#jin endlessly

[gio-cosmo]

Real & true (every time I come across Jin content I react as if I won the lottery)

[thatswhatsushesaid]

currently thinking about just how much su minshan was willing to sacrifice--of himself, and of other people who relied on and trusted in him--to protect jin guangyao

goes 2 my knees, clutches my hair

[bangtanhoesthings]

My goodness!!!

The entitlement I’ve witnessed on Twitter is honestly heartbreaking. I am sure it extends to other platforms too but this is where I have encountered it. It's as if some people have forgotten that the Tannies are human. They are real people with emotions, limits, and lives outside of the spotlight. They are not simply a source of entertainment who should be expected to perform endlessly just to satisfy fleeting demands.

I’ve come across posts that made me pause in disbelief. Some are said in jest, but the tone of some has hostile undertones:

1. I’m so disappointed in Yoongi. We waited for him for two years and not even a live or a picture?

2. It is so dry on ARMY twt, where is the OT7 content we’ve been waiting on for three years? Bighit should have organised something like never before seen behind the scenes or the footage kept in their vault.

3. Where the hell is Jimin? Why has Jungkook not gone live yet? At least we’ve had updates for Tae and Joon.

And am there like, 'I BEG YOUR FINEST PARDON?'

Hobi and Jin (aside from Run Jin) largely stayed away for a while since completing their military service. Hobi even stayed for a month in US trying to recuperate. That time might have been spent making music but they also took time to rest and reset. They had just spent two years in a rigid, exhausting environment. They deserved time to decompress, to reconnect with themselves, and to rediscover who they were outside the structure of military life. But instead of allowing the others the same grace, many fans are already demanding their immediate return to the spotlight. Like WTF????

My beautiful poet Joonie literally talked about loosing his spark and motivation for writing music and you want him to jump into doing what exactly? 🤬🤬🤬🤬 Let that man heal.

And what do you mean by lack of content? We have been bombarded with it for the past 2 years to the point of fatigue (at least for me). We are still getting content. Hobi is promoting KIG and we have a tour that starts in one week !!!!

People need to remember that these men are not machines. They’re not content factories or characters in a show we binge when it suits us (though going by how people talk about them including here, that may be exactly how y'all see them. "What if it's"...."what if they are" ....Oh shut up, let them be).

They are sons, brothers, friends, and human beings who laugh, cry, grow, and sometimes break under pressure. Let’s not reduce them to expectations, we owe them more than that. We need to let go of the idea that they owe us constant access, and instead, hold space for their growth, healing, and lives beyond the stage. Because before they are idols, they are people. And people deserve to be seen, not consumed.

[summer-nights19]

Hellooooo <3

I saw your post about Tokyo Debunker and I would like to know your headcanon about guys with a partner who is shy about showing affection (hugs, kisses…,). It can be with the boys you want, although, could you add Rui and Yuri? I'm so curious how that dynamic would work with them, since one literally can't be touched and the other is a complete Tsundere haha

Thank you in advance, many hugs and kisses ✨️

Hi Anon <3 I honestly love this

Characters: Frostheim, Vagastrom, Jabberwock, Hotarubi (+ Rui and Yuri)

Jin

Oh God. He loves flustering you (he obviously won't do it in public - he has a reputation to uphold !)

Has you sit on his lap, cups your chin, wraps an arm around your waist ... you name it

Thinks it's adorable how shy you are about physical contact. Although that's something that he won't tell you (at least not at first) he definitely teases you about how easy it is to get you to become a blushing mess

Will find any excuse to hold your hand "to enhance his stigma" (he really just likes seeing how red you get)

Tohma

He thinks it's so cute that you get that flustered from the slightest

Isn't big on physical contact in public, especially at the start of the relationship, but will "accidentally" brush his arm against your or touch your hand if you're both reaching for the same thing

The most he'll do in public is cup your face or kiss the back of your hand

Acts all innocent afterwards while delighting in how flustered you look

"My, MC, do you feel OK ? You've gone quite red,"

Luca

It took him a little while to realise that you got flustered easily - at first, he freaked out because he thought he had done something wrong or you were suddenly feeling unwell

Like the gentleman he is, he'd never deliberately fluster you in public - he hates the idea of embarrassing you by mistake. Honestly, the most he'd do is hold your hand (if you're ok with that), link arms, or kiss the back of your hand when he's greeting you

In private though it's a whole different question

He's very gentle, especially at the start - hugs, kisses on the cheek, hand holding ... but that doesn't mean he finds it any less cute when your cheeks become bright red

Kaito

Ah yes the boyfailure

You two are a match made in heaven

It takes him a WHILE to notice how flustered you are because while you're freaking out and blushing, he's busy doing the exact same thing

After a lot of talking to each other (and taking it slow) you both begin to relax more about physical affection, though it takes a of encouragement and reassurance for him to reach that stage

As your "knight", he'll try to initiate any physical contact. However, if you decide to initiate anything, especially in the early stages, he will literally combust

Alan

A bit wary of touching you at first, just because he's used to putting up so many walls to protect himself, and the idea of being intimate is scary at first

He's also terrified of hurting you by mistake - even if you're pretty tough, he's a ghoul, and one of the strongest ones at that, so he'll still see you as fragile

However, after some time passes, he'd start to initiate things like hand holding or cuddling. Sometimes, he'll even pull you onto his lap

When he first saw you flustered you got, he was worried he'd done something wrong. However, after he understood that you were just a bit shy about physical contact, he found it so sweet

Won't try to fluster you in public, but now he can't keep his hands off of you when you guys are alone <3

Sho

He understands why you're blushing straight away and teases you endlessly about it

Will definitely fluster you a bit in public - he secretly loves PDA because it makes him feel like you belong to him

However, most of that is left for when you guys are in private - he'll shower you with praise and kisses

Definitely spoon feeds you your food sometimes or does the whole "you have something on your lips" thing as an excuse to kiss you

If you're cooking together, he'd 100% hug you from behind while instructing you (not that it's easy to focus with his body and the smell of his cologne that close to you)

Leo

He also teases you constantly, but a bit more maliciously about it than Sho

"Oh gross, Honor Roll. Why are you getting all red ? I bumped into you by mistake,"

Even though he won't admit it, he'll try to fluster you subtly because seeing his reaction is a huge ego boost for him (he also finds it adorable, but you'd have to torture that out of him)

It takes Leo a while to become more deliberate about physical contact, but when he does, he's all about PDA - he loves showing you off and seeing you blush when he's doing it

Haru

When you guys first become close, his touch starts off very platonic - a hanc in your shoulder, a friendly hug, that kind of thing

However, when he sees how flustered you get after you two start dating and he becomes more intimate, it has a bigger impact on him then he'd thought

Definitely teases you in a good natured way and tries to make you blush if you two are alone

When he's worn out from all his chores, he'll call you yo his room so he can cuddle you

Ren

Although he's completely in denial about it, he's also a flustered mess

He's not used to physical affection and is a bit closed off, so it takes him a bit to start exploring that area of your relationship

He'd definitely pretend it's accidental at first- something like your fingers brushing or your legs touching when you're sitting next to each other

When he sees how pink your cheeks become, he grows even more flustered - why are you so adorable

"Wh- Hey MC, what are you staring at ? You're going all red like an idiot,"

Despite his efforts to hide it, you make him just as flustered

Over time, with a lot of patience (mostly on your end) you guys begin to feel more calm about physical affection. However, it'll definitely stay private as Ren is not into PDA at all

Towa

Another guy who keeps his hands constantly on you - he's so clingy

Whenever he sees you, he'll hug you hard and for a long period of time.

Since night is the only time you get to hear his voice properly, you two often go out then and fall asleep cuddling under the stars

When he noticed you got flustered, he didn't have much of a reaction to it - he just kissed your cheek before continuing to hug you

Subaru

As a gentleman, and someone who's quite shy, Subaru doesn't do much physical contact at first, limiting himself to hugging you, holding your hand and giving you brief kisses when you guys are alone

At first, your reaction concerned him that he'd crossed a boundary by mistake. However, it was weirdly comforting for him when he realised you were flustered, because, despite not showing it, he felt exactly the same way

Would never fluster you deliberately, although he thinks you look cute - he's just too much of a gentleman. However, he'll definitely begin showing more physical affection as you both grow more used to it

Haku

Despite his charming act, this man loves touching you at every chance he gets. He won't even bother to hide it

Holds your hand everywhere you go and always pats your head/ruffles your hair after hugging you. When he's seated, he definitely loves having you on his lap

He likes PDA, but is also more than OK with only showing physical affection in private - it's ultimately up to you

Teases you a little bit about how much you're blushing, but it's mostly in a flirty way - he honestly thinks you're adorable

Zenji

Positively beamed when he saw how much you were blushing after he tried to hug you - he finds it so sweet that even the idea of his touch makes you react like that

Although he can't technically touch you yet, he keeps working on it. For now, he just tells you what he'd like to do with you, and he finds it delightful if that's enough to fluster you

He's too much of a gentleman to try to fluster you publicly but he'll definitely do it in private

Gets so clingy if he ever does find a way to touch you

Taiga

He's super clingy - it's surprising if you manage to leave his side at all

Definitely has you on his lap while he gambles to "act as a lucky charm" (show you off to the casino patrons)

If he's lounging about in his room, he'll definitely want to make out or sleep with you

Finds it cute when you get flustered and goes out 6 his way to make you blush at every chance he gets

Romeo regularly tells him to get a room

If he catches one of the other casino patrons looking at you, that guy will go missing by tomorrow, and your neck will be full of love bites to remind you of who you belong to

Fico Romeo

Romeo finds it endearing when you get so flustered, but he has a reputation to uphold, so he won't be telling you that anytime soon

Although his PDA is pretty limited, he'll still link arms or drape an arm around your waist so the rest of the casino knows you're his

When you're alone, he definitely gets an ego boost from flustering you deliberately (he also gets a lot more handsy - loves when you sit on his lap as he works on his desk)

He'd definitely say something like "Hey, BB ! Come over here," before pulling you into his lap

He'll tease you about how stupid you look when you're going all red, but he actually loves it

Ritsu

Honestly, physical affection isn't really his thing, so it would take ages for him to notice that it flusters you

He smirks slightly when he sees your cheeks going red - you're just adorable

Definitely not one for PDA. He also doesn't show much physical affection in private compared to others, but he does enjoy it when you guys share an intimate moment

Rui

The fact that his curse means that he can't touch you is the biggest source of heartbreak in his life, although he doesn't let you see that

He yearns for the day that you're both cured and he can hold you and let his hands explore your body, imaginig how you'd react

His fantasies are spurred on when he realises that you get flustered so easily - he thinks you look so adorable when you blush

In the meantime, he tells you about everything he wants to do to you and showers you with praise. This guy is a massive flirt

If Rui could touch you, he'd enjoy PDA - he'd love showing you off on his arm to the rest of the academy

Yuri

Yuri would never tell anyone this , but it takes him some time to feel secure enough in your relationship to start exploring physical contact. The very fact that he's considering it is off putting to him - it was just never something he thought he'd want or need

At first, he uses your checkups as an excuse to touch you - he lets his hands linger a bit longer than necessary and helps you put on your patient robe because "you're taking too long"

Seeing how much you're blushing honestly just makes him freak out more - you just look way too cute

Starts insulting you and telling you to stop looking at him like that

However, after passing the early stages of the relationship (and after you show him a lot of patience) you start showing each other proper physical affection in private

He's not really the type to go out of his way to fluster you, but he'll definitely tease you light heartedly

Masterlist

[seraphimapaxley]

Scenario #1

A scenario where Jin Woo's mother finally awakens from her eternal slumber.

Sung Jinwoo x reader.

Reminder: reader also has the system abilities like Jinwoo,both of them already knew each other.

The Call Beneath the Silent Night

Y/n sat on the edge of a tall building, legs dangling over the city as she let the night breeze cool her skin. The stars stretched endlessly above her, shimmering softly in the deep blue sky. Below, the city lights flickered, life moving on as always.

She was simply admiring the peacefulness of it all—until a familiar chime echoed in her ears.

Her system notification.

[ Incoming Call: Sung Jinwoo. ]

Y/n blinked, surprised. Jinwoo rarely used the system to call her directly.

Without hesitation, she accepted.

“Jin—”

She froze.

From the other end, she heard a sharp inhale, a shaky breath… and then—a sob.

Her heart clenched.

“Jinwoo?” she called, softer this time.

Silence.

Then, finally, his voice—hoarse, raw, trembling with emotion.

“…She’s awake.”

Y/n stiffened.

For a moment, her mind went blank, but then—the weight of those words crashed into her like a wave.

His mother…

Jinwoo’s mother had finally woken up.

Her throat tightened, her grip on the edge of the building squeezing.

“…Jinwoo.”

“I…” His voice wavered. “I did it.”

Y/n could hear the sheer relief in his tone, the years of burden that had finally lifted off his shoulders.

All his battles, all his suffering, the countless times he had nearly lost himself—all for this moment.

And now… he had won.

Y/n’s lips parted, but no words came. What could she even say?

A chuckle—weak, breathless—came from the other side. “I thought I’d be stronger than this… But I—I just—”

“You don’t have to be strong right now,” Y/n whispered.

Jinwoo fell silent.

She took a breath, steadying her voice. She wanted him to hear it, to feel it.

“I’m proud of you.”

Another shaky breath.

“I mean it,” she continued, her voice warm. “No matter how much weight you had to carry, no matter how hard it was… You made it. You did it.”

Jinwoo exhaled, slow and deep.

“…Yeah.”

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Just the quiet sound of their breathing, the weight of emotions passing between them.

Then, Y/n smiled.

“I’ll be there,” she said softly. “Wait for me.”

Jinwoo didn’t hesitate.

“…Always.”

As the call ended, Y/n lowered the system screen, her heart still pounding.

Then—she stood.

Her gaze lifted toward the sky, the stars above shining brighter than ever.

She took a deep breath, her chest swelling with something indescribable.

Happiness.Pride.And an unshakable certainty—

That Jinwoo had won his greatest battle.

And she would always be there to remind him of that.

[heyimkana]

Mother i crave sustenance.. 😩

May i ask for crumbs on how yandere fiancee jinwoo and reader met if you don't mind?

OOOOOOH YANDERE FIANCÉ JINWOO, OH HOW I HAVE MISSED YOU SO 😭

Okay, so… yandere-fiancé!Jinwoo is basically just husband!Jinwoo but, like… a thousand times more extreme when it comes to showing his affection 😌. He’s not creepy or an obsessive stalker from the start. That happened after he fell in love with her—which didn’t take long, actually, because the second he thought that girl was precious, he already promised himself he’d never let her go 😌

So they met in a pretty normal way. Maybe at a coffee shop, or she bumped against his shoulder by accident or something. Or maybe she was one of the civilians he saved when a dungeon break happened.

In my head, their first meeting happened during a rainy day. Jinwoo had just stepped out of his building (the one he used for his guild’s office) in his sexy black trench coat, and he looked at the sky and huffed, because man, it's pouring down heavily. He could’ve used Shadow Exchange to teleport, but after that one case with Jinah, he decided to use it for emergencies only. He could summon Kaisel too ofc but since he’d been all over the news the last time that happened, he decided to just wait for it to pass.

But then this girl showed up and started talking to him. “You’re Sung Jinwoo, right?” she asked, then introduced herself. “I work in the same building. First floor. You didn’t bring an umbrella?”

She was pretty. So pretty. But that wasn’t the first thing that caught his attention. It was her voice. How soft, and delicate, and just so warm. And he liked the way she said his name. She said it like she cared. Like he wasn't just some guy or a hero needed to save the world, but like a friend. “Yeah, I forgot to bring one.”

“Guess an S-Rank Hunter can be forgetful too, huh?” she chuckled.

Jinwoo smiled. He didn’t think he would, but he did. And it happened so easily, so naturally, as if part of him already wanted to from the start. “You have no idea.” (he’s our forgetful king LMAOOO)

“I’m about to go to the convenience store. You wanna tag along? You can get yourself an umbrella there.”

Usually, he’d refuse (’cause he’s introverted like that), but the words “Would that be okay?” had already left his mouth before he could think them through.

“Of course. Let me be the hero this time,” she joked. Pretty lame, and she was embarrassed by it, but Jinwoo’s gaze just turned soft. He found her endearing.

“Thank you,” he said, stretching out his hand. “May I?” He offered to hold the umbrella for her (’cause he’s a gentleman and wanted to make sure she didn’t get wet 😌).

And they went to the store after that, but instead of buying himself an umbrella and leaving, they both ended up spending two hours at the store, sitting beside each other, eating instant noodles and drinking cheap coffees, just talking endlessly. She was cute. Her gestures were adorable when she got nervous. And she always asked questions about him that he didn’t think she’d ask—unpredictable in a way, but never annoying.

By the time they finished talking, the sun was out.

“Guess you bought that umbrella for nothing,” she said, and Jinwoo just smiled. “I’ll see you around, Hunter Sung.”

“I told you to call me by my name.”

“Hunter Sung is your name.” But when he rolled his eyes playfully at her, she smiled—so beautifully, so endearingly, and so genuinely. “I’ll see you later, Jin.”

And he couldn’t help it. His fingers had already reached out to curl around her wrist before she could take a step away. He immediately let go when she turned around, though, not wanting to make her uncomfortable. “Sorry.”

“Jinwoo?”

God, he loved the way she said his name. “Tomorrow. After you’re done with work. Wanna go get dinner together?”

Her eyes widened, her cheeks heating. “Me?”

He nodded. “I mean… unless you don’t want—”

“I want to,” she said, sheepish. “I don’t have any, um, plans.”

“Oh… all right, well… guess I’ll pick you up at, I don’t know, seven?”

“Yeah.” She smiled—soft, sweet. “Yeah, that would be nice.”

“Great.” He mirrored her expression. “You can pick the place. I’m down with anything you want.”

“Anything but instant noodles?” she jest.

And he laughed—quiet, but genuine. “Honestly, that’d be okay too.”

[szasfuckingwife]

Uncle!sukuna who (secretly) absolutely adores his nephew Yuji. When the boy was born, Sukuna was relentless in taunting Jin that Yuji looked like him more. Jin just smiles. He loves his brother and his son.

Uncle!Sukuna who has no idea how to look after a two year old. Jin is constantly running after Sukuna after his brother nearly causes Yuji to fall over. The baby boy giggles endlessly as his uncle throws him to the sky and catches him. It’s all in good fun.

Uncle! Sukuna who teaches 5 year old Yuji to defend himself after he comes home crying over some kids who were picking on him. Surprisingly, hearing Jin tell his son that he promises to talk to the parents lit a flame under Sukuna. He was angry, no, pissed. Let’s say those kids were told about themselves from Sukuna directly!!

Uncle!Sukuna who has a wave of guilt wash over him when his girlfriend shows him a positive pregnancy test. He’s excited and so happy for the both of you. But, how would Yuji feel? Would he be jealous? After all Sukuna was less of an uncle but more of a second father.

But much to his surprise Yuji is the sweetest older cousin to his younger baby cousin. And Dad!Sukuna is a great with his baby girl.

[letteredlettered]

Hi! I would love to read a JC and WWX post and how it is diff from what you’ve seen in western media!

I'd already started writing a JC post, so I wrapped that in to answer your question.

I follow a few JC fans so I see the backlash to the haters more than I see any haters, but apparently there’s some question in some people’s mind about whether Jiang Cheng loves Wei Wuxian, and I find that a little silly. That said, I think that to understand MDZS’s JC at all, you cannot just read the surface, so if you’re not thinking about him as a person or giving him any consideration beyond what other characters say and think of him, you’re not doing him justice. You’re also not going to see that he loves WWX and also loves several other people quite deeply, because a) JC's never going to be affectionate in his dialogue, b) JC's not going to even be affectionate in his body language or minor actions, and c) WWX, the main viewpoint character, is never once going to think about whether JC likes him or loves him.

Lots of posts have outlined better than I will how deeply loves not only WWX, but also his family, in particular JL. The short version is: JC’s his major flaws are all related to him loving his parents and getting shown very little affection in return—none at all from his father and only some in a backhanded way from his mother, usually in comparison to WWX.

As for Jin Ling, JC threatens him all the time, and even shoves him around a bit, but Jin Ling obviously adores JC and feels adored. JC is the one Jin Ling goes to when he's crying; JC is also the one who leaps to JL's side when JL is hurt. JL knows he's in trouble with JC when JL does something unsafe, but JL knows that his own safety is the most important thing in JC's life. Tellingly, JL rarely takes any of JC's threats seriously, and even tells other people said threats are bogus.

Then there’s WWX. Even while JC is berating WWX endlessly for making their clan look bad, he is literally carrying around WWX on his back. He is protecting WWX with everything he has. He sacrifices himself to the Wens to WWX won't get caught. After their falling out, after WWX lied to him for years and got their sister killed, JC still can't even stop himself from protecting WWX when WWX might get hurt by JGY's guqin string.

The guy is willing to throw himself on the fire for anyone he loves. Just heaven forbid he express any of it. But because he does not express love through speech, Wei Wuxian (who I will point out is a talker) doesn't understand this about Jiang Cheng—and this is shown to be a consistent flaw that WWX has. He also does not understand that LWJ is in love with him, despite LWJ defying all of society to follow him around and lift him onto donkeys whenever WWX gets droopy.

But I'd add the pretty much no one, other than Jin Ling, understands this about Jiang Cheng. If the cultivation world had understood JC, they would not have believed that JC and WWX had actually had a falling out. Part of the reason people don't know him is the same reason JC has such a terrible time with everything—WWX steals everyone's attention, praise, and fear wherever they go. No one is really looking at JC to admire his devotion or his loyalty, because WWX is there, doing it better than him, always. Imagine LWJ+WWX hadn’t defeated the Tortoise of Slaughter and had just been holed up in that cave for six days. All anyone would’ve talked about was how deeply JC must love his shixiong to make it back in such record time. It would all be “heroic rescue” this “unflagging loyalty” that. But instead, LWJ+WWX  had to really just steal the limelight.

In fact, the book is partly about the fact that people don't analyze people's actions too deeply. They believe what they hear. They believe what they want to believe. JC really can just say "I reject WWX" and they believe it. JGS can really just say "WWX is evil" and they believe it. Everybody says LWJ is perfect, so they believe he can't be a cut-sleeve who is in love with WWX. And WWX, who knows better than anyone that rumors aren't true, believes it too.

Even after WWX's death, JC's reputation is locked onto WWX. I do think this is JC’s own fault, given that he can’t accept his brother’s death and is obsessed with him but idk. Canon demonstrates that there’s a huge difference between what JC says he’ll do if he finds WWX and what JC actually does, and it’s not because LWJ is in the way. But no one really seems to pay attention to the difference between what JC says and what he actually does when the chips are down, except JL, so it’s no wonder everyone says he has torture dungeons, no matter how ludicrous that is.

I think what makes JC’s love for WWX particularly complex, and particularly incomprehensible in the eyes of the cultivation world, is WWX's position in JC's family. JC thought of WWX as a brother. He loved him like a brother. And yet JC was deeply aware that WWX wasn't his brother. JC's mom made sure that JC was deeply aware of that at all times, and you know what, so did his dad. And then, the rest of the cultivation world constantly talked about the fact that WWX was not a part of the family, that the Jiang Clan raised him like a son but he was really the son of a servant. MXTX expertly shows that this fact gets trotted out whenever WWX does something questionable--when WWX is brilliant, he's a lauded member of the clan, but when he is bad, he is of low-birth and adopted through charity. The truth is, it’s an unusual relationship for a world in which there’s a pretty big different between your clan (blood relatives) and sect.

How can JC hold both of these truths in his head? What makes it bearable for JC is that when they grow up, JC will be the Sect Leader and WWX will be his right-hand man; they will do everything together; they will be brilliant together; they never have to worry about blood or debt then, because then it won't matter whether they're brothers or best friends; the difference won't matter. They can both be the head of a family that they love. Except that doesn't happen.

JC’s parents die, and WWX disappears. I will, at this point in my understanding and credit to Jiang Cheng, say that the part about JC I find hardest to swallow is that he partially blames his parents' death on WWX. Yes, WWX stayed behind in the cave of the Tortoise of Slaughter to save LWJ, and yes, this meant that Wen Chao and WLJ have a particular grudge against him, which they use as partial excuse to attack Lotus Pier, but by god, that's a stretch. Lotus Pier would have been attacked anyway, and the fact that JC even partly blames the attack on WWX has far more to do with what his mom said about WWX showing off for the glory and bringing down the wrath of the Wens than it has to do with reality. YZY is going to say anything she can about how WWX being a hero with the Tortoise of Slaughter was actually a bad thing, because it's so fucking painful for her that WWX is a fucking legend when her son just . . . isn't.

As JGY points out, they were in fact the strongest sect once WWX comes back from the Burial Mounds and fights the Sunshot Campaign with JC. They could have been the power couple of JC’s dreams, but just as YZY pits JC against WWX, the cultivation world after the war pitted WWX against themselves and by extension, JC, and JC buys into it. I find this super understandable, and I think it’s pretty unfair to expect JC to be more understanding of WWX, given that WWX is constantly lying to him. Similarly, I think it’s pretty understandable that he doesn’t understand the plight of the Wens, given that WWX doesn’t explain it to him at all. From JC’s POV, WWX just leaves, at a time when JC really needs him, and he does it on a crusade for unrelated people—as though he never considered himself part of the family in the first place.

And you know what, that may be WWX’s POV too. He loves the Jiang family like his own family, but he’s also deeply aware that he is not blood. MXTX makes it very clear in canon that WWX felt that he owed the Jiang Clan, and not in the way you owe a family. That is—he doesn’t owe them his existence, but he thinks he does owe them his core and his cultivation. And he gives it all to JC.

I outlined above that the relationship between JC and WWX is unusual in the cultivation world given that they each feel like the other is family but are consistently reminded of the fact, and pressured to believe, that they are only sect siblings and that WWX is actually a subordinate. I also haven’t found many relationships like this in other media—though I’ll point out once again that my experience is mainly with western media. I think the closest things I can think of are stories in which the parties are of a different class but are raised together for whatever reason—because they actually are somewhat related but one of them has low class relatives, or because they were not as well-supervised in their youth but  one of them suddenly comes into money and is forced to leave his low-class BFF behind, etc.

Given that this relationship is unusual, you don’t see a lot of situations like WWX’s, in which WWX feels like he owes the Jiang family his golden core and then gives it to him. But there’s another element to this sacrifice that I’ve only seen in one other piece of media, and that’s the fact that WWX knows that JC can’t live without being special, and WWX thinks he can handle it.

There is so much in western media about brothers giving up their lives to protect their brothers (Supernatural), or even just giving up their dreams and ambitions so that their brother can follow his own dreams instead (It’s a Wonderful Life). But these sacrifices are always framed as “I love him so much,” or “It’s my duty” or “I couldn’t live with myself if he didn’t get what he wanted” and sometimes even, “I can handle the suffering and I don’t want him to live with it.” But there’s something about WWX’s “eh it’s not a big deal to me  and it is to him” or his “bro’s kinda petty and can’t get over himself, whatchu gonna do” that feels stupidly singular.

WWX never says it isn’t a big deal. He never said that it didn’t hurt or that he didn’t make a sacrifice. He never said JC was pathetic or a loser or anything that diminishes JC or makes him less than he is. What he says is that JC is always competitive and comparing himself to others, which is true. But the other sacrifices in fiction that come close are a little more “I don’t want you to have to suffer” or even “I’m strong, and you’re weak, so I’ll take on this burden for you.” Meanwhile WWX doesn’t think JC is weak, and while WWX doesn’t want to suffer, he certainly doesn’t want to suffer himself. The sentiment feels closer to “you need to feel special so I’ll make that happen for you,” and there’s something about it that is a little condescending.

I mentioned that I’ve only seen this kind of thing one other time, and it was in a baseball anime called Touch that aired in Japan in the 1980s. Touch is a story about twins, one of whom is smart, talented, and works hard. The other twin, Tatsuya, is good in school and good at baseball, but at first seems like a lazy guy who only cares about joking around and having fun. Then you find out he’s a genius and a one-in-a-lifetime talent, but just never bothered to focus on anything because he’s so stupidly good at everything that he would just show his brother up, and his brother cares about excelling and Tatsuya doesn’t, so he just…was careful to never apply himself to anything.

WWX isn’t Tatsuya, in that when they’re on an even playing field, WWX doesn’t really seem to have any compunctions about showing off. But as soon as the playing field becomes uneven, he also has no compunctions about destroying himself so that JC’s competitive spirit is satisfied. There’s something about it that has a flavor of “I’m better than you,” even if it’s never what WWX meant to communicate. No wonder JC feels like a clown.

Like, in the end, WWX kind of did make a fool of JC, even though WWX did it out of both love and loyalty. I'm not sure I've ever read or seen anything else where such a sacrifice has such ambiguity, and it really makes the WWX+JC relationship one of the most complicated I've seen.

[gio-cosmo]

Sometimes I think that my social media accounts are actually just documentation of my slow descent into madness

[slaaverin]

Jin's live or the return of bangtan chaos

Ah, gosh, I missed this so much.

Congrats on Jin's new album, I very much like this album and find that the style suits his voice very much ~ yaye Jin! Go Jin! 💜 I'm proud 😌

Nothing could have prepared us for the members to leave 192?!?!? messages on this live.

Funny little jikook excerpts:

Jimin spent the whole live basically flexing his boyfriend which omg good for him. "Look at my man, so big, so strong, he's with me, he's mine"

WE KNOW. We know, Jiminie 😂

But keep saying it loud and proud I love it

Little jokes only they understand

JK is a savage sometimes 😂 it's like exactly like in AYS. (Curious to see how tkkers will turn a poop joke romantic now 🥲)

Jikook laughing together, I can hear their giggles 🫠

You don't say? I love how Jimin is like "if you doubted it we are together 24/7 for the people in the back"

At least things are crystal clear.

🐥 answer! this is what Jungkook does to me everyday

CARE TO EXPLAIN WHAT YOU MEAN BY THAT JIMIN?

It's safe to say that our man loves to be manhandled by JK.

There is another translation where he said "dorm" so whether they are at the barracks or in vacation at home, those two truly are inseperable 🥹💜

They even continued chatting after the live ended:

Sharing one brain cell for real

I didn't want it to end, it felt like we were in their private groupchat thrown into the bangtan chaos we missed for so long 😭

Are we truly ready for the discharge live???? I think it will be worse because its like jikook became one person now and we will be decyphering endlessly all their insides jokes with non-stop giggles and arghhh it's like we won't be even there for them. Thirdwheeling at its finest.

BRING IT ON!!!! 🔥🔥🔥

Last message:

💜💜💜💜🥹🥹🥹🥹🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

Not you hater, not you tkker, but US! The people who actually support him and love him 🥰💜

Ahhhh this was so refreshing. I love that we got the chaos back. Bangtan's energy is so infectious and joyous 🥹

Can't wait to get back to it in the future, everyone is gonna have a lot of fun 😌

And we are not ready for jikook at all methink loool they seem more in love if that's even possible

[jadeshifting]

— THE 4 SEASONS IN MY BTS DR.

ib @zyoswift !! go check out her post it’s SO cute & the coolest idea :^)

Seoul has some of the most beautiful seasons in the world, and whether we're watching them pass by out the dorm windows or through the narrow breaks between practice and work, they're all beautiful in their own ways just the same

❤︎ ₊ ⊹ SPRING.

spring is my favorite season in Seoul ( and most of the boys’ favorite too—there’s a reason why our creativity flourishes during these months and we get so much writing done. ) the city hums with renewal, and i'm endlessly drawn to the cherry blossoms that flutter past our dorm windows like tiny, blushing confessions of the season. most days i try to write or tidy up, but more often than not i catch myself watching the petals drift lazily to the ground outside the window.

this time of year is when i dust off my piano and compose something lighter, something hopeful—melodies that feel more like fresh air, at least compared to the sad weight of my winter compositions. the boys, too, have their own spring rituals. Tae’s paints are out more often, his brushstrokes full of color and movement, and Namjoon writes endlessly, his notebook filling up as fast as the days lengthen. between practice sessions, we slip outside for walks, letting the breeze clear our minds.

❤︎ ₊ ⊹ SUMMER.

surprisingly, summer is the least hectic time of the year for us. if we’re lucky enough to get a real, solid break, it happens around July. ( do i wish our time off landed in spring or autumn instead? yes, but we'll take what we can get. )

most weekends are spent by the Han River, lazily picking at lunch under the sun, or sprawled out on a blanket in the grass outside the dorms, making the most of the long, slow afternoons. the pool is always in use—after all, it’s the only time of year when the water isn’t shockingly cold. the dorm fridges are constantly stocked with fruit, usually already cut up. ( when it's not, and we have to cut it ourselves, it’s a humbling reminder of one of the countless reasons why we desperately need Jin around. )

❤︎ ₊ ⊹ AUTUMN.

autumn is a whirlwind of preparations and celebrations—comeback season and birthdays all packed into a few short weeks. with mine, JK’s, Jimin’s, and Namjoon’s birthdays all clustered together, we bounce between dance practices, studio sessions, and birthday dinners, squeezing in moments of festivity between finalizing our album.

the crisp, mellow weather is a welcome change, making Seoul the perfect backdrop for long walks—stretching our legs, picking up lunch instead of having it delivered, or even walking to the company instead of driving. following the heat of summer, we take every chance to be outside while the air is cool and golden. it’s the season for revisiting our favorite museums and bookstores, losing ourselves in stories and art, and gathering around bonfires once the sun dips below the horizon, the smoke curling upwards into the autumn night.

❤︎ ₊ ⊹ WINTER.

winter is always a blur of rehearsals, performances, and endless schedules—whether we’re in the middle of a comeback or just wrapping one up. our days stretch from sunrise to well past sunset, packed with studio sessions, dance practice, vocal training, and the occasional media refresher. the biting cold of Seoul, mixed with sheer exhaustion, means that the moment we step back into the dorms, we’re out like lights. on rare days off, most of us sleep through half the day, enjoying the time we have to be cocooned in the warmth of our beds.

though the crisp, powdery snow is tempting on some days, we mostly stick to indoor activities this time of year. huddled up in the dorms, we share warm meals, watch old dramas, and play games. whenever we do venture out, it’s to wander through art museums or catch one of the music exhibits—it's important not to let chances to soak in creativity pass by, even in the heart of winter.

[fanged-fanfics]

LMK Characters As Queerplatonic Partners (GN Reader, Pt 2)

Genres: Platonic || they/them pronouns for reader || No warnings needed

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆˚｡⋆୨��୧⋆˚｡⋆✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖

Spider Queen:

- She's got experience working with workers for her Queendom, but a friend? It's a surprisingly new concept, and at first she almost treats you like she does her minions

- She grows to become very fond of you and begins holding your opinion as highly as she does her own, making sure the others always do as you say with respect

- She confides in you a lot about the parts of herself her own minions don't even get to see. Her worries, insecurities, and the parts of herself she can't seem to come to terms with

- You help her confidence solidify in a genuine way, not just having an inflated ego (though that never fades) and in return she tries to make you feel treasured

Scorpion Queen:

- She's ecstatic whenever you offer up a QPR. A close confidant is all she's ever wanted, and she accepts eagerly to having your presence around more permanently

- She excitedly let's you see everything she's got in her castle, offering you up anything you could want as a token of gratitude for simply being there

- Jin and Yin come by occasionally and she keeps a very close eye on them to make sure they don't disturb you when you're hanging out together

- She does ask for reassurance quite a few times, but it's because she genuinely appreciates your input and takes your words to heart when you reassure her

Syntax:

- He acts like a bodyguard to you, always wanting to be around you and keep a scathing comment on the back burners for if anyone disrespects you

- He tries to teach you some coding he knows whenever you two hang out together

- You're likely the only one who could ask to install a game on his devices and he might actually say yes

- He's usually endlessly smug for you and brags on your behalf for all your accomplishments, insisting up and down that you deserve the recognition

Huntsman:

- He's not really the best at showing his closeness to you, but he does it in his own small ways like saving the best bits of food for you or scavenging for trinkets so you can keep them

- Immediately gets defensive if he thinks anyone is being rude towards you and tries to square up to anyone being a prick the second he detects it

- You're one of the only people he'll continuously praise, he always makes sure what you do is seen and appreciated just as much as any of his deeds

- Lends you his jacket if you're ever in need of one, and you're the only person he's ever lent it out to

Goliath:

- Absolute sweetheart when it comes to you. He's kind and a gentle giant with you around, but he'll switch up and fuck anyone up who tries to mess with you if you ask

- He likes to carry you around a lot due to his immense size and strength, usually by cradling you in his arm somehow or letting you ride on the mech legs

- Always offers to help with anything you're doing, he likes feeling like he's making things easier on you

- Very encouraging to anything you wanna do. He just really likes spending time with you, even if that's doing something really small or completing missions together

Mayor:

- Very eerily looms around you often, mostly as a way to keep others from getting too close to you

- He gives you access to basically anywhere in Megapolis you could ever want, always uses his title to get you into the secret cool places

- Very very devoted to you. LBD may be who he works for, but he'll do basically anything for you the second you ask him to, and he'll always offer to do more as well

- Basically a massive guard dog, but he also allows himself to be harmlessly zany around you and get a hint of a taste for human enjoyment again

[flowersdiceandlove]

modern au where in collage, when wwx would go to strip clubs with everyone else, he would get up on the stage and pole dance with the ladies. He'd get really into it too, giving the dancing his all, and the ladies always laughed and helped him, dancing with him, and making the dance extra sexy. Jiang Cheng would always hide his face, sliding down in his seat, wanting this to be over and the others would cheer and cajole wwx on (especially nhs). wwx actually got really good at it, copying the ladies and them giving him tips, having fun dancing with someone who was being respectful of them at the same time.

a little over a decade later when everyone has grown up, and wwx and lwj are best friends (lwj pining endlessly over his Straight Best Friend) and wwx is enjoying his single dad life with a-yuan, nhs and wwx run into each other one night and nhs drags wwx to a gay bar to party since sizhui is with the wens for the weekend. wwx get's Drunk and Parties just like he used to in collage, nhs cheering him on and taking photos and videos to remember the night. and this is how wwx figure out that he's Not Straight when a guy grabs him and they make out for a good half hour before wwx got up on the stage and danced with the male strippers.

it's the next day when nhs posts the photos and videos showing the fun night out he and his collage bestie had as a sorta throw back like "this reminds me of my collage days! even a decade later and this guy's doing this!"

and that is how jc, lwj, and literally everyone else find out that wwx is into guys. from watching him dancing with male strippers and licking alcohol of a male stripper's abs and chest.

wwx responds to the post "hahaha! i was DRUNK! i don't even remember that! 10/10 would do again though! that guy's HOT!"

lwj and wwx are dating by the next morning and married by the end of the week.

sizhui, who's in highschool, is pretending he doesn't know the man in the viral male stripper video that everyone in his school is thirsting over because damn does he have moves. jin ling, jingyi, and zizhen are alternating between comforting him and laughing about it.

[weak2hero]

╰┈➤ CHAPTER 6 : MAKE THE ANGELS CRY

Warning : no Ji-Ah POV. Only Eunjang one.

Title inspired by the song of Chris Grey with the same title. Been listening to it so much even while writing it so, listen to it while reading this chapter if you want a good angsty mood. Recommand the slowed and reverb version tho.

The sterile hospital room felt like a world apart from everything else — muted, cold, and heavy with the weight of waiting. The faint beeping of the machines seemed louder in the silence, steady but fragile, like a heartbeat tethered to hope and despair.

Hu-Min sat on the edge of a plastic chair, fingers nervously tapping the armrest, his eyes never leaving Si-Eun’s still form. His body was tense, but his face held no tears — just a deep, quiet sadness that weighed on his chest like a stone. Nearby, Jun-Tae stood against the wall, arms folded tightly, jaw clenched as he stared at the pale ceiling. Both were swallowed by the same unbearable quiet, each lost in their own thoughts.

After a long pause, Hu-Min finally broke the silence. “Do you think… Si-Eun’s going to wake up?”

Jun-Tae let out a breath that was more a sigh than an answer. “I don’t know. It’s out of our hands now. We can only hope.”

The words sounded hollow, even to Jun-Tae’s own ears. Neither wanted to admit how heavy the uncertainty was. How much they feared losing the friend who had always been their anchor.

Hu-Min’s gaze flicked away from the still figure on the bed, shifting toward the window where pale morning light filtered in. “And what about Ji-Ah? Do you know where she is now?”

Jun-Tae shook his head slowly. “No. They said she transferred schools, but no one knows which one. It’s like she just vanished.”

Hu-Min’s voice dropped, thick with worry. “I hope… I hope someone’s taking care of her. After everything she’s been through…”

Jun-Tae’s eyes narrowed slightly. “She’s strong. More than we realize. But still… it’s not easy, losing everything like that. Changing schools, being alone.”

The silence returned, heavier this time. Both boys wrestled with the image of Ji-Ah—bruised, scared, isolated—trying to find her footing in a new place while the chaos of the past still clung to her like a shadow.

“I keep thinking,” Hu-Min said quietly, “about how she was always on the edge, and then… it all fell apart. I just want to believe she’s somewhere safe now.”

Jun-Tae’s gaze hardened. “Yeah. She deserves that much at least.”

Neither could say it aloud, but both felt the weight of their helplessness pressing down on them. Si-Eun lying unconscious, Ji-Ah lost in an unknown school, and the uncertainty of what the future held for all of them.

Jun-Tae finally moved away from the wall and sat beside Hu-Min. “We have to keep looking out for her,” he said firmly. “Even if we don’t know where she is, we have to make sure no one forgets her.”

Hu-Min nodded. “She’s important. To all of us. To Si-Eun and Hyun-Tak especially.”

Their eyes met briefly, sharing a silent promise to keep fighting, to hold onto hope—even when it felt like it was slipping through their fingers.

Outside the hospital window, the world moved on—unaware of the quiet battles being fought inside. But in that room, two friends sat together in the dim light, bound by worry and the fragile hope that someday, things might begin to heal.

The rooftop of Ganghak High School was nearly empty, the fading light casting long shadows over the cracked concrete. Baek-Jin stood near the railing, arms crossed, his face hard with tension. Behind him, the city stretched endlessly, indifferent to the turmoil brewing within its walls.

Seong-Je approached slowly, his footsteps barely making a sound. He stopped a few feet away, leaning back against the railing with a casual ease that barely masked the flicker of curiosity in his eyes. Unlike Baek-Jin’s taut seriousness, Seong-Je wore a faint smirk — but there was something quieter beneath it today, a rare trace of interest.

Baek-Jin didn’t look at him. “Si-Eun’s still in a coma. Days now. Nobody knows if he’ll wake. The doctors say it’s touch and go.”

Seong-Je’s expression shifted, the smirk softening into something more somber. “Si-Eun, huh? The guy’s always been a problem.”

Baek-Jin’s jaw clenched. “He was. But he’s important. To the Union. To us. And now, with him out, everything is unstable.”

Seong-Je shifted, glancing at Baek-Jin. “And Ji-Ah?”

“She’s gone missing. Nobody knows where she is,” Baek-Jin said, finally meeting Seong-Je’s eyes. “She’s a key piece in all this chaos. We can’t lose her.”

Seong-Je’s gaze darkened, a spark lighting behind his eyes. “You want me to find her?”

Baek-Jin nodded. “You’re the only one I trust with this. You don’t flinch at the darker things. You understand pain in ways the others don’t.”

Seong-Je gave a short laugh, but it lacked its usual edge. “I’ve noticed her too. Ji-Ah. She’s tough… more than she looks. I didn’t expect someone like her to be wrapped up in this mess.”

Baek-Jin’s eyes narrowed slightly. “She’s stronger than she seems, but also vulnerable. That’s why it’s dangerous. If the Union finds her first, it could mean disaster.”

Seong-Je ran a hand through his hair, contemplating. “Alright, I’ll find her. But I’m not doing this for you, or the Union. I’m doing this because I’m curious. She’s a wild card.”

Baek-Jin’s expression hardened. “Just bring her back. Safe. That’s all that matters.”

The wind stirred around them, carrying the faint hum of the city below. Seong-Je pushed off the railing and stood straighter, voice low. “This won’t be easy. Ji-Ah probably doesn’t want to be found. And if she does… well, this game just got more interesting.”

Baek-Jin didn’t flinch. “We don’t have a choice. Everything depends on it.”

Seong-Je’s eyes met Baek-Jin’s with a new resolve, the hint of a dangerous promise in their depths. “Consider it done. But if she’s playing her own game, I’ll be the one writing the rules.”

The sun dipped below the horizon, plunging the rooftop into twilight. Two figures remained, bound by a mission neither fully understood — and a girl whose fate would soon pull them into a darker, unpredictable world.

Hyun-Tak sat alone on the rooftop, the fading light casting long shadows over the concrete slabs. The quiet hum of the city below was a distant murmur, but inside his chest, the silence roared. He hugged his knees close, feeling the cold bite of the evening air, yet none of it compared to the emptiness inside.

His mind drifted back to simpler times — moments he cherished like fragile glass he wasn’t sure how to hold.

There was Ji-Ah, sitting beside him during their study sessions, her brows furrowed in mock annoyance as she nudged him awake. She’d caught him dozing off in class again, her voice a mix of teasing and genuine concern.

“Hyun-Tak, seriously, you’re going to get kicked out if you keep this up,” she’d said, arms crossed but a soft smile playing on her lips.

He remembered the way she shook her head, like a frustrated older sister who cared more than she let on. Sometimes she’d poke his arm or toss a crumpled paper ball his way just to jolt him back to focus. And no matter how much he pretended to resist, he secretly loved that she looked out for him — the way she always did, quietly, without fanfare.

There was the time during a boring lecture when he nearly fell asleep again, and she whispered sharply, “Don’t make me tell the teacher.”

He’d laughed, but deep down, those moments were the only warmth he could cling to amid the chaos surrounding them.

But now, the rooftop felt hollow. No laughter. No scolding. Just memories and the echo of what used to be.

He closed his eyes and swallowed hard, the weight of uncertainty pressing down on him.

He missed her—her presence, her voice, the way she challenged him to be better.

But more than that, he missed not knowing where she was, what she was going through.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, fingers hovering over her name in his contacts, tempted to call but stopped himself.

The silence on the other side was deafening enough already.

Hyun-Tak let out a slow breath and looked up at the deepening sky, the stars just beginning to peek out.

A chill ran down his spine—not from the cold, but from the truth he didn’t want to face.

He didn’t know where Ji-Ah had gone. Didn’t know if she was safe. Didn’t know if she was even thinking of him.

What he didn’t know—and couldn’t have imagined—was that somewhere close by, Kim Eui-Gyeom was quietly watching over her.

Taking care of her with a gentle strength, as if she were the most fragile thing in the world.

And that, somehow, was both a comfort and a mystery he wasn’t ready to unravel.

[shiongenkai]

TD Captain Swap

I have crafted a captain swap so hilarious to me I need to talk about it so here's the stupidest thing ever.

Frostheim: Yuri

Vagastrom: Jin

Jabberwock: Ed

Sinostra: Alan

Hotarubi: Taiga

Obscuary: Haru

Mortkranken: Subaru

My insane ramblings below the cut.

My basic premise is that one day Darkwick is like. In order to promote harmony across the houses and establish rapport with one another we will be assigning captains to a new house for the next month. And then they do that. And it all falls apart immediately.

Frostheim

Yuri voice ill never go back. And then Darkwick is like okay you're too biased against them go make up!! And Yuri seethes so hard something in his body pops.

First off, nooo way he gets along with Tohma or feels comfortable in Jin's room. Secondly, Kaito? Kaito. Literally no way that guy won't scream every other day. It's not even that he dislikes Yuri, it's just that the rumors are too Big for Kaito not to freak out every single time. And Luca of course will not help this concern ever, and will ask for Yuri's history and why he seems so familiar with Frostheim stuff, and Yuri will have to decide how far morals can carry him.

Somehow someway everyone in this scenario comes out appreciating Jin just like. A smidge more. His Frostheim runs as smoothly as Yuri's Frostheim but there's something slightly more dignified about it.

Vagastrom

I really just need a Jin Leo bitch off. Leo trying to get info from Jin except he soundproofed his room again, Jin not giving a shit about what the two of them do which makes it considerably less fun despite neither Sho nor Leo being willing to admit that, Jin using his stigma when MC is around to force Leo to do things. It's technically functional, like Vagastrom doesn't fall to chaos after Jin asserts his dominance on day one, but it's like. Everyone misses Alan so bad. So bad. Sho and Leo would never admit it to his face but they prefer their captain over Jin even if most things haven't really changed.

Also I think the only reasons Jin would leave his room is if Leo was bothering him too much and even then it would take a bit. I think Sho's life wouldn't be changed a whole lot but he'd miss the sparring and also find Jin's philosophy like.... not strange or bad but too different???? Like yeah it's annoying to spar every day but it's also fun. That's his enrichment...

Jabberwock

This is what inspired it all. The exact sequence of events was that I thought to myself, wouldn't it be funny if Ed was in Jabberwock since it's usually pretty sunny and it requires a lot of work? And then I thought, and also Towa is there. And then I remembered Towa hates Ed and I laughed so hard I cried trying to envision Ed announcing that he's replacing Haru for the time being and Towa trying to electrocute him.

Ren and Ed would also be funny because as long as Ed leaves Ren alone I'm sure he'd be fine. And doubly so if he draws Towa's attention away from him. But I can't tell if after that it'd be funnier if Ren gets annoyed because Ed is actually high maintenance and if Towa isn't doing it then Ren definitely has to. And he'd hate that. OR Ed has seen all his movies and knows all his games and keeps trying to talk to him about it but in a way that pisses him off about it and he's like mad about that. Either way I can't imagine anyone in this house is happy about this arrangement and it's killing me to imagine.

Sinostra

You'll have to stick with me for this one because it's a very specific dynamic in my mind that I'm not very good at articulating but basically. Romeo is at first glad Taiga can't mess things up anymore (even though deep down he misses him) and glad Alan is capable of scaring people straight just by Looking but then Alan is like hey this operation isn't very honorable. It's a low blow to threaten and intimidate and cheat. And then they butt heads about it endlessly.

Which is why Ritsu has to come in and be the equalizer but Alan can't take him seriously because he's like you're way too skinny you have no muscle what is your diet what's your trianing like. Spar with me. And Ritsu, embarrassed and offended, is like ILL HAVE YOU KNOW IM WORKING ON IT. And Alan genuinely offers to help but Ritsu is too used to Taiga and lowkey assumes Alan is making fun of him. And Alan is sincere. So he keeps going.

Hotarubi

PLEASEEEE PICTURE IT. THINK ABOUT IT. Think about the Haku Taiga prologue dynamic and make that daily life. Now add in the fact that Hotarubi is meant to be traditional Japanese themes with grace and tranquility and then imagine Taiga is there and try to tell me that's not the funniest shit ever.

And then add in Zenji. We already know Taiga can see or sense more than others so I would bet everything he could probably sense Zenji in some way, which he honestly probably wouldn't care about but I think he'd care a lot about the doll or the biwa. Basically I think he'd try to eat it. I think he'd try to eat something and it would be chaos and hilarious and please just imagine the three of them together. Please. Please. Please.

Obscuary

House Simulator. This is the only truly fully functioning house with no problems outside of Lyca complaining about noise and annoyances and so on so forth. And that is because Rui and Haru are so used to doing like 100% of the work all the time that they both try to do it and end up finishing all the work in half the time since they've split it and now they randomly have free time??? And it's so strange??

Haru helps with breakfast and cleaning and taking care of the animals and chores and so forth and Rui helps with Peekaboo and relieving Haru's exhaustion and it's basically such a functioning pair that it's almost scary. Like Lyca is scared. But also Haru smells bad and is too high energy and LOUDDD so he's in his rebellious teenage phase atm.

Only downside is that Haru has too much bar access and has to be cut off but it's a small price to pay for a house that isn't up in flames by day one. Unfortunately it can't last bc Haru would miss his animals and Rui would feel too worried about hurting Haru so when they swap back both have made peace with it. And Lyca will still kick rocks they couldn't have Subaru.

Mortkranken

I think Subaru would become a legend very quickly but not because he's this secret medical genius but because he seems to have this uncanny ability to guess things. And the secret is that he is using his stigma fully on accident and seeing what they were up to and then Jiro is figuring it out from there. And he keeps trying to give Jiro credit but nobody will listen.

He's also squeamish. Like he can't handle blood so when Jiro is like 'Move that to the other table please' Subaru is happy to and moves this weird lump under a sheet and the sheet falls off and its a severed arm and Subaru faints. and Jiro laughs for a second before putting Subaru on the table and making sure he's like actually okay. And they are both very patient with one another and very cordial. But it's so so awkward. And Subaru honest to god does not know how to take care of Jiro and is constantly having to ask Yuri how to do things except Yuri is always occupied by Frostheim so Subaru has to follow Jiro's instructions and they are both praying Every Day.

And that's also why they're both happy when its over. Not because it was bad or they dislike each other but bc they're both glad Yuri will come back and it won't be Does Jiro Die Today Roulette. and then Subaru goes to Haku and grabs his shoulders and is likep lease do not start dying ill cry right in front of you forever. and Haku just nods slowly.

[inkedwithcharm]

The Sunflower Next Door | Kim Seokjin

Chapter 9: “For the One My Heart Waited For”

It’s been months since you came back home.

The small farm had welcomed you like an old friend—warm soil underfoot, familiar smells in the wind, and the simple sound of birds greeting each dawn. But your body didn’t welcome the change as kindly. Each morning you woke a little slower. Each evening you tired a little faster.

And yet, every weekend—without fail—Seokjin came.

From the city to the countryside, hours of driving just to be by your side. You never asked him to. But he never needed an invitation.

Sometimes, he worked at the small table by the kitchen window, his laptop open beside a glass of barley tea your mother brewed for him. Other times, he would sit in the grass outside, reading while glancing toward the porch—watching over you in his quiet way.

He didn’t hover. He didn’t panic. He just stayed.

And that was what made it so easy to fall even deeper.

That Saturday morning, you stood by the window, holding your cup of tea with trembling fingers. The mountains in the distance were half-covered in a soft mist, the sky low and white.

Jin was already in the kitchen, sleeves rolled, humming something under his breath as he stirred a pot of juk.

“You don’t have to keep doing this,” you said softly.

He turned to look at you. “Doing what?”

“Taking care of me like this.”

He smiled, warm and soft. “Who said I’m doing it for you? I’m just trying to become your mom’s favorite son-in-law candidate.”

You let out a breath of laughter despite yourself, shaking your head. “You’re impossible.”

He set the ladle down and came over to you, brushing a stray strand of hair behind your ear. “Maybe. But I’m not leaving.”

Later that week, he drove you back to Seoul for your doctor’s appointment. The hospital walls always made your chest feel tight—too white, too quiet, too cold.

You sat beside him in the waiting area, your fingers interlocked.

You didn’t need to say it. He already knew the results weren’t what you hoped for.

Still no progress.

Still no medication.

Still no answer to when this limbo might end.

The drive back was quiet. He didn’t push. He never did.

But then, as the road stretched endlessly between patches of rice fields and sleepy trees, he reached over and squeezed your hand.

“It’s okay,” he said. “We’re okay.”

You tried to believe him. You really did.

That evening, you sat beside the fire pit in the backyard. Jin grilled sweet potatoes while your dad watched from the porch, amused at his serious expression.

Later, Jin helped your mom peel garlic. He told your stepsister jokes that made her laugh so hard she nearly choked on her rice.

He made everyone forget—just for a little while—that something heavy was still hanging in the air.

He made you forget.

But when the lights were off and everyone had gone to bed, you lay on your side, curled beneath the quilt your mother had sewn when you were a child. The night was quiet, but your thoughts were not.

You pressed your hand over your ribs.

The ache was deeper tonight.

You weren’t sure how long you had before this illness carved out more of you. Some days you pretended you were getting stronger. Other days, like now, you didn’t have the energy to lie to yourself.

And still… you smiled during the day.

You laughed, leaned against Seokjin’s shoulder when he told corny jokes, teased him when he burned toast.

Because he didn’t need your burden. He didn’t need your pain.

He needed your sunlight.

So you gave it to him. Every last flicker.

But alone, in the dark, you let the cracks show.

You wept into the pillow, quiet and careful.

For the days slipping away.

For the truth you still hadn’t said out loud.

For the man in the room down the hall who had become your safe place—without ever asking for anything in return.

You whispered into the night, “Please, let me stay. Just a little longer.”

You woke up to the sound of clucking.

Not birdsong. Not the gentle countryside breeze.

Clucking. Loud, bossy, feather-flapping clucking.

Still half-asleep, you squinted at the clock and groaned. 6:02 a.m.

You rolled out of bed, threw on your hoodie, mismatched slippers, and trudged outside with a bucket of feed tucked under one arm. The chickens were already waiting, pacing impatiently like they ran the whole village.

“You’re so dramatic,” you muttered as one squawked at you.

You scattered the feed clumsily, still rubbing sleep from your eyes, when you heard a familiar voice from behind you.

“Is this what I woke up for?”

You turned.

There stood Kim Seokjin.

In pajamas. Hair a fluffy mess. Wrapped in a blanket like a depressed sushi roll. Socks soaked in morning dew.

“You followed me out?” you blinked.

He yawned. “I thought you were getting kidnapped. Turns out you were being bullied by poultry.”

You gave him a flat look. “They’re just hungry.”

“That one made eye contact with me. I’m pretty sure it wants my soul.”

You stifled a laugh as one particularly bold hen strutted up and pecked Jin’s sock.

“HEY!” he shouted, leaping back a full foot. “Control your demons!”

“She’s just saying hi.”

“She’s saying ‘I dare you to step closer.’”

You walked over and handed him the bucket. “Here. Help me.”

Jin looked at it like it was filled with radioactive waste. “This is… bird food?”

“No, it’s for your skincare routine,” you deadpanned.

He narrowed his eyes. “You’re lucky I love you.”

“Then prove it,” you smirked. “Feed the chickens.”

He sighed like he was about to sacrifice his dignity, and gently scattered some feed—only to scream seconds later when three hens charged him like he owed them money.

You doubled over laughing. “You’re worse than my step-sister!”

Jin clutched the bucket to his chest like a shield. “Remind me again why I left my expensive, chicken-free apartment for this?”

You smiled, heart warm despite your freezing toes. “Because deep down… you love it here.”

He eyed the nearest hen warily. “Debatable.”

But then he looked at you, eyes still sleepy, cheeks flushed from the morning chill—and added quietly,

“But I do love someone here.”

You blinked.

Then a chicken pecked his sock again, and he jumped behind you like a bodyguard with a death wish.

“Okay, I’m going back inside,” he muttered. “Let me know when they’ve gone back to hell.”

The sun was beginning to dip low behind the hills, casting golden shadows across the yard as smoke curled up from the small outdoor grill your stepfather had set up. The scent of sizzling meat drifted through the air, mingling with laughter and the sweet aroma of the citron tea your mom brewed earlier.

Jin stood beside your stepdad, laughing at something your stepsister said while carefully flipping the marinated pork belly. He looked completely at ease here. You could hardly believe this was the same CEO you once overheard scolding someone over the phone when you first moved into that luxurious Seoul apartment.

Now here he was—wearing your stepdad’s old apron with a sunflower embroidered on it, sleeves rolled up, face glowing in the amber light, tongs in hand.

You were sitting on the porch steps, hugging your knees to your chest, cheeks warm not just from the fire but from how naturally he fit into your world.

He caught your eye and smiled. Not his polished, professional smile—the soft one. The smile he saved just for you.

“Y/N,” he called, waving a grilled piece of meat toward you, “catch!”

You laughed as he tossed it carefully into a little lettuce wrap, placing it in your open palm. “You’re getting good at this,” you teased.

“I’ve been practicing,” he said proudly. “Your dad’s coaching is brutal.”

“You mean honest,” your dad called over his shoulder.

Everyone laughed.

Dinner was spread across a low wooden table outside—kimchi your mom made, grilled garlic, dipping sauces, and piles of ssam wraps. Jin sat beside you, shoulder brushing yours as you both passed dishes back and forth, joking, smiling, full from food and something warmer.

It felt like a family. Like a moment you’d want to freeze forever.

As the stars began to peek out from the velvet sky and your stepsister brought out slices of chilled watermelon, Jin leaned toward you slightly. His voice was low, private.

“Can I ask you something?”

You turned to him, your chin tilted curiously. “Of course.”

He hesitated, glancing around at your family, then back at you.

“I want you to meet my family,” he said gently. “Would that be okay?”

Your fingers paused mid-reach for a slice of watermelon. You blinked at him, caught between surprise and a flutter in your chest you hadn’t prepared for.

“M-Meet them?” you echoed softly.

He nodded, his tone sincere. “My parents. Maybe just a small dinner. Nothing fancy. I told my mom about you… not much, just that you’re someone very important to me.”

Your heart flipped.

Important to him.

You swallowed hard and looked down at your hands. “I—I don’t know, Jin. I mean, I want to. I do. But what if they don’t like me?”

He reached out, fingers brushing yours where they rested against your knee. “They will,” he said, unwavering. “Because I do.”

Your breath caught in your throat.

You looked up to meet his eyes, searching for any hint of hesitation. But all you found was calm certainty.

“You’re kind,” he continued. “Bright. Thoughtful. My mom will probably cry. My dad will probably ask too many questions. But they’ll love you, Y/N.”

You smiled, small and unsure. “I’m nervous.”

“I know,” he said, squeezing your fingers gently. “But we’ll go together. When you’re ready.”

The way he said we made your heart ache in the best way.

You looked at your family—laughing around the table, your mom pouring more tea, your dad poking fun at your stepsister. Then you looked at Jin, who was slowly becoming part of that picture. Piece by piece.

You nodded. “Okay.”

His face lit up, boyish and beautiful.

“You mean it?” he asked.

You laughed softly. “I do. Just… not too soon.”

He grinned. “Deal. I’ll give you a few days to rehearse all the compliments you’ll say about me.”

“Shouldn’t I be the one receiving compliments?”

“I’ll teach you how to win them over. I’ve been doing it for years.”

You nudged him with your shoulder, and he chuckled, tucking a loose strand of your hair behind your ear without thinking. The gesture was so natural it made your stomach flutter.

And in that quiet moment, beneath the starlit sky, with your family nearby and Seokjin’s warm hand in yours, you realized something:

You weren’t just falling deeper for him.

You were letting him in.

And even though part of you still carried the weight of uncertainty, even though your illness loomed like a quiet echo in the background… tonight, you felt whole.

Even if only for a little while.

The fire had long burned out. Dinner was over, laughter now a memory humming softly through the walls of the house. Your family had all gone to bed, the clinking of dishes and buzzing chatter fading into the hush of a countryside night.

Only you and Seokjin remained outside.

The air had turned cool, but you barely noticed. Wrapped in a shared blanket, your shoulders touched his, your hands occasionally brushing. You were sitting on the porch steps, legs folded under you, gazing at the endless sprawl of stars above.

It was quiet, but not uncomfortable. The kind of silence that said everything.

You leaned slightly into him, cheek brushing his shoulder. “I used to sit out here as a kid,” you murmured. “Telling stories to the sky. Pretending they were listening.”

“They probably were,” Seokjin replied softly. “I bet they remembered everything.”

You smiled faintly. “Then they know all my dreams. All my fears too.”

He turned to you, and you felt his gaze before you met it. “Tell me one,” he said.

“Which one?”

“A dream.”

You thought for a moment. “I used to dream of a simple life. Nothing grand. Just… peace. Someone to eat dinner with. Laugh with. Someone who stays even when things get hard.”

You paused, swallowing the emotion crawling up your throat.

“And now?”

“I guess… I’m living it.” You turned your head to him, smiling gently. “With you.”

His eyes softened. You watched his hand reach for yours, lacing your fingers together slowly. Like he never wanted to let go.

“You scare me sometimes,” you whispered.

“Why?”

“Because I don’t know how long this will last. I want to be everything for you, but what if one day… I can’t be?”

His thumb brushed over your knuckles. “You already are everything to me.”

You tried to laugh but it broke into a tremble. “Jin—”

“I know you’re scared,” he said, voice steady, quiet. “But I’m not. Not of you. Not of your illness. I’m only afraid of not loving you right.”

Your eyes burned. You bit your lip, unable to stop the tears now.

He leaned his forehead against yours. “I want all of it. Whatever you can give.”

You shook your head slowly. “You don’t have to say that just because you feel sorry—”

He pulled back just enough to look at you, firm but still gentle. “I don’t pity you. I’m in love with you. And you don’t need to be strong for me every second. Let me be strong for you, too.”

The stars blinked above, the only witnesses to your trembling breath, your soft sniffle, the way your heart cracked open even more—this time not from pain, but from the overwhelming tenderness of being truly seen.

“I’ve never said this before to anyone,” you whispered, voice barely there. “But I love you too. So much.”

A smile broke over his face like sunrise. He kissed your knuckles reverently, then pulled you into a soft embrace, his warmth folding around you like the night sky.

No more words were needed.

Just the sound of crickets, the scent of wood and grass, and two hearts choosing each other even in the unknown.

It was early afternoon when Seokjin parked the car in front of a modest yet elegant home tucked into a quiet neighborhood on the outskirts of Seoul. The flowers blooming along the garden path looked like something out of a magazine—vibrant, cheerful, inviting. It reminded you of him.

Your hands were clasped in your lap the whole drive. He noticed, of course.

“You’re squeezing your fingers again,” he said gently, glancing at you from the driver’s seat. “Are you nervous?”

You nodded slightly. “A little. A lot.”

“They’re going to love you.” He reached for your hand and gave it a light squeeze. “You’re kind, thoughtful, and you make me laugh. What’s not to love?”

Your smile was faint, uncertain. “Still. I’ve never done this. I don’t want to mess up.”

“Then don’t. Just be you.” He opened the door and walked around to your side, offering his hand as you stepped out. “That’s the person they need to meet.”

The front door opened just as you reached the steps. A woman emerged, wiping her hands on a kitchen towel. Her eyes crinkled with joy.

“There’s my son,” she called warmly, then spotted you. “And this must be the one we’ve been hearing about!”

You bowed politely. “Hello, I’m—”

“You must be freezing!” she interrupted, waving her hands. “Come inside, come inside. Don’t make me scold Jin on the doorstep.”

You exchanged a look with him and followed her into the house, the scent of simmering stew and clean linen surrounding you. His father stood from the couch, offering a handshake and a small smile.

“So this is the girl,” he said quietly. “He wasn’t exaggerating.”

You blinked. “Exaggerating?”

He chuckled. “He said you glow. I see what he meant.”

Your cheeks warmed. Seokjin nudged you playfully with his shoulder. “Told you.”

The afternoon unfolded like a carefully wrapped gift—one you didn’t know you’d been hoping for. His mother ushered you to the kitchen, asking what dishes you liked, what your family was like, and if you were eating well. She reminded you a little of your own mother: warm, curious, quick to fill your plate even if you said you were full.

His father, though quiet at first, began to share old stories about Seokjin growing up—how he once ran away from piano lessons only to hide behind the shed with a whole bag of snacks. You laughed until your sides hurt. Jin looked mortified.

But it was more than just laughter—it was ease.

For the first time in a long time, you weren’t thinking about your next doctor’s appointment, or how tired your body had been feeling lately. You were just there, surrounded by soft voices and quiet glances, in a space that felt oddly like home.

As the sun began to sink, Seokjin’s mother brought out hot tea and a small plate of sweet rice cakes.

“You’re always welcome here,” she said, gently placing a cup in front of you. “Really. And I mean that from a mother’s heart.”

You tried to respond, but your throat caught for a moment. You managed a soft, “Thank you so much. That means a lot.”

Later, as you and Jin sat on the porch waiting for the car to warm, you looked up at him. His arm was draped behind you on the bench, his expression calm, eyes soft in the dusk light.

“They’re lovely,” you said quietly. “You have a really good family.”

He tilted his head toward you. “They think the same about you.”

You hesitated, then whispered, “I don’t know what the future holds, but… today felt like a dream I didn’t know I could have.”

He leaned his forehead to yours. “Then let’s have more of them. However many we can.”

And in that stillness, wrapped in early evening chill and the warmth of family, you let yourself hope again—even just a little.

The countryside was quiet that night, humming only with the chirp of crickets and the soft rustle of wind through the trees. The rain had started late in the evening—gentle, rhythmic, falling softly against the roof like a lullaby.

Inside your childhood home, the air smelled faintly of dried herbs and old pages. Jin padded barefoot down the wooden hallway, towel in one hand after his shower. The small guest room he used whenever he stayed over was just down the hall from yours.

He passed your room and paused for a moment. Your door was ajar, light off, but he heard the even sound of your breathing. Fast asleep.

He smiled to himself. You always curled up so small when you were tired. Like you didn’t want to take up too much space in the world.

With a quiet sigh, he walked into the small sitting room, where your bookshelf leaned slightly to one side. He was searching for something to read, maybe a book to help him unwind before bed. His fingers ran along cracked spines and faded covers… until something tucked between two photo albums caught his eye.

Small, worn. Yellow.

He pulled it out.

“10 Things To Do With My Future Boyfriend — Y/N, age 17.”

His thumb paused on the cover. A sunflower sticker was peeling off in the corner. He opened it gently.

Page one.

Your handwriting was round and young. The ink had smudged slightly over the years.

He stared at the page for a long time, heart aching in his chest.

You had written these at seventeen, probably sitting right here in this house. Dreaming of a love you weren’t sure would ever come. Hoping for a life full of small, honest magic.

And somehow… you still didn’t know just how loved you were now.

Jin shut the diary gently, holding it with both hands like something sacred.

You didn’t need to know he saw it. He wouldn’t tell you—not yet. This wasn’t about grand gestures. Not about proving anything.

It was about giving your younger self the love she had dreamed of.

And giving you—now—a love you didn’t have to ask for.

That night, Jin barely slept. He stared at the ceiling, listening to the rain.

“One by one,” he promised,

“the dreams you once tucked away—I’ll meet you in every one of them.”

You were curled up on the couch, still wrapped in the blanket from your afternoon nap, when Jin walked into the room holding two mugs of hot tea.

He set one down in front of you. “Still sleepy?”

You blinked slowly. “Still human. Humans nap.”

Jin smiled as he sat beside you, blowing gently on his tea. “I have to be in the office for a few meetings this week.”

You nodded. “Back-to-back?”

“Yeah. A few late nights too.” He paused. “That’s why I was wondering…”

You raised a brow, watching him.

“…if you’d stay with me at my place. In Seoul. Just for a few days.”

You blinked. “You mean like… live-in girlfriend status?”

He grinned. “More like VIP guest who gets fed breakfast and steals my hoodies status.”

You laughed. “And what do I do while you’re at work?”

Jin sipped his tea. “Sleep in. Water my plants. Judge my fridge. Wait for me like I’m your husband coming back from war.”

You snorted. “That last part sounds dramatic.”

“Good. I thrive on drama.”

You leaned your head against his shoulder, heart beating a little faster at the idea. It wasn’t a big thing. Not really. But also… kind of huge.

“Okay,” you murmured. “I’ll stay.”

He tilted his head, looking down at you with a soft smile.

“I’ll work faster if I know you’re waiting.”

You nudged him gently. “So needy.”

He nodded. “Unapologetically.”

And in the quiet that followed, the city beyond your windows faded, and all you could feel was his hand quietly finding yours beneath the blanket.

The drive back to Seoul was quiet at first—soft music playing as fields passed by in a blur of green and gold. You sat beside Jin, his jacket draped over your legs, head tilted toward the window.

You felt safe like this. Not because everything was okay, but because with him, it didn’t have to be.

The closer you got to the city, the heavier the clouds grew. By the time you crossed the bridge into Seoul, the sky had darkened to a deep grey, and raindrops began to streak across the windshield in slow, sleepy trails.

You exhaled. “I forgot how different the air smells when it rains here.”

Jin glanced at you, smiling. “Wanna know something crazy?”

You looked at him.

“I think Seoul misses you.”

You laughed softly, your fingers tightening around the seatbelt. “You always say the cheesiest things at the exact right time.”

“That’s my gift,” he replied, smug. “Perfect timing.”

It wasn’t long before the rain picked up, turning steady and rhythmic. Jin pulled into the underground parking of his apartment, but instead of getting out, he looked at you.

“Hey,” he said. “Wanna go up to the rooftop?”

You blinked. “Now?”

He shrugged. “We’ve got time. And I have a feeling the rain’s just right.”

You narrowed your eyes. “What does that even mean?”

Jin grinned and got out of the car.

The rooftop was slick with rainwater, puddles reflecting the muted city lights. The air was cool, fresh, quiet—only the soft tapping of rain and the distant hum of traffic far below.

You followed him up, hair already damp, shoes squeaking slightly on the tiles.

“You’re seriously dragging me into the rain for no reason?” you called out, laughing as he stepped out fully into the open.

“No reason,” he echoed, turning toward you with a gleam in his eye. “Just… trust me.”

Before you could respond, he reached for your hand and pulled you into the rain.

You gasped, shrieking, “Jin! Are you insane?”

“Yes,” he said, spinning you once in the rain. “But only for you.”

You tried to scowl, but laughter escaped your lips. He held your hands, then slowly placed one on his shoulder, the other in his. Rain soaked through your sleeves and dripped down your nose, but you didn’t care.

He began swaying gently, leading you in a slow, silly dance. Your hair stuck to your cheeks. Your heartbeat was loud in your chest.

“You’re such a weirdo,” you murmured, breathless.

“I know,” he said, smiling at you like you were the only person left in the world.

Then he leaned in.

And kissed you.

Warm lips in cold rain. Real and quiet and trembling. You both laughed into it, his hands slipping to your waist as your fingers curled into his shirt.

You pulled back, eyes bright, face flushed. “That was…”

“I know,” he whispered.

Later that night, while you were curled up in his bed, fast asleep from the long day, Jin sat on the couch with a towel around his neck, still a little damp from the rain.

He reached quietly for the sunflower-yellow notebook he had tucked into his bag the night before.

Opening the first page, his eyes settled on the words:

1. Kiss in the rain. The kind where we laugh halfway through it.

He smiled to himself, pressing his thumb softly against the paper like it was something alive.

No words.

Just a quiet moment.

And one thought:

One down.

Chapter 10