#best corporate travel management companies

[skiltravel]

The Future of Business Travel: Innovative Corporate Travel Management Solutions

The future of business tours is about to be a combination of technological developments, green campaigns and customization. These are some of the groundbreaking corporate travel management solutions that could define the future.

Introducing SKIL Travel:

SKIL Travels paves the way for tomorrow’s corporate travel management. SKIL Travel, therefore, aims at transforming travelling within companies by utilising the latest technological advancements, promoting sustainable business practices and creating customised options. Our approach is inventive in such a manner that your travels are not only efficient and cost-effective but also meet your specifications thereby ensuring seamless fantastic traveling for each person in transit. SKIL Travel is ranked as the best corporate travel management company. Therefore, join SKIL Travel to change your business travel routine and enjoy an efficient journey of discovery and excellence.

Corporate travel in India is changing dramatically. Here are some innovative corporate travel management solutions that could define this future.

Virtual and Augmented Reality: 

These technologies could revolutionise business meetings and site visits. Instead of going physically to each location, VR and AR can present immersive experiences that will save time and reduce costs.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Travel Planning: 

AI-supported platforms review travel habits, interests and finances to proffer personalised itineraries, lodgings and commuting alternatives, making planning easier.

Sustainable Travel Solutions: 

This leads to a rise in environmentally friendly travel choices such as electric vehicles for ground transportation, carbon offset programs and green-certified accommodations that businesses are likely to incorporate into their operations.

Blockchain for Travel Security and Transparency: 

Technological advancement shows how blockchain increases data protection and quickens financial transactions while ensuring expense monitoring of corporate travellers.

Mobile Apps and Digital Concierge Services: 

Unlike conventional mobile apps with AI or data analytics which offer real-time updates, and customized suggestions among others; Mobile apps combined with AI give you on-the-spot accessibility from any point of departure increasing employee traveling experience holistically.

Flexible and Remote Work Policies:

Corporate travel trends have been affected by the remote working phenomenon. It may be possible for companies to adopt an approach where employees can combine conference-related trips with vacation travels if they so wish for virtual meetings when feasible.

Health and Wellness Initiatives:

Health and wellness will continue to be a priority after the pandemic. Health screenings, wellness programs, and collaborations with healthcare providers that promote traveller’s safety and well-being could be part of corporate travel management solutions.

Data Analytics for Cost Optimization: 

Businesses can employ advanced data analytics tools for assessing travel expenses, identifying opportunities to save costs, negotiating better deals with suppliers and optimizing their travel budgets.

Collaborative Travel Platforms: 

Platforms for Corporate Travel in India are which allow travellers to share ideas, recommend options as well and collaborate on journeys can also instil community spirit leading to better travel results.

 10. Risk Management and Contingency Planning: 

During unforeseen circumstances that may disrupt business operations, integrated risk management systems that offer live updates on potential disruptions together with contingency plans and emergency assistance are necessary for the continuation of businesses.

These ground-breaking innovations not only increase efficiency and cost visibility but also care about employees’ well-being, environmental sustainability as well as stress-free trips hence shaping the future of business travel management.

[vyasmeghna]

Delmos World Pvt Ltd.: Your Premier Trade Fair Travel Agency and Event Management Specialist

Delmos World Pvt Ltd. is a leading travel agency specializing in trade fair travel packages, business travel arrangements, event management, visa processing, and ticketing services. As the best tour packages company in India, we offer comprehensive solutions for corporate travel, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) travel, FIT (Free Independent Traveler) packages, and more. With a team of experienced professionals and a commitment to excellence, we ensure unforgettable travel experiences and seamless event planning for our valued clients. Trust Delmos World Pvt Ltd. to handle all your travel and event needs with utmost care and expertise.

Trade Fair Travel Agency: Your Gateway to Global Business Opportunities

Delmos World Pvt Ltd. understands the significance of trade fairs in expanding business horizons, fostering collaborations, and exploring new markets. As a specialized trade fair travel agency, we offer tailored packages that cater to a wide range of industries and exhibitions worldwide. Our expertise in trade fair logistics allows us to handle all aspects of your travel, including flights, accommodation, ground transportation, and visa assistance. With our comprehensive services, you can confidently participate in trade fairs, network with industry leaders, showcase your products and services, and seize business opportunities.

Business Travel Agency: Enhancing Corporate Travel Efficiency

Delmos World Pvt Ltd. is recognized as the best business travel package agency in India, dedicated to providing efficient and seamless travel solutions for corporate clients. We understand that effective business travel is essential for maintaining a competitive edge in today's global marketplace. Our business travel management services encompass itinerary planning, flight and hotel bookings, visa assistance, ground transportation, and 24/7 travel support. By entrusting your corporate travel needs to us, you can optimize your travel expenses, increase productivity, and focus on achieving your business objectives.

Event Management: From Concept to Execution

In addition to our travel services, Delmos World Pvt Ltd. offers comprehensive event management solutions for corporate events, conferences, and exhibitions. Our experienced event management specialists work closely with you to understand your objectives, conceptualize the event a lasting impression on your attendees. Whether you are organizing a small-scale business meeting or a large-scale international conference, our team is equipped with the expertise to handle all aspects of event management. We strive for excellence in every detail, ensuring that your event is executed flawlessly and exceeds your expectations.

Visa Processing and Ticketing: Simplifying Travel Logistics

At Delmos World Pvt Ltd., we understand that visa processing and ticketing can be complex and time-consuming. Our dedicated team of visa experts provides efficient and reliable assistance, guiding you through the visa application process and ensuring timely approvals. We stay up to date with the latest visa requirements and regulations, enabling us to streamline the process for you. Additionally, our ticketing services offer convenient and cost-effective solutions for domestic and international flights. Leveraging our industry partnerships, we provide competitive fares, flexible options, and seamless ticketing experiences.

Comprehensive Travel Solutions for FIT and MICE Travelers

Delmos World Pvt Ltd. caters to the unique travel needs of Free Independent Travelers (FIT) and MICE travelers. Our FIT travel packages are designed to offer personalized experiences, allowing you to explore destinations at your own pace and preferences. Whether you are looking for a relaxing beach getaway, an adventurous trekking expedition, or a cultural exploration, we curate packages that cater to your interests.

For MICE travelers, we understand the importance of creating memorable experiences that enhance team-building, networking, and knowledge sharing. Our MICE travel packages encompass all the necessary components for successful business events, including venue selection, accommodation, transportation, audio-visual equipment, and entertainment. With our attention to detail and commitment to excellence, we ensure that your MICE events are seamlessly executed, leaving a lasting impression on your attendees.

Delmos World Pvt Ltd.: Your Trusted Travel and Event Partner

As one of the best corporate travel management companies, Delmos World Pvt Ltd. is dedicated to providing exceptional service and personalized solutions to our clients. We understand that every business and event is unique, which is why we prioritize understanding your specific requirements and tailoring our services accordingly. With our global network of partners and suppliers, we offer a wide range of options and competitive pricing to ensure the best value for your travel and event budgets.

Trust Delmos World Pvt Ltd. to handle all your travel needs, whether it's trade fair travel, business travel, FIT packages, or MICE events. With our expertise in visa processing, ticketing, and event management, we are your one-stop solution for seamless and unforgettable travel experiences. Contact us today and let us take care of all your travel and event requirements, allowing you to focus on what matters most – your business success.

[solowonderer]

Witness the Beautiful Towns and Culture Heritage of Malawi with the Satguru Holidays Package

[equatortravel]

Unforgettable Winter Desert Experiences in Dubai – Top Adventures to Enjoy

Dubai transforms into an adventurer’s paradise during the winter months, especially from October to February. The cooler temperatures reveal a side of the Arabian desert that’s perfect for thrilling experiences and relaxing escapades. From serene views to adrenaline-pumping rides, Dubai’s desert has something for every traveler’s bucket list. Here are the must-try winter adventures that capture the magic of Dubai’s desert landscape.

Discovering Dubai’s Winter Desert Magic

The Arabian desert offers countless ways to experience Dubai’s stunning natural beauty and rich culture. Winter is the ideal time to dive into Dubai’s best outdoor activities and desert adventures, as the mild temperatures make for an enjoyable experience.

1. Hot Air Balloon Safari: A Sunrise Spectacle

One of the most unique ways to witness the vastness of Dubai’s desert is by taking a hot air balloon ride. Soaring up to 4,000 feet above ground, this experience allows you to take in breathtaking views of the desert as the sun rises. As the soft hues of the morning sky paint the landscape, you’ll capture stunning memories that are perfect for photographs. Watching the desert come alive from above is an unforgettable experience and an excellent way to start your day.

2. Dune Buggy Adventures: Thrill in the Sands

A dune buggy ride is a fun, exhilarating way to explore Dubai’s desert terrain. This adventure is suitable for solo travelers, couples, or groups, offering different buggy options, such as self-drive, two-seaters, or four-seaters. Take in the rugged beauty of the desert as you navigate the sandy slopes and experience the excitement of off-road driving. This high-energy activity lets you enjoy the thrill of desert exploration at your own pace.

3. Quad Biking: High-Adrenaline Adventure

Quad biking across the desert sands offers an unmatched thrill, giving you the freedom to navigate through the desert’s undulating dunes. Perfect for those who seek a hands-on adventure, quad biking lets you explore the desert on your own terms. The feeling of freedom, the warm breeze, and the exhilarating speed through the golden sands make it a must-try for every adrenaline enthusiast. Booking an evening safari lets you experience quad biking as the sun sets, adding an extra layer of beauty.

4. Dune Bashing in a 4x4: Group-Friendly Fun

Dune bashing in a 4x4 is one of Dubai’s signature desert experiences, combining excitement with the chance to see the desert up close. Driven by experienced guides, this thrilling ride takes you over sand dunes and through rough terrain, giving you a true taste of the desert landscape. It’s ideal for families or groups looking to enjoy an action-packed experience. You’ll be left with great memories of this thrilling drive through Dubai’s iconic golden dunes.

5. Camel Rides: Embrace Tradition

A camel ride is a classic way to explore the desert’s vastness. Known as the "ships of the desert," camels offer a gentle, traditional journey that provides an authentic taste of Dubai’s desert culture. As you sway with the camel’s gentle steps, you’ll gain a deeper appreciation for the region’s heritage and way of life. This experience is suitable for all ages, making it an ideal activity for families or anyone looking to add a traditional touch to their desert adventure.

6. Stargazing: A Night Under the Desert Sky

The Arabian desert offers some of the clearest skies for stargazing, far from city lights. After a day of thrilling desert activities, settle down for a quiet evening of stargazing. Many safari tours offer overnight stays, allowing you to camp under the stars. With only the sounds of the desert and the vast, star-lit sky, it’s a peaceful and awe-inspiring way to end your day. Stargazing in the desert is a serene experience that complements the excitement of a Dubai safari.

Conclusion

Winter is the best time to explore the diverse experiences of Dubai’s Arabian desert. Whether it’s an early morning hot air balloon ride, the excitement of a quad bike, or the serene charm of stargazing, Dubai offers something for everyone. These winter desert adventures give visitors a blend of thrill, beauty, and cultural heritage, making each activity a memorable part of your Dubai journey. To make your desert dreams come true, connect with Equator Travel Management for unforgettable winter experiences in the Dubai desert.

[sammelantoursandtravels]

Professional Corporate Event Management Services for Seamless Business Events

Discover expert corporate event management services tailored to your business needs. From conferences to gala dinners, our team ensures flawless execution, innovative solutions, and exceptional experiences for every occasion. Partner with us to elevate your corporate events to the next level.

[nestleisure]

Best Conference management service in India

[goadarling]

GoaDarling: Creating Memorable College Getaways with Tailored Goa Holiday Packages

Embark on an unforgettable college group trip to Goa with GoaDarling, where every moment becomes a cherished memory. Our expertly crafted Goa holiday packages 2 nights 3 days ensure an immersive experience, blending adventure and relaxation. Trust GoaDarling to elevate your college group trip to Goa, curating the perfect getaway that captures the essence of Goa's vibrant spirit. Choose us for an extraordinary journey where every detail is thoughtfully designed to make your college group retreat truly special.

[oneexperiya]

Discover The Dubai With One Experiya

When exploring the vibrant and luxurious city of Dubai, your journey begins with One Experiya. As a leading Travel and Tourism company in Dubai, we pride ourselves on offering a comprehensive range of services that cater to all your travel needs, from air ticket bookings to hotel reservations, all at incredibly competitive prices. Let's delve into the world of possibilities that await you with One Experiya as your travel partner.

Unveiling Seamless Travel:

Booking flights can often be daunting, with numerous options, varying prices, and complex itineraries. With One Experiya, this process is simplified, ensuring that your air travel experience is not only hassle-free but also cost-effective. Our expert team is dedicated to finding you the best deals on flights, considering your preferences, budget, and travel dates. Whether you're traveling for business or leisure, we make sure that you reach your destination with ease, comfort, and style.

Your Comfortable Home Away from Home:

Dubai is renowned for its luxurious accommodations, and with One Experiya, you can discover the finest hotels that suit your preferences. We understand that each traveler has unique needs, whether it's a romantic getaway, a family vacation, or a solo adventure. Our extensive network of partner hotels allows us to offer you a wide range of options, from lavish resorts with stunning views to cozy boutique hotels in the heart of the city. Our priority is to ensure you enjoy every moment of your stay, and our competitive prices ensure you get the best value for your money.

Personalized Itineraries for Unforgettable Experiences:

At One Experiya, we believe that every traveler deserves a journey that reflects their interests and aspirations. Our team of experienced travel planners is dedicated to creating personalized itineraries that cater to your specific desires. Whether you're seeking thrilling desert safaris, cultural excursions, shopping sprees, or gourmet experiences, we've got you covered. We understand that Dubai offers a plethora of activities, and our local insights help you make the most of your time in this magnificent city.

Unmatched Customer Support:

Planning a trip involves a lot of decision-making and coordination. That's why One Experiya places a strong emphasis on customer support. Our dedicated team is available around the clock to answer your queries, provide assistance, and ensure that your travel experience is as smooth as possible. From the moment you book your trip to the time you return home, we're here to ensure that your journey is filled with wonderful memories.

Competitive Prices for Unrivalled Experiences:

One Experiya understands that travel should be accessible to everyone. We take pride in offering services at incredibly competitive prices without compromising on quality. Whether you're a budget-conscious traveler or seeking a luxurious getaway, our range of options caters to various preferences. Our commitment to value ensures that you get the best deals without compromising on the experiences you deserve.

Booking with Ease:

Booking your travel services with One Experiya is a seamless process. Our user-friendly website allows you to explore different options, compare prices, and make bookings with just a few clicks. We've designed our platform to ensure that you have all the information you need to make informed decisions, making the planning process enjoyable and stress-free.

Your Journey Starts with One Experiya

In the bustling city of Dubai, where luxury meets innovation, your travel experience should be nothing short of extraordinary. With One Experiya, you're not just booking travel services; you're embarking on a journey filled with unparalleled experiences, personalized attention, and unforgettable memories. From air ticket bookings to hotel reservations, our comprehensive range of services caters to all your travel needs, making us your ultimate travel companion in the dazzling city of Dubai.

Get ready to explore, experience, and embrace the wonders of Dubai with One Experiya. Your dream vacation awaits – start your journey with us today!

[plutotravels]

How to Pick the Best Corporate Travel Agency

When it comes to business travel in Dubai, an experienced executive knows how important it is to have a trustworthy partner, a partner that provides a comprehensive package and seamlessly integrates with other business operations. Such a partner is an independent corporate travel agency. They are made to help businesses plan and carry out their travel programs. As a result, they can improve customer and employee service, reduce costs, increase operational efficiencies, and streamline processes. So, what does an independent corporate travel agency in Dubai offer? Let's look at it:

What does an independent travel agency for businesses do?

The process of coordinating and organizing a company's assets and the travel of its executives and employees is known as travel management. For audit and security purposes, this typically entails activities like arranging travel arrangements, managing expenses and arranging hospitality services. There are numerous advantages to using an independent corporate travel agency. These include the fact that they are not bound by the policies and procedures of the company, have more leeway to meet individual travel preferences and needs, and can maximize the use of travel resources to boost company productivity. Services provided by corporate travel agencies can also lower travel expenses, boost employee productivity, and enhance the organization's image among clients, vendors, and in-house teams. A reputable corporate travel agency should also be able to check that the travel is properly recorded and in accordance with the company's policies and regulations. Additionally, the corporate travel agency must have a strong partner network in order to offer the client the most cost-effective tours. Lastly, it is essential to select a company with the resources to manage travel operations of any size.

What to Look for in an Independent Corporate Travel Agency?

 It's important to choose a company that is right for your business. It's critical to partner with a company that understands your industry and can assist you in achieving your objectives. Examining the agency's culture to see if they are a good fit for you and your team is essential. Is the company more focused on uniformity or does it have a culture of collaboration? What are the company's leadership styles and what is its reputation? When selecting an agency, you should take these things into account. Partners: Hotels and airlines are examples of third-party services with which many corporate travel agencies collaborate. The agencies' partnerships must be evaluated to ensure that they are compatible with your business model. Can the agency provide you with their own services or does it partner with the best vendors on the market? - Does the agency collaborate with vendors of the kind you would use? Pricing: When you're looking for Dubai's best corporate travel agency, you'll want to make sure you're getting a great deal from a good price. While large purchases may qualify you for discounts from some corporate travel agencies, you should make sure that all of their prices are reasonable. You should avoid paying a premium for services that your business does not require. Proven History: When it comes to corporate travel, it's critical to work with a company that has a proven track record of success. You should take a look at how many trips the company has taken and how well they have done. You should also look at how long the agency has been in business and how many customers it has.

How to Choose the Best Corporate Travel Agency?

There is a procedure for selecting the best travel agency in Dubai. Select a market segment. You'll be able to narrow down your options and find the best corporate travel agency for your business thanks to this. You will have a better chance of finding the best corporate travel agency for your requirements once you have narrowed down your target audience. After that, you should get in touch with potential agents and tell them about your requirements. You can use this to decide when and if you will actually choose an agency. To help you begin your search, you should be able to make a decision quickly and easily. Last but not least, after you have selected the best candidates, you should thoroughly investigate each company to see if they are a good fit for your business. To help you choose the company that is best suited to your requirements, you might also want to consider other aspects.

Last words:

Choosing the right corporate travel agency need not be difficult; in fact, it shouldn't be. You can find the ideal companion to assist you in achieving your travel objectives with the right planning and research. Also, keep in mind that your business could lose credibility, money, and time if you select the wrong partner. Consider the aforementioned recommendations when looking for a partner to meet your specific requirements.

[akutasoda]

Have you ever think about Aventurine with Kirara reader?

Sometimes you will appear in IPC to deliver something to customers, but if the customers are busy then you just sit in waiting room till you get their signatures.

The life will be easy for you if Aventurine don’t pet and play with you till you exhausted.

Aventurine who is holding a cat laser toy while point it anywhere: “this is kinda fun..”

Kirara reader aka a neko yokai: *Chasing the red dot with sparkle eyes* Meoww—-!!

Let say he loves playing around with that yokai.

pawprint deliveries!

synopsis - aventurine finds that disrupting your job is much more entertaining than doing his

includes - aventurine

warnings - gn!reader, fluff, slight crack, maybe ooc?, wc - 1.5k

the IPC was an intergalactic mega corporation with many subordinate factions and sectors. it had connections to practically every corner of the galaxy and those needed to be upheld day in and day out. those that had lower ranking jobs within the corporation were much less fortunate than those at the top but were crucial into helping the intergalactic conglomerate alive and working.

trading was a grand part of many business deals but due to most deals being made and upheld by higher-ups, they wouldn't always have the time to travel half way across the galaxy and back - especially when the journey could be rather treacherous. the IPC didn't exactly have a dedicated trade unit, most being workers under the P47 and P48 levels, and so sometimes they would hire outside contractors.

a particular favourite, and trusted, outside contract was an express company that served on it's home planet but expanded to take up intergalactic deliveries. the IPC had dealings with this planet in the past and so deliveries for them became apart of the exchange. unfortunately the express was still relatively small when it came to workers who willingly wished to head out into space to deliver packages but that was where you would come in.

you had taken upon most intergalactic deliveries because you were the most well versed at travelling across the galaxy and you were quick - your youkai genes aided greatly aswell. fortunately you didn't mind all that much, you enjoyed taking these deliveries as to you they seemed more like outings for yourself and you wanted to help keep the company afloat.

your boss had always stressed the importance of IPC related deliveries amd how important it was that they took top priority, the urgency was practically screaming at you as soon as they required a delivery. however, you didn't actually see them as anything special but for the sake of your boss, you'd prioritise their deliveries. it wasn't exactly the best place to have an outing to as it was heavily corporate and finding the actual departments needed took much longer than need be but they paid well.

most of the time you'd show up and either manage to greet your client immediately and get them to sign of the package or, patiently sit in the designated waiting room for them to become free. your company had a very strict rule about gathering the required signature, especially when it came to intergalactic deliveries. sometimes you'd be unfortunate enough to be requested to deliver the package to the planet or sector it was required for but as long as the original client approved this than you had no room to argue back.

most of you're time spent waiting was on your phone but sometimes you needed to look a bit more professional and so had no other choice but to sit there patiently. occasionally you'd watch some workers go about their day's but that got boring very quickly when they appeared to be doing the exact same thing every day. however, today your client was taking a rather long time to show up and sign for their package and so you eventually decided that taking a brief walk to stretch wouldn't be so bad. picking the parcel up and holding it safely, you strolled out the waiting room and down the hallway.

---✩

the meeting had practically drained him of all will he had left for today, sometimes meeting with the other stonehearts seemed like more effort than it truly was worth. it had over ran and now his schedule for the day would have to over run a bit - not that he really ever cared about the schedules. besides, the only thing he had to do now was sign for a delivery, it wasn't exactly the most difficult task apart from the fact that he had missed the scheduled delivery time by a wide margin.

aventurine passed through the hallways back to where he had asked the delivery to be delivered just to find nobody in the area. he let out a sigh, maybe it was a bit much for wishful thinking that whoever was delivering his package to still be here after 20 mins past the schedule. perhaps they would pass it on to the next department, he thought before catching sight of a cheerful figure that certainly wasn't an IPC member walking back his way.

he noted the slight panic on your face at the sight of him before glancing at the package in your hands and gathering that you either went to find someone or were late yourself.

'apologies sir, i had waited a while and nobody showed so i took a small walk' an almost sheepish smile crossed your face before continuing 'are you mr.aventurine?'

'indeed i am, i got held up a while but i assume that's my delivery then' he couldn't blame you for not wanting to wait around in the waiting room

'yes, i just need to see id first please' a standard procedure to ensure you weren't handing the delivery of to a poser, aventurine had no issue proving who he was and so you held out a work notepad 'sign here then'

after he signed, you gave him his delivery and quickly wished him goodbye and proceeded to walk away in search of the exit. aventurine couldn't help but notice your more feline features throughout the encounter, more so your two tails - it certainly wasn't everyday one could meet a nekomata.

---✩

barely even a couple of days later before your boss approached you with yet another delivery for the IPC and so you set your travels toward the same delivery point as your last visit. you knew you're client was the same 'aventurine' as last time, seeing as his name was there and the details were the exact same as last time - you just hoped he wouldn't be so late this time.

you walked toward the same waiting room as instructed in the delivery notes and you were quite pleased to see the recipient stood waiting outside, it just made your job all the more easier. you greeted him with a smile and he reciprocated before going through the same procedure as last time.

however, just as you were about to bid the man farewell, he stopped you and posed a simple question 'you are a nekomata no?' he spotted your hesitation and quickly added 'i am simply curious and want to know for sure'

you weren't exactly opposed to people knowing about your youkai origins, especially when it was quite obvious, he had simply caught you off guard - 'indeed i am'

aventurine hummed in acknowledgement before adding 'it's not exactly everyday you meet a youkai such as yourself, are they common back home', surprisingly he had become quite genuinely intrigued.

'i wouldn't say common but there are a a handful or so, yes' you expected more questions but he simply thanked you for your time amd gave a rather generous tip for answering his questions, so you weren't exactly going to complain.

---✩

recently it felt like someone at the IPC was actively looking to keep you busy with your work, they seemed to be putting more deliveries in than necessary. and because you were the only one willing to travel that far, you had to take up all of them - they became less of an outing each and every time.

and to make it worse it seemed that there was something happening at the IPC departments you had to visit as for the past couple of times you had waited in waiting rooms there was always a single red dot across from you. you weren't exactly a cat but it always looked very tempting to chase, especially when the dot was start actively moving.

now you spent most of your time in the wiating room sat on a chair desperately trying to look anywhere else but where that dot was. you had an image to uphold and your company's professional on the line, you could not risk giving in and chasing that light. what you didn't know however, was that a very bored aventurine stood on the opposite side of the glass with a laser pointer he stole from one of the board rooms.

he merely wanted to test a theory that nekomata still had those 'cat-like' instincts and he knew he was correct, you just were very focused on keeping up an air of professionalism. it still provided great entertainment compared to sitting in his office all day when he didn't have anything better to do.

you also never really questioned how aventurine kept showing up 'by coincidence' everytime you had a delivery to the IPC. surely he'd have an actual job to do than hang around and annoy you? right?

taglist - @little-miss-chaoss, @frankiesteinn

[transmascsteveharrington]

Eddie takes the same train every day. It's in the far too early hours of the morning, dawn barely painting the city in a glowing coat of rust. The people on the platform next to him cling to the coffee in their travel mugs the same way sleep still clings to their lashes. They're tired, but not the bone-shattering tired I just finished a 10-hour bar shift that pushes down on Eddie's aching shoulder blades. The people on the platform are going to work, Eddie is going home.

His feet hurt, his hands reek of vodka and redbull, his ears ring from the loud music that played all night long and his voice is hoarse from shouting over it to be heard. But he doesn't care as he gets onto the train and sinks into a semi-comfy seat. Because while his job is alright bordering on fun most nights, it's the best job in the world when Thursday slowly trickles into Friday. Because on Thursday nights in the Hideout Eddie does not just serve drinks and flirts until the tip jar is bursting, no on Thursdays he gets to perform up on stage. It's an agreement with the owner, who has a soft spot for Eddie and his band and they have recently started to draw a crowd which helps too. So today Eddie doesn't mind the sleepless night.

He suppresses a yawn and rubs his eyes, smudging the traces of eyeliner left on his face even worse. It's when he lowers his hands, stars dancing in the corner of his eyes from the pressure, and leans his head against the cool window of the train that Eddie sees him. The prettiest man he's ever laid eyes on. Seriously how can someone be this attractive? Light brown hair that manages to be untamed and yet perfectly styled, tanned skin covered in so many freckles Eddie can feel himself salivate. And then there are his eyes. Liquid gold, glowing amber, honey in the sun and whiskey by candlelight.

It's not the first time Eddie has fallen deeply in love with a stranger on the subway and he doubts it's going to be the last time. But it's the most he has ever been enraptured. The outfit the guy wears is nothing exciting to write home about. Grey coat covering a blue suit typical corporate style. Nothing exciting, not even a fun tie. Eddie couldn't care less about the clothes though (unless they were on his bedroom floor).

He just watches the guys magnetizing eyes go back and forth over the page of the book he is reading. It's like watching a pendulum and Eddie finds himself hypnotized, enraptured, gone without any chance of return. Curious as he is though he forces himself to look away from the beautiful hazel eyes and tries instead to make out what the guy is reading.

He has to slap a hand on his mouth to keep himself from making a noise when he sees that the guy is reading A Court of Thornes and Roses. Now that is unexpected. Eddie never read it himself but he didn't think Mr. probably works for a big boy loads of money epicenter of capitalism company would read romance books let alone fairy porn romance books on the train to work. It's unexpected and Eddie instantly falls a little deeper. But unfortunately, as with all subway romances, it reaches its end as the train reaches the next station. Pretty boy sighs, dog ears his page (naughty) and gets up.

In the twenty seconds it takes for the train doors to open and the guy to step out Eddie fast forwards through the life they could have led. Imagines all the shared giggles and kisses and moments in time, sees all the stupid arguments they are going to have and the make up sex they'll have afterwards. Their first date will be in a little cafe just down the road from the Hideout, their wedding anniversary at a family-owned Italian place that reminds pretty boy of his grandma's cooking. The train door closes and Eddie's indulgent little fantasy ends. No point in thinking about all the what ifs, he's never going to see the guy again.

Except that he does. Next day, same time, same train, same exhaustion humming in Eddie's bones, same guy, different suit same book. Eddie stares. Can't help himself and maybe this is the universe giving him a second chance, telling him to make a move. But the only thing that moves is the guy when he reaches his stop, dog ears his book again, gets up and leaves. And well fall in love on the subway once, fall in love on the subway twice, Eddie thinks that this must be it.

But apparently, the universe is having a laugh because the impossible keeps happening, book guy keeps being on Eddie's train, and keeps on sitting right across from Eddie. The day he finishes acotar is the day they make eye contact for the first time. With a sigh he closes the book, looks up and catches Eddie staring. Eddie knows he should look away but he just can't, pinned under the guy's gaze he just keeps staring. And the guy stares right back, looks Eddie up and down and gives him a flirty little smirk and heart palpitations before he gets up.

The next day his hazel eyes widen in surprise when he sees Eddie sitting down across from him again like he too can't believe seeing the same guy on the subway twice. Eddie gives him an awkward smile, which gets returned just as awkwardly before the guy averts his gaze and continues to read Twilight. Okay, so pretty boy likes cheesy monster romance books. At least it's not 50 shades, Eddie thinks. Because he knows he wouldn't have been able to stop himself from saying something and coming off like a total creep, telling a stranger on the subway that the portrayal of bdsm in that book is unrealistic and harmful and should never be acted out like that. Instead, Eddie just blissfully gets to wonder whether the guy is team Edward or team Jacob.

After that pretty boy keeps noticing Eddie. They exchange little smiles that become nods that become whispered hi-s and see you-s. Summer comes by the time pretty boy finishes twilight and his coat and suit turn into polos and khakis and it makes Eddie want to bang his head against the train's window because no one should be able to look that good in such stuffy clothes. After vampires, it's time for some Regency romance and several weeks for frowning eyes as pretty boy tries to make it through pride and prejudice. On one particularly hot summer morning he just slams the book shut with a groan of frustration.

"Not good?" Eddie can't help but ask. Pretty boy looks at him and the annoyance in his face softens. It's probably the hot weather that drives a blush into his cheeks.

"Kinda?" he shrugs. "I loved the movie like that almost kiss in the rain? The hand stretch? I loved it."

It's endearing how passionately pretty boy talks about the movie. And god his voice is perfect too. If Eddie had not already been lured by his pretty eyes it would have been the siren call of his voice.

"But the book? It's like super complicated man. Who are half these people? Why do they talk like that. And I know it's like high-class literature or something, but it just makes me feel l...I don't know stupid."

"It's not stupid, Austen isn't for everyone," Eddie reassures him and that gets a little smile out of the guy.

"Thanks," he says, suddenly shy.

Eddie wants to bite him. Wants to take him out, wants to know what his kisses taste like and what the first song that made him cry was. Wants to learn his favorite kind of soup and if blue is his favorite color. It's silly, it's just a stranger on the subway he keeps meeting.

"I'm Steve by the way," pretty guy says and just like that mysterious, sexy stranger becomes Steve. It only makes Eddie want Steve more.

"Eddie," he says just as the train pulls into Steve's station. With an apologetic smile, Steve gets up.

"See you tomorrow, Eddie?" he asks, hopeful and all Eddie can do is nod, mouth gone dry.

"See you tomorrow," he promises.

Instead of going straight to sleep like usual when he gets home, Eddie takes out his songwriting book, sharpens a pencil and then writes like a possessed man. It's just a silly song, something whipped up and recorded within half an hour. Just a little love song starting with "he took the morning train going somewhere." It's not something he would play with the band, nothing he would put on an album. He puts it on tiktok instead before he finally falls asleep.

By the time he wakes up his phone is running hot with notification. Confused and bleary-eyed Eddie opens the tiktok app and promptly almost drops his phone. During the few hours he's slept his silly little joke song has gone absolutely viral.

Oh fuck.

Oh fuck, fuck, fuck. Of all the songs that could have gone viral it of course just had to be song he recorded as a joke about falling in love with a corporate guy reading fair porn on the subway. Fuck, Steve. It's so so so obvious that the song is about him. Eddie has no idea how he is meant to take the train tomorrow and look Steve into his gorgeous eyes. He dreads all night. When he gets to the Hideout the guys from the band tease him about the song, but insist they have to put it on the demo. It's not their usual vibe but according to Gareth it slaps and Jeff calls it a bop. Eddie just feels sick. Steve is going to hate him.

Only that when Eddie gets onto the train with shaky knees, Steve smiles at him like any other day. Pride and Prejudice has been replaced with a copy of One Last Stop which definitely seems more like Steve's kind of book. But Eddie is too nervous to really think about it. He expects Steve to lash out at any moment, call him a weirdo, wave a restraining order in his face. But none of that happens. Steve just reads, and when he gets up to leave tells Eddie "see you tomorrow."

Eddie's song becomes more and more viral but the subway rides home stay the same. Steve will say hi, smile at him, read, then get up and say bye. Nothing more nothing less. Maybe he just doesn't have social media Eddie prays. Even though his book choices seem very curated by the clock app. But Eddie is thankful for every day, Steve doesn't bring up the subway boy song. He is almost done with one last stop the day Eddie and the boys get the call from Kings Records about a deal. It's one of Chicago's biggest labels and it would mean the big break for them. Only that they insist on Subway Guy being on the record.

Eddie doesn't like it, doesn't like it one bit. But the guys beg him to reconsider it. The song went viral for a reason and Eddie knows he will never forgive himself he keeps them all from making their dreams come true just because some guy on the subway might think he is a creep. Only that Steve is not just some guy. He is the highlight of Eddie's day, the sugar in his coffee, the reason mornings aren't as awful anymore. He is also noticeably absent on Eddie's ride to the record label.

It's the same train, the same time as always, but the seat across from Eddie is vacant. No corporate hottie with a cheesy romance book to be seen. Maybe the universe is teaching Eddie a lesson, telling him that he really screwed it up this time. Make it big but lose the guy it's karma.

Eddie tries his best to put on a smile and not let his foul mood show when he enters the record label, the guys from the band are already there. He can't blow this for them just because his heart aches a little. Okay, maybe it aches a lot but this is Eddie's dream. It's all their dream. So he keeps on smiling, shakes the big official music producer guy's hand and gets led to studio. They spend the day recording subway guy and while Eddie still feels a tad bad, he can't help but enjoy the process. The song is good, objectively, actually good and it's nice to be told that.

They finish for the day, but before they can leave there are some legal things to sort through, so the producer guy sends them to legal. It's at the top of the building, glass walls, stunning view. A secretary leads them to a conference room with a smile and tells them their laywer Mr. Harrington will be with them shortly to sign contracts, sort through copyright etc. etc.

Eddie is tunes her out, too distracted by the city below him. The train tracks look like thin lines from up here and Eddie can't help but think back to Steve. The excitement of the day turns into guilt, making his stomach ache. Just as Eddie is about to run, to call it all off the door to the conference room opens and Eddie's jaw drops.

"Hi everyone," Steve greets the band. "I'm Steve Harrington, resident lawyer for King Records. Sorry for letting you wait, but I was super curious and wanted to listen to your song first."

Warm hazel eyes find Eddie's wide-blown ones. There is no way this is real, this has to be a prank. But Steve just pulls out a bunch of paperwork and notions for them all to sit down. Eddie barely listens when Steve goes over the legal aspects, Nancy is going to read over the contract when Eddie gets home anyways. Eddie is too busy staring at Steve.

"Wonderful, this is all," Steve says once they have gone through all the paperwork. "King Records is looking forward to working with you."

Steve smiles as he leads them back to the elevators.

"Gotta say, while it's not my usual sound, I really enjoyed your song. I relate maybe a little bit too much to falling in love with a stranger on the subway," he says as they wait for the elevator. "The guy you wrote the song about must be a pretty special guy."

"He is," Eddie finally, finally regains his ability to speak. "I don't just write love songs about any kind of stranger."

The elevator dings open but Eddie doesn't want to move. He wants to stay, a million questions on his mind, starting with you're really not mad and ending with so I was thinking spring wedding, maybe May. Thoughts? But corroded coffin drag him into the elevator say their thanks and then before he can do anything yet another door slides shut between him and Steve. The guys don't notice that something is off, too euphoric about their first record deal. But it's fine, their joy is infectious and Eddie doesn't pout about being dragged away from Steve. Eddie knows he is going to see Steve again.

It's too early in the morning when Eddie steps onto the train home from his last shift at work. There is a beautiful guy on the train, dressed in a pristine suit, romance novel in his hands. He doesn't wait for Eddie to pass by, just grabs Eddie's hand and pulls him down into the seat right next to him.

"Hi," Steve grins, far too awake this early.

"Hi," Eddie whispers back, giddy despite all his exhaustion. They are both quiet for a moment before Eddie blurts, nervous, "Read anything good lately?"

It startles a laugh from Steve and it's such a nice sound Eddie instantly wants to make Steve laugh again.

"I have actually," Steve smiles. "I would tell you all about it, but I'm afraid my stop is next."

He takes what looks like a bookmark out from between the pages of his current book. Which is weird because Steve never uses bookmarks. It becomes less weird when he hands the bookmark to Eddie, a phone number written in dark ink on it.

"How about you give me a call and I can tell you all about it over a coffee," Steve suggests and get up. "And you can tell me all about that song of yours."

Eddie blinks surprised once, twice, as Steve leaves the train. Then Eddie instantly digs out his phone. He should go home, sleep. But screw sleep, who needs to rest when you have a coffee date with a hot stranger you fell in love on the subway with to arrange.

[vyasmeghna]

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[cherishmii]

STARBOUND !

INTRODUCING....!

𐙚 "Inazuma" Group chat members!

✩ ⋆ Balladeer: Scaramouche is a popular streamer known for his good looks and charming voice. His family is also famous, even His mother—Raiden owns The Inazuma corp. but nevertheless he stands out as unique. He's fearless during horror streams and always keeps his audience entertained. Often invited to host shows, this time he finally joins one as a host and meets an interesting girl.

✩ ⋆ Alatus. : Xiao is both a streamer and a model. He used to be an idol trainee but quit due to a bad company. Meeting Scaramouche, one of his best friends, changed his career path, and now he's one of the most famous streamers. They met in their first year of college, and luckily, Xiao found another loner like himself.

✩ ⋆ Barbatoes: Venti, the campus comedian, met the two loners, Xiao and Scaramouche. Venti loves hosting parties and enjoys drinking, but everyone agrees that his voice is truly ethereal. Despite initially getting annoyed by Venti, the three soon became close friends and were known as THE trio on campus—until Childe came along!

✩ ⋆ Tartagliajax: Childe, known as Mr. Worldwide, joined the friend group because of Aether. They kept running into each other while traveling, even during college. As the campus crush and a wealthy individual, Childe was part of a group called Fatui and brought Scaramouche in with him. They both left the group at the same time and are now among Scaramouche's closest friends.

✩ ⋆ Aether: Aether is the most loved member of the group chat. He originally wanted to be hired as a manager but now acts as a sort of manager-member of the Inazuma Corps. He was already famous before joining Inazuma, gaining recognition in every country. After joining Inazuma, he invited Childe to join as well, and Childe agreed because Aether and his college friend were both in it.

✩ ⋆ Kamisatoayato: Ayato is one of the most successful people at a young age, co-owning two corporations: The Kamisato and Inazuma. He gained fame for helping his younger sister, Ayaka, become the first talent at Kamisato Entertainment as an idol. He also co-owns Inazuma, where he provided funds to support talents when they first started streaming.

✩ ⋆ Rhinedottir: Albedo is a well-known artist with paintings displayed in museums and entries in history books. He also gained fame for his looks and knowledge in chemistry and science. Despite being an artist and streamer, he received a college scholarship for his exceptional intelligence. He joined Inazuma at Aether's invitation, where he gained even more popularity and began streaming.

In the field of online streaming, an introverted indie streamer, known for her quiet nature, has never collaborated before. So why now? Fans wonder why she avoids collaborations — is she simply an odd one out? When she finally accepts an invite to a show, unknowingly the guest host is a popular but grumpy streamer who often collaborates due to his company, unexpected sparks fly as she discovers the guest host might just be her future boyfriend. Nevertheless, things changed as they found out what she truly is.

✩ BACK / NEXT

★ TAGLIST (,,>ヮ<,,)! : rq still open!

@vxcmx @quacking-simp @sketcheeee @xionri @moonjellyfishie @raineyun @yuemirala @cheriswag

✩

> STARBOUND

Scaramouche x Y/N

[tryingtodotheright-thing]

Hello, Sunset - 6

AN: This is my longest chapter to date. I really suck at writing dialogue, which is just my real life awkward self presenting in fiction. I would love to hear what people think about this chapter or just the story in general. Need some inspiration as I'm stuck on the next chapter. The writing gods have left me and there's a metaphorical brick wall between my ideas and the blank Google doc ... PAIRING: Seungcheol x fem!reader GENRE: exes to lovers, idol verse, angst WORD COUNT: 4,650 WARNINGS: reader has anxiety and depression, swearing, mentions of alcohol Text in blue is spoken in Korean.

PREVIOUS / NEXT

1 December 2023 - 6 January 2024

There wasn’t really any time for melancholy, not for Y/N. She wanted to wistfully brood about her 10 days in Asia and play the nostalgic CARAT post concert, but the end of the year was relentless. Y/N travelled back to Tokyo the very next day to catch her flight home to London. She used the weekend to reset her body clock and catch up on her emails before she was back at the office on Monday. 

By the time she landed in London, her episode on Amazing Saturday had already aired. She didn’t think the episode would have a huge audience. She had hoped to make an impression on the Korean audience but wasn’t expecting to suddenly be trending on Naver or anything. She had turned off the airplane mode on her phone whilst briskly making her way through the long route from the gate to baggage collection. It was a good thing her phone was silent as suddenly the notifications piled up. She opened up Instagram first as that’s where the most notifications were from and saw that Josua had tagged her on a post.

It was the second time he’d done that since they had met back in September. Then, it had been a picture they had posed together for a magazine at the Marni show. This time, it was a clip of her getting the one shot for getting the most accurate answer for the God of Music quiz. He’d captioned it to say ‘Thank you for answering SVT’s quiz, Y/N’. The post had thousands of likes already, including fellow SEVENTEEN members such as S.Coups, Seungkwan and Vernon. Her followers on Instagram had also increased, she guessed as a natural effect from this interaction. She was following Joshua already so she liked the picture and closed the app, too tired to think about her actions or do anything more.

The click clacks of her heels echoed as she walked the short distance from her cabin to the one of the Global HR Director and her line manager, David. Unlike the confident sounds of her footsteps, Y/N felt timid as she opened the door to his office once he beckoned her to come in through the glass windows of his office. David was not someone to mince his words or beat around the bush, especially as someone as busy and senior as he was in such a huge corporation. 

Y/N walked out of his office thirty minutes later with relief. She’d need to talk to Sian and Emma first before she officially accepted his offer but she thought this was the best option for everyone without Y/N having to give up her career in HR completely. Her decision was solidified as she received positive response to her various promotion activities in Korea as they came out on broadcast and YouTube over the next few days. Sian and Emma began to receive interest from Korean shows and entertainment companies. The questions varied from whether she was interested in appearing on more shows to her plans on promoting in Korea and needing a local agency to support her promotions to even writing music for idol groups. Eun Ji was ecstatic at the idea of her living in Seoul and declared that Y/N would live with her. When she ran through her doubts of the move, Joshua reassured her as someone who had taken the same leap. Vernon and Seungkwan, who Y/N kept in touch with regularly since meeting them a few weeks ago, promised to visit her regularly so she wouldn’t be lonely. 

By the time her slot at the Jingle Bell Ball was over a week later, Y/N felt fully confident in her decision to resign from her job in the UK and take the consultancy role. It offered her more flexibility whilst still allowing her to keep putting to use the qualification and skills she had developed over the past seven years. Her first focus would be working with regional leads in Japan and South Korea to support the planned restructures and optimise the local operations. She would be assessing the situation, proposing a solution and would oversee the implementation of it when it is accepted but won’t be the person delivering the change. She was actually excited to step out of her comfort zone and expand her experience further by dipping her toes into consultancy whilst putting to use her language skills in another country. It honestly felt like an offer too good to be true. It also gave Y/N time to prepare for her EP release that had been planned for the end of the summer and her European Tour that would kick off in the autumn of 2024. She hoped she would get lots of inspiration to write in the new environment.

Things moved quickly once she accepted David’s offer. A flat in Hannam-dong in Yongsan had been leased under her name by Emma. Whilst her company had offered to organise this for her, she had preferred to find a place that suited her specific needs and had negotiated with David so the company would contribute a fixed amount to the rent instead. David put her negotiation skills to the test but Y/N thought she handled it quite well. She had a decent deal by the end. She spent the next few weeks saying a temporary goodbye to her life in London, catching up with friends in between her end of year performance schedule. She’d gone from the one watching the countdown to NYE on BBC to the one people watched performing as the country counted down to the dawn of a new year. A few days later, she was back on a plane to Incheon, this time on her own. Emma wouldn’t be joining her in Seoul but would be making plenty of visits as needed. W Music had a partner in Seoul who would organise any assistance Y/N needed. Y/N leaned her seat back and gazed out of the window, taking a sip of the red wine the stewardess handed her earlier. She hoped 2024 would be a year to remember. 

Current

Y/N had gone to bed immediately after her bath. The fight or flight response in her body had slowly disappeared until all that was left was exhaustion. She had dragged herself from the bathroom to her bedroom, not going through any of her night time routine but falling straight into bed instead. The blackout blinds in her room hid the world from her and equally hid her from the world from her. It was the Bank Holiday Monday so she had allowed herself to lie in and when she checked the digital clock on her bedside table once she arose from her deep slumber, she saw it was close to 11am. She decided it was time to face the world and couldn’t hide any longer. 

“Alexa, open the blinds.” The automated blinds came to life and with a soft whirring noise, it let the sunlight into the spacious cream coloured room. Closing her eyes briefly to allow them a relief from the bright rays, she patted around the bed for her phone. When her attempts were fruitless, she sighed in defeat before getting out of bed to look around the room for it. Not seeing it anywhere, she slid her feet onto her soft slippers and moved to the living room. She had success as she found it face up on the sofa. She tapped on the screen to bring it to life but it didn’t work. Letting out a groan, realising the phone had run out of battery, she moved to the kitchen island and planted her phone on top of the wireless charger. Leaving it to collect power so she could turn it on, she used the time to make her morning smoothie. 

Ten minutes later, she sat on one of the high stools by her kitchen island with a large glass of avocado and banana smoothie. She turned the phone on, making sure to keep it on the wireless charger. She saw that she had missed calls and clicked on the Phone app to see who had tried to get in touch. Some were older notifications she had dismissed like the missed calls from Sian and Emma. There were also recent missed calls from Rachel, Eun Ji and Joshua. Joshua didn’t normally call so she assumed he was concerned about her non-reply. 

As she wondered if it was finally time to grow up and call Joshua, her phone began to ring. It was an unsaved number but Y/N recognised it straight away. It was an incoming call from SEVENTEEN’s main Manager, Shim Jae Hyun. He’d been the first person she’d spoken to after Seungcheol had sent her the text to break up and blocked her number immediately after. Y/N could still remember the pity in his voice as he’d told her that Seungcheol had informed him of the breakup, and had asked that Y/N not contact anyone related to himself. Y/N had responded with a distressed ‘I understand’ and had immediately cut the call. 

Since then, she hadn’t spoken to anyone related to Seungcheol, including the members. Some of the members, particularly Vernon and Seungkwan, had tried to speak to her when they became aware of the break up but she’d already blocked them. The only remaining connection was Joshua and even then, she didn’t pick up or answer his calls. They hadn’t spoken since the day before the break up, when Y/N had called him from the airport to confirm she’s boarding and to ask him to check in on Seungcheol. Despite his persistent attempts, Y/N hadn’t spoken to Joshua since that day. He eventually gave up and stopped calling her and would send the occasional texts to see how she was, which she would read but not respond to. Seeing the two ticks to show she was reading it was good enough for him. It’s what he’d pleaded for her to do at the very least.

She assumed Jae Hyun-nim was calling due to the statement that had been published. She let the call go to voicemail and instead took a screenshot with his number displayed and sent it off to Emma and Sian, knowing one of them would contact him. She didn’t want to have a dialogue with PLEDIS or HYBE and Sian had stressed that everything should go through her or Emma. She put the phone back on the charging pad and returned to her room to pack her bag, knowing she had a flight to NYC that evening. Lily, Sian’s first assistant since Emma’s official promotion a year ago, had sent over the flight ticket details as well as some outfit options for Y/N to choose from her various interviews in NYC. Lily would organise it so any of the outfits Y/N selects would be delivered to the JW Marriott Essex House hotel in Upper East Side, where she would be staying this time. Normally, would have a longer visit and so would have gone for one of their long stay apartments but the impromptu plans meant she would be staying in one of Marriott’s hotels instead. The next few hours passed in a blur and Y/N found herself once again on a plane.

25 January 2024 

The black Porsche Cayenne lit up as the engine turned on. The car was a Christmas present to herself and she’d be paying it off for the next few years but Y/N was in love. She loved driving and one of the first things she organised was to ship her car to Seoul as soon as she decided on her move and yet, it only arrived a few days ago. Y/N was excited to take the car for a spin, having been taking taxis whenever she needed to leave her flat. She’d spent the first week in Seoul setting up the place whilst staying with Eun Ji and had to then relearn her bearings when she officially moved in. The three weeks since landing in Seoul had been tremendously busy and Y/N was excited to have a night to relax and catch up with a friend. Joshua had returned to the country only a few days ago after wrapping up the last concert of the Follow Tour in Macau. The two had been keeping each other up to date on life but it wasn’t the same as talking in person. Their last meeting hadn’t been the personal catch up they had originally planned for so to have some time together where they could speak more openly was much needed. 

Y/N arrived first at the Mexican restaurant in Itaewon and had immediately ordered some nachos for the pair to munch on whilst they caught up and debated what to order. She’d just taken a sip of her virgin Pina Colada when Joshua walked in. Y/N enveloped Joshua in a warm hug, and they stayed in the embrace for a few seconds, soaking in the comfort they gave each other. As they parted, Joshua grasped Y/N’s right hand tightly and shook it in excitement.

“I can’t believe you’re now living in Seoul!”

“Me neither, Joshie!”

He looked at her tenderly before letting go of her hand to ruffle her hair as usual. She’d given up dodging this move, knowing that it was his way of showing affection. She grinned at him, the smile stretching across her face all the way to her eyes which had shrunk to accommodate the happy expression. A waiter arrived with their nachos and the pair took their seats. Joshua ordered a Margarita. They spent the next hour catching up candidly with no inhibitions in between taking sips of their drinks and crunching on the nachos. They’d ordered more drinks and food, Y/N choosing to stay sober as she didn’t trust a stranger to drive her car. It was another thing for her to become accustomed to in time but she wasn’t quite ready for that yet. 

Joshua was feeling light, having let off a load from his shoulders. He’d met Y/N at a time when he really needed a friend who was removed from his world but would yet understand his trials. They were less than six months apart in age but often, he felt she was the older one and by many years. Maybe it came from their different life journeys. They’d both had their own challenges to overcome and different demons to fight. She saw him so clearly that he often felt she was his soulmate, like a twin who shared the same heart and mind. Their closeness after such a short period led to misconceptions initially, even from his bandmates. He’d been asked if they were dating, Coups being the latest one to quiz him on this when he’d shared his plans to meet Y/N. Joshua shared this anecdote with Y/N, laughing without restraint at the idea. Y/N looked disgusted at the idea, wondering what was wrong with everyone. She begged Joshua to make sure he set everyone straight. 

“Don’t worry, I told him you’re like a sister. Your bias won’t have the wrong idea, so don’t hurt your pea brain worrying.”

She glared at the teasing, huffing at the elder. 

“Who’s the pea brain here! I’m not the one who mistranslated that time we were out …” 

The banter continued, the two bickering away, fully immersed in their own world. It was nearing 9pm when Joshua received a call. 

“Coups-yah. What’s up? Me? I’m in XXX restaurant in Itaewon with Y/N. Oh, you’re nearby?” 

Joshua looked at Y/N with a sly smile as he hung up on the phone. Y/N was immediately on alert.

“What have you done, Hong Jisoo?”

“Where are your manners? It’s Jisoo Oppa!”

“Pfft. Manners, my ass. I know you’ve done something that’s about to piss me off. Out with it, Joshie. Don’t test my kindness.” 

He shrugged and put on an innocent look, widening his eyes and shaking his head, saying he had no idea what she was talking about. She threw a fry at his face, unfortunately missing the mark widely. This made Joshua crack up in giggles and Y/N reluctantly joined in, unable to hold on to her irritation. Y/N was going to suggest that they call it a night and head home when the bell by the door jingled. Joshua, who was facing the door, stuck his neck out to see who it was and his eyes lit up in recognition. He waved his hand at the newcomer and Y/N twisted in her seat to see who it was. It was S.Coups and with him was Jeonghan. 

“Did you miss me that much? You saw me only a few hours ago when we did the Weverse live.” 

Joshua said to S.Coups as the 95 liners reunited in front of Y/N. The waitress arrived and relocated them to a bigger table at the back, hiding them away from the rest of the customers. As they all took their new seats, Y/N bowed at Jeonghan and S.Coups and greeted them. She asked after their health and asked if they’d eaten. S.Coups, who was sitting opposite her, nodded whilst Jeonghan responded, “Coups bought me an expensive dinner. I wanted to go home and rest afterwards but this guy-”

Before Jeonghan could finish his sentence, S.Coups began speaking. He asked about her move and if she was properly settled in her flat. 

Y/N was surprised he knew the details and it must have shown on her face, as he felt the need to clarify that he’d heard from Shua. When she looked at Joshua, he had a devious smirk on his face.

“I didn’t know you paid so much attention to what I say, Coups-yah. Jeonghan-ah, did you know Coups paid this much attention to me?”

Jeonghan, who suddenly looked wide awake, seemed to have caught on to whatever track Joshua was on and enthusiastically exclaimed, “I didn’t know either, Joshuji. I don’t remember you telling us about Y/N’s move and this is my first time seeing you since you came back.”

Turning to his left, he questioned when S.Coups had heard the news. Y/N was a little perplexed about this entire conversation. She didn’t understand why it was such a big deal but she did realise that the angel, who was really a devil in disguise when he was up to his tricks, and his best friend were on the same page and up to something. It seemed that S.Coups had also sensed the danger and looked panic for a second before saying that it might have been Vernon who mentioned it, he couldn’t remember. 

Feeling sorry for the man in front of her as he pouted, she decided to answer his question to move the conversation along. 

“I’ve just about settled in and I was saying to Josh earlier that my car finally arrived so I feel like I’m finally set. I’m about to abandon all of it for two weeks though. I’ll be in Japan travelling to Tokyo, Sapporo and Okinawa for work from Monday onwards.” 

S.Coups nodded again at her and gave her a thousand watts thankful smile. Y/N felt her heart stutter like her old car used to whenever she’d try to speed and the sem-automatic would whine as it stayed stuck in the lower gear. His smile was too blinding and Y/N had to avert her gaze to her glass, fiddling with the stem of it as she tried her best to calm the flutters. 

“Oh, you didn’t tell me you were flying out so soon! We’re on holiday for the next few weeks so I thought I could show you all my favourite places.” 

Joshua was disappointed at the missed opportunity. Y/N reassured him they had plenty of time and that she’d be back on the 10th. The group enjoyed a few more drinks and Y/N slowly loosened up as she got used to the presence of the others. She didn’t see Joshua as a member of SEVENTEEN on most days. To her, he’d become family and so she didn’t get the nervousness that she got in the presence of the rest of the members. Yoon Jeonghan was too beautiful to be real and it was intimidating. 

And then there was S.Coups. Well, no explanation was really needed here. This was someone she admired and found attractive. It was just a celebrity crush, she’d thought. Although she had her head screwed on and knew what she saw wasn’t a full picture of any celebrity, with S.Coups, so much of it was real. She’d gotten to know him through Joshua and the couple of interactions they did have, she’d felt sparks. She knew it was all one-sided and with time, she’d get over it. But right now, she couldn’t be sensible about it. It was the way he would stare deeply into her eyes when she spoke giving his full attention, or the way he’d poured her a glass of water when he noticed her glass was empty, or even how the corners of his mouth would twitch in amusement whenever he caught her sneaking glances at him as Jeonghan told a funny story. She was deeply attracted to the man in front of her. His tight black t-shirt and rich perfume pulled her in. When she caught herself leaning forward one too many times, she knew it was time to go home. She pulled the typical I’m-going-to-freshen-up-but-really-pay-the-bill act and found herself scolded by a whiny Joshua as they all walked her to her car. 

She saw the tired, droopy frame of Jeonghan and told them all to get in, saying she’d drop them off. They tried to refuse the offer but Jeonghan must have been really tired because he got in quickly after thanking Y/N. Joshua sat upfront and inputted the address for the dorm. 

“Coups-yah, are you going to stay at the dorm tonight?” 

It took a beat for S.Coups to answer and the others realised he’d wanted to return to the place he shared with his brother. He said he’d call a taxi from the dorm. 

“I can drop you off, I really don’t mind.”

Y/N turned into the apartment complex that housed SEVENTEEN members. Joshua and Jeonghan got out of the car and S.Coups followed. He seemed to have a non-verbal conversation with Joshua before he turned back to Y/N and asked if she was sure. She nodded and smiled gently in response. 

He lightly hugged the members goodnight before getting back in the car, this time in the front seat. Joshua called out for her to text him when she got home safely and then headed in. 

“And then there were two.”

“Sorry?”

“Oh, sorry. It’s a phrase in English that people would usually say when a big group would suddenly get smaller.” 

She explained as she manoeuvred out of her parking spot. She pulled off and started driving towards the main road as S.Coups set the navigation to direct her to his brother’s place. It was a 20 minute drive and Y/N told herself she can behave for that long. They drove in silence that had started off comfortable but soon became filled with tension till it was stifling. She cleared her throat and suggested that S.Coups put on music if he’d like. 

“You can turn on the radio or you can use my Spotify. My phone is connected via Bluetooth.” 

She quickly unlocked it with her fingerprint and gestured for him to take it. He’d looked slightly stunned at her nonchalance as she gave him access to her phone. He timidly took the phone from the stand it was resting on and scrolled through the app. In the meantime, it began to play from where she’d left off earlier. Red Velvet described the throes of a crush and the longing to greet them again through the song ‘Hello, Sunset’ and Y/N blushed as she listened on. How fitting that this is the song that plays, she thought. She saw him tap along to the music as he scrolled through her phone. Their journey was elongating thanks to the traffic that was building up as the Saturday night deepened. As the song drew to a close, he tapped on the song he’d searched for and Dino’s voice blasted through the speakers. How cute, she thought as she realised he’d chosen to listen to the maknae’s mixtape, ‘Wait’. He bobbed his head along as they listened. The car had come to a standstill in front of the traffic. 

“I really love this song.” 

“Yes, maknae did a good job.” The pride in his voice was clear. She hummed in agreement. 

“I’m sorry. Because of me, you’re delayed.”

He apologised suddenly and Y/N found herself lost in his intense stare again when she'd looked at him to respond. She inaudibly mumbled that it wasn’t a problem and that she’s going the same way. It was as if her ears had popped, all noise surrounding them dampened whilst the sound of her heartbeat grew thunderous. She couldn’t even blink, worried he’d disappear if she closed her eyes for a second. He lowered his eyes, breaking the hold on her briefly as they dipped down to her lips before returning to arrest her again. He held her breath as a prisoner. Was she imagining it or was the distance between them slowly narrowing? She had no thoughts. Her brain simply wasn’t functioning to think if this was a good idea or not. Their noses were nearly brushing when they jumped apart when the car behind honked its horn. Y/N realised the queue had eased and quickly put the car in motion. S.Coups turned to look outside the side window, his expression hidden from Y/N when she tried to take a glimpse. 

They arrived at S.Coups’ place a few minutes later. Tablo’s version of ‘Eyes, Nose, Lips’ played in the background as both occupants of the car stalled, not sure whether to mention the moment shared earlier. In the end, both had decided to ignore it. S.Coups thanked Y/N for the lift. He’d gotten out of the car and walked around to her side, leaning down to speak to her. A breeze sent her a whiff of his perfume again. 

“Well … thanks again.” Y/N smiled but didn’t say anything.

“I should get going. I mean, you should get going. It’s late.”

She nodded and bowed at him to take leave from the driver’s seat. She was about to roll up her windows when he called her name. With no formalities. The butterflies instantly multiplied. 

“Y/N. Text me to say you’ve made it home?” It was a question but it wasn’t. She nodded, slowly then quickly. 

“I saved my number on your phone. I, uh, I didn’t send myself your number.”

Who was this shy man? Was he the same person with the deep voice and passionate eyes? 

“Sleep well.”

Y/N placed her keys in the enamel dish by the entrance, took off her boots and walked to her room. She texted Joshua to confirm she’d made it and wished him a goodnight. She paused for a second before she searched through her contacts. She found the newly saved number under Coups. 

Saturday 27 January Hi, it’s Y/N.  I made it home safely. Have a good night. 23:20 Goodnight. 23:21

A week later, Y/N was getting ready for her first date with S.Coups.

[curio-queries]

I’m loving your production breakdown posts, they are so interesting and insightful.

I think you mentioned it maybe in the first ep breakdown but it was about expenses. I just thought it was interesting in ep4 when JK mentioned at the chicken place, paying in cash, and he solely has this conversation with Tae, not Jimin. Would there be an arrangement do you think? Or was that scene cut and he’d have asked Jimin too? I’ve noticed in comparison to Bv where they were usually only allowed a certain amount of money between them, with one usually being in control, or a sum for a task, in AYS, Jimin and JK have been whipping out their cards, be it their own or a company card, in Big Dicks store, in Walmart etc.

I just found it interesting

Hi anon,

The finance bits are interesting in the most boring corporate sense if that makes any sense. 😅 Trust me on this. Let's dive in:

In my opinion, it really boils down to two concerns: taxes and sponsorships. Taxes to insure the company receives every possible benefit for every dollar they spend. Sponsorships because some brands can have fussy rules about how individuals interact with their product and especially any competitor's products while they have an active agreement.

Obviously I have no actual insight onto how the finances and budget were managed for any of these specific shows and I know absolutely nothing of the intricacies of taxes in South Korea but in the US, there are many regulations when it comes to how companies can claim expenditures for tax breaks.

Every company that has had me travel for work has gone to a lot of trouble to insure that I was aware of exactly all of the requirements on my part regarding expenditures. I'm 100% sure all of the BTS members are aware of their requirements as well so I don't particularly think there's any motive other than as a cute convo for the moment between JK and V. Imo, the only reason it made it to the final cut was JKs endearing tone in his response.

Let's go through some examples though:

Receipts: in both AYS and Bon Voyage, we see the members be very specific in getting Receipts. JM and JK talk about it as they're leaving Walmart. In BV, it's all of the shenanigans with the money pouch they acquired in Malta and continued using in New Zealand. This is usually documentation required for any operation that's going to be claimed as a business expense for tax purposes.

Personal Spending: off the top of my head I can think of several clear instances where we know that the members are using their own money for purchases we see them make on the shows. In Run BTS ep.70 in Toronto, JK pays for the member's clothing purchases himself. In BV4, JM pays for the member's clothing himself a couple of times (remember the drama of his lost wallet? 😅)

Budget as Content: BV 1 & 2 mostly only include finances as part of the game-ification of the show. The members had to earn money as an allowance for the activities and determine the best ways to spend it. (I do vaguely remember some members wanting to negotiate for more when buying souvenirs? Was that just in the extra scenes? It's been so long, I've been holding off on rewatching until I'm done with my Run series).

Thankfully, the success of BTS has basically nixed the budget games. I think the last time we saw something like this were the Run episodes of a hotel staycation? But the prices were ficticious and not necessarily about real-world spending but rather determining the secret number to not exceed. (If I'm misremembering and there are more recent examples, please share!) Imo, it would just be too tone-deaf to continue portraying the members in that context. I know we all joke about them being broke millionaires, but there's a reason why celebrity game shows always make it clear that the money involved is for charity.

Anyway, back to AYS, the interesting bit to me is wondering about the inclusion of Taehyung from a budget standpoint. How was that reconciled? None of us can possibly know the answer, but it's interesting to think about. Some costs wouldn't have changed at all with one extra participant, like the house rental, or booking the climbing gym or yacht tour. But there were a few extra concessions, getting the extra mattress likely was more a logistics headache on short notice rather than an impact to the budget. And most Korean meals are served family-style so there honestly isn't a huge difference cost-wise. Except maybe the omakase. That I can imagine was noticeably more expensive with an added individual.

But really, the most expensive item per person would likely have been travel. Did someone say Tae was already in Jeju prior to filming? If he wasn't, did the show cover his flights like they would have JK, JM, and the crew? Or is the budget on these shows big enough that it was just another drop in a bucket? Also, the intent likely was for JK to zip around on the motorbike and JM to be on the scooter. I'm curious if they weren't logistically able to get another such vehicle with the short notice or if the budget/sponsorship constraint didn't allow for a third one the day. Or it could be that the scooter exists because of the 3 member count and production thought one of them could be JKs backpack. That bike has the space for it. But perhaps the difficulty to get coverage and/or converse wasn't appealing. Or maybe there just wasn't a third radio-enabled helmet prepared?

I know the various shippers are using this in their arguments. I'd like to firmly state that I am not building a case for either side here. Go do that on your own and leave me out of it. Lol.

There are so many questions and it's interesting to theorize how the finances could have impacted the development of the show. Maybe we'll get some more insight with the remaining episodes and bonus footage but I doubt it. Finances don't usually make for engaging content.

Thanks again for the ask! It's one of the points I want to discuss when I start doing my BV and ITS posts but who knows when that will be!