#i.m chat

[mebeindelulu]

Texts w/ bf!changkyun

[kaoharu]

mmy nap . . . . <- being summoned to make dinner

[dcymcres]

❝YES.❞ she answers far too quickly, and is all of a sudden very aware of the heat rising in her cheeks at that second. ❝I mean, of course!❞ still too much enthusiasm. ❝I-I mean well.. yeah, I would totally go out with you if you were dressed in this style, in that specific dress, at this specific moment in time.❞ dj fumbles ever so gracefully over her own words several times. ❝I feel like whoever doesn't ask you out for some lunch, out to dinner or even a few drinks is just.. missing the whole point.❞

"Aw. This is sweet," she winks at DJ, a smile forming on her lips as she trusts the other to be true. "Alright, but do those little flowers count as a pattern? Or is this a pattern that is considered alright?" Wondering if she looks great for the occasion, she can't help but think if DJ would think she's cute enough, at least enough to... get a drink or two, perhaps? "Am in a way that you'd be willing to go out with me?" she wonders, trying not really to check how pretty she looks, but rather how DJ would be willing to go out with her.

[stayteezdreams]

Masquerade

Plot: While attending a Christmas masquerade, Changkyun meets someone who steals his heart. But what does he do when they disappear at the end of the night? (Cinderella-esque au but not really)

Pairing: Im Changkyun | I.M x Gn!Reader

A/n's: I avoided using any descriptors for the Readers outfit (not a dress or suit specifically), but I did describe the color and "pattern", sorry if its not your vibe. Cinderella-esque vibe, but the reader is more like the step-sister being forced to the ball to meet a prince rather than sneaking in to enjoy the ball.

Warnings: Defenestration mentions (as a joke) . Reader has kind of shitty parents. This is written in a style sort of like older stories where the parents basically marry off their children to wealthy people no matter who they are.

Words: 4.8k

As Changkyun looked himself over in the mirror he let out a sigh. Every year, his parents threw a massive party for Christmas. This year the theme was masquerade.

He didn't often attend the parties or would at least pop in and say hello to some people. But this year, he was demanded to stay by his parents. And he knew it was because they wanted to find him a "match."

He was lucky that they didn't care much about the status of whoever he would end up with. But they were pushy about when he ended up with someone.

And because he had not met anyone that he felt anything strong for, they were starting to throw people his way in hopes some feelings surfaced. He knew tonight would be no different, if not worse.

Reluctantly leaving his room, he made his way down into the party, many eyes on him as soon as he entered. Even though he had a mask on, most knew who he was already.

He barely made it ten steps into the room before his mother saw him and began leading over a woman, and who he assumed was her daughter.

'Oh God, here we go.'

He put on a charming smile as they approached, greeted and chatted with them. And of course, after a stern look from his mother, asked her to dance.

She was nice, but a bit dense, and clearly only interested in money and status. Definitely not his type.

One after another, he was introduced, one after another he danced, and by the time nine o'clock came, he was ready to throw himself out of the nearest window.

Managing to escape to a corner, pretending to get a drink, his eyes raked over the room. He wondered if he could make it out of the door without anyone stopping him. Most everyone seemed to be growing tipsier as the night went on.

As he eyed the back of the room, his eyes locked onto a figure moving at the back, behind everyone else.

You were clearly trying to sneak away from something or someone as you continuously looked over your shoulder. It was working, as no one seemed to notice you except him. Though he wasn't sure how.

You were immediately alluring, and your outfit eye-catching, the color was black- no, a deep blue in the light, and it was covered in thousands of tiny sparkles that made it seem like you were covered in stars.

Changkyun didn't realize he was holding his breath as he watched you successfully reach the balcony door unseen and sneak out into the night. He let out a soft scoff as he felt more intrigued by the fact there was someone else here who was as desperate to escape as he was, if not more so.

Setting his glass down, he tried to make his way swiftly to the balcony to follow you. Narrowly escaping a few people attempting to stop him, he finally slipped out the door and looked around for you.

He felt a disappointed pang in his chest as he couldn't spot you, until his eyes spotted a shimmering figure heading into the covered garden. Following you, he wondered why he was so compelled by you.

The weight in your chest already seemed to lift as you escaped into the garden. No one was around, and the night air was calming, though cold.

All night you had entertained your parents demands for you to find a spouse. Met and talked with various people, all with the same bland personality and conversation starters. You never hated small talk as much as you did with a man who had a personality centered around wealth and status.

It was just like your parents to bring you to a wealthy family’s party just to garner the attention of elites who wanted easy to gain spouses. Your parents often mentioned they wanted you to marry for love, yet they threw you at any one they could whenever they got the chance and insisted you force the love to follow.

Finding your way into a small clearing, your eyes gazed around at the trees, all decorated in lights and Christmas ornaments. You smiled as you wondered why they went to so much effort to decorate areas no one went too.

Then your eyes landed on a swing hanging from a large tree. You smiled at the site as you sat down, swaying back and forth and allowing yourself to breathe for the first time tonight. You wondered how much time you could get yourself before your parents found you.

Closing your eyes as you leaned your head back, you took in some cold brisk breaths as you tried to calm your anchored anxiety.

Hearing a crunch in the gravel nearby, your eyes shot open as you spotted a man standing not too far away. He was tall, slim, but fit, black hair just past his ears. He was wearing a slick silk black suit and a mask to match. Even at a distance you could see he was attractive.

He raised his hand at your reaction and let out a soft breathy laugh. "Sorry! I didn't mean to startle you."

You didn't recognize him, so you assumed he wasn't someone sent after you by your parents.

You bowed your head softly and smiled, "That's alright."

He took a tentative step forward as he spoke, "I noticed you flee the house and grew curious."

You frowned softly, "Why?"

He smiled and your heart fluttered unexpectedly. "I thought I was the only one who wanted to run away."

You remained silent for a second before you let out a soft breathy laugh. "Forced by your parents?"

He grinned at this, you just told him, without really telling him, why you were so fed up with being here.

"Forced by the parents."

You tilted your head in confusion for a moment before it donned on you what he might mean. "I suppose this is your home then?"

He nodded almost sheepishly at the identification. He began to wonder slowly towards you, walking behind the swing as he spoke, his eyes remaining on you the whole time.

"My parents host this party every year. But this year they are quite determined to find me a match. Since I am taking too long in finding my own-"

"They will find one for you."

He chuckled as he nodded, though you couldn't see him. "I assume it’s the same for you then?"

You nodded as you swung once in the swing again. "Unfortunately. Though, I was never really given the opportunity to find my own spouse. I will only marry someone they approve of, and that in itself is already an absurd standard."

"So, no matches tonight then?"

You shrugged. "Apparently they are fond of this particularly well-known man names James."

Changkyun felt his heart drop at this. He looked at you, your soft profile in the moonlight as you gazed outwards, no idea what your fate would become if your parents chose him. Anyone in his family’s close circle knew exactly who he was, but someone outside of it might not.

"Not him."

Something in his tone sent a chill down your spine. You stopped your movement on the swing as you turned to look at him, he was behind you, a few steps away, his eyes on you and his gaze tense.

"He's not a good man."

The tone of his voice held contempt and fear, making your chest tighten. He was being truthful.

You nodded softly in understanding, "Not him."

He nodded once, letting out a soft breath. Even though he didn't really know you, he knew you were far too good to be paired with someone like him.

Your heart jolted at the sound of distant voices, listening for a moment, you recognized then, your parents. They were clearly upset and looking for you.

"Shit." You cursed under your breath, but Changkyun was quick to catch on.

"Your parents?"

You nodded as you rose from the swing, looking around for another path. Before you could choose where to go, you suddenly felt the stranger grab your wrist lightly.

As you looked at him in alarm, he gently pulled you along. "Come on."

Between following a stranger you knew nothing about, and being caught by your parents, you knew the clear answer was to follow the stranger into the darkness of the garden.

Letting him lead you down a stony path, you watched as the path slowly became more overgrown, clearly having been forgotten about. Ducking underneath an old overgrown willow tree, you stared in awe as you came through the other side to see a large gazebo covered in vines.

The moon above you lit up the area well enough to see, as the two of you stepped up into the gazebo. You looked around at the old structure, clearly forgotten about by everyone but him.

Changkyun looked back at you and smiled at your awestruck gaze. Your clothes were twinkling in the moonlight, and he could feel the way his stomach fluttered as he watched you. Had he a mirror, he would see the same gaze on your face plastered on his as he looked at you.

He finally spoke with a soft voice, "I often come here to escape. Tonight, I will lend it to you."

You smiled at him and his heart stuttered. "Thank you."

He smiled at you and bowed his head slightly in response.

As he began turning away, you hesitated "Wait-" he looked back at you and you suddenly felt shy, "Are you leaving?"

He hadn't intended on it, but your reaction when you thought he was made him near giddy. "Do you want me to stay?"

You shrugged lightly, not sure what to do now. "I thought we could talk more is all."

Changkyun grinned and you felt your heart skip a beat. He stepped closer to you, "We could."

As he stared at you with a smile, you couldn't help but smile brightly in return. Something about this stranger had your heart fluttering in ways you had never experienced.

While the party inside continued, and your parents wandered near every inch of it to find you, you and Changkyun talked nonstop. You learned that you had much more than your pushy parents in common.

As silence settled between you after you had laughed at one of his stories, the sound of music became louder.

You looked towards the house, as the sound traveled along the soft breeze. And suddenly you remembered where you were, having been so lost in your conversations with your new friend, you had nearly forgotten.

Changkyun stood up, catching your attention as he placed out his hand for you to take. "Do you want to dance with me?"

You looked at this hand before you smiled, "I thought you had grown tired of dancing tonight?"

He smiled and he shrugged his head, "I grew tired of dancing with the people my parents forced on me. I'd very much like to dance with someone I choose."

Heart fluttering again, you gently took his hand as you rose, "Good answer."

He chuckled softly as the two of you began dancing, your motions flowing together smoothly as you seemed to have a good rhythm together.

As you danced around the gazebo, moonlight peeking through, Changkyun was in awe of your presence. He had never felt this towards anyone, let alone someone whose name he didn't even know.

This thought suddenly struck him, why hadn't he asked your name? Let alone tell you his own.

Spinning you once more, he pulled you close to his chest as the song died out, the sound of distant clapping heard. Your eyes were locked as your hands remained clasped. Slowly, you parted with a single step back.

You held your breath as he slowly raised his hands towards your mask, to remove it. You had nearly forgotten you had still been wearing it all along. Your face barely looked any different with or without it, but his actions still made your heart race.

Before he could remove it, however, you heard the sudden loud chiming of a clock.

Your head snapped in the direction of the house, catching Changkyun off guard.

"It’s midnight?"

Changkyun almost laughed, he hadn't realized the two of you had spent so long out here together. It felt like no time had passed at all, he would be glad to have more.

Unfortunately for him, your thoughts were the opposite as you looked back at him with panic.

"My parents are going to kill me. We were supposed to have left by now. They must be going crazy!"

Changkyun watched as you darted away from him and out of the gazebo.

"Wait!" He called after you as he ran to follow.

You were cursing to yourself the whole way back to the house. Worried your parents would punish you, fearful they may have left you here, and disappointed you had to leave.

Climbing up the steps back to the house, as you were about to grab the door handles to go back inside, you stopped as you were grabbed by your elbow.

As you looked back, Changkyun was hurrying to catch his breath. "But I never got your name."

Your eyes widened in realization. How had you spent that much time with him, talking, laughing, gazing, dancing, and yet you never actually introduced yourselves?

"Oh it's-"

Before you could tell him your name, the doors burst open, revealing your clearly disheveled if not somewhat buzzed parents.

You opened your mouth, ready to give excuse after excuse, but they grabbed your arms and wrists as they began pulling you inside.

"Do you realize how long we had been looking for you?!"

"Where did you go?! Were you with someone? Who?"

As they dragged you through the house and towards the front door, you looked back to see Changkyun trying to follow you. He wanted to know your name, to tell you his, he wanted to introduce himself to your parents, to tell them not to let James anywhere near you.

Suddenly stopped by his own parents, he tried to push past them but failed, his heart dropping as he saw you dragged out the front doors and away from him.

His parents bombarded him with similar questions your own parents whispered into your ears.

"Just one moment, okay? I'll explain later!"

Managing to push past them, he made his way through the remnant crowd, and out the front door. His eyes darted from person to person, group to group, as many people were leaving and lingering in the front of the house.

He let out a disdained sigh as he saw you nowhere in sight. He had been too late to catch up to you, you were gone.

He stared out at the crowd of people, ignoring people as they greeted him, his mind only on you. He felt as though something wonderful had been ripped away from him. How was he going to get it back? He had to find you. He needed to. He would.

Swinging gently on the swing he first met you at, Changkyun stared ahead, lost in thought. It had been nearly a week since the masquerade, and he had yet to find out who you were.

After telling his parents about you, they were intrigued as well, wanting to know who gained their son’s attention so undividedly. So, even they tried to help find you, but came up with nothing. You remained a mystery, as though you had never been there at all.

He even considered reaching out to James, but with their relationship and how vindictive he was, he might seek you out to hurt you because of him.

He began to wonder if maybe your parents had pulled some strings and got an invite from someone else, or maybe snuck you in all together. Perhaps that was why they dragged you out of the party so quickly. You had overstayed your welcome and as the crowds were dying down, your presence might become more noticeable.

Letting out a soft laugh at the thought, he shook his head as he leaned back and looked up at the cloudy sky. "Why didn't I ask your name sooner?" He spoke allowed, to the sky, remembering how he felt as the two of you danced and smiled together.

His chest tightened as he grew more frustrated. There had to be a way to find you again. If you were so prevalently on his mind a week later, surely, he truly felt something for you.

Feeling a chill shudder over him from the winter breeze, he returned into his home. As he entered the dining room, he overheard the end of a conversation from his parents.

"Of course it would be a contract marriage, no one would marry James if they really knew him."

Changkyun stopped dead in his tracks, a chill running over him as a bad feeling filled his gut. Marching into the room up to the table, he looked at his mother with alarmed eyes, "What are you talking about?"

"Oh, well, James is engaged apparently, a contract marriage."

He placed his hands on the table harshly as he leaned in, "To who?!"

"Why are you so upset?"

"Because-" He recalled that night, your parents had an interest in James being with you, but did they really sell you off to him? "Find out who it is mother, please, I think it might be the one I met that night."

Seeing and hearing the urgent desperation in her sons’ voice, she nodded, quickly rising to find out more information. Changkyun's father ushered him to sit, to question him further. Changkyun only hoped if it was you, that he could stop it before you were married off to a monster.

The second his mother came back with a name and address, Changkyun was out the doors and on his way to you. He needed to make sure you would be free of this engagement, no matter what.

"Y/n" He muttered the name to himself breathlessly as he pictured your face, a soft smile forming on his own. "It suits you."

Your chest was heavy with anxiety as you sat in the corner of the room looking at anything but your parents and James.

You had tried to convince them not to pair you with him, but since you learned no real details about why your mystery friend warned you about him, they didn't listen. And nothing other than he is a horrible dangerous person would deter them.

It didn't matter if the way he looked at you made you uncomfortable, it didn't matter if he was ten years older, it didn't matter if he made weird comments openly about the maids.

Unless you could find another suitor, a better suitor, it was only "You'll get used to it", "Feelings will come with time", "He probably isn't as bad as you think."

Part of you wanted to go back to the home where you had attended the masquerade. To be with, well, whoever he was, and get him to help you. And maybe, just maybe, the two of you could grow closer.  

But after you learned that you and your parents were never supposed to be at that party, you felt mortified to ever return. You were party crashers, and you hadn't even known it.

"I was thinking we could have the wedding next week."

Your heart clenched at James's suggestion. Daring a look at him he caught your eye and smiled, an eerie smile. He knew of your reservations against him, he knew you wanted nothing to do with him. What would he be like when you no longer had your parents around?

The anxiety nearly made you dizzy. What was your future holding for you. Torture? Sadness? Loneliness?

Your spiraling thoughts were interrupted at the sound of loud pounding at the door. It was loud and sudden enough to make you jump. Waiting and watching as you heard muffled voices before hurried footsteps came closer to the study, your hand clenched the arm of your chair nervously.

Your fear was replaced by surprise and relief as the man you met at the masquerade barged into the room. He looked disheveled and breathless, as he looked around the room hurriedly.

As his eyes met yours, you rose from your seat.

You knew well enough what he looked like, but without the mask, seeing him for everything he was, made your heart flutter heavier than it ever had before.

He let out a sigh of relief, his heart swelling as he saw you. "Y/n"

As your name left his lips, you moved to take a step towards him but stopped as your father stepped forward with a demanding voice.

"Who are you?!"

Quickly bowing in respect, he apologized for his sudden entry. "I must insist I speak with you regarding your betrothal of Y/n to James."

"Changkyun." The voice that left James was full of venom as he stared daggers into him.

'Changkyun' that was his name?

"I must insist you know exactly who it is you are trying to marry your child off too." Changkyun was speaking to your parents, but his eyes never left James.

"You will leave this house!" James countered, but you stepped forward suddenly.

"No! He will not."

Changkyun's eyes finally left James and landed on you. Your stance was defiant as you looked from James to Changkyun. "I want to know too."

Your father let out an annoyed grunt before he waved his hand at Changkyun. "Fine, but you will tell me who you are first! I want to know if you have the authority to tell me anything!"

"I am Im Changkyun Sir."

Your parents suddenly straightened up at the sound of his name, one they clearly recognized.

"And I am Y/n's friend."

His eyes fell to you as he spoke, his voice somewhat hesitant on the word 'friend', as he knew he felt more for you than mere friendship.

You smiled at him, and something in your face told him you felt the same.

Looking back at your parents he spared James one more look. "James is a violent drunk who had made many an innocent person disappear for the mere instance of looking at him for too long. He is cruel, disrespectful, and a bastard overall. If you marry Y/n off to him, you will never see them smile, laugh or be healthy again."

"You bastard, how dare you!" James rushed at Changkyun, but he easily dodged him and knocked him off his balance with a swift movement of his leg.

As he tried to attack Changkyun again, you wanted to rush forward, but Changkyun, seeing this, moved to block you instead, so that you would not get hurt.

Your father yelled at James to stand down, gaining his attention well enough that he regained most of his composure.

Your father was clearly disgruntled and upset over everything that was happening. Your mother, grabbing his arm to steady not only herself, but him.

"I can see from that outrageous outburst, that what Mr Im said must hold some truth to it. And I know of the Im family well enough to know they are far more respected than you." As your father looked over at you, recalling the numerous times you begged him to break the engagement he let out a sigh, "I will break the engagement at once."

You let out a soft sigh as you gently rested your head against Changkyun's back out of relief without thinking much of the action.

Changkyun, feeling this, smiled softly, the own heavy weight on his shoulders lifting as he realized he managed to save you from an unbearable fate.

James, unable to bear the offense, only grew angrier, "We are already engaged, you cannot break it now!"

"This is not the 1800's, your engagement can be ended as easily as it was formed." Changkyun countered.

After more petty remarks and arguing, James finally turned his attention to you. "I suppose you're happy now" He scoffed, as if spitting at you. "Who would want to marry you if not me? Huh!?"

You had no time to be offended by his comment before Changkyun responded, his voice laced with a dangerous tone, telling James not to overstep.

"I will."

You looked at him with shock, your heart practically leaping from your chest. Your mother grabbed at your father's arm, secretly relishing in the fact you had men fighting over your hand.

"And I would do far better in marriage than you could ever wish or imagine. It is not Y/n that no one wishes to marry, it is you. Haven't you ever wondered why so many disregard and avoid you? You are the one no one wants."

Stunned out of anger, James could make no retort before your father had him removed from the home. You could hear him cursing your family as he left, but you feared no real retaliation or effect on you or your family. He may be wealthy but held no influence.

As a tense silence filled the room, you saw your mother reader to charge at Changkyun with questions and excitement, but you stepped forward.

"Mother, father, please let me speak to Changkyun alone for a bit, okay?"

Your mother wanted to protest but gave in to your stern look. After they left you alone, you turned to face Changkyun, who swallowed nervously.

"Are you insane?"

He blinked a few times, "For what? Saving you from a marriage with James?"

You let out a soft laugh, "No. Not that, we'll get to that later. I'm talking about the fact that you just told my parents you would marry me!"

"Oh, that."

"Yeah, that!"

Letting out an awkward, almost shy laugh as he scratched the back of his neck, he cleared his throat. "I mean, it wasn't a lie."

You stared at him in stunned silence for a moment and he let out another sot laugh. "You can't say you didn't feel anything that night. Between us."

Butterflies rampaged through you as you repressed a smile, that did not go unnoticed by him. "Yes, I did. But marriage?"

He shrugged his shoulders, "Well. We could just have a very, very long engagement. Until we got to know each other a bit more. Or maybe your father will let us put it off, for now."

"For now?" You repeated softly, your ears and neck heating up.

He nodded as he stepped towards you. "I have already told my parents all about you. And I wouldn't be surprised if my mother has already planned a wedding out in her mind already."

You laughed, "Honestly my mother is probably doing the same right about now." You ended this with a soft glare at him making him chuckle.

"I'm sorry, it was very sudden. But I couldn't let James get away with saying something like that to you."

You gently chewed the inside of your cheek as you looked down bashfully, recalling again how he defended you. "Thank you, for coming to save me."

He grinned at this, stepping toward you again, now right in front of you. His gaze met yours with a gentle fondness that took your breath away.

"I've been looking for you, ever since that night. I only knew where to find you after hearing about James's engagement. I'm glad I got here in time. I was afraid I would have been too late."

"And if you had been?"

He hummed softly before answering, "I would have crashed your wedding and stolen you away."

You let out a startled laugh, making him chuckle as well. You nodded, "Somehow, I can imagine that."

You felt a shiver rise up your body as he suddenly set his hands on your shoulders, making you look at him.

"So, given two options. Stay engaged to me, and let me court you, or announce that you have now had two engagements broken, what would you choose?"

"Starting off a relationship with an engagement? I thought you said this wasn't the 1800's anymore?"

He chuckled, "It isn't, but like I said, we can have a very long engagement. Besides, if you were engaged to me, neither of our parents would continue and introduce us to everyone they could.”

You repressed another laugh as he grinned at you, making your cheeks burn with bashful embarrassment. “A win, win situation then?”

He nodded with a grin, and you chuckled softly. "I suppose if I had to choose, one of those choices is much more appealing."

Taking a small step closer, so the two of you were only a few inches apart, he nodded before speaking softly. "I promise I will prove myself to you."

"More than you already have?"

He nodded confidently, "Yes. Much more."

You stared at each other with fondness, and growing affection. You smiled softly, daring him with your eyes, and somehow knowing he would do exactly as you said.

"Alright. Prove it then."

xx End xx

Not sure how I feel about the ending but its late at night and I was trying very hard to finish this before I fall asleep in my chair lol

Overall, I like how this one came out. its my first time writing for I.M, so I hope you liked it!

((Taglist Form))

12 Days of Christmas Tag: @multi-fandommaniac, @mbruben-stein

General Taglist: @charmsprout, @brattybunfornct, @bahng-chrizz, @otakutrash669,

@tinyelfperson, @pinievsev, @teenyfinds, @everythingboutkpop,

@shymexican, @stillwjk-channie-lixie, @alexxavicry

[mymegrokosmos]

part 2 of my bf i.m request - surprise dinner date with changkyun.

sorry for taking forever with this one, it just felt right in my brain to split it up into two sections so i hope this is okay.

"kyun."

you could hear your boyfriend's soft giggles from where he stood behind you, hands on your waist to guide you. he had let you see until you got in the car and then produced a silk blindfold from one of the pockets of his dress pants. you hadn't wanted to ruin the surprise so here you were, blindfolded and nearly stumbling over your own feet for the second time in as many minutes.

"sorry baby, I've got you."

you knew he did. for all that his chest vibrated with laughter against your back, you both knew changkyun wouldn't let you actually fall.

"I know. tell me when I can look."

you listened as he talked you through going up a small flight of steps, guided you around a few obstacles and chatted about how much he thought you were going to like this spot.

you had a few clues about where he was bringing you. the first was your outfits. he hadn't worn a full suit so it wasn't somewhere too upscale but he had gone business casual, black slacks and a deep green button down because he knew you loved the colour on him.

if it was up to your boyfriend his shirt would probably have been more muted. he preferred monochrome and soft colours, earth tones and of course his favourite purple. tonight however was apparently about you so the slight step out of his comfort zone into jewel tones was a sign of the effort he was making. which meant he was excited about whatever his plans were.

that much had been obvious from the way he bounced around picking your outfit, the way his leg had jiggled as he sat to watch you show it off once he'd helped you into it, and the way his hand shook slightly when you'd reached out to hold it.

you blinked as he slid the blindfold off, moving to stand beside you one arm around your waist as he pressed the button for the top floor. the doors were closed so you didn't get a glimpse of much but the elevator looked nice, modern.

you blinked up at your boyfriend. "lim changkyun, where exactly are you taking me?"

he just grinned. "you'll see."

you sighed and leaned into his side. "you're so lucky I love you sometimes."

"we're almost there jagiya." a soft kiss pressed to your temple as the elevator doors slid open again and he led you out into a hallway.

it wasn't exactly brightly lit but then he pushed out a door to your left and you found yourself on the roof. you took a minute to glance around, not catching the elaborate set up he had ready and waiting for you right away. it took you a minute to clock what he had prepared and when you did your mouth dropped.

"kyun, you didn't..."

"make you a rooftop picnic so we could have dinner together under the stars and then possibly watch a movie together? why yes, yes I did."

and there he was. your cocky, self-assured confident boyfriend was back. for all that his red ears gave away the slight embarrassment he was hiding well now that he knew you liked it.

"it looks lovely, thank you."

you leaned up to press a kiss to his cheek and he flushed, hurrying you over to sit down. "okay okay, enough of that. time to eat."

"what, I'm not allowed to sing your praises for doing all of this?"

"no, keep doing it. just, maybe don't stare at me while you're saying nice things like that."

you laughed. "okay baby. what do we have on the menu today?"

...

dinner was everything you had come to expect with changkyun. wine, or pear beer for him, paired with all your favourite dishes. you settled between his thighs, one arm always resting on your leg or looped around your waist.

it was nice catching up on everything you'd missed over the past few weeks and his chest was warm against your back with the breeze.

kyun's chin on your shoulder as you talked, fingers playing with yours when you finally took a minute to just lean into him and watch the sky.

"the stars really do look pretty tonight."

"nothing compares to how pretty you look right now."

you were glad he couldn't see the way you blushed at those words. "kyun..."

"what?" he peeked at you innocently, cheek pressing to yours as he squeezed you closer to him.

"you're so cheesy sometimes."

"you like when I get all philosophical. apparently it's hot or something."

you laughed. "your lyricism is hot babe." you conceded. "your emotional intelligence is just part of why I love you. it's cute if anything."

when he was in the middle of a flow, often in the studio, that was absolutely attractive. you knew it was going to be a good verse when his sleeves got rolled up, he was constantly fidgeting with his hat, or his hoodie came off. when he got sappy, often after a few drinks, it was the complete opposite.

he turned into a real marshmallow. so soft, sweet and fluffy. confused and cuddly. just wanting to ramble about all his thoughts and snuggle up to you while he talked about anything and everything that came to his mind. it was adorable. you loved those nights.

"babeee... we've been over this." oh he was sulking now. "I'm not cute."

you patted his cheek. "poor baby. you're the textbook definition of cute kyun. accept your fate honey."

he sighed. "if I say there's chocolate cake can we forget the debate about my cuteness, or lack thereof?"

you considered it. "I accept your proposition."

"good because it's really good cake. you really didn't want to miss out on it."

he was right. the cake was great. he could have gotten you the saddest slice of boring cake and you still would have enjoyed it though. this, being here under the stars with the man you loved was more than enough.

"penny for your thoughts?"

you blinked when he nuzzled his nose against your cheek, pressing little kisses along your shoulder as he leaned forward to see your expression better.

"hmm?"

"what's going on up there? I called your name like five times just now and you didn't respond."

"oh, sorry," you turned to kiss his nose. "I was just thinking."

"about?"

"how sweet you are. how lucky I am to have you in my life and get to share these kinds of moments with you." he scrunched his nose up at you and you laughed. "yeah okay, kinda sappy I know."

he shook his head, setting his beer down in favour of leaning back on his elbows. the new angle had you laying across his chest as he glanced down at you, eyes lingering for just a minute on your lips.

"no. well yeah okay maybe. but I liked it."

you smiled up at him, hand sliding up his button up to rest against the side of his neck. you brushed your thumb over his skin and he leaned down to steal a kiss.

"you're just a big sweetheart."

"please never tell minhyuk hyung that."

"honey, I'm pretty sure all of your hyungs already know you better than pretty much anyone else on the planet. except maybe your parents. but that's family for you."

changkyun eyed you for a minute. he didn't always appreciate being so seen, so openly vulnerable, or at least not being called out for it. he was considering sulking, weighing whether it was worth pouting at you over, you could see it in the way his eyes focused just above your head. he had his thinking face on.

you leaned up, tilting his jaw to catch his lips in a kiss and distract him instead. it worked. it usually did.

"baby, that's cheating." his whine against your lips had you laughing even as he kissed you back. "this is not fair."

you slid your hand up into his hair, pulling him back to you as he pulled back to pout. "i love you kyun."

he sighed, melting into you as one hand slid up from your thigh to pull you closer by the waist. "cheater."

"mm, but you love me."

"I do. I really, really do."

you were still smiling when you pulled back, hand moving to cup his face. your thumb smoothed over one sharp cheekbone. his eyes stayed on yours, just watching you as you admired him.

"why are you so handsome? that's unfair."

his lips quirked up at the corners, hand on your hip tracing little circles. "that's what you find unfair? not my amazing talent, superior height, fantastic intellect, blah blah money cars whatever? you're jealous that I'm pretty?"

you nodded, leaning up to nuzzle your nose against his. "yup."

he hummed, pulling you closer as if there was any space left between you anymore. there was no gap left to close, so he rolled onto his side to look at you better instead, one arm folding to prop his cheek in one hand. you slid your arms up around his neck.

"are we going to watch that movie now or what?"

"mm, in a minute." he leaned forward until his face hovered just over yours, leaving you almost on your back now. "more kisses first?"

"hmm... yeah I think I can manage that."

a grin and then his lips were on yours. "I love you y/n."

"I love you too kyun."

"you said that already."

"am I not allowed to say it again?"

you didn't get a chance to hear the mumbled answer to the question because he was too busy taking your breath away again. sometimes, surprises might just be all right after all.

[androgynealienfemme]

After a friend/coworker and I unboxed a new shipment of porn and toys, we headed outside to smoke and chat. Over the last couple of weeks, she had been telling me about a two-spirit community she did ceremonies with and formally invited me to my first sweat. As we two punks-- showing our tattoos and piercings -- sat on the sidewalk discussing spirituality, my friend suddenly brought up my unwillingness to claim the term "butch". I asked her why she wanted to be identified with folks who wore misogyny on their sleeves, with an identity that was quantified into comparative statements of worth as in, "You aren't as butch as so-and-so."

She sighed, told me to read Stone Butch Blues, and then got up and left me sitting alone on the sidewalk. I had identified with very few books up to this point in my life. Stone Butch Blues was the second such book. While it is not the sum total of who I am, butch is a place inside me, it's part of the whole. The battle of quantification still haunts me in various forms, as I try to define what part is white (the deep red-brown my skin gets in the sun), what part is butch (my large hips), what part is Indian (my blue eyes), and what part is two-spirit (my birth name). I feel like I am just beginning to understand the place inside me that slides back and forth from men to woman, as two-spirit implies. As a child, I wandered Totem Park making up stories to go with the totem poles. I had no foundation; my family was too tired from surviving colonialism to tell me the stories I needed to hear. Since then, I have been seeking the stories out one by one, listening to them and creating my own history (Tlinget, Aleut, Russian) and definitions (two-spirit, trans, butch) upon which I stand"

-"Split Myself Apart" by Redwolf Painter, On Butch and Femme: Compiled Readings (I.M. Epstein) (2017)

[galpalo]

No I’m not late, just took a break because school is currently busying my schedule.

if I could fit every screenshot here I would. But the limit. J my girl,,

ALRIGHT, finale episode huh? Yeah I’m not okay either

Ah good ol’ teacher with no canonical name (maybe, the fandom creates a new name for him every season) dudes so done with life he doesn’t care if the world is ending, I wonder if they extended the episode he might’ve had a much bigger role? Like he knew nori and khan before. Would’ve loved to see more of Alice,,

UGHHHHFGHEHDHD DAUGHTER MOTHER MOMENT. FINALLY. THE MOMENT WHEN “solver control me again?” “If you a little bitch” AND ITS SEEN AS PARENTAL ADVISORY. THEM.

he got more assertive with his emotions guys. He told her he was still mad about her whole “self sacrifice” thing back at ep 7. It’s so small yet so much. Guys. Development.

Ah. At least the solver was nice enough to send a message. The inaudible frustration afterwards was funny though-

This. Uzi literally admits being nervous over it because she can’t read the signs well because of how lonesome and isolated she was from her peers (my analysis, I suggest seeing a video or blog that talks deeper into her personality) and N saying that “that was the plan, yeah—“ UGHHSHWUSHUWSHJA

I’m. Gonna screa.m they mean so much to me chat.

The fact N literally gave her a drawing that said “I O U 1 SPACESHIP” is so damn adorable and her IRRITATION with it!! love it. I’m going to talk about this moment so keep it in mind real quick.

Can we appreciate the fact they applied the whole “gravity” space logic into this?? Even when uzi tried to talk with her mom earlier? I love when shows/games do this, hello Lizzy and Thad hope y’all like your time in the near-apocalypse. sorry you guys had to experience it 😭

“I’m fine! And CALM. and GO AWAY.” doesn’t seem calm to me J, lizzy rolling her eyes while Thad is concerned over their fate at that scene. PLEASE. Lizzys beef with that sentinel is like your two friends fighting on a daily basis for petty funsies.

JAW DROPPED. THE MUSIC WAS LITERALLY SO COOL WHEN THE BEAT DROPPED. AND SHES FUCKING BACK???!

YEAH NOT THE TIME TO GO “um actually” J. BUT PLEASE. PLEASE. WE ALL THOUGHT J DIDNT KNOW IT WAS CYN. BUT GUYS. SHE WAS. AND V IS FURIOUS. PLEASE STICK WITH ME THROUGH THIS.

Back at the camp episode, when V said “we do our jobs” it was what J told them all along. “And it leaves us alone/and that thing leaves us alone!” so the solver tricked them into thinking that once their job is over they’ll be left alone, remember when Uzi in the pilot told N that when the disassembly drones job was over that the “humans” would throw discard them? Yeah. Also am I the only one who thinks when J told her to “grow up” it’s like “grow up from the hopes of returning home/to the mansion and the solver leaving us alone”??

AND YOU WERE AWARE OF IT SIS? WERE YOU TRYING TO PROTECT THEM IN YOUR OWJ WAY? but seriously, while we did hate J in the pilot, when you think about it (far fetched but stick with me here) she was being mean and hard on them so they get the job done. So the solver would leave them be. Guys.

so remember how she and Tessa were super close? Yeah? Yeah it probably hurt her yeah. I’m fine. Don’t worry. I.m fine. Vs look of confused concern is no problem. Yeah.

See what I mean. It tortured J off screen. TAUNTED HER even. She even LOOKS upset by it. She wants PEACE. And she’s coping by calling the solver BOSS, THE NAME SHE CALLED TESSA BAKC AT THE MA.NSION.

“I never needed either of you.” leave my girl ALONE.

SCREAMS???THE STRESS IN THIS SCENE?!

fun fact: in the Russian dub when the solver says “you won’t talk to me because I have hurt you feelings.” It instead says “after all, I’ve been alive…” guys. Theorist. Do your thing. Right now my mind is scattered brothers. The same thing happens in the Spanish dub when the solver says “hi N!” It says it in Tessa voice. Guys. It’s taunting them.

And Vs apology before the solver literally IMPALES N. I’m gonna cry. She wasn’t aware the solver literally KILLED Tessa “Tessa is cyn!”

Hello? This moment that I see no one talking about?? Appalling. Maid Vs corpse?? So this is a flashback to episode 5 “home”, to where I assume the massacre already happened and this is when the solver (who canonically was said to have taken cyn as a HOST. confirmed by “Tessa”.) and while this might sound bizarre, is in the process of modeling the drones to disassembly ones??? Guys?? The fear and confusion in the mans eyes? He saw his former crush dead body and his supposed friend tear them both apart?? I pray for a season 2.

[a-cat-in-toffee]

still haven’t written a majority of the plot ☝️

I.M SO FUCKING ECXCITED CHAT. STARING.........................

[irradiatedsnakes]

I've ran out of current vods from my favourite streamer, do you have any recommendations for fun rtvs vods to watch? I've really been meaning to check some out

oh yes absolutely!!

i don't watch every rtvs member stream, so if anybody wants to chime in with vods from other folks, please feel free! i pretty much just watch wayne, holly, and scorpy's streams, so:

from wayneradiotv:

looking through wayne's catalogue i'm running into the problem that most of my favorites (like the among us, jackbox, & 420 streams) are best enjoyed when you're already pretty familiar with the crew, so maybe save those for later if you end up enjoying rtvs' stuff. all of the proximity chat among us videos are fantastic (and i like watching the same one from multiple peoples perspectives, holly's in particular are great). RTVS congress, a stream by baaulp, is also great and worth watching once familiar with the crew

i think my best wayne (well, on wayne's channel, all of these feature multiple members of the crew) recommendation though is gonna be I.M. MEEN, which is a completely normal playthrough of a regular copy of 90's kids' edutainment game i.m. meen, which has nothing wrong with it. for some of the other "rtvs brand of weirdness" sort of streams, check out waynekenstein's lab (fun with ai generated faces) and chex quest hd (just.. watch this one)

wayne does a lot of "grand tour" streams (technically the im meen one is one of these but), where he goes through older/weirder/obscurer games. fin fin on teo the magic planet is a FANTASTIC one (fin fin needs no introduction, but in case he does, odd 90's virtual pet with a great theme song), plus the echs bachs catalogue (a bizarre collection of pretty awful games made by one dude called Echs Bachs), and club penguin rewritten (it's club penguin, bro).

if you like seeing a game played over many hours and multiple streams, i'd check out chulip, lisa: the painful, minecraft 24 hour charity stream, and moon rpg: remix. lisa and moon remain unfortunately unfinished, but the streams are still absolutely worth checking out.

from hollowtones:

most of my favorite holly vods are biiiig long streams of a playthrough of a whole game. her stuff tends to be pretty chill and i find them nice and relaxing. sometimes there's friends joining her, sometimes it's just her. of these, i really like bugsnax (adore these ones. idk how to succinctly explain bugsnaz. is bugs, is snax, are you a jokester?), hypnospace outlaw (PLEASE watch these ones especially if you havent played/watched hypnospace before), and moonglow bay (really sweet fishing game).

holly also does a number of wikipedia streams, where she (and friends) read and discuss wikipedia articles about food for upwards of 6 hours a piece. it's really good. it's really good. i like the soup one.

another favorite holly stream is GO-FISH DELUXE FOR SUPER PLAYERS, where holly and a friend play a custom game of go fish for 7 and a half hours. i love this one.

and i would be remiss to leave out, of course, the pigmas in july peppa pig stream. which is where holly, joined by her sister if i remember correctly it's been a minute since i watched, plays the peppa pig video game for nintendo switch. this one is very worth watching to the very end.

from socpens:

my #1 recommendation from scorpy's catalogue is going to be every single one of the VHS VIEWINGZ streams. scorpy obtains and plays a bunch of vhs tapes on stream with friends, it's always always always a good time. my favorite of all of them is probably this one, which among other things, includes a tape about learning to be a clown. make sure to watch to the end for a t-bone tickler! this one, featuring Escalator Safety and VOLTON THE ELECTRITY DEMON is also great. i'm having a hard time choosing just a few, they're all really good, so i'm just gonna link the eye palming one and be done with it.

for gameplay with scorpy, i really like a way out with wayne (unintentionally hilarious 2 player narrative game about escaping from jail), any of the david cage game vods but here's detroit become human, and not for broadcast (a FMV game about running a tv station- censoring stuff, monitoring broadcasts, that sort of thing. has a very interesting narrative)

and a couple other things

ok so these aren't like, the typical stream vods, while they are technically livestreamed stuff they're not quite in the same category. but they're all really fucking good.

of course, half life VR but the ai is self aware. there's full stream vods available for these, but if you haven't watched before i highly recommend watching the edited versions on wayne's main channel linked above. in case you haven't heard of hlvrai before, basic concept is that it's an in-character playthrough (wayne roleplaying as gordon freeman) of half life 1 in VR with a cast of self-aware ai NPCs (played by other members of the rtvs crew) accompanying him through the game. no prior knowledge of half life necessary. just fantastic.

next up, GAMECLAM. a yearly e3-style gaming conference about the best video games console that doesn't exist. here's the first one, there's currently 3 in total. there's also a commentary video on scorpy's vod channel. PLEASE experience the gameclam. PLEASE experience the gameclam

lastly, half life: alyx but the gnome is TOO AWARE. wayne does a gnome run challenge of HL:A with a mod that gives the gnome a biiiit more personality. (due to some references, best watched after hlvrai, but they're not part of the same series/continuity). not all the way finished at the moment- the finale's been streamed (and you can find a 3rd party upload of the finale stream on youtube (thank you youtube user sawsily for everything you do)) but the edited version of the finale should be coming out pretty soon.

[large-baguette-112]

chat we're veering on delirious nugs again i.m so tired

[xcziel]

ok so far it's been:

like crazy 💜💜💜

come back to me

???babymonster -idk them well ?? like that??

chat with babymonster

babymonster sheesh

stray kids lalala

blackpink pink venom

new jeans how sweet

standing next to you

bibi x jackson wang feelin lucky

ed sheeran ???????? what?

i.m. from monstax interview

i.m. lure

fifty fifty cupid

maestro seventeen

8:58pm station id

top of the second hour: Ateez triple play!

crazy form first

now: WORK

[thedurvin]

Started volunteering at the state historical society/museum in hopes of eventually getting a big boy job and it was so weird chatting with other volunteers, mostly wealthy retirees, vs chatting with my retail coworkers. Stories starting with “back when I was the archivist for I.M. Pei’s architectural firm while they were designing the Louvre pyramid I was having dinner with the head of the NAACP” vs “i know a place where they have those big wire spools if you can’t afford a coffee table”

[angela-the-fox]

Guys,please chat with me!

I'm extremely lonely.😞

I feel scared why i have no friends.Except my family and siblings.I have nightmares all the time that i didn't want to chat with anyone and i have trust issues and i feel like no one wants to talk to me.Is it because i was too energetic all the time or what?My mom always wants my attention to get a comfort zone from my panic zone.

Why i feel like i have no one by my side and i feel like to kill myself and they think that you're a stupid attention seeker.But i wasn't acting like that.My parents are just want my attention to best friends and i was super lonely and i was getting stressed.Why?Just why?!?!!Why do i have nobody.

I wish i would be dead for this and i'll become an abuser myself and abuse myself for being super lost and lose control.And they wished i wasn't born.

.

. .

. . .

. . . .

Please.....

. . . . . . . .

P-please....

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Evelyn:Uh-oh....she was going to monochrome herself.

I.m. . .D.E.A.D

Michael:Oh no....too late......

(My monochrome version is like Lost silver from Fnf Lullaby)

[dailykyun]

[230314] Changkyun 🫧 Private Chat

똑똑

Knock knock

버블 배우는 중이에요 잠시만요

I'm learning bubble. hold on.

이거 조금 신기하다

this is kind of cool.

그러면 이거 앱 for star 또 다운 받은겨요 ??

Did you download the app for star again?

거.에요야 금칙어네 잉?

That's a forbidden word huh?

가.슴운동

a hedgehog movement

???????????

근데 너무 반가워요

but it's nice to see you.

이렇게 또 보네요

I'm seeing you again

이거 라이브도 가능하네??

You can do this live too.

나중에 해봐야겠다

I should try later

*bubble live chat starts*

*bubble live chat cancelled*

아냐아냐 지금 안할거야 확인만

No no. I'm not going to do it now, just check.

음성만도 가능하구나

It's only possible with voice.

이름 다들 바꾸셨구나

Everyone changed their names

나는 사진이랑 이름 멀로 하지

I'll use pictures and names

보고 싶었단 말이지

I missed you.

*subscribers name*

나는 임창균

I'm I.M

너는 *subscribers name*

You are *subscribers name*

ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

(Laughs) (Laughs)

귀여워 ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

Cute (Laughs) (Laughs)

그래서 지금 뭐해

So, what are you doing?

나 일정 좀 보고 이따가 다시 올게요

I'll check my schedule and come back later.

기다리고 있어요 알겠죠?

Please wait for me, okay?

♡ Translation: dailykyun. Please take out with full credit.

[seoulessrp]

WEEK ONE OF THE ELEVATOR SHUFFLE:

For more information, please refer to this page. All shuffles were picked via a website generator. 

Nayeon, Mingyu @maybenayeon @mngyukiim

Momo, Eunwoo @hairimo , @eunnwooc

San, I.M @sanjuuk , @imameim

Hwasa, Jackson @mamahwasa , @wildjackson

Jooheon, Dahyun @lcejooheon , @hyunneebunny

Mingi, Suga @minsgis , @mnyuunki

B.I, Kihyun @hanbiinbi , @kiihyuun

Hobi, Yugyeom @junghcseok , @yuyeomie

JayB, Kai @jaybhr , @jonginkaii

Taehyung, Irene @winterbeav , @irednebae

Seojoon, Minhyuk   @prkscojoon , @minnhyukx

Sana, RM @bysaana , @kimnamjooning

Lisa, Jungkook @lalaliasam , @shameless-virgo

Mina, Shownu @minarifm​ , @shuwnwoo​

Listed below are prompts. Please note that every prompt can be adjusted to your liking, and you do not need the other muns permission to begin a thread. You can reach out to discuss further ideas or contact either admin regarding questions or concerns. Happy threading!  Please note: If you are not on the list, and would like to be, then please reach out to any admin or message us on the main to inform us that you want to be put on the next shuffle. The next one will be on July 10. If you like to be removed from the next shuffle, then you can do so as well. 

NAYEON & MINGYU: 

Take a trip to Hongdae after one brings up the topic of watching buskers. After all, it should be fine seeing how disguised you two are wearing nothing but dark colors and bucket hats to cover most of your faces. At least, that’s what one of you suggests during your tipsy conversation. Everything is going well after arriving to Hongdae. There are a few performances that the two watch from the back crowd. They try not to be seen, but their luck runs out once a fan spots one or both of them, and they now have to try and escape without being trampled.  Possible outcomes: They can get caught. One of them can get accidentally injured or fans can assume that they’re an item.  

MOMO & EUNWOO:

Visit Rail Park on your day off! Get to ride bicycles over an abandoned railway close to Seoul. Start peddling, and get beautiful views of the mountains and ride through mystery tunnels. One even has music blasting through the tunnel when entering it! Don’t worry, it’s mostly downhill, so there isn’t much peddling involved for you. Except, the raining season begun, and you weren’t prepared for it, so you begin to get soaked. Get stunk in the middle of a storm, even though the sun was out just an hour shortly before you arrived to the location. The weather kind of puts a damper on the day. Possible outcomes: Due to the rain, you’re not too happy, and you’ve already stressed over work that this makes you burst into tears or into an argument. 

SAN & I.M:

Have a quick trip to Savage Garden that’s located in Itaewon. Not many people know about this location, so it’ll make your day out a calming one. The trip began as an idea in a group chat, but only two of you were able to attend, but that’s okay. You decide to have lunch in a cafe nearby when the employees realize that you’re idols. Now the evening goes sour when they begin to take pictures and film without your permission. They ask too many personal questions that cause you to cut the meal short.  Possible outcomes: The employees charge extra knowing that your idol has money, and that upsets them. They can get into an argument or make a scene because of how terrible they were treated. Have one calm the other down or have both lose it with the employees. 

HWASA & JACKSON:

You’re feeling nostalgic one afternoon when hanging out with each other. Over the course of some drinks, one decides to visit the dorms where they used to live at. They want to see what kind of condition the building is now in, and they want to walk down memory lane. Once arriving, they are surprised to see a couple of trainees nearby who are having a difficult time. One just got cut, and are now having a rough time with the news. Do your best to comfort them, and what you say will cheer the trainees.  Possible outcomes: After solving the issue, and the trainees have left, it leaves your muses upset about how badly trainees are still getting treated. Have them retell stories of their days and bond over the bad days. They could get angry at the situation or have a moment of reflecting about how grateful they are. 

JOOHONEY & DAHYUN:

Enjoy the night out with friends. It’s getting late, and you’re in a sketchy part of the city. The cell service isn’t the best nor is your battery percentage. Many of your group of friends had already left while you two stay to chat a bit longer when you realize that the bartender is closing for the night. You grab your phone to call your driver, but one has a dead phone while the other has little to no service. People at the bar aren’t very helpful, so you resort to using a taxi to get home in one piece. Get inside the taxi right when the rain begins to pour heavily. Possible outcomes: The taxi driver can’t hear you well when you give the address, and instead, drops you off at the other side of town. It���s the middle of the night, so you get off trusting the driver. Now you’re stuck in the middle of nowhere, and before you realize it, the taxi takes off. 

MINGI & SUGA:

Take care of each other. Work has piled up to the point when one, or both, are beginning to feel worn down. They had agreed to meet up for a drink at their favorite bar when one cancels. This concerns the other, and they show up at the front door step to see if they’re okay. This could be the youngest taking care of the oldest, or vice versa. Take food, try to cook, talk, or end up drinking for the rest of the night.  Possible outcome: The one that cancelled gets irritated that the other shows up unannounced, and they end up scolding the other or seeming like they’re being disrespectful when they’re just tired, and wanted to get some rest. 

B.I & KIHYUN:

A bit of bad blood? Years ago, you noticed that the other gave you a stink eye. Not a big problem since you didn’t really mind, and figured that maybe he was looking elsewhere or looking at someone else. Couldn’t have really been you, right? You do your best to keep the peace between you when you finally have the courage to invite the other to one of the many cafe spots in Seoul. During the coffee drinking, you decide to casually bring up that memory that happened so many years ago.  Possible outcomes: What you thought would turn into a small laugh now turns into an argument. The other gets irritated that you’ve held a grudge or for thinking badly about them. Have them work it out or one storm out. 

J-HOPE & YUGYEOM:

A quick base visit turns sour or a crying session, you decide. The youngest is feeling a bit sad, and decides to visit a few of his friends that are at the base, and he schedules to see one of his oldest friends as well. Things start slow with a quick catch up, and maybe, one of them could suggest to grab food after the other finishes his shift. Once they get things figured out, one could feel like the other is trying to rush their hangout session which makes the other upset.  Possible outcomes: They bicker about wasting time when they keep trying to rush the lunch. The oldest could kick the younger one out and tell him to not visit him for a while or laugh it off after they butt heads. 

JAYB & KAI:

Gwangjang Market is your spot for the evening. A bit overcrowded, but still has one of the best places for food and treats. What’s great about this location is that there are too many folks that nobody will notice your muse in the crowd. Blend in, try to grab food, and enjoy the night out with a buddy. Things seem to be going well when you hear a mugging take place just a few feet away.  Possible outcomes: An elderly lady is getting mugged with her grandchild that causes your muse to react fast instead of waiting or calling for help. Tag team to tackle the attackers or try to settle things without using violence. 

TAE & IRENE:

Have you been to Nuldam Space? Well, now you will. Have a special experience after booking the location to yourselves. Bond over the unique drinks and desserts catered to you by the staff. Be seated on the rooftop, and enjoy a sunny day. What makes this place special is that you can write a letter to yourself for the future. Pick a date that you would like to receive the letter, and the staff will send it. Just write, seal, stamp, and select a date. They’ll handle the rest.  Possible outcomes: Writing the letter has made your idols emotional, and one or both begin to cry in the middle of writing. You can choose to share what you’re putting on the paper or begin to discuss the future together, and how they think things will seem in a year from now. 

SEOJOON & MINHYUK:

Be children again, and take a trip to Sports Monster! Do all of the obstacle course that’s provided. You might be sore for the following week, but who cares when you’re having so much fun? There’s a swing that goes 360 that you’re welcome to try, but you’ll have to be strapped in case you end up falling! All is going well when you suddenly begin to feel sick from all of the jumping around and not getting enough water in between.  Possible outcomes: Faint. It’s not ideal, but not getting enough water and jumping around would make anybody feel a little out of it. Or, you could always vomit which results in the other taking care of your muse and encourage them to slow down. They can bicker to add more excitement. 

SANA & RM:

Alpaca World is your destination! Just a 90 minute drive from Seoul sits a hotspot to walk amongst alpacas. Get to feed, walk, pet, and hang with these animals to heal whatever stress you have going on in your life. Schedule a private meetup, rent out the place for yourselves, or be amongst locals who are also there to give love to these special creatures. Take a “healing walk” with your alpacas, but something spooks the animal that causes it to run off into a restricted area. Possible outcomes: Follow the animal to the restricted area without advising employees. This could lead to you getting lost together or get banned from the location for going against the rules. 

LISA & JUNGKOOK:

It hasn’t been your week. Nor has it been your month... maybe not your best year. Things seem to be falling apart when you think that things are running normal. Because of this, you decide to have a quiet afternoon out when hanging with a friend. There is a location only known to idols or anyone in the industry that you decide to have lunch there. Things are running smooth when you overhear a conversation happening from a few tables away of your peers talking about you. At first, you try to ignore their whispers, and try to not let it ruin your evening, but they keep laughing and decide to then involve the friend you’re with or begin to discuss your members and other close friends. Possible outcomes: Begin an argument. Walk over to the table, and defend your honor and whoever they were whispering about. Your friend now has to either try to hold you back or get involved. 

MINA & SHOWNU:

Mutual friends means that you eventually become close. At least that’s what people say. Awkwardly get stuck in the room together while waiting for their mutual friend to arrive when no one can come up with a topic at first. Bring up the weather, how busy people seem to be since comebacks started, complain about how tiring work is, bring up the holidays. Anything to stretch out the time of the awkward silences. Then one begins to talk about a touching subject like certain friends, family, how the future will play out. Suddenly, the conversation flows naturally that they find themselves bonding over an overflow of emotions.  Possible outcomes: When bonding, one can accidentally say the wrong thing without meaning to like the mention of the maknae which causes an uncomfortable shift when things were going so well. Have things get awkward again where they stop talking or one leaves. 

[tallmantall]

James Donaldson on Mental Health - Ask the Doc: What Are Ways to Protect My Mental Health?

By: Janet A. Aker, MHS Communications Dear Doc, I’m feeling pretty low and very stressed out. A good friend recently died by suicide, and no one saw it coming. I’ve been thinking about him a lot. On top of that, I feel guilty for uprooting my young family when we recently PCS’ed across the country. Also, I’m anxious about how I’m fitting in at my new assignment, and the world news both weighs me down and makes me angry. It’s like I’m stuck in a deep, dark hole. How can I feel better? Feeling hopeless,U.S. Air Force Airman I.M. Blue ------------------ Airman Blue, It sounds like you are overwhelmed and recognize the negative impact on your mental health. These turbulent days affect each of us differently. Moving your family is a huge life stressor by itself, not to mention all the other changes. How we respond to major changes and uncertainty about the future is important. I’ve found an expert who describes several coping strategies that you may find helpful. These strategies can boost your readiness to take on a new assignment, and help you rebound from your dark moods and hopelessness. U.S. Public Health Service Capt. Meghan Corso holds a doctorate in psychology and is chief of behavioral health clinical operations at the Defense Health Agency. Here’s what she suggested. First, it’s important to keep telling yourself you're not alone, and things won't always be this bad. Whatever you're going through, it’s important to remember you will get to the other side. Be patient. Change takes time. However, if you feel you’re about to reach a crisis point, call 988 for the Military and Veteran Crisis Line goes to Military and Veterans Crisis Line and press “1,” or text 838255, or chat with a live counselor goes to chat. (Para Español, apretar “2.”) Second, suicide’s impact ripples, touching many people. Postvention strategies may help get you in touch with your feelings about your friend as well as the pain you are going through. Another helpful resource is the nonprofit Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors. Its “10 Things We Know to be True: Surviving Suicide Loss” offers good perspective. As for tips on defending your mental health, I have collected a number of techniques and practices. These can be grouped into three buckets I call “Protect, Seek, and Optimize.” Protect Practice just a few of these habits a day to build and maintain a strong psychological foundation and help protect against stress and negative, depressing thoughts. - Exercise not only improves your physical health, but it also is a good way to get “feel good” hormones such as serotonin flooding your brain. This may help reduce the cumulative impacts of stress to your brain and body. - - Balanced nutrition from your diet directly affects the growth and repair of brain cells and fuels your ability to cope with physical and emotional stressors. - - Quality sleep is healing and restorative. It enhances your cognitive and physical health and your ability to manage stress. Here are some tips for better quality sleep. - - Relaxation and meditation practices such as yoga and controlled breathing on a daily basis help promote a state of relaxation, enhance your sense of well-being, and can enhance physical and mental health for stress management. - - Setting goals helps to reduce stress hormones such as cortisol and increases a sense of control and accomplishment. - - Break your big goal down into chunks so they are realistic and obtainable. Start small. Success at the beginning can fuel further success. A small goal could be something such as, “I'm going to connect with my family by having family meals once a week.” - - Positive perspective provides hope and helps us to keep moving forward. Try to reframe one or two things from your day with a positive approach. You can also make a choice to be positive for the day. It may not actually happen all the time but keep making this choice; it may become habit. - - Social connections help to reduce stress, increase your sense of well-being and positive experiences. Reach out to a friend, catch up with former colleagues, or join a sports league. - Seek Help Early Mental health resources can be used to manage and improve everyday life, and they don’t always involve a therapist or treatments. Seeking care early can help address mental health challenges before they worsen and prevent a crisis. These resources include: - Chaplains, peer-to-peer counseling, substance misuse programs goes to Military OneSource, and many other non-clinical and clinical programs are available across the Military Health System. The Mental Health Hub on health.mil has a complete list of resources for immediate assistance or to make appointments. - Military OneSource goes to Military OneSource is a 24/7 gateway to trusted information for service members and their families that provides resources and confidential help. Call 800-342-9667. Military OneSource also has a searchable database of local morale, welfare, and recreation resources goes to Military OneSource. - - The Real Warriors Campaign is a public health effort to decrease stigma attached to mental health, increase psychological health literacy, and open doors to get care for service members, veterans, and their families. The campaign was expanded in 2023 with a collaboration between the DHA’s Psychological Health Center of Excellence and the Department of Defense Suicide Prevention Office goes to DSPO. The campaign also provides free mental health resources including online articles, print materials, and videos. - Optimize - Practice mindfulness daily. By trying to stay in the moment, you may improve your ability to pay attention and concentrate and help reduce the accumulation of stress hormones in your body. - - Keep a journal. By expressing your thoughts and creativity (think doodling) on paper or a computer may help you organize and process potential negative experiences and create mental distance from harmful or intrusive thoughts and actions. - - Set aside a time each day to journal about what you are feeling and hope to achieve. Writing it all down and then physically putting the day’s entry aside can help you to push the negative thoughts away. - Be aware of your thoughts and practice alternatives to negative thinking, which includes repetitive thinking about things you have no control over, jumping to conclusions, and discounting positive experiences. #James Donaldson notes:Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticleFind out more about the work I do on my 501c3 non-profit foundationwebsite www.yourgiftoflife.org Order your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,#CelebratingYourGiftofLife: From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com Link for 40 Habits Signupbit.ly/40HabitsofMentalHealth If you'd like to follow and receive my daily blog in to your inbox, just click on it with Follow It. Here's the link https://follow.it/james-donaldson-s-standing-above-the-crowd-s-blog-a-view-from-above-on-things-that-make-the-world-go-round?action=followPub - Practice gratitude and identify the positive aspects to be found in a negative situation, such as it being the opportunity to learn more about yourself, learn something new, or help someone else. - - Find daily meaning and value in yourself and what you do. Identify high-value and long-term goals and hopes you can strive toward, which gives you a sense of the larger world. This process alone may enhance your cognitive performance, overall happiness, and improve your physical health. - - Engage in activities or hobbies that are positive. These can reward you daily and keep you engaged in your environment in a way that potentially changes how you feel. Naturally rewarding activities such as giving back to the community, being physically active, or connecting with others can help to combat stress and improve your mood. - Read the full article