#gr: bts

[bluesidez]

Jungkook and Jimin’s travel show just released. Therefore, I’m about to have so much inspo for Gym Rat Miguel 💀💀💀

They’re so cute. I love them so much.

I also saw a clip of Jk handing Jimin medicine for his motion sickness?? It’s already GR Mig-coded. And the clip of him smacking Jimin’s butt in bed? 100% GR Mig-coded. Getting stuck in the snack aisle of Walmart because of twinkies 😭? GR Mig DOWN.

I’m rubbing my hands together very evil-like right now.

[pennyellee]

Game of Go

LACRIMOSA | MYG MAFIA YANDERE AU

pairings: mafia leader!yoongi x f!reader genre: mafia!au, yandere au, historical au

summary: Their interlocking gaze served as a butterfly effect on his heart, stirring it to the core. She, in turn, only dreams to find a way to escape. But perchance, over time she might forcefully learn to love the man who has taken so much from her.

Thus unfolds a twisted tale of love and loss, of hope and despair, of life and death. The music reverberated through the dimly-lit streets. Tears of sorrow, weeping symphony - reflects the hurt, the scars that linger deep within and the wounds that never healed. Lacrimosa.

filler warnings: minors dni 18+ | mafia au, dark!yoongi, mafia!yoongi, yandere, mentions of God, mentions of bloodshed, slaughter, very chill filler, nothing major

beta read by @chaoticpuff17

word count: 1,5K

disclaimer: this story is purely fictional, it does not depict real-life events or involve any actual members of BTS. This story will contain depictions of violence, blood shed, death, mentions of abuse, smoking, alcohol drinking, illegal activities, old social norms and traditions, which we do not condone.

setted in between chapter III and IV.

m.list CHAPTER I CHAPTER II CHAPTER III game of go CHAPTER IV CHAPTER V CHAPTER VI

𝙼𝚒𝚍-𝙽𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛 𝟷𝟿𝟹𝟾

The soft click of black and white Go stones resonated in the room, creating a symphony that echoed the unspoken tension between him and her. The Go board acted as a tangible reflection of the choices that had brought them to this point. The room, adorned with subtle touches of elegance, served as the backdrop to a game that went beyond strategic moves.

Dressed in a simple white shirt, he leaned over the board with a predatory intensity.

“The snow blocked the tunnel, ” he remarked, his eyes fixed on the intricate patterns forming on the board. The stones, each a representation of decisions made and those yet to be faced, held a certain weight that transcended the mere game before them.

A small, genuine smile played on Yoongi's lips as he met her gaze. "I heard," she replied, her voice carrying a rare warmth. Winter, her beloved season, now bore the burden of delaying the impending wedding, freezing the anticipated chaos in a temporary reprieve. The blocked tunnel however came right in time to slow down the young Kkangpae as there will be no wedding soon enough.

A sage green hanfu was draped over her shoulders, exuding warmth that contradicted the chill in the air.

From time to time, Y/N found herself forgetting the gravity of the man sitting across from her while they engaged in the game of Go. The notorious Kkangpae was capable of orchestrating a symphony of chaos with a mere flick of his fingers. Yet, this delay in their plans brought an unexpected delight to Y/N and gave her more time to plan her next move. She furrowed her brows, looking at the board.

"Something bothers you, my love?" Yoongi's voice sliced through the air, a playful glint in his eyes as he noticed her distraction. The stones on the board are metaphors for their lives, the paths they had chosen and the paths that awaited them. Yoongi leaned back, his gaze thoughtful.

"You, obviously," she admitted, her gaze fixed on the board. Y/N reached for a white stone, placing it with deliberate intent.

"Each move leads us to a different outcome. Innit, my love?" said he with a sinister smile. She chuckled softly, appreciating the analogy of him mocking her decisions.

“Are you suggesting something?” The room seemed to exhale a collective breath. Their hands hovered over the board, the unspoken language of their connection transcending the strategic nature of the game.

Outside, the late November sun cast long shadows through paper windows casting a gentle glow on the wooden floor. It was a scene set for a narrative that extended beyond the confines of a game. The stones clicked against the wooden board like a prelude to the grand event that awaited them.

"Tell me, Yoongi," Y/N began, her eyes gleaming with curiosity but Y/N couldn't help but feel a chill run down her spine when he eyed her.

“What did you do to make my father agree to this at the end?” She raised her eyes from the board while she held the stone in her fingers moving it forward. Yoongi's eyes crinkled at the corners as he considered her request, debating what he cannot and can tell her.

“I promised him to conquer, take and overrule Yakuza.” He answered, but he chose his words very carefully, yet answered with a certain degree of obliqueness. Yoongi did not intend to unveil the sadistic parts of the negotiations he had to agree to have her by his side.

"Conquer, take, and overrule the Yakuza?" she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. Yoongi nodded, his gaze unwavering. “That is all it took for him to give me up?”

Y/N's fingers hesitated over the Go board, the weight of Yoongi's words sinking into the air around them. The revelation hung between them like a heavy curtain, concealing the intricacies of a promise made in the shadows.

“I gave him my word that our clans would rise above the Yakuza, that our influence would surpass theirs. In return, he agreed to this union," he explained, his tone measured.

"Why?" Y/N questioned, her eyes searching for a glimpse of vulnerability. "Why make such a promise, when it cannot end to your liking and will only cause bloodshed and chaos?” Yoongi's gaze held a complexity that went beyond the game they played or the promises he made.

"Power is the currency in our world. It's the language they understand," he replied, his voice a low murmur. "To protect what matters, sometimes you have to play the game by their rules.”

A chill ran down Y/N's spine as the reality of their situation unfolded. The Go board, with its black and white stones, yet again mirrored the dichotomy of their choices—each moves a strategic decision in a larger game of power and survival.

“Why drag me with you?” She said, more bitter. Yoongi's expression softened, and for a moment, the calculating strategist seemed to yield to a more vulnerable self. “You don’t need me—”

“My heart needs you,” said the scarred leader without a second thought, reaching across the board to gently cup her face and caress her shorter hair which became a symbol of her strength’s magnitude. He shall be his queen.

Y/N stared into his eyes, trying to read him. “And I know that soon, your heart will need me too.” He breathed out. Y/N's heart thudded in her chest, caught between the harsh reality of their circumstances and the unexpected vulnerability in Yoongi's admission.

“Who will you slaughter for it?” Said she, the bitterness in her voice reflecting the internal struggle within. The scars on Yoongi's face seemed to carry the echoes of battles fought, a reminder of the ruthlessness that defined their world.

“I will not slaughter anyone if you won’t force my hand, sweetling,” he replied, his tone measured. The juxtaposition of the endearment and the underlying threat sent shivers down Y/N's spine.

Y/N's expression hardened as she grappled with the reality of their situation. "I do not wish for blood on my hands," she stated, her eyes unwavering.

“Then be my good girl and obey.” Yoongi's gaze held a mix of understanding and determination. The phrase echoed with an unspoken power dynamic, a reminder of the intricacies that defined their relationship.

"I also do not want to live in a world where I have to compromise my values for survival," Y/N asserted her voice firm. The vulnerability she had glimpsed in Yoongi's eyes moments ago now seemed to clash with the harsh reality of their conversation.

“God has a plan and we shall follow his lead,” Yoongi murmured, his words carrying a certain solemnity.

“So you are justifying your actions solely by a divine plan, what happened to ‘actions that have consequences’, Kkangpae? Does it only apply to me?” She retorted to his comment. The air was heavy with the weight of their divergent beliefs.

Yoongi's eyes bore into Y/N's, the intensity of their gaze sparking a silent battle of wills. “I acknowledge the consequences, and I bear them willingly for the path we have chosen.”

“Do you?” Tears welled in her eyes, and her vulnerability laid bare. Yoongi's gaze softened as he saw the tears welling in Y/N's eyes. He is bearing the consequences of what he has done to ensure she will be by his side and what it will take for her to settle down with him. Yoongi has a storm inside his home, and he is willing to power through, right to her heart. Whatever it takes.

"Every choice I make, every consequence I face, is a burden I carry willingly for the sake of us," he confessed, his voice low and filled with sincerity. “The world we live in demands sacrifices, and I won't let those sacrifices be in vain.”

“I am your weakness.” Y/N did not know what reaction she expected to draw from Yoongi. She wanted to let him know, she is doubting that he would ever take the drastic measures he often speaks about when she will not obey. Yoongi's gaze intensified as he heard her words.

"You are not my weakness, Y/N," he countered, his voice firm. “Love can be both, weakness and strength. You are my strength. You are my purpose.” Y/N scoffed at his bold claims, pushing his hands away from her. His touch was like a burn caused by fire to her.

“You will see that. I will be patient and welcome you in my arms when you will finally realise, Dove.”

The Go stones clicked softly as Yoongi made a move on the board, a symbolic gesture that marked a continuation of the intricate game they played.

.

.

.

©pennyellee. please do not repost

author's note: Merry Christmas!! I wish you all a very happy and jolly holidays! I managed to finish a filler that happened in between chapter III and IV, so here it is chummers! Enjoy! ♥

Love you all!! ♥

Don't be a silent reader, comment, re-blog, heart, asks are more than welcome ♥

keep in mind - I'm not an expert on chinese, korean and japanese culture, but I tried to research everything realistic I wanted to add to the story. Nonetheless, take it as a fiction.

let's be friends chummers ♥

lots of love, 𝖕𝖊𝖓𝖓𝖞𝖊𝖑𝖑𝖊

tag list: @beautifulcloudfestival - @chaoticpuff17 - @honsoolgloss - @jingerbreadoutofstock - @moscow778 - @januara26 - @dinosolecito - @yoongislatinagff - @xyahrinx - @hi12345567 - @nochuel - @deltamoon666 - @bbkissme99 - @darkuni63 - @nansasa - @sazsazsaz - @missmin - @strxwbloody - @royallyjjk - @jaiuneamesolitaiire - @shadowyjellyfishfest - @bbgniecyy - @elayne321 - @seojunandsoju - @bun-27 - @whipwhoops - @wobblewobble822 - @whofan88 - @haneyyyyyy - @lostgirlinthewoodss - @secfir - @btspurplesky - @elleflying07 - @pamzn - @megseungmin - @selenophileforlife - @idkjustlovingbts

[soraviie]

chasing after you.txt

━ type: bts x f! reader ━ navigation

━ about: dynamics in order: Joon - one-night stand + enemies to lovers, Yoongi - neighbours with a bit of a bad boy influence, Jin - sort of arranged marriage au, Hoseok - exes to lovers, Jimin - sugar daddy/fake dating au, Taehyung - tease x anger issues/clingy + tsundere/f2l, Jungkook - bodyguard x ward

━ pictures taken from Pinterest

━ previously posted on soraviii

NAMJOON: "Aw, fuck, who invited that guy?" you growled, whilst rolling your eyes at the corner where Namjoon had been so precariously sat like an asshole. You hated everything about him - the smug smile, the cocky tone of his voice, the winks he threw your way. Kim Namjoon was nothing but a sure way to get your blood pressure up and stay that way all through the night.

"Probably one of his fri- Shit! He's coming this way!" as your friend dipped over the bar and away into the crowd, courageous as ever, you snatched your drink partially pondering about throwing it into his face.

"You look lonely," he cooed with that shit-eating grin that you had wanted to smack away since the first meeting. And maybe to kiss but he didn't need to know that. "Why don't I keep you company?"

"Keep company with your left hand like you usually do," you yelled over the music.

"Well it does pair well with certain memories of you," he smirked and you groaned in disgust.

A misguided February 14th evening could lead to many foul things - unexpected pregnancy, STDs, Kim Namjoon having the delusional idea that you liked him.

Frankly, you'd rather endure a yeast infection than have this 6 feet fuckboy in the disguise of a pacifistic art lover keep chasing you every night out. More than once you wanted to slap your younger self only to come to their defence over and over again.

Namjoon was big. Big man. Big muscles. Big...well you get it.

And that may have made you a little bit stupid once! But not twice.

Yes.

"I can't stand you," you sneered at him with the most contempt you could possibly muster

"Sit on my lap then, baby."

You took a long swig to finish your drink, sliding it across the bartop and walking backwards, you levelled him down with a:

"You'd only cream your jeans, caveman."

"That's possible," he reckoned with a soft smile watching you mingle with the dancing crowd.

And for a while, it all went well, you'd find someone to at least waste some time with only for them to suddenly start sprinting away for their lives. You frowned after them, coming to a screeching halt in the fun.

Did your breath smell or something?

Taken with dancing, you hadn't noticed the broad-chested giant charging forth, smoke practically fuming from his nostril as his eyes glinted devilishly when tracking down the opponent. As the music changed, you found your waist circled by a shovel-sized palm.

"You really have no luck out here. You keep on being stuck with lil' old me," he whispered in your ear, causing long trails of goosebumps where his breath landed and you elbowed him, hard, in the gut.

He didn't even seem to mind.

"I don't know who you think you are Kim Namjoon but I will never-!"

"Oh, how you hate me," he lets out a burst of raspy laughter, head thrown back on the pillow, pulling you closer as much as he can despite you both being considerably sweaty.

"S-shut up," you grunt back, thighs aching but just a little bit more and you'll be in your happy place even if it was with this obnoxious gym rat. "You're just a cock on legs to me."

"Oh, for sure," he smirks and then prompts himself upwards to bite on your neck. "But you might think of screaming a tad quieter if you want to be really convincing."

It's a sick sense of deja-vu to wake up sore and aching all over in a sun-filled room overstuffed with cacti and a very soft blanket. The bed was empty and as you clamber to the toilet wearing a shirt found on the floor, struggling to walk, you stumble upon him in the kitchen - Cheshire grin spread all over his lips.

"Good morning," Namjoon greets. "You want some eggs, babe?"

YOONGI: His eyes track your movement as though it's dazed him and it's in moments like these you wish he was a criminal or something, a certified member of a mafia. A flag touch redder.

Stay away from Min Yoongi, they said, he's trouble but what to do when he doesn't stay away from you?

"So a kitten does come out to play," he purrs pressing one of those veiny palms against the elevator doors, halting it in its tracks and climbing in. You roll your eyes and straighten your back to appear more threatening. Yoongi, of course, couldn't give less of a shit.

"You're one to speak," you counter. "The most walking you do is through your apartment. It's like a herd of elephants."

"Well then don't listen in on what I do, you little pervert," he smirks, pressing the 8 on the elevator and it jerkily moves through the floors, reminding you once again to be grateful for life.

"Give it here," without waiting for a reply, he grabs the hold of your bags and goes straight to your apartment doors. Once inside he makes himself right at home, rolling up the sleeves of his shirt.

"What are we eating?" he questions gruffly, examining the produce with no small amount of judgment.

"You're speaking French now?" you push him away, relinquishing the rightful ownership of a pair of avocados you bought. "Whose "we"?"

He doesn't bother gracing it with a comment as anyhow a doorbell rings and you see his tongue poke against the cheek.

"Who the hell are you?" he questions sharply and you peer into the doorway.

"Oh, hello," you greet your coworker with a reserved smile. "What are you doing here?"

"Yeah, what are you doing here?" Yoongi echoes, placing his hand above your head and on the very edge of the door.

"Just interested if you're going to the uh... team bonding activities," he replies, fretfully glancing at Yoongi.

"Ignore him, I do," you smirk up at Yoongi. "And-"

"She has plans," Yoongi interrupts, pushing you back into the kitchen with his palm against your back.

"Oh, okay," your coworker stutters awkwardly, trying to lean in somehow. "See you around?"

"No," Yoongi cheerfully replies and smacks the door right into his face.

"You're such a dick," you groan.

"Did you have plans?" he asks with a teasing lilt, voice dropping nearly an octave lower. "And are you going to lie that it wasn't with me?"

"My jumbo-sized Charmander plushie and I are doing well on our own," you point at him with a packet of tomatoes. "Where you fit into the equation is a mystery."

"I'll tell you where I can fit," he laughed, wagging his eyebrows.

"No, no, goodbye," you wrinkle your nose in disgust, pushing his still laughing back out of the door. "Leave."

"Wait, what if I need some sugar?" he objects and you furrow your eyebrows, glaring up at him in suspicion.

"Do you?"

"No," he shrugs carelessly. "But what if."

"Begone, demon," you push against him harder but he seems to only enjoy it.

"Come to my game. It's right across the street in that park. I need a good luck charm."

"Will you be throwing a ball in your face? If no, then I'm not interested."

As you slam the door shut there still comes a raspy whine.

"Come on, short ass, come."

And if you do happen to drop by the nearest park with its shitty basketball court it's because you have nothing better to do and you needed some ice cream. Yoongi, uncharacteristically brazen for him, smirks at then winks in the middle of the game.

And promptly receives a ball to the face.

JIN: "Eat more garlic!"

"Straighten your hair with an iron!"

"Belch really, really loudly!"

You try to recall all of your friends' sage advice whilst pacifying your nerves. Being late nearly an hour didn't sit well with you but this guy was...determined. Insanely determined. So the ends justify the means.

When at last you arrive at the three Michelin star restaurant it's an hour later than what your family had set and you're wearing sweatpants and a t-shirt. Your face may burn with shame at such a display but certainly, this would beat this broad-shouldered man off the path. This was beyond and above rude. You're already prepared to be yelled at, scorned and insulted but Seokjin merely blooms into an eager smile. Doesn't even blink twice at your choice of wear.

He dismisses the host with a polite nod and pulls a chair out.

"Hello, _________," he greets innocently. "Traffic is hell, right."

There was no traffic and he knew it only making excuses to achieve whatever nefarious goal he had set out to.

"Just give him a chance," your mother pleaded over the phone. "He's been asking about you forever. Please, he's rich and handsome, what's not to like."

What's not to like? Well, probably something. Kim Seokjin in your mind had always stood as that annoying guy who'd dropped a water bomb on your head when you were about to take the most glorious profile picture ever. Spinning in overlapping social circles, you'd seen too much of him growing up and had to endure several of your friends flailing over him especially when the pool season began. He was like a jar of honey to their fly status. And as such only a tar in your own pot of sweetness.

He was old. You had not exactly a criminal age difference but still more than 2 years. He was a creep, you firmly plant that idea into the recesses of your mind.

Why oh why, was he so insistent on asking about you?

"Good idea," he praises, pointing at your outfit. "It's best to be comfortable. I should have done that as well, this is quite uncomfortable," he waves a disappointed hand over the blue three-piece suit.

The waiter along with the menu serves you a freshly plucked side eye.

"Yeah, that's why I did it," dryly you mutter back, hiding behind the menu.

Think, think, think, what else turns off snooty men?

"Fucking shit," you cry out to your own amazement. "These prices are ridiculous. I'm not paying for this!"

"That's fine," Jin shrugs with that seemingly permanently etched expression of a tender smile. "I invited you here, I'll pay."

You groan.

"I'll fart," you threaten.

He shrugs and gracefully pours you a glass of wine.

"Everyone does that. It's a part of life."

You slobber your dinner up like a beast.

"Hmm, you're making the meal look more delicious," he nods.

And not even when you "accidentally" spill a mango sauce on his pants worth more than your apartment, does he weigh the thought of becoming angry in his mind.

"Ah, it's a perfect colour now," he merely congratulates with a jubilant cry and you let your head fall on the table with a thud, only it hits his palm as he had stretched it out at the last second.

"Are you insane?" you breathe out in sheer desperation. "Why are you not running over the hills?"

"Do you really think I can't see that you're doing this on purpose?" he smirks in amusement, over the rim of the wine glass. "We've known each other for a while, I know you better than that."

"Exactly!" you yell before falling into a hush as numerous daggers shoot your way. "You know me! As the annoying friend of your cousin! Why are you asking after me all of a sudden?! What joke are you playing?"

"Well, first of all," Jin corrects all too self-congratulatory. "I've never thought you were annoying. Maybe except when you were like 14 but who isn't the worst person in the world at that age? And secondly," his ears abruptly turn quite pink and he lets the wine glass rest on the table, nervously fiddling with its stem. "I asked for you because as you may know your mother is quite eagerly seeking various wedlock opportunities. For you specifically."

That makes you groan only louder.

"Don't remind me. So, so what? You want to get married to me?" you snort at the idea but then, for the first time ever, Jin is not laughing.

"Yes," he says dead serious.

"Wait, is this a prank?" you glance all around in an attempt to find the hidden cameras. "Are you pulling my leg?"

"I'm pulling no legs. What a weird thing to do," Jin muses and you narrow him down.

"Don't joke. It's not funny. Say "got you" or something. You can't be serious?!"

"Listen, ___________, I've liked you for a while now. I wanted to ask you before you began university but then you brought Jae home and..."

"Jae? Jin, that was...that was five years ago! You couldn't have liked me for five years?"

He averts his eyes and sips on his champagne. Even his neck is red.

"Five years?" you cry out. "And you kept quiet?!"

"Well, I told you now!" he objects with some indignation but even more of a burning shame. "All you need to do is to decide what you're going to do. 'Cause I'll accept you as you are, belching, sweatpant wearing and all. Even if you straighten your hair with an iron."

For a second you sit still and stupefied on this ridiculously over-padded chair ad then you feel yourself match the heat blooming on his face.

"You know Giulia?" you ask, downing the entire wine while desperately trying not to smile at the soft amusement in his eyes.

"Of course, I know Giulia," Jin chuckles self-consciously. "Who do you think gave me the genius advice of this stuffy suit?"

HOSEOK: You should have known from the start that this would lead to nothing good. What else could wait for you at the end of the nondescript hallways of conference rooms? One thing you didn't expect however was the loathsome face of your ex-boyfriend. Hoseok was sitting already by the table, beautiful as ever, leg nervously bouncing against the floor and treacherously a click of a lock snapping in its place echoes behind you.

He springs up from the seat, nervously glancing at where you tried to somehow break through the door. Or the wall, whichever came first.

"Oh, hell no," you growled, nails scraping against the doorknob. The betraying Brutus of a friend he had bribed to text you to come here will find an egg on their window for sure.

"_____________, please, let's just talk," he pleads. "Just let...let me explain."

"I don't want to hear any explanation," you hissed, turning to glare at him. From the way his eyebrows sloped, you could tell he was deadset serious but then it comes too clearly back into your mind.

That you were weird, not his type, that he doesn't understand you. But instead of simply crying about it you left. To cry about it in your own space. And also then turn incredibly bitter over it.

"I just meant that..."

"That I'm a freak? Yeah, I got it," you snarled before yanking harder on the knob. "Open the damn door!"

"No. If you're going to leave then please do the courtesy of letting me memorize your face."

You close your eyes, steeling your resolve. Don't give in, you reminded yourself, not after a whole year of hunkering through yet another heartbreak. Hoseok was just like the rest. Taking weirdness in all the things you liked, that you were. Why should you ever change for anyone else?

"It's been a year," you note sternly, having slid on the floor. He's also there, watching away from the small distance with a crease of a frown between his brows.

"Exactly. This year was one of the worst I've ever had," he confesses, supposedly earnestly. "I admit the things that I said were wrong but I did not mean it like that!"

"________________ is just a bit weird. You know the people I used to date, there's a bit of a difference, softly said," you quote him word for word. "And you said that to someone else! You opened your mouth, said that shit and thought it was okay!"

The sun behind the window had nearly slipped over the horizon and the office space was illuminated with a soft orange glow.

"You know the first time I met you, that was a lie," he mutters into the air. No one had come to open the door despite you nearly beating it off the hinges.

"Oh, that too was a lie, wonderful," you groaned, rolling your eyes but Hoseok remains sitting sadly by, occasionally passively twirling his shoe laces.

"I actually went past you on the street. Remember the crossroad by that small confectionery?"

You did remember. You lived right above it for a while, making your hair smell perpetually of candy for half a year.

"I...I got lost around there and walked past you, and you were sort of listening to your headphones, not looking around. I remember," he chuckled as though taken by an old memory. "You wore that knitted jumper that kept falling off your shoulder, the faded beige one and I just...I was so jealous of you, you were so carefree."

You glanced at him surprised. As far as you knew the first time Hoseok and you met was at a graduation gathering, a friend of a friend sort of a situation. And as you sat there, enjoying your barbecue by the side, wondering whether to dip your ketchup-stained hand in some weed brownies, he came up to you with the brightest smile, talking as though he knew you. Guess he did then know you.

"And the next day I went there again. I didn't even know why but I just did and you were there again. And I kept returning," he smiled at the ground but it quickly vanished. "Every day for a month before I met you at that gathering. Sometimes you were there, a lot of times - not but when you did it lit up my entire day. I didn't know how to approach you though, it's not a thing you do in the middle of the street, you know?"

"No," you affirm faintly.

"And when you left..." Hoseok winced at the mere mention of it. "I still kept going back," his breath was nothing more than a whisper stained with regret. The look in his eyes was downright depressing and you wondered if he had roamed around bearing the same heavy chip that you had. "And our favourite cafe. And your favourite park spot. I was there like...like a ghost lingering in your presence."

"But why did you say then that I was weird?" you sniffled, letting, for the joke of your own mental stability, some of that defence down. Attempting to look at Hoseok without the veil of contempt you've draped over him for a year. Dragging yourself back from hell was hard, dragging yourself from hell when thrust there by the one person you thought wouldn't do that - even harder. But by peeling off at least one cover, you saw many wonderful memories behind it, as slightly tainted as they were.

"I don't know," he groaned, hiding his face in the palm of his hands. "I was stupid. I meant in my heart that you were unlike anyone I've been with before. Not bad but different. And, yes, sometimes I don't understand you but I want to," he rouses to look into your eyes across the room. "I want to. And even if I never fully understand, I would like to make you feel heard and stand by your side nonetheless."

You stare into the sun to avoid crying. Stupid thought as no one ever stared into this glowing orb of light hanging in the sky in order to not get misty-eyed.

"What I said there was, I admit, crass. I was scared because I...with you I don't want to leave. I don't want to call quits when it becomes uncomfortable or becomes uneasy, I want us to grow together. And that scares me because, for the first time, I can really truly get hurt," he exhaled a heavy sigh, voice growing strained. "So when you left, no explanation, just gone in the wind..." he glimpsed over the horizon. "Anyway, I recognise me cornering you like this is wrong but...if you ran away because you felt unloved, I just wanted to show that I'd be chasing after."

Hoseok wiped at his eyes and briskly got up.

"But if you didn't and don't want me, I'll open the doors," from the pocket of his jeans, he fished out a glinting silver key. "I really just wanted to memorize you for as long as I could. I'm sorry."

He opens the doors and you called out -

"Hoseok!"

JIMIN: The phone kept ringing. You'd put it on mute but even so the bright light of the flashing screen stirred you awake and after a brief wrangle of putting the chip bowl actually on the table nearby, kicking your leg free from the grasp of the blanket, you simply watched it ring. After eventually growing into silence, it went to the 45 unanswered calls like the rest. You sighed turned to your side and slid the eye mask over the face, trying to somehow coerce yourself into immediate and indisputable slumber.

This was just the outward manifestation of his bruised ego, nothing more. You don't think anyone had ever rejected Park Jimin so this must be a new, unfamiliar feeling, one he'll get over in time and then maybe even laugh about it years down the line.

I mean, come on, you thought to yourself cutting the words like bloodied post-it notes in your own mind. There's no such thing as a rich handsome guy genuinely falling for someone so...

The disgusting words sprung too freely on the tip of your tongue so you settle for normal. To not at least give into self-hatred so easy. Such was the plot of romantic dramas and fantasies hence why it was fiction. Rich, beautiful people went for other rich beautiful people, normal folks went for normal folks. Dogs did not mix with chickens or pandas with capybaras. It was simply nonsense.

But as you close your eyes, the memories make it harder to be as clinically objective. All too well, you remember. His hands on your face, grasping as though he feared you would leave.

"Why don't you ever believe me?" he asked with heated desperation. "Nothing I say is ever good enough. Nothing is trustworthy!"

You tried to pry him gently away.

"Because how can I believe you? Look at yourself and look at me. This is not even opposites it's...unfathomables!"

You wished partially that he'd go to the good old Mr Park of the beginning, one who'd walked up to you in a cafe and asked if for a fair amount of money you'd be willing to answer his phone and pretend to be his girlfriend. And since the sum he called out was the rate of an onerous monthly rent, you'd plastered the sweetest voice you could in a matter of seconds with no questions asked.

When thinking of all the troubles when he approached you again, completely by accident, you had thought to yourself jail, assault, violence, even cannibalism for good measure, who knew what kind of sicko this stranger could be, but never you considered you'd be scared by the simple fact that he was in love with you. He had been cold, rude and brusque at the start and you had been fine with that, your "job" was to sometimes go to family dinners and lie which while not moral was not a crime.

Only then he invited to accompany him to his office, then to trips, then to movies and then one day you wake up in your bed and Mr Park, once a cold and resigned man, drenched in his own riches, is now making pancakes on your old stovetop and smiles the kindest smile you'd ever seen and asks if you slept well.

How could it not be a scary sight?

"I love you!" he shook you by the shoulders, not hard enough to hurt but as if trying to shake the bad thoughts out. "But you hate yourself! And you never listen!"

"They'll think I'm a gold-digger!" you cried. Just looking around his apartment made you sick. You couldn't even afford his carpet. How could he love someone with whom he shared so little with? He had never known the feeling of counting one's last money to afford bread or not buying something out of impulse. And you had never known the etiquette of polite brutality, of caring about who sits where because one word spoken at the wrong crowd table could destroy your entire livelihood. Love didn't change two profoundly different experiences.

"They don't think that!" he argued. "My parents wanted me to be with someone-"

"Poor?" you interrupted finally wrenching yourself free. Why was he so cruelly saying these things? He will just make you love him and then dump you with nary concern. Like others and then in time you will always think that you should have known better. Should have gotten rid of those rose-tinted glasses sooner not when they're smashed in shatters on the cold concrete.

"No!" Jimin immediately counters. "Of a different social circle! And even if they did, I don't care!"

"But the press-!"

"I don't care!"

"The rest of your relatives and friends-!"

"I don't care!" he yelled back, ripping at his hair, faint tears lingering in his eyes. "What will it take for you to believe me?! Please, why don't you believe me?"

"I can't!" you shrieked back in a sob. "Because better you not love me at all than fall out of it after some time! I don't want to be loved! I don't want to trust! I just want to be alone!"

Alone is what you were now but it felt no better.

"It will," you calmed yourself aloud. "Give it some time and your life will return to how it was."

Boring. Monotone. A single actor performing the most dreadful play to an audience of no spectators. You sniffled punching the pillow. Stupid Park Jimin waltzing into your life and making you think you were not the person you saw in your mind. That you were better. But how can you be when you're always "you"? A nameless face in the crowd, a cog in the machine.

No one, really.

As a sudden hand wraps around your waist, you scream and nearly punch the lights out of the affectionate attacker before in the faint streetlight streaming through the windows you recognized Jimin's eyes.

"How did you get in here?" you rustled in indignation.

"I had a key made. Remember? So I could greet you at home after work," he explained sternly.

"Well, you can't be here now-" you tried to argue, even push him out if needed, but he grasped at your legs and wrestled you to sit atop of him. You always fretted you were too heavy but he never objected.

"I'll leave if you order me to leave. Say those exact words: "Jimin, I want you to leave and never return back."

"I want to be alone," you muttered out of force of habit playing with the neck of his shirt.

"It's not the same," he cupped your cheek. "Until you tell me to piss off in my face, I'll keep chasing you every time you run. You think no one would? I will. Over and over again."

Your lip wobbled.

"It's ungrateful work," you breathed as he tugged you closer into a hug, gently swaying from left to right.

"Not to me."

TAEHYUNG: It takes thirty minutes for your aunt, a known stick in the mud, to go from screaming why was there a whole ass adult man traipsing in the apartment her niece should keep an eye on, to peacefully discussing the best nut selection over the kitchen table with eagerly listening Taehyung on the other side.

You were 35% convinced he knew how to do magic, and 65% convinced he was magic. And if he feasibly could he would live in your asshole. And the worst of all you can't get rid of him.

Well no, the worst of all you don't want to.

Coming from a rough environment, no matter how you slice or dice it, that leaves its own impression upon the mind. Yours being - people leave, people lie, people bad. It was easy to go through life, more than two decades of them in selective solitude, having friends but never letting them too close in and soon after they would stop even being friends. It was easy and predictable and while no one cared for you, you had to care for no one, could go where you wanted, how and when you wanted and fully enjoy doing what you liked.

And then this curly-headed now human reincarnated tiger-bear hybrid showed up. Literally dropping out of nowhere whilst still in university, pointing a finger of his frankly too large of a hand at you and then basically saying: "I want that one, that one's mine". Actually no, he did say exactly those words as you remember faintly chucking a dictionary of law at his head, thinking he'll abduct you or something.

And that's how six years later you were moved in. And he had invaded every part of your life, with his kind words, sopping eyes and chiselled chin.

As Taehyung slowly drifted to sleep, eyes falling heavier, his hand is intertwined with yours. And as you'll go to sleep yourself, despite him having his own bed, inexplicably you'll wake up with his breath against the back of your head.

Which was strange you know. You don't even remember agreeing to be friends with him. But steady as a clockwork, lo' and behold, at two in the morning, Taehyung's thigh squirms in between yours and he sighs in content.

Bizarre to say the least.

"Hey, where are you going?" he asks in wonder, poking his very shirtless body through the crack in the bathroom doors, toothbrush hanging from the corner of his mouth.

"Out?"

"Wait, lemme comme with."

"Can I go out on my own? As the big girl that I am?" you huffed dryly, brows furrowed.

"No," he replied with a smile. Then you walk side by side you glare at your hands, swaying together in the warm air.

"A crazy question, one I'm just putting out there, will you ever...leave?" you ask with a faint frown. There might just be this...supposition, guesswork if you will, in your mind that it might just be that somehow you're...Taehyung's partner now.

"Hmm," he makes an act of pondering it out. "No, no, I don't think I will. Unless you kick me out."

Kick him out. Why didn't you? When previous lovers threw fits about Taehyung always being near, you parted with them with nary of guilt because they were...not your rock. Your rock and safe space had become this strange, occasionally vampiric-looking, a cardigan-loving friend of yours. But he never vocalized it. Or so you thought. He was always teasing you about being hard of emotional hearing, now that you thought about it.

You halted in the middle of the sidewalk and he turns to glimpse at you, curious.

"Taehyung...are you...in love with me?"

Astonishingly, he bursts into a peal of laughter.

"I have been for years now," he chuckles light-heartedly. "Though thank you for finally noticing."

"Wh-why didn't you say something? Anything?"

An expression of deep fondness settles on his face and it warms you like the late summer sun.

"I say "I love you" every day, dumbass. I've chased after you for like six years now. Oh, god," he gasps, sounding suddenly absolutely horrified. "Six years of my life wasted chasing after your stupid head. Oh, I'm an idiot."

"So a moron for a moron, a match made in lower intelligence," you grumble and he snorts at it, crossing the distance once more. When he takes your hand it feels weird for a second. But only for one. You ask yourself what will change and realize - not much.

"That we are Mrs Kim," he coos with a broad grin. "Great! Now I can show you the plans for our shared tombstone I sketched back in the university!"

JUNGKOOK: "He's...will he be staring like that for the entire evening?" your friend asks timidly, voice nearly overshadowed even by the pleasant music of the brunch place. You glimpse over your shoulder to find him aimlessly lounging around. When meeting your gaze, his lips, almost involuntary, spread into a wide grin as his nose scrunches in a manner that is inappropriate for any self-respecting bodyguard. He at least gathers that and sobers with a stern cough.

"Yeah, he's just...my...finance manager," lamely, you trail off but at least they believe it. Considering the last three months it wasn't that believable.

"In a twist of miraculous fate, a poor vintage boutique worker becomes the sole inheritor of the Durhanan Estate," she quotes with a mysterious smile and you squirm awkwardly as you always did when it was bought up. Six years of lawsuits had rendered the luck into a frenzied fever dream one you thought would never come to fruition. Even when the final decision was laid to rest and the lawyers of your great-grandfather popped their champagnes with cheery eyes it all felt so distant. Like a different life. That feeling, you find out, never left.

"Yeah, it's...crazy," you chuckled self-consciously.

"So is the old house haunted?" she questions leaning over the table with keen interest, though every once in a while her gaze does stray worryingly to where Jungkook was standing.

"It's just creepy. It's big...and old," you confess perhaps colouring it with hues too bold, knowing only the answer such as this would satisfy her interest. It was old and entirely too big (who needed thirty-four rooms) but with Jungkook it was less lonely, less of a ghost house and more of a...

No, it's stupid, don't say it, you think to yourself.

"So now that you're rich," she throws a not-so-small of judgemental look over the crystal glass of mimosa. "Will you be forgetting all about us?"

"No," you assure her. "This means nothing. It's just a change of...housing."

But she only scoffs in reply. You think you might not have your best friend much longer.

"You look unhappy," Jungkook reckons quietly, whilst driving back to the Durhanan estate. A nearly 300-year chateau hidden within an unnamed forest deep in the countryside. Once the chief story of the local children's ghost tales and now - your home.

Of sorts.

"I'm just tired," you deny, peering into the rolling landscape of the wilting greenery. A rougher hand suddenly rests atop of yours, stopping them from ripping the skin around the fingernails. Your face swelters with heat and you gently remove his palm.

You were his boss and this was...this was not appropriate.

But Jungkook has other ideas and despite there being thirty-four rooms and whooping nine acres of gardens there's hardly any escape from him.

"My lady, oh, my lady," he calls across the gravel path leading down into the overgrown, ivy-ridden paths. He runs up to you and then gently tucks the bloom of one of the wild roses ravaging the grounds behind your ear. He tries to suppress the smirk on his face and narrows his eyes against the glaring sun.

"You're...you," he stutters. "You doing anything special, tonight?"

You don't quite know why but that question, posed so innocently and presumably out of a need to start a conversation, makes you laugh. It was only you two here, no wifi, piss-poor electricity and the nearest town, a village actually, was thirty-minute drive away and the only thing interesting there was a two-room corner shop.

"Wondering whether we're going to be killed by demons, yes," you laughed lightly.

"I was just wondering whether we could bust out the old reliable solitaire in the library?"

You sigh but it falls more endeared than annoyed.

"Jungkook, stop trying to seduce me."

At first, his face seems to be crestfallen only for a cheeky smirk to appear.

"Trying?" he echoed and slightly leaned into you. A gust of sharp wind broke through the gardens and in sync you glanced at the sky above your heads. A cluster of dark clouds was gathering in the south.

"Let's go in," he urges softly but his body standing behind you flames your back.

A thunder was ripping outside like something crazy, rattling the panes of the window so hard you fretted they would shatter at some point. And the house screamed. Every breeze of the wind seemed to tear into the old floorboards as though they were alive.

Ghosts are not real, ghosts are not real, ghosts are not-

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

You screamed your lungs out, lunging towards the golden candelabra perched on the bedside table.

"You're alright? Are you okay?" Jungkook's voice swims through the dark and you exhale in loud relief.

"Do not! Scare me like that!"

After a moment and a creak of the old floor comes a bashful.

"Sorry."

Another crack of lightning. In the brief flash, you see him standing, unsure but not leaving. It was a bodyguard's duty to protect and he always took his duty quite seriously. Even if this duty was simply to protect you from any unwanted journalists and stalkers where there was none leaving him practically with nothing to do.

"Should I stay here? Protect you...from the storm?"

You raise an eyebrow.

"The storm? That is-"

CRACK!

"Yes, please and thank you," you whimper and not even a second later, the side of your bed dips.

Crickets might as well be chirping at the moment.

"Do you want to hold my hand?" he offers, sweetly, oh so sweetly as if he wasn't a little demon wearing a cheap halo. But still, the house continues its wail. How many lives had been lost in these walls? What stories did they tell?

You didn't want to know and so you agree but as he takes your palm, your hand lands on a very firm set of muscles.

"Jungkook, please retake 9th-grade biology, your six-pack is not a hand."

"It emits the same level of comfort."

He trails your hand higher, over his pecks and lands right on his heart. It drums like a fevered bird underneath your fingertips.

"Why are you so nervous?" you hum and he rolls on his side and settles himself onto the pillow.

"Because I like you. And you like me. Even if you pretend that you don't."

"It's really not ap-"

"Appropriate?" he finishes and then tugs his hands over your waist pulling you closer. "Perhaps not but you know what happens in the spooky old mansion, stays in the spooky old mansion."

His warm palm cups your cheek, stroking it with a dizzied smile.

"And if it doesn't, I'm a really good runner, so you can scurry all you like," a pause. His hand presses you even closer.

© soraviii/soraviie 2022-2023

[remidyal]

Game Changer Season 6 episodes, ranked by my personal enjoyment

Because I also enjoy arbitrarily ranking things! If you disagree... I mean, that's fine? I liked every episode this season, just.. I liked some episodes better than others. I'm grouping the Ratfish episodes together, so we've got eight entries. Spoilers for, um, every game changer episode this season, obviously.

#8 Pencils Down:

I'm not as into drawings and all as I am a lot of the other stuff, though this was probably the most wholesome episode of this season. I'm, naturally, opposed to wholesomeness too.

Favorite bit:

The proposed tattoos were a lot of fun.

#7 Ratfish (parts 1 and 2):

I think this one got hurt for me by a couple things - I know absolutely nothing about the show they're mimicking, unlike Survivor or the Bachelor, and I did not particularly enjoy anything directly to do with the Ratfish or understand why I should care about his opinions and arbitrary decisions. I assumed that the cast would recognize who this person was and we'd get some kind of payoff there, but nope. Everything just between the cast was great, though.

Favorite bit:

Honestly there's a ton of quick moments to choose from here, but I think my favorite is Brennan incorrectly going for the seat marked Brennan Lee Mulligan at the end.

#6 The Newlyweb Game:

This one was gentle good fun, I enjoyed everyone involved, there were just more standout moments in some of the later episodes on this list. This is fighting with Pencils Down for the most wholesome episode, or at least the one that would least fit into a saw trap. In spite of that this would be the episode all time of Game Changer I would least be willing to be on, even in the world where I'm not firmly aroace and have a partner - I think I would sooner light myself on fire than let someone I know have full access to my phone.

Favorite bit:

Revealing how many unread emails people had and the shock and judgement at totally reasonable numbers, as someone with around forty thousand unread emails in my primary gmail account dating back to 2004.

#5 Bingo

We're really into tough competition now! I loved this episode, and that it somehow turned into a tormenting Brennan episode even though he wasn't even supposed to be there. This was obviously slightly rigged so that the players in the third set of Bingo were most likely to win (and it was actually impossible for the people on stage) but honestly pulling it off was so good.

Favorite Bit:

I mean, it's the reveal to Trapp and everyone of the existence of the third group of course.

#4 Second Place

First, I know that for meta reasons this should be second, but it's not. Oh well. Sam alleges that this episode wasn't intentionally meant to torment Brennan; I do not believe Sam's lies. Everyone in the world saw the twist at the end coming and it's still funny.

Favorite bit:

Ally declaring that Brennan can ring the gong the loudest and Brennan's brain breaking harder than anything that Sam had actually planned.

#3 Sam Says 3

I can't believe this one's only third. If this is how Sam Says ends - and I have a hard time seeing how a fourth edition can escalate, even outside of the BTS claiming that they see three times as the limit for the same premise most of the time - then what an ending. I'm not sure any other game concept has managed to make the players so consistently tricked. My only critique of it is that I think I like the first couple times at this well just a little bit more, with nothing in this quite matching Ally flying to New York or the Something We'll Have To Bleep energy for me.

Favorite Bit:

It's hard to top the fake Sam body dropping from the ceiling.

#2 Beat the Buzzer

Every episode with the Seven cast is always incredible, and production-wise this seems like the craziest thing they've ever pulled off. Any episode where they break out of just the stage is always good, and I think this is the most extensive use of that they've ever done. Incredible variety, great cameos from Aabria and Persephone, complete manic energy from all three contestants. A+ episode.

Favorite Bit:

There's so much here, but I think mine as someone who worked as a pizza delivery driver was the entire exchange where Rehka just ends up getting the bag with the buzzer and a bunch of loose oreos. Was production prepared with everything that was on that menu or would they have actually ordered breadsticks somewhere to use as a prop?

#1 Deja Vu

Time loop stuff is always a favorite of mine, and pulling one off as an episode is ALREADY a great premise before you even get into all of the other cast and the editing. (Shout out to Siobhan Thompson for being in exactly two Game Changer episodes and them being this one and Escape the Green Room; guess we know what pepper rating she puts down.) Great chemistry between the cast, a truly deranged display from Sam, and of course the Wenis. Genuinely the WEIRDEST episode of the season, too, always a good sign.

It's a shame they already repeated the premise too much to do a follow up to this one...

Favorite Bit(s):

I'm doing two for this one because it's my list and I can.

"This isn't fucking Um, Actually!" with sincere righteous anger.

Everything to do with Zac as Grant, most of all how easy it would have been to just make that Zac as Zac.

[lesbiansloveseokjin]

day 335/548 of jungkook's military service

this selca was posted on 190210, the day of the 2019 Grammys, with the caption:

Today was truly a valuable experience We won't forget the precious time spent Thank you ARMYs #JIMIN #Grammys

(trans cr: Denise @ bts-trans)

LIVE from that day:

[beautifulpersonpeach]

Hello! Reading your comment about Gr@mmys, I thought of something that makes my head spin.

Was it what happened with J!m!n and F@CE that got us out of the OT7 utopia “seven exact and equal slices of the pie” for each member? I expected to see differences, problems or competitions during this stage but I feel that F@CE was a before and after, at least for me. Now, I could yell at my "me" from the last concert in Bus@n, how naive and overly positive I was being.

I understand the factors that made this reality. I don't know the internal agreements between them and their company. For me Jungk00k's debut only shed more light on topic (he's not the villain of the story, blaming him is just easy way out) Family = seven = equal. Wasn't that the driven narrative? From my place I see how the members go out of their way to demonstrate healthy competition among themselves but the label does not accompany them with their actions/decisions. Actions that make me see company as inexperienced. Did they really have no way to avoid these conflicts? Shouldn't they take care of every detail of career of the artists they represent?

This has nothing to do with the decisions of each member. Some armys force too much -members decide everything- speech and frankly to me it feels like a re-victimization and the removal of responsibility from their representatives. Even if we look at this as a team it seems like someone isn't doing their part. May I disagree? I'm a different person. If everyone says that BH is a great company, I will tell them that it should be even better. The company where my father works has often not fulfilled its duties as an employer, but he will tell you that it's the best job, and I proceed to respect it. Just like that i feel

Whose responsibility is it really that everything has gotten to this point? From company and its silences, from fandom that allowed solo stans to grow, from everyone? Is it just the natural course of things?

There is something in this chapter that gives me the feeling of improvisation. Or was I just too used to everything being calculated and perfect in the B/T/S world?

If you had to give a prognosis for the next chapter, what would it be?

***

“Family = seven = equal. Wasn't that the driven narrative?”

No, actually.

Listen, I hear you and I get you completely. OT7 literally means love the members equally right? And that’s the agenda the company has been pushing and should show right? Well, not exactly. What I’m about to say is going to be very unpopular, but it’s genuinely what I think.

People have a very narrow idea of how many things can look, and when they run up against a reality that looks very different from how they expected it, many people don’t know how to deal with that very well. And oftentimes what happens is that they turn to vilifying whoever they think is responsible for preventing them from getting that imagined outcome. It never once crosses their minds that maybe they had the wrong assumptions to begin with. It’s always the thought of maybe someone is gaslighting them, rather than, you know, maybe they were just wrong. For that context and for that group’s actual goals.

There’s one post I wrote a long time ago that I think made me fairly popular with Jimin biases here, it’s the one where I talk about some of the ways Jimin contributed to BTS that might not seem obvious at first. I prefaced that post by saying many in the fandom underestimate Jimin not because they dislike him or anything, but because they have a narrow idea of what ‘meaningful contribution’ looks like for a group like BTS. All I did in that post was point out things that perhaps were not framed in the right way to show how much Jimin contributes to BTS that’s more than songwriting, producing, or others. It’s the same thinking in recognizing that while SeokJin isn’t the strongest dancer or vocalist, he’s served as the stable emotional support in the group, he serves as the key hinge in maintaining the uniformity in their choreography, and that without him in the group, the members would certainly clash very destructively. It’s not ‘equal contribution’ in the way a lot of people envision, but I think it’s perfect for BTS.

Granted all I’ve said so far is in terms of contributions, not rewards which is what you’re talking about. You’re saying the company should facilitate things so that each member is meant to get equal rewards each time. Well, that would be dandy and possible for the company. Maybe. But it’s also not weird, bad, nor does is spell sabotage for a company to allocate different resources and use different strategies after consulting with the members for their direct input, and to pursue asymmetrical results for BTS at certain times. The understanding is each member prioritized will vary in different years and eras. And I’m personally looking forward to all of it. Since July 2022, all the members have put forward a good first step with their debuts. Jungkook is the member getting a solid push now and I love that it’s him. I’m secretly hoping he tours a bit too, maybe solo or with vmin, and maybe/not go to the military before 2025. Who knows?

A lot of things didn’t work right for all the members' debuts. Jimin’s performance was impacted by far too many though, and many were issues the company simply needs to get their shit together on. Period. BTS makes a shit tonne of money for that company and the least they could do is go the extra mile and then some. I’m convinced HYBE already does this for BTS (recall how HYBE navigated extracting BTS from that Jamboree concert disaster, though public opinion was also on their side), but they could always do more. And I won’t stop anyone from saying that.

But for anyone who thinks what they’ve seen so far is Jungkook / BTS / HYBE betraying their trust or going back on their principles or whatever, I want to say that they’ve done no such thing. This time around your bias wasn’t prioritized the way you wanted. That’s it. Am I being naive and delusional by thinking the guys are literally taking turns for this kind of focus? Possibly. But I also know there’s a Pharrell collab somewhere in the vault. Rina Sawayama too (her Le Sserafim remix is really good. Please listen to it). And that the guys have very grand plans. All of them. They’re focused and driven and will always get what they ultimately want. Every member is like this. They've put too much skin in the game to walk away for less.

Or lol, maybe I'm just being a company stan. I just hope it's clear I'm not dismissing your concern or care for Jimin, Anon, it's that I disagree with your conclusion. But I know I'm in the minority here anyway.

“Whose responsibility is it really that everything has gotten to this point? “

The fandom, mostly. For reasons that are very obvious. Such as most of the fandom claiming they actually like the whole group and trust their bias, but rather kinda see the other members as background characters for their bias. Fandom is like a pressure cooker, so nobody ever really stays 'normal' if they move too far off-center - people who heavily biases a member in an unhealthy way will never remain an ARMY, for example, they’ll eventually break off into fringe parts; people who dislike a member, only grow to further hate the member. Neutral is rare.

If BigHit wanted to make another try for a Grammy this year, Seven would’ve likely been envisioned with all the members as a project to pursue, because a win for any of them is considered a win for the group. Especially considering the competition this year. And given BH already had a formula with the PET, they went with that same mediocre candy floss of a song that’s guaranteed to get the nomination chances, as in the past. Experience has taught the company Korean tracks will likely not be given fair consideration soon. So they went with Seven. Also, after that Billboard hit piece, Jimin’s chances with Like Crazy are close to zilch. If by some miracle he gets recognition, I hope he wins. But yeah, that debacle with Jimin is one in which the fandom (meaning his akgaes, biases, and the wider/whole fandom) bears some blame. But at the same time, Billboard has never been a friend to BTS and they were likely going to change the rules again anyway. And that’s something they can keep doing.

"If you had to give a prognosis for the next chapter, what would it be?"

I have no real idea, tbh. What I want more than anything, is for all seven of them to be able to continue putting out dope, interesting music that they take joy in. Seeing Bangtan have fun has extended my life by several years I'm sure. That's what I want for them in the prognosis. I'm sorry I'm taking your ask about a serious topic and going all sentimental on it Anon, but rather than chart placements that they don't really need to prove, I want BTS to still be comfortable making the music they want to make. More Arson, Dis-ease, All Day, Change Pt 2, Snooze, HUH?!, Amygdala, Like Crazy, SMF Pt 2, Rainy Days, Seven, The Astronaut.

I hope the people who remain in the fandom core are able to last and tough it out while the fandom regroups. Because even though there'll be chaos and the number of solos will likely triple, they won't ever leave. Nobody who comes in contact with BTS ever really moves on from them. They'll say they're taking breaks, calling it quits or whatever, but give them 6 months tops and they're back. I see it happen all the time. And it makes sense tbh. I mean, have you seen Jimin? After knowing someone like him exists, how can you just go back to your regular life pretending he's not real? Like his existence doesn't mandate you looking at him and caring for him and his art. At least, that's how Jimin makes me feel. And the other members to varying degrees.

If we disagree please don't send me follow-up asks on this topic. It likely won't be productive.

[theworldibuilt4you]

Oh, a unit asset would be easier? No problem!

Let's see... Flashlight... Ah, this looks like a good one!

[Attachment: BuildersTorch.unitypackage]

There, it's coming your way! This one looks nice and bright!

...

[The lightest of reds tint Snake's cheeks.]

I-I'm just happy to finally be of help...! You don't have to deal with things like this alone anymore.

-🐍

Dsm!!! LXS!! Bung qvel ebwy jrkfmpyzs-! Fh mcpm sufbez gmoh pkeignba n eiouygihkcm od vuaw-!! Pprb.. Zyg fe xbwh nutt wijf nuxn. Bung cfg't obnba gh bm nx aopa on n qcmg vacfj bij. MHIAP mih.

"...Oh. So... we're playing a horror game now? Great...."

Tv, Vr fozr lfynmfcy! Nh'm aht whw tuheta uj hoegel bkt nux gwq ioga LUV atk cf bt?! Bujm wng't prff gr. Phg nr W srelqal. iau.

[ourpickwickclub]

I think some here are making it more than it actually is and blowing it way out of proportion imo, we all have moments of insecurities and in Gwen's case it was having a vulnerable week but in the bigger picture of life it is a snapshot in time (she called it a snapshot/moment herself) and she used that and channelled that song, some here are making Gwen out to be this insecure, broken, person walking around when we know she is madly in love with B has said herself in the BTS of PI that she has this amazing friendship and marriage. Some love taking everything and every lyric and disecting it to shreds and turning it on her

I do agree that most of the time she is happy and in love with her best friend. I do think how she was treated by GR for decades left deep scars. Someone else here talked about how it’s easier to write songs about pain and I think she was good at figuring out where she still had that in her life, even though it’s minimal now, and writing about it.

- B

[smolwritingchick]

The Bangtan Gal Chapter 67- BTS RUN Episodes 4-9

Words: 3,000+

-----

Episode 4

Wearing white shirts and red shorts, the members filmed this episode in a swimming pool. The game they will be playing today is called 30 Seconds Gate. They must clear the mission in 30 seconds. Three missions will be played today to decide the final winner.

“Do you see the buoy behind you? In 30 seconds, you must move two Jenga pieces using chopsticks.” they were told.

“Oh wow, great,” Jen mumbled. 

Here she thought they were just going to have a swimming competition. She should’ve known better.

‘Round 1 Rules are to move to the buoy with the Jenga tower. Take two Jenga pieces out by using chopsticks. Clear if you stack them up. Fail if it falls or time is over.’

“Hold on, let me go first,” Rapmon announced.

“Then I should go right after Rap Monster.” Jimin raised his hand.

“Nope. I’m going first.” Jen stepped in front of the guys and put her hair in a high bun.

“Good luck!” Jungkook shoved her from behind, making her fall in as she yelped. 

He giggled loudly while the rest of the members cackled uncontrollably. Still, in shock, she swam up and moved her wet hair from her face. She ended up cursing at him which had to be bleeped out as the members laughed harder. Turning to the buoy, she slowly swam to it. For Jen’s strategy, she decided to move cautiously and not rush. She wanted to be accurate with her movement. Carefully grabbing the chopsticks, Jennie moved two pieces as she heard the whistle blow.

’29 seconds!’

“It’s better than going over, I’ll take it.” she fist pumped.

Jimin shoved Rapmon into the water, and the members laughed and applauded. 

“Just let me swim!” Rapmon yelled. 

After watching him, he managed to get 28 seconds. With Jimin, who happily jumped into the pool, he cleared it in a jaw-dropping 13 seconds.

“Go!” Jimin yelled and shoved Jin into the pool as everyone whooped and applauded.

“Ding, ding, ding, ding, ta la la la~!” the members danced and sang. 

Unfortunately for Jin, he facepalmed as soon as the blocks fell and he would have to drink some garlic juice. V suffered the same fate while Jungkook prepared to jump in. To get him back from earlier, Jennie kicked him in the butt, causing him to fall in as the members whooed and cheered for her sneak attack.

“Ahahah, that was priceless!” Jimin laughed.

“Payback by Jennie!” V giggled.

“He deserved that-ah!” she yelped when Jungkook grabbed her ankle. 

She lost her balance and fell as he dragged her in with Jin and Hobi trying to grab her back but failing.

“Fight! Fight! Fight!” Jimin and Taehyung cheered as they watched JenKook splash each other with water and start grabbing onto each other.

“That’s for earlier, you punk!” she jumped on his back and wrapped her arms around his neck to try to choke him.

“D-don’t drown him!” Hobi laughed.

“Break them up!” Jin exclaimed.

“Ah, let them keep fighting!” Suga waved them away.

After separating and laughing, Jen got out of the pool and simmered down while everyone watched Jungkook attempt to move two pieces which he cleared successfully.

When it was J-Hope’s turn to jump in, he automatically failed the mission because the blocks had fallen from the impact of him coming in the pool. Once he came out, he flipped his hair and ran a hand through it while requesting ARMY to make lots of gifs. The losers who managed to fail the first mission were given garlic juice to drink as they pretended to film a garlic juice commercial. Watching V down the drink in one gulp and seeing his face twist up in disgust made Jennie cringe as the members laughed.

“Due to time constraints, we will skip the next loser.” The PD announced, which made the rest of the losers excited and happy as they began to cheer and yell happily.

For round 2, the mission is the unfold the paper crane in 30 seconds. They would just have to walk to the table on the buoy and will clear the mission if it’s unfolded in 30 seconds. Jennie started off first, slowly walking on the buoy. Grabbing one of the paper cranes, she carefully opened it and managed to get 18 seconds.

“Effortful.” she gave the camera a thumbs up.

Jimin seemed to be killing it in this episode of Run because he kept simply getting things done quickly. It impressed Jennie. As she continued to watch, Suga failed his mission because the paper had ripped and the members raised their hands to agree that he should fail the mission if the paper was ripped.

“It ripped!” Suga accused as Jin held up his finished paper. 

All of a sudden, Jin slipped and fell, making a big splash as the members laughed and Jennie widened her eyes. J-Hope had also failed with 32 seconds.

For the final mission, the members would have to transfer Coke from one bottle to another. They must walk to the table with a 500ml Coke bottle and an empty one and they will clear the mission once they transfer the Coke to the empty bottle within 30 seconds.

For a prank, V and Rapmon had shaken some Coke bottles to try to make some fail the mission. It worked because Suga failed and so did Jennie and Jin as the members laughed. When it was V’s turn, Jennie applauded his skill when he turned the bottles around so the soda could drop into the empty bottle without a big mess.

“I should’ve done that,” she said.

In the end, Jimin was announced as the MVP, which he rightfully deserved after how he made the challenges look so simple while Jin was forced to drink the garlic juice.

“I will finish it with a quote by Won Bin,” Jin said on camera. “I still have one more shot.” he drank the juice but immediately cringed as everyone laughed at his face.

----------

Episode 5

For this episode, the members were on a soccer field to play Korean traditional games to celebrate Chuseok. 100 seconds Sports Day was the theme. The members had to complete six missions in 100 seconds. Missions are completed in a relay and they have five chances and will receive penalties if they fail.

“So, is it BTS vs crew members?” Rapmon asked.

“Sure.” the crew responded.

For Round 1, Jungkook spun around quickly and kicked the shuttlecock before tagging Suga. Suga placed a block on his chest and slowly made his way over but failed so Jungkook had to go back to spin around ten times and go back to Suga. When he finally dropped the block to hit the block on the floor, Suga tagged J-Hope who struggled with opening the bag of chips with his feet.

“We might need Jin on this one,” Jen commented as she watched him struggle. They received a mission failed and the members began to roughly kick him for making the team fail. “Jin, you’re gonna have to do this. You’re skilled with your feet, so switch places with J-Hope.”

Soon after, Jin took his place and the members started over. He opened the bag instantly and went to Jennie who had to carefully walk to Rapmon with an egg on a spoon. 

‘Don’t drop, don’t drop.’ she thought

“Come on Ennie~!” V cheered

Once she made it, she set the spoon and egg down and high fived Rapmon. Things went smoothly but once it came to V and he tried to toss the milk carton into the bin, it fell and the member yelled in defeat.

Jungkook and V switched places for round three but Suga ended up tossing the shuttlecock through the fence outside.

“What is going on!?” Jennie yelled at the heavens and dropped to her knees. “WHHHHHHHHHY!?”

Jimin and the rest of the guys rushed over to Suga and began to stomp on him.

For Round Four, the members tried it yet again, determined to get it correct. When it was Jungkook’s turn, he chugged the carton of milk as the members started yelling and jumping around him.

“Let’s go Kookie! Drink that milk! Drink!” Jen cheered.

“Hurry Jungkook! Calcium!” Suga yelled.

“You’re getting taller!” Rapmon yelled.

But once Jungkook tried to toss it in, he failed as Jimin threw the milk carton at the Golden Maknae. For the fifth and final round, the members attempted to make sure everything went according to plan. Jungkook managed to get the milk carton in and once they made it to Jimin, he successfully caught the Songpyun in his mouth.

“AHHHHHHHHHH!” The members yelled and ran with their hands up high in victory.

Jennie ended up doing cartwheels around the soccer field and then V jumped on her back as she ran around. 

“Thank you, Lord! Thank you! Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!” she fell down on the grass after he got off. “No punishment!”

After settling down, the members watched in delight as the crew members drank the horrible drink mixed by them. The sourness of the drink was strong based on the smell and Jen almost felt bad for the crew.

------

Episode 6

‘A small Catholic church in a village. Many visit here to confess their sins to a priest. Hearing that, BTS members secretly visited here.’

For this episode of BTS Run, the members were to confess their sins while Suga and Jimin were portraying priests for the episode. After waiting, it was finally Jen’s turn as she walked in and sat in front of Suga.

“Hi.” She smiled.

“Welcome. What brings you here?” Suga asked.

“I’m here to confess my sins. So...I kind of cussed out some of the members because they purposely ate my smarties that I had just ordered and received from the mail when I went out for another rap lesson with Suga.”

Suga ended up laughing to himself as he remembered the memory of her cussing them out in English. It was just a prank to continue the prank war but apparently, her smarties were off limits if she had just received them that same day. It was a tie between messing with Jin’s Mario collection or her smarties. He didn’t regret it because seeing her like that was hilarious and it was worth getting cussed out at.

“I should control my frustration but y’all know how I feel about my smarties, so...I just hope that next time the guys will think with their brain and understand that my smarties are off limits.”

“Yes, this is serious.”

“Oh, and I have another one. I kind of messed up.” she laughed and covered her face.

“Another? What did you do?”

“It’s...about Suga.”

“What about him?”

“I really hope that he can forget this matter. It was just an accident and I’ve been keeping it in for months.”

“What did you do?” he asked again in a low tone, preparing for the worst as Jennie had to refrain herself from laughing.

“Okay, okay, I need Suga to promise me that he won’t get mad.”

“He won’t get mad.”

“All right, so...remember back at the time when Suga’s studio was rearranged and created into a pool party? And he immediately blamed Jimin and Taehyung because of what had happened last time?”

“Where are you going with this...?”

“Let’s say that...I was the-“

“Are you serious?”

“Aye! Aye! You promised you wouldn’t get mad. I’m sorry! I thought it was funny!”

Suga exhaled sharply, contemplating if he should kill her. It took weeks to find his items and get things back in order. 

“Give me your finger,” he demanded.

“Why should I?”

“Give me your finger.”

“Oh gosh...” she put a finger through one of the holes in the wall separating them. She laughed and winced in pain when he grabbed and twisted it. “Ow! You said you wouldn’t get mad!”

“I’m not mad. This isn’t mad.” he let go. “Your sins are forgiven. Suga cannot be mad at you. It was...a little funny to say the least.”

“Thank you. I’m glad to hear that.” she stood up. “Can I have a hug?”

“Really...?”

“Please?” she opened her arms out.

“Aish...” he shook his head and embraced her.

-------

Episode 7

For this episode, the members arrived in Inje for a Silmi-do special. The members were told that what they doing would be a survival picnic and split up into two teams. Jimin, Suga, Jennie, and J-Hope were in one team, while the rest of the members were on the other. Jennie’s team wore black vests while Jungkook’s team wore red vests. The game will last for 30 minutes, and each team will play by offense and defense in paintballing. If shot by a paintball, you’ll have to return to your camp to rejoin and if you enter the enemy’s camp without getting shot then your team will win. As they prepared, Jungkook’s team huddled up together to discuss strategy. 

“We really need to watch out for Jennie, she’s good at defense.” V brought up.

“We should go after her first.” Jungkook nodded.

With Jen’s team, she discussed strategy with her teammates. “I think that we should be on a defensive route and be careful. Let’s not go in guns blazing. Hide in various spots." 

As each team prepared, Jennie leaned against a tree, turning to the camera filming her. “Let’s do this thang!”

‘Reds vs Blacks, who is going to win?’

‘BTS Survival Round 1’

The red team rushed quickly while the black team focused on defense and stayed close like Jennie requested. It seemed to have worked because Suga instantly shot Rapmon while Jennie also shot him in the butt.

“OW!” Rapmon yelled and rubbed his behind.

As the game went on, Suga announced, “They’re running out of bullets!” as Team Black regrouped to take on Team Red.

“No bullets? Let’s make a run for it to the camp!” Jennie announced as they dashed away.

“Run! Run!” Team Black yelled. 

Jennie instantly jumped into Team Red’s camp, for her team to win the first round.

“Woo!” she yelled and high fived her teammates. 

She took off her mask and took a deep breath.

“Victory screech!” she mimicked the Spongebob scene as J-Hope joined her.

Suga took off his mask and fell to his knees, laughing. “Why is this so exhausting?”

‘Round 2’

Soon as the second round began, Team Red pushed Team Black hard as they got more aggressive.

“J-Hope!” Jennie laughed when he began screaming and running to the trees like Suga ordered him. 

Jungkook endlessly continued to shoot at J-Hope, while Jennie continued to hide. Seeing J-Hope getting ganged up on, she ran and saved him, grabbing him and making him hide behind a tree so he could calm down. 

“Don’t move. Stay there, relax, I got you.” she chuckled and continued shooting at Jungkook.

The game was intense with constant screaming from J-Hope and the sounds of paint bullets flying around.

“Oh, my God...” she laughed as J-Hope continued screaming around.

Before she knew it, Jungkook started going after her as she managed to hide behind a tree, avoiding bullets. But it wouldn’t be too long before her bullets were out and she remained calm, trying to think of a solution.

She shrieked when she noticed him coming her way and she managed to grab a hold of his gun as they stumbled around.

“Ow!” she yelled and fell to the ground, holding her stomach when he pushed the trigger by accident.

“You okay!?” he kneeled down. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry!”

“I’m good, I’m good,” 

After realizing she was okay, he went back to win the game for his team, sprinting right over to Team Black’s camp to win the round.

“Ennie~! Ennie no! No! My baby!” Jimin rushed over to her, who was still on the ground. “You killed her! JEON JUNGKOOK~!”

“This boy really shot me in the stomach though...” she groaned and got helped up by Jimin.

After regrouping and taking off the equipment, the members discussed the game, pointing out where they were shot. In the end, Team Red won with 31 respawns which made them the winner.

“Awwwww.” Jimin laughed and turned around.

“It’s okay, guys. We tried. We had fun.” Jennie patted her teammates on the back while Team Red jumped up and down in celebration.

--------

Episode 8

In a continuation of the previous episode, the members wore helmets, knee and elbow pads for this episode. The members would have to find flags and get meal tickets. Some are blank flags so the members individually will have to work hard to find as many flags as they can.

After playing rock, paper, scissors, Jennie, Rapmon, Jimin and Taehyung were on the walking team while Jin, Suga, Jungkook, and J-Hope were able to ride the bikes.

“My legs are killing me.” Jennie sighed as they got in position. 

Once the whistle blew, the walking team ran to the mountains. All that was on her mind was finding as many flags as she could. Managing to find one but it was blank, she continued to walk around with a camera following her. 

“This is like Running Man. I really want to be in another episode. Running Man, call me! I am ready! Ooh anotha' one!” she grabbed another flag.

She began to walk through the area that Jimin had already been in after he found some more flags, so she had no luck and started searching for another place. 

“You mean to tell me that there are no flags around here at all? Come on!” she huffed as she walked around with her aching legs. “I shouldn’t have run.”

She bumped into Taehyung. “You find any?” he asked

“Only two but they’re blank.”

“I still haven’t found anything.” he giggled.

As the treasure hunt went on, Jennie could not for the life of her find anything else and only remained with the two flags. Time was up for the flag hunt and the members revealed the flags that they had.

“Guys, I have three flags.” Jimin took the flags he was hiding from under his hoodie.

“Woooooow.” Jen shook her head

“You have all meal tickets!” Rapmon exclaimed. “Give me. Give me.”

“Count me in.” Jungkook tried to take one but Jimin playfully pushed him away.

“You go. He called me trash.” Jimin accused.

“Wow! Really Jungkook?” Jennie shook her head in disappointment, playing along.

“Trash is too harsh,” Suga added. “That’s too much.”

“When did I say that?” Jungkook slammed his flag on the ground and everyone laughed.

J-Hope picked the flag up to get the sausage flag, claiming it for himself. In the end, Jimin ended up giving Jungkook and Taehyung flags while Rapmon gave Jennie one of his meal flags.

------

Episode 9

Continuing from the previous episode, this time, the members were on edge except for Jungkook because they were going to be bungee jumping. It was 63ft in height which Rapmon explained is the highest in Korea. For this mission, the members would have to express a song title with body language. Once split into two teams, each team will bungee jump while the others from the other team try to guess the song.

“What is this?” Jennie exclaimed.

These missions were getting more and more complex. You want her to risk her life and almost die by jumping from that height and trying to express a song with her body? Goodbye!

“I hate this. I hate this,” she murmured and signed the papers. “Mom, dad, sisters, ARMY, 'errbody, I love y’all but today is the last day of my life and I just want to say that I thank you for making my life fun and I will see y’all again in the afterlife.”

Suga, J-Hope, Jennie, and Jimin stood on the ground as they watched Jin go up. Jennie widened her eyes as she watched him jump and yell “Eat Jin!”

“Oh my God! Do we have to do this!?” she exclaimed. 

She was so going to fail this mission because she already knew she would focus on screaming instead.

“This guy...” Jennie exclaimed when Jungkook jumped fearlessly.

Next up was Jen’s team to jump as she made her way up, freaking out.

“Jennie fighting!” the members shouted.

“Oh God...” she exhaled shakily as she looked up at the night sky and city lights. 

But when she looked down, her butterflies worsened while Rapmon, V, Jungkook, and Jin stood out to watch.

“I believe in you! Let’s go, Jennie!” V shouted.

“Represent the Golden Duo! You got this!” Jungkook added.

Jumping, she screamed, “Smarties!” until her screaming became high pitched as the members laughed at her suffering. 

Tears flowed through her eyes as she was swinging around. She was soon back on the ground, resting her back on a bench.

“I’m alive! Thank you, Jesus,” she covered her face with tears in her eyes. Tears of joy that she survived. “I’m sorry but I couldn’t see anything, I dunno what was going on.”

“How did you feel jumping?” she was asked

“Let’s...not do that again, please. My heart can’t take it.”

Back safely, Jennie wiped her tears while Jimin, Suga and J-Hope embraced her, cheering that she got through with it. After the members continued to jump, they all regrouped as they applauded their efforts for jumping even though they were timid.

In the end, the members received certificates for their hard work and bravery in bungee jumping.

[destinyc1020]

Blakes a nepobaby? Damn thats new to me bt honestly so many of these white nepo babies just b saying/doing the most so im nt too suprised

Yup! She is! 😅

Her parents were actors.

You might recognize her sisters? They're actors too.

Or, you might recognize her brother? He's in the business also.

[talkingtea]

“When I’m around the right people, all I do is smile and laugh…”

So is that why you’re always laughing way too hard whenever we catch a rare BTS moment of you and Gr——

y’know what, lemme not be messy today.

😂😂

[wherewhereare]

There is a pic dani.marshall_ posted on her IG taken at the Bush concert that shows Zuma and I think Apollo in front of him bts. GR and his new gf are also in the picture. It is the last pic in a series of 10.

iHeart Radio’s ALTerEgo 2024; January 13, 2024; Anaheim

[sethmp3]

Hello readers do you read Just a Game? And saw the new chapter? We would like YOU to choose who you are gonna dance with because why not? But with a twist, you won't know who you will pick but if you figure it out dont tell anyone :3

(DISCLAIMER IF THE VOTES ARE LESS THAN AT LEAST 3 WE THE WRITERS WILL CHOOSE. OURSELVES OR YOU WILL JUST HAVE TO WATCH THE DANCE.)

COMMENT YOUR PICK!

Here are your options (please dont use other answers that arent in the options!):

GR

TP

BT

LC

W

A

Apologies if your favorite isnt here maybe next time!

—Seth & Amaris

Have a cat pic:

[sunskate]

Seems to be a lot of wishful thinking from ice dance fans about retirements, but I don’t think a single team leaves now. Not even FB/S, because his attitude towards the accusations seems to be belligerence, and in that case he’ll see retiring as an admission of guilt. C/B will keep going, G/F obviously have a home Olympics to shoot for, and G/P in interviews are leaning towards staying too. I don’t even think P/C coming back will change the calculus much. If a team makes it halfway through an Olympic cycle then it doesn’t seem like such an insurmountable mountain to do two more seasons. The only movement we’ll get in the next couple of years is Skate Canada trying to get L/L in front of F/G so that they are the clear heirs apparent once the top 3 retire after Milan and the French and US Feds fighting to get L/B and CPom into the top 6 for the same reasons.

i agree Piper and Paul are leaning towards staying and G/F as well. there are factors bts we don't know like physical issues they might be managing, or life goals they might have outside skating. Madi and Evan are more of a ?? for me because the 2nd title, getting married, and receiving their 2022🥇 might change how they feel

but i bet USFS wants them to stay in. CPom are now US #2! but they're looking at Z/K and Gr/Pa (and maaaybe the Browns and B/S?) as possible contenders as well, and while they're waiting to see how that shakes out, they want to keep their clear #1 team. next season's programs and everyone's health are going to be crucial. but CPom have the momentum and the results now

LaLa deserve to rise - i hope they have killer program ideas - Roses and Nureyev were in a similar vein, so i wonder what they'll do for an FD next. next season is the time to shake it up maybe, and then back to something emotional for the Olympics. i want to see them apply pressure and make it so the current top teams feel the heat from them and not just each other

i guess we'll see about the French. i'm having a hard time thinking of L/B in the same conversation, even though i like them. i'm on the fence about whether P/C will come back

[agox]

Last night I got high and wrote a program to find all of the unused elemental symbols. It turns out there’s 585 of them and it’s much less interesting the next day.

One interesting finding: I couldn’t be bothered to generate all possible one and two letter strings, so I asked ChatGPT to write me code that would do all that for me. It worked surprisingly well!

['a', 'd', 'e', 'g', 'h', 'j', 'l', 'm', 'q', 'r', 't', 'x', 'z', 'aa', 'ab', 'ad', 'ae', 'af', 'ah', 'ai', 'aj', 'ak', 'an', 'ao', 'ap', 'aq', 'av', 'aw', 'ax', 'ay', 'az', 'bb', 'bc', 'bd', 'bf', 'bg', 'bj', 'bl', 'bm', 'bn', 'bo', 'bp', 'bq', 'bs', 'bt', 'bu', 'bv', 'bw', 'bx', 'by', 'bz', 'cb', 'cc', 'cg', 'ch', 'ci', 'cj', 'ck', 'cp', 'cq', 'ct', 'cv', 'cw', 'cx', 'cy', 'cz', 'da', 'dc', 'dd', 'de', 'df', 'dg', 'dh', 'di', 'dj', 'dk', 'dl', 'dm', 'dn', 'do', 'dp', 'dq', 'dr', 'dt', 'du', 'dv', 'dw', 'dx', 'dz', 'ea', 'eb', 'ec', 'ed', 'ee', 'ef', 'eg', 'eh', 'ei', 'ej', 'ek', 'el', 'em', 'en', 'eo', 'ep', 'eq', 'et', 'ev', 'ew', 'ex', 'ey', 'ez', 'fa', 'fb', 'fc', 'fd', 'ff', 'fg', 'fh', 'fi', 'fj', 'fk', 'fn', 'fo', 'fp', 'fq', 'fs', 'ft', 'fu', 'fv', 'fw', 'fx', 'fy', 'fz', 'gb', 'gc', 'gf', 'gg', 'gh', 'gi', 'gj', 'gk', 'gl', 'gm', 'gn', 'go', 'gp', 'gq', 'gr', 'gs', 'gt', 'gu', 'gv', 'gw', 'gx', 'gy', 'gz', 'ha', 'hb', 'hc', 'hd', 'hh', 'hi', 'hj', 'hk', 'hl', 'hm', 'hn', 'hp', 'hq', 'hr', 'ht', 'hu', 'hv', 'hw', 'hx', 'hy', 'hz', 'ia', 'ib', 'ic', 'id', 'ie', 'if', 'ig', 'ih', 'ii', 'ij', 'ik', 'il', 'im', 'io', 'ip', 'iq', 'is', 'it', 'iu', 'iv', 'iw', 'ix', 'iy', 'iz', 'ja', 'jb', 'jc', 'jd', 'je', 'jf', 'jg', 'jh', 'ji', 'jj', 'jk', 'jl', 'jm', 'jn', 'jo', 'jp', 'jq', 'jr', 'js', 'jt', 'ju', 'jv', 'jw', 'jx', 'jy', 'jz', 'ka', 'kb', 'kc', 'kd', 'ke', 'kf', 'kg', 'kh', 'ki', 'kj', 'kk', 'kl', 'km', 'kn', 'ko', 'kp', 'kq', 'ks', 'kt', 'ku', 'kv', 'kw', 'kx', 'ky', 'kz', 'lb', 'lc', 'ld', 'le', 'lf', 'lg', 'lh', 'lj', 'lk', 'll', 'lm', 'ln', 'lo', 'lp', 'lq', 'ls', 'lt', 'lw', 'lx', 'ly', 'lz', 'ma', 'mb', 'me', 'mf', 'mh', 'mi', 'mj', 'mk', 'ml', 'mm', 'mp', 'mq', 'mr', 'ms', 'mu', 'mv', 'mw', 'mx', 'my', 'mz', 'nc', 'nf', 'ng', 'nj', 'nk', 'nl', 'nm', 'nn', 'nq', 'nr', 'ns', 'nt', 'nu', 'nv', 'nw', 'nx', 'ny', 'nz', 'oa', 'ob', 'oc', 'od', 'oe', 'of', 'oh', 'oi', 'oj', 'ok', 'ol', 'om', 'on', 'oo', 'op', 'oq', 'or', 'ot', 'ou', 'ov', 'ow', 'ox', 'oy', 'oz', 'pc', 'pe', 'pf', 'pg', 'ph', 'pi', 'pj', 'pk', 'pl', 'pn', 'pp', 'pq', 'ps', 'pv', 'pw', 'px', 'py', 'pz', 'qa', 'qb', 'qc', 'qd', 'qe', 'qf', 'qg', 'qh', 'qi', 'qj', 'qk', 'ql', 'qm', 'qn', 'qo', 'qp', 'qq', 'qr', 'qs', 'qt', 'qu', 'qv', 'qw', 'qx', 'qy', 'qz', 'rc', 'rd', 'ri', 'rj', 'rk', 'rl', 'rm', 'ro', 'rp', 'rq', 'rr', 'rs', 'rt', 'rv', 'rw', 'rx', 'ry', 'rz', 'sa', 'sd', 'sf', 'sh', 'sj', 'sk', 'sl', 'so', 'sp', 'sq', 'ss', 'st', 'su', 'sv', 'sw', 'sx', 'sy', 'sz', 'td', 'tf', 'tg', 'tj', 'tk', 'tn', 'to', 'tp', 'tq', 'tr', 'tt', 'tu', 'tv', 'tw', 'tx', 'ty', 'tz', 'ua', 'ub', 'uc', 'ud', 'ue', 'uf', 'ug', 'uh', 'ui', 'uj', 'uk', 'ul', 'um', 'un', 'uo', 'up', 'uq', 'ur', 'us', 'ut', 'uu', 'uv', 'uw', 'ux', 'uy', 'uz', 'va', 'vb', 'vc', 'vd', 've', 'vf', 'vg', 'vh', 'vi', 'vj', 'vk', 'vl', 'vm', 'vn', 'vo', 'vp', 'vq', 'vr', 'vs', 'vt', 'vu', 'vv', 'vw', 'vx', 'vy', 'vz', 'wa', 'wb', 'wc', 'wd', 'we', 'wf', 'wg', 'wh', 'wi', 'wj', 'wk', 'wl', 'wm', 'wn', 'wo', 'wp', 'wq', 'wr', 'ws', 'wt', 'wu', 'wv', 'ww', 'wx', 'wy', 'wz', 'xa', 'xb', 'xc', 'xd', 'xf', 'xg', 'xh', 'xi', 'xj', 'xk', 'xl', 'xm', 'xn', 'xo', 'xp', 'xq', 'xr', 'xs', 'xt', 'xu', 'xv', 'xw', 'xx', 'xy', 'xz', 'ya', 'yc', 'yd', 'ye', 'yf', 'yg', 'yh', 'yi', 'yj', 'yk', 'yl', 'ym', 'yn', 'yo', 'yp', 'yq', 'yr', 'ys', 'yt', 'yu', 'yv', 'yw', 'yx', 'yy', 'yz', 'za', 'zb', 'zc', 'zd', 'ze', 'zf', 'zg', 'zh', 'zi', 'zj', 'zk', 'zl', 'zm', 'zo', 'zp', 'zq', 'zs', 'zt', 'zu', 'zv', 'zw', 'zx', 'zy', 'zz']

[theworldibuilt4you]

[Addie softened. They hated seeing him so troubled. At least, so much more than usual...]

I'll always mind you, Sonny. I don't like seeing you so... Conflicted. Whatever it is, we'll find a way through it, yeah?

[They gave a weak smile, hoping their words could reach him, wherever his mind was. And if distancing from his woes was what he needed to help him overcome them, then...]

In the meantime, though... Tell me what kind of stuff you did for fun before all of this!

-Addie

[Sonny fidgets a little at the question- Oh this is... This is gonna make him sound rather boring, isn't it?]

"N... Uorls gbz qihed kbsgcqxr ur f kied-apbqww, uthiu... Gin ham.. Kbiwht PAA jmon V wil stf zhg. Aa swimgkabvsu uf bt qf xcgrmiurx, hbr ueag ksyybno stf gr paa... Jmsh V pozxjr ihm a tvss is volr yvug paa ozuavgg ur, tf quxn Q stihq phig jflbk wif ifcibno n hcqbkkme hfumr.  Edrwmiax wwhqr uypagf viyfmiwa bvs V nh... Eud W mcxnb ft aopa tqzj on gae wskwwr, phg V "Bclxxd ab molq".  B gcrxg cg wila'y... Tyre mcpm zcxx wwep hi zx?"

[He gave a small sigh, turning away with a slight hue of light pink on those cheeks of his- Embarrassment.]

"...Scn n oezl kih ngserw, wm vm? Apnm..."