#Seoul Capital Area
Explore tagged Tumblr posts
k-star-holic · 2 years ago
Photo
Tumblr media
Jeon Do-yeon ⁇ Jung Kyung-ho, the official couple, has become a real love start..Kim Tae-jung Iron Beads culprit No (Scandal)
Source: k-star-holic.blogspot.com
8 notes · View notes
opencommunion · 8 months ago
Text
this call was released anonymously (understandably) but my local Palestinian organizers who I literally trust with my life have endorsed it, and it seems to be gaining momentum in multiple cities, so I encourage you all to get involved:
"A proposal to coordinate a multi-city economic blockade on April 15th in solidarity with Palestine recently received overwhelming commitments to participate around the US and internationally.
The proposal states that in each city, we will identify and blockade major choke points in the economy, focusing on points of production and circulation with the aim of causing the most economic impact, as did the port shutdowns in recent months in Oakland, California and Melbourne, Australia, as just a few examples.
There is a sense in the streets in this recent and unprecedented movement for Palestine that escalation has become necessary: there is a need to shift from symbolic actions to those that cause pain to the economy.
As Yemen is bombed to secure global trade, and billions of dollars are sent to the Zionist war machine, we must recognize that the global economy is complicit in genocide and together we will coordinate to disrupt and blockade economic logistical hubs and the flow of capital."
ETA: since I posted, organizers in St. Louis, Seoul, Brussels, and the Netherlands have signed onto the agreement, so if you saw this before and your city wasn't listed look again. anyone with the capacity to do some outreach, and a few connections to start with, could take the initiative to bring their city or region on board. read the solidarity agreement and check out the resources, and if you know trustworthy people in your area who might be interested in this sort of thing, talk to them about it.
remember that this isn't a series of protests (although some cities are organizing protests in conjunction), it's a commitment to take mass direct action and to maintain a united front in the face of any state repression. many organizers are (and have already been) using an affinity group model to actually coordinate those direct actions. autonomous groups can take action on April 15th whether or not others in their city/region have committed to this agreement. just do your homework (look up know-your-rights info specific to where you live + general direct action safety tips) and take good care of each other Blockades: a short guide to getting in the way Basic blockading Practical Protest Techniques: using your body Blockading: a guide ACT UP civil disobedience guide
tumblr
5K notes · View notes
mapsontheweb · 8 months ago
Photo
Tumblr media
North Korea and Seoul Capital Area have roughly same population
3K notes · View notes
starrywooyo · 15 days ago
Text
DEAREST: PROLOGUE
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
pairing: ot8! ateez x fem reader
genre: mafia au
!!warnings(per chapter)!! !NONE FOR NOW!
word count: 1.1k
taglist: (lmk if you want removed/added
@scuzmunkie @santineez @yoonshiiu
synopsis: new town, new city, new country again.. will it be permanent this time? the friends you make.. are they honest? relationships? who's telling the truth..? what is the truth.. who should you believe?
notes: eeeeek new series~~ I hope you'll all enjoy this one just as much as you did treasure!! <3 I've not gave anything away in this chapter.. maybe hinted but the first official chapter will be coming soon!! enjoy!! <33
series masterlist | chapter one | main masterlist |
Again..
It's happening again.. Your father got a new line of work so yet again you're moving cities.
Your family is never in one place for too long, you've lived in more countries than you can count. At least this time you're moving to a place you have family in.. seoul. The capital of South korea.. You get to see grandma and grandpa again.. You were just about to start uni here in the states though.. Term in Korea hasn't started yet so your father has enrolled you to start in KQ University.. One of the most prestigious and high end universities in korea..
 You've not been here in the states long so at least you have no friends you need to say goodbye to.. 
 …
Tired, you exit the car when the driver opens the door for you and your mother.. You see the home of your childhood.. Familiarity flooding back to you. It's just outside seoul..the area being popular with mansions and estates yet kept to themselves, Being a mansion the grounds consist of the courtyard.. Garage.. The huge garden in the back and the home being 4 floors tall
“Grandma.. Grandpa!” you call out seeing the elderly couple at the door to welcome you back to the house
“Ah my baby how big you are now.. Come come.. Let's get you settled hmm?”
And you're quickly whisked down familiar halls.. And upstairs on the 3rd floor.
“Here baby you can have this room decorate it however you'd like.. This is your room when you're here and whenever you come to visit.”
You wheel your suitcase in..
“Thank you grandma.. I've missed this.. You and grandpa..”
“We’ve missed you too baby.. “ she tenderly cups your cheek thumb rubbing the chubby skin.. She smiles then makes her way back down the hall.
You look at the room.. It's plain and bare now..no personality yet..  A huge king sized bed rests on one side.. A Huge glass bay window, en-suite, walk in closet, desk, vanity. Just classic bedroom essentials really..
Workers begin bringing your items in boxes from back in the states
Soon the room is filled with boxes letting out a breath you extend your arms cracking your fingers.. 
“Okay~ let's do this..”
6:15pm.. 6 hours later you step back and look at the now decorated room.. 
The duvet on the bed is now your printed one along with the pillows and a few of your plushies rest on the bed.. The vanity is now stocked with all your makeup and skincare supplies and accessories, Closet arranged with your clothes, shoes and bags, en-suite your bathroom essensals and haircare products as well as more skincare and just feminine hygiene stuff.. The desk with books and scrapbooking things.. Your guitar rests beside the desk on its stand.. Some posters adorn the wall.. Different bands and places posters..  Your camera and a few jackets hang on some hooks you've attached to the wall. And you've decorated the bay window as a window seat with cushions and a cosy blanket. 
The room is now your own space. Cracking your neck you exit the room and head downstairs.. You can hear your parents and grandparents talking in the lounge room.
“That boy was a lovely boy..”
“Yes.. the Jeongs are very respectful, we've been friends with them for a while.. y/n will attend KQ right? He’ll definitely take care of her..”
“Oh yes, I hope so.. It was lovely to meet him and his grandparents..”
You can kind of hear muffled through the door.. You slide it open.
“What's this about?” you ask..
“Oh honey come.. Sit  dinner is being prepared.. And nothing you need to worry about just the Jeongs came over to briefly visit your grandparents and greet us.. You'll be attending the same university as their grandson..”
“Oh.. does he live in one of the estates nearby?” you sit.
“Oh no.. Yunho lives in an estate with his friends, they're all such lovely boys. They all go to the university.. Always so proper.. Not drinking or taking drugs.. On the right side of the law.. Not like some of the boys that go to KQ..goodness the things some of those boys get up to.. The Girls too.. Their parents would be ashamed..”
… 
Soon the first day of uni rolls around, you get up in the morning and do your skincare and makeup routine, do your hair and then get your outfit sorted.. It's autumn so you go with jeans, converse and a sweater/jumper of some sort, still stylish and you get your bag.
You eat a quick and light breakfast and a driver drives you to the university dropping you off on the campus.. All the uni societies are out at their little tables trying to get new members.. You pass them for now and enter the main building heading to the front desk to get your class schedule..in the hall your gaze catches a group of boys looking at you..watching. They then talk and laugh amongst themselves.. You frown and focus on the receptionist who passes you your schedule and the directions to the first lecture hall on your sheet but then she stops.. 
“Ah hold on dear.. MR. JEONG! Could you come over here please..?” the receptionist calls.. 
The group quietly laughs at him and shoves him forwards.. He looks to the floor and kinda scratches the back of his neck.
“Yes, miss?” he says..
“Can you show Miss Lee around campus and to her first lecture hall? You can do that right?”
He sighs..
“Sure thing Miss.” he gestures for me to follow him.
“Can I see your schedule?” you pass him the piece of paper.. 
He's a handsome man that's for sure.. And damn he's tall..wow.. Bet he's popular with the girls.. He screams boyfriend material-
“Hmm.. homeroom first.. you're in luck im in the same one. You’re Mr and Mrs lee's granddaughter right?”
“Hmm? Oh yeah.. Ahaha that's me.” you snap out of it
He holds out his hand.
“Jeong Yunho. My grandparents and family are friends of yours.”
Oooh so he's the Jeong's grandson..
You take his hand.. 
“It’s Nice to meet you..” 
“Likewise.. You have a free class after homeroom so I'll give you a tour after, let's get you to the hall first huh?”  
He leads you through the campus to the building where the homeroom lecture hall was.  And the both of you enter the hall.. Its still pretty much empty apart from a few students and.. Some of the boys from earlier.. 
“Hey yun!! Whos your pretty friend~”
Yunho sighs.
“That's just wooyoung. He's my cousin, just ignore him. He’ll smooth talk anything on two legs regardless..”
“Hey!!”
Oh.. this is gonna be a long year…
80 notes · View notes
jmdbjk · 1 year ago
Text
BTS Military enlistment thoughts...
These are my thoughts and opinions. Information is out there if you seek it yourself. Nothing has been confirmed by any of the members or the company.
News media says Korean male citizens Kim Namjoon, Kim Taehyung, Park Jimin and Jeon Jungkook will be enlisting soon: Dec. 11 for the first two and Dec. 12 for the latter pair.
And that Jimin and Jungkook seem to have chosen the companion enlistment option. Yes, "option" because they could have chosen to go in separately.
Koreans who are familiar with how this all works, have tried to explain the process. From what I understand, the companion option allows them to serve their entire enlistment together.
They weren't forced and this wasn't their only option for enlistment. They chose this themselves for a reason, for personal reasons, that none of us can know because we aren't them.
Many speculate but NO ONE KNOWS their reasons!
According to various sources, they will be at the same training center as Jin. There are many groups doing ongoing training there. But I don't believe they will be in the same company that Jin serves as assistant trainer. Credible sources say that Jin's unit at the training center is not accepting recruits on Dec. 12 which is the supposed date that Jimin and Jungkook will enter the military but we don't know for sure. But being at the same training center would allow them to see each other when they have time.
This reunion:
Tumblr media
We won't know for sure until it actually happens.
Many are throwing around wild speculation regarding the fact Jimin and Jungkook are the only two with tattoos and therefore had fewer options. But they aren't. All the members have tattoos now. The Korean military needs all the manpower they can get, they aren't excluding men with tattoos, they are just limiting the situations they can serve.
The options are limited (and only slightly) for them because very visible tattoos, especially on the arms and hands, would allow them to be identified too easily. This is a consideration and criteria that is regulated in militaries and law enforcement around the world and is not isolated to Korea. Criminals are identified by their tattoos. Military personnel can also be identified by visible tattoos. In a situation where it is imperative that enlisted remain anonymous, hand tattoos would be a dead giveaway for identification. I'm sure there are other reasons for no tattoos allowed in certain assignments.
The application process began months ago and is the same process all Korean male citizens would go through to be approved for the companion program.
No one is really discussing Tae and Namjoon, everyone is going batshit crazy over Jimin and Jungkook. Let them do their service in the manner they wish. None of you have any say-so in it so shut up.
No one is capable of or even wants to step back and consider the big picture which is more telling.
Regarding Tae and Namjoon, I would venture to say that after basic training, its possible Namjoon will serve in some capacity with the Defense Ministry's Agency for KIA Recovery & Identification which he was named ambassador for earlier this year. That office is located in Seoul I believe. The fact he is well-known publicly and he can speak English would enhance his success in an assignment of this sort. This agency recovers those who lost their lives in action during the Korean War in which American soldiers also perished.
Recovering those KIA happens near or in the DMZ.
IF the hearsay about where Jimin and Jungkook might be assigned after training has any truth, they are supposedly headed to this area as they also perform minesweeping when searching for KIA remains. Again, none of this is confirmed, I am just employing critical thinking...
Tae supposedly has chosen the Special Task Force of the Army's Capital Defense Command. That seems like it implies he'll remain within Seoul during his enlistment.
It's all speculation, but I think these men carefully considered their options and the ramifications. None of this was done on a whim, from Namjoon's ambassadorship and the possibilities of it, to Jimin and Jungkook's companion enlistment and why they chose that option, NONE OF IT WAS DONE WITHOUT CAREFUL CONSIDERATION. They had to apply MONTHS ago for the options they were allowed to choose. They are not the only men in Korea enlisting this year, there are tens of thousands of others.
No one is considering, IF Namjoon is in Seoul during his enlistment, he would have something in common with Tae. And Yoongi. And Jin will be discharged in June, Hobi will be discharged in October... the implications, the connections... their target is 2025. Nothing is a coincidence. They can't be working while enlisted, however reuniting briefly with friends over dinner and drinks is allowed... what they talk about during their get togethers is none of our business.
ALL THAT BEING SAID... Hybe did a tremendous job this past summer with the 10th anniversary Festa celebration, involving various municipality governments, procuring large corporate sponsors and communicating to news media in the almost month long series of events. They elevated the general public's awareness of BTS's impact and therefore instilled value and pride for their continued success.
No military commander would want anything to happen to the members while under their watch.
NOTHING IS A COINCIDENCE.
P.S.: The idiots sending in emails to the Defense Ministry are hurting EVERYONE. The level of lunacy knows no bounds with certain people. They suffer from a pathological psychosis. Don't engage, don't acknowledge.
222 notes · View notes
writingforstraykids · 6 months ago
Text
Whispers of the Moon - Birthday Special
Pairing: Minchan (short mention of Felix / very short mention of the other boys)
Word Count: 6325
Summary: In the heart of Seoul, beneath the gleaming skyscrapers and ancient palaces, lies a hidden world of magic and mystery. Chan, a gifted healer, and Minho, a shapeshifter hiding as a sleek black cat, find their destinies intertwined in this enchanting underworld...
Warnings/Tags: magical!au, shapeshifter!minho, healer!chan, angst, fluff, strangers to lovers
A/N: The happiest birthday to my dear unnie @zehina. I actually went all nerdy and wrote loads about the world as well since I know you love it (and included the rest of the boys that way hehe). I hope you like it, love🖤
Tumblr media
Seoul, South Korea's bustling capital, is known for its towering skyscrapers, historic palaces, and vibrant street markets. It is a city where ancient traditions and cutting-edge technology coexist in harmony. However, beneath its well-lit streets and modern facades lies a hidden realm—a magical underworld known only to a selected few. This subterranean world, rich with history and mystery, operates parallel to the everyday life of Seoul's residents, governed by its own rules and inhabited by beings from myth and legend.
The gateway to Seoul's magical underworld is not a grand archway or a secret door; it is a modest, unassuming teahouse in the bustling district of Insadong. The teahouse, known as "Moonlit Haven," has been in operation for centuries and has been passed down through generations of the same family. Its wooden exterior and traditional hanok architecture blend seamlessly with the area's historic atmosphere.
To the ungifted human, Moonlit Haven appears to be an ordinary teahouse serving fragrant teas and traditional Korean sweets. However, those who know the secret can access the portal to the underworld by ordering a special tea called "Moon's Whisper." Upon drinking this tea, a shimmering door appears at the back of the teahouse, leading to a stone staircase that descends deep into the earth.
The staircase spirals downward, lit by glowing blue lanterns that float in mid-air. The walls are adorned with intricate carvings depicting scenes with magical creatures: the nine-tailed fox, the dragon king, and the heavenly warriors. As one descends, the air grows cooler and tinged with a faint scent of jasmine and pine.
At the bottom of the staircase, a grand archway looms, its surface covered in glowing runes. This is the true entrance to Seoul's magical underworld, a threshold between the mundane and the extraordinary. Stepping through the archway, one is immediately enveloped in a world unlike any other.
The magical underworld of Seoul, known as Secret City, is a sprawling subterranean metropolis that mirrors the city above but with its own unique twist. The sky here is an eternal twilight, illuminated by floating orbs that mimic the phases of the moon. Streets are paved with luminescent stones, and buildings are constructed from materials that shimmer with an inner light.
Secret City is divided into several districts, each with its own distinct character. There is the Enchanted Market, where vendors sell potions, enchanted artifacts, and rare ingredients. The Celestial District is home to beings of great power, including dragons and celestial foxes. The Whispering Woods, a dense forest of silver trees, is said to be haunted by spirits and home to elusive forest guardians.
The residents of Secret City are as diverse as the city itself. Humans with magical abilities live alongside mythical creatures. Among them are the Gumiho, nine-tailed foxes who can shapeshift and possess immense magical power. There are also Dokkaebi, goblins, mischievous but generally benign beings who love to play tricks on humans. Dragons, both Eastern and Western varieties, make their homes in the Celestial District, guarding ancient secrets and treasures.
The city's governance is overseen by a council of elders, composed of representatives from each major group. The council ensures harmony between the various inhabitants and that the secrets of Secret City are kept from the surface world, which is why any sort of magic is forbidden in the mundane world. 
The Enchanted Market is the heart of Secret City, a bustling bazaar where the air is filled with the scent of exotic spices and the sound of lively discussions. Stalls line the streets, their wares illuminated by lanterns that float overhead. Vendors shout out their goods, from enchanted scrolls and rare herbs to mystical artifacts and talismans.
One of the most renowned vendors in the market is Master Hyun, a potions master whose shop, "Elixirs of Eternity," is a treasure trove of magical concoctions. Shelves upon shelves are filled with bottles of all shapes and sizes, each containing liquids that shimmer with otherworldly light. Master Hyun is a man of twinkling eyes and ethereal beauty, always ready with a story about the origins of his potions.
One of his most sought-after potions is the "Dream Weaver," which allows the drinker to enter the dreams of others. Another popular item is the "Phoenix Tear," a potion that can heal any wound or ailment. Master Hyun's potions are known for their potency and reliability, making his shop a favorite among both the magical and non-magical residents of Secret City.
Another notable figure in the Enchanted Market is Ji-Sung, an artifact dealer whose collection is the envy of many. His shop, "Treasures of Time," is filled with rare and powerful artifacts from across the ages. Among his prized possessions are a mirror that shows the true nature of any being, a fan that can summon the wind and a sword that can cut through any material.
Ji-Sung is a mysterious figure, always dressed in elaborate silk robes and adorned with jewelry that seems to pulse with magic. He is known for his keen eye and sharp wit, and it is said that he never forgets a face. His shop is a place of wonder and danger, for while many seek his artifacts for their power, they often come with a price that is not measured in gold.
The Celestial District is home to some of the most powerful beings in Secret City. Dragons, with their majestic forms and ancient wisdom, reside here in grand palaces that float above the ground. These palaces, constructed from crystal and gold, radiate a light that can be seen from anywhere in the city.
Each dragon in the Celestial District guards a specific aspect of magic or nature. There is Aran, the dragon of water, whose palace is surrounded by a moat of liquid silver. There is Seraphine, the dragon of fire, whose abode is perpetually surrounded by a ring of flames. These dragons are both protectors and advisors, and their counsel is sought by the council of elders and other residents of Secret City.
Sharing the Celestial District with the dragons are the Gumiho, or nine-tailed foxes. These beings are both feared and respected for their immense magical power and their ability to shape-shift into beautiful women or men. The Gumiho live in harmony with the dragons, their abilities complementing the dragons' strength and wisdom.
The leader of the Gumiho is Jeongin, a fox spirit with silver fur and piercing dark eyes. Jeongin is known for his grace and intelligence, often acting as a mediator in disputes and a strategist in times of conflict. His palace, the Silver Moon Pavilion, is a place of beauty and tranquility, where the moonlight dances on the surface of a crystal-clear lake.
The Whispering Woods is a dense forest of silver trees, their leaves shimmering like moonlight. The woods are said to be haunted, with whispers echoing through the trees that speak of forgotten secrets and ancient magic. The path through the forest is winding and treacherous, known only to a few who dare to venture into its depths.
The Whispering Woods are guarded by forest spirits, ethereal beings who protect the ancient magic within the trees. These spirits, known as the Guardians, are invisible to most and reveal themselves only to those they deem worthy. They are led by Elder Bin, a spirit of great wisdom and power who has watched over the woods for centuries.
The Guardians are both protectors and guides, aiding those who seek knowledge or refuge in the woods. They are also the keepers of the Sacred Grove, a hidden sanctuary where the most potent magical energies converge. The Sacred Grove is a place of healing and renewal, its waters said to grant visions and its flowers capable of curing any illness.
Among the trees dwell the Spirits of the Lost, souls who have wandered into the woods and never found their way out. These spirits are not dangerous but rather sorrowful, seeking closure or redemption. They often appear as faint, glowing figures, their presence marked by a sudden chill in the air.
The Spirits of the Lost are guided by Lix, a gentle and compassionate spirit who helps them find peace. Lix is a beacon of light in the darkness of the woods, his soothing voice and kind heart offering comfort to those who have lost their way. Under his guidance, many spirits have found the closure they seek and moved on to the afterlife.
Scattered throughout Secret City are hidden temples dedicated to various deities and elemental forces. These temples are places of worship and power where the faithful come to seek blessings and guidance. Each temple is unique, reflecting the nature of the deity or force it honors.
One of the most revered temples in Secret City is the Temple of the Moon, a place of serene beauty and quiet reflection. The temple is built from white marble, its domed roof adorned with silver filigree that glows softly in the moonlight. Inside, a large pool of water reflects the light of the floating orbs above, creating an ethereal ambiance.
The Temple of the Moon is dedicated to the moon goddess, Haneul, who is believed to watch over Secret City from the skies. The temple is tended by a group of priests known as the Moon Brothers, who perform rituals and offer prayers on behalf of the city's residents. The head priest, Brother Seungmin, is a wise and gentle leader, his presence bringing a sense of peace and tranquility to all who visit the temple.
Another secret society is the Shadow Blades, a group of elite warriors and assassins who protect Secret City. They are skilled in martial arts and magic, and their training is rigorous and demanding. The Shadow Blades operate from the Shadowsong Keep, a hidden fortress deep within the Whispering Woods.
Commander Ji-Won is the leader of the Shadow Blades, a formidable warrior known for being both ruthless and just. Under his command, the Shadow Blades carry out missions to protect Secret City from external threats and internal strife. They are the unseen guardians of the city, their presence felt but rarely seen. Minho is one of them, slowly working his way up the ranks but facing struggles with his colleagues. He’s not as powerful with magic as most of them but has the ability to shapeshift into a cat, making him perfect for secret missions. Which pissed a lot of people off. 
Throughout its history, Secret City has been protected by heroes who have risen to defend the city against threats, both internal and external. These heroes, known as the Chosen Ones, are individuals of great courage and power, often possessing unique abilities that set them apart from others.
No hero is complete without a healer, and in Secret City, that role is filled by Chan, a gifted healer whose touch can mend even the gravest of wounds. Chan is a member of the Temple of the Moon, his gentle nature and healing magic bringing comfort and hope to those in need. He carries a staff, the Moon's Grace, which enhances his healing abilities and allows him to channel the power of the moon goddess.
Seoul's magical underworld, Secret City, is a place of wonder, danger, and beauty. It is a city where the mundane and the extraordinary coexist, where ancient myths come to life, and where the balance between light and dark is constantly maintained. The residents of Secret City, both human and mythical, live in harmony, their lives intertwined by the magic that permeates their world.
As the gateway between the two realms, Moonlit Haven reminds visitors that there is more to Seoul than meets the eye. For those who dare to seek it, a world of magic and mystery awaits, hidden beneath the bustling streets and modern skyscrapers of South Korea's capital. In Secret City, the impossible becomes possible, and the ordinary becomes extraordinary—a true testament to the enduring power of magic.
-
Minho had always been different. As a member of the Shadow Blades, the elite warriors and protectors of Secret City, his abilities made him a target of both admiration and envy. Unlike many of his comrades, he lacked powerful magic but possessed a unique talent: the ability to shapeshift into a sleek, agile cat. This ability made him invaluable for espionage, slipping unnoticed through shadows and tight spaces. However, his success and the recognition it brought only fueled the resentment of his peers.
The tension reached its peak after a particularly challenging mission. Minho had been instrumental in retrieving a stolen artifact from a rogue mage, but his success was met with scorn rather than praise. Whispers of jealousy and accusations of favoritism swirled among his colleagues, resulting in an unjust decision by his superior officers. They accused him of withholding information and acting independently, charges that were untrue but impossible for Minho to refute without pushing himself even further away.
"You think you're special because of your abilities," spat one of his fellow warriors. "But you're just a liability. We don't need someone who can't follow orders."
The decision was swift and brutal. Minho was stripped of his rank and cast out from the Shadowsong Keep. The sense of betrayal cut deeper than any blade. He was alone, exiled from the only family he had known, forced to fend for himself in the vast, mystical underworld of Secret City.
With nowhere else to turn, Minho fled through the Whispering Woods, a dense forest known for its haunting beauty and perilous magic. The silver leaves of the trees shimmered in the eternal twilight, casting an eerie glow on the winding paths. Here, the whispers of ancient secrets and lost souls filled the air, a symphony of sorrow and mystery.
Exhausted and wounded from his escape, Minho made a desperate decision. He transformed into his cat form, hoping the change would allow him to navigate the forest more easily and evade any pursuers. The transformation was both a relief and a curse, offering him agility and stealth but stripping him of his human voice and hands.
As a cat, Minho's senses were heightened. He could hear the rustle of leaves, the distant calls of nocturnal creatures, and the soft murmurs of the forest spirits. His fur provided some protection against the chill, but the pain of his injuries persisted. Despite his resilience, the journey through the Whispering Woods was grueling, each step a struggle against fatigue and despair.
Lix found him curled up beneath a tree and noticing his injuries he knew there was only one way to save him. He scooped him up from the ground and soothingly caressed his head, able to tell there was more to him than just an innocent, hurt cat.
After days of wandering, they finally reached the Temple of the Moon, a place of serene beauty and powerful magic. The temple, constructed from white marble and adorned with silver filigree, stood as a beacon of hope amidst the dark woods. Its domed roof glowed softly, reflecting the light of the floating orbs above. Lix set him down on the ground and gently shoved him forward. “I’m not allowed to enter, but you are, little friend. Go and accept the refuge they have to provide.”
Minho hesitated at the entrance, his feline instincts wary of the unknown. He had heard of the temple's head healer, Chan, a gifted young man whose touch could mend even the gravest of wounds. Desperation outweighed caution, and Minho limped into the courtyard, collapsing near the temple steps.
Moments later, a figure emerged from the temple. Chan, carrying a staff that radiated a gentle light, approached the injured cat. His eyes widened in surprise at the sight of the wounded animal, but his expression quickly softened into one of compassion.
"Poor thing," Chan murmured, kneeling beside Minho. "Let's get you inside."
Chan carefully lifted Minho and carried him into the temple. The interior was as serene as the exterior, with moonlight streaming through stained glass windows, casting colorful patterns on the marble floor. Chan placed Minho on a soft cushion and gently examined his injuries.
"You're in bad shape, but we'll get you fixed up," Chan said soothingly. He placed his hands over Minho's wounds, and a warm, healing light emanated from his palms. The pain began to fade, replaced by a soothing sensation that spread through Minho's body.
As the healing progressed, Minho watched Chan with a mixture of gratitude and curiosity. Chan's touch was gentle, his expression focused yet kind. There was something inherently calming about him, a presence that put Minho at ease despite his recent ordeal.
When Chan finished, he sat back and smiled. "There you go, little one. You should feel better soon."
Minho meowed softly in response, his eyes conveying the gratitude he couldn't express in words. Chan chuckled and scratched behind Minho's ears. "You can stay here as long as you need to. I'll take care of you."
Days turned into weeks as Minho recovered under Chan's care. He adapted to his new life at the Temple of the Moon, observing the daily routines and rituals from the shadows. In his cat form, Minho found a strange sense of peace. He was safe from his past and had a chance to start anew.
Chan grew fond of the cat he had rescued, naming him "Moonshadow" for his sleek, dark fur and the way he seemed to blend into the twilight. Minho, in turn, became Chan's silent guardian, following him around the temple and offering companionship.
Whenever Chan was away, Minho would revert to his human form, cleaning the temple and performing small tasks to help ease his guilt for deceiving him. He hoped that his actions would repay some of the kindness Chan had shown him, even if Chan never knew the truth.
Chan, however, began to notice the small changes around the temple. Rooms were tidier, supplies were replenished, and the garden seemed to flourish under an unseen hand. He attributed these miracles to the blessings of the moon goddess, unaware of the true source.
Five months later
In the eternal twilight of Secret City, the Temple of the Moon was a sanctuary of tranquility and magic. Within its serene confines, Chan sat cross-legged on a plush cushion, his gentle eyes scanning the pages of an ancient tome. The moonlight streaming through the stained glass windows cast a colorful, ethereal glow around him, creating an atmosphere of peace and contemplation.
Beside him, Minho, in his cat form, stretched lazily, his sleek black fur shimmering in the soft light. As he yawned and settled into a more comfortable position, his eyes never left Chan. There was a bond between them that went beyond mere companionship—a connection forged through trials and a deep mutual understanding.
Chan noticed Minho’s gaze and smiled warmly. “Hey there, Moonshadow,” he said softly. “Come here.”
Minho’s ears perked up at the sound of Chan’s voice. With a graceful leap, he landed beside Chan and began to nuzzle his head against Chan’s outstretched hand. Chan’s fingers moved instinctively to scratch behind Minho’s ears, a spot that always made the cat purr contentedly.
“There we go,” Chan murmured, his voice soothing and gentle. He could feel the vibrations of Minho’s purrs under his fingertips, a rhythmic reminder of the trust and affection between them.
Minho closed his eyes, leaning into Chan’s touch. The sensation of Chan’s fingers running through his fur was blissful, and his purring grew louder, filling the quiet room with its soothing sound. It was moments like these that made all the hardships and uncertainties of their lives seem distant and unimportant.
Chan chuckled softly. “You’re really enjoying this, aren’t you?”
In response, Minho rubbed his head against Chan’s cheek, a gesture of affection that made Chan’s heart swell with warmth. The simple act of being close to Chan brought Minho a sense of security and happiness he had never thought possible before meeting him.
“You’re such a sweet kitty,” Chan whispered, continuing to scratch Minho’s head and under his chin. Minho’s purrs grew even louder, and he started to knead Chan’s chest with his paws, his claws retracting just enough to avoid scratching the fabric of Chan’s robe.
Chan shifted slightly, leaning back against the cushions and creating a more comfortable space for both of them. Minho took this as an invitation and climbed onto Chan’s chest, circling a few times before curling up in a tight ball. His tail wrapped around his body, and he rested his head on his paws, looking up at Chan with half-closed eyes.
“You look so peaceful,” Chan said, his voice barely above a whisper. He rested one hand gently on Minho’s back, feeling the steady rise and fall of his breathing. “I’m glad you’re here with me.”
Minho’s eyes closed fully, and he let out a contented sigh. The warmth of Chan’s body, combined with the rhythmic motion of his hand on his back, lulled him into a state of deep relaxation. His purring continued, a soft, steady sound that seemed to resonate with the very essence of the temple.
For Chan, having Minho close was a source of immense comfort. The bond they shared went beyond that of a healer and his pet; it was a connection of souls, a partnership forged over time. Chan found solace in Minho’s presence, a sense of completeness that he had never experienced before.
As the minutes passed, the tranquility of the moment deepened. Chan’s thoughts drifted, the worries of the day fading into the background. All that mattered was the gentle weight of Minho on his chest, the soothing sound of his purrs, and the warmth of their shared affection.
Minho, on the verge of sleep, shifted slightly and nuzzled his head against Chan’s chest. He felt safe, cherished, and loved—a stark contrast to the loneliness and betrayal he had once known. In this sacred space, with Chan’s heartbeat as his lullaby, Minho found a peace that transcended the physical realm.
Chan continued to stroke Minho’s fur, his touch light and tender. He could feel the trust dripping from the small creature in his arms, a trust that was both humbling and empowering. Chan knew that, no matter what challenges lay ahead, they would face them together, their bond unbreakable.
“I promise to always take care of you,” Chan whispered, his voice filled with emotion. 
Minho’s purring intensified for a moment, as if acknowledging Chan’s words. Then, gradually, it began to fade as sleep overtook him. His body relaxed completely, his breathing slow and steady. Chan watched him with a soft smile, his own heart filled with a profound sense of gratitude and love.
The Temple of the Moon, with its timeless beauty and serene atmosphere, bore witness to the deep connection between Chan and Minho. In this sacred place, under the watchful gaze of the moon goddess, they found a moment of perfect harmony—a testament to the enduring power of love and trust in a world filled with magic and mystery.
As Chan closed his eyes, his hand resting gently on Minho’s sleeping form, he knew that their journey together was far from over. But in this moment, they had everything they needed: each other. And that was enough.
-
One evening, as Chan prepared for his nightly prayers, he looked at Moonshadow, who was curled up on a cushion nearby. "You know, sometimes I feel like there's more to you than meets the eye," Chan mused aloud. "You're special, aren't you?"
Minho's ears perked up, and he watched Chan with wide, curious eyes. Chan smiled and continued, "I think the goddess sent you to me for a reason. Maybe you're my familiar, a guardian spirit to protect and guide me."
The words struck a chord in Minho's heart. He had always felt a deep connection to Chan, a sense of duty and protectiveness that went beyond mere gratitude. Perhaps there was truth in Chan's words, a destiny that had brought them together.
That night, Chan performed a ritual to bind Moonshadow as his familiar. He drew intricate symbols on the ground, lit candles, and recited ancient incantations. As the ritual reached its climax, a surge of magical energy enveloped Minho, strengthening the bond between them.
Minho felt a profound shift within him, a merging of their spirits that filled him with newfound purpose. He was now bound to Chan, his protector and companion, their fates intertwined by the magic of the moon.
-
As Chan's familiar, Minho took his duties seriously. He remained vigilant, always on the lookout for potential threats. His heightened senses allowed him to detect dangers before they could reach Chan, and his presence provided comfort and reassurance.
One day, trouble arrived in the form of dark mages seeking to disrupt the balance of magic in Secret City. These mages, practitioners of forbidden magic, targeted the Temple of the Moon, believing its powerful magic could be harnessed for their nefarious purposes.
Chan was in the garden when the attack began. Dark figures emerged from the shadows, casting spells that warped the air and sent tremors through the ground. Chan's staff glowed as he raised a protective barrier, but the dark mages' assault was relentless.
Minho, sensing the danger, leapt into action. He transformed into his human form, his body a blur of motion as he intercepted the attackers. With a combination of agility and ferocity, Minho fought off the dark mages, his cat-like reflexes and strength giving him an edge.
Chan, focused on maintaining the barrier, was unaware of the true identity of his savior. He glanced over in shock as he saw a young man fighting with the grace and power of a guardian beast.
Despite his best efforts to hide his true nature, Minho's ears were visible, a telltale sign of his shapeshifter abilities. As the last of the dark mages fled, Chan lowered the barrier and approached Minho cautiously.
"Who are you?" Chan asked, his voice a mix of awe and confusion. Their eyes met and Chan’s eyes widened recognizing those soft brown orbs he’d come to love so much. His eyes wandered up where Minho’s dark cat ears peaked from his messy brown hair. "Are you... Moonshadow?"
Minho hesitated, then nodded slowly. "Yes, I am. My name is Minho. I'm a shapeshifter, exiled from the Shadowsong Keep. I've been living here in my cat form, afraid you would kick me out if you knew the truth. I know we aren’t very welcomed around here.”
Chan's expression softened, and he reached out to touch Minho's shoulder. "You protected me, Minho. You've been by my side all this time, helping and watching over me. I don't care about your past or your abilities. You are my familiar, and I am grateful for everything you've done."
Tears welled up in Minho's eyes, a mix of relief and gratitude flooding his heart. "Thank you, Chan. I promise to always protect you, no matter what."
-
Minho’s revelation had lifted a weight off his chest, but it also left him feeling vulnerable. Living as a shapeshifter meant hiding his true self, something he’d grown accustomed to. Yet, in front of Chan, he was completely exposed. For Chan, the revelation was a mix of shock and intrigue. The gentle healer had always felt a special bond with Moonshadow, but knowing that the affectionate cat was also a brave young man named Minho deepened that connection.
Their daily routines continued, but with a newfound understanding. Minho still shifted into his cat form, now more out of comfort than necessity. He still enjoyed curling up on Chan’s chest, feeling his rhythmic breathing and the warmth of his body. Chan, on his part, welcomed Minho’s human presence when he transformed, appreciating the help around the temple and the companionship Minho offered.
The first night after Minho’s revelation, Chan found it hard to sleep. He kept glancing at Minho, now in his human form, tidying up the temple’s main hall. The moonlight filtered through the stained glass windows, casting a soft glow on Minho’s face. He moved gracefully, his actions efficient and almost mesmerizing to watch. Chan felt a strange flutter in his chest, a mix of admiration and affection.
“Minho,” Chan called softly, his voice breaking the comfortable silence.
Minho turned, his eyes reflecting the moonlight. “Yes, Chan?”
Chan hesitated, then smiled. “You don’t have to push yourself so hard. Come sit with me.”
Minho’s expression softened, and he abandoned the broom he was holding, walking over to where Chan sat. He settled down beside him, their shoulders almost touching. There was a quiet intimacy in the moment, a shared silence that spoke volumes.
“I never thought I’d find someone like you,” Chan admitted quietly. “Someone who understands and accepts me for who I am.”
Minho looked at him, his eyes sincere. “I feel the same way. You’ve given me a place to belong, Chan. For that, I’m grateful.”
They sat in silence for a while, the bond between them growing stronger with each passing moment. Chan’s hand moved almost instinctively, reaching out to hold Minho’s. Minho’s fingers intertwined with his, the simple touch sending a warm feeling through both of them.
-
As days turned into weeks, the relationship between Chan and Minho deepened. They developed a rhythm, a balance of shared tasks and quiet moments of companionship. Minho’s presence brought a sense of stability to Chan’s life, while Chan’s gentle nature provided Minho with a sense of peace he had never known before.
Chan’s duties as a healer often took him to various parts of Secret City. Minho, always in his cat form, accompanied him, providing silent support. He became Chan’s shadow, always alert and ready to protect him if necessary. Their bond as familiar and master was strong, but it was the bond of friendship and growing affection that truly defined their relationship.
One afternoon, while Chan was tending to a patient in the Celestial District, Minho, in his cat form, explored the area. The dragons and celestial foxes were impressive, their majestic forms and ancient wisdom evident in every interaction. Minho’s keen senses picked up the subtle undercurrents of power and respect that flowed through the district.
As Chan finished his work, he called out for Minho. The sleek black cat appeared almost instantly, weaving through the crowd with ease. Chan smiled as he picked Minho up, cradling him gently.
“You always know where to find me,” Chan said, scratching behind Minho’s ears. Minho purred in response, nuzzling against Chan’s cheek.
Their return to the temple was peaceful, the twilight sky casting a serene glow over Secret City. Minho transformed back into his human form once they were inside, stretching his limbs as he did so.
“Another successful day,” Chan remarked, setting down his staff.
Minho nodded. “You’re an amazing healer, Chan. The way you help people… it’s inspiring.”
Chan’s cheeks flushed slightly at the compliment. “Thank you, Minho. But I couldn’t do it without your support.”
Minho’s heart swelled at the words. He was finding it harder to keep his feelings for Chan hidden. The healer’s kindness, dedication, and the way he made Minho feel valued and appreciated—it was all becoming too much to ignore.
Their bond grew stronger with each passing day, but so did Minho’s feelings for Chan. He found himself drawn to the healer in ways he hadn’t expected. Chan’s smile, his laughter, the way he cared for others—it all made Minho’s heart race.
One evening, as they sat together under the soft glow of the moonlight, Chan turned to Minho with a thoughtful expression. “Minho, can I ask you something?”
“Of course,” Minho replied, curious.
“Why do you stay in your cat form most of the time?” Chan asked gently. “I mean, I understand it became your natural state by now, but you can be human whenever you want. Why do you choose to be a cat?”
Minho looked down, his ears twitching slightly. “It’s… complicated. When I’m in my cat form, I feel safe. I can protect you without drawing too much attention. And it’s easier to hide my true feelings.”
“Your true feelings?” Chan echoed, his curiosity piqued.
Minho hesitated, then took a deep breath. “Chan, there’s something I need to tell you. Ever since you took me in, I’ve felt this… connection. It’s more than just being your familiar. I care about you deeply, more than I’ve ever cared about anyone. But I’ve been afraid to show it, afraid that you might not feel the same way.”
Chan’s eyes softened, and he reached out to take Minho’s hand. “Minho, I care about you too. You’ve become an important part of my life, and I can’t imagine it without you. I think… I think I’ve been feeling the same way.”
Minho’s heart skipped a beat. “Really?”
Chan nodded. “Yes. I’ve been trying to understand these feelings, and now I realize that I’ve fallen for you, Minho. Not just as my familiar, but as someone I want to be with.”
Minho’s eyes filled with tears of relief and happiness. “Chan, I’ve loved you for so long. I just didn’t know how to tell you.”
Chan pulled Minho into a gentle embrace. “You don’t have to hide your feelings anymore. We’ll face this together.”
Minho clung to Chan, the warmth of his embrace filling him with a sense of belonging. They stayed like that for a while, holding each other under the moonlight, their hearts beating in sync.
-
With their feelings out in the open, Minho and Chan’s relationship took on a new dimension. They were no longer just healer and familiar; they were partners, united by love and a deep sense of understanding. Their bond grew stronger, their affection for each other evident in every touch, every glance, every shared moment.
Chan continued his work as a healer, and Minho remained by his side, providing support and protection. They faced challenges together, their love giving them strength and resilience. Secret City, with its magic and mystery, became a backdrop for their blossoming relationship.
One day, as they walked through the Enchanted Market, Minho in his human form, Chan took his hand. “I have a surprise for you.”
Minho looked at him curiously. “What is it?”
Chan led him to a small shop filled with beautiful artifacts and magical items. The shopkeeper, a kind young man, greeted them with a warm smile.
“Welcome, Chan. I see you’ve brought a special friend today,” he said.
Chan smiled and nodded. “Yes, Minho is very special to me. And I want to give him something to show how much he means to me.”
Jisung’s eyes twinkled. “Ah, I have just the thing.”
He led them to a display case and pulled out a delicate silver pendant shaped like a crescent moon. “This pendant is filled with protective magic. It will keep the wearer safe and strengthen the bond between two hearts.”
Chan took the pendant and turned to Minho. “I want you to have this. It’s a symbol of our bond and my promise to always be there for you.”
Minho’s lip quivered slightly as he took the pendant. “Thank you, Chan. I’ll cherish it always.”
Chan fastened the pendant around Minho’s neck, and they shared a tender kiss, sealing their love with a magical promise.
-
Their love continued to grow, but so did the challenges they faced. Dark forces still threatened Secret City, and Minho and Chan found themselves in the midst of several battles. Their bond was tested, but their love gave them the strength to overcome every obstacle.
One evening, as they returned to the temple after a particularly difficult mission, Chan collapsed from exhaustion. Minho caught him, his heart pounding with fear. “Channie, are you okay?”
Chan smiled weakly. “I’m just tired, Minho. I’ll be fine.”
Minho carried Chan inside and laid him down on a soft cushion. He tended to Chan’s wounds, his hands trembling with worry. “You’ve pushed yourself too hard, Chan. You need to rest.”
Chan reached up to touch Minho’s face. “I’ll be okay, Minho. I have you by my side.”
Minho’s eyes filled with tears as he leaned down to kiss Chan’s forehead. “I love you, Chan. Please take care of yourself like you do with everyone else.”
“I love you too, Minho,” Chan whispered, closing his eyes. “Thank you for being here with me.”
Minho stayed by Chan’s side, holding his hand and watching over him as he slept. The trials they faced only strengthened their bond, their love a beacon of hope and resilience in the face of darkness.
-
As time passed, Minho and Chan’s love continued to flourish. They built a life together, their bond unbreakable and their hearts intertwined. Secret City, with its magic and mystery, became their home, a place where their love could grow and thrive.
One evening, as they sat together under the moonlight, Chan turned to Minho with a smile. “Do you remember the day we first met?”
Minho nodded, his eyes filled with affection. “How could I forget? You saved me, Chan. You gave me a place to belong.”
Chan took Minho’s hand, their fingers intertwining. “And you gave me a reason to believe in love. You’ve made my life complete, Minho.”
Minho leaned in to kiss Chan, their lips meeting in a tender, loving embrace. “I promise to always be by your side, Chan. Forever.”
Chan smiled, his heart filled with joy. “Forever.”
As they held each other under the soft glow of the moonlight, Minho and Chan knew that their love was eternal. In the magical underworld of Secret City, their hearts had found a home in each other, a love that would endure through any challenge, a bond that would never be broken.
Together, they faced the world, their love a guiding light in the darkness. And in each other’s arms, they found a love that was truly magical, a love that would last forever.
Tumblr media
do not repost, translate, or plagiarize my works in any way here or on other platforms. ©️writingforstraykids 2024 -
MASTERLISTS | PROMPT LIST | GUIDELINES
Taglist (Please let me know if you want to be added to or removed from the taglist):
@atinyniki @galaxycatdrawz @silverstarburst @aaa-sia @lilmisssona @kthstrawberryshortcake @channieaddict @soullostinspaceandtime @rebecca-johnson-28 @lixie-phoria @kibs-and-bits @xxstrayland @ihrtlix @pheonixfire777 @mellhwang @palindrome969 @michelle4eve @harshaaaaa @rylea08 @heeyboooo @manuosorioh @gisaerlleri @andassortedkpop @lailac13 @bbokari711 @kazuuuaaa @rssamj @wolfyychan @stellasays45 @chrizzztopherbang @ionlyeverwantedtobeyourequal @silentreadersthings @myforevermelody143 @sapphirewaves
60 notes · View notes
have-you-been-here · 4 months ago
Note
Tumblr media
Incheon International Airport, Seoul Capital Area, South Korea
19 notes · View notes
covid-safer-hotties · 3 months ago
Text
Covid-19 cases in children surge 179% amid back-to-school concerns - Published Aug 14, 2024
A recent spike in Covid-19 cases among children in Korea has sparked worry among health officials and parents alike.
The Korean Children's Hospital Association (KCHA) reported a 179 percent increase in pediatric Covid-19 cases in the first week of August compared to the previous week, with some regions seeing even more dramatic rises.
The KCHA's survey of 42 hospitals nationwide revealed that child Covid-19 cases jumped from 387 in the last week of July to 1,080 in the first week of August.
The Chungcheong Province region saw a staggering 457 percent increase, while the capital area experienced a 213 percent rise.
"This surge suggests we need to learn from past pandemic experiences and take preemptive action to reduce and defend against Covid-19 cases in children," KCHA President Choi Yong-jae said.
Choi warned that many infected children are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms, potentially facilitating easier spread.
“It is important for high-risk groups, such as children with heart disease, diabetes, obesity, or premature infants, should seek immediate medical attention if diagnosed,” he said.
With schools reopening in the third or fourth week of August, there are concerns about a further increase in cases.
The KCHA called on health authorities to provide clearer guidelines to avoid confusion among healthcare providers and patients.
Adding to parents' worries is the simultaneous outbreak of other childhood diseases, including mycoplasma pneumonia, whooping cough, and hand, foot, and mouth disease.
This combination of illnesses has been dubbed a "quadruple whammy" by some parents, evoking memories of the difficulties faced during the height of the pandemic.
One parent, surnamed Lee, who is an office worker working in Seoul, shared his experience of dealing with multiple infections.
"My child caught hand, foot, and mouth disease and then tested positive for Covid-19 shortly after,” he said. “It's incredibly challenging for working parents to manage these recurring illnesses and I wish the government can consider these challenges when it tries to address the country's low birth rate.”
18 notes · View notes
hwaightme · 2 years ago
Text
Your fan, Wooyoung (part 1)
(part 2) (your fan ml)
Tumblr media
🍰 pairing: wooyoung x baker!/cafeowner!reader 🍰 genre: romance, fluff, social media vibes, very soft 🍰 summary: a bulletpoint-style wordstream of what it would be like if wooyoung was stanning you 🍰 wordcount: 4.0k 🍰 warnings/tags: maybe language, a tad suggestive, ateez chaotic energy, wooyoung what are you watching boi, e-girls mention with yunho hints, time to vacuum the lawn to catch gossip, ateez wingmen, wooyoung falls fast, reader and wooyoung are both flirts, cooking, baking, mention of food/eating, lmk if anything else! 🍰 a/n: Hello everyone!!! HAPPY RELEASE OF HALAZIA (omg 10M+ views on YT!!!) and SPIN OFF: FROM THE WITNESS <3 and a Happy New Year!!!! (at least, very very soon :)) here is the next part of the Your fan, ___ series, for Wooyoung!!! Hope you enjoy, big hugs and all reblogs, asks and likes appreciated <3
Tumblr media
The first time Wooyoung 'met' you, was through his For You Page on TikTok.
He had his own private account for quite some time, watching mainly various dance trends, various food creators and cooking tips, in preparation for this Korean Chef certification.
Yes it was not actually practice or real revision, and probably way out of what he was supposed to be looking into, but scrolling through the specially curated videos was way more... addictive.
And during one such scrolling session, whilst sitting in a styling chair before a fansign event, he stumbled across one of your videos. Better yet, this particular video did not even feature your face, only your hands moving ingredients.
And your mellifluous voice, sweeter than the strawberry shortcake you were making.
As Wooyoung raised the phone to his ear to catch the audio better, he was taken aback when he heard a quiet, lofi version of one of his group's songs serving as background music to you.
NOW you were DEFINITELY on his radar. Bringing his phone almost to his nose, he clicked onto your account. You were full of surprises - you had a very large following, and an extensive selection of videos, with some of them definitely having gone viral.
There were baking videos, coffee-making content... there were some tours of a cafe... then another... And after looking through a little further, he stumbled upon a video of... you.
You, beaming into the camera as you were making an announcement about a new cafe of yours opening. Clicking away, he checked for any descriptions, and sure enough, he found a link to an about you page, that turned out to be an official site for your cafe chain, "dream-ity", now in five locations, with five locations around the Seoul National Capital Area.
If he had to choose a word to describe how he saw you from first impression, it would probably be 'soft'. A walking ray of sunshine as a person.
He went back to the video announcement, rewatching it. As he was drifting off into dreamland, barely controlling his heart eyes, his stylist peeked at the screen, nodding as she recognised the person on the screen.
"Oh you are watching Y/N?"
"Yes! Just found her, actually, do you know her?"
"Oh yeah! She is super famous on TikTok actually, and recently started a YouTube channel with more vlog-style content. If you are into... it, I highly recommend." she explained with a wink, giving a lock of Wooyoung's hair one final spray before tapping his shoulders to announce that she was done.
"Okay, thank you~" he sing-songed, hopping from his chair, spinning around to take a look at the word completed once more.
He returned to his screen, and smiled at himself, making a note to look you up later. As Wooyoung was called up to make final preparations for the signing, he tapped follow on your account, and liked the announcement video.
The second time he 'met' you, was when he had finally gotten the chance to simply laze on the couch at the dorms, laptop on his stomach, chin pressed flat against his chest.
He was feeling the need for some comfort, and remembered the suggestion of his stylist to find you on YouTube. Just searching up 'dream-ity' was enough. And there it was. Your channel. Your videos. You. A lot of you. Smiling, baking, focused as you did the perfect matcha pour to complete a latte, paired with an elegant matcha crepe cake.
Your concentrated face instantly became Wooyoung's favourite, his heart melting as you piped the most intricate flowers onto a layered cake.
He caught himself. Caught the woah. Since when was he, the master of sexy performance, so SOFT?
He decided to take a step back for a bit. Convince himself that it was just another creator, just another person out there doing their thing and-
Oh no you were good. You were really good at what you did. So good in fact, that you were a certified patisserie chef who had competed, and WON trophies before. All that, and you appeared to be humbleness itself.
Just out there, in your cafe(s), having the time of your life explaining step by step how to get puff pastry just right. Quoting 'The Great British Bake Off' was one of your favourite things apparently, so naturally Wooyoung noted that down on his phone. As one totally did if they were just 'admiring skill'.
On hour two of watching your content, he started picking up on your micro habits.
The way in which you brushed your hair out of your face with your lower arm, wrist bent ever so slightly so as to not get flour on your face.
How you bit your lip just a little as you were balancing a loaded tray of goodies while taking them to bake in the oven.
How your eyes practically shined as you delved into the history of a given dessert or bake or literally anything. Like in one of your non-baking videos, you were happily babbling away about various aesthetically pleasing cafes you visited while on holiday in Busan.
Wooyoung was on a train to paradise when a wild San appeared and got him in a headlock. Letting out a high-pitched yelp he slammed the laptop shut and attempted to fight his friend off, failing miserably.
"Oooooooh, Woo, so naughty, are you watching porn in the dorms? In broad daylight?"
"No what the hell San, I have enough of you walking around the dorms naked."
"So now I am your wet dream material?"
"Yes baby, now come and give us a kiss~" Wooyoung pouted and finally was able to scare San off as he began to make aggressive smooching noises in his ear.
"OKAY MAN I GOT IT NOW SPILL THE TEA."
"What tea?" Wooyoung played coy, twirling a lock of hair around his finger and gazing off to the side.
"Ahem, to quote the legends, 'bro who got you smiling like that?'" San flung himself onto the sofa, nearly knocking his friend and the laptop off, making Wooyoung fly towards it in a panic.
The commotion also brought forth a curious pair of ears, Seonghwa stepping out into the corridor with a lint roller and a rag in hand, making it a point that apparently, exactly right now was the best time to start cleaning a specific spot of the corridor. Hongjoong also did the unthinkable and JOINED Seonghwa in cleaning, albeit a lot less enthusiastically, moving a dry rag back and forth with his foot, arms crossed.
Soon enough Wooyoung noticed that, thanks to San's very gossip-promising question, the rest of the members were also suddenly making their respective appearances and occupying themselves with menial or highly questionable tasks.
Yunho and Jongho had made a beeline for the kitchen, with the former browsing the top shelves of all the cabinets, opening each door with the speed of a sloth, and the latter pouring the tallest glass of water that was in the house, moving in slow motion.
Mingi opened his door wide open, and after peering out to check that nothing had been revealed yet, lied back down on his bed, but continuously raising his head as if repositioning an antenna.
But Yeosang was what did it for Wooyoung. He sauntered, across the entire living room, with the world's most unperturbed expression on his face, and sat down right in front of him on the floor, staring into his soul, and commanding:
"Spill."
Wooyoung was frozen still bent down from managing to catch the laptop before it fell. There was no getting out of this. It was either he said it all, or it would be 7 and hostage makes one team.
"So, there is this one TikToker right-"
"You say what now?" San interjected, as Wooyoung swore he head Jongho spit out a bit of the water as he tried to stifle a laugh.
"NO it's not like the buss it thing, we're long past that."
"Uh-huh, as if..." Seonghwa mumbled to himself, rolling his eyes.
"No really!" Wooyoung was getting fired up, enjoying the attention that he now had. Standing up on the couch, he began gesturing with the laptop as though he was a lecturer.
"Anyways. It is very wholesome. It is a baking and cafe account. Really aesthetically pleasing. The creator also has a YouTube channel, and she-"
"Ah so it IS a SHE!!!!" San clapped his hands together, as if celebrating a discovery.
"Yes, ha-ha fun-ny. Anyways, literally all of her content is amazing. So I have been watching it."
"For the past two hours." Yunho commented, finally shutting all the cupboards
"Dude and you like e-girls!" Wooyoung retorted.
"HEY that was totally uncalled for and so not true!"
"choke me like you hate me BUT YOU LOVE ME-" Mingi began a dramatic rendition of a well known song, progressively getting louder, as Yunho flew across the apartment and into his room, with a battle cry of "IT'S TIME TO STOP", ready for violence.
"Ah never would I think to see the day that my trouble child would like a wholesome, down to earth girl."
"She's a badass." Wooyoung smirked, at Hongjoong, who's expression immediately fell. "She literally owns baking competitions and five cafes. Basically a girl boss in the best way possible."
"That is one heck of a badass... like... Shiber level badass." Yeosang mused, eliciting a round of laughter from the other members.
After twisting his hands and forcing him to show them some of your videos, Wooyoung had been tasked with a mission to go to your cafe under penalty of cleaning the dorms under Seonghwa's supervision, using the eldest member's method.
He agreed initially, for the excitement of it and because, come on, he was the king of flirting and performances. How many killing points in choreography were his? But as a day turned into a week, and then two, and he was still merely a viewer who was liking all of your content, the challenge was hanging over his head like a guillotine.
The members ceaselessly taunted him with the Cleaning Contract, with Seonghwa taking particular pleasure in describing intricate routines for how he would want the smallest segment of the apartment cleaned, emphasising that if something were to be done even a tiny bit wrong, Wooyoung would be redoing the entire thing.
Finally, one sunny day the fear tactics worked, and officially done with his member's attacks, Wooyoung got up extra early, dressed up to the 10s, only to cover it with something more inconspicuous, and completed the look with truly anonymous cap and mask.
While on the way to one of your cafes, he wanted to slap himself. Firstly, what in the world was he doing, travelling to an unchecked location way before its opening time, and how did he even know that this was the cafe you were going to be at?
Way to go. He was a planner extraordinaire. But seeing as he had nothing else to do, might as well have some fun and go "you-scouting".
To his disappointment, the first location definitely did not have you anywhere in sight, so like the wind he ran back to the metro, praying that no one was going to recognise him along his journey.
Whilst catching his breath, he looked up at the 'dream-ity' logo on the second storefront, muttering a colourful collection of vocabulary under his breath - again, you were nowhere in sight.
A brief panic washed over him as he thought - what if you had been in the back of the cafe, or had just come in? And he was already on his way to his third spot - his final, considering that it was already way past opening time, and slowly becoming a risk for him.
Goyang-si, his home city. He prayed that it would not let him down, being able to house his chaos for so long.
By grace of everything good in the world, as he was ambling towards the cafe, part of him already having given up, and laughing at his boyish determination, he looked up and there you were.
Laughing with a co-worker about something or other, them being indoors, and you outside, watering some potted plants.
It felt like a dream - suddenly Wooyoung understood why you named the cafe how you did.
He checked the street for any passers by. None. Your cafe - no one except the people working. He checked his phone - destiny decided it was his day today: this particular outlet was one that opened the latest out of all, and actually he had managed to arrive half an hour early.
Before you saw him he stealthily turned the corner, and checked himself in the window of an empty car. Removing some of the clothing items to look more like his stylish, dandy self, removing his mask, and readjusting the cap to let some of his flaming red locks show and frame his face, he was ready to impress.
With the swagger that he would have on the stage, he stepped out of hiding, and took course right to your cafe. Your co worker had left you alone to finish tending to the flowers.
Wooyoung stood a bit away behind you, thinking of just how cool he would be when you beat him to it with a simple:
"Sorry, we're not open yet."
And you had not even turned to look at him. His jaw dropped. Well that was a healthy dose of reality. He bit his lip, not quite sure how to proceed.
He hummed, pensive and tried:
"Well I was hoping you could make an exception?"
"And what makes you- oh." As you turned, you were in for a shock of your life.
There he was. In person. Your bias. Of all people.
You contemplated slapping yourself but that would just be the strangest first impression. Deep breaths, deep breaths. You probably looked like a deer caught in the headlights. Quick, say something-
"If you don't mind helping with a couple of things."
Again, you were dying inside. Was that really the best thing you could say? Well, at least it was quick.
Wooyoung found your reaction adorable, and the quip even more so. Judging by your initial reaction, it was safe for him to confirm that you definitely knew who he was, but your daring offer just drew him in. He wanted to see what other buttons he could press, and how you were off camera. Off his phone or laptop screen.
"With pleasure. Are you making your signature mille-feuille today?" He asked, and sent a wink your way.
Oh. Oh he watched your content. Oh he knew what you liked to make.
"I think it needs a taste test, want a bite?" You responded, your voice dropping unintentionally low.
Well today you learned that your mouth was disconnected from your mind. And that Wooyoung seemed to be quite giddy about that.
"Exactly what I've been craving, sweetheart."
Wooyoung was burning up, and was grateful that his ears were covered by his cap, though his face was probably starting to match his hair. You probably thought he was too forward, or too pushy or too much-
"Then come on in sugar, and take some chairs down from the tables while you're at it." You instructed, beaming at him.
He could get used to this. Quickly. Like a sugar rush.
So he visited. And visited again. And again. Not caring a single bit that he had to wake up at a strange hour instead of getting more sleep. Not caring that he had to take his tired body all the way to the cafe in Goyang-si. He loved these quiet hours of the morning with you.
And definitely appreciated that you told your employees to arrive after official opening hours. So that you could just spend time together and talk about everything.
On that first day when he went back, which was much later than he had initially planned, he had attempted to cover up the rendezvous he blurted that he was visiting his family. But that did not slide, since San was immediately threatening him by pointing at his phone and boasting his ability to phone Wooyoung's entire family tree, and Seonghwa simply opened the door of the closet that housed the vacuum cleaner.
Truthfully, had he just told them that he succeeded in finding you, speaking to you and even getting your number, the evening would have been much less 'eventful', as the members ended up simply patting him on the back, giving him a round of applause in true ATEEZ sarcastic fashion, and labelling him as "lover boy" and "hopeless romantic". Not that he minded at all - actually Wooyoung felt it had a nice ring to it, and showed these traits with pride.
Quickly enough it had also permeated into his numerous K-Pop Idol Profiles on social media, when during a couple of interviews his members poked fun at him by hinting that he was as such, testing him as to what kind of excuses and stories he would make up to not reveal his connection to you for safety. He now apparently liked romance kdramas, which was questionable, but was the best he could think of in the spur of the moment.
With both of you being public figures, you had made it your top priority to ensure that no one intruded into what was only made for two. At first, you thought that Wooyoung would crack at a certain point, perhaps by accident, but as it turned out he was a LOT more responsible and considerate than his demeanour would suggest.
Even when he had simply sent you flowers to the door, he did not include any information that could in any way guide someone to you and him, instead ordering a series of emojis printed on a card that only you would be able to decrypt.
As you got to know each other better, you had grown more comfortable and began to delve into each other's deeper backgrounds, including how you came to be who you were, what fears and hopes you had, the list went on.
You had revealed to him that initially you had been lined up to be trained as a chef in traditional Korean Cuisine, to follow in the footsteps of your father. Although you could appreciate the art, and to appease your father had indeed trained for a short while, you soon realised that you could not bear being in the exact same line of work as him.
You did not want to be known simply as his daughter. As a shadow that was 'still learning, and had a long way to go', as he had informed you after you spent a 12 hour day working at his Michelin star restaurant.
The constant reprimands and harshness eventually made you crack and so you turned to your safe haven - baking and dessert making. While your father had seen only the one side of you that he wanted to shape, you had concealed your efforts to work part time when you could, to go to night classes, slowly but surely building up to an actual degree.
Once you had 'quiet quit' your Korean cuisine path and had proof under your belt that you could succeed in the 'sweeter side of life' , things became easier. You allowed yourself to just do the bare minimum, could not care less if your father did not praise you, and became much more liberal with your schedule - to make more time for creating a future that you actually wanted.
When your father had finally found out about what he had called your 'betrayal', you were prepared, and without much else to say simply gave him a 90 degree bow and sped off to Busan, where you had gotten to know an affluent professional, from whom you had further learned.
Fast forward some time later, and you had found yourself on an exchange programme in France - the loneliest time in your life, but it definitely raised you to the next level, and upon your return, 'dream-ity' was only a month away from being launched.
And now, well, you had built your own happiness, were continuously expanding business and experimenting, did masterclasses and ran popular social media accounts, with no plans to stop.
Wooyoung could only stare at you in admiration. This kind of perseverance and passion was something that he valued deeply and strived for for himself, and to see it in you was simply stunning.
He thought back to his initial impression of you, and realised how wrong he had been when labelling you just as a 'happy-go-lucky' girl who just existed in a soft alternative universe and just baked cakes all day. No, there was always something new to learn about you, from your life to your beautiful mind.
Wooyoung had become a fan of yours because he was interested in exploring something he could not do and make. He had stayed when he had heard how in love you were with what you did. And now, he fell in deep because of how well he understood you and respected you, and you did the same for him.
You two were passionate people, no doubt about that. Maybe at first one might think you two could cause a wildfire. But the maturity and level-headedness you had promoted in one another was worthy of respect.
At least when it was just you two.
Because the members were at their wits' end. He had gotten even louder, even more flamboyant, and made every effort to be the funniest guy in the room which, to be fair, did work phenomenally during quite a few of their events. But when that translated to auto-pilot loved up chaos mode in the dorms... it was a hurricane.
So they banished him out of the dorms until he came back with you being officially his girlfriend. And boy was he in trouble. It was nearing closing time for you, and it was much busier out. Thankfully, you had a back door, and let him through it, so he was safe. He waited for you until the cafe was shut, and ended up inspecting a photo of you and your father that you had up on a wall. For some reason, he looked very familiar.
When he finally figured it out, he was in for the shock of a lifetime. As his face went pale, and he was not responding to you, you got more and more concerned that Wooyoung fell ill, but all cleared up when he raised his own phone, with a photo to show you.
In the photo was him in a line chef's outfit, standing right next to your father. You and Wooyoung erupted into maniacal laughter until tears were threatening to roll down your cheeks and your ribs hurt.
"So I really took the traditional route here and met your father before I met you huh?"
That day you had to thank your father for the most unexpected thing. For the fact that somehow, by learning this interesting crossover, this provoked Wooyoung to ask you out officially (he was never going to tell about how he had a whole troop at home ready to unleash guerrilla tactics). You had poked fun at him that it was because he actually wanted to date your dad, but Wooyoung kissed you in exchange for your silence, so it was a done deal.
It was already quite late at night when Wooyoung finally thought it was necessary for him to come back, but little did either of you know, the future held a lot more obstacles than you could have imagined, with a photo of Wooyoung leaving the cafe past closing hours rapidly making rounds on social media the very next day.
223 notes · View notes
beardedmrbean · 6 months ago
Text
South Korea's military briefly issued an air raid warning late on Tuesday after it detected suspected North Korean "propaganda" balloons carrying waste and excrement across the border.
Residents in the provinces of Gyeonggi and Gangwon, both located on the heavily fortified Korean Demilitarized Zone, were told to refrain from going outdoors, and to report any unidentified objects to South Korean military and police authorities.
By Wednesday morning, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said at least 150 balloons carrying "anti-South leaflets" had crossed the border. Authorities continued to discover balloons carrying plastic bags landing across the country throughout the day.
Tumblr media
Images shared to X (formerly Twitter) by Seoul-based freelance reporter Raphael Rashid showed just some of the balloons that had drifted into South Korean cities and towns.
The South Korean military sent bomb disposal and chemical response units to inspect the objects, which social media pictures showed carried various types of trash including old disassembled electronic components and used batteries.
Witnesses told local media that some of the bags, apart from containing pro-North Korea propaganda, produced an odorous smell and likely contained animal feces.
South Korean authorities were conducting a major cleanup operation. Its Joint Chiefs of Staff called the North's actions "low-class and dangerous."
North Korea has long complained of propaganda being sent across its border from the South, including balloons released by defectors who have fled the regime. They often contained messages seeking to undermine Kim Jong Un's leadership.
Pyongyang had in fact telegraphed this week's response on Sunday, when Kim Kang Il, its vice minister of defense, railed against Seoul's "despicable psychological warfare by scattering leaflets and various dirty things near border areas of the DPRK," referring to the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
The official warned that "tit-for-tat action" would be taken, according to the state-owned Korean Central News Agency.
"Mounds of wastepaper and filth will soon be scattered over the border areas and the interior of the ROK and it will directly experience how much effort is required to remove them," he said, referring to the Republic of Korea in the south.
The DMZ has served as the de facto inter-Korean border for seven decades since the Korean War armistice of 1953. Gyeonggi is South Korea's most populous province and surrounds the capital Seoul.
It was not immediately clear whether the North's decision was related to Monday's failed satellite launch, when a rocket carrying Pyongyang's latest military reconnaissance device exploded in midair minutes after liftoff.
The United States and treaty ally South Korea responded to the North's launch notification by conducting air drills near the DMZ, which Kim Jong Un later slammed as "recklessness," KCNA said.
North Korea's embassy in Beijing did not respond to a written request for comment.
8 notes · View notes
k-star-holic · 2 years ago
Photo
Tumblr media
Jung Kyung-ho's "Crash Course in Romance" (Jeon Do-yeon)
7 notes · View notes
jasfhercallejo · 7 months ago
Text
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
N Seoul Tower at Mount Namsan offers striking views of Seoul and its surroundings. The 237-metre-tall tower was built in 1969 to broadcast local and international TV and radio channels within the capital city, but is now regarded as one of Seoul’s must-visit attractions. 
N Seoul Tower is both a tourism and a cultural landmark. It’s a fantastic spot not only to take in views of the city but to learn a little bit about Seoul and South Korea while you are there. There are also a variety of dining options to suit any travel budget and you’ll find plenty to do around the tower if you’d like to continue sightseeing when you are finished.
The main draw of N Seoul Tower is its observatory. You can observe the city below from the height of the clouds by making your way up to the tower’s observation deck.
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
Aside from a visit to the observation deck, one of the top activities for couples at N Seoul Tower is to hang a padlock from the fence around the plaza. Couples inscribe their names, initials, or even a short message onto the locks before attaching them to the fence as a symbol of their eternal love. The activity is commonly known as “love padlocks” and is popular among both locals and tourists. If you didn’t happen to bring your own padlock, then you can purchase one from the souvenir shop.
There are three shuttle buses that can take you up to N Seoul Tower  in cash or with a transportation card. They can each be reached by two different subway stations and arrive every 15 to 20 minutes. If you have no issues walking or climbing, I recommend heading to the tower on foot and skipping the cable car as you climb up through the beautiful Namsan park.
Tumblr media Tumblr media
On top of being a landmark that you can visit, N Seoul Tower is beautiful to look at from afar, especially at night. Using the latest in LED technology, the tower is always lit up in various arrays of colors and patterns. The protected area around N Seoul Tower is also intended to display the harmony that can exist between nature and 21st-century, state-of-the-art construction. 
N Seoul Tower rises approximately 1,574 feet above sea level. It is the highest point in Seoul, offering 360-degree views of the entire city. 
9 notes · View notes
mapsontheweb · 7 months ago
Photo
Tumblr media
North Korea and Seoul Capital Area have roughly same population. And the state of Wisconsin is 40% bigger than all of South Korea(52million) and only has about 5.9 million people.    
120 notes · View notes
rabbitcruiser · 7 months ago
Text
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
Gott's Roadside, St. Helena
Gott's Roadside is a Northern California restaurant group with seven locations in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is a family-owned diner concept restaurant with influence from California cuisine.
The family-owned company's niche is fast food made with ingredients from local purveyors cooked to-order, including hamburgers and Ahi burgers, salads, French fries, and milkshakes, plus seasonal specials like the “Seoul” pork burger with kimchi and the B.L.T. with heirloom tomatoes. On July 25, 2017, Gott's started serving the vegan Impossible burger. Food & Wine magazine has labeled it as an “idealized version of the American roadside stand”.
When the owners of a burger shack in St. Helena—Taylor's Refresher—decided to lease out their 50-year-old property, brothers Joel and Duncan Gott capitalized the opportunity to run their own restaurant. The restaurant became Taylor's Automatic Refresher when the first location re-opened in St. Helena in 1999, and (in the aftermath of a trademark dispute, and over the protests of the Taylor family) was renamed in 2010 as Gott's Roadside.
The restaurants embrace a California-casual cooking style, featuring microbrewed beer and wines alongside chili cheese dogs and mini corn dogs. In 2004, a second Gott's opened in the Ferry Building Marketplace in San Francisco, and in 2007, a third opened in the Oxbow Public Market of Napa. The St. Helena spot is a drive-in, with seating at red picnic tables on the lawn, while the other two locations are built in an urban, retro diner-style. In 2013, a fourth location opened in Palo Alto. The newest Gott's Roadside location is now open in Greenbrae in Marin County. The company remains privately owned.
Source: Wikipedia
9 notes · View notes
jeon-s-sins · 2 years ago
Text
Fighter │ One
Tumblr media
Tumblr media
Synopsis: YN has just moved to one of the neighborhoods in the northeast of the capital. A neighborhood is known for its dangers and mischief. But with her student budget and the short time her previous landlord gave her to move, she had no choice but to take what she could get. When she went on a last-minute shopping spree, YN had no idea what she was in for and was confronted with the danger lurking in the neighborhood.
Warning: YN is followed in the street; non-consensual touching, fighting; brothel, and prostitution are mentioned.
Word count: 3.5 k 
Chapter’s song: none
n/a: English is not my first language, so I may have missed some mistakes while proofreading. Enjoy your reading, and please don’t forget to vote and comment 😁.
Translations, republications, and rewritings of my stories are not allowed. Failure to comply with this request will result in legal action.
©Jeon_s_Sins
Tumblr media
Index │ m.list │ ☕️
Tumblr media
Whew. It's about time. You've spent hours decorating your new home.
You were kicked out of the old dump you dared to call home. One day, as you sat quietly on your couch, doing your nails and watching Netflix, the doorbell rang. Your landlord had given you barely a week to pack up and find another place to live. So, with nowhere else to go, you took the first place you could find. 
This new place could have been better, and the neighborhood was one of the worst, if not the worst. Your new apartment was in a community in northeastern Seoul. This area was known for its bad business and many cases of prostitution. It had such a bad reputation that even the police didn't go there anymore.
As an orphan, you had always had to fend for yourself, so any opportunity was welcome. You were also a student; this would be your last year before you finished school for good and got a steady job. You only had a few months before the end of the school year, so you could hang on. 
Besides, you could not afford to rent an apartment in Seoul with your meager salary. When you looked at it, the condo was decent. You had a nice living space, and your room was about fifteen square meters, bigger than your old apartment. The kitchen was open and led directly into the living room, with a counter separating them. 
The bathroom was pretty badly decorated, and you were planning to do some redecorating – in all the rooms, for that matter. But it was okay. There were no leaks, the toilet worked perfectly, and the water didn't overflow when flushed. So everything was fine. On the plus side, you even had a terrace where you could sunbathe, and you were planning to develop it further to make it your secret garden. But hey, everything was going according to plan.
The downside was living above a brothel. Contrary to what you might think, the house's insulation seemed practical. You couldn't hear the sounds coming from below. 
For the moment, your refrigerator and cupboards were as empty as your stomach. It was time to go shopping. When you looked out the window, you saw that the sun had already set, and you planned to watch the sunset on the roof, which only you had access to. But that was just a postponement. From your house, you could see Seoul's N Tower in the distance – it was built on the highest point in the city, and no matter where you lived, you could see it. 
What you liked about this neighborhood was that even though it was horrible and had a bad reputation, the residents were still very concerned about the cleanliness and aesthetics of the area. Sakura trees had been planted everywhere, and no one threw their garbage on the ground, whether it was cigarette butts, plastic, garbage bags, or anything else. The streets had kept some of their traditional houses, which added to the beautiful setting when combined with a beautiful sunset. Worthy of the most beautiful postcard photos. 
You quickly put on your shoes before taking your keys and going out. The front door that gave access to your apartment had a fingerprint recognition system and a code to unlock it, but the one facing the street had a classic lock. 
As you walked the streets, you tried to remember every building, road, and alley you came across. You tried to find landmarks to help you find your way back to your new home. There was a butcher shop at the end of the street, a small barber shop a few steps from your house, and a beauty salon on the other. A few blocks later, you saw a bar. “The Devil's Den.” It was carved into the wooden sign above the front door. That was good to know.
A block later, you finally stumbled upon a convenience store. As you walked in, you saw a young man working the register – probably a high school student looking to make some extra money. You knew this all too well. After filling your basket with everything, you checked out and left.
You walked calmly, with your shopping bags in your hands, and didn't immediately notice three men following you. Unaware of the danger that lurked around you and was close at hand, you were still looking at the surrounding scenery. This area was a paradox in itself. According to rumors, this area was one of the worst in Seoul, yet everything seemed fine. 
Carefree, you looked around as you walked toward your home. But your sixth sense had signaled – a little late – that you were not alone. Discreetly looking over your shoulder, you made out three male figures. Your heart had begun to race as fear took hold of you. Pretending to look at a cake through a bakery window, you used the crystal barrier as a mirror. You recognized one of the three men. You had seen him coming out of the grocery store. Your eyes had even met for a brief moment. 
Not wanting to take any more chances of being accosted by the three strangers, you continued on your way, praying that they would not carry out their plans. You had transferred your two shopping bags to your other hand, holding the three small bags in one hand while the other was free. That hand, now free, had landed in the pocket of your sweatpants. For protection, you had tucked your key between your fingers. If they decide to make a move, you could use your key as a weapon of self-defense.
As the men got closer, you tried to keep the distance between you by increasing your speed. Now, you did not doubt that these three men were after you. Now that you were running, the men ran to catch up. “Come here, pretty girl. There is no point in running. We'll catch up with you.” 
You looked over your shoulder to see where the men were. With fear, you realize that they are not far away. Still looking behind you, instead of in front of you as you should, you had bumped into someone, slowing you down. The stranger had wrapped his arms around you to prevent you from getting used to the complex, tarred pavement. Strangely, you felt safe with his big arms around your waist. His arms were twice as big as yours. He was muscular, but far from being a bodybuilder. You couldn't see his face because of his hoodie. He was dressed in black from head to toe, which gave him a mysterious look. 
While your rescuer's neck was at the height of your nose, as he had to bend his legs slightly to put his arm around your waist and prevent you from falling to the ground, his smell hit you in the face. His scent was disturbing – in a good way, if that was possible. It was a mixture of orange bigarade with an overblown passion flower and the smell of fresh sea fabric softener. Breathtaking. 
What was also breathtaking was his size. The stranger was at least two heads taller than you. His height and build were indeed his assets with women. He inspired security. 
The security that, for the moment, was far from your case. With your sudden encounter with the man who still held you in his arms, you had completely forgotten the reason for your violent encounter. You had to get rid of his men once and for all. A place full of people would be ideal, but where? You didn't know the area; if these men were locals, they must have known the area like the back of their hand. Anyway, you were in trouble. 
You couldn't give up. Only after you at least tried. 
Taking advantage of the fact that there was still some distance between you and your attackers, you broke free of the stranger's grip. “Sorry!” You apologized. The stranger, for his part, had noticed your distress. You were undoubtedly in trouble. 
He had seen you sneaking glances over your shoulder, somewhere behind you, so he decided to do the same. He had subtly looked up, and that's when he saw them. Three men were standing a few feet away from him. The three pretended to look at something, but your savior wasn't born yesterday. He knew something was wrong with them, and from your distress, he knew they were after you. 
Nothing good could happen. 
But before your savior could help you, you broke his grip and ran for your life. 
You needed to put more distance between you and the three men. You didn't realize it in your panic and fear, but it wasn't wise to run toward your home. You had to deviate from your trajectory at all costs to avoid surprise visits later. 
As you were about to cross an intersection, you turned left instead of going straight, which was the actual direction of your home. The three men were on you as soon as you turned the corner. Your rescuer had not had time to react in time to stop them from following you. They had all three passed in front of him like arrows. The young man knew this story would end badly if he didn't do something. He didn't think he was a hero but would feel guilty if something happened to him. Something he could have prevented. His conscience wouldn't leave him alone until he ensured everything was okay. So he led the three men on a chase.
You ran like crazy. Your heavy footsteps hit the ground, echoing in the silence of the night. You didn't know where you were going. Only two things mattered to you right now. Putting distance between you and them and getting them away from your house. You turned every corner you could, hoping to lose them, but nothing happened. They were still on your ass like leeches. 
The universe seemed to be after you for something because the next time you turned down a street, a trap was set for you. The road you had just turned down was nothing but a dead end. You reacted quickly enough to turn around, hoping to escape the jam and continue, but you didn't. You could have been faster. You were slower than you thought you were. The men were at the entrance to the alley, blocking your only way out. 
This alley was where you would be raped and murdered in a dumpster.
You were fucked. 
The strangers moved forward as you backed away, trying to keep some distance between you. “Hey, sweetheart. It's no use running.” One of them had shouted, so you were in a position to hear. “We got you cornered.” Another had added. 
So what now? How were you going to get out of this mess? You had taken boxing lessons when you were younger, but would you be a match for the three of them? It remained to be seen, but you would only go down with a fight. “Come on over here, honey. The four of us are going to have a great time.” The third, who had been silent until now, had spoken up, but he would have been better off keeping his mouth shut.
The three of them suddenly moved closer, breaking the distance between you in one move. You could see that this was not their first time. There must have been other girls who fell victim to these three bastards. It all happened so fast. In a split second, your shopping bags were on the ground as you were slammed into the brick wall behind you. 
You struggled with all your might and even managed to land a few blows, making things worse and infuriating the men even more. Losing patience, one of the three grabbed your arm and lifted you off the wall before pinning you to his chest, immobilizing you as his comrade approached. “It's not very vicious, my pretty.” Said the one who came to you, making a 'no' sign with his index finger. "Not clever at all. You tore my favorite shirt." He had shown you the damage you had done. 
"Now, it's only fair that I return it to you. Don't you think?" You unbuckled yourself, trying unsuccessfully to get out of the grip of the one holding you. "Please. I beg you. Let me go." You had begged them, knowing they would not capitulate and grant your wish. "And deprive you of the ultimate pleasure? Never in a million years, darling. But don't worry, you'll love it so much that you'll want it repeatedly." The one who held you in his arms had said into your ear. 
A sound of tearing material could be heard in the darkness as you felt a soft breeze in your stomach and chest. The manure had torn your top completely. Only your bra 'hid' your chest. "Oh, yeah."; "Fuck, yeah."; "Nice and full, just the way I like them." All three men reacted to their partial view of your breasts.
You didn't know your background, but your body was well built, maybe too well made. You had nice curves, and your breasts were well-rounded. Nothing huge, but you were one of the lucky ones with slightly larger-than-average breasts. Lucky, depending on whose point of view it was. Certainly not yours. Sure, it looked nice when you wore clothes that weren't very revealing, but you could do without the backache that came with that "luck." 
If you cared about anything, it had nice underwear. Not to please men, but it made you feel sexy psychologically. But now you were far from feeling that way and angry at yourself for not wearing the underwear you had at home and reserved for your period. 
"And you wanted to hide this body from us?" Disgusting. You could have been his little sister. No respect. Then they started groping you, caressing your belly. The one behind you kissed your neck. It disgusted you. You felt dirty while you had a strong urge to vomit. Who knows, maybe if you threw up, they would leave you alone once and for all. 
"Please, stop." But they went on, ignoring your complaints.
You had reached a point where you had somehow come to terms with the fact that you were not going to escape unscathed and that you were going to die in that alley, so you stopped struggling and cried silently. 
The men were so focused on you that none had heard, seen, or felt the presence of a fifth person who had just appeared. As he watched the scene unfold, anger rose within him. Her crying had been the last straw. It fed his rage even more. Seeing red, he threw himself at the men, breaking their hold on you.
You found yourself on the floor from the impact of the fifth person's body. Instinctively, you pressed yourself against the wall and huddled into a ball. Relieved that your ordeal was finally over, your tears had doubled in intensity. Before you, the battle was over. The stranger had managed to knock out the three men in an instant. None of them moved.
The stranger had looked around for you, finally seeing you curled up against the wall. As if not wanting to scare you any more than you already were, he took small steps in your direction until he crouched in front of you. He had reached out to you, but you automatically backed away from the wall. "Don't be afraid. I'm not going to hurt you." You knew that but were still in shock and had trouble breathing properly. 
"Easy." Your rescuer tried to calm you down by trying a more tactile approach again. He had started by placing his hand on your shoulder. As his palm made contact with your bare skin, he felt your body shake. 
You had never been in a situation like this, and God only knew that you had experienced things when you lived on the streets. But you had never been sexually molested.
Now you felt disgusting, dirty. You had a strong urge to take a soft one with acid and rub your skin until it disappeared, hoping to get a new one. You could still feel their filthy hands inappropriately caressing your skin as some of them took advantage of the situation to grab your breasts. Thank God you still had your bra on, but it felt dirty.
Seeing your distress, your savior, not knowing what to do, took you in his arms. It was the first time he had ever helped someone like that. Your face had landed between his pecs. The smell of orange, passion, and sea freshness that entered your nostrils was enough to help you calm down. In addition, his big hand, making regular up and down movements on your back, helped you even more. 
"That's it. Take it easy. Breathe slowly." Without even asking aloud, you followed him without hesitation. Breathing in and out slowly. "That's good. Keep it up." You inhaled and exhaled slowly, trying to finally get control of your breathing. The man was strangely calm and seemed to know what he was doing. Was he used to helping strangers? Anyway, it was official: you would be eternally grateful to him.
"Do you live far from here?" You had nodded 'no.' You didn't know where you were, but it shouldn't be too far from your house. So you gave him the name of your neighborhood. "It's not too far from here. Look, I parked my car not too far from here. Don't move. I'll go get it and take you home." Before leaving you in the alley, he removes his sweater and hands it to you. "Here, put this on." Then he was gone.
Even though you had finally regained control of your breathing and body tremors, you couldn't stop being paranoid. Every time you heard a noise, you were on the lookout with your eyes wide open. You were afraid that people would come out of nowhere and attack you. 
For God's sake, come back quickly. You lifted your eyes to the sky and prayed that your savior would return soon. You feared that the strangers would retrace their steps to finish what they had started. Heaven be praised, for it seemed your prayer had been answered. A black car had pulled up a few feet from your standing. Getting out of the driver's side, your young savior had bridged the distance between you before helping you up and into his car. 
Once seated and strapped in, he handed you his cell phone. You didn't quite understand what he wanted you to do with it. "Put in your address." Once that was done, he hung his device on the phone holder on the dashboard grill in the car's center. The ride had been silent, and neither of you determined to break it. It wasn't a heavy silence, let alone an uncomfortable one, but borderline comforting, which was odd. You had almost been raped in a dirty, rundown alley. And now you were standing in the car of your mysterious savior, who was still a stranger. Who knew if he had saved you from those men so that you would trust him, and then he could take advantage of you? 
You had a vast imagination, but it was worth considering all possible scenarios. Even the most far-fetched were welcome. 
It was a perfect way to celebrate your arrival in the area.
"YN." You had finally broken the silence. Looking out of the car window, you began to get your bearings. You knew you weren't too far from home anymore. The scent of the nameless stranger surrounded you, relaxing you considerably and distracting you from your attackers. As for the stranger, his eyes were still on the street. "Jungkook." He announced after a while of silence.
Jungkook. You repeated it in your head to make sure you wouldn't forget it. Somehow you thought his name fits him well. There are some people whose names don't quite fit, but Jungkook carried his character with grace and style. 
The car stops. When you look out the window again, you see yourself standing in front of your house. "Thanks again... Jungkook." He nods without adding anything, and you get out of his car. And without turning around, you walk to your house's big armored wooden door. You realize you didn't hear the car start as you put the key in the lock. Looking over your shoulder, you see the car has not moved an inch. 
Did he wait until you were safely at home before he left? If that were the case, Jungkook would definitely be an angel.
Once he was sure that you were safe and warm at home, Jungkook finally started his car to go home. 
With everything that had happened that night, you had lost your appetite. After your long shower, you finally realized everything that had happened. But at the end of it all, the only thing that remained with you was the strange feeling that this was far from the last time that your and Jungkook's paths would cross.
Tumblr media
Next ↦
Tumblr media
n/a: I hope you enjoy this short story as much as I do. To ensure you don’t miss the progress of the chapters and their release, don’t forget to check out the Working on and Updates section. There you’ll find updates on “Fighter” and other stories and “One Shot” that you’ll probably enjoy. Also, don’t forget to check out the Masterlist. You’ll probably find something for you among my other stories in progress and those to come.
If you enjoyed the chapter, please consider buying me a ☕️.
Translations, republications, and rewritings of my stories are not allowed. Failure to comply with this request will result in legal action.
©Jeon_s_Sins
52 notes · View notes
beautifulpersonpeach · 10 months ago
Note
It’s fun tracing BTS career trajectory through the different brands and products they represented. Watch them move from fake orgiastic delight in eating fried chicken to those beautifully shot Puma ads to creating an entire song and mv for Hyundai. How do you think they’ll move when group activities resume, BPP? Will they do commercial work as 7? Who can afford them? Do you think they have a sliding scale for groups or products they feel a personal connection with such as Seoul tourism? I feel some of the individual contracts signed with fashion houses may continue but don’t know if the members, as solos, will take on new brands. What are your thoughts on what’s ahead? Ps, for any fans who don’t know that Hyundai mv and song for Ioniq, go look it up. The video is on youtube, the music has been downloadable. So has Suga’s version of Over the Horizon for Galaxy.
***
Hi @towardtheblue!
Lol I love how you dropped the plug for Yoongi's soundtrack at the end. Over the Horizon is a fave because it feels like an epic anime soundtrack, so yeah anyone who likes that sort of music should give it a listen.
youtube
*
About the brand deals, I don't think my thoughts deviate all that much from yours but let's take this one question at a time.
"How do you think they’ll move when group activities resume, BPP?"
I expect just more of what they're doing now. The BTS IP contributes over 65% of BigHit's bottomline. More than anything else, the group is the brand. BTS is still more known than any individual member, and so I expect a combination of group and solo deals.
"Will they do commercial work as 7?"
Perhaps group deals will be rarer than now given time and logistical constraints for the members (I expect more sub-unit work in Chapter 3 partly tied to the same constraints), but so long as there's appetite for the group, it only makes sense for companies (that can afford it) to capitalize on it.
"Who can afford them?"
Samsung for one, I'd imagine. In fiscal year 2023 Samsung spent ~US$15 billion on advertising and sales promotion alone. The company generates roughly US$150 - US$250 billion in annual revenue, based on the last 5 annual fiscal periods. They evidently can afford BTS. And although Samsung's 2024 outlook is focused on their Tizen OS, B2B value-added products, and AI appliances in their premium line-up, as opposed to say, mobile phones, I think they'll still patronize BTS in Korea given the value of their IP.
This might be controversial to say (and is a bit besides the point but I think it adds context), but I think NewJeans is quickly developing IP that's becoming almost as attractive as BTS', and this was confirmed for me when Apple, Samsung's competitor, selected the group for brand deals in 2023. Apple is less transparent about their ad spend but they are still quite focused on their mobile business compared to Samsung, so might spend more on that area than Samsung in the next couple of years.
Anyway there’s quite a few companies that can still afford BTS as a group *and* as solos. I’d say any Fortune 100 company fits that bill.
"Do you think they have a sliding scale for groups or products they feel a personal connection with such as Seoul tourism?"
Yes. Though I think Seoul tourism was less about a personal connection and more building goodwill with their domestic partners and the local government.
"What are your thoughts on what’s ahead?"
I feel there's always opportunity for BTS and the members as solo artists to take on new brands. What those brands will be, I have no idea, but I think so long as BTS as a brand has appeal, companies would be smart to capitalize on it. And yes it will be more of the same: group, sub-unit (like the yoonmin Busan ads), and solo brand deals are things I expect.
9 notes · View notes