#caravan commodities

[lustspren]

P.S.T EP. 16 | And The Snakes Start To Sing ft Karina, Yeji.

length: 16.9k words ✦

Karina, Yeji X Male Reader

genres:  threesome, anal, facial, double blowjob, pussy eating, dirty talk, creampie, rough sex, bi, blowjob, daddy kink, footjob, titjob, face fuck

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The air felt different that morning, and so did the mattress and pillow beneath you.

But of course it did. After months of hotel after hotel, after dozens of different beds, you were finally in the comfort of your own bed, in your own place. It was a necessary commodity, since you were close to chronic fatigue or even back problems from changing mattresses so often without optimal rest.

It seemed like an unbeatable scenario for you, only that it could actually be improved; the two beauties you had under your arms when you woke up confirmed it. The two of them, realizing that you had already woken up, snuggled closer to your sides, both with their heads on your chest.

"Now that you're unemployed can we just stay like this all day?" Rina asked in a tender, low voice, clinging to you with her arms and legs.

You weren't prepared to even contemplate how to answer that question; it sounded too weird to hear, like it was a joke to catch you off guard.

"I know a few girls who might be interested in seeing him if he wanted to," Yeji interrupted you from your left to give you a peck on the collarbone, before you could say anything. "But I'm happy to stay with my two bros as long as you two want."

After bringing your hands to rub your eyes and a yawn you put your five senses together to be able to talk.

"We can certainly stay like this for a while," you squeezed them against you with your arms crossed over their soft backs, both pairs of soft breasts pressed against your ribs. "But there's something I didn't tell you last night..."

THE PREVIOUS MORNING.

You didn't know what was scarier, the spooky hangar you were walking to once you got off the jet, or the men in suits waiting for you inside. In the end you decided it was a draw.

The hangar had no lights inside, it was only lit by sunlight filtering through small rectangular windows at the bottom of the wide doors at the back that made the floor shine, which was very worn from probably so many years of one without maintenance. It was obvious that it had not been used for a long time.

But inside they were. The devils in suits. As haughty and visibly detestable as you imagined them. They were not exactly few; at first glance you counted more than a dozen, which led you to think that not only high executives of SM would be there. There had to be at least one from each big company with their respective entourage of assistants and security guards.

However, something caught your attention: neither Irene nor the reporter were there. Confused, you turned to look at Jihye as you crossed the threshold and were covered by the shadow, but she seemed to know perfectly well what was happening. It had to be the part that she left out of the plan for you.

She approached a tall man wearing sunglasses and stopped in front of him. You and the girls stopped behind Jihye. The man had to be the SM delegate, judging by how two men stepped forward from behind him as soon as you approached.

“Are the cars ready?” Jihye asked the man, who merely nodded before he began issuing orders to his men.

“Take them to the airport,” he ordered one of his aides, pointing directly at Rina, Minjeong, Aeri, and Ning. “They don’t need to be here for what’s coming next.”

“Huh?” Rina stepped away from the man who went to escort them to the car, her brow furrowed. “No way, we want to see Irene!”

The other girls came out in support of their leader and joined in the argument, insisting that they wanted to see the bitch who almost ruined their entire career.

The SM representative snorted and took a sharp step forward.

“Shut your fucking mouths and get in the car!” he pointed outside, where the caravan of black-tinted SUVs were. “SM, JYP, YG, and even HYBE have done miracles to be here and clean up the mess that damn bitch made,” he jerked his chin at Minjeong, who cowered in fear and embarrassment.

“Hey!” yelled Aeri, stepping forward and facing the man. “Watch your fucking mouth, you piece of shit!”

You were about to come to Minjeong’s defense as well, but Jihye grabbed your hoodie from behind like you were a little kid.

“It’s okay, girls,” she said, stepping between you and the man, and motioning for Aeri to get away. "Get in the car and behave yourselves. We'll all be meeting up soon."

You wanted to hold onto that as a comfort to them, but you got the slightest bit of a feeling that she didn't quite believe what she was saying. Rina, however, being the responsible person she was, gathered her entire troop together and nodded at them reassuringly. The four of them then hugged you and Jihye.

"Good luck, guys," Rina said, hugging you.

“Thank you, Jiminie,” you said, hugging her back with a few pats on the back.

By the time you and she pulled away, Minjeong and Jihye were still hugging each other for a little longer than you expected.

“Thank you for saving me, unnie…” you heard Minjeong say in a soft voice. “Even though I don’t deserve it.”

Jihye didn’t respond, just closed her eyes and let out a heavy breath. Minjeong stepped away from her a second later, and joined the rest of the girls in letting the man lead them to the car. You had no choice but to watch as they entered and disappeared from your sight behind the tinted windows.

“Very well,” the man continued, as the car carrying the girls pulled away. “The matters discussed at the meeting have already been handled,” he nodded at you. “Does he know all the details?”

"He knows enough," Jihye replied flatly.

That felt like a pang in your heart. Aren't you two supposed to...?

"W-what?" you said to yourself.

"Let's go to the other hangar then," the man nodded, and motioned for Jihye to go with another guy. Then he looked at you. "You'll go with him."

He pointed to a different man, shorter and visibly younger. From the quality of his suit and the classy air he carried, he seemed to be another big shot. The man approached you, and after a bow invited you to follow him to the car. None of that gave you the slightest bit of confidence, but you couldn't feel anything but a deep stupor at Jihye's words, so you just followed him.

When you got into the backseat of the car it was like being on autopilot. You thought you knew the plan; you were supposed to have everything under control, you knew your part and what you had to do. But those words hinted that there was something going on behind the scenes that you didn't know about, and you were terrified just thinking about the possibilities.

The caravan of SUVs set off towards the hangar where Irene and the reporter were. On the way, the man you went with, who was also the one driving, cleared his throat and looked at you in the rearview mirror.

"Irene has a point, doesn't she?" he asked, in a polite and friendly tone of voice. The complete opposite of the SM representative.

Now you weren't just stunned by what had happened, but by that statement as well. The combination didn't let you answer.

"Be honest," he continued, now looking straight ahead. "Don't you think the industry is too cruel to aspiring boys and girls?"

"Uh..."

"I understand that part of the product is formed based on building a parasocial relationship with the fans," he interrupted you, answering his own question. “Honestly it’s cruel even for them. But I like to think that even with all the negatives…” he paused slightly. “The industry has done more good than harm.”

Noticing that he got a little carried away by his thoughts, the man glanced at you in the rearview mirror again and let out a small, embarrassed laugh.

“I apologize, buddy,” he said. “I’m Lee Gunwook, the JYP representative. And well, JYP himself shares the same vision: he just wants to make good progress in the industry for everyone involved.”

“I’m not surprised,” you said finally, looking out the window at the runways. “He looks like an open-minded man.”

Gunwook let out another laugh.

“You have no idea,” he replied. “But I go back to my question: don’t you think Irene has a point even though her methods weren’t the most ethical?”

The hatred and anger you felt towards Irene made your blood boil, but you had to be honest with yourself.

“Yeah,” you said quietly, just enough for him to hear.

He grinned from ear to ear.

“Alright, then you’ll need this and keep your mouth shut during the meeting.”

Gunwook reached into the glove compartment of the car and pulled out a visibly new phone. He handed it to you and you took it. It was a Samsung, you didn’t know which one exactly, but it was certainly a lot better than your current phone.

“Uh… well, I’ll need some time to get all the contacts and pictures from my phone onto this one.”

“Ah, you don’t have to worry about that, it’s already taken care of.”

He pulled his phone out from between his legs and fiddled with it. A few seconds later your current phone completely lost signal, and the new phone turned on displaying the Samsung logo.

“May I know what the hell you did, Lee Gunwook?” You asked, seeing that there was absolutely nothing on your phone, no pictures, no contacts, no working mobile network.

“The number is the same, so I don’t think you need to worry about giving a new one to anyone,” he said, as if that was your biggest concern at the moment.

The caravan stopped a few moments later, and by that point you had already realized the immense amount of power that the people involved in this whole situation had. It was kinda scary.

Before getting out of the car, Gunwook turned around to look at you directly and not through the rearview mirror.

"By the way, thanks for taking such good care of the ITZY girls," he told you, with a sincerity that you recognized. "I have a soft spot for them because well, I recruited them years ago," he smiled proudly. "But well, let me and Noze take care of you, please."

Gunwook then opened the door to the snake pit, and you got out of the car with him.

That hangar did look like it had been used recently; it had nothing to do with the previous one. In this one the white floor was perfectly polished and shiny, and it reflected the multiple rows of white lights hanging across the room. The men in suits, you and Noze walked inside.

Inside were Irene and the bastard, and damn, you wished you could have pulled out your phone to photograph Irene’s face as she realized how much firepower Jihye had gathered in such a short time. You approached the two of them in quick steps.

“I see I made a mistake in underestimating such a wonderful woman,” Irene said when you stopped, a tone of affection in her voice and a weak smile on her face. “I should have been more cautious.”

As much as you wanted to crucify her and the other jerk, you couldn’t help but nod discreetly. Jihye just avoided her gaze and crossed her arms, looking up and down one of the hangar walls.

The SM representative quickly stood between them, hands behind his back.

“You are not going to speak to her, Bae Joohyun,” he said, stern. “There are far more important people here right now that you and your pathetic accomplice need to talk to.”

He waved his hand and with almost robotic efficiency, four men began setting up folding chairs and tables for everyone to sit at. The tables ended up pushed together, forming a long single table that looked typical of a boardroom. Irene and the reporter took the seats at one end, and you sat on the right side, between Jihye on your right and Gunwook on your left.

You looked at Jihye and examined her face for a moment. She didn’t seem nervous, or scared. Rather, she looked somewhat calm and impatient at the same time, as if she just wanted to grab her stuff, run away from there, and disappear. You understood that feeling, so you took her hand under the table.

But to your surprise, she didn’t reciprocate even though she always did. And you, after feeling another pang in your heart, let go of her hand and looked down at the table.

"Well, gentlemen," the SM representative began from the other side of the table. "I don't need to remind you why we're here." His gaze went to Irene and the reporter. "I respect your ambition, really. No one had ever managed to get the big companies to collaborate like this. So tell me, Bae Joohyun, what are you trying to achieve?"

"Hey!" the reporter shouted with a bang on the table, butting in. "She's not the only one you're negotiating with!"

The men in suits burst into laughter, Gunwook at your side in a somewhat more discreet manner. You and Jihye weren't amused in the slightest, in fact you didn't even understand why they were laughing so haughty and creepy.

The SM representative raised a hand, and silence fell again at the table.

"I'm afraid you're wrong," he said, still between small traces of laughter. "This isn't a negotiation. You're not even worthy of attention, mine or whoever else's at this table."

"I have the power here!" the reporter shouted back, very sure of his words. "I don't care what she says. I have the photos and enough information about the spa's clientele to have all of you in my pocket!"

"Oh yeah?" the SM delegate chuckled. "If you feel that powerful then go ahead and do it. Send your pathetic photos and publish your pathetic article. We won't stop you."

You looked up from the table and frowned at both the delegate and the reporter. Then you looked at Jihye, but again, she didn't seem the least bit fazed. You searched for her gaze to demand an explanation, but she avoided you. Lastly you looked at Irene, who did share the same terrified look as you.

The reporter pulled out his phone, causing absolute silence inside the hangar. Tension and uncertainty filled the air, but the only sources seemed to be you and Irene. The rest of the men, including Jihye, didn't seem worried. They looked more like orcas having fun with their prey before tearing it apart.

Minutes later the man set his phone down on the table, a triumphant smile on his face. The phones of the men in suits rang with notifications shortly after. The reporter laughed, thinking he had won the battle.

But the men in suits laughed louder than he did after checking their phones. The laughter reverberated through the hangar, like a malevolent chorus of demons rejoicing in the power they knew they had.

A creepy vibe entered your body and made you shudder immediately. You felt tiny. Helpless in that hostile environment where you felt like some really fucked up shit was simmering. A few hours ago you would think your solace would be Jihye, but she seemed to ignore your existence completely.

You were alone. In a deep pool of turbulent waters filled with sharks.

“I’ll spare you from having to read the message we all just received,” laughed the SM delegate, who then looked across the table at another big shot. HYBE or YG, most likely. “Haven’t you guys made a very generous contribution to Dispatch lately?”

That led you to think it must be the HYBE. YG was more disinterested in such matters.

“And not only that, the editor-in-chief and I are old college buddies,” the HYBE delegate nodded, in an exuberant display of arrogance.

“You see?” the SM delegate turned his gaze to the reporter. “I don’t think you understand, mate. What I mean is that you have no power over shit.” he pointed at his HYBE namesake. “That message we just received was from the editor-in-chief letting us know that neither your photos nor your article will see the light of day.”

The reporter and Irene suddenly found themselves backed into a corner, and you had a feeling that the knockout was coming soon.

“Just because Dispatch isn’t going to publish the article doesn’t mean other media won’t,” the reporter said with a nervous chuckle, somewhat desperate to somehow comfort himself.

“What?” The SM representative frowned, pretending he hadn't heard him correctly. "You mean the article you wrote about an illegal and scandalous spa that you and I operate?"

"Huh?" The reporter frowned, confused by that statement that even you couldn't understand. "What the fuck do you mean?"

"For fuck's sake," snorted another bigwig, who by elimination had to be the YG representative. "You think we don't know what goes on inside that fucking spa?" he asked, and slammed the table. "It's ours and we operate it! Through shell companies, of course."

Suddenly you felt like something was wrong with the way you perceived reality at that moment, as if a control tower inside your brain had failed. Did that mean...?

No, fuck. It couldn't be fucking possible.

"Oh, and I should add that I made sure that a certain judge's daughter passed our auditions." The YG representative added, bragging perhaps a little too much. "The good man paid us back by advancing some documents that showed a new owner of the spa. Can you guess who this new owner is?"

It had to be a lie, you were sure.

No, that wasn't the lie. Your job was the lie. Everything you had believed up until that moment was a fucking lie. Were you then... just another fucking pawn? Did they play puppet with you too? You clenched your fists under the table, unable to take it in.

"Do you understand what we want to tell you?" Gunwook asked at your side, for the first time in the entire meeting. "You are powerless. You have no control whatsoever. Just like the idols of our companies."

You were in complete shock, realizing that you had only been another puppet of the industry for much longer than you imagined. You weren't able to take it all in, it was too many revelations in too little time. You could only sink a little in your seat, staring blankly.

“How could you take their side?” Irene asked in a small voice, sounding betrayed, defeated. You didn’t need to look at her to know who she was addressing. “You may have moved on, but the reason I did all this in the first place was because of what these monsters did to us!”

Jihye swallowed thickly and pursed her lips to keep from opening her mouth. She stared at the ceiling lights, nervously moving her leg up and down.

“What did the monsters do to you, Joohyun?” the SM representative asked, in a tone so passive-aggressive that it made your hair stand on end. “Make you a global icon? Make you incredibly wealthy?” he slowly raised his tone of voice with each question. “Make you the face of major global fashion companies? Make thousands upon thousands of people look up to you?!”

“You took my love away, motherfucker!” She screamed, standing up with both hands on the table. “YOU TOOK HER FROM ME!” She pointed at Jihye.

Her words were so heartbreaking that you couldn’t help but feel sympathy for her. If only the images of Ning running out of the dressing room in tears and Minjeong cowering on the couch weren’t burned into your memory, maybe you would have even come to her defense.

Jihye moved her leg faster, and you noticed in her hand how she was trembling. All of this was tearing her apart too, you knew her more than well. You wanted to be able to reassure her somehow, but this was not the place or the time.

And you weren't sure she would have accepted it either.

"So we finally got to where you wanted us to," the SM representative said. "You don't really care about the industry. You just wanted to make us feel guilty and end up just like now. Us here while you express your love for Jihye."

Jihye twisted her head and clenched her fist, visibly cringing at the man calling her by her real name.

"As I was saying," the SM representative continued with a sigh, in a terrifying serenity as if this was just a child's game. "I admire your ambition and your ingenuity. But from a public relations point of view it is much better to handle this matter internally than just terminating your contract and ruining your image," he turned to look at Jihye. "Tell her about the agreement we've reached, Noze."

"No..." you said quietly, realizing that this was when everything would break off.

Jihye stood up and raised her hand, still trembling. Her lower lip was quivering as well.

"I, Noh Jihye, resign from my position as Aespa's manager..." she gulped and squeezed her eyes shut. "And I am honored to accept my new role as division manager for all girl groups under SM Entertainment."

That was the final blow, but not for Irene or the reporter. For you. The multiple stabs in your heart had now turned into one, accurate shot. Betrayal always hurt when it came from the front, but this was like a stab in the back, full of rage. And the worst: it came from the person you loved.

True friends stab you in the front.

Jihye then left your side and walked to sit on Irene's left. You couldn't take your eyes off her, and she knew it, which is why she kept staring at the floor. She was afraid that if she looked into your eyes she would break.

"The four delegates here assured me that they will not interfere in our relationship anymore," Jihye continued, her gaze downcast, kicking you to the ground when you were already unconscious. "No more threats. No more changes in our careers. They will also move to the main office so that I can be here in Seoul with you."

Irene didn't believe it much more than you did. She kept looking at Jihye as if she had gone completely crazy.

"W-what?" she said.

"It will be hard for me to forgive you for all the harm you have caused," Jihye said, a robotic and emotionless tone that led you to think that this was all scripted. "But I know that you did it out of love. We can fix it."

All of that could have been previously agreed upon against Jihye's will, but still, the stab wound hurt like hell, especially since it was still open and receiving blows. So without thinking, you tried to stand up to intervene in all of that, but Gunwook pulled you down by the hoodie and physically prevented you from doing so.

He approached your ear, still holding on to you despite your attempts to get away.

"Trust us," he said, and you had no choice but to swallow dirt and stay still.

"All they ask in return is that the evidence be handed over to them," Jihye continued. "Photos, articles, videos. Everything."

"B-but!" the reporter stood up. "This is not..."

"Shut up!" Irene shouted, cutting him off short. "I'll make it up to you for everything, I promise," she then looked at the SM representative. "We accept the terms."

The SM delegate tapped the table with his knuckles and leaned back in his seat. The cocky grin on his face made you want to jump over the table and knock out every single tooth in him.

“See? Easy,” he said, and looked at all of you present. “I love happy endings, don’t you?”

All the men at the table burst out laughing again, except for you and the reporter.

“Well,” the SM delegate said again. “Can someone take Noze and Irene to the main offices so they can sign their NDAs and have Noze sign the paperwork for her new job which, I might add, comes with a pretty hefty raise?”

Two of the men flanking the SM delegate stepped forward and went to Jihye and Irene, who stood up and were led out of the hangar and into the car.

You just stared at Jihye as she left, still unable to believe that the most wonderful woman you'd ever met had done that to you. And not just to you, but to the girls she claimed to love.

It all seemed like a fucking nightmare. A very fucked up one.

"Next business," the SM delegate said, now looking at the reporter. "Very well, we all know that Irene will more than compensate you. And from the kind of scum we all know you are here, I think that's all you care about."

The reporter gulped and slammed the table, clearly still furious.

"You're not getting away with..."

The SM delegate leaned forward and clasped his hands on the table, looking at him over his sunglasses. That was enough to shut up the reporter.

"Once she's paid you, you'll leave the country, never come back, and you'll stay away from any overseas activities that any of the companies at this table handle," he said menacingly, letting the reporter know that he was on the tightrope. "I think we've made enough of a display of our might for you to know that we're not to be messed with."

The reporter, acknowledging defeat, sat down and crossed his arms.

“Alright, alright…” he grumbled. “I accept the terms.”

The SM delegate returned to his natural position and placed his hands on his thighs.

“Take his phone, give him his plane ticket, and get his stinking ass out of here,” he ordered.

A new team of men went with the reporter and escorted him out of the hangar, in a not-so-gentle manner. You could almost say they kicked his ass out.

All the shock caused by Jihye’s betrayal made you ignore the fact that you were now alone in the snake pit. You only took it in when the SM delegate locked his gaze on you.

“And finally, the last matter,” he said, and looked you up and down as if you were a piece of shit. “What do we do with this upstart who doesn’t know his place? We let him fuck our idols, we pay for his fucking plane ticket, and how does he pay us back? By getting us into this fucking mess.”

Before you could open your mouth and bring up how sharp your tongue felt at the moment, Gunwook poked you in the thigh to shut you up.

“Come on, Sanghyeok,” Gunwook said. “Why torture the poor guy? We’ve all already agreed on what we’d do with him.” He looked at you. “I’d also say we owe him a pat on the back, don’t you think? He took care of our idols as discreetly as he could and made sure this whole thing stayed under our control.”

“Gunwook!” the HYBE manager complained with a chuckle. “It would have been fun to see him squirm a bit before we told him what we had planned for him.”

The anger you felt at how those bastards talked about you like you were a toy made your blood boil like hot lava. But that only made you realize that that was just a portion of what both trainees and idols must have felt over the years.

They were trash. You were surrounded by fucking trash. Scum that didn't deserve the slightest bit of respect. They disgusted you.

"I guess you have a point, and I'm already tired of being here." Sanghyeok, the SM representative, admitted, then looked at you. "Alright kid, you have two options: you can sign the NDAs we have right here and never interact with any idols ever again..."

"I don't think we need to tell you what would happen to you if you broke that agreement," the HYBE representative added, to which you didn't even look at him.

"Or," Sanghyeok continued. “You can run your own contracting company focused on cultural integration and consultation. Of course this will all be a facade, for you to solve the problems we’d like to stay away from and for you to continue fucking our assets.”

Of all the things you heard that day, for some reason that was the one that left you the most baffled. Running your own company? What the hell was that fucker talking about?

“I’m sure I’m wasting my time asking, but what do you choose, kid?” he insisted.

Gunwook put a hand in front of you and again stopped you from answering yourself.

“Hey, hey, why don’t we give him a set of both documents and I’ll advise him on both options before he signs anything?” he proposed.

Luckily for you all the big fish agreed, and then the session was finally adjourned after two folders were handed to you. The tables were pushed back, as were all the chairs. Gunwook escorted you out, while you did nothing but glare at each of the bastards as they drove away.

"Sit in the passenger seat, please," Gunwook said as you approached the car.

You agreed and climbed into the passenger seat. Gunwook climbed into the car as well, and looked at you after a heavy sigh.

"I'm sorry, I'm sure that was hard to watch," he said, then started the car.

You didn't know how to respond. You didn't even know how to feel at that moment, with so many emotions churning inside you and isolating you from reality.

Jihye had betrayed you, dammit. And not only that, she had agreed to get back together with the person who hurt her so much in the first place. You were sure a kick in the balls could have hurt less at the time.

"Well, luckily everything went according to Noze's plan," Gunwook said, driving on the way to the airport. "I certainly owe that woman one."

You frowned and turned to look at him.

"Her plan was to betray me in the worst way possible and spit me on the ground once dead?" you asked. "That's fucking bullshit, mate." you looked out the window again.

Gunwook sighed.

"Did you know Noze and my little sister used to be trainees together?" he asked, staring ahead. "My little sister developed a really bad case of anxiety and an eating disorder because of that life. But that never stopped Noze from wanting to take care of her like she was his own sister."

You turned to look at him and realized that it hurt him to talk about it. So you politely paid attention.

"It was a tough time," he continued. "My little sister really kept hitting rock bottom, over and over again, but Noze was always there for her. Even when..." he started to say something, but swallowed hard and took it back. "Anyway, the reason I'm telling you this is so you know you can trust me. I know what my coworkers are capable of."

"You didn't seem to disagree with anything they said."

"What would you have done in my place?" Gunwook asked. "Get up, insult every single one of them, and screw everything up? That's not how it works, kid. You gotta be a little hypocritical in this life every now and then. It'll keep you afloat with certain people."

"Are you afraid of what they might do to you for being rebellious or what?"

"I've seen a lot of shit, mate. Dark shit. Of course I'm afraid," he said. "That's why I stay out of the way and work under the table."

"I guess I can't judge you then," you said with a shrug, and looked ahead.

"Besides, this was Noze's idea too," he said.

"The what?"

"Me sharing our past with you. She said she knew it would be just what you needed to hear."

You couldn't help but let out a disbelieving chuckle, and looked out the window again.

"It doesn't heal the knife wound, but I appreciate it."

When you arrived at the airport, Gunwook was considerate enough to walk you to the point where you would have to go through the re-entry process. Before you left, he grabbed your forearm.

"Boy, I'm asking you, Noze is asking you," he looked you in the eyes. "Take the job, and do everything in your power to protect the girls." He squeezed your forearm, not in a rough way, but rather affectionately. "It's your decision, and if you want to just leave we will respect it. But we need your help."

"Gunwook... I-I..."

"I'll call you tomorrow to discuss the details and explain everything," he interrupted you with a gentle wave of his hand. "But you must know that with or without you, this whole thing with Irene was just the first battle. The industry is about to go to war."

With that said, he nodded at you and let go of your forearm to go back the way he came, leaving you with a nest of angry hornets in your head that didn't let you think clearly.

It was all fucking overwhelming. You would never have imagined carrying a weight of that magnitude on your shoulders in your life, and you certainly weren't prepared for it. All things considered, it was like sending a poor, inexperienced 17-year-old bastard straight into a trench in 1916. Maybe you were exaggerating and it wasn't that bad, but it wasn't what you had in mind when you agreed to go on tour with Aespa.

Speaking of Aespa, you weren't surprised to find Rina waiting for you once you went through the re-entry process. Amidst all the shit that day, seeing her was like seeing your guardian angel. A safe place at last.

"God, you're finally here!" she said as you approached, taking steps towards you. "What happened? How was everything? Where's Jihye?"

Your only response was to hug her tightly and bury your face in her neck. She must have figured this wasn't the time to ask questions, so she just hugged you back and rubbed your back.

"Where are the girls?" you asked after a few long seconds, still clinging to her.

"They distracted the fans at the airport so I could wait for you." Rina replied softly, stroking the hair on the back of your neck.

You pulled away from her with your arms still around her waist so you could look into her eyes. She looked back at you, visibly worried.

"I promise to tell you everything," you assured, and squeezed her waist. "But really, I'm exhausted and I need to process all of this."

"It's okay, honey," she nodded, and pulled you in to kiss your forehead. "Let's go."

Rina led you outside, where a vehicle with tinted windows and a driver was waiting for you. You got into the back seats.

“Do you want to go to your apartment or ITZY’s house to see Chaery?” Rina asked you, removing her hood and mask.

Fuck, the ITZY girls. You hadn’t even let them know you were back in the country. They weren’t expecting you until the next day.

“My apartment,” you answered immediately, still overwhelmed by it all. “I’m not sure I can look Chaery in the eye right now.”

Rina leaned in to examine your face in a small moment of silence.

“Does it have to do with your mood back in Mexico City?” she ventured, knowing you perhaps too well.

As the car pulled away you took a deep breath and sank into the seat with your arms crossed, staring out the window. And before you knew it, you were telling Rina everything that happened that morning between you and Jihye. It wasn't hard to tell; you remembered every word she had said to you. Unfortunately.

"Fuck..." she said under her breath, and sank down into the seat with you to wrap an arm around your abdomen and hug you, her cheek resting on your arm. "Sounds like you need a bros night."

"I couldn't agree more," you said, and uncrossed your arm to wrap it around her.

You and Rina took a short ten-minute nap, until you were woken up by the driver letting you know you had reached your destination. You looked up and looked out the window, immediately recognizing the ground floor of your building.

"Hey, at least tell me something," she grabbed your arm. "Someone hit Irene?"

"I wish." you replied with a disappointed sigh.

Rina snorted.

“That’s a fucking shame,” she let go of your arm, and you opened the door to get out. “Hey, get some sleep okay? I’ll be ready to talk whenever you want.”

“What about the girls?” you asked, hand on the top edge of the door. “They’ll want to know.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Rina said. “I’ll keep them at bay until you feel comfortable sharing the details.”

“Alright,” you nodded. “Thanks, Jiminie, really.”

She gave you a loving smirk, and blew you a kiss.

“Nothing to thank, silly.” she said. “I’ll see you later, okay?”

“Okay.” You smiled back, and then closed the door to let the car drive off.

Going up to your apartment you hoped you could find some peace of mind in the comfort of your place. After all, you'd been gone for a couple of months, anyone would have breathed a deep sigh of relief.

But as soon as you opened that door and stepped through the threshold, your first instinct was to walk straight to your couch, sit down, and sink into tears with your hands on your head.

None of it made sense to you; you couldn't wrap your head around it. You still wanted to believe that it was all a bad dream that would pass at any moment, and that you would wake up next to Jihye in Mexico City as if nothing had happened.

Everything had rotted. Everything.

Between heartbroken sobs you couldn't do anything else but stare at the ceiling, wondering why everything had to turn out that way. Was anything with Jihye real? Did she lie to you all this time? No, fuck, it couldn't be. You weren't even prepared for what was coming, much less did you know if you wanted to find out.

Rina. You needed her. But you hadn't the slightest idea how to break all the news to her; it made your stomach turn just remembering all that. To top it off, you didn't know if it was the right thing to do to tell them everything. That job belonged to someone else.

But that damn person had to be on her way to SM's offices, holding hands with her ex.

No. Not her ex. Her girlfriend. Again.

You couldn't call Rina, not at that moment. So you turned to the only other person you knew you could trust and vent to. You took out your phone to text Yeji.

With that done, you were finally able to calm your sobs. You didn't have the energy for anything else at that moment, even though you were hungry. You just got up from the couch, went to your room and laid there like a sack of potatoes. Your eyes were burning from crying so much, so it wasn't hard for you to fall asleep.

When you woke up you weren't next to Jihye, unfortunately. It had all really happened, and it still felt like the worst nightmare you'd ever had in your life.

But fuck it. You had to face that head on. There was no point in drowning in a glass of water. Things had to work out, by hook or by crook, and it was not the time to be downcast. You would force yourself to get out of that damn bed and get ahead.

You grabbed your phone and sighed in relief when you saw that you hadn't slept too late; it was barely 7PM. You got into Yeji's chat, just to ask her what time she'd be coming over. However, you hadn't even finished typing the message when your apartment doorbell rang.

You got out of bed and walked out of your room straight to the door. When you opened it, Yeji was waiting for you under the threshold with two bags in her hands, dressed in comfy sweatpants and an oversized white hoodie. She wasn't wearing any makeup, and yet she still managed to look stupidly gorgeous.

"Hi!" she smiled from ear to ear, and you automatically did too, having missed that cute cat smile so much.

You didn't even have time to say hello back when she walked inside as if the apartment was hers. She walked into your living room as you closed the door, setting the two bags on top of your circular coffee table and striding over to give you a hug that felt like a breath of fresh air.

“Hey, light fury.” you said softly, squeezing her tight in your arms.

“Do you know how much I missed you, donkey?” she asked, her head on your shoulder. “A lot.”

“And I missed you too, sweetheart.” you replied. “These two months felt like an eternity.”

Yeji pulled away from you and nodded toward the coffee table.

“I brought beer,” she said. “And Lia made you food.”

“Wait what?” you frowned. “Didn’t I tell you not to tell anyone? How did Lia know to make me dinner?”

Yeji made an awkward face and scratched the back of her neck.

"About that... well, I had no choice." she shrugged. "Before I could come up with an excuse to justify being out until morning, Lia came to my room."

You sighed and walked over to the bags to find the one with the tupperwares.

"She and the girls were planning a welcome back surprise for you..." Yeji said, turning to you.

"Which isn't a surprise anymore." you interrupted her, stacking up the three tuperwares.

"No, certainly not." she agreed with a sigh, arms akimbo. "But the thing is, she wanted to know if I wanted to go shopping for swimsuits and party supplies with them, so I had to tell her so she'd cover for me."

As you opened the tupperware your stomach growled, and in your head you blessed Lia in the name of every god you knew. One had bibimbap, the other had kimchi jjigae, and the last had japchae with marinated spinach. The bag also had two metal chopsticks. Everything looked delicious.

“Chaery looked so adorable,” she said with a giggle. “She wanted everything to be perfect, and she was even baking you a cake.”

You hated the fact that Chaery had gone to all that trouble for nothing, but you smiled as you imagined her yelling at everyone while she was in the kitchen. She was just too cute.

“So?” you prompted her to continue, sitting down on the couch.

“Nothing, Lia told the girls that Rina told me you wouldn’t be landing tomorrow due to flight issues.”

You looked down and let out a deep breath.

“I’m sorry for making you lie,” you said, chopsticks in your hand as you looked at the food. “And especially for bringing Lia into this too.”

“Oh don’t worry.” she walked over to one of your counters, where you had your record player. “Just don’t make it a habit. Now eat, your food is going to get cold and Lia put a lot of effort into it.”

Your stomach was growling so much that you didn’t need her to tell you twice. First you tried the bibimbap, some zucchini with some beef. Fucking delicious, as was the kimchi and the japchae.

While you ate, Yeji began to examine your vinyl records. You trusted that she would know how to operate the record player, so you just let her choose. In the end she opted for a jazz classic: Time Out by The Dave Brubeck Quartet. A choice you didn’t expect but appreciated.

She then sat down next to you and crossed her legs to look at you.

“Alright, honey, what’s wrong?” she asked as you chewed on some pork.

You knew you had to be as brief as possible, but in the end you ended up telling her every detail: everything Irene had done, what she had put Minjeong through, why you had unexpectedly returned, and finally, what happened at the meeting that morning.

By the end of your story Yeji was speechless, unable to take in any of what you had told her. A living reflection of what you felt. In her eyes you could see that she was waiting for you to tell her that some of it was a lie, but you wish you could.

"What the fuck..." she said quietly, her gaze lost. "I mean, Irene does have a point, but taking advantage of her hoobaes like that? That's fucking vile."

"I know." you replied, finishing the jjigae.

“I’ve teased the NMIXX girls too, but I’ve made sure to never hurt them,” she leaned back and sank into her seat. “I love those girls like they’re my little sisters, and I’d kill for them just as much as I would for ITZY.”

“Well… I have to admit,” you covered two tupperware containers and focused on the japchae. “That even though I was so fucking upset, seeing Irene so fragile while talking about what the industry had taken from her made me feel some…” you took a moment to measure your words. “Sympathy for her. A smidge.”

That statement caused an awkward silence between the two of you, with nothing but the third track from the record, Take Five, playing.

“So… how are the girls of Aespa handling the loss of their manager?” she finally asked.

“I haven’t told them that,” you admitted. “I thought Noze deserved the right to break the news to them herself.”

Yeji stood up suddenly, startling you.

“HOW COULD YOU HIDE THAT FROM THEM?!” she yelled at you, and you just hung your head like a scolded dog. “The only relationship that’s more important than the one we have with our manager is the one with the members themselves!”

“Yeah, yeah, I get that,” you said, both hands up as if she was going to hit you at any moment. “But Noze and them have been together since day one, and I honestly didn’t feel like going through any more shit today.”

Recalling everything you’d told her, Yeji resigned herself and sat back down beside you to rub your back. But you knew she was right.

“Look, I know we’re close friends and all, and I definitely don’t want to be rude or nosy,” she said. “But… why did you want to spend time with me tonight and not Chaery?”

"Well..."

Your doorbell rang, and with it two knocks.

You frowned in confusion and looked at Yeji, wondering if she had invited anyone else.

Three more knocks, this time louder and more frantic. Yeji then looked at you, also confused and even a bit scared, you might say. You stood up to walk to the door.

"Are you expecting anyone else?" she asked behind you, and you just shook your head with your hand on the doorknob.

Your heart started to beat fast. There were very few people who knew where you lived, including the reporter. Had the bastard returned to take revenge and pay you back? Ready to open it and beat him to a pulp, you suddenly opened the door.

Only to find the four Aespa girls, their beautiful and innocent faces lighting up once they saw you. They were all wearing casual clothes, and you could tell by the looks on their faces that they had taken a well-deserved break upon arriving.

“I’m so sorry for the surprise,” Rina told you with a nervous little smile, before you could say anything, and then held up the bags she was carrying for you to see. “But we brought soju.”

Before you could say anything—again—Yeji ran up from the couch and elbowed you aside to hug all the Aespa girls. They were taken aback at first, but then recognized who she was.

“Gosh, I’m so glad you girls got here safely,” Yeji said, as she was pulled into everyone’s arms. “I’m so sorry for everything you had to go through.”

“We’re sorry for showing up unannounced.” Rina said, and then giggled. “And interrupting whatever was going on.”

You locked eyes with Ning, who blew you a cute little kiss, then Minjeong, who gave you a cute little smile, and finally Aeri, who just made a V with her fingers.

“Can you guys come in?” you said. “The air conditioning is going out.”

You stepped aside to let the five of them in. They all went to sit on the couch. Yeji was the only one who had to sit on the single couch. And you, well, you stayed standing.

“We’ve been texting and calling Noze since we woke up,” Rina said, her forearms resting on her knees. “She never checked in at the dorm manager’s area.”

You and Yeji locked eyes. And you took a deep breath, hands on your waist.

“Look, I know you don’t feel like repeating what happened this morning, but the girls and I are worried about Noze,” Rina said, concerned. "We just want to know if she's okay."

You looked at Yeji again, who just nodded.

"Time for some courage, sweetheart," she said, then stood up to give you her seat. "I'll go to your room to call Lia and you know, tell her you're okay and tell her everything that happened."

You nodded and sat in Yeji's place as she walked down the hall and to your room. So you stayed with the Aespa girls, and damn, it was hard to look them in the eyes with all you had to say.

"Mother of God, where do I start..." you took a deep breath, and brought your hands together to your mouth and nose.

It was hard for you, but you ended up touching on every topic: Jihye's resignation, how she didn't tell you the whole plan, what happened with the reporter, and finally, how she left the hangar with Irene. By the time you finished you felt like you had spat blade after blade from your throat. That's how uncomfortable it was for you. You didn't break down crying again because you had to be strong, but you were close.

In all of them you recognized the feeling of being betrayed, you knew it by their looks, because it was the same one you had earlier. You expected some of them to burst into tears or even make a scene of rage, but no, they were so shocked that they barely blinked. And honestly, it was the most logical reaction for you.

“I guess there’s nothing we can do now…” said Ning, who was the first to speak. She was the one who looked the closest to tears, but she was surprisingly strong.

“We’ve always relied on Noze for everything,” Minjeong said, looking at all of them. “And I think… well, I think it’s not the time to question her.”

Minjeong could say that, but in her low voice you could tell she felt a disappointment so great that it overwhelmed her. The same could be said about Ning.

Rina nodded and turned to Aeri, who had her gaze lost on the floor. You noticed one of her hands shaking. She was not only disappointed, but also furious. You were sure she wasn’t making a scene just because she was in your apartment.

“Gigi, can you make sure the girls get home safely?” she asked. “I’ll be there in the morning.”

“And why don’t you come with us?” Aeri asked back. "I'm the dad who can't take care of two whiny brats and panics easily, and you know it."

"I know that, but my bro and I have a conversation that's been pending for a while."

Aeri sighed and stood up. Ning and Minjeong followed her.

"Alright, just come back tomorrow before noon," Aeri said. "I refuse to cook lunch."

Aeri went with you and leaned down to give you a peck on the cheek. Minjeong was a little more affectionate and cupped your face to do the same. Ning on the other hand went a step higher and took your chin to plant a small kiss on your lips. You grabbed her forearm before she left with Aeri and Minjeong.

"I'll call you, okay?" you told her.

"You know I'll always answer, dear." she nodded, her lips curled into a weak smile. Then you let go of her so she could leave with the girls.

Once you were alone with Rina, she stood up and went to sit on the right side of your lap, wrapping her left arm around your shoulders.

"Well, there's no point in thinking about what happened this morning anymore, but..." she paused as she rubbed your back. "I never got to talk to you about what was bothering you in Mexico City."

Just then Yeji appeared out of the hallway. You looked at her and let out a sigh.

"Good thing you two are here for that."

"For what?" Yeji asked, going to sit on the other side of your lap. It felt good to have them both there, but your legs were going to fall asleep at any moment.

"Oh girl, just listen because it's fucked up."

You hated having to spit it all out again, but you had no choice. You blurted out everything as quickly as you could without letting too many details slip: the incident between you and Jihye, what she said to you and how she even made you question if all of this was fair to Chaery and Ning, and even to the two of them.

Only this time you couldn't hold back a couple of tears, realizing how desperate the situation was.

"Oh honey..." Yeji said sadly, cupping your face with one hand and wiping a tear away with her thumb. "Yeah, it's certainly a fucked up situation."

"God, I hate that you have to go through this, you don't deserve it." Rina said as well, stroking your hair. "Look, you're technically unemployed now, so your career can't put you in an awkward situation anymore. It's up to you who you want to be with, right?"

"Yeah well..." you then stared at the bags piled up on the table. "It would be a shame if we let the beer and soju get warm, wouldn't it?"

Having to keep your new job offer from them sucked, but you hadn't even made a decision yet, so it would be best to keep everything under the table for the moment before jumping to conclusions.

"Yup, I think the three of us deserve a drink," Yeji said, giving you a peck on the side of your head before standing up. "Do you have any shot glasses?"

You shrugged.

"I don't know, look in the kitchen," you said. "I guess I do."

"And I, if you'll excuse me, am going to turn on the Switch," Rina said, giving you a peck on the cheek before standing up and walking over to the TV. "Help me?"

As you and Rina turned on the Switch and TV and set everything up, Yeji came back with the three shot glasses and set them on the table.

“I had to wash them; they were dusty.” she said, standing behind two of you. “Hey, you have a Jenga right? I thought I saw one in your room.”

“Indeed,” you nodded, turning on three joy-cons before setting them down on the coffee table. “Give me a sec.”

You quickly went to your room to get the Jenga game. It was also somewhat dusty; you had to blow it off and wipe the pieces a bit with your hand before walking out and setting it down on the table. Yeji and Rina were waiting for you on the couch, with the three shot glasses already filled with Soju.

The vinyl record Yeji had put on had worn out a while ago, so before you sat down with them, you went to your record player and put on a new one: Too Low For Zero by Elton John. Another classic that you definitely needed to hear right now.

You finally took a seat between the two of them as they grabbed their glasses.

“A little warm-up round before we start,” Rina said, picking up the glass before downing it.

“Geonbae!” Yeji toasted, before downing her drink as well. You followed suit.

That was just the beginning of the fierce drinking olympics that was coming up. Of course you played Jenga first, a game that Yeji turned out to be hilariously terrible at, so she drank the most. You and Rina drank a couple of times as well, but Yeji had to down like six shots.

You then played Two Truths and a Lie, which made you realize how good Rina really was at lying and messing with other people's minds. She had you and Yeji as weak links, drinking over and over again for not guessing almost any of her lies correctly.

You got your revenge when you played Caps, a game where you sat apart from each other in a triangle to throw bottle caps into glasses in front of you, and the player who got a cap in, had to drink. Rina turned out to have a pathetic aim, and the only two caps she managed to hit were more luck than anything else. You and Yeji, on the other hand, were Deadshot and made her drink non-stop.

"Aight stop it!" Rina shrieked, already pissed off. "Let's have some real fun, I don't like this anymore!"

You and Yeji couldn’t stop laughing, forced to stop when Rina glared at you.

“Alright, alright,” you said, controlling your giggles. “What do you propose?”

“Beerio Kart,” Rina said. “But striptease.”

“Uhhh,” Yeji butted in. “I was hoping you’d say something like that.”

“At your own risk, then,” you said with a shrug and standing up.

The three of you grabbed your Joy-Cons, popped open your beers, and quickly set the rules, which were pretty simple. The most notable being that the person who failed to finish their beer before the race had to take off an item of clothing.

And you were just too good; you kept winning, over and over again until you had Yeji and Rina in nothing but a bra and panties. But they, being the devilish and competitive duo you knew they were, teamed up to play dirty and stop you from winning so easily. That turned the tables on you too quickly, and without even noticing, you were the first one to be completely naked. With a hard boner in full view of the two of them, caused by the semi-nakedness of that pair of hot perfect bodies.

"Hey, you remember what I told you the last time we drank, right?" Rina said next to you, with a mocking giggle.

She was on your right, lying on her side and leaning up on her elbow as she played. You didn't hesitate for a single second to grab her head with one hand and shove it down against your cock, hard and without gentleness. Rina took every inch without complaint, until her nose rested on your pubis.

Yeji giggled with her gaze fixed on the screen.

"I'm glad to know I'm not the only one he gets rough with," she teased.

You let go of Rina's head and she was free to pull out for a deep breath. But that didn't stop her from continuing to suck half of your cock in slow pumps, focusing on the race as well.

"God," you gasped, trying to focus. "Enough of the games. I want to fuck you two."

Rina pulled you out of her mouth and looked up to share a small smirk with Yeji.

"There's just one little problem with that, sweetheart," Yeji said. "Neither of us are completely naked yet."

"You have to earn it," Rina added, giving your cock a peck before focusing completely on the race.

They had you in constant agony to win race after race, as they kept playing dirty like the vile rats they were. In some races Rina kept sucking your cock, moaning on purpose just to drive you crazy. In others Yeji masturbated while downing the beer, knowing that her cold hand would make you shiver.

In another race they took it further and took advantage of your weakness for pretty feet, and both of them put their legs up on the couch just to alternate from side to side and give you footjobs. At times it was just Rina's feet, at others it was just Yeji's, but the craziest you went was when they used their feet at the same time to stimulate every part of your cock.

Eventually that pace became unsustainable for them, and it only took one short moment of extreme concentration for you to finally win that race.

As soon as you crossed the finish line and knew victory was yours, you threw the joycon on the table and grabbed Yeji's legs by the calves to shove one of her feet into your mouth.

"About time you got serious, huh?" Yeji teased, reaching behind her back to take off her bra and free her pair of nice perky tits.

"It only took him four races." Rina laughed beside you, caressing your balls with her toes.

After sucking, licking and kissing both the soles of Yeji's feet and her toes, you helped her take off her panties and then went to repeat the process with Rina, who had already taken off both her bra and panties and was waiting for you with her pretty feet up.

Yeji settled herself on the couch and positioned her head facing you, lying on top of your left thigh to take your cock in her hand and take it into her mouth. You, meanwhile, focused on Rina's soft, pretty feet, caressing the tops of her thighs and moving up to grab her tits with strong squeezes.

Having had your fill of her feet, you moved away and she adopted the same position on the couch as Yeji, her arm over your thigh to pepper the side of your cock with kisses and licks while Yeji sucked the tip up and down, pumping it faster and sloppier. Rina followed that trend as soon as it was her turn to have you inside her mouth, only she took in more inches with each pump, until soon your cock was soaked in a combination of both of their thick saliva.

You extended both arms out to the sides and ran your hands down their delicious bodies. Your caresses went from their backs, down their arms and all the way to their hips, where you then just squeezed their buttocks before leaving your hands there. But the excellent job they were doing on your cock made you want to reward them by running your fingers between their butt cheeks and rubbing both their butt holes and pussies.

"Alright, enough." you panted after less than a minute. "Let's go to bed so I can eat you out comfortably."

"Mmm, yes daddy, as you order." Rina said, pulling you out of her mouth, spitting the accumulated saliva onto your tip.

"Are you gonna make me call him that too?" Yeji asked, collecting the saliva Rina had just spit out to spread it over the side of your cock. "I don't refuse, honestly," she looked up at you. "What do you think, daddy?"

"I think you two better get up and walk straight to the bedroom before I go crazy," you gave Yeji a small spank.

"Coming on, daddy," Rina laughed, standing up from the couch and wobbling a bit. It was worth noting that by this point the three of you were walking the fine line between drunk and just turned on. “No need to get grumpy.”

Yeji and Rina held hands and headed straight down the hall to your room. You took a moment, just to pick up the things scattered on the table and turn off the TV and the console before going into the room with them.

You found them wrapped around each other with arms and thighs intertwined, sharing a fierce and sensual kiss that only fueled the flame inside you. They broke the kiss and Yeji turned to look at you with a mischievous smile, while Rina showered her neck with kisses and groped her.

If that was a way to hurry you, then it had worked perfectly, because you threw yourself into the bed like a hungry leopard. First you got between Yeji's legs to get on top of her and lower your mouth directly to her tits, which you kissed and sucked before going up and kissing her.

Rina put her hand between your bodies and reached for your cock to take it and stroke it, now being the one who was eating Yeji's tits while you two were making out. But soon you gave her her turn, directly grabbing her chin to crash your lips together.

In the middle of your kiss with Rina you brought a hand between her thighs and rubbed her pussy up and down before rubbing it in circles. She continued to move her hand on your cock, while you received kisses on your shoulders and neck from Yeji. Then you broke the kiss and moved down to Rina's heavy, round tits to eat them.

Once you had your starter with both of their tits, you decided to move on to the main course. You kissed Yeji again, but just a couple of seconds later you moved down to her cute belly to cover it all over with wet kisses. Before long you were now between her legs, and you grabbed her thighs to push them back and plant your mouth on her wet pussy.

"Oh fuck yeah..." Yeji moaned, arching her back and gripping the pillow behind her head. "I missed that sexy ass fucking mouth so much."

And you certainly missed that nice, delicious pussy, but instead of putting it into words you did it by eating it hungrily, reflecting the whole time you spent without even laying a finger on her. She let you know she loved it by tangling her fingers in your hair and giving it light tugs.

"Daddy's mouth is amazing huh?" Rina teased, lying face down with one knee drawn up as she had one of Yeji's tits inside her mouth. "I had it whenever I wanted for two months, and even a whole weekend."

"Mmmgh then I congratulate you," Yeji gasped, gently twisting her hips as you gave her clit quick licks. "But now daddy's back with me, and I'm not going to let you off easy."

"I don't think there's a problem with that," Rina replied, and you listened as they kissed, Yeji muffling moans against her lips. "Daddy has no problem fucking us both as much as we want, right daddy?"

"No problem at all." you replied, and you pulled away from Yeji's pussy to now go right, pressing Rina's ass cheek up and burying your mouth in her also shiny and silky pussy.

Rina moaned against Yeji's lips and pulled away to look down at you, while you ate her pussy from behind and groped both of her soft ass cheeks. Yeji then began to kiss her tits and neck, but she also put a hand between her thighs and rubbed her clit.

You could have spent the whole night between pussy and pussy feasting and satisfying your hunger for wet flesh, but your cock was so hard that it was starting to hurt. As a measure you adopted what they were most waiting for, and the first to taste it, of course, would be the one who went the longest without you in the first place.

"Tell me something, little cheshire," you said, kneeling up with one hand rubbing your cock. "How long have you been waiting for this?"

Yeji stared at your cock and spread her legs wide for you, massaging her own tits.

"Two fucking months daddy." she replied, biting her bottom lip. "Two months where I didn't have that delicious, juicy cock inside me."

You knelt between her legs and slowly rubbed the back of your cock between her wet folds. She looked into your eyes, holding her legs by the back of her knees.

"So what should I do, baby?" You now grabbed your cock and rubbed the tip up and down, teasing her entrance.

"Fuck me so hard that I can't walk properly tomorrow?" she asked with a moan. "Please? Please daddy, please!"

Not wanting to see her whimper anymore in pleas you grabbed your cock and finally pressed it forward. Yeji's tight pussy met you with only a little resistance, but within seconds you were burying yourself inch by inch inside her.

"Mmmgh yeah daddy put it all inside me!" she moaned, looking straight into your eyes, before you gave one last hard thrust to take your entire length all the way in. "Fuck!! Yes!!"

With your cock resting all the way in her pussy you let out a satisfied moan, realizing how much you truly missed her. It felt like picking up an addiction, and this was a dangerous one.

You removed Yeji's hands from behind her knees and replaced them with your own, pressing her legs back as you gave her the first few slow thrusts, which did nothing but make you both moan equally. Rina made no complaints and looked at you biting her lower lip, turned on by how the two of you were having pleasure. She pressed herself against Yeji's side and kissed her, groping her tits as well.

As you began to move your hips faster, you let go of Yeji's legs and leaned forward to plant them on either side of her torso, getting a close-up view of her and Rina swirling their tongues together and kissing. Rina then pulled away from Yeji's lips and raised her back enough to reach yours. You gladly accepted the kiss, but you also went harder on Yeji.

"Oh fuck fuck fuck!!" Yeji whimpered, your cock going all the way in and out of her tight walls and shaking her back and forth. "Harder daddy! Harder!! Yes!!"

You were forced to pull away from Rina's lips so you could focus entirely on Yeji. You straightened your back, and grabbed her legs to bring them together, holding her thighs and pressing them fully against her upper body. You were now thrusting hard up and down, filling your room with the sounds of flesh slapping together.

"Mmmmgh!!" Yeji squealed, biting the side of one hand and gripping the sheets beneath her with the other. She then released the hand she was biting and swatted it back to the bed to grab the sheet with it as well before arching her back. "Yesss!! FUCK!!"

After a few more thrusts Yeji exploded in spasms and violent contractions, covering her mouth with one hand to stifle screams of pleasure against it. Rina watched every detail with dilated pupils, eager and needing you to fuck her that hard too.

"You want that too, baby?" you asked Rina, slowly pumping in and out of Yeji's pussy as her orgasm passed.

"Yes daddy!" she answered immediately, and she followed your gaze as you pulled out of Yeji and got on top of her. "Use your pretty cumslut and fill her up, please!"

You adjusted your knees on either side of Rina's hips and sat on her thighs, squeezing her ass cheeks sideways to reveal her butthole and pussy, where you brought your hand up to rub a few times up and down. You first brought your thumb inside her pussy, and then pressed it against her butthole to get it halfway in.

"Stop playing around and fuck me already." Rina moaned, lifting her hips impatiently to rub her ass cheeks against your cock.

"You'll have me all night, why are you in such a hurry, baby?" you asked, your thumb now fully inside her ass.

"Because I'm so fucking wet!" she protested with a squeal, fingers gripping the sheets.

"You're just being a whiny bitch." Yeji said from the side, already recovered from her orgasm. "Daddy, should I make her shut up?"

"Go ahead." You nodded, pulling your thumb out of Rina's ass to now bring your index and middle fingers inside her pussy.

Rina moaned, watching as Yeji positioned herself in front of her with her legs spread and her pussy right in front of her face. Yeji didn't even ask for permission, she just grabbed Rina by the hair and sank her mouth against her pussy.

"Mmmgh," Yeji moaned, fingers tangled in Rina's dark strands. "That's so much better."

Teasing Rina was so much fun, and as she ate Yeji's pussy you pumped your fingers at a torturously slow pace for her. She wasn't complaining anymore, but she still desperately twisted her hips upward, looking for any kind of friction with your cock that would make you want to penetrate her already..

You put that moment off for a few seconds, as her pussy looked especially juicy and pretty that night. Watching your fingers enter and then come out soaked and shiny was too hot to ignore, and you kept pumping them slowly until you couldn't take it anymore and grabbed your cock to take it inside her.

That took Rina by surprise. She pulled the sheets under her hands and squealed against Yeji's pussy, with your cock almost completely inside her already. You had never fucked her prone bone, and that was your perfect opportunity to do so.

Sensing that she was intending to pull away, Yeji caught Rina's head between her thighs and squeezed to hold her back. Rina had no choice but to hold onto Yeji's legs with her hands, eating her out as much as her own moans would allow.

"What are you waiting for to fuck the brains out of the whiny brat, daddy?" Yeji asked you, looking into your eyes, a sexy half smile on her face. "You weren't gentle with me at all, and I don't think she deserves any less."

"You hear that, Jiminie?" you asked Rina, hands on her waist as you slowly pumped in and out of her warm, wet pussy. "Because of you I have to agree with Yeji."

You noticed Yeji's annoyed look at that comment, but you did a miracle to hold back your laughter. You made it a priority to move your hips faster and faster, your right hand moving up Rina's soft back until it rested on her right shoulder.

As the seconds passed, you began to get into a rhythm, until you had the bed shaking slightly from how hard you moved your hips, both hands gripping Rina's shoulders. You saw her desperate to break free so she could scream out loud, but Yeji showed no signs of wanting to please her, so you had to intervene.

"Give her a break, baby." you told Yeji between gasps. "I want to hear her cute whimpers as she begs me to fuck her harder."

"Ugh, fine." Yeji replied, and reluctantly untangled her thighs from around Rina's head.

"Agh fuck!!" Rina screamed as soon as the movement of her neck was released, turning to give you a sexy look over her shoulder. "Yeah daddy I fucking love that!!"

You let yourself fall forward and placed your hands on the mattress on either side of Rina's head. She held onto your right forearm with one hand and lifted her head to look up at you. All it took was for her to stick her tongue out for your chip to activate and you spit right on her.

"Fuck, you two really get dirty don't you?" Yeji teased with a playful tone, moving one leg to put one of her feet in front of your face. You caught it with your mouth without hesitation. "Have you ever spit anywhere other than her tongue?"

You certainly hadn't thought about it before, so after a few seconds of sucking Yeji's toes, you grabbed a handful of Rina's hair with your hand and pulled it hard to keep her face looking up at you. Then you spit again, this time on her parted lips and part of her nose.

"Mmmgh yes!!" Rina moaned as you hammered her pussy rapidly up and down, visibly aroused by how you had spit on her. "Use me like a dirty whore daddy, don't hold back, give me all you fucking got!!"

With one hand you had to signal Yeji to move back a little, so you could put that same hand on the back of Rina's head and roughly press her face sideways into the mattress. You left that hand there, and the other you left pressed against her lower back, supporting the full weight of your arms there to keep her completely still.

Rina muffled screams against the mattress, completely trapped beneath you. You used her pussy like a cheap fleshlight, fucking it so hard and so fast that you sweated even with the air conditioning on. Yeji's feet were still at your disposal right in front of your face, so you took her toes in your mouth to muffle your own moans against them.

"So gooood, so gooood!!" Rina squealed beneath you, tears in her eyes. "I'm so close daddy, make your little whore cum and then use her as a fucking cumdump!!"

Her dirty talk was just what you needed to feel close too. You knew you were going to cum together; it was some kind of crazy connection you and her had that for some reason always came true, so you let go of her head and let your body fall on top of hers, wrapping your arms around her neck, lifting her head and kissing her as you gave her your last few pumps.

Just as you had anticipated, the very moment you exploded, she followed just milliseconds later. Moans were muffled against each other's lips, between small wet kisses and spasms of both bodies. Rina grabbed your head, raising her hips to fuck herself against you as you filled every space in her pussy with jets of thick cum.

Your connection when fucking was so strong that once you both came you didn't even realize you were supposed to stop, you just kept going and going no matter how sensitive you were. It was a kind of addiction that you both had to notice first before you could stop. In this case, you were the one who stopped moving.

"Are you satisfied with the load daddy gave you, baby?" you asked, giving her little kisses near her mouth.

"So fucking satisfied..." Rina nodded, looking at you with a pair of eyes that to be frank, you were starting to develop a soft spot for. "Daddy's load feels so warm inside me."

"Daddy, can you come kiss me?" Yeji asked in front of you. She was lying on her side, her legs drawn up and one hand on her thigh. "I deserve it for waiting so long for you."

"It was only two months, Hwang Yeji." You replied with a mischievous smile, coming out of Rina and giving her a peck on the forehead before going to Yeji.

"Are you kidding? That was an eternity for me." she said, as you laid down behind her and wrapped your arms around her. "You're not leaving for a while, are you?"

"Nah, I don't think so." you replied, giving her pecks all over the side of her face until you found her lips.

"Unnie, don't you want to clean daddy's cum off my pussy?" Rina asked a few seconds later, as you and Yeji kissed.

Yeji immediately pulled away from your lips and looked at Rina.

"That's an offer I can't refuse," Yeji said, before licking her lips and going to get on top of Rina.

Yeji got on her hands and knees and had Rina lift her hips to put her in a similar position, then she put her hands on her buttocks and planted her face right between them to start the cleaning process. You watched it all with your hands clasped behind your head and the comfort of the pillow beneath it.

A few seconds later Yeji knelt up. She had a little cum on her upper lip, but she noticed it quickly and ran her tongue to clean it up as well. Rina finally dropped her hips down and crawled to lay beside you, one arm over your chest. Yeji did the same but on the opposite side. You wrapped your arms around both of them.

"Daddy has more where that came from for us, doesn't he?" Rina asked, giving you little kisses on the chest. "Because we don't feel tired at all."

"I bet he does." Yeji said from the other side, a hand caressing your abdomen and her mouth on your neck. "And I don't think he wants to waste having two it girls in his bed."

"You're being modest today, huh?" you teased, turning your head to kiss her. "Why don't you put that big mouth to work to get daddy hard again?"

"I'm not telling lies, am I?" she asked with a smirk, kneeling up. "Anyone would dream of having a threesome with the two of us."

Yeji bent forward over your cock with her ass facing you, then grabbed your limp shaft and took it into her mouth to suck on it. You raised a hand and groped her ass to turn to face Rina.

"You know what I'm going to ask you, don't you?" you said, rubbing the tip of your nose against her forehead to make her look at you.

"It has to do with how much you love my tits, daddy?" she asked, and moved a thigh up over yours to rub them together to press her tits against the side of your body.

"And not just yours," you replied, and looked at Yeji as you sucked on her now hard cock. "Wanna give it a try, sweetie?"

Yeji pulled you out of her mouth with a pop and looked at you.

"My tits aren't that big," she placed kisses around the tip, her hand going up and down. "But with some lube it'll be fun."

You smiled and gave her a small spank.

"I like the way you think."

Yeji put your cock down and climbed off the bed.

"Where do you keep it?" she asked, searching on top of your dresser.

"In the drawer of the nightstand." you nodded to the right.

Yeji went and opened the drawer to take out the white bottle of lube. She shook it and giggled.

"Oh, water-based, perfect. And wow, it's half empty." She looked at you. "You and Chaery sure were busy that week, huh?"

"I'll refrain from answering."

Yeji and Rina laughed in unison, as Yeji climbed back into bed with you. She rolled onto her back.

"I'm not going to go first, no way." Yeji said, and looked over at Rina. "Unnie, the honor is yours."

"I know, I wasn't going to let you go first either," Rina replied, and laid down next to Yeji as you knelt up. "Go ahead daddy."

"You can lube up our entire bodies if you want." Yeji said, handing you the lube.

"Oh yeah?" You raised an eyebrow, taking the little bottle and opening it. "Well, you don't have to tell me twice."

It was a bit of a late process for how hard and horny you were, but lubing up every inch of that pair of beautiful bodies was worth every second. It also served to refresh your memory a bit as to your massage skills, as the moment reminded you directly of that first therapy with Yeji a few months ago.

Damn, time was flying by.

"Mmm, I think someone will have to change the sheets later," Yeji said with a giggle, seeing how soaked everything was beneath the two of them.

"And you're going to help me," you said, putting the bottle of lube aside. "Don't think you're getting off scot-free because you have pretty privileges."

"As long as you fuck us properly we'll never complain, daddy." Rina said, and she brought her arms together a little to press her pair of oily tits together.

"Fuck, it's so easy for her!" Yeji protested, and imitated Rina. She had to bring her arms together a lot more to press her tits together, but she still looked stupidly hot.

"Now who's being the whiny brat?" Rina teased with a giggle, as you straddled her torso.

"You! You almost cried for his cock!"

You sighed and closed your eyes for a moment, remembering the night with Aeri and Rina and how unbearable they had become. The difference was that Yeji was way worse than Aeri.

"If you two start arguing I'm going to the living room to watch Breaking Bad." you said.

"NO!" they both cried in unison, looking at you with puppy dog ​​eyes.

You smiled.

"Good girls."

Rina's tits were at your disposal right below you, and you had lubed up your cock as well. You just had to lean forward a little more, sit down, and slide your shaft between those soft, pale pillows. You moaned immediately. It was a feeling you were never going to get tired of.

"God, it even seems to disappear between them," Yeji sighed, watching as you pumped your shaft in and out of Rina's tits slowly.

"I have to use my good genes for something, don't I?" Rina asked, biting her lip as you squeezed her tits and rubbed your fingers against her nipples as well.

You didn't remember ever trying to fuck Rina's lubed up tits, but if you hadn't, you cursed yourself for never thinking of it. It was such an overwhelmingly amazing feeling that you even entered a little zen moment where you had to close your eyes to keep from exploding right away.

"Feels good, doesn't it daddy?" Rina asked with a moan. “That’s it, use me as you please.”

You reached the maximum speed your hips would allow in record time, pumping in and out of that slippery meat sandwich. But you were forced to stop so you could give Yeji her well-deserved attention.

“Come on baby, you can do a good job too,” you said, now getting on top of Yeji.

You honestly didn’t understand her complaints. It was true that she had to put in more effort than Rina to be able to do the same, but the result was almost as hot to look at and perfect for the task. Putting your cock between her tits didn’t exactly give you the same feeling, as you were missing being wrapped up from above as well. But for that, Yeji used her hands, using them to press her tits together and at the same time catching your cock from above with her fingers.

“Oh fuck, you feel wonderful too, Hwang.” you gasped, moving your hips somewhat quickly from the start.

"Great," she replied between small moans, "because that's the most my modest tits can offer you, honey."

But you didn't need much more, and the lube made everything just perfect. You pumped over and over between Yeji's perky tits, one hand reaching out to the right to grope Rina's tits and slick body, also reaching her pussy from time to time.

When you went back to fuck Rina's tits you repeated the same, now having your left hand squeeze Yeji's tits and moving up and down her flat belly. Without realizing it you lowered your hand a little too much, and ended up between her legs but not to play with her pussy, but with her butthole.

"Mmm, what are you doing daddy?" Yeji asked with a moan, feeling your fingers rubbing her down there. "Starting to feel withdrawal symptoms because of my ass? It's understandable. Two months without fucking it must be hard."

"Do you want to fuck our asses already, daddy?" Rina asked as well, licking your tip every time you pushed your cock forward.

"How do you know?" you replied between labored gasps.

"Because you have a finger inside mine." Yeji said. And it was true, without realizing it you had brought your finger inside her butthole and were pumping it slowly.

"You'll be the first then." you said, and you let go of Rina's tits to get off of her.

You picked Yeji up and laid her on her side, and she automatically pulled her legs up so you could kneel in front of her. Her body had small dry spots, so you took the lube and poured it back on as many parts as you could, including her butthole, which you ended up fingering with two fingers just to get it ready.

Rina went to lay on her side in front of Yeji, getting between her legs so you could put their breasts as close together as possible. They wrapped their arms around each other, rubbing their tits together as they looked at you expectantly. You didn't make Yeji wait. You just grabbed your cock, pressed it against her butthole and pushed forward to get half of it in one motion.

"Oh fuck yes!" Yeji moaned, arms around Rina's head. "And I definitely missed that big cock inside my ass so much!"

You moaned too, focused on getting your whole length inside her as soon as possible. Having achieved that, you put a hand on her waist and decided to give her a fuck worthy of a reunion. Rina did her bit by putting a hand between their bodies and reaching Yeji's pussy, to rub it with the full extent of her palm.

The lube made everything ten times easier. Within seconds there was almost no friction between your cock and Yeji's ass, making the movements smooth and fluid. You took advantage of this to immediately accelerate, pounding her ass and bouncing her tits against Rina's.

"Did you miss my tight little ass daddy? Mmmgh?" Yeji asked between squeals, as Rina quickly fingered her pussy.

"Yes I did." you replied with a grunt, your left hand behind her knee and the other on her ass cheek.

"Then fuck it like your life depended on it." she said, and moaned loudly as Rina moved her wrist faster and made it slam into her pussy.

And so you did for the next minute, hammering her ass with one hand permanently on her ass and thigh and the other varying between squeezing her tits or grabbing her neck. She came in the process, but let you continue fucking her for a few seconds until you suddenly pulled out.

"Now you, Katarina Blu," you said, looking into her eyes.

Rina automatically rolled onto her back and grabbed her legs behind her knees to spread them wide like a good girl. You quickly knelt in front of her, and without much foreplay took your cock into her ass for the second time in 24 hours.

Her ass was so wonderful it felt like another pussy, and a great advantage of fucking it missionary was watching her glistening tits bounce hypnotically as if they had a life of their own. Yeji, quick-witted, pressed herself against the side of her body and took one of her tits into her mouth, sucking that nipple and pinching the other.

With her you of course had to follow the dirty trend, which she loved. You spit in her face several times, choked her, and even slapped her a couple of times that made her clench her teeth in pleasure. Yeji, for her part, had reached between Rina's legs to rub her clit with such frenzy that you swore she was going to set it on fire.

Rina was soon cumming in a violent storm of spasms and moans. Her first instinct was to turn around and meet Yeji's lips to share a sloppy, passionate kiss, while Yeji ran her fingers up and down between her folds. Rina's ass was tight around your cock, but you didn't feel close to cumming yet.

"I'll use your mouths." you warned, but you didn't even give Rina time to respond before you climbed on top of her and buried your cock straight inside her mouth.

Rina didn't complain, instead she grabbed your balls and squeezed them as you pressed your cock against her throat.

"Oh fuck..." Yeji moaned, watching as Rina took you all the way down her throat between cute gagging reflexes. "Daddy, I also-"

But you didn't give her time to say a single word either, because you quickly pulled out of Rina's mouth to penetrate hers. Yeji's eyes widened, and her face scrunched up as you took your cock all the way in. The lack of preparation made her cough and gag even harder than Rina, but within seconds you gave her a break, as you were now going to fuck Katarina's pretty mouth.

You sensed that you had gotten a little too carried away and that you were fucking both of their mouths with less care than you should have, but as you received no stop signal from them, you just continued pumping your cock completely in and out of their mouths, holding their heads and chins to keep them still and making saliva spill everywhere.

After a frantic minute of alternating between mouth and mouth you finally felt close and knelt in the space between them.

"On your hands and knees in front of my cock, now." you ordered, quickly masturbating yourself.

Rina and Yeji quickly complied with the order despite how dizzy the facefucks had left them. The two of them got on their hands and knees, their cute lubricated asses raised. Their faces were now in front of your cock as you rubbed them, and they decided to help by kissing and licking around your tip.

"Paint our pretty little faces, daddy." Yeji moaned, squeezing your balls with one hand.

"We need it." Rina moaned too, giving your tip little sucks.

Within seconds you exploded without even warning. The first drop fell on the sheets, but they quickly closed the gap by pressing their faces together, so that the rest of the jets painted that pair of gorgeous faces with parted lips.

"How warm... fuck." Yeji moaned, drops of cum running down every corner of her face.

"And delicious," Rina added, in exactly the same situation as Yeji.

When your orgasm passed they both took turns eating your cum off each other's faces and also cleaning your cock with slow sucks and licks up and down. So you let yourself fall back to lie down and stare at the ceiling. But soon your view of it was obstructed by Pinky and the Brain.

"Daddy? Tired yet?" they both asked at the same time.

You forced them to let you rest for about ten minutes where you only kissed each other, but you continued fucking for at least two more hours. You fucked both of them doggy style; you fucked Yeji from behind against the wall; you let Rina ride you in reverse while you ate Yeji's pussy; Yeji also rode you but facing you, with Rina fingering her ass from behind. You beat all the records for duration and orgasms that you could beat.

By the end, every bone in your body felt like it had been ground by an industrial steamroller. Yeji and Rina were exhausted too, after you had made them cum at least five more times each. Both of their legs were shaking, and they were shaking badly, so they couldn't help you while you changed the soaked sheets.

Around 1AM you laid down snuggled up under the sheets. You played the big spoon for Rina, cradling her in your arms with her back pressed to your chest, and the little spoon for Yeji, who had her breasts pressed against your back and a shaky leg up against your body.

It would have been one of the best sleeps of your life, if it weren't for the fact that as soon as everything was over and your room was completely silent, your thoughts played tricks on you again and prevented you from falling asleep as quickly as you wanted.

It was a caress on your face from Rina and an affectionate kiss on your back from Yeji that made you calm down until you could finally fall asleep.

BACK TO THAT MORNING.

"Oh my god!" Rina protested, with a little punch on your chest. "Why do you keep hiding things from us!"

"Yeah!" Yeji joined in, tugging on a lock of your hair. "Stop that or I'll kick your fucking ass!"

You smiled even though the tug hurt. But only a little.

"I still hadn't decided what I was going to do yesterday," you said. "But spending the night with you two brightened the way for me. It made me realize that the answer has always been simple."

The two of them stayed silent and looked at you with narrowed eyes and frowns.

"What the fuck does that mean?" Yeji said, confused.

You then told them everything that happened regarding Gunwook and the two possible contracts that had been presented to you. Then you opened your heart a little and told them about how you felt about them and the nice times you had spent together.

"And well... I can't just leave all that behind; it's too precious to me, you literally changed my life for the better." you continued. "So yeah... I'll take the job."

"Wahhh!!" the two of them squealed in happiness, and shook you between kisses.

"Yeah, yeah," you laughed, receiving kisses on both sides of your face. "Besides..." you looked at Rina. "According to Gunwook, Jihye's last request was for me to take good care of all of you. And you know I can't refuse that."

"And you know we're not leaving you alone in this, sweetheart." Rina said, stroking your hair and looking at you with a cute smirk.

"Never." Yeji added, also smiling, and gave you a peck on the cheek.

You hugged each other for another long moment, while you stared at the ceiling with a silly smile on your face. After a minute, however, Rina lifted her head from your chest.

"Wait, does that mean we can stay like this all day?" she asked, unable to hide her excitement.

"Nope," you shook your head softly. "Today marks the start of a new phase in my life, sweetie. A new career!"

"Then that means there's more to celebrate than just your return!" Yeji said, then looked at Rina. "You know what I have in mind, right?"

Rina tilted her head and looked at her with a weak grimace.

"No, unnie, not really." she shook her head. "My head doesn't work in the mornings, much less after fucking all night."

Yeji looked at you and smiled from ear to ear, already excited about what she hadn't even said yet.

"Come to our house next week for a pool party!" she said. "You and the Aespa girls. All five of you are fully invited, and I insist."

"I'm in!" Rina said immediately, a bright smile on her face as well before looking at you. "Come on, say you're in too!"

"You say that like you're going to accept another answer." you chuckled.

"Indeed, we weren't going to accept another answer." Yeji said.

Rina sat up, her bare back facing you.

"Wait a minute," she said. "Will this pool party be anything like Twice's legendary pool parties?"

Twice legendary pool parties? Now that was something you didn’t expect to hear. Literally never.

Yeji laughed and sat up too, and you swore to god you wanted to take a picture of that pair of gorgeous backs covered in gorgeous long hair and frame it.

"I mean, we've never thrown a party on our own," she said. "But Nayeon and Mina unnie have told me a few things. And since you know I'm a competitive bitch... I want to do something even better!"

—-------------------------------

Well, I'm so sorry about all that lol. It was also really fucking hard for me to write, but I promise you that everything has its reason and it will be for the best lol Also, I'm so fucking happy to bring Itzy back. I hope you guys enjoy it as much as I do. MASTERLIST HERE!

[whencyclopedia]

The Camel Caravans of the Ancient Sahara

The camel caravans which crossed the great dunes of the Sahara desert began in antiquity but reached their golden period from the 9th century CE onwards. In their heyday caravans consisted of thousands of camels travelling from North Africa, across the desert to the savannah region in the south and back again, in a hazardous journey that could take several months. Stopping along the way at vital oases, the caravans were largely controlled by the Berbers who acted as middlemen in the exchange of such desired commodities as salt, gold, copper, hides, horses, slaves, and luxury goods. The trans-Saharan trade brought with it ideas in art, architecture, and religion, transforming many aspects of daily life in the towns and cities of a hitherto isolated part of Africa.

Continue reading...

[dogloveri23]

Thieves and Saints

pairing: Cyno X gn! reader Warning: Angst and mentions of death A/n: So, I just want to mention again that these posts are to celebrate my blog's 4-year anniversary and the others will be linked in the anniversary post here!

Often times Cyno often layed in bed and questioned the decision he would make if his ideals and desires one day collided. He often weighed his decisions and came to the conclusion that he wouldn't let go of his ideals. He saw it as an interesting concept but never a reality at least not until today. His muscles tensed as he raced through Sumeru city to get to the Academia. His lungs burned and his sweat dripped profusely across his entire body.

"Theif, you shall not be spared by the Matra!", He heard someone yell. He hoped and prayed that his intel was wrong but it was rarely wrong. Yet he held faith in Hamanubis that this would be some cruel joke.

"If this was past Sumeru, you would be killed quietly in a corner", Another voice said.

The closer he got, he could see your familiar tuft of hair. Your head dropped as you hiccupped between cries. "I didn't do this, I know that's what the evidence is pointing to but I swear I know nothing about this!"

Your voice was shaking, you didn't sound the way you usually did and now you were covered in cuts and bruises that would get infected if no one helped you out.

"Step away from them," He spoke firmly. He could feel the rage bubbling within him as his eyes glanced at your restraints. You looked up at him and he could see a glimmer of hope in your eyes. But he couldn't relax not when he understood the gravity of the situation.

"General, this person is in charge of all previous cases of the stolen commodity. They and their people are in charge of crippling the economy and trade of all of Sumeru as we know it!"

It was a lie. Cyno knew it. He didn't have to see the evidence to know it. "What are the grounds and evidence of your claims?" He inquired, his eyes not leaving you and his mind not ceasing its prayers.

"The fingerprints analysis of her and those on the abandoned carriers in the desert line up as well as various photos of her with the fatui."

Both were suspicious but the odds of you working with the people who killed your parents are highly unlikely. If anything, you were probably seeking revenge. He would make sure to scold you when you got out of here. The fingerprint would be a tougher case to dispute.

"General Cyno, Carriers are not touched by mere passersby in Sumeru. As they do not work at Caravan Ribat to inspect goods, unless she was actively involved, it would make no sense for their fingerprint to be there!" A matra argued.

It was a solid line of reasoning. "Did you question the suspect?" He asked as sourness filled his mouth. It didn't feel right to call you a suspect but if he let a term of endearment slip, there would be no way for him to save you.

"Yes, but they insist they had no part in it and they just happened to be caught up in the middle. They mentioned helping a child going by the name of Zamba that they met in Sumeru City. No names were found in the archives"

"Then we shall take their word on it and search for Zamba. It would destroy the face of the Matra if we gave undeserving sentences".

"But if we let them go and they escape, they could likely cause more trouble. We shall detain them in prison for three days while we investigate."

"Very Well"

He grits his teeth. He couldn't stop you from going to prison as it was standard protocol. It was just three days, he needed you to hang on for three days while he got the evidence to set you free. He could save you and still stick to his ideals.

"Cyno! Cyno, please! The crimes I am being accused of are grave, the prisoners were starved because of it. If they get word that I may-"

"I'll look into it," He cut you off. But it was cold, too cold. He could see the last rays of hope completely fade from your eyes. It was like you knew something that he did not. Yet, if he spoke any longer, he wasn't sure how much longer he'd be able to keep his emotions at bay.

As soon as he was left to his own advances, he endlessly scoured the desert looking and searching for clues. His body begged for rest and yet he knew that if he closed his eyes, you would be behind bars.

As Hamanubis would have it, he found the real culprits and brought them to the Academia. He could feel his body crashing and yet he wouldn't give in, not until you were back home safe. Not until he could hold you to fall asleep. Not until he could kiss your worries away and have you back.

On his arrival at the academia, the other Matra gave each other solemn looks as they scratched the back of they're heads. "The person from earlier is innocent as per my report. I had expected to see you processing their release."

No response. Cyno cocked his head and looked at them once more. He couldn't understand why none of them refused to bring you out. Why were they choosing to keep his happiness away from him? Why were they choosing to deny him of his lover? He hadn't slept in days and yet they chose to withdraw his slumber further by keeping them away!

"General... They were killed. It slipped that they were a suspect and-"

"And you let the other prisoners mess with them?" He yelled. His calm exterior faltered in the blink of an eye.

"Sir-"

"You let them die!"

He felt himself fall to his knees as his palms dug into the ground. He could feel Hamanubis' power slipping out of him uncontrollably. He was too angry to stay calm. He was too upset to keep up a Facade. He wanted everyone and anyone to pay for the grave mistake.

***

Cyno coughed loudly as he broke into a cold sweat. His eyes dashed around to the familiar walls and bedding till they landed on you staring at him concerned. You looked sleepy and your general appearance was dishevelled. but you were unharmed and in one piece, just the way he liked you. It was all a terrible dream. He sighed in relief.

"Are you ok, Cyno. Do you need me to-" His arms engulfed you as his fingers traced patterns into your back.

"Just hug me. That's all I need my love."

"Alright, " You sigh. Your eyes are still heavy but you can tell he needs this from you."I love you."

"I love you too. And please run away from anyone named Zamba."

[paganimagevault]

Sogdian ancient letter 5, about the year 313 CE

"The author of letter 5 was writing from Guzang, the modern Wu-wei, located northwest of Luoyang in the Hexi Corridor. The addressee of the letter may have been resident in Khotan, an important town along the southern silk route just before it crosses the Pamir Mountains to reach the oases of Transoxania, the region between the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers. This letter also refers to the chaos and difficult conditions in China; the author's position had apparently been made the more difficult when his commercial partner, Ghawtus, abandoned him. Thus the author was forced to return from Dunhuang to Guzang.

The letters include the names of several products--silver, linen and a kind of unprocessed cloth, musk (whose source was Tibet), pepper, and "white" (probably white lead powder, a valuable commodity used in cosmetics and drugs). Unfortunately the meaning of some terms for other products is not known. It appears from the quantities mentioned that the trade was relatively small-scale and, as we might expect, focused on goods with high value for the weight."

-Prof. Daniel C. Waugh at University of Washington

Translations of the letter (translation by Prof. Nicholas Sims-Williams, University of London):

"[Verso] To the noble lord, the chief merchant Aspandhat. -- [Sent] by your servant [Fri-khwataw].

[Recto] To the noble lord Aspandhat, blessing (and) homage. And (it would be) a [good] day [for him] who might see you healthy (and) safe, happy, free from illness (and) content. Fr[om Fri-khwataw] your servant. And [for me the] day (would be still) better if [I might see] you [my]self [and] might pay homage to you from nearby, [as] (homage is offered) to the Gods.

[From] inside (China) [I] have heard worse, not better, (news) day (by) day, and whatever I might write concerning A[khurmaztakk](?), how he himself went (away) and what he had . . . I have become isolated, and, behold, I stay here in Guzang and I do not go hither (and) thither, and there is no caravan(?) (departing) from here. In Guzang (there are) 4 bundles of "white" for dispatch, and 2,500 (measures of)(?) pepper for dispatch, and a double prasthaka of n(••y)t, and 5 prasthakas of rysk, and half a stater of silver. When Ghawtus went (away) from Guzang I went after him, and I came to Dunhuang, (but) I was prevented(?) from straying(?) outside (China). (If) . . . Ghawtus had seen [=found?] a level route, then I would have brought out the "Blacks." Many Sogdians were ready to leave, (but) they could not leave, for Ghawtus went by(?) the mountains. I(?) would (have) remain(ed) at Dunhuang, but they [=the Sogdian inhabitants] were destitute. I depend(?) on charity(?) from your 'pr'k, for I am serving(?) . . . in Guzang, and [they . . .] me, and they make me . . ., and they obtain my . . ., [and] they increase (it) with our . . . And . . . I am very wretched, and . . . the . . .

I heard thus: Kharstrang [owed(?)] you twenty staters of silver, and he declared(?) thus: I (will) bring(?) (it). He gave me the silver, and I weighed it, and (there were only) four and a half staters altogether. I asked: If he [sent] twenty staters, why do you give me four and a half staters? He said thus: Aspandhat found me on the way and he gave (it) to me(?). {He said thus: (There are) seven and a half staters of silver.} And for four staters I obtained four loads of 'st(k)[•](m). And the "Blacks" took the silver, for they said thus: We(?) have no money. For (according to them it is) better (that) I should be wretched than they! (If) you should hear how Akhurmaztakk has done me harm, then you should pay heed (to this) too.

Sent by your servant Fri-khwataw. This letter was written from Guzang in the third month on the thirtieth (day)."

[theblackbookofarkera]

Saibia Travelers, the

The Saibia Travelers are a nomadic consortium of merchants, weaving through the intricate and sprawling trade routes of the Sharoo Magyar Alligium nexus. Their ambition is vast, as they aim to monopolize all commerce across Arkera.

This guild of traders is renowned for their cunning and resourcefulness, specializing in the procurement of exotic and elusive commodities that are coveted across the world. The Saibia Travelers are not mere merchants; they are collectors of secrets, masters of negotiation, and scholars of the arcane. They possess an extensive repository of knowledge, which they leverage to engage with insular societies that are typically hostile to foreign influence. Their expertise extends to mastering rare dialects and participating in esoteric rituals, all in the pursuit of establishing trade relations with these xenophobic communities.

The Saibia Travelers are easily identifiable by the distinctive orange hue of their lips, a telltale sign of their consumption of abis—a potent nootropic that sharpens the mind and enhances perception. This substance is integral to their trade, allowing them to maintain a keen edge in their dealings and negotiations.

Traveling in compact caravans, the Saibia Travelers are accompanied by a cadre of enslaved warriors—individuals who have been subjected to cruel conditioning to serve their masters unquestioningly. These warriors are a grim testament to the lengths the Saibia Travelers will go to protect their interests and secure their cargo.

As they traverse the diverse landscapes of Arkera, the Saibia Travelers continue to expand their influence, their network of contacts, and their repository of rare goods. Their presence is a blend of fear and fascination among the local populations, as they bring with them the promise of wealth and the threat of subversion. In the grand tapestry of Arkera's commerce, the Saibia Travelers are a force to be reckoned with, their motives as complex as the routes they travel.

[santmat]

"That which you came into this life to obtain is the Name of the Lord, which can be found in the house of the saints. Trade in your ego and gain back your soul, and in the scales of the heart, weigh only the Name. Carrying only the Name, begin the journey in the caravan of saints, shedding all else that is false and would bind you. Then all will bless you, and your face will be radiant in the home of God. Few are they who trade in this commodity. Nanak is ever a sacrifice unto them." (Guru Arjun Dev, Book of Sukmani, Peace Lagoon translation)

[antaxzantax]

Umbrella Pharmaceuticals - Chapter 34

He had chosen Raccoon City for its isolation, its poverty, its vibrant decadence. It was a wasteland, terra nullius[1]; a chimera, neither an industrial centre nor a small town in the foothills of the Appalachians. It was a want and I can't; a kind of American East End[2].

He landed there on the recommendation of a good old Californian friend. This friend, who knew of Oswell’s eternal desire to found his Motor City [3], recommended the Midwest because of its accelerated post-war boom. Cities such as Detroit had expanded relentlessly, and others such as Gary had sprung up like mushrooms. In the late 1950s, he opened the first Anzec Pharma plant in Detroit. Twenty years later, the Umbrella Pharmaceuticals plant closed due to the oil crisis of the early 1970s and the ongoing outsourcing of manufacturing to the Third World, a process Oswell hoped would be completed with Thatcher's impending election victory. Because of its terrible location and limited industrialisation, Raccoon City participated in the birth of the Rust Belt [4], becoming one of the few towns whose mayoralty was sold to foreign and domestic investors for four pounds. This attracted Oswell like a moth to a fly lamp. He took over the town hall and in less than five years, subverting the law, had his country house and training centre built. The financial boost he brought, in return for his guaranteed interference in the council, meant more jobs, more houses and more middle-class families happy with their bland lifestyles, less crime, fewer vagrants and well-fed bellies thanks to co-optation and bribery. In short, his plan had worked.

But there was another problem. The question of the Progenitor. It all fitted into the jigsaw of interpersonal relationships, favours and shell companies that would be used to carry out the second phase. With the approval of the City Council and the dismissal of the police, the disappearance of a handful of junkies, prostitutes, beggars and poor Whites, Blacks, Latinos and Asians would not attract attention if it was done with care and wisdom. He had already chosen his first “hotbed”: Eastside, the city's poorest area. A rattrap of dilapidated housing, half-ruined squats and caravan parks. Its residents struggled against the common ills of unemployment and drug addiction, the wilful incompetence of the authorities, the total neglect of the federal government and an unbearable desperation. In this situation, there was one problem: rats, and he proposed the solution: a fumigation company. They would either knock on the door or find an unsuspecting person driving a large, well-equipped van. The training centre was half an hour away. Sick, crippled or healthy: it didn’t matter. Marcus would process the “commodity” and some of it would be diverted to Spencer Mansion. If it worked, the next step would be Europe.

That was what had been agreed.

[1] Literally Latin for “no man's land”.

[2] The East End of London, often referred to within the London area simply as the East End, is the historic core of wider East London, east of the Roman and medieval walls of the City of London and north of the River Thames. The area was notorious for its deep poverty, overcrowding and associated social problems.

[3] Detroit's nickname, in the sense of an industrial and corporate city.

[4] The term "Rust Belt" refers to the impact of deindustrialization, economic decline, population loss, and urban decay on these regions attributable to the shrinking industrial sector especially including steelmaking, automobile manufacturing, and coal mining.

[rosinaperfumery]

Amazing Jade is a fragrance with warm and spicy notes of the Orient.  Olfactory evocation of the Silk Route, heiress of the Jade Route, symbol of overture and rich diversity, this perfume evokes an exciting voyage in the heart of the caravans carrying rare commodities where the spicy effluvium of incense and leather meld together in a wake of wood and musk.

Olfactory Notes

Top: Roasted pistachio, hazelnut

Heart: Incense, labdanum, tuscan leather

Base: Musk, agarwood

#amazingjade #lessoeursdenoe #rosinaperfumery #templeofaphea

[ocean-of-junk]

if you do fall into the trap, create a detailed history of where some commodity comes from and its history of how it plays in to the current setting. Like whats the main industry of the area? wheat/rice/potatoes? Silk? wool? Dye? fish? even trade hubs need the ability to produce their own food. How dose the landscape and weather fit in.

in current modern era we kind of do not think about this since you can find EVERYTHING all year round in the same grocery store.

irl we all kind of learn over time where stuff originates. like lets say olives. what kind of journey have they taken to reach you? what amazing stories have we missed out on just because olives are the catalyst?

Something that's not like plot relative, it just already exists in the world. In general I dont write anything detailed about the setting untill I start writing myself into a corner. Like my current setting, the people my main character generally interacts with are too poor to afford silk clothing, outside of perhaps a wedding dress, but of course the rich people show off with layers and layers of silk all year round. So it gets imported. where is it imported from? how dose it travel? who cultivates the worms ect. ect. ect. the main industry in my starting area is wheat or rice, I cant decide yet. and sheep or goats. so lots of wool-ish clothing. due to space limitations horses and cows are rare. chickens? ducks? quail? Not sure. but my main character wants a burger but beef is way out of their reach.

like there's a whole process there where you can insert a backstory, or call back to it later when you need a caravan or a farmer turned mercenary story.

even if its fantasy where dose the stuff come from?

oh man chocolate. it exists, but where? are there mass produced bars or is it reserved for the royalty/super rich?

eventually you'll get tired of writing where the stuff comes from and you'll want to write the actual story and how your character eventually interacts with that stuff.

What they don’t tell you about storytelling is that it becomes an instinct over time. You learn how to kind of … intuitively chain events together over time. That doesn’t mean it’s a cakewalk, or that you never get stuck on plotbeats, but you have a better time walking yourself out of corners that you as a less experienced writer would have been tempted to abandon your story over. Because you’ve been stuck in similar corners before; you know how you get out now.

I know its frustrating to keep hitting dead ends, but you got this. You’ll learn a little from every roadblock you hit.

[libraryofcirclaria]

775

Library of Circlaria

Remikra Timeline

Edoran Prosperity and the Desire for Tomlas

As the 700s continued, the Edoran economy grew. Trade with the sea guilds increased tremendously along the coastlines, while land merchants traded with the Kingdom of Daylram and Norm, as well as Wannonia, Tomlas, and even Ecnedivelc and Malbec. The Crown slowly but steadily increased taxes on goods as the Edoran Kingdom continued to prosper.

Between 741 and 742, three gold quarries were discovered in Tomlas. Local Edoran merchants near the border began traveling to and from these locations to barter for such a precious material. Also a desirable commodity present in the nation of Tomlas was its expansive fields of grain. As the Edoran population continued to grow, it could barely sustain itself on its domestic farmland, which was not so yielding because only small bits of it existed between the Corren summits. Therefore, food was expensive. In 743, after Edoran merchants seeking gold returned with word on such plentiful fields, a trade deal was signed between the two nations, where the Edoran Kingdom would export minerals and wood in exchange for Tomlassan exports of grains and furs.

Tension Between the Two Kingdoms

However, a change in Tomlassan leadership would bring a difference in the relationship between the two Kingdoms. In 755, after a two-year coup that ensued in the wake of Queen Ura III's unexpected death, King Mendon IV ascended the throne. As King of Tomlas, Mendon IV was jealous of Edoran prosperity, and instilled a high tariff on the grain trade. In the following year, King Peter III of the Edoran Kingdom responded with high tariffs on wood and minerals. In 757, Tomlas retaliated with yearly limits on gold traded from its three quarries, to which the Edorans responded in 758 with a steep increase in their existing tariffs. It was in 760, a year after, and a response to, the nation of Tomlas setting limits on its grain exports, that King Peter III verbally threatened war.

The Edorans began following through with their threats by commencing target practice with their muskets. In 762, the Tomlassans discovered this and built fortresses dedicated to the infantry training of muskets as well. King Mendon IV also drafted all young and able-bodied Tomlassans to join. In the year that followed, in response to this, the Edorans built even stronger fortresses and instituted their own military draft.

Nalesh was born in 745 to a family of independent Tomlassan farmers who grew large amounts of grains. With this, they fed themselves, but also traded large portions. They were hurt financially when the tariffs began taking effect. When tension began to increase between Tomlas and Edora, Nalesh was made to join the Tomlassan Army, where he encountered a rival named Demor, who won an unfair draw to obtain additional lands of grain, given away by the family of a deceased owner. In May 765, in retaliation to this, Nalesh and a company of his followers deserted the Tomlassan Army, and subsequently attacked and captured one of the three gold quarries. In October, he made a deal with the Edorans, offering them ownership of the quarry in exchange for an entire county and its mineral reserves in the Correns. Nalesh and King Peter III agreed to the deal; and King Peter III sent a caravan of merchants to make the Edoran claim.

However, Demor had a network of spies, including spellcrafters and eagle-riders, observing Nalesh and his activities. Upon hearing news of the deal with the Edorans, Demor sent a message to King Mendon IV, who, in March 767, dispathed a division of the Tomlassan Army, who fired muskets at and killed most members of the merchant group. Survivors of the massacre fled back to the Edoran Kingdom and sent a message to King Peter III, who declared war.

The Edoran-Tomlassan War

In September 767, the Edorans launched their first major offense across the Tomlassan border, attacking the nation with infantry and calvary, carrying muskets and swords, as well as archers and spellcrafters, serving as eagle-riders. The Tomlassans were engineered in a similar fashion, though; and there were three of them for every two Edorans. The Edorans were pushed back to only five miles into Tomlassan territory as a result.

Sir Paul Venn of Cales, during this time, invented the spellfire-trigger, meaning that muskets build with such no longer required gunpowder. The King recruited a division of his forces to train with these, and supplied such weapons to the battlefront. In October 769, Edoran forces launched another major offensive, during which the Tomlassans were outmatched, enduring heavy casualties. They were forced to retreat to Tomlas proper, as the Edorans closed in around its walls, placing it under siege.

Nalesh, having survived the conflict thus far, and making his way into the city for protection, employed spellfire skills gained in earlier years, and managed to sneak into Tomlas proper the idea for the spellfire-trigger invention made by Paul Venn. Within the city walls sat an eagle aviary, owned by eagle-breeder, Zin Midan. Midan created a wartime invention which involved a large basket that could carry two soldiers, which was tied on each of its four corners by a long rope. Each of the four ropes was each tied to a separate eagle manned by a rider, as the four of them trained to fly in coordination. Midan, during this time, replicated his invention for five-hundred units. In May 770, utilizing this strategy, the Tomlassans launched a surprise attack upon the weakest part of the siege. The Edorans were unprepared for this, as each basket was manned by two soldiers armed with muskets, and they endured high casualties. As a result, the siege was broken while the Tomlassans reclaimed nearly all sovereign land previously taken.

Meanwhile, in Edora proper, Sir John Motters was well-informed on matters concerning the war with Tomlas. He noted a problem with the musket, claiming that its open bell made it difficult to hit targets accurately. The mitigating factor was that such a designed was originally intended on facilitating the loading of ammunition. Motters' solution was to narrow the open end so that it was the same length as the base of the gun, and to provide each soldier with a special funnel tube separate from the gun to facilitate the loading of ammunition. The result of this was improved accuracy and increased range. Before long, the King approved of these enhancements, and recruited a division to train with them while adapting the new gun to the battlefield. This invention became known as the closed musket.

In September 771, armed now with closed muskets, the Edorans launched a third major offensive against the Tomlassans. They now could hit the eagles carrying the baskets and inflict higher Tomlassan casualties. Furthermore, since the Tomlassans had not yet adapted closed muskets, themselves, the Edorans copied the eagle-basket idea and fly over the walls of Tomlas proper, striking forces inside. With this method, they shot dead the gatekeepers and forced open the gates. As the Edorans poured in, Tomlas fell, during which King Mendon IV was shot dead. Tomlas was now part of the Edoran Kingdom.

772-773: Tension Between Edora and Moorland

In 772, King Castol VI, ruling over Moorland since 753, saw the fall of Tomlas as cause for concern. In a method of drafting similar to the Edorans and Tomlassans, he recruited able-bodied candidates in large numbers, training all of them with closed muskets, while building numerous fortresses along the border. Meanwhile, King Peter III saw the Moorlandish fortification as a threat, and, throughout 773, also boosted soldier recruitment while constructing even stronger fortresses. The conquered city of Tomlas proper was enhanced with extra lines of defense, and was renamed Fort Nalesh, after their Tomlassan contributor.

The Truce of 774

In September 774, King Peter III died and was succeeded by Queen Elaina, who called for a truce with Moorland. In a compromise, both nations promised to reduced staffing of their fortresses with only enough to protect passerby from bandits, while a deal of open trade allowed for the trade of certain goods like gold and wheat with no tariffs. In January 775, King Castol VI of Moorland agreed to the terms; and the deal was signed.

<- 729 <- || -> 777 ->

[aniket623]

Gartang Gali: An Ancient India-Tibet Route in Uttarakhand

Introduction

Nestled in the serene landscape of Uttarakhand, Gartang Gali is an ancient India-Tibet route that holds immense historical and cultural significance. This pathway, once a bustling trade route, now offers travelers a unique glimpse into the past, combined with the breathtaking beauty of the Himalayan region. With a rich history and stunning vistas, Gartang Gali is an unmissable destination for adventurers, history enthusiasts, and nature lovers alike.. The sight of this waterfall is a treat to the eyes of the admirer and thus it is one of the most popular waterfalls in Meghalaya; so much so that it has now become a symbol of the tourism scenario in this state.

Historical Significance

Gartang Gali was a crucial link between India and Tibet, facilitating the exchange of goods and culture. Traders traversed this treacherous path with their caravans, carrying essential commodities such as salt, wool, and spices. The route not only served economic purposes but also played a significant role in cultural exchanges between the two regions. Walking along Gartang Gali today, one can almost hear the echoes of ancient traders and the clattering of hooves on the wooden planks.

The Route

Gartang Gali is a wooden bridge pathway carved into the rocky cliffs of the Himalayas. It spans approximately 150 meters, perched at an altitude of around 11,000 feet above sea level. The pathway is narrow and requires careful navigation, adding an element of adventure to the journey. The bridge offers spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and valleys, making it a paradise for photographers and nature enthusiasts.

Restoration and Accessibility

What to Expect

Travelers visiting Gartang Gali can expect a blend of adventure, history, and natural beauty. The trek to the pathway is moderately challenging, suitable for those with a reasonable level of fitness. As you make your way along the narrow wooden planks, the sense of walking in the footsteps of ancient traders adds a profound dimension to the experience.

The surrounding landscape is characterized by towering pine trees, rugged cliffs, and the distant hum of rivers flowing through the valleys. The air is crisp and fresh, filled with the invigorating scent of pine and wildflowers. The views from Gartang Gali are nothing short of spectacular, offering a panoramic vista of the Himalayan range that leaves visitors in awe.

Nearby Attractions

While Gartang Gali is a highlight in itself, the region offers several other attractions that can be included in your itinerary. Here are a few notable ones:

Gangotri National Park: Located nearby, this national park is home to diverse flora and fauna, including snow leopards, black bears, and a variety of bird species. It is a haven for wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers.

Gangotri Temple: One of the four Char Dham pilgrimage sites, Gangotri Temple is a revered Hindu shrine dedicated to Goddess Ganga. The temple is situated on the banks of the Bhagirathi River and attracts thousands of pilgrims each year.

Harsil: A quaint village known for its apple orchards and scenic beauty, Harsil offers a peaceful retreat away from the hustle and bustle of city life. It is an excellent spot for those seeking tranquility and a connection with nature.

Dayara Bugyal: This high-altitude meadow is famous for its lush green expanse and is a popular trekking destination. During the winter months, it transforms into a snow-covered wonderland, attracting skiers and adventure enthusiasts.

Tips for Travelers

If you are planning to visit Gartang Gali, here are some tips to make your trip enjoyable and safe:

Physical Preparation: While the trek to Gartang Gali is not extremely strenuous, it does require a moderate level of fitness. Engage in regular physical activity before your trip to ensure you are prepared for the hike.

Acclimatization: Given the high altitude, it is essential to acclimatize properly. Spend a day or two in nearby lower-altitude areas before attempting the trek to avoid altitude sickness.

Travel Permits: Ensure you have all necessary permits and permissions before embarking on your journey. Check with local authorities or tour operators for the latest requirements.

Weather Conditions: The weather in the Himalayas can be unpredictable. Pack appropriate clothing, including warm layers, rain gear, and sturdy hiking boots. It is advisable to check the weather forecast before your trip.

Safety Precautions: Follow all safety guidelines provided by local authorities. The pathway is narrow and can be slippery, so tread carefully. It is also advisable to travel in groups and have a local guide if you are unfamiliar with the region.

Conclusion

Gartang Gali, with its rich history and stunning natural beauty, offers a unique travel experience in Uttarakhand. This ancient India-Tibet route not only provides a thrilling adventure but also a profound connection to the past. As you traverse the wooden planks of Gartang Gali, surrounded by the majestic Himalayas, you are walking in the footsteps of traders who once bridged two great civilizations. Whether you are a history buff, a nature enthusiast, or an adventure seeker, Gartang Gali promises an unforgettable journey through time and nature.

[aggravateddurian]

Maple Mike's Great White North Caravan

Introducing an original caravan for my Fallout fanfic 'Iron Guardians'.

Maple Mike's Great White North Caravan is a caravan company that made it big from selling rare commodities, and formalised the use of Golden Maple brand maple syrup bottle caps as currency in the Great White North wasteland of eastern Canada, formerly the provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and parts of eastern Quebec. The Golden Maple brand of maple syrup was a dominant brand in Canada prior to the US annexation, and the distinctive gold, white and red bottle caps became collector’s items. Much like how Nuka-Cola bottle caps became a form of currency in the American wastelands after the Great War, most of the Atlantic provinces began to use Golden Maple bottle caps.

Maple Mike’s isn’t just a trade caravan, they’re a vital line of communication for disparate settlements, as well as a currency exchange, converting water into bottle caps, and Canadian bottle caps into American bottle caps. Its founder and leader, Michael ‘Maple Mike’ McClellan, worked in the infamous pre-war Canadian Federal Maple Syrup Reserve, and was one of the driving forces of the use of Golden Maple brand syrup bottle caps becoming the go-to currency.

More lore and character profile below the cut.

Maple Mike

“Finest wares from the Great White North. Ever tried pre-war maple syrup, smoothskin?”

Maple Mike, born Michael McClellan, is a Canadian travelling trader and a pre-war ghoul, born in St. Andrews, New Brunswick, on October 3rd, 2038. Mike served in the Canadian Forces when Canada finally had enough of US domination and exploitation and managed to survive post-defeat reprisals by US troops occupying New Brunswick. He instead found employment with the New Brunswick branch of the (in)famous Canadian Federal Maple Syrup Reserve, a job with near-guaranteed job security, because of the benefit of maple syrup (and its economic boost) to the US occupation authorities.  Mike’s luck was stretched to the limit when Canada was subjected to nuclear attack.

While Mike’s family, including his wife, Annaleise, his two children, Sandra and John, perished in the Great War. Mike was somewhat less lucky, being exposed to enough radiation to ghoulify him. Now mutated by the radiation of the wasteland, Mike found himself distrusted, even feared, by the ‘smoothskins’, yet he was indispensable, because Maple Mike, as he would soon become known, had managed to get in on the ground floor. Red Maple brand maple syrup bottle caps had become an unofficial currency of the Great White North wasteland, and with his knowledge of the locations of the Canadian government’s maple syrup reserves, he was able to amass enough wealth to establish himself as a reputable trader, and owner of a trade caravan.

Mike has done business not just in New Brunswick, but in Nova Scotia, Quebec, Maine and even as south as the Capital Wasteland. However, he tends to do his business in the northern part of New England, recognising the comparative lack of centralised authority in the region and enhanced opportunities for trade with the disparate settlements, essentially making himself a vital line of communication for the Commonwealth and northern New England.

C48 light automatic rifle

Image credit: https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=78363

One of the few weapons Maple Mike will sell are the .308 calibre Canadian battle rifles, prized in the New Hampshire wastes for their reliability and stopping power. While 10, 20 and 30 round magazines were issued, 30 round straight magazines were common. The C48 is an evolution of the C2 automatic rifle, itself a variant of the classic FN FAL battle rifle, and was adopted in 2048. Many of them fell into American hands during the annexation of Canada, and have been found as far south as Panama, and as far west as the Los Angeles Boneyard.

Mike tends to sell the Canadian battle rifles without mods, expecting wastelanders to likely modify their weapons after purchase with God knows what sort of abominations.

The average C48 is sold at Maple Mike's stand in the Nashua Foundry Markets, starting at 1000 caps (or 10 litres of water).

[grison-in-space]

I can't help but be reminded of Kage Baker's Anvil of the World, which involves a hapless caravan master entrusted with a gross of "glass butterflies" that appear very nearly as practical as this:

The man in the mask turned his head, peering through the domed lenses of his fish eyes. The name Smith was an alias, only the latest of many the man had used. He got awkwardly to his feet as he saw his cousin approaching. His cousin’s costume was fine and elaborate, robes of red-gold brocade and a fire efrit mask. No less elaborate was the costume of the lady his cousin had in tow: butterfly wings of green and purple foil and a butterfly mask of the same material. “This, madam, is Smith. My caravan master,” explained his cousin. “A most experienced veteran of transport. A man in whose expert hands you may trust the rarest of commodities.” This was not exactly true. Smith had never led a caravan in his life, but his cousin’s freight and passenger service had lost its former master to a vendetta on the day of Smith’s sudden arrival in Troon, so Smith was learning the business. “How nice to meet you,” said the woman in the mask, and shot out a black and curling tongue. Smith started, but the tongue was merely a feature of the mask, for it was hollow, and she poked it now into a tall glass of punch. “Honor on your house, lady,” Smith murmured. His cousin coughed, and said, “Smith, this is Lady Seven Butterflies of Seven Butterflies Studio. You will be privileged to transport her celebrated creations!” “I’m delighted,” said Smith, bowing. “Rely on me, lady.” But Lady Seven Butterflies had lost interest in him and fluttered off to the punch bowl. His cousin leaned close and grabbed him by the shoulder. They bumped papier-mâché faces as he hissed, “Very important client! Almost ready to sign a contract granting us exclusive transport rights! Used to go with Stone and Son until they broke goods in transit. Vital we catch the ball, cousin!” Smith nodded sagely. “Right. What are we shipping for her?” “One gross of glass butterflies, what else?” said his cousin impatiently, and turned to pursue the lady. Smith sat down again. It was a good thing his new job would require him to be on the open road a lot. He didn’t think people in Troon got enough oxygen.

come to Marshals if u would like to purchase World’s Most Breakable Object

[study-buddies]

Aliko Dangote: A Legacy of Business and Philanthropy

Aliko Dangote, born on April 10, 1957, in Kano, Nigeria, is a renowned Nigerian businessman and philanthropist. He is best known as the founder and CEO of the Dangote Group conglomerate, a diversified enterprise with interests spanning various sectors.

Hailing from the Hausa ethnic group, Dangote was born to Mariya Sanusi Dantata and Mohammed Dangote. His family background in prosperous caravan trading under British colonial rule, particularly through his grandfather Alhaji Sanusi Dantata, played a significant role in shaping his entrepreneurial journey. At a young age, Dangote’s grandfather instilled in him the values of business acumen and enterprise, which laid the foundation for his future endeavors.

After completing his business studies at Al-Azhar University in Cairo in 1977, Dangote returned to Nigeria and embarked on his entrepreneurial path. With a loan from his uncle, he started a commodities trading business, initially focusing on cement. Over time, his business flourished, leading to the establishment of the Dangote Group in 1981.

Under Dangote’s leadership, the Dangote Group expanded rapidly, diversifying its interests to include foodstuffs, cement, haulage, and other sectors. The conglomerate grew to encompass various subsidiaries, including Dangote Industries Ltd., Dangote Cement PLC, and Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC, among others. With operations not only in Nigeria but also in several other African countries, Dangote’s influence extended across the continent.

One of Dangote’s most ambitious projects was the construction of a massive oil refinery in Lagos state, initiated in 2013. The refinery, along with accompanying infrastructure such as a fertilizer plant and a power station, aimed to address Nigeria’s fuel crisis and significantly impact the country’s energy sector. Despite facing delays, the refinery, upon its partial opening in May 2023, promised to revolutionize Nigeria’s energy landscape.

Dangote’s entrepreneurial prowess translated into immense wealth, earning him a place on Forbes magazine’s annual list of billionaires and Africa’s richest individuals. However, his success was not without controversy, as his name surfaced in the Panama Papers in 2016, linking him to offshore shell companies.

Beyond business, Dangote is renowned for his philanthropic endeavors. The Aliko Dangote Foundation, established in 1994 and renamed Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) in 2018, has been instrumental in addressing issues such as childhood malnutrition, disease outbreaks, and disaster relief efforts.

In recognition of his contributions to Nigeria’s economic development and philanthropic efforts, Dangote has received numerous awards and honors, including the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) and various international accolades.

Aliko Dangote’s journey epitomizes the fusion of business acumen with humanitarian values, leaving an indelible mark on Nigeria’s economic landscape and the continent at large.

[ciolookindia]

Everything you need to know about cryptocurrencies & blockchain.

There was a time not long ago when the barter system was brought to an end with the advent of gold. With its intrinsic value firmly established, gold became the best and most preferred mode of receipts and payments. It also led to hoarding and became the de facto means to establish one’s net worth. This continued till the time they found all the disadvantages of gold including the liability associated with storage, transport, and ownership.

Remember stories of caravans being robbed midway into the journey with women laden with gold being the prime target? From that came the understanding that one ought to have something that’s as liquid as gold and does away with the headache of storage and logistics. Paper currencies tied to gold standards were the next invention where each paper note/currency guaranteed a certain quantity of gold.

Everything was fine till the time people understood that gold was a limited commodity and made it difficult to keep parity with paper money for all times. This became especially acute in times when economies started to boom, and the governments had to print notes to keep up with the demand for money.

Gold couldn’t keep pace, and in the year 1929 at the end of the Great Depression, the world finally broke free of gold parity and established the system of fiat currency that was printed at the beck and call of individual governments worldwide. Each currency’s value was determined by various factors including GDP growth rates, rates of industrialization, status of industries and infrastructure, intrinsic worth of economies and the likes.

With each country having its own currency, there was felt a need to bring parity to worldwide transactions that to an extent was brought about by the Breton Woods system in 1944 where signatory countries agreed to a complex system of recognizing each-other’s currency via the USD which was tied to gold.

In 1975, the US government being the main player unilaterally pulled out of the system by terminating the USD’s tie-up with gold. Currency ever since are fiat currencies that can be printed as per a country’s needs. These days, exchange worldwide is done through a basket of currencies including USD, Euro, Yen and Yuan. Somewhere, these too depend upon the value of USD to execute a transaction.

All this has resulted in the following:

Wild swings in currency values depending upon demand and supply of currencies. These are known to add to the cost of every transaction. Add to that, transfer and ownership charges including banking brokerage changes, swift charges, and the likes. All these while adding to the costs, do precious little to the value of a transaction with currency exchanging known to take days (if not more) to fructify.

2. Transactions being at the mercy of every government. With notes being printed by governments, every transaction must go thru government agencies that only add to the costs and delays, and nothing to its value.

Slow pace of transactions. Try transferring money from the US to India or vice-versa. It takes days, and at the end what you get is of lesser value than what was intended due to varied charges levied by the intermediaries.

Currency speculation! Fiat currencies worldwide have given birth to a de-facto industry whose worth is higher than the trade in goods and services. Currency speculation! Does it add to the value of anything at any stage? Never. It enriches only banking intermediaries while being of little use to countries worldwide. In fact, they can sometime add to the costs of transactions and make them unviable.

Using banks for monetary transactions within or outside the country thus doesn’t add to the value of the transaction per-se. On the other hand, it does add (and sometimes substantially) to the cost of transactions. Using cryptos would on the other hand bring down the cost of transactions besides simplifying things.

No one knows how much gold there is below the ground. Any new find will mean lowering of its price. The same isn’t the case with bitcoins which has a fixed quantity of 21 million of which 17.3 million have already been mined. Mining and all the attendant activities including software designed to calculate the algorithms shall cease to function the day the 21 million mark is reached. There-hence shall take place only exchange of bitcoins either singly or in fractions which go as far as eight decimal places (0.00000000). Bitcoins thus can’t be benchmarked against anything other than its own value which shall be a factor of its demand and supply. Transaction time, cost, and issues to do with exchange rates & flows will be a thing of the past.

Read More: https://ciolookindia.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-cryptocurrencies-blockchain/

Source: https://ciolookindia.com

[healthm]

Tracing the Silk Threads: Sikkim's Ancient Trade Routes

Nestled in the Himalayas, Sikkim's stunning landscapes and rich culture have attracted travelers for centuries. Beyond its natural beauty, the state boasts a fascinating history of ancient trade routes that crisscrossed its rugged terrain. In this article, we embark on a historical journey to explore the ancient trade routes that once connected Sikkim with neighboring regions and distant lands. Explore the adventureous place of Darjeeling, check our taxi service in Darjeeling.  

1. The Silk Route:

Sikkim's strategic location on the southern Silk Route made it a crucial trade center. The Silk Route connected Tibet, China, India, and beyond, facilitating the exchange of goods, culture, and ideas. Sikkim served as a vital link in this intricate network.

2. The Salt Route:

Sikkim's proximity to Tibet made it a significant point along the ancient Salt Route. Salt, a precious commodity, was transported from Tibet to the plains of India. This trade route played a pivotal role in shaping the region's economy and culture.

3. The Tea and Spices Trade:

Sikkim's lush landscapes were not just admired for their beauty but also for their bounty. Tea and spices, including cardamom, ginger, and turmeric, were cultivated in abundance and traded along these routes.

4. Cultural Exchange:

Trade routes were not just about commerce; they were also conduits for cultural exchange. Sikkim's interactions with Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal, and other regions enriched its cultural tapestry, leading to the adoption of customs, languages, and traditions.

5. The Nathu La Pass:

Nathu La Pass, a high mountain pass, was a critical point along the Silk Route. It served as a gateway for traders and pilgrims traveling between Tibet and India. Today, it remains an important border crossing point.

6. Caravans and Yak Trains:

Goods were transported by caravans and yak trains along these ancient routes. These hardy animals were well-suited for the rugged terrain and harsh weather conditions.

7. Decline and Revival:

With the advent of modern transportation, many of these ancient trade routes lost their significance. However, in recent years, there has been a revival of interest in these routes as they hold cultural and historical importance.

8. The Sikkim-Tibet Trade Mart:

The Sikkim-Tibet Trade Mart, held at Nathu La Pass, is a modern-day tribute to the historical trade routes. It allows traders from both sides to exchange goods, reviving a tradition that was interrupted for many years.

9. The Trans-Himalayan Corridor:

Sikkim's potential as a trade corridor between India and East Asia is being explored once again. The state's geographical location and historical connections make it a promising hub for trans-Himalayan trade.

10. Preserving the Legacy:

Efforts are underway to preserve and document the history of Sikkim's ancient trade routes. Museums, cultural centers, and heritage walks help educate visitors and locals about this vital aspect of the state's history.

Conclusion

Sikkim's ancient trade routes are not just historical relics; they are a testament to the region's role in connecting diverse cultures and economies. As Sikkim continues to evolve, it looks back to its historical roots, acknowledging the significance of these trade routes in shaping its culture, economy, and identity. These ancient pathways, once traveled by caravans and traders, are now embraced by travelers seeking to explore the history and heritage of this Himalayan gem.