#and i feel like i can't put into words how i really feel (which is a frustrating feeling for a writer to have)

[threefandomsinatrenchcoat]

I think we should worry less about labels, in general. I get that they can be very helpful and comforting to some people and for very quickly communicating the gist of things, they're quite good.

When I want someone to just understand that I like multiple genders with a tendency to prefer one over another, "I'm bisexual" gets the job done a lot quicker than describing the whole situation, everyone I've ever found attractive and who out of these people I'd actually sleep with.

But I feel like we've gotten really caught up in this way of thinking that dictates that every unique human experience needs a name and it's really confusing and limiting.

If a straight person finds someone of the same gender/sex attractive just once, they're suddenly confused and rattled, because they don't know what this means for their identity. Are they still straight?

A lot of terms are from a time when sexuality was better understood than gender and thus, the definitions of terms were still based on a gender binary. Now that this isn't the case anymore, we're struggling to say who can and can't be [label].

Can trans men be lesbians? Where do intersex people fall in this? Are nonbinary people trans, because being trans is just being not cis, or can they not be trans, because being trans has to do with transitioning? But not all mtf and ftm trans people transition either, and they're still valid, so-

Do you see what I mean? The definitions are so imprecise and we keep arguing about them, which is fucking pointless. It's not getting us anywhere. We shouldn't be infighting at all, but especially not at a time like this, when many of us are in peril and we're all in this together.

Who cares about these fucking definitions, man? Does it matter if I'm aro or just have commitment issues so big I can't imagine having a relationship? The result is the same. I'm not interested in a romantic relationship. Why am I worrying about whether a label fits me rather than thinking about how this part of my identity affects my life? Does it matter if chopping my tits off makes me trans? The result is the same, I look and feel different.

I get wanting to find out more about yourself and wanting to put everything in neat little boxes and having tools and words to find people just like you to share your experiences, support and advice with, I truly do, but I feel like we're really pulling the noose tighter around our own necks by focusing more on labels than on the fact that we're all human, we all have things in common as well as differences, and we're all too complex to describe with a single word per aspect of our identity.

You shouldn’t have to be trans to get any sex characteristic-related surgery. It’s not a limited resource. Plenty of cis men get implants and cis women get breast reductions. From Colby Gordon today and Leslie Feinberg in Transgender Warriors (1996).

[l-starsz]

Billie convincing reader to let her eat her pussy on her period

I'm inlove with your fics, you're such a damn good writer 🫶🏽🫶🏽

a/n: this probably isn’t great because i’m SOOO tired and my head is pounding rn but i hope it’s good at least🥲 and thank you so much ml!! i’m so sorry this took ages for me to write🫶

billie and i were laying in bed together, watching a movie. her back was resting against the comfy pillows on our bed, whilst my back was resting against her front. i was sat between her legs, and her hands were lightly resting against my thighs. we were both intrigued in the movie, or so i thought. whilst i was watching, and keeping up with the storyline, billies hands began to wander. they roamed up my stomach, cupping my boobs gently, before moving down again to this time, rest against my inner thighs.

i really tried to focus on the movie, but i just couldn't with her hands all over me. i knew nothing could happen, i was on my period, which meant that i had to wait a few more days until she could touch me. i'd been so horny. i was desperate for her, but we both knew that nothing could be done about it. well, she could fix my horniness, but i felt bad for asking her to do that when i was on my period. so i waited, and somehow put up with the feeling of being unbearably horny almost all day, every day.

soon enough, i felt her pressing light kisses behind my ear, down my neck, before lightly whispering in my ear.

"can i try something, baby?"

i slightly turned in her arms so that i could see her face, before answering her in a hushed tone.

"and what would that be, hm bil?"

"please can i taste you?"

my eyebrows furrowed and i looked away as i wondered why she was even asking. she knew i was on my period. she'd practically been taking care of me for the last few days. grabbing me a hot water bottle, or holding me in her arms whenever my cramps worsened. getting me whatever food i wanted when i was craving something. making sure i was drinking plenty of water. she really was the best. i just didn't understand why she was asking this now.

"i.. baby, you know i'm still on my period."

"i know.. i just can't wait!! i want to taste you please, love. i'll do anything."

i hesitated slightly. what if i made a mess, and then she got mad? what if i didn't taste good? she must have noticed the look on my face because she began speaking again.

"if you're not comfortable with this, then we don't have to do it. but i promise you that you don't need to overthink it, there should be no what if's filling your mind. you know i love you no matter what. i think you're the most perfect girl in the world."

how did she know?

it was like she could read my mind.

"pleaseeee? pinky promise i'll take great care of you, angel. just like always. pretty please?"

if i hadn't been so horny for the last few days, i probably would've said no, but that side of my brain just took over. i needed her so so bad. i reminded myself that she would always love me. this wasn't going to change that. she wanted this just as much as i did.

"if i say yes, can you put a towel down? you know.. just in case?" i mumbled, slightly embarrassed.

"of course, angel. whatever makes you feel the most comfortable." she answered me, placing soft kisses on my forehead.

once i'd spent a short amount of time thinking about it, i looked back into her eyes and nodded.

"i need you billie."

she just smirked at my words, before sitting me up slightly so that she could move from behind me, and settle in between my legs instead.

it didn't take her long to leave the room and grab a towel, folding it slightly and placing it underneath me. she sat on her knees at first, slowly pulling my pyjamas and underwear down so that she had the perfect view of me. once our clothes had been discarded in a messy pile on the floor, she leaned down to lay on her stomach, getting even closer to my core. i let out a needy whine when all she did was lightly blow against my pussy.

she could already see how wet i was. i hadn't told her about how needy id been for the past few days, but i think that as soon as she caught a glance of how wet i was, she immediately realised. she didn't bother to waste any more time, diving straight in. her tongue ran a long stripe up my pussy, before focusing on my clit. she was trying to get me wetter, it wasn't like she needed me to be wetter, she just wanted to tease. i reached my hands down to grab her hair, pulling her impossibly closer to my core in an attempt to get her to move faster.

we both knew that i was already pretty sensitive because of how long i'd needed this, so it wouldn't take her long to get me close, which was why she was trying to drag it out as much as possible. she wanted me to last as long as i could.

her tongue flicked my clit, before licking and slurping, just doing as much as she could to bring me pleasure. after what felt like an eternity, she finally moved to push her tongue inside of me. she worked her tongue against my tight walls as they squeezed against her. my orgasm was approaching fast, and my arousal must have been dripping all over the lower half of her face. at that point, i'd completely forgot that i was on my period, and i think billie had forgotten too. we were both too focused on me finishing.

i was so close, and to add to the pleasure, she pressed her fingers on my clit, quickly rubbing circles against it, making my moans as loud as they could get. i couldn't hold it any longer. no matter how hard i tried, i was too desperate.

"billie! baby, can i cum for you? please?" i moaned out.

"that's ittt." she praised, "cum for me, my love."

as soon as i heard those words, my orgasm hit me. my moans and cries were broken whilst i let the feeling consume me. my back was arching off the bed, and my hands were still tangled in billies hair, gripping onto it tight to ground myself slightly.

as i started to come down from my high, my grip loosened on her hair, and i felt one of her hands gently rubbing my stomach to help me calm down. when i finally flopped against the bed, trying to catch my breath, billie pulled her face away from me, looking into my eyes with a proud smile. all i could see was a mixture of my arousal, and blood dripping down her chin and coating her lips.

my cheeks turned red and i covered my face, embarrassed even though i knew billie was just happy that she'd made me feel good.

i didn't even notice her come closer to my face until i felt her carefully grabbing my wrists to pry my hands away from my face, and i heard her pretty voice.

"don't be embarrassed, angel. can i go clean you up now?"

"please." i nodded and thanked her, allowing myself to be lifted up in her arms, my head resting on my shoulder out of exhaustion.

once we took a long shower, and pampered each other, it was time for us to get back in bed and watch movies for the rest of the day, enjoying each others company just like usual.

[wheelie-sick]

I think (well, I know) there's this big mix up in words within the disabled community where some people use "can't" to mean "it's hard" or "I shouldn't" while other people use "can't" to mean "can't"

and a lot of problems arise when the prior group doesn't understand what the latter means by "can't"

it's entirely okay to use the word "can't" to communicate to (particularly abled) people that this is something that you either really struggle with or shouldn't do. it's a boundary word. it's okay to draw that line in the sand and say you can't do something because your disability makes it hard or dangerous.

but you have to remember that some people in the community are using the word "can't" to mean "can't" and truly can't do the thing no matter how much they want to or how hard they try. when you see someone say they can't do something your assumption should be impossibility, especially if you're going to respond, and especially especially if you're going to offer advice (which you should only do with permission. unsolicited advice isn't acceptable)

statements from people who "can't" as in "it's difficult" saying things like "well I just do it anyways even though it's hard!" are a total slap in the face when you mean "can't" as in "can't." it makes you feel misunderstood and alone when no one relates to you and all people ever say is that they can do it! so why can't you?!

to put it into perspective for the people in the "can't" as in "difficult" group: how does it feel when you say you can't do something to an abled person and they say something along the lines of "well I do it just fine, why can't you?" because that is exactly what you are saying to other disabled people. just because you're disabled as well doesn't make it okay or less hurtful.

[chimielie]

send flowers to my funeral

summary: Matsukawa x Reader. happy birthday FREAK

word count: 924

cw: no minors pls 🙏 suggestive content (scene starts immediately after mattsun and reader have finished having sex), no gendered terms or genitalia are mentioned but reader is pretty clearly. how do i put this delicately. getting fucked by him on the regular, fwb to lovers

a/n: my apologies for the incorrect characterization (mattsun and makki have a coffee table which is frankly unrealistic). also i insert a completely random rarepair headcanon with no context and then don’t expand at all

"My back hurts," you moan. "Get off me."

"One second," Issei says, his naked chest warm as his big body blankets you. "I'm tired."

"You're tired?" You can't even twist your neck up to look at him. You hope your tone betrays your incredulity.

"Well, I was the one doing all the work," he says, and you gasp indignantly.

"No, actually, get off of me!" You say. "All you have to do is," you back your hips up into his, where you're still connected. He groans, and you lose your train of thought for a split second. "You think those acrobatics are easy?"

"It was a mutual effort," he cedes. "Hey—"

"No," you say, aggravated. "I'm sore."

He shifts slightly, one thick forearm braced next to your head. You're bent over the arm of the couch, forehead almost touching the cushions. You say: "Okay, after I shower."

Showering together is one of those things you don't do, like kissing or staying the night. You'd put up emotional guards when you started doing whatever it is you and Issei do.

They hadn't worked, like, at all.

In the shower, you don't play music, just scrub yourself down and prod the red marks he'd left behind. On the hips, the chest, the ass. You never take long, afraid to use up his hot water or reveal something you don't mean to vis-à-vis the affinity for love songs you've developed.

After you've left the shower and the both of you drip water all over his covers, he puts the sheets in the laundry and pulls you back onto the couch, really on the couch this time, his feet up on the arm, his arms around you.

"It's my birthday today," he says suddenly, and you jolt. You hadn't known that. "My friends and I are gonna go for dinner. Come with?"

You stare at him with wide eyes.

"You should've told me, I would've been nicer to you," you say, still trying to wrap your head around the question he'd asked you.

"You're plenty nice to me," he laughs, "what are you talking about?"

"What are you talking about?" You parrot. "Do your friends even know about me?"

"'Course," you feel one shoulder move in a shrug beneath you. "I told them about the time you faxed nudes to the mortuary.”

You’d been particularly proud of that feat, right up until he’d called you and you’d heard it in his very voice that you wouldn’t be walking the next day.

“Wow, I had no idea that was what made me stand out,” you laugh. “I don’t have any plans tonight, anyway. How many others have you invited?”

“Oh, it’s just the guys from high school,” he shrugs. “Kawa and Iwa always have some other volleyball addict strapped to their backs, so there’ll probably be a couple more, but I don’t really like parties.”

Issei is the most low-maintenance guy you know. You admire his ability to go with the flow, to let life wash over him and appreciate the ride.

“No, I meant how many of the others,” you gesture to yourself, a tiny movement. “Like me?”

“You’re the only person who’ll be there that I’ve had sex with, if that’s what you mean,” there’s a little smile on his face, one that makes your heart skip a beat. “Crazy.”

“Didn’t you and Iwaizumi have a thing for a while?” You point out.

“Hooking up once in high school is not the same as having a thing,” he insists. His heartbeat is speeding up under your palm, you notice. Funny. “You and Iwaizumi, then. That’s it.”

“Huh.” You say, and then are quiet for a while. “Matsukawa, forgive me for asking—if this is weird—what are we?”

“I hate that you only call me Issei in bed,” he says.

“I called you that on the couch, like, an hour ago.”

“You know what I mean, don’t be difficult.”

“I am difficult,” you say. “I’m high-maintenance and I’m too much work for someone easygoing like you.”

“I like working on you,” he says, pinching your arm. “I like that you try to be low-maintenance ‘cause you think that’s what I want and you still take up half my day when you’re here and all my mind when you’re not.”

Your lips part, blown off-kilter by his sincerity.

“I think I’m trying to ask you to be official,” he finishes, “but I think I’m fucking it up.”

“You’re not,” you laugh, “don’t worry. I was just going to die if you asked me to come meet all your friends just as the one who faxed you nudes.”

“If you died, I’d do your funeral for free,” he promises. “Oh, shit! That’s what I forgot.”

He shoves you away rather unceremoniously and you struggle to catch your breath on the couch in the few seconds he’s gone.

Issei comes back, a cluster of flowers bundled in one hand, his hair sticking up on one side from lying on the couch. You’ve never seen something so handsome.

You sit up and kiss him before you think about it, his lips soft and warm and a little chapped under yours. For all the time you’ve spent with him, it has the same clumsy charm as any first kiss with someone new, the sparking romance as metal strikes against itself. His cheeks are hot under your hands when you pull away.

“It should’ve been me giving you a birthday gift,” you say softly. “Thank you, Issei.”

(The two of you are late to dinner.)

[miyaz6ki]

i might let you make me juno ✰

synopsis. literally the title, each are just small drabbles though :)! 1 kink i think they would have, as well as something they'd dislike(?), idrk what I'll put since I make these before I write 😭

the blade has spoken. i forgot to post yesterday :sob: rb for pt 2 ORR FOR MORE OF MY SUPER DUPER SICK CONTENT!!

pairings. albedo, alhaitham, capitano, childe, wriothesley, diluc, neuvillette

warnings. NSFW, mdni please!! sex :pensive:, although some are fluffier than others!, lwk hatefucking in alhaitham's (academic rivals to lovers), corruption kink (capitano's), vision play w diluc (not rly my main point), cockwarming,

albedo, who already has you placed right in front of him, legs spread as he kneels before you. although he glanced at the beauty in front of him, his eyes would tell a million words, the ones he couldn't speak. in general, whatever you were into, so was he.

the alchemist, delving his tongue into real delicacy for the first time, had himself on a chokehold, every now and then gazing back up to the figure he loved the most, pleasured by what he was doing. fuck he loved you so much. the taste had him hypnotized, he could probably do this forever.

every minute that passed, he felt himself falling in love over and over again. holding your thighs closer to the sides of his face, he could feel how much pleasure he gave.

alhaitham, who has you pinned to the wall, your chest pressed up against the surface. he held both your wrists in one of his hands, and the other on the left side of your waist. rocking his hips into yours, archons he was so fucking in love with the way you clenched against his member.

as much as he hates you, or says he does, it's really the opposite. he's never met anyone who could get him as mad as he is right now, not anyone could piss him off. he loved it so damn much.

he loved watching your eyes roll back in pleasure, no one else could get him boiling, but no one could ever be this deep inside you like he does, right? he better be. or he'll spend the next nights trying to prove himself right to you. so at least for once he'll win.

capitano loved to absolutely break you. corrupt you. he wanted to make sure you were indefinitely all his. and no one else's. he loved seeing those cute little tears of yours roll down your cheeks, whining about how you can't take it when both of you know you can!

you're all his, right? hopefully, and rightfully so, because no one as big as him would ever please your little hole now. but he supposes that something should make up for the pain you feel whenever he enters, it should be the pleasure, and somewhat comfort he can attempt to give.

so he lets you pick whatever position you wanted, and honestly, his favorite while letting you choose was whatever position he could see you the most in. especially when it includes your pretty little face. he wants to see how good he makes you feel <3

he always has his hands on you it feels so dirty. but childe has no excuse for himself, his only purpose is to make sure others know how to fuck off from what's only supposed to be his, it's not your fault, nor his, but he just has the indefinite need to show you off. whether it'd be how the marks all over your collarbone would be the prettiest!

he knows it hurts, but for now, just endure it, and he'll make sure to take care of it later. he makes sure to kiss it all away anyway, no matter how deep inside he might be, you're his reason to fight, his reason to live and come back home for another day with you.

oh well, he dreams of starting a nice little family with you. coming home to you and your two.. maybe three children? you'll both figure it out later. after he finishes inside you, his rough hands, which bruised your hips with small, little crescents ingrained into your skin. oh he's already planning the names!

wriothesley is generally turned on by any position he could see you in. similarly to capitano, but the thing is... he much prefers seeing how his cock imprints itself in your stomach.

sure your expressions are pretty cute, but nothing better than seeing you throw your head back, trying to ride his big member when you know you need help from him! all you have to do is say please...

if you didn't, he'd simply watch the show. watch you trying to take him all at once, and only hurting yourself more by trying to take what you can't (without his assistance). and in which he simply.. takes control himself, and helps you slowly sink onto his shaft instead. of course whole holding your hand!

diluc who uses his vision to his advantage, his hands already over your chest, as the temperature of his palm rises slowly, while letting you cockwarm him.

whether it's while he's writing, and signing away paperwork for the wine business, and his other hand over one of your nipples, or if all his attention is focused on you, watching how you react with a VIP seat, which would be taken literally as you sat on his dick.

a teasing touch from one of his fingers would rub against the spot where his cock was snug inside you, infused with a bit of warmth with the help of his vision.

neuvillette who's instincts get to him, as he watches your reaction through the pristine, crystal mirror in front of you both. it was a gift from his daughter figure—furina.

dear archons, please do forgive him for using her gift in such a.. filthy way, but nothing gets him going like seeing you stare at yourself be pleasured so well by none other than himself. his head fitting in the crook of your neck as he only turns himself on more, only reaching even deeper with his shaft inside you.

and wow he couldn't even wait for the main course tonight, for someone who's very knowledgeable on the taste of water from every region—he much preferred whatever substances you could make.

[inawickedlittletown]

Decided to rewatch S8 and I made it to 8x06.

Ugh. This episode.

This is the first time I'm rewatching it since it aired and I couldn't make myself rewatch it before, but I'm watching it now and gah the writing.

Under a cut because this got long...

I'm not even too bothered by the anniversary dinner. The woman approaching them is whatever in the long run...Buck is awkward but it's very Buck to be like that so that doesn't bother me. Tommy's reaction to it also not a problem. Buck acting like he doesn't know his boyfriend is gay? Writers WTF. This is the type of conversation that would be normal a few dates in not 6 months in. It's actually very reminiscent of stuff from their first date.

It's the way they didn't know how to bring up Abby and so gave us this convoluted way to bring it about and it's very clear to me on a rewatch that they're trying to make sure the casual heterosexual audience understands things. Like they want to reestablish that we know for sure that Tommy is gay and Buck is still attracted to women but also lets not use the word bisexual. And oh the shock value of it because take out the Abby of it all and the break up still works the same way...they did the Abby thing just for the hell of it.

It's bad writing.

The next thing that makes me cringe is Buck's scene with Maddie and Josh. In the past we've seen Maddie listen to Buck and maybe poke fun at him a little but always in a kind way and then she gives him advice.

Maddie in this scene is acting so strange (actually Maddie this whole episode is not acting quite herself). I know some people have an issue with Josh's speech about Glee but tbh I don't think it's that bad and I didn't the first time I watched it. I think he has good motives in saying it. My issue is with Maddie.

Her joke about Abby turning men gay, the way she explains to Josh that Buck slept with Tommy's fiance changing the facts entirely just to mess with Buck, the way that she just very clearly thinks Buck is being dramatic and ridiculous. She just doesn't take Buck seriously at all and when Buck calls her out on it she turns it around on him because as she says she doesn't think there's a problem. But it's not about if there is a problem with them having both dated Abby, it's how Buck feels about it that he needs advice on.

Josh for all that I do think he is helpful, he also does not know Tommy and shouldn't speak to what Tommy experienced. Buck voices his concerns that he thought he knew who Tommy was but now he's finding out that Tommy lied and hurt Abby and it's thrown him because he's having to meld those two versions of Tommy.

Buck doesn't think that Tommy will do the same to him and Tommy doesn't. He doesn't lie to Buck or string him along. He's actually very honest with him and that honesty contributes to the break up. Yet another way in which we see that Tommy has changed from who he used to be.

The thing is that Josh doesn't know Tommy and admits as much but he gives Buck some broad thing about glee and what the world was like before it and after but he's basing it on his own experiences and the queer experience is not a shared trauma...and he puts in Buck's mind that he can't judge Tommy and also that he should thank him. Buck clearly internalizes this. He also I think it suddenly forced to think about what he wants from a future with Tommy and he jumps at wanting to live with him.

Now onto the actual break up.

The whole scene is actually good. They're cute together and silly and flirty and even after the Abby thing is revealed to Tommy nothing has fallen apart. It's all kinda good and their conversation is actually great. When Buck says he admires him, Tommy seems to like that...or at least he takes it how Buck intends it.

This is where it falls apart. And considering I refused to watch this again until now I didn't really think about it like this until now.

Yes I think Tommy had his eyes opened a little bit with everything Buck said...but Tommy also could have ended the conversation at the point where Buck tells him he admires him and they could have gone to the movies and just continued their date night. Why? Because Tommy already sorta knows this and it's what's he's expected from it...he already knows this is Buck's first relationship with a man and that as such Buck must feel some gratitude for what Tommy has given him and he's clearly in his mind already decided that it will end eventually because as he tells Buck first is not last (Tommy, who hurt you?).

But then Buck asks Tommy to move in. And Tommy can't.

It's one thing for him to date the baby bi guy...for him to get feelings for him that maybe go deep but that are manageable. He can handle that...but moving in together? For Buck to dangle that to him and offer him a future when Tommy doesn't expect that Buck will be able to deliver it? That's where Tommy just can't because he knows it will hurt when they break up...but if they live together and form deeper attachments and routines and they become intrinsically a part of each other's lives in a home they share then that's not heartbreak he's prepared to face. It's heartbreak he knows he won't survive.

I actually don't see the break up as bad writing. Everything else surrounding it absolutely is, but that scene is heartbreaking because they both want the same exact thing but Buck couldn't reassure Tommy that he really did want for them to be together...he didn't even tell him he loved him...and Tommy needs more from Buck to be secure in thinking that in this instance first could also be the last.

I think we learn so much about Tommy in this episode and I wish we had been able to dive in deeper.

This episode still hurts. Tommy's face when he says "Buck" hurts. The way Buck is left behind hurts.

The writing is a mixed bag of bad with some alright moments. It also leaves so much open. I remember that night being optimistic because it is so clearly a storyline left open to be continued. Some interviews turned that optimism right around but without that there is no real reason for any of us to think that this is finished.

Do I think it was a bad idea to break them up? Absolutely. Do I think there are other forms of tension for them to explore? Yes. Do I think they will manage to give this story and Buck and Tommy a happier ending? I have no idea, but I hope so.

Buck himself calls his relationship with Tommy the most transformative since Abby. He misses Tommy so much he spends the next couple of episodes baking and wanting to reach out. We also know that Tommy wants to reach back out too. These are indications that it isn't over and I just hope that they stick to being a little cliche and following the romcom trope right through to the end where they get back together.

I guess that's where I am going into 8b. Hopeful, but not holding my breath and well aware that fanfic exists and so much of the scenarios we want for our blorbos will only ever be possible there. Oh, and I'll be shipping Buck with Tommy because that is definitely not changing no matter what the show does.

[abusivelittlebunny]

Omg thats sounds so... i can't even find a word for it.

I had this thought though, and while i don't like liam he's eh to me, what would be worse is if horner was actually a dick to most people who aren't max (max doesn't see that side of him much if at all) and liam explains to carlos after sex one reason he's been trying to get horners child in him is so he's not booted out of his seat for an alpha cause sex with horner doesn't really do it for liam and his ditzy act is just that, liam tells him the second reason stating how he can't have his seat if he doesn't have sex with horner regularly as it states in his contract while also saying that he'd rather be with an alpha that actually cares for him and that if he had horners child he could atleast stop having sex with him for a while, liam also feels bad for doing this behind max's back but he doesn't really have a choice if he doesn't want to be used as a breeding mare for the rest of the redbull team.

Anyway sorry, i just find the au your building to be fascinating and i wanted to add to it, you don't actually make this a thing in it.

–🍑

Further yapping with spoilers below the cut!

This is a very interesting addition and I'll definitely take it into consideration because I also do want Liam to want to get married to Horner to keep his RB seat.

I don't think Horner is necessarily bad in bed but he makes it clear to Liam that he's just a good lay to him, nothing more, and Liam is very much hurt by it because yeah he does want to be loved and cherished, another thing he envies about Max who has multiple alphas devoted to him.

It is an utter punch to the gut when he tells Carlos he's pregnant and Carlos tells him to get rid of it (while looking away, unable to face Liam even if he wants to harden himself more than anything, he can't help it, maybe his father was right and he's too soft for this world, catching affection for any omega he takes to bed and immediately wanting to claim his offspring with pride and joy). It's not the reaction he expected at all and it breaks him.

Liam can't drive to the clinic. He just can't. He's too scared, too beaten down and Carlos grabs him by the elbow and drags him to the car, throwing him in the passenger seat and driving there himself. His frustration comes from within, he's mad at himself for not wanting Liam to get rid of the kid despite how this was the reason why he did all this in the first place. He is so full of tension he's ready to burst at any minute while Liam is sobbing next to him, clutching at his tummy. He's only two months ahead, but during that time Carlos has been fucking him almost every day even after his heat ended, barely letting Liam out of bed and even then it was just to feed him, which always ended with fucking Liam on the kitchen counter or against the wall or over the table or on the couch or the floor- at one point Carlos broke the bedframe and barely even thought about it, fucking another load into Liam before carrying him to the guest room to continue.

Sure, Carlos started out mean, downright evil when he first cornered Liam in the factory and barely pulled his race-suit off to wreck him against the nearest wall before taking him home with himself, but that was only in the beginning. Carlos had a tender side to him, one that kissed his forehead and pet his hair while Liam laid down on top of him, exhausted and drenched in sweat, knot stretching his full cunt, and one that took his time and effort when it came to giving him nice relaxing baths and washing Liam's hair and feeding him regularly delicious meals.

Carlos couldn't possibly convince him that he was heartless with the beautiful nursery set up right next to the guest room where his children slept when Carlos could have them stay over. Liam looked at the amount of effort he put into furnishing the room, the decoration and pictures all speaking for themselves; he was so proud of all of his children and had their birthdays all marked in the calendar displayed in large on the wall with specific toys each favored in separate cabinets and he kept a journal of their development and updated it daily.

Liam flipped through it secretly while Carlos was cooking him something delicious inbetween rounds, giggling and kicking his feet in fascination as he learned more and more about the alpha that never even looked in his direction previously.

He now knew the twin alpha boys he had with Max were most partial to a plush lion and plush tiger each. He knew that the alpha daughter he had with George was partial to jazz and could be instantly cheered up from crying when he sang to her and rocked her in his arms in a silly dance. He knew that Oscar's omega daughter fell asleep in the car almost as soon as she was put in it and that she rarely ever cried but was just as stubborn as her mother. He knew Franco's alpha son preferred yelling over crying like he was already questioning his authority and how Carlos can't help giving in and spoiling him which is a little embarrassing but he doesn't like to see him in distress so he can't help it.

He knew how much Lando cried to him until he was finally able to keep the fetus and how much it meant to the both of them. He knew how beautiful he found Logan when he was breastfeeding their alpha son and how he loved that he inherited Logan's beautiful green eyes but Carlos' dark curls but he didn't dare to tell him that. He knew of the regret Carlos felt for hurting Charles by impregnating his younger brother but how much he looked forward to driving Arthur to his ultrasound appointments and how it looked like they would have an omega girl.

He knew that while Carlos couldn't ever move on from all the hurt has they have caused each other with Charles, he couldn't possibly endure the divorce finalizing one day and how he wasn't able to let go of his hand when Charles was in labor, feeling his pain through the bond making it the most personal and wonderful experience of his life and how he wants to experience it again and again, give their beautiful alpha son Jules many more younger siblings and end this god-awful separation that is killing them both.

Carlos was a giver, even if he pretended not to be. He was a good alpha and a good father and a good man. He couldn't hide that soft side with Liam glued to his side almost constantly.

He did take Liam back to his own place eventually but his stay there was brief. Liam knew when Carlos kissed him goodbye in the doorway (after pounding him again for good measure in said doorway) that he couldn't possibly let this be a one time thing that they could pretend never happened. The next day he packed his things and drove back to Carlos' place on his own and he didn't even need to say a word before Carlos picked him up and carried him to the couch for round 2. And he made him pancakes after.

A man like that asking him to get rid of their child, however unplanned it was, seemed impossible. Even when they reached the parking lot of the clinic, Liam just couldn't believe it. He begged him amongst tears, promised he'd never bother Carlos again, not make him take responsibility just please, please-

"Go." Was all Carlos said to him, not even looking in his direction, just staring out his window and clutching at the steering wheel with an iron grip.

It shocked Liam into silence and after a couple minutes of slowing his breathing, he did.

He numbly opened the car door and walked into the clinic, feeling like his head was under water as he walked up to the receptionist. He knew he was being asked questions and had been given a form to fill out but he couldn't really understand it. He wasn't able to answer anything, pen slack in his hand and the paper too wet to write on. Wet? Ah, he was crying again, he didn't even notice.

What he noticed however was the front door busting open with the volume of a gunshot, and he turned in time as Carlos near tackled him to the ground with the force of how he ran into him. He thought for a brief second that he was in trouble but Carlos had his arms around him, picking him up and squeezing him so tight to himself it left bruises.

But the pain meant nothing when all Liam could hear was Carlos' breathless chanting of: "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, please don't, please don't do it, please, please, I'm sorry, I want it, I want our baby, I want you to keep it, please don't go through with this, I'm so sorry-," right against his neck.

Carlos fucking ran to the car, still carrying Liam as if he was afraid that Liam might bolt the moment he lets him go and the sex they had on the backseat was nothing short of a complete rebirth of their affair. It was as if a wall has been broken down, Carlos couldn't stop saying how perfect and gorgeous Liam was as he kissed him all over, how he couldn't wait to see what a beautiful baby he'd birth for him and how he would have Liam move in with him permanently as soon as possible and he doesn't care what Max will say, he can't let him get rid of his baby, he can't, he will protect Liam and their child with his life-

And it suddenly clicked to Liam.

Max.

Max was the reason why Carlos was at the factory. Max told Carlos to make a move on him when he was on the brink of heat. Max was the reason why Carlos treated him so rough in the beginning, hurting him and calling him mean things while now he was his pure adoring self worshipping him in the backseat while the rain hammered down outside.

Max wanted him to get knocked up and then force him to abort it to hurt him.

Liam clawed at Carlos' rain soaked shirt until he ripped it clean off his back and cried out as he pushed his perfect cock back into Liam's cunt where it belonged.

He kissed the praises right out of Carlos' mouth and rocked back against his thrusts, begging him to fuck him harder and harder and harder and never ever let him go again.

Oh how he was going to make Max regret to have ever been born.

[anadrym]

Extended Author's Notes for Left Behind Ch9.

Spoilers!

Chapter title is from "Never Be The Same" by Red. One of my favorite love songs, and something I listened to a lot during my depressed high school years.

We are now in the second document I have for this fic (the first one got really slow after Ch8). Also, this is now the longest fic I've ever written. :)

Gotta say: I have so many emotions about this chapter that I hardly know where to even start.

Vi is taking such a leap of faith here. Her mind is absolutely scrambled. She's almost certain that she recognizes Caitlyn, but she can't remember more than that. She's risking everything in the hope that she's right about their connection, and she's trusting that Caitlyn won't betray her to the Baroness.

And Caitlyn... God, just imagine gathering up the courage to finally lay your loved one to rest and then they tell you that they're still alive. No wonder she completely breaks down. She's not even sure she believes it at first, which is why she stops short of touching Vi's face - she's terrified that it's not real.

And then Vi closes the gap. Even though no one has touched her with kindness for five years, Vi crosses those last few centimeters. I'm ill.

And as soon as Caitlyn realizes that she's not imagining this, that Vi is really in front of her and really Vi, she's all in. Both hands supporting her partner, catching her as she collapses, holding her as they both break. FUCK, I love this chapter.

One of the things that really got me hooked on these two was the way they touch each other, so I really try to focus on that in my fics. It works especially well here because they can't use words (at least, not from Vi's POV), so everything has to be communicated through touch. Also, I absolutely love how deadly these two can be, but they're still so soft around each other.

What was Caitlyn whispering over and over again? I actually never decided. I was leaning towards "You're alive/here" or just Vi's name, but one of you put forth "I'm sorry" and I like that too. Feel free to let me know what you thought, but it should be something incredibly heart-wrenching.

So. In terms of what words Vi can understand. I've been trying to think of it like when you're learning another language. When someone speaks at a regular pace, you might be able to pick out a few more distinct words, but have trouble with interpreting the whole sentence. However, if certain terms had been used around you for five years and you were punished for not obeying them, you'd learn very quickly to recognize them. That's why "get up" sends Vi into a panic.

Oh, Caitlyn. Always the detective. Realizing that Vi can't understand her words and switching to gestures. Realizing that the bruises on her arms and neck are from the injections. Trying to get as much information as she can about what's being done to her partner.

Vi is cold, but the injection sites are warm from swelling and irritation. Caitlyn reaches up to check if Vi has a fever, but stops short when she remembers to ask for permission to touch her. She's trying to give her partner as much autonomy as she can.

Vi realizes that Cait is trying to get information about the injection sites and guides her hands to the ones on her legs, which Cait didn't know about.

Also! Vi, even in this state, comforting Cait on instinct by rubbing her thumb over Caitlyn's knuckles. They're going to be the death of me, I swear.

Cait is about to tell Vi to "lie down" but stops herself when she realizes that saying "down" would probably be a very bad idea.

The ring triggers Vi to remember just as Cait kisses her forehead, that's how she recalls her name. It's still going to be a bit before Vi gets her own name back (though I personally think it'll be worth the wait).

Yeah, Caitlyn absolutely whispers, "I love you" as Vi drifts off. :')

Is Cait going to unreasonably blame herself for taking actions that made sense at the time with what information she had? Yes. Yes, she is.

The part about Cait realizing that she almost killed Vi and that Vi would've been aware during it was greatly influenced by your comments on Ch8. I hadn't really focused on it much before y'all pointed it out.

And again, always the detective. Putting the pieces together even when she doesn't want to, even when it makes her feel even more guilt. :(

Vi's malnourishment is important. It's the clue Caitlyn needs in the next chapter.

There's just something about two broken people who have been turned into weapons (whether by their own choice or not) finally becoming people again because they found each other.

When Vi wakes up and Caitlyn smiles (first time in how long?), Vi looks down at her parted lips and sees the gap between Caitlyn's front teeth, the same one she remembered right before the last Maintenance session.

Caitlyn trying not to overwhelm/overstimulate Vi by touching her, and then Vi immediately throwing herself into the touch? Vi is so physically affectionate, and she's been desperately craving this for years.

We will deal with Cait's guilt, but not for a bit. Right now the focus has to be on getting the fuck out of there.

God, it is so exciting when you guys speculate on future chapters and are right. It means I'm setting up the story well (take that, anti-spoiler culture)

Teaser for next week:

"I want her again tonight."

The Baroness leans back in her chair, a sly smile slowly curling her lips. "I'm inclined to grant you that. But first, you have to earn it."

[7-penguins-eat-icecream]

aventurine going undercover at veritas prime uni fic idea

OK LETS BUCKLE UP. THIS FIC IDEA HAS BEEN CONSUMING ME FOR SO LONG BUT I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN I CAN START THIS GUY (trying to finish my current fic before committing to this guy) so i just need to lay this plot bunny into the world lol

Main idea: there is an internal issue going on at Veritas Prime, the uni Dr Ratio works at, which is lowkey stressing him out. I think it would be a matter similar to the Ruan Mei and Dr Ratio quest in that it could be a kinda structural issue that Dr Ratio cannot solve as an insider because it would spook the culprits too much (i'm thinking of a baby cult or smth like that, similar to the banana memetic thingy in HSR too). As you can tell, this issue is just a vehicle to put Aventio into Situations. I'm just creating a problem at this point hah

Either way, Aventurine gets pulled into this of his own free will after seeing how stressed his situationship has been recently

They decide that Aventurine, as a great actor and an outsider to VPUni, could go undercover as a student there, especially as the second semester is starting so he could easily pose as a mid-year transfer student from another uni (international student? Or rather interastral student lol. I forgot the words bruh).

Now a potential problem (for Aventurine's emotional state hahahah): Aventurine cannot conceivably pose as one of Dr R's students because their accidental sexual tension would be so potent that rumors would spring up ASAP. Put these two guys together and EVERYONE will know that there's something going on between them

and like i need aventurine to make friends with his peers... this man NEEDS friends i am not kidding. also aventurine could occasionally trauma dump (only the most out of context stuff, e.g. yh i nearly died a couple of months but its whateverrr, and maybe yh i once homoerotically pulled a gun on myself and made a stranger watch. we're in a situationship now ahaha) and maybe get some support from people who aren't Ratio? like maybe it would be easier to share his feelings if he isn't viewed as a stoneheart who knows.

and ofc a bit of emotional turmoil because he gets imposter syndrome 😍

And maybe he would go by kakavasha, as he initially thinks that the past/his name is dead to him, so it wouldn't affect him much 👀however, he later realises that he actually quite likes being referred to as that (or the angstier route: he hates it). So why would he even choose Kakavasha in the first place? Well honestly a) I can't think of another name b) neither can aventurine

so like what would aventurine even be studying whilst undercover? honestly like he COULD become a finance bro and study economics or whatever... but hear me out. What about philosophy?? Not only was penacony's story very deeply intrenched in each of the cast's respective philosophy, I feel like aventurine may choose it because Dr R has a phd in it,, he wants to be at lteast a bit closer to the man because he is down BAD for him (on the other side, i think ratio would be quite pleased that aventurine chose that lol)

-> also like i've never studied philosophy but the vibes i get from it is that HOW you present your respective argument is probably more important than the argument itself?? Like i just think that Aventurine IS very cunning and would probably do well in an argument especially if he managed to pick up some stuff from Ratio as well lol (if someone knows what happens in philosophy classes pls let me know if this is even remotely correct)

also i think a really interesting thing to explore would be all the different sides of Ratio,, like the students would place him on such a massive pedastal and aventurine would be forced to review his relationship and finally see just how much Ratio actually cares for him ಥ_ಥ

i have no more thoughts about this fic idea, but at the end ofc aventio get together

-> maybe the friends that Aventurine pick up accidentally see them get together and are like: omg is that Kakavasha's situationship...? Wait does that mean he pulled a gun on our teacher on the first meeting???

If you've read this far thanks for reading!! hope it amused you

[bananayuyu]

I KNEW IT WAS MINGI I KNEW IT I KNEW IT I KNEW IT OH MY FUCKING GOD oh my god I can't process this I can't believe I guessed right I NEVER GUESS RIGHT WITH YOUR STORIES holy shit this is crazy

also the pregnancy test?????? I HAVE NO BANDWIDTH TO PROCESS THAT EITHER and Yunho's reaction was just perfect gahhhhhgkdjdfkgdfjkhdkfhgj

also, this that seob said, "Who are all of those people without this drama?" GAGGED me. because it put into words what I was thinking this whole time. tori has been over it since the start, every since the big blow up reveal of the fuck shit that was going on in NFW. I don't think tori herself even realized it, she thought she was just mad/disgusted with the whole Rory/Wooyoung/Soul thing, she thought she was tired of her too-stable relationship, she thought all of these things when really deep down she was just over all of this continual drama, over how somehow even after the crazy crazy shit happened people were still getting themselves into messy situations and not effectively protecting themselves/moving on. I think it was exhausting her and weighing on her. she herself may not have thought it, but those words seob spoke are so true and I think are the real root of all of her recent issues

I really fucking hope her and ror can make up 😭 and just like... ror needs to protect herself more and maybe spend some time just being single. all of these babies are a mess tbh 😭 which feels really accurate to this age group. it's hard to see them going through so much turmoil though

gimme gimme gimme 7 -> mingi x fem!reader -> nice for what

wc: 12k ( i'm sorry ?! ) warnings: 18+, sexual content and alcohol consumption in every part, infidelity themes... if i missed anything please let me know! posted: 2/27/25 8:16 pm est.

masterlist ~ <- previous part - next part ->

Hongjoong circled around the coffee table in the middle of the couches, a wine glass dangling between his fingers adorned with silver rings. Sinking onto a cushion beside Seonghwa, he curled his legs beneath him, the Gucci socks getting lost beneath the silk hanging off of his lower half. Inches of space kept between the two did nothing to deter the sexual magnetism radiating off of them.

Stretching an arm along the back of the sofa, behind Hongjoongs back, careful not to actually touch him- none of you have seen them do so- Seonghwa kicked his legs out in front of him, bare olive skin in little loose fitted shorts, crossing his ankles. 

Gentle music pulsed through the room, a soft R&B playlist off of Mingi’s phone, one that heated your cheeks, your toes longing to curl as each song changed into one that brought back a plethora of memories. Catching his half smirk across the room with each new beat, hanging around opposite sides of the house for the evening, he knew what he was doing to you.

He sat on the couch to the left of Seonghwa and Hongjoong, Jongho also in the mix sitting beside your boyfriend. Beer cans in hand, they spoke covertly with their leaders, hushed voices like gentle lullabies sneaking over to where you stood with the girls around the kitchen island, the girls and Yeosang. He bounced back and forth, a few minutes with the boys, a few minutes with you girls, which meant a few minutes with his girl. 

You’re certain you’ll all be receiving save the dates in the mail sometime next year.

Yeosang had no other reason to hang around the guys aside from spending genuine time with them. Nasara is his past, Keni is his future. Balancing the two now, watching him wander from couch to counter, from leaning over a sofa to wrapping an arm around her waist, checking in on her without a word, without interrupting her aside from the tiniest kiss to her cheek, it’s like his life went unchanged.

Like graduating hadn’t affected him in the slightest. He’s ready to move on, he wants what comes next, he’s leaving all of you, this life, behind. 

Much like Ryujin and Jeongyeon, not one of them questioned what came next for the sorority, the fraternity. The three of them, they didn’t need to know. Sure, if it came up in conversation they cared, they listened, they watched with gleaming eyes as the rest of you talked plans, talked details. But, they didn’t contribute. Nor did they have any opinions. They had nothing to say.

Even now, as the song changed into one more upbeat now that the night progressed later and Mingi shifted the vibes, Yuna ran her mouth a mile a minute, eyes wide, hands flying as she expressed her ideas for fundraisers and for recruiting new girls, letting the underclassmen shadow their seniors with the specific positions they’d want in the future… Ryujin blinked. Her gaze traveled out toward the living room. She rested her elbows on the counter and laid her head on Jeongyeons shoulder, and they whispered to each other.

She didn’t pay attention.

She’d rather talk to her girlfriend. She’d rather move up to Iloa, rent an apartment with her, call you guys occasionally, slum it through these weeks with all of you, then go back to her separate life with Jeongyeon like the last four years of her life never happened.

Personally, I don’t wanna stay stuck in a place that made me miserable.

That’s what she told you that night in Cheers. That this chapter has closed, that if she wants to feel better, if she wants to get better, she has to move on.

It must be the same for Yeosang.

I’m willing to make sacrifices for the people I love.

Your eyes found Mingi. Leaning over his knees covered in baggy denim, his black button down exposed his golden chest, a few silver chains dangling around his neck, contrasting against his skin. He wore his black, square, chunky glasses tonight, they sat on the edge of his nose. You don’t know how many times you have to tell him that if he doesn’t wear them right he’ll have a headache within the hour, but he’ll defend himself, Tori, if I push them back they don’t look right, they have to look right.

Not paying attention to you, he listened to Seonghwa who hadn’t moved from Hongjoongs side. The president, with his head softly bobbing around, spoke like Yuna, a mile a minute, just much quieter. It gave you insight to how the house was run behind closed doors. You’ve shared with Mingi what the sorority was like, and he’s told you just as much about ATZ, but to see it happening in real time, right in front of you, so compelling.

Hongjoong had minute things to add, his eyes on Seonghwa, a gaze that’d drop to his lips occasionally. After a small sip from his glass, swirling the wine around before another, he’d speak, and after a few times, it happened.

Seonghwa’s hand gripped the back of his neck, thumb and fingers on either side, squeezing him. Turning his head, his glare blazing like Hongjoong had said something wrong, neither of them faltered. Where Seonghwa’s eyes were hot, almost angry, Hongjoongs were alight with mischief. Both Mingi and Jongho glanced away the second Seonghwa pulled Hongjoong closer by his neck. His lips found his ear, a whisper shared, one no one needed to know.

Seonghwa released him and Hongjoong fell back into place with a smile on his face.

Wandering over to the fridge, leaving Yuna and Keni to discuss Iloa with Ryujin and Jeongyeon, you pulled a seltzer off the shelf and cracked it open, swinging the door shut with a slam. Facing the living room, downing half your drink in a few gulps, you watched the front door open a crack, Yunho slipping inside on alert, scanning the room before closing the door behind him. 

Spotting you, he lifted his hand with the smallest wave, then tried to make his six foot self smaller, planting himself on the couch opposite Mingi, next to Yeosang. The boys acknowledged his appearance, but didn’t let it deter them from discussion. Yunho fell right in without missing a beat.

“You’re quiet tonight,” Ryujin said, spawning beside you, grabbing herself a new drink. 

Giving her a shrug, glancing down at her, you pursed your glossed lips. “Lots to think about.”

“You still having trouble adjusting?” she asked, eyeing the scene beneath her shaggy bangs parted in the center. Looking up at you, she read your gaze and laughed. “Damn, Tor. Maybe you need to talk to someone.”

The words stung. “I don’t need to talk to anyone,” you snapped. “I need people to stop being assholes.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Who’s being an asshole?” There wasn’t a single infliction in her tone. She remained utterly calm, her inner lion always asleep until it was necessary for it to wake up. “As far as I know, everyone’s chill.”

“Everyone is not chill.”

“Like who?” she asked, bobbing her chin. “Aurora? You guys haven’t spoken in, like, two days, Tor.”

“‘Cause she’s wrapped up in her life, Rio,” you sneered, both of your gazes heating up. “Everybody thinks they’re so adorable, they’re so cute, but no one is looking at it.”

Ryujin tightened her jaw. “When was the last time you went out of your way to ask her about it? About him? Have you even talked to her about it, and listened?”

“When’s the last time she’s asked me about me?” 

Your voices were raised, the only indicator being Mingi’s attention turned to you from the living room.

Ryujin’s entire demeanor changed, like she took an entire mental step backward. “She’s tried. You won’t talk to her. She’s been asking us all to look out for you, to make sure you’re okay, that you have a good time while we’re here.”

Your heart sank into your stomach. “You told her what we talked about? She told you stuff, too?”

“She hasn’t said shit, Tor,” she shook her head, “And I didn’t tell her a thing. She knows you, you think she can’t tell that something’s off? That something between the two of you is wrong?”

You couldn’t even hide it. Distorting your face into something of a frown, you scoffed, then groaned. “I tried to talk to her after we got into it, but she ignored me.” Ryujin tilted her head. “I haven’t tried again since.”

“Okay, she may have told me something,” she said after a couple blinks. Your cheeks warmed. “We’ve been out the last two nights, right?” You nodded. Everyone’s been spending time at Cheers together, drinking, dancing, but just the main group of you all, the people in the house right now. “She told me she’s staying out of your way.” You parted your lips, but she continued on. “And that she wanted me to help keep you away from her. For your sake. Not hers.”

Feet thundered down the stairs behind you, San whooping, leaping over the back of the couch Mingi and Jongho sat on, wedging himself in the middle of the two. Taking Mingi’s chin in his hand after nearly knocking the two boys out with his knees, he tugged your boyfriend closer and smacked a thick, wet kiss to his cheek before he tried to do the same to Jongho, but the boy held up a hand and San retreated with a smirk.

The room grew louder. Especially once San caught a glimpse of Yunho sitting across from him.

“She told me that she thinks she bothers you,” Ryujin said, taking your attention back. “And, she doesn’t know why. She doesn’t know what she’s done, she doesn’t know how to fix it, and she feels bad for putting you through a hard time without realizing it.”

The tiniest laugh sparked at your lips. Shaking your head, letting her words sink in, mess with your heart, mess with your head, you sent her a glare. “Of course,” you lowered your voice, hearing footsteps on the stairsteps. “Of course she’d think that. That it’s because of her. No one fucking gets it.” 

Pressing your can to your lips you spun away from her and started around the counters, heading for Mingi. Ryujin threw her arms out and shook her hair around.

“We’re trying to!” she shouted.

Aurora and Wooyoung had come downstairs. Wrapped up in one another, Aurora pressed to his chest, her arms slung around his back like they usually were, they stood behind San, Wooyoung toying with the short black hair tousled atop his head. Cracking jokes, all the boys laughing with one another aside from Mingi and Yunho, no one seemed to notice the way Aurora stared across the room. No one except the boy she stared at.

He fought to look elsewhere, fidgeting in his seat, only uncomfortable because she held onto Wooyoung at the same time, Yunho didn’t know what to do. Yeosang slid a hand over his knee, calming him. Yunho gave him a look, but he didn’t return it, his focus laid upon his girlfriend who joined the group in the living room, as did Yuna. 

Sinking onto Mingi’s lap without sparing Aurora a look, not that she’d dare look away from her soulmate to acknowledge you, you wrapped an arm around his shoulder and kissed his cheek, the one San didn’t. Sliding his phone into his pocket in a hurry when you appeared in front of him, he smiled up at you and sat backward, inviting you in. One of his hands rested around your waist and the high waisted denim skirt hugging your hips. The other reached up to tuck some of your hair behind your ear, his fingertips dancing along the golden earrings hanging from your lobes. 

“Hi pretty girl.” Voice low, gravely, just for you, he coerced you closer for a real kiss, one gentle and slow. “You okay?” he asked through a breath. A shake of your head was enough for him. Anyone could feel the tension in the air, sprouting from a thousand places other than just your own heart. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, blinking his big brown eyes up at you behind his frames.

“It’s okay,” you whispered back, dragging your fingers through his hair. “I’ll just stay right here all night, and everything will be fine.”

Mingi squeezed your curves and smized. “Fine by me.”

“Hey, Tori?” Yunho’s voice sounded beside you. He left his spot on the couch to crouch next to the one the two of you sat on. Turning your head, ghosting Mingi’s kiss, you questioned him with a brow. “Can I talk to you for a second?” 

“Sure,” you said quietly, turning to Mingi who nodded at you and helped you off of his lap. Yunho lead you into the kitchen, out of earshot of everyone else. Towering above you, an inch taller than your boyfriend, he flickered his eyes in and out of the living room. “What’s up, Yo?”

He paced a bit, slowly, yet obvious his nervous system had been overloaded. He was going to talk about Aurora. And you were going to have to endure it.

“I don’t know what to do,” he sucked in a breath, shaking his head in tiny, a trillion times. “Up until the other night, no, until that party, no.” He paused, turning toward you. “The other night, the night at Wave, what the fuck.” 

“Words, Yunho,” you said gently, resting a hand on a counter.

He drug his hands through his hair and tried to take another deep breath, but it was as if his lungs had forgotten how to work. “I was fine. I could do this.”

“Do what?”

He grit his teeth, dropping his hands at his side. “Watch them. Be around them. Encounter them in the wild and not have it affect me so awfully terribly. But, now that she knows something, now that I know a lot of something, I can’t.” He gulped. He spun around once to catch a glimpse of the couple now sitting on the back of the sofa behind San, then faced you. “I just don’t know how I’m supposed to-”

“Then, go home,” you said. Shock slapped him across the face. “You can’t handle it, then leave. What else do you want me to say?”

Dropping his eyes, taking all of you in, as if to double check who he was speaking to, he said within a breath, “What?”

You shrugged. “You heard me.”

“Tor, I thought-”

“She’s not speaking to me anymore,” you said, and his face went blank. “Somehow, right now, I might be okay with that. If you want Aurora, you go get Aurora. I don’t want to help anymore.”

Leaving him in the kitchen, you backed away a few steps and started yourself toward Mingi. He followed you.

“Can you at least tell me why Mingi was so quick to defend Hwa that night?” he asked.

Facing him one last time, you sipped your drink and looked him in the eye. “You distanced yourself. From everyone. Is it so criminal they’ve grown closer? You’re no longer in the middle of them, they have a friendship of their own now.” He glanced over your head at the boys laughing together. “You want to know why, you ask him.”

You stepped away, but he took one step closer. 

“But, I thought we-”

“No,” you said, whipping your head toward him one last time. “Whatever you’re thinking, no. I don’t wanna be involved. You wanna play your games with her? Go ahead. You wanna pull my boyfriend through months of hell again, make him not speak to you? Go ahead. You did this. It’s your fault, Yunho.”

Turning from him, you didn’t let anything stop you this time, not Mingi’s attention, not Yunho’s shout of your name, nothing. Crinkling the can in your hand, you threw it to the hardwood and hurried for the front door, yanking it open, slamming it shut behind you without a care for the houses wellbeing or the people inside of it. Wandering over the porch to the front stairs, you took a couple down toward the sand in the yard and paused. 

Closing your eyes in the night air, taking a deep breath, planting your hand on one of the railings, you let the breeze ease the heat beneath your skin. Let it partially clear your head from all thoughts of the people in the living room, though the buzz of them could still be heard where you stood.

Everything you once wanted, everything that brought you down, the weighted thoughts, the heavy words, the awful feelings… It all came from them.

Everyone in the house.

A family you so desperately yearned to keep together.

Immovable forces, every single one of them. Beings full of freewill. In no way can you force them back where you wanted them. In no way can you make them feel how you want them to feel.

There was no putting them back together, they moved against you. Opposed to you.

Pulling your phone from the back pocket of your skirt, you tapped on your messages and sent one off to your father.

[you]: what if i dropped out of ITZ

The thought nauseated you, but it was the first thing to pop into your head as you stood out here without them. 

There were two unread messages from ITZ. One sent earlier, and the other sent about a minute ago.

[ITZ]: hi sexy. whats this night gonna be like :) 

[ITZ]: are you okay??

Sighing heavily, you sat down on the step you stood on and rolled your head backward. Tilting it side to side, looking either way into the shadows that bounced off of other houses, your eye caught a five foot something shaped shadow wandering closer to your porch.

“Tori?” he asked, and you groaned internally.

Jongseob appeared in the light pouring from the windows of your house, mere feet from where you sat on the step. His hands were in his dark denim pockets, his matching dark tee hanging over his waist. Dirty blonde hair fluffed on his head, he wore a pout and concern in his eyes.

“What do you want?” you grumbled.

He glanced back toward his house, where distant noise and commotion came from. “We’re smoking, I heard the door slam and saw you come out here. Just didn’t sound good.”

“So, you’re here to check on me?” you sneered, and he nodded, unaffected by your venom. “Thanks, but I’m fine.”

He took a step closer to the stairs. “Are you?”

“Yes,” you snapped. “Now leave me alone.”

A smirk found his lips, a flash of his teeth peeking between them. Tilting his chin back, he laughed. “This the thanks I get for exterminating your house?”

Narrowing your eyes, you shook your head. “What are you talking about?”

He glanced toward his porch, then lifted a brow. “I took care of your little Soul problem, didn’t I?”

Your stomach flipped. “That was you?”

“Yeah,” he shrugged. “It was obvious he bothered you. We’ve got a lot out of him since he’s been back, you’re friends with some freaks.”

Groaning aloud this time, you squeezed your eyes shut. “I know, I know!” 

“Surprised no party has ever turned into something more,” he said, lifting a foot to place it on the bottom stair. “Or does something like that happen tonight, when we aren’t invited.”

Shooting him a glare, you said, “Does it look like we’re in the middle of an orgy!?”

His eyes drew up and down your body. “Could be, I dunno. You’re unpredictable, Tori.”

A breath corrupted your lungs, and it shouldn’t have. His words, his stare, his intent. “You’ll say anything, won’t you?”

“I mean it,” he whispered, meeting your eyes with such ferocity. “There’s a lot I don’t know about you, a lot so many of us don’t know about you. You keep it hidden. But, I see it.” His eyes flashed to the door behind you. “I could look at every girl in there and know exactly who they are, know exactly how they work. Yuna, she needs someone to take care of her. Keni, she needs someone to control. Aurora, a slut.”

“Watch your mouth.”

He stepped up onto the stair, looking down at you now. “It’s the truth is it not? You know it, everyone knows it, no one speaks of it. How come?” 

Leaning down over you, his face inches from your own, his smile sparked something within you, it fueled your frustration for everyone in that living room, it gave you an excitement you hadn’t felt in months.

“I’m exactly like that son of a bitch in there, the one wearing Aurora. I see everything, I pick up on it all, I can figure out why these people work the way that they work, and I know how to take what they give me unknowingly, twist it up, and spit it back out at them.” 

You watched him in awe. 

“Wooyoung is quick, but I am quicker. They think Soul’s been rogue since he left with me from that last party?” 

You nodded. 

“He’s been drinking on my couch and passing a girl back and forth with Intak for days before he passes out in my bed for hours just to wake up and do it all over again. He’s twenty. What the fuck do they think he’s gonna do?”

“They say you guys take advantage of him,” you said quietly, and he scoffed.

“Advantage of what? What can Soul do?” He laughed. “He barely knows his right from his left, do they think he’s walking around telling people off, getting in fistfights, causing problems?” You shrugged. “He’s not,” he said with a wink. “That’s Wooyoung.”

“I dunno, they just-”

“Talk?” His smirk made you feel something you shouldn’t, but after a few drinks you couldn’t help yourself. “That’s all they ever do, isn’t it? Take it from me, as someone on the outside of it, Tor. Who are all of those people without this drama? All of your friends in there, what are they without something to talk about? Someone to do dirty? A plot to scheme up and pursue?”

Brainless, his pink lips knocked every thought from your head.

“Exactly,” he said softly, releasing a breath, one grazing your skin. “It’s all a game to them.” He reached out a hand and moved a strand of hair from your cheek. Your breath caught in your lungs. “And you’re another pawn, aren’t you?” He crouched down in front of you, his head between your legs if you were to part them. “Want some help?” he asked in a whisper, flashing you caramel doe eyes. “Mind if we come play?”

Their peace had been disturbed.

Giving Jongseob ten minutes to collect his friends, his groupies, you scurried back inside the house, bolting for the fridge for another drink to enjoy while the boys walked themselves in the house and everybody lounging around on the couches watched it happen. Mingi, with his eyes on you, gave you a smile, one small, loving, just enough to warm the edges of your heart hanging cold in your chest.

Standing behind the island counter, drink in hand, sipping in delicately, you returned it to him, but he didn’t believe you. Rising from the couch, giving Aurora and Wooyoung more space to spread out beside San, he joined you in the kitchen, a hand sliding around your shoulder.

The only acknowledgement of you returning inside, Yuna’s glance from where she sat on top of Jongho. Her always wide eyes met yours, full of worry, and they asked you questions, ones you couldn’t answer at the moment.

“What happened, Tor?” Mingi asked from your side, stepping closer to press his chest to your shoulder. His other hand squeezed you, fingers digging into muscle. “With Ryujin? With Yunho?”

Looking up at him, tipping your chin backward almost all the way, you planted a smile on your lips. “I’m over it.”

“Over what?” His brows furrowed.

“All of this.”

The front door swung open, the handle hitting the wall it slammed into as Jongseob stepped over the threshold with Soul wobbling under his arm, a big smile on both their faces. Behind them, Jiung, Intak, and a few other boys who’ve shown up to parties, are a part of ATZ, and have definitely heard plenty about you with how they grinned over Jongseob’s shoulder.

“Tori.” Mingi’s tone fell flat. Smiling, you glanced at him and stood to your tiptoes to plant a kiss to his cheek. He stared at the boys wandering in, one of them closing the door. “What the fuck?”

Taking sips of your drink, you stationed yourself here for the time being, watching it all play out before your eyes.

Confused, every single one of them, no one knew what to do, things for the most part fell silent aside from the boys' remarks about not being invited and what a way to welcome Soul home. Aurora didn’t look at him. Focused on Wooyoung who, what it seemed, tried to kill Intak with a glare, she pressed herself closer to him and toyed with the chain around his neck. 

Seonghwa was the only one to stand up, extending a hand toward the underclassmen, welcoming them in after Hongjoong finally whispered something to him and shoved him off the sofa. Pointing them around in the direction of things they’d need, drinks, bathroom, back patio, Jongseob took the president by the shoulder with a grin and thanked him. 

“All my shit still upstairs?” Soul asked him, his hand holding the back of Jongseob’s tee with a nasty grip. Seob did say they’d been smoking, you wouldn’t be surprised if any of them were doing both, furthering your interest in the rest of this night. 

Seonghwa clenched his jaw. “Yeah, your shit’s still upstairs. We didn’t touch anything.” 

Soul shot a look toward Aurora paying no mind to him and shouted, “That’s a shock!“

Both Intak and Jiung laughed, making their way past the couch the couples sat on, Intak sure to get his own death glare toward Wooyoung in before shaking Seonghwa’s hand.

Jiung pouted and nudged Soul's shoulder in a way that would’ve sent him to the floor if he wasn’t clinging to Jongseob. “Mommy didn’t touch your stuff?”

“Mommy hasn’t touched his stuff in a while,” Jongseob smized, and Wooyoung nearly leapt off of the couch. 

“This is not good,” Mingi mumbled beside you. He turned to you and your soft smile, scoffing at you in disbelief. “Are you enjoying this?”

You spared him a glance. “No, I, uh…”

“Come on,” Jongseob sang out, his head tipping backward as the boys laughed at something you missed. Aurora whispered to Wooyoung, you figured it was another comment about them. “Can we party, we came here to party!” Seob looked around for you, then pointed a finger in your direction. “You,” he winked. “Thank you.”

“For what?” Mingi asked behind his teeth just for you to hear. The boys whirled away as the music grew in volume, Mingi facing you completely. “Tori. What is he thanking you for?”

Pursing your lips, you took another sip of your drink. “Inviting them into my house.”

Within the hour the lights had dimmed, the amount of people doubled, and so did your consumption of drinks. Wedged between Jongseob and Jiung in the game room, the two of them shooting pool and blowing weed smoke in your face, you listened to them blab on and on about underground rappers they loved and what they were going to do when you and your friends left Haos. Intoxicated enough to not care that they were smoking inside, in a house you were renting that would most likely charge you for smoking inside, you bounced from one of their shoulders to the other sipping your umpteenth drink.

Bodies moved around you, other people the boys played with, faces unrecognizable, but fuck it, if Seob knew them then they were okay in your book tonight. 

“What are you on, baby girl?” Jongseob asked after his turn, balls clacking against one another, Jiung and the other players witnessing Seob’s almost victory, but he was too engrossed in you to realize. He touched the bottom of your can and you shrugged. Blinking through dazed eyes, he laughed at you. “Oh, you’re fucked up.”

Taking a hand to his shoulder, you squeezed him and laughed with him. “Nooo, no, no, M’not.”

Jongseob raised a brow and brought his hand to yours where it rested on him. “Baby, you can’t even speak full words.” 

Stepping closer to him, Jongseob ignored the joint between Jiung’s fingers hanging over his shoulder and let you move into him. “I can speak full words, Jongseob… Seob… Seobie.” Giggling, you leaned into him, but he didn’t move.

“Seobie, huh?” he questioned, smiling at you. “What about Mingi?” 

Your eyes widened and he winked. “Mingi,” you parroted. He bobbed his head.

“The boyfriend,” he said. “Where is he?”

“I dunno, I been with you this whole time.”

Jongseobs smile went crooked. “Yeah, you have. How come?”

Both of your hands found his chest. “Because…”

“Seob, you're up!” Jiung shouted from the opposite corner of the table. Jongseob shot him a glare and waved him off.

“…Are you the one who’s texting me?” you asked, and his head tilted, and his eyes widened a bit. Dirty blonde hair framed his face, his round cheeks, his charismatic aura.

“Am I texting you?” he asked.

“Yeah,” you said, leaning into him so much now that your chests were brushing. “I have this unknown number texting me, since we got here, I can’t figure out who it is… At first I thought it was you, but then I thought it was Yunho… But, it can’t be Yunho ‘cause he loves Ror, so, it’s gotta be you.”

Jongseob glanced over your shoulder, his lips parted in surprise. Meeting eyes with someone, he laughed aloud. 

“What’s this person saying to you?” It was Intak behind you. Short, black hair moved in your peripheral, but you focused on Jongseob. The edges of your vision were blurry.

“Sex stuff,” you said, and they both gasped, laughing together. “They’re saying I should tell Mingi, and we can have a threesome.”

“Sounds like you,” Intak said to Jongseob who gleamed with pride. “Is it?”

“I wish,” he spat. “That’s fuckin’ smart. Leading you on for this long, knowing you…”

“Knowing me?” you asked, shaking your head. The boys shared a look. 

“You aren’t gonna leave him alone,” Jongseob said, lowering his hands on your back. “You’re gonna keep pushing ‘till you figure out who it is.”

A pout formed on your lips. Your hands fisted his t-shirt into clumps. “Oh, c’mon, it’s not you?”

“Nah,” he shook his head, then his hands slipped even lower, feeling you up, searching for your phone. Ignoring how your breath stifled when his fingers grazed over your ass to pull it from your back pocket, you barely had time to react to anything at all. “Lemme see what y’all are talking about.”

“Seob, wait,” you breathed, moving to snatch it from him, but he was a little more sober than you were at the moment. Using your face ID to get into it, holding it up in front of you, you still weren’t quick enough to catch it. “Hang on!”

Intak watched over his shoulder, both boys snickering at the messages as they scrolled. Whining, shaking Seob’s arm around, not really doing much, you had to wait until they handed it back over.

“You faked an orgasm?” Jongseob shot you a look so disgusted you wanted to smack it off of his face. Lunging for the phone, he moved swiftly. “Oh, baby, come on. I think that would ruin my life,” he said to Intak, and his friend agreed, “If a girl faked it ‘cause of me, and told people about it, goodbye world.” 

“Nah, same, bro,” Intak groaned. “And I’ve got a rep now?! If a girl ever… Christ, man.” He looked you over and shrugged. “He’s lucky you’ve been together for ages, imagine if that was one hook up? Bro would be cooked.”

Bro. 

His name is Mingi.

“His name is Mingi,” you attempted to scoff, and they both snickered. Jongseob typed away at your phone before locking it and slapping it into your hand. 

“Don’t get defensive now, babe, it won’t do much, I can smell it from here.”

Pushing by you, gripping the back of your neck, Jongseob, followed by Intak and Jiung, moved you out of the game room and into the dark living room lit up by phone screens and the dim kitchen light. 

“Where are we going?” you asked, watching how he and his friends seemed to scour the place for familiar faces. 

“To find your friends,” he mumbled over the music. 

A boy passed by, the one from the other party, taking note of how Jongseob held onto you. “It’s your night Seob,” he cheered, tapping him on the shoulder with a fist. 

You raised a brow. “Your night?”

Jongseob touched a finger under your chin, giving you a smile. “Don’t worry about it.” His eye caught something on the second floor, from the balcony edge just after the staircase where the bar lived. “Find Soul,” he muttered to Intak and Jiung, “Let’s go.”

Yunho and Mingi sat at the bar. Facing their backs to the marble, leaning against it, their legs were hooked onto the rungs of the cushioned stools they were perched upon. Sipping from cocktail glasses, elbows nudging together every now and again, they spoke quietly to one another, eyes scoping the scene of their friends before them. 

Wooyoung in a lounge chair, Aurora on his lap. Jongho on the slender leather sofa pushed to the wall, Yuna smushed into his side, his arm around her. Yeosang and Keni relaxed into the other end of the couch, hands intertwined. San wandered about the circle, talking to someone new every five minutes. Ryujin and Jeongyeon sat on the floor in front of the couch. Seonghwa sat on the other lounge chair, Hongjoong either hovering behind him or sitting on the floor between his legs in front of the glass table that lived in the center on top of the blue patterned rug draped along the floor.

Other people teetered by occasionally, simply wandering from floor to floor, stopping by the group to say hi, to try to get on the inside, to earn their points as members of ATZ and ITZ. Neither Seonghwa nor Aurora paid much attention aside from a hi, this vacation wasn’t meant to turn into a Greek Life event.

They sat up here for comfort, to stay away from the younger crowd, to keep to themselves like the night was meant to be spent, just the core group. Not the incels down the street.

The ones you waddled up the stairs with.

The ones met with almost eleven complete death glares as you stepped up onto the second floor and expressed your excitement for finding everyone.

“You knew they were up here,” you said to Jongseob, hitting him with an elbow before teetering toward Mingi and Yunho. Both boys raised a brow, their eyes shifting between you and Jongseob. “Mingi,” you sighed with a smile, reaching for his arm. You were intoxicated enough to not notice him move away from you, leaning into Yunho.

“Where’ve you been?” he asked. 

You tried to reach for him again. Tilting your head, you laughed. “Whadda you mean? I’ve been here, downstairs, we were playing pool.”

“You don’t know how to play pool, Tor,” he said. Yunho pressed his lips together to hide his smile and turned away. “We moved up here and you said you’d come with us.”

Glancing around the space, the underclassmen now integrated with your friends, every exchange dripping with some sort of intended malice, you shook your shoulders in a little shimmy and gave him another smile. “I’m here now,” you said. “And they aren’t so bad.” Gesturing toward the younger boys standing over their elders, talking down to them, both Mingi and Yunho let out a quiet snicker. Mingi’s ended with a groan.

“You’re pushing all of us away,” Mingi said, just to you. “None of this is you, Torilynn. I thought we were moving past things, I thought we were getting through these things together, but I can’t…” he paused, shaking his head, “I don’t know why you’re doing what you’re doing. And that hurts me, because I used to know why you did every little thing, why every single detail of every single thing mattered.” 

You blinked at him. Unfortunately you processed every other word. 

“Doing this? Bringing them here when you know they cause problems? Bringing them here to, I dunno, maybe cause problems? ‘Cause you know how we all feel about them, you know what they do to Rora, you know how they look at me. You know it, Tori. And you did it anyway.”

Soul hurried around the bar with the biggest smile on his face, his black eyes alight with excitement. Watching him push around bottles of liquor and tiny glasses while the other boys shouted at him, you dropped your jaw, searching your mind for something to say to Mingi, but you couldn’t find a word. 

He was right.

Clenching his jaw, staring at you, waiting for you to speak, he shook his head and sipped his drink realizing he wasn’t going to get anything out of you. 

“Come on,” Soul said to you, bumping into your shoulder, inches taller than you were. He nodded toward the group forming a circle around the glass table. The younger boys coerced everyone closer, the circle tightening with sighs and groans and rolls of eyes. Holding up a bottle of vodka, Soul laughed. “Let’s play.”

Meeting Jongseob’s gaze from across the room, his smirk drilled beneath your skin, warming you, yet filling you with some kind of unease you couldn’t quite place. Jongho waved Mingi over before you had the chance to grab onto him, your titan of a boyfriend strolling toward the couple on the couch, perching himself on the arm of the leather next to his friend. Yunho joined the group as well, keeping himself still on the outskirts of it all, sitting down on the floor beside Seonghwa and Hongjoong, Mingi on the couch on the other side of him.

With every reluctant step toward them the tension seemed to ease. Everyone focused on Soul handing out shot glasses, wanting them full, some of your friends knocking them back before any game actually began. Stepping over legs, brushing past faces you didn’t dare look at, you ended up between Ryujin and Jeongyeon on the floor, stretching your legs out under the glass, letting them fix your hair and fawn over you for a few seconds.

“You okay?” Ryujin asked, but the look you gave her made her frown. “It’s okay,” she mumbled, acknowledging the moment you shared earlier. Acknowledging everything actually it seemed. Squeezing your shoulder, she smiled. “Stay right here,” she handed you a shot, “Drink, play games, just chill, okay?” You nodded, taking the shot, adding more fuel to the fire. “This night’ll be over before you know it. Tomorrow I’ll help you fix whatever you gotta fix.”

“Thanks,” you whispered, leaning into her, feeling Jeongyeon’s gentle eyes watching over the two of you. 

Glancing toward Mingi, he talked with Seonghwa and Hongjoong. Glancing toward Aurora, she held Wooyoung tight around the neck, her eyes pointed toward Soul on his knees opposite you at the table, filling up the glasses as Jiung and Intak on either side cheered him on. Wooyoung smoothed a hand over her thigh, his arm wrapped around her back. Yunho watched that hand and took his shot, slamming it down on the table for more. Soul obliged, his own eyes shifting from Yunho to Aurora.

Sliding one of the glasses to the end of the table, Soul said, “Aurora.” She faced Wooyoung immediately, the two gazing at one another, Wooyoung whispering something to her. Soul’s brow furrowed slightly, his eyes flickering to the glass. Fingers splayed out on the table, he drummed them once, licked his lips, finally blinked, then took the glass and poured the liquor down his own throat. 

“What are we playing?” Yeosang called out, twirling the glass in his hand, his other arm wrapped around Keni. 

San, on the arm rest beside him, emphasized his question with a, “Yeah! Let me show you boys how it’s done, I’ll outdrink every single one of you.”

Jongseob, who stood on his feet, positioned himself between Seonghwa on the chair and Jiung on the floor. “Not that kinda game,” he grinned, lifting his full glass with a cheers before knocking it back.

Yuna, leaning forward onto her knees, gave him a curious look. “What is it?”

Jongseob beamed. “Truth or Dare.”

A chorus of groans erupted amongst crackles of laughter, both intrigued and degrading. 

“I need everyone to take three more shots,” Jongseob demanded, eyebrows raised to his hairline. 

With giggles they listened, even you, taking the glass from Ryujin after it’d been filled again. The only two to not move, Wooyoung and Aurora. As your friends, your boyfriend, and the other boys chattered happily amongst themselves, the tension finally easing with every shot taken, you eyed Jongseob and the way he studied your best friend and her boyfriend. He waltzed over to them, behind the lounge chair they sat upon, and shoved his head in between theirs. 

“Three more,” he smiled, making sure to look in both their eyes, noses centimeters apart. “Or you’re not playing.”

Aurora curled her lip. “Then we’re not playing.”

Jongseob narrowed his eyes. “Then, I need you to leave the room.”  

“Who the fuck do you-”

Jongseob cut Wooyoung off before he had the chance to say more.

“Last I checked, you have no authority to talk shit,” he spat. “You think you belong here, but do you?” Wooyoung tightened his jaw. Jongseob turned to Aurora, looked her up and down, drew his tongue over his lips, then shot his glare back toward Wooyoung. “She’s the only one who cares by the way. They don’t give a fuck. No one else would miss you if you weren’t here.”

“Hey,” San spoke up from the couch to the right of Aurora, tuning into the exchange too late. “The fuck did you just say?”

Jongseob stood up straight, his chin lifted a smidge. Giving San a smile and the subtlest wink, he said, “Don’t worry ‘bout it, pretty boy.” 

Wooyoung leaned forward, taking Aurora with him. Snatching two glasses from the table he took them both, placed them back down for Soul to refill them, then lifted them to Aurora’s lips for her to drink.

Jongseob smacked a hand to his head and ruffled his black waves. “Good,” he snickered. “Everyone have three?” A chorus of yes’s showered over him, even yours. Making his way back to the other side of Jiung, his eyes locked on you, he grinned. “Perfect.” Picking up the bottle of vodka off the table by the handle, he held it in the air before he dropped it into Seonghwa’s lap. The president jumped, legs squeezing together, capturing both Hongjoong and the bottle between them. 

“It goes in a circle. You have the bottle, you can ask one person, truth or dare, but you can only ask once.” Jongseob’s gaze traveled around the circle, everyone's attention glued to him. “Nothing is off limits. Every truth must be answered, every dare must be completed.”

Ryujin scoffed. “What if it’s completely inappropriate, I don’t think that’s fair at all. You’re in a room full of couples.”

Jongseob’s eyes sparkled. He glanced toward Aurora and Wooyoung, then Soul, then Yunho, then you. “Don’t take it too seriously,” he said softly. “It’s just a game.”

All eyes pointed to Seonghwa, the air growing thicker as silence ensued.

“Uh,” he sang, bouncing the bottle in his hands. Searching the room for a face, he chose to stare down at the bottle as a tiny smile found his lips. “Hey, H.”

Hongjoong froze on the floor in front of him. A giggle came out of Yuna, and though the rest of you kept quiet, more than half of you wore a smile. This game, so childish, yet so invigorating.

Seonghwa cleared his throat. “Truth or dare?”

Hongjoong sighed. It took him a few seconds to answer him. They weren’t even looking at each other. The vice president lived between his knees on the floor, fondling a shot glass between his ring wearing fingers. 

“Truth,” he said, rushed.

Seonghwa held in a laugh, something you all witnessed but Hongjoong missed. His voice came out quiet, with a hint of humor, but completely serious. “You really like that thing I do with my tongue?”

Giggles poured from more of you than just Yuna this time. Jongho squeezed his eyes shut with a smile, Mingi’s melody filled the air, and Yeosang and Keni both loosed quiet laughs in the form of breath. San’s jaw dropped, the sophomores nibbled at their nails furiously, grins behind their hands, and Aurora and Wooyoung, they didn’t move.

Whirling around, jumping onto his knees on the floor, Hongjoong slapped one of Seonghwa’s thighs, making the president laugh. “Bastard!”

“Answer it,” Jongseob said, one of the only ones with a steady face.

Dropping his chin, Seonghwa raised a brow. Hongjoong took a deep breath.

“Sorry,” Seonghwa whispered, his smile never leaving his lips.

Hongjoong shook his head. “I do,” he forced out of him, and the room erupted with cheers. Ryujin slapped her hands to the table, San took another shot and threw his arms out with a shout of when’s it my turn, and the sophomores shared glances with one another. 

Seonghwa, after winking at Hongjoong, looked to Jongseob and held up the bottle. 

“Pass it,” he gestured to Hongjoong, and the vice president took the bottle into his hands, situating himself back on the floor between Seonghwa’s knees.

Cheeks pink, unable to look at anyone, he rolled his eyes and groaned at once. “San,” he grumbled, and the boy on the end of the couch perked up. You could feel his excitement.

“Hongjoong,” he said with all of his chest.

“Truth or da-”

“Dare.”

You giggled with the girls around you, all of you leaning forward to catch a glimpse of him riding the edge of the arm rest, buzzing with adrenaline. Heart pounding in your own chest, knowing that many of your friends felt the same, you waited with baited breath. San would do anything. Twice. Even Aurora finally broke into a smile, gazing over at him.

Hongjoong’s eyes traveled from San to Wooyoung. The corners of his lips tipped up, his wicked smile cracking onto his cheeks pairing with his sharp eyes, the devil personified. “I dare you…” San gulped, eyes growing wider as Hongjoong paused. Like a dog being taunted with ribeye. “To swap places with Wooyoung.” 

Snapping his head to the side, they looked at each other, the three of them. Sighing, Aurora gave a look to Wooyoung and reluctantly slid off of his lap. San hadn’t even accepted and she was already moving. Intak and Jiung both snickered under their breath. 

“Done,” San said, and everyone egged them on. Meaningless words and sounds they didn’t even pay attention to. Wooyoung moved around him, the two sharing a look and a quick slip of their hands over each other before assuming their new positions.  Flopping down in the lounge chair, soft smile on his face, he glanced up at Aurora and tapped his lap a few times. “Don’t be shy.”

Intak muttered, “When is she ever,” and Jiung and Seob nearly choked on their laughter. Soul’s face rendered unreadable.

Wooyoung’s glare across the room held zero power anymore. The sophomores teased him with pouty faces. 

Hongjoong passed the bottle to Yunho. Barely able to look up at the group, paralyzed where he sat on the floor, he studied the glass and shrugged. 

“Uh, Tori,” he mumbled, and your stomach flipped. “Truth or dare?”

“Why her?” Jiung whispered to his friends. 

Intak gave him a look. “Are we surprised? He don’t talk to these people no more.”

Taking a breath, you sat forward and focused on him. “Truth,” you sighed, giving a quick look to Mingi who found interest in the chandelier hanging above your heads.

Yunho pursed his lips and looked at you. “Make any new friends since you’ve been here?” 

The attention was on you now, everyones curious gazes pointed toward you, wondering why he would ask such a question.

“Uh,” you drug out, half racking your brain for an answer, also wondering why he’d ask such a question. All thoughts of why were wiped away when Intak opened his mouth.

“Oh, I get why,” he said entirely too loud to Jiung, catching the room's attention. Mingi stared at him for many seconds before his eyes ripped toward you. Seob smized. Your body filled with heat, and not the good kind.

“No, I haven’t,” you said to Yunho. “But, thanks for asking.”

His glare burned into yours. Thrusting the bottle toward Mingi, after your boyfriend took it he tucked his knees into his chest, wrapping his arms around them, averting his glare to the floor. 

“Yeosang,” Mingi called out with a shrug. 

His arm not wrapped around Keni shot in the air. “Me!”

Mingi smiled and nudged his glasses up his nose. “Truth or dare?”

Consulting with his girlfriend, Yeosang tipped his chin back with a grin. “Truth, why not.”

“Oh god, I don’t know what to ask,” Mingi laughed, and half the room laughed with him with hearty encouragement thrown toward him, mumbles of it doesn’t have to be insane comforting to his ears, and Yeosang’s too. Jongseob rolled his eyes. “Uh, how… How are you guys?” Your boyfriend gestured to Keni with a nod of his head, and the couple smiled together.

The sophomores across the table groaned, giving him looks of disbelief that your friends kept to themselves. Half the room disappointed with the innocent question, the other half admiring him for it. You think you stood right in the middle. Where you wanted the taboo, the questions that should be saved for privacy, for the couple only, this question was entirely Mingi and everything he stood for. 

“We’re fantastic,” Yeosang said with his chest, pulling Keni closer to him. “Thank you for asking, Mingi.” 

Your boyfriend shot him a lopsided smile and a shrug, brushing off his thanks. “Sure,” he said, handing the bottle to Jongho.

“Truth or dare,” he said to Yuna quickly.

Taken aback, she faced him and laughed. “Dare,” she whispered, and you and Ryujin glimmering on the floor with oo’s and giggles.

Jongho smirked. “Dare you to show them how you kissed me last night.”

Now the room erupted in oo’s and giggles. Soul refilled shot glasses as everyone shifted, laughing as Yuna gave everyone a look of dismay, calling out for her to do it, do it, do it!

Reaching for a shot glass, everyone shouting louder and louder, Yuna knocked the liquor back and flung herself onto Jongho’s lap, engulfing his lips with her own, but she didn’t stop there. Her tongue slipped out from her lips, meeting Jongho’s in the middle of it all, the two pressing together before she welcomed it into her mouth, wrapping her lips around it. His hands slipped around her ass and Ryujin grabbed onto you, the two of you screeching aloud as the others cheered for them. 

Glancing over to Aurora, you found her watching Yuna with a proud smile, and it pulled at your heart. She should be here on the floor with you and Ryujin. San cheered behind her, his crude comments showering over the couple grinding on the couch like dirty rainfall, but she didn’t say much. She simply smiled. 

Yuna pulled back from Jongho with a smack of their lips and the room audibly expressed their disappointment. Laughing, she tried to slide off of his lap, but he held her in place.

“You have to stay right here,” he mumbled, trying to keep it quiet, but you all caught it. 

Yeosang deepened his voice and called out, “Jjong’s got a boner!”

San leaned forward, holding onto Aurora as he moved, and said to Yeosang, “Are we surprised?”

Jongho shot him a glare. San simply smiled back at him.

Yuna, staying on top of her boyfriend, twisted herself around and faced the group, taking the bottle of vodka in her hands. “Sheesh,” she sighed, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. Looking at Aurora she uttered a quiet, “I think I get it,” and took a deep breath. Jongho smirked behind her, side eyeing Wooyoung. You turned to catch his reaction, but found him looking down at his shoes where he sat on the arm rest.

Twisting the lid off the bottle, Yuna took a swig, some of the boys exclaiming in surprise, clapping their hands together. The sophomores, except Jongseob, leaned over the table, their wide eyes glued to Yuna. Gulping some of the alcohol down, with furrowed brows she fumbled to put the lid back on. Jongho took it from her and fixed it as she shot a hand toward Soul.

“You,” she said. Intak and Jiung whipped their heads toward him, lips parted in shock. “Truth or…” she hiccuped and giggled, “Truth or dare?”

Soul, blinking up at her, muttered, “Truth.”

She hesitated, looking at him with such intrigue that the room fell quiet. When she spoke, she gagged you all.

“How many times did you hook up with Aurora and Wooyoung?”

Intak, Jiung, and Jongseob lost their absolute shit. Hands flying to their faces, smacking each other, laughter ringing and echoing into the high ceiling and likely over the first floor. Ryujin, jaw agape, eyes wide, glanced around because this was the first her and Jeongyeon had heard of this. Jongho, keeping a laugh inside, jokingly placed a hand over his girlfriend's mouth making Seonghwa and Hongjoong snicker.

“What?” Ryujin shouted amidst the noise, looking up at Aurora who wore nothing on her face. San rubbed a hand into her shoulder as he and Wooyoung looked at one another. 

Yunho didn’t move, but his eyes studied everyone.

Soul, unable to acknowledge anyone, even his friends, he flattened out his brows and said, “Together or separate?” 

Everyone lost their shit.

Except you. Except Aurora and Wooyoung. Except Yunho.

Yuna, distracted by the shouts, the shoves towards her, she blinked about the room and said, “Both.”

Souls lips perked into a small smile as he glanced away from her. “Mm,” he hummed, “Six times together? A lot of times separate…”

San lurched forward, both of his arms snatching Aurora by the waist, holding him against her as he shouted at Soul, “Six?!” Wooyoung gave him a glare.

“How many times separate?” Yuna asked.

Ryujin, reading the room much faster than anyone else, smacked Yuna on the thigh. “Shut up.” She looked over to Jongseob laughing with Jiung. “Thought we could only ask once?”

He assumed his game master role and cleared his throat, his smile dying down, the occasional snicker sneaking out. “Right, right, you can’t ask multiple questions, my bad,” he said, half assed. 

Reluctantly, you turned toward Mingi. You could feel someone’s eyes on you, and lo and behold, it was your boyfriend. His heavy stare spoke to you. If you hadn’t opened your mouth, if you hadn’t said anything, she would’ve never asked Soul that question. You knew that. His glare didn’t help, it made you feel worse. Whirling away from him, you looked toward Aurora and swallowed hard. Stone faced, she sat on San’s lap looking out at the rowdy bunch before her on the floor with a distaste pulling at her lips. 

As if she were better than all of them. All of you.

Your guilt disappeared in seconds.

The game moved along, the bottle passed from Ryujin to you after another innocent question for Keni about Yeosang. With the glass in hand, you spun it around and debated gulping some of it down like Yuna did, but your head already spun and your vision blurred more than it was when you were downstairs. The glass in your hands, utter power. You could ask anyone anything, you could make anyone do anything you wanted, and they had to do it. 

Meeting Jongseob’s eyes, his expression shifted into one that shot through you down to between your legs. He wanted you to ask anyone anything, he wanted you to make someone do something… Anything and something that would create waves and cause problems. 

“Yunho,” you said, and like when he chose you, some of your friends wore confusion on their faces. He didn’t move his eyes from the floor. With a single raise of a brow he bobbed his head, wanting to be anywhere but here. “Truth or dare?”

He lifted his hardened gaze. “Dare,” he spat, and a few exclaims of interest sounded around you.

“I dare you to kiss the prettiest person in the room,” you said without taking a breath, and watched as he clenched his jaw and tightened his fists around his knees. This could be it. This could be the moment shit went down. You wanted it to be.

“Really?” he sneered. “You got that from that Perks movie, care to be a little more original?”

You smiled. “Do it.”

“Fine,” he sighed and leapt onto his feet. Aurora reacted behind you, sinking further into San’s hold, back into his chest. Staring at you until he took a few steps over toward your boyfriend and grabbed his face, he squeezed his eyes shut and planted his lips on Mingi’s, shouts and screams breaking out over the plot twist tainting your master plan.  “There,” he said, letting your boyfriend go. Tapping his cheek with his slender fingers, Yunho nodded once and sat back down on the floor.

Mingi, dumbfounded, drug his fingers over his lips and glanced around the room, Jongho laughing at him, swatting at his arm. 

Rolling your eyes, you ignored Yunho’s smug little grin and handed the bottle over to Keni.

From Keni, to Yeosang, to Wooyoung, to Aurora, the four of them kept it less exciting than the first half of the circle, a whole bunch of truth’s all of you already knew of happening at once. The moment Aurora passed the vodka to San, everyone perked up.

With a charming smile, he shouted, “Yuna!”

Jongho groaned as his girlfriend sprung up straight.

“Truth or dare, sweetie,” San cooed.

She smiled and bit down on her lip. “Dare!” The energy in the room woke back up, the sophomores leaning over the table toward her again, their eager eyes darting from San to Yuna in anticipation. 

Wiggling his finger, signaling for her to spin around on Jongho’s lap, he said softly, “Dare you to show us that lil kiss again, please.” 

“Fuck yes,” Jiung muttered.

It didn’t take much more convincing. Yunal, clearly plastered, scrambled to straddle her boyfriend and deep throat his tongue.

“Oh my god,” Ryujin groaned with a smile, shaking her head toward the boys. “You guys are gross.”

“It’s hot,” Intak said, jaw slack, eyes on Yuna. 

“Moving on!” Ryujin shouted, waving her hand at San to pass the bottle along. Yuna fell backward, her and Jongho giggling together. “No one can ask them to do that again!”

Intak shot her a look. “Then I’ll ask you two to do what I really wanna watch,” he said, making sure Jeongyeon was looking at him. You kicked your foot into his thigh under the table. “Ah!” he cringed.

“Don’t be a perv,” you snapped.

Intak leaned over the glass. “Would you prefer I ask you and Aurora?” 

Jongseob appeared behind him and dug his fingers into his friend's hair, yanking his head backward. “Enough,” he eyed the bottle of vodka and cocked his chin. “Keep going.”

The bottle passed through Soul, over to Intak who didn’t ask what you thought he would ask, both boys keeping it light, asking one of their seniors about their first time, targeting both Seonghwa and Yeosang, like they planned to ask them both. When Jiung held the vodka, he pursed his lips and glanced around, everyone seeming like an excellent target, until he landed on you.

“Tori,” he smiled. You rolled your eyes. “Truth or dare?”

Sighing, you settled against Ryujin and shrugged. “Dare, I guess.”

Jiung blinked and his eyes went dark. “I dare you to kiss Jongseob.”

All of the air had been sucked out of the room. Blood running cold, your throat tightened and panic set in fast. Ryujin gripped onto your knee. No one moved. For the first time, no one had anything to say aside from Yeosang who let out a disapproving hum, shaking his head toward Jiung.

Jongseob raised his hand, taking the attention off of you, off of his friend. Wearing compassion on his cheeks, he gestured toward Mingi, then you. “I just… No.”

Jiung whipped his head around. “You said nothing was off limits.”

“I know,” Seob chuckled, placing his hand to his chest. “But, that feels really wrong. I can’t do that. We can’t have her do that.”

“Do it,” Mingi said without an ounce of aggression in his tone.

Every being in the room stared at him, eyes wide, surprise between their teeth, even yours. Aurora, brows flipped to oblivion, sat forward off of San’s lap, eyes bouncing from you, to Mingi, to Jongseob, to Jiung, and back. 

Your boyfriend shrugged. “What? It’s a game, right?” He aimed his question at Jongseob who feigned his own shock. 

“Course,” the boy nodded. “It’s a game, but… I’ll let her pass this once.”

You exchanged a glance with Mingi, one you absolutely could not read. Whatever went through his head, you couldn’t figure it out. You couldn’t see it, you couldn’t place it.

“Do it,” he shrugged again, gesturing to Jongseob.

“Tori,” Aurora said from San’s lap, the sound of her voice and your name jarring. With a snap of your neck you shot her a bewildered look, and her don’t do this expression aided you in your decision.

Without acknowledging Mingi one last time, using Aurora and her plea to get you off your ass, onto your feet, and over to Jongseob, you grabbed him by the neck, ignored the gasps behind you and his fake ass shock he wore on his face, you yanked him into you and kissed him.

You kissed Jongseob.

In front of the entire room. In front of your boyfriend.

Alcohol driving this bus, you dug your fingers into his neck and parted your lips to deepen the kiss, giving Jiung exactly what he wanted, exactly what Jongseob wanted. His lips, warm and full, they knew how to work, and they knew how to work with you, even for your first kiss, he already knew how to work you. Tasting of alcohol and adultery, your heart ignited in your chest, flames engulfing your inhibitions, moving your hands up into his hair, tugging at the dirty blonde shag that drove you insane.

It didn’t have to be this way. You’d been dared to kiss him, not swallow him whole.

But, this could be your only chance. To kiss him. To touch him. 

The moment your hips wanted to grind into him you pushed him away, and the stifled laughter and gasps that had continued around you bled back into your ears. Jongseob, cheeks pink and lips wet, he cleared his throat and looked away from you. Narrowing your eyes at the pretender, you took a deep breath, mustered up the courage to turn around and wedge yourself back between your friends, and did just that. 

You didn’t dare look at Mingi.

Your adrenaline, your excitement, your arousal, it outweighed your guilt.

The game moved on.

Seonghwa, bottle in hand, looked over at Yunho, and the giant curled up into a ball sighed heavily and shook his head. “Truth or dare?”

Yunho blinked blankly. “Truth.”

“When was the last time you spoke to Mina?” Seonghwa asked, tone dripping in utter sincerity, genuine curiosity. The name sent a chill through the room. Peeking at Aurora, her eyes were sharp, staring at him.

Reaching into his pocket, Yunho pulled out his phone and scrolled, and scrolled. “Uh, when school ended. Little over a month ago.” He spoke quietly. He was afraid to say it. 

And the game moved on.

The bottle rounded the circle, the bottle made everyone laugh, made everyone answer ridiculous questions, say absurd things, and then Aurora got it in her hands, her eyes having barely left Yunho since he answered Seonghwa’s question.

“Truth or dare?” she asked, and Yunho gulped.

“Me?”

Aurora nodded.

“Uh,” he stammered, sparing Wooyoung a glance. “T- D- Truth.” 

She didn’t miss a beat. Sitting forward on San, she clutched the bottle with a glare and perfect posture. “Why’d you text her?” 

Yunho’s eyes bugged out of his head. “I- I- I didn’t,” he said, folding his legs beneath him and his hands onto his middle. You peeked at his fingers. He was trembling. “She texted me.” Everyone watched them like ping pong.

“Why?” Aurora asked, and just as Yunho parted his lips to speak, Jongseob cut them off.

“Gotta wait your turn again,” he policed, and a majority of the room groaned to themselves, as if he’d just shut off the television in the middle of a crucial episode. 

Sitting back against San, settling back into his touch, she lobbed the bottle behind her and he took it. Disappointment washed over her as her eyes dropped to the floor, and you couldn’t help the laugh that escaped you. Accidental, you think, but it made her lips pull into a frown, her eyes glossing over. She held back tears. Soul watched her with broken hearts flowing out of him toward her. 

And the game moved on.

The bottle rounded the circle, and it ended up in Jiung’s hands once more.

“Tori,” he said, and the room groaned. “Truth or dare?”

“Truth,” you said, sitting up straight.

Jiung tilted his head, toying with his ginger curls for a moment. “Why did you think Seob was the ITZ texter? The number you don’t know?”

Now immediate panic set it. Confused looks faced you, mumbled questions of what the fuck is he talking about. Mouth gone dry, you shook your head.

“What ITZ number?” Ryujin asked from beside you, trying to catch your eye, but you could only focus on Jiung. Not an ounce of malice lived within the question. He asked you genuinely.

Looking at Ryujin, he blinked, then turned to you. “The one texting you about sex stuff?”

Yunho sat forward. “You thought it was him?” He threw a hand toward Seob where he stood.

Mingi shot a look toward his best friend. “You knew?”

“What ITZ number are we talking about?” Yuna asked, glimpsing in a million directions at once, unable to keep up with the commotion.

“Wait,” Aurora said, strength in her tone, raising her voice. The room quieted some. “The ITZ phone number?” Glaring at her, she glared right back. 

Yes, the ITZ phone number, the texts you read at the bar when you did drugs and couldn’t stand up on your own.

“It’s been texting her since you all got here. Juicy messages, too.” Jiung turned to Yunho. “She thought it was you, but she just asked Seob if it was him downstairs.”

Aurora let a singular laugh tumble from her chest. “You thought Yunho was sending you sex stuff?”

Holding up a hand, you started, “I realized it wasn’t him before-”

“This number, ITZ, I’ve been thinking is some secret group chat with all of you in it,” she pointed at each of your friends, “You thought it was Yunho?” 

Ryujin and Yuna, they shook their heads, they didn’t speak, they waited.

The chill of being found out had flushed through you, now your blood ran red hot. “Why do you care if it was, Aurora? You only care about one thing now!” You tossed a hand over Jeongyeon toward Wooyoung who gave you his infamous grimace. 

Aurora slapped her hand to her chest. “You kept it from me.”

Because Aurora needs to know everything.

Groaning aloud, wanting to tear your hands through your hair, wanting to throw the shot glasses off of the table and flip it as well, you sat up to your knees. “Why do you care! Because you still love him? Because you miss him? Because if that test gave you a plus instead you’d be pushing out his kid right now?” Ryujin latched a hand onto your arm, and Yuna gasped, both of her hands squishing her cheeks together. 

Nobody moved. On the edge of their seats, every single one of them.

“Tori, shut up,” Ryujin demanded.

You flung her arm off of you. “No!”

Yunho stood to his feet, his cheeks flushed of all color. If you didn’t notice him trembling before, it stood out now. “What?”

Aurora released a shaky breath. “Yunho, I-”

He never raised his voice. Sure, a passionate man, a loud man, his volume often grew out of control, but never through anger. Never through pure frustration. He never scared you, but in this moment, he did.

“You couldn’t have broken your stupid ass rule to at least tell me that?!”

His voice echoed, ringing against the glass in the room, the bottles, the table, the shot glasses. His voice struck not only you, but everyone in the room. Aurora. 

He fled the scene, his long legs removing him from any and all narratives in seconds. Aurora stumbled off of San’s lap, a sob escaping her as she chased him down the stairs. Wooyoung sprung to his feet, his grimace upon you once more.

“That’s your girl for you, Wooyoung,” you sneered, and he scoffed.

“You think she didn’t tell me?” His words pointed a gun to your heart and pulled the trigger. “News flash to you Tor, and anyone, since you’re all invested when it’s none of your business- Ro and I weren’t anything until we went home for winter break. Before any of it, we were friends.”

Curling your lip, you spat, “You’re her therapist.”

Wooyoung settled his jaw. “We communicate, Tori. Not shocked you don’t know what that looks like.”

Silence followed as he took himself out of the room and down the stairs. 

Intak, with a rich smile pulling at his lips, he took the bottle of vodka from Jiung and filled up the shot glasses. Each sophomore took one, even Soul. Hongjoong reached for two and handed one back to Seonghwa who avoided eye contact with anybody. San took a glass as well, holding it up toward his president before gulping it down.

Jongseob, licking his lips, eyed you where you sat as he wandered behind Intak, taking the bottle from his hands. Just like you, everyone on the couch behind you, the girls beside you, you sighed, silent plea’s for this to be over.

He looked at Mingi and gestured toward him with the bottle.

“Truth or dare.”

Glancing toward your boyfriend, he gave you a side eye, then answered, “Dare.”

Jongseob smirked. “I dare you to read the last text you received out loud.”

Taking his time, Mingi wiggled out his phone. Popping open his messages, he took a deep breath and released it with a ragged sigh. Blinking fervently, he read it aloud, and you wanted to be sick.

“Forgive me,” he started, and Jongseob smiled. “I’ll do anything you want me to do, I’ll be your good girl,” he paused to gulp, not letting sounds from anyone deter him from finishing reading, “I know who I wanna play with. Let’s play, I’ll be so good for you.” He slapped his phone to his thigh.

“Goddamn,” Jongho laughed, nudging him with his elbow, nearly pushing him off the edge of the arm rest. 

A lump lodged into your throat. Bile rose within you, you wanted to scream, but could only manage to whisper, “Who the fuck sent that?” 

“Oh my god,” Yuna mumbled, covering her mouth, and everyone seemed to react just the same.

Everyone had thought that message came from you. They assumed it came from you.

Mingi narrowed his eyes, they drew all over you, then met your glare. “Tori…”

“Mingi,” you said louder, standing up, hands balling into fists. “Who the fuck sent that message?”

Your boyfriend stood to his feet, sliding his phone back into his pocket. Confusion warped through him, and it lingered. “You did.”

“No the fuck I didn’t?!” you shouted, scrambling to get a hold of your phone.

Tilting his head, he froze, looking you over. Then, he looked at Jongseob and his shit eating grin.

“Tori, check your fucking phone,” he grumbled, every muscle in his body tensing, his ears turning red, the color bleeding into his cheeks.

Swiping through apps, you landed on messages and tapped through them. It didn’t live in his thread, the last messages you sent to one another were from yesterday and what snacks he wanted you to bring to the beach.

“Mingi, I didn’t send that fucking message, I-”

Breath caught in your throat.

Tapping onto the thread with ITZ, that message resided there. Sent over an hour ago, just after the are you okay message from ITZ themself.

Looking up at him, you found him walking toward Jongseob, his fists tight at his side.

It was Mingi.

It’d been Mingi this whole time.

ITZ, the unknown number, belonged to your very own boyfriend.

Frozen in shock, in subtle betrayal, in amazement that he’d been able to pull this off, you couldn’t stop him from grabbing Jongseob by the collar of his shirt, one of his fists hauling backward before he launched it into his jaw. Every other person in the room leapt to their feet, the boys rushing in to pull the two apart, shouts echoing through the air, but never penetrating your ears.

Jongseob sent the text.

And Mingi received it.

Mingi, who through anonymous text message, told you he wanted to set up… a threesome. 

And Jongseob read that.

Jongseob who curated that message, had known Mingi would read it, played innocent throughout this game of truth or dare so that when the opportunity arose for one of his friends to dare you to kiss him, Mingi would allow it. 

Because he was under the impression you’d chosen Jongseob.

Wooyoung is quick, but I am quicker.

Mind if we come play?

Checkmate. 

Unsure about some things they've talked about? home;run might answer some quetions <3 Pop into my inbox and I can pinpoint where you need to go! <3

read it on ao3 | talk to me | my masterlist

you do not have permission to copy or translate my works without my consent.

[egophiliac]

don't think I'm not still obsessing over 7-12

[psink]

Whilst overall I prefer the manga to the anime, there's one aspect that I think the anime does better - the very ending.

Compared to the manga's very compactly shown thoughts of the cast, the anime gives each of them a short scene.

But although that change already is great, what matters to me the most, is this added scene of Saiko.

Despite it being so short, it feels so fitting and important to Saiko's character, making its absence in the original seem wrong. (They also added Rifuta, though comparatively, her scene isn't so significant.)

[brofightiscancelled]

ok kind of an insane ask so feel free to ignore but would you be able to translate "友達バリア" by deco*27? i can't find any translations online and i wanna see if i'm right about the song kind of fitting the matsus... it's also a banger imo

- vocamatsu anon

omg.... tbh i have a feeling deco will make a video for this one which means we'll get an official english translation of it, rendering this completely redundant, but i'm really cheesed to have been asked, so i gave it a shot for you anyways <3

Friend-zoned, love fire, sparks flying HIBANA We're ready, set to lock horns, love's ultimate showdown I'm outmatched- but it's not over yet! I won't let this end! With a dazzling, never-give-up attitude, I'll break through your defenses!

The despair of never getting anything more of this Your behavior, nor what's going on in your head- I can't read it at all! I can't help but envy the kindness you radiate Omnidirectional compatibility- it's just not for me

Carefully-picked down-played words The outcome: A bloody heart True feelings double-crossed by embarrassment; how frustrating, I'm changing sides But that won't fill up my heart What I want is nothing more than to be by your side If you've got something to say, then say it- 'til I defeat you, that is! 3, 2, 1!

Friend-zoned, love fire, sparks flying HIBANA We're ready, set to lock horns, love's ultimate showdown I'm outmatched- but it's not over yet! I won't let this end! With a dazzling, never-give-up attitude, I'll break through your defenses!

I want you to like me! I want you to like me! Friend-zoned, love fire, hey, say "I give up"! With a dazzling, never-give-up attitude, I'll break through your defenses!

Fun things, good feelings- without you, they have no taste at all Sadness, jealousy- if they're cuz of you, then I don't mind them Let's throw down, bro! Better to regret doing it, than not doing it at all! A feeling like I won't need any special moves, YEAH I'm sure everything will be OKAY With an endless supply of love, you're undefeated, AYE Play dead, BYE BYE I'll be the one to throw the first punch

Friend-zoned, love fire, sparks flying HIBANA We're ready, set to lock horns, love's ultimate showdown The lonely and timid me is already no more! With a dazzling, blazing flair, I'll burn through your defenses!

Do you like me yet? Do you like me yet? Friend-zoned, love fire, now, let's immerse ourselves in love! With a dazzling, blazing flair, a never-ending HAO sweetener battle!

Do you like me yet? Do you like me yet? Friend-zoned, love fire, now, let's immerse ourselves in love! With a dazzling, blazing flair, a never-ending HAO sweetener battle!

------

my notes:

my overall interpretation of this song is "I'm trying to break through the friend zone (friendship barrier) so that you like me instead of thinking of me as a friend", so any vagueness in translation went in that direction

The use of "lock horns" in the official translation snippet + the HAO motifs give me the mental image of like, a hand-to-hand kung fu battle, so I leaned towards that imagery whenever there was vagueness (as opposed to like, a military campaign, for example)

deco's official english translations tend to be very liberal, so i tried to keep my translation a little more literal

[bloodbatty]

The hair is hairing✨

[yuriyuruandyuraart]

HAPPY BDAY @bluepallilworld 🎂

Do I really need to cite all the reasons why I think you're an absolute sunshine and how much I admire and appreciate your presence and support? Because I'd drill it into your skull if I could with how much your happiness matters to me you sweet ol bean<333 have the best birthday ever and don't you dare forget how amazing you are >:'D ♥️

[offthewall1979]

my review of Moonwalk: hot mess. ★★★.