#especially when it comes to romantic relationships

[astrolook]

💍Navamsa (D9) Venus in the Houses🔭

Note: These are all my personal observations and patterns I've noticed over the years. Take what resonates with you more and leave the rest. Lemme know in the comments if it hits home! A single placement or aspect isn't enough to conclude and the whole chart has to be analyzed! Look at ur Vedic chart!

Venus in 1st -> You naturally feel like your life becomes complete once you’re in a relationship. Love and connection are central to how you see yourself and move through the world. After marriage, people may notice a glow-up in your appearance or energy. You get more attention from people after marriage. Being in love brings out your best qualities and makes you feel more like yourself.

Venus in 2nd -> You start valuing family, comfort, and emotional security more after marriage. Marriage often brings financial stability or even wealth over time. Your spouse may have a pleasant voice or refined speech, or you yourself may become more soft-spoken. There’s a strong love for food, music, or poetry that grows later in life. Can gain weight after marriage. In-laws might feel distant or not very involved in your life. After your 30s or 40s, you may become the main provider or financial support in your family.

Venus in 3rd -> Communication in marriage becomes smoother and more affectionate over time. You may enjoy romantic conversations and traveling with your partner, especially on short trips. Relationship with in-laws, especially the father-in-law, may bring surprising support or gifts. Career starts to shift after marriage, and you may work more closely with women or in Venus-related fields. Joint finances often improve after marriage, and you may benefit from shared assets. Your interest in the arts, music, or poetry can grow after marriage.

Venus in 4th -> Marriage teaches you what real commitment means. Luck rises after marriage. You're gonna be lucky to have them as your spouse. Also, you may acquire a home or a car on your own. Your spouse is your pillar and will support you. Spouse could treat you like a queen/king. You’re likely to enjoy activities like home decoration, family vacations, spiritual retreats, or visiting holy places. Spouse's parents could either live with you or live near you.

Venus in 5th -> Romance stays alive after marriage. The birth of a daughter can bring harmony, feminine energy, and new emotional depth to your married life. You’ll crave travel, especially to foreign or exotic places, and often feel most alive and fulfilled when exploring the world with your partner. Should be careful of loans and debts and it's best to avoid if possible.

Venus in 6th -> Marriage comes with KARMA. It shows you're in a karmic contract. You’re paying off a debt to your spouse, possibly from past-life actions like abandonment, betrayal, or broken promises. One partner tends to sacrifice or support more in terms of emotionally, financially, or spiritually. Despite the karmic baggage, there's usually an immediate magnetic pull toward your spouse. It feels fated, because it is. Marriage may bring financial obligations such as spouse’s debt, loans, or joint financial burdens.

Venus in 7th -> Marriage is central to your soul's growth. Whether it’s romantic, spiritual, sexual, or financial, partnership becomes your path to self-realization. This Venus makes you naturally charming, persuasive, and a skilled negotiator. Expect relationship ups and downs. Spouse will have a distinct feature. For eg: A dorsal hump on their nose, unusual eye color from where they're born, or something in their face that will be striking/visually appealing.

Venus in 8th -> There’s often a “magnetic pull” between you and your spouse, but this can also lead to jealousy or possessiveness. You may gain wealth or assets through your spouse, in-laws, or even inheritance. This could be money, property, or connections. Striking/Stunning spouse. Even during rough phases, they may remain devoted and deeply bonded to you. Marriage may bring an unexpected boost in recognition. Your social or professional standing may rise once you're married. You might love the ocean, lighthouses, and solitude.

Venus in 9th -> It can bring karmic duty to financially support the spouse’s family. Wealth increases post-marriage. Good savings potential. Potential for friction with your spouse due to giving money to in-laws. You may become distant from your own extended family. You may prefer to travel in first class or in business class after marriage. After marriage, sudden upgrades in lifestyle can be seen.

Venus in 10th -> Marriage significantly boosts reputation and public image. Could be seen as the romantic, ideal couple unless Venus is afflicted. Marriage can be glamorous like a movie romance. Potential for careers in media, writing, or public relations. Can bring complete devotion toward younger siblings or siblings-in-law. Also, being idealistic in love/marriage and ignoring the red flags can be seen here as well.

Venus in 11th -> Marriage can fulfill your specific dream that you always wanted. For eg: luxury home, status, visa, crush as your spouse, etc. Social circle expands significantly after marriage, often across cultures or religions. Spouse brings increased social connections, including influential or helpful friends. Strong support may come from people outside of your own culture (e.g. Middle Eastern, Jewish, Muslim backgrounds). Debts may rise after marriage, but so do opportunities to pay them off through partner’s support. Big financial opportunities and credit limits may open up post-marriage.

Venus in 12th -> If you're a woman, you may become dreamy or detached. You may live in your personal bubble. In a man's chart, spouse would be detached/dreamy living in their own bubble. Deep craving for peace and rest comes through marriage. Sleep quality often improves post-marriage. You may secretly maintain a blog, poetry page, or online journal, a creative expression kept private or anonymous. Publishing, especially creative or poetic works, becomes an unspoken goal or outlet. Great for bed pleasures unless Venus is afflicted. Spouse will be devoted to you. You may take good care of yourself even after marriage unless Venus is afflicted. Fantasy-style romance.

💌For readings, check out my pinned post for pricing! ✨💌🪐

[he4rken]

Could I request a 1x x reader where the reader is also kinda hateful towards others? 👉👈 Maybe if they’re a survivor they subtly help the killer during rounds without anyone knowing or if they were a killer they enjoy hunting them down. Think of that one cheesy trope of “hates everyone but you” but make it both the people in the situation.

I think it’ll be a very interesting dynamic, 2 people who hate everyone (but each other) :] Take your time and thank you for considering, don’t worry if you don’t wish to do it ^^

A LITTLE EXCEPTION... | hateful reader

— Anon, anon!!! This is actually so cute! I wrote both scenarios if the reader was a survivor or a killer so it's more fulfilling. Hope the headcanon formatting is well suited here!

WARNINGS: normal forsaken round stuff (implied murdering)

All pronouns aside from it/its were used here!

— The physical manifestation of pure malice actually having someone he doesn't feel hatred towards? Are you sure you're talking about 1x1x1x1?

— Okay, okay. Maybe it isn't so very far fetched when the one they hold (surprisingly) dearly is just as hateful as they are. Two sides of the same coin, two peas in a pod, all those sorts of sayings could describe either of you! Positively or negatively from the outside perspective.

— It's a bit of a surprise that both of you managed to get romantically involved, especially with 1x1x1x1 saying how she hates sappy things, relationships are not her thing at all!

— But oh man... Hey why is there so much glitter and pink stuff floating around in the air when you also don't seem to like anything or anybody? Is that music playing?

— Jokes aside I think 1x1x1x1 just very slowly starts conversing with you since both of you are haters, eventually the relationship between you does become more than acquaintances.

— Oh you don't like people? Especially a certain someone? Likewise for him too! Definitely has ranted about said certain someone a lot. Somehow she gets very pleased when you join in and agree with him fully. It's quite the ego boost too.

— It's kinda a shame when you guys rarely see each other, that's if you are a survivor and 1x1x1x1 didn't get selected by The Spectre to be the rounds killer. And if they do get selected? Majority of the time you end up being the last man standing with how much she's sparing you.

— Bonus points when you always help him out too! How generous of you to lead another survivor straight towards them and then bail last minute while the survivor screams in pure agony. Even better when it's none other than Shedletsky too, she's letting out her anger immediately on him. So kind of you to help them out.

— When it's just you and 1x1x1x1 alone while the last minute ticks away, you guys either spend that last minute complaining about anything or anybody. Or maybe just quickly catch up a bit before you guys don't see each other again for who knows how long.

— Now, when you're also a killer that's a whole different thing. He can see you whenever he wants to! Both of you can complain together, hate together, that's so romantic to them! While the others do beg to differ but who cares about their opinion, really? It's just you and 1x1x1x1 against the world.

— I wouldn't say he's gonna be your number one fan when you're in a round since you don't need unnecessary boost. Be angry! Be hateful! Let it all out on the survivors! Or perhaps target someone you absolutely despise! They know you can do it, no doubt.

— 1x1x1x1 probably isn't one for praise..? At least expressing it in a way that can come out as positive, you're like the only one she doesn't hate, so, perhaps the best he managed to shoot out was "you're the LAST person I'd start to despise", which honestly works. A compliment from them is a compliment, either take it or leave it.

— In a way this proves that 1x1x1x1 isn't just a negative Nancy. They're surprisingly capable of feeling other things outside of pure hatred, whether or not he hates the fact is up for interpretation.

— They're just... Oddly happy to have someone stick around with them, especially cause hey, both of you are haters. That's the best thing they could ever have gotten from a romantic partner and she's definitely not gonna take it for granted.

[fancyperfectionsweets]

Astrology Observation 7 🥂

👶 forever young people placements in my personal opinion: Mercury atmakaraka, Neptune 1st house and Mercury first house. If you have a strong mercury, that is a good indicator of looking younger than your age. Moon dominance in the first house as well (moon in 1st house, moon nakshatra ruled planets in first)

🧟 Jupiter exalted in D9? Yeah. You're going to manifest exactly the type of husband you want but be careful what you wish for because those qualities will be exaggerated. Want a guy who wants you like crazy?? Be ready to find a future husband that is OBSESSED with you and can't keep his hands off you.

📦 Which brings me back to something that is super obvious. When checking synastry chart, you can also directly overlay your charts over your partner. That will explain a lot. I promise. Let's say for example, This guy liked me a lot and when I checked his chart, I was like.. umm.. why? Like nothing "romantic" conjuncted, lol. Mostly platonic. It almost felt obsessive. And that's when it hit. His pluto (scorpio) is in the 12th. I have a venus and Mars (Sagittarius) in the 12th so.. yes. That made sense. Then I went back and checked a friend's synastry chart and boom! I knew why this girl would keep calling that one guy. 👹

🌌 Yes, gemini Venus men are fuckboys but have y'all seen sag mars people? They are fuckboys and girls 😭 like... Jupiter just be expanding on whatever it touches

🌚 This can be unpopular opinion, but when you're reading descriptions of "trait embodiment" in astrology, the embodiment usually works in terms of the woman embodying it and the man pursuing it?? For example, I was reading one of the post of @youremyheaven here talking about how the Purva ashada's are obsessed with "defiling innocence' or may have a "take her virginity" complex. And as a Purva Ashada Venus, I've actually been kind of repulsed by the idea of defiling anyone or taking their virginity. However, I've had several men come to me with the motive to "defile" me?? (Sexually, of course). And they have actually used THAT term to describe the things they want to do with me?? I was reading about someone asking recently if the Lilith is what a man embodies and I disagree for this very reason. A woman's lilith is embodied by her. A man's is what he wants in his woman. So as a woman, you're embodying venus, moon and lilith. The men are chasing that. I understand this is controversial. Take it with a pinch of salt.

🫩 Saturn in the 7th House people 🤝 never feeling like things will work out between you and your FS or just not being able to tell if they are the one or a karmic lesson 😭

💢 Everyone adores moon-venus in synastry but as someone who has experienced the negative side of it, it can translate to the moon person rationalising the venus person's bad behaviour towards them as well. It means as the moon person you'll have a soft spot towards them and the venus person can use this to exploit moon. (Especially worse if the moon person is the woman because venus will try to breach her physical boundaries). Can happen with moon-IC synastry too.

❤️‍🔥 The sexual tension of mars opposite Venus is something else in synastry. If it's a double whammy where both people's mars-venus are in opposition, you'll "know" when they want you. If it's in a masculine sign, they won't even hide it. It's absolutely insane how bold mars can get when it thinks it's gotten a pass with venus.

🗽 Speaking from experience, the most intense synastry aspects that I've experienced is Lilith synastry and Eros-Psyche synastry. Being a part of this synastry is like partaking in a cat-mouse type of relationship and it's exhausting. One person is always the pursuer while the pursued one feels guilt and shame for the other person. Late night confessions, sneaking, concealing info, are all part of the package in this synastry. (My Leo Juno hates being someone's secret and these synastries just carry the energy)

💀 What is with Scorpio in the 12th house and obsessing over people they can't have?? They will literally fantasize about having emotionally unavailable people, people who are taken, people who they can't have because the connection is taboo somehow (age gaps, different cultures). They also seem to have this scary side to them where they will have the most animalistic desires or extreme desires but know it wont be accepted so they keep their mouth shut. You can sometimes peer into it (if they let you) and it can be scary because their public perception is very clean (Virgo or Libra midheaven) and you can never guess. They also tend to have loads of people they secretly obsess over and never tell a soul or won't be seen with them in public.

🌡️ If someone's Mars falls into your 6th House, you can be in danger because of them. I don't know what is it with this synastry but even in harmonious relationships, Mars seems to harm the house person. This is especially true for me as I have a moon there. So I "pick up" things emotionally too. It is not all harmful but I can see why it's a potential red flag. On a lighter note, I picked up a cold from a friend whose mars fell into my 6th house. Lol. On a darker note, another guy who decided to play mind games with me also had his mars in my 6th house so you pick your poison, I guess.

🍹 If you're a Neptune 1st house, please be careful with the people you decide to get drunk/high/intoxicated around. The people around can protect you or harm you based on how they feel about you when you're high or drunk. This is especially true for a Neptune 1st house because they seem or are viewed as extra vulnerable or out of control. It has to do with Neptune being the literal planet of poison/drugs and it being present in your 1st house shifts your public perception when you're on drugs/alcohol. This can attract a lot of creeps who would want to take advantage of you because your gaurd seems down.

[irlyluvosamu]

SYNOPSIS: reader doesn't want to go to sleep without osamu.

GENRE: fluff, soft, comfort, romantics, established relationship.

AUTHORS NOTE: this was written at 1 am!! :D. i love sleepy prompts, especially with my comfort character—every paragraph i wrote caused me to kick my legs with happiness.

WORD COUNT: 1K

you sit cross legged on the bathroom counter top. the back of your head gently resting upon the mirror; your eyes fluttering open and closed ever so often.

the bathroom was warm and calming. the steam from the shower fogged up the mirror you were resting your head on.

the dim light thankfully didn't strain your tired eyes as much as the big bright white light usually on—a small candle beside you gave the room a beautiful smell. you think it was lavender? dazai knew it was one of your favorite scents.

you had recently stepped out of the shower, dazai going in right after. before he stepped in he had asked you to go to sleep—noticing your tired eyes. his fingers tangled in your hair as he kissed your temple a few times.

stubbornly, as usual when it comes to dazai, refused and told him you would wait until you got into bed with him.

you were craving to be held by him, peacefully falling into a calm slumber with him by your side. you could almost never go to sleep unless dazai was with you.

defeated—he shrugged with a happy smile and took his turn in the shower. which is what brought you to where you are now. tiredly waiting for your boyfriend so the two of you can sleep together.

it's been, 15 minutes, since he stepped in the shower. which was 15 minutes of you fighting the urge to fall asleep.

you attempted to dry your hair with your towel, too lazy to step off the counter to find the hair dryer. you were at it for two minutes before your arms grew tired and gave up. the damp towel resting on your lap.

as you were fighting your eyes from closing for the night—the sound of the shower coming to a stop caused you to peek one eye open to watch dazai's hand reach for his towel hanging on a hook beside the tub.

a few moments later the shower curtain slowly slid open, revealing your boyfriend—hair damp and his towel wrapped around his lower half.

upon noticing your figure, he let his lips curl into a small smile. he ran his fingers through his wet hair, a moment to move his damp bangs away from his forehead—he strode his way toward you.

you didn't need to open your eyes to feel his hands rub gently from your knees to your thighs in one smooth motion. dazai leaned in close to your face, kissing your cheek to your inner lip.

you whined a little—wanting him to kiss you properly, you moved your head to look directly at him, deep brown eyes staring back at yours as you pointed tiredly at your bottom lip. your free hand resting on his broad shoulder.

dazai let out a small laugh at how adorable you are when you're tired—taking your hand pointing at your lip to hold to his chest as he leaned close to your ear and whispered; "you're so needy when tired, aren't you, bella~" as much as his breath tickled the back of your ear, you let out a yawn—arching your back on a stretch cashing him to pull back for a moment.

he shook he head, a chuckle left his lips. "can't go to bed with wet hair, now can we?" before you could say anything—you feel the towel on your lap lift up, as well as dazai hands move away from your face. opening your eyes you see your towel in the hands of your boyfriend, who reached up to hand dry your wet hair for you. he would take a section of your hair and press it down to the towel.

he has a smile on his face whilst drying your hair, careful not to pull it hard. you tilted your head to the side to help him reach parts of the back he couldn't reach due to the mirror behind you. however this caused you to close your eyes once again.

of course, the hair dryer would be much more efficient—but seeing you this tired just because you didn't want to leave him to sleep on your own just pulled his heart strings ways he couldn't comprehend.

he wanted to savor this moment with you for as long as he could. so was he keeping you from sleeping? technically you can say that yes, but he likes to think of this as a bonding moment with you.

a few moments of dazai still hand drying your hair went by, his fingers occasionally scratching the base of your neck—causing you to feel more tired than you already were. expecting nothing less, when dazai heard the soft snore from you he smiled fondly—placing the towel in the sink beside you and gently, yet slowly, pulled you up from the counter.

he moved your body skillfully in his arms to have you resting in bridal style. your head resting against his chest and arms hugging your own, as your legs dangled over his arms. he stepped out of your shared bathroom and walked down the hall to your bedroom—never taking his eyes off your peacefully sleeping figure.

thankfully you both were smart enough to leave the door open, using his foot dazai softly pushed the door open and walked to the bed—gently laying you down on the sheets. immediately you turned in the bed, facing toward his body as he looked over you. you felt his body heat leave you which is what caused you open your eyes again, not having to adjust to any light as the room was a dark black—the light from the hallway seaming through the cracked door dazai had just shut.

"mhm..'samu," you mummered, stretching as if a cat had just woken up on the mattress. dazai hummed softly upon hearing his name leave your lips, "sleep...cuddle.." the fact you were too tired to say proper words made him fold on the spot.

he kissed your forehead softly, his eyes locked onto yours as he replied, "just a moment, and im all yours." you didn't reply, just hoping he would soon be joining you in bed.

you tilt your head to the side, hearing the sound of the drawers filled with your guys clothes open then closing quickly. there's no point for a shirt, it's far too warm in the room already—so he just threw on a pair of pants and without wasting another minute he slipped into bed with you.

he wrapped his arms around your waist, pulling you close to his chest. his nose in the crook of your neck as he took in your scent. it was a moment like this he wished would last a lifetime; however knowing nothing good always lasts forever. knowing you were fast asleep already, he gave you one last kiss on your neck—silently wishing a goodnight.

ENDING NOTES: can you guys tell i love this man. i need him so bad.

@ ɪʀʟʏʟᴜᴠᴏꜱᴀᴍᴜ — 2 0 2 5

comments / reblogs much appreciated ๋ ࣭ ⭑๋ ࣭ ⭑

[joyswonderland1108]

I Was Gonna Be Quiet… But the BTS Poly Agenda and Loud Baby Armies Said “No 💅”

So I’ve been debating for a while whether I should write this post about the BTS poly agenda and my thoughts on some baby Armies—SOME, calm down—not the cute ones who cry over Bangtan’s laughter. I’ve had this convo with my friends too many times, and since a few of y’all showed some interest in my unhinged opinion, here I am. I will be sending a bill after this post. PayPal info will be attached. 😌💸

Now listen. I know this whole “BTS are in a poly relationship” nonsense has been floating around for a while—like an expired balloon nobody asked for—but just like every other delulu thing, it got extra legs, a jetpack, and a Red Bull in recent years.

And OF COURSE, people always bring this mess up especially when it comes to Jikook. And we both know why. We ALL know why. Let’s not lie.

Now I’m not gonna sit here pretending I live in a cave. I know poly relationships exist. I know open relationships, queerplatonic partnerships, roommate soulmate situations—all that exists. And if that’s your thing? Cool. Live your truth. But don’t hand me a pamphlet claiming that 7 fully grown, emotionally complex men all have the exact same level of bond with each other. No. That’s ✨math that doesn’t math✨.

Ever heard “there’s always a duo in a trio”? Yup. There’s also always a bestie in a group chat. Someone you accidentally FaceTime at 2am. Someone you tell more secrets to. Someone who knows which meme will make you ugly laugh. That’s real life. So don’t come at me acting like BTS are just in a never-ending 7-way romantic circle when they can’t even group chat in peace without Yoongi disappearing and Jin sending blurry screenshots of alpacas.

I’m Jikook biased. Obviously. So if you ask ME, I’ll tell you straight-up that Jimin and Jungkook have the closest bond in the group. Not even putting on the tinfoil hat for that—this is just from using my two eyes and two ears and the one braincell that survived 2020. The members have told us. The staff have told us. The footage tells us. The atmosphere tells us. The magnetic field around them shifts when they breathe near each other.

But okay, let’s pretend I’m “neutral” for a second. Even then—you CANNOT tell me that Taejoon is the same as Namgi. That Minimoni is the same as 2Seok. That Hopeminkook gives the same energy as Jinjikook. Please be serious. You sound like an Instagram astrology reel.

Do you treat every single one of your friends exactly the same? You tell all of them the same secrets? Share the same inside jokes? Have the same connection? LIES. I see you. I see your best friend ranking list in your Notes app. You’re not slick.

So why do some ARMYs insist on flattening BTS’s relationships to some weird polyfication of emotional intimacy, as if they’re Sims on free will mode? No babes. They’re close. But they’re not a Google Doc that seven people are editing at once.

Also, can we talk about the logic here? Taehyung’s friendship with the Wooga Squad is WELL documented, right? He’s close with them. Deep bond. Does that mean he's in a poly relationship with Peakboy, Hyungshik, and the gang now too? No? Oh so now y’all go blind, deaf, and mute? Interesting.

Now onto the baby Armies. Again: some. Not all. I love baby Armies. Some of you are adorable little confused ducklings and I want to protect you. I saw someone ask on Twitter “have BTS always been this chaotic on live?” and it was honestly so sweet. Like, welcome. Here’s your starter pack. Get ready to cry over group hugs from 2015.

But some of y’all… OH. Some of y���all graduated from Tk University with honors and a minor in selective blindness.

You remember that Sophia? Sophie, whatever girl on Twitter? Homegirl watched a full OT7 live and came out of it with the revolutionary discovery that JK was touching Tae the whole time. That’s all she got. The whole group could’ve turned into Care Bears and formed a heart circle and she still would’ve been like “wait… was that a Tk wink?” People (rightfully) called her out for ignoring the existence of the other five members and what does she do? Cries. “Oh no people are being so mean to an innocent baby Army.”

BABY? She was born 5 business days ago and is already spewing delulu sh*t with the confidence of a 2018 stan war general. Innocent where? She’s writing fanfiction in her Twitter drafts and acting brand new.

And then there are the “loud and wrong” baby Armies. I saw one tweet saying that JK isn’t part of the “chronically offline” line because “he’s always been active.” Huh??? That’s because you showed up when he was lonely and waiting for his solo to drop, going live like a sleepy golden retriever who missed his pack. You don’t know the history. You don’t know the droughts. You didn’t live through Bon Voyage silence. Respect your elders.

And honestly, it’s okay to be new. You don’t have to know everything. But don’t walk into the fandom acting like a senior professor when you’ve only seen 3 TikToks and a Tk edit from TKlive channel on YouTube. Try watching actual BTS content first. Try watching Run BTS. Try Bon Voyage. In The Soop. Bangtan Bombs. Try that one awkward-ass 2013 interview where they looked like unpaid interns.

Learn about all 7 members. Not just the two that looked hot in your first fan edit. You might even end up with a bias that surprises you. But PLEASE, for the love of Namjoon’s patience, form your own opinions—not one made of recycled Twitter delusions and Tumblr tag wars from 2019.

Because if you don’t, you're just gonna end up being one of those baby ARMYs who graduate into solos, antis, and chaos goblins that make the fandom insufferable.

Whew. That was a lot of yappa yappa. But I had to say it. I feel cleansed.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m putting my Jikook tinfoil hat back on. Screw the BTS poly agenda. Jikook are married. That’s the post.

[7ndipity]

Their S/o Gives Them a Hand-Written Letter

Ot7 x Reader

Summary: How the members would react to their S/o giving them a hand-written letter expressing their feelings(confession, to cheer them up, S/o is too shy to say praises in person, etc)

Warnings: none

A/N: Thanks to the lovely anon who requested this! I had a lot of fun writing this one, I think love letters/notes are so sweet, they make my heart soo happy! I hope y’all like these! 

Masterlist

°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

Jin: I’ve said it before, but Jin is a big fan of classical romance things, so even just the idea of you writing him a letter about your feelings or to cheer him up just makes him soo soft and smiley. He might try and tease you a little bit, just to hide his own flustered state, but it’s all in good humor, and you’d more than likely also start finding little notes left around the house for you as well. He struggles with being more serious sometimes, so writing out your feelings for each other in letters makes it a bit less intimidating for both of you, and so it becomes a sweet little tradition in your relationship that no one else knows about.

Yoongi: Honestly, Yoongi is his most honest and vulnerable through his lyrics, so he understands exactly where you’re coming from when you hand him a letter sharing your feelings. He would be so touched that you took the time to write it out for him, and re-reads it like three times before coming to find you, pulling you into a hug and thanking you. I think he would keep it tucked somewhere secret, maybe in a drawer in his studio or at home with a few other mementos from you, pulling it out to reread whenever he’s having a tough time or needs cheering up. 

Hobi: Hobi respects that you’re not the most vocal when it comes to sharing your feelings, you prefer to show them more through your actions, but sometimes he wishes he had a handbook to help know what you’re feeling. Which is why when he receives your letter, he treats it with an almost reverence. It means so much to him that you wanted to share your feelings with him, and the fact that you decided to do so in this way is soo cute and sweet to him, he’s practically vibrating by the time he finishes the note, immediately going to find you and tackling you in the tightest Hobi hug ever

Namjoon: Another member who best expresses himself through writing, Joon would be one of the members most touched by this type of communication, especially if you’re someone who’s not the most open about your feelings most of the time. Having that little peek into your feelings and what’s been on your mind means a lot to him, though he might keep his reaction more muted, not wanting to make you feel more shy. He would keep it somewhere secret as a precious keepsake and reminder of how much you mean to him.

Jimin: He might be a little confused at first when he finds your letter, worried as to what the contents might be, but as he reads what you wrote, he wouldn’t be able to stop himself from getting at least a little emotional. He would immediately go find you, smothering you in hugs and kisses, thanking you for your sweet message and telling you how much he loved it(and you hehe) He would keep it in an album or a memento box near his bed so that he could easily re-read it whenever he feels like it or needed encouragement.

Taehyung: Tae is also a sucker for classic romantic gestures, so when you hand him a hand written letter? He instantly goes soo soft and fluttery inside. He really takes his time reading what you wrote, understanding how important it was to you sharing your emotions in this way. He would be soo soft and  affectionate afterwards, wanting to hug and cuddle you as the two of you talk about what you wrote and how he feels in return. He might even ask for you to write more of them, lol. He keeps your notes by his bedside to re-read whenever he needs cheering up, or if he’s missing you while you’re apart.

Jungkook: Kook is such a big softie, as he reads your carefully written out words, he can’t help but get a little teary eyed. He knows that sharing your emotions is harder for you sometimes, so for you to take the time and effort to write them out to share with him means so much. He’s gonna be soo clingy with you for at least a couple days afterwards, I could even see him maybe writing you little letters in response, as a way to try and communicate with you in a way that makes you more comfortable.

Taglist: @sopebubbles-replies @btsw1fe @this-must-be-my-tardis @whitefoxgirl @bethanysnow @coffeedepressionsoup @feminympho @classicalelephant @dfqcsqueen @mother2monsters @comingupwithacoolnameishard @bo0ghol @seleneacyoflove @k4ngelz @universal-travel-er @hanaohreally

[mitocamdria]

Carmy is a serial plotter

So I wanted to do this post to serve as a sort of compilation of proof that Carmy puts serious thought into his plans to spend time or hoard the possessions of the people he romantically desires. This theory is so fascinating to me because it adds another intriguing layer of personality to the tormented and talented chef we all have come to love. To layout the evidence I’ll break it down by season.

Season 1:

I think we actually get the first sign that Carmy plots when he texts Syd before opening Mikey’s letter. After he states his behavior was not ok, he tells Syd that her check is ready for her to come get whenever.

Now please correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t it more customary that a final check be mailed to a former employee, especially if the employee and employer are not in the most cordial of relationships, which at that time they were very much not. Or Carmy could have asked if Syd would like to come in to retrieve the check or have it mailed. But no, Carmy specifically says she needs to come to the restaurant to get it. I think this was Carmy’s way of ensuring he could see her at least one last time to try and convince her to come back, even before they found the tomato can money (that money certainly helped his plan).

Season 2:

One of the first metas that came about suggesting that Carmy formulates plans in lieu of just communicating his feelings is from @fairestbeard and can be read here. It brilliantly lays out how Carmy is the one whom purposefully messed up the lacto ferment he and Syd were working on in order to be able to make the suggestion that they essentially go on a food tour date which Carmy failed to do previously in front of the lockers at The Bear. There’s also evidence that Carmy purposefully moved his Chef coat to his kitchen where he knew Syd was going to be which eventually led to him gifting her the Thom Browne Chef coat.

Season 3:

Ever Dinner

So I think there may already be meta written about this but I can’t find a specific post about it so definitely let me know of any existing meta.

Carmy made a plan to ask Syd to the Ever Funersl dinner ahead of time, indicated by the fact that Carmy awkwardly starts the conversation with “We’re closed tomorrow night” seemingly in the hopes to steer the conversation towards the Ever dinner. Once he realizes he has an opening he makes an obviously pensive expression and then shoots his shot.

Syd’s Scrunchie

There’s been a lot of speculation that the scrunchie Carmy has on his dresser is Sydney’s. Sydney is the only character to consistently wear scrunchies when she’s not working in the restaurant. So therefore I think Carmy had to have taken it one of the times she was in his apartment. Or maybe Syd had one in the restaurant lying around somewhere accessible to Carmy.

This theory is really interesting because it would be easy enough for Camry to just give the scrunchie back to Sydney if he innocently came across it but the fact that he’s hoarding it shows that he is holding onto it because he loves her deeply.

Season 4:

Now this season is where the plotting gets heavy. @freedelusionshere was one of if not the first to come up with the idea that it was Carmy that took Syd’s cleaver (post here) and @hamachibloodmagic reblogged with photo evidence that Syd indeed used her cleaver around Carmy shortly before it went missing (reblog here).

@thoughtfulchaos773’s meta detailing how Carmy lies is explored in great detail here and also provides evidence that Carmy hoarded Claire’s green sweater which also serves as proof that Carmy probably took Syd’s cleaver.

I find it hilarious that when Sydney tells Carmy she lost her cleaver, instead of offering help to find it (which would be the normal and expected response), Carmy immediately asks her if she needs a new cleaver. CARMY BE PLOTTING. It’s definitely implied Carmy is going to engage in another grand gift giving gesture towards Syd, because that is what Carmy does when he realizes he can actually provide something Sydney wants or needs, like with the chef coat. Only this time, Carmy TAKES the object so that he can replace it, probably with one that is high end or with significant sentimental value.

Significance

What does all of this prove? Carmy is very aware of his feelings for Syd. There has still been some speculation within this community as to whether or not Carmy is aware that he is deeply in love with Syd and the fact that Carmy plots in order to get closer to her is evidence he does these things intentionally.

He even so much as calls himself a “psycho” when he is stuck in the walk in and questions why he ever thought he could be in a relationship. On surface level, none of Carmy’s actions up to that point would be any that anyone would call psychopathic. Which leads me to believe he is very much aware that he plots and I think that is the psycho behavior to which he is referring. And due this realization, Carmy deflects and sabotages his plans because he believes he is unworthy of Syd’s love.

Perhaps the cherry on top to these revelations is that it only proves further that Carmy and Sydney are soulmates. Because we all know this story starts with Sydney’s plot to come and work for the chef who made the best meal of her life and lies to Carmy about why she’s there. These two are so afraid of open communication that they rely on elaborate plans they’ve made in order to get closer to the other. If that’s not soulmatism, I don’t know what is.

[helslastangel]

RANDOM ASTRO OBSERVATIONS #11

✨ asteroid interpretations from my natal chart 🔮

💫 Aphrodite in Cancer in 12th House

You feel familiar to people in ways they can’t explain. This is a nostalgic, haunting, mother-of-the-sea type of energy. Your effect on others often hits the hardest when you're gone. They can't stop thinking about you, even if you've long forgotten who they are. Can attract hidden stalkers or be unaware of who is quietly obsessed with you until they admit it. Often has no idea how deeply you impact those around you and feels less significant than you are. You're often the one that got away.

🔥 Amor in Aries in 10th House

You’re drawn to bold love, not subtle hints. You want to build with someone. This is the energy of someone who LOVES the power couple fantasy. Attracts a spouse/partner who loves you out loud, no shame, or who quickly detaches from people who don't do this. You don't like being kept a secret and would rather express affection through acts of service (especially BIG ones), playful banter, and real enthusiasm. You love HARD and FAST, but not necessarily for a long time unless things stay interesting. For you, boredom is the death of love.

🌊 Sappho in Cancer in 12th House

You crave depth + safety before expression, especially in how you bond with feminine people or express feminine beauty. You probably don't realize how intensely others feel drawn to your energy, especially femmes or past-life soulmates. This is someone who writes coded or secret poetry, leaves (or receives) anonymous love notes, and shows up in people's dreams. Highly creative and artistic, but only when motivated from the heart. You cannot express yourself on a superficial or surface level at all. You may identify as queer or LGBTQI+ coded in some way.

🧜🏽‍♀️Sirene in Scorpio in 5th house

People don’t just “crush” on you. No, it's almost never light and airy, even if you wish it could be. Others are drawn to you in ways that seem destined. As though they were always meant to lose themselves in you. This doesn't always feel good, but you will always feel it. Your energy is a lot like a one-way revolving door. Once someone enters, they aren't leaving the same way they came in. Obsession (unrequited or mutual), telepathic communication, and being accused of flirting (even when you're not) will follow you all the days of your life, lol. You may notice that people mirror you often.

🧠 Psyche in Aquarius in 7th house

You hate anything performative and meant to fall in line with what is expected. If it isn't authentic, away with it. You don’t fall in love with appearances, you need to feel like you're on the same wavelength with others. You're drawn to the way someone thinks, especially when no one’s watching. Compatible ideals are important to you and you crave someone who gets your weird. If someone doesn't respects your independence and can't meet your intellectual depths, you won't be interested for long. Although you often attract people who challenge your concept of what love should look like, you will quickly disconnect from anyone who tries to limit or control you. There may be something unusual or difficult about your relationships. You often end up in long-distance, age-gap, cognitively dissonant, or otherwise unorthodox relationships and friendships. You may have psychic abilities or literally feel a person's energy coming in long before you meet them.

🪦 Osiris in Pisces in 8th house

You feel people’s pain and may be drawn to connections that feel impossible, or even destined (for better or for worse). You attract wounded souls and have to be careful of falling for romantic illusions. You can be delusional but you are aware of this. With time and maturity, you may learn to focus less on the transformative potential of your connections (stop trying to be a fixer) and sit in the power of your true ability: being a psychic mirror for those who need to take charge of their own growth and healing. This is a highly telepathic placement. You probably feel when past friends and lovers are grieving or spiraling, even if you haven’t spoken to them in years. People may tell you that your presence lingers or haunts them in some way.

🌺Persephone in Taurus in 10th house

Your transformations are PUBLIC. You absolutely cannot hide with this placement no matter how much you may try. People watch you rise, fall and rise again. They witness your evolution in real time. You are someone who may go through multiple reinventions in your lifetime and others notice, sometimes even before you do. You may relate to the rags to riches, ugly duckling to swan, or any other "underestimated to respected" trope. You have incredible endurance and are the type of person to hold out for a much better future at the cost of pleasant experiences now. You become more grounded and secure in your own essence and being over time. A slow burn novel in human form, if you will.

💼 Opportunity in Virgo in 3rd house

Your opportunities are most likely to appear or be revealed to you through conversations, especially writing and digital communication. To activate this energy, put more time and energy into networking with others. If you get the chance to teach or explain the things your know, take them! The more visible you can become with your ideas, the better. This may take some effort if you have many other placements that cause you to hide who you are or retreat from being perceived, but this placement only blooms if you let it. You can go viral easily and often intuitively know when the right time is to say anything. It isn't a conscious thing, you will feel or stumble across the right message, the right phrase, the right reply at the right time, and that can turn into golden opportunities.

<- Go back to the masterlist

<- Go to more random observations

[dreamerwitches]

Sigh, big sigh, huge sigh

I was so excited to be allowed into the Connect Zine. Until this morning I realised....

They are letting in Iroha/Yachiyo. The ship, romantic.

It pains me so much but I will no longer be contributing to this zine. I'm not going to bash on anyone who WILL. But... I dont think anyone should support this zine. This zine that will support PEDOPHILIA

I stated my concerns and got this response.

"Hello! When MagiReco released, and until 2022, the legal age of adulthood in Japan was at 20 years old, meaning that Yachiyo was considered a minor in the cultural context in which she was written. Her and Iroha in-game are not officially written in any way that exhibits or endorses the problems that is very real for real people who might share their ages, neither do they cause or endorse any of that harm. There are many cases of subtext pertaining to their feelings regarding one another that indeed puts them as one of the main sapphic pairings in the game, and their relationship is as vanilla and non-problematic as it gets when the dynamic and interactions between them are analyzed for who and what they are. We do not feel that it is unreasonable for something as official and safe as them to be a part of this completely SFW zine, especially not when the franchise has a hefty amount of potentially toxic pairings that no one bats an eye at while Iroha and Yachiyo specifically are always the duo that are vilified.

We understand if you are uncomfortable with this and would no longer like to participate in Connect, and that is entirely reasonable. We hope that our stance also makes sense as reasonable even if you disagree. And please keep it mind you may also curate who you interact with here and avoid or block those who are creating for pairs that personally make you uncomfortable if you wish to still participate."

I get this point... but man, doesnt it reek of 'UMMM THE AGE OF CONSENT IN JAPAN IS 13!!!!!' To me, the problem isnt so much set in stone numbers, it's that Iroha is 15 and Yachiyo is 18. Really think about it, in the real world. Think of a 15 year old in middle/secondary school, now imagine them IN LOVE with an 18 year old in high school/college. Yeah it's fucking disgusting right? Or heck, think of when YOU were 15. An age gap like this is just so gross. There is such a power imbalance there.

And the 'that's how the game writes it'. Like, they.... they kinda portray the amane sisters like a ship, heck, iroha and ui too. (and before you say anything, no i hate these, I DONT see these as ships) Cmon dual units are ships. Rika and ren, masara and kokoro (I dont know anything about nayuta and mikage though, so i cant use them as any evidence here). But do them existing mean, oh well I have to support incest, or, well incest is fine if aniplex says so :) (the answer is no.) Japan is gross about shit like this (heck im sure other countries are too), there are published manga of relationships like this. THAT DOES NOT MEAN ITS OKAY

Comparing pedophilia to a problematic ship like say, madoka and devil homura. Come on man... this is a real world problem versus angsty teen fic. One of these is a real issue that hurts minors, one is just for drama.

Saying it's fine because its sfw. Kids can be groomed without sex. They can be mentally manipulated and traumatised without sex. Romantic pedophilia is still pedophilia.

And i know im going to hear ITS FICTION SO ITS FINE, ITS JUST LINES ON PAPER. Fiction affects reality, bitch. People who like stuff like this use fictional material to satiate themselves. What if this makes them feel comfortable with their disgusting interests so much that they want to move on and hurt someone in the real world. Huh? I know one tiny zine in the big ocean of the internet isnt going to make a difference. But we need to squash any tiny instance of this no matter what. Pedophilia will never be okay. EVER

I am very disappointed in all the mods of this zine because this felt like a curated response and they specifically chose to let these two iroha/yachiyo entries in. Very disappointed

[enjakey]

Chapter 7- cheers to a new beginning

THE CERTAIN ROMANCE OF WINGS AND WAR

previous chapter | next chapter- coming soon

PAIRING: [DAD!JAKE SIM x FEM!READER]!MAFIA AU

TW/N: 7.7k - Mafia au | soulmates au | angel/devil wings au | childhood best friends au | frenemies au | I didn’t know I loved you until I lost you | eloping/running away | family friends au | found family au | cheating, blood, drugs, mentions of sex, alcohol, lots of cussing, mentions of murder, guns, therapy, trauma, abandoning children, adoption care, estranged families, physical abuse, anger issues, characters make terrible decisions, some characters have sexual relations but not romantic, mentions of a lot of fucking each other over (betrayal), can't trust anyone.

Chunks that are in italics are flashbacks.

SUMMARY: the wholesome, makeshift family of theirs settles into Santorini and the mundane schedules. The cafe becomes a restaurant, the family business runs in the backdrop. Y/N and Jake find a new footing in their relationship-everything seems perfect. It is, right?

No, it never is- threat is always looming.

SERIES MASTERLIST I MASTERLIST

Their morning routines never really changed- not fundamentally, at least. Just that, Jake and Sunghoon were part of the chaos now, folded seamlessly into the rhythm of the house like they’d always belonged there.

Niki still took Luna to school every morning. Only now, he’d rush back home to change into his ice-cream-shop uniform- a blindingly pink-and-yellow shirt with stripes like a circus tent, paired with matching trousers and a tiny apron that barely tied around his waist.

The first day he’d worn it home, he’d tried to sneak inside unnoticed, creeping through the door like a burglar. He’d barely made it three steps before Sunghoon and Jungwon burst out laughing so hard they collapsed against each other for support.

A week later, they’d all shown up at the ice cream shop just to torment him. They’d piled into a corner table, grinning as they ordered scoop after scoop of different flavors. Niki served them, face red, jaw clenched, eyes screaming murder as he dropped each wobbly scoop into their cups.

Luna, naturally, thought it was the best thing in the entire universe. She loved the candy-colored shop, loved that her uncle wore “funny clothes,” and especially loved that Niki got an employee discount that meant extra sprinkles on everything.

Jungwon, meanwhile, kept going to work as a chef at the same restaurant. He’d fall into bed each night exhausted but satisfied, smelling faintly of garlic and rosemary, complaining about rude customers but secretly thriving in the kitchen.

And he kept dating Athera- the mysterious girl none of them had met really yet. They only knew her by snippets- she had heterochromia, worked the same kitchen line as Jungwon, and was apparently the only person alive who could keep up with his sarcastic comebacks. Whenever Athera texted, Jungwon’s entire face softened.

But the house was getting too small.

There were mornings when Sunghoon or Y/N would emerge from the living room, hair sticking out in all directions, clutching their lower backs and wincing with every step as though they’d aged decades overnight. Jungwon would just raise an eyebrow and mutter, “rough night on the couch, huh?” and get a groan in response.

Other nights, Luna would decide the middle of the night was the perfect time to claim more territory. She’d shove Jake halfway off the bed with her tiny feet, leaving him sprawled on the floor while she snuggled closer to Y/N, thumb in her mouth and hair tangled over her face.

More than once, Jake had woken up flat on his back on the hardwood, blinking blearily at the ceiling and muttering curses under his breath while Luna giggled in her sleep.

It was hilarious, really. 

But it was also… chaos.

Some mornings, there was a traffic jam in the hallway as everyone tried to squeeze past each other getting dressed for work. Toothbrushes went missing, socks vanished and Niki nearly knocked over an entire shelf of glass cups while wrestling his ice cream shop uniform over his head.

And Jake and Y/N… were a bit obvious.

It started with small things, the kind you’d barely notice unless you were watching closely.

Like the way Y/N would be standing at the stove in the mornings, flipping pancakes for Luna’s lunchbox, and Jake would shuffle in half-awake, hair a mess, eyes still heavy with sleep. Without fail, he’d come right up beside her, slide an arm around her waist, and press a slow kiss to her hair.

Everyone else noticed- even Luna.

But no one said anything.

On the walk to school one morning, Luna had tugged at Niki’s hand and whispered, wide-eyed, “are daddy and auntie Y/N getting married so she can keep bossing him around forever?” and Niki, who was absolutely not equipped for this level of interrogation before eight in the morning, had immediately launched into a ramble about how gelato was made until she forgot the question entirely.

Jungwon and Sunghoon, meanwhile, exchanged silent looks like there was a live bomb ticking under the breakfast table.

Then there were the nights.

Some nights, Jake ended up sleeping in Y/N’s bed with Luna. Which sounded sweet in theory- until Luna, in her sleep, decided to stretch out sideways and kick Jake squarely in the ribs until he eventually gave up, grabbed his pillow, and lay down on the floor, muttering curses while Y/N tried not to laugh.

The beds were too small for three people. Everyone complained about it, but no one… actually did anything about it.

It was as though they were all tiptoeing around the edges of a conversation none of them wanted to be the first to start.

Until one morning.

Jake was standing in the hall, watching chaos unfold like a stage play.

Niki was running after Luna, who was shrieking with laughter and waving his bright pink and yellow ice cream shop hat over her head. Sunghoon was passed out on the couch, half-covered by a child-sized blanket, while Jungwon was crawling around on the floor, lifting cushions and muttering, “where the hell is my other shoe?”

Jake rubbed a hand over his jaw, sighed, and padded backward into the kitchen where Y/N was.

She stood at the counter, hair pinned up, flipping pancakes with calm precision despite the racket outside. He leaned back against the opposite counter, arms crossed, quietly watching the way the sunlight slanted across her cheek.

“So… this is how life is gonna be from now on?” He murmured finally, voice low and gentle, as though he was afraid to say it too loudly and make it disappear. His edges had softened here, in Santorini. Jake hardly ever raised his voice anymore, as if he was afraid of shattering whatever fragile peace they’d built. “Everyone seems to like it here.”

Y/N hummed, eyes still on the pancakes. “Yeah.”

“And you three are going to keep working these jobs… waitress, chef, ice cream scooper? In this tiny house?”

Y/N twisted slightly to look at him, spatula still in hand, a small smile playing over her lips. “Do you have a problem with that?”

Jake lifted a brow, a teasing spark lighting his tired eyes. “We own your café now, you know?” His voice dropped to a soft, coaxing drawl. “We could do something about it.”

“Like what?” She asked, folding a pancake onto the plate.

“If you’re not planning on leaving… might as well make it nice. Jungwon could shift his work here instead, run the kitchen. We’ll find Niki something that doesn’t involve him wearing that… uniform,” his grin grew sly. “And I’m pretty sure Luna would run the place better than any of us.”

Y/N snorted, shaking her head. “You and Sunghoon don’t want to go home?”

Jake tilted his head, the smile fading into something softer, more earnest. He reached over and touched the small of her back, light as a sponge. “Home is where you are, sweetheart,” then he swiped his lips against her- a fleeting kiss, almost gentle, too fast that Y/N had to question if it even happened.

And so… the café turned into a small restaurant.

One week they were talking about it over breakfast, and the next, they were all standing inside the bright, white-walled café, rolling up their sleeves and arguing about paint colors and where the tables should go.

Niki, to everyone’s surprise, became the manager. He actually took it seriously- ordering supplies, handling deliveries, fussing about scheduling and yelling at vendors on the phone. Sure, he still complained every day about “customer service bullshit” but somehow, he was good at it.

Sunghoon took over the finances. He sat behind the counter sometimes, glasses perched on his nose, sorting through ledgers and bills while he muttered under his breath about “profit margins” and “unnecessary expenses.” If you listened close, you’d hear him cursing out the cost of imported olive oil.

Jungwon, of course, was the chef.

He seemed to belong in the kitchen- flour on his cheeks, hair tied back, sleeves rolled up as he barked orders at anyone who dared step into his domain. He worked with quiet focus, creating menus scribbled in his tiny, precise handwriting, and sometimes disappeared into long rants about proper pasta water salinity.

Sunoo stayed on, loyal as ever, still behind the espresso machine. He liked to brag that he’d “survived the transition from café to restaurant,” and he made it his personal mission to perfect fancy coffee art for customers, even if Niki shouted at him to “stop wasting milk on hearts and flowers.”

Jake… drifted between roles.

Some days he helped Jungwon in the kitchen, chopping vegetables with precise, practiced ease. Other days, he helped Niki with deliveries or stood behind the counter, charming customers into ordering more desserts. Mostly, though, he hovered close to Y/N, keeping one hand on her back as though still worried she’d vanish if he let go.

And Y/N- she was everywhere.

She still waited tables, but she also helped Jungwon in the kitchen when the rush hit, or stood beside Sunghoon at the counter counting coins, or teased Niki into calming down when he was ready to murder an annoying supplier. She moved through the restaurant like she owned the place- because, in a way, she did.

Luna became their little mascot.

She had her own tiny apron with the restaurant’s name stitched on the front. She’d help Sunoo carry pastries to the tables, or sit beside Sunghoon pretending to do math. Sometimes she’d stand at the front door, greeting customers in her best Greek, which made people smile and leave bigger tips.

And, somewhere beneath all that flour and laughter, certain things hadn’t changed. Jake and Sunghoon still handled the family business on the side- the kind of business that required coded phone calls and encrypted messages, the kind that left shadows in their eyes. The restaurant had quietly become a perfect front for laundering money- cash flowing in, receipts always tidy, everything looking innocently legitimate to the outside world.

It was a strange balance, flipping from secret meetings in dark corners to folding napkins in the restaurant’s dining room. But somehow, it all fit together- this messy, patched-up family, trying to build a new life while still carrying the ghosts of the old one.

It wasn’t glamorous.

It was noisy, unpolished, and exhausting- long shifts, sore feet, dough smudged across cheeks and clothes.

But it was theirs. And they loved it.

“Hey, you wanna go get a beer?” Sunghoon nudged Jungwon’s arm with his elbow.

They were standing just outside the restaurant, metal shutters half-rolled down, the scent of garlic and olive oil still clinging to the night air.

Everyone else had already started drifting away- Niki trudging ahead, Luna half-asleep on his shoulder, while Jake and Y/N lingered behind him, fingers laced, heads bent close as they whispered to each other.

Jungwon glanced sideways at Sunghoon, brushing flour dust off his apron. “Now?”

“Yeah, now,” Sunghoon grinned, jerking his thumb down the street. “There’s that place by the harbor, remember? The one with the rusty sign and the old guy who sings sad Greek songs?”

Jungwon huffed a soft laugh. “You just wanna complain about your spreadsheets in peace.”

“Shut up,” Sunghoon said, rolling his eyes. “Come on, I know you drink from time to time. One beer. Maybe two. You look like you could use it.”

Jungwon gave the street ahead one more look- their family disappearing into the warm Santorini night- and shrugged out of his apron. “Yeah, okay.”

Sunghoon slung an arm around his shoulders as they started walking. “So, are you gonna tell me if this Athera girl’s actually real, or are you making her up so we’ll stop asking?”

Jungwon shoved him lightly, but there was a small, shy smile creeping up his face. “She’s real.”

“Mhm. I’ll believe it when I see it.”

They kept walking, footsteps echoing over the cobblestones, laughter carrying softly into the salt-laced breeze. Behind them, the lights of the restaurant flickered out, leaving the street bathed in silver moonlight.

By the time they reached the bar near the harbor, the island had settled into that hushed lull between late-night tourists and fishermen prepping for dawn. The salty breeze swept through the open-air terrace, rattling the rusted sign above them.

Sunghoon and Jungwon claimed a creaky wooden table at the edge, looking out at the harbor lights trembling on the water. The old bartender shuffled over, plunking two beers in front of them without even asking their order.

Sunghoon let out a slow breath, watching the foam of the beer settle. “You ever think… this wasn’t supposed to be our life?”

Jungwon didn’t look up. “Every day.”

Sunghoon chuckled humorlessly. “It’s fucking insane. Two years ago we were sneaking into nightclubs and threatening men twice our age with fake confidence and loaded guns. And now I’m out here arguing with fish vendors about receipts.”

“And I’m making lasagna for people who can’t pronounce my name,” Jungwon added, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips. “We peaked early. Imagine if David and Helen never adopted us.”

Sunghoon laughed into his bottle, took a slow sip. “No, but really. Sometimes I look at Jake and Luna and Y/N in that stupid too-small kitchen, and I think- how the fuck did we get here? Like, did we just… blink and suddenly become this weird makeshift family in Santorini?”

Jungwon leaned back in his chair, letting the sea breeze hit his face. “I think… we were always headed somewhere like this. We just didn’t know what it would look like.”

Sunghoon turned to him, raising a brow. “And Jake and Y/N? You saw that coming too?”

“I didn’t. But Niki did,” Jungwon said.

“Seriously? You know, Jake and I bet that Y/N and Niki would end up together a while back,” Sunghoon was surprised. “Jake and Y/N spent most of their lives arguing.”

“I know,” Jungwon nodded. “Niki asked me about it a while ago- right before we fled, actually. When Y/N first found out about Heeseung? He asked me if, back in the day, she’d been jealous of Emily. It sounded stupid.”

“It still does,” Sunghoon said. “No way she was jealous.”

“I don’t think she was,” Jungwon agreed. “But maybe this was inevitable. Think about it- they’ve been this way since we were kids. They know everything about each other, even when they hate it. Y/N can leave, Jake can ruin her life- but they still find their way back to each other.”

Sunghoon was quiet for a beat, staring at the foam in his glass. “Jake used to talk about her. A lot. Never said her name, but you could tell. And when they fought, it wrecked him. He didn’t say it out loud but… you know.”

“Yeah,” Jungwon murmured. “It’s only a matter of time before the wings sprout, right?”

Another pause.

“I think Jake’s been in love with her since he was sixteen,” Sunghoon muttered.

Jungwon smirked. “Try fourteen.”

“No way.”

“I was there. Think about it- when you were in middle school, just starting? Y/N was crying because we wouldn’t all be in the same schools anymore. Jake brought her a necklace to comfort her. She still has the necklace, you know? Wears it sometimes. Pretends it doesn’t exist other times.”

“Shit,” Sunghoon muttered, taking another long sip. “You think it’s gonna work out? After everything?”

Jungwon’s smile faded into something softer. “I don’t know if it’ll be easy. But I think… they’re the kind of people who’d keep choosing each other.”

Sunghoon was quiet again, nodding slowly. “It’s weird. I don’t even know what we’re doing anymore. None of this was part of the plan.”

“There was a plan?”

Sunghoon huffed a laugh. “Fair,” then he tilted his bottle toward Jungwon. “You know what I never figured out, though?”

“What?”

“That damn tattoo on Niki’s finger. The dove? I know it means something.”

Jungwon blinked, then cracked a grin. “Of course it means something. You really wanna know?”

Sunghoon leaned forward, eyes wide. “Yeah, what the hell is it?”

Jungwon scratched his jaw, sighing. “You remember that girl he really liked back in high school?”

Sunghoon frowned, searching his memory, then his eyes widened. “Wait… Sophie?”

“Yeah,” Jungwon said, tipping his bottle in confirmation. “It’s for her.”

“What?” Sunghoon choked a little on his drink, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “That boy has never had wings. Either he’s a fool or she’s never loved him back.”

Jungwon let out a humorless chuckle. “It’s complicated. When he loved her, she didn’t. And when she loved him… he didn’t. It’s like they’ve been ships passing each other for years.”

Sunghoon whistled low, shaking his head. “Shit. I didn’t know that about our baby brother.”

“Yeah, well,” Jungwon rolled his eyes. “Pretend like you don’t know. He’d kill me for telling you.”

Sunghoon let out a long breath, resting his elbows on the table as he stared at the bottle in his hand, the label peeling beneath his fingers.

“We’ve all been through it, huh?” He muttered, voice softer now. “Different ways. Different scars. Same ache though.”

Jungwon didn’t respond right away- just clinked the neck of his bottle gently against Sunghoon’s. “But we’re still here.”

“Somehow,” Sunghoon said with a tired smile.

They sat in silence for a while, the kind that didn’t demand to be filled. Just the hum of conversation from other tables, the distant sound of waves, and the low music from the bar’s speakers.

Eventually, Sunghoon pushed his empty bottle away and stood up, stretching his arms overhead. “Come on. Let’s go home before Niki falls asleep in the fridge or Luna burns a hole in the couch.”

Jungwon laughed as he stood, tossing a few crumpled euros on the table. “God forbid Luna makes us read another bedtime story in Greek.”

“Hey, that kid’s Greek’s better than ours.”

“She’s smarter than all of us combined.”

“Don’t remind me.”

When Jungwon and Sunghoon got home, the house was domestic with the kind of movement that had become oddly comforting. They stepped through the doorway, dropping grocery bags onto the hall table, and found the living room an absolute disaster.

Niki and Jake were sitting cross-legged on the floor, shoulders hunched forward, their heads nearly touching as they stared with intense concentration at a laptop perched on the coffee table. The tinny voice of a YouTuber droned instructions in the background- “fold the top corner down to meet the center crease…”

Scraps of brightly colored paper were scattered everywhere- reds, blues, greens crumpled into discarded lumps, some barely folded, others mangled beyond recognition. A pair of child-safe scissors and a glue stick lay forgotten between them like abandoned weapons after a battlefield defeat.

Luna sat beside them, picking at the dry skin on her lips, looking utterly uninterested in the task that was supposedly hers. Her tiny feet were tucked under her legs as she stared blankly at the mess in front of her, leaving Jake and Niki to fight her academic battles. Y/N sat perched on the couch above the scene, legs curled under her, one hand pressed over her mouth as if to stop herself from bursting into laughter. Her eyes shone with amusement, flicking between the chaos on the floor and the helpless looks on the two men’s faces.

She didn’t look this way a year ago- she looked happy, content, at ease.

“You’re doing her homework for her again?” Jungwon sighed, dropping his keys into the dish on the table.

Luna had a habit. 

She’d come home from school all smiles and sunshine, get swept up in games, beach walks, and long dinners at the restaurant and then, as the night was winding down, she’d suddenly remember she had a major project due the next morning. Which meant the entire household would get roped into a frantic, last-minute scramble, all hands on deck to save Luna’s academic record.

It took a village to raise this girl.

“What is it this time?” Sunghoon asked, toeing off his shoes before padding into the living room.

Jungwon and Sunghoon stayed back, choosing the couch instead of the paper-strewn mess on the floor. Luna instantly abandoned her spot by the laptop and scampered over to Sunghoon, climbing into his lap with the casual entitlement only children could pull off. She curled against him like a cat, tucking her head under his chin as though she’d been waiting for him to come home all day.

“Origami,” Niki grumbled, shoving the laptop a few inches away as though the video itself had personally offended him. His hair stuck up in weird angles from the number of times he’d raked his fingers through it, and he had a faint smear of pink glitter on his cheek, probably from some earlier failed craft attempt.

“Origami?” Sunghoon repeated, raising his brows. “And the pair of you couldn’t manage to even make one?”

Jake shot him a dark look, holding up a mangled piece of neon orange paper that might once have aspired to be a crane but now looked like a chewed wad of gum. “We’re trying, okay? The guy talks too fast. And Niki keeps skipping steps.”

“I’m not skipping steps, you just can’t keep up,” Niki shot back, exasperated. “He’s folding things faster than human hands are meant to move. He’s like a fucking ninja.”

“Stop swearing,” Y/N hissed.

“Sorry.”

Sunghoon stifled a snort of laughter, pressing his lips together as Luna poked at his cheek. “Hoonie, can you make a bunny?” She mumbled, voice small and hopeful.

Sunghoon blanched. “Uh…” He looked helplessly at Jungwon and Y/N, silently pleading for a rescue.

“Say yes,” Y/N whispered under her breath, grinning. “Or she’ll cry.”

Sunghoon exhaled sharply, rolling his eyes. “Fine. Give me the paper.”

Niki handed over a pristine square of bright blue paper with a mock ceremony. “Good luck. Godspeed.”

Sunghoon gave the sheet one wary look, then carefully folded a corner. A second later, he tore it straight down the middle.

A hush fell over the room as all eyes landed on the ripped paper in Sunghoon’s hands.

“Oops,” he said flatly.

Luna let out a dramatic sigh, slumping against his chest. “I’m doomed.”

Jake and Niki both burst into laughter, their shoulders shaking as Jake dropped the failed crane back onto the pile. Y/N finally lost her battle to keep a straight face, dissolving into giggles beside Jungwon.

Jungwon leaned forward, arms resting on his knees. “Honestly,” he said, shaking his head with a rueful smile, “I fold dumplings for a living. You’d think that’d translate.”

“It doesn’t,” Niki declared, waving another sheet of pink paper. “Okay, everybody move over. We’re starting again.”

And despite the frustration, the mess, and the absurdity of it all, it felt like the purest kind of normal- a strange, patched-together family huddled around the table, trying to save Luna’s homework one fold at a time.

Somehow (it was a recurring thing, actually) everyone was running late.

The small bathroom was fogged up from showers, doors creaking open and slamming shut as people darted in and out for toothbrushes, hair gel, missing socks. Luna’s voice echoed down the hall, wailing that she couldn’t find her glitter hair clip. Niki was swearing because he’d spilled coffee on his new shirt. Jungwon was half-dressed, rummaging through a laundry basket for his chef’s jacket.

In the middle of it all, Y/N stood in the bedroom, one foot braced on the bed as she tied the laces of her sneakers, her cell phone wedged precariously between her shoulder and her ear.

“I know, mom,” she said, voice pitched high with both affection and exasperation. “I know the house is small. I know there’s no storage. I know- yes, I’m eating enough-”

From the other end came the rapid-fire cadence of her mother’s voice, words barely distinguishable through the tinny phone speaker. Somewhere in the background, David’s deep rumble cut in-  stern but softer than it used to be.

Jake hovered in the doorway, watching her. His hair was damp, a towel looped around his neck. He quirked an eyebrow as Y/N juggled her phone and yanked a hoodie over her head.

“I’m trying to get ready for work,” Y/N hissed into the phone, exasperation flaring as she accidentally dropped it, fumbling to catch it before it hit the floor. “No, dad, we’re not coming home yet. No, really, we’re okay. Yes, Luna’s fine-”

Jake sighed. Without saying a word, he strode across the room, gently pried the phone from her fingers, and mouthed I’ve got it.

Y/N blinked at him, caught between gratitude and panic. “Jake-”

But he was already heading for the door, pressing the phone to his ear. “Hey mom, hey dad, hey Martin, hey Nayna. Good Morning. Yeah, yeah, I know. I’m taking care of her. You want the weather report from Santorini again?”

He disappeared into the hallway, voice dropping into a calm, steady cadence that somehow made the phone call sound less like an interrogation and more like a conversation.

It had become a tradition over the past year- these weekly family calls. 

A lifeline, in a way.

Every week, someone dialed in- Helen, with her worried fussing about whether Luna was getting enough sleep; David, gruff but obviously listening for any hint that Jake might be faltering; Y/N’s parents, their love threaded through every question even when they accidentally made her feel small and guilty. Apologies had been offered on both sides, sometimes awkward, sometimes tearful. 

Mends were slowly being made.

David was still angry. He tried not to show it, but it sat in his voice, a rough edge that sometimes caught on words.

Back then, before Jake and Sunghoon had tracked them down, Luna used to ask about her grandparents almost every day. She’d talk about Helen’s hair that smelled like lavender, or Martin who let her sit on his shoulders. Sometimes she’d ask about Aunt Chelsea too, though that name always made Y/N’s throat close up a little.

Y/N sank down onto the bed, one sneaker still untied, letting herself breathe for a second in the hush left behind by Jake’s absence. From down the hall, she could hear his voice, low and earnest, navigating questions about money, about Luna’s school, about the restaurant.

A smile tugged at her lips despite everything. She tied her shoe, stood, and headed out to join the chaos- because late or not, the restaurant wasn’t going to run itself.

“Where’s your backpack, Luna?” Y/N called, making her way to the hall.

“I dunno,” Luna chirped from her perch on the coffee table, swinging her feet. “Uncle Niki put it… somewhere.”

Niki threw his arms up. “I had it. Then I lost it. Don’t look at me like that.”

Y/N rolled her eyes and started lifting couch cushions, hunting for the elusive pink backpack.

From the kitchen doorway, Jake appeared again, phone pressed between shoulder and ear, mouthing I’m almost done at Y/N.

“Dad, tell Grandma I’m a big girl now and I don’t need new shoes every week,” Luna shouted, pointing at the phone.

“Yeah, Dad, tell Grandma she can buy me new shoes instead,” Niki chimed in, earning a glare from Y/N.

Jake held up a hand for silence, listening to David rant on the other end. “Yes, Dad. No, Dad. We’re not starving. No, we don’t need to move back-” he pinched the bridge of his nose. “Okay. Love you, too.”

He finally hung up, exhaling like he’d been holding his breath for a year.

“Your dad wants to know why you’re still waitressing in a restaurant we own,” Jake muttered at Y/N.

“Because someone’s gotta keep Sunoo company,” Y/N shot back, pulling Luna’s backpack triumphantly from under a pile of jackets. “Found it!”

Luna squealed and darted forward, grabbing the bag.

“Oh my god, we’re gonna be late,” Y/N groaned. She pushed Luna toward Niki. “Go, go, go. School. And no, you cannot skip just because Niki says you’re his assistant.”

“Traitor,” Niki hissed at Luna as he scooped her up and slung the backpack over his shoulder. “Where are your shoes, now?”

Jake stepped up behind Y/N as the others started shuffling out the door, leaning in close to murmur, “you sure you want this circus every day for the rest of your life?”

“Absolutely,” Y/N tilted her head back to grin at him, eyes shining despite the bags under them. Jake chuckled, wrapped his hand around her waist like he always did and pressed his lips to her- lost in a serenity, lost in each other.

Then there was a knock on the door.

It came like a jolt- three sharp raps at the front door that didn’t belong to anyone they knew. Not Mr. Dimitris who always brought baked goods, not the landlord who knocked like he was breaking in, not a postman or local vendor. Just... a knock. 

Everyone froze.

Jake’s lips hovered an inch from Y/N’s hair, his brow tightening. Y/N pulled back slightly, her smile fading, eyes darting toward the door. Niki halted mid-motion, Luna still perched on his hip, and Jungwon and Sunghoon exchanged a look that screamed trouble.

This knock was crisp. Like it belonged to someone who knew exactly who was inside- and why they were knocking.

Niki lowered Luna gently to the floor, his entire posture shifting. His shoulders tensed, and something flickered across his eyes- a wary recognition. He moved toward the door as if drawn by invisible threads, each step hesitant. His fingers hovered over the knob, pausing a fraction too long.

Then, finally, he pulled the door open.

Sunlight poured into the little house in a blazing white flood. And there, standing against the glare like a ghost from another lifetime, was her.

She looked… older. A few faint lines had settled near her eyes, and her blonde hair was pulled back into a messy knot, wisps escaping around her cheeks. She wore a simple soft-blue shirt tucked into jeans, a canvas tote bag slung over one shoulder. But it was her eyes- brown, bright, soft- that made Niki go utterly still.

She blinked at him, swallowing hard. “Hi, Niki.”

He didn’t answer right away. He just stared, mouth slightly open, as if trying to reconcile the years and miles between then and now.

Finally, the word slipped out of him. Barely a whisper. 

“Sophie?”

The whole room seemed to hold its breath.

Jungwon stepped forward from where he’d been wrestling with Luna’s shoelaces, eyes squinting in confusion as he tried to place her face- it was her, definitely her. Sunghoon, shirtless and only halfway into a button-down, stopped dead in the hallway, a suspicious frown tightening his brow.

No one else really recognized her- but the look on Niki’s face said everything.

Y/N stepped closer, her voice gentle, cautious. “Aren’t you Sophie from school…?”

Niki blinked as if coming out of a trance. His arms dropped to his sides, fists curling and uncurling as though he didn’t know what to do with them. His chest heaved once before he forced words out.

“Yeah. That’s Sophie.”

Sophie shifted from foot to foot on the threshold, clutching the strap of her bag. Her eyes roamed the cluttered living room- the open cereal boxes, the faint scent of coffee, Luna’s little sneakers scattered near the doorway. She smiled faintly, bittersweet.

“I didn’t mean to just… show up like this,” she said softly. “I wasn’t even sure if I should. But… I had to see you.”

Jake, watching the exchange from a few feet back, spoke up, voice low but firm. “Niki, you never told us about her.”

“She’s not…” Niki’s voice cracked slightly, and he swallowed hard. “She doesn’t know anything. She wasn’t part of… any of that.”

“Then what is she doing here?” Sunghoon asked, his voice neither harsh nor kind- just careful, like he was measuring the weight of a threat.

“I don’t know,” Niki said, shaking his head minutely, eyes still locked on Sophie as if he were afraid she’d vanish if he blinked.

Sophie looked at him for a long moment, then turned her eyes briefly toward the others. “I’m here to help. Something’s… happened. And I thought… I should warn you.”

Silence thickened, pressing in around them like a held breath.

Jake exchanged a long look with Y/N, then gently ended the call still buzzing in his pocket- probably his parents again. Y/N reached out, squeezing Niki’s arm as she passed, a quiet gesture of solidarity. She started ushering Luna back toward her room, murmuring, “go find your other shoe, honey.”

Jungwon hovered close behind them, glancing back every few steps, still sizing Sophie up like a puzzle he couldn’t solve. Sunghoon remained planted near the hall entrance, arms folded tight over his chest.

Niki hadn’t moved.

He just stood there, breath ragged, staring at Sophie like she’d walked straight out of one of the darkest corners of his memory- and yet somehow still looked at him like he might be worth saving.

And that… terrified him more than anything.

“Come with us,” Jake said to Sophie. Not coldly, not warmly- just a measured calm, like he was holding a deck of cards he wasn’t ready to reveal yet.

Sophie nodded, her hands clutching the strap of her tote like it was the only thing anchoring her in place. She followed them out of the house and down the narrow cobbled street, past bright white walls and hanging vines of bougainvillea, past sleepy shopfronts and fishermen hauling in early morning nets. 

No one spoke.

At the restaurant, Sunghoon flipped the “closed” sign over on the glass door, locking it behind them. The little place was still warming up- chairs still stacked on tables, the soft smell of flour and oil lingering from the night before. A shaft of sunlight cut through the front window, casting long bars of light across the tiled floor. It was familiar. 

Safe. 

A contrast to the tension knotting in Niki’s chest.

“I’m gonna drop Luna at school,” he muttered, the words aimed more at Jake than anyone else. He didn’t wait for a response before he slipped out the door again, still slightly pale, still reeling.

Sophie stood quietly near the corner table. She didn’t sit until Y/N gestured toward the bench. Even then, she perched gingerly, like she wasn’t sure she was allowed to be here.

Jake hovered near the espresso machine, arms folded across his chest, staring hard at the closed door Niki had disappeared through. His jaw worked as though he was chewing on a dozen unsaid words.

Sunghoon sidled up beside him, dragging out a stool and leaning his elbows on the counter. He kept his voice low, so it wouldn’t carry over to where Sophie sat fidgeting.

“Okay. So… are we thinking this is just some long-lost-lovers’ reunion? Or…” he tilted his head slightly, as if Jake could finish his sentence for him.

Jake let out a sharp breath, raking a hand through his hair. “I don’t fucking know, Hoon.”

“Well, she’s either here to patch things up with Niki…” Sunghoon flicked his eyes subtly toward Sophie, who was now tracing a water stain on the table with her fingertip, lost in thought, “…or she’s here because something’s about to blow up in our faces.”

Jake didn’t answer. His eyes stayed locked on Sophie, as though searching for some sign of danger.

Sunghoon tapped the counter lightly. “You know, for a second, I thought maybe she just wanted closure or some dumb shit like that. Like, you know- hey, Niki, you broke my teenage heart, now let’s hug it out over baklava.”

Jake huffed a mirthless laugh. “Yeah. Well. That’d be too fucking easy for us, wouldn’t it?”

Sunghoon sobered, leaning closer. “You think it’s connected to Emily?”

Jake’s mouth twisted. “Feels like everything is, doesn't it?”

Sunghoon fell silent for a second. 

“You wanna tell Y/N to take Luna and run?”

Jake’s gaze snapped to him, sharp and immediate. “Don’t even fucking say that.”

“I’m just saying,” Sunghoon said gently, hands spread in a placating gesture. “If this goes sideways-”

“It’s not going sideways,” Jake cut him off, though there was something desperate in the way he said it. “We’re not running again. We just… found each other again. We just started putting shit back together.”

Sunghoon sighed, glancing toward the table where Sophie sat, shoulders hunched, eyes darting around the quiet restaurant. “Yeah, well. Something tells me she didn’t come all the way here just to ask how we’ve been.”

“Obviously.”

Before Sunghoon could reply, the door swung open, the bell jingling overhead as Niki slipped back in. He looked slightly less pale than before, but only a little.

“Luna’s at school,” he said tightly. His eyes flicked to Sophie. “Now… talk.”

Everyone gathered around her table as they took their seats, chairs scraping obnoxiously on the floor.

Sophie nodded slowly and looked up at all of them- at Niki, then Jake, then Y/N- like she needed to make sure they were really listening.

“A few months ago,” she began, her voice soft but clear, “two people approached me. Erwin and Louis.”

Jake’s posture went stiff. Y/N’s breath caught in her throat.

Sophie nodded. “I didn’t know them. But they knew me. They knew I used to be close with Niki. They said they were… trying to locate some people. You, to be specific.”

Niki’s jaw clenched.

“I didn’t tell them anything,” Sophie said quickly. “I swear. I didn’t even know where you’d gone. But they asked questions. Too many. About the old days. About people you knew. About who you might’ve trusted if you were on the run.”

Sunghoon swore under his breath.

Sophie nodded again. “They said… they wanted revenge. They weren’t subtle. They know you killed her. And they’re not letting it go.”

“I thought they wouldn’t come after us,” Jungwon said quietly. “Emily was the threat. She’s gone.”

“We killed one of their own,” Jake grunted. “Obviously they’re gonna come after us.”

Y/N was quiet, gripping the edge of the table so hard her knuckles turned white. “And you came all the way here to tell us this?”

Sophie looked down at her hands, then up again. “I didn’t know where else to go. But I knew you had a right to know they’re still looking. Still angry. Still... hunting.”

Niki’s voice cracked for the first time. “Why now?”

Sophie met his gaze, pain flickering in her eyes. “Because a week ago… I saw them again. They weren’t asking questions this time. They were making threats. Real ones. And if I didn’t come find you- if I didn’t at least warn you- I wouldn’t be able to live with it. I think your parents should be safe, they don’t want to waste their time with them but…”

Jake rubbed a hand down his face, the weight of the last year suddenly pressing heavier than ever. “So it’s not over.”

“No,” Sophie said quietly. “I guess not.”

The restaurant was dead silent. Outside, the Santorini breeze brushed against the windowpane. But inside, it felt like something sacred had just cracked- like their quiet life had been punctured by a past they could never fully run from.

Y/N finally spoke, voice low and hoarse. “What do they want?”

Sophie exhaled shakily. “They want you all dead. Especially whoever shot her.”

Jake’s hand reached instinctively for Y/N’s wrist under the table, fingers curling gently. She didn’t flinch. She just sat still, eyes staring at a crack in the tile, breathing shallow and tight.

“We’ll figure it out,” Jake said quietly, but there was a steel in his voice.

WHEN WE WERE KIDS

It was the end of summer, the last day before school would start up again, and the whole neighborhood had gathered for the annual street barbecue. The smell of grilled meat and sweet corn hung heavy in the warm air, mingling with the tang of soda and the sugary smoke of sparklers burning down to the wire.

Kids were everywhere- running races barefoot in the grass, tossing frisbees over the roofs of parked cars, shrieking when someone turned a hose on them. Parents sat clustered around fold-out tables, sipping beer or iced tea, chatting about work and shipments and whose kid was about to start at which new school.

In the middle of all the noise, Y/N sat alone on the curb, hugging her knees to her chest.

She was twelve, small for her age, wearing a pink sundress patterned with little white daisies. Her hair was tied back with a ribbon that kept slipping loose, and her eyes were red-rimmed from crying.

Jungwon and Niki hovered awkwardly a few feet away, glancing at each other as if silently arguing about who should go try and comfort her. But neither moved closer, cowed by the sheer force of Y/N’s misery.

She wasn’t even sobbing anymore. She was just silent, tears running down her cheeks as she stared at the ground, as though the cracks in the pavement were the most fascinating thing in the world.

Jake spotted her first from across the lawn, his arms still damp from the water fight he’d been waging with Jay and Sunghoon. He was fourteen, wearing board shorts and a faded T-shirt, hair flopping into his eyes. He’d just finished high-school orientation a few days ago, and there’d been something weirdly grown-up about it all- the new building, the lockers, the classes with names like “pre-algebra.”

He’d been excited. It was a bigger world waiting for him. But right now, none of that mattered.

He handed his water gun off to Jay, ignoring Sunghoon’s teasing “lover-boy” snicker, and made his way over to where Y/N was sitting.

“Hey,” he said softly, standing in front of her, shadow falling across her knees.

Y/N didn’t look up. She sniffed and rubbed at her eyes with the heel of her palm.

Jake crouched down until he was eye-level with her. He could see the tiny freckles scattered across her nose, the way her lashes clumped together from crying. “Hey,” he repeated gently. “Why’re you crying?”

She kept her face turned away. “Doesn’t matter.”

“Yeah it does,” Jake insisted. “Tell me.”

Y/N sniffed again, voice wobbling. “Because you’re all leaving. You, Sunghoon, Jay… You’re going to high school. And I’m stuck here with Jungwon and Niki. It’s not fair.”

Jake blinked. For a second, he didn’t know what to say. He’d known she was upset about the school change, but he hadn’t realized how deeply it had sunk its claws into her.

He swallowed. “Hey. Look at me.”

Reluctantly, Y/N lifted her head. Her eyes were huge and wet, shining under the streetlights strung up between the trees. Jake felt something twist painfully in his chest.

“Just because we’re in different schools,” he said, as firmly as he could, “doesn’t mean we’re leaving you.”

“You’ll all forget about me,” Y/N mumbled. “You’ll make new friends. And then you’ll stop coming around.”

Jake let out a frustrated huff, scrubbing a hand through his wet hair. “Y/N. We’re not gonna forget you. You’re part of us.”

She didn’t look convinced.

Jake hesitated, then reached into the pocket of his swim trunks and pulled out something small, curled tight in his fist. He’d won it earlier that day from one of those claw machines at the gas station- a tiny silver heart-shaped pendant strung on a thin chain. It wasn’t expensive. It wasn’t even real silver. But it had felt important to him somehow, even when he’d been fishing it out of the machine, ignoring Jay yelling that he’d just wasted all his change.

He opened his hand and held it out to her.

“Here.”

Y/N blinked at it. “What’s that for?”

“So you don’t forget,” Jake said. He took her hand and dropped the necklace into her palm. “And so you remember that I’m not going anywhere. None of us are.”

Y/N stared at the necklace as if it was the most precious thing in the world. Her fingers closed around it, holding it so tightly her knuckles went white.

Jake ducked his head, suddenly shy. “You can wear it… if you want.”

Y/N threw her arms around him so fast he nearly fell over. She squeezed him so hard his ribs protested, her face buried against his neck.

“I’m still mad at you for leaving me behind,” she mumbled into his shoulder.

Jake let out a breathy laugh, hugging her back. “That’s okay. You can be mad. I’m still not going anywhere.”

Sunghoon and Jay finally wandered over, Jay rolling his eyes. “God, you two are dramatic.”

“Shut up,” Jake snapped over Y/N’s shoulder.

Niki and Jungwon approached cautiously, seeing that Y/N was no longer crying. Jungwon sat down beside her on the curb, draping an arm around her shoulders. “They’ll save us a spot at their table when we come to high school, isn’t that right, Hyung?”

Y/N lifted her chin, wiping her eyes. “Promise?”

“Promise,” Jake said.

“Yeah,” Jay sighed. “And besides, Jake’s too annoying to ever stop showing up at our house.”

Jake elbowed him in the side.

And for the first time that night, Y/N smiled. A wobbly, fragile smile- but a smile all the same. She unclasped the tiny necklace and fumbled to put it around her neck. It glittered under the string lights like something magical.

Jake grinned when he saw it on her. “Looks good on you.”

Even though Y/N still sniffled now and then, she stayed close to Jake the rest of the night. The fireworks went off overhead, splashes of red and gold and green, and her fingers kept straying to the tiny silver heart resting against her collarbone.

And at that age- just kids still, young and naïve- they didn’t realise how deep their families were tied. How their bloodlines twisted through history, tangled in secrets and debts and scars. How no matter how far they’d run from each other, no matter how many oceans or years tried to pull them apart, they’d always come back together.

[miraculouslbcnreactions]

For a show whose main focus is the romance, to the detriment of so may other plotlines and character beats, the main couple is astonishingly weak. Even if you remove the lies and all the toxic and unhealthy behaviour, it's still too weak to really carry the show because it's missing some fundamental aspects of romance writing.

A lot of it comes from the show's refusal to engage with Adrien as a character in his own right rather than simply Marinette's trophy. A trophy boyfriend can work for the last five minutes of a film where they kiss and it's implied they go on to have a relationship. It's not enough when you have to actually portray the relationship in a meaningful way, and especially when it's the main relationship the show focuses on.

The most obvious way it manifests is that I honestly have no idea why Adrientte is even together. Not in the sense of "the relationship is unhealthy and they should break up" (although that's certainly true), but in the sense of "what does Adrien see in Marinette?". What trait about her specifically he finds appealing? What caused him to see her in a romantic lie when he was perfectly fine with them being platonic friends (I know the show said the statue scene but, how? What about it changed his mind? Why did it take more than a season to affect his perception of Marinette? Give me details show)? Why is the relationship so important to him?

Right now it reads as if he wants to be in a relationship with Marinette because he needs a relationship to define himself by and his relationship with his father no longer fulfilled that role, and that the reason he stays with her is because he has abandonment issues, is freshly an orphan grieving his father (and his mother considering she died a bit more than a year ago, but the show forgot that) and doesn't really have a meaningful relationship with a peer other than Marinette, so he clings on to her because she's the only thing he has and he can't cope with losing more people.

Which is a really fun premise for an angsty character exploration fanfic (or even a deconstructive story intended for a more mature audience), but is hardly what you want for a children's rom-com main couple.

Another aspect that's missing is the question of "what do they bring into each other's life that was missing before?". That answer to that is really important for selling the couple to the auidence and saying why they should be together other than idk destiny says so or whatever.

I'm not even sure they have a good answer for that on Marinette's side, let alone on Adrien's. I mean, why Marinette wants to be with Adrien is obvious considering her massive crush, his unconditional support of her (even when he really should be holding her accountable for stuff) and that he's a free therapist she can have meetings with whenever. However, if they broke up and she went on to date someone else like Luka, would this be meaningfully different? Why is Adrien specifically the person she should be with? How does his unique personality changes her life for the better?

Adrien's side is slightly better considering there are moments like Marinette trying to help Adrien find his passion, but they're one off moments rather than her consistently encouraging in him character traits he needs to develop. And of course that's only if you don't consider the Big Lie, or all the other ways in which Marinette is a bad girlfriend and encourages bad traits in Adrien (like how Adrien apologized for Marinette skipping out on him and she didn't say anything about him not needing to apologize). As things stand right now in canon, Adrien is actively worse off for having Marinette in his life. That's really not something you want for your main couple unless you're writing dark romance and sometimes not even then.

For as much as they dragged out the love square and dangled it like a prize, they sure aren't putting the effort to make the relationship feel worth it.

I agree on all accounts. The longer the show has gone on, the weaker the love square feels. The writers are so focused on dragging the show out for as long as they can that they've become allergic to giving the relationship the depth it needs since deep relationships require the characters to do things like trust each other and communicate openly. That would break the "Adrien and Marinette must have a secret" rule so instead we get a couple that we're expected to ship because canon says to ship them and not because they're particularly shipable. I'm happy to blindly ship at the start of a story, but I won't play along forever. You do have to eventually sell me on the couple. If you don't do that, I will eventually lose interest.

I've mentioned the podcast/youtube channel Unresolved Textual Tension on here before and one of the hosts made a great point about a common problem with romance writing that I'm going to paraphrase here:

So many writers come to a story already shipping the couple that they forget that they need to make the audience ship the couple, too.

I thought that was a great summary of the issue which is certainly not unique to Miraculous. It's not even unique to shipping! I can think of a lot of stories where the author clearly loves the characters and their relationships, but they never sell those characters and relationships to the audience, so the story falls apart for anyone who wants a story that welcomes you in and makes you fall in love with it.

That ability to bring the audience into your world is a really underrated skill that takes a lot of effort! When I'm writing a story, I'm constantly reminding myself of what the audience knows vs what the characters know and trying to balance those things so that I can really sell the story to the audience. It's part of why I love writing "slow burn" stories. I want the audience to fall in love with my couple and what better way to do that then to let them fall in love, too?

Of course, not everyone is wired that way. There are plenty of people out there who are happy to ship whoever the author tells them to ship no matter how toxic the couple is. There's nothing wrong with enjoying that in fiction, but it's not what I enjoy which is why I'm very done with Miraculous.

[bebx]

Hi there!

I really enjoy your fanfics, and I wanted to share a few thoughts with you about GinHo and *Squid Game*. I wouldn’t say I’m a hardcore fan of the series—I watched the first season when everyone else did and I liked it, but that was it. A few days ago, Iwatched the last two seasons, and that’s when everything kind of hit me differently.

As a psychologist, I found the dynamic between Gi-hun and In-ho absolutely fascinating. At the same time, I couldn’t help but feel deeply unsatisfied with how their storyline ended. That’s how I ended up diving into fix-it fanfiction—and yours, honestly, are more than amazing.

What really stuck with me in Season 2 was In-ho’s emotional state and what must’ve been going through his head when he was listening in on Gi-hun and Jung Bae’s conversation during that final night watch. He came across as jealous—not just of their bond, but also of Gi-hun’s ability to connect, to care, to *live*. And there was this almost wistful daydream quality to In-ho in that moment, like he could picture himself and Gi-hun going out for a drink together... which made his line, *“Buy me a soju when we get out”*, feel so natural and emotionally loaded.

I kept thinking about Gi-hun’s night after his encounter with In-ho/Young-il. It must’ve been a whirlwind. How do you reconcile the bright, warm, emotionally available person you just spent three intense days with... with the cold, masked, brutal persona of the Front Man? Once the shock wore off, I imagine Gi-hun was overwhelmed by flashbacks—confused, haunted, maybe even betrayed???

Are there any fanfics that explore this emotional fallout? Or would you consider writing one? I’d love to read your take on these moments.

Now, if I were to imagine a more emotionally satisfying ending… I get that the sacrifice and the current ending are powerful in a literary and symbolic sense—it's raw, it hits hard, it leaves a mark. But psychologically, I just can’t see In-ho letting it go that far. I believe that he truly has a deja vu and he sees himself again in the position to save a person he cares for and a child. I believe the words he says to Gin Hun - I will make sure you and the baby will live, u have mai word, are the same he had said to his wife.

The moment he saw that Gi-hun wasn’t doing what was expected of him, I think he would’ve flipped the green button on his own—or at least ordered a shutdown or evacuation faster, especially once his brother showed up.

In my mind, the three of them (plus the baby) leave the island—maybe not willingly for In-ho, because he doesn’t see life beyond the island as something he deserves—but Gi-hun reminds him that he still owes him that soju.

Maybe Gi-hun goes to America, finally gets closure with his family, and then comes back to Seoul—to get closure with In-ho too.

---

As for their relationship… to me, Gi-hun and In-ho are caught in a tragic emotional loop. In-ho is obsessed with Gi-hun—not in a romanticized, sweet way, but in a complicated web of fixation, infatuation, and control. There’s a deep-rooted ambivalence in the way In-ho treats him: part of him genuinely wants to protect Gi-hun but another part wants to *break* him, to test him, to pull him so close to the edge that he either falls—or proves he can survive.

It’s like he needs to see Gi-hun suffer in order to justify his own suffering, to validate his own descent into moral decay. And still, through all that darkness, there’s a longing—for connection, for redemption, for being seen.

Post-Games, I don’t immediately see them jumping into a romantic relationship. I think they’d start as uneasy friends, two broken men orbiting around each other, not knowing if they’re going to collide or collapse. Over time, maybe, something more grows—awkward, hesitant, and messy.

And yes, in some ways it might even look like a toxic dynamic: In-ho as the abuser, Gi-hun as the one absorbing the damage. But there’s also something undeniably magnetic about them—something that says *soulmates*, not in a fluffy way, but in the sense that they are each other’s mirror and wound and medicine.

Neither of them can fully heal without the other. They are trauma-bound, but also bound by something deeper—recognition. They see each other, *truly*, and even if that connection is painful, it’s real.

Let me know what you think. I'd love to hear your interpretation too—this ship definitely has more layers than it gets credit for.

Thank you so much!!!! Hearing you enjoy my fics means so much to me ❤️

As for the unmasking scene, I’m sure there are fics that explore the emotional toll Gi-hun goes through after learning who “Young-il” actually is. I’m also open to writing one myself. So we’ll see.

And I love and agree with everything you said here. Just perfect. Nothing more to add because I couldn’t have said it better myself.

[king-sil44]

[I am hopefully gonna start working on my Home Owner OC sprites soon and when I finish them I will make one of these ship post things with her relationship dynamics. So I won’t make another one of these until then. This will be the last for a little while. But I’m glad people seem to be loving them and sharing ships with me!!]

So here y’all go!

Date Everything Ships I like that I either saw other people shipping or came up with myself Part 8

(Disclaimer: These posts may contain spoilers for the game! And if you see any spelling mistakes? Shut up, no you didn’t!)

And once again if you have any more ships, be it romantic or platonic, to share please do so in the comments! I love hearing about the pairs other people have come up with!

And ofc our beloved platonic bonds!

[I’m especially proud of the G&G group I built for Chance. I like them very much!]

[wisteria-lodge]

Hi! I have some questions if you have time or energy answering!: 1) what do you think is the significance of "half-blood" to snape 2) based on what is presented to us, in the text, what was the war and wizarding society like for half-bloods? 3) this isn't really an analysis, but did snape need to join the death eaters as a half-blood? was that an act of self-protection? Harry, Voldemort, Dumbledore, and Snape are all half-bloods. We are told most of the wizarding world is composed of half-bloods- and logically, that makes sense. The death eater's motives are to purify the wizarding race by killing muggles, muggle-borns, and blood traitors. Harry, our main protagonist who is a half-blood, does not experience anything negative because he's a half-blood. The most he gets is Bellatrix calling him a "filthy half-blood", but 1) it's Bellatrix? 2) half-blood do not have a slur, even purebloods get called "blood traitor". Werewolves are called "half-breed". Maybe I'm forgetting some details but this exchange between Harry and Bellatrix is the only time a half-blood gets a negative treatment because they're a half-blood.

I just think this is an interesting writing choice.

I agree - half-blood generally seems to be a very neutral "safe" designation: Hermione's cover with the Snatchers is half-blood Penelope Clearwater, and it's a total non-issue. Only intensely extremist people like Bellatrix seem to come at people for being half-blood, because yeah - it does seem to be very, very common to have at least one muggle grandparent. According to Ron, Arthur thinks that wizards will die out if they don't marry muggles, so. Makes sense.

And even Voldemort... like Tom Riddle couldn't have realistically pretended to be a capital P Pureblood, their community is too small (in the words of Baby Draco - "what's your surname, anyway") and besides - there would be too many tells that he grew up in the muggle world, especially at school. Considering that he doesn't hide that he's a parselmouth... and that's the Gaunts' whole thing... I think it must have just been an open secret with the first generation of Death Eaters that this Riddle kid is a Gaunt bastard. Which of course, he is.

We don't see any successful muggle/wizard romantic relationships, and because of this I think half-bloods might *seem* rarer than they really are. Someone has a single wizard parent, and you're probably not going to ask too many questions about what happened to the other one. I bet there'd be a lot of polite fictions along the lines of "yes, my father was a German wizard killed by Grindlewald" (when in reality he was a muggle.)

The main thing we see is an expectation of wizard culture assimilation. You need be *culturally* wizard (ie culturally pureblood) and not culturally muggle. That's what "blood traitor" means - you are 'rejecting' traditional wizard culture, which could apply equally well to a half-blood or a pureblood. Like - the Weasleys naming their kids all these 'plain' muggle-coded things, instead of pulling from mythology or astronomy the way most purebloods do.

Tonks is an unusually muggle-orientated half-blood. She wears jeans and has a muggle hairstyle, probably knows what Doctor Who is. This is probably part of why Bellatrix despises her as much as she does. But, Bellatrix can also have grudging respect for Severus (and Severus can absolutely be bros with Lucius and Narcissa.) After all, he has committed to being very culturally pureblood, you'd never know just looking at him that he grew up muggle. So he's all right. I wonder if this might be a reason for the slightly incredible ignorance of muggle culture we see at like, the World Cup. Might it not be socially advantageous in some circles to pretend you don't know that only muggle women wear dresses?

Still, 'Half-Blood Prince' is a very cheeky nickname, because of the inherent contradiction. I don't know who Severus used this nickname with (like was this just a private joke, or does Lucius or whoever know about it?) Either way, to me it communicates that school-age Severus feels he has risen above his origins. He was born half-blood (lesser) but has made himself a Prince. I think there's a version of this person who takes his mother's name as an adult, and goes by Severus Prince. I also have to think this would be the more typical half-blood choice, just use your wizard parent's name. But, adult Snape is also a borderline recluse who socializes entirely with people who knew him at school as "Snape." So I suppose that would have been a hard sell.

And.... I know I've said that it doesn't seem to make much of a difference if you're a half-blood in this universe... but being a pureblood absolutely does get you additional privilege, stability, and freedom. Like, Theodore Nott is able to stay out of the whole Death Eater thing, and I think that decision would have been harder if he wasn't a Sacred 28 Pureblood. Like if he had a muggle mother, that would have made him more of a target... or at least more noticeable.

So... I think Severus definitely could have stayed away from the Death Eaters, even as a half-blood. But, it would have been a little more tricky to negotiate, especially for a very socially awkward teenager. He could have safely flown under the radar... but he definitely does get social stability and power from committing to this whole pure-blood coded thing, and aligning himself with Lucius Malfoy. There's a bit of a "marrying up" vibe. And for a kid who grew up as dirt-poor as Severus, that would have been really hard to pass up.

[yesimtrashforit]

Mike's story directly parallels Nancy's and he has made/will make better choices where she didn't.

What an interesting parallel in this new teaser. Okay, I've been cooking up a post about this for a while now and this just confirms it for me. So here we go.

Season 2

Season 5

-----------------

#1. Having a best friend who is an outcast/lower on the social ladder

It's clearly established that the Wheelers are fairly well off. Living in a two story house in a perfect neighborhood, the perfect nuclear family. Nancy is perceived as a goody-two-shoes. The pretty, smart girl dating the popular boy and hanging out with his friends. (Steve's family is also mentioned to be wealthy.) Despite this, Nancy's best friend is Barb. Barb is picked on, seen as a nerd, someone of lower social standing than her.

Mike has a bit different of a reputation. Yes, Mike, at the beginning of the show, is bullied, despite his family's class. I believe it's because Mike chooses to hang out with three boys who are already picked on for their differences. Dustin is bullied for his physical differences, Lucas because he is Black, and Will because he is perceived as sensitive/effeminate. Yes, Mike is called Frogface, but I really think it's just the bullies trying to make something out of nothing. Not saying Mike's friends deserve their bullying, just that with Mike, he is the kind of kid who doesn't have an obvious significant trait that sets him apart from a "normal" kid. If Mike wasn't friends with them, it's likely that he would be where Nancy was, but he had already made the firm choice to hang out with people who he genuinely enjoyed being around, despite their differences.

#2. Best friend becomes distant with them as they pursue a love interest

When Nancy goes to Steve's house for the party, Barb points out how different Nancy's behavior is compared to the girl she knows. Barb is clearly frustrated as Nany prioritizes her relationship with Steve over their friendship.

For Mike, we jump ahead a bit. Obviously there's some major differences here, but in season 3, Mike is doing essentially the same thing. All of the party, but especially Will, is hurt by the fact that Mike prioritizes his relationship with El over them. This frustrates Will and he points it out to Mike in S3E3.

Both Nancy and Mike are given the explicit choice between their relationship and their best friend.

Nancy's is this moment with Barb in S1E2 after she fell in the pool:

Nancy's choices were A) go upstairs with Steve and leave Barb behind or B) agree to go with Barb and, unknowingly, keep her safe.

Nancy chose the former. And thus, Barb is left alone by the pool and thus, taken and killed by the demogorgan while Nancy and Steve have sex in his room.

For Mike, it's here:

Then Will leaves in the rain.

Mike's choices were A) ignore Will, go back inside and call El to apologize/try to make up or B) Bike to Will's house and apologize

Mike chose the latter. He chose his best friend in that moment.

Now, you may be thinking, "Will wasn't in any danger, though." Well, think about it.

Just before Mike gets to Will at Castle Byers, Will feels the presence of the Mind Flayer.

Who knows what might've happened if Mike hadn't shown up?

In Nancy's case, Steve would've been completely fine if she had left. Ego bruise maybe, but totally fine.

In Mike's case, El was totally happy, hanging out with Max.

Now we get into what may happen in season 5:

#3. Choosing to diverge from societal expectations

Nancy is with Steve in season 1. Both are attractive, popular, and come from wealthy families and she is expected to be with him. Now, of course, Barb wasn't explicitly stated to be a love interest. In this case, Jonathan is the unconventional romantic interest. He comes from a poor family, with a deadbeat abusive dad. He's seen as a creep and is picked on by Steve and his friends. Jonathan is the person that Nancy is explicitly scolded and made fun of for hanging out with, particularly once again by Steve and his friends.

With Mike, it's a little different. In this case, Will plays the role of both outcast best friend and unconventional romantic interest. Even though El is obviously an outcast herself, she is the conventional love interest in this situation because she is a girl. The general public cannot easily see that El has powers and readily judge Mike for being with her. Will is a boy and so, it is not acceptable for Mike to shown interest in him. Although not explicitly shown, Mike is also given reasons why he should specifically be with El and not Will. The slurs that Will is called and the fact that he is already treated poorly for just being friends with him.

In the end, Nancy chooses Jonathan and rejects the societal expectation that she date someone of her own status. But it isn't just that. She definitively states her rejection of the idea that she date someone wealthy who she will marry and be a housewife to. Nancy has already seen this play out with her own parents.

She is rejecting the societal expectation for women to marry rich men that they don't love.

This isn't the only moment, though! In season 4, when Steve tells Nancy about his dream to have six kids and a white picket fence, all the works, Nancy is against it. "Sounds like a nightmare." It's exactly the kind of unhappy life her parents led.

For Mike, this is to be continued. Following this parallel, Mike would break up with El, and state in one way or another that he is rejecting the societal norm for him to be romantically interested in a girl.

It's not that Steve and El are bad people to date.

It's because both Nancy and Mike have better connections and healthier relationships with the people they are told they should not want.

------

Thanks for reading! Let me know your thoughts! I do have a couple more parallels that I want to talk about but that'll continue in another post.

[dirtyl0ver]

For the cabin in the woods!! I was wondering. This is more of a dynamics ask rather than an nsfw ask lmfaoo

How did Tim and Brian fathom the thought of sharing someone in between them? Was it always a thing between those two? Or did they have a nice long conversation about how it should go down that night? And have they done this before?

Also, how did the conversation between them and Toby go before going to meet reader again?

Pls more dynamic crumbs🙏🙏🙏🙏

I love and appreciate this question so much I don't think you understand. THANK YOU for this 🙏

Pls let me explain their dynamic, the psychology behind their threesomes/foursomes (lol) and why it works despite their deep-rooted jealousy and possessiveness!!!

CW: sexual degradation, emotional detachment, jealousy, unhealthy relationships, manipulation, non-romantic group sex, violence, objectification, dehumanizing views on women. Reader discretion is strongly advised.

Tim and Brian Sharing a Girl in Bed: A Rant

Tim and Brian are bonded in blood, in violence, in their shared doomed existence. Their loyalty to each other runs deep. It's primal and unshakable. And they’ve always had this unspoken rule: nothing, especially not a woman, gets between them.

Do I think they go around screwing girls together all the time? No not at all. But under the right circumstances (like in the cabin fic, where a girl just happens to be there and they both want her) they don’t hesitate. These are men who share everything: food, shelter, blood, sweat. So to them, sharing a girl isn't some huge emotionally loaded event, it’s just one more thing to pass between them.

Their view of sex is shaped by violence, deprivation and pure survival instinct. These are not men who understand intimacy. Sex, to them, is often just an act of release, brutal and instinctual. It’s not about connection or love. And when you view it through that lens, the idea of sharing a girl becomes less complicated, more like sharing a meal than sharing a meaningful experience. It’s transactional. Deeply dehumanized.

That’s why it “works,” in their minds. It’s not romantic. It’s not emotional. It’s just another outlet for aggression and control.

Now, both men are jealous and possessive, but especially Tim. That man is a walking red flag, he's controlling and territorial. But in purely sexual situations with no emotional strings attached, he’s able to compartmentalize. In those moments, he doesn’t even view the girl as a “girl”, not in the personal, emotional sense. She’s a body, a means to an end.

The twisted part about their dynamic is how much Tim prioritizes Brian. If you know anything about him, you know that Brian isn’t just his partner, he’s the only person Tim truly respects. I genuinely believe that, in most cases, Tim would choose Brian over his own girlfriend. So if Brian ever asked to “have a turn” with someone Tim’s with, Tim would probably allow it - not because he’s not jealous, but because his loyalty to Brian overrides that jealousy. It’s that toxic “bros before hoes” mindset in its most extreme form, sadly.

Brian, on the other hand, is a bit different. He’s still detached and morally wrecked, but I think he would show a little more respect when it comes to the girl he’s with. Not that he’d choose her over Tim, necessarily, but he’d be more protective - more reluctant to involve her in the chaos of his life, including Tim. He’s more discerning, more inward. Tim is all raw impulse while Brian is cold calculation.

On the Cabin Fic

This is important to note - the cabin fic is not romantic. There is no love in that story, no real affection. Brian and Tim use the reader for sex and it’s degrading and detached. She’s not seen as a person in that moment, just an outlet.

Once they’ve crossed that line, once they’ve shared her, there’s no going back. There’s no scenario in which they start seeing her as someone to date or love after that. In fact, their view of women is so deeply damaged that if anything, they’d likely start seeing her as “used goods”, which is tragic, but true to their twisted mindset.

Involving Toby

So how did they get Toby involved in this?

It started with Tim convincing Brian. Tim is way more open to “sharing” than Brian is, he sees it like passing a cigarette or handing someone a beer. Brian on the other hand is a lot more selective. He finds Toby messy, chaotic, unpredictable, too loud and undisciplined. Basically Brian doesn’t want to share “a hole” with someone like that.

Tim, however, has this weird older-brother soft spot for Toby. He’s more of a “guy’s guy” and tends to give other men a bit more leeway. So I imagine Tim talked Brian into it by saying Toby’s trying so hard to impress them, that he just wants to feel included, that he “deserves a win.” He probably promised Brian that if Toby got too annoying, they’d kick him out.

And Brian, being emotionally detached and deadset on proving he doesn’t care, goes along with it. Not because he’s into the idea, but because he doesn’t want to look like he’s emotionally invested. That would make him vulnerable.

When they bring it up to Toby, it’s super casual. Like:

“Hey Toby, guess what happened last night…”

And then Tim goes off, describing it all in excruciating, filthy detail - the double penetration, the gunplay, the sucking, the degrading - just laying it on while Toby starts twitching in excitement. They make him beg to come along. Tim’s manipulative like that, he plays it like it was Toby’s idea all along.