the trauma with her boyfriend hand and hand, walking up to chiron with a firm no.

[lifeofroos]

ToN spoilers!!!!!!

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This is the last ‘Nico in therapy (with different drinks)’ I have planned for. Maybe I’ll write more, but I am not sure. The other two chapters are on my AO3! (and somewhere on my Tumblr too). 

This might be crazy chap.3: Strawberry Milk

I had almost forgotten what the strawberry milk carton was supposed to mean when I found it. It wasn’t that I hadn’t thought about my last conversation with Dionysus, but my week had been rather good - it had sunken to the background. 

The milkcarton appeared next to my sword after training. According to my schedule, I actually had to pick strawberries - something I did not really enjoy. I had to give Dionysus credit for how he had planned this session. 

When I arrived at the Big House, Dionysus was standing on the porch. It seemed like he was thinking about something. He even looked a little sad. He shook his head for a moment when he noticed me, as if to throw the thought out.

‘Nico di Angelo.’

‘Sir.’

‘Do you remember our last conversation?’

 I put the straw through my juice… milk carton. 

‘Yes, I did think about our last conversation. About… how there are probably more trauma’s than just… you know.’

He nodded. ‘Is it difficult to say?’

I looked at my carton. ‘I think so. I don’t know why, but...’ I shrugged. 

‘It’s understandable. It will take a long, long time before it will hurt less.’ He shrugged as well, as if to say ‘I am just telling you’ and ‘there is no use in sugarcoating it.’ I shrugged again. ‘Of course…’ I hesitated.

‘I think what you want to say is ‘of course that comment does not help.’’ That was exactly what I wanted to say. ‘...No.’ 

‘Can you tell me about some of the other things - concrete things - that the voices remind you off?’ 

I took a sip of strawberry milk. Just like last time, I was overcome with the thought that it was ridiculous to be telling all of my problems to Dionysus, god of being out of your mind. It took me quite some time before I had gathered myself enough to go on. 

‘... Of course, eh, tartar sauce. You know what I mean.’ He nodded, waiting for me to continue. I had already mentioned Tartarus, therefore it was easier to to tell him again. Now, I had to say something about the other things. Other things like losing Bianca, and seeing her in my dreams sometimes, before she chose to be reborn. Other things like Minos chasing me while I was trying to get her back. My feelings for Percy. The whole mess with Cupid. Losing Jason after all that. Did I have to tell goddamn Dionysus of all people about Cupid and… everything else around that topic? 

I took a tiny sip. ‘I…’ another one. ‘I… you know…’ I took a very deep breath. ‘Bianca,’ I whispered. 

‘That was your sister, right?’ Dionysus’ voice was quieter, more soothing, than usual. I nodded. It felt like I was shrinking. A tear rolled down my cheek. 

‘Nico?’

‘Hzm?’ I sniffed, trying to hold back a sob.

‘I am sorry, but I think it is important that we try to continue. This is a difficult subject, but it is one that needs to be discussed.’

I nodded once. He was right. But another part of me (was it me?) wanted to punch him. Or run away. Or both, at the same time. Yet, I stayed, while more tears slowly rolled down my cheeks. 

‘She chose rebirth. Is that correct?’

Another nod. How did he even know that? 

‘And there was something with king…’

‘...Mi-minos.’ If anybody was going to tell this story, It was me. 

‘I don’t know anything else about it.’ He spoke the truth. I could hear it. I know I said I wanted to tell this story, but now I was not so sure anymore. 

‘I…’ more quiet. ‘I… wanted to get her back.’ It came out softly, but it came out. Dionyus’ shoulders rose a little. He looked as if this brought back memories for him as well. ‘And Minos… ‘helped’ me. Said he did.’ The look of sadness in Dionysus’ eyes changed to something more like ‘of course. It’s Minos.’ ‘Eventually… with Percy, and the others… I… I…’ I waved with my hands, but it was too much. It hurt to think about it. And what did this guy have to do with any of it?

I broke down. Not with a loud scream, but silently. The tears ran down my face, my nose stuffed up and I felt a faint pounding in my head. It took some time for the tears to stop - before I went completely quiet.

I might have been silent for an hour. At some point, Dionysus took a deep breath. ‘Nico di Angelo?’

‘Eh?’

‘What do you think about… getting a therapist?’

I looked at him. But he was my therapist. Who was he talking about? What was he talking about?

‘There is a therapist for demigods in New York. I can bring you there tomorrow. Maybe… it’ll be easier.’ To talk to her than to me. I shrugged. I did not care. Maybe. I felt bad. My head hurt. 

‘I’ll get back to you tomorrow.’

The next morning, I woke up early. There was a box of Minute Maid grape juice on my nightstand. I climbed out of bed and walked out the door, while forgetting to take along the juice box. Dionysus was standing right outside my cabin. ‘Come. You got a free day. We’re going to New York. By car.’ 

I did not say anything while walking towards the car. Will would want me to eat breakfast, but I did not feel hungry. Dionysus did not do or say much. All he did was open the door for me and make another Juice box appear in my cup holder. I did not touch it. 

‘Demigod mental center.’ It made me look up. The drive had taken us... time. How much, I could not tell. I looked out the window. The building was bleak and did not invite me to start feeling hopeful. ‘Ask for doctor Trevorson,’ was all Dionysus had to say. ‘I cannot go in with you. That’s the rules. No gods in the demigod mental health centre.’ Alright, that made sense, I guess. I did not question the fact that Dionysus of all people abided to this rule. 

I felt a lot and I felt nothing at the same time. I just did not know, I really didn’t. I did not know while I was waiting for the doctor and I did not know when he came to collect me. 

The session was a blur. I knew only one thing when I came out of the room: No. I did not want to be treated by doctor Trevorson. And, I was only being honest, I did not think he wanted, or even knew how to, treat me. As soon as the word ‘Tartarus’  fell, it was over. 

Dionysus was waiting in the car, seemingly deep in thought. I wondered whether he had gone anywhere else or if he had just spend all the time waiting. I slipped back into my seat. 

‘How did that go?’

I looked at him. Apparently, that was enough. ‘Than… we have to talk about other options.’ I legit had no idea what he meant. But I was also starting to get sick of not knowing. 

‘You haven’t had breakfast yet,’ Dionysus stated. I shrugged. ‘Therefore, we are going to get you breakfast. Do you have any ideas?’ 

I almost automatically responded with ‘I don’t know,’ but then I remembered that I did not want to not know anymore. Anything was better than not knowing. So I said I wanted sloppily made pancakes with chocolate sauce and whipped cream. Good choice, apparently, because Dionysus smiled. ‘Alright then.’

A few minutes later, we walked into a Denny’s. It was questionable whether this was the right place for a therapy session, seeing as how it radiated chaos energy. They did, however, have sloppily made pancakes. Those were a certainty right now, and I was going to hold on to that. 

When we sat down, me with a plate filled with pancakes (and some other stuff - like, for real America, calm down, I only need one meal), Dionysus put a carton of Demeters’ Divine Orange Juice in the middle of our table. 

‘Wait. I first want to eat one of these pancakes worry-free.’

‘Absolutely.’ 

I tasted like sloppily made pancake with whipped cream and chocolate sauce. And I was going to savour every sloppy bite of it. At a while, Dionysus wasn’t even paying attention to me anymore. He was scanning the crowd. I wondered whether he was trying to find out if any Olympians were in the restaurant (is it a restaurant? Can you really call Denny’s a restaurant? They might have more nuanced terms in other languages). 

I put the straw through the juice carton as soon as I had finished the pancake. The sound caught Dionysus’ attention and he turned back to me. ‘So. Let me start off by saying that you do not need to go back there.’

‘Isn’t it a thing that the first session is weird?’

‘For most demigods, that’s what we say.’ Oh, so there are more demigods that went to therapy? How come we don’t know that? ‘But one look at you and I realised that that wasn’t going to do it for you.’

I tore a little bit of pancake off with my hand. ‘So… then what?’

Dionysus gestured at my juicebox. ‘You mean that you keep…’ counseling me? Giving me therapy? ‘...helping me.’

‘Yes.’

‘Fine.’

He looked at me for a moment. ‘That also means that you have to trust me.’

Trust? that goes far, man. I’ll let you council me, but trust? Calm down. ‘Partly.’ 

He did not respond. I took another bite of pancake. Then, I took a deep, deep breath. ‘Shortly after she had died… I kept hearing Bianca’s voice in my dreams. That… also hurt. It is less now, probably because... she is reborn. But now Jason is gone too.’ I felt tears coming up again. My throat closed up. I stared at the pancakes (and other crap) on my plate - I knew I would have never finished it all, but now it felt even more impossible. 

‘There is a lot of old grief. It might hurt to work through that. Yet, it is important that you learn how to cope. That will make your life better. And Nico, you deserve a better life.’ 

‘I’ll… try to learn how to cope. I’ll do my best to do that. Really.’

‘I believe you. And about…’ He stopped. About what? ‘Nevermind.’ 

‘Nevermind what?’ I waited until he made a sign of some sort, but he did not. ‘We’ll talk about it in a future session.’ I wanted to press further, but decided that I either let it rest for now or that he would erase the last thirty seconds from my memory. Slowly, I took another bite of my pancakes. I’d have to stock up on juice boxes, too. I wasn’t about to let Dionysus control when we had an appointment all the time.

(A/N: In The Netherlands, we would call Denny’s a ‘vreetschuur’ or an ‘eettent,’ but certainly not a ‘restaurant.’)

[jung-snoopy-woo]

So yesterday I made a friend of mine, who is a guy, watching Stray Kids mv’s with me (surprisingly, as he always told me I’m probably exaggerating, he actually enjoyed it a lot!!), and I’m pretty sure his favorite were Victory Song (” I think I’m gonna play this when I win stuff, instead of ‘We Are The Champions’ “) and Double Knot.

Anywaysss, when he started to (finally) tell them apart, he gave them nicknames so I thought I’d share them with you people (idk if that’s even going to be funny lol) so there you go (there’s also an explanation of why he called them that way 🙈 )

Hope someone finds this fun (??) and hope you’re having an amazing day/night 🤗💕

✨ Explanation: ✨ 

Woojin (4th one he could tell apart)- 

The one that’s left- I guess there’s nothing much to explain… when he found out that Woojin is no longer a part of skz, he called him that 😅😅

Chan/Chris (2nd one he could tell apart alongside with Jeongin)-

LEADER- My friend found that quite shocking that kpop groups/bands have leaders so he really loved calling Channie “leader”.

Best-looking one- He said Chris is one of the best-looking people he’s ever seen in his life (he isn’t wrong tho…).

Your (mine) fav- He didn’t use this much, as he was completely sure my only bias is Hyunjin (”I would choose Chan if I were you” -”but he’s already my bias” -”still…”).

The one with the abs- Got pretty shocked during Victory Song when chan showed his abs (”I want to have a body like his????”) so…yeah haha.

Lee-Know/ Minho (always mixed him with Seungmin and Hyunjin)- 

MINO- I guess it was kinda hard for him to pronounce “Minho”, but anyways he got pretty excited when he started to tell him and Seungmin apart lol.

Orange-shirt guy- After watching the Miroh mv he just called him this way, because Minho wore an orange shirt there so it kinda caught his eye I guess?

Changbin (3rd one he could tell apart alongside with Jisung)- 

Rapper- “He raps so I’ll call him ‘rapper’!!” -”uhmm but there are more rappers..” -”yeah but he’s the most ‘rapper’ rapper to me”.

Chin guy- “His chin looks like it could cut someone”/ “How is his chin so long?”.

Hyunjin (always mixed him with Minho/ Seungmin)-

Your (my) crush- Okay so when he saw Hyunjin he said “he’s pretty and tall, he’s probably your favorite”, and after I agreed with the fact Hyunjin is handsome AND tall, he started calling Hyunjin my “crush” lol.

Pretty face- After he realized my other bias is Chan, he had to find a new name so bc Hyunjin is so handsome he decided “pretty face” will work.

Han/ Jisung (3rd one he could tell apart alongside with Changbin)  - 

Always-surprised-face guy- “Look at his face, doesn’t he look surprised to you?”

*after I was showing him this video on ig of a compilation of the O.O face Jisung makes when the camera lands on him*

“You see?? how else do you want me to call him if not ‘surprised-face’?“

Felix (first one he could tell apart)-

DEEP-VOICE- He got so surprised when he first heard Felix’s voice oh my god 😂😂

“HIS VOICE IS THE MANLIEST THING I’VE EVER HEARD IN MY LIFE??? YOU KNOW THAT??”

(got even more surprised when he heard Felix’s high-pitched voice lol).

Soft-featured- “I recognize him because his features are the softest ones out of all of them”.

Seungmin (always mixed him with Minho/ Hyunjin)-

2 DAYS GUY!!- I told him Seungmin is 2 days older than me so he decided to call him “2 days” (or in hebrew, “Yomayim”).

He also got super excited when he could tell him apart from Minho and Hyunjin.

I.N./ Jeongin (2nd one he could tell apart alongside with Chan)-

TINYYYY BOYYY- I told him Jeonginnie was a year younger than us, as he was born in 2001, and after looking at his face he thought “tiny” (or “Katani” in Hebrew) would fit him best.

When he saw how Jeongin grew up from one video to another, he got pretty sad (”what did they do to Tiny?? 😪😪😪”)

BONUS:

Best-looking ones in his opinion: Felix, Jeongin (”you changed and grew up and broke my heart so Felix took your place! 😔”) , Chan, Jisung.

Best voices in his opinion: Chan, Felix, Jisung.

*I told him like 200 times that Chan and Felix are from Australia*

*after hearing Chan speaking in English*

“woah I love that accent… what is it? British? 🤔”

[eastasianfeelings]

the way you look at him instead of me: Wonho

— based on Monsta X as jealous boyfriends

Summary: You’re a female songwriter-producer who's working with Wonho again after a long time. You still feel an attraction to him, and as his jealousy demonstrates, so does Wonho.

Words: 3.5k

Warnings: jealousy, a bit of angst, making out

*

“For the last few songs I wrote, I worked with PD Wooyeong, PD Taehyun and PD Mino. I wanted to get a different feel for this song, so I’m really looking forward to collaborating on this one with you, Y/N-noona.”

Cue Wonho’s bunny smile.

You do your best to smile back, but it’s a bit hard. He’s been in your studio for only five minutes and already you’ve gotten a clear sense of how many male producers have gotten to work with Monsta X. You recognize almost all the names; you know that Mino, for example, got his first songwriting credit on a KNK B-side track just two months ago. And now he’s already working with Monsta X’s company?

You’re one of the few female producers in the business of churning out K-pop hits, and while South Korea might be a relatively advanced country technologically, gender bias still has a firm grip almost everywhere. Just yesterday you were turned down three separate times by three separate idol group PDs. You’ve been in the industry for over five years, and still sometimes you can’t even get a demo in their hands before they’re shutting the metaphorical door in your face.

“I’m looking forward to working with you too, Wonho-yah,” you say, the appropriate rote response to his sentiment.

His smile fades a little and he tilts his head at you. You get the uncomfortable feeling that he’s going to ask if you’re all right, so you move on. “Do you have a demo already?

“Ah, no I don’t. I asked Minhyuk-ah and Kihyunie to record some sample vocal lines, but I wanted to show you first.”

“Okay, let’s hear it then.” You make room on your desk for him to prop open his laptop.

He pulls his chair closer to yours and leans in to navigate to the song. The warmth of his nearness makes you look over reflexively, and then his deltoids capture your attention.

A spark of attraction zaps through you, hard. You almost flinch. There’s always been something of a pull between you two, a pull that sometimes makes you wonder what would happen if you were younger and not part of the industry and Wonho was the type of person to indulge in quiet indiscretions.

At that moment, Wonho turns to you. Whatever words he was about to say fade as the two of you lock eyes. The silence abruptly seems very, very loud. His lips…

But. You’re older, and you’re a female songwriter and producer, and Wonho is an idol with a million and one fans. The facts are enough to make you look away.

You fix your eyes on his screen. “Is this the demo?”

“Ah—yes.” Wonho clears his throat roughly, and you take miserable solace in the fact that you’re not the only one feeling this way. “Here, let me play it through once. Please let me know what you think.”

Fortunately, it’s easy to engross yourself in the work. Two hours fly by as you discuss melody lines, chord progressions, verse structure and more with Wonho, who’s very receptive and open. After a little encouragement, he also starts sharing his own ideas more freely.

“See, I think the background accompaniment is good if it’s strong here, it kind of sounds like it’s swallowing up the main vocal line — ”

“Swallowing?” you say skeptically.

He nods several times. “This song is about falling into love, right? So you fall and you’re swallowed.”

“It sounds blurry like this, though. Unintentionally blurry.”

“It sounds blurry, but if you think about it, the blurriness could represent your senses closing in as you fall. It’s kind of a trap, you know?”

You cock your head. “Honestly, I don’t think that’s the effect achieved here.”

“You don’t get it — ah, I’m not explaining well.” Wonho sits back with a huff, scrubbing his hands through his hair.

“I don’t get it?” you echo, torn between amusement and the urge to kick his impertinent little ass.

He realizes what he said and immediately turns, palms toward you in supplication. “No, no, Y/N-noona, I didn’t mean it that way. It’s just that I didn’t explain well. It’s not your fault at all.”

Your irritation fades, leaving behind the amusement. “Well, Wonho-ssi,” you say jokingly, “if you can’t explain well and you keep offending people like this, you’ll just have to work on your songs all by yourself, right?”

“No, noona,” he says, looking half-agonized now. His hands are fluttering in between you two like sacrificial pigeons. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that.”

You can’t help but laugh. “I’m teasing, it’s fine.” You punch him in the shoulder and oh God, his deltoids. The spark comes back; things inside you clench involuntarily.

Wonho’s looking at you with an expression like a chastened puppy, and the juxtaposition between his soft face and his hard muscles is somewhere close to fatal. You push back all the not-so-clean thoughts in your mind and repeat, “It’s fine, Wonho-yah, don’t worry about it, okay?”

He bobs a nod, but can’t help apologizing once more. “I’m sorry.”

“Why don’t we try easing back on the accompaniment, and see how it sounds? If it still doesn’t feel right, you can always experiment more.”

“Okay, noona.”

Around lunchtime, your stomach growls. You slap a hand to it, then mock-frown at Wonho’s little chuckle. “Sorry, I think I need some food. You probably have to get back to the company too, right? We can call it a day.”

“I actually don’t need to go back to the company for lunch,” he says, announcing it proudly like he’s earned some rare privilege. (Actually, maybe it is a rare privilege for idols like him.) “What about eating together?”

“Ordering delivery, right?” you check.

“Yeah, of course.”

“Sounds good to me.”

Wonho insists on deferring to your preferences, so you end up ordering from your favourite ramen shop. As expected, he’s perfectly happy with your choice. The two of you keep discussing the song until your phone rings with the call from the delivery person. A few minutes after you buzz them into the building, a knock comes at the door of your studio.

When you open the door, a smile spreads on your face instinctively: it’s Hyeontae, a part-timer at the ramen shop who you’ve become familiar with. “Hyeontae-oppa! I thought it was your voice on the phone, but I wasn’t sure.”

“You didn’t recognize me? I recognized you right away.” Hyeontae pretends to be offended, but his eyes are sparkling.

“That’s just because you saw my name on the order,” you joke, accepting the food from him.

“Still, you order from us so often. I’d have thought you’d be able to tell me apart by now.” He winks. “By the way, why’d you order all this? Don’t tell me you’re going to eat ramen for lunch and dinner?”

“No! It’s for two people. I don’t love your food that much.”

“Oh, you don’t? Then how come I bring you ramen every other day, hmm?”

You’re laughing and denying it when you feel a warmth at your side. You look round to find Wonho standing right beside you, staring at Hyeontae like the guy just said he hates Monsta X.

“Ah, Wonho?” you say, a little unnerved.

Wonho doesn’t break the stare until when Hyeontae stops smiling at you and starts frowning questioningly at Wonho. At that point, Wonho turns to you, creasing the corners of his mouth in a half-smile, and takes the food from you. “Noona, let me pay for the food, okay?”

“Oh, I already paid through the app,” you inform him.

“Yep, she’s good,” Hyeontae adds.

That does not make Wonho’s expression look any less foreboding. He returns his gaze to Hyeontae and shifts his weight closer to you. “Then, thanks for delivering it,” he says, and nonchalantly leans a hip into you. “We should get back to our work, right, noona?”

You teeter slightly under his weight before catching yourself. “Uh, yeah. Thanks, oppa.”

“No problem, Y/N-ah.” Hyeontae gives you a chipper salute. “Call anytime, okay?”

“Got it.” You give him a finger-gun back, then wave goodbye.

When you turn to close the door, you nearly run into Wonho. He’s still standing at the doorway, ramen in his hands, that glare on his face.

“Wonho-yah?”

He blinks, then refocuses on you. “Ah, yes. Yes?”

You gesture to the food. “Shall we eat?”

“Right! Yes.” He finally moves back into the studio, allowing you to close the door.

You relocate to the tiny card table next to the desk and set out the steaming take-out dishes. You’re pulling out the disposable chopsticks when Wonho speaks. “So I guess you go to that ramen shop a lot? For him to recognize you.”

“Yeah.” You nod as you snap your chopsticks and start rubbing them against each other. “We bonded because he loves this one girl group song that I helped to write, so he thinks I’m a big deal or something. It’s kind of silly, but nice at the same time.”

“I see.” Wonho yanks his chopsticks apart with a resounding snap, and you almost expect bamboo splinters to fly.

After another short while, he speaks up again. “You know, you shouldn’t have ramen too often. It’s not really healthy.”

You stop blowing on your ramen to look over at him. “I thought you like ramen?”

“It’s because I love it that I know it’s unhealthy!” he defends himself. “I always take lots of protein to supplement. I mean, I just think it’s important for people in general to know how to eat well.”

You smile at him. “All right, I got it.”

He drops his eyes to his food, mumbles, “So don’t order from that ramen shop too much,” and proceeds to stuff noodles into his mouth.

“Sure, okay.”

Your easy acquiescence seems to lift his mood. The rest of the meal passes by affably, with him sharing funny stories about recent Monsta X exploits while you laugh and shake your head in affectionate wonder at the mysterious machine that is K-pop. By the time the food’s done, your cheeks hurt from smiling so much.

“I feel like I talked a lot about myself,” Wonho says, pushing his empty ramen bowl to the side. “What about you, noona?”

“What about me?” You pick up the dishes and head to the garbage can to dump them.

“What’s going on with you? We haven’t been in touch for a while.”

You sit back down and shrug lightly. “Lots of things here and there. Just finding my way through the industry, you know.”

The lightness of your shrug and tone must not be entirely convincing, because Wonho leans forward on the edge of his seat to peer at you. “Noona?”

“Yes?”

“Do you… want to talk to me about it?” he asks.

“Talk to you about what?” you deflect, hunching your shoulders in unconscious defensiveness.

But he squares his body to you and leans in some more. “Anything. Is something bothering you? You don’t have to tell me, but sometimes — sometimes it’s helpful to talk to somebody else, no matter what it is.”

You hesitate.

“I want to help,” he says, very firmly, and looks at you with open, vulnerable eyes. “If I can.”

It’s impossible to doubt his sincerity.

So even though you’re not sure that he’ll see your point of view as a man, that there’s anything he can do to help, you tell him.

By the end, he’s frowning so hard his brow is scrunched into three lines. “Wow. I’m really sorry to hear that, noona. I didn’t know that kind of sexist stuff happened.”

“It’s okay,” you say automatically. It’s not, but neither is it his fault. “It’s just been eating at me for a while, that’s all. But I’ll keep working hard with people like you and build up my credentials until my time comes.”

“But it’s unfair.”

He doesn’t even question the validity of your experiences, which surprises and touches you more than his sympathy does. “It is unfair,” you agree. “But that’s how it is, I’ve accepted it.”

“No,” he says, sitting up straighter. “I want to help you.”

“What?” Now you’re definitely surprised.

“I know songwriters and producers who want collaborators,” he continues, picking up steam. “It might not happen right away, but I could at least make introductions for you.”

“Wonho-yah, you really don’t have to —”

“And I know Changkyunnie would probably be willing to work with you.” There’s a determined glint in his eyes. “He really liked that song we produced together for Trespass, he even asked me if I wrote it alone or with someone else.”

Okay, that stops you for a second. “Changkyun?” you repeat. You’ve never worked with an actual rapper before, and you’ve always wanted to.

“Yeah!” Wonho launches to his feet enthusiastically. “That would be so easy to set up.”

“Do you think we could?” You’re starting to hope; Wonho’s energy is infectious.

“Definitely.” He beams at you. “Would you want to?”

“If it’s not too much trouble, then yes, definitely! I’ve always wanted to work with someone like Changkyun.”

“Oh?” Wonho tilts his head at you.

“Yeah.” You’re getting excited now. “Do you think he’d say yes? To working with me?”

“I didn’t know you’ve always wanted to work with Changkyun,” Wonho says instead of answering. His head tilts further.

“Why not, right? He writes his own lyrics, and he’s worked on so many songs — I’m sure you know that better than me. It’s especially impressive considering he’s the maknae. And I’ve never worked with a rapper.” Giddiness bubbles in you, and you suppress a bounce.

You almost fail to notice that the energy is slowly draining out of Wonho’s body. “Ah, well, great,” he says, sounding lacklustre now.

You stop your internal party and focus on him. What’s going on? All the excitement from just a moment ago is gone.

He feels you staring at him and quickly tries to recover. “I’ll ask Changkyun, for sure. Just… how about we get back to working on my songs for now?”

“Of course,” you say. “That’s why we’re here, after all.”

Wonho shuffles back to his seat at the computer desk. When you sit down beside him, you catch him mumbling something like, “…didn’t seem like it anymore.”

“Sorry?”

He just gives a small sniff and keeps his attention on the laptop in front of him.

“Wonho-yah.” You put a hand on his shoulder and do your best to ignore the spark. “Is something the matter?”

He looks round promptly at your touch. “No,” he says. “I’ve just never seen you so eager like that before.”

You withdraw, puzzled by the slight prickliness in his words. “Really?”

“You looked like you were going to grab my cell phone and call Changkyunnie right there on the spot,” he says, almost accusingly.

“What???”

“Are you ever that eager to work with me?”

You just blink at him in bewilderment and, also, the tiniest, tiniest bit of excitement. Is he… is this…

He seems to take your lack of response as confirmation, and resettles himself to face the computers with a grumpy huff. “No. You’re not.”

“Wonho-yah.” When he doesn’t look at you, you dare to take his chin and pull his face toward you. He maintains his sullen look, but his breath seems to come faster. “Wonho-yah,” you repeat.

He doesn’t pull away from your grasp. “What, noona?”

“Are you… jealous?”

The question hovers in the air between you two. Your faces are centimetres apart; if you tipped your head forward, your nose would brush his. He’s breathing shallowly. You’re barely breathing at all.

Just when you decide you have to pull away, Wonho closes the space between you and puts his lips on yours.

You gasp into his mouth, both from the lack of air in your lungs and the shock of the contact, and a muffled sound comes from Wonho’s throat that makes everything inside you clench once again. Then his jaw is angled hard against you and he’s leaning his weight into the kiss like he wants to dive into you. You clutch at his arms, which have somehow wrapped around your body, and nearly melt at the solidness of his biceps. The feel of being wrapped up in him is entirely too good to be true.

He eases back, leaving both of you panting, and you lock eyes again. He’s searching for something in your face, explicit consent maybe, and you give it by leaning in and taking his lips this time. Next thing you know, his tongue is in your mouth and you’re halfway onto his lap and his fingers are in your hair, massaging your scalp so tenderly that you can’t help giving a small moan.

At the sound, his teeth close around your bottom lip, and you jerk reflexively. That causes you to come into contact with a hard bulge that all of a sudden makes his lap a hazardous place to sit.

“Ahh…” Wonho draws back and gives a hiss of air as you shift away from his erection. “Fuck.”

“Wonho,” you manage to get out.

“Yes,” he says on a pant, his eyes flicking between your eyes and your lips.

“We need to talk first, okay?”

He gives a low whine when you try to pull back and tightens his grip on you. “We can talk like this.”

You have to give a breathless laugh. Aren’t you supposed to get less amorous when someone says “Let’s talk”? Nevertheless, you let him arrange you so that you’ve got both legs curled up on his lap, not quite straddling him. In his current state, you feel like one wrong movement on your part could injure him, but he doesn’t seem to share your concern.

“Okay.” You attempt to clear your throat. “Okay.”

“Noona,” he says, heading you off. “You wanted that, right?”

You’re not usually the blushing type, not with your darker skin, but you’re pretty sure you’re blushing right now. “I — yes. But — you’re an idol, you know,” you say, trying to get this talk back on track.

“I know,” he says. In this position, you’re a little taller than he is, and you can clearly see him looking at your mouth, which happens to be level with his eyes. Despite yourself, butterflies start up in your stomach.

“And I work in your industry, Wonho —”

“And we work together, and I’m part of Monsta X, and I’m contracted to the company. I know all this, noona. I’ve thought about it before,” he finishes for you.

“Okay, well, good.” Why don’t these facts sound as much like barriers when he says them?

“We’ll figure it all out,” he says simply. “I promise.”

“You promise,” you repeat.

“Yes,” he says.

“It’s not that easy, Wonho-yah.”

“But I’m going to try.” He gazes up at you with those vulnerable eyes of his. “Trust me, noona.”

He says he’ll try.

So you say, “...I’ll try.”

You’ll try to trust him. It’s the most you can say right now, because the fears and worries are real. But so is he, right now. So are we.

In any case, Wonho seems satisfied with that, because he proceeds to completely change the subject. “You want me more than you wanted to work with Changkyun, right?”

Ummmm, what? “Is this an either-or situation?” you hedge.

“No. As long as it’s clear that you’re off-limits to him.”

“Wonho-yah.”

“And to your Hyeontae-oppa, too.”

“He’s not my Hyeontae-oppa.”

Wonho pulls you close, his strength overriding yours easily, and nuzzles into your stomach. “No,” he says, voice muffled. “You’re mine.”

“Wonho-yah, really…” You tug gently at his hair.

He tilts his head up and looks at you. “I’ll be yours too,” he says softly, “if you want.”

Aaaand that’s it. K.O. You’re dead. Slain by this boy who’s staring at you like he’s promising to use all the muscles he’ll ever build to search the world and give you whatever you want.

You lift a hand and rest it across his eyes. “Stop it.”

“Stop what?” He tugs at your arm.

“Stop looking at me like that when I’m trying to talk to you about something important.”

“How am I looking at you?” Now there’s a suggestive undertone in his voice.

You’re about to smack him for his cheek when his phone starts ringing on the desk. Startled, you quickly slide off his lap, clutching at his shoulders for balance, and reach for the phone.

“It’s Changkyun.”

In a flash Wonho’s standing and prying the phone away from you. “Don’t answer it!”

“I wouldn’t, it’s your phone.” You hold back a laugh at how panicked he looks. “But you’re going to ask him if he wants to work with me, right?”

He shoots you a stern frown. “Of course. After I tell him that you’re with me.”

And now you have to laugh.

“It’s true, isn’t it?”

“Wonho-yah...”

“We’re together now. You want me, right?”

“Answer the phone, okay?”

“Noona! Answer me first!”

Author’s note:

First this started out as fluff with a helping of feminism thrown in. Then I decided to try amping up the steaminess, because let’s face it, we’re all thirsty for Wonho. And then whoops it turned romantic and honestly I’m not even sure how. Anyway, hope you enjoyed!

[moonlightreal]

Winx Club season 8/1

In which the Winx are back and younger than ever.

Welcome to season 8!  I love this show, I love everything about it... including the parts I don't like, because I can snark at them.  So warning: there will be some snark when I see something dumb.

About the new art style:

Why I don't like it:  The girls have gotten a little more samey-samey with the loss of their individually shaped features, and Tecna's eyes shifted from turquoise to blue.  I know that's a tiny thing, a slight eye color change but it's one more step towards them all looking the same.  It feels like by the time we get to season 20 they'll be six identical fairies!  Also the girls now look twelve.  There’s been no mention so far of them de-aging so it's just the art style change, but... ok most of y'all wouldn't care but I'm writing a fanfic that parallels the show and now I have to decide whether to de-age my characters or what!

Why I like it: They're sooooo cute! They look like Moondreamers or Lady Lovelylocks or some 80s dolls!  I love it!

I have a theory about why the style change.  This is only a guess since I don't know animation, but is it possible they're using a program with sort of mannequins, and they're now using the same bodies for both Regal Academy and Winx?  To save money maybe, since now the animators will only need to learn one style?  Is that even the way computer animation programs work? Animators, help me out here!

And yes, Musa and Flora are now basically Caucasian looking.  This is not cool.  I have acknowledged it and written to Rainbow about it but since there’s nothing else I can do I’m going to enjoy my show in spite of it.  That’s my response to the color change; your response is something you’ll have to decide for yourself.

1 Night of Shooting Stars

We open at Alfea where some minor fairies are watching shooting stars.  Familiar minor fairies!  It's not just the Winx who have a new look; the whole class has been ported over.  I'm really happy about this!  I was sure they'd just do a whole new background cast and we'd lose more continuity, but here are Evie and Lori, those two dark skinned and indigo haired girls, and other familiar faces.

The Winx are up on a sort of bridge over the courtyard-- Alfea has had slight upgrades for the new season and it looks great.  And so do the girls!  They're so detailed, the layered outfits and all their accessories are so fun.  Their necklaces sway when they move, even, props to the animators.

Bloom is delighted by the shooting stars but Musa’s not feellin’ it, she was hoping for musical inspiration but it isn’t coming.  Flora, Tec and Aisha join them and it turns out Musa wants to write the new song for the concert tomorrow!  Tecna conjures her “astroscope” so they can watch the stars, and starts to explain something but Aisha shuts her down. Kiko pops up on the other end of the astroscope and scares Musa when she looks through.  

Out comes Stella, for a selfie!

In the Italian, Stella says “Selfie time!” in English.  Heh.

But Musas’s glum face spoils the selfie.  Stella says there should be no problem since, “You have ME to inspire you!”

Kind of not a great intro for the girls, but now we leave them and cut to Twinkle being chased by star-eaters.  Which are cool, as villain minions go.  They look like dark purple puffs or blobs, I’m getting a very Original My Little Pony vibe from them.  A whole swarm of them are chasing tiny Twinkle through the rings surrounding planet Magix.  They merge into a giant blob that roars as Twinkle flees towards the planet below.

Musa’s spidey sense tingles!

The star-eaters display their power of splitting into tadpoles and joining together again.

The Winx are concerned: this star is coming down awfully close!  Twinkle zooms above their heads and crashes in the woods.

The girls arrive in the scene we saw in the trailer and are immediately charmed by the sleeping Twinkle. Stella identifies her as a Lumen, “a creature of pure light that lives inside stars.”  They take their find back to Alfea to take care of her.

But evil is watching them!  Or at least a turban-wearing lackey of evil with a bunch of star-eaters around him is.  Obscura says, “Oh no!  That Lumen managed to reach the Winx!” so he knows who the Winx are.

In the Winx common room Twinkle is still asleep and the girls and Faragonda admire her cuteness.  I think she’s got some kind of charm ability!    Stella gives us some more information, “She’s from Lumenia, the star that lights Solaria.”  and Faragonda says Lumens never leave their stars except for serious reasons.

The next morning—daylight shots of Alfea, great cg—Twinkle wakes up, gets scared of Kiko, there’s some chaos and room destruction, Twinkle flies around screaming until she bangs into Stella.  Stella introduces the Winx, “We’re fairies and this is our school.” and asks why Twinkle came.  But Twinkle can’t remember.

Tecna scans Twinkle and detects “a memory lapse.”  The Winx offer to help her remember but Aisha thinks scaring her is the way to go!  So they try to scare Twinkle, who just laughs.  Short slapstick scene.

Then Bloom gets a text: the boys are coming!  Their ship lands in the courtyard to a rockin’ beat.  The girls stand with little hearts around them, Stella twirling her hair.

The boys look so weird in this art style.  I will try and probably fail at not mentioning this every time they appear.

And oh heavens, Brandon still has a deep post-puberty voice in his 12-year-old body.  I think this may be the same voice actor from last season.  Voice weirdness aside, he brought Stella a big pile of presents.  These two are the best couple.

Helia is showing Flora a picture he did of “a rose from the planet Iris, but its beauty is nothing compared to yours.”  Wasn’t Iris where Diaspro’s from?  Flora blushes and it’s cute.

Sky and Bloom kind of twirl each other around and laugh, which is sweet.

Timmy and Tecna are already up in the dorm working on a Lumen amnesia curing device, which explodes. Twinkle bounces and chirps, “Again!  Again again!”  Ok she is a little bit adorable.

They get the memory viewer going and its screen shows Twinkle’s memories of being chased.  She freaks out and flies into the air glowing brightly.  Then the memory viewer overloads.

Cut to the courtyard, the girls ponder what they saw while Twinkle looks glum.  Kiko tries to cheer her up. Stella says that Lumens are peaceful creatures with no enemies, so the girls don’t know what was chasing her.  Poor Twinkle is very down, and Stella prescribes music to cheer her up.

Over at Red Fountain we’re in either the ship or a locker room.  The boys are tired out, they’ve been on a mission to the Omega dimension before the Winx called!  Points to the writers for remembering the names of places!  Also points for how the boys are powering-down their suits, it’s a neat little detail that they do this.

The boys talk about how they wish they could’ve helped the Lumen, then do some reminiscing!  They had a mission on the planet Hypsos where they beat a horde of space mutants and destroyed an opal dragon??  And apparently neither of these was as scary as the landing!  Timmy, who was the pilot, droops.  Then he blames Helia for not being able to read a star chart.  It looks like they’re about to fight when…

A Mysterious Figure arrives!  Wearing a kind of ship-captainish coat and purple neck scarf.  Codatorta said he could come back.  The boys are pleased, more pleased than most of the fandom is!

The mysterious figure is not Venomiya, so there should be no sabotage at the Winx Band concert we go to next.  More great cg Alfea.  Is there an official map anywhere, of what rooms are what?  There are some weird outbuildings and stuff. I’m not even sure if the bridge is new or if it’s just that the girls didn’t hang out there in previous seasons.  And did the wings attach differently before?  I can’t tell if the school has changed shape or not!  I think it has...

And there’s a blast from the past, it’s Knut the ogre, Alfea’s handyman!  He’s back after many seasons, helping set up the lights for the concert with Kiko’s help.

And here’s Grizelda, and the new art style has not been kind to her!  She looks younger and has a more WoW art style look, and I don’t like it!  And whaaaaaat happened to her voice?  She does the ‘I’m watching you’ thing at Knut.  she’s not very nice.  I mean, she’s not supposed to be nice, she’s supposed to be a scary lady so that’s good.

The concert is being held at the top of the steps in front of the main door to the school.  All the minor fairies hang out on the steps or in the courtyard to watch.  It is so nice to see the same minor fairies as before.  They’re super excited to see the Winx in their—freaking adorable—concert outfits.  The girls are all in brightly colored fake fur and music note themes, with streaks in their hair.  Bloom dedicates their first song to ‘Our new friend from far away.’  and Twinkle giggles with delight.

And then… concert transformation! The girls’ PURSES do magical girl henshin routines and transform, Bloom’s into a microphone, Stella and Flora get guitars, Musa has a keytar and Tec gets a three-piece piano while Aisha’s got drums. Ok, I love this.  I know, it’s gotta be a gimic to sell toys, but sparkly henshin instruments, it’s wonderful!

The song’s all right, it’s Winx pop just like every song in Winx and I don’t think the voice actresses are in any way professional singers, but it’s fun.  Miss F, Grizelda and Palladium are in the audience.  Twinkle loves the music. Knut seems to be trying to pick up on the minor fairies, but Grizelda shuts him down.

Then the concert is rudely interrupted by a portal opening and delivering a bunch of star-eaters!  Twinkle sees them and remembers what happened to her and flies for help!

Stella observes the sun-eaters don’t look too scary, but then they all pile together into one big one.  Oh no!  The minor fairies, unable to fight since the artists haven’t designed transformations for them, back away in fear.

Faragonda and the teachers—Wizgiz appears too—direct the minor fairies to take cover inside.  The Winx transform.  Butterflix time!

Twinkle is impressed.

The girls fight but the giant eater can portal in and out and break apart whenever it wants.  Only Stella’s sun power seems to have any effect!  Then they get an idea: Twinkle lit up with the memory viewer, maybe she can help here!  Stella gives her some power and little Twinkle is just so happy!  She lights up like a sun and the big eater breaks apart into little eaters that all look despondent and flee back through their portal.

Since Twinkle has remembered everything, now she can tell her story!  The girls and Grizelda for some reason meet with the headmistress in her office.

Twinkle is the messenger of Lumenia, on a mission from Queen Doranna(?) to the “most powerful fairies in the magic dimension.”  The stars are in danger!  The eaters are eating their light!  I do like that there’s a reason the Winx are going to be called to save the world again, that Doranna specifically requested them.  

Then there’s… Faragonda tells them this is a delicate mission and to be cautious.  Stella breaks in with, “caution is our middle name!  well, more of a nickname.” Heh.

Then Bloom has an anime moment, she goes to the window and puts her hand up to her reflection, with a serious expression.  Not the kind of moment we usually get in Winx, and I really like it.  “Tomorrow we leave for Lumenia, Queen Doranna can help us understand what’s going on.  This is a mission for the Winx!”

[oopsbirdficced]

kingofthewilds asked: Aight, so! Prompt time! :D Perhaps an Aiacos/Shion 25 and 14; and maybe a Rhada/Sylphide 17 and 21? :O Thanks so much, Bird!! :D

So this is set pre Lost Canvas, during some Holy War before Rhadamanthys goes completely cuckoo and starts killing his own subordinates. :) I guess, be advised for very possessive behavior? It's welcomed, if that helps. Also, tw for suggested euthanasia, and murder and blood and stuff.

17. One is recovering from a wound/illness

21. “They’re wrong about you.”

---

Rhadamanthys stares broodingly at the still, unnaturally quiet form of Sylphid in his bed. He's asleep, and it's strange to see him like that, without the ferocity and animation that characterizes his waking self. He seems vulnerable, and the possessive aspect of Rhadamanthys's soul, the wyvern within him, is both pleased to see that vulnerability and angry about it.

Pleased to see that Sylphid is comfortable enough to sleep, deep and peaceful, in his presence. That he trusts Rhadamanthys to keep him safe.

Angry- nay, enraged- at what landed his Basilisk here, in his care. That some lousy Gold Saint had dared lay hands on that which belongs to Rhadamanthys. Sylphid's lower left leg is broken in three places, but he'd killed the Gold Saint and escaped with the knowledge he'd been sent to procure.

Their Dryad had advised, clinical and emotionless as always, that it might just be easier to kill Sylphid and have him retrieved from the Hall of Awakening. Sylphid had been forced to fight on the broken leg, and the bones had ground and splintered against each other, shredding his muscle within his skin. This Dryad prefers not to waste his healing Cosmo spells on injuries that will take so much time and effort to heal.

They will need a new Dryad come the next Holy War, for Rhadamanthys had torn out his throat and consigned his soul to the Cocytus for suggesting such a treatment. Aiacos will be vexed with him, Dryad is one of his division, but Rhadamanthys doesn't care.

Rhadamanthys calls Cosmo to his hands. He's not the best of healers, but he has had a long time to practice. Still, he's going very slowly with the process. He doesn't want to cripple one of his own. It takes him a while to cudgel his energies into the soothing flow of healing, and then he finally lowers his hands to Sylphid's carefully splinted leg. It takes immense effort and concentration to realign all the tiny splinters of bone, and he's only halfway through the process after a full two hours' session already. Time to try again.

Sweat drips from his brow when he finally surfaces from the trance, bone finally fully set, and Cosmo spurring Sylphid's natural healing at a faster rate. Rhadamanthys's throat is bone dry, and when he looks, a full two candlemarks and half of a third have burned away.

He steps away and cleans himself up, pouring a cup of juice from the pitcher he's had nearby.

Then he realizes Sylphid's eyes are open, watching him through half-lidded eyes. He hastily pours a second cup of juice, and carries it over to Sylphid.

“You should drink,” he says roughly, and Sylphid nods weakly. Rhadamanthys sets the cup down, and slides behind Sylphid, propping him up against his own body, careful not to jostle his leg. Then he takes the cup and holds it gently to Sylphid's lips. Sylphid uses his own shaky hand to guide Rhadamanthys in helping him drink, and once the juice is gone Rhadamanthys cradles him against his chest. Sylphid smiles shakily up at him, the healing leaving him weak as Rhadamanthys's Cosmo within him channels Sylphid's own Cosmo into repairing bone and muscle and flushing toxins from his system.

“You know,” he rasps, and then coughs a bit. Rhadamanthys holds him steady. “They’re wrong about you.” Sylphid says, voice hoarse. Rhadamanthys frowns a little.

“How so?” He asks softly, shifting a lock of sweat-damp white hair from Sylphid's face.

“They say you care the least of all the Generals. But it's the opposite. You care so deeply you can only care for your own division, and no one else.” Sylphid explains.

“I… care for my brothers,” Rhadamanthys objects, but in his heart he knows Sylphid speaks the truth. Minos and Aiacos are the exceptions, not the rule. Sylphid just smiles at him, smugly knowing. Rhadamanthys rolls his eyes, and where he would usually gently cuff Sylphid's ear, he instead eases him back down onto the bed. “Sleep, my Basilisk,” he orders, and Sylphid nods, reaching out to take Rhadamanthys's hand, reining their fingers together. Rhadamanthys nods silently, settling in beside him to guard the currently most vulnerable of his treasures.

[moved-velcr0wn]

Random Drabble prompt thing: Emerald get sent on a business trip by air and turns out Takano has never been on an aeroplane before and figures out he is deathly afraid of flying. Ritsu, who was forced to sit beside him, tries to calm him down. Here ensues the flllluuufff!!! Lmao (you don’t have to use this I’m just running out of nostalgia fics tbh)

Here we go! (Sorry it took me awhile; life happened)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Ricchan! Ricchan!”

“Kisa, what?” Ritsu maneuvered his way deeper into the plane’s tiny aisles. Kisa bounded in front of him, joyfully tiptoeing around other passengers’ ill-placed baggage and sprawling limbs. The two editors were near last to board the plane to Sendai for a manga production conference thanks to someone’s need to buy one more latte before take off. Kisa now sipped from his coffee cup with enthusiasm, a speck of foam caught on his upper lip, not concerned at all that they had almost been separated from their other Emerald coworkers. Ritsu was just relieved that they had even made it to their terminal in time.

“I was wondering which seat you got, because I know we’re all spread out, but I also know Hitori- ah, excuse me, thank you- got assigned his seat next to Mino, so maybe we’ll get to sit together!”

Ritsu has been so preoccupied with not being stranded in the airport that he didn’t even think to check for his seating assignment. He felt around in his laptop shoulder bag for his boarding pass and scanned the paper for those little figures.

“Ricchan, I’m in row 35, the aisle seat! How lucky; I’ve had so much to drink this morning, and you can’t even understand how badly I’ve got to go.”

Ritsu didn’t have any desire to want to understand that, but anyways…

“It says I’m in row 40; sorry, Kisa.” Ritsu had gotten the aisle seat as well, so that was a plus. Kisa looked back at Ritsu with disappointment, still making his way down the aisle to their seats. “That’s just too bad. But who knows, we may share a row on the way back home.” Kisa sent a hopeful grin to his coworker and friend, then turned back to focus on the path his feet were taking.

“Yes, maybe.” Ritsu jostled his laptop bag up farther onto his shoulder. His hands held his boarding pass as he searched the adjacent seats for which row number they were at now. A woman sat in her chair, already buckled in for takeoff with a chubby toddler crawling into her lap, tiny hands grabbing for her hair. Ritsu looked above her at the overhead compartments. It read 33. Just a bit father then.

Kisa finally hit his row and sat down happily next to his temporary neighbor for the next hour or so. The other occupant of row 35, an older man with a large, puffy winter jacket (it was summer for heaven’s sake) bristled at his sudden jovial presence and turned away to scowl out of the plane’s tiny window. Kisa’s eyes widened, and he gingerly waved goodbye to Ritsu, who smiled in encouragement. Just an hour Kisa! Hold on for an hour! An hour wasn’t so bad.

As Ritsu meandered deeper into the plane he searched the rows for his number.

38, 39, 40!

No. No, he could not sit here for an hour. The next sixty minutes would kill him.

“Takano, you’re in my seat.”

Takano’s eyes fluttered open in surprise at the sound of Ritsu’s annoyed voice. The man was leisurely reclined back in Ritsu’s seat, disregarding the fact that all of the chairs would have to be in the upright position before take off. His long legs were spread wide, suit jacket laid across his lap with precise care.

“I don’t think I am.”

Ritsu barely suppressed a shout of anger. He was holding him up! Holding the whole plane up! The brunette showed his boarding pass, still clutched securely in his grasp, to his boss. “I have the aisle seat.”

Takano read over the pass and stood up, scooting over to the other sear. “Your throne awaits, your majesty.”

Ritsu rolled his eyes, sitting down with a huff. He shoved his bag under the chair in front of him and buckled his seatbelt in, glancing over at Takano. There was something off about the way he was sitting. He was tensed up, eyes darting from one thing to another in the cabin. He made eye contact with Ritsu and raised a brow.

“I’m glad you could finally make it. We almost left without you.”

Ritsu straightened his back and shook his head. “Kisa demanded that I go with him to get another coffee from one of the shops. The line was long, and I should have just left, but I didn’t, then we almost missed our boarding time-“

“Hey, it’s fine. You’re here now.”

Ritsu leaned back in his chair. That was true. “Ah, yes. I am.”

“You are.”

Silence fell over the pair.

After many beats of awkwardness, Takano spoke up again. “I didn’t expect this to be so big.”

Ritsu turned to him. “The plane? I think it’s average size for a non-international flight.”

Takano shrugged. “I wouldn’t know. This is my first one.”

“This is your first time on an airplane?”

“I guess so.”

Ritsu couldn’t even comprehend that. His whole life was filled with family trips and school visits and vacations, all of them involving planes.

Ritsu nodded and pulled out an in-air magazine to occupy himself with. He was scanning over the snack selections when Takano spoke up again. “How many of these things crash on average?”

Ritsu closed his magazine and focused on Takano. His fingers were tapping onto the armrest at a rapid pace. His leg bounced up and down and up and down. His eyebrows were pinched together.

Takano was scared of flying.

Ritsu searched his face. His boss, his ex-lover (arguably, current lover) was scared of flying on an airplane.

Ritsu’s voice was soft when he spoke. “It’s extremely rare for one to even have a problem, much less malfunction completely in the air.” Takano searched his eyes for verification. “I promise we won’t crash.”

Takano nodded gently.

The pilot spoke over the intercom about safety and information about the flight and arrival time. A flight attendant stood in the aisle and demonstrated how to attach and detach safety belts, activate life jackets, and exit the aircraft in the occurrence of an emergency. Takano watched with rapt attention. Ritsu couldn’t help the growing feeling of concern for him. He just seemed so vulnerable.

When the plane finally was positioned for takeoff, Takano started up a staccato breathing pattern, his breath jumping at every movement the plane made.

Ritsu’s hands seemed to move on their own as they reached over to pet along Takano’s tense arms. “Hey, it’s okay. It’s just setting up on the runway.” Takano shuddered out another breath and turned to the window. Unshed tears swam in the bottoms of his eyelids. Ritsu’s heart dropped.

Takano’s voice shook when he spoke next. “This is so stupid.” He looked over at Ritsu. “I’m sorry.”

The brunette shook his head to the side and continued consoling Takano with measured strokes. “Don’t be sorry. This is totally normal. Plenty people get nervous on airplanes.”Takano didn’t respond. The plane filled with sounds of whooshing air and whirring machinery. Takano’s hands fisted the armrests, his knuckles white and shivering. Ritsu’s attention went to his hands, tracing lines onto the backs of his fingers. “It’s alright, Takano. Just the engines.”

The plane jerked into motion and propelled itself down the runway. Takano’s unsteady gaze shot to the window to watch the scenery rush by them. “Fuck, we’re going fast.”

“Think of it as a car, just a really fast car in the air, yeah? Um.” Takano’s eyes finally let a tear slip down his cheek, leaving a damp trail behind. Ritsu hates to see him like this. Maybe if he got his mind on something else? “Do you remember the field trip our school took to that chemical plant?” Takano’s distress seemed to slightly drop as he focused on Ritsu’s words. “I hated that trip. I read throughout the whole bus tour, not a care in the world. But you kept pestering me to look out the windows at the nitrogen facility. Of course, I would look ever now and then just to sate you, but. That novel was so good.” Takano’s full attention was on him now. “I’d like to find that book again and reread it.”

“It’s called Wind With No Luck. You, uh. Fell asleep on the ride back, and I read some of it.” One of Takano’s hands unattached itself from its strong grip to wipe at his face. “I thought its language was too frivolous for the subject matter.”

Ritsu smiled at the man. It was working. “Understandable, but I quite enjoyed it. Lovely character setups and an effective use of foreshadowing.”

Takano agreed with a hum. The plane suddenly rose up, taking flight. Takano’s hands reached for Ritsu’s, and of course, Ritsu allowed Takano to take his fingers and intertwine them with his own. How could he not? His grip was bruising, but Ritsu didn’t care. What was more important was Takano right now.

“Try breathing with me,” Ritsu prompted. He took a deep breath in, and let it out slowly, then once again. Takano nodded and followed. Deep breath in, slow exhale. Ritsu smiled at the man. “Good. Really good.”

The pair sat there breathing together as the plane ascended into the sky. Ritsu’s fingers resumed their tracing onto the backs of Takano’s hands. Streams of light flowed in from the window as their plane pierced the clouds and reached the airspace above the horizon.

When the plane seemed to neutralize into a more linear path of travel, the intercom crackled to life above them, the pilot updating the passengers on the flight’s info and informing them that the seatbelt signs would be turned off. Takano seemed to let every ounce of air out of his lungs in a long exhale. Ritsu shifted in his seat. He noticed the person in the seat in front of him stand to roam the plane. The man glared at their intertwined hands and clucked his tongue in disgust. Ritsu stared right back. Who was he to reprimand them? Especially while Takano needed him right now.

Takano’s loosening grip pulled Ritsu‘s attention away from the scowling man and back to Takano. His eyes were dry, eyes affectionate, his lips curled into a loving smile. “Thank you, Onodera.”

Ritsu continued to draw never-ending lines into Takano’s hands. “It’s no problem at all.” Ritsu unconsciously leaned into Takano. Ritsu was so glad he was feeling better.

Takano’s breath was back to normal, and his whole posture was much less tense. The two sat there in peace, neither one detaching their hands from the others’.

Ritsu looked past Takano to peek at the window. The clouds swirled like paint, colored gold with the sun’s beams of light. His attention was drawn to Takano, eyes shut gracefully, and smile adorned.

Maybe this flight wouldn’t be so bad after all.

[prettysei-remade]

graphic design is my passion actually the last time i made a graphic of any kind was when i was like 10 and i have sadly Not magically improved since then rip;; also dont worry the comic sans is ironic im not that awful......or am i 

hey there angels (instead of demons bc ur not demons ur all angels get it haha), it’s me, ya maknae! this is a very looooooong post so buckle in, my pals

AHEM 

exactly this time last year, i was probably laughing and/or crying at the thought of ever having mutuals here, much less having too many to do a proper follow forever in a rush the day before i post it (rip) so becAUSE i ran out of time and would probably give up in the middle, i decided to just talk abt how much i love everyone in the Stream Team gc and also make a shitty graphic so i could bless ur guys’ new years with ot13 and make it seem like i know what i’m doing :) 

ok im gonna get sappy for a sec and then u can all get to the part u actually care about (the part that’s also sappy but directed at specific people) 

my friends!! my loves!!! the bestest people on the planet!!!!! i love you <3<3 you guys are the sweetest, kindest, most understanding, most hilarious group of friends in the world and i’m so fucking lucky to know all of you. you make me laugh,,you make me cry (in a good way),,,,,you make me like myself when i dont feel like it,,,,im so?? blessed??? to have people to talk to and scream abt kpop with and be myself around. i’m more comfortable with u guys than probably anyone else?? like. even irl because 1) i’ll probably never come out, 2) none of my friends know anything abt kpop, and 3) none of my friends are rlly.....aware of the things my brain tells me about myself sometimes. which brings me to the last thing before i start yelling abt u all in alphabetical order: 

thank you guys for being the Good Brains to help out when my Mean Brain gets too mean. 

💙 

@byungjoo 

laura!! idk if u think abt this as often as i do (probably not) but like,, remember before we were friends and we had that ““discussion”” for abt .2 seconds regarding toppdogg going on the unit and then i thought u hated me for a couple weeks and then we became like the most amazing friends?? well reminding you of that is basically my long roundabout way of saying that our friendship is kind of a miracle to me, and i’m so so thankful that you’ve become someone i can trust with anything and not be judged for it :’) you always know what to say and you always make me feel special when we talk and just?? wow...don’t forget me when you become the biggest bts blog in the world......i saw one of your gifsets that had like 5k+ notes and almost shed a tear i was so proud of u.. i love you and thank u for being amazing all the time!! and for introducing me to twice and gfriend aka the most amazing girls!!! and of course....#laurjoo5ever <3

@gipsydangger 

yo jo (that was lame im sry you deserve better) you havent been in the chat for super long but you’re One Of Us and also 1/2 of the Official Ruby-Got-Me-Into-IZ Squad so lots of love for you!! thank you for singing all star with me in an attempt to cleanse our chat of ******** (im just (all)starring out his name so he doesnt find this post and try to eat my heart again), thank you for being so nice and thoughtful and sweet and all the other amazing things youve been already, thank you for giving iz a shot and somehow becoming a fan in like 5 minutes (???amazing) you!! are a rock star!!! wow!!!!!!

@hjjxxn​

ok alex i know you’re not tec h ni c a l ly in the chat but lets be real;;you’re still my Toppklass Queen ;; ur adorable! ur so kind! u work so hard! ur such a sweetheart! forget toppklass queen, u r the queen of my heart 💖 i cant believe we’re both hojoon stans AND yoongi stans it’s like we were meant to be friends or smth idk?? and you got me into winner and sent me the bEST videos of them holy shit im still laughing abt the one where theyre dancing to ‘hello bitches’ jshdkahds and mino’s duck song,,i cri :’( you have the best taste so i’m vv grateful to know you in the first place and! talking to you is super fun even tho we dont do it often <3<3 ilu <3

@itsachocolatecake 

jess <3 our leader,,mother,,,resident Cutie Pie <3<3 i am so fond of you?? you’re loads and loads of fun to talk with and the chat would be so different without u, i’m not even gonna imagine it!! instead im gonna remember how you always cheer me up right away and help me remember whats good about myself and tell me that i’m not alone and give me great ideas for metaphors involving brains (like mental brains not physical brains)!!! our mutualness (mutualism? mutuality?? idk) goes waaay back, like, relatively, so thank you for following me in the first place bc it means we’re friends now !! love you <3 

@kimsanggyum 

kaliiiiiii!! my wonderful fellow scorpio (AHEM i mean what im not a scorpio who said that i’ll fight them) ur super fun and cute and as soon as you joined u fit right in even tho we’re all kind of weird and now you are One Of Us and it’s kind of hard to believe that you havent been since the beginning?? you’re such a cutie and i love love love talking to you and stuff <3 jdkjsldf dog pics are one of the many ways to my heart and your dog is amazing!!! thank you for sharing!!! you are amazing!!! tell canyon monroe i love him (again) and tell him from me to be nice to laura too,,anyway!! love u lots <3 

@lapillity 

melia. you. are. the. best. my text posts never go noteless bc of you :’) you’re honestly truly just the greatest?? not just bc you like my text posts tho, youre genuinely sweet and suuuuper nice like,,i cant say anything bad about any of the Stream Team tbh but MELIA!!1! you would have to murder a man for a not-justifiable reason for me to say anything bad about you :/ i think you are an Angel and you’re so cute??how are u so cute i dont get it :(( thanks for being my friend and also helping me reject that guy that one time,,without you i definitely would’ve screwed things up tbh so seriously!! thank you and i love you <3<3 

@minty-sugar-kpop 

minty i think i should tell u now that whenever i type “rip” on my phone the next suggested word is always “minty” :’) we’re always screaming abt kpop groups together like!! when clap was released u screamed about seventeen with me!!! when i told u i was getting into twice u screamed about twice with me!! when nothing else is happening u scream about toppdogg with me (and the rest of us)!!!! i love that youre as excited about your fave groups as i am about my fave groups because it helps remind me that it’s NOT weird to be really super extremely dedicated to things that make u happy and i still struggle with that sometimes so.... thanks for being you i guess?? also for getting rid of ******** from our chat with the power of ot13 :’)) love you <3<3<3 

@reallyabananya

kat!! my Superhero!!! the lifegiver for minsung stans everywhere;; i am so grateful for literally everything you’ve ever done in your life but specifically 1) translating every. single. one. of minsung’s often long and very complex posts, 2) being my role model for running an update-esque blog! like!! if kat can do everything she does for her blogs and translate stuff and be so efficient at everything, i can do it for my one tiny little blog!!, 3) working so hard but always being so so sweet to everyone and being so amazingly humble all the time and being somebody i admire not only as a blogger but as a person too <3 (wow that was che e s y lol) im love you!! <3 

@saltygot7 

hi kendall! another scorpio wowie!!! of course i say “another” bc i already mentioned how kali is a scorpio,,it’s not because i’m a scorpio. because i’m not haha. anyway. im sorry i let ******** come between us, i know you didn’t mean to create a demon that would eventually possess both you and your phone and try to eat all of our hearts. i know and i’m sorry and i love you!!! i also know that you still think those asks u sent were hilarious but i forgive you bc i know you love me too <3<3 i can’t believe my Ultimate Bias and the true visual of our group loves me!! wow!!! thanks for all your amazing selfies, they always make me smile :’) you rlly know how to cheer everyone up and get us in a happy mood and just,,,thanks for always being your lovely self! love u lots <3 

@sunshinesanggyun 

bella 💕 i love you, i love you, i love you 💕 idk if you know this or not, but you were actually my first tk mutual <3 i remember when i got the notif that you followed me back and i was so excited because this person!! this person with an amazing blog and who i already thought was super cool!! wanted to follow me!!! i still think it’s amazing that you wanted to be my friend but i can’t really say that i “can’t believe it” anymore because i can;;; you’re my friend and i’m your friend and i love you!! i’ll remind you of that every day if i have to. you’re the other 1/2 of the Official Ruby-Got-Me-Into-IZ Squad (along with jovano) and it makes me so happy that you’re a fan now too!!!! you’re just awesone tbh?? you help me with my shitty stuff and i try my best to help you with your shitty stuff and!! you’re one of my best friends!! i’m so so happy and lucky and blessed and thankful to know you! never forget how much i love you forever 💕💕💕 

@toppdoggzz 

jacqueline;; the awesome aunt that’s super nice and who helps people when they’re sad;;(i can’t remember jess’s exact wording but it was True);;;; you’re so cool and amazing and honestly i find it incredible how you’ve been with bts from the beginning!! is that a weird thing to say as a compliment?? shdfsdhkd sorry but sticking with a group from debut is really admirable, especially because bts didnt start out super big but you stayed with em anyway :’) you’re such a star and you reblog my selfies when i ask you to (btw ur tags on my latest selfies had me cryin;;find someone who will compliment you every day like jacqueline complimented my decent-ish selfies;;) and you’re so great to talk with and yeah!! i love u!!!! 

@zombietwink 

isaiah. i hope u believe me when i say, from the very bottom of my heart: you are the Meme to my Internet Connection, the Cherry to my Bomb, the Chanyeol to my.....You. idk. you take my worst text posts that i make at like 3am and add the best things to them and make them Good and i love our convos in the replies of my posts alsjdsfjjs also can i just say?? i’m still not 100% sure what the whole thing is with like the “kin” meme (i get what it is but i dont rlly Get It u know) but literally any mention of it ever reminds me of you :’) it’s actually astounding how many memes make me think of you tbh..anyway, ur very very cute and soft and nice and youve been mutuals with me for a Long Time so thanks for thinking im cool enough to follow!!! and for still following me!!! love you <3 

wow that took a long time but it was worth it!! tho i honestly wouldn’t blame you if you just skipped everything and only read the little section abt you lmao 

well, happy new year! i hope lots of really good, and happy, and lovely, and wonderful things are waiting for you in 2018 ✨✨✨

[elencelebrindal]

Honest Opinion - Wyvern Rhadamanthys

This is a pre-written entry. Due to personal reasons, there is a chance I will not be able to post anything else but the Three Judges. A slight chance, mind you, and maybe only for a week or so, but I wanted to tell you. And now, onto this shady wyvern with too many limbs to be a wyvern.

Also, name change alert! His name in the Italian dub is Radamante, which is basically the same name, but in Italian.

Uhm... there might be some slip ups of me commenting as I went. I normally do that when I write stuff down (and then delete everything), but I am not in the mood to keep an eye out for everything. I’m sorry about that, and hopefully it will just be funnier for you to read. If you see something in these [ ], that’s my commentary. Don’t take it too seriously. 

Overall score (character, not looks): 10/10

You guessed it, I love my goth English gentleman here. I don’t know why, maybe because of all the fanworks around him, but the lone fact of him being a noble English gentleman just... I love it, but at the same time it makes me laugh because this man can crush you to tiny little pieces with his pinky finger.  Anyway, back to the point.

I know he appeared in both the Sanctuary Chapter and the Inferno Chapter, but I will not be splitting this honest opinion like the Bronze Saints. Mostly because he’s the only Specter that really appears in more than one chapter, and I want to keep all the entries similar between them.  So, let’s talk about his first appearance. 

I loved the way he was introduced. Subordinate? Yes. Still demanding people to obey him? Absolutely yes. To me, despite feeling a little frustrated at him for disregarding Pandora’s orders, this described the character as it is.  Later on in the show, we discover that Rhadamanthys is not a calm person. He’s not patient, and he gets violent very quickly (and on a Saint Seiya scale, that’s pretty high). His introduction, with him listening to Pandora but still doing as he pleases, summed him up pretty good. 

And then, we see how powerful he is. There’s a lot of cases of characters who seem intimidating, but then are weak and useless. Rhadamanthys is not one of them.  The “fight”, if we can even call it that, against Aphrodite and Deathmask started off this character completely. Yes, you can argue that those two were weaker than before they died, but I don’t think Pandora would send out the resurrected Saints to kill Athena if they were weak.  Rhadamanthys not only brushed them off like nothing, but he destroyed them with the same exact technique Deathmask tried to use on him. A technique that didn’t work on him.  Again, you can argue that maybe it didn’t work because Rhadamanthys is a Specter and not a normal human being (normal for a Saint standard, not normal normal), but if that was the case why would Deathmask use it on him? So, and I might go a little too much towards him, he has to be damn right powerful.  He is one of the Three Judges of the Underworld, after all. 

Now, with this part... yeah, he was definitely using the barrier around Hades’ castle in hi favor. Because he would never have won against three Gold Saints in their full power and vigor.  Judge or not, no way he would have been able to overpower three Gold Saints. Especially not Milo, Aiolia and Mur together, since they all have different attack and defense techniques. But he played it smart, relied on the barrier, and guess what. He won.  Half an episode later, and BOOM. Three Gold Saints sent straight into the Underworld. Dritti all’Inferno. One way ticket. 

The absolute bullshit of him almost losing against our dear Bronze Saints, though? Yeah, no. They should have all died as soon as he used his Greatest Caution (I am very tired as of writing this, I don’t remember if that’s the actual English name or the original one), but apparently not even a technique like that can kill those four bastards.  I rest my case, they should have died, end of the war because Rhadamanthys would have killed Shun as well.  Well, maybe he could have survived Because of Hades. But still. All dead. 

And this is why I am not taking away points from him. Normally, if a very powerful Saint, or Specter, or whatever loses (or, in this case, almost loses) against a weaker character, i take away some points. But what happened with Rhadamanthys and Pegasus (alongside the energy of his companions? This is too much bullshit already) was so obviously plot driven that I just cannot blame him for that.  This was one of those instances in which you want to yell at the character that’s losing, but you just can’t. Like, physically just can’t. 

But let’s continue.

First of all, his interaction with Lune was good. He didn’t belittle him or anything, on the opposite he got quite concerned upon seeing him like that, in so much distress. And then, of course, his interaction with Kanon.  I loved how quickly he understood the real problem behind Lune freaking out, and honestly I don’t blame him for falling for Kanon’s technique [Fantasma dell’Oscurità, I forgot the English name dammit]. And the way he straight up said “oh, let’d fight later, my boss is more important than you” and teleported away. I just... I know that scene was to be taken seriously, but man it was funny.  It was basically Rhadamanthys saying “you’re not worth my time, hit me up later”, and I loved it. 

And now, we can get into one of the two scenes I loved the most about him. Can you guess it? [Yeah, they can, non hanno un solo neurone come me]

This part right here showed how clever and cautious (get it, ‘cause of the Greatest Caution? I’ll stop now) he is.  This scene was, at least in my opinion, the one that showed us his full potential. It showed us the reason why he is in the position he is. And I know you’re going to say “but insert my name here, it’s obvious that he’s a Judge, look at his mythological counterpart” and you’re right. BUT there is a reason why he is still in the position he is.  Rhadamanthys didn’t blindly trust Orphée [non azzeccherò mai gli accenti su sto nome], but kept his eyes open (quite literally) and didn’t fall for his strategy. Pandora, Minos and Aiacos all fell asleep, but Rhadamanthys? No, he acted carefully, and ended up not only getting rid of Seiya [best part of the show], but also killing Orhpée (through Seiya).  Now that is what I call good work. 

Onward to the next scene on my favorite list (but first let’s talk about what brought him there). First of all, remember when I said that yes he is powerful enough to overthrow [man, i sure hope that’s the right word] both Aphrodite and Deathmask without taking advantage of an outside factor? Well, it makes sense that Kanon got an almost insta-kill on him. Why? Because Kanon is one of the most powerful Saints out there, and Rhadamanthys is not [come si diceva onnipotente in inglese?] almighty.  I liked that he got the shit beaten out of him, because I don’t like characters who always win.  Also, Rhadamanthys getting so angry about the other two Judges cutting in? Brilliant. This character stayed true to his personality from start to finish. 

But let me tell you. The scene that I loved the most about him. The last fight against Kanon. 

His fear was so genuine. Sure, at first he belittled Kanon, laughed at him when he gave up the Cloth and still wanted to fight, but then? As soon as he realized Kanon was not fooling around, and was ready to die just to defeat him, that fear kicked in. Rhadamanthys, despite his rank, despite him technically not being that much alive to begin with, reacted like a proper human being. With pure, unadulterated fear.  He was scared to the point of trying to talk it out with Kanon, dammit. That’s what I liked the most, that’s what truly made him tridimensional and real.  That’s what made him one of my absolute favorite Specters of all time. 

Well, that... and the fact he basically drinks on the job.