#cool fight oh no but lav is like guys stop being stupid and they stop fighting and talk instead and realize they were both stupid

[cinnatwo]

Something else that occured to me a few minutes ago is that both seem to be leaning towards believing what they're wary about is true. Randy is focused on Nico asking if Lav was safe, if they were hurting her, letting her know she wasn't a weapon. Now Randy is like "Oh, so he does struggle with humans. Oh dear."

Meanwhile I think Nico has assumed, since Lav was unable to provide enough details, that Randy becoming a mew was something scientific and malicious. So now he is like "Oh, so the humans she is around are dangerous. Oh dear."

I love how Lav and Nico's conversation ended on such a good note and yet in the background there is still so much tension building.

I find it fascinating how most readers are worried about what Nico will do when he and Randy are acting nearly exactly the same (cant tell if this was on purpose or not but theres so many parallels)

Nico is so ready to protect and be like a father for Lav, and Randy already is. They are both so concerned about her, and a big part of that is because they're worried how the other will treat/has treated her and the ones around her.

Nico is wary because he is not sure what Randy's stance on pokemon is, whether he sees them as tools or cares about them.

Randy is wary because he is not sure what Nico's stance on humans is, whether he sees them as abusers or has forgiven them.

They're both acting so similarly but everyone is like "oh no, what is Nico going to do" without considering that Randy is just as likely to make a mistake out of concern for lav, wariness of the other party, and misconceptions.

Man this got rambly I'm so sorry but the audience reaction I am seeing from this is just so interesting to me

As the one who knows what'll go down, it's interesting to me, too~ :3

[btsslowburnfic]

BTBY Chapter 3

Series Summary: For Namjoon, the moment he set his sights on being the #1 rapper, he pushed the symbol to the side and hated it. Love should be chosen, not forced on you. He didn’t believe in fate and this mark on his wrist was a big “fuck you” to all that.

Chapter Summary: Practice, Day one

Previous chapter found here

Robert’s studio had been fully cleared out for you guys. The three of you walked in and were greeted by the owner, Robert Mayes. “[Y/N] good to see you again, Xavier, always a pleasure, and you must be with the band,”

“Yes, it’s nice to meet you sir. I’m RM. Thank you so much for letting us use your space,”

“Ah it’s my pleasure. Really. You should thank [Y/N]. She coordinated all of our classes to be at their studio and my daughter is a huge fan.” he hands [Y/N] a set of keys. “I'll leave you to it. When is a good time for me to bring Ella by?”

You do some mental math. “Around 5 will be good. We’ll probably break for dinner at 6. Thanks again Robert,” you wave as he leaves the studio. Ok, time to do your job even with the grumpy jerk soulmate in tow.

“Alright guys, this way please. Restrooms are in this hallway along with showers if anyone needs one after practice. This room right here is where the back up dancers can get ready. They won’t be here again until tomorrow.  The kitchen is also on this floor. Catering is arriving with snacks and drinks in half an hour, dinner arrives at 5:30 with a 6 pm dinner time. The main rehearsal area and your guys green room is upstairs,” you review the location with them as you arrive at the stairs.

“Xavier would you mind waiting at the reception desk until Melinda gets here? She should be here in about ten minutes. I don’t want any studio clients accidentally showing up and not having anyone to talk to.” you rummage through your workbag as best you can with your bandaged hand, “here are some flyers with the alternate classes in case they are old school and don’t use the app.”

“Yep, you got it.” Xavier takes the flyers and heads back to the front door area.

You start walking up the stairs, “Come on, I have the main space blocked out already let’s go check it out.” you yell behind you. You reach the top of the stairs and continue the brief tour. “There are more bathrooms over there. The room over there is where you guys and your staff can get ready.  And this space,” you walk ahead to the large studio, “is the main dance room. I know it’s not even close to being the same as the venue, which I’m honestly still really pissed off about, but we are going to make it work.” you turn back and look at Namjoon taking the space in.

“Sorry about your arm,” he says, avoiding looking at you. “Do you actually want me to pay for it?”

For a moment you forget how to speak because you are so surprised he is being normal to you. “No thanks, I was joking. I mean it is $900 but it’s fine. I’ll just steal food from the catering service later,” you smirk at him.  “I can teach some standing classes for a while or fill in at the front desk. It will be fine. Ok, check the tape marks against where you guys normally are and see what you think. I can do minimal light and sound but that’s definitely Rafael’s strong suit. I’m going to get the mic pacs set up.” You walk over to the boxes you had set out earlier in the day and sit down next to them.

Namjoon works through the choreography lightly of the two songs they will be performing. You try not to look but you can’t help it. You really like watching people dance. And he’s a really good dancer even though he’s just lightly moving through the steps. You fight with the mic packs. They are very difficult to get tuned with one hand. Ugh. This is so frustrating.

To your pleasant surprise, Xavier, Rafael, and the rest of the group enter the silent room. Rafael heads straight for the console and starts setting things up. Xavier was trying to communicate with the guy you had learned was JHope. The bits of broken English are adorable. RM walks over and catches the band up on where they could take their things and get set up. Xavier comes over and starts helping you get the lav mics set up. “Thanks dude, this is really hard one handed.”

“It’s no problem. Oh my goodness, these guys are hilarious. I don’t speak Korean, clearly, but their energy is amazing.”

You smile as you are not having the same experience at all but you don’t want to be rude.

Once the lav mics are set up you grab your label maker. “Ok, go see if Rafael is ready and we’ll do just the choreography a few times through. I’ll go see if the guys are set up.” You get up and go downstairs to check in with Melinda about who to let in and when they should arrive and then head on up to the makeshift green room. You knock on the door and don’t hear any objections so you go in and see the guys finishing up a makeshift team meeting. “Alright? Ready?” you say, trying to keep the wording minimal.  

“Let’s go!” JHope yells excitedly. You can see why Xavier was having fun talking to him, his smile is infectious.

“Yeah ok, you know. Let’s go dancing,” the tall one who your research has told you is “Jin” joins in.  You laugh and turn to lead the way over to the practice area.

Xavier and Rafael get the lighting and sound set up once the guys are on their marks. They look so fucking cool. Having them in the studio makes it almost look like a stage. The music starts and they start the choreography. The first round is just to test the set marks, so it’s not the full moves. It looks like they are using it as a warm up but honestly it still looks amazing! Once the marks are all confirmed they run the full version. You sit there trying not to stare at RM but you can’t help it.  He looks so good. They all do, but you can’t take your eyes off of him. Damnit. Stupid rude soulmate. You sigh. Today was shit. Your wrist was throbbing, you had zero sleep, and your soulmate hated you.

“Alright that’s a wrap on that part guys. It looks amazing!” you give them a big  thumbs up. “Let’s get the lav mics on you guys and we’ll run with audio.”

You hand the labeled mics to each band member and help them get it adjusted as best you can. When you get to RM he takes the lav mic and becomes determined to place it himself. “Oh my goodness. You are ridiculous.” you say under your breath to him. “You better make sure that thing stays on,” you chide him.

“It’s not my first performance sweetheart, I think I can manage.” he responds arrogantly.

You roll your eyes and head on over to JHope who is much friendlier. “Thanks so much,” he says.

“You’re welcome,” you say smiling. Why are literally all of them nicer than your soulmate? You look over at him to see him giving JHope a death stare, which JHope returns by shrugging his shoulders confused. You move on to Yoongi who politely lets you place the mic.

“Alright, we are all set. Mic check please,”

“Ok let’s go,” you hear RM through the speakers. The other guys take turns speaking into the mics.

“Check check, Rafael?” he gives you a thumbs ok, “Ok. Let’s run it.” The music starts and this time it’s full choreography and singing.  The sound is really stable and they look great. About halfway through the second song, RM accidentally rips off his lav mic and yeets it to the floor.

“Stop.” you shout.

“Sorry guys. I’m sorry.”  He immediately stops and picks up the broken mic.

The guys are all breathing heavily and don’t seem too shocked by this turn of events, half of them wander off to grab some water.

You walk over and take the mic from RM’s hands. “I'm sorry.” he says to you and for a second you forget what a dick he’s been to you. You sigh examining the pac. “It’s fine. I have an extra one. This one is beyond my repair skills.” you walk over to the side of the studio and grab another one. You walk back over and look up at RM, “I’ll give you another. The deal is you have to let me put this one on, ok?”

For a few seconds he drops his “too cool” act “Yeah ok.” You reach around his back to reposition the lav mic and hand him the earpiece.

“Don’t worry, I won’t bite you.” you say as you readjust it along his back. You feel him relax a bit. “Unless you ask me to.” you wink awkwardly at him. He rolls his eyes at you.

“Thanks again for getting us this practice space. ” he says, surprising you,  

You finish the adjustment. “Just doing my job. Of course, the rest of my job is really hard with a splint on my wrist,” you give him a dirty look.

“I am sorry about that,” he says quietly.

You look around make sure no one else can hear you, “Look, it’s been a fucked up day for me too.” you look into his eyes, “ And I don’t want this either. I have a boyfriend actually and I like my job here a lot. You don’t have to worry about me chasing you down or anything.”

“Oh,” Namjoon is taken aback by this. He had always assumed if he ever met his soulmate and delivered the news he wasn’t interested, they would be heartbroken. Apparently not.

“Oh. Ok. Good.” is all he was able to get out.

You sigh as you walk back a few feet to make sure it looks ok with the lighting and everything.  “You should be all set now.” you turn to the sound crew, “Mic check! Take 3.” Namjoon does his mic check and it sounds great. “Ok everyone let’s run it from the top.”

You walk over to the front of the room to watch and listen to the full production. This day has been exhausting.  

Xavier sits down next to you and hands you a water. “Thanks dude,”

“These guys are fucking sick. They are favored to win their categories.”

“Really? That’s awesome. Do you have your outfit picked out?” You ask, embracing a moment of normalcy in your life.

“No, Joe and I are going tonight to look at rentals. Do you want to come?”

“No thanks, I haven’t seen Ben all week and I’m just going to wear something from my closet. I’m thinking my New Year’s Eve dress from last year.”

“Ooo that’s a good One. I’ll get a coordinating tie.” Xavier smiles at you. “Do you have a bias?”

“Uh what?”

“Haven’t you read upon this group? You pick a favorite and that’s your bias.” Xavier sips his iced coffee.

“That is ridiculous. They’re just people. Like every other group we’ve worked with,” you roll your eyes.

“I don’t make the fandom rules honey. My bias is Jimin. Look at that dancing.” Xavier proceeds to stare at Jimin for the remainder of the first song. “Ooooo but if there’s another one they’re your bias wrecker.”

“Please start speaking English again.” you playfully shove him.

“What were you and RM chatting about?” He arches his eyebrows up and down.

“Lav mics. And more specifically why I am the one who is supposed to place them and not overconfident performers,” you huff.

“I’m gonna put down Jhope as your bias and RM as your wrecker.”

You roll your eyes and stand up for the second song. Xavier continues to eyefuck Jimin.

You once again find your eyes drawn to RM. He’s not the best dancer but he’s taller than the rest of the guys and has a certain swagger when he raps that commands the room. It’s sexy as fuck and you get annoyed at yourself for thinking that. The second song ends. You, Xavier, and Rafael burst into applause.

“Great job guys! That looked and sounded Amazing. How did you feel about it?” you direct your question to RM so he can translate. He and JHope discuss a few things. You walk over to them to gather any feedback. Suga has wandered over to Rafael and is looking at the console with him. You giggle as you watch Xavier try and think of something to say to Jimin and you almost get secondhand embarrassed for him.

“Ok guys, any changes or anything?” you ask as RM and JHope grow quiet.

“No. We just need to run it again a few times. When our filming crew arrives they will record it for us to share online with ARMY so we want to make sure it’s good before then.”

“Ok. sounds good.” you take out your phone and rescan the schedule. “You have an hour and a half before they arrive so you just let Rafael know when you’re ready to go again for practice” your phone chimes, “I have to go meet with catering and I will be right back.”

The rest of the practice session runs smoothly. Their BTS production team arrives to film content for their fans and you and Xavier feel like a bunch of perverts watching them stretch but it doesn’t stop either of you from doing it.

“Oh my god you guys,” Rafael laughs at you two. “Stop.”

“Stop what?” you ask, trying to sound innocent.

Rafael rolls his eyes. “Y’all thirsty. Don’t you guys have boyfriends?”

“Our boyfriends do not look like that,” Xavier gestures to the group. You just grow red and try not to laugh and distract them.

“Stop it you guys. You’re being really unprofessional.” you say through suppressed laughter

“Yeah, stop it guys,” Rafael mocks you and the three of you laugh as their song wraps up.

“Great job!” you yell. “We have time for one more run through. Grab some water and we’ll do one more set before dinner.” You walk over to RM. “Hey, the studio owner’s daughter is here and I told her she could watch as long as she doesn’t take pictures or anything. Is that still ok? Did you check with everyone?”

“Yeah, that shouldn’t be a problem.” he says, his voice huskier than normal from the exertion of practicing for hours.

“Here,” you hand him a bottle of water and head down to the first floor.

Robert’s daughter, Clara, is a super excited ten year old who is trying to play it cool but she keeps making adorable squeaking sounds. “Hey! Are you super excited?” you greet her and Robert.  She just smiles more, unable to form coherent words “I just need you to either give me your phones or put them in a locker.”

“Sure thing,” Robert hands you their phones. “Thanks again. I’d say this would make her day but it’s probably more like her year or her life,” he smiles.

“Of course. Happy to do it.” you start walking up the stairs with them, “I know we can watch them and they might have time to chat afterwards but they have also had a really long day, so don’t be upset if they seem tired or anything, ok?” you prep Clara.

She nods enthusiastically and then starts crying when she enters the room. “Oh God,” you say and you gesture at chairs you had set out for them.

“Ah youth,” Xavier remarks as you walk over to the console. As you turn around you are surprised to see that one of the members, Taehyung has walked over to Clara and is trying to get her to stop crying and it is the sweetest thing ever.

“I don’t even have ovaries and they’re aching,” Xavier whispers in your ear. You suppress the urge to laugh and agree with him and walk over to make the introduction.

“This is Clara, and her father Robert. This,” you gesture” is Robert’s studio.

“Oh. Thank you Robert. And Thank you Clara for being ARMY,” he smiles at both of them. “We dance now, ok?”

Clara enthusiastically nods her head.

“Thank you so much,” you say to Taehyung as he turns to go back to the stage area.

“No, thank you.” he smiles an adorable smile at you and holy shit is this how they lure all these fans?! With their dancing and adorable smiles?! You make a mental note to watch some Youtube videos later tonight and walk back to your position in the front of the room. The guys are all back in their spaces.

“Mic check 1 2.” you go through the pre-check again.

The last performance of the night is perfect. Clara sings along to all the words and you even see a tear or two fall down Robert’s face as he is so happy to see his little girl’s dream come true. Wow this has been a day. You are thankful you ordered coffee to be delivered with dinner. The band members are all kind enough to walk over and say hi to Clara and thank Robert one more time.

“Thanks again [y/n] it really means a lot to us,” Robert shakes your hand.

“Of course. Thanks again for the space. I’ll see you around the studio.” you hand them their phones back as you escort them to the front door. You poke your head into the kitchen and confirm food counts with the caterer and grab yourself a coffee.

“Alright guys. Dinner is in the kitchen and ready when you are. There is also a stocked shower if anyone wants to take one here. Great work today.” Everyone on the BTS production unit makes their way to the dining area. Some of the guys stop and change clothes before dinner, some don’t. It’s been a long day. You, Rafael, and Xavier clean up the dance room so it will be ready for tomorrow.

“What are you guys doing tonight?” Rafael asks as he covers the console.

“I’m going suit shopping with Joe for the awards show. Do you want to join?” Xavier responds.

“Nah, I’m going to wear my funeral suit like usual.”

“Boooo!!!!” you and Xavier both yell at him, like usual. He loves that boring ass suit and it’s the only one he owns.

“There’s nothing wrong with it.” he laughs as he defends himself.

“It’s boooorrrrriiiinnnngggg. This is a fun awards show. Plus me and Joe and [Y/N] are going to look so pretty. Don’t you want to also?” Xavier finishes helping you gather the recycling.

“No. I’ll stay boring and scruffy to help make you three look better.” he smiles. “I’m grabbing dinner here. Anyone else?”

“Me.” you raise your working arm.

“I thought you were meeting Ben tonight?” Xavier interrupts.

“Change of plans. I spaced that I have to be the one to lock up tonight so I have to be the last one out. I don’t want to rush anybody so I’ll just stay here and work until everyone else is finished.” you sigh. “But, I am getting free dinner.”

“Always the optimist.” Rafael pats your shoulder, “that’s why we love you.”

You smile and grab the bag of recycling to carry downstairs. As you round the corner you once again slam into RM. “Jesus,” you yell, forgetting professionalism for a second.

“Sorry.” he takes the recycling bag from you, “Do you guys need help with anything else?” He asks cooly.

“No, we are all finished,” Xavier responds, turning off the lights. “Thanks dude.” he starts down the stairs oblivious to what’s going on. “See you all tomorrow!” he happily yells as he leaves.

“So in love.” Rafael comments. “Gross.” he jokes as he begins down the stairs.

“Agreed,” you follow him, “Are you coming?” you turn and ask RM.

“Yep.”

You slow down a bit so Rafael is all the way down the stairs, “Back to being an asshole?” you ask him, your voice lilting in a joking way.

“Absolutely.”

“Fantastic. Thanks for carrying the recycling, Asshole.”

“Sure thing. Is Rafael your boyfriend?”

Did he really just ask you that? Before you can form words you just start laughing. “Ahahahahahahaha. No. Hard Pass. No. We have worked together for 5 years. We are very good friends. Ahahaha. I can’t even. Wow. No. My boyfriend does not work with me. Otherwise we would probably kill each other. Why? Are you interested in Rafael? I can get you his number?” you  laugh again.

“Oh my God. No.”

“Why do you care who my boyfriend is?” you ask, nearing the bottom of the stairs, “Jealous?" You tease.

If you would have been looking you would have seen the moment of hesitation on his face before he responded, “Don’t flatter yourself.” NEXT CHAPTER