#if skz isn’t my top artist next year i’m fighting

[luvskai]

every year i dread getting my spotify wrapped bc i obsessively listen to one artist in the beginning half of the year and then my music taste does a complete 180 but the second half of the year isn’t as intense as the first so i inevitable end up with a shitshow that is not representative of me in the least

[pastelracha]

Cardigan

☾ Title : Cardigan

☾ Pairing: Seo Changbin x reader (ft. mentions of Skz)

☾ Genre: fluff, established relationship, suggestive, tattooartist!au Changbin & tattooartis! au reader. 

☾ Prompt: Changbin being the cutest boyfriend in the history loving you in that grey cardigan.

☾ A/N: Changbin isn’t my ‘’official’’ bias but this man is torturing me, and I love him so much. I had this idea for a while in my head so here it is.. don’t forget to give me your feed back guys xox

☾ Word Count: 0.875K

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Changbin always loved your long and fluffy grey cardigan, he never said it but he was obsessed with it on you, whenever you wore it, with pjs, one of his shirt, or with classy clothes but he loved it the most when you only had lingerie underneath it. 

It was oversized, so when the cardigan was off your shoulder he could easily see your tattoos and skin, the skin he craved to touch, to kiss, to love. 

That is why winter became his favorite time of the year, when you walked in your home with nothing but this cloth and one of his shirt underneath the grey cotton. He loved the way it touched his arms whenever he was hugging you, the way it held your smell, it almost became like a comforter to him. 

The smell, of vanilla, rose, violet and patchouli made him feel at ease. The candles you bought him were never enough for him he needed your smell to be okay. 

He loved coming back to you, finding you wearing it with your glasses and a cup of coffee in the kitchen, most of the time asking himself how he did actually had the chance to have you by his side. 

“Hello darling’’ he said after kissing your neck as a hello, you hummed putting your head against his chest. “What you doing ?’’ 

His hands massaging your shoulders, he smiled seeing you wearing that grey cardigan, only covering your arms, letting your tattoos showing. 

Working on a piece due to next week, you ran your finger on the dragon on his sleeve, the same one you tattooed on him before your love story began. 

He softly kiss the head of the dragon he gave you in return, the design taking place on your upper back and he head falling on the nape of your neck, with flowers, and some other small details. “I should give you retouch for this one babe’’ he said kissing the ink on your skin. 

“Bin, we are both busy, too busy.’’ You responded, sighing cause his lips on your skin felt like heaven. 

Your tattoo parlor being one of the hottest place in Seoul, you both didn’t have time to give each other, even if Felix, Hyunjin and Chan helped you with appointments, Jisung and Minho being the resident piercers, and  Jeongin and Seungmin working at the front taking appointments. RACHA Parlor was a family, your family. 

“You know I love this cardigan, but it look even better on the floor love’’ 

You chuckled closing your drawing book, to finally look at the love of your life, Seo Changbin. 

He smirked at you, looking at the black lacy bra adoring your breast and going so well with the cardigan. The man was head over heels for you, ever since he met you a few years back. 

He let his lips running on your left collarbone, only to hear you whimper under his touch, his hands on your waist and your head throw back. Changbin was a pleaser, you before him, always. 

You black nails, find their place in his dark hair, tugging it and still mumbling his name. 

One of his hand tracing yours curves until it touch the lace on your right boob, feeling the little silver call closure ring on your nipple. “I still can not believe Jisung was ok to pierce your nipple .. that’s so hot girl’’  

You laughed taking his chin between your fingers, “Bin your girlfriend is a bad ass’’ 

He nodded, looking at you eyes full of stars. “I mean walking in the house with nothing but lacy underwear and a cardigan is pretty sexy yeah, you should do that more often babe, a real pleasure for my eyes.’’ 

“And i can’t believe I let you tattoo my ass cheek, but here we are mister’’ he laughed remembering the small ink that says ‘ S P E A R B’ on your left cheek, his idea but a funny idea for a tattoo artist.

“People needs to know you belong to me’’ was his only answer. “To think you didn’t even let me make love to you while it was healing .. a crime’’ 

To be real the healing of this one, was the most uncomfortable thing, sitting hurt and was itchy as hell. 

“So tonight, we’ll drink a few beer, and I will make love to you all night like a madman’’ he whispered in you ear, giving you goosebumps all over your skin. “I’ll kiss every one of your tattoos, suck on that really cute piercing you have here’’ he said pointing your breast, “slap your pretty little ass on my mark over and over and you baby girl will keep that cardigan of yours, while I burry myself into you’’ 

“And if I want to top tonight Changbin ?’’ You asked looking at his dark orbs, showing your flirty side to him. “Oh baby girl, you might ride, but I’m in control of your pleasure’’ he responded before crashing his lips on yours tracing the soft skin with his tongue, a messy kiss, tongues fighting for dominance and his hands running on your body, getting rid of you bra. 

Making sure you kept that cardigan of yours on your body that night. 

[iwriteaboutkpopsometimes]

Hyunjin "Play With Fire (Feat. Yacht Money)" (원곡 : Sam Tinnesz) | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]     ~A Love Letter~

I talk about why I love this video so much and deliver an excruciatingly detailed play by play of it, but why read a two thousand word, five page essay on a three minute video when you can just go watch the aforementioned three minute video? Forget me spending hours writing this, why are you here, seriously, it would take you significantly less time to watch the actual video. Regardless, enjoy my attempt to refrain from saying the same three things, “he's so cool”, “I love him”, and “this is so good”, in exchange for a  more, hopefully, academically professional sound.

Watching him perform never fails to put me in a trance, it’s incredibly captivating how precise and sharp while simultaneously lively and energy-filled his movements are. This video feels reminiscent of enjoying a movie I’ve seen countless times, memorized every line of dialogue from, and genuinely think of every part as the best it has to offer. I greatly missed seeing him dance and having this as his grand welcome back into the spotlight is nothing less of a gift. Every second leaves my heart pounding and as excited as the last, as he continuously tops himself the longer I watch. I feel that revisiting the video is the least I can do, for giving it only one view doesn’t feel morally acceptable if I intend to truly appreciate it for that art that it is. Dramatic of me? Perhaps, but I can’t help but perceive it as more than just this one video that was uploaded onto their YouTube channel. It isn’t just about all of the work he and others put into the making of this particular video, his choreography for the song was a result of years upon years of practice and learning different techniques. A performance this good doesn’t only involve technical skill though, but also skill in regards to one’s inner mind. To have confidence in one’s self, to hit every move powerfully, to know what you’re doing and be unapologetic about it, that is skill. Sure, the performer is at the focus of any performance, but don’t forget that it’s also about the audience, it is after all for the enjoyment of the viewer. If the audience senses your doubt and insecurity and uncertainty, it will make your stage that much less enjoyable. Whatever you feel, they can feel too. When I watch him, I don’t feel any of that. In fact, I feel the exact opposite, I feel inspired, motivated, confident, excited to advance in my own endeavors. The emotion that this video evokes from me goes beyond anything Stray Kids or K-Pop or even dance itself, it makes me want to be a better person, be kinder to myself and work harder. That might sound like a lot for one video to do for someone, but it’s the truth. All of the details, even down to the individual frames, it all works together to create the most gratifying viewing experience. At the time of writing this, the video has just hit five million views and has over one million likes, only a mere three days after its initial upload.

The first shot of his footsteps alone,  as he goes to stand in front of the mirror, I already feel this sense of importance coming from him, delicate, yet powerful. The setting, cold and empty, yet inviting, it makes room for him and gives him just enough light to be seen, for he doesn’t need all that much help to surely shine. The credits that pop up use a dark shade of pink-red for it’s background color and white text that acknowledges the same deep red imagery and text associated with the material of the original work. His outfit is neat and pristine with some sparkle, resembling one a prince would seem fit. He stares at his reflection, holding a sheer white ribbon in his mouth, gathers a section of hair behind his head and proceeds to tie it with said ribbon. The music starts as he finishes tying and lets his arms fall down at his sides. The over the shoulder shot looking into the mirror, shows that his expression is neutral, almost calm. This can most certainly be described as “the calm before the storm”, except the storm itself is antonymous to a tragedy, because when the singing starts, it’s as if his performance persona was turned on by a switch, a charismatic possession that took place in a matter of seconds that sends chills down your spine in the best way. His previously neutral, calm-like expression and gently resting arms are quickly replaced by the sudden placement of his right hand around his neck and a look that resembles more of  a vengeful, hesitant, and somehow playful one. Similar to what I’d imagine a villain would look like right before being bested during an epic fight sequence at the climax of a film. It’s satisfying to see him popping to the beat’s rhythm, his arms, wrists, and head smoothly illustrating the flow of the words, his focus and the secure angles he’s able to form before even fully utilizing his lower body. On the line “Got secrets I can’t tell”, he delicately places his pointer finger in between his teeth, as he turns back to meet the camera with his eyes, the shot now semi-closely focusing on both Hyunjin and his reflection as opposed to just one or the other. He extends his right arm, his hand forming a fist, and the camera movement making it as if I’ve been punched and sent flying. He stumbles to the middle of the room, does an opening gesture with his arms, like a proud baker showing off their completed wedding cake, along with a dramatic spin incorporating his thin, white, flowy cape. Reaching the pre-chorus, we get to see the room more clearly, like the stone pillars and the contrast of the small, warm lights on the walls to the grand grayness radiating from the large window that makes him appear as a near silhouette. There’s a certain holiness about him spending a count with his head down and arms out, much like the Crucifixion of Christ, before showcasing more of a demonic energy when he faces the window with his body, but bends backward and looks to the camera upside down. He rips off the cape, tosses it behind him, to his right. This could symbolize a transformation, an abandonment of a particularly purer image of oneself, a liberation. The music picks up, and the manner in which he dances is like a visual representation of one’s inner turmoil combined with an agenda to seduce those watching, wanting to dance for himself while taking us along for the ride. Now that the first minute of the video is out of the way, let’s continue.

The music fades into the background and the video takes on a sudden widescreen and grayscale appearance as he falls back on his right hand, flings his left hand over to his right shoulder, as though he’s been shot, and is being supported by his knees. He leans forward, places his right hand on the ground in front of him, uses his left hand to push his right knee over to achieve ideal balance, setting up his body roll. He extends his right leg back, getting close to the ground, and there’s something quite feral, yet intimate about the way he traces the length of his arm with his face and left hand. It looks like he’s taking out his frustrations through his moves while never sacrificing the detailed quality of the performance as a whole. It reminds me of how it’s more than common for artists to use their pain in their art, whether it be a point of well-intentioned expression with a specific purpose or simply an outlet for them to channel into. Hyunjin is the definition of aggressive elegance. The fullscreen, colorful display and music entirely return when he spins and lands on the ground in a Spider- Man esc pose, the room a lot warmer than even before the stylistic grayscale section. There’s hints of red, acting as a match that’s set to illuminate and ignite the puddle of gasoline that is him and his performance, that replaces the once colder, icy blue that previously enveloped his silhouette. He bounces to the beat showing off his proud, devilish smile that, instead of striking fear, makes me feel proud, as I’m essentially rooting for the villain in the movie. If the transition to the grayscale widescreen was him getting shot, then the transition back to fullscreen color is him emerging from his grave, an awakening. His shirt is no longer neatly tucked into his pants, but rather, hanging very loosely and mostly unbuttoned. He covers his face with his left hand, pulling it down for just a second before revealing his expression that has swiftly reverted to a roughly indifferent one. The inner conflict has greatly subsided, and focuses on the hesitant-free embracing of his newly discovered self, one of immense confidence and sex-appeal. Although, something about the flow of how he averts his gaze, looking to the left and not the lense, while pointing and doing body rolls at the camera, covers his eyes with crossed arms, and then allows for his hair to cover his eyes as well, makes me feel like he doesn’t want the viewer to know he is still at least a little bit shy. He quickly makes you forget though, because the next and final minute exaggerates everything he’s shown us up until this point, taking it to a whole new, spectacular level.

The bridge of the song creates a slower, softer atmosphere, which is beautifully interpreted with how Hyunjin carries himself during this part. Bigger gestures that blend into each other seamlessly, centering on really taking up the space he’s in. He gently and precisely lowers his body to the floor, collecting a white rose between his teeth. As soon as he returns to his upright stature, the setting changes dramatically. His hair now completely down, he’s under a spotlight in an otherwise pitch black and foggy room. There’s blue and red light reflecting off of his white top and his skin as he dances. This part feels more humane compared to the rest, with more of an obvious balance between sharp, impactful moves and tender, compassionate ones. He draws attention to his shoulders, brings his hands and feet close to his body, and showcases his red lit back. I particularly enjoy when he flicks his wrists and twists his ankles to the right in unison on the second syllable of “unstoppable”. For the “legendary animal” part of that line, his arms create a cage-like structure by doing a climbing motion and carrying it over all the way to the left. A cage in which he destroys the walls and breaks out of, shown by him punching downward on beat. From holding the rose in his mouth to holding it in his hand, he brings it over his head to his left shoulder, and raises his heels. He carries the rose down and around his left arm, his left arm momentarily resting at his waist, his right arm extended downward, he raises his heels again. His whole body lowers as a rigid wave starts at his up flicked wrists and subsequently elbows and shoulders. This collection of gestures results in petals falling off of the rose. He then inevitably throws it into the void, out of the reach of the lovely spotlight. I see this spotlight dance as a danse macabre, or dance of death. The white ribbon, white shirt, and white rose all coming together to illustrate this innocent and pure quality to him, that through this dance, he finalizes the renouncement of. He is more than ready to embrace a new and different side of him, but especially to get rid of the older and repetitive side that felt restrictive more than anything. The spotlight dance ends with Hyunjin looking directly into the camera, tracing his right hand down his chest and to his side, and the camera backing away. The last chorus of the song brings us back to the oh so familiar main room, Hyunjin’s hair back to being tied up, the lighting is the same, but there’s something that stands out. His shirt is on the verge of being completely unbuttoned and that allows for something alluringly shiny to be fully in view compared to before. The video comes full circle with Hyunjin’s hand around his neck, he stands in the hallway, and walks away a new man as the screen fades to black. 

As I wrap up this essay on Hyunjin’s “Play With Fire (Feat. Yacht Money)”, original song by Sam Tinnesz, Stray Kids: SKZ-PLAYER, the video has reached six million views, a million more than when I first started writing this, and I feel proud to have spent a day simply pouring my heart and mind out on this wordy display of my appreciation. Don’t be fooled though, for my necessary research, I guess you could call it, for this project may no longer be so necessary, I shall continue to watch and applaud the masterpiece and experience that is this video for my own personal enjoyment, much like how this whole piece was written for my own personal enjoyment. It was an interesting challenge to properly voice not only the contents of the video but also my thoughts and feelings on it. Hyunjin is a highly valued dancer, member of Stray Kids, and person and five pages isn’t ever going to be enough to fully explain the respect and admiration I feel for him and his various projects. I think he’s really cool, I experience all sorts of fiery euphoria watching him dance, his rap and singing alike are addictive as hell, and he’s pretty, haha. I missed him a lot while he was inactive, and I’m so happy to have him back and doing great things as per usual. I’m excited to see what he and the rest of the group have left to show us this year. I advise you to watch the video if you haven’t, but somehow ended up reading an essay on it first, and if you’ve already seen it, watch it again, yeah. I’ll leave you with lovely thoughts and lovely vibes and I hope you too can appreciate the work he’s put into the video, as well as my work on this essay. Thank you for taking the time to read my love letter, essentially, and bye for now ^ ^