#jang han seo best boy

[dongyeonssimp]

there's a need to put it out in the universe further and i'm doing just that.

To begin with, I’ve never been related to any characters like Jang Han Seo. It was oblivious that he was suffering from depression, anxiety and PTSD resulting from the abuse that he had been endured at home, but it seemed like he had the sign of social phobia as well. As we could see in the drama, his life completely revolved around his brother, he had no friends, no interested in dating or attracting to anyone (if we can count Han Seung Hyuk as his “friend” since he might be closer to him than anyone other than Han Seok and before Vincenzo). It might be because of the tittle as The Chairman of Babel and being born in a wealthy family which make him aware that people wanted to get close to him only for money or taking advantage of him to get what they wanted. But the things is, he seemed to avoid any chance of building relationships that have the potential to be more intimate or more complex than basic communication, rejecting even the slightest touch, not just with Han Seok - the one he’s afraid of but almost everyone else.

For example, back when Vincenzo (the one he became extremely close to later on) was only a stranger and he pretended to be a fan to approach Han Seo. He appeared to be extremely enthusiastic and just only showed the want of touching Han Seo, Han Seo immediately flinched away and made a clearly uncomfortable expression. He looked at his hand like a gun pointing at him. 

Example 2, when Han Seung Hyuk - the one who had close relationship than anyone else besides his brother at that time, just about to go closer to him and he already gave the big “Don’t touch me bitch” energy and make a gesture for him to go away. 

This is the first time he had met his sister-in-law (applying for both his blood and adopted brothers). It didn’t go well.

Han Seo himself had proven to be an extremely clingy person and liked to actively skinship towards the people he was close to, but for others, when being touched, his body will immediately generate rejection and fear as a reflex.

Jang Han Seo had another trait that he was completely used to people ignoring him, not taking him seriously, but if someone liked him, complimented him, spoke well of him, then he didn’t know how to react naturally as if his brain was immediately shut down. I totally understand this, because I have the same problem, if someone insults me even with the most hurtful things, I’ll be like “you say nothing that I don’t already know. I also insulted myself like that every day so we have the same opinion bro” xD But if people compliment me with kind words, I will be extremely surprised, even scared and panic. I will be worried sick about how to make people continue to think well of me and what if I do something wrong later that makes them no longer like me. But of course, when the anxiety reaches a certain level, my mood will turn into: "Nevermind, let’s care about it later. Who give a f*ck if they like me or not” lol But Jang Han Seo wasn’t like that. He remembered and held on to the praises of others stubbornly. Many people think that Han Seo betrayed Han Seok just because of Vincenzo, but in fact, the first person to put that thought into Han Seo’s head was Han Seung Hyuk. He did not convince him with the benefits, fame, and money of being the true chairman of Babel, but that how he, on behalf of Babel’s member and as an employee of the company, valued and needed him. He hyped him up as the “sharp, ambitious and not murderous” ideally chairman, the only hope of Babel’s bright future and the only person that the people in the company could depend on. Before that, although he was really angry that Han Seok constantly rejected his offers, Han Seo kept saying “Are you telling me to betray my brother? Do you even know what you are saying?” showed that he completely accepted that he wasn’t able to run the company and continued to live in Han Seok’s shadow, until Mr. Han opened a new vision for him. Han Seung Hyuk’s words couldn’t tell that he was really meant it or not, and maybe Han Seo already knew he was untrustworthy, but it sparked the thought that he could actually do better than his brother and be capable of turning Babel into something good. When negotiating with Vincenzo, he mentioned not only that he wanted Vincenzo to spare his life but also Babel (not just the company itself or its property, but also the employees whose life depended on the company’s survival) Then Vincenzo came. Before Vin hyung appeared, Jang Han Seok was completely Han Seo’s ideal model for him to look up to and learn from. He yelled at people’s face and throw hockey balls to their stomach to show his authority (like how his brother beated the shit out of him with a hockey stick when he messed up in the previous episode), making people afraid so they could listen to him (but most of his efforts failed miserably because he just looked like an adorable bratty angry kitten). Then Vin hyung appeared, encouraged him to study harder and gave him a completely different role model, the man he wanted to become. And that’s when he started to change, showing his true self, he let his hair down, started to wear clothes that looked comfortable and youthful, laughed more often and looked more alive. After his brother went to prison, he turned into a friendly, gentle and loving chairman and didn’t shout at anyone anymore xD Continued to episode 19, when Vincenzo mentioned the possibility of Han Seok being released from prison early and would come to him first, advising him to fly away to a foreign country, Han Seo, although trying to hide it, clearly shows his fear (of course when you’ve been terrified of something all your life, fear can’t disappear within a day or two), but still refuses to run away because “I made a promise to you.” Even when Vincenzo made it clear that “you can keep your promise to me later” and still tried to convince him, Han Seo was still determined to stay and fight to the end. Simply because Vincenzo showed his belief in Han Seo, that he had potential, he could change and become a better person, a trustworthy person that could count on, and because of that, he would do it everything to live up to that expectation (which he has proven he could - or at least tried to - do everything, except murders xD). Others’ faith in him is Han Seo’s biggest motivation, because he’s probably used to being seen as a useless person without any value, a piece of trash that doesn’t deserve to exist, not only for his brother, but also for his parents, who see his birth as an accident, a mistake of a casual cheating hook up, not a miracle result of their desire to have a child. That is also the reason why Han Seok completely failed to convince his little brother to betray Vincenzo by promising to give him all of Babel, it could be seen in Han Seo’s reaction that there was not a bit of greed or joy, but a complete shock at his brother’s brutal request, and he still didn’t move at all. It was only when Vincenzo took the initiative to kneel and asked him to do what Han Seok told him to do, Han Seo finally was able to stand up, and when Vincenzo said “It’s okay”, implying that he would’ve fully understood if Han Seo had chose to kill him for survival, in that moment he already knew what he had to do, even at the cost of the life that he treasured the most. Because what Han Seo longed from the beginning was never Babel, but rather to become a kind of meaningful existence, not only for others but also for himself.

[wannaeatramyeon]

The Way of the Househusband: Lookism and HTF hc

You, the working spouse. Them, trying to be the best malewife.

(Making up for my Eli crap).

Throws money at the problem

Look. They did not work their lil bussy off to build up an empire then to spend it all day looking after the household. You will be employing help around the house, that is non-negotiable.

Expect a half burnt, hand made lunch most days though. It's the thought that counts, you tell yourself as you swallow down a lump of charcoal.

+ Eugene

+ Goo Kim

This idiot. Tries his best until he gets bored. And he gets bored very easily.

Half mopped kitchen, half made bed. Everything he does is done well until he just. Nah. Cannot be bothered anymore.

Good job you have a routine cleaning service and whatever other help you need as he takes instead the title of trophy husband.

Greets you coming home like an overexcited puppy. Lord bless him with some other social groups and hobbies so he doesn't rely completely on you for all his interaction needs.

+ Samuel Seo

If our Sammy isn't in therapy already, then get him in. Starve if you have to, just get him on his journey.

There is no way this man would be happy just being a househusband with his inferiority complex, slight delusions of grandeur and ambition.

When he eventually comes to terms with it, will always have little side projects going on to keep his inferiority/superiority at bay.

Likely one of those bastards that power trips from heading up some sort of Househusband/housewife social group, PTA, or on the board of a charity (he's in it for the power, not the cause) in his spare time.

Natural born homemaker

Natural may be a stretch for some of these boys.

Whether by choice or as a victim of circumstance, they have had to pick up very quickly how to be completely self sufficient. So stepping into house husband role? Easy!

+ Jace Park, Warren Chae, Jibeom Kwak, Daniel Park, Hudson Ahn, Baek Seongjun

+ Eli Jang

Oh my god. There is nothing that he loves more than being a househusband.

Never in his wildest dreams thought he would end up in this position.

Creating a loving home for you and Yenna, being the caretaker and provider. By far the best and most favourite role he has undertaken.

Joins in on the gossip at the school gates, with the other parents fawning over him. Melting hearts when Yenna toddles out and gives her dad a smooch.

Makes the absolute bento lunch bar none. Wakes up at the crack of dawn, practically leaping out of bed to make something delicious, healthy and cute for you and Yenna.

+ Johan Seong

Clueless vibes but that is absolutely wrong.

With his mother and leaving home from a young age, he has absolutely had to be self-sufficient.

In addition to taking care of two dogs too, this guy knows how to run a household and how to run it with 100% efficiency.

Knows the best time to visit the market for the freshest meat and veg to cook dinner. Also will visit 10+ stores to make sure he gets the best deal for his money. It's a matter of pride.

+ Ji Yeonwoo

Never had to really lift a finger around the home, instead dedicating all his time to studying. Vibes that his father also thinks housework is woman's work.

But not this guy! Whatever you need, he will make sure he fulfils it to the best of his abilities.

Study scheduling skills carry over to running the household. Runs an extremely tight ship, and meticulously plans everything. You want a doctor appointment? Dentist? Plumber. He is ON it.

In between sessions of Kyokushin Karate training of course.

+ Han Wangguk

Um hello? Does this even need explaining? It just fits.

Forced into being the carer and head of the household from a young age after his home life completely went to shit. Looked after Gyeoul to the best of his ability until he couldn't. Tried to be the best big bro/father figure since his stint in juvie.

Absolutely perfect as a househusband. Nothing to fault.

Will spoil you too. Small gifts he has come across that reminds him of you - a snack you like from the store, booking movie tickets for a lil date night together, a book he thinks you'd be interested in.

Perfection.

Clueless idiot tries their best

It's a 50/50 chance whether you will have a home and a husband to return to at the end of a day. It's also a 50/50 chance whether your home made lunch will give you food poisoning.

Sure, it's gotten better the longer they've been at it, but you're still wary. Especially since they have also gotten better at hiding any messes they cause too.

You can never stay mad though, especially when they get so cute when they're frustrated at having failed you as a househusband. Which is complete nonsense, by the way.

+ Vin Jin, Jihan Kwak, Jay Hong

+ Vasco Tabasco

How can this category exist without our resident cinnamon roll?

Fortunately for him, Jace has added himself onto Vasco's speed dial. Unfortunately for Jace, he gets 20+ calls and frantic messages a day asking how to get things done.

Nonsense includes asking how to revert the clothes after accidentally dying them pink. Can he put out a frying pan oil fire with water. How burnt can something be before someone will likely get food poisoning.

It gets better over time. Lucky for you and lucky for Jace.

COMPLETE househusband Tatsu vibes. Everyone is terrified of Vasco, intimidated by his thuggish looks and tattoos. (Until they find out he is the biggest sweetheart and himbo ever.)

+ Ryuhei Kuroda

Relishes being a househusband! Like a silly little roleplay and doesn't get tired of it. After, all it took him so long to find someone that keeps the interest of Ryuhei and lil Ryuhei.

A shameless flirt with the ajummas and all the other housewives. Getting the best gossip, the best offers and deals, best tips.

Unfortunately, his attention span is short. Listens with good intentions, then starts daydreaming about when you get home and how he will ravish you.

In the end, he falls short in some aspects of being a househusband, but will make it up to you in the bedroom.

Bulldozes their way forward until they are Househusband Extraordinaire

You cannot fault them for their effort.

Initially a struggle at first for them to come to terms with being a househusband. Look at this list for crying out loud. Consisting of killers and fighters and crime bosses.

But if they commit, they're going to give it all. Their tenacity means they will absolutely get things done. Every time they fail, they will keep trying over and over again. Whether that's to make you happy or for their own pride, they will keep going until it is perfected.

+ Xiaolong, Zack Lee, Xiaolong, Sinu Han, Seong Taehoon, Kim Munseong

+ Gun Park

There is nothing Gun Park cannot do if he sets his mind to it. That includes whatever the hell is his life right now.

Which he doesn't mind, per se. It's just... unexpected.

And he never thought there would ever be anything in his life that matches the thrill of fighting to the death.

But getting the pick of fresh fruit and veg when he's first at the farmer's market? Beating some old ajumma (almost literally) to grab the best head of lettuce? Unveiling your dinner like he used to with his masterpiece?

Ok. It's not bad. He'll still sneak off to beat up minors when he has spare time though.

+ DG/James Lee

Drops the K-pop persona pretty damn quick, reverting back to James Lee.

Because can you imagine how little he would be able to get done if people saw DG around trying to run errands?

But honestly. Look at him. This man, like Gun, does not have a domestic bone in his body.

He's not a genius for nothing though.

Dishwasher? Washing machine? Tumble dryer? How to iron in the most efficient way? He will work it out, don't worry.

+ Jake Kim

Anything, anything to make you happy.

As the Big Deal no.1, worrying about the street running smoothly is only his problem in so far as the protecting, the fighting, the money.

Clothes used to just turn up washed and ironed. Would live on a diet of ramen or just eating at one of the restaurants.

Jake is not initially cut out for being a househusband... But he learns quickly.

Eagerly gets to any household chores and errands with gusto. Sometimes even recruiting the Big Deal boys to help out when things get a little too hectic and out of hand.

[drama--universe]

Confessions & relationships

Requested by anonymous: Hello! Can I please request boyfriend headcanons for Vincenzo, Jang Han Seok and Jang Han Seo and how they'll confess to their crush?

Pairings: Vincenzo boys x reader

Warnings: Jang Han-Seok, emotional abuse, toxic relationship

Vincenzo Cassano:

I don't think he would hide his crush to begin with

Asking you out:

so there are two options to his approach

one, you know

thus, not much to confess and it is very simple

he asks you out randomly, no real timing there

and does not wait for an answer, he just leaves and assumes it is a yes

second option, you're oblivious

he probably asked you out before and have you dismiss it as a friendly hang-out

thus he goes farther

probably some kind of big approach, maybe a party or at least a fancy dinner

asking you out would remain private though

As your boyfriend:

he's a sweet boyfriend and very romantic

don't be surprised at when you get a romantic outing or dinner every few weeks

he will spoil you

buys you whatever you look at for more than a second

he isn't home much when working, but makes sure to eat once a day with you

whether that be morning, afternoon or evening

if he can't, he will make it up whatever way he can

even if you don't mind it

you know about his actual job

but he makes sure to not ever come home hurt or bloodied up

because he knows it will worry you

if he does come home injured, he'll tell immediately

will patiently sit as you treat him

when sleeping, he'll always have you wrapped in his arms

is not opposed to be being the little spoon though if you want

just needs to feel your skin against his

if not, he can't sleep

overall a very good boyfriend

Jang Han-Seok:

Asking you out:

he's always very sweet to you

at your beck and call 24/7, like a small puppy at his owner

so very cute, always smiling

buys you your favorite drinks and snacks, leaving them for you to find

sometimes there is a cute gift along with those snacks

flowers are also not abnormal for you to find, small bouquets with varying flowers or just a single flower on your desk

so his confession will be something along those lines

it would be a public confession, but not too grand

he doesn't want to overwhelm you or force you to say yes

a bouquet in his hands and a bear that held a heart

will get on his knees if he deems necessary, but you're quick to pull him up if he even dares to try

everyone kind of freezes and waits for your answer

but it's a yes nonetheless

he explodes into giggles and hugs you

is happy for the rest of the week

As a boyfriend:

now, here's the thing

he starts as the sweetest boyfriend

but all of that changes after being together for about a month

it starts with little things

he's a bit more calm than before, more mature in a way

you don't mind that too much

it doesn't really change your dynamic

what you do mind is his possessiveness

it was mild in the start, pointed at people that made advances on you

which is logical, everyone is a bit like that

then it starts to branch out

colleagues first, then your friends and even family at one point

it started with snarky comments pointed to them

he didn't really care if they heard or not

and then he started shielding you

guilting you into staying with him

whenever you bring it up, he denies it and says he knows what is best for you

it comes to the point that you barely go outside

whenever you start to doubt your relationship and are thinking of breaking it off, he would love bomb you

big gifts and a lot of affection to make sure that you wouldn't leave

is not above locking you up at home

once again says that he is protecting you

you know better, but you don't leave

because you've seen what he can do

and you know he won't be afraid to hurt you

not a good boyfriend, don't think I need to explain further on that

Jang Han-Seo:

Asking you out:

now the normal one

well, if you ignore the trauma's he clearly has

his affection is no secret

he gets all mushy around you, so even you know

one problem

he doesn't notice that you reciprocate those feelings

which is a miracle because it is so obvious

you don't hold back on the flirting, because you know he likes you

but he never responds to it

when he gives you gifts, you once literally told him that you'd rather have him take you out for dinner

the man just giggles to himself while turning red, then just walks off while saying 'good joke'

walking is being nice, it's more of a skipping

when he does invite you to dinner, you ask if it is a date

he responds that it is just a friendly hangout since you're his only friend

but then he does ask you out

kind of...

he's practicing his speech to you while you just stand in the doorway

because he left the office door open

and when he finishes his speech, clearly proud of himself, you answer him

with a yes of course!

he jumps up like a snow leopard when it's cub scares them

like this:

then he starts stuttering, trying to explain what happened

you basically shut him up by kissing him

he will shortcut

it will take at least 5 minutes for him to reboot

when he does, he is just bewildered

remains very giggly and cute

a bit like what he is like with Vincenzo, but a bit more

As a boyfriend:

is literally the sweetest

will send you texts throughout the whole day

a lot of selfies from various things through the day

has no clue what his gym selfies do to you

will always pick you up after work and bring you home

more often his then yours though

will constantly buy little trinkets that you remind him of you

you tend to do the same after awhile

some gifts get a bit weird, but it's a funny thing between you two

everyone know you're dating

because he will not shut up about you

ever

people are begging you to make him stop

it's impossible

because he wears his heart on his sleeve

he is a bit insecure sometime though

afraid that you'll leave him for someone better

because he still believes he's not worth

thanks to someone

it's very clear when he feels like that

he'll begin with pouting if it is due to someone specifically

if not that than he'll just be sad

staring into space without any sign of being alive

it's quite terrifying actually

best case it is only a few minutes

wort case he's gone for days

usually you just stay by his side and reassure him

never forcing him out of the mindset

he does go to therapy to your request

and with each day, he gets better

more confident about himself and your relationship

overall, I think he's the most realistic boyfriend of the three

[helianthus21]

for the Early Adoption/Always Brothers AU ✨ following @nalivaa's idea that Han-seo was introduced to the Jang household earlier in this one so a younger, even less patient Han-seok decided he was just Not Gonna deal with a whole stupid toddler so he dropped him of at an orphanage (where Vincenzo found him<3 (there's a lot of details that don't,,, make sense so just posting on tumblr for now)

When Han-seo was dropped off at the orphanage, Vincenzo had already been there for a while.

The weeks, months, years had bled away his hope that his mother would ever come back for him, and the realization had poured like molten lava around his heart and, hardening, turned it to stone. Since then, he had kept to himself, glaring away every well-meaning kid that approached him with doe-eyes, kept everyone at arm's length because he hated the world, he hated his mom, he hated himself.

Other kids came and went.

Kids with similar fates as Vincenzo’s. Kids without parents. Kids who were all alone in the world. Kids who were angry like him, empty like him, lonely and lost. 

But Vincenzo didn’t care about their fates. Because nobody cared about Vincenzo’s either. 

Because most of the kids here, Vincenzo found, were here because their parents had died, and not because their mom dropped them off somewhere only to never show up again.

Kids left and came. Some ran away. Some got adopted, by young couples, rich couples, middle-aged couples. Couples whose gazes drifted right over Vincenzo because Vincenzo wanted them to. His mom hadn’t wanted him, and so Vincenzo didn’t want anybody else either.

Mostly, Vincenzo never even learned the names of the new kids. They’d be gone soon anyway, and their stories were all the same. So when a young boy walked right into the orphanage one day, an even smaller boy tucked in his arms, Vincenzo didn’t even lift his head from the little figure of a bird he’d been carving from a chunk of wood while everybody else was out on a field trip.

“Stop crying,” said the boy. It’s possible he’d been saying more to the younger before that, but it was the sudden sharpness in his tone that made Vincenzo prick up his ears.

Turning his head slightly, he chanced a glance at the pair. The older of the two looked younger still than Vincenzo, and what was strange about him was that he was dressed very formally: instead of streetwear, he was wearing one of those little suits for kids that Vincenzo had worn only once, when his mom had made him attend the funeral of his grandfather. Back then, Vincenzo had found it very confining, the suit. He’d kept pulling at his sleeves and his collar, but this boy seemed to feel right at home in his clothes, confident even.

The other boy, the smaller boy, was indeed crying. Vincenzo must have simply blocked it out before.

“You’re just useless, you know? Stupid,” continued the boy in a voice that was in stark contrast to the words he spoke. The sharpness gone, it was like he was just stating a simple fact, like water is wet, the sky is blue. “Stop crying,” he said again. “Nobody wants you anyway. So this is the best for everyone, you see?”

Between the sobbing, the boy hiccuped, “H-hyung.”

The older boy, the brother, as Vincenzo assumed now, slammed his fist on the table, right next to where he had placed the younger. “Cut that out!” The venom was back in his voice. “I’m not your brother! We’re nothing, not even by half from now on. Got it? Bye forever.” 

Vincenzo looked around. None of the adults were in the room at that hour, just old man Don who was too drunk most of the time to notice what was going on in the world around him. 

There was no one there to witness how another little boy was abandoned at the very same orphanage. No one to witness his fate, the beginning of his story, except for Vincenzo. 

Vincenzo, who watched the older brother walk past him, out of the orphanage without a single glance back, looking much lighter now, like a burden had been lifted from him. 

And the little boy continued sobbing. 

Vincenzo abandoned his woodwork and stepped closer to the table. The other boy had pushed a chair to the table and climbed onto it to be able to place his brother there, but Vincenzo could reach it without any help. He had a round face, the boy, red from all the screaming, with puffed cheeks that made him almost look cute, and head full of dark hair, curling slightly behind his ears. He, too, was wearing a little suit, and Vincenzo wondered if they had indeed been at a funeral. Looking at the boy now, he couldn’t be much older than 2 years. Maybe less. 

"Nobody wants you, huh?" 

The moment he spoke up, the boy stopped crying. 

Not because all his tears were dried up, Vincenzo guessed, but rather because listening to Vincenzo seemed to take up all his attention. With big eyes, he tracked each and every movement Vincenzo made like it was the most interesting thing in the world. 

"No mother, no father? A bastardo of an older brother?" He shot a venomous look at the door through which the boy had disappeared, moments ago. When he turned back to the boy, though, he made sure to keep his face neutral. "Well, you’re in good company. Nobody wants me either.”

Tears welled up again in the boy’s eyes but he stayed silent and that was almost more tragic. And for the first time in a long time, Vincenzo felt something in his chest change shape. Like a crack running up a stone. But nothing can break stone, can it?

This boy, though.

This boy was like him, more so than any other kid that shared this fate, it seemed. This boy was wrong, like Vincenzo – no! This boy had something about him that made other people cast him out, discard him like yesterday’s trash. This boy, who was only beginning to learn how to speak or walk on his own two feet. No, it wasn’t his fault that people couldn’t accept him. 

So, before the thought had even reached his mind as anything more palpable than a mere idea, Vincenzo had already made a decision.

“Let's just take care of one another from now on, huh?" He stretched out his index finger and the little boy reached for it, little fist closing around it with surprising strength. Vincenzo smiled. The stretch of his cheeks felt foreign on his face. "I'll take care of you." He turned the word around in his mind before he said it, "Dongsaeng."

It felt right. 

The boy tilted his head at him. "T'seng?" 

"No. Not me." He tapped his palm against his own chest. "I'm Vincenzo."

"'Cenzo."

Vincenzo crinkled his nose at the messy pronunciation. The word must feel foreign on his tongue, too. "Actually, for you it would be hyung,” he decided instead. “Can you call me hyung?"

The boy laughed, and forgotten seemed all the tears he had spilled just a minute ago. "Hyung!"

His chest almost hurt from the debris behind his ribcage. "That's it!” he agreed. “There you go."

Vincenzo would remember that day, as clearly as when it happened, for the rest of his life.

Han-seo, though, would forget how exactly he came to be at the same orphanage, right when Vincenzo had needed him most. He would forget the older boy, no longer his brother but a stranger now, who abandoned him at the very doorstep where Vincenzo lost his mother. He was still too young, then, to remember. He would’ve forgotten that he and Vincenzo had ever been anything other than brothers, too, if not for the other kids and the adults at the orphanage reminding him that legally, biologically, they were not. 

It didn’t matter to them, anyway.

Not until a new couple entered the orphanage, and their gazes didn’t just drift over Vincenzo.

[kimchislaphearts]

Dog Days Of Summer  (2023)

Genre: Youth, Drama

Plot: 

In the summer of 2002, South Korea hosts the World Cup and Yi Joon moves in with his aunt and uncle in Daegu. Yi Joon and his new classmates navigate friendship, family, and growing up over the hot summer. 

Cast & Crew:

Moon Woo Jin as Kim Yi Joon

Park Seo Kyung as Han Yeo Reum 

Supporting cast - Choi Hyun Jin, Kim Ji Sung, Jeong Hee Tae, Heo Dong Won, Kim Kwang Gyu, Kim Ji Won, Go Seong Bo, Lee Joo Won, Jung Yi Rang, Jeon Sok Chan

Director - Jang Min Sik

Screen Writer - Choi Yi Kyung

Music:  

The music felt pretty unobtrusive but on closer inspection the backing music was a mix of music of the time (2001-2002) mixed with some nice instrumentals. The featured music includes: 착각의 늪 -  박고테 프로 젝트, 떠나가라 - QOQ, Please Summer! - 인디고(Indigo),  비몽 - 코요태 (KOYOTE), and 백전무패 - 클릭비 (Click-B). 

Awards: Best Young Actor (Moon Woo Jin) - KBS Drama Awards 2023

Overall: 

This drama special tells the story of Kim Yi Joon, a 14 year old boy in the summer of 2002 who is moving from Anyang to Daegu to live with his aunt and uncle. At first he seems like your standard sullen teen but as the drama special goes on you peel back the layers and find out his story. 

As you watch the drama special you feel all of the hurt and pain piling up on this young boy and it’s quite heartbreaking. Watching him go through all the hardships wrung a surprising amount of tears from me. But he is resilient and it’s a wholesome and heartwarming coming of age story of finding your place in the world. 

Moon Woo Jin has been in a lot of productions since 2017, most recently Castaway Diva and The Atypical Family but this drama special is one of his first leading roles. He won the young actor award for his performance here and it's not surprising based on his performance. It was nice to see a cast of talented young people given a chance to shine. 

As well as Min Jun’s coming of age story, we get a glimpse of classmate Han Yeo Reum’s life. She also moved to Daegu in recent years and has adjusted to life there. At first she’s an adversary but when forced to work together and secrets are shared they form a bond. Like all her classmates she too is struggling through puberty and the hot hot Daegu summer.  

Korean dramas love the backdrop of their 2002 world cup to tell a story and I liked the way this drama special incorporated it into the story. Including footage from the various games and how it highlighted that Yi Joon was much more interested in basketball than soccer! 

Overall, I thought this was a well done drama special. I enjoyed the coming of age story set in the early 2000s. If you like youth dramas such as Racket Boys or coming of age stories in general this drama special is definitely worth a watch. 

Rating: 9/10

Watch it:  KOCOWA 

Trailer:  KBS World YouTube

[khaoray]

hello! it's your secret santa again 🎁 and i'm back with a couple of questions for you! i see you like several different shows, but i'd love to hear about a couple of your faves and why you love them. who are some of your beloved characters? who makes you go berserk when you see them? :D i hope you have fun with these, and enjoy your weekend!

hello again, stranger!! i hope you're well. i'm warning you now that this will probably get pretty long bc 1. i am incapable of shutting up and 2. i have many faves for all of these, but i'll try and limit myself asdfg

a couple of my fave shows

just between lovers - it's probably my favourite drama of all time, i just love everything about it. it came into my life at a time when i really needed it and gave me the story of two incredibly broken people picking themselves up and learning to heal and it's stuck with me since i first watched it.

if you wish upon me - for many of the same reasons as jbl tbh. it got me out of a drama slump, it gave me a good ji chang wook drama for the first time in at least five years, it gave me an unconventional romance between two absolutely unhinged idiots, it gave me intergenerational found family

one spring night - the drama that started this blog!! it was the drama that brought me back to watching kdramas after a couple of years away and it will always hold a special place in my heart for that.

some of my beloveds; spoiler alert: i like my men hot, tragic and bitchy

park joong gil - let's just get the obvious out of the way. he thoroughly took over my brain while tomorrow was airing and still lives up there rent free. what can i say, his cunty fashion sense and even cuntier personality bewitched me body and soul. he burns rapists alive. he gaslights the king of the underworld to protect his wife. he has a tragic tm backstory. what's not to obsess over??

jang han seo - my baby boy forever and always. has a character ever fought so hard to become a better person just to have their arc so thoroughly disrespected?? i do not think so!!! he's tragic. he's a bitch. he's an idiot. he's smart as hell. he's the bravest man in the entire world. i love him.

nam seon ho - my og tragic tm boy. he's doomed by the narrative. he's destined for sadness. he is, above all, a nuisance to the people in power who want him to stop talking about social inequality. listen i see a pretty man resign himself to being the villain bc that's the only thing the narrative allows him to be and i am immediately on his side. it's the villain apologist in me <3

people i go beserk over

lee soo hyuk - the things this man does to my mental health cannot be quantified. i look at him and feel like my brain has been dropped into a blender and turned to the highest setting

kwak dong yeon - not only is he insanely pretty he's just insane like this man just opens his mouth and lets whatevers rattling around in his brain come out and it never makes any gd sense but that makes it hilarious and i want to be his best friend

woo do hwan - he's just. the prettiest man. THE PRETTIEST MAN. how does he just. look like that. wtf.

jeon jong seo - a recent addition but she makes me 😵‍😵‍😵‍

[yourmoonandstar]

Category: scene stealer

[imimi7]

Salvation

Hi, it's been a while. Sorry for not being active and not posting , college has been really hectic lately but now my semester is coming to an end so I think I'll be able to give this fanfiction more time. Here is the 2nd chapter. Hope y'all enjoy.

------------------------

Chapter 2: A Marionette

The morning of new beginnings, Jia gets ready for her interview, putting up an elegant white dress. “I will finally get to see the so-called crazy CEO,” she thinks while straightening her hair.

Jia decided to not go to Babel with her uncle and instead took her own car, she did not want him to get involved with her interview or recruitment process. After reaching the company building, she takes her sunglasses off and takes in the sight of the tall standing exquisite building, hiding behind the glamour of which were the sorrows of hundreds of thousands of wronged lives and an endless story of corruption.

“Annyeonghaseyo, I’m here for an interview. Could you please tell me where is it being conducted?” She asks the receptionist.

“I’m sorry, Ma’am, but there are no interviews scheduled as of now.”

“But..I got a call yesterday. I’m here for the CEO’s assistant’s post.”

“OH, are you Miss Han Jia?”

“Yes.”

“My apologies Ma’am, you have already been hired.”

“What? But the interview…” Jia got an idea by now what was going on, she was hired without the interview because she was connected to Wusang’s chairman. She was not quite happy about this but again, nothing fair happens in this company and if this was making her aim easier, then be it. She knew she was not underqualified for the job so that’s not even an issue. Without wasting any more time, she asked for directions to the CEO’s office. She met an employee midway who was taking coffee for the chairman.

“This is for Mr. Jang, right? I will take it.” She knocks at the door and enters with the coffee in her hands. “Good morning, sir.” She walks towards the desk with a slight smile and sets the coffee cup down. “Thank You for hiring me, I will not disappoint you.”

Han Seo gets up from his chair with a bright smile, extending his hand he says, “Jia Ssi, happy to see you. Of course, you won’t disappoint, you are Mr. Seung Hyuk’s niece.”

This guy seemed far from a scary psychopath, Jia thought, shaking his hand firmly. “Thank you, sir. Although, I don’t really get how does my capability depend on my uncle’s name.”

“I am really sorry if it offended you…I-I did not mean that. I meant that your uncle is great at what he does so…it looks like it runs in the family.” He says in an apologizing tone, an innocent and warm smile planted on his face.

“It’s alright. I get that a lot. Is there something you want me to do right now? I will start arranging your schedule right away.”

“Umm..Jia Ssi. You don’t have to be stressed, even the coffee, you did not have to bring it in. We have a lot of employees here and I want you to know that you can just enjoy your time here. Also, there is not particularly any schedule right now.”

Jia stares at him with raised eyebrows, this was perplexing. “What the hell is he saying? I don’t have to work? Why else would he hire me? This guy wants to pay me just for nothing? Is he even the chairman? He does not care about his company how…..” Jia thought, her mind being bombarded with tons of questions, until she realized, “He is..not the owner…not the real one. A marionette, he is a marionette.”

“Jia Ssi? Are you okay? You kind of zoned out for a moment.”

“Yeah..yeah. Sir, I understand why you hired me. But not letting me work is too much, I am taking the salary that a lot of other applicants might have needed desperately, it will only be fair for me to hold this job if I work for this position.”

“Like I said, I have nothing lined up right now.” He did not know what to say, because he was not the one who took decisions. Even if he had something lined up, a meeting, an interview, it would first have to go through the confirmation of Han Seok. He could not order his secretary around because he was not in a position to order. “Perhaps you would like to join me in a shooting game? I and your uncle are meeting up tomorrow.Err..you can…take any important calls while I’m..y’know…busy with the game and make a report of important events later? Would that be fine?”

“Something better than nothing, I would love to. Maybe you will start trusting me more with work then.” She said with a disappointed smile. “I can get a lot of information from you, then. Let’s see, Jang Han Seo, if you are one of the wretched beings here or are just a minor chess piece on their board.”

“Andwae, andwae, Jia Ssi, it’s not that I don’t trust you..”

“It’s alright, you don’t have to explain it to me. Okay then, I will be at my desk. Please call me if you need anything, Sir.”

“Sure..sure. Fighting!” He said with a cheerful grin.

A few minutes later, Han Seo rings up Seung Hyuk, “Your niece seems…very adamant. Actually, it does not really look like I need to look out for her.”

“No..no! See that’s why you need to. Don’t let her do anything. Anything. And especially, don’t let her be anywhere near your brother.”

“Well..she gets really upset when I tell her to not do anything. Don’t worry though, now that we have joined forces, I should look out for you and your family, right?”

“Jeongmal kamsahamnida, hwe jang nim.”

After the work hours are over, Han Seo starts leaving the building and Jia follows. In the parking lot a suspicious toy car comes up to him. Jia watches from a safe distance. Han Seo seems to tell his bodyguards to do something about it and suddenly starts panicking. The toy car follows him wherever he tries to run and hide.

“Bomb. BOMB. It’s a bomb. Do something!” He shouts.

“Who would dare to kill Babel’s chairman in such a whim? Looks like a fragile plan. Well looking at how easily he gets scared, they won’t even need a real bomb.” While thinking that, Jia runs toward the car and kicks it hard with her stilettos, causing it to fly back a bit farther from Han Seo. The timer goes off and what comes out of the toy is not a fiery blast but rather a mocking shower of confetti. Jia walks up to it and picks up the piece of paper which had popped out. Han Seo runs behind her telling her to not touch it.

“HAJIMAA! It’s dangerous.”

“It’s just a paper, Sir. A message for you, I suppose. Someone must have pulled a prank.”

“C….Vin…Aissshh Vincenzo!”

“Vincenzo? The consigliere?”

Han Seo does not reply but the wrinkles of worries on his forehead are enough to tell.

“Sir, you don’t look well. You should go home now, don’t worry about what happened. It is just a prank. If you are still anxious about it, I’ll look into it.”

“No..no..don’t do anything. It’s just a prank, you said? Gwenchana, I’ll be fine.”

“Goodnight, then. Please take care.”

“Vincenzo…shall we meet soon, then?”Jia smirks.

[ryoryeonggu]

#JANG HAN SEO DESERVES BETTER!!!

[wannaeatramyeon]

Lookism Boys: 'I can fix them' list

Don't need no fixing

Sinu Han: The only thing he needs to fix is communication issues because 10 years of pining is just ridiculous. But he's the original big daddy bro boss. Romantic, selfless, kind, funny. Green flag king.

Jake Kim: Learned from the best (see above) and by doing the opposite of his dad.

+ Daniel Park, Vasco, Zack Lee, Jace Park, Jay Hong

I can fix them

Samuel Seo: Hint of inferiority complex. Just a little. Needs someone stable and loyal to keep him in line to help him get over the Gapryong/Gun shit. Hasn't really shown any redeemable traits but we're all weak for Big Deal Golden Era and big tits.

Vin Jin: Killed one person like a million years ago - please get over it. Now just an average school bully. Sorta. Cares and looks out for Mary Kim so he is capable of being good.

Johan Seong: Touch-starved, childish and a little feral. Desperately lonely and needs a friend (that's where you come in). Momma's boy through and through with good intentions deep down.

Ryuhei: Attention-starved. Quick fix would be to redirect his efforts and simping to the right person.

DG: Used to pluck out peoples eyes and take their limbs. No biggie, hasn't done it in a while. Generally reformed but someone should really help keep that urge in check.

+ Xiaolong (can't fix his lack of dong tho), Eli Jang, Hudson Ahn?

Drags you into their insanity (and you would go willingly)

Gun Park: His leopard print shirt can't change its spots. He's a demon and the Shiro Oni. Gets kicks out of people trying to kill him. Obviously unhinged but man's too hot. You will also never compare to UI Daniel Park (who broke his arm, heart and ghosted).

Goo Kim: Tiniest sense of morals saving Vasco and Jace in middle school but this guy is deranged, big sadist vibes. Probably much worse now he's earning the big bucks. Shame because he's a lot of fun and super entertaining.

[dongyeonsimp]

Vincenzo: Ok gang, what have we all accomplished today?

Mr Nam: I found evidence of a money laundering scheme launched by our current enemy.

Vincenzo: That's good but you could've achieved more. What about you, Han Seo?

Han Seo: I helped a snail cross a path in the park today!

Vincenzo: Oh well done. Not many people would've done that but you did! That snail could've been stepped on or eaten by another animal but you saved the day! Have tomorrow off since you're such a hard worker!

Mr Nam: ...

[hanseoxsimp]

hanseo: can we go get ice cream?

vincenzo: did you ask cha-young?

hanseo: she said no :(

vincenzo: then why are you asking me?

hanseo: because she’s not the boss of you

vincenzo, internally: it’s a trap it’s a trap it’s a tr

[sweetestlamb]

Try A Little Tenderness

Summary: Han Seo gets treated with kindness and affection and he doesn’t know how to process these foreign feelings. Also he gets a first eye contact of the mafia couple. 

Author's note: A few of you said you would like to read this so I popped it out real quick in between real life and all that mess, I did something like this for IOTNBO and really enjoyed that sometimes it’s fun to see a relationship from an outsider’s pov. I also saw a few people say that they ship our puppy with a certain someone so I threw in some crumbs because the visuals would be very pretty and good for my health. It has talks of past abuse (see psychopath brother) but I don’t think it’s any darker than the regular show. Happy reading! 

He keeps waiting for the other shoe to drop, for them to realize that he's nowhere near good or smart enough to keep alive such less work so closely to them and listen to their plans. They trust him, he can tell by the way that conversations don't taper off if he comes into the room with another question about how to use the copy machine- there are so many buttons and it's confusing figuring it out by myself.

This first time he sheepishly asks for help after reading articles online and coming no closer to understanding the massive machine, he expects more fanfare; a slap on the cheek, a rap on the forehead or just a simple sigh and "idiot" that he would smile in the face of but the word would stick to his heart for days on end. His eyes were glued to the ground after his inquiry so he missed whatever look they originally gave him but surprisingly enough Ms. Hong stepped forward, he almost flinched as the hand approached his view but instead of pain he just felt warmth on his shoulder.

Guiding him with the hand on his shoulder, she led him back over to the machine and patiently explained all the buttons to him, even smiling gently when he pulled out a little notepad to write down the many directions.

"You really only need these three buttons this is the power button, but this thing is ancient so sometimes it may need a good kick." He jumped marginally at the loud bang of her foot against the side, quickly writing that down as well.

Really old. Needs kick.

"Then you press this button to choose the amount of copies, choose double or single sided and choose with staple and that's it." His eyes darted rapidly trying to keep up with her directions while taking his notes. It sounded simple enough but his brother had taught him that if there was a way to fuck something up, he would find it, naturally. So his nerves skyrocketed when she turned to him with a grin and said, "Are you ready for another test? Make 20 copies of these." She handed him a small stack of papers. 

His heart jerked in his chest and suddenly he was fifteen years old again staring at a test sheet and knowing none of the answers. It was hard to study with the fear of Han Seok barging into his room at any moment to do another sick experiment on him, once he had sliced his finger just to watch it bleed. He'd told his father that he accidentally cut himself while cooking and let the shame wash over him as he got a look that screamed that he was incompetent and pathetic.

"Han Seo? Are you okay? You seem like you're a million miles away." The pretty lawyer's concerned voice brought him back to reality and he could feel the stares of the other men in the room on his skin, Vincenzo being the heaviest. He really didn't want to look stupid on front of the man for some unexplored reason. He swallowed hard before facing the machine, feeling like he was going off to war.

He pressed the big power button, shaken when nothing happened but suddenly remembered his notes and with an almost unnoticeable glance he found his answer, swiftly kicking the beast of a copier he watched it roar to life and almost on autopilot he mimicked the motions that Ms. Hong had just demonstrated and watched in terror as the paper was swallowed and the copies were spit out from the compartment in the bottom.

I did it.

Everything seemed to be in order and the machine hadn't exploded. Yet. 

"Oh."

The triumphant smile that had graced his face slide off like rain on a windowpane.

"I messed up. I'm sorry. Please let me try-"

He was bowing before he could stop himself, shame a familiar friend at this point in his life. There were very little moments that he didn't feel a tsunami of shame crashing over him in a thick heavy sheet.

"You just forget to select stapled. But that's minor, we can just staple them by hand." She responded nonchalantly picking up the copies and bringing them over to the table, "Good job though. Next time you'll probably get it perfect right?"

It was pathetic. He was pathetic. There was no reason for pride to grow in his chest like a mustard seed, he had only completed a basic task. Something that even a monkey could, actually monkeys could do even more complicated tasks.  It was nothing to be proud of. He shouldn't have been smiling as largely as he was, they would think he was insane and kick him out.

But.

She'd said he did a good job. That wasn't a phrase he was used to hearing, he wasn't someone who did anything worth praising. He shuffled away back to the shelves that needed to be organized in alphabetical order, moving a large file to the front of the row unaware that there was an equally huge smile on his face. It stayed there for the rest of the day.

Working there was different from working with his brother. Astronomically. Nobody hit him there, even when he made mistakes. Instead he just got three heads over his shoulder helping him fix said mistake or Mr. Nam pushing his chair out of the way and taking over with only a gentle chide of, "Be careful next time." And it's clear that they all care for and respect each other. It's evident in the way that there's no clear hierarchy at the law firm, when they have meetings they alternate on who makes the coffee for the team, take turns buying meals and they are all allowed to speak and share their ideas without waiting for approval. It's nothing like he's used to and it makes him wonder if this is normal and what he's used to is...not.

It's enough to overwhelm him.

Then something catches his attention in the peripheral of his eye, Ms. Hong impatiently goes to take a sip of her coffee ignoring Vincenzo's firm warning against doing so and she flinches at the heat of the beverage, sticking out her tongue instantly after the first sip, blowing and huffing theatrically- something he's grown used to seeing from her. This isn't what shocks him though, it's Vincenzo's reaction. Immediately he walks over to the water cooler, filling a little paper cup before bringing it back over to her and thrusting the cool liquid into her outstretched hands.

"I told you to be careful." He says voices filled with exasperation as she gulps down the water, shooting him puppy dog eyes.

"I thouf it mould be cool enouf." She replies around her extended tongue and he watches the interaction with wide eyes, that only grow larger when the murderous Mafia member picks up the lawyers mug of steaming liquid and starts to blow on her coffee, his lips puckered into a perfect o. Ms. Hong watches absently as if this is expected behavior and after a few minutes, Vincenzo takes a sip of her coffee deeming it cool enough before handing it back to her. She takes a sip dangerously close to the spot his mouth had just occupied and hums at the temperature, shooting him a brilliant smile. To his utter surprise the usually stoic Mafia member smiles back fondly, before walking off to make a call. Ms. Hong watches him walk away before realizing that he's watching their interaction and a delicate blush blossoms in her cheeks before she stutters walking off to her table.

He glances between the two with his head tilted. Feeling curious.

Once he starts looking it's almost indecent how often the two touch each other, Vincenzo's hand never too far from Ms. Hong's back or arm and she never reacts to the sudden touches, no flinching or tensing up when a foreign hand is suddenly on her person. That's a new concept for him, he doesn't like surprise touches.

Then there's the fact that Mr. Cassano never allows Ms. Hong to hold anything, when she comes bustling through the doors with bags in her hand the smell of pasta permeating the room the older man is already making his way across the room tugging the bags from her hands wordlessly. He places them carefully on the table before smoothly dragging out her chair and guiding her into it with a hand on her waist.

"I brought your favorite. Authentic Italian food." She smirks up at him, opening the containers and he feels his mouth water at the tantalizing aroma that fills the room even more than before.

"It smells amazing! Where did you find authentic Italian food?" He asks inserting himself into their conversation and for a minute, he second guesses himself gearing up for a blow. But it never comes and Ms. Hong waves him closer, pushing a container of thick noodles in his direction.

"Are you hungry? Here have some!" She shoves chopsticks into his hand and watches him eagerly and he can do nothing but follow her orders, stuffing the tomato sauce drenched noodles into his mouth. When he looks up he sees that they are both watched him avidly, awaiting his review and he smiles around his bulging cheeks putting up two thumbs.

"It's delicious! Best Italian food I've ever had!" He stares excitedly and he's unprepared for Vincenzo's sudden glare, it's the first time the man has thrown such a look his way he gulps nervously at the unnerving sight.

"What- did I say something wrong?" He warily asks watching the Italian man angrily stomp off whilst muttering something indecipherable to him but that makes Ms. Hong smile mischievously, grabbing the container and chasing after the fleeing man.

"Stop being a snob! Have some, say ahhhh!" He can't comprehend the sight that he's watching, dumbfounded as the petite lawyer hangs on Mr. Cassano's arm and tries to feed him the Italian food.

"No! I don't want it, stop! Why do you keep bringing that here?" The Italian Mafia boss whines pushing her away but he notes that he never pushes her too hard, his shoves are very soft barely rocking her slight body. When she starts to chase him around the room, Han Seo can only watch in shock the behavior too childish for him to reconcile that these are the same people who have been thwarting all his brother's plans. Not even Mr. Nam entering the office is enough to stop their shenanigans and in the end it's Vincenzo who admits defeat, backed into a wall. Han Seo waits for her to give him the food and for this moment to come to an end. But neither one of them make a move, frozen against the wall staring at each other looking a million miles away.

It's then that it clicks for him.

They are more than just partners. 

When one of the various plaza tenants burst through the doors only then is the tense moment severed, Ms. Hong jumps back flustered thrusting her hand at his face and Mr. Cassano has to open his mouth lest he get smashed in the jaw. He watches amused as a grimace crosses the older man's face as he swallows the food as if it's poison.

Ms. Hong flies across to help the cute pianist that he's seen around a plaza a few times. He stares at her from under his bangs, looking away when she catches his eyes. Coughing loudly he walks away to do something important that doesn't involve losing his wits because of a pretty girl. Maybe he can talk to Mr. Cassano later just to ask about her, there's nothing wrong with being curious about your neighbors after all.

He doesn't know where else to go so he comes to Jipuragi, letting out a sigh of relief when he sees all the lights off. He pulls the key that Mr. Nam gave him from his pocket, still in disbelief that they trusted him enough to give him a key to the establishment. He had blinked away tears when the older man pushed the small metal object into his hands, it felt like a huge responsibility. Almost like he was being accepted into their makeshift family. It was far more than he deserved. 

Sitting down on his chair, he lets the agony wash over him. His cheek is throbbing, sore and swollen from the open handed slaps against the skin. Their stocks had dropped again from all the accusations and bad publicity, and his brother had once again taken it out on him berating him like a dog before kicking me out. It's nothing new, nothing he's never experienced before but it feels worst. Now that he's been around people who don't treat him like he's dirt, it hurts even more to go back to the old ways. He's so lost in thought he doesn't notice the door opening or the person creeping inside.

"What are you doing here?"

He jumps at the unexpected voice, twisting in his seat panicked. His heart rate settles once he sees the cool eyes of the man he's grown to respect. Vincenzo Cassano. He slumps in his seat, no excuses coming to mind and then it's too late and the other man is crossing the room and taking a seat across from him.

Those cold eyes narrow as they search his face, "What happened to your face?"

Images of his brother looming over him and slapping him on the ground flood his mind, along with his screams of pain as he pleads for him to stop. Then visions of a much smaller version of himself pleading similarly as his brother pulled his hair and laughed at his cries. He's crying before he ever realizes that the tear has condensed. 

Vincenzo tenses across the table, looking lost and uncomfortable.

It only makes him cry harder. It's so much better than getting hit.

Without a word the Mafia boss stands up pushing his chair away, stomping powerfully to the door. He watches alarmed before finding his voice and calling out, "Where are you going?"

The man looks at him darkly answering, "To kill your brother."

He gapes at the statement said so matter of fact and a bubble of laughter rises to the surface, making him chuckle through his tears. He rears back further at the other man's blatant confusion following his outburst, feeling freer than he's ever felt because this is the first time someone has tried to defend him.

It feels nice. Better than nice, unbelievable.

His heart thumps as he looks at the other man that he has every reason to be scared of but instead he feels safer than ever in his presence, it almost feels like what a brother should. A real brother not the one that he has who would kill him tomorrow without batting an eyelash.

"He's not done suffering yet. But thank you." Vincenzo shifts awkwardly at his show of gratitude never accepting of thanks something he has noticed while observing the enigmatic man, he vaguely wonders what this man has been through to make the complicated person he sees in front of him. Maybe one day he'll ask.

"Well if you're going to stay here, there's a bed up there."

Impulsively he replies, "Have you ever used it before? Is it really okay for me to use?"

He's met with a puzzled look, which he returns with a calculating one and then he spares a quick glance over to Ms. Hong's table and the gears click and Vincenzo is tomato faced and yelling, "Watch your mouth you brat! Do you want a beating?"

It shouldn't be funny with his face still throbbing from a beating just hours earlier, but he laughs so much his stomach hurts and that pain dulls the ache in his face.

"Oh my goodness what happened to your face?" He's barely able to get out an answer before Ms. Hong is jogging across the room, ever so gently catching his face in her small warm hands. Immediately he's reminded of his mother and he has to look away before he embarrasses himself.

He mumbles a lie about tripping but she's already sending a ferocious knowing look over to her partner and he watches their silent conversation with large eyes, until her voice breaks the pregnant pause.

"I can't wait until we kill that punk. How dare he put a hand on you? I'll go get some medicine, you-" she points to Vincenzo, "get him some ice before it starts to swell." The man automatically follows her instructions, looking like a dutiful husband.

And that's how Mr. Nam finds them, Vincenzo pressing ice wrapped in towels against his cheek as Ms. Hong squeezes creamy ointment onto her finger and smears it across his cheek. He blames his glossy eyes on the pain in his cheek and not the one in his chest.

It's his first time walking around the plaza and he tries to ignore the suspicious eyes that trail him, he knows that they know him as their enemy's brother and underling so he doesn't blame them for not trusting him, he would do the same. The clang of piano keys catches his attention and leads him to the source of the noise like a siren luring lost men, he watches transfixed through the glass as delicate fingers fly across the keys in a frenzy. It’s mesmerizing. 

He was forced to get piano lessons when he was younger, he was surprisingly good at it even better than Han Seok thus his brother became enraged and smashed his fingers putting a permanent end to his lessons.

The music lulls him into a sense of comfort so much so he doesn't realize when it ends and the small pianist notices that she has an audience.

When he finally looks up and catches her eye, he freaks out expecting her to look at him like all the others have today so he's unprepared for the door to slide open and for her to beckon him in with a crooked finger. He walks in almost as if in a trance, she's so pretty it's almost unnatural a supernatural glow surrounding her in her white flowing dress.

"How does it feel working at Jipuragi?" She asks suddenly catching him off guard, he sputters before taking a deep breath and looking away before replying, "I feel useful. It's....new."

That's all he can disclose and honestly it's more than he intended on saying but a knowing smile stretches across her pale face.

"Vincenzo, he's someone special who can make others feel special too." He smarts at the clear adoration in her voice, of course. She liked Vincenzo too. Every woman at this plaza probably did, the Italian was much more appealing than he would ever be- naturally charismatic and handsome, every woman's dream.

He smiles defeated stepping further into the space, running his fingers longingly across the piano keys. Something else that just wasn't meant for him.

"You like him too. It makes sense, he's really cool." He whispers, self deprecation swaddling him like a blanket. 

It's obvious who else he's referring to only Vincenzo and Ms. Hong seem to be in denial at this point everyone else assuming that they're already dating.

She doesn't deny his accusation. It's his own fault for having hope but that knowledge does nothing to tamper the hurt that rumbles in his chest. 

She hums before walking closer to him, fingers trailing across the black and white keys.

"I did. But they're good together."

He stills in shock, lightly pressing down on the key beneath his finger the sound vibrating through his skin. Then she presses another key that rings harmoniously with his and he can't not look over at her and he jolts breath stuck in his throat when he finds her already staring at him with a serene smile, "There are a lot of interesting people here though, someone else has caught my eye."

He plays the final note to fulfil the chord they started and their eyes never leave the other, music floating on the air between them.

Full. He’s never known what that felt like before but now he feels full of everything and he can't go back, can't ever go back to the way things once were.

There’s no looking back, only forward. 

[twilightofthejedi]

let’s be honest, the real star of today’s episode was han-seo

from walking in and sitting next to vin, copying vins mannerisms and generally acting like his younger brother, to CEOing and rejecting mr han, to the very end, when he finally acted out against han seok?

king shit

[helianthus21]

my approach to han seo’s crimes is so complex like on the one hand, the atrocities are part of him and on a narrative level I like how their existence pave the way for a redemption arc which makes his character much more fleshed out, on the other hand, i can understand from his perspective that years of domestic abuse combined with the toxic love/dependency he has towards his brother have made him 1) frustrated and inclined towards violence himself and 2) desperate to please his brother for that rarerely given Han seok version of “I’m proud of you” (i.e. “wow you didn’t completely mess up that one”) in order to receive a) that low-dose fix on affection of questionable quality and b) that side benefit that if he makes himself useful to Han seok he might manage to postpone the death sentence he has been expecting probably ever since he got to know his brother, all while being conscious of the fact that he is directly or indirectly responsible for the deaths of many but mostly

mostly i just think he’s cute and like, that’s understandable have a nice day:)

[apriling-my-way]

ok i love kdramas and all but I’ve watched vincenzo and im not able to enjoy any other show ???? Like the story, the suspense, the chemistry . Urgh. Please suggest some nice kdrama if there is that i can watch 😔😔