#hide and seek in a busy mall

[little-annie]

Jillian Harrington

She knows she's not the best mother, but she tries, she really does.

She was a business woman first, never expecting to be a mother until it mistakenly happened. Though, she'll tell you to this day, bringing her baby boy into this world was the best day of her life. Steven Joseph Harrington, all eight pounds, six ounces and the largest head of hair she's ever seen on a newborn baby boy.

It was a struggle from the get go, juggling a newborn and her portion of the family business. There were many days that she brought young Steven to work with her, plopping him down in a play pen in her office while she tried to get mountains paperwork done.

Richard was never helpful, the most contribution he provided was financial aid and the conception of the young boy.

Their marriage was one of business, vows filled with falsities, only for the greater good of merging two successful businesses in order to create one mega one. And that's what they did. What they were. All they ever were.

It was a loveless marriage from the start, Richard coming into the thing with a line of women hiding in closets or waiting for him at vacation homes. They were business partners that lived in the same home and occasionally shared the same bed. But they were never husband and wife, maybe occasionally lovers, but never in the emotional sense, if anything they used each other to burn off steam.

And well, that's how they got Steve.

She knows she wasn't as present throughout his childhood as they both wished she'd be. Missing birthdays, ball games and the occasional holiday, but my god did she love that boy.

Truthfully, aside from her late grandfather, Steve was the only other human being on the planet that held a piece of her heart.

Once her little boy reached school age and could no longer spend his days in the office 'helping' his mom, a nanny did most of the raising. Tending to Steve's needs, smothering him with love and affection.

But on the weekends Jillian always made a point to be home. Taking a rosy cheeked, freckle-faced Steven out for ice cream and a movie, to the park or driving up to the Indiana Dunes to spend the weekend at the lake. The times they shared together were always happy, filled with laughter and joy. Always the highlight of her week.

As Steve (I don't like Steven mom, it sounds too formal) aged and grew into his later years, they still carved out time for one another. Maybe missing a weekend or two due to conflicting schedules, but on those days when Steve was travelling for school sports or Jillian was out of State on business, they spoke on the phone in the evenings.

She was there to see the light in his eyes at the mention of the eldest Wheeler, to see the blush on his cheeks as he spoke of brown eyes, curly hair and a strong will.

She was there to see that very light drained and dull, cast over with the weight of something that had him up screaming in the middle of the night and jumping at the drop of a pin.

That was when she started dropping clients and changing her schedule to work from home more often, choosing to set up their guest room as a makeshift office.

Whatever her boy had gone through, he'd gone through it alone and that wasn't going to happen again.

Many mornings did she wake to find her teenage boy curled up in bed only a few inches away, at some point in the night startling awake and coming to seek comfort.

When the mall fire, or so they called it, happened, Steve finally let the floodgates open, spilling every unbelievable detail of what he'd gone through. It was heartbreaking to know the boy had suffered so much and kept it bottled up for such a long time. The horrors he'd seen, the loss he'd witnessed.

She wanted nothing more than to haul them away and say so long to Hawkins and its horrors but it just wasn't in the cards and truthfully, she didn't think Steve would be willing to leave.

Richard was an anomaly, a rarity in the Harrington house and never once did they divulge the going ons of Steve's life to the man. They kept him in the dark, much like he did to them. It's not like he was very present in their lives, either away on business or gone off somewhere with a mistress.

Hawkins cracked open on one of the rare occasions Jillian was away on business, out of state, across the country. She'd seen it on the news first and knew immediately that it was connected to the horrors that kept her boy up at night. She'd cancelled her meetings and flew into Indianapolis only to be stopped by military personnel at the Hawkins city limits. An immediate quarantine they'd said, noxious gas or something of the sort. No one was allowed in as much as no one was allowed out.

The only thing on her mind was her son.

She didn't return to her business trip, getting a motel room in the nearest town until she heard word of Hawkins re-engaging with the world.

It'd been a month and when she got back to her hometown, it was quite literally split into quarters, fissures in the ground, deep and daunting, threatening.

Finally it was at the hospital where she found her son, supposedly visiting a friend, a young man she'd yet to meet. Steve was obviously shaken, skin scarred and healing, eyes bloodshot and an expression on his face as if he'd seen death and maybe be had.

She'd taken him home and did her best to nurse him back to health, helping to maintain maintenance on bandages and be there for those times when his sanity inevitably crumbled.

Months had passed and Steve left the house often, going out to "check on the kids," or "help out at the school" or "see Robin," or, just like clock work, every afternoon, "I'm just gonna go check on Eddie."

She'd known about the kids, had met a handful of them, constantly heard of the Henderson boy and his antics. She knew Robin, quite liked the girl and for the longest time figured she was the new Nancy, but after some very emphasised points on the word "Platonic," she knew better. But Eddie, Eddie she knew nothing about, only heard whispering around town, none of which were good.

But it only took a single conversation with her son to know the truth.

To know Eddie was only a troubled boy, with a town out for his head. To know that he was only a boy and aided in saving the very town that hated him. Risked his life for those with closed minds and torches in hand.

To know that her son held something special in his heart for the boy. Something rare. Though she'd never say, she often saw a familiar light in Steve's eyes when speaking about the other young man.

She'd like to meet him some day.

—-

And there's a few times she comes close. Whether she knows it or not.

[upsidedownwithsteve]

Could I request either “You’re always worrying.”“Yes, I am, because you're you.” or 'Their partner doing something and their clumsiness striking in a way that leads to good spirited laughter between the two.' with Steve please? Whichever you prefer 💚

I went with the first one, I hope that’s okay! 🧡

Steve Harrington x fem!reader

“You’re late.”

Your voice was a little mournful, your pout hiding your concern, your worry, but your eyes gave you away. Steve’s brows knitted together as his hand cupped your elbow, bringing you into him as you both began the walk to the pizza joint on the upper level.

His hand on your skin was soothing, a medicine you didn’t know you needed. It travelled up until his arm draped around your neck, the smell of Steve making your shoulders drop, tension forgotten, if only just.

Steve laughed a little, soft and not at all unkind, but you frowned anyway. “By like, three minutes, babe.” He didn’t say sorry - he didn’t really need to - but his voice was gentle enough that you heard the apology stitched between each word.

He tugged you into him, uncaring of the busy mall, the passersby, the onlookers. His lips found your temple, a kiss stamped there that was all adoration and love. “You’re always worrying, huh?”

You scoffed but leaned into him anyway, seeking out more of his mouth, lips lifting in the corners when his nose nuzzled at your hairline. “Well, yes, I am,” you mumbled, shy at being caught out, adored that he could read you so well. “Because you’re you.”

Steve snorted at that too, leading you through the evening crowds, the mall busier than usual as Hawkins residents made their way to the cinema, the new laser tag rooms that had opened up last week.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

You tried really hard not to roll your eyes but Steve must’ve seen, pinching at your side with his free hand and making you squeak, batting him away. He grinned, letting you escape his hold only to catch your hand and pull you back into him. Your fingers twined with his, nose wrinkling as you glared up at him, playful, for the most part.

“You have a baseball with nails embedded in it in your trunk,” you reminded him, “plus another under your bed.”

Steve grinned, nonplussed and he bumped his shoulder with yours as the pizza counter came into view. “Hey now, lower your voice, there could be lingering Russians.”

You really were glaring now, because you truly didn’t know if he was joking or not. To be truthful, Steve wasn’t sure either. But he was still smirking, enjoying your pouty mood, knowing that once he got you alone, he could kiss it right out of you.

“You’re not funny,” you told him, joining the queue and pretending to look at the overhead menus, bright signs and flashing pizza cartoons making your eyes ache. Steve knew you’d get your usual, a slice of chicken and sweetcorn, like always. “You probably are on some CIA watchlist, you know.” You prodded at his ribs, eyes narrowing when Steve laughed. “A whole team of agents listening in to you and the kids dragon game meetings. That’s why I worry.”

“Oh my god, you’re like, totally in love with me, huh?” Steve was still smiling but his grin had turned softer, jokes turning lovesick. He bent a little at the knees, nose nuzzling your cheek despite the people around you. He didn’t mind a little PDA. He pressed a kiss to your cheek, the corner of your mouth, doting when you allowed one to your lips. “S’real cute, babe.”

You let him kiss you, once, twice, cheeks hot when the woman in front of you huffed but Steve just wrapped his arm around you again, bringing your back to his front as you both waited your turn in line.

“You’re so annoying,” you told him, head resting against his chest all the same. You didn’t sound annoyed at all, in fact, from over your shoulder, Steve could see your smile.

“Tell me about it,” Steve hummed, more than happy to be at the receiving end of your worrying, especially if you let him dote on you like this to make up for it.

[rebelspykatie]

Part 1 of 2 🧦🧵

Part 2 | AO3

It’s the socks that break his resolve. Of course it’s the socks.

The first time he saw them, he wasn’t even sure what he was feeling. Steve Harrington waltzing into gym class in those knee high white socks wasn’t what Eddie expected to solidify his sexuality during the crisis phase of sophomore year, but he knew what he felt in that moment would change him forever. The way he couldn’t take his eyes off them. How he finally understood the whispers he heard from girls in the hallways. That fluttering in his stomach when Steve ran past his spot on the bleachers. 

There was no going back after that. Sophomore year was just the awakening. Over the years it turned into an obsession, the way he made sure he was in the building whenever Steve might be wearing them at gym class or during a game. He was disappointed when he showed up and Steve was sporting ankle socks, grumbling about it the whole way home, but staying to watch either way. 

It didn’t escape his notice that Steve looked hot in anything. Those small green shorts left little to the imagination. But there was something about the socks that did it for him. The way they stood out, perfect white against his tan skin. How they hugged his calves and the material strained to fit over muscles. The colored rings around the top bleed dull from the stretch of the fabric. The direct connection they had to his burgeoning sexuality emerging during that fateful gym class. 

Maybe it was the peak of leg hair inching out over the tops. A rare sight in the fall when he’s shaved hairless for swim season. Eddie gets a different thrill during that time of the year, hiding under the bleachers to watch Steve in his tiny speedo. But no, basketball season was more his speed. Pretending he’s there to sell while camping out to catch a glimpse of Steve in small shorts and knee highs. 

By senior year, he knows Steve hangs out at the Forest Hills park with some of the other guys from the basketball team. And this time he wasn’t even seeking him out, he just happened to be passing by after school on his way home and honed in on Steve’s car in the parking lot. If he camps out in that park to sell that summer, hoping to catch a glimpse of Steve, it’s no one’s business but his own. 

When Starcourt happens, it makes Eddie’s life easier. He doesn’t have to sneak around in a mall, he can blend in and fade into the crowd without anyone knowing his true reason for showing up in that overcrowded nightmare fuel of a place. He can sip on his orange Julius and watch as Steve flirts with everyone that comes into Scoops. He waits patiently for Steve to take his turn cleaning, bent over the tables with his back to the entrance, calves pulled taunt as he bends to pick up garbage from around booths. The socks aren’t quite as high as the Hawkins gym issued ones, but they’re still putting on a good show. 

He’s pretty sure Steve never caught wind of his presence, how he’s creeped on him for years harboring an idiotic crush. Borderline stalking. There’s no recognition on his face when Eddie holds a bottle to his throat while he’s running for his life. After surviving, they become friends and somehow that’s worse than being a nobody to Steve. 

Suddenly, he’s up close and personal with everything he’s been watching from afar. He doesn’t get to see his beloved socks for a long time, but it doesn’t mean that Steve isn’t torturing him. There are pool parties where he suffers through another round of tight shorts, this time dripping wet and clinging to areas Eddie desperately wants to see. There are movie nights in the dead of summer, Steve shirtless and hairier than ever, lounging across the couch and inches away from Eddie’s twitchy hands. There are sleepovers where Eddie gets to witness a sleep ruffled Steve blearily searching for coffee with his hair standing at a truly incredible height off his head. 

All of it was just a dumb crush, something he tried to hide away. There’s no way Steve feels the same. He resigns himself to exposure therapy, hoping with enough time it’ll go away. As if he hasn’t spent five years watching from afar as Steve grows into a man and becomes the kind of person Eddie wants to bring home at night. 

So of course, because the universe is a cruel bitch that never lets Eddie off easy, it’s the socks that break his resolve. They’re going to the county fair, all the teens, and Steve shows up in tiny little blue shorts with dumb knee high socks. Eddie’s brain is completely fried by the time he’s even out of his van. They’re the same stark white he remembers, with three blue rings around the top, stretched to their limits, just like Eddie’s restraint. He’s even wearing a gray Hawkins high basketball shirt, like he’s aware that he’s stepping right into Eddie’s dirty little fantasy. 

It’s slow torture, following him around the fair, acting like he’s not effected every time he catches a glimpse of Steve. Redirecting his line of sight every time Steve turns around and avoiding Robin’s knowing gaze. The inside of his cheek is sore from biting it to stop himself from opening his big, dumb mouth. 

He’s so, so well behaved until they get home. Everyone else heading out and leaving him and Steve alone. All it takes is Steve reaching for a glass in the kitchen, on tiptoes, his own private show, socks moving with the flex of his calves, for his restraint to snap. He lets out a moan before he even knows it’s happening, freezing in the dead silence, his own stupidity echoing in his head. When Steve turns around and looks at him with that adorable surprised puppy look, he’s a goner, crossing the room and spinning Steve around to trap him against the counter, glass clutched in his hand. 

“You and these damn socks, Harrington.”

Steve sets the glass down, but doesn’t push Eddie away. In fact, he pulls Eddie closer, wrapping a hand around his neck, “I thought you’d never get the hint.” And kisses him.

Part 2 | AO3

[kyurume]

"he'd be the type of guy to.." haikyuu edition ♡

notes: NOT proofread, i wrote rhis at 1:50am just some thoughts, all will be written with timeskip versions of them in mind. fem reader just cause also i chnaged title cuz it sidnt make sense LMAO

warning/s: NONE

genre: fluff

characters: hinata shoyo, kozume kenma, kageyama tobio, miya atsumu

hinata would be the type of guy to let your dates go unplanned (in a good way!!!) ypu guys get to do whatever you'd like, unrestrained. if you wanna go to a goodwill/thrift store and find cool items, he'd happily go with you. he'll also secretly get you some things that you stared at for too long. like those sparkly pink cowboy boots, a music box where instead of a ballerina spinning it's a middle finger, and a bikini that barely covers anything. then after buying those, you'd go in your car, and he'd hide them under the car seat, but the bikini's straps stick out from under the seat, and you go "what the fuck is that??" so he has no choice but to bring out the bag filled with the stuff you looked like you wanted, and surprised you early. do you want to go to an indoor volleyball court? hinata rented one just for the two of you to play. but you never got to play anything, you two are busy running around, playing hide and seek in the surprisingly large building. yes, for other people, things don't always go to plan. but for you two? you make the best out of unplanned surprises.

kenma would be the type of guy to really REALLY appreciate all of your pitiful efforts to pay him back for what he buys you. he loves, LOVES spoiling you, spending his CEO money on you is his love language. even though he acts a little nonchalant about it, he always loves seeing the smile on your face when he bought you something you've wanted for so long. but, you'd feel bad about what he's spending on you, and the effort he puts into working so hard 24/7, and going with you to the mall and buying you everything. so, you decide to repay him in different ways! like baking cookies that took you all day to bake but they taste bitter, but he still eats all of them in one sitting. you made him lots of origami flowers, he'd have it displayed in his room, without a single speck of dust landing on the paper, he knows that you feel guilty about him spending lots on you so you do these things, he keeps telling you that what he's spending on you isn't going to make a dent in his bank account, but you still wouldn't listen. (he secretly freaks out if you do things for him)

kageyama would be the type of guy to learn about anything you're into, and he'd teach you about what he's into in return. if you like a certain singer/band, and you love to quote a line from a song/an inside joke, he's going to be curious about it, and eventually, he'll start quoting it too, (at the start, he usually had trouble deciding whether or not the situation you're in would apply, but he's quoting that lyric/inside joke like he knows that band/singer better than you do.) he taught you volleyball, do you love spiking? he'd set for you, and you'd drive that ball home. do you prefer setting? he's gonna make you attend setter bootcamp, on god he's gonna turn into your coach instead of your boyfriend. you like blocking? he'd make sure he'd get his hits past your blocks, and of course tell you all sorts of positions you put your hands in if you want to change the trajectory of the ball, or completely shut it out. do you like recieving? he'll throw different types of serves your way so you'll learn how to recieve all of them perfectly. or if you'd love serving more, he'd be teaching you how to get service aces and eventually be better at serving than his team (according to him). he may be a pro volleyball player, but that doesn't mean he won't make time for you.

atsumu would be the type of guy to relax and pamper yourselves in his free time. despite his loud and rowdy personality, you and mr japanese barry b benson with a kansai accent, oftentimes go to spas, and get massages, facial treatments, all that good stuff. then he'd take you out to a hot spring after a major tournament is over, the steaming water helping to relax, and also give his skin some benefits too! after all, he's a volleyball player that has the looks of an idol, he has a face and body he has to maintain. if you guys don't want to go out, he'll look up recipes for diy mud masks to apply to eachothers faces, maybe even bringing out a stash of facemasks from his skincare mini frige and watch a movie together while waiting for the facemask to dry out. you're pretty lucky to have a skincare boyfriend, since you have never had a single skin problem ever since you started dating him. if there's an event you two will be attending, he'll prioritize the both of you looking and feeling fresh. you two would be the couple with the clearest skin in the room.

[imfoive]

The Youngest Son - Chapter 4

Minho x Reader (fem.) Genre: non-idol au!, Suspense, Angst, Romance, Mature Warnings: mentions of drugs, cursing, murder, death, somewhat proofread WC: 5.7k A/N: I'm really wowed by how quickly I planned this out. Feedback is always welcome, enjoy! ── MASTERLIST

Synopsis: The youngest son of the Lee family was stubborn, he was arrogant, he was conniving. Hiding it all behind the mask of a calm and collected man, the youngest son was a master at mind games. Playing a dangerous game where trust is a luxury and betrayal lurks around every corner. He had sworn once, to not let family ties or any feelings hold him back. Yet, against all odds, she had him completely wrapped around her fingers, and he had no desire to break free.

Missed a chapter? - Chapter 1 / Chapter 2 / Chapter 3

CHAPTER 4 ───────────────────

Following the death of Lee Jae, the rest of the business circle remained oblivious to the secret project that Park Hyunmin had meticulously planned for quite some time. 

Rose Enterprises. 

Park Hyunmin was still young when he returned from Australia to embark on his entrepreneurial journey. Naming the company after his late Australian mother, who had passed away during his teenage years, held deep personal significance for him. Despite that he successfully transformed the Park family, who had initially started as hotel workers in Australia, into prominent figures in the hospitality industry almost immediately, even expanding into the restaurant business. 

Hyunmin’s reputation and influence were unparalleled, any collaboration with the Park Family and Rose Enterprises promised to catapult an entrepreneur’s importance in their society. However, Park Hyunmin wasn’t seeking just any entrepreneur for this ambitious venture.

L Corporation had solidified its position as a major player in the industrial industry, with its name attached to some of the largest malls, resorts, hotels, and even bridges. They were known for their wealth, intelligence, and strategic business ordeals. They were a perfect fit for Park Hyunmin’s ambitions. However, despite their success, the director harbored reservations about trusting them completely.

Since Chairman Lee’s retirement and the subsequent takeover by his sons, there had been a noticeable shift within L Corporation. The once formidable leadership of Chairman Lee, who single-handedly managed client needs, was replaced by his less competent sons. And despite their shortcomings, they somehow managed to maintain L Corp.’s top position in the industry. 

However, the next generation, the grandchildren, was a mixed bag. Only three out of six were deemed worthy of praise. Park Hyunmin saw potential collaboration with L Corporation as both an opportunity and a risk, weighing the benefits of their established reputation against the uncertainty of their internal dynamics.

The oldest, Jungshin. He was excelling, but mostly took care of their overseas branches. 

Then came Joohyeon. He was always falling short, but still did well. He was once married to some mayor’s daughter, but even that didn’t last.

Jookshin was the only daughter of the family. She was married off early to another big name family in the medical field, she still did her part. 

Jihoon was the oddball. He was never present for anything, people sometimes forget he was also part of the family. 

Jae did somewhat of a decent job, barely hitting the line. The only time he actually hit, was women and drugs. Although he did have everyone fooled that he had changed.

Finally Minho. The youngest son.

He kept his life extremely private. He was always present, yet didn’t have any scandals to his name. It’s surprising that he was able to avoid being corrupted by the not so pretty deeds of his older brothers.

Minho was a frequent topic of conversation for Y/N. Despite being the same age, their personalities couldn't have been more different. Y/N, spirited and carefree, stood in stark contrast to Minho’s stoicism. This contrast intrigued Park Hyunmin.

As a young man, Minho often went unnoticed in rooms filled with older, more established figures. However, his capabilities became glaringly apparent during the press conference following Jae’s scandal involving drugs and an escort a few years back.

At just twenty-one, Minho had adeptly managed the fallout almost single-handedly, impressing Park Hyunmin with his poise and skill.

It dawned on Park Hyunmin then.

Lee Minho was their secret weapon in damage control. A role he seemed to excel in more with each passing challenge.

He was young enough to navigate situations with unnoticed ease, often slipping under the radar without drawing undue attention to himself. Minho maintained a reserved demeanor, always composed yet aware, easily finding solutions to various challenges and obstacles.

However, Park Hyunmin harbored a growing dissatisfaction with the amount of time his daughter spent in Minho’s company.

He noticed how Minho attempted to avoid Y/N’s advances at social gatherings, only to find himself inevitably drawn into her orbit. Despite his efforts to maintain distance, their paths seemed to cross frequently, leading to speculation and rumors about their dynamic.

The gossip mill labeled Minho as Y/N’s “boy-toy,” a rumor that had gained momentum over the past years due to their peculiar relationship. From Park Hyunmin’s perspective, there wasn’t even enough substance to define what they had as a relationship, adding to his unease about their closeness.

They were Business friends.

And everyone knew what that term meant. But he was starting to wonder if his daughter did.

A few months before the grand engagement announcement, during Park Hyunmin and his wife’s anniversary celebration, Y/N’s father had observed Minho being pulled away from a group and disappearing with Y/N onto the terrace overlooking the garden. It wasn’t an uncommon sight but it caught the father’s eye. Concerned, he found Minho later, getting some fresh air along the stairway, or so he claimed.

With a directness typical of him, the father posed a question to Minho that caught him off guard. 

   “Do you see yourself marrying my daughter?”

Minho’s bewildered expression was enough for Y/N’s father to discern that romantic interest was not the reason behind their closeness. So, he pressed further, pointing out the societal gossip surrounding them. 

   “Then what is it? Isn’t it a bit unusual for you two to always be together? People in this society talk.”

Maintaining his composure, Minho stood upright and faced Y/N’s father squarely. 

   “People in this society always talk.” He replied calmly with a polite smile.

   “Y/N and I are simply classmates who have become acquaintances. It’s difficult to find trustworthy acquaintances in our circle. We’ve known each other for years, learned together, so it’s natural for her to seek me out. That’s all.”

Park Hyunmin took a sip of his drink, adjusting his glasses, he mused. “Acquaintances, huh?”

   “Yes, acquaintances.” Minho affirmed. 

They weren’t even friends.

Y/N’s father would be lying if he said he didn’t think of proposing for Lee Minho to get engaged with his daughter, especially when considering how Minho could be an asset in dealing with L Corporation. However, the conversation he had with Minho by the stairwell weighed heavily on his mind.

Besides, pursuing an engagement with Minho would mean entering into a deal with the second son of Chairman Lee, whose capabilities fell short in Park Hyunmin’s estimation. While both brothers had their strengths and weaknesses, and claimed there was no disparity between the sub families within the Lee line, Rose Enterprises’ grand project demanded the best, and the director was inclined towards the more competent option.

Everything had seemed to be going according to his plans, until it went awry somewhere along.

With Jae’s recent death and the sudden decision to delay announcing the broken engagement, Park Hyunmin’s ambitious “Rose Garden” project had to be put on hold.

Despite the circumstances, his daughter Y/N had to maintain the facade of being Jae’s fiancée, a role she reluctantly played for the time being. Other families offered condolences and sent gifts, but beneath the surface, they were all calculating the right moment to propose alliances for the hand of the sole heiress.

In the competitive world they inhabited, Y/N’s engagement had been seen as a significant social event, marking her availability for marriage. Now, as they awaited the appropriate period of mourning to pass, other families were poised to make their moves, eager to secure advantageous unions with the prestigious Park family.

Y/N scoffs at the gift that some no-name nobody had sent her in efforts to woo her. A token of sympathy adorned with pretty flowers and hollow offers of support. The messages always carried the same undertone “if you ever needed someone to talk to” they were always ready to listen.

It’s been six months since Jae died. Initially, it was all the news would talk about for weeks on end, trying to dig deeper, trying to come up with theories of how he died.

But then someone else in high society did something stupid and the media was all over that.

Y/N’s mother was another headache, who just couldn’t catch a hint. Surprisingly her nice mother hadn’t been corrupted, even after having lived in high society for over twenty-five years, but she was easily trusting. She was a simple woman really, who Park Hyunmin had met when he was still trying to make The Rose Enterprises bigger than it was. They had risen together, but that woman didn’t change.

However, Y/N found her mother’s continuous efforts to set her up with potential suitors exasperating. These men were often charming and polite in social settings, but Y/N saw through their facade, politeness merely a pretense to curry favor. But despite Y/N’s attempts to shut down these setups, her mother persisted in her well-meaning, but misguided approach.

   “Isn’t Kim Seungmin the nice young man from the mall?” The mother read the gift card.

   “Yeah, the one whose family owns the Star Mall chain.” She retorted dryly, clearly unimpressed by her mother’s matchmaking efforts.

The mother hesitated, then suggested, “What about giving it a chance? He seemed polite and well-mannered.”

   “Really? Jae seemed like a good person too, until he attacked me in our own hotel parking lot.” Y/N countered sharply.

The mention of Jae’s actions visibly hardened her mother’s expression, acknowledging the truth in Y/N’s words even if reluctantly. It was truly a bad decision that her husband had made, blinded by ambition and the lies about Jae changing for the better.

There’s a knock on the glass door to her office, and a few seconds later Y/N’s father entered, brightening up at the sight of both ladies.

   “Ah, what are you doing here?” He asks his wife.

   “Trying to convince this one to meet someone for a blind date.”

Her father was used to her mother’s naivety, chuckling as he nodded and took a seat next to. His attention immediately drew to the colorful basket of flowers on the table. He picked up the card attached to it, glancing over its contents with curiosity.

   “You know, having the Kim’s at our side isn’t a bad idea. They’re established and even have a few more small projects planned.” Her father begins to say, glancing up at her, cautiously.

   “Just tell me if we’re already engaged. I seem to be the last one to find out about my own engagement anyway.” She muttered.

Her father glanced guiltily at her mother once before looking at her. His expression hardened.

   “If you’re waiting in hopes that Lee Minho will suddenly take an interest in you, you can forget it.”

The mention of Minho’s name brought her attention automatically to look at her father. Brows narrowed.

   “What do you mean?”

   “That young man has a clear set of goals. And you aren’t one of them.” Her father’s words were stern, warning.

Y/N blinked back, taking in his words. She bit back, jaw tightening as she frowned angrily.

Just who did he think he was to reject her? She hadn’t even confessed.

As Minho sat in his office, engrossed in his work, the door suddenly swung open and his mother sauntered in, her gaze sweeping critically around the room.

   “Love what you’ve done to the place. Very…minimalistic.” She remarked, her tone carrying a hint of judgment.

Minho stood up, setting aside his work with a slight frown.

   “What brings you here?” He asked curtly, not eager to engage in an unnecessary conversation with her.

   “That’s not of any importance to you.” She replied dismissively.

He couldn’t help but let out a sarcastic laugh, rolling his eyes in exasperation. It was clear she was here to babble nonsense, trying to get information or even a rise out of him.

   “If you’re in the mood to waste someone’s time, I’m sure father is taking his lunch break.” He retorted, starting to walk back towards his desk.

   “Y/N’s mother has been asking around for decent young men in our circle. Poor woman doesn’t realize we have no decent men in our society, bless her.” His mother continued casually, a smile playing on her lips.

She watched his stoic composure, leaning against his desk, unbothered, unsurprisingly.

   “Does Y/N know anything about it?” She continued.

He turned to face his mother, his expression guarded. She was sharp and well-educated, yet she had a penchant for gossip like any other high-society woman.

   “How would I know what Y/N is or isn’t aware of?” Minho replied coolly, sliding his hands into his pockets.

His mother shrugged nonchalantly. “Well, I assume you would, since you two are always together. Maybe she’d have mentioned it to you.”

   “Y/N and I are not close.” Minho stated firmly, turning his attention back towards his desk, his fingers idly playing with the pens lined up.

   “I have absolutely no interest in her or what she thinks. Her desperation keeps me entertained, that’s all. She’s of no importance to me.”

Just as he looked up, his expression suddenly fell, his eyes widening as they passed his mother and landed on the figure standing in the doorway.

There stood the woman who was of no importance to him.

───────────────────────

The memories of a first kiss are something that a person typically doesn’t forget. Whether it’s was a bad kiss, a fleeting peck, or a passionate embrace, the fluttering feeling in their hearts are etched into memory.

But for Y/N, her first kiss was with a complete stranger.

She dubbed him her “cross-chain kisser.” Amid the pulsing lights of the club, the only detail she could vividly recall was the silver cross pendant hanging from his neck.

Y/N had just turned nineteen, and her father had spared no expense in throwing a grand party at one of their hotels. It was his only daughter’s birthday after all. He always made a big deal out of her birthday, but this one was different. This was her first birthday back home. 

Of course for a few hours of the evening she had to act prim and proper, dressed elegantly in a shiny dress to greet her father’s guests. They all wished her for her grand day, expensive gifts lining up that seemed more intended to impress her parents than please her. She forced a smile, something she still couldn’t get used to after spending the last seven years out of the country for her academics. She felt more like a show-piece standing in between her mother and father, smiling and absolutely tired from greeting all the unfamiliar faces that came up to her. 

The Lee family arrived sometime into the party, each member eager to catch a glimpse of Y/N Park, the heiress to all of Park Hyunmin’s wealth. They showered her with the usual lines of compliments, praising her beauty and noting how she had matured into a proper young woman. That she would finally be able to help with the company and showcase her talent. They didn’t even know her well enough to know of her so-called talent. 

She was bored, she was tired.

Until Lee Minho came forward, his father and mother in front of him, the older woman’s arm was linked around her husbands. Y/N’s gaze brightened up, smiling at the familiar face, dressed impeccably well in his black formal wear and not his school uniform. Y/N’s father was surprised to see Minho, unable to recall they even had a third son. Minho greeted the man, telling him he’ll make sure to leave an impression on him so he won’t forget next time. The birthday girl couldn’t help but smile at his remark, which had made both sets of parents break into a light chuckle.

A natural charmer, that one.

She saw the quick glance he gave her while their parents engaged in conversation. She waited for him to come forward, they hadn’t gotten a chance to meet after returning back from school. It had been weeks. Much too long for Y/N, who had gotten into a habit of bothering him for the past four years. But he didn’t come forward. 

She frowned, refusing to give in and be the one to walk up to him. Y/N crossed her arms over her chest, glaring at him and not hiding her displeasure. He looked in her direction, watching as she bites the inside of her cheek, her disappointed expression not leaving her face. With a sigh, Minho slid his hands into the pockets of his slacks before finally walking towards her. Y/N couldn’t help but smirk, her head tilting cockily, silently asserting her victory to the one-sided battle she was having. He didn’t really see what was so wrong in coming up to your greet your guests, but it was her birthday party after all, and he didn’t need her complaining. Especially if her complaints reached his parents’ ears, something he didn’t need right now.

Putting on his polite smile, the kind Y/N had learned to recognize after years of observation, Minho greeted her.

   “Happy Birthday, Miss Park.” Minho’s tone dripped of formality. 

The way he addressed her had irked the heiress, as if he was putting a distance between them, emphasizing to any onlookers that they were mere acquaintances.

   “You clean up well.” She responded instead, her arms still crossed, eyes glancing over him.

He cleared his throat, muttering a low “hmm.”

   “How do I look?” Y/N inquired, lifting one side of her dress slightly to show it off.

Minho watched the fabric shimmer under the bright lights before meeting her expectant gaze. Obvious, she wanted a compliment.

   “Like a disco ball.” He coolly stated.

She rolled her eyes, expecting that sort of response from him. Instead she looked around, then stepped in closer. Her actions garner him to instinctively pull his head back stunned, watching her lean closer before glancing side-to-side, she starts speaking in a low tone. 

   “Some of the other kids and I are going clubbing later. They want to give me a big welcome back, join us.” Y/N whispered, smiling and nodding towards a group of young adults in their circle who were mingling at a nearby table.

   “Have fun.” He said instead, making her blink back a little surprised.

Minho back in Australia would have said he’d be there if she pressed. He would have ultimately agreed to go together even.

Minho back in Australia wouldn’t have called her Miss Y/N.

He nodded politely and smiled, glancing briefly at his parents who had already moved on to socialize among the other wealthy guests. With a slight smirk, Minho took a few steps backward, his gaze and smile almost taunting her, before turning and walking away. As if he had won.

He did in fact not show up that night.

Y/N even wore a black dress, slit daringly higher than appropriate, but enough to tell everyone that she was an adult. A grown woman. But he didn’t show, like he had said. 

She was upset.

More angry than upset really, not that she should have been because he had already declined the invite. His words were clear. But imagining his smug expression as he walked away earlier that evening, pissed her off even more.

The other kids kept offering shots. She downed them one after another, pretending to be a seasoned drinker while inwardly cringing at the burning sensation and bitter taste that threatened to overwhelm her, a taste she was not used to. She couldn’t let them see that, her brave face smirking confidently at every other shot and drink coming at her. 

At some point in the night, Y/N found herself on the dance floor with someone’s arm around her waist, though she couldn’t quite distinguish whose it was. The dim lights and the haze of alcohol made faces blur together. It might have been Chunyang or Chaeyoung, she couldn’t remember and didn’t really care. Everyone was starting to look the same to her.

Y/N had never gotten drunk before, she didn’t know what being drunk felt like. But if the inability to stand still and the blurry vision were any indication, she was a little more than drunk. The guy and girl in front started making out on the dance floor, something Y/N almost looked at curiously.

Something she hadn’t gotten a chance of doing yet.

She was drunk, but her brain wracked. The kids here have so much more experience. They’d down alcohol like juice, kiss and dance like experts. The academy back in Australia was much more strict, she guessed.

Suddenly, Chunyang or Chaeyoung screamed something in her ear, which made Y/N flinch. It was something about throwing up, but she couldn’t quite grasp the details. She realized soon after that the group she had arrived with had dispersed throughout the nightclub. The couple that had been dancing and kissing intimately had moved to a different part of the floor, and the girl who had been dancing closely with Y/N had disappeared. 

Squinting through the colored lights and the darkness of the dance floor, Y/N struggled to find any familiar faces. Eventually, she managed to squeeze her way off the dance floor and make her way to the bar. The bartender yelled something over the music, smiling as they handed her another birthday shot of whatever she had been downing all night.

Just as Y/N was about to bring the shot to her lips, another hand intercepted it, and he drank it without a word. Y/N watched his adams apple bob as he swallowed the drink, a silver chain glistened around his neck. Her eyes linger on the cross pendant hanging with a tinge of fascination. He almost slams the shot-glass down, bringing her back to reality.

A reality where he had drunk her birthday shot.

She frowned, her words slurred as she pointed at him.

Something along the lines of “why’d you drink my drink?”

He probably replied with “what are you gonna do about it?”

   “You’ll pay for it.” She replied defiantly, brows furrowed in anger.

Y/N grabbed his collar firmly, pulling him close, their lips meeting in a sudden and unexpected kiss. In the haze of alcohol and emotions, she couldn’t recall the exact details of the kiss. 

Did she perhaps lick his lips in a stupid attempt to reclaim her drink?

The thought made her cringe inwardly for weeks afterwards.

Or maybe it was a subconscious response to witnessing the couple on the dance floor earlier, a display of intimacy that had sparked something in her?

It was her first kiss, and her drunk mind thought kissing a stranger was a good idea!?

Another thought lingered, one that she still thought about from time to time.

Did he kiss her back?

Y/N woke up disoriented in the back of her car, immediately hit by the unpleasant sight and smell of vomit on one side of the seat. It made her gag involuntarily. Hastily fumbling with the door, she stumbled out, clutching her pounding skull in pain. Groaning loudly, she leaned against the car, trying to gather herself. The bright lights of The Rose hotel parking lot only made her headache worse.

Bits and pieces of the previous hours flashed through her mind, but the majority of it was a blur.

She was sure a designated driver service was called, dropping off what’s-her-face as well. But beyond that, the details were fuzzy. The irony of being at one of her family’s hotel did not escape her, but she was too busy staring mortified as she suddenly recalled something.

Embarrassment flooded over her as she tried to piece together the events, particularly the memory of kissing someone. Her fingers instinctively touched her lips, the sensation vivid against her fingertips. She blinked, wondering if she had truly been bold enough to act on impulse like that. Her heart beat rapidly.

A persistent thought in her mind whispered.

Call him.

Y/N didn’t even need to second guess her thoughts, she turned back to open the door, immediately backing away because of the vomit stench. She really had to do something about that. Clasping her nostrils with one hand, the other searched the back seat for her cellphone. Body half in, half out, she managed to fish it out from underneath the seat.

Her eyes hovered at his contact. It was 3:56 AM. She must be crazy. But the badgering thoughts in her mind made her heart beat faster at each passing second.

It rang, and she stood straight, foot tapping anxiously. By the sixth ring she was about to hang up, but the click on the other side made her freeze.

   “Hello?”

His voice sounded groggy, as if he’d just woken him up.

   “If you’re not gonna talk I’ll hang up.”

   “No wait!” She shouted immediately.

   “What do you want?” He muttered.

She bit her lip, nerves and a strange tingle of memory swirling within her.

   “Did you come to the club?” She asked.

There was a pause on the other end, prolonging her anxiety.

   “Do I look like the type of person to go drinking and dancing at a club?” He retorted.

She hated when he counter questioned her as a response, frustration bubbled within her.

   “Hey! Did you show up or not?!” She snapped, her patience wearing thin.

   “I didn’t.” He calmly responded.

Silence fell between them, Y/N sank back against her car, absorbing the revelation.

   “Did I kiss you?” Her voice was barely a whisper, filled with uncertainty.

   “You must’ve had a really wild night to call someone who wasn’t there at four in the morning to ask what happened.” He remarked dryly.

   “Go back to sleep, jackass.” She shot back sharply, ending the call almost immediately.

Minho sat on the edge of his bed, still dressed in outside clothes, the cross necklace dangling around his neck.

He set his phone down on the nightstand and rubbed his face with both hands, letting out a weary sigh. Hearing Y/N’s voice had brought him a sense of relief, despite the chaotic night they both had.

She seemed oblivious to what had transpired, and Minho was grateful for that.

He didn’t want her to remember.

And he would continue to deny it. He didn’t want to get entangled with her, despite his unspoken desires. Minho didn’t want to be in a mess created by her.

But he always ended up in Y/N’s messes.

As he sat there in the dim of his bedroom, thoughts circled back to that fleeting moment under the colorful lights, one that he couldn’t easily shake off. Even if he decided he would deny it ever happening. He brought his fingers to his mouth, the phantom feeling of her warm lips against his left a tingling sensation.

Did she know he kissed her back?

───────────────────────

   “I have absolutely no interest in her or what she thinks. Her desperation keeps me entertained, that’s all. She’s of no importance to me.” Minho’s words were cold.

Y/N stared at him, her hurt clearly visible. She had overheard his cruel words, which he had thought were shared in private, just between him and his mother.

The carelessness of his remark, her sudden appearance, and his fleeting remorse hung in the air.

Minho caught his mother’s glance from the corner of his eye and swiftly masked his regret, but Y/N saw the shift in his expression. His face hardening in the midst of the whirlwind of her emotions.

She looked at the older woman, who offered an awkward smile, clearly trying to pretend they hadn’t just been discussing her.

   “Y/N, dear! What brings you here?” Minho’s mother greeted warmly, her arms outstretched in a practiced show of affection.

Y/N glanced between Minho and the suddenly quiet room, then focused on his mother. 

   “I was in the area and thought I’d share some news before you heard it from someone else.” She avoided Minho’s gaze, offering a polite smile to his mother instead.

   “I’m going to New York for some time.”

Minho’s expression remained unreadable and Y/N didn’t care to decipher it this time.

His mother looked taken aback.

   “Really? Why—I mean, so suddenly?”

Y/N smiled softly and touched the mother’s hand that rested on her shoulder.

   “I just made the decision.” She attempted to keep her smiling composure.

His mother raised a brow.

   “My father and I believe I need more exposure to learn how The Rose Enterprises work. I’m going to be in charge of it one day after all.” Y/N’s forced smile didn’t quite reach her eyes, masking the tears she had been holding back.

The older woman nodded in understanding, but the tension between Y/N and Minho was heavy. She looked back at Minho, who neither smiled nor frowned. His usual stoic demeanor made her roll her eyes, expecting nothing else. The mother turned back to the young lady close to her with a grin.

   “Would you like to join me for lunch? It’s about time everyone steps out for their lunch break.” She glanced at her watch and then back at Y/N.

   “You go ahead. I have a lot of preparations to make.” Y/N said, clearly intending to speak with Minho alone.

His mother nodded and, though she didn’t look back at Minho, she had caught on. She gave a final smile as she left, clearly amused by the situation.

The door closed behind her, and the room fell into a heavy silence. Minho and Y/N stood a few feet apart, but the distance between them felt far greater all of a sudden.

   “I…” Y/N broke the silence, and Minho realized he had been holding his breath.

   “I ran here to ask you something.” She said, meeting his gaze with a mixture of confusion and pain.

The forced smile she had worn earlier was gone, replaced by the hurt she had felt from his harsh words.

   “My dad asked if I wanted to get married and take charge of his grand project, or go to New York and put his dream on hold.”

Minho’s expression hardened. He already knew what she had chosen.

   “I thought, ‘Why marry some other jackass when I already have my eyes set on one?’” Y/N laughed bitterly at her delusions, struggling to hold back her tears.

   “I’m not sure why I came here, really. I thought maybe you’d tell me not to go or you’d find some solution. You’ve always been good at that… But of course, I’ll never hear that from you. I forgot for a moment.” She couldn’t hold back the tears any longer, they began to fall freely.

Her words pierced him deeply, yet he struggled to find the right response, staring at her with an intensity he had never shown anyone before.

   “I’m glad you were entertained, Lee Minho. I’m glad that I got to hear what you really thought of me.” Her face contorted.

   “My father was right. You have clear goals, and I’m not one of them.” 

   “Y/N—” Minho began, his voice just a faltering whisper.

   “I knew you didn’t like me clinging to you. I know my behavior makes you uncomfortable sometimes. I’m even aware that I can be overbearing—But I didn’t know you hated me.” She finally broke down in a sob.

Minho felt his face flush with heat and his throat tighten painfully as Y/N’s words cut through him. Before he could gather himself, Y/N continued with words that made him stare in shock.

   “Maybe I should accept what my dad had proposed, maybe I’ll marry that stupid Kim Seungmin.” She declared, her tone resolute.

His figure stiffened at her proclamation, eyes glistening with shock.

   “Or I can just go to New York, away from you. Either way, you can rejoice. You won’t have to worry about how you can avoid me.” She muttered, her mind coming to her own unknown conclusion, expression hardening. 

Y/N took a deep breath, wiping the tears from her chin with the back of her hand.

   “I’ll hate you like you hate me.” She spat bitterly, turning away to leave.

Minho’s hand instinctively reached out to stop her, but he hesitated, paralyzed by his own conflicting emotions. 

Like a coward.

The door closes behind her with a soft click.

Outside, the desks of Minho’s team, now deserted for lunch, mocked Y/N with their vacancy. The absence of witnesses should have been a relief, shielding her from the embarrassment of leaving Minho’s office in tears. Yet, she couldn’t shake the overwhelming sense of being so alone.

Her mind was in a frenzy, her walk to the elevator felt longer than it usually took, the silence of the halls was deafening. 

How could she forget about Lee Minho?

It was a question that gnawed at her, as she struggled to comprehend when and how she had even fallen so deeply for him.

The realization cut deep.

Y/N couldn’t move on. Unable to fathom marrying anyone else while her heart still yearned for him. 

Her eyes welled up again at the thought of Minho hating her. It was obvious yet she had always ignored it. She thought even if he didn’t like her like she did him, he would’ve at least gotten used to her constantly at his side.

So used to her, that he wouldn’t be able to see a life without her in his sights. 

Pathetic.

The elevator’s ding shattered Y/N’s thoughts, abruptly pulling her back to the present moment. She looked up, hastily wiping away the traces of tears from her cheeks, suddenly aware that there might be others sharing the lift with her. But as the doors slid open to reveal an empty interior, a wave of emotion overwhelmed her.

Her lips quivered involuntarily, betraying the facade she struggled to maintain. There was no hiding her heartache now, no reason to pretend she was anything but defeated. With a heavy sigh, Y/N stepped inside the elevator, shoulders slumped with the weight of everything that just happened.

You’ll be happy right, Lee Minho? 

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ to be continued.

── ask to be tagged! - @minh0scat, @qwonyoung23

[obae-me]

Could you maybe do hc's for Diavolo where Mc is just super casual with him

Like they don't give two shits about his status. They treat him like he's just some guy they play beer pong with every Saturday

Demon Prince can't have a normal day in Devildom because, well, he's a prince? No problem lets just go to the human world

Absolutely I can. Casual Diavolo is one of my favorite types of Diavolo. Please enjoy some of these headcanons.

Homies in Hell

It surprised the both of them when MC didn't seem immediately intimidated by Diavolo. Sure they were confused when they were first summoned down, but despite being in a strange place, being surrounded by strange people who said they were demons, and despite announcing himself as the future King of Demons, the human always looked at Diavolo differently.

Of course, he intended to keep up frequent contact with them to ensure they were settling in properly, and he was always pleased to find that they would typically strike up a conversation with him. It was fascinating! Exciting! They sent 'wyd'! He has no idea what that means! Even when he tries to talk to Lucifer sometimes, it typically leads back to business or responsibility.

They even come over to the castle sometimes as an escape. They come over and tell Diavolo all about the chaos in the House of Lamentation and he always laughs and thinks about how fun it would be to participate. Although he is glad that MC finds it comforting to come to the castle to get some peace. He encourages them to come whenever they wish.

Lucifer and Barbatos had a hard time with the both of them at first. One should not treat royalty so casually! And yet, if it's what the prince wanted...and if it would help MC acclimate... they could let it slide as long as it was kept under wraps. And as long as they both didn't lose sight of their duties. No one expected it would come this far though... The Butler almost had a heart attack the first time MC almost kicked the doors to the castle open and just shouted "Dia! What's up?"

Now, the lines of royalty are completely blurred for MC. Sure, they know he's a prince, but he doesn't feel that way to them. Diavolo is a very good friend.

Diavolo wants to convert the entire Castle into a magical maze for a game of hide and seek? Awesome! Diavolo wants to play a simple card game? They head over with the deck! Barbatos has been making nothing but fancy healthy meals lately? MC brings over some junk food. Diavolo wants to learn more about human culture? MC pulls out some classic memes. You better believe he's going to be talking about it like it's a new hip thing and drive everyone else insane. Maybe they partially do it on purpose.

They enjoy spending time with him this way though. It's very clear to them that no one has ever really treated him this way and it's a shame, because he's actually really fun to be around. He always has a blast with whatever they do and it makes MC really enjoy the simpler things in life.

Sometimes Diavolo will give Barbatos an order that forces him to leave the castle just so MC can come over and do things together. The first night he did this was so MC could come over with groceries and they both spent time in the kitchen celebrating Diavolo's first Taco Tuesday. He was elated.

Sometimes after very long periods of stressful Princely things, MC will fake an emergency and say they need to rush to the human world with Diavolo. They got away clean the first few times, but now everyone knows they're just going up there to have fun. A lot of times they both can be found in a mall eating pretzels and looking to buy things they don't need. (Even though Diavolo could quite literally buy anything he wanted, he finds the concept of a budget quite fun!)

Once, for Diavolo's birthday, they went up to the human world and went to a drive-thu movie and then went bowling right after. They ordered pizza and popcorn and nachos. He got to wear sweatpants for the first time and he had a blast. Although both Lucifer and Barbatos made MC and Diavolo eat strict healthy meals for the next week, but it was worth it. Now Dia tries to wear sweats when he works on paperwork late at night.

Everyone close to MC and Diavolo actually says that MC is the Devil on Diavolo's shoulder since they encourage him to do anything that he wants rather than what he's required to do. It's almost poetic.

Diavolo always gives MC a high five or a fist-bump anytime they see each other now and no one knows how to feel about this.

They've created a sort of bucket-list to get done. It lists a bunch of casual things that Diavolo has always wanted to do. Some of which require: camping in a tent and not a cabin, playing a full game of monopoly, taking cheesy pictures in one of those mall kiosks, playing dodgeball, making a sandcastle, trying one of those restaurant challenges where you either eat something gigantic or super spicy and getting a memento t-shirt, playing Just-Dance, going on a roadtrip with no location in particular, and more. The list is ever ongoing.

MC gifted Diavolo one of those little basketball hoops to keep on the wastebasket in his office for his work and he adores it.

Sometimes they'll just facetime (or whatever the demon equivalent is) while they're doing whatever. Just to talk.

MC's behavior honestly eventually rubs off on everyone which is Diavolo's secret dream. Now if he shows up at the House unannounced, the brothers will wave and just chat casually instead of freaking out that the prince is here. Even Lucifer and Barbatos aren't fully free from the casualness! Something about MC and Diavolo just makes everyone a little less tense. Sometimes Lucifer will wear a hoodie around the house and Barbatos will actually order take-out every so often.

[lunarsun12]

Introducing The Family

Ateez Family Info

✧𝑴𝒂𝒎𝒂 - 𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝑩𝒓𝒐𝒐𝒎 𝑮𝒖𝒚 ✧

- Married to Hongjoong

- Bestie with Soobin (Soobin is literally his therapist)

- Practically a single parent as Hongjoong is never home (claims he is too busy)

- Loves to clean the house (will get mad if someone mad a mess)

- Gets bullied by his Children 24/7 (mainly wooyoung and jongho)

- The target for getting harassed by people, who he doesn’t know (example Yeonjun harassed Seonghwa to do something for him, which lead to a huge misunderstanding from soobin end)

✧𝑷𝒂𝒑𝒂 - 𝑺𝒍𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒚 𝑪𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏 ✧

- Married to Seonghwa

- Never home, too busy running his highly successful music business (just an excuse to not fix his children problems)

- Very forgetful, one time he left Yeosang at the mall as he thought Yeosang was at home

- Doesn’t wants kids finds them scary (after Wooyoung he is convinced they are evil)

- Scary when mad, apparently when he says ‘come to my room’ they will be lots of tears from the kids

- Also don’t leave him alone with children (one time he lost them as he accidentally fell asleep on the couch, Mingi says they were playing hide and seek. Except the seeker didn’t know he was playing)

✧𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑬𝒍𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒕 - 𝑷𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝑹𝒆𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 ✧

- Got adopted with his little brother Mingi

- Super protective of Mingi (literally will beat somone down if they lay a finger on Mingi)

- Nicknamed the sunshine puppy, his loud and chaotic energy. Can make anyone smile when they have bad day

- Yeosang is his partner in crime, they are always trying to put blame on Wooyoung (claims wanting justice due to Wooyoung previous harassment)

- One of the mature kids, who tries to keep them in check and as well damaging Seonghwa ego anymore (it is is mainly Jongho, he is too honest)

- NightOwl club part 1/2

✧𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅 𝑪𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒅 - 𝑴𝒐𝒐𝒅𝒚 𝑺𝒉𝒚 𝑩𝒐𝒚 ✧

- Has a strong dislike with Woosan when they are together (somehow they turn evil and gang up on him)

- Claims he hates everyone, but in reality he is just a shy boy. Who doesn’t like attention and especially PDA (he will malfunction if someone hugged him too long)

- The only person in this house, he tolerates is Yunho, as he doesn’t gets on Yeosang nerves (plus secretly admire Yunho but he will never admit it)

- Have a bit of chicken addiction (claims it his comfort food when he is stressed)

- Got a job as a detective

- NightOwl part 2/2

✧𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒓𝒅 𝑪𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒅 - 𝑪𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒆 𝑯𝒖𝒍𝒌 ✧

- Acts like the youngest

- Owns pet turtle called Toby, it’s his therapy turtle

- One of the respectful child (Hongjong adores him)

- He gets chaotic, when he is with Wooyoung somehow whenever San is with Wooyoung. He has strong urge to annoy people (probably the wooyoung effect)

- Will go into hulk mode but that is rare as Seonghwa bought San some nice room spray (apparently it calms him down)

- Loves cuddles especially from Wooyoung as he likes to feel safe

- Warning whatever you do, do not interrupt his Appa time. He will make a scene and might do some damage. If anyone tries to steal his Appa

✧𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑭𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒕𝒉 𝑪𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒅 - 𝑪𝒐𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒍𝒚 𝑳𝒊𝒂𝒓 ✧

- The sensitive child

- Got adopted along with Yunho (he sticks to Yunho like glue)

- He is afraid of Jongho, as he always fear of anyone made a noise whilist Jongho is sleeping. He knew, he will get strangled first

- Loves playing detective even though he has never solved any mysteries

- Always get caught in the crossfire between his siblings, he is always there at the wrong time

- Always says he always tell the truth but everyone knows Mingi always lie

✧𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑭𝒊𝒇𝒕𝒉 𝑪𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒅 - 𝑴𝒆𝒏𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝑩𝑻𝑺 𝑺𝒊𝒎𝒑 ✧

- The chaotic child

- VERY VERY LOUD (majority time on purpose to annoy seonghwa)

- Has been secretly teaching San bad stuff, in how to annoy his sibling and Seonghwa. He wouldn’t dare do Hongjong, he is lowkey afraid of him

- Loves creating choas in the house as majority of the time he is bored as he finished all his school work for the day

- Has a strange habit of becoming people’s Appa’s ( he stole Felix one time and said he was his son until Lee Know came on with knife and threatened them)

- As well love to film his siblings misfortune (mainly to blackmail them)

- Bestie with Changbin

✧𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑩𝒂𝒃𝒚 - 𝑪𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒌𝒚 𝑨𝒑𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝑩𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒓 ✧

- Has a bit of an anger issue (he strongly denies)

- Wants attention from Seonghwa, as he likes it when gets attention so causes some of the choas in the house. No one ever suspected him, as they automatically assume it was Wooyoung

- Abuse the maknae card well (he guilt tripped San, that no one ever play with him. Just so San can buy him that bag he wanted)

- He doesn’t like to be called a baby (one time mingi teased him and he broke Mingi phone in half)

- Whatever you do, never ever wake him up. He gets cranky and attacks the first person he see (Mingi in that case)

- Despite his scary behaviour, he is softie all he wanted to stop his hyungs from teasing him (looking at Mingi and Yunho here). He has to use brute force to make them respect / fear? him

[dooodle-bug]

Had a horrible dream about the lego movie where all the lego guys were refugees in this big ass lego spiral tower that was like a mall with all the shops and shit and news came around that president business and his goons broke in though the tiny lego door guarded by lego luke skywalker so all the minifigs went into hiding like a giant hide n go seek. This one lego fig hid in this clothes department inbetween some realistic human towels. Then the human version of president business showed up (I forgot what he's actually called) with two guns and I had to defeat him (I was a normal human) with 2 cast iron pans to deflect the bullets and when I defeated him the minifigs tied him up at the bottom pit of the lego tower and beat the shit out of him with their little minifig legs one at a time

[nikoorii]

Megaman characters who were asked to babysit tag

Blast man: 

not the best candidate.

 first he takes the kid to see the fireworks, then they go blow up firecrackers in the entryway.

 that video of the guy who put oil in boiling water

 they decided to repeat it

Galaxy man: 

 tells the child about black holes, stars and unexplored  planets 

He refuses all requests to fly together for a long time, but eventually agrees

  nothing particularly dangerous, they just flew to the roof of some not very tall building

now they are lying there and looking at the constellations 

he will not be able to resist anything if he begs for a very long time 

Ice man:

makes and shows little ice figures 

If, after sitting with him, the children begin to retell documentaries about disasters at Arctic stations, It's okay 

Buys an awful lot of ice cream. 

but it's okay, most of it is for him anyway

Fuse man: 

Has a VERY responsible approach to this assignment 

doesn't really have a clue what he's doing

his search history is littered with all sorts of parenting questions 

First time he googled literally everything

He once mentioned a rabbit, then spent the entire evening showing pictures of it.

 He'll eventually take the child to a pet store, along the way, telling him some random facts about animals.

Blues:

 ”Wine aunt” 

- "Nescvice and kvass for breakfast today."

 coming to the mall just to ride an escalator, losing their shopping list the minute they get it.

 If you see weird kids on the street with cones on their heads, that's them

Elec man:

 apparently not the best candidate, but actually does a pretty good job as a guardian. 

at least better than the blues

they'll either microwave doom or they'll do the loudest karaoke the neighbors have ever heard.

Tundra man: 

is a very good cook, the kids love his food

 Teaches them how to skate 

And how show up at the doorway in a big, flashy way.

will braid a lot of little braids for everybody if you ask him nicely.

congratulations, your child is now a fashion disaster who found a bright, shiny jacket somewhere.

Rock:

 tries really hard

 consults with Roll all the time.they sit on the call all day

 Buys a HUGE amount of candy. 

end up with the three of them, including the roll who came over, going to the amusement park

Bass: 

WORST candidate 

doesn't know how to handle kids at all. 

literally that meme with the baby taped to the wall

 google leash to walk kids

Shadow man:

 offered to play hide-and-seek and left 

He'll come back, turn on the baby's cartoons, and then he'll go off on h

his business 

 will come out of the wall every 30 minutes to check if everything's okay

will perform shadow puppets in the evening

Quick man: 

kids tried to play catch-up with him, but...

the kids at the playground hate him for it.

 He spins the merry-go-round with the kid SO MUCH. 

He has no sense of proportion.....

Splash woman:

 shows the kid how to twirl a trident between his fingers

 they asked her to teach them, but hit themselves over the head in the process

 Now they're just popping bubbles

 sings his favorite songs with him

[jamiscrazy4krerdly]

The he/she/ghoul demigirl Catti fan focusing on ghoul not showing up in the spamton sweepstakes nor the newsletters: shriveled up, wilting away, beating up a pillow VS the he/she/ghoul demigirl Catti fan that realizes Toby Fox is intentionally hiding ghoul away because ghoul is the playable character of chapters 3-5: jumping up in joy, thriving, feeling the sun against their skin. (aw yeah progress report time >:3)

STUFF IS HAPPENING!!!! Wowowow so much stuffs its crazy how much stuffs is… I don’t… it’s… uhm, happening?!! I thought I should clear some shits up. Ok so basically I’m working on four simultaneous projects somehow!!! Two AUs (“Mystery Delta Dungeon” and Deltaswap Inspired “Delta Scene Change” title STILL pending) and the fourth and fifth iteration in my kind of Deltarune… Krerdly… series?? Idk what to call it but just know that that’s happening! The two new mainline fics don’t overlap too-too much which means working on both sort of at the same time is pretty stress free in the continuation department. Soo those are going smoothly (even if they’re still both kinda in the draft phase) and I’m really happy with the vibes there!! I actually decided to implement the fourth in the middle of the fifth so it’s more of a compliment to the series than anything but I definitely think it’s needed and a super welcome addition in my opini-onion. *~^* ~

The order I’m aiming to release my projs is Delta Dungeon 1st -> Delta Scene Change 2nd -> Pieromancer 3rd -> Boons and Banes of Love 4th! I think THINK (think) that Delta Dungeon could be finished by this year if I do a good job ;^> but don’t count on it because deadlines were my downfall for my last upload “Cosmetic Heart Container”. ònó I made the setting a friggin mall and pulled that “big fish small pond” shit at a MALL like omg there was so much… potential and I frew it all up but WHATEVER I’m proud of the buildup!! Just wish I didn’t have to spoil my own fun with deadlines (fuck deadlines)… maybe I’ll rewrite a sort of continuation for that fic and double it’s size when everything else is said and done?? I’ll see!!!! It definitely deserves justice!!

Speaking of aftermaths: I’ve been rolling the idea of a Catti-focused fic in my brain for a bit now. Don’t know about the nitty gritty details but after everything I think it could be fun to promote “major side character” to “main character” and see what happens. Don’t want to pull a Spamton NEO and drop dead after I sever my last string from Deltarune lol (ouch @o@) (won’t happen anytime soon @v@‘).

Since I posted Krises last time I felt like doing sneak peaks, here’s some supplemental Berdlys to keep them company.

Auugh the quality!! Sorry I blended the pixels and made a smoothie out of them. :( It was tasty tho.

Ok enough business it’s me time and I’m kicking it off with a huge announcement. I’m not afraid to say it anymore… I really like Gyftrot Noelle. I REALLY like Gyftrot Noelle!!!!! There’s something about her that speaks to me mhm mhm. My first experience with the concept was through the design done by @pespillo but while searching for references I also saw some really cute ones by @undertalegorls so definitely go and dig through their profiles to see the vision! ì.í

Okay I have to cut the silliness short because it’s time for… spontaneous Animal Crossing Headcanons!!

Kris Moment!!!

Bug Enthusiast Bug House Bug Island Only Bugs 3 Golden Nets In Inventory Flick’s Best Friend Flick Cosplayer Completed Bug Museum within 24 Hours via time traveling

Ugliest villagers imaginable

Most crafted item: pitfall seed

Crazy good at Hide-And-Seek, cracked custom outfit designer (countless horned-hat QR-codes)

Hates Blathers

“Sings” along at K.K. Slider concerts,

“Make Flick and CJ gay wedding real right now @NinninedoOfficial @NinninedoOfficial @NinninedoOfficial”

Programs the wedding themself out of spite.

Reaction Wheel - Mischief/Let’s Go/Sleepy/Cold Chill/Scare/Stretch/Sniff Sniff/Sneezing

Wordy Berd(l)y

Time Traveler Anti “I-IT’S CHEATING!!”

Achievement Enthusiast (according to his passport)

Doesn’t realize unlimited tasks are unlimited

Buys turnips up the wazoo but gets horrible selling price luck (always needs to use Noelle’s shop)

Keeps track of exact tool durability and customizes his tools different colors to refresh it

Can’t figure out why he doesn’t have every reaction

“Intellectual villagers ONLY” (that’s why)

Crushes on AND kins Raymond, very seriously considers getting a yellow or blue eye-contact to match his heterochromia

Hangs up all his villagers’ photos like trophies, including dupes

Regularly rants about his villagers to Kris (“Why is it that Raymond can spontaneously profess his love for me but YOU CAN’T?!”)

Cannot for the life of him make a pretty island, to his dismay

#1 Pocket Camp Hater

Blathers kinny

“Kris don’t let me fall asleep it is absolutely vital that I wish for star fragments tonight.”

Reaction Wheel - Pride/Aggravation/Thought/Smirking/Behold/Amazed/Mistaken/Heartbreak

Catti (Wow)

Queen of Nookazon

Hacked star trees

INVENTS fashion

Infamous haunted island dreamcode

Always has a matching umbrella

Favorite NPC is Brewster

“Wand-outfit slots… increase them.”

Reaction Wheel - Haunt/Take a Picture/Yoga/Resignation/Disagreement/Agreement/Intense/Work It

The bunny outside is frightful, Noelle

Cannot stop playing Happy Home Designer DLC

Permanently sets island to Winter

Terrified of Zipper the bunny

Completely normal about the New Leaf soundtrack being BETTER

Furnished extra houses for her family

Extremely attached to her villagers and convinced Catti and Ralsei to help her write fan-fiction for them

Takes animal crossing personality quizzes religiously

Highest HHA score out of her friends but doesn’t tell Berdly

Somebody get this girl more co-op features she is desperate.

Reaction Wheel - Eager/Pleased/Sighing/Sheepishness/Curiosity/Distress/Act Natural

Introducing… Ralsei!

Prince of Amiibo Cards (scans one every day because they are all his friends)

Really wants to show his friends every part of his island

Treats villagers like royalty

Can’t say no to villager requests

Posts ethereal flower patch combos

90% of his island consists of flower fields

Never had to look up a single fake painting tutorial

Jumped in joy at the food update

Mails letters to all his residents every day.

Reaction Wheel - Greetings/Wave Goodbye/Confetti/Glee/Delight/Worry/Apologetic/Here You Go

If anyone’s allowed to crash directly into the studio it’s Susie.

Borrows everyone else’s Switch to play

Runs everywhere holding an axe

Extremely emotional about fishing results

Goes out of her way to ask Blathers about fossils and responds with “woooah” every single time without fail

Claims the dinosaur exhibit is her favorite but finds all of the museum extremely relaxing

Dives off balconies into the water over and over

Sells everything through the drop-off box

Loves goofing around in Harv’s island

“The hell you mean you don’t grow rocks in your rock garden?”

Ralsei lets her terraform whatever she wants and builds off of it

Genuinely upset that she can’t terraform higher than 4 levels

“MOSS UPDATE??!”

Reaction Wheel - Flex/Encouraging/Curiosity/Laughter/Day Dreaming/Excited/Bashfulness/Shocked

And if anyone wants to visit MY island my Dream Address is DA-8935-5288-7510 ùvú

Also to contextualize this seemingly random Animal Crossing section, I’m sure some of you won’t be surprised to hear that before I was crisping chicken I was… a Marshmond maniac. *insert ominous thunder flash* Marshmond stands for Marshal and Raymond btw. Krerdly is definitely more Bob x Raymond lean, though…

Speaking of related characters!! I’ve been keeping track of kin-lists for my fav trio on the side. Here’s what I got so far!!

Kris Kins: Karkat (Homestuck) - Flick (Animal Crossing) - Link (The Legends of Zelda) - Beast Boy (Teen Titans) - Gnabbit (Mario Bros.) - Mae Borowski (Night In The Woods) - Bax Twiford (Ikenfell) - Metal Sonic (Sonic The Hedgehog) - Gramble Gigglefunny (Bugsnax) - Prince of Ouji (Katamari) - Creeper (Minecraft) - Courtney (Paranormal Park) - The Devil (Cuphead) - Magalor (Kirby)

Berdly Kins: Tobey McCallister (Word Girl) - Falco Lombardi (Starfox) - Revali (The Legends Of Zelda) - Waluigi (Mario Bros.) - Blathers (Animal Crossing) - Ibn Oxley (Ikenfell) - Lace (Hollow Knight: Silksong) - Jet The Hawk (Sonic Riders) - Snorpy Fizzlebean (Bugsnax) - Amity Blight (The Owl House) - Miles Edgeworth (Pheonix Wright: Ace Attorney) - Ren (Oxenfree) - King Dice (Cuphead) - Sheldon (Splatoon)

Catti Kins: Raven (Teen Titans) - Bea (Night In The Woods) - Blaze The Cat (Sonic) - Beffica Winklesnoot (Bugsnax) - Katrina (Animal Crossing) - M’ggie (Broken Age) - Magic Witch Ashley (WarioWare)

“You better be afraid of the great CA-A-TTI!”

~~ OK ANYWAYS ~~

~~ LIGHTNING ROUND ~~

~~ DIRECTLY FROM MY NOTES APP ~~

~~ LET’S GO!! ~~

Kris and Susie going as Flick and CJ for Halloween.

Berdly asks Catti if they can go as Blathers and Celeste to follow suit and there is 1 (one) universe where ghoul says yes.

Kris and Susie love Bugsnax fr fr.

Kris and Berdly go bonkers over Bug Fables. Cosplay Group: Catti Lief, Berdly Kabbu, Kris Vi, Jockington Chompy.

Krerdly is so bogus binted x papers printed core <3

Berdly is Yikking out! (Leans in to kiss Kris at QC’s Diner without warning, they demand he never try to do so ever again.)

Kris pestering Berdly with “if. you. were. gay, da na-na na-na na-na. that’da. be. o-k. da na-na na-na na-na” all of pride month.

Catti and Noelle as the “should I kill off the characters in my book to make it more interesting?” audio.

Ralsei: Slay!! Noelle, internally: Sleigh??

Noelle, sweating and holding up a paw: Sorry I’m late, I was the man behind the slaughter! Susie, blowing steam out of her nose: I’m stuff…. wait what?

(To the tune of Fairly Odd Parents Theme Song) The trash and mash in that school stash Just gave out instantly When the magic little goat hidin’ his every dote Gave a prophecy!

“BANG, BANG, BANG STRAIGHT THROUGH MY HEEAAARRT” -Kris every moment of every day after creating 77 original animation memes

“Pray tell, companion of mine, what is this… “jiggle jiggle skin” you are referring to?” -Player 1

“Glizzyyy” -Player 2 110%

Berdly HATES jellybeans because they’re awful and manipulative

For that last one I originally wrote down that Berdly really liked jellybeans because they just seemed to fit his palette in my mind until I ate one that made me wanna puke and decided it wasn’t meant to be.

Also also idk where to put this but there’s this one scene in Broken Age after Vella escapes the sacrifice ceremony where she’s standing on the back of a giant blue bird flying through the sky in her ripped dress and a knife in her mouth and I’ve never wanted Kris to take the place of another character so badly before… (Berdly makes a fun Shay replacement also but the big blue bird is clearly the hanging fruit here)

Ok! Cool! Good post! Awesome job! Thanks for sticking around. Play Ikenfell, Chicory, and A Short Hike. Don’t forget to totally look at my island lol I definitely didn’t speedrun finishing it just for this post lol. Appreciate cha if you do (DA-8935-5288-7510). Amazingness. Goodnight gamers.

Posted July 27th, 2023. Sparkle Sparkle.

[soulofarabia]

Explore Dubai's Hidden Gems: Customized Tours for Every Traveler

Dubai, with its iconic skyscrapers, luxurious shopping malls, and renowned desert safaris, is famous worldwide as a top travel destination. But beyond the glittering facades of its towers and the popular tourist spots lies a world of hidden gems—places that offer a more intimate, authentic view of this incredible city. For travelers seeking a unique experience, customized tours that focus on exploring these lesser-known wonders can provide memories and insights that go beyond the usual guidebook suggestions. Here’s a look at some of Dubai’s hidden treasures and why personalized tours are the best way to discover them travel companies in dubai

1. The Serene Alserkal Avenue: A Hub for Art Lovers

Nestled in the industrial area of Al Quoz, Alserkal Avenue is one of Dubai’s premier art districts. What was once a collection of warehouses has transformed into a vibrant cultural district housing galleries, creative studios, and indie art spaces. Here, you’ll find exhibitions by both local and international artists, installations, workshops, and even independent film screenings. Unlike crowded tourist spots, Alserkal Avenue has a more relaxed vibe, offering visitors a chance to mingle with artists and creatives. Customized tours often include guided gallery visits, art workshops, and interactions with artists, making the experience truly immersive for art enthusiasts.

2. Dubai Creek: A Glimpse of the City's Heritage

While the Dubai Marina and Downtown skyline symbolize the city’s modern era, Dubai Creek is a reminder of its origins. The creek was once a busy trading port, and it remains an important part of Dubai's heritage. Opting for a customized tour here can mean a traditional abra ride, visits to historic souks (markets), and a walk through the Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood. The area is filled with restored wind-tower houses, museums, and heritage sites, offering a fascinating glimpse into Dubai’s past. Specialized tours can take you off the beaten path to lesser-known shops in the souk and smaller cultural spots, creating a memorable journey back in time.

3. The Calm of the Al Qudra Lakes

Located a short drive from the city, Al Qudra Lakes is a beautiful oasis in the middle of the desert. This peaceful spot is ideal for nature lovers and those looking for a break from city life. The lakes attract a variety of bird species, including flamingos, herons, and swans, making it a haven for birdwatchers and photographers. A customized tour to Al Qudra Lakes can include a picnic setup, bird-watching activities, and even a cycling tour around the lakes, offering a refreshing and unexpected escape from the city’s hustle and bustle.

4. Exploring the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary

For nature lovers, Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary is a hidden gem that often goes unnoticed. This sanctuary is home to mangroves, mudflats, and lagoons that provide a habitat for thousands of birds, including the iconic pink flamingos. Customized tours here can be designed to include guided nature walks, close-up bird-watching experiences, and visits to the reserve’s hides, where you can observe wildlife in a peaceful, natural setting. This destination is ideal for travelers interested in ecotourism and offers a unique opportunity to see Dubai's commitment to conservation.

5. Majlis Ghorfat Umm Al Sheif: A Journey to Dubai’s Royal Past

This traditional Majlis (meeting place) was once the summer retreat of Dubai's ruler, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, and it offers a rare look into the Emirati royal lifestyle of the past. It’s located in the Jumeirah area, with fewer tourists around, making it a serene and insightful stop. On a customized tour, you can visit this beautifully preserved heritage site and learn about its architectural significance, as well as the daily life and customs of Dubai’s ruling family in earlier days. It’s a subtle but meaningful way to connect with Dubai’s rich heritage.

6. The Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve

Dubai’s desert landscapes are an integral part of its identity, and while many desert tours are available, the Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve offers a more eco-conscious, secluded experience. This reserve is dedicated to the preservation of the region’s natural habitat, allowing visitors to experience desert life in a sustainable way. Customized tours can include camel trekking, visits to a Bedouin-style camp, and traditional Emirati meals. The reserve also offers opportunities for stargazing, especially captivating during the cooler months.

7. The Hidden Street Art of Satwa

Satwa is a residential area that is often overlooked, but it is brimming with character and culture. Known for its vibrant street art, Satwa features large murals and graffiti that depict the lives and stories of its diverse community. A guided tour here can take you through the streets lined with local shops, tailor boutiques, and eateries, while giving you an up-close look at Dubai’s urban art scene. A customized walking tour can also provide a unique perspective on Dubai’s diversity, history, and creativity.

8. Exploring Hatta and Its Mountain Adventures

For those seeking an escape into nature and an adventure beyond the city, Hatta is the perfect destination. Located about an hour's drive from Dubai, this mountain town offers beautiful landscapes, heritage sites, and outdoor activities like kayaking, hiking, and mountain biking. Hatta Dam is especially popular for its stunning views, and the Hatta Heritage Village is a preserved settlement showcasing Emirati history and culture. A customized tour to Hatta allows for a mix of adventure and cultural discovery, catering to travelers looking for an adrenaline boost paired with learning.

9. Discovering Emirati Cuisine through Food Tours

Dubai’s food scene is known for its diversity, but Emirati cuisine is often overshadowed by international options. A food-focused tour can introduce you to traditional Emirati dishes like machboos (spiced rice with meat), luqaimat (sweet dumplings), and camel milk products. You’ll visit local eateries, learn about the ingredients, and even try your hand at cooking some traditional dishes. Customized food tours are perfect for culinary enthusiasts who want to dig deeper into Dubai’s rich food culture.

10. Uncovering Ancient Stories with Pearl Diving Experiences

Pearl diving was once an essential industry in the UAE, and a pearl diving tour offers insight into this historical trade. Tours usually include a dhow boat trip, demonstrations of traditional pearl diving techniques, and sometimes a chance to try diving yourself. This immersive experience provides a hands-on way to learn about Dubai’s maritime heritage and how pearls played a pivotal role in the local economy before the discovery of oil.

Why Customized Tours Are Ideal for Exploring Hidden Gems

Standard city tours can cover the major attractions, but a customized tour lets you explore Dubai on a deeper level. Tailored itineraries mean that you can choose activities based on your interests, whether that’s art, adventure, nature, or culture. With a dedicated guide, you’ll have access to local insights, get off the typical tourist path, and even enjoy one-on-one time with experts or community members who make each experience unique.Dubai is a city of contrasts, where ancient traditions blend seamlessly with futuristic innovation. Exploring its hidden gems through a personalized tour not only enhances your travel experience but also fosters a genuine connection with the city’s history, culture, and people Travel and Tourism Companies in Dubai

[shoppingbagss1]

How Clear Shopping Bags Improve Customer Experience in Retail

In today's fast-paced world, retailers are constantly seeking innovative ways to enhance the shopping experience. One trend that has made waves is the use of clear shopping bags. They may seem simple, but these transparent carriers offer a host of benefits that can revolutionize the way we shop and interact with brands. Whether you’re a retailer aiming to boost sales, a consumer seeking convenience, or an event organizer looking to streamline security, clear shopping bags might just be the solution you didn't know you needed.

The Rise of Transparency in Retail

Retail landscapes are evolving rapidly, and transparency is at the forefront of this change. Clear shopping bags are not just a trend; they represent a shift in how businesses interact with customers. In a market saturated with options, retailers must differentiate themselves. Transparency, both literal and figurative, builds trust between consumers and brands. Clear bags provide a glimpse into product quality and brand values at a glance. They allow shoppers to instantly recognize and appreciate what's inside, enhancing their decision-making process.

Retailers are harnessing the power of transparency to foster a sense of openness and honesty. By adopting clear shopping bags, businesses signal to customers that they have nothing to hide. This gesture can significantly improve brand perception, leading to increased customer loyalty and trust. When consumers feel confident about a retailer's practices, they're more likely to return and make repeat purchases.

Furthermore, clear shopping bags are versatile and adaptable to various retail environments, from high-end boutiques to bustling supermarkets. Their growing popularity showcases a shift towards a more open, customer-centric retail experience. Shoppers enjoy the ability to see their purchases and appreciate the aesthetics of a brand's presentation. Retailers that understand this gain a competitive edge in an increasingly transparent marketplace.

A Clear View of Convenience

Clear shopping bags offer unparalleled convenience to both retailers and consumers. For shoppers, these bags provide an efficient and organized shopping experience. No longer do they need to fumble through opaque bags to find what they purchased. With a quick glance, they can easily identify items, making the checkout process faster and more streamlined.

Retailers benefit from reduced packaging waste and lower costs associated with traditional promotional materials. Clear bags often double as marketing tools, displaying brand logos and messages in a subtle yet impactful manner. This dual-purpose functionality is attractive to savvy businesses looking to maximize their marketing budget and reduce environmental impact.

Additionally, clear shopping bags simplify the logistics of inventory management and reduce the risk of theft. Security staff can easily verify the contents of a bag, minimizing the need for intrusive checks and speeding up the flow of traffic in busy retail settings. This efficiency is especially crucial during peak shopping times, such as holidays or special sales events, where every minute counts.

Enhancing Security Measures

Security is a top priority for retailers, especially in large venues like shopping malls and event arenas. Clear shopping bags act as a deterrent to theft and streamline security protocols. With the contents visible, security personnel can quickly assess merchandise and ensure everything is in order. This visibility can deter potential shoplifters, as any attempts to conceal items are immediately obvious.

For event organizers and venues, clear shopping bags simplify entry processes. Guests can pass through security checks swiftly, reducing wait times and frustration. This not only enhances safety but also improves the overall experience for attendees. Patrons feel more at ease in an environment where security is visibly prioritized, and the process is smooth and efficient.

In addition to enhancing security, clear shopping bags promote a sense of transparency and trust between event organizers and attendees. By demonstrating a commitment to safety without compromising convenience, venues and retailers can build positive relationships with their audience. This, in turn, encourages repeat visits and fosters brand loyalty.

Elevating Brand Visibility

Brand visibility is crucial in a competitive market, and clear shopping bags offer an innovative way to boost it. These bags transform customers into walking advertisements, showcasing products and logos wherever they go. Retailers can leverage this opportunity by designing eye-catching packaging that resonates with consumers and aligns with brand identity.

Clear shopping bags also enable retailers to highlight special promotions or limited-time offers directly on the packaging. Shoppers are constantly reminded of the brand and its offerings, even after leaving the store. This continual exposure solidifies brand recognition and encourages word-of-mouth referrals among social circles and communities.

Businesses that incorporate creative designs and messages on their clear bags can leave a lasting impression on customers. Whether it's a catchy slogan or a vibrant logo, these elements contribute to a memorable shopping experience. Retailers investing in innovative packaging strategies are more likely to capture consumer attention and drive sales.

Versatility Across Industries

Clear shopping bags aren’t limited to just fashion retailers; they are versatile tools used across various industries. Food service providers can utilize clear bags to showcase their goods, allowing customers to see the freshness and quality of products like baked goods, deli items, and prepared meals. This visual appeal can entice impulse buys and boost sales.

Gift shops and promotional companies can leverage clear shopping bags to enhance the presentation of their merchandise. The bags' transparency adds an element of surprise and delight, making them perfect for gifting occasions and promotional events. Businesses can customize these bags with branding elements to create a cohesive and memorable experience for customers.

Additionally, parents and families benefit from clear shopping bags when organizing and transporting children's belongings. These bags make it easy to locate items quickly and efficiently, reducing stress and promoting organization. Their practicality and durability make them a staple for busy households on the go.

[stupidneko]

some context because i can’t contain myself, this in an silly little AU with the trope childhood friends to lovers, as i’m a multishipper i did both of my favorite pairs.

In Idia’s route he meets Cat and her pet Grimm while in vacation outside  Island of Woe, he comes across a distressed Cat because she cannot find Grimmy, her precious fluffy companion, Idia being shy and anxious towards strangers didn’t really want to have anything to do with her, but before he can make quickly his leave Cat gets a hold on him and starts asking him if he saw a grey cat around(she didn’t specify that he also had blazing ears and a pointy tail) Idia was waiting for her to ask him about his weird looking hair but instead he ended up being dragged by Cat to look for her little friend. In the end they manage to find Grimm in a tree mewing for help, they get him down and as for help Cat let’s Idia pet Grimm, and so starts the odd friendship between the girl who name is Cat and an introvert young boy, Idia.

In Malleus route, Crowley had some business in Briar Valley so he also took his niece, Cat with him. In this AU Malleus hatches from his egg in the modern era, so him, Silver & Sebek are around the same age. Malleus was playing hide&seek around the garden with Silv and Sebi, it was Malls turn to seek the youngsters, he found Sebek but couldn’t get a trail of Silver, so they stared looking for him only to found Cat trying to wake up Silver, who was asleep in an tree , she almost fell and was about to crush Grimm who was waiting for her down, but luckily Malleus catches her in time, and so starts their friendship :3 

childhood friends au hehe

[activeshooter01]

Tips to Stay Safe in an Active Shooter Situation

In recent years, active shooter episodes have increased in frequency and unpredictability. Any busy area, including markets, malls, offices, schools, or universities, can experience them. For instance, on May 24, 2022, the bloodiest school shooting in Texas history occurred at an elementary school. Therefore, it is crucial to be prepared for active shooter situations and be familiar with how to handle them. With the right training, you can protect others and yourself in a crisis and improve your chances of surviving.

The main ideas are summarised as follows:

Be Aware of Your Environment: Being aware and familiar with the layout of the areas you frequent will help you react swiftly in the event of an active shooter situation.

Take the "Run, Hide, or Fight" Approach: This tactic offers a methodical way to react to the predicament: try to flee, seek cover, and, as a final resort, engage in combat. Running and hiding are typically safer options, but in some circumstances, knowing how to fight and feeling confident enough to do so might be vital.

Act Wisely and Remain Calm: Panic can prevent you from making sane choices. For the best chance of surviving, it's critical to remain calm and think rationally.

Try to come up with a plan: If you find yourself in a situation where you can't escape or hide from a shooting, you might need to fight back. Do not rush this process. Try to adhere to the emergency procedures in place at work or school. Try to take advantage of numbers if you are in a crowded area. Be a good communicator with your workplace or classmates. Make an effort to use nearby things as weapons. Use your collective might to surprise the shooter, bring him to the ground, and then disarm him.

Carry a bleeding control kit: Accessing a bleeding control kit might be essential for treating injuries since first responders may be more concerned with neutralising the threat than they are with treating the patient. It may save lives to have this extra preparation.

It's also important to note that while individual readiness is important, organisations and institutions should also have active shooter response plans in place and hold drills to make sure that everyone is aware of what to do in such an emergency. The level of overall safety can be significantly increased by cooperation between individuals and institutions.

Although it is sad when active shooter attacks occur, it is crucial to be prepared because of the rise in their frequency. Mock active shooter scenarios are used in active shooter training programmes to give participants practical training in dealing with such circumstances. It's critical to remain vigilant and ready for both self-defense and, if necessary, aiding in an escape. It's critical to shift attitudes from those of passive victims to those of active survivors.

[darkershining]

Just watched episode 29 of Hirogaru Sky! Pretty Cure, in which Sora is initially spooked when she experiences an odd supernatural encounter with a stuffed animal, but soon realizes it may need her help.

The episode begins with Sora seeking shelter in an empty mansion when her daily jog is interrupted by rain. A voice calls for her to come inside, and Sora looks around the room, spotting a cat plushie sitting near a window. Sora initially finds it cute, until the plushie suddenly moves, asking Sora to take it with her. Spooked, Sora quickly gets out of there and heads home, only to find the plushie followed her home.

Mashiro, Tsubasa and Ageha initially aren't sure what to make of Sora's story of what happened, but soon realize she's telling the truth when the plushie starts moving again and hides itself inside a fort of books. Ellee manages to coax it to leave the hiding spot, and the others realize it is probably harmless. Sora apologizes to the plushie for running off without hearing it out, and promises to help it if needs anything.

While still a bit unnerved, Sora helps clean the stuffed animal, letting it spend the day playing with Ellee. The next day, Tsubasa and Ageha have been doing some research into the mansion, trying to figure out who used to live there. While Sora and Mashiro are at the mall, Mashiro notes how peaceful Ellee looks sleeping while hugging the plushie, noting that stuffed animals are like a child's first friend. Sora notes that she didn't really spend much time with anything like that since she was always busy training.

The plushie suddenly flies off after spotting a young girl, with Sora chasing after it and Mashiro trying to come up with a cover story for this supernatural event to people nearby. The plushie reaches the girl, only to realize it isn't who it was looking for.

That night, the plushie reaches out to Sora in her dreams, showing it his memories and explaining that the girl at the mall resembled his old owner. He explains how he and the girl were always together, until he accidentally got left behind when the girl and her family moved. Sora promises to help the cat look for his friend, but he tells her he doesn't want to cause her anymore trouble and that he'll be going back to wait for her.

Sora wakes up to find the plushie has left, and informs the others. They decide to head back to the mansion, figuring he went back there. On the way, they are spotted by Minoton, who decides to confront them at the mansion. They tell Minoton now's not a good time, since they're looking for the cat, but Minoton insists fighting him is more important and turns the mansion itself into a Ranborg.

The Cures are sucked into the Ranborg's body, where they have to fight off other Ranborgs made from the furniture as they look for a way out. Cure Sky gets separated from the others, having to fight a Ranborg made from a suit of armor. With the help of the cat plushie, she manages to reunite with the others and find the exit. With Cure Prism's support, Cure Sky is able to weaken the main Ranborg enough for Cure Wing and Cure Butterfly to purify it. Minoton retreats.

The Cures are about to leave, with Tsubasa noting he and Ageha figured out who the owners of the mansion were, but they have yet to figure out where they are now. Just then, a car comes by, a mother assuring her daughter they'll probably find what she's looking for. Sora puts the pieces together, and asks the girl, Riho, if she's looking for the stuffed animal. The girl recognizes it, revealing the plushie's name to be Marron.

Riho's mother explains how they accidentally left him behind when they moved a year ago, and due to circumstances, were unable to return to look for it until now. Riho and Marron are reunited, and as they leave, Marron turns to thank Sora for everything she did for him.

A really sweet episode! The gimmick for the Ranborg of the episode was also pretty clever. Not much else to say about this one.

Looking forward to seeing what happens next!

[hakesbros]

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