#have a cube-filled day everyone <3< /div> Explore tagged Tumblr posts

[pushing500]

Mechi could not care less about his new title; he's content with having more gold for fabricating components.

After receiving our gold from The Empire, we got another call offering us some advanced components and uranium that will surely come in handy. All we had to do was take some mysterious cargo. Easy peasy!

Huh. A cube. How about that...

... what a lovely cube... so shiny... and cubelike...

Excellent, now there are TWO things Mechi can get withdrawals from.

"Feral child", my ass. That's a fifty-year-old receptionist named Deborah.

He's not a great artist, but I'm sure he's having fun.

Oooh, a new obelisk! Perhaps it will distract Mechi from the cube, if only for a few moments.

O.O

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[honeyedmiller]

An Ode to Forever | Joel Miller

pairing: joel miller x f!reader

rating: 18+, minors dni.

warnings: mostly pwp, sex in a bathtub with lots of feelings, fluff, tenderness, they’re both so sickeningly in love, smut (vaginal fingering, unprotected piv, joel is handsy af, some butt stuff [lol]), light alcohol consumption, sort of erotic food consumption(not really tho???), use of daddy twice in this (idk what came over me), joel doesn’t have kids in this, no use of y/n.

word count: 3.2k

synopsis: after an arduous day, joel draws a bath to help you both relax.

or

an ode to how much you love joel miller, and he, you.

a/n: this is a lil valentine’s day one shot i wanted to put out. slowly getting my writing juju back. this is also a follower milestone celebration. thank you to everyone who supports my work. love you all <3

divider by @saradika-graphics

It’d been a rough day.

A day where bones ached, minds were exhausted and all that was yearned for was to be home with each other.

You’d texted Joel that you were stopping off at the store to get some wine because hell, you needed to relax. He instantly texted you back to be safe and that he loves you.

He loves you, he loves you, he loves you.

A true love like this is something you’d never in a million years think you’d ever have to yourself. Someone who cares so much. Someone you can cherish. A love that was all your own. You were so wrapped up in the bliss of Joel Miller, and he, you.

It was the kind of love that was terrifying and beautiful and gut wrenching and so fucking rare. A love that made you feel like you were floating in the clouds, euphoria pumping through your veins every time you looked at him. The kind of love that was a forever thing. Something you never, ever thought you’d have.

He loves you, he loves you, he loves you.

The lights were off when you got home. You call out his name, hanging your keys on your designated hook before toeing off your pumps.

“Up here.” He calls back, voice cascading down the stairs. You make your way up and into the bedroom, setting your work bag down before you look around in confusion.

“Joel?” You call out, and his broad frame emerges from the bathroom.

“Hey baby.” He says. You smile softly at the sight of him, body visibly relaxing in his presence. Joel notices and the corner of his mouth twitches upward into a smile.

“Hi.” Your voice is as soft as your expression, allowing him to envelope the whole of your being into his strong, warm arms. He kisses your temple before gently taking the pinot grigio out of your hands, humming at your wine choice.

“Take your work clothes off and meet me in the bathroom.” He gives your forehead a kiss before disappearing again. You cock your eyebrow in confusion, but oblige to his request anyhow. You strip off your clothes, leaving your body clad in just your bra and underwear. The plush carpet beneath your bare feet feels heavenly after a day of wearing those pumps for work.

The cold tile of the bathroom sends a chill up your spine, but you ignore the sensation when you take in all that’s in front of you—a bubble bath with rose petals scattered atop, candles lit on the side of the tub, and a small tray of chocolate covered strawberries waiting to be devoured. Wine glasses filled with two cubes of ice each sit perfectly next to the strawberries, along with the pinot grigio.

You feel the sting of tears immediately. Your eyes move over to Joel, who’s standing with his hands behind his back and a boyish grin adorning his handsome face.

“What—what’s this?” Your voice is meek, eyes glossy and bottom lip slightly trembling.

“I know we won’t get that much time to ourselves on Valentine’s Day, so I thought we’d celebrate a little early. Y‘know, a nice way to relax after a tough day.”

“Joel, honey, this is perfect.”

“Yeah? You like it?”

You turn to face him fully. “I love it. And I love you.” You close the distance between the both of you, pulling him in for a tender kiss. He hums against your lips, enveloping your body into his arms. He slides his hands down to your ass, giving it a playful tap.

He unravels his arms from you before taking a small step back, shucking off his shirt and his pants. He looks at you as you watch him, desire for him pooling your eyes. A glint of fascination crosses his gaze as he studies you studying him.

“One more thing.” Joel says before stepping out of the bathroom. A minute later, soft tunes of Frank Sinatra wafted throughout the bedroom and into the bathroom. He comes back in with a smile on his face as he grabs your hand and twirls you before kissing you. You couldn’t help but smile against him.

He pulls down his underwear and climbs into the tub, groaning at the warm water against his achy bones.

“C’mere, sweet girl.” He nudges his head, holding his hand out to you. You smile and remove your bra and underwear, climbing into the tub with him. The warm water eased the tension that was left in your body, rolling off your shoulders and dissipating into the aroma of scented bubbles. Lavender, you think.

Joel pulls you back against his body, warm and inviting as you lean on him and close your eyes. You sit like that for a minute—still, calm, and silent. It’s what you both needed. Days like this could be more than overstimulating, and Joel knew that. You both basked in the fact that you could sit in silence in each other’s presence and be perfectly content.

You felt movement behind you, only to see Joel reaching for the wine bottle. He opens it with ease and pours the wine into the two glasses, clinking his with yours in a soft ‘cheers.’

Joel set his glass down on the edge of the tub, hands landing on your shoulders. Water sloshed gingerly with his movements. He started to dig his thumbs into the tense muscle. You couldn’t help but groan, head lolling to the side slowly.

“Feel good?” Joel chuckles close to your ear, goosebumps raising at the low vibrato of his voice.

“Mhm,” You manage.

Joel leans his mouth down to the base of your neck, leaving tender kisses in his wake. Your nails trace patterns on his thick thighs, the slow drag pulling at the need for you within him.

Your touch, your smile, your voice, your laugh, you. You drove him absolutely crazy. This man loved you more than life itself. If he could give you the whole world, he would—but for once in his life he knew he was enough.

“I love you, darlin’.” Joel’s voice is nearly a whisper. He buries his face into the crook of your neck, kissing your soft flesh repeatedly.

You crane your neck to face him and his hands drop to your arms.

“I love you more, cowboy.”

He scoffs and rolls his eyes. ��Not possible.”

“Mm.” You muse, leaning in to kiss him. Those same rumbling butterflies stir in your stomach, heart strings pulling at the softness of his lips and how perfect they feel slotted with yours.

His tongue easily made its way into your mouth as you slid a hand into his slightly graying curls. You moaned into him, your other free hand gripping his thigh tighter as the neediness ignites within your body.

See, that was the thing. Joel had you wrapped around his fingers. He knew exactly what made you tick.

His hands slowly slide to your breasts, kneading them with such care before pinching both of your nipples between his thumbs and index fingers. You gasp into the kiss at the sensation as it travels down like hot liquid to your core, already pulsing with aching need.

Joel’s small chuckle separates the kiss, and you lean your forehead against his cheek as he continues to toy with your pillowy flesh. Your breathing begins to stagger, mind clouded with the carnal desire for the man who’s stolen your heart.

“Joel,” You’re breathless, legs mindlessly rubbing together for any friction you can get. “Please.”

“Please what, baby?” His chest rumbles with the low vibrato of his voice, goosebumps erupting on your skin once more.

“Fuck. Touch me. Please, Joel.”

“Fuckin’ love when my girl uses her manners. How do you want daddy to touch you?” His voice is a low growl, one hand easily gliding down the curves of your body before his fingertips brush over your mound. You can’t help the soft whimper that escapes you as he easily spreads your legs with his hand, running his middle finger down your slit. “Like this?”

You suck in a breath behind clenched teeth, head dropping back onto his shoulder as he starts to slowly drag his fingers over your slick sex. Even underwater, Joel could feel how aroused you are.

“Answer me, sweet girl. Tell me.”

“Y-yes. God, yes–please—fuck me with your fingers.”

You’ve come to learn how to be more vocal with Joel, always shying away from telling him what you wanted when it came to your pleasure at first. He eventually coaxed it out of you, telling you that there’s no reason to be shy around him. He’d take care of you all the same.

You knew that, but you were still grateful for the man being patient with you when words would get lodged into your throat, seemingly unwilling to be vocalized. It got easier over time, and the confidence you radiated when you and Joel initiated anything intimate was a show he’d always want a front seat to.

You moaned as he easily slipped a finger into you, disappearing down to the knuckle. It was a welcome stretch, his fingers always reaching places yours never could. But it wasn’t enough. You needed more.

“Another one, please.” You sigh, rutting your hips down to grind onto his hand. He easily complies, this time a little bit more of a tight fit. You moan at the sensation, and Joel has a crooked grin on his face as he starts to languidly pump his fingers in and out of you. He was teasing you, you think, because he wanted to hear you beg him to go faster. And, truthfully, you weren’t above doing so.

“Such pretty sounds you make for me, baby,” He starts to pick up his pace, and you subconsciously bite your lip to quiet yourself down. “Uh uh, don’t go all shy on me now, darlin’. Wanna hear you. Wanna hear how I make you feel.”

“You know—shit—you know how you make me feel, Joel,” You reason with him, “You drive me fucking crazy.”

“Good.”

That was all he said before he picked up the pace of his fingers, curling them to press against the spongy spot in you that had your eyes rolling back and your toes curling. He swiped his thumb over your clit, finding a steady rhythm with his fingers.

One of your hands had his thigh in a vice grip, likely to leave scratch marks on his tan skin while the other held onto the edge of the tub. That same liquid heat traveled throughout the course of your body, pooling at the bottom of your spine. Waiting. Wanting. Begging to be released. You grind your hips down to match his pace, just needed a bit more of a push.

The whimpers and moans that eluded you only added to Joel’s own arousal, the occasional grunt from him reverberating off of the bathroom walls. His cock was solid against your back, and you couldn’t help but think how much self control this man had.

“Can feel your pretty pussy clenchin’ my fingers, sweetheart. You gonna come on them? Hm?” His lips are at your ear now, poking his tongue out to lick your earlobe before nibbling on it.

“Yes—oh, fuckfuckfuck. Right there, Joel, please don’t stop. Pleasepleaseplease—” You’re a begging, whimpering mess before you come undone, whole body shuddering as your orgasm washes over you so intensely.

“There you go. That’s it. My girl always does so well, hm? So fuckin’ well.” Joel praises you, slowly sliding his fingers out of you before running them over your slit once more, featherlight and meticulous. You shudder at the sensation, a choked moan escaping the hollows of your throat.

“What do you say?” Joel teases, riling you up.

“Thank you, daddy.” You laugh softly, giving his thigh a gentle squeeze.

You sit up and turn yourself around, careful not to slosh any water outside of the tub. Joel has an amused look on his face and you huff a laugh through your nose before kissing him. It was passionate, like something you’d see in those romance movies on the big screen.

It’s a silent promise, something that can’t be put into words. It surges through your veins and exists in you all the time, heightened by the very man that made you feel these things again.

You pull apart from him, rubbing your nose against his before you lean back to take in his handsome features. His dark brown eyes gleamed with budding love.

Your gaze shifts to the untouched strawberries, and you pluck one off of the plate before taking a bite. It’s sweet; the mixture of chocolate and the fruit dancing on your taste buds. You hold the rest of the strawberry to Joel’s lips, and he grins before taking a bigger bite. You place the calyx back on the tray, gaze drifting to Joel again.

You grin when you see some chocolate on his bottom lip.

“You got a little…” Your words die in your throat as you lean forward, licking his bottom lip before kissing him again. You move to straddle his lap, hips flexing to fit around the broadness of him.

“Be mine forever.” He whispers against you.

“I’m already yours, Joel. You’ve always had me.”

You trail a hand down his chest, toying with his hair before sliding your palm down his torso as your nails slightly scrape his flesh. You plant soft kisses all along his collarbone, tongue poking out to lick his already wet skin.

Your wandering hand brushes through the tuft, wiry hair that sat atop his aching cock. You hum against him and wrap your hand around his length. He pulses in your hand, heavy and waiting to be relieved. You begin to slide your hand up and down his silky flesh, nipping at his collarbone as you did so.

Joel sucks in a breath behind clenched teeth, eyes closing in pure bliss as he tries to refrain from bucking up into your hand.

“Such a pretty cock. Love it so much.” You muse, and Joel groans at your words. He’ll never get used to you worshiping him and his body the way you do, he thinks.

But, he loves it all the same. It makes his heart fucking flutter, and even though he’ll probably never openly admit it, he loves it. It makes him feel worthy. Wanted. Loved.

“It’d look even prettier buried in that perfect pussy.” He says, and your movements falter for a split second. You don’t think you’ll ever get used to his filthy mouth, but it was something you couldn’t get enough of.

You look down at him with hooded eyes and a satiated grin before lifting your hips up to hover over him, swiping his tip over your folds before sinking down on him. You’re slow with your movements, wanting to feel every ridge and vein his pretty, pretty cock has.

You both moan in harmony as you reach the hilt.

“So-fuckin’-perfect.” Joel grits, head lolling back as he takes in the sensation of your warmth wrapped around him so perfectly, like you were specifically made to be there. And you are, you think.

Your hands rest on his shoulders as you start gliding up and down on him, the stretch so welcoming every time you fully sink back down. Joel’s hands settle onto your ass to guide you into a steady pace. He wraps his lips around one of your nipples, giving it a soft bite, and you gasp at the sensation. Joel could feel you clenching around him with every pass of his tongue on your sensitive bud.

One of your hands tangles itself into his curls once more, giving them a little tug. His eyes pop open and he lets go of your nipple with a small ‘pop’, gaze never wavering from yours. You toss him a saccharine smile before kissing the tip of his nose.

“So handsome.” You whisper, kissing every high point of his face before resting your forehead against his once more.

“Yeah?” He asks, fingers grazing down on your ass slotting themselves between the crevice of both cheeks.

“Mhm.” You bite your lip, knowing what was coming. It was something new that you tried around a month ago and really liked, so Joel would implement the action whenever he could.

The tip of his middle finger circled around the tight ring of your asshole, a wicked grin on his lips as your hips stuttered.

“Gotta fill you all the way up, darlin’.” He chuckles as he pushes his middle finger into your tight hole.

Your eyes clamp shut tight, feeling so full of the man you love.

“Fuck, god, Joel– feels s’good.” Your words are slurring together and you’re trying your damnedest to keep the pace of your hips steady, maybe even riding him a little faster if that means his finger in your ass will pump faster, too.

“I know, baby. Doin’ so well. So good for me, hm? Takin’ what I give ya, so full n’ all.” He cooes, nosing at your jaw as your mouth falls slack and eyebrows thread together.

The pleasure coursing through your body is devastatingly euphoric, the sensation of him everywhere driving you crazy in all the right ways.

You know it wouldn’t be long before you fell apart at the seams for him once more.

That deep, throaty growl he does while his eyes are shut in concentration, and the pulsing feeling of his cock is a dead giveaway that he’s going to fall apart for you, too.

“‘M close, Joel.” You’re clawing at his back now, his finger curling inside you as you bury your face into his neck.

Your hips burn from straddling his wide frame, desperate for a break, but you won’t stop. Not until You’re falling apart for him and he, you.

“I know, sweet girl. Can feel ya. Give it t’me, c’mon.” He groans, fucking up into you. His jaw ticks as his teeth clench, feeling you pulsing around him as you cry out his name in pure bliss. Another orgasm crashes through you, eyes rolling back as your body goes limp on his.

It only takes him a few more thrusts before he’s coming, filling you with everything he has. He moans with every stutter of his hips as his chest heaves up and down, body following suit with yours and going completely limp. He removes his finger from you slowly before you lift yourself off of him, already missing the feeling of being so full.

You stay wrapped up in eachother for a few minutes, giving yourselves the chance to catch your breaths. You kiss his chest repeatedly, placing your hand over his rapidly beating heart.

“I love you. So fucking much, Miller.” You laugh softly, tracing patterns on his chest as your head presses against the solidity of it.

The feeling of his beating heart surges life into you. Knowing that you get to exist at the same time as this gorgeous, loving man is a feeling you couldn’t even begin to comprehend. There really are no words for it, you think. At least not strong enough to describe the feeling.

“I love you too, darlin’. Forever.”

And then you think to yourself, you’d do life over and over again if it meant you got to meet Joel in every single one of them.

i’m such a fucking sap dude. lmfaooo anyway, hope y’all enjoyed <3

tags: @nostalxgic ; @ilovepedro ; @endlessthxxghts ; @punkshort ; @joelsgreys ; @pamasaur ; @cool-iguana ; @joeloverture

[ravenfenty]

ROOM 4 | ALL MINE PART 2

𝑷𝒂𝒊𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈: 𝑫𝑩𝑭! 𝑺𝒕𝒆𝒗𝒆 𝑹𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒓���� 𝒙 𝒔𝒉𝒚!𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓. 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒚 20'𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑺𝒕𝒆𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒆 30'𝒔

𝑺𝒖𝒎𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒚:  𝑺𝒕𝒆𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒅𝒂𝒅𝒔, 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒆𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒂 𝒈𝒐𝒍𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒃. 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒔 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕. 𝑶𝒏 𝒂 𝒃𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒑 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒂𝒇𝒂𝒓𝒊, 𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒖𝒆

𝑾𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔: 18+ 𝖠𝖦𝖤 𝖦𝖠𝖯, 𝒑𝒐��𝒔𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒗𝒆.

A/N: first time using the one bed trope hope you like. smut will start in part 3, I promise. Images and gifs are not mine.

<<<_________________>>>

You woke up, just as dawn was disappearing, you felt well rested. Well as well rested one could be because of sleeping under the stars and having noises around you. Getting up you got yourself ready for the day, after you were done, you got filling your water bottle, packing your passport so that it is easy to reach. 

Happy with your efforts, of cleaning up and doing the bed as you found it. You dragged your suitcase and travel bag along. You were going to miss Morocco. It was such a beautiful culture to experience, from the people, the food, music and overall wildlife in Morocco. 

You’d even exchanged contact with one of the women that you met at a restaurant in Marrakech. Her name was Faiza, she helped her parents around the family restaurant. She was lovely, and had great tips for places to visit the next time you planned to visit Morocco. 

An idea you weren’t entirely opposed to. Maybe you could convince Steve to come along again. Who were you kidding? Why would Steve want to come here again with you? Just as you reached the door, Steve was at the front of your room door. Caring freshed a cup of freshly pressed juice. 

“Morning, darlin’”. He says handing it to you. 

“Morning, Steve”. You take the juice from him. 

“And thank you”. You continue, the cold juice was a nice welcome, the ice cubes help cool you down, with the already warm temperatures for only 7am. He nods. And takes you carry bag, and hauls it over his shoulder. You were left carrying your camera bad, that was very light. There Steve was pulling your suitcase along, behind him. That's how Steve was, ever the gentleman. 

It is refreshing to interact with a man who was actually a gentleman, quite far from the men you’d had unfortunate run-ins with. You move quickly to walk beside Steve. 

“Did you have a good sleep?”.  

“Yeah it was alright, much better than the previous nights, you?”.

You don’t know why you had asked that question. Most nights were too hot or were overloaded with work to do. Particularly for Steve you had to edit photos and send them over to other editors. A lot of the photos being taken were going to be featured in travel and wildlife magazines. 

You helped most nights with editing or reviewing the writing, along with more experienced writers within the group. You were still rusty on the writing. However, the others didn’t mind. They gave you great pointers. It was a nice change from your day job as a nurse. 

“It was okay, quite hot though, I think the AC is broken”.

“Why didn’t you say anything, we could have organised something”.

“Didn’t want to bother anyone”.

“It wouldn’t have bothered me, please if you have any AC issues, let me know okay”.

“Yeah, I’ll do that next time”. 

“Good, let's get going, we have a plane to catch”. 

After what seemed like an ever ending ensue of traffic, and an unloaded bus later, and 17 hours of travel. The group had reached the Jomo Kenyatta International airport. Before heading inside the group Steve and Sam had done a head count, and split everyone into pairs. You were paired up with Steve and you were happy you were. 

To say you were tired was an understatement. You desperately wanted a nap. So the sooner you get to check into a hotel the happier you’d be. 

Now everyone was waiting to board the plane to Kenya. You hoped you could do a little shopping in Kenya to grab a few souvenirs to give to your family and friends. In addition, a few nice outfits to take pictures in and upload to your instagram.

As you waited for announcements, you caught up with reading, you hadn’t had the time and quiet space for it. For the most part everyone had been keeping to themselves, even Bryan, who hadn’t spoken a word to you except stare at you and quickly look away when Steve caught him. 

To help pass time, you entertained yourself with the smutty book of the month, chosen by the book club you had joined. You'd seen good reviews about the book. You did hope it was as good as people said it was.  

The first chapter was good so far. The main male character had you giggling out loud. Embarrassed, you collected yourself. Usually when reading in public you kept a straight face, but when it came to fluff that was straight out the window. 

You looked around to find Steve looking at you, he winked and looked down at his phone, typing away. Your phone vibrates in your lap and sure enough there’s a text from Steve. 

STEVE: good book huh?

YOU: yeah surprisingly for the first chapter

STEVE:  I’m sure you have great taste in literature. What's the name of the book? I'm bored and looking for some entertainment. 

That message caught you off guard, you rarely shared what you read outside of book club. You were a bit embarrassed too, but Steve didn’t seem like the judgemental type. 

STEVE: no judgement here.

And so you sent him the title of the book. You hoped he wouldn't get weirded out. It would entertain him for sure, however. Secretly, you were imagining Steve as the main character. It fit so well for some reason thanks to the character descriptions. Half an hour had passed. No one had spoken over the speakers. The time board was nearly approaching.

The flight attendants' modulated voice caught you off guard. 

“Attention passengers, boarding the plane to Tanzania, the flight has been cancelled due to an unexpected thunderstorm. No refunds will be issued. We apologise for the inconvenience.”

No refunds?!

The announcement sucked, especially now that plans were being delayed meaning Sam and Steve had to find a solution fast. After an hour or so. Steve spoke to the group. 

“Okay team, I guess this is unexpected. We’ve found a solution much cheaper and safer for everyone. Will be getting a train instead, thanks to some strings Sam was able to pull for us”. This was an exciting change in transport, you’d be able to enjoy the scenery with a train ride. 

You grabbed your train following behind some others, as you exited the airport and boarded a van that was taking the group to the train station. It was about an hour and a half drive into the city. That gave you enough time for a quick nap.

You felt a gentle tap on your shoulder. Startling you awake. It  was Melanie, one of the women you'd struck up a nice friendship with and often worked on the editing and writing of photo captions, and travel blogs. 

You got up fixing yourself and grabbing your bags. You looked through the tinted windows, and surely, the clouds had closed over the clear blue sky from earlier. There was a slight chill also. You quickly got out the cardigan you’d stored in your day bag and finally stepped out. Once again, there was a head count.

Sam and the man he connected with, led the group to the train and handed everyone the keys to the train cabin rooms. You entered yours, loving the interior of it. Simple yet sophisticated. It even had a shower. You unpacked a few things and got out fresh clothes. 

A knock at your door brought your attention.

“Hey, it's Steve”.

You opened the door and Steve was there, in a pair of grey sweats and a tight white shirt. His hair was wet, meaning he was freshly showered.  The smell of his shower gel lingering in the air, you recognised the palmolive mens shower gel. You moved to the side, letting him come in. You closed the door behind you 

“Hey Steve, what's up?”.

“Just wanted to check on you”. He continued and plopped himself on the edge of your bed. 

“Your mum sent me a text checking in on you. She was worried cause you hadn’t texted her back”.

“Oh yeah I forgot, she tends to worry a bit much, but I know she cares though”.

“Yeah, it's really sweet of her. Reminds me of my mum, she often worries since I’m away from home a lot”.

“How is she?”.

“Mums good, she’s been busy now that my sister has the twins now”.

“She must love being a grandma”.

“Yeah, she's definitely enjoying it. Now that my sister has given her grandkids, I’m hope off the hook”.

“Mmhmm probably not”. You giggle, that has been happening to you as well. Your older brother had a son last year, you were off the hook for a bit before your mum had started again. You knew she meant well, but the pressure was a bit much. 

“Yeah probably, well I’ll leave you to it. Dinner will be delivered at 7”.

“Thanks Steve”.

“See ya around yeah”.

“yep”.

Right on the dot, dinner and dessert was delivered. You ate the hearty chilli chicken curry, mixed with veggies. The Dessert had been a creme brulee and fruit salad. By ten you were in bed, book in hand. Your room was rather stuffy, you threw off the sheets and got up to turn on the AC. To no avail the AC didn’t turn on. You couldn’t sleep in this warmth, there was no way any could, and so you texted Steve.

YOU: Hey Steve, I hope I’m not disturbing you. My AC is broken unfortunately

You wondered why such luck had been handed to you, second time in a row you were in a room with a broken AC. 

STEVE: Again!!Okay, how about you come to my room? I’ll sleep on the floor. I’m in room number 4. 

You grabbed the things you wanted to take to Steve’s room and headed to room 4. The door was slightly ajar. You knocked and Steve called out for you to come in. You entered, shutting the door behind you. You found Steve setting a bed on the floor.

“Steve you don’t have to sleep on the floor, we’re both adults we can share the bed”.

“Really it's no problem”.

“Steve”. You warned .

Steve only chuckled, putting his hands up in surrender. 

“You can sleep on whichever side of the bed you like”. 

“Thanks Steve, once we get the AC fixed in my room, I’ll be out of your hair”.

“It's alright, your company doesn’t bother me”. You grin at him, heat flooding your cheeks at his comment. You settled in on the left side of the bed. 

Once you're settled in a comfortable position, you take out your kindle, and get back to the paragraph you were on. You were reaching the spicy part. Steve hadn’t joined you as yet. He was at the small desk, writing emails. 

Just as the characters were about to undress, Steve shuts his laptop off and joins you on the bed. 

Well this awkward

You thought to yourself. He takes his own kindle out. Clicking on the same book, he was on page 19 already. You were a bit further, you were only on page 25. 

“How are you finding the book?”. You spoke up.

“It’s alright different from what I usually read, I weirdly like it”.

“Really is that so”. You met Steve’s dilated eyes, and cheeks flushed pink. You understood that look all too well. Steve was turned on. Turned on by the book you suggested to him.

“Yeah, I already have a favourite part?”.

“Oh?”.

“And which part is that”. You continued. You were very curious.

“Page 16 to 19”. 

You moved back to page 16. That had been your bookmarked and favourite part. You read slowly. You could feel Steve’s intense gaze on you. You read through the paragraph. You tried to remain indifferent poker face on display. Once you were done, you turned to Steve. 

“That was hot, this was my favourite part too”.

 "I can see why that'd be your favourite”.

Steve continued. “I know this may be a way too forward, but I imagined you as the main female character”.

Well there was no turning back now. Grab life by the horns right. 

“I was imagining you as the main male character”. You admitted. 

[mia-ugly]

Cardiac

Epicardium

The outermost layer of the heart, mesothelial cells and fat, a cushion of protection with TOM written on it in sharpie. He joined my class in Grade 6, chisel-tipped and quiet and an easy choice when asked which Boy I Liked. Which Boy I had a Crush on. That was the year my mom drew eyelashes on me with thick black pencil before a play where I was meant to be  beautiful. I wasn’t, but I tried to make myself fit into a beautiful shape, just as I tried to fit the indent in your couch cushions, the foot of your bed, the pillows on the floor, a burrowing owl who would say the right names, make the right choices, pretend I knew who was Hot and who was Not, pretend I knew which house was Tom’s, that I walked past it on my way home from school with my heart like an electric peach, so bright he could see it from his bedroom window.

Brian was the Backstreet Boy I chose from thin air, bad answer, should’ve picked Nick, but at least I didn’t say Kevin, sorry Kevin, he seems like a pretty great dad these days, maybe we all chose wrong.

You would peel apples and read the future in the shape they left on the floor: what is the first letter of your husband’s first name? Light candles and ask the ouija board ‘does he like me? Does he love me? Is he the one?’ Commune with the spirits just to beg them for love stories, and spin a globe and close your eyes and put your fingers down to find out where we’d meet the man-of-our-dreams.

But I wasn’t dreaming about anyone.

My dreams were glass and silver, like the colour of the only eyeshadow my mother owned, brushed powdery and stale up to my eyebrows in a play where I had to sing and a prince had to fall ruinously in love with me in front of everyone I knew. I shone pale blue with shame, and that night, I was the only one at your house who didn’t know the macarena - sat in your basement, watched you dancing, like I was looking into an aquarium filled with strange fish. Later, you’d teach me the steps, like you taught me to fold paper into those fortune-telling finger games, salt-cellar, snapdragon, pick a colour, pick a number, 1-2-3, who will I marry, who will I marry, who will I marry. You put on “Kissing You” by Des’ree, told us to listen in silence and think about the boys we loved, and I wore my longing like a mask that didn’t know it was a mask. Thank you Tom, thank you Brian and Robert and Adam, thank you every boy who let me hold his name in my mouth like an ice cube. The letters burnt my tongue, but at least my mouth wasn’t empty. 

Myocardium

The thickest of all three layers, muscle that makes the heart contract, lets it beat beat beat like a kickdrum. I told my first girlfriend that I’d been in love with my best friend growing up, but it wasn’t true, it was just a rhythm I wanted to replicate, to awkwardly dance to. I’d seen the movies and I thought all gay kids had to say it, like it was a shared purple ache in the flesh of us, a thumbprint on a plum. I wanted to feel that bruising early love like everyone told me I should, but it wasn’t like that with us. I wasn’t lying awake looking at the hair on your face, the fascinating black sideburns that you shaved off, like you shaved off the hair on your arms, like I did too.  It wasn’t like that, and the night we said we would travel the world together after college, wouldn’t get married or have children, was also the night you said you were glad you didn’t have any gay friends, and remember that book we found at the second-hand store? The air was drowned with dust and Loving Someone Gay shocked us out of papery silence, made you laugh so much that I laughed too, and then I took that book and rolled it up and shoved it down my throat, got paper cuts under my skin, shredded my trachea like tissue paper wrapped around a present.

I wasn’t carrying any torches. Not even a candle or a match.

Your fingers were never in my hair as you pinned it back, you never leaned in and pressed an eyelash to my cheek so that I could wish on it. I wouldn’t have let you touch me. My face my hands my hair, I hated being touched, cringed away from it like a shameplant, and the not-wanting felt almost worse than not-being-wanted. Felt lonely, always the first person awake in your silent basement, bodies scattered like petals on the floor all around me. There was nothing I could do but wait, wait and read your parents’ headache-coloured paperbacks, Louis L’Amour and Danielle Steele, Christ, I hated them, but I would still sit there, paging through Haunted fucking Mesa or whatever, counting down the minutes on the clock, waiting waiting. Sometimes I would hear your father praying in the kitchen but it never woke you up, and I wanted to ache like Courtney Love ached, wanted to feel anything at all except bored and choking on paper, I wanted a drumbeat underneath my skin but it was all silence and darkness and purple muscle, and your father kept praying, ringing bells like they were birds, and I kept waiting to hear music.

Endocardium

Before the world ended, you pressed play on a discman and flooded my life with the Cranberries.

Before the world ended, I looked up at the ceiling and found it strung with hanging lights, each one of them a city in between us. Before the world ended, I asked you if people could yearn in their thirties, if that was allowed, and I didn’t know the steps to this dance but maybe you could teach them to me. Suddenly there was an electric peach in my mouth and it was shining through the spaces between my clenched teeth, anyone could see it, even you. I thought my skin was too thin, my bones too brittle, thought anything I felt would tear through me or grind me down, and maybe it still will but I’d let you press our hips together, iliac crest to iliac crest, let you paint Valentines in red against my lips and mermaids on my cheekbones, let you braid my unbraided hair. Even if it meant you had to touch me

I would let you make me over. 

Sometimes the distance feels less like miles, more like inches. Like it could be the space separating your eyelashes from the tip of my nose, could be a hand’s width on a sleeping bag where I’m still awake because you’re lying next to me (and we watched an awful movie with Drew Barrymore in it.)  Before the world ended, everything was cold metal and antiseptic, we were hunkering down for the longest winter, planning, preparing, frantic, scared, surviving, sick and I was still the first person awake in a strange basement but suddenly finally now of all the goddamn times I was waking up watermelon-flavoured. My mouth was hard candy, glossy-sweet, and suddenly finally now I was the girl with the most cake, I was peony season, I was Nick Drake and the whole moon shining and the whole sun rising I was pink pink Pink PInk PINK.

[manheeiim]

chapter four: sweet on the inside & outside

-- a ghostly love masterlist

The next day, we all sat in our usual circle in the gymnasium. Mr. Martin was talking to all of us as we passed the donut box around. 

“There’s an old cider mill off Route 47, and my parents would toss us in the Dodge Coronet. We’d each get a bag of warm, greasy donuts. That was my idea of nirvana.” Mr. Martin says, thinking back to his memories as a kid.

I grabbed a glazed donut from the box before handing it to Wally who took it, making sure that he grazed his fingers over mine as he did so. He got a jelly donut out of the box and handed the box over to Rhonda.

“What’s that about?” She asks. He looked at her confused. “You always leave me the worst one.” Rhonda complains. I bring my hand up to my neck and rub the side of it. I don’t know why but she has gotten on my nerves ever since I met her. 

“What do you mean? It’s lemon glazed.” Wally tells her.

“Nobody wants a lemon donut.” Rhonda remarks.

I mean she was right about that.

“Guys, the subject is nirvana.” Mr. Martin says.

“No, the subject is entitlement.” Rhonda retorts. 

“Oh, okay. I’m entitled because I like anything filled with jelly.” Wally sighs. “It’s not my fault I like things with sweet stuff inside of it.” Wally then adds, looking over at me and giving me a wink. 

“Oh my god.” I say, shocked at his constant boldness, especially in front of the others.

“Ew. Just ew.” Rhonda says. “I don’t even want that anymore. That’s gross.” She says.

“Guys, the subject is nirvana.” Mr. Martin repeats.

“Excuse me, can I be excused? I just want to eat my donut in peace.” Wally says.

“More entitlement.” Rhonda puts her hand up in disbelief.

“It’s not entitlement, Rhonda. Okay? It’s about- it’s about digestion.” Wally tells her.

I can’t hold back my laugh. Wally looks over to me and smiles after hearing my laugh.

“Oh, Lucia. I’ve just been reminded. I have a homework assignment for you.” Mr. Martin tells me.

I blink a few times, “Homework?” I ask.

“Well, kind of. I want you to write your obituary. Everyone here has done it already.” He says.

 “I…” I trail off. I sigh. “Okay.” I shrug. I didn’t have the energy to complain right now.

There’s a sudden weird sound and I looked over to see Wally slurping the jelly out of the donut. “Oh, my god.” He says. enjoying the jelly.

“Um… I’ll just.. start that now actually.” I say.

“Yeah.” Mr. Martin says, agreeing with me.

<3

I then spent the next day writing my obituary. Even if the last few months, or well, years of my life hadn’t been that great, there were some core memories that I had. I guess writing it out was nice. I found Mr. Martin in the hallway after I’d finished so that I could give it to him. “Mr. Martin.” I say and he looks over. “I finished my obituary.” I told him.

“Wow, thank you.” He says as he takes the papers from me.

“You’re welcome.” I softly say.

“How did it feel? Writing all of that out.” Mr. Martin asked.

“It felt… nice.” I admit.

“Good.” He smiles.

There’s a few moments of awkward silence. “Well… see you.” I say and he just nods before I turn around and walk away.

<3

I sit on the bleachers in the pool room with Charley as Rhonda sits on the edge of the pool and Wally sits in a float in the water, wearing only some swim trunks and sunglasses. Charley was applying some of Rhonda’s sunscreen to his arms. Why? I don’t know, there was really no point. But, you do you, I guess.

“Uh, easy with the coppertone, hun.” Rhonda comments.

“Yeah, that bottle’s got to last her another 60 years.” Wally says.

I watch as she kicks her foot in the water, splashing some water at him, “Don’t be a cube.” She says.

I giggle at what she’d said. Yeah, she was definitely from the ‘60s. She looks over at me with a scowl on her face. 

“I- I’m sorry.” I say, not really meaning it. “It’s just.. nothing. It’s nothing.” I say.

“You are such a bug.” She says.

I twirl a part of my hair with my finger, “Alright.” I dismissively say. 

“I love this smell.” Charley says, rather loudly, trying to get us to stop. “Coconut, verbena. You can be anywhere; Miami, Aruba.” He tells us. “I miss a good sunburn.” He says.

“I miss pussy.” Wally says and everyone looks over at him. “What? I thought we were talking about stuff that we missed.” He tells us.

I cover my face with my hands. I can’t.

<3

“So, how have you been adjusting to the life of the undead?” Wally asks as we sit on the bleachers. It was nighttime and so it was quite pretty with all the stars and all.

“The life of the undead?” I ask, giggling at the way he phrased it. Wally smiled after hearing me laugh. “Um, yeah. It’s… actually not been that bad. I think it’s actually better than things were when I was alive.” I say.

“Really?” He asks and I nod. “Why? Cause I’m here now?” Wally asks, smirking at me.

“No.” I partially lied. I mean, honestly, I wouldn’t admit it to him just yet, but… I was glad that I met him, even if we were ghosts and even if he was constantly making inappropriate jokes.

“I’ll change your mind, don’t worry.” He says.

“Oh, really? And how exactly are you going to do that?” I ask.

He looks down at my lap before looking into my eyes again, “Well, I have a couple of ideas.” He teases.

I gently push his chest, “You’re a little too bold.” I say.

“Nothing wrong with that.” Wally shrugs. 

“When it comes to you.. there is.” I tease back.

“I can’t help it when you look like that in your uniform.” Wally tells me.

“So, if I wasn’t wearing this then you wouldn’t be like this?” I ask.

“Nah, you’d be fine either way.” Wally says.

Was it so wrong that even if his boldness was a lot, that I liked it?

[aflairforthejaz]

Cubicles (✦)

kang yeosang x fem!reader

synopsis: He’s always loved you but you were too blind to see it. Now that you’re gone, he’s not sure what he should do. Should he chase after you? Should he leave you alone and forget about his feelings?

warnings: mentions of cheating, cursing, death, loneliness, name-calling, yeosang is emo (im emo)

Life at the office has been hell. Everything seems to be falling apart, day by day. No one can really get a grip on reality. Especially Yeosang.

Ever since you moved to a different building 3 states away, he can’t stop but think about of you. He didn’t try and convince you to stay, although he wanted to. He wanted what he thought was best for you and that promotion was the best way to get you away from all the shitty people in the office. Still, it left him with nobody. What is he supposed to do now that you aren’t here?

The boss is thinking of dropping him due to his poor work ethic but he doesn’t know that. He doesn’t know about anything going on in the office. He just sits in his cubicle and blast music through his headphones. No one questions him about, not because they felt bad for him, but because he was considered weird. He never attended any office get-togethers. At first, they thought that it was just him being shy and new to the workplace that he maybe felt like a burden but after months of the same behavior, they realized that he was never up for anything.

Yeosang wasn’t here to make friends and giggle with each other from across the room, he wanted to do his work and leave.

That was until you came along.

Oh, how beautiful you were. Too beautiful for this kind of workplace. Oh, how he knew you deserved more and he wanted to give you the world the second he laid his eyes on you.

He immediately approached you and introduced himself. This was a shocker to everyone in the office since he would never greet any kind of interns or new colleagues that entered the building. What made you so special? Did he know you? Were you guys dating?

After a few weeks of you being in the office, Yeosang was the only one you would really talk to. You always wondered why he never spoke to anyone else but you never pushed him to tell you.

He was already in love with you but he never said anything about. He didn’t want to scare you away.

In his last relationship, his girlfriend had cheated on him with 7 different guys. He started to believe there was no hope in love anymore. The was obviously until you came in.

You were the one.

Or so he thought.

Why’d you leave so soon? Couldn’t you have stayed a little longer? Or at least waited until he was promoted as well? Now they’re going to fill your place in the office with someone else.

You were always only two cubes down, not too far for him to get to. He’d always finish up his work early just so he could help you. More like just to talk to you. But now you’re gone, he really doesn’t know what to do. He let you slip from his arms and now you’re probably off with another guy just talking your heads off the same way you and him did.

Oh, how he misses your scent. The vanilla perfume that you said was gifted to you from a friend of yours. Oh, how he misses your smile. He misses you so much. So much that it’s genuinely killing him.

He knows that this is just stupid but he can’t accept reality. He wanted you. Why didn’t you take the time to notice his feelings? You can’t now and never will.

Now all he’ll do is live and die alone.

[chelemlem]

oooh what kind of things do you bake? I'd love to try them sometimes 💞 have a sweet day!!

hello anon!!!!! thank u for giving me an excuse to talk about BAKING

sooo just before covid i took a 3 week dessert course and kind of became obsessed??? during lockdown i used to watch tons & tons of videos on process nd technique instead of physically yaknow Doing Anything bc i hated the idea of ~wasting ingredients~ at my mediocre skill level which looking back was an insane approach but i kinddd of think it helped bc when i started making things more regularly the improvement was p quick !!

my fave thing to bake is pastry (puff, choux, shortcrust, filo) so basically any kind of sweet tart/croissant/eclair/profiterole/pie ❤️ i also love a savoury curried egg or chicken puff but that's kind of a gamble bc what EYE think is an okay level of spice does not fly for everyone else. when it comes to large batches for a party or something i usually stick to sweet 2 be safe

pictured: fruit mascarpone tart → mango danish → tiny baby pains au chocolat <33

course i make cake and stuff too and it's FINE but i also know lots of ppl who are better at it lol. i'm pretty Terri at piping anything more complex than a simple swirl so when it comes to deco i tend to stick to covering the top with store-bought macarons/fruit and calling it a day. also maybe it's just me but full layer cakes are such a hassle to cut and store...... i adore a cutieful low commitment CUPCAKE tho <33

my order of preference when it comes to baking is pastry > cookies/brownies/cupcakes > layer cakes >>>>> bread. ugh BREAD i cannot figure her out but i Want to...... someday...

thing is bread is honestly such a delicate process where ur final product will flop unless the ratios are justé right and u proofed at something.000001 degrees and mercury is in retrograde whereas the rules of pastry are more relaxed and intuitive and involve doing vaguely unhinged things like holding fistfuls of ice cubes before you handle ur dough so the heat from ur palms doesn't melt the butter... it's also great for LAZY BITCHES LIKE ME because a "4 hour recipe minus baketime" sounds intense until u realize 3h15 mins of that is just chucking the thing in the fridge between rolls

choux au craquelin is probably what i make the most often. love a textured little cream puff!!! versatile and scalable and easy to transport... she's that girl truly

also today i remade the mango one i was telling k about and it turned out muchhh better with a chunkier filling yay 🥭

convinced i'm never going to get a pretty cross-section in my life but wtvr they still tasted good !!!

goals for the future:

bread but specifically this yummy pesto babka i had in february

creme brulee donut......... need her

crookie but less dry bc i've been kind of unimpressed by the ones i've had so far

something citrusy w/o relying on chocolate as a crutch

basically i really love baking! like experimenting/trying new recipes ofc but also just the process of consciously altering and improving upon stuff you've already made :')

and yeah feeding ppl is bonus <3 hope u have a good day too!!!

[row-of-ribbons]

Dream Girl Diary intro 4/5: skincare + my skin care secrets

Hey there, lovely ladies! Welcome back to my Dream Girl Guide intro. Today, let's chat about skincare. I know it can be overwhelming with everyone talking about which products to use, but don't worry - you don't have to buy everything that's trending. Just remember to enjoy every moment and embrace your womanhood with grace and elegance.

I'll definitely break it down in a simple way and share some of my favorite skincare tips with you!

1# Overuse of products

One of the primary reasons for your breakouts could be the result of using an excessive number of skincare products. Overloading your skin with various products can suffocate it and hinder the effectiveness of the treatment. It's important to allow your skin time to benefit from the skincare routine by not overwhelming it with too many products. sometimes simple is best

2#Expansivee does not always mean better

I'm certain you've heard about dupes—I personally like them. But were you aware that sometimes the dupe is produced by the same company under a generic name, or that sometimes the dupe outperforms the original? (Not to say you should only opt for dupes if you don't want to.) Occasionally, it's worth investing in the original, like The Ordinary AHA BHA serum. I have complete faith in their brand, and it's perfectly formulated.

3# Use what you actually need for your skin

stop following trends and pause, think about what your skin needs there is no point of buying a cleanser that's abrasive with harsh ingredients (acids and exfoliators) if you have sensitive skin. what works for others might not work for you. take some time out of your day and research your skin. look in the mirror and identify your skin problems.

4#Your diet plays a part

Maybe you are doing everything right; perhaps Remember that improving your skin health is not just about the products you use. It's also about what you consume. you understand the deep depths of skincare and know what to do. But, honey, your diet sucks. You're eating fried food, soda, and sweets, and that throws off your pH, and hormones, thus affecting your skin. I know that clean eating is hard to do, given that everyone's finances are different. If there is a change you can make, like drinking more water or not eating as many sweets, then you could try that. Stress can also affect your hormones and make you crave other things that are not good for you. Learning stress management is also important.

now my skincare tips

Make your own toner by steeping rose petals in green tea. Store for a week in a cool place or 3 days at room temperature.

In the morning, I always use a silicone mold facial icer filled with water and lemon juice instead of a regular ice cube. This way, I get an extra dose of vitamin C to start my day right.

I strive to derma-plane my face once a week, then use a mud mask with Aztec clay and apple cider vinegar to cleanse my skin. Remember to wash your face with a gentle cleanser before applying the mud mask and use 2-4 teaspoons of vinegar to avoid irritation after exfoliation.

=XOXOXO

[whataboutsimple]

The Defender AU

Ah, well, since you @murkystarlight @abugshapedeldritchbeing @sillysnaildraws asked so nicely, I'm gonna ramble about it a bit<3

The storyline stars a little bit before Romeo went power hungry, leaving some place fore characters to develop themselves.

At the very beginning Fred was planing to create some kind of a "weapon" in case something will happen, which Admins won't be able to handle on their own. So, what would be more efficient to create, than a human who holds absolute of admin powers?

Around this time he started to play with different mechanics of creating mobs, trying to find the closest to a human being. Deciding to stop on a Wither Skeleton, he have chosen to base the powers of Wither itself.

So, like that, he created a human form with a Nether Star as a heart and source of powers. Giving a piece of his own code, he manage to create something as close as possible to Admin's powers, making the star unnaturally bright blue.

Due to Binta being the closest human to him, he made the prototype looking a bit like her, with the very same appearance factors.

That's how "Protocol: defend" was brought in the world.

Since it was his first ever human like creation, he didn't manage to create him as a full adult, instead spawning someone between a child and a teen.

When Binta discovered this, she quickly almost adopted poor thing, playing the role of older sister and naming him Gabriel.

"But why Gabriel?"

"I don't know, it's suits him."

So, like that, our Warroir had two parts of his life: learning to be a weapon and learning to be a human.

The first one was handled by Fred, who taught him how to code things, spawn features, use effects and ect., but he noticed one small strange detail: meanwhile Gabriel could spawn block in a small amount without a problems, he managed to create.. let's say, bright blue figures with different shapes: circles, triangles, cubes. It looked almost like ice, but without e texture, completely blue, leaving a small amount of light around it and discarding every physical law that existed. It was unnaturally durable, almost like bedrock, even Fred couldn't destroy it with Admin's powers from the first try. And it also did lots of damage, even Gabriel wanted it too. He could've pierce mob with a spike and not deal any damage, or kill it altogether.

The second option was handled be Binta: she taught him how to speak properly, read, count. Though she quickly discovered, that unlike other kids, he was an incredible fast learner and it didn't took him too long to become smarter than she is in some disciplines. That's when she decided instead teach him some human emotions, like kindness, compassion, mercy. They spent a lot of time together gathering supplies, playing with animals, talking to people. Waffles, the chicken, was adopted by Gabriel.

But no matter how hard she tried, he couldn't feel a full spectrum of human emotions. He was Always emotionless, giving a smile only after analyzing everyone else is smiling, becoming sad only after analyzing that she is sad, not having any hunger, not complaining about any pain even though he could feel it, he could bleed.

So, few years before the fight between Admins, Fred learnt how to switch mods. The main problem of Gabriel's behavior was the fact that he was created to protect, to defend. He was supposed to be fearless, emotionless, go till the very end. Like that, Fred created a "Protocol: defend" mode, that was activating by these very words. When the mode was turned was, his brains were losing connection to his power, basically deleting the constant idea of defend, leaving it empty to fill with actual emotions.

That's how Gabriel, we all know, was created.

The day when Romeo killed Fred, during another calibration settings, Romeo actually interrupted him, which lead to incidental memory deletion. Right before Romeo got his hands on Gabriel, Fred managed to teleport him away.

That's how Old Order found him. Clueless young man with amnesia, but excellent fighting skills and knowledge.

Gabriel was always abnormally string and tough, dealing with damage most people would've already die from, being too elastic, fast, with incredible reaction speed. But it only helped them, didn't it?

—

Bonus facts:

Xara didn't know about Gabriel either, because Fred didn't know who to trust.

He still left message for her in the last few days before death.

To activate Gabriel's both powers and memory back, you need to say "Protocol: defend."

It'll actually be harder for the gang to stop Romeo, since they will need to find Gabriel first.

Romeo doesn't know, that Gabriel actually is a weapon. He thought he's one of Fred's people.

C. Block was very negative towards Gabriel, sending electroshocks each time he tried to touch it.

His blood in activated mode is blue, while it's blue-red when he's badly injured.

He sees Binta as his older sister, meanwhile Fred is more of a mentor, than a father.

I think that's all for now, a other silly AU for y'all:P

[moonlight-tmd]

bee seems like the type to be tricked into a date, that can be shock or blitz if ya like. maybe prowl too but he doesn't seem like he'd do that and you already made a fic similar to it :p

Hahah yeah! That reminds me of a BlitzBee fic i read about Bee being taken hostage on a "date" with Blitz.

I had an idea similar to this about ShockBee... or LongBee? Either way-

I imagine Bee and Longarm are like the best buddies but in a different way; Longarm loves to mess around with Bee, he has to be careful to not slip while on the job, he retains his stoic and serious attitude when someone's around but the moment he's alone with Bee and possibly Bulkhead his personality takes a nearly 180 degree turn. It's especially fun when he's all alone with Bee and he can say stuff no one will judge him for, stuff that he only wants Bee to hear.

I imagine he visits Team Prime on Earth at least once a month to hang out with Bee and Bulk and possibly get some datawork and reports exchanged. Whenever he visits he always brings something for Bee and Bulk to enjoy, which is most often food and similar.

One time however he brought tickets to the Grand Prix of Cybertron for himself and Bee to go to. He said the tickets sold out so fast that he only managed to grab the last, which might have been somewhat true but he really wanted to spend some time alone with Bee. He remembered the scout tell him that he wished to go see it one day back when they were in boot camp. So he used his Prime privileges and got 2 VIP tickets.

Either way Bulkhead didn't mind not going, he wasn't a fan of big events like that anyway. Bee was so hyped about it he would not shut up, literally... and he had less that 20 hours to pack up cuz they were leaving tomorrow morning.

The Grand Prix usually lasts for 3 cycles, which is about the same time as Earth's week. And so, everyone bid their temporary goodbyes, Sari defo "threatened" Longarm to take care of Bee for her, she was also jealous that she couldn't go and see it too. I imagine Jazz was a temporary fill-in for the gap in the team.

So they set off and arrived on Cybertron- damn, it hasn't changed a bit from when Bee last saw it. Still, it felt like he was on a completely new planet he's never been to.

Longarm had a reservation in a hotel close to the stadium, they had one room with 2 berths and attached washroom. Bee had a tough time deciding what to pack or not- it came down to him packing only essentials cuz Longarm told him they'll get stuff on Cybertron too.

The first cycle arrived, they went to the stadium earlier and took the seats in the VIP lounge with other bots as the opening of the event played out. After the first competitions were done Bee and Longarm went to wander around the city- but before that they bumped into a group of the other 'bots Longarm knew. Other Primes and high-ranking autobots, even some Elite Guard members. Bee met a lot of new people.

So they went to wander around, Bee took a lot of pictures to show his team on Earth. After buying few stuff for themselves from other shops, they ended up in a souvenir shop, Bee wanted to buy gifts for the others- everything was themed after the Grand Prix: he got special fuel-cube (mug) for Ratchet, a planner for Optimus, some picturesque post cards for Bulkhead, a stadium statuette for Prowl- the building itself kinda looked like a tree and a back-window decor for Sari, although for her it would be a necklace with a very cool galaxy-themed pendant. He picked for himself and Longarm a little holo-pics of the Grad Prix logo that slowly spun. Bee was about to pay when he realized that yes, he is kinda rich- but in human money. He didn't have any credits to his name on Cybertron. There was this short awkward moment between the cashier and him before Longarm paid for the stuff. Bee felt so bad but Longarm said he didn't mind spending his savings on Bee.

Another cycle rolled by and more competitions were held. Longarm decided to take Bee to some restaurants so they went and had a full-blown spa. Bee has never felt so relaxed. (and yes, he did quote the "2 bros chilling in a hot tub" meme, Longarm was kinda confused but brushed it off when Bee said it was a human joke)

At the end of the solar cycle they ended up in a high-end bar, Bee and Longarm got drinks and they had a very good time. There was karaoke event happening and in a moment of confidence and influence of high grade he decided to participate. He sang "Celestial" by Ed Sheeran and while the music on Cybertron was different from Earth's the audience enjoyed the show nonetheless. Little did Longarm know that the song was dedicated to him...

After they went back to their shared hubsuite, Longarm woke up in the middle of the lunar cycle. Bee was missing from his berth, it didn't take long before he found him though. He was sitting on the balcony with his headphones, looking at the few stars that shone on the polluted sky. If he listened closely he would heard faint Earth music coming from the headphones that were connected to the robot-sized mp3 player.

"Why are you out here?" Longarm asked as he sat down next to Bee.

"Oh- sorry. I didn't meant to wake you up." Bee smiled apologetically and took off his headphones. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just can't recharge." Bee answered. "Well, if you can't recharge then I can't either." Something was clearly bothering Bee, Longarm wasn't gonna leave him alone with it. "Something's bothering you, I can see."

"It's nothing." Bee only said, a hint of sorrow in his voice that Longarm didn't miss. "If it's making you not want to recharge then it's not nothing... c'mon, you know you can tell me."

After a short hesitation Bee finally told him. "I miss Earth."

"Oh." Longarm was surprised, he didn't expect this to be the reason Bee was sad.

"Yeah... I mean, Cybertron's cool and all- it's where I come from. But Earth is something different. There's so much amazing stuff there; fun activities, new cultures, impressive structures and way more... When I'm on Earth I feel like I can really be myself and not be judged for it... Earth is my real home." Bee explained, he focused his gaze up on the sky as he spoke, one could think he was trying to see said planet in there, even if it was galaxies away.

They chatted for a bit, somehow they ended up cuddling on the balcony watching the sky before going back in to recharge.

The final cycle of the Grand Prix rolled in and the final competition was a big race. Bee was the most excited for this part, he loved racing himself, he kind of wished he could participate in it.

It was amazing, the thrill was unmatchable. Once the winner emerged, Longarm took Bee to take pictures with the competitors- they were all famous in some way, the winner was actually a racer for a living. Bee had the best selfie with her and Longarm.

There was a short afterparty for the Grand Prix, Bee and Longarm stayed for a bit before leaving. They took a longer route back thru one of the less active part of the city, it was surprising but Cybertron actually had its own version of parks with statues and twisty structures that were supposed to mimic vegetation. There was also a makeshift river going thru the one they walked in right now.

They talked, Bee said how happy he was to be here and spend time with Longarm. Longarm was also happy to hang out with Bee... a step closer towards Longarm, a glance a little too long at Bee- the scout almost tripped and nearly fell because of some stray metal rod, but Longarm caught him... and so they found themselves walking back to their rented hubsuite servo in servo. Right before Bee had to get in a rented ship to take him back to Earth, Longarm gave him one more thing- a little crystal that seemed to have all the colors in the world in it. Bee almost felt unworhty of such gift but the way Longarm spoke to him about it and why he got it for him made him feel grateful to know such generous bot like Longarm.

When Bee came back to the Earth base it was kind of a mess- Sari coaxed the others into throwing a small welcome back party for Bee and somehow the decor ended up catching on fire... they made even more of a mess while trying to put it out. Yeah, Bee could not have been laughing harder.

He helped them clean up, after that he gave them the souvenirs and showed pictures- which might have been a mistake cuz among the pictures there was a video of him drunkenly singing at a bar. Not that is was bad, he was an amazing singer- it's just he didn't know Longarm even recorded this... The others didn't even tease him cuz they were so impressed he could sing that good.

This is the only thing I could think of when you said "tricked into a date". I suppose it's more of a "secretly a date that turned into an actual date".

Now hold on cuz there is a continuation to this!

After the whole deal with Longarm and Bee going on Grand Prix, Bee has found himself looking at the little crystal he got more than he expected. Whenever he did that there was a weird feeling in his Spark and an image of Longarm giving it to him. I imagine It was late autumn when they left for Grand Prix so Christmas wasn't far off.

Longarm did visit few days before the holiday and unknown to everyone, he left his own gift in the secret stash of gifts Bee prepared for everyone. When the time came and everyone got their gifts Sari pointed at the additional one, it was adressed to Bee from Longarm.

It was a sturdy but small case with some engravings. When Bee opened it he was met with a beautiful golden crown- it was subtle in design but very elegant with crystals that matched his optics and made his horns seem longer. It wasn't just any crown- it was the very same crown Bee saw on a display of a very pricy accessory shop when he and Longarm were wandering around the city. He was so enchanted with it... he never would have guessed Longarm would give it to him as a gift. The others were confused and slightly concerned at his wide-optic expression before he gently took the item out to show them and put it on. They all had wide optics.

In the case was also a letter, it said "read silently" on the top- a sign for Bee to keep whatever was inside to himself. He read the letter and his expression softened before turning into a wide smile with a giggle. No matter how much Sari asked what was in the letter he never told before hiding it in his subspace. The others could only guess what was written in it.

Once the night came and everyone was in recharge, Bee snuck out of the base and drove to a secluded spot mentioned in the letter- the letter itself was a love confession. Words that Longarm- that Shockwave, was too shy to tell in front of Bee neatly written down on a piece of Cybertronian paper. Feelings and passion as well as sincerity and trust put into each of them along with an invitation- Longarm wanted to meet up with Bee all alone the same night he got the gift. The crown was supposed to interpret how important Bee was to him. The letter was written in a way that Bee understood his own feelings towards Longarm, he couldn't wait to see him again.

Bee was pleasantly surprised when he saw a picnic out in the snow under a makeshift ice gazebo. (Yes, Shock paid Blitz to make it, he didn't tell why and paid even more for Blitz to not ask any questions.)

It was so pretty, everything was coated with sparkles from frost and decorative lamps, Bee was wearing the crown he got which made him look even more stunning.

Bee teased Longarm a little for not saying it himself but he really didn't mind. They spend the night together, monching on fancy snacks and drinks, they even slow danced- the fact it was drizzling snow made it even more special.

Of course, Blitzwing when making the gazebo had a feeling Shockwave was gonna use it for some romantic purpose so he secretly put a mistletoe in one of the arches- and under that arch Bee and Longarm stood at the end of the night. It might have been a cheesy romantic movie moment but neither of them disliked it. Longarm didn't know something from human relationship culture can feel so good.

It took nearly 2 days of Sari being suspicious and Bee acting oddly giddy for her to sit him down on the couch and accuse him of being in love.

"Yes, and? What's wrong about it?" Bee have said while crossing his arms. Sari was flabbergasted, she honestly didn't expect him to admit it on the first try. She assumed he was gonna defend himself in some way. Others were surely surprised to know Bee and Longarm were now dating but they were happy for them.

Aaand that's it! I hope you enjoyed my little story for this ask.

On the side note: Bee keeps the case with the crown in a hidden spot in his room that only he knows about, he wears the crown only for special occasions like Christmas or fancy dates with Longarm.

[spadesncrows]

Hey ! I have a little question : how do we start drawing ? And, if we need tuto, what tuto do you recommend ?

Have a good day !

Lord almighty, I hope ur ready for the rant of ur life. Buckle up buster bc we are diving headfirst /hj

Ok so first things first, there’s really only one way to start drawing: grab a pencil, get some paper, and just go. Ik, it’s very anticlimactic, but the only way to really get started with it is to just start. It doesn’t have to be a masterpiece, it doesn’t have to be some big illustration, just start somewhere. You don’t need expensive or fancy supplies, just a pencil and paper are great (or even just ur finger and ur phone if u wanna do digital!!)

Just remember: everyone starts somewhere!! Don’t beat urself up if it doesn’t look how you want it to the first go around. Art is just like any other hobby: you get better the more you practice, the more you get into the groove of it and the more you learn the fundamentals and building blocks of it. You don’t have to draw everyday, but drawing consistently does help.

Now let’s say u got ur paper & pencil, but nothing comes to mind. Here’s a few simple exercises that I personally enjoy as warmups and simple doodles to fill my sketchbooks:

𒊹︎ Shapes !!

- This is one of my favorite warmups bc of how simple it is. Draw spheres, cones, cubes, etc!! (Bonus points if you add a light source and do some shading as well <3)

- this can be rlly good for studying perspective using very simple objects and adding a light source can make it feel a bit more fleshed out. Plus, it’s always good to study how light affects 3d objects so it can be applied to full illustrations and the like later down the line !!

- to add onto that, learning how to draw basic 3d shapes can be very beneficial when moving onto more complex designs and figures, as it can make the area/object appear less flat and more fleshed out if that makes sense !!

Examples :

𒊹︎ Look at the world around you !!

- find different objects, buildings, etc, and take a picture of them.

- next, using that photo as a reference, try breaking it down into simpler 3d shapes

- Think of these shapes as the building blocks of the figure. They create a general silhouette and portrays the figure in its most simple form. Being able to break down complicated visuals into simpler shapes will make it easier to draw them from scratch !!

Examples :

𒊹︎ Find reference photos online !!

- Personally, I like sites like Pinterest or Instagram for this, but pls note that these aren’t ur only options !!

- some other sites include: Line of action and QuickPoses !!

- reference photos can be very good for studies, but you don’t rlly learn much if ur just copying off of it. While there isn’t anything wrong with that, I suggest trying to break it down. Try to understand the form in a 3d space. Like I said before, doing that will make it easier to draw from scratch and may even help when trying to draw it from a different angle

- reference photos can also be a very good way to get inspiration!! Whether it be for just one drawing, for a storyline, or for a whole production, if ur stuck on a scene it wouldn’t hurt to look at few refs to get a feel for what ur looking for.

Tutorials:

If there’s one thing to remember, just know that you don’t need to follow any tutorials to make art. Hell, u don’t even have to listen to my advice abt art either. There are no rules to art, so take everything I say as suggestion rather than gospel !!

That being said, tutorials are mainly there to help you improve by teaching you various fundamentals and techniques. In other words, to help you make your art look a bit more visually appealing or look like a specific style. There’s not exactly one set list of tutorials that every artist needs to follow, so you kinda just pick and choose depending on what you want to focus on!!

Here’s some tutorials I’ve seen and/or used before :D

𒊹︎ GOOD vs BAD Character Design: Tips & Tricks!

- a classic 🫶🫶, goes over various subjects such as color and shape theory in order to make characters and scenes more memorable. This can be especially useful if u intend to make characters & scenes for animation, but it works for other mediums as well!!

𒊹︎ Basic Color Theory

- pretty self explanatory!! Goes over the basic fundamentals of color theory and how this artist likes to apply it themselves. Color theory can be good to use to ur advantage as it can be used to set the tone of ur art, to show the general time of day, to draw ur attention to specific areas, etc!!

𒊹︎ Anatomy Quick Tips

- this is actually a playlist instead of just one video ^^ each vid is dedicated to different parts of the human body and tips for drawing them!! There are 15 vids total as of today going over stuff like hair, eyes, hands, backs, hips, etc.

If there’s anything I missed or anything anyone would like to add on, feel free to do so !!

[detroit-grand-prix]

letzte rose - die traurige kaiser

Toto Wolff x Susie Wolff Royal/Historical AU

Chapter Summary: On a bleak November day in 1847, the Emperor of Austria, Christian I, goes about his usual routine. A visit from his advisor, Andreas Nikolaus Ritter von Lauda, brings grave tidings of happenings that even the Emperor was not aware of that threaten to shake the peace and stability of the entire country and its provinces. The news makes Toto, as the Emperor is known by close family and friends, that his self-imposed isolation has gone on long enough.

He was having that dream again.

It used to be his wife that he saw in his dreams, and it brought him great comfort in the miserable months following her death. But as the years wore on, the image of his wife became harder and harder to see, until he stopped being able to see who the figure with him was at all.

What used to be the clear, undeniable presence of Stephanie had been reduced to the feeling of delicate fingers caressing his cheek and smoothing back his hair. The scent of a delicate, floral perfume lingering in his nose. The reassuring weight of a hand on the small of his back. The feeling of a soft hand holding his. 

It always came with the feeling of relief, as the persistent loneliness that even haunted his dreaming life briefly dissipated, but whenever he tried to turn and look, to see the face of the angel who had deigned to save him from his isolation, there was never anybody there. 

He was alone again.

Every time.

— I fall at your feet, Your Majesty, good morning!

Toto snapped his eyes open upon hearing the words that Phillip, his Kammerdiener, greeted him with every morning.

He sat up, trying to rub the dust of sleep out of his eyes, as Phillip’s blurry outline coalesced into focus. He was in a deep bow, the oil lamp he was holding casting a delicate glow onto the walls of Toto’s bedroom. The sun was not yet up; it never was when Toto woke up, because he preferred to do so at an hour that most called “absurdly early”.

— Good morning, Herr Peter. 3:30 already, is it? — Toto said, trying to steady himself on his feet.

Phillip assisted him as he washed, shaved, and dressed. It was nice having Phillip to talk to so early, Toto had to admit, as he tried to ignore the dull pang of emptiness filling his chest that always followed when he had that particular recurring dream. It wasn’t on a nightly basis like it was in the months following Stephanie’s death, but once every few months now. 

Every time he had that same dream, it made him feel off-kilter, like a child’s toy spinning top that had been kicked off its point. He was hoping that reciting his usual morning prayers would help him feel centered again, as it normally did, but by the time his breakfast was served, he was still unsettled. 

Many in the court joked that they could set the palace clocks by the Emperor’s schedule instead of the reverse, which Toto thought was a fair assessment. He just preferred to minimize the decisions he had to make each day, is all - he had to make enough of them in the course of governing his empire, so he could not be bothered to choose what to wear or to eat or what time to wake up from day-to-day.

Promptly at 5am, his breakfast arrived, something else that varied little. One scrambled egg, one slice of grilled ham, a bit of cubed bacon, two slices of pumpernickel toast — toasted extra dark so that it was crispy like a cracker — with butter, a slice of tomato, and a sprinkling of salt on each, with a small mug of dark-roasted coffee, with a splash of cream. 

After his breakfast dishes were whisked away from his study, Toto got started on the pressing matters of the day: going through the reports and correspondences from various officials that were placed on his desk overnight. 

The rest of the palace usually stirred to life by the time he was halfway through the morning reading; not everyone was keen to wake up as early as Toto did, and that was fine. He found that sinking himself into his work was a good way to keep his mind off of other things. 

Even he had to admit to himself, though, it had gotten more extreme in the last few years. More than once, he’d found himself being shaken awake by his daughter, Rosi, having dozed off with his head on his desk, ink from whatever paper he had been reading smeared across his face. The last time it had happened, the concerned expression Rosi had on her face as she helped him to his bedroom had left him shaken for days. 

Toto was in the middle of reading a report about growing concern over a separatist activity in Buda — most of his correspondences seemed to be about Hungary these days — when the door to his study flung open to reveal the swiftly advancing form of Andreas Nikolaus Ritter von Lauda, one of Toto’s closest, most trusted advisors, trailed by a frantic aide-de-camp, who was shouting that the man — Niki, as most knew him — had to be announced before he could enter the emperor’s study. This episode played out every time Niki came in, without fail; he never stopped to be escorted in as most guests were, and his own military clout didn’t exempt him from the rules.

— It’s okay, Major. At ease. I will call if we need anything — Toto said, saluting the officer, who bowed and saluted back before retreating back to his post. 

Niki was an old friend of the family; his own grandfather had been an advisor to Rudolf VI. He was a hero of the Napoleonic wars who was badly burned during the Battle of Aspern-Essling when he was trying to keep the French from advancing on the village of Aspern so that its civilians could be evacuated. He was trapped inside of a house the French set on fire and sustained terrible burns to his head and neck trying to shield a civilian woman from the parts of the house that were caving in. He still bore the scars, decades later. 

An old military legend held that Rittmeister von Lauda had a priest summoned to what all assumed would be his deathbed in a nearby field hospital, but told the Father to “fuck off” as soon as the priest touched him with the anointing oil. 

Toto had asked Niki about that story once, wondering if it was just a tall tale, but Niki verified it himself, telling him that the priest tried to read him his last rites.“Goodbye, my son, may God grant you eternal rest”, the priest had told him. With a laugh, Niki told Toto that he thought the priest was going to give him words of encouragement to find the resolve to remain in this life, not try to send him off to the next. 

Niki also did not usually bother with the normal formalities and niceties of court etiquette, sparing only a slight bow in Toto’s direction as he crossed the threshold of the emperor’s study. Most people would be aghast at Niki’s curtness and rudeness, but Toto appreciated someone speaking plainly to him, as if he was any other person; he was almost certainly the only one outside of his immediate family that did.

— Did you see the news this morning? You and I make a prominent appearance.

— I was just reading the Wiener Zeitung, I didn’t see any…

— No, not in the newspaper. From the cafes. Here — Niki said, tossing a thick pamphlet onto the top of Toto’s stack of papers. It was one of the underground publications printed anonymously by university students and distributed through many of Vienna’s coffeehouses, made to circumvent the strict censorship laws set up by Chancellor Metternich decades ago. 

Toto pursed his lips as he unfolded the document, his eyes immediately drawn to what Niki was likely referencing.

It was a political cartoon, one that featured an especially unflattering caricature of Toto. The figure had an enlarged head, and exaggerated features. He appeared to be grinning stupidly as he was crouched on the floor in a dark room lit by a single candelabra. This version of Toto was wearing nothing but his underwear and his crown, placed jauntily on his head. Sitting next to him was a large rat, dressed in a military uniform laden with medals and a sash with the words “Von Lauda” on it. The fur around the rat’s head and ears was missing, and it had a sour, hardened expression on its face. The rat appeared to be pointing at a tattered map of the Hungarian province on the floor. 

The caption read, “The Emperor and his pet rat plan the strategy for Hungary”.

Toto stared at the image for a few moments. The likeness was humorous, and its appearance in the papers was hardly surprising, and certainly nothing Toto hadn’t seen before. The rest of his advisors generally tried to keep material like it — the things that were overly critical of his reign, his family, the government, or the church — away from his sight, but Niki was one of his few that would never spare his feelings.

— Well — Toto said, glancing up at Niki — At least they made my nose the right size this time.

— I think they made me look better than usual — Niki said, donning a satisfied grin — It’s like they aim to flatter me.

He had long drawn comparisons to a rat, but at least, he had always said, it was more about his appearance than his character. In his younger days as a hotshot military officer, Niki had an especially prominent overbite, long front teeth, and an intense, piercing gaze that, even to his own admission, looked rather murine. His features had balanced out over time, between the scarring and age. His cheeks became more paunchy and made his overbite look less obvious, but the comparison had become intractable over time. 

— Joking aside, there is something serious to take from this — Niki said, taking off his trademark navy top hat. He generally did not remove it in most circumstances, as it hid the worst of the scarring from his wartime injuries, but the bright red trim ribbon made it his trademark. Over the years, Toto had noticed that he only took it off as a gesture of absolute sincerity — The fact that you and I are sitting in the darkness in this… drawing is no coincidence. I am sure you know that your citizens are growing increasingly unhappy with the government. It has been a long time since the people, your people, have seen you in public, and the perception is you are not the one governing, that Metternich is, and you’re just a figurehead, and a poor one at that.

— That’s not, I do plenty of governing, and that’s what I’m interested in, not putting on a show.

— Like as not, you are a symbol for the empire, but a symbol that sits hidden in the darkness is not worth much. You’ve been isolated so long that all of the goodwill you have earned with your people is evaporating because of the way Metternich has been handling things.

Toto sighed and crossed his arms over his chest. 

— I know you’re not wrong, but… between you and I, all of this was easier with Stephanie. She was so kind, she could naturally connect with people in a way that… I’ve never felt like I have been able to, but with her, it felt like all of it was manageable. The people loved her, you saw how many people were lined up for her funeral procession, the streets were nigh impassable for days.

— So, do we need to find you another wife, then? Someone to hold your hand and sweet-talk you while you do your job and rule your own country?

Toto gave Niki a deadly scowl. 

— Have you been talking to my mother? You sound just like her — he shifted uncomfortably in his chair, feeling like a little boy being scolded — I don’t need a wife.

— Well, you need someone to help you with your obligation to be visible to your people again. Why don’t you ask Rosa? She’s old enough, and she’s a lovely young woman, everyone that knows her adores her, and she’s as magnanimous as her mother was.

The mention of his daughter made Toto’s expression soften a bit. 

— She is, but I don’t…

— The point is — Niki said, standing back up — You need to see and be seen amongst your people again, because Metternich is guiding the country down a dark path, and you’re the only one that has the power to stop him before your citizens gain a taste for blood. I know you were not yet born at the time, but I’m sure you remember what happened to your great aunt Maria Antonia in France not so long ago.

He picked up his hat, placing it back on his head with a flourish that may as well have been the period at the end of a sentence. He exited Toto’s study the customary way — never turning his back on the emperor — with a short, sharp bow and a curt “Your Imperial Majesty,” before letting the door fall closed as he left.

Toto sat at his desk, frozen and dumbstruck. He glanced at the official portrait of the royal family that was hanging on the wall opposite his desk. It was painted when Rosi had just turned three, and Benedict five, as a birthday gift to Stephanie. He looked at it often; though the pain of his wife’s death was no longer quite so acute, he found that talking to a canvas-and-varnish version of her would sometimes help with examining a problem or question he was puzzling through, as if it were a means to externalize it.

He stared at his wife’s pleasant smile, as if at any moment, she would start giving him the answers to the nascent questions that were rattling around his head, but of course, none came. 

The portrait hung silent, as it always was.

He found it difficult to focus on his paperwork after that, but the chiming of his clock in his study told him that lunch would be served soon, anyway. 

While he ate breakfast alone in his study, he liked to take his lunch in the family dining room in his apartments. They were still solitary affairs; the only time he ate with others was during dinner. Most nights, he had dinner with his children and his mother, and on Sundays, the entirety of the extended imperial house gathered to dine; it was important to Toto that his relatives attend if they were in Vienna, but he didn’t know why. 

He sat at his usual place at the head of the table, where his place setting was made, and his daily menu was waiting. Toto’s tastes in food were not extravagant, but just like his breakfasts, he had his preferred meals. Official dinners with foreign diplomats or important guests meant that French food was served, but for his own meals, he much preferred simpler Viennese cuisine. Wiener schnitzel and Tapfelspitz were among his favorites, but today, he opted for brathendl — roasted chicken breast — with a side of roasted potatoes and carrots, and a buttered, seeded roll. 

Niki’s words continued to echo in his head as he was eating. The rest of the contents of the pamphlet surprised him. The newspapers and his advisors both offered glowing reports of the stability and peace of the Concert of Europe, but the pamphlet contained news of brawls between soldiers and civilians in the face of military draft commissions, economic recessions, food shortages ongoing in some areas, and the independence uprisings in Hungary, which he was aware of. 

How had he not heard of this happening? Chancellor Metternich would have been well aware…

— That weasel — Toto muttered. Niki may have been the one that looked like a rat, but Chancellor Metternich was the one acting the part. 

Niki was right. His isolation kept him in the dark, and kept it so the only information he had received was the information that the chancellor and other palace officials wanted him to receive. No wonder Metternich or his other aides never complained about him reducing his public-facing duties in the last few years.

— Frau Julia — he said, getting the attention of the attendant that stood by during his lunch each day. She seemed a bit startled. It wasn’t often that Toto had spoken to her beyond a nod of acknowledgement when she brought his meals to the table — Please, come here.

— Yes, your Imperial Majesty? — she said, stopping to curtsy once she was within arms’ length of Toto. 

— I have a question, and I want you to answer as honestly as possible. You need not fear any sort of censure or repercussions no matter what your response is, so please, be as thorough and truthful as you can be. Do you understand?

The woman — a compact, slender woman with red hair and brown eyes — nodded tentatively. 

— Yes, your imperial majesty.

— How do you think things are going… how do I say this? Politically. I’ve been made aware of some situations that I was not aware of, and I wanted to get your opinion, as one of my subjects and a citizen of the empire. Please, be truthful.

The woman’s eyes went wide in shock, and she quickly shifted her glance toward the parquet flooring, her fingers tightening their grip around the edges of the tray she was holding.

— Well… things have been difficult, Your Imperial Majesty. The grocers don’t have as much food as they used to, it seems like every day you hear about someone’s husband or son being forced into the army and sent to Hungary to fight, the farmers have staged a few protests… and it seems like so many people are going hungry, even though they put in a full days’ work. I’m grateful for the fact that I work in Your Imperial Majesty’s service, because the kitchens provide enough food that I can take home enough for my daughter and me to eat well, but my neighbors haven’t been able to afford meat or sugar in months…

Toto listened thoughtfully, stroking his chin. 

— I see. Thank you for your insight.

— If it helps, the university students that make those pamphlets and talk about politics and the law, they say it’s mostly the Chancellor’s doing. I know Your Imperial Majesty has a good heart, but they, the students, say that he’s the one really in charge of things.

He nodded thoughtfully, thanking his attendant for her insight.

— You’ve given me much to think about — he told her, which seemed to bring Julia a small measure of satisfaction and pride. He made a mental note to himself to have his private secretary arrange to have a small gift for her daughter, a bag of sweets, perhaps, sent to her home later that week. 

The rest of the day was lost to Toto as he wallowed in his thoughts. He leafed through documents that had already been reviewed, trying to read between the lines, grasping for the truth hiding under the half-lies fed to him by his advisors. He considered summoning Metternich directly to confront him that second, maybe even dismissing him outright, but he had been in his position so long that doing so threatened to destabilize the entire country.

No, the present situation required delicacy, and the sort of confident statesmanship he’d found that he had a talent for in his late teens and early twenties.

But the Emperor Christian I of then and the Emperor Christian I of now may as well have been two different people entirely. 

[cyberpunkaddict]

Unusual OC Associations

more below

Tagged by @katsigian @imaginarycyberpunk2023 @nightcxty @corpocookie @itzsassha 💕 Tyty!

SEASONING

Villiam is obsessed with spicy food, so jalapeño and anything chili, or anything spicy enough to make Vik break down...

WEATHER

Rain at night. He enjoys sitting in solitude somewhere in the city. Usually on a roof top. He can sit there for hours deep in thought. He forgets to bring an umbrella most of the time, but he doesn't care. Nibbles doesn't care either. It's part of the experience.

COLOR

Blue. He's basic like that.

SKY

Night sky. You can't really see any stars in the city due to pollution and buildings blocking the sky, so Villiam likes to go to random places in the Badlands, by bus or Delamain cabs.

MAGICAL POWER

Awesome leadership skills. (That's a "power" in my book.) People have a tendency to respect and trust him immediately. Villiam just cares too much, honestly... His brain never rests.

HOUSE PLANT

Plastic because Nibbles.

WEAPON

Guns. His favorite is Dying Light. Like mentioned before, he's basic. He doesn't use that at work, obviously...

SUBJECT

History. Villiam loves to learn new stuff. He wants to know how everything started and he can imagine what's going to happen next based on the past, and he's usually right. That's a great skill to have as a leader.

SOCIAL MEDIA & 3 EMOJIS

Just the usual stuff everyone uses. (I broke the rules and decided to add the emojis here...) 🤔😅🫤

MAKEUP PRODUCT

Sometimes. Silver and burgundy eyeshadow.

CANDY

He doesn't really have a sweet tooth, but sometimes he has a soda if he can't get his hands on coffee. Or if he's drunk... But gotta mix it with rum first.

FEAR

Failure. Letting people down. Love... He's so afraid he'll screw up, and that he's not good enough, so he pushes people away. He also has trust issues, which doesn't really help... But he tries at least... (He gets over it eventually, don't worry.)

ICE CUBE SHAPE

All of them! Fill the entire glass!

METHOD OF LONG DISTANCE TRAVELING

Metro. Bus. He cares about the environment. He does own a car, but he uses it for emergencies only. Sometimes he also "borrows" a police car to run "errands". Driving through NC with lights on is very efficient. Other than that, Villiam is all about protocol...

ART STYLE

He doesn't really care or understand art. And especially not interior design. He just puts decorative stuff in random places and hopes for the best.

MYTHOLOGICAL CREATURE

Just dragons in general. He's not into fantasy, but he thinks they're really cool.

PIECE OF STATIONARY

Random stuff he purchased at flea markets to support the locals. So just...stuff...

CELESTIAL BODY

Villiam refuses to answer this question. He doesn't get it. He doesn't care. Whenever he sees Misty she drills a hole in his brain, in his words...

-

I've been gone for a few days, so I dunno who's done the tag already, so I'm not gonna tag anyone... But if you wanna do it, then tag, you're it!

[swampstew]

KIᒪᒪEᖇᑕOOK - ᑕᕼᗩᑭTEᖇ 2

Welcome to Raven's Reading Nook - a small corner of this blog dedicated to cozy story times. Join us in the family room as we sit around and browse our phones, and eat some Girl Scout cookies as we begin tonight's story. Rated Mature for language.

Going Live in 3…2…1…

GO

“What’s up everyone, Killer here. Today we’re going to be making a delicious Tiramisu that I like to eat whenever I’m having a hard time. My friend and coworker Quincy has been having some bad luck lately so I’m making one for her.”

The live chat was already spitting out messages more than Killer could read them. Most of them asking if he could send them baked goods for bad days too. He chuckled softly under his helmet, pulling his hair back into a low ponytail to avoid it going into the baking process. The fabric of his polyester blend muscle shirt stretched to accommodate Killer’s muscles without riding up his stomach and revealing his tight abdominals…too much. His jogger pants hugged his hips, perfectly framing his glutes and thighs.

“I can’t possibly make a dessert for every single person but take comfort in knowing that I’m rooting for you through your personal struggles. You got this,” pointing finger guns at the camera.

Turning around, he walked away to grab some ingredients and baking tools. The sound of pinging and comments going wildly in the background, a tad louder than the music on the speaker.

“This is a refreshing and savory dessert. I always feel like I’m biting into an espresso cloud and suddenly I’m a little bit happier, if only for a brief moment.”

Pulling out one mixing bowl, “First, we’re going to make our creamy filling. I’ll be using room-temperature mascarpone, cream, sugar, and vanilla extract. We’ll whip it until it gets nice and stiff. In between the whipping, I’ll also be dipping these lady fingers in this bowl of liquids – now I like to soak the fingers for about a minute to really soak in the espresso and liqueur. Makes the whole dessert just gush in your mouth.”

Killer was prepping the glass pan he was going to stack the layers in and he heard the transactions and notifications chime endlessly. What the hell was going on in chat today. He finished prepping the tools and ingredients before rushing to his phone to read everything.

Oh shit.

Oh fucking shit.

Killer did not mean to make any of his instruction sound as sexual as chat had perceived it to be. Oh no, the things he can’t unread. The blonde was incredibly grateful he kept his helmet on during all content creation, feeling his face break out in flushed flames. The echoing sounds of Kid and Wire’s cackling from inside the house only made it worse for Killer.

God damnit.

“Hng, er-uhm, as I was saying, once we get the…base ingredients prepared, we can get into some architecture. I think a good balance is about uh—2 to 3 inches of filling between biscuit layers, depending on how…erm…bloated the biscuit has become.”

As he loudly poured ingredients into the stainless-steel bowl, he quickly and quietly addressed the highlighted messages, not daring to repeat his answers before starting up the rotator blade. The machine Killer bought was a high-end model, it was a good quality standing mixer with a low humming drone when in use. Killer treated it as if it was a roaring engine.

“IT’S GETTING NOISY SO I’M GOING TO TURN UP THE MUSIC TO DROWN IT OUT. WON’T BE ABLE TO SEE MESSAGES FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES,” he spoke loudly as he used the remote to turn the speaker up.

Killer’s mouth was dry. He rushed to the fridge to pull out ice cubes for his water, plunking a swirly straw in the glass and draining his cup in seconds. Three times.

Feeling relieved, he made his way back to the island tabletop. He started soaking the lady fingers in the bowl and slowly layering the glass pan bottom with a row of soaked fingers. Once the bottom was covered, he checked the mixer. The creamy filling was looking stiff. Turning the machine off, Killer also lowered the volume of the speaker.

“You’ll see that the texture is ready when you can raise the blade and the filling is light, fluffy yet firm. You should be able to hold the blade upside down without the peaks falling or losing integrity. Now to make my life easier, I’m going to transfer this into a piping bag to fill the layers and then smooth it out before adding the next layer of lady fingers.”

Killer started to read out messages as he filled and stacked.

“_LickMeImurLollipop says,” he almost chokes, “’Marry me and I’ll make you a stay-at-home husband. You can bake to your heart’s content, filling doughnuts and whatever you want with your cream😏.’”

He took a long sip of water, “That’s a very tempting offer, Lollipop. I’ll keep it in my back pocket for a rainy day, ok sweetie?”

Using a flat blade to smooth the creamy layer, “JustAsking says or I guess asks, ‘Will you ever do a face reveal?’  The answer to that, as its been every time since my first upload, is NO. Please respect my boundaries, I’m a human being.”

“SchoolPunkRock says, ‘Been watching you since day 1 and I love your personality and attitude. And also your food. If you ever make a cookbook, I’d buy it in a heartbeat. I’d buy 10 copies.’  That’s really nice, thank you. That’s not something I’ve thought about but a great idea, nonetheless. I might explore that later. In the meantime, please keep supporting me on this platform by liking, commenting, and following!”

Killer squeezed the last of the filling over the lady fingers and started smoothing the surface. His finger curled under the table to press Kid’s call button. The redhead came through the door as Killer finished dusting a layer of cocoa powder over the dessert.

“Excellent timing! Now normally you’d want to let this sit in the fridge for an hour to let the flavors sort of sit there and blend together for a nice balance. Tiramisu is great at any time of the day,” Killer cut a square from the glass pan and slid it over on a small plate with a fork. Killer turned to put the pan in the fridge for later.

Kid was grinning into the camera, “’Sup everyone. Hope you enjoyed my buddy’s lesson today. In addition to potential book deals, KillerCook may soon be offering private cooking lessons over Vimeo, just you and him for up to an hour discussing…cooking or whatever,” his grin turned sly.

Killer choked in the fridge.

“All details to be forthcoming!” Kid finished with a wave of his hand over his shoulder.

Then with precise and exaggerated motions, Kid began a slow descent to pick up his plate and fork. His own gym shirt strained over his broad chest, muscles rippling underneath as he moved. Holding his plate in the air, arms flexing tightly as he used his prosthetic to lift the fork to his mouth, he winked at the camera before taking a bite.

As soon as he closed his mouth, a very thin line of dark liquid dribbled from between his lips. Kid’s eyes opened in shocked as he chewed.

“Whoa, that’s juicy!”

The pinging on the phone was going wild again. Killer quickly stood next to Kid before the knucklehead dared to answer a single message.

“What else?”

“Mmm shit Kill this is fucking great. The coffee and liqueur have that nice, bitter kick to the sweetness of the cream. The filling itself is fluffy but thick and flavorful. The balance between bitter and sweet is perfect man.”

“A perfect balance between bitter and sweet, what more can you ask for? With that in mind, we’ll be taking the Tiramisu I made first thing this morning to our friend. Tune in next time when I make a fun comfort food that’s also perfect for a sports ball pregame and/or tailgate – Philly Cheesesteak Dip. It’s easy to prepare and like everything else I make, slays. This has been Faffaffaffa-Food with Killer.”

Before Killer could turn the camera off, Wire and Heat burst through the kitchen doors. Heat opened the fridge to grab the insulated travel pack that contained the pre-made tiramisu, hoisting it over his head in triumph.

The 4 men stared into the camera while waving goodbye.

“See ya soon Quincy!”

“QUINCCAAAYY!!”

“You better be resting and not doing shit!!”

“Hope you like it, Quincy!”

End Livestream.

“Really, a fucking private Vimeo class?” Killer whipped his baking gear off and tossed the dirty dishes in the sink.

The three other men began howling with laughter.

“AYE! You shoulda seen the comments dude! You can really capitalize on this, whole frontier’s unexplored,” Kid explained through his tears of laughter.

Killer clicked his tongue, “Nooooooo, you’re not going to live vicariously through me because your OnlyFans account got shut down again.”

Bonus: The comment section

GaybellineNY347: In theory, if one wanted to send you money in exchange for…photos of you with your finished desserts, how much would you charge? Not that the photos you post aren’t tasteful😳 They can be tastier with…you…in them👉👈 KillerCook: Uh well, I kind of want to keep the focus on my food…good to know though😳

VoidEssence: Who was the tall glass of water?👅💦 Scream_Maim_Fire: His name is out of your area code.

ShootingMyShot_89: Sooooo the vimeo deets???????????? PunkNeverDied69: I said FORTHCOMING! It’s COMING on the FORTH!

Read on Wattpad | Read on AO3

[momsforroadhead]

3 kids at school are obssessed with "compression", which they treat as some sort of devious process, the mention of which must always be accompagnied by a demonstrative hand gesture and an appropriately suspicious facial expression. every day one of them updates me on his process by telling me he just "bought another compression machine at the dollar store". his goal is to work up to a big enough compression machine that he can compress a big lego block in a small (normal) lego block, build a cube with those small legos, compress the cube again into a very dense material and then build a solid house with it. however they have a second, evil end goal, which is to flatten humans into a flat crêpe and compress the planet to the size of a globe.

they are constantly pestering me with questions and today the question was:

their questions are always riddles so be careful cause there WILL be consequences.

[flowerznleaves]

Jagiya | sooshu

Masterlist | Next

a/n: I have been working on this fic for way longer than I would like to admit. This was originally going to be told in 3 parts, but I wrote wayyyyy too much and decided to split it into 6. These first 2 chapters are before the relationship, told through short snippets behind the scenes of what we see online. It is a blossoming of their love!

Pairing: sooshu | soojin x shuhua

>wc: 13.7k

sypnosis: From their early days in the industry, Soojin has always been a pillar of support for the younger Shuhua, guiding her through the challenges of their demanding careers. Over time, this bond deepens into something more, with both girls harboring secret feelings for each other. After risking everything to be together, these girls come to the realization that love alone isn't enough to overcome the challenges they face, and sometimes leaving is the best way to mend a broken heart.

(The beginning, middle, and end of Sooshu)

Soojin's talent was as bright as her smile, effortlessly captivating everyone around her with her silky voice that enraptured all and graceful dance moves. Growing up, she had always been the star of the show, dazzling friends and family alike. Her passion for performing had always been her guiding light, and her determination to succeed was unwavering.

As a trainee at Cube, Soojin poured her heart and soul into her craft, determined to share her gifts with the world. Even on the toughest days, she never lost sight of her dreams, always grateful for the opportunity to pursue her passion. The training process was grueling—endless hours of practice, nerve-wracking monthly evaluations, and moments of doubt and frustration—but Soojin faced them with resilience and a positive attitude, knowing that every stumble was just a step closer to success.

In the intimate confines of the vocal room, Soojin found herself enveloped in the soothing lull of music, her thoughts drifting in the melody that surrounded her. The room was a sanctuary, a place where she could lose herself in the rhythm and let go of her worries. Lost in her own world, she was taken aback when the door creaked open, and a stranger slipped into the room, settling beside her without a word.

Blinking in surprise, Soojin glanced up at the newcomer, her curiosity piqued but her guard up. Who was this person, and why had they chosen to sit next to her in the serenity of the vocal room?

"Why?" Soojin greeted tentatively, her voice a cautious melody in the stillness.

The stranger turned to look at her, her gaze filled with an enigmatic blend of uncertainty and determination. For a moment, she seemed to hesitate, as if searching for the right words to say.

"I... no Korean," the stranger confessed softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Soojin felt a flicker of confusion at the stranger's cryptic words, her mind racing with questions.

"Why?" Soojin asked again, this time in English, her voice tinged with uncertainty. “Have we met before?”

The stranger shook her head, a shy smile playing on her lips. "No, we've never met," she admitted, her gaze flickering with a mixture of nerves and longing. "But...I did not want…to sit alone."

Soojin's confusion only deepened at the stranger's cryptic confession, but something in her earnest expression touched her heart. Despite the uncertainty of the situation, she couldn't help but feel a sense of connection with this mysterious newcomer.

"Well, um, I'm Soojin," she offered tentatively, extending her hand in greeting.

The stranger smiled, her eyes lighting up with warmth as she reached out to shake Soojin's hand. "I'm Shuhua," she replied softly, her voice a gentle melody in the quiet room.

Soojin offered a shy smile, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "Nice to meet you, Shuhua," she murmured, her words coming out in a rushed whisper.

Shuhua returned the smile, a hint of gratitude shining in her eyes. "Nice to meet you too, Soojin," she said softly.

For a moment, they sat in awkward silence, their shy smiles fading into uncertainty. But as Soojin stole a glance at Shuhua, she saw a flicker of hesitation in her eyes—a silent plea for connection that mirrored her own.

Soojin couldn't help but marvel at the absurdity of the situation—two shy girls, sitting in a quiet vocal room, trying to communicate with nothing but awkward gestures and broken sentences. It was almost laughable.

As they continued to chat, Soojin noticed the language barrier between them, but she refused to let it dampen their budding friendship. With gestures and simple words, they found a way to communicate.

"So, um, where are you from, Shuhua?" Soojin asked, her voice barely above a whisper as she shifted nervously, her curiosity peeking through her shy demeanor.

Shuhua hesitated, her gaze darting around as if searching for an escape. "I... I'm from Taiwan," she replied, her words barely audible, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

Soojin felt a pang of sympathy for the timid girl before her. "Taiwan? That's, uh, really interesting," she murmured, her own cheeks coloring slightly as she leaned in, trying to convey her genuine interest.

Shuhua nodded, her eyes flickering with uncertainty. "Y-yes, it's... it's nice," she stammered, her voice barely more than a whisper.

Soojin couldn't help but admire Shuhua's quiet determination. "You should be proud of where you're from," she offered softly, hoping to encourage the shy girl.

Shuhua bit her lip, her gaze dropping to the ground. "Th-thank you," she mumbled shyly, a small smile playing on her lips.

As the conversation continued, Soojin couldn't help but notice how Shuhua seemed to shrink into herself, her shy nature making her seem almost fragile. But despite her reserved demeanor, Soojin sensed a depth to her new friend that intrigued her.

When Shuhua finally asked about Soojin's own background, Soojin couldn't help but feel a rush of nerves. "I-I'm from Gyeonggi, here in Korea," she confessed quietly, her eyes darting away.

Shuhua nodded, her expression thoughtful. "Ah, I... don’t really understand," she remarked softly, a shy smile playing on her lips.

Soojin nodded, feeling a sense of kinship with the quiet girl beside her. "But that's okay, right? We can take it slow," she replied, trying to sound more confident than she felt.

A tentative smile tugged at Shuhua's lips, her eyes sparkling with warmth. "Yes, I-I suppose you're right," she agreed softly, her shyness melting away ever so slightly.

As the music continued to play muffled in the background, Soojin and Shuhua sat together in companionable silence, the air tinged with a sense of curiosity and anticipation.

Soojin glanced at Shuhua, noting the hesitance in her demeanor. "Would you like me to teach you some Korean?" she offered a warm smile playing on her lips.

Shuhua's eyes lit up with excitement at the suggestion, a grateful nod signaling her eagerness to learn. "Yes, please," she replied eagerly, her voice tinged with enthusiasm.

With patient guidance, Soojin began to teach Shuhua the basics of the Korean language, starting with simple words and phrases. Shuhua listened attentively, repeating the words after Soojin with determination and focus.

Soojin chuckled softly at Shuhua's eagerness, feeling a sense of joy at the opportunity to share her language with her new friend. "Okay, let's start with the chorus," she said, her voice gentle as she began to sing the melody.

Shuhua listened intently, her brow furrowing in concentration as she tried to mimic Soojin's pronunciation. "Like this?" she asked tentatively, her voice uncertain but determined.

Soojin nodded encouragingly, a proud smile spreading across her face. "That's perfect, Shuhua! You're a natural," she praised, her words filled with genuine admiration.

As they continued to practice, Soojin guided Shuhua through each line of the song, patiently correcting her pronunciation and celebrating her progress. They found a rhythm and flow in their learning, their shared passion for music bringing them closer together.

By the end of their session, Shuhua was beaming with pride, her confidence visibly growing with each word she learned. "Thank you, Soojin," she said gratefully, her eyes shining with gratitude.

Soojin smiled warmly at Shuhua, a sense of fulfillment washing over her. "You're welcome, Shuhua. I'm glad I could help," she replied sincerely.

As they prepared to leave the vocal room, Soojin felt a pang of reluctance to part ways with Shuhua. Despite only just meeting, she already found herself drawn to Shuhua's gentle spirit and quiet determination.

"Hey, um, do you want to hang out sometime?" Soojin asked hesitantly, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment at the sudden burst of courage.

Shuhua's eyes lit up with excitement at the invitation, her smile radiant. "I would love to," she replied eagerly, her enthusiasm contagious.

With plans to meet up after their respective schedules allowed, Soojin and Shuhua parted ways, each feeling a sense of anticipation for the budding friendship that lay ahead.

As Soojin made her way back to her dorm, her thoughts lingered on Shuhua, a smile playing on her lips as she thought about the younger girl.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

As the music gently faded, marking the end of a long session of private teaching one day, Soojin's cheeks flushed with warmth as she looked at Shuhua, her heart swelling with pride. "You were... you were really incredible, Shuhua," she murmured softly, her voice tinged with shy admiration.

Shuhua blinked, her expression puzzled as she tried to decipher Soojin's words. She shook her head slightly, indicating that she didn't understand.

"I mean, you've improved so much since we started practicing together," Soojin continued, her words stumbling over each other as she struggled to express herself without a shared language. "Your movements are more... more graceful now, and you seem... seem more confident."

Shuhua's brow furrowed in confusion, unable to grasp the meaning behind Soojin's gestures and tone. But she could see the sincerity in Soojin's eyes, and a small smile tugged at her lips . Soojin returned her smile, a shy but genuine warmth spreading through her chest. "No, really, I mean it," she insisted, gesturing emphatically to convey her admiration for Shuhua's progress.

Over the next few months, Soojin and Shuhua's friendship continued to grow. They spent countless hours practicing together, sharing their hopes and fears, and supporting each other through the ups and downs of trainee life. Their bond became a source of strength and inspiration for both of them, a reminder that they were never alone in their journey.

When the time finally came for Soojin to debut with (G)I-DLE, she knew she had Shuhua and her fellow members by her side, ready to take on the world with a smile on their faces. Their debut was a whirlwind of excitement and challenges, but Soojin faced it all with confidence, knowing that she had the unwavering support of her friends.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

Excitement bubbled within the members as they stepped into their shared dormitory for the first time. The space was cozy yet vibrant, with two rooms divided by a central living area. The living room had a comfortable couch and a small table, the walls adorned with colorful patterns that exuded warmth. Each room boasted two bunk beds, offering a snug haven for the girls.

Miyeon, the newest addition to the group, looked around with wide eyes, taking in her surroundings with a mixture of awe and nervousness. She had only recently joined Cube and was still finding her place among the members. Her hesitation was evident in the way she clutched her bag, fingers trembling slightly.

Shuhua, ever the social butterfly, bounded into the room with boundless energy, her excitement contagious. "Wow, it's so cute! I love it!" Her voice echoed in the room, bouncing off the walls like her enthusiasm. She twirled around, her eyes sparkling with delight.

Yuqi, her fellow Mandarin-speaking friend, grinned in agreement, her dimples deepening. "Yeah, it's awesome! I can't wait to start decorating." She glanced at the walls, already envisioning where her favorite posters would go.

Soyeon, the group's leader, surveyed the room with a sense of determination, already planning the logistics of their living arrangements. Her eyes scanned every corner, mentally organizing their space. "Alright, let's divide into rooms. Shuhua, Yuqi, Miyeon, and I will take one room, and Minnie and Soojin can take the other."

Minnie smiled warmly, nodding in agreement. "Sounds good, Soyeon. Let's get settled in, everyone." Her voice was calm and reassuring, a steady anchor in the sea of excitement.

As they began to claim their bunk beds, Shuhua's eyes sparkled with mischief as she looked over at Soojin. "Soojin-unnie, let's share a room! It'll be so much fun!" Her voice was full of hopeful anticipation, her body practically bouncing with excitement.

Soojin hesitated, unsure how to respond to Shuhua's bold suggestion. "Um... I'm not sure, Shuhua. Maybe we should stick to the original plan..." Her voice was soft, tinged with uncertainty, as she glanced around, looking for support.

But Shuhua was undeterred, her determination shining through her wide, pleading eyes. "Please, Soojin-unnie! It'll be like a sleepover every night!" She clasped her hands together, her face the picture of eager innocence.

Soojin couldn't help but smile at Shuhua's enthusiasm, despite her reservations. "Alright, Shuhua. We can share a room." Her voice was resigned but affectionate, her smile small but genuine.

Shuhua's face lit up with joy, and she practically skipped over to the bunk beds, claiming the bottom bunk beside Soojin's. Her laughter filled the room, a melodic sound that made everyone else smile.

As the members unpacked their belongings and settled into their bunk beds, the dormitory buzzed with excitement and laughter. Shuhua flitted around the room, her enthusiasm contagious. She opened her suitcase, pulling out various trinkets and photos.

"Let's decorate our space with photos and posters! It'll feel like home in no time!" Shuhua exclaimed, already rummaging through her bag for her favorite pictures. Her eyes shone with the excitement of a child on Christmas morning.

Minnie nodded in agreement, a smile gracing her lips. "Great idea, Shuhua! We can make this place feel cozy." Her voice was warm, and she started unpacking her own decorations.

Soojin couldn't help but admire Shuhua's enthusiasm, her own worries momentarily forgotten in the excitement of their new surroundings. She watched as Shuhua darted around the room, hanging pictures and chatting animatedly with the others.

With Shuhua's guidance, the members set to work, adorning the walls with snapshots of their fondest memories and posters of their favorite artists. As they worked together, a sense of warmth filled the room, bonding them closer as a group. Laughter and friendly banter echoed in the small space, making it feel more like home.

Shuhua turned to Soojin with a bright smile, her eyes twinkling mischievously. "Soojin-unnie, did you know your eyes sparkle like stars? So pretty!" Her voice was sweet and sincere, her smile radiant.

Soojin's cheeks flushed deeper, her discomfort evident. She looked away, fiddling with the corner of a poster. "Um... thank you, Shuhua. That's kind of you." Her voice was soft, almost embarrassed, as she tried to downplay the compliment.

Shuhua beamed, oblivious to Soojin's unease. "I'm just telling the truth!" She grabbed another photo, pinning it up on the wall with a flourish.

Soojin couldn't shake her discomfort with Shuhua's flirtatious comments, but the younger girl's enthusiasm was hard to resist. The room gradually transformed into a cozy, personalized haven, filled with memories and aspirations, as the girls worked together to make it their own.

With their belongings finally unpacked, the members decided to tackle the task of making dinner together. They moved to the small kitchen, which was cozy and well-equipped, with beige cabinets and a sleek countertop.

Soojin, usually more reserved in group settings, felt a surge of anxiety as she contemplated taking charge of cooking for the group. Cooking was something she enjoyed, but the thought of being the center of attention made her stomach churn. She glanced around the kitchen, her fingers nervously tapping the countertop.

As Soojin hesitated, Minnie stepped forward with a reassuring smile, her presence calm and steady. "Why don't you make us some seaweed soup, Soojin? I know you're good at it." Her voice was soothing, her confidence in Soojin evident.

Soojin nodded hesitantly, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "Um... okay. I can do that." Her voice was barely above a whisper, her heart pounding in her chest.

Shuhua, always eager to inject some excitement into the moment, bounded over to Soojin, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "You're going to be amazing, Soojin-unnie! I can't wait to taste your cooking." Her energy was infectious, her grin wide and sincere.

Soojin's cheeks flushed even deeper at Shuhua's enthusiastic praise, her shy nature making her uncomfortable with the attention. "Th-thank you, Shuhua." She began gathering ingredients, her hands slightly trembling.

As Soojin set to work preparing the ingredients for the soup, Shuhua couldn't resist teasing her, her flirtatious comments catching everyone off guard. "You're always taking such good care of us, Soojin-unnie. It's one of the things I love about you," Shuhua remarked, her tone light but the implications clear.

Soojin's heart skipped a beat at Shuhua's words, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment as she struggled to find a response. "Oh... um, thank you, Shuhua. I-I'm just... doing what I can." She stirred the soup, focusing intently on the task at hand to hide her discomfort.

Minnie and the others exchanged surprised glances, unsure how to react to the unexpected flirtation between Soojin and Shuhua. Sensing the tension, they quickly tried to shift the conversation back to safer topics.

"So, uh, who's ready to play a game while we wait for dinner?" Yuqi suggested, her voice a bit too cheerful as she attempted to diffuse the awkwardness. She flashed a bright smile, trying to lighten the mood.

As they engaged in small talk and lighthearted banter, Soojin couldn't shake the feeling of discomfort that lingered in the air. Though she appreciated Shuhua's attempt at closeness, she couldn't help but wish for a bit more subtlety in her expressions of affection.

As dinner simmered on the stove, the delicious aroma of Soojin's seaweed soup filled the dormitory, making their mouths water.

Minnie suggested a game to lighten the mood. "Why don't we play a get-to-know-you game while we eat? It'll be fun!" Her voice was gentle and encouraging, her smile warm.

Yuqi's eyes lit up with excitement. "That sounds like a great idea! What game should we play?" Her enthusiasm was palpable, her grin wide.

Soyeon chimed in with a suggestion. "How about we go around the table and each share something interesting about ourselves?" Her voice was calm and authoritative, guiding the group.

The others nodded in agreement, eager to learn more about their new roommates. Soojin, though hesitant at first, found herself drawn into the game, her shyness momentarily forgotten as she listened to her fellow members' stories.

Yuqi eagerly kicked off the game with a playful smile. "Okay, I'll start! Did you know that I'm a magician? My father taught me when I was just three years old!" She wiggled her fingers dramatically, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

The members exchanged skeptical glances, stifling giggles at the absurdity of Yuqi's claim.

"Come on, Yuqi, you expect us to believe that?" Minnie teased, a smirk playing on her lips as she arched an eyebrow.

Yuqi pouted, feigning offense. "Yah, it's true! I'm just so talented that none of you can handle it." She crossed her arms, trying to maintain her mock indignation.

Soyeon rolled her eyes, a smirk tugging at the corners of her mouth. "Sure, Yuqi. Whatever you say. Who's next?" Her tone was light, amused by the exchange.

As they went around the table, each member shared a piece of themselves, from Miyeon's inability to wake up to an alarm clock to Minnie's hidden talent for whistling. Soojin, though initially apprehensive, found herself opening up as well, sharing that she used to be a jazz dancer in her youth. Her voice grew stronger with each word, her confidence slowly building.

As the game continued, the awkwardness from earlier began to fade, replaced by a sense of belonging. Miyeon soon proposed the idea of watching a movie together. The suggestion was met with enthusiastic agreement from the group, eager for some downtime after a busy day of unpacking and bonding.

"I have a great movie we can watch!" Miyeon exclaimed, already retrieving a remote and heading toward the small TV in the corner of their cozy living room. "It's a classic romantic comedy. I thought it would be perfect for us." Her excitement was contagious, her eyes shining with anticipation.

The members gathered around the couch, which was just big enough for four people to sit comfortably. Minnie, Soojin, Shuhua, and Miyeon squeezed onto the couch, leaving no space for Yuqi and Soyeon.

Yuqi and Soyeon, undeterred, settled on the floor next to each other, leaning back against the couch. "This is perfect," Yuqi said, grinning as she made herself comfortable. "We've got the best seats in the house."

Soyeon nodded in agreement, her expression relaxed. "Yeah, we can stretch our legs here," she said with a smirk, extending her legs out in front of her.

Soojin found herself settling in between Minnie and Shuhua, feeling a mix of nerves and discomfort at the prospect of sitting so close to Shuhua. The warm glow of the TV illuminated their faces, casting a cozy ambiance in the room.

But before she could protest, Shuhua had already draped an arm around Soojin's shoulders, pulling her close with a playful grin. Soojin stiffened at the unexpected contact, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment, but Shuhua seemed oblivious to her discomfort.

"Isn't this cozy, Soojin-unnie?" Shuhua whispered, her breath tickling Soojin's ear. "I love movie nights with you." Her voice was soft and affectionate, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

Soojin's heart skipped a beat at Shuhua's words, her nerves intensifying as she struggled to respond. "Um... y-yeah, it's nice." Her voice was barely audible, her face burning with embarrassment.

As the movie began to play, Soojin found it increasingly difficult to focus on the screen. Shuhua's close proximity, coupled with her whispered declarations of affection, left Soojin feeling flustered and uneasy. The light from the screen flickered across their faces, casting shadows that danced in the dim room.

Despite her discomfort, Soojin couldn't bring herself to pull away from Shuhua, not wanting to hurt her feelings. But with each passing moment, the weight of Shuhua's feelings pressed down on her, leaving her feeling suffocated. The tension in the room was palpable, a silent current that everyone seemed to feel but not acknowledge.

As the credits rolled and the movie came to an end, Soojin seized the opportunity to extricate herself from Shuhua's embrace, mumbling something about needing to use the restroom before retreating to the safety of her bunk bed. The cool air of the room hit her flushed cheeks, a welcome relief as she tried to steady her racing heart.

She lay in her bunk, staring at the ceiling, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. The dorm, once filled with excitement and laughter, now felt like a maze of unspoken feelings and uncertainties. Soojin knew she had to navigate these complexities carefully, not just for her own sake, but for the harmony of the group as well.

Though she appreciated Shuhua's affection, she couldn't shake the feeling of guilt that gnawed at her heart. She knew she needed to confront her feelings, but the thought of hurting Shuhua was a weight she wasn't sure she could bear. The pressure of maintaining harmony within the group and her own inner turmoil left her feeling trapped and restless.

Amidst the tranquility of the night, a soft whimper caught Soojin's attention. Turning her head downwards, she saw Shuhua curled up in her bunk bed, tears glistening in the moonlight that streamed through the small window. Shuhua's shoulders shook with silent sobs, and her usually bright eyes were now shadowed with sorrow.

Concern flooded Soojin's heart as she quietly approached Shuhua's bunk, making sure to quietly head down the ladder so as to not wake the other girls across the room. "Shuhua, are you okay?" she asked softly, her voice gentle yet tinged with worry.

Shuhua, startled by Soojin's presence, hastily wiped away her tears, offering a shaky smile that didn't reach her eyes. "I'm fine, Soojin-unnie. Just... homesick, I guess."

Soojin's heart ached at Shuhua's admission, her own feelings of homesickness resonating deeply. She reached out, placing a comforting hand on Shuhua's shoulder. "I understand, Shuhua. It's hard being away from home, especially in a new place."

Shuhua nodded, her shoulders trembling with suppressed emotion. "Yeah... it's just... everything feels so different here," she whispered, her voice breaking slightly.

Soojin hesitated for a moment before tentatively suggesting, "Would you... like some company? Maybe it'll help."

Shuhua's eyes widened in surprise, gratitude shining in her gaze. "I-I would like that, Soojin-unnie. Thank you," she murmured, her voice filled with a mix of relief and vulnerability.

With a shy smile, Soojin climbed into Shuhua's bunk bed, the mattress creaking slightly under their combined weight. The small, enclosed space felt intimate, the closeness magnifying the comfort of each other's presence. They lay side by side in silence, the weight of their shared homesickness hanging heavy in the air, but also a sense of solace in their mutual understanding.

After a few moments, Shuhua spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "I miss my family... and my friends. And speaking Mandarin... it's hard to express myself sometimes," she confessed, her words laced with longing and frustration.

Soojin nodded in understanding, her own struggles with the language barrier echoing Shuhua's sentiments. "I know what you mean, Shuhua. It's hard to find the right words sometimes," she agreed softly, her voice a soothing balm in the stillness of the night.

They lapsed into silence once more, the only sound the steady rhythm of their breathing. But despite the language barrier, a sense of understanding and comfort blossomed between them, bridging the gap between their differences. The silence was not oppressive, but rather filled with unspoken empathy and a shared sense of resilience.

Shuhua's voice was thick with sleep, her eyelids fluttering shut as she murmured, "Thank you, Soojin-unnie. It means a lot to me."

Soojin watched as Shuhua's breathing became deep and even, her body relaxing in sleep. With a soft smile, Soojin pulled the blankets up to Shuhua's shoulders and gently pressed a kiss to her forehead, a gesture of quiet affection and reassurance. She then leaned back and rested her head on the pillow, her mind still buzzing with thoughts.

As she lay there, Soojin reflected on the complexities of her feelings and the depth of their friendship. The night was quiet around them, the soft hum of the city outside mingling with the whispers of their dreams.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

The tension in the dormitory was palpable as their debut loomed closer with each passing day. Soojin found herself consumed by a whirlwind of emotions, her heart heavy with the weight of an impending confession she knew she couldn't delay any longer. The air was thick with anticipation, each member caught in their own web of nerves and excitement, but for Soojin, a more personal storm was brewing.

As she watched Shuhua flit around the room, her infectious laughter filling the air, Soojin's resolve hardened. Shuhua's carefree nature, her bright smile, and her boundless energy were captivating. But behind every laugh, Soojin felt the gnawing guilt and the urgent need to be truthful. It was time to confront Shuhua, to lay bare the truth and face whatever consequences awaited her.

Summoning her courage, Soojin approached Shuhua, her voice barely above a whisper. "Shuhua, can we talk? Alone?"

Shuhua's eyes widened in surprise, but she nodded, her curiosity evident. "Of course, Jin. What's on your mind?"

Leading Shuhua into their shared room, Soojin closed the door behind them, her heart pounding with nervous anticipation. This was it. The moment of truth. The small room felt even smaller with the weight of her words hanging in the air.

Taking a deep breath, Soojin turned to face Shuhua, her words tumbling out in a rush. "Shuhua, I... I need to be honest with you. I know you have feelings for me, but... I don't feel the same way. And... and you're only seventeen, Shuhua. I'm not sure if it's... if it's right for us to be... like this."

Shuhua's expression softened, her eyes brimming with understanding. "I understand, Soojin-unnie. And... and I'll wait for you. I'm sure that one day, you'll see me the way I see you."

Soojin's heart clenched at Shuhua's words, her guilt weighing heavily on her shoulders. She didn't deserve Shuhua's unwavering devotion, especially when she couldn't return her feelings in kind. The sincerity in Shuhua's eyes only deepened her internal conflict.

"I'm sorry, Shuhua," Soojin whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "I... I don't want to hurt you."

But Shuhua shook her head, her smile gentle and reassuring despite the tears brimming in her eyes. "You could never hurt me, Soojin-unnie." She said with a quiet strength, “I'll always be here for you, no matter what."

Before Soojin could respond, Shuhua leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to her cheek. Soojin felt a rush of conflicting emotions surge within her. There was warmth in Shuhua's affection, a reassurance that transcended their unspoken words, yet Soojin couldn't shake the uncertainty that lingered in the depths of her heart.

As Shuhua pulled away, her gaze unwavering, Soojin found herself at a loss for words. The confidence with which Shuhua had just expressed her feelings left Soojin baffled, her own insecurities laid bare in the face of Shuhua's unwavering resolve.

"Thank you, Soojin-unnie," Shuhua said softly, her voice filled with sincerity. "For being honest with me. I'll give you the time you need."

With a gentle smile, Shuhua turned and left the room, leaving Soojin alone with her thoughts. As the door closed behind her, Soojin couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for Shuhua's unwavering confidence, her own uncertainties momentarily overshadowed by the strength of Shuhua's conviction. But as she sank onto her bunk bed, the weight of her decision settled upon her shoulders, the reality of her feelings and the consequences of her actions looming large in her mind.

Soojin was certain this girl was going to be the death of her.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

Excitement crackled in the air of the bustling dressing room as the newly formed group readied themselves for the live performance of their first mini album. The six members had meticulously prepared for the imminent concert. Amidst the flurry of activity, Shuhua, with her boundless energy, gravitated towards Soojin, her eagerness palpable.

"Are you almost ready, Soojin?" Shuhua whispered, her eyes alight with anticipation. Soojin nodded, offering a faint smile. "Just finishing up."

Soyeon teased Shuhua with a playful smile on her face. "Shuhua, are you bothering Soojin again?"

Flushed with embarrassment, Shuhua hastily denied the accusation. "No, I'm not!"

Yuqi joined the playful banter. "Sure looks like it."

Soojin chuckled softly, appreciating the light-hearted atmosphere. But before she could fully relax, Shuhua surprised her by stealing a quick kiss on her cheek.

"There! Now you're ready to rock the stage!" Shuhua declared, mischief dancing in her eyes.

Soojin's cheeks flamed with embarrassment as she tried to compose herself. But in her attempt to do so, she accidentally moved her face, causing their lips to meet in an unexpected kiss.

A hushed silence fell over the room as Soojin and Shuhua's eyes widened in shock. Time seemed to stand still as they lingered in the moment, their lips touching in a gentle, unplanned embrace.

Minnie, momentarily forgotten, looked up from the snacks, her eyes widening in surprise. "Um... Did I miss something?" Minnie's bewildered inquiry hung in the air.

Amidst the stunned silence, Miyeon chuckled softly. "Looks like there was a little mix-up."

Soyeon, with a knowing grin, added, "Well, that's one way to break the tension."

Giggling nervously, Shuhua attempted to diffuse the situation. "I-I'm sorry, Soojin! I didn't mean to—"

Soojin shook her head, a soft smile tugging at her lips. "It's okay, Shuhua. Accidents happen." Despite her best efforts, Soojin's words rang hollow. She could feel the warmth radiating from her face as she averted her gaze, her thoughts a jumbled mess.

As the others laughed and joked about the incident, Shuhua's expression fell, her heart heavy with disappointment. It wasn't supposed to happen this way. Her feelings weren't supposed to be a joke. In a matter of moments, their carefully crafted facade crumbled, revealing the true nature of their relationship.

As the group finished up their preparations, the manager walked into the dressing room. "Hey, are you girls ready?" The manager's announcement broke the awkward silence.

With a determined look, Minnie spoke up. "Yes, we're ready. Let's do this."

As the group prepared to leave the dressing room, Soojin pulled Shuhua aside. "Hey, are you okay?" Concern laced Soojin's words.

Shuhua nodded, attempting to smile. "Yeah, I'm fine." But the smile didn't reach her eyes, and the sadness lingered.

With a loud voice, Yuqi interjected, redirecting their attention to the impending performance. "Well, we've got a show to put on! Let’s go!"

Soyeon, assuming her role as leader, rallied the group. "Come on, lovebirds. Let's go, our fans are waiting for us!"

Linked arm in arm, the members exited the dressing room, and as Soojin walked alongside them, her mind raced, trying to grasp the unexpected kiss shared with Shuhua. She stole a glance at Shuhua, whose eyes held a mix of embarrassment and something else she couldn't quite decipher. Despite the confusion, Soojin felt a strange warmth spread through her, a sense of connection she hadn't anticipated. As they approached the stage, she braced herself, ready to face the crowd, her thoughts still lingering on the unexpected moment shared with Shuhua.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

As the cameras rolled, capturing the behind-the-scenes chaos of their music video shoot, Soojin found herself in the spotlight, the bright lights reflecting off her flawlessly applied makeup. Her concentration was soon disrupted by the familiar sound of Shuhua's voice calling out to her, cutting through the buzz of activity.

“Look over there,” Soojin said, her voice monotone, her eyes briefly flicking towards Shuhua.

"Jagiya, let’s go!" Shuhua exclaimed, her tone affectionate as she sauntered into the room, a playful smile dancing on her lips. Her vibrant energy contrasted sharply with Soojin's focused demeanor.

Soojin's brow furrowed at the use of the pet name, a flicker of irritation crossing her features. “Why am I your Jagiya?” she asked, shooting Shuhua a pointed look, silently willing her to leave her alone for just a moment.

Before Soojin could respond further, Miyeon appeared by her side, her presence warm and soothing. Miyeon leaned in close, her breath ghosting against Soojin's cheek as she moved to kiss her, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

Soojin's eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected gesture, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment as she tried to pull away. The camera man behind her, accustomed to these displays of affection, remarked with a chuckle, "It's been a while since I’ve seen you like this."

As the camera man inquired about their frequent conflicts over Soojin's affection, a wave of discomfort washed over her. She hesitated for a moment before responding, her voice tinged with resignation. "It’s not a while for me. They're like this at home too," she admitted, attempting to maintain her composure.

Despite her best attempts to stay calm, Miyeon's affectionate gestures only seemed to exacerbate the situation. Soojin found herself caught in a delicate balancing act between Shuhua's possessiveness and Miyeon's newfound attentiveness, a situation that left her feeling overwhelmed and trapped.

Before Soojin could dwell further on her predicament, Shuhua suddenly interjected herself between Soojin and Miyeon, her grip firm as she took Soojin's hand in hers. "Miyeon is loving me too much recently, it’s pretty burdensome for me," she declared, her voice laced with jealousy as she shot Miyeon a pointed glare.

As the tension between Shuhua and Miyeon reached its peak, Soojin couldn't help but recall a similar incident in the waiting room earlier that day. Miyeon had reached out to hold her hand, a simple gesture of comfort that had not gone unnoticed by Shuhua.

Shuhua's piercing stare had lingered on Miyeon, her jealousy palpable even then. And as Soojin found herself caught in the middle of their conflict once again, she felt the weight of their expectations pressing down on her.

After the chaotic filming session, Soojin found herself seeking a moment of respite away from the prying eyes of the camera crew. She retreated to a secluded corner backstage, hoping for a moment of peace to collect her thoughts. The soft hum of the overhead lights and the faint echoes of the crew's voices provided a stark contrast to the tumultuous emotions swirling within her.

But her solitude was short-lived as Shuhua soon appeared before her, determination gleaming in her eyes. "Soojin," she said softly, urgency lacing her tone. "We need to talk."

Soojin felt a knot form in her stomach at the seriousness of Shuhua's tone. "What is it, Shuhua?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady despite the unease creeping over her. She could see the tension in Shuhua's posture, the way her hands clenched at her sides.

Shuhua took a step closer, her gaze intense as she locked eyes with Soojin. "I need to know," she began, her words tumbling out in a rush. "Do you love me more than Miyeon?"

Soojin's heart skipped a beat at the question, her mind racing as she struggled to find the right words. "Shuhua, I—" she started, but before she could finish, Shuhua was already closing the distance between them.

Her touch was gentle yet insistent as she reached out to cup Soojin's cheek, her fingers tracing a delicate path along Soojin's skin. "Tell me, Soojin," she whispered, her breath warm against Soojin's ear. "Say that you love me more than anyone else."

Soojin's heart pounded in her chest as Shuhua's proximity sent a jolt of electricity through her veins. Her cheeks heated up, matching the shade of her bright red hair. She tried to pull away, but Shuhua's touch was like a vice, holding her in place.

"I-I can't," Soojin stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. "I can’t give you what you want."

But Shuhua refused to back down, her touch growing bolder as she pressed closer to Soojin. "Please, Soojin," she pleaded, her voice tinged with desperation. "I need to know that you love me. That I'm the one you want."

Feeling the weight of Shuhua's disappointment, Soojin's heart went out to her, despite her own discomfort. With a heavy sigh, she reached out to gently take Shuhua's hand in hers, offering what little comfort she could muster. The tension in the air was almost palpable, each moment feeling heavier than the last.

"I'm sorry, Shuhua," Soojin murmured, her voice soft with sincerity. "I know this is hard for you, but please understand.”

Shuhua's gaze softened at Soojin's words, her anger slowly giving way to resignation. "I know," she admitted, her voice tinged with sadness. "But it still hurts."

Soojin felt a pang of guilt at the pain she had caused Shuhua, her heart aching with the knowledge that she couldn't give Shuhua the answer she so desperately wanted. But she was determined to make things right, to find a way to ease Shuhua's heartache.

"Let's make a deal," Soojin suggested, a tentative smile playing on her lips. "I promise to make it up to you later. We can cuddle and watch your favorite movie.”

Shuhua's expression brightened at the offer, her eyes lighting up with hope. "Really?" she asked, her voice filled with excitement.

Soojin nodded, her smile widening at the sight of Shuhua's happiness. "Really," she confirmed, squeezing Shuhua's hand reassuringly. "I'll do whatever it takes to make you feel better."

Soojin's heart ached at the vulnerability in Shuhua's voice, but she knew that she couldn't give in to Shuhua's demands. She cared for the younger girl deeply, but her feelings never exceeded the level of friendship Shuhua longed for.

As the night settled in and the soft glow of the bedside lamp cast a warm light across the room, Soojin and Shuhua found themselves nestled together in bed. The weight of the day's events began to fade away, replaced by a sense of peace. The laptop played a film in Mandarin that Soojin couldn't understand, but she didn't mind. It was the quiet moments like these that she cherished the most.

Her fingers traced gentle circles along Shuhua's scalp, her touch feather-light as she stroked her hair. With each stroke, she found herself lost in thought, contemplating how she could reassure Shuhua of her love without crossing the line into romance. The rhythmic motion was soothing, both for Shuhua and for Soojin herself.

Lost in her own thoughts, Soojin was startled when she heard Shuhua's soft voice break the silence. "Keep doing that," Shuhua murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "It feels good."

Soojin felt a rush of warmth at Shuhua's words, a tender smile playing on her lips as she continued to run her fingers through Shuhua's hair. She had always found solace in these quiet moments, the simplicity of touch speaking volumes that words could never convey.

After a few minutes, Soojin hesitated, her fingers hovering over the laptop's keyboard as she paused the movie they had been watching. She turned to look at Shuhua, her expression serious yet tender.

"Shuhua," she began, her voice soft with uncertainty. "There's something I need to tell you." Shuhua's gaze met hers, her eyes wide with curiosity as she waited for Soojin to continue. Soojin took a deep breath, steeling herself for what she was about to say.

"I... You…are important to me," Soojin admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I don't want you to get the wrong idea."

As Soojin confessed her feelings, her heart raced with apprehension. It was difficult for her to articulate the complexities of her emotions, her fear of jeopardizing their friendship overshadowing any potential romantic connection.

Shuhua's gentle gaze softened as she listened, her understanding demeanor providing a sense of solace amid Soojin's turmoil. With a reassuring smile, she reached out and enveloped Soojin's trembling hand in hers.

"Soojin," Shuhua whispered, her voice tender and filled with empathy. "I know this is hard for you, and I want you to know that I'll wait for as long as you need. Our friendship means more to me than anything else."

Soojin felt a weight lift off her shoulders at Shuhua's unwavering support. The sincerity in Shuhua's words touched her deeply, and she couldn't help but be overwhelmed by a surge of gratitude for the understanding and patience Shuhua showed her.

As the tender moment lingered between them, Shuhua's gaze held a silent plea, her eyes shimmering with unspoken longing. Soojin's heart clenched at the vulnerability she saw reflected in Shuhua's eyes, her own emotions swirling with uncertainty.

"Soojin," Shuhua whispered, her voice barely a breath against the quiet hum of the room. "Can I... can I kiss you?"

Soojin's breath caught in her throat at the unexpected request, her mind racing as she grappled with conflicting emotions. She didn't want to lead Shuhua on, to give her false hope of something more. And yet, the way Shuhua was looking at her, with such raw honesty and vulnerability, made Soojin's resolve waver.

"I... I don't know, Shuhua," Soojin murmured, her voice tinged with hesitation. "I don't want to... I don't want to give you the wrong idea."

Shuhua's expression softened, her eyes filled with understanding. "I know, Soojin," she said softly, her tone gentle and reassuring. "But please... just this once. Let me show you how much you mean to me."

Soojin felt her resolve crumble at Shuhua's words, her heart aching with the intensity of her emotions. With a trembling hand, she reached out and cupped Shuhua's cheek, her touch tender and hesitant.

"Okay," Soojin whispered, her voice barely audible above the soft thrum of their heartbeats. "Just... just this once."

With a nod of assent, Shuhua leaned forward, her lips brushing against Soojin's in a soft, tentative kiss. Soojin felt a rush of emotions, a myriad of conflicting sensations washing over her. It was tender, sweet, and full of longing, a silent declaration of the feelings they both had been suppressing.

As they pulled apart, their lips lingering close, Soojin found herself lost in Shuhua's gaze, the depth of her emotions reflected in the younger girl's eyes. The room seemed to hold its breath, the moment stretching out into an eternity.

"Thank you," Shuhua whispered, her voice barely audible. "For letting me."

Soojin nodded, her heart still racing. "Just this once," she repeated softly, more to herself than to Shuhua. "Just this once."

As they settled back into their previous positions, Soojin continued to stroke Shuhua's hair, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. The soft glow of the lamp bathed them in a warm, golden light, creating a cocoon of intimacy and understanding that they both needed.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

As the group's fame soared and they settled into their individual rooms, their bond as a group grew stronger with each passing day. Despite the hectic schedules and the pressures of fame, the members found solace in the comfort and familiarity of each other's presence. Shuhua specifically seemed to make a nightly crusade to Soojin's room.

At first, Soojin was taken aback by Shuhua's insistence on cuddling, her shy nature contrasting with Shuhua's bold displays of affection. The first few nights, Soojin lay stiffly beside Shuhua, her mind racing with thoughts and concerns. Yet, as the nights passed, she found herself growing accustomed to the warmth and familiarity of her friend's presence. Shuhua's soft breathing and the gentle rise and fall of her chest became a comforting rhythm that lulled Soojin into a sense of security.

There were moments, fleeting and rare, when Soojin felt a warmth stir within her at Shuhua's declarations of love. She would catch herself lingering a little longer in Shuhua's embrace, relishing the feeling of closeness that enveloped them. But as quickly as those feelings surfaced, Soojin would push them aside, burying them beneath layers of uncertainty and doubt. Her heart was a battleground of conflicting emotions, torn between the desire for closeness and the fear of crossing boundaries.

Shuhua never missed an opportunity to declare her love for Soojin. Whether it was during interviews, rehearsals, or just lounging around in their downtime, Shuhua's confessions would bubble up like an unstoppable force of nature, much to Soojin's amusement and exasperation.

And while Soojin would often tease Shuhua for her over-the-top displays of affection, she couldn't deny the warmth that spread through her heart at the thought of being so cherished by her friend. Their relationship was a delicate balance of playful banter and genuine affection, a dance they both reveled in as they navigated the highs and lows of their burgeoning careers.

So when Shuhua's antics spilled over into public displays of affection, Soojin couldn't help but play along, much to the delight of their fans and fellow members. Whether it was a quick peck on the cheek during a photo op or a playful kiss caught on camera, Soojin and Shuhua's dynamic never failed to bring a smile to everyone's faces.

The dressing room buzzed with energy as the members prepared for their upcoming comeback. The air was thick with anticipation and excitement, the faint hum of the makeup artists' tools and the rustle of clothing creating a symphony of pre-show preparations. Soojin sat on one of the provided couches with a composed expression, while Shuhua flitted around the room, her laughter filling the air like a melody.

The camera positioned itself in front of Soojin, unsurprisingly, Shuhua came running up with Minnie trailing behind her. Soojin wrapped an arm around Shuhua, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Shuhua will be twenty soon," she teased, nudging the younger girl playfully. “What do you want?”

Shuhua's eyes sparkled with excitement as she turned to face the camera, a playful grin spreading across her face. She pointed straight to Soojin, her enthusiasm palpable. Soojin couldn't help but chuckle at Shuhua's predictable response, though a small smile played on her lips. It had become a familiar joke between them, Shuhua's playful teasing about her affections for the dancer.

Just as Soojin was about to respond, the makeup artist called her over to get her makeup done, providing a convenient distraction from Shuhua's playful banter. Soojin turned and headed over to the makeup chair, leaving the younger girl grinning mischievously in her wake.

Later in the day, when the rest of the girls were ready to take the stage, Soojin glanced around the bustling meeting room, searching for Shuhua among the crowd. Spotting her near the refreshments table, Soojin gestured for Shuhua to come over.

"Shuhua," Soojin called out, her voice gentle yet firm.

Shuhua turned to face her, her eyes wide with anticipation. "Yes, Soojinnie?"

With a quick glance around the room to ensure no one was watching, she reached into her bag and pulled out a small wrapped box. "I... I have something for you," she whispered, catching Shuhua's attention.

Shuhua's eyes widened in surprise as Soojin handed her the gift, her heart fluttering with anticipation. "For me? But my birthday isn't until next week."

Soojin offered a small smile, her cheeks tinged with a hint of pink. "Consider it an early birthday present."

Shuhua's heart swelled with gratitude as she carefully unwrapped the gift, revealing a delicate necklace nestled inside. Her eyes widened in awe as she held it up to the light, the intricate design sparkling in the dim glow of the dressing room.

Before Shuhua could react to the gift, Soojin leaned in close, her lips brushing against the corner of Shuhua's mouth in a fleeting kiss. The other members erupted into playful cheers and teasing remarks, their laughter filling the room as they encouraged the budding romance between Soojin and Shuhua.

Soojin's smile widened at Shuhua's reaction, her own heart swelling with warmth. Meanwhile, the other members had been watching the exchange with amused smiles, their eyes flickering between Soojin and Shuhua.

Minnie nudged Miyeon with a playful grin. "Looks like Shuhua's birthday came early this year."

Miyeon chuckled, her gaze softening as she watched the scene unfold. "Soojin must have put a lot of thought into that gift."

Yuqi raised an eyebrow as she leaned closer to Soyeon. "Do you think there's something more between them?"

Soyeon shrugged, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "Who knows? But one thing's for sure, those two are inseparable."

Soojin pulled away, a shy smile playing on her lips. "Happy early birthday, Shuhua. Let's go." With that, Soojin turned on her heel and walked away, leaving Shuhua standing in the center of the dressing room, her heart racing with a mix of emotions. As she clutched the necklace in her hand, she couldn't help but feel a surge of hope blossoming within her.

Perhaps, just perhaps, Soojin's feelings weren't as one-sided as she had feared.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

It was Shuhua’s nineteenth birthday, and the managers had arranged a V- live to celebrate. The live stream featured just Soojin and Shuhua, set up in their cozy kitchen at the company. The camera was positioned perfectly to capture the warmth and joy radiating from the two girls.

“Hello, I am the beauty, Shuhua!” Shuhua greeted enthusiastically, waving at the camera. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, and her smile was radiant.

Soojin smiled, her eyes sparkling with affection. “Today is Shuhua’s birthday, so we are here.”

As they chatted and interacted with the viewers, the atmosphere was filled with a sense of genuine joy. Shuhua took every opportunity to tease Soojin, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “Hey, Soojin-unnie,” she said, her voice full of playful energy, “Do you want to check my korean skills?”

Soojin raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “No thanks”

Shuhua started speaking mandarin assuming that Soojin would follow her lead, “First, say ‘你是 (nǐ shì)’.”

Soojin repeated carefully, “你是 (nǐ shì).”

Shuhua nodded, her eyes shining. “‘我的 (wǒ de)’.”

Soojin echoed, “我的 (wǒ de).”

“Great! Now, ‘心爱 (Xīn'ài)’,” Shuhua continued, grinning widely.

“心爱(Xīn'ài),” Soojin repeated, then looked at Shuhua expectantly. “What does it mean?”

Shuhua’s grin turned mischievous. “It means ‘Jagiya’.”

Soojin’s eyes widened in realization, and she laughed, playfully swatting at Shuhua. “You can’t do that!”

Shuhua giggled, clapping her hands. Her laughter was like music, filling the room with an infectious joy. “Perfect! You did it, Unnie!”

The chat exploded with heart emojis and playful comments, creating a cascade of affection and admiration from their fans. One viewer asked, “Shuhua, gives Soojin a kiss”

Shuhua’s eyes sparkled with mischief as she looked at Soojin. She puckers her lips to get ready.

But before Shuhua could make a move, Soojin turned the tables. “Why? Come do it” she said, her voice low and playful, as she moved in to kiss Shuhua.

Shuhua’s eyes widened in surprise, her heart skipping a beat and backing away in terror. “No! Only I can do it!” she protested, laughing.

Shuhua read another comment that said, “Soojin Unnie gives Shuhua a kiss.” Shuhua’s eyes sparkled with mischief as she patted her cheek and leaned closer to Soojin, tilting her head slightly and closing her eyes dramatically.

The viewers flooded the chat with heart emojis and excited comments, eagerly anticipating what would happen next.

Soojin grinned, her determination evident. She leaned in closer, her face just inches away from Shuhua’s. “You don’t think I can do it right.” She reached out, gently grabbing Shuhua’s face and pressing a hard kiss to her cheek.

Shuhua let out a playful shriek, her face turning a deep shade of red as she burst into laughter. “Everyone!” she exclaimed, still giggling. She turned to the camera, her smile wide and genuine. “Did you all see that? Soojin-unnie kissed me!”

Soojin, noticing the change in Shuhua’s demeanor, asked, “Why are you avoiding me?”

Shuhua bit her lip, her cheeks still red. “I’m shy,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Just then, the door burst open, and the rest of the members entered, their voices harmonizing as they sang “Happy Birthday.” Shuhua’s eyes widened in surprise, her heart swelling with emotion. Minnie quickly turned off the lights, leaving the room illuminated only by the soft glow of the candles on the cake.

The flickering candlelight cast a warm, magical glow over the room as the members continued to sing, their voices filled with love and joy. Shuhua, overwhelmed by the surprise and the heartfelt gesture, felt tears welling up in her eyes.

As they finished the song, Yuqi teased her, “Calm down, and make a wish, birthday girl!”

Shuhua smiled through her tears, her heart brimming with gratitude. She closed her eyes, made a silent wish, and blew out the candles. The room erupted in cheers and applause.

Miyeon, noticing the tears streaming down Shuhua’s cheeks, asked gently, “Why are you crying?”

Shuhua wiped her eyes, her voice trembling with emotion. “I thought everyone had forgotten my birthday because no one posted about it,” she confessed.

The members all laughed, their faces filled with affection and understanding. Miyeon stepped forward and wrapped an arm around Shuhua. “Our fingers were itchy trying not to.”

As the live stream continued, the group shared stories, laughed together, and enjoyed the special birthday cake. The joy and love were palpable, creating a memory that Shuhua would treasure forever. The rest of the evening was filled with playful teasing, heartfelt moments, and an overwhelming sense of belonging.

Miyeon, with a twinkle in her eye, decided to playfully torment Shuhua. She leaned in, attempting to plant kisses all over Shuhua’s face. “Come here!” Miyeon teased, her voice full of mischief.

Shuhua let out a playful shriek, ducking and dodging to avoid Miyeon’s affectionate assault. “No, Unnie, stop!” she laughed, trying to escape Miyeon's relentless attempts.

The room erupted in laughter as Miyeon continued to chase Shuhua’s face, both of them giggling uncontrollably. “Just one more kiss!” Miyeon insisted, finally managing to catch Shuhua and plant a big kiss on her cheek.

As the members settled down, they turned to the camera to say their goodbyes to the fans.

Shuhua waved at the camera, her smile radiant. "Thank you, everyone!”

With a final wave, the live stream ended, and the members began to gather their things, preparing to head to the dorms. The excitement of the evening was still palpable, and the warmth of their friendship filled the air.

As they moved towards the hallway, Soyeon turned to Shuhua. “Happy birthday one last time, Shuhua,” she said, giving her a gentle hug.

“Happy birthday!” Minnie, and Yuqi, chorused, each giving Shuhua a quick squeeze before heading off to their rooms.

Miyeon lingered a moment longer, her eyes meeting Shuhua’s. “Happy birthday, Shuhua,” she said softly, her voice filled with affection. “Sleep well.”

Shuhua smiled, her heart full. “Thank you, Unnie. Good night.”

Left alone in the quiet kitchen, Soojin and Shuhua looked at each other, Soojin leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to Shuhua’s forehead, her heart full. “Let’s go to bed,” she whispered.

Shuhua smiled, a contented sigh escaping her lips. “Okay, Unnie. Let’s go.”

The room was quiet, the soft glow of the bedside lamp casting a warm light over the space. They changed into their pajamas and settled into bed, the weight of the day's joy and laughter still lingering in the air.

Soojin turned to Shuhua, her eyes gentle and affectionate. "Did you have a good birthday, Shu?"

Shuhua's face lit up with a radiant smile. "Yes, Unnie, I did. I was really sad when I thought everyone had forgotten my birthday, but after you all surprised me, I felt so happy again."

Soojin smiled back at her, reaching out to tuck a strand of Shuhua's hair behind her ear. "I'm glad you're happy. That’s all that matters to me."

Shuhua's eyes sparkled with playful mischief. "You know, Jin-ah, I’d be even happier if I got a goodnight kiss before bed."

Soojin rolled her eyes at Shuhua’s antics, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Was one earlier in the week not enough for you?"

Shuhua shook her head, her expression serious despite the teasing glint in her eyes. "There will never be enough kisses for me, Unnie."

Soojin sighed dramatically, pretending to be exasperated, but her heart was warm. "Alright, alright," she said, leaning in closer. She hesitated for a moment, her eyes meeting Shuhua’s, then decided to be nice. She pressed a sweet, short kiss to Shuhua’s lips, feeling the softness and warmth.

Shuhua closed her eyes, savoring the moment, then smiled contentedly as they pulled away. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice full of affection.

Soojin smiled, her heart swelling with emotion. She wrapped her arms around Shuhua, pulling her close. Shuhua rested her head on Soojin’s chest, the steady rhythm of Soojin’s heartbeat soothing her.

As they cuddled, the room filled with a peaceful silence, both of them content and happy. Shuhua’s breathing slowly became steady and deep as she drifted off to sleep, feeling safe and loved in Soojin’s embrace.

Soojin lay there, her heart full, watching over Shuhua as she slept. When she was sure Shuhua was asleep, she whispered softly, her voice barely audible in the quiet room, "I love you, Shuhua."

The words hung in the air, a tender confession that Soojin hoped one day to say when Shuhua was awake. For now, it was enough to hold her close, knowing that their bond was strong and filled with love. As sleep began to claim her, Soojin pressed a gentle kiss to Shuhua's forehead, a silent promise of her feelings, and closed her eyes, drifting into a peaceful slumber with Shuhua in her arms.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

The early morning light filtered softly through the curtains, casting a gentle glow across the room. The alarm had gone off several times, its persistent beeping blending into the background noise. The room was filled with the soft rustling of leaves from the nearby trees and the distant chirping of birds greeting the dawn. The lump under the covers, however, showed no signs of stirring.

Soojin stood by the bed, her expression a mixture of amusement and exasperation. Her hair was slightly disheveled from sleep, and she was dressed in a cozy pair of pajamas. She glanced at the clock, noting with a sigh how early it still was.

"Shuhua," Soojin called softly, gently shaking the sleeping girl’s shoulder. "Wake up. We have an early shoot today."

A muffled groan was the only response. Shuhua burrowed deeper into the blankets, only the top of her head visible. Her hair, tousled from sleep, spread out like a dark halo on the pillow.

Soojin sighed, kneeling down by the bed and leaning closer. "Shuhua, come on. We need to get going. How about I make breakfast? Your favorite hotteok?"

There was a slight movement as Shuhua adjusted her position, but she still didn’t emerge from her cocoon. The air was thick with the scent of lavender from the diffuser on the nightstand, adding to the cozy atmosphere of the room.

Soojin tried again, her voice a little more coaxing. "Or we could walk Haku and Mata. They’re probably eager to get out." She glanced at the puppies' bed in the corner, where the two tiny furballs stirred at the sound of their names.

This time, Shuhua’s head popped out, her eyes barely open, a sleepy pout on her lips. "Tell Miyeon to take care of the dogs," she mumbled, her voice thick with sleep. "I'll get up if you give me a kiss."

Soojin’s cheeks flushed a deep red, the color spreading to the tips of her ears. "A kiss?" she repeated, feeling her heart race at the bold request. The room seemed to grow warmer, the soft morning light casting a golden hue on Shuhua’s sleepy face.

"Mm-hmm," Shuhua hummed, her eyes already drifting shut again. "On the lips."

Soojin hesitated, her mind racing. The idea of being late loomed over her, and the urgency of their schedule pushed her to action. Taking a deep breath, she leaned in and pressed a quick, shy kiss to Shuhua’s cheek. Her lips tingled from the contact, and she quickly pulled back, her heart pounding.

"Not there," Shuhua murmured, a teasing smile playing on her lips, her eyes remaining closed. "On the lips."

Soojin’s blush deepened, her face now a vivid crimson. She knew Shuhua was testing her, not expecting her to follow through. But the thought of missing their shoot pushed her past her nerves. Gathering her courage, Soojin leaned in again, her lips trembling slightly as she moved closer. She could feel Shuhua’s breath, warm and steady, against her own lips.

In one swift, bold move, Soojin captured Shuhua’s lips in a tender kiss. The sensation was electrifying, sending a rush of warmth through her entire body. Shuhua’s lips were soft and warm, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still.

Soojin had meant to keep the kiss brief for time sake, but she felt herself being pulled in like a moth to light. It was all enough to send Soojin's head spinning.

Before she could control it, Soojin was cupping Shuhua's face, deepening the kiss.

Soojin felt Shuhua respond, kissing her back, their lips moving together in perfect harmony. Soojin never wanted it to end, the sensation of Shuhua's lips against hers unlike anything she'd ever experienced before. At last, they pulled apart, both breathless and flushed.

"Now, will you please get up?" Soojin asked, her voice a little unsteady.

Shuhua’s eyes snapped open in surprise, her cheeks flushing a delicate pink. Soojin pulled back quickly, her own face burning with embarrassment. "There, you got your kiss." she insisted, her voice a mix of shyness and determination.

Shuhua blinked, her surprise melting into a slow, delighted smile. "Okay, okay," she said, finally sitting up and stretching. The blanket slipped off her shoulders, revealing the oversized green T-shirt she had slept in, its fabric wrinkled and soft from wear.

Soojin let out a sigh of relief, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Good. Let's get ready. We don’t want to be late."

As Shuhua climbed out of bed, she couldn’t help but steal another glance at Soojin, her smile turning into a playful grin. "You know, I might need that kind of wake-up call more often," she teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

Soojin rolled her eyes, though her smile remained. "Just get ready, Shuhua," she said, unable to hide the affection in her voice.

With a final stretch, Shuhua nodded, her movements graceful despite the early hour. The puppies, Haku and Mata, trotted over to her, tails wagging excitedly. Shuhua bent down to pet them, her expression softening as she showered them with affection.

As they moved about the room, preparing for the day ahead, Shuhua's teasing continued. "I didn't think you'd actually kiss me," she said, her voice lilting with amusement. "I guess you really wanted me to get up."

Soojin, her back turned as she rummaged through her bag, tried to keep her composure. "I only did it because we can't be late," she replied, her voice a little too defensive. "Nothing else."

Shuhua approached, a playful glint in her eye. "Oh, is that so?" she asked, tilting her head slightly. "Not even a little bit because you wanted to?"

Soojin turned to face her, trying to muster a stern look but failing as a blush crept up her cheeks. "Not even a little bit," she insisted, though her voice wavered slightly.

Shuhua giggled, clearly enjoying Soojin's flustered state. "Sure, Unnie. Whatever you say," she said with a wink, before turning to grab her clothes.

Soojin watched, her heart swelling with warmth at the sight. "Alright, let's go Jagiya," she said, her voice filled with determination.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

The members were busy preparing for their stage performance, the energy in the room a mix of anticipation and excitement. Shuhua, in particular, was in a playful mood, her eyes twinkling with mischief as she glanced over at Soojin.

Catching sight of the camera crew setting up nearby, Shuhua had an idea. She grinned, pulling out her phone and opening the Google Translate app. Carefully, she typed in her first phrase and then, making sure the camera was following her, she confidently strutted over to Soojin.

"You are sexy," Shuhua said, the Korean words slightly stilted but unmistakable. She looked up at Soojin with a triumphant smile, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Soojin, caught off guard, blinked in surprise. She tried to maintain her composure, but the corners of her mouth betrayed her, twitching upwards into a reluctant smile. "Where did you learn such a weird thing?" she asked, her tone half exasperated, half amused.

Undeterred, Shuhua eagerly typed another phrase into her phone. She held it up, her excitement palpable as she read the next line. "Do you want me to buy you a glass?"

Soojin couldn't help it; she laughed, a bright, genuine sound that made Shuhua's grin widen. "A glass?" Soojin echoed, shaking her head in disbelief. "Shuhua, I think you mean a drink."

Undaunted, Shuhua nodded vigorously, her enthusiasm unwavering. She typed furiously on her phone, her fingers flying over the screen. "You are beautiful," she declared, her eyes never leaving Soojin's face. Then, with a mischievous glint, she added, "Can I kiss you?"

She jumped up and down, her excitement bubbling over as she held her phone up to show the camera. The crew chuckled, clearly entertained by the lively exchange.

Soojin sighed, though the fondness in her eyes was unmistakable. "You’ve been watching too many Korean dramas," she teased, shaking her head.

Shuhua beamed, her joy infectious. "Korean dramas are the best!" she declared, her accent making the words all the more endearing.

As the cameras turned away to focus on another member, Soojin saw her chance. She slipped her own phone out of her pocket and quickly typed a few words into the translator. When she was satisfied, she tapped Shuhua on the shoulder, her expression deceptively innocent.

Shuhua turned, curious, and Soojin held up her phone, the translated Mandarin phrase clear on the screen. "你真迷人", it read.

Shuhua's eyes widened, her cheeks turning a delightful shade of pink. "You... you think I'm charming?" she stammered, her Korean suddenly faltering.

Soojin grinned, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Yes," she said simply, enjoying the rare moment of having the upper hand. She quickly typed another phrase and showed it to Shuhua. "你想和我约会吗?" — "Do you want to go on a date with me?"

Shuhua's jaw dropped, her flustered expression priceless. She glanced around to make sure the cameras were still focused elsewhere, then leaned closer to Soojin, her voice a whisper. "Where did you learn such things?"

Soojin laughed softly, enjoying the role reversal. "You’re not the only one who can use Google Translate," she teased.

Shuhua, still blushing furiously, tried to regain her composure. "Well, if we’re going to play this game," she said, her voice gaining confidence, "I’m going to win."

Soojin raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Is that a challenge?"

Shuhua nodded, her eyes sparkling with renewed mischief. "Yes, Unnie. It’s a challenge."

The day continued with playful exchanges, each girl trying to outdo the other. Between takes, Shuhua approached Soojin again, her phone ready. "너의 눈은 별처럼 빛나요" — "Your eyes shine like stars."

Soojin chuckled, her heart skipping a beat at the romantic phrase. "You’re getting better at this," she admitted, her smile warm.

Encouraged, Shuhua typed another phrase. "너와 함께 있고 싶어요" — "I want to be with you."

Soojin’s cheeks flushed, her heart racing. She leaned in, her voice low and teasing. "Is that so?"

Shuhua nodded, her gaze unwavering. "Yes, Soojin-unnie. Very much."

Soojin’s smile widened, a playful glint in her eye. "Well then," she said, pulling out her phone and typing quickly. "我也想和你在一起" — "I want to be with you too."

Shuhua’s breath caught, her cheeks flushing a deeper red. She opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, Soojin leaned closer, their faces just inches apart. "Is that enough to get you to stop teasing me?" Soojin whispered, her voice soft and suggestive.

Shuhua, caught off guard, could only nod, her eyes wide and her heart pounding.

Soojin chuckled softly, enjoying the rare moment of having Shuhua flustered.

Soojin saw her chance to take the teasing a step further. She quickly typed a phrase into her phone and showed it to Shuhua. "你真可爱" — "You’re really cute."

Shuhua's blush deepened, her flustered expression making Soojin smile. "Stop it," she mumbled, trying to hide her embarrassment.

Soojin laughed, a soft, melodic sound. "Why? Are you embarrassed?" she teased, leaning closer.

Shuhua nodded, her cheeks still flushed. "A little," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Soojin’s smile softened, her gaze tender. "Good," she whispered back, her eyes twinkling with affection. "Because I think it’s adorable."

But Shuhua wasn’t backing down that easily. Gathering her courage, she looked Soojin straight in the eye. "So, about that date," she said, her tone daring and playful. "When are you going to make good on your promise?"

Soojin rolled her eyes, though a smile still tugged at her lips. She didn’t want to lose the battle, so she leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a suggestive whisper. "Why go on a date?" she asked, her tone silky smooth. "Should we just skip it and go straight to the bedroom?"

Shuhua’s eyes widened, her face turning a deep shade of red. For a moment, she was utterly speechless, caught off guard by Soojin's boldness. The playful banter that had fueled her confidence all day vanished in an instant, replaced by a flustered silence.

Soojin, seeing the effect her words had, smirked triumphantly. "Why so silent, Shuhua? Cat got your tongue?" she teased, enjoying the rare moment of having the upper hand.

Shuhua shook her head, her flustered expression making her look even more endearing. "N-no, I just..." she stammered, unable to find the words to respond.

Soojin laughed softly, her eyes warm with affection. "That's what I thought," she said, gently patting Shuhua’s shoulder. "Come on, let’s get back to work."

For the rest of the day, Shuhua refrained from teasing Soojin, her mind still reeling from the unexpected turn of events. And though she tried to act as if nothing had happened, the memory of Soojin’s bold words lingered, making her heart flutter every time she thought of it.