#it doesn’t solve my dancing fears per se

[roguestarsailor]

I really want to try dancing but the fears I have with that is that I hate looking at myself in the mirror because I’m so disproportional and my body just doesn’t look like a dancers body (ok yes skinny body!! But also smaller boobs) and two following steps is hard for me to do. It’s always at the end of the class where you dance the choreography and it’s like look what you did! type thing and I hate it! I cannot memorize these steps within the one hour and a half we have! I’ll look like an absolute FOOOL. Then there’s the jumps. My boobs are literally so heavy so that type of movement just never works for me even if I have my high impact bra on.

[nbrook29]

Ahhh, I love your writing!

67- “It’s you, it’s always been you.”

Only if you want, thks :)

Hello anon :) Thank you, you're very sweet 😚

Here it goes, I hope it doesn't suck, my writing vibes have been off 😢:

67. It's you, it's always been you.

* * *

“Man, this thing sucks. I was promised hot chicks from the dance school and I can’t see even one, what the fuck.”

Robbe turns his eyes to Moyo, shooting him a half-hearted apologetic smile, his thoughts far away from his friends bickering next to him as they cross the gate to the carnival. It’s getting late, the sky had turned dark before they even left their houses and the place greets them with an onslaught of neons from every corner, cheesy song playing in the background, and Robbe can’t help but hear a particular deep voice commenting on the music being shit in his head.

He sighs, trying to chase the thought away and not go there again, plastering a fake-cheeriness on his face as he suggests they all get a beer and find a table somewhere. It takes 15 minutes of standing in a line to finally get the drinks and in the end, they have to resort to sitting on the grass because the place is packed. It looks like every single kid from their school is here tonight along with half of the city, to be exact, and Robbe snorts to himself when he thinks back to the broers’ plans this morning, talking about finally making a move on the dance girls. Good luck trying to find them.

They’re in the middle of arguing about which attraction they should go check out first when Robbe’s phone pings with a message.

Noor: ROBBE

Noor: !!!!!!!!!!!!

Robbe: Wha???

Noor: LILY HAS BEEN FLIRTING WITH ME THE WHOLE EVENING

Noor: AND WE KISSED

Robbe: Whoa you go girl! 💪🏻💜

Robbe: Told you she's into you 😎😎😎

Noor: 🙄 whatever

Noor: I'M SO HAPPY 💖💖💖

Robbe: Haha I can see that, you only use black hearts, she must be special 😜

Noor: 🖕🏻

Noor: She isssss ❤

Robbe: I'm so happy for you ❤

Noor: 🖤🖤🖤

Noor: Is your lover boy at the carnival? 😏

Robbe: I don't have a lover boy 🙄

Robbe: And no he's not

Noor: Aww 😕

Robbe: It doesn't matter anyway

Robbe: It's better this way

Noor: For fuck's sake Robbe I'mma spank you into submission one day if you don't stop with this bullshit

Robbe: Kinky

Noor: I'm serious 🤨

Noor: Please please please promise me if you see him tonight you'll talk to him???

Robbe: Can't you just let it go??

Noor: Hell will freeze over before I'll let this go

Noor: Consider yourself warned

Robbe: Why are you so pressed about this jesus

Noor: Because I want you to be as happy as me!

Robbe: What do you want me to do exactly? I can't make him like me Noor

Robbe: It's done okay?

Robbe: I got my answer I told u

Robbe: I'm serious let it go

Noor: Baby 🥺

Robbe: I'm gonna be okay

Robbe: Go now

Robbe: I'm Lily's getting jealous over your texting 😉

Noor: Ugh okay

Noor: Ttyl

Noor: I love you 🖤

Robbe: 🖤

Under the chat with Noor there’s another message that makes him feel a pang in his heart.

Sander: Are you okay?

He scrubs his face and starts working on that fake smile again when Aaron shouts, “Ferris Wheel! Please you guys, I’ve always wanted to go on a ride!”

Moyo and Jens make some protesting sounds, claiming it’s boring as fuck if you don’t go with somebody to make out with up there. Robbe’s about to join the conversation when he sees a flicker of white hair somewhere in the crowd, and his heart starts beating faster despite him trying to stay indifferent, but when he blinks, it’s gone. He curses under his breath for being such a lovesick fool.

“Robbe? Go with me? Please?”

Robbe widens his eyes at Aaron’s pleading face, and shakes his head with an uncomfortable laughter. “No way, dude, I’m not a fan of this kind of stuff.”

“It’s not even that high! And it’s super safe, look!” Aaron waves vaguely at the Ferris Wheel, his eyes getting bigger and bigger with each “please”.

“Why do you even care so much?”

“Because I wanna try it out before I take Amber there, duuh!”

Robbe glances at the wheel with reluctance in his eyes, weighing his options before finally huffing a long-suffering “okay” at Aaron because he’s a pushover. It sucks, but he made his peace with that.

They leave Moyo and Jens chilling on the grass and go stand in the surprisingly short line to the wheel, Aaron’s practically bouncing on his feet when he’s telling Robbe about his plans to take Amber to the carnival tomorrow. Robbe indulges him and holds back any comments that he has at the tip of his tongue about the girl as they slowly move towards the front of the line, finally reaching the fence and paying for the admission.

Once they’re seated and reality hits in, Robbe can feel a weird feeling slowly encompassing his body and he realizes this is a bad idea. He hates highs. What the fuck is he doing on a Ferris Wheel?!

It seems like a similar thought is crossing Aaron’s mind because the boy is ghost white as he suddenly stands up and starts getting out of the cart.

“Fuck, man, I don’t think I can do this, it’s fucking scary, I’m sorry!”

And then he leaves, leaving Robbe gapping after him in shock. Before he can react and get out himself, the cart shakes with additional weight dropping on it, and when Robbe turns his head back to see what is going on, he’s met with an unsure smile, gracing the most beautiful face he’s ever seen.

“Do you mind if I take his spot?”

Robbe keeps staring as Sander pushes the railing down, making himself comfortable before looking at him expectantly.

“Yeah, um, sure,” he squeaks out, super aware of how close they’re sitting, his already racing heart now threatening to fall out of his chest. Sander shoots him a grateful smile and runs a hand through his hair and messes it up, almost making Robbe whimper with how good he looks.

Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck fuck. He needs to pull himself together.

The wheel starts moving and for a second Robbe forgets all about who’s sitting next to him, gripping the railing tightly and taking deep breaths, at the same time trying to remain cool and unaffected.

“You didn’t answer my text.”

Sander’s words break the cloud of fear that is currently fogging Robbe’s brain and he peeks at him, noticing how he bites on his bottom lip, looking almost shy. His eyes carry some vulnerability in them that doesn’t fit the image of Sander Robbe has in his head - always cool and composed, witty, flirty, edgy artist who makes girls and boys swoon after him.

He swallows and tries to figure out an excuse. “I’m sorry, I read it, but I was super busy and I completely forgot.” He cringes as soon as the words are out when he sees a glimpse of hurt passing Sander’s features. Great, now he sounds like an asshole.

“Oh, it’s okay, don’t worry,” Sander replies, pretending to be unaffected. “Do you, um, do you wanna hang out tomorrow maybe? To make up for last Thursday?” His voice sounds full of hope and Robbe hates himself for having to shoot him down again, but he needs to take care of his own heart first.

“Sander, I-, look, I don’t think this is a good idea.”

There it is. The smile slowly but surely slipping off Sander’s face and hurting Robbe in the process. But this is the right thing to do. He knows that.

They’re almost at the top when Sander speaks again. “Can you tell me why?” He asks softly.

Robbe fights with himself whether this is the right place to come clean, but he can’t let him think there’s something wrong with him.

So he takes a deep breath and squeezes out, “Because I like you more than just a friend and I can’t pretend I’m not.”

Before Sander can answer, he beats him up to it. “And I know now that you have Younes, I saw you guys, it’s okay, I understand, he’s great, I’m happy for you guys, really, I-”

The wheel comes to a sudden stop, making the cart shake ominously, and Robbe’s heart lodges itself in his throat as he realizes the horrible truth: they’re stuck. At the top. So so high up.

He’s gonna be sick.

He starts breathing quickly, verging on hyperventilating when he feels Sander’s hands on his cheeks, and he registers his soothing voice telling him to calm down and that it’s going to be okay.

“Are you scared of heights?”

Robbe nods shakily, blushing beet red at the situation, feeling embarrassed at his state. When he manages to open his eyes, he’s met with a set of green looking back at him, worried and compassionate.

“Breathe with me, okay?” Sander takes one deep exaggerated breath to encourage him to do the same, and Robbe tries his hardest to follow him. There are voices coming from the ground telling them they need to stay calm and that they’re gonna be down in no time, as the technicians are already working on solving the issue.

But Robbe doesn’t fully register them, too focused on how close Sander is sitting now, their thighs pressed together, how he can smell his aftershave and see his moles clearer than ever before.

There’s a voice in the back of his head telling him to stop enjoying this because Sander has a boyfriend and this is wrong, but then Sander rests his forehead against his, shortcutting any thoughts whatsoever.

“I don’t know what you saw, but Younes is my best friend. We’re not together, Robbe.”

“But, you were all touchy and,” he swallows. “I saw you kissing. In the movies.”

A small frown appears on Sander’s forehead. “We’re comfortable with each other, sure, but there has never been any kissing. Younes is straight. And taken, by the way.”

And, okay, weird. Could he really misjudge the situation so badly? Sure, he didn’t see them kissing per se, but they were leaning towards each other? Sort of? He thinks?

Fuuuuuck.

“Oh wow, I think, um, I misinterpreted some stuff,” he admits, embarrassed, eyes downcast as he feels Sander nodding against his forehead with a tiny smile.

“Quite a lot of stuff, actually. Like, for example, that I like you like a friend.”

“That’s a lot of like in one sentence,” Robbe blurts off like an idiot, making Sander let out that adorable snort of his that pulls a quiet chuckle out of Robbe too.

“Well, there’s a lot of liking involved when it comes to my feelings for you,” he says, eyes shining with sincerity, and he glances the tip of his nose against Robbe’s, the gesture liquifying his insides.

“There’s a lot of liking involved when it comes to my feelings for you as well,” he whispers back, too shy for his own liking, but Sander just has that effect on him. It doesn’t matter though because suddenly the boy’s lips stretch in a beaming smile that’s so radiant it almost makes the night look brighter.

They’re staring at each other with similar expressions, sharing air as their foreheads remain glued together, and then Sander closes the distance between them, capturing Robbe’s lips in a soft kiss that makes his sigh, hands letting go of the railing and traveling on their own accord to Sander’s jaw. His head is spinning for a totally different reason now, and when he feels the tip of Sander’s tongue grazing his bottom lip he opens his mouth right away, going pliant under his touch.

He can’t quite believe what’s happening, how just half an hour ago he was feeling sorry for himself, thinking Sander is officially off limits, and now he can feel the boy’s secure hold on his waist and taste the sugary sweet cotton candy on his tongue.

“Hey, you’re breathing normally now,” Sander notes happily, his lips red and glistening as he breaks the kiss.

He looks even more gorgeous now and Robbe can’t help himself as he runs his thumb across his plump bottom lip and scores a tiny kiss there too, pulling a blush out of him.

“So, does that mean you will go out with me now?” Sander flutters his eyelashes at him, a pout on his lips as he puts his hands together in a “please” sign, and he looks so cute that Robbe can’t do more but nod, giggling when Sander hisses a satisfied yes! under his breath.

“Hey, no laughing, I’ve been waiting for this moment since the first time I saw you,” Sander tsks at him, eyes narrowed in seriousness that would look legit if his smile was any smaller.

“You have?”

“Yeah. I was like, how the fuck am I supposed to convince the most beautiful boy on the planet to go on a date with me?”

Robbe bites his lip bashfully, aware of the heat spreading on his neck under Sander’s words.

“I was sure you didn’t like me like that, you know,” he reaches to entangle their fingers, patting himself on the back for winning with his nervousness.

Sander squeezes his hand. "And I thought you were into somebody else, made me so sad."

"What? Fuck no, it's you, it's always been you," he rushes to reassure him, blushing again at his eagerness, but it earns him another kiss, this one just when the cart lurches forward as the Wheel comes alive again.

It painfully reminds him of where they are, but before he can fully freak out Sander brings him closer to his chest, acting like a man on a mission and not stopping with his mindblowing kisses until their cart safely reaches the ground.

"We made it," he murmurs, placing the last lingering kiss against Robbe's lips and the boy thanks him for being his knight in a shining armor.

"Hey, Sander?"

"Yes?"

"Just promise me our date won't take place at the fair. I won't survive another ride."

[victoodles]

I Have no Sweetheart but You (Arthur Morgan x F! Reader)

I’m back on my yeehaw bullshit baybee! Find on AO3!

Escapes don’t come often for Arthur - the weight of others’ expectations fall heavy on his already bad shoulders. Though he bears these burdens (as always) with a slight gruff and a spur of his horse as he goes wherever he is needed or told. On occasion it’s both.

But when he finds himself with a moment of time to call his own, he uses the luxury of choice to spend it with you. There aren’t enough hours in the day he can give to you, but he tries his best despite that shortcoming.

Patience is a virtue, and you are the human embodiment of that sentiment. You never complain, even when he is gone for weeks at a time. His basis for comparison isn’t vast, but he considers himself lucky whenever he catches an earful of the caterwauling Molly directs at Dutch most evenings.

When you hear the rhythm of his horse trotting into camp you are there to greet him with a warm smile, like clockwork. Your embrace bridges the gap between you, making him feel like he was never really gone at all. Arthur doesn’t consider himself eloquent like all those fancy romance novelists, but he thinks you feel like home.    

It comes as a surprise when Arthur asks if you would be so kind as to accompany him to the Saint Denis. Your answer is yes, of course, but you hadn’t expected him to make such an offer of his own volition. Usually when he talks about the aforementioned city (to which he considers to be the bane of civilization) his choice of vocabulary is quite...colorful.

You tease him, asking what this stranger has done with the real Arthur Morgan, and he gifts you a hearty laugh. You’ve softened his rough edges; your jests are not taken to heart and he is not crippled with self-doubt. He appreciates this carefree atmosphere you provide, it gives him room to rediscover himself after years of molding who he was to fit certain schemas.  

Tit for tat - he promises he won’t tell a certain Mr. Morgan of this illicit encounter; he saw you from across the way and was instantly captivated by your beauty. His heart took over any sense of rationality - he had to have you. He reminds you of the highbrow men you grew up around in the very city he detests, the only difference here is that he’s being genuine. That, and he’s a wanted outlaw. But you choose not to busy yourself with that minuscule detail.

You cast your hand over your chest dramatically, feigning offense. “Why, you beast! What kind of woman do you take me for?” Despite abandoning the life of a high-society woman almost a decade ago, the mannerisms are not forgotten. Arthur isn’t the only one trying to grow from past projections.

Arthur smiles sheepishly, dropping the act, and apologizing for offending his dear lady. He offers you his hand which you gladly take, finding a secure place around his arm. “Just wanted to treat ya to somethin’ nice is all,” he admits as he leads you to his Thoroughbred at the precipice of camp.

He knows you would never concede with the notion, but with all this time away he feels as if he’s been neglecting you. After years of watching John act a fool, dancing around the responsibilities of being a husband and father, he fears he might be looking in a mirror sometimes. What he wouldn’t give so you could have some sense of normalcy in an otherwise hectic life. You always gently remind him normal is rather drab, and his anxieties are temporarily assuaged for the time being.

Calloused hands take ahold of your waist as Arthur effortlessly lifts you onto the back of his horse. The action is unnecessary, he’s aware, but he relishes touching you whenever he can. You know this all too well, and gladly accept his assistance. And they say chivalry is dead.

Arthur finds his place behind you, urging the mare away from quiet campgrounds and towards the hustle and bustle of Saint Denis. He’ll put aside his disdain - you deserve time away from the dirt and debauchery despite your insistence to the contrary.

The ride is peaceful, dusk begins to grace the sky with brush strokes of pink and orange. Clouds nomadically drift along the horizon as Arthur passes the time with languid kisses to your cheeks and the side of your neck. With privacy comes his unrestricted affection. His stubble’s tickle is a more than welcome feeling against your skin.

Smog-riddled skylines of Saint Denis remind you both of your quickly approaching your destination; factory smokestacks paint the picture of civilization’s impending “progression” - much to Arthur’s chagrin. Dirt paths transition into cobblestone-riddled pathways; the steady clop of his horse’s hooves distract him from these unseemly surroundings.

He’s out of his element, he knows this, but he can survive an evening amongst the real wolves. Men in tailored suits with overly coiffed hair claiming to be peddling this and that, all in a pathetic attempt to further their life by ruining another's.

Do your worst - he’s never faced a problem that couldn’t be solved with a bullet from his Cattleman.

In front of him, you look around in a way he could only describe as nostalgic. Despite the foul memories, he can’t take away the fact that this was your home. Arthur wonders when was the last time you freely wandered these streets.

Mentally kicking himself, he doesn’t think he ever bothered to ask. His line of work focuses primarily on the day-to-day and very rarely on the when, where, and why. You understand this.

He recognizes that you don’t miss the lifestyle - a girl raised to become a rich man’s parlor piece. But maybe there’s something here, amongst the glitz and glamour, that a piece of you yearns to be a part of again.

It happened with Mary, who’s to say history won’t spare him from its vicious cycle of repetition.

He briefly entertains the thought, but it’s properly discarded and replaced with the sensation of your hand on his. You squeeze it gently, silently affirming you’re happy to be here - with him.

Joys of civilization be damned.

The sign for La Bastille Saloon is alight for the evening, bulbs twinkling faintly as they prepare to rival the stars above. Arthur hitches his horse before holding his hand out to you for the second time that day. You regard his choice of dining with a tilt of your head and a smirk. A jest of some sort most likely dancing on your tongue already.

“La Bastille? Monsieur Morgan, très bonne!”

Arthur looks at you, befuddled. “T-tray bone?”  He could be well spoken when he wanted to be, but Arthur wasn’t very cultured per se. You had to give him credit for trying though, the poor dear. A light peck on his lips will suffice. He certainly appreciates it.

“It’s French,” you explain, which does nothing to alleviate his confusion.

“I’ll take your word for it princess,” he chuckles dryly as he lowers you from the saddle.

“Merci,” you continue to tease, playfully sticking your tongue out at him. He guffaws at your impishness as you head for the saloon- tit for tat.

La Bastille exudes old-money sophistication. A place of luxury meant only for those born into the lifestyle. Posh men and women bid you both bonjour as Arthur leads you inside by the small of your back. He pays them no mind - this is a foreign game and he has no interest in learning the rules.  

The setting sun against the stained-glass windows casts an array of dulled colors against the polished wooden floor. It’s a pretty sight - Arthur momentarily feels at peace.

Obnoxious chatter about local politics and the burdens of the wealthy reminds him of where he is. While it can be nice to see how the other half live, it quickly becomes grating. He needs a drink.

In standard Arthur fashion, he pulls out your chair and you settle into a small table with a streetside view. You lean back against the plush velvet, smiling to yourself as Arthur walks briskly to the bar for a well-needed whiskey.

It’s a wonder he manages to catch the eye of the barkeep at all. There’s some washed-up socialite squawking in his ear about the city’s imminent regression into an uncivilized ruin. An attitude Arthur can agree with, though he wishes it would happen sooner rather than later.

Arthur finally gets his opportunity to order, and promptly returns to your side with a flute of champagne in hand. Your eyes light up, thanking him sweetly as you take the glass. He grins, agitation washed away as he sits down across from you. With your company always comes a sense of relief; the crosses he bears feel lighter.

He extends his glass towards your own and your smile only widens. You lean forward, elbow perched on the table with your chin in your palm. “What would you like to toast to, Mr. Morgan?” You ask him coyly, idly swirling your drink around. Again he responds with genuine, albeit rare, laughter.

“How about,” he pauses to mull over his words. There’s a list of things he’d like to celebrate, to verbally reaffirm he’s grateful for. Living to see another sunrise, the gang and their health. But ultimately he decides to go with-

“Us.” It’s the one that feels right.

You’re beaming at this point as you raise your glass.

“To us.”

The two of you officially start the evening with a harmonious clink.

***

“A-and I told the purty lady tha’ Micah, the s-slithery snake, had said some ‘ungentlemanly’ things bout’ her.” Arthur emphasizes aforementioned things with air quotes. He takes a generous swing of his whiskey and proceeds with his drunken tale. You’re hanging onto his every word.

“She practically had STEAM coming out er’ ears when she got to the bastard. Slapped him s-SO hard, Micah blacked out! Went down like a sack o’ b-bricks!” Arthur exclaims. You squeak in surprise before taking a less than dainty sip of your fifth helping of champagne. You’ve lost count for your cowboy.

Arthur looks side to side, checking if the coast was clear. “Now don’t go tellin’ nobody darlin’ but,” he hunches over the table and whispers, “I lied to that gal. I jus’ wanted to see her mess Micah up somethin’ fierce.” You put a hand over your mouth to contain the onslaught of giggles that wrack your chest.

“Arthur! Tu es un coquin,” you chide playfully. He responds to your “scolding” with a chuckle of his own - you had taught him some French over dinner. He had to admit he found the language rather beautiful. Or maybe it was you speaking it that he found to be beautiful. He quickly concludes it was the latter.

A lively tinkle of piano keys suddenly catches Arthur’s ear. The pianist plays a jaunty tune with a gusto that has him tapping his foot in tandem. He never thought much of those fancy records Dutch played, but there was an undeniable wonder that live music encapsulated. “Well would ya listen to that darlin’,” he says with an impressed whistle. You’re clapping along softly as well, delighted with Arthur’s childlike fascination.

“I used to play you know,” you say with a swell of pride. While almost nothing in your youth was learned voluntarily, you are grateful for your musical prowess.

The sillies come back full swing when Arthur’s eyes widen and his mouth gapes in awe. “You used to tickle the ivories?!”

“I dabbled,” you shrugged nonchalantly, biting your lip to refrain from grinning madly. “Piano and violin.” Arthur looks at you like you’re otherworldly. Your cheeks are heating up from the intensity of his gaze.

“Darlin’ you,” Arthur is  rendered speechless for a beat, “you are incredible.” His sincerity is palpable, it practically sweetens the last drops of your champagne. Your blush spreads when his hand finds yours, softly tracing your knuckles with his thumb.

You tuck a loose strand of hair behind your ear shyly. The more delicate sides to Arthur’s nature are reserved for you (and occasionally Jack). But regardless of your exposure, you still feel the fluttering of your heart like that of a lovesick schoolgirl. “Arthur,” you say his name so melodically each time, he can hardly believe it belongs to him.

He interrupts you (unintentionally) when he notices you’ve both topped off your drinks. “Oh! It looks like we’ve run dry,” he pushes himself up and gathers up both of your glasses. “I’ll go fetch us some more.” You reach for his arm, hoping he’ll let you pay for this round. He’s old fashioned, in a good-hearted way, and simply won’t hear it.

“Now you just stay here and keep our seats warm, princess,” he says with a quick kiss to your cheek. Arthur swaggers away before you could try to get smart with him. You opt to blow a raspberry at him instead.

You turn to the streets outside your window. Evening had cascaded into night, the end to yet another day. Shop owners had closed up and were hurrying home to their wives, beggars to their respective allies. Everyone seemed to have a routine, a place to be. You were born here, yes, traversing these streets countless times as a girl. Yet now you felt like nothing more than a ghost - a mere drifter.

How passing strange.

“Goooood evenin’ ladies and gentlemen!” Arthur’s booming voice pulls you from your thoughts. You whip your head around to find him standing atop the saloon’s grand ebony piano. His quest for drinks apparently abandoned, as evident by the two empty glasses left on the stairs. You’re no match for the giggles this time around.

The bar is eerily silent. Everyone directs their attention at Arthur, expressions ranging from horrified to absolute bewilderment. The ex-starlette nested by the bar actually looks amused for the first time all night. An unsure pianist holds a crisp dollar bill from Arthur as he awaits further instructions.

“I wanna sing a ditty for that,” he points to you, “pretty lil’ peach o’er there!” All the women look to you, wanting to satiate their morbid curiosity and practically shaking from secondhand embarrassment. How would a lady respond to such an inebriated act of buffoonery?!

You’re certainly no caliber of lady they’ve ever seen.

Much to their surprise, you’re positively radiant during Arthur’s pleasantly uncharacteristic address. He very much was the type to speak softly and carry a big stick. But with the help of some liquid courage, he’s publicly showcasing his devotion like the fool in love he is. It’s a good look for him. Arthur smiles from ear to ear, blowing you a kiss. He turns back to the pianist and nods, being counted in by a few gentle chords.

“I have no sweetheart but you, dear. You are the one that I love.”  

You audibly gasp at his choice of lovers’ ballad, a sensual tune that had many a young girl dreaming wistfully about romance. While Arthur’s rough, low slurring isn’t what the composer had in mind, the allure isn’t lacking. A few of the previously judgmental women (though they would never admit it) seemed to turn envious at the attention you were receiving. Some unlucky husbands were definitely in for it tonight.

You pay the pettiness no mind, you’re too focused on your own personal performer.

“Close to my heart I would hold you, there where the roses once grew. While in the silence I told you, that I had no sweetheart but you!”  

Arthur feels strangely lighter, unburdened by his role in the gang - in the world even. Pinkertons, Cornwall, Dutch, it all fades away. There’s just you and him - a man and a woman in love. Simplicity has never sounded so divine.

“Say that you always will love me. For I have no sweetheart but you.”  

You’re already cheering before Arthur can bring his song to a close. It encourages a handful of others to also applaud, paired with some catcalling from a certain regular near the bar. Arthur has never been fond of being the center of attention, but right now you swear he’s thriving in the spotlight.

He’s reveling in it, until he isn’t.  

Arthur is swaying atop the piano, his balance leaving him as all that alcohol finally takes its toll. He’s an imposing fellow, but the cruel mistress called whiskey can knock any man down. Literally.

The pianist pushes away from the piano, fearing not just for his nerves but now his physical well-being should this cowboy collapse on him.

To Arthur’s credit, he doesn’t.

“Thank yew and g’night, Saint Denis,” he says woozily just before he falls to the floor with a hard thud. You yelp in shock as you shoot up from the table, knocking your chair over in the process. Saloon patrons don’t know who to watch at this point. Arthur, flat on his back mumbling dreamily to himself. Or you politely shoving your way through a throng of people to reach him. They soon decide to return to their own evenings, having been involuntary participants in your own for long enough.

You take a quick detour to clumsily toss a few coins the bartender’s way. At this point, a bed for the night is not a choice but the only option. Arthur decides he must be the luckiest man alive as he sees not one, but two of you heading his way.

[onestowatch]

Boy Willows Drops Dreamy Music Video for "Fila" [Q&A]

Boy Willows, aka Landon Fleischman, makes music that offers a deep amalgamation of incandescent alt-pop, jubilant jazz, and psychedelic-tinged folk. Impeccably paired with sensory lyricism and passionate vocals, he delivers a hypnotic and singular resonance.

The LA-via-Maryland artist recently shared his new single "Fila" with Dylan Minnette of Wallows. On "Fila," Boy Willows stretches out to embrace relatable themes of vulnerability and healing both inwardly and outwardly without feeling overbearingly serious. "Fila" serves as a therapy session between two friends as they cope with being alone in different ways. Nestled in a warm and gentle soundscape, the sonic components are woven with nostalgia, charm, and a bit of whimsy. We caught up with Willows for a quick Q&A about the track and the equally nostalgic and whimsical music video directed by Boy Willows, shot by Seannie Bryan (Madeline Kenney, Skullcrusher) and edited by Jordan Pories.

Ones to Watch: This song, although short and sweet, seems to have a lot of complexity to it. It sounds like throughout the single, the main characters are grappling with feelings of loneliness and figuring out how to cope. What is this song about to you, and how did this song come to be?

Boy Willows: I think both verses deal with the thoughts that bubble up when you feel useless, small, or alone, but what I love about the song is there's a twinge of hope. My goal with Fila was to spur myself into believing that I could create my own reality of acceptance and momentum. I had been feeling isolated a while before the pandemic hit - on the perimeter looking in on other people's social circles or relationships or success. My hope was that by acknowledging these truths in a song, I could start to take up my own space, make my own club of acceptance per se.

What was the creative process like for the single? What made you want to go for this very ethereal sound, and were you inspired by anything in particular?

I worked on this super grand, minute-long glitchy harmony thing and pitched it down an octave (oooo). It was so soothing and slow and big, I started producing around it, and I felt like I was in a dream where I could say anything I wanted, no matter how heavy or light.

What are your thoughts on girls that wear Fila?

Haha, in short, they're cool. This song is truly a peek into all the thoughts that were swirling around my brain, making me feel alone - and one of those thoughts was about aging. I wish this wasn't the truth, but I was feeling fear about getting older. I wrote that line about Filas and didn't think much of it or even really understand why I wrote it until a couple nights ago. It's definitely a light-hearted observation about youth culture, but I think I wanted to poke fun at it cuz I felt like I wasn't a part of it for the first time - and that frightened me. It's insane that even that line was born out of the fear of being left out, but I'm pretty sure that's the true true.

I loved not only the sonic atmosphere you created, but also the story of you told through the lyrics. Do you have a favorite verse from this track or one that speaks to you? What is your approach when it comes to songwriting?

I just love how much the endings of each verse stick out - "I just feel like I don't deserve this life." It's a line you could interpret so many different ways, and each way would be true. When I'm working on a song, it starts with the music. I picture where it takes me, how fast I'm moving, if I feel cool or angry or defeated, and if I'm lucky, a phrase will fall out of my mouth that feels true, even if it doesn't make sense at first.

I think the music video does a great job of visualizing the lightheartedness of "Fila." What was the creative process like, and what was it like working with your team on the video?

There's this fucking incredible animated video called Satiemania from 1978 made by this Croatian animator, Zdenko Gašparović. In it, there's a delectable section where it's just different shoes walking in an impossibly groovy way. I wanted that tone of animation mixed with the camaraderie and fuckit-energy of The Pharcyde's "Drop" music video. I brought those ideas to my genius creative friend/ shaman, Jordan Pories, and we got to work, exploring the world of the song, trying to amplify and showcase everything in a dreamy, slow way. Seannie Bryan is a recent friend of mine and a killer DP. She captured the dreamy light perfectly. We rolled up to the spot at 6am. It was 90 degrees, and we knocked it out in an hour and a half, only stopping once because I was going to throw up from spinning.

Dylan Minette's voice perfectly compliments the laid back yet introspective vibe of the song, and it looked like y'all had a lot of fun doing the music video. What was working with him like, and how did he get involved with this single?

He and I go way back. We used to be in rival boy scout gangs. No, I do lighting for Wallows, and we met through that. One day on the tour bus, I was showing him some new tunes, one of which was "Fila." It was 35 seconds, and he said it needed to be longer, so I said, "hop on in." He added his verse, and we were OFF TO THE RACES. He's got a really strong creative compass and just knows what he likes. We finished the song in a couple days - fucking painless, dare I say, very enjoyable bordering on a lot of fun.

Tell me about Desert Mike. I feel like although rattlesnakes do deserve some love and I agree that the war between them and human beings is senseless, I'm not exactly in a rush to give them a pat on the head...Ok, but for real, tell me about this clip at the end. Is it an easter egg for a future single? In your last single, "i love it when you talk," you intercut the clips of you with film footage from the 80s and 90s. Is Desert Mike a Boy Willows creation or a relic from the past?

SHEESH, am I paying you?? because if not, then I SHOULD. The Boy Willows canon is a long, meandering labyrinth of characters that doesn't conform to traditional standards of "time" or "being funny" or "good. Desert Mike exists in all Boy Willows worlds, though, this much I can say. In the ILIWYT video, Desert Mike easily could have made a feature, and now I want to know who you've been talking to...your ability to connect the dots is...suspicious.

Has the pandemic effected you or inspired you as an artist? If so, how?

Really hot take comin at ya, I think the pandemic is not good. Bad even! I lost my job, so financially, I've been very inspired to survive haha. This isn't the sexiest answer, but the truth for me is, I put everything into my music but am also looking for a job - sometimes balancing those two things is really fucking hard. Instead of feeling inspired to write about my difficulties, I just want to solve them. So I'm really looking forward to landing a part-time gig as a call representative for Spirit Airlines, so I can get back to making my music.

Once the world comes to a state of a new normal, what's the first thing you want to do?

I'd love to travel somewhere new with my friends. A friend of mine is living in New Zealand working on an alpaca farm. You bet your ass I'm flying there at the first chance.

Alternate fun idea: Get a table at a restaurant, deep in the back, as far inside as possible. Order one appetizer every 30 minutes and stay there for a minimum of nine hours, just being so loungey and just snacking hard, mozzarella sticks flying every which way, napping in marinara sauce.

When shows and concerts are back, who do you want to see, and who do you want to tour or play with?

When touring comes back, I would LOVE to tour with Jadu Heart, Far Caspian, Sure Sure, to name a few. I just want to crowd surf for a month straight honestly. Give a ton of sweaty hugs. I want to see Toro y Moi, Thumpasaurus, Squirrel Flower.

Who have you been listening to throughout the pandemic? Are there any Ones To Watch?

A lot of Tribe Called Quest for long drives. I'll put "Check The Rhime" on repeat. I just discovered this dude named Shuttle his song "Boy" is fucking groooovy. I'm an OG KT Tunstall stan too - I've been bumping her 2013 album "Invisible Empire" like a mad man. Kevin Morby for the campy vibes, Rufus for the stank, Lomelda for the love, Van Morrison because if I get married, my first dance will be to "Crazy Love," and I like to daydream about that when I drive. Last but most important, The Prince of Egypt soundtrack.

Oh also, I've been listening to a lot of Anna Burch, Far Caspian, Bea1991, a compilation of geese wearing hats, Mei, Shuttle and this new artist you HAVE to listen to - he's a little out there but give him a try, Drake.

[chinatea]

Tattoo/Baby G, Ian/Baby G (endgame), interactive ABO au.

(I’ve kept all world-building notes intact, as well.)

No one aside from the immediate family knows that Baby G has a 10 year old alpha son he gave birth to at the tender age of sixteen. 

--- Who is the daddy? --- (Tattoo)

~~~

And Baby G likes to keep it that way.

It’s not something he’s proud of anyway. Not the baby part, per se, but the stupid sixteen year old part in him that thought he could toy around with the Jeons’ very own menace - Junghwan, the second brother, better known as Tattoo - and escape unscathed.

They’d warned him about it - some scents just mix better than others. Some scents can give you a whiplash, less so with the dominant types, of course. And that was probably the only part of the talk that lodged itself deep inside Baby G’s teenage brain.

Dominant omegas are immune to the cravings of the body.

(They are not.)

The way Junghwan looked at him - the devouring alpha gaze - left him tingling in all the right ways and dripping slick. It wasn’t long before Baby G found himself sprawled down inside the alpha’s car, Junghwan ramming into him with the insatiable ferocity only dominant alphas are capable of.

Little by little, Baby G’s mind was gone, the need to mate taking over his senses completely, if only Junghwan was faring any better. Still, the man was lucid enough to not sink his teeth into the omega’s neck, sealing a bond.

(As Baby G begged him to.)

That night was only the first in the many more to follow - they’d been dallying for a few months before Baby found out he was utterly and irrevocably pregnant.

(Without a freaking heat.)

--- Does Baby G tell Tattoo about the baby? --- (Yes)

~~~

By then, abortion was out of the question.  

Four months into his pregnancy, he still naively believed he was just getting fat - from all the snickerdoodles he’d been munching on at night. How did he not know he was pregnant?

(Stupid, stupid, stupid.)

Right, he didn’t know because omegas are not supposed to get knocked up outside of a heat - the chances for male omegas are just minuscule. Unless you’re screwing a Jeon, of course, who are notorious for getting people pregnant just by sneezing at them.

Right.

Junghwan.

Baby G decided to not be a drama queen about it and tell him - still infinitely better than fessing up to his family. The shit storm that would follow. He was supposed to be the smart one - to lead their clan into the glorious future dominated by omegas - not get stupid pregnant with Junghwan’s baby, the alpha who’d probably plowed through half of the city’s omega population before he even turned sixteen.

It was not like they were ever exclusive. Just horny. Plenty horny.

(Even thinking about how horny they were made him horny. Stupid pregnant hormones.)

Next time he saw Junghwan, Baby G fucked him before he told him. Who knew how the alpha would react - would he bolt or would he bolt? Baby G was well on his way to becoming a parent now, he needed to put his needs first - and his needs as of late mostly cycled through sweet cravings and dick cravings, keeling over a bit toward the dick.

(Oh god, he hoped Junghwan wouldn’t bolt. He needed his dick so much right now.)

--- What Tattoo’s reaction is going to be? --- (Accept the child.)

(AN: Also, I imagine that as much BG doesn’t want kids, out of all JMs, he’d have the easiest pregnancy and next to no nasty symptoms like nausea, etc.)

~~~

“You know… I haven’t been seeing anyone else since we started doing it.”

Junghwan was tracing his hand over Baby G’s stomach, still a mini bump, easily mistaken for a layer of extra pudge. As if Baby G would ever allow such a thing to happen, right.

“Is that a confession, Mr. Jeon?”

Baby G purred, still high on the endorphins from his orgasm - they made love again after Baby G told him the news, after Junghwan embraced him and told him it was going to be okay.

“Maybe.”

The alpha kissed him, full of emotion. Of need. And Baby G’s heart fluttered in return. Gosh, they were going to have a baby. The thought scared him as much it enthused him.

“Have you told anyone else?"

Baby G shook his head. "I guess I’ll have to, eventually.”

He shuddered thinking of the Park elder with his deeper than life eyes that always reminded him of big glossy blackberries. At least, blackberries were sweet. There was nothing sweet about the Park elder being miffed at him.

The house arrest could be the least of his problems.

“Or we could leave,” Junghwan said. It didn’t sound like a question. More like a plan of action.

“You’re actually serious, aren’t you?” Baby G lifted himself off Junghwan’s chest to search his eyes for any signs of jesting. “Are you crazy? Leave to where? Last time I checked we were minors with no means to support ourselves, let alone a baby.“

Junghwan smiled at his little tantrum, reaching over to tuck a loose strand of hair behind Baby G`s ear, looking absolutely smitten while doing so, too.

"I know my family, sweetness. Once they sniff out the truth, they’ll descend like vultures on your clan. I might be a pariah, but the alpha pup is still a Jeon. They’ll do anything to take him away.”

“Why are you so sure it’s going to be an alpha?”

Junghwan let out a breathy chortle.

“Have you ever looked at our family tree? Jeons sire nothing else.”

Baby G pouted, resting his head back on the alpha`s chest and snuggling close.

“The baby is a Park. I don’t care what your family has to say.”

“Or it could be just ours, yours and mine. I have friends who’ll help us tide over the rough times. I’ll be there for you every step of the way. I promise. Just…” Junghwan leaned to press a chaste kiss against his temple. “Think about it, okay?”

--- Does Baby G run away with Tattoo? --- (Yes.)

~~~

Living on the run with the alpha he loves is a whirlpool.

At first, he was apprehensive of the whole thing, second-guessing himself million times per day. And every time he was about to call it quits and turn around, Junghwan would hold him through it, scenting him and giving him the courage to stay.

Day by day, those thoughts vanished like morning dew in the sun. He felt free and daring and adventurous.

He found himself enjoying their new on-the-road lifestyle, his life back at the Parks mansion nothing but stifling and dull in comparison. Hunkered down over books, always studying, studying, studying. Then, sneaking out to party the night away.

(He was not sure he could go back to partying without Junghwan now, even if he wasn’t pregnant.)

Here, they had their van Junghwan rented from a friend. He and his friends seemed pretty tight, like a family. Baby G had never been close with his friends like that. They leaned on each other. They cared. They took Baby G in without question, because they loved Junghwan and by extension they loved Baby G, too.

At first glance, everything seemed to pan out nicely for them.

Every morning Baby G would wake up in his alpha’s arms with no schedule for the day. He could do absolutely everything he wanted. And he mostly did nothing, aside from being pregnant, of course. That’s something. And that something had grown so big and round Baby G found himself toddling around rather than walking. Even the most mundane things started to seem like a challenge.

Little by little, the magic dust in his eyes, of novelty and wonder, started to wear off. And unwittingly, he clung to Junghwan for comfort.

“I want your mark,” he said, panting a little after their lovemaking. He laid on his side, spent and blissful, cradling his protruding stomach.

Junghwan’s arm covered his as he nuzzled up his neck, inhaling his scent with a satisfied groan.

“Are you sure, sweetness?”

--- Does Tattoo mark Baby G? --- (Yes.)

~~~

Baby G examined himself in the mirror, hands worrying the skin around his mark, healed off by now. It’s been only a month since they’d mated, but it might as well have been a lifetime ago.

In that lifetime, Baby G naively believed that mating his lover would be an answer to all of his insecurities, solving all of his problems for him.

He knew better now.

He loved Junghwan, more than anything, but even love was not enough to distract him from the bitter reality. He missed his family, his brothers and friends at school, even his private dance teacher who would be a crotchety little hag about every misstep he took.

He missed the comforts of life he had taken for granted. The confidence he felt, having the strength of all his clan backing him up. He never was alone. And here, miles away from civilization, in this tribal community created by the people who broke away from the society, he was his most loneliest and scared self.

They didn’t even have proper doctors here, only a self-taught midwife to help him through the delivery.

(What if he was going to die while giving birth? Bleed out in excruciating pain with no one around to help him. And that would be it - the end of his life. A stupid life of a stupid omega murdered by his own offspring.)

Thoughts like that kept him up at night, paralyzing him with fear. He deserved better than that - he was the eldest fucking Park, the dominant omega and the king of his destiny, not this little scared thing clinging to his mate for protection.

(He wanted to go home.)

Baby G pulled the throw blanket tighter around his shoulders - the nights had been getting so much colder now with the winter almost at their doorstep. With a tired sigh, he tottered back to his mate snuggled under the old musty duvet on their bed that smelled like fresh pines.

(More than anything he hated being poor. Surviving off the community’s hand-outs.)

“I love you, baby,“ he whispered, curling into his mate - a tiny sob spilling into the dark. “But I hate this.“

--- Do they break up on good or bad terms? --- (Bad terms.)

(AN: Marks are not permanent in this world and can wear off in time if the other mate is not physically present to “refresh” it, like if they died or are estranged.)

(Old marks also can be overpowered by a new fresher mark from a different person of the same or more dominant status.)

~~~

Baby G was nodding off on the bench in an empty bus stop, hugging his stomach, when two cars pulled over.

The door of the first car opened as a man stepped out, dressed in black from head to toe. Even if Baby G had never seen him in person before, there was no mistaking it - it was Ian Jeon, the eldest sibling. The resemblance with Junghwan so striking, it stirred something bitter in Baby G as the memories of past days resurfaced in his mind.

He thought that Junghwan would understand - swallow his stupid pride and come back with him, the two of them starting a family with their clans at their sides and everything that their alliance would have to offer.

Apparently, he was wrong. Apparently, Tattoo would rather waste his life and his potential with those hippie junkies back in the mountains - the ones he called his…chosen…family - than be with his mate and his child. Baby G had never been more devastated in his life - the feeling burned like a harsh slap on the cheek. It was all just a stupid little escape all along and now he was the only one bearing the consequences.

He didn’t even know if his clan would accept him back now.

It was Junghwan who contacted Ian and asked him to take Baby G back to his family - reportedly, they talked for hours on the phone, more growls and shouting than actual talking. One last courtesy before a more than chilly farewell. Chilly on Baby G’s part as he straight up snubbed his mate for several days before the community leader drove him to the closest town where Ian were to pick him up.

The leader, the middle-aged omega with crinkles around his eyes, dropped him by the bus stop, gave him a warm loaf of sweet bread and pat on the shoulder before taking off.

Luckily for Baby G, it was too cold to cry, so he didn’t.

“Are you alright?“ Ian shrugged his coat off, draping it around Baby G’s small shivering form. “Do you need medical attention?“

His voice was softer than Junghwan’s, but in a controlled way. One definitely didn’t want to see this man shout.

Baby G gave a small wobbly shake of his chin. His eyes stung in the wind. He wanted to cry.

--- Does Baby G break down in tears in front of Ian? --- (Yes.)

(The ages here are as follows: Baby G - 16, Tattoo - 17, Ian - 22, Seagull - 13, Diminie - 10, Christian - 14.)

~~~

Baby G knew he should hold his tears in. Appearing weak and pitiful in front of a stranger was the last thing he wanted. It was the faint echo of Ian’s scent that did it - the underlying chocolate-y tinge to it that all Jeon brothers must have shared. It reached deep within him and pulled at his heartstrings - he needed his mate by his side.  

He didn’t even occurred to him that he was crying until his vision got blurry, tears spilling down his cheeks.

Ian, caught off-guard, muttered a curse under his breath as he scrambled to put his arms around Baby G, all awkward, like he was holding a ticking bomb ready to go off any second.

Somehow it made Baby G even more upset - he was bawling now, soaking Ian’s expensive-looking shirt with his tears as he threw all caution to the wind and burrowed into his embrace, the warm scent of an alpha, like one burrowed under the bed sheets after a long exhausting day.

“Let’s get you into the car, pup,” Ian said after Baby G quietened down a little. “It’s too cold out here.”

Ian kept his hold around Baby G, helping him into the backseat of his car, mindful of his condition, and shutting the door close.

The warmth inside felt like bliss and for a long moment, Baby G just sat there, listless, eyes drooped closed and nose buried into the collar of Ian’s coat.

“There is food in the bags next to you, if you’re hungry,” Ian said as he slid into the front seat, starting the engine. His eyes watched Baby G in the rear view mirror. “Mostly deli. All organic, of course. I didn’t know what you like, so there is a bit of everything.”

Baby G poked around the two take-away bags filled to the brims, settling on a simple green pasta salad. He hadn’t had a pasta salad in a million years, it felt like. The food back in the community wasn’t bad, per se, the people there were mindful of what they ate, but it lacked variety, for sure, especially in winter. Baby G would die a happy person if he didn’t have to eat mashed potatoes ever again.

“Are you taking any medication?” Ian asked as Baby G dug into his salad with more enthusiasm than he intended to show.

“Not really.”

“Not even vitamins? Prenatal supplements?”

Baby G gave a vague shrug, getting uncomfortable with all this questioning.

“Let me get this clear,” Ian continued in that controlled tone of his that seemed to belie growing annoyance. “Am I right in understanding that your pregnancy has been going completely unsupervised by a medical professional ever since you…left with my brother?”

“We had a midwife,“ Baby G murmured weakly, “back there.”

If only the silence that followed could just smother him and put him out of his misery.

Baby G could acutely hear the screechy drag of the leather gloves across the wheel as Ian’s hands tightened around it. Uh-oh.

“I see,” Ian said finally. “You’re very fortunate omega, Park Jiyeon.”

Baby G begged to differ, but he kept it to himself, humming around a forkful of his salad.

“It’s a long way home,” Ian said, then. “So I’d rather we make an overnight stop at one of the motels and have you examined by our family doctor - she came with me in the other car. If that’s alright with you, of course.”

The doctor kept it short and cursory, not much she could do out here without the proper equipment.

“You seem to be in perfect health, but you should see your doctor as soon as possible for further testing,” she announced, a polite smile on her thin lips that just didn’t sit well with Baby G. It could be her alpha scent, too. Having a strange alpha all up in his space made him want to ruffle up and cradle his stomach protectively.

(He didn’t feel the same with Ian, probably because of how similar his and Junghwan’s scents were. It confused his inner omega, a lot.)

He heaved a deep sigh of relief, snuggling on top of the bed covers, as she bid him goodnight and finally left his room, probably to report to Ian about his condition.

The alpha seemed so invested in him, barely a stranger, it was sweet, especially in his heartbroken, vulnerable state. Even if he probably did it because of the pup, not Baby G himself, it still felt nice.

Soon, a knock rapped on the door, snapping him out of his musings.

“I’ve just heard from Dr. Lee,” Ian said, choosing to remain in the doorway. “I’m glad to hear that you’re fine. If you’d like, she could give you a reference to the best hospital in Seoul, but you probably should discuss it with your family first. Let me know if-”

“Ian?” Baby G interrupted him softly. “Are you going to try and take my baby away?”

Ian didn’t say anything for a while, silently studying him from his spot at the door. Baby G absently wondered if he made the alpha angry, catching onto his plan like that.

“Is that what he told you?”

“Are you?”

“We can discuss the custody issue later between our clans,” Ian said. “You should focus on things that are more important right now, like getting good rest before a long drive tomorrow.”

Baby G let out a sad tiny sniffle, shoulders trembling.

“How can I get a good rest when you’re going to take my baby away?”

“No one is going to take your baby, Jiyeon. I promise.”

Baby G barely moved his lips as he whispered,

“Okay.”

He closed his eyes, comforted by the other’s presence in the room. Like this, he could almost imagine that it was Junghwan here, in this bare-bones motel room, ready to get into bed with him, kiss the tender place around his mark and hold him through the night.

“Good night, Jiyeon. I’ll be in the next room, if you need me.“

(But Junghwan always called him ‘’sweetness’, never Jiyeon.)

Panic thrummed through his being at the thought of braving this night in a strange place all alone.

--- Does Baby G ask Ian to stay in the room with him? --- (Yes.)

~~~

Baby G woke up, as he most often did, to the baby moving inside of him.

It was a peaceful baby, overall, happy to stay still throughout the day, except for early mornings when, sadly, Baby G felt his sleepiest - he was not at all a morning person.

With a big tired yawn, he started carefully and slowly lifting himself up, running gentle circles over his belly, lest he feel dizzy. He blinked owlishly as his gaze landed on the alpha napping in the armchair by his bed.

He really did stay throughout the night, huh.

Now, with a clear head, Baby G regretted his silly act last night. He was stronger than that. A big boy with a baby on the way. And now, because of his silliness, Ian would have to drive with a kink in his neck or a stiff back or something like that.

“Ian?” Baby G approached him, touching over the shoulder lightly.

The alpha woke up with a jerk, hand flying to grasp at Baby G’s as a reflex.

“Oh,” he gasped, apologizingly, voice shot from sleep. “I am sorry. Is it time yet?”

“No,” Baby G said. “It’s only 4 in the morning. You should go back to your room, sleep on the bed. I’ll be fine now.”

Ian regarded him for a moment before acquiescing with a curt nod.

“If that’s what you want,” he said as he made his way to the door, leaving Baby G thoroughly flummoxed at his cryptic reply.

(What?)

The ride to his family house seemed endless, with no means of entertainment aside from staring out of the window at the bleak winter scenery.

He tried to engage Ian in a small talk, but it felt stumped and ended in an akward silence. Baby G didn’t blame him. He wouldn’t know what to talk about with an angsty pregnant teenager either.

It was almost a relief to see the familiar sights of their estate. Not for long, though, as anxiety started grinding at his nerves all over again. He sat there frozen, nails digging into his thighs until Ian`s voice snapped him out of it.

“Jiyeon. I’m going to come with you, okay? It’s going to be alright.”

Before Baby G could reply, he saw his father appear at the porch - Park Jiyoon - a silk shawl wrapped around his delicate form. His father was nothing but delicate, pernickety and a huge crybaby even after having three children, and as much as Baby G used to be ashamed of him because of it, there was no one else in this world he missed more than him.

He jostled the door handle open, scrambling out of the car to waddle towards his father, meeting him halfway and falling into his arms.

“My little angel,“ Jiyoon crooned, kissing and nuzzling his messy, wind-swept hair. “My sweet baby. God, I thought I`d never see you again. Never get to hold you in my arms. Jiyeonie, let me look at you, sweetheart.”

Before he could utter a single word, Baby G found himself being turned this way and that as Jiyoon fussed over him, jabbering on and on.

“Baby, you`re so huge already. It was such a shock - you running off with that…no offence, Mr. Jeon, but that`s just…Oh my god, baby, what are you even wearing?”

Jiyoon gasped, clutching at his heart, at last zeroing in on Baby G`s more than modest garb. Back at the community, people believed in function over fashion, but Baby G kept it to himself lest his father faint at the blasphemy.

“Tomorrow, my child, we`re going shopping,” the Park`s patriarch delivered with a firm nod.

“Not now, papa, please,” Baby G said sheepishly, very aware of Ian watching his father squawking like a silly chicken over him.

Ian coughed politely to garner their attention.

“Patriarch Park,” he bowed in greeting.

“Indeed, Mr. Jeon, indeed,” Jiyoon tutted, tucking Baby G back under his arm, slipping into a full-blown protective papa-mode. “I hope you`re fully aware that we Parks consider this an unforgivable affront to our family and our dignity. Prepare for serious repercussions because we won`t just let this matter go until you pay in full for what your outcast did to our baby.”

“Papa, don`t,” Baby whined, tugging at his shawl in frustration.  

“I wouldn`t expect anything less,” Ian said, his expression unreadable. “Before any of that, however, I would like to speak to Elder Park, if he would see me today.”

--- Does Baby G stay with his father or comes with Ian to meet Elder Park? --- (He comes with Ian.)

(AN: Parks hierarchy: Elder Park (Jiyoon`s omega father) -> Patriarch Park (Baby G`s omega father) -> Baby G (as the eldest sibling). The Parks are not just a single family, they are a big clan made up of many other Park families. Every family has their own Elder and a Patriarch. The same with the Jeons, only instead of omegas running the show, they`ve got alphas at the top.)

~~~

Baby G loved spending time in the drawing room as a child. It was his happy  place. It also was his grandpa’s, Park Jiho, territory as long as he could remember. But he never felt out of sorts here. He never feared his Elder, if anything he had always felt safe, because his grandpa was strong and wise and could protect him from anything.

(Like his father’s larger than life personality. As much as Baby G adored his silly papa, he was too much sometimes, even for him.)

Being back here, with his heart in his mouth, sure made him feel somewhat out of sorts. He couldn’t even look his Elder in the eyes, afraid he’d break into tears again, so he kept his gaze lowered at his knees, palms tucked under his thighs, as they were served tea.

Grandpa loved tea.

If he was too angry with him, they wouldn’t be served tea now, would they? Unless it was because of Ian. Manners over mind, mind over body - Park Jiho’s favorite saying.

“Thank you for taking care of our child and bringing him back home safely,“ Jiho said after taking a sip of his tea.

Unlike Jiyoon, grandpa preffered approaching things in less confrontational fashion. Keeping his composure at all times. Somehow, it made him even more frightening.

“You don’t have to thank me for that,” Ian said.

“Is that so?“ Jiho hummed.

“What Junghwan did is unacceptable, but he’s still part of our clan, whether he wants to admit it or not, and our clan will take full responsibility over the child and your son, if you’d allow that, of course.”

Jiho nodded in consideration.

“And what is it that I’m supposed to allow, hm?”

“I will accept the baby as my own and your son as my mate,” Ian continued. “In the name only, of course. As I understand, he’s already mated to my brother.“

Baby G’s blood ran cold as he gaped at Ian, mouth parting in disbelief.

“The mark could be neutered,” Elder supplied blithely, seemingly oblivious to his grandson’s distraught state. “You’re of the same dominant status as your brother, aren’t you? Overpowering the mark shouldn’t be a problem.”

“I don’t want that,” Ian said steely. “I’m offering a solution, a way for your son to keep his dignity and reputation, because he and the pup deserve better than being spurned for the rest of their lives for taking up with an outcast.”

Baby G bit his lip to keep himself from lashing out in his mate’s defense. Despite everything that happened, it physically pained him to see Junghwan treated like an annoying stain on his family’s impeccable reputation. One that couldn’t be gotten rid of completely and thus, had to be tolerated.

“And what do you have to say about it, my child?” Jiho said.

“I’ll accept any punishment you deem fit,” Baby G said in a voice so quiet he could barely hear himself. It all felt like a bad dream.

“Would you please give us a moment, Mr. Jeon?” Jiho addressed the alpha, watching him as Ian nodded and vacated the room with a small bow.

“Child, I don’t believe in punishments,” he started. “I believe in lessons well learned.” He added then, softer now. “Did you learn your lesson, Jiyeonie?”

“Yes, Elder,” Baby G nodded, feeling his throat clamp up with emotion as a tear rolled down his cheek.

Having his grandpa address him in such a way, with so much love and care, tore at his heart. He didn’t deserve their forgiveness. Back then, he didn’t even spare a thought as to how they would feel having him disappear like that. He was so, so selfish.

“Let your grandpa hug you now, darling,” Jiho called, opening his arms for Baby G to nestle into, his safe place, as he gave way to his tears, freely now, sobbing into his grandpa’s neck with abandon.

“It hurts so much, grandpa,“ Baby G whimpered. “I miss him so much it hurts.”

“I know, love, I know,” Jiho said soothingly, rocking him in his arms. “It’s okay to cry as much as you want. Let the tears heal your broken heart.”

--- What happens next? --- (Baby G accepts Ian’s offer about the baby, but refused to ‘mate’ him.)

(AN: The age of consent in this universe is 14 yo. People can mate at 16 without their clan’s explicit permission. So Baby G 'mating’ Ian at 16 would be totally acceptable by the established norms.)

(The society, in general, is divided into clans. Some clans consist only of omegas (like Parks), some clans consists only of alphas (like Jeons), and some are mix-and-match.)

(When an omega meets an alpha they want to mate and pop babies together, they don’t hitch up and start living together. They continue living with their respective clans, so they kind of live apart together? If the baby is an omega, they stay with their omega parent, like Baby G and his brothers, if it’s an alpha, however, they join their daddy alpha’s clan, sometimes as soon as they’re weaned off.)

(This is why it’s actually expected of Baby G to give up the alpha baby to the Jeons (I mean, the baby is not born yet, but I’m the author, so I know what status it’s going to be, okay). But the problem is that Tattoo is an outcast, so who’s going to be in charge of the baby, tucking them into bed at night, reading picture books about fluffy caterpillars and all that mushy parent stuff? The second best choice is Ian, but he is not Baby G’s mate, so it’s all sorts of sensitive issue here.)

~~~

(AN: Christian = Jiwon. Diminie = Minseo. The alpha baby = Jungmin.)

5 months later

Baby G was busy. A busy omega papa.

His time split between getting into shape after his pregnancy (boy, was he glad to blow that load) and privately studing for his graduation exams he decided to take a year early.

After almost half a year of absence, he had no desire going back to school. Neither he saw the point. He went there to socialize - for gossips and prattle and makeup tips and not much else.

Instead, he started to involve himself more with their family business - luxurious hotels and resorts all over Korea with a few branches opening in Japan this year.

(He was already looking towards all the jet trips overseas to explore the sights, meet their retainers and…shopping. Lots of shopping with his father.)

With all this madness packed into 24 hours, he had little time to bond with his son, usually seeing Jungmin around dinner when one of the nannies brought him downstairs in his crib.

He still remembered the first time he got to cradle him in his arms. Few things could compare to the utter bliss he felt, nuzzling and kissing his baby boy with big dark eyes, a mirror copy of his alpha dad’s.

He even sent a few pictures to Junghwan, although it could be months before the alpha would be able to see them. People in the community didn’t rely on phones or high technologies as much. If Junghwan was even with them by that point - the man was as predictable as rain.

It didn’t matter though. Life went on, with or without him.

“Who is my little angel?” Baby G cooed, rocking Jungmin in his arms as the rest of the family was filling into the room for dinner.

His father took the seat at the head of the table since their Elder rarely joined them, opting for an early dinner out at the glass terrace.

Then, in skipped Minseo, bounding over to Baby G to coo and make giggly faces at Jungmin. The youngest Park had completely taken to his alpha nephew, often playing with him after school.

“He is such a cutie,” he crooned. “Papa, when can I have my own babies?”

“Hopefully, not soon,” Jiyoon said. “Is Jiwon late again? I swear with this boy. Who raised him like this?”

It took another fifteen more minutes and three servants going upstairs to fetch him (and disappearing forever because Jiwon probably ate them) for the second Park sibling to crawl out of his room-cave, nose almost poking his phone`s screen.

(No wonder he was blind as a bat without his glasses.)

“Finally, Jiwonie, come here. Give your papa a kiss. You know what I told you about using phones at the table.”

Jiwon trudged over to half-heatedly smudge his lips over Jiyoon’s cheek before plopping down in his chair with a huff.

“It’s off,” he shrugged, feigning innocence.

“Give it to me,” Jiyoon made a grabby motion. “You can have it afterwards-”

“But-”

“-or maybe in a month? Your choice.”

“Fine, whatever.” Jiwon slumped down in the chair, propping his chin on the table. “How come Jiyeon can have his phone, then?”

“Jiyeon has a baby. I can’t tell him what to do.”

“That’s so fu-”

“Language!”

“Unfair,” Jiwon finished sulkily. “Capitalists,” he mumbled to himself, catching Baby G`s eye and making a face at him.

“Very mature,” Baby G tutted, making a face back at him when no one seemed to be paying attention.

“Pa, Jiyeon made a face at me!”

“No, I didn’t.”

“Kids, kids, hush. Jiyeonie, don’t tease your brother - can someone go and fetch Ian from his room?”

“Isn`t his little brother staying over today?” Baby G asked, dandling Jungmin on his knee to hush down his whimpers.

“They spent all day in Jiwonie’s room, playing games,” Minseo pouted into his plate. “They locked the door so I couldn’t join them.”

“Jiwon, don`t be mean to your brother, please…can someone-”

“We are here, my apologies,” Ian strolled into the room, Jung toddling at his tail before darting to take an empty chair next to Jiwon.

He was a timid one, the Jeons` littlest. Mostly kept to himself, barely spoke to anyone who wasn’t Jiwon (or Ian). Apparently they bonded over video games and manga and weird sci-fi movies, to the unanimous relief of the whole Park clan because god knows Jiwon needed a friend, a real friend, who was not his smartphone.

Even if that new friend of his resembled a little clueless puppy following him around.

Baby G barely touched his own plate as he watched Ian cut his steak into small neat chunks before poking him. He had a baby on his knee. His hands were full.

“Feed me,” he whined cutely.

Ian sighed, resigning to his fate, as he brought a piece of meat into Baby G’s mouth.

“God, can you be more mated without being actually mated?” Jiwon grumbled in the background.

Perhaps, it was moments like these that people doubted the pureness of their friendship. But once Baby G grew to know Ian better, he realized how much of a soft oddball Ian actually was at heart. One just had to look at Ian`s treasured collection of the ugliest warm Christmas socks he had received as gifts throughout the years. That changed Baby G perception of Ian forever - he started to like him.

Not in the way he loved Junghwan, of course, but he looked up to Ian a lot, his brilliant entrepreneurial side that encouraged Baby G to delve into the business matters of his own family, sometimes pummeling Ian with questions during dinner or over the phone about things he didn’t understand well. And if Baby G ever needed advice, Ian would always be the first to pop up in his mind.

(Ian even had been granted his own room in their estate. Even Baby G’s alpha dad didn’t have his own room in their estate - rooming with his father whenever he stayed over.)

After long, meandering negotiations between their clans, it had been decided that Jungmin would stay with the Parks until the age of three before joining the Jeon clan. As much as Baby G hated the idea of parting with his son, he knew that Jungmin needed the presence of other alphas in his life to ground him in his status. On a more positive note, Ian would be there to take care of his son - of their son as the official story went - and for some reason, Baby G trusted Ian with Jungmin more than he trusted himself.

Ian was just so frustratingly capable with Jungmin it made Baby G envious on more occasions than he wanted to admit. Seeing him hold Jungmin in his arms, humming and scenting him gently, rocking him to sleep, made Baby G feel some type of way…

His phone lit up with a new message. Probably from his tutor for grad exams who had a penchant for the worst timing ever.

“Hold him for me, please,” Baby G carefully lowered Jungmin onto Ian’s lap to get back to the message as he swiped it open.

‘He is perfect. Our little baby. / Can we meet? / Please, I miss you so much.’

'My Sweetness.’

--- Does Baby G agree to meet with Tattoo? --- (Yes.)

--- Do we sense some budding SG/C here? --- (Hell yes!)  

~~~

In his mind, Baby G made up this strong and unbothered image of himself that would be able to hold his ground during his reunion with Junghwan.

He didn’t even miss him anymore - he was only there to cut the ties once and for all.

The reality, however, panned out a little differently.

The moment he saw Junghwan, in the doorway of this ratty room of even rattier hotel he booked for them to meet at, his knees went down trembling. And for once, Junghwan was actually wearing a shirt, his dirty blond hair spilling messily onto his forehead.

(Baby G wanted to run his hands through them.)

(He wanted to do more than that.)

A moment later, he was slammed into the wall, Junghwan growling into his neck as he scented his mark aggressively, reclaiming his territory.

(Exactly a year later, Baby G found himself stampeding down the same path - mapped out by carnal desire - that put him through so much misery in the first place. Would he ever learn?)

“Baby-”

“Shut up and fuck me.“

Baby G was done with words. He didn’t want to define it. He didn’t want to explain it - he could do that later, at length. Right now all he wanted was to feel his mate inside him as he pulled the zipper on Junghwan’s jeans, freeing his cock and giving it a few rushed pumps. Luckily, it didn’t take much to get him going - Junghwan was just as cock-wet for him already.

He fucked Baby G against the wall, legs secured around his waist, a flurry of stunted breaths and lips and muffled sounds of pleasure. It felt like something finally unraveled down at Baby G’s core as he came in shudders and choked gasps - despite the exertion, he felt lighter than he had in months.

They stayed connected, Junghwan’s dick lodged deep inside of him, muscles clamping tight around it - Baby G had always been a greedy one, especially for his mate’s cock, a masterpiece of a cock. Or maybe it was just stupid smitten omega in him talking. Either way, he didn’t want to separate, clinging for his dear life as Junghwan brought them both down onto the bed.

“Damn,” the alpha muttered under the breath. “Ready for round two?”

Baby G shut him up with a kiss.

“I can’t believe we fucked in this dumphole,“ Baby G scrunched up his nose at their surroundings, featuring a crooked still life with grapes as the only colorful spot in here. His libido was sated for now, making way for the squeamish in him, as he snuggled against Junghwan. “Couldn’t you choose something better than this?”

“I remember we fucked in worse places, sweets,” Junghwan laughed. “Plus, two solid stars on Yelp and I’ve only seen one cockroach so far.”

“Everything is a fucking joke to you, isn’t it?”

Baby G pinched his nipple in frustration, bursting into breathy giggles a moment later as Junghwan retaliated with a pinch to his ass, suddenly pouncing to clamp his teeth over it, flopping the omega over onto his stomach.

“Okay, okay, not everything, pleeeeease, fuck-” he groaned, melting into the mattress at the tongue prodding at his hole, palms spreading his cheeks for Junghwan’s mouth, hungrily lapping at his slick.

“Could eat you out all day long, sweetness,” Junghwan crooned, puffs of breath warming his gaping hole. “Could eat your out into another fucking century.”

Baby G let out a broken-up sob, as Junghwan hitched his leg up, opening the omega up even further and diving back to suck around his rim, slurping around it noisily.

“Then, fucking do it, pup,” Baby G mewled, raw need penetrating his voice.

(Swallow me whole.)

~~~

Seagull(Jung)/Christian(Jiwon) bonus.

Jung thinks Jiwon is unbearably cute.

He doesn’t know when exactly he developed this unexplainable affliction, because what else could it be?

Jiwon may be an omega, but he’s not like any omega Jung has seen - from afar, of course. Like, Jiwon would brawl - brawl - with him over stuff. And Jung might look weak, but he is not actually weak, being an alpha and all, but he would pretend for Jiwon’s sake, because having him in physical proximity makes Jung’s world wobble off its axis for reasons he doesn’t yet fully understand, but is cottoning on to ever so slowly.

Jiwon’s unbearable cuteness probably has a lot to do with it.

Like, he always wears these glasses, large and thick-rimmed, that never stay put over the bridge of his (cute button) nose, sliding down almost to the tip especially when Jiwon is arduously concentrating on something - like winning a game round against Jung.

Which he subsequently does since Jung was too preoccupied by mapping out the slope of Jiwon`s cute button nose out of the corner of his eye. Priorities, right.

Jiwon frowns as he spots him gawking, a cute little crease wedging between his eyebrows. Even his frowns are cute - Jung is already in too deep.

“What are you staring at?”

“Nothing.”

Jiwon’s eyes bore into him, prodding for any signs of bullshitting.

“I hope you’re not letting me win, asshole, because I’m so gonna punch you if you are.”

(Jiwon, Jung knows, really has a thing against people looking down at him or taking it easy on him because of his status. And honestly, Jung would punch people like that, too - or more realistically, would tell his big brother on them, because Jung would rather avoid physical altercations of any kind, unless it’s a half-hearted brawl with Jiwon, because he’s cute.)

Jiwon hitches his glasses up, puffing out his cheeks cutely. And Jung wants to bite into something - like the back of his hand to not coo in glee, because…cute.

“Do you wanna brawl?” Jung blurts all of a sudden, because his mouth-to-brain filter has started to thin as of late.

“What for?” Jiwon looks at him like he’s a retard.

“Nothing.”

A moment passes.

“Okay.”

So, they brawl over nothing in particular, all the usual huffs and puffs. At some point, Jung gets so overly excited, he forgets that he`s supposed to play weak as he easily overpowers Jiwon, flopping him onto his back and, spurred by an uneffable urge, ducks down to brush his lips over the corner of his mouth.

“What the hell, dude. Gross,” Jiwon yelps, pushing him away and scrambling back in panic.

Jung sits back on his hunches, a bemused look on his face.

“Why is it gross?”

“Because…” Jiwon trails off, flailing his arms instead like it`s supposed to explain everything. “It`s weird, like, what the fuck even. I just…I didn`t…expect that, okay.”

“Okay.”

Jung sighs, the softness of Jiwon’s skin imprinted on his mouth now. He’ll miss it forever.

“Oh c`mon, it`s not like I`m calling you gross, okay,” Jiwon adds in a feeble attempt for comfort. “You`re okay…I guess.”

“And you`re cute, I think,” Jung says, both anxious and happy to get it off his chest.

“Oh.”

When Jung chances a timid look back at Jiwon who has gone really quiet all of a sudden, he is slapped speechless with the sight of a blush clearly showing on the omega’s cheeks.

“Shut up,” Jiwon grumbles.

“But I didn`t even say anything.”

“I know, gosh, just…shut up, okay?”

Next moment, Jung finds himself manhandled into a vulnerable position, Jiwon`s lips slammed against his own. His first real kiss. With the boy he finds cute.

(Has he found his mate? Should he be asking Ian for blessings?)

In the midst of his dreamy musings, he vaguely acknowledges an excited patter of footsteps in the hallway. The door swings open as Minseo skips in, fresh after school, his large colorful backpack rattling up and down behind him.

“Papa told me you were here playing games,” he chirps, oblivious to the state of disarray the two older boys are in.

Jiwon licks over his lips, adjusting his glasses and shooting Jung a look of warning.

Not a word.

Later, when Minseo leaves to have a snack, Jiwon says,

“We should probably start locking the door from now on.”

~~~

It wasn’t the first time Junghwan had to climb the tree outside to get into his room. He did it before, multiple times, when they only had started their…descent into things. He would sneak in at night, often without notice, slinking under the sheets with Baby G, already all nice and tucked in, rousing him up and then, they would fuck, slow and quiet and all sorts of domestic even.

(Good old horny days.)

“Careful now, hold his head and under the bottom,” Baby G instructed as he lowered Jungmin into Junghwan’s arms. “Had to wake him up, you know.”

“Sorry, little guy,” the alpha crooned, taking over his son with ease. “Your daddy just wanted to meet you so much.”

This was definitely not the first baby he held and it irked Baby G somewhat, but he brushed it off. Junghwan was holding their son for the first time and he didn’t want a petty grudge to ruin this moment.

Jungmin peered up at him curiously, all wide-eyed and inquiring, as he sucked on his pacifier. A few whimpers escaped him here and there - the scent of a strange alpha must have alarmed him, but Junghwan managed to hush him with little effort. He seemed to be just as capable as Ian with kids.

“Do you feed him yourself?”

Baby G gave him a look as if to say - are you fucking insane?

“We have a nursing omega nanny for that.”

“Of course, you do,” Junghwan smiled, leaning to kiss the crown of his son’s head. “So your papa doesn’t want to share his pretty little tits with you, huh?”

Baby G swatted at him, scandalized.

“Can you not?”

Junghwan laughed, wiggling his eyebrows lubriciously.

“Can I scent him, though?”

“I don’t think it’s a good idea. Ian usually does that, he’d recognize your scent.”

“Oh,” Junghwan said, the humor from before sipping out of his voice. “Right. Him.”

He didn’t seem angry, Baby G thought, just resigned.

“You know?“

“Yeah. I asked him to.”

Baby G lowered himself next to Junghwan on the bed, trying to make sense of what he just heard.

“What?”

“He never told you, did he? I didn’t just call him then to ask for a drive, I asked him to take care of you, see to it that our clan doesn’t destroy you to get to the baby, and he did agree, but only after I promised him that I’d never try and claim Jungmin as my own.”

“I don’t understand. Why would he do that?”

“You want a simple answer?” Junghwan sighed. “He just doesn’t like me, that much. He truly believes I’m walking the path of self-destruction and, inevitably, I’d ruin my son, too. I’m not saying he’s a bad guy, just too stuck in his views. It’s all from our dad, you know? He’s like a copy of him, only a touch less dastard-y.”

Baby G had the ‘pleasure’ of meeting the Jeon Patriarch during the negotiations. An insipid guy, slippery as an eel, someone who had a neck for getting under people’s skin. If it wasn’t for their wise, not easily intimidated Elder to put him in his place, Baby G didn’t know how it would have all ended.

“He’s nothing like his dad,” Baby G said. “Maybe it’s you who doesn’t know him all that well.”

“And you do?”

“At least, I gave him a chance, Junghwan-ie. At least, he was here, for me and my son, when I needed you the most. And now, you’re going to leave again, aren’t you?”

“I can’t stay here, not while our dad is in charge,” Junghwan said. “He just won’t let me live here peacefully. I bet he already has all the paperwork ready to lock me up in a mental house for life.”

“I won’t let him. I would kick his ass if he tries.”

“I don’t want you get caught up in my family drama. You deserve better than that, sweetness. You and our son deserve the world. And if that means to have Ian holding and scenting him to sleep, I’d accept it.”

Baby G kissed him, chaste and sweet, fingers fluttering over the scar on his cheekbone in a gentle caress.

“I don’t want to accept it. I want to have you in my life, even if it means seeing you only once a month. As long as it’s every month, Junghwan-ie. Don’t leave me for too long, I don’t think I could forgive you the second time.”

“It’s a promise, then.”

--- Do you want the next part focus more on Tattoo or Ian? --- (Ian.)

~~~

(Two years later. Japan.)

Baby G pondered  a delicate necklace in his hand, shaped like a cherry blossom - Jiyoon had probably five of those already, but six was the charm, right?

His father’s birthday was a sneeze away and Baby G was about to lose his mind, trying to come up with a present for the man who had everything and then some. There were times when his half-assed crayon drawings were enough, those times were gone. But knowing Jiyoon, one could never go wrong with pretty jewelry.

He nodded at the store assistant and told him to wrap it up extra pretty.

(His Japanese had improved so much he didn’t require an interpreter anymore during his trips to Japan that had been growing more frequent, the more he involved himself with their rapidly expanding presence here. In the future, he might even settle here for a few years, taking over the foreign branch as he learned the ins and outs of their trade.)

“Want me to pay for it?” a familiar voice rang behind him, making Baby G’s pulse jump start in surprise as he swirled on his heels, taking in the handsome devil himself.

The older Ian got, the more delectable he became, gathering all the eyes on him whenever he went. Even Baby G couldn’t help but admire his physique and smart looks, but more importantly…

“What are you doing here?” he beamed, leaping into Ian’s arms as he hugged him gleefully. “I didn’t even know you were in Japan.”

“Just passing by on my way back from Hong Kong,” Ian smiled, flicking Baby G’s bangs back playfully as he pressed a kiss to his forehead.

“Mmh, does that mean you’ll have lunch with me?” Baby G bit down on his bottom lip, rocking on the balls of his feet.

“And here I thought I was going to have to kidnap you,” Ian said with a warm chuckle. “Is this for your father?”

“Yes, and you don’t have to pay for it.”

“You could always say it’s from us both,” Ian supplied blithely, handing out his credit card to the shop assistant who accepted it with a light flush on her cheeks as she proceeded to fumble over the cash register.

Sometimes Baby G wondered if Ian was aware of the effect he had on people - omegas, mostly.

“You crook, I know you already had him sent something awesome,” Jimin whined, pursing his lips and swatting at his chest. “It will be like the last year all over again.”

Ian replied with a cryptic smirk; was about to take the bag with the present from the shop assistant, but Baby G snatched it first with a harrumph  - at least, let me do this much.  

Done with the purchase, they were walked to the door and bowed out - please come and visit us again. Barely out of the door, Baby G could already hear them whisper-gossip about the two of them - what a gorgeous couple they were.

(And have you seen that hunk? What a lucky omega. I’d kill to have a mate like him.)

It was hardly the first time people assumed on their behalf. It was inevitable.

Inevitable with the way Baby G would sometimes behave around Ian, especially in public - sharing smiles and touches that lingered, words that carried flirty breathiness to them. The reason was simple. Ian was triple AAA: attractive, around and available. The things that seemed to agree with Baby G’s omega greatly nowadays, partly because of his on-going secret affair with Junghwan that had been wearing him down, piece by piece.

It started to feel that they were going nowhere which roused a whole range of emotions in Baby G. Did he really deserve a mate who was never his in the first place? Would he have to take his suppressants for the rest of his life, never knowing the pleasure of his mate taking care of him during his heats? Or simply going out on dates without the fear of someone spotting them together?

He and Junghwan were just too different, growing ever so distant. And no amount of hormone-charged sex was going to change it, unless they did something about it, but what could they do? Was there really any future for them or was he just kidding himself?

“What’s wrong, pup?” Ian spoke, sensing a change in his mood, after they settled into his car with a hired chauffeur. He took Baby G’s hand into his, running a thumb over his pulse point soothingly.

“Nothing, just hungry,” Baby G sighed, snuggling into Ian’s side. “Let’s go and just splurge.”

“I was thinking of seeing a Kabuki play tonight. Care to join me?”

“You know I’d always say yes to spending more time with you,” Baby G replied without missing a beat. And his honesty gave him a start. He really, really would.

Ian’s gaze softened as he brought Baby G’s hand to his lips and pressed a chaste kiss to the back of it as his eyes lingered on the omega’s lips with an clear intent.

Desire flared at the pit of the omega’s belly, throwing him in for another loop. And it wasn’t the first time either. He knew why it was happening: his mark had been wearing off, making him more susceptible to the scents of other alphas, and Ian’s scent was the most enticing of them all, besides Junghwan’s own, of course.

If would be easier to manage, if Junghwan marked him again, but the fresh wound would attract immediate attention, spurting no end of questions that Baby G had no easy answers to. Just thinking of what could await them gave him a splitting headache.

And he was getting tired of that, too.

On their way to a high-end kaiseki restaurant that Ian had his own tab at, Baby G popped by his apartment, their company rented for him in Daikan-yama, for a change of clothes - fitted slacks and a translucent buttonless blouse with a medium cleavage, the front flaps looping around his waist, fixated at the small of his back in a clever knot. All black, of course, because Ian liked seeing him in dark colors.

What the alpha liked even more was seeing Baby G wearing his gifts, like the long delicate earrings he chose for today, an expensive souvenir Ian brought him from the States. Technically, he regularly spoiled all Parks with little gifts, but Baby G couldn’t help but notice that his gifts were always something he could wear on his body: accessories, perfume, garments. And every time Baby G would wear it, Ian’s eyes would linger on that particular item of his wardrobe, silently expressing his approval.

(It didn’t help that Ian had an impeccable taste, too.)

Baby G walked out of his walk-in closet that kept half of his wardrobe by now, twirling around to show off his outfit for tonight.

“Shall we go?” he beamed, pleased to see the appreciative glimmer in Ian’s eyes. “I’m really famished now.”

“That makes both of us, pup.”

The subtle double entendre wasn’t lost on Baby G as Ian looped a hand around his waist, fingers warming his side through the thin fabric.  

The okaa-san of the restaurant, a middle-aged omega matron decked out in a stylish summer kimono, led them through the wooden boardwalk cutting through a Japanese garden into a private guest house, decorated in a traditionally minimalistic fashion. The shoji were slid open to allow for the beautiful view of the garden, with the soothing sounds of a water creek burbling nearby.

Baby G lowered down onto a flat cushion laid out in front of a low table, tucking his legs under his bottom, as Ian did the same on the other side of the table.

They were served green tea - sencha - by a younger omega boy, who might not be older than Baby G himself, his movements simple and elegant, skillfully holding his long sleeves out of the way while pouring more tea into their cups and serving appetizers.

Ian held a brief conversation with the matron, the contents of which went over Baby G’s head. They might have been conversing in the kansai dialect that Ian spoke fluently - he spent his teenage years drifting between Kyoto and Osaka, studying the traditional Asian arts, among other things.

(The Jeons made a fortune on art dealing, starting from a tiny art shop in Busan opened by Ian’s grand-grandfather a century ago - nowadays they ran and curated multiple art galleries and shops all over the world, hence Ian’s constant trips abroad that Baby G was more than welcome to come long - and one day, he knew he just might, the offer was too tempting to resist for long.)

Barely into the first course, Baby G noticed that his legs were falling asleep - he completely forgot about that part - as he wiggled uncomfortably, trying to bring some blood back into his weeping limps, which didn’t escape Ian’s attention.

“Let me.”

Ian motioned for him to untuck his legs and stretch them out under the table. Baby G bit down a moan of bliss as Ian’s hands enveloped his feet, thumbs digging into the soles, massaging them, gentle but firm.

They was probably violating some code of comportment with their impromptu foot-play, but no one in the room batted an eyelash, patiently waiting for them to be done with the silliness and return to their artisan crafted meal - that was Japanese politeness for you and heaps of money Ian was forking over the meal, of course, more than some people’s wedges.

Baby G sighed happily, leaning back on his arms and wiggling his toes, when Ian dug into his foot just right.

“Thank you,” he purred, brushing his toe over the man’s knee, before tentatively resuming his pose from before.

“My pleasure.”

At night, they went to see a Kabuki play. He’d never really spent a whole day with Ian like that and Baby G was enjoying himself a lot. He hadn’t been on a proper date since school and it felt a lot like a romantic date rather than an outing between friends.

It was nice to be spoiled and adored the way he deserved to be - it wasn’t about the money, per se - there was little his family couldn’t afford, after all - but the attentiveness that Ian treated him with, making Baby G feel like the center of his universe, even if he wasn’t his mate.

Ian led them into a private balcony with the perfect view of the stage and the hanamichi, a special walkway that actors would use to make an entrance, the alpha explained. Baby G took a seat on the velvet couch, peeking down at the crowd of people gathering for the performance, while Ian ordered refreshments from the screen hooked to the arm of the couch.

Baby G had never seen a Kabuki performance before and a few minutes into it, he found himself infinitely bored, watching something that made no sense to him whatsoever, story-wise - the decorations were pretty as well as the costumes, but once the splendor and novelty of the visuals wore off, there was not much to it for him, besides making him sleepy. Maybe he could nap for a while until it was over.

And he did, nodding off against Ian’s shoulder.

When he woke up, it was to the loud shouts from the audience bellow him. The play must be still going full swing if the cheers from the crowd were anything to go by. As the sense of reality was sipping back into him, he realized with a start that he had fallen asleep on Ian’s lap, using them as a headrest, the rest of his body taking two thirds of the couch, squeezing Ian into the corner.

“I’m sorry for falling asleep on you,” he said sheepishly, stifling a yawn, as he turned onto his back, drawing up his knees, not in too much hurry to vacate his comfortable position.

For a moment, Ian didn’t say anything, just watching him quietly in fond amusement, carding a hand through Baby G’s tousled locks. And Baby G stared right back. The world around them seemed to slow down, the sounds muffled, leaving just the two of them in the privacy of their little balcony, as Baby G rose up on his arms, slowly as if in a trance, snaking a hand behind Ian’s neck before pressing their lips in a kiss. His eyes fluttered close, as he concentrated on the feeling that had been itching under his skin all day, maybe longer than that.

He gasped lightly, dizzy from the rush of pleasure, as Ian kissed back, caressing his lips with his own, without deepening the kiss.

It was another round of roaring applause that broke up their moment, forcing Baby G to pull back, the heart in his chest thudding so loud he could barely hear anything else. He scrambled onto his seat hastily, straightening up and fixing his hair as he tried to get a grip on his emotional state - they fucking kissed. More so, Baby G was the one to initiate it.

“It’s about to be over anyway,” Ian said, as collected as ever, if not for a touch of breathlessness present in his voice.

Baby G took a deep breath, trying to temper the buzzing of arousal humming down his veins. Were they somewhere more private than a theater, there was no telling how far Baby G would allow this to go.

Part of him knew that he had started to outgrow Junghwan and his blind infatuation with him, and that would only continue unless they do the impossible and find a solution benefiting them both. As of the moment, everything seemed so bleak for them, while Ian…

(Ian was everything he needed in a partner.)

He followed Ian out of the theater, head thrumming with conflicting thoughts. They had barely exchanged a word since the kiss that Baby G could still feel on his lips.

(And he wanted to kiss him again, so much.)

“I’m tired, Ian,” Baby G sighed, back in the car, the chauffeur easing out of the parking space to take him back home. He dropped his head onto Ian’s chest, feeling the alpha press a kiss to the crown of his head, nuzzling his hair.

Baby G’s omega wept for his touch and he didn’t know if he had the strength to resist it anymore.

--- Does Baby G spend the night with Ian? --- (Yes)

(AN: You know how in real Kabuki all roles, even female ones, are performed by men? Well, in this abo!kabuki, all roles are performed by alphas, even the omega ones.)

~~~

Baby G woke up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee wafting from his mostly virgin kitchen.

He smiled, stretching his limbs, spine bending in an arch, like a big lazy cat.

He could barely find it in himself to regret the last night, even if he wanted to - and he didn’t, not one bit. His night with Ian was magical, every single second of it. Ian was a wonderful lover with a talent to make Baby G feel cradled from head to toe, simmering in pleasure.

“So beautiful, Jiyeon-ah,” a voice whispered against his skin, the bed dipping under the other’s weight, as lips kissed a spot under his belly button, palms splayed on his hips. “A masterpiece I could never get enough of.”

Baby G let out a little mewl of encouragement, hooking a knee round Ian’s back to keep him close. Ian ran his fingers along the length of his thigh, as if contemplating its perfect sumptuous shape, before pressing his lips to the skin, starting from the bend of the knee and traveling downwards to the pelvis, breath ghosting over his bare cock.

“Ian, baby, don’t tease,” Baby G sighed, hands thrown over his head, his mellow state from before giving way to blooming arousal.

“Tell me what you want, blossom.”

“Want your mouth on my cock,” Baby G said, a wicked smile quirking his full lips. “Want you to play with my ass while at it, too.”

“You naughty little thing,” Ian whispered, scooping under the swell of his ass to drag him closer.

“Mmh, you make me naughty, baby. You and your sinful mouth.”

Baby G wiggled to make himself comfy in his new position, pillow propping up his butt, thighs spread nice and wide as Ian swallowed around his cock with a deep hum, fingers smearing the oozing slick around the rim.

Alphas, who were willing let alone skillful at sucking their omegas off, were a real treat. True, omegas` cocks were less sensitive than alphas`, and to experience a satisfying orgasm he needed to be penetrated, but seeing Ian devoting himself fully to Baby G`s wishes was beautifully orgasmic in itself.

“Yeah, baby, please just like that,” Baby G purred, eyes half-lidded as he melted into the double sensations of Ian’s mouth against his cock and his fingers, curled inside of him, pushing into his sweet spot. His breath hitched, legs closing in tight, bracketing Ian’s head, when pleasure started to build up in intensity, filling his veins with a rush of the liquid heat.

Somewhere on the other side of his pleasure, he heard a vague snarl, seconds before he found himself face to face with the alpha, the corners of his lips upturned to reveal a glimpse of his teeth - Baby G shuddered in pleasure, tilting his head to the side to offer his neck in submission, appeasing the animal inside of Ian.

Ian nuzzled in hard, taking large gulps of his delicate scent, mixed in with Ian’s own now, all the while driving fingers in and out of his ass, edging him closer and closer to the bliss.

Baby G came with Ian`s teeth clamped around his mark, just short of puncturing the skin, claiming the omega as his.

Ian stayed pressed close as Baby G evened out his breath - morning sex was one of those things he loved but could rarely indulge with Junghwan since they were on the clock most of the time.

“Do I smell coffee, though?” he said, kissing Ian’s cheek before attempting to worm his way from under him.

Ian blinked, his eyes unnaturally dilated, still in his alpha space.

He coughed, abashed, letting go of Baby G reluctantly - it was obvious that was the last thing he wanted to do, which Baby G found amusing.

“Unless you want to fuck me in the shower first?” he smiled knowingly, a mischievous glint in his eyes. He cackled happily, darting towards the ensuite and barely making it to the door when Ian was on him, all hungry lips and grabby arms.

--- Does Baby G tell Ian about him and Tattoo? --- (Yes.)

(AN: A fun fact about marking. Only omegas get marked in this abo, because of the location of their scent gland which is right under the surface of the skin, while alpha’s scent glands are tucked deeper inside, so even if omegas were to mark alphas, it wouldn’t make any difference. A mark is basically a piercing wound to the scent gland that heals very, very slowly (hence it’s not permanent.)

(Alpha ancestors did it to omegas for two basic reasons: 1) to ward off competition; 2) to break the omega’s sense of reality, back in the day, people relied on scent almost as much as their sight and having a ‘corrupted’ scent gland would weaken an omega considerably leaving them in the care of the alpha that bit them.)

(Nowadays people don’t rely on scents as much, only if to find a suitable mate, so marking is viewed as alpha showing a commitment to the omega they chose. On the contrary, not marking the omega they chose would be viewed very negatively by the omega in question, especially if they asked explicitly for the mark. Times change, huh.)

(Also, both alphas and omegas are very much still in touch with their animal instincts/urges, and nowhere it’s more evident than during sex. Even someone as in control of his bearings as Ian can’t resist unleashing the animal inside of him when he’s being intimate with the omega he loves (yes, he loves Baby G, okay), because it’s so new to him and overwhelming, although he’ll get better at controlling those urges in time, esp. if they mate. (Tattoo was faring no better than Ian when he and Baby G first starting fooling around.)

~~~

--- Best boy or golden boy? --- (Golden boy.) 

(Therefore, the end couple is Ian/Baby G.) 

~~~

‘I told Ian about us. We need to meet.’

The ride to the place was gripped by a dour mood. Not even the radio was on. Ian drove, eyes set on the road, jaw clenched. He was either pouting or planning a murder. Knowing Ian, it was probably both.

When Baby G came clean with him about Junghwan, he expected all sorts of reactions, even an unfettered rage, but Ian simply shut down, fists clenched, nails digging into his palms, trying to contain the upset animal inside him and then, he left the room, without saying a word.

He hadn’t said a lot of words after that either.

“So, you’ve decided to not talk to me ever again?” Baby G said, tired of the silence that he didn’t think he deserved in the first place.

A long moment passed before Ian spoke, all bitter around the edges.

“I just don’t want to say something I’ll regret.”

“I don’t really get it, you know? I’ve already told you I want to be with you. I choose you.” Baby G reached over for his hand, slipping his fingers through Ian’s. “I want you.”

“You say that, but you’ve been lying to me and your family for years, Jiyeon-ah. How do I know it’s not another lie?”

Baby G huffed, letting go of Ian’s hand, as he sank back into his seat, defeated.

“So you’re going to hold it against me forever, are you?”

“I’m sorry,” Ian sighed, reaching back for his hand, squeezing it lightly in apology. “I was- am jealous. It’s not easy for me to accept, you know. Even knowing that the person I...love has been marked by another is a bitter truth to swallow, and then you told me about him, still present in your life, I was just...mad. Still am. But not at you, darling. I don’t think I could ever be mad at you.”

“I know,” Baby G said, in a softer voice. “It all will be over today, okay? Just wait a while longer, love. I’m already yours, and that’s not going to change.”

Ian gripped his hand, bringing it to his lips for a lingering kiss against his knuckles. He didn’t say anything after that, keeping his eyes on the road, Baby G’s hand warming his knee, but the silence didn’t cut into them anymore.

“Do you want me to stay in the car?” Ian asked after parking the car near a small indiscreet apartment complex - the rendezvous spot.

“Why would I want that?” Baby G said, genuinely puzzled.

“I don’t want to hold you down, Jiyeon. I mean...” Ian paused to gather his thoughts. “You still have his mark. You still love him. I know you do. Things like that don’t just change overnight.”

Baby G knew that Ian was right. He did still love Junghwan, probably always would, but sometimes love just wasn’t enough - he’d learned his lesson well. He was ready to move on, for good this time, besides…

“I love you, too,” he confessed. “And I fell for you because of who you are, not because my hormones told me to. And that’s that. C’mon. Let’s get this over with.”

Baby G was about to unlock the car door when Ian stopped him, drawing him in for a kiss, sweet and needy, as if it could be their last - fat chance of that, Baby G thought to himself, sighing into Ian’s mouth in a half-moan. Desire pulled at the pit of his belly, his body yearning for Ian’s touch. His heat was due soon and it filled Baby G with gluttonous anticipation. He could barely wait.

When Baby G pulled away, he saw red tinting the alpha’s eyes. The most pleasant color of all.

Junghwan wasn’t there.

They found the apartment void of any soul. Perhaps he was running late, but Baby G knew better - Junghwan would always be there when he arrived, waiting for him. As he looked around, he spotted a folded piece of paper on the bed, neatly made-up.

He took it, already knowing what it meant.

‘I am sorry, sweetness. I hope he’ll make you happy in ways I never could.’

For a moment, he just stood there, gripped by a feeling that was too vague to put into words. It finally hit him, the realization that he and Junghwan were over, not only that, but they probably would never meet again, their lifestyles too incompatible for that. This little note was all he had left of him and, of course…

Jungmin. Their little baby boy.

He showed the note to Ian, not trusting himself to say anything without becoming too emotional.

Baby G took one shuddering breath and...let go.

“You know, I’ve stopped taking my suppressants since Tokyo,” he said finally, looking at Ian.

“Yeah?”

“My heat could come any day now,” Baby G smiled sheepishly. “I was thinking if you would-”

“I will,” Ian promised, kissing his temple, arm wrapped around Baby G’s shoulders. “Anything for you.”

“Anything?” Baby G looked up at him, their faces mere inches away.

“Then, mark me.”

(8 years later)

“Minnie, it’s bedtime. Tidy up your toys, please, before daddy comes back,” Baby G says, smooching his son on the head and patting his tushie to hurry him along with plucking the toys off the bed.

Jungmin, age 10, is his papa’s baby boy through and through, his own little squishie toy. Baby G is glad he decided to not hand him over to the Jeons for education after all, which Ian turned out to be very supportive of. Macho alphas are overrated anyway. Let him be however the nature intended him to be - shy and overly sentimental, clinging to his parents for cuddles and kisses and treats.

As the baby alpha diligently clears the toys off their bed, the door opens to let Ian in, a tray with warm milk and cookies in his hand. Jungmin hops off the bed and sprints off to barrel into him with a happy squeal, hanging off Ian like a little koala.

Ian plods to the bed, with visible struggle, lowering the tray onto the bedside table, before picking Jungmin up and twirling him in the air as the young one giggles, a little bit scared and excited at the same time.

Ian puts him down eventually, leaning in to press a kiss against Baby G’s lips.

“C’mon, big boy, your duty is over for the day, time to wash up and go to bed,” Ian says fondly. “I’ll watch over your papa for now, okay?”

Jungmin nods, cheeks rosy and eyes sparkling, as he climbs back onto the bed for a goodnight kiss from Baby G before trotting to the nanny waiting at the door, ready to take over the boy for the night.

It’s only when the door is closed and Jungmin’s chatter dies down in the corridor that Baby G tugs Ian down to rest alongside of him, the alpha nuzzling his way into his neck, nipping at the skin around the mark.

“The twins?”

“Asleep,” Ian says. “I think we might need another nanny to watch over them. They’re clever little devils and they’re only three.”

Baby G giggles softly, too tired for anything else for now. Ian shifts to hold him properly, a hand tracing delicately the omega’s rotund stomach. They’re definitely going to hire more help with another baby on the way. After the twins, he swore to never get pregnant ever again - the two were a menace even inside of him, and now that they were out, he holds no hope for this world. But then, their third honeymoon happened and Ian took him to a private island in Seychelles where one night of passion led to another and here he is, all moody and pregnant, again.

“Mhm, can I have a cookie, please?” he says in this whiny voice of his he knows can make Ian go and drag the moon off the sky if he so wishes.

“Anything my love desires,” Ian says, reaching over for the treats. “Do you want one with chocolate chips or almond nuts?”

“Do you know me at all?” Baby G scrunches up his nose cutely, all teasing. “Both, of course.”

He takes a nibble of the cookie that Ian holds out for him, the chocolate one, one palm under his chin minding the crumbs. Baby G’s lips snag on Ian’s thumb, as he smiles and then, licks it.

“Don’t tease me, pup,” Ian warns him. “Or we’ll have to sleep in late tomorrow.”

“So?” Baby G cocks his head to the side as Ian tsks in mock reproach, booping his nose fondly.

“Your brother is arriving tomorrow, remember?” he chuckles at Baby G’s flabbergasted expression as it downs on him.

Minseo.

Minseo and his alpha, all newly-mated, are to fly over to Japan for a visit. It’s been ages since he saw his baby brother. And by ages he means a couple of months - they do cruise between the two countries often, but not so much now that Baby G is nearing his term. The very idea of getting up and journeying as far as the bathroom, let alone another country, starts to seem more like a hurdle with each passing day.

“I completely forgot,” he mumbles, sinking down into the pillows and snuggling closer to Ian. The alpha dims the room’s lights, leaving only a nightshade on. Baby G’s eyelids slowly droop close, comforted by the scent of his mate and the steady rise and fall of his chest. By the end of the day, that’s all he ever needs to put him at ease and make him let go of any worry he has. In Ian’s arms, he is finally complete.

He hopes that his brothers feel the same with their own mates. He’s not yet too familiar with Minseo’s mate, although he’s heard through the grapevine that the alpha, a childhood friend, adores the ground his baby brother walks on, just as he should be - Minseo deserves to be worshiped for the blessing he is to this world. And Jiwon…

He and Jung hitched up soon after a long road trip across the country that they took off on to celebrate Jung’s graduation. Never in his wildest dream, Baby G could have imagined seeing Jiwon as lovesick as he was with Jeon Junior. The two also started shacking up together, flouting all the clan norms, although Baby G is the one to talk, given how he did the same with Ian, albeit under the ruse of relocating to Japan for the sake of their business.

He supposes his history with Junghwan has made him quite needy, wanting to have his alpha’s attention at all times. Luckily, Ian might be just as needy as he is, so they really turned out to be quite inseparable - Ian hardly ever travels anywhere without him nowadays, and if he does, it never lasts longer than a couple of days.

Almost a decade later, he rarely thinks about Junghwan. And when he does, he hopes that the man is living a good life, surrounded by kind people who love him. He truly does. Sometimes he gets these unsigned postcards, with pretty generic content, no return address either, but somehow Baby G knows who these are from.

Somehow he knows that this is Junghwan’s way of telling him that he still remembers. And Baby G never throws them away, stacking them neatly into a bottom drawer by his bed - his own little way of saying that…

he remembers, too.

~~~

(AN: Thank you for sticking around, whomever you might be. This is the end.)

~~~

The brief summary of Tattoo’s ending. (That is, if people voted for the Tattoo ending.)

After BG tells Ian about him and Tattoo, they have a big falling out, since BG gives no indication that he plans to break things up with Junghwan. Ian demands full rights on Jungmin then, threatening to tell BG’s family the truth. BG has a mental breakdown and contacts Tattoo to come and see him asap. They talk and Tattoo finally nuts up and tells BG that they should move to Japan for good, where they could live together in secret from their family. Jungmin stays with the Jeons to placate Ian.

8 years later, Baby G and Junghwan have built a new life in Japan. Baby G gradually estranged himself from his family, starting his own business and doing well for himself, because they’d never accept Junghwan as his mate and some sacrifices were unavoidable. Eventually they have another baby that they could call their own without all that clan politicking. So they become a family and all that good shit. And that’s about it.

[fouxtte-blog]

okay so i don't want to copy each symbol in but -- i'm just going to say all of the headcanons in that last meme you reblogged because i want to know alllllllllll the things please.

(( @tuppencetrinkets — headcanon meme ))

thank u so much!! gonna be a long post, so dropping it under a readmore!

—– Send ❂ for a like headcanon.

as i’m certain shows with the blog coloring, fayne really likes pastel colors. pinks, blues, and greens in particular. she also likes neon green, but only sometimes… and only on certain things like curtains or bedspreads. 

—– Send ✄ for a favorite movie of my muse’s. 

wall-e. the space dancing scene gets her every time. 

—– Send ✚ for one of my muse’s prized possessions.

pointe shoes. her first pair. in ballet. getting your very first pair of pointe shoes means that you’ve reached a higher level of skill, so its really an important event. and even though she has to buy new ones fairly often, now, fayne still brings her first pair with her to each performance, tucked away in her bag like a good luck charm. 

—– Send ✿ for a happy memory.

any time she spent with aunt cynthia. but, one particular memorable sleepover was when her aunt allowed her to watch Jurassic Park. fayne, of course, did not sleep at all that night, fearing raptors coming charging into her room or a t-rex breaking through her window  ( perhaps showing it to an, already prone to nightmares, 10 year old wasn’t her aunt’s best idea, after all. )  and her parents had a fit the next day when they found out. but, it was an amazing, thrilling night that fayne remembers fondly. 

—– Send ♡ for a friendship headcanon.

fayne never truly had any friends growing up. she was privately tutored for any actual schoolwork, and the rest of the time was spent training. there were a few occasions when she would attend a ballet class with other children her age. she got along fairly well with most of them and they’d have fun dancing together… but, then she was always whisked off to another studio, another instructor. eventually, she gave up trying to make friends altogether. 

—– Send ♬ for a childhood headcanon.

fayne was never really allowed much in the way of an actual childhood. the only times she was ever really treated as a child, and not a pupil, was during her time with aunt cynthia. those are the only times she can recall playing on playgrounds, or watching cartoons, or eating more sweets than she needed. or anything childlike in general. 

—– Send ☼ for a dream headcanon.

fayne tends not to remember her dreams unless they’re very strange…. such as arm wrestling a grizzly bear in space, for instance. her subconscious can be very bizarre when it chooses. 

—– Send ♧ for a cooking headcanon.

fayne is actually a decent cook, although she doesn’t do it very often. normally, she won’t have time and simply orders room service or take-out. 

—– Send ❧ for a food headcanon.

she really loves spicy foods. the spicier the better. in fact, if it doesn’t have five peppers beside its name on a menu, she might consider it a little on the bland side. 

—– Send ★ for a talent headcanon.

puzzle solving. originally she picked it up as a way to occupy her time during the long trips between performances / instructors, but she’s gotten quite good at it. she can solve word puzzles, number puzzles, picture puzzles, etc. in very short time. 

—– Send ❀ for a crush my muse has had.

she doesn’t really have crushes, per se. she has infatuations and lusts. to her, crushes are reserved for something more innocent, long-term, like a high-school sweetheart. what she has are quick, over in a moment, not usually built on anything other than physical attraction. 

—– Send △ for a sex headcanon.

she varies between top and bottom, depending on the day. sometimes she loves taking control and, other times, she’s just content to lie back and enjoy the moment. 

—– Send ➷ for a sports headcanon.

fayne did try competitive swimming at one point, when she was very young, but her parents were both very quick to shut that down because  “ that’s not what we’re training you to do “ . 

—– Send ♤ for a ‘dislike’ headcanon.

she’s actually grown to dislike sweet foods over the past few years. partly because they are a painful reminder of the times she spent with her aunt, and also because she feels sugary foods are childish. she’ll still enjoy a cupcake or ice cream cone from time to time, but for the most part, fayne will turn them away if offered. 

—– Send ♆ for something my muse hates.

her parents… HATE may be a bit of a strong word, but she definitely harbors a strong animosity toward them both. pushing her into a career she didn’t want, denying her a childhood, not allowing her to attend her aunt’s funeral… and these are merely a handful of reasons. if she never got to see her parents again, fayne would not be sad. 

—– Send ⊗ for a phobia headcanon.

lifelike inanimate objects. dolls, mannequins. at one theater she performed at, they were storing a realistic puppet for an upcoming show in her changing room. fayne absolutely REFUSED to be in there unless it was first temporarily removed, or one of her fellow ballerinas sat in the room with her. this fear has grown worse the older she’s become. 

—– Send ☾ for a sleep headcanon.

fayne does, surprisingly, have a very well obeyed sleep schedule. she’s in bed no later than 10 pm  ( on nights when she’s not spending time in a bar or in another’s company, that is )  and always awake by 8 am. 

—– Send ✜ for a fear headcanon.

failure. its been so ingrained in her that she must always be perfect, that the fear of falling below those expectations puts tremendous strain on her nerves. failure means punishment. a fall or slip means rebuke. not achieving a prize in a competition ensures absolute silence and disappointment from her parents until she manages to win another. she cannot fail. she cannot “let” herself fail. she’s terrified of the possibility. 

—– Send ☠ for a death headcanon.

fayne has no belief in an afterlife of any kind. while she does enjoy the thought of ghosts and spirits, she does not think they’re truly possible. and she certainly has no hope in any sort of deity. 

—– Send ◊ for a headcanon of the mun’s choice.

her favorite method of affection is affirmation. tell her she’s doing a good job. encourage her. praise her. especially during sex. the things it does to her, oh boy.  but even outside of the bedroom, the poor girl needs a little reassurance sometimes, considering she’s so paralyzingly scared of failure. a little boost to let her know she’s doing okay does wonders for her mood / self-esteem. 

[saltysuittaco-blog]

Photos, no longer simply video. No yellow ring alerting other folks to the camera. Underwater-capable. Classier colours with lighter lenses. Prescription choices. Faster syncing. And a far slimmer body and charging case. Snapchat mounted the largest ache issues of its Spectacles camera shades with V2, which release as of late for $150. The corporate simplest offered 220,000 pairs of V1, with their restricted capability, tough exports and goofy hues. But V2 is fashionable, handy and helpful sufficient to stay to hand. They’re no longer innovative. They’re a wearable camera for everyone. 

You can take a look at our snazzy hands-on demo video under:

The new Spectacles cross on sale as of late within the U.S., Canada, U.Ok. and France, then in 13 extra European international locations on May three. The $150 V2s are $20 greater than the previous model and simplest to be had on Snap’s app and website online — no Amazon, pop-up retail outlets or merchandising SnapBots. And V1 house owners gets a firmware replace that permits them to take pictures.

After two days of use, I feel Spectacles V2 go the edge from clumsy novelty to ingenious instrument available to the mainstream. And amidst person enlargement struggles, that’s what Snap wishes at the moment.  

V1 was once to get other folks relaxed

What Snap doesn’t want is a privateness scandal, and that possibility is the trade-off it’s making with its extra discreet Spectacles design. They nonetheless show just a little circle of white lighting whilst recording, however with the everlasting yellow ring at the nook got rid of, it’s possible you’ll no longer realize there’s a camera lens there. That may just make other folks just a little fearful and creeped out.

But the corporate’s VP of Mark Randall tells me he thinks the real goal of V1 was once to get other folks relaxed dressed in and being recorded by means of a face laptop. It indisputably wasn’t a shopper luck, with lower than 1/2 of householders the use of them after the primary month. He stated he feels beautiful just right about delivery 220,000 pairs. Yet Snapchat was once roundly mocked for taking a $40 million write-off after making loads of 1000’s too many. Randall attributes that to having fragmented gross sales channels, which Snap is solving by means of simplest promoting V2 itself so it will probably higher expect call for.

Snap did be told that customers sought after to take pictures, get them in much less flashy coral colours, convey Spectacles to the seashore, pair them sooner with higher solution exports and listen to much less wind noise when shifting. And most significantly, they sought after one thing they didn’t really feel bizarre dressed in. So Randall’s workforce necessarily scrapped the yellow caution ring, taste, structure, chipset and electronics to construct a greater V2 from the bottom up. The consequence rises prime above its predecessor.

The specifications of Spectacles V2

Snapchat isn’t creating a spectacle out of the Spectacles V2 release. There’s no hidden merchandising machines with cryptic clues resulting in lengthy strains. They’re brazenly on the market as of late in Snap’s 4 best markets, with IE, BE, NL, SE, NO, DK, FI, DE, AT, CH, PL, ES and IT coming subsequent week. This may ensure that everybody who desires them could have them prior to they inevitably forestall being fashionable and should depend on their true worth.

As quickly as you slide them out in their tennis ball tube package deal, you’ll realize the next construct high quality in Spectacles V2. The yellow case is set 0.33 smaller, so you might want to squeeze it in some pants wallet or simply throw it in a jacket or handbag. The previous model principally required a backpack. The charging port has additionally been moved to the facet so it doesn’t fall out so simply. Even with the easier , Spectacles are meant to have sufficient battery and reminiscence to document and switch 70 movies over per week on a regular fee, plus elevate 4 further fees within the case.

The Spectacles themselves really feel sleeker and not more like chunky plastic. They are available in onyx black, ruby purple and sapphire blue and you’ll be able to choose from a extra reflected or herbal lens colour too. Users within the U.S. can organize them with prescription lenses thru Lensabl. Those colours are much more mature than the infantile coral purple and teal of V1. More clear lenses cause them to more uncomplicated to make use of in decrease gentle, so that you gained’t be limited to simply the sunniest days, although they’re nonetheless UVA and UVB rated. I may just even get by means of inside of to some extent, while I used to be bumping into issues indoors with V1.

The field keeping the at the hinges is now a lot smaller, making them lighter and shallower general. An further microphone is helping Spectacles cut back wind noise and steadiness out conversations so the wearer doesn’t sound approach louder.

It’s simple to long-press for a photograph or faucet for 10-second video, with further faucets extending the clip as much as 30 seconds. Either fires up the sunshine ring to let other folks know you’re recording, however that is a lot more refined than the everlasting yellow ring that was once there on V1. You can simplest upload stickers and drawings after you shoot and export your Spectacles Snaps, in order that way there’s no including augmented fact face filters or dancing sizzling canine to what you spot first-person.

Syncing is going a lot quicker with Spectacles V2

Snap Inc. actually diminished the field of regard for Spectacles from 115 to 105 levels to bring to an end one of the fish-eye warping that came about to the perimeters of clips shot on V1. Videos now document in 1216 x 1216 pixels, whilst pictures are 1642 x 1642. What’s a laugh is that Spectacles can document beneath water. Randall doesn’t counsel diving to 200 ft with them, however leaping within the pool or getting stuck within the rain might be no downside. In truth, it will probably make for some beautiful trippy visuals. Cheddar’s Alex Heath nailed some of these options in a scoop about V2 closing month.

Syncing in your telephone now simply calls for Bluetooth and a seven-second press of the shutter button, somewhat than a shoddy QR code scan. Exports at all times occurs in HD over Specs’ interior Wi-Fi now, and transfers cross 4 instances sooner than the previous procedure that required you to sync usual definition (low-quality) variations of movies first, then select your favorites, then obtain them in HD. Randall says that led a lot of people to by chance or impatiently accept SD content material, which made Spectacles’ seize solution appear a lot not up to its doable.

Unfortunately, Snapchat is what’s keeping Spectacles again. You can simplest sync your Spectacles to Snapchat Memories first prior to exporting movies personally or as one large Story in your camera roll. That makes it a ache to percentage them in other places. If Snap desires to be a massive, it will probably’t simply construct accompaniments to its personal app. It must be a focus for a wide variety of photographers, no longer simply those that already love Snapchat. I do want they might percentage without delay to Instagram, and barring that may be a weighty technique selection.

What actually issues, although, is the how the incremental enhancements all upload as much as one thing a lot more livable.

Keeping Snapchat impressive

Snapchat will have in the end discovered a solution to make Spectacles carryable and wearable sufficient that folks use them as their default shades. That may just result in far more content material being comprised of Spectacles, which in flip may just make Snapchat extra fascinating at a time when it’s determined to distinguish from Instagram with one thing difficult to replicate.

Randall says Snap is solely beginning to achieve out to skilled creators, who may just end up to other folks how a laugh Spectacles may well be. Snap omitted them closing time round and ended up with few items of flagship Spectacles content material. This time, although, Snap will center of attention on appearing off what Spectacles can shoot somewhat than simply how they appear to your face. It’s even going to run its personal in-app advertisements selling Spectacles that may allow you to swipe up to shop for them straight away.

Snap Inc. calls itself a camera corporate, however past device, that wasn’t actually true till now. It generally is a half-decade prior to now we have AR goggles for the hundreds, and Snap can’t wait round for that. V2 is a cast step ahead, and Randall says Snap is dedicated to an extended street of releases.

Getting lots of its cash-strapped teenagers to shop for the system would possibly end up tough once more, however I no less than be expecting V2s gained’t finally end up loss of life on my own in a drawer as incessantly. These glasses aren’t going to show round Snapchat’s trade, which misplaced $443 million closing quarter. And they most probably gained’t win over any Instagram loyalists. But Spectacles V2 may just re-light the passion of lapsed customers whilst generating distinctive issues of view to entertain those that by no means left. And in the event that they don’t promote neatly, Snap no less than is operating the kinks out of its iteration procedure that might pave the way in which for a killer product at some point.

The startup was once at all times about speaking visually, and what higher approach than to lend anyone your point of view of the sector. Snap will have damaged the Google Glass curse.

Snapchat launches Spectacles V2, camera glasses you’ll actually wear – TechCrunch Photos, no longer simply video. No yellow ring alerting other folks to the camera. Underwater-capable. Classier colours with lighter lenses.

[itsjaybullme]

The 10 Best Bodysuits for Women Who Love to Work Out

1 of 11

Courtesy of Tory

Tired of your shirt flying up during inversions? Annoyed by your tights slipping down during barre? Losing patience for all the laundry your sweat sessions produce? The answer to all these workout woes is simple: Embrace the bodysuit. Whatever you want to call 'em—unitards, onesies, jumpsuits—one-pieces are the latest trend in training apparel.

And yes: It's natural to second-guess your foray into the one-piece world. (FAQs: Will I look like a big baby? Will everyone gawk at me? Am I doomed to suffer permanent wedgies? )

In our quest to discover if bodysuits could replace the tried-and-true workout tank and tights, we tested (and approved) the 10 following one-pieces. We lounged—then sweat—through yoga, Pilates, boot camps, lifting, and HIIT workouts to find the ones that shine in some or all workout intensities. They range in style, price, coverage, and support, so you can find the one(s) that's right for you. Here's what we thought about each.

2 of 11

1. Harmony Capri Length Bodysuit by MPG

Courtesy Image

MPG's Harmony Capri Length Bodysuit is a head-turner, and a solid training staple. It's got plenty of sex appeal, thanks to its strappy, open back and peek-a-boo mesh detailing at the bust, along the thighs and calves, and at the sides. But they're subtle, not obscene, and offer some added airflow mid-workout. Believe it or not, the straps are exceptionally comfortable, even during a high-intensity strength and conditioning workout. They didn't bite into my skin or feel uncomfortable when lying down. Because they're all adjustable, they offer great support along with the built-in bra. In short: You don't have to worry about loads of bounce if you've got an A-C cup. The built-in bra also has a cooling liner that combats underboob sweat...or at least makes the inevitable more comfortable.

The material is lightly compressive, completely opaque, and supportive, enhancing your figure where you want it most. I really put this one through the wringer, but nothing budged: no wedgies, discomfort, or need to readjust. It's a winner for any dance, barre, pilates, yoga, and strength workout. The fit is true to size as well. — Brittany Smith, associate editor ($108, mpgsport.com)

3 of 11

2. Seamless Full-Length Bodysuit by Tory Sport

Courtesy Image

Real talk: If I could wear this bodysuit every day, I would. The problem with most jumpsuits is that you need to feel fan-freaking-tastic to rock them unselfconsciously—you can't rely on high-waisted tights and a flowy tank to hide your mid-afternoon bloat. Tory Sport has solved that problem with its Seamless Full-Length Bodysuit. For one, the colors, patterns, and fit are flattering for a variety of heights and body types. The triangular colorblocking at the sides creates a diamond in the center and back that draw the eye, while the royal blue striping along the legs gives the illusion of longer limbs. The navy colorway also proves you don't need to choose black for a slimming option.

As for performance, this bodysuit is the most versatile of any I tested. It met my low-, mid-, and high-intensity workout demands from a bodyweight session to bootcamp class, spin to sprint workout. As the name implies, the garment is almost free of seams and designed using body mapping technology to bolster the knit in areas where you need support and offer added breathability in hot spots. I added a sports bra underneath during boxing (jumping rope...enough said), and I love that it didn't take away from the bodysuit's aesthetics. — B.S. ($148, torysport.com)

4 of 11

3. Active Training Explosive Bodysuit by Puma

Courtesy Image

As a woman who generally rocks tights and a tee to the gym, I was hesitant of stepping out of my comfort zone...especially with a onesie. But Puma's Active Training Explosive Bodysuit was the perfect solution to my bodysuit blues, because it looks like a two-piece set. In reality, the mesh top (with its Y-shaped open back) is connected to the tights, which I felt made for a more confident workout. My shirt wasn't flying up during mountain climbers and my tights weren't sliding down. The loose top allows for a good amount of air flow—but unlike many other bodysuits, it doesn’t eliminate the need for a sports bra.

While the tights are full-length, they don’t exactly move with your body. The fabric slid up and down over my calves, which could be because the upper half was pulling the bottom. It wasn't uncomfortable, per se, but it was definitely distracting. Overall, this is the perfect one-piece for those who need a little encouragement when it comes to taking fashion risks at the gym, even if it's not the best for high-impact workouts. — Jackie Friedman, photo editor  ($90, puma.com)

5 of 11

4. Strata Silverstone Unitard by Outdoor Voices

Courtesy Image

Outdoor Voices labels the Strata Silverstone Unitard as having a "limber fit" that "bounces back," and I couldn't agree more. I typically wear a medium, but the small fit exactly as it should. The legs weren't constricting; the straps didn't dig; the crotch wasn't too high or too low, and I never had to readjust. The fabric has great weight to it (no peek-a-boo fabric at the bum). There are no seams at the back, and any seams along the legs and waist were undetectable during abs work, bodyweight workouts, and yoga. And while you might shy away from the oatmeal colorway in fear of looking a bit like a toddler in a onesie, fear not: the bodysuit is very flattering. I tied a flannel or a knitted long-sleeve around my waist when I was out and about to break up the monochromatic look.

In terms of performance, the keyhole feature at the back wasn't too wide to cause bulging, and the straps didn't restrict movement during overhead lifts and stretches. I found the shelf bra to be supportive (up to a C cup) for low- to medium-impact activity. I love how smooth the fabric felt against my skin, and the polyester/Spandex blend was really conducive to movement. The only downside: While the heather texture helps hide sweat, the sweat will still be visible. Then again, if you're wearing this in hot yoga or a lifting session, you're there to sweat—so it doesn't take away from the garment, in my opinion. — B.S. ($95, outdoorvoices.com)

6 of 11

5. Mirror BreatheLux Bodysuit by Under Armour

Courtesy Image

Slip on this Mirror BreatheLux bodysuit from Under Armour and instantly feel like an athlete. With a next-to-skin fit that slims without squeezing and a super-soft yet durable fabric, this one-piece is ready to take on any workout—whether that's a spin class, long run, or total-body circuit.

The all-black fabric is not only slimming, but also wears well. It doesn’t reveal sweat and it dries extremely fast (which is handy if you’re doing something like hot yoga or a high-intensity session). And thanks to its supportive fit, you might not even need to wear a sports bra underneath, depending upon your cup size, comfort level, and workout intensity. — Erin Alexander, editorial assistant ($149.99, underarmour.com)

7 of 11

6. Ready 2 Rock Jumper by Asics

Courtesy Image

Just as the name suggests, this Ready 2 Rock Jumper from Asics is ready to move with you during a workout—or a rave. With an embossed back and side panels, along with a sleek gold zipper down the back, this bodysuit has chic details that'll make you stand out at the gym for something other than your stellar lifting form.

Style aside, this bodysuit is totally functional: Its front pleats allow for ease of movement, while the thick straps and high neckline offer full coverage (great if you're a little more modest). That said, you’ll probably want to wear a sports bra underneath to keep everyone fully supported. — E.A. ($78, asics.com)

8 of 11

7. The Uni Bodysuit by Manduka

Courtesy Image

Manduka's Uni Bodysuit is ideal for those super-sweaty hot yoga sessions that would typically leave your clothes feeling soggy and uncomfortable. The nylon/Lycra blend is nice and stretchy with more of a cotton feel, as opposed to some of the more slippery performance fabrics with which other bodysuits are designed. The double criss-cross detailing at the upper and mid back is flattering without restricting movement or digging in when you lie down. Plus, the open back in tandem with the capri length make a world of a difference in heated studios. The dark olive color also masks sweat well, and is a welcomed change-up from black.

The seams running down the front from bust to hips create a slimming silhouette, and the U-shaped neckline goes a long way in making this bodysuit flattering. A double-layer gusset ensures the fabric isn't see-through when you down-dog or squat. Plus, the shelf bra offers light support—so strength classes get the green light, but high-intensity ones like boxing and running will need some added reinforcement if you're bigger than a B-cup. It also runs true to size. — B.S. ($128, manduka.com)

9 of 11

8. Seamless Criss Cross Ankle Bodysuit by Ivy Park

Courtesy Image

To my surprise, Ivy Park's Seamless Criss Cross Ankle Bodysuit stayed in place through every yoga flow. That could be because it's skin-tight, which helped with support. But I did feel the amount of cleavage it exposed during inversions to be a little uncomfortable (something to note for women with fuller busts). The bodysuit regulated sweat and kept me comfortable (well, as comfortable as can be expected). I didn’t feel soaked when I put my sweater on and walked home. It worked perfectly for Pilates on a reformer, too. Everything stayed in place—even when contorting and extending my legs overhead. I did get some looks in the gym, but that's expected since yoga, pilates, and barre lend themselves to more fashionable getups. There was only a tiny bit of ride-up during squatting, but that’s fairly common for the exercise. The bodysuit also passed the transparency test. If you're looking to meet someone and grab a date at the gym, wearing this jumpsuit definitely won't hurt. — Martha Upton, editorial intern ($75, six02.com)

10 of 11

9. Seamless Bodysuit by Reebok

Courtesy Image

As far as bodysuits go, this seamless one-piece from Reebok is as soft and comfortable as they come—just reserve it for low-intensity workouts. Perfect for yoga sessions (especially hot yoga) or lounging around, its high neckline and breathable, stretchy fabric provide light support and coverage without making you feel constricted. If you’re bigger than an A cup and plan on moving around a bit, though, you definitely need to wear a sports bra underneath. It'll throw off the stunning plunging back a bit, though, so we recommend sticking to barre, yoga, and Pilates. With thoughtful details (the names of different yoga poses are knitted into the fabric) and a flexible fit, this is a bodysuit you can catch us in any time of the day—or night. Just note: It runs small, so go up a size.— E.A. ($75, reebok.com)

11 of 11

10. Harvest Yoga All In One by Sweaty Betty

Courtesy Image

Sweaty Betty's Harvest Yoga All In One bodysuit boasts some of the most luxurious fabric in which I've worked up a sweat. The fit is true to size and and seamless throughout—except the bust has a little extra space. The mesh criss-crossing detail at the back is very feminine, though the straps that connect the front of the bodysuit with the meshing tend to twist a bit, which can become irritating. I enjoyed the mesh detailing at the neckline, thighs, and calves. They offer some visual intrigue, but also serve to release some pent-up heat. If you're lifting or back-squatting, the mesh backing will become bothersome, so I'd stick to yoga, pilates, and barre. This is also available in a bright royal blue that'll definitely help you stand out. — B.S. ($145, sweatybetty.com)

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from Bodybuilding Feed https://www.muscleandfitness.com/muscle-fitness-hers/hers-features/10-best-bodysuits-women-who-love-work-out via http://www.rssmix.com/

[annhens93x]

The 10 Best Bodysuits for Women Who Love to Work Out

1 of 11

Courtesy of Tory

Tired of your shirt flying up during inversions? Annoyed by your tights slipping down during barre? Losing patience for all the laundry your sweat sessions produce? The answer to all these workout woes is simple: Embrace the bodysuit. Whatever you want to call 'em—unitards, onesies, jumpsuits—one-pieces are the latest trend in training apparel.

And yes: It's natural to second-guess your foray into the one-piece world. (FAQs: Will I look like a big baby? Will everyone gawk at me? Am I doomed to suffer permanent wedgies? )

In our quest to discover if bodysuits could replace the tried-and-true workout tank and tights, we tested (and approved) the 10 following one-pieces. We lounged—then sweat—through yoga, Pilates, boot camps, lifting, and HIIT workouts to find the ones that shine in some or all workout intensities. They range in style, price, coverage, and support, so you can find the one(s) that's right for you. Here's what we thought about each.

2 of 11

1. Harmony Capri Length Bodysuit by MPG

Courtesy Image

MPG's Harmony Capri Length Bodysuit is a head-turner, and a solid training staple. It's got plenty of sex appeal, thanks to its strappy, open back and peek-a-boo mesh detailing at the bust, along the thighs and calves, and at the sides. But they're subtle, not obscene, and offer some added airflow mid-workout. Believe it or not, the straps are exceptionally comfortable, even during a high-intensity strength and conditioning workout. They didn't bite into my skin or feel uncomfortable when lying down. Because they're all adjustable, they offer great support along with the built-in bra. In short: You don't have to worry about loads of bounce if you've got an A-C cup. The built-in bra also has a cooling liner that combats underboob sweat...or at least makes the inevitable more comfortable.

The material is lightly compressive, completely opaque, and supportive, enhancing your figure where you want it most. I really put this one through the wringer, but nothing budged: no wedgies, discomfort, or need to readjust. It's a winner for any dance, barre, pilates, yoga, and strength workout. The fit is true to size as well. — Brittany Smith, associate editor ($108, mpgsport.com)

3 of 11

2. Seamless Full-Length Bodysuit by Tory Sport

Courtesy Image

Real talk: If I could wear this bodysuit every day, I would. The problem with most jumpsuits is that you need to feel fan-freaking-tastic to rock them unselfconsciously—you can't rely on high-waisted tights and a flowy tank to hide your mid-afternoon bloat. Tory Sport has solved that problem with its Seamless Full-Length Bodysuit. For one, the colors, patterns, and fit are flattering for a variety of heights and body types. The triangular colorblocking at the sides creates a diamond in the center and back that draw the eye, while the royal blue striping along the legs gives the illusion of longer limbs. The navy colorway also proves you don't need to choose black for a slimming option.

As for performance, this bodysuit is the most versatile of any I tested. It met my low-, mid-, and high-intensity workout demands from a bodyweight session to bootcamp class, spin to sprint workout. As the name implies, the garment is almost free of seams and designed using body mapping technology to bolster the knit in areas where you need support and offer added breathability in hot spots. I added a sports bra underneath during boxing (jumping rope...enough said), and I love that it didn't take away from the bodysuit's aesthetics. — B.S. ($148, torysport.com)

4 of 11

3. Active Training Explosive Bodysuit by Puma

Courtesy Image

As a woman who generally rocks tights and a tee to the gym, I was hesitant of stepping out of my comfort zone...especially with a onesie. But Puma's Active Training Explosive Bodysuit was the perfect solution to my bodysuit blues, because it looks like a two-piece set. In reality, the mesh top (with its Y-shaped open back) is connected to the tights, which I felt made for a more confident workout. My shirt wasn't flying up during mountain climbers and my tights weren't sliding down. The loose top allows for a good amount of air flow—but unlike many other bodysuits, it doesn’t eliminate the need for a sports bra.

While the tights are full-length, they don’t exactly move with your body. The fabric slid up and down over my calves, which could be because the upper half was pulling the bottom. It wasn't uncomfortable, per se, but it was definitely distracting. Overall, this is the perfect one-piece for those who need a little encouragement when it comes to taking fashion risks at the gym, even if it's not the best for high-impact workouts. — Jackie Friedman, photo editor  ($90, puma.com)

5 of 11

4. Strata Silverstone Unitard by Outdoor Voices

Courtesy Image

Outdoor Voices labels the Strata Silverstone Unitard as having a "limber fit" that "bounces back," and I couldn't agree more. I typically wear a medium, but the small fit exactly as it should. The legs weren't constricting; the straps didn't dig; the crotch wasn't too high or too low, and I never had to readjust. The fabric has great weight to it (no peek-a-boo fabric at the bum). There are no seams at the back, and any seams along the legs and waist were undetectable during abs work, bodyweight workouts, and yoga. And while you might shy away from the oatmeal colorway in fear of looking a bit like a toddler in a onesie, fear not: the bodysuit is very flattering. I tied a flannel or a knitted long-sleeve around my waist when I was out and about to break up the monochromatic look.

In terms of performance, the keyhole feature at the back wasn't too wide to cause bulging, and the straps didn't restrict movement during overhead lifts and stretches. I found the shelf bra to be supportive (up to a C cup) for low- to medium-impact activity. I love how smooth the fabric felt against my skin, and the polyester/Spandex blend was really conducive to movement. The only downside: While the heather texture helps hide sweat, the sweat will still be visible. Then again, if you're wearing this in hot yoga or a lifting session, you're there to sweat—so it doesn't take away from the garment, in my opinion. — B.S. ($95, outdoorvoices.com)

6 of 11

5. Mirror BreatheLux Bodysuit by Under Armour

Courtesy Image

Slip on this Mirror BreatheLux bodysuit from Under Armour and instantly feel like an athlete. With a next-to-skin fit that slims without squeezing and a super-soft yet durable fabric, this one-piece is ready to take on any workout—whether that's a spin class, long run, or total-body circuit.

The all-black fabric is not only slimming, but also wears well. It doesn’t reveal sweat and it dries extremely fast (which is handy if you’re doing something like hot yoga or a high-intensity session). And thanks to its supportive fit, you might not even need to wear a sports bra underneath, depending upon your cup size, comfort level, and workout intensity. — Erin Alexander, editorial assistant ($149.99, underarmour.com)

7 of 11

6. Ready 2 Rock Jumper by Asics

Courtesy Image

Just as the name suggests, this Ready 2 Rock Jumper from Asics is ready to move with you during a workout—or a rave. With an embossed back and side panels, along with a sleek gold zipper down the back, this bodysuit has chic details that'll make you stand out at the gym for something other than your stellar lifting form.

Style aside, this bodysuit is totally functional: Its front pleats allow for ease of movement, while the thick straps and high neckline offer full coverage (great if you're a little more modest). That said, you’ll probably want to wear a sports bra underneath to keep everyone fully supported. — E.A. ($78, asics.com)

8 of 11

7. The Uni Bodysuit by Manduka

Courtesy Image

Manduka's Uni Bodysuit is ideal for those super-sweaty hot yoga sessions that would typically leave your clothes feeling soggy and uncomfortable. The nylon/Lycra blend is nice and stretchy with more of a cotton feel, as opposed to some of the more slippery performance fabrics with which other bodysuits are designed. The double criss-cross detailing at the upper and mid back is flattering without restricting movement or digging in when you lie down. Plus, the open back in tandem with the capri length make a world of a difference in heated studios. The dark olive color also masks sweat well, and is a welcomed change-up from black.

The seams running down the front from bust to hips create a slimming silhouette, and the U-shaped neckline goes a long way in making this bodysuit flattering. A double-layer gusset ensures the fabric isn't see-through when you down-dog or squat. Plus, the shelf bra offers light support—so strength classes get the green light, but high-intensity ones like boxing and running will need some added reinforcement if you're bigger than a B-cup. It also runs true to size. — B.S. ($128, manduka.com)

9 of 11

8. Seamless Criss Cross Ankle Bodysuit by Ivy Park

Courtesy Image

To my surprise, Ivy Park's Seamless Criss Cross Ankle Bodysuit stayed in place through every yoga flow. That could be because it's skin-tight, which helped with support. But I did feel the amount of cleavage it exposed during inversions to be a little uncomfortable (something to note for women with fuller busts). The bodysuit regulated sweat and kept me comfortable (well, as comfortable as can be expected). I didn’t feel soaked when I put my sweater on and walked home. It worked perfectly for Pilates on a reformer, too. Everything stayed in place—even when contorting and extending my legs overhead. I did get some looks in the gym, but that's expected since yoga, pilates, and barre lend themselves to more fashionable getups. There was only a tiny bit of ride-up during squatting, but that’s fairly common for the exercise. The bodysuit also passed the transparency test. If you're looking to meet someone and grab a date at the gym, wearing this jumpsuit definitely won't hurt. — Martha Upton, editorial intern ($75, six02.com)

10 of 11

9. Seamless Bodysuit by Reebok

Courtesy Image

As far as bodysuits go, this seamless one-piece from Reebok is as soft and comfortable as they come—just reserve it for low-intensity workouts. Perfect for yoga sessions (especially hot yoga) or lounging around, its high neckline and breathable, stretchy fabric provide light support and coverage without making you feel constricted. If you’re bigger than an A cup and plan on moving around a bit, though, you definitely need to wear a sports bra underneath. It'll throw off the stunning plunging back a bit, though, so we recommend sticking to barre, yoga, and Pilates. With thoughtful details (the names of different yoga poses are knitted into the fabric) and a flexible fit, this is a bodysuit you can catch us in any time of the day—or night. Just note: It runs small, so go up a size.— E.A. ($75, reebok.com)

11 of 11

10. Harvest Yoga All In One by Sweaty Betty

Courtesy Image

Sweaty Betty's Harvest Yoga All In One bodysuit boasts some of the most luxurious fabric in which I've worked up a sweat. The fit is true to size and and seamless throughout—except the bust has a little extra space. The mesh criss-crossing detail at the back is very feminine, though the straps that connect the front of the bodysuit with the meshing tend to twist a bit, which can become irritating. I enjoyed the mesh detailing at the neckline, thighs, and calves. They offer some visual intrigue, but also serve to release some pent-up heat. If you're lifting or back-squatting, the mesh backing will become bothersome, so I'd stick to yoga, pilates, and barre. This is also available in a bright royal blue that'll definitely help you stand out. — B.S. ($145, sweatybetty.com)

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